If you didn’t get your hands on Lil Nas X’s infamous Satan Shoes, he’s got another exclusive piece of clothing for you.
This time, the singer has teamed up with French designer Jean Paul Gaultier for a limited edition shirt in celebration of his new album, Montero.
The unisex long-sleeved mesh top is decorated with an ornate image featuring a shirtless Lil Nas with angel wings surrounded by tiny winged devils. It’s design was inspired by one of Jean Paul Gaultier’s iconic ‘90s prints.
Much like the controversial Satan Shoes collab with design company MSCHF, only 666 of the Jean Paul Gaultier x Lil Nas X shirts were made. The shirt will set you back nearly $400 and is available for pre-order now.
Top Chef‘s Padma Lakshmi has been open about the fact that she gains 10 to 15 pounds while taping each season of the show. So of course, Meghan Trainor was concerned about the issue when she signed on to host the new Peacock cooking competition Top Chef: Family Style. But as Meghan tells ABC Audio, she wasn’t going to let it happen to her.
Meghan started out with two strikes against her: Not only was she required to eat delicious and fattening food every episode, but when she started hosting the show, her son Riley was just two months old. “I was [also] trying to lose my baby weight,” she tells ABC Audio. “So I was on a mission!”
“I worked out every single day before that show — and after that show, sometimes,” she reveals. “But I was the only person — I think I’m the only person in history, dare I say — to lose weight on Top Chef!
Yes, believe it or not, through diligent workouts and a nutrition plan, Meghan was able to avoid packing on the pounds while shooting the series.
“I was very excited. I kept coming in each week telling people, like, ‘We’re another pound down!'” she laughs. “So I worked very hard, and it showed me, too, like, you don’t have to be afraid of carbs and all the treats. Because if you balance it out, you can still lose weight. So I did very well!”
Top Chef: Family Style, which features kids and their relatives competing in teams, will be about halfway through its first season when Meghan’s other show, Clash of the Cover Bands, premieres on E! on October 13. She’s also working on a new album.
Earlier this month, Vanilla Fudge released a new cover of the classic 1965 Supremes hit “Stop in the Name of Love” that featured the final recording of original Fudge bassist Tim Bogert, who died of cancer in January of this year.
Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice tells ABC Audio that it was his idea to have Bogert — who had retired from the group in 2009 — record a bass part for the track, which the group had started working in in 2019.
“[When] we found out Tim was really ill…I said, ‘Let’s get Tim on this before he passes away,'” Appice recalls. “And in the January [2020], I went to L.A. and got Timmy to play on it.”
Similar to Vanilla Fudge’s 1967 hit version of The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” the group’s rendition of “Stop in the Name of Love” turns the tune into an extended, multi-part psychedelic epic.
Appice says the arrangement began with singer/keyboardist Mark Stein, with the rest of the band then pitching in ideas. Carmine notes that it was particularly special to lock in his drum parts with Bogert’s signature bass fills.
“[I]t fit like a glove,” he gushes. “It was magic.”
Along with the “Stop in the Name of Love” single, which is available now digitally and via streaming services, Vanilla Fudge released a special audio tribute to Bogert, that features the group’s surviving original members — Appice, Stein and guitarist Vince Martel — sharing recollections about Tim, soundtracked by music from the band.
Vanilla Fudge also has released a music video for “Stop in the Name of Love” that combines vintage footage and photos of the band with lava-lamp style projections that were popular at concert during the late 1960s. The clip also is dedicated to Bogert.
Crafters and scrapbookers are onto something. According to research done by the Mayo Clinic, people who regularly get crafty are less likely to suffer from age-related memory or thinking problems.
And it holds true whether you like to paint, draw, build models, sew, or scrapbook. And you can get the brain benefits even if you take up the hobby in middle age or later in life. It lowers the risk of cognitive impairment up to 73%!
All those activities protect your neurons from dying, which are the building blocks of your brain. And it works in two ways.
First, because all those activities are detail-oriented and involve problem-solving, even on a small level – so you’re giving your brain a workout.
Crafting also involves repetition, which our brain finds relaxing. And that stimulation plus stress-relief is a one-two punch that protects the brain.
So what if you’re not artsy in the least? You can get the samemental boost by attending virtual book clubs or cooking.
Our pumpkin spice obsession is real! OnePoll conducted research, asking 2,000 adults how they felt about the seasonal flavor…
And 80% are on the pumpkin spice bandwagon!
So why do we go so crazy for pumpkin spice? Catherine Franssen is a biopsychology professor at Longwood University in Virginia… and she says, it all has to do with how our brains respond to nostalgia and marketing. For example…
Just smelling pumpkin spice taps into our sense of nostalgia, because we’ve come to associate it with fall and family time. And smell is the only one of our senses that’s transmitted directly to the emotional center of the brain. So the scent becomes a portal to happy times from our past.
Another big factor is how it’s marketed. Pumpkin spice is only available for a limited time – which is an example of what’s known as “reactance theory.” Essentially, when we feel our choices – or our window of opportunity – is limited, we feel an urgency to take advantage of that freedom while it exists. So we “react” more strongly to something when we know it’ll be gone soon.
And that’s the science behind the popularity of pumpkin spice!
To get a better night’s sleep: Put down your electronic gadgets an hour before bed, and read a book instead! Here’s why:
First: You’ll be less stressed. Research at the University of Sussex found reading for just 6 minutesreduces stress by up to 68%. That’s a bigger drop than from walking, drinking hot tea, or listening to mellow music.
As a result, a survey of 1,000 people found that those who read before bed slept nearly an hour longer than non-readers, on average. In fact, nearly three-quarters of the respondents said they had a harder time falling asleep if they didn’t read something.
Part of it might be that reading tires your eyes out enough for you to fall asleep. That’s according to neurology professor, Dr. Raman Malhotra, at the Washington University Sleep Center in Missouri. Dr. Malhotra says that focusing on the words you’re reading can make your eyes feel heavy and ready for sleep.
Reading can also tire out your brain. Research shows sustained reading trains our brain to concentrate and solve complex problems. And when we’re engrossed in a story, it distracts us from the problems of the day. And when our mental energy is depleted – and our body is in a comfortable, stationary position while reading – our breathing and heart rate slow, putting us in the ideal state for sleep.
(NEW YORK) — As millions of kids head back to school this fall, “World News Tonight” has followed three incredible teachers caring for students in and outside the classroom.
In Washington D.C., Imani Baucom teaches at the Bilingual Public Charter School. She said her students’ safety comes first.
“The kids are really happy to be back… Walking to class. Masks on,” said Baucom. “We just remember to put the kids first, to put our health first, and to just take it one day at a time.”
With some students and teachers returning to in-person learning amid the pandemic, some adjustments are having to be made.
World News Tonight previously reported that Jennifer Martin, who lives outside of Austin, Texas, turned her garage into a library. With the help of “World News Tonight” viewers, she has now collected more than 4,000 books and 350 students have visited her library.
“Thanks to supporters from all over the country,” Martin said. “It’s important to continue this effort because once you grow a reader. A reader needs books to read.”
Across the country, in Livermore, California, Heidi Robinson has been going the extra mile — quite literally.
Robinson, who teaches at Marylin Avenue Elementary School, had delivered lesson plans door-to-door during the pandemic and sent her students many virtual hugs along the way.
Nearly a year and a half later, Robinson reports that the class is back together again.
“We are back in school full time! Wearing masks so we’re all very safe,” said Robinson.
Robinson said virtual hugs have been replaced with elbow bumps and she hopes that progress will only continue.
“We are so incredibly happy to be back in school,” she said. “With challenges behind us and lots of hope ahead of us.”
Janelle Monae is partnering with Martell cognac to ‘inspire others to be unapologetically themselves and create their own path.”
The Hidden Figures star is the spokesperson for the new “Soar Beyond the Expected” campaign designed to recognize “those who live life on their own terms, approach their desires with unmatched passion and manifest their personal truths.”
“I have never seen myself as just one thing, and I made sure no one else could either, by staying true to myself, making my own path, rising above expectations, and opening the door for others be their true selves,” the eight-time Grammy nominee says in an Instagram video.
Monae has successfully combined acting and music over her 15-year career. She is CEO of her Wondaland Arts Society record label, and was named Billboard‘s Trailblazer of the Year in 2018.
While inspiring others to be unapologetically themselves and create their own path, Janelle Monae stands out among the rest.” Martell commented on Instagram. “By redefining conventions and turning the world upside down,@janellemonae encourages others to soar beyond expectations and drive positive change.”
Shinedown‘s Brent Smith and Zach Myers have announced a tour with their Smith & Myers side project.
The run will kick off November 30 in Memphis, Tennessee, and will wrap up December 18 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Tickets go on sale this Friday, September 24, at 10 a.m. local time.
Smith & Myers released two albums, Volume 1 and Volume 2, last year. Both records included a mix of covers and original work.
Shinedown, meanwhile, will continue their current tour this Tuesday in Bonner Springs, Kansas. The group’s headlining run is scheduled to wrap up in October.
(NEW YORK) — The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
More than 672,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.6 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Just 63.6% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Sep 20, 5:39 pm
US records 1.1 million pediatric COVID-19 cases over past 5 weeks
The U.S. reported more than 225,000 child COVID-19 cases, marking the fourth consecutive week with over 200,000 new pediatric cases reported, according to a newly released weekly report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association.
In the last five weeks alone, the country has reported more than 1.1 million pediatric cases, according to the organizations.
“The weekly figure is now about 26 times higher than it was in June, when just 8,400 pediatric cases were reported over the span of a week,” the organizations wrote in their report.
The South accounted for about half –110,000– of last week’s pediatric cases, according to the report.
The organizations added that more than 2,200 children are hospitalized with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection.
Sep 20, 3:27 pm
NYC updates school testing, quarantine guidelines
One week after public schools opened for the new school year, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced new changes to student testing.
Starting Sept. 27, students in all grade levels will be tested weekly instead of bi-weekly. In addition, any student who is in a classroom with a positive case won’t have to quarantine if they were masked and three feet distant, according to the mayor.
“We’ve been looking at these two issues over the last few weeks. We looked at it in light of the data from the first week of school, we decided to make both of these changes simultaneously, and they do complement each other,” de Blasio said during his daily news conference.
The United Federation of Teachers had pushed the mayor to switch to weekly testing. All teachers must have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 27, as part of the city’s mandate for education employees.
Sep 20, 1:55 pm
CVS to hire 25,000 in preparation for flu season, booster shots
CVS Health is launching a major hiring spree to fill 25,000 clinical and retail jobs in preparation for an expected increase in vaccine and testing demand in the months ahead.
The move is in anticipation of the need for COVID-19 booster shots and flu vaccines.
The positions will largely be for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and nurses at their retail locations to be filled “as soon as possible,” the company announced Monday.
Pharmacy executives predict a far greater staffing need than usual this year, especially should flu season get severe and if COVID-19 boosters become authorized for more expanded groups. Pharmacies are also hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s scenes of slammed testing sites and the chaotic start to the vaccine rollout.
“Every flu season we need additional team members,” said Neela Montgomery, the executive vice president of CVS health and the president of CVS Pharmacy. “But this year we’re looking for even more. With the continued presence of COVID-19 in our communities, we’re estimating a much greater need for pharmacists, trained pharmacy technicians, nurses, and retail store associates. These jobs offer a rewarding opportunity to really make an impact on public health in our country.”
A virtual hiring event Friday will spearhead the recruiting push.
Sep 20, 12:56 pm
Booster shot recommendations still unclear, says acting FDA commissioner
There is still uncertainty and questions to be answered regarding whether all Americans will be recommended to receive booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine, said acting U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock.
Woodcock spoke with former senior White House COVID-19 response adviser Andy Slavitt on his podcast program “The Bubble” on Monday, raising questions on what the booster shots may or may not do and discussing any uncertainties that could have factored into the FDA’s decision to recommend boosters only for high-risk Americans and those over the age of 65.
Right now, the FDA does not know enough about how an additional shot will impact transmissibility or about cellular immunity and whether T-cells are protected, among other factors, Woodcock said.
“Basically the FDA decision is, do the overall benefits outweigh the potential harms for any given vaccination and that’s how to proceed,” Woodcock said. “But obviously individuals benefit from not having a transmissible virus circulating around.”
Sep 20, 12:28 pm
Average daily death count rises by 20%
In the wake of weeks of increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the U.S. is once again experiencing a surge in virus-related deaths.
The average number of deaths in the U.S. has risen to more than 1,500 per day, an increase of about 20% in the last week and nearly eight times the death average from two months ago, when the national average dropped to a near-low of 191 deaths reported each day, according to data from the CDC and the Department of Health & Human Services.
Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C. are seeing increasing case averages, while seven states are experiencing increasing hospital admissions, according to the HHS.
However, overall hospitalizations in the U.S. are down, with about 10,000 fewer patients currently hospitalized compared to three weeks ago.
About 93,000 Americans are currently hospitalized. In recent weeks, there had been more than 103,000 patients receiving care across the country.
The drop is largely attributed to plummeting figures in Florida, where there are nearly 10,000 fewer patients hospitalized now, compared to a month ago.
The presence of the virus is shifting away from states in the deep South such as Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, and further into other regions of the country that were not as hard hit in the first delta surge.
Tennessee and West Virginia currently have the country’s highest case rate, followed by Alaska, South Carolina, Wyoming, Montana and Kentucky, which all have case rates above 500 per 100,000 people.
Sep 19, 2:40 pm
The FDA booster decision shows the process worked: Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci defended the White House’s plan to provide COVID-19 vaccine booster shots before the Food and Drug Administration voted to only provide those shots to Americans 65 and older and immunocompromised.
Fauci told ABC This Week co-anchor Martha Raddatz that he was not disappointed by the panel’s decision and he thinks the process worked.
“The goal of this particular decision was to prevent people from getting serious disease who are at risk, such as the elderly and those that have underlying conditions,” he said.
When pressed whether the president’s premature announcement would confuse Americans, Fauci said that people need to understand that such decisions depend on science and approvals by the appropriate health agencies.
“The plan was that we have to be ready to do this as soon as the decision is made and when you have a plan, you put a date on it and you say we want to be able to get ready to roll out on the week of September the 20th,” he said. “So giving that date, I don’t think was confusing.”
Sep 17, 11:22 pm
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s children test positive, he tests negative
Two of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four children have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a spokesperson.
“Yesterday, two of the Governor’s children tested positive for COVID-19,” Erin Mellon, spokesperson in the governor’s office, said in a statement. “The Governor, the First Partner and their two other children have since tested negative. The family is following all COVID protocols.”
“The Newsoms continue to support masking for unvaccinated individuals indoors to stop the spread and advocate for vaccinations as the most effective way to end this pandemic,” she added.
The governor’s office did not specify which of his children tested positive but he has two sons, Hunter and Dutch, and two daughters, Montana and Brooklynn. Children under 12 are not yet eligible for the vaccine. All of his children are under 12, though Montana turns 12 on Saturday.
The week has been an eventful one for the governor. On Tuesday, Newsom survived a recall attempt with 64% of voters choosing “no.” Removing him from office would’ve taken more than 50% voting in favor of the recall. Radio host Larry Elder was the leading candidate to replace Newsom had the effort succeeded.
Sep 17, 5:32 pm
White House to hold virtual COVID-19 summit next week
The White House is planning to hold a virtual COVID-19 summit with world leaders next week, officials announced Friday.
President Joe Biden will convene the summit Wednesday amid the U.N. General Assembly, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.
The meeting will focus on “expanding and enhancing our shared efforts to defeat COVID-19,” according to Psaki, including equitable vaccine access and making therapeutics and tests more available.
More information will be available in the coming days, she said.
