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Michelle Obama Doles Out Kisses and Advice to Graduates

Just like an eager college freshman, Michelle Obama went back to school with a new hairdo today!

Just like an eager college freshman, Michelle Obama went back to school with a new hairdo today! The first lady showed off some freshly styled sideswept bangs during her commencement speech at Bowie State University. On a more serious note, Michelle offered some solid advice and perspective for the class of '13 at the historically black university in Maryland. "Just think about this for a moment — for generations, in many parts of this country, it was illegal for black people to get an education," the first lady said. And while she's pals with Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Michelle lamented that too many young people fantasize about "being a baller or a rapper."

"In short, be an example of excellence for the next generation," implored the first lady, who also received an honorary doctorate of laws. She's set to give one more commencement speech this graduation season, after already speaking at Eastern Kentucky University. Next up tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet High School For Health Sciences and Engineering at Historic Pearl High. Check out pictures of the first lady's academic look from today.

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Video: Why Is Abercrombie & Fitch Under Fire?

Abercrombie & Fitch is causing controversy once again, but it's not thanks to racy ad campaigns.

Abercrombie & Fitch is causing controversy once again, but it's not thanks to racy ad campaigns. This time the brand's CEO is under fire for the chain's longstanding strategy of keeping "uncool" kids out of their stores and for declining to make plus-size clothes. A new viral video campaign, called "Fitch the Homeless," is taking on the retailer by asking people to donate their A&F outfits to the homeless. Find out what's behind the anti-Abercrombie video that's gaining traction and why it's causing some controversy itself.

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The Angelina Effect: What Will It Be?

Yesterday Angelina Jolie shocked the world by announcing she had a double mastectomy, but the major impact of her disclosure still lies ahead.

Yesterday Angelina Jolie shocked the world by announcing she had a double mastectomy, but the major impact of her disclosure still lies ahead. The news is prompting women to talk about and research the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and their own risk of breast or ovarian cancers. And on its newest cover, out Friday, Time magazine dubs the impending cultural and medical implications "The Angelina Effect."

Health professionals expect a wave of women to come in to test their breast and ovarian cancer risk, even though the procedure is pricey and only one-tenth of 1 percent of women share Angelina's BRCA genetic mutation. For those who do decide to remove their breasts, Angelina has, as a sex symbol, helped shift the prospect from a perceived loss of femininity to an expression of it. She addressed her femininity head on in her op-ed: "On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice." And she assured readers that implants can be beautiful, helping to alleviate any shame or embarrassment.

The actress and activist's influence was intentional when she shared her personal decision: "I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices." Being informed and empowered about your health just got sexy.

Spice Girls Musical Closing Early

The Spice Girls musical playing in London's West End is called Viva Forever!, but its run will last only six months.

The Spice Girls musical playing in London's West End is called Viva Forever!, but its run will last only six months. It was confirmed today that Viva Forever! will close early in June, despite the best promotional efforts of Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, and Victoria Beckham. Due to poor ticket sales and worse reviews, backers of the production say they could not make the financials work. In a statement the Girls expressed their own thoughts, saying, "Although Viva Forever won't continue in the West End, we are thrilled that the thousands of people who came to the show had as much fun as we did."

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Everything You Need to Know About the Oscar Pistorius "Blade Runner" Case

Although the Academy Awards are approaching this weekend, there's been another Oscar making headlines — Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, who was granted bail today after being charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.


Although the Academy Awards are approaching this weekend, there's been another Oscar making headlines — Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, who was granted bail today after being charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Commonly referred to as the "blade runner" because of his prosthetic legs, the South African athlete has become an Olympic idol, thanks to six Paralympic gold medals and his ability to compete with able-bodied athletes. That heroic image has taken a turn, though, because Oscar admitted to shooting and killing his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. Keep reading to learn more about the high-profile case:

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Giggle Will Laugh Its Way to Your Local JC Penney Next Year

Fans of Giggle who don't live in one of the 11 cities that house the high-end baby emporium's 13 stores won't only have to shop online beginning next Fall.

Fans of Giggle who don't live in one of the 11 cities that house the high-end baby emporium's 13 stores won't only have to shop online beginning next Fall. Giggle just announced a new partnership with JC Penney that will place giggleBABY shops in 537 Penney locations throughout the country.

giggleBABY will feature exclusive Giggle-branded merchandise, all at a fraction of the price products are sold for in the current stores. So while Giggle's Better Basics onesies and rompers range from $16-$28 in the store, the new shops' apparel will range from $5-$15, and toys will run from $4-$20.

Giggle isn't the only kids' brand heading to JC Penney. Tori Spelling's Little Maven clothing line just relaunched at Penney stores last month, and Cynthia Rowley's new girls' line can also be found there. So what do you think? Are you eagerly anticipating the new giggleBABY shops?

Source: Giggle
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Do Men Want to "Reclaim" Their Breastfeeding Wives? A Bottle Company Says So!

Oops, someone's done it again!

Oops, someone's done it again! This time it's not a store or a restaurant offending breastfeeding mamas, but a new baby bottle company that has moms and dads manning their battleships. This weekend BittyLab, maker of the soon-to-be released BARE bottle, launched a social media campaign insinuating that men feel pushed aside and sexually deprived when the mother of their child is breastfeeding. According to their tweets, this new bottle will help men "reclaim your wife." See if for yourself here:

The company's Twitter feed and Facebook page immediately lit up with both moms and dad expressing their disgrace and the company issued an apology this morning saying the "messages had nothing to do with putting a [husband's] needs before the baby's needs, it was more about having a little extra time for the rest of the family." What do you think — was it just a very poorly executed campaign, or was the insinuation meant to draw up controversy?

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10 Phrases That Make French a Language Worth Preserving

I don't like hearing about any languages disappearing, but the idea of French's demise seems intolerable.

I don't like hearing about any languages disappearing, but the idea of French's demise seems intolerable. Fortunately, it is also probably impossible, at least in the near future, but French is a language in decline. Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) is an organization dedicated to promoting democracy, peace, and human rights in the 70 French-speaking countries, and also to preserving the French language. To get ready for Bastille Day on July 14, here are 10 words and phrases with no English equivalents that make the unmistakable case for Français.

  1. Dépaysement: The sensation of being in another country.
  2. La douleur exquise: The heart-wrenching pain of wanting someone you can't have. Even a Sex in the City episode was named after it!
  3. Chômer: To be unemployed, but because it's a verb, it makes the state active.
  4. Profiter: To make the most of or take advantage of.
  5. Flâneur: As defined in the book Elegant Wits and Grand Horizontals, it's "the deliberately aimless pedestrian, unencumbered by any obligation or sense of urgency, who, being French and therefore frugal, wastes nothing, including his time, which he spends with the leisurely discrimination of a gourmet, savoring the multiple flavors of his city."
  6. Esprit d'escalier: The literal translation is staircase wit, but it means to think of a comeback when it's too late.
  7. Retrouvailles: The happiness of meeting again after a long time.
  8. Sortable: An adjective for someone you can take anywhere without being embarrassed.
  9. Voila/voici: It's so necessary that we use it all the time. "Voila" literally means "there it is" and "voici" means "here it is."
  10. Empêchement: An unexpected last-minute change of plans. A great excuse without having to be specific.

Anything to add?

Source: Instagram User katarinaprytz

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Remember to Take Your Kids Out of the Car, Check Your Facts!

No parent thinks they would forget their child, but they do.

No parent thinks they would forget their child, but they do. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers get tired, preoccupied with work or the errands they are running, or confused by their childcare schedules, and leave kids in the car. Due to the extreme heat, many tots die.

So far this year, seven kids have died – in the past 14 years, 534 kids have died after being left in hot cars. While products that remind parents about lil ones in the backseat sound like a joke, the statistics about the situation are startling. Take this quiz to check your facts and get tips to prevent it from happening to your family.

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What Larry Ellison Can Do With His Own Hawaiian Island

This week, Oracle founder and billionaire Larry Ellison ($36 billion is his estimated worth) bought the Hawaiian island of Lanai, an island we didn't even know was for sale.


This week, Oracle founder and billionaire Larry Ellison ($36 billion is his estimated worth) bought the Hawaiian island of Lanai, an island we didn't even know was for sale. Then again, with an estimated selling price of around $600 million, it's not really in our real estate market. The 141-square-mile island is one of Hawaii's least-developed islands — with nary a streetlight, a population hovering around 3,000, two golf courses, and the Four Seasons Resort. The tiny Hawaiian jewel — formerly known as the "pineapple island" for its main agricultural export in the 1920s — now depends on tourism to stay alive. While Ellison has kept mum, reports say he plans on making substantial investments in Lanai. With Lanai's gorgeous environment and our love for breezy escapes on the brain, here are a few things Ellison can do.

  • Build a seriously massive home: Ellison already owns multiple homes in California, Nevada, and Newport, RI, including a home modeled after a 16th-century Japanese palace. With 88,000 acres now under his ownership, we expect Mr. Ellison will build something spectacularly grand.
  • Lounge at the Four Seasons: The luxury resort sits along cliffs above a marine preserve and boasts one of the world's top golf courses. Might we recommend the Hulopo'e suite?
  • Make it an "eco-chic" destination: Tulum paved the way for eco-chic travel — think rustic but beautiful cabanas, organic food, and lots of yoga. Ellison could follow suit — just take a look at Tulum's Amansala resort and breathe new life into Lanai's tourism trade.
  • Pitch a tent in the Garden of the Gods: This arid landscape filled with boulders and rock towers is pretty dramatic. Accessible only by a four-wheel-drive car, Garden of the Gods is remote and not ideal for building, but who better than Ellison to plunk down a luxurious yurt and call it his own?
  • Simply take in the view: Whilst building a spectacularly grand home, Ellison may want to rent his own, like this villa set above Manele Bay. It's also on the market for $4.5 million, should he want to invest in the view permanently.

Photo courtesy of Lanai Luxury Homes