“Boy Erased” and “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” – Two Films Expose Harm of “Conversion Therapy”

Two films, "Boy Erased" and "The Miseducation of Cameron Post," expose harm of conversion therapy, or efforts to change a person's sexual orientation. SaraKay Smullens provides commentary on the films and history of these practices.

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Your view? Canada's proposed tax break on digital subscriptions

Last week, Canada's Finance Minister announced C$595 million (about 395 million euros) in tax incentives aimed at helping Canadian news publishers offset labour costs associated with reporting, in addition to tax credits for people who subscribe to digital news services.

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Heavenly Vices: irresistible love token jewelry.

Heavenly Vices is for dreamers and storytellers and romantics, for those of us who look at single objects and see the beguiling allure of lost secrets and true but forgotten love.

Each piece of Heavenly Vices jewelry starts with a love token.

These remarkable artifacts were once coins – actual legal currency – that have been scraped clean on one side and engraved with a lover’s initials, a treasured name, a phrase of significance, or other meaningful symbol. The altered coin would then have been gifted to a lover, friend, child, or parent; a tangible representation of enduring feelings presented before long separations, to commemorate anniversaries and engagements, or for no particular reason at all.

New Orleans-born Samantha Jackson has spent years amassing a huge collection of these love tokens and now her jewelry line, Heavenly Vices, is giving these remarkable objects new life.

Each Heavenly Vices jewel is a palimpsest, a piece of currency turned secret message turned artifact turned adornment. The love tokens are set in precious metal and wreathed in diamonds.

This one is particularly elaborate and bears the word “Doll” in rose gold. Was it an endearment? Someone’s name? We’ll never know, but it’s stunning to look at, especially in that rose gold setting.

This style of love token may date from as early as 1300’s England and peaked during the oh-so-sentimental Victorian era, when it was common to have love token stands set up shop at fairs: they’d customize your coins for you right on the spot. Each love is a tiny, tangible piece of someone’s story that history has left behind of us to find.

Many of the Heavenly Vices love tokens are very simple, but others are exquisitely elaborate. These two beauties fall into that second category: similar to the “Doll” above but even fancier, with swirling, elaborate monograms in multiple colors of gold with coordinating gold or rose gold settings and chains.

Some of the Heavenly Vices love token pieces feature stationary pendants on chains (like these two), others are charms that can go on anything for maximum versatility.

One of my very favorite things about the Heavenly Vices designs is that the back of the pendant is left open. The vast majority of the love tokens still look like a coin on the reverse, although a few special pieces have double-sided engravings.

Many of the coin sides bear the marks of time more than the engraved side; these two are a perfect example, with the ridges through the middle of the one on the left and the gentle, consistent wear of the one on the right.

This may seem like an unimportant aspect of the overall design of these jewels, but to me, the fact that Heavenly Vices shows such reverence for the history of the artifacts incorporated here makes all the difference to me.

If you’re anything like me (and a lot of you are!) then you’re as fascinated by the history of the love tokens themselves as you are by the beauty of the finished Heavenly Vices pieces. It won’t surprise you to learn that Heavenly Vices designer Samantha Jackson is a kindred spirit as well; we had a long conversation about the evolution of her very specific designs and here’s a bit of what she shared with me:

Everyone in my family is a big talker/ storyteller and I just loved how these coins had been part of someone’s story, whether or not we may ever know what it was as is the case with some of the odd tokens I have been posting this week, or even one which I recently acquired that is not the best one I have by far but I couldn’t resist its backstory.

During the demolition of a pottery store, an enormous safe was found, with most of the contents being junk. The shop owner was an avid coin collector and hoarded away some of the best pieces that came into the shop as payment (as his father had done). When the safe was discovered, a long time coin collector volunteered his time to verify the authenticity of the coins in the safe.

So in all kinds of ways these coins are connected to people in a deeply passionate way – whether as an expression of romantic or familial love, love for a restaurant as in the case of my fantastic menu coin, or just for love of coins.”

Doesn’t the idea of that huge safe filled with love tokens make you drool? I’d love to paw through Samantha’s secret collection of coins waiting to become Heavenly Vices designs!

In the course of building her love token collection, Samantha Jackson of Heavenly Vices has come across a countless variety of names and initials, as well as some truly unusual coins: a couple of favorites are “Stop yer tickling, Jock” and “Pickles.”

Another rare love token in Samantha’s collection is the legendary French restaurant menu coin, which not even I have gotten to see firsthand. There are also sub-genres within the love token realm:

In my search for love tokens I have also found and purchased Trezains, or French Marriage Medals which are embedded with a lot of religious symbolism and Convict Tokens which English prisoners in the 18th century would engrave and leave behind with their loved ones before being shipped off to Australia or other British penal colonies.

One thing I recently discovered are Foundling Tokens, which are just heart breaking.  They were engraved coins left behind in London’s Foundling Hospitals by mothers who had to abandon their children as a way they could identify their children if they were ever to be able to come back and collect them.  I have never seen one on the market, and the only ones I have ever seen are in the Foundling Museum where they belong.”

These unusual ones are unicorn-level rare; I recommend DMing Samantha the second they show up on the Heavenly Vices Instagram, because you know there’s never going to be another “Pickles.”

Here’s the infamous “Excuse me,” which I did get to play with! It’s very simple in design, but it’s so unusual that it immediately became my favorite of the batch I photographed.

Who had this made and WHY?? What did it mean? Was it an inside joke? A pickup line? I couldn’t possibly love it any more than I do. Rock on, whoever you were that commissioned or created this. You did you.

I haven’t bought “Excuse me” from Samantha yet, but I may change my mind about that before I make this blog post public. WE WILL SEE. #hazardsofthejob

The majority of the coins have names or initials. There’s an enormous variation in style, which is truly what makes Heavenly Vices so incredibly cool: it’s not like you’re going to a department store and choosing which of three similar factory-made designs you want, instead, you’re waiting for the perfect treasure from the past that speaks to your soul.

Heavenly Vices designer Samantha Jackson’s other passion is animal rescue, and I was touched by what she said about the connection between her two vocations:

One of my fosters is in the process of getting an article in a local magazine published and in our discussions she said something like just like you fostered homeless cats, you are fostering these coins and readying them for their new lives with new families.  And I just loved that!

I consider it an honor and a privilege (and frankly a bit of a miracle) that I have been able to find all of these and hopefully will be able to steward them back to life where they can become a symbol of passion for new people/ families/ weirdos (heehee)/ collectors.”

Heavenly Vices is actually honoring their commitment to animal rescue by donating 10% of profits through the end of the year to organizations helping animals displaced by the California wildfires.

What do you think, my darlings?

Are you as enthralled by Heavenly Vices as I am? Will you be holding out for your own name, or are you looking for the name or initials of someone dear to you? Should I buy “Excuse me”? Who’s going to get Jock? Let’s discuss.

I have approximately a million more pictures of Heavenly Vices love tokens (I got really into photographing them) so keep an eye on my IG for more names and also videos of some of the ones you’ve seen here!

The information on love token history in this post was sourced from Heavenly Vices, Collectors Weekly, and The Love Token Society.

This sponsored post is brought to you by Heavenly Vices.

 

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Study: Is it time to stop chasing ‘shiny things’ and move towards sustainable innovation?

Journalism suffers from a “Shiny Things Syndrome”, obsessively pursuing technology without clear and informed strategies, according to a new report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

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The best of African digital honoured at DMAfrica 2018

The best of African digital media were honoured with WAN-IFRA African Digital Media Awards 2018 during our conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, in late November, where the spotlight was shone on forward-looking digital innovations likely to be drivers of disruptive media excellence.

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Divers Spearhead Koh Tao Marine Conservation Efforts

Koh Tao is one of the busiest dive destinations in the world. Consequently, its popularity has taken a toll on the marine environment. Fittingly, the dive community that benefits from this busy industry has stepped up efforts to help with Koh Tao marine conservation.

Koh Tao is in the Gulf of Thailand, close to (even busier) Koh Samui. The island is both convenient to both European and Australasian tourists and one of the most affordable places for scuba certification. Thus, many divers choose to advance their training here.

Koh Tao’s pretty coral reefs, abundant marine life, and frequent whale-shark sightings draw divers. Land-based tourists come here for the beautiful, white sandy beaches. In fact, tourism is one of the main drivers of the island’s economy, so Koh Tao’s marine conservation efforts are critically important.

How dive operators are helping

While the Thai government does its bit to promote ecotourism, the dive operators themselves are doing the serious work on a grassroots.

Local tour operators have joined forces and collectively created a mantra of “5 R’s” — Reducing, Reusing, Repairing, Recycling and Rejecting:

1. Reduce consumption of fresh raw materials, non-recyclable packaging or any waste producing material
2. Reuse or repurpose items that can be used again like glass bottles, boxes or paper
3. Repair and reuse an item instead of buying a new one
4. Recycle all materials that can be transformed into a new product
5. Reject or stop using any item or material that pollutes or harms the environment

Organizations making a difference

Other informal groups include the Save Koh Tao Club, whose efforts date back to 2000. This organization advocates eco-friendly products and best practices like refillable bathroom amenities, energy-saving lightbulbs, line-drying laundry, and using recycled wood in to build and maintain resort villas. The club also captures and uses rainwater with a filtration system to provide drinking water from the tap. This reduces the number of plastic bottles brought to and in use on Koh Tao.

Community-based initiative Trash Hero strives to remove current waste as well as reduce future waste by inspiring long-term behavior change. Trash Hero sets an important example when visitors see its team cleaning up Sairee Beach twice a week.

Community-based conservation initiative Get Involved Koh Tao helps preserve Koh Tao’s natural resources and environment. This group of dive centers has joined forces to organize a monthly clean-up to remove waste and to encourage locals and tourists to say no to plastic straws, cups and bags.

Ban’s Conservation Learning Center Koh Tao is dedicated to preserving the island’s natural resources. It operates a waste-separation plant for recycling paper, aluminum cans, bottles and plastic. The organization also manages a dedicated composting area that ferments fat residue into fertilizer by mixing in grass and organic waste.

The Center has a wastewater-treatment plant that processes gray water, making it ready to use for plants and vegetable gardens. Regular workshops demonstrate simple crafts to help people learn how to reuse waste. These include how to make candles and liquid soap from recyclables.

Leaving a legacy

Divers are often eco-conscious. But the sheer volume of tourists means that plastic pollution inevitably ends up in the Gulf of Thailand. Whether it is irresponsible fishermen, passing tourists, or ocean-born litter settling on the seabed, the local community chooses not to ignore or accept it. These ongoing community-based initiatives are helping to ensure that the island’s marine environment can welcome divers for generations to come.

 

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The Medusa jewels I didn’t know I needed.

Medusa is a mythical figure that I haven’t typically paid much attention to…but somehow, recently, she’s worked her way into my consciousness. When I was at The Met in NYC recently, I actually found myself seeking her out: each time I spotted carved or painted snake hair, I felt like I’d spied a friend.

Not to get up on my feminist rage soapbox, but I think it’s the very nature of Medusa that is drawing me in. The idea of a mythical being whose defining characteristics are the opposite of the beauty that’s usually required for feminine power is exactly the hero that women need right now.

This new collection from Sofia Zakia is why Medusa’s been on my mind. I’ve been seeing sneak peeks of the Medusa designs on the Sofia Zakia Instagram story for a while and now that the whole collection is out, they’re even more perfect than I’d hoped.

Sofia Zakia, as you may remember, is the designer who created those creepy and glorious Halloween pieces I went crazy for last year. She’s got a gift for the delicate and figural.

Isn’t she gorgeous?

And by “gorgeous” I mean bold, strong, and striking: Sofia Zakia has done a fantastic job rendering this legendary figure without making her feel excessively Disnified. (She’s a beautiful piece of jewelry but she still looks like a powerful mythical monster, not a pretty pretty princess.)

I don’t know how Sofia Zakia got the idea for these decayed-looking, Medusa relic designs, but they really float my boat. They feel so ancient and eerie in a powerful way. These are some serious talismans.

Talk to me, friends. Is anyone else feeling the allure of Medusa recently, or is this just a weird misandrist reaction I’m having to current events? What do you think of the Sofia Zakia Medusa pieces?

Images c/o Sofia Zakia. 

 

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Four Great December Dive Destinations

December is an ideal month to go diving somewhere exotic and leave winter far behind. There’s unique marine life on offer around the world, plus big pelagic diving and plenty of sunshine. Here are our picks for four great December dive destinations.

Belize

The Great Blue Hole in Belize

What makes it special? Scuba diving in Belize includes the iconic Blue Hole and Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere. Belize has worked hard to protect its reef, and their stewardship shows. It’s home to numerous species, including manatees, green turtles, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles, plus countless pelagic fish.

Why visit in December? Visit in December and you’re likely to see thousands of groupers, including the endangered Nassau groupers as they gather in Belize for their spawning season. This unique gathering offers great photographic and behavioral opportunities for divers to enjoy.

Details: There are plenty of dives for all experience levels, though Belize is best for those with experience drift diving, wall diving and with good buoyancy control, all of which help prevent damage to the delicate corals. There are several liveaboard safaris along the Mesoamerican Reef, most including a visit to the Blue Hole.

When to go: Diving is possible all year. Water temperatures range from 79 to 86 F (26 to 30 C). Keep your eyes peeled for whale sharks if you visit the southern barrier reef from April to June and take your camera for the spawning groupers if you visit in December.

Cayman Islands

The Kittiwake in Grand Cayman

What makes it special? The Cayman Islands are famous for crystal-clear waters and over 350 dive sites. One of the world’s best-known wrecks, the Kittiwake also lies just off Grand Cayman. This 252-foot-long (77 m) U.S. Navy submarine rescue vessel lies at less than 65 feet (20 m) depth and offers multi-level wreck diving in exceptionally clear water. You can explore the huge interior and five decks or dive the exterior as large schools of fish and stingrays pass by. Don’t miss Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman for dramatic wall diving with plentiful corals and sponges. North Wall on Grand Cayman offers sheer drops and the chance to see nurse sharks and eagle rays. A visit to the Cayman Islands isn’t complete without also visiting Stingray City and swimming with numerous friendly stingrays.

Why visit in December? The Cayman Islands are an ideal destination for escaping the winter blues to enjoy some relaxation, world-class diving and sunshine. The average water and air temperatures in December are around 81 F (27 C) and the rainfall is low from December onwards.

Details: There are dives suitable for all experience levels in the Cayman Islands and liveaboard operators don’t usually require a minimum number of logged dives. It is also a great destination for those who suffer from motion sickness, as there are always calm waters on one side of an island or another. There are Cayman liveaboard safaris all year.

When to go: Diving is good year-round in the Cayman Islands, though June to October is the hurricane season in the Caribbean. The water temperature is always warm, from 78 to 82 F (26 to 28 C).

The Maldives

Hanifaru Bay in the Maldives is famous for mantas

What makes it special? The Maldives is on the wish list for many divers and rightly so. This iconic scuba-diving destination offers picture-perfect atolls, whale sharks, hammerheads and luxurious liveaboard diving. Ari Atoll offers the chance to experience current-swept channels and dive with big marine life. The area is most reliable for whale sharks and manta-ray encounters. Felidhu (Vaavu) Atoll offers night diving with huge numbers of nurse sharks, and Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll is the place to go for manta-ray feeding frenzies.

Why visit in December? The Maldives are at their best from December onwards, with flat seas, sunshine-filled days and warm waters averaging 82 F (28 C). It is a great time of year to visit to escape the winter blues and relax into the Maldivian way of life.

Details: Some atolls, such as Ari Atoll, can have strong currents and numerous drift dives. It is best to be an experienced diver to make the most of that atoll but there are plenty of dive sites for less-experienced divers. No longer just a luxury destination, the Maldives has dive options for all budgets and a variety of Maldives liveaboards to choose from.

When to go: The best time to dive Ari Atoll is from December onwards, with February to April featuring the highest chance of manta and whale-shark encounters. That being said, there are many different Maldives atolls to choose from and you can see whale sharks and manta rays somewhere in the Maldives all year.

Panama

Coiba Island features plentiful macro life

What makes it special? Panama has a well-kept diving secret: Coiba National Marine Park. This rainforest-covered island off Panama has species found nowhere else on earth and plentiful big marine life. There are around 33 species of sharks here, including scalloped and great hammerheads, whale sharks, Galapagos sharks, bull sharks and tiger sharks. Only accessible via liveaboard, this is a great place to dive with sharks, plus manta and mobula rays, whales and dolphins.

Why visit in December? The dry season starts in December on Coiba Island. Whale sharks are common visitors to the area from December to April.

Details: Coiba Island dive sites are subject to strong currents and deep waters, so are best suited to experienced divers. The water temperature varies between around 73 to 82 F (23 to 28 C). However, noticeable thermoclines can take the temperature down to around 61 F (16 C) at depth. It is best to take exposure suits to accommodate a wide range of temperatures.

When to go: Dive conditions can be excellent all year. So, when you visit depends on what you want to see. While December to April is good for whale sharks, July to October sees lots of humpback whales.

Divers and writers at LiveAboard.com contributed this article.

 

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