Author: connie lee

Categories
Events News

Women’s March On Washington Draws Large Crowd

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One day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the nation’s capital was flooded with a sea of pink hats worn by activists and protesters from around the country.

Sporting signs with slogans such as “Dump Trump” and “We want a leader,” participants of the organized Women’s March grassroots effort snaked down Washington’s streets in opposition of the new president’s ideologies and beliefs. Multiple attendees said they decided to attend to oppose President Donald Trump’s denigration of women, immigrants and minorities.

Some speakers at the five-hour rally preceding the Jan. 21 march included Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, actress America Ferrera and women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem.

“This is the upside of the downside. This is an outpouring of energy and true democracy like I have never seen in my very long life,” Steinem said to the crowd. “It is wide in age. It is deep in diversity. And remember, the constitution does not begin with ‘I the president,” it begins with ‘we the people.’”

The official number of attendees has yet to be determined, but the city’s metro system tweeted that over one million people rode the Metrorail on the day of the protest; event organizers had originally sought a permit for 200,000, according to the National Park Service’s permit application list obtained by Politico. D.C. police confirmed Jan. 22 that they had made no arrests related to the march.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SutRQt915c4

“We are marching. We are marching straight ahead toward the Washington Monument to the ellipse of the White House,” read a press statement released by the Women’s March organization during the event. Police kept the White House blocked off during the march with barricades and police cars.

Protester Lisa Wisman said she flew in by herself from Michigan after purchasing her plane tickets the week before.

“I just feel like the things that Donald Trump is doing deserve to be protested and he needs to be held accountable,” she said. “He’s made all these promises and lies and the people need to take back their ability to hold their elected officials accountable. And protesting is one of the ways that I’m doing that.”

Joe Giro said he came into the city from upstate New York with friends.

“I want my nine-month old niece to grow up in a world that’s not filled with hate, and at least…where women are accepted,” he said.

President Donald Trump did not comment during the event on Twitter, the social media outlet widely regarded as one of his favorite ways to communicate with the public. However, Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic opponent during the presidential race, used Twitter to show her support for the march.

“Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch. Important as ever. I truly believe we’re always Stronger Together,” Clinton tweeted the morning of the event.

Nearby the march, the “Bikers for Trump” group had also reserved a space in the city to hold “an event of celebrations provided by the biker community,” said R.C. Pittman, president of Florida’s Bikers For Trump.

“We’ve opened this park up to anyone who wants to celebrate with us. The women are welcome, protesters are welcome; I haven’t run anybody off. We don’t have any fences up,” he said. In front of the Bikers for Trump stage, both protesters and Trump supporters were sitting and dancing to music.

Ahad Yonus, who donned a hat emblazoned with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, said he went by the Women’s March protest to “see both sides of the spectrum.”

“Protesting is one of the rights protected by the first amendment, but I feel like the people here might not necessarily know what they’re protesting,” he said. Yonus also denounced riots that had ensued the previous day, saying “protesting is ok, our democracy is working, but that doesn’t mean set a limo on fire, go break a McDonalds and knock all the windows out.”

Following the march, the Women’s March website stated that “millions” of people around the world had participated in total, which included the simultaneous “sister marches” held in locations such as New York, NY, Chicago and Atlanta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ofCjjUz-Q

Categories
Travel

Travel Safety Tips To Take Advantage of on Your Next Trip

Being a new country can be nerve-wracking in itself, but worrying about safety can add on to the anxiety.

However, like many things, the world isn’t always as scary as some people perceive it to be. It’s important to be cautious and look after your belongings, but this applies to any place in the world. After all, every year thousands of people successfully navigate their way around the globe. In fact, many people even make a living off it!

So don’t let fear stop you from enjoying everything that the world has to offer. Here are some basic tips to help you stay safe during your travels. However, as always, use common sense. Know where police stations are and adjust your actions to whatever you think is best.

1. Research your area.

The benefits of traveling include the chance to see new places and experience new cultures. However, this can also come with new information on staying safe. Before heading off, do you research and find out where the safe parts of town are, what locals do to stay safe, etc.

In some places, there may also be people who repeatedly use the same scams to get money out of people. For example, in some parts of the world, there are fake police officers that try to extort money out of tourists by claiming that there is a tourist tax. But don’t be too scared. As long as you use your instincts, be aware of your surroundings, and choose your actions wisely you should be fine.

2. Keep some small bills readily available (or a “dummy” wallet).

If by chance someone approaches you individually and demands money, try to have a few small bills or a dummy wallet on hand. Many people don’t want to resort to violence; they only want the money. Keep the big bills hidden away and only give them the small stuff, which you should have tucked into an easily accessible pocket. To make a dummy wallet look more realistic, some people slip in old credit cards along with the cash. The same concept goes for cell phones. If you have an old phone that you no longer use, bring that with you as well.

3. Email yourself copies of your important documents.

It’s often recommended to keep extra physical copies in you backpack or purse. This is a great idea, but nowadays you can also take advantage of the Internet. Scan or take pictures of your important documents and send them to yourself. That way, if something happens to your copies, you will still have access to your documents. Many large cities have free Wifi in various cafes so it can be easy to get to them at a moment’s notice.

4. Don’t wear flashy jewelry.

This rule is common sense, but sometimes it can be hard to remember if you’re used to wearing it on a daily basis. Instead of wearing your expensive items, keep it in a safety box back at the hostel/hotel. Even better, don’t bring it at all. With all of the activities that you’ll be doing, you’ll be glad that you don’t have the extra jewelry weighing you down!

5. Divide and store your money in different locations.

To avoid paying so many international banking fees, it’s common for travelers to withdraw large amounts of cash at a time. But for your safety, don’t keep more than a few dollars in accessible places such as your pockets. The rest can go into your backpack or into a money belt. Sometimes, this can also help you spend less money. After all, sometimes just the hassle of digging for more cash is enough to stop a hasty impulse buy.

-by Connie Lee

Categories
Culture

Ways to keep up with your New Year’s resolutions

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Photo: Courtesy of Wikipedia.com

A new year means a fresh new batch of goals and resolutions.

While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself, a lot of people forget about their goals when the snow melts and the holiday leftovers are gone. Here are some tips to keep yourself going strong after the novelty has ended.

1. Set up reminders for future dates

Many times, people stop pursuing their goals just because the grind of everyday life makes them forget. To stop yourself from forgetting, try setting up reminders in advance. For instance, if your goal is to get in shape, plug in a reminder on your phone for two weeks from now. So in two weeks, you’ll receive a notification telling you to hit the gym or watch your diet. Keep doing this throughout the year to keep yourself on track. And every time you get that notification, set up the next one right away.

2. Pursue your goal with friends 

There’s nothing like having a strong support system to keep yourself going. By having other people around you with the same goal, you can create a positive atmosphere around yourself and motive others at the same time. It’s also a great excuse to meet up with your friends and have fun!

3. Get long-term subscriptions 

If you’re goal requires actively signing up for something, such as a language class, try to sign up for multiple months at a time and hang up the receipt in a prominent place. A constant reminder of the money that you spent might help you stay motivated to pursue your goals. You might also get a discount for signing up for a long-term subscription!

4. Set small step-by-step goals

If you’re overall goal is to run a marathon by the end of the year, don’t stop there. Make a list of small steps that it will take to get there. How much you start off running every week? What will your diet be? Breaking down your big goal into small steps makes it more seem more attainable and easier to follow.

5. Tell people about your goal

Tell people around you, such as your friends and family, about what you hope to achieve. This can make it seem more like a tangible, concrete goal rather than just a half-baked idea. Plus, this can expand your network of support. And if someone doesn’t believe that you can do it? Then use it to motivate you more!

-by Connie Lee

Categories
Culture

Ways to start the new year off fresh

A new year means a new start. But when you’re so busy attending holiday parties, buying gifts and getting ready to go back to work, sometimes it can feel like nothing has changed. But you can still do some small, simple things to feel fresh and ready for new things!

1. Clean out your email

It’s a small thing, but doing this can feel extremely refreshing. When you don’t have the little red notification reminding you about all those unopened emails, you can make room for a new work emails and details.

2. Connect with friends that you haven’t seen in a while

Remember your old roommates and childhood friends? With new apps and technology, you can stay connected with everyone with a press of a button! Try reaching out to people that you miss but haven’t seen in a while. Start off the year with good vibes! Hopefully this will motivate you to keep up with them throughout the year.

3. Declutter your room

Another small thing that can be significant. Take out all those old clothes that you never wear anymore and donate them to charity. This will leave you with more room and air for a fresh start.

4. Find a new meet-up group or hobby

This is a great way to make new friends and learn a new skill! Join a weekly meet-up group that will soon become a habit. With the huge amount of people in the city, there is no shortage to the amount of people you can meet.

-by Connie Lee

 

Categories
News

New Year’s Eve fireworks at Prospect Park

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Photo: Courtesy of Wikipedia.com

Want to celebrate the new year without dealing with huge crowds at Times Square?

Head over to Brooklyn for free fireworks at Prospect Park! The evening kicks off with live music and fun activities. To get a great view, make sure to stand along West Drive during the big event.

With 585 acres, Prospect Park is a beautiful area that attracts both locals and tourists. It’s well-known for its giant lake and boasts the country’s first urban audubon center.

So why not kick in the new year with something a little different?

-by Connie Lee

Categories
Dining

Ways to Spice Up Your Hot Chocolate

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Photo: Courtesy of Wikipedia.com

During the cold winter, there’s nothing better than cozying up to the fireplace with a warm cup of hot chocolate. However, instead of drinking the same thing every day, why not kick it up a notch and try something different? Here are a few ways that you can use to take your winter drink to a different level.

1. Add ice cream

This may sound counter-intuitive since the point of hot chocolate is to help warm you up. But adding a scoop of ice cream to this winter drink is a perfect way to balance between something that’s too cold or too hot. The ice cream changes the texture of the hot chocolate, making it deliciously creamy and thick. For this, try to use a flavor that goes well with chocolate, such as vanilla or, of course, chocolate!

2. Add peppermint

Peppermint is another ingredient that can help give your drink a refreshing kick! Just put in a peppermint stick, wait for it to dissolve, and enjoy the new taste of your drink. Unlike the ice cream, the peppermint stick will help the hot chocolate retain its temperature and texture.

3. Add coffee

Many people need a cup of joe in the morning, so why not use this popular drink to make your hot chocolate even better? This savory combo will keep you warm and help you wake up at the same time. Plus, it’s delicious!

4. Add maple syrup

With Christmas around the corner, you’ve probably seen the movie Elf. Well, Buddy was right-maple syrup does go with almost anything! Put some of this sticky stuff in your drink it to make it even sweeter.

5. Add hot sauce 

When we say “spice up your hot chocolate,” we really mean it! Adding just a little bit of hot sauce can do big wonders to make your hot chocolate even more flavorful.

-by Connie Lee