News Reporting F*ck Ups

A video has emerged of one woman’s public protest against body image anxiety.

Jae West stripped to her underwear, blindfolded herself and stood in Piccadilly Circus in Central London, with a sign asking passersby to draw hearts on her body in solidarity.

The sign next to her read:

I’m standing for anyone who has struggled with an eating disorder or self-esteem issues like me… To support self-acceptance draw a heart on my body

At first people were reluctant to draw on her, but after a few minutes they started to get involved.

West is part of a group called The Liberators International, who stage public events to highlight social issues.

She wrote about the protest in a blog post, saying:

One of the most moving and inspiring moments for me was listening to a father explain to his children what I was doing. He was acknowledging the fact that everyone should love themselves exactly as they are and appreciate the bodies that they are given. It warmed my heart to know that his children and others would grow up understanding the impact of this global issue and have a feeling of contribution after drawing a love heart on my body,

If everyone could know and appreciate how beautiful they are from childhood I think this world would be a very different place.

These days, kids spend most of their time sat in front of a computer screen or the TV, and actually reading a book is something they don’t seem to do much.

That is why one barber, Courtney Holmes, decided to offer free haircuts to children if they were willing to read him a story any story of their choosing, while he was cutting their hair.

The scheme was part of a Get Back To School initiative in Iowa, and the 45 year old claimed that he just wanted to get kids back reading.

He added:

I want to start something that will help with their literacy. I want to put a book in their hands, rather than have them in front of a computer.

Not only does that encourage kids to read, but it also saves their parents some money, and given how tight most families’ financial situations are, it is yet another bonus for them.

Source: http://j.gs/6OXk

You know how sometimes you hear a really strange story and don’t quite know what to make of it? Well brace yourselves for this cracker.

One man decided to stop living as a human for a few days, and become a goat.

Thomas Thwaites, a conceptual designer, decided to spend three days in the Alps, to see how goats live, and study their behaviour – think method acting, but method research instead.

He claimed:

My goal was to take a holiday from the pain and worry of being a self-conscious being, able to regret the past and worry about the future.

I was able to keep up for maybe a kilometre or so on this migration down the side of this kind of rocky mountain, and then they just left me in the dust.

So I spent the rest of the day trying to catch up to them and eventually I found them again, and it was quite nice, in the actual soft grassy pasture bit.

But actually heading down the mountain was petrifying. Because if I fell I didn’t have any hands to stop me from hitting a rock.

Now while it’s probably a good job that he’s not decided to live as a goat full time, it’s still a pretty interesting if wacky idea.

 Source: http://j.gs/6OWf

It might be time to stop tucking into that fry-up guys as, according to a new study, bacon and sausage may actually be ruining your sperm.

The findings from the study, published in the medical journal ‘Fertility & Sterility’, suggest that eating sausage, bacon and canned meat might be killing men’s chances of reproducing.

Researchers were concerned specifically with couples undergoing infertility treatment.

They studied 141 men whose female partners underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2007 to 2014. Using dietary questionnaires, they determined the scope of each man’s typical meat intake.

And men who avoided processed proteins like sausage, bacon and canned meat had a 28% higher success rate than those who had a fry-up regularly.

However, on the bright side, the study found no link between overall meat consumption and successful fertilisation, regardless of treatment technique. Plus, for men who ate a large amount of poultry, the fertilisation rate was actually 13% higher than those who didn’t.

The research also found that bacon eating guys in couples who used the more expensive ICSI technique – in which a single sperm is injected into an egg – were actually just as successful as their processed meat-avoiding counterparts. So, it’s not all bad news for those who love their rashers!

Although the reasons for bacon consumption affecting the guys was not immediately clear to researchers, the results do follow the recommended healthy eating lifestyle doctors prescribe to couples undergoing IVF treatment.

In a news release, Dr. Rebecca Sokol, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said:

This study suggests that the type of meat a man consumes may influence his sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg. Eating a healthy diet is an easy change to make, and worth making for reproductive health as well as overall health.

So there you go. Chicken = good sperm, bacon = bad sperm. Or, alternatively, eat whatever you like and just go for a run every once in a while and you’ll probably be okay.

Linked to diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, elephantiasis and many more vector-borne diseases, mosquitoes are a big menace to humanity. While most of us turn to chemical insecticides to kill mosquitoes, these chemical agents have been known to cause allergic reactions in some and are simply harmful to others. So, if you are looking for natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes in your house, then here are 10 ways to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Neem oil: If you have been wondering how to kill mosquitoes, try neem oil as it acts as a great indoor mosquito-repellent. A study published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association {1} found that mixing neem oil with coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio is an effective way to keep mosquitoes at bay. Being a potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-protozoal agent, neem lends your skin a particular smell that wards off mosquitoes. To make an effective insecticide mix neem oil and coconut oil in equal portions and rub it on your body (all exposed parts). This will protect you from mosquito bites for at least eight hours. Here are 5 ways to save your baby from mosquito bites.

Eucalyptus and lemon oil: Recommended by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) as an effective indoor insect-repellent, the mixture of lemon oil and eucalyptus oil is extremely effective in repelling mosquitoes – naturally. The way lemon oil and eucalyptus oil works is due to its active component cineole, which has both antiseptic and insect-repellent properties when applied to the skin. The best part about this mixture is that it is natural and does not come with all the ill effects of chemical mosquito repellents. To use this mixture, mix lemon oil and eucalyptus oil in equal proportions and use it on your body. Read about the top 10 facts you should know about malaria.

Camphor: This easily available ingredient could be the answer for how to kill mosquitoes in the house. Made from the extract of a tree, this compound has been found to have the longest mosquito repellent activity when compared to other natural products. {2}Light camphor in a room and close all the doors and windows. Leave it this way for about fifteen to twenty minutes and go back to a mosquito free environment.

Tulsi: According to data published in the Parasitology Research Journal {3} Tulsi was extremely effective in killing mosquito larvae and helped keep mosquitoes away. Moreover, according Ayurveda simply planting a Tulsi shrub near your window is all you need to keep mosquitoes away. The plant has properties that not only help you to get rid of mosquitoes in your house but also prevent them from entering your house. Here are 8 tips to prevent dengue.

Garlic: It acts as an effective natural remedy to kill mosquitoes and thus, prevent numerous diseases caused by these parasites. It might smell bad, but that is exactly why mosquitoes stay away. The strong and pungent odour of garlic is known to prevent mosquito bites and even prevents them from entering your home. So to use this remedy you could crush up a few pods of garlic, boil it in water and use the water to spray around the room you want to keep mosquito free. If you are the adventurous type (or really hate mosquitoes), you could also spray it on yourself to avoid being bitten.

Tea tree oil: It has numerous benefits for your skin and hair and is a very powerful antibacterial and antifungal agent as well, but did you know that tea tree oil is also perfect to drive mosquitoes away? Well, the odour and its antifungal and antibacterial properties help prevent mosquitoes from biting you and drive them away. So if you want to use this remedy you could either rub some tea tree oil on your skin or add a few drops of it to a vaporizer. This way the scent of tea tree oil permeates the air and kills the mosquitoes in the house. Here’s how mosquitoes attack their targets.

Mint: If the scent of mint relaxes you then this remedy is for you. According to a study published in the Journal of Bioresource Technology {4} found that mint oil and the mint extract is as effective as any other indoor mosquito repellent. You can use mint leaves and essence in various ways. You can choose to use it in a vaporizer to help fill the room with the scent of mint, apply the oil on your body or plant the shrub outside your room’s window. Alternatively you could mix a bit of mint-flavoured mouthwash with water and spray it around your home.

Lavender: Not only does it smell divine but it is also a great way to keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay. The scent of this flower is often quite strong for mosquitoes making them unable to bite. So to use this home remedy, use lavender oil as a natural room freshener or apply it on your skin (you can mix it with your cream) for best results.

Citronella: Citronella oil is an essential oil extracted from citronella grass. This oil has been known to prevent mosquito bites extremely efficiently. So much so, that many people resort to using this extract instead of chemical agents. All you need to do is infuse this extract in a candle or use it in a vaporizer to help you stay mosquito bite free and might even kill mosquitoes.

Plant trees: If you thought that trees and shrubs led the breeding of more mosquitoes, you are wrong. Planting the right kind of shrubs and trees can go a long way in keeping your home mosquito free. Shrubs of tulsi, mint, marigold, trees of lemon and neem and planting citronella grass are all extremely effective in preventing the breeding of mosquitoes – keeping you safe from dreaded vector-borne diseases; naturally.

I strongly believe that everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way and deserves to be celebrated. Inner beauty is as significant as outer beauty and we learn it as we grow and mature. After all, beauty is not all about the looks. If you’re beautiful on the inside, it will certainly show on the outside. Here are a few tips to follow to be more beautiful on the inside.

1. Learn more about yourself

We are given a life full of both happy and dramatic events to have an opportunity to cognize your true self. I think it is impossible to become beautiful on the inside without proper self-cognition. Analyze your behavior and take some personality tests to learn more about yourself. You should accept who you are and discover the nature of your world. It will help you connect to your inner wisdom and voice.

2. Accept who you really are

Life is too short that’s why don’t waste time trying to change your nature. You can only change your behavior and habits. It is necessary to realize that you are not going to change anything by putting yourself down. You are who you are. Accept it and enjoy your life.

3. Be grateful

It is important to be thankful for everything you have. Practice gratitude daily and it will make you more trusting, more appreciative and nicer. First of all, you should be grateful for your blessings. Each morning before you get out of bed, think of the things you are grateful for. This way, your day will be more active and positive. You should also be grateful for the life’s challenges, which serve as lessons and help you to grow.

4. Learn to be kind

When you are kind, those around you see the beauty of your soul. Help people around and spread goodness in the world. People usually look lovelier when their hearts are full of kindness. Every time you do something kind, you feel great no matter how big or small things are. Just do your best to improve yourself and this harsh world.

5. Show your care about others

Helping people in need is one of the best ways to be more beautiful on the inside. You should care for people around, especially for those who care for you. Let your friends and family know what they mean to you and it will instantly make you feel more beautiful on the inside.

6. Love yourself

You can’t be more beautiful on the inside if you don’t love yourself. When you love and take great care of yourself, you are more capable of taking care of others. Learn to appreciate who you are and people around you will definitely appreciate you too. Love yourself, because you are the only person responsible for your inner peace and beauty.

7. Do good deeds

Many people do agree that doing a kind deed for someone else makes them feel great. When you help somebody, you may feel as if you have received a blessing as well. Scientists claim that doing good deeds can actually improve your physical and mental health. Others believe that it is the best way of sowing karma.

If you are trying to be more beautiful on the inside, hopefully these tips will help you. Kahlil Gibran once said, “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” Accept who you are, love yourself and don’t let anyone bring you down. What makes you feel more beautiful on the inside?