Letter to My Future Self from a High School Senior

Dear my Future Successful Self,

Did you forget about me?  Don't forget that I was the one who got you to where you are.

I'm fairly normal as far as high school seniors go.  I'm taller than some people but shorter than most everyone else, I don't get an A+ in all my classes but I refuse to get a C, I try to fit in by being like my friends, I have a part-time job that I say I'm going to quit after every shift, and I don't like homework even though I do it anyways.

I thought about you a lot in high school these past four years.  Both times I moved, when I didn't feel accepted, when I couldn't get a date to prom.  I thought about how you wouldn't even be phased by these things so why should I, so I brushed them off.  But most of the times I thought about you actually got me very excited and happy.  The first time I wrote a short story in freshman English, when I got my license, when I committed to my college.  All these milestones got me closer to you.

I think the reason I looked to you during those times was because you were so many things.  You were a scientist, a pharmacist, an author, an elementary school teacher, a high school teacher, a special education teacher, a reporter, a journalist; all while all I was was a high school student.  I was stuck reading books about history I didn't care about, learning equations for math I was never going to use and you were doing exactly what you wanted to do.  You were so passionate and focused that you were able to do anything you set your mind to.  When you wanted to discover a drug to cure your heart disease you did that, when you wanted to change the lives of young children you did that, when you wanted to be an editor of a popular newspaper you did that.

But, even though you inspired me to do my best, I sometimes felt like I couldn't live up to you.  I felt shadowed by your achievements and what would happen if I couldn't be as good as you?  Not to mention that regardless of your successful life I want to be better than you.  But not even being able to measure up as an equal?  Would I be a failure in my eyes?  In your eyes?

This fear, and it really was, is what pushed me to be the best that I could be in high school.  Always aspiring to be more than the average high school student.  This happened, I think, without my noticing for a while.  Freshman year I was just a meek band kid who couldn't speak to people without getting nervous.  Now?

Now I'm a highly-opinionated, motivated, won't-let-anything-get-in-the-way avid reader with over 60 books on my shelf, writer of anything from novels to breaking news stories, singing dancer of mostly the Just Dance video game, actor, improv-genius, caring motherly figure to my friends and family who isn't afraid to speak in front of people about global issues and my favorite TV show at the time with an obsession for Disney, girl whose proud of who she has become with a future like yours ahead of me.

This girl that am I and you were is the one who set up your future for you.  I got you into college and chose your career path that you have hopefully stuck with.  But it's okay if you didn't.  It can just be another thing to add to the list of things that you were in my 17-year-old head.

In two weeks, when I walk across the stage and get my diploma, I will no longer be a high schooler.  I'll be an almost-college student and then soon after that a college student.  There is no going back but, I promise that I will leave you with great memories, potential, and hopefully someone as inspiring to you as you have been to me.

Sincerely Yours,
     Your High School Self

What Will Move Faster: Zika Virus or the Government?

Zika virus funds are currently being debated by the House of Representatives and the Senate.  Where the money should come from, how much should be used, and if there should be spending cuts in other areas of the budget to appropriate the fund are the main questions at hand.

After asking the House for $1.9 billion for this emergency fund in February, President Obama and his administration were asked to use $622 million of the leftover Ebola epidemic funds for the Zika fund.  Adversely the Senate voted to compromise with the Obama administration with a $1.1 billion Zika fund budget.  If history is any indication this might not get decided on very quickly.

Even though concerns for the virus reaching America grows, especially in the wake of mosquito season, the House of GOP leaders don't want to back any compromise unless the cost is offset by some sort of budget cut somewhere else.

The Republican politicians are stuck between showing that they won't bend the budget spending and fighting this dangerous virus that continues to spread into the United States.  The administration confirmed 1,200 Zika virus cases in the contiguous United States and territories, 110 of them being pregnant women.  This is particularly concerning due to the birth defects that occur because of this virus.

According to the Washington Post, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said, "When you've got an emergency situation, you really need to get funding as quickly as you possibly can.  We're running out of time."

Americans can't wait for the government to agree upon funding when the speed of this virus is dangerously faster.

The North Carolina "Bathroom Bill" Depends on Two Opposing Sides

Hours apart, two opposing complaints were filed over North Carolina's "bathroom bill" that bans transgender people from using the bathroom of the gender they identify with last Monday.  The law states that people must use the bathroom that matches the sex on their birth certificate.

The state of North Carolina states that their law "does not discriminate against transgender people or treat transgender employees differently from non-transgender employees," according to the Washington Post.  But the civil rights office of the Justice Department believes the law to violate civil rights and be about "a great deal more than just bathrooms," said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch when the lawsuit was filed.

Those who back North Carolina's "bathroom bill" say that it is to protect women from rape and sexual assault.  The Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center of the University of Michigan  identifies the myth that transgender people are more likely to rape, when in reality "there are no statistics that support the idea that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered individuals are more likely to commit sexual assault or be sex offenders than heterosexuals."

According to Rape Response Services Online, more than 50% of those who identify as transgender have been raped or sexually assaulted at some point in their life.  They are more likely to be victims of rape by heterosexual males who account for 98% of all rapists according to the Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine.

Last Monday, the legislature and governor of North Carolina sued to protect this "bathroom bill" that the U.S. Department of Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union says violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Lynch said "It was not so very long ago that states, including North Carolina, had signs above restrooms, water fountains and on public accommodations keeping people out based upon a distinction without a difference."

The Education Department said they are considering cutting North Carolina's funding of more than $4 billion because of this law.  This wouldn't be the first time the government has withheld funds due to civil rights issues.  They stopped funding many Southern states during the 1960s that refused to desegregate.

The University of North Carolina's President Margaret Spellings knows that the school cannot function without federal funding and says the University "will obey the state law without changing any policies or enforcing the bathroom requirements," according to USA Today College.

At this point two courts could take up this case.  CNN says The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina's Western Division where North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory filed the lawsuit against the Justice Department or the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina where the Justice Department filed its case against the state of North Carolina.

Gay Cyclist Puts Anti-LGBT Preacher in His Place

Gay cyclist quiets a street preacher.  Pink News.

As a Christian street preacher advocated against homosexuals outside a comic book store in Glasgow, England on Saturday a passing gay cyclist silenced him. The anti-LGBT street preacher shouted about the immortality of sexual sins and eventually got to the point where he said that gay people were going to hell.

This last remark stopped the cyclist. 

According to Pink News, the mystery cyclist said, “I’m gay! I’m gay, so say it to me."  The preacher then told the man that he "needs to repent and find God's love" to which to cyclist responded, “I love me, I don’t need a god to do it," according to Pink News. 

The nearby shoppers who had been trying to ignore the street preacher applauded the cyclist as he sped off down the street, not having to hear the homophobic sermons on his way out of the city center. 

According to Pink News the street preacher was convicted of a public order offense and tried in court. But, the judge ruled that he was not guilty on the account that he has a right to free speech. 

Disney Confirms 9 New Movie Releases by 2019

Disney shared that they've been very busy lately, even before the success of their latest film "The Jungle Book" that recently hit theaters.  They released that nine animated and live-action films are in production, all set to release through 2019.  These movies include both actors who are familiar to the big screen as well as writers and directors who are known in the world of Disney.

Here is the list of Disney movies now in production:

1) "Cruella"

A "101 Dalmations" live-action spin-off starring Emma Stone as Cruella De Vil.

2) "The Jungle Book 2"

The original director and writer from the first film, Jon Favreau and Justin Marks, are both on board to do the second film.  This sequel, although having the original just been released, is already far along in the production process.

3) "Maleficent 2"

Once again starring Angelina Jolie with the screenwriter of the first film handling the scripts this time around.

4) "A Wrinkle in Time"

Jennifer Lee's adaption of Madeleine L'Engle's book will be directed by Ava Duvernay.

5) "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms"

Directed by Lasse Hallstrom of "My Life as a Dog" and written by Ashleigh Powell.

6) "Tinker Bell"

Starring Reese Witherspoon as the spunky young fairy with Victoria Strouse, the writer of "Finding Dory," writing the script.

7) "Jungle Cruise"

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is set to be the star of this film based on the popular Disney theme park ride alongside writers John Requz and Glenn Ficarra.

8) "Dumbo"

This adaption will be directed by Tim Burton, director of "Corpse Bride" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and written by Ehren Kruger, writer of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

9) "Mary Poppins 2"

Starring Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel-Miranda, the creator of  the musical phenomenon "Hamilton", with Rob Marshall of "Chicago" directing. This film is also far along in it's production.

On top of all these new releases there is still "Finding Dory" set to release this summer and "Toy Story 4" set to release the summer of 2018 to look forward to.

Disney snagged five release dates for five of their movies but haven't released what movie goes to what date as of yet.

7/28/2017: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)
4/6/2018: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)
8/3/2018: Untitled Disney Live Action
12/25/2018: Untitled Disney Live Action
12/20/2019: Untitled Disney Fairy Tale (Live Action)

It looks like there is a lot for Disney fans to look forward to in the coming years.

Local Lynn Cat Catnapped

Franklin the cat lives in the town of Lynn, Massachusetts but isn't actually anyone's pet.  People of the town of Lynn treat him as if he is their city cat.  He visits the Pet Express on Commercial street a few times a day for canned food in between his strolls around the neighborhood.

Friday night he didn't stop by Pet Express for food, which according to store owner Rob Mellace isn't very surprising.  But, when Franklin still didn't show up the next day they got nervous.  Some of the store workers checked the security cameras only to find footage showing the five-year-old cat being taken.

"We went to the cameras and we saw clear as day, two guys come into the store, hang around for a bit, pick him up, and put him in their car," Mellace told the Boston Globe.

Lynn police found the man who owned the car that Franklin was put in, whose name has not been released.  He told police that he was the one who took Franklin, but let him go after being scratched by the cat who already had trust issues with people.

"We just want him back at this point," Mellace said to the Boston Globe.  "This is his home, and he picked it.  He rescued himself by coming to us."

Mellace worries that this catnapping will set Franklin back in trusting people since he was only just getting used to it before he was taken.

The man who took Franklin is working to find him in order to avoid criminal charges.

Mitsubishi Has Faked Mileage Data for 25 Years

Last week Mitsubishi admitted to falsifying the fuel economy of four of their cars, two of which they made for Nissan.  Since this information was released Mitsubishi has lost half of its market value.  The standards they used for the fuel economy tests were more compliant with U.S. standards than with Japanese standards by basing the tests off of high-speed highway driving rather than city driving where stopping is more common.

It's not new that Mitsubishi was faking these results because they had previously released that they had been doing it since 2002.  But this new information says that this falsification actually dates all they way back to 1991.  Japanese authorities are investigating Mitsubishi's research and development facilities in which they will report their results in three months.

This has caused the transport ministry to set up a task force to look into how other automakers test the fuel economy of their cars.

For more information go to NBC News.

Once Upon a Time Producers Want Homosexual Relationship to Be Seen as Normal

Once Upon a Time showed their support for the LGBT community in last Sunday's episode, "Ruby Slippers," with the blossoming of a romantic relationship between Ruby [Meghan Ory] and Dorothy [Teri Reeves].  After Dorothy blames Ruby for losing Toto to Zelena the two bond over shared family problems of always feeling like the outcast; Ruby being run out of her village and never finding her pack and Dorothy's family trying to commit her to a mental hospital when she returned from Oz the first time.  In order to keep Ruby safe, Dorothy faces Zelena alone only to be put under a sleeping curse which Ruby was eventually able to break with True Love's kiss.

Executive producers Adm Horowitz and Edward Kitsis tell The Hollywood Reporter, "True Love's kiss has been a staple of this show since the beginning.  This past Sunday's episode was just another example of how in a fairy tale, as in life, love is love."  But they didn't want this episode to be "the very special episode of Once," Kitsis tells Entertainment Weekly.  They wanted to show that the love between Ruby and Dorothy is no different than the love they have already portrayed between Snow and Charming or Hook and Emma.

This is the reason this episode didn't get a lot of press exposure beforehand to publicize the gay relationship.  Horowitz tells EW that they didn't want the LGBT relationship to "seem marginalized as opposed to normalized."

Kitsis tells THR, "For us, it's a love story like any other and it's something we're excited about."  Continuing with the lesson-learning theme of the show it seems that this episode's came out to be love is love.  A mantra the executive producers thought was important to portray as an example that a gay relationship is no less normal and has no less love than any of the classic fairy tale relationships we have been raised to aspire to.

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8pm on ABC.

Day of Silence

Today is the GLSEN National Day of Silence, "a student-led national event that brings attention to anit-LGBT name-calling bullying and harassment in schools" as it is stated on dayofsilence.org.

The Day of Silence started at the University of Virginia in 1996 as a response to a non-violent protest class assignment and the next year it went national with almost 100 colleges participating.  Now the movement reaches across the water to as far away as Russia and New Zealand.

Today students middle school through college are making the pledge to be silent for those who have been silenced for years due to how they identify.  The Day of Silence brings attention to the silence faced by the LGBTQ+ community and the injustices they have endured for years.

Ending the silence is the first step towards awareness.  Awareness is the first step towards addressing these injustices.  Think about the voices you ARE NOT hearing today.

#DayofSilence

To learn more about the Day of Silence and to sign up to participate click here.

How Often Do Women Actually Speak in Movies?

Apparently it's less than one would think.  Hannah Anderson and Matt Daniels of A Polygraph Joint, did "the grunt work" of gathering all the data through countless IMDB pages to show how gender is portrayed in film through the amount of dialogue used.  Anderson and Daniels point out that they realize dialogue count is not the best way to portray this but they believe it is a step in the right direction.  They say "we're now in a much better place than 'you known...women are never love-interests when they're older than 40.'"

Their collected data accounts for over 2,000 screenplays that they've broken down by gender and age.  An interesting finding was that most Disney movies were more than 60% male dialogue, including Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, Monsters Inc., and many others.  And only four Disney movies out of a 30 film sample size were found to have more than 60% female dialogue and another four were somewhat close to 50/50 give or take 10%.

When it came to the larger sample size of all 2,000 movies that they looked at spanning throughout all genres, only in 22% of the films did women have the most dialogue.

The second thing this research focused on was age.  The amount of "dialogue available to women who are over 40 years old decrease substantially" while it is the complete opposite for men.

To see the full research of Hannah Anderson and Matt Daniels click here.

The Little Mermaid Live-Action Film Announced

Another one of Disney's beloved movies is going to be making it's big screen live-action debut.  The Little Mermaid live-action adaption is going to be in production.  Last October, Chloe Grace Moretz of The Fifth Wave and if i stay announced her casting as Ariel  excitedly on Instagram.

Unfortunately, there is no news yet about who will play the other characters, such as Sebastian or Prince Eric.  But, it is believed that the film will be more heavily based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale than the Disney animated movie according to News Corp Australia Network.

Originally Sofia Coppola was signed to direct the film but she departed last summer due to creative differences with the network.  According to Slash Film, Coppola wanted no-name actress Maya Thurman-Hawke to play the mermaid, but Universal pushed for Moretz.  It was announced in December that Rebecca Thomas will be the new director for the film, most known for her work with Electrick Children. 

Currently the movie is being written by Love Actually's Richard Curtis but, there is no release date because the film has not gotten the green light from Universal Studios and Working Title.

Here Comes Gaston on Once Upon a Time

In last week's episode of ABC's Once Upon a Time Rumpelstiltskin and Belle left their relationship hanging in the balance.  Belle wasn't happy to find out that once again Rumple lied to her, became the Dark One again, and she's pregnant but might not get to keep her baby because Rumple sold his second child off long before he ever even met Belle.  Understandably that's a lot to swallow.

In next week's episode "Her Handsome Hero," Belle finds Rumple in hopes that he can protect their unborn child from Hades but, they disagree on the use of his dark magic to do it.  In comes Gaston (Wes Brown), a lover from Belle's past the night before the Ogre Wars aka the night before she left to serve Rumpelstiltskin in exchange for protection over her kingdom.  Apparently, this might not have been coincidental timing.

Hades finds Gaston in the UnderWorld (yes Gaston is dead) and convinces him to seek revenge on Rumple, the man responsible for his death.

"He killed me, I'm gonna return the favor," Gaston says in the episodes promo.  Check it out below!

Will Rumpelstiltskin survive?  Will Belle leave him for good?  Will their baby be safe?  Find out on next week's episode of Once Upon a Time "Her Handsome Hero" at 8pm this Sunday on ABC.

Woman Stabbed to Death in West Springfield

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA- A woman was stabbed Tuesday morning allegedly by her newly wed husband, in her apartment in West Springfield.  When police arrived on the scene they found that the door to the apartment was barricaded.  Once they were finally able to get it open they were attacked by a man with a kitchen knife, who was later shot to death by police.

Police were called after a neighbor "heard commotion and a female crying for help a nearby apartment,"says Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.

Once inside the apartment police "discharged their weapons, striking and injuring the male party," Gulluni says, after being attacked by the man inside.

According to Western Mass News, "police found the woman lying on the ground in  puddle of her own blood" and "she was stabbed more than two dozen times."  The man and the woman were taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield where they later died.  The officers involved were also taken to the hospital and are expected to be okay.

Neighbors say that this woman had four children with the youngest being 7 years old.

The identities of the victims have not been released as the investigation remains active and ongoing.

A Letter to Trump Supporters from His Former Top Campaign Strategist

After quitting Donald Trump's campaign team, former communications director of his campaign Stephanie Cegielski wrote an open letter to all Trump supporters.  The main reason she quit, or more accurately what finally put her over the edge to quit was a tweet Trump sent out last Sunday in response to the Pakistan Christian bombings that happened on Easter:

Cegielski first points out that he didn't even have the decency to get the facts right.  By the time he tweeted that out the correct number was 70 dead and 300 injured.

According to Cegielski, Donald Trump's intention was never to become president.  The goal was to for him to "come in second in delegate count" as a protest candidacy.  Getting on the same level as the reader she says that her support for Trump "began probably like yours did."  She liked that he wasn't bought by corporations, a "straight talker," his business background, and "wanted America to return to greatness" just like she did.  But after a year of working with his campaign team, finding out who Trump really is, made her not want to be apart of the Trump-supporting "silent majority."

She explains that the "silent majority" are those "who wanted a candidate who could be [their] voice."  But Trump is not that voice.  "He is not your voice.  He is only Trump's voice."  

Cegielski explains that Trump never planned to go all the way to the White House, only as far as second in being the Republican candidate.  And since he never planned to actually become president he is in no way prepared to run the United States of America, "which is perhaps the scariest prospect of all."  

He doesn't know policy and he won't admit it because of his ego.  The only policy he has is "building a wall and making Mexico pay for it."  Cegielski says this is only a "crowd pleaser" and not something that will make the country better.

"The hard truth is: Trump only cares about Trump," she says.  He has created a character for his candidacy rather than a real candidate.  Cegielski points out that "the problem with characters is they are the stuff of soap operas and sitcoms and reality competitions-not political legacies."

Read the full letter below:

An Open Letter to Trump Voters from His Top Strategist-Turned-Defector

Even Trump’s most trusted advisors didn’t expect him to fare this well. Almost a year ago, recruited for my public relations and public policy expertise, I sat in Trump Tower being told that the goal was to get The Donald to poll in double digits and come in second in delegate count. That was it. The Trump camp would have been satisfied to see him polling at 12% and taking second place to a candidate who might hold 50%. His candidacy was a protest candidacy.

It pains me to say, but he is the presidential equivalent of Sanjaya on American Idol. President Trump would be President Sanjaya in terms of legitimacy and authority. And I am now taking full responsibility for helping create this monster — and reaching out directly to those voters who, like me, wanted Trump to be the real deal.

My support for Trump began probably like yours did. Similar to so many other Americans, I was tired of the rhetoric in Washington. Negativity and stubbornness were at an all-time high, and the presidential prospects didn’t look promising.

In 2015, I fell in love with the idea of the protest candidate who was not bought by corporations. A man who sat in a Manhattan high-rise he had built, making waves as a straight talker with a business background, full of successes and failures, who wanted America to return to greatness.

I was sold. Last summer, I signed on as the Communications Director of the Make America Great Again Super PAC. It was still early in the Trump campaign, and we hit the ground running. His biggest competitor had more than $100 million in a Super PAC. The Jeb Bush deep pockets looked to be the biggest obstacle we faced. We seemed to be up against a steep challenge, especially since a big part of the appeal of a Trump candidacy was not being influenced by PAC money.

After the first debate, I was more anxious than ever to support Trump. The exchange with Megyn Kelly was like manna from heaven for a communications director. She appeared like yet another reporter trying to kick out the guest who wasn’t invited to the party. At the time, I felt excited for the change to the debate he could bring. I began realizing the man really resonates with the masses and would bring people to the process who had never participated before.

That was inspiring to me. It wasn’t long before every day I awoke to a buzzing phone and a shaking head because Trump had said something politically incorrect the night before. I have been around politics long enough to know that the other side will pounce on any and every opportunity to smear a candidate.

But something surprising and absolutely unexpected happened. Every other candidate misestimated the anger and outrage of the “silent majority” of Americans who are not a part of the liberal elite. So with each statement came a jump in the polls. Just when I thought we were finished, The Donald gained more popularity.

I don’t think even Trump thought he would get this far. And I don’t even know that he wanted to, which is perhaps the scariest prospect of all.

He certainly was never prepared or equipped to go all the way to the White House, but his ego has now taken over the driver’s seat, and nothing else matters. The Donald does not fail. The Donald does not have any weakness. The Donald is his own biggest enemy. A devastating terrorist attack in Pakistan targeting Christians occurred on Easter Sunday, and Trump’s response was to tweet, “Another radical Islamic attack, this time in Pakistan, targeting Christian women & children. At least 67 dead, 400 injured. I alone can solve.”

Ignoring the fact that at the time Trump tweeted this (time-stamped 4:37 p.m.) the latest news reports had already placed the number differently at 70 dead, 300 injured, take a moment to appreciate the ridiculous, cartoonish, almost childish arrogance of saying that he alone can solve. Does Trump think that he is making a cameo on Wrestlemania (yes, one of his actual credits)?

This is not how foreign policy works. For anyone. Ever. Superhero powers where “I alone can solve” problems are not real. They do not exist for Batman, for Superman, for Wrestlemania and definitely not for Donald Trump.

What was once Trump’s desire to rank second place to send a message to America and to increase his power as a businessman has nightmarishly morphed into a charade that is poised to do irreparable damage to this country if we do not stop this campaign in its tracks.

I’ll say it again: Trump never intended to be the candidate. But his pride is too out of control to stop him now. You can give Trump the biggest gift possible if you are a Trump supporter: stop supporting him.

He doesn’t want the White House. He just wants to be able to say that he could have run the White House. He’s achieved that already and then some. If there is any question, take it from someone who was recruited to help the candidate succeed, and initially very much wanted him to do so.

The hard truth is: Trump only cares about Trump. And if you are one of the disaffected voters — one of the silent majority like me — who wanted a candidate who could be your voice, I want to speak directly to you as one of his biggest advocates and supporters.

He is not that voice. He is not your voice. He is only Trump’s voice. Trump is about Trump. Not one of his many wives. Not one of his many “pieces of ass.” He is, at heart, a self-preservationist.

In fact, many people are not aware of the Trump campaign’s internal slogan, but I will tell you. It is stolen from a make-believe television presidency onThe West Wing where Martin Sheen portrayed President Bartlet. The slogan on the show amongst the idealistic group of Bartlet’s staff was “Let Bartlet Be Bartlet.”

Inside the Trump camp, the slogan became “Let Trump Be Trump.”

It is a repurposed slogan that seemed spot-on for the candidate. He is an intelligent, charismatic man who is involved in every aspect of his organization and would rather speak from the cuff than read briefing notes and recite them. I, in fact, admire Trump for this. But saying this qualifies him to be president is like saying that Seth Rogan is suited to be president. Another extraordinary improvisor, not an extraordinary presidential candidate.

Trump has undoubtedly lived up to the slogan, right down to his main public-relations liaison. Rather than go for a focus-group Washington insider, his communications person had previously taken press calls for the Trump Organization and directed them to the appropriate Trump child. She joked that before joining the campaign she thought “Common Core” was a class at Equinox.

The primary problem with this? What I’ve seen the longer I’ve helped prop him up along with the millions who are helping Trump is that we got the slogan wrong. A more accurate internal slogan would read, “Let Trump Help Trump.”

I don’t dismiss any single Trump constituent, which is why I believe it’s important to let you know that the candidate does.

I, too, think our country has gone off track in its values. I, too, think that we need a dramatic change of course. But I am, in my heart, a policy wonk and a believer in coming to the table with necessary knowledge for leading the free world.

The man does not know policy, nor does he have the humility to admit what he does not know — the most frightening position of all.

I remember watching the second Trump debate and thinking,After this, he is going to have to start hammering it home on policy; the country needs substance to make an informed decision.

I wished for it six months ago and am still waiting for it today. He had an opportunity after the terror attacks in Belgium and instead he used the opportunity to talk about closing the borders and what a mess that country had become. I was appalled that he offered no condolences or words of support; he merely gave his “build a wall” stump speech and talked about his greatness.

I felt sad for him at that moment.

And now, with the latest horrifying terror attack in Pakistan, my sadness has turned into anger.

I consider myself a part of the silent majority that led to Trump’s rise, which is why I want you to know that I am with you — I wanted Trump to be real, too.

He is not.

He even says so himself. His misogyny? That’s the character.

His presidential candidacy? That’s a character, too.

The problem with characters is they are the stuff of soap operas and sitcoms and reality competitions — not political legacies.

Trump made me believe. Until I woke up. And he has no problem abusing your support the same way he cheated hard-working men and women out of millions of dollars, for which he is now being sued.

I came into this eager to support a savvy businessman who received little outside funding. I loved Trump’s outsider status. But a year has now passed since I was first approached to become part of Team Trump.

While the pundits pontificated about what type of PR stunt Trump had up his billion-dollar sleeves, I met with people who convinced me he was serious about changing the political conversation. I wanted to raise millions for him. I wanted to contribute to millions of votes.

And as part of that support, in October, I supported the internal decision to close the Super PAC in order to position him as the quintessential non-politician. I still supported him with great passion after that. The decision to close the Super PAC was part of that devotion to his message of outsider change.

But something was shifting.

Without intending to do so, I began to hear and evaluate him more critically and skeptically as a member of the voting public rather than a communications person charged with protecting his positions.

I no longer felt that he was the leader the country was looking for, and I found myself longing — aching, really — for policy substance that went beyond building a wall and making Mexico pay for it. What were once bold — although controversial — statements now seemed to be attempts to please the crowds, not direction to lead this country to a better place. I began to realize his arrogance and isolation had taken over and were now controlling his message.

And here’s what he tapped into: the unprecedented, unbelievable anger.

Because we are all angry — and we all have a right to be. But Trump is not our champion. He would stab any one of his supporters in the back if it earned him a cent more in his pocket.

Unfortunately, the more vitriolic Trump has become, the more the people responded to him. That drove him to push the boundaries further and further.

I also started seeing a trend of incompetence and deniability.

When there was a tweet that contained an error, he would blame it on an intern; when there was a photo containing a World War II Nazi Germany background, he would blame it on an intern; when he answered questions in an overtly controversial fashion, he would claim that he did not properly hear the question. He refused to take responsibility for his actions while frequently demanding apologies from others.

Imagine Trump wronged you, even in the smallest possible way. He would go to the grave denying he had ever done anything wrong to you — ever.

Trump acts as if he’s a fictional character. But like Hercules, Donald Trump isa work of fiction.

No matter how many times he repeats it, Trump would not be the “best” at being a president, being in shape, fighting terrorism, selling steaks, and whatever other “best” claim he has made in the last 15 minutes.

He would be the best at something, though. He is the best at looking out for Donald Trump — at all costs.

Don’t let our country pay that price.

This letter originally appeared on XOJane.com

What to Expect on Tonight's Episode of Once Upon a Time

Tonight's episode, "Our Decay," will explore Hades (Greg Germann) and Zelena's (Rebecca Mader) relationship through a series of backstories before the two meet again in the present day.  

Greg Germann told The Hollywood Reporter that he's "kind of the black sheep of the family, and so is Zelena."  This then leads the two to be able to understand each other more than others because "when you meet somebody that has a past that you can identify with because of maybe the kind of pain they've suffered, you're drawn to that person."  He goes on to describe his and Zelena's relationship as starting out as "good adversaries" who learn how to use each other to each of their own unique advantages.  

This episode will be focusing more on Zelena and her relationship with Hades so Oncers will not be finding out about a lot of Hades background.  Germann reassures that more and more of Hades' backstory will be revealed as the season goes on.  But, he does give some insight into what it is that Hades ultimately wants.  He wants "the same thing we all want," which the executive producers, Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis, show very well.  It's "something that's a little more human than just two-dimensional power," he says.


To find out more about Hades and Zelena's relationship tune in tonight at 8pm on ABC for this week's episode of Once Upon a Time.

To read the full interview with Greg Germann click here!

NHS Hospital Visit: Beneficial for All Involved

Alyssa Raymond, Ginger Lucas, Kelly Austin, Emma Boland,
Rebecca Cooper, Sharlette LaPorte, Sam Muir, Grace Mchugh

March 25, 2016- Last Friday a group of eight energetic National Honor Society members spent their morning at UMASS Memorial Hospital volunteering in the pediatric wing.  This was the Tantasqua National Honor Society's second visit to the hospital so the President, Rebecca Cooper, knew how to come prepared.  She made up over twenty Easter basket-making craft kits for the volunteers to help the pediatric patients with and an Easter-themed storybook to read.  

Upon arrival four volunteers stayed in the playroom to play with the kids who could leave their rooms.  The other four got to take some craft kits, put on some protective gloves and masks, and visit some of the kids who weren't able to leave their rooms to go to the playroom.

Ironically the basket making turned out to be more difficult for the volunteers than the children.  One of the children in her hospital room was able to do it all by herself while the volunteers watched her with genuine shock because they still couldn't figure it out, according to Cooper.

Luckily, one of the veteran volunteers of the pediatric wing who had been volunteering every Friday for the past seven years saved the day with a simpler way to make the baskets in the playroom, as well as cutting out paper bunnies and ducks to color and put inside the baskets.  Not wanting to waste all the hard work their president put into the craft kits the kids and volunteers used them to make highly decorative crowns instead.  And these were a big hit with the children.

Cooper said even though it is always a challenge to bring enjoyment out of patients, the volunteers "did this very well."  They did a good job of "keeping [the patients] engaged and interested" so they would have a good experience.

Once their time with the kids was nearly over some of the volunteers noticed the parents of the children were actually taking naps while they played with the kids.  This made them realize just how big of an impact their visit had had.  Not only were they able to brighten the day of the children but also give their parents a break in a presumably stressful time.

The volunteers are so glad to have had the opportunity to bring a little joy to some of the kids, as well as give their parent a much-needed and well-deserved break.  And it was a wonderful way for them to spend their Friday morning off.

The National Honor Society will be going back to the UMASS hospital pediatric wing to read another story and do another craft with the kids this May.

Belle is Pregnant: Why You Shouldn't Be Excited Yet

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past two days, you know that Sunday night's episode of Once Upon a Time revealed that Belle is pregnant with Rumplestiltskin's child.  But, she doesn't know it yet, and that's not even the worst part.  She may never find out at all.

In a flashback we learned that while trying to save Baelfire as a child, Rumple and his wife, Mila, found a man with the magic to cure him.  But, they could not pay the price (all magic comes with a price, deary).  After Rumple could not kill the man to steal the magic, he made a deal with him.  Rumple got his magic as long as the man got Rumple's second born child.  Rumple never planned on having another child so he didn't see any problem with the deal.  But, now that Belle is pregnant it's coming back to haunt him.  And of course, Hades takes full advantage of this by having the man Rumple made the deal with sign over the contract to him so Rumple has to work for Hades or risk his and Belle's baby to be taken away.

Executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz comment on the situation to Entertainment Weekly.  "It's going to affect both of them," says Kitsis.  Horowitz adds, "At the core of their relationship is a really deep love, despite all the terrible things that have gone on between them."  When asked if Rumple may regret becoming the Dark One again now that he has a baby on the way, Kitsis replies coyly, "I would say quite the opposite."

To find out the fate of the unborn RumpBelle baby tune in to next week's episode of Once Upon a Time Sunday at 8pm on ABC.

Once Upon a Time Robin Hood Rumors Addressed

Since the ending scene of last week's Once Upon a Time episode, "Labor of Love," aired rumors have been flying about the Once Upon a Time fandom.  The scene showed Captain Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) being threatened by Hades (Greg Germann) to choose three of his friends to stay in the Underworld, one for every soul they have helped cross over to a better place.

With that on top of the rumors that Sean Maguire, who plays Robin Hood, is leaving the show, Oncers are a little on edge about who will be going back to Storybrooke.  TV Line spoke with Maguire about the rumors.  He responded, "We're going to the Underworld, so I don't expect much good stuff is going to happen!  But as to where it's going to lead [for Robin], I can't say," he said.  "There are obstacles everywhere --- a lot of bad people from the past are coming back and they are not too happy with our heroes."

This probably wasn't very comforting for Oncers to hear.  But, executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz gives them some hope when they talk to Entertainment Weekly.  "I would say that we were just picked up for another year, so the story continues," Kitsis says.  "That's like being mad in the middle of Hunger Games because she didn't win.  You've got to wait until the end of the book."  Adam Horowitz adds, "Regina's on a journey that's going to have ups and downs along the way.  We're in the middle of the story."

To find out what happens to Hook, Robin Hood, and the rest of the Once Upon a Time gang tune in Sunday at 8pm on ABC for the new episode "Devil's Due."

SeaWorld Stops the Killer Whale Breeding Program

In order to take SeaWorld in a "new direction," SeaWorld announced on Thursday that they would be ending the killer whale breeding program.  Effective immediately.

The 24 orcas currently living in the three parks in the United States will be SeaWorld's last generation.

In an op-ed article for the Los Angeles Times the president and CEO of SeaWorld, Joel Manby, said that the existing orcas will remain in captivity.  Setting them free in the wild is "not a wise option" because most of them have been in captivity for their entire lives, so "if [they] release them into the ocean, they will likely die."

According to Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute, especially since SeaWold's decision last year to stop the orca shows, this decision is "a monumental and important first step forward in achieving a more humane business model."

Happy International Women's Day!

For more information about International Women's Day visit http://www.internationalwomensday.com/  and #PledgeForParity!

Once Upon a Time Turns 100 (SPOILER ALERT)

Last night Once Upon a Time aired its 100th episode, the mid-season premiere of season 5 The Souls of the Departed.

The Once Upon a Time twitter account, @OnceABC, blew up with tweets all day and all during the premiere being taken over by  Lana Parrilla, who plays Regina.

In the episode Emma and the gang arrive in the Underworld to find that it looked a lot like a dystopian version of Storybrooke.  Many familiar faces showed themselves within the first few minutes including the blind witch, David's twin brother Prince James, Cora, and Peter Pan.

Cora warned her daughter, Regina, not to stay in the Underworld, which we later find out was a direct order from Hades himself.  She gave her a choice to leave or she would send Regina's father to hell.  Of course Regina refused to leave, she wanted to stay to help her friends.  She's come a long way since being the Evil Queen.  Cora tried to send Regina's father to hell but after completing his unfinished business in helping Regina stay off the path of darkness, he went to a better place instead.

Using a potion that allows you to talk to the dead that Rumpelstiltskin was able to get from his father Peter Pan's shop, Emma was able to talk to Hook.  Or try to anyways.  Hook was bloody and couldn't hear Emma calling to him.  He was clearly hurt.  Emma, Regina, Henry, Robin Hood, Mary Margaret, and David plan to stay in the Underworld until they find Hook and from the sounds of it try to help a few souls move on as well before they go.  Rumpelstiltskin, on the other hand, wants to leave as soon as possible.

The new episode "Labor of Love" will be out this Sunday at 8pm eastern on ABC!

Click here for a sneak peek of next week's episode!