
Snakes as therapy animals: reptiles help heal in Brazil
A yellow-and-brown boa constrictor wraps itself around David de Oliveira Gomes's neck like a scarf, but the 15-year-old Brazilian with...
2023-06-14 09:23

Indiyah Polack: I didn’t want to go on Love Island because of my acne
When Indiyah Polack got the call to go on the eighth season of ITV2’s Love Island in 2022, she had just had another bad acne breakout. “I didn’t want to go on the show anymore because of it,” the 24-year-old admits. “But then I really thought about it, I did my interviews and spoke to the producers, and they loved me. “I had to tell myself, ‘Well, Indiyah, they didn’t love you for your skin but your personality. I guess they want you for you. So don’t let it get to you. Your skin doesn’t define you’. This was how I started looking at it.” Polack ended the show in third place with Dami Hope – and the pair are still together. Since then, the former waitress has gone on to present Love Island: The Morning After Podcast with Sam Thompson and ITV2’s Love Island: Aftersun, alongside Maya Jama. “Imagine if I didn’t go on Love Island, I probably wouldn’t be in this position now, having this conversation,” she says. “We can’t let superficial things get us down.” Polack says she has always struggled with her skin. Growing up, her acne “definitely affected my confidence but I’ve got to the point where I’ve been living with it for so long. I don’t think anything is ‘bad skin’. Skin is skin. You either have spots or you don’t. “And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to think more about whether I would be in this position if I didn’t have acne. I know it’s a weird way to look at it, but I just think my skin makes me who I am. When I meet people, whether they like me or not, they don’t not like me because I have ‘terrible skin’.” As a result, skincare has become such a big part of Polack’s life. She has a morning and night time routine which can “get quite tiresome and hard to keep up with, especially during busy periods”, she says. “ I usually stick to five steps and make sure I wash my face, cleanse, moisturise, use SPF and then squalene.” Polack became a marketplace ambassador for PrettyLittleThing and has launched a new collection, designed with Chris Parnell, the fashion retailer’s head of design. The collection includes a range of mini dresses, cargos, corsets, and edgy co-ords, which Polack says will take you from day-to-night. There are added details like chunky buckles, lace ties, cut-out detailing, mesh and PU leather. But a statement denim trench coat with an exaggerated train, that Polack “fought long and hard for” is one of her favourite pieces. “I don’t think people really realise how much actually goes into designing a collection, there’s a lot of trial and error. There are a lot of fittings, reworking things, and making sure you’re happy with the quality of the materials,” she says. It was inspired by festival season and her own sense of style instead of ever-changing fashion trends. “I would say my personal style is sexy, chic, a bit cool, a bit amazing – no, I’m joking. I take a lot of inspiration from Rihanna. I love how she’s so effortless. And she does wear a few streetwear outfits and still looks sexy. That’s how I want people to feel in my collection.” Polack didn’t always dress the way that she does now, though. She still can’t really put her fashion style under one umbrella, but went through a lot of phases, including punk rock, where she says she would wear whatever made her happy and put chains on everything. The TV presenter’s relationship with her hair has drastically changed, too. Polack was first introduced to the nation on the reality dating game show, with her skunk stripes hair pulled back into a high ponytail (her go-to style) with flicked ends, another term for a two-tone hair colour where there is a contrast of a darker hue next to very light blonde. “Hair is just hair, so I don’t hold it as close to me,” she says. “When I went into the Love Island villa, I had tape-ins, as they were the most convenient hairstyle for me at the time. I have afro curly hair, so it would be very hard to maintain things like a wig in the heat. “But my hair got really damaged by the tape-ins. When I came out of the villa, my hair was so short, dry, and broken. I actually couldn’t get my hair in a bun and people – who can be so fickle at times – had so much to say about it in my comments. It’s going to grow back. But I feel like I have a good relationship with my hair now. It’s moisturised, I can tell you that. We’ve not got as many split ends.” Ironically, there was a time in Polack’s life where she hated putting her hair in a ponytail or bun. She felt like it made her look too young and didn’t want to look like a teenager but now she says, “it’s like a free face lift. I like it”. Skunk stripes are “the most subtle hairstyle” she’s done. “I used to dye my hair all the time. I’ve been every colour under the sun. When I was in sixth form, I used to rock a hot pink afro.” Was she allowed? “I wasn’t but I did it,” Polack says. “My hair was bleach blonde [at one point]. I went to a girls’ school and they were quite strict – no crazy hairstyles were allowed. They told me that I wouldn’t be able to go into my exam hall with my hair that way, but I was like, ‘Well I am, and I’m going to get an A*’.” It helps that the content creator believes everything is an assimilation. “ I do believe that nothing is that serious. I think going into the Love Island villa has changed me, and I don’t know if that’s for better or worse,” she says, with a laugh. “I just believe anything in your life can happen. I’m so blessed to be in this position and meet amazing people. It takes confidence and knowing what you really want. I’m a big believer of the law of attraction. If you ask, you will get it.“The only caveat is, you need to be grateful for everything you already have.” Shop Polack’s latest PrettyLittleThing collection at prettylittlething.com
2023-08-23 17:28

Where you've seen Atlanta, dubbed the 'Hollywood of the South,' on screen
ATLANTA (AP) — Metropolitan Atlanta is home to the second highest number of soundstages in the U.S., including the massive Tyler Perry Studios and Trilith Studios. But many productions have chosen to shoot in and around the city itself, often as stand-ins for other locations (it’s a popular double for New York). Here are some landmarks and towns you might recognize:
2023-10-27 21:53

6 of the best new running shoes for summer
Looking to upgrade your running shoes this season, or kickstart a new jogging regime with some swanky new kit? We put these recent releases from a range of top running brands through their paces… 1. Asics Gel-Nimbus 25, £175, asics.com The technical bit: Billed as ‘the most comfortable running shoe’ following consumer tests, Asics have taken cushioning to the max with the Gel-Nimbus 25. Lightweight foam and PureGEL pockets in the soles promise enhanced shock absorption for softer landings and smoother transitions, while the stretchy tongue and collar promise an adaptive fit and stability. The rundown: Despite the super chunky soles, these shoes are pleasingly lightweight. The fit feels a little snug at first (you may want to try them on in store for size) but once I get running, my feet feel very stable and supported. What’s most noticeable about the cushioning is how it supports the whole of the foot at every part of the stride – from striking the concrete to take-off – making for a confident and comfortable run. 2. On Cloudsurfer, £150, On-running.com The technical bit: Ons are known for their revolutionary midsole designs, promising the sensation of ‘running on clouds’ – and the On Cloudsurfer features the brand’s latest design enhancement, CloudTec Phase®, for the ‘smoothest ride’ yet. They’ve upped the sustainability stakes too, using 95% less water in the dying process (compared with conventional methods) for the 100% recycled uppers. The rundown: These are hands-down the most comfortable running shoes I’ve ever worn! They’re so light and flexible, I barely knew I was wearing them – apart from the fact my feet felt super bouncy. They also look very stylish and are easy to clean, which is a bonus. 3. Nike ZoomX Invincible 3 Flyknit Women’s Running Shoes, £169.99, Sports Direct The technical bit: Designed for road running, the design details promise to help reduce injuries, with very thick cushioning a key feature of the rubber soles, along with Nike’s ZoomX midsole technology and lightweight Flynit uppers. The rundown: I could definitely feel the benefits on my longer road runs, thanks to the added comfort and support. My feet and knees felt less achy than usual. It did take me a while to get used to the wide sole design, however, as I’m used to a narrower shoe. But for comfort pounding the pavements, they’re a win. 4. Men’s Featherswift Trail Running Shoes, £90, Helly Hansen The technical bits: These trainers are great for anyone new to trail running, designed with lots of support and cushioning, while remaining light and flexible. And if you’re looking for sustainability, they have a 70% recycled upper, including recycled laces, lining and webbing, as well as zero-waste design elements. The rundown: As described, running in the Featherswifts is light and easy. They have a brilliant grip – which is handy, as all the woodland areas I run in seem to be pretty slippery at the moment – with a good support structure around the heel. As someone who’s prone to ankle rolling, they’re stable enough to give you confidence when running off-road, although they could look a bit more interesting for the price. 5. London Edition FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3, £220, New Balance The technical bit: Made for ‘marathon runners who never let up’, the two-layer FuelCell midsole and carbon fibre plate is said to deliver energy return. The one-piece integrated tongue also ensures a secure and breathable fit. The rundown: With a design inspired by the TCS London Marathon, the look might not be for everyone. These trainers are super expensive and attention-seeking, but they do make you run like a dream and the bounciness is unreal. They somehow seem to make your stride longer, higher and faster (apparently, that’s down to the FuelCell foam, which delivers a ‘propulsive feel’ to help drive you forward, and the energy-boosting carbon fibre plate geometry). If looking cool is more important to you, you might prefer to downgrade to the London Edition Fresh Foam X 880 v13 (more affordable at £140), but if distance is your thing, you won’t regret buying these. 6. Women‘s KIPRUN KS900, £89.99 (were £99.99), Decathlon The technical bit: Designed with longer runs in mind, these trainers promise a cushioned sole – thanks to the new MFOAM cushioning – and extra grip, perfect if you’re going cross-country on wet terrain. With a wider sole than other trainers in the KIPRUN range, these shoes are all about delivering stability – and with the power of your run distributed more evenly across the sole, it aims to keep you comfortable as you clock up the miles. The rundown: I find some running shoes too flimsy, in a bid to be as lightweight as possible. This model strikes the balance perfectly between feeling sturdy enough that my feet were supported, while still being light – so I wasn’t weighed down. As promised, the sole felt comfortable and springy, with plenty of grip to prevent slips. The fit runs on the snug side – but in a good way, meaning my feet felt extra supported as I pounded the pavements.
2023-07-07 16:59

Caraway’s New Stainless Steel Cookware Can Handle The Heat (& My Bad Cooking Skills)
The “C” in cookware stands for cutthroat. Whether it’s the best nonstick pot, cast iron pan, or stainless steel set, I have yet to come across more ferocious opinions on a product in my two years of lifestyle shopping writing (just take a scroll through r/cooking on Reddit). Knowing this, when tasked with testing Caraway‘s first-ever stainless steel cookware set I shivered. A beautiful, durable, 4-piece, priced at $700, and non-toxic collection in my sorry excuse of a kitchen? With lids and Caraway’s signature, space-optimizing storage included? The phrase “I’m not worthy” didn’t do the situation justice.
2023-10-20 04:58

Save 88% on lifetime access to unlimited premium web hosting
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to iBrave Cloud Web Hosting is on sale for £78.32, saving
2023-08-25 12:26

Funny old world: The week's offbeat news
From a royal grump to bumping off your husband.... Your weekly roundup of offbeat stories...
2023-05-12 20:46

Bartender admits she judges people who order famous cocktail
A drink of choice can say a lot about a person, and now one TikTok-famous bartender has gone viral after admitting she judges people "a little" who opt for the world-famous Long Island Iced Tea. In a clip that's racked up over 3.3 million views, TikTok user @soundbowlbae demonstrates how to make the classic cocktail, while making a lighthearted joke about those who order it. "Let me tell y'all a secret," she said."When you come up to the bar and you order a Long Island, the first thing I'm thinking is, 'Is everything ok? Like, is everything going on alright in your life 'cos why on earth would you want four different liquors in your drink?'. "You are getting rum, vodka, tequila and gin all mixed in one. That's just insane." "If you like it, I love it," she continued, before humouring: "Just know that I'm judging you a little bit." @soundbowlbae Recipe .75 ounces of Vodka,Gin,Rum,Tequila add .5 ounces of Triple Sec and Sour add coke to top. For flavors add puree, stir and top with sprite. #longisland #cocktailreceipe #potionsbyp #bartenderlife The clip is accompanied by the recipe for Long Island fan which entails: "75 ounces of Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila add .5 ounces of Triple Sec and Sour add coke to top. For flavors add puree, stir and top with sprite." Thousands of fellow TikTokers flocked to the comments with one stunned user writing: "So you mean to tell me a Long Island isn’t made with iced tea?" "Long island the only way to make sure you got liquor in your drink," another said, to which the creator responded: "You ain’t wrong I’m just talking s*** lol." "A Long Island is my go to drink because anytime I go into a bar I instantly forget every other drink name," one user wrote. Another joked: "I live in the UK and this is my favourite cocktail, I never order anything else and I can confirm, I have problems." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-20 21:27

Prince Harry lauds the healing power of sports as he kicks off a promotional tour of Asia in Tokyo
Prince Harry has lauded the virtue of sports and its healing powers as he kicked off a promotional tour of Asia in Tokyo
2023-08-09 21:19

Europeans slam American woman in Paris for saying it’s ‘weird’ how French people butter sandwiches
One American woman living in Paris left a bad taste in the mouths of her European followers when she said it was “weird” how French people butter their sandwiches. In a 5 August TikTok post, Amanda Rollins dished out the hot take while she prepared her and her boyfriend’s lunch for the following day. The lifestyle blogger took two half baguettes and cut them face open. As she began to prep the bread with pats of butter on her knife, she admitted that some one of her fellow American followers may find what she’s doing “strange.” “It occurred to me that French people do something very weird with sandwiches that I think you guys would find strange. This is butter,” Rollins said. “What they do, it’s like a classic sandwich. It’s ham, cheese, and butter.” She went on to explain how mustard and mayonnaise – two known sandwich spreads – are replaced with the salty dairy product that has a high concentration of fat. In her opinion, mayonnaise is “basically fat as well,” and the creamy sauce is more flavorful. Because of this, Rollins assumed people would think the butter replacement was “gross,” but she encouraged them to try it anyway. “I know you might be thinking that sounds gross, but it’s actually so good. Is it healthy? No, of course not,” the TikTok user remarked. “What do you think of that? It’s kind of crazy.” “Don’t knock it until you try it,” she continued. European app users couldn’t believe how taken aback Rollins was by the act of spreading butter on a sandwich. As odd as Rollins made the food choice seem, they found it even more unusual that Americans don’t follow the same recipe “Who doesn’t use butter in their sandwich?” a baffled individual wrote, while another added: “How is that crazy? It’s the most simple basic sandwich.” One woman assumed: “Honestly, I think it’s only the US that don’t put butter on their sandwiches.” @americanfille Beurre it up baby ?? #frenchculture #frenchpeople #jambonbeurre #parisien ♬ original sound - Amanda Rollins “Butter before anything,” a TikToker from England exclaimed. “Swede here, and totally normal in Scandinavia as well,” another user added. One Canadian person claimed it was typical in their area as well. “Always butter in a sandwich. No mayo ever,” they commented. Speaking with Insider, Rollins admitted she was not expecting so many people from outside the US to think using mayo in lieu of butter was irregular. “A lot of people were saying mayonnaise on a sandwich is weird — to which I GASPED. In the US we are big condiment people,” she remarked. Currently living in Paris, Rollins added how obviously barren the grocery store condiment sections were compared to the ones in America. She was confident that people in the US who put butter on their sandwich bread were in the “minority” because butter is more of a “toast lubricator.” “We don’t view BUTTER as a CONDIMENT, it’s like a cooking ingredient and sometimes a toast lubricator. Like slabbing cold butter onto a sandwich would feel weird in the US, I know I am not making this up,” she told The Independent. “People in the comments are GOING OFF on the fact that Americans are the only ones who don’t do this regularly. There’s someone from each country in Europe chiming in and saying ‘we do that in England, we do that in Germany, we do that in. Sweden, etc’ and I have comments like ‘this is the most normal thing in the world,’ ‘americans are the only ones who find this weird’ - to which I keep replying: ‘...and who do you think my audience is?’” she continued. Rollins’ butter on sandwiches aversion extends to all recipes except the ham and cheese combo. Otherwise, the Paris resident prefers to stick with saucy condiments like she’s always done in the States. Read More How to save money in the kitchen according to top chefs Taco vendor attacked and pepper sprayed by woman who ‘refused to pay for food’ How to pimp up your instant ramen (and save money) McDonald’s worker goes viral after revealing how the brand’s sweet tea is made Michelin-starred chef Michael O’Hare puts Skittle twist on classic desserts How to make Thai favourite lemongrass chicken stir-fry
2023-08-11 03:16

Will Poulter says acting offered ‘escape’ from mental health issues
Will Poulter has suggested his acting career meant he didn’t address his mental health “as early as I might have”. The 30-year-old British star has been acting since he was a child, first appearing in the 2007 film Son Of Rambow. “I think for me, performance offered me something of an escape,” Poulter told the PA news agency. “For a while, maybe I wasn’t addressing some of my mental health issues as early as I might have, because I was losing myself in my work a little bit, and that’s probably quite relatable to a lot of people, whether they’re actors or not. “So it’s been a kind of blessing and a curse in that respect, if I’m being completely honest, but I’m obviously very, very grateful to have found something that ultimately I’m very passionate about and I love doing, so it nets out as being a positive and I’m grateful for it.” Poulter, who has been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder, depression and OCD, has teamed up with Movember for its 20th anniversary to raise funds and awareness of testicular cancer, prostate cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. He said his experiences with mental health have “textured my experience in a number of different ways”, and highlighted the importance of opening up. “I’ve found, certainly, that having the opportunity to talk in a kind of no-holds-barred fashion, and not to feel the kind of brunt of the stigma, has been really beneficial,” the Maze Runner star said. “I think, to a large extent, a problem shared is a problem halved… By talking to people more openly about the subject of mental health, you quickly come into contact with the idea that it’s often people that you wouldn’t necessarily assume are suffering from something. “Everyone has a mental health to consider, everyone’s dealing with something to some extent.” There's still quite an asphyxiating stigma around mental health Will Poulter He said he’s been “liberated to talk about my mental health relatively freely”, but accepted that isn’t necessarily the case for everyone. “Certainly on a societal level, there’s still quite an asphyxiating stigma around mental health. I think what Movember have long done is helped deconstruct that stigma and create a more hospitable environment for people to be able to talk about mental health.” He suggested that mental health is “especially stigmatised” in the male community. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), around three-quarters (74%) of the suicides registered in England and Wales in 2021 were men. It’s the leading cause of death in men aged 20-34. Movember also said it’s believed one in five (20%) of men in the UK aged between 16-29 experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms in 2023. The charity took on mental health and suicide prevention as a cause area in 2006, focusing on prevention, early intervention and health promotion focusing around men. Poulter, who is teaming up with Movember for the second year in a row, said he’s “very fortunate to have a lot of people in my life, both men and women, who contribute to that conversation [around mental health] very openly”, but accepted there’s still a way to go. “It often requires a lot of courage on behalf of the person who’s dealing with a mental health issue to speak up. What I think we have to work towards is a destigmatised society, so it isn’t such a courageous thing to do.” He continued: “When you break it down, ultimately we’re talking about an organ, or talking about taking care of your body. When you think about it like that, to think there’s so much stigmatisation around talking about taking care of the most vital organ in your body, it seems kind of bizarre – but that is the situation we find ourselves in.” Poulter said he always tries to “think about it in those terms”, and talk about it like that with “people in my own household and those nearest and dearest to me”. He added: “It’s always fascinated me that physical health, largely speaking, doesn’t have the same stigma surrounding it. People talk about physical health more freely than they do mental health.” Movember is an annual event where people grow moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of a variety of men’s issues, and 2023 marks 20 years since the charity was founded in a pub in Melbourne, Australia, by two friends. Portrait photographer Rankin has teamed up with Movember to photograph people including Poulter, ex-Arsenal footballer Jermaine Pennant, TV presenters Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling, and members of boyband Busted. Poulter is an ambassador of Movember, united to take on mental health, suicide, prostate and testicular cancers. See Movember.com. For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Read More 5 of the hottest new perfume launches for autumn/winter Consistent lack of sleep may increase risk of future depressive symptoms – study World Osteoporosis Day: The risk factors and early warning signs everyone needs to know about How to support a child with a stammer From colourful gowns to drones, these wedding trends are set take over 2024 Call The Midwife ‘should come with a health warning’
2023-10-20 17:54

Tito's is trolling canned cocktails with a $200 empty keg
Tito's Handmade Vodka is elevating its war against canned cocktails.
2023-06-21 20:27
You Might Like...

Baidu Among First Firms to Win China Approval for AI Models

Microsoft Is Testing a Windows 11 Energy Saver Mode

What's the Best iPad to Buy in 2023?

UK shop price inflation strikes new record high: BRC

New tech boosts Dutch drive for sustainable farming

Australia's Coles flags modest start to fiscal 2024; 2023 profit rises

5 ChatGPT plugins that do what they promise

Think morals are declining? So has everyone, ever, study says