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You have to wake up pretty early in the morning to fool the ARMY. But that didn’t stop BTS‘ J-Hope from trying to pull a fast one on the band’s fans on Thursday (April 1), which, is, of course, April Fool’s Day.
It all started when the singer posted an image on Weverse, displaying what appeared to be his new, flame-red hairdo.
“I dyed my hair,” Hope, who has been rocking black locks, wrote as part of the prank. “So I can’t post a selfie.”
Your memories of high school—you know, the parts you haven’t repressed—may seem weird in retrospect. Remember having to wake up at the crack of dawn to be at the mercy of teachers who control when you can and can’t go to the bathroom?
In high school, what you think is normal is strange, and what you think is strange is normal.
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Though researchers since Darwin may have spent considerable effort on the science of smiles, at the heart of that simple human expression remains a metaphysical art — one captured nowhere more beautifully and grippingly than in a short account by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (June 29, 1900–July 31, 1944), found in Letter to a Hostage (public library) — the same exquisite short memoir he began writing in December of 1940, a little more than two years before he created The Little Prince on American soil, which also gave us his poignant reflection on what the Sahara desert teaches us about the meaning of life.
In a creative sandbox for what would become Saint-Exupéry’s most famous line in The Little Prince — “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” — he writes:
How does life construct those lines of force which make us alive?
Real miracles make little noise! Essential events are so simple!
One such essential event in Saint-Exupéry’s life had to do with the mundane miracle of a simple smile, a gift he so poetically describes as “a certain miracle of the sun, which had taken so much trouble, for so many million years, to achieve, through ourselves, that quality of a smile which was pure success.” He once again channels the spirit of his famous Little Prince line and writes:
The essential, most often, has no weight. The essential there, was apparently nothing but a smile. A smile is often the essential. One is paid with a smile. One is rewarded by a smile. And the quality of a smile might make one die.
Indeed, in a subsequent chapter, Saint-Exupéry recounts an incident that rendered a smile very much the difference between life and death — his life and death. One night during his time in Spain as a journalist reporting on the Civil War, he found himself with several revolver barrels pressed tightly into his stomach — the militia of the rebel forces had snuck up on him under the veil of the dark and captured him in “solemn silence,” staring at his tie — “such a luxury was not fashionable in an anarchist area” — rather than his face. He recounts:
My skin tightened. I waited for the shot, for this was the time of quick trials. But there was no shot. After a complete blank of a few seconds, during which the shifts at work appeared to dance in another universe — a kind of dream ballet — my anarchists, slightly nodding their heads, bid me precede them, and we set off, without hurry, across the lines of junction. The capture had been done in perfect silence, with an extraordinary economy of movement. It was like a game of creatures of the ocean bed.
I soon descended to a basement transformed into a guard post. Badly lit by a poor oil lamp, some other militia were dozing, their guns between their legs. They exchanged a few words, in a neutral voice, with the men of my patrol. One of them searched me.
Saint-Exupéry didn’t speak Spanish, but he understood enough Catalan to gather that his identity documents were being requested. He tried to communicate to his captors that he had left them at the hotel, that he was journalist, but they merely passed around his camera, yawning and expressionless. The atmosphere, to his surprise, wasn’t what one would expect of an anarchist militia camp:
The dominant impression was that of boredom. Boredom and sleep. The power of concentration of these men seemed exhausted. I almost wished for a sign of hostility, as a human contact. But … they gazed at me without any reaction, as if they were looking at a Chinese fish in an aquarium.
(One has to wonder whether that desire for contact, whatever its nature or cost, might be a universality of the human condition — the same impulse that drives trolls to spew the venom of hostility as a desperate antidote to their own apathy and existential boredom. Aggression is, perhaps, the only form of contact of which they are capable, and yet it is contact they crave so compulsively.)
After a tortuous period of observing his captors wait for nothing in particular, Saint-Exupéry grew increasingly exasperated with a longing for contact, for the mere acknowledgement of his existence. He paints the backdrop of the miracle that would take place:
In order to load myself with the weight of real presence, I felt a strange need to cry out something about myself, which would impose upon them the truth of my existence — my age for instance! That is impressive, the age of a man! That summarizes all his life. This maturity of his has taken a long time to achieve. It was grown through so many obstacles conquered, so many serious illnesses cured, so many griefs appeased, so many despairs overcome, so many dangers unconsciously passed. It has grown through so many desires, so many hopes, so many regrets, so many lapses, so much love. The age of a man, that represents a good load of experience and memories. In spite of decoys, jolts, and ruts, you have continued to plod like a horse drawing a cart.
Saint-Exupéry was thirty-seven at the time.
But what happened next had nothing to do with the achievement of age, or the gravitas of maturity, or any other willful self-assertion. Instead, it was driven by the simplest, most profound form of shared humanity:
Then the miracle happened. Oh! a very discreet miracle. I had no cigarette. As one of my guards was smoking, I asked him, by gesture, showing the vestige of a smile, if he would give me one. The man first stretched himself, slowly passed his hand across his brow, raised his eyes, no longer to my tie but to my face, and, to my great astonishment, he also attempted a smile. It was like the dawning of the day.
This miracle did not conclude the tragedy, it removed it altogether, as light does shadow. There had been no tragedy. This miracle altered nothing visible. The feeble oil lamp, the table scattered with papers, the men propped against the wall, the colors, the smell, everything remained unchanged. Yet everything was transformed in its very substance. That smile saved me. It was a sign just as final, as obvious in its future consequences, as unchangeable as the rising of the sun. It marked the beginning of a new era. Nothing had changed, everything was changed. The table scattered with papers became alive. The oil lamp became alive. The walls were alive. The boredom dripping from every lifeless thing in that cellar grew lighter as if by magic. It seemed that an invisible stream of blood had started flowing again, connecting all things in the same body, and restoring to them their significance.
The men had not moved either, but, though a minute earlier they had seemed to be farther away from me than an antediluvian species, now they grew into contemporary life. I had an extraordinary feeling of presence. That is it: of presence. And I was aware of a connection.
The boy who had smiled at me, and who, until a few minutes before, had been nothing but a function, a tool, a kind of monstrous insect, appeared now rather awkward, almost shy, of a wonderful shyness — that terrorist! He was no less a brute than any other. But the revelation of the man in him shed such a light upon his vulnerable side! We men assume haughty airs, but within the depth of our hearts, we know hesitation, doubt, grief.
Nothing had yet been said. Yet everything was resolved.
Saint-Exupéry ends with a reflection on the sacred universality and life-giving force of that one simple gesture, the human smile:
Care granted to the sick, welcome offered to the banished, forgiveness itself are worth nothing without a smile enlightening the deed. We communicate in a smile beyond languages, classes, and parties. We are faithful members of the same church, you with your customs, I with mine.
Four years after he wrote Letter to a Hostage, which is a sublime read in its totality, Saint-Exupéry disappeared over the Bay of Biscay never to return. Popular legend has it that Horst Rippert, the German fighter pilot who shot down the author’s plane, broke down and wept upon hearing the news — Saint-Exupéry had been his favorite author. What a tragic form of contact, war.
Fox News host Dana Perino couldn’t hold back the laugh when Marine veteran James Kilcer ended his Friday interview by saying, “Epstein didn’t kill himself.”
Kilcer, who stopped an armed would-be robber at an Arizona convenience store, joined “America’s Newsroom” to discuss what happened and how he jumped into action at just the right time. (RELATED: ‘He Doesn’t Have Any Juice’: Dana Perino Says Tanking Poll Numbers May Be Forcing Biden To Side With The Far Left)
WATCH:
Kilcer said that he had been talking to the clerk, a man he knew fairly well, trying to convince him to leave that job and come to work with him. He was just turning to leave when he heard the door open “real aggressively.”
“At that point, you know, the spidey senses kinda tingled a little bit and I looked over and saw one person with a gun and they started yelling open the register,” Kicer said. “Kind of did a quick sweep, saw two other guys without no other weapons and decided that’s the guy I’m gonna hit.”
“You grab the gun which I think is obviously brave and is part of your training as a Marine. What was in the bag? What was in the bag you hit him with?” Perino asked.
“Two Gatorades, two energy drinks and a snack. I didn’t even know the bag was still attached to my body at that point. Completely unaware. I was going to take control of his head and the gun at the same time and the bag just happened to be heavy and attached to me and it smashed him right in the face,” Kilcer continued.
ICYMI: A Marine Corps veteran jumped into action when three people went into an Arizona convenience store with weapons and pointed them toward the cashier (Source: Handout /Yuma County Sheriff) https://t.co/CzNybTzmRo pic.twitter.com/wIbko2YMJ5
— WBRC FOX6 News (@WBRCnews) October 22, 2021
The store clerk jumped over the counter then, running outside to see where the other two had gone when they ran out of the store.
“He has to be glad you are one of the regular customers and there at the time. Maybe a word about your military service and the training that you have that will serve you well – and the rest of us – for the rest of your life,” Perino added.
Kilcer said that while the military training and muscle memory had certainly helped him take control of the situation, the most important thing was simply to be prepared.
“I take my personal safety and the safety of others around me pretty seriously on a regular basis. So just being in the right mindset of if this happens – once it happened it was — I was mentally prepared. Did what had to be done,” he said.
“If anybody sees James out there buy him either an energy drink, I think Monster is your preferred one or a beer if you want one,” Perino said with a smile as she moved to close out the interview.
“I’ll take a beer, please,” Kilcer said.
“Get him a beer, everybody, and I would love to buy you one as well, on me, in Yuma, Arizona. Thank you so much, James,” Perino said.
“Remember, Epstein didn’t kill himself,” Kilcer said as Perino cut away, laughing.
“Ok, got it. Very clever,” Perino said.
California, the golden state, offers some of the most beautiful and spectacular sights and places to visit! Just browse through these awesome pictures and be amazed by it’s beauty.
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Yosemite Falls are popular with visitors from around the world. Much of the water that crashes down the falls and into the lake below comes from snowmelt. Yosemite falls itself is the fifth highest waterfall in the world and from top to bottom it is 2,425 feet. The falls are at their most spectacular in May and June, once the snow has melted the falls become a trickle and you then need to wait for the cooler weather again.
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Sturtevant Falls are located in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest. The falls themselves are fifty foot in height and look exceptionally beautiful due to the moss and algae that grows on the cliff. This makes the colours you see as the water runs distinctive and mesmerizing.
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The Pacific Coast Highway in California is one of the most beautiful drives there is. It runs along most of the coastline of California and is famous across the world for its beautiful scenery. The route is a designated blue Star Memorial Highway as a way of recognition to those that serve in the U.S. armed forces.
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Santa Cruz is one of the surfing mecca’s of the United States. The city itself is only small with a population of approximately 50,000 but the beautiful beaches and bohemian vibe attracts many visitors from across the world. The all year summer feel adds to the feeling of never ending paradise that you will always feel in this city.
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Joshua Tree National Park is named this because of the Joshua trees that are native to the park. The area is a designated wilderness and encompasses two very different deserts. Visitors to the park can experience camping, hiking, and climbing.
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The California Street Cable Car is the last manually operated cable car system left in the world. It is an icon of San Francisco and during its peak there were twenty three lines running through the city. Now there are just three remaining and they make for a beautiful view when you are visiting the city.
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Pfeiffer Beach is a quiet, beautiful and unusual beach. The locals visit the area regularly but to the tourist the beach is still fairly unknown. The sand at the beach is an unusual purple colour and this is caused by the manganese garnet particles that get washed down from the neighbouring hillside.
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Along the coast of the Pacific Ocean is the vibrant and gorgeous city of San Diego. There are plenty of beautiful beaches to explore which when tempered with the mild climate of the area make this a fantastic place to visit. San Diego has the nickname “America’s Finest City” which should say it all really.
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There are 25 lava tube caves that you can visit when you are in Tuelake. When you climb down into the caves it will be like nothing you have experienced before. The caves have tubes that are made out of lava and a visitor center that explains their creation.
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Big Sur was derived from the Spanish words ‘el sure grande’ which means ‘the big south’. The area is lightly populated and sits at the south of the city of Monterey. There are some stunning views to be had whilst you are in this small area which makes it very popular with tourists.
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McWay falls is an 80 foot waterfall that is located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. The fall is actually classed as tide fall due to its close proximity to the ocean. The waterfall used to flow directly into the ocean but following a landslide in 1985 the terrain was altered and it now flows into an inaccessible beach.
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San Francisco is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and is famous for the stunning Golden Gate Bridge, colourful houses from the Victorian age and the last remaining cable cars. The city has many huge skyscrapers that make for a beautiful view. Just off the coast is Alcatraz Island which was home to the famous prison.
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In the Yosemite National Park you will come across Vernal Falls. A 317 foot water fall that falls into the Merced River. The falls run all year round but at certain points of the year they break into multiple strands when the volume of water decreases.
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Monterey Beaches are made up of a selection of Beaches that range from tiny little jewels to large area of sand. Each beach is unique and offers plenty of recreation facilities from kayaking to surfing to diving.
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Emerald Bay is a small island that sits within Lake Tahoe. The bay has now been designated a National Natural Landmark due to the natural beauty that this small island provides. There are two camping grounds and a scenic foot trail that goes around the outside of the island.
Source: Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz / shutterstock
Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and a hot spot for tree lovers. The forest is often covered in a fog that comes from the coast. There are countless redwood trees growing in the area that use the fog that seeps in to stay moist during the dry summers.
Source: Andreas Koeberl / shutterstock
In the north of California you will find the Napa Valley. The area is famous for its beautiful landscapes and legendary wineries. The area is perfect for those that want to get away from it all and pamper themselves for a few days in the award winning restaurants and spas.
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Cathedral Peak is one part of the mountain range known as the Cathedral Range. The peak got its name because of the shape of the peak that looks like a cathedral. Glacial activity formed the peak and it has remained in its current form for many years.
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Mariposa Woods are a grove of giant sequoias. When you arrive you will feel like you are in a fairy-tale as the trees get taller and taller the further in you go. Some of the trees are between 1900 and 2400 years old with the star of the show being the giant sequoia named ‘Grizzly Giant’
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The Giant Rock is a real natural beauty and one that you must see whilst on a trip to landers. The boulder is in the Mojave Desert and covers an area of 5,800 square feet. The rock is seven stories high and known to be the largest free standing rock in the world.
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Situated well above the Yosemite Valley is Glacier Point. A viewpoint that stands at an elevation of 7,214 feet. From here you can stand back and catch amazing views of the Yosemite Valley, Vernal Fall, Clouds Rest and Nevada Fall.
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Running from San Diego to San Francisco is the California One Highway. One of the most celebrated driving roads in the world. You will travel through wine country and beaches along this winding coastal drive. An absolute must for anyone who loves a road trip.
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Big Basin Redwoods State Park is the oldest State Park in the country and here is where you will find the Waddell Creek Watershed. This area was formed when the rim was uplifted and the centre eroded, leaving the beautiful bowl shaped area you can see today.
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Inside Humboldt Redwoods State Park you will find Rockefeller Forest which is the largest contiguous forest of coast redwoods in the world. Many of these trees grow to over 91 metres in height and the ‘Stratosphere Giant’ was at one point the tallest redwood known to man.
Source: Bob Pool / shutterstock
Mendocino Coast is a nature lover’s paradise. With breath taking scenery and rock formations that have been carved by the wind. There are tide pools and secret coves to explore as well as wetlands filled with birds and other wildlife. A truly fantastic place to explore when you need to get everything.
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Bishop in California is a small town that offers much to the person who loves the great outdoors. You can trek to the top of White Mountain Peak which is 14,246 feet at its altitude and offers stunning views of the landscape below.
Source: You Touch Pix of EuToch / shutterstock
Oxnard is a small city in California that has many beautiful beaches and dunes to visit. You can enjoy quiet beaches that let you take in beautiful sunsets or you can choose to walk along the dunes for an equally stunning view.
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In the Sea Cliff neighbourhood of San Francisco is China Beach, a small cove that is one of the cleanest and most looked after beaches in the state. The cove was originally used as a campsite for Chinese fisherman that worked in and the bay.
Where to stay: Best Hotels in California (CA)