“New adult” fiction may be heating up a bookstore near you. | Source: Shutterstock

I read this pretty interesting article on Today.com all about the rise of “new adult” fiction. So what is it exactly? “New adult” refers to books that focuses on characters of the college and post-grad age range from 18-24 years old. Obviously in that time of your life, you go through a lot of changes and experiences. The thing though that these books really explore? The sex.

Let me start by saying that I am all for authors writing about whatever they want. I love reading books off the ALA’s Frequently Challenged Books list, and most of you have probably read some too. Writers should write about topics that make people (even me sometimes) uncomfortable, because that’s what makes you think.

Freedom of speech is super important, and I also think there is value in writing about real-life situations, and sex is definitely one of those topics. It’s not something to be embarrassed about, and I think having characters that show that can be really important. It’s promising if publishers want to create content older teens can really relate to.

I guess though while reading this article (especially with references to 50 Shades of Grey being mentioned by multiple interviewees), the one thing that just has me a little nervous about the genre is it seems things could end up being more interested in selling copies rather than rewarding stories. For example, one of things that kind of caught me off-guard was the idea that one publisher chose to publish a book and then an “uncensored” version.

Here’s my confusion with that: Are the books just being released with this added sexual stuff because they think it is a better move selling-wise? That’s just kind of annoying. Or, is it because the characters’ sexual experiences are really important to the story and characters’ journeys? If the answer to that question is “yes” (and if so, great!), then I guess I don’t get why you wouldn’t you just insist on selling it from the get-go with those scenes included.

A more open attitude in the publishing world in terms of content is definitely something to applaud. I’m totally all for these books to explore sexuality in more detail because it is definitely a topic that weighs on the minds of the 18-24 year old set. It’s certainly not wrong to write about or read about.

If there’s a great “new adult” story centered around sex, then awesome! There’s also a whole host of other topics that I think would make for really interesting “new adult” fiction stories as well because the ages of 18-24 can be a really tumultuous time for a bunch of reasons. Of course, you can certainly have sex and also other coming-of-age topics all in one book! At the same time, I also don’t think “new adult” authors would always need to then wedge a sex scene in there somewhere just to get people to appreciate this genre that I think has a lot of awesome potential and openness.

Have you heard of the “new adult” genre? What types of stories would you hope “new adult” fiction authors would tell? Tell us in the comments!

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Can acne medication like Accutane cause suicide? | Source: ShutterStock

Accutane used to a prescription-only oral acne medication in the U.S., and it was supposed to only be prescribed for the most severe cases of acne as a total last resort. But after reports of Accutane users becoming depressed and committing suicide grew more and more rampant, the drug was pulled from the market. There were also a slew of lawsuits against Roche, the company behind Accutane, for causing “inflammatory bowels.” You can imagine how pleasant that would be. (Ew.)

However, Accutane is still sold overseas. A new epidemic of Accutane-related suicide cases have risen in the U.K., and there are cries to pull the medication–known there as Roaccutane–from pharmacies.

This may seem like it doesn’t have too much of an effect on you if you live in the states, but it does. It’s really easy to buy medications like Accutane online without a prescription. You might be tempted to try it out if your own acne treatments from your dermatologist don’t do the trick. Please don’t. Not only is it illegally, but it’s so dangerous, because you have no one to go to if you have weird side effects like depression or worse. Clear skin is not worth your life!

Have you ever had bad experiences with Accutane? Do you know anyone who’s been suicidal because of Accutane? Do you think Accutane causes suicide or that there’s more to the story than that? Do you think Accutane was rightfully pulled from shelves? Tell us in the comments!

What do guys think of girls with acne? Find out!

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If younger kids can do it, so can we! | Source: ShutterStock

Quick survey: What was the last act of kindness you did for someone? Did it make you feel happy? Did it make you feel… popular?

A new study of 400 pre-teens found that among the participants, students who did kind deeds not only felt happier, but they were also shown to be favored among their classmates. The students studied were made up of 9-12 year olds who were put in two groups. The first kept track of “happy places” that they went, and the second group was asked to do kind deeds.

Four weeks later, both groups of students were asked not only about their own happiness, but what students they would want to work with at school. Individuals from both groups reported that they felt happier, but those in the second group were also more often chosen as desired class partners by their fellow participants.

I’ve said before that I think the word “popular” gets a bad rap. I see nothing wrong with being well-liked among your peers for creating a more positive experience for others. So often in movies, popularity is associated solely with wealth or power, so its kind of reassuring to see people responding to attributes like kindness.

Now granted, I don’t think popularity should be a motivating factor in your decision to do something nice, and I think that’s why anonymous acts of kindness really speak volumes. I think what speaks to me regarding “popularity” is more of the idea that when kindness is done, others respect that quality and want to be a part of the environment created — like wanting to work with those students on classwork. It could feel good though to know that your good deeds are drawing others in to be a part of that positivity. These researchers hope that this kind of continued kind behavior could curb bullying in schools, especially since they say it tends to start around the age of the study participants.

Now, I know this group that was part of the study probably younger than most of you, but I think there is still something inspiring that we can all take away from this, no matter what age we are. In the recent weeks, people have responded to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School by participating in the #26Acts campaign that was sparked by NBC News correspondent Ann Curry. The idea is simple — undertake acts of kindness in memory of those killed at Sandy Hook. Buzzfeed compiled a collection of some people’s kind acts and I will admit that I cried as I was reading it.

I know for me, I don’t do nearly enough acts of kindness. Yeah I’ll show my general manners and cast a smile, but I’m talking about doing something that maybe inconveniences me just a little bit, but the knowledge that it’ll make someone else happy outweighs it. I’ve shared how happy it has made me to give back, but I won’t lie and act like it’s not something I could do more. I know many make jokes around this time of year about New Year’s resolutions falling through and all that, but with something as simple as acts of kindness, I think that’s something everyone — whether kids, pre-teens, teens or adults — could try to do a little bit more in 2013.

What sorts of acts of kindness do you do on a regular basis (or would like to do in the future)? How do you feel after completing a kind act? Do you think that niceness has an effect on popularity? Let us know in the comments!

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Philadelphia is battling a high STD rate with a free condom program. Do you think it’s a good idea? | Source: ShutterStock

Philadelphia is using common sense–the city’s fighting a growing STD epidemic among teens by installing free condom dispensers within its high schools.

The city has had huge problems with STD rates among teenagers, so the move to put in free condom dispensers at the nurse’s offices in 22 schools in Philadelphia is smart. (Obviously, abstinence is the only way to 100 percent prevent STDs, but that’s not that realistic–and it’s a lot more effective for sex education to teach not just abstinence, but also safe sex.)

Philadelphia students can also get free STD testing in their schools, which is so important when you consider that 5 percent of students who have been tested were positive for STDs including HIV. That may not sound like a lot, but think of it this way: That’s 1 in 20 people, so there’s probably one in your homeroom! That sounds like a ton more, right? So scary! In fact, the free STD testing is what led to the free condom program. The results were so dire and so dangerous that Philadelphia officials felt they needed to take action. 1 in 4 people infected with HIV in Philadelphia is between 13 and 24 years old, and the city has recently seen chlamydia and gonorrhea rates up by almost 50 percent!

“Less than 60 percent of kids who are sexually active report having used condoms the last time they had sex,” Philly’s health commissioner Dr. Donald F. Schwarz told the Daily News. “We want to get to that 40 percent who haven’t used a condom.”

The City of Brotherly Love isn’t the only one to promote safe sex with free condoms in high schools. 418 other schools nationwide, including in New York City, are encouraging sexually active students to always use a condom and are eliminating the potential embarrassment of a trip to CVS by giving them out for free. Students can even order free condoms online if they don’t want to go to the office. Springfield, Massachusetts even made headlines when they released free condoms not just in high school, but also middle school–giving contraception for free to people as young as 11 years old.

Dr. Schwarz even said that the STD rate is dropping. “For the first time in four years, we saw a decline in STIs among adolescents by 5 to 6 percent,” he said.

There is a catch to the Philadelphia free condom program, though. If a student’s parents opt out of it, nurses can’t hand over contraception to them. Still, even if parents think condom dispensers will encourage people to have sex, that’s not really the case. The Center for Disease Control reports that condom distribution programs like the ones in Philadelphia not only increase condom use and lower STD rates for young adults, but they also actually delay sexual activity–so it also in a way encourages you to be both safe and maybe wait on having sex.

Sounds like a win-win to us!

Do you think a free condom distribution program like the ones in Philadelphia and New York City are a good idea? Do you think free condom programs are a good way to promote safe sex and prevent STDs? Do you think a free condom program encourages young adults to have sex? Do you have any other ideas on how to lower the Philadelphia STD rate? Tell us in the comments!

Guess who always says to use a condom?

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A new study says drinking alcohol may be worse for your brain than smoking weed is. But does that mean marijuana is safe? | Source: ShutterStock

You’ve probably heard that drinking alcohol and smoking weed are pretty bad for you, but is one worse than the other? Turns out, the answer is yes. And it’s probably not what you think.

A new study says that for teens, smoking weed is actually not as dangerous in terms of brain damage as drinking alcohol is. Researchers did a bunch of tests on 92 people between the ages of 16 and 20. Half of them already drank alcohol and used marijuana regularly, while the other half either abstained completely or kept their use down to a minimum.

Here’s what they found through brain scans over time: Teens who drank five or more alcoholic beverages twice a week or more–essentially binge drinking–had damage to their brain tissue that could cause memory loss, attention deficit problems, and issues with decision making not only immediately, but also later in life going into adulthood. (Ruh roh!) One of the researchers explained that it becomes a pretty vicious cycle when that happens: “If teens decrease their tissue health and cognitive ability to inhibit themselves, they might become more likely to engage in risky behavior like excessive substance use.” Yikes!

A separate study showed that drinking alcohol lowered test scores, and it happened differently for girls and guys. Girls had a harder time with reading comprehension and interpreting visuals, while guys just struggled to pay attention to what they were doing. (So if you planned on boozing up, we’re not going to tell you what to do–but you just might want to wait until after you take your SATs.)

Meanwhile, the test subjects who kept on smoking weed showed very little to no brain damage. Pretty interesting considering one is legal when you’re 21 and the other isn’t (depending on where you live, that is), isn’t it?

Still, don’t get too excited about the effects of marijuana (or the apparent lack thereof) just yet. The scientists in the study said that a lot of research results on marijuana haven’t been consistent because there are a lot of variables involved. “One reason is that marijuana can really vary. Different strains contain different levels of THC and other marijuana components,” one researcher explained. “For example, some studies have suggested one component, cannabidiol, may actually have neuroprotective effects.” (Basically, different types of marijuana can affect you differently–and one component of marijuana may actually be good for you, but they’re not sure.)

One could argue that if marijuana were legalized, it could be regulated the way alcohol is, so that the different ingredients and components could be recognized and understood better, but that may not happen. And while smoking weed may not have shown brain damage in this particular study, another showed that using marijuana for a long time can actually lower your I.Q., which is pretty scary.

Do you think drinking alcohol is really more harmful than smoking weed? Do you think smoking weed has long-term negative effects? If you drink alcohol or smoke weed, have you noticed a difference in your grades? Tell us in the comments!

Is smoking weed really so bad?

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The NRA thinks images like this are an argument against gun control–and that they lead to horrific school shootings like the one in Newtown. | Source: ShutterStock

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was pretty quiet following the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that left 20 innocent children and six adults dead. But now that they’re talking, what they’re saying doesn’t make much sense.

It’s easy for everyone to look for reasons why something like this could happen. It helps if we can try to make sense out of something so unexplainable and scary, because it lets us think of ways we can prevent it from happening again. It’s a normal human reaction. But the NRA is looking in all the wrong places to pin blame. The NRA released its first statement since the tragedy today, and they’re trying to point fingers at video games. Dude, WTF?

Here’s the NRA rep’s direct quote: “There exists in this country, sadly, a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and stows violence against its own people, through vicious, violent video games with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, and Splatterhouse.”

Here’s the problem with this argument: Lots of people play video games. Most of those people have never murdered anyone. You’ve probably played a bunch of those video games that were listed, and we doubt that they inspired you to buy an automatic firearm and shoot anyone.

It may be true that people with violent tendencies are drawn to violent video games, but using that as a point in an anti-video game debate is pretty dumb. That’s sort of like saying a lot of criminals like ice cream, so ice cream probably causes crime. That’s kind of stupid, isn’t it? Adam Lanza played a lot of Starcraft. So do a lot of other people, many of whom play professionally in tournaments. So far, none of them is known to have launched a killing spree. He also played Dance Dance Revolution. How do you explain that, NRA?

The fact is,numerous studies have shown that video games don’t really have an influence nor an effect on violence, so using video games as a scapegoat is pretty ignorant. No one will really know why Adam Lanza committed what may be the most horrifying mass murder ever on U.S. soil, because he’s not around anymore to explain himself. Regardless of your stance on gun control–and there are plenty of reasons to be on either sides of that issue–we can all agree, if we do enough research, that Call of Duty didn’t cause any school shootings. And we won’t figure out what does cause gun violence if we’re too busy investigating toys.

Do you think video games have an effect on gun violence? Do you agree with the NRA that video games are more to blame than guns for violence? Do you enjoy violent video games? Why do you think the NRA took so long to respond to the Newtown shootings? Tell us in the comments!

Need help coping with the Newtown tragedy? Find it here.

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With the new marijuana laws, smoking weed isn’t seen as that a big deal anymore. | Source: Shutterstock

If you’re in that camp, you’re not alone. A new study says that teens think smoking weed occasionally isn’t a big deal at all, especially in places where it’s considered okay in the eyes of the law. Research says that 41.7 percent of eighth graders think smoking marijuana once in a while is harmful; 66.9 percent say smoking weed is pretty dangerous if you do it regularly.

Those numbers are way down from 1991, when the government first started looking into how young adults feel about marijuana use. And it turns out your views on smoking weed tend to change as you get older–you’re likely less opposed to it. Only about 20 percent of high school seniors said smoking weed once in a while is harmful, while 44 percent think using marijuana is bad if you do it regularly.

Of course, the government isn’t too stoked about the news. They expect increases in marijuana use now that there’s not as much of a legal stigma against smoking weed. The reason they’re up in arms about it? Studies have shown that smoking marijuana in your teens may actually result in alower I.Q. as an adult and leads to an increased chance of becoming psychologically addicted to it. (That may be part of the reason that legal marijuana is only available to those 21 and over in Washington and Colorado.)

Smoking marijuana is up in teens, but it may not be all bad news for the government: Though smoking weed has gone up pretty much across the board, fewer young adults are using other illegal drugs. That sort of kills the “gateway drug” argument against marijuana, right?

In any case, marijuana is still illegal under federal law, even though President Obama said those who use marijuana legally under Colorado and Washington’s state laws wouldn’t really be hounded it for it.

But that still means that if you live there and smoke weed if you’re not 21 yet, you’re probably still subject to trouble–so if you’re going to do it, be careful, be smart, know your rights, and know what you’re up against. Smoking weed illegally can get you in serious trouble if you’re caught. We’re not telling you what to do–you’re smart enough to make your own decisions. We just want to make sure you’re as informed as possible when you make them and that they’re the best possible for you. Because if you can’t tell, we sort of dig you here.

Do you think marijuana should be legalized? Do you think smoking weed is a big deal? Have you ever taken risks in order to smoke weed? Do you think marijuana is addictive? Do you think waiting til age 21 to smoke weed is a good rule? Tell us in the comments!

We bet these celebs are happy that smoking weed is legal in Colorado and Washington!

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Jay Leno may be leaving his perch on The Tonight Show–and we have ideas for his replacements! | Source: WENN

Jay Leno may be retiring from The Tonight Show, and there’s been a ton of talk lately about who may or may not replace him. So far the front runner appears to be Jimmy Fallon, who we absolutely love. But why not any funny ladies in Leno’s seat?

We’ve rounded up some of our favorite hilarious femmes who we think could easily do as well, if not better, that the most famous chin in America. And believe us, there were a lot to pick from, and it was hard to narrow this list down. Our criteria to do so: Not only should she be funny, but she should be inspiring and a cheerleader for the rest of us–and obviously, she’d have to be able to be clean enough for network TV!

If anyone ever uses the whole “women aren’t funny” argument around you, feel free to whip out YouTube clips of these hysterical gals to shut them up immediately. And also know that they are ignorant and idiotic. Because they are. And now, with no further adieu, our favorite laughter-inducing ladies!

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler

Source: WENN

Okay, okay–we know it’s two of them! But we’d love for them to co-host together, because we adore them both and both of their series, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, are ending soon. They’re hosting the Golden Globes together, so why not keep that ball rolling?

Mindy Kaling

Source: WENN

We’re obsessed with The Mindy Project and with Kelly Kapoor on The Office. Since the latter is coming to an end, why not fill some of that time with the same charm she used in her book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? She’s just so lovable aside from being funny. She’s real. We dig that here.

Jessica Kirson

Source: YouTube

One of the most hilarious stand up comics around and just a generally nice person. You’ve probably seen and laughed really hard at Jessica on TV before–she’s been on every imaginable show a comic can nab a spot on–and it’s about time she got her own time to shine. You can check her out on YouTube, but you might want to grab a diaper first, because you may well pee your pants laughing.

Wanda Sykes

Source: WENN

You think Wanda Sykes would let celeb guests get away with anything? Think again. Aside from being super funny and not taking anyone’s crap, Wanda is fiercely smart and vocal about LGBT issues. We absolutely love her!

Joan Rivers

Source: WENN

Joan Rivers was on the of the “permanent guest hosts” of The Tonight Show and an absolute pioneer for women in comedy. She paved the way for the rest of the females on this list! We doubt she’ll ever retire, but if she does, we’d love for it to be from one of the ultimate comedy benchmarks. Though she’s outspoken (she’s badmouthed Jay Leno himself, and we’re not a fan of the body shaming she occasionally does on Fashion Police), she’s necessary. She’s refreshing. And heck, she’s earned it.

Who’s your favorite funny lady? Who do you think should take over for Jay Leno on The Tonight Show? Do you have a favorite comedian? Tell us in the comments!

We think you can be funny no matter what you look like–and these gals prove it!

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Hey, Shutterbugs–you might want to shut that down. | Source: Shutterstock

If you’re not okay with this (and you’d have to be pretty insane to be), the only thing you can do is to delete your Instagram account before January when all this crap goes into effect. If you don’t know how to delete your account, here’s a handy guide.

Since Instagram is owned by Facebook, it makes me wonder how soon all of our Facebook pictures could be sold in the same way. Creepy stuff.

What do you think? Do you have an Instagram account? Do you think this new policy is okay, or really not okay? Tell us in the comments!

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Love the smile, hate the dress. | Source: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

Let me tell you a little story. Back in 1993 (I know, a billion years ago), I had these shirts that I loved. They buttoned up the front, and had a large, loud pattern on the main body part. I think one was hot pink roses on a black background, and the other one was black and white polka dots. Obviously, in the ’90s, this was the height of fashion . . . but it gets better (or, um, worse). Both of them had see through chiffon sleeves, and then the cuffs on the shirt were the same fabric as the patterned part. These “see through shirts,” as I called them, were my favorite thing ever, so I wore them to almost every big event, party, family gathering, anywhere where my picture might be taken. And, unbeknownst to me, I looked kind of like the God of Fashion Crimes had thrown up on me.

In recent years, I realized just how hideous these see through shirts were, and so let’s just say there aren’t many pictures remaining of me from 1993.

I honestly like a lot of outfits that Kristen Stewart wears, but this whole see through thing she’s got going on? Well, I’m really hoping that she realizes that it’s a Don’t before too long. Oof!

What do you think about see through clothes? Would you wear a dress or shirt that had see through parts? Tell me in the comments!

How To Do ’90s Fashion The Right Way!

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