Tag Archives: smiling

At Least You Don’t Have Moebius Syndrome

Ami AngelowiczJanuary 26, 2011 //

Don’t tell Hayley to turn her frown upside down. She’s not trying to be a Debbie Downer, she is just incapable of smiling or moving her face at all for that matter. The 14-year-old suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Moebius Syndrome. People with this disorder are born missing vital nerves and sometimes limbs. This often impairs their ability to speak, blink, chew, or move their face. In Hayley’s case, her speech is very limited, her face is paralyzed, she has no hands, sleeps with her eyes open, and suffers with severe digestive issues. I dare you to try to complain about your problems now. [The Sun] Keep reading »

5 Good Reasons To Crack A Smile

Carli Alexa BlauJune 2, 2010 //

How many times a day do you smile? Chances are it might not be enough. Smiling can change your mood, making you feel happy even when you didn’t think you could. Think about it — people are always busy, whether they’re late to work, shopping around, or running errands. We often forget how easy it is to smile and the significant effect it can have on improving your perspetive. If happiness is not enough of an incentive to start smiling, well, for the hell of it, then maybe getting a beach bod is. While smiling may not directly burn calories, it might lead to a good laugh, which could burn anywhere from 10 to 40 calories per day! Science, people! After the jump, find out five more reasons to smile just because. Keep reading »

Virginia Is For Frowners

Jessica WakemanMay 28, 2009 //

People with ugly driver’s license photos, the state of Virginia feels your pain. The Department of Motor Vehicles in Virginia banned smiles—yes, smiles—and ordered all new photo-takers to make a “neutral expression” in their portraits. The DMV would like to develop a facial recognition system to standardize documentation and thwart fraudsters and identity thieves. OK, Big Brother, whatever you say.

Just a cranky DMV clerk barking “No smiling!” isn’t enough, though! The DMV’s software can detect and reject “attempts at exuberance or human warmth,” meaning if you flash some dimples or let your pearly whites crack through your lips, a computer will make you take your picture again.

Even though Virginia is just one of 37 DMV agencies nationwide to use the facial recognition software, Virginian drivers aren’t pleased. Groused one driver, “It makes everyone look like criminals.” [Washington Post]
Keep reading »

Quick Pic: Why So Grumpy Lindsay Lohan & Sam Ronson?

The FriskyJuly 23, 2008 //

You know what we hate? When you’re walking down the street and some idiot dude says to you, “Smile, sweetheart!”, like you’re supposed to just walk around with a mindless grin on your face. So, yeah, own that frown, ladies! [New York City, 7/22/08] Keep reading »

Quick Pic: The Many Faces Of Tyra Banks

Amelia McDonell-ParryMay 30, 2008 //

For the record, Tyra is giving: the catalog smile, the commercial smile, and the smile without the eyes. [New York Times Magazine, 6/1/08 edition] Keep reading »