EN -W-lOM(o(-t- Mich mB cela ee M lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca (¥Y Beauty ona budget: Sephora Cream Lip Stain (¥Y The resurgence of the instant photo (Y Rainy day cocktails And more! An ode to internet friendships > Why some of your closest friends might live in your pocket Rebecca Peterson Humour Editor hildren of the late ’80s and ’gos might remember cheesy, somewhat- terrifying PSA videos on the importance of “cyber safety.” These films would often detail the importance of never giving out personal information online, never speaking to online strangers, and for the love of God, never putting any photos of yourself up on the terrifying high seas of the “world wide web.’ This was before Facebook was invented. I was an avid believer in the terror of the Internet, in that I was certain there were predators and scary men in moustaches hiding behind each web page, just waiting to snatch me up. | never spoke to anyone on chat boards, and I never interacted with anyone on even child-oriented sites like Neopets. I mostly explored Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter fansites, or played snowboarding flash games on MiniClips— when that was still a thing people did. It was only after I found myself ona blogging site—okay, I’ll admit it, it was Tumblr—that I started talking to other people on the Internet. I was shocked to find that most people were not scary strangers wearing ’go0s-styled sweaters and large moustaches, but rather were people my age, who shared similar interests as me. In fact, I was shocked to find that I was making friends, friends I’d never met before, and, judging by the oceans between us, might never meet in person. I think as a society we're slowly starting to move past the idea that relationships started online are somehow less “real” than the ones that happen organically in our physical day-to-day, but the stigma still remains. For people “strangers” deepen—people are often talk about Dragon Age for a little while. who are not on the Internet as much much more likely to open up in writing Obviously, there is still a concern as some, the idea of having a close to a sympathetic ear who is not sitting about safety on the Internet, one that friend that you've never met before directly across from them. Presence shouldn't be understated. However, I might sound a little bizarre. Maybe can be intimidating, and distance think the value of Internet friendships even a tiny bit sad. After all, can you allows both parties to weigh their words should be fully recognized and actually have a real connection with carefully and take words at face value, appreciated. We live in a world where we someone you don't know in person? for the most part. But a good friend on can make friends and learn from people I argue that you absolutely can. the Internet doesn’t necessarily have all over the world—a world where we can The person on the other end of to be someone you vent to about your have close friends in New York, in Tel Aviv, the conversation is, after all, a person. life. It can be comforting to know that in Perth, in Singapore. Why not celebrate They have their daily lives, stresses, when the politics and drama and daily this? And why not marvel at the fact that dreams, interests, likes and dislikes, stresses of life threaten to overwhelm we can send a hug across the globe to just like you do. In fact, the distance can you, there’s someone on the other side someone who might need it, even if it’s in often help a relationship between two of a messaging screen who just wants to the form of a GIF of two cats cuddling. How to take great nudes > A guide to looking—and feeling—good naked Jessica Berget Staff Writer Fredy deserves to feel good naked, no matter your weight, height, gender, race, age, or any of the other socially constructed concepts that are attributed to beauty standards. Nudes are fun and sexy, and there’s no better way to boost your confidence than taking pictures of your stunning self as naked as the day you were born, whether they're for your own amusement or youre consensually sending them to a partner. For those days youre really feeling yourself and just want to capture the hot babe you are, here are some tips on how to take some bomb nudes. Lighting is essential: It is the make or break factor of a quality nude, so make sure you have good lighting. Bad lighting adds unnecessary dimensions and shadows to your face and body, so try to use as much natural lighting as possible. Snap some pictures near a window to make use of the daylight shining through. If you do not have good lighting available, or you are taking your photos late at night (as many do) take your photos in a well-lit room or make the most out of your nudes by angling your body and your camera to make the shadows work in your favour. Angles matter: The right angle can make a world of a difference, so play around with different positions and angles with your body and camera. The classic mirror nude is always an easy go-to for me. If you are having trouble deciding on a pose, try the contrapposto pose. In art- related terms, this means positioning your body so that your full weight is focused on one leg and the other is relaxed. This pose makes it so your hips and shoulders rest on opposite angles, giving a slight s-curve to your body, making you look like the work of art you are. Location, location, location: Nothing kills the vibe in a good nude more than a messy room or an un-flushed toilet in the background, so be aware of your surroundings. Also, don’t limit your nudes to your bedroom or bathroom. If you're really feeling awesome that day, snap some pictures while you're out, perhaps in a dressing room, ora restaurant bathroom. There’s never a bad time to take a good nude. Add an accessory: Including something like a necklace, cute underwear, or a shirt being pulled up can add a sexier, more personable element to your nude. Spraying yourself with some water can also add a nice sheen to your body. You should feel great no matter what, because you're a hot babe with a hot body that you have every right to enjoy and share with the world—or keep all to yourself. Either way, feel great while you're letting it all hang out.