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Yearly Archives: 2019

To anyone who has yet to watch the gloriousness that is Sex Education, BOY are you missing out right now.

Netflix' latest teen show is beyond hilarious, heartwarming, important, inclusive and damn educational; we thank the gods someone had the genius to create it.

Some of the most memorable scenes in the hit show, watched by millions in its debut week of streaming, are the sex scenes.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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For some of the young cast, these were their premiere roles, so many of us would assume they were embarrassed or awkward while filming the vital and sometimes amusing sexual moments. 

Surprisingly, the cast have spoken about how filming these graphic scenes were actually their favourite, because of the important conversations which ensued because of them.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Aimee Lou Wood, who plays Aimee Gibbs, chatted to POPSUGAR about the laughs the cast had while on set, preparing for the sexy script to be played out.

Her character is in the opening of the first episode, having sex with Adam's character (played brilliantly by Connor Swindells) and asking him, "Do you like my tits?" 

She actually found it easier than she thought to carry out these moments; "I thought the sex scenes would be the scariest days, but they were actually really fun," she explained.

"When you have someone with you, like either Connor, or Chris Jenks ('top-heavy Steve'), they were just such fun days. because it's like quality time with one other person, and you just get to know people so quickly," she described.

"The conversations get really deep because you're just put into this environment where you're exposing yourself so much that the only way you can deal with it is just letting it all go. You make really good friends and you get to know people really well."

Kedar Williams-Stirling, who plays the handsome school jock Jackson, agreed with Aimee; "I think that's what the sex does in the show, isn't it? It kind of opens up the can of worms for other topics, which is great."

He confessed to enjoying working with Emma Mackey, who played the badass 'complex female characters' Maeve Wiley, on their sex scenes.

"I think that those are the scenes where I really got to know my character best in . . . they both kind of show who they really are when it's just those two together."

Mackey cited one of the shows most moving guest stars for completing her favourite scene: Lu Corfield, who played Sarah's character at the abortion clinic.

"She completely transformed my entire world. She's a sensational actor and woman, and I was with her for two days and in the space of that two days I just felt that we had this bond, and she's such a special woman. That was incredible," Emma said.

Alistair Petrie, who plays Mr. Groff, Adam's dad and the school headmaster was another member of the supporting cast who made a monumental impression.

"He's such a great actor. Working with him, you forget that you're working because he's so hilarious, and so talented at everything. He really makes you feel comfortable when you're working with him," said his on-screen son, Conor Swindells.

"Any scene that I ever had to do with him was always a blast."

Asa Butterfield had nothing but rave reviews for his on-screen mother Joan, played by Gillian Anderson. Playing the role of a sex therapist, her son Otis struggles with his own sexual issues, which he must navigate without her.

"I love working with Gillian, I think we had some really nice scenes which are both funny but also incredibly touching."

The show has been praised for its magical ability to combine hilarious moments with deeper issues.

One character who embodied this feat was Eric, played unbelievably well by Ncuti Gatwa. He had us giggling one second and weeping on his behalf the next as he struggles through his difficult relationships as a gay man with his father.

Gatwa's favourite scene to film is one which illuminates Eric's entire journey: The scene where Eric returns to church with his family, after feeling disconnected from his religion and community following a homophobic attack.

"It was just nice to have the whole set, everybody kitted out in their geles and their traditional cloth, and just the storyline of that: Eric being embraced back into his community after he's been 'excommunicated' for a while. That day was so full of joy and light."

The whole cast bring us joy and light, okay? SEX EDUCATION SPARKS JOY.

Season one is available on Netflix now, we're currently huddled in prayer for a season two. Join us.

Feature image: Dans Media Digest

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When it comes to smartphones, with so many of us sharing our lives via social media, one of the most important aspects of considering a new purchase can come down to camera quality. 

From Samsung to Apple to Sony, there are a multitude of brands to contemplate – however with Huawei quickly gaining on recognisable brands thanks to it's innovative technology, we offer the Huawei Mate 20 Pro for debate. 

When it comes to taking photos, it's unquestionably the strongest model on the market. 

Love Lane by Anna Doran captured on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro 

The Mate 20 Pro has a number of different settings for its camera – and thanks to it's incorporated AI intelligence, it is able to recognise what you're shooting at any given time. However, you can manually adjust the setting to suit your individual needs. 

We have regular photo and video, which capture general images in crisp clarity, but we also have Night mode, which adapts to low or changeable lighting, adding a natural brightness to the foreground and background. 

Another setting is Aperture, a term usually reserved for DSLR quality cameras. This mode captures intense details for close up shots. 

Portrait mode, much like the iPhone setting of the same name, is perfect for shots of people, and softens the background to bring the topic of your photography into focus. 

Pro is the stand-out setting, and the clue is in the name. In this mode, you’ve got the option to control features you would usually only have on professional grade camera equipment, such as ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation, AF mode, stabilisation, white balance and metering.

An evening in Fade Street Social captured on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro 

The secret is in the Leica triple camera – with the Mate 20 Pro being the first smartphone in the world to utilise this form of technology. 

With the highest total pixel count of any smartphone on the market today, it's not entirely surprising that the stand out feature of this smartphone is it's photographic propensity. 

Billed as 'redefining intelligent photography,'  the system incorporates three different lenses to capture the clearest image possible while making smart amendments for lighting changes and stabilisation. 

We had a few months to try out the new phone, and alongside our iPhone for comparison, the Mate 20 Pro proved itself far superior when it came to being Instagram handy and a diligent travel companion. 

Exploring and eating in Brighton's lanes captured on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro (outfit from Boohoo.com

The world has been opened up to us thanks to affordable airfare and apps like Instagram, which showcase the world in miniscule megapixels and only fuel our wanderlust. 

Photography on a smartphone is essential while abroad, and the camera scope makes the Huawei ideal for mini-breakers and backpackers alike. Whether you're looking to take shots of mountainscapes or your outfits against new backdrops, the adaptability of the Leica triple camera is unbeatable. 

For food shots, we recommend the Pro setting – which is how I captured the Middle Eastern spread above (from Lavash in Brighton's lanes – a must try if you're over there) – to capture every delicious detail, while Portrait mode works well for forward-focused fashion shots, like this blogger-worthy windswept shot. 

Temple Bar and Camden Street, Dublin, captured on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro

While away, another photographic trick that's sure to come in handy in countries that don't speak your language is the Microsoft Translator app – which you can use offline on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. 

In partnership with Microsoft, the app comes pre-installed, giving users online quality level language translations even when you're not connected to wifi.

Simply take a picture of a sign, menu, or whatever dialect you want to translate, and run it through the app. 

Crystals at Folkster, Temple Bar, and Prada heels in The Marvel Room, Brown Thomas captured on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro

When it comes to photography, the devil is in the details – and the Mate 20 Pro picks them up with ease, particularly in Aperture mode. 

Whether it's capturing the sprinkles on your gelato or trying to capture the complexity of a close-up eye makeup look, the phone adjusts to the range between the phone and object to create the clearest photo possible. 

Along with technical details, the phone allows you to get creative with your videography and photography. 

The camera incorporates modes like Time-lapse, to create sped-up videos of your travels. There is also an underwater setting (to be used with the waterproof case) which is designed specifically for submerged photography. 

You can also try light painting, panoramic shots, or add various filters to your camera. 

A weekend in Galway, captured on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro

The one downfall of the camera is the selfie mode – although this could be taken as a positive or negative depending on how you look at it. 

The camera automatically adds a beauty filter to your face when recording on selfie mode. You can turn down the beauty filter, but it is difficult to remove entirely. 

Of course many people would enjoy this filter, but following the ease of use, professional quality and creative freedom provided by the phone's other camera features, this one seems out of place. 

Overall, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is the ultimate travel companion phone for a globetrotter looking to capture their life in as many pixels as possible. 

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is available on all Irish networks, from €1,049

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The Duchess of Sussex is set to follow in the footsteps of Princess Diana and The Duchess of Cambridge by featuring on the cover of one of the most famous magazines.

Rumour has it British Vogue are eager for the mum-to-be to feature on the cover of their magazine and we are hoping the former Suits star says yes to their proposal.

Speaking of their desire to work with Meghan, Editor in Chief Edward Enninful told Express that the younger royals are paving the way for new traditions.

He gushed about how Meghan has breathed new life into the Royal Family: “I am so into the young royals. Meghan is an example of how far we’ve all come.”

Meghan won’t be the first royal to feature on the cover of the magazine. The late Princess Diana featured on the cover of the publication numerous times in 1981, 1991, 1994 and 1997.

The Duchess of Cambridge graced the cover of the 100th-anniversary issue of British Vogue so we are sure Meghan won’t pass up this opportunity.

Enniful even teased a joint cover with both Meghan and Kate. “They are different, it’s all fun and games. I’d love them both to be on the cover of Vogue,” he said.

The most recent royals to feature in the publication were Princess Eugenie and her sister Princess Beatrice. The sisters featured in the magazine last year so there’s no doubt the Royals are huge fans of British Vogue.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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We are sure Meghan’s cover would be nothing but stunning, but there’s no doubt it’ll be completely unique to Kate’s and we certainly cannot wait to see how it turns out.

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They are the hottest Strictly romance to come out of the 2018 series.

And while they might have dodged rumours that they were dating for a while, it's clear now that they are one loved-up couple.

Pro dancer Giovanni Pernice has taken to Instagram to show the world that he is head over heels for Ashley Roberts.

The 28-year-old took to Instagram Stories to post a snap of the former Pussycat Doll.

He uploaded a picture of Ashley sipping a cocktail and captioned it, ''My date'' followed by a love heart emoji.

The pair decided to skip the National Television Awards in favour of a cosy date night.

This is the first time Giovanni has posted about Ashley on social media and shows how serious the couple are getting. 

It comes after Ashley opened up to Weekend magazine about their new relationship.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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She said, ''It's just starting now! This is when it's starting, but it's still early days.''

She continued, ''Yes we are seeing each other. And now the show is done we can spend a bit more time together. We're getting to know each other, and it's nice."

We love them as a couple and wish them all the best as their relationship blossoms.

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Lady Gaga has spoken only the kindest words about Bradley Cooper, her talented Oscar nominated co-star and Oscar-snubbed director of A Star Is Born.

The nominations for the Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday, and while both actors earned nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress, Cooper was snubbed for Best Director. (More like ROBBED)

Bradley has been an unofficial favourite for multiple honours during awards season, but didn't receive the nod this time around, despite the film earning eight nominations overall.

The film was a remake of the classic movie about an ageing rock star and Jackson Maine, who falls in love with aspiring musician and muse, Ally. It was Cooper's first major project as a director, and he did a stunning job.

Lady Gaga told the Los Angeles Times after hearing of his Oscar snub that "at the end of the day, he knows that he’s the best director in my eyes, and in all of our eyes as his cast."

The singer has repeatedly told of how welcoming he was on set, and how he magically made the private, safe atmosphere perfect for the performer to shed her mask and dive into the difficult role of Ally.

Gaga is the favourite to take the award for Best Original Song home for their duet, Shallow.

The 32-year-old spoke of the unpredictability of awards season, saying; "You never know what’s going to happen."

The Grammy-winner said that Cooper was pleased as the film, his directorial debut, was well-represented in terms of the Academy Awards, despite not receiving the coveted Best Director nod. 

"I know that he’s so happy that we’ve all been nominated and that the film was recognised and we all feel really, really beyond elated for the recognition,' the Perfect Illusion singer told the publication.

Gaga is experienced in awards ceremonies herself, winning six Grammys out of 24 nominations, as well as a Golden Globe.  "There's really no award that is more esteemed than the Oscar in acting, and for music, it is also extremely special," she said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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"Since I was a little girl, I always admired all of the artists that put in so much hard work and passion into filmmaking. Watching the award shows, I used to cry with them."

'It was always like I felt like I was them, even though I wasn't there. It was always a big deal with my family," she stated. 

The singer, who is already achieving massive success with her Las Vegas residency Enigma, told The New York Times she overslept, and didn't hear the Oscar nominations being read that morning.

"I just burst into tears," Gaga told the Times. Congrats to Gaga and Bradley on their well-deserved nominations.

As for the Best Director gong, well… now he knows how every female director feels, every single year *sprinkles salt*

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Dressing like a Parisian isn't complicated. Think simplicity, less is more, casual with a hint of chic.

When they need to go shopping, Parisian girls love hitting the likes of Zara and H&M, but for statement pieces they have a few brands they love and trust.

You probably have heard of Sandro, Maje or The Kooples, which are all available in Brown Thomas, but we thought you might want to hear more about up and coming houses that truly embody the Parisian style.

Sézane

 

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Founded by Morgane Sézalory, Sézane was France's first online-only label. Famous for their bags and shoes, the brand has a permanent collection which runs through the seasons, made of great staple pieces, like cute everyday dresses or boho blouses. A limited-edition capsule collection is also released every month. 

Check it here.

Balzac Paris

 

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A timeless wardrobe made of chic and comfortable clothes working both for day and night: could Balzac be anymore French? This young fashion house based in Paris offers a modern take on the Parisian style, focusing on beautiful design and great quality fabrics. 

Check it here.

Sessùn

 

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Founded 20 years ago by Emma François after a trip to South America, Sessùn is based in Marseille but its identity is truly French, urban and contemporary. We absolutely love their brand new wedding collection, incredibly affordable and perfectly on point with the boho trend.   

Check it here.

Maison Père

 

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Feathers, furs, embroidery, lace and trimmings give Maison Père it’s unique identity. The collection designed by Camille Omerin boasts statement pieces that make a women's style and that she will like to wear seasons after seasons.

Check it here.

Harpe

 

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Created by a mother / daughter duo in March 2014, Harpe is a creative brand that caters to all women, offering ready-to-wear as well as gorgeous wedding dresses, all made in France. We love their romantic and bohemian universe, with a strong focus on craft and detail.

Check it here.

Rouje

 

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Created by Jeanne Damas, one of France's most famous it-girls, the Rouje collection reflects her personality, where sober sophistication meets assumed sensuality. The line reinterprets the iconic Parisian basics: camisoles, mini-skirts, flared jeans and floral dresses.

Check it here.

Heimstone

 

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She might have grown up in Paris, Alix Petit has always had the travelling bug and her collection embody the wide range of her influences, from Australia to Turkey, Island or New York. Her trademark is her unique prints which make her collections so modern and fresh.

Check it here.

Les Petites

 

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Created in 1992 by Isabelle Benichou, Les Petites has made a name for itself with its cashmere jumpers and feminine dresses. The more recent collections play with the masculine-feminine style which make the brand a favourite of Parisian girls.   

Check it here.

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We really needed news like this in our lives right now, with all the negative news swirling around our auras, sucking the healthy energy from us.

All we want is a cleanse, and Taylor has delivered once again.

Not alone has she given fans her Reputation tour documentary on Netflix (breathtaking, BTW), she has now confirmed her role in the brand new Cats movie. MEOW GAL.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The singer posed next to a sign plastered with her character’s name, Bombalurina, and captioned it with a simple 'Meow'. Needless to say, the post garnered over one million likes in a matter of hours.

We. Are. Purring.

The Delicate singer will be starring alongside James Corden, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen and Rebel Wilson in the upcoming movie, developed by Working Title.

Her co-star Idris Elba, who is clearly Team Tay-Tay, is already singing her praises.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The duo took to the Golden Globes stage together to present a few weks ago, with the Luther star saying she "has got chops" and "holds her own". Damn right she does.

Elba spoke about working with the multi-talented artist;

"Taylor and I have known each other for a couple of years and we’re cool you know. She’s a good girl; she’s a great artist and she’s got a really great heart," he said.

"I’m so excited to work with her in this film, she’s going to be amazing." Obvi?

Taylor has been candidly dating actor Joe Alwyn for the last two years, maybe she'll get some acting tips off her beau?

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Miley Cyrus is a lover of tattoos, and already has a pretty extensive range of body art which encompasses varying subjects of importance in her life.

Her newest tribute which she has inked permanently on her skin is…the word 'pussy'. Yup. No word of a lie.

The newly married singer posted a series of shots of herself in the New York tattoo parlour of the rich and famous; Bang Bang NYC.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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That's all well and good, but we wanna see the result. She's worked with Keith 'Bang Bang' McCurdy before on previous artwork, including tributes to her family and husband.

So naturally we did a minor (major) stalk and came across the fresh tattoo on Miley's ankle, and we're at least impressed at the font. It's chic, and why not get a dedication to her own body part?

Female empowerment just reached a whole new level. Maybe she's taking control over the word, which is often used in derogatory terminology?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Fans aren't entirely sure when the tattoo was actually drawn on the Malibu singer, shrewd-eyed fans also spotted a photo of Miley seemingly getting inked on her wrist, so perhaps it's a whole other tattoo altogether? 

We presume some images of the tattoo will be released at some stage, we'll be patiently waiting.

Would you get the word tattooed permanently on your body? Who are we to judge, really.

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It's happened to many of us…we're travelling to the most Instagram-able spots in the world, yet there's nobody to take photos of us in all our cultured glory.

Whether it's Niagara Falls, the Colosseum of Rome or the white sand beaches in Bali, sometimes a great candid is all we crave. Why waste the opportunity?

If your own significant other can barely hold a camera, or if you're a single solo traveller, finding somebody to capture us at our finest moment can be tedious at best. 

Not all of us have a John Legend to work his magic on the lens for the sake of our followers:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Luckily for us, specialist tour operators Roma Experience are now (hilariously) offering an Instagram boyfriend to follow you around all day and get those #travelgoals snaps you've always wanted.

They spotted a gap in the market, that's for sure. Their timing couldn't be better, seeing as social media is playing a massive role in the lives of global youth.

Instagram is even acting as an influential factor in choosing a travel destination, with a ludicrous 40.1% of millennials deeming the site an important factor when considering a holiday. My God, what have we become?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The Roma Experience's 'boyfriend of Instagram' is sure to be a sell-out, offering the unsung heroes of 'likes' to women (and fellow men) from every corner of the world. Bless them.

The Instagram Boyfriend has become an obsession in its own right, with countless pages dedicated to the men who play their part in giving a partner the PERFECT shot for the feed.

Not all heroes wear capes, just selfie sticks.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The wonderful service allows travellers to hire a profesh photographer to join them on their tour for three hours, taking pictures of them around some of the most picturesque Italian sites the gorgeous country has to offer.

You will then be emailed the iconic new pictures of you at your fiercest, fresh and ready for the gram. Or just your fridge?

The service is an additional €350 on top of the price for the full-day tour of Rome, but can you put a price on insta-worthy images? Hell no. It's 2019, this is our lifestyle now people.

Roma Experience’s Full Day Tour of Rome and Vatican City costs from €643, including all entrance fees, and private transfer from the city centre to the Vatican. The photographic service is an option extra, priced at €355.

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Judging by the less than ideal weather we're having, winter has officially reared it's head.

That means more layers, chunky boots, and, best of all, new cosy jackets. 

Check out a few of our faves that will keep you toasty while slaying on the 'gram. 

Weekday Short Colour Block Padded Jacket €110.60 

Pull&Bear double breasted coat in check €124.41 

Faux shearling bomber jacket €19.99 

Na-kd big collar teddy coat in off white €124.43 

The Ragged Priest mixed check blazer with chain detail €110.60 

COLLUSION Unisex quilted satin bomber in gold €62.21 

Puffer jacket with hood €19.99 

Penneys Blush Teddy Crombie Coat €35.00 

Pale Blue Curly Faux Fur Bomber Jacket €49.99 

Black Colour Block Windbreaker €29.99

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If you've ever felt guilty for cancelling plans or declining invites after a day spent in front of the computer, you can rest assured that scientists know exactly how exhausted you feel.

While your office job may not require much of you physically, it undoubtedly requires a staggering amount of mental output, and this is why your couch is the most appealing place after nine hours sitting at a desk.

Your need to take a nap after work or disinterest in socialising comes down to something known as mental fatigue and actually has the same effect on the body's energy levels as a long run.

How validated do you feel right now, ladies?

Explaining the science behind it, director of sleep medicine at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital, Dr. Steven Feinsilver, assured the public that their body's response to mental fatigue is legitimate, and feeling thoroughly exhausted after nine hours stressing at your desk is unsurprising.

'Your heart will pump and you’ll produce adrenaline whether somebody’s chasing you, or you’re just really upset about something,' Dr Feinsliver said of mental fatigue when speaking to The Cut.

Further to this, he explained that using our brain requires an inordinate amount of energy, but as we don't break a sweat like we would expending energy during exercise, we don't realise it.

'Your muscles normally aren’t sucking a lot of oxygen out of you,' he said.

'With exercise, they will. But the brain always takes a lot of your energy.'

'We’re animals that are designed to exercise physically as well as mentally,' he continued.

'Mental exertion is real, and certainly may be tiring, but I think it’s probably true that physical exertion makes it more likely that you’ll get a good night’s sleep.'

If you have a desk job and find yourself utterly exhausted at the end of every day, you need to ensure you stay hydrated and take short strolls around the office in order to maintain your wellbeing.
 

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French police officials have released American rap singer Chris Brown without charge following a rape accusation.

The investigation into the alleged incident is continuing, the Paris prosecutor's office told BBC.

Brown was released after he and two other men were arrested following the allegations. The singer has singe taken to Instagram to claim his innocence. 

Instagram / @chrisbrownofficial

To his 50 million followers, he posted an image of some text which reads 'this b!tch lyin.'

'I WANNA MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR…… THIS IS FALSE,' he wrote. 

'NNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEERRRRRR!!!!!! FOR MY DAUGHTER AND MY FAMILY THIS IS SO DISPRESPECTFUL AND IS AGAINST MY CHARACTER AND MORALS!!!!!'

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The two men arrested alongside Brown have also reportedly been released. 

He is no stranger to run-ins with the law; in 2009 he was arrested and charged with physical assault charges following an incident with his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. As a result of the assault, he was charged with felony assault and making criminal threats in that incident, and received five years probation and community service.

He was also arrested in 2013 after an alleged incident in a hotel in Washington and kicked out of rehab that same year for smashing his mother's car window during a family session. 

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