It's time for another installment of funny tweets from our favorite female celebrities! This week we have musings on hotel pillows, jelly sandals, and the great state of "Koalafornia." If you're looking for a way to add some giggles into your day, then feast your eyes on the most hilarious quips that were tweeted this week.
If you're engaged, then félicitations! (That means congrats in French.) The Cannes Film Festival has us dreaming of éclairs and sexy accents, but you don't have to use your frequent-flier miles to add a bit of French flair to your wedding. For your big day, have your guests saying "oh, la la" with these chic French details. Cartes postales, lavender, French signs, and, of course, Champagne will do the trick. Here are more ideas for your wedding.
In the midst of graduation season, here's a feel-good story to kick off your weekend. Chelesa Fearce, 17, became her school's valedictorian despite being homeless for much of high school. A local Atlanta TV station caught up with Chelesa, who shared her journey to getting a 4.466 GPA and 1900 on her SATs. Even if you don't know the current SAT scale (it's 2400), that sounds pretty legit. Not impressed enough already? She's starting at Spelman College in the Fall as a junior, since she already has enough college credit. Watch Chelesa tell her story in this clip.
The promise of Michael Douglas and Matt Damon playing lovers — not a burning fascination with Liberace's life — will probably entice most people to watch HBO's Behind the Candelabra. But if you do tune in, then you'll find yourself intrigued by the flamboyant performer's story. After a few minutes of seeing Douglas in a pompadour wig and stage makeup, you'll forget it's him playing Liberace. And Damon's evolution from innocent farm boy to drugged-up Liberace lover and stage prop is subtly stunning. If you plan to watch when it airs Sunday at 9 p.m., then here's what to expect from Steven Soderbergh's look behind Liberace's famous candelabra. Just keep reading.
It's a historic day for the Boy Scouts of America, which just decided to welcome openly gay boys to its ranks. A group of over 1,400 leaders voted 60 percent to lift the ban, which was rooted in the pledge. It states that scouts must be "physically strong, mentally alert, and morally straight." The new policy, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2014, does not apply to troop leaders, who are still prohibited from being openly gay. Even so, the move toward inclusivity will be welcomed by the gay community and its allies. But it does not appear the organization was moved by a dedication to gay rights. A statement from the Boy Scouts read, "The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved societal issue."
Eva Longoria has gone to the top of the class! Yesterday, Eva kicked up her heels after accepting her master's degree in Chicano studies from California State University, Northridge. She adds the degree to her bachelor of science in kinesiology, which she received while at Texas A&M University-Kingsville before heading to Hollywood. Eva reportedly started the advanced program while working on ABC's Desperate Housewives, even completing some schoolwork while on set. To celebrate her accomplishments, check out other actresses who have impressive degrees, including self-described "super academic" Rebel Wilson and supermom Jennifer Garner.
Time magazine unearthed never-before-seen photos of President Obama at his senior prom, and he looks exactly the same! Then 17-year-old Barry Obama went with a white jacket and Hawaiian trappings for the 1979 prom at his alma mater Punahou School in Honolulu.
The magazine also published a note Obama wrote in friend Kelli's yearbook. In case you're wondering, the word "foxy" was in his vocabulary. Obama wrote: "It has been so nice getting to know you this year. You are extremely sweet and foxy." He continued, "Call me and I'll buy you lunch sometime." I wonder if the offer is still good today?
Kate Middleton wore a canary yellow coat by Emilia Wickstead to Queen Elizabeth's annual garden party Wednesday. The pregnant duchess got to spend some quality time with her in-laws, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and smiled as she spoke with the guests. Each year, the queen hosts a tea party for 8,000 members of the British public. A reported 270,000 cups of tea are served, as well as thousands of sandwiches and slices of cake. Last year was the first time the Duchess of Cambridge attended the event, where Kate cut a much different figure in a lovely pink dress.
This year, Kate topped her springy coat with a Jane Corbett hat. As she waits for the arrival of her first child and heir to the British throne, the duchess has kept quite busy. Kate attended a friend's wedding over the past weekend, and has been shopping for baby supplies.
Amazon hopes you still care about Serena, Blair, Dan, and the gang now that Gossip Girl is off the air. The company announced today that it will sell Gossip Girl fan fiction, as well as stories about The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars, in the Kindle store. Those original books inspired the popular TV shows and a healthy amount of online fan fiction, and by bringing the latter to the Kindle, Amazon will make it easier to find and read. The company is also working on securing rights for additional content. The new program is called Kindle Worlds, and Amazon describes it as the "first commercial publishing platform that will enable any writer to create fan fiction based on a range of original stories and characters and earn royalties for doing so."
Writers will be able to self-publish stories of 10,000 words or more, and those who are eligible can get up to 35 percent of each sale. The owners of the original content also get a portion. After the success of Twilight fan fiction like Fifty Shades of Grey and Beautiful Bastard, Amazon's foray into the genre seems like a savvy move. Tells us below if you have an appetite for it.
With the unofficial kickoff to Summer upon us, we have beach reads on the brain! In time for Memorial Day, here are three new page-turners that will keep your mind off the office while you enjoy the sun and sand. From a book of bite-size and hilarious essays to a much-anticipated sequel about a certain devil who wears Prada, here are the books to pack along.
Following Monday's historic tornado that devastated the Oklahoma City area, there has been an outpouring of support from public figures, celebrities, and everyday Americans. President Barack Obama addressed the nation from the White House Tuesday morning, expressing his severe concern and promising federal aid for the victims and families. As search and rescue teams scour the disaster grounds, celebrities have also been taking advantage of social media to share thoughts, prayers, and words of encouragement. Oklahoma natives Olivia Munn and Carrie Underwood gave personal accounts and hopes for fellow Oklahomans, as did Kristen Chenoweth, who also asked her followers to donate to the American Red Cross and Humane Society relief efforts. Click through to see how public figures and celebrities are coming together to support tornado victims.
In the midst of all the sad news coming out of Oklahoma, CBS News captured a bright moment after the storm. Tornado survivor Barbara Garcia never lost hope that her dog was alive under the rubble of her home. And as she was being interviewed on TV, she found him. "Well I got God to answer one prayer to let me be OK," Barbara said, "but he answered both of them." This is just another moving story of tornado survivors finding their pets. Watch Barbara and her dog reunite now, and then find out how you can help other survivors.
President Barack Obama addressed the nation today, pledging federal assistance for victims of the tornado in Oklahoma City, OK, which he has declared a major disaster. "Our focus as a nation is on the urgent work of rescue and rebuilding that lies ahead." The president also addressed confusion over how many people perished in the storm. Previous counts of 51 and 91 were revised downward to 24 Tuesday, as officials said some victims were counted twice. "We still don't know the human and economic losses that may have occurred," explained the president, who is in communication with state and federal responders. As more information comes out, read below to find out how you can help or donate.
A two-mile-wide tornado devastated the area around Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon, leaving at least 24 dead. More than 145 people are reported injured, and the death toll is expected to rise. There was initially confusion over the death toll, with a medical examiner reporting that 51 lives were lost, but now a different Oklahoma City medical examiner claims that number was "inaccurate" and the toll is actually around 24.
One farmer told a local station, "It was just like the movie Twister. There were horses and stuff flying around everywhere." This comes after another tornado killed two people in Shawnee, OK, on Sunday. Rescue workers are continuing to sift through the rubble from Monday's storm, which leveled neighborhoods and two elementary schools. The Red Cross is currently helping people in the Midwest, providing shelter, food, and emotional support following the tornado disasters. The Salvation Army is also taking donations. Watch CNN's coverage and a Vine clip of the destruction below.
The conversation? Unremarkable. The sex? Less frequent. The terms of endearment? What endearment? Your relationship has stalled, and it's time to give it a jump start. The first step is recognizing there's a problem; now we've got some helpful pointers for getting back that sizzle and spark. Here are five tips for recharging the love between you and your mate.
This week on Mad Men, Don and the cool kids in creative decide to get a little help from a "complex vitamin super dose" before a weekend of work on the Chevy account. Young-at-heart account exec Jim Cutler brings in his doctor, who proceeds to administer the upper drug into the backsides of the eager staff. The good doctor doesn't even blink twice before giving a dose to Roger Sterling, who discloses his heart condition. Although, we don't get to see what effect the drug has on Roger. I hope we find out next week.
While viewers don't explicitly know what the super dose consists of, we do see its impact. An injured Kenny Cosgrove breaks into a manic tap routine. Stan Rizzo races through the office and comes up with hundreds of "ideas." And Don Draper zooms past doors, talks a mile a minute, and becomes obsessed with coming up with something to say to his mistress, rather than focusing on the Chevy account. At least that's what it seems like he's talking about when he shares his pitch with Peggy: "Let's say I get her face to face. How do I capture her imagination?" So what is this drug that turns everyone into momentary geniuses who actually create sober gibberish? Probably amphetamines — aka speed.
If the Sterling Cooper Draper whatever-they're-called-now staff remind you of the kids in college who got hopped up on Adderall before a big deadline, it might be because they are hopped up on Adderall before a big deadline. Or something similar, at least. "Amphetamine salts combo," the technical term for what is known today as Adderall, was approved by the FDA in 1960. It then went under the name Obetrol. It and similar amphetamines, like dextroamphetamine and benzedrine, were popular at the time as diet pills, study aids, or party drugs. So it seems likely the Mad Men team would call on it increase their alertness and motivation. Other side effects include increased sex drive, which could explain Stan's come-on to Peggy and Wendy Gleason. And we saw quite a few of the negative side effects play out on Don, including fever, sweating, and insomnia.
In the 1960s, amphetamines were also used to stimulate American military men during the Vietnam War. However, they were not popular with many hippies and counterculture figures like The Beatles and Allen Ginsberg, who favored the more mellow drugs marijuana and LSD. Maybe Don Draper isn't all that cool after all.
Queen Bey's little princess has her own backstage throne! Today on Tumblr, Beyoncé shared a new photo of daughter Blue Ivy, who is along on the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. Just like mom, Blue Ivy can rock a wardrobe — check out her tutu! The family photo comes after Jay-Z reportedly denied rumors he and Beyoncé are expecting a second child and a few days after Beyoncé posted and then took down an Instagram message apparently addressing "people who have nothing better to do than talk about me." As we see with this latest photo of Blue Ivy, Beyoncé is one of many celebrities to share with fans on Tumblr, the social network Yahoo just bought for $1.1 billion. Be sure to check out more celebrities you should follow on Tumblr.
Yahoo is scooping up Tumblr for $1.1 billion, gaining 108 million microblogs in the process. Just like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, Tumblr is another way for celebrities to connect with fans. And since they have more creative control over the sites, the content is often a more authentic and sometimes edgier expression of the celebrity's image. Pop icons like Beyoncé and Britney Spears use the site, as do TV stars Zooey Deschanel and Aziz Ansari and fashion insiders Terry Richardson and Rachel Zoe. As Tumblr makes big news, check out the top celebrity Tumblrs you should have on your dashboard.
After a week of scandals for his administration, President Obama took a break from politics to get personal. On Sunday at Morehouse College's graduation, the president opened up about his role as dad-in-chief: "My whole life, I've tried to be for Michelle and my girls what my father wasn't for my mother and me." Speaking at the historically black and all-male college, Sasha and Malia's dad said, "I want to break that cycle — where a father's not at home, where a father's not helping to raise that son and daughter. I want to be a better father, a better husband, a better man." His message was also inclusive of different sexualities. He implored the all-male crowd to be the best partner "to your wife, or your boyfriend, or your partner."
The president even went so far as to imagine what he would be thinking about on his deathbed and admitted it would not be legislation he passed or the Nobel Prize he won. "I will be thinking about that walk I took with my daughters. I'll be thinking about a lazy afternoon with my wife. I'll be thinking about sitting around the dinner table and seeing them happy and healthy and knowing that they were loved." Obama, who followed up Michelle Obama's Friday speech at Bowie State University, also frankly touched on race, a topic he often avoids. "At some point in life as an African American you have to work twice as hard as anyone else if you want to get by." He encouraged the "Morehouse men" to be good role models for their communities. See photos, as well as a video, now.
Yahoo! is buying Tumblr for $1.1 billion! On Sunday, Yahoo!'s board approved the deal for the microblogging network popular with animated GIF lovers and celebrities like Beyoncé. There are more than 108 million blogs on the social network, and the acquisition is yet another bold move by Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer, who is attempting to revitalize the Internet giant and appeal to a younger demographic. The deal, which is even bigger than Facebook's $1 billion acquisition of Instagram, is expected to be finalized as soon as Monday. Tumblr's 26-year-old founder David Karp dropped out of high school at age 15 to work as a programmer.
