I'm not a photographer but I regularly use stock images for my work and it's probably probably as simple as trying to fit the 2x3 proportion of most stock photos (e.g 267x400). If they used those proportions with the person standing it would have too much white space around it.

Mr Penguin's dream if he got rich is to buy a big piece of land and lots of animals and just hang out in the countryside with his pack of dogs. To which I always say "I hope you come and visit me in the city sometimes."

I think he's especially on point when it comes to books or movies about young people. Very few people find love or any kind of serious romance in their teens, but often build very important and intense friendships. It's started annoying me when I see a YA story include a serious romance (see The Giver movie vs the…

This reminded me of when I was about 11 I talked about how some kids "wanked" school. I think I was combined "wagged" and "bunked". My mum's friend kindly said "I think you mean wagged?" and just to really cement my own wrongness I very firmly told her "No, wanked. That's what they call it."

I'm glad you told me this because this is basically what I already do... Also I accidentally tumble dried "do not tumble dry" pant (usually I remember to take them out when moving stuff to the drier) and other than needed a lot of ironing they were fine so now I'm doubting all labels ever.

Two weeks later and Maria Doyle Kennedy told this story on the Orphan black panel! Boom:

Isn't that basically what they're suggesting? By making it a non-required section you can answer if you want to, but skip it if you want. It could be a third button, or just the option of leaving it blank.

Yeah, I hate this "It's all in your heeeeaaaad" thing! I think there must be some kind of hormonal shift because I used to get it a lot but since I've been on the pill it's reduced both PMS and period horniness (also my boobs got bigger). A friend of mine described period horniness as "hump the table corner" horny,…

Pamukkale (cotton castle) and Cadadoccia, both in Turkey.

Yeah, we used to spray a pool of Axe in our hand, then light it on fire. This would have been about 13 years ago. It wouldn't burn you unless you let it go for too long, or if the liquid ran between your fingers. Yeah it was dumb, but only equally dumb to the other shit kids do.

I'm talking specifically about Christchurch, where Asian people are the biggest minority and the fastest growing ethnic group.

And if you're coming from the USA, UK or Europe then your money basically doubles! Oh wait... all the costs double, too. Bummer.

Yeah, I'm from Christchurch and this is pretty accurate - especially for old people! If you look at the population breakdown for the South Island it's quite different to the North Island. What diversity we have is mostly due to immigration from East Asia.

I liked it, but I like weird twisted writing so it probably depends what else you like. His writing is definitely improving with every book. Also, Locke and Key, the graphic novel series he wrote, is one of my favourites.

I'm in Toronto. I've heard it mostly from white Canadians of all ages whose families have been here a couple generations. My boyfriend's parents (Brampton), my uncle (Hamilton), a friend's girlfriend (Toronto)... It's not like it's every single person, but it's definitely pervasive.

I was surprised when I moved to Canada how deep-seated that racism is. Otherwise liberal and open-minded people seem to think nothing of making sweeping generalizations and arguing that stereotypes "have basis in fact".

I totally get that and agree, but in the theme of "what would be different if women were planning/marketing stuff" this should be an industry standard, not something that organized people do for themselves.

I'm a journalist and you'd be amazed what's out there. "Multi-ethnic team" is my favourite for that type of stock image. Sometimes innocuous searches get great results, too. Once I searched "binoculars" and got this:

I bought it as Hudson's Bay, but I'm not sure the brand name... It was about $60 I think, so not too expensive for a nice work shirt.

Brilliant.