Hasta La Gadget!

Photo Credit: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez via Getty Images

Let’s be honest: Is there anything better than biting into a warm, airy, fresh donut?

Though it’s tough to get most countries to agree on anything, the need for fried dough seems to be universal — but how it’s prepared is another story. Americans know it as the hole-punched, sometimes colorful and always delicious classic donut. Yet all across the world, there are dozens of different takes on how to best assemble a piece of fried dough, from jam-filled and sugary to braided and soaked in syrup. We’ve rounded up several examples for your viewing pleasure.

One thing is for sure: people don’t discriminate when it comes to donuts.

Italy: Bomboloni

Particularly popular in Florence, bomboloni most closely resemble donut holes that are filled with vanilla custard and dusted with powdered sugar. Unlike dense cake donuts, bomboloni are made with yeast, which keeps them lighter — they’ve even been described as “little puffs of heaven,” by Yelp user Sarah R.

Germany: Berliner

Wir sind gut vorbereitet: Junge #Berliner zu #Altweiber pic.twitter.com/iCPoTKR9N9

— Reinhold Janowitz (@prahl_recke) February 12, 2015

If JFK called himself a Berliner, it’s got to be good. A Berliner, which is also known as a bismarck, is made from sweet yeast dough that’s fried, then stuffed with a marmalade or jam filling and finally topped with icing, powdered sugar or conventional sugar.

Poland: Pączki

Traditional Polish #Paczki delivered to your door in time for #FatTuesday. http://t.co/xLFhJzMkiH pic.twitter.com/62W7X5AbTO

— Cops & Doughnuts (@CopsDoughnuts) January 20, 2015

These Polish pastries are similar to a bismarck but are richer, with more butter and eggs. Pączki translates to “little package” in Polish, because these treats are typically filled with jam, preserves or other sweet fillings, then covered in powdered sugar or icing.

France: Beignet

Any guesses where I am right now? pic.twitter.com/ns9ZJ2DY8o

— Terry Noland (@tnoland1) April 9, 2015

Though New Orleans has reigned as the home of the beignet, the pastry originates in France. Beignets are fried, raised pieces of yeast dough known for their square shape and lack of filling or a hole. After being fried, they’re sprinkled with sugar or coated with various icings. The Acadians brought the beignet to Louisiana, where they have perfected the art of the sweet treat.

South Asia and Middle East: Jalebi

BJP 16th may ke baad itne U-turn maar chuki hai ki unki jalebi Nahi imarti ban chuki hai. See pic.twitter.com/l7Oz00I2nd

— मुकेश मित्तल (@hallagullaboy) October 17, 2014

These small, yellow, pretzel-shaped pastries most closely resemble funnel cake. They’re soaked in saffron syrup to give them a crunchy exterior while preserving the juicy interior. These web-like treats are also known as zulbia in Persian communities.

Mexico: Churros

Churros! pic.twitter.com/hRGbPq0FPX

— Misa (@misathekeeper) December 16, 2014

These deep-fried sticks of dough are sprinkled with sugar and often dipped in warm chocolate sauce. The churro originated from Spanish shepherds and who named them after the churra sheep, since the dough resembled their horns.

Israel: Sufganiyah

#Hanukkah #berliner #Doughnut #donuts #holiday #israel #igers

A photo posted by Ofir Goren (@ofirgoren) on Dec 16, 2014 at 3:15pm PST

Traditionally served for Hanukkah, sufganiyot are the Israeli version of jelly donuts. Similar to the German berliner, about 70 percent of sufganiyot are jelly-filled, but some contemporary spins include halva, crème espresso or chocolate truffle.

China: Youtiao

Also known at the Chinese cruller, the youtiao is essentially a deep-fried breadstick due to its shape and consistency. It is typically dunked in and eaten with soy milk, with a crispy outside and chewy inside.

India: Balushahi

Similar to a glazed donut in appearance and ingredients, the balushahi (also known as badusha) is a traditional Indian pastry. It is flaky, puffy, round, golden in color and soaked in a syrup to give it a moist, sugary center.

The Netherlands and Belgium: Oliebol

Mijn eerste oliebol dit (na)jaar. Ik heb ‘m verdiend, na drie kwartier baantjes zwemmen in het Sportfondsenbad Oost. pic.twitter.com/Ng1ixsPttK

— Peter de Jong (@venjonet) November 4, 2014

Oliebol means “oil spheres” in Dutch, and these fried spheres are about the size of a baseball. Usually eaten during the holidays, the Dutch add raisins and currants to their oliebol and it is considered a “celebration bread.”

Turkey and Greece: Tulumba and Lokma

Tulumba pic.twitter.com/wah3Py5zWu

— PASHA Bakery & Cafe (@PashaBakery) August 2, 2014

Tulumba are small, oval-shaped sweet pastries with ridges, made from golden and crispy deep-fried dough and then soaked in sweet fragrant syrup.

Hafta sonununuz lokma tadında olsun Lokma imparatoru/Cunda Adası pic.twitter.com/XVQfLYSI7R

— istkazanbenkepçe (@gurmeistanbul) January 23, 2015

Lokma are round, ping-pong sized dough balls that are bathed in thick honey or syrup then sprinkled with cinnamon once they’re out of the oil.

South Africa: Koeksister

There are two distinct koeksister variants: the Cape Malay community prepares a spicy, cakey and often coconut-coated version, and Afrikaners generally make a sweeter, crunchy, sticky braided pastry that’s dipped into a cold syrup after it’s fried.

Northern Africa: Sfenj

Stemming from the Arabic word for sponge, stenj usually aren’t as sweet as bomboloni or beignets — there’s no sugar added to the dough, so it tastes more like fried bread. The common street food can be dipped in sugar, honey, or simple syrup.

Nepal: Sel roti

Sel Roti is known as “sweet rice bread” and resembles a large, thin puffed-up donut. Its distinguishing features are the crispy texture and reddish brown color, and it’s commonly served at festivals.

South America: Buñuelos

Buñuelos are bite-size dough balls that are rolled in flavored syrup, sprinkled in cinnamon sugar and served with warm honey. The desserts, which look like fritters, symbolize good luck.

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The newly-founded Congressional Yogi Association will host its first-ever Yoga on the Hill on Friday, May 1, 2015, to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month and to advocate for better physical and mental health for veterans, which has also been a prioritized issue for First Lady Michelle Obama. Congressman Charles B. Rangel, a Korean War veteran and a staunch advocate for veterans’ issues, has committed to attending the event to show his support.

He danced:

In the name of Harlem Shake — and to show off his moves.

He rowed:

To show his rigor and support for new businesses in his district.

He SPINned:

To promote his sensational Rangel Resolution, encouraging a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Now then…will he strike the ‘warrior pose’ for wounded warriors, alongside former NFL linebacker Keith Mitchell?

(Keith Mitchell doing the ‘warrior pose.’ Mitchell suffered a paralyzing spinal injury and recovered through the practice of yoga. He is now a celebrity yogi.)

If that is too difficult, then perhaps the ‘mountain pose’?

(Certainly not the ‘happy baby’ pose — it’s a little too awkward.)

(Though not as awkward as this!)

While we don’t know which yoga pose the youthful octogenarian might try…

On May 1st he’ll be joining Keith Mitchell, Iraq War veteran Tom Voss (of Almost Sunrise), Team RWB, and Members of Congress and staff to promote the physical and wellness for veterans at the first-ever Yoga on the Hill kicking off Mental Health Awareness Month.

Because, as FLOTUS (and SJP and Olivia Pope) highlighted, many of our warriors come home with wounds that are sometimes invisible. We should do more to help heal both their body and mind.

If you can’t join in person on the morning of May 1st, you can still join in honoring our nation’s wounded warriors with a ‘warrior pose’ in your own home.

If that’s too difficult, at the very least try the ultimate favorite yoga pose of all time:

the ‘savasana’ – ‘dead corpse’ pose.

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Orange would not be the new black for Iris Apfel, who wore that color in fur for the movie premiere of Iris last week at the Paris Theater: the brighter the better, it was practically neon, and contrasted with saucer-sized turquoise beads. The outfit would be unusual for anyone, let alone the 93 year old “geriatric starlet” Iris Apfel whose resume includes textile designer, model, and now professor of fashion for students from The University of Texas, Austin. The students come to New York to learn “real” lessons about the glamorous world of fashion from this style icon: what’s trending, licensing, history; Iris complains that designers today do not know how to sew, a craft like beading near lost. Iris teaches the business side often omitted in the traditional curriculum. She knows from what she speaks, having had a giant successful show at the Metropolitan Museum, an honor normally accorded to high profile designers with world careers like Alexander McQueen or Jean-Paul Gaultier. She can put together ensembles most could never concoct, matching fantastic fabrics with highend designer dresses with street fare, but her specialty is layered bangles and neckpieces.

The afterparty at Southgate included many from the world of documentary filmmaking to remember the life of Albert Maysles, who made this movie, his last in an extraordinary career. The fashion world came too, to worship at Iris’ feet. Some were dressed to kill, like one man clad in a pink lamee trench coat. But Iris is always the best dressed in the room. Mindy Grossman, CEO of Home Shopping Network, wearing bangles from wrists to elbows a la Iris said, “I met Iris and fell in love immediately. We convinced her to create an accessory collection for HSN! She debuted her collection when she was 90 and is still going strong!” Iris is also designing for MAC Cosmetics. When I spoke to Iris about what she thought of all this attention, she said quite frankly, “I’m tired. I want to go home,” well before her handlers helped her leave the sumptuous dinner party.

A version of this post also appears on Gossip Central.

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WASHINGTON — Members of the Supreme Court questioned on Tuesday whether now is the right time to force states to allow same-sex couples to marry, pointing to how quickly public opinion has shifted on the issue of marriage equality.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was a key figure in striking down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, suggested that he might be worried about the court moving too quickly to force states to marry same-sex couples.

“This definition has been with us for millennia,” Kennedy said of male-female marriages. The justice also said it would be very difficult for the court to say it knows better than the public on the issue.

The questions came during the first session of oral arguments Tuesday for a historic case over whether there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. The justices were questioning Mary Bonauto, a lawyer representing same-sex couples who wish to be married.

Tuesday’s hearing will continue into the afternoon. The judges are considering two issues during the oral arguments: whether states are required to offer marriage licenses to gay couples, and whether states have to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside their borders. The court will likely issue one decision in June covering appeals from four states — Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

“You’re seeking to change what the institution is,” said Chief Justice John Roberts. He said that “prior to about a dozen years ago” there was no society that recognized same-sex marriages.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said that there have been changes to the institution of marriage, which used to be a “dominant and subordinate” relationship. She said that same-sex marriage would not have fit into that structure.

“Did they have same-sex marriage in ancient Greece?” asked Alito. He also questioned whether four consenting, highly educated adults, two men and two women — perhaps lawyers, he joked — could ask a state to be married. Bonauto responded that there would be issues of coercion and consent and family disruption that would give states an interest in banning such unions.

Roberts said that if the court were to order states to issues licenses to same sex couples, “there will be no more debate.” Not allowing voters to weigh in on the issue “can close minds,” he added.

Thirty-seven states and Washington, D.C., currently recognize same-sex marriage.

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Warby Parker beat out Apple, Google and Samsung to be named Fast Company’s most innovative company of 2015.

The online eyewear retailer, which is just five years old, has expanded rapidly during its short lifetime. The company’s annual revenues top $100 million, according to the magazine, and it has opened brick-and-mortar locations across the United States.

By manufacturing its own frames, Warby Parker avoids the usual price markup that makes other eyewear retailers more expensive. Most Warby Parker glasses start at $95. Meanwhile, at retail locations for Sunglass Hut or Oliver Peoples, both of which are owned by Italian eyewear giant Luxottica, prices for in-house brands such as Ray-Ban, Persol or Oakley soar to match those of the designer brands they’re sold beside, including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada.

For every pair of glasses Warby Parker sells in the United States, it donates one to its nonprofit partners. The partners then train people in developing countries to give eye exams and sell glasses to their communities at affordable prices.

But Warby Parker has really burnished its reputation with strong customers service built on a core value of empathy.

Fast Company’s Max Chafkin writes that the company’s success is due to its “founders’ fanatical focus on brand and execution.”

“We look a lot for self-awareness and for empathy [in our employees],” co-CEO Neil Blumenthal said in an interview with the The Huffington Post in 2013. “I think it’s really hard to serve customers well if you’re not empathetic. I think it’s hard to collaborate with others if you’re not empathetic. I think the people that are the best at customer service are the ones who are the most empathetic.”

Just last year, Wired magazine asked in a headline: “Is Warby Parker too good to last?”

For now, it has.

The company has begun expanding offline, with a flagship location in Manhattan’s posh SoHo neighborhood and stores in eight other cities.

Still, Warby Parker has managed to maintain its empathetic ethos.

In February, the retailer sent a customer in Atlanta a $20 gift card to her local bar after she told Warby Parker staff while picking up her new frames that her car had been stolen. Last October, the company rolled out a new next-day delivery program in New York City, where for an extra $50, customers could get a new pair of glasses delivered in 24 hours.

Warby Parker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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