Author: Matt Gilligan

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Alan Rickman’s Personal Letters Reveal He Had Some Mixed Feelings About Playing Snape

Moviegoers, co-workers, directors, and everyone enjoyed the time they spent working with Alan Rickman, watching him, or just being around him. But just because he was so well-liked doesn’t mean he had a complex personal life. Actors are emotional beings, and Rickman was no different.

Thanks to some of his personal letters coming up for auction, we’ve gotten a glimpse into his complicated feelings about playing one of his most well-known roles.

 

The collection of letters, which are part of an auction at the ABA Rare Book Fair, seem to indicate the actor struggled with how the film franchise’s directors were handling his character, beginning as early as A Chamber of Secrets, the second installment in the Harry Potter franchise.

One letter from producer David Heyman told Rickman “Thank you for making HP2 a success. I know, at times, you are frustrated but please know that you are an integral part of the films. And you are brilliant.”

Later, after filming Half-Blood Prince (the sixth film), Rickman wrote a note, titled “Inside Snape’s Head,” that seemed to indicate he was unhappy with choices made by director David Yates.

“It’s as if David Yates has decided that this is not important in the scheme of things i.e. teen audience appeal.”

He’s clearly frustrated, but about what, exactly, we may never know.

The collection does include happy notes, as well, like one from author J.K. Rowling thanking Rickman for “doing justice to my most complex character,” and one from Daniel Radcliffe, who idolized Rickman (rightfully so).

“To Alan, Thank you for all of my presents, I can’t wait to read Catcher in the Rye.”

The entire collection includes 35 boxes of diaries, photos, scripts, and other personal effects like notes from Prince Charles, Tony Blair, and Bill Clinton.

If you want to bid on it, you’d better have deep pockets – they’re expecting the whole thing to go for over $1.2 million.

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Are You Always Running Late? Here Are 8 Ways to Be on Time.

If you are ALWAYS late, then you may only vaguely know how much you’re annoying your friends, family, co-workers and bosses.

Sometimes lateness is truly out of your control, but when it starts to be a habit, it’s clear you need some strategies.

Scroll through this list of 8 tools that will get you on the road and showing up on time.

1. Never explain why you’re late.

Only apologize for the trouble your lateness caused. Soon, you’ll begin to see how many excuses you were throwing out for your constant tardiness, which can make you more aware.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

2. Think about how someone constantly being late affects you.

Late people are irritating, and that’s how people see you.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

3. Give yourself the grace of being somewhere first by at least 5 minutes.

That few minutes is a gift to give yourself. Check your email or social media on your phone with your newfound free time – or just get yourself ready for whatever it is you need to do.

Photo Credit: Pexels

4. Wake up an hour early and get a jump on your morning routine.

You’ll get to work on time and you’ll have already crossed off a few things on your to do list.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

5. Set different named alarms to prompt you through your morning routine.

That way, you’re not lingering over your breakfast or in the shower longer than you wanted.

Photo Credit: Needpix

6. Use music to get out the door on time.

Make a playlist with a song for stretching, a few songs for breakfast, some for showering and dressing and then a final energetic tune to get you on the road.

Photo Credit: Pexels

7. Add a few minutes to travel time to account for last minute searches for keys, sunglasses or your other shoe.

You’ll be grateful too for a few extra minutes to find a parking spot or wait for the train.

Photo Credit: Flickr

8. Pack your stuff up in the evening and have it ready by the door.

If you have everything ready to go the night before, then you won’t waste precious minutes searching for it.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

All of these steps are totally easy. Incorporate some of them and you’ll find life a little less hectic and a lot more productive.

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18 Funny Tweets That Might Make You Smile

Summer is almost over, so it’s time to round up the best tweets from the past season so we can make room for the autumn humor coming your way.

We think these 20 tweets definitely come out on the top of the pile!

18. There is nothing more real than this tweet.

17. And that’s what’s known as nailing it, my friends.

16. Girl you don’t want to miss that photo op.

15. This is honestly the best possible Uber experience.

14. Just laugh you don’t have to understand why.

13. I said what I said!

12. Why are you like this?

11. YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG WHAT’S THE SAFE WORD.

10. Why is this so real though?

9. Thank goodness for food delivery amirite?

8. It’s all a scam!

7. I want to see the results though.

6. Honestly one of the most refreshing things about this generation.

5. I mean at least he still feels like wagging his tail.

4. They survive by inviting a woman with a purse to come along.

3. One of the things I’m most looking forward to about parenting.

2. A picture is worth a thousand words.

1. Give me a minute, I’m dying.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for this heat to break and to order my coffee hot!

Did you have a favorite tweet from the summer? Share it in the comments!

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Should You Order Wine by the Glass?

You may only want one glass of wine, but are you getting ripped off when you order it at a bar or restaurant? After all, buying in bulk seems like a smarter idea. We certainly save money when we buy our oatmeal and cashews out of bins.

But is that how it works with restaurant wine?

Well, let’s start by looking at how restaurants price wine.

Photo Credit: Needpix

If you are worried about the mark-up on wine, then rest assured: the mark-up is huge, whether wine is priced by the glass or the bottle. A bottle of wine is probably priced at four to five times higher than its wholesale cost. The restaurant, after all, needs to make a profit.

Guess what? The food is marked up too.

Now, that’s settled. So, let’s look at the by-the-glass pricing specifically.

Photo Credit: Pexels

A restaurant can get four glasses of wine per bottle, but they might try to squeeze five. If they decide to split a mid-priced bottle, say $40, into five glasses, they are looking at charging customers $8 for each glass.

That sounds a little cheap, though. Customers may get turned off by what they think is a low quality glass of wine. They may even think the food must be low quality. So, if the restaurant charges $10 for each glass just to make it more attractive and in line with the rest of the menu, then that $40 bottle now brings in $50.

And that same bottle probably cost them about $10 wholesale. Definitely a big mark-up.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Restaurants may also employ the opposite technique, though, on a pricy bottle. Maybe they got a great deal from an obscure winery or region, or they want to serve something fancy for holiday time. So they take a wine normally priced high and serve it by the glass at less than optimal price to encourage orders. It’s market research for them. Something to think about…

Also, don’t worry about the freshness if you’re at a decent place that seems to turn their bottles frequently. A good server won’t bring you a glass of stale wine, and if it does happen, then politely send it back. This is pretty much the only good reason to send back wine, by the way.

At any rate, the whole reason for paying a bunch of money to eat at a restaurant is to enjoy the entire experience. Otherwise, you’d cook at home and drink out of a box. Order what you like, whether it’s a glass or a bottle, and don’t worry about the rest.

As long as it’s not too expensive, anyway.

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13 Pretty Big Mistakes Made by Popular Television Shows

When you’re watching TV, you expect there to be a certain level of professionalism and attention to detail, but the truth is, everyone is human – which is exactly how you get mistakes like these.

That said, it’s still a business, so someone’s head probably rolled because these errors are pretty egregious – and downright impossible to forget once you’re aware of them. So this is your warning: turn back now if you want to keep a clean slate!

13. The O.C. characters might have been a bit behind.

Image Credit: Fox

The main characters on The O.C. did their junior year of high school twice (seasons 1 and 2) and it was never acknowledged. —shannona4f5e1d132

12. Time travel on That 70’s show?

Image Credit: Fox

The timeline of That ’70s show is from May 17, 1976 to December 31, 1979. However, all eight seasons had a holiday episode which implied another year had passed. —echam4

11. Nothing takes you out of a scene faster than a microphone.

Image Credit: The WB

In Season 1, Episode 16 of Gilmore Girls, Lorelei and Rory were talking in the kitchen and a mic dropped into the screen right above the fridge. —j_call1209

10. Wow, she really got better fast.

Image Credit: The CW

In the last season of Jane the Virgin, Petra’s mother was in the hospital wearing a breathing mask in one shot and then it was gone in the next. —jamayap

9. Well that definitely needs to be investigated.

Image Credit: ABC

And in Family Matters, the youngest daughter Judy Winslow was last seen as the flower girl at her grandmother’s wedding in Season 4. For the rest of the show, the Winslows acted as if they only had ever had two children instead of three. —jmc289

8. Pretty Little Liars had some timeline…issues.

Image Credit: Freeform

In Pretty Little Liars their senior year halloween episode was season three episode 13. Their senior year Thanksgiving episode where Mona died wasn’t until season five episode 12. So according to this timeline, all those episodes between season three and season five happened in four weeks.  —ashleys4dd1f0e47

7. Pretty Little Liars again. Oops.

Image Credit: Freeform

In an episode of Pretty Little Liars, Aria answered her phone and it was clearly upside down. —madisong43ff5927f

6. Rose dated the same man (different name) twice on The Golden Girls.

Image Credit: NBC

On Golden Girls, Harold Gould played two different characters. In Season 1 he played Rose’s boyfriend, Arnie…And in Season 5 through the end of the show, he played Miles, a professor Rose dates. —khloebare

5. I thought it was just another person with their smartphone.

Image Credit: The CW

During a fight scene between Weevil and Logan from Veronica Mars, a camera operator’s elbow can clearly be seen. —brendag4d69211a5

4. Chandler was pretty forgettable in Friends.

Image Credit: NBC

Rachel met Chandler three separate times on Friends and they never remembered each other. The first was when they met while Rachel was in high school and they kissed at a party…… And then they met again in a bar during a flashback episode when Rachel is engaged to Barry……And they meet again in the pilot when Rachel runs into the cafe in her wedding dress. —alisonc477fcd75d

3. RIP Tina?

Image Credit: Fox

On That ’70s Show, Donna had a younger sister, Tina, that made an appearance once in the first season. Later in the show, Donna was referred to as an only child. —fritzmariak

2. I’m not sure if this is a brilliant or lazy way to fix a mistake.

Image Credit: ABC

During a scene in Twin Peaks, Frank Silva, a set dresser, accidentally appeared in the mirror’s reflection. David Lynch decided to keep it in and casted Silva as the creepy Bob. —brentus86

1. They don’t even go here.

Image Credit: Fox

In the Vitamin D episode of Glee, the girls from the New Directions had to compete through song against the boys. When the girls were getting the vitamins from Terri there were two extra girls standing with them who were not in the New Directions or in their performance. —haylimarie1229

I never noticed some of these, which is pretty funny in and of itself.

Do things like this bother you? Would you have noticed on your own? Let’s chat about it in the comments!

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Rob Lowe’s Sons Are Trolling Him Hilariously on Instagram

In case you need any further proof that kids and parents are essentially the same, no matter how famous they are or how much money and attention they had growing up, just check out actor Rob Lowe’s Instagram feed.

His sons, Matthew and John, enjoy poking fun at their dad’s pictures in front of all of his million or so followers… and like most kids, they really don’t seem to be sorry.

10. We thank you for your service.

Image Credit: Instagram

9. Yeah, I don’t know many kids who would.

Image Credit: Instagram

8.  Totally called him out. Ha!

Image Credit: Instagram

7. I want to cry I’m laughing so hard.

Image Credit: Instagram

6. This is priceless.

Image Credit: Instagram

5. Called. Out. Hahahahahaha.

Image Credit: Instagram

4. That’s a rough one, kid. Ouch!

Image Credit: Instagram

3. They say your kids are your biggest fan.

Image Credit: Instagram

2. How dare you not text me immediately, parent?!

Image Credit: Instagram

1. This may be my favorite thing on the internet.

Image Credit: Instagram

I love this, mostly because only families that have close, happy bonds are able to give each other crap and laugh about it – kind of gives me a warm fuzzy!

Do you have this kind of relationship with your family? Would you still troll them if they were famous? I think I definitely would!

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This Artist Uses Illustrations to Try to Tackle Some of Society’s Problems

And though there are a hundred different ways to discuss the impact of what’s wrong with the world, art is one of the most poignant and, for many people, the most relatable without being preachy.

If you’re an art lover, or someone who enjoys pretty, scathing commentary, these 18 images are going to take your breath away.

18. Well, that’s an awful image to consider.

17. Why have we let governments do this to people forever?

16. There won’t be anything else for penguins to live on, soon.

15. My heart is breaking.

14. I’d like to be able to break this addiction, myself.

13. How often do we stop and wonder what the other person is thinking?

12. And everyone loves turtles, you know?

11. Heartbreaking to think of what’s happening in the Arctic.

10. I wonder how many people would notice?

9. A few companies have recently vowed to stop these practices – about time.

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Companies get away with using cheap labor and inhumane working conditions by manufacturing their products in countries with little regulation. It‘s our job to take responsibility and be conscious buyers. If we learn that a product is made under unethical conditions then choose not to buy from that company. Although it may take more time, doing research into the sources of your food, clothing and products is a crucial step in raising awareness and promoting better labor regulations. Read more at www.huffingtonpost.com/sophia-armenkas-/wake-up-teen-consumers_b_8363126.html #iconeo #consumelocal #fairtrade #inhumane #responsibility #awareness #conscious #ecofashion #ethicalbrand #ethical #sustainableliving #sustainablefashion #fashionblogger #ecology #consuming #creativeart #creativehappylife #creativeminds #helpinghands #manufacturing #ecofriendly #humanity #savetheplanet #bekind #kindness #kindnessmatters #empathy #loveoneanother #slowfashion #ethicallymade

A post shared by Steffen Kraft aka ICONEO (@iconeo) on

8. It’s not subtle but it does make its point.

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80% of plastic in our oceans is from land sources. For example: ?Litter dropped on the street doesn‘t stay there. Rainwater and wind carries plastic waste into streams and rivers. ? Plastic you put in the bin ends up in landfill. When rubbish is being transported to landfill, plastic is often blown away because it‘s so lightweight. From there, it can eventually clutter around drains and enter rivers and the sea this way. ? Many of the products we use daily are flushed down toilets, including wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products. Microfibres are even released into waterways when we wash our clothes in the washing machine. They are too small to be filtered out by waste water plants. (source: www.wwf.org.uk) #iconeo #plasticpollution #endplasticpollution #plasticfree #plasticocean #noplastic #zerowaste #seabird #cleanoceans #oceancleanup #recycling #sustainable #sustainability #ecofriendly #ecodesign #ecofashion #singleuseplastic #stopsucking #illustrationart #oceanart #adobeillustrator #illustrationartist #illustration #contemporaryart #creativeart #wwf

A post shared by Steffen Kraft aka ICONEO (@iconeo) on

7. You wouldn’t do that, would you?

6. How much stuff do we need, really?

5. Another one that’s straight to the point.

4. They need us as much as we need them.

3. There’s more than one way to do almost everything.

2. Talk to your neighbors.

1. A literal representation of the Earth in a few short years.

 

These illustrations definitely did their job because they made me think (and also feel sad and guilty and like it’s time to do something – past time).

If you loved them, make sure and follow the artist – Steffan Kraft, who also goes by the name Iconeo – on Instagram and Facebook.

How did they make you feel? We’d love to hear about it!

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A Teenager Got Suspended for Fighting Back Against the Bullies Who Hit Him

Social media has changed bullying. I can say I’m glad it wasn’t around when I was growing up. Things are caught in video or in images, and they stick around forever. They follow you. So the 20% of students between the ages of 12-18 who are getting bullied at school are less likely to be able to escape their tormenters, even at home.

Kids who are bullied are more likely to have mental and physical health issues, are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, are more likely to struggle in school and have other general complaints about their well-being.

It’s a big deal, is what I’m saying, and while there have been steps taken by schools to make things better, the truth is, we still have a long way to go.

And after reading about this case, it’s clear we have a long way to go when it comes to treating genders fairly and equally in every situation where that’s possible.

This boy was harassed, followed, and then verbally and physically attacked by two girls as he actively tried to retreat. Once his back was against a wall (or a vending machine), he warned them that he was getting mad and he didn’t want to hurt them but if the hit him again or came any closer he would.

Image Credit: Twitter

Here’s what it says:

“So basically me and my friends talking and we hear her say that the school is dumb ass s**t for running a dance after the tragic we had this morning and my friends said that the school can we whatever they want and she didn’t like that and she said that “everyone that goes to that dance need to get shot and put into a grave” and me and my friends were like this b**ch crazy and she started yelling at my friend and I started to laugh and she said she will “smake that smile on my face” and I said ok whatever and she said “you think I’m playing games” I continued to say whatever and she was like ok after class you will see. I said ok and we got out of class and I walked out of the 2000 building and she said “hey pussy we’re are you going” I then turned around and looked at her and then she started yelling in my face and she started to get close to me and that’s when the video started. I walked backwards all the way to the vending machine and her friend dropped her bag like she was about To do something so I dropped my bad and then I continued to say back up I don’t wanna get mad and then she swung at me and then I said ” last time do not touch me” and then she started yelling in my face again as I’m still trying to get her the f**k away from me and then she swung again so then I slapped her with a open hand and then her friend grab and rips my t-shirt and I turn around and hit her, then she come back and then I hit the crazy b**ch again then a teacher split as up. What I did was f**ked up and I wish I could change it, but I didn’t want to turn my back to her and have both of them behind me so that’s why I did what I did. ”

All of this time, no one intervened. Not a teacher, not another student – no one stepped in to try to help this boy who was obviously in trouble but trying to keep it together.

He smacked the girl twice, then smacked her friend when she tried to run and grab him, too.

At that point, other students and a teacher stepped in to stop the fight, acting as if the boy was completely heinous for daring to put his hands on a woman.

Now. Fighting is wrong. It’s better to use words to resolve issues. Etc etc etc.

HOWEVER. If a woman is physically assaulting a man, and the only option left him to protect himself is to retaliate, then he should be able to do so. Women do not get a free pass because of their genitals. Those girls can’t just kick the crap out of a fellow student – literally and figuratively – because he’s a boy and he should just take it.

Also? The reaction and intervention was swift once he fought back, which means that people were watching the entire time, and just didn’t care when it was a boy on the receiving end of the torment.

I think that’s wrong.

Also, here’s an update as to how the school is handling the situation:

“Ok so there is rumors going around and I’m going to explain to everyone. All 3 of us got into trouble, it is unknown how long I’m suspended. I do not know what happened to the other girls yet and I don’t know if I will ever know. But the school is still “investigating” the fight and they do have the full video. I do not know what is taking them so long to give me a date for how long I’m outa school but I will keep everyone updated.
And when the girl yells don’t touch me ever again, I was putting my hand in between us so she can’t get any closer to me, but she keep getting closer and my hand was touching her chest and I continued to tell her to back up.”

What do you think? Am I totally off base here? Should he have tried to run away? Tucked himself into a fetal position and waited for them to go away?

Or was it okay to fight back?

I’m interested to hear your thoughts in the comments!

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Period Trackers Used by Millions of Women Are Sharing Your Sensitive Data with Facebook

A new research study showed that period tracking apps, including MIA Fem and Maya, have sent your personal information to Facebook. This not only includes when you’re on your period, but the type of contraception you use, how often you are having sex, and any PMS symptoms like mood swings.

When does the invasion of privacy stop?

Photo Credit: Pedro Sandrini, Pexels

Buzzfeed news explains:

“The data sharing with Facebook happens via Facebook’s Software Development Kit (SDK), which helps app developers incorporate particular features and collect user data so Facebook can show them targeted ads, among other functions. When a user puts personal information into an app, that information may also be sent by the SDK to Facebook.”

Great. So they know about your period because – you guessed it –advertising.

“Advertisers are often interested in people’s moods because it helps them strategically target ads to them at times they might be more likely to buy. And women who are pregnant or seeking to become pregnant are likely to change their shopping habits.”

When BuzzFeed News broke the story, the owner of the Maya app emailed a warning to BF, fighting back:

“As BuzzFeed has not been the intended recipient of the email, it should have never been shared with BuzzFeed and you as its representative,” the email said. “Considering that the unauthorized disclosure has already happened, we hereby urge you to erase all the material erroneously obtained without prevarication and delays. We shall be waiting on your confirmation of the erasure.”

“All data accessed by Maya are also essential to the proper functioning of the product. Predicting information pertaining to menstrual cycles is complex and dependent on thousands of variables,” the email added. “Location information, the significance of which is highlighted in the report, helps us triangulate regional variations in cycle lengths and thus help improve accuracy of our prediction over time.”

Right…as if a news agency that received info on a story ‘erroneously’ is required to delete the info because of its ‘erroneous’ origins. NOT.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

I mean, maybe they don’t share all your info, as they suggest, but there is residual proof that what their app collects can trigger certain ads even without specific information. Per Buzzfeed:

“MIA Fem asks users about all kinds of habits ranging from smoking to coffee consumption and tampon use. This data isn’t immediately shared with Facebook, Privacy International’s analysis found, but it enables MIA Fem to suggest articles to app users. Those articles — which are tailored to a user’s selected interests — are shared with Facebook. It also shared “reminders” within the app to take birth control medication with Facebook.”

Really what this is telling us is to read the terms of service before downloading an app. As consumers, we need to understand what information these companies are collecting. Sure, it might seem like a waste of time to read pages of legalese, but it just might save you the headache of your privacy being invaded.

Or maybe our government could step up and regulate an industry that is clearly flouting the reasonable standards of privacy that we’ve lived with in the law for generations? Or not. Whatever.

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You Might Need This 10-Step Guide to Giving Your Cat a Pill

Giving pills to any small creature, especially cats, who doesn’t understand why they need them and absolutely isn’t going to sit quietly and take them is a challenge.

To say the least.

But when it comes to fighting the inevitable, no one goes claws to the wall like an angry cat.

Image Credit: Orias1978, CC BY 2.0

And it’s not because they are against western medicine – I’ve never met an anti-vaxxer cat – they just don’t like to be made to do things against their will. Like, not at all.

So, if you’re faced with giving your beloved cat a dose of medicine for their own good, artist Nick Filippou (I iz Cat) has your back.

Or at least, he’ll make you laugh while you’re salving your vicious, vicious wounds.

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How to give a cat a pill…

A post shared by i iz cat (@iizcat) on

(Keep clicking through to see the rest)

We all know the only thing I can do is wish you luck in your endeavor, and to remind you that your cat’s health is worth the pain and suffering.

Probably.

Follow Nick on Instagram or Facebook for more fun like this!

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