There’s enough to worry about when you invite friends over for dinner, what with half a dozen different dietary requirements and the constant panic that you’re going to run out of wine. So the last thing you need to concern yourself with is picking out the right soundtrack.
Dinner party music is a tricky one to get right. It has a supporting role, it’s not the main feature, needing to strike the right balance between mellow background tunes and something that will suitably impress your company (or at least keep them from running for the door straight after the main course is served.) And no you can’t just stick on Air or the xx and be done with the whole thing.
We're here to help, however, with a dinner party playlist that should last you for a two-and-a-half-hour get together. After that, you're on your own. Enjoy!
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I got engaged a year ago and what a year it’s been. I was in a state of shock for the first couple of months, shrugging nonchalantly if anyone asked me about my dress or the venue (which people do, immediately) and running into restaurant bathrooms when our parents brought up the guestlist. It took about six months for it to sink in, and for me to start visualising how everything might come together. When there are so many details (vegan options, save the date font, napkins...) you really have to strain to see the bigger picture, of, you know, the greatest day of your life.
In a bid to make my life easier (and yours, reader brides) I have been diligently foresting pearls of wisdom from my wonderful friends – brides and brides to be – of all the things they wished they had known at the start. Crucially, the most important thing I learnt was to unlearn everything I'd previously been told, because there are some traditions you’ll love and want to keep, but so many others that you’ll discover are totally irrelevant to you. Lose anything that doesn’t feel real to you. There is a whole industry built around weddings, which does capitalise on the pressure everyone feels to make this the most perfect day ever, so just do you and remember it's about throwing the best party you’ll ever attend.
1.Be open minded about where you can find a dress
One of the main traditions associated with finding your wedding dress is trying on lots of dresses in fancy boutiques and promptly bursting into 'it's so beautiful/ I'm so beautiful' tears when you find 'the one.' (Remember you've already found the one!) If you’re not worried about skipping this TV wedding ritual, you’ll be surprised how many great options you can find online. That’s right, online. I bought my dress from a U.S. brand online whilst my friend Caley (a fashion buyer) bought hers from Net a Porter.
“I was looking at a lot of traditional, boho inspired dresses but when I tried them on I knew they didn’t feel right. Then one day browsing online I saw ‘the one’, not traditional at all, but perfect for the venue as I am getting married in a town hall, so I can be a bit untraditional. I thought I would really feel like I was missing out on the whole trying the dress on phase but knowing that I love the dress I have, this doesn’t bother me. I am actually relieved there is less fuss.” Caley, 29, Fashion Buyer
Illustration by Mallory Heyer
2.Avoid Pinterest like the plague
When you're trying to visualise how everything will come together, it's important to think about who you are as a couple. Try to build your personalities, quirks and passions into the day. A scroll through Pinterest can completely distract and bombard you with (probably unattainable) imagery of other peoples’ days. It’s like that phrase: “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” Well, have your own wedding, everyone else’s is taken.
“The 'so much choice' is the hardest part. When you start looking, there are literally thousands of magazines, Pinterest boards and wedding suppliers that it becomes very overwhelming. My advice to any newly engaged person is to ignore it: don't go to wedding fairs, don't read magazines and don't look at Pinterest otherwise you will second guess every decision you make.” Alison, 30, Accountant
Illustration by Mallory Heyer
3.Be under no illusion, it can cost a ton of money
It’s really tricky to do a wedding on a budget. Nobody sets out to spend silly money – it just adds up really quickly. My friends and I agreed that the only way you could do a wedding on a shoestring was by going to a registry office and then the pub whilst your friends take the photos.
Acknowledge at the beginning that you need to know your budget, and prioritise what’s important to you. For me, it’s the food, but it could be a special venue, doing it somewhere amazing abroad or hell, a pair of Miu Miu’s. A great tip I learnt from a friend's wedding is losing the starter or pudding can help bring down the cost of a caterer and you can allocate it to more important things, such as booze!
Illustration by Mary Galloway
4.Book early and don’t forget to get it filmed
The first two things worth booking are the venue and the catering. Everything else can wait. A number of people have also said how important it is to get your wedding filmed – that it can feel like an unnecessary cost (particularly if you have a photographer) but it’ll be something you look back on and treasure.
“It’s crazy how quickly all the good stuff gets booked up. We were being very laid back at first but when we started to enquire, loads of our first choice venues were fully booked for two years in advance! But, at the same time there is SO MUCH choice that sometimes it is easier to make decisions when faced with only a few options. We actually found our dream venue because it meant we had to search harder for the hidden gems.” Charlie, 25, Freelance Writer
Illustration by Mallory Heyer
5.Don’t lose sight of the goal
“I wish I had known how great it would be to have the bond – that marriage would be the greatest foundation for what was to come, and to do it sooner.” Kathryn, 28, Mother of two
When you’re getting a bit stressed out or feeling overwhelmed, instead of running to blogs, forums and bloody Instagram, get help from the person you are marrying; you’re in this together.
Illustration by Mary Galloway
6.Perfect that photo face
My job means I’m very much used to being behind the camera and running around in the background. When I asked my friend Sugar about her advice for the big day, she told me nothing will prepare you for all the people taking photographs of you and that it’s really important to learn to relax, be calm and smile! I’m not really sure how you’re supposed to prepare for this; I have already managed to chip a tooth...
Illustration by Anna Sudit
7.Everyone has an opinion
A big learning curve for everyone I have spoken to was learning how to thoughtfully manage all the opinions coming your way. By opinions I mean your next-door neighbour, work colleagues you haven’t seen in five years, Auntie Mildred, Uncle Fred; everyone has Very Important Wedding Advice to impart. So learn to smile, and say thank you, safe in the knowledge that you don’t have to actually follow any of it.
“My main piece of advice would be to take everyone else's opinion and advice with a pinch of salt. Confide in the people who will be honest with you and try to be as relaxed as possible. At the end of the day you are marrying the love of your life so you don't want to be worn out and stressed, just excited.” Emma, 35, Fashion Executive
“The people who you really care about will always support you and wedding planning is stressful enough without unimportant people making snide comments about your choice in venue or ceremony style.” Sarah, 28 , Project Manager
Illustration by Anna Sudit
8. You can’t speak to everyone on the big day (waaaah) so accept this
“Something that I found tricky was that no matter how hard I tried to be the perfect host, I wasn't be able to talk to all 120 guests as much as I felt I had to or wanted to. After all, it's only one day and I still wanted to be able to enjoy myself with my favourite family and friends, rather than sit chatting to a great aunt I hadn't seen for a year. I'd say it's important to try to get a balance but don't feel guilty, and try to share the load with your new husband.” Suzanna, 29, Rehabilitation Officer
Illustration by Shawna Huang
9.Forget all the rules when it comes to bridesmaid dresses
Bridesmaid dresses can seem like a challenge, trying to find something that will work alongside the bride’s dress.
“My final perplexing issue has been my bridesmaid dresses. I have five beautiful ladies accompanying me down the aisle but they all have totally different styles, skin colours, hair colours and body shapes that it is literally impossible to put them in the same dress. I want them all to feel amazing and conformable on the day so I have said they can find their own dresses in a similar colour which actually saves me a lot of stress! I found out recently that traditionally the bride and bridesmaids all wore the same to protect the bride from jealous ex-suitors and evil spirits so I think I’ll be safe to let them wear what they want!” Alison, 30, Accountant
Illustration by Anna Sudit
10.Finally, don’t worry about what you can’t change
“…the weather, if a table decoration or a vase is slightly wonky, or if your Aunties aren’t loving the Bieber on the dancefloor. It doesn’t matter as long as you are having fun. Make sure you have the right people around you on the day to absorb any logistical tasks and make sure you appoint a master of ceremonies that you trust to keep everything on track.” Sophie, 23, Radio Producer
Illustration
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The DJ world is a boys club. Line ups are dominated by men and the Resident Advisor Top 100 poll of 2015 featured just nine women (none of whom are in the top ten.) But, at last, the tide is turning. Female artists such as The Black Madonna and Honey Dijon are, deservedly, getting a lot of hype right now and fast becoming the must-see acts of the summer. They're outspoken, talented and extremely experienced music selectors. But why has it taken so long?
Well, there are a few ways of looking at it. One is you take the traditional [read: inherently sexist] view that girls don't like technical things. Being a producer these days (which is how many DJs get their gigs) involves sitting on your own in a room, spending hours on a computer, often making music using very nerdy software. In many ways, it's no different to being a programmer, which historically has been a very male pursuit.
The other point is that electronic music is a massive patriarchy and perhaps a lot of women get intimidated out of it by men. As one male DJ said: "Men are really competitive with their knowledge and you often hear them questioning whether women have made their own music or got someone else to do it for them." With attitudes like this, it's no wonder women are put off from entering the industry.
Depressingly, there's also an expectation for women to look the part. Famous female music stars often look polished – they have a team of make-up artists and stylists. DJs, however, are constantly appearing in front of crowds of people having not slept and living out of a suitcase. It's not like being a pop star; you don't have a dressing room. Most DJs are on their own. As the unnamed DJ said: "If I show up at a gig, looking like shit, the promoters say, 'oh you legend, you had a big one'. I don't think it's like that for women." Similarly, as Marea Stamper, aka The Black Madonna, says, there are also practical concerns she encounters as a woman that make her feel unsafe. When she’s in a club, she says she has to watch her drink and she fears herself or girlfriends being touched inappropriately. Plus, working nights in cities she doesn’t know means she is always wondering if her ride back to the hotel will be safe. "There are just some factual things about working in this industry that all women have to face," she says.
However, despite the negativity (or perhaps because of it?) the women that have become successful female producers and DJs out there are really breaking the mould. It may have taken some of them longer to get where they are today, working in clubs, and running radio shows, but we think it's worth the wait. Here's the lowdown on the current crop of U.S. female DJs making it big in Europe.
Camea
One of the underground’s most consistently respected talents, the Seattle native is also a classical trained jazz pianist and music instrument extraordinaire. She left Brooklyn for Berlin in 2007 and her career took off after she started her own record label, the illustrious minimal and techno label, Clink Recordings. She frequently plays at Berghain's Panorama Bar and she's recently turned her attention back to her role as label head having taken a few years out to concentrate on studio work and gigging. Watch this space for more new releases this year.
The Chicago native is one of the few DJs in recent years to defy pigeon-holing. She grew up in the 1970s on the South Side of Chicago and by the age of 12 she was sneaking into clubs with the permission of her music-loving parents (and under the condition she kept up with her schoolwork) before eventually making a name for herself on the underground scene in New York. She draws from a wide repertoire of musical styles (techno, house and disco, for starters) and produces and has releases on Classic Records. She also has a radio show on Boiler Room. As well as being a must-see DJ, she's a transgender woman and a style icon. She's featured in Vogue Italia's 'look of the day', made music for the Louis Vuitton runway and been featured in a film by the legendary Antony Hegarty.
Kentucky's Marea Stamper isn't just a DJ. She's the talent buyer for Chicago's Smart Bar, one of the best clubs in North America, a successful producer and the 37th best DJ in the world, according to the RA poll. She's also a vocal feminist, an outspoken advocate for the gay community and a strong believer in offender rehabilitation. Stamper left school at 16 to work in the music industry and sell mixtapes, before returning to education when she was in her 20s. While trying to make it as a DJ, she worked as a copywriter and an assistant in a club. It took her 15 years to become the now massive success she is today and it couldn't be more richly deserved.
The Philadelphia producer is the latest signing to the feminist DJ collective and booking agency, Discwoman, which has played a part in helping her, and other young women like her, break into the music industry. She's a big deal on Philly's club and art scene and her latest track "Birds of Paradise " will make your day.
For a lot of us, Easter marks the real beginning of spring, no matter what the calendar says.
And celebrities are feeling the change, too! We’ve gathered some of the gorgeous and inspiring ways that our favorite celebrities and fashion people are celebrating the holiday.
As the unofficial start of the season, Easter's always full of springtime colors and sunshiny activities. From eggs hunts to Easter baskets, it's time to get out and welcome the warmth! Like us, it looks like a lot of celebrities have a case of spring fever.
Whether you’re celebrating it for its Christian meaning, its Pagan roots, or just because there’s no good reason to turn down bunny-shaped chocolate, it’s always a good time for an egg-based holiday.
Emma Roberts is all about bunnies, flowers, and puns this Easter.
Photo: Via @Emmaroberts.
The baby Kardashians were as cute as little bunnies in this #TBT posted by mom Kris.
Photo: Via @KrisJenner.
Naomi Watts did not skimp on her eggffort.
Photo: Via @Naomiwatts.
Barbie brought her best bun to the party!
Photo: Via @Barbie.
Jessica Capshaw of Grey's Anatomy shows off her egg-cellent design skills.
Photo: Via @Jessicapshaw.
No yolk here — we're not at all surprised that Reese Witherspoon would make some beautiful watercolor eggs.
Photo: Via @Reesewitherspoon.
Hey, Britney! This was actually for Good Friday. I guess the yolk's on us.
Photo: Via @Britneyspears.
Jaime King brought the four chocolate bunnies of the ahopalypse.
@Jamie_king
Zac Posen made these delish looking chocolate cupcakes with his niece for the holiday.
Photo: Via @Zacposen
Little Everly Dewan-Tatum was probably Peeping with excitement on her early Easter egg hunt!
Photo: Via @jennaldewan.
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A scientific study about our senses of touch and sight might explain a lot about our unconscious make-out habits, even if that's not necessarily what it set out to do. For their study, published last week in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, University of London researchers Sandra Murphy and Polly Dalton did not make a bunch of their test subjects kiss each other in a lab. They did, however, find out why we close our eyes when we want to focus on another sense; including touch.
Subjects were asked to pay attention to a screen with flashing letters. Then, they were asked to indicate whether they saw the letter X or N and whether they felt a vibration sent to their left or right hand while watching for the letters. When they were presented with a "high" visual load (a lot of confusing letters to make the visual task more difficult), they were significantly less likely to detect the vibration than when they had a lower visual load.
What this finding means is that an increase in visual stimuli makes you less sensitive to touch.
But what about the kissing thing? "These results could explain why we close our eyes when we want to focus attention on another sense," Dalton told The Independent. We assume the opposite might be true if you're on a bad date; keeping your eyes open and looking around at the scenery could help you take your mind off a terrible kiss.
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On Easter Sunday, Kanye West released a new song called "Ultralight Prayer." It samples a powerful sermon from gospel singer Kirk Franklin.
In true surprise-release fashion, he dropped the track on Soundcloud and announced it an hour later in a nondescript tweet along with an Easter greeting.
Those who have listened to West's Life of Pablo will recognize the two-minute track as an extended version of the sermon sampled in the album's opener, "Ultralight Beam." R & B artist Kelly Price's soulful singing can also be heard in both tracks. Kanye has mentioned that the album is a work in progress and this appears to be his latest tweak.
Kanye recently performed the longer "Ultralight Beam," which also features a sample from a 4-year-old girl, on Saturday Night Live along with Franklin and Price.
“Father, this prayer’s for everyone that feels they’re not good enough," Franklin's speech opens. "This prayer’s for everyone that feels they’re too messed up, for everyone that feels they say ‘I’m sorry’ too many times. Let them know that’s why you took the nail, so we could have eternal life.”
We're glad Kanye's in a giving mood this Easter. Get yourself a listen, below.
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We all know what a nightmare flying can be. But now, Airbus has revealed plans for a new plane that's customer-approved.
According to Mashable, Airbus revealed its new cabin design, called Airspace, in London last week. And the aircraft manufacturer credited the internet for inspiring their designers and vocalizing what changes they wanted to see in a plane cabin.
"[Customers], through social media, are...comparing one airline versus another, they're comparing one seat versus another,” said Dr. Kiran Rao, executive vice president of strategy and marketing at Airbus, told Mashable. “They're comparing the experience they have from one airline to another. That is what has driven the change from what we've done in the past.”
That's right, all that tweeting, sharing, and snapchatting got through to the people at Airbus and they used the feedback for their new design.
Airbus’s new A330neo aircraft is set to launch in 2017. It offers more space, including wider seats as standard and no under-seat control boxes for the in-flight entertainment system — which means more legroom!
The layout and design of the cabin has been made more modular, so each airline can customize the layout of their planes, which should mean wider aisles that aren’t taken over by lavatories and trollies.
The planes will offer improved built-in broadband connectivity, so passengers can use their phones and tablets, and even make calls and send text messages. There's also more room for luggage overhead and the Airspace also has mood lighting and environmental settings, so passengers will be less disoriented after flights.
Every airline that purchases an Airspace can customize it, so planes may not look exactly like the concept images here, but very well could.
Check out Airbus's video promo for Airspace, below. Keep sharing your thoughts on how plane travel could be better, it's obviously making a difference!
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What a rush! All week long, expressive Mercury will zing through Aries, charging up every conversation with energy and excitement. Forget what your mum told you about talking to strangers. Meeting new people — even sharing quick bits of conversation with random passersby — will be exhilarating. The only trouble is, we can be a little too quick to label people as amazing or to write them off as not worth our time. First impressions do count, but seeing people in a variety of situations is what will truly reveal their character. With solid Saturn trading friendly fire with Mercury on Tuesday, we'll get another nudge to branch out. Saturn is touring Sagittarius, the sign that rules international affairs and cross-cultural connections. Time to tear down those Trump-sized walls and mingle with people from different backgrounds.
On Thursday, Mercury syncs up with future-forward Uranus, sounding the call for change. Do you see an opportunity to make your corner of the world a better place? With both planets in innovative Aries, creative ideas for doing so will flow freely. But practice a little anger management along with the activism. There's nothing wrong with getting fired up for a cause! But Aries is also the warrior sign — basic disagreements could turn into raging battles if we forget to breathe.
Aries
You're a force to be reckoned with this week, Aries, as unfiltered Mercury cruises through your sign. The words coming out of your mouth could surprise you, even! And while you'll fire off some Tweetable one-liners, you'll have more than just witty barbs to spout. With solid Saturn in your philosophical ninth house, you could type up a personal manifesto or a searing op-ed, or even shoot a viral video. Your leadership skills come to the fore, too, so don't hesitate to hop into the captain's seat. People will appreciate your energetic, visionary brand of direction!
On Thursday, your independent spirit is ignited as rebellious Uranus meets up with Mercury. Liberate yourself from situations that are draining your energy or zapping your time without a proper ROI. Warning: Even though you've been dissatisfied for a while, your departure might seem sudden in their eyes. Try to make a graceful exit so you don't turn future allies into enemies. In other words, Aries, tie up loose ends and finish up projects so you don't leave people in the lurch. Remember: Just because it's new and exciting, doesn't make it better. Weigh your options carefully before you "upgrade." Wherever you go, there you are.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Taurus
Your intuition is off the charts this week, Taurus, as Mercury weaves through your esoteric 12th house. Pay attention to subtle signals, like body language, which can say tons more than the words coming out of anyone's mouth. In fact, what people aren't saying could be more telling than anything. If you sense something is amiss, conduct your own private investigation. What you turn up could surprise you or bring a flood of relief. Either way, it's better to find out sooner than later. The muse could drop by for a hangout, too, so don't overbook your schedule. When creativity strikes, you'll do your best work in private.
Shoo away the energy vampires in the second half of the week. You know who they are, Taurus — the ones who come to you with constant complaints and cries for help, yet consistently repeat the same self-defeating mistakes. Unless they're planning to pony up a therapist's fee for your time, hashing out their problems should not be such a core concern for you. It's time to put better boundaries in place. Think of it as "cruel to be kind." By pushing people to empower themselves (instead of rushing in for the save), they'll grow stronger and more independent: a true win-win.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Gemini
You reap what you sow, Gemini, and all those friendly vibes you've been spreading around town are about to pay off! With your ruling planet Mercury spinning through your social 11th house, your popularity is rising like Kim Kardashian's post-pregnancy hemlines. Friends have been forever inviting you to join them in activities. This week, let your answer be a clear, simple yes! Near Tuesday, you could even meet your "other half" through this social experimentation. If you're in a relationship, socialising together as a pair will strengthen your bond. Join forces and plan a party. Watching your respective friend groups mingle will be fascinating. Single Gems could plan a successful gathering this week, too — a chance to introduce all the fabulous people you know to each other.
In the second half of the week, however, you'll want to break away from any crews that have become too cliquey; or at least create some breathing room. Liberated Uranus joins forces with Mercury, reminding you that you can be a free agent and a card-carrying member of a group. (Such is the paradox of being a Gemini, right?) By the same token, make sure you're giving the VIPs in your world enough attention. You don't want to spread yourself so thin that the ones you adore get shuffled to the back burner. Eccentric artists, freethinking intellectuals, and inspiring activists will attract you, so veer away from "dinner and a movie" this weekend and go explore some intriguing new crowds.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Cancer
Business cards? Check! With expressive Mercury charging through your career zone all week, you could make some killer connections. Treat every moment like a networking opportunity. Hey, you never know who might be waiting next to you for their morning espresso. Seek out industry events, too, so you put yourself in the influencer's direct line of fire. Not sure how to get your peep-toe in the door? Try volunteering at a charitable event, which fuels your natural desire to care for your fellow humans and allows you to rub shoulders with caring VIPs. At work, offer to assist on a special project, even if it means putting in a few extra hours. Think of it as an investment in your future contact database. After all, it really is all about who you know.
Your relationship with an important guy could hit a rough patch near Thursday, when Mercury locks horns with erratic Uranus. If he does something that pisses you off, it would be easy to explode. And let's be honest, you can store up a lot of ammunition, Crab! And while you may be justifiably angry, that's no excuse for hitting homeboy below the belt. Grab your yoga mat then meet a levelheaded friend to dissect over dinner, post asanas. We teach people how to treat us, Cancer, and there's a good chance you spoiled this dude. Yes, you need to switch up your game, but you don't have to punish him in the process.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Leo
Festival season is ramping up — and not a moment too soon for you, Leo! Sitting still will not be easy as frenetic Mercury whips through Aries and your ninth house of travel and worldly adventures. Should you find yourself looking into road trips or starting a "Solange Style" board on Pinterest, we wouldn't be surprised. Let your bohemian side take the wheel, but remember that old adage: When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. With stern Saturn angling Mercury early this week, you might not be able to jet off on a spontaneous getaway. But you can start sorting out the details so you can slip off strategically, like this savvy traveller who backpacks around the world without threatening the stability of her full-time job. You could travel in the figurative sense, too. This week could bring romantic or creative chemistry with someone of a different cultural background, a good reason to meet friends for drinks at a cool hotel bar.
Use your words wisely in the second half of the week. With rebellious Uranus meeting Mercury on Thursday, dropping uncensored truth bombs could so some serious damage to your important relationships. Even if you're just trying to be helpful, keep critiques to yourself unless your honest opinion is asked for. Lightening the mood with humour might not be appropriate in every situation, either. As hard as it is to keep those tips and quips to yourself, Leo, if the mood is stressful, silence is golden.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Virgo
Start practicing that smoky cat eye, Virgo. You're in #MinxMode this week as flirty Mercury (your ruling planet) slinks through your erotic eighth house. But where to beam those seductive charms? Chasing after the elusive bad boy or girl is a serious waste of time. Stable Saturn casts a vote for the nice guys on Tuesday and you could discover that this is not at all synonymous with boredom. For all you know, that hottie in the blue oxford could be "tame in the streets, a tiger in the sheets." Let those sparks ignite. Already spoken for? Your bond could settle into a blissfully predictable groove. As someone who craves a steady rhythm in relationships, this will feel like sweet relief. Topics on the table could include moving in together, introducing each other to close friends or parents, or planning your first major couples' vacay.
Keeping the green-eyed monster in check won't be easy in the second half of the week. You'll be feeling extra possessive then, but may be prone to rash behaviour, too. Maybe that really is your crush's childhood friend hugging 'em in the uncaptioned 'gram. Jumping to conclusions is a little too easy, so get the facts before you react. You may be surprised by the strength of your own feelings, too, so pay attention. Someone's had more of an effect on you that you realised — and that connection could very well be worth pursuing.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Libra
You're a die-hard romantic, Libra, but here's a tough fact: Sometimes, love is not enough. Without a shared sense of security and commitment, it's hard for you to relax and drop your guard. This week, messenger Mercury dances through your committed relationship house, making you think about your deep-down needs from a partner. And hey, that goes for both pleasure and business. Friendship, too. Before you join forces with anyone, it's important to check in: Are you on the same page about core values? Do you want similar things from life...or at least for the next year or two? And how openly can you communicate? It's easy to get caught in the pleaser trap, showing your best side and avoiding disagreement at all costs. Unfortunately, hiding your true self can do more damage to a bond than an argument can. Circumstances this week will push you to open up and voice your opinions — yes, even the ones that may divide you from your "other half." Dare to differentiate, Libra. This could actually create more chemistry that being agreeable ever has.
On Thursday, Mercury syncs up with community-spirited Uranus. Make your motto "the more the merrier" for the second half of the week. Someone you meet at a group hangout could be the missing puzzle piece in your life. A mutual friend could play accidental Cupid by inviting one of her amazing pals to tag along for your Friday night fun. Just stay open, Libra. The kindness of "strangers" could make you swoon.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Scorpio
Sedentary Scorpios, rise from your chairs! Restless Mercury pings through your healthy living sector this week, ordering you to move your body. And we're not just talking about standing up for an hourly stretch. With structure-hound Saturn in cahoots with Mercury, it's time to create a legit routine for yourself. If 90-minute hot yoga sessions or CrossFit cult status is not a fit with your schedule, don't worry. Shorter, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has proven benefits, even for 20 to 30 minutes. To succeed at this mission, remove all randomisation from the process. (And maybe motivate yourself with a new pair of yoga pants.) Pick a minimum of three weekly time slots that you'll devote to exercise. If you belong to a studio, commit to a few classes you'll attend as a regular. If you're already a fitness addict, try mixing things up a bit, so you're working new muscle groups. Mix a spin class in with your Pilates or some weight training in with your sun salutations. Your energy levels will soar and so will your sex drive — always a plus for your erotically inclined sign.
Do some laps around the office while you're at it. On Thursday, communal Uranus syncs up with Mercury, reminding you that there is no "I" in "team." Chit-chatting with coworkers is a smart strategy, especially if you've been feeling overburdened with responsibilities or just dreading going to work each day. The social aspect of your job is one of its benefits. But if you're not feeling the company's culture, this might be the week to start circulating your CV and making your exit strategy. As a sensitive Scorpio, you are affected by the company you keep.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Sagittarius
You're a full-on maximalist this week, Sagittarius — zero fucks given. With messenger Mercury setting off sparks in Aries and your flamboyant fifth house, your bold statements could be wildly applauded. But you're not just here to be "the entertainment." Wise Saturn (which is touring Sagittarius and your first house of self-image until December 2017) syncs up with Mercury this week, helping you streamline and strategise. Don't waste your gifts on an unappreciative — or undeserving — audience. Aim high with your efforts and target people who are actually a great fit for your talents. The right ones will warm up to you quickly and fire back with their own brand of awesomeness. By the time the week is through, you could be rolling with a squad of kindred spirits and even drawing some public recognition.
Romantically, the week could bring some highs, along with a few unexpected surprises. A secret crush could be revealed or you could blurt out your feelings to the one you've been adoring from a distance. Warning: Don't play with fire unless you're ready to tend to the blazes. With unpredictable Uranus meeting Mercury on Thursday, you'll be especially susceptible to the temptation of a dangerous liaison. Find a healthy outlet for your mojo, like planning an adventurous date with your honey or kicking off the weekend one day early with an epic night of dancing.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Capricorn
Give your inner circle top billing on your schedule this week, Capricorn. With messenger Mercury weaving through your home and family zone, you'll crave the company of people who let you drop your guard and love you unconditionally. If it's time to bury the hatchet with a close friend or relative, plan a heart-to-heart on (or near) Tuesday. That day, your ruling planet, measured and mature Saturn, will lend extra support for healing and forgiveness. But that doesn't mean sweeping problems under the rug. The key to these conversations' success is to take a non-blaming approach. Try making direct requests and using "I language," rather than the finger-pointing "you." For example, "I'd really love to spend more quality time together" will likely yield better results than, "You never invite me to hang out anymore." Get it?
There could be a few shakeups on the home front, too, especially on Thursday, when unpredictable Uranus meets up with Mercury for the day. If you're ready to scout out new digs, you could radar in on the perfect roommates, or even find a place that's all your own. Practice a little anger management when a loved one pushes your buttons. Firing off an unfiltered retort could do more damage than you think. Communal Uranus could also inspire you to play host, so get your Top Chef on and send out invites for a weekend dinner party or movie night.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Aquarius
Hello, super-connector! The planets appoint you "crew glue" this week, so take it upon yourself to bring all the fabulous people you know together. You don't have to spend hours cleaning up your apartment and whipping up a blog-worthy dinner party spread. A laid-back hang at your favourite local bar will be just fine. Some Aquarians will feel the urge to expand your social influence. Get involved in a group activity, spring-summer sports league, or even an activist cause that speaks to your soul. The friends you meet through these extracurriculars could become lifelong pals.
In the second half of the week, you'll be challenged to speak up for your values. With Mercury connecting to your ruler, principled and progressive Uranus, you just can't sit back and watch injustices happen. This could be tricky, as you may be the odd woman out in the crowd. But don't get swept along in groupthink! If you feel strongly about a topic, let your voice be heard. You could open people's minds to an important perspective — or at least get a dialogue going that helps everyone negotiate a compromise.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
Pisces
Who says money is a taboo topic? With expressive Mercury weaving through your finance zone all week, get the conversations flowing about cold, hard cash. Your curiosity could lead to an income spike, so don't be shy about asking management about growth opportunities or positions opening up within the company. Or, if you know it's time to start looking around elsewhere, this is the week to start searching in earnest. Beyond that, grill your fiscally savvy friends about their savings strategies. Burning faster than your earning doesn't have to be your fate. You may decide to close up most (if not all) of your credit cards and transferring all the balances to a low-interest loan. The stress of debt can weigh on you, but you don't have to be stuck there, Pisces. Enlist a financial planner or check out The Daily Worth to start maximising your money mojo.
Get out in nature in the second half of the week! You could use some wide open spaces to clear your head. Plus, the budding trees and bright tulips will be a great reminder that the best things in life are free. Gather up some branches for a DIY home decor project, like a necklace hanger or chandelier. Depending on the climate you live in, you might even take your workouts al fresco. A weekend hike with your friends can be an adventurous way to get in those 10,000 (or more) steps.
Illustrated by John Lisle. Photographed by Christine Hahn.
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A photo posted by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on
It was a camping trip like any other, except it was Justin Bieber's camping trip and it included sharing an Instagram of his, ahem, full moon.
On Saturday, Bieber posted some Instagrams of himself in the wild. The Biebs slept outdoors, as seen above (or, at least, he posed outdoors in a sleeping bag), communed with nature in the snow-covered woods, and gazed lovingly over a lake. But he wasn't just gazing, he was gazing in the buff. Nude. Fully unclothed. White skin visible and only made glaringly more so against the dark blue waters of some very lovely lake.
For reasons only he can fathom, he had someone take a photo of him au naturel and shared it on Instagram. It was not his first Insta-butt shot and we'd wager that it is unlikely to be his last. It may be his most natural, however. Enjoy.
On Saturday night, Lady Gaga celebrated her 30th birthday with a slew of celebrities, reports People.
Gaga, who officially turns 30 on Monday, arrived in a gold, sequined mini dress with her fiancé, Taylor Kinney. The party was held at the at the No Name Club in West Hollywood.
The guest list included Taylor Swift, Kate Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Lana Del Ray, and several others.
According to Us Weekly, Nick Jonas arrived later in the evening. Meanwhile, John Legend and a very pregnant Chrissy Teigen stopped by in the early hours of the party.
The best part of the evening? A special performance by Lady Gaga for her guests, according to E! News. The evening ended with Gaga's celebrity friends singing "Happy Birthday" to the lady of the hour.
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In an Instagram world of overly curated feeds and an eternal quest for perfection, Snapchat has emerged as a seriously welcome, if not at first slightly confusing, move into realness.
Once considered the domain of young people sending saucy pictures and unflattering selfies to their friends, safe in the knowledge the image would disappear instantly, the app now boasts over 100 million daily active users and over eight billion daily views.
It’s easy to see why: it’s quick to use, has fun filters, is a lot more real than Instagram, less argumentative than Twitter and less annoying than Facebook. With one little swipe you're immediately exposed to the behind the scenes lives of anyone you choose to follow.
And with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Anna Wintour and even the White House recently joining Snapchat’s ranks, it seems like, love it or hate it, it isn’t going anywhere.
Yvan Rodic, best known as photographer Facehunter, has made his name by leveraging his social media prowess. So it's only natural that his latest venture is a full service agency built solely around Snapchat.
‘A Little Nation’, as the agency is so aptly called, is an attempt to help brands embrace the Snapchat revolution with strategy, creative concepts, production and analytics for any Snapchat-centric project. Indeed, because no pre-produced content can be uploaded on the app, everything has to be created live, which requires a custom-made strategy.
Having already helped launch Emilio Pucci’s Snapchat at Milan Fashion Week with the help of Susie Bubble, we asked Yvan for some tips on how best to Snap (is it a verb, yet?) If you're gonna do it, you might as well do it right... right?
Be A Caricature Of Yourself
DJ Khaled is probably the best example of this. “I think what’s interesting about him is he’s created this character who is quite genuine, but who is almost a caricature of himself,” explains Rodic. “It’s like personal marketing; if you have your own special identity and your own jargon and words, that’s something that will appear naturally… People get addicted to a bit of repetition; it’s like a song that you sometimes need to listen to 10 times before you like it. Once you get someone’s vibe if you don’t hate them, you’ll probably love them.”
Don’t Try Too Hard
That said – don’t be a dick about it. “It’s good to show your life but some people make it seem easy and natural and cool while some people are trying too hard to show you that they’re privileged and it just feels so obnoxious,” says Rodic. “The key point is to be yourself. There’s enough social media where you can create and curate an image, but on Snapchat I think it’s good to let yourself go.”
Tell A Story
Narrative is good, as are things that make viewers feel they’re going through your day with you. Adding times and things like music. “I like to tell a story that has an atmosphere,” he says. “If you were to watch a movie without a soundtrack, I don’t think it would be quite the same movie.”
Give People Access To A New World
OK so maybe you’re not chilling backstage at the shows or travelling the world every other day, but if you give people access to a lifestyle or places that they may not otherwise have access to, they’ll want to watch.
Don’t ShowEverything
Yes the awesome thing about Snapchat is that it’s real and in the moment and unedited but that doesn’t mean you have to capture every single moment of your day. “Curate but don’t over curate,” explains Yvan. “It’s okay if you don’t speak for six hours. People won’t miss you.”
Keep It Interesting
“I try to balance it out and be aware of the diversity of the looks of the snaps,” he adds. This can be achieved by making sure you’re not snapping the same frame 20 times in a row, and by using things like filters, adding text, doodles etc.
And if all else fails…
Be Famous
“There are lots of people who generate so much fascination that even if the narrative is poor, people will still watch. If you’re Kim Kardashian, even if you post bad pictures, people will still be obsessed with you.”
Today, Lady Gaga is doing something really outrageous: She's turning 30.
It's hard to imagine what the dirty 30s will have in store for the pop star, but we imagine it will involve Taylor Kinney, Ryan Murphy, and continued exploration into the world of fashion. Hopefully, it will also include more music videos, because, as this article proves, Gaga does them really, really well.
Who could forget the polar bear pelts and rodent headgear? Why has it been so long since she and Beyoncé have teamed up? Is it too late to audition to be a backup dancer?
The Little Monsters may be split over whether "Alejandro" beats out "Paparazzi," but we've watched them all and have come out with a few clear favourites. Now, we just need Gaga to make the competition more stiff by dropping some new vids on Vevo.
Behold, the Gaga videos we love the most, plus a few we don't. Warning: Major product placement ahead.
YEAH: "Telephone" ft. Beyoncé (2010)
Whoever decided to have Beyoncé drive the Pussy Wagon from Kill Bill deserves a very large raise. Speaking of which, this epic video needs a Vol. 2.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "Bad Romance" (2009)
Armadillo heels, latex, hairless cats, and polar bear capes always go down a treat, but it's the dance moves that really demand repeat viewing. Keep watching until the very end to see Gaga canoodling in a scorched bed with a torched skeleton.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
MEH: "Yoü And I" (2011)
Yes, Gaga and future husband Taylor Kinney met on the set of this video and her male alter ego, Jo Calderone, makes an appearance; but ultimately, this one leaves us cold. Dare we say the whole Nebraska cornfield thing is too hokey?
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "Til It Happens To You" (2015)
It's difficult to compare this haunting depiction of campus sexual assault to Gaga's pop videos, but we'd remiss if we didn't include it. The song earned the singer and songwriter Diane Warren an Oscar nomination and the accompanying video has an equally powerful message.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "Paparazzi" (2009)
You had us at "Starring Alexander Skarsgård." Pity he plays such an asshole.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
MEH: "LoveGame" (2009)
Lady Gaga's videos are no stranger to product placement, but this just feels like an ad for Campari. Besides, it's never a good idea to have a guy grab your boobs on a subway car.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "G.U.Y." (2014)
The song's a bit forgettable, but the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cameos and Hearst Castle locale tip the balance.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "Poker Face" (2009)
An oldie, but a goodie. Seriously, though, it's all about the dog by the pool.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "Born This Way" (2011)
If you can get past the conceptual, artsy opening, you'll be treated to some killer choreography and badass skull makeup.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "Marry The Night" (2011)
"You may say I lost everything, but I still had my bedazzler." Gaga stretches her acting muscles in this video, giving Natalie Portman a run for her Black Swan money.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
MEH: "Edge of Glory" (2011)
Love the vintage Versace gear, but everything else is all a bit Gloria Estefan/Paula Abdul/Janet Jackson...and they did it better.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "Just Dance" (2008)
Before the slick production values and designer outfits, Gaga was just a girl gyrating in someone's den. Never forget.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
YEAH: "Applause" (2013)
Visually arresting — and it looks like Gaga is loving every second of it.
Video: Courtesy of VEVO.
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Elena* was as horrified by the deadly blasts that hit her hometown as anyone else. But it didn’t change the fact that she had a birthday – "the big 3.0” – a couple of days later. The original plan was to devote the evening to having dinner with her mum at one of Brussels’ smarter restaurants. Alas, the mother lives in another country and had to cancel her travel plans due to alerts. After some deliberation, Elena decided to spend her day as if nothing had happened. She summoned friends to eat the city’s best pizza place and later went out dancing. "They can't take away our fun," she said.
Last Tuesday, Belgium suffered from the deadliest attacks on its soil since the Second World War. According to the current count, reported by the Independent, 35 people have lost their lives. Another 340 were injured, 58 were left in a critical state.
Experts such as, Israeli professor of history, Yuval Harari, warn that reactions to terrorist attacks often wreak far greater havoc that the attacks themselves. "That’s why it’s important to put things back into a normal routine as quickly as possible”, Harari told Swedish public radio.
Europeans don’t need worry about terrorist attacks, he argues. They can do little to avoid being hit by a strike. Furthermore, that would mean falling into the terrorists’ trap – one that is intended to inspire fear.
"People were killed, but 500 million are afraid… If they start changing their behaviour, it means that their imagination has been taken captive by terrorists. This would be [the latter's] greatest success," the professor argued.
People were initially very shocked and sad... the second reaction was a big show of solidarity
Maite Morren is a councillor in Elsene, one of the city’s burrows. I ask her to weigh in on the city's reaction. ”It’s still early to draw conclusions on how the attacks will affect us. But I think that people were initially very shocked and sad. It was like they couldn’t believe it was really happening. But it was happening,” she explains. ”The second reaction was a big show of solidarity.”
Since Tuesday, hundreds of people have been gathering by the Bourse, an abandoned stock exchange building in the city centre, to pay tribute to the victims. Mourners bring flags of Belgium and their home countries as well as candles, flowers and beer – the Belgian beverage of choice. With time, their offerings have formed a makeshift memorial. As for the stairs, they quickly became a podium where anyone can promote messages of peace and unity, sing songs, distribute free hugs and read out names of other cities who recently suffered terrorist attacks.
”I come here every day to show my love for two countries,” said Salim*, a 29-year-old Algerian man who works as a house painter and has lived in Belgium for two years now. A talented draughtsman, he’s one of the people who have covered the ground below Bourse with chalk declarations.
"Brussels I love you”, "La vie est belge” (’Life is Belgian’), "Peace and Love,” – those are some of the ethereal messages scribbled in French, Dutch, English or Arabic onto the asphalt and concrete walls of the Bourse, messages which will stay until the rain washes them away.
On Friday afternoon, the Belgian philharmonic performed the European anthem, Beethoven’s "Ode to Joy", on the stairs. Local communities organised their own vigils. People who couldn’t leave their house were invited to light a candle on their windowsill.
"It’s very early to draw any conclusions, but I was positively surprised by the aftermath to the attacks,” said Rachida Aziz, a fashion designer and social entrepreneur. She spoke to Refinery29 on Sunday afternoon in her work space, located close to the Bourse.
"Saying that the attacks have had a positive impact on Brussels may sound horrible,” she adds, "but I hope that those who lost their loved ones will find comfort in the fact that the response has been a rush of solidarity rather than further divisions.”
PhotographerIsopix/REX/Shutterstock
The fact that those directly affected were able to muster some peace may seem surprising. International reactions to the bombings were anything but calm and peaceful. French president Francois Hollande said the bombings were an attack on "all of Europe". France’s prime minister Manuel Valls said that "we are at war”. US presidential hopeful Donald Trump added that Belgium and France are "disintegrating”. David Cameron claimed the UK, too, ”faces a very real terror threat”.
Authorities are still searching for other people suspected of having a role in the bombing. Since Tuesday, police has been cordoning off streets all over town. On Friday, police shot a man in the leg at a tram stop. On Sunday, thirteen raids took place over the country. Three men were charged over the weekend, reports CNN.
Finally, on Sunday afternoon it became clear that not every Belgian agrees with the show of unity that can be seen at the Bourse.
A sit-in against fear was supposed to take place there on Sunday. But the initiative was cancelled on Saturday afternoon, after Belgium’s Minister of Interior Jan Jambon and Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur appealed to the population not to come. They explained police officers were needed elsewhere.
"A government that said we shouldn’t protest against fear… that’s scary,” said Rachida Aziz. She was one of around a thousand people who decided to come anyway.
The celebrations were quickly interrupted by the sudden arrival of around 400 far-right protesters, report The Telegraph. The men, who all wore black, pushed their way through the crowds of mourners, trampled the memorial and occupied the stairs, scaring away those who were there earlier. Some were drinking beer. They roared anti-immigrant chants. Some raised their hands in Nazi salutes.
One of them identified himself to this website as Gilles Dupont. He told me they were football fans. He himself supported Anderlecht.
"We came to show that we like the west and don’t have to live by their rules”, he explained, referring to those who coordinated the attack. "They want to change the rules. They have laws, they want to be together. Are they a sect? They bomb everyone in the world and they think it’s OK. No! Everyone can speak and do whatever they want.”
He continued: "I have Muslim friends. I don’t have any problem. It’s the extremism that makes everything fucked up. That’s the big problem.”
When asked what he thought about the fact that people felt unsafe by their arrival and asked them to leave, he answered: "I can understand that. It’s impressive. But all the people have to come outside. They say on television that we cannot come outside. But we must come outside and protect our country."
A man watching this scene unfold couldn’t stop tears from falling. Some women were protesting and screaming ”fascists!” A hooligan approached them and told them to be quiet.
I was shocked to hear later that a far-right demonstration had turned up as people were mourning
Maite Morren, the councillor, wasn’t present at Bourse on Sunday as she followed the advice to stay away for security reasons. "I was shocked to hear later that a far-right demonstration had turned up as people were mourning. I am asking myself many questions about how this could have happened.”
An hour passed before police finally ended the situation by dispersing the far-right group. People applauded and seemed relieved. They didn’t know yet that authorities had known of the hooligan protests but hadn’t stopped the men from gathering. For the moment, they were relieved to have their square back. Some quickly reconquered the stairs. A bamboo whistle orchestra appeared from nowhere for a concert. A very Belgian rain fell down, and was met by applauds. Moments later, a rainbow appeared in the sky.
Elena came here too. "It was a sad, scary and stressful week but my friends helped remind me that there are many moments of joy to be found in spite of the darkness.” She thanked Brussels for being the "resistant, audacious, colourful, vibrant and eternally surprising place that not many people recognise it to be." Finally, she added: "I couldn't be happier anywhere else."
*Interviewees wished to keep their last names anonymous
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I’d been on my period for 21 days, constantly plagued by cramps that would wake me in the night, and felt like I was losing it in a way I’d never experienced before. I wanted to get a doctor face-to-face, to explain what was happening and find out how to make it better. Since I’d had the contraceptive implant – something I thought would make life more simple, everything had become so tiresome and complicated.
As I complained to friends, family and co-workers about my ongoing pain and period, it became clear that I wasn’t alone in struggling to get a contraception that suited my body. People listed endless side effects from their various contraceptions – anaemia, depression, loss of sex drive, acne, mood swings, weight gain, even a suicidal phone call to the ambulance service.
Desperate searches of my symptoms online found endless forums dedicated to the issues. With all of the various contraceptives available on the NHS, I began to wonder, how was it all going so wrong?
Months earlier when I’d popped to my doctors, having just started a new relationship, I’d just not wanted to use bloody condoms anymore. So, after a short stint on a mini-pill, I followed my doctor’s advice and got the implant. The penis-shaped bruise on the inside of my left arm was just the start of an 18-month battle to find the right contraception, one that felt like screaming into a black hole.
Things got off to a terrible start – pretty much instantly I bled so often that I began to worry that there was something seriously wrong, like HPV, with which irregular bleeding is a symptom. So instead of losing the implant, I was sent for tests. After a GP appointment and a visit to my local sexual health clinic, and weeks of phone calls (the impossibility of getting a doctor’s appointment when I needed one, at a time I could actually make, was my constant bugbear), I was finally referred to a specialist, who would check if the bleeding and cramps meant there was more to worry about than shitty contraception.
Time and time again I was told by medical professionals to “give it another month”
When long-awaited specialist-day arrived, the doctor told me the implant wasn’t great for women “my age” (30) anyway, because we should be thinking about getting pregnant and it often made women “forget” their biological clock was ticking. He did a brief sweep around my cervix to check for cancer and advised me to give the implant another three months, which foolishly I did.
Time and time again I was told by medical professionals to “give it another month” without, I felt, anyone considering what that meant day-to-day. And I'm not alone in that feeling. A survey conducted last year by Telegraph Wonder Women and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service found that 35% of women felt they were just expected to "put up" with the side effects of hormonal contraception.
This was something Kelly*, 32, experienced. She bled nearly constantly for three months when she switched to Cerelle after another pill left her so depressed she felt she couldn’t get out of bed. “The doctor just told me to complete the course when I complained about the bleeding,” she said.
“When I went to a GUM clinic instead, they were shocked I’d stuck it out for so long. I’ve finally found a pill that works for me (Gedarel) and my doctor wants me to come off it because I had a migraine on it. It’s been two years and it feels like I’m hitting a brick wall. It’s just seems like no-one knows best and it’s just trial and error – and we’re left filling our bodies with all sorts of hormones, regardless of the horrible side-effects.”
For me, my bleeds and cramps left me pale and woozy
Anyone who’s been placed on the wrong pill knows how much those "side effects" can change your life. For me, my bleeds and cramps left me pale and woozy. I drained Greater London of 19p ibuprofen. The carefree sex life I’d hoped for went out the window. I was supposed to be enjoying mini-breaks to Paris, moving in and the first flushes of grab-each-other-love… and I was, but I was doing it while crampy, moody and teary. In the glorious odd non-blood days I’d weigh up if it was ‘worth’ having sex in case it made me bleed again. I piled on more than two stone – it felt like the weight would never stop coming and stretch marks broke ground on my stomach.
The aforementioned Telegraph survey also interviewed 308 GPs. Shockingly, 50% admitted to having "poor" or "very poor" knowledge of contraceptive implants, while a third admitted they knew little about hormonal coils. Taylor*, 29, spent nine months in needless pain when her doctor ignored her complaints about her second Mirena coil.
She says: “For the first few months I was told it was ‘settling in’, so the pain I was feeling was normal. Three months later, I moved GP surgeries and was finally referred for an ultrasound. It was here they found the pain was actually because the Mirena coil had been in the wrong place the whole time – I knew something was wrong. She said it was ‘a bit like having a stone in your shoe’, which I felt was understating it a bit. My GP still said they couldn’t remove it for another week, so I went to a sexual health clinic who removed it the next day.”
I also eventually booked myself into a sexual health clinic and had my hair-pin sized foe removed after six months. But it didn’t end there. The nurse claimed I was “too big” to go back on the pill I’d used for a decade, so I spent a year trying another two mini-pills which were equally useless because, as my confused chemist pointed out, they were just the same hormone again. There were more scans and blood tests (more time off work) while the pain and bleeding continued. I just felt like I was in one of those dreams where you’re screaming into a vacuum, “Guys! Hey guys! Are you sure there’s not just a different hormone I can take?”
NHS cuts and closures of specialist sexual health services are driving women to their GP, who may not have the specialist knowledge needed
Abigail Fitzgibbon from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, says women are increasingly finding it difficult to get their contraceptive needs met. NHS cuts and closures of specialist sexual health services are driving women to their GP, who may not have the specialist knowledge needed. “Women have told us they haven’t been allowed to go on the pill of their choice because GPs say it’s too expensive,” she says, adding that “It’s only going to become harder” to get an appointment, as local authorities cut opening hours.
She agreed that women can be left feeling like doctors aren’t sympathetic to side effects of their contraception. “One of the weirdest things I saw was a male doctor talking about how it was fine if a woman gets an implant and bleeds sporadically, because we’ll just put her on the pill to manage the bleeding. She’s got an implant because she doesn’t want to be on the pill! There’s a lack of understanding about what matters to women when it comes to contraception and it’s not only how effective it is. Other things matter too, because they’re people and they have lives.”
A study of 1,000 young women by healthcare experts Balance Activ in 2014 found only 28% of young women trusted a GP’s advice, a third of 18 to 24-year-olds felt uncomfortable talking to their doctor about intimate health issues and 92% would self-diagnose online, reports the Mail Online.
There’s not a ‘one size fits all policy’ – as women come in different shapes and sizes, so does contraception
So what should you do to swot up on information about contraceptives before an appointment with your doctor? GP Dr Farah Ahmed says: “A good place to start your research is by visiting the Family Planning Association websit e. When you have a consultation with your doctor or at the family planning clinic, they should ask you certain questions about your medical history as there may be a reason you shouldn’t take certain contraceptives.”
She added: “There’s not a ‘one size fits all policy’ – as women come in different shapes and sizes, so does contraception. It may be a case of trial and error, but in most instances, we do eventually find one that works. Most side effects are temporary and do settle down within a few months. However, if women are struggling and are not keen on continuing, I would suggest a suitable alternative, provided the cause of her symptoms has been investigated.”
For me, 18 months of “It’ll settle” was enough trial and error. A young, female locum I chanced upon (the 12th medical profession I met… I think) listened to my story open-mouthed and advised me to ‘go clean’. As of December I’m contraception-free, losing weight, sounder of mind and only bleeding once a month. I feel failed and phobic of trying to engage with my doctor’s surgery over contraceptives again. Instead, at 31, I’ve turned back to condoms – boring, passion-breaking, terrifyingly thin, expensive condoms. But at least I'm pain-free – that's something, right?
* Names changed
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Fired Earth’s Tyrian Rose matt emulsion which costs £38 for 2.5 litres (www.firedearth.com / 0845 366 0400)
It’s official, we are a nation of neutral lovers. From our walls to our wardrobes, our lives are in danger of becoming pretty much one continuous monotone – mostly consisting of that tasteful, middle class type of grey. While we’re not saying our love affair with grey is over quite yet, there comes a time when you look around and think – when did we all become so safe (or should that be vanilla)? Perhaps our obsession with all things minimal and Scandi is to blame, but surely there’s more to decorating than Downpipe and Elephant’s Breath. Thankfully, there is a wave of colour mavericks afoot, boldly going where no Farrow & Ball catalogue dares, clashing colours with joy and abandon. Clearly, it pays to be daring, because like peanut butter and jam, and chocolate and pretzels, these unexpected combinations shouldn’t work, they just do.
Aqua and Citron
Only a small amount of this zesty shade of yellow is needed, so use with caution. A painted picture frame or two is just enough to make an aqua wall come alive and provides an effective focal point to a space that lacks a centre. Pop Art just took on a whole new meaning.
No, we’re not talking Cluedo suspects, but two very British hues working in unison to create a rich and opulent setting. Colour needn’t have to be the domain of walls either – this mustard velvet sofa proves its point against Fired Earth’s Tyrian Rose and the two together create a welcoming space with a sense of theatre.
Photo: Fired Earth’s Tyrian Rose matt emulsion which costs £38 for 2.5 litres (www.firedearth.com / 0845 366 0400)
Blush and Garnet
Two different shades on the same side of the spectrum will clash in a good way if you know how to handle them. Stylist Emily Henderson keeps it largely neutral in this scheme, offering a hit of colour with the deep red tablecloth and blush pink curtain. Glam gold chairs, loads of textures and shaggy sheepskins add a bohemian ‘I just threw this together!’ look.
Photographed by Tessa Neustadt for http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/chic-and-affordable-winter-rustic-tablescape
Khaki, Pine Green and Viridian
How the stylists responsible for this unusual scheme discovered that blue, green and khaki looked pretty damn chic together, we’ll probably never know, but we’re glad they did. Not just an inspired trio, but an inspired setting too, it makes you seriously rethink your attitude towards dark colours in the bedroom. These shades are Aged Bronze, Viridian Tide and Alpine View, all by Dulux. Step away from the white paint…
Photo: Dulux
Orange, Periwinkle, Plum and Grey
Using orange without accidentally creating a room that looks like a set from a 1970s sitcom is a tricky task, but this striking colour palette proves that actually, it is possible. A crisp paint effect also helps – think stripes, chevrons and blocking – anything but paisley and florals basically. Try Lola Plumb, Opening Season, Steel Drum, Cloud Burst and Hot Toddy – all Crown Paints.
A colour that could easily be mistaken for bare plaster seems an odd choice for room inspo, but the warm and flattering tones of copper work surprisingly well with cooler shades such as pale blue and grey. Dulux’s Copper Blush interprets the metallic in matt paint form, creating a soft and cosy mood while avoiding chintz, pink or anything else uber girly. So cosy in fact, that leaving your bed each morning might become even harder.
We never thought we’d be lusting after a brown interior, but that day has (sort of) arrived thanks to Little Greene’s colour expertise. Now brown’s not the easiest shade to pull off without looking like a 1970s horror, but we can’t help but love this Mondrian-inspired graphic mural which uses a sparing amount of the brand’s Tan and Mocha shades. A touch of cobalt (Deep Space Blue in this case) brings the space up to the 21st century.
One might expect Kanye West to celebrate Easter by tweeting "I am risen!" and photoshopping a crown of thorns onto his face. This year, he went a different direction.
The rappers entertained the kiddies at the Kardashian-Jenner Easter gathering yesterday. Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian documented the bizarre moment on Snapchat, as did pal Brittny Gastineau.
Though we probably would have run screaming from the room, North West and her little pal Ryan seem to take quite well to the big bunnies. They've probably seen worse.
Feast your eyes on this, folks. Can we expect a Kanye Easter bunny Kimoji next year?
Update: The Pakistani government said it will launch a paramilitary crackdown on suspected Jamaat-ul-Ahrar militants in Punjab province after a bombing on Easter Sunday left 70 people dead and hundreds more injured, according to Reuters.
Update, March 27, 2016 at 3:20 p.m.: The Associated Press reports that a faction of the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the Lahore bombing.
Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesman for the militant Islamic group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, told the AP that the suicide bomber deliberately targeted the Christian community and that more attacks will follow. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar rejoined the Pakistani Taliban in 2015, after a previous split, reports Reuters.
This story was originally published on March 27, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. EST.
A suicide bombing at a public park in Lahore, Pakistan, has killed at least 65 people and injured 280, Reuters reports. The location — a few feet away from a swing set in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park — and the Easter Sunday timing of the explosion has made the scene particularly horrific.
"Most of the dead and injured are women and children," Mustansar Feroz, police superintendent for the area, told Reuters.
Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain condemned the attacks and declared three days of mourning in the country.
According to Al Jazeera, the death toll might rise. "The blast was massive and has caused a lot of damage and fatalities," Jam Sajjad Hussain, an emergency service spokesman, told the news network.
Coming days after the attacks in Brussels, this bombing is a stark reminder that several countries have seen this kind of violence almost regularly in recent years. Pakistan has been fighting to destroy Taliban safe havens in North Waziristan since 2014, but terrorist attacks have continued.
Earlier this month, 15 were killed when a bus carrying government officials was bombed in northern Pakistan and 20 died when terrorists opened fire at Bacha Khan University in the northwest region of the country.
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Growing up in Baghdad, Tarek Turkey and his classmates used to call Saddam Hussein "Papa Saddam." The authoritarian leader's photo was everywhere, and the boys at his school saw him as a kind of superhero, protecting Iraq from foreign invaders, Tarek says.
"I used to like Saddam Hussein a lot as a little kid, because in school, we considered him a father figure," Tarek remembers. "It was like, yes, he’s the man that I like and love and consider my president, because he’s making my country a safer place for me to live. So I believed that, and my parents didn’t try to change my point of view, because I was a little kid."
But all that changed 13 years ago this month. Tarek was only 11 years old when then-President George W. Bush gave Hussein an ultimatum: 48 hours to leave Iraq with his sons before the U.S. would invade. Tarek wasn't totally sure what that would mean for him. But his parents were.
Together with aunts, uncles, and cousins, Tarek and his relatives piled into the family's Kia van and fled the city. His parents thought the family would be safer in the small town of Hīt, in Anbar province, where Tarek was born and his grandparents still lived.
"We basically stacked up the car with bags of potatoes and onions, because they were cheap, and we could buy a lot of them. We took our personal belongings and we went to Hīt," Tarek says.
Once there, the kids enjoyed themselves, oblivious to what was going on: "I remember it as a fun time, because I got to see my cousins that I don’t see a lot." But the adults knew that the war was about to change their lives forever.
"I remember the first day of the invasion, I woke up, and I saw my mom and my grandmother crying, watching TV. Baghdad basically fell for the Americans, and Saddam was on TV, talking. And I remember just smiling, like it didn’t really affect me that much. But then I saw my mom crying, she yelled at me for smiling," Tarek recalls.
"The city was just being destroyed. It’s a sad thing to see. Then the looting started, and people were stealing things from government buildings, and museums, everything. Saddam was basically on TV talking about how he’s encouraging people to loot and steal things, because that's Iraqi money...and, you know, the looting happened in front of the American soldiers' eyes," Tarek says.
Tarek's life would never be the same again: The family would flee to Syria and eventually to the U.S., and they'd never be able to return home. Inspired by his own experiences as a refugee, he traveled to the region for Refinery29, speaking with Syrian refugee women and sharing their stories through Daughters of Paradise. Ahead, Tarek shares the personal story of his own life as a refugee and a filmmaker.
Pictured: Tarek on a family vacation in the ancient city of Hatra, located in Mosul in Northern Iraq. The Islamic State group now occupies the city.
Ed. note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What was your life growing up in Baghdad like, before the war?
"I was born in 1992, right after the Gulf War. At that time, the United Nations had applied economic sanctions on Iraq, so the country’s economic situation was very bad. I grew up kind of poor. I wouldn’t consider it having a real childhood. I didn’t have the toys or the candy that I wanted. But it was fun, you know? I didn’t overthink it, because I was a little kid.
"I was born to a family of two parents and one older sister. My mother was a teacher at an elementary school. Two years later, she quit when she had my younger sister in 1994 and basically became a housewife. She spent a lot of time raising us and teaching us. My father was a photographer. We didn’t see much of him when I was a little kid, because he would spend 12, 14 hours in the darkroom or the studio where he worked. I’d only see him at night, or sometimes I’d catch him a little bit in the morning.
"My parents were always hesitant to say anything about Saddam or the regime around us as children. But we lived in a very small house, where I shared a room with both of my sisters and my parents slept in the living room. We had just a one-bedroom apartment and we had just a window between us, so I would hear if they were talking about something."
Pictured: Tarek and his mother
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
What was your life growing up in Baghdad like, before the war? (continued)
"As we grew up a little bit, we’d start to notice what the government is and who Saddam is, and what my parents are up to. But my parents are peaceful people. My father never joined any political party...he always wanted to be independent. But he would sometimes talk negatively about the regime.
"One day, my mom told me that — she convinced me that — the regime had implanted microphones under the ground. So I am not allowed to talk about the regime outside of the house, because then the regime would come and arrest my father.
"It was her way of just telling me to shut up, basically, and be scared. So I actually believed in that — and I convinced one other friend that this is a real thing and that we shouldn’t talk about the regime — until I was in fifth grade."
Pictured: Tarek on a family vacation to Hatra, an ancient city that is now controlled by ISIS
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
Do you remember your parents speaking out against the government?
"Just general talk about making fun of him, or just talking about how rich his family is and how poor everyone else is. Mostly making fun of him, really, because he would be on TV 24/7. We would watch his birthday, we would watch his speech, we would watch him do this and do that, and TV was 75% Saddam’s content.
"Toward the ‘90s, Saddam got more into religion and started practicing, so we would see him praying and doing other religious stuff, inviting people to practice religion. My dad is not quite atheist, but he never practiced, so he made fun of that, too.
"Both of my parents are not [religious]. I would say my mom is more traditional than religious. Growing up, I prayed sometimes, depending on who’s inviting me to pray. My dad never did that. My mom invited me to pray, to fast, to do all of these traditional Islamic things, but we never got deeply into religion."
Pictured: A family photo in the front yard of Tarek's family's first house in Baghdad
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
Before the war, was Iraq a violent place?
"I wouldn’t consider it violent. We were aware that it was free, but with limitations, obviously, so there are red lines that you cannot cross. I used to like Saddam Hussein a lot as a little kid, because in school, we considered him a father figure. We called him Baba Saddam, which is 'Papa Saddam,' as little children.
"We actually believed that he was our protector from nations like the United States or Israel or Iran. He’s our safe spot, you know, like he’s covering all of us. That made me feel comfortable... I enjoyed being there.
"[In the buildup to the war], everyone was paranoid. No one knew what was going to happen. No one wanted war. Yes, I remember my parents wanted change before the war. And Saddam, after 2000, he became a lot calmer. He got older. He didn’t project as he used to do. Everyone was afraid, and my parents said that clearly his son, Uday Hussein, would take over, and he’s just a crazy guy who is known to be violent, rape women, he would kidnap people. He just did all the bad things that no one wants. So, people were afraid of that.
"People wanted the change, because they didn't want that family to run the country anymore. But no one wanted the change with this price. No one expected it to be that bad."
Pictured: Tarek's Iraqi ID card
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
What were the first days and weeks after the U.S. invasion like?
"We stayed in Hīt for an entire month. At that time, I’d just hang out with my cousins. There was no school. Everything shut off. Food was very limited. Water was very limited.
"So we had schedules. We didn’t shower regularly, we didn't eat everything we like. There was a lot of fish, because we’re on the river, a lot of chicken that we slaughter in the house, and a lot of potatoes. We shared rooms, everyone shared rooms together. The house was just, I didn’t like being in the house, because it was basically just radios — everyone holding a radio, trying to hear the news. And a lot of drama between kids and girls and families, because there are so many people in the house.
"It was eight families, and each family is an average of four to six people. Well, eight families is a lot of people, too, hanging out in the same place. Especially, you know, it’s family. People fight, people argue, a lot of politics going on, people having different opinions. But as a kid, you know, that didn’t affect me a lot. After a month, we decided to go back to Baghdad."
Pictured: Tarek and his family in April 2003, a few days after the war began. Tarek sits next to his mother as she picks lentils, while Tarek's aunt fries potatoes.
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
What was it like driving back to Baghdad?
"The war was still going on, but the invasion of Baghdad stopped, like everything went back to normal. Saddam had fled, and the Americans took over, so it was safer to go back. It was just so surreal. We drove back, the highway that we left looked entirely different. It was destroyed.
"We saw a lot of leftover fragments of cars, tanks, just different things, like the streets were broken, and [there were] cracks everywhere, leftover bullet holes in some buildings. And then we saw two burned-out tanks actually on the road. And my father asked my uncle to pull over, and we got out, and took these photographs. It was very weird. I think it was an Iraqi tank, actually. So it’s a burned-out Iraqi tank."
Pictured: Tarek's father took a photo of him and his sister in front of a burned-out tank as they made their way back to Baghdad after the U.S. invasion.
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
Were you afraid after the war started?
"I feel scared now of going back, because I’m like, 'Oh, it’s too dangerous, there are so many things going on.' But in reality, there were more things going on when I was living there. But after a certain point, when you live under war and explosions and death and blood, you get used to that, and that becomes your everyday life."
Pictured: Tarek rides a carousel with his cousin (right) and his sister (back).
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
Did you ever witness death or violence firsthand?
"I'd just turned 11, right before the war. I was born March 2, and the war happened later that month. I finished sixth grade and I moved to seventh grade, which is middle school, and my school that I chose with my parents is a little farther away... Just commuting, I had two near-death experiences.
"One day, I was coming back from a tutor with a friend of mine. My neighborhood bordered the airport road, and there were a lot of explosions that happened on that road, because it’s a highway that American troops would take it back and forth from their camps.
"A bomb went off, and usually when a bomb goes off, the [American] soldiers just start shooting randomly, just in case there’s anyone that actually did it. We were walking, and the shooting was at us, too. We were running, and I could feel the bullets hitting the street between my feet and my friends', too. We ran by a wall and then we just — it was probably the quickest time I’ve ever climbed a wall, it was so quick. I climbed some random gate for a house, and we basically hid in someone’s house for a little bit until it calmed down and we went back home."
Pictured: Tarek, his mom, and his siblings celebrating his birthday on March 2, 2003, almost a month before the war.
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
What was your second near-death experience?
"After a lot of bad experiences taking the bus to school and just dangerous situations, my parents decided to put me in a school carpooling van with a guy from my neighborhood. I became friends with everyone in the van.
"One day, we went and picked up this kid named Ahmed. It was strange. His dad would usually come up with him to let him into the van. Sometimes he’d pay the bus driver extra money just to come closer to the house. His father was very worried that something would happen to his son. And at that time, there were a lot of gangs and groups of people that would kidnap little kids for money. Most of them came back, but some of them get killed.
"As Ahmed was entering the van, two cars drove really quickly down from the street, and basically surrounded us. Two gunmen got out and they pointed a gun towards the driver, and the gun was like right here next to my head, because I was sitting next to him... And the driver starts basically calling out the prayers [you say] before you die in the Islamic culture, because he thought he was going to die.
"The other guy went and basically took Ahmed. At that moment, I was, I don’t know, everyone was crying and screaming and calling for different things, but I was just in a really weird zone of feeling that: I'm going to die. I just wanted to get it over with, like I wanted the process to speed up. I didn’t want to be in that torture anymore. But I basically like clenched my body and was very calm, and in my place — but very nervous, too. They took [Ahmed] to their car.
"I saw him three months later, after his father paid a lot of money to free him. But it was a very weird meeting... He didn’t function normally anymore. Or that’s what I heard."
Pictured: Tarek studies for a final exam by candlelight before the war.
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
Why did your family decide to leave Iraq for Syria?
"Several reasons. I mean, experiences like these that I had to face, it was a torture for my parents: not knowing what’s going to happen or if they're going to lose their kid at any moment. Other than that, my dad worked in the media, and he did a lot of work for TV and news channels, documentary work, political work, that sometimes had to offend a specific militia or group. So he got threats from different people to basically get out, or they will assassinate him. So that was a good reason for us to leave.
"It was in September 2006. We hired a GMC suburban driver, because that was the car that they drive to Syria or Damascus from Baghdad. [I said goodbye to] just my friends on the block, I couldn’t see everyone. I hung out with them the night before and then I cried a lot that morning.
"There was just a part of me that felt that I'm never going to come back, which was what happened. My mom was crying, we were saying goodbyes to our uncle’s house, who lived next to us. My grandmother and my grandfather were there, too, to say goodbye to us. My mom was crying and my sisters were crying. I didn’t cry until the car drove and we passed the soccer field that I used to play at, and then I just went on crying because I shared a lot of memories on that field.
"Syria was good. I was a little homesick the first year. I was adjusting to a lot of things. Going to school, I got in a lot of fights, because I was just an angry kid coming from war... after a year, I got really comfortable and I made friends — Iraqi friends, Syrian friends.
"[Then in 2008], we moved closer to Damascus... We were running out of money. Back then, we applied to the UNHCR, to be recognized as refugees, and asked for resettlement somewhere else... I think it was two days before my final exams when the U.N. called us and told us that we have 12 days to get ready. We got resettlement in the United States. So it’s great news."
Pictured: Tarek in the old city of Damascus, playing around with a video camera, in May 2009.
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
In 2009 your family resettled in Baltimore, and you've lived in the U.S. ever since. How do you identify yourself now, and what made you go back to the Middle East to work for Refinery29?
"You know, it’s always hard identifying myself. I’ve found it really hard, especially in college, because I went to an art school, and sometimes I make art and I feel like, what does this art mean, and what does it say about who I am?
"I tried to avoid being an Iraqi for some time when I came here. I wanted to just be an American kid. But I realized being an American kid doesn’t say much about me. I found out that I’m more unique than that, I can do more. So yes, I, nowadays, I have my American girlfriend and American [friends]...but I keep in touch with my family back home, I talk to my parents. I’m very aware of the politics and the news about what’s going on there. So yeah, I feel that I’m a mixture of both, and I represent myself as Iraqi, if you ask me where I’m from. But I am also part of this community now, and I am a citizen, I pay my taxes, I’m part of the system. So I’m both, I guess.
"So after being in the U.S. for six years, right after college, I felt very nostalgic for the Middle East, and I felt that I should — that I needed — to go back. There were just too many things happening, with the refugee crisis, with the Syrian war, and the ISIS control over that area... I felt like part of me really wanted to go there, to see my family and just understand what’s really going on.
"Then I proposed this project [Daughters of Paradise, about Syrian refugee women living in Turkey] to Refinery29, and I went there. Being there was a cultural shock, because I remember it being bad there, but when I went back, it was so much worse and that was just very disappointing. But the Middle East still had its charm, and at some point I considered not coming back [to the U.S.]."
Pictured: Tarek graduates from college in Maryland in May of 2015. That summer, he went to Turkey to make a series of films about refugee women for Refinery29.
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
What is your biggest hope for the future, both for your own family and the refugee women you interviewed? And would you ever go back to Iraq?
"My biggest hope is for everyone to be able to go back and live where they want to live. Home is important. It’s everything. No matter how far you go, home is still what represents you. It crushed me to see so many people fleeing their homes, even though they don’t want to. But, I don’t know, being a refugee in America, or being a refugee in Europe, is hard, and I want people to know that it’s not a choice, for me or other refugees to be where we are right now.
"I would love to go back to Iraq. I don’t know if I would go back and live there, because things are not looking up nowadays, and they never did, since I was born. And I feel very pessimistic about the future, too. I think it needs a lot more time... So one day, I would love to go back and live there, but I don’t know when. But I’d definitely consider visiting soon."
Pictured: Tarek, his mother, his sister, and his aunts and uncles visiting ruins of the ancient city of Hatra.
Photo: Courtesy of Tarek Turkey.
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Movies and TV shows about crime are suspenseful enough on their own. But when they're based on true stories, it can be downright terrifying. That's especially true for movies and TV shows inspired by real-life unsolved murders.
Stories about figures like Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer have lived on for decades, inspiring multiple movies, TV episodes, and books. It's not just the serial killings that are frightening — it's the fact that the killers actually got away with it. Our human desire to pin their crimes on someone, anyone, has led to the ridiculous claims that Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanderscould be the Zodiac Killer, despite a wealth of evidence to the contrary.
We've rounded up some of the most frightening unsolved murder stories throughout history and some of the movies and TV shows that they've inspired. Click through, if you dare.
Who Is the Black Dahlia (1975)
Elizabeth Short, a.k.a. "Black Dahlia," was killed in 1947, and her death still intrigues countless people today. The 1975 film Who Is The Black Dahlia explored the fruitless investigation into Short's death, with actress Lucie Arnaz playing Short. The Black Dahlia (2006) was also based on Short’s life and death.
Elizabeth Short, a.k.a. Black Dahlia
Short, an aspiring actress, was just 22 when she was killed in 1947. Her mutilated body was found dumped in a lot in Los Angeles. Though a number of people confessed to the murder, investigators don't believe any of them actually committed the crime, The Los Angeles Times reports. Experts have speculated that Short's killer may have been a medical expert, due to the precision with which her body was cut.
The "Black Dahlia" nickname was given to Short after her death as a play on the popular 1946 film, The Blue Dahlia, combined with Short's dark hair and propensity for wearing black clothing, according to the Times.
Photo: Getty Images.
Zodiac (2007)
There have been plenty of films inspired by the Zodiac Killer, a serial killer active in the 1960s and 1970s, but David Fincher's Zodiac may be the most well-known. The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo. It explores the life of Robert Graysmith, a true crime author and cartoonist obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac Killer.
The Zodiac Killer
The Zodiac Killer terrorized northern California in the 1960s and 1970s. According to police reports, the Zodiac Killer killed five people, but he claimed to have killed dozens more. Though the Zodiac Killer's identity remains unknown, he sent messages to newspapers in the Bay Area through a series of codes. The killer himself originated the "Zodiac" nickname through the cryptic messages.
Police have investigated thousands of claims about the Zodiac Killer, though none have been supported by sufficient evidence. In his 2014 book, The Most Dangerous Animal of All, Gary L. Stewart alleged that his late biological father was the Zodiac Killer, but his claim hasn't been proven true.
Photo: Getty Images.
From Hell(2001)
There's no shortage of films inspired by Jack the Ripper to choose from, but this Johnny Depp film is one of the creepier ones. Based on Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's graphic novel of the same name, From Hell stars Depp as a detective investigating the unsolved murders in 19th-century London.
Jack The Ripper
Jack the Ripper is one of history's most famous serial killers — and his identity was never discovered. The nickname comes from a letter allegedly written by the murderer, though experts have doubted whether its author was actually responsible for the killings.
The crimes attributed to Jack the Ripper include a series of murders in London's Whitechapel district in 1888. Jack the Ripper's victims included at least five female prostitutes from London's East End. The victims' bodies were mutilated, with their organs removed.
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder(2000)
This CBS special explored the death of JonBenét Ramsey, whose body was found in her Colorado home when she was just 6 years old. Much of the film focuses on Ramsey's parents, who were cleared of involvement in her death in 2008.
JonBenét Ramsey
Ramsey was found dead in her family's home in Colorado in 1996. She was 6. Analysis of Ramsey's remains showed that she was strangled and had been struck in the head. Ramsey's killer was never found.
John Mark Karr, a schoolteacher, confessed to killing Ramsey in 2006, but his confession was not considered valid, because his DNA didn't match that found on Ramsey's body, CNN reported.
"The Axeman Cometh,"American Horror Story: Coven (2013)
American Horror Story: Coven 's Axeman was loosely based on the so-called Axeman of New Orleans. In the show, the serial killer's spirit is awakened through an Ouija board. The AHS Axeman also types a letter that was written by the real axeman in 1918 and 1919.
The Axeman Of New Orleans
The Axeman, who terrorized New Orleans in 1918 and 1919, earned his nickname because his victims were usually attacked with axes. Most of the victims — there were at least six — were Italians. At the time, local newspapers suspected that the killings were related to the Mafia.
The strangest part of the story — other than the fact that the Axeman was never caught — was the killer's apparent affinity for jazz music. In a letter allegedly sent by the axeman to the local papers, the author detailed his love for the genre. The letter claimed that anyone listening to a jazz band would be spared from death. Although the killer was never caught, the deaths stopped in October of 1919.
Memories of Murder(2003)
Inspired by the first known serial killer in the Koreas, Memories of Murder looked into the true crimes that took place in Hwaseong, in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province, between 1986 and 1991. The film focuses on two of the detectives investigating the crimes. Inspired by the real-life Hwaseong crimes, the victims in the movie were strangled with their own clothing.
Hwaseong Serial Murders
Memories of Murder doesn't explicitly mention a body count, but according to reports, 10 women's deaths are believed to be connected in the case. The victims, who were killed between 1986 and 1991, were raped and murdered. They were strangled to death with their own clothing, including pantyhose, socks, and underwear, according to Korea's The Dong-a Ilbo.
Photo: Getty Images.
The Town That Dreaded Sundown(1976)
This horror film was inspired by the real-life Texarkana moonlight murders, which took place in 1946. A serial killer attacked eight people that year, five of whom died. The Town That Dreaded Sundown takes place in Texarkana, TX, where the murders occurred. In both real life and in the movie, the so-called "Phantom Killer" was never identified.
The Phantom Killer/The Texarkana Moonlight Murders
The "Phantom Killer" was active for less than three three months in 1946. But during that time frame, the serial killer managed to attack eight people near Texarkana, TX, killing five of them. In 2014, Texarkana's James Presley, a reporter, published a book claiming the killer was Youell Swinney, though he was never charged, The Texas Monthly explains.
Photo: Ed Clark/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images.
The Boston Strangler (1968)
This film focused on the investigation into a series of murders that took place in Boston between 1962 and 1964. Albert DeSalvo, who died in 1973, confessed to the murders, but was never charged. Some people believe there were multiple people responsible for the killings. Tony Curtis played DeSalvo in the 1968 drama.
The Boston Strangler
A total of 13 women were murdered in and around Boston in the 1960s, and the deaths were attributed to a mysterious killer referred to as the "Boston Strangler." Several of the victims were sexually assaulted and some of the victims were strangled using stockings, according to The Boston Globe.
After 50 years of uncertainty, in 2013, investigators linked the DNA found at the house of the strangler's last victim, 19-year-old Mary Sullivan, to Albert DeSalvo, who died in 1973. He had confessed to the murders, but was never charged, The New York Times explains. However, the prosecutors noted at the time that while DeSalvo may have been linked to Sullivan's death, he wasn't necessarily a suspect in the other deaths attributed to the Strangler. Many people believe the victims of the Boston Strangler were killed by more than one person and that DeSalvo did not commit all of the murders.
In a chilling case in 1981, three people were murdered while staying in Cabin 28 in Keddie, CA. The victims included 36-year-old Glenna Sue Sharp; her 15-year-old son, John; and his 17-year-old friend, Dana Wingate. In 1984, the body of Sharp's daughter, Tina, was discovered after she went missing from the Keddie cabin that night. Arrests were never made in connection with the murders.
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Janice Dickinson has revealed that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The former supermodel and America's Next Top Model judge told the Daily Mail that she was given the news on March 12.
Dickinson underwent a mammography and biopsy after her doctor found a "pea-sized" lump in her right breast during a medical examination. The tests confirmed that she has early-stage ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
Originating in the milk ducts, DCIS is the most common form of non-invasive breast cancer. As the term "in situ" denotes, the cancer has not spread. Dickinson will undergo a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy, and has ruled out a mastectomy.
She's also keeping a positive state of mind, and has agreed to let her procedures be filmed for medical show The Doctors. Her episodes begin airing April 6.
"It's still quite shocking," she told the Daily Mail of her diagnosis. "Today I got very scared. I just get very scared and it hit me. But I am not gonna let that define me, the fear. I'm going to get through this. I'll be just fine, kiddo.
"Don't feel sorry for me," she added. "This is not a pity party. I'm Janice Dickinson and I'm gonna stick around for a long, long time, you ain't getting rid of me yet."
Watch her video interview below.
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