1in4

Did you know that 1 in 4 women will suffer from domestic violence in their lifetime?

1 IN 4.

Look around you. Are there 4 or more women around? (I hope so, otherwise that demonstrates the lack of gender diversity in your workforce/academic field but that’s a whole other issue.) Well, 1 of them will experience some form of domestic violence in her lifetime. 

Stats exist for a reason.

Open your heart and mind to the realities that confront 1 in 4 women daily and learn to support these women.

Support a friend.

Watch this video.

S

What the F is Cupping?!

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS? 
OH MY GOD
ARGHHHHHHH
LOOK AT YOUR BACK!!!!! (Note, this is physically impossible!)
JESUS CHRIST.
ARE YOU CRAZY?


These are but some of the extraordinary reactions I received when I put up a picture of my back on Facebook and showed my friends and family. My back, which is covered in perfectly formed purpleish circles. This, my dear readers, is cupping. 

You can see it here on Gwyneth Paltrow's back and I'm sure a ton of celebs / 'normal' people have had it done.

It's a East Asian tradition (my mum used to have it done when she was ill as a youngster) and involves heating a small glass cup to get all the air out of it and then placing it on certain areas of your body to create a suction which pulls the blood up to the surface. This is to create better blood circulation and break down the lactic acid, to ultimately relax your muscles and relieve tension.

I found the whole process very enjoyable if a bit weird. My upper back is definitely more relaxed now and I can move my shoulders without feeling like they're laden with a ton of bricks.

My back did ache where the bruises are for 24 hours and I really hope they go by the time I hit the beach in Rio! I've enjoyed freaking people out with them, they do look very very bizarre - like crop circles on my body.

Special thanks has to go to my friend Clem who decorated these bad boys so well for the Diwali party we attended.

I recommend trying it and next time you see these weird circles, you'll know what they are!


S

Your first time counts

I am an avid fan of the West Wing therefore interested in American politics as well as being a fan of Obama. He's not perfect, he's not done a LOT of things he said he would do BUT he's about 50000000000000000000 time better than MITT ROMNEY. 

My list of things that are wrong with Mitt Romney:
-anti-gay
-anti-abortion
-anti-women 
-anti-healthcare
-pro-war


Lena Dunham endorsed Obama with this little video about her first time... Definitely make sense to make the most of your first time or make an even BETTER choice your second/third/fourth time. Whatever number it is for you, Vote Obama next Tuesday 6th November. 

S