My Breast Implants Don't Make Me a Bad Feminist

As my three-year-boob-anniversary approaches, I am reflective of the path that I chose and the society that influenced my decision.

Aged 14, sitting in a classroom waiting for the teacher to come in. Beside me, a bunch of the guys were sniggering, huddled around someone’s phone. “Eurgh,” grimaced one of the boys who I happened to be crushing on that month, “She’s another one with pancake tits."As they all laughed, my cheeks flushed red. 

Aged 15 in the dorm room. Girls spoke of the guys who’d ‘topped them’ (that is, slipped their hands under the bra outside the school disco,) and I would sink down deeper beneath my duvet. In the darkness, I would take off the padded bra that, without boobs to anchor it, had been riding up and down my chest all day, and I would place my hands on my stomach. Slowly, I would draw them upwards and imagine that, like the girls sleeping in the beds beside me, I would reach a small mound of flesh that would force my small hand to curve and rise upwards, past the nipple, and then gently down again, to the collarbone. Instead, my chest was utterly and tormentingly flat.

Women’s bodies come in all shapes and sizes and I knew that then. Yet after years of internalising contemporary Western standards of femininity and female beauty, my shape felt so far away from the bodies of the girls that men treated with attention and affection. In no form of media had I ever seen a body like mine: curvy — at times slightly-overweight — with no breasts at all. Big boobs were treated as the only vindication of larger women; skinny girls with small boobs learned to equip themselves with push-up bras or accentuate their long legs in order to gain entry into the social-life-defining high school ‘f*ckable’ or ‘girlfriend material’ clubs. But they all seemed to have boobs. They all seemed to have these highly sexualised body parts that are ogled, worshipped, kissed, judged, shamed, objectified, abused, and most of all, deeply associated with femininity and sexuality.

Cue teenage years of low self esteem. Cue bad boys and the lights turned off.
Cue learning to give great blowjobs and talk dirty and play out the fantasies of boys. Cue turning my sexuality into a consolation prize for my body — a body that the world told me was not sexy and not worthy of self-love.

At the age of 18, I saw a GP to discuss my options. After proving questions about my period and my puberty, she concluded that everything was normal hormone wise. Was there a reason I hadn’t grown breasts? No. Was there a tablet I could take to promote growth? In my situation, no. 

My only option was to stay the same or to go under the knife. And so, in the summer before I started university, I did it. I woke up in a fog of anesthetic with what felt like kettle bells attached to my chest. My mum recalls telling me, as I sat blubbering in the back of the car, on the drive home, “I told you it was going to hurt Eves."
The months that followed entailed a lot of sleepless nights on my back, colourful array of M&S sports bras and a velcro strap as my new breasts underwent a process known as ‘dropping and fluffing. It probably took about 8 months before I let anyone but my Mum see them. It was a year until I could invest in those black lacy wired bras I coveted, and it might take many more years before the pink scars under each breast fade to nothingness.

As my three year boob anniversary approaches, I am reflective of the path that I chose and the society that influenced my decision. I have stared at my fabulous and even still, imperfect, breasts in the mirror and wondered, am I a bad feminist? Should I have just ran with what I had? Do these boobs represent defeat in the face of patriarchal beauty ideals?” 

First off, I should be honest and say that I haven’t regretted my surgery once. To those that knew me before and after, I am not so sure a marked change in my confidence would have been noticeable. Yet to me, it was a weight off my shoulders. A weight that found itself instead sitting comfortably in a bra, looking great in that top I would have never chosen. It's a weight that will one day, hopefully, feed milk to my babies and a weight that you have to grab and hold when you run up the stairs. I am more comfortable in my body with them than I could have ever felt without them. 

Choice feminism empowers me to say, well, I wanted them and so I got them and don’t fucking judge me. Yet, if I am honest with myself, I know there is much more to the story than that. My choice to get implants did not exist in a vacuum. I desired boobs because a life without them meant a life of insecurity and feeling different and unsexy. 

As a society, we define beauty so specifically and body shame so systematically, that overweight or slim, flat-chested women, transgender women, or women who have undergone a mastectomy can too easily feel like less of a woman for lack of those two lumps. Western society as a whole hasn’t yet learned to deal with a woman who does not have all the physical characteristics traditionally associated with femininity. 

Meanwhile ‘tits’ have been sexualised to the extent that girls are called sluts for wearing revealing clothing. The female nipple is filed under ‘Graphic Content’ and censored out of public view. Even breast-feeding in public is controversial. So no, I don’t regret my decision; due to the internalised prejudices engrained in me since childhood, having boobs is meaningful to me. However, I do regret that I — and many girls like me — fell victim to a society that told me what my body ought to look like. 

I hope now that feminism is becoming less of a dirty word and that ideas of femininity and womanhood are being increasingly questioned and redefined by wonderful feminists in the media, in entertainment — and sometimes if we’re lucky, in the classrooms — a girl like me, approaching 18, will not be so quick to see implants as the only cure for a flat chest. 

I hope that she sees that there is no need for a cure, because nothing about her body is wrong at all.

Cure for HIV reportedly 3 years away

A cure for HIV and AIDS reportedly could be just a few years away after scientists have been able to successfully snip away the virus from infected cells and prevent the disease from returning.
Scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University are confident that within the next three years they will be able to start human trials, the UK Daily Telegraph reported.
American researchers have previously shown that it’s possible to edit genes to cut the virus from DNA cells entirely.
British experts believe that this treatment, which has only been tested in labs, would allow the body to effectively “cure itself from the inside,” the newspaper reported. Human immune cells that were tested in the labs have showed no alteration to any other part of the genetic code.
“The fact that for the first time we have been able to completely eliminate segments of the viral genome in the laboratory demonstrates that we should be able to eliminate it in the human body,” lead researcher Professor Kamel Khalili told The Telegraph.
He reiterated that based on the recent findings, clinical trials could start within the next three years.
The new technique is called Crispr/Cas9. It involves targeting the genetic code of HIV which inserts into cells, according to The Telegraph. Scientists then take the Cas9 protein and edit it so it can recognize viral code.
The patient’s blood is then taken and scientists would inject Cas9, which would then seek out the HIV virus in the cells. The protein then releases and enzyme and snips out the virus. Scientists are confident that replacing 20 percent of immune cells with genetically altered cells would be enough to cure the virus.
“It is an important step forward. This is part of a wave of research that is being done using these new techniques to attack HIV in particular but also a number of other diseases,” Britain’s Manchester University Professor Matthew Cobb told Radio 4, according to the newspaper.
According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV and about 12.8 percent of them are unaware that they have the virus.
Those infected take an antiretroviral drug to control the infection, but need to take it for the rest of their life. If they stop taking the treatment, the virus could cause AIDS.

How can I protect myself from being sexually assaulted? YOU NEED TO READ THIS!! ;)

There are things you can do to reduce your chances of being sexually assaulted. Follow these tips from the National Crime Prevention Council.

• Be aware of your surroundings—who's out there and what's going on.
• Walk with confidence. The more confident you look, the stronger you appear.
• Don't let drugs or alcohol cloud your judgment.
• Be assertive—don't let anyone violate your space.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in your surroundings, leave.
• Don't prop open self-locking doors.
• Lock your door and your windows, even if you leave for just a few minutes.
• Watch your keys. Don't lend them. Don't leave them. Don't lose them. And don't put your name and address on the key ring.
• Watch out for unwanted visitors. Know who's on the other side of the door before you open it.
• Be wary of isolated spots, like underground garages, offices after business hours, and apartment laundry rooms.
• Avoid walking or jogging alone, especially at night. Vary your route. Stay in well-traveled, well-lit areas.
• Have your key ready to use before you reach the door—home, car, or work.
• Park in well-lit areas and lock the car, even if you'll only be gone a few minutes.
• Drive on well-traveled streets, with doors and windows locked.
• Never hitchhike or pick up a hitchhiker.
• Keep your car in good shape with plenty of gas in the tank.
• In case of car trouble, call for help on your cellular phone. If you don't have a phone, put the hood up, lock the doors, and put a banner in the rear mirror that says, "Help. Call police."

Turkey fails to protect its children, say experts... Is It true?

Turkey has made progress on children’s rights in the last 10 years, yet many of these measures remain purely on paper, according to legal experts.
Turkey has made progress on children’s rights in the last 10 years, but many of the measures remain purely on paper, according to legal experts who cite violations of the rights of children charged under anti-terror laws.
The plight of children has dominated the Turkish media in recent weeks, especially with the deaths of three teenagers hit by an Istanbul tram and other tales of child poverty. The situation of stone-throwing children in eastern and southeastern Turkey, however, has been most prominent, especially following a parliamentary bill submitted Thursday.
“The child protection system in Turkey is quite ineffectual and unsuccessful. In many areas concerning children’s rights, Turkey fails to fulfill its international legal obligations cited in international conventions,” Şahin Antakyalıoğlu, chairman of the Ankara Bar Association Children’s Rights Center, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review late last week.
“The major reason is that individuals involved in this system have unfortunately failed to grasp and internalize the essence of the international conventions and child protection system. The measures simply remain [on paper],” said Antakyalıoğlu.
[HH] Criticism from the EU, US
Separate reports released by the European Union and the United States share similar concerns and urge Turkey to take stronger steps to eliminate obstacles toward fulfilling children’s rights.
The EU’s 2009 Progress Report cited Turkey’s juvenile justice system as a major concern in criticizing the lack of juvenile courts and an anti-terror law that treats children participating in demonstrations, particularly in the East and Southeast, as terrorists – with accompanying harsher penalties.
A recent U.S. report on human rights in Turkey also said the juvenile justice system for children who stand accused of terror-related offences, child marriage, the exploitation of child labor and minors’ access to education and health are major problems.
The government is preparing to change the anti-terror law for the children accused of crimes under its scope, yet Antakyalıoğlu said merely reducing the penalties for stone-throwing children and sending them to juvenile court is insufficient, arguing that Turkey violates the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child – to which it is a signatory on the issue.
“The children can be tried in juvenile courts, but it is useless unless they are totally excluded from the scope of the anti-terror law. They shouldn’t be deemed as terrorists and they should be judged only for their actions of throwing stones,” he said.
He said numerous commissions have been established in Parliament while legal measures have been taken to solve children’s problems.
“But the legal measures remain on paper and commissions take action only after incidents take place,” he said. “You can still, for instance, come across handcuffed children in courthouses even though it is illegal. Or the children subjected to sexual abuse aren’t accompanied by a social service expert or psychologist during their medical examination despite the legislation because of a lack of personnel.”
The rights of children who experienced natural disasters are similarly ignored or violated, he said. “Even if accommodation is provided, their right to education or health is ignored. Child labor is against the law, but it still exists. The government has no right to offer excuses like a lack of personnel or financial sources in addressing the problems,” he said.
[HH] Basic violation in judiciary
The failure to implement the U.N. convention occurs in the judiciary, according to Türkay Asma, a lawyer from the Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
“The judiciary still deems a child as an object, not an individual who has rights,” Asma said. “There is still no course on ‘children’s law’ in the law faculty curricula, for instance. Everyone in the judiciary, from lawyers to judges, should be equipped with the philosophy of the child protection system.”
There were laws to protect children but the problem is with their implementation, Asma said, adding that the lack of coordination between the institutions implementing the measures is crucial problem.
“This task belongs to the Justice Ministry but it has failed to do the job,” she said. “Beatings are still happening at schools, there is gender inequality in access to education and even no support center for children who face exploitation. There is no holistic approach to these problems.”
[HH] No proper data collection mechanism
One of the biggest problems is the lack of a data collection mechanism concerning the situation of children, according to experts. Every institution compiles its own data and the available data is often old and incomplete.
Arguing that the a lack of relevant data makes understanding the problems more difficult, Adem Arkadaş of the International Children's Center, or ICC, said there was an urgent need to establish a proper rights-based data collection mechanism.
Turkey has made improvements in children’s rights in many areas as part of its EU bid, he said. “However, many of the reforms are yet to be implemented and some reforms adopted since 1999 have remained only [on paper].”
The U.N. convention’s obligations should be included in domestic law, he said, as should a children’s ombudsman.
[BOX]
[HH] Children face trouble in Turkey
There are 2,622 children in prison with 1,440 of them housed in the same institution as adult prisoners, a 2008 Justice Ministry report said.
A total of 1,056 children who participated in demonstrations in the Southeast between the age of 12 and 18 were tried in penal courts under the anti-terror law between 2006 and 2007, with 208 being sentenced, the ministry said.
In a child labor survey released in April 2007, the Statistical Institute reported that the number of child laborers between the ages of 6 and 17 was 960,000.
According to the General Directorate of Security, 25,000 children were victims of violence, including sexual assault, in 2004.
Some 71.6 percent of 20,000 children who stay in the Social Services and Children Protection Institution, or SHÇEK, centers are there because of poverty, a 2007 SHÇEK report said.

The Navy’s New $4.4 Billion Ship Is A Big, Shiny Waste Of Money

The Navy’s largest and costliest destroyer was sent out to sea Monday for final trials before its delivery to the military.

The future USS Zumwalt features an angled hull that looks like a hybrid of something out of Soviet Russia and a James Bond movie.

Staff from Bath Iron Works, the Maine shipyard that built the destroyer, and Navy crew members will be on board during the trials for testing and to help prepare the ship for delivery.
Once this round of trials is complete, the Navy will begin its own testing, determining the ship’s capabilities in different sea conditions, including extremely rough waters.
“We go to find the most miserable places in the ocean and drive at various sea stages,” Rear Adm. Peter Fanta, director of surface warfare, told The Associated Press.

However fancy it may look, the USS Zumwalt’s development has been anything but smooth. The 600-foot ship will cost at least $4.4 billion, according to AP — more than twice the cost of the Navy’s current Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers.
When the ship was originally proposed in the early 1990s, the Navy ordered 32 of the destroyers. As costs soared, commanders hacked the order down to three. At one point, they tried to kill the program entirely.
Now, the Navy is starting development of an entirely new destroyer — slated for completion in the 2030s — and is building updated Arleigh Burke destroyers in the meantime.
The Zumwalt’s design is a far cry from destroyers past. Its sloped “tumblehome” hull supposedly makes it harder for radar to detect, it needs a smaller crew for operation, the deck can accommodate more aircraft, and it features two massive guns with incredible attack power and accuracy.
Some current and former Navy officials have called into question the seaworthiness of the ship, claiming the new hull shape leaves it vulnerable to rolling over in certain conditions. Defense experts have said it’s vulnerable to submarine attacks and will be of little use for current naval needs. 

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The USS Zumwalt makes its way down the Kennebec River as it heads out to sea for final builder trials.

Now that one of the ships is complete, trials and an inspection by the Navy are all that remain before the USS Zumwalt’s commissioning.
If all goes well, the USS Zumwalt will be commissioned in October, reports USNI News. It will be stationed in San Diego.

My Stepdad Raped Me When I was 9

I have had to grow up fast, my childhood was lost at the age of 9 when my stepdad raped me.
As a child I was never the popular one, never the loud outgoing one. I was always the quiet and shy one.
I didn’t have many friends and as I lived in a small community I was able to go off and play by myself at the beach, play park and on the hills behind my house.

I lived on a small island I always felt safe

At five years old I was told by my mum that the person I grew up with as my dad wasn’t my dad but he still loved me.
When I was 7 years old my mum and “dad” broke up. I was gutted. My mum soon met another man who I trusted straight away, he was lovely.
He would buy me anything I wanted, we use to walk around Tesco and I could fill the trolley with anything I wanted and he would never say no or put that back instead he would say !do you want this?”
Holding up a big tub of sweets.
My mum soon got engaged to him and I started to call him dad.
Time flew by, my mum and step dad had booked their wedding for April 1998 just before my 10th birthday, I was so excited my mum was so happy everything was going good.
Three days before my mum got married we went to stay with my uncle as it was closer to where the wedding would take place.
I used to sleep in my uncle’s room with my brother who was 6, my uncle would sleep on the couch and my mum and stepdad had the other room.
The day before the wedding my mum went off to get pampered and my step dad stayed behind to look after us. Later that afternoon I was in bed watching TV, my brother was in the living room playing on the Playstation, the house was full of noise from the stereo and computer.
My step dad came through to the room to check on me and I could smell the alcohol on his breath. As he sat behind me asking questions about the cartoon I was watching.
He gave me a massive hug and kissed my head.
I didn’t think anything of it.
The next thing I knew he had his hand over my mouth, flipping me over and stripping me naked.
I couldn’t do anything.
I tried to scream but my brother couldn’t hear me because he was 2 interested in his game and the music was loud.
My step dad pinned me down

My step dad raped me, I was only 9

Once he had finished he told me to go and have a shower, he stripped the bed and washed it.
When my mum came home he snogged the face off her, I felt fiscally sick.
As he left he whispered in my ear if you tell anyone they wont believe you, you will be taken away and your mum will stop loving you.
I ran off and cried, I had no idea my stepdad raped me, I had no idea what that even was.
He told my mum it was because I was sad he was going away for the night. My mum came and gave me a hug and called me a silly Billy.
Later that night me my mum and brother went out for dinner. I couldn’t sit in peace because I was so sore. My mum put it down to excitement.
The next day was the day of the wedding, I put on the best smile I could and walked down the aisle with my mum and didn’t say a word.
I was scared and wanted so much to tell someone but at 9 years old what was I to say, “my step dad raped me” wasn’t exactly a great conversation topic at a family wedding.
Three weeks went past and nothing else had happened.

I thought it was the end of it

But I had spoken too soon, it started again every time my mum went to work, my room my mum’s room any where he could get me, sometimes even through the night if my mum was working a night shift, it got to the point it was happening 3 times a day.
This became a routine and I just use to just lie there and take it.
Things became rocky between my mum and stepdad 4 years later.
My stepdad used to drink a bottle of wine each night and Guinness on top, sometimes he would go for a drive absolutely paralytic.
The relationship soon came to an end because there was too much pressure. My mum didn’t know what had gone wrong but she knew it was time to say goodbye.

All the time I never said a thing

My mum met a new boyfriend a year down the line. I couldn’t trust him, I did everything in my power to push him out my family. My stepdad raped me, so I was convinced this one would do it too.
One day I was drunk at my friend’s house and we told each other all our secrets, I told her that my step dad raped me all those years ago. She swore not to tell anyone.
Weeks passed and nothing was said until I had a massive argument with my mum’s boyfriend.
He was pissed off that I was late home after my mum had given me a time to be in by (it was also his birthday). My mum’s boyfriend went loopy, sent me to my room and told my friend she would have to go.
Little did I know she said to my mum and her boyfriend she had to talk to them.
She told them I had been raped.
She told them everything.
I came out my room to my mum screaming, grabbing a knife from the kitchen and grabbing her boyfriend’s car keys.
I had to jump on her it took me and her boyfriend to calm her down and get the knife off her, my mum’s boyfriend called the police.
I told them everything.
They arrested my mum’s ex, he was released on bail. It took 2 years to get him convicted.
He pleaded guilty to under age sex as his solicitor had told him I was willing to stand up in court and tell everything.

The evidence was stacked against him

I didn’t know but my brother had seen it once.
I had scarring down on my lady bits that proved forced entry.
I had all this and I really wanted to stand in court and tell everyone what he had done.
Unfortunately I didn’t get the opportunity too. He was given life on the sex offender ’s register and community service . Not enough in my book but it was a conviction.
To this day I still have nightmares.
But the one thing it has done is made me a stronger person.
I have a lovely husband that I trust 100%, four beautiful children and me and my mum couldn’t be stronger.
My stepdad raped me but the one thing “that man” will never do is make me suffer any more.

This is an anonymous blog post. You can share your own experience to help others. All blog posts submitted via the blog anonymously email form will be added to the blog anonymously for you, just like this blog post has been.

Please don’t read and run, show your support by leaving a comment for this very brave mother.

Hunt is on for Brussels bombings suspect; Islamic State warns of more, worse attacks..GET THEM DOWN!!!!

Just days after a suspect in last year’s Paris attacks was taken into custody, another set of coordinated assaults was launched on a city that serves as the de facto capital of Europe.
Explosions at Brussels’ two main transit hubs Tuesday left at least 30 people dead and scores injured, and police launched a massive manhunt for one suspect seen wheeling a luggage cart at the airport shortly before the first of the blasts.
Bloodied travelers found themselves stranded in the Belgian capital, home to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, as it was forced into virtual lockdown. Residents and visitors were ordered to remain indoors as armed police and emergency services swept through the streets.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the explosions, attributing them to a “security group from the soldiers of the caliphate.” It warned ominously of more attacks: “What is coming is worse and more bitter, God permitting.”

French President Francois Hollande summed up what was on the minds of many. “Last year it was Paris. Today it is Brussels. It’s the same attacks.”
Denouncing the attacks as “cowardly,” and asking for people to remain calm, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel publicly mourned the dead.
“These are lives broken in mid-flight — people who were going around most likely without a care in their minds, on their way to work or to school, and who have now been cut down by barbarism of the most extreme kind,” Michel said.
About 8 a.m., two bombs exploded at Brussels Airport, sending terrified travelers fleeing across baggage carousels and floors littered with splintered glass and crumbled ceiling tiles. Both explosions were believed to have been carried out by suicide bombers. Images captured on shaky cellphone videos showed injured people walking in a daze or lying down. Some were herded onto the tarmac. Witnesses described victims with severed limbs.

Video from RTL Belgium showed overturned luggage strewn around a terminal thick with smoke and dust. In the background, the sound of a woman screaming could be heard.
“Everything is devastated. Nothing is left,” one man, who was inside the airport at the time, told Belgian TV.
About an hour later, another bomb exploded, this time at the Maelbeek metro station, near the political hub of the city and close to European Union offices. Witnesses said they saw about a dozen people lying outside on the sidewalk.
A spokeswoman for Brussels Metro told Belgian TV that the explosion appeared to have been detonated inside a train car as it pulled into the station.
Officials reported that 20 people were killed at the station and 14 at the airport, although they acknowledged that the numbers were provisional. Well over 100 people were injured.
All flights at the airport were canceled until further notice.
President Obama, in Havana, prefaced a speech to the Cuban people by condemning “these outrageous attacks against innocent people.”
“We will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally Belgium in bringing to justice those who are responsible,” he said. “We can and we will defeat those who threaten the safety and security of those all around the world.”

The White House said the president had spoken with Michel by phone, offering condolences and assistance. In Washington, the Justice Department said that FBI and counter-terrorism officials were working with their Belgian counterparts and that Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch had been briefed.
Among the seriously injured were three Utah men who had been in Europe to serve the Paris mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The men, identified by church officials as Richard Norby, 66, of Lehi, Joseph Empey, 20, of Santa Clara, and Mason Wells, 19, of Sandy, were at the airport to accompany a French missionary who was on her way to Ohio. The Mormon church website said all four were hospitalized.
A U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel stationed at Brunssum, the Netherlands, and his family were also injured in the airport attack, according to the Air Force, which did not give details about the injuries.
The State Department said it was unaware of any Americans who had died in the attacks. Belgian authorities did not immediately identify any of the dead.
Islamic State issued a statement saying its attackers chose the sites “carefully” and were “wrapped in explosive belts and carrying explosive canisters and machine guns.”
“Thanks be to God for his accuracy and success, and we ask God to accept our brothers among the martyrs,” the terrorist group said.
Belgian federal police released a still image taken from a Brussels Airport CCTV camera that shows three suspects. Two of the men were “probably involved in a suicide attack,” according to a statement released by the office of Belgium's federal prosecutor.
A cropped version of the photo was posted on the federal police's official Twitter account, showing only the third man. “Who knows this man?” the agency asked, referring to the suspect wearing a light-colored jacket, hat and glasses and pushing a luggage cart with a black bag.
During a raid conducted in Schaerbeek, a district in the wider Brussels-Capital region, authorities found chemicals, an Islamic State flag and an explosive device containing nails, according to the federal prosecutor's office.
The attack on Brussels came four months after Paris found itself under siege in a series of coordinated explosions and shootings that killed 130 people. During raids led by French officials, some of the attackers were killed while others were taken into custody.
One suspect was on the run until authorities apprehended him Friday in Brussels. Salah Abdeslam, a French national who was born in Belgium, had planned to be a suicide bomber, but backed out, authorities said. They also said Abdeslam had helped create a jihadist network centered in the city and was planning a fresh attack. A large cache of weapons had been discovered along with Abdeslam.
Although the capture was touted as a success — and Abdeslam was reportedly cooperating with French authorities — it also appeared to show that the number of people involved in the Paris attacks could be far larger than first thought. Officials had warned of possible retaliatory attacks because other terrorists were still operating.
The Brussels attacks struck two obvious targets, demonstrating once again how difficult it is for governments to prevent terrorism.
They also shed light on the power of Islamic State to utilize radicalized Western Muslims already in place. Much as in Paris, some areas of Brussels have long had a reputation as incubators of Islamist radicalism.
Still, Belgium was among the first countries to join the U.S.-led military coalition against Islamic State, carrying out airstrikes in Iraq and helping Americans train, advise and assist the Iraqi army. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the international military alliance, is based in Brussels.
The U.S. European Command, which oversees military operations on the continent, prohibited any Defense Department personnel from traveling to Brussels on Tuesday “as a precautionary measure” unless specially approved.
The State Department warned all Americans to be vigilant when traveling in Europe.
“Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants and transportation,” the department said.
U.S. cities stepped up security measures Tuesday, especially at airports and in transit systems, in the aftermath of the bombings in Brussels. However, the Department of Homeland Security said no credible threats have been detected against U.S. targets.
Shortly after the attacks, British, French and German government officials issued statements pledging support for Belgium. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for “solidarity with the victims” in the “fight against terrorists.”
The Eiffel Tower glowed in black, yellow and red — the colors of the Belgian flag.
Belgium’s King Philippe asked his people for a display of dignity.
“We are faced with a threat, but we will continue to work together,” he said. “We must continue to trust ourselves. This is our strength.”
Social media buzzed with condolences. Belgians began to reach out to stranded travelers via Twitter, offering shelter, food, even beer. And around the city, symbols cropped up that showed many refused to panic or live in fear.
On a sidewalk, someone had scrawled in chalk, “Faites des frites, pas le guerre”: Make French fries, not war.
Special correspondents Chad and Boyle reported from Brussels and London, respectively. Times staff writer Knoll reported from Los Angeles. Contributing to this report were special correspondents Erik Kirschbaum in Brussels, Kim Willsher in Paris and Nabih Bulos in Beirut; Times staff writers W.J. Hennigan, Brian Bennett and Tracy Wilkinson in Washington and Richard Winton and Braden Goyette in Los Angeles.

This Cartoonist's Tribute From Paris to Brussels Is Incredibly Moving...Well done

On Tuesday morning, explosions rocked the airport and subway system in Brussels, Belgium, killing 12 people and injuring far more. The attacks come just four months after their southern neighbors in France suffered a similar tragedy (though, as of 8:30 a.m. EST, the Brussels explosions have not been confirmed as terrorism), and now a French cartoonist is reaching out in support with a beautiful tribute. 

The French newspaper Le Monde posted a tribute from renowned cartoonist Plantu, showing France supporting Belgium in its time of need.  

The photo has more than 5,000 likes on Instagram and 14,000 retweets on Twitter — though some commenters noted that other recent terror attack sites, like Istanbul and Ankara, arguably should have been represented as well.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande said the two countries are now "linked with horror," and that Belgium has the full support of the French government. Meanwhile, Belgians are reaching out to anyone who needs it with the hashtag #IkWilHelpen, which translates to #IWantToHelp, offering space in their homes or rides in their cars to anyone who needs to get home.

What can you do to a lady that would that would be more crazy than this!!!! WTF

It's September. That time of year when the air is cool enough to let you enjoy the sun beating down as you sit on a terrace sipping a glass of sangria. I'm laughing with my best friend about her disastrous dates. I used to be able to relate, but recently, it has been all about which flowers will be in my bouquet, who makes the guest list, what to do with those relatives I haven't seen in 10 years but Mom says I "absolutely need" to include. The venue is booked, we're having a ceremony in an intimate chapel, the caterer and menu are planned, and I've even met the perfect photographer. 

I'm sitting on the terrace, laughing with my best friend because she's just helped me pick out my wedding dress.

It's been eight months since the proposal — a totally unexpected, exhilarating moment of my life, solidifying the feelings I've had with my partner for over five years. It started as puppy love and turned into full-time jobs, a shared apartment and two actual puppies. (Really freaking cute puppies.)

And then it came undone.

It's September, and the love of my life comes home to tell me he doesn't want the responsibility of being with me. After crying and begging and having him stomp out of my apartment, I call my best friend, and she comes over to help pack my suitcases.

I'm 22 and have an ex-fiancé. It takes another year for it to stop being a pity party. There are sloppy drunk texts I don't remember, rebound dates that move way too quickly, deleted photos, e-mails and memories. There's a void next to me in bed. I drink until blackout to deal with the weddings of other people I continue to attend.

And then I hit rock bottom because my ex-fiancé moves in with a woman he's dated for about a month. So much for not wanting responsibility. I get drunk in front of my family — like really, really drunk. I cry and cry until I realize that this isn't the life I want to lead.

I decide to change my situation. I realize that I now have no responsibility and I can do anything I want. I decide with my best friend that I'm going to do things differently. I'm going to conquer things head-on, challenge myself, find what I love, and do it with passion.

Just when I start liking myself again, I find someone else to like, too. But it's complicated because I don't want to relive the past. I don't want to fall head-over-heels for someone, move too quickly, and let go of newly found single-hood, where I can do anything and everything.

So I get on a plane without a return date and wave goodbye to the guy I just uttered the words "I love you" to. Because it can't be true; it has only been one year since my heart was torn to pieces and flushed down the toilet. We'll know if it's real when I'm on the other side of the world, pretending not to love each other, pretending I need space to figure it out.

We both date other people while staying up to wee hours of morning to catch a "hello" from each other in different time zones. People pass through both of our lives, leaving their own marks, but the only person I want to tell about my thoughts and perceptions of the world is on the other side of a screen, waiting for a "ping" to tell him I'm online. I'm online because I hope he's online.

And then the world leads me through some really great moments and some really bad moments, and I decide to come home to figure out my life because now I'm confused. At 22, I had everything planned out, and now at 25 I haven't got a clue.

Then I see him for the first time, and we've both changed a little. He's taken on new hobbies, altered his career, lost a bit of hair, but is still just as damn charming. And me — I've changed my views on the world. I've become more me, whoever that might be.

We end our night in a warm embrace, talking about the details of our lives that were left out over text messages. My friends back home are now older, and engaged and planning babies. But I've been through that — I've been through more than that.

It's September. We're moving in together, planning a life together, planning to travel together.

I've been through heartache and adventure and love. I might not know what comes next, but I've realized there are more important things in life than a wedding dress. I had an ex-fiancé at 22, but at 26, I have my life.

FBI 'may be able to unlock San Bernardino iPhone' Crazy Folk Iphone

The FBI says it may have found a way to unlock the San Bernardino attacker's iPhone without Apple's assistance.

A court hearing with Apple scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed at the request of the US Justice Department (DOJ), Apple has confirmed.
The DOJ had ordered Apple to help unlock the phone used by San Bernardino gunman Rizwan Farook.
But Apple has continued to fight the order, saying it would set a "dangerous precedent".
Rizwan Farook and his wife killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, last December before police fatally shot them.

Analysis: Dave Lee, BBC North America technology reporter

Ever since this issue arose, security experts have been saying "surely the FBI can do this themselves?" Well, maybe now they can.
An "outside party" - you'd assume a security company, but we don't know for sure - has approached the FBI and said it could unlock the phone.
If they can do it, the court case is irrelevant. The FBI gets what they need. But if it doesn't work, we'll find ourselves back here to resume the trial.
Apple's legal team told reporters it wasn't treating it as a legal victory. The issue still looms large over the company. If the FBI has found a way, who's to say it'll always work? Apple will, as any software maker would, frantically try and fix the flaw. After all - if the FBI can do it, so can any other hacker privy to the same information.
If this method works, then what? With each new iteration of iOS, Apple could find itself back in court.
The technology industry, led by Apple, has called for the matter to be debated in Congress. This case may be on the brink of going away, but the debate is just starting.

Prosecutors said "an outside party" had demonstrated a possible way of unlocking the iPhone without the need to seek Apple's help.
"Testing is required to determine whether it is a viable method that will not compromise data on Farook's iPhone," a court filing said.
"If the method is viable, it should eliminate the need for the assistance from Apple."
DOJ spokeswoman Melanie Newman said in a statement that the government was "cautiously optimistic" that the possible method to unlock the phone would work.
The government said it would update the court on 5 April.
Attorneys for Apple told reporters that the firm had no idea what method the FBI was exploring to try to unlock the phone.
They said they hoped that the government would share with Apple any vulnerabilities of the iPhone that might come to light.
The FBI says Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik were inspired by so-called Islamic State and that the encrypted iPhone may contain crucial evidence.
It wants to access the data but the device can only be unlocked by entering the correct passcode.
Guessing the code incorrectly too many times could permanently delete all data on the phone, so the FBI had asked Apple to develop a new version of its operating system that circumvents some of its security features.
Last month the DOJ obtained a court order directing Apple to create that software,
But Apple has fought back, stating that creating a compromised version of the operating system would have security implications for millions of iPhone users and would set a precedent.
The company has received support from other tech giants including, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, as it resisted a court order to unlock the iPhone.

The Top 11 Health Benefits of Sex! Are u Having enough

Regular sex cannot be underestimated as a factor for reducing stress, bolstering self-esteem and fostering feelings of intimacy and bonding between partners.

But the real point of this article is the fact that a healthy sex life can provide for a longer, healthier and, most would agree, more enjoyable life. Among the many health benefits of sex are:
1. Improved Immunity

People who have sex frequently (one or two times a week) have significantly higher levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA).¹ Your IgA immune system is your body's first line of defense.
Its job is to fight off invading organisms at their entry points, reducing or even eliminating the need for activation of your body's immune system. This may explain why people who have sex frequently also take fewer sick days.²

2. Heart Health

Men who made love regularly (at least twice a week) were 45 percent less likely to develop heart disease than those who did so once a month or less, according to one study.³
Sexual activity not only provides many of the same benefits to your heart as exercise but also keeps levels of estrogen and testosterone in balance, which is important for heart health.

3. Lower Blood Pressure

Sexual activity, and specifically intercourse, is linked to better stress response and lower blood pressure.⁴

4. It's a Form of Exercise

Sex helps to boost your heart rate, burn calories and strengthen muscles, just like exercise. In fact, research recently revealed that sex burns about 4 calories a minute for men and 3 for women, making it (at times) a 'significant' form of exercise.⁵ It can even help you to maintain your flexibility and balance.

5. Pain Relief

Sexual activity releases pain-reducing hormones and has been found to help reduce or block back and leg pain, as well as pain from menstrual cramps, arthritis and headaches. One study even found that sexual activity can lead to partial or complete relief of headache in some migraine and cluster-headache patients.⁶

6. May Help Reduce Risk of Prostate Cancer

Research has shown that men who ejaculate at least 21 times a month (during sex or masturbation) have a lower risk of prostate cancer.⁷ This link needs to be explored further, however, as there may have been additional factors involved in the association.

7. Improve Sleep

After sex, the relaxation-inducing hormone prolactin is released, which may help you to nod off more quickly. The "love hormone" oxytocin, released during orgasm, also promotes sleep.

8. Stress Relief

Sex triggers your body to release its natural feel-good chemicals, helping to ease stress and boost pleasure, calm and self-esteem. Research also shows that those who have sexual intercourse responded better when subjected to stressful situations like speaking in public.⁸

9. Boost Your Libido

The more often you have sex, the more likely you are to want to keep doing it. There's a mental connection there but also a physical one, particularly for women. More frequent sex helps to increase vaginal lubrication, blood flow and elasticity,⁹ which in turn make sexual activity more enjoyable.

10. Improved Bladder Control in Women

Intercourse helps to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which contract during orgasm. This can help women to improve their bladder control and avoid incontinence. You can boost this benefit even more by practicing Kegel exercises during sex (a Kegel squeeze is performed by drawing your lower pelvic muscles up and holding them up high and tight, as if you're trying to stop a flow of urine).

11. Increase Intimacy and Improve Your Relationship
Sex and orgasms result in increased levels of the hormone oxytocin -- the "love" hormone -- that helps you feel bonded to your partner, and better experience empathic connections

Do you think Tyga and Jenner Sex life is great.. or Just Media show

Jenner, who was also spotted at The Nice Guy with her friends, shared a series of photos from her fun-filled night on Instagram on Saturday, March 19.
Earlier this week, Jenner revisited the moment when she first met Tyga, when she was just 14 years old at sister Kendall Jenner’s Sweet 16 party. Kylie posted the amazingly awkward clips on Snapchat as she watched an old episode of KUWTK on Wednesday, March 16.





The truth i ask would Jenner and Tyga be having a good time in the bedroom or they are just media folks well i guess every form of publicity is worth anything ..

25 Ways to Show Your Wife You Love Her

The key to a successful marriage is putting your spouse’s needs ahead of your own. Here are 25 practical suggestions gleaned from 25 years of happy marriage.

1. Listen
   To be truly heard is the longing of every human heart, and your wife is no exception. It sounds simple, but listening can be harder than it seems with so many distractions around us and within us. Set aside some time every day to look into your wife’s eyes and really listen to what she has to say. You may be surprised at what you hear. (James 1:19, Matthew 11:15)
2. Communicate
   Don’t make her guess what you are thinking or feeling.
3. Sing Her Praises
   Shamelessly brag about her good qualities and quietly pray about her bad ones. Her reputation is your reputation. (Proverbs 31:28-29)
4. Pray For Her and With Her
   Praying on your wife’s behalf not only enlists the help of the Almighty, but also puts her and her needs at the forefront of your heart and mind, right where they belong. Praying alongside your wife will strengthen your relationship like nothing else. Studies show that couples who regularly pray together stay together, enjoying a 1% divorce rate compared to the usual rate of 50% or more. (Philippians 4:6; Matthew 18:19)
5. Value Her Individuality
   Your wife is wonderfully unique. Don’t compare her to your mom, or your ex-wife, or your old girlfriend. Your mom may make the best chocolate chip cookies in the world, but unfavorable comparisons won’t win you brownie points.
6. Put the Seat Down
   Perpetually raised toilet seats are a pet peeve of wives everywhere. And while you’re at it, tidy up a bit. A little consideration goes a long way. (Philippians 2:4)
7. Throw Your Dirty Clothes in the Hamper
   It’s likely just a few steps from wherever you are dropping them anyway. Make this a habit, and it will let your wife know your don’t consider her your personal maid.
8. Turn Off the T.V.
   Lay aside the video games, pocket the iPhone, and shut off the computer, as well. It is staggering how many hours we waste gazing at some sort of screen instead of interacting with the real people in our lives. Consciously set limits on your tube-time, whatever form it takes. Use the time saved to invest in your marriage: take a walk with your wife or play a board game together instead. (Psalm 90:12)
9. Loosen the Purse Strings
   We all have to keep an eye on our budget, but an occasional splurge can be well worth it. Seemingly frivolous things like flowers, jewelry, and overpriced restaurants let her know that she is more valuable to you than a number in your bank account.
10. Practice Servant-Leadership
    All organizations have a hierarchy. It’s impossible to function without one, but being a leader isn’t the same as being a dictator. The best role model is Jesus Christ, not Joseph Stalin. Jesus washed his disciples feet and then died on their behalf. It’s a challenge to exercise authority while maintaining a spirit of humility, but that is what being a godly leader entails. (Matthew 20:28, Philippians 2:1-8; Mark 9:35)
11. Remember that Intimacy’s a Two-Way Street
    Unfortunately, men are notoriously selfish in the bedroom, yet are dumbfounded when their wives are less than enthusiastic in this arena. Make this area of your relationship as pleasurable for her as it is for you and it will pay huge dividends. It may mean washing the dishes or helping with the kids, so that she has energy left at the end of the day. It may mean cuddling and candlelight, so that she can relax and let the worries on her mind drift away. If you aren’t sure where to begin, just ask her, and then listen. (1 Corinthians 7:3)
12. Give Her Time to Herself
    Everyone needs an occasional break to rest and recharge, and this is especially important for a wife who is at home all day with young children. Yet it’s very easy to neglect this legitimate need unless you regularly and intentionally schedule time for it. (Luke 5:16)
13. Set Aside Couple Time
    Soak in the tub together each evening or go on a date night once a week — whatever gets the two of you alone on a regular basis. (Genesis 2:24-25)
14. Be Careful with Female Friendships
    We all have friends and colleagues of the opposite sex, but tread cautiously. Not all affairs are physical ones. Honoring your marriage vows means remaining faithful in thought and word as well as in deed. (Matthew 5:27-28)
15. Use Good Hygiene
    It is amazing how meticulous guys can be prior to marriage in their attempts to impress a girl, but once they walk down the aisle, all bets are off. Clean up a little; I promise it won’t kill you.
16. Limit the Gross Stuff
    Few women find burping and farting nearly as hilarious as the typical guy does. Good manners are always a win. (Ephesians 5:4)
17. Be Patient
    In whatever way this applies to you and your situation, apply it. (1 Corinthians 13:4, Proverbs 14:29)
18. Cherish Her Children
    A mother’s bond to her children runs immeasurably deep. When you invest time or energy in them, you are investing in her as well. Kindness to them counts as kindness to her. (Malachi 4:6)
19. Choose Her Over Hobbies and Buddies
    Invariably there will come times in your relationship when you will be forced to choose between your wife and something else that you enjoy. Always choose her.
20. Provide for Her Needs
    This is so much more than just putting food on the table. It is all-encompassing. Whether it is physical needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs, you name it — do your best to provide. Sometimes life’s circumstances hinder us in one area, but we can compensate in another area. Often the effort is as important as the outcome. (Galatians 6:2)
21. Dial Down the Anger
    Your caveman instincts are handy on the battlefield, but horrible for a happy home life. Every outburst or flare-up is a relationship setback. To go forward, the first step is to stop going backwards. Learn to control your temper or it will control you, your marriage, and every other aspect of your life. Just because your wife puts up with it and your co-workers tolerate it, doesn’t make your short fuse an asset. Do whatever it takes to gain victory in this all-important struggle that has haunted man since Cain slew Abel. (Ecclesiastes 7:9, Ephesians 4:31)
22. Cut Out the Condescension
    If you have been blessed with a quick wit, you can either be the life of the party or a pain in the neck depending on the circumstances. Condescension is anger’s younger brother. It isn’t as loud or as dramatic, but it can be equally hurtful and all the more so for its subtlety. Lay off the snide remarks, the sarcasm, and the belittling. Speak to your wife in the same way that you would speak to a respected colleague. She is, after all, your partner in the most valuable investment of your life — your family.(, (Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:19)
23. Actively Seek Your Wife’s Insights
    Value her input and give it a preferential place in your decision-making process. (Proverbs 19:20; 12:15)
24. Learn to Forgive
    Freely forgive your wife’s past, present, and future offenses. Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel and at the heart of every meaningful relationship. (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13)
25. Verbally Express Your Love
    There are lots of ways to show your love, but women still like to hear it spoken.

Obviously no list is comprehensive, and one size certainly doesn’t fit all, but hopefully this one will prompt you to compile a list of your own, tailor-made for your own wife. For any women reading this blog, you may be interested to know that my wife has published a similar list entitled 25 Ways to Show Respect to Your Husband. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Kim Kardashian's kinky sex life with Kanye West revealed:Vibrators, edible thongs and a stripper pole

TMI: Kim shares her raunchy Valentine's Day gift guide

Kim Kardashian has left a few fans raising their eyebrows as she shared a very raunchy Valentine’s Day gift guide.
The mum-of-two took to her website on Tuesday to list a number of gifts for Behind Closed Doors, including handcuffs, a riding crop and a stripper pole.
As well as those kinky items, the guide also listed Lelo’s flickering touch massage candle for $35, a silk blindfold for $69, rose petals for $86 and Valentino Body Oil for $46.
For fans who have a few thousand quid lying about, she also listed Armand de Brignac’s Brut de Rose Champagne at a cost of $10,000.

X-rated: Kim shared this banner above her raunchy list

The more budget-conscious items included an edible thong for $10 and a board game called Let’s F**k - The XXX Sex Board Game.

Kim’s kinky list comes after Kanye’s ex Amber Rose shared a very personal insight into the ex-couple’s sex life.

Getty

TMI, Kim?

Read more: Kanye West denies Amber Rose's vulgar sex tweet
She posted a rather explicit tweet about her past sex antics with Kanye, writing: "Awww @ kanyewest are u mad I'm not around to play in ur a****le anymore? #FingersInTheBootyA**B**ch."
Kanye later denied Amber’s claims, tweeting: "Exes can be mad but just know I never let them play with my a**... I don't do that... I stay away from that area all together.
"I'm not into that kind of s***... I like pictures and videos Me and my wife got the kind of love that can turn exes into best friends (sic)."
Definitely TMI.

During Gawker trial, Heather Clem tearfully recalls sex with Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan was a publicity hound who couldn’t resist the cameras — even after his sex tape surfaced, the woman in the raunchy footage testified Wednesday.
Heather Cole tearfully recalled in a taped deposition played for a Florida jury her frustration after Hogan went on a media blitz following the video’s publication on Gawker in 2012.
The grainy, edited footage showed Cole having sex with Hogan, who at the time was the best friend of her kinky hubby, shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge.
“I felt more embarrassed,” she said of Hogan’s public comments about the tape. “I wanted it to go away.”
GAWKER CHIEF READS LINES FROM HULK HOGAN SEX TAPE TO JURY
Cole, 41, added that in her opinion, the pro wrestling superstar enjoyed publicity.
She said that she agreed to sleep with Hogan at her husband’s behest in 2006 — contradicting the wrestler’s earlier statement on the stand that Cole had hounded him for sex.
“I was asked to go to Mr. Bollea’s room by my husband, and I did,” Cole said, using Hogan’s real name, Terry Bollea.
Her tearful testimony was the most damning moment yet for Hogan, 62, during the two-week trial. Hogan is suing Gawker for $100 million, arguing the publication of the video represented an invasion of his privacy and damaged his personal life.

STEVE NESIUS/AP

Hulk Hogan says the sex tape was filmed without his permission.

But Cole’s deposition painted a picture of a pervy household during her marriage with Bubba, who was born Todd Alan Clem. Hogan was a regular.
HULK HOGAN BLAMES WIFE FOR HIM SLEEPING WITH PAL'S SPOUSE 
“Did Mr. Clem generally pick who you had sex with?” she was asked during the deposition shown to the St. Petersburg, Fla., jury.
“On the occasion that I had sex with someone other than him, yes,” Cole replied.
But, Cole said, she and the former WWE heavyweight champ were unaware they were being filmed in a bedroom at Bubba’s home — one of at least three occasions she slept with the Hulkster.
When she realized Bubba, 49, had recorded the deed she became upset and demanded the video be destroyed, Cole said.
She thought Bubba — whom she later divorced — had complied with her request until the tape appeared on Gawker. Clem now goes by Heather Cole.
Bubba’s attorney has said he will invoke the Fifth Amendment and not testify in the case. He and Hogan reportedly settled a lawsuit stemming from the leak of the sex tape for $5,000.

Stephen Yang/AP

Gawker lawyer Michael Sullivan defended the site's former editor-in-chief A.J. Daulerio, saying Hogan's boasting about his sex life diminished his right to privacy.

Earlier, an expert testifying for Gawker said that the site earned all of $10,000 from the post that could potentially leave it bankrupt.
Tech consultant Peter Horan said that since advertisements did not run alongside the popular sex tape post, earnings were minimal.
“This is the type of post that scares off more advertisers than (it) attracts,” Horan said.
Under cross-examination, Hogan's attorneys countered that the story that received 5.4 million visits was valuable to Gawker in ways that couldn't be calculated through traffic alone.
“I just took the traffic at face value,” Horan said.
He analyzed data that found Gawker earned $8,200 from visitors who went from the Hogan post to other pages on the website. Gawker earned a paltry $2,762 from people who went from the sex tape post to other websites.
The testimony will be used by jurors to calculate damages if they find Gawker committed wrongdoing by posting the tape.
Hogan says the sex was recorded without his permission.
Gawker argues that Hogan is a public figure who has a limited right to privacy due to his larger-than-life persona and frequent boasts about his sex life.

Body Found Is Missing Texas Teen

The 14-year-old disappeared last Saturday. An Amber Alert was issued early Monday morning.
Houston TV station, KTRK reports on Wednesday, a gardener stumbled upon a decomposed body and called police.Coronado’s ID was determined through fingerprint verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Authorities say it appears she died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Her father, Caesar Coronado, also was found murdered. His burned body was discovered Monday in a rural part of Walker County.
The search is on for the pair’s killers.
Investigators believe Adriana, a high school freshman, was with her father when he was killed.

I Was Raped by a Photographer.........He did it

Trigger warning
Models. Rape. Eating disorders. Sexual abuse. Mental health.
While all of the above are quick to grab attention, they are also quick to receive criticism because most people do not understand them. In my episode of Real Women Real Stories, and my upcoming memoir, Washed Away: From Darkness to Light, I talk about all of the above, because I was a successful model who experienced all of the dark issues you can imagine.
Thankfully, I have recovered from a 17-year battle with eating disorders, PTSD from childhood abuse, sexual victimization, depression, and so on. But during my career as a fashion and swimsuit model, the industry definitely exacerbated my issues — and created new ones.
I’m speaking out in the hopes that others will come forward, use their voices and get the help they need. These are “silent” issues that shouldn’t remain so. My struggles could be yours, or your son’s or daughter’s — tragedies and mental health conditions affect everyone, anytime, anywhere.
When I was modeling at one of the most prestigious agencies in the world, I booked coveted editorials and covers, sprinkled with some big campaigns, but everything came with a high price — as we often hear about within the modeling and entertainment industries. It’s currently poorly regulated but I, along with Assemblymember Marc Levine and some other incredible people, are pushing for change.
There were regular pressures to sleep around with the director of my agency, constant “model dinners” he organized that involved the owner of the agency, the director and his friends, and select models. The director had a girlfriend, however he was always booking her on long shoots faraway and that conveniently freed him up so that he could have girls over at his luxurious house. He didn’t waste anytime in asking me, over and over, to come back to his place.

“My struggles could be yours, or your son’s or daughter’s — tragedies and mental health conditions affect everyone, anytime, anywhere.”

At the time, I felt pressured to do what I did, and to not use my voice. Now things are different because I’ve dealt with the issues from my childhood and know how to say “NO.” However, back then I was a people-pleaser and felt that I had to give in to pressures because I had no self-esteem. I was so used to being abused and letting others control me that I allowed those situations to continue. And letting others abuse me eventually got me into serious trouble.
All of this led to being drugged and raped. Raped by a photographer at a lunch that was organized by the director of my agency. Where did this rape occur? At the director’s very own house in Miami, who had assured me that on that day, everything would be glorious because he was holding a special casting with the photographer, just for me and his girlfriend. Later, when I confronted the director about what had happened, I was shot down and made to feel as though I was insane.
No one deserves to be raped. Ever. In any situation.
A naked female is not a open invitation for a male or female to rape her. A male who repeatedly says “No,” “No,” No,” to a female or male who then ignores his voice and has sex with him anyways has every right to assume that he has, in fact, been raped.
Yet, society will oftentimes believe the perpetrators of rape and give cold eyes to the victims, which in turn, leaves the victims with feelings of shame and quite frankly, re-victimizes them. So a victim of rape has at least two perpetrators: the one who raped and those who do not believe the victim. And this attitude of denial trickles into so many areas: mental health, eating disorders, the modeling industry, addiction and so on. It is so much easier for individuals to look away because to try to understand and love others means two things: time and effort. Most people would rather play the denial game and assume the worst about those subjects than become educated.

“When I confronted the director about what had happened, I was shot down and made to feel as though I was insane. “

Especially with models, society tends to think that they are not intelligent, only “good enough” for taking photos, or then there is the other end of the scale where people believe that models live a glamorous life and don’t experience anything “real.” All of these assumptions are completely inaccurate; models are human beings who deserve to be treated as such and with respect and kindness.
Their world is anything but glamorous — in fact, it can be a downright disgusting business that is in dire need of restructuring. And to undermine their worth and value is to fuel the cycle that keeps people everywhere — not just models — mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually sick.
If we are to break these vicious cycles in society and lessen, for example, the statistics of rape, we must become educated, learn to take personal responsibility and love one another — it’s how healing takes place.

Office Sex: 10 Men And Women Share Their Workplace Tryst Stories

Sleeping with your coworkers can be a tricky business. (Just ask Melanie Griffith halfway through “Working Girl.”) But according to a recent survey conducted by Business Insider, a whole lot of people get romantically (or physically) involved with their colleagues.
We were curious about the realities of office sex — did most people have positive experiences? Terrible ones? Were these interactions just sexual flings or did they turn into extended romantic relationships? So we asked HuffPost readers, both male and female, to chime in and share their stories.
“Sometimes we give each other that look of ‘if only they knew.’”

He technically isn’t a co-worker, we just work in the same building. All the women in the building talk about him and how good looking he is. I obviously agreed, though I never thought that flashing a smile here and there and having quick flirty conversations every once in awhile would lead to anything. Eventually, he asked me out and we went out a couple of times before we hooked up. It isn’t anything serious and it’s still going on. We both agreed that we would NEVER mention our situation to anyone at work because people would most definitely gossip about us. When we are around each other at work, we just act normal and sometimes we give each other that look of “if only they knew.”
I don’t think there is anything wrong [with office sex] if you can keep your work and personal life separate. I think our arrangement works because we aren’t look to be in a relationship, we are just having fun.
—24-year-old woman, Boston

“The thought of doing it right there where people work was intense”

We had just started dating and we worked in a computer room. We first worked together — she was my supervisor. Then she was transferred to a different department but still worked in the same computer room. A couple of things happened. We worked nights frequently. We would flirt around constantly, playing little games like giving each other dirty handwritten notes or playing grab-a** as we passed by each other while no one was looking. One night when the two of us were alone in the office the games started getting really heavy we were outside of the computer room in an open office area and she laid down on the floor then we stripped each other’s clothes off just enough. And then we started having sex. It was a bit tough at times because she complained about the carpet on her body and it was hurting my knees as well. But it was so hot that [the carpet] didn’t stop us. The thought of doing it right there where people work was intense. Afterwards when we would see each other in the area during the day we’d give each other an evil grin — like, “oh yeah we did!”
—50-year-old man, California

“Dynamics change when sex is involved”

Dan took me under his wing at my first attempt at working retail; fresh out of college I thought I’d struck workplace gold. He was a year or two younger than me but we shared similar interests and he was approachable enough to ask questions when I couldn’t figure something out. After a few months, our flirty exchanges had grown into a friendship. One day Dan asked me on a date after work, and I accepted not thinking much of it. I had just gotten out of a bad relationship and I could use a drink or five.
I’d never dated a co-worker, never thought I would, and I definitely didn’t want to date him. Dan was cute enough to flirt with when work got boring and nice enough to talk to on a break, but that was it. We had a few drinks too many, one thing led to the other and next thing you know we are romping in his bedroom somewhere in Jersey. My first one night stand (because I wouldn’t do that again) and my first and only fling with him. The next morning I woke up casually, pulled myself together and he escorted me all the way back into the city. I knew he wanted something more, and that was something I just couldn’t give him. I’d made it clear to him that that day was a one-time deal.
Things at work got weird. His demeanor toward me shifted. He would get mad at me in front of clients if I took too long to respond to him, if I seemed uninterested or if I was plain too busy with work. I confronted him about how unprofessional it was and he’d say “sorry” but would continue making comments here and there, giving me dirty looks, or confronting about things in fits of jealousy. After this experience I am wary of creating any sort of relationship other than a professional one with co-workers. Things tend to get tricky when you spend so many hours of your day around a set of people and dynamics somehow change when sex is involved.
—25-year-old woman, Miami

“The interview almost immediately felt like a date”

I needed a job quickly as I had just gotten laid off from an office job. I found myself outside the doors of a restaurant. I was reluctant, but went in an applied for a job. I was interviewed my the manager on the spot, [and the] interview almost immediately felt like a date. It was casual with lots of laughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation.
Four months later, I received a phone call around 8 o’clock from this manager. We spoke for quite literally 12 hours. The very next night, I was over his apartment and it feels like I have never left since. I ended up moving to a new restaurant as my staying would jeapordize his job — but we’ve been married for a year and together for six years!
—28-year-old woman, Arizona

“Everything was fine — until we broke up”

So I was a professional musical theater actress for a while and I was dating a fellow cast member during a dance-intensive show. Everything was fine — until we broke up. Since he was the largest man and I was the smallest woman in the cast, we had many dance lifts together during the show, the sort of death defying pick-you-up-and-spin-you-over-my-head sort. Needless to say, he got vindictive and dropped me several times during rehearsal. It was childish and stupid, and gave me more than a few bumps and bruises. I wouldn’t recommend dating your lift partner. Believe me, it doesn’t turn out well. Fortunately the director took note and he wasn’t given dance roles after that.
—23-year-old woman, Seattle

“Today he is still with his wife and I have raised our son singlehandedly.”

I ‘hooked up’ with a co-worker. We both worked for a large, multi-national company. Many of the (male) staff spent their week away from home and returned home over the weekend. We ended up sharing a house and I used to take him to the airport on Friday evenings and pick him up on Monday morning! That was over 20 years ago. Today he is still with his wife and I have raised our son singlehandedly.
[My son is] a successful young man now at university getting a math degree. He has never seen or spoken to his father! Will they ever meet? How would his father feel? How would my son feel? I loved my son’s father and don’t know if we will ever meet again. Life has gone on and my son has only ever bought me joy. He is a product of an affair, illegitimate and unplanned. Yet this has never been an obstacle in his life or prevented him from being the intelligent, kind, funny and successful young man that he is. My heart has ached over the years but now it has healed.
—53-year-old woman, England

“I cheated on my boyfriend with one of the managers at my old job”

I cheated on my boyfriend with one of the managers at my old job. I ended up breaking it off with my boyfriend and marrying my manager! When my boss found out we were dating, my hours were cut from 20+ hours a week to five hours a week. He also made my time there absolutely miserable so I quit and found a new job: motherhood.
—21-year-old woman, Seattle

“Perks of the job, I suppose”

When I got my first job after uni (managing a small country pub), I had a few female co-workers. One I fancied like mad but she wasn’t interested. Another was young and impressionable, and I’ll happily admit was infatuated with me. We often shared drinks after work and spent the nights on the sofa in the bar.
Perks of the job, I suppose!
—25-year-old man, England

“Our relationship was against company policy, so we had to keep it hidden”

I’ve slept with a co-worker. We were in college, we had all the same friends and [we] hung out after work. One night after a handle of vodka the inevitable happened. In fact, it happened about four times that night. And then every day after that. We broke up a few weeks later. Working together was so awkward. He brought another girl to work one evening and I freaked out a little.

We got back together. He got promoted. Our relationship was against company policy, so we had to keep it hidden, even from our friends that we saw every night. [Eventually], he quit his job and we “came out” at the company party. Everyone was shocked. We’ve been together eight years and got married in February!
—30-year-old woman, Houston

“The entire time, my mind kept repeating, ‘this is bad, you shouldn’t be doing this’”
I am very conscious about keeping my personal and professional lives separate. However, one night, a co-worker and I ended up grabbing a couple drinks. It was meant to be just a couple post-work drinks, vent about the day, etc., but those drinks took us to a dark, poorly-lit bar oozing with sexual chemistry and pockets of isolation.
Then, one of those movie moments happened: he put his hand around my waist, I put mine on his shoulder. He looked down at me and I looked up, and then, it happened — this incredible, inappropriate, “I know I shouldn’t be doing this” kiss. It then morphed into, “let’s go to your place” which then led to the most erotic, shameful and amazing sex I’d had up until that point. The entire time, my mind kept repeating “this is bad, you shouldn’t be doing this, this is just stupid” but my body was loving every second of it. I haven’t indulged since, but it’s definitely one of the most intense experiences I’ve had.
—30-year-old woman, Oregon