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Nail Sunny’s latest wacky manicure featuring a tiny tobacco pipe – which you can actually smoke – might’ve gone too far

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By now you’ve probably heard of Nail Sunny – the home of weird and wacky manicures and pedicures.

The Moscow-based salon has provided us with plenty of body-inspired manicures i.e fingers, feet, hair, and even butt nails (in the form of Kim K twerking) plus many disturbing others.

And we were mostly entertained by it, like many of the salon’s two million Instagram followers.

But the tide seems to have turned somewhat after Nail Sunny unveiled their latest creation; a tiny tobacco pipe that can be smoked.

After a nail technician was seen smoking the pipe in an Insta video that showed behind the scenes of the manicure coming together, followers criticised the look for being a fire hazard.

In the video, a lighter was used to light up the pipe, which was dangerously close to the acrylics and could have been highly flammable, according to concerned fans.

The salon, which recently opened a store in Los Angeles, U.S, was also criticised for ‘promoting’ smoking as a lifestyle choice.

Nail Sunny's tiny tobacco pipe manicure has gone too far, say followers Provider: Instagram/nail_sunny Source: https://www.instagram.com/tv/BvCLoRnHbY3/
(Picture: Instagram/nail_sunny)

The video shows prosthetics sculpted into the shape of a pipe using foil and then painted with nail polish. The manicurist then adds tobacco into the pipe before setting ablaze the acrylic fingernail.

Fans were not impressed though. One follower wrote: ‘I get that you do this sort of thing for attention but can you maybe not encourage the double whammy of tobacco damage and lighting acrylic on fire?’

Another wrote: ‘Wow, Nail Sunny takes nail art way too far,’ while some were quite concerned saying: ‘I appreciate the art but so many toxins,’ and ‘not good for health, please stop’.

Nail Sunny's tiny tobacco pipe manicure has gone too far, say followers Provider: Instagram/nail_sunny Source: https://www.instagram.com/tv/BvCLoRnHbY3/
(Picture: Instagram/nail_sunny)

Others weren’t that offended though, saying people smoke regardless and that the manicure itself may have not been smoked, but just made to look like it is smokable.

‘I don’t think she actually smoked it, guys, she just put her lips on it, smoked a real joint off camera and blew out the smoke,’ theorised one follower.

The salon certainly knows how to get people talking.

Can nail acrylics be a fire hazard?

Chemists say the plastic tip and the acrylic coating are made of polymers that are extremely flammable.

Researchers from Lamar University in Texas found that acrylic nails can take as little as 1.1 seconds to ignite if in contact with fire.

They also found that natural nails can also burn, but not as quickly as acrylics.

To avoid fire at your fingertips when lighting a cigarette or candle, researchers recommended keeping nails shorter or using a lighter with a long tip.

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Walkers has recycled more than 500,000 crisp packets in the last three months

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CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 21: Multiple bags of Walkers crisps on display in a supermarket on September 21, 2017 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
(Picture: Getty)

More than half a million empty crisp packets have been sent to Walkers to be recycled over the last three months, after the crisp company unveiled the UK’s first crisp packet recycling scheme back in December.

The scheme followed a high-profile campaign calling on the company to introduce environmentally friendly packaging.

Their response was to allow customers to post their empty packets – which are made from plastic and aluminium foil – to be recycled using Walkers’ free post address option.

The campaign drew so much attention that Royal Mail had to appeal to the public to put their packets into envelopes before posting them back to Walkers using their free post option.

Walkers had been in talks with the specialist recycling firm TerraCycle about setting up a scheme since January 2018.

Walkers crisps recycling scheme: 500,000 empty packets returned in three month
(Picture: Walkers)

In a bid to become more environmentally friendly, Walkers will now accept any brand of empty crisp packet, to clean, shred and turn into plastic pellets used to make products such as outdoor furniture.

More than 8,500 crisp packet collection points have been established across across the UK since the initiative was launched.

Sue Welfare, a recycler based in North Lancing, West Sussex, has been the biggest contributor to the scheme so far, sending in almost 50,000 packets – which according to Walkers could produce 25 benches made from recycled plastic.

From today, TerraCycle will launch another recycling initiative – to facilitate the recycling of plastic ring carriers used for multi-pack beverages, such as beer cans and fizzy drinks.

Much like with the Walkers scheme, there will be designated collection points where you can send off your ring carriers.

All you have to do is search online for the nearest collection point, or you can sign up as a private collector by downloading free post labels to send your plastic ring carriers directly to TerraCycle.

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Australian company offers ‘life leave’ instead of annual leave for up to 12 weeks

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(Picture: Getty)

Organising annual leave is an extreme sport. You want to utilise every second of your time off and plan meticulously so you can squeeze the most out of it before turning on that sweet, sweet out of office email.

But a week or two is just never enough. So one Australian company is proving to be the real MVP and offering an alternative to annual leave by allowing ‘life leave’.

No, that’s not a nice way to say, ‘you’re fired and don’t bother coming back’, accountancy firm Ernst & Young wants their employees to really enjoy time away from work.

The company is allowing workers six to 12 weeks of life leave a year, which they can use for travel, to work on their passions, or to basically do nothing.

Employees can take it in one or two blocks at a time and perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s not paid, unlike normal holiday leave.

People who work there will also be able to opt for other schemes like term-time working and temporary part-time to suit parents and carers.

That means parents can work full time during their childrens’ term-times but then take the holidays off. But it’s not just for parents, anyone can take the time off or choose to go part-time for up to three months.

And it’s all about employee satisfaction and productivity.

Time to move to Australia (Picture: Getty)

‘Flexible work policies like this are necessary because of increased competition for talent,’ said Kate Hillman from Ernst & Young Oceana.

‘The policies are intended to address a growing demand for flexible work environments in general, not just working parents.

‘We’re innovating so we don’t lose these people while they pursue passions outside of work.’

The number of millennials at the company also motivated their decision as flexibility is a strong factor for millennials looking for work.

‘Millennials are also driving demand for flexibility as their preference for diverse and stimulating career experiences overrides traditional workplace structures and timelines,’ added Kate.

‘By next year, 80% of our workforce across the globe will be millennials so this is a particularly significant consideration for us.’

Let’s hope other companies take note.

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Woman takes beautiful portraits of strangers she meets on her daily commute

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Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)

How do you pass the time on your commute?

Most of us stare at our phone and refuse to make eye contact. Or we’re using the time between stops to do our makeup, catch up on emails, or read a few chapters of a book.

Dina Alfasi takes a different approach.

Each day she travels hours on buses and trains to get to her engineering job at a hospital in Israel. Rather than looking at her phone in silence, she uses it to connect with strangers, taking portraits of the people she meets on public transport.

The photographs capture those quiet, personal moments of people readying themselves for the day ahead.

Some people lean their head against the window and snooze. Others stare into space and daydream.

Each picture captures one tiny moment in people’s lives, ripe with potential for your imagination. You can look at someone’s commute and make up an entire story about the rest of their daily existence, from the father travelling with a baby to the woman embracing a change.

‘What inspires me are the little moments that happen every day,’ Dina told My Modern Met.

‘My work is a testament to telling stories through a single photograph and proof that all you need is just to look around and find those magic moments.’

Take a look at Dina’s beautiful photos below for the ultimate in people-watching.

Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)
Commute photographs by Dina Alfasi
(Picture: Dina Alfasi)

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Woman with cancer stays positive by cosplaying as pop culture icons

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PIC FROM Caters News - (PICTURED:Beth Pendergrass of Rio Rancho, New Mexico in cosplay as Harley Quinn, Suicide Squad) - A brave woman battling breastcancersoldiers on by cosplaying as pop culture legends like David Bowie and Marge Simpson. For most people, fancy dress is usuallyreserved for special times of the year, but for Halloween lover,Beth Pendergrass of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, having fun bydressing up as some of her favourite characters from film,television and evenmusichas acted as a quirky and positive exercise as she bravely battles through hercancerdiagnosis.SEE CATERS COPY
Beth as Harley Quinn (Picture: Caters News)

A woman battling breast cancer is keeping her spirits up by cosplaying as everyone from David Bowie to Marge Simpson.

Beth Pendergrass, from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, has always loved dressing up for Halloween.

But when she lost her hair following chemotherapy, she realised the potential joy of becoming different characters year round.

Beth, 39, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2018.

‘I never had any pain or any indication that anything was wrong,’ she says.

‘It was by total happenstance that I even found the lump.

‘I was in my first chemo treatment within a month.

‘I have since had surgery to remove the tumor and 13 lymph nodes and am going through additional chemo as a preventative measure as I am a high risk for recurrence.

PIC FROM Caters News - (PICTURED:Beth Pendergrass of Rio Rancho, New Mexico in cosplay as Eleven from Stranger Things) - A brave woman battling breastcancersoldiers on by cosplaying as pop culture legends like David Bowie and Marge Simpson. For most people, fancy dress is usuallyreserved for special times of the year, but for Halloween lover,Beth Pendergrass of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, having fun bydressing up as some of her favourite characters from film,television and evenmusichas acted as a quirky and positive exercise as she bravely battles through hercancerdiagnosis.SEE CATERS COPY
Beth as Eleven from Stranger Things (Picture: Caters News)

‘I will finish chemo this summer and will begin radiation following that.’

In the run-up to chemotherapy, Beth decided to cut her hair short, which led to a friend telling her she looked like Maria from The Sound of Music.

‘As a joke, I took a picture of myself, placed it next to a picture of Maria, and sent it to my friend,’ says Beth.

‘That’s when it hit me. My pictures keep me focused on the positive.

‘They give me an outlet to share my experiences and even to work through the emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis.’

PIC FROM Caters News - (PICTURED:Beth Pendergrass of Rio Rancho, New Mexico in cosplay as David Bowie) - A brave woman battling breastcancersoldiers on by cosplaying as pop culture legends like David Bowie and Marge Simpson. For most people, fancy dress is usuallyreserved for special times of the year, but for Halloween lover,Beth Pendergrass of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, having fun bydressing up as some of her favourite characters from film,television and evenmusichas acted as a quirky and positive exercise as she bravely battles through hercancerdiagnosis.SEE CATERS COPY
Beth as David Bowie (Picture: Caters News)

She started dedicating time to transforming herself into all kinds of pop culture icons, including Eleven from Stranger Things, Marge Simpson, and Harley Quinn.

Beth shares her cosplay on Instagram to focus on fun in the midst of battling cancer.

‘The pictures and words I write are reminders to me,’ Beth explains. ‘I will be able to look back on them and remember that I am a strong person – I am a survivor and a fighter.

‘Through research, I had learnt that a number of individuals impacted by cancer recommended keeping a journal.

‘I knew I didn’t want to keep just any journal.

PIC FROM Caters News - (PICTURED:Beth Pendergrass of Rio Rancho, New Mexico in cosplay as Marge Simpson) - A brave woman battling breastcancersoldiers on by cosplaying as pop culture legends like David Bowie and Marge Simpson. For most people, fancy dress is usuallyreserved for special times of the year, but for Halloween lover,Beth Pendergrass of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, having fun bydressing up as some of her favourite characters from film,television and evenmusichas acted as a quirky and positive exercise as she bravely battles through hercancerdiagnosis.SEE CATERS COPY
Beth as Marge Simpson (Picture: Caters News)

‘I wanted a clever way to document my journey – to take a challenging experience and turn it into something positive and this was it.’

Beth wants her photos to act as inspiration to others going through difficult times.

‘I would tell them to keep going,’ she says.

‘I would tell them find the good even in their toughest times and to learn and grow from challenges.

‘I would tell them that attitude is everything and we are in charge of our response to hands we’ve been dealt.

‘I would tell them it is okay to have bad days, but then pick yourself up and keep going.’

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The first blind person to finish the New York City half marathon is helped by adorable guide dogs

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 17: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Guiding Eyes for the Blind President and CEO, Thomas Panek, runs the first ever 2019 United Airlines NYC Half Led Completely by Guide Dogs, with Gus on March 17, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Guiding Eyes For The Blind)
Thomas crossed the finish line with Gus. (Picture: Getty)

A 48-year-old man has become the first blind person to finish the New York City half marathon – and he did so with the help of three guide dogs who wore little doggy running shoes on their paws.

Thomas Panek was guided through the 13.1 mile race by Westley, Waffle, and Gus – a trio of labrador retrievers who took turns leading their dedicated owner.

Each dog set their own pace and ran for three to five miles. Along the way, the dogs were regularly checked by vets and volunteers to ensure they were hydrated, healthy and safe.

The oldest member of the guide dog team is seven-year-old Gus. He is Thomas’ long-time companion, which earned him the honour of being the one to cross the finish line in Central Park.

Thomas lost his sight in his early 20s, but he has always been a keen runner and wasn’t going to let being blind stop him from doing what he loves.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 17: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Gus and Waffle join Guiding Eyes for the Blind President and CEO, Thomas Panek, as he runs First-Ever 2019 United Airlines NYC Half Led Completely by Guide Dogs on March 17, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Guiding Eyes For The Blind)
Vets were on hand to make sure the dogs were healthy (Picture: Getty)

He has managed to complete an incredible 20 marathons with the help of human guides, but this is the first time he has completed a race without another person supporting him.

He had missed the independence and longed to run alone, which is why he ended up setting up a training programme for running guide dogs.

‘It never made sense to me to walk out the door and leave my guide dog behind when I love to run and they love to run,’ explains Thomas.

‘It was just a matter of bucking conventional wisdom and saying why not.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 17: EDITORIAL USE ONLY Waffle joins Guiding Eyes for the Blind President and CEO, Thomas Panek, as he runs the first ever 2019 United Airlines NYC Half Led Completely by Guide Dogs on March 17, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Guiding Eyes For The Blind)
Gus has been Thomas’ long-time companion (Picture: Getty)

‘The bond is really important,’ he added. ‘You can’t just pick up the harness and go for a run with these dogs.

‘You’re training with a team no matter what kind of athlete you are, and you want to spend time together in that training camp.’

Thomas is the president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 24 dogs have now completed his running training plan – so hopefully more blind runners will be able to reclaim their independence.

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Painful growth in woman’s belly button was a sign of ovarian cancer

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(Picture: The New England Journal of Medicine, Getty)

A 73-year-old woman’s strange growth in her belly button was actually a sign of ovarian cancer.

The woman, who has not been named, went to the hospital when a lump in her belly button started bleeding.

Over the previous months, the growth had inflated to 2cm and become painful.

The woman was sent to A&E two days after the growth began to bleed, where she was treated by Dr Javier Barambio at the Hospital Universitario Fundacion Jimenez Diaz in Madrid.

She underwent scans, which found that the painful lump was in fact 9.5cm deep and that she had fluid in her abdomen.

Belly button growth was a sign of cancer https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm1809024
(Picture: The New England Journal of Medicine)

Doctors also found cancerous cells in the woman’s peritoneum; the thin layer of tissue that lines the inside of the abdomen.

Biopsies confirmed that the woman had ovarian cancer, which had spread from her pelvis and caused the growth, called a Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule.

A Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule – a growth that protrudes from the belly button – is rare, but it’s most commonly a sign of advanced gastrointestinal or gynaecological cancer. It’s thought that cancerous cells spread to the area through the peritoneum or the lymphatic system.

The woman was lucky. While those with a Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule tend to have a poor prognosis, Dr Barambio told Live Science that the woman is in ‘general good condition’ and free of disease following surgery to reduce the size of the tumour and chemotherapy.

Common symptoms of ovarian cancer:

  • Pelvic or abdominal pain
  • Persistent bloating
  • Difficulty eating/feeling full quickly
  • Needing to wee more urgently or more often
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Loss of appetite 

Important things to remember about ovarian cancer:

  • Cervical screening tests will not detect ovarian cancer
  • Most cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in women who’ve gone through menopause, but younger women can also get ovarian cancer
  • Survival can be up to 90% for women diagnosed early
  • Symptoms are worth checking if they’re frequent, persistent, or new

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This French marathon allows runners to stop for wine and cheese

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A runner stops of a wine break in the courtyard of Chateau Montrose, near Pauillac, during the 30th Marathon du Medoc, a 26-mile (42.2km) circuit in the Medoc wine region near Bordeaux in south-western France which takes in more than 30 of the regions' chateaux and vineyards, on September 13, 2014. The Medoc region's world-famous chateaux include Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Latour, all open their grounds and cellars to offer runners some of the world's most respected wines at 23 drinks stations along the route, as well as countless food stops serving local delicacies from foie gras, oysters and entrecote steak, to ham, cheese and fruit. AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS TUCAT (Photo credit should read NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP/Getty Images)
(Picture: Getty)

Doing a marathon sounds hard. Really hard.

26.2 miles of nothing but running, sweating and trying to keep breathing.

But you know what might make it easier? Regular wine and cheese breaks.

That’s the kind of marathon we can get on board with.

The Marathon du Medoc in France offers runners the chance to sample the local delicacies as they pass through the different regions on foot.

Rather than just providing water along the route, runners can taste wine, local cheeses, grapes, ice creams and even oysters.

Sounds a tad on the dehydrating side – but we’re into it.

The race takes you on a picturesque route through vineyards and estates, even passing a couple of castles – and participants are given six hours to complete the course, so there’s plenty of time to drink in the scenery… and the vino.

Marathon du Medoc ATHLETISME : Marathon du Medoc - 08/09/2018 MarcdeTienda/Panoramic.
(Picture: Imago/PA Images)

This isn’t exactly a marathon for speed-fiends – if you’re really bothered about clocking up the best time you should probably stick to a regular marathon. Particularly because this one also has to be completed in fancy dress.

Running 26.2 miles with a giant, inflatable bottle of wine strapped to your back probably isn’t going to result in a PB.

But there is definitely an incentive to finish quickly if you can.

The winners for the male and female categories will be rewarded with their weight in Medoc wines, while the first three in each category will also receive a case of fine wine.

Registration for the 2019 race has just opened up, so this could be the perfect the perfect trip for you if you love fitness, but you also love wine.

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The impact of Brexit on disabled people’s lives is not a Government priority

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Theresa May leaves after speaking during a press conference
Disability has not been a priority for the government at all where Brexit is concerned (Photo: John Thys/ AFP/Getty Images)

The mere mention of Brexit sends a shudder down my spine.

My mind starts to turn off in a similar way to when it did during my GCSE Maths class way back when.

I’ve even been known to change television channels just to avoid a Brexit-induced headache.

But should I have been paying more attention? Has my burying my head in the sand approach actually been somewhat ignorant and, in fact, will Brexit have a much more profound impact on my life than I realise?

These are the questions being asked by the almost 14 million people living in the UK who have a disability, including myself.

How will Brexit impact our financial, economic and social wellbeing and do we have real cause for concern?

Disability has not been a priority for the government at all where Brexit is concerned.

This starts with the lack of accessible polling stations across the country, leading to many people with disabilities not even being able to vote, and continues with the gross under-reporting of how Brexit could impact the most vulnerable members of society over the past two and a half years.

It is no wonder many are living in a state of fear. Fear of losing stability and quality of life.

Many disabled people, including myself and the elderly, rely on a strong social care workforce to maintain our independence and go about our daily lives with dignity and safety.

With an estimated 70,000 social care staff coming from the EU, the concern is this: what about their right to residency post-Brexit?

Care workers who are EU citizens and don’t already have indefinite leave to remain in the UK must now apply for settled status. This will give them the right to continue to live and work in the UK.

With the restriction of free movement, it will become increasingly difficult to recruit lower-skilled workers from the EU and elsewhere, which will undoubtedly impact the NHS and those who rely on social care workers.

When it comes to Brexit, the rights and wellbeing of the disabled community have to be taken seriously, and we deserve assurance of our future.

The fall out could have disastrous consequences, leaving some of the most vulnerable members of society without the care they need, with an estimated 100,000 fewer adult care workers in the UK by 2026.

What about financial support? The European Union has invested greatly into ensuring a better quality of life for those with disabilities, the European Social Fund, is one of those key investments.

Will we still be in a position to benefit from this funding after Brexit?

In the event of a no-deal scenario, the UK’s departure from the EU meant that UK organisations would be unable to access EU funding for European Social Fund projects after exit day.

In August 2016, Chancellor Philip Hammond stated that the funding of some projects would be covered by UK Government. This was extended to cover all schemes funded by the 2014-2020 programme, but I want to know what happens after 2020.

In December 2015 the EU proposed the European Accessibility Act, which aims to bring down accessibility barriers that disabled people face every day.

For example, ticket machines at train stations would be required to allow for the screen to be magnified or for the information to be provided in different colours or alternative formats, or ensure that photosensitive seizures could not be triggered.

With a no-deal Brexit the UK is not legally bound to implement this legislation, potentially rolling back all the hard work to insure equality for UK citizens.

‘The long term impact of Brexit on the disabled community ultimately depends on what measures are taken to mitigate the negative effects of leaving,’ Dr Craig Prescott, Director of the Centre for Parliament and Public Law at the University of Winchester, says.

‘However, considering these issues, it’s quite clear that disabled people gain little from leaving the EU with no deal rather than under May’s Withdrawal Agreement.’

Whatever happens, there are no plans to repeal the Equality Act 2010, which covers discrimination on the grounds of disability. For many, this will come as some comfort.

But whatever the outcome, the fact remains that when it comes to Brexit the rights and wellbeing of the disabled community have to be taken seriously, and we deserve assurance of our future.

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Is cutting a massive chunk out of your ears the next big body modification trend?

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(Picture: Getty)

We’ve seen a lot of interesting ‘trends’ in our lives on the internet.

There were those slightly unsettling human skin style boots – remember those? How about teeth nails? Or perhaps flower vase hair is more your thing?

When you bring surgery and body modification into proceedings, strange trends can escalate to another level – just look at the artist who said he cut off his belly button and nipples to sell them as art.

The latest body modification look that’s threatening to get trendy is conch removal.

Conch removal is, as the name suggests, the slicing away of the conch part of the cartilage of ear. This leaves a rather chunky space in your ear that you could use to store a spare Werther’s Original or your house keys.

A man from Australia called Charles had the procedure done by artist Chai Mobert, who shared photos on Instagram.

Chai denies that the procedure makes the person deaf, but does say that anyone who has their conch removed may experience changes to their hearing.

METRO GRAB - Man has inside of his ears cut out From @chaiatcalm Facebook
(Picture: @chaiatcalm/Facebook)

‘It might impair your ability to hear the direction of sound for the first week or two until your mind has adjusted to your new ears,’ he wrote on Instagram. ‘Hearing from behind will in fact improve.

‘Our ears doesn’t “catch” sound as it did eons of years ago when our ears were bigger hence why we have to create a bigger “ear” by cupping our hand around our ear to hear better.’

Many people in the comments have queried that suggestion, arguing that there is ‘absolutely no medical reason to do this’ and that ‘saying it’ll make your hearing better is false advertising.’

We’ve contacted Chai for comment (including on how much conch removal hurts) but haven’t heard back yet.

What we do know, though, is that this particular oversized piercing looks both extreme and permanent.

Do whatever you like with your body – it’s yours, after all – but do take some time to consider your look long-term before you commit to getting a large bit of your ear removed. This isn’t a decision you want to go into lightly.

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When is the Holi 2019 festival, what is it and how can you celebrate in London?

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paint throwing at the holi festival
It’s not called the festival of colours for nothing (Picture: Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The time for the 2019 Holi festival is fast approaching.

thumbnail for post ID 8939656Mysterious UFO captured blazing through the night sky above Russia

The celebration, which marks the start of spring, is also known as the ‘festival of love’, or the ‘festival of colours’.

It’s a significant day to many Hindus all over the world, but if you’re not familiar with Holi, then read on, because here’s everything you need to know about the celebration, from when it falls this year, to how to celebrate Holi in London.

What is the Holi festival?

Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated throughout various parts of south Asia which marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

It also represents the victory of good over evil, and is seen as a day to meet new people, laugh and to forgive and forget.

It starts the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon Day), with the first evening being called Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi. For Holika Dahan, there are usually prayers and religious rituals performed in from of a bonfire.

The following day, known as Rangwali Holi, Dhulandi, Dhuleti, Phagwah or Holi, starts the next morning.

During the festival, people gather in droves to throw colourful powders all around, and drench each other with water from balloons or water-pistols – the ideal being that everyone is equal in the game of covering each other with as many colours as possible.

In the evening, after all the colours have been thrown, revelers will smarten up and visit their friends and family.

When is Holi 2019?

Holi lasts for one night and one day, and begins when a full moon occurs in Phalguna, a Hindu calendar month.

In our calendar, this usually falls sometime between mid-February and the end of March.

This year, Holi falls from Wednesday 20 March 2019 until Thursday 21 March 2019.

people celebrating holi festival
Paint throwing can get a little intense (Picture: Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

How can you celebrate Holi in London in 2019?

There are plenty of Holi events happening in London this year, including ones with food, colours and music in Blexleyheath in the early hours of Sunday 24 March, Kingston upon Thames from 2:30pm until 6pm on Saturday 23 March, and Winchester Road from 11am until 2:30pm on Sunday 24 March.

What date is Holi 2020?

Next year, the celebration of Holi falls from Monday 9 March to Tuesday 10 March.

MORE: 7 things you need to know before you go to India

British Airways finally updates its Business Class and now we want to book flights

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Undated handout photo issued by British Airways of its new business class Club Suite seating. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday March 18, 2019. Club Suite will feature direct access to an aisle, a door for enhanced privacy and flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. See PA story AIR BA. Photo credit should read: British Airways/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
(Picture: PA)

Getting on to a plane and turning left is always a big deal.

But with the latest updates from British Airways, travelling Business Class could be about to feel even more special.

The airline has revealed a major overhaul of its Business Class seating after being accused of lagging behind rivals. And it sounds pretty amazing.

Club Suite will feature direct access to an aisle, a door for enhanced privacy and flat-bed seats so long-haul flights won’t leave you looking like an exhausted, haggard wreck.

There will also be 40% more storage space, a vanity unit and mirror, WiFi, an 18.5-inch entertainment screen and power sockets. Basically – it sounds better than our houses.

Undated handout photo issued by British Airways of its new business class Club Suite seating. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday March 18, 2019. Club Suite will feature direct access to an aisle, a door for enhanced privacy and flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. See PA story AIR BA. Photo credit should read: British Airways/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
(Picture: PA)

Customers weren’t always happy with British Airways’ Business Class offering, with some complaining that passengers had to step over each other to reach an aisle.

The new design will arrive on the airline’s first A350 plane in July – the aircraft will be used for short-haul flights between London and Madrid to enable crews to become familiarised with the new layout.

To really make the most of the facilities you will want to wait for the long-haul flights – launching in October, with another three A350s joining the fleet and two Boeing 777 jets being retrofitted with the new cabin.

It will be rolled out on further long-haul aircrafts from the beginning of next year.

Undated handout photo issued by British Airways of its new business class Club Suite seating. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday March 18, 2019. Club Suite will feature direct access to an aisle, a door for enhanced privacy and flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. See PA story AIR BA. Photo credit should read: British Airways/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
(Picture: PA)

‘The arrival of our first A350 featuring our new Club Suite is one of the most exciting developments in our £6.5 billion investment programme,’ explains British Airways chief executive, Alex Cruz.

‘We’ve worked hard to ensure every aspect of the Club World experience – from the lounges we’ve refreshed, to the new gourmet menus from Do&Co on flights from Heathrow and the luxurious bedding we’ve introduced from The White Company – exudes the very British style and quality customers expect from us.

‘At British Airways we have one of Europe’s largest long-haul fleets and most far-reaching global networks so it will take some time to make the cabin available to everybody.

‘We hope that as more customers have the chance to experience it, they’ll enjoy travelling in it as much as we’ve enjoyed designing it.’

I think it’s time we started saving up.

MORE: This French marathon allows runners to stop for wine and cheese

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MORE: Woman with cancer stays positive by cosplaying as pop culture icons

What I Rent: Sophie and Samy, £1,516 a month for a one-bedroom flat in Hackney

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY Tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki pictured in the combined living room and kitchen of their one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
Married couple Sophie and Samy share a one-bedroom flat in Hackney (Picture: Susannah Ireland)

Each week we take you inside a different person’s rented property for our series, What I Rent.

Yes, this is in part because we are deeply nosy beings and enjoy looking around people’s living areas.

But it’s also because we want greater clarity on the state of renting.

We know that the rental market is not great, especially in London. But in the midst of being lectured for choosing to live in London and being told we’re throwing our money away, it’s tricky to understand what’s actually normal.

How can you know if you’re actually getting a good deal when you’re only comparing your rent to people living up North or your parents’ first flat from 20 years ago?

This week we’re spending time with Sophie and Samy, a married couple sharing a flat in Hackney.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY Tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki pictured in the combined living room and kitchen of their one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
They pay £1,516 a month (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)

Hi Sophie and Samy! How much rent do you pay?

We pay £1,516 a month, plus around £200 in bills (water, electricity, internet, and council tax).

The flat is amazing value. We were so happy to find it as we visited flats for a few months before and just when we started to get really desperate we found this one, which has been the best in everything: size, location, look.

How many rooms are in your place? 

We have one bedroom, a living room and kitchen area, and a bathroom.

How did you find the flat?

We moved here in October last year.

We found it on OpenRent. It was advertised by the previous tenants. We loved the place at first sight and the tenants recommended us to the landlord. We were very lucky!

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of details in the bedroom of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
The couple searched for a while, and this place was the best flat they saw (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)

Are you happy where you live?

We love it! The location is ultra convenient to go everywhere in London. There are buses just by our doorstep and we can walk to cool spots like Broadway Market, London Fields, Victoria Park or Columbia Road.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Oh, yes. We especially enjoy our living room which is great to have family and friends over, around the big table for dinner or on the couch to watch a movie with our projector. Samy even launched a movie club!

How have you made the place feel like home?

The flat was empty when we moved in. We only had a new mattress provided by the landlord.

Apart from a few pieces from Ikea, we tried to gather as much second-hand furniture on Gumtree or Facebook.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of details in the living room of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
It was love at first sight (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)

Sophie made the dining table from an old wooden table she got on Facebook for £40 and asked a lovely neighbour who runs a workshop to fix on it a set of hairpin legs she got on Amazon.

Here and there you can come across pieces of sentimental value: pictures of us and family, photos Sophie took while we were traveling, this big school map of Morocco where she was born, that French sign we found on the street in the middle of the night in Paris.

The plants and flowers are also key to enjoying the space!

Are there any issues with the flat?

We just hope that the contract will be renewed by our landlord.

Any plans to move again?

No, we would love to settle here for the moment. We’ve been moving a lot lately between France, Holland and then in London we had many flatshares. This is really a nest to us.

Have you considered buying a place?

Yes, but not for now.

Shall we have a look around?

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the combined living room and kitchen of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
There’s a main living/dining/kitchen area (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the combined living room and kitchen of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
With plenty of space for guests (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of details in the living room of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
Plants, signs, and furniture found on Gumtree make the flat feel like home (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of details in the living room of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
Plants are very important (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the combined living room and kitchen of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
(Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the kitchen of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
The dining and kitchen area (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of details in the kitchen of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
What a fancy pan stand (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the balcony of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
There’s a mini balcony, too (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the hallway of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
Down the hallway we go… (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the bedroom of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
To the bedroom (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of details in the bedroom of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
We’re fans of the bunny (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the bathroom of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
And finally, the bathroom (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of details in the bathroom of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
We can tell someone likes their skincare (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of details in the bathroom of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
Officially the fanciest soap dish we’ve found thus far (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of the bathroom of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
(Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, MARCH 14TH 2019. WHAT I RENT: HACKNEY General view of toothbrushes in the bathroom of tenants Sophie Pag?s and Samy Zerrouki's one bedroom flat in Hackney, London, 14th March 2019. They pay ?1500 in total not including bills or council tax. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland
Note the tongue scraper (Picture: Susannah Ireland/Metro.co.uk)

What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am. Check back next week to have a nose around another rented property in London.

How to get involved in What I Rent

What I Rent is Metro.co.uk's weekly series that takes you inside the places in London people are renting, to give us all a better sense of what's normal and how much we should be paying.

If you fancy taking part, please email whatirent@metro.co.uk.

You'll need to have pictures taken of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom, plus a few photos of you in your room. Make sure you get permission for your housemates!

You'll also need to be okay with sharing how much you're paying for rent, as that's pretty important.

MORE: What I Rent: Carlie and her daughter, £1,500 a month for a two-bedroom flat in Streatham Hill

MORE: What I Rent: Paula and Rianna, £1,300 a month for a two-bedroom flat in Peckham

MORE: What I Rent: Shannon, £520 a month to share a two-bedroom flat in Manor House

Husband tells vegan wife she should eat meat as she’s pregnant, ‘for the baby’s health’

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Shot of a young man having breakfast with his pregnant wife in the kitchen
(Picture: Getty)

We know pregnancy alters a woman’s diet and lifestyle habits. But sadly, the father of the child isn’t always sympathetic, like the man who ordered sushi in front of his wife despite her appeals not to.

But one pregnant woman was left dumbfounded when her husband told her to change her vegan lifestyle and start eating meat for the ‘baby’s health’.

The mum-to-be explained that she has been vegan her whole life and her parents and siblings too are on a plant-based diet. And, surprisingly, her husband is also vegan, though doesn’t adhere strictly to the lifestyle.

So she couldn’t fathom eating meat for the sake of her future child as per her partner’s request.

He felt that eating meat is necessary for the baby’s health and worried about its iron levels, something the mum has never had trouble with herself.

But the woman, who wrote about it on Mumsnet, worried whether she was overreacting to his suggestion because of her hormones or whether her concerns were justified.

And users were divided.

(Picture: Getty)

‘I am in the very very early stages of pregnancy and since we found out, DH [darling husband] keeps making hints that I should be eating meat to keep the baby healthy,’ she wrote.

‘I have never had any problems with my iron levels etc but I have never been pregnant before.

‘DH has upset me by suggesting I go against something which is obviously a huge part of my life but I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable to be upset or if hormones are making me think more of it?’

Mumsnet followers comforted the new mum-to-be, saying suddenly eating meat might make her sick and that she shouldn’t let her husband control her diet. The only exception might be if she craved meat, they added.

Some mums who are also vegan said they chose to eat fish and/or meat during pregnancy but it was their choice and they didn’t feel forced to do so.

One woman gave her practical advice, saying: ‘Best thing to do is ask to speak to the antenatal nutritionist or ask your midwife, she’ll give you an idea if there are any gaps in your diet and how to fill them staying vegan.

‘Tell your husband he has no right to tell you what to eat. He could be genuinely concerned that you and baby won’t get the nutrients you need but it’s perfectly possible you do and can while staying vegan and I say this as an omnivore.’

Others told the poster to get her iron levels checked and ensure she has all the vitamins and supplements she needs to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Can you be vegan during pregnancy?

According to the NHS, it’s important to eat a varied and balanced diet during pregnancy to provide enough nutrients for you and the development and growth of your baby and there are vegan and vegetarian alternatives to these sources.

For example, you need iron in your diet which includes:

  • pulses
  • dark green vegetables
  • wholemeal bread
  • eggs (for vegetarians who include them in their diet)
  • fortified breakfast cereals (with added iron)
  • dried fruit, such as apricots

Vitamin D:

Although we get vitamin D from sunlight, food sources include:

  • foods fortified with vitamin D, including some breakfast cereals and most fat spreads
  • dietary supplements

Calcium in your diet

If you’re a vegan, you also need to make sure you get enough calcium. This is because non-vegans get most of their calcium from dairy foods.

Good sources of calcium for vegans include:

  • dark green leafy vegetables
  • pulses
  • fortified unsweetened soya, rice and oat drinks
  • brown and white bread
  • calcium-set tofu
  • sesame seeds and tahini
  • dried fruit

MORE: Vegan mum explains how and why she’s weaning her baby onto a plant-based diet

MORE: Pregnant woman whose lunch keeps getting stolen has the food thief fired

MORE: Pregnancy test adverts hurt women by only showing positive results

Jelly Belly inventor creates CBD jelly beans for ‘perfect dosage’

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(Picture: David Paul Morris/Getty Images)

The inventor of Jelly Belly jelly beans has taken a new direction recently, creating CBD versions of the classic sweet.

David Klein, who started his company in 1976, says that the beans are just the right size for the ‘perfect dosage’ of CBD.

Talking to Cannabis Aficionado, he said ‘We are putting 10 ml in each [bean]. If people want a small dose, they eat one. If they want 20 ml, they can eat two.’

That might be quite the feat given that most people are guilty of scoffing handfuls of the sweets, but thankfully the CBD won’t get you high (it’s THC that does that) so one or two more can’t hurt if you’re really tempted.

They also have dextrose or malitol (depending on whether you go for sugar-free) so that you can’t take the cannabis in the beans. Instead, you’ll taste one of the 38 flavours the come in, including  toasted marshmallow, piña colada, strawberry cheesecake, cinnamon, spicy liquorice, and mango.

View this post on Instagram

I love me some candy with CBD.

A post shared by Spectrum Confections (@spectrumconfections) on

Although Klein normally sells in bulk packs of 800 beans, you can contact and see if his company – Spectrum Confections – will fulfil smaller orders.

According to reports, the process Klein used to infuse the CBD into the jelly beans is patent-pending.

It’s clearly proven popular, as his website is showing that the regular, sugar-free, and sour versions are completely sold out.

Klein hasn’t made any health claims himself, but people have flocked to CBD products recently, saying it helps problems from chronic pain to anxiety.

Some people choose to use CBD drops, oils, or have it infused into food and drinks.

MORE: Husband tells vegan wife she should eat meat as she’s pregnant, ‘for the baby’s health’

MORE: What I Rent: Sophie and Samy, £1,516 a month for a one-bedroom flat in Hackney


This guide from the 1940s explains how men should deal with female employees

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(Picture: RCA)

It’s 2019 and we know women still have a lot to deal with at work – a gender pay gap, sexual harassment and discrimination.

But we’ve still come a long way, as this retro guide called When You Supervise A Woman shows.

It was produced by electronics company the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) for men returning from the World War II to workplaces that were now filled with women in the 1940s.

During the war years, with men off fighting, more women were employed in factories.

Between 1940 and 1945, women in the workforce went up from 27% to nearly 37%.

When the war ended, the men returned and initially, many women remained in their jobs.

The guide includes reminders that women are ‘teachable’, ‘patient’, ‘cooperative’, and ‘careful’.

One section sets out exactly what you should and shouldn’t do when supervising women.

The blog Retronaut uncovered old supervisor manual, created by RCA in the 1940s meant to educate male bosses on how to integrate their new female co-workers into the workplace. World War II ignited a greater need for women to join the workforce, especially in factories. The manual titled ?When You Supervise A Woman? gives a window into how these working women in the 1940s were treated ? and it may surprise you.
(Picture: Retronaut/RCA)
The blog Retronaut uncovered old supervisor manual, created by RCA in the 1940s meant to educate male bosses on how to integrate their new female co-workers into the workplace. World War II ignited a greater need for women to join the workforce, especially in factories. The manual titled ?When You Supervise A Woman? gives a window into how these working women in the 1940s were treated ? and it may surprise you.
(Picutre: Retronaut/RCA)

It says: ‘Make clear her part in the process or product on which she works.

‘Allow for her lack of familiarity with machine processes.

‘See that her working set-up is comfortable, safe and convenient.

‘Start her right by kindly and careful supervision.

‘Avoid horseplay or “kidding”; she may resent it.

‘Suggest rather than reprimand.

‘When she does a good job, tell her so.

‘Listen to and aid her in her work problems.’

Another section deals with ‘when you put a woman to work’, where advice includes:

‘Consider her education, work experience and temperament in assigning her to that job.

The blog Retronaut uncovered old supervisor manual, created by RCA in the 1940s meant to educate male bosses on how to integrate their new female co-workers into the workplace. World War II ignited a greater need for women to join the workforce, especially in factories. The manual titled ?When You Supervise A Woman? gives a window into how these working women in the 1940s were treated ? and it may surprise you.
(Picture: Retronaut/RCA)

‘Assign her to a shift in accordance with health, home obligations and transportation arrangements.

‘Be sure she knows the location of rest-rooms, lunch facilities, dispensaries.’

The final section also advises that there are things that male bosses can’t deal with and they should turn to a female counselor instead.

The blog Retronaut uncovered old supervisor manual, created by RCA in the 1940s meant to educate male bosses on how to integrate their new female co-workers into the workplace. World War II ignited a greater need for women to join the workforce, especially in factories. The manual titled ?When You Supervise A Woman? gives a window into how these working women in the 1940s were treated ? and it may surprise you.
(Picture: Retronaut/RCA)

It says: ‘Call on a trained woman counselor in your personnel department to find out that women workers think and want; to discover personal causes of poor work, absenteeism, turnover; to assist women workers in solving personal difficulties; to interpret women’s attitudes and actions and to assist in adjusting women to their jobs.’

The guide does include some things that seem like great workplace practices like set hours and regular breaks.

It recommends limiting hours to eight a day and 48 a week, allowing for rest periods, providing nourishing food for lunch and clean toilets.

The guide also says that women should have properly adjusted work seats, good ventilation and lighting and proper clothing for each job.

Well, women might have been treated like second class colleagues but at least their seats were comfortable.

MORE: Painful growth in woman’s belly button was a sign of ovarian cancer

MORE: Husband tells vegan wife she should eat meat as she’s pregnant, ‘for the baby’s health’

There is no escaping men sliding into your inbox, not even on LinkedIn

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(Picture: Getty, @hannaheray/Twitter)

Checking your LinkedIn messages is like journeying to the dark side of your Facebook messages, the filtered requests.

In your Facebook inbox you’ll find many a creep trying to become friends with you through the terrible art of flirting.

The same thing happens on employment website LinkedIn, but under the guise of business and networking.

One woman, like many before her, found that a particular interaction she had on LinkedIn was just a man trying to hit on her.

Hannah Ray revealed on Twitter how she was talking with a man about relocating for a job when he made it personal.

He asked her whether she would be willing to relocate for a man, coupling the line with a suggestive wink face.

Luckily for him, she blacked out the name of the bold lothario in the screenshot she posted, which has now gone viral.

The post, which received over 32,000 likes, was also spotted by the LinkedIn help account who wrote to her: ‘Hi Hannah, thank you for speaking on this. It’s absolutely not acceptable to send inappropriate messages on LinkedIn. We take these reports very seriously and have tools in place to report and block.’

Hannah’s tweet resonated with many people online who shared their own experiences of being approached romantically by men on the networking website.

People commenting on the post, and many before that, urged men to not use LinkedIn as a dating site.

One follower tagged She Rates Dogs, the Twitter account that shames people who send brazen text messages to their exes or just people they know.

The account replied to the tweet saying: ‘Why does this happen so much on LinkedIn?’

We’re not sure why it’s such a common occurrence but thankfully some are starting to realise how unprofessional and inappropriate it is.

One man wrote: ‘As a man that doesn’t encounter these things regularly, I honestly had no idea that it was a normal thing. I am enlightened. It’s really cringe.’

In case there are others out there who don’t know how widespread the problem is, here are a bunch of other messages received on LinkedIn:

If you’re someone who uses the site for personal reasons, please remember LinkedIn is supposed to be a space for professional networking.

MORE: Can sliding into the DMs ever lead to a relationship? These sliders insist it can

MORE: Women start turning into their mums when they hit 33, says poll

MORE: Are white women pretending to be light skin black for the attention of men?

Medicinal cannabis legalisation should have been the end of my pain but nothing has changed

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Cannabis plant and joint
When the law on this changed last year, making it legal to use cannabis for medicinal purposes, I was thrilled (Photo: AP)

This week a committee of MPs will be hearing about the use of medicinal cannabis.

When the law on this changed last year, making it legal to use cannabis for medicinal purposes, I was thrilled. I thought it might mean I could finally get a medicine that would really alter my life and make it better. But the truth is, the change in law has done nothing to bring me any relief.

I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 1999. MS is unpredictable and different for everyone, but for me it means fatigue, dizziness, heaviness in my limbs, tremor, visual problems, and bladder and bowel problems.

The pain I get from spasticity (muscle spasms and stiffness) is particularly bad. It comes from my muscles clenching as hard as they can. At times I’m frightened that the big bones in my leg might actually snap. Afterwards I feel beaten up, as though my body has been hit by a bat. When I’m in the middle of the pain there’s nothing I can do. It stops me from sleeping, I’m often awake all night with it.

I’ve been asking for Sativex , a cannabis-based spray licensed for treating spasticity in MS, for a long time  (Photo: BSIP/UIG via Getty Images)

All of these symptoms make daily life incredibly difficult. I’ve tried lots of medications to help with these symptoms but they’ve either not worked, or given me bad side effects.

Cannabis has been the only drug that has brought me relief. I use it at night when the spasms and cramps are the worst. I started taking it a long time ago but I can’t get it regularly as it’s really hard to get hold of.

It does worry me that I’m breaking the law to get it. I’ve never broken any other laws. I’m also worried about not knowing what’s in the cannabis I buy, what it might do and how it’s been produced.

I’ve been asking for Sativex, a cannabis-based spray licensed for treating spasticity in MS, for a long time. But because it’s not funded on the NHS in England, I’ve been told I can only get it on a private prescription. I just can’t afford the £500 a month for that.

After the government changed the law last November to allow doctors to prescribe cannabis, I asked my consultant if I would be eligible. He told me they didn’t have a supplier for medicinal cannabis. He also didn’t know what form it might take or when it might be available. He just didn’t have any more information. And he said the situation with Sativex hadn’t changed, they still couldn’t give it to me.

This crushed all hopes that I would get relief from my relentless pain. The MS Society says I’m not the only one in this position – they aren’t aware of anyone with MS who has benefited from the law change.

It seems to me that since the law changed, there’s only been smoke and mirrors. Doctors and patients alike are in limbo because the processes around prescribing medicinal cannabis aren’t in place.

I fully support the MS Society’s call to develop a cross-government strategy on cannabis. Taking action to encourage more research and improve education and support for healthcare professionals would help to increase access.

I hope that MPs and other decision-makers listen to the stories of people like me. What was the point in changing the law when it hasn’t led to any meaningful change?

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Cadbury is adding Dinky Deckers and mini Crunchies to its Heroes tubs

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(Picture: Cadbury)

Attention, people: Cadbury is adding new chocolates to its Heroes tubs. We’re very excited.

The chocolate company is launching two new flavours to its tub: The Dinky Decker, a miniature version of the Double Decker Bar, and the Crunchie mini. Yum.

The Dinky Decker is made using crispy cereal, soft nougat and chocolate, while the Crunchie bites are made of honeycomb encased in a layer of chocolate.

These two new additions will join the Dairy Milk, Twirl, Wispa, Fudge, Eclair and Creme Egg in the Heroes selection.

The new chocolates will be launched in April just in time for Easter, and we absolutely cannot wait.

Other brands have released their Easter products already – including Waitrose, which has re-launched its sellout avocado Easter egg.

The Waitrose Chocolate Avocado Egg was so popular last year that it had to be restocked over and over again. It ended up being the supermarket’s fastest selling Easter egg ever, as avocado fans went wild for it.

The egg, which is shaped like an avocado and costs £8, features a Belgian chocolate shell, white chocolate ‘flesh’ made with green natural colouring, and a chunky cocoa-dusted chocolate ‘stone’.

It’s the perfect Easter egg for Instagram – just pair it with one of Hotel Chocolat’s Easter chocolate sandwiches and you’ve got yourself some chocolate avocado on toast.

Amazing.

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Flora goes completely vegan and removes dairy from their entire spread range

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(Picture: Flora)

Good news for vegans – Flora spreads are all going to be dairy-free.

The brand launched a dairy-free spread in 2016 but continued to produce other versions that contained animal products.

Now Flora Original, Flora Light and Flora Buttery will be suitable for vegans.

The new products have been certified by The Vegan Society to help shoppers identify that they are free from dairy.

Anyone with a dairy allergy should continue to buy the dairy-free spread as it will be the only one made in a segregated area, free from the risk of contamination.

Upfield, the company that produces Flora, said that they hope that the products will appeal to the 3.5m vegans in the UK.

The products started rolling out across the UK yesterday but until the changeover out is complete, customers should check packaging to make sure they are buying the vegan version.

Some of the new products have already been spotted in stores.

Steven Hermiston, Upfield general manager for UK and Ireland, said: ‘Health and wellbeing has never been so important to consumers.

‘People now care more about what goes into the products they are feeding themselves and their families, but they are not prepared to compromise on taste – and they should not have to.

‘With a great new recipe making Flora more delicious than ever, our new 100% plant goodness range can be enjoyed by the whole family.’

‘Plant-based nutrition is at the heart of the Upfield business and Flora, with its plant goodness, is set to lead the charge and marks a key moment for us and the wider category.’

MORE: Husband tells vegan wife she should eat meat as she’s pregnant, ‘for the baby’s health’

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