USA Olympic Skier Hunter Hess is now backtracking somewhat from his comments the other day, where he said he had mixed feelings about representing America right now and said he really just . . .

The Super Bowl LX halftime show featuring Latin trap artist Bad Bunny was the subject of immense criticism from Americans on Sunday night. President Donald Trump called it "one of the worst ever." "The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn't represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World," Trump wrote on Truth Social...

Bad Bunny delivered a pointed message in Spanish to millions of Americans watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night: "We're still here." In a history-making halftime show performed almost entirely in Spanish, the Puerto Rican star paid tribute to his heritage and the many countries—from Brazil to Mexico—whose people have come to shape the modern-day U.S. Just a week ago, Bad Bunny denounced Immigration and Customs Enforcement while accepting a Grammy award, stoking further political furor from conservatives ahead of the Super Bowl. But on the halftime stage, he offered up a buoyant celebration of Latino culture...

In just over 13 minutes worth of music, stars and symbolism, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny rewrote what it means to be American in a time of strife. For months, conservatives from the president on down have painted him as anti-American. Last night, Bad Bunny asked: What if I'm the real American? Bad Bunny — who introduced himself with his real full name, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — brought the iconography of Puerto Rican culture to his Super Bowl halftime show performance, a joyous and high-energy affair that celebrated the island where he was born and its place in the American story...

Maintaining lots of eye contact in a conversation is generally considered a good thing. But we've all been on the other end of an interaction where the other person stares directly into your soul with intense and unflinching eye contact. It feels uncomfortable and even aggressive.On the other hand, many people struggle to hold enough eye contact. It could be due to something as simple as being shy or anxious, or it could be related to a condition like social anxiety or autism.So how can we thread the needle and make enough eye contact to build rapport, trust, and comfort with the people we're talking to, without making either of us uncomfortable? Communications expert Vanessa Van Edwards may have a solution. Vanessa Van Edwards is one of the foremost experts in body language and communication.By Taylor-winnie-bk/Wikimedia CommonsVan Edwards recently appeared on the podcast The Diary of a CEO and shared her rule of thumb for how, and more specifically when, to make eye contact during a conversation."Eye contact is a power move when you look at someone at the end of your sentence," she said. That's it. It's that simple. Before that, you can feel free to let your eyes roam naturally.She explained, "We like it when someone is actually accessing different memories or areas of their brain," noting that moving our eyes is a natural part of that process."But then when I end my sentence and look right at you you're like [Woah!]" she said. "Highly competent people make eye contact specifically at the end of their sentences to drill a point."Brilliantly, you can see Van Edwards use the exact technique she's speaking about as she describes it. It comes across as very natural, charismatic, and powerful in the moments when she does choose to engage eye contact, like an exclamation point at the end of her sentences. It also appears fluid and human as her eyes drift to the side, up, or follow her hands as she gestures. There's no robotic eye lock-on.Van Edwards said picking the right moments is more important than the total amount of eye contact, adding, "The worst advice I hear 'experts' give: Make more eye contact. Make 100% eye contact. It's awkward. They've studied this, the ideal amount of eye contact is between 60-70% of the conversation."She added that doing more than that amount may be seen as a territorial or aggressive gesture. @doacpod Body Language Expert - Vanessa Van Edwards Mastering Eye Contact: The Secret to Powerful Communication Discover the transformative impact of effective eye contact in conversations. We reveal why ending sentences with direct eye contact enhances connection and influence, along with expert tips on utilizing body language cues like the lower lid flex for deeper engagement. #EyeContact #BodyLanguage #EffectiveCommunication #PowerfulPresence #SocialSkills #NonverbalCues #EngagementTips #CommunicationStrategies #LowerLidFlex #Influence Nearly a million people viewed the short clip and many commenters found the advice extremely helpful:"This woman came out of nowhere and is speaking to my soul""I do this naturally. That's so cool. I couldn't possibly maintain eye contact when explaining something.""Finally, an eye contact advice that makes sense""That makes me feel so much better. This is exactly what I do 100%. I've always felt like there was something wrong with me."Eye contact while you're listening is just as important. And Van Edwards has a simple trick for that, too."One of my favorites. It's called a 'lower lid flex,'" she said. It's a simple narrowing of the eyes, as if focusing on an object in the distance, that signals to the person talking that you're engaged and making an effort to understand what they're saying."Boy oh boy do we like it when someone is lower lid flexing at us," she added. "It's a great power cue to use in moderation." Two men talking on a street. Photo credit: CanvaThis is a great trick for people who feel awkward or uncomfortable holding passive eye contact while listening. It gives you an action to do, a way to move your face and body, while signaling interest and focus rather than disinterest, which might be indicated by looking away.Another popular technique utilized by people who don't like holding too much prolonged eye contact is the "triangle technique." It involves letting your eyes move between someone's eyes and mouth in a triangle shape, or between their eyes and a spot on their forehead for a less intimate approach. This method allows you to keep focus on the person without feeling the searing intensity of non-stop eye contact.Eye contact doesn't come easily for everyone, but no matter where you're starting, improving the skill has tons of benefits. It helps you bond with others, become more memorable to new people you meet, and project confidence. And with Van Edwards' advice, it's more approachable than ever, even if it's not something that comes naturally to you.

Leave it to kids to teach us how to really savor the sweetness (or in this case, battery flakiness) of life.In an adorable video posted onto the travel content Instagram account @apeanuttravels, a mom named Vanessa shows how her two-year-old’s first trip to Paris quickly became one thing and one thing alone: a “full-blown croissant tour.” Indeed, this little gal made the pastry the main event, eating not one, not two, not three, but TWELVE croissants. Let it be known that variety was not sacrificed, though. The croissants themselves ranged from dipped in mayonnaise, to plain, to almond cream, and having gobs of butter plopped on top. Living “her best Parisian life,” this little one also occasionally donned a delightful red beret or croissant-themed pajamas while enjoying her culinary obsession. Other times she dined against a gorgeous backdrop that she was completely unaware of. See on Instagram The pâtissière love affair only got more and more passionate, as she counted the croissants one by one (“This is my first croissant… this is my second croissant…”), eventually only being able to exclaim “croisssabbbbaaa!!!” If ever croissant drunk was a thing, she had it. And while some parents might have felt disappointed that their child didn’t feel that same amount of appreciation for seeing the Eiffel Tower, Vanessa knows that “traveling with a toddler means experiencing a city through snacks,” and that “watching your kid fall in love with something new in a new place is one of the best parts of family travel.”To be clear, this toddler has her priorities straight no matter where she travels. Take a look at this video from Italy. Now THAT’s how you eat noodles: See on Instagram According to several of Vanessa’s videos, snacks are a major key to happy toddler travels—from helping ease airplane restlessness to setting a positive tone for the day before anyone even leaves the hotel. A well-timed treat can turn a potential meltdown into a manageable moment, and having familiar foods on hand gives little travelers a sense of stability in an otherwise new environment. She also suggests planning just one main activity per day rather than a jam-packed itinerary, which leaves room for wandering, resting, and following a child’s natural rhythm. On-the-go naps, making lunch the main meal followed by lighter “snacky dinners” and evening strolls, keeping a consistent bedtime routine, and staying in the same accommodations for multiple nights all help create a sense of predictability. See on Instagram Once the family began making these simple tweaks, travel became “more fun for all,” Vanessa writes. Less about rushing from sight to sight and more about enjoying the experience together.This all goes to show that when it comes to traveling with toddlers, the trip you plan and the trip you actually take are rarely the same. Adults might dream of museums, landmarks, and carefully curated itineraries, but little kids tend to fall in love with the small, delicious, delightfully repetitive things. While it might take some adjustment on the parent’s end, watching a child latch onto one joyful obsession has a way of recalibrating expectations for everyone involved. It shifts the focus from checking off sights to noticing what actually feels good in the moment. And years later, those are often the details that stick. Not the postcard views.