Aspiring Indian Doctors and Engineers Protest Entrance Exams By Spamming PM Modi's YouTube Video

Over the last few days, Priyanka, a 20-year-old aspiring doctor from the east Indian state of Odisha, has experienced panic attacks. She is one of 1.5 million candidates registered for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), a qualifying exam for admission to medical school. However, she is dreading the prospect of taking an exam during the pandemic.

“People did not abide by social distancing norms at other exam centres, and I’m worried the same will happen here,” Priyanka, who requested her last name remain anonymous, told VICE News. 

The devastating floods in her state that left 17 dead is another cause of distress for her, leaving her unsure if she will be able to travel to her exam centre. 

Over the next two weeks, more than 2.4 million Indian students will answer the NEET on September 13, and the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), a qualifying exam for engineering schools from September 1 to 6. The government has refused to defer these exams despite vociferous protest from students and opposition parties. 

On Sunday, the country recorded the highest single-day COVID-19 tally in the world with almost 80,000 cases,  

On August 17, India’s Supreme Court dismissed a plea pushing for postponement of the tests, saying that it would make students lose out on an academic year and jeopardise  their futures. 

Since then, aspiring engineers and doctors have protested the government decision by spamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recently uploaded YouTube video with more than 880,000 dislikes and 155,000 comments. A quick scroll through the top comments conveys that these students feel outraged and ignored. 

“This [spam] wasn’t planned in advance, but it shows the anger of students,” said Priyanka. She said that students were enraged to see that during his weekly radio show last Sunday, the Prime Minister spoke about how people should buy Indian breeds of dogs and that the country could become a hub for toy production, but did not address their concerns.

Priyanka is part of a student-led Twitter storm campaign calling for the exams to be cancelled through hashtags #CancelJEEandNeet and #StudentLivesMatter. On August 23, an estimated 4,200 students held a day-long hunger strike to protest the movement, while some students from India’s left-wing All India Students Union have called for an indefinite strike. On August 26, students announced they would wear black clothes, masks, bands, raise a black flag and change their Twitter profile picture to a black dot. As many said, this was to highlight their sense of hopelessness  in the current situation. The students' protests received overwhelming support from public figures including international climate activist Greta Thunberg, and Indian actor Sonu Sood.

Students argue that the guidelines, which require them to wear a mask and gloves throughout the exam, could lead to oxygen deprivation, especially for students with asthma. They also point out that it will be unfair for those who live with COVID-19 patients who will not be allowed to appear for exams this year.

NEET will be conducted at 3,846 centres in 155 cities. JEE will be held in 615 centres across 234 cities.

“My exam centre is more than 100 kilometres away from where I live. I am not mentally prepared to travel as I could risk infecting my family and the entire village,” Raj Yadav, 19, an aspiring engineer from Mirzapur district of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh told VICE News. Many students have expressed on social media that their exam centres were afar and the lack of public transport to get there. 

“The irony is that the government has enforced a weekend lockdown in Uttar Pradesh, which is when the NEET exam will be held,” Pratiksha Rawat, 19, who is preparing for the test told VICE News. Rawat said that public transport would be restricted during the lockdown, making it harder for people who can’t afford private vehicles.

In South India’s  Karnataka state, 32 students who appeared for a school exam tested positive for the Coronavirus in July. 

Opposition parties have moved a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision.

On September 1, the Bombay High Court allowed the JEE exams to continue, and told students who live in flood-affected areas and couldn’t travel to apply to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the authority conducting the exam. 

The NEET and JEE are highly competitive exams in India. Only a third of the NEET candidates are eligible for seats in medical colleges. For the JEE, considered one of the world’s toughest tests, candidates get only two chances.

Students pay an average of INR 150,000 to 200,000 (USD $2,044 to $2725) to receive coaching for these exams, often devoting two years to preparations. 

“They are more concerned about losing money than their own students,” said Yadav, reacting to Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank’s satement that postponing the exams would cost the country INR 48,000 million (USD $656 million). 

Those who support the exams schedule argue that not proceeding with the exams would hold back students in key professions from graduating in 2024-26, especially those who have spent large sums on coaching classes. 

On August 30, about 150 academicians wrote a letter to PM Modi in support of the exams, which stated that “the dreams and futures of our youth cannot be compromised at any cost.”

When asked about whether mandatory masks and sanitisers could help contain the spread, Shahid Jameel, a virologist, told VICE News: “Studies have repeatedly shown that wearing a mask reduces the spread drastically, though it will be quite uncomfortable for the students.” Jameel also points out that the safety of social bubbles of 10 people depend on the size of the room and its ventilation system.

At the time of writing, India has more than 3.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 65,288 deaths. 

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Facebook Threatens to Block News in Australia if World-First Laws Get Passed

Facebook is threatening to block Australians from sharing news content on their social media channels, including Instagram, in response to a world-first attempt by the country’s government to crack down on how big tech companies profit from local media.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) News Media Bargaining Code, announced in detail at the end of July, would essentially compel companies like Google and Facebook to pay Australian media organisations for hosting their content, in order to “support a sustainable Australian media landscape in the digital age”.

Google kicked back against the proposal shortly after its announcement, issuing what some described as a scare campaign in the form of an “open letter to Australians” that warned the code would force the tech giant “to provide you with a dramatically worse Google Search and YouTube.”

Now Facebook appears to have taken a similar tack.

"Assuming this draft code becomes law, we will reluctantly stop allowing publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram," Facebook's Australia and New Zealand managing director Will Easton said in a statement on Monday. "This is not our first choice—it is our last. But it is the only way to protect against an outcome that defies logic and will hurt, not help, the long-term vibrancy of Australia's news and media sector."

Easton accused the proposed legislation of “[misunderstanding] the dynamics of the Internet”, and insisted that news media benefits more from social media than vice versa.

“News represents a fraction of what people see in their News Feed and is not a significant source of revenue for us,” he wrote. “Still, we recognize that news provides a vitally important role in society and democracy, which is why we offer free tools and training to help media companies reach an audience many times larger than they have previously. News organisations in Australia and elsewhere choose to post news on Facebook for this precise reason, and they encourage readers to share news across social platforms to increase readership of their stories.”

Easton further claimed that in the first five months of 2020, users had clicked on Australian news items shared on Facebook 2.3 billion times, which allegedly generated $200 million in revenue for Australian media organisations. He also said the company had proposed bringing Facebook News to Australia—“a feature on our platform exclusively for news, where we pay publishers for their content”—following its 2019 launch in the United States. Easton claimed US publishers who partnered with Facebook News “have seen the benefit of additional traffic and new audiences.”

“But these proposals were overlooked,” he said. “Instead, we are left with a choice of either removing news entirely or accepting a system that lets publishers charge us for as much content as they want at a price with no clear limits. Unfortunately, no business can operate that way.”

It is unclear how this news ban would be implemented, and it’s understood Facebook is still working through the details, but a notification its mobile app announces that the company has already updated its terms of service.

A notification sent out through Facebook's Australian mobile app on September 1, 2020.

Those changes, which come into effect next month, give Facebook the right to block information that could lead to "regulatory impacts" on the company—such as those outlined in the News Media Bargaining Code.

Google’s hostile response to the ACCC’s proposed laws was criticised by a number of experts and media figureheads, who accused the tech giant of stoking unwarranted fear among Australians. Barnet cast serious doubts over the legitimacy of Google’s arguments, Belinda Barnet, senior lecturer in Media and Communications at Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology, suggested that Google was making a mountain out of a molehill in order to avoid sharing a portion of its multi-million dollar ad revenue with the country’s media organisations.

“It’s tempting to conclude that Google is simply trying to gaslight its users by sowing doubt about the wisdom of the new regulations—because it doesn’t want to pay,” she wrote in a piece for The Conversation.

The ACCC also hit back at Google, debunking claims that the tech giant would havre to start charging users for its services and denouncing several of the letter’s statements as “misinformation”.

Public consultation for the News Media Bargaining Code closed on Friday, and the Government is now considering the feedback.

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LSD Could Replace Morphine as a Painkiller, According to New Study

Microdoses of LSD could be used as a non-addictive alternative to painkillers, according to a recent study looking into the psychedelic’s analgesic properties.

As part of a “Microdosing Research Programme” set up to identify the optimal dose of LSD for improving mood, cognition and pain resilience, scientists from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and the Beckley Foundation in the UK found that small, non-psychedelic doses of the drug increased pain tolerance among subjects by up to 20 percent—an effect that is comparable to opioids such as oxycodone and morphine.

It is the first study to revisit the potential of LSD in pain relief since restrictive prohibition policies were put in place in the 1960s and 1970s—and researchers believe further studies could lead to the possible use of the substance as a non-addictive pain medication.

“This study in healthy volunteers shows that a low dose of LSD produces an analgesic effect in the absence of a psychedelic effect,” lead researcher Jan Ramaekers, a professor of Psychopharmacology and Behavioral Toxicology at Maastricht University, said in a statement. “The magnitude of the analgesic effect appears comparable to analgesic effects of opioids in the same pain model.”

A sample of 24 healthy volunteers for the study each received single doses of 5, 10 and 20 micrograms of LSD, or a placebo, over the course of several days. Researchers then assessed their pain tolerance levels by asking them to submerge their hands in a tank of cold water (three degrees celsius) for as long as they could manage.

The study consistently indicated that a 20 microgram dose of LSD reduced pain perception by 20 percent, meaning the volunteers were able to remain immersed in the cold water for substantially longer, as compared to the placebo. Subjects who had microdosed also reported a decrease in the subjective experience of painfulness and unpleasantness.

Researchers further observed that the analgesic effects of the LSD were equally strong one-and-a-half hours after administration as they were five hours after administration—indicating that an acid dose as small as 20 micrograms may have a longer-lasting “halo” effect on pain management. And they stressed, importantly, that these pain responses were seen at dose levels unlikely to produce profound mind-altering effects.

More research is needed before LSD supplants the likes of Endone and Panadol Forte as the go-to drug for pain relief—but if these early indications are anything to go by, the implications of clinically-prescribed analgesic LSD could be a major, potentially life-saving breakthrough when it comes to addressing the opioid crisis in countries like the United States and Canada.

“The present data suggests low doses of LSD could constitute a useful pain management treatment option that is not only effective in patients but is also devoid of the problematic consequences associated with current mainstay drugs, such as opioids,” said Amanda Feilding, Founder and Director of the Beckley Foundation and co-director of the Beckley/Maastricht Microdosing Research Programme. “Over 16 million people worldwide are currently suffering from Opioid Use Disorder and many more will become hooked as a result of oversubscription of pain medication.

“I am encouraged by these results as I have long believed that LSD may not only change the sensations of pain but also our subjective relationship with it,” Feilding added. “We must continue to explore this with the aim of providing safer, non-addictive alternatives to pain management, and to bring people in pain a step closer to living happier, healthier and fully expressed lives.”

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Trump Defended the Kenosha Shooter: 'He Probably Would Have Been Killed'

President Trump defended the 17-year-old who allegedly shot two protesters to death in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Monday, by suggesting the young Trump supporter was just acting in self-defense.

“He was in very big trouble,” Trump told the White House briefing room on the eve of his own controversial visit to Kenosha. “He probably would have been killed.”

Trump’s remarks echo the self-defense argument put forward by lawyers for the young man, Kyle Rittenhouse, who’s been charged with murder and other crimes for allegedly killing two people and wounding a third at a Black Lives Matter protest last week.

“He was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like,” Trump said. “And he fell. And then they very violently attacked him. And it was something that we’re looking at right now. And it’s under investigation.”

Trump has sought to portray himself as the defender of “law and order” in the upcoming presidential election while darkly warning that former Vice President Joe Biden will somehow unleash destruction on American suburbs if allowed to enter the White House for the second time. Biden has fired back that Trump himself is the one fanning the flames of unrest.

The governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, wrote to Trump asking him to “reconsider” his trip.

“I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing,” Evers wrote in a letter originally obtained by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “I am concerned your presence will only delay our work to overcome division and move forward together.”

Rittenhouse has claimed that he traveled to Kenosha from his home in Antioch, Illinois, to protect businesses from protesters, and his social media revealed an affinity with the pro-police “Back the Blue” movement. Video shows him carrying an AR-15-style rifle and apparently shooting multiple people following an earlier confrontation between armed militia members and protesters.

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Monthly Horoscope: Pisces, September 2020

Welcome to Virgo season, Pisces! This is an exciting time of year for your partnerships as the sun lights up the relationship sector of your chart, finding you meeting new people and connecting with your partners on a deeper level. You’re very intuitive, Pisces, and it’s usually easy for you to empathize with what people are experiencing any time of the year, but during Virgo season, the cosmos presents your partners’ points of view in unique ways. Virgo is your opposite sign—you’re a dreamer and Virgo is down to earth, but you and Virgo have something very special in common. You both have the capacity to become amazing healers and you’re both passionate about helping others, making Virgo season a lovely time of year for establishing mutual support in your partnerships. 

Deep conversations take place on September 1 when Mercury in Virgo connects with power planet Pluto in Capricorn—meetings with powerful people are also likely to take place! A climax concerning a situation that’s been brewing in your relationships occurs on September 2, thanks to the full moon in your sign. You simply have to get your feelings off your chest, and you’re releasing baggage around relating that you’ve been holding on to for far too long. Boundaries are a major theme of this full moon as Venus in Cancer opposes Saturn in Capricorn, but communication breakthroughs take place as the sun connects with electric Uranus in Taurus. Communication planet Mercury then connects with Saturn on September 3, helping you make solid plans and commitments. You may have to reject someone or say no to something you want to do—or perhaps someone may say no to you—during this full moon, but exciting risks are taking place and supportive energy is flowing as Mercury and Saturn make a harmonious connection in the sky. 

Flirty energy flows on September 4 as Venus clashes with Mars and mingles with Mercury, which also bodes well for creativity and productivity. Mercury enters Libra on September 5, helping you discuss topics you typically would be afraid, uncomfortable, or unsure of, such as intimacy, debts, and taxes, and getting closure or saying goodbye. Venus enters Leo on September 6, inspiring you to sort through and update your wardrobe, as well as to rethink your beauty routine. Your routines in your relationships are on your mind too as Venus in Leo helps you and your partners sort out schedules. 

Lucky meetings take place on September 9 as the sun connects with your ruling planet Jupiter, currently in Capricorn. Also on this day, Mars begins its retrograde, asking you to slow down your spending and encouraging you to reconsider your approach to wealth and security. This period may find you changing how you accept payments from others and how you save and invest your wealth. A confusing energy flows on September 11 as the sun opposes Neptune, so don’t make any important commitments just yet—let yourself rest! A feeling of ennui, and possibly even some paranoia, may be in the air. Don’t believe everything you hear, but remember that nothing lasts forever, including this confusion. 

Your ruling planet Jupiter ends its retrograde on September 12, finding you stepping into a new period of expansion in your social life. You’re also meeting with powerful people on September 14 as the sun connects with Pluto. Venus clashes with Uranus on September 15, bringing unexpected news and reminding you how important it is to be open-minded and to take risks. Freedom is an important theme right now, and if you’re in a situation where saying what you want feels difficult, Venus’s clash with Uranus will help you break free from those dynamics.

The new moon in Virgo arrives on September 17, marking the beginning of a new cycle around relating and partnering. Mercury also clashes with Jupiter and the sun connects with Saturn: Small talk is set aside for big, juicy ideas, and solid partnerships are forming. Saturn is all about responsibility, and its influence on this new moon portends supportive relationships that will benefit and uplift you in the long term. Hidden information is revealed on September 21 as Mercury clashes with Pluto, and you’re exploring intimacy on an even deeper level with your partners as Libra season begins on September 22. Serious conversations take place on September 23 as Mercury clashes with Saturn, but watch out for impatience and arguments as Mercury opposes Mars retrograde on September 24. A shift around communication takes place as Mercury enters fellow water sign Scorpio on September 27, bringing you news from abroad. Mercury in Scorpio is all about looking at the big picture: What is your purpose? What do you believe? Travel and education are also big themes at this time, but connecting with people far away or studying may take place remotely as we continue addressing COVID-19 globally. 

Easy energy flows as Venus mingles with Mars retrograde on September 28, boding well for productivity: If you ask for help, you’re likely to get it! Saturn retrograde ends on September 29, activating the sector of your chart that rules your social life. Your commitments to the communities you belong to are also highlighted on this day as Mars retrograde clashes with Saturn, finding you reconsidering which groups and causes you want to invest time, energy, and money into. 

Good luck this month, Pisces, and see you in October!

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Monthly Horoscope: Aquarius, September 2020

Welcome to Virgo season, Aquarius! This is an intense time of year for you. Virgo is all about the details, and as the sun moves through this dutiful sign, it’s asking you to look at the details you need to tend to—including the stuff you don’t want to do. Financially, issues concerning debts, taxes, and inheritances are coming to the fore. This is also a powerful time for intimacy and your relationships as you and your partners sort out your responsibilities to each other. 

Discussions about sensitive issues you’d usually avoid take place on September 1 as Mercury in Virgo makes a helpful and harmonious connection with Pluto in Capricorn. Your intuition gets a big boost on this day, too! A powerful full moon in Pisces lands on September 2, bringing a situation concerning your finances or values to a climax. Full moons are all about endings, so you may choose to divest from a situation at this time. Venus in Cancer opposes Saturn in Capricorn during this full moon, and the sun also connects with your ruling planet Uranus in Taurus, finding you and your partners dealing with a reality check when it comes to scheduling. If something—or someone—is important to you, you make things happen, right? Well, that’s not always possible! Canceling a meet-up doesn’t have to mean canceling a relationship; sometimes things just don’t work out and you can’t take it personally…and sometimes you’re tired of feeling like you’re not a top priority, and perhaps you do have to step back from a partnership where scheduling is too fraught with frustration! 

Helping keep the energy from getting stuck and stagnant is the sun's connection with your ruling planet Uranus, which bodes especially well for releasing old emotional patterns and switching things up at home. Mercury connects with your other ruling planet, Saturn, on September 3, creating a helpful energy for setting solid plans in motion, which is especially grounding after this full moon. Mercury is all about communication and Saturn is about commitments, so use this energy to discuss your long-term goals. 

A competitive, yet playful, atmosphere flows on September 4 as Venus clashes with Mars in Aries and connects with chatty Mercury: This is a great time to meet new people, flirt, and enjoy some intellectual banter or gossip. A shift in energy takes place as Mercury enters fellow air sign Libra on September 5, bringing you news from abroad, as well as assisting you in sorting out issues concerning travel and education. Venus also changes signs, entering your opposite sign Leo on September 6, bringing blessings to the relationship sector of your chart. Venus in Leo is loyal, glamorous, and creative: This is a wonderful time for your partnerships and for meeting new people and reigniting passion! 

You’re a logical, down-to-earth person, Aquarius, but mystical themes are front and center for you on September 9 as the sun connects with Jupiter in Capricorn. Your intuition is boosted, you’re feeling spiritually connected, and you’re freed from past emotional weight and ready to take off on a new adventure! Also on September 9, Mars retrograde begins in Aries, which may create a slow, frustrating feeling concerning communication—keep your temper in check! The lesson of this Mars retrograde for you is all about gathering facts before jumping on plans or ideas that seem worthwhile but lack important details for success. 

The sun opposes Neptune on September 11, which does not help with communication as Neptune’s fog finds issues concerning wealth and security feeling difficult or confusing to discuss. Take things slow and don’t rush to making any important commitments. Gathering the information you need will take time. Catch up on rest as Jupiter ends its retrograde on September 12: Make time for meditation, lean into your spiritual practice, and reflect on the symbols that are appearing in your dreams. An especially potent moment for inner work arrives on September 14 as the sun connects with the planet of transformation, Pluto—this is a great time to talk things out in therapy, get closure, or create a ritual for yourself around letting go.

Venus clashes with your ruling planet Uranus on September 15. Whatever’s been feeling blocked in your home life and relationships will be set free, which may mean you and your partners need to give each other the space to experiment and try new things. The new moon in Virgo arrives on September 17, marking a fresh start in how you and your partners handle finances. This is a powerful time to clear a debt or offer or accept an apology. This new moon finds Mercury clashing with Jupiter, encouraging people to communicate openly, while the sun’s connection with Saturn helps us stay grounded. 

Important information arrives on September 21 as Mercury—the planet of information—clashes with Pluto—the planet of hidden things—revealing what was previously obscured from view. Emotionally, this is a powerful time to explore your subconscious. You’re in a philosophical mood, and when Libra season starts on September 22, you’re focused on issues concerning school, travel, and publishing. Communication blocks are addressed as Mercury clashes with Saturn on September 23, and a change in plans takes place—stay focused, as this isn’t a day for joking around! Tempers are short as Mercury opposes Mars retrograde on September 24, so watch out for know-it-alls and the arguments that ensue when people think they’re right about everything. 

A shift in communication takes place as Mercury enters Scorpio on September 27, activating the sector of your chart that rules your career and reputation. This is a powerful time to connect with the public, your elders, and mentors, as well as to plan discussions about your career. A helpful energy around communication takes place as Venus connects with Mars retrograde on September 28—your mind has been needing a break, and this is a great time to step away from screens, give your busy brain some rest, and reconnect with your partners under the loving energy of Venus. Saturn retrograde ends on September 29, again finding you wanting to step back from your busy schedule for solitude. Mars retrograde clashes with Saturn on September 19, too, so you’re thinking back to August 24 and being reminded that you need to consider long-term solutions, rather than easy fixes. 

Good luck this month, Aquarius, and see you in October!

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Monthly Horoscope: Capricorn, September 2020

Welcome to Virgo season, Capricorn! Virgo vibes find you eager to travel, but with COVID-19 considerations in place, travel may look very different for you this year. Education is also a major theme for you at this time, and figuring out how you will attend classes is a big concern during Virgo season, dear Capricorn. Even if you’re not in school anymore, attending webinars or listening to lectures about inspiring topics are experiences you’re likely to dive into as the sun moves through fellow earth sign Virgo. You’re just eager to expand your mind! You’re expanding your reach, too: You may be publishing something or sharing exciting news, especially as Mercury in Virgo connects with Pluto in Capricorn on September 1. 

A conversation that’s been building comes to a climax with the full moon in Pisces on September 2. Full moons are emotional periods that are all about release, and full moons in Pisces are especially intense, since Pisces is a deeply feeling sign that’s the last sign in the zodiac, which intensifies the feeling of “goodbye” and endings. This can mean many things for you, Capricorn: You may find yourself done with a conversation, walking away from something, or coming to a compromise with someone with quite a different perspective than you. This full moon is a major learning experience, and you’re shedding your old views of the world and old ways of communicating. 

This full moon is potent for your relationships as Venus in Cancer opposes your ruling planet Saturn, currently in your sign. You’re not settling for less, and endings may take place if your partners can’t live up to your expectations. Boundaries are made clear, and partnerships that can meet your expectations will grow in strength. Also during this full moon, unexpected celebrations or creative achievements take place as the sun connects with electric Uranus in Taurus: Things may be coming to an end and tension may foment in your relationships, but breakthroughs are taking place that reassure you that the future is rich with possibilities. 

Mercury’s connection with Saturn on September 3 helps you set commitments while Venus’s clash with Mars in Aries on September 4 creates a competitive atmosphere—this should be pretty fun, though, as people will be feeling playful and flirtatious! Bonds are strengthened in your close relationships and communication is open-hearted as Mercury also mingles with Venus on September 4. A partner may share some sweet news or kind words. 

Messenger planet Mercury enters Libra on September 5, boosting communication in your career, making it a great time to open conversations with your bosses, mentors, and elders, as well as to connect with your fans, followers, and the public. Mercury is the planet of the mind, and you’ll be doing lots of career strategizing at this time. Libra, as the sign of relationships, also asks you to consider how you can lean into your partnerships—romantic and professional—to achieve great success and fulfillment in your work. 

Leo is the sign of loyalty, and as Venus moves through this sign on September 6, you will see who is willing to invest in you! September 9 is certainly a day to mark on your calendar: Lucky energy flows as the sun connects with expansive Jupiter, currently in your sign, boding well for your travels, schooling, and intellectual endeavors. Mars retrograde also begins in Aries on this day, which may stir up some frustrations at home, especially if you are moving, renovating, or generally making changes to your living situation or family dynamic. 

Communication issues are highlighted on September 11 as the sun opposes Neptune: Be careful of miscommunications and half-truths. You may also feel mentally drained, so let yourself rest! Jupiter ends its retrograde on September 12, inspiring an over-the-top atmosphere. There’s so much of the world you’re ready to take on, but pace yourself, Capricorn! Patience is one of your best qualities, and it will come in handy now as you make great plans. A few days later, the sun mingles with power planet Pluto on September 14, finding you stepping into your own power in a major way—you’re feeling deeply connected with your inner knowledge and accessing information that propels you toward your goals. Venus squares off with Uranus on September 15, and you’re craving something new. You’re in the mood to experiment, feeling annoyed by any restricting partnerships. 

New opportunities are on the horizon! The new moon in Virgo on September 17 sets a new cycle in motion, bringing new adventures your way. Mercury clashes with Jupiter during this new moon, inspiring a “dream big” energy. And while there is potential for exaggerations, the sun connects with Saturn, helping balance the energy by creating a grounding atmosphere that encourages responsibility and helps you make solid long-term plans that are rooted in reality, not fantasy. Important information comes to light on September 21 as Mercury clashes with Pluto, and Libra season begins on September 22, illuminating the sector of your chart that rules your career and reputation, making this a powerful time to step into leadership positions. But remember to carefully consider how much of yourself you want to share with your colleagues, on social media, and with the world. Blocks around communication come up as Mercury clashes with Saturn on September 23; however, commitments that need to be readjusted will make themselves obvious at this time, so tend to your responsibilities and adjust what needs to be rearranged or upgraded. 

A shift in communication takes place on September 27 as Mercury enters Scorpio, bringing you news from friends and creating a supportive energy around networking, sharing ideas, planning for the future, and focusing on the causes you’re passionate about. Libra season finds you focused on your career and public reputation, but Mercury in Scorpio finds you discussing the deeper reasons you’re involved with the communities you belong to and why you’re doing the work you do. Partnering with others is also a major theme during this time—are you in the power couple you long to be in? Do you feel supported in your professional relationships? Have you been working alone, afraid to rely on anyone else for success? Reflect on what you need to change in your professional and intimate relationships.

Emotional clarity arrives as darling Venus, the planet of values, connects with action planet Mars, the go-getter of the zodiac, on September 28. Yes, Mars retrograde means the go-getter isn’t going as quickly or gracefully as usual, but this helpful connection with Venus still bodes well for peaceful energy. You might not have what you want right now, but you’re feeling content with what you do have. You’re deeply reflecting on your responsibilities, boundaries, fears, and plans for the future as Saturn ends its retrograde on September 29. Mars retrograde also clashes with Saturn on this day, finding you thinking back to August 24. It’s crucial you’re patient and consider long-term strategies over quick fixes, especially concerning issues at home and with family. 

Good luck this month, Capricorn, and see you in October!

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Bingo Hall Kicks Out Woman Who Didn't Cover Air Hole in Neck With Mask

An Ontario bingo hall kicked a woman off its premises when she wouldn't put a mask over the hole in her neck she breathes through.

Earlier this month, Elaine Arbeau made her way to Delta Bingo in Pickering, Ont., about a half-hour drive east of Toronto, for some socially distanced bingo but was denied entry at the door. In a lengthy Facebook post, Arbeau’s son, BJ Gilbert, said he found what happened to her "disturbing."

“When she went to Delta Bingo Pickering, she was told to leave by management if she didn't cover up the hole on her neck,” he wrote. “She explained that was impossible to do so. That's how she breathes.”

Gilbert said Arbeau was “beside herself” afterwards but, after researching mask exemptions, got up the courage to go back last Friday. She was turned away from the bingo hall once more, but this time she took a video of her interaction.

The video, seen more than 10,000 times since it was posted on Sunday, shows a man telling Arbeau that because of head office-mandated rules she wasn’t allowed on the premises with the hole in her neck uncovered and asking her to leave.

Arbeau told CTV that she can’t cover up her breathing hole because she would pass out as it would “smother” her.

Cam Johnstone, the CEO of Delta Bingo, told CTV that he would take a “hard look” at the situation but that masks are mandatory and the health and safety of his employees and customers come first.

After shutting down for months because of the lockdown, Ontario restaurants, movie theatres, and establishments like bingo halls have been slowly reopening their doors in recent weeks. Gilbert said that when Ontario reopened, his mother was happy and excited to be able “to go play and see her friends again.”

“My mom doesn't go out much unless it's to play at a casino or bingo hall these days for her enjoyment with her friends,” he wrote. “But with COVID happening she was homebound for six months before they opened up a bingo hall.”

Since the onset of COVID-19, Canada has had more than 127,000 cases of the virus and over 9,100 deaths.

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'Wet Ass Postage:' Sexualizing the Post Office to Save the USPS

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stops the mail, so the USPS slogan goes—but sometimes, a bored and horny housewife can, in porn tropes at least.

The United States Postal Service, long underfunded and under-appreciated, has accelerated its slide into a threat of collapse due to terrible decisions made by the new postmaster and the Trump administration. It's a mess, and in an election year when more people than ever are going to vote by mail-in ballot to avoid coming into contact with a deadly virus at the polls, it's terrifying.

In early August, Twitter user @BonniePuns put into words something we all felt deep down: only a mass effort of making the post office sexy could salvage it, now.

Writer Ira Madison III tweeted the incredible idea that the post office should start an OnlyFans—since everyone else is doing it, from Bella Thorne to Cardi B—which also went viral:

People in uniform—cops, firemen—are a common porn trope, so it's no surprise that mail carriers are hot again. I've probably seen more of William Harper Jackson's Good Place character Chidi in a tight little mailman uniform in the last month than any other image—and in the episode he wears it in, Kristin Bell's character admits a sex fantasy about fucking a mailman.

Now that it's in danger, everyone's got a boner for the post office, but the thing is, slipping packages on doorsteps and mail through slots has always been sexualized.

Like the stripper-cop trope, the mailman-meets-horny-resident has been around forever, too. The trope used to be the milkman stopping in every day to visit the bored housewife, but that shifted to the postal worker when milk delivery became obsolete. One of the most popular examples of this in pop culture is attributed to the show Kids Say the Darndest Things, where one of the kids says, "I don't look like my Mommy or my Daddy. I look like the mailman.

In a more modern example, Paige Steele plays a pissed-off customer who makes the mailman come inside and watch her test the dildo he just delivered.

Interestingly, there's a notable lack of women mail carriers in mail-porn, even though there are lots of them in real life—slightly less than half of carriers are women, and women have been letter carriers since at least 1845.

Even with years of porn and film and TV examples, horny mail goes back farther than that. Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky's 1953 song "Dear John" was about sending a breakup letter to let a soldier know he'd been cucked back home by his own brother, and became shorthand for dumping someone via letter. Brian Hyland's 1962 "Sealed With A Kiss," the Marvelettes' 1965 "Mister Postman"—these songs all eroticized descriptions of the act of sending and receiving mail, in a time when getting a letter that smelled like your lover was probably the hottest thing imaginable.

Here in 2020, things are a little different. We slide into DMs, not mail slots, and our mailboxes are mostly virtual. And with precarious funding and incompetent leadership, the post office is in trouble.

Inspired by the "sexualizing the post office" tweet, TikTok user Siete White bought a mail bag from the USPS store and paired it with shiny black short shorts to twerk on a mailbox:

She told Buzzfeed News that the bag sold out after her post, which got more than 605,000 likes. "It’s empowering to know, wow, I made a 15-second-long video and people actually went and used their hard-earned coins to go and make their own individual difference," White said.

Others on TikTok and Twitter took a page out of K-pop stan fancam playbook and made video mashups of postal workers delivering mail and petting dogs to "WAP" and "In the Party" by Flo Milli:

Much like artists who coped with Covid-19 lockdown by sketching toilet paper and hand sanitizer Corona-chan waifus and sex workers who sold nudes to raise money for Australian wildfire relief efforts (2020 has been so weird), people are turning their concerns about the fate of the USPS into art.

Alexandra Kiselyov, a graduate student studying television writing and producing, is also selling art in exchange for proof of USPS support—but instead of nudes, she's taking illustration art commissions. While they aren’t necessarily sexualized, she was inspired by others doing similar fundraising campaigns. For every $10 or more spent on USPS stamps with proof of receipt, she'll illustrate whatever you want.

"I wanted to give people incentive to buy stamps for the USPS, primarily because I'm extremely concerned about mail-in voting and what the Trump administration has been doing in the background," she told me. She's concerned about the state of mail-in ballots for the election, but also since she runs a small business through eBay, she relies on the USPS to ship to customers.

"I'm eternally grateful to those that did purchase stamps, and I hope people will continue to support artists and the USPS in the future,” she said. “The most important part is that people are learning that the USPS is in dire straits, and that small businesses and rural communities are going to be affected by it."

Cosplayer Katie Simrell told me she decided to do a postal-themed look after being inspired by the @BonniePuns tweet. "Immediately I thought about how I could make a cosplay from this idea to raise money from the USPS," she said. "Making silly lewd/sexy costumes out of innocuous characters or inanimate objects or ideas or... govt agencies apparently (lol) isn't a new idea of course."

The USPS doesn't sell uniforms, so she found an old one on eBay, and like White, she bought the messenger bag from the USPS store. A matching blue and red microbikini and ingenious stamp pasties complete the look.

Like Alexandra's commissions, sending proof of purchase from the USPS store got you a lewd photo in her USPS-chan outfit, as does proof of texting "USPS" to 50409—which returns a Resistbot that automatically emails your local representatives to urge them to support the Delivering for America Act. Simrell said her DMs exploded with purchase receipts, she said, "which could either be a great sign of people really wanting to help the USPS and they love the idea, or equally, people just being horny."

The response has been mostly positive, which surprised her. "Usually I brace myself for a torrent of misogynistic or mean-spirited comments but there have only been a few small outliers," she said. "The most baffling response has been the handful of political retorts. Somebody tried to say 'the dems are offering nudes now to join their party,' I guess trying to demean me? Or as if the USPS is a service that only one political party can use."

Urging individuals to buy stamps and art commissions probably won't, in itself, save the post office. The job of funding one of the country's oldest and most important institutions is a lot bigger than OnlyFans can handle. But if the postal worker ever goes the way of the milkman, future generations could find themselves jerking off to a lot more UPS and FedEx porn fantasies.

Subscribe to The Mail, our newsletter about the USPS, voting security, and democracy.

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Google Maps Thinks This Beautiful Beach Is In Landlocked Belarus

On Friday, I read an article about how Vladimir Putin might invade Belarus if the protesters there don't stop protesting living in a dictatorship. This made me wonder how long the border is between Belarus and Russia. So I opened up Google Maps and typed in "Belarus." Here is what I saw:

Screenshot: Google Maps

The answer to my question is that Belarus's entire eastern border is shared with Russia. Another successful internet search. 

But just as I was about to close the window, I saw the default photo of Belarus Google Maps has chosen to display. It is of a beautiful ocean scene with rising cliffs surrounding a cove. How lovely, I thought to myself. Among the many things I didn't know about Belarus, that it had such a beautiful coast was certainly one of them. Here is that photo:

Screenshot: Google Maps

I looked back to the map to see what body of water Belarus borders. As you can see, it doesn't.

Screenshot: Google Maps

After a reverse Google Image search, it's clear the photo is not of Belarus, but of Porthcurno Beach in Cornwall, England.

How did it come to be that Belarus's main Google Maps photo was of a cove in England, I wondered? The user who submitted the photo and tagged it as Belarus, Sourya Chatterjee, has uploaded a whopping 20,538 photos to Google Maps. Since November 2015, Google Maps has offered a rewards program for "Local Guides" who contribute reviews, answer questions, and upload photos about points of interest. Since then, Chatterjee has been very busy, uploading an average of 11 photos per day.

Then again, I have no idea when Chatterjee started uploading photos, since according to his Google Maps profile, he hasn't uploaded any, nor has he received any credit or rewards for the 20,000-plus photos he uploaded.

Screenshot: Google Maps

By scrolling through photos of Belarus on Google Maps, I found at least one other picture Sourya uploaded. I bet some of you will get this without doing a reverse image search. It's of the London Eye. In London (you can see in the bottom-left the geotag is for a random square in Grodno, Belarus, which I can assure you does not have a London Eye replica).

Screenshot: Google Maps

This photo of the London Eye tagged to Grodno, despite being the third highest-ranking photo of Belarus on Google Maps, is nowhere to be found in the top hundred or so photos of Grodno.

On Friday, I reached out to Google to ask what is going on here. I told them about the main photo of the cliffs in Cornwall, but not about the London Eye photo. As of this writing, the cliffs no longer show up as the main photo for Belarus. Now, it is the Mir Castle in Minsk (where you will also find a photo of one of the cutest cats you have ever seen). But the London Eye photo is still there. It is now the second highest recommended photo for Belarus by Google Maps.

Screenshot: Google Maps

I don't have any answers for you about all this. Is Sourya Chatterjee a real person who made a bot to scam Google Maps rewards, they caught on, and wiped his status but kept the photos? What does all this say about Google Maps' algorithm that selects primary photos? Does this reflect anything important about how Google specifically and tech giants in general regard the nature of information and truth? Or is this just a weird thing that I happened to stumble upon because I am a geographic ignoramus who didn't know where Belarus was? Only time—and, perhaps, Google's communications department, should they get back to me with a statement—can tell.

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Weekly Moon Horoscope: August 31 - September 6

This week, the moon moves through Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, and Taurus. There is a full moon in Pisces and a waning gibbous moon in Aries.

The full moon takes place early Wednesday morning at 1:22 AM in the sign of the moon’s exaltation, Pisces. This means that the moon loves to be in Pisces, where it can be open, optimistic, and fully vulnerable. Full moons are times of heightened emotional sensitivity. They are the climax of an event when things are fully visible. This full moon gently connects with Uranus, the planet of the unexpected. Things that have been canceled will need to be rescheduled, and we have to accept that given the current circumstances! As a collective, however, we can overcome whatever mistakes or oversights take place if we can communicate honestly as a team. This can result in something totally fresh and never-before-seen.

The week ends with the moon in Aries, heating things up and increasing energy. Mind your pace. There is the urge to rush and give it your all, but this could lead to burnout if we don’t give ourselves enough time to cool off. We’re taking what we have learned from the full moon and making progress with this new experience under our belt. There’s a forward motion, but slow and steady wins the race. The moon then enters chill Taurus on Sunday, helping everyone start the week in a more grounded and relaxed state.

All times ET.

Aries Moon

Your lunar return starts on Thursday and carries you through early Sunday morning! During your lunar return, the moon is in your moon sign. This takes place once a month, and it’s a great time to get back in touch with what your body needs. Currently, you’re going a million miles per hour, and now that your planetary ruler, Mars, is starting to slow down in preparation for its upcoming retrograde, you should start saving up some canisters of gas in case your car breaks down later down the road. Pace yourself. The full moon illuminates your house of rest and rehabilitation. If you haven’t caught up on your sleep and your break time, then you will see how this has affected you. Meditation and quiet time alone can give you more energy in the long run.

Taurus Moon

Your lunar return starts on Sunday morning! This is a monthly transit, where the moon is in Taurus again, your natal moon sign. This is time for you to check-in with your body: Are you eating well? Are you connecting with your family and your friends in a way that sits right with you? Take time to think about how you would create the type of community that you want to be held in. 

With Mars clashing with your planetary ruler, Venus, it is up to you to be proactive in the face of all that makes you worried. You will have more invitations if you send more invitations. The full moon illuminates your house of community and friendships, encouraging you to look at the connections that you have and to be honest about the ones that you’d love to make!

Gemini Moon

The full moon early Wednesday morning brings results, Gemini moon. Things that have been happening in your career are no longer a mystery, and you are well aware of all of the possibilities that lie at your fingertips. You are sensitive to what other people think of you, and you are longing for approval and validation right now. Things are changing for you and you are open to it, pushing through anything uncomfortable or unsuitable for your creative vision. There seems to be some magic at work—some things are still so uncertain as the moon gently connects with Uranus, the planet of the unexpected, which is hiding out in a secret sector of your chart. Have faith that if you put your best foot forward, the rest will follow.

Cancer Moon

The full moon in fellow water sign Pisces heightens your intuition and your spirituality. This is a time to pray, meditate, and connect with your higher beliefs. If you’ve been having trouble with things feeling like they are out of control, now is the time to ask for a miracle. The full moon gently connects with Uranus, the planet of the unexpected, helping you to see the greater picture and have faith that things will fall into place, regardless of the chaos around us or the inability to predict the future when everything is so slippery! You have a lot that you can offer others at this time, too. People are in pain, and you can use your knowledge and compassion to help people move through hard times.

Leo Moon

You are good at looking at the bright side of things, Leo moon, but this full moon illuminates a sector of your chart that shows you where things are changing—and change isn’t always easy. This can bring out feelings of jealousy or insecurity that you can only work through if you confront them. Learn how to be happy for what other people have and find satisfaction with being a generous and kind person. The best part about being generous isn’t getting something back. It’s the confidence in knowing that you made a difference in someone else’s life. Your contributions will be recognized, somehow!

Virgo Moon

Relationships come from the energy you put into them, Virgo moon. The full moon reflects the light of the sun, and this week’s full moon illuminates your house of relationships. The light that you share with others is going to be reflected back to you. Take time to recognize how people absorb your energy: Can they handle it? Are they as generous as you are? Do they make you feel good, flirty, and happy to include them in your crew? This is the time to reassess your expectations in all your relationships. But remember that the moon is not a perfect mirror of the sun; people are not going to reciprocate things in a one-to-one mechanical ratio. To give, in love, is to give without expecting anything in return. However, you don’t always have to give so much, especially if it makes you exhausted.

Libra Moon

You’re seeing the bigger picture behind your daily mundane tasks, Libra moon. This week’s full moon lights up your house of routine, ritual, and lifestyle. All of the little things add up, and while you’ve been easily distracted lately, you’re starting to see how you can organize your day to better support your quirks. Not everything can be scheduled, planned out, or expected. The full moon gently connects with Uranus, the planet of the unexpected, which asks that you include enough buffer time between your scheduled appointments to guarantee that you have enough time to rest and daydream and don’t get burnt out. The moon enters your house of relationships this weekend, and you’re excited to be with others in your downtime.

Scorpio Moon

The full moon in fellow water sign Pisces brings sensitivity and awareness to your sexual and social needs. It’s OK to want or need relationships. Nobody is an island, and being able to connect with the people who make you—and your inner child—smile is a necessary part of life. You can, however, be a little wary of needing to satisfy everyone in the group. You don’t need to get along with absolutely everyone, but you also don’t have to go to such extremes and isolate yourself just because someone doesn’t agree with your point of view. Make enough space in your heart for your friends to have other friends, and you will attract more quality time and inner peace.

Sagittarius Moon

This week’s full moon calls attention to your home and family life, Sagittarius moon. You have the authority to change what you want when faced with the total recognition of your needs! Things are changing, and you are putting forth that change. Of course, cash rules everything, and you are being really conscious of how money determines your decisions. But overall, you should know what you are comfortable with: What do you need to feel like you are at home? How do you need to make a change to feel closer and more bonded with your family and childhood friends? This weekend is bound to be fun with the moon moving through fellow fire sign Aries, warming you to some playdates.

Capricorn Moon

It’s time to put your thinking cap on, Capricorn moon. The full moon in Pisces highlights your house of communication and contracts, helping you to see everything clearly and make decisions on what to do with this information. You are free to make risky suggestions and get creative! This full moon gently connects with inventive Uranus, so don’t be afraid to follow your bliss and take a calculated risk. Journaling to get your thoughts organized or looking back on old things that you have believed, written, or shared with others is a good way to get familiar with your own headspace. Knowing what’s going on in your own head can only make you more powerful in the long run. Make plans for a dinner party Sunday night.

Aquarius Moon

Your lunar return began last Saturday and carries through to Tuesday morning! The moon is almost full in your sign, so you are more clearly understanding and feeling your needs. During your lunar return, the moon is in your moon sign. This takes place once a month, and it’s a great time for you to get back in touch with what your body needs. Keeping track of fluctuating moods in a scientific way can give you more awareness and compassion, so take inventory of how you have been sleeping, eating, and feeling.

The full moon illuminates your financial sector, showing you what you have to be grateful for and all that you have to share with others! If you are not satisfied with your bank account, use this as a turning point to find new ways to stretch your dollars. You can get creative as the moon gently connects with Uranus, the planet of invention.

Pisces Moon

Your lunar return starts on Tuesday and carries on through Thursday evening! During your lunar return, the moon is in your moon sign. This takes place once a month, and it’s a great time to get back in touch with what your body needs. This lunar return, however, is a once-a-year full moon in your sign, making this the time to take a full inventory of how your body is doing: Nutrition, sleep, sex, hydration, emotions, and everything else related to your vessel should be reflected upon! Now you can see how your relationships contribute to your overall well-being. Are you being too generous with people who are using you for your connections? Are you letting people take advantage of your generosity, or do you actually like being reliable? Hopefully, it’s the latter! Just pay attention to how other people make you feel about yourself and continue to question those emotions until you start feeling good.

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Weekly Sun Horoscope: August 31 - September 6

Messenger Mercury harmonizes with power planet Pluto on Tuesday, September 1, at 6:41 AM, bringing a deeper understanding of things that were once secret or occult. Be sure you want to know the answers to the questions you’re asking, because once you find out, there’s no turning back!

There is a full moon in Pisces on Wednesday, September 2, at 1:22 AM, signaling an emotional release. But intense full moons are also a time of full visibility, when you can totally scope out the current landscape. Also on Wednesday, love planet Venus faces off with commitment planet Saturn at 8:17 AM, which has us reviewing our romantic commitments in a practical way. There can be disappointments if you and your partners aren’t willing to make compromises. A few hours later, at 10:09 AM, the sun harmonizes with Uranus, the planet of surprises, helping us find a practical resolution to all of life’s current uncertainty! Promises are being made or broken in the face of all that’s chaotic.

On Thursday, September 3, Mercury harmonizes with Saturn at 3:22 AM, helping us better understand our commitments and restrictions. This is a good time to talk about your responsibilities or to get a greater picture of your general duties. Conversations about contracts flow easily.

On Friday, September 4, Mars clashes with Venus, the planet of love, at 5:12 AM. There needs to be an awareness of, and a channel for, any sexual frustration. We are going after what we want, to say the least. We will be able to talk about what we want as Mercury, the planet of communication, gently connects with Venus, the planet of desire, at 4:31 PM on the same day.

After a short stay in the sign of its rulership, Mercury leaves Virgo for Libra on Saturday, September 5, at 3:46 PM. While Mercury is in Libra, conversations and ideas about art, diplomacy, and commerce fare well.

Venus, the planet of love, enters sunny Leo on Sunday, September 6, at 3:21 AM. Venus in Leo is a time to try out popular trends and go with the crowd. Sometimes, it’s not so bad being trendy!

All times ET.

Aries

Tuesday’s full moon shows you where you’ve been slacking, Aries. You always face whatever challenges life throws your way, but sometimes it’s good to take a break. It’s likely that you’ve been slacking on self-care and meditation. There is stress in your private relationships as serious Saturn faces off with sweet Venus, creating tension between your responsibilities and your private pleasures. Still, you are going after what you want head-first, as always, as your planetary ruler, Mars, clashes with Venus. And in the coming weeks, as Mercury moves into your relationships sector, you will be less busy with work and learn a lot more about other people.

Taurus

You’re learning a lot about your obsessions and how these fixations control your ideas about relationships as messenger Mercury harmonizes with power planet Pluto. Learning about other people’s secrets can make you feel more intimate with them. The full moon in your friendships sector shows that you are getting to know people in your community on a deeper, more vulnerable level. 

Your planetary ruler, Venus, faces off with serious Saturn, and you can be a little worried about your ideas being rejected. Have faith that whatever you put out there will lead you to something great, as long as it’s communicated with compassion. The sun then harmonizes with Uranus, and you are excited to express your truth—no matter how strange it is.

Gemini

You’re getting a deeper sense of other people’s paranoia and how those defense mechanisms subconsciously shape the conversations you’re having as your planetary ruler, messenger Mercury, harmonizes with secretive Pluto. You are digging up extra clues at this time. 

The full moon in your house of fame and career puts you in a place where you can sit back and be proud of all the work you’ve done. You are finally getting some recognition for the things that you provide! You are also making financial commitments that help you find domestic security as Mercury harmonizes with responsible Saturn. Your planetary ruler, Mercury, enters fellow air sign Libra, and you are exploring ideas around art, friendships, and romance for the coming weeks. Have fun!

Cancer

Conversations lead you to a deeper understanding of people’s defense mechanisms, fears, and weaknesses as Mercury harmonizes with power planet Pluto. When you see people acting out of pain, you have to treat them with compassion. The full moon in fellow water sign Pisces reveals something about your worldview and how you can use your sensibilities to help heal others. You can choose to change your mind. 

As Venus faces off with cold Saturn, it can be easy to see people’s shortcomings and what they are no longer able to provide because of their other commitments. Respect the boundaries that others put up and feel free to draw some of your own as you honor your own needs and desires. You’re too busy to chase after things that aren’t even that gratifying, anyway.

Leo

You can see how much money is out there for you to go rake up, Leo, under the light of Tuesday’s full moon. The money’s not going to come so easily and you’re going to have to put in the work if you want to see results, but that’s OK. Maybe another shift or gig will get you where you need to go. This weekend, you’re making all the phone calls and emails that you need to get you there as Mercury enters your communication sector. You will also have aesthetic Venus in your sign giving you a helping hand over the coming weeks and picking the perfect interview or photoshoot outfit. Whatever it is you choose to do, you work really hard, dear Leo, and you can use that to your advantage! Talk yourself up—you have the receipts to prove that you deserve as much money as you do.

Virgo

You’re learning a lot about what you need to have mental peace in your relationships, both platonic and sexual. Mercury, your planetary ruler, harmonizes with power planet Pluto, and you can pick up on patterns in your social life that have brought you to where you are now. Tuesday’s full moon lights up your house of relationships, and you can see the role that you play in your partnerships. The love that you give is always rewarding to you, even if it’s not reciprocated in a way that is totally apparent or legible. You can be feeling a little bogged down by your work responsibilities as Venus faces off with strict Saturn, but just know that you can make time for yourself whenever you want, even when the daily grind gets you down! You’re working for a reason.

Libra

You’re realizing things about your current living situation that can be kind of worrisome as messenger Mercury harmonizes with power planet Pluto. If you can let go and allow things to go the way they should, you will have a lot less stress. The full moon brings something to fulfillment in your lifestyle and work commitments. You’re seeing what’s on your plate, so use this information to determine if you’re overcommitted or not. You can use your authority and standing to reject things that are not your cup of tea as Venus, your planetary ruler, faces off with Saturn, the planet of high standards. Mercury enters your sign for the coming weeks, so walk your talk!

Scorpio

You know something that nobody else knows, dear Scorpio. What you do with this information is entirely up to you, but messenger Mercury harmonizing with power planet Pluto can put a devilish smile on your face. Use this power for good! 

The full moon in your house of dating and friendships can have you feeling completely aware of what you need to be fulfilled in your closest relationships. This can also bring an important creative project to a certain stage of completion. You can have a hard time balancing your own mental hang-ups and your desire to grow and branch out as Venus faces off with serious Saturn. You are dedicated to learning more before taking a leap forward. Let your dreams guide you toward your weirdest relationship goals as the sun harmonizes with Uranus, the planet of the unconventional.

Sagittarius

You’re making mastermind money moves as messenger Mercury harmonizes with resourceful Pluto! You have people in your pocket who can give you access to deep wells of resources. The full moon illuminates your house of home and family, bringing your domestic life to full visibility. Under the light of the full moon, you can see everything that’s supporting you—and it’s a lot to be grateful for. Don’t let greed or stinginess get in the way of feeling like you can’t be your true, generous self as sweet Venus faces off with conservative Saturn. There’s a balance to be struck, sure, but you work hard so that you can cut loose. Exciting invitations come in the mail over the coming weeks as messenger Mercury enters your party sector, so have fun!

Capricorn

Pay attention to the messages that you’re sending, Capricorn. It says more about you than it does about them. Messenger Mercury harmonizes with Pluto, the planet of psychology and obsession. Can you hear yourself talking? With some reflection comes a powerful breakthrough. 

The full moon illuminates your house of communication and commitments, finding you seeing all of the contracts that you currently have and how they can be tweaked to better cater to your needs. Venus, the planet of love, faces off with your planetary ruler, Saturn, and you can make an honest assessment of how much you can commit to other people and relationships right now. Though you tend to lean toward the conservative side when it comes to giving yourself away, at least you’re being honest.

Aquarius

Pay attention to the things that bring up jealous, nasty mental patterns and ugly thoughts. As messenger Mercury harmonizes with power planet Pluto, you can get a better understanding of your fears and work through them by recognizing what they are and letting them be dissolved by forgiveness. The full moon illuminates a sector of your chart that deals with finances, self-worth, and self-esteem. Try to refuel on self-love and check-in with yourself so that you can better support yourself through any uncomfortable moments. Mental health check-ins are easily facilitated as Mercury harmonizes with Saturn, the planet of structure and your planetary ruler, which encourages you to talk about the things that not everyone sees. You’re onto brighter mental horizons as Mercury enters fellow air sign Libra.

Pisces

By getting to know other people’s fears, you can get a stronger grasp of your future. Messenger Mercury harmonizes with power planet Pluto, and people are ready to spill the beans. You’re going to learn some insider secrets. The full moon in your sign is a good time to recognize how your relationships are affecting your moods and energy levels. You can lead by example, showing people how to be a good friend and lover, but sometimes there are people who you need to swim away from. There is a little harsh reality that you’re dealing with as sweet Venus faces off with cold Saturn across your chart’s axis of social dynamics. Not everyone is going to have the same standards as you—are you willing to make a compromise? Check in with yourself before you answer.

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5 Wild Stories From the New Tell-All Book About Melania Trump

The vicious backbiting between first lady Melania Trump and President Trump’s daughter Ivanka got so bad it generated its own mission codename, “Operation Block Ivanka,” a new book says.

The term referred specifically to Melania’s attempt to keep Ivanka out of the limelight during Trump’s 2017 swearing-in ceremony, according to the juicy tell-all by a former aide and longtime friend of the first lady, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, which officially drops Tuesday.

“Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady,” is just the latest memoir from a disaffected former aide to describe working for the Trumps — any Trump — as a chaotic nightmare.

Winston Wolkoff joined Trumpworld from the fashion and event-planning industry after working for Vogue magazine, and played a central role in organizing the inauguration. She then became a senior adviser to the first lady during the first year of the Trump presidency.

Like so many others, she then had a falling out with the Trumps — and now, she’s written a book.

From the Melania-Ivanka battles to the “shit show” of the inauguration, here’s what’s inside.

“Make it look like North Korea.”

Winston Wolkoff said Trump told her personally that he wanted a North Korean-style military parade for his inauguration.

“I want tanks and choppers,” Trump said, she writes. “Make it look like North Korea.”

Winston Wolkoff says Ivanka “didn’t bat an eye” at the remark.

Trump later became enamored with a suggestion from Mark Burnett, the famous TV producer who worked with Trump on “The Apprentice” reality show, to fly a squadron of drones that would light up the night sky over the inaugural festivities.

Both ideas fell by the wayside during the disorganized chaos of Trump’s inaugural planning.

“Grab ’em by the pussy”

Winston Wolkoff says Melania declared herself unbothered by the infamous “Access Hollywood” tapes, in which Trump crudely boasted of grabbing women “by the pussy.”

Trump’s remarks were recorded not long after Donald and Melania’s wedding. The tape emerged a few weeks before the 2016 election and created a crisis in the Trump campaign.

Winston Wolkoff recounts having a relaxed, expensive lunch in Manhattan with Melania days after the tape dropped, in which the future first lady dismissed her husband’s comments as just Donald being Donald.

“Aren’t you angry?” Winston Wolkoff asks, according to the book.

Melania shook her head.

“Nope!” Melania replies. “He is who he is. I told him that if he ran for president, he had to be ready for everything to be opened up and exposed. His whole life.”

The book presents Melania as profoundly indifferent to public criticism. She repeatedly brushes off Winston Wolkoff’s concerns about her husband’s potential impact on her wellbeing with: “Don’t be [worried]; I know who I married.”

The White House bathrooms

Melania Trump refused to move into the White House Residence until the bathroom had been renovated because she didn’t want to use the same toilet or shower as former First Lady Michelle Obama, Winston Wolkoff writes.

“Melania took one look at her bedroom off the West Sitting Hall and said, ‘I’m not moving to D.C. until the Residence has been renovated and redecorated, starting with a new shower and toilet,’” the book says.

Winston Wolkoff says Melania probably would have treated anyone else’s former bathroom the same way.

“Melania did not conduct business on a previously-used john,” Winston Wolkoff writes.

Melania vs. Ivanka

The book describes tensions between Melania and Ivanka as a “cold war.”

Before the inauguration, Melania and Winston Wolkoff launched an attempt to block Trump’s daughter Ivanka from taking center stage during the 2017 swearing-in ceremony in what they called “Operation Block Ivanka.”

The plan involved getting out a seating chart and carefully plotting camera angles to minimize Ivanka’s visual presence.

Winston Wolkoff acknowledges Operation Block Ivanka was “petty.” But it’s hardly the only scene of griping and backbiting between Melania and Ivanka in her tell-all.

According to the book, Melania gave Ivanka a derisive nickname: “Princess.”

Trump’s inaugural “shit show”

Winston Wolkoff claims she personally told Trump that his own Presidential Inaugural Committee was a “shit show.”

Winston Wolkoff would go on to take a lot of the public blame for mismanagement of the inauguration’s famously bloated budget, but claims in her book she was merely trying to keep the wildly disorganized event from falling apart.

And in this telling, the chaos trickled down from the top.

At one point, she recounts Trump angrily denouncing former campaign and inaugural planning aide Rick Gates. Then, in a huff, Trump turns to the next person he sees — the guy who just brought him dinner — and puts him in charge of planning the inauguration.

“What are you doing here?” Trump asks the young man, who looks like he just recently graduated from college, according to the book.

“I’m delivering your turkey sandwich for dinner, sir,” the guy says.

“You’re in charge of the inauguration now,” Trump replies. “Stephanie, fill him in.”

The whole episode was then, seemingly, forgotten.

Cover: Melania Trump, the wife of President Donald Trump, leaves the President's Room of the Senate, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, after President Trump signed his first legislation. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)

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'Crusader Kings III' Is a World of Complexity That Feels Powerfully Alive

Crusader Kings III is massively, powerfully alive. You can almost feel it pulsing when you play it. Often, deep into the third, fourth, fifth hour of play, I'd realize I wasn't so much playing it as watching it develop. The streamlining of its user experience and the accessibility of the wealth of information it collates for each and every citizen of it's stunning rendering of Europe, continental Asia and northern Africa has not just made this a game that's legible to more kinds of players; it has opened up new dimensions in its sense of character.

The philosophy of Crusader Kings III is that more is more. When you're just starting out as someone's vassal, scrolling too far away from the tiny bit of land you're trying to rule is mind boggling. What the game aims to do is create a working facsimile of how human beings in the medieval ages interacted with each other. It has a reputation for being for history nerds, but I think it's appeal is broader than that. This is a game for people who are nerds about people, and why they act the way they do.

Understanding how to play the game means understanding that you are just going to keep running into proper nouns. You've got your Domain, and your Vassals and your Council. You've got multiple currencies to juggle, as well as at least two skill trees, and both a faith and a culture that give you stats that modify how other characters will treat you and how your character will treat other people. Helpfully, the game provides you with a plethora of tools to understand what's going on—if you mouse over a highlighted word, a definition will pop up. These definitions can nest within each other too, so if there's a word you don't understand in your definition you can define that as well.

At the top of the screen you'll see big icons, rendered like panels in a stained glass window, and a smaller tab with a number on it. Those big icons are things you should probably handle right away--if you don't yet have an heir, you'll see a big, red icon constantly reminding you of that. The smaller tab are all suggestions of what to do in the game, though they're not as urgent as the others. As a player, I found that using that tab as a kind of to do list would take me pretty far. Over time, if the game gels with you, you'll discover how to make your own fun, but whenever I started a new game, dealing with any of the issues in that tab would often lead to a years long endeavor to please someone who refuses to like you, or to gain enough alliances to go to war, or scheme your way into an advantageous marriage.

You wouldn't believe the amount of drama a bunch of land owners can get into just within two or three duchies. You and your vassals and your fellow land owners and their vassals with form and break alliances, marry each other, war with each other, murder and seduce each other for centuries. If you're lucky, your schemes will bear fruit and you'll eventually rule an empire. If not, you might die, but it's not that bad. As long as you have a landed title, you can continue the game as your heir.

When I first started out in Crusader Kings III, I wanted to find where my mother lived in India. As a mixed race black person, I don't know where I come from in specific on my father's side. Though his family is from Selma, Alabama, we are both also the descendents of slaves. I can't trace our family history back much farther than that. I do know where my mother was born though: Andhra Pradesh, in the southern shore of India. I selected a ruler from that time, choosing to start at 1066, the later of the two start dates the game provides.

After you pick your start date, when the game is still frozen in time, you're looking at a meticulously researched map of history. Crusader Kings III is not a pedagogical tool--it stops being historical as soon as you press play. But what I found over time was not only was it easy to cast yourself in the role of a ruler, trying to shape history to your whims, it made me even more interested in my family history. It made me want to dive right into a place and time that the game portrays as full of emerging culture and humanity.

Over time, my burgeoning empire grew and fell. As I gained ground in one area, I lost it in another. My own machinations would reverberate throughout the subcontinent, and over time you realize the kind of reputation your player character can garner through their choices. Several generations into my game, I ended up using my various connections to get my child and heir betrothed to the child and heir of my liege. Another character started an entire war to stop that betrothal from happening, successfully destabilizing the power of the Maharaja to install their own child on the throne.

It is very easy to play Crusader Kings III completely in character as the figure that you're currently playing as from your chosen dynasty. Over time, your character will gain traits that modify how they react to certain choices. A character who is wrathful isn't going to enjoy the kinds of platitudes one must make when hosting a feast, for instance. Picking that option as a player will lead to the player character accruing stress, just as it stresses me out when it's my turn to do all the grossest household chores. You really can't push that either; when I played as a Russian vassal, my player character once got so stressed out he died. Crusader Kings III says, "burnout is real."

Having those surprising—but in retrospect totally expected—events happen puts you in the mindset of thinking of your player character as having an immutable personality. This isn't just complex math bouncing off each other; you begin to see it as people reacting to stimuli. Every choice you make has echoes in this world, because as much as it can, Crusader Kings III tries to break down implacable human nature into systems.

It's an ambitious design, and thus it can't really be truly successful. The one obvious flaw in this system is warfare: it's just not very fun, and can sometimes be a tedious chore if the area you're in is particularly unstable. My game in Africa ended in a spiral of my heirs being attacked by literally all their neighbors. Other than marrying off children to gain more alliances, there's no good way to react to that kind of onslaught. You're just fucked. On the flip side, when you're the obvious winner in a conflict, warfare becomes just another task on a list to complete. I wouldn't say I enjoy fighting more when I'm winning. I've simply learned the systems well enough to know when I'm going to win.

Within the complicated rendering of character personalities there are some snarls as well. The way that the game treats racism and xenophobia isn't explicitly named as such, but based on their personal traits as well as the Doctrines of their religion, people of differing religions and cultures can be extremely hostile to each other, and people of different cultures automatically are resistant to becoming one another's vassal.

In a later game in Africa, I ended up being the last proselytizer of a tribal religion that was matrilineal as Islam pushed in from the west, and Ghana's expanding spread a patrilineal tribal religion across the rest of the continent. The tribal religion considered us Hostile, meaning that player characters would have to spend more time making characters of this different religion like them, which became increasingly important as they crept closer to our territory. We were able to hold our own, creating a barrier of our own faith between Ghana and our new Islamic neighbors.

When Islam arrived in Africa in earnest, though, the region exploded into war. They considered all other religions not Hostile, but Evil. There was almost nothing I could do to keep diplomatic relations with them any better "not currently at war." It's pointless to ask if this is historically accurate--this occurred in a totally fictional 10th century, after I'd played for two centuries previous. Is it true to human nature, though? Crusader Kings III presents that conflict as an inevitability, a rare occasion where the ability to shape history is taken out of the players' hands It can be a little odd when the game makes it impossible to just be nice to your Arab neighbors, but the seat of Rome is held by a Russian Orthodox kingdom (yes, it happened to me).

Take the way that the game treats how other characters react to characters who are disabled. I was still in Africa, playing the Farba of Bono, when I got a random event for my player character, who had specialized in Intrigue, which has a vaguely evil vibe as a skill track. Our dynasty was not doing great, but had amassed a ton of Renown over many, many years of play. This character was lamenting that there was a blight in their family tree, and the game gave me the option to either try to change their demeanor, murder them, or let bygones be bygones. I clicked on the character to check out their stats—they sucked—but also noticed that the character was a Dwarf, a trait that gives you a debuff to your attractiveness and physical prowess. Maybe an hour later I got the same event, this time for a character who had facial differences. I understand that ableism is real, both now and historically, but it stuck out as the only time the game felt cruel towards the marginalized. My character was a proto-eugenicist asshole, yes, but once again, I was made to play with those concepts and the prejudices.

Brushing up against the limitations of Crusader King III's imagination is jarring, if only because it's hypnotic to play. You'll spend hours feeling as if these other rulers are real people, so in sync with the needs of your ruler that you find yourself truly getting a little squirt of dopamine when another character dies.Crusader Kings III has added a new system where events in a character's childhood can create friends, childhood crushes or rivals, with buffs and debuffs to match. I once had the luck to have my character's rival be my bishop, meaning they hated my guts and were also an un-removable part of my council. Despite being incredibly pious, and in fact having a focus in the track that included piety, this bishop would not approve me as a good Russian Orthodox, and denied me the levies and taxes from my church holdings. When he died of the bubonic plague, I cheered.

It's a testament to the game's success that it is so startling to have the illusion of its reality shattered. There are some parts of human behavior that you simply can't reduce into a math equation or series of "if, then" statements. What Crusader Kings III does comes very, very close, so much so that I stayed up all night playing it twice in the same week. It is so easy to slip into your world, lording over a few counties, totally engrossed in the minute dramas of your court. But the real marvel is when you scroll out to see the whole world, and you see how much of it has developed without you.

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