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This group calls Sports Illustrateds swimsuit issue a slap in the face to the #MeToo movement
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The National Center on Sexual Exploitation condemned the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, which was released on Tuesday. - photo by Herb Scribner
SALT LAKE CITY The National Center on Sexual Exploitation condemned the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, which was released on Tuesday, saying it negatively impacts the #MeToo movement.

The annual magazine issue portrays athletes in scantily clad pieces of swimwear, and this year's edition, which features a topless photo of Kate Upton, also embraced the #MeToo movement with women wearing words and captions that define them rather than clothes. The magazine, which included an all-female crew, labeled that section "In Her Own Words," according to NBC News.

Dawn Hawkins, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation's executive director, said in a statement that the issue contributes to the culture of sexual objectification and entitlement.

For decades, women in our culture have been drowning in the message from mainstream media, Hollywood and womens magazines that their self-worth lies in their sexual appeal," Hawkins said in a statement. "The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition tells women and girls of all ages that no matter how many years, or how much blood, sweat and tears you put into reaching the pinnacle of athleticism, your value as a human being still ultimately hinges on your sex appeal.

"SI Swimsuit tells men of all ages, backgrounds and demographics that you are entitled to gawk at women and girls as sex objects for your viewing pleasure, she continued. This message is so pervasive and so insidious that countless talented, strong, courageous women are convinced that they have to bear their bodies for untold numbers of unknown men to ogle and rate in order to feel empowered.

She added that the magazine is not about female empowerment or promoting positive body health.

SI Swimsuits doublespeak about female empowerment should fool absolutely no one. This product is not about female empowerment. Its about Sports Illustrated making money off of the sexual objectification of women, which hurts both the women depicted and every other woman and girl in our society, Hawkins said.

The organization is encouraging people to email Target and Walgreens to request that the magazine be removed from shelves.

It also called the magazine edition a slap in the face to the #MeToo movement, which has been "embraced by legions of women as a vital step toward countering widespread sexual abuse and misconduct," according to the Associated Press.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has criticized past Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, calling the 2016 swimsuit issue the Sexploitation Issue.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.