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international relations and national security

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A brief history of the peace symbol | CNN

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From its origins in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the peace symbol has become one of the most widely recognized designs in history.

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Ever had someone tell you to cheer up and smile? It's probably not the most welcomed advice, especially when you're feeling sick, tired or just plain down in the dumps. But there's actually good reason to turn that frown upside down, corny as it sounds. Science has shown that the mere act of smiling can lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune system and possibly even prolong your life.

It's a pretty backwards idea, isn't it? Happiness is what makes us smile; how can the reverse also be true? The fact is, as Dr. Isha Gupta a neurologist from IGEA Brain and Spine explains, a smile spurs a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing certain hormones including dopamine and serotonin. "Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness. Serotonin release is associated with reduced stress. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and aggression," says Dr. Gupta. "Low levels of dopamine are also associated with depression."

Fake It Till You Make It

In other words, smiling can trick your brain into believing you're happy which can then spur actual feelings of happiness. But it doesn't end there. Dr. Murray Grossan, an ENT-otolaryngologist in Los Angeles points to the science of psychoneuroimmunology (the study of how the brain is connected to the immune system), asserting that it has been shown "over and over again" that depression weakens your immune system, while happiness on the other hand has been shown to boost our body's resistance.

"What's crazy is that just the physical act of smiling can make a difference in building your immunity," says Dr. Grossan. "When you smile, the brain sees the muscle [activity] and assumes that humor is happening."

In a sense, the brain is a sucker for a grin. It doesn't bother to sort out whether you're smiling because you're genuinely joyous, or because you're just pretending.

"Even forcing a fake smile can legitimately reduce stress and lower your heart rate," adds Dr. Sivan Finkel, a cosmetic dentist at NYC's The Dental Parlour. " A study performed by a group at the University of Cardiff in Wales found that people who could not frown due to botox injections were happier on average than those who could frown."

And there are plenty more studies out there to make you smile (or at least, serve as reference for why you should). Researchers at the University of Kansas published findings that smiling helps reduce the body's response to stress and lower heart rate in tense situations; another study linked smiling to lower blood pressure, while yet another suggests that smiling leads to longevity.

Smiling Helps On A Day-To-Day Basis

Studies aside, there are plenty of living, breathing, smiling humans who can testify to the fact that looking the part of happy helps them get through the day.

"Smiling absolutely changes the way I think and feel," says Jaime Pfeffer, a success coach and meditation instructor based in Florida. "My husband and I purposely spend 60 seconds every morning smiling to supercharge our mood. It's part of our morning routine. If something goes awry during the day, I usually use smiling to quickly shift my mood. It only take 10 to 15 seconds for it to make a difference for me now. It helps me to feel less stressed, transform my mood quickly and put things in a different perspective."

Pfeffer adds that she recommends smiling to all her clients, particularly when they're dealing with long days or tedious work. "One of my clients last week told me smiling for 30 seconds at a time a few times per day helps him stay upbeat when doing sales calls. He said the task can get old after a while, but the smiling helps him stay more energized and avoid burnout."

Travel writer Clemens Sehi uses a smile not just to feel better, but also as a way of setting an amicable tone with strangers abroad.

"When traveling there is one thing that one realizes quite fast: a smile can change everything. It can open doors and the hearts of other people whose culture you do not even know. A smile is the most international language that everyone knows."

How Smiling Goes Viral

A smile is also something that is easy to pass on. Much like yawning, smiling is contagious.

"This is because we have mirror neurons that fire when we see action," says Dr. Eva Ritzo, a psychiatrist and the co-author of "The Beauty Prescription: The Complete Formula for Looking and Feeling Beautiful." As its name suggests, mirror neurons enable us to copy or reflect the behavior we observe in others and have been linked to the capacity for empathy.

On a less mechanical level, there's also the idea that when we see a smile, we want to reciprocate because we feel endeared.

"Smiling is contagious not just because of how a smile looks from the outside, but also because of the intention and the feeling that is put behind a smile," says Jasmine Wang, communications manager at Smile Train, a charity providing corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates. "When someone smiles at you, you feel the good vibes from them, which makes you want to pass a smile on the next person, and so on and so forth. We should make a conscious effort not to take smiles from our loved ones for granted, and to keep in mind that across the globe a smile can mean so much more than a simple facial movement."

A smile's contagion is so potent, that we may even be able to catch one from ourselves. Dr. Ritzo recommends smiling at yourself in the mirror, an act she says not only triggers our mirror neurons, but can also help us calm down and re-center if we're feeling low or anxious.

It turns out there's solid evidence that smiling can do us a world of good. Since researching this piece I've been conducting my own little smile experiments. I tried smiling when I tensed up in traffic yesterday, and again during a rigorous workout and then today when I woke up with a headache. I found that it feels completely incongruous to smile when I'm tense or tired, and there's a strange sense of departing a comfort zone. But I have to admit, instantly I was calmer, less upset and, maybe just ever so slightly for a second, smiling made me feel happy.

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Smiling can trick your brain into happiness - and boost your health

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Ever had someone tell you to cheer up and smile? It's probably not the most welcomed advice, especially when you're feeling sick, tired or just plain down in the dumps. But there's actually good reason to turn that frown upside down, corny as it sounds.

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Khalid - Young Dumb & Broke (Official Video)

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CLOSE
Nick Sandmann and the students of Covington have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be. - President Donald Trump in a tweet on Jan. 22
President Trump is right. Fake News is evil. But it's possible we have a different take on what Fake News really is.

Fake News for the purpose of this exercise is information that is blatantly false, created with the malicious intent of misinforming the public. The dissemination of false information is as old as the written word, but the term Fake News is relatively new, cementing itself into our vernacular during the 2016 election. An example was cited in a recent Stanford University study that examined how false news stories may have affected voting patterns:
... In July 2016, the now-defunct website wtoe5news.com reported that Pope Francis had endorsed Donald Trump's presidential candidacy. The WTOE 5 News "About" page disclosed that it is "a fantasy news website. Most articles on wtoe5news.com are satire or pure fantasy," but this disclaimer was not included in the article. The story was shared more than 1 million times on Facebook.
As damaging as Fake News is to a country that depends on an informed electorate, there is a trend I find equally troubling: our growing propensity to stick the Fake News label on any and all news coverage that doesn't support our political views.

When the 60-second video of the confrontation between Covington Catholic High School students and demonstrators on the National Mall went viral - the now infamous clip of student Nicholas Sandmann appearing to smirk in the face of Omaha Tribe elder Nathan Phillips - The Enquirer was faced with a challenge. How do we report on the situation without contributing to the rush to judgment that erupted on social media? Let me walk you through our thought process.

Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann stands in front of Omaha Tribe elder Nathan Phillips in an image taken from a video provided by the Survival Media Agency. (Photo: Survival Media Agency via AP)

The Enquirer, like other news organizations, has been burned in the past by using social media as a primary source, especially in the early stages of a developing story. We did not want that to be the case here, and for good reason.

The national spotlight was on our community. We live here. Work here. Our kids go to school here. Once the national media move onto the next big story, we're still here reporting the news from our hometown. We rightfully need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. But we also can't ignore a controversy that involves a local institution as prominent as Covington Catholic.

Rather than add to the speculation or cast blame, we stuck to what we knew and only what we knew. Our first headline: "Covington Catholic faces backlash over video." That was an irrefutable fact.

When nearly two hours of additional video emerged, the nation's collective rush to judgment became apparent. We saw the hate speech hurled by members of the Black Hebrew Israelites, first directed to participants of the Indigenous Peoples March and then toward the Covington Catholic students. The Enquirer reviewed all available footage and was among the first major media outlets to produce a timeline that showed the confusing, complicated series of events that led to the confrontation.

Did this exonerate the Covington Catholic students? For some, yes. Others say no, pointing out some students were observed doing the "tomahawk chop" to the beating of Phillips' drum. Like a Rorschach inkblot test, people see what they want to see based on their life experience.

Some Enquirer readers, especially those with ties to Covington Catholic, have been critical of our coverage, lumping us with those who have politicized the incident on their social media feeds. I think that's unfair and, frankly, misinformed. Others have questioned why we initially published a story before taking the time to report it completely. That's a fair point to consider and one we wrestle with constantly in the digital age, when anyone with a smartphone can publish a video to the masses in a matter of seconds.

Our role as a local news organization is to be a reliable source for news and information, especially when a story goes viral and conflicting narratives emerge. I think it's important that we quickly "plant our flag" in a developing story so readers and viewers know we're out there doing our jobs, reporting the story in real time. Those are the demands of the digital age.

Did we plant the flag too early? That's a judgment call not everyone will agree with, so I accept the criticism. What I won't accept are accusations that we acted irresponsibly. On the contrary, it was our reporting, shared nationally through the USA TODAY Network, that helped give people a more accurate understanding of the confrontation.

Which brings us back to the president's tweet. Are the students victims of Fake News? Considering the Twitter account that published the first video, @2020fight, was shut down by the social network for being fake, I would have to say yes. But that doesn't mean we can dismiss the whole episode.

Nick Sandmann and the students of Covington have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be. They have captivated the attention of the world, and I know they will use it for the good - maybe even to bring people together. It started off unpleasant, but can end in a dream!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019

As news consumers, we must be discerning and not take the bait. If a story seems unbelievable and absent from other recognized news sources, it's probably fake. Or at best, twisted to support a political agenda.

But we also must guard against closing our minds and dismissing anything we might disagree with as Fake News. Doing so will only make our divisions deeper.
Beryl Love is editor and vice president of news for The Enquirer.
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Beryl (Photo: Enquirer)

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Fake News played a role in the CovCath story. But like the confrontation, it's not that simple

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CLOSE Nick Sandmann and the students of Covington have become symbols of Fake News and how evil it can be. - President Donald Trump in a tweet on Jan. 22 President Trump is right. Fake News is evil. But it's possible we have a different take on what Fake News really is.

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Frank Stephens' POWERFUL Speech On Down Syndrome

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Frank Stephens, a young man living with Down Syndrome, gives a powerful speech on his life experience and the importance of people living with Down Syndrome in science and research.

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15 Easy Ways to Become Environmentally Friendly - Conserve Energy Future

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Being environmentally friendly simply means having a lifestyle that are better for the environment. Its all about taking small steps towards mother earth so as to make this planet a better place for our communities and generations to come.

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"Style" is a misunderstood word.

For many, it's a term reserved for high fashion magazines and the upper echelon, conjuring up an image akin to a scene from The Devil Wears Prada. But in reality, style is for the everyday person, both men, and women.

Unfortunately, "style" has become muddled with so many other words, meanings, and connotations, that we've lost an understanding of how valuable it is to the average man and woman. We forget that the clothing we wear has a practical impact as well as psychological, social, and emotional.

On a basic level, we all instinctively understand the power of clothing. Nobody would show up to a job interview or a first date in sweatpants. We know that how we dress is important because it reflects who we are as people.

Recent studies have also shown the cognitive impact of how we dress. The Association for Psychological Science reports, "The formality of clothing might not only influence the way others perceive a person, and how people perceive themselves but could influence decision making in important ways through its influence on processing style."

Psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman similarly explained to Marie Claire, "When you wear something that makes you feel great, the effects may be subtle - the way you tilt your head, your facial expressions - but they matter." She continued, "The right outfit can help you feel more confident when you need it most - it can serve as both armor and inspiration."

Suffice to say that while style deals with the external (clothing), it's actually deeply internal. The things we wear have the power to visually express what we cannot verbally, as well as positively influence self-perception.

Personal style reveals who we are in a way that is entirely unique to ourselves while also lifting us up to be the best versions of ourselves. Personal style is an approach, a method, a technique that has been chosen by you to best represent who you are as a person.

To put it simply, personal style matters.

But for many of us, switching our brains into "style mode" is foreign territory. Where does one even begin when wading into the unknown waters of the sartorial? To begin developing your personal style, follow these steps:
1. Avoid trends
Many people confuse trendiness with having style. "Being trendy" is actually what turns a lot of people off from pursuing style, because they associate an interest in clothing with having to keep up with what's popular. The general thought is, "Why should I care about style if these clothes aren't going to be cool in a few months?"

Style, believe it or not, has nothing to do with being trendy. In fact, trends are the antithesis of personal style, because they only occur when the masses buy into them. Massive fast fashion stores perpetuate the idea that you must dress that way in order to be "relevant" and "cool."

But personal style is just that - personal. It can't be dictated by stores or magazines.

Personal style stems from an authentic attraction to an item. Even deeper than that, as humans always seeking to express and find beauty and goodness, clothing can manifest our own internal beauty in a tangible way. Personal style dignifies us by expressing the unique beauty by which we were made.

So forget about trends, and focus on the items you are actually drawn to and represent who you are.

2. Discover who inspires you

Developing your personal style requires looking both inward and outward. If you don't even know where to begin, consider the style hall of famers like Audrey Hepburn, Steve McQueen, Grace Kelly, and Cary Grant who put their own iconic spin on classic items.

For an even more general search, type "female style icons" or "male style icons" into Google or Pinterest. Thousands of articles and images of stylish men and women throughout the past 50 years will pop up. As you sift through images of impeccable ensembles, begin collecting them on Pinterest or in a Google doc.

Start noting the main themes that attract you to outfits you've saved. Are they more classic? Are they bold and experimental? Super feminine or masculine? Casual or pulled together? Look for connections like a vintage aesthetic, an academic quirkiness, or a modern minimalism. Organize your favorite styles by common themes. Note the items, colors, textures, and fabrics you are repeatedly drawn to.

Increased awareness of the styles you're drawn to makes it easier to develop your own.
3. Test it out
Being a copycat gets a bad rap, and while it's true that your style should be unique to you, you should test out different outfits before committing to a certain look. Finding your personal style is a process that takes plenty of trial and error, but experimenting is half the fun! And don't worry, this doesn't mean purchasing, wearing, and returning clothes.

Trying out a different look simply means styling your clothes in a new way. Reference the images you saved in your style folder that best exhibit your desired look and consider the wardrobe you already own. How can you achieve the overall style with the items in your closet? Better yet, raid your friend's or sister's closets and borrow their clothes.

After a day of wearing those clothes, how do you feel? If you feel confident and like yourself in them, you have found style success! If you feel uncomfortable, unconfident, or like an imposter, it's probably not the right look for you.
Pro tip: If neither you nor your friends have clothes you'd like to try out, take a trip to the mall and try on outfits in the fitting room. Even a few minutes in the fitting room can give you an idea of how you feel in a certain style. 4. Consider your lifestyle
A style that doesn't suit your lifestyle is a great way to waste money on clothing you'll never wear.

Personal style is also about practicality, which is why it's vital to make sure your desired style works in your everyday life. For example, if you work predominantly at home as an entrepreneur, you'll want to stick to a more comfortable, casual style over a corporate office look.

Think about your career and everyday activities and the clothing that makes sense for that lifestyle. This doesn't mean completely disregarding the style you truly want, it just means finding ways to channel the same vibe into items you will actually wear.

For example, if you love the polished appeal of Kate Middleton but work as a stay-at-home mom, incorporate that classic look into your lifestyle. Throw a blazer over your boyfriend tee, wear a pair of ballet flats with your cuffed relaxed jeans, or tie a trench coat over your whole outfit.

If you're drawn to the modern debonair charm of David Beckham, try wearing a leather jacket or blazer over your t-shirt instead of a hoodie and swap your baggy jeans for a pair of slim, straight fit jeans.
5. Start with basic, versatile items
It's easy to think that developing your personal style means buying a ton of new, distinctive items. But creating your personal style depends upon a strong wardrobe foundation. You need items that can be easily paired together and can work for any event or occasion on your agenda.

Great style means putting together those basic items and then building upon them later with more distinct pieces that express your individual taste.

Not sure what these basic, versatile items are? They're classic items that stand the test of time. You might already own a few: plain jeans, simple slacks, button downs, neutral-colored blazers, and sweaters, etc. When trying out new looks and developing your personal style, these base items will serve as the perfect starting point.

Allow your style to begin expressing your authentic self today, and have fun discovering it along the way!

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How to Find Your Personal Style and Why It Matters

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The clothing we wear has a practical impact as well as psychological, social, and emotional. Personal style is an approach that has been chosen by you to best represent who you are as a person. Read these 5 steps for how to find your personal style.

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25 ADVANTAGES of SOCIAL MEDIA That Are Good To Keep In Mind