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With more than 103,000 likes and 33,000 shares, Charmaine Briggs's post on the important role by healthcare assistants has clearly struck a chord with the public.

Taking to social media to dismiss the notion that any one position in medicine is more important than another, Charmaine celebrated the team work which goes into treating and caring for the ill.

"Today someone said to me "Why would you want to be a nurse and wipe people's asses for a living? You may as well just be a HCA" This made my blood boil. No one is "just a HCA" for a start," Charmaine began.

"I've been a health care assistant before being a student nurse and you are your patients only support in some cases. We are the staff with the patients 24/7."

"We are the ones changing the beds, changing our own clothes for the fourth time due to other people’s bodily fluids, the ones mopping up the nosebleeds and cleaning comodes on a loop," she reminded the public.

"We are up close and personal with our patients – we hold their hands when they fear the unknown, we listen to them when they need someone to talk to, we’ve cried with them. We work around the clock 365 days of the year, we sometimes sit with patients who have no family so they simple don't pass away alone."

Highlighting the impact the job has on the individual doing it, she continued: "It is physically and emotionally challenging, and one day you'll need that help from "just a health care assistant" not just when you're old, you don't know what tomorrow holds."

"Nurses save lives everyday. I don't know if people think it is only doctors who save your life but it's really not the case. Everyone comes together as a team and doctors wouldn't be able to do their job without nurses, as nurses wouldn't without HCA's."

"Some people really do need to stop and think what they say to people, as one day you might need that life saving help from the people you run down," she finished in a post which has been widely lauded since its upload at the beginning of the week.

Charmaine has been inundated with messages of support since taking to social media with her message, with one user writing: "Thank you. We HCAs get overlooked and put down a lot. You being a nurse and sticking up for us front line workers really made my day."

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The workplace is a stressful environment.

Even on the best days, you can find yourself becoming irrationally irritated by a colleague (Oh hey, Amber Sherlock) or unduly tense over a looming deadline.

While most of us rant to a partner or vent with friends at the end of a long day, researchers are of the opinion we should actually be tending to our stress levels on office-time.

And how are we supposed to this, ladies? Well, put simply, they advise is to take 'masturbation breaks' when it all get too much for us. No, seriously.

Psychology lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, Mark Sergeant, insists that looking after number one, so to speak, is a 'very effective' way to relieve stress and tension in the workplace.

And he's not the only one.

Psychologist and life coach, Dr Cliff Arnall, thinks we need to bring our A-game on this front, telling The Metro: "Certainly taking a masturbation break for boredom or an escape would increase work focus."

And why?

Well, apparently doing so results in a work force with "more focus, less aggression, higher productivity and more smiling."

Yeah, we think we'll pass, thanks.

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We all have good and bad days in work – that's a given.

There are, however, some professions which really know how to bring it on the stress front.

From looming deadlines and inordinate demands to physical hazards and the risk of death, some career moves aren't for the fainthearted, and job opportunity website CareerCast has gotten busy compiling a list of the ten most stressful ones out there.

According to their survey, a round of applause is needed for anyone who is currently employed in any one of the following ten jobs.

10. Broadcaster

9. Taxi driver

8. Public relations executive

7. Corporate executive

6. Newspaper reporter

5. Event coordinator

4. Police officer

3. Airline pilot

2. Firefighter

1. Enlisted military personnel

Oh, and if we're giving props to those who have taken on any of the above, let's doff our caps to the lads and ladies who 'apparently' had the sense to choose a job which eventually made its way on to CareerCast's Least Stressful Jobs of 2017 list.

Take it away, lads…

10. Medical Laboratory Technician

9, Pharmacy Technician

8. Operations Research Analyst

7. Jeweller

6. Medical Records Technician

5. University Professor

4. Audiologist

3. Hair stylist

2. Compliance Officer

And the least stressful job for 2017?

1. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Hmmm… we're sure the good folk working these gigs will have something to say about that…

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Once the summer rolls around, most of us would step over our own mother to get our hands on tickets to our favourite music festival. (Sorry mam.)

But we'd draw the line at signing up to a weekend with a man who sounds like he's one Craigslist ad away from being on the FBI's Most Wanted List.

In a posting which was circulated widely before getting deleted, 56-year-old Gordon requested the company of a young woman for a weekend at Stateside festival, Coachella.

And while ostensibly the 'lucky' gal would be getting the ticket for nada, Gordon had, according to Some Life, a few stipulations which he would expect his guest to adhere to.

And this is where it gets very, very creepy.

We'll let Gordon take it from here…

"Ok here’s the deal. I have a VIP Pass for Weekend 2. I’m willing to give it away for free to the right person. I’m looking for a travel “companion” that can enjoy the festival with me and just have a good time," he wrote.

"I left my job as Supervising Manager at Soup Plantation and subsequently divorced my wife of 11 years. I cashed out my 401k and decided that moving forward, my life is all about having fun!"

And with that in mind, Gordon is all about finding the 'right one' to share in the 'fun'.

Here are just 20 guidelines Gordon would need you to stick to if you want to spend a week soaking up the sights and sounds of Coachella…with him.

1. Must be female between the ages of 19 and 25.
.
2. Must be comfortable traveling [sic] in a Recreational Vehicle (Vintage Shasta Chinook 3100 – pic attached.

3. Must have fashionable sense of style in the vein of typical Coachella goer (i.e. cute indian headband, small ripped jean shorts, lots of colorful bracelets, etc).

4. Preferably have a playlist of various Coachella artists on phone we can listen to on ride over.

5. Must keep hands and feet moisturized at all times.

And he doesn't stop there…

6. Must be open-minded and opportunistic.

7. Must be ok with periodic hand-holding (perhaps during certain sensual songs and while walking into the festival initially)

8. Fingernails and toenails must be nicely painted and harmonious with general color scheme of outfit.

9. I will provide snacks such as beef jerky and peanut butter sandwiches but if you have additional snacks and/or drinks…BIG BONUS!

10. Being social is fine but no excessive fraternizing with other male festival-goers, and male festival-goers, and most definitely NO PUBLIC AFFECTION with other festival-goers (violation of this rule results in immediate removal of Tropic Motor Motel room privileges and maybe even return ride).

Oh, there's more…

11. Periodic moments of extended eye contact.

12. Allow me to brush your hair once per day (not mandatory, but encouraged).

13. Must not be into drugs, pot ok.

14. Must take a minimum of four photos of us together and post them to your Instigram [sic] account.

15. Any personal grooming such as toenail clipping, eyebrow plucking or lipstick application must be done in my presence.

And the final (most terrifying) five…..

16. At least once during festival, you must allow me to carry you on my shoulders so you can see stage better (perfect time for instigram photo!)

17. At least twice during the festival you must tell me in a playful manner that 'I am naughty'.

18. At some point in time during the festival you must tell me that 'you didn’t know how this would go, but you’re actually having a really good time'

19. At least once during our stay after your shower, you must use the steam to write a cute message on the bathroom mirror for me to find later when I shower.

20. Must be ready to party and HAVE FUN!

Thanks Gordie, but we're going to have to pass.

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Being superstitious is a full-time job.

And we're not talking about those supposedly superstitious people who will occasionally cross their fingers for good luck, but will then happily place new shoes on the table without so much as a thought for the repercussions.

Those people are not our people.

Our people are the lunatics who will break out in a sweat at the thought of taking seat 13 on a flight, walking under a ladder or opening an umbrella indoors.

And with Friday 13 mere hours away, we thought we'd highlight 14 things every superstitious person knows to be true.

1. You can NOT stir a cup of tea with anything other than a spoon.

"Get that damn knife away from my brew right now. I would rather keep the tea bag in there, frankly."

2. You can not post a letter without counting to ten before dropping it in the box.

"No, my hand isn't stuck. I'm just taking a moment for myself… and the good men and women who deliver our post safely."

3. You can not pass a lone magpie without saluting it.

"I don't care if those girls are laughing at me. They're the ones with no thought for their future fortune."

4. You'd rather walk into oncoming traffic than pass under a ladder.

"No, no don't get down. Stay where you are. I'm just gonna hop off this kerb, dodge this Nissan, hop back up and move on with my life."

5. You know it's vital you cross your fingers if a pole separates you and the person you're walking beside.

"Aaaand cross. Goodbye future catastrophe."

6. Seeing someone open an umbrella indoors makes your palms sweat as you question their blatant disregard for the universe's plan.

"Well, thanks for putting all our lives at risk."

7. You have thrown more salt all over your shoulder than you have ever included in any dish.

"Sorry, sorry! That did hit you?"

8. You have, at some points in your life, questioned whether your superstitions are a sign of something more sinister before deciding that nope, it's just good sense.

"I won't live my life as a maverick. Everyone else can just take their punishment."

9. You would do anything in your power to avoid sitting in seat 13 on any form of transport.

"I'll give you a fiver and this Kinder Bueno if you swap seats with me."

10. You associate certain items of clothing with good and bad luck.

"Yeah as if I'd wear that to an interview, I was stood up the last time I wore that coat. Jesus."

11. You know your friends outwardly indulge your superstitions, but secretly think you're wired to the moon.

"I appreciate their lies."

12. You know how exhausting it is to be on your guard, but you appreciate that you're able to safeguard against bad luck with just a few handy tips and tricks.

"I mean, I'm actually really on top of things over here."

13. You get irrationally annoyed by people who knock on their head instead of on wood.

"Bad luck is not a joke, sir."

14. You live in fear of cracking a mirror, and know a meltdown would ensue it if ever happened.

"Don't mind me, I'll just use the microwave screen. That dodgy-looking mirror isn't worth the risk."

 

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According to emerging reports, flights from Dublin to London have been disrupted on account of today's weather.

Both British Airways and Heathrow Airport took to social media today advising travellers to familiarise themselves with the updated timetables in order to avoid further disruption.

"Wintery weather is expected at the airport today and airlines will be adjusting their schedules as a result." Heathrow airport tweeted this morning.

"Check your flight status if travelling and allow more time to get to the airport. We are sorry for any disruption," they added.

"Snow and wintry weather will affect flights at London's airports today. Check your flight status here," tweeted British Airways before directing travellers to their website.

According to The Irish Times, a number of flights between Dublin and London Heathrow have been cancelled for this evening.

A yellow snow and ice warning is currently in place in Ireland, and will remain so until 6pm tomorrow evening.

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We'll be honest – when we think 'fast food', we generally think grease, fat and more salt and vinegar than you can shake a stick at.

But food which can be prepped, cooked and consumed in record time does not have to be unhealthy.

And considering our New Year resolution had something to do with, you know, creating the body we've always wanted, it's high-time we schooled ourselves on the dishes which will fill us up and do our body good…without having to sacrifice our entire evening.

And here are just five of our absolute favourites so far.

1. Salmon with Boy Choy and Apple Slaw 

Packed full of protein and vitamins, this super-easy dish is exactly what you need when you're stuck for time, but keen to stick to resolutions.

While the salmon cooks through, you are free to prepare the slaw. And voila! A healthy dish in mere minutes.

2. Carrot & ginger immune-boosting soup

Soup is the ultimate comfort food, and there's nothing better than a comfort food which packs a nutritional punch and can be prepared in next to no time, right?

Blitz your ingredients (including your veg stock) in a blender, and then heat until piping hot. Done and done.

3. Spicy Asian Chicken Salad

Gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and low carb, this quick and easy dish seems almost too good to be true, but it can be all yours with just a few minutes in the kitchen.

This particular recipe serves four, so why not divide the remaining batch and use them for the next few day's lunches?

4. Quick Pork Chow Mein

In just 15 minutes you'll have a healthy version of one of our favourite take-away dishes – what more could you want?!

With five minutes of prep and ten minutes of cooking, this dish will stop you reaching for the takeaway menu, and tick all the boxes on the nutritional checklist.

5. Spicy sundried tomato and feta omelette

When it comes to protein-rich dishes, you can't go wrong with eggs. (And it helps that we adore feta.)

Easy to cook and oh-so versatile, this omelette is the perfect dish to prepare when the last thing you want to do is spend unnecessary time in the kitchen. 

 

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If you rely heavily on the use of memes while communicating with friends, you're about to find a new hero in Jason Wong.

Acknowledging that scrolling through a selection of memes can be therapuetic on so many levels, Jason has combined that activity with another adult pastime rapidly gaining momentum – the adult colouring book.

According to Jason, the Holy Meme Bible, which features some of the most popular memes of the last 12 months, acts as a record of some of the biggest events of 2016, and – more importantly – the public's response to them.

"This past year, many significant events occurred, and I noticed that many people on the internet, myself included, resorted to using these memes to either cope or respond to these events." Jason told BuzzFeed.

"I started going back in history of major social media accounts that posted internet memes and noting the stuff that I felt was significant. After putting all the pictures and ideas on a Google Doc, I sent it off to my designer."

"I wanted to document the number of memes that happened this past year and put it on a medium that no one has done before. Also, I needed money for tuition.” he added.

Jason, we thank you.

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It took her a mere six weeks, but Celebrity Big Brother contestant, Bianca Gascoigne, is officially in 'the best shape of her life'.

In the weeks leading up to her participation in the long-running reality television show, the 30-year-old model admits she began to feel the pressure.

"The camera puts 10 lbs on you and I knew that I really needed to get in shape for CBB," she explained.

As the victim of bullying and a sufferer of body dysmorphia, Bianca struggles with her appearance, and knew that the nature of the show would effect her unless she made a concerted effort to overhaul her lifestyle in the weeks leading up to the show's launch.

With the help of an exercise regime and Forza Supplements, Bianca dropped a staggering 19 lbs, slimming down from a size 12 to a lean size 8.

"I have body dysmorphia so I am never going to be entirely happy with the way that I look. It is in my nature to find fault with some aspect of my appearance," Bianca admitted.

"But I am in the best shape of my life and I am as happy as I am ever going to be with my weight and body shape," she added.

Reflecting on her lifestyle, Bianca acknowledged that managing a London lap dancing club helped to contribute to her unhealthy lifestyle.

"My weight has always yo-yoed and it is a lot harder to stay in shape when you are working all night," she explained."

"My diet can be rubbish and it is difficult to summon up the energy to go to the gym when you have been working all night."

Deciding to use her participation in Celebrity Big Brother as a motivator to get her health and wellbeing in check, Bianca said: "I realised that I needed a total body overhaul which is why I was keen to work with the experts from Forza."

"I worked really hard in the six weeks before Celebrity Big Brother to get in fantastic shape."

And, in fairness, she looks amazing.

Image credit: Forza Supplements

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With 188,000 likes and 85,000 retweets in just three days, it's fair to say the Twitosphere is pretty damn impressed with the T-shirt a 17-year-old lad from Houston Texas rocked in recent days.

Aaron, who has been the victim of homophobia in the past, decided to snap up a garment which suggested people should bite their tongue instead of verbalising their prejudices.

"Why be racist, sexist, homophobic or transphobic when you could just be quiet?" read the slogan on the now uber-popular T-shirt.

Speaking to BuzzFeed, Aaron explained: "I have been a victim of bulling because I am gay and, yes, I have overcome all of those obstacles in my life, and when I saw the shirt I was amazed because of the message the shirt says."

"‘Just be quiet,’ as in, ‘If you have nothing nice to say, just don’t say it at all.” he added.

"Where can I get this shirt, I need it," wrote one Twitter user while another added: "This is everything."

"I need this top to shut my sister in law up with her homophobic comments," remarked another Twitter user,

Aaron, we salute you.

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Every county has things which set them apart from each other, right?

While Dublin is the capital, Cork thinks it's the capital, and Galway should probably be the capital, Kildare is happy to mosey along minding its own business for the most part.

And yet that doesn't mean Kildare-folk are exempt from stereotype or disdain from our fellow countrymen, so if you're a Lilywhite, chances are some –  if not all – of the following ring true.

1. Dubliners think you're a bogger, but almost every other county considers you a bit of a jackeen.

"Girls, we're in a limbo here."

2. Meath may be one of your nearest neighbours, but woe betide if you meet them on the pitch in Croke Park.

"This is our year lads, I can feel it."

3. We considered the opening of Kildare Village back in the day our own personal Oscars.

"Have you SEEN that place yet? Honestly, we've made it now. Can't afford a thing in the place."

4. The words 'bottleneck' and Monasterevin used go hand-in-hand.

"Don't wind Dad up, we're about to hit Monasterevin any second."

5. People outside of Kildare assume you're from a horsey set when the only time you actually encountered a horse was on holidays in Connemara.

"The Curragh? I wouldn't know how to get there if you paid me."

6. Telling people where you're from while abroad is made much easier when you say 'just outside Dublin'.

"I'm not a traitor, he just wouldn't have a jaysusin' clue what I meant if I said Leixlip."

7. You have spent at least one birthday giving it loads at Time Venue Naas.

"Look ladies, it's a big one, so I vote Time… and a 17-seater minivan."

8. You've had your flat accent mimicked so much you inadvertently adopted a Dublin accent during your teens.

"Wha? I always sounded like this, buh."

9. You know that certain very talented people hail from Kildare, and you'll reel those names off at the speed of light if it comes down to it.

"Well there's Damien Rice, Ray D'arcy, then your man who made Father Ted and the I.T Crowd, and then there's the time Ronan Keating bought a gaf here."

10. There's a big difference between north and south Kildare, and few people will accept an assumption they're from the other one.

"Maynooth? I presume you mean Moone, sir."

11. You still don't know the official name for that giant black ball on the Naas bypass.

"I know you've told me before, but remind me again and don't be a d*ck."

"
 

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In a move which she hopes will help to educate others on the importance of skin protection, one Irish woman has decided to document her journey since discovering she has pre-cancerous cells on her face as a result of years spent tanning.

Mags Murphy, who has taken to Facebook to highlight the repercussions of decades avoiding sunscreen and using sunbeds, has been inundated with support from the public in recent days.

"Guess if your reading this you'll know me, you'll know how much I love sunshine you'll know I've spent over a decade living in Crete tanning myself to "look good" thinking hey I'm brown I don't need high sun factor,(what a d*ck)", she wrote. (sic)

"I've spent summers doing sunbeds just for a tan in the sh*tty Irish weather and a childhood running the streets all day with not a thought for sunfactor."

In the post which has been shared hundreds of times, she continued: "Unfortunately all this lovely tanning has a price to pay cause now I have PRE cancerous cells on my face and have started treatment to remove them,"

"I've to use a cream that's going to burn them out,apparently it's quite painful and gruesome as the weeks go on but on the good side it should get rid of the cells and treatment and is only for a month."

Explaining that she intends to shares photos of her treatment and progress, Mags continued: "I heard all the warnings years ago and closed my eyes and ears to it all maybe someone will open their eyes to this if it's closer to home."

"I'm not looking for sympathy just to raise awareness. PLEASE SHARE especially with your tan loving friends," Mags requested.

Since posting the initial message, Mags has gone onto share a number of images which highlight the treatment and the effect it is having on her wellbeing.

"Face starting to tingle and itch today. Marks that were already visible burn a little," she told her followers while encouraging them to share the images and posts online.

"You are such a brave and outstanding person," wrote one of Mag's followers this week while another added: "Well done you for creating so much awareness."

"Fair play to you mags for raising awareness. Best of luck with your treatment. we should all embrace our lovely blue irish colour but i am sure we have all been foolish with the sun over the years," wrote another member of the public. (sic)

Remarking on the impact her posts could have on countless individuals, Mags wrote: "Well over 12,000 views now. People if your just viewing please it only takes 2 seconds to share, after all this is about trying to raise awareness." (sic)

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