More people have died taking selfies than in shark attacks in the past year, according to The Telegraph and Mashable.
A record number of twelve people have died from various selfie related activities this year, such as posing with dangerous animals or loaded guns, compared to the eight people who died by shark attacks.
It has gotten so bad in places such as Russia, that the government has taken to issuing warnings to not take selfies on ledges or near moving vehicles.
In the United States, park rangers at Yellowstone National Park have started warning tourists to not pose with animals after five people have been gored by buffalo.
Most of the people that met a gory end via selfie were between the ages of 18 to 22. These tragic deaths have included taking selfies with wild animals, taking selfies from a great height, taking selfies with weapons, or taking selfies near moving machinery.
Be safe while you selfie.
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Millennial Guide To Surviving The Holiday Hunger Games Also Known As Family Question Time
With Thanksgiving being celebrated around the United States today and the holiday season now coming into focus, every millennial knows exactly what to expect during family gatherings, and lets just say that it’s not presents.
The bombardment of questions is heading your way, but fear not! Here’s our guide to surviving the most anxiety ridden holiday questions.
“Stop looking at me like that. You all have problems too!” Photo Credit: Malcolm Slaney/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
Q) How’s school?
This go to question delivered by those relatives that you see once a year and who have probably forgotten your name. In short they don’t care about your answer. Best solution? A short answer that segues you into moving away. Try, “Oh it’s great! Have you tried the pie?” or “It’s awesome, give me a second, nature’s calling!”
Q) What are your plans after graduation?
This relative at least cared enough to remember that you’re graduating. Be cautious though, graduation is right around the corner and Christmas isn’t the only time presents are warranted! Try something like, “I’m excited to be done, what’s the best address to send a graduation card to?”
“Stop asking me these questions. You don’t really care about these questions.” Photo Credit: Beth Scupham/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
Q) Are you still single?
Everyone knows there’s no good response to this question, so have fun with this answer. Anything from “My dog ate my boyfriend,” to “My waffle maker only makes 1 waffle at a time….so” is a perfect way to dissent from an awkward holiday moment!
Q) You’ve gained/lost a lot of weight!
Just for the record, this isn’t a question and the cheekiness of the statement may prompt a sarcastic response. But remember it’s the holidays, so take the higher ground and why not give yourself a compliment too? Say something akin to, “ Thanks! I really love the way I fill out this outfit,” or “I know! My hard work has really been paid off!”
“We are so sick of our kids that we are going to cling to every word that you say. Literally every single word.” Photo Credit: Lady May Pamintuan/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
Q) When are you getting a promotion?
This is one of those questions that may come off as rude unintentionally. This relative probably just really wants to get to know you, so take your time to answer this question fully. You may even discover what’s actually holding you back from that promotion you deserve!
Happy Holidays millennials and may the holiday questions forever be in your favor!
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Here Are 5 Ways That Staying In the Closest Can Actually Damage Your Health
By Julia Fox
While a major hurdle for LGBT rights in the western hemisphere has finally been overcome in the past few years (legalization of gay marriage in both the United States and the United Kingdom), it looks less and less hopeful that same tolerance can be achieved globally.
In former communist bloc countries, the period for modest LGBT freedoms was brief, and homophobia is still widespread. Homosexuality is often considered an abnormality and in some cases, prosecuted under the criminal law.
These countries have a vast population of LGBT members who have lived in the closet for most of their lives while obliged to form traditional families. Spending the majority of their lives attempting to pass as heterosexuals to gain social approval and often engaging in secret same-sex relationships, these gay men and women end up with irreversible damage to their physical and mental health.
‘Coming out is no longer a matter of popular debate, but a matter of public health,’ claim scientists from Louis H. Lafontaine Hospital in Montreal.
But for some who spent most of their lives in the closet, it might be just impossible.
Whether it is the fear of being rejected by their now grown children, being criminalized by the homophobic society or ostracised by their own community, or the strong belief they would be unable to rebuild their lives with their new identity, these men and women are too broken to start anew.
Here are the main ailments that are likely to develop if you are forced to keep your sexual identity a secret from society and often from yourself:
- Dissociative Identity Disorder. Notable psychiatrist Sullivan and Roughton have discovered that closeted individuals routinely separate their attractions and feelings for the persons of the same sex from their identity. That means these men and women find their desires so unacceptable that they keep them out of their conscious awareness, separating their sexual identity from the rest of their persona. Blocking the anxiety-provoking thoughts about their sexuality forces them to lead a double life and are very often unaware of it.
- Chronic Depression. Increased fear and withdrawal from friends and relatives and the chronic stress of hiding one’s sexuality can lead to excess amounts of cortisol in the body, which contributes to severe depression as well as the general ‘wear and tear’ of the body. Scientists at the Centre for Studies on Human Stress at Louis H. Lafontaine Hospital in Montreal found that staying in the closet weakens your whole immune system in addition to leading to chronicle depression.
- Self-disgust & self-hatred. Socialised into thinking that being non-heterosexual is somehow ‘mad,’ ‘bad,’ ‘wrong’ or ‘immoral,’ many closeted gay and lesbian individuals develop internalized homophobia. They find that they do not belong and do not fit in either the ‘straight world’ or the ‘gay world.’ This painful feeling often leads to self-disgust, self-hatred and contempt for the more open LGBT members.
- Low self-esteem and negative self-view. Both can lead to avoiding fulfilling relationships with others. Spending the majority of their lives attempting to pass as heterosexuals to gain social approval, many closeted individuals develop low self-esteem and negative body image, which brings with them such issues as fear of intimacy, deep shame about their sexual experiences and inability to develop emotional intimacy, psychologists claim.
- Alcohol/drug-abuse & suicidal thoughts. Growing increasingly withdrawn and depressed, closeted individuals often follow unsafe sexual practices and engage in other destructive, risk-taking behaviours. Being ostracised by the community, fearing shame and physical torture and imprisonment, creating heterosexual families and dissociating themselves from gay population altogether leads many to a life of substance abuse and addictions. Constantly haunted by suicidal thoughts, many consider ending their lives.
My relationship with a closeted gay man, Sasha (who was actually my husband’s lover years before I married him and I chronicle in my memoir And Then There Were Three: Sixty Seven Letter to Sasha) opened my eyes to the many aspects of homosexuality and the life paths that LGBT men and women choose in the parts of the world where homosexuality is still considered an abnormality.
The freedoms that sexual minorities enjoy in democratic countries today are precious and unheard of in such places as Ukraine, Russia, Belorussia, Azerbaijan and other post-Soviet territories. Giving American LGBT members a glimpse into the lives of those who are less fortunate and still struggling for their rights will be an eye-opening read for many.
Julia Fox immigrated from Russia in her late teens, settling in the United States in the early 90s. She published two books of poetry before leaving her home country, both in Russian, and published two more in English language after immigrating. And Then There Were Three: Sixty Seven Letters to Sasha is her first autobiographical memoir.
For more information about And Then There Were Three: Sixty-Seven Letters to Sasha, you can visit Julia Fox’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in public affairs. Anyone can write for us as long as you are fiercely interested in making the world a better place.
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These 7 Subscription Services Will Make Your Life So Much Easier
By Vanessa Paredes
The subscription service model is simple; pay a monthly or yearly fee and get continuous services or product(s) in return. Companies like Birchbox spearheaded the subscription biz boom in the early twenty-tens and the rest is history.
Today, millions of Americas are happily subscribed to a box or five, which comes as no surprise considering the nation’s lust for the following three things: fast, convenient, and app-enabled.
With over 1,000 subscription boxes and tons of other services now available, it might be difficult to sift through the melee and figure out which ones are truly adding value to your life.
I have personally tried quite a few of them myself, and I can assure you that the following seven services are worth a try.
Harry’s
Harry’s is a no brainer for those who happen to grow hair on their bodies. Yes, that includes women. This service offers a variety of “shave plans” depending on how often you need to shave, and it is a lot more affordable than buying over-priced razors at the drugstore all the time.
Bonus: the razors themselves are beautifully designed and the blades boast a clean shave every time.
Blue Apron
Wrap up the weekend with a pita full of all the best Greek and Middle Eastern ingredients!
A photo posted by Blue Apron (@blueapron) on
Throw on your apron and get ready to cook like a pro. This food subscription box might give you sticker shock at first ($59.94 a week). But when you start breaking it down, it makes sense.
You get 3 meals a week for two people, meaning each meal is under $10 per person.
If you happen to already be eating out or going to the grocery store regularly, chances are you spend more than that already without reaping the Blue Apron benefits: fresh pre-portioned ingredients delivered to you weekly that actually teach you how to cook like a chef.
Amazon Prime
Prime may not be actual subscription box, but the benefits of having a membership are so rewarding that it had to be included in the list. Not only is two day free shipping a complete lifesaver for last minute gifts, but you also get tons of free movies and shows as well as access to Amazon Pantry and Amazon Now which will eliminate the need to drive to a store ever again.Class Pass
Jumping for joy to have an extra day this year! #leapday #leapyear Studio: @bounceinc
A photo posted by ClassPass (@classpass) on
Its not all about making life easier, sometimes is about making life healthier. If you are looking for a subscription service that gives you the most bang for your buck, class pass is the way to go. It allows member to attend unlimited fitness classes a month, with options ranging from Yoga, to Spinning, to Zumba all over your respective city.Trunk Club
In a way this is a free subscription service for men who hate going to the mall. How it works: you receive a “trunk” filled with clothes, belts and shoes in your size and style to then try on. Pay for what you want to keep and return the rest. It’s pretty simple and awfully convenient.
Birchbox
A photo posted by birchbox (@birchbox) on
Makeup junkies rejoice, Birchbox is a super affordable way to try top of the line products and decide which ones are worth the purchase. Shopping for cosmetics can get tricky when you aren’t sure how certain products will affect your skin or look throughout the day. Birchbox saves the day by letting you try a gamut of items every month for only $10. Plus, you can take these minis with you when you travel as an added benefit.
Netflix
If you are looking to make your life easier by saving money and you haven’t cut the cord already, you need to listen up: stop paying for cable and switch to Netflix. The streaming service is a respectable replacement for that little black box costing you a fortune in your living room.
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