OUT & ABOUTCACTUS
Dan Torre
Reaktion Books
Ferociously spiky
and seemingly
lifeless on the one hand,
delicate and abundant
with brilliant flowers on
the other, the Cactaceae
family, comprising 1500–
1800 different species, is
full of surprises. Cacti’s
diverse appearance and survival tactics have
made them not just the focus of gardeners
and photographers from desert to tropical
regions, they have inspired sculptors,
painters, filmmakers and writers, and been
used by cooks (think dragon fruit) and for
their therapeutic qualities such as pain relief
and antibacterial properties. The prickly pear
was even revered by early civilisations such
as the Aztecs. All this, just for a cactus? Look
earn with this entertaining book that
overs the rich natural, cultural and
cial history of a plant with attitude.
Lynn LewisHairdressers Join
the Fight Against
Domestic Abuse
A first-of-its-kind
amendment to the
Illinois Barber, Cosmetology,
Aesthetics, Hair Braiding and
Nail Technology Act of 1985
now requires all salon workers
to undergo training every two
years to recognise and
identify signs of assault and
abuse in their clients. Inspired
by the special bond of trust
that can form between
beauticians and their clientele,
the new state law does not
require the salon workers to
report abuse but the training
will provide them with
information about help and
resources such as safe houses
and hotlines, which they can
pass on to their clients. “If I
can help someone sitting in
my chair any more than I have
been helping them, I think it
is a really, really good idea,”
Chicago hairstylist Angela
Smith told the New York
Times. Source: The New York Times
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