The Queen adopted a new pup called Whisper and we’re in love

Jul 18, 2017

In possibly the sweetest news today, the Queen has adopted a new dog because she "fell in love" with him.

According to The Sun, the dog, who's name is Whisper, was owned by Sandringham's gamekeeper Bill Fenwick, who passed away at the beginning of this year.

And after the Queen took the dog out on a walk, she decided she had to keep him.

"The Queen has always had corgis but she made the decision four years ago not to breed any more because she didn’t want to have a bad fall," an insider told The Sun.

“She was also concerned dogs might be left without an owner if anything happened to her.

"But she couldn’t resist Whisper and now she has asked Bill’s family if she can keep him."

The Queen was apparently very close to Bill, and his wife Nancy, who passed away many years ago.

We'd say Whisper is delighted with his new home.

BREAKING: The Irish minimum wage is set to increase by 30 cent

Jul 18, 2017

by Staff Writer

Ireland’s minimum wage is set to go up by 30 cent from the start of next year.

As of January 2018, minimum wage will be €9.55 an hour.

It means an extra €12.00 in the pockets of those in full time employment per week.

More than 120,000 workers are set to benefit from the increase.

'While modest, the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation to increase the rate by 30 cent an hour to €9.55 is a welcome but very small step in the right direction,' Labour spokesperson on Worker’s Rights Senator Ged Nash told The Sun.

'Frankly, this government has a lot to be modest about when it comes to delivering on its own promise that work should pay.'

'With a miserly 10 cent increase last year and a modest 30 cent recommended for next year, the Fine Gael-Independent Alliance government is making extremely heavy weather of their pledge to hike the minimum wage rate to €10.50 per hour.'

Mid-flight? Don’t ask flight attendants for this one drink

Jul 18, 2017

by Amber Saunders

We've heard the horror stories of having a little too much booze on a flight and becoming an absolute mess by the time the plane lands.

And even though alcohol affects you more when you're up thousands of feet in the air, it actually doesn't bother flight attendants as much as other drinks.

But the one beverage that flight attendants really can't handle? Diet Coke.

Jet, from the blog, These Gold Wings, says that it really annoys the cabin crew when people order it.

"As you may know, the aircraft cabin is not pressurised to sea level, but rather to the equivalent of about seven or eight thousand feet.

"This means some passengers might feel a little light headed or that alcohol affects them almost twice as much as it would on the ground.

"It also means soft drinks foam up a lot more when poured out of a can, and the worst culprit for this is Diet Coke," he said.

"I literally have to sit and wait for the bubbles to fall before I can continue pouring.

Jet continued, "If all three passengers ask for Diet Coke I'll often get them started, take another three drink orders, serve those, and then finish the Diet Cokes."

So, maybe it would be best not to order Diet Coke in future… or you know, just pour it out yourself.

Remember McGregor’s F*** You suit? Someone just got it tattooed…

Jul 18, 2017

by Staff Writer

We've all seen our fair share of ridiculous tattoos floating around the internet, but this most recent discovery really takes the cake.

Last week, Conor McGregor took to the stage to face off against Floyd Mayweather in a press call, and all eyes were on the subtle message hidden in his bespoke suit.

Instead of pinstripes lining the garment, the MMA icon had requested that the phrase 'f*** you' be etched on the suit hundreds of times in tiny writing, to mimic a pinstripe.

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Jul 12, 2017 at 1:39am PDT

In homage to this pretty amazing fashion moment, someone has gone and gotten the same pattern tattooed on their skin.

We wish we were kidding, but feast your eyes on the photographic evidence.

Uploaded by Benchwarmers, an unknown male can be seen with the same pattern etched in permanent ink on his upper forearm.

Naturally, everyone is going mad in the comments section, and none are too impressed with the ink.

We understand why people get tattoos to glorify their icons, but this is definitely going a bit too far.

Mermaid dreams: This wine glass can turn your wine into a rainbow

Jul 18, 2017

by Amber Saunders

Just when we feel like we've had enough of rainbow everything… these wine glasses hit us up and we're all over the trend again.

Mermaids and unicorns have been taking centre stage this summer, but if you're not bothered rushing into Art & Hobby for some glitter, then feast your eyes on these little beauties.

Urban Outfitters has a range of wine glasses with a translucent rainbow pattern, and all you have to do is pour the wine and walk away… before coming back over to down it, obvs.

The coupe glasses come in a set of two, and are probably the easiest way to get in on the trend.

And just imagine the Insta pics…

If you fancy showing off at your next dinner party, you can buy the glasses here.

Diet and the industry; all foodies can feast on this Netflix binge

Jul 18, 2017

by Amber Saunders

If you're looking for something a little bit different to watch on Netflix this week, then there's plenty of foodie films and documentaries in store for you.

The critically acclaimed Netflix Original film about an animal named Okja asks some hard questions without telling viewers how to feel about the answers.

It dives into the world of what we consume, and what influences us to eat meat. "I think there’s a whole load of 16-year-olds who don’t realise where their food comes from,” said the co-writer of the movie, Jon Ronson.

However if you have watched Okja, or fancy looking at food from a different perspective, check out these others documentaries and films:

Food Matters

This film takes a timely and hard hitting look at how the food we eat is helping or hurting our health, and what we can do to live (and eat) better.

What the Health

This film examines the link between diet and disease, and the billions of dollars at stake in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

Two men whose bodies have been trashed by steroids, obesity and illness, document their rigorous healing path in a bid to regain their health.

Cowspiracy

Learn how factory farming is decimating the planet’s natural resources – and why this crisis has been largely ignored by major environmental groups.

FOOD, inc

Director Robert Kenner’s provocative Oscar nominated documentary looks at the food industry’s harmful effects on human health and the environment.

The Luas has released a harrowing video of near-misses with cyclists

Uniquely Irish

Jul 18, 2017

by Staff Writer

If you are a cyclist in Dublin city, I'm sure you are already well aware of your arch nemesis; the Luas tracks.

For whatever reason, those Luas tracks are the perfect width and depth for trapping your bike wheel and causing moments of panic, but it's the Luas itself that also poses a real danger.

The Luas has shared a video to their social media showing video footage of some seriously scary near misses with cyclists.

The video shows a number of bikers cycling straight out in front of the Luas, or having their bike wheels caught in the tracks.

It's definitely required viewing if cycling around Dublin's fair city is your summer commuting method of choice.

The Luas has requested that you share the video with your cyclist friends and family members as a little reminder.

#Luas CCTV of cyclist-tram collisions & near misses. Please share with family & friends who #cycle in Dublin #BeTramAware pic.twitter.com/x7w2vsVCj5

— Luas (@Luas) July 18, 2017

UCD SU is uncovering the impact of the rental crisis using Snapchat

Uniquely Irish

Jul 18, 2017

by Staff Writer

We are all well aware that the Dublin rental crisis has reached a critical point, with the cost of housing skyrocketing due to the lack of residential prospects in the capital.

UCD's student union are using Snapchat to uncover how the rental crisis is impacting Irish students.

'We're going to the worst places for rent in Dublin to expose how bad the situation is for students,' reads a statement on their Facebook page where the videos are being uploaded.

'We want you to know what kinds of kips are out there and how landlords can try and pressure you into on-the-spot cash deposits.'

'Our goal is to pressure Govt for support for a joint project with Trinity & Daft.ie by bringing the horror stories to camera.'

Irish rent prices are at an all time high, according to a report from rental site Daft.ie.

The average price of rent nationwide now stands at €1131.00.

The average cost of renting a home has increased by €134.00 a month over the last year, according to The Irish Times.

So far, the UCDSU have uncovered landlords demanding deposits and first months rent up front, cash in hand, a house where the kitchen utensils are kept in a bathroom cupboard, temporary camp beds, and a house in which three strangers are sharing a bedroom for €750.00 per month…each.

Killing it: The Irish girl making waves on the NYC music scene

Jul 18, 2017

by Amber Saunders

If there’s one thing that is guaranteed to invigorate us here at SHEmazing HQ, it’s the discovery of new music.

And that discovery is made all the more electrifying when the artist in question hails from Ireland.

A recent release from Lydia Forde, who is currently making waves on the New York music scene, is rapidly becoming our most played track of the month.

Read, which deftly navigates the scenarios thrown up by the reopening of old relationship wounds, sounds like a mix between Kate Nash, Foxes and Dolores O' Riordan, and frankly we’re obsessed.

Filmed in Brooklyn, the video follows her trying to escape the memory of an ex in a dreamy one-shot sequence, and we'll admit we have had this tune on repeat for days.

Read is a single from Lydia's upcoming EP set for release in August.

From fashion to volcanology: The Festival of Curiosity is coming

Jul 18, 2017

by Staff Writer

Looking to submerge yourself in a festival of science, art and culture rather than one of warm beer, sun burn and performers you've never heard of?

Then look no further than the Festival of Curiosities, which is coming to Dublin this weekend.

There are tonnes of events happening all over the city in correlation with the fest, and we've picked out a few of our unmissable favourites:

1. Visit the Dead Zoo after hours

Dublin's Natural History Museum is one of the city's dustiest gems, full of wonder but not always the first choice of venues to frequent.

The Festival of Curiosity wants to put the Dead Zoo back on the map, with an after hours tour through the historic building.

The tour will explore the history of the building along with journeying through the collections on July 20 at 17.15pm.

A post shared by Alex Capper (@alexandracapper) on Jun 18, 2017 at 12:39pm PDT

2. Electro Threads

If a funky fashion show is right up your alley then this is the event to check out.

The show, kicking off in The Chocolate Factory on July 20, is set to be a showcase of Irish design.

Fusing the future with fashion, the designers worked alongside engineers to create garments along the theme of Illuminations, from Darkness to Light.

3. Sleepy City

Always wanted to make the most out of your commute?

The hour-long sleepy city tour promises to show early risers a unique view of their still-slumbering city.

The walking tour kicks off at the Harcourt Street Luas Stop and from Heuston Station on July 20 at 7am.

You can view the full event programme here to discover the other curiosities according across the city this weekend.

We knew it! Feeling hangry is a very real thing (according to science)

Jul 18, 2017

by Amber Saunders

So, if you've ever snapped at a co-worker during an afternoon slump, or even forgotten to say your please and thank yous to the everyday heroes that make your morning coffee – there's a high possibility you were feeling hangry.

A dangerous combination of hungry and angry for anyone who doesn't know.

And while it's an emotion most of us will experience at some point (or you know, on a daily basis, whatever), there has never been any scientific evidence to back up this old wive's tale.

That is, until now.

According to New Scientist, there is actually a link between blood sugar levels and hormones that trigger aggression and anger.

Simply put – when your blood sugar is low, your rage is high.

As scientist and columnist Simon Oxenham discovered, low levels of blood sugar prompt the body to release cortisol and adrenaline, two chemicals associated with higher levels of stress.

Combine that with a spike in neuropeptide Y levels, a hormone that has been linked to aggression, and what have you got?

A recipe for disaster, that's what.

And this isn't the first time Simon has tested his theory.

In a 2014 study, the scientist asked a number of married couples to “stick pins into voodoo dolls that represented their loved ones, to reflect how angry they felt towards them.”

Results showed that participants inserted more pins into the voodoo dolls when their blood sugar levels were low.

So, even though the method of testing was albeit, a little creepy – at least there's an actual reason for those pre-lunch blues.