lifestyle
Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Risks, Symptoms, Treatment and Ways of Prevention
Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon in which a person is conscious but unable to move while they are asleep. This state can last anywhere from a few seconds to minutes or even hours. It is most common during the onset of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is the stage of sleep when people experience dreams. In most people, this is the last stage of sleep before waking up. People who experience sleep paralysis are unable to progress from one stage of sleep to the next. They are fully aware of their surroundings but are unable to move. Stay with us to know the risk factors, causes, symptoms, treatment and preventive measures of Sleep Paralysis syndrome.
Risk Factors and Causes of Sleep Paralysis
About 8% of people experience sleep paralysis at least once in their life. While the rate is higher for students, people having psychiatric conditions, and people of color, anyone can experience it. Sleep paralysis can be a frightening experience, but it is not always dangerous. Let's see the common reasons for sleep paralysis.
Read: Clean hands may make the difference between life and death: WHO
Sleep Deprivation or Insomnia
People who are sleep-deprived are more prone to sleep paralysis. Sleep deprivation can lead to a person experiencing sleep paralysis due to the lack of REM sleep. This is the stage of sleep where most dreams occur and where muscles relax. If a person is deprived of REM sleep, they will be more likely to experience sleep paralysis.
Anxiousness and Nervousness
When a person is anxious, they will often focus on their breathing or shallow breathing as if it could save them from some danger or threat that may be threatening them. If a person's breathing is shallow enough that it causes them the experience of being caught in a trap, unable to move, and unable to speak.
Nervousness may also cause a person to have shallow breathing, which can then lead them to experience sleep paralysis when they begin to panic or are so nervous that they are unable to control their breathing or feel safe.
Read Bug-free Home: How to get rid of insects indoors
Medications
Many medications can also cause sleep paralysis. For example, high blood pressure drugs, hormonal medicines, steroids, and inhaled respiratory drugs can lead to sleep disorders. Eventually, these can cause sleep paralysis.
Alcohol
Alcohol can also cause people to experience sudden awakenings from deep stages of sleep like NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) and REM causing them to have difficulty returning back into deeper stages of sleeping, causing them to experience a feeling of being awake and not being able to move or talk. This feeling can last for up to 20 minutes or so, in which the person may experience a variety of symptoms, including panic attacks, hallucinations, and amnesia.
Stress
We have all experienced stress in our lives; some of us probably have experienced it on a regular basis, and many of us probably have experienced it at some point in our life. When you are experiencing stress, it can cause you to face sleep paralysis because the body goes into fight or flight mode when you are stressed out. And you may experience symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, and feeling like you are going to pass out.
Read: Tips to Keep Home Cool in Summer Without AC
Sleep Positions
One thing that many people do not realize when it comes down to their bedtime routine is that when they get into bed at night, they need to make sure that their body is in the correct position for sleeping. And this means you always make sure that your head is on a pillow which will allow you to have a comfortable night's sleep.
Also, if you are having trouble sleeping due to an episode of sleep paralysis, then it may be a good idea to try sleeping on your side. This position will often help keep you from falling into a state of sleep paralysis. It will also allow you to breathe in a more natural way, which will often help reduce the amount of time that you are experiencing these episodes.
Being Overweight
There has been a lot of research done on this subject over the years, which shows that people who are overweight often experience more sleep paralysis symptoms than those who are of normal weight. Being overweight can lead to sleep disorders, which may cause sleep paralysis.
Read Microplastic in Human Blood: Health Risks and Dangers
Symptoms of Sleep Paralysis
The most common way to know if you have sleep paralysis is you will have a feeling of being awake but unable to move. One of the most common symptoms is that your body remains paralyzed for a few seconds after the mind is awake and the eyes are open. Another symptom is that your head may feel like it's stuck in a vise or a vice grip. The last and most scary symptom of sleep paralysis is when you can hear noises in your head like someone whispering or calling out to you or when you hear an intruder in your house.
Medical Treatment of Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis is not a major issue, and it is a common phenomenon. Therefore, most people don't need any treatment for sleep paralysis. But if it occurs more often, you may need to consult a doctor to find out the reasons. If you have sleep paralysis due to anxiety or depression, or mental health issues, you might require medical treatment. For example, you may need to take a sleeping pill to improve sleep habits to make sure you are getting six to eight hours of sleep.
Sometimes, doctors may prescribe you antidepressant medication to regulate sleep cycles. Also, treating any mental health issue will improve sleep paralysis. You may also need treatment for other kinds of sleep disorders such as leg cramps or narcolepsy.
Read: Newborn Baby, Infant Care Tips during Summer
Preventive Measures for Sleep Paralysis
If you are experiencing sleep paralysis, here are a few things you can do to make it easier to fall asleep. First, make sure your mind is calm as you go to bed. Try not to think about anything that might cause you anxiety. Second, try to go to bed at the same time every night. Often, when we change the time we go to bed, we will find ourselves falling asleep at a different time.
Lastly, try to keep things in your bedroom as simple as possible. Sometimes, when we have too much stuff in our bedroom, we end up worrying about our stuff. Therefore, try to keep your bedroom as simple as possible and, if possible, leave a few things like pictures or items from your childhood, so it reminds you of happy times.
Final Words
So far, we have discussed the common symptoms, risk factors, reasons, treatment and preventive measures of Sleep Paralysis. Not to mention, Sleep paralysis is a common and often frightening experience, but it can be largely avoided through simple precautions. Practicing safe sleep habits, such as avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, can help reduce the chances of experiencing sleep paralysis in the first place. If you do experience sleep paralysis, be sure to seek help from a physician or other trusted source to get relief.
Read: Pregnancy Care Tips for Summer: How can pregnant mothers beat the heat?
Best Free English Editing, Proofreading Courses Online
In this day and age of globalization, English skill is one of the must-have ones to hold an edge over the rest. For an aspiring writer or a journalist, the English medium offers a diverse and larger audience. So naturally, the importance is immense. But the simple knowledge of the language and grammar isn’t enough to create a compelling piece. Proper editing and proofreading can make good writing into great writing. With that said, here are some top rated free online courses for learning English editing and proofreading to get started on the journey.
Why Should You Learn English Editing and Proofreading?
English is the most spoken second language in the world and the de-facto international mode of communication. With a basic knowledge of English, anyone can go about writing stuff. Of course, there is a huge difference between just writing and telling a story. Editing helps to make any writing clear and concise and adds or deletes certain parts of a complete piece. There are different types of editing and each follows a set of rules. Learning the process helps to identify what to implement where. Proofreading comes along with editing because let's be honest, who wants silly grammatical or spelling mistakes in their writing?
Also Read: TEDx Talks: Everything You Need To Know
The prospect of English writing is immense in the context of Bangladesh. From English dailies, blogs, and online news agencies to freelance copywriting gigs, the opportunities are endless. Most of these jobs are also home-based with a handsome payout. In short, it’s a great career opportunity for anyone into writing. Combine the interest with necessary editing and proofreading skills and one can be a master of words in no time.
Top 8 Free Online Courses to Learn English Editing and Proofreading
Online Proofreading Classes – Skillshare
Proofreading makes up the basics of editing. This foundation course on proofreading is offered by Skillshare for beginners. This is a self-paced course that mainly follows the very basics of the proofreading process, identification, replacement, and contextual compatibility. The free course will take the learner from a beginner to an intermediate level.
The course duration is 1 month but since this is a self-paced learning opportunity, learners can go about it at their own discretion.
Read Best Native American Podcast Sites to Learn English
Writing for Young Readers – Coursera
This is another beginner-level editing and proofreading course offered by Coursera. The course has been designed in association with Commonwealth Education Trust for aspiring writers. The course focuses on editing and proofreading for storytelling.
This self-paced learning will take the learners through cultural boundaries, narrative style, writing art form, and self-editing. The learning outcome from here can be implemented in investigative writing as well. It will take about 13 hours to complete the course.
English Writing Skills – Alison
The English writing course from Alison focuses on the basics of sentence structuring for cohesive storytelling. The course itself doesn’t focus on a specific stream. Rather it aims to educate the learners on different narrative and writing styles and where to apply them.
Read Free English-Speaking Mobile Apps for the Non-native Speakers
The course also focuses on audience management. It will entail different audience identification and demographic and learning to change the narrative style accordingly. This is a self-paced course that usually takes around 12 hours to complete.
Mother's Day Gift Ideas: Best Presents for the Best Person You Know
On Mother's Day, a small gift from the child is enough to be an invaluable asset to the Mom. However, no gift in the world is equivalent to the love of the mother in terms of value. Materialistically, the gift is nothing but a tangible object. But the main thing here is the love carried on its back. Let's get to know some great gifts to surprise Mom on this special day.
Top 10 Mother's Day Gift ideas to Make Mom Feel Special
The Food She Loves
The best way to express emotions to Mom is to make her favorite food and feed her. It may be a lunch item or a snack in the afternoon. It can also be a dessert item or a cocktail that is not made at home very often. It can be prepared on the previous night without telling Mom. Then it can be finally brought out to Mom the next day to surprise her.
Even the food making can be done along with Mom in the kitchen. In this way, a great time can be spent with Mother and the chef mother will be very happy.
Read Pregnancy Anxiety? How to reduce the stress of pregnant mothers?
Favorite Book
Bookaholic mothers will find it very joyful if the gift is all about the kind of books they usually read. The link between the human relationship and their comfort zone with reading books is heavenly.
Most book loving people customarily read at a specific time of their day and then get lost in their imaginary world. And if the book comes from their children, it can be even more valuable. If your beloved mother has a reading habit don’t forget to give her books.
Kitchen Appliance
A housewife mother spends most of the day in the kitchen. She gets more pleasure by feeding every family member than by eating herself. So the gift of any appliance that helps in cooking will not only be a surprise for her, she will be able to contemplate more in her cooking work.
The kitchen attachments like rice cookers, oven, and blender can make it easier to do exhausting tasks. Not just for the housewife Moms, these gifts can also be a proper choice for working mothers.
Read 10 Post- Pregnancy Skincare Tips: Get Your Glow Back
Ornaments
No matter how expensive the gift is; it will be worthless to the mother's love. Even then, these gifts can be an appropriate attempt to squeeze their own hard work and hard-earned earnings into the love of the mother. These may be the ornaments that the mother uses in the earrings every day.
Any of these ornaments embellished with diamonds can be given to the mother. This may be the best gift for the most beautiful woman in the world in the eyes of a child.
Saree for Mom
Saree is associated with the traditions and cultures of Bengali women. This saree is the undisputed symbol of women's beauty and nobility on any occasion of Bengali culture. This beauty index can be used to beautify the grace of Mother.
A son or daughter can go shopping with his or her Mother and buy the Saree of her favorite color. Or, the child can buy it without telling the mother in advance and surprise her on Mother's Day. Besides expressing love, this gift from her child will uplift the spirit of the mother. Wearing the Saree mother will feel joy with absolute satisfaction.
Read Serena welcomes rule change on players back from pregnancy
Clean hands may make the difference between life and death: WHO
When good hand hygiene and other infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are followed, 70 percent of infections can be prevented in health care settings, according to a new World Health Organization report.
The coronavirus pandemic and other disease outbreaks have highlighted the extent to which healthcare settings can contribute to the spread of infections.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed many challenges and gaps in IPC in all regions and countries, including those which had the most advanced IPC programmes, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Today, out of every 100 patients in acute care hospitals, seven in high-income countries and 15 in low and middle-income nations will acquire at least one healthcare associated infection (HAI) during their hospital stay – one in 10 of whom will die.
Newborns and patients in intensive care are particularly at risk, the report reveals, and almost half of all sepsis cases with organ dysfunction in adult intensive-care units are linked to healthcare.
The first Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control published Friday brings together evidence from scientific reports, and new data from WHO studies.
Also Read: Nearly 15M deaths associated with COVID-19: WHO
The impact of healthcare linked infections and antimicrobial resistance on people's lives is incalculable, says the WHO.
Over 24 percent of patients affected by healthcare associated sepsis and 52.3 percent of those treated in an intensive care unit die each year.
Moreover, deaths are increased two to threefold when infections are resistant to antimicrobials.
In the last five years, the WHO conducted global surveys and country joint evaluations to assess the implementation status of national IPC programmes.
Comparing data from the 2017-18 to 2021-22 surveys, the percentage of countries with a national IPC programme did not improve; and in 2021-22, only 3.8 percent of countries had all IPC minimum requirements in place at the national level.
In healthcare facilities, only 15.2 percent met all the IPC minimum requirements, according to a 2019 WHO survey.
Also Read: WHO estimates pandemic’s death toll in Bangladesh almost 5 times higher than official figures
However, some encouraging progress has been made, with significantly more countries appointing IPC focal points; dedicated budgets for IPC and curriculum for front line healthcare workers' training; national IPC guidelines and programmes for HAI surveillance; and hand hygiene compliance established as key national indicators.
Strongly supported by the WHO and others, many countries are scaling up actions to put in place minimum requirements and core components of IPC programmes.
Sustaining and further expanding this progress in the long-term is a critical need that requires urgent attention and investments.
"Our challenge now is to ensure that all countries are able to allocate the human resources, supplies and infrastructures this requires," said Tedros.
'Golden Jubilee Bangladesh Concert' held at Madison Square Garden in New York
'Golden Jubilee Bangladesh Concert' was held at the world-famous Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York, USA on Friday, marking the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence and convey the potential and national image of Digital Bangladesh to the world.
This special concert was held at the initiative of the Department of Information and Communication Technology and the management of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.
Echoing the theme "Let the Music Speak," popular Bangladeshi band Chirkutt performed on the same stage alongside world-famous German band Scorpions at the historic event.
Also read: Concert to celebrate 50 yrs of Bangladesh independence in NY on Friday
Honouring Bangladesh by playing the national anthem at the beginning, the concert was joined by around 20,000 concert-goers at the world-famous venue, including many Bangladeshi expatriates and the global music lovers from different places around the world.
Met Gala 2022: Kardashian as Monroe, a gilded Blake Lively
Kim Kardashian shut down the Met Gala red carpet Monday in one of Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic dresses, a gold-beaded body hugger Monroe wore when she sexily sang happy birthday to President John F. Kennedy 60 years ago.
Kardashian had to lose 16 pounds to fit into the dress, designed by Jean Louis and purchased in 2016 by the Ripley’s Believe or Not! museum in Orlando, Florida, for a whopping $4.81 million.
“It was such a challenge,” she said. “I was determined to fit it.”
The dress originally cost $12,000. It was so tight Monroe had to be sewn into it when she purred “Happy birthday, Mr. president” on May 19, 1962, at a Madison Square Garden fundraiser. She died three months later. It has been known as the “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress ever since.
Kardashian, with boyfriend Pete Davidson at her side, paired the dress with Cartier white gold drop diamond earrings and a furry white jacket she kept strategically low to cover her backside. Her hair was platinum and pulled tightly into a bun. But she only wore the fragile original dress for her walk up the Grand Staircase at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, changing into a replica after that, according to Vogue.
Earlier, Blake Lively smiled for the cameras in a grand Atelier Versace gown, with husband Ryan Reynolds in brown velvet, Billie Eilish went with an upcycled green lace-trim dress from Gucci and Cynthia Erivo wore sheer white Louis Vuitton with a matching head piece as the Met Gala returned to its berth on the first Monday in May after years of pandemic upheaval.
The celebration of American design was themed to gilded glamour, sprouting classic black tailed tuxedoes for many of the men and lots of dresses in black and white for the women. Others paid literal homage to New York City, home base for the Gilded Age, and still more shimmered in metallic golds and silver.
“Black and white are THE colors for the evening,” said Holly Katz, a stylist and host of the Fashion Crimes podcast.
Lively, one of the evening’s co-hosts, wore a bronze and rose gold look that transformed into a shimmery layer of baby blue as a large bow was pulled. Her look drew inspiration from the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and the blue ceiling of Grand Central Station.
“Instead of looking to fashion to influence the dress, I looked to New York City architecture,” Lively said.
Cardi B, accompanied by Donatella Versace, was an over-the-top golden goddess in a dress of mesh and chains, a fitting birthday for the designer.
Gigi Hadid was more redefined cat woman than golden girl. She wore a tight-as-skin, blood red Latex catsuit with a corseted bodice and huge, heavy quilted coat from Versace. She walked gingerly up the steps.
Lizzo, meanwhile, got the crowd cheering when she played her gold flute for fans watching the parade of fashion outside. She wore a black dress under a stunning gold-embroidered black coat, all by Thom Browne.
Camila Cabello worked a huge white gown with a midriff top, from Prabal Gurung, while Jordan Roth, the theater producer, provided a reveal of his own, removing a black, egg-like shell to a matching bulbous suit, all by Thom Browne. Janelle Monáe offered a royal wave in a black and white bedazzled helmet piece and slinky gown with head piece.
“Amazing. I’m proud to be American. I’m proud to be wearing Ralph Lauren. This is gilded glamour from the future,” Monáe told The Associated Press.
New York Mayor Eric Adams put politics front and center in a tux emblazoned with “End Gun Violence” on the back. Former presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton was in a Bordeaux-colored gown designed by Joseph Altuzarra with the names of historic women sewn into the hem and neckline. They include Abigail Adams, Shirley Chisolm and Madeleine Albright.
Clinton’s last Met Gala was a while ago.
“I told Anna I would come every 20 years,” she said.
Vogue livestream co-host Vanessa Hudgens made her way up the steps in a vaguely Victorian black sheer lace gown with a long train by Moschino. She was joined by La La Anthony, her fellow Vogue host who wore a deep red look with cut out shoulders from LaQuan Smith.
“I’m practically naked,” Hudgens joked.
Anthony said: “Those stairs are intimidating.”
And if the Met Gala’s return feels like one of those what, already moments, it is.
It’s been just under eight months since the last gala, an annual fundraiser that raises eight-figure sums for the Met’s Costume Institute. More than $16.4 million was raised last year. The starry event is the institute’s primary budget feeder.
This year’s gala coincides with the opening of the second part of a two-part exhibit at the Costume Institute focused on American fashion and style. The evening’s dress code was gilded glamour and white tie, a la the Gilded Age, that tumultuous period between the Civil War and the turn of the 20th century known for its robber barons, drama and grandeur.
Some of the stars included extra touches. Gabrielle Union said the red jewels in her hair to go with her silver Versace dress represented the blood shed by people of color during the Gilded Age. The dress included a large red flower embellishment at the waist.
Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who has run the gala since 1995, wore feathery Chanel and a jeweled tiara that has been in her family since 1910. She continues as one of the night’s honorary co-chairs, along with designer Tom Ford and Instagram’s Adam Mosseri. The other official co-chairs for 2022 are Regina King and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Eilish wore a custom Gucci corset look of ivory and duchesse satin with green lace and a padded bustle. Erivo’s look came with a large train as she held hands with Sarah Jessica Parker, who wore custom Christopher John Rogers, a white and black striped Cinderella ballgown with a towering pink and black feather head piece by Philip Treacy.
Parker’s dress was inspired by the work of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, the first Black female fashion designer in the White House, a confidante of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln.
Alicia Keys’ Ralph Lauren dress was inspired by her native New York City, with a cape evoking the New York City skyline outlined in small hand-placed crystals. Her husband, Swizz Beatz, also a native New Yorker, donned a New York sports jacket.
Keys said her dress was meant to “represent an empire state of mind and a city of gods here tonight.”
Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk, showed up with his mother, Maye Musk a former model adorned in Chopard pearls and other jewels. Her son went with a classic tux with tails.
Ariana DeBose was resplendent in golden Moschino by Jeremy Scott.
“This guy turned me into a fashion Oscar,” she said.
And the gala included a marriage proposal. Former state Assembly candidate Bobby Digi Olisa got down on one knee to pop the question to a stunned Laurie Cumbo, the city’s commissioner of cultural affairs.
What’s a Met Gala without more than one Kardashian, or six. The entire family showed up, including Kylie Jenner in a white ballgown with a matching hat and big sister Kourtney Kardashian in deconstructed Thom Browne to go with beaux Travis Barker’s Thom Browne suit. Kendall Jenner was in black Prada as she played “devil and angel” with Kylie. Sister Khloe Kardashian was in gold Moschino and matriarch Kris Jenner wore canary yellow from Oscar de la Renta, an ode to Jackie Kennedy Onassis — her hair in a ’60s flip. Megan Thee Stallion was also a golden goddess. Her Moschino shiner had wings at the shoulders. Quannah Chasinghorse wore a beaded blue strapless gown created in partnership with Indigenous designer Lenise Omeasoo.
Sans husband Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber walked in an elegant Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello slip dress with a feather-trimmed coat in white.
Katy Perry, usually a showstopper as a cheeseburger and other wacky looks over the years, donned understated Oscar de la Renta this time around.
Teyana Taylor wasn’t quite on theme but her dramatic Iris Van Herpen gown certainly made a statement, said Claire Sulmers, a fashion writer and pop culture observer who writes The State of Fashion column on Meta’s publishing platform Bulletin. It was a breathtaking purple worn with a metal, cage-like piece around her head and face.
“The drama and metallic adornment certainly made her one of the best dressed of the night,” Sulmers said.
While many wore European brands, the American vibe remained, said Rachel Tashjian, fashion news director for Harper’s Bazaar.
“Many of the best looks were the most straightforward ones. Kate Moss in a velvet Le Smoking Tuxedo gown, Hailey Bieber in slinky ice-colored silk and marabou feathers, for example. They were both in Saint Laurent, which is of course not an American brand, but the simplicity and directness of their beauty and allure was extraordinarily, well, patriotic,” she said.
Todd Snyder, the New York-based designer, appreciated many of the night’s interpretations on the white tie dress code.
“Seeing how people pushed beyond the expected interpretation was refreshing this year. I loved Austin Butler in custom Prada swapping the classic bow tie for a silk scarf over a cropped tux jacket. Ryan Reynolds and Rege Jean Page reminded us of the elegance of velvet in a tux. While the era from the outside was opulent, Riz Ahmed’s statement of wearing a workwear inspired outfit to represent the immigrant workers that kept the Gilded Age going is a statement that must not be forgotten.”
Also read: Inside the Met Gala: Glitter, glamour and 275,000 pink roses
Inside the Met Gala: Glitter, glamour and 275,000 pink roses
Met Galas, he’s been to a few. But James Corden, schmoozing at this year’s cocktail reception, looked around and pronounced that this might be his favorite yet.
“Classy,” he explained. “It just feels really classy.”
The TV host waved his arm around the room, taking in the hundreds of guests who’d followed the sartorial instructions – “gilded glamour” — and came in the best Gilded Age finery they could muster. Elegant gowns, shimmering with gold. Classic black and white. Tails and even some tophats. Headpieces and bustles and perhaps the accessory of the night: the tiara, sported by none other than Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who runs the gala, wearing a family heirloom. Even allowing for creativity, this was not the night for artfully ripped jeans.
Of course, take one letter off “classy” and you have “class,” with all the tricky implications of channeling an era that saw the creation of excessive wealth and income inequality in the United States. Some guests wrestled with that thought as they pondered the meaning of the evening. Others pointed out, accurately, that the gala funds the Met’s Costume Institute, allowing for exhibits such “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” which opens this week and seeks to uncover unsung heroes and untold stories in American fashion history, especially women, and women of color.
Others said the night was an important way of showing that New York was back in full force, even with the pandemic still upon us. “We’re celebrating craftsmanship and we’re celebrating America,” said celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, who again this year curated the night’s menu, choosing a slate of female chefs and taking on the main course himself — a barbecue-style beef, he said, with corn and succotash. “We’re showing that New York is back.”
Certainly New York florists were back, if they hadn’t been already. The question is whether there were any pink roses left in the city after Monday’s gala. The outside steps to the Metropolitan Museum of Art were lined with 50,000, with another 75,000 surrounding the lobby centerpiece. Another 150,000 roses bathed every inch of the Great Hall staircase — a striking backdrop for the hosts’ receiving line.
Also striking: The giant centerpiece, this year the tallest it’s ever been — a 50-foot, golden creation representing the torch in the hand of Lady Liberty. (Museum officials said this year for the first time, the centerpiece will remain in place another day, for public view).
As guests entered from the red carpet, with crowds screaming outside, they passed a 12-piece chamber orchestra that played American classics like “At Last” until dinner. After greeting Wintour and her celebrity hosts (Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Regina King) guests wandered through the Arms and Armor galleries toward the American Wing and the huge Charles Engelhard Court, where cocktails were served and where curators built a bridge to access the exhibit in the period rooms.
Usually, guests eschew the exhibit for the cocktails, but there was a decent flow of people in and out of the show, for which nine film directors were tapped to create cinematic vignettes. It was, said some of the directors, a chance to engage in a different kind of storytelling.
“It was really fun,” said Tom Ford, not only a top fashion designer but one of those nine directors. Ford, assigned a room housing a grand, circular painting of Versailles and its gardens, chose to dramatize the story of the Battle of Versailles — a famous night for American fashion in 1973, when American sportswear designers showed up their French couture counterparts. Ford decided to stage a real conflict, involving weapons like fencing foils. “My 9-year-old kid was watching a lot of ‘Mulan,’” he quipped, when asked his inspiration. “I’d better go see that now,” said actor and producer-director Mindy Kaling, who’d been chatting with Ford. “Yes!” he encouraged her, and off she went.
Inside the exhibit, meanwhile, director Autumn de Wilde (“Emma”) was showing her own work in the period rooms to a few friends. “That woman has probably just lost the house with her gambling,” she said, pointing to a clearly distressed woman mannequin next to an overturned cards table. “I wanted to show how messy people’s lives are,” she said. “A beautiful home doesn’t mean a beautiful life.”
At that moment, a real “Gilded Age” character walked in — actress Denée Benton, who stars in HBO’s series of the same name. She congratulated de Wilde for her work, and de Wilde told her she was “obsessed” with her show.
Benton may not have chosen to wear a Gilded Age bustle, but Franklin Leonard did — two of them, actually. Leonard, a film executive who helped curator Andrew Bolton pick the diverse slate of film directors for the exhibit, said he was channeling Frederick Douglass in a coat that had not one bustle but two — on either side — one of the more clever looks of the night.
“I guess it’s a double bustle,” he said, crediting designer Ken Nicholson. Leonard, attending his first gala, said it was a surreal experience. “I, the captain of the high school math team in Columbus, Georgia, never thought I’d be wearing a double bustle jacket, inspired by Frederick Douglass, at the Met Ball,” he said. “It wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Listen,” Leonard said, pondering the uneasy balance between art and excess. “For all the excess, this is a fundraiser for the Costume Institute.” And he was said was proud to have helped put together the slate of filmmakers for the show, who include not only gala hosts Ford and King but Radha Blank, Janicza Bravo, Sofia Coppola, Julie Dash, de Wilde, Martin Scorsese and Chloé Zhao, last year’s Oscar winner. “They were the best group of filmmakers out there,” he said.
Though many sipping cocktails and munching on coconut ceviche hors d’oeuvres were gala veterans, there were a number of first-timers. Many remarked that the most surreal part was seeing such a concentration of stars from all walks of life, where there’s always someone more famous around the corner. Or when, as happened Monday, a fun band starts snaking through cocktails, with drums and a tuba and a guy leading it with a melodica, you look more closely and the melodica guy is Jon Batiste, who just won five Grammys.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was thrilled to attend his first gala. He wasn’t even the only New York mayor in attendance — Michael Bloomberg was there, too.
Adams, who wore a tuxedo with the words “End Gun Violence” on the back and featuring symbols of the city he has run for several months, said he was thinking about the “very real” income inequality that stemmed from the Gilded Age, as the city now recovers from the pandemic.
Noting that the wealthiest two percent of the city was represented in the room, he said his role was “to come among these New Yorkers and talk about the issues that the other 98% of New Yorkers need that are not in this room …. Not to divide us, but to unite us.”
Adams also joked about a tabloid report that he had been dying to come to the gala for years.
“They’ve been trying to get ME to come for years,” he quipped.
Also read: Met Gala 2022: Kardashian as Monroe, a gilded Blake Lively
104 and no more: Amputee wraps up marathon record quest
When amputee athlete Jacky Hunt-Broersma says her mantra is, “I can do hard things,” she’s not kidding — the amputee athlete has run 104 marathons in as many days, all using a carbon-fiber prosthesis.
Hunt-Broersma, 46, completed that epic quest on Saturday near her home in suburban Phoenix, setting an unofficial world record along the way.
“What a journey,” she tweeted.
The South Africa native, who lost her left leg below the knee to a rare cancer, gained worldwide attention and a huge social media following after beginning her record attempt on Jan. 17.
Brick Runners, an organization that supports athletes who raise money for charities, even designed a Jacky-inspired Lego-style character complete with one of her favorite T-shirts, which reads: “Strong Has Many Forms.”
Also Read: Tips to keep home cool in summer without AC
Hunt-Broersma also raised more than $67,000 to help fellow amputee blade runners get the expensive prostheses they need. Health insurance typically doesn’t cover the cost, which can exceed $10,000.
Every day since mid-January, she covered the classic 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) marathon distance either on a loop course laid out near her home in Gilbert, Arizona, or on a treadmill indoors.
Her original goal was to run 100 marathons in 100 days so she’d beat a record of 95 set in 2020 by Alyssa Amos Clark, a nondisabled runner from Bennington, Vermont, who did it as a pandemic coping strategy. But last month, after nondisabled British runner Kate Jayden unofficially broke Clark’s record with 101 marathons in 101 days, Hunt-Broersma realized she’d need to run at least 102.
In an interview with The Associated Press, she said she hoped her quest would inspire people everywhere to push themselves regardless of their physical limitations.
Guinness World Records spokesperson Amanda Marcus said the Britain-based organization was aware of Hunt-Broersma’s attempt, and that it would take 12 to 15 weeks to review the evidence before the record can be confirmed.
Guinness lists the men’s record for consecutive daily marathons as 59, set in 2019 by Enzo Caporaso of Italy.
Also Read: Newborn baby, infant care tips during summer
Kinder chocolates linked to salmonella poisoning in 11 countries: WHO
Eleven countries have reported salmonella food poisoning, linked to Kinder chocolate products produced in Belgium, according to the UN health agency.
There have been more than 150 suspected cases of salmonellosis – from Belgium to the US – after UK regulators flagged a cluster of salmonella typhimurium cases a month ago, leading to a global recall, the World Health Organization (WHO) said recently.
By April 25, 151 genetically related cases of salmonella typhimurium suspected to be linked to the consumption of the implicated chocolate products were reported from Belgium (26), France (25), Germany (10), Ireland (15), Luxembourg (1), the Netherlands (2), Norway (1 case), Spain (1 case), Sweden (4), the UK (65) and the USA (1).
Children under 10 have been most affected – comprising around 89 percent of cases – and available data indicates that nine patients were hospitalised. There have been no fatalities.
The risk of spread in the WHO European region and globally is assessed as moderate until the information is available on the full recall of the products, the WHO said.
Genetic sequencing of the salmonella bacteria which sparked the food scare showed that the pathogen originated in Belgium.
At least 113 countries across Europe and globally have received Kinder products during the period of risk, the UN agency said, adding that salmonella bacteria matching the current human cases of infection were found last December and January, in buttermilk tanks at a factory run by chocolate makers Ferrero, in the Belgian city of Arlon.
The factory was ordered to temporarily close earlier this month.
The outbreak strain of salmonella is resistant to six types of antibiotics, according to the WHO.
Symptoms of salmonellosis are relatively mild and patients will make a recovery without specific treatment, in most cases.
However, the risks are higher for some children and elderly patients where dehydration can become severe and life-threatening.
Although there are around 2,500 strains of salmonella bacteria, the majority of human infections are caused by two serotypes – typhimurium and enteritidis.
Salmonellosis is characterised by acute fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea that can be bloody as in most of the current cases of infection.
Symptoms typically begin between six and 72 hours after ingestion of food or water contaminated with salmonella, and sickness can last from two to seven days.
Salmonella bacteria are widely found in domestic and wild animals, such as poultry, pigs, and cattle.
Pets are not immune either, and salmonella can pass through the entire food chain from animal feed, primary production, and to households or food-service establishments and institutions.
In humans, salmonellosis is generally contracted after eating contaminated food of animal origin – mainly eggs, meat, poultry, and milk.
Also read: Chocolate, Candy, Wafer Companies, Brands in Bangladesh: An Overview
Yummy Bengali Seafood Recipes to Try at Home
Eid al-Fitr is special as it comes after the end of Ramadan which is all about willpower, charity, and prayer. Obedient Muslims start the month with good intentions and end with gratitude- celebrating Eid with family and friends coming together to exchange gifts, sweets, envelopes of cash, and food. Although meat dishes are more common for an Eid feast, many nations and cultures around the world celebrate with seafood. We are here with the 7 best recipes of Bengali seafood dishes to celebrate your Eid.
Why seafood for the Eid celebration?
After the whole month of fasting, you need the essential nutrients that seafood can provide. Seafood is low in saturated fats, high in protein, and rich in important nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and B vitamins. These nutrients are undoubtedly essential to maintain your health. Furthermore, seafood is a good source of Iodine. It is helpful for your brain, eyes, and immune system. Besides, it promotes heart health. Makes skin and hair healthier, and eases joint pain.
Read Vermicelli Ideas: 10 Delicious Semai Recipes for Eid
7 Mouth-watering Bengali Seafood Recipes for Eid Celebration
Seafood Biryani
Ingredients For the seafood:
100gm monkfish tails, 100 king prawns, 1 tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp cumin powder, Half tsp turmeric powder, 2 pinches nutmeg, 2 garlic cloves, Half inch ginger, 1 green chilli, 10 sprigs of fresh coriander, 1 tsp thick yoghurt
For the rice
250gm Basmati rice, 1-inch cinnamon, 6 cloves, 6 whole black peppers, 1 pinch nutmeg, 2 tbsp milk, 10 strands of saffron
Method
First, cook the seafood with the given ingredients. Then, take a large pot and cook the rice. When the rice becomes white and almost done, strain it and set it aside. Finally, assemble the Biryani with seafood and serve it hot.
Read Savory Lassi: 7 Easy Recipes to Try at Home
Garlic and chilli prawns with cauliflower rice
Ingredients
300g cauliflower, 1 tbsp vegetable oil,1 garlic clove, 1 red chilli, 2.5cm ginger, finely grated, 150g king prawns, 5 spring onions,1 red pepper, 50g peas,
For the dressing
1 tbsp coriander leaves, 1 tsp clear honey, 1 lime juiced, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp soy sauce
Method
First, resemble the cauliflower as rice with a food processor. Then, cook the prawns for 4 minutes with half the oil, half garlic, chilli, and ginger and put them aside. Put the remaining oil, the onions, pepper, cauliflower rice, remaining garlic, chilli, peas and ginger to cook for 5 minutes. Finally, garnish with the dressing ingredients and serve.
Read Delicious Watermelon Ice Cream and Cake Recipes to Try at Home
Lemony prawn pasta recipe
Ingredients
2 courgettes, chopped, 200g cooked and peeled prawns, 150g pasta, 1 lemon, 1 tbsp black pepper, 2 tbsp chives, 200g soft cheese
Method
First, cook the pasta and courgette in salted water for 10-12 minutes and then drain them. Then, take the cheese and 3 tbsp of water in a pan and stir over low heat as long as the cheese has melted. Now, add the prawns to the cheese sauce and heat for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the lemon and season. Finally, mix the drained pasta and courgette with the prawn sauce and make sure you stir them gently. Garnish and serve.
Read Cooking Without Oil: How and Why?
Creamy smoked salmon and lemon pasta
Ingredients
350g pasta, 1 tbsp olive oil, 3 garlic cloves, 5 tbsp crème fraîche, 1 lemon, juiced, 200g smoked salmon, 30g fresh chives
Method
First, boil the pasta in salted water for 2 minutes. Concurrently, heat the oil with garlic for 3 minutes over medium heat. Mix in the crème fraîche, lemon juice, and 2 ladles of pasta cooking water. Let them bubble for just 1 min. Then, drain the pasta and mix it into the sauce in the frying pan. Now, you need to cook for a further 2 mins. Mix through the smoked salmon and chives, and season with black pepper. Then divide between 4 bowls. Garnish with lemon and serve.
Read 7 Easy Diabetic-Friendly Desserts
Prawn curry recipe
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil, 1 large onion, chopped, 2 tbsp curry paste, 400ml coconut milk, 400g chopped tomatoes, 500g king prawns, 1 lemon, zested, a handful of fresh coriander, rice to serve
Method
First, take a large pan and heat the oil. Put the onion in the heated oil and fry in low heat for 5 minutes to soften. Then, add the curry paste with the fried onion and cook for another minute. After that, mix the coconut milk and tomatoes and bring them to a boil. Now, add the prawns to the mixture and cook for another 5-10 minutes as long as cooked through. Then, make sure you add the lemon juice and the coriander. Enjoy with steamed rice.
Read Khichuri Recipes: 7 varieties of yummy nutritious Khichdi to try at home
Grilled fish
Ingredients
2 sea bream fish, cleaned and washed, 80 ml fresh orange juice, 40 ml lemon extract, 10 gms lemongrass, 10 gms ginger, 40 gms onions, 10 gms green chilly, 50 gms ginger paste, 50 gms crushed ice, 100 ml corn oil, 1 pinch of salt, 5 grams saffron
Method
First, take all the ingredients and blend them and make a smooth paste. Then, take the pre-cleaned and washed fish. Make sure you open the fish and brush the marinade over the skin and the slits and let the fish soak up the marinade for 30 minutes. Then, place the skin side of the fish in the preheated oven and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Another 8 minutes for the flesh side. Serve with rice.
Read Healthy Salad Ideas with Recipes to Try at Home
Steamed Fish in Banana Leaf
Ingredients
2 white fish( sea fish), 100ml lemon juice, 150gm whole-grain mustard, 25gm chopped garlic, 2 banana leaves, 1/2 cup carrot
Method
First, make sure you clean the fish well. Then, make pockets along the sides of the fish. Put in each pocket mix garlic, wholegrain mustard and lemon juice. After that, marinate the fish for about 15-20 minutes. Now, take each fish in a banana leaf, put carrots on top of each and fold over the edges. Fold them in such a way that they look like parcels. Steam the folded parcel for eight to ten minutes. Serve with rice or roti.
Bottom Line
Seafoods are enriched with iodine, minerals and vitamins. Besides the meat dishes, seafood cuisines can make your Eid food list richer, healthier and more versatile. So far, we have discussed 7 delectable sea food ideas and recipes for Eid-ul-Fitr 2022. You can customise these recipes according to the preferences of your guests and family members.
Read Yummy Milkshake Ideas, Recipes to Try at Home