Burger King Revives The 'Yumbo' Breakfast Sandwich After 40 Long Years

December 2, 2014, 1:50 pm

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If you were born before 1974, you might have an affinity for Kool and the Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire and Burger King's "Yumbo" breakfast sandwich. While you can still enjoy the music every day, the last time you could have ever sunken your teeth into the ham and cheese sammy was way back when in 1974, the year it was officially retired from the menu.



Yumbo enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that after a 40-year hiatus, the hoagie is back. The fast food restaurant announced today, Dec. 2, that the hot ham and American cheese sandwich adorned with lettuce and mayonnaise will be reinstated on the menu in select Burger King establishments. The item is available for an undetermined "limited time" and will cost you $3.69. BK is going all out with the retro theme, and is promoting the sandwich with a "Yumbo Social Hotline."

Post by Burger King.

According to the press release, "callers can ‘like’, ‘comment’ and ‘share’ the YUMBO® Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwich via rotary (or smart) phones by dialing 1-844-BK-YUMBO." Yes, the phone number actually works. This "social hotline" will be open for 48 hours, so if you've got some deep thoughts on ham and cheese, you'd better pick up the phone and call now.

If you're too millennial for the phone, you can watch the Yumbo commercial below:



H/t: Consumerist



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9 Out-Of-The Box Birthday Party Ideas For Your Next Milestone Year

December 2, 2014, 1:57 pm

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So your friend or family member is turning the big 5-0 -- or some other significant birthday that ends in "0" or "5." How will you help them celebrate? Do you fill a table with 50 framed photos of moments in the life of the birthday boy or girl? Or do you hire a cover band to play songs from their favorite era? Whatever you do, the most important thing is to orchestrate a memory-creating event.

Professional party planner Carla McDonald, founder and editorial director of The Salonniere, told The Huffington Post that a milestone birthday is the perfect time to celebrate all the periods in an honoree's life.

"Be sure to invite at least a few special people from each stage of his or her life. Don't leave the toast-making to chance or it will be dominated by those currently in the honoree's life," she said. "Several weeks before the party, identify one or two guests from each stage and ask them if they'd consider saying a few words at the party. The honoree will love the chance to walk down memory lane, and the guests will enjoy the chance to learn about other aspects of the honoree's life."



Another party planner, Ricky Eisen, founder and president of Between the Bread, said to consider the important elements first -- food, venue, cocktails, decorations, types of music and how much dancing will be involved.

"For my client who is planning her party, she loves playing music. I found a cool guitar store and rented several guitars for the guests to play. There will be a fully rigged stage with a sound system," she said. " We will create a dancing area in front surrounded by café tables and chairs with small fringed lanterns to give the impression of a cabaret.

"She arranged for some friends to play and also had all of her favorite dance music on an iPad," she added. "Your guests will appreciate being involved and incorporated into the big event."

Party planners also suggest having a pound of ice per person on hand before the party starts -- yes, really -- and to assume two drinks the first hour and one drink every additional hour. Walk through the party venue as if you're a guest, to check out the flow. And, most importantly, never skimp on photography.

"Also, a milestone birthday is not the time for a surprise party, unless you’re absolutely certain the honoree would enjoy one. Our research shows that only 50 percent of people would like to be the subject of a surprise party," McDonald said. "Instead, let the honoree enjoy the process, revel in the anticipation and take all the time they need to look and feel their party best."

To help you even further, we asked our Facebook fans how they marked milestone birthdays -- and here's what they had to say. Have your own ideas? Let us know in comments.


1. "I made a sponge cake (out of a sponge). Fill 13x9 cake pan with a yellow sponge.....frost and decorate. When the birthday boy goes to cut the cake, they will try to be very polite about it, but it's impossible to cut!!!!" said Melinda Greer Green.

2. "My own 50th birthday had a 1980's theme. Posters, music, candies, fluorescent clothing. Fantastic!" said Kathi Albanese.



3. "How about the family puts together 50 great memories -- pictures and written stories -- for the birthday boy or girl?" said Shannon Harton.

4. "We made CDs for everyone to take home that included the 'American Top 40' #1 song for each year, as well as a few faves thrown in," said Laureen Lund.

5. "Potluck where all the food says 50 on top or as the form; pizza, open-face sandwich, salad, crudites, meatloaf, cake or cupcakes. A take-home photo of all the guests in a 50; conga line, floating in pool, or laying on the lawn or in a sand frame at the beach. Prize to the player who has the most 5 and 0 digits on them; in their pockets/purses, watch face, clothing tags. Phone and notebook digits do not count. Play a favorite game and try to get exactly 50 points instead of high or low wins," said Jayne Heetderks.

6. "I did a surprise 50th party for my husband. It had a 1950's theme, with a hula hoop contest, juke box, oldies music. Everyone dressed in outfits from the 1950s. We all had a blast," said June Brewer.



7. "I had everyone bring a funny t-shirt in his size and he loved it," said Sandy Martin Hinesly.

8. "I gave my hubby a walking stick with a rear-view mirror, horn and rabbit's foot," said Margaret McCormick.

9. "We played a montage of photos from the person's life all night on a huge video screen...and they loved it," said Sean McDermott.

This Company Wants To Put Women Front And Center Of The Wearable Technology Trend

December 2, 2014, 2:14 pm

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Fitness trackers like the Nike Fuel Band, Jawbone Up and FitBit have been pegged the "it" gifts of this holiday season. Now a newcomer to the market aims to break out of that crowd by living up to a simple promise: Make wearable tech actually wearable -- for women.

Mira Fitness, the Chicago-area company behind the forthcoming Mira band, knows there's plenty of demand. U.S. consumer awareness of wearable fitness devices -- evolved pedometers which can track everything from calorie consumption to blood pressure -- soared from 30 to 70 percent between November 2013 and July, NBC reports. It's the supply part Mira intends to address.

“With wearable tech, it’s sort of a one-size-fits-all field," Mira's director of marketing Lindsay Slutzky told The Huffington Post. "And with wearable tech being such a male-dominated industry, we wanted to offer a solution that was suited for women."

Slutzky said the Mira band and its companion app target women who are fitness-minded but not necessarily hard-core performance athletes. To be a truly wearable piece of tech, Mira is designed to be more adaptable and versatile than competing devices that can be either too sporty for more glamorous getups, or too glitzy to be gym-appropriate.

Designed to sit on bracelet available in two finishes, the Mira tracker looks more like jewelry than technology. For the gym or other more casual looks, the tracker detaches into a discreet clip.

“Getting it into the mainstream is not the challenge — it’s making it stick," Slutzky added. "We don’t want this to end up in a drawer unused.”


The Mira fitness band tracker detaches from its bracelet, so it can be worn as both a fashion accessory and a discreet workout or casual-wear device.

Elise Oldenburg was an early adopter of wearable fitness trackers. The Chicago-based 26-year-old customer service manager told The Huffington Post she had the original Jawbone Up band, but now only uses it to track her sleep at night.

"The bands look nice when you’re wearing jeans and a sweater, but not so much when you’re wearing a dress to work,” Oldenburg said. "If it’s not a bracelet that you could wear with your outfits everyday, why would you wear it every day?

"I'm still looking for an alternative," Oldenburg said.

Sarina Klein, meanwhile, owns both a FitBit and a Jawbone Up. She wears the latter every day.

“They both have equal pros and cons for me," the 32-year-old Chicago teacher said. Style isn't her prevailing concern, though she admits the sporty nature of her FitBit can "look weird” when going out at night.


Mira's creators said they wanted to make a device for women that integrated seamlessly into their lifestyle -- and didn't scream "technology."

For Mira or any other device to succeed in the women's wearable fitness market, Slutzky said products have to change the conversation to make wearable tech more about lifestyle.

Mana Ionescu, a 37-year-old self-described "device nerd" who founded social media marketing firm Lightspan Digital, told The Huffington Post she saw Mira's $10,000 fundraising campaign on Kickstarter and was "tempted" to buy -- but has yet to make up her mind.

“I walked into Best Buy on Black Friday and they had a whole aisle on fitness trackers," Ionescu said. "I think the marketplace is pretty saturated right now."

Mira, which plans to roll out product starting in January regardless of the success of its Kickstarter push, addresses what Slutzky said test users found most important: Style, personal support like motivations or reminders, and time.

To shore up the support angle, Slutzky said the Mira app pushes out funny reminders and motivations to drink more water or take more steps.

"A lot of the women we worked with wanted a little push, but it had to be motivating and not intimidating," Slutzky said.

And when it comes to time, Slutzky said the few devices do a good job of contextualizing all the data they collect.

“A lot of these fitness wearable apps feed you tons of data, and a lot of our users don’t know what to do with that," Slutzky said, "So what if i walked 10,000 steps? How does that fit into my larger fitness achievement?”

As Mira works to hone in on its target audience of young to middle-aged professional women, Slutzky predicts the next generation of wearable fitness trackers will follow her company's lead and zero in on one audience.

"Wearable tech needs to start being more targeted and there’s a place for lots of different targets," Slutzky said. "Women, children, you're going to see all these different niches.”

Veteran MLB Umpire Dale Scott Comes Out As Gay

December 2, 2014, 2:30 pm

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NEW YORK (AP) — Dale Scott figures he'll hear plenty of foul language from angry hitters next season. Such is life for a Major League Baseball umpire.

"They'll still yell at me when a 3-2 slider doesn't break their way," he told The Associated Press. "But they'll be yelling at me because they didn't like my call, not because I'm a gay umpire." Two weeks after Jason Collins retired as the NBA's first openly gay player, Scott added his name Tuesday to a growing list of gay and lesbian sports figures taking similar public steps. St. Louis Rams draft pick Michael Sam, NBA official Violet Palmer and WNBA star Brittney Griner are among those who have come out in recent years.

Scott didn't want to make a huge announcement heading into his 30th big league season.

The trade magazine Referee did a profile on the veteran crew chief in October, and didn't mention his sexuality. But the 55-year-old Scott wanted to share an important part of his life, and made the choice to include a picture of himself with partner Michael Rausch. They've been together for nearly three decades and married in November 2013 in Palm Springs, California.

The caption in Referee said: "He and his longtime companion, Michael Rausch, traveled to Australia for the 2014 season opener between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers."

The website Outsports.com later interviewed Scott and posted its story Tuesday.

"It's not like this was a secret. Major League Baseball knew my situation and it hasn't had any effect on my career. Zero bearing," Scott told the AP. "My fellow umpires have known for a long time."

"When I was home or out socially, I was gay," he said. "In my professional life, I wasn't. At least, not officially."

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig praised Scott.

"To his friends and colleagues throughout the game, Dale is universally regarded as a class act," he said in a statement. "All of us at Major League Baseball are very proud of him, just as we have always been."

Scott has been an MLB umpire since 1986. He worked the World Series in 1998, 2001 and 2004, has called three All-Star games and plenty of playoff matchups, including the NL series between St. Louis and the Dodgers in October.

"He's an excellent crew chief and umpire," MLB umpire Dan Iassogna, who just finished his eighth season working with Scott, told the AP.

"But above all, he's been a true friend to my family and me. I've always been proud to walk with him, but never more proud than today," he said.

No big league player or manager has been openly gay during their active career. Glenn Burke and Billy Bean are among the players who later said they were gay, as did umpire Dave Pallone. At the All-Star break last summer, MLB hired Bean as a consultant to help the game achieve greater awareness and equality for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Scott said he understood coming out "might open a Pandora's box" when he takes the field next year.

"We'll see when the season starts if this is still an issue," he said. "I suspect no."

In the immediate aftermath of the story becoming public, Scott said his cell phone and email "blew up" with messages.

"They all were all positive, except for one. I know that's going to happen, I understand it," he said.

Scott met Rausch, an artist, after the 1986 season at a bar in Portland, Oregon. The two now split time between Portland and Palm Springs. When they married, the mayor of Palm Springs officiated the ceremony.

Rausch is listed as Scott's domestic partner with MLB. The latest contract between the umpires' union and MLB took effect in 2010 and permitted umps to include domestic partners to allow them to receive benefits.

Scott said only once in his career has a player asked if he was gay, and that was through a mutual acquaintance, who brushed off the question.

"I'm not saying there aren't players on teams who haven't heard things or might've had an idea," he said. "But no one's ever brought it up to me, or said anything about it to me while yelling at me for calling strike three."

The Truth About The Divorce Rate Is Surprisingly Optimistic

December 2, 2014, 4:17 pm

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We've all heard that 50 percent of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce.

And while that disheartening stat continues to get tossed around, the divorce rate isn't really at 50 percent -- and it isn't rising either. In fact, a new piece in the New York Times' data blog Upshot suggests that the divorce rate has actually been dropping for some time now. Looking at the numbers, the Times suggests the high divorce rate of the late 1970s and early 1980s may have just been a "historical anomaly," rather than a trend.

Below, a few of the most interesting tidbits from the Times:

• About 70 percent of marriages that began in the 1990s reached their 15th anniversary, up from roughly 65 percent of those that began in the 1970s and 1980s. And couples who wed in the 2000s are divorcing at even lower rates.

• The feminist movement of the 1970s played a considerable role in where the divorce rate is now, according to economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfer. As women entered the work force and gained reproductive rights, marriage began to evolve into its "modern-day form, based on love and shared passions, and often two incomes and shared housekeeping duties."

• The fact that people are marrying later in life, resulting in more mature marriages, has helped matters, too. The median age for marriage in the 1950s was 23 for men and 20 for women. In 2004, it rose to 27 for men and 26 for women.

• If numbers continue to go down, roughly two-thirds of marriages will never involve divorce, according to data from Wolfers.

For more on why the divorce rate is on the decline, including an infographic illustrating the dip, head over to The New York Times.

H/T The New York Times

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It Really Was Love At First Sight For This Couple Married 72 Years

December 2, 2014, 4:41 pm

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After 72 years of marriage, Peter and Mary Funk are still deeply, madly in love.

“Even today when Dad walks into the room, Mom will say, ‘Ah, look at that handsome man,'" the couple's daughter, Celine Gandolfo, told New Hampshire's The Keene Sentinel.


Credit: Bill Gnade/Keene Sentinel

The Funks, now in their 90s, celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary on November 25. On Thanksgiving Day, they got together with their family to commemorate the milestone.


Courtesy of the Funk family

“It’s been happy for so long, we can’t believe it,” Peter told ABC affiliate WMUR9. “I’ve known her for 75 years."

Mary and Peter met at a party when she was 16 years old and he was an 18-year-old student at Princeton University.

“Mary and I looked at each other and it was truly just, ‘Bang!’” Peter told WMUR9. “It was love at first sight. It really was.”

They went on to have seven kids and now have 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

"I don't think we've ever had a fight," Mary said.

Her daughter confirmed as much to The Huffington Post. "If it came down to a disagreement, one would do the classic 'Yes, dear' and things would work out over time," Gandolfo said. "I truly do not remember them ever yelling at each other, even through the difficult and challenging times in life. Humor and laughter have been constants and they have always enjoyed each other."

For more on their lifelong love story, watch the video above and then head over to The Sentinel.

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The Best Tech Gadgets For A Bad Memory, From Jennifer Jolly (VIDEO)

December 3, 2014, 10:22 am

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If you're looking for apps to use to help you remember tasks and keep you on schedule, USA Today Lifestyle Tech Editor Jennifer Jolly has a few great suggestions. If you want to be more organized, using the Cozi app will synch your calendar and messages together to make sure you don't miss anything. If you need reminders sent to you, the If This Then That app will remind you to do everything from shutting off your iron, to picking up your dry cleaning.

For more of Jennifer's tech advice and suggestions, view the slideshow below:

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What's Coming In Tech In 2015, From Jennifer Jolly (VIDEO)

December 3, 2014, 10:34 am

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What's the next big thing for tech in 2015? USA Today Lifestyle Tech Editor Jennifer Jolly says that the world of wearables will explode next year. The smart home will also be big in 2015. Apps and gadgets that make it possible to do things like unlock your door, turn on your oven, and start your coffee pot using your smartphone will become a reality. 3D printing and robotics will also continue to grow. In fact, Jennifer says that the first at-home robot will launch in 2015. This robot will do things like remind you to exercise, and even help make your grocery list. Overall, Jennifer says that we can look forward to tech apps and gadgets that make our lives simpler.

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Smart Rings, From Jennifer Jolly (VIDEO)

December 3, 2014, 11:24 am

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USA Today Lifestyle Tech Editor Jennifer Jolly alerted us to a smart wearable coming to the market in early 2015 -- the smart ring! The Ringly is a semi-precious sapphire ring that vibrates when you get a text or email -- so instead of checking your phone while you're out, you can be alerted this way, and excuse yourself to answer your messages. The Ringly can even light up if you'd like, but does so very discreetly. It doesn't require a charger, runs off of battery, and is expected to price within the $200 range.

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How To Get Inexpensive Tablets, From Jennifer Jolly (VIDEO)

December 3, 2014, 11:26 am

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Looking to invest in a tablet? USA Today Lifestyle Tech Editor Jennifer Jolly says that this year, Apple made its smaller tablet, the iPad mini ($399), better than ever. At the moment, it’s the best tablet you can buy. The new iPad mini has a Touch ID fingerprint unlock feature, and the size is perfect for browsing the web or reading a book. For a super capable tablet on a slim budget, the Amazon Fire HD 7 ($139) is also a good choice. It has a powerful quad-core processor and beautiful HD display for a very affordable price. At the small and cheap end, Samsung offers the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 4 for about $180.

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The Microsoft Band, From Jennifer Jolly (VIDEO)

December 3, 2014, 11:28 am

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USA Today Lifestyle Tech Editor Jennifer Jolly says that wearables are the next big thing in tech. The Microsoft Band is one of the newest ones on the market. Not only does it work as a fitness band, which tracks your steps, your calories, gives you exercises to do, and even tracks your sleep, but it also works as a smartwatch -- syncing to your calendar and giving you text and email alerts.

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Smart Deodorant, From Jennifer Jolly (VIDEO)

December 3, 2014, 11:36 am

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We're hearing about smart everything these days, but did you know that there's now a smart deodorant dispenser? USA Today Lifestyle Tech Editor Jennifer Jolly says that the ClickStick isn't out on the market just yet, but this product is going to be a must have! It syncs with your smartphone, and if you start to walk out of the house without putting deodorant on, it will alert you. Plus it has a LED light. When you press a button, the ClickStick automatically dispenses the right amount of deodorant, so that you're not sticky, but are still protected! It's also refillable, which is more economical.

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Three Tips To Protect Yourself When Online Shopping, From Jennifer Jolly (VIDEO)

December 3, 2014, 11:42 am

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When it comes to online credit card theftUSA Today Lifestyle Tech Editor Jennifer Jolly says that not a lot has changed in terms of how cyber criminals are stealing information. To keep yourself safe, shop with only one credit card, and be sure to check your credit card statements at the end of each month to see if any strange charges appear. If someone sends you a text message or email asking you to download something, don't do it! Don't click on anything that comes to you unsolicited. Finally, make sure that the security software on your laptop, phone and tablet are recent and up to date.

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The Surprising Reason This 73-Year-Old Widow Is In The Back Of A Squad Car

December 3, 2014, 11:53 am

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Last week, duty called Officer John Holder to a Desoto, Texas department store. No, it wasn't because of a crime or to manage Black Friday crowds. It was to help a 73-year-old widow shop for her Thanksgiving groceries.

The photo of the pair strolling the aisles of what appears to be a Walmart store, with Holder in uniform, pushing the cart, has brought attention to the humble officer's kindness.

"She just struck me as someone who really needed someone to care and help her out," Holder said of Dorothy Shepard. Holder first met Shepard six months ago, when he arrived at her home to do a wellness check as she recovered from knee and back surgeries.

Shepard, who lives alone, was stunned at the officer's kindness. "I was so surprised that I started rambling," she told WFAA-8. "He listened and he was patient."

Since then, the two have struck up a friendship, with Holder helping shuttle Shepard to doctor's appointments and to the grocery store -- in his squad car, while off-duty.

"I know police officers, but I never expected him to be that kind, and to go out of [his] way. He's just tremendous," Shepard said.

It's not the first time a random act of kindness from a police office has gone viral. In 2012, a photo of NYPD officer Larry DePrimo surfaced, as he bought shoes for a barefoot homeless man in the cold. And just days ago, as protests in response to the events on Ferguson, Missouri swept the nation, a picture of a police office hugging a peaceful protester became a reminder of hope among the protests.

h/t USA Today

Guy Dances To 'Push It' Like No One's Watching, Even Though Everyone Is

December 3, 2014, 12:01 pm

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There's really no question this guy pushed it.

In a video uploaded to YouTube, a man gives it his all, dancing to Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It." Others on the dance floor look on, probably crazy jealous that they can't break it down like he can.

Watch at the 0:42 mark when he goes into full beast mode, showing everyone else on the dance floor that there is just absolutely no shame in his game.

We commend you, sir. Now, go dance your heart out.

H/T: Distractify

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The Doobie Brothers: Music Streaming Is 'Not A Great Thing' For Artists, But Good For Listeners

December 3, 2014, 12:22 pm

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Taylor Swift's decision last month to remove her music from Spotify added fuel to the already-fiery conversation about whether music-streaming services hurt the bottom line of the artists behind the songs. Music legends The Doobie Brothers are still on the fence about it all, they told HuffPost Live on Tuesday.

"The streaming part of it, without getting really controversial here, is, for songwriters, not a great thing," said guitarist and vocalist Tom Johnston.

Johnston said the chief issue is that "it's not at all a pay schedule like it is for terrestrial radio," but he does see the appeal in services like Spotify.

"The other side of it that's good is that people who never heard of you or wouldn't have listened to you, when they make a playlist and it has music of that style or that genre or whatever, [the service] will introduce a band like ours or somebody else, and that person will hear and perhaps like what they hear, and so you're turned on to it," he said.

But the band is optimistic about where things could go if the finances are ironed out.

"If they could just figure out both sides of it, this could be a win-win," Johnston said.

Watch The Doobie Brothers discuss their new album "Southbound" in the full HuffPost Live conversation here.

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'30 Rock' May Have Called Out Bill Cosby For Sexual Assault Back In 2009

December 3, 2014, 12:55 pm

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Before the most recent wave of sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby began to turn the tide of public opinion against the actor, "30 Rock" was on it.

Crushable's Jenni Maier stumbled upon this little-known fact when she was watching the 2009 episode "The Bubble" from the show's third season. As a side plot of the episode, Tracy Jordan (played by Tracy Morgan) quits "TGS" (the fictional show on NBC that Jordan works on) and Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin) goes to great lengths to get him back. One of Donaghy's efforts includes hiring a Bill Cosby impersonator to convince Jordan to come back to the show.

You can watch the clip here on Tumblr.


Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and "Rick," the Cosby impersonator, sit down with Donaghy before calling Jordan in the episode.


Maier transcribed the dialogue between "Rick," the Cosby impersonator, and Jordan in the scene:

Jack Donaghy: I’ve arranged for one of Tracy’s childhood idols to reach out to him.

Tracy Jordan: Hello?

Jack Donaghy: Tracy, this is Jack, I have someone here who wants to speak with you.

Rick: Tracy, this is Bill Cosby…

Liz Lemon: [whispering] Really? This is your strategy?

Jack Donaghy: [whispering and smiling] I heard him do this at a party!

Rick: …I want you to come back to the TGS for the people who like the jokes and the things.

Tracy Jordan: Bill Cosby, you got a lotta nerve gettin’ on the phone wit’ me after what you did to my Aunt Paulette!

Rick: I think you’re confusing me with someone else.

Tracy Jordan: 1971. Cincinnati. She was a cocktail waitress with the droopy eye!

Rick: I’m the guy… with the pudding…

Tracy Jordan: Don’t try to tell me what to do! Heathcliffe Huxtable, wit’ yo’ light-ass kids! Jack! Why would you make me talk to this man?

As Maier noted, the scene didn't jump out as explicitly critical in 2009, writing on Crushable that she "just assumed the joke was that Tracy was crazy" -- a common theme throughout the series. Now, in light of the multiple rape and sexual assault allegations against Cosby, the scene seems "much more than a throwaway joke," Maier wrote. "While there’s always the possibility that it’s a crazy coincidence, that seems incredibly unlikely."

Jezebel's Rebecca Rose also pointed out that the sole writer credited for the episode in question was Tina Fey, the creator of "30 Rock." Though, as Maier notes, comedian Hannibal Buress -- who called out Cosby in a stand up routine in October -- also used to be a writer for the show. She goes on to guess at the motivations behind the men and women in the "30 Rock" writers room choosing to write such a subtle (yet pointed) jab at Cosby:

What seems more likely than a coincidence is that the 30 Rock writers felt frustrated that this man continually got away with his alleged sexual assaults because he was a famous TV dad. So they found a way to call him out within their show without any repercussions from the media. Because you have to keep in mind that until Hannibal Buress (a former 30 Rock writer, but not for this particular episode) spoke out against Cosby in October, it wasn’t part of the mainstream conversation. And it definitely wasn’t an accusation that you could just toss around without receiving major backlash.

We see you, "30 Rock."

The Huffington Post reached out to NBC for comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

UPDATE: 12/3/14 4:20 p.m. -- NBC told The Huffington Post they will not comment on the story at this time.

Why Burt Reynolds' Ex-Wife Loni Anderson Is Getting Rid Of Everything He Gave Her

December 3, 2014, 1:03 pm

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More than two decades after her divorce from Burt Reynolds, Loni Anderson is finally getting around to one of the peskiest parts of a breakup: unloading all the stuff her ex gave her while they were together.

In a recent interview with "Entertainment Tonight," the 69-year-old actress explained why she she's auctioning off all the gifts she received from Reynolds during their five-year marriage.

"About a year ago we were having dinner with our son," Anderson said. "Jon Voight was at the dinner with us, and we were all talking about all the stuff that you accumulate over the years. We'd been thinking about scaling back: 'What are we gonna do with all this stuff? Do you have a museum for yourself? No.' And so what are you gonna do with it? Share it."

The auction, which takes place in Beverly Hills this Friday and Saturday, includes diamonds, furs and paintings given as gifts from Reynolds. The "WKRP in Cincinnati" actress is also auctioning off the wedding gown she wore when she married the actor in 1988.

Anderson isn't the only one doing a little housekeeping. Reynolds is also unloading more than 600 personal items -- including his 1998 Golden Globe for his role in "Boogie Nights" -- in an auction of his own at The Palms in Las Vegas on Dec. 11 and 12.

The 78-year-old actor told ET earlier this week the sale has nothing to do with his reported financial troubles

"I want everyone to know that contrary to what all the news outlets are saying, I am not broke," the former box office star said. "I have been dealing with a business dispute for many years as well as a divorce settlement. I am simply selling some of my memorabilia that I have enjoyed for so many years but do not have use nor room for them anymore."

The former couple made headlines earlier this year after Anderson claimed Reynolds still owed her $155,000 from their divorce settlement. In spite of that -- and their notoriously bitter 1993 divorce -- the former pair seem to be on good terms today.

"You just need a break after [a split]," Anderson said. "If it's a messy divorce, then you need a break and you go back and you go, 'Well there wasn't 12 terrible years. There was just that end.' So you go back and start thinking, 'Oh, I remember that! Oh, we laughed so hard! Oh, that was so fun!'"

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11 Ridiculously Inspiring Life Lessons From The L'Oréal 2014 Women Of Worth

December 3, 2014, 2:29 pm

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"When a woman feels empowered, she will never feel like a victim to anyone or anything."

President of L'Oréal Paris Karen T. Fondu opened the 2014 L'Oreal Women Of Worth event perfectly with one powerful statement. Now in its ninth year, Women Of Worth recognizes 10 remarkable women for whom the term "worthy" feels wildly insufficient. The 2014 honorees, and their stories of perseverance and survival, are no exception.

This year's honorees were celebrated at the annual gala in New York City on Dec. 2 by friends, family and some very famous admirers. These women of exceptional worth were introduced by L'Oréal ambassadors Eva Longoria, Blake Lively, Diane Keaton, Julianne Moore, Andie MacDowell and Aimee Mullins as well as MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski, "The Today Show's" Hoda Kotb and 2013 national honoree Lauren Book.



A common theme among their remarks was choice: choices as rights, choices as privileges, and choices as acts of courage.

"Every single one of us has a choice. A choice not to let our past define our future... The choice is truly ours alone to make," said Book.

"I'm a firm believer that the only limitations we have in life are the ones we put on ourselves," declared honoree Stephanie Decker, who chose not to allow the loss of her legs to hold her back.

"A heroine is a woman who risks going too far in order to find out how far one can go for a cause greater than herself," said Diane Keaton, reminding us that the only thing we must to do become a heroine is decide to be one.

The powerful impact of each woman's story told last night is easily matched by the actions they have inspired. We couldn't possibly capture the true depth of their wisdom in a few quotes, but they are too inspiring not to try.


Here are 11 pieces of wisdom from last night's honorees and presenters:


The 10 Women of Worth nominees with L'Oreal's president Karen Fondu and senior vice president Malena Higuera.

1. We are surrounded by heroines every day.
"What makes a heroine? I think I can answer that. A heroine is a woman who risks going too far in order to find out how far one can go for a cause greater than herself." - Diane Keaton introducing honoree Audra Wilford, whose MaxLove Project provides support to children facing life-threatening illness and their families. As a mother of a 7-year-old son who survived a battle with brain cancer, Wilford is acutely away of just how important this support is.




2. The doubts of others shouldn't stop you from pursuing your dreams.
"Our generation has faced incredible scrutiny. But I do believe it's this generation that's going to change the world." -- Blake Lively, introducing honoree Brittany Wenger. At only 19 years old, Wenger has developed cloud technology that could revolutionize breast cancer detection, using artificial intelligence to read cancer cells.

Wow! Women of Worth. Celebrating tonight with the incredible Brittany Wenger. Google her! At 15 years old she started a program that has helped detect cancer with 99% accuracy. She's 19 years old now and has only just begun to change our world. I'm humbled to have been her date. Who inspires you? #bethechangeyouwanttosee #lorealwomenofworth

Une photo publiée par Blake Lively (@blakelively) le Déc. 12, 2014 at 7:21 PST

3. Anger is best channelled as motivation.
"When I learned we live in a world where women are sold for sex, my heart was so broken. Then I got pissed off." - Jenny Williamson. Williamson turned her shock into rage, and her rage into action, after learning that sex trafficking hit shockingly close to her California home. Her organization Courage Worldwide builds homes and offers support and education for children rescued from the sex trade.



4. There is more to winning than receiving an award.
"I have already won because I have a group of girls who call me mom who have never had a family." - Jenny Williamson

5. We all need a few pick-me-ups, no matter how small they are.
"These are somebody's children, somebody's daughters and somebody's mothers. Somebody needs to be there to tell them: You're adorable, you're gorgeous, you're precious. And if that has to be me, OK." - Shaaron Funderburk, who survived drug addiction, homelessness and prostitution to found her Off The Streets program, which provides safe spaces for women battling to overcome similar circumstances.




6. It's all about your mindset.
"Storms are inevitable. Beating them is optional." - Stephanie Decker, who shielded her two children from debris when a tornado tore through her Indiana home in 2012. The 2014 honoree lost the use of her legs in the storm, but through her Stephanie Decker Foundation, which works to help children with prosthetics thrive, it is impossible to measure how much has been gained by her powerful story of survival.




7. The power of women can never be overestimated.
"I truly believe, when you kill a man, you kill a man. When you kill a woman, you kill a nation. We replenish. We rebuild. Everything you are looking at right now came from a woman. I don't care if a man made it. He had a mother." - Shaaron Funderburk


8. Difficult experiences will reveal your strength. Find it, and use it.
"A woman is like a teabag -- you can't tell how strong she is until she's in hot water. Women of the world, it's tea time." - Phyllis Sudman, who earned the top Women of Worth recognition this year. In 2004, Sudman experienced every parent's worst nightmare when her son Simon died of sudden cardiac arrest at just 13 weeks old. Sudman co-founded Simon's Fund to raise awareness for sudden cardiac arrest and the warning signs, and her efforts will help prevent other parents from experiencing this devastating tragedy.




9. We are not built to avoid tragedy. We are designed to endure it.
"We are all built to face adversity. It's in our DNA." - Diane Keaton


10. There will always be things out of our control. How we let it affect us is not one of them.
"Every single one of us has a choice. A choice not to let our past define our future. A choice to live the life we want to live... The choice is truly ours alone to make." - Lauren Book, who earned Women of Worth's top honor in 2013 for her efforts to prevent childhood sexual abuse. Her organization Lauren's Kids educates adults and children about sexual abuse and provides guidance and support to help survivors heal.

11. One exceptional woman ensures generations more.
"It's what makes it all worthwhile -- to learn from your mother and hopefully teach your daughter, and then teach the world." - Deborah Snyder, honoree and founder of the Operation Renewed Hope Foundation. The retired Lieutenant Colonel served 20 years in the military as a helicoptor pilot, but her service to our country goes on. Through her efforts providing support and education to veterans and their families, Snyder is inspiring the nation to put an end to veteran homelessness.

12 Gift Ideas For Spouses Who Don't Take Themselves Too Seriously

December 3, 2014, 3:44 pm

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Nailing down the perfect holiday gift for your significant other can be tricky. Jewelry is pretty, but predictable and a tablet is practical, but feels impersonal.

We decided to come up with our own wish list tailored to couples who see romance a bit differently than the rest. Below are 13 awesome gifts for spouses with a sense of humor.



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