Hasta La Gadget!

If you know a thing or two about tea, then brewing times and water temperature actually mean something to you. While most who enjoy tea can stand not having everything done perfectly, there are those who simply cannot. If you want the tea at the optimal everything but don’t want to fret over the smaller details, then you can get gadgets and gizmos to make sure nothing could possibly go wrong.

This Cuisinart PerfectTemp Cordless Kettle is a 1.7 liter hot pot that will make sure your tea is only ever steeped at the proper temperature. Its six preset temperatures have their own buttons, and delineate what tea they are for, marked as delicate, oolong, green, white, french press coffee, and black tea. The buttons will illuminate once they’ve been pressed, and you only need to press start to get the water roiling.

Should you start the kettle and realize that a friend is coming over but won’t make it for another few minutes, you can press a button to keep the water warm and ready to reach higher temperatures faster. There’s a memory feature that will let you lift the kettle off its base for 2 minutes and it won’t shut off or lose its place in the brewing process. This is a $98 purchase, and is meant for serious tea drinkers who consider a day without their brew one hardly worth living through.

Available for purchase on Amazon
[ The Cuisinart PerfectTemp Cordless Kettle – think less, drink more…tea copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Earlier this week, Hillary Clinton’s top aide Huma Abedin announced she was leaving her husband, former U.S. Congressman, Anthony Weiner.

Weiner, no stranger to sexual scandals, was recently caught sexting again, his third offense. In the latest debacle, The NY Post broke the story that Weiner sent a woman he’d “met” online an image of himself wearing only his underwear and with his four-year-old son cuddled beside him in bed.

It was strange, even for Weiner, who in 2011 when his wife of less than a year was pregnant, accidentally uploaded an image of his package to his official Twitter account while he was trying to direct message a woman who was not his wife. That scandal cost him his job in Congress. Two years later, in the midst of a seemingly successful run for New York mayor, Wiener was caught having sexual conversations online with a new woman who was also not his wife, and it cost him that job too. His public sexual fumbles were the subject of the documentary, Weiner, released earlier this year.

On Monday, the morning after The NY Post’s story hit sites, Abedin, Weiner’s wife of six years, announced she was divorcing him.

“After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband,” Abedin said in a statement. “Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy.”

Asking for privacy is the standard line in press releases these days. And with a story this salacious, no one expected it. I was however, surprised at the snark thrown Abedin’s way after she announced her departure. Across news sites, headlines announced the Abedin-Weiner split, kept saying Abedin “finally” left.

From Fox News: “Roasted Weiner: Huma Finally Leaves Horn-Dog Hubby.”

From The Wrap: “Anthony Weiner’s Wife Huma Abedin Finally Leaves Him After Latest Sexting Scandal.”

From LA Times: “Huma Abedin finally left Anthony Weiner. Hold the party streamers …“

From Vanity Fair: “Huma Abedin Is Finally Separating From Anthony Weiner“

You get the drift.

The use of “finally” in this context is so judge-y. It implies that Abedin has come to her senses–apparently, sense that she hasn’t been using all along–after a long delay, and that she should have left Weiner ages ago. It implies that speaker would have done differently in Abedin’s shoes. It implies that Abedin has done something wrong by trying to maintain her marriage, despite her husband’s online sexcapades with strangers.

Think I’m reaching here? While most sites just imply that Abedin screwed up staying, in a NY Daily News article “Finally! What took Huma so long to kick Weiner to the curb?” writer Linda Stati flatly called Abedin a “doormat” and blamed her for Weiner’s escalating behavior.

“Why did this doormat of a wife wait until photos surfaced of him doing something so unspeakably perverse and harmful to their child — sexting photos of his erect penis in his shorts with their young son next to him — to separate from him?” Stati asked.

Um. How was Abedin supposed to know her husband was going to do all that?

Abedin isn’t the problem here. She was a married woman who wanted to keep her family intact. Or she loved her husband and wanted to keep him. Or she… wait! Do I really need to list excuses to justify why a married woman stayed with her husband? I mean, it’s a marriage, not a high school fling. You’re not supposed to call it quits at the first sign of trouble (unless there’s abuse, at which point: run far and fast). You’re supposed to try to make it work. It’s not like Abedin knew her husband was going to keep on with his shenanigans and eventually drag their son into it. Weiner went to counseling. And I’m sure he swore he changed and would never sext again.

I wouldn’t have judged Abedin if she left Weiner the first or second time he betrayed her and put the livelihood of their family in jeopardy and publicly embarrassed her. Marriage is hard. I completely understand why people divorce. And I also understand why spouses stay, even in bad situations. I mean, vows of forever-ever were taken. And though Weiner didn’t stick to his, Abedin tried to keep them even when her husband was acting a damn fool. She believed in her marriage and she believed in her husband. Isn’t that what we tell wives that they are supposed to do? So why is there so much criticism for a wife who does it?

Abedin stood by her man and even it’s not the choice you think you would make in her shoes, it’s the choice she made for her family and we shouldn’t characterize a woman’s desire to keep an intact family unit as poor decision. The poor decisions here were made by Anthony Weiner, who has repeatedly made a mockery of his marriage and of himself by sending raunchy pictures to strangers all over the Internet. His actions have cost him his reputation, career and wife. He did this to himself, and we should finally stop blaming his wife for his mistakes.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

From Disney animation comes the live action film, The Jungle Book, based on the classic books by Rudyard Kipling. A contemporary reboot of the beloved 1967 film, it captures your attention from the opening scene and holds through to the very end. Its stellar voice talent cast supports newcomer, young Neel Sethi who plays Mowgli. The story follows the man-cub Mowgli who flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan. Guided by Bagheera the panther and the bear Baloo, Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ryan R. comments, “What I like most about this movie is the 3D animation and the voice acting. The animals look so realistic and the sets look amazing as well with very detailed backgrounds. What I liked about the bonus features on the Blu-ray disc is a feature called, The Jungle Book Reimagined which shows ideas for the remake of The Jungle Book and Neel Sethi’s experience while acting on the set.” Willie J. adds, “Having now see three versions of the Rudyard Kipling classic, I can honestly say that Jon Favreau’s 2016 adaptation reigns supreme. I know that may come as a far-fetched opinion for the faithful fans of the 1967 animated classic, but open your mind to the possibility that this version is above the rest.” Tre’ana H. wraps it up with, ” Director, Jon Favreau’s fantastic adaptation of the story and his devotion to the animals cherish exceeded my expectations. The special effects and 3D portrayal of all the animals are breathtakingly awesome.” See their full reviews below.

The Jungle Book (Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital HD)
Reviewed by Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

I enjoyed watching the Blu-ray/DVD combo of The Jungle Book about Mowgli (Neel Sethi) who is the only man cub in the jungle. He wants to be a wolf, but in reality he’s not. He is raised by wolves and he feels he has a nice life. Then one day Shere Khan (Idris Elba) threatens Mowgli’s life. While the wolves argue about whether or not Mowgli should leave for the safety of the pack, Mowgli decides for them and leaves. He ventures out to find the man village. On his way to the man village, he meets many enemies and friends like King Louie (Christopher Walken), Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) and Baloo (Bill Murray). What will happen next? Will he make it to the man village? Does Shere Khan catch him? You just have to watch the movie to find out.

What I liked about the bonus features on the Blu-ray disc is a feature called, The Jungle Book Reimagined which shows ideas for the remake of The Jungle Book and Neel Sethi’s experience while acting on the set. This shows the relationship between Neel and the director. There is also a bonus audio commentary feature from the director, Jon Favreau, which is great because you get to hear what he was thinking when making the movie. Another added bonus allows you to go to the scene selection and select the scene you want, plus there is a setup feature so you can insert your own settings. There is also a DVD version included and a download code to download a digital copy if you would prefer to use that versus the discs.

What I like about this movie are the CGIs which are so realistic that you think the sets are real because they are so incredibly detailed. The animals look realistic as well and the backgrounds are very intricate. But, as I learned in the Blu-ray feature “I am Mowgli”, it shows that it was all done on green screen, which makes this film more incredible because most of it isn’t real! The voice acting is superb. Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken and many others truly bring the animals to life with their outstanding voice over work. Speaking about Christopher Walken, another bonus feature is “King Louie’s Temple Layer by Layer”. It shows you how the “I Wan’na Be Like You” scene was created. It is very interesting to watch how the orchestra, Christopher Walken, the storyboard and green screens worked together to make that sequence. Finally, the music is superb and adds so much more energy and excitement to the movie. It just makes the scenes more interesting than they would be without such compelling music.

What you should know about this film is that there are many intense scenes. Even I jumped out of my seat a few times. This isn’t a movie for children below age 9 and is definitely a “know your kid” type of movie. I also didn’t like how King Louie doesn’t look as friendly as in the original movie. Aside from that, this movie is truly outstanding entertainment.

I recommend this film to kids ages 9 to 18. People who like action, adventure and comedy movies will surely enjoy this. It does have intense scenes and will make you jump but I give it 4 out of 5 stars and love all the bonus features on the DVD/Blu-ray/Digital HD which is available August 30, 2016.

The Jungle Book

By Tre’ana Hickson, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

After analyzing this film, I really appreciated it because it is family oriented and explores the relationship of a young man. This film made me wonder if something happened to my parents who would take care of me. I love the fact that the animated jungle animals look so real and talk like human beings. This film blends adventure, drama, fantasy and family in an entertaining story. I enjoyed this film because of the way it takes a classic story and turns it into something amazing. Director Jon Favreau’s fantastic adaptation of the story and his devotion to the animals cherish exceeded my expectations. The special effects and 3D portrayal of all the animals are breathtakingly awesome.

The story follows the man-cub Mowgli (Neel Sethi) who departs the jungle after a threat from the tiger, Shere Khan (Idris Elba). The panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) serves as his protector and keeps him out of harms way until Baloo the Bear (Bill Murray) comes on board and joins the team. Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery and meets creatures along the way who don’t have his best interests at heart. The film shows his innocence and you have to respect and honor him.

I loved the scene when Baloo the Bear and Mowgli go to the lake with Mowgli sitting on Baloo’s stomach as they float down the river. I really adored this moment because it is hilarious and it reminded me of a special time I spent with my friends in the pool. A bond is formed that you knew could not be broken.

The message of this film is do not ever hold a grudge against someone because of something that happened in the past. Try to make amends because life is too short and precious. Live each moment to the fullest. That is what Mowgli realizes and does. You should always give someone a chance to fit in.

I recommend this film for ages 7 to 18 because they will definitely be entertained. I give it 5 out of 5 Stars because it is child friendly, hilarious, exciting and enjoyable it even though some terrifying moments exist. This movie is now available on DVD/Blu-ray/Digital HD so, check it out.

The Jungle Book
By Willie Jones, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

Having now see three versions of the Rudyard Kipling classic, I can honestly say that Jon Favreau’s 2016 adaptation reigns supreme. I know that may come as a far-fetched opinion for the faithful fans of the 1967 animated classic, but open your mind to the possibility that this version is above the rest.

The darker, more realistic tone of this live-action adventure is a sharp contrast to the lighter tone of the 1967 musical comedy. That may be off-putting to some fans, but once you’re swept up in the visual splendor of the movie, the story becomes ever more engaging. Speaking of which, don’t be surprised if a few elements of the 1967 version’s story aren’t in this one or are rearranged.

Jon Favreu gives the story the proper grandeur it deserves. He uses lush art direction and sweeping cinematography to make the story look bigger. Visual effects aside, the aesthetic of the film gets across the monumental stature a family adventure should have. Combine the visuals with the score of John Debney and you’ll find beauty and thrills that bring back a child like wonder.

One thing I really appreciate is the way the film treats the animals as characters, not denying them close-ups or treating them as spectacles. They are instead, portrayed as natural beings within the world of the screenplay. It enhances the brilliant voice acting of the cast. Speaking of which, I hope this film can rekindle the campaign to get voice acting a category with the major awards. Idris Elba is perfectly evil. Ben Kingsley and Bill Murray provide such natural and fitting voice work. And, Scarlett Johansson and Christopher Walken steal the show. Their scenes are the highlights of the movie and are easily the most memorable.

This movie is an overall construction of perfect cinematic elements. Disney has hit a grand slam with The Jungle Book as it will be etched in the memories of audiences for decades. I say this film is one of the best films of this decade and maybe even the last ten years.

With that said, I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. It is available now on DVD/Blu-ray/Digital HD.

Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

Tre’ana H., KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, Age 12

Willie J., KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, Age 17

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

While bombastic Republican nominee Donald Trump remains the most unpopular major-party presidential nominee in modern U.S. history, Hillary Clinton is not faring much better ― a new poll found that she is currently the most disliked she has ever been 25 years of public life.

Just 41 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic presidential nominee, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Wednesday. It also found that 56 percent have an unfavorable view of her, a record high for the poll.

That’s a sharp decline from three years ago when Americans had record favorable views of Clinton (67 percent) and near-record low unfavorable views (26 percent). It’s also a significant decline from just a month ago when Americans were more evenly split in their attitude on Clinton in the Post-ABC poll with 48 percent having a favorable view and 50 percent an unfavorable view.

The survey also found that Clinton’s favorability dropped significantly among groups of Americans who have been supportive of the candidate, including women, Hispanics and liberals. 

The Post-ABC Wednesday poll findings align with another recent survey, from YouGov/Economist, which also found Clinton with a record high unfavorable rating (58 percent) and a declining favorable rating (41 percent).

HuffPost Pollster, which aggregates publicly available polling data, gives Clinton an average 41 percent favorable rating and a nearly 55 percent unfavorable rating.

A Monmouth University poll released Monday had similar findings, reporting that nearly one-third do not have a favorable view of Clinton or Trump.

“The number of voters who cannot bring themselves to voice a positive opinion of either presidential nominee is more than three times higher than in any other election in recent memory. This is unprecedented,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. “This is truly extraordinary. It seems like a significant number of voters are backing a presidential candidate about whom they cannot say anything positive.”

It’s not clear what is driving the change in Americans’ view of Clinton. In general, polls have been tightening modestly between the Democratic nominee and Trump since Clinton opened up a wide lead following last month’s Democratic National Convention. Clinton has also been plagued by the email scandal over using her private server during her time as secretary of state, as well as more recent criticism over alleged improprieties stemming from the Clinton Foundation.

While these recent surveys may be alarming for Clinton and her supporters, on average, she’s still more well liked than Trump, who hovers around 60 percent in his unfavorable rating and just 34 percent in favorability, according to HuffPost Pollster’s average: 

The ABC/Post poll surveyed 1,020 adults between Aug. 24 and Aug. 28, using live interviewers to reach both landlines and cell phones.

Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

My mother raised me vegetarian in the ’90s for health (not ethical) reasons. Considering it was nearly 30 years ago, raising a vegetarian child then was probably as rare as raising a vegan child today.

I remember my mother explaining to school faculty what I was and wasn’t allowed to eat. She’d pack a lunch for functions and birthday parties and stock my grandmother’s fridge with vegetarian meats when I visited every summer.

It was just our way of life. I didn’t think much of it until I became an adult. Now that I’m vegan and understand the harms of the meat and dairy industries, I realize my mother did me an incredible service by raising a meatless child.

I’d assume any parent raising their child(ren) vegan knows it’s the right thing to do, but I can also imagine the questions and pushback from friends, family, school faculty, and Italian lawmakers can be a nuisance. I just wanted to remind you that you rock.

Here’s a peek at my trajectory. It obviously won’t apply to every veggie kid, but my story may give some insight into what your child may experience.

I got made fun of
I was never tormented or bullied, but I was always the odd-kid-out when food was involved. The criticism from kids wasn’t half as bad as the comments from adults. Parents and teachers always implied that my mother was harming me by keeping meat off my plate.

What got me through was the the daily assurance from my mother than not eating meat is what’s best. My education at home prepared me to handle the judgment.

I turned my friends on to vegan food
Sharing vegan food has been part of me since I was young. It wasn’t to create change, it was to get people to stop thinking I’m weird for not eating animals.

I’d cut pieces of my vegetarian meats for my classmates to try. When friends came to visit, they ate the same veggie dogs I ate and loved them.

As an adult, sharing vegan food has been the most effective strategy for getting friends and family to adopt plant-based diets. It stemmed from my childhood and is still going strong today.

I experimented in adulthood
I spent a good chunk of young adulthood wavering among being vegetarian, pescatarian, and full-out omnivore.

But I never ate meat for long stretches of time. My foundation was set in stone. Even when I wavered, the discomfort I felt and cravings for vegetables brought me back to my childhood diet.

What I appreciate was my mom letting me make my own decisions once I moved out of her house. She never made me feel guilty for eating animals, but her commitment to her lifestyle was an inspiration even as an adult.

I found my way back
During my last sway from pescatarianism to vegetarianism, I realized I needed to give up eggs and cheese if I had any chance of sticking to a proper way of eating.

I went plant-based first and vegan soon after learning more about animal exploitation. Now, I’m a committed ethical vegan with a business dedicated to getting omnivores to stop eating animals.

So that’s my journey. A kid that was raised still eating animal secretions with only a vague understanding of animal ethics evolved into a vegan who works hard to convert others. If that’s what I became, imagine what your vegan children are capable of.

Every few months, I thank my mother for the way she raised me. The foundation she set prepared me for a healthy, happy, and meaningful life–I know you’re doing the same for your children.

For more on my initiative to get our friends and family to go vegan, visit Wanyama Box.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.