SHARE KNOWLEDGE: January 2020

Friday, January 31, 2020

Lina Ben Mhenni: The woman who blogged Tunisia's revolution

"Freedom, better education and health: that's all we wanted," one of Lina Ben Mhenni's friends says.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/390TEsf

How Democrats and Republicans Voted on Witnesses in the Trump Impeachment Trial

By ALICIA PARLAPIANO, WEIYI CAI, LAUREN LEATHERBY, BLACKI MIGLIOZZI, JUGAL K. PATEL, JOE WARD, JEREMY WHITE and KAREN YOURISH from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/38W1m6L

Leila Janah, Entrepreneur Who Hired the Poor, Dies at 37

By RICHARD SANDOMIR from NYT Business https://ift.tt/36Gpl8z

Jon Gosselin Shows His Love for Being a ‘#GirlDad’ in Sweet New Photo With Daughter Hannah

It’s a role he cherishes! Jon Gosselin celebrated being a proud “#GirlDad” by sharing a new photo with his daughter Hannah on Friday, January 31. The reality star-turned-DJ took to Instagram with the... Read More >>

from In Touch Weekly https://ift.tt/2ti8LOJ

Jessica Simpson Says John Mayer’s 2010 ‘Playboy’ Interview Was the Final Straw: He Used the ‘Most Degrading Terms’

Reflecting on the past. Jessica Simpson reacts to John Mayer’s 2010 Playboy interview where he referred to her as his “sexual napalm” in her highly anticipated new memoir, Open Book. The “Take My... Read More >>

from In Touch Weekly https://ift.tt/38ZybQ6

‘RHOC’: Tamra Judge Says She Was Offered $200K To Return For ‘3 Episodes’ In Season 15

Former 'RHOC' star Tamra Judge clapped back at Wendy Williams on Jan. 30, when the talk show host claimed to know what Tamra was offered by Bravo to briefly return in Season 15.

from Hollywood Life https://ift.tt/2GO5FF3

Brandy Mourns Prom Date Kobe Bryant In 1st Statement & Sends Love To His Wife Vanessa

Kobe Bryant took Brandy to his high school prom in Philadelphia way back in 1996, and at the time, the singer had 'no idea' who he was!

from Hollywood Life https://ift.tt/38XSEVw

Grimes Describes Herself as "Woefully Ill Prepared" in Candid Pregnancy Update

The road to motherhood is wonderful and scary. Grimes is opening up her pregnancy on Instagram and sharing the ups and downs of her journey. The musician who is expecting her first child...

from E! Online (US) - Top Stories https://ift.tt/2vAl0GZ

Grimes Feels 'Woefully Ill-Prepared' for Pregnancy & Reveals She 'Had Some Complications Early On'

Grimes is opening up about her pregnancy.

Weeks after sparking pregnancy speculations with a baby bump photo, the singer, 31, confirmed she is expecting in a candid post shared on Instagram Friday.

Asking her followers how they “cope with working and having a baby,” she wrote in the caption of a selfie, “I’m sorry I haven’t been promoting my album properly or on social media more. This whole thing has been a bit of an ordeal.”

“Had some complications early on, a decent second trimester but starting to hurt everywhere at 25 wksz,” she continued. “I feel like I was woefully ill prepared cuz I dunno if pregnancy is as visible or discussed as it should be. I just didn’t rly understand what I was getting into.”

However, the Canadian artist elaborated that things have “been good too, but it makes working a lot harder.”

View this post on Instagram Fake or real? Haha. Wow I’m starting to feel bad haha… how do y’all cope with working and having a baby?? I’m sorry I haven’t been promoting my album properly or on social media more. This whole thing has been a bit of an ordeal. Had some complications early on, a decent second trimester but starting to hurt everywhere at 25 wksz. What were yalls experience w this stuff like? I feel like I was woefully ill prepared cuz I dunno if pregnancy is as visible or discussed as it should be. I just didn’t rly understand what I was getting into. It’s been good too, but it makes working a lot harder. Good at writing and having lots of wild ideas tho, but anything physical is hard. Im also way more emo and less capable of bravery in the face of haters online and stuff haha. But my albums out in a sec so I prob need to get back on here. Don’t mind my emo energy, but curious what other ppls experience was like I didn’t even google it, I was just like sure y not hahaha smh
A post shared by Grimes (@grimes) on Jan 31, 2020 at 1:58pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

“Good at writing and having lots of wild ideas tho, but anything physical is hard,” she explained. “Im also way more emo and less capable of bravery in the face of haters online and stuff haha.”

Though Grimes has not said anything about her baby’s father, fans believe Elon Musk — who she has been romantically linked to since 2019 — confirmed he is the dad when he cryptically commented under baby bump photos posted on Twitter, writing, “x is y.”

“Toss a coin to ur Witcher,” Grimes said in a reply to the 48-year-old Tesla founder, quoting the song from Netflix’s The Witcher series.

Grimes — who is expected to release her next studio album, Miss Anthropocene, next month — added on Friday that she “prob need to get back on” social media.

“Don’t mind my emo energy, but curious what other ppls experience was like,” she wrote, asking fans for their advice. “I didn’t even google it, I was just like sure y not hahaha smh.”

Earlier this month, Grimes opened up about being in a “war-like state of being” after sharing a topless photo of herself on Instagram with an apparent baby bump.

The picture, which has since been deleted and replaced with a more censored version, had an image of a baby superimposed on the musician’s stomach — sparking fan discussion on whether she’s pregnant with her first child or was posing for an artwork.

Addressing the speculation on Friday, the musician wrote “Fake or real? Haha. Wow I’m starting to feel bad haha…”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Grimes (@grimes) on Jan 9, 2020 at 12:24pm PST

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People had questions at the time as the heavily edited photograph was posted without an accompanying caption, though Grimes was vocal in the comment section.

When a fan remarked how “great” Grimes looked and applauded her for not censoring her nipples in the original image, the performer responded, “I thought about censoring them for a hot minute haha (this may get taken down anyway) but the photo is much less feral without the nipples.”

“Plus being knocked up is a very feral & war-like state of being. Might as well be what it is,” she continued at the time. “Plus most of my friends told me not to post them so then I was afflicted w reverse psychology. Interrogated my shame on it and decided it was sum weird internalized self hatred to feel uncomfortable abt my body. Hope ur having a nice day!”

Grimes shared a video on her Instagram Story of Musk dancing to music in a studio on Thursday night. The expectant mom captioned the clip with a white heart emoji.

Last March, Grimes got candid about her romance with Musk — whom she called a “super-interesting goddamn person” — and the public attention the relationship brought in an interview with WSJ. Magazine.

“I was simply unprepared,” she told the outlet for its April Style & Design Issue. “I’ve just been wallowing in indie music for, like, a decade … I just thought I could keep going along in my funny little way, and then you casually respond to someone in a tweet and it’s on Fox News, and you’re like, ‘Ugh,’ you know? That was a very disturbing moment.”

Despite the unwanted attention, Grimes said she still loved the tech mogul.

“And look, I love him… he’s great. There’s got to be some reason. I just think …” she told the outlet, trailing off. “I wish … Yeah. It doesn’t matter.”

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/2OiaieM

Lisa Vanderpump's Dog Adoption Foundation Is Being Sued by a Former Employee for Sexual Harassment

A former employee of Lisa Vanderpump‘s dog adoption service is suing the foundation for sexual harassment.

In the complaint document obtained by PEOPLE and filed on Jan. 24, Damiana Guzman alleges that she was forced to resign from Vanderpump Dogs after only two months due to “intolerable workings conditions” at the hands of her manager, who is also named as a defendant.

Guzman says in the lawsuit that her former manager harassed her based on her “sex, gender and sexuality.”

She alleges her manager mocked her figure referring to her as a “skinny no-ass fool” and a “flat-ass bitch.”

Guzman also alleges in the lawsuit that her manager mocked her for her sexual orientation, saying he could “turn her straight and that she had not found the right man.”

“Not a day went by where the Defendant didn’t make a comment about the Plaintiff’s body, her sexual preference, or his sexual prowess,” the lawsuit states.

Guzman is seeking to be compensated for “damages” as she claims she has suffered “economic loss” and “loss of employment-related opportunities.”

Guzman says she has also suffered “humiliation, mental anguish, distress and has been harmed in mind and body.”

A rep for Vanderpump replied to PEOPLE with a statement from Dr. John Sessa of Vanderpump Dogs: “It’s a shame that someone who worked for the Foundation for less than 90 days would choose to sue or try to malign an organization whose sole purpose is dedicated to being a voice for the voiceless. Working to resolve unnecessary cases like this just takes away from being able to save more lives.”

The lawsuit comes after Vanderpump and her husband Ken Todd were accused in a class action lawsuit of not paying their restaurant employees.

Former employee Adam Pierce Antoine filed the class action lawsuit on Dec. 16 on behalf of himself as well as a number of other former employees, accusing Vanderpump, 59, and her husband Ken Todd of violating a number of California labor laws — something Antoine claims has gone on for at least four years.

The complaint, obtained by PEOPLE, alleges that Vanderpump — who owns the famed West Hollywood, California restaurants SUR, Villa Blanca, Tom Tom, and Pump — has failed to “pay wages, including overtime wages.”

Antoine says that when restaurant staffers worked over 8 or 12 hours in a work day or more than 40 hours in a workweek they were not properly compensated.

The lawsuit also accuses Vanderpump of “manipulating or editing time records to show lesser hours than actually worked.”

Antoine also accuses Vanderpump of not paying minimum wages for hours that were worked off the clock, during training or when an employee was on call.

RELATED: Lisa Rinna Threatens Legal Action Against RHOBH Costar Lisa Vanderpump Over Rumored Spinoff

As a result of the alleged infractions, Antoine says he has “suffered damages in an amount subject to proof” and is owed over $25,000.

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/2u8iUhi

Why Gloria Estefan Says Her New Red Table Talk Series May Need a 'Traffic Cop'

Despite a hectic work schedule that would collapse most people, Gloria and Emilio Estefan took time out to be honorary chairpersons of the Official Miami Super Bowl Host Committee’s VIP party at Bal Harbour Shops in Miami Beach Thursday night.

“It’s a no brainer having the Super Bowl in the exciting city of Miami with our great weather and so many events held on the water,” Gloria, 62, tells PEOPLE during the exclusive Bal Harbour event that attracted more than 2,000 people and benefits The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis.

Adds Emilio: “Miami is a perfect place for the Super Bowl because we are a city of diversity, and we want the world to know!”

Gloria, looking beautiful in a custom black chiffon Marie Saint Pierre cocktail dress with black heels, tells PEOPLE she is very excited about her upcoming Red Table Talk for Facebook Watch series where she will be featured in Miami with her musician daughter Emily Estefan, 25, and her television host-model niece Lili Estefan, 52.

“We should be shooting by March, and all three of us are so excited because we get along very well,” Gloria says of the series called Red Table Talk: The Estefans.

“It’s three generations of women with our own points of view which may surprise people who think they know what we will say.”

The show is a spin-off of Red Table Talk, executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and Westbrook Studios. In the first series, Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, had candid and personal talks on important social and hot-ticket topical issues that created a great deal of buzz. The show was even nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.

Now, the three generations of Estefans will take over and likely cause an oceanic splash. But before they shoot, Gloria is going to Los Angeles and “hang out with Jada” in hopes of learning more about the series.

“When we get back and start our show, the girls and I will talk about everything from motherhood to spirituality, social media and sexuality,” Gloria tells PEOPLE.

“My daughter Emily came out last year, so I think this is a good topic for families to hear because sex is a subject they don’t like to discuss.”

RELATED VIDEO: Emily Estefan and Girlfriend of One Year Share Love Letters on Instagram

Gloria knows that talking about once taboo topics can be risky, but she is not worried about the repercussion because she knows her audience and they know her.

“My audience is well aware of who I am and how I think from the songs that I write,” says Gloria, who also has a Brazilian album debuting later this year, a movie with a big male star (still a secret) in the early stages, and an animated film in the works.

“I’m fine with people hearing our frank discussions about sexuality and a wide range of other topics. But we may need a traffic cop for three Cuban women talking at the same time!”

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/3b2tln6

Wikipedia article of the day for February 1, 2020

The Wikipedia article of the day for February 1, 2020 is Prince Romerson.
Prince Romerson (c. 1840 – 1872) was a Native Hawaiian who fought in the American Civil War at a time when the Kingdom of Hawaii was an independent nation. Living in the American Northeast before the war, Romerson enlisted in the Union Navy in 1863 and served in the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. After being discharged, he reenlisted in the 5th Regiment Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Cavalry, a United States Colored Troops (USCT) regiment, in April 1864. Romerson rose to the rank of sergeant and was mustered out in October 1865, due to illness. After the war, like many USCT veterans, he remained in the army as a member of the Buffalo Soldiers (pictured), serving on the western frontier. In 2010, he was commemorated with over 100 other Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian-born "Hawaiʻi Sons of the Civil War" when a bronze plaque was erected along the memorial pathway at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Asher Angel Reveals How His Sound Has ‘Evolved Organically’ After Releasing ‘Chills’

Asher Angel’s new song ‘Chills’ is an obvious hit, but also is a departure from his other music! The singer/actor reveals how his sound has evolved in the last few years!

from Hollywood Life https://ift.tt/3aZOpe7

Kobe Bryant helicopter firm was not allowed to fly in fog

Island Express Helicopters was restricted to flying in clear conditions, officials say.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2vFDiqy

Could you handle the most remote campsite on earth?

Take a look inside an Antarctic campsite and find out how they survive.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3b5OOMf

Australia fires: How a unique slug species survived

The bright pink species is only found in a small habitat in Australia, experts say.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3aXLYso

Amazon rainforest: The 90-year-old trying to stop destruction

Newsnight was given rare access to a once-in-a-generation meeting of indigenous groups trying to save the Amazon.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/37Iq36u

Check Out All The Masked Singer Season 3 Contestants So Far

The masked singers are back, and they might just be weirder than ever. It only makes sense that the costumes on the Fox reality show have to keep getting stranger, since this is now the...

from E! Online (US) - Top Stories https://ift.tt/31bsDQ7

Terry Crews Apologizes to Gabrielle Union Over America's Got Talent Controversy

Time to make amends. After news broke that Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough would not be returning as judges on America's Got Talent, reports quickly circulated of behind the scenes...

from E! Online (US) - Top Stories https://ift.tt/2tX5u7T

Owen Wilson Cast in Upcoming Loki Series on Disney+ Starring Tom Hiddleston

Owen Wilson is heading to the MCU!

The actor, 51, has reportedly been cast in the upcoming Loki series from Disney+ and Marvel Studios, Comicbook.com reported on Friday.

Details about what role Wilson will play have not yet been revealed.

Reps for Disney+ did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. A rep for Marvel Studios had no comment when reached by PEOPLE.

The series already stars Tom Hiddleston, who will reprise his role from the Thor and Avengers movies in the series. While details of the show remain under wraps, Variety reported that it will see Hiddleston’s mischievous character arriving at different moments throughout history to influence major events.

Sophia Di Martino was previously cast and will join Wilson and Hiddleston in an unknown role.

Marvel Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige said in a Bloomberg profile published in November 2019 that the Loki series will connect to the Doctor Strange sequel that is set to premiere in May 2021.

Earlier this week, Hiddleston, 38, shared a video on Instagram of himself getting into Loki shape as he practiced his superhero moves in a harness.

“Prep is going really well. #Loki,” Hiddleston captioned the clip, which showed him flying through the air before landing on a green cushion.

The post came about a month after the Night Manager star revealed on Instagram that “prep” on the series was officially underway.

“Team Loki. Prep has officially begun! See you in the New Year,” he wrote alongside a group shot.

Wilson, meanwhile, has been busy working on other projects recently.

In October, he was spotted filming alongside Jennifer Lopez in Coney Island, New York for their upcoming romantic comedy, Marry Me.

Wilson’s last appearance on the big screen was in 2017’s Father Figures and Wonder, and as the voice of Lightning McQueen in Cars 3. He also appeared in two episodes of Documentary Now! last year.

The Loki series is set to premiere in the spring of 2021.

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/3aX7AVQ

Jordan Davis Never Expected to Be a 'Girl Dad' — but Now He Can't Imagine Life Any Other Way

From the moment he first found out he was going to be a dad, “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot” singer Jordan Davis was sure he and wife Kristen were going to have a boy. In fact, Kristen’s due date inched closer, Davis spent much of his time dreaming of all of the places he and his son would go and things they would do.

He was ready for a boy. But then, he got a girl — and everything was different.

“The second you see her, you know your life has forever changed,” Davis, 31, tells PEOPLE regarding his 10-week-old daughter Eloise, who was born in Nashville on Nov. 17. “It’s just this crazy feeling that all dads know. She came out and I just completely lost it. I’m definitely a girl dad. I just love the hell out of her.”

“She slept 11 hours last night,” Davis adds proudly. “She’s been great. She really has been a good sleeper since day one.”

Too good to be true, right? Well, sort of.

“Let’s just say she is great at night,” Davis says with a laugh. “We have definitely had some tough days. We have this bouncy ball thing and if she wasn’t being bounced, she wasn’t happy. There is not a lot of napping during the day.”

Luckily, the new mom and dad had some time to get used to their new schedule before Davis — who snagged back-to-back No. 1 hits with “Singles You Up” and “Take It from Me” off his debut album Home State — headed off on his Trouble Town Tour, which ends in Baltimore on March 21.

“We certainly didn’t do it on purpose, but we certainly couldn’t have picked a better time to have a baby,” Davis says. “We had family come in over the holidays and I got to spend five straight weeks at home. I can’t imagine what it would have been like if I hadn’t had that time.”

View this post on Instagram “French Market on a Tuesday”…As National Champs…Moving a little slow today, but had a awesome couple of days in New Orleans seeing family and friends…And watching @lsufootball put a bow on an amazing season…GEAUX TIGERS
A post shared by J O R D A N D A V I S (@jordandavisofficial) on Jan 14, 2020 at 1:31pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

And while the mere act of climbing up into that tour bus to travel to another tour stop will now come with a sense of melancholy for Davis, the Louisiana native admits that he has been itching to get back on the stage he loves.

“You get to missing playing music and being out on the road,” says Davis, who currently has stars-in-the-making Kassi Ashton and Hailey Whitters out on tour with him. “I mean, it’s our job. Even if it’s sad to leave, you have to step back and be thankful that this is what you get to do for a living.”

And while Davis is used to being a superstar on stage, he says the real star — when it comes to parenting — will always be wife Kristen.

“It’s almost like it happens overnight and it blows my mind,” says Davis of his wife, whom he married in 2017 and who is a practicing attorney. “All of a sudden, you look at your wife and she becomes this amazing mom right before your eyes.”

And while Davis says his wife plans to go back to work, he realizes that it only means he will have more time to spend with his little girl, who already loves playing her daddy’s beard.

“Since she has been born, the beard has been in the prime danger zone,” laughs Davis, who collaborated with Julia Michaels on “Cool Anymore.” “She’s always reaching up and grabbing it. I’ve lost a good amount of beard to that grabber. We have a couple of dogs and she will get scared when they bark and next thing you know, she will just grab a fist full of my beard.”

View this post on Instagram Landed in Nashville from Vegas and the bus was waiting at the airport to take us to Lexington for a show tonight…Walked on the bus, and the wife surprised me with about 10 minutes of hang time with this little one before we hit the road…Pretty awesome
A post shared by J O R D A N D A V I S (@jordandavisofficial) on Dec 10, 2019 at 11:15am PST

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All in all, Davis knows well that he finds himself at this moment of pure bliss — one that comes when your personal life is just as amazing as your professional one.

“It really is the perfect storm,” he says. “I’m super blessed and thankful. We are really having the time of our lives.”

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/31ituyy

From Her Creative Process to the Secret to a Perfect Burrito: What We Learned from Taylor Swift's Miss Americana

Taylor Swift‘s highly anticipated Netflix documentary Miss Americana is now available for streaming — and the pop star’s fans will find the film delivers.

The 30-year-old singer unveiled the movie at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 23 to praise from fans and critics alike.

From tackling her recent public political stance to shying away from showing off too much of her relationship with boyfriend Joe Alwyn, Swift provides her fans with a glimpse inside of her complicated life.

Here’s everything we’ve learned from Miss Americana.

1. Swift struggled with an eating disorder early in her career.

The pop singer opened up about feeling “triggered” by paparazzi photos of herself in an intimate moment in the film.

“I’ve learned over the years it’s not good for me to see pictures of myself every day because I have a tendency… I tend to get triggered by something whether it’s a picture where I feel like it looked like my tummy is too big or where someone said I looked pregnant,” Swift revealed.

She added, “That’ll just trigger me to starve a little bit, just stop eating.”

Now, Swift says, she’s managed to find a place where she feels happy with her body and doesn’t put too much thought on images of her that circulate around the Internet.

“I don’t care as much if someone points out that I’ve gained weight,” she said. “There’s always some standard of beauty that you’re not meeting. It’s all just f—ing impossible.”

2. Fans will see how the pop star creates her music and lyrics.

Swift gave director Lana Wilson unprecedented access to her music sessions while at the recording studio. The singer admitted she’d never had anyone with her in the studio that she wasn’t collaborating with during a Q&A after the premiere at Sundance.

“I didn’t want to know if it would stop me from feeling like I could come up with ideas and feeling like I could throw things out,” Swift said. “And there’s so much ridiculous-sounding ad-libbing that you do when you’re writing songs. So much of it sounds ridiculous until it sounds all right.”

She continued, “And a lot of that time, I would just always refuse to have any cameras in the studio whenever I write because I just feel like, what if I can’t do it. A then you’ve wasted a day and then I’ve wasted another creator’s time, I’ve wasted my producers time, I’ve wasted a co-writers time and I can’t write if somebody’s there.”

3. How she decided to go public with her political views.

In the documentary, Swift travels to her home state of Tennessee before the local elections to encourage people to register to vote and to also raise awareness as to how then-Senatorial candidate, Republican Marsha Blackburn, was anti-gay marriage, anti-gay rights and for rolling back protections for women when it came to domestic violence and stalking.

In a powerful scene, Swift and her mother, Andrea, attend a board meeting with members of her organization, including her father, Scott, to convince them to allow her to go public with her stance against Blackburn.

With her mother’s backing, Swift tearfully tells the all-male group, “I’m saying right now that I’m doing something that I know is right and I need to be on the right side of history.”

When Blackburn won the senatorial race, however, Swift was shocked and vowed to help increase voter turnout for the 2020 elections — as well as the release of a new political anthem, “Only the Young.”

4. On keeping her relationship with Joe Alwyn private.

While Alwyn was hardly seen in the film — except for a hug he gives Swift after one of her concert performances — the singer says he helped her in the aftermath of the scandal involving Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West.

“I had to deconstruct an entire belief system for my own personal sanity. I was also falling in love with someone who had a really wonderfully normal, balanced, grounded life,” she said.

“We decided together that we wanted our relationship to be private,” Swift added.

There are hints of Alwyn in the documentary, though. A montage of clips shot by the actor is shown, including Swift laughing as she tells him “I love you” while singing “Call It What You Want,” enjoying private dates in nature and the singer blowing out candles on a birthday cake.

“It was happiness without anyone else’s input. It was just … we were happy,” Swift said.

5. Why winning the trial against a former radio host who groped her didn’t feel like a victory.

In 2017, Swift countersued against former radio host David Mueller for $1 after he claimed in his lawsuit against her that she had gotten him fired.

Despite having the judge dismiss Mueller’s lawsuit, Swift said it was more of an ordeal than a win.

“I was so angry. I was angry that I had to be there,” she said. “I was angry that this happens to women. I was angry that people are paid to antagonize victims.”

Swift continued, “You don’t feel a sense of any victory when you win because the process is so dehumanizing.”

Following the trial, Swift shared a touching moment with her mother backstage at one of her concerts. Hugging her daughter, Andrea sobbed in Swift’s arms after her court win and explained how proud she was that she’d defended herself.

Swift hugged her mother back and comforted her, saying, “It’s OK, now.”

6. She didn’t discover burritos until her late 20s — and has a genius way of adding extra “crunch.”

During a recording session for her Lover album, Swift revealed she’d never eaten a burrito “until like two years ago.”

Enjoying a burrito during a lunch break, she showed a recording producer how she added extra “crunch” by adding a tortilla chip inside the burrito and taking a bite.

7. Revealing she felt “trained” to be good from an early age.

In the first few minutes of Miss Americana, home videos of Swift from her childhood are shown across the screen as it chronicles her early beginnings as a singer-songwriting all the way until she found success.

Swift explained she was “trained to be happy” since her childhood, adding the lesson wasn’t always a good one.

“My entire moral code as a kid and now is a need to be thought of as ‘good,'” she said. “It was all I wrote about, it was all I wanted, it was a complete and total belief system that I subscribed to as a kid.”

She continued, “And obviously, I’m not a perfect person by any stretch but overall the main thing that I always tried to do was just be a good girl. I became the person who everyone wanted me to be.”

8. Feeling she couldn’t “bounce back from” the Kimye scandal.

When West released his notorious 2016 song “Famous” with the lyrics, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex
Why? I made that bitch famous,” Swift responded saying she had not been aware the rapper would call her a derogatory name.

In response, Kardashian West released an edited video of her husband on the phone with Swift, acknowledging the “sex” part of the song. West insisted that Swift approved the lyric, though a rep for Swift said, “Kanye did not call for approval, but to ask Taylor to release his single ‘Famous’ on her Twitter account. She declined and cautioned him about releasing a song with such a strong misogynistic message. Taylor was never made aware of the actual lyric, ‘I made that bitch famous.’ “

Swift recalled the aftermath of the scandal in the documentary, saying, “When people decided I was wicked and evil and conniving and not a good person, that was the one I couldn’t really bounce back from because my whole life was centered around it.”

9. On her mother’s cancer.

Swift was dealt with another blow when her mother, Andrea, was diagnosed with cancer.

“That has been really hard for me because she is my favorite person,” the pop star. “It woke me up from this life where I used to sweat all these things, but like, do you really care if the Internet doesn’t like you today if your mom’s sick from her chemo?”

In a sweet moment, Andrea explains after her diagnosis she did something she’s “always wanted to do”: adopt a huge dog which she calls her “cancer dog.”

Swift explained the pup was also Andrea’s “third child, like a human-sized dog.”

10. How the 2009 VMAs made her feel like she didn’t belong.

Reliving the experience of West taking the microphone from her during her 2009 VMA acceptance speech, Swift said the moment was a crucial part of her life.

“It was so echo-y in there. At the time, I didn’t know they were booing him doing that,” she said. “I thought they were booing me.”

“For someone who has built their whole belief system on getting people to clap for you, the whole crowd booing is a pretty formative experience.”

She added, “That was a sort of catalyst for a lot of psychological paths that I went on and not all of them were beneficial. It was all fueled by me not feeling like I belonged there. I’m only here because I work hard and I’m nice to people.”

Miss Americana is now streaming on Netflix.

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/2GEwewC

NPR News: Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, Key Figure In Impeachment Trial, Retires

Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, Key Figure In Impeachment Trial, Retires
The career diplomat who became a key figure in the impeachment of President Trump, was forced out of her post in May.

Read more on NPR

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Billie Eilish Speaks Out Against YouTuber for ''Disrespectful Public'' Impersonation

Billie Eilish, 2020 Grammys, Grammy Awards

Billie Eilish is pointing fingers at the "Bad Guy." If you've recently heard about the singer being rude to fans, it likely wasn't her. Turns out, multiple people have...

from E! Online (US) - Top Stories https://ift.tt/38UsUtq

Lori Loughlin and Husband Mossimo Giannulli's $28 Million Bel Air Mansion Is For Sale

Lori Loughlin, Mossimo Giannulli, Bel Air home

It's time for an upgrade! Full House star Lori Loughlin and her fashion mogul husband Mossimo Giannulli are parting ways with their luxurious Bel Air mansion, according to TMZ. The...

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are ''Hoping'' to Spend Their Summer in Los Angeles

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Shane Fitzsimmons: 'Tireless' fire chief steering Australians through disaster

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R. Kelly's Ex Azriel Clary Claims She Was 'Abused' and 'Brainwashed' by the Singer

R. Kelly‘s former girlfriend Azriel Clary is claiming the singer verbally and physically abused her while they were together.

During a recent interview with The Sun, Clary, 22, said she was abused and brainwashed by Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly. R. Kelly’s lawyer denies the claims Clary made in her interview with The Sun.

Azriel first met Kelly, 53, when she was just 17 and soon went on to become one of his five live-in girlfriends, she told The Sun.

She explained to the outlet that Kelly gave her the title of being his “number one girl” and promised to marry her one day.

However, she told The Sun their romance took a dark turn when he began forcing her to have group sex with him and other men as well as other women up to five times a day.

If she or other women didn’t do as they were told, Clary claimed that Kelly would beat them or get the women to beat each other up.

Clary went on to allege that Kelly would also get jealous if she was in contact with anyone other than him.

“I was talking to my friends from high school and he didn’t like that I was still talking to them. He thought that I was keeping things from him. I was just in communication with two of my girlfriends and he made me text them a very long lie, basically saying why I no longer wanted to be friends with them. And then he beat me, he abused me verbally and then he beat physically,” Clary told The Sun. “Then he beat me with a shoe — a size 12, Nike Air Force One shoe.”

“He beat me all over, it felt like hours and I was covered in welts all the way from my neck down,” Clary alleged.

After the beating, Clary told The Sun that Kelly later apologized “and sobbed and cried.”

Still, the abuse didn’t stop, Clary said. “Sexual abuse did happen regularly.”

Clary alleged that he continued to have control on her and Kelly’s other girlfriend Joycelyn Savage even after he went to jail in July.

“MCC is on the left side of the street and there’s a train that runs straight in front of the MCC in Chicago,” Clary told The Sun.

“So, every day he would make us go up there and stand up there and wave to him at four o’clock through the window of the jail,” Clary alleged to The Sun.

Despite the traumatic occurrences, Clary remained supportive of Kelly in public — something she said she now regrets.

Clary told The Sun she lied during her and Savage’s March 2019 interview with Gayle King for CBS This Morning.

“I was very naive and very brainwashed and manipulated by him,” Clary told The Sun. “I’m grown enough to admit that yes, I was brainwashed. Yes, this man did have me wrapped around his finger. If he would have told me to jump, I would have said, ‘How high?'”

“It was all because I just genuinely just loved him and I love hard,” Clary told The Sun.

While Clary managed to leave the relationship, she explained it won’t be easy for other women to.

“Robert has his live-in girlfriends, he has girlfriends in every city. He has flings in every city. For the most part he blackmails everyone. He makes everyone do very degrading stuff, whether on film or writing it down, he makes them sign it,” Clary alleged to The Sun.

“I think a lot of women are ashamed or embarrassed to come out because of stuff like that because it’ll be incriminating them — there’s so much stuff,” she told the news outlet.

Kelly’s attorney Steve Greenberg denied these claims in a statement, telling PEOPLE, “We are shocked to learn that Ms. Clary is making these allegations. They are false. What she now says is directly contrary to truth, and the facts that have been brought forward by Ms. Clary in the past.

“It is also directly contrary to what we expect to be the proof. As with other ‘accusers’, the lack of proof and their past actions impeach them,” Greenberg adds. “In sum, Ms. Clary had a long-term consensual relationship with Mr. Kelly. It continued after he was arrested, when she was free to do as she wished.”

“It is clear that she now seeks to personally capitalize from their relationship, and the only way to do so is to parrot the false narrative, egged on by her father,” Greenberg continues. “The allegations are not true. Still, Mr. Kelly bears only good will towards Ms. Clary.”

After several years of not seeing her loved ones, Clary was reunited with her family earlier this month.

The reunion came after Clary was involved with an alleged fight with Savage inside of Kelly’s Trump Tower condo in Chicago.

After the fight, Azriel’s mom Alice confirmed to PEOPLE that her daughter was back in contact with her family.

View this post on Instagram suprise Let the healing process begin. Love yall and thank y’all I even thank everyone who follows me.. because you all believed in me when I could not believe for myself. #movingontobetterdays P.S – everyone will be posting there own fav photos so make sure y’all follow the family! #ontherunwithazriel
A post shared by Azriel Clary (@azrielmostwanted) on Jan 13, 2020 at 2:04pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

On Jan. 13, Azriel shared a series of sweet photos of herself posing along with her family on Instagram.

“Let the healing process begin,” Azriel began her emotional caption. “Love y’all and thank y’all I even thank everyone who follows me.. because you all believed in me when I could not believe for myself. #movingontobetterdays.”

“P.S – everyone will be posting own fave photos so make sure y’all follow the family! #ontherunwithazriel,” she concluded.

Azriel’s mother revealed to PEOPLE that she couldn’t be happier to reunite with her daughter.

“The battle is won because she’s still here, she’s still alive, she’s still breathing and though she lost a few years of her life, she’s still here to tell her story,” Alice said. “Because I chose not to keep her secluded in her life, she’s here now and we’re able to say the victory is won because she finally came to her senses.”

Kelly is currently being held without bail in federal prison in Chicago after being arrested on several sex crime charges, including child pornography, racketeering and obstruction of justice in both Illinois and New York, PEOPLE previously reported. He pleaded not guilty to all of those charges.

Most recently, the singer pleaded not guilty to a racketeering charge brought forward by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn last month.

Kelly, who was also interviewed by King in March, broke down in tears, denying every allegation against him.

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Island Express Helicopters Temporarily Suspends Operations After Kobe Bryant's Fatal Crash

Island Express Helicopters — the company that owned the aircraft Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers were on when it crashed in Calabasas, California on Sunday — has temporarily suspended its operations in the wake of the tragic incident.

A representative for the Long Beach-based company told PEOPLE on Thursday that Island Express Helicopter has suspended flight services for Thursday and Friday.

The company, which charters flights as well as transportation services to and from Catalina Island, will reach out to its clients should they continue to suspend their operations past those dates, the spokesperson said.

Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13, were reportedly on their way to a youth basketball game in Thousand Oaks with parents and players from the Mamba Sports Academy girls’ team when the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter they were on crashed into a hill. The two died alongside pilot Ara Zobayan, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser, John Altobelli, his wife Keri Altobelli and their daughter, Alyssa Altobelli.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our top priority is providing assistance to the families of the passengers and the pilot. We hope that you will respect their privacy at this extremely difficult time,” Island Express Helicopters said in a statement at the time. “We are working closely with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the cause of the accident and we are grateful to the first responders and local authorities for their response to this unimaginable accident.”

During a press conference on Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board said the helicopter could have potentially avoided the hill had it been flying 20 to 30 feet higher.

However, NTSB investigator Bill English also noted that there were still surrounding hills that would have required an even higher altitude for clearance.

“It’s important to realize that there’s not one hill,” English said. “It’s a ravine with undulating terrain, so the small outcropping that had the main impact in it, the main impact was about 20 to 30 feet from the top of that small hill. But there are actually other higher hills surrounding it.”

RELATED VIDEO: Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Plunged 2,000 Ft. Per Minute in ‘High Energy Impact’ Crash

According to the federal agency, the aircraft — which had been flying in extremely foggy conditions — plunged over “2,000 feet per minute” before crashing into a mountain, in what the NTSB described as a “high-energy impact crash.”

Investigators said the helicopter was not equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), a cockpit voice recorder (CVR), flight data recorders (FDR) or black boxes — tools they believe could have helped the pilot during the flight.

Bryant — who is survived by wife Vanessa, 37, and their daughters Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, 7 months — previously shared he began using helicopters while he still played for the Los Angeles Lakers as a way to spend more time with his family.

“I was sitting in traffic and I wound up missing like a school play,” he told Alex Rodriguez in a 2018 interview. “I had to figure out a way where I could still train and focus on the craft but still not compromise family time.”

“So that’s when I looked into helicopters, to be able to get down and back in 15 minutes and that’s when it started,” he added at the time.

If you would like to help the families of the victims of the crash, consider donating to the Mamba on Three Fund. Donations to the Mamba Sports Foundation will help support youth sports.

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K-Pop Group Stray Kids Say They 'Can Overcome Anything' With Their Fans — aka 'Stays'

PEOPLE Now airs live, Monday through Friday, from the Meredith offices in New York City.

Catch PEOPLE Now every weekday at 12:00 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on People.com or on the PeopleTV app on your favorite streaming device. Want even more? Check out clips from previous episodes of PEOPLE Now.

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Amazon Thinks These New ‘Buttery Soft’ Leopard-Print Leggings Are a Yoga Must-Have — and They Have a Secret Feature

Yes, leopard print is still trending, so if you haven’t embraced the look yet, there’s still time to shine in your leopard best. But if full-on panther isn’t your thing, Amazon brand Core 10 has just released a cute-yet-subtle way to wear the print.

The popular activewear brand known for its customizable leggings dropped a new pair of leggings featuring leopard spots in three muted colors: black, beige, and burgundy. They’re high-waisted and squat-proof, and they even have a secret pocket in the back of the waistband that fits a smartphone. The under-$40 leggings are also size-inclusive, ranging from extra small to 3X.

Since their launch just a few days ago, they’ve already zoomed up the best-sellers chart in the women’s plus-size athletic pants category and are quickly selling out in the black option. Amazon Fashion editors even included the leggings in their recent “workout upgrade” picks in their Instagram story.

Buy It! Core 10 Spectrum Yoga High Waist 7/8 Crop Legging, $39; amazon.com

If you haven’t heard of Core 10 yet, you may want to put the brand on your radar. It has tons of super comfy leggings under its umbrella, including options that look like styles from higher-end brands but at a fraction of the cost, like the Dare Devil High-Waist Leggings and the Ballerina Yoga Leggings.

Buy It! Core 10 Dare Devil High-Waist Leggings, from $38.25; amazon.com; Core 10 Ballerina Yoga Leggings, $36.85 (orig. $45); amazon.com

Plus, all Core 10 leggings are eligible for Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping, so your leopard Spectrum Yoga High Waist leggings can be at your doorstep by the time you hit the gym this weekend — yes, please!

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Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli List Multi-Million Dollar Mansion Amid College Admissions Scandal

Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannuli have listed their multi-million dollar mansion where they had been “laying low” amidst the college admissions scandal.

The couple, who could end up facing years in prison for their alleged involvement in the scandal, have listed their mansion for almost $28.7 million TMZ reported Thursday.

Sources reportedly told the outlet that the sale has “nothing” to do with the scandal, but that the couple is “following Mossimo’s passion for architecture.”

Loughlin and Giannuli used the property as collateral for their $2 million bail for the fraud charges, PEOPLE reported in March of last year.

U.S. District Judge Alexander MacKinnon reportedly told Giannuli in court at the time that the government could foreclose on the residence if the terms of his release were violated, the New York Daily News reported.

The 12,000 square-foot mansion includes six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, a large swimming pool, outdoor courtyard, two living rooms, formal dining room and an eat-in chef’s kitchen.

Loughlin and Giannuli tried to sell the home for $35 million in 2017, Variety reported at the time, after purchasing it in 2015 for $13.995 million.

Loughlin and Giannuli are accused of paying $500,000 to admissions consultant Rick Singer (and his nonprofit organization, Key Worldwide Foundation) to falsely designate daughters Olivia Jade Giannulli, 20, and Isabella Rose Giannulli, 21, as recruits to the University of Southern California crew team, even though neither of them ever participated in the sport.

It is also alleged that the family even took photos of Olivia and Isabella on rowing equipment to perpetuate the ruse.

In October 2019, the parents were charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery in addition to charges of money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud.

Both have pleaded not guilty on the counts against them.

A source close to the actress told PEOPLE last month that the Full House star did not realize she was doing anything illegal.

“Lori was hoodwinked by Rick Singer,” the source said. “There’s no other way to put it. She was convinced that she was making a donation, just like parents have been doing for years.”

“She did not have any intent to do something illegal, and in fact, she thought she was doing the right thing,” the source said. “That’s why she hasn’t pleaded guilty; frankly, she believes that she is innocent and that the evidence shown in court will prove that. Unfortunately, it seems as though the prosecution is hell-bent on making examples out of people, and not playing fair.”

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Every Edition of Apple AirPods Are on Sale on Amazon Right Now

If you’re ready to go cord free, these Apple AirPods deals are here to make it happen.

Apple AirPods are currently on sale on Amazon, including the original style (latest model), which is at its lowest price ever and marked down to just $128.99. The wireless charging edition (latest model) and the brand’s recently launched AirPods Pro are also discounted.

Apple AirPods Deals on Amazon

Apple AirPods, $128.99 (orig. $159); amazon.com Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, $169 (orig. $199); amazon.com Apple AirPods Pro, $234.98 (orig. $249); amazon.com

All three wireless, Bluetooth earbuds are Prime-eligible and wildly popular with shoppers, earning thousands of five-star reviews. With savings up to 19 percent off — that, in some cases, even top Amazon’s most recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals — it’s the perfect time to invest in a pair.

Shoppers looking for the cheapest deal should look no further than the Apple AirPods that come with a corded charging case, which are currently 19 percent off. Those looking to go completely cord-free should opt for the AirPods with the wireless charging case, which are 15 percent off and going for $169. And Apple fans wanting the absolute latest and greatest should snag a pair of the AirPods Pro. While they’re currently waiting to be restocked, you can save by ordering them at a discount now, and they’ll ship out once they’re back in stock.

Buy It! Apple AirPods (Latest Model), $128.99 (orig. $159); amazon.com

Buy It! Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging (Latest Model), $169 (orig. $199); amazon.com

The newest Pro edition features two listening modes — transparency mode and active noise cancellation — as well as a customizable fit and a sweat- and water-resistant design. That’s all in addition to the on-ear touch controls, built-in microphone, fast pairing, and long-lasting battery offered in all three styles.

Buy It! Apple AirPods Pro, $234.98 (orig. $249); amazon.com

Just like the retailer’s other deals, these markdowns are bound to move fast and may even sell out before this promotion ends. Grab a pair while you can, or else you may have to wait awhile for another offer like this.

Do you love a good deal? Sign up for PEOPLE’s Shopping newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest sales from your favorite brands, plus celebrity fashion, home decor and more.

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Lakers Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis Honor Kobe Bryant with Mamba-Inspired Tattoos

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James appeared to debut a new tattoo in honor of the late Kobe Bryant, who died on Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of his 13-year-old daughter and seven more victims.

In a short video posted to his Instagram Story on Wednesday, James, 35, revealed he was in the process of getting a tattoo on his left thigh. Though James didn’t unveil the finished design, photographers caught a glimpse of his new body art during a team workout on Thursday morning.

Because the ink is covered by a clear bandage, it’s difficult to decipher exactly what artist Vanessa Aurelia tattoed on the three-time NBA champion. Photos appear to show a snake, in reference to Bryant’s “Black Mamba“ nickname, along with the words, “Mamba 4 Life.”

Meanwhile, Lakers star Anthony Davis also shared a video of himself receiving a similar tattoo from Aurelia, but he, too, hasn’t revealed what he received.

Aurelia did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

According to TMZ, James will debut the ink on social media this week, likely before the Lakers take on the Portland Trailblazers on Friday at Staples Center. The home game will be the first time the Lakers take to the court following the fatal crash.

Though James has yet to address the media in-person following role model Bryant’s death, he posted the first of two Instagram tributes to the 41-year-old on Monday night.

“I’m Not Ready but here I go. Man I sitting here trying to write something for this post but every time I try I begin crying again just thinking about you, niece Gigi and the friendship/bond/brotherhood we had!” James said of Bryant, who won five championships in 20 seasons with the Lakers.

“It’s my responsibility to put this s— on my back and keep it going!!” he continued. “Please give me the strength from the heavens above and watch over me! I got US here! There’s so much more I want to say but just can’t right now because I can’t get through it! Until we meet again my brother!!“

The next day, James uploaded a video of him greeting Bryant and Gianna during a recent game at Staples Center. “My brother!! I love you man!!” he wrote.

View this post on Instagram my brother!! I love you man!! . X
A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Jan 28, 2020 at 3:08pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

The night before Bryant’s death, James and Bryant shared a special moment.

During the Jan. 25 game between the Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, James, who wore special shoes during the performance that paid tribute to Bryant, passed the Lakers legend for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Later on, Bryant congratulated James on the milestone with a message on Instagram. “On to #2 @kingjames!” Bryant wrote. “Keep growing the game and charting the path for the next.”

If you would like to help the families of the other victims of the crash, consider donating to the Mamba on Three Fund. Donations to the Mamba Sports Foundation will help support youth sports.

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W.H.O. Declares Global Emergency as Wuhan Coronavirus Spreads

By SUI-LEE WEE, DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. and JAVIER C. HERNÁNDEZ from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2U9uuTX

Lori Loughlin and Husband Mossimo Giannulli Put Mansion on the Market for $28 Million Amid Legal Battle

Looking for a new home? Lori Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, have put their mansion on the market for $28 million amid their ongoing legal battle, In Touch can confirm. It was... Read More >>

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Amazon Christmas sales soar as rivals struggle

Sales were up 20% over the festive season in sharp contrast to weakness at other retailers.

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Lakers GM Rob Pelinka Mourns Deaths of 'Best Friend' Kobe Bryant and 'Sweet Goddaughter' Gianna

Kobe Bryant‘s longtime agent and close confidant Rob Pelinka is devastated by the deaths of the NBA icon and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

On Thursday, Pelinka, who serves as Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, released an emotional statement about the Jan. 26 helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna and seven more victims in Calabasas, California.

“I lost my best friend and my sweet goddaughter. With that, there has been an amputation of part of my soul,” began Pelinka, 50, who left Landmark Sports Agency to join the Lakers organization in 2017.

“Kobe was a force of nature, deep and obsessed with excellence. He was wise, determined, passionate. A visionary beyond measure. A dedicated and loving husband, and a ‘girl-dad’ like no other,” he continued. “When he walked into a room, the energy ignited. He was high voltage, with a motor that had no limits. His mind had an infinite capacity to learn. He was, simply put, the most inspirational athlete of our time. What the world may not know, is that he was also the best friend anyone could ever imagine.”

Pelinka, who is a father of two, also shared loving words for his goddaughter Gianna.

“Gigi was pure joy. Her smile brought comfort to any and every occasion. She was brilliant, kind and warm. And, like her dad, when she stepped onto the basketball court, she took on an entirely different nature, and boy could she play,” he wrote. “Her basketball destiny was apparent, and the world knew it. She was also an extraordinary, loyal and supportive sister, and a wonderful friend to my children. My son and daughter always left time with Gigi feeling better about life itself. Everything Gigi stood for, I am so proud of.”

Kobe and Gigi are survived by Vanessa Bryant, 37, as well as Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and 7-month-old Capri. The father-daughter pair were two of nine victims killed in the crash, along with John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan.

Quoting late author Maya Angelou (“When great trees fall … lions hunker down in tall grasses”), Pelinka continued: “What I am daily learning is that after the tragic loss of these nine souls, life on this side of eternity will never be the same. For any of us who knew them, there is an irreplaceable void left behind. But I am also finding that there is a hope. For now, each new step for me will be full of deep love and prayers, as a heavy sorrow for Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri, and all the families involved, is slowly redeemed into something healed and new. I am coming to realize that nothing can separate any of us from the love and inspiration we’ve received from Kobe and Gianna, nothing at all.”

And Pelinka, who was present at the team’s practice on Wednesday, concluded his tribute with a hopeful message. “Their lives have shown me that death has no victory. Last Sunday is not the end of the story. It’s just a new beginning. Kobe and Gigi’s legacies will live on – and gain even more power and influence. All of us touched by them will now try to become torch carriers of their legacies,” he wrote, adding, “And, while we do that, we can be certain of this: Kobe and Gigi will continue on, forever, playing a joy-filled game of basketball in heaven above.”

Pelinka’s statement was released on the same day as Los Angeles Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss, who broke her silence on Instagram.

Buss — who took over as owner of the Lakers following the death of her father, Jerry Buss, in 2013 — reflected on Bryant’s importance to her family and to the franchise he called home for 20 years.

“Kobe, I don’t know how to express what you mean to me, my family and the Los Angeles Lakers. My father loved you like a son, which makes us family,” she wrote in the post, which included a picture of herself and the Bryant family on the way to the NBA All-Star Game in 2016.

Bryant and Buss knew each other for more than two decades. After Bryant was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft, he soon became a Laker as her father approved a trade for him that day. Buss has held multiple executive roles with the team throughout her career.

One day prior to Buss and Pelinka’s statements, widow Vanessa Bryant made her first public statements.

Speaking to fans and followers about the loss of her “adoring” husband and their “beautiful, sweet” daughter Gianna, the mother of four wrote, “We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately. There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now,” adding, “I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.”

Vanessa continued: “I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever.”

In her statement, she also announced that the Mamba Sports Foundation set up the MambaOnThree Fund to “help support the other families affected by this tragedy.”

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Wikipedia article of the day for January 31, 2020

The Wikipedia article of the day for January 31, 2020 is Roman temple of Bziza.
The Roman temple of Bziza is a well-preserved first-century AD Roman temple in the Lebanese town of Bziza. It is dedicated to Azizos, a personification of the morning star in the Canaanite mythology. The temple's name is a corruption of Beth Azizo, meaning the house or temple of Azizos. The building has two doors that connect the portico to a square chamber. To the back of the temple lie the remains of the adyton where images of the deity once stood. The ancient temple was meant to function as the dwelling place of the deity. It was converted into a church and underwent architectural modification during two phases of Christianization: in the Early Byzantine period and in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The church, colloquially known until modern times as the Lady of the Pillars, fell into disrepair. Despite the church's condition, Christian devotion was still maintained in the nineteenth century in one of the temple's niches.

NPR News: White House Moves To Formally Decriminalize Accidentally Killing Birds

White House Moves To Formally Decriminalize Accidentally Killing Birds
Wildlife protection groups are decrying the proposal as an attempt to gut a century-old law that protects birds, while industry groups say they have long been hamstrung by the threat of legal action.

Read more on NPR

Lori Loughlin & Mossimo Giannulli List $28 Million Bel-Air Estate Amidst College Admissions Scandal

Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli are unloading their Bel Air estate for nearly $30 million, as they continue their legal fight in the college admissions scandal.

from Hollywood Life https://ift.tt/2uROIXB

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Vanessa Bryant ‘Devastated’ by Kobe and Gianna’s Deaths, But ‘Takes Comfort Knowing They’re Deeply Loved’

She’s speaking out. Vanessa Bryant released her first statement in the wake of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant’s tragic deaths on Sunday, January 26, revealing that she’s absolutely grief-stricken to lose her husband... Read More >>

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Homero Gómez: Missing Mexican butterfly activist found dead

Activists fear that Homero Gómez may have been targeted because of his fight against illegal logging.

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Is visiting a strip club anti-feminist?

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A holiday camp for India's captive elephants

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Britons give Brexit boost to idyllic French village

The share of property held by Britons may be falling in France, but the opposite is happening in Eymet.

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African diaspora: Did Ghana's Year of Return attract foreign visitors?

Ghana's president has declared the Year of Return targeting the African diaspora a great success - but is he right?

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Kobe Bryant's Widow Vanessa Speaks Out Following Husband and Daughter Gianna's Tragic Deaths

Vanessa Bryant is breaking her silence following the sudden deaths of her husband Kobe Bryant and their 13-year-old daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash on Sunday. The legendary Lakers star was 41.

On Wednesday, Vanessa shared a heartwarming message, thanking “the millions of people” for their support and love.

“My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers,” Vanessa wrote. We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.”

“We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately. There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now,” she added. “I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.”

“I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way,” she continued.

View this post on Instagram My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately. There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon. I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever. Thank you for sharing your joy, your grief and your support with us. We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality. To honor our Team Mamba family, the Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to help support the other families affected by this tragedy. To donate, please go to MambaOnThree.org. To further Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports, please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org. Thank you so much for lifting us up in your prayers, and for loving Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and me. #Mamba #Mambacita #GirlsDad #DaddysGirls #Family
A post shared by Vanessa Bryant (@vanessabryant) on Jan 29, 2020 at 4:59pm PST

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” Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever.
Thank you for sharing your joy, your grief and your support with us. We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality.”

“To honor our Team Mamba family, the Mamba Sports Foundation has set up the MambaOnThree Fund to help support the other families affected by this tragedy. To donate, please go to MambaOnThree.org.
To further Kobe and Gianna’s legacy in youth sports, please visit MambaSportsFoundation.org.”

“Thank you so much for lifting us up in your prayers, and for loving Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and me. #Mamba #Mambacita #GirlsDad #DaddysGirls #Family ”

The mother of four, 37, wed Bryant in April 2001, when he was just 22 and she was 18. During their nearly 19-year marriage, the couple welcomed four daughters: Gianna, Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and 7-month-old Capri.

A source told PEOPLE in the wake of the shocking deaths that, as expected, Vanessa is “devastated.”

“She can hardly keep it together,” the insider said. “She can’t finish a sentence without crying. But she is working very hard to pull it together for the other girls. She now has to be the strong one.”

The insider noted, “Of course, you can never be prepared for this. Despite their ups and downs, were soulmates. She thought of him as her partner for life.”

The father-daughter pair were victims in the deadly helicopter crash, which took place on Sunday around 10 a.m. local time in Calabasas, California.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby confirmed that there were nine victims in total — the pilot and eight others.

“All survivors were determined to have been perished,” Osby said, adding it took authorities eight minutes to get to the crash site.

Seven other victims were later identified as John Altobelli, who was the head baseball coach at Orange Coast College, his wife Keri Altobelli and their daughter, Alyssa Altobelli, who played on Gianna’s basketball team, which Bryant coached.

John, 56, and Keri were also parents to daughter Alexis Altobelli and son J.J. Altobelli, who works as a scout for the Red Sox.

John’s brother, Tony Altobelli, told PEOPLE, “I’m numb right now, I’m numb, I’m broken, I’m going to miss him terribly. He was my brother, he was my idol growing up, also my idol as an adult. You want to live my brother did, he was straight and narrow, he worked hard and he earned the respect of everybody who ever knew him and he left a legacy that will go way beyond his time spent in Orange Coast. I don’t know how you can not want to live a life like that.”

In addition, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton Chester, who was also a teammate of Gianna’s, were on board the helicopter that was piloted by Ara Zobayan, who was killed.

Also, girls basketball coach Christina Mauser of Harbor Day School in Orange County, California, died in the crash. “She loved three things so much: her husband, her three kids, and basketball. That’s who she was,” Mauser’s friend told PEOPLE.

Zobayan of Huntington Beach, California, “was as skilled and as talented as a pilot as you could get. With him, it was always safety first and above and beyond that, he was doing what he loved,” said Adam Alexander, who called Zobayan a former instructor.

A source told PEOPLE that Zobayan was “extremely experienced” as a pilot. “It’s just such a shock. There are no words to express how much Ara will be missed and how sad everyone is about the passengers that died. It’s just such a painful tragedy. So many families affected and so much pain,” the source said.

The crash is currently under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the aircraft was a Sikorsky S-76.

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/38MnArV