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Watch: Frederick Douglass’ Fourth of July speech is still incredibly meaningful today 

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highkey salty: sagittarius, virgo, scorpio, cancer, libra, leo

lowkey salty: CAPRICORN, aquarius, taurus, gemini, pisces, aries

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Horoscope - June 1 2015

Aries Horoscope

(Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Your irrepressible restlessness could get the best of you today if you grow weary of patiently waiting for the right doors to open. However, it’s more important than ever to keep your thoughts from wandering away from your work because things could change very quickly. Focus your full attention on the conversations occurring in the present moment. Your ability to react quickly to new developments now increases your chances for success. Keep your ear to the ground and your eyes wide open so you don’t miss a thing.

Taurus Horoscope

(Apr 20 – May 20)

A coworker may offer their assistance, but you’re hesitant to jump to a conclusion and overstep the established boundaries of your current relationship. Asking people for help isn’t always comfortable, making it especially tricky to initiate a discussion on a sensitive topic. But don’t quit yet; a sudden shift in your attitude allows you to relax and broach the subject with confidence. Expressing your vulnerability might feel like risky business, but meeting someone on neutral ground can produce pleasantly surprising results.

Gemini Horoscope

(May 21 – Jun 20)

Your self-confidence is high today, inspiring you to make new friends wherever you go. But don’t expect to attract companions that fit into your previous expectations as the positive Sagittarius Moon brightens your 7th House of Partnerships. Honor your desire to experience something different by experimenting with innovative ways to interact with someone you want to know better. Remaining open to change demonstrates your ability to play well with others. A light touch and a healthy sense of humor puts everyone at ease.

Cancer Horoscope

(Jun 21 – Jul 22)

You’re aware that the interpersonal dynamics are changing now even if others can’t yet see tangible evidence. You are less encumbered by your need for security and are yearning to break free from old patterns. Although you’re cautious about tooting your own horn at first, you can at least take tentative steps on your new journey until you become comfortable talking about your goals. However, you want immediate results and could risk emotional safety for a little excitement. Luckily, there’s no reason to wait for a better time; create a plan and work your magic.

Leo Horoscope

(Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You can’t decide whether you are excited about your future or if you’re scared of the upcoming changes. Either way, you can tell that the tide is shifting, even if you don’t know which way you want to go. Throwing caution to the wind might be the necessary catalyst that makes your dreams come alive. If you don’t take the initiative today, at least imagine what you could accomplish if you set your mind to it. Share your best ideas with a friend; expressing what’s in your heart is enough to lift your spirits.

Virgo Horoscope

(Aug 23 – Sep 22)

The changes at work keep on coming and you wouldn’t mind a bit of respite today in order to process all that’s going on. Nevertheless, you want to pursue a few enticing opportunities that are persistently knocking at your door. Balancing your need for emotional security with your desire to take your career to the next level isn’t as tough as you think. Proceed with caution and avoid shortcuts at all costs. Manage your resources wisely and you will reach your goals faster than you expect.

Libra Horoscope

(Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Your enthusiasm encourages you to start a new project today before you think about what your commitment really means. Unfortunately, even with the best of intentions, you could end up in trouble if you make too many promises too soon. However, it’s foolish to begin anything that diffuses your energy now. Take the time to map out your strategy prior to jumping headfirst into your next venture. A methodical approach today guarantees your success in the future.

Scorpio Horoscope

(Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You have lots of lofty ideas about the many things you can do today, but you might lack the follow-through to fulfill your fantasies. Fortunately, your problem isn’t about missing your mark; instead, your current lesson is to learn how to set sensible goals so you can establish a successful track record. It helps to dream about objectives that are actually within the range of possibility. Applying a practical twist to your most imaginative ideas is the best way to create your plans for the future.

Sagittarius Horoscope

(Nov 22 – Dec 21)

It’s unusual for you to be so overwhelmed that you can’t decide what to do next. Nevertheless, tomorrow’s Sagittarius Full Moon stirs up quite a bit of excitement, challenging you to stay cool, calm and collected. You may feel anxious if there are one-too-many appealing options, yet it’s still possible to settle down quickly by simply taking a few deep breaths. It’s more crucial to maintain your emotional balance now than to seize every exciting opportunity that comes your way. Practicing patience allows you to stay in touch with your center of gravity.

Capricorn Horoscope

(Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You may feel like a closet optimist today, especially if you’re acting on the premise that you are more successful when your practical nature overshadows your restless ambitions. Unfortunately, this kind of calculated scheming might lead your peers to withhold their trust. Hiding your confidence is not in your best interest even though the extroverted Sagittarius Moon is busy activating your 12th House of Secrets. Let your authentic self shine through, even if you’re worried that others won’t approve. Humility is an admirable trait, but believing in your dreams is your secret to success.

Aquarius Horoscope

(Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Socializing with your coworkers easily trumps doing your work today, but there’s also a very serious side to hanging out with your peers. It may be as innocent as sharing a joke at the water cooler, but the connections you make now can be intrinsically tied to your happiness later on. Don’t expend too much energy trying to impress anyone with your brilliance or your charm. Ultimately, it’s the sweetest, heart-centered relationships that add the most meaning to your life.

Pisces Horoscope

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

It’s perfectly natural for you Fish to dream about your future and wonder where you are going in life. Fortunately, sorting out your long-term goals makes a lot of sense because your far-sighted vision is unobstructed by your emotions now. Reassess all the ways you can build on the solid foundation you have already created, rather than arbitrarily heading off in an entirely new direction. Don’t worry about how much you actually accomplish today; real progress will still require some time to manifest. The seeds of personal growth must first be planted in your fertile imagination.

Source : Rick Levine

Read more about your horoscope here

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(MOSTLY) UNTRUE STEREOTYPES

Aries: Angry!! Hulk smash!! mean and selfish

Taurus: Lazy and picky. Probably thinks they're better than you. could be tbh

Gemini: Two faced!!! incredibly unreliable.. Also changes their mind A LOT

Cancer: Cry babies!! secretly plotting to take over the world and create their ideal utopia with happiness and friendship..... DISGUSTING

Leo: They know everything even if they don't. Sooo vain. Really wants approval. your mom would love them

Virgo: Overall perfectionists who're over analytical about anything. everything. everyone. but they're cool. they'll probably be president one day

Libra: Fake?? Suzy and Amanda aren't friends but Libra's friends with both of them.... how dare they??

Scorpio: Angry tear eyed baby with a lot of feelings. also not very tough. they just want to be

Sagittarius: The product of the cool sunglass and peace sign emojis combined. they'll lose their children in stores a few times in their lifetime

Capricorn: Better than you. this isn't even a stereotype. they're literally better than you. sorry

Aquarius: they know about the men on mars. they have the hots for your mom. they know every alternative song from the 90s

Pisces: fish friends!! also justin bieber

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WHICH PLANET RULES YOUR SIGN?

Aries: Mars, the planet of passion, aggression, and war. Named after the Roman God of war, Ares.

Taurus: Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and friendships. Named after the Roman Goddess of beauty.

Gemini: Mercury, the planet of communication and travel. Named after the Roman messenger God.

Cancer: The Moon, the “planet” of emotions, maternity, and femininity.

Leo: The Sun, the “planet” of self, warmth, and pride.

Virgo: Mercury, the planet of communication and travel. Named after the Roman messenger God.

Libra: Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and friendships. Named after the Roman Goddess of beauty.

Scorpio: Pluto, the planet of secrets, transformation, and death. Named after the Roman God of the Underworld.

Sagittarius: Jupiter, the planet of luck and karma. Named after the Roman God of the Sky.

Capricorn: Saturn, the planet of work and possessions. Named after the Roman God of time.

Aquarius: Uranus, the planet of transformation and rebellion. Named after the Roman Titan of the sky.

Pisces: Neptune, the planet of the subconscious. Named after the Roman God of the Oceans.

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Beautiful but Deadly

Aries: Hemlock Water Dropwart // every part of this plant is poisonous and the consumption of any part will cause death within hours

Taurus: Veratrum // consumption causes rapid cardiac failure and death

Gemini: Ragwort // consumption can cause fatal respiratory failure

Cancer: Adenium // large doses will cause a fatal heart attack

Leo: Aconitum // this poison is so strong it is used to kill adult whales

Virgo: Cerbera Odollom // known as the “Poison Tree” because its toxins paralyze the heart

Libra: Mountain Laurel // causes severely low blood pressure and death

Scorpio: Opium // suppresses the nervous system and causes coma and death

Sagittarius: Laburnum // consumption causes vomiting, frothing at the mouth, coma and death

Capricorn: Naked Lady // has a lovely smell but causes cardiovascular collapse if ingested

Aquarius: Daphne // ingestion of the berries of this plant causes delirium, convulsions and if coma ensues then death will most likely be the outcome

Pisces: Bloodroot // sometimes called “Sweet Slumber,” ingestion causes coma and death

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This Is How Scientists Do A Summer Street Fair

It’s not your typical muggy Sunday street fair. Astronauts share their tips for going to the bathroom in space, kids play with computer microscopes and food trucks compete for road space with robots. http://twt.lu/1SOZlgj

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Some people are disgusting. One does not describe many. Being a decent human being is above all the most important.

A Muslim-American woman claims United Airlines racially profiled her

What began as a request for a diet soda on a United Airlines flight drove Muslim chaplain Tahera Ahmad to tears.

In a post made Friday to Facebook, Ahmad, director of interfaith engagement and associate champlain at Northwestern University, said that after she requested an unopened diet soda for “hygienic reasons,” she was told unopened cans were prohibited because they could be used as a weapon on the flight. United has since issued a statement in response.

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The Mystery of the Church: Maybe it’s Joe’s…or Luke’s…but we know whose it isn’t! The search continues…   

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writing tip #1181:

don’t rely on spell-check. it’s a liar and a cheat and can’t be trusted

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Tips on Grammar, Punctuation and Style;

Commas and semi-colons. If the rules you learned about commas and semi-colons don’t mean much to you, forget them and try this: Read one of your sentences aloud and see where you would naturally pause, where you would draw a breath. If it’s a short pause, like that just was, you probably need a comma. If it’s a longer pause, but not quite a full stop (for which you’d need a period), you probably need a semi-colon; remember that whatever follows a semi-colon must be able to stand on its own, as a full sentence, like this one.

If you don’t want your reader to pause, there shouldn’t be a comma, there, because as, this demonstrates it’s very difficult to figure, out, what you’re saying when your punctuation, makes the sentence unreadable.

Your sentences shouldn’t leave your reader hyperventilating from the constant shallow breaths that over-punctuation requires. Nor should they be gasping for breath at the end of a long, unpunctuated sentence. (Consider yourself responsible for your readers’ cardiovascular health.)

Check your dashes and hyphens. When you’re setting off a clause—this one is a good example—use the longer dash, called an m-dash. (You can indicate this dash with two hyphens—like this—if you don’t have an m-dash function on your computer.) Be sure that the parts of the sentence that precede and follow the dashes would make sense even if you removed the dashes and the words they bracket. (In the example above, the sentence is readable with or without the clause inside the dashes.)

You can also use the m-dash in place of a colon if you want to emphasize more dramatically the words that follow: “The mantlepiece was lined with photographs of people she loved—her mother, her grandmother, a favorite aunt.” Or you can use it to add a surprising element into a sentence: “Her family’s photographs were displayed on the mantlepiece; there were pictures of parents, grandparents, and siblings—and of Muffin, a Yorkshire terrier.” Whereas the m-dash is used to set off parts of a sentence, hyphens are used to join words together: broken-hearted, two-thirds, sister-in-law.

Always identify abbreviations before you use them, unless you feel reasonably confident that the average intelligent reader would be able to identify the acronym—like when the acronym is more commonly used than the words it stands for. (It would be odd to write out all the words for ESP, NATO, CEO, or AIDS.) Keep in mind the audience for the particular essay you’re writing, though; readers who are specialists in a particular discipline may not want or need to have terms spelled out for them.

Try to avoid split infinitives. This is no longer a hard and fast rule, and occasionally keeping an infinitive together in a sentence can introduce more awkwardness than the split, but usually the split is ungraceful. (Imagine: To be or to not be.)

Make sure all your referents are clear. When you say “This theory” or “that point” or, simply, “it,” is it clear which theory or point you’re referring to? When you use “he” or “she” or “these critics,” will your reader have to pause to figure out who all these people are?

There’s more to say about this. We often throw in a “this” when we’re not entirely sure exactly what we want to draw our readers’ attention to, especially when we’re making a complex argument with many different elements. Sometimes vagueness in our language can be a symptom of muddled thinking. So ask yourself, what does this “this” refer to? What words would I replace it with? If you’re not easily able to answer, you need to go back and work out your ideas in that section. (Readers will never understand what you mean when you don’t know yourself. When you notice vague referents, or other apparently minor problems, take the opportunity to ask yourself if there might be any larger problem lurking beneath your surface error.)

Never use “that” when you’re referring to a person: "The first man that walked on the moon.“ "The author that she was referring to.” These are people, not objects—it’s insulting to call them “that.” Use who or whom: “The first man who walked on the moon.” “The author to whom she was referring.” Are you using “that” because you’re shaky on the who/whom thing? See below. (And while you’re at it, consider whether you’re twisting your sentences around to avoid any other grammatical points you’re uncertain of. If so, take control! Liberate yourself! Learn the rules once and for all so you can write freely, instead of skulking around trying not to break the rules—or breaking them without realizing it. Try starting a text file in which you list the rules you tend to forget, and keep it open when you write. You can look rules up in any style manual, or come to the Writing Center.)

Who is what doing what to whom? That’s the question you need to ask yourself if you’re uncertain which word to use. The one that does the action (the subject) is who. The one that gets something done to it (the object) is whom.

Avoid passive voice. It tends to sap energy and power from your prose. It’s usually better to say “Einstein’s theory” than “the theory that was formulated by Einstein.”

Italics and underlines. You can use one or the other but never both. They mean the same thing—underlining used to be a copy-editing mark to tell printers to set certain words in italic type. Underlining italics meant the editor wanted the words taken out of italics. So underlining your already- italicized phrase is, in effect, like using a double negative.

Be sure all of your sentences have parallel construction. This sentence doesn’t have it: “Re- reading my first draft, I notice it’s trite, repetitive, and with no thesis.” This sentence does: “Re- reading my first draft, I notice that it’s trite and repetitive, and that it has no thesis.” Or you could say: “Re-reading my first draft, I notice it’s trite, repetitive, and lacking in a thesis.” In the two examples with parallel construction, you could take out any of the words in the list and still have the sentence make sense.

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How to Use Commas: The Not-So-Obvious Rules

In my three years as an editor and two as a writing center tutor, I have learned that commas are the most commonly misunderstand punctuation.

Even worse, commas in fiction can be subjective. I’m going to cover some bases with how to use commas that aren’t as obvious.

Use commas for independent clauses. Independent clauses are sentences that can stand on their own.

Amelia couldn’t stand looking at Oliver, but she also couldn’t stand that she had been betrayed by someone who loved her since they met. Remove the ‘but,’ and both sentences can stand on their own. However, when a sentence is short with two independent clauses, a comma isn’t necessary: I like apples and he likes bananas.

Use a comma to set off introductory elements. The introductory element is often a dependent clause, meaning it depends on an independent clause to function as a full sentence.

Racing away from Theosodore, Amelia threw herself against the door and began slamming her fists against the flimsy wood.

Use commas between independent clauses and dependent clauses.

Amelia was still shaken, although she hadn’t lost her life. If you add the second phrase in front of the independent clause, it becomes an introductory element–hence, add that comma.

Use commas to set off parenthetical elements. The parenthetical element is a sentence that can be removed without changing the meaning.

Amelia’s brother, who is eight years old, can see the shadows, too. Remove the parenthetical element, and the meaning doesn’t change.

Use a comma to prevent misunderstanding.

Amelia ran to the door, running faster than a hoard of skittering spiders. Without that comma, people would think the door was running.

Outside, the blue sky contrasted with the storm in Amelia’s heart. Remove the comma, and the sentence becomes nonsense. 

Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives.

The tall, terrifying shadow stood over Amelia, glaring deep into her eyes. Here’s a simple trick: put and between tall and terrifying. Read it out loud. If it makes sense, then put a comma there.

Now here are some sentences where comma usage can be subjective in fiction. These commas are stylistic choice.

“So she went to the store.” Without a comma, this reads as a simple statement, changing the tone entirely. It seems as if the speaker is annoyed.

“So, she went to the store.” This reads as more of an explanation than a simple statement.

Amelia couldn’t stop the shadows because she was too busy protecting her brother. A comma doesn’t really seem necessary, however…

Amelia hated staring into Oliver sad gray eyes filled with unending voids, because she could see so much of herself in them. I put a comma there, as the sentence before 'because’ is longer than previous example I gave. But, really, using a comma before 'because’ is actually pretty subjective, depending on how you want your readers to read it. It also helps to break up a longer sentence. 

Another interesting comma usage that can change the meaning of a sentence entirely. “Stop slapping, Nathaniel.” Without that comma, Nathaniel is the one being slapped.

There are a bunch of other rules for commas, but I wanted to point out the most commonly misused rules. (Don’t overuse commas.) Here is a link for more instances of comma usage: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

Re-blog for fellow writers frustrated with the poor, misunderstood comma. Next post will be on creating tension in your story.

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The struggle is real

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How Sasha DiGiulian Is Redefining Rock Climbing For Women

Growing up in Virginia, DiGiulian found her love for climbing when she began scaling walls at just 6 years old. “People thrive the best when they’re having fun and enjoying what they’re doing in that moment. And for me, that’s climbing,” she says. “I really love finding that flow and the connection with the motion, that I’m moving up the wall and really engaging all of my senses.”

Watch our full interview with DiGiulian here. 

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Friendship goals: Building 4 houses together and never leaving 

As we get older, the cold reality hits so many of us: Friendships are much more challenging to maintain. Coffee dates are replaced by the occasional FaceTime, nightly catch-ups become monthly “drinks” and group road trips morph into Instagram “likes” of each other’s vacations.

The dream? If we could all just move next door to each other and hang out together until we go gray. One group is actually doing it — and their set up is brilliant.

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Love

what’s the difference between a dirty bus stop and a lobster with breast implants ?

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20 Simple Tips to be Happy Now

Tip 1: Make happiness a priority. If happiness is not at the top of your list then other things will take precedence. If other things take precedence, they may well interfere with your efforts to feel good.

Tip 2: Make plans to be happy. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Just like in any other life domain, the successful pursuit of happiness requires planning.

Tip 3: Set happy goals. Following on from Tip 2, planning requires effective goal setting. And don’t forget to make sure your goals are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timed).

Tip 4: Do things that make you happy. Although this sounds obvious, many people simple forget to do things from which they gain pleasure. And do them as often as possible.

Tip 5: Set yourself tasks from which you’ll gain satisfaction. As well as pleasure and enjoyment, satisfaction is also an important part of happiness. So make sure that when you’re planning your tasks and activities you include things that might not be fun, but from which you’ll gain a sense of achievement.

Tip 6: Play and have fun. Don’t take life too seriously. Although we all have responsibilities there’s no reason why we can’t approach much of our lives in a playful manner. In fact, those who do so will undoubtedly be happier.

Tip 7: Identify where your strengths lie. Know where your faults and weaknesses are to avoid problems. Know where your strengths lie to be really happy and to succeed in life.

Tip 8: Utilise your strengths. Although we all can and should endeavour to improve in areas in which we’re weak there’s just as much, if not more, to be gained from focusing on the maximal utilisation of your strengths (including all your positive qualities and attributes).

Tip 9: Be curious. Constantly search for new ways to be happy. Keep a look out for new ways to approach life and to have fun.

Tip 10: Be grateful and appreciate what you have. We all have many choices in life one of which is whether to focus on all the things we don’t have (of which there might be many), or to focus on all the things we do have. There’s no doubt, that gratitude and appreciation will significantly increase your chances of experiencing happiness.

Click to see the other 20 simple tips to be happy