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Melanoma Rates Rise in South, Midwest

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An Energizing 10-Minute Morning Yoga Routine

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Fish Oil For Moms May Cut Kids' Asthma Risk

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Watch Fans Honor Carrie Fisher With a Lightsaber Vigil

Star Wars fans celebrated the beloved late Carrie Fisher, known best for her liconic role as Princess Leia, with a lightsaber vigil on Wednesday (December 28). Fisher, 60, died on Tuesday after a massive heart attack. 

In Anaheim, CA at Downtown Disney, fans of all ages dressed up as Princess Leia and held toy lightsabers in her honor. 

"It was a random thing," said organizer Jeff Rowan to Rolling Stone. "I decided that I think we should be paying homage to her and a lightsaber vigil was very fitting — even though technically she never really even carried a lightsaber — but I thought that it was a very fitting way for us to say goodbye to her."

Another lightsaber vigil was held by movie chain Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX last night.

#StarWars fans at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Austin holding a lightsaber vigil in memory of Carrie Fisher. Via https://t.co/TlZTvh4ZYC http://pic.twitter.com/031N1qC3Tr

— Killer Star Wars (@StarWarsTHX) December 29, 2016

Lightsaber vigil for #carriefisher at @drafthouse. #maytheforcebewithyou #ripcarriefisher 📸: Adam Moroz http://pic.twitter.com/RG7CBuYUdW

— Austin Monthly (@Austin_Monthly) December 29, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page. 

 

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From Rock Bottom, XMeKate Rises on EP 'Expectations'

It’s easy to compare Katharine Kadenacy — XMeKate for short — to Regina Spektor or Lorde, because of the lilting melodies and the pop hooks, but Kate’s songs are offset by a slightly disturbing edge that other artists don’t really have. “My dad is a songwriter, so I guess you could say music is in my genes!” she says.

Raised in both Los Angeles and Rome, where her father and mother lived, respectively, Kate started writing folk songs as a young girl. Both her worldly upbringing and the complex ease by which her songs flow — despite the layered melodies and lyrics — reflects both things. And it’s evident in Kate’s ambitious plans for 2017 as well, when she’s set to release two EPs. The first, Expectations, will be out in February, and is focused on love and heartbreak. The second, Too Much, will be out summer 2017, and delves into Kate’s life after loss. After all, she has a lot of material: her mother passed away from cancer, she suffered a mental breakdown and was briefly put on involuntary suicide watch.

She survived that dark period, and with the help of Colombian producer Andrés Rebellón (of Marina & The Diamonds), she was able to create lyrical, autobiographical music, written for healing and comfort in the hardest part of her life.

Hometown: Born in LA, raised in Rome (home), Italy

Homebase: Los Angeles

Why do you call yourself XMeKate?

I was named after Katherine from Taming of the Shrew. My dad always referenced Shakespeare. My nickname was Kiss Me Kate, which is also the name of the musical version of the play, and I got the X from xo (hugs and kisses). The X was a way of making it more my own.

Talk about your upcoming EPs and why they’re called Expectation and Too Much.

"Expectation is the root of all heartache," according to Shakespeare. The two EPs I have ready to be released next year both revolve around this concept but in very different ways. The first, Expectation is more about love and loss in a romantic way while Too Much is about loving and losing a person, my mom. The two EPs are named after sister songs which can be found on each one. The songs themselves share the same music and are actually performed as one song, because the vocals answer to each other back and forth when played at the same time.

You've gone through tough emotional challenges in your journey as a musician. What was the biggest lesson that you took away from that?

I would say to live life to the fullest regardless of what obstacles may come up. To make the most of what you have and to be appreciative because you never know just how easily or quickly you may lose it. This is very much reflected in my music, lyrics and even in the title of the EP itself!

What's the first song you ever wrote? What was it about?

The first song I ever wrote was pretty terrible [laughs]. I was 12 and tried to sound like Avril Lavigne but failed miserably. I wrote it about a crush and for some reason my best friend Jelly loved it, and she made me sing it over and over again and after that I was hooked. It became my thing even though it took me forever to get where I am today! [Laughs]

Who are your musical heroes and why do they inspire you?

My dad. I'd be nothing without his musical taste and influence. It is because of him that I was blessed with decent vocal chords. Also Fiona Apple because in my eyes she's a lyrical god.

What's your songwriting process?

This may sound weird but for me it starts with the hook. No music or melody. Not even full sentences. It usually starts with the heart of the song. The hook.

You act aside from being a musician. What form of creative expression do you prefer?

I am a musician at heart, but the two go hand in hand really. I think what makes a great musician is being able to muster the same amount of emotion when performing a song as when you wrote it! That's acting!

How do you describe your music to people who haven't heard it before?

I come from a folk acoustic background but somehow was able to merge it with electro pop. It’s its own thing. Kind of like me.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

Aside from the obvious #XMeKate???! #carbs

What’s your big 2017 goal?

To get as many people as I can far and wide to listen to my music!

 

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

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Trey Songz Arrested After Destroying Stage at Show in Detroit

Last night (December 28), the show didn't end so well for Trey Songz. 

The 32-year-old singer, née Tremaine Neverson, was arrested after his concert at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit for "malicious destruction of property and resisting and obstructing arrest," according to Rolling Stone. These acts were in response to the venue cutting his microphone and lights in accordance with the venue's 11:30pm curfew. 

"He became irate and belligerent, and started throwing microphones, speakers, basically anything he could get his hands on," said police (via Billboard). A policeman who tried to bring Songz offstage was hit with a thrown object and was treated for a concussion.

Watch fan shot footage of his on-stage antics below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

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Debbie Reynolds, Actress and Carrie Fisher's Mother, Dies at Age 84

Debbie Reynolds died yesterday (December 28), just a day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher. Reynolds is best known for co-starring in the classic 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain with Gene Kelly and had a successful acting career spanning decades. 

Reynolds appeared in over 30 films in the '50s and '60s, even garnering an Oscar nomination for 1964's The Unsinkable Molly Brown. She also performed on Broadway and on the stage in Las Vegas, earning a Tony nomination for the title role in the revival of Irene in 1973. 

She was only 18 when she was cast in Singin' in the Rain. "'Singin' in the Rain' and childbirth were the hardest things I ever had to do in my life," wrote Reynolds in her 1988 autobiography Debbie. 

Reynolds suffered a stroke yesterday while mourning for her daughter. "She wanted to be with Carrie," said her son Todd Fisher to Variety. 

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

 

 

 

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A 10-Minute Workout to Strengthen Your Whole Body

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Disabled Children Face Bullying Throughout School

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Atmosphere's Slug Reflects on 2016

The Minnesota cornerstone of indie-rap spanning three decades, Slug of Atmosphere is never at a loss for words, no matter what the situation. So, when it comes to reflecting on a year that included a new album in Fishing Blues, the death of a personal hero and a series of outdoor shows from some of the most beautiful places on the planet, the Southsider definitely had some jewels to drop.

Having personally last spoken to Slug for my radio show on Minneapolis’ Go 95.3 before Fishing Blues’ release last summer, I knew where he was in the midst of his busy, busy year. Now, touching base with him again at 2016’s conclusion, his reflections are poignant, funny and really capture both his personal experience and the vibe of 2016 as a whole.

Best Moment of 2016: Me and my wife went to Los Angeles for two days, and went bowling with Evidence and his old lady. It was such a spur of the moment "Hey, you want to go bowling in LA?" kinda thing.

Most Frustrating Moment of 2016: When I heard that Prince passed away, there was probably ten minutes of trying to figure out if it indeed was true.

When you heard about Prince's passing, you were: in my basement working. My wife came and said "Hey, I think you might want to go online." "Why?" "...Prince died."

The lesser-known Prince songs you suggest everyone listen to are: "Irresistible Bitch," "Another Lonely Christmas" and a song called "4 the Tears in Your Eyes" from the We Are the World compilation.

Rap pioneer Blowfly also passed away this year. How did recording "The Great Debate" with him come together? A Florida journalist named Tom told me after an interview he was friends with Blowfly. When he told me that, I went on a spiel about how I have so many of his records. We decided the next time I came through Florida, I'd go to the studio and make a record. Warped Tour came through Florida, I took a cab to the studio and wrote right there on the spot and made a record with Blowfly!

Most memorable fan interaction of 2016: There's a couple of fans who've really been dedicated for a long time who live in California. I reached out to them this summer to see if, on a whim, they'd let me fly them in to be in the video for "Seismic Waves." I picked them up at the airport in LaCrosse, WI, we kicked it, and the next night we did the video for "Seismic Waves."

Outdoor performance 2016 you're most proud of: It's a tie. Red Rocks we did sort of a "Welcome to Minnesota" Show. We brought out Lifter Puller, Lizzo, Brother Ali, Last Word and Plain Ole Bill. In Los Angeles, we played The Shrine and sold it out, doing 7,500 tickets with just our homies on the bill, I'm really proud of that.

Most fun outdoor performance of 2016: I probably have to go with The Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas on the night Muhammad Ali passed away. They have you perform by the swimming pool, my family was there. Brother Ali was with us, and Ali is such a big deal to him. and it was such a big thing to have a Las Vegas pool party that night.

Best thing you caught fishing in 2016: I only caught a little blue gills when we were with Sway. I'm not big on killing things unless it's a matter of protecting myself. I touched a fish when I was snorkeling in Mexico last week with my son Malcolm, this weird little angelfish. That was cool.

Favorite part about fishing: Serenity.

Your favorite song you recorded this year was: It's a song called "What the Hell.” Hasn't been released yet though.

The most challenging collaboration to organize this year was: It's a song called "What the Hell.” Hasn't been released yet though.

Most memorable live performance you saw this year: Kanye at the Xcel Energy Center.

Album you couldn't stop playing in 2016: A Tribe Called Quest.

When not making music in 2016, you spent the most time: Playing with children and shopping for records.

If someone's celebrating the holidays in Minneapolis this year, you most recommend they check out: Our music scene. World Street Kitchen.

The best thing you read this year was: Twitter.

Hardest part about making music in Minnesota today is: I spend too much time on the road.

The best record you found record hunting was: Too many to name. Original Bo Diddly’s Black Gladiator and original David Axelrod’s Songs Of Experience.

The main goals for Slug to have completed in 2017 by this time next year are: Learn to use TiVo.

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

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The Celebrities We Lost in 2016

In a year as tough as 2016, no one can blame us for wanting to escape the reality for a bit and blast a tune like Irene Cara’s Fame main theme. At the end of the day no other song captures the reality of true stardom better: you may be gone, but your fame lives forever and people will remember your name. And while it breaks our heart that we couldn’t even name every celebrity who transitioned to the other side this year (as there were too many), we give coping advice for the ones that impacted the world the hardest.

 

Carrie Fisher

How to Cope: Obligatory Star Wars marathon followed by some quality frights of Sorority Row.

Every sci-fi fan’s first crush and the owner of the most iconic hairstyle in a galaxy far, far away left us this week. Carrie Fisher wasn’t just a badass on screen, but a riot behind the scenes as well. Whether she was making fun of her own career in that famous Scream 3 cameo, writing witty memoirs or casually revealing that she did in fact have a fling with Harrison Ford, she was always the people’s princess and will always be regarded as such. And as a true cinematic royalty, she’s got a deserving successor in the face of her daughter Bille Lourd. If Lourd’s stint on Scream Queens is anything to go by (and she does effortlessly steal the show), Fisher’s legacy is safe.

 

George Michael

How to Cope: Hit the nearest karaoke for the ultimate George Michael sing-off.

Life works in truly mysterious and wicked ways, and the voice behind one of the most iconic Christmas songs did pass away exactly on Christmas, leaving a huge gap in show business. George Michael wasn’t just pushing the boundaries with his voice, looks and overall superstar superpowers, he also paved the way for a plethora of artists. In the era of over-controlled, charisma-deficient performers, we just gotta have faith that there will one day be someone as daring as the man who sang an ode to “Freedom” throughout his whole life.

 

Anton Yelchin

How to Cope: See Yelchin’s character outsmarting the bad guys in the nerve-wrecking thriller Green Room and then get comfortable during the feel-good coming of age drama Charlie Barlett. Other options are listed here.

Gone way too soon in the result of a “freak accident” that occurred this summer, Anton Yelchin still managed to shower us with countless examples of his artistic competency. Whether he was fighting vampires, navigating starships or simply winning a girl’s heart, the Russian/American heartthrob was always the coolest guy in the room and an ultimate leading man, who charmed us with his quick wit and unmatched charms. Hollywood surely lost one of its brightest young stars in 2016.

 

Christina Grimmie

How to Cope: Blast Christina’s tune “Feelin’ Good” because she really poured all of her positivity into this one. Or play any of these ones.

Christina Grimmie’s senseless murder goes to show the state of the world we’re living in: a 22-year-old singer, who was famous for her huge friendly smile and positive songs, was shot at her own meet-and-greet with fans. Both of the Orlando tragedies caused a riot in the media, and Billboard even published “An Open Letter to Congress: Stop Gun Violence Now” signed by tons of other concerned celebrities, but we’re yet to see any positive outcome.

 

David Bowie

How to Cope: Get lost inside Labyrinth or simply draw a lightning bolt on your cheek.

David Bowie didn’t just influence pop culture; it’s easy to say that he was pop culture and turned his whole career into an illustrated guide of how a performer should sound, look, act and behave. And then broke his own rules too many times to count, successfully balancing between being an icon and a total mystery. We mean, c’mon, just months prior to his death he released an album which served as a love letter to his fans, his own career and life itself. Happy travels, Ziggy Stardust.

 

Prince

How to Cope: Invite your sexiest friends, dress up in a jabot shirts and dance your booties off.

This year we lost both the Princess and Prince of pop culture, and it will take many purple rains to wash away our sorrow. Another chameleon of an artist, Prince made the world care about him by not caring about anything apart from staying true to his own passion for performing. Sex, genres, genders and even his stage name were almost irrelevant to Prince, since he truly let his art speak for itself. And when we say “speak,” we really mean scream with this unmistakable Prince mix of class and sex.

 

Leonard Cohen

How to Cope: Report every existing video of “Hallelujah” covers for the authenticity violation.

Whether your parents raised you on his soulful records or you discovered his better known hit via the vocal exercise of some unnamed talent show’s hopeful, you can’t deny the impact this wise man had on music. It wasn’t just what Leonard Cohen sang, even the pauses in his songs exuded wisdom, which most artists can't reach in their lifetime. Hallelujah, we still have his records to teach us how to be good men.

 

Gene Wilder

How to Cope: As if you need advice here, go ahead and devour all the memes.

Sad news for Johnny Depp, Gene Wilder will forever be the only Willy Wonka that mattered and everyone who ever re-blogged that glorious meme image of the smiley Wilder is on our side. The actor may have retired back in 2003, but by then he had more than enough stellar performances under his belt to keep him in our hearts forever.

 

See more tributes to late, great stars by visiting our In Memoriam page.

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8 Most Highly Anticipated Albums of 2017

Some people feel that 2016 was a great year for music, while others are scratching their heads, wondering what happened. Where were all the big names? The top of the charts seemed to be missing many of the pop divas and hip-hop impresarios the world has known to not only love, but expect to be serious hitmakers. No matter! 2017 is coming soon, and the new year is sure to bring plenty of new singles and albums by some of the best-known names in the business. If you feel as if your life has been lacking in great tunes when you turn on the radio, here are 8 records that might catch your attention in the coming months.

Kelly Clarkson

The original American Idol always delivers, and there is no reason to believe she won’t yet again when it comes time for her to release her eighth studio effort. One of the biggest stars in pop has decided to go a different route for her upcoming full-length, with the “Piece By Piece” singer reportedly looking to turn things from pure pop to a more R&B, soul-driven sound. That has made a few people nervous, but Kelly always shines through with the songs she chooses, and that voice can make anything work.

Katy Perry

All three of Perry’s studio albums have been massively successful, and they seem to almost never stop churning out hit after hit. Each and every one has featured at least one No. 1 hit, with only her debut failing to send more than one song to the summit. Over a fairly short period of time, Katy has become one of the biggest, richest and most successful pop chanteuses of all time, and she has plenty riding on her fourth album. Expectations are extremely high, but she is smart enough to work with producers that will keep her on top. This is sure to be another big success for her, and it will likely soundtrack much of 2017.

Christina Aguilera

It’s been a few years now since Xtina released a proper album, and the time has come. She typically takes years in between eras, and her fans understand that, though it’s hard to justify so many years in between records when the last one or two have not performed as well as her first few. While artists like Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson have continued to produce big hits, it has been a while since we’ve seen Aguilera at the top of the charts (not many people probably remember lead Lotus single “Your Body” by now), and fans and the public at large are all excited for that day to come again.
 

 

Nelly Furtado

If she plays her cards right, 2017 could see Nelly Furtado experience something of a redemption. Well, at least we can all hope it does. The Canadian singer-songwriter took off nearly a decade after her album Loose took over the globe with hits like “Promiscuous Girl,” “Maneater,” and “Say It Right,” and nobody could blame her. While it’s fine to relax a bit after producing one of the most successful pop albums of the past few decades, the longer you’re away, the more the pressure mounts. When Furtado finally dropped her follow-up collection The Spirit Indestructible, it was perhaps the biggest flop of the year, peaking at number 79 in the US and failing to produce any hits. It’s been four years since that misstep, and if she wants to regain her position as a formidable force in pop, she’ll need to pull out something spectacular.

Lorde

With just one album, Lorde became an international pop sensation and one of the most exciting new figures in the music world. Songs like “Royals” and “Team” proved she was a talent like none other on the market, and while those songs have come and gone, Lorde still has plenty of years ahead of her. As the world waits for her to drop any new piece of music, details about her upcoming sophomore effort are scarce, but it’s expected at some point in 2017, and it might feature production from the likes of fun.’s Jack Antonoff, if the rumors are to be believed.

 

Nicki Minaj

The biggest female name in hip-hop never stepped away from the spotlight, but 2017 will certainly see all eyes turn towards her, as her fourth album is due at some point next year. Since the promotion of her last album The Pinkprint died down, Minaj has continued to churn out hits by putting her spin on everything from hip-hop to pop tunes, proving herself to be a constant player in the cutthroat music world. She teased her fan base not too long ago by tweeting that she had an album coming, though it turned out to be a joke. People can certainly laugh it off, but only if there is actually more Nicki Minaj music coming relatively soon.

Major Lazer

In a fairly short period of time, Major Lazer has gone from a prominent figure only in the electronic dance music world to one of the most successful hitmakers music has known in a while. In the past two years, they have launched two incredibly massive singles — “Lean On,” which was for a time the most-streamed song ever on Spotify, and “Cold Water,” which hit the top spot on charts all around the world — and there is no reason to believe the Diplo-fronted production group won’t continue to blend pop and electronic dance in ways that shape the tastes of the masses. Music Is The Weapon doesn’t yet have a release date, but the first half of 2017 is probably when it will make its debut.

 

Kanye West

The most controversial name in the rap game (one of them, at least) is expected to release another full-length at some point in 2017, though nobody is sure exactly what it will be. In early 2016, the hip-hop magnate tweeted that he planned on releasing three albums a year, and while that didn’t come true this year, it suggests that he’s preparing to drop even more West-branded music in the future. He also may feel that he has something to show, as 2016’s The Life Of Pablo didn’t perform very well singles-wise, even “Famous,” which came with one of the most talked-about music videos in recent memory. West has also hinted that a collaborative album with Drake is in the works, and 2017 may see them drop a full record together, which would surely take over the planet in short order.


See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

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8 Things You Won’t See in Times Square When the Ball Drops on 2017

New Year’s Eve always presents us with two options for the evening: go to a party, or stay in and watch the ball drop in Times Square on TV.

If you, like many of us, are in the latter category, you’re likely prepared to see a whole bunch of freezing, yet excited, tourists vying for camera time while wearing plastic glasses that advertise the coming year (ain’t no party like a Gregorian calendar party, cuz a Gregorian calendar party don’t stop!).

The Times Square you’ll see on TV, however, is one that is vastly different than the Times Square of yesteryear, and even the Times Square of just a decade ago. The block has changed identities numerous times, and while there are plenty of bright lights there today, the illumination can blind a person to what the area once was.

The following are 8 things you won’t see in Times Square when the ball drops on 2017.

The Sex Industry

Although it might be hard to imagine when you look at the current Times Square, the block was once replete with prostitutes, pimps and porn theaters. In fact, a 1981 article in Rolling Stone referred to West 42nd Street as the “sleaziest block in America.”

A 2001 law banning “adult enterprises” from being less than 500 feet apart played a large role in changing the area.

 

Drug Dealers

You know the old phrase “sex, drugs, and rock n roll?” Back in the ‘80s Times Square had the first two in abundance (the rock n roll was further downtown). The website for Times Square doesn’t even try to hide this part of its history, as it states:

“In addition to the sex market, the drug trade also profoundly affected Times Square. Efforts to address the increase in prostitution, especially by juveniles, were derailed by the arrival of crack cocaine to Times Square in 1986 … Crack dealers, junkies and the cardboard encampments of the homeless took over the streets.”

While there are still plenty of drugs to be had in NYC, the only way you’ll get high in Times Square today is if you really like chain restaurants.

 

Rampant Violent Crime

Not even George Orwell could have predicted the kind of 1984 Times Square experienced. Overflowing with porn and crack, the block became a haven for violent crime. According to statistics, “By 1984, an unprecedented 2,300 annual crimes occurred on that single block, of which 460 were serious felonies such as murder and rape.” That’s over 1.25 murders, or rapes, per day on just that block!

Currently, the most felonious creatures in Times Square are the people dressed as Elmo and Spongebob, who might actually drive you to embrace Times Square’s murderous past.

 

Howard Johnson’s

Having opened in 1959, and lasting for nearly a half century, Howard Johnson’s was a true NYC landmark. Before it was torn down, it was the oldest continually operated business facing directly on Times Square. Its old school neon sign represented a very different era, one where people were excited about the establishment’s ice cream, fried clams and happy hour.

Fun Fact: According to Playbill, Gene Hackman worked as a maitre'd at Howard Johnson’s, and Lily Tomlin was a waitress there.

 

TRL

Sure, Carson Daly will be in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. There will also be throngs of screaming kids, some holding signs, looking to get on camera. Heck, there will even be big name pop acts performing.

Actually, how isn’t this TRL again?

 

Cars

Back in 2009 the city tried an experiment, closing Broadway to traffic from 42nd to 47th street, and creating pedestrian plazas. It worked so well that it was decided the area would remain permanently closed to traffic.

Anyone who chose to drive through Times Square was a fool anyway, so this basically forced a whole bunch of people to be smarter.

 

Dick Clark

Up until his passing in 2012, Dick Clark was synonymous with New Year’s Eve. His New Year’s Rockin’ Eve was THE show people watched if they wanted to see the ball drop, and he was always the first person to wish us a happy new year.

Now we have the confusingly titled Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, which rolls off the tongue about as well as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

 

Random Professional Wrestlers

In 1999 the WWE, which was then known as the WWF, opened up a restaurant/nightclub in Times Square named WWF New York. The establishment would experience a name change, becoming The World, but, sadly, the end of The World came quickly, as the venue closed up shop in 2003. During its four year run, many wrestlers made appearances at The World, and WWE Heat was broadcast live from The World from October 2000 to February 2002. Two years after The World closed, the Hard Rock Cafe took over the space. While the venue still serves food, you can no longer smell what The Rock is cooking.

Want more blasts from the past? Check out our #ThrowbackThursday page.

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Carrie Fisher Played the First Truly Kickass Princess

Carrie Fisher was a witty memoirist, a sardonic comedian and a blunt interviewee. But most people will remember her as a princess. And with good reason: her Princess Leia in Star Wars will always hold a place in film history as the first kickass princess.

There were princesses before Leia, of course. Written by the likes of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm and later rewritten by Disney, most were the kind of princesses who cleaned or idled or napped until a prince showed up to save them. But Leia Organa was the first pop-culture princess to take matters into her own hands, to boss up, to tell the male heroes what to do, and, literally, to save the galaxy. For that, she became instantly iconic.

Watch Carrie Fisher in This Cut Scene from The Force Awakens

 

She took the stage, like the princesses that preceded her, as a damsel in distress. In 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV — A New Hope, Darth Vader kidnaps her, and she must await a rescue mission led by a love-struck Luke Skywalker and a reluctant Han Solo. As it usually goes in the movies, she falls for one of her rescuers (Han, the rapscallion, not Luke, her secret twin). But she soon was ordering them around — down the garbage shoot, through space, toward danger. (Fisher who, among her many other talents, was a reliable script fixer in Hollywood notably helped director George Lucas give Leia much-needed dimension.)

Leia grew into something wholly new. She got her hands on a blaster and fired it as well as anybody else. She led troops on Hoth, like Washington over the Delaware. She was a talented welder, patching up Rebel starships in her down time. Her outfits — with one ignominious, gilded exception — rendered her not so much a sex object as an action hero. Her flowy robes and unisex battle-ready gear were more realistic than the leather and spandex of a character like Black Widow or the quasi-bathing suit of a Wonder Woman.

The character had flaws, and Fisher was the first to admit it. “The only way they knew to make the character strong was to make her angry,” she said in an interview with Rolling Stone shortly before Return of the Jedi premiered in 1983. “In Return of the Jedi, she gets to be more feminine, more supportive, more affectionate. But let’s not forget that these movies are basically boys’ fantasies. So the other way they made her more female in this one was to have her take off her clothes.”

Fisher was of course referring to the infamous scene in which the lugubrious slug gangster Jabba the Hutt chains Leia up and dresses her in a gold bikini. The outfit has since taken on a life of its own — Friends, The Big Bang Theory, Family Guy and even Amy Schumer have all lampooned the costume. For some, the scene undermined the whole notion of Leia as a feminist icon. Fisher spoke frankly about hating the bikini and even trying to ad-lib some snark into the scene. Ahead of last year’s Force Awakens, she advised actress Daisy Ridley not to let herself be subjected to similar objectification.

Mark Hamill Pays Tribute to Carrie Fisher: ‘She Was OUR Princess’

But Fisher played Leia as an undeniable force and refused to let the character’s legacy be tarnished by one costume. Leia, it’s worth remembering, murders Jabba by choking him with the very chains that were supposed to keep her submissive. The glee shows on Fisher’s face.

By playing Leia the way she did and by speaking openly about the troubled trope, Fisher upended notions of what a princess could or should be. Studios began to figure out that there could be other types of female protagonists, especially in sci-fi, like Alien’s Ellen Ripley or Terminator’s Sarah Connor. Disney princesses, meanwhile, slowly gained more agency, beginning with Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas and more recently in Frozen and Moana.

Leia did eventually become a Disney princess when Disney acquired Lucasfilm and invited Fisher to reprise her role. But in a sign of the progress she helped usher in, this time she came on stage as General Organa.

Without Carrie Fisher’s Leia there may have never been a Xena, an Elsa, or a Daenerys Targaryen. Luckily none of those princesses — or the many princesses to come — have had to wait for a man to come along to save them. They know they can save themselves.

 

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

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Food Aversions During Pregnancy

A lot of women have pregnancy cravings, but there’s also a flip side: food aversions.

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Kllo Break on Through with Catchy Trip Hop

If Little Dragon, Prince and The Weeknd had a baby, it would be Kllo, a boy-girl duo from Melbourne that creates trip-hoppy tracks so catchy you have to scramble to figure out which one to play next. Listeners know it too. The cousin duo barely had an online presence in 2014 before their EP Cusp began to break. (And making music wasn't always a given, either: "We’ve known each other forever but only became close when we started writing music together," Kaul says.)

Since then, Kllo have played sold-out shows and festival slots throughout Australia, racked up millions of plays on Spotify and landed on several Artists to Watch lists. On their latest EP, Well Worn, the duo have developed a more sophisticated — if moodier — sound. Kaul talks to Myspace about Kllo’s origin story.

Hometown and homebase: Melbourne, Australia

You guys are cousins, so you must both have grown up in musical households?

We both did. I was very influenced by my grandmother, who loved music and was also a singer in her time, and Simon grew up with three siblings who are all incredible musicians.

What thing most influenced the Well Worn EP? And why that title?

Every song is quite different on the EP. The “Bolide” song structure was influenced by Caribou's Our Love, "Sense" was created on the piano within a few hours after watching a Disclosure video and “Walls to Build” has drum and synthesizer influences from Jacques Greene. We wrote the whole EP in Simon’s bungalow. It was a small space, which meant we were close together a lot of the time, so it was a very collaborative and connected piece of work. It was hard at times because we would spend so much time listening to it there, we would lose track and change direction over and over again. The end product of the tracks could have all been so different, but over all we decided to go for the simpler versions.

I was 21 when I wrote “Well Worn.” I was still finding balance and figuring out what's good for me, who's good for me, what's important to me, what's not — as well as seeing a lot of my friends in a similar position. Even people as old as 50 in a similar position. The ones around me who were happy, the ones not and why... and I think a lot of it came down to comfortability. Being so afraid of change or of failure that we tend to stay comfortable in what we know because it’s the safe option. No movement is no growth and so remaining comfortable where there is need of change is what will wear us down the most.

Why are you called Kllo?

We were really struggling for a name, mostly because we are both indecisive people. It’s a bit of a blur to be honest, but it wasn’t so important to us because we didn’t take the project seriously initially.

Does living in Melbourne influence your sound a lot? How?

Yes, in ways it does. It’s a very tight knit scene, every one knows every one so it’s easy to find out about gigs and hear what people are up too. Although it’s a small place there’s a lot of great music coming out of here and we are very inspired by our friends and other musicians that we are lucky enough to see play on a regular basis.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

Four tet, Noah '40' Shebib

What do you do for fun?

We love to cook and to eat, very much.

Were you in other bands before? What were they like?

I used to write a lot of original folk music on my guitar but was too afraid to share it. I was very particular about who i worked with or who i’d sing in front of, so Kllo was my first proper collaboration. Simon was a drummer in various indie rock bands before he discovered his love for making electronic music.

How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard of you?

We’re one of those bands that fall under a few genres, but as a broad description we’d say experimental electronic pop music.

How do you share your songwriting duties?

It’s very collaborative, usually we don’t put an idea in unless we both like it, but we have similar taste so it doesn’t end so badly when something doesn’t make the cut. We write everything in the same room, improvising on a piano or synthesiser and then go from there with revised vocal melodies, drum patterns and sampling.

Who/ what are your biggest songwriting influences?

James Blake, Little Dragon, Caribou, Radiohead, Jacques Greene, Erykah Badu

What’s your big rest-of-2016 goal?

We are working hard trying to finish off our debut album, hopefully the demos will be complete by the end of the year.

 

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

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Ariana Grande Speaks Out on Female Objectification

Ariana Grande is tired of being looked at like a sex object and isn't afraid to call you out for doing it. The Dangerous Woman singer blasted one young man for saying "ariana is sexy as hell man i see you, i see you hitting that!!!" while she was grabbing takeout with her boyfriend, Mac Miller.

"This may not seem like a big deal to some of you but I feel sick and objectified," she said in a post on Twitter. "I am not a piece of meat that a man gets to utilize for his pleasure... I'm an adult human being in a relationship with a man who treats me with love and respect."

She encouraged her fans to speak out whenever they are ever put into an uncomfortable situation and to always remember that "We are not objects or prizes. We are QUEENS."

See the full message below. 

http://pic.twitter.com/FL1tOHAZvN

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) December 28, 2016

 Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

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Man Raises Money "to Protect Betty White From 2016"

We've seen many beloved musicians, actors and other celebs pass in 2016. And with Carrie Fisher's death yesterday (December 27), one man is doing his best to make sure Betty White doesn't receive the same fate.

Demetrios Hrysikos of Spartanburg, SC set up a GoFundMe page to raise enough money to keep the Golden Girls star safe until 2017.

"Help 2016 catch these hands if it goes anywhere near Betty White!" he wrote in the fundraising site's description. "If she's okay with it I will fly to where ever Betty White is and keep her safe till Jan 1 , 2017. Now, assuming she doesn't want a strange Greek standing guard outside her door all monies will be donated to the Spartanburg little theater to help craft new stars of stage and screen to carry mantle of the legends that have left is this year."

Since creating the page yesterday, it has already raised over $2,400, surpassing the $2,000 goal. Demetrios said that if Betty passes on the cash, he'd like to donate it to a local theater.

If you'd like to make a donation, go here.

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What's the Deal with This Drake and Jennifer Lopez Snuggle Photo?

Diabetes Takes Biggest Bite Out of U.S. Health Care Spending

Top 5 diseases, conditions accounted for $437 billion in 2013

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Why Acne Can Strike Women After the Teen Years

Study suggests diet, stress and family history may play a role

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10 Weirdest Social Media Trends of 2016

There’s no other way around it: the internet was a very scary place in 2016. At times all we wanted to do was take out our internet cable and throw it away. Maybe that’s why it was also the year countless weird social media trends and memes rose to fame. Let’s recall 10 of the most remarkable things that broke the internet this year.

Mannequin Challenge

The world got so lazy in 2016 that the biggest meme required the participants to literally do nothing and freeze like a bunch of mannequins while Rae Sremmurd was blasting in the background. This looked appealing to everyone, from Hillary Clinton to Blac Chyna, who decided to freeze for a moment of social media glory while in labor. Gotta respect her patient womb.

 

Running Man Challenge

A less celebrated yet still infectious meme required you to run while never leaving your spot. Although the original running man hip-hop move is slightly more complicated, the trend is indeed based on hip-hop mid-90s culture, since the preferred soundtrack was Ghost Town DJs’ 1996’s banger “My Boo.” Thanks to the likes of Ciara and Chris Brown, the 20-year-old tune even returned to the charts.

 

Clowns Sightings

There were a lot of moments during 2016 when we double-checked whether we got stuck in some nightmarish circus. No wonder everyone got so bothered when a series of reports confirmed the ongoing clown craze across United States (and eventually across the globe). We’ve still yet to find out if all of it was just an elaborate hoax promoting the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s It, but one thing is certain: 2016 was especially hard on the actual clowns.

 

Singing Trump

A lot of people wished the microphone would get turned off whenever Donald Trump stepped onto the stage with another one of his speeches during the election. Yet a lot of people found hilarious similarities with what the president-elect was saying and some forgotten feel-good tunes from the likes of Backstreet Boys and Blink-182. Oh and that Dirty Dancing-inspired hoax duet between Trump and Hilary Clinton? We’d pay to see it happen in real life!

 

Evil Kermit

It’s easy to feel like you’re suffering from split personality whenever you engage in social media activity, since everyone wants to create a better, more presentable version of themselves to share with the cyber world. And nothing captured the struggle of that duality better than the Evil Kermit meme. To be honest, the internet kind of failed itself this time around, since the photo of two Kermits was taken from 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted movie. What took you so long?! 

 

Grumpy Phelps

Don’t mess with Michael Phelps. His face on the meme-friendly snap said it all, although the web was quick to pitch their own versions of what was going through the Olympic champion’s head that day. Phelps would later reveal during MTV VMA’s that he simply got a little too affected by the talent of Future: "I was in the zone with Future's track 'Stick Talk' blaring through my headphones. There’s no rapper more inspiring today than Future — it's right there in his name."

 

Who Is She?

For some memes we didn’t have to rely on the Future, since we could always go back to the happy days of the '80s and borrow a tune as care-free as A-Ha’s “Take On Me.” That’s what the girl behind the famous Vine video did, creating a whole new meme titled “Who Is She?”. It’s all simple: just dance a little with your back to the camera and then make a dramatic turn. Even Jeff Goldblum couldn’t resist the urge to give in to the '80s magic.

 

Justice for Barb

Talking about the '80s, back in the summer of 2016 the whole world seemed to relocate to a sleepy suburban American town of the Reagan era and follow a bunch of middle-school kids on their quest to find a missing friend and potentially save the world from a monster from another dimension. Yes, we’re talking about Netflix' hit series Stranger Things. One of the strangest things happened when people started voicing their concerns regarding the fate of the charming sidekick character of Barb, who [as the internet concluded] deserved a much better ending.

 

Pokemon Go

The internet also got obsessed with the mid-90s Pokemon craze all over again thanks to the arrival of the Pokemon Go app, which caused some serious rumblings all over the world and even got a poor Pokemon fan arrested in Russia, when he decided to hunt some Pikachus inside a church. PokeSpots would get removed, people would get killed for paying too much attention to their phones’ screens and governments of many countries would get very concerned about the safety of the game. But let’s not forget the good: all the '90s kids surely appreciated the return of their childhood heroes to the spotlight.

 

Harambe

The story of a gorilla named Harambe is a pretty daunting one. Back in May 17-year-old Harambe was fatally shot at the Cincinnati Zoo when a 3-year-old boy fell into his enclosure and was grabbed by the animal. The video of the incident became a viral sensation, with some voicing their disapproval of the murder while others commenting that the zoo workers had no other choice. Harambe became the web’s legend and it was even reported that some clueless Americans scribbled the gorilla’s name on their ballot papers in November. And let’s not even start with all the Harambe-related social media memes...

 

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page. 

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8 WWE Wrestlers That Could be Characters in a Star Wars Movie

By now if you’re reading this, chances are that you’ve seen the latest chapter in the Star Wars Universe, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. If you haven’t, you’re not a Star Wars fan and are probably here because you heart me. Since it’s making a killing at the box-office (Duh!) and many fans unwrapped Star Wars action figures, vehicles and playsets on Christmas morning, we figured why not merge this cool franchise with another love of ours: pro wrestling!

Just like Star Wars, the WWE Universe has its share of heroes, villains, scoundrels and some weird looking people that could pass for aliens. Considering The Rock is in 75% of Hollywood movies, and John Cena is transitioning more into films and TV, there’s a good chance a WWE Superstar might end up in a Star Wars project in the near future. To speed things up — or go into hyperdrive, if you will — we look at the current roster and spotlight talent that could be characters in a Star Wars movie. So before we head into 2017, let’s go to a wrasslin’ galaxy far, far away!

Before we begin, we say goodbye to the beautiful and strong, Carrie Fisher (1956-2016). Forever our Princess, may you rest in peace.  

 

Droids: The New Day

Droids in the Star Wars Universe come in various shapes and sizes, each with their own unique and entertaining personality. While the trio of Xavier Woods, Big E and Kofi Kingston don’t act robotic or lack emotion, their personalities would make for hilarious droids. We’re talking good droids here, not the kind that are bounty hunters or work for the Galactic Empire. New Day, the resident gamers and fanboys of WWE, would embrace their roles as comic relief similar to classic robots like R2-D2, C-3PO and BB-8.

But what kind of droids would this charismatic trio be? With his loud and brash personality, Woods would make a great astromech droid. The large and in charge Big E would be a droid that only replies with “who?”, serving as a bigger than usual protocol droid. He’ll do for droids what Groot did for trees.

As for Kofi with his highflying ways, he’s a probe droid (the other kind) always in the air, snooping around for trouble to get into.

 

Bounty Hunter: Samoa Joe

Can’t you see Samoa Joe rocking a golden mullet with sunglasses ala Dog the Bounty Hunter? No? Well, thankfully to be an intergalactic badass, Joe doesn’t have to sport a dirty biker look to be feared. Destroying opponents and backstabbing friends for fame and fortune are two skills Joe possesses in order to be a Star Wars gun-for-hire. From Zam Wesell to IG-88, and that toilet paper wrapped looking guy, Dengar, there’s no shortage of outlaws and “scum” that list bounty hunter as their profession.   

Joe’s already an anti-hero, complete with an intimidating stare and snarl, so adding some cool armor, a blaster gun and his own spaceship would have him set as a bounty hunter. Not to be confused with Goba Check, Boba Fett sits at the top of the list of most feared and fan favorite bounty hunters currently in the Star Wars Universe. Luckily for Fett, he and Joe aren’t competing for the same bounty, as things would be a lot messier if they were.

 

Alien: Neville

We’re sorry Neville, we love you but you look like an alien. Actually it’s been said he looks like a hobbit or goblin from a J.R.R. Tolkien book, but that’s not the IP we’re dealing with. Having just returned from an ankle injury that sidelined him for months, the new and improved Neville is a heel with sights set on winning the Cruiserweight title. While WWE seems to finally be utilizing his talents correctly, if Star Wars was casting wrestlers in roles, Neville would be pinned as a muscle bound ET.

With a touch of make-up and prosthetics, Neville would be a funky looking alien having a drink at the Mos Eisley Cantina or Maz Kanata’s place. If not there, he’d surely be found in the front lines of the war between the rebels and the Empire, weapon in hand ready to battle it out!

 

Sith: Finn Balor

With a name like “The Demon King,” it’s not much of a stretch to think that Finn Balor may be best suited to be one with the dark side of the Force. The former NXT and Universal WWE champ is currently on the shelf due to a shoulder injury. There’s rumors of his return sometime in early 2017 (possibly the Royal Rumble), but as far as we’re concerned, the guy could be in Sith training while he’s been away on “rehab.” He could be holed up in some dark room wearing a hood while building his own lightsaber. We don’t know and neither do you!

Balor’s always walking the fine line between the light and dark side of life with his in-ring character. Letting “The Demon” out when the situation calls for it. The journey from hero to possible villain parallels the story of Anakin Skywalker, who transformed from a Jedi into the biggest bad guy, Darth Vader. Very much like Kylo Ren’s current seduction with the dark side, watching Finn finally fully embrace his darkness would be a nice twist for fans to enjoy.

 

Emperor: Vince McMahon

Come on, this one falls under the “no shit” category. Straight out of Star Wars central casting is Vinnie Mac donning the Emperor’s dark robe. In the past, McMahon has already revealed himself as being the high power, so being the ruler of the galaxy is only a natural extension of that. With all the theories about the true identity of Supreme Leader Snoke, don’t be surprised if Star Wars Episode 8 has ties to the evil leader of WWE.

 

Jedi: Bayley

In an era of anti-heroes and villains, there are little to no true white hat heroes in wrestling. Outside of John Cena, very few characters take a stand as an honest to goodness babyface. Bayley is one of those few but proud warriors that fight for peace and justice inside the manic world of WWE. The Huggable superstar surely looks like she’s one with the force, cut from the same cloth as Rey from The Force Awakens. With natural charm and radiant energy, Bayley would be cast as a Jedi-in-training in the Star Wars Universe. Just seeing her wield a lightsaber on screen in an epic fight, would be make many a middle-aged wrestling fan squeal in delight.

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

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Alex Newell Celebrates Big Moments in 2016

The first time we met Alex Newell, he was one of the big standouts on The Glee Project, a reality TV competition where the winner would land a role on the hit show, Glee. While he was a runner-up, it was clear that Alex was a star and soon took the role as Wade "Unique" Adams, a male-to-female transgender high school who ended up being one of the glee club's big soloists. Following the end of the sitcom, Alex finally returned to his first love -- music. And the 22-year-old artist is making waves with his new single, "Keep It Moving," a slight departure from the power ballads we've gotten to know him for on Glee.

"I never stopped doing ballads, but definitely have been focusing on the dance first," Alex tells Myspace. "I’ll have some ballads coming after!"

Not only is he bringing his music to the forefront, Alex is also a big fighter in the LGBT community. "I think if you’re living this life, you should speak up and have a voice on these important issues," he explains.

Despite his efforts with The Trevor Project and the Human Rights Campaign, he doesn't necessarily call himself a role model. "I don’t think I’m a role model! Just a person some people look up to," he says.

Alex has a lot of big things coming in the new year including new music. But if there's one thing he's learned since stepping into the spotlight, it's that he's true to himself and isn't afraid to show it.

"I’ve learned that I like the things the way I like them – and I’m not afraid to try and get people to see things from my point of view," he says.

With the year he's had, we also asked Alex to lay out his best and worst moments of 2016. Read them below.

Best Moment of 2016: Touring with Adam Lambert

2016 Moment You'd Rather Forget: I mean, this year kind of sucked for everyone – can we say all?!

Best Gig You Played of 2016: Singing “Hero” for Mariah Carey at the GLAAD Awards in New York

2016 Show You Wish You Could Do Over: Singing for Mariah – I forgot two lyrics!

Best Concert You Saw in 2016: Coldplay

Most Awkward Show You Watched in 2016: Coldplay

Album on High Rotation in 2016: Beyoncé’s Lemonade

2016 LP You'd Like a Refund For: I’m all about those streaming subscriptions – so I’m good!

2016 Movie You'd Watch Over and Over: Florence Foster Jenkins

2016 Movie You Wish You Waited for on Netflix: Zoolander 2

TV Show You Binged on While on The Road This Year: The Crown

TV Show You Wouldn't Mind Seeing Cancelled Next Years: Rob & Chyna

Weirdest Touring Experience of 2016: Riding in a 15-person passenger van with people I had just met

Go-to Meal on the Road: Chick Fil A

Artist Who Should Be on Our 2017 Playlist: Eryn Kane

Best Fan Gift 2016: Money and alcohol!

Best Advice You Got in 2016: “Don’t fuck it up” - RuPaul

Motto You Live By: Live for yourself, because nobody else will do it for you

Plans for 2017: Moving to NYC!

2017 New Year's Resolution: To not be as petty

 

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

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Health Care Spending for U.S. Kids Jumped 56 Percent in Less Than 20 Years

Preventive services in childhood create healthier adults, researcher says

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5 Things Carrie Fisher Left Us

Just a year after many of us saw Carrie Fisher strongly reprise her role as Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the actress died on Tuesday morning (December 27). This was only days after she suffered a heart attack while flying back to Los Angeles from London. 

Growing up, Star Wars was part of my parents' repertoire to introduce me to pop culture. And while seeing what space could be like and getting to know Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO, it was awesome to meet Princess Leia and Carrie Fisher for the first time. While she's known for her signature cinnamon bun-like hair and how well she can sling a blaster, Carrie proved that she was more than her sci-fi counterpart. As we try to comfort our broken hearts, let's look back at what this legendary woman has given us. 

Whether or not you're obsessed with Star Wars or not, you'll want to know how Carrie Fisher has impacted pop culture as well as society.

 

She Made Sure That We Got Her Obituary Right

While doing her one-woman-show-made-book, Wishful Drinking, Carrie recounted what happened when she played Princess Leia. Director George Lucas told her that she wasn't allowed to wear a bra under her dress because "there's no underwear in space."

George apparently said, "You go into space and you become weightless. Then your body expands but your bra doesn't, so you get strangled by your own underwear."

She finished her story by saying, "I think that this would make for a fantastic obituary. I tell my younger friends that no matter how I go, I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra."

 

She's More Than Princess Leia

While she'll forever be known for being Leia, Carrie Fisher had some pretty memorable roles in other films like Shampoo, When Harry Met Sally and the remake of The Women in 2008.

 

She Wasn't Afraid to Tell Us What She Thought

From her thoughts on Hollywood's standards of beauty to being a survivor, Carrie was a feminist to the core. While she will be the first tell people that she's not always the most confident, she'll also be down to take a leap when needed. She's best known for saying the following:

"Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow."

 

Carrie Put Mental Health in the Spotlight

She has openly spoken about being mentally ill and wants people not to avoid it, but look it straight in the face. And she also advised those who suffered from mental illness to never stop dreaming, despite all of the obstacles.

"I have a chemical imbalance that, in its most extreme state, will lead me to a mental hospital ... I am mentally ill. I can say that. I am not ashamed of that. I survived that, I’m still surviving it, but bring it on."

 

She Supported the Future Generations of Star Wars

While she was one of the OGs, Princess Leia was always a supporter of the next classes of the Star Wars family. Before her death, she was in London to see Star Wars: Rogue One.

C-i🆖. ®🅾️g⛎📧. 🔛📧. ✝️♓️ℹ💲. 〰📧📧k📧♑️d🙅. 💲🅰〰. ©g👁 Ⓜ️📧. ✝️♓️🅾️⛎g♓️..🕒ℹk📧. ⛎🅱️📧®. 🅱️🅾️✝️🅾️✖️. 🅾️♑️🕒✌🏼 Ⓜ️🅾️®📧. 👍👏. 🅿️📧®💲ℹ💲✝️📧♑️✝️👵🔜👶 http://pic.twitter.com/N9800KFWo5

— Carrie Fisher (@carrieffisher) December 20, 2016

 

See more tributes to late, great stars be visiting our In Memoriam page.

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Mark Hamill Is Speechless Over Carrie Fisher’s Death

5 of Carrie Fisher’s Best Princess Leia Quotes to Remember the Star Wars Legend

Star Wars fans around the world were saddened to learn that actress Carrie Fisher—who shot to fame playing Princess Leia in the original trilogy—died Tuesday.

Fisher, who reportedly suffered a heart attack on a plane last week, died in Los Angeles at the age of 60. Though she would eventually take jobs as a screenplay doctor and a writer, Fisher was best-known for playing the take-charge princess of the space opera classics A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. She also reprised her role as Princess Leia in the latest Star Wars installment The Force Awakens, released in late 2015.

Celebrities Mourn Carrie Fisher’s Death: ‘A Brilliantly Funny, Talented Woman’

 

For despondent lovers of the galaxy far, far away, here are some of Fisher’s most memorable quotes from the Star Wars series:

“Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.”

In one of Fisher’s first lines in A New Hope, her character enclosed a secret message in droid R2-D2 asking help from renowned Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi in her rebellion against the Empire.

“Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?”

Upon meeting Luke Skywalker for the first time in her cell on the Death Star, Leia expresses her skepticism at his stormtrooper disguise.

Carrie Fisher Didn’t Just Break Boundaries Onscreen. She Also Fought the Stigma of Mental Illness

“Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder.”

In a fight with her romantic interest throughout the series, smuggler Han Solo, Fisher’s character hurled a Star Wars-themed jab at her beau, played by Harrison Ford.

“I’d just as soon kiss a Wookie.”

Leia fires this line at Han during a tense argument about their relationship in The Empire Strikes Back.

“He’s my brother.”

At the end of Return of the Jedi, Leia explains her relationship with Luke to a confused and jealous Han.

 

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

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Watch Carrie Fisher’s Star Wars Audition Tape

For many people, Carrie Fisher will always be Princess Leia Organa, her beloved character in the Star Wars franchise. Whether clad in white robes with cinnamon-bun hair in A New Hope, doing away with Jabba the Hutt in The Return of the Jedi, or hugging Han Solo in The Force Awakens, Fisher fully embodied the fiery princess.

‘Carrie Fisher’s Dog’ Says Goodbye to ‘Mommy’

 

As fans around the world mourn Fisher’s death from a heart attack at the age of 60, her original Star Wars audition tape has resurfaced. In the audition tape, Fisher reads her lines with Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford, and it’s clear that Fisher is excited to play her part, even though Star Wars was yet to become the international, intergalactic phenomenon it is today.

People Are Tweeting Pictures of Their Daughters Dressed as Princess Leia

Watching the tape now is the perfect blend of nostalgia and fandom in the wake of this heartbreaking loss.

 

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

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Does Legalizing Pot Spur Kids to Try It?

In 2 states studied, teens downplayed harms after recreational pot legalized; use increased in 1 state

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Sexual Relationships When You're HIV-Positive

HIV doesn't have to come between you. Get tips for good sex and a healthy relationship with your partner when one (or both) of you is HIV-positive.

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Living Longer and Aging With HIV

Although HIV makes it more complicated, you can live well into middle age and beyond. Find out how HIV will affect you as you get older and how to plan ahead.

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Carrie Fisher Dead at 60

Every Star Wars fan's worst fears were confirmed this morning, as actress Carrie Fisher passed away just days after suffering a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

The star was most recently seen as her iconic Princess Leia Organa in last year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, although this month's Rogue One also featured a cameo from a younger CGI Leia.

Fisher will still likely appear as Leia in next year's Star Wars Episode VIII, as the film is currently in post-production now, but the franchise will have to continue on without one of its most beloved members.

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Tafari Anthony Brings the Power and the Pathos

Canadian singer-songwriter Tafari Anthony (pronounced ta-far-eye) got his career kickstarted as a singer for Jarvis Church, who was famously in Canadian R&B group the Philosopher Kings. (And yes, Tafari is his real name. It means “He who inspires awe” and it originates from Haile Selassie, who was the last Emperor of Ethiopia.)

As a solo artist, Anthony — who plays piano and guitar (“when I’m feeling brave”) — has been recognized as one of CBC Searchlight’s Top 25 performers in the country. His recently released EP Die for You was a product of pure perseverance, he said. “I had spent years not really putting out much because life had taken over. I finally made a decision that I needed to make this happen no matter what. So I jumped in full force. I didn’t have all the money upfront to get it done, I didn’t know what it was going to be or how it would get done, but I knew I was gonna do whatever I needed to complete it.” It may be the reason that the Toronto Star described his voice as one that “captures the right mixture of power and pathos”.

Hometown: Pickering, Ontario, Canada

Homebase: Toronto, Canada

Describe your music to people who haven't heard it before.

Soul/pop with a bit of rock and funk influence. My music tends to have more of a dark tone to it. Even the more happy and optimistic songs still have a dark realism to them. Most of the music that really moves me tends to be shaped this way with dark tones, some hard hitting aggression that somehow inspires in the light of some darkness.

How did you discover that you wanted to be a singer-songwriter? Were you raised in a musical family?

Both of my parents are musicians, so growing up music was a big part of my life. I’d tag along to studio sessions and performances. I was a pretty quiet child, and music was one of the few things that excited me. Growing up I may have taken for granted being so close to the resources to create, but by the time I was 13 or 14 I knew I wanted to write and sing as a career more than anything else.

Why is your EP called Die For You?

When I was working on the project, it had gone though many incarnations. In fact, nothing that I intended to be the first EP actually ended up on this project for various reasons. There seemed to be many things standing in the way of getting it done, and I had to just roll with what I could gain control of.

By the time we were getting to the end of mixing the songs I had to start thinking of what to call it. The original title I had for the EP didn’t seem to have the same sentiment with these batch of songs. Apart from “Die for You” being a track on the EP, it seemed to sum up the year of making the EP pretty well.

What's your songwriting process?

My writing process definitely varies. For the most part it starts off as a vocal or lyrical idea. They often come at random moments so I just log it into my phone and save it for a rainy day. Then i’ll take that idea and try to build some music around it and flesh out the song.

Other times I’ll sit down at the piano (on my own or with a co-writer) or with a beat/loop sent to me and certain chords, progressions, and rhythms essentially spark some kind of idea and the song/story gets built from there.

Who are your musical heroes?

I’m definitely inspired by artists like Prince, Amy Winehouse, John Legend, Brandy and CeeLo Green. Their music doesn’t necessarily conform to what is considered “Pop” but they manage to take current trends and sounds and infuse them into what they do organically.

For me it always comes down to the music at the end of the day, but the cultural impact Prince has had on the world I can’t deny. Not only was he an amazing musician and music contributor, he was also so active with giving back to people. And it was so humbling to see how his peers and those who only knew him from a far revere him as such a nice and genuine person.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

I don’t have a story of a singular fan… But when I was about 17 or 18, my first ever single "If You Leave" had been playing on the radio over the summer. I was doing a performance at a high school in Whitby, ON as part of an after school program called SASS Canada. I started singing my song and when the first chorus hit basically every student in that auditorium was singing it along with me. I actually could not believe they all knew it. I don’t even think at the time I recognized fully how powerful that was. But to this day it’s something I’ll never forget.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#LiveYourTruth — I try to live this motto daily. It’s not always easy, but I feel it’s really important to live for yourself and be as true to yourself as you possibly can.

Alternatively, #ChocolateBelly — …I love chocolate, I’m not ashamed. [laughs]

What’s your big 2017 goal?

I’m looking forward to finishing up the second EP and continuing work on the full length. I’d also really love to get some music placed in TV and film and do some more performing and touring.

 

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

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Taylor Swift Surprises Her Oldest Fan with Acoustic Show

Taylor Swift has made sure to show her fans love by surprising them with tickets, backstage passes and visits. However, her recent visit to 96-year-old Cyrus Porter could be her most adorable yet. After finding out that the World War II veteran has been using her music to connect with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Taylor just had to meet the man. So she flew to his home in Missouri on Monday (December 26) and gave the entire family an acoustic concert that was complete with a sing along. See all the photos and videos below. 

Scott Swift took this video of Taylor arriving in Missouri today to surprise super fan and veteran Cyrus Porter! http://pic.twitter.com/cZLPULEwpo

— Taylor Swift News (@TSwiftNZ) December 27, 2016

Amazing experience http://pic.twitter.com/maXUPZSguD

— robert frye (@bert_frye) December 26, 2016

It's a Christmas Miracle!!! Thank you @taylorswift13. My grandpa was so excited!! http://pic.twitter.com/1bGlUys38b

— robert frye (@bert_frye) December 26, 2016

Taking selfies, holding babies, hugging grandpas and leaving lipstick marks. Taylor Swift does it all. Awsome day for my Popo!! http://pic.twitter.com/SaNwRK4DoL

— robert frye (@bert_frye) December 27, 2016

Taylor Swift crashing our family Christmas was just a dream right??? #TaylorSwift #WWIIVet http://pic.twitter.com/lufAleCGuk

— Caroline Fowler (@carofowler14) December 26, 2016

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George Michael Has Been Donating Time and Money to Charity For Years

Following George Michael's death, news about his many charitable contributions have popped up on the interwebs. According to the tweets, the "Faith" singer has been donating time and thousands of pounds to various charities and organizations.

"I wrote in a piece ages ago about a celeb I'd worked with tipping a barmaid £5k because she was a student nurse in debt. Was George Michael," writer Sali Hughes tweeted.

I wrote in a piece ages ago about a celeb I'd worked with tipping a barmaid £5k because she was a student nurse in debt. Was George Michael.

— Sali Hughes (@salihughes) December 26, 2016

Emily Mondo revealed that he also secretly volunteered at a homeless shelter, which she had to keep secret at the time.

George Michael worked anonymously at a homeless shelter I was volunteering at. I've never told anyone, he asked we didn't. That's who he was

— EMILYNE MONDO (@EmilyneMondo) December 26, 2016

See other examples of George's charitable works below.

George Michael was also the only star on HWTBAMillionaire who, when gambling all the charity's cash, said "if I lose it, I'll just pay it".

— Sali Hughes (@salihughes) December 26, 2016

@richardosman he gave a stranger in a cafe £25k as she was crying over debt. Told the waitress to give her the cheque after he left.

— VectorVictoria (@V3ct0rv1ct0r) December 26, 2016

George Michael once gave free concert for NHS nurses as a thank you for looking after his late mother #MerryXmasNHS https://t.co/JxLsBR20yN

— Andrew (@wisecur) December 26, 2016

In other news since his death, Spotfiy reported that streams of George's songs like "Last Christmas," "Careless Whisper" and "Faith" have gone up 3000 percent.

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