A Georgia mayor was brutally heckled at a press conference Wednesday over his perceived “sanctuary city” policies following the murder of nursing student Laken Riley‚ allegedly at the hands of a Venezuelan migrant. “You’re a liar!” one man shouted at Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz‚ according to a report by Fox News Digital. “You’re the one who is guilty and got blood on your hands for this murder‚ sir!” Athens does not have an official sanctuary city policy‚ but Girtz has come under...

It seems everyone needs subtitles nowadays in order to "hear" the television. This is something that has become more common over the past decade and it's caused people to question if their hearing is going bad or if perhaps actors have gotten lazy with enunciation. So if you've been wondering if it's just you who needs subtitles in order to watch the latest marathon-worthy show‚ worry no more. Vox video producer Edward Vega interviewed dialogue editor Austin Olivia Kendrick to get to the bottom of why we can't seem to make out what the actors are saying anymore. It turns out it's technology's fault‚ and to get to how we got here‚ Vega and Kendrick took us back in time.They first explained that way back when movies were first moving from silent film to spoken dialogue‚ actors had to enunciate and project loudly while speaking directly into a large microphone. If they spoke and moved like actors do today‚ it would sound almost as if someone were giving a drive-by soliloquy while circling the block. You'd only hear every other sentence or two.But with today's technology‚ microphones are so small they can be strapped just about anywhere on an actor. This allows the actor to move about the set freely and speak at a normal volume without worrying that their words won't be picked up. So then why can't we hear them? Turns out it's super complicated…and also not."A lot of people will ask‚ 'Why don't you just turn the dialogue up?' Like‚ 'Just turn it up.' And...if only it were that simple‚" Kendrick said before explaining‚ "If you have your dialogue that's going to be at the same volume as an explosion that immediately follows it‚ the explosion is not going to feel as big. You need that contrast in volume in order to give your ear a sense of scale."Sure‚ you may be thinking‚ well that kinda explains it‚ but why do the music and other cinematic noises sound like they're beating on your eardrum while the dialogue sounds like the actors are whispering every line? That doesn't seem very balanced. There's more to it‚ and again‚ it falls back onto technology.In the video‚ they explain how our televisions are too thin to hold large speakers facing in the correct direction‚ and until this video‚ it didn't dawn on me that the speakers to my television are indeed in the back. No wonder we can't hear. The actors are quite literally talking to our walls. And there's more. Check out the full explanation in the video:This article originally appeared on 2.1.23

We've all been there at some point or another‚ nervously waiting for a big job interview hoping you don't sweat through your good shirt. Interviews are stressful but there's likely no job interview more stressful than the one Guy Goma went on in 2006 for the BBC‚ when he was mistaken for an expert for a news segment. The person they were supposed to interview for the news segment was Guy Kewney‚ an actual music industry expert. But with cameras rolling and questions being asked‚ Goma took a deep breath and answered the newscaster.In the clip you can see Goma likely thinking through how he could gracefully exit the situation after the realization that he had been placed on live television with no idea what he was about to be asked. It didn't stop him though‚ once he committed to going along with the expert interview he did pretty well. While he tried desperately to control his breathing‚ he was able to inform the interviewer that he was predicting more people would begin downloading music online and it would become a faster process. I mean‚ he was right‚ even if he had no idea at the time.Surprisingly‚ after the on-air snafu and subsequent save by Goma‚ he didn't get the job he applied for‚ which is weird because he was clearly perfect for whatever position he wanted. I'm pretty sure they dropped the ball there‚ but it sure would be nice to know what happened to the quick-thinking faux expert. Unfortunately there are no recent updates about the whereabouts of Guy Goma after his brief and random moment in the spotlight‚ but he'll always hold a place in television history. Watch Goma's WTF reaction when he realizes what's going on below. This article originally appeared on 10.20.22

We all know that Americans pay more for healthcare than every other country in the world. But how much more?According an American expatriate who shared the story of his ER visit in a Taiwanese hospital‚ Americans are being taken to the cleaners when we go to the doctor. We live in a country that claims to be the greatest in the world‚ but where an emergency trip to the hospital can easily bankrupt someone. Kevin Bozeat had that fact in mind when he fell ill while living in Taiwan and needed to go to the hospital. He didn't have insurance and he had no idea how much it was going to cost him. He shared the experience in a now-viral Facebook post he called "The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand experience."Bozeat started vomiting one evening and couldn't stop‚ unable to even keep water down. "My symptoms showed no signs of abating‚" he wrote. "At this point I had to seek medical treatment‚ I knew I had to go to the hospital.""I wanted to avoid it‚" he added. "I had no idea how different Taiwanese hospitals would be‚ whether I would be able to find an English speaking doctor‚ or what it would cost me (my US health insurance has lapsed and I don't qualify for Taiwanese NHI)."Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) is a single-payer system that covers all residents of Taiwan. Foreigners can take part in the system immediately upon obtaining a work permit‚ or after six months of living in the country. Bozeat was a student and hadn't lived there long enough to be eligible yet.But he needn't have worried.Bozeat's bill for his entire hospital stay was a fraction of many insured American's copays for emergency services.And it's not like he received substandard service for what he paid."My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to the ER at NTU Hospital‚" Bozeat wrote. "I was immediately checked-in by an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did an ultrasound to ensure it wasn't gall stones or appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV‚ I began to feel slightly better‚ my nausea disappeared and my stomach began to calm down."Bozeat was discharged with a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication‚ and after a few days he was back to normal. This is when most of us would start panicking as we wait for the hospital bills to start arriving. But Bozeat was pleasantly surprised:"The bill for the ER visit?...US $80.00. Eighty. American. Dollars. Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance. At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan. And if I had NHI‚ it would have been a fraction of that. This could have easily cost me hundreds or even thousands in the US without insurance. But here in Taiwan I was able to receive speedy‚ quality care comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital for relatively small amount of money."And it's not like he received substandard service for what he paid."My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to the ER at NTU Hospital‚" Bozeat wrote. "I was immediately checked-in by an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did an ultrasound to ensure it wasn't gall stones or appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV‚ I began to feel slightly better‚ my nausea disappeared and my stomach began to calm down."Bozeat was discharged with a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication‚ and after a few days he was back to normal. This is when most of us would start panicking as we wait for the hospital bills to start arriving. But Bozeat was pleasantly surprised:"The bill for the ER visit?...US $80.00. Eighty. American. Dollars. Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance. At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan. And if I had NHI‚ it would have been a fraction of that. This could have easily cost me hundreds or even thousands in the US without insurance. But here in Taiwan I was able to receive speedy‚ quality care comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital for relatively small amount of money."I did some research‚ and the cost of living overall in Taiwan is about half what it is here. There is not a hospital that I know of in the U.S. where you can be admitted and discharged for anything close to $160‚ even for something as simple as a bee sting. (Seriously‚ an ER visit for a bee sting can set you back $12‚000 in the U.S.)Bozeat also pointed out that the taxes that pay for Taiwan's health system are not that high.Responding to the common complaint that we'd have to raise taxes to pay for universal healthcare‚ Bozeat continued his list:"5: Yes‚ taxes pay for the healthcare here. No‚ they are not high. Try for yourself: The formula for the NHI monthly premium contribution for a single employed adult is: [your monthly income] x 0.0469 (4.69%) x 0.3 (30%) = Your monthly out-of-pocket healthcare premium."I did the math for a $60‚000 per year income—it comes to $70.53/month. [Sigh.]But Bozeat wasn't done:"6: It's not perfect. Not everything is 100% covered. I had a good experience‚ but Im sure many people have had [non-financial] medical horror stories here.7: This system exists because the Taiwanese government believes that healthcare is a right for all of its citizens‚ rather than a privilege for those who can afford it. Those aren't my words‚ thats what the Ministry of Health said in its English language brochure. Every Taiwanese citizen and foreign permanent resident is entitled to‚ and required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Program (NHI). Everyone is covered‚ regardless of employment status‚ no one is uninsured‚ no one ever goes bankrupt due to medical bills." And the quality of care does not appear to be compromised in this system‚ either."I have yet to meet a Taiwanese person who wasn't satisfied with‚ or even outright proud of their healthcare system‚" Bozeat wrote. "My expat friends praise it‚ even those from countries with universal healthcare systems of their own. "But Bozeat wasn't done:"6: It's not perfect. Not everything is 100% covered. I had a good experience‚ but Im sure many people have had [non-financial] medical horror stories here.7: This system exists because the Taiwanese government believes that healthcare is a right for all of its citizens‚ rather than a privilege for those who can afford it. Those aren't my words‚ thats what the Ministry of Health said in its English language brochure. Every Taiwanese citizen and foreign permanent resident is entitled to‚ and required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Program (NHI). Everyone is covered‚ regardless of employment status‚ no one is uninsured‚ no one ever goes bankrupt due to medical bills."
And the quality of care does not appear to be compromised in this system‚ either."I have yet to meet a Taiwanese person who wasn't satisfied with‚ or even outright proud of their healthcare system‚" Bozeat wrote. "My expat friends praise it‚ even those from countries with universal healthcare systems of their own."This article originally appeared on 02.28.19

"So just recently I went out on a Match.com date‚ and it was fantastic‚" begins Dr. Danielle Sheypuk in her TEDx Talk. If you've ever been on a bunch of Match.com dates‚ that opening line might make you do a double take. How does one get so lucky?!But don't get too jealous. Things quickly went downhill two dates later‚ as most Match.com dates ultimately do. This time‚ however‚ the reason may not be something that you've ever experienced.Intrigued? I was too. So here's the story.She's a licensed clinical psychologist‚ an advocate‚ and a model — among other things. She's also been confined to a wheelchair since childhood. And that last fact is what did her recent date in.On their third date over a romantic Italian dinner‚ Sheypuk noticed that he was sitting farther away from her than usual. And then‚ out of nowhere‚ he began to ask the following questions:"I've been thinking‚ how are you gonna be a mother? How are you gonna do the duties that's gonna be required of you? And even as wife — how ... I'm not sure how this is gonna work."Used to this line of inquiry‚ she had the perfect quippy reply: "Well that's simple: I'm just gonna hire someone like every other New Yorker."But despite her witty answer‚ he'd already made up his mind. She never heard from him again."I tried to convince myself that this was like any other relationship‚ but deep down I knew the reality. Who wants to date someone in a wheelchair?"Dr. Sheypuk knows that that single question is evidence of a really serious problem —not just on the dating scene‚ but in society in general.Society has factored out an entire group of potential romantic partners: people with disabilities.In her words:"We are completely left out of the dating picture. Society‚ media included‚ seems to ignore the fact that we have the same emotional needs and desires as everyone else. Is this injustice born out of the concept of the poster child and his or her duty to induce pity to raise money?Or maybe it's a conclusion drawn form mainstream porn where we have actors performing‚ like‚ gymnastic stunts with the stamina that none of us have of bucking broncos and jackrabbits.”Um‚ yes. So much yes. She continues:"The silent message: The more in shape your body‚ the better the sex. The unspoken conclusion: If you have a disability‚ you are too sick to have sex.The silent message: The more in shape your body‚ the better the sex. The unspoken conclusion: If you have a disability‚ you are too sick to have sex."Now let's look at the continuum in our society where sexual is measured. On the one hand‚ we have humans that are the ultimate sex appeal object. So on that end‚ we have Victoria Secret models‚ Playboy centerfolds‚ people like that.On the complete opposite end‚ we have people with physical disabilities. And it seems like the more we deviate from this ultimate sex icon‚ the more desexualized we become‚ the more taboo the topic‚ and the more damaging the consequences.Now‚ for most people there are quick fixes‚ right? We have Hair Club for Men‚ Botox‚ Spanx‚ butt implants. But for people with disabilities‚ there are no quick fixes. There is no magic pill.""And we are hit hard.”Watch the rest of Dr. Sheypuk's talk to hear her important insights about what dating and relationships are like when a person has a disability — and how much of society is limiting itself.This article originally appeared on 07.22.15

You always stole my thunder. You gave them everything they wanted. You never said no when they asked for anything. Tina Platamura A second helping of dessert. Candy before dinner. A few more minutes in the bath. Money for the ice cream truck.I struggled to show you respect and appreciation while trying to make sure you didn't spoil my children. I thought you would turn them into “selfish brats" by giving them everything they wanted. I thought they might never learn to wait‚ to take turns‚ to share‚ because you granted their wishes as soon as they opened their mouths and pointed.You held each one of my babies long after they fell asleep. Didn't you understand that I needed them to learn to fall asleep on their own?You ran to them as soon as they made the tiniest sound. How would they ever learn to self-soothe?I resented you for buying the best and most expensive gifts on their birthdays and on Christmas. How could I possibly compete with you?"I thought they might never learn to wait‚ to take turns‚ to share‚ because you granted their wishes as soon as they opened their mouths and pointed."And how they loved afternoons spent with you. You made their favorite things for dinner — three different meals for three different boys. And you always had a little surprise. A present‚ candy‚ or a special treat. I didn't want them to associate you with gifts and sweets. I thought they should love you for you. I tried to tell you this‚ but you wouldn't listen.I spent a lot of time wondering why you did all these things and how I could get you to ease up. I know grandmothers are supposed to “spoil the kids" then send them home‚ but you were ... ridiculous.Until you were gone.I had to hold my boys and tell them that their grandma died. It didn't seem possible — you were supposed to be there for all the other special moments: proms‚ graduations‚ weddings. But they lost their grandma too soon and too suddenly. They were not ready to say goodbye.During those years when I wished you'd stop spoiling them‚ I never thought about how much you loved them. So much that you showed it in every way possible. Your cooking. The gifts. The candy and sweets. Your presence. The way you could recount every detail of a special moment‚ whether it was a perfect catch in the outfield or a sweet and slightly off-key note sung at a school concert. Your grandmotherly love for them knew no bounds. Your heart poured love from every place possible — your kitchen‚ your pocketbook‚ your words‚ and your tireless arms.It's pointless to dwell on regrets‚ but I often think about how I had it all wrong. I was so wrong in how I perceived your generosity.My kids‚ now in their teens‚ miss you dearly. And they don't miss your gifts or your money. They miss you.They miss running to greet you at the door and hugging you before you could step in. They miss looking up at the bleachers and seeing you‚ one of their biggest fans‚ smiling and enthralled to catch their eye. They miss talking to you and hearing your words of wisdom‚ encouragement and love.If I could speak to you one more time‚ I would tell you that every time a precious moment steals my heart‚ every time I watch them arrive at a new milestone‚ and every time they amaze me with their perseverance‚ talents‚ or triumphs‚ I think of you. And I wish that they could have you back.Come back and love them one last time‚ like no one else in the world but a grandmother could. Bring your sweets and surprises. Reward them with gifts for the smallest accomplishments. Painstakingly prepare their favorite meals. Take them anywhere they want to go. All and only because you love them.Come back and see how much they've grown. Watch each boy becoming his own version of a young man. Be in awe with me as we admire how family‚ friendship‚ time‚ and love helped them grow so beautifully over the years.The more I long for you to come back‚ though‚ the more I realize that in a way‚ you never left.I understand now. I know you loved them in every way you could. I know that being their grandma gave you joy and purpose. And of course I know that you can't come back‚ but I do know that your love for them will always remain. Your love built them and sheltered them in ways that cannot be described. Your love is a big part of who they are and what they will become as they grow. For this‚ and for every treat and gift‚ and every time you held them too long or consoled them too much or let them stay up too late‚ I will always thank you.And I will wish a million times that you could do it all again.This article was written by Tina Plantamura and originally appeared on 04.14.16

Sadly‚ a lot of men go out of their way to avoid learning anything about a woman's period.(That could be why throughout most of the United States — where the majority of lawmakers are men — feminine hygiene products are subject to sales tax.)So we should give some love to the guys who make an effort to learn a bit about the menstrual cycle so they can help their family members when they're in desperate need of feminine hygiene products.Personally‚ as a guy‚ the feminine hygiene aisle can be a little intimidating. There are multiple brands‚ styles of products‚ scents‚ absorbency levels‚ and they are all color-coded.What do the colors mean?Knowing there's a lot I don't know‚ I take a picture on my phone of the box I'm about to purchase and send it to my wife‚ asking‚ "Is this the right one?"A dad in the U.K. is getting some love on social media for the hilarious way he navigated the world of feminine hygiene products while showing how much he loved his daughter in the process.It all began when Tia Savva sent her dad to Tesco‚ a popular U.K. drug store‚ to pick up some tampons.For all the guys out there that need a solid primer on what goes on in the feminine hygiene product aisle‚ this quick tutorial from Mel magazine does a pretty great job.This article originally appeared on July 2‚ 2019

Although The Cure achieved critical acclaim in the early 1980s‚ they weren't "professional". The post The first “professional” album by The Cure‚ according to Robert Smith first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

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