Hasta La Gadget!

We reached out to our expert decorators across the web and collected the best Hometalk fall mantels you’ve ever seen in your life! It’s impossible to resist that autumn excitement, when you see what these incredible artists can do with their unique style and an empty mantel. Choose a favorite – we dare you!

1. Upscale Upcycle

Photo via Hometalker Christina @The Frugal Homemaker

2. Fairy-tale Funky

Photo via Hometalker Donna @Funky Junk Interiors

3. Shabby French Elegance

Photo via Hometalker Janet @Shabbyfufu

4. Rustic With Vintage Decor

Photo via Hometalker Michelle @Dandelion Patina

5. Farmhouse Warmth

Photo via Hometalker Christina @The Frugal Homemaker

6. Classic Gold

Photo via Hometalker Melody @My Passion for Decor

7. Cozy and Colorful

Photo via Hometalker Courtney @Golden Boys & Me

8. Modern and Bold

Photo via Hometalker Allison @Two Thirty-Five Designs

9. Understated Chic

Photo via Hometalker Kristi @Making It in the Mountains

10. Spooky-Charming

Photo via Hometalker Allison @Two Thirty-Five Designs

11. Perfectly Patterned Sophistication

Photo via Hometalker Lory @Designthusiasm

12. Simply Fun

Photo via Hometalker Marty @Marty’s Musings

13. Quirky-Chic

Photo via Hometalker Jennifer @Dimples and Tangles

14. Bold and Eye-Catching

Photo via Hometalker Abi @Laughing Abi

15. Cottage-Style Cute

Photo via Hometalker Lindsay @My Creative Days

16. Festive Harvest

Photo via Hometalker Kim @The Kim Six Fix

17. Cozy Vintage

Photo via Hometalker Sondra @Sondra Lyn at Home

18. Playful and Charming

Photo via Hometalker Laurel @Chipping With Charm

19. Pops of Color

Photo via Hometalker Christina @The Frugal Homemaker

20. French Farmhouse

Photo via Hometalker Pamela @From My Front Porch to Yours

21. Rustic Undertones

Photo via Hometalker Tara @Suburble

22. Monochromatic Grace

Photo via Hometalker Sonya @At Home With the Barkers

23. Bright Contrasts

Photo via Hometalker Ashley @Cherished Bliss

24. In the Spirit

Photo via Hometalker Leigh Anne @Houseologie

25. Fall Formal

Photo via Hometalker Adrienne @Chic California

26. Eclectic Vintage

Photo via Hometalker Vicki @2 Bees in a Pod

And there’s even more where that came from! For even more mantel decor inspiration, check out Hometalk’s topic page on Fireplaces and Mantels!

In a recent PBS interview with Charlie Rose, 85-year old Harvard University professor emeritus of biology, E. O. Wilson, talked about his latest book, The Meaning of Human Existence, and what he calls “the new enlightenment.” The old enlightenment, which began in the late 17th century, raised serious questions regarding who we (humanity) are, where we came from, and where we are going. Previously, religion, in its various forms, seemed to give satisfactory answers to those three questions — at least for a time. But the old enlightenment, although it promised new answers, largely failed because the emerging sciences were only in their infancy, and they could not deliver what was promised.

Now, according to Wilson, we have the newer sciences of archeology and paleontology, evolutionary biology, genetics and its analysis of DNA, intensive studies of the brain, and the technologies of artificial intelligence (computing) and robotics, unlike anything we have had before. And if these sciences, and the technologies they have spawned, threaten to get out of control and overwhelm us, we still have, as Wilson reminds us, the humanities (arts, literature, and most of all, the human range of emotional life) to protect us from these dangers.

I wish I could be as optimistic as Professor Wilson. Yes, the sciences that he names in his list certainly give us a much better explanation of what we are in terms of the biological realm and where we came from. We now understand much more how our brains work (and how they can go wrong) and we are now capable of genetic manipulation of DNA that could alleviate much human misery, and we have robotics that can reduce or already have eliminated a lot of drudgery. But can they give us an answer of why we are here, a sense of meaning and purpose?

This question about the meaning or purpose of it all is where religion, and its cousin, philosophy, still play a vital role. And while we should welcome scientists, like Wilson, who may venture into the realm of philosophy, they should remember they can enjoy the authority they have as scientists only if they stick to the questions of how things are or how they came to be. Otherwise, as Einstein warned, they are straying out of their field of competence. This is especially true when the price of academic excellence, as it has often been noted, is too often knowing more and more about less and less. (Wilson first achieved academic fame by his study of insect behavior, especially among ants!)

Yet if that is true about scientists, the same is probably true about philosophers and theologians. If it is the job of scientists — as many of them keep insisting — only to tell us what things are and how they happened, then it seems to me to be primarily still the job of philosophers to keep asking the question “why?” This seems especially true, if after nearly three thousand years of trying, philosophers have failed to reach an agreement as to what the final answer to that question actually is.

As a result, we should not at all be surprised that most people turn to religion in one form or another in hope that in the end that both the world and our life in it will have made sense. But as we all know, religion has had just as long and much bloodier history of disagreement than has philosophy, especially when it comes trying to define the nature of that ultimate reality that believers call “God”.

This is the reason why, as a theologian, I have been continually been drawn back to the views of not just another theologian, but instead to those of the psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl. It was Frankl who wrote that “Religion is the search for ultimate meaning” and that “Faith is trust in ultimate meaning” — this in the face of what was one of the greatest horrors of human insanity in modern times.

If Frankl was correct, and I believe he was, then it seems to me that while we should depend on science to tell us how we came to be, and maybe look to philosophy to ask who or even what we are, that in the end, it is only religion or faith that can give us a sense of trust or assurance that there is a final or ultimate meaning or purpose — even if theologians still disagree on how to best describe what this ultimate reality really is.

Boy George offered an eloquent explanation of his evolving spirituality during a conversation with HuffPost Live on Wednesday.

The music icon, who is set to reunite with his band Culture Club for a tour this year, is a mix of many ideas. He had a “strong Catholic upbringing,” he eventually became a vegetarian thanks to preaching from Hare Krishna devotees, and he’s practiced Nichiren Buddhism for the last four years.

“I always say I’m Catholic in my complications and Buddhist in my aspirations,” Boy George told HuffPost Live’s Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani.

Embracing Buddhism, which includes “morning gongyo,” has made a significant impact on him.

“It’s a practice that improves my life on a daily basis,” Boy George said. “It changes the way I behave. It changes the way I behave towards myself, towards other people, and I would highly recommend it.”

Watch Boy George discuss religion in the video above, and click here for the full HuffPost Live conversation.

Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live’s new morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before!

Feeling stressed at work? You are not alone. Studies indicate workplace stress is on the rise (American Institute of Stress, 204) with increasing pressure to perform, toxic work environments, and the demands brought on by technological advances and job insecurity. Workplace stress occurs when the demands of the job are perceived to exceed the available internal and external resources the employee needs to perform.

Workplace stress is often associated with physical health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, and muscle tension; and psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and burnout. All of which may contribute to overall career frustration. According to the American Institute of Stress (2014), workplace stress costs organizations over $300 billion annually in lost productivity due to absenteeism, turnover and healthcare expenditures.

A 2009 survey by the American Psychological Association indicated that 69% of employees reported that work was a significant source of stress for them and substantially interfered with their responsibilities at home. Studies indicate that across occupational categories (blue-collar, white-collar, and helping professions) the social environment of the organization played a significant role in predicting depression and burnout. Characteristics of such included negative work relationships, interpersonal conflicts, lack of peer support, and social isolation.

There are several proven strategies that can be implemented to reduce workplace stress and its associated consequences:

For organizations and managers, creating an environment that is conducive to effectively coping with work stress results in significant economic benefits to the corporation.

· Reduce workplace stressors such as work overload, job insecurity, and limited resources:

Provide reasonable work demands and manageable work schedules. Increase employee control over the nature and timing of their work performance as well as decision-making within the organization. Enhance social support in the workplace; support from both supervisors and colleagues has been shown to be effective in reducing workplace stress.

· Offer stress management programs that enhance employees’ coping strategies:

Programs designed to teach employees how to implement effective coping strategies in the face of workplace stress, including time management, conflict resolution, mindfulness meditation, relaxation and yoga, have been found to be effective.

Researchers from the Schools of Medicine at Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania argue that “in order for stress management programs to be effective, they have to be accessible, convenient, and engaging to the employees”, as well as cost-effective and economically sustainable for the organization. These same researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of therapeutic yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction programs in reducing stress, enhancing emotional well-being and work performance. The trial enrolled 239 employee volunteers who were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: yoga, mindfulness meditation, or a control condition that provided the participants with a list of insurance-provided resources (fitness center discounts, wellness coaching opportunities etc.) They found that compared to the control condition, the therapeutic yoga and mindfulness based programs both lead to significant improvements in perceived stress levels and reduction in sleep problems; suggesting these strategies are viable interventions to implement in the workplace.

For individuals, enhancing your own coping strategies and resilience in the face of workplace stress can reduce your risk for depression, anxiety, and burnout.

· Adopt a healthy lifestyle: Under times of stress, a balanced diet, exercise, and sound sleep can lay the foundation for effective stress management.

· Identify what is stressing you out: Awareness of your triggers, thoughts, and feelings when stressed is a first step towards taking action to control or manage your stress.

· Avoid or learn how to manage stress more effectively: Some stressors are under your control and can be avoided or changed (e.g., learning how to say to no to unreasonable requests; prioritizing/managing your time more effectively; or shifting your thoughts/beliefs about the situation), while others (e.g., an unexpected and urgent deadline) may require acceptance and a reorganization of your priorities for the week.

· Seek out support: Studies show that support from family, friends, and coworkers can also help buffer the negative effects of work stress.

· Seek professional help: If you find that your workplace stress is too much to handle on your own, seeking support from a trained professional can be beneficial. They can help you to identify the sources of your stress and develop strategies for dealing more effectively with work-related stress.

Workplace stress takes a significant toll on the health and well-being of employees and organizations and has far-reaching social and economic consequences. By implementing an integrated and comprehensive stress-reduction approach that works at the organizational, team, and individual level, corporations can promote work conditions that foster resilience, well-being and organizational functioning.

Citations:

· American Psychological Association (2009). Stress in America 2009. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2009/stress-exec-summary.pdf

· American Institute of Stress (2014). Workplace stress. Retrieved from http://www.stress.org/workplace-stress/

· Colligans, T.W. and Higgins, E. M. (2006). Workplace Stress: Etiology and Consequences. Journal of workplace behavioral health, 21, 2, 89-97

· Tennant, C. (2001). Work-related stress and depressive disorders. Journal of psychosomatic research, 51, 697-704.

· Wolever, R. Q., Bobinet, K. J., McCabe, K., Mackenzie, E. R., Fekete, E., Kusnick, C. A., & Baime, M. (2012). Effective and viable mind-body stress reduction in the workplace: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of occupational health psychology, 17(2), 246.

So you’ve seen the gameplay trailers and the cinematic trailers for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. But have you seen real human beings wearing those war machine outfits and blasting caps through the heads of their opponents? It’s time to do that now. This isn’t Iron Man, and it’s not Elysium. This is Advanced Warfare, and it’s going to be … Continue reading