Project Semicolon: People are drawing semi-colons on their wrists as a message of hope

July 1, 2015, 2:22 am

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No, semi-colon tattoos aren’t just a new hipster trend. They’re not a new way of celebrating grammatical correctness either. 

There’s a far more significant reason behind the open-ended punctuation marks being shared across social media.

People are choosing to draw semi-colons, or get them permanently tattooed, on their wrists and elsewhere as a message of hope – a sign that their story isn’t finished – and to fight the stigma of mental health.

The trend was started by Project Semicolon, a movement ‘dedicated to presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction and self-injury.’

 

The website explains: ‘A semicolon represents a sentence the author… Read the full story

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Brilliant cartoons perfectly illustrate exactly what sexual consent means in everyday terms

July 1, 2015, 2:52 am

≫ Next: Here’s how you make tennis ball champagne cocktails. Because Wimbledon

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A beginners guide to… CONSENT.

The question of sexual consent has become a hot topic in recent years, which is kinda odd, because you’d have thought that consent was a pretty simple concept to get your head around.

But apparently not.

Fed up with the ‘confusion’ around the subject, blogger, cartoonist and contributor to the website Everyday Feminism (where these cartoons were first published) Alli Kirkham created this series of cartoons which perfectly break down what consent means in everyday terms.

Talking about the cartoons, the Everyday Feminism team explained: ‘These everyday examples of how we give consent for other things shows just how absurd it is to blame sexual assault survivors or to try to justify… Read the full story

Here’s how you make tennis ball champagne cocktails. Because Wimbledon

July 1, 2015, 2:55 am

≫ Next: New viral optical illusion makes beautiful brunette magically appear on a blank screen

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As it’s Wimbledon, and because we’re currently basking in glorious 30 degree temperatures, we bring you champagne cocktails, served in tennis balls.

Why not, eh?

The refreshing Break Point cocktails (made up of vodka, champagne and cucumber juice) are being served up by Holborn Dining Rooms in partnership with Lanson champagne on their Wimbledon-themed outdoor terrace, from now until July 12.

They’ve been created for guests to sip while they enjoy the sunshine and watch Andy Murray on the big screen over a tasty summer lunch or dinner.

Get these amazing tennis ball #cocktails at @HolbornDining Room at @RosewoodLondon #Holborn during #Wimbledon2015 pic.twitter.com/sWu26eOYMl

— LondonPopups (@LondonPopups) June 30,… Read the full story

New viral optical illusion makes beautiful brunette magically appear on a blank screen

July 1, 2015, 4:05 am

≫ Next: 21 reasons she’s your best friend and always will be

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It’s been months since the internet lost its mind over The Dress, so it’s about time we found a new optical illusion to tweet about.

After all, it’s hot, and any excuse to waste a few seconds at work.

With no further ado, here’s your new excuse for pointless procrastination – ghost lady.

This demonic looking lady’s face is being shared online because, if you stare at her for long enough, she’ll turn into a beautiful brunette. Insert joke here.

You just need to stare at the white dot on the woman’s nose for 15 seconds and then look at the white space on the right to see the brunette magically appear.

Stare at the white dot on her… Read the full story

21 reasons she’s your best friend and always will be

July 1, 2015, 4:07 am

≫ Next: 2015’s BBC Woman’s Hour power list is full of well-known names… but are they the right choices?

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Finding a best friend is like finding your soulmate – rare, precious and life-changing.

Sometimes it’s like love at first sight – you just ‘get’ each other from the word go – while others grow from a mutual appreciation of artisan gin, Terry Pratchett books or Channing Tatum’s abs.

However you first found each other, she’s the reason you look forward to the weekend and have driven halfway across the country (and sometimes halfway across the world) to catch up.

Here’s 21 reasons she’s your best friend and always will be.

1. You tell each other the same stories 50 times

And they’re still funny.

2. She’s seen you at your worst

And still loves you.

3. Her family are your family

You’re Facebook friends with… Read the full story

2015’s BBC Woman’s Hour power list is full of well-known names… but are they the right choices?

July 1, 2015, 4:27 am

≫ Next: 23 things you only know if you’re a parent at school sports day

≪ Previous: 21 reasons she’s your best friend and always will be

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BBC Woman’s Hour have announced their 2015 power list, and it’s proving controversial.

Let’s cut to the chase. This year’s BBC Woman’s Hour power list has been topped by Nicola Sturgeon.

This time last year most people wouldn’t have been able to point her out in a crowd, and now she’s been named the most influential woman in the UK.

And that’s not where the controversy ends.

In at second place is American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (who is undoubtedly influential, but why put her on the list this year?), while possibly most controversially Caitlyn Jenner made it onto the… Read the full story

23 things you only know if you’re a parent at school sports day

July 1, 2015, 5:35 am

≫ Next: People who work in marketing are THE WORST for making tea in the office

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Surely the jewel in the crown of the summer term? School sports day!

The day every kid gets a go at showing off their sporting prowess – whether they want to or not. And their parents have to watch them do it – whether they want to or not.

As you’re traipsing around the field full of doubt, horror and hope at what’s to come, every other parent will also be thinking…

1. Firstly, how long is this going to take?

2. OK, we all want to take pictures and videos of our offspring doing their best but the dad who has set up a tripod and camera really needs to take a step… Read the full story

People who work in marketing are THE WORST for making tea in the office

July 1, 2015, 5:45 am

≫ Next: 14 animals who could teach you a thing or two about coping with the heatwave

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Another day, another survey into Brits’ tea drinking habits. In particular, our tea drinking habits while at work.

According to a new poll, it’s the marketing team who are the absolute WORST when it comes to the tea run *throws serious shade at the marketing desk*.

A survey by Tetley of 2,000 very hot and thirsty British workers have found one in four dodge the tea round at work, and those in marketing are the worst culprits.

Maybe they’re too busy getting buy-in from people after all that blue sky thinking.

According to Tetley, the most reliable tea makers are those in property maintenance, while those who work in advertising prefer to go it alone – or, if you’re Don Draper, skip straight to the Canadian Club.

Read the full story

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14 animals who could teach you a thing or two about coping with the heatwave

July 1, 2015, 6:27 am

≫ Next: 15 things you only know if you hate hot weather

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The heatwave – aka. our one week of summer – is finally here.

And while we’re all flapping about in unsuitable clothing (shout out to the ladies who are still wearing black opaque tights, you nutters), moaning about commuting and crisping up like bacon, our animal friends are… Read the full story

15 things you only know if you hate hot weather

July 1, 2015, 6:49 am

≫ Next: 14 of London’s best geek pub nights that all puzzle nerds, book worms and games buffs should try

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We’re all aware how the weather has been warming up of late, and at last it finally feels like summer has arrived.

But while most of us are enjoying the glorious sunshine and basking in the sun, spare a thought for those of us who detest this overbearing heat, and the sweat and pungent body odour that occurs as soon as the temperature goes up.

1. You don’t get the excitement

You’ve tried to understand just why everyone seems to eagerly await the arrival of the sun, you really have. But you just can’t get excited over something that causes you to sweat and not sleep properly at night.

2. Sun worshippers are the worst

There is a special level of mockery… Read the full story

14 of London’s best geek pub nights that all puzzle nerds, book worms and games buffs should try

July 1, 2015, 7:03 am

≫ Next: 14 ways you’re messing up your kids without realising it

≪ Previous: 15 things you only know if you hate hot weather

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From gamer to puzzle lover, egghead to book worm, there’s a pub in London to suit your every whim. Here are 14 top London pubs for you to get your geek on at.

1. Puzzled Pint

Pit your brains against some mind-bending puzzles with this monthly social held in cities across the world.

The first challenge is getting there! To find the London locations you’ll need to solve a puzzle that’s published on the Friday before the event, giving you plenty of time to dust off those brain cells… For the competitive among you, there’s a leaders board on their website too.

Read the full story

14 ways you’re messing up your kids without realising it

July 1, 2015, 7:25 am

≫ Next: 31 things that happen on every British beach

≪ Previous: 14 of London’s best geek pub nights that all puzzle nerds, book worms and games buffs should try

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Parenting is tough, and one of the toughest bits is being a role model all the time. Even the best of us slip up occasionally, sometimes without realising.

Here are 14 parent traps it’s all too easy to fall into.

1. Telling them to lose weight

As Weight Concern points out, the food under-sevens eat is really up to you – so if they’re putting on weight it’s your job to improve their diet and get them out more. Talking about weight and nutrition isn’t really helpful until the kids are older.

2. Talking about your diet

‘Children copy the behaviours of others,’ eating disorder charity Beat says. ‘Your children will… Read the full story

31 things that happen on every British beach

July 1, 2015, 8:00 am

≫ Next: This little rock star could climb before she could walk

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We’re an island nation. We’re surrounded by the sea.

Our childhood holidays centered around the annual trip to the coast and a few day trips too if we were lucky.

We have a love hate relationship with our beaches but we wouldn’t be without them, and if – like many of us on this hottest of weeks – you spend some time on one of our British beaches you’re sure to spot more than one of the following things…

1. The guy who thinks he doesn’t need to use sun cream.

2. The same guy an hour later who is redder and hotter than the sun itself.

3. A loose dog running amok through the picnics and knocking over small children.

4. A useless wind-break.

5.… Read the full story

This little rock star could climb before she could walk

July 1, 2015, 8:22 am

≫ Next: We’ve found the best sunglasses on the planet and they’re not even mega dollars

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Ellie Farmer is only 20-months-old but she’s already a better rock climber than you. Probably.

Parents Rachael, 28, and Zak, 31, from Arizona posted a video on Facebook of the nifty toddler scaling a seven foot high wall earlier this week and it’s been wowing the internet, with 18 million views so far.

In the two minute clip, the little girl is seen at 19-months-old carefully navigating the indoor climbing wall.

Mum wrote underneath of her ‘little zen monkey': ‘I had to drag her out of the gym today, even after an hour of play she didn’t want to stop climbing! I love how she takes the time to work through the crux and top it… Read the full story

We’ve found the best sunglasses on the planet and they’re not even mega dollars

July 1, 2015, 9:40 am

≫ Next: This is how you make deep fried guacamole…

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If the current weather isn’t the perfect opportunity to invest in a new pair of sunnies, we don’t know what is.

And if you’re looking for something with the WOW factor, look no further, because Spangled sunglasses have it by the bucket load.

From multi-coloured blinged out specs, to dinosaur-adorned shades, and (our personal faves) blinged out dinosaur-adorned numbers, Spangled sunnies are living proof that more is always more.

Best of all, they cost from £28 – £48, so you won’t even need to wait till pay day to treat yourself.

Literally what more could you want?

Read the full story

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This is how you make deep fried guacamole…

July 1, 2015, 10:12 am

≫ Next: Someone’s finally made the giant Oreo cake the world was waiting for

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New in deep frying anything that doesn’t move…

Did you know you could deep fry guacamole?

Well we didn’t. But now we do. And now it’s basically all we want to eat.

Because what could be yummier than all that creamy, spicy, freshness of guacamole, encased in a hot and crispy shell? Basically nothing.

And best of all, it’s so easy to do, it’s dangerous… for your waistline that is. And possibly your heart. But we’ll worry about that another time.

Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Make some guacamole.

If you don’t already have a favourite guacamole recipe, you really need to take a long hard look at your life. And… Read the full story

Someone’s finally made the giant Oreo cake the world was waiting for

July 1, 2015, 11:57 pm

≫ Next: #Sunburnart, where people burn designs onto their skin, may be the dumbest hashtag yet

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‘Hello, is it me you’re looking for?’ is what this cake would sing. If cakes could sing.

It’s a giant Oreo cake. Need we say more?

The recipe and YouTube tutorial comes courtesy of Japanese channel Hey! It’s Mosogourmet and it could be your new go-to celebration cake *imagines tiered giant Oreo wedding cake*.

You’ll have to invest in an Oreo baking tray but we think it’s worth it – get yours here.

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil spray (or you can just use the vegetable oil that’s going in the cake)
• 530g plain flour
• 16g baking powder
• 100g black cocoa powder
• 70g cocoa powder
• 14… Read the full story

#Sunburnart, where people burn designs onto their skin, may be the dumbest hashtag yet

July 2, 2015, 12:44 am

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People are now purposefully burning designs onto their skin and sharing them online with the hashtag #sunburnart.

Because the human race can be really dumb sometimes.

To create the designs, people either just apply suncream to a particular area, or use a temporary tattoo, and allow the unprotected skin to burn.

Obviously, skin experts have spoken out against the trend and warned it could cause skin cancer.

This is where popular culture is clashing with medical advice,’ New York-based dermatologist Dr. Barney Kenet told ABC News.

 

‘It’s really obvious that sunburn does two things to you: it gives you lines and freckles and wrinkles and it also causes skin cancer especially melanoma,’ he warned.

He adds that the trend is particularly dangerous because it could inspire people to spend longer in the sun, perfecting their ‘art’.

‘The practice is tempting them to burn even worse,’ he said.

Read the full story

Super cute alarm clock jumps for joy and runs away from you to wake you up

July 2, 2015, 2:23 am

≫ Next: Would I get a tattoo in the name of mental health? Hell yes

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There’s never a dull morning with Tocky and Clocky.

No, they’re not the world’s most irritating morning TV presenters. They’re the world’s cutest alarm clocks.

And they run away from you beeping to wake you up.

If you’re one of those people that has to hit snooze 4,378 times before they get up in the morning (apparently, that’s 40 per cent of us), then one of these guys might be the solution.

Meet Tocky.

If you snooze, Tocky will jump off your bedside table and run around beeping to get you up (he works on carpet and wooden floors). There’s also the option to turn off the rolling and jumping function to use him like a conventional alarm clock if… Read the full story

Would I get a tattoo in the name of mental health? Hell yes

July 2, 2015, 2:38 am

≫ Next: 25 things you only know if you’re from a Turkish background

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Photos of semicolons are popping up on social media.

It’s not an attempt by grammarians to break the internet, it’s a movement in the name of mental health.

Project Semicolon is ‘dedicated to presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction and self-injury.’

The semicolon is the place where an author could end a sentence, but… Read the full story