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2009-07-22T03:58:00.000-07:00

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Lawyers spar in Paris Hilton film contract dispute

2009-07-22T03:56:00.000-07:00

by:Associated Press
Paris Hilton hated her 2006 movie "Pledge This!" and refused for months to make promotional appearances for it despite a contract requiring her to do so, lawyers for the film's investors said as trial opened Thursday in an $8 million lawsuit against her.

"During the six-month period, at no time would she take 10 minutes to do a phone interview," attorney Bryan West, who represents the investors, said in opening statements.

With Hilton nodding vigorously from her defense table seat, her attorney Michael Weinsten insisted she did numerous appearances for the movie but was unavailable to meet many requests by the film's producers because of her extremely busy schedule. Hilton also had the right to refuse some promotion events that might harm her "brand" and never agreed to plug the DVD release of the movie from December 2006 through May 2007, he said.

"Paris Hilton is a promotion machine," Weinsten said. "For 2 1/2 years, she relentlessly promoted that movie."

One of the movie's executive producers, James DiLorenzo, testified that Hilton's handlers rejected a series of suggested promotion efforts, including popular late-night TV talk shows and interviews with magazines, newspapers and radio outlets in the U.S. and abroad.

"In order to make the public aware of the product, she was the most powerful way of doing that," DiLorenzo said.

Hilton, a 28-year-old heiress, actress and model, is expected to testify Friday. She traveled to Miami for the trial from Dubai, where she has been filming episodes of her "My New BFF" reality show. Wearing a sleeveless black-and-white dress with a large bow on the back, Hilton sat quietly at the defense table during opening statements, occasionally taking notes or fiddling with her twin ponytails.

The lawsuit is being heard by Chief U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno, who has a well known sense of humor. Moreno at one point asked West whether the contract allowed Hilton to refuse even the most outrageous promotion requests.

"If you said, 'She has to parade nude down the Champs-Elysees with a Pledge This! banner' ... and she said no, would that be breach of contract?" Moreno asked. Then, answering his own question, he added, "No, of course not."

The lawsuit seeks $8.3 million in damages, essentially to recoup the money spent to make and distribute the film. It was filed by attorney Michael Goldberg, a court-appointed receiver for a now-defunct Miami company that was the movie's key investor. That company was shut down as a $300 million Ponzi scheme by the Securities and Exchange Commission, with its operator now living in Brazil.

Weinsten acknowledged that Hilton wasn't pleased with the final cut of "Pledge This!" which concerns the antics of a fictional sorority at equally fictional South Beach University but he said she did what she could to plug it. She was paid $1 million to act in the lead role, yet the movie only made about $2.9 million and appeared on just 25 theater screens.

The investors claim it could have done much better as a DVD release if Hilton had done more promotion, particularly in Japan and Europe where she is a huge star.

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2009-07-21T05:07:00.000-07:00

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Glam Slam: Summertime... and The Livin's Easy

2009-07-21T05:05:00.000-07:00

by: Access Hollywood
Lindsay Lohan, Lisa Rinna, Mena Suvari, Rachel Zoe and yours truly hit the beach for a chic Malibu clambake to celebrate Lia Sophia's latest "Red Carpet Celebrity Collection" of jewelry.

Held at a cliffside estate overlooking the Pacific, a crowd of beautiful people lazed in the sun, enjoying the view and grooving to tunes spun by a DJ. Lindsay danced to Michael Jackson songs. There was plenty of food... clams and lobster rolls screamed "East Coast," while coconut water (from Vita Coco) added a tropical vibe to the sunny and very hot day.

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2009-07-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

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Rihanna To Star in 'Bodyguard' Remake?kinsay ingon

2009-03-20T05:37:00.000-07:00

by: Access Hollywood

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. -- Despite a report that Rihanna was in New York City over the weekend taking meetings for various movie projects, reps for the pop star denied she was in town looking to land a movie role.

According to The New York Daily News' Gatecrasher, Rihanna had multiple meetings for potential features while in New York, one of which is a remake of 1992's "Bodyguard," which starred Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner .

A source claimed the remake would be a "young and sexy take" on the original, with "G.I. Joe" star Channing Tatum playing Kevin Costner 's role.

"Before the situation with Chris, Ri was getting a lot of scripts. She's been wanting to do movies for a while now," said the paper's source. The pop star is also reportedly considering working on the "Charlie's Angels" sequel as well as a film project with Justin Timberlake .

The Best Prom Dresses!

2009-02-16T18:05:00.001-08:00

When we talk about prom dress, it sounds strange right? It matters much to all of us. People may think that prom is mostly for a girl thing, it is usually included a dinner followed by a dance at school. The entire event lasted no longer than one night.

This is probably going to sound strange. Some think it’s about establishing romantic relationships and confirming them on prom night. Others think it’s all about partying, getting toasted, and getting "action". Still others think it’s a coming of age thing, an end to high school and the beginning of adulthood.
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Obviously, if people think all that about prom, there must be some truth in each of the above.
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We all know what "prom" is, right? I don’t mean, like, the history of prom dresses, or local variations and traditions in small towns, or anything like that. I mean "prom"– you know, pro-om, prom night?
So how come no one can give us (or you) a short definition that explains what prom is and how it works and why it matters so much to all of us?
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Jolie's refugee comment stirs debate in Thailand

2009-02-16T17:34:00.000-08:00

by: Associated Press

Thailand's government may still be miffed at Angelina Jolie for speaking out on behalf of impoverished boat people, but the actress has prompted soul-searching among some in the Southeast Asian country.

For a second day, Thai officials rebuked the globe-trotting leading lady for calling on the country to respect the rights of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority people fleeing nearby Myanmar's military dictatorship.

"It was not her role to comment on the matter," Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Thursday. Jolie was in Thailand last week as a United Nations goodwill ambassador, touring a northern camp for other refugees from Myanmar.

Thai authorities have been accused of routinely abusing Rohingya refugees, including towing more than 1,000 out to open sea and leaving them to die in boats with no engines late last year. Some drifted to the shores of India and Indonesia weeks later, but survivors said hundreds others died. Thailand has denied any abuse, but says the boat people are economic migrants, not refugees.

Local newspapers seized on the controversy but not all took the side of the government.

"Instead of blaming Jolie ... why don't we start talking about the root cause of the problem?" an editorial in the English-language The Nation asked, calling on the government to re-examine its policies based on "humanitarian principles."

Thai academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun, writing in the Bangkok Post, even said that a "particular brand of Thai-ness has successfully impeded society's responsibility to nurture human rights."

Jolie who has visited refugees in many hotspots including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sudan did not directly criticize Thailand's actions. Her offending comment merely expressed hope through a U.N. statement that authorities would respect the rights of Rohingya and all refugees.

Still, her star power has helped highlight the long-overlooked plight of the Rohingya, a stateless minority who live mostly in Myanmar but are not recognized as citizens by its military rulers.

Myanmar's consul-general to Hong Kong defended the junta's policy this week by telling the South China Morning Post this that the Royingya are "ugly as ogres" whose "dark brown" skin is in contrast with the "fair and soft" ethnic Burmese majority.

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2009-02-16T07:49:00.000-08:00

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2008-12-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

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2008-12-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

When we talk about prom, it sounds strange right? It matters much to all of us. People may think that prom is mostly for a girl thing, it is usually included a dinner followed by a dance at school. The entire event lasted no longer than one night.

This is probably going to sound strange. Some think it's about establishing romantic relationships and confirming them on prom night. Others think it's all about partying, getting toasted, and getting "action". Still others thinks it's a coming of age thing, an end to high school and the beginning of adulthood.

If you have problems on what to wear on your prom night to wear your prom dresses? Well, this site prom dresses 2009 of Mori Lee can help you about what to wear because of their dedication to prom dresses. They consider no fuzz, no telling gosh wow, and most importantly it is not a crap site. When we talk about prom night, it is stern to talk about. That is why it keeps itself serious.

Because now that we have fast and advanced technology there are many companies are encouraged to have their own website as their marketing strategy. Through the promotion of each products and services gives a wide range of advertising.

This site I will introduce to you is all about dresses for the wedding dresses, for prom night, formal dress, bridal gowns, bridesmaid, etc. This site will help you to choose at your best dress of any occasions. You will be guaranteed of what they offer because of it is affordable and have a very good tastes of styles that you will really impress and also have a good quality products.

Obviously, if people think all that about prom, there must be some truth in each of the above.

So...we want to know what you think. And maybe, between all of us, we can finally answer the question "What is prom?"

We all know what "prom" is, right? I don't mean, like, the history of prom, or local variations and traditions in small towns, or anything like that. I mean "prom"-- you know, pro-om, prom night?

So how come no one can give us (or you) a short definition that explains what prom is and how it works and why it matters so much to all of us?

Prom night is still the most important dance of high school senior year. And like always, the night still revolves around having a date. Most teens would rather avoid the prom altogether than arrive without a date.

Leighton Meester: New Album Will Be "Edgy"

2008-12-21T15:11:00.001-08:00

by: US Magazine
What will Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester's upcoming debut album sound like?

"The music is very fun," Meester, 22, tells February's Teen Vogue. "It's edgy, like electro-pop rather than bubblegum, and you can dance to it."

The album -- which she first talked about to Usmagazine.com in February -- is due next spring.

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2008-12-17T15:23:00.000-08:00

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Hugh Hefner "Impressed" by Jennifer Aniston's Naked GQ Cover

2008-12-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

by: US Magazine

Us Magazine
Carmen Electra graces the cover of Playboy's 55th anniversary issue, but Hugh Hefner tells Extra he wouldn't have minded seeing "either Angelina Jolie or Scarlett Johansson."

When shown Jennifer Aniston's nearly naked January GQ cover, Hefner, 82, remarks, "This looks like the cover of Playboy. I'm much impressed by Jennifer.

"Is it just me, or is Jennifer Aniston getting hotter?" he says of the 39-year-old actress. "Never seen her in this light before."

See more photos of topless stars.

Hefner also elaborates more on his split from Holly Madison.

"Holly was looking for something more than I could give her," he says of his ex, who is currently dating Criss Angel. "She was looking for marriage and children."

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2008-11-20T05:32:00.000-08:00

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Abdul: Police ID Body as Former Idol Contestant

2008-11-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

by: US Magazine

Police have identified the woman found dead outside American Idol judge Paula Abdul's house as season 5 contestant Paula Goodspeed, whose performance of "Proud Mary" was mocked by judges (see video below).

Goodspeed, 30 -- who was infatuated with Abdul and admitted she made "life-sized drawings of Paula" during her 2006 audition -- died of an apparent drug overdose in an apparent suicide, the Associated Press reports. No official cause of death has been determined.

Goodspeed's body was found in her car -- which featured a license plate "ABL LV" and had a photo of Abdul hanging from the rear view mirror -- outside the judge's Los Angeles home Tuesday night around 6 p.m.

Abdul -- who was working on Idol all day -- was not home at the time. She returned late in the evening after the scene had cleared.

I am deeply saddened and shocked about what transpired yesterday," she tells Usmagazine.com in a statement. "My heart and prayers go out to her family.

Her rep tells Entertainment Tonight that the woman had been an extreme fan and had "issues." They knew about her for "several years," her rep adds.

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2008-11-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

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DWTS' Cheryl Burke: "You Don't Have to Be a Size 0 to Be Beautiful"

2008-11-04T17:37:00.000-08:00

by: US MAgazine
Dancing With the Stars' Cheryl Burke is sounding off on critics who have claimed she's gained too much weight.

"I was like, maybe I should just starve myself for four weeks just so people would shut up," she said on Friday's Ellen DeGeneres Show. "But at the end of the day ... I'm an athlete. I like to eat, I like to work out, and I like to feel healthy, and I feel healthy."

When DeGeneres told her she looked great, the audience applauded.

"There is so much pressure -- especially starting younger and younger -- for girls to think they have to look a certain way," the talk show host told Burke. "They're making themselves sick."

See photos of stars who have gotten scary skinny.

Earlier this week, professional dancers Louis Van Amstel and Maksim Chmerkovskiy spoke out negatively about Burkes weight gain and that of newcomer Lacey Schwimmer (Chmerkovskiy insists his quotes were taken out of context).

Criticizing a woman's weight "is just a wrong statement to make ... for women, and it's dangerous," Burke said.

"You don't have to be a size zero to be beautiful," she added. "In the world that I may live in right now, you don't have to be skin and bones. You can be healthy and beautiful, and you need to accept that about yourself and feel secure about it."

Check out Us' Weight Winners of the Year!

When Burke admitted that she is a "size four in a dress," DeGeneres praised her.

"That is a normal body and that's what most people's bodies -- if they're lucky -- look like," she said. "I think people would trade you for that body."

Added DeGeneres, "You're a beautiful person and don't hear [criticism] anymore. Don't listen to it."

Angelina Jolie Causes Stir After Saying She Fell In Love With Brad Pitt On 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' Set

2008-10-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

by: Access Hollywood

Angelina Jolie has created quite a stir after the actress told the NY Times she and partner Brad Pitt fell in love on the set of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

During a discussion over which of her films she lets the couple's children see, Jolie told the NY Times, so far it's just "Kung-Fu Panda," but she noted she looked forward to the day when the kids can watch 2005's "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Brad Pitt

"Not a lot of people get to see a movie where their parents fell in love," Jolie said in article running in the Arts & Leisure section of the paper this Sunday

The quote, however, caused eyebrows to raise, as the movie actually began filming while Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Angelina Jolie

Though Jolie's latest remarks have drawn attention, in the past the actress hinted she grew close to Pitt on the set, but they just remained "very, very good friends," until after his divorce from Aniston in 2005.

"And then we just continued to take time," Jolie told People in 2006. "We remained very, very good friends - with this realization - for a long time...And then life developed in a way where we could be together, where it felt like something we would do, we should do."

The reach of Jolie's words and past photographs on the Internet though, are these days a concern for the mother of six. In particular, she worries her eldest child, son Maddox, 7, will use the Web to "look up my name and see some kind of sexy pictures or read a story about himself that isn't true," she told the NY Times. "There's a lot we're going to have to explain to them about how public their family is."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Top Ten Most Expensive Baby Photos

But the actress may not have to worry about Maddox's Internet moves too much as she'll be able to monitor him regularly due to her shortened 2008 film schedule. Jolie told the paper she has just a few projects in the works as she focuses on family.

In fact, before selecting potential projects, Jolie takes into consideration "who's in school at that time? How can I be sure I don't do too many long hours? Can the three youngest be on the set every day?" she said.

"As long as I can still be with my family, it's fun," she added. "But I only want to do that, and I'm not looking for anything else."

In the NY Times interview, the actress also expanded on her plans, which she revealed on the "Today" show earlier this week, to increase the Jolie-Pitt family size.

"I know we seem crazy, just bringing them in one after the other, but we do plan," Jolie said. "We make sure one is absorbed completely into the family before we add another. There are moments when we look at everyone around the dinner table, and it's just crazy, but our family is the greatest thing we've done in our lives."

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2008-10-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

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Horizon

2008-09-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Horizon a Christian Fellowship.
The Horizon is found in North Country that is at the Del Mar Hilton that is started in 1993, have a weekly attendance of first 75 people. Horizon is a church and moved to the present campus in Rancho Santa Fe and also the ministers, they have a total people of three thousand people of weekly service like youth programs, Bible Studies and family ministries.
The Horizon believed that Pastor Chuck Smith was called by the Lord. Pastor Chuck Smith is an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and pastor started his Bible study in San Diego in 1974. Eventually, Pastor Mike's Bible study was led to the creation of Calvary Chapel San Diego where this Horizon Christian Fellowship known.
At 1993, because Pastor mike sensed the Lord leading him to have many ministry through adding a several additional satellite campuses in SAn Diego Country.When they started a one chapel, Pastor Bob Botsford was the assistant pastor of the newly planted church.
They have this featured in series the Emergent Church movement, this is an attack on the church. In media about I Want a Better Marriage be done of lots of hard work. Find a Church in Rancho Santa Fe now! and suggest the Horizon Christian Fellowship Church.

The Year's Hottest New Music Stars

2008-09-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

by: Forbes
Some recording artists toil for years without ever scoring a big hit. Then there's the fortunate few who skip all the dues-paying hardships and skyrocket straight to stardom.

That pretty much sums up the experience of Sean Kingston, Colbie Caillat, Flo Rida, and other new music acts on our list of music's hottest new stars.

For this new generation, getting established is as much about nurturing an Internet audience as playing gigs and knocking on the doors of hot record producers and promoters. Posting music and videos online and interacting with fans who can help get the word out about upcoming concerts and TV appearances through their personal blogs and Web sites are crucial pieces of the puzzle.

In Pictures: Music's Hottest New Stars

More galleries on Forbes.com

* Music's Biggest Cash Kings
* Top-Earning Women in Music
* Celebrities Who are Paid to Party
* Rags-to-Riches Celebrities

"Nowadays, a marketing plan always has a significant element that is based around the Web," says Lee Trink, president of EMI Group's Capitol Records, home of new R&B hitmaker J. Holiday. "Radio is shrinking; video channels don't play as many videos. But the good news is, there are so many different ways to get to people [online] and to get to people in very niche ways."

Still, while the radio dial doesn't command the same audience it once did, radio exposure remains crucial to generating blockbuster hits, Trink acknowledges.

"All of those have massive radio," he says. "The way things sell big numbers is still the old-fashioned way."

To compile a list of the hottest new stars of music, we examined several measures of popularity and success. To start off, we looked at the top searches and downloads on peer-to-peer networks during the past 12 months as measured by BigChampagne, as well as press mentions as measured by Factiva.

Then we looked at U.S. digital track downloads and album sales in 2007 and the first two months of 2008, as measured by Nielsen SoundScan. Finally, we took a look at "mastertone" ringtone sales during the same period, as measured by Nielsen RingScan (mastertones are ringtones that play a snippet of the actual recording of your favorite song).

So who made our list? R&B and hip-hop acts dominate, including hitmaking singers Kingston, Holiday, and former "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks and rappers Flo Rida, Plies, Huey, and Hurricane Chris. Also making the list are the rock band OneRepublic and easygoing singer-songwriter Caillat.

On top: Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, whose "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" was one of the biggest hit songs of the year. Soulja Boy (DeAndre Way, to his mom) got his first exposure by posting songs and videos on his YouTube and MySpace pages, which helped attract the attention of hip-hop producer Michael "Mr. Collipark" Crooms and eventually landed him a contract with Universal Music Group's Interscope Records.

To refer to "Crank That" as a mere "song" would probably underplay its multi-platform ubiquity. The official video racked up tens of millions of hits on YouTube and spawned a dance craze that prompted Soulja Boy to shoot an instructional video that generated more than 30 million hits of its own.

Then there were the countless spoofs and imitations that featured mashups of SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora The Explorer, Alvin and the Chipmunks and others. "Crank That" has also sold more than 3 million song downloads and more than 2 million ringtones. With that kind of reach, it was hard to escape the song's catchy refrain of "Yoooooo!/Crank that Soulja Boy, now watch me/Yoooooo!"

In a shifting entertainment landscape where young consumers are spending more of their free time online, building a strong Internet presence is important to set the stage for a recording artist's first big hit. To push J. Holiday and his breakout hit single "Bed," Capitol Records used the singer's fan base to help fuel further interest in the singer by supplying them with embeddable videos and other tools so that they could share their enthusiasm with others online, Trink says.

"We found that to be incredibly effective," he says, noting that, for many listeners, "It's a badge of honor to turn people on to music that you really love."

But despite all the added attention focused on online marketing, the biggest hits -- the ones that dominate the upper rungs of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart -- still tend to be the songs that get the most radio play.

Many of those hitmakers fail to generate much in the way of album sales. With sales of albums dropping sharply across all genres, why does that matter? Because album sales can reflect how interested consumers are in a recording artist, as opposed to just their hit song. And that, in turn, can be a barometer of a music act's ability to sustain a career beyond their debut on the pop charts.

Strong album sales for hot new artists on our list such as Caillat (certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America with more than 1 million units shipped for sale in the U.S.) and Kingston and Holiday (both certified gold with U.S. shipments of more than 500,000) would seem to bode well for their next releases.

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2008-08-25T02:49:00.000-07:00

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2008-08-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Everyone of our life we sometimes run out of our budget and we do not know what to do, where to borrow a quick and easy payday loan? I have heard about this payday loan in the internet as i research by the search engine. Many ways to borrow money but this site i am sure and i assure you that it is quick, fast, easy to borrow. The following are the facts of the site:

*The pay everyone loans are here and willing to help the people who needs a cash quickly and can not wait for their next paycheck. When you loan it is usually around $500-$1500. If it is approve and it is forwarded to the specified bank account through the direct deposit.
That amount that you will receive will the lender decided that they will discuss to your payment plan options that is recommended.

*It is often called as cash advance payday loans.

*It is a short term use and not intended for long drawn out payments.

*It can save your financial status if you have problem in money emergency.

*It is secure and that is there priority for t he clients.

*You can trust.

*The best payday loan of some of the pay day loans in the internet.
The interseting of this site is that no fax payday loan!

Fast Cash Loan

2008-08-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Everyone of our life we sometimes run out of our budget and we do not know what to do, where to borrow a quick and easy payday loan? I have heard about this payday loans in the internet as i research by the search engine. Many ways to borrow money but this site i am sure and i assure you that it is quick, fast cash loan, easy to borrow. The following are the facts of the site:

*The pay everyone loans are here and willing to help the people who needs a cash quickly and can not wait for their next paycheck. When you loan it is usually around $500-$1500. If it is approve and it is forwarded to the specified bank account through the direct deposit.
That amount that you will receive will the lender decided that they will discuss to your payment plan options that is recommended.

*It is often called as cash advance payday loans.

*It is a short term use and not intended for long drawn out payments.

*It can save your financial status if you have problem in money emergency.

*It is secure and that is there priority for t he clients.

*You can trust.

*The best payday loan of some of the pay day loans in the internet.

Fast Payday Loan

2008-08-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

Everyone of us experience of running out of budget or many times in our life and yet we do not know where to borrow an emergency money a cash on hand money an advance cash. I saw this site in the internet, payday loans that is a personal cash advance. How it works?
Personal Cash Advance Laon will find a payday loan lender as easy and possible for the clients or maybe for you. When you receiving the payday loans (also called the payday loans or an advance cash) clients need to do is are the following:
*First, you have to read the complete online form (Personal Cash Advance) this does not charge any service. The important of this is the client will answer the required questions accurately to advance your data that is being accepted of their service providers.
*Second, the loan representative, they will contact you through phone or an email for the confirmation of the complete details as the process of your application. There are also some cases that you may necessary to fax a certain documents to acquire the information you submit online. The process determined by the service provider that services to the clients.
*Third, if you completed the process with the service provider, they will deposit your fast payday loan electronically.
For more information about this Cash Advance Payday Loans?
Just visit the site--> www.personacashadvance.com

Dept Loans

2008-08-06T18:45:00.001-07:00

Do you have problem of dept? Is the bill collectors always reminds you of your dept and message your machine always than of your friends and your family? What will you say about this dept? This is enough and be control of your monetary situation. Leave to the internet’s most trusted, free dept consolidation program that will help you get back your financial freedom. This site started since 1997.They concentrate to debt help the people around the world exertion with creditors to resolution the terrific amount overdue, and accept the greatness of being the last step that most of the individuals get in the direction of the appropriate liability to be free. There is a uniqueness of this program that will help all of your present dept and it rotate them into one easy to handle and it is affordable monthly payment. This will ensures that you are a consistent of paying your dept without breaking the bank each day.
They offer many services like offer help with tax burden or credit repair services with there trained team of credit experts. When you have a problem of your consolidate dept loans, they will work with each of your creditor to lessen your total dept liabilities. This are some of what the site offer. You can visit it for more information about it.

Helen

2008-08-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

Starring: Ashley Judd, Goran Visnjic, Lauren Lee Smith, Alberta Watson, Alexia Fast, David Hewlett, David Nykl, Ali Liebert, Leah Cairns, Veena Sood, Chelah Horsdal, Malcolm Stewart, Sunita Prasad, David Quinlan, Mylene Robic, Jonathan Holmes, Julia Keilty

Director: Sandra Nettelbeck
Release Date: 2009
Studio: Egoli Tossell Film / Insight Film Studios
Message Boards: Post your comments

Synopsis: Follows a music professor and mother who suffers from a deep, debilitating depression. Her family tries to help her, but no one can relate to her pain other than a young female student who knows depression all too well.

Auto Loans

2008-08-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

In making a loan via inline, first thing we do is to read the site and you will find out that if this site can be trusted because money is involve here and it matters. It is true and scary to here and it happens in the internet. How can I help you this? What site can I recommend you when it comes to auto loans?The site is getting the best auto loan. What is in the site? The site first want there customers to know more about the company before you will decide to trust them with the used car loan. What is this?
The job of the site is to serve there clients as a kind of means that between you and the auto loan lenders. They have many recruits and have a large network of the auto lenders from where you will receive an auto loans quotes. The lenders are also aware that the terms and the rates of auto loans will be receiving an auto loan quotes. The lenders still aware that it will be listed side-by-side with the competitors. The awareness will have a strong and have an incentive to give you their fixed offer. The traditional lending market, you can feel like more of you competing lenders money. They have crooked the tables on this concept by putting the lenders in the vicious competition with each other for the business. Aside from that, from helping to get the best of auto loan, they have the mission to make the auto loan application process as convenient as possible. They will let you to submit one application and they will provide you with all the information that you need within a minutes. Goodbye to the bad credit auto loan, and hello to the good credit auto loan.

Nobel Son

2008-08-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

Starring: Alan Rickman, Bryan Greenberg, Shawn Hatosy, Bill Pullman, Mary Steenburgen, Danny DeVito, Eliza Dushku, Ernie Hudson, Ted Danson, Lindy Booth, Tracey Walter, Kirk Baily, Kevin West, Greg Collins, Dawn Balkin, Lucy DeVito, Reid Collums, Bennett Dunn

Director: Randall Miller
Release Date: October 3rd, 2008
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Freestyle Releasing
Message Boards: Post your comments

Synopsis: Follows a son struggling to finish his thesis when his father wins the Nobel Prize in chemistry, making life all the more difficult for him and his mother, a well-known forensic psychiatrist.

Apply Credit Card Easily

2008-08-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

When you get hold your very first credit cards, it is tempting to spend by buying all kinds of new things that you were not capable to buy before. It is really hard except you must give in to of that temptation. How will you used your credit card wisely? It is not really hard.What you will do is you should not spend more than you can’t buy. You will need to have a budget. Making a budget are outer range of the scope, simply get your monthly income and then you will subtract your monthly expenses, the difference is your not reusable income. Through this you can determine how much you will spend and can afford. The best way to surpass of this amount is to save a money, spend less. Credit Card can let you go over your throwaway income by letting you the credit card use your credit.
You should use your credit cards periodically. Frequently using your cards and paying them off with a time manner illustrates a responsible to the credit card companies which will lead you to a higher limit and a lower limit interest rates.
For more understanding about the online card. You can apply credit card now!
Visit the site->www.yourcreditnetwork.com

Quantum of Solace

2008-08-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Starring: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Gemma Arterton, Giancarlo Giannini, Mathieu Amalric, Neil Jackson, Jesper Christensen, Joaquín Cosio, Tim Pigott-Smith, Fernando Guillén Cuervo, Rory Kinnear, Anatole Taubman

Director: Marc Forster
Release Date: November 7th, 2008
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Movie Stills: View Gallery
Message Boards: Post your comments

Synopsis: Seeking revenge for the death of his love, secret agent James Bond sets out to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country's water supply

Custom Writing

2008-07-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

When we make an essay, sometimes we have a hard time to do it. During my high school days, i am having a problem of of making an essay correctly, but now nothing is impossible to help you to finished your essay wrting with the help of the custom-writing.org. What is in the site? How can you guaranteed of this site? How long it takes to make the essay?
The custom-writing.org offers a proficient in academic research and in writing services in any other ground of the study. They are well guaranteed and qualified. The private essay writing from you is firmly in agreement with what are you instructions. If you will order to the custom essay site you can have it with the maximum of time of 12 hours and a minimum of time in 6 hours. The site also have a formula of t heir success: Quality Writing+Responsibility+Personal Care=Success. If wou will order an essay writing services you can assured and because they are entirely devoted to your academic success! They have the goodwill as there advantage that will return to the customers of seem to be advance to start a long term relationship with there customers. And you will be satisfied because of the guarantee of the quality quality writing services.
Problem of making a thesis paper, problem where to buy essay this site will help you of your dissertation.

Car Insurance Company

2008-07-16T09:50:00.002-07:00

What is all about the Car Insurance Rates? In the Internet, there are many sites having competition on how they will market there site, but this site the CarInsuranceRates.com as the full time examine line website that provides a car insurance quotes. The site started since 1997. They also built a big records of car insurance articles, the guidelines and professional advice.What you need to know about this site? Simply, the site will guide you to know more about car insurance, the guide to GAP Insurance, what is the effect of credit to the insurance, they will give you all the needed knowledge to lower your premiums. They do the best to give the complete state by state in sequence for insurance consumer nationwide.
When you are ready to look the information and read some of the articles and prepared to accept the quote, simply use the box that is located at the top left of the website.
If you have questions about the car insurance you can put your questions and can find your answers.
They are very thankful if you will visit the site. They are hoping that they will be able to help you with the search for car insurance of car insurance company.

Visit site-> car insurance company

WHAT IS PUPPY LOVE ?

2008-07-16T09:50:00.001-07:00

To be very blunt about it, Puppy Love can also be referred to as "false love". Puppy love usually happens to younger couples that are inexperienced and/or very naive, although it has been known to happen to mature couples as well.

A relationship based on puppy love always involves lots of cute pet names for one another as well as an extreme need to make the relationship general knowledge; this is often achieved by, although not limited to, sitting on each others' laps and kissing in the public eye.

It is called puppy love because the feelings associated with it are similar to those you would have for a puppy dog. Soon enough, the novelty wears off.

THE BEGINNING OF A NEW RELATIONSHIP - COURTING

2008-07-16T09:49:00.001-07:00

The "Courting Phase" does not refer to the courtship process which precedes a relationship. The courtship process is when you attempt to charm someone into forming a relationship with you. The courting phase, however, is the very beginning of a new relationship itself; just after a successful courtship.

In the courting phase, both parties maintain that fascinating charm which they used to attract their partner in the first place. The courting phase is where most broken promises & exaggerate words are said as you are still trying to impress each other. Things like 'I've never felt this way about anyone else before' or 'I think we have something special between us' are said. Although these statements are made with good intentions, they are often inaccurate and are based mainly on feeling as oppose to logic.

A couple in the courting phase also tend to be very "playful" with one another and prefer to spend every free moment together.

Although not every relationship passes through this courting phase, it happens often enough. Just make sure you are beyond this point before you start taking any serious steps in the relationship.

Quick Cash

2008-07-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

There are many times that we run out of budget and yet we do not know where to borrow an emergency money a cash on hand an advance cash. I saw this site in the internet, pay day loans that is a personal cash advance.How it works?
Personal CAsh Advance Loan will find a payday loan lender as easy and possible for the clients or maybe for you. When receiving the payday loans (also called pay day loans or an advance cash) clients need to do is:

*First you have to read the complete online form (Personal Cash Advance) this does not charge any service. The important of this is the client will answer the required questions accuratley to advance your data that is being accepted of their service providers.
*2nd, the loan representative, they will contact you through phone or an email for the confirmation of the complete details as the process of your application. There are also some cases that you may necessary to fax a certain documents to acquire the information you submit online. The process determined by the service provider that services to the clients.
* 3rd, If you completed the process with the service provider, they will deposit your quick cash loans electronically.
For more information about this Cash Advance Payday Loans?

Just visit the site www.personalcashadvance.com.

Gerber Graduates for Toddlers

2008-07-13T04:24:00.000-07:00

The packaging is decorated with pictures of oranges, grapes, cherries, peaches, and pineapples. Yet the leading ingredients are corn syrup and sugar – and the only “fruit” they contain is nutritionally poor white grape juice concentrate. These snacks are more candy than fruit juice!

5 Facts You MUST Understand if You Are Ever Going to Lose Your Belly Fat & Get Six Pack Abs

2008-07-13T04:19:00.000-07:00

1. Many so-called "health foods" are actually cleverly disguised junk foods that can actually stimulate you to gain more belly fat... yet the diet food marketing industry continues to lie to you so they can maximize their profits.

2. Ab exercises such as crunches, sit-ups, and ab machines are actually the LEAST effective method of getting flat six pack abs. We'll explore what types of exercises REALLY work in a minute.

3. Boring repetitive cardio exercise routines are NOT the best way to lose body fat and uncover those six pack abs. I'll tell you the exact types of unique workouts that produce 10x better results below.

4. You DON'T need to waste your money on expensive "extreme fat burner" pills or other bogus supplements. I'll show you how to use the power of natural foods in more detail below.

5. Ab belts, ab-rockers, ab-loungers, and other infomercial ab-gimmicks... they're all a complete waste of your time and money. Despite the misleading infomercials, the perfectly chiseled fitness models in the commercials did NOT get their perfect body by using that "ab contraption"... they got their perfect body through REAL workouts and REAL nutrition strategies. Again, you'll learn some of their secrets and what really works below.

by:BellyFatIsUgly

Zenni Eyeglasses

2008-07-13T04:05:00.000-07:00

Eyeglasses is a person's most significant and important in clothing. It is a fashion accessory that most people are having a self conscious of. How can I help you find an eyeglasses that has a low price, fashionable, have a quality, order online, etc. Many sites also offers this but the Incredible Stylish New Frames From Zenni will help you. Zenni Optical was on FOX news! What a popular site. Zenni Optical $ 8 Rx Eyeglasses a complete single vision eyeglasses for you.

Visit the site–> http://zennioptical.com

Zimbabweans say

2008-06-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Two names remain on the ballot in Zimbabwe's presidential election: President Robert Mugabe and leader Morgan Tsvangirai. But the latter has withdrawn his name, and his supporters say they aren't allowed to just not vote. A Human Rights Watch researcher said people are being threatened with violence if they do not vote for Mugabe. "...A vote today is a protection -- it keeps me out of trouble," voter Lameck Caesar said.

by: CNN News

If the feeling is gone

2008-06-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

by: KYLA
If the feeling is gone
please don't pretend that you still love me
I can see it in your eyes
and it hurts to admit it
I can tell that the feeling is gone

All i ask is just a little honesty
Though i know that you're not coming back to me
You know i'll do anything to make you stay
But i just have to let you know
If the feeling is gone

There's a sadness in your smile
Though I try to conceal it
I can tell that the feeling is gone

All i ask is just a little honesty
Though i know that you're not coming back to me
You know i'll do anything to make you stay
But i just have to let you go
If the feeling is gone

All i ask is just a little honesty
Though i know that you're not coming back to me
You know i'll do anything to make you stay
But i just have to let you go
I just have to let you go
I just have to let you go
If the feeling is gone....

Indian Translation Agency

2008-05-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday i chatted an Arab person, he is mustafa. Mustafa is a student at the same time have a work. He is not very good in speaking in English. We talk through the headphone, as we talked we sometimes don't understand each other because of he is not really good in english. He asked me if i can still understand him, but still i can understand him until he find way to understand my english.
He said to me that every time that he encountered a hard english that he doesn't understand he search an Arabic Translation or translation India, Hindi translation. Before that i asked him that he gets better and better in translating in english, why? Because of the site that he entered, the http://www.iaflindia.com/. What is in this site? The site started in 1989, too long and they called it IAFK Translation and an Interpretation Services. This site, he told me that it is an Indian translation agency that translates and specialized a translation in West Asian and in India. What is a good thing of this site? As i research, they respond to 95% of all the emails who emailed them within 1 hour. Imagine of that? The translation is being used in India and also across the world by various companies.

Whole Food Signatures

2008-04-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

You are what you eat, so eat well. A stupendous insight of civilizations past has now been confirmed by today's investigative, nutritional sciences. They have shown that what was once called "The Doctrine of Signatures" was astoundingly correct. It now contends that every whole food has a pattern that resembles a body organ or physiological function and that this pattern acts as a signal or sign as to the benefit the food provides the eater. Here is just a short list of examples of Whole Food Signatures:

*

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and science shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
*

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.
*

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
*

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
*

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
*

Eggplant, Avocados and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 1 4,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
*

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
*

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
*

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.
*

Grapefruits, Oranges , and other citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
*

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

"The news isn't that fruits and vegetables are good for you; it's that they are so good for you, they can save your life."

Small changes - BIG Difference!

Criticism Of Homeopathy

2008-04-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

Why Homeopathy Is Hated and Vilified
This is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy (North Atlantic Books, 2007)

On the tombstone of homeopathy’s founder, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, are the Latin words Aude sapere, which translate as “dare to be wise, to experience, to taste.” Hahnemann’s challenge to conventional doctors then and now was to simply try homeopathy and judge for themselves. Sadly, however, most doctors did not honor this simple challenge. In fact, most physicians have maintained a prejudiced and unscientific attitude toward the subject. In other words, they didn’t know much about homeopathy, and they never tried it, but they didn’t like it.

In the nineteenth century many physicians chose to try homeopathy and were surprised and impressed by the therapeutic results, even in the treatment of the infectious disease epidemics that raged during that time. In response to the growing popularity of this “new” medicine, homeopathic medical schools were created to teach basic medical sciences as well as how to prescribe homeopathic medicines. Boston University, New York Homeopathic Medical College, Hahnemann Medical College (of Philadelphia), and several others in the United States were founded to educate a new breed of physician.

Homeopaths did something else that was never done before. For the first time in history, a large and growing group of medical doctors began to criticize publicly the way “regular” medicine was practiced. Further, homeopathic physicians asserted that orthodox medical care did more harm than good.

Before this time, physicians maintained a certain gentlemanly attitude toward each other. Although there have always been differences of opinion within medical practice, the emergence of homeopathy and the development of homeopathic medical schools created a stronger and more sustentative analysis and critique of conventional medicine. Increasingly, the threat of homeopathic medicine was that it attracted the most respected literary elite, many of the leading members of the clergy, a large number of the human rights advocates, well-placed politicians, and many of the richest families in America. Homeopathy was emerging as a viable competitor to conventional medicine of the day.

From the origins of homeopathy in Germany in the early 1800s, Dr. Hahnemann and his colleagues sharply criticized the regular doctors’ use of high doses of mercury, antimony, arsenic, lead, and other poisons. Conventional physicians of the day also regularly performed bloodletting on their patients by using a knife (called a lancet) to open a vein and release blood in order to get rid of what was considered stagnant or excess blood. Even the use of leeches was common until the mid-1800s.

[A section of this chapter is not included here]
The Evolution of Science and Medicine

The words “science” and “medicine” are changing and evolving terms. And yet, there is a seemingly innate tendency for physicians and scientists of any era to be resistant to whatever changes are occurring in medicine and science.
While it is certainly appropriate to maintain a certain healthy skepticism about various phenomena, especially those phenomena that seem especially peculiar or unpredictable, all too often physicians and scientists have maintained a closed-minded skepticism that has fostered unscientific thinking and actions.

Nearly fifty years after William Harvey (1578–1657) announced to the world his great discovery about the heart’s role in circulating blood throughout the body, the Paris Royal Society of Medicine determined that such action was impossible. Even when Harvey’s ideas were accepted into medical and scientific thought, they had little effect on clinical medicine of that time or for the next 200 years.

The Royal College of Physicians of Great Britain greeted Benjamin Franklin with shouts of laughter when he declared the identity of lightning with other electrical phenomena. When the members of the French Academy of Science witnessed a demonstration of Thomas Edison’s new invention, the phonograph, one famous professor of medicine literally jumped up and declared: “We have checked and found that it is a matter of ventriloquist hoax, for it is impossible to have a human voice speak from a roller.”

This resistance to change is not simply a problem in medicine and science but in virtually every field of human endeavor. The most determined opponents of church reform usually have been bishops and clergy. Even when Jesus lived, his ideas about God, life, and love were not eagerly accepted. In fact, as we all know, he died for his ideas and his actions.

A short story about Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) may be instructive here. Kepler was a highly respected German astronomer who lived in Austria during the last twenty years of his life. However, due to religious persecution for his Protestant beliefs, Kepler, his family, and friends left Austria. When the king of Austria heard that Kepler had left his country, the king sent horsemen to ask that he return. Kepler said, “If I go back, my friends will have to return with me!” And when he was asked how he could wait so long and so patiently for his theories to be accepted, he responded, “The Lord has waited a long time for people to understand the harmony of His creation! Why should I be impatient?”

Science and medicine have a long history of resistance to change. Because part of a healthy scientific attitude includes objectivity and humility, a true, healthy scientific attitude would replace the present name-calling, head-in-the-sand refusal to understand or investigate alternatives.

Abraham Lincoln once asserted, “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon. … The great point is to bring them the facts.” One way to keep people from the facts about homeopathy is to cut off communication to them and from them. Another way to keep people from the facts about homeopathy is to disallow conventional physicians from consulting with homeopathic physicians or their patients. Another way to keep people from the facts about homeopathy is to play games with statistics so that it seems that homeopathic medicines are ineffective.

And yet, as science fiction writer H. G. Wells once asserted, “Kings and empires die; great ideas, once they are born, never die.”

Ready to Renew?

2008-04-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

A patient of mine told me that today she took pictures of crocuses blooming on her way to my office. Spring is the time when flowers bloom, leaves grow back, and birds return from the south. Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and principles are based on observations of nature. Spring is a time of renewal for our bodies as much as it is a renewal for nature. What can you do to help in this revitalization?

According to TCM, the key organ of springtime is the liver, a major organ of detoxification. It filters our blood of toxins that are inhaled, ingested, and absorbed through the skin. Even if you are careful to eat healthy; avoid smoking, drinking, and drugs; and use natural bodycare products and household cleansers, in our modern world, the liver still has an enormous task! We still breathe polluted air and it is a daunting challenge to avoid all chemicals, so our livers could definitely use a healing hand.
Why Cleanse?

A stressed liver may result in headaches, allergies and sensitivities, tearing or inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and muscles, stiff neck and shoulders, anger, irritability, frustration, depression, high blood pressure, eye problems, fatigue, and skin problems, amongst other things.
Food Cures

It’s no coincidence that the colour related to the liver energy is the same colour that we tend to see more and more of during spring: green. While winter has us craving heavier, richer comfort foods, spring brings a time when we should lighten up. Choosing more leafy green veggies and sprouts fits with what foods become locally available. If you are veggie-challenged, consider adding a greens food supplement such as spirulina for its energizing, nutritious, and detoxifying properties.

Here are some other foods especially suited to boosting liver energy during springtime:

*

Vegetables: onions, beets, cabbage, turnip root, daikon radish, radishes, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, romaine lettuce, asparagus, celery, lettuce, cucumber, watercress, parsley, swiss chard, artichoke, dandelion leaves
*

Fruits: strawberries (choose organic), dark grapes (choose local or imported), blackberries, lemon, lime, grapefruit; small amounts of peaches (choose organic)
*

Grains: brown rice, sweet rice, basmati rice, sprouted grains, whole grains, rye, quinoa, millet, oats, barley, amaranth, roasted buckwheat groats (kasha); naturally leavened, whole-grain sourdough rye bread okay
*

Spices: turmeric, basil, basil leaf, cardamon, marjoram, cumin, dill, ginger, black pepper, rosemary, mint.
*

Lots of room temperature water (optional to add squeezed fresh lemon) or green or herbal tea (e.g. mint, camomille); coffee substitute like chicory (tastes similar to coffee) or yerba mate tea (energizing effect)
*

Beneficial fats: EFAplex oil (1 Tbsp per 50 lbs body weight daily; may have to work up to this if digestion is weak by starting with 1 tsp 2-3 times daily and gradually increasing)
*

Sea veggies: hijiki, nori, kombu, etc.
*

Legumes: aduki beans, mung beans (also detoxify the body), black beans, kidney beans
*

Soy sources of protein, emphasize fermented soy products such as tempeh or miso

Herbs

There are many herbs known to help protect and renew liver cells. They are generally bitter herbs, including milk thistle, dandelion, and artichoke, and the Chinese herbs chai hu and long dan cao. However, TCM is always about balance and about choosing what is right for you. When you are cleansing the liver, you need to make sure that you are properly eliminating the toxins and addressing other strengths and weaknesses that are personal to you.
Exercise

Stretch, stretch, and stretch. And as it warms up, get outside and move and find a beautiful place to breathe in fresh air.

Copyright 2007 Dr. Melissa Carr, B.Sc., Dr.TCM, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Active TCM -- Helping You Help Yourself.

Procrastination And Decisions

2008-04-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

Do you have jobs that you just don’t get round to? Decisions that just don’t get made? Procrastination can stop you enjoying life to the full and living to your potential.

Here are some thoughts about ways to get yourself moving forward and improving your life.

Telling people about any new goals and resolutions is a two-edged sword. Some people will try to undermine you, but others will support you wholeheartedly. So pick the people that you tell carefully, but do tell some people: a public commitment can really help you to do what you need to do, and keep you focussed when the going gets tough.

Robert Middleton of actionplan.com suggests that you pay a fine, if you don’t keep to your commitment. Nothing particularly new about that, but he suggests a great twist – you pay your fine to a group that you disagree with completely. For example, if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Conservative party supporter commit yourself to making a donation to the Communist Party of Britain if you don’t keep your resolution.

Sometimes you need to detail the steps needed to achieve your goal. Backcasting can be the best way to do this. Think of the goal and then think of the step before you achieve the goal. Write that down. Now go backwards each time finding the step before, until you are back to today. Now you have a detailed plan of the steps you need to take to get where you want to go. Attach dates to them, put them somewhere prominent, and tick each one off as you achieve it.

Keep a list of small 5-minute jobs handy; jobs that you never seem to get round to doing. Then, when you are too tired to tackle big projects or just need an instant boost, tackle one of these small jobs and cross it off the list. The satisfaction of doing this is often out of all proportion to the time taken. That pleasure can lift your spirits and get you motivated for the big tasks again. You may also realise that it often takes less energy to do a niggling job than spend energy continually remembering that you have to do it.

Sometimes it is difficult to do anything because you have to make decisions and choices first. One of the problems of modern life is that you can often feel overwhelmed by choice to the extent that you do nothing. In these situations it is important to distinguish between important choices and superficial choices. For important choices you need to spend time looking at all the different options, researching possibilities and talking to experts. For less important decisions, the thinking process can be less intense when you recognise that you may make a wrong decision, but in the grand scheme of things, in terms of your whole life, it is not that important. For any decision that you are agonising over, ask yourself: “How important would a wrong decision made now be in 10 years time? The answer will tell you how much time to spend on making the right decision now.

Finally, here’s a great quote from Barbara Kingsolver that’s worth reading every day:

"The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for.
And the most you can do is live inside that hope.
Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof."

5 Facts to Lose Your Belly Fat

2008-04-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

10 Essential Health Tips

2008-04-08T23:06:00.000-07:00

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

Taurus April 8,2008

2008-04-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

If someone is just not getting the message you are trying to send them, today it is time for you to give up -- at least for a while. They might be ready to listen soon, but you shouldn't hold your breath. You don't really need them, and it is a waste of your time to keep knocking on their emotional doors if they won't let you in. What you wanted might still happen, but not with their assistance. That's okay -- you are ready for a new cast of characters in your life anyway.

Homemade Natural Cleaning Products

2008-04-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

A lot of over-the-counter cleaning products are harsh, abrasive and even potentially dangerous to your home and family. If you are concerned about risks to your health or the environment, you may want to consider using homemade, all-natural cleaning products instead. Read on find some easy-to-make and effective homemade cleaning products.

White Vinegar (Don't use Malt!)
The queen of getting it clean, white vinegar, is mildly acidic and disinfecting. It's great for removing calcium deposits, such as those in your humidifier. It's also a potent grease and stain remover. You can use it to clean hard surfaces such as countertops and glass.

White Vinegar Recipes:

Dusting Spray: Combine 1 tsp olive oil and ½ cup of vinegar. Store in a squirt bottle or keep in a jar. Apply small amount of mixture to a soft cloth for use on your wooden furniture.

Glass/Hard Surface Cleaner: Combine ½ cup white vinegar with a gallon of water. Soak cloth, ring it out slightly and use on your surface. Keep a clean chore towel handy for drying.

Fabric Softener: Add 1/4 cup white vinegar to your washer's final rinse cycle.

Pure Soap
Pure soaps, such as Castile, don't contain any synthetic colours, scents or additives and are usually available in health and natural product stores. Pure soap is great for basic light cleaning and can be combined with a few drops of an essential oil for an added air-freshener effect.

Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a great grease-cutter. When washing your dishes, add it to your water along with a pure soap. Lemon juice is also great for cutting through grease on porcelain and aluminum.

Lemon Juice Recipe:

All-Purpose Cleanser: Combine ½ cup of pure soap, such as Castile, with one gallon of hot water and 1/4 cup of lemon juice.

Salt
Salt is a great basic scrub that will give you extra cleaning power. Great for smaller jobs like removing tea stains from the inside of cups or cleaning out the coffee pot. Just fill pot with ice-cubes, pour in some salt and swirl.

Baking Soda
Baking soda is another effective scrub and a gentler alternative to salt. You can also place an open box in your fridge and freezer to help eliminate odors.

Recipes for Baking Soda:

Bathroom Tub and Tile Cleaner: Soak a firm bristle brush in a good all-purpose cleaner. Then add baking soda for extra cleaning power. You can also clean grout by combining one part water and three parts baking soda to make a scrub.

Sink Scrub: Combine equal amounts of salt and baking soda to make a scrub for your kitchen sink

MotorCity Casino Hotel

2008-04-06T04:27:00.000-07:00

MotorCity Casino Hotel – the first permanent gaming location in the city and the only locally owned and operated Detroit casino unveiled a model hotel room that that will introduce a whole new level of hospitality to Detroit business and leisure travelers when the hotel opens this fall.

“MotorCity will provide a hotel product that is unmatched in this market,” said a hotel official. “We will provide a truly unique guest experience with an uncompromised level of service.”

When the hotel opens this fall, the 400 ultra-comfortable and high-tech guestrooms, including 41 suites, will include some of the finest comforts offered in the region. A peaceful and relaxing stay is standard with amenities such as luxury bedding with 300 thread count imported bed linens, a pillow library, sumptuous towels and bathrobes, marble bathrooms with separate soaking tubs and showers, and live foliage. The rooms also feature a customized climate control system based on guest history and will alert room attendants when the room is occupied to keep interruptions to a minimum. Asaad also added that if you like something in your room, anything, it can be delivered to your home or office. Most hotels only sell bathrobes or toiletries.
MotorCity’s guestrooms are designed for the business traveler and tech-savvy guest alike, providing a work station with ergonomic chair, high-speed Internet access, iPod docking station, 37” plasma TV and a two-line conference phone with voicemail. Also a hand-held phone that you can carry to the casino or onsite restaurants and receive calls.

The hotel interior décor compliments the “future retro” theme of MotorCity’s expanded casino space which opened June 7, with maple and Makassar ebony woodwork, plush fabrics and muted ivory, gold and black hues which evoke a nostalgic twist on contemporary furnishings.
The multilingual MotorCity staff will offer a superb guest experience with daily turn-down service, and several 24-hour benefits including a concierge, laundry, and in-room dining. Same day pressing service, a comprehensive, state-of-the art business center with secretarial support, and complimentary WiFi in public areas will provide a personal oasis with 24-hour connectivity. In addition, a full butler service will be provided to suite guests, allowing the hotel to accommodate and anticipate a full spectrum of guest needs.

Room reservations are currently being accepted for November 1, 2007, and group reservations are being accepted for January 2008. Reservations may be made Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
A toll-free phone line and on-line reservation capability will be added in the near future.

MotorCity’s $275 million expansion is changing the face of entertainment in the City of Detroit by offering a spectacular combination of entertainment, dining, banquet, spa and gaming options that draw on Detroit’s automotive, music and sports heritage. In addition to the 17-story hotel, MotorCity is expanding its gaming space and adding a premium spa, convention and banquet space, a 1,200 seat theater, new retail and dining options and additional parking. Iridescence, Detroit’s only AAA Four Diamond restaurant, will relocate to the hotel's top floor adjacent to a new ultra-lounge, Amnesia. Both will offer exquisite views of the Detroit riverfront and skyline while establishing MotorCity Casino Hotel as a unique and cutting-edge entertainment, conference and resort venue.

MotorCity Casino, which first opened in 1999, incorporates the historic Wagner Baking Company building and has been under construction since 2006. The cornerstone of the Wagner Baking Company is being fully restored to its original condition circa 1915, preserving the signature feature of the 85-year-old Detroit landmark.

Hotel Petit Palace

2008-04-06T04:20:00.000-07:00

DESCRIPTION

Rooms : 50, Recently open, Near Plaça de Catalunya, Latest technology, Modern design, Complimentary WiFi connection.

Situated in the heart of urban Barcelona, the Petit Palace BCN is ideal whether for leisure travelling or business. Near the main tourist attractions and shopping areas of the city, from the Passeig de Gràcia, to the Plaça de Catalunya and Barrio Gòtic. This hotel, with its unmistakable pink façade and impressive red, white and black lobby, has a ground floor and five stories.

The Petit Palace BCN has 50 rooms equipped with state of the art technology and all the modern amenities one would expect from a hotel of this category. The hotel also provides rooms for smokers and people with disabilities.
At your disposition is a restaurant-buffet and a cafeteria where you can enjoy a snack. For your business dealings, the hotel provides you with a meeting room, as well as a business centre in the lobby. You can also have fun playing Nintendo video games in the lobby's "Cibersala".

The Petit Palace BCN is on Roger de Llúria street, at the corner of Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. A few metres away you will find Passeig de Gràcia, the street with the most luxurious boutiques and shops in the whole city. The famous Plaça de Catalunya and La Rambla are just a few minutes away on foot.

IN-ROOM SERVICES

Air-conditioning
Safe deposit box
Mini bar
Room service all day

Flat Screen TV
Cable / Satellite TV
ADSL Internet access
WiFi Internet

Direct phone
Central heating
Non-smoking rooms

Plaça de Catalunya: 406 m
La Rambla: 835 m
Cathedral: 867 m
La Pedrera – Casa Milà: 906 m
Plaça Sant Jaume: 1 km

Sagrada Família: 1 km
Olympic Port: 2 km
Plaça d'Espanya: 2 km
Montjuïc: 2 km
Parc Güell: 2 km

Nou Camp Stadium: 4 km
Forum of World Cultures: 4 km
Pedralbes Monastery: 4 km
Tibidabo: 5 km

Hotel Keppler design

2008-04-06T03:37:00.000-07:00

The hotel is designed by the god of the luxury lodging himself - Pierre-Yves Rochon, interior designer of the "most beautiful hotel in the world", the George V (Paris) and the certainly famous-to-be 7th district Parisian palace, the Shangri La, located in Avenue d’Iena.
This time he designed a small boutique hotel near the Champs-Elysées in the neo classical style with a touch of typical French coziness of the bourgois appartments from the same district.

It's clear now that minimalism is definitely out in the haute hôtellerie - Pierre-Yves Rochon (along with Jacque Garcia and Vincent Bastie) has imposed the respect of the place and its past, homey ambiance, eclecticism and refined mixture of all sorts of decoration styles and periods. Everything is good to make guest feel like at home.

Pisces April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

If a friend or coworker's bewildering behavior is frustrating

you, talk to them about it! There could be something going on

that you need to know about. Of course, there also could be

something going on that is none of your business, but that

doesn't matter. What matters is that you make it known that you

are noticing how they are acting, and you don't like it one

bit. Patience may be required in this situation, because it is

probably not something they can change right away.

Aquarius April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:13:00.002-07:00

Your busy lifestyle has been netting you some wonderful rewards

lately, but it has also been robbing you of precious time with

all your favorite people! So today, make time to try to

organize an informal outing for all your favorite people. Send

an email that proposes a few dates, and ask everybody which

ones work. Suggest a group picnic, a potluck or a restaurant

night at your favorite pizza parlor. You all need a chance to

relax and share the latest news in your lives!

Capricorn April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:13:00.001-07:00

An exciting invitation is coming your way today, but before you

accept it right away, wait a few more days. You need to make

sure you can take it on before you actually commit to it. Do

you have enough time to handle it? Are you financially stable

enough? Will it create tension in one of your relationships?

Ask yourself all the pertinent questions and try to get a

better grip on what impact it could have on your life. This is

not a trivial matter.

Sagittarius April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:12:00.001-07:00

Any time you spend with children today will be especially

rewarding -- their curious nature will rub off on you, and

remind you that the world is still a wonderful place, full of

mysteries to explore. As you have been learning life's hard

lessons, it has been more and more difficult to remember that.

This is a great day to back in touch with your inner child,

too. Play around on the ground and don't be afraid to get

dirty. Your youth will always be a part of you.

Scorpio April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:11:00.001-07:00

Your reaction time will be extremely fast today -- but there is

such a thing as too fast, so be very careful. Make sure that

you're only applying your swiftness in the appropriate

situations. In order to make sure of this, you would be wise to

think out every choice you make, carefully and methodically.

Even how much sugar or milk you put in your coffee should be

something you take special notice of. Going on auto-pilot is

not something you should be doing today.

Libra April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

There will be a wonderful win-win situation developing today

for you and someone you often have to negotiate with. The two

of you make a good partnership, but from time to time you do

have to bargain your way through things. Luckily, this time

what you want is almost identical to what they want! So no one

will have to sacrifice anything for the other person, and no

one will end up feeling guilty because they're getting their

way at someone else's expense.

Virgo April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

Why keep your combative feelings to yourself? You should feel

free to unleash your bold, opinionated side today -- it will

generate some surprising results. People might not be used to

seeing you like this, but it is a legitimate part of who you

are and you should stop hiding it for the sake of helping to

create a more peaceful environment. If other people aren't

holding back, then why should you? Talk about complex issues,

and let your personal, passionate emotions come out to play.

Leo April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

Time spent learning something new is always time well spent --

so focus your free time today on feeding your brain. It doesn't

have to be highfalutin learning, either. As long as you put

some information into your brain that wasn't there before,

you're doing yourself some good. So while you could spend your

day learning all the capitals of the world, you could also

spend it learning the top ten pop songs, how to make a perfect

chocolate chip cookie, or how to do a new dance move.

Cancer April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

An authority figure in your life could create some friction

within your group -- they aren't exactly known for their

management skills, and are encouraging in some dastardly

in-fighting. You are probably going to escape any real conflict

with another person, but the day's energy will have some stress

in it. To combat this, keep in contact with your friends

throughout the day -- start an email conversation so you'll

have something to go back to when you need a touchstone.

Gemini April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:06:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought you had given up hope that that certain

someone would ever notice you, today brings some promising

attention. Maybe you've been waiting for your boss to praise

all of your hard work. Maybe you've been hoping that the

teacher would see how involved you been in discussions. Perhaps

you're wondering when on earth that cutie will give you the

time of day. Whoever has been testing your patience will

finally come to their senses and see you for who you are,

today.

Taurus April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

Of course you really want to get the perfect gift for someone's

upcoming birthday or anniversary, but the-perfect-gift ideas

have been escaping you so far. Before you panic and just rush

out and purchase something flashy or expensive because you're

at a loss, ask around. Mutual friends might have a good

suggestion about what you should get. You have the time to shop

around and find something that fits their personality 'to a T.'

Relax, and shop around.

Aries April 5,2008

2008-04-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

Your sweet disposition is making you very popular with the

people who are in power right now, therefore you are in a good

position to have them give you just about whatever you want --

time, advice, affection, even money! But you need to be wise

with this power and use it judiciously. Think long and hard

before you use it, because your spontaneous commands might

satisfy your momentary whims, but they could also cause you to

regret a few things later on in the day.

Pisces April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

Before you do anything for anyone else today, do something for yourself! It doesn't have to a big thing, either. Tell yourself you look super sassy. Buy yourself an extra fancy coffee drink. Book yourself a massage appointment. Take an extra long lunch and go see a movie you've been dying to see. Take the initiative to treat yourself like royalty! It's the best example you can set for others. Things that are valuable need to be cared for. And you are something of major value!

Aquarius April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:09:00.001-07:00

Today, there is a high likelihood of confusion. The details of your bank account and credit card statements could be telling you two different things, and it is absolutely essential for you to get things straight today. If you don't, you could be under the wrong impression about how much disposable income you actually have. An unexpected invitation comes your way for a fun (and totally free) event, so if you have the time you should definitely accept it.

Capricorn April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:08:00.001-07:00

Why are you looking behind you? Thinking about what has already happened is a waste of your time, and a waste of your energy. What's done is done. Today, turn to face forward and look at what is ahead of you -- there's a lot to be done, and you can do it well. Have faith in yourself -- everyone else has faith in you. Advance on a project (any project) today, and give yourself something to check off your list. Standing in one spot, wondering if you just made a mistake, is silly.

Sagittarius April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:07:00.001-07:00

Today, you will be smack dab in the center of everything -- and you will have a lot of influence over what could happen next. The skills you have been learning over the past few weeks have given you capabilities you never knew you had before -- and you need to use them before you lose them! You know exactly how to wield your power today, although it might take you a while to work up the gumption to take charge. Once you do, though, everything will fall into place.

Scorpio April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

Today your creativity will be at an all-time high -- and it will be bursting into every area of your day. Wherever you go, you will be able to add a splash of color to the canvas. Stuck in a boring meeting? Not for long! You can turn the most boring agenda into a comedy showcase by suggesting everyone act out their ideas with modern dance. Okay, so not every idea you'll have today will be feasible -- but they all will be unique and charming, just like you!

Libra April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:04:00.000-07:00

Take a little more care with how you eat and what you eat. While your diet might not be that bad, you should be more mindful of what you put into your body right now. Illness is a possibility, but it is one you can prevent with proper nutrition and a good night's sleep. Another good idea is to stop doing so much 'on the go' -- multi-tasking is only helping you accomplish a lot of things. It's not helping you accomplish them well. Quality is much more important than quantity right now.

Virgo April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

If someone you care about has disappointed you recently, try not to be too critical of them. Right now, they probably need your compassion more than they need your opinion. Start a sweet conversation with them. Gently probe into what could be going on with them. Give them the green light to open up to you and trust you with the latest updates in their life. Listen without interruption -- when they want to know what you have to say, they will ask you. Wait for that before speaking.

Leo April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

If you are in a group situation today, perk up your ears! Listening is going to benefit you a lot more than talking will. So keep mum about what you think or what you want to do -- let everyone else weigh in and argue over the pros and cons of different options. Just be careful that you don't appear to be uninvolved. Maintain eye contact, take notes if you want to, and give important physical clues that show you are paying attention. You don't have to talk to play a big role!

Cancer April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

Some of your recent daydreams have been giving you good ideas about where to take your life next -- why not explore one of those paths today? The universe is sending you some solid energy that will keep you grounded when you're in unfamiliar situations. You'll stay cool, calm and collected even when you're not quite sure what the heck is going on. Feeling like a fish out of water can be exhilarating, and it can show you a lot of qualities in yourself that you never knew you had.

Gemini April 2,2008

2008-04-02T06:00:00.001-07:00

Recent misunderstandings between you and a coworker or friend are finally starting to get cleared up today -- and it looks like all's well that ends well. You were a little bit in the wrong, they were a little bit in the wrong -- isn't that how it always works? The two of you have got a relationship that is stronger and healthier than ever, and you both deserve to celebrate that fact. Take each other to lunch or dinner and enjoy some real quality time over some real quality food.

Taurus April 2,2008

2008-04-02T05:59:00.001-07:00

Join in on a charitable group activity today! If a work or school group is putting together donations or asking people to sign up for a cause, get involved. You can help others, too. In fact, you might be better prepared to help those who are in need right now than anyone else -- you're generous, you're kind, and you have got the right amount of energy to handle anyone's extra baggage or problems. This is a good day to play amateur psychiatrist and help someone figure stuff out.

Aries April 2,2008

2008-04-02T05:58:00.001-07:00

Someone you usually have a real problem with is going to be a bigger part of this day than you'd ideally like (or so you think), but the good news is that you will slowly find yourself getting to like their little idiosyncrasies as the day moves forward. Maybe it's the more flexible mood you've been in lately, maybe it's the pleasant turn in the weather, or maybe it's just because you're tired of being annoyed by them. Whatever the reason, rejoice in the fact that the day's frustration level will be low.

Virgo Horoscope

2008-04-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Virgo
April 01, 2008

Some constructive criticism is coming your way today, and you should take it seriously. When someone takes the time to give you a helpful tip, you need to be grateful -- not defensive. Listen carefully to what they tell you, and if you disagree with what they are telling you, say so -- but be diplomatic about it. They are doing you a favor by giving you feedback, so respect that. Have a dialogue with them and trust that they have your best interests at heart, because they do.

Aquarius Horoscope

2008-04-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Aquarius
April 01, 2008

The more attractive you feel, the more attractive other people will find you -- it's a simple fact. So today, if you are trying to turn a potential love interest's head, impress someone at your job, or prove to someone in authority that you are somebody who can be trusted, then believe in yourself. Remind yourself that you are whoever you want other people to see you. Your ability to convince others is extremely high right now, so why not make the most of it?

Capricorn Horoscope

2008-04-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

Capricorn
April 01, 2008

Change does not have to be dramatic -- if you are looking to mix things up in your life and make things work differently, you don't have to completely transform everything. That's so hard for you to wrap your head around, it gives you a good excuse for you to not even try, right? Wrong! Take baby steps toward the life you want to have. For example -- if you want to lose weight, cut out fried foods and take a walk every day. You don't have to join a gym and eat only celery!

Sagittarius Horoscope

2008-04-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

Sagittarius
April 01, 2008

Today will offer up several simple pleasures that will remind you how life can be quite delightful, sometimes! Strangers will be smiling at you everywhere you go, and you're going to have a wonderful time. Enjoy all of the little surprises that help create a lovely day. Keep an eye out for things like a nice parking spot right out front, the perfect cup of coffee, a dollar just lying there on the street, or a giant sale at one of your

Taurus Horoscope

2008-04-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

Taurus
April 01, 2008

You can tell your friends anything and they will understand -- after all, that's why they are your friends, right? So why are you keeping your feeling all to yourself right now? Instead of holding them inside, you need to share them. Get them out there into the world. Bounce them off of the people who know you best and they will help you find a way to sort them all out. All you have to do is make the time. So call someone up and see when they have some time to talk.

Foodfight!

2008-03-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Threshold Animation Studios and Lions Gate Family Entertainment are making a trip to the supermarket with the animated epic "Foodfight!". The feature which will include more than 15,000 characters in what may be the largest animated scene ever.The film takes place in a supermarket which comes to life as a city unto itself. The film is being directed by Threshold CEO Lawrence Kasanoff ("True Lies", "Mortal Kombat") from a screenplay by Brent Friedman, Rebecca Swanson and Sean Derek, based on a story by Kasanoff and Joshua Wexler.

Charlie Sheen will voice the lead role of Dex Dogtective, Eva Longoria is Lady X, the leader of the villainous Brand X group Wayne Brady is Daredevil Dan, Christopger Lloyd is Mr. Clipboard and Chris Kattan will be Polar Penguin. They join Hilary and Haylie Duff who provide the voices for Sunshine Goddess and Sweetcakes, respectively.

Utilizing a cast of thousands and myriad CG special effects powered by Threshold’s association with IBM, "Foodfight!" is a world unlike anything seen before. In addition to the unique characters developed for the story - and voiced by the cast of stars - the creators have acquired the rights to include nearly every consumer packaged goods company’s characters as the supermarket comes to life. Included are Mr. Clean, Charlie the Tuna, Twinkie the Kid and hundreds more, who take on the role of supporting background "actors" in the film.

doomsday

2008-03-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

"Doomsday," the third feature from British "B"-movie tour de force writer-director Neil Marshall, is a rehash of several distant cult movies, including both of Marshall's previous films, which are also considered cult classics. Yet, that doesn't make "Doomsday" even remotely bad, but it does make it very interesting not just to follow the story along, but to also point out the many references to films past.

Even the most amateurish film buff could point out the assorted references to "28 Days/Weeks Later," "Escape from New York" (1981), "Aliens" (1986), and the "Max Mad" movies. It's all part of the fun, really, and you can't blame Marshall for making references to the movies he loves and have inspired him as a filmmaker. Even his first feature "Dog Soldiers" (2002) and his superior follow-up horror flick "The Descent" (2005) get some mention here.

In the future, an out-of-control virus called the "Reaper virus" (the "28" movies) completely decimates Scotland, eventually leading to its being quarantined off with a 20-foot-tall, 12-inch-thick impenetrable wall ("Escape from New York") on all sides. The rest of the world goes on as if nothing happened, while millions are forced to fend for themselves in the virus-ravaged wasteland of former Scotland. In the the 30 years since the quarantine, law & order broke down and anarchy took over.

30 years later, the Reaper Virus makes a comeback, this time outside the quarantine zone. More news develops when spy satellites monitoring the former Scotland detect human survivors. Could there be uninfected people? Could there be a cure in there somewhere? Regardless, the government organizes a small task force to go inside and find answers. Nelson (Bob Hoskins), a government handler, is given the assignment of having his best operative Eden Sinclair (Rhona Mitra) go inside with a crack team of commandos and look for answers.

They have 48 hours.

Right away, "Doomsday" removes itself from other post-apocalyptic movies by not focusing on the catastrophe itself and instead just focuses on humanity's attempt to move forward. "Doomsday" is about anarchy, and the downfall of society: What happens when you just leave a country to wither and die in the face of disaster? On the inside, however, it's all about finding a cure or a vaccine and bringing it back to the rest of the world. When Sinclair and her team are on the inside, they're all their own, but of course they are not alone. As it turns out, barbaric clans have been formed (the "Mad Max" movies), under the leadership of Sol (Marshall's favorite go-to guy and movie regular, Craig Conway), who seeks to lead his punk regalia-clad minions to the conquest of the free world outside the quarantine zone. It should be pointed out here that they're pretty much cannon fodder ("Aliens").

It's fair to chide "Doomsday" for some script deficiencies and overly-abundant throwback references to films past and an apparent lack of details regarding Scotland's decimation in the 30 years since the Reaper Virus's outbreak, and Sol's rise to power. But Marshall keeps "Doomsday" lean and focused. Once on the inside, it's anything goes, as Sinclair and her teammates are pretty much left to fend for themselves when Sol's men ambush them and force them to participate in increasingly sadistic games of violence for survival and for that, the blood and gore is sufficient (Marshall knows no boundaries in the area of special effects).

"Doomsday" is an accomplished third feature from a provocative filmmaker, Neil Marshall. Though by no means perfect ("The Descent" was and I was feverishly looking for "Doomsday" to surpass it), "Doomsday" is still looking to make a killing at the movies this weekend.

Manila and Caloocan water supply cut for 22 hrs

2008-03-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Water supply for some households in Manila and Caloocan City will have a 22-hour cut-off on Saturday to give way to repairs of busted pipes in the areas.

The water supply interruption will start March 29, from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) in its advisory said the rehabilitation work will entail the insertion of two butterfly valves on existing 400-mm and 500-mm mainlines along Rizal Avenue extension near R. Papa Street in the boundary of Caloocan and Manila.

The rehabilitation of the water pipes will be simultaneous with repair work at the Tondo pumping station in Manila to improve the water supply in underserved areas of Manila and Caloocan.

The parts in Manila affected will be areas bounded by Rizal Avenue, Mayhaligue, E. Remigio, Quezon Boulevard, C.M. Recto, Estero dela Reina, and Dagupan Ext. (railroad), Aurora Boulevard and Blumentritt.

In Caloocan, the areas bounded by 5th Avenue, A. Bonifacio, C-3 Road, Chinese Cemetery, R. Papa (creek) and PNR railroad will be affected.

Meanwhile, the area bounded by Blumentritt, Antipolo, Aurora Boulevard and Dimasalang in Manila will experience low pressure to no water.

MWSI also advised affected customers to store water good for the duration of the water service interruption.

The rehabilitation is in line with mission of the Maynilad's new owners, DMCI and Metro Pacific, to upgrade the water system and improve service throughout the west zone.

Customers may call Maynilad Water Hotlines 1626 or 4362000, or text Maynilad 2898.

Electric Kissing Parties

2008-03-25T05:39:00.002-07:00

Some few years ago, a very peculiar kissing custom arose which deserves mention here because, from it, we can learn how to adapt the method to our modem devices. At that time, when young people got together, they held, what was then known as, "electric kissing parties."Young people are ever on ' the outlook for novel ways of entertaining themselves. In fact, when ether was first developed as an anesthetic, the young bloods of the town used to form "ether-sniffing" parties in which they got a perfectly squiffy ether "jag." But to return to the "electric kisses." An excerpt from a contemporary writer will,
perhaps, give us some idea of what happened.

"The ladies and gentlemen range themselves about the room. In leap year the ladies select a partner, and together they shuffle about on the carpet until they are charged with electricity , the lights in the room having been first turned low. Then they kiss in the dark; and make the sparks fly for the amusement of the onlookers."

The same sort of experiment could be performed nowadays, on cold, dry nights when the air is overloaded with electricity. But be certain that neither you nor your partner touches each other after shuffling furiously on the carpet with your feet. Merely lean over slowly and, when your lips are about half an inch apart, slow the process down even more until the spark jumps. However, considerable practice should be had before this kiss variation can be done successfully. The natural reaction to this sort of shock is to pull away from each other. But, try to resist this natural impulse because, if you do not kiss the moment after the shock has been perpetrated, the pleasure will be all gone.

Once you have practiced this for Some time, you will become so innured to the slight shock that you will seek more potent electric shocks. These can be obtained with the use of an electric vibrator or in fact, any device that is worked from a battery and a coil which steps up the weak 3 volts of the battery. Shooting galleries have electricity testing devices of this nature which have two handles. No matter what you use, the method is as following: first you take hold of one pole of the live wire, of the handle of the machine, if that is what you are using. Then, your partner should take hold of the other pole, or handle. This done, bring your lips together until there is about an eighth of an inch separating your lips. At this moment, turn the rheostat that increases the current. As soon as the charge is strong enough, a sudden, intense spark will jump the gap of your lips.
Again, learn not to flinch but to seize hold of the opportunity of bringing your lips together in a grand, climactic kiss. The advantage of this, method is that you can regulate the electrical charges go that, when you become innured to one strength, you can increase the current almost indefinitely.

A word of warning,
however, is apropos here. Be satisfied with the current generated by this battery set. Don't be like a young friend of mine who discovered that the battery set, even at its highest output, was too weak for him and his partner. Being of an experimental nature, he decided to see what would happen were he to use the ordinary house current as the electrical stimulus. And so, together with his partner, he placed himself in front of an electric wall outlet into which he had screwed a plug and a wire whose end had been, frayed so that the two wires were separated. Taking hold of one wire, he advised the girl to take hold of the other., Then, using the usual "electric-kiss" technique, he bent over and started to bring his lips slowly towards the girl's lips. He got as far as about half an inch from her lips, and that's all. Because, a moment later, he saw a blinding flame sear across his eyes and he felt an enormous blow jolt him off his feet. When he came to enough to realize where he was, he found himself asprawl on the floor, his girl friend in a similar position a few feet away. The result was a pair of burned lips and a combined determination to stick to the old fashioned way of kissing. The burned lip will always spurn the flame.

SAVING WATER OUTDOORS

2008-03-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

1.

Don't over water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks. Plant it smart, Xeriscape. Xeriscape landscaping is a great way to design, install and maintain both your plantings and irrigation system that will save you time, money and water. For your free copy of "Plant it Smart," an easy-to-use guide to Xeriscape landscaping, contact your Water Management District.
2.

Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.
3.

Don't water your street, driveway or sidewalk. Position your sprinklers so that your water lands on the lawn and shrubs ... not the paved areas.
4.

Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation.
5.

Regularly check sprinkler systems and timing devices to be sure they are operating properly. It is now the law that "anyone who purchases and installs an automatic lawn sprinkler system MUST install a rain sensor device or switch which will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred." To retrofit your existing system, contact an irrigation professional for more information.
6.

Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
7.

Avoid over fertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers which contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of nitrogen.
8.

Mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulching also helps to control weeds that compete with pants for water.
9.

Plant native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Once established, they do not need to be watered as frequently and they usually will survive a dry period without any watering. Group plans together based on similar water needs.
10.

Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a broom to clean leaves and other debris from these areas. Using a hose to clean a driveway can waste hundreds of gallons of water.
11.

Outfit your hose with a shut-off nozzle which can be adjusted down to fine spray so that water flows only as needed. When finished, "Turn it Off" at the faucet instead of at the nozzle to avoid leaks.
12.

Use hose washers between spigots and water hoses to eliminate leaks.
13.

Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. Your garden hoses can pour out 600 gallons or more in only a few hours, so don't leave the sprinkler running all day. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn it off.
14.

Check all hoses, connectors and spigots regularly.
15.

Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water. If you wash your own car, park on the grass to do so.
16.

Avoid the installation of ornamental water features (such as fountains) unless the water is recycled. Locate where there are mineral losses due to evaporation and wind drift.
17.

If you have a swimming pool, consider a new water-saving pool filter. A single back flushing with a traditional filter uses from l80 to 250 gallons or more of water.

Acne during Pregnancy

2008-03-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

Acne during pregnancy is a common problem among women. Pregnant women, especially those in their first trimester of pregnancy, are prone to skin outbreaks. Hormones play a huge role in this occurrence. Even women gifted with clear skin all their life may suffer from acne outbreaks during the first three months of pregnancy. The good thing is, the skin usually clears up as the pregnancy advances towards the second and third trimesters.

Acne during pregnancy cannot be treated the same way as acne occurring in non-pregnant individuals. A doctor should always be consulted because a lot of oral medications can cause harm to the fetus. Topical creams or ointments such as Benzoyl Peroxide and Azelaic Acid are generally safe to apply on the skin of pregnant women. Tetracycline and topical retinoids however should completely be avoided as these have harmful effects.

For severe acne problems, some doctors may prescribe oral erythromycin. It is always best to seek the advice of the doctor prior to using any topical ointments or skin medications. Taking medications during pregnancy is usually associated with serious risks to the fetus. Herbal medicines should likewise be avoided and should be consulted to the physician.

Acne during pregnancy can be caused by higher levels of androgen hormone which triggers the oil glands of the skin to get bigger and to produce more oily substance called sebum. Excessive oil and the shed skin cells lining the hair follicles blocks the skin pores and makes skin susceptible to bacteria. This can lead to inflamed skin and acne outbreak.

Conservative and safer mode of treatment includes hydrating the skin by drinking at least 6 glasses of water per day. Washing the face with lukewarm water and gentle facial soap is also helpful. Make sure to pat the face dry. Do not rub the towel on the delicate skin surface. Never scrub the face as this can cause abrasive injuries to the already inflamed skin.

Acne during pregnancy can be managed well by using mild moisturizers that are oil-free. Choice of make-up should be oil-free as well and it is best to make sure that the products used are labeled noncomedogenic and will not clog pores.

10 Ways to Help the Oceans

2008-03-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

*

Choose items with reusable or recyclable packaging.
*

Don't litter—this will help reduce the chance of sending litter to the oceans where it could entangle or choke sea turtles, seals, and other wildlife.
*

Use rechargeable batteries.
*

Dispose of toxic waste such as paints, old batteries, and medicine bottles through proper toxic waste facilities and pick-up services.
*

Promote the use of non-toxic cleaners at home and at school.
*

Keep lawns free of chemicals or fertilizers at home and school.
*

Walk or bike whenever possible, rather than ride in a car.
*

Turn off lights when leaving the room.
*

Turn off appliances (such as TVs, VCRs, and computers) when they are not in use.
*

When traveling, stay at ocean-side resorts that do not endanger coastal habitats (such as beaches, dunes, and marshes) through practices like excessive night lighting, over-development, and high-impact recreational activities.

Tips to Reduce Acne for Clearer Skin

2008-03-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

A clear and blemish-free skin does not only make a person look good but also boost self-confidence. But because of varying skin types among individuals across different age groups and nationalities, skin care can also vary, sometimes to a great extent. Factors such as genetic, hormonal and lifestyle can cause skin problems. The following tips are helpful in order to reduce acne and achieve clearer skin.

The best way to achieve a clear complexion is to keep face clean. Washing the face after exposure to dust and pollution can be helpful. Using mild soaps or hypoallergenic soaps may be advisable for sensitive skin. It is important to remove make-up with a gentle make-up remover or cleanser prior to going to bed. Sleeping with make-up on is not advisable in caring for the skin. Minimizing the use of heavy make-up allows the skin to rejuvenate itself from the harmful causes of heavy foundation that covers up the skin.

Acne-prone skins can benefit from cleansing the face with dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic facial solution. Using a medically-proven product that suits the skin well and prevents it from breaking out is ideal instead of trying out different skin care products that may just harm the skin. It is important to know that not all individuals have the same skin types and resilience. A skin-care product that works for one person may produce unpleasant side effects to another. To reduce acne, it is better to be careful with the products that are being applied to the skin.

Diet modification is also helpful towards achieving beautiful skin and to reduce acne. Proper management of oily and fatty foods in the diet is extremely important for individuals with skin types that are prone to acne break-outs. This is not only good for the health but it also reduces the oil that is extracted through the skin that can cause skin problems.

Depending upon the severity of acne, topical creams such as Azelaic creams and Benzoyl Peroxide may be administered with proper instructions from a dermatologist. Other treatment options such as oral skin care medications and antibiotic treatments may be advised as necessary. Adequate sleep and proper hydration are also practical tips to reduce acne.

Sonic Screwdriver

2008-03-14T02:40:00.000-07:00

This Sonic Screwdriver is a gadget for all those Doctor Who fans that weren’t satisfied with just th Tardis USB hub. Remember that saying, “if it’s made like a screwdriver and it looks like a screwdriver, it must be a screwdriver”? Oh, and you are so very wrong! It actually has a pen on one head and a beam of UV light at the other.

So now you you can write anything you want with UV ink and not worry about other people reading it. Just imagine handing your boss an amazingly favorable report and between the lines your real thoughts. Ha, ha, ha what a subtle revenge. And the revenge costs only 12.99$ and 3 AG 13 batteries. Small price to pay!

Water Conservation - Save Water Indoors

2008-03-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

SAVING WATER INDOORS

1.

Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
2.

Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
3.

Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain your septic system.
4.

Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)
5.

Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
6.

Take shorter showers. Replace you showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water temperature knobs.
7.

Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by closing the drain first and filling the tub only 1/3 full. Stopper tub before turning water. The initial burst of cold water can be warmed by adding hot water later.
8.

Don't let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.
9.

Retrofit all wasteful household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
10.

Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.
11.

When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.
12.

Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.
13.

Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.
14.

Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste instead of using a garbage disposal. Garbage disposals also can add 50% to the volume of solids in a septic tank which can lead to malfunctions and maintenance problems.
15.

Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will reduce heating costs for your household.
16.

. Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
17.

Never install a water-to-air heat pump or air-conditioning system. Air-to-air models are just as efficient and do not waste water.
18.

Install water softening systems only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness. Turn softeners off while on vacation.
19.

Check your pump. If you have a well at your home, listen to see if the pump kicks on and off while the water is not in use. If it does, you have a leak.
20.

When adjusting water temperatures, instead of turning water flow up, try turning it down. If the water is too hot or cold, turn the offender down rather than increasing water flow to balance the temperatures.
21.

If the toilet flush handle frequently sticks in the flush position, letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.

DA to tap church groups in rice distribution

2008-03-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap announced on Saturday a plan to tap religious groups in distributing rice sourced from the National Food Authority (NFA).

Yap in an interview on the program "Para Sa 'Yo Bayan" aired over radio dzMM said he will be meeting with some church-based and civic groups next week to iron the details of the plan asking them to help distribute NFA rice to their members.

“If we will increase the supply of NFA rice in the market it would be via faith-based group and not in the traditional distribution. It should be specialized and controlled,” Yap explained.

He said this way, the allocation of rice supply to the public will be regulated.

NFA administrator Jessup Navarro meanwhile said they have already apprehended more than 300 rice retailers for several violations, such as overpricing, hoarding and rice diversion.

Navarro said they are now monitoring closely how the NFA rice is being sold to the public by various retailers in the market.

Yap reiterated that there is no rice shortage, saying that the hike in rice prices has been triggered by several factors including the cost of the rice production.

“It is true that if the market is flooded (with rice supply), there is a tendency that the price goes down but it will not go down any further that it would not reflect the true production cost,” Yap said.

He said this is why he is appealing to the public to separate the issue of supply from the price of rice.

Yap said they are now purging the list of accredited NFA rice retailers to further regulate the distribution of the staple grain to the public.

He also revealed another irregularity: even though some of the retailers have already died they remain on the list of retailers of the NFA.

Yap also admitted that the country has yet to be self-sufficient in rice production as the Philippines is still importing 10 percent of the commodity.

“The country is not self-sufficient. We are only 90 percent in rice production,” he said.

For his part, Robert Hernandez, president of the Asosasyon ng Industriya ng Bigas (ANIB), said the news of a rice shortage was triggered by speculations of some big businessmen due to the shortage in the international market.

“There is no rice crisis. While it is true that there is a shortage in the international market, locally there is no shortage,” Hernandez said.

To help the government regulate rice distribution, Hernandez said they are policing their ranks and reporting to the government some members who have been engaged in rice diversion.

ANIB has more than 30,000 rice retailers and distributors nationwide.

Lohan to portray Manson cult girl in new movie

2008-03-08T23:56:00.000-08:00

US actress Lindsay Lohan is to portray one of the cult followers loyal to convicted murderer Charles Manson, in a new movie called "Manson Girls," US media reported on Thursday.

E! News said it had learned Lohan, 21, would star as Nancy Pitman in the movie, produced by Brad Wyman of Junction Films.

"Yes, I am doing it with Lindsay," Wyman told E! News.

Pitman was a teenage runaway who fled her wealthy home in Malibu, California at age 16 to join the followers of Manson, who is now 73 and serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.

Four other defendants were also convicted with Manson for the shocking and gruesome 1969 murders of several people including pregnant actress Sharon Tate.

Pitman stayed at the Manson ranch instead of accompanying the Manson crew that went to the house and committed the murders, though she is believed to have accompanied Manson there later to tamper with the scene.

Manson was initially sentenced to die for his crimes but the sentence was commuted to life in prison after California courts abolished the death penalty.

His 11th appeal for parole was rejected in May 2007.

Lohan also plays the girlfriend of Beatles' singer John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman in the upcoming film "Chapter 27."

Lohan, the onetime child star of Disney's "Parent Trap," spent time in rehab in 2007 for drug and alcohol abuse. She told Elle magazine in a 2006 interview: "Yeah, I have a dark side. I watched all those videos on Charles Manson for a while."

Arie April 8,2008

2008-03-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

Forget about being able to communicate effectively via your PDA, cell phone or computer today -- they are going to be either out of commission or useless for the type of message you need to send to a certain someone. Do not assume that words typed out on a screen are going to adequately convey what you mean -- they won't. Even if you aren't thrilled by the idea, you need to talk this issue over face-to-face. You can make the conversation more enjoyable by scheduling it over lunch or dinner.

Agri expert: RP should raise farmers’ productivity

2008-03-06T23:53:00.000-08:00

The Arroyo administration needs to invest in farmers’ productivity and raise their level of profitability to be competitive, a leading agricultural economist said.

Positive and Negative Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide

2008-03-06T23:26:00.000-08:00

Benzoyl Peroxide is commonly used to treat acne. It has a formulation of two parts benzoyl and one part peroxide. It is used topically to treat acne and is generally found to be effective. However, its efficacy varies from person to person. The use of benzoyl peroxide is also governed by some precautions.

Benzoyl Peroxide is considered a strong beaching agent but is found to be effective in treating mild to moderate acne problems. For sensitive skin, a 2.5% concentration in gel form is available. It also comes in a more concentrated form of 10%. Both concentrations are found to be effective in treating acne.

The benefits include effective treatment of acne via topical application by drying them out. Benzoyl peroxide is also an effective antiseptic and can effectively reduce bacteria in the surface of the skin. This is an important function in controlling and reducing acne and skin breakouts. It is also an oxidizing agent which is necessary for the skin to remain healthy and young-looking. Another positive function is its anti-inflammatory property. This function aids in the healing process of acne reducing the risks and spread of infection to other parts of the skin.

Benzoyl peroxide when used in large amounts can cause skin dryness. Dry skin is not a positive result that is why caution should be observed when applying this medication to areas with acne. It is better to use a small amount first during the initial application and gradually progress to avoid skin irritation. If dryness and scaling occurs, a light and oil-free moisturizer can be applied to the affected area.

This acne medication can also trigger allergic reactions to certain skin types. Caution should be observed during application. If any signs of allergic reactions are observed, it is better to wash the affected area with cold water and discontinue use of benzoyl peroxide.

During application of benzoyl peroxide to acne-affected areas, it is better to avoid the sensitive parts of the face such as the mouth, eyes and inside of the nose. In case of contact to these sensitive parts of the face, wash the areas with cold water immediately to avoid unpleasant skin reactions.

Pete Wentz to launch fashion line for Nordstrom

2008-03-05T06:53:00.000-08:00

Pete Wentz has teamed up with Nordstrom to launch a high-end junior sportswear line.

Mariah Carey Hills Season 3 premiere

2008-03-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

Wearing ashort tight black dress with a short gold jacket, Mariah Carey performed at "The Hills" season three premiere and after-party at Gotham Hall in New York City March 24, 2008