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A shocking picture of a drowned man and his daughter underscores the crisis at the US-Mexico borders

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The photograph can be haunting, a shocking reminder of the dangers many immigrants face when they attempt to cross into the United States from Mexico. It shows human losses of a crisis at the border that is often a subject of debate with abstract statistics and detached policy arguments.

The image is of a Salvadoran father and his daughter lying face down in the water of the Rio Grande, part of the US borders with Mexico, is a heartbreaking scene that shows the suffering behind the numbers.

Advocates had been warning for months that deaths at the border would increase, as migrants are forced to cross the borders by passing through more dangerous areas by US policies that make it even harder for those who seek asylum to turn themselves in at ports of entry.

Oscar Alberto Martinez and his young daughter were identified by officials from El Salvador as Angie Valeria Martinez, drowned in the water of the Rio Grande as they tried to slip into the United States on Sunday.

Their bodies were found across the river from Brownsville, Texas, near Matamoros on  Monday. The Associated Press reported that the young daughter was only 2 years old.

 

The photo was taken by Julia Le Duc, a journalist who lives in Mexico.

 

In the photograph, the 2-year-old girl is tucked inside her father’s shirt, her arm is slung around his neck as they lie near the shore. Their bodies have come to rest next to five discarded beer cans and an empty soda bottle near a riverbank. Another beer floats next to the young girl’s body.

Mexican authorities walk along the river bank where the two bodies were found.

The photo evoked memories of a 3-year-old Syrian boy, Aylan Kurdi, whose body washed up on a beach in Turkey. The iconic 2015 image of the drowned Syrian toddler lying all wet in the sand continues to stir discussion over policies toward migrants.

The deaths of the father and child prompted Salvadoran Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Hill to beg her countrymen to stay and work with the government as it tries to solve the economic issues that cause many to look to migrate north.

“Our country is in mourning, again. I beg you, to all the families, parents, don’t risk it. Life is worth a lot more,” she added.

Hill said that the government is still working with Mexican authorities to repatriate the remains.

El Salvador’s newly elected Nayib Bukele President and said that the government would help the family financially.

CNN’s Andrea Diaz and Catherine E. Shoichet contributed to this report.

The Silent Tragedy Is Affecting Today’s Children

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There is a serious silent tragedy which is developing as we speak, in our homes, and it concerns our most valuable jewels, our beloved children. Through my work as an occupational therapist, I have witnessed this tragedy unfolding in with hundreds of children and families right in front of eyes. Our children are in a really bad, devastating emotional state! Talk to professionals and teachers who have been working with children for the last 15 years. And you will see that they have concerns which are similar to mine. Moreover, researchers have been releasing alarming statistics in the past 15 years on a sharp and steady increase in mental illness in kids, which is now reaching proportions that makes it to be an epidemic:

How much more evidence do we need for mental illness in kids before we wake up?

No, “increased diagnostics alone” is not the answer!

And No, they are not just born this way!

Nor, it’s the school system’s fault.

 

Yes, admitting can be very painful, in most cases if not all, as parents, we are the true answer to many of our kids’ struggles!

It is scientifically proven that the brain has the capacity to rewire itself through the environment. Unfortunately, with the environment and parenting styles that we are providing to our children, we are rewiring their brains in a wrong direction and contributing to their challenges in everyday life.

Yes, there are and always have been children who are born with such disabilities that despite the efforts their parents spend trying to provide them with a well-balanced environment and parenting, their children’s struggles never stop. And these are definitely NOT the children we are talking about here.

I am talking about many children whose challenges are most likely shaped by the environmental factors that parents, with their greatest intentions, provide to their children. As I have seen in my practice, the moment parents change their perspective on parenting, these children change and so does mental illness in kids.

What is wrong?

Today’s children are being deprived of the healthy fundamentals of a childhood, such as:

  • Emotionally available parents
  • Clearly defined limits and guidance
  • Responsibilities
  • Balanced nutrition and adequate sleep
  • Movement and outdoors
  • Social interaction, Creative play, opportunities for unstructured times and boredom

Instead, children are being served with:

  • Digitally distracted parents
  • Indulgent parents who tend to let their kids “Rule the world”
  • Sense of entitlement rather than responsibility
  • Inadequate sleep and unbalanced nutrition
  • Sedentary indoor lifestyle
  • Technological babysitters, Endless stimulation, instant gratification, and absence of dull moments

Could anyone imagine the possibility of raising a healthy generation in such an unhealthy environment? Of course not! There are no shortcuts when it comes to parenting, and we just can’t trick the human nature. As we all see, the outcomes are totally devastating. Our children are the ones paying for the loss well-balanced childhood with their emotional well-being and we are just making mental illness in kids to be worse.

How to fix it?

If we truly want our children to grow to be healthy, happy individuals, we have to wake up and go back to the basics of parenting. It is still possible after all! I know this because hundreds of parents saw some serious positive changes in their kids’ emotional state within weeks, and even days in some cases, after implementing these recommendations:

  1. Set limits and remember that you are your child’s PARENT, not a friend. Offer your kids well-balanced healthy lifestyle filled with what kids NEED, not just what they tell you they WANT. Don’t be afraid to say “No!” to your kids if you see that what they want is not what they need.
  • Provide healthy nutritious food and limits snacks.
  • Spend at least one hour a day in green space: biking, hiking, fishing, watching birds/insects
  • Have a technology-free family dinner once a week.
  • Play one or two board games a day. (List of family games)
  • Involve your child in one house chore a day (folding laundry, tidying up toys, hanging clothes, unpacking groceries, setting the table…etc)
  • Implement consistent sleep schedule to make sure that your child gets lots of sleep in a technology-free bedroom
  1. Teach responsibility and independence. Don’t over-protect them from minor failures. It trains them to acquire skills which they’ll need to overcome greater life’s challenges:
  • Don’t ever pack your children’s backpacks, nor carry it, don’t bring to school his forgotten lunch, box, agenda. And don’t you peel a banana for a 5-year-old child. Teach them how to do things rather than doing it for them.
  1. Teach delayed gratification and provide opportunities for “boredom” as boredom is the time when creativity awakens:
  • Don’t feel as if you are responsible for being your child’s entertainment crew.
  • don’t use technology as a remedy for boredom.
  • Avoid using your phone during meals, inside the car, in restaurants, malls. Use these rare moments as opportunities for their brains to be trained to function under “boredom”
  • Help them creating a “boredom first aid kit” with activity ideas for times when they are bored.
  1. Be emotionally available to connect with kids and teach them self-regulation and social skills:
  • Pu your phones away until kids are in bed to avoid digital distraction.
  • Become your child’s emotional coach. Teach them to recognize frustration and anger and deal with it.
  • Teach them greetings, how to take turns, wait in line, sharing, empathy, table manners, conversation skills,
  • Connect emotionally with your children. Smile, hug, kiss, tickle, read, dance, jump, or crawl with them.

We must make changes in our kids’ lives before this entire generation of children end up having to deal with mental illness in kids will be medicated! It is not too late for change yet, but soon it sure will be… -Victoria Prooday

  • This story was written by the founder and clinical director of a multidisciplinary clinic for children and parents. Psychotherapist, and registered Occupational Therapist Victoria Prooday.

To You, The Best Friend Who Cut Me Out Like I Never Existed

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Growing apart from anyone is hard, but growing apart from a best friend is one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced. I am able to forgive you. I have new best friends who have shown me some of the most incredible friendships I could have imagined. But I still think about the past, it’s not easy to move forward from.

There’s a lot of things that I can do when I think about our time as best friends. I can question if our falling out was my fault. I can blame myself for it. I can be nostalgic and miss you dearly. I can even get angry that you seemed to want to lose our friendship.

But here’s what I can’t do.

I can’t cause all of our memories to be devalued, they were wonderful. I can’t take away from the friendship we had, or act as if it never happened. It’s not possible. You were a huge part of my life and you helped shape me into the person I am today.

I’m not mad at you anymore. I don’t have bad things to say. It’s beneath both of us to hold on to any bad blood. But I still can’t help but wonder what happened. What was it that made you let go of the person you called your best friend? Did it hurt you to throw me away? Did you miss me?

It seems like a lost cause to have any hope of getting your side of the story, and I can accept that. But when I look back at my life, just know that you are still the reason for some of my favorite memories. I can still smile at the things we did, and the way we were. I hope the same goes for you.

I don’t know if you’ll ever see this, but I hope that you will because I need you to hear this:

Thank you for being when nobody else was there for me.

Thank you for helping me break out of my shell and turn into a butterfly.

Know that I still treasure some of your advice, it’s always in the back of my head.

And that I still talk about some of our memories. They’re too incredible to not share.

I look at old pictures a lot. More than I should, probably.

Our friendship meant the world to me….

And your betrayal was the hardest thing I have ever experienced.

I never will understand your reasoning for letting go…

But I don’t think you’re a bad person…

And I want you to be happy.

I miss you, though.

The Winner Sand Sculpture of the Texas Sand Sculpture Festival “SandFest” 2019

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Damon Langlois has been awarded at the 2019 Texas SandFest 1st Place for his incredible sand sculpture. The annual Texas SandFest drew 35,000 people to Port Aransas, Texas in his 23rd version, and it is recognized as the largest and biggest native-sand sculpture competition in the United States.

 

Texas SandFest’s main mission is to raise funds for local charity and scholarships for high school students as a way to give back to the community. They have raised $355,000 USD this year only, and it was able to raise $1,200,000 USD for charities in the last 8 years.

 

 

To see all of this year’s winners at the competition click here.

Artwork by Damon Langlois

Artwork by Damon Langlois

Artwork by Damon Langlois

Artwork by Damon Langlois

Artwork by Damon Langlois

Artwork by Damon Langlois

Lace Shorts Are Here for Men This Summer

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Our favorite time of the year is finally here, the nights are getting lighter, the weather is getting warmer and warmer, and the shots are definitely coming out.

Since summertime is truly on the horizon, the fashion and apparel world is delivering its season’s goods massively. Whether it’s skirts, dresses, tank tops, or even hats, the big clothing brands are all pumping and advertising the summer essentials. And one company has taken this summer garment to a whole new extreme level.

You may all know that fashion in 2019 has no boundaries or rules; we are in an era in which you can dress and express ourselves however we please without any judgment. However, this new men’s short lace is definitely not explainable. See-through lace shorts, might I add

You can’t make this stuff up.

Keep scrolling for the details on the lacy garments; they’re eye-opening, to say the least…

The fashion world is a crazy place.

Over these past years, the fashion business has become more than just clothing.

It has gradually become more expressive and is often used to make a statement, rather than it’s traditional use of providing modesty and warmth.

People can communicate a message through their fashion choices.

Fashion is a beautiful thing – clothing and accessories can visually communicate a person’s identity and beliefs.

But it can sometimes get downright strange.

 

Fashion has certainly had its moments. With clothing brands having such a huge platform, they often go to the extremes to make a statement.


Who remembers the “chained-together” denim pants?

The name says it all, really.

LFStores released these beauties and presented the denim-chain combination that we never knew we needed (or do we?).

And we won’t be forgetting the “clear-knee” pants in a hurry.

 

Because maybe we’re just a bit sick of having our knees permanently covered up by our pants. Liberation!

But men’s fashion and clothing have taken a real brutal hit this year…

2019 has seen a growth in quirky trends in, not only women’s fashion, but men’s, too.

Men have always had a more “traditional” selection when it comes to fashion, but this year has seen a real change in what is deemed as “trendy” for the boys.

Take RompHim, for example…

RompHim makes a selection of stylish rompers for men. It was started by a group of dudes who were sick of the lack of “stylish, yet comfortable” clothes available for men on the high-street.


RompHim aims to break down barriers.

RompHim is challenging the typical fashion stereotypes that surround men using a variety of outlandish non-ordinary styles, patterns, and colors,

With rompers traditionally being a female garment, RompHim is fighting to make the item acceptable and, most importantly, stylish, for all genders.

And they’re not the only company with this goal.

More and more fashion brands and clothing lines are beginning to cater for more stylish and “out there” fashion garments for men in order to catch up with the other brands. Long gone are the days in which their choice was simply which shirts and pants to wear – Men’s wardrobes are filling up rapidly with kooky items every day.

Enter: the lace shorts.

The part you’ve all been waiting for – the lace shorts have landed.

The LA-based company, Hologram City, launched its new collection of see-through, lace shorts – in a variety of different colors, obviously.

Hologram City has already made a name for themselves.

 

 

This brand is already popular for its selection of revealing “party-wear,” and the label has been sported by the likes of Jordyn Woods, Miley Cyrus, and Fergie.

And their new lace shorts have taken them to a whole new level which is very extreme.

Here they are gentlemen,  this summer’s staple fashion clothing made entirely out of see-through floral lace. Little will be left to the imagination.

They come in a variety of colors.

These shorts, which costs $49 per item, are available to buy in different shades of pastel pink, green, blue and purple.

Though the shorts were initially met with criticism, many people have been praising the company for providing more “feminine” colored clothes for their male audience.

And there are even matching shirts.

Because the shorts just aren’t outrageous enough on their own.

And just in case you want to look as fresh as these guys, you can grab yourself a matching lace shirt or shorts.

Perfect for sunny days at the beach, no?

See-through clothes are the future!

It’s time to accept it. Fashion has pretty much no boundaries anymore, so we might as well jump into the deep end and don the most outrageous clothes possible.

Take these see-through pants, for example. Because having your legs out in shorts just isn’t enough anymore.

It’s all fun and games, right?

If You Watched ‘Gargoyles’ As A Child, You Have A Good Experienced The Pinnacle Of Children’s Entertainment

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At a time when Disney was creating bright-colored cartoons that were more inspired by toy lines than anything else, they were also producing one of the most underrated cartoons ever made – Gargoyles. This series is rarely brought up in conversations about the best cartoons of the ’90s, but it deserves to get some new viewers. In just three short seasons, it managed to tell a dense and rewarding story unlike anything attempted by children’s television up until that point.

If you were one of the few viewers who watched Gargoyles, then you witnessed children’s entertainment at its finest. And even if you’ve been a fan since the ’90s, there are still some things you probably didn’t know about the beloved program. Luckily, series creator Greg Weisman has been open about his love for the series, and answers fan questions whenever he gets the chance. So even though the show was underappreciated at its time, there’s still a wealth of interesting information out there. If you’ve never seen Gargoyles,hopefully these behind-the-scene facts and interesting pieces of information will inspire you to seek out the series

The Show Dealt With Intense Racism

It’s important to remember that when Gargoyles was on the air (’94-’97) cartoons didn’t delve into major issues like racism unless they were doing some kind of very special episode. That’s not how Gargoyles rolled. From the first episode, the series was introducing multi-racial protagonists and antagonists with motivations not based on race.

As the series progressed, a group called “The Quarrymen” were introduced who were an offshoot of the Illuminati that wore black hoods, which gave them an overt resemblance to the KKK.

When series-creator Weisman was asked about how he decided to confront racial issues on Gargoyles, he explained:

Diversity was always important to me, but working on Gargoyles was where the problem of a lack of diversity in cartoons first sort of crystallized for me. Things we were doing casually, like making Elisa Maza a woman of color, were being hailed as revolutionary, which was both cool and disappointing at the same time. But it got me to focus on those issues.
‘Gargoyles’ Had A Star Trek Heavy Cast

Gargoyles is impossible to talk about without mentioning its seriously nerdy voice cast. The show was stacked with voice actors from every series of Star Trek on the air up until that point. Actors like Johnathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, and Marina Sirtis were all over the show, and you couldn’t go an episode without hearing one of their Star Trek co-stars.

However the creators didn’t simply rely on Star Trek to cast the show. Gargoyles featured voice actors like Clancy Brown from Highlander and Starship Troopers, X-Man Alan Cumming, and Indiana Jones and Sliders alumni John Rhys-Davies.

Shakespeare Was A Major Influence

Many children’s TV shows that reference Shakespeare will usually beat their audience over the noggin with edutainment, but Gargoyles wasn’t interested in that. This series was one of the only shows on the air at the time to weave in – not just references to Shakespeare – but to expand on what he had written by naturally including his amazing work in their story.

Early on in the four-part, Season 2 arc, “City of Stone,” Macbeth’s Weird Sisters, and even the Scottish king himself, are introduced the mythology of Goliath and his brothers. But Gargoyles didn’t just traffic in drama. The series would go on to incorporate Oberon, Titania, and Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The Show Dealt With Controversial Issues Like Gun Violence

The eighth episode of the series, “Deadly Force,” was so far ahead of its time, with its frank discussion of the stark realities of gun violence, it had to be heavily censored. In the episode, Broadway (Bill Fagerbakke) watches a Western film and because he doesn’t know the difference between fantasy and reality, he shoots Elisa (Salli Richardson) with her own gun.

Elisa spends the rest of the episode in a coma, as the Gargoyles go on a mission to destroy all the guns in New York City, specifically those belonging to Anthony Dracon. The episode ends with Broadway apologizing for handling a weapon when he didn’t know what he was doing, and with Elisa saying she should have put her gun away properly.

‘Gargoyles’ Had Major, Empowered Female Representation

When you look at the shows Gargoyles was slotted with on the Disney Channel (Dumb and DumberQuack Pack101 Dalmatians: The Series) one thing is apparent: they all share a lack of lead female characters. The audience’s entryway into the world of Goliath and his gargoyle brothers was Detective Elisa Maza (Salli Richardson), a quick thinking woman of mixed race who saw the inherent beauty of things.

On the other hand is Demona, a character who was initially viewed as an antagonist to Goliath’s clan, despite working with him in Scotland. Over the 1,000 years that Goliath and his clan were locked in stone, she experienced nothing but prejudice from humans. When you learn what she’s been through, it makes perfect sense she acts the way she does. This is just another way Gargoyles took the expectations of their viewers and turned them on their head.

‘Gargoyles’ Showed Outright Murder

Gargoyles is dark. Not just visually, but the story it tells rarely allows for a moment of levity. At its heart, the series is about a group of immortal monsters out of their own time who are oppressed because of the way they look. It’s not something you would call ” a normal children’s television show.”

The first episode of the series closes with a Viking who smashes a gargoyle to bits, while it’s in stone form, before setting him on fire. As night sets over ancient Scotland, the busted up gargoyle comes back to life and dies a second death in front of his friend. And that’s before two guys fall off a cliff while trying to murder a woman.

The Characters Had Oblique Motivations At Best

While most characters in children’s cartoons were pretty black-and-white, with specific motivations, the characters on Gargoyles had a collection of differing motivations. This made them seem closer to real people than the one-note characters audiences were used to seeing.

For the most part, the gargoyles just wanted to protect New York City and make sure their friends were safe, but everyone around them was playing their own personal game. For instance, David Xanatos, the wealthy industrialist who wakes up the gargoyles, does so by pretending to be their friend, but in reality, he was using them for a variety of reasons (initially theft, and later immortality). As bad as he is, Xanatos at least tried to stay positive, and even found love. He was truly a fascinating character.

Demona, the female gargoyle who grows to hate humanity over 1,000 years, begins the series as a fierce fighter who wants nothing but revenge for the way she’s been treated. But after the intervention with Puck, she learns what it’s like to be human, after he gives her the ability to turn into one during the day.

‘Gargoyles’ Was Meant To Be A Comedy

It’s fair to say that Gargoyles was a fairly dark show. While there were moments of levity provided by some of the side characters, it was mostly a serious, action-adventure show. Weisman explained in an interview that the initial pitch was to make a “really fun comedy with a lot of adventure, fun stuff, a rich story, and all that.”

The series wouldn’t have featured the hulking characters that fans loved; instead, it would have featured “short little cute gargoyles.” However, once Weisman got a note about restructuring the show, he and the rest of the creators ran with the idea of the deeply serious Goliath, and came out with the show that made it to air.

‘Gargoyles’ Wasn’t Afraid To Tell Long Stories

Even now, most animated-television shows don’t tell an episodic story in the same way that Gargoyles did in the mid ’90s. The first story arc was a five-episode narrative that jumped back and forth in time, while showing where the gargoyles came from, as they adjusted to their new homes in New York City. It’s an engrossing opening chapter of the series that swung for the fences in every way.

The long-form storytelling on display in Gargoyles wouldn’t become the norm for television for a few years, and even then, it wouldn’t become lauded as a brilliant idea until shows like The Sopranos appeared on HBO.

The Show Had Some Unusual Inspiration

Gargoyles wears many of its inspirations on its sleeve; specifically Shakespeare, Arthurian legend, and Scottish mythology. But the one source of inspiration that’s not as obvious is Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears. How could this very, children’s-friendly series inspire such a gloomy program? It turns out that that the show owes more to the kiddie creation than you think. Weisman explained:

One of our main inspirations was Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears, which was a show that was created by Jymn Magon, who also co-created TaleSpin among other terrific series. It had a wonderful, rich backstory and mythology. It was set in a medieval time period, and I honestly felt that it didn’t get enough respect.

Weisman Is Still Connected To The Show’s Fandom

Normally after a series ends – especially a series that only ran for 78 episodes (13 of which are very disappointing) – the production staff goes their separate ways. But not series-creator Weisman. While he’s gone on to produce shows like Young Justice, and write for The Flash, he’s also stayed connected to the Gargoyles fandom.

Weisman keeps up a website where he blogs about Gargoyles, and you can ask him questions about the series. He’ll even answer if he has time. Although by now he’s answered most of the important questions that have come up

‘Gargoyles’ Uses Brilliant Shadow Work

It makes sense a show about flying monsters coming alive at night would be visually very dark, but you have to remember the shows that were on the air at the same time, by contrast, were very colorful and bright. Gargoyles used stark contrast and shadows to help tell its story, something that was only being done by WB’s Batman: The Animated Series.

Even though Gargoyles would only go on to live for three seasons, (only two of which are considered canon) its color pallet would on to inspire darker shows in the 2000s (Courage the Cowardly DogSamurai Jack).

‘Gargoyles’ Continued On In Comic Book Form

After the incredibly forward-thinking and narratively dense second season, Disney moved Gargoyles out of syndication and aired it Saturday mornings on ABC. The producers put in a new group of writers, who essentially retooled the show to ignore the previous seasons. After the show went off the air, Weisman began writing a comic book he said picked up where the second season left off. He told Comic Book:

Gargoyles is and always will be my baby, and from a television standpoint, my first love. I’m still to this day yearning to do more Gargoyles comic books in the future. We did 18 issues with SLG publishing that I’m very proud of, and turned out really great – we [the creators] think of that as the real, canonical third season of the show. I would love to do more comics, I’d love to do more episodes, I’d love to do anything with Gargoyles, quite frankly.

Holocaust Survivors Meet 72 Years Later In Same Line At Auschwitz

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Independent documentary journalist, Sandi Bachom, shared this incredible photo last week on Yom HaShoah(Holocaust Remembrance Day). On Twitter, Bachom added:

 

Today is #YomHaShoah #HolocaustRemembranceDay. In 1944, the year in which I was born, my friends Walter and Werner were tattooed 10 numbers apart in #Auschwitz. Because of a Facebook miracle, I was able to film their meeting 72 years later. #NeverAgain

 

Social Media news channel NowThis produced the interview segment with these two survivors and their story is worth a watch (embedded below). Even though they were in the same line a mere 10 people apart, this is the first time the two ever met.

 

Girlfriends Ranked Best To Worst Based On Your Zodiac Calendar

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1. Sagittarius

While Sags might be their own worst enemy and toughest critic as a girlfriend they will never put you down the way they do themselves. They lift others up and help you to see your full potential. They are selfless and think about others first always. This often leads to neglecting their own feelings and needs which might lead to conflict in the relationship. Trust can be a huge thing for them once you gain their trust you will then have their loyalty forever. They love mad hard with no hold back if you find yourself in the range of their affection you’ll get their whole heart and soul. They think deeply about everything and everyone and how their actions may affect others. You’ll fall after you see how much they care for others and everything they do to show their consideration and appreciation. Sags are guarded and defensive AF but once you manage to break through their walls you will then have a piece of their heart forever.

2. Pisces

At first, they come across as super shy. Firstly, they’ll push you away but you’ll find something very interesting about it. You’ll realize what’s so interesting once they let you in, which is that the best people are a little bit defensive and guarded. Out of all these signs, they are the one you can trust the most. As a girlfriend, they will be your number one support team and always be by your side no matter what. Pisces are really good at readers of people, they’ll watch you carefully and closely and pick up on body language. They have a special way of getting to know people by more than just the things you do and say but rather the things you don’t. They pick up on vibes and can tell when you are off even if you’re great at faking it, they’ll know and they’ll do anything to try and fix it. Out of all these signs, Pisces are super sensitive, so what that means is they’ll never try to hurt you or come across as malicious. If they do mess up they will be the first to apologize and try and make it right. Their relationships are ones in which are fight-free because they don’t believe in fights in the first place.

3. Capricorn

They are natural-born perfectionists. So, they will always try their absolute best and give their fullest when it comes to relationships. Capricorns will always be the dominant ones in a relationship. In a relationship, they will always have your back and defend you against anyone and everyone if they have to. The people Capricorns love are the ones who matter the most for them. Their body language is a bit hard to be read because they are good at hiding their feelings that strength is an admirable quality but sometimes, they’ll need you just to be there to rely on. They have an unbelievably super guarded heart so if you do win the battle of getting inside, then, consider yourself to be someone who is very rare.

4. Libra

Libras are the kindest of all zodiacs. In relationships, they try their best to avoid conflicts, but avoiding talking about problems ends up making them worse when they do come to ahead. They always fight and strive to be the most positive and the happiest but when someone hurts them, they feel the wound very deeply. They are the giver and provider in a relationship and always tend to fail at putting their needs first. So, they won’t even ask you for the things they want. One of their most popular signs, in a relationship they will always be social including you in almost everything. It’s only up to you to stop their spotlight from making you feel less. Relationships with Libras almost always end due to jealousy, they don’t even understand for their charismatic nature, is something that simply comes naturally to them. As their partner, you must keep them on a long leash and not be the jealous one partner. Their flaws include a temper that doesn’t come out very often, but when it does, it is really ugly and bad and they say things they often regret shortly after.

5. Gemini

Geminis have two very different sides to them. Half the time they are fun and outgoing. The other half of the time they are negative, dark and gloomy. In a relationship they always try to hide the side to them they don’t like but it’s something you’ll have to learn to accept and love too even if they can’t. With that being said you will see that they will accept every part of your personality. While Geminis made it to the top five on this list, this has much more to do with the loyalty and the trust they appreciate and value in others. But once you decide to cross them, they can cut you off so easily without even thinking twice about it. Second chances to them are few and far between. Once they make up their mind about someone after seeing their true colors, that is it for them, case closed. They love hard and feel pain even deeper. But they will never show you when they are down.

6. Aquarius

Ranking in at number 6. They don’t make the best girlfriend all the time but they don’t make the worst either. They are usually the weirdest out of all signs. But weird isn’t always a bad thing. They are super shy from relationships most of the time because they need the urge to be independent but if you can get one to commit into one with you, you will then have a loyalty that will last a lifetime. One of their best qualities is the fact that they look at you and your flaws as something to be admired. But they look at their own flaws as something to be hated. The hardest part of dating an Aquarius is teaching one to love themselves. They will love you with everything they have in their heart but they will never manage to channel all of that into themselves. You’ll realize their insecurities early on but if you can love them through the process of loving themselves it can then be a super-strong relationship. They overthink everything more than any other sign, so you’ll have to stop and hear out their scenario they make up which can be frustrating to you as someone who dates them. The key to them is patience.

7. Leo

Leos are hopeless romantics with expectations that aren’t realistic sometimes. While they’ll do anything for the person they love, they find themselves attracted to people who don’t meet them halfway. They grow a bit frustrated very fast for they give everything they have to someone who doesn’t do the same towards them and that is the main cause of most fights with Leo’s in relationships. While high expectations are good. Unrealistic expectations lead to them getting hurt. They always have a nag for choosing the wrong people and gravitate towards a certain type and no matter how much they get hurt they don’t change. They’re never successful at taking their friend’s advice when it comes to love and relationships and they continue to run in circles. It isn’t that they make a bad girlfriend but they choose the wrong people to commit to all the time.

8. Cancer

While Cancers do have hearts of pure gold, exposing their true emotions has only led to them to getting hurt. They don’t make bad girlfriends at all, they would make the best one only if they didn’t push people away as much as they do. They trust no one but themselves so being in a relationship is very difficult for them. They want to love as much as they fear it and they often end up getting in their own way of what could turn to an amazingly healthy relationship. They doubt themselves most of the times and have trouble making their life decisions. The truth is that they care even if they pretend they don’t and come across as harsh.

9. Taurus

Taurus are out of any sign are the toughest to get in a relationship with. They want no part of it. And it isn’t that they try to lead people on or string someone along. They just have their own life and are happy with it. Out of any other sign, they are the worst heart breakers. They do everything in their own way and once you pressure them, they just take off running. They have the coldest heart, once a relationship is over, it is always their call you will never get a second chance with them. They don’t believe in running in circles at all, whether with people or games. Why play games when they are the ones who usually make the rules? They are independent in a painful way so if you can get their heart consider yourself to be a rare breed.

10. Aries

In a relationship, Aries tend to rush into things really quickly. That can be a little weird and intimidating for someone they date. They like to take control of all situations which can be hard for a lot of guys sometimes. Their strong personality might be what attracted someone to them but it can also be a turn off when it’s too much. They need someone who is opposite of them. Aries will always be the one making calls in a relationship, the dominant one, so you would have to be okay with something like that to be with one. They have a thick skin and a bad temper but once you break into their heart you’ll see how sensitive they are. They come across as the coldest and have an acid tongue. So, when you fight with an Arie not only will you lose the fight but they will probably say something that will hurt you.

11. Virgo

Virgos are the most critical of all signs. They make relationships hard because they never consider themselves to be good enough for the person they are interested in. They are painfully insecure and jealous which can lead to a lot of relationship fights and ending. They are perfectionists so when they fail at something you’ll see how easily they fall apart and beat themselves down. It is really hard for you to watch someone you care about to be self-destructing like that. More than that it can be a very tiring act to convince a Virgo woman to see herself through your eyes when no matter what you say about her she counters it with a lot of negativity. Not only are they critical of themselves you’ll see how they can lash you out and pick you apart sometimes. It is very hard to be with someone who not only doesn’t love themselves but makes you think like they don’t love you either.

12. Scorpio

Scorpio woman is the scariest of all signs. They tend to run shit and take control of any or all relationships they are a part of. They come across as cold and heartless. They are also painfully blunt and straight forward so if you want to engage in a relationship with a tone you got to have a thick skin because they will tell you everything like it is without any holdback. They aren’t mean. They are honest and don’t hold back. They are ruthless when it comes to crossing them. Mess things up once and you’re automatically dead to them. They hold their relationships standards very high which can make their partners feel like they are forced to walk on eggshells for them sometimes. The Scorpio which is often described as the storm of all zodiacs totally unpredictable, so you can either be safe on their side or on their way which will make them destroy you. Out of all signs, they are the toughest to get to fall in love with. But once that happens you have them forever.

Rare Cat Born With Four Ears Instead of Two; Yoda Is His Name

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A rare cat was able to attract a lot of attention online over recently after being born with two extra ears (they are more like flaps than ears). Valerie and Ted Rock, the cat’s owners had adopted the weird-looking cat back in 2006 and gave him the name of Yoda, a nod to the famous star wars figure, character, and legendary Jedi.

 

According to The Telegraph:

Yoda’s (The cat) extra ears, which are not thought to help him with the hearing are not attached to the base of his tiny skull, with one ear placed slightly behind the other. They are believed to be the aftermath of a genetic mutation.

 

Aside from Yoda’s genetic mutation, he is actually a happy indoor domestic cat with an ‘interesting obsession with bread’ according to Valerie. To learn more about Yoda, you can check out this Daily Mail article.

 

A Nebraska Bar Leaves An Interesting Note For Customers Who Don’t Drink And Drive

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“Life is valuable, have a great day.”

Don’t drink and drive; get a free meal. Sounds like a pretty solid deal.

That simple, potentially life-saving gesture, is how the Union Bar and Grill in Gering, Nebraska likes to operate. The restaurant doesn’t tow vehicles that remain in their parking lot overnight. Instead, its owners reward their patrons who leave their wheels behind by giving them a free meal when they return to pick up their car.

Scott and Carla Swanson, owners of the eatery, leave a kind note on the windshield of the cars left overnight with instructions to, “Bring this letter to the bar and we will give you a free Hamburger and French Fries.”

“Just wanted to thank you for leaving your car parked overnight instead of driving home drunk,” they wrote in a note they left on a customer’s car recently named Austin. “I’m not quite sure if you have consumed some alcohol at our restaurant or not, but we want to thank you for not drunk driving.”

Austin’s friend, Janelle Martin, posted the letter on Facebook with the caption, “More bars and restaurants should take note from Scott and Carla Swanson. Austin met a friend at the bar last night so he left his truck there and I picked him up. He found the note on his truck this morning when I took him to go get it from the parking lot.”

 

Every day, almost 29 people in the United States die in alcohol-impaired vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, meaning that kind gestures from people like the Swansons have the potential to make a huge impact. Given the choice between free lunch and a risky ride, who wouldn’t rather the hamburger and French fries?

The Swansons’ sign off drove their point home.

They ended the letter with, “Please accept this as a thank you for being responsible. Life is valuable, have a great day.”

Cover image via Shutterstock / Joseph Sohm.

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