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The 72 Virgins Are A Lie (And Other Things You Probably Didn't Know About Islam)

How much do you really know about the world's second-largest religion?

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Family

Mom recalls the uncomfortable moment an older man complimented her 6-year-old's appearance

When she didn't say "thank you," he accused her of having bad manners.

@yourejustliz/TikTok

“Nice is different than kind."

It might have been pretty universally accepted during our childhood for daughters to be expected to reciprocate affection from adults, whether they liked it or not. A non consensual kiss to grandparents here, a forced “thank you” there. But times have changed.

However, this change in parenting style can sometimes make for some, well, awkward or even downright uncomfortable situations as moms and dads try to advocate for this kid’s autonomy.

Recently, a mom named Liz Kindred detailed just such an incident with her six year old daughter, which has a whole lotta other parents discussing how to navigate these unideal interactions.

As she recalls in a video posted to TikTok, Kindred was waiting in line with her daughter when a grown man turned around and said “My goodness, you sure are pretty” to the child.

“My six-year-old is gorgeous, yes, but she is also very in tune and perceptive, and she's an introvert so she grabbed my leg really tight,” Kindred said.

Doubling down, the man repeated himself, saying “You sure are pretty. Look at those blue eyes,” which only made her shy daughter grab her leg harder.

Noting that being in a 12 step program has taught her to be less “knee jerk reactionary,” the mom bit her tongue and offered a polite smile to the man, hoping that would be the end of it. It wasn’t.


@yourejustliz I need to get my brows done
♬ Succession (Theme Song) - The Theme System


“He's a boomer and, God love him, he said, ‘I guess your mom didn't teach you manners.’ And I let out an uncomfortable little [chuckle], and the pause was long. It was long. And under his breath he said, ‘Guess not,’” she said.

In what she called the most ”Jesus loving way” she could muster, while still bluntly making her point, Kindred told the man "If you assume that I didn't teach my six-year-old daughter to say ‘thank you’ to a grown, consenting man when he compliments her appearance, then you would be correct."

What followed was the “longest silence” of Kindred’s life.

The video, which has been viewed over 6 million times now, prompted a ton of parents to share how their own kids have established boundaries in similar situations—with their support, of course.

“An old man called my 4 yr old daughter a sweetheart at the store…she boldly responded ‘I am NOT YOUR sweetheart!’ I was so proud,” on person recalled.

Another added, “My 3 year old says ‘NO THANK YOU MY BODY DOESN’T LIKE TAHT.’”

Still another said “My 2 yo knows the boundaries song and just starts singing that anytime someone talks to her.”

While the response to Kindred’s video was overwhelmingly positive, there were a few comments defending the man as simply being “kind.” This prompted Kindred to do a follow-up video doubling down on her decision.

In the clip, she shared how she herself has dealt with seemingly innocent compliments in her life from men, which later turned into something else. Feeling like she “didn’t have a voice” to say something, “because I’m a nice Christian, Southern girl,” Kindred ended up being in unsavory situations (she didn't explicitly say what those situations were, but it's easy enough to piece together). She doesn’t want her daughter to have the same issues.


@yourejustliz #stitch with @Liz Kindred ♬ Succession (Theme Song) - The Theme System

“Nice is different than kind. The kind thing to do is to teach our daughters and our children in this next generation that when you are uncomfortable with something you listen to your body and you set a firm boundary with that and you provide language around that. And you start that really really young.”

Yep. Well said.


This article originally appeared last year.

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Pop Culture

A 1714 violin could become the most expensive instrument ever sold

Sotheby's auction house is estimating a $12-18 million value for "Joachim-Ma" Stradivarius

Screenshot from Sotheby's YouTube video

A 1714 Stradivarius violin might become the most expensive musical instrument ever sold

A few years ago, I bought one of my dream guitars, a gold top Gibson Les Paul, after landing a sizable discount and taking on extra work to offset the remainder. I still feel guilty about it, and I’m almost afraid to play it. Good thing I don't collect rare violins.

In related news, Sotheby’s auction house could make history on Friday, selling a violin made by the renowned Antonio Stradivari in 1714—and valued at $12-18 million. If it reaches the higher range of that estimate, the "Joachim-Ma" Stradivarius would become the expensive instrument ever sold at auction. The current Guinness World Record was set in 2011, when a different Stradivarius, the "Lady Blunt," earned nearly $15.9 million.

Violin GIFGiphy

In the broader sense, a "Stradivarius" refers to any string instrument—also including violas, cellos, and guitars—made by members of the Stradivari family during the late 17th and early 18th century in the Italian town of Cremona. These instruments have become famous for their consistently high quality, commonly sought after by both musicians and high-end collectors.

The "Joachim-Ma" is a particularly notable piece, having been crafted during Antonio Stradivari’s "Golden Period," beginning around 1700. Speaking to The Associated Press, Mari-Claudia Jiménez, Sotheby’s Americas president and head of global business development, described the instrument as "the peak of his output" and "the best violin of this era."

In a video highlighting the violin, Helena Newman, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, called it "the very pinnacle of his creativity." Meanwhile, virtuoso violinist Charlie Siem demonstrates the instrument’s sound, describing how Stradivari achieved "this brilliance, this silvery quality that allows you express moments in the music—an intimate, almost vulnerability, that is magical, really." Throughout the clip, experts try to describe what makes these violins so special—from the wood to the varnish.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Regardless of its tone, the "Joachim-Ma" has a particularly notable pedigree, having been named after two of its virtuoso owners: Hungarian violinist/composer Joseph Joachim (1831-1907) and Chinese violinist/educator Si-Mon Ma (1925-2009). "Joachim purchased this instrument at the age of 18, for what was reportedly the highest price ever paid for a violin at that time, and it was his principal instrument throughout his storied career," Sotheby’s wrote in the auction details. "Joachim was a close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, and he almost certainly performed on this very instrument during the 1879 premiere of Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77."

They add that Si-Hon Ma studied with one of Joachim’s pupils at Boston’s New England Conservatory, purchased the "Joachim-Ma" in 1967, and played on it until his 2009 death. At that time, it was donated by his estate to the Conservatory, "with the provision that it could one day be sold to provide student scholarships." After years of being used individually by "several advanced students," the instrument will now help make that dream a reality, helping fund "the largest named scholarship program" in the school’s history.

The "Joachim-Ma," previously on view at Sotheby’s London and Hong Kong, is currently being exhibited through Thursday, February 6. The auction takes place Friday, February 7.

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Celebrity

Hugh Grant finally tells his Bridget Jones co-star Renée Zellweger what he always thought of her

The feeling is mutual.

Images of Hugh Grant and Renee Zellweger via Wikicommons

Hugh Grant and Renee Zellweger



love actually GIFGiphy

  1. Hugh Grant does not hold back when it comes to his opinions on anything. But in one unfortunate interview he did for Elle Magazine back in 2009, he dished on most of his female co-stars, and it wasn't pretty. He described Emma Thompson as "clever, funny, mad as a chair." Of Sandra Bullock, he said, "a genius, a German, too many dogs." He later commented that Julia Roberts' mouth was so big, he "was aware of a faint echo" when they kissed onscreen. And while Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz, and Drew Barrymore were all described as clever, stunning, or beautiful, the consensus was that they all "loathed him."

But it was his Bridget Jones's Diary co-star Renée Zellweger with whom he seemed to have the softest spot. Even when revisiting the matter on The Graham Norton Show in 2016, Hugh agreed with his original assessment that she's "delightful. Also far from sane. Very good kisser."

When pressed, Hugh jokingly said, "She is genuinely lovely, but her emails are 48 pages long. Can't understand a word of them."

Now, nine years later, Renée is returning to her Bridget Jones character, and the two reunite for a piece called "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy" for British VogueBritish Vogue. After Hugh writes an intro to the piece, where he reveals he used to have tons of questions between on-set shots for Renée—questions like "If you had to marry one of today's extras, who would it be?" and "Who is a better kisser, me or Colin Firth?" He now has a whole new slew of questions. Here are a few key things we find out:


Sad Renee Zellweger GIF by Working TitleGiphy

What did Hugh always think of Renée?

He says candidly (of course), "With a lot of other actors, you think they're really great, and then suddenly you see a little glint of steely, scary ambition, and you realize this person would trample their grandmother to get what they want in this business. But I've never seen that glint coming off you. So either it's very well disguised, or you are quite nice."

What does Renée really think of Hugh?

You're hilariously brilliant at everything you hate. And, though you hate humans, you're a very good and loyal friend. I like you very much. And I love working with you."

Love Actually Dancing GIF by PeacockTVGiphy


What did Hugh really think of her English accent?

Queen Elizabeth GIFGiphy

After discussing Renée's dialect coach, Hugh tells her that her attempt at an English accent is…"perfect."

Why does the Bridget Jones franchise remain so appealing?


Renee Zellweger Romance GIF by Bridget JonesGiphy

Hugh says, "In a nutshell, I say it's an antidote to Instagram. Instagram is telling people, especially women, 'Your life's not good enough.' It's not as good as this woman's or that woman's, making you insecure. Whereas what Helen (the writer) did with Bridget is celebrate failures, while making it funny and joyful."

Renée makes some jokes and then says, "I think maybe folks recognize themselves in her and relate to her feelings of self-doubt. Bridget is authentically herself and doesn't always get it right, but whatever her imperfections, she remains joyful and optimistic, carries on, and triumphs in her own way."

What does Hugh think of Renée's fashion?


Drunk Bridget Jones GIF by Working TitleGiphy

After asking if people in general should be a "bit more stylish," Hugh tells Renée she's "very chic." Renée pushes back with, "I'm wearing a tracksuit." To which Hugh retorts, "Yeah, but a sort of PRICEY one."

And finally, those emails:

"You have sent me the longest emails I've ever received. I can't understand a single word of them. They're written in some curious language that I can't really understand."

"No!" Renée exclaims. "If you reference something in your emails that makes me laugh…I will circle back to that. And if you've forgotten that you wrote it, I don't think I should be held accountable for that!"

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Joy

Woman praises stranger for his reaction when she asked him to be her husband at Walmart

He may have saved her life.

via Canva/Photos

A woman and her fake husband shopping at Walmart.

TikToker Julie Sivia recently found herself in a scary situation while shopping at Walmart. A creepy guy followed her around the store, even coming as close as peering over her shoulder as she shopped. So, she found a man in the store called John, wrapped her arm around him, and asked him to pretend to be her husband.

“I just want to say thank you to the man named John that I walked up to in Walmart,” she said in a video with over 800,000 views. “I grabbed your arm and told you to act like you were my husband because there was a strange guy following me.” After the two linked up, John confronted the stranger who got scared and walked the other way. Sivia was shocked at how aggressive her fake husband was in Walmart.

“He turned around and looked at that guy and asked him, ‘What the [expletive] was he following [for]?’” she remembered. “He raised his voice and that guy, God, I wish I could have caught it on video,” Sivia said in a follow-up video. “He was like, ‘No, man, no, no, no.’ And turned around and went in the opposite direction.”

John chalked up his heroic behavior to doing his husbandly duty. “Well, if I’m your husband, I have to defend you,” he told her. “And I would ask that guy why he was following my wife.” After the confrontation, John and Sivia checked out together, and he walked her back to her car. “He said he couldn’t wait to tell his wife this story, that she would appreciate it,” she said.

@jewels35_85

There r good men out there ladies that will step up and make you feel safe !! #walmart #danger #John #ThankYou

Sivia thought more women knew the technique she used to scare away the Walmart stalker. However, many women in the posts’ comments had never considered that idea. “I swear, I have never thought to do that when I didn't feel safe. Thank you for this,” Susan wrote in the comments.

To help these women out, Sivia created a follow-up video explaining the concept of “get safe,” which encouraged her to approach John. She also said that the number of good guys ready to help vastly outnumber those who aren’t safe to be around.

Warning: Graphic language.

@jewels35_85

Replying to @Susan thank you so much for leaving this comment. You are exactly who I made this video for!! The point of the video. IF U FEEL UNSAFE GET SAFE.!! #men #bear #walmart #stories

“I don't think a lot of women realize that there are safe people around you at all times. There are more people like you in your reality than sh**bags,” she said. “There are more Johns than there are sh**bag weirdo guys. And if you don't feel safe, get safe.” She also encouraged women to feel comfortable confronting people in public. “Do not be afraid to be seen. Do not be afraid to be heard. If somebody is making you uncomfortable, make them uncomfortable. Turn the spotlight right back on them.”

Sivia’s videos are important because the majority of women will, at some point in their lives, be sexually harassed by someone in public. A report published by Tulane University found that 73% of women and 24% of men have reported harassment in locations like streets, parks, beaches, gyms, stores, buses, or subways. Being harassed can cause people to panic or even freeze. By teaching tens of thousands of people a safe tactic to use when being followed in a store, Sivia may have saved countless lives.

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Humor

'Boobs and world peace'-20-year-old finds list of wishes from from her 14-year-old-self

Tween stresses hit differently.

Photo credit: Canva, Reddit

This is so sweet and so relatable.

For those of us that journaled back in our youth—have you ever cracked open one of those bad boys later in life? It’s both endearing and incredibly humbling at the same to see all your naivety immortalized in written form—from the trivial things that once upon a time felt like the most important thing EVER, to those first pains of realizing the world, and the people in it, are far from perfect.

This was the experience that one 20ish year old woman recently had when she apparently went back to her old childhood room after living overseas for a decade and finding a list of wishes made by her 14-year-old self.

Spoiler alert: it’s silly and touching all at once.

The list, which was shared on Reddit, is as follows:

“I wish I’ll get my period soon (hopefully not in public)
I wish I’ll grow boobs
I wish for world peace
I wish there's no racism
I wish there’s no such things as hobos, beggars, orphanage child or old folk’s home
I wish there’s no global warming
I wish everyone in this universe (yes, even you flies and mosquitoes) lives happily ever after
I wish friendships [weren’t] so complicated
I wish my parents [would] stop getting old
I wish I [could] watch my favorite TV show in peace WITHOUT being disturbed and insulted (you know who you are!)
I wish I will make lots of friends when I migrate to Australia
I wish I’ll never have to break up with my classmates and friends”
[OC] Found my 14 year-old self’s notebook
byu/Amazing_Ad_4007 inMadeMeSmile

There’s just so much to laugh at, and relate to, here. First off, prioritizing boobs over world peace is hilariously on point. Like, this is exactly how a journal would be shown in a teen rom-com.

But then there’s wishing for more authentic friendships and to not have to witness a parent growing older, both of which are such universally felt pains. To this latter point, one person wrote, “as an older Mom that line caught me totally off guard and I'm wiping away tears. I bet your mom and dad wished for the same thing, OP. I know I do every day.”

Another added, "I'm in my mid 30s and my partner is early 40s. Our first daughter is less than 1. This is one of my fears, especially now that we're seeing our own parents age considerably and have serious health issues. Basically, this feeling doesn't really ever go away for anyone.”

It’s really the fact that the 14-year-old’s list contains both of these elements that made it so human. Or as one comment put it, “That breakneck swing from the touching poignancy of wishing friendships weren’t complicated and parents to stop growing old, to being able to watch tv without a sibling busting your balls.”

And if you’re wondering if any of these wishes did, in fact, come true, the OP actually let us know in the comments. Australia treated her well—she didn’t "struggle to make friends’ and “most people were super friendly.” She also noted that there’s still no world peace or boobs, but she’s actually “really grateful” for the latter. However she was not grateful for her period, which did eventually come, and she “got over" her annoyance towards mosquitoes. Lastly, she grew up to realize that maybe old folks' homes aren’t such a bad thing.

And that, ladies and gentleman and everyone in between, is growing up in a nutshell. Priorities shift, attitudes change, some fears dissolve and some fears stay the same. The residue of our identities slowly gets sloughed away, and what remains becomes who we are now. At least, for now. After all, the only constant is change.

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