deerstalker

Who among us hasn’t felt a pang of remorse over the plight of livestock? It’s only human to feel sad to know that cute calf frolicking in the field will one day be the juicy ribeye sizzling on the grill.

For many of us, it’s easier to feel sympathy for our fellow mammals. Be it a pig, lamb, deer, or rabbit, warm-blooded creatures just tend to solicit more emotion.

Khadim Thiam, 23, and nine other Black New York City college students unexpectedly went viral on TikTok when he posted a video of himself and his friends at a Dunkin Donuts smiling and toasting each other after they ordered matcha green tea for the first time.

According to NBC News, the video, which is 19 seconds long, has been watched by more than 15 million people since it first appeared in early April, but instead of finding a receptive audience, Thiam told the outlet that they found negativity.

“They were saying things like, ‘Oh, why are men this happy to try matcha?’ ‘Oh, men should be in war,’” Thiam recalled.

He continued, “I don’t know why the internet reacted like that. So now I was like, O.K., so y’all don’t want to see us try matcha? We’re going to start trying many other things.”

True to his word, Thiam’s group, One Strong Brotherhood, or OSB for short, has now posted more than 20 videos showing the group doing various activities such as puppy yoga, dance classes, and even Pilates.

According to Danielle Young, who is credited with creating the term “Black Boy Joy,” in 2016 while writing for The Root, OSB’s social media activities are rooted in the memory of Black boys who never got to become Black men, Black boys like Emmett Till, who was lynched in 1955 at the age of 14 by a group of white supremacists in Mississippi.

“It’s so hard to see the OSB guys and not be immediately happy, joyfully, and smiling,” Young told NBC News. “Thinking of Emmett Till and his story, not even being able to be a young, free Black boy without society claiming him as a threat and needing to be murdered for that. It’s beautiful to see that Black Boy Joy is timeless, but it’s also hurtful to see that it is considered a thing because of what they’re not supposed to be doing.”

Young’s last point is perhaps the most poignant for Thiam and his friends, who all attend Hunter College in Manhattan.

“There’s a lot of negative stereotypes and connotations” when it comes to young Black men, Thiam, who is a computer science major and also the son of immigrants from Senegal, told NBC News. “We deserve our credit and our place in society to be considered normal, joyful people.”

Since the original video’s somewhat frosty reception online, Thiam has noticed that the comments section has started to reflect the joyous vibes of their videos.

This was epitomized by a recent trip to a West African cooking class hosted by another New York City content creator, Maye Jolie, where they spent almost three hours learning to make a Malinese dish called nem, a meat and spice-filled fritter, which is mixed, rolled, and then fried.

“Hopefully we go global,” Thiam told the outlet, musing about “going to Japan trying to become like a samurai or something, or we’re making tea in China,” after revealing that the group has already secured five-figure brand deals and worked with DoorDash and MAC Cosmetics.

Thiam concluded, “I just want to encourage people to try new things. Meet new people, make great connections. Have genuine fun, joyness, and bring energy.”

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Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, DC Comics has some of the world’s greatest superheroes. But we feel comfortable saying even more than good guys, DC has the greatest villains in all of comics. Many of which have been household names for generations. Although Batman has the lion’s share of great adversaries, it’s not just the Dark Knight who can boast about having an incredible rogues’ gallery. We narrowed down the top ten DC Comics villains of all time, based not only on their comic book careers, but in outside comics media as well. We’ve decided to keep it to straight-up villains and not characters who have been rehabilitated and have long careers as anti-heroes, like Catwoman and Harley Quinn. This list is reserved for the worst of the worst.

10. Ares

First appearance: Wonder Woman #1 (1942) Created by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peter

Wonder Woman famously doesn’t have the deep bench of classic villains that her trinity brothers Superman and Batman do. Most readers cite the Cheetah as Diana’s primary adversary, thanks to many animated shows. But Diana’s true greatest villain is the Ares, the Greek God of War. Simply because he’s the living embodiment of conflict and hatred, and everything Wonder Woman stands against. In many ways, as an Olympian god, Ares is more of the representation of an idea than a person.

Having said that, an idea can be as destructive as an individual, which is what makes Ares so dangerous. In both the modern comics and the 2017 Wonder Woman movie, Diana’s first and greatest villain is the War God, who has used his influence to make mankind more destructive over the years. But what’s most insidious about him is that he doesn’t make humans bloodthirsty, he just brings out what’s already there. We know in our own real world that war and violence are the worst part of humanity, and Ares is our worst tendency as a species given life. This elevates him from the rest of the Amazing Amazon’s recurring foes.

9. The Anti-Monitor (Mobius)

First appearance: Crisis on Infinite Earths #2 (1985) Created by Marv Wolfman, George Perez, and Jerry Ordway

He may have a silly name, but no villain has come closer to destroying the DC Universe than the Anti-Monitor. A being as old as the universe itself, the Anti-Monitor is the Anti-Matter Universe’s counterpart to the benevolent Monitor, who watches over the Positive-Matter Multiverse. Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, the Anti-Monitor, whose true name was later revealed as Mobius, was the central villain of the epic Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. In that year-long story, he did a lot of damage.

Mobius’ quest to spread his Anti-Matter Universe to obliterate all other universes resulted in the deaths of the Flash (Barry Allen) and Supergirl, not to mention countless other DC characters. After his defeat in Crisis, the Anti-Monitor all but disappeared for decades. However, he reemerged in the 21st century in major event books, such as The Sinestro Corps War, Blackest Night, and Forever Evil. Yes, his appearances are far fewer than most others on this list. But considering he killed trillions and reshaped the DC Universe itself, he’s earned his spot among DC’s Biggest Bads.

8. Mister Freeze (Victor Fries)

First appearance: Batman #121 (1959) Created by Sheldon Moldoff and Bob Kane

Mister Freeze first debuted in an issue of Batman in 1959, named Mister Zero. He was just an unnamed scientist who needed an ice-cold containment suit after a mishap in creating a freeze gun. And there wasn’t much more to him than that. After one appearance, he more or less vanished for years. But the 1966 Batman TV series revived the character as Mister Freeze, giving the villain a second life. He was still a one-note villain with no real character or motivation beyond robbing banks. However, that all changed thanks to one episode of Batman: The Animated Series in 1992.

In the B:TAS episode “Heart of Ice,” writer Paul Dini gave Mister Freeze a tragic backstory. As Dr. Victor Fries, he became obsessed with using cryogenic technology to save the life of his dying wife, Nora. When a greedy CEO destroys her chances at survival, and causes Fries’ accident which confines him to below-zero temperatures, he becomes a cold and emotionless man in more than just name. Well, emotionless except for being hellbent on revenge. Much like Spock in Star Trek, this supposedly emotionless character conveys more emotion in his monotone delivery than by being flagrantly emotional. Eventually, DC adopted his animated backstory to the comics canon. Ultimately, what makes Freeze so great is that he’s completely sympathetic, yet no less sinister because of it.

7. The Reverse-Flash/Professor Zoom (Eobard Thawne)

First appearance: The Flash #139 (1963) Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino

Some of the greatest pop culture villains are the ones whose entire motivations center on obsession, jealousy, and finally, revenge. Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash, Flash’s greatest foe, is one of the best examples of this kind of adversary. He started out in the Silver Age as just another “opposite coin of the hero” bad guy, in terms of both appearance and powers. He was just a speedster who used his powers for evil. But over the years, writers made his motivations for hating the Flash and his legacy richer. Eobard Thawne grew up centuries in the future, idolizing the Flash, Barry Allen. He even recreated the experiment that gave Barry his powers. He also went as far as to get cosmetic surgery to look like his idol. But when he found out he was destined to travel back in time and become the Flash’s greatest foe, he snapped.

Thawne has used his immense speed powers ever since to inflict as much pain as possible on Barry Allen and his legacy. First, by killing his wife Iris in cold blood, then by impersonating him when the world thought he was dead. Eventually came the worst crime, going back in time to Barry’s childhood and murdering his mother. Despite Flash breaking his moral code and murdering him in retaliation, Thawne continues to find a way back to life. He continues to make life miserable for the man he wishes he was. All of this makes him more than just “the bad Flash.” He’s only had one real live-action incarnation, on the CW Flash TV series. But even there, he stole the show.

6. Sinestro

First appearance: Green Lantern #7 (1961) Created by John Broome and Gil Kane

When he was first created in the Silver Age of comics, Thaal Sinestro of the planet Korugar was a standard “opposite” villain for Green Lantern. This is similar to Bizarro and Superman, or what Reverse-Flash was to the Flash. Since all Green Lanterns had a weakness against the color yellow, Sinestro was the villain with a yellow-powered ring. The yellow energy was fueled by the emotion of fear. It was pretty basic, and his characterization was flat in those early years. But eventually, Sinestro became far more nuanced and interesting.

In subsequent years, Sinestro has become the Anakin Skywalker of the DC Universe. Once the greatest of the Green Lantern Corps, his hubris and fascistic tendencies caused him to fall to the dark side. This made him a far more complex villain than before. Some of his viewpoints about maintaining order in the cosmos actually do make sense, making him somewhat sympathetic. One of DC Comics’ most epic crossovers, The Sinestro Corps War, put Sinestro front and center, leading his own corps. These days, he’s a reluctant hero again. But we think it’s safe to say that Sinestro’s legacy as a villain will always overshadow any temporary “good guy” phases.

5. Deathstroke (Slade Wilson)

First Appearance: New Teen Titans #2 (1980) Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez

Deathstroke the Terminator, as he was originally known, first debuted in New Teen Titans #2 back in 1980. Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, he became the Titans’ primary antagonist, later fighting characters like Batman. He was a sort of inverse Captain America, an American soldier given superior strength and agility by the U.S. government. But without Steve Rogers’ moral compass, he became an enhanced mercenary who enriched himself instead of serving a higher calling. His Achilles’ Heel is his twisted sense of honor, which can cause him to do heinous things.

When his son Grant dies fighting the Titans, he takes over his contract on the team, going as far as to manipulate and seduce the teenage sociopath Terra to infiltrate the group. In the ‘90s, Deathstroke received his own ongoing series, which portrayed him as more of an anti-hero. But in more recent years, and after various DC reboots, he’s once again in the category of “complex villain.” His personal vendetta against the Titans, plus his position as a notable adversary for both Batman and Green Arrow, has made Deathstroke one of the all-time greats. Besides, without Slade Wilson, there would be no Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool, who began as a Deathstroke parody character.

4. Ra’s al Ghul

First Appearance: Batman #244 (1972) Created by Dennis O’Neil, Neal Adams, and Julius Schwartz

Created by writer Denny O’Neil and artist Neal Adams in the early ’70s, the name Ra’s al Ghul translates to “the Demon’s Head.” He was designed to give Batman an enemy that was more than just another colorful Gotham City mobster. Ra’s was a combination of Sherlock Holmes’ Moriarty and a world-dominating Bond villain. A near-immortal, thanks to his dips into his Lazarus pit, Ra’s had seen centuries of human warfare and destruction of the planet, to the point where he realized Earth needed saving from itself. With himself as absolute ruler, of course.

What makes Ra’s a compelling villain is that he not only respects his adversary Batman, he wants to make him part of his family. In fact, they’ve been temporary allies as often as enemies. Especially as Bruce Wayne maintained a romantic involvement with Ra’s daughter Talia, and has a son with her. Ra’s al Ghul appeared in Batman: The Animated Series played to perfection by the late, great David Warner. Later, Liam Neeson played him in Batman Begins. Both portrayals elevated Ra’s al Ghul’s profile in outside comics media, making him even more iconic. Smart, cunning, and often suave, Ra’s is the kind of bad guy you sometimes can’t help but root for. (Editor’s Note: We will die on the hill that his name is pronounced “Raysh,” not “Raz.” Christopher Nolan’s lowkey biggest crime.)

3. Lex Luthor

First Appearance: Action Comics #23 (1940) Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

In Superman’s earliest days, he fought one mad scientist after another. So why did Lex Luthor, of all those by-the-numbers evil geniuses with death rays, rise to the top, and become so iconic? Well, for starters, he has a great alliterative name. You can’t count out the power of a catchy name. In those first few decades, maybe that was enough. But even in cartoons like Super Friends and in Gene Hackman’s cinematic portrayal, Lex was a standard mustache twirling cliche. However, what makes Luthor such an all-timer villain is how writers over the last few decades, both in comics and other media, have added so many layers to him as a character.

First, they gave him a shared history with Superboy in Smallville back in the Silver Age, as former best friends who fell out. That always makes for a compelling hero/villain dynamic. Then, in the ‘80s, he was reinvented as someone who used his genius intellect to become a billionaire CEO. Despite his intelligence, his hatred of Superman came from an inability to understand someone with power who doesn’t use it to enrich themselves. Later incarnations, like Smallville and the comic Secret Origin, found a way to meld these two disparate versions of Lex Luthor into one superior iteration. Lex has become the perfect embodiment of the dark side of American ambition. The darkness of pure ego and ambition. And because of this, he’ll always be relevant.

2. The Joker

First Appearance: Batman #1 (1940) Created by Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson, and Bob Kane

Although he’s the number two entry on this list, the Joker is easily the most recognizable DC villain of them all, especially when it comes to mainstream audiences. Two different actors have won Oscars for playing him even. And while he may be overexposed, there’s no denying the power of the Clown Prince of Crime. Created by Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson, and supposedly Bob Kane, the Joker debuted in Batman #1 in 1940. An evil clown before evil clowns were a thing, Joker was the perfect antithesis of Batman, a hero who dresses like a villain. The so-called Harlequin of Hate was an instant hits with readers, and became Batman’s primary enemy.

The Joker is so great for several reasons. First, he represents pure chaos, truly unhinged evil. He’s so scary because he is a force of nature with no true motivations beyond malevolence. There’s no reasoning or appealing to his good side. Second, he’s malleable. He can be the previously mentioned psychotic killer, or he can be a more benign prankster villain who just wants Batman’s attention. He can go totally without a backstory, as most DC Comics and the Dark Knight gave us, or he can have a very detailed one, like The Killing Joke, Batman ’89, or Todd Phillips’ Joker. And yet, they’re all still the Joker at their core.

Another reason for his iconic status is that he’s a perfect foil for Batman, a hero who refuses to kill. Because the Joker keeps committing acts so heinous, like crippling Batgirl and murdering Robin, it tests the limits of his vow to never take a life. He becomes the perfect template for writers to tell the most compelling kinds of Batman stories. And that is all just part of what makes him eternal. Of all the DC villains, the Joker is the one we’re still going to be reading about and seeing on our screens a hundred years from now.

1. Darkseid

First Appearance: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (1970) Created by Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby created Marvel’s greatest villain, Doctor Doom. But a decade later, he also created DC’s greatest villain in the form of Darkseid. The Lord of Apokolips is essentially the God of Evil. He’s a being of oppressive malice who wants nothing more than to sap free will out of the universe. He first appeared as the main adversary in Kirby’s Fourth World line of comics, starting in 1970. At first, he was limited to those titles, using his Omega beams to destroy in series like New Gods. But eventually, he branched out, becoming the DC Universe’s biggest threat. First, by starting the Secret Society of Super-Villains, then by fighting the Justice League and Justice Society together.

What makes Darkseid the best is that he’s a villain for the DC Universe overall, as well as a personal adversary to some of the company’s biggest heroes, like Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Justice League. He killed Batman in Final Crisis, murdered half of Wonder Woman’s sister Amazons in her comic, and plagued the 30th century in the Legion of Super-Heroes’ Great Darkness Saga. He even resurrected Marvel’s Dark Phoenix to destroy the Teen Titans and the X-Men in one of the best DC/Marvel crossovers of all time.

In outside comics media, he was the “Big Bad” of the iconic Super Powers action figure line, and two seasons of the Saturday morning Super Friends cartoon. In the ‘90s, he brainwashed Superman into attacking the Earth as his puppet in the animated DC universe. He has appeared in a metric ton of DC animated films. We’ve only just barely glimpsed Darkseid in a live-action film, as a cameo in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. But even without any major cinematic exposure, the deadly New God is easily DC’s most notorious villain of all time. And that’s why he sits proudly atop the #1 spot.

The post The 10 Greatest DC Comics Villains, Ranked appeared first on Nerdist.

Whether you’re traveling for business, pleasure, or both, careful planning is essential, from what you take in your carry-on luggage or how you maximize the space in your checked baggage to how many shoes you need to bring. You need to pack what you’ll need to survive a few days away from home.

And if you prioritize your health and nutrition, that’s going to mean packing the vitamins and supplements in your routine, plus possibly a few additions (more on that in a bit).

If you’re tempted to leave them at home, we’d argue that a vacation or business trip is the worst possible time to lapse from your routine. Travel is about memory-making adventures and discovering new places, which means you’ll eat differently or enter time zones that may tip your sleep schedule off balance. The right supplements can help you adapt, promoting digestion, immune health, restful sleep, muscle recovery, and more.

The only catch? How to pack them. Different government agencies have varying policies for traveling with supplements, plus you want to ensure they arrive undamaged by heat or the weight of the other items you’ve put in your suitcases.

Not to worry. Here are some ideas from Life Extension to help you pack vitamins and stay on track to support your health and well-being while you’re away from home.

Can you travel with supplements?

Yes. Vitamins can make the trip with you on planes, trains, or automobiles. Of course, how you pack will vary depending on what type of trip you’re embarking on. For example, if a road trip is in your future, you can organize and store your supplements to make them easy to find. On the other hand, if you’re traveling by air, the rules change. Pro tip: Always check the supplement bottle for any special storage instructions.

Why do the rules change when you travel by air? When you go through security screening, you must follow the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines. The TSA recommends clearly labeling your supplements to keep things moving steadily and speedily through airport security.

When you bring vitamins onto your flight, remember that you are responsible for handling, displaying, and repacking your supplements when or if screening is required. And all final decisions are up to the discretion of the TSA checkpoint officer. It’s always a good idea to check the laws in your area and where you’re heading before flying.

Do supplements have to be in original containers when flying?

It depends. If your supplements are in solid form (think capsules, tablets, or gummies), you can pack as many as you want, and they don’t have to be in their original containers.

Thinking about bringing liquid vitamins? You’ll want to keep them in their original containers. There’s a volume limit of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters, and the supplements must be packed in your checked luggage in a clear quart-sized Ziploc bag. Thankfully, many liquid vitamins you may consider (vitamin D, for example) are often sold in increments of 30 milliliters.

Herbal supplements like ashwagandha are not considered different from other vitamins and dietary supplements, so the same rules apply to solid, liquid, and powdered forms.

But while you may not need to keep your supplements in their original containers, it will make things easier for everyone if you keep all your supplements clearly labeled. (That way you won’t accidentally swap your morning multivitamin with your evening melatonin … oops.)

How do you fly with powdered supplements?

Are powder supplements part of your nutritional routine? You’re not alone. We love a good whey, collagen, or super greens scoop to enhance smoothies, but the bulk-size plastic jugs they come in are not exactly conducive to travel.

The good news? There are no restrictions on powders when flying between U.S. airports. Keep in mind that powders over 12 ounces (350 milliliters), must be placed in a separate bin during the checkpoint screening process and might mean additional screening or opening. To skip this step and make things easier, TSA recommends placing powder over 12 ounces in your checked bag. Either way, be sure to place it in a plastic bag to prevent spillage or make it easy to place into its own bin during checkpoint screening.

10 tips and tricks for traveling with supplements

Ready to pack your supplements like a pro? Here’s a cheat sheet for your next trip.

1. Pick your priorities: Staying healthy and enjoying your trip is a top priority. Before you set off on your travels, take inventory of what supplements make the most sense to pack for your specific needs. This is especially important if you are strapped for space or time. Pro tip: Your stay-well travel strategy should focus on supporting digestive, sleep, and immune health.
2. Probiotics for gut health: An unquestionable upside of travel is that you get to indulge in delicacies that delight your palate, but the downside may be that your gut microbiome, home to trillions of organisms, can be sensitive to changes in routine, diet, sleep, food choices, and more. Packing probiotics is a win for your gastrointestinal health.
3. Safeguard your defenses: Undoubtedly, staying healthy when you travel is crucial for making the most out of your trip. Vitamins D and C may take the spotlight for immune support, but zinc can be the ace up your sleeve to help support optimal immune function while you travel.
4. Sweet dreams everywhere: Whether it’s a business trip or a much-needed vacation, following your sleep hygiene as best as you can is a non-negotiable when you travel. Pack your melatonin, ashwagandha, or preferred sleep-friendly supplements to help your body keep up with the adventures by getting the quality sleep it needs.
5. Powder power hack: Pour the powder into a heavy-duty resealable bag or other secure container and fasten the scoop with tape or a twist tie. Label the bag or container clearly with something very straightforward (i.e., “whey protein”). It’ll help when you go through security because it can be confirmed easily with swabbing. Bringing a water bottle and a small funnel will make it easier to mix your beverage.
6. Gear up for increased activity: It’s not unusual to log many more steps than usual when you’re on vacation, even if hiking’s not on the agenda. After all, you’ve got a lot of ground to cover. Plus, you might be inspired to go for a victory lap around a new-to-you city or dance the night away. A fast-acting joint support supplement can help you stay comfortable every step of the way.
7. Manage your subscriptions: Perhaps a long-term trip away is on the horizon. If that’s the case and you have a subscription plan for regular supplement shipments, check your subscription at least one week before the next shipment and adjust the address and frequency as needed.
8. Pack smart: Secure your supplements in your carry-on luggage and seal everything tightly. If you’re bringing liquids, consider putting them in a plastic bag in case the pressure from flying causes spillage.
9. Consider the climate: Even if your vacation isn’t somewhere tropical, your luggage may be exposed to a variety of temperatures while you’re in the air. Liquids, powders, and gummies tend to be more vulnerable to heat than tablets, capsules, and other solid forms. So, if you normally get your vitamins in liquid form, consider switching to a solid just for your vacation.
10. Get a supplement case: If you removed your vitamins from their original packaging to save space, you could just stick them in a labeled resealable bag, but we recommend investing in a compact case with individual compartments for each day to make it easier to stay organized. Another great option is purchasing individually packed supplements with the dosage directions still intact. You can also take a photo of each bottle’s label for easy access to directions.

And check. Your travel cheat list is set. You’re ready to travel and enjoy the world with your must-have supplements by your side.

This story was produced by Life Extension and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.