Top Stories
New stories you’ll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.
Why We Travel
My Story At nineteen years old I left the country for the first time — destination: Brazil. I was heading off to the Amazon River to travel on a boat for a month with a group of friends hoping to change the world. On the flight home, I knew that the one thing that had been drastically changed wasn't the world at all; it was me.
By Savannah McKinley8 years ago in Wander
On Womanhood
“You are not a woman! And you never will be!”The words hit me like a slap in the face. And their volume. The crowd at the Mexican restaurant valiantly attempted to ignore my mother, who was making a scene. “I know who you are, and I know what you are and that’s all you’ll ever be!” My demure shock turned into anger like a time lapse video of an algae bloom.“You know nothing about me! You know what I let you know, and that’s it! Don’t you ever, ever…” and just as quickly, my anger passed. I found myself standing, preparing to leave the restaurant and walk the three miles of sidewalk-less forest road home.“Sit down, son.”“Stop. Calling. Me. That.”“Why? You’re my son.” Without a word, I started toward the door. My mother grabbed me by the sleeve.“Sit down.” Her voice was far more gentle than just moments ago. I swallow my pride and sit.“What makes you think you are a woman?” She asks me.“What makes you think you are?”“I can give birth. I have. To you.”“And the other four, whoever they are.”“Don’t get snotty.”“Sorry. Do you honestly think the ability to give birth is what makes you a woman?”“Ye…”“And that said, with the anguish that this has caused in our family, between us, do you really think it’s okay for you to just rub it in my face how I’ll never have children?”“Well, not with Samantha…”“No, mom. No. The problem wasn’t just Sam. She has her own things as well, but it wasn’t just her.”“What are you saying?”“I’m saying that the reason we tried and failed…” eight times, dear reader, “to have children wasn’t solely because of her own trauma.”There was a heavy silence. The tension built. Now it was my mother’s turn to get angry.“You told me she had an IUD.”“I lied.” I said, mirroring her tone. “Sam is a survivor. I’m not going to tell you the story, it’s not table talk, but if you ever feel like finding out, you should ask her. She didn’t change her number after she split. The point is that the problem is with me.”“Oh my god, that’s what this is about! This whole transgender thing is because of Sam leaving!”I make a face. “Are you joking? How would that help?”“I don’t know, I don’t understand anything about this.”“Well, let me explain.”“I don’t want to understand.”“Understand what, mother? Me? You don’t care to understand what is happening to me? You think you know all, that you can find the appropriate Bible passage and just pray really hard and it’ll all just float away?! Why do you think I am like this?!”“I DON’T! I THINK YOU’RE TRAUMATIZED FROM YOUR DIVORCE! I THINK YOU PRETENDING TO BE A WOMAN IS ALL ABOUT NOT FEELING LONELY ANYMORE!”“I’m not. In fact, I’ve accepted that I may never find someone to share my life. And I took it gladly in exchange for not feeling the weight of my dysphoria anymore.”“Oh my GOD! YOU ARE NOT A WOMAN!”“Yes,” I hissed at her, the restaurant not even attempting to not stare, “so you have said. Very loudly.”“It’s true!” Suddenly the anger was back. As if she, by virtue of having failed to force dad to wear a condom when she was 16, knew everything. I was done.“WHAT IS A WOMAN, MOTHER?!”
By Sophia-Helene Mees de Tricht8 years ago in Viva
How to Get Rid of Pimple Scars
Every day, millions of people suffer from the frustration and shame of having pimple scars. While the battle continues on in trying to find a powerful cure that can prevent one hundred percent of breakouts, no matter the skin type, people all around the world continue to deal with this malady day after day. The embarrassment of having pimples is bad enough. Adding on the confidence busting dark spots takes embarrassment to a whole new level. Everyone wants to know the main ways to have great skin.
By Rachel Blanchard8 years ago in Blush
6 Unknown and Uncommon Signs of Depression and Anxiety
When discussing mental illness, it is easy to think of the ones commonly spoken about, depression and anxiety being two of the most talked about, since these two disorders affect as many people as they do. However, less common symptoms are often ignored by society, more so than the more common symptoms. When they aren’t ignored, these symptoms are generally looked down upon by the majority of people, even though most of these problems have a clear solution. I am going to share with you a few of these symptoms that are commonly ignored by society, and why it is important to stop ignoring them, for the sake of the sufferer.
By Rebecca Weiner8 years ago in Psyche
The Box Jellyfish
Box Jellyfish are very old, surviving for more than 500 million years. One woman named Diana Nyad, known for swimming from Cuba to Florida, was not as successful as she appears. Three of her five attempts were stopped by the horrid sting of the Box Jellyfish. Although she was hospitalized for several weeks, that determined woman fought through the blood-curdling experience of a sting. If you haven’t heard before, the Box Jellyfish are very powerful creatures, leaving you wanting to die.
By Grace Mitchell8 years ago in Petlife
Why We Need to See Slamball Come Back
I'm probably in the minority as someone who was an avid Slamball viewer. Most people who have heard of Slamball think of it as only basketball with a trampoline, but it's much more than that. Slamball emphasizes speed, precision, and power into one insanely entertaining 20-minute event. While the sport couldn't capitalize on its initial popularity in the early 2000s, it would thrive if it was brought back today.
By Jason Schwartz8 years ago in Unbalanced
5 Tips for Soon-to-Be College Students
When I first started looking to go to college I thought all these little tip lists were a bunch of crap. People just trying to get you to read so they'd get paid. Looking back, I wish I had paid a little more attention. These lists that may seem unimportant now, will be the same ones you look back on and think, "damn." So, here are my 5 tips for you high school juniors and seniors, or anyone else whose about to take the plunge into the world of college.
By Mark Smith8 years ago in Education
SKEP – Fruit Routes Summer 2018
Fruit Routes, June 2018 at Loughborough University in the U.K., was three days of events created and curated by artists and food activists Anne-Marie Culhane & Paul Conneally around food systems, food production, eating together, growing, and climate change. Fruit Routes always has a feast built into it, sometimes more than one; this year it was a Wild Tea Party called 'In Your Hands' where foraged nettle and sage tea was drunk followed by tasseography, a reading of the tea leaves.
By Paul Conneally8 years ago in Feast
10 Most Successful Car Models of All Time
In the car world, finding a design with staying power is like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow—it's downright mythical! Engineering a car model that remains popular for decades is something every brand wishes to do on a regular basis, but few actually manage to accomplish.
By Buddy Brown8 years ago in Wheel
Best Investing Apps in 2018
Investing apps are taking over the stock market and are now beginning to be cited as one of the best ways to start investing in the stock market. Truth be told, the convenience and ease-of-use they offer make these apps some of the best inventions the finance world has ever seen—and this is true, even if you're a veteran trader.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Trader
Comcast Should Keep Disney From Buying Fox
Hallelujahs were called when news hit that Disney would buy Twentieth Century Fox. Just knowing that the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be complete led fanboys to rejoice. Disney also expressed their excitement for the other franchises Fox had. Though the merger wouldn't be finalized until another year, everyone could smell the roses and green grass.
By Allen D. Lyons8 years ago in Geeks
Owning It
As I walk into class on the first day of high school, I am so nervous! I’ve got to find a seat in the front row. The other students are smiling and waving at each other as they rush around hoping to find seats close together. I stand alone just hoping to find a seat close to the teacher. I become distracted when I sense people snickering behind me. I’m not sure if the snickering is about me or someone else, so I just turn to them with a smile and a nod only pretending to know what they are saying.
By Dana Kolderup8 years ago in Photography
'Doctor Who': Revisiting "The Ice Warriors"
Doctor Who's fifth season is an interesting one. Essentially one long series of "base under siege" stories, it was the season that gave the series many of its iconic monsters. Coming smack dab in the middle of it, and just before the monster-less "The Enemy Of The World," came "The Ice Warriors." With the titular creatures still appearing in the series as recently as Peter Capaldi's final season, it's safe to say that they've become mainstays across TV and spin-off media. How does their debut story stand up after fifty-one years?
By Matthew Kresal8 years ago in Futurism
