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Rapidly growing Laundry Love charity brings suds, faith to the laundromat to help homeless

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HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Over the long months that Victoria Mitchell lived in her car with her infant daughter, there was one bright spot in her life: doing laundry.

Every month, Mitchell would trek to a local laundromat and take advantage of Laundry Love, a growing faith-driven movement that helps those who are homeless or financially struggling by washing their dirty clothes for free.

Amid the comforting routine of fluffing and folding, volunteers befriend their patrons and often find ways to help that go beyond free soap and quarters.

Mitchell, for example, now has a job and place to live after the Laundry Love volunteers pooled their money to help her family rent a starter apartment. They have also watched her daughter Jessica grow from a newborn to a curly-haired toddler.

"You're not just checking a box to give a donation. You're spending the whole evening with these people and getting your hands dirty and it's intimate — you're doing people's laundry," said LuzAnna Figueroa, who volunteers at the group's Huntington Beach chapter and has grown close to Mitchell and her daughter.

Richard Flory, a religion expert from the University of Southern California who has studied Laundry Love extensively, said Mitchell is just one example of how the organization can profoundly impact people through something as simple as washing their clothes.

"It's an opportunity for people . to live out their faith out in a concrete way, in a frankly elegantly simple model where you do something that's necessary for people who don't have the means to do it for themselves," Flory said.

The movement began about 10 years ago with a small Christian church in Ventura, California, and has since spread to more than 100 locations throughout the country to people from all faiths.

Christian Kassoff started the Huntington Beach chapter two years ago with his wife, Shannon. On a recent warm summer night, Kassoff glanced around the laundromat and smiled at the dozens of people who depend on him and the other volunteers for clean laundry each month.

Classic hits from David Bowie and The Clash blasted through speakers as patrons pushed around wheeled metal baskets full of laundry and stuffed loads of dirty clothes — some not washed for weeks — into industrial-sized machines.

Those doing their laundry also lined up outside to eat their fill of tacos as volunteers prayed inside before starting the night's washing.

David Clarke, who has been coming to the laundromat for four months after losing his job as an aerospace machinist, estimates he's saved $200 on laundry in that time, but said he gets a lot more from the washing sessions than savings.

"These people are wonderful people. They want to know what's going on in your life," he said. "They really care about you and how you're doing."

Kassoff, his arms laced with tattoos, recalled a time in his life just over 10 years ago when he was in a similar situation to many of those who come — addicted to heroin and living in his car. At his lowest point, he said, he started attending services at his local Episcopal church.

His newfound faith, he said, saved his life and motivated him to help others in need.

"I'm not wealthy but I have the gift of time and a heart for it, so this fits," Kassoff said.

Flory said that's why the movement has taken off — the simplicity and necessity of washing clothes. The Huntington Beach chapter began as an Episcopal outreach, but now welcomes volunteers of any faith, including members of a local mosque who started showing up recently.

Juan Montes was reluctant to attend Laundry Love several months ago after a friend invited him to volunteer. He now goes every month and looks forward to the conversations he will have, even though his friend has stopped going.

"It's changed me in the way that now when I see people who are homeless, I don't see them like an object. Now their stories come to mind, names come to mind because I've had conversations with them," he said.


Fall Fashion Trends You Can Leave Behind (PHOTOS)

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With summer ending in a few weeks, we're getting ready to fill our closets with all the fall fashion trends! (Okay, well, maybe not all of them.)

Of the trends that came down the fall 2014 runways, most were wonderful -- cozy knits, mod accents, power suits -- while others, on the other hand, not so much.

From face swallowing turtlenecks to wacky headgear, the shows were full of trends that, in our opinion, were better suited for the runway than real life. To check out the seasons strangest trends, scroll through for yourself.



1. Ridiculously Oversized Turtlenecks size="4">

As seen on the runways at Gareth Pugh and The Row, these oversized turtlenecks looked like they were literally swallowing the models whole. We're not sure anyone can actually this off, except if they're Anna Dello Russo...and even she'd be pushing it. (Pictured below: Gareth Pugh, Comme Des Garcons, Peter Pilotto)

gareth pugh fall 2014

comme des garcons fall 2014

peter pilotto fall 2014


2. Crazy Headgear size="4">

Ridiculous and oversized hats were all over the runways for fall, and thanks to Pharrell Williams, who wore a mountie-like Vivienne Westwood creation to the 2014 Grammys, the trend had a moment. But we think it's better left on the runways. (Pictured below: Gareth Pugh, Manish Arora, Vivienne Westwood)

gareth pugh fall 2014

manish arora fall 2014

vivienne westwood fall 2014


3. Patchwork Fur size="4">

Fur (real or faux) can definitely look luxurious, but when you add bright colours into the mix, things can get a little out of hand. If you're going to rock a fur look, we think it's best to keep things looking natural. (Pictured below: Altuzarra, Topshop Unique, 3.1 Phillip Lim)

altuzarra fall 2014

topshop unique fall 2014

31 phillip lim fall 2014


4. Skirts Over Pants size="4">

We love layers, especially for fall, but the whole pants under skirts trend seems like a little much to us (though, we do admit, it would probably be pretty warm). But, we'll stick to pairing our skirts with tights, thank you very much. (Pictured below: Balenciaga, Kenzo, Kenzo)

balenciaga fall 2014

kenzo fall 2014

kenzo fall 2014


5. Rain Boot/ High Heel Hybridssize-"4">

Rain boots are meant to be rain boots, and heels are meant to be heels. The two should never mix, which is why we're leaving this trend behind. (Pictured below: Rag And Bone, Miu Miu, Miu Miu)

rag and bone fall 2014

miu miu fall 2014

miu miu fall 2014


6. Sheer And Bralesssize="4">

Unless you're Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus, you're probably going to want to keep your nipples covered up, especially for fall's chilly days. And don't get us wrong, we love sheer, but it's all about moderation. (Pictured Below: Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs)

marc jacobs fall 2014

givenchy fall 2014

marc jacobs fall 2014


7. Feathers size="4">

On the runway, feathers can look whimsical and fairytale-like, but when translated into real life, they're just a little too bird-like for our tastes. For that reason, we'll skip the feathers and let the models continue to make our fashion fantasies come true on the catwalk. (Pictured below: Alexander McQueen, Lanvin, Celine)

alexander mcqueen fall 2014

lanvin fall 2014

celine fall 2014


8. Muffssize="4">

In theory, muffs are great -- they keep you warm, and they're super glamourous. But in actuality, they're kind of impractical. We mean, you can't hold a purse, your phone, and your muff all at once, and you'd likely still have to wear gloves under it for extra warmth. (Pictured below: Tory Burch, BCBG Max Azria, Balenciaga)

tory burch fall 2014

bcbg fall 2014

balenciaga fall 2014


For more of the seasons trends, take a look through the gallery below:

WATCH: How To Look Good The Morning After

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We've all been there -- you wake up one morning in a bed that's not your own, and after the previous night's shenanigans, you're looking a little less than put-together.

Maybe you crashed at your BFF's after a TV marathon or had a (wink wink) late night romantic rendezvous, but either way, not having your makeup bad in tow can be one of those crises that can induce an epic meltdown.

Back-To-School Style Inspired By Our Favourite Characters

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Back to school is just around the corner, and to help you get your wardrobe ready, we've got the ultimate style inspiration.

We're huge fans of fashion throwbacks here at StyleList Canada, so this year, we suggest taking some notes from the most stylish movie and TV characters of all-time. From Cher Horowitz's all-plaid ensembles to Lindsay Weir's tomboy style, we guarantee there's an outfit to get you through the school year (or at least the first day).

Recalls this week include laptop power cords, helmets, outdoor shelters and bunk beds

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Nearly 6 million laptop power cords that can overheat and start a fire are among this week's recalled consumer products. Others include potentially faulty helmets and bunk beds.

Here's a more detailed view:

LAPTOP POWER CORDS

DETAILS: Power cords that came with HP and Compaq laptops and mini laptops. They were sold between September 2010 and June 2012 for about $500 to $1500. The cords are black and have an "LS-15" mark at the end.

WHY: The power cord can overheat and may start a fire or cause a burn hazard.

INCIDENTS: Twenty-nine reports of power cords overheating and melting or charring. Two customers said they the cord caused minor burns, and 13 said it caused minor property damage.

HOW MANY: About 5.6 million.

FOR MORE: Call Hewlett-Packard, which also makes the Compaq laptops, at 877-219-6676. Customers can also visit www.hp.com and click on "Recalls" at the bottom of the page.

HELMETS

DETAILS: NRS Chaos Side Cut helmets used for water sports, such as rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddling and canoeing. They were sold, for about $60, at Collinsville Canoe & Kayak Store, NRS, Outdoorplay, REI and other sport equipment stores around the country and online at nrs.com and aire.com from April 2014 through July 2014. The helmets are available in yellow, red, blue or white.

WHY: The rivets that hold the chin strap to the helmet can fail and cause the helmet to fall off, posing a head injury risk.

INCIDENTS: Four reports that the helmet's rivets failed. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 3,300.

FOR MORE: Call NRS at 800-635-5202, email service@nrs.com or go online at www.nrs.com and click on "Voluntary Recall" for more information. Customers can also return the helmet to where they bought it for a refund or replacement.

OUTDOOR SHELTERS

DETAILS: A multi-purpose outdoor shelter distributed by Sunjoy Industries. They were sold at BJ's Wholesale Club stores in the Northeast from January 2014 through June 2014 for about $300. The recalled tents have code number "L-GZ761PST" printed on a label sewn into the top of side panels of the canopy fabric. The fabric canopies are white and cover an area of about 20 feet by 24 feet. Sunjoy Industries and "Made in China" are printed under the barcode label on packaging.

WHY: The fabric on the canopy of the shelters doesn't comply with a voluntary flammability standard and can pose a fire hazard.

INCIDENTS: No incidents and no injuries.

HOW MANY: About 2,000.

FOR MORE: Call Sunjoy at 866-576-6569 or go online at www.sunjoydirect.com and click on "Support" and then "Recall Notification" for more.

BUNK BEDS

DETAILS: American Woodcrafters Cottage Retreat II bunk beds with a side ladder. The white bunk beds come in two styles: with space for two twin mattresses or with a twin on top and full on the bottom. The recalled beds have an SKU number "6310-9771" printed on a label in the inside of one of the four rails. They were sold at Havertys stores and online at havertys.com from September 2011 through March 2014 for between $600 and $1,000.

WHY: The bunk bed's side mattress support rails can break and may be a fall hazard.

INCIDENTS: Two reports of the bed support rails breaking and children falling from the bed. The children suffered bruising.

HOW MANY: About 1,900.

FOR MORE: Call Havertys at 888-428-3789 or go online at www.havertys.com and click on "Cottage Retreat" located under Customer Service.

CHILDREN'S SWIMWEAR JACKETS

DETAILS: Little Marc Jacobs hooded swimwear coverup jackets for girls in sizes two through 12. They are navy and have red flowers, teal leaves, a teal bunny applique and two buttons on the front. They were sold at Swimwear Anywhere Outlet, children's boutiques and other specialty retail stores around the country and online at www.swimwearanywhere.com from January to July of this year. They cost about $89. The style number "LM28616, Lot #1" is printed on the sewn-in label at back of the jackets.

WHY: The jackets have a drawstring around the neck area that can cause a strangulation risk to children.

INCIDENTS: No incidents or injuries reported.

HOW MANY: About 210.

FOR MORE: Call Swimwear Anywhere at 800-647-6335 or go online at www.swimwearanywhere.com and click on the "Recall" tab located under the links section on the bottom left side of the page.

Obama's tan suit for talk about military intervention set social media abuzz

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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Quick! What exactly did President Barack Obama say from the White House briefing room about Syria, Iraq and Ukraine while dressed in the tan suit buzzed 'round the world?

Precisely. If you get all your news from social media.

Obama's summer fashion choice, not unprecedented among presidents — himself included — was the talk of social media Thursday. It was both defended as a perfectly appropriate seasonal look and criticized as too big and wholly unpresidential for such serious subject matter.

The Twitter jeers flew: "Taupe and change," one said. Another tweeter riffed off the title of his book with "The audacity of taupe."

While Obama usually dresses in traditional power dark suits, he did don tan for Easter this year. But not while discussing possible U.S. military intervention in the Middle East.

Other presidents who have taken on tan include Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush and Dwight Eisenhower. In fact, George W. Bush had a suit that his staff called Big Brown. As in, "Oh, no, he's wearing Big Brown today."

In keeping with his times, Franklin D. Roosevelt was fond of white.

Obama's suit accompanied his telling reporters "we don't have a strategy yet" on U.S. military action in Syria against the Islamic State, a violent militant group seeking to establish dominance in the Middle East. He spoke shortly before he met with security advisers.

"The power persona? Gone in that suit," said Los Angeles image consultant Patsy Cisneros, who has worked with U.S. senators, governors and corporate executives. (She has yet to snag a president or a presidential candidate).

"Everything below his neck was blah. That's not conducive to him being listened to," she said Friday.

One person who didn't take issue with Obama's light tan suit: Steve Schmidt, the Republican strategist who helped lead Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. That would be the same campaign where the Republican National Committee spent thousands on Sarah Palin's clothes and look.

"I think it was a nice-looking suit," the blunt-talking Schmidt bellowed into the phone Friday from Park City, Utah. "Ronald Reagan used to wear brown, tan and khaki suits with some frequency, and I think he looked fine."

Of the social media flap, Schmidt added: "It just means that the director of the movie 'Idiocracy' is a genius with great foresight. As the Russians invade Ukraine and ISIS storms across the Middle East ... we're focused on the president's suit."

Obama offered a tongue-in-cheek defence of his wardrobe during a fundraiser Friday in Rhode Island.

"I kinda liked that suit yesterday," he said. "You cling to every last bit of summer that you can."

It wasn't the first fashion flurry for Obama. Granted he's the first president who's spent his entire two terms in the grips of fast-moving social media. Back in 2009, before Twitter, Facebook and other platforms were the meme beasts they are today, Obama was panned for wearing "mom jeans" when he threw the first pitch at the All-Star Game.

The message of the suit, Cisneros said, was that of the "everyman, more at the bottom of the totem pole, more of, 'I'm a team player, not the leader.'"

In Washington, Cisneros said, power is perception, vitality, presence. For a social occasion or a vacation, the light tan suit would have been perfect for the president, she added.

"Wear your beige suit in the Hamptons. It's summer time. It's your vacation," she said. "If it's a social event, lovely. We're not listening to you. We're looking at how nice you look."

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Associated Press reporter Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.

First-of-a-kind Novartis heart failure drug saves lives, cuts hospitalizations in big study

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A new study reports one of the biggest potential advances against heart failure in more than a decade — a first-of-a-kind, experimental drug that lowered the chances of death or hospitalization by about 20 per cent.

Doctors say the Novartis drug — which doesn't have a name yet — seems like one of those rare, breakthrough therapies that could quickly change care for more than half of the 6 million Americans and 24 million people worldwide with heart failure.

"This is a new day" for patients, said Dr. Clyde Yancy, cardiology chief at Northwestern University in Chicago and a former American Heart Association president.

"It's been at least a decade since we've had a breakthrough of this magnitude," said Yancy, who had no role in the study.

It involved nearly 8,500 people in 47 countries and was the largest experiment ever done in heart failure. It was paid for, designed and partly run by Novartis, based in Basel, Switzerland. Independent monitors stopped the study in April, seven months earlier than planned, when it was clear the drug was better than an older one that is standard now.

During the 27-month study, the Novartis drug cut the chances of dying of heart-related causes by 20 per cent and for any reason by 16 per cent, compared to the older drug. It also reduced the risk of being hospitalized for heart failure by 21 per cent.

"We are really excited," said one study leader, Dr. Milton Packer of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. The benefit "exceeded our original expectations."

Results were disclosed Saturday at a European Society of Cardiology conference in Barcelona and published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Novartis will seek approval for the drug — for now called LCZ696 — by the end of this year in the United States and early next year in Europe

Heart failure is the top reason older people are hospitalized, and a leading cause of death. It develops when the heart muscle weakens over time and can no longer pump effectively, often because of damage from a heart attack. Fluid can back up into the lungs and leave people gasping for breath.

The people in this study were already taking three to five medicines to control the condition. One medicine often used is an ACE inhibitor, and the study tested one of these — enalapril, sold as Vasotec and in generic form — against the Novartis drug.

The new drug is a twice-a-day pill combination of two medicines that block the effects of substances that harm the heart while also preserving ones that help protect it. One of the medicines also dilates blood vessels and allows the heart to pump more effectively.

In the study, 26.5 per cent on the older drug, enalapril, died of heart-related causes or were hospitalized for heart failure versus less than 22 per cent of those on the Novartis drug. Quality of life also was better with the experimental drug.

"We now have a way of stabilizing and managing their disease which is better than what we could offer them before," Packer said.

The new drug also seemed safe — reassuring because safety concerns doomed a couple of other promising-looking treatments over the last decade. There were more cases of too-low blood pressure and non-serious swelling beneath the skin with the Novartis drug, but more kidney problems, excess potassium in the blood and coughing with the older drug. More people on the older treatment dropped out of the study than those on the new one.

About 32 people would need to be treated with the new drug to prevent one death from heart-related causes.

"That's a favourable number," said Dr. Joseph G. Rogers, a Duke University cardiologist with no role in the study. He said the benefits were big enough that "I would switch people over" as soon as the drug is available.

The drug "may well represent a new threshold of hope" for patients, Dr. Mariell Jessup, heart failure chief at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote in a commentary in the journal. It may help "a wide spectrum of patients, even those who are currently receiving the best possible therapy."

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Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

Earthquake in California's Napa Valley highlights safety threats from wine stacks

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NAPA, Calif. - Napa Valley's seismically reinforced winery buildings generally held up to the largest earthquake to hit Northern California in a quarter-century, but the precious wine piled inside often did not.

In winery after winery, oak wine barrels stacked high and weighing more than a quarter-ton each came cascading down, renewing worries about a lightly regulated threat to safety in fault-riddled wine country.

Vintner Richard Ward, in his south Napa Valley winery in the hours after the Aug. 24 magnitude-6.0 quake to help workers re-stack barrels, was one of many to say the time of the quake — 3:20 a.m. — limited casualties.

Authorities say falling debris seriously injured three people, none apparently at wineries that were then mostly unstaffed.

Had the quake happened one day later, Ward said, gesturing as workers used forklifts to right toppled empty barrels at his Saintsbury vineyard, "this place would have been full of people" working on this year's harvest.

Napa Valley's roughly 500 wineries still are compiling financial estimates for the quake's impact, spokeswoman Cate Conniff of the Napa Valley Vintners trade group said. The most commonly reported damage was the fallen stacks of wine barrels.

The barrels each hold the equivalent of 25 cases of wine. At some wineries and wine-storage centres after the quake, spilled wine from broken barrels pooled over workers' feet and ran under doors to puddle on streets and sidewalks.

Wine barrel storage sites, which can hold thousands of barrels belonging to many owners, said they too were still assessing the loss, but numerous full wine barrels had spilled to the ground in some.

Beyond general worker safety rules, state officials say there are no specific regulations addressing wine barrel stacks, which a 2004 report by the Oakland-based Earthquake Engineer Research Institute said pose "significant threats to life and property."

In a few wineries with tasting rooms among the barrel stacks, tourists could have been in harm's way as well.

Materials in workplaces are supposed to be secured, but there are no specific state laws or regulations covering wine barrel stacks, said Peter Melton, a spokesman for the California state division of occupational safety and health.

OSHA inspectors tended to see such stack collapses as inevitable in a large temblor, Melton said, and no wineries have been cited in the latest quake. "I don't think they (barrel racks) were designed for an earthquake," he said.

Beyond the economic losses of wine, "the bigger issue is the risk to life safety is profound if it happens during the day," said Joshua Marrow, an earthquake safety specialist who has written on easing the dangers of the stacks for more than a decade.

Wineries typically use two-barrel racks to hold barrels, stacking them up to five or six high, well overhead.

After a 2006 fire heavily damaged Napa Valley Silver Oak family winery, CEO David Duncan said he heeded seismic studies written by Marrow and rebuilt winery buildings to incorporate a seemingly simple change — switching to steadier four-barrel racks, even though that required buying bigger forklifts to move them.

At Silver Oak during the latest quake, the towers of wine barrels stood, although three barrels in partially full racks fell. "Every single photograph I've seen" of collapsed barrel stacks elsewhere in wine country "were all on two-barrel racks," Duncan said.

For Silver Oak, each full barrel that stayed put and didn't break represented upward of $32,500 in wine saved.

For wine-industry colleagues who hesitate at the expense of retooling for different racks, "I tell them it's not as big an investment as having your barrels fall and crack open," Duncan said.

The danger of wobbly barrel stacks in earthquake areas has come up before, said Marrow, including after a 6.5 magnitude quake on California's Central Coast in 2003 and after a 5.2 magnitude quake in Napa County in 2000. Some Central Coast vintners began using shorter barrel stacks as a result of the 2003 quake, said Chris Taranto, spokesman for a vintners' association there.

The recession dissuaded many vintners from spending to switch to steadier stacks, however, Marrow said.

Beyond recommending four-barrel racks, Marrow and other winery seismic safety experts have pointed to ways to better hold barrels in place, such as gates added to the front of them.

Wineries also can build sturdy steel cages in rooms where barrels are stacked, so workers have someplace to run for protection if a quake starts, he said. Shorter stacks of barrels are safer than ones that reach toward the ceiling, he added.

Vintners probably would be looking at lessons learned from the Napa quake after cleaning up damage and harvesting this year's grape crop, said Michael Kaiser of the WineAmerica national trade group.

The issue isn't going to go away, Marrow said, given that the majority of California's vineyards lie in active seismic areas.

"Rolling vineyards generally were created by earthquake faults," he said.


Obama, family to attend wedding of longtime personal chef Sam Kass to MSNBC host Alex Wagner

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WASHINGTON - Here's what the Obama family had on its plate Saturday evening: the White House chef's wedding.

President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were to be among the guests at the wedding of Sam Kass, their longtime family chef and a close friend of the first family. The bride is MSNBC host Alex Wagner. She and Kass are being married at a farm-to-table restaurant in Westchester County, north of New York City.

Obama and Kass, who also serves as food policy counsellor and regular presidential golfing partner, have a strong friendship. That bond was highlighted earlier this month when Obama went to Kass' Washington apartment for dinner amid the headlines from Iraq, Ukraine and Ferguson, Missouri.

It's long been said that a president's most valuable commodity is his time. The fact that Obama spent five hours at Kass' apartment on one of the 30-something aide's final evenings as a bachelor attests to their rapport. Obama's rounds of golf are often his only other outings that last as long — and those games often include Kass.

The first couple and daughters Malia and Sasha were attending the ceremony at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Pocantico Hills, New York.

The union of Kass, 34, and Wagner, 36, also highlighted what some contend is too much togetherness between the media and the people they cover. Naturally, the guest list is expected to include staff from both the White House and the liberal-leaning cable news outlet, with people from both sides breaking bread at the same dinner table.

Kass began preparing meals for the Obamas when the family lived in Chicago. They then persuaded him to come to the White House in 2009. Now he's one of their longest-serving aides.

Besides preparing meals most weeknights, Kass is also a senior nutrition policy adviser and executive director of the first lady's anti-childhood obesity initiative.

It's not unusual for presidents to attend or participate in weddings.

Recent presidents, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, mostly attended weddings for family members.

The weddings Obama has witnessed as president were all for top aides, not family. His sister and brother-in-law where married before Obama took office; his daughters are still in middle and high school.

Last October, Obama hosted a Rose Garden wedding for Pete Souza, the president's chief official photographer.

In June 2012, Obama and his family attended the backyard wedding of the daughter of White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. The ceremony was held a block from the Obamas' home in Chicago and the Obama family walked over.

In May 2008, George W. Bush was in office when his daughter, Jenna, married at the family ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Bill Clinton was best man for his brother, Roger, in March 1994. Later that year his brother-in-law, Tony Rodham, was married.

Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, participated in the August 1984 wedding of their daughter Patti Davis. Reagan spoke one line in the ceremony, responding "Her mother and I do" when asked who would give away the bride.

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Associated Press news researcher Barbara Sambriski in New York contributed to this report.

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Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap

Spanish fashion designer Manuel Pertegaz, who dressed Audrey Hepburn, dies at 96

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MADRID - Manuel Pertegaz, one of Spain's most admired fashion designers who dressed Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy and Ava Gardner, has died. He was 96.

Pertegaz died Saturday in his hometown of Barcelona, according to Spain's education and culture minister, Jose Ignacio Wert.

Wert said in a statement that he regretted Pertegaz's passing, adding that to think of the designer was "to think of elegance."

The statement said Pertegaz had "dressed queens, princesses, actresses and countless celebrities" in a long career that took off after he opened his first shop in Barcelona at 25.

In 1953, he made his first trip to the U.S. and presented his collection in New York, Boston, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Queen Letizia chose a Pertegaz wedding dress for her marriage in 2004 to then Prince Felipe.

Obama family together for wedding of longtime personal chef Sam Kass to Alex Wagner of MSNBC

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POCANTICO HILLS, N.Y. - President Barack Obama on Saturday temporarily set aside the pressures of trying to calm the world's trouble spots and assumed the role of spectator for something more joyous: the wedding of the Obama family's longtime chef and friend.

Chef Sam Kass and MSNBC host Alex Wagner were tying the knot at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, a farm-to-table restaurant in Pocantico Hills, just north of New York City.

Obama and Kass have a close relationship, which Obama highlighted earlier this month by spending several hours at dinner at Kass' apartment amid the turmoil in Iraq, Ukraine and Ferguson, Missouri.

It's long been said that time is a president's most precious commodity. That Obama would spend five hours at Kass' home on one of the aide's final evenings as a bachelor was a testament to their bond.

Obama's rounds of golf are often his only other outings that last as long — and those games sometimes include Kass.

Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, attended the ceremony and reception at the restaurant, which is a favourite of both Kass and Mrs. Obama. The first lady hosted the spouses of world leaders there in 2010.

Obama wore a dark suit, and Mrs. Obama and their daughters each wore sleeveless black dresses. The first family spent about six hours at the wedding. Obama had no known role, other than to give his best to the bride and groom.

The union of Kass, 34, and Wagner, 36, also served to highlight what some contend is too much togetherness between the media and the people they report on. Naturally, the guest list was expected to include staff from both the White House and the liberal-leaning cable news outlet, with people from both sides breaking bread at the same dinner table.

Kass began preparing meals for the Obamas when the family lived in Chicago and the Obamas persuaded him to join them at the White House. He is now among the Obamas' longest-serving aides.

Besides preparing the family's meals most weeknights, Kass also serves as senior nutrition policy adviser and executive director of the first lady's anti-childhood obesity initiative.

It's not unusual for presidents, including Obama, to attend or participate in weddings.

Obama hosted a Rose Garden wedding last October for Pete Souza, the president's chief official photographer.

In June 2012, Obama, his wife, daughters and mother-in-law attended the Chicago wedding of the daughter of White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett.

In May 2008, George W. Bush was in office when his daughter, Jenna, married at the family ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Bill Clinton was best man for his brother, Roger, in March 1994.

Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, participated in the August 1984 wedding of their daughter Patti Davis. Reagan spoke one line in the ceremony. He responded "Her mother and I do" when asked who would give away the bride.

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Associated Press news researcher Barbara Sambriski in New York contributed to this report.

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Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap

For gamers, combating online abuse remains a difficult, emotional mission

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SEATTLE - While most attendees of Penny Arcade Expo come to the boisterous convention to play games, bag swag and meet like-minded people, a few take the time to investigate online bullying and why it's so prevalent among the gaming community.

Therapist Stacey Weber, herself a gamer, is a bit mystified.

"It just doesn't make sense," said Weber, who was part of a Saturday talk at PAX Prime called "Not Us, Not Here: Examining Bullying, Harassment and Misogyny."

"When we pick up our games, we delve into these whole new worlds where there's a multitude of various species and ways of being," Weber said. "Difference is the norm, so how come this community seems so intolerant of difference?"

The discussion at the four-day, sold-out convention, which ends Monday and is expected to draw about 85,000 gamers, follows a week of several reports of online harassment of developers and personalities in the gaming community.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the recent conflict is showing us there's a lot of work left to be done," Weber said.

Weber points to research that shows online taunting, popular in "Call of Duty," ''Halo," and other shoot-'em-up games, may come from bullies who enjoy the online anonymity while seeking to reduce their own anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. She said such abuse is no different whether it occurs on the playground or the virtual battlefield.

"The quadrants of harassment don't change from the physical space to the digital space," said therapist Joshua Neal, who joined Weber for the discussion. "The effects are the same."

Neal said that because anonymity is common on the Internet, online activity can become a "fantasyland" for people seeking to spread negativity with fewer repercussions.

He implored PAX Prime attendees to be mindful of the language they use while playing games.

"When our speech directly harms marginalized communities, I think that's something we can stand up for needing to reduce and stop," he said. "Individually, we can parse that stuff out. If we're using misogynistic, homophobic or racist remarks, that has a real impact on stereotypes that get perpetuated in communities where we can see damage occurring."

Despite developers and publishers taking steps to stymie abuse, the name calling, sexual harassment and "swatting" — when a person anonymously files a false police report — continue to persist in the gaming world.

Weber and Neal told PAX Prime attendees that if they observe abuse online, the best response is to show empathy not only toward the person targeted but also toward the tormenters because that might provide them an opportunity to recognize and correct their bad behaviour.

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Online:

http://prime.paxsite.com

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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang .

As states liberalize marijuana laws, will toking before driving boost highway deaths?

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WASHINGTON - As states liberalize their marijuana laws, public officials and safety advocates worry that more drivers high on pot will lead to a big increase in traffic deaths. Researchers, though, are divided on the question.

Studies of marijuana's effects show that the drug can slow decision-making, decrease peripheral vision and impede multitasking, all of which are critical driving skills. But unlike with alcohol, drivers high on pot tend to be aware that they are impaired and try to compensate by driving slowly, avoiding risky actions such as passing other cars, and allowing extra room between vehicles.

On the other hand, combining marijuana with alcohol appears to eliminate the pot smoker's exaggerated caution and seems to increase driving impairment beyond the effects of either substance alone.

"We see the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington as a wake-up call for all of us in highway safety," said Jonathan Adkins, executive director of Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway safety offices.

"We don't know enough about the scope of marijuana-impaired driving to call it a big or small problem. But anytime a driver has their ability impaired, it is a problem."

Colorado and Washington are the only states that allow retail sales of marijuana for recreational use. Efforts to legalize recreational marijuana are underway in Alaska, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and the District of Columbia. Twenty-three states and the nation's capital permit marijuana use for medical purposes.

It is illegal in all states to drive while impaired by marijuana.

Colorado, Washington and Montana have set an intoxication threshold of 5 parts per billion of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in pot, in the blood. A few other states have set intoxication thresholds, but most have not set a specific level. In Washington, there was a jump of nearly 25 per cent in drivers testing positive for marijuana in 2013 — the first full year after legalization — but no corresponding increase in car accidents or fatalities.

What worries highway safety experts are cases like that of New York teenager Joseph Beer, who in October 2012 smoked marijuana, climbed into a Subaru Impreza with four friends and drove more than 100 mph before losing control. The car crashed into trees with such force that the vehicle split in half, killing his friends.

Beer pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and was sentenced last week to 5 years to 15 years in prison.

A prosecutor blamed the crash on "speed and weed," but a Yale University Medical School expert on drug abuse who testified at the trial said studies of marijuana and crash risk are "highly inconclusive." Some studies show a two- or three-fold increase, while others show none, said Dr. Mehmet Sofuoglu. Some studies even showed less risk if someone was marijuana positive, he testified.

Teenage boys and young men are the most likely drivers to smoke pot and the most likely drivers to have an accident regardless of whether they're high, he said.

"Being a teenager, a male teenager, and being involved in reckless behaviour could explain both at the same time — not necessarily marijuana causing getting into accidents, but a general reckless behaviour leading to both conditions at the same time," he told jurors.

In 2012, just over 10 per cent of high school seniors said they had smoked pot before driving at least once in the prior two weeks, according to Monitoring the Future, an annual University of Michigan survey of 50,000 middle and high school students. Nearly twice as many male students as female students said they had smoked marijuana before driving.

A roadside survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2007 found 8.6 per cent of drivers tested positive for THC, but it's not possible to say how many were high at the time because drivers were tested only for the presence of drugs, not the amount.

A marijuana high generally peaks within a half hour and dissipates within three hours, but THC can linger for days in the bodies of habitual smokers.

Inexperienced pot smokers are likely to be more impaired than habitual smokers, who develop a tolerance. Some studies show virtually no driving impairment in habitual smokers.

Two recent studies that used similar data to assess crash risk came to opposite conclusions.

Columbia University researchers compared drivers who tested positive for marijuana in the roadside survey with state drug and alcohol tests of drivers killed in crashes. They found that marijuana alone increased the likelihood of being involved in a fatal crash by 80 per cent.

But because the study included states where not all drivers are tested for alcohol and drugs, a majority of drivers in fatal crashes were excluded, possibly skewing the results. Also, the use of urine tests rather than blood tests in some cases may overestimate marijuana use and impairment.

A Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation study used the roadside survey and data from nine states that test more than 80 per cent of drivers killed in crashes. When adjusted for alcohol and driver demographics, the study found that otherwise sober drivers who tested positive for marijuana were slightly less likely to have been involved in a crash than drivers who tested negative for all drugs.

"We were expecting a huge impact," said Eduardo Romano, lead author of the study, "and when we looked at the data from crashes we're not seeing that much." But Romano said his study may slightly underestimate the risk and that marijuana may lead to accidents caused by distraction.

Many states do not test drivers involved in a fatal crash for drugs unless there is reason to suspect impairment. Even if impairment is suspected, if the driver tests positive for alcohol, there may be no further testing because alcohol alone may be enough to bring criminal charges. Testing procedures also vary from state to state.

"If states legalize marijuana, they must set clear limits for impairment behind the wheel and require mandatory drug testing following a crash," said Deborah Hersman, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. "Right now we have a patchwork system across the nation regarding mandatory drug testing following highway crashes."

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Online:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration marijuana fact sheet http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/job185drugs/cannabis.htm

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Follow Joan Lowy on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/AP_Joan_Lowy

A chronology of major events in the right-to-die debate in Canada

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A chronology of the major events in the right-to-die debate:

January 1992 - Quebec Superior Court rules in case of Nancy B. that turning off her respirator at her request would not be a criminal offence.

August 1992 - Toronto nurse Scott Mataya, charged with first-degree murder is death of a terminally ill patient, entered guilty plea to a lesser charge of administering a noxious substance. He receives a suspended sentence and must surrender his nursing licence.

1992 - Sue Rodriguez, a Victoria woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), files a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court challenging the laws against assisted suicide. The B.C. court upholds the law.

Sept. 30, 1993 - In a 5-4 decision, Supreme Court of Canada dismisses Rodriguez's appeal, upholding the blanket ban on assisted death.

Feb. 12, 1994 - Sue Rodriguez dies in her Victoria home with the help of an anonymous doctor.

May 6, 1997 - Halifax's Dr. Nancy Morrison charged with first-degree murder in the death of a terminally ill cancer patient. In February 1998, a judge declined to commit Morrison to stand trial.

1997 - Oregon passes a bill allowing doctors to prescribe life-ending doses of medication to terminally ill patients.

May 1998 - Dr. Maurice Généreux sentenced to two years less a day and three years’ probation for providing drugs to two non-terminal patients so they might commit suicide. The next year, that sentence was confirmed by the Ontario Court of Appeal.

April 2002 - Netherlands becomes the first country to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

September 2002 - Belgium allows euthanasia.

Sept. 28, 2004 - Marielle Houle charged in Montreal with aiding and abetting the suicide of her 36-year-old son. On Jan. 23, 2006, she pled guilty and was sentenced to three years’ probation with conditions.

Nov 5, 2004 - A B.C. court acquitted Evelyn Martens, 73 and a member of the Right to Die Society of Canada, of aiding and abetting the suicide of two women in 2002.

June 2007 - A B.C. court sentenced Dr. Ramesh Kumar Sharma for aiding the suicide of Ruth Wolfe, a 93-year-old woman suffering from heart problems, by prescribing her a deadly dose of drugs. He received a conditional sentence of two years less a day and his licence was revoked.

Feb. 19, 2008 - Luxembourg legalizes euthanasia.

June 15, 2012 - B.C. Supreme Court finds that Criminal Code provisions preventing physician-assisted death contravene charter equality rights in case brought by Gloria Taylor.

Oct. 10, 2013 - Appeal Court overturns decision.

Oct. 25, 2013 - B.C. Civil Liberties files leave to appeal to Supreme Court of Canada.

February 2014 - Belgium becomes first country to legalize euthanasia for terminally ill children, with the consent of their parents.

June 5, 2014 - Quebec becomes first province to legalize doctor-assisted death.

Oct. 15, 2014 - SCOC hearings to begin.

Hold the champagne: Improved US eating habits still aren't great; rich-poor diet gap has grown

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CHICAGO - Americans' eating habits have improved — except among the poor, evidence of a widening wealth gap when it comes to diet. Yet even among wealthier adults, food choices remain far from ideal, a 12-year study found.

On an index of healthy eating where a perfect score is 110, U.S. adults averaged just 40 points in 1999-2000, climbing steadily to 47 points in 2009-10, the study found.

Scores for low-income adults were lower than the average and barely budged during the years studied. They averaged almost four points lower than those for high-income adults at the beginning; the difference increased to more than six points in 2009-10.

Higher scores mean greater intake of heart-healthy foods including vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats, and a high score means a low risk of obesity and chronic illnesses including heart disease, strokes and diabetes. Low scores mean people face greater chances for developing those ailments.

The widening rich-poor diet gap is disconcerting and "will have important public health implications," said study co-author Dr. Frank Hu of the Harvard School of Public Health. Diet-linked chronic diseases such as diabetes have become more common in Americans in general, and especially in the poor, he noted.

"Declining diet quality over time may actually widen the gap between the poor and the rich," Hu said.

Harvard School of Public Health researchers developed the healthy diet index used for the study. It is similar to federal dietary guidelines but features additional categories including red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol.

The study authors used that index along with government estimates on trans fat intake to evaluate information in 1999-2010 national health surveys that included interviews with people about their eating habits. The results are published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Hu said the widening diet gap reflects an income gap that deepened during the recent financial crisis, which likely made healthy food less affordable for many people. Hu also noted that inexpensive highly processed foods are often widely available in low-income neighbourhoods.

The overall diet improvement was largely due to decreased intake of foods containing trans fats but the disappointing results point to a need for policy changes including better nutrition education, Hu said.

In recent years the government and manufacturers have moved to phase out use of artificial trans fats in foods including processed cookies, cakes, frozen pizza and margarines. Trans fats contribute to unhealthy cholesterol levels and can increase heart disease risks. These fats are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil to improve texture and shelf life.

The study authors say their results are consistent with an earlier report showing that "nearly the entire U.S. population fell short of meeting federal dietary recommendations."

The federal guidelines are updated every five years and new ones will be issued next year. The current recommendations emphasize limiting intake of trans fats, sodium, processed foods and added sugars. They don't specify amounts but encourage diets high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits.

The Harvard index has a similar emphasis with some specifics; to get a top score would include eating daily more than two cups of vegetables, at least four servings of fruit and at least one ounce of nuts.

A JAMA Internal Medicine editorial says the Harvard diet index isn't perfect because it puts equal emphasis on various foods that may not contribute equally to health. Still, the study highlights a "growing chasm" that is a public health concern, the editorial says. It suggests that government efforts to close the gap with programs including food stamps may be insufficient and that limiting government benefits to cover only healthful foods might be a better strategy.

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Online:

JAMA Internal Medicine: http://jamainternalmedicine.com

Federal dietary guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/9yjgeoz

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AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner


Angelina Jolie's Wedding Dress Is Everything We Imagined It Would Be (PHOTO)

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Photos from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's wedding are here, and we couldn't be happier to catch a first glimpse of Angie's dress.

People magazine has obtained photos of the couple's Aug. 23 wedding in its new issue, and the cover features a shot of the bride's stunning gown.

Former People senior editor David Caplan tweeted a photo of the cover alongside a 2005 cover of Star magazine which showed the first photos of Brad and Angie in public together. "From this to this in 9 years", he tweeted.




While gorgeous, Angie's dress also had a personal touch. Atelier Versace senior tailor Luigi Massi incorporated designs from her childrens' drawings into the gown and veil, according to People.




Hello! magazine's new cover shows the two kissing, as well as the back of Jolie's incredibly creative dress.




The couple have been dating since 2005 and were engaged since 2012. This marks the third marriage for Jolie, and the second for Pitt.

We can't wait for the rest of the photos to come out. What do you think of the dress?



Model Melanie Gaydos Suffers From Ectodermal Dysplasia And Kicks Butt

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Just because she suffers from a genetic disorder, doesn't mean that model Melanie Gaydos can't work it.

In a new interview that's part of a video series called "The What's Underneath Project," which asks subjects to take off their clothes to "honor how style is not the clothes you wear," Melanie gamely strips down to her underwear and talks candidly about what it's like to live with ectodermal dysplasia, a genetic disorder that affects the pores, hair, teeth and nails.

Even though she doesn't look like a typical model, Melanie doesn't let her disease stop her from pursuing her dream to be the next Kate Moss.

Speaking in her first ever video interview, Melanie reveals that she underwent 30-40 surgeries as a young woman and struggled with suicidal thoughts.

"Growing up, I never thought I’d be alive past the age of 18," she says in the video. "I never thought I would kill myself; I just kind of thought that it would happen by accident. [But] as I got older, I did think I would kill myself."

Three years ago, Gaydos started to dabble in the world of modeling and has since starred in a music video for Rammstein as well as other photo shoots and is hoping to make it in the high fashion world.

But finding work in modeling has had its challenges for the petite Connecticut-born model. “When I go on a photo shoot and there are other industry models there, they normally don’t know what to make of me,” she says in the video. “It’s difficult for me in the fashion world, because people think of me kind of as a gimmick.

"I’d rather experience life as it is right now," she says. "I love modeling; it’s a time for me to be completely open. It’s a therapeutic process for me."

Naturally, Melanie has a kick-butt attitude about beauty: "For me, beauty is more a feeling and a state of being."

We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Watch her entire interview in the video up top.

Minutes count when pets panting in hot cars, but leave rescues to experts: authorities

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Imagine walking to your car after running errands and spotting a dog, panting and helpless, shut inside a hot car. Smashing the window might be your first impulse, but calling police or animal control will protect you from injury and possible lawsuits, experts say.

Hundreds of pets die each year when they are left in closed cars that rapidly become deadly on hot days, estimated Dr. Jules Benson, chief veterinary officer for Petplan pet insurance. He cited insurance claims, veterinarian records and other data.

"This just doesn't need to happen," Benson said. "Nobody means for it to happen. It is preventable."

Every minute counts when an animal is inside a hot car, but authorities encourage people to call 911 instead of breaking in. Those who do cause damage rescuing animals wouldn't be charged unless there is evidence of criminal intent, but dog owners could choose to sue, prosecutors said.

"California state law allows police and humane and animal-control officers to do what is reasonably necessary to remove an animal from a vehicle if it is in immediate danger," Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Deborah Knaan said. "The law does not mention civilians."

Attempting a rescue yourself can also lead to injury, said Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations.

"You may be trying to help the dog, but the dog doesn't know who you are. And you don't want to get yourself hurt," he said.

States' anti-cruelty laws are used to prosecute people who endanger their animals. The Animal Legal Defence Fund said 15 states have laws that go further by prohibiting leaving pets in hot cars and giving first responders an extra layer of protection against possible lawsuits.

It takes just 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach 102 degrees when it's 85 degrees out, even with the windows cracked, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said. In half an hour, the temperature will soar to 120 degrees, which can be lethal in minutes. Because dogs can't sweat, they can't control their body temperature in intense heat, leading to extensive organ damage, heatstroke or suffocation.

To stem the deaths, the Philadelphia Police Department created a campaign about the dangers of forgetting pets and kids in hot cars, an effort other municipalities have undertaken.

The agency put a drawing of a broken window on its Facebook page, with the message: "You're never too busy to remember — and if you forget — the PPD will gladly open the window for you!"

Philadelphia police urge people to call 911 so officers can rescue pets, "but we also realize that every second counts and people have to do what is right," said Sgt. Eric Gripp, who made the online post.

Nancy Hassel has been trying to deter hot-car deaths for years. As president of the networking group Long Island Pet Professionals, she tells students taking her classes on responsible dog ownership: "If you see something, do something."

Animal welfare agencies largely work to inform the public because there's a lack of awareness about the danger of a hot car.

"People often don't realize how hot the inside of their cars can get and how fast that happens," said Stacy Wolf, the ASPCA's senior vice-president of anti-cruelty.

High-energy Athleta, salute to military women, models on horses kick off NY Fashion Week early

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NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York Fashion Week kicked off a day early Wednesday with a heavy breathing show of strength and style from the performance brand Athleta, a salute to the fashion challenges of returning U.S. servicewomen and models tucked into the horse-drawn carriages of Central Park.

More than 100 designers are scheduled to show their spring-summer 2015 collections in the Mercedes-Benz tents at Lincoln Center and other New York venues. The eight-day event kicks off the season, with the industry moving on to London, followed by Milan and Paris, when the New York shows conclude.

At Athleta's show, a flying female tethered to wires did some air running above a stark white stage at the activewear company's first-ever — and high energy — show. She was joined by breakdancers, yoga stretchers and mini-trampoline jumpers in printed and solid tights, running pants, athletic bras, sweatshirts and a new dry-down technology the brand has just put into quilted vests and bomber jackets.

The idea, Athleta officials said, is to give active women more options for all-day dressing as they transition from workout to grocery shopping to school pickup or the office.

"Her life is always constantly in motion and so she wants a more versatile product that is not overtly fashion or overtly activewear," senior design director Nancy Taylor said backstage of the company's core customer.

Versatile performance wear is on trend as more fashion houses experiment with high-tech fabrics.

One sound example for Athleta is the company's city jogger pant, which would transition well through evening if paired with the right top. On the performance side, the company has put stretch insulation into jackets and other outerwear for warmth and better mobility in the arms, said Athleta President Nancy Green.

The typical Athleta customer "wants to be relevant. She cares about style but she doesn't want to change her clothes five times a day," Green said.

Soft pants are a big part of the trend, she said. The city jogger pant is high-stretch and lightweight, made of a fabric Athleta had already been using for shorts. And they've added more lightweight jackets to last season's moto quilted down, using a proprietary feather treatment Green said will stay dry against sweat.

Also Wednesday, the Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology honoured Carolina Herrera with the 2014 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion. Ralph Lauren, Renee Zellweger and Lucy Liu were among the attendees at the Lincoln Center luncheon.

"Salute the Runway," a show featuring current and former military women as part of an initiative to raise awareness of the fashion and style challenges they face when transitioning back to civilian life, was scheduled to take place Wednesday evening.

Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Carmen Marc Valvo and Mara Hoffman were among designers who contributed wardrobe staples for the show, including the iconic little black dress. The "Salute the Runway" initiative has put on fashion shows on military bases in Texas, Washington state and elsewhere.

A last-minute addition to Wednesday's early bird slate: Victor dE Souza, who has dressed Rihanna, Madonna and Lady Gaga, decided to put seven models in horse-drawn carriages for a movable fashion show through Central Park on Wednesday night.

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AP writer Nicole Evatt contributed to this report.

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Follow Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie

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Associated Press Writer Nicole Evatt in New York contributed to this report

Kaley Cuoco's Response To The Celebrity Nude Hacking Scandal Is Awesome

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Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton aren't the only celebrities who have had nude photos splashed all over social media!

On Tuesday, Kaley Cuoco posted a "leaked" topless Instagram photo of herself and her hubby Ryan Sweeting with the caption, "What a fun day that was, frolicking with my hubs on the beaches of Mexico! Feels like we forgot something?"



The pic, which shows "The Big Bang Theory" actress with her chest blurred out (Cuoco was actually wearing a bikini top in the original photo) and Sweeting with his nether regions also pixellated, is a provocative response to the reports that nude photos of her and a dozen other celebrities including Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez were leaked on sites such as 4Chan and Twitter.

But the 28-year-old wasn't content to stay quiet, and while she hasn't issued a statement through her reps, the Instagram pic says it all.

Some celebs such as Victoria Justice have claimed that the alleged photos of themselves are fake. “These so called nudes of me are FAKE people,” Justice said via Twitter. However on Tuesday, the actress revealed that her privacy was indeed violated and she will be seeking legal action.

She wrote on Twitter:

"Shortly after I tweeted about certain pics of me being fake, I was faced with a serious violation of privacy. There have always been fake photos of me on the internet, but I will not be put in the position to defend myself as to what is real or what is fake. I am angry at this massive invasion of privacy, and like the other women who are in this situation alongside of me, I am taking legal action to protect my rights."

Jennifer Lawrence has not directly spoken about the photo leaks but a representative of the Oscar-winner said in a statement: "This is a flagrant violation of privacy. The authorities have been contacted and will prosecute anyone who posts the stolen photos of Jennifer Lawrence."

The FBI confirmed on Monday that it has joined the hunt for those responsible for the nude photo leaks.




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