Schools and workplaces are frequently offended by how women and girls choose to clothe their bodies. Whether it’s the l ength of our skirts or the height of our heels, we are still being denied equal treatment because of what we wear, which, in 2017, is anachronistic to say the least.
The latest institution to discriminate on this basis? Hillview School for Girls in Tonbridge, Kent, which allegedly sent a sixth-form pupil home because she wasn’t wearing a bra and was "distracting male teachers". Really, people are still employing that tired, sexist excuse, which places the responsibility on girls for how grown men behave.
An anonymous mother told Kent Live that her daughter was removed from class for this reason, and students were reportedly outraged by the school's actions. "Can’t believe people are getting sent home from school for not wearing a bra 'because male teachers get distracted' f*** off hillview," read one tweet, which has since been deleted.
It also allegedly sparked an outbreak of solidarity among a group of fellow students, who turned up to school braless the next day, MailOnline reported.
However, the school denied the problem was the student's bralessness, instead saying she was ejected because of her “inappropriate attire”, which was described as a “near see-through top”. Its headteacher, Hilary Burkett, said the school's “professional dress code” applies to all students. “This is to ensure that students present themselves smartly and as positive role models to the younger years.
“On the rare occasions where a student chooses to not adhere to the dress code or dresses inappropriately, they are asked to go home and change so the school can maintain its high standards at all times.”
Bra or no bra, no one should be denied their education because of what they're wearing – and especially not because of the effect an outfit may have on male teachers.
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Global leaders have denounced the move, particularly in Europe, with the leaders of France, Germany and Italy issuing a joint statement declaring their "regret" at the news and reaffirming their commitment to the deal. They rejected the possibility of a renegotiation, an idea floated by Trump, “since [the deal] is a vital instrument for our planet, societies and economics”, the Guardian reported.
“Wherever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again,” said French President Emmanuel Macron in an unprecedented English language speech. Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Fiji have also condemned Trump's actions.
So, how did Theresa May respond on behalf of the UK? By expressing her "disappointment" at the news. She apparently called Trump to "express her disappointment... and stressed that the UK remained committed to the deal," the BBC reported. A pitiful, half-hearted, response if ever there was one.
The lacklustre nature of May's reaction wasn't lost on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who accused her of being "subservient" to the US president. Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas also blasted her response, calling it “slow and timid” and saying it was “another sign of her weakness”.
“A true global leader would be condemning the President's actions, and joining with other European countries to formulate an emergency plan to save the Paris Agreement," Lucas added. “Once again we're seeing a weak Prime Minister failing to stand up tall on the world stage in the face of near-criminal behaviour from one of our closest allies.”
The Lib Dems have even started a petition calling on May to stand up to the US president. They called Trump's decision to pull out of the agreement "an act of vandalism on a global scale". "World leaders are already lining up to condemn him - with one prominent exception. Theresa May."
Many have condemned May's feeble reaction on Twitter, too.
I don't know why I continue to be disappointed in our PM every time she fails to show moral leadership, but I do https://t.co/o1Ow2O9SMV
— Caroline CriadoPerez (@CCriadoPerez) June 2, 2017
Theresa May not standing up to Donald Trump over the Paris Agreement is another campaign u-turn on a manifesto commitment, via @Bickerrecordpic.twitter.com/q636xsQ0DL
City halls and landmarks across the US and around the world lit up green last night in support of the Paris Agreement, including Boston, Washington DC, Montreal, Paris, Mexico City and Trump's hometown of New York.
Exiting the Paris climate accord may make us see red & feel blue, but the Wilson Building's lit up green tonight to prove the fight endures pic.twitter.com/T5COno46Ci
Living “sustainably” and being “ethical” is not just a trend. It’s a necessity. Attribute our collective growing awareness over the past few years to Cowspiracy, to Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s vegan stage, or just to the fact that we’re finally coming around to how wasteful we are as people, slowly robbing this planet of its natural resources.
Whatever the reason, it’s hard to know where to turn in your journey to live less wastefully. Or worse, where even to start. Many of us have already cut down on our meat consumption but did you know that almonds, which currently sit on the highest tier of hallowed food blogger foods, are eco-problematic? It takes over five litres of water just to grow one teeny little almond. Oh, and avocados? They have been used as a tool of war by Mexican drug cartels keen to cash in on America’s lust for them.
Fishing is a hugely wasteful food industry. On one hand, it is one of the most talked-about areas when it comes to “sustainability” but, on the other, overfishing is still a huge problem. It has left some parts of the ocean completely barren, and demand for certain fish is putting other fish and sea-dwelling mammals at risk of death. Currently, an average of 20% of fish caught are binned because they're not economical or desirable.
Two people who are seeking to change that are Joe Roberts and George Notley, who are behind a new restaurant in London’s Islington called Trawler Trash. The concept is simple: executive chef George creates a menu that uses the fish which are the least in-demand from the British public. Fish which is usually wasted, thrown back into the sea dead, or left to rot is turned into fish and chips, fish pies, brunch, pasta dishes and more.
We speak to them about the problems we're facing with our fish consumption at the moment and what we can do to change it.
Bycatch is a result of such a high demand of your favourite species. In the UK our favourites are cod and haddock. When folks go out and catch their quota of cod and haddock they obviously catch a load of other fish at the same time through a very un-selective method of fishing. A lot of it is actually thrown back dead in the sea by bigger trawlers because they don’t want to waste space that could be used for more expensive fish, like cod and haddock. What we’re doing [at Trawler Trash] is trying to create a demand and a use for those fish that are thrown back because then they’ll be brought back to shore and used in the correct way as opposed to just being wasted or used as cat food.
Which fish are the "unpopular" ones?
At the moment we’ve got a lot of coley, which is a member of the cod family. The colour is slightly greyer on the flesh than cod, which puts people off. Taste-wise though, I’d challenge anyone when it’s deep-fried and battered to tell the difference between the two. Also, gurnard, hake. Also sardines, or "pilchards" as they used to be known. And mackerel.
How do I know if a fish is sustainable?
There’s a general rule with sustainable fish – the smaller it is, the more sustainable it is. Sustainable fish tend to be smaller, hardier species which develop to adulthood a lot quicker than, say, a cod, which might be 30 years old. Imagine if you rip that out of the sea? If you take mackerel, though, that replenishes in a year.
I think supermarkets are to blame. Many of the non-Westernised countries still live off their resources because they need to and that means they’re only using what’s there and what's needed. They’re not searching for a certain fish. One thing we notice within our research is that today’s generation are desensitised towards the preparation of fish, to how it looks, if it’s a bit smelly or unsightly sometimes. We grew up with supermarkets, our parents and grandparents didn’t.
How can we make more of a difference in our everyday lives?
Obviously support your local fishmonger, but I understand that this isn’t achievable on a daily basis. It’s actually quite rare in London these days [to find a fishmonger]. But you can still support. Your hake, your mackerel and your gurnard is still in the big supermarkets, they just don’t sell a huge amount of it. The more of it that flies off the shelves, the more they’ll put on the shelves.
What's another popular fish we're eating too much of?
Farmed salmon is becoming a huge thing. This is just the industry trying to cater for the demand as opposed to challenging the customer. The industry has always supported what people want as opposed to challenging what they want.
What's been the reaction so far to your dishes using the so-called "unpopular" fishes?
I was pleasantly surprised with the coley in the fish and chips and just how well it worked. And also the gurnard is just flying out of the door, it tastes amazing. It’s just like a big red mullet, it's just a bit bigger and a bit meatier.
Trawler Trash's Mackerel Escabeche
Ingredients:
4 Mackerel Fillets, pin boned 2 Medium Carrots 1 Red Onion 1 Bay Leaf 4 Sprigs of thyme 1 Garlic Cloves 60ml Olive Oil 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
Method:
1. Lightly pan fry the mackerel fillets in a large non-stick frying pan until the skin is crispy and the fillets are nearly cooked through
2. Set the fillets aside on a tray, allowing for a small amount of space between the fillets
3. In a large heavy bottom pan gently heat the olive oil and add the carrots, red onion, bay leaf, garlic and thyme, cooking on a low heat until the vegetables have softened.
4. Remove from the heat and add the red wine vinegar and mix, allow to cool before adding the vegetables to the tray of mackerel.
5. Allow to marinate for at least 2 hours before serving
Jane*, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, had been attending Cuddle Workshops for over a year when she had what she describes as her "breakthrough". "There was one woman who had joined the group and there was something about her that reminded me of my foster mother who I loved dearly. We happened to be having a cuddle in one session and there was something so unconditional in her love, and the softness of her motherly body that I started crying and I just couldn’t stop. No words were spoken but I felt something that had been very broken, reconnect again. I cried out my grief, I didn’t hold back."
Jane was just 11 years old when her half-brother first raped her. He would go on to sexually abuse her for many more years, with her mother seemingly wilfully ignorant to what was happening under her own roof. Unsurprisingly, Jane’s childhood, marred as it was by abuse and neglect, had a lasting effect on her – she is now in her 50s and says she still sometimes feels afraid of men and that for decades she carried with her a sense of shame and guilt. She tried multiple avenues, looking for a way to heal – martial arts, talking therapies, tantra – but she credits the Cuddle Workshops, a place where her abuse is never even mentioned, as one of the most powerful healing methods she has tried.
When Anna Fortes Mayer first launched the workshops in London seven years ago, there was a flurry of media attention. A journalist from New Statesman mused whether the workshops were a cure for loneliness in this digital age, while The Guardian sent a “reluctant hugger” to see how he fared being caressed by strangers for a few hours. But as much as the workshops might be easy to dismiss as a slightly wacky, uncomfortable way for awkward English people to spend an afternoon, for the survivors of sexual abuse they can be an invaluable way to begin to physically connect with people again. As Anna puts it, “The workshops give people back empowerment over their bodies. People relearn how to receive touch as well as giving it, and to become open and receptive in a completely non-sexual environment.” Each workshop takes participants through a series of well-organised exercises, either in a group or in twos, gradually building up the amount of physical contact that can be given or received, and at any point attendees can stop or sit out of the activities.
Linda, who is now in her 60s, was in a sexually abusive marriage for 20 years and had two children with her husband before she finally left him. Her partner was a sex addict and she says she felt continually pressured to satisfy his needs. “For my generation, we had this insane message that nice girls don’t have sex till they’re married, but when you’re married, you don’t say no – if he wants sex you do that.” Having left him, Linda was keen to start dating but struggled to connect with people. “When you've been in that situation you’re pretty terrified of getting involved with anyone ever again,” she says, “and you forget how to be intimate.”
She was led to the Cuddle Workshop after encountering some people involved in the "Free Hugs" movement and attended her first session about five years ago. “I wanted to get back into the dating world but I didn’t want to find myself getting physical with someone too quickly because I was craving touch.” The workshops allowed Linda to satisfy her need for physical touch without the worry that the intimacy would be a prelude to sexual demands. “For someone who’s not been in a relationship for a while, it can be quite daunting at the beginning because you get this flood of feelings. The workshops are a way I can rehearse how I might feel in that situation.”
Photo: Alexandra Gavillet
The workshops are carefully structured so that physical contact must be explicitly consented to and, perhaps contrary to what one might assume, there’s a huge focus on people saying no rather than yes. “The boundary work is one of the biggest reasons why people come back,” Anna says. She explains that she actively encourages new attendees, especially those who have a history of sexual abuse, to say no to almost everything at the beginning, meaning that sometimes someone may spend the entire session simply sitting near their partner, or even just watching from the sidelines. “It can be uncomfortable and most of us have a fear of saying no, but it allows people to reinforce a dialogue with their bodies,” Anna says.
Michelle, who was sexually abused as both a teenager and a child, says she found the workshop’s focus on boundaries immensely helpful. “With sexual trauma, your boundaries have been overstepped in a very significant way so to be in an environment where barriers were respected gave me a real sense of safety. If you can’t say no then your yes doesn’t mean anything, either.”
It’s not just female survivors of abuse who find the workshops helpful. Michael, who was diagnosed with autism six years ago, suffered years of sexual abuse as a teenager, inflicted by a man who was employed to care for him. As well as suffering from PTSD and mental health problems, Michael’s experiences mean he finds it incredibly difficult to interact with other men, to the extent that he says he cannot be alone with another male. The initial reason he came to a Cuddle Workshop was simply to get a hug: “At times of extremes stress I find it very helpful to have a cuddle, but before I heard of the workshops there weren’t many options of how I would get one of those.” Michael describes how he was “on a high” for two weeks after his first class and, when working with a female attendee, has no problem saying yes during the exercises: “Because I don’t say no, people have to push the boundaries, so they do things like put their finger up my nose or pull on my ears.” However, when it comes to partnering with a male member of the class, Michael is, unsurprisingly, much less open. “It’s very, very different working with men. My map of where I’m prepared to touch is much more limited – hands, forearms, shoulder, neck, head – places you’d considered to be public.” It might seem like a small step but, considering the workshops were the first time Michael had had any physical interaction with other men since his abuse, it’s impressive progress.
For the majority of people, the desire to be touched, stroked or simply held is an intrinsic part of our nature. However, as we get older, these interactions can become intrinsically linked with sex and for survivors of abuse, this is where things become complicated. By providing a non-sexual and controlled environment, Anna’s Cuddle Workshops allow people to engage with one another, without any expectations or pressures. Barriers are respected and the responsibility for interactions is shared – no means no. As Michael says, “In our society non-sexual touch is extremely valuable, but so difficult to get,” a thought mirrored by the other survivors. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why the workshops are an invaluable resource for those who simply want to be close to another person again.
The events of the past year or so have mobilised citizens around the world to get educated and active in politics like never before. We've all had various nerves that have been hit hard by proposed policy changes, everything from medical coverage, environmental protection, education, gender equality... the list goes on.
As a woman, a new mother, and an American living in the UK I have found myself ticking more boxes than ever before: I have a newfound respect and gratitude for the NHS, I worry about the state of the environment, not just for myself but for my three-month-old daughter's future, and as a freelance worker in the entertainment industry, I have always valued the freedom to live in the UK and work and move freely throughout Europe.
Like so many of my friends and family members here in the UK, I'm incredibly frustrated by current events and am passionate about getting as many young people actually voting in the upcoming election as possible. Abstention makes me angry and I have always taken great pride in getting as involved in politics as I can. There's only one problem: I can't legally vote in the UK.
As an American married to a British citizen, my spousal visa grants me the right to work in the UK, pay taxes in the UK, and raise my London-born daughter in the UK. But when it comes to voting, the line is drawn in the sand and I am required to become an official UK national in order to participate. Luckily, dual nationality in the UK is allowed, meaning that once I go through the process and acquire British citizenship, I am able to retain citizenship of my country of birth as well. Simple enough, right?
To meet the requirements I will need to:
· Obtain a visa (tick) · Obtain “indefinite leave to remain” (nearly there) · Satisfy a five-year qualifying period of residence in the UK (working on it) · Be at least 18 years of age and of “sound mind” (tick and... sure) · Intend to continue living in the UK (tick) · Be able to communicate in a UK language (tick)
So glancing over the checklist, it seems all I have to do once I've been in the UK for five years is take the UK citizenship test, apply, and I should be ready to go for the next general election. Right?
Unfortunately for me, although Britain has a logical and firm position on dual citizenship, America seems slightly more confused (which isn't surprising, considering the current political state of affairs). Since there is no mention of dual citizenship in the United States Constitution, there is no official position on it and therefore voluntarily applying for foreign citizenship “may” jeopardise US citizenship. So I'm faced with a decision: is it worth potentially risking problems with my status in America for the sake of trying to become a citizen of the country where I am raising my child?
Emigrating to a foreign country has given me a really unique perspective in terms of my way of life and the things I will never take for granted. I grew up battling the healthcare system like everyone else in America. I have been in debt from routine doctor visits, I have often had to leave the pharmacy without my prescribed medication because I couldn't afford it and, on one occasion, I was very close to impersonating my sister out of desperation during a particularly severe toothache (she had health insurance, I didn't).
Moving to the UK and discovering the absolute mind-boggling wonder of the NHS has been a revelation, and it is one of the reasons I feel so lucky that my daughter is fortunate enough to call England her home. But as the general election looms, there are so many questions and fears around NHS funding gaps and the looming danger of privatisation. Nothing feels quite as important to me as being able to actively participate in this election and be on the right side of history, supporting the Labour party that values the NHS and vows to protect it.
Ultimately the choices made in this upcoming election could be catastrophic, not only to our day-to-day lives in the UK but to our planet as a whole. A hard Brexit would mean walking away from the pioneering environmental standards and regulations of the EU and the protections and practices put in place via EU monitoring and enforcement. Greenhouse gas emissions, fracking and air pollution are just a few of the unnecessary calamities that keep me awake at night as they threaten to sink our planet further into the hole we've already dug. Not to overstate the obvious, but this is not the world I want to leave for my child, and the fact that I'm unable to cast my vote for the most environmentally conscious candidate feels like a failure to myself and my baby.
So as I continue to read, research and despair, I'm constantly seeking alternative ways to be proactive in politics. All of my adult life I've passionately believed that voting is the right and responsibility of every one of us, and at a time in my life when it seems more important than ever to make my voice heard, it feels paralysing to lose that right. But for now, the best I can do is continue to donate, tweet, participate in viral campaigns, and keep my fingers crossed that come 8th June, the right decision is made. I hope so, for my daughter's sake.
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Summer is here and while our wardrobes are thrilled (hello mules, gingham, and a fresh pair of sunnies), our hair is less enthused. For those of us with fringes, the hot weather usually means frizz, sweat and a whole lot of maintenance. But when everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Alexa Chung makes having bangs look so effortless, we’re not about to throw in the towel that easily. We’ve done our research and found the best tools and products to keep your mane under control, leaving more time to sit back, relax and enjoy that poolside prosecco care-free.
These are a godsend. With just as much firepower as their full-sized counterpart, these little wonders are the perfect size to sort out a '70s-flicked post-rain fringe in under a minute. They also come with a small pouch, so you can take 'em with you on the move. We laugh in the face of being caught off-guard.
Cloud Nine The Micro Iron, £64, available at Cloud Nine
Whether you're used to clouds of hairspray or not, this bamboo fix is a summertime essential. The beauty is that it won't freeze your 'do in position, making your hair look unnatural. Instead, it acts as a barrier against the humidity that makes your hair expand and curl in the heat. No more nightmares about becoming Monica in the Barbados episode of Friends.
Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Hairspray, £19, available at Escentual
This two-in-one hairbrush is a handbag staple. Divide and part your fringe with the pointed end (careful of your eyes...) and brush into place with the bristled end. Boar hair keeps locks smooth and shiny rather than static, while the rounded brush gives you control of your style. This kind of brush is also great for achieving a '60s full-fringe look.
ORIBE Medium Round Brush, £121, available at Space.NK
Philip B's formula is the don for taming unruly frizz and flyaways. Apply a small drop onto the palm of your hands, rub together to warm the product, and run through your mane. Think of it as a laminate layer that makes your hair waterproof, and therefore heatproof. Vitamin E and soya bean oils keep hair shiny, and parabens and sulphates are nowhere to be seen.
Philip B Anti-Frizz Formula 57, £38, available at Selfridges
We've discovered a trick that is a small saviour come rushed mornings or lazy holidays, when you don't want to get the straighteners out or spend more than five minutes styling your hair. Simply divide your parting when your hair is still wet, sweep a comb through your fringe, and clip at the ends into the main sections of hair (the clips should be sitting over your temples). Then, once hair has air-dried, remove the clips, use a brush or your fingers to loosen the hair, and voilà! A styled fringe with zero effort.
ASOS Pack of 6 Mixed Metal Hair Clips, £6, available at ASOS
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The Justice Department filing to the high court late Thursday argued that the federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia made several mistakes in ruling against the Trump travel policy.
Immigration officials would have 90 days to decide what changes are necessary before people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen may resume applying for visas. It takes a majority of the court, at least five justices, to put the policy into effect.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals called the national security concerns an after-the-fact justification for a policy that was "rooted in religious animus and intended to bar Muslims from this country." The appeals court ruled against reinstating the travel policy by a 10-3 vote last week.
The Justice Department is "confident that President Trump's executive order is well within his lawful authority to keep the nation safe and protect our communities from terrorism," spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said. "The president is not required to admit people from countries that sponsor or shelter terrorism, until he determines that they can be properly vetted and do not pose a security risk to the United States."
The administration also wants to be able to suspend the refugee program for 120 days, a separate aspect of the policy that has been blocked by a federal judge in Hawaii and is now being considered by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.
Trump signed his first executive order on travel a week after he took office in January. It applied to travellers from the six countries as well as Iraq and took effect immediately, causing chaos and panic at airports as the Homeland Security Department scrambled to figure out who the order covered and how it was to be implemented.
A federal judge blocked it eight days later, an order that was upheld by a 9th Circuit panel. Rather than pursue an appeal, the administration said it would revise the policy.
Today, Vetements, one of fashion’s most lauded brands, announced that it will no longer present its collections via catwalk shows. Speaking to Vogue, Demna Gvasalia revealed: “We are not going to show in the classical system any more.” While the brand will still produce collections, this surprising move is indicative of the collective’s insightful business and marketing decisions.
Vetements has never played by the rules. Since the design collective (anonymous bar its leader Demna Gvasalia) presented its first collection back in 2014, it has garnered international acclaim as well as derision. From introducing an Eastern European-inspired aesthetic of elongated sleeves, deconstructed silhouettes and oversized shapes to every street styler’s wardrobe, and the tongue-in-cheek reworking of DHL logos, to its recent relocation from Paris to Zurich: the industry has been constantly captivated by Vetements’ moves.
Speaking to Vogue, Gvasalia explained that rather than trundle along the expensive and repetitive conveyor belt of catwalks, it is embracing slowness, purposefulness. “I got bored. I think it needs to enter a new chapter. Fashion shows are not the best tool. We did the show in the sex club, the restaurant, the church. We brought forward the season, we showed men’s and women’s together. It’s become repetitive and exhausting. We will do something when there’s the time and the need for it. It will be more like a surprise.”
So what does this move mean for the brand? It seems as though the past half decade has created a bigger beast than Gvasalia could have imaged: “It’s like we’ve got this big baby, and we’ve got to take care of it. In five years, it’s gone so fast, it started to become something else”, he explains. A divisive figure in fashion, the designer has a legion of followers and supporters who praise his every move, but Vetements has had its fair share of criticism. Is it the work of a genius, or simply the emperor's new clothes? Demna himself has said that he’d “rather go on holiday” than “go and buy” his own designs. Now, he’s denouncing his own aesthetic: just this week, Demna told WWD that “Eastern Europe is over for me” and that he wanted to focus his creativity on a “more analytical” approach, “which is more based on really observing the way we dress, what we wear, and why we wear it.”
Those fanatic buyers who scrambled to pay £185 for a T-shirt will surely be disappointed to hear news of the end of the Georgian designer’s street-inspired aesthetic. A master disrupter, Demna refuses to play by traditional rules, and so it should come as no surprise that as soon as his aesthetic became mainstream, he would leave it behind for a more forward-thinking focus. “I want to bring it back to where we started. No more oversize hoodies any more! We’re independent. We can do what we choose. That’s the beauty of Vetements.” Whether you love or hate the brand and the designers behind it, there’s no denying the frenzy it’s whipped up in the industry – a genuine approach, or a clever marketing tool? Either way, all eyes are on Zurich to produce the next surprise.
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Yesterday, Donald Trump made the official announcement that he will withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. "In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord," he stated. Trump claimed that he'd be open to re-entering the deal if he could "renegotiate" the terms of the agreement, prompting France, Italy, and Germany to immediately respond that it cannot be renegotiated.
Although the largest protest took place in D.C., "sister rallies" are being held across the US in cities including New York. The Natural Resources Defense Council took to Twitter yesterday to spread the word and encourage demonstrations in other cities.
[TONIGHT] Rally against withdrawal from the #ParisAgreement.
NYC: 6 pm at Foley Sq. DC: 5 pm at the White House Any other cities? #resist
French-Canadian photographer Laurence Philomene is the kind of 23-year-old that leaves us quaking with admiration; they’ve shot for brands from Teen Vogue through to Netflix, but as an artist, have managed to carve out their own aesthetic and stay true to it. Despite a penchant for super-bold block colours, Laurence’s portraiture work has a distinct sensitivity to it, something that comes from making friends with their subjects and allowing them to decide how they’d like to be depicted.
Laurence identifies as non-binary, and their latest series features people who also define their gender this way. Non-Binary is an ongoing project Laurence has been shooting since last year and it’s making waves across the internet for capturing the nuances of gender expression with extreme intimacy. When I call Laurence to talk about the series, they’re friendly as hell despite being a bit distracted, after a week in Berlin setting up a solo show. When we speak, Laurence is on Brighton Pier hanging with friends, on holiday from their native city, Montreal.
“I’ve been taking photos for about 10 years,” they explain down the line. “I started out taking photos of these Japanese collectible dolls called Blythe dolls. There’s a whole community of people on Flickr who put them in scenarios and take photos of them. That’s how I got my start. Then I went to college for photography after high school and after that I guess I didn’t have a choice about whether to make a career out of it… I’ve been working freelance for four years now.”
Gender is a theme Laurence started experimenting with in college; it felt important to explore it in their photography work as part of an exploration of their own gender identity. “A lot of my work has been about themes of masculinity and femininity – putting that in my photography and trying to figure what it means for me,” Laurence explains, before adding: “I don’t think I’ve come to any conclusions yet, which is probably why I’m still working on it…”
Ahead, we take a look at Laurence’s project photographing non-binary identified people, and discuss how Laurence and their subjects express their gender – both privately and in front of the camera.
Laurence on being non-binary: “I think it’s something I always felt about myself and I was even told by people around me that I didn’t fit in [with “male” or “female”] in certain ways. A lot of friends identify as non-binary and it took me a while to come to terms with it for myself because it’s easier to not talk about these things.
"I think a lot of people probably felt it before they had a word for it. The term’s been around for a couple of years and there’s a big community of non-binary people in Montreal. But still, it took a while before I was like, ‘This is a term I’m going to use for how I feel’. Then I started talking about it more. I made a post on my private Instagram and talked to my friends about it, and then I kind of came out publicly through this project.”
Self Portrait by Laurence Philomene
Photographed by Laurence Philomene.
“I use ‘they’ pronouns and ‘she’ pronouns. I never made a big thing of, ‘These are the pronouns I use now’ because a lot of my friends in my community already used ‘they’ pronouns for everybody. My family are aware of the press I’ve been doing and the show I just had in Berlin – I wrote a grant application for it that was about my identity that my dad proofread. But we never really had a big conversation about it. My family is French and there’s not really a term for non-binary in French – or gender neutral pronouns – so it’s hard to have a conversation about it in that language.” – Laurence
Lux by Laurence Philomene
Photographed by Laurence Philomene.
“There’s definitely a big queer community in Montreal, but it’s a small city compared to somewhere like London. I’d say non-binary identities are a strong component of the queer community where I’m from, for sure. But I feel like Montreal is a very divided place between the Francophone queer community and the Anglophone queer community, and I can only speak for the Anglophone queer community, but I guess in terms of gender expression it’s a fairly open place. There’s still harassment and violence against LGBTQ people, as there is everywhere else in the world, but it’s a place I feel safe (presenting as non-binary).” – Laurence
Lucky by Laurence Philomene
Photographed by Laurence Philomene.
Hobbes Ginsberg, 23, Los Angeles
“I think I was around 17 when I started identifying as non-binary, but I honestly don't remember much. I had a very gradual transition and coming out.
“I think the biggest thing is realising that there's no one way to be ‘non-binary’. It’s not just a stereotypical ‘afab person who's into menswear and has a short haircut’. There's so many different ways to express the physicality of being non-binary and so many combinations of masc or femme or neither or both, all of which have nothing to do with anyone's body.
“Laurence's project does a really beautiful job of showcasing a depth and variety of non-binary looks and experiences that is often not seen, which can really help broaden the narrative and introduce people to these ideas. I also think it's important to note that a non-binary experience isn't just limited to your physical presentation and it's something that I think in a lot of ways can feel intrinsic to your personality and your essential ‘way of being’.”
Hobbes by Laurence Philomene
“For me, the non-binary series was a shift in my photography, where I went from projecting the image of myself onto whoever I was photographing, to listening to whoever I’m photographing about how they want to be represented. The conception of it was taking a look back at my work and thinking, ‘How can I be a better photographer for myself and my community’, letting go of the past and how I used to control the image more.
“So, the initial idea was asking people, ‘How would you like to be photographed as your ideal self?’ Some people went very simple with it, like, ‘Oh I like this colour’. Others were more specific, like, ‘I want to be at this location or wearing this’.
“A lot of the people I’ve been photographing have marginalised identities on a lot of levels, and there’s this thing over the years of trans bodies being photographed through a very cis lens, which is very othering of the subject. I wanted to not do that and include the voice of whoever I was photographing. It was a collaborative process.
“This photo is of Kiki. They wanted to have an archer bow and arrow vibe as their ideal self and we went to a woodland area to shoot it. It’s the most different of all of the images compared to what I usually do… I really went outside of my comfort zone with the palette.” – Laurence
Kiki by Laurence Philomene
William Garabito, 22, Montreal
“I started to identify myself as non-binary the moment identifying as gay was putting me in a box full of limitations, that same box I wanted to escape when I identified as heterosexual (if I ever did). I can't recall an exact time, but I would say about two or three years ago. Identifying myself as non-binary allows me to have no limitations when it comes to gender and relationships, both of which I still want to explore.”
William by Laurence Philomene
William Garabito, 22, Montreal
“Nowadays, people are becoming much more aware of terms such as non-binary, queer and gender non-conforming, which is a good thing. In a way and besides the tremendous amount of work our community needs in order for us all to feel safe, people have a lot more access to information and can look up to people who identify as non-binary and have a bigger voice. This is something we didn’t have before, at least not within the public eye (mass media).
“Before, I would allow my gender identity to come to surface and really be part of my daily expressions and interactions. Now, I have a new take on it, where I see my non-binary identity as a way to showcase other characteristics that are more important to me. Being non-binary gives me freedom and a sense that I am much more than my gender alone and that I can do whatever I set my mind and body to do. As a non-binary person, my eyes are more open, I look at myself and others far beyond categories.”
William by Laurence Philomene
“Most of the people in the series are my very close friends, friends of friends, or other young artists. I usually just cast with a Facebook post: ‘Hey, this is the project, message me if you’re interested in being in it’.
“I met one person who I didn’t know at all, a friend of a friend called William, I asked them to be in the series and they told me about a project they’re doing that’s a line of children’s clothes that’s unisex but not minimalist – frills and pink stuff and skirts for everyone – a different connotation of gender neutral. They said my project inspired them to do that and so we’re going to shoot a look book for their brand together.
“That’s how a lot of my projects go, I meet people, take photos of them and then we become friends. People ask me whether I always have a conversation about gender with my subjects when I shoot them. Not really. We relate to each other, make nice imagery, have a good time. I try to create as much as a ‘safe space’ as possible.” – Laurence
William by Laurence Philomene
Laurence on using colour: “After college, my use of colour seemed to be the common thread across my still life, studio work and portraits. There’s not a deep meaning to it, that’s just what I gravitate towards. It makes me happy!
“I think people definitely still have associations with colour and gender because people ask me about it all the time, whether I gender colour or if colours mean anything. I feel like in my earlier work I was reclaiming pink and all that stuff but now I just use colour visually. Any colour is for anyone. Maybe that is a political message in itself but I don’t necessarily intend it as one.
“I never usually shoot grey but one of the models said it’s the only colour they wear, so here I did it, with a kind of witch-style shoot. Going out of my comfort zone for this series has helped me be more open as a photographer.”
Lees by Laurence Philomene
Rochelle Rinne, 25, Ontario
“I started identifying as non-binary as soon as I knew there was a term that might begin to encapsulate the feelings and confusion I’ve always felt toward my own gender identity. I have memories of being uncomfortable with being referred to as a 'girl' from as young as four or five because it seemed to totally gloss over the masculinity with which I’ve always aligned myself. This pushed me into 'Am I a trans boy?' territory for a while, but the most emotionally resonant thing for me to do is to reject the gender binary insofar as my own interiority and accept that I’ll likely never feel comfortable exclusively identifying as either boy or girl. The either/or feels like wearing a too-tight itchy sweater, and deeming myself non-binary feels like finally starting to peel it off.
"Here, I’m wearing a vintage 1960s JC Penney baby blue lace dress I got for $5 at a thrift store that I’m often too scared to wear because it’s so ‘girly’, but I adore it, and I wanted to tell those feelings to go fuck themselves.”
Rochelle by Laurence Philomene
Rochelle Rinne, 25, Ontario
“I think that white non-binary people get a lot more visibility because we are privileged in our ability to feel safe revealing ourselves as such, so we need to be careful not to apply racist one-dimensional gender stereotypes to PoC. There’s also a misconception that all non-binary people will ‘look androgynous’, i.e. outfit themselves in such a way as to visibly straddle the gender binary, and that’s entirely untrue. You can be non-binary regardless of the way you look, and you don’t have to prove your gender identity to anyone. No one is owed that.
“I could go on about the relationship between bodies and gender expression, etc but that’s a whole other can of worms, and I’d rather just boil it down to ‘I’m an angel and being naked is great’, because that’s the essence of how I was feeling the day this photo was taken.”
“I think I came out as non-binary three or four years ago, but it’s been on my mind for a long time before that. As a child and teen I really saw myself as a feminine tomboy.
“There are so many misconceptions about non-binary. Printing zines with non-binary in the title at my local print shop, some other client came up to me and ask me ‘if I thought that fad would last’. I found it insulting and inconsiderate; what's wrong with exploring new avenues of gender? There's a strong emphasis from cis people that implies you should identify with just one gender and stick to it. They say non-binary is just a phase, or tell young trans folks that it’s just a phase. But so what if it’s just a phase? People are allowed to explore how they feel about gender. For me, my self-discovery as non-binary was freeing and I think it’s here to last. I'm close to 30 years old and my age influences the way I experience it.
“For me, gender is fluid; it’s okay to have phases, it’s okay to change your mind and switch. Too bad if people think it's confusing. I think non-binary people were always there, its current popularity just comes from the fact that this language is more accessible now.”
“I think people read me as a girly girl because I only wear pastels. I have different looks for different moods. I often dress in baggy clothes, but people still read me as feminine because I wear soft colours: pink, mint, baby blue… But for me, all colours and styles are androgynous or gender neutral.
“I express gender just as I express my moods; it’s a flow, it’s not static and it can be all over the place. When I shot with Laurence, we just wanted to have fun. I really love pop stars and wanted to have a fake album cover. This one is strongly influenced by Dolly Parton. I often play with my femininity in extremes, in an almost grotesque manner. I love it, I love being extra.”
Billy by Laurence Philomene
Photographed by Laurence Philomene.
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Selena Gomez is an advocate for the LGBTQ community, and she credits her mother with helping cultivate her acceptance for everyone. In celebration of Pride Month in the US, Gomez penned an open letter for Billboard, in which the "Bad Liar" singer revealed that it was her mother, Mandy Teefay, who encouraged her to surround herself with good, kind people — regardless of their sexual orientation.
Gomez, who is currently producing Netflix's 13 Reasons Why alongside her mum, shared that she had spent a lot of time with people of the LGBTQ community, but never questioned it.
"I remember as a young child going to brunch on Sundays with my mum and her group of friends. I had no idea they were all gay as I didn’t even comprehend what that meant at the time. All I knew is that I loved being surrounded by these kind, fun and loving friends my mother had around her," she wrote in Billboard.
The singer added that her mother, who gave birth to Gomez at 16 and cheered on her career every step of the way, encouraged her daughter not to judge others, and instead appreciate their gifts.
"I definitely give credit to her for raising me in an environment that was incredibly open-minded and non-judgmental," revealed Gomez in her letter. "She also surprised me at my 16th birthday party with a performance by the most beautiful drag queen singing my favourite song. I don’t think most 16 year olds can say that!"
Teefey previously worked as Gomez's manager before the former Disney Channel star decided to part ways with her parents (her stepfather, Brian, also represented Gomez) in order to seek more professional representation. Still, these two are as tight as ever — and it's clear that Gomez gets some of her penchant for activism from her mother. In addition to speaking out about mental health and the falsehood of social media, Gomez previously donated proceeds from a concert in North Carolina to LGBTQ organisations.
Here's hoping that Gomez continues to live with the openness her mother taught her.
At first, dating someone is all about making sure you can spend as much time together as possible. Are you free to come over at 11 p.m.? For sure. Interested in seeing some really boring movie? Definitely! Want to go to a party with a bunch of strangers? With you, duh.
Eventually that thirst goes away, and the only thing sweeter than getting to hang out together is getting to spend time all by yourself. You can think your partner is amazing and not want to spend every waking and sleeping minute together, because there's such a thing as "too much" togetherness, says Jessica Borelli, PhD, associate professor of psychology and social behaviour at the University of California, Irvine.
"One of the most beautiful things about relationships is that they can help us grow and develop in ways we wouldn't without that connection," Dr. Borelli says. But, when you and your partner share the majority of your experiences (e.g. you work together, live together, exercise together, and/or socialise together), then you might not have those unique personal experiences that help you grow, she says. Deciding to spend time doing your own thing — whether that's for a day, a weekend, or maybe a whole week — can enrich your relationship, and make you appreciate your partner more, she says.
Specifically, there's a practice called "relational savouring," which involves "reflecting on prior moments of close connection with a relationship partner," Dr. Borelli says. Relational savouring can take many forms, and you probably already do it without realising. Basically, it means you think about all of the ways your partner has helped you in the past, or remember a specific time when you felt appreciated or connected to your partner, she says. For example, you might realise that your partner was there for you during a particularly stressful day, which means that you can count on them to be there in the future, Dr. Borelli says.
Finding a happy medium is important, but challenging, and what constitutes a happy balance differs from couple to couple and across cultures.
These positive thoughts "underscore feelings of security in the relationship," she says. Long-distance couples might be more likely to do this simply because they're not together all the time, so they spend more time thinking about the relationship than they do actually being with their partner, Dr. Borelli says. (Of course, this doesn't mean that you spend all of your time apart thinking about your partner — it's just one way that your relationship can benefit from individual alone time.)
But, then again, sometimes being alone with your thoughts can be a bad thing. "In the absence of the physical presence of our partners, we are left with the contents of our own minds, and the ways in which we mentally represent our partners and our relationships to ourselves," Dr. Borelli says. This sounds a little dark, but it just means that, while you and your partner are apart, you might get inside your own head and run away with negative thoughts, she says. You're only human, so it can be natural to get caught up thinking about your fears of infidelity, abandonment, and jealousy, she says.
Fortunately, there is a way to have separation, and still feel secure about your relationship. "Finding a happy medium is important, but challenging, and what constitutes a happy balance differs from couple to couple and across cultures," she says. If you happen to like alone time, but aren't sure how it fits into your relationship, Dr. Borelli suggests being clear about what you need. Every now and then, you should decide that you're going to spend some block of time away from your partner and do something by yourself.
To make sure this happens, plan when you're going to get some space, for how long, and how you're going to keep in touch while you are apart (if it's for an extended period of time). Go hang out with your other friends, take an exercise class, or just shop for a few hours. This is probably something you do already, but it's worth it to communicate with your partner, so they don't think you just ran off on them or ghosted. While you don't need to tell your partner what you're doing at all times, having some sense of communication or connection keeps the "relationship demons" away, Dr. Borelli says.
All in all, your relationship security shouldn't be contingent on the amount of time you spend together, Dr. Borelli says. Your partner most likely won't be offended or take it personally if you tell them you'd like to spend time alone — because that means they'll get their turn.
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On Sunday evening, Ariana Grande will headline a benefit concert for the victims and families of those affected by the Manchester terrorist attack. Ahead of the One Love, Manchester show, which Grande designed an act of "defiance" and a celebration of the city's spirit, the 23-year-old singer has been visiting people injured in the bombing in hospital.
Evie Mills, who was left with a fractured skull, as well as leg, chest, hip, and wrist wounds, told the Press Association: "It was so good. She just kept hugging us." Her mother Karen added: "We've had such down days in the hospital, and I think these girls have got a lot to go through still once the wounds have healed. So just seeing them smile and having 20 minutes, half an hour of pure happiness is unbelievable."
Evie also shared some heartwarming pictures from the visit on Twitter.
Grande has also been spending time with the families of people who lost their lives in the attack. Dan Hett, brother of Martyn Hett, the 29-year-old PR executive and writer who was hailed as an "iconic" social media figure after being killed in the bombing, shared a picture of his family with the singer.
endless respect to @ArianaGrande for coming back to our city and meeting my family and so many others. (I couldn't be there, babies etc) pic.twitter.com/UgZ8nZ39fR
Last week, Piers Morgan heartlessly criticised Grande for leaving Manchester after the bombing so she could work through her trauma with her family, at home in Florida. We can only hope that he feels compelled to offer her an apology now. None of us can understand what Ariana Grande is going through now - just as we can't really understand what the families of the victims are dealing with. But there's no doubt she has conducted herself with strength, dignity, and tremendous human kindness since the attack, and that's an endless inspiration to us all.
Scientists believe they have hit upon the most promising breakthrough in fighting ovarian cancer for a decade.
After being treated with a new drug called ONX-0801 during a clinical trial, seven out of 15 patients were told their tumours had been reduced significantly.
The trial was carried out as part of a larger study by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London, the BBC reports.
ONX-0801 works by mimicking folic acid to enter the cancer cells, and then killing them by halting the action of a protein called hymidylate synthase. Because it targets cancer cells specifically, it carries none of the side effects associated with chemotherapy, such as nausea, hair loss, and a greater susceptibility to infections.
Dr Udai Banerji, who led the trial, said in response to the results: "As this is a completely new mechanism of action, it should add upward of six months to patients’ lives with minimal side-effects in extremely late phase ovarian cancer. This is much more than anything that has been achieved in the last 10 years.”
Ovarian cancer is a strain of the disease with an especially poor survival rate. According to Cancer Research UK, just 35% of patients survive the disease for more than 10 years after diagnosis. Dr Banerji pointed out that though his trial's results are "promising," further research and trials need to be conducted to determine just how effective ONX-0801 could be. "When eventually used early in the disease, the impact on survival may be better, [but] we don’t know that yet," he added.
Dr Catherine Pickworth of Cancer Research UK told the BBC: "It's encouraging to see this new drug is showing promise as a potential new treatment for ovarian cancer. The next steps will be for researchers to test the drug in larger clinical trials to confirm it works and is safe, and to work out which women with ovarian cancer this drug could help."
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WhenDeshauna Barbertook her final walk asMiss USAwhile wearing her natural hair, it was a surprise to everyone — including her peers. In her own words, the active military captain explains the touching reason she wore her Afro and reflects on her challenging year as the 2016 winner. The following was told to Khalea Underwood and edited for length and clarity.
Road To Royalty
Pageants really aren't that big in the Black community. I honestly didn’t watch any and wasn't exposed to them until I was randomly approached at Target when I was 19 [by the late Leslie Morton-Schober, a former Miss USA contestant]. She said, "Hey, you look like you could be the next Miss USA." The only pageant I had seen was Miss Congeniality at that point. It took a few months for her to convince me to do it. I'm glad that she didn't go down another aisle — otherwise I wouldn't be here today.
Even after getting into pageantry, I never thought that I would win Miss USA. The last time that they had a Miss USA who was my skin tone was Kenya Moore in 1993 — that was a long time ago. But that's something that comes with life in general, not just pageants. You're put in a situation where you might have to be that trailblazer. You might have to break that trend in your own way. I thought it was beautiful that I could represent those darker chocolate girls that don't always see themselves on the national stage. I see a lot of women of colour that have competed and won, but it felt good to represent dark-skinned Black women.
Photo: Courtesy of Deshauna Barber.
Beauty's Ugly Side
After winning the title, I had people say I was using the military card for my win, along with other hateful things. And while competing for Miss Universe, I had to deal with colourism internationally. A lot of people in different countries considered me ugly because my skin is darker. The darker you are, the poorer you are — or whatever the case may be.
Competing in Miss Universe and dealing with the fans of competitors in other countries got tough. I had no idea how much racism I would experience from an international standpoint. They'd send me monkey emojis, and say that my skin looked like a poop emoji and tag me in photos with apes... I didn’t speak about it, because I didn't want to deter anyone from competing. You want to make it seem like everything is happy and hunky-dory, but there are a lot of very challenging moments.
The internet has become such a hateful tool that people use. That's why it's so important for me to have confidence in myself and to push through. I could have let the words of these people really get to me. When you're doing something that people aren't used to, some people just won't like you. I can’t change who I am to make someone else comfortable. If they’re ignorant, then they're ignorant. There's nothing I can do to fix that.
I thought it was beautiful that I could represent those darker chocolate girls that don't always see themselves on the national stage.
Her Final Walk
My mum always pushed me to wear my natural hair, and I would always would say no. I didn't think I would be crowned Miss USA if my hair was in its natural state. She'd still push me, because she thought they'd love it. And she was right.
I knew that the pageant would be airing on Mother's Day, and what better way of paying tribute to my mum? [ Editor's note: Barber's mom passed away in August 2016, two months after her win.] It was a huge secret that we kept from production and staff, so everyone onstage saw my Afro at the same time — they were just as shocked as the audience.
Photo: Via Deshauna Barber.Photo: Via Deshuana Barber.
When you're crowned with a look, then that's the look you're expected to maintain. A lot of people in the pageant world are still very old school. They believe in a traditional look, a traditional Miss USA. [The organisation] is trying to, in my opinion, open up that world.
So, when I said I wanted to wear my natural hair, they were jumping for joy. I appreciate them for that — [but] I didn't want to stretch it too much. I wanted to take baby steps. If I take a small one by showing my natural 4c hair, the next girl will take one, and then we'll ease our natural hairstyles into the pageant community. Because in all honesty, I don't think that the pageant community is ready for a braided-up Miss USA.
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.
Passing The Crown
People don't realise that I'm the one who told Kára she should wear her curls onstage. Kára is my good friend. D.C. is very small, and the pageant community is even smaller. We've competed against each other for years. So when she came to my Miss Universe sendoff party with her hair curly, I looked at my director and said, "I think she should wear her hair like that." Kara was hesitant at first. But after some convincing, it separated her from the group. People could relate to her being comfortable with her natural hair. I think there's something beautiful about that.
When they called D.C. this year, I almost had a heart attack. I crowned her when she won D.C., and I was so excited to crown her when she won Miss USA. That moment felt so good not only to embrace diversity of races and backgrounds, but diversity of appearances and hair textures, too. For me to walk out in my natural hair and to crown someone with natural hair broke down walls. It opened up a world for the girls who feel they need to straighten their curls and add long extensions.
For me to walk out in my natural hair and to crown someone with natural hair broke down walls.
Looking Ahead
I want to continue my motivational speaking career and raise awareness, whether it's [regarding] race relations or gender equality or pay equality. I do plan on focusing on mental illness in the military, too.
When I was Miss USA, I could discuss those things... I just had to be careful about how I voiced them and figure out how to phrase things without people getting offended. I'm going to have to stay in that lane as a soldier, as I have a service to my country, but I do have intentions on saying what I feel. Now that my tenure is up, it’s all to the wall now. I don’t need to restrain myself. Now is the time to break down barriers.
A bill aimed at punishing child pornographers was passed by the House last week. First introduced in March by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), the Child Exploitation Act of 2017, was passed with overwhelming support which, on its face, does not come as a surprise. According to a report from Reason, two Republicans and 53 Democrats voted against the bill. Why, you might ask? Protecting children and punishing those who seek to exploit them seems like a universally good thing. This is where it gets tricky. The bill is worded in a way that could send teens who are caught sexting to jails for a minimum of 15 years.
The bill, HR 1761, was passed in response to a poorly handled case brought by the Department of Justice where federal prosecutors failed to convict a man accused of sexual abuse involving a seven-year-old neighbor. The Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence as the defendant had taken only one photo of the abuse. As a result, the Department of Justice, in an effort to not see this happen again, urged federal lawmakers to amend the criminal code to "make their prosecutorial overreach more permissible."
Many politicians and organizations have spoken out not against the original intent of the bill, but against the vague language included in HR 1761. The ACLU tweeted expressing their concerns over the bill saying, "The purpose of child pornography laws is to prevent minors from being abused, not criminalise young people for sexual experimentation."
The purpose of child pornography laws is to prevent minors from being abused, not criminalize young people for sexual experimentation. https://t.co/2Nvbhs3u3N
The biggest problem with this bill is best stated by Molly Gill, Director of Federal Legislative Affairs at Families Against Mandatory Minimums who said that it was "incredibly broad in its definition of child pornography production." She spoke with Broadly about the vagueness of the bill and the other group that would be punished as a result. "Those minimum sentences can be applied to what's commonly called Romeo and Juliet cases, where you have young people who are romantically involved, producing photos of themselves doing naughty things and emailing them to themselves or others," Gill explained as she expressed her concern about the adverse effects this bill would have on young people. "You could have a 19-year-old high school senior and his 16-year-old girlfriend who's a sophomore, they film themselves, and they've just produced child pornography. If they email it to themselves or others, they've just distributed it, and now they'd get 15 years under this statute."
This bill may be vague about who it targets, but it is not vague when it comes to sentencing. Currently, first-time offences for child porn are punishable by a sentence of 15 to 30 years. This bill includes a minimum sentencing of 15 years. Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee also made a statement in the form of a letter, signed by herself and others, agreeing with the sentiment but not the execution. "No child pornography offence should go unpunished," she said. "HR 1761, however, would subject more individuals to mandatory minimum penalties at a time when the federal criminal justice system should be moving away from such sentencing schemes. While well-intentioned, the bill would exacerbate a problem that is clearly unfair and unnecessary."
Rep. Mike Johnson has dismissed his colleague's concerns, stating that the bill will close loopholes. The first year congressman responded by saying, "In Scripture, Romans 13 refers to the governing authorities as 'God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.' I, for one, believe we have a moral obligation, as any just government should, to defend the defenceless."
In an attempt to make the language of the bill more specific, two amendments were proposed by lawmakers. The first would ensure teens would not be punished as sex offenders under this law. The second would eliminate the mandatory minimum penalties. Both revisions failed to pass.
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Say what you want about Tinder and its users, but aside from giving people a way to hook up, the app is giving researchers a whole new way to look at human behavior. A new study published in Personality and Individual Differences looked at what sort of motivations push people to use the matchmaking app. One of the most common? According to researcher Barış Sevi from Turkey's Koç University, people on Tinder have a lower level of sexual disgust and higher sociosexuality are more likely to take to the app to look for a hookup.
What is sexual disgust? Sevi explained to PsyToday that "people with a lower sensitivity to sexual digest said things such as 'hearing two people having sex' did not perturb them." As for sociosexuality, it has to do with "uncommitted and unrestrictive sexual activity." For example, people with high sociosexuality don't necessarily correlate love and sex. One without the other is just fine. If the two happen to coalesce, sure, that's great.
"Our main finding is that people's sexual disgust levels and their orientation towards casual sex predict their motivation to use Tinder for casual sex," Sevi told PsyToday. "But I believe the takeaway message from our research is that disgust — one of the six primary emotions that have evolved billions of years ago — can still affect our motivations to use a smartphone application. This is a very compelling finding to show that the evolutionary theories have explanatory power even in today’s technological lifestyle."
Researchers connect disgust with the evolutionary need to avoid contamination and germs, which could have led to death for our hunting and gathering ancestors. Researchers have also connected sexual disgust with morality. Basically, scientists linked emotions and evolution to smartphone activity. People who can disassociate sex from its moral trappings are more likely to hook up on Tinder.
However, Sevi explains that it's not an instance of causation, just correlation. That means that there can't be a direct conclusion drawn from people who have lower levels of sexual disgust. Sevi notes that more research is already in the works and is optimistic that there will be plenty of opportunities to look at human behaviour and social networks.
"Our results are only correlational, therefore it's not possible to speak of any causal relationships," Sevi told PsyToday. "We need experimental work to to explore the causal relations that underlie motivations to use Tinder."
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If you've spent any time among the internet's very active wellness community over the past few years, you'll more than likely have come across the concept of "ayurveda".
From products touting "ayurvedic healing properties" and diets which adhere to ayurvedic principles, to ayurvedic treatments, spas and retreats, it's everywhere at the moment.
But what if you've got this far and haven't actually figured out what "ayurveda" means yet? Is it something you should be paying attention to? Here, we try to break down what you need to know and figure out whether you too need to jump on (yet another) wellness bandwagon.
What is ayurveda?
It began to develop thousands of years ago in India and comes from the Sanskrit words for "life knowledge". Today, it is considered a "complementary medicine" which means that, in the UK at least, it should be used alongside (not in place of) conventional and mainstream medicines.
What is my ayurvedic body type?
There are three different body types – or "doshas" – in ayurveda. "Vata" is represented by water and air, and "pitta" by fire and water, while "kapha" is represented by earth and water. In most bodies, one or two doshas dominate, although it is possible to be tri-doshic and have a balance across all three.
In ayurveda, it is believed that if the doshas become imbalanced, symptoms can occur. For instance, according to Life Spa, if the vata is out of whack, you could get dry or rough skin, anxiety, insomnia and more. When it comes to the kapha being imbalanced, though, that can encourage oily skin, slow digestion and nasal allergies (among others). For an imbalance in pitta, you could expect rashes, stomach aches and diarrhoea.
People with one dosha more prominent than the others tend to share a certain set of traits. According to MindBodyGreen, vata-dominant people are physically tall and slender, have dry hair and skin and, personality-wise, are creative, emotional and excitable. Pitta-dominant people are fair, strong and sturdy. They are assertive, confident and dominant. Kapha-dominant people are soft – with soft skin, hair and eyes. They are easy-going and non-judgemental.
Head to Holistic Online to take the test and find your unique blend of doshas.
What are ayurvedic treatments?
Treatments in this area are not just fancy massages with the word "ayurvedic" slapped on top. No, they involve working with an ayurvedic practitioner on a "panchakarma" or, as the Ayurvedic Clinic in London calls it, the “Science of Rejuvenation”.
"In this process the body is purified of the degenerating influence of these foreign substances [toxic impurities] thus freeing it to naturally exercise its inherent rejuvenating abilities," they say. Your panchakarma might include a special diet and massages with personally curated oils and herbs. You may undergo a "Dhara Sweda" – a special steam bed – which will help the herbs and oils be absorbed by the skin more effectively.
The aim of panchakarma is to rid the body of toxins so the end result is, well, expelling those toxins. This might be through colonic irrigation, imbibing a natural concoction with laxative effects, or one that works upwardly – causing you to expel toxins through phlegm and coughing.
Does ayurvedic medicine work?
Well, as mentioned above, in the UK at least, it's considered a complementary therapy. That is, it comes with no official medical recommendations but, for some people, it may have holistic benefits. A 2006 study from York University about the effect of ayurvedic treatments on rheumatoid arthritis found "no clear evidence" that it was beneficial. A 2007 study from the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, which analysed the use of ayurvedic medicine in treating the symptoms of schizophrenia found that it "may" be helpful to sufferers. A 2016 study of the effects of ayurvedic oil-dripping found it "may" help to improve sleep.
What is an ayurvedic diet?
We would only ever encourage you to eat a balanced diet of whole foods. Don't cut out anything you love for the sake of an inconclusive diet concept you read about on the internet. Listen to your body and feed it well, with the foods it needs.
If you are interested in learning what people are on about when they talk about the ayurvedic diet, though, let's take a little look.
An ayurvedic diet is tailored to your specific breakdown of doshas. To be clear, it is not for losing weight. Rather it is said to be used to help maintain the balance of energy in your body. According to ayurvedic principles, keeping this balance can maintain a healthy body and, some say, prevent illnesses*.
Essentially, an ayurvedic diet is about eating foods that oppose your dominant dosha. There's a really nice explanation of it on Ayurveda College but, in brief: to balance your vata, you are encouraged to eat warm, oily foods – cooked rice and vegetables, warm milk, and rich and warm spices; to bring balance to the pitta (remember this is fire and water, all about being warm and moist), you are told to eat dry and cold foods – raw veg, wheat, beans and bitter herbs; for kapha balance, it is recommended you eat "light and dry" foods like vegetables and steer clear of heavy things like nuts and dairy.
*We say, be very careful about anything that claims to prevent illnesses. Sure, healthy eating goes a long way to keeping your body ticking over but always rely on doctors' advice and scientifically proven medicine when it comes to specifically preventing or curing ailments.
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Had enough of the "Wham, bam, thank you...hot damn!" attractions? There's no disputing their place in our personal love trajectories. And with romantic Venus in hot-blooded Aries on and off since February 3, it hasn't been that easy to settle down in 2017. But this Tuesday, the love planet settles into a steadier groove as she hunkers down in stable-but-sensual Taurus until July 4. Cue up the slow jams and let things unfold in a more organic way. Venus governs the way we spend money, so this cycle can green light the purchase of a luxury object. Just make sure it's as practical as it is beautiful — Taurus loves things that stand the test of time.
Does it seem like there is no justice in the world? With globalist Jupiter in Libra stuck in a low-power retrograde since February 6, we've seen our fair share of tragedy and corruption playing out on the world stage. But this Friday, June 9, Jupiter snaps back into action, exposing all the back-channelled B.S. that's been hidden from our view. With the red-spotted planet in Libra until October 10, our freedom-fighting spirits will be reawakened — and there could be at least one more Women's March sized protest for the history books again. Doubling this impact? Friday also features the annual full moon in outspoken, worldly Sagittarius. Like a lunar truth bomb, these moonbeams help Jupiter reveal what is real. The wake-up calls could be game-changing. Make way for progress — even if that means pushing back against a herd of dinosaurs...again!
Gemini May 21 to June 20
Should you keep it open-ended or clearly commit? This week, the answer is: both. On Tuesday, enchanting Venus floats in your 12th house of dreamy escapes until July 4. When it comes to your social (and dating) life, you want the freedom to move around spontaneously, without being fenced into plans. But that same day, your ruling planet, expressive Mercury, comes home to Gemini until June 21, making it important to be clear about your needs, desires, and boundaries. Be careful of the double standard here. You can't demand straight answers from other people if you're not willing to give them yourself. The cure? Just be honest that you need to go with the flow and only agree to legit plans when you're 100% sure you can honour the promise to show up — on time. Need to mourn an ex or simply find yourself again after getting lost in love? The next three weeks are a prime time for this. Do you, Gemini. On the other hand, if it's time to make a love thing official, Friday's full moon in your relationship house will help you set it all in stone.
The talent scouts could come a-calling on Friday as live-out-loud Jupiter wraps a four-month retrograde in your fifth house of fame, creative expression, and romance. A passion project or bold initiative that got sidelined in early February could pick up steam again. Travelling could be part of the picture with jet-setting Jupiter's influence. Since the fifth house rules amour, your Summer of Love is officially underway as of Friday. Don't rule out long-distance relationships — or cross-cultural clicks close to home. Load the shared calendar with dress-up dates or take a gamble on some new right-swipes. Baby fever could strike with Jupiter in this fertile zone of your chart or you could birth a creative project that helps you put your name on the map.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Lift your nose from the grindstone, Cancer. On Tuesday, charming, sociable Venus grooves into Taurus and your liberated 11th house until July 4. You're overdue for some wild and spontaneous nights on the town. And though you prefer to roll with a tight-knit crew, you'll collect some great new friends during this Venus phase. Stay open to "the more, the merrier" as a guiding philosophy. Looking for love? Digital dating could turn up some lucky swipes over the coming four weeks or you may be uncharacteristically willing to enjoy a casual hookup here and there. In an LTR? Make a point of socialising more as a pair — and even trying something a little kinkier in bed.
If you're ready to put down roots or just feel a little more centered around home and family issues, you'll be happy to hear this. On Friday, adventurous Jupiter wakes up from a retrograde in your domestic sector that began on February 6. Since early 2017, you may have felt completely untethered or utterly stuck in one place. As Jupiter makes this positive U-Turn, you can correct course on your living situation — a critical aspect of life to the home-loving Cancer! If it's stability you're seeking, Jupiter could reveal a lucky real estate listing. Maybe you'll bundle up the courage to evict a toxic roommate or get a studio flat that's all your own. Need more flow? Rent an RV for festival season or bounce between two cities. Working with women will bring you tons of good fortune for the coming four months. Make it a sister act, Cancer — or join forces with your enterprising relatives for a family biz.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Leo July 23 to August 22
Mixing business with pleasure? Rarely a wise idea. But, as charming Venus mingles in your 10th house of career from Tuesday until July 4, you might just pull it off. You could make a love connection through a work function or start a kitchen table business with bae. The key to success? Mapping out clear agreements and roles so that you don't wind up in a power struggle. Writing out a contract might seem awkward, but it can actually be a relationship-saver when tension inevitably bubbles up. Now for the pleasure part: Friday's full moon in Sagittarius could mark one of 2017's romantic high points. Plan a special date or go mingle where the good catches are chilling. Love is in the air and things could get "babies and baubles" serious — fast!
Are you still seeking your soul twin, Leo — or a partner for a dream project? That kindred spirit could arrive on Friday. That day, lucky Jupiter snaps out of a retrograde and zips ahead through your third house of partnerships until October 10. The white space on your calendar is going to fill up quickly during this in-demand cycle. Some of your standing one-on-ones might have to evolve into group hangs in order to accommodate all the people you adore. Don't get sucked into a clique. Free-spirited Jupiter wants you to spread your wings socially. Got pals in distant ports? You could spend the summer couchsurfing to reconnect while checking out cool new cities. This intrepid Jupiter cycle is perfect for road trips, festival-hopping, even bi-city living. Expand and explore!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Virgo August 23 to September 22
Mix it up, Virgo! Love planet Venus slides into Taurus and your worldly, adventurous ninth house from Tuesday to July 4. Date in every census category and make up a few new ones of your own. Sparks could fly with someone of a different cultural background or family upbringing than your own. Travelling is red-hot for romance — a good reason to buy those festival tickets. (My tent or yours?) If you're already happily attached, deepen your bond with a dream holiday for two this June. Bonus points if you have to go through customs to get there! Friday's full moon sets the stage for a sexy staycation — or even a girls' trip to a beach house for the weekend.
But all play and no work just ain't the Virgo way. On Friday, lucky Jupiter snaps out of retrograde mode and races ahead through your financially savvy second house until October 10. You could make major bank over the next four months, so leave room in your summer schedule for career goals. Jupiter the gambler nudges you to take more risks with your professional trajectory and maybe go back to school. If the ivory tower isn't calling, how about poring through a software tutorial or signing up for a weekend training that can round out your skill set? You might enjoy working as an independent contractor or helping a start-up company get off the ground. Travelling for work is also possible with Jupiter's jet-setting fingerprints here. Bottom line: Be flexible. And entrepreneurial, too. Pitching a project or great idea could bring a tidal wave of prosperity.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Libra September 23 to October 22
Mind-body-soul connection? Yes, please. Rolling in the deep will be your preference as your ruling planet Venus plunges into Taurus and your seductive, mysterious, and intimate eighth house from Tuesday until July 4. Time to remove the pleasantries and get real with your romantic interest. Everyone has a shadow side and it's time to see the full spectrum of who you've been sleeping with. Without that, how can you know if you accept them for better and for worse? Discussing tough issues (like your childhoods or past mistakes) will be easier with diplomatic Venus here. Just work them out in private instead of venting to friends or trying to discuss while having drinks at the bar. Warning: The vibes could get heavier than your positive sign prefers, so make sure to take breaks for casual fun, too — especially under Friday's fun-loving full moon.
Leave room in your schedule for independent exploration! On Friday, liberated, expansive Jupiter wakes up from a retrograde that began on February 6 and gets back into powerful, direct motion. You're the lucky beneficiary of Jupiter's beams: The red-spotted planet is touring Libra from September 9, 2016 to October 10, 2017. There's been so much change and new data to process ever since — it's almost been unsettling since it's happened so fast. No hitting the emergency brake! The next four months are a major moment for Libras to pursue your dreams and get back into the driver's seat of your own destiny. Step out of your comfort zone. Maybe it's time to relocate, leave a toxic relationship or job, or make travelling part of your summer lifestyle. Jupiter rules higher education, so if night school or a specialised training is on the agenda, start filling out the application ASAP. You only get Jupiter in your sign every 12 and a half years. Seize the moment!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Scorpio October 23 to November 21
Want to turn that spring fling into the real thing? Good news, Scorpio. This Tuesday, romantic Venus lands in Taurus and your seventh house of relationships until July 4. Create a zero tolerance rule for the ghosting types and stop dwelling on that phantom ex. The coast is clear for you to create something real with someone who is ready now. If you've been playing the long game with a love interest, this Venus phase could nudge you to the next step — clearing out wardrobe space, moving in together, or making wedding or baby plans. Best of all? Charming, diplomatic Venus makes it easy to discuss your desires, without feeling like you're "pressuring" anyone.
But don't pressure yourself either, Scorpio! While your sign craves certainty, you don't need to be pushed into something you're not ready for yet. Friday's full moon in Sagittarius and your "keep it simple" second house helps you vocalise your position. That same day, indie-spirited Jupiter rouses from a four-month retrograde in your dreamy, flowy 12th house. Your urge to escape the mad world and all its societal pressures (and maybe follow your favourite band around the festival circuit) will be strong. And hey, maybe you should just take that celestial sabbatical this summer. On October 10, Jupiter will cruise into Scorpio for the first time since 2005, giving your ambitions wings. You'll be far too busy to slip off for a spontaneous couchsurfing adventure then. No matter where your flip-flops are planted, you'll crave more stillness and spirituality over the coming four months. Start your mornings off with writing a diary, a guided meditation, and a few yoga stretches. Sessions with a therapist, shaman, or acupuncturist (or all of the above) can help you clear psychic clutter that may be standing in your way of success. Add more green foods to your plate over the summer — and flood your system with fresh H2O. Detox from junk food and shitty relationships so you can start with a clean slate in October!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Sagittarius November 22 to December 21
Would you like some solid earth under your statement sandals, Sagittarius? You can embrace a more grounded groove starting Tuesday, as social, romantic Venus moves on to Taurus and your healthy living zone until July 4. With Venus in Aries and your wildly dramatic fifth house for most of 2017 thus far, you may be exhausted from all the fiery fluctuations you've had to deal with from people. And while the wild times have been entertaining, stability is starting to look a whole lot sexier now. Take a time out from the FWBs to make room for a more consistent connection. This radiant phase is all about self-care. Recommit to a healthy eating and exercise plan to get centered in yourself. Already attached? Turn your bedroom buddy into your workout buddy. Those sexy endorphins will get you both in the mood more often. We'll raise a green smoothie to that!
It takes a village to build your dreams — even a free agent like you has to admit that. But with your ruling planet Jupiter in retrograde in your teamwork zone since February 6, finding the right "village people" to raise the roof on your plans has been complicated AF! Good news: This Friday, Jupiter makes a positive pivot into direct motion. The right collaborators crop up again, whether you're replacing or simply reconfiguring your dream team. Stop playing the popularity game and go find your soul squad. You can use Jupiter's wide-eyed sense of wonder to scout out new scenes. Is it time to polish up your web presence? Between now and October 10, make sure you represent when people google your name or search for your work online. A small investment into designers and developers (and a good photographer) may be required, but it will pay off in the end when you attract more high-impact opportunities.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Capricorn December 22 to January 19
Summer style inspiration: incoming! This Tuesday, glamorous Venus heads into your fashion-forward fifth house, awakening your inner Solange. Forget about following trends. Set them instead, Capricorn, by wearing whatever captivates you. Doing something edgier with your hair could be fun for summer, from purple strands to a sci-fi bob. Since Friday features the annual full moon in Sagittarius, plan on making a head-turning splash that day when all eyes will be on you. Love-wise, your mojo is sky-high between now and July 4, with interested parties coming out of the woodwork. Don't rush to select a favourite — not until you've adequately tried every option on the sampler platter. Already found true love? This Venus cycle could send you flat hunting, ring shopping, or even spur some baby-making if you're ready to board the mothership!
On Friday, you'll return to mogul mode as daring Jupiter snaps out of a four-month retrograde that began February 6. Got an entrepreneurial idea cooking? Your startup could take off at a gallop with Jupiter in this power position until October 10. Maybe you're just looking to rise through the ranks within an existing company. With Jupiter's gambling instincts spurring you on, let the powers-that-be know of your desire for growth opportunities. Fortune favours the bold, even if you're offering yourself up as the right hand woman to an industry influencer. And, yes, it's summer, but forget about traipsing into the office in your denim shorts and festival band tees. Step up your wardrobe with career gear that makes you look like a seasoned exec. First impressions are everything, Capricorn.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Aquarius January 20 to February 18
Home, sweet home? This Tuesday, beautifying and harmonious Venus settles into Taurus, your domestic sector, until July 4, giving you a strong urge to feather your nest. Pull off shoestring chic with these stylish IKEA hacks. Decorating and feng shui-ing has a dual purpose: to create visual harmony and set up Chez Water Bearer as an entertainment hotspot. A VIP love interest could be sleeping over more often now and talks could turn to cohabitation if you're ready. Female friendships also flourish, so host a dinner party — as soon as Friday, under the communal Sagittarius full moon — even if you're all sitting on pillow piles on the floor.
On Friday, you might start your weekend with a shot of truth serum as candid Jupiter snaps out of a four-month retrograde in your outspoken and worldly ninth house. No more hiding your authentic feelings and ideas. Speak from the heart — even if it causes some initial tension. Long-distance relationships could heat up with Jupiter's about-face, for business and pleasure. Prepare to rack up some road miles between now and October 10, or even start flying abroad. Got a side hustle in mind? Get to work, Aquarius! This enterprising Jupiter phase could turn your startup into a full-time gig. But do your market research before you, say, launch a handbag line in an already crowded market. Need to polish up your skill set? Jupiter is the master teacher so enroll in a summer course (abroad, even) to sharpen your skill set and raise your pay grade.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Pisces February 19 to March 20
So many people, so little time! This Tuesday, your popularity spikes big time as charming Venus flows into Taurus and your curious, communicative third house until July 4. Variety is the spice of your summer social life now, whether you're enjoying a rotating cast of friends or a more well-rounded social calendar with bae. Let your inner culture vulture take the wheel and pick up tickets to DJ sets, festivals, whiskey tastings, and more. When it comes to your guest list, the more is the merrier. Just don't saddle yourself with the organiser's role, since you'll want to reserve the right to arrive and disappear as you please.
Your mojo is rising this Friday as Jupiter rouses from a four-month retrograde in your eighth house of seduction and intimacy. After an introspective — and somewhat introverted — start to the year, you're ready to dive into the deeper end of the dating pool again. Vagueness has no place in love for you now, Pisces; in fact, it will be a buzzkill to your sex drive. With Jupiter in this perma-bonding position until October 10, clarifying "next steps" with dates and mates is a must. If you can't get a straight answer, you may have to move on. But don't freak out! With your magnetism expanding by the minute after Friday, commitments are looking highly likely in your future. Business-wise, Jupiter's pivot could bring some big money opportunities before the autumn. You could make a bundle from selling products (even property) on commission, a juicy tax return, even an inheritance or royalties from your band's EP. Friday also features a full moon in your career zone, which could bring a certain victory for your professional life. Score!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Aries March 21 to April 19
Need a minute to catch your breath — and grab a cold shower? You've hosted creative, romantic Venus on and off in your sign since February 2, a rare blessing when it comes to your charm, but an exhausting pace to maintain for the long haul. If you weren't a total love goddess, you may have chosen to take a break from romance to do you. Starting this Tuesday, you won't have to be so extreme about it. Venus floats on to Taurus and your slow and steady second house until July 4, making everything feel more...predictable. You'll find this month-long phase to be a real relief, Aries. Not only can you get your feet on solid earth, but you'll have an easier time focusing on — or finding — a person who loves you unconditionally and truly has your back.
Don't worry: Cupid won't abandon you just because Venus left your sign. On Friday, jovial Jupiter wakes from a four-month retrograde in Libra and your seventh house of relationships. The idea of committing will seem far more appealing after Jupiter's about-face in Libra, which lasts until October 10 — but only with someone who respects your need for independence and personal space. A co-adventurer could pop up on your radar, someone who is both an ideal sexual partner and travel companion. Attached? Get plans in motion for your Cuba trip — or maybe a destination wedding. Worldly Jupiter could even set a long-distance or cross-cultural relationship in motion. Get your freak on while racking up the frequent flier miles: double points!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Is it time to raise your romantic standards? This Tuesday, love planet Venus makes her annual stopover to Taurus until July 4, helping you clarify your heart's deepest wishes. Fantasise freely. Uncensored visualisation brings you much closer to your intended target. With Venus here, you'll be utterly magnetic, whether single or spoken for. Beam those charms selectively so you don't lead anybody on. This is the time to take the lead in love. Update your preferences and let bae know what needs to change in order to keep you satisfied. You'll be glad you did, since Friday's full moon could bring one of the sexiest — and most emotionally intimate — moments of the year.
On Friday, your fitness mojo gets a reboot as active Jupiter rouses from a retrograde in Libra and your sixth house of wellbeing. Since February 6, you may have found it difficult to commit to a regular routine because of a few annoying health challenges. You're back on the mend — and the wellness wagon — starting Friday as Jupiter powers up your vitality until October 10. Take those workouts al fresco and even turn your active lifestyle into a social thing by joining a dance troupe, skateboarding squad, or hiking meetup. Jupiter's turnabout will make you more adventurous at work. You might start up an independent project, take on a position that involves travel, or put in a transfer to the Paris office. A side hustle could also pad your pockets now, so get those business cards printed and start selling your skills.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
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You've probably looked at Instagram's sponsored content and just assumed it was a necessary evil. After all, it's easy enough to scroll past ads to get to pics of your pals' pups and those photos from your cousins' holiday to Greece. And hey, sometimes those ads look great. Who hasn't been tricked by a glam ad from a fashion brand and "accidentally" double-tapped? But we're letting you in on a little secret: What if we told you there is a way to banish those pesky posts from your feed forever? It's not a fantasy. In fact, it's pretty easy.
According to Mashable, it just takes a few taps, and it works on both Apple and Android operating systems. You may be familiar with Instagram's "reporting" tool. It's the three little dots that are on the right side of your feed, beside the usernames. That's your key to ad freedom.
First, find an ad. Then, click on the three dots to reveal a menu of why you don't want to see the ad. You've got a few choices: Either the ad's not relevant or you've seen it too often or it's inappropriate. Here's the trick: If you tell Instagram that the ad is inappropriate (if you do it a few times, that is — probably the only time you've ever scrolled through looking for an ad on Insta), you'll be set.
Mashable reports that the simple trick is all it takes to remove ads from your feed. The site's reporters say that after reporting ads, they scrolled over 200 posts without seeing any — that's right: zero sponsored content. This also works for the ads you see between posts on Instagram stories.
It's a pretty sneaky trick, but if you've been avoiding Instagram because of ad bombardment, hopefully the platform will be happy to have you back.
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