When it comes to recreational drugs, you can't get any safer than psychedelic mushrooms. The newest version of the Global Drug Survey, which polls people around the world about their drug use, finds that magic mushrooms cause significantly fewer emergency room visits than other drugs — including marijuana.
The survey polled more than 120,000 people in 50 countries about their drug usage, and found that while more than 12,000 people said they took shrooms last year, only 0.2% of them needed medical attention. That's only about 24 people.
In comparison, 100 people who responded to the survey were hospitalised after taking LSD last year and 250 sought emergency medical treatment after taking ecstasy.
While marijuana is generally considered pretty safe, even weed caused about three times the number of people to seek medical attention than magic mushrooms did.
And just because the survey found that shrooms are the safest doesn't mean they're without risk. Any time you take any type of drug — recreational or prescription — there's at least some risk involved.
“Death from toxicity is almost unheard of with poisoning with more dangerous fungi being a much greater risk in terms of serious harms," he said.
Still, even that risk is small and shrooms have actually been found to have some benefits, if taken carefully. Some studies have found that shrooms and other psychedelic drugs could help ease extreme anxiety.
Of course, we aren't saying that anyone should ditch their anxiety meds in favour of some magic mushrooms or should decide to give shrooms a try just because they might be safer than smoking a joint. But based on the experience of 120,000 people included in this poll, if given the choice of recreational drug — mushrooms seem to be the safest bet.
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If you aren’t a Twitter user, you may consider starting today: As of now, the site is the only place where you can access the 69 brand new emoji. iPhone users will need to wait until September, when iOS 11 will likely roll out, to access all of them for iMessage.
Jeremy Burge, the Chief Emoji Officer at Emojipedia, a site with literally everything you could ever want to know about emoji, officially alerted the world to the news today. There are new wizards, witches, fairies, vampires, and also dinosaurs and a bearded man emoji.
According to Emojipedia, Twitter’s Twemoji 2.3 marks the first use of Emoji 5.0 since they were officially approved by Unicode this past March. The site explains that many of these look slightly different than they will on your iPhone, since the way the designs appear varies based on the fonts included on each platform.
Unfortunately, the emoji are only available on desktop for now. So, if you were hoping to simply cut and paste an emoji from the Twitter app into a text, you’re out of luck.
Among the oft-requested emoji that are finally arriving with this version are a woman wearing a headscarf and a breastfeeding woman. For all your foodie needs, there is also a much expanded meal, ingredient, and utensils selection to choose from. Included are a fortune cookie, takeout box, pie, chopsticks, dumplings, a pretzel, a can of what looks like tomato sauce, a sandwich, broccoli, a coconut, and a bowl with a spoon. There's also the slightly less appealing cut of raw meat.
You'll have to wait until 2018 to see if curly hair and other styles make the cut, though.
If all the new emoji make your head explode, there’s also an “exploding head” emoji to show how you feel.
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George RR Martin knows a thing about heads of state. In his ongoing Game of Thrones saga, power struggles are a way of life and the Iron Throne is the ultimate goal for just about every character. But the author thinks that the real-life sitting American president bears something of a passing resemblance to one of the GoT franchise's most despised despots: Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson).
In a new Kit Harington profile in Esquire, the author drew some parallels between his high fantasy and the current state of affairs in Washington, DC.
"I think Joffrey is now the king in America," Martin told Esquire. "And he's grown up just as petulant and irrational as he was when he was 13 in the books."
Martin isn't going so far as saying that Trump is the product of incest, but he is saying — not so subtly, we might add — that the man sitting in the Oval Office is something like (maybe exactly like) Joffrey, known for being entitled, spoiled, sadistic, and in no way ready for the responsibilities that come with running an entire kingdom. Er...country.
Yahoo notes that many fans considered Joffrey the worst of the worst. That may or may not also parallel opinions on President Trump. However, Game of Thrones star Kit Harington isn't exactly wearing a M.A.G.A. cap (why cover those amazing curls, right?) in his magazine spread.
"Mister Donald Trump — I wouldn't call him president, I'll call him mister," Harington said to Esquire. "I think this man at the head of your country is a con artist."
While Joffrey Baratheon was no con artist, he was plenty of other things. Let's hope that the president isn't a pawn in the hands of a power-hungry mum. We'll leave that stuff to Martin.
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Whenever we see a 70-year-old man or woman at the gym, our first instinct is to give them major props for prioritising their health. Playboy playmate Dani Mathers, age 29, has a slightly different attitude. Last summer, she spotted a 71-year-old woman changing in a Los Angeles health club and Mathers seized the opportunity to unlawfully photograph the nude woman and post the image to Snapchat.
“If I can’t unsee this, then you can’t either," she captioned the photo. For good measure, Mathers included a selfie with a hand clasped over her mouth to further drive home the point that she was completely disgusted by the woman's body. After one of Mathers' Snapchat followers reported the image, the playmate was charged with invasion of privacy. Today, Mathers pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced to 30 days of community service.
Frederick M. Brown/AP
In addition to completing 30 days of graffiti removal, Mathers must pay $60 in restitution to the victim so the woman can replace her backpack, which was featured in the Snapchat post. She was also sentenced to 36 months of summary probation.
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer emphasised that body-shaming has devastating effects on its victims. "This is a very important case with an extremely forceful message associated with it: That body shaming is not tolerated in our city," he said. "Body shaming can devastate its subject. People are mocked, they’re humiliated and in ways they can never fully get back.”
“[Mathers] realised she made a mistake,” her attorney Thomas Mesereau told BuzzFeed News. “Her goal was never to hurt anyone and she very much regrets what happened."
He added that the case has “been an ordeal” for Mathers. Cue the world's smallest violin.
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Researchers looked at the Apple Watch, the Fitbit Surge, Basis Peak, Microsoft Band, PulseOn, Samsung Gear S2 and the Mio Alpha 2, testing them on 60 volunteers who were asked to walk, run and cycle while wearing them.
Most of the trackers were good at measuring heart rate – just one performed poorly, the Samsung Gear S2, which had an error rate of 6.8%. However, when it came to measuring calories burned through working out, it was another game entirely.
Even the most accurate device was off by 27%, while the least accurate was off by a huge 93%.
Although lead author Euan Ashley was impressed with the accuracy of the heart rate measurements from the fitness trackers, when it came to the calorie-counting element he was shocked. "The energy expenditure measures were way off the mark," he said. "The magnitude of just how bad they were surprised me."
He added that he was concerned because "people are basing life decisions on the data provided by these devices."
As to why the fitness trackers are so off the mark, he and his co-author Anna Shcherbina were unsure but they suspect it has to do with the problems of tailoring algorithms to individuals who were all very different. "My take on this is that it's very hard to train an algorithm that would be accurate across a wide variety of people because energy expenditure is variable based on someone's fitness level, height and weight, etc." Anna said.
Euan says his takeaway message is that it is safe to rely on fitness trackers for heart rates but, if you are using your fitness tracker in a bid to maintain or lose weight, you might run into problems. "Basing the number of doughnuts you eat on how many calories your device says you burned is a really bad idea."
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While we can now finally wear dresses, shorts, playsuits – whatever the hell you want because it’s warm, at long last! – the prospect of unveiling your legs after months in hibernation can put a bit of a downer on the whole thing.
“I’d say most normal people notice dryness, lack of tone and general lacklustre to the skin,” says Kate Shapland, founder and creative director of Legology. “You might even have some puffiness around knees, thighs and ankles, too.” Following these simple steps will ensure your legs are in tip-top condition for the glorious summer ahead.
The Scrub
First things first: a simple scrub can slough away a world of woes. That includes dull, scaly skin, as well as stimulating the lymphatic system to flush out toxins and water retention to help minimise cellulite. The important thing is to find a really good scrub.
There is a huge range of exfoliants on the market, from tiny beads in a tube to acid-based formulas, but what do you look for? “Exfoliators need the crunch factor and you get that with sea salt best added to an oil base to improve skin’s suppleness,” says Shapland. Three of the best oil-and-salt scrubs I’ve found are Neom’s Real Luxury Body Scrub, Sanctuary’s Salt Scrub, and Legology’s Exfo-Lite Stimulating Salts for Legs, which is everything you could ever want in a scrub. It contains Himalayan pink salts, which are known for their detoxifying abilities, alongside normal sea salt and smells like nothing else you’ve tried (Amalfi lemon, apparently). If you want to smell summer, then this is your scrub. All three will leave a luxurious film of oil over limbs and intensely hydrate skin.
You might want a lighter exfoliation, particularly if skin is very sensitive or you’ve already done the big scrub-down pre-summer (you don’t need to use salt scrubs every single day). Try Exuviance’s Retexturing Treatment for day-to-day or Dennis Gross’ Alpha Beta Glow Body Pads which contain tanning DHA to bronze as they exfoliate.
Body Brush
“I am a huge body brush fan because it is so easy and you get so much out of it,” says Shapland. From softening up skin to helping tone and brighten while enhancing the lymphatic system and blood circulation, it’s a no-brainer to spend as little as three minutes every day dedicated to the body brush.
Shapland recommends gently and swiftly buffing skin with a brush (try Elemis’ Body Detox Skin Brush or Mio’s Body Brush), sweeping in upwards movements towards the lymph nodes, which are predominantly found in the neck, armpit and groin areas.
It’s important to note that it needs to be done gently; it’s easy to think that you need to painfully manhandle skin with the nodules that come on a lot of brushes to ‘massage’ fat away, but this isn’t the correct way. Another common misconception is that you need to body brush only on dry skin: “I don’t think it matters, but I personally do find it works best on dry skin before the shower. Essentially, it’s whatever works best for you.” And for a really intensive ‘contouring’ session? Try adding a few drops of a detox oil, like ESPA’s Detoxifying Body Oil, to the brush bristles and use on damp skin.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
You’ve heard it all before but moisturising is key to healthy, plump, even, supple skin.
Many of us avoid body moisturiser because it feels sticky for day or underneath clothes. The best I’ve found for day wear are more lightweight and dry quickly pre-clothes. Sisley’s Restorative Body Cream is one of the lightest I’ve found, is a super hydrator and feels wonderfully silky on skin – it doesn’t come cheap but this will help achieve money-can’t-buy skin, so it’s worth it. Another favourite is Aesop’s Protective Body Lotion, which actually contains SPF 50 to protect legs from the sun, besides being packed with nutritious ingredients like vitamin E. Susanne Kaufmann’s Body Lotion is another great shout for day – it has a light scent perfect for summer and chamomile to calm skin.
At nighttime, up the ante – you’re only in bed after all, no excuses here. Oils are great for night as they’re like a drink for skin and leave limbs extra-hydrated come morning. If you’ve tried Sarah Chapman’s Overnight Facial oil, you will love her Skinesis Overnight Body Treatment which is a vitamin-packed (A, C and E to brighten, retexture and defend) cocoon for skin. Another is Aromatherapy Associates’ Rose Nourishing Body Oil – you’ll struggle to find anything that smells better. And if an oil’s not for you, try Lancer’s supreme The Method: Body Nourish, which comes in a big silver tub. It’s one of the only moisturisers that contains a clinical-grade glycolic acid, which helps firm and boost cell turnover (so skin gets smoother, quicker).
Hair Removal
The most obvious and easiest way to get rid of leg hair is to shave. And for that, all you need is shaving cream and a decent razor (you can’t go wrong with a Gillette Venus).
Then there’s waxing, which gets rid of hairs for slightly longer, but you become more prone to ingrown hairs.
But the very best in hair removal comes from a laser and, although I asked you to join me in forgetting that summer bodies are made in winter, in this case smooth legs really are made in the colder months, when you can laser leg hairs into oblivion. Laser treatment works by targeting the pigment in the hair shaft which lives in the hair follicle, disabling the blood supply that feeds it. When there’s no blood supply, there’s no hair, and it falls out around two weeks after treatment.
If you’re going to go professional, the New York Laser Clinic is excellent. On average, they see a big reduction in hair after the fourth session (treatments are taken every six to eight weeks). The reason you’re best off having it in winter? It’s strongly advised to avoid the sun within four weeks of each treatment due to more sensitive skin, which would mean a summer of covering up. So start when the days get darker and more gloomy – it really does work and it’s one of the best investments you’ll make, especially if you’re on the hairier side.
And if you want to do it yourself at home, look no further than the Philips Lumea Prestige IPL Hair Removal Device which is the best on the market for at-home laser hair removal. It works in much the same way as in-clinic but the intense pulsed light used is not quite as strong, so hair removal will take longer. The plus side is you can do it yourself at home, you’ll see a marked difference after three uses (you can use it every two weeks), and it’s super-quick and much cheaper than you’ll find getting it done professionally. No-brainer.
Depuff
Whether you know it or not, your legs are probably holding a little extra weight, particularly if you sit at a screen all day or don’t do enough activity in general. The quickest way to get rid of the dreaded puff is by lying flat on the floor with legs resting at right angles to the wall, recommends Shapland, but when it’s a persistent problem, you need a more specialised approach.
If you’re prone to puffiness and fluid retention, need a bit of extra help and want to lighten the load, find a bodywork therapist who will give you a deep massage to push trapped fluid out from around the fat cells and help shape legs. “The best toning, firming and shaping treatment is regular hands-on massage,” says Shapland, who has tried it all. Going for treatments like Aromatherapy Associates’ Body Refiner, which helps shift excess fluid, can help too. Just ask your therapist to concentrate on your legs.
Tone
Aside from regular massage, Shapland’s other top tip is exercise; she recommends yoga, pilates and barre work to bring length, firmness and tone to muscles. Barrecore founder, Niki Rein agrees: “Performing high-repetition, isometric contractions (i.e. in even the smallest muscles) in the body two to three times a week is a surefire way to achieve that toned, long and lean look.” Rather than fearing that bulky, large-and-in-charge look, you can look forward to lithe, sinewy legs as a result.
And it really does burn. Expect as much at any Barrecore class, alongside an ‘I’m-definitely-doing-something’ shake that renders you useless at climbing stairs post-workout. It’s all down to the ‘layering’ of exercises which burn out the legs’ muscle groups, equalling maximum calorie burn. Try going two to three times a week to see real results this summer. And if you start now, imagine what your pins – and the rest of your body - will be like come May 2018.
Yoga is another great way to lengthen muscles in the legs. Try Triyoga ’s Ashtanga class which combines the more physical side of the practice with the deeper, more meditative aspect. It’s a great way to stretch out and lengthen every little muscle in the body – not to mention good for the mind.
Tan Up
Tan is a surefire way to make limbs look longer, leaner and generally more toned without the exercise. At home, it can be a tricky skill to master – I don’t think I’ll ever trust myself to apply fake tan again – but if you’ve got a tan mitt, then the bronzing world can be your oyster.
Preparation is essential: “To avoid the patchy look, depilate, exfoliate and moisturise before you apply anything even vaguely tanning,” advises Shapland, who swears by a tinted cream to control depth of colour and achieve a more realistic glow, while also washing off at the end of the day. The best are Legology’s Sun-Lite Tinted Leg Cream, Nars’ Laguna Body Tint, and Fake Bake’s Tinted Body Glo. They all leave the perfect amount of bronze with just a sprinkle of shimmer to make limbs look as lustrous as they should in the sun.
As for spray tans, which make it easier to face leg-baring season, St Tropez does a great professional tan; at home you should try their Luxe Oil Bronzing Mist as it’s more than easy to use and leaves a lovely light, golden glow. Vita Liberata is another great brand for tanning and none of their fake tans smell, which helps if you hate the smell of biscuit. The Vita Liberata Ten Minute Tan develops into the ultimate summer glow in around four hours – a tan that dreams are made of.
So there you have it, the ultimate guide to getting your legs out for summer. Now go outside and enjoy it!
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And that’s a wrap. With Liam Payne’s recent release of "Strip That Down", we now have at least one solo track from each former member of One Direction. And so we have the beginnings of five very different solo careers. What a time to be alive.
In March 2015, Zayn Malik announced that he would leave the band to “be a normal 22-year-old” and have some “private time away from the spotlight”. He was, as we all remember, spotted at a recording studio days later, which exposed his plan: to sneak-launch his solo career while the other boys were still touring as a four-man band. It was a turbulent time for 1D fans who, frankly, always thought the breakaway artist of the group was going to be Harry Styles (as it turned out, Styles was too sweet a munchkin to abandon his buddies in pursuit of solo fame, so he waited). Time passed, the remaining 1D foursome toured and released one final album, and inevitably split. A celebrity baby, a death in the family and a very famous haircut later, the boys started releasing their own work.
Now that we’ve got them all, it’s only natural to rank them in terms of musical merit, lyrical clout and overall quality. You could say that, in ranking the first solo tracks of these young men, we are simultaneously ranking their prospects of future solo success. Without further ado…
Oof. This one’s a real clanger. The song was written with Ed Sheeran, who seems to be fast running out of his trademark whimsy and whose current level of fame outweighs his actual talent. It features rap by Quavo, who does very little to redeem the song. The whole track sounds like a garish identity crisis for Payne, who seems to have released it purely to notify his young fans that he is an adult man who engages in sexual intercourse. Apparently, he enjoys it when women “grind”, “hit the ground”, “swing that round” and “strip that down”. Obviously, Payne feels liberated now that he doesn’t have to maintain a peppy 1D image and he’d like to send the world an aggressively heterosexual memo that he’s a beast on the dance floor. Which is odd, considering he’s in a monogamous relationship/ possible secret marriage with Cheryl Tweedy, and he just became a father. A classic acoustic Sheeran ballad would have made more sense with his extremely public personal life but Payne wanted to get back to his, ah, R&B roots. Payne has since said he “nearly didn’t go solo”. Perhaps that would have been for the best.
Sweet Louis Tomlinson did a live performance of his song, "Just Hold On", on The X Factor the week his mama died. He sung it in tribute to her, so lyrics like “the sun goes down and it comes back up, the world, it turns no matter what” and “if it all goes wrong, darling, just hold on” took on a very sad meaning. Sentimentality aside, this is not a great song. It’s performed with Steve Aoki and overall, it’s mediocre at best. A boppy, catchy sort of thing, it doesn’t particularly show off Tomlinson’s vocals or give us any great indication of what he wants to do stylistically with his music. It’s a bland, fairly generic pop song that feels as though it could’ve been knocked together in a couple of hours between mates. I’d say the fact that Tomlinson performed it live on The X Factor is a bigger clue to his future career: truthfully, he seems better suited to a spot at the judge’s desk beside his buddy/ mentor Simon Cowell than to a solo pop career. And he has the sweet nature to be a genuinely good mentor to some kids with big dreams.
Niall Horan’s the only one who really released a song that One Direction could feasibly have recorded. "This Town" sounds a lot like some of 1D’s softer, more sentimental ballads like "Stockholm Syndrome" or "Little Things". It’s gentle, stripped-back pop that allows Horan to show off sweet vocals and a little guitar-playing. The clip he released with the song is simple: black and white, just Niall Horan sitting on a chair in a recording studio with his guitar, singing straight to his fans. It’s perhaps the sincerest debut among the boys – almost like he’s saying he doesn’t need the back-up, the autotune, the sexed-up lyrics or the artifice of anyone else. Just give him a guitar and he’ll sing to you, gurrrl. It’s a sweet, Sheeran-esque start.
Much like Liam Payne, Zayn Malik went hyper-sexual with his solo debut, singing about “fucking and fighting” in bed all day at a time when his relationship with supermodel Gigi Hadid was seriously big news. The only difference between Payne and Malik is that Malik’s track is good. It’s very good. It’s everything I imagine Malik has wanted to do musically the whole time he’s been making wholesome pop with 1D. It’s sexy and risqué, with a hip-hop beat he’s probably been dying to break into for years. This is the kind of track you can actually dance to, or work out to. It’s the perfect track to set Zayn Malik apart from his 1D bandmates and start a fresh chapter of his career. It doesn’t sound anything like a 1D song, and I think that was the whole point. This is Malik, screaming and tossing his perfectly peroxided head and saying: take me seriously, music industry, for I no longer do endearing banter on stage with four other young men. This is the real Zayn, and the real Zayn is sex.
Real talk: "Sign of the Times" is a great song. It’s an exquisite, soft rock-pop ballad that hints at a seriously promising solo career for Styles. It’s enigmatic, romantic and beautifully written. Styles admitted to James Corden during his Carpool Karaoke skit that sometimes he cries when he performs it – but “in a cool way”. It is a song to cry to – it’s deeply melancholy and yet there’s something urgent to it. To me, it’s everything we hoped we’d get from a Styles debut: delicate lyrics, moody atmosphere, flashes of Bowie, moments of Jagger and a catchy sentimentality that only Styles can get away with. It showcases his voice – sometimes soft, sometimes throaty, with a killer falsetto refrain. His live performance on Corden’s Late Late Show was devastatingly good but that’s no real surprise to Styles admirers, who have long known how great he sounds live. In the track’s 5 minutes 41 seconds, Styles proves that he is the one to watch. On the rest of his self-titled album, he proves he's the breakout star we always wanted him to be.
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How many times have you bought an outfit especially for a particular event? How many times have you worn it since?
According to a study carried out by Marks & Spencer in 2016, there are 3.6 billion clothes left unworn in the nation's wardrobes – a staggering 57 items per person – with an average of 16 items only worn once and 11 still with the tags on. One in 20 of us even has over 50 items in our wardrobe with the tags still on. In a world obsessed with speed and newness and a clothing industry encouraging overconsumption and mindless purchasing, Wear the Walk's approach to fashion is markedly different.
Wear the Walk, founded by Zoe Partridge earlier this year, is a women’s online fashion platform that offers emerging designers' collections for rental at an affordable price. At the heart of the business is sustainable design and the team works only with ethically sourced brands. Rather than being mass market-produced, Wear the Walk spend time working with the next generation of designers who care about how their clothes are made. In a few simple steps, shoppers can browse through Wear the Walk’s curated online fashion library to pick their favourite items to rent for up to 10 days, allowing women to experiment with their wardrobe and experience the thrill of a new purchase without any of the retail guilt. The platform also provides a personal styling service to offer advice for matching looks to accessories.
We caught up with Zoe to discuss building her own business, sustainability, and why we all should readdress the way we shop.
When and why did you first conceive the idea of Wear the Walk and how did you bring it to fruition? I don't think there was necessarily a "Eureka" moment per se but I would say it was when I started working at Mulberry. I was shocked at how little they acknowledged tapping in and accessing the next generation of consumers. In my mind this transformed them from being aspirational to rather lackadaisical. I wanted to tackle the issue of "access" but didn't know how to at the time. It was about a year ago that I decided I was going to start an online rental fashion business, which, alongside providing access, focused on solving a universal issue which all women face: staring at our bulging wardrobes and saying "I have nothing to wear".
Photo: Courtesy of Wear The Walk
Retail experience is overwhelming and exhausting. The overcrowding nature of retail led to me deciding to find the best emerging luxury designers, which were not only creating amazing one-of-a-kind pieces but were also inherently mindful about how their clothes were made, and rent out their clothes. Renting is not a new concept by any means, but hopefully the technology, designers and access we're providing is new and innovative!
What do you think is the crux of the problem with our shopping habits and approach to fashion and how do they need to change? The clothes we wear have such a big impact on how we feel that it's almost like a relationship! This is largely down to the increased pervasiveness of social media. Nowadays, we feel we can’t wear the same thing twice; there is a pressure to constantly be on-trend; and we crave that awful dopamine hit of newness all the time.
The biggest problem among consumers is the lack of awareness of where their clothes are coming from, how things are made and what the labour conditions are. Most fast fashion retailers are creating items to literally be thrown away. It's madness! As consumers, we want to discover the latest and best fashion and we want to see now and wear now, and that's by no means a negative. In fact, it's something we champion, and part of the reason I started this company... I'm so impatient! But I think the fashion industry is coercing consumers to scratch this itch in the wrong way, by overconsumption. To change this, we need to look to new initiatives like renting and being mindful of where clothes are coming from.
Why do you think sustainability is such a dirty word? I think people feel that by being "sustainable" (which is now such an overused buzzword it barely retains any meaning) when it comes to fashion means having to compromise on either price or style. For a long time, sustainable fashionistas were seen as hemp-wearing hippies!
How do you find the designers and brands you want to work with? Everywhere! Not Just A Label is an invaluable resource. As well as Instagram, London Fashion Week and PR firms.
How do you hope to see your business grow and evolve? Apart from world domination?! Joking aside, it was never my intention to solely focus on renting out occasion wear but it's considerably more easy for customers to rationalise. Over the next two years I would like consumers to be socialised into renting for the everyday. People want newness without the guilt, so I'd like Wear the Walk to become the main place for customers to access the latest fashion that they can wear anytime.
What have been the biggest challenges in launching Wear the Walk and who have been your mentors? As the sole and only founder, I think one of the biggest challenges is time and my lack of capability in areas of the business. Further to this it has been having no one to challenge me when it comes to designer, strategy and scaling. No one when it comes down to it to say that I’m doing something wrong, or right, incidentally! I love being on my own, but it can be lonely. Mentor-wise I've naturally gravitated to people who compensate for my downfalls and work in the area I think is most important to driving this business forward: technology. I've been lucky enough to have the support of some great experts, people like Cally Russell who runs Mallzee, Tabitha Gouldstaub who's pioneered women working in AI, and Donna North from Dressipi.
How have you grown your customer base? With a little help from my friends! We've just opened a new studio which is open to the public on weekends and via appointment during the week. This has been invaluable for finding new customers, getting insights and building relationships. Alongside this, I've got two extremely savvy marketing ladies that manage our digital space. Instagram is our second shop window!
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs? Just go for it and fail fast and fail hard. If you're failing you're doing something right, but make sure you learn from it.
Ariana Grande has received a deluge of online abuse from alt-right Trump supporters following the terrorist attack at her concert in Manchester in which 22 people died. Much of the abuse has centred on her liberal views and taken her quotes out of context.
Many of the insults referred to Grande's donut-licking controversy in 2015, in which she was caught on video licking a donut in a pastry shop and could be heard saying "I hate Americans. I hate America."
Facebook group Patriots for America posted a meme of the singer with the words “I hate Americans. I hate America.” And a caption calling her a "Pro refugee, Muslim sympathizer, anti-Trump, anti-American, Women's March organizer and raging liberal". Grande openly supported Clinton in the US election.
The caption added that Grande was now "suddenly wishing she was back in the safety of the America she hates so much! #ArianaGrande #LoveItOrLeave." On Tuesday, pictures emerged of the singer touching down on US soil for the first time since the tragedy.
Alt-right Twitter accounts, including conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich, The Rebel TV's Jack Posobiec, Paul Joseph Watson, and former KKK leader David Duke, who also posted an antisemitic tweet, then proceeded to share the meme and other photos of the star.
Trump-supporting trolls also brought up Grande's tweets following the US election, in which she said she was "in tears" following the "utterly terrifying" result.
Alt-right troll and former Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopolous, who is banned from Twitter, has also publicly slammed the singer for her liberal views since the attack. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he wrote that she was, "too stupid to wise up and warn her European fans about the real threats to their freedom and their lives."
He added: "She will remain ferociously pro-immigrant, pro-Islam and anti-America. Makes you wonder whether they bombed to attack her or in solidarity." As if the world needs more mindless hatred right now.
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The people of Manchester paused to observe a minute's silence this morning to remember the victims of Monday's terrorist attack. But the quiet was quickly followed by an emotional rendition of the Oasis classic "Don't Look Back in Anger". We hope you've got tissues at the ready.
Goosebumps! The amazing moment Manchester crowd joins in with woman singing Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger after minutes silence pic.twitter.com/Cw4mOq8yde
Traffic was brought to a halt by the huge crowd of people, which included the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who gathered in St Ann's Square amid floral tributes for the moment of silence.
A lone voice then broke through the quiet as she began singing Oasis' anthem – and the crowd soon joined in. Guardian reporter Josh Halliday interviewed the woman who started the singalong, Lydia Bernsmeier-Rullow, shortly after.
Just spoke to Lydia Bernsmeier-Rullow, the amazing woman who started that impromptu Don't Look Back In Anger singalong in St Ann's Square pic.twitter.com/aGKuYJw65V
"I love Manchester and Oasis is part of my childhood. Don't look back in anger - that's what this is about. We can't be looking backwards to what happened, we have to look forwards to the future," she said. "We're all going to join together, we're all going to get on with it because that's what Manchester does."
Former Oasis frontman and Mancunion Liam Gallagher tweeted about his devastation following the attack. "In total shock and absolutely devastated about what's gone down in MANCHESTER sending love and light to all the families involved," he wrote.
In total shock and absolutely devastated about what's gone down in MANCHESTER sending Love and Light to all the family's involved LG x
There I was: naked, standing in front of my mirror with my iPhone in hand, desperately trying to find the best angle of my butt. Taking a nude selfie is like a game of whack-a-mole. You may perfectly capture your beautiful badonk, but then there’s too much side boob. You tuck it in, but then your face is doing something weird. You relax the duck lips, but then, where did your left leg go? Tedious as it was, taking nudes on that particular evening was a labor of love — self-love — and an opportunity to challenge myself by doing something terrifying: posting them.
Now, I get that this could be a super scary endeavour for many people. Showing someone your body makes you vulnerable in a plethora of ways. But I’m fat. And even though my size 16 frame puts me somewhere on the “fat spectrum” that affords me certain privileges — like more access to clothing, less unwarranted advice and concern over my health, and generally less vitriol thrown my way — I’m still totally, unequivocally fat. More to my point, I am definitely fat enough that the sight of my nude body is still a novel and shocking thing to our society. Posting a nude selfie is simply more dangerous for me. However, I did find a space that made me feel safe.
It was a closed, all-female Facebook group. These were intersectional feminists who loved makeup, music, and fashion, among other things. They talked about relationships and professional development. They offered each other support regularly. And yeah, they showed each other their boobs. After lurking for awhile and seeing exactly zero negative comments on anyone’s sexy selfies, I decided I was safe and posted my nude photo. And I was right. Mostly.
"You are just the cutest," one comment read, and this was the general theme of my feedback. Not, “Oh. My. Lord.” or “Yes please” or an endless string of fire emojis, or anything close to the fanfare I saw my straight-sized sisters enjoying. I even got a, “Look at that face!” Yes, thank you, my makeup was on fleek that day, but what about my ass?
When you call a fat body 'cute,' it’s patronising and de-sexualising.
Emotions happened after this. Self-doubt for sure, but not about my body. I had been there and done that, and had made too much progress for even outright insults to truly affect my pride. So what was I really mad about here? That I didn’t get the affirmation and validation I wanted? Maybe. I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting people to find you attractive. Besides, no one said I was un attractive. These women had become my friends, and they all had nice things to say. I could have been overreacting, and I definitely didn’t have the guts to say something, but it just kept digging at me. They had different things to say about my body, different from what they were saying about all the other bodies. That was the real issue.
When you call a fat body "cute," it’s patronising and de-sexualising. It "others" us. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when “cute” is a fitting word for me. I do, indeed, have the cutest giggle ever and look pretty damn adorable in bunny ears. But when someone calls me “cute” in a setting where I am showing my body or expressing my sexuality, it plucks me right out of the narrative I am trying to create — it’s kind of like calling a woman “silly ” when she is being passionate about something. When people use the word “cute,” what they really mean is cute like a baby, cute like a fuzzy puppy, cute like something that could never possibly inspire lust and passion. You know how people say, “Don’t get cute with me” in order to put someone in their place? That’s exactly what “cute” does in this context, too.
I’ve since continued to post nudes, both privately and publicly as part of body positive campaigns. “Cute” is still thrown at me occasionally, along with equally well-meaning, yet ultimately patronising, comments, like, “I love your confidence!” That one’s also a doozy. Before you tell a woman you love the confidence it takes for her to show her body, picture her as a thin, white, cis, able-bodied, young woman. Do we ever say these things to women like that? We absolutely don’t. When someone praises my confidence, I understand part of that comes from acknowledging the courage it takes to show an underrepresented — and, frankly, hated — body type. And they’re right. I’ve got ovaries of steel for that.
But the narrative has to change. We have spent far too much time focusing on the dangers of daring to be seen while fat, queer, differently-abled and of colour. We need to start lifting these bodies up. We need to start validating them. And calling someone “cute” or praising their confidence doesn’t do that. Try “beautiful,” or go out on a limb and say “sexy.” And don’t panic when you find that “beautiful” and “sexy” start to change in meaning for you. They should. These are words that belong to everyone who wants them. Save “cute” for kittens.
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The other night, I was scrolling through my text messages, trying to find my group chat with my friends, when I came across a message from a guy I’d met on Bumble that I’d read and never answered. He’d texted me on Thursday, asking what I was up to this weekend. It was now Monday.
In my defence, I was on a date with another guy when the message came in. And while that guy was collecting our drinks from the bar, I peeked at my phone, read the message, and made a mental note to respond to it later in the night. But after a few glasses of rosé, I forgot about it. And as my inbox filled with more text messages from friends, family, and other Bumble suitors, the poor guy and his note got pushed further and further out of my mind.
So here I was, four days after the message had come in, texting him an apology for not responding sooner. “I’m so sorry — I read your message and totally forgot to respond,” I wrote. Lucky for me, the dude was very gracious. But I realised as soon as I sent the message that if I were on the receiving end of that well-intentioned text, I’d be thinking one thing: Who does this fuckboy think he is?
I’ve always held dudes I’ve met to a high standard when it comes to “dating etiquette.” They have to text in a certain amount of time. They can’t ghost. If I suggest a date on Friday, they have to say yes or no — they can’t hit me with a “maybe” or “we’ll see.” I don’t stand for fuckboys at all. At 27 years old, with nearly five years of online dating under my belt, I can safely say that I don’t have time for that.
And my friends agree. I’ve been out to drinks with numerous friends — men and women, queer and straight — who are very much over the fuckboy. We’ll bitch and moan every time something goes south in our relationships. I recently had drinks with my friend Trish* who told me about a woman she was dating. “She’s so hot and cold,” she said. Trish then went on to recount a night when the woman in question invited her over, and then rescinded the invite for a bullshit reason, but then reinvited her.
At the time, I rolled my eyes and jokingly asked what the female version of fuckboy was, because that was what Trish had on her hands. And in that moment, I realised that being a fuckboy had nothing to do with gender — because, like Trish's date, I was kind of one, too.
If you act like a fuckboy and text like a fuckboy, you’re probably a fuckboy, y’all.
Just last week, I was meant to have a date with a guy I’ve been seeing for a bit who I know there isn’t a future with. (He doesn’t want anything serious right now.) The day of our dinner, I get a text from another guy I’d had a great first date with the weekend before, asking if I was free after work for our second date. So I ask dude one to move our date to next week, blaming a work commitment, and told dude two that I was free. Dude two then tells me he’s only free for drinks — he has a work dinner. So I tell him cool, no problem, and that I’m stoked to see him anyway. Then, I go back to dude one, and tell him that my work commitment is ending early, so I’d still be free for dinner.
Basically, I did the exact same thing as Trish’s girl. And those friends of mine who bitch and moan over their eggs Benedict about the men and women in their lives who ghost? They themselves have straight up admitted to ghosting. If you act like a fuckboy and text like a fuckboy, you’re probably a fuckboy, y'all.
The realisation was both hilarious and startling to me. Hilarious because I am admittedly the most epic hypocrite on the planet sometimes. (My mother likes to remind me of this with relish whenever I back myself into a corner.) But it was also startling because it got me thinking: When the hell did we start treating each other so badly? Maybe the dudes who have been placed in my path have been karmic retribution for how I’ve treated other men in my past. Or maybe I picked up on these bad behaviours after nearly a decade of dating in New York City. But it doesn’t really matter which came first. What matters to me is how I’m going to move forward from all of this.
I’ve heard that you should always try to be the type of person you’d want to date. And if my behaviour is any indication, I’ve been wanting to date fuckboys. So starting now, I’m attempting to change my karma and deprogram the crap out of my dating habits. I know that there’s a good chance that I’ll still get ghosted on, or run into commitment-phobes, or date guys who say one thing and then act a different way. But, as I’ve stated many times before, changing my dating behaviour isn’t about “landing a man.” It’s about becoming the type of person I’m happy with. And that person isn’t someone I’d want people bitching about over eggs Benedict.
*Name has been changed.
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Alcohol is an "adulting" expense — and not one that we can always afford to totally splurge on. So when budgets are tight, what do we do? Buy the cheap stuff. Maybe you happen to be one of the lucky ones who's found some of "the cheap stuff" out there that's actually enjoyable (read: palatable) to sip on. But if you aren't, then we may just have a few tricks up our sleeves to remedy this drinking dilemma! So you can save any extra cash for that summer vacation you've been dreaming about.
Here's the solution: Make low-quality alcohol taste like the big bucks-stuff. From liquor to wine, we set out to test four popular methods for enhancing the flavour and overall feel of bottom of the barrel booze. Click through to find out which methods successfully masked the cheap flavour and which turned out to be more of a mess.
Infuse Cheap Vodka With Skittles
Ingredients Cheap vodka of choice Skittles of choice (we went with Tropical for summer!) Empty bottles or containers Ice
Instructions 1. Separate Skittles by colour and place in individual bottles.
2. Separate vodka equally by pouring into each bottle.
3. Shake, let sit for as long as desired, strain and layer different colours over ice.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Buxton.
Did It Work?
Sort of. While the colours were tropically rainbow, the flavours were less so. The finished product had a distinct cheap vodka taste, that was now also mixed with that of sugary-sweet Skittles The Skittles did successfully infuse, but the inexpensive aftertaste wasn't completely masked. We'd recommend adding in a splash of soda water to your glass for some extra help on the dilution front! Or just spending the extra cash on some higher quality stuff — a vodka Skittles on the rocks is not high atop our summer cocktail list.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Buxton.
Make A Spritzer Out Of Cheap Wine
Ingredients Cheap wine of choice (we went with a £5 bottle of rosé) Citrus (e.g. blood orange and lime) Soda water (e.g. lemon lime) Ice
Instructions Fill a pitcher with a three to two ratio of chilled wine and soda water, and then add in desired splashes of sweet and sour citrus juice and garnish with additional slices. Finish by pouring over ice to serve!
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Buxton.
Did It Work?
While one of our taste testers swore she could still detect the cheap wine, the others were unanimously pleased with the finished product. The spritzer was not only refreshingly easy to sip on, but it also looked pretty damn fancy — the citrus slices were very photogenic and the blood orange juice added some serious craft cocktail vibes. We stand by the spritzer solution as a tried-and-true success.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Buxton.
Make A Frozen Drink Out Of Cheap Tequila (Or Rum)
Ingredients Cheap tequila of choice Citrus (e.g. lime) Tropical fruit (e.g. pineapple) Ice
Instructions Place all ingredients together in blender and pulse until smooth. Pour into cup and enjoy!
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Buxton.
Did It Work?
Yes! The slushie solution was a shoe-in. We even had a non-tequila drinker taste test the finished product and she was completely sold. Not only was the cheap tequila taste masked, but the liquor's flavour in general seemed to be enhanced by the sweet pineapple and sour lime. Plus, the frozen consistency was a sublimely summery concoction. We'd also recommend trying this hack with a cheap rum and some frozen coconut water cubes.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Buxton.
Strain Cheap Vodka Through A Coffee Filter
Ingredients Cheap vodka of choice Coffee filter Rubber band Mason Jar
Instructions Secure coffee filter to top of Mason Jar with rubber band and then pour vodka through and allow to filter. Repeat at least five times (or as many as desired).
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Buxton.
Did It Work?
Yes! We had our taste testers blindly compare both a filtered and unfiltered sample of the cheap vodka (straight up) and everyone identified the filtered option as smoother and more palatable. The unfiltered on the other hand, they described as harsh and pretty undrinkable. This trick could also be utilised with a water pitcher-style filter or with another liquor of your choosing.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Buxton.
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What springs to mind when you think of Special K? Chances are it’s those godawful adverts and the controversial “Special K Challenge” diet plan, which involved eating two paltry bowls of cereal each day to lose weight. It doesn’t exactly have the most women-friendly reputation and even it's nutritional claims have been called into question.
So, the brand’s latest advert might take you by surprise. It’s hopped on the ever-so-trendy feminist bandwagon and done a full U-turn, now telling women to “own” (urgh) the act of eating.
The 30-second clip helpfully reminds us that – NEWSFLASH – women do, in fact, eat. “Women are amazing," the brand tells us, pointing out that: "Our bodies grow babies. We run marathons, companies, solve problems," all because – wait for it – we eat.
"We eat almonds, strawberries, quinoa," it continues, "and yeah, we eat chocolate." FFS, now the whole world knows our dirty little secret. We're not the only ones perplexed by the ad, either. Plenty of women have aired their confusion on Twitter.
To be fair, Special K doesn’t seem to be completely tone deaf, having anticipated potential criticism's of its new "feminist" stance on its own website. In a blog post headlined “Special K has changed, here’s why we did”, it takes great pains to outline how it’s now trying to “stand for something stronger” than it did previously.
Presumably something other than women starving themselves to fit into red clothing.
“While some certainly try, no company or brand can suddenly stand for female strength or jump on the positivity bandwagon. We know that," it says. “We’re redefining our brand philosophy to better support women today — evolving everything we 'serve,' from the way we behave to the foods we make.”
It seems to have cottoned on to the idea of #balance, too. “In most places around the world, women have moved away from the days of dieting, and view nutrition as part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Why wouldn’t we?”
Sure, anything's better than promoting starvation as a weight-loss tactic, but is "women eat" the most revolutionary message they could come up with?
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Gianforte will take over the position from Ryan Zinke, who, The Hill reports, vacated his seat in the House to become Interior secretary in Trump's administration.
Though many have condemned Gianforte's actions, some have publicly defended them. Earlier Thursday, GOP Representative Duncan Hunter told reporters that Gianforte's behaviour was inappropriate, "unless the reporter deserved it," according to The Hill.
If convicted, Gianforte could face up to six months in jail or be forced to pay a $500 fine, according to AP. It is unclear at this time what will happen now that he's been elected.
After news of the attack broke, eyeglasses brand Warby Parker offered to give Jacobs a new pair of spectacles, free of charge.
Gianforte defeated his opponent, Democrat Rob Quist, with approximately 50 percent of the vote at the time outlets such as AP and The New York Times called the race. Quist received just under 44 percent of the vote, according to The Times ' live election polling data.
Summer officially begins this month, but let's be honest, there's no way we're going to have 30 days of glorious sunshine. And when the famously fickle British weather flips from fit to dismal, Netflix is here to help.
The streaming giant is launching another strong list of titles this month, including a new season of its hit original series Orange Is the New Black. New Netflix shows include Gypsy, a psychological drama starring Naomi Watts, and Glow, a comedy-drama set in the world of women's professional wrestling in the '80s.
Netflix is also adding some excellent films. If you can't resist a Nicholas Sparks weepie, you can watch Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried in Dear John. If you prefer a psychological thriller, Steven Soderbergh's Side Effects starring Rooney Mara, Jude Law, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is a wild ride. And if you like an indie comedy, check out While We're Young, a low-key gem from Frances Ha director Noah Baumbach.
Click through to see every single new title – and its release date – on Netflix this June.
A Touch of Spice (2003)
Poignant Greek film about a successful chef who reconnects with the grandfather who taught him the importance of food, and life, when he was a boy.
Available 22nd June
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
Third instalment in Mike Myers' rude, crude and lewd spy comedy franchise. It's not the funniest Austin Power s film, but it is the one which co-stars Beyoncé.
Available 1st June
Better Call Saul (2017)
The conclusion of season three of Breaking Bad's slightly more lighthearted spin-off series. New episodes are added every Tuesday, right after they air in the US.
Blade II (2002)
Horror sequel starring Wesley Snipes as Blade, a vampire superhero who protects the human race from other, more menacing vampires.
Available 1st June
Blue Velvet (1986)
If you're enjoying the Twin Peaks revival series, why not revisit David Lynch's classic neo-noir mystery film starring Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, and Laura Dern? It's still gripping, and still stunning.
Availble 1st June
Burlesque: Heart of the Glitter Tribe(2016)
Not to be confused with the kitschy film starring Cher and Christina Aguilera, this is a brilliant documentary about Portland's fun and forward-thinking neo-burlesque scene.
Available 1st June
Call the Midwife (2015)
A special, Christmas-themed episode of the popular BBC drama series about a group of nurses working in east London in the '50s.
Available 25th June
The Care Bears Movie (1985)
Classic kids' movie featuring the cuddly '80s icons Share Bear, Love-a-Lot Bear, and of course Grumpy Bear.
Available 23rd June
Chef (2014)
Underrated comedy-drama film about a high-end chef who quits his job at a fancy brasserie after a fight with a restaurant critic, then sets up a humble food truck. Jon Favreau and Sofia Vergara star.
Available 30th June
Chris D'Elia: Man on Fire (2017)
A Netflix stand-up special in which the popular American comic riffs on marriage, not having kids, and the difficulties of buying clothes for your friends.
Available 27th June
Counterpunch (2017)
Documentary following a trio of promising amateur boxers as they train for greatness in a sport whose popularity is steadily declining.
Available 16th June
Dear John (2010)
Romantic movie starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. It's adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel, so have some tissues to hand.
Available 15th June
El Chapo (2017)
Brand new crime drama series based on the life of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. A second season has already been commissioned, so if the premise appeals it's worth getting invested.
Available 16th June
Elysium (2013)
Visually impressive sci-fi film set in a future where planet Earth has been ravaged, and an elite minority now live on a luxurious space haven called Elysium. Matt Damon and Jodie Foster star.
Available 7th June
Flaked (2017)
Season two of the Netflix comedy series in which Will Arnett stars as a rather deceitful self-help guru. Definitely worth a try if you haven't watched it before.
Available 2nd June
Free Rein (2017)
Brand new kids' drama series about an American teenager who befriends a mysterious horse while spending the summer in the English countryside.
Available 23rd June
Glow (2017)
Awesome-looking comedy-drama series set in the high-stakes (and big-haired) world of '80s women's professional wrestling. The cast includes Alison Brie, Ellen Wong, and Kate Nash - yes, that Kate Nash.
Available 23rd June
Gridiron Gang (2006)
Dwayne Johnson stars in a decent sports drama film about an American football team whose players have chequered personal histories, but pull together to achieve success.
Available 21st June
Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee (2016)
Intriguing documentary film about Jon McAfee, the American computer programmer who made a fortune from his antivirus software, but then fled to Belize when he was accused of murdering his neighbour.
Available 1st June
Gypsy(2017)
Eagerly-anticipated Netflix drama series starring Naomi Watts as a therapist with a shaky grasp on patient-client boundaries. Sam Taylor-Johnson directs the first two episodes, and Billy Crudup co-stars.
Available 30th June
Heartland (2017)
Season nine of the popular Canadian drama series set on a ranch in the Alberta Rockies. It's definitely one you can watch with all the family.
Available 23rd June
Hello, My Name Is Doris (2016)
The excellent Sally Field lights up this slept-on rom-com about a woman who falls for her much-younger co-worker. It's strong on our society's inherent ageism, and New Girl 's Max Greenfield bounces off Field beautifully.
Available 6th June
How to Stage a Coup (2017)
An hour-long documentary about some of history's most audacious power plays, from Julius Caesar to Mussolini.
Available 1st June
Rick Gutierrez: I'm Not Mad, I'm Just a Parent(2014)
Comedian Rick Gutierrez pokes fun at the highs and lows of being a parent in this hit stand-up special.
Available 6th June
John Q. (2002)
Action film starring Denzel Washington as a desperate father who holds up a hospital when he discovers that his medical insurance won't cover a life-saving operation for his son. Robert Duvall and Anne Heche co-star.
Available 1st June
Kardashian: The Man Who Saved O.J. Simpson(2016)
Documentary about the prominent American lawyer who helped O.J. Simpson to avoid a murder charge, but may not have felt proud of himself for doing so. You might have heard of his daughter Kim.
Available 1st June
Little Witch Academia (2017)
A brand new Netflix kids' series that's a spin-off from the popular Japanese anime franchise.
Available 30th June
Lucid Dream (2017)
South Korean drama film about an investigative journalist who turns to 'lucid dreaming' techniques in a bid to decipher what happened to his son who was abducted three years ago.
Available 2nd June
Luther (2015)
The two most recent episodes of the gripping BBC detective drama starring a super-charismatic Idris Elba. The Good Fight 's Rose Leslie co-stars.
Available 22nd June
Marco Luque: Tamo Junto (2017)
A tried-and-tested stand-up special from the inventive young comedian who's massive in his native Brazil.
Available 15th June
Mr. Deeds (2002)
Remake of the classic Hollywood comedy about a humble small-town guy who inherits a controlling stake in a huge media company. There are far worse Adam Sandler movies.
Available 14th June
Mr. Gaga: A True Story of Love and Dance(2017)
Filmed over a period of eight years, this superb documentary film offers a fascinating insight into the life and work of Ohad Naharin, artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company, and one of the world's leading choreographers.
Available 15th June
Mr. Mom (1983)
Written by the late, great John Hughes, this family comedy film stars Michael Keaton as a reluctant stay-at-home dad. The film's take on gender roles is pretty dated now, but it's still a sweet and entertaining watch.
Available 1st June
Mutant Busters (2017)
Season two of the popular kids' series that takes place in the wake of a natural disaster known as, wait for it, "the Big Fart."
Available 1st June
Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press(2017)
A Netflix original documentary about Hulk Hogan's notorious court case against Gawker Media, and how it exemplifies the way wealthy Americans can use their financial clout to silence high-profile critics.
Available 23rd June
Oh, Hello on Broadway (2017)
Exclusive to Netflix, this is a recording of the hilarious cult Broadway show about two very strange old men. Nick Kroll and John Mulaney star.
Available 13th June
Okja (2017)
Booed at Cannes, but only because it's a Netflix film, this brilliantly bizarre action-adventure follows a young girl's plight to save a super-pig who could be worth millions from a huge multinational corporation. Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal lead the cast.
Available 28th June
Orange Is the New Black(2017)
Season five of the comedy-drama series set in Litchfield Penitentiary. Let's hope it continues to offer some of the most engaging, relatable, and three-dimensional female characters on screen.
Available 9th June
Orphan Black(2017)
Fifth and final season of the fantastic and slightly underrated Canadian sci-fi drama series. Last year, Tatiana Maslany deservedly won an Emmy for her devilishly complex performance(s) as a woman and her many identical clones.
Available 11th June
Power (2017)
Fourth season of the popular crime drama series about a powerful New York City nightclub owner who moonlights as a drug lord. Omari Hardwick stars, and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson serves as an executive producer.
New episodes added weekly from 26th June
Pretty Little Liars (2017)
After seven seasons, the hit teen drama starring Ashley Benson and Lucy Hale is coming to an end. Netflix is adding new episodes from the final season every Wednesday, the day after they air in the US, so there's no need to worry about spoilers.
Reign(2017)
Fourth and final series of the US historical drama based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. New episodes are being added every Saturday.
Rory Scovel Tries Stand-up for the First Time(2017)
Don't be fooled by the title - it's very tongue-in cheek; Scovel is an experienced writer and comedian. This stand-up special finds him riffing on the big stuff: relationships, religion, politics, and the "Thong Song."
Available 20th June
RuPaul's Drag Race(2017)
Gentlemen, start your engines... and may the best woman win! The latest season of the cult US reality show got off to a slow start, but the competition is speeding up now. If you've never seen it before, expect serious beauty inspo, ridiculous lip-sync battles, and some premium-grade shade from the peacocking contestants. New episodes are being added every Saturday, and we won't tell you who our favourite is...
RV(2006)
Fizzy comedy film about a dysfunctional family muddling through a road trip. Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Josh Hutcherson, and JoJo star.
Available 21st June
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)
Charming British rom-com starring Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor. Don't worry - you don't have to care about fishing to enjoy it.
Available 1st June
Saving Banksy (2017)
Brand new documentary film about the famously anonymous graffiti artist, film director, and political activist. This should be pretty interesting; just don't expect Banksy to be unmasked.
Available 2nd June
Schindler's List(1993)
Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning Holocaust drama remains both shocking and moving. Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes all deliver beautifully-judged performances.
Available 22nd June
Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Brad Pitt stars in this solid biopic of Heinrich Harrer, the Austrian explorer who became friends with the Dalai Lama during the historic period when China was taking over Tibet.
Available 7th June
Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments(2017)
Second part of season two of the fantasy series based on Cassandra Clare's young adult novels. The cast includes Glee alumnus Harry Shum, Jr. New episodes will be added every Tuesday.
Shimmer Lake (2017)
A Netflix crime comedy film following a local sheriff's hunt for three bank robbery suspects, one of whom is his brother. But unusually, the story is told in reverse. Benjamin Walker and The Office 's Rainn Wilson star.
Available 9th June
Side Effects (2013)
Brilliant thriller film starring Jude Law as a psychiatrist whose patient kills her husband after being prescribed a new antidepressant drug. Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, and a surprising Catherine Zeta-Jones co-star.
Available 8th June
Terminator: Genisys (2015)
Game of Thrones ' Emilia Clarke joins Arnold Schwarzenegger in this slick reboot of the iconic Terminator franchise.
Available 2nd June
The Age of Adaline (2015)
Blake Lively stars in this poignant romantic movie as a woman who stops ageing at the age of 29 following a shock accident. Harrison Ford and Ellen Burstyn offer strong support.
Available 11th June
The Captive (2014)
Ryan Reynolds and Rosario Dawson star in this unusual and atmospheric thriller film about the search to find a missing woman who disappeared eight years ago.
Available 1st June
The First Monday in May (2016)
Gripping documentary film following Vogue 's legendary editor-in-chief Anna Wintour as she prepares for one of the most illustrious events in the fashion calendar: the Met Gala. If you liked The September Issue, you'll probably enjoy this, too.
Available 1st June
The Forger (2014)
Crime thriller film about a father and son who team up to forge a Monet, and then steal the original. John Travolta and Christopher Plummer star.
Available 1st June
The Ranch (2017)
Third season of the slightly old-fashioned Netflix sitcom about a dysfunctional Colorado family. This time, there are 20 new episodes, with Ashton Kutcher and Debra Winger leading the cast.
Available 16th June
Theater of Life (2015)
Stirring documentary film about the Refettorio Ambrosiano, a remarkable soup kitchen set up by celebrity chef Massimo Bottura during the Milan 2015 World’s Fair. Some of the world's best chefs cooked there for the city's homeless population, using food from the World's Fair that would otherwise have been thrown away.
Available 1st June
Two Night Stand (2014)
Rom-com starring Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton as a pair of online daters who are forced to extend their one-night stand when they get snowed in by a blizzard.
Available 1st June
War on Everyone (2016)
Michael Peña and Big Little Lies ' Alexander Skarsgård star as wickedly corrupt cops in this very funny and often pretty shocking black comedy film.
Available 1st June
What the Health (2017)
This eye-opening documentary film explores the possible connections between eating dairy and meat products and various global health problems. It's probably not one to watch when you're having a burger.
Available 16th June
While We're Young (2014)
Sharp indie comedy film about a middle-aged couple (Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts) who start hanging out with a younger couple (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried). It's written and directed by Frances Ha 's Noah Baumbach.
Available 1st June
World of Winx(2017)
Second season of the Italian kids' series about a group of super-cool talent scouts working on a reality TV show.
Available 16th June
You Get Me (2017)
Teen thriller starring Bella Thorne as a girl who transfers schools to pursue the guy she falls for on a one-night stand. It's a Netflix original film, with Halston Sage and Taylor John Smith co-starring.
Available 23rd June
You Me Her (2017)
Second season of the show that's been billed as TV's "first polyromantic comedy." It follows a married couple living in Portland, Oregon who bring a third party into their relationship.
Available 15th June
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The characters on Game of Thrones are experts in predicting when winter is comin g. I, on the other hand, am far more interested in reading the signs of summer. Summer technically starts on June 21, sure — but the summer mood begins much earlier than that. First, there are the obvious progressions: The temperature rises, the AC starts buzzing, and your maxi dress finally gets its first debut since last August. Then, there are the subtle changes. All the movies in cinemas involve superheroes or explosions. Everyone’s drinking rose.
Then, there's my favourite part of summer: Blasting songs from open car windows. There’s a certain magic in the combination of warm nights and booming pop anthems. Even now, I dream of my days playing “We Are Young” from my beat-up car in school. A summer anthem somehow inspires instant nostalgia.
In the future, when you hear these songs, you’ll remember where you were in the summer of 2017. You’ll remember the songs you played at the beach. The songs you sang to on your friend’s roof. The songs you memorised accidentally, so often were they on the radio.
Here are the tracks you may be sick of come October — but maybe not.
So long to the reign of "Someone Like You" by Adele and "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye. "Green Light" is the raging, exuberant, fantastic breakup song of the summer.
"Slide" by Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Migos
This is the only groove you need to set the tone for a good night out.
"Down" by Marian Hill
The Philadelphia-based electro-pop duo may have just written the indie hit that'll triumph over the pop charts.
"Want You Back" by HAIM
After a long, long HAIM drought, the sister group is back. "Want You Back" might be too mellow to dominate the charts, but if you're searching for a low-key and folky tune, it's certain to dominate your head.
"It Ain't Me" by Kygo feat. Selena Gomez
It's absolutely inevitable that you, me, and everyone we know will be shouting "It Ain't Me" in a crowd at some point this summer.
With "Carolina," we can pretend it's the summer of 1971 and classic rock's still on the radio.
"I Feel It Coming" By the Weeknd feat. Daft Punk
With hints of house and '80s-pop, this funky and optimistic song about a relationship going places is the song equivalent of a good mood.
"I'm the One" by DJ Khaled, feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Change The Rapper, Lil Wayne
Better make peace with this song now. It's already gone platinum, and that means it's going to be everywhere.
"Passionfruit" by Drake
Of all the tracks on More Life, "Passionfruit," a track about Drake's struggles in a long-distance relationship, is likely to be what you'll hear on the radio this summer.
"I Got Issues" by Julia Michaels
Michaels pulls the listener into an intimate, honest conversation about her "issues." Hey, we all got 'em.
"Don't Kill My Vibe" by Sigrid
Move over "Roar," "Brave," and every other pump-up anthem you can think of. This Norwegian singer's break-out hit is the only sonic self-esteem boost you need.
"Dark Red" by Steve Lacy
Kendrick Lamar collaborator Steve Lacy wrote this catchy, creepy song about a man paranoid his relationship's about to end. Lacy's only 18 years old, so expect to hear more of him.
"Mask Off" by Future
Get that flute sample out of your head, I dare you.
"Malibu" by Miley Cyrus
In which Miley makes domestic bliss seem more blissful.
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Dating, as you all well know, has changed dramatically in the last five years. We've moved from giggling at people mad enough to put their details on Plenty of Fish into an era where it's not at all weird for your mate to pull out her phone, give it a few taps and head off into the sunset to meet the date she just organised right then and there.
Go back further than five years and you'll recall that once upon a time, people even used to meet organically, in real-life situations. Madness*.
So what does the future of dating look like?
Well, with new technology being invented every single day, it's nigh on impossible to map out what the exact landscape will look like. However, there are certain trends emerging which can give us a little bit of insight.
We spoke to Claire Certain, the head of global trends at French dating app Happn, to find out her predictions for the next few years.
*JK kids, obviously this still happens and it's great and there's more on this below.
We’ll get better at fitting our dates into our everyday life
Between friends, work commitments, gym classes and keeping some semblance of an organised home, who the hell has time for dating? It’s a common gripe among millennials. Dating apps are already helping us cut through the chaff when it comes to finding potential dates but are they about to go even further?
Happn’s "See You There" feature is about a year old. At the moment, to me, elements of it are as unnerving as Happn itself was when it first came out (for those not in the know, Happn connects you with people you cross paths with IRL). See You There asks you what you want to do at that very moment (get a drink, go for a run, catch a movie), then matches you with people looking to do the same thing. “If you’re already doing something, why not share your moment with someone who wants to do something at the same time?” asks Claire.
As well as being efficient (you were probably going to go on that run anyway), it's also a good way of finding like-minded matches. “Like if you’re about to go to a movie, that’s something you like to do so if someone else is interested [in joining you on Happn] then you guys have something in common.”
Now, in mid-2017, the concept of Happn doesn't seem weird at all. So how long before everyone feels comfortable mixing their running schedule with their dating? Probably not long at all.
Most people are really looking for "The One"
Despite the bad rep that dating apps get, Claire is certain that most people are after “The One”. “The more I talk to our users, everywhere in the world, you discover that bottom line, they’re looking for the right person.” In fact, she’s noticed that their user numbers are quite low on Friday and Saturday nights, suggesting people prefer to go out with friends over random hookups. It picks up again on Sunday, though. “It’s like, 'OK we had a nice night, we had fun' but then in the morning, they want someone to share the day with.”
Dating apps aren’t going to change our behaviour
Many people blame dating apps for creating "disposable" dating. But Claire said it’s actually the opposite; technology has moved on in conjunction with our wants and needs. “In big cities we’re super-connected so you don’t really look at the people who are going past,” she says. Actually, a lot of us would consider it rude if someone came up to us out of the blue and commented on our appearance. Dating apps create a gentle go-between. “We are mobile and it’s something that we wanted,” she says. “We’re not changing because of the tools, the tools have adapted to our new behaviours. Girls and guys are still doing the same thing we were doing 30 years ago.” It’s just that now, she says, we’re not just doing it by talking to each other in bars.
Dating apps will be instrumental in making connections other than dating
Already the concept of using dating apps for something other than dating is big news. Bumble’s BFF feature means women can meet other like-minded women for friendship, while stories of people using Tinder to travel their way around the world have been circulating for years. “We get testimonials, like 100 a day from all around the world,” says Claire. “The best reward is people saying they want to thank us because they met through the app but we also get testimonials from people saying, ‘I didn’t find love but I did find a business partner, or a friend and now we’re travelling together'. Chemistry is very unique so you don’t know how things are going to turn.”
Meeting IRL will still be a thing
For those that mourn the lost "romance" of people meeting in bars or bumping into each other in the street as if fate had intervened, for starters, trust us – being single before dating apps really wasn’t all that. What's more, it can still happen!
“We’re hyper-connected,” says Claire, explaining the appeal of dating apps. “We shop online for groceries, for clothes, for furniture… I buy furniture on my smartphone on the way home but it doesn’t prevent me from going to a traditional bricks and mortar store to go and buy things as well.” If you’ve got time to spend in store, you’ll do it; if not, you’ll look online. The same applies to dating. If you’re a newly divorced, high-flying corporate, single mother of three, she says, by way of real-life example, then when do you have time to date? The particular woman Claire is referencing did meet a newly divorced, high-flying single father of three on Happn (really) but, Claire says, she was using the app to be “pragmatic” because of her lifestyle. “It doesn’t prevent you from being romantic, or from meeting people in other ways.”
Virtual reality dating could be a thing? Maybe
As depressing as sitting in your bedroom pretending to be on a date with someone else sitting in their bedroom pretending to be on a date sounds, for some dating apps, it could be A Thing. “I know for sure that other companies are considering virtual reality,” Claire says. Although she says Happn isn’t into it. “Dating is about real people and meeting a real person where you can talk to them. We’re not going into virtual reality.” Phew.
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We customise everything, from our morning coffee to the clothes in our wardrobe, so why not customise the products in our bathroom cabinet and makeup bag, too? Well, thanks to the growing number of bespoke beauty services, creating a product that suits you and your needs has never been easier.
While the concept of customisable cosmetics is nothing new, in the last few years the options have grown enormously and the choices available have become both more accessible and affordable. Once the privilege of women who could afford a Harley Street dermatologist, customisation is now available on the high street, for a fraction of the price.
A big part of this shift comes down to customer demand. With honest reviews readily available on YouTube, social media and forums, consumers no longer rely on brands or sales assistants for their advice. The beauty fanatic knows what they want and, thanks to the world of bespoke beauty, chances are, they might now be able to get it.
Bespoke services are available in all corners of the beauty industry – this is our edit of the ones worth investing in.
The first brand to pioneer the ‘drop concept’, Cover FX lets you create the coverage you want with the skincare you already love. Their Custom Cover Drops – essentially a concentrated liquid foundation – can be added to any product in your current skincare lineup, including serum, moisturiser, primer or face oil, to customise your base – from a sheer tinted moisturiser (one drop) to full-coverage foundation (four drops), and everything in between. Not only can you create your own unique formulation, you can switch it up on a daily basis depending on your needs or the occasion. Plus, if you’ve got the bespoke bug, Cover FX now has similar ‘drop’-style products for blush, bronzer and highlighter, too.
Cover FX Custom Cover Drops, £36, available at Space NK
The majority of us don’t have one skin type. Thanks to changes in season, environment and lifestyle, your skin can differ enormously from day to day. Instead of investing in endless products, try adding two to three drops of one of Odacité’s Serum Concentrates to your current moisturiser or serum to give it a specific boost. There are 18 to choose from, and each of the 100% natural concentrated serums targets a particular issue – from dry patches and spots to sensitivity and oversized pores.
Odacité Serum Concentrate, from £27.50, available at Cult Beauty
If you’ve struggled with finding a serum that ticks all the boxes, then Kiehl’s new customisation service might be what you're looking for. Following an enlightening consultation and analysis by a skin expert at the Kiehl’s counter, you will be prescribed a bespoke serum which combines a base of Skin Strengthening Concentrate plus two individually chosen Targeted Complexes designed specifically for your skin concerns.
Kiehl's Apothecary Preparations Service, £90, available at select counters
For an all-natural approach, look no further than MixNature, an online lab where you can design your own skincare. You choose the base by your skin type, then you select your choice of essential oils, extracts and activating agents to create your own unique formula. Whether it’s a moisturiser, cleanser, scrub or mask, MixNature will whip it up and have it to you in just a few days.
MixNature Skincare, from £7.90, available at MixNature
Considering many people deem mascara a ‘desert island product’, it is surprising how often we’re unsatisfied with the current options on the market. This is where Eyeko’s Personalised Mascara Service comes to the rescue. Following a consultation with one of Eyeko’s Mascara Editors (yep, that’s a thing), you choose a formula and wand to suit your eyelashes before they create it in front of you, and pack it up in a monogrammed box.
Eyeko Personalised Mascara Service, £30, available at Harvey Nichols
Bonnie XO’s colour-matching service will create any shade of lipstick you like. Whether that’s a discontinued product you're desperate to duplicate, a dress you’re looking to match or a hue you just can’t get your hands on, Bonnie XO will make it. Alternatively, for just a tenner you can create your own lipstick by choosing a shade from their extensive selection and pair it with one of their seven scents (vanilla, cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, orange, rose, and unfragranced).
Bonnie XO Custom Colour Service, from £10, available at Bonnie XO
For bespoke nails, Palette’s create-your-own kits are just the ticket. The starter pack offers three primary nail shades plus white and black so you can custom-make an endless array of nail varnish hues. Complete with pipettes and a simple-to-follow guide, mixing up your own unique polish couldn't be easier.
Palette London Create Your Own Nail Paint Collection, £25, available at Palette London
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Faced with the question, “Can I afford to buy a house?” the answer staring back at many young people is a big, fat "No". We are on the renting-for-life rails and even have the honest-to-God worst nickname in history: Generation Rent. Basically, we’re known for nothing other than giving our landlords lots of money and our complete inability to get on the housing ladder. And it's not even our fault. Not our fault at all.
The average price of a house in the UK is an eye-wateringly expensive £215,847 (in London it pushes £500,000), and is projected to rise to £270,000 in the next few years, which means the number of people able to buy is reducing quickly. In 2016, housing charity Shelter released information stating that by 2020, first-time buyers will need a household income of at least £64,000, along with a £46,000 deposit, just to buy an “average home”. For most people, this is nigh on impossible.
The truth is that the way to buy a house is to save, and save hard, and even then, many of us will remain renters. Some will struggle to get a mortgage because they’re one of the UK’s 1.9 million freelancers; yet more know that the most they’ll ever earn is £30,000 – making that necessary household income of £64,000 pretty damn laughable.
Here's how the millennials who are buying houses are managing to do it.
Winning at auction
Auctions are where hard-to-sell houses go on the market. They tend to be real wrecks, or places where a renovation job became too expensive and the house is missing a ceiling. Occasionally, auction properties might be hard to sell because they only have a few years left on the lease, or because something awful happened there. Whatever the reason, if you don’t mind weird backstories or strange cosmetic details, and have your eyes firmly on getting a bargain, then for some people, trying an auction can be a good move.
Omar Hadi, a conveyancer at Gorvins, says that yes, for those with a deposit, it’s absolutely possible to snatch a bargain at auction. He offers a word of warning, though: “It’s easy to get your hopes up when the guide price for the property is much lower than the market average. But the reality is very few places go for the guide price, so stick to your guns and don’t get caught in a bidding war.
“If you purchase the property well beyond your budget and you can’t front the deposit upfront, you may even find yourself being sued by the vendor.”
To buy property, you’ll need to put down at least 10% of the total cost of the property if your offer is accepted.
However, getting a mortgage for a seriously run-down place can be super-hard, so you might be asked to buy it all at once. This works well if you have a very small income but a large deposit. Erm, which we've all got stashed away for a rainy day. Right, guys? Right.
Nancy Parker knew she couldn’t afford to buy a house. “I was living in London, renting, and earned £27,000 a year. Anywhere else, I might have a shot at somewhere really small but in London, no chance.” Out of the £1,650 she took home each month, more than 60% of her salary went on rent. “All my friends used to get really excited about payday. Payday was just the day I sent £950 to my landlord and British Gas, and my monthly budgeting started again. I felt like I couldn’t catch a break.”
But then Nancy’s best friend Lily said she’d been saving and had enough for a deposit. However, she also earned less than £30,000, and was single. Together, they pooled their savings and, thanks to their joint income, were able to afford a £250,000 two-bedroom flat in New Cross, southeast London.
“Obviously, it’s a bit more risky if one of us gets a boyfriend and we decide to move in or out with him. But honestly, she’s my best friend, and we’ve both been through lots together, so I’m fully prepared for us to work it out if that happens.” Any tips? “You need to be really honest about your intentions from the start, and about how much you’ll split the price of the house by when you come to sell so there are no nasty surprises.”
Nancy only spends £650 on her mortgage each month. “Finally it feels like I’m making an investment in my future.”
This is how it works: Remember at university, when you needed to convince your new landlord that you weren’t going to trash the place and you had to get your parents to reluctantly sign a form that said if you set the house on fire, they’d be liable? Well, you can do that when you buy a house, too.
Being self-employed can make it hard to get a mortgage, which is where the guarantor mortgage comes in. Cilla Dugdale agreed to be the guarantor for her daughter: “I took a bit of convincing, but ultimately I trust my daughter to pay me back. She freelances and works in a badly paid profession, so she’ll never earn more than £40,000 in one year, but she’s managed to save her deposit. I know I can rely on her to always make the mortgage repayments no matter what, and we have a good relationship, so it felt like a good idea.”
Sounds like the dream, so how does it work? For many guarantor loans, the borrower (you) still needs a deposit but, in some cases, banks offer 100% guarantor mortgages where, instead of you giving the bank all your hard-earned cash, the guarantor (mum and dad) uses their house as the deposit. The only downside to this, obviously, is that if you default or something goes tits-up, your parents could end up homeless. Which would be a bummer. Nationwide and Leeds Building Society both have reputable guarantor options.
They're living in communes
Co-housing, or commune-living, grew in popularity with the 1971 founding of Christiania, Denmark. Synonymous with hippy vibes and squats, where everyone pitched in with cooking, it was a symbol of free love and happiness. Sadly, as many people in big cities already share seven-bedroom houses and cook together as a matter of course, the romance of house-sharing at 30 may well be dead.
However, living in a commune when you all own the house you’re living in is a bit different. On the off-chance you live with friends and all six of you want to buy (with boyfriends or girlfriends), you could have a pool of £100,000 each year to play with (going off the average UK salary of £27,000).
Communal living is tough in an expensive city but if you’re keen to leave the rat race and get onto the property ladder, buying a countryside wreck might be just the bohemian lifestyle you were looking for. Diggers and Dreamers has all the information you need to get your very own Bloomsbury Group vibe going.
Steven, a PhD based in California, thinks the cooperative movement can be really positive. He thinks the best thing with regards to his co-op was the division of labour and the pooling of resources. " Everyone had a house position that would change every few months and a number of weekly chores that would change every couple weeks. I didn't really grocery shop for a year, and didn't do a lot of cooking since I preferred to sign up for positions and chores that were less time-sensitive and I could do when I had some unexpected free time during the week (lots of bathroom-cleaning, sweeping, and mopping). By pooling of resources I mean that the cooperative was able to negotiate bulk discounts with the local health food store, with which we were able to buy a large diversity of good quality foods."
It could be a workable model, especially as individual housing stock depletes or becomes too expensive. However, Steven warns that societal values would probably have to change before cooperative living became completely feasible. "There are a lot of demands on time, interpersonal demands, and a loss of autonomy that might be frustrating to many. For the self-selecting group that were interested in co-op culture, it seemed like a largely sustainable option."
Read more money focused content (minus the boring bits) at On The Money.
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