Hurricane season is upon us. Miami attorney Richard Duarte became increasingly concerned with surviving a man-made or natural disaster after living through the wrath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The South Florida lawyer and firearms expert penned his first book, Surviving Doomsday: A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster, to aid others with similar worries. Although Duarte’s preparedness advice could help those concerned about weather disasters and various forms of civil unrest in suburban and rural areas, his popular book is particularly geared to the survival hurdles facing residents of metropolitan areas.

The Inquisitr recently sat down with Richard Duarte to discuss his book and ongoing training plan:

IQ: How does you background as a firearms expert and a lawyer influence your survival and preparedness habits?

Richard: Because of my legal training and to some extent my personality, I tend to be analytical and logical in my approach to just about every issue or problem I encounter. My survival preparation and planning focuses around what makes sense and what is reasonable and logical for the circumstances. I sincerely believe that every successful survival plan must contain a strong security and self-defense component; for some of us this includes owning firearms and knowing how to use them safely and effectively. I always recommend proper training to anyone considering owning a firearm.

IQ: Surviving Hurricane Andrew prompted you to become increasingly concerned about disaster survival in urban regions. Did you feel helpless and or worried in the aftermath of the hurricane?

Richard: During hurricane Andrew, a category 5 storm, I felt completely helpless and alone. Our house was literally torn apart all around us – there was nothing I could do about it, and there was no one to call for help. In the aftermath, I couldn’t believe what had just happened and how completely unprepared I had been. That morning my family and I left the rubble of what had once been our home with nothing more than the clothes on our backs.

We were all grateful to be alive, but at that moment I knew I could never again allow myself to be caught off-guard. For a period of time after Andrew my family and I lived in constant fear of the annual hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to the end of November. Since 1992 I have been researching and studying what works and what doesn’t. After many years of trial and error, I developed easy, practical steps that anyone can take to be prepared. Contrary to popular belief, what motivates most of us to be prepared is not fear, but the desire to not live in fear. Being prepared has actually brought peace of mind back into my life.

I realize that law enforcement professionals do a very good job of protecting the public, but sometimes lawful citizens are confronted by violent criminals wishing to do them harm and waiting for the police to arrive may not always be an option. It is every citizen’s right to defend themselves and their loved ones, and that is a right that should never be compromised in any way.

 IQ: How did engaging in a more self-reliant mindset evolve and how did your wife, children, and grandchildren respond to the lifestyle change?

Richard: As a society we have become overly reliant on a very fragile and often aging and unreliable public infrastructure. Everything we depend on from the water we drink, to the food we eat, to the electricity that powers our homes and business, it’s all, in some way or another, tied to the electrical grid. As responsible members of society, it’s up to us to recognize these vulnerabilities and to prepare accordingly – doing nothing should never be an option.

However, not everybody sees it quite the same way, and too many people tend to ignore potential threats until they are personally affected. I am very lucky that my wife and children are all very supportive and appreciative of my efforts. But, I know many people who don’t see the need to make any preparations, sadly they are among the majority of the population that still mistakenly believe that the authorities will quickly organize and come to their rescue immediately after any disaster or public emergency.

 IQ: You currently offer consults and lectures on surviving urban disasters. Creating a sustainable lifestyle is far easier in a rural or even suburban environment. What are the major concerns and stumbling blocks in regards to food production and energy systems faced primarily by urban dwellers?

Richard: In any disaster or public emergency urban dwellers will have a much tougher time securing, what I call, the core survival elements – food, water, first aid, sanitation, hygiene, shelter and security. Because of this many urban dwellers will face the perfect storm in just about any crisis. The majority of the US population now lives in cities, and all the goods and services they consume are brought in from very far away.

IQ: Your “Surviving An Urban Disaster, How Prepared Are You?” report will appear in the June edition of S.W.A.T. Magazine. What can you share about the upcoming featured article?

Richard: S.W.A.T. Magazine is an excellent publication and I am grateful that they gave me an opportunity to write an article on the topic of urban survival. The article itself is a detailed summary of what the average personal should be thinking about and how they should be preparing and planning for a crisis.

IQ: Your book, Surviving Doomsday – A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster was featured in the Florida Bar Journal Literary Lawyers section. What type of reception did you get from your fellow attorneys and who should read the book,?

Richard: Most of my friends, and professional peers have been very supportive, many thought it really “cool” that I had written the book and asked when I was going to be on “that Prepper show.” Overall, I have received all sorts of feedback, but the majority has been positive. I don’t consider myself a “Prepper” personally, I don’t like labels. I am merely a person who recognizes that we live in a very dangerous and unpredictable world, and that there are reasonable, practical, common sense steps that we can all take to protect ourselves and our loved ones. I think everybody would benefit from reading my book, no matter where they live.

Being prepared and having a plan just makes sense, no matter who you are. If it were up to me, I would make disaster preparedness a mandatory subject for children to learn about in school. The same way we have fire drills and vaccinations, I would take the time to teach school aged children how to best protect themselves against the natural and man-made hazards that are so common in our daily lives. But since schools don’t even want to teach kids how to write in cursive anymore, I have very little hope. In reality, it’s up to us to educate and protect ourselves and our families; to do anything less is irresponsible.

[Image Via: Shutterstock.com]

Urban Survival Expert Richard Duarte Shares Hurricane Preparedness Tips [Interview] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The French Mayor who married a gay couple has received an unusual threat.

Gay and lesbian marriage has been a heavily debated topic for quite a while now, and the internet is rife with the movement. Religious and right-wing protesters are in a rage over the idea that several states in the US have made the institution legal between same-sex couples, but it’s not stopping them. Washington, D.C. alongside Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington as well as three tribal jurisdictions, have all legalized gay marriage in the US.

In the rest of the world, about as many countries such as New Zealand, Norway, and France have also legalized the marriage of gay couples, the latter of which was actually administered by French Mayor Helene Mandroux herself, marking possibly one of the first times a major political figure performed the ceremony of joining a gay couple legally.

Of course, this didn’t go down without some backlash. Prior to the legislation, gay couples had been victims of violent crimes over the outrage.

The French Mayor Helene Mandroux has been receiving unusual threats in the form of packages and letters containing strange contents. Insults and threats have been rather commonplace, but one of said packages sent to her contained feces.

There was also a letter protesting the marriage of gay couples sent to Claude Bartolone, the head of the National Assembly, that included gunpowder in the envelope.

The protest over the marriage of gay couples has been ongoing for some time in France, but the odd packages have raised suspicions and more than a few eyebrows with their unusual contents.

The President of France himself, Francois Hollande, hasn’t been immune to the death threats and such, and it didn’t stop him from signing gay marriage into law.

Gay couples rejoice for the movement into the legalization of gay marriage around the world, even in spite of the sometimes unusual backlash.

What do you think of the French Mayor getting unusual threats after marrying a gay couple?

French Mayor Who Married Gay Couple Receives Unusual Threat is a post from: The Inquisitr

Meeting online could result in a longer, happier marriage if you accept the results of a new study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study conducted by psychologist John T. Cacioppo and his team surveyed over 19,000 people who got married between 2005 and 2012.

According to their data, more than one-third of American marriages began with an online meeting. “[T]he Internet may be altering the dynamics and outcomes of marriage itself,” Dr. Cacioppo said.

But I think we already know that lots of people meet online these days. What might be more interesting is what happens as a result of those meetings.

The new study’s data reported that marriages that started with an online meeting were actually less likely to breakup. They noted that there are demographic differences between people who meet online and people who meet in traditional places like bars or church groups, but they tried to control for those differences and got the same result.

Hmm.

Six percent of the online marriages have already broken up, compared to 7.6 percent of marriages that began with a real world meeting.  The online marriages were also slightly more satisfying.

Now I’m not going to be your mom and tell you to get off the couch and meet somebody in a bar like a normal person. There’s no real surprise when that doesn’t work out.

But I might be more excited about this study except for just one caveat. The survey was commissioned by eHarmony.com. Yeah, an online dating service.

The researchers disclose the relevant information and explain how they gathered data to make sure that the online dating site didn’t influence their findings. And I’m sure they wanted to do real science, because collecting 19,000-plus surveys doesn’t sound like a walk in the park.

But I for one will be more excited about the possibility of online meetings leading to longer marriages when somebody else duplicates their results.

[wedding couple photo by Petinov Sergey Mihilovich via Shutterstock]

Meeting Online Means Longer Marriage, Says New Study, But… is a post from: The Inquisitr

The late rising star Reeva Steenkamp apparently predicted her own death, according to her parents. Speaking on a Channel 5 documentary that is due to air shortly, Steenkamp’s parents recall their daughter painting what looked like a field in which there’s a gunman, an angel (which both parents interpret as Reeva), and a staircase leading to heaven. This seemingly innocent picture held more relevance to their daughter’s future than first thought.

Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead on Valentine’s Day by her partner Oscar Pistorius. The six time Paralympic sprinter has denied murder, stating that he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder and was simply defending himself. However, Steenkamp’s parents report that their daughter feared for her safety because she was having relationship troubles with Pistorius. Upon asking their daughter what the problem was, she simply replied that they were fighting a lot and refused to elaborate further.

However, upon reflection, the parents now believe that the relationship was taking a more sinister turn. The addition of the painting into this tragic case only makes the story more chilling for the late model’s parents, who firmly believe that this painting was a warning of things to come, much like psychic predictions or doomsday omens:

“Reeva painted these pictures when she was 14, they’ve been in the house for a long time now, but we never really realised what they were about. If you look at it now it’s clear as anything that this is a premonition.”

Although this is understandably a sensitive topic for the parents, it is difficult albeit impossible to know if that was the painting’s true meaning. Many children, teenagers, and even adults often paint things that hold no real meaning, much like someone might post a throw away comment on their social networks. Even famous painting by artists such as Van Gogh, who expressed his inner turmoil and emotions, has not been seen as an a prediction of his death. Even ancient cave drawings discovered in Mexico were only a means of reflecting past events, not the future.

[Image via The Mirror]

Reeva Steenkamp Predicted Her Own Death In A Painting is a post from: The Inquisitr

Google Glass has officially received its first porn app, and its name is actually pretty clever.

Google Glass’s first porn app, the aptly named “Tits & Glass,” allows users to browse, share, and comment on pornographic content right in front of their faces. Look ma, no hands!

The app was developed by MiKandi, the world’s “largest adult app store” — and the fine team that brought us “Bang with Friends” — and is free of charge. The app is preloaded with photos and videos that are optimized for Glass’s POV. The company plans to film original content with Google Glass soon, but for now, the majority of content is user-generated. Users are encouraged to share the photos and videos with the “T&G” community, and then other users can vote on their favorites.

“When we first announced that we were developing this app, there were knee-jerk reactions suggesting that people will watch porn on the bus and everywhere,” Jennifer McEwen, co-founder of MiKandi, told NBC News. 

Co-founder Jesse Adams added, “We see this more for notifications than for consuming content.”

One of the main concerns surrounding “Tits & Glass” is the issue of privacy — what if a notification pops up while the user in a public setting, such as a business meeting?

“I think you might need to practice a poker face,” Adams said. However, MiKandi is considering adding a feature that allows you to pause notifications from the device. Currently, the app can be disabled on the Web.

Back to the issue of privacy, since Glass is a Google product, the user’s Google account will be linked to the device. So how will users keep their habits private?

“Everything is anonymous by default,” Adams said. “We will assign you a default user ID, a randomized one, and nothing is automatically shared.”

There is just one hitch for those who want to get their hands on “Tits & Glass” — no pun intended. Google has yet to give the app the green light, and when the app is activated, users are greeted with the message, “This Glassware has not been reviewed by Google.” A Glass developer said that the company does not “allow Glassware content that contains nudity, graphic sex acts or sexually explicit material.” The developer did not say, however, if or when the law would be enforced.

Are you surprised that a porn app has been developed for Google Glass?

Google Glass Gets First Porn App is a post from: The Inquisitr

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard lost a foul shooting contest to Kelzer Nielsen, and the cameras were rolling for posterity.

Nielsen, identified in some media accounts by the first name of Kelly, a Phoenix mom of three, is the daughter of Los Angeles Times columnist T.J. Simers.

Howard, who may or may not flee the Lakers for the Houston Rockets or another team, is a notoriously poor foul shooter. This season he averaged 49 percent from the free throw line; his NBA career average is slightly better at about 59 percent.

Simers described the matchup that took place at UCLA between Dwight Howard and his daughter in this way: “My daughter, Kelzer, is a mother now with three children, and it’s been more than a decade since she spent much time shooting a basketball. But I flew Kelzer in from Arizona to teach Dwight Howard how to shoot free throws because she still has to be better than he is.”

Howard makes an interesting admission on the video (see embed below) about his struggles from the charity stripe: “I can shoot free throw until the moon turns blue, but if I get into a game and I think too much, I’m going to miss it.”

As quoted by Simers, Howard echoed this the sentiment when he said that “I have only one problem and it’s between my ears. I just think too much.”  The star also admitted seeing the team psychiatrist.

Neilsen does a bit of trash talking during the head-to-head competition, first telling Howard that she’s never heard of them, and later saying “Kobe thinks you’re soft.”

She made 5 out of 10, while Howard, shooting with his left hand, was 3-9, after missing his first five attempts. As the loser of the free throw shooting contest, Howard agreed to give $,5000 to the charity of the father/daughter act’s choice. Howard refused any tutoring from Nielsen, however. “He declined Kelzer’s offer to help with his shooting technique, saying he will not change the way he shoots free throws this off-season. He’ll just shoot more of them.”

Last November, Howard lost a free throw contest with Bailey, the Los Angeles Kings mascot.

Dwight Howard becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Housewife Kelzer Nielsen Defeats Dwight Howard In Free Throw Shooting Contest [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Another Reddit breakup post has gone viral, and unlike last week’s allegedly cheating girlfriend spotted on a move-out of shame on Google Maps, this time a reportedly philandering boyfriend was rewarded for his perfidy with a game that was likely more fun for the letter writer than him … if it happened at all.

The thing with Reddit breakup posts like the Google Maps girlfriend and this satisfying to read yet unverifiable letter from a cheated upon girl is that we really have no way of telling if they’re legit.

It’s rare anyone gets to young adulthood without having their heart spectacularly stepped upon at least once, and seeing these images — of someone getting what is described as the last say at someone who terribly wronged them — is a way of vicariously righting those wrongs in our own pasts.

This week’s viral breakup tale comes unsigned from a Reddit user, in a handwritten note explaining to the guy who allegedly propositioned other girls on the sly via Facebook where he can now find all his prized possessions.

Starting “Hi, Honey,” the letter goes on to explain how the nameless letter writer discovered her boyfriend’s duplicity, and details where she hid his things:

“Guess who left his Facebook open on the computer and got a message from Kelsi? Yeah! You! … I even invented a neat game since I know you like looking for other things, (like other girls!) … while I didn’t break or damage anything, I can’t guarantee anybody else won’t find it.”

The poster goes on to suggest that his clothing, TV, and laptop are located at places the pair experienced milestones in happier times — such as a first kiss.

But the mementos, she says, are all over at Kelsi’s house, according to the letter, which ends ”Happy Hunting!”

Do you think the Reddit breakup letter recipient deserved his fate if he cheated with Kelsi, or are these kinds of breakups not worth taking the low road?

Reddit Breakup Letter Goes Viral, Jilted Girlfriend Creates Revenge Scavenger Hunt is a post from: The Inquisitr

Texas Representative Steve Stockman has a reputation for being a little forward when it comes to his rhetoric on hot-button political issues. But whether you consider him fearless or offensive, the man sticks to his guns with a recent tweet raising a few eyebrows this week.

A tweet from Rep. Steve Stockman’s official Twitter account posted Friday read:  ”Democrats calling our office today to argue women should not be allowed to defend themselves with a gun if they are raped #WarOnWomen.”

The reason? Democrats called his Texas office last week in order to advocate for stricter gun control laws. Stockman, not being terribly fond of tighter gun control measures, apparently has his staffers on standby to flame these inquirers right back in the event of a gun control call.

One of the congressman’s staffers apparently shot right back at these Democratic callers with the question: “Should women be able to use guns to defend themselves against rapists?”

The Huffington Post placed an email to Stockman asking him about the calls, and were told that a few “Democratic cranks” who live outside of his district had been phoning in to “complain about people owning guns.”

“When we asked if women should be allowed to carry a gun to fend off a rapist, they all said no,” said Donny Ferguson, a senior adviser to the congressman. “They apparently believe rapists are morally superior to gun owners.”

Yikes! They also asked Ferguson to clarify what he meant by “Democratic cranks.”

“Just the kind of people who call an office to complain because they saw something on a left-wing website. Our own constituents are much nicer,” he said.

Democrats calling our office today to argue women should not be allowed to defend themselves with a gun if they are raped #WarOnWomen

— Rep. Steve Stockman (@SteveWorks4You) May 31, 2013

What do you think of Steve Stockman’s tweet? Is he asking a loaded question, or does he have a point? Sound off!

Texas Rep. Stockman Asks Democrats If Rape Victims Should Carry Guns is a post from: The Inquisitr

Just about everyone has thrown an opinion out in regard to Tim Tebow’s future in the NFL. Well, everyone except Tim Tebow.

The former New York Jets quarterback has been relatively quiet amid the rumors about his future.

Tebow has received a constant stream of insulting offers since his days with the Jets came to an end and several people have reported that the former Mile High Messiah’s days in the NFL are over. One NFL scout said:

“He’s not a quarterback … When you look at his run two years ago, when you watch the tape and break it down, he wasn’t really doing anything that impressive. He’s a tough guy, a great leader, a great person. But he isn’t a good enough quarterback to have all the distractions that come with him.”

But not everyone is betting against Tebow.

Former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said:

“I would never bet against him … I don’t know if he’s done.  I don’t know if that report [that says he is] is true.  But Tim has always been successful, and I’m sure whatever he wants to do, he’ll work hard.  Sometimes it takes guys awhile, and with Tim’s resourcefulness I would never bet against him.”

Rumors started circulating about Tebow’s future in the NFL after an ESPN The Magazine report stated that several people in the QB’s camp were “privately admitting that his NFL run is probably over.”

That means one of two things: Either Tebow is leaving the NFL or Tebow needs to surround himself with better people.

Or, of course, it could mean absolutely nothing.

The quarterback’s dad Bob Tebow talked to NFL.com about the report and said that people should know better than to “believe everything you hear.”

So is Tebow leaving the NFL? Well, it turns out that only one person really knows the truth and that person isn’t talking just yet.

Tim Tebow Stays Quiet As NFL Rumors Continue is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cancer is a scary word for someone of any age, but as a child words such as cancer and chemotherapy can be scary because they may not quite understand what exactly it is they have to go through. So instead of feeling like the strong little fighters they are, the children end up feeling scared and vulnerable.

Who better to help them feel safe and strong again? That’s right, the Justice League has come to inspire the patients of a children’s cancer center in Sao Paulo to brave their illnesses so they can overcome the unpleasantness of chemotherapy.

“The first step in the fight against cancer is believing in the cure,” JWT wrote on its website. “But the chemotherapy treatment is difficult, especially for a child. To help them believe, we worked…to create an idea capable of changing their negative perception of the treatment.”

According to The Huffington Post, JWT, a global ad agency has worked alongside the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center to help “transform it’s children’s ward into a superhero’s paradise, complete with a ‘Hall of Justice’ game room and superhero-themed decorations.”

From there JWT created covers for the intravenous bags that were based on the characters from the ‘Justice League.’ The covers were designed to be easy to handle, and to clean so they don’t pose any harmful effects to the children.

JWT and the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center wanted a way to create a new perception of the treatment, make it seem less scary. So JWT collaborated with Warner Bros. to produce a series of comic books in which the members of the Justice League (i.e. Batman or Superman) have to battle and overcome similar illnesses with the help of the “Superformula.”

With all this in mind, JWT and the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center are hoping to give kids that boost that they may need to help them fight, as they said: “one of the real world’s greatest villains.”

[Image Credit: io9]

Superformula Chemotherapy Helping Kids Fighting Cancer Feel Like Heroes [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Police captured a kangaroo on the run this weekend after an hours-long chase in Pasco County, Florida. The frisky animal didn’t make it easy. You can see a video from WTVR of part of the chase clicking right here.

But the action took far longer than the video suggests. According to local news sources including WTVR, the animal was first spotted on Saturday.

When the local Pasco County Sheriff’s Office got it penned, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission tried to use tranquilizers.

One report said that the captured kangaroo was hit by the tranquilizer gun four times, but it simply didn’t work.

Eventually, they had no choice but to Taser and tackle the belligerent roo.

“17 years of law enforcement and this is the first time I’ve had a kangaroo call,” Deputy Gene Smith told Bay News 9. “I’ve never felt such power in my life. Those things are strong.”

You know what? I don’t doubt him for a minute. The animals are powerful, but most rampaging kangaroos are reported from Australia.

In a recent kangaroo attack, one of the animals attacked and bloodied an Australian politician. The Australian public responded with an outpouring of concern…for the kangaroo.

There are no wild kangaroos in Florida, but apparently there’s a legal kangaroo farm nearby. Perhaps it’s their animal, or they’ll be willing to provide the feisty beast with a home even if it isn’t.

Otherwise, the wildlife officers aren’t sure what they’ll do with the surprisingly powerful kangaroo. Not many people are equipped to adopt a pet who can take four jolts of a tranquilizer gun and keep on coming.

I don’t know what-all is going on out there in Florida, but evidently things are getting a little crazy.  Are you surprised that Florida police had to Taser a llama and a kangaroo in separate captures the very same weekend?

[kangaroo photo by Christopher Meder via Shutterstock]

Police Capture Kangaroo After Florida Chase [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Have you ever wondered why Floyd Mayweather Jr. calls his entourage the money team? Well, it probably has something to do with $5.9 million bets. Yep, there’s a rumor going around that the boxer placed a $5.9 million bet on the Miami Heat to beat the Indiana Pacers tonight during game 7.

According to the Indy Star, Mayweather needs the Heat to beat the Pacers by 8 points tonight to collect.

IBN Sports Wrap reportedly confirmed the bet saying that Mayweather has $5.9 million spread out over 9 books and underground bookies in Las Vegas.

Mayeather hasn’t confirmed the bet himself but it wouldn’t be out of character for the boxer to put down a 7 figure bet on a sporting event.

Mayweather told ESPN: “Every day, you have to find one (game) that you truly believe in and truly feel you’ve got the ups and that’s the one that you load up on.”

Miami entered the series (and the playoffs) as the heavy favorites but they ran into an unexpected road block in the form of 7’2″ Roy Hibbert. The Pacers have proven to be a formidable opponent for the Heat and a victory tonight is far from a sure thing.

Floyd Mayweather’s 5.9Million bet #Confirmed spread out over 9 books and underground bookies in Vegas @ ibnsportswrap.com/index.php

— Vegas Gambling Steam (@Pregame_Steam) June 3, 2013

Do you think Floyd Mayweather is going to win his $5.9 million bet tonight? Mayweather is the highest paid athlete in the world and he recently inked a $40 million deal to fight Canelo Alvarez. Mayweather was court side during game five and he’ll probably show up tonight to cheer on the Heat.

Mayweather Bets $5.9 Million On Heat To Win Game 7 [Report] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The season 8 premiere of Keeping Up with the Kardashians revealed the sex of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s baby, and the couple are expecting a girl.

The episode also revealed Kardashian’s plan to eat her own placenta after she welcomes her daughter.

Kardashian asked her doctor about the practice, and he told her that it is something mothers-to-be may be interested in pursuing. She also asked if it eating placenta makes you look longer, but the doctor didn’t confirm whether that was accurate. He also didn’t discourage her from the practice, and Kardashian said that she really wanted to do it.

Kardashian previously underwent a vampire facial, which involves injecting the patient’s facial flesh with their blood, on an episode of Kourtney and Kim Take Miami. The 32-year-old said she was willing to “try anything” to keep a youthful appearance, and these are just two of the procedures the reality star has turned to.

However, the practice of eating one’s own placenta is actually fairly common among celebrities. Former Playboy Playmate Holly Madison also planned to ingest her placenta after she gave birth to her daughter. Madison planned to have the placenta dried and turned into pill form. The pills are then taken every day.

“I heard it helps women recover faster and I want to recover as quickly as I can,” Madison said.

Mad Men actress January Jones also ingested her placenta in pill form after she gave birth to her son, Xavier. The actress added that humans are the only mammals (and camels, apparently) that don’t partake of placenta. While there is limited scientific evidence backing up Kardashian and Madison’s claims, it is believed that consuming placenta balances a new mother’s hormones and energy levels (which is why Jones said she would take her pills when she feels “tired or down.”)

What do you think of Kim Kardashian’s plan to eat her placenta?

[Photo credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Kim Kardashian Plans To Eat Placenta After Giving Birth is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Texas English teacher had sex with a student she was supposed to be mentoring.

An English teacher in Texas has been accused of having sex with a student she said she was mentoring. Kelly Ann Garcia, 29, was summoned to court on Thursday to face charges arising from her indecent behavior with the student.

KHOU reports that the English teacher had been meeting a 16-year-old Hastings High School student after school dismissal, despite not being her assigned mentor. Kelly Ann Garcia had claimed she was meeting with the student to work on a school project. Instead, they were really getting to know each other personally.

The two had met through a mutual friend and developed a relationship behind closed doors at the student’s home, under the guise of tutoring.

On March 21, Kelly Ann Garcia allegedly took the victim to Starbucks and revealed an erotic dream she had about her. A week later, the student had received a text from Garcia saying that she and her boyfriend had broken up. The very next day, the two had met and engaged in a passionate round of kissing.

Over the following weeks, the relationship escalated and the intimacy grew with it. One day, Texas English teacher Kelly Ann Garcia took the female student to a store specializing in sex toys, went to the student’s home, and the two had sex.

Prosecutor Markay Stroud told the local news that, “The allegation is that they did in fact drive to a store and purchase a sex toy and drive back to the defendant’s apartment where they engaged in sex.”

The student bragged to classmates about her sexual encounter with Kelly Ann Garcia, after which her mother told local news concerning the Texas English teacher, “She seemed nice at the time. She said she wanted to mentor my daughter, and I took her for her word. Now I’m just not as trusting in people.”

The Texas English teacher Kelly Ann Garcia has been arrested on charges of sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child.

What would you do if you discovered a teacher claiming to mentor your child was indeed having sex with him or her? Do you think Texas English teacher Kelly Ann Garcia got off easy?

Texas English Teacher Has Sex With Mentor Student is a post from: The Inquisitr

Swiffer’s Rosie the Riveter-inspired ad campaign has feminist bloggers up in arms this week, and who can blame them? A powerful and iconic image for feminism has been re-appropriated by capitalism to sell mops.

In all seriousness, this is a pretty ignoble chapter in Rosie’s history. She began as an American propaganda poster during World War II that encouraged women to proudly take over the roles then normally occupied by men while the latter went off to fight.

Women nationwide were called into the factories to build airplanes, all under the proto-feminist banner of Rosie the Riveter who rolled up her sleeves, flexed a bi, and proclaimed “We Can Do It!” with a confident mug.

These days, women are starting to bring home the bacon all their own, and in many cases, they’re bringing home more than their husbands. So why did mop-maker Swiffer decide to take the Rosie image and plaster it all over their domestic products?

Well, we’re not sure, but many feminists are upset about the image.

Though it’s not clear how widely the new ad has been distributed, the blog Boing Boing spotted it on Twitter, noting one reaction which read: “I love the clear tribute to an important historical image done in such a way as to piss on its legacy.”

From there, it made its way to Think Progress, where Annie-Rose Strasser called it “particularly insulting” especially in light of the higher earning power women have in today’s society.

We can do it! Because cleaning kitchens is a woman’s work. #swiffer #sexist instagram.com/p/aD7wrDuJ3i/

— Heather Beschizza (@hbeschizza) June 2, 2013

What do you think of Swiffer’s Rose the Riveter ad? Do you think it was inspired by the famed feminist icon? Is it sexist? Sound off!

Swiffer Uses ‘Rosie The Riveter’ To Sell Mops, Feminists Very Unhappy is a post from: The Inquisitr

Miley Cyrus is hoping that her monokini will help generate some interest in her latest single “We Can’t Stop.”

The singer debuted the new tune on Ryan Seacrest’s radio talk show on Monday morning. She celebrated the release of the new single by posting some revealing shots on Twitter.

One of the promotional images for “We Can’t Stop” features Miley Cyrus in what can only be described as a Borat-inspired monokini. The singer can be seen pulling down the front of the outfit, giving fans a good look at just about everything her body has to offer. You can see the image in question below.

During her chat with the American Idol host, the former Hannah Montana star said that fans should be very happy with the sound of her latest track.

“[It's] a new Miley — more funky and R&B, pop — it’s infectious. Fans will be surprised and excited,” the 20-year-old singer explained to Seacrest.

Earlier this month, Miley Cyrus told the folks at Billboard that she was extremely excited for fans to hear her new album on RCA Records. The collection of tunes, which is currently untitled, is expected to arrive at some point later this year.

“I feel like I can really be myself,” Cyrus said of the new album. “I really have more of a connection of who I am, and I feel like I can maybe express that more in my music now.”

She added, “I think it’s an important message for me to tell my fans — they haven’t stopped waiting, so it’s great.”

Now that the song is available for mass consumption, do fans think it’s any good? You can find some Twitter reactions to “We Can’t Stop” embedded below.

Listening & actually going crazy to we can’t stop by Miley Cyrus ) IT’S THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER. I’LL DO WHATEVER I WANT

— yow ιт’ѕ єℓ (@GrammyNeedsMe) June 3, 2013

Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” is a really nice song.

— FOLLOW me JAI (@je_taimeHarry) June 3, 2013

Miley Cyrus- we can’t stop on repeat

— Katy Perez (@KatyPerez_KP) June 3, 2013

Of course, not everyone is going to the song’s praises.

Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything worse than Miley Cyrus’s new song “We Can’t Stop”. Seriously awful. What happened?

— Christina Barker (@quartetship) June 3, 2013

Here’s a look at the singer in her revealing outfit.

Amazing! Taking fashion tips from Borat? Miley Cyrus leaves little to the imagination in b…dailym.ai/19BpSqR twitter.com/GlitterJedi/st…

— Glitter Bitch (@GlitterJedi) June 3, 2013

Are you a fan of Miley Cyrus? What do you think about her monokini?

[Image via Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com]

Miley Cyrus Wears Monokini To Promote New Single ‘We Can’t Stop’ [Photo] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former Charmed star Alyssa Milano is the new host of Project Runway All Stars.

The 40-year-old will be joining returning judges Georgina Chapman and Isaac Mizrahi. She takes over for previous host Carolyn Murphy, who took over for season 1 host Angela Lindvall.

While she is best known for being an actress, Milano actually has her own sports-themed jewelry and clothing line called Touch by Alyssa Milano. The line covers the NBA, NHL, MBL, NCAA, and soccer. The fashion bug runs in the family as Milano’s mother, Lin, is also a designer.

Milano also has an existing relationship with Lifetime, having starred in (and produced) the TV movies Wisegal and Sundays at Tiffany’s.

The designers for this season of Project Runway All Stars have yet to be named. The previous winners include Mondo Guerra in season 1 and Anthony Ryan Auld in season 2.

The third season of Lifetime’s design competition begins production in New York this month, and is set to premiere this fall.

In the meantime, Milano’s new series, Mistresses, premieres on ABC Monday night. The series is based on a 2008-2010 British series of the same name, and revolves around four friends and their illicit relationships.

This was the second time attempt by a network to bring the series to the United States. Coincidentally, it was Lifetime that originally tried to import the series in 2008. The network announced that the series was being developed, but it never aired. Then, in February 2012, ABC announced that it had given Mistresses the green light with a direct-to-series order. The series was initially supposed to premiere on March 21, 2013, but the date was later changed to June 3. The first season will consist of 13 episodes, with the season finale airing in September.

What do you think of Alyssa Milano hosting Project Runway All Stars?

[Photo credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Alyssa Milano To Host ‘Project Runway All Stars’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Grunge band Pearl Jam and Mookie Blaylock have history, so it makes sense that the Seattle-bred rockers would reach out the the former NBA point guard after his involvement in a serious, life-threatening crash on Friday.

Pearl Jam has sent well-wishes to Mookie Blaylock after his weekend crash, and though it may seem odd that a music group would go out of their way to send a former NBA star positive thoughts, the two are actually pretty close in the neighborhood.

The link? Prior to their success as Pearl Jam, the band called themselves “Mookie Blaylock” after the then-active All-Star basketball player. After signing to Epic Records, worries of a copyright dispute caused the band to change their name. Still, their first album “Ten” was named for Blaylock’s jersey number.

“I was a huge Mookie fan,” Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament admitted in an interview.

Part of the reason they named themselves for Blaylock was that they liked his unique name, but Ament suggested that they identified with the sports star’s values as well.

“He was really unselfish; great shooter; great fundamentals,” Ament said.

Ament even had the pleasure of meeting Blaylock once and playing a game of H-O-R-S-E with him, according to an interview with the New York Times. Ament has put aside a picture of the two together to be framed, but said that he doesn’t expect Blaylock to be a huge Pearl Jam fan.

“It doesn’t have to be reciprocating props,” Ament said. “I went and played basketball with him, and he said: ‘You do have game! You have a good shot; you have a nice rotation.’ I was like, ‘Awesome.’ That was all I was looking for.”

Blaylock was in critical condition after the crash, but has since improved. He apparently lost control of his Cadillac Escalade and crossed the media, colliding head-on with another vehicle. He is facing vehicular homicide charges, as one of the passengers of the other car unfortunately passed away.

Are you surprised that Pearl Jam and Mookie Blaylock are so closely linked, or did you know about the grunge band’s original name?

[Image via: ChinellatoPhoto / Shutterstock]

Pearl Jam, Mookie Blaylock Connect After Life-Threatening Crash is a post from: The Inquisitr

Monona, WI – People in the Dane County community of Monona are fed up with bullying – so much so they’ve enacted a legal order which will impose fines in hopes of deterring it.

A Wisconsin suburb has adopted a rather provocative ordinance which will allow law enforcement to cite guardians of chronic bullies in an effort to discourage the persistent recidivism of harassment.

A written warning is issued. Thereafter, if a ticketed bully re-offends within 90 days the municipal court can levy a $114 fine against the tormenting child’s parents. The order will also cover cyber bullying, an unfortunate medium that has emerged with the advent of technology. Hateful emails, threatening texts or social media posts fall within the purview of cyber bullying.

No particular issue or incident provoked the establishment of the order. This is the first community to take this type of action against an ever-growing problem, creating it to address a “global issue” on a local level.

However, authorities are likely not going to impose the ordinance often, given situational discretion as there are plenty of parents who are completely incapable of controlling their child and have tried everything.

Bullying is no longer seen as kids being kids, nor is it a mere temporary behavior that oppressors will just grow out of. Kids who victimize others tend to do so because of a psychological disorder, mental illness, or they themselves have been the victim of some type of abuse.

Bullies can also simply be smug brats who have been enabled to misbehave, given little structure and discipline by parents who ignore the signs their little perfect angel is a cruel, abusive devil to his/her peers, both mentally and physically – realizing too late when their baby is being carried off in handcuffs on an assault charge.

Incidentally, those are the types of parents this particular ordinance was designated for. “It’s the ones where you go knocking on the door and they say, ‘Hey, my kid’s perfect, you have no reason to come here,’ and slam the door in your face and they’re totally uncooperative. Those are the ones we’re trying to make an impact on,” says Walter Ostrenga, the town’s chief of police. He feels parents should be responsible for their child’s actions.

The National Education Association estimates that roughly 160,000 children miss school every day due to anxiety over a potential attack or intimidation brought upon by other students. Nearly a third of all school-aged kids are subject to torment – insensitively culled out for their appearance, socioeconomic status, size, shape, color, academic and athletic performance, culture, religion, and gender.

The news reports numerous incidences where a victim of harassment has either been seriously injured or killed in connection to a physical assault by their tormentor or driven to commit suicide.

Earlier this year, a 12-year-old victim passed away the day after his birthday, falling prey to pneumonia while in a medically induced coma. The injuries that led to the hospitalization were the result of a playground assault at the hands of a bully. The boy responsible for the severe seizure provoking concussion and broken nose was suspended for two days from school.

In May, a 12-year-old named Gabrielle Molina took her own life due to the constant cyber-bullying, slut-shaming, and name calling – victimized by her schoolmates. Earlier in the same month another young girl, 14-year-old Braylee Rice, hanged herself from the bleachers outside of her middle school. Her family also cited bullying as the driving force behind her life-ending decision.

For those victims who endure, the effects of this type of physical, psychological, and emotional abuse can carry over into adulthood – leading to a heightened occurrence of depression, anxiety, antisocial personality disorders, and suicidal preoccupations.

Do you think fining the parents is an effective way to discourage bullying? Were you a school bully or were you bullied? For the bullies, why do you think you treated your fellow classmates the way you did?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Ordinance Tickets Parents Of Chronic Bullies is a post from: The Inquisitr

Scott Weiland has filed his own lawsuit against the Stone Temple Pilots.

The relationship between the singer and his former band continues to fall apart. Weeks after STP sued Scott Weiland for screwing up their 20th anniversary tour, the frontman has fired back with his very own lawsuit.

Weiland’s countersuit states that members of the Stone Temple Pilots secretly orchestrated his ouster from the group. In order to keep his former collaborators from moving forward without him, the singer is asking a judge to dissolve the band.

In addition to putting an end to the Stone Temple Pilots, Scott Weiland is also asking for $7 million in damages. The singer feels that the remaining members shouldn’t be allowed to carry on since he fronted the band for two decades.

“How do you expel a man from the band that he started, named, sang lead on every song, wrote the lyrics, and was the face of for twenty years?” Weiland explained.

The Inquisitr previously reported that the Stone Temple Pilots sued Scott Weiland for derailing their 20th anniversary tour. Not only did the singer allegedly show up late for a number of shows, he also caused the band to miss out on several promotional opportunities.

Weiland is also accused of using STP’s songs during his own solo tour. If a judge determines that the group owns the songs, copyrights, and trademarks, then the former frontman could be prevented from singing the tunes he wrote with the band during his shows.

Since Scott believes he’s still a member of the Stone Temple Pilots, he said there’s nothing the remaining members can do to prevent him from using the songs.

“First of all they don’t have the legal right to call themselves STP because I’m still a member of the band. And more importantly, they don’t have the ethical right to call themselves Stone Temple Pilots because it’s misleading and dishonest to the millions of fans that have followed us for so many years,” the singer explained.

What do you think about Scott Weiland’s lawsuit against the Stone Temple Pilots?

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]

Scott Weiland Sues Stone Temple Pilots For $7 Million is a post from: The Inquisitr