Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Jenna Bush Hager Reveals What She's Learned From 'Gampy' George H.W. Bush

Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush and a "Today" contributing correspondent, opened up about the lessons she learned from her "Gampy," former President George H.W. Bush, in a piece for Today News.



Hager tells intimate stories of her grandfather, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday by going skydiving. The new mom told how the former president is still "young at heart," tweeting for the first time at age 89, and she shared how "this summer over dinner he made a hilarious and slightly dirty joke that had the whole table in tears."



Hager also told a touching story about how Bush once put his granddaughters before a major presidential debate:



He has epitomized always putting family first. When we were little, he often babysat us even though he was running for president. Once, when we spent the night at the vice president's house, my sister lost her beloved stuffed cat, Spiky. He was prepping for a debate against Michael Dukakis, but after Barbara declared she couldn't sleep without him, he spent much of the evening searching for the elusive animal.





Read Hager's piece at Today.



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Celebrating Oscar de la Renta's 82nd birthday and the Celebrities he Dresses

Chances are that Sarah Jessica Parker wouldn't ask most designers to prominently embroider their signature in bold red into the train of their white dress. But then again, most designers aren't Oscar de la Renta.



At this year's Met Gala, one of fashion's most important annual events and a key fundraiser for Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute, Parker made sure that reporters and photographers could see de la Renta's red scripted John Hancock was displayed in a big way on her milky white train. "Did you see his name on the back?" said the actress. "I said to Mr. de la Renta, please let me use scarlet embroidery thread, and splash your name across the back. It was my idea. He would never in a million years have done it -- he's far too modest."



The soft-spoken and elegant designer may be modest, but he's also one of our finest. For more than 50 years, he has been the go-to guy for celebrities (Oprah Winfrey, Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz) and first ladies (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush) -- especially for big, big occasions like Oscars and inaugural balls.



De la Renta is the master of swathing women in silk-taffeta and chiffon masterpieces that feel more like pieces of art. As he has famously said, "There is no sound more feminine than a woman in a taffeta dress." His party dresses, with seemingly miles and miles of feather-embroidered tulle and fetching trains, continue to take our breath away. "This man has been working for more than 20 years to turn me into a fashion icon," remarked Hillary Clinton about her pal, who truly made her sparkle in 2001 when she wore his teal silk pantsuit while being sworn in as senator, and even before that made her shine in her 1997 inaugural ball gown. "Year in and year out, he's never given up."



In fact, this past Saturday, more than 60 of de la Renta's stunners went on display at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas in a retrospective called "Oscar de la Renta: Five Decades of Style," which runs until October 5. On display are gowns he made for Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan, and Hillary Clinton. There's also Jenna Bush's organza wedding dress, and an elaborate pale-blue Cinderella-esque ball gown that Amy Adams wore.



In honor of his 82nd birthday on July 22, look at some of the designer's most glamorous creations. Go to this Parade story to see who dazzles in Oscar de la Renta.



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Tour de France 2014 tickets: Win the chance to watch the final stage in VIP

The Tour de France is fast approaching its thrilling climax and you can be there to watch the final stage from an exclusive VIP vantage point on the Champs Elysees in the heart of Paris.
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Rafal Majka secures his second stage win at the Tour de France

Poland's Rafal Majka has won the 17th stage of the Tour de France in a late breakaway on the last of four tough climbs in the Pyrenees. Vincenzo Nibali trailed by about a minute and gained key seconds on his main rivals as he retained the leader's yellow jersey.
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Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff injured in bike crash ahead of Hungarian Grand Prix

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suffered a fractured shoulder, collar bone, elbow and wrist during a road bike crash on Tuesday.
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Snoop Dogg, The Roots Express Their Love For HuffPost In This Incredible Freestyle Mashup (VIDEO)

At HuffPost Live, we've had many rappers drop by the studio, and we usually ask them to freestyle about HuffPost. Snoop Dogg, Black Thought of The Roots and Wayne Brady all accepted our challenge and spat a few bars on command. What happened, as you can see in the video above, is off-the-cuff lyrical magic.



The verses are great on their own, but they reach another level in this incredible mashup that features the unlikeliest of backing bands, including David Lee Roth, Linda Perry and a violinist. Check out the magic for yourself, and you'll be humming along for the rest of the day.
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10 No-Fail Dinner Party Conversation Starters

Welcome to another installment of Tipsy Tuesday, The Salonniere's Tuesday feature that provides tips from top salonnieres on all things party-related. Today, we're getting tipsy with the no-fail questions these 10 expert hosts ask to kick-start a conversation at a cocktail or dinner party.



Alexa Hampton, interior designer and author -- I will first ask them to explain to me their work. People usually have a way they explain their job, or how they spend their day, so they can feel comfortable answering this. I also like to ask people what they are reading. Strangely, I think of this as a more personal question.



Teri Agins, fashion writer and Wall Street Journal columnist -- My favorite icebreaker is to find something to compliment them on - their outfit, hairstyle, handbag, shoes... something. I ask them to tell me about it, so the person can't just respond with a simple thank you. Then I jump in with follow-up questions and that usually gets them going.



Carla McDonald, founder, The Salonniere -- If the person is attending with his or her significant other, I like to ask, "How did you two meet?" This always puts the person at ease since it's a happy story and they've told it many times before. Also, it usually reveals enough common ground to keep the conversation rolling along for a while.



Ashley McDermott, writer and philanthropist -- I like to ask, "When and where were you happiest in your life?"



Debi Lilly, event designer and author of A Perfect Event: Inspired, Easy Elegance for Every Occasion -- I find everyone loves to eat and talk about eating and share what and where they've been eating! So I ask, "Have you been to any great new restaurants lately?"



Frederick Anderson, president of lifestyle brand, Hanley Mellon -- I ask, "If you had the opportunity to meet one person you haven't met who would it be, why and what would you talk about?"



Angella Nazaria, best-selling author and philanthropist -- My favorites are, "If you could have an alternate career, what would it be?" and "What was your most embarrassing moment?" The answers always spark a lively conversation.



Kathy Freston, the New York Times best-selling author of books about healthy living -- I can't stand small talk, so I'll turn to the table and say, "Let's talk about something that we can all learn about from one another. What do you think is the driving force in your life?"



Daniel Menaker, author of A Good Talk: The Story and Skill of Conversation -- Compliments are nice as are open-ended questions like, "How do you spend your day?" or "What's new in your world?"



Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, lifestyle and entertaining expert -- I always lean on books or travel. They are my go-to topics. So I'll say, "I'm looking for a good summer read. Have you read anything good lately?"



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Everything You Want to Know About Living Together Before Marriage (But Are Too Afraid To Ask)

For anyone in a long-term relationship, these two statements might sound familiar:



"It's crazy to marry someone without living with them first. You need to test out the relationship!"



"If you want to marry him, don't even think about moving in. He'll have no reason to propose!"




Though opposite sentiments, both pieces of (often unsolicited) advice are strong opinions on the topic of whether you should -- or shouldn't -- live with your partner before marriage.



With an estimated 70 percent of U.S. couples cohabiting and all of the conflicting headlines out there, we looked at the growing body of research on cohabitation and the success of a subsequent marriage -- or likelihood of a marriage at all -- to explore possible answers to the question: Are you doomed to divorce or singledom if you live with a partner before marriage?*



First off, know that the fear of divorce is real.

The topics "cohabiting" and "divorce" are inextricable from one another. As it happens, one often considers both possibilities at the same time. Dr. Sharon Sassler, a professor and social demographer at Cornell University, found this to be the case in her 2011 study when she interviewed 122 people about moving in with a significant other. After evaluating their responses, Sassler noticed that two-thirds of the respondents expressed a fear of divorce, despite the fact that none of the questions specifically addressed divorce.



Even folks whose parents weren't divorced claimed they were cohabiting as a precursor to marriage in order to screen partners for divorce potential. But Sassler pointed out that most of the couples she studied did plan to eventually get married -- they just wanted to have a test run first.



But is "testing out" the relationship a bad idea?

The one problem with these test runs? When you sprint to cross one finish line, you might just accidentally keep running to the next one. This phenomenon, known by researchers as "relationship inertia," is when a couple living together ends up in a bad marriage because, hey, it's really hard to move out once you move in. Merging homes and investing in a joint living space can result in a lot of "sunk costs" that keep couples emotionally and financially invested in relationships that might have ended had the couple not cohabited.



In a 2009 study, Dr. Galena Rhoades, a Research Associate Professor at University of Denver, found that those who cohabited before marriage reported lower marriage satisfaction and more potential for divorce than couples who waited until they were engaged or married to make the big move. Through her research, Rhoades posits that the increase in cohabiting couples is resulting in marriages that simply never would have happened in a non-cohabiting society.



"It's not that everyone who moves in with their partner is going to be at risk for poor marital outcomes," Rhoades told The Huffington Post. "What we have found is that it's really the people who live with someone before they have a clear mutual commitment to getting married."



Rhoades suggested that couples who aren't sure about their relationship find ways other than cohabiting to "test out" the union. Going on a trip together or meeting each other's families are two ways to learn about your partner's daily habits, she said. Most importantly, Rhoades said that couples should have frank conversations before deciding to move in together: Matching expectations is crucial.



What about "sliding into" cohabiting?

Pamela Smock, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Research Professor at the Population Studies Center, agrees with Rhoades that couples should discuss why they're moving in together. But Smock told The Huffington Post that it's all too common for couples to "slide into" living together -- if you're spending five, then six, then seven nights together, one day you wake up et voila, you're cohabiting.



Plus, with all of the economic benefits to consolidating homes, it's pretty easy for couples to shrug their shoulders and say, "Why not?" rather than parse out what's best for their relationship at that moment, Smock said.



"It's what we call 'unplanned cohabitation,'" Smock explained. "Whereas scholars before were thinking that people were choosing between cohabitation and marriage, we discovered that it's not a rational choice."



Studies have shown that, while small, there's an increased risk of divorce for couples who move in before making that mutual commitment. After years in the field, Smock gleaned that by making a choice to move in, both members of the relationship will be happier -- especially women.



"Women, in particular, won't be feeling like they're being led along," she said. "There are still a lot of old-fashioned thoughts out there about relationships."



Unfortunately, gender roles may still be at play.

While every person's relationship goals differ, regardless of gender, studies have found that women are more likely to see moving in together as a step towards marriage, while men don't seem to have any long-term goals by cohabiting. Plus, in the same 2006 study, Smock found that men were more likely to see the downside of cohabiting as a form of "giving up their freedom." The pitfall for women? That age-old fear: Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?



We may have made it through the sexual revolution, which both Smock and Rhoades credited as the precursor for the rise of cohabiting, but traditional views often exist right alongside this new type of living arrangement. A 2011 study at the University of Cologne in Germany found that women who cohabited with their partners were less happy than married women because, the researchers hypothesized, they believed they had "violated" normal behavior and were being "pitied" for failing to persuade their partners to marry them.



"We can speculate that in such societies, people tend to believe that a woman lives together with her partner out of wedlock not because she doesn't want to marry him but because he doesn't want to marry her," the researchers wrote.



But ultimately, don't let fear control your decision to move in or not.

Before you drive yourself crazy, know that there's no one-size-fits-all answer here. Relationships -- and the people in them -- are unique and ever-changing. Plus, it's such a new phenomenon that the norms are constantly shifting, too. These days, by the age of 20, one in four women between 15 and 44 will have lived with a man. By the time they're 30, three in four women will have done so.



What's more, research released this year found that, if you control for age, many of the previous studies predicting divorce for cohabiters were off the mark: Those who marry young, whether or not they were living together before marriage, have a higher chance of getting divorced. Go figure.



And with cohabitation lasting longer than ever -- 22 months on average -- it seems people are quite content carving out a new romantic path. Government studies have even found that 40 percent of cohabiting couples actually do marry within three years. "Shacking up" might just be the new step before marriage, after all.



"If you want to do a statistical model and predict who will get married, it’s people who are already living together who have the biggest chance," Smock said. "In some sense, cohabitation is supporting marriage, especially now that we find no effect on marital stability."



So whether or not you decide to live with your partner before marriage, know that it's not necessarily a direct path to divorce or eternal singledom. Hopefully, that'll make your decision a tad easier.



*In no way does this presuppose that all folks, women or men, want to (or should want to) get married. We're just addressing all of the rhetoric out there. In the end, there's no "right" thing to do (or want).



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First 'Nightcrawler' Trailer Is Jake Gyllenhaal's Lottery Ticket

Filming on Dan Gilroy's "Nightcrawler" was so intense for Jake Gyllenhaal that he was forced to get stitches in his hand after punching a mirror. That sequence is teased below in the first official trailer for the film, which HuffPost Entertainment is happy to debut. Gyllenhaal stars in the film as Lou Bloom, "a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism."



"I wouldn't really call him a journalist," Gyllenhaal said of his character in an interview with Vulture last year. "I would actually consider him a cinematographer. He's a total observer, and a visual artist."



Co-starring Rene Russo and Bill Paxton (who sports a snazzy goatee), "Nightcrawler" is out in theaters on Oct. 17. The film will premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival in September alongside other 2014 awards hopefuls. As Gyllenhaal's Lou says in the clip, "If you want to win the lottery, you have to make the money to buy a ticket."







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Tuesday, 22 July 2014

This Is What Happens When You Run Into Walder Frey At A Wedding

In the "Game of Thrones" universe, Walder Frey -- a.k.a the evil mastermind behind the "Red Wedding" -- is the last person you'd want to see at someone's nuptials.



But that's exactly what happened to one wedding photographer, who posted the following picture to Reddit Monday, titled, "I was at a wedding with Walder Frey. Needless to say I was concerned."



Wedding with Walder







Turns out, "Frey" -- who is played by 72-year-old David Bradley -- was there for a happy reason: to see his very own daughter tie the knot. And according to the Redditor, "He's a great guy really!" He then offered this second picture as proof:











Still, congrats to the photog -- for making it out alive.











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Transfer window: Club-by-club - the summer Premier League deals

If the World Cup wasn't enough to whet your footballing appetite this summer, we've got another transfer window jam-packed with Premier League sides looking to revamp their squads. Here's your club-by-club guide to all the moves.
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Stoke continue summer spending spree by signing Bojan Krkic from Barcelona on four-year deal

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has made his fifth signing of the season by signing Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic on a four-year deal.
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5 Reasons You Should Stop Complaining About Being a Bridesmaid

Ladies, I get it: Being a bridesmaid isn't all glamor and champagne toasts. It's a big job that requires a lot of your free time, money, and changes the wedding experience altogether. We've all had those thoughts following the infamous inquiry of "Will you be my bridesmaid?" It's time we admit (and examine) them:



1. The last time you rocked an updo was senior prom -- and you wanted that to be the last time. Sure, it's understandable that a bride wants her wedding party to look polished, with their hair pulled away from their face. But you've reached an age where you (finally) have mastered the art of styling your hair that doesn't include 20 bobby pins and an entire can of L'Oreal Elnett. You don't want everyone wondering if you're headed to a beauty pageant after the ceremony with your Miss America hairdo.



...Riiiight, because everyone will be talking about your hair as your breathtaking bestie is marrying the man of her dreams right next to you.



2. There is no better justification for finally splurging on that dress you've been eyeing than your friend's wedding. Unless your friend takes that excuse away by making you a bridesmaid, requiring you to spend your splurge-dress money on the dress she has chosen for you (and her five other closest friends). If you're lucky, she'll let you choose the silhouette that fits you but honestly, when will you wear a rosy chiffon dress again?



...Maybe never. But that rosy chiffon dress is a symbol of your friendship -- out of all of the people in her life, your friend wanted you by her side when she said "I do." And maybe one day that dress will be your kid's favorite thing to wear while playing dress-up.



3. You'd rather be sitting down during the ceremony than standing up in your pastel dip-dyed heels.



...But then you might not be able to catch the tear in the groom's eye or feel the excitement as they voice their vows.



4. So many pre-wedding events, so little time. There are engagement parties, bridal shower(s), fittings, tastings, and the free time you have left is spent shopping for gifts, finding the right pair of shoes... it never ends.



...You should be thanking the bride for pulling a Super Bowl Beyoncé and reuniting the group for her big moment. Can you name the last time you and your girlfriends hung out this much?!



5. It'd be nice to spend some time with your date. Whether it's your new beau's first time meeting your whole posse or a rare night out with your husband, a wedding usually means quality time with your plus one. But between endless photo ops, wedding dress train duty, and of course, the seating arrangements at the reception, being a bridesmaid can get in the way.



...By asking you to be her bridesmaid, your girlfriend is giving you a VIP ticket to the biggest, most extravagant party she will ever throw. She wants you in the photo album she will show to her grandchildren, to sip champagne in the limo, and to be the one to tell her if she has lipstick on her teeth. (Always tell the bride if she has lipstick on her teeth.) You can dance with your date when a cheesy slow song comes on.



No matter how many times these thoughts run through your head, remember that you'll be one of the first people to see the bride in her dress, you'll have countless professional photos to choose from when you need a new Facebook picture, and most importantly, your friend will always remember you being by her side when she became a "Mrs."



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Sherri Shepherd's Estranged Husband, Lamar Sally, Adds More Drama To Divorce Battle

As television personality Sherri Shepherd continues to manage her public divorce battle with estranged husband Lamar Sally, new reports have surfaced regarding the couple's soon-to-be-born child.



According to TMZ, Sally, a television writer, is reportedly drafting legal documents in an effort to ensure that Shepherd, a former co-host of "The View," doesn't withdraw from their separation request. The request grants Sally full custody of the newborn, who is due July 28 via a surrogate. Sally's legal precaution comes following reports that Shepherd allegedly "doesn't want anything to do with the child and refuses to pay any child support," in the words of an anonymous source quoted by FOX411 this week.



Last July, 10 months prior to filing for divorce, Shepherd opened up to Hello Beautiful on the difficulties of meeting new friends and the importance of healing following a breakup.



"I don't do new friends very easily because I have a hard enough time keeping up with my old friends," Shepherd said in that interview. "You know, to really develop a friendship you need to go through things and I'm not trying to go through new things with new people."



"I get over a breakup ... with time," she continued. "You have to know time will dull everything, and I think don't get back into a new relationship until you heal. You gotta go through it to get over it. So, take time out after a breakup to know who you are and be by yourself and to be OK with being by yourself."
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Kurt Cobain And Courtney Love Rocked A Selfie Back In The Day

Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love were taking selfies way before they were called selfies.



A photo snapped by Love of the couple in front of a mirror is now making the rounds. Some outlets date the picture to Nirvana's 1992 tour in Japan, which Cobain biographer Charles R. Cross told The Huffington Post was "most likely."



"They often took selfies," Cross, author of Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography Of Kurt Cobain , told HuffPost. "They were aware at the time of their role and place in culture."



Check out the photo in tweet form from earlier this year, below:








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Robert Lewandowski scores for Bayern Munich in first pre-season appearance

Robert Lewandowski got off the mark for Bayern Munich after netting in his first appearance for the club. The Polish striker scored just after the hour in their 1-1 friendly draw against third-tier German side MSV Duisberg.
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13 Times Selena Gomez Killed It In The Beauty Department

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Pitchfork Music Festival in Photos: The Best of the Fest

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Here's Why Everyone Should See Sara Bareilles Live In Concert

On Sunday, July 20, Sara Bareilles took on Madison Square Garden in a big way. Her Little Black Dress tour had kicked off in Chicago 10 days earlier, and from the looks of it, Bareilles was having the time of her life belting out songs from her Grammy-nominated album, "The Blessed Unrest."



So, to all those guys who have broken Bareilles' heart since she burst on the scene with "Little Voice" in 2007 ... sorry, but the joke's on you.



Here are eight reasons why everyone should see Bareilles live:



She's hilarious.

sara bareilles



In between songs, Bareilles kept the audience entertained with wisecracks about everything from getting dumped to how much money she was making that night.



"You sound like a million bucks," Bareilles told the audience after her opening number. "No, literally I'm making like a million bucks tonight, it's incredible."



She actually wears a little black dress.

sara bareilles



Really! (See above.)



She drops the f-bomb a lot.

sara bareilles



With power ballads like "King Of Anything" and "Brave," we probably should have expected this, but it was still great.



"Any lovebirds out there tonight? Well, fuck you," Bareilles said before performing "I Choose You," and it was the best.



She mixes the old and the new.

sara bareilles



Unfamiliar with her newer stuff? Trust us, you'll still get to hear "Love Song" and "Gravity."



Her energy is contagious.

sara bareilles



We're pretty sure we could have shown up in the worst mood ever and left feeling great. When she wasn't banging on the piano, throwing her head back in laughter and sipping on beer, Bareilles was getting the audience on their feet to dance.



You'll probably cry.

sara bareilles



Hey, everyone needs to let it all out sometimes. When Bareilles takes on a sad song, she goes all in. Just try get to the end of her performance of "Manhattan" with dry eyes. So many feelings!



Her covers rock.

sara bareilles



Perfect cover of Sia's "Chandelier"? Check.



Her voice is mind-blowingly great.

sara bareilles



Those notes she hits are real. Even that one in "Gravity"!








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A Generation's Obligation: The Cycle of Peace

When 9/11 happened, I was in the fifth grade. I was ten. I didn't understand the weight of it. I only knew it was horrible.



For the next 13 years of my life, I would watch the aftermath and try to understand what happened. Throughout my teens, I would cringe at the report of any other threat, and as a Muslim-American say to myself, "Please, don't let it be a Muslim. Please, not again. Please, not in the name of my religion."



Later, as a young adult, while my head focused on reciting the names of all the innocent lives lost in the 9/11 attacks for a memorial ceremony, it also ached for the lives of other innocent people who were killed in our counterterrorism efforts, whose names I would never know and whose names may never be recorded.



I sometimes would think that those whose lives were horrendously cut short on 9/11 would say of the killing of innocents in our following wars, "Please, don't let it be a civilian like me. Please, not again. Please, not in the name of my death."



I'm beginning to understand that the Disease of Hatred that hit our towers that day found a way to infect people who never had that kind of hatred before. I felt that blood-hungry hatred swim around the world, poignantly charging words and aiming guns.



My generation has endured a cycle of violence. We have seen religion blamed, cultures blamed, and on all sides bloody fingers. We have felt the loss of innocent lives, near and distant. Every generation has seen their own share of violence, but there is something so tangible about the way we have access to and can impact information now. There is something about our lived experience that has the potential to overcome boundaries like never before.



Our generation is a global generation. We are clicks away from one another at all times. With this era of communication comes great privileges and greater challenges. Today, I think one of our most significant challenges is to prevent the ongoing cycles of injustice, in particular those stemming from cross-cultural violence.



To think critically about what is going on in the world and the issues that are affecting people's everyday lives, even when those people do not live beside you: this is the obligation of my generation. And there is perhaps nothing longer-standing and more relevant in this moment than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



As the loss of innocent lives is in the hundreds and ongoing, it is the obligation of our generation to examine the sides we take and the information we choose to take into account. A recent report (July 20) by the UN announced that 375 Palestinians have been killed, including 36 women and 83 children. Over 3,000 Palestinians have been injured, and more than 100,000 Palestinians are now displaced. More than one million have limited or no access to water or sanitation services.



The other night, I heard the announcement of the death of the first Israeli soldier as ground invasions began (the Israeli death toll recently reached 20, two civilians and the rest military). The CNN reporter ended the piece by stating that there were 60,000 Palestinian children in need of psychosocial support.



My mother's words haunt me as we watched the same newscast. "You and your brother are upset by the news, but it is not news to us," she said. "This has been going on for not only all of your lives, but all of ours, too."



I do not want to say that to my children.



I do not want to continue to watch the news, and as deaths of Palestinians are announced in this crushing offensive by Israel say, "Please, not another innocent child. Please, not again. Please, make it stop."



In this moment, the death tolls will inevitably grow if Israel's Operation Protective Edge continues. It is up to us to decide what the death tolls will mean to us, and the numbers should demonstrate what they truly are: a grave injustice to humanity.



For those who have been so shamefully silenced by this violence, we can create cycles of peace. There is a generation that has our voices not only at our mouths, but also at our fingertips. Our generation has the ability to be louder than anyone has ever been before by creating a chorus of, "Please, never again."



"Please, no more."



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