Pregnant Katy Perry strips down in idyllic 'Daisies' music video

Katy Perry announced her pregnancy back in March by displaying her baby bump at the end of her “Never Worn White” music video. And now its follow-up video, for the new single “Daisies,” looks like a maternity glamour photo shoot come to life.

The idyllic clip, lensed by filmmaker Liza Voloshin from a “safe social distance,” depicts the radiant pop star and American Idol judge frolicking in nature — at one point even stripping off her gauzy sundress to wade naked under a waterfall. Perry’s profile pose, reclining against a rock wall with her arm draped across her bare chest, is reminiscent of other iconic au naturel maternity shots, like Demi Moore and Serena Williams’s famous Vanity Fair covers or Jessica Simpson’s Elle cover in 2012.

Perry isn’t just baring skin in the “Daisies” video; she’s baring her soul in the song’s lyrics, too. In a press release, Perry described “Daisies,” which has the same ebullient,|||READ MORE

 

 

U.S. moves to cut Huawei off from global chip suppliers

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday moved to block shipments of semiconductors to Huawei Technologies from global chipmakers, in an action ramping up tensions with China.

The U.S. Commerce Department said it was amending an export rule to "strategically target Huawei’s acquisition of semiconductors that are the direct product of certain U.S. software and technology."

The reaction from China was swift with a report saying it was ready to put U.S. companies on an "unreliable entity list," as part of countermeasures in response to the new limits on Huawei, China's Global Times reported on Friday |||READ MORE

Trump says coronavirus will 'go away without a vaccine'

President Trump on Friday broke with health experts, telling reporters that the coronavirus will “go away without a vaccine.”

“This is going to go away without a vaccine, it’s gonna go away, and we’re not going to see it again, hopefully, after a period of time,” Trump said at the White House. “You may have some flare-ups, and I guess I would expect that.”

Just days ago the Trump administration launched Operation Warp Speed, a project to accelerate the production of a vaccine for the coronavirus, which as of Friday had infected at least 1.2 million Americans and killed more than 76,000 here |||READ MORE …

Social distancing: New York police arresting black people at far higher rate

African Americans in parts of New York City are being arrested for violating social distancing rules at a far higher rate than white people, according to data from the Brooklyn district attorney.

Data showed that between 17 March and 4 May, 40 people were arrested in Brooklyn for breaking social distancing rules. One was white, four were Hispanic and 35 were black.

The figures lend weight to anecdotal evidence which suggests that whiter and more affluent areas of the city are less likely to be targeted by police. More than a third of the arrests were made in the predominantly black neighbourhood of Brownsville, while no arrests were made in the predominantly white neighbourhood of Park Slope |||READ MORE ….

These Are the Things That New Yorkers Achingly Miss

To hop on the train, any train, earbuds intact, alone in the crowd on the way somewhere else. To walk out of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exhausted as if from a march. The sweet-potato fries and a beer at Tubby Hook Tavern in Inwood; the coffee-cart guy on West 40th Street who remembers you take it black.

Sunday Mass and the bakery after. Seeing old friends in the synagogue. Play dates. The High Line. Hugs.

Ask New Yorkers what they miss most, nearly two months into isolation. To hear their answers is to witness a perfect version of the city built from the ground up, a place refracted through a lens of loss, where the best parts are huge and the annoyances become all but invisible. The cheap seats in the outfield, the shouting to be heard at happy hour. Meeting cousins with a soccer ball in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The din of the theater as you scan the Playbill before the lights go down |||READ MORE ….

 

 

Head of Service’s son caught in ‘ghost job’ scandal

The son of the Oyo State head of service has been caught in a job scandal.

Ayobami Agboola, whose mother, Amidat Agboola, was appointed in 2019, was criticised on social media on Saturday after a user said he promised to use his mum’s influence to secure him a slot.

Sulaimon Adesola said Mr Agboola promised to include his name in a list of “ghost workers” in Oyo State |||READ MORE …

 

Obama Calls Trump’s Handling Of COVID-19 Pandemic A ‘Chaotic Disaster’

Former President Barack Obama has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, calling it an “absolute chaotic disaster.”

In a leaked web call Friday night with former members of his administration, Obama also said the Justice Department’s decision to drop charges against Michael Flynn, the former Trump national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia probe, endangers the rule of law in the US.

In the audio, first obtained by Yahoo News, Obama urges former staffers to join him in rallying behind Joe Biden as he prepares to take on Trump in the November presidential election |||READ MORE …

 

Covid-19: Nigerian Artist Convenes Virtual Conference on Art Responders

Artists across the globe are concerned about their role in managing global health crisis. This formed the backbone of the Virtual International Conference for Arts in Health 2020 (VICAH) convened recently by Kunle Adewale, a Nigerian artist and founder, Arts in Medicine Projects who is currently working as a fellow of the Global Brain Health Institute, University of California. With the theme, “Art Responders in Global Health Crisis”, the conference provided a platform for the art professionals to engage in conversations about the function of Arts in this period of global Covid-19 pandemic.

In his welcome address, Kunle Adewale showed a short documentary video which is a compilation of the efforts of contemporary artists in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic in different parts of the world through diverse art forms.

“The artist does not only create the time. He is in history, he also curates the human experience in history. The artist’s sole duty is to unravel the wounds of humanity in terms of crisis. He becomes the light and the wellbeing that humanity needs,” he said during his presentation which was followed by a string performance by a Chinese duo, Jing and Bin. The duo delivered a moving version of the classic, “Halleluyah.” |||READ MORE ….

Arts, Culture and Masks

In the spirit of the mandatory wearing of masks in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, Yinka Olatunbosun reviews the roles that masks had played in aspects of history of Arts and culture.

Long before the Covid-19 pandemic, masks had been a part of the human existence and experience. Over the years, its usage served different functions in different spaces. For the Greek theatre, masks were used in the theatre to exaggerate facial expressions, projecting them to the vast audience. Masks also enabled an actor to play different roles since women were initially excluded from performing. Later on, during the Roman gladiatorial contests, masks were worn as protective gadgets and to make the wearer appear more intimidating to the opponent.

In medieval Europe and in Japan, soldiers and samurai wore similarly ferocious-looking protective armour, extending to face-masks. In the 16th century, the Visard was worn by women to protect from sunburn. Masks were part of rituals and ceremonies, mostly won for protection, hunting, feasts, wars and sometimes just for fashion |||READ MORE …

 

 

Godfathers pressurise FG to free Chinese arrested for illegal mining

The Federal Government has refused to bow to pressure to free the Chinese and others arrested for illegal mining in Zamfara and Osun states last month, vowing to prosecute the suspects.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, said the government would meet with the Chinese government over the illegal activities of their nationals in Nigeria.

He described the illegal gold mining in the country by the Chinese nationals as economic sabotage |||READ MORE …

 

NAFDAC bars firms from using COVID-19 to promote brands

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned infant foods producing companies from using the coronavirus pandemic as a means to promote their brands.

It gave this directive in a statement on, “COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and guidance note to companies that donate or market breastmilk substitutes for infants.”

NAFDAC stated that pursuant to provisions of the NAFDAC Act, CAP N1 LFN 2004 and the Marketing (Breast-Milk Substitutes) ACT CAP M.5 LFN 2004 and the BMS regulations, in keeping with the WHO International Code of BMS, wished to provide clarifications regarding donations of BMS in the context of lockdown and financial barriers occasioned by the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic |||READ MORE …

Henceforth, no PPE, no work, Medical Guild warns

MEDICAL doctors under the employ of Lagos State Government, yesterday expressed, worry over-relaxation of the lockdown in the state, disclosing that 16 members of the Medical Guild in the state have been infected with COVID-19.

Addressing journalists on Covid-19 issues, response and challenges the Guild identified in Lagos, Chairman of the body, Dr Sodipo Oluwajimi, who explained that the doctors were in stable condition, said to prevent more doctors from being infected they have adopted the slogan of ‘No Personal Protective Equipment, No work.”

Oluwajimi asked the State Government to prioritise provision of PPE in hospitals at all levels to prevent the spread of the coronavirus |||READ MORE ….

My Toxic Relationship Limit: When Things Aren’t Getting Better

Toxic relationships are more common than most people realize because some of the behaviors exhibited have been viewed as “normal” for far too long. But you know your relationship and your partner better than anyone. If things just don’t feel like they used to, and you don’t feel like yourself, it could be a major red flag.

There are different signs of toxic relationships to be aware of, and they come in different forms. Maybe your partner is sweet most of the time but verbally abusive when they get angry. Maybe they always want you to change your plans or point of view to meet theirs.

Whatever the case, if things aren’t getting better, it’s important to know what you can do to find yourself again, and to stay safe. In some cases, that might be something as simple as telling your partner how you feel or setting limits. In others, when your safety is at risk, you might need to leave the relationship, altogether.

What Are the Signs of a Toxic Relationship? |||READ MORE ….

A DRIVE TO NOWHERE

A little over two weeks ago, Sean suggested that we go for a ride to nowhere and put on clothes as if we were going somewhere. I was a bit hesitant because I thought the suggestion was a little silly as I’m perfectly OK with wearing only lounge wear during this time. But also because being outside at any given time was making me incredibly anxious.

The thing is that I am fully aware that getting fresh air while practicing social distancing is perfectly fine but try convincing my worrisome self. It was difficult getting me to relax while I was outside even while I was doing all I could to be safe.

I told myself that I did not want this time in life to create a problem where I was afraid to go outside because I was finding myself making all sorts of excuses not to take our dogs for walks, etc. I reluctantly agreed |||READ MORE ….

NOTES ON 7 WEEKS OF LOCKDOWN

Amidst the regular chatter of the birds outside are three, clear descending notes: a song so smooth, so distinct, that it stands out from all the rest. After some online sleuthing, we’ve deduced that our solo-singing feathered friend is a white-throated sparrow. I haven’t spied him in the wild of the urban jungle yet, but I look, every time I hear his song drift in through the open window.

In Lewis, I was used to hearing the birds from the garden: the cuckoo, the corncrake, and the stonechat. (Whenever you hear the cuckoo, my Granny used to say, rain isn’t far away.) At home in the Outer Hebrides I take the natural world for granted, whether that’s a seal in Stornoway harbour, an eagle above the Harris hills, or a hedgehog outside the kitchen door in Point. It’s taken lockdown and confinement in a 600-square foot apartment for me to learn to listen for the birds and find some of that joy in nature here in the city.

When I lean out of our living room window here to watch the birds, I see a pear blossom tree to my left, and Manhattan to my right. From this vantage point, the city looks unchanged. The skyscrapers still glint as the sun rises and sets; the lights of apartment buildings still twinkle in the twilight, when we leave the curtains open for as long as possible to admire the view |||READ MORE ….

HOW TO MAKE GIZDODO WITH BEEF ! WOW!

If you liked GIZDODO you will fall head over heels in love with BEEFDODO. For those who don't like Offals, this is absolutely perfect. To be honest with you...I much prefer this LOL. The recipe is incredibly simple |||READ MORE …

THOM BROWNE CREATED A CUSTOM LOOK FOR THE HF TWITTER MET GALA

The first Monday in May is a bit different this year, as we won't be treated to a red-carpeted staircase that turns the Metropolitan Museum of Art into a feast of haute couture and bold designs. But, thanks to hf twitter, we're still getting a high-fashion fix on May 4.

The group is hosting the first-ever HF Twitter Met Gala on Monday, a virtual gala that gives the sweatpants-wearing public the ability to marvel at what models and artists of all sorts would have worn to this year's postponed event, through a series of challenges and other content on Twitter. 

One of its leaders is Aria Olson, a 19-year-old senior at the University of Michigan and an active member of hf twitter. Olson not only came up with the idea for the HF Twitter Met Gala, but she also linked up with Thom Browne himself to create a look tied to this year's theme, "About Time: Fashion and Duration." |||READ MORE ….

Recipes Around the World: Hotdish

This Midwestern staple is filled with veggies, beef, and surprisingly—tater tots on top! It’s exactly what us Minnesotans need to get us through the long winter, don’tcha know. 🙂

They’re easy to make and best served a potluck gathering! But don’t let the locals hear you call it “casserole.”

Here’s all about hotdish! |||READ MORE ….

Where Sin Increases

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" ― Fred Rogers ("Mr. Rogers" from children's television)

We are often faced with difficulties and disasters in our fallen world, but sometimes those bad things bring out the best in people.

The "helpers" are those people who comfort, rescue, help, and make sacrifices for complete strangers |||READ MORE ….

Laliga Santander, Laliga SmartBank Clubs Return To Training Ahead 2019/20 Season Resumption

LaLiga clubs are returning to training this week following the Spanish Ministry of Health’s approval for the return of sports training sessions.

In accordance with the Return to Training Protocol that LaLiga has drawn up with medical experts, professional players from LaLiga Santander and LaLiga SmartBank – the first and second divisions of professional football in Spain – will start training alone following medical tests carried out by club staff.

This return to training has been planned by LaLiga with measures that have been agreed with the relevant sports and health authorities in order to guarantee as much safety as possible for the health of all those involved |||READ MORE ….