Hasta La Gadget!

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia took another step forward in its peaceful transition to democracy on Sunday by holding its first free presidential election, with voters hoping for more stability and a better economy.

Many Tunisians weighed security against the freedoms brought by their revolution and by its democratic transition, which has remained on track in sharp contrast to the upheavals brought by the Arab Spring elsewhere in the region, including the brutal military coup in Egypt and the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya. It hasn’t been easy for Tunisia, however, and the nearly four years since the revolution have been marked by social unrest, terrorist attacks and high inflation that has voters punishing the moderate Islamists that first came to power.

The front runner of the nearly two dozen candidates for the presidency is Beji Caid Essebsi, an 87-year-old former minister from the previous administrations who many are hoping will get the country back on track.

“He is a veteran politician with experience that can ensure security and stability,” said Mouldi Cherni, a middle age driver living in Tunis’ Carthage suburb who voted for Essebsi. “The people are tired, life has grown expensive and Tunisians don’t even have enough to make an ojja,” the local omelet favored by the poor.

The strikes, social unrest and occasional political assassinations have kept away foreign investment and the economy foundered after the revolution as an Islamist-led coalition government struggled with the country’s problems.

In the end, the Islamist Ennahda Party stepped down at the start of the year in favor of a government of technocrats, but they still completed one of the region’s most progressive constitutions.

The Islamists, who won about a quarter of the seats in parliament, opted not to field a presidential candidate.

Voters have since turned to Essebsi’s Nida Tunis party, a loose collection of liberal and leftist politicians, giving them nearly 38 percent of the new parliament last month.

There are fears, however, that Essebsi has authoritarian tendencies and that his domination of the parliament and the presidency could bring back the old one party state.

In Tunisia, the main power resides with the prime minister. The presidency is a largely symbolic post with some responsibilities for defense and foreign affairs.

Opposition to Essebsi has coalesced around the current interim president, Moncef Marzouki, a veteran rights campaigner who is respected for his long fight against tyranny.

“I voted for a man I thought was clean, with integrity and sincerity,” said Azzedine Issaoui, in Tunis’ working class district of Kram, who said he chose Marzouki.

The lines as voters gathered in the morning at polling stations were not as long as last month’s parliamentary elections, and for the first half of the day younger voters were largely absent.

If no candidate gains an outright majority, there will be a runoff between the two top vote getters on Dec. 28.

Other possible candidates for a runoff include Hamma Hammami of the left-wing Popular Front coalition and millionaire football club owner Slim Riahi.

I received a rejection letter from The New Yorker yesterday, and I’m excited about it. Why? Well, first of all it’s The New Yorker. Secondly, the note was handwritten by Becky.

I realize that this note from Becky means that I probably didn’t even qualify for an actual rejection letter, and that the editors never saw my query, but I don’t care. I’d like to thank her for taking the time to write something personal.

I’ll admit it — I was never a note writer. I actually tried to elope with my first husband just so I wouldn’t have to write thank-you notes for my wedding gifts.

Did I appreciate the gifts that were given? Of course. But I’d rather do without 5.45 sets of china than have to write ten thank you notes.

My biggest issue was that I kept opening boxes housed with kitchen utensils, and I have never cooked. I unwrapped a whisk and thought it was one part of an electric mixer. I looked and looked for the rest of that present.

I wasn’t even sure what to do with a spatula until I saw the kitchen scene with Bill Murray in “Stripes.”

Writing notes was especially painful for me because I have no memory of people or names. I blame it on my five concussions before the age of nine.

Due to the repeated blows to my head in childhood, I had to send personal notes as if I were related to everyone just in case I really was related to them. I’m sure there were some recipients of my thank you notes who were alarmed at the fact that I referenced my appendectomy in third grade when they were only social acquaintances.

However, I’ve grown since my first wedding, and thanks to Becky, I’m warming back up to the power of the handwritten note.

There is something about seeing a person’s handwriting that makes his or her note more personal. Even tense situations can become a polite interaction.

Dear Cable Company:

Thank you so much for shutting down my business phone for the past 23 days due to your battle with the phone company. I have lost three clients since I coach people and conduct seminars by phone. It has been an exhausting process that caused me to cry while filling out my 24th resolution ticket. I didn’t even cry at “The Notebook,” so this was quite a feat. Please turn my phones back on.

Best,
Donna

I will write this note on my own personal stationary, and seal it with a kiss. Perhaps that will turn my phone line back on.

I’d like to send another note to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the hospital where my mom just stayed to recover from a stroke.

Dear Staff at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital:

How can I thank a team of people who kept my mom laughing during a very fearful time? Who somehow found her special kind of ginger ale even though it wasn’t in the vending machine? Who stayed on top of her condition and worked together to help her get well? Who came by her room just to explain her medications?

I can’t thank you enough for caring as much for her well-being and psyche as you did for her physical issues. You are the reason I still believe in people. In a dark time, you provided the light.

Best,
Donna

Even though my handwriting is hard to read, every letter expresses something about my personality. It makes me sad that many schools no longer teach cursive writing, because every letter formed is unique to the writer. No one on earth will ever write exactly like me again. Ever.

So, I’m going to start doing cursive exercises to build up my writing arm so that I have the strength to send notes to others, including those people who make my writing life a little miserable. I will start with the Internet Troll, who is not nearly as cute as the naked, androgynous troll doll I had in my childhood.

Dear Internet Troll:

When I first started publishing, I read all of your comments. You know, the ones where you called me pathetic, or used the “c” word, or said that I was a yellow journalist — which you thought meant I was a cowardly writer. Bless your heart.

This note is to let you know that while you have the right to say whatever you want, I think you should use your talents in a more productive way. Criticizing people on topics about which you have very little knowledge is a crowded field where it’s hard to distinguish yourself. Anger is a limited emotion, and name-calling was kind of discovered in first grade. The whole sticks and stones thing.

I think that with your slightly grouchy skills, you could look for other jobs, like being head of risk management for a Fortune 500 corporation.

I do appreciate the incredible energy you put into commenting on everybody’s stuff. That’s a lot of work. But remember the kid who walked up and knocked over your carefully constructed sandcastle? Yeah, that kid. He grew up to be really angry, out-of-shape, and watches a lot of Judge Judy. Do you really want to be that guy?

I didn’t think so. Pick yourself up and use your skills for good rather than evil. It’s more courageous and, ultimately, you’ll find there are a plethora of vocabulary words to which you have yet to be introduced.

Best,
Donna

I will write that note on a piece of stationery that shows a beautiful sandcastle being tended to by an angelic young person.

The next time I want to communicate with somebody, I will write them a note. I believe they’ll thank me for it. Even the cable company.

Earlier on Huff/Post50:

There’s one thing Lenovo is exceedingly good at: making excellent products at approachable price points. At CES this year, we became enamored with their 4K monitor, which had impressive resolution and a then jaw-dropping low price tag. Keeping in line with their high-end/low-cost desktop ambitions, Lenovo has the Erazer X315, which — for a gaming desktop computer — holds a … Continue reading

Let’s be honest: Rihanna can pull off any makeup. So when we spotted the 26-year-old singer at a MAC Cosmetics event in Los Angeles rocking oxblood lipstick, we knew it wouldn’t be long before others followed suit. (Yes, we’re looking at you Kim Kardashian.)

The vampy, matte red color looked stunning against Rihanna’s flawless complexion, and it amped up her pink and white gingham print Altuzarra suit. We’re already huge fans of MAC RiRi Woo but this might be our new favorite lipstick shade.

Check it out for yourself below and see which other celebs made this week’s best and worst list this week.

BEST: Rihanna

It’s really refreshing to see Rihanna wear a more demure beauty look. The soft bangs, messy top knot and dark lip color brings out a more elegant side of the envelope-pushing entertainer.

BEST: Kim Kardashian

Yes, we know, the reality star is wearing a ton of makeup. But her face is the perfect example in the art of contouring. The blush hits right below her cheekbone and the center of her face is highlighted, drawing our attention to her burgundy pout.

BEST: Jessica White

White looks like she walked straight off the runway and onto the red carpet with her pin-straight strands, subtle smokey eye makeup and oxblood lipstick.

BEST: Bianca A. Santos

We barely recognized “The Fosters” actress with the glamorous hair and makeup look. But we love how the dark lip color is offset by her emerald green gown and accessories.

WORST: Tallia Storm

The Scottish-born soul singer is no stranger to taking her brunette locks to extreme heights. We just wish she would spend less time teasing and more time hydrating her dry, parched hair.

WORST: Kelly Osbourne

Clearly Osbourne is running out of ideas on how to style her lavender ‘do because this braided and spiked style reads costume-y, not creative.

WORST: Evangeline Lilly

For a split second we thought Chelsea Handler had dyed her hair and chopped it into a blunt bob. Boy, were we stunned to realize who this really was.

WORST: Coco Rocha

We know it’s hard growing out a haircut, but this tightly curled hairdo ages the supermodel beyond her years.

Need to justify your hummus addiction? Just explain that you’re saving lives.

As cigarette sales continue to decline, some farmers have started to grow chickpeas instead of tobacco plants. Unlike cigarettes, hummus is still en vogue and croppers are better able to support themselves by harvesting the little bean.

These recent findings have been explored by truth, an anti-smoking campaign that, in an effort to continue to lower teen smoking across the U.S., is promoting the consumption of hummus. Their campaign video above depicts how a choosing a chickpea dip over smokes could put an end to big tobacco.

Tobacco smoking is still the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S., but the hope is with a little more education and a lot more hummus, Americans might be able to change the statistics for good.