Sunday, July 20, 2008

West Virginia women salute green tech and wellness program


Women on Wellness’ retreat opportunity

FAIRMONT — Whenever Joyce Chuprinko of Morgantown attends a Women on Wellness retreat sponsored by the Center of Excellence in Women’s Health, she learns more about herself.“I get something new out of it every time I go to one,” Chuprinko said. Sometimes that can be a good thing — such as taking a golf class from another woman — while sometimes the news might not be so good, but necessary.
“Last year when I went, they give you a bone density test, and I found out that I had borderline osteoporosis,” she said.Women who attend this year’s event — held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Heston Farm near Pleasant Valley — will be able to experience the same mix of exercise opportunities, lectures on how to take care of themselves, plus screenings that will include testing for blood pressure, cholesterol, and, yes, bone density.
“The Women on Wellness retreat is an outreach effort,” said Betty Critch, the executive director of the National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center at West Virginia University (www.wvhealthywomen.org).Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are 20 centers, mostly housed at colleges such as WVU, in an effort to encourage a multidisciplinary approach to women’s health.
Many of the centers can be found in large cities such as Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago, Critch noted. “We’re the only one whose capture area is the entire state, and the only one that’s 100 percent within Appalachia,” she said.And West Virginia also is a state that falls near the bottom of the list of many health statistics, including in statistics released this week by the Centers for Disease Control that puts West Virginia among the top five states in adults that are obese.
In an effort to combat such statistics, the Women on Wellness retreats offer a variety of exercise opportunities and allow attendees to pick five to try for 20 minutes each.“What it’s meant to do is plant a seed,” Critch said. “So many women say, ‘I can’t exercise until a find a yoga class’ even though they never haven taken a yoga class. Now they have the opportunity to take yoga say, ‘I didn’t like that,’ or ‘Wow, that was great.’”And because people from the community will be providing the services offered, the women then will be able to follow up with a newfound sport or exercise that they have tried.
For instance, Shelly Vilar, a personal trainer who has a workout set-up in her home for clients, also teaches Zumba — a Latin aerobics class — in places such as Monongah.“I have a large group in Monongah because (otherwise) there’s nothing out that far,” she said. “I’ve had requests to do things in Mannington and Shinnston.
There are places where it’s kind of difficult with travel time, not to mention the price. If I can bring the location to them, it makes it easier.”She will be teaching classes for the first time at the Women on Wellness retreat.“I’m thrilled to death,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved. More time and consideration needs to be given to women and it gives them the opportunity to search for things to improve their lifestyle.
”In addition to exercise opportunities, the day includes keynote speaker Laura Davisson from the National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health as well as other sessions that address ways to improve and maintain good health.“Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to be on the South Beach Diet,” Critch said. “We want them to start thinking about, instead of frying a piece of chicken, grilling it instead, or instead of drinking soda, drinking water.
“We have a subliminal message that goes through the day, ‘Have some coffee, tea, fruit, maybe some yogurt and some healthy muffins, in small sizes, not huge.’”Helping women also extends to entire families because more often than not, they are the caretakers and in charge of medical decisions, Critch said. “If you can get women’s attention to leading a healthier life, she will bring family members and the community along.”



Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Yes, we can with POMEGA5

BRADENTON, Fla. — A 94-year-old Bradenton man whose arrest for soliciting a prostitute became fodder for late-night comedians won't be prosecuted after all.

A judge tossed out the misdemeanor charge Tuesday, saying Frank Milio was entrapped by an undercover officer before his arrest in November.

The judge said the officer walked to Milio's car without being summoned and eventually got him to agree to pay for oral sex.

His attorney, Donald E. Grieco, said he was happy for Milio, whose arrest had blocked him from getting into an assisted-living facility. Milio suffers from dementia.

Grieco said Milio enjoys flirting with pretty women and never had any intention of paying for sex. But prosecutors argued that he knew exactly what he was doing

Popular drug increases sex drive

Strange Side Effects Surprise Patients

Patients Often Unaware of Bizarre Side Effects Profile of Popular Drug

Russ Kelly of Yardley, Pa., was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease about five years ago. Before that time, he had always been a social gambler and drinker.

But when he began treatment for the condition that affected his coordination, handwriting and speaking abilities, the 62-year-old noticed sudden changes in his behavior as well.

He began to think nothing of making the one-hour drive to the Atlantic City, N.J., casinos several times a week. "If I was by myself one night, I might just hop in the car and drive down there on an impulse," Kelly says.

Though the thousands of dollars he lost at the blackjack tables were usually balanced by his winnings, his drinking spun out of control. He says he began slinging back tequila shots in addition to the one or two beers he typically drank after his weekly golf game.

One Tuesday night after golf, Kelly was arrested for driving under the influence, lost his license for 60 days and attended an alcohol rehabilitation program to clear his record.

"I could have killed somebody when I was driving," Kelly says.

Though some might accuse Kelly of having a midlife crisis or decompensating due to his Parkinson's diagnosis, he and his doctors attribute this impulsive behavior to his treatment -- which included the drug Mirapex.

Mirapex and Requip are two of the drugs prescribed for Parkinson's disease and Restless Legs Syndrome, or RLS. They both belong to a class of drugs known as dopamine agonists, which mimic the brain chemical known as dopamine.

Dopamine works in the brain's movement and coordination centers, and it is also involved in the brain's pleasure response by reinforcing behaviors that provide enjoyment -- including drinking, drugs, sex and gambling.

So while drugs such as Mirapex can help alleviate the motor problems associated with Parkinson's, they may also encourage such impulsive behaviors, some doctors say.

"It is believed that these medications overactivate the pleasure centers of the brain in an unregulated fashion," says Dr. Melissa Nirenberg, assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. "What has been almost as dramatic as the behaviors itself has been the fact that when you discontinue these medications, these behaviors stop."

But Nirenberg and other doctors say that many neurologists and general practitioners who prescribe these drugs are unaware of the severity of the side effects, so patients are often left in the dark.

"There is still not enough physician awareness of this," she says.

Strange Side Effects

More than 10 million prescriptions have been written for Mirapex since the drug was launched in 1997, according to Kate O'Connor, director of public relations for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., maker of Mirapex.

Information about the possible behavioral side effects, including gambling, compulsive eating and increased sex drive, has been included with the product for the past several years. But O'Connor says that it is difficult to estimate how many people may have experienced these side effects.

"For the vast majority of people who take these medications, compulsive behaviors do not occur, although these isolated incidences are, of course, very unfortunate," she says.

Scientists have recently begun to quantify the behavioral changes associated with dopamine agonist drugs. In a study presented in late June at the International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders conference in Chicago, more than 13 percent of 3,090 Parkinson's patients had a problem with compulsive gambling, buying, sex or binge-eating.

People who were taking either Mirapex or Requip had a two- to three-times greater chance of having one of the four impulse-control disorders.

"These disorders can often be devastating to people's personal lives, financial lives, and even physical health," says Dr. Daniel Weintraub, lead author of the study and assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Though Weintraub says that the benefits of the drug outweigh the negatives for most patients, he adds that "clinicians do have a responsibility to notify patients that these are potential side effects."

Nirenberg even says she fears that these side effects are more prevalent than the study indicates, because only four of the many types of irregular behaviors were analyzed.

She says that her patients tend to have gender-based differences in side effects, with women experiencing more compulsive shopping and eating and men turning more to hypersexuality and gambling.

She says she also has patients who would have been overlooked in the study -- a man who plays basketball compulsively for up to 36 hours at a time, and another who compulsively fishes. One spouse of a Parkinson's patient had to put a padlock on the refrigerator because of the compulsive eating, she says.

These impulsive behaviors have "potentially devastating consequences," Nirenberg says. "They have led to marital discord frequently ... shopping and gambling have led to financial losses, and eating has led to weight gain and secondary medical consequences."

But Are They Bad?

Dr. Eric Wassermann, neurologist and researcher at the Neurology Institute at the National Institutes of Health, says that the dopamine levels in the brain are normally lowered when a person experiences negative consequences of a behavior, such as gaining weight when overeating.

However, these medications keep the dopamine levels relatively constant. "If you are flooding the system, it is turned on constantly," Wassermann says. "Probably these addictive behaviors become overly reinforcing, and punishments like losing money don't work."

And certain behaviors stimulated by the drugs, such as increased sexual drive, aren't typically "punished" by drops in dopamine levels, Wassermann says.

"You just keep doing it over and over again and it keeps feeling good," he says.

Robert Simpson, 59, of New York City, is one of Nirenberg's patients who experienced an increased libido from the Mirapex. He began taking the drug in December 2005 and noticed an immediate change.

"I felt good," Simpson says. "Not high, exactly, but I felt a little buzz. It was a new experience. I liked the feeling."

He says he began buying pornography regularly, and masturbating two to three times a day.
"It wasn't actually causing anyone any harm," he says.

But when he told Nirenberg of this behavior, she immediately took him off the drug, just three months after he had started it.

"I don't know if it was exactly the next day [after I stopped], but whatever was triggering my feelings of sexuality was diminished again," he says.

Kelly also went off Mirapex just one week ago but says he hasn't yet noticed a change in his impulsive behavior. He says he wishes that he had known about the side effects of the drug earlier.

"It needs to be clearly drilled into people who take the drug, and to their family, to look for behavioral changes," he says.

Kelly says that his brother was the first to call him out, in a conversation that resulted in an argument. But his brother persisted, eventually calling Kelly's doctor to let her know about the problems with the drinking and gambling.

"Things got so bad within the past couple of months," Kelly says.

Though he had no idea that his brother thought the problem was serious enough to warrant a call to the doctor, Kelly says, "I'm happy he did."




Tuesday, July 15, 2008

POMEGA5 -- not only organic but also upscale


In 2006, only 4% of beauty product launches claimed to be organic
Today, organic skincare is one of the fastest growing industry segments and the term has lost a little luster. Consumers purchasing organic products now want to know if the ingredients were sourced locally or support fair trade principles, and companies are responding with more labels and more certifications.
Just imagine how great your will look with the POMEGA5 green product's knowing that you do not give up quality and texture for being just organic. A true rival to all upscale department store products.
And it isn’t only what’s on the inside that counts. Product packaging is going greener too. Using post-consumer paper and plastics used to be sufficient. Now companies are moving towards zero (not less) waste. Joshua Onysko of Pangea Organics is leading this charge with his packaging that literally sprouts herbs when planted. (It works. I tried it.)

This competition to differentiate on green terms (differgreentiation) is a bright spot in an industry traditionally known for intimidating ingredient lists, questionable product safety and dubious marketing claims. It’s exciting that skincare companies are starting to consider the overall environmental impact of their products from sourcing to disposal, especially after watching this video.

Last week I had the opportunity meet with Dr. Nitasha Buldeo, founder of Organic Apoteke. I think she put it all in perspective by pointing out, “Who wants to look beautiful in an ugly, dirty world?”



Monday, July 14, 2008

Greentech, VCs and green cosmetics by POMEGA5

Greentech Taps VCs for Record Investments in 2Q

Greentech Media reports investments of $1.3 billion in the second quarter.

Venture capitalists invested a record amount of money in greentech in the second quarter, according to a report released by Greentech Media's research arm Wednesday.

Investments in North America, Europe, Israel and Australia reached $1.3 billion in 74 deals, the Venture Power Report concluded.

That represents an increase of 30 percent from the first quarter, when the Venture Power Report tracked $1 billion in 73 cleantech deals.

Solar power companies grabbed the largest portion of the funding in the second quarter, raising $670 million in more than 23 financing rounds, according to the report.

Concentrating solar-thermal companies eSolar, BrightSource Energy and Sterling Energy Systems snagged almost half of that, taking home a total of $350 million.

Biofuels represented the next-largest sector, pulling in $258 million in 12 deals, while energy-efficiency and smart-grid companies snagged $138 million in 14 deals.

At the rate investors are plunging money into greentech companies, 2008 is on track to beat last year's record-breaking total of $3.43 billion, according to Eric Wesoff, a senior analyst at Greentech Media Research.

Greentech Media will discuss the report's results in a Webinar Wednesday.

But not all the news was good.

Echoing news from the National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Reuters last week, Wesoff said there were no venture-backed IPOs during the second quarter.

He cited unfavorable market conditions, but said things were looking up.

"These things are cyclical," he said. "We are going to see several VC-backed energy IPOs in the next few quarters."

The third quarter already saw its first IPO last week, when water-desalination company Energy Recovery raised $68.7 million in its Nasdaq debut (see Green Light post and Funding Roundup: Slow IPOs, Big Ambitions).

Other candidates include battery developer A123Systems, thin-film solar startup Nanosolar and solar-equipment manufacturer GT Solar, Wesoff said.

He also picked electric-car maker Tesla Motors as an IPO candidate, saying it is one of only a few "pure play" electric-vehicle companies during an era of record-breaking gas prices, which are expected only to rise.

Tesla told the Financial Times in February it was headed for an IPO (see Green Cars Cruise Forward).

Greentech Media is one of a number of groups tracking cleantech investing.

On Tuesday, the Cleantech Group published its second-quarter figures (see VCs Dole Out $2B in 2Q). The study, which also reported a record-breaking amount of investment in the quarter, said that VCs have invested $2 billion in 96 companies.

That's $700 million more than recorded by Greentech Media. Part of the discrepancy is that the Cleantech Group includes investments from additional countries, including China and India.


Wesoff said the difference also stems from the fact that the Cleantech Group defines its role more broadly than the Venture Power Report, including investments in a larger variety of technologies.

Wesoff tracks renewable energy, rather than cleantech, but considers that category to include automobile, energy storage, energy-efficiency, smart-grid and demand-response technologies, as well as solar and alternative fuels. He excludes investments in water technologies and green materials, for example.



Sex and Pomega5 reduce stress


Hot sex is a great stress management tool, and by making sure that you enjoy hot sex on a regular basis, you can dramatically decrease the chances of being overwhelmed by the trials tensions of daily life. Some people rely on pills and potions to keep their stress levels under control, but hot sex is a much more natural – and arguably much safer – alternative.
We all know that physical exercise helps to reduce stress, but few people remember that hot sex – sex that gets your heart racing – is just as much a form of exercise as swimming, jogging or using a Stairmaster. Okay, you might not burn quite as many calories in bed as you would on a treadmill, but you will still increase your heart rate, release feel-good chemicals (endorphins) and burn up the feel-bad chemical cortisol.

I know that if I go more than a couple of days without having sex, I get stressed very easily. I also know that when I get stressed I feel less like having sex. This is a common situation, but if you aren’t aware of it you could well find yourself in a place where you never feel like having sex and you think the solution is to wait until you feel less stressed. Lots of couples fall into this trap, and as a result they can go for weeks, months or even years without sex, eventually concluding that “sex is overrated anyway” and settling for a life of celibacy by default.

There’s nothing wrong with celibacy if it’s a deliberate lifestyle choice and you happen to be single, but in a marriage sex is a very important glue that helps to hold the relationship together, so allowing stress to slowly dissolve that glue is potentially allowing the relationship itself to weaken.

If regular sex helps to relieve stress and keep a marriage strong, whilst irregular sex allows stress to build up and can put the marriage at risk over the long term, it makes sense to take sex seriously. So be wise and make a point of enjoying hot sex regularly with your spouse. Remember, a hot fuck a day keeps the Prozac at bay…



Sunday, July 13, 2008

High self esteem by POMEGA5

We all have a degree of self-esteem.
It may be high, it may be low. Overall, it is the image that you have of yourself. Just as we each have an opinion on various things that we encounter in life, we also have various opinions on who we are as individuals. This perception includes what we think of ourselves physically, how we see ourselves as emotional beings, and what we think regarding our mentality. Many of us allow others to shape and form the mental image that we have of ourselves. As a result, low self-esteem occurs. Then, there are a few of us who simply feel negative towards ourselves. If you are one of these individuals, this information is sure to gear you right. Here, you will learn how to increase your level of self esteem.

The first thing that you should know and understand when it comes to increasing your level of self-esteem is that everyone has a right to experience high self-esteem. Each and every single one of us deserve the best in life, you included! Why should you allow yourself to see who you are in a negative light? Why should you allow what others think affect your ability to see yourself as a valuable and special person? If you suffer from a general lack of self-esteem, these are very important questions that you should consider asking yourself. You will quickly find that there is no true, logical reason for experiencing low self-esteem.

By taking the time and making the full effort to increase your level of self-esteem, you are opening up new doors of opportunity that will allow you to effectively live and succeed in life. Those that approach themselves, and focus on the positive attributes of the mind, body, and soul are those that are able to truly live life to its fullest! Those that are pessimistic, and sit back and allow negative thoughts to control their lives are literally stunting their growth in every aspect of their being. Do you want to slow yourself down? Do you like hitting walls at every turn? Do you want to be locked down by the grips of depression, pessimism, and failure? If not, do what is necessary to increase your level of self-esteem today!

One of the first things that you can do to increase your level of self-esteem is to take full responsibility for yourself. This means that you should take responsibility for your thoughts, actions, and reactions. Sure, there are some situations in which you are not responsible - but this is not true when it comes to the thoughts that you have, the things that you do, or the way that you react to things. It is important to ensure that you have positive thoughts; you act in a way that is beneficial to you and others, and that you react in a positive and upbeat way to things that occur in your life. By failing to take responsibility for these things, you will never understand the power of yourself. You will never gain an understanding that it is you that is responsible for the way you feel, the things that you do, and the way that you think.
The next thing that you can do to increase your level of self-esteem is to ensure that you surround and soak yourself in positive company, work, and things. You should ensure that you know and understand that negative situations with other people, negative situations at work, and negative lifestyle choices can really put a damper in your self-esteem. By ensuring that you are on top of your game, and that you are surrounded with positive things at all time, you will develop into a positive free thinker that enjoys everything about life. You will enjoy your friends.


Saturday, July 12, 2008

Functional Food Trends




The new It thing when it comes to dieting is Functional Food (any fresh or processed food claimed to have a health-promoting and/or disease-preventing property beyond the basic nutritional function of supplying nutrients – Wikipedia).

These are the top 10 most popular trends in this field, according to Food Technology Magazine.

1. Healthy Household Halo

57% of Americans make more effort to eat and shop healthier. 53% of adults are controlling their diet – 61% for weight, 36% cholesterol, 22% blood sugar, 18% high blood pressure, and 14% diabetes. Parents’ concerns for their children’s health are beginning to have effects on the market and there are new healthy products with, for example, DHA added for brain development and a probiotic for digestive health. Omega 5 oil is highly recommended.

2. Natural End Benefits

As we know, there are foods called superfood (high phytonutrient content that confers health benefits as a result – Wikipedia). Examples are pomegranates, cacao, soy, flax seed, broccoli, blueberries, raspberries, spinach, tomatoes and walnuts.

3. Weight loss

Only 12% of adults trying to lose weight follow a diet. The South Beach Diet has been renamed to South Beach Living. Reducing portion sizes is second only to exercise as the most common weight-control method. Other methods are cutting calories, cutting fat calories, and cutting carbs. Satiety is a new weapon in the war on weight.

4. Contemporary Conditions

The demand for condition-specific foods is skyrocketing. Heart disease and cancer is America’s top health concerns and one-third of consumers are making a strong effort to eat foods with omega-3s, DHA or EPA.

5. Proactive Lifestyles

With the majority of consumers trying to live a preventive lifestyle, fortified foods and beverages have quickly become a way of life. Consumers are making a strong effort to get more of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. While limiting fat remains a cornerstone of healthy living, consumers are as concerned about the type of fat as they are about the amount. They are also recognizing the potential for functional foods in other lifestyle areas such as improving immunity.

6. Simpler, Greener and Cleaner

Many consumers are taking a simpler, more natural approach to the foods they eat, looking for foods with only a few ingredients and as fresh and close to the farm as time and budget will allow. Organic food sales are continuing to grow and consumers believe local products are fresher, have fewer pesticides, and are of higher quality.

7. Smart Treats

Consumers are looking for snacks with more nutrition and lower calorie value. Better-for-you chips, trail mix, rice, popcorn cakes, nuts, freeze-dried fruits, and yoghurt are examples of snacks in demand.

8. Sensitivity Training

The number of adults who perceive that they, or their children, suffer from food allergies continues to grow, creating lucrative markets, disproportionate to their true medical base. 37% of consumers are concerned about gastrointestinal issues. Awareness of probiotic-containing and fiber-enhanced products has been substantially raised.


9. Vitality Treadmill

Energy is the top reason consumers are making a dietary change. B-vitamins and vitamins overall are the nutrients consumers believe most important to achieve high energy levels. Of all new functional food concepts, consumers are most interested in new products that improve mental performance. The demand for sleep-inducing foods is at an all-time high.

10. New Venues

The most important factor driving the healthy and functional foods market mainstream is the increased accessibility of healthy products through additional channels. With today’s grab-and-go lifestyle, convenience stores have become a powerhouse for sales of healthy products. Restaurants are another fast-emerging venue for healthy and functional foods. Vegetarian, vegan, low-carb, low-fat, gluten-free, light, organic, trans fat-free, natural, healthy, and low-calorie are the top 10 health claims on menus.



Friday, July 11, 2008

Take care of your kids skin


Kids' skin care doesn't end with sunscreen; watch for rashes after swimming


NEW YORK — By this point in the season, parents are probably pretty good at slathering their children with sunscreen, but good summer skin care doesn't stop there.

Adults often adjust their health and beauty routines as they deal with heat, chlorine, sand, salt - and increased bathing to alleviate all of the above. It makes sense to do the same for children:
-SUNNING. Sunscreen for kids isn't an option - it's a must, says Dr. Carol Drucker, a dermatologist and associate professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. But it's important to find the right kind of sunscreen for your children's skin.

Some thicker formulas, often with higher SPFs, can clog pores and contribute to heat rash, especially when combined with sweat, sand and dirt. Drucker encourages parents to experiment with different textures and weights. Sprays, for example, tend to have a lighter touch.

For teens, clogged pores can lead to another problem: acne. When there's any sort of extra oil secretion, it's important to fully cleanse, tone, exfoliate and hydrate (with an oil-free formula), says Jeanna Nims, lead esthetician at the Beach Plum Spa at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, Mass.

Nims recommends choosing an astringent with humectants, which can help retain natural moisture instead of adding an extra layer on top; she's partial to products with hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally produced by the skin but tends to deplete with age.

-SWIMMING. Wet skin doesn't have as strong a barrier as dry skin, so kids become more susceptible to funguses and viruses, especially warts, ringworm and athlete's foot, warns Drucker.

"They're not usually bad things, but you want to recognize them - and maybe wear flip-flops or disinfect your feet when you get back to the car," she says.

Beach swimmers are also at risk for rashes.

An itchy, bumpy rash on skin that's either normally covered by a swimsuit or occurs in skin folds could be caused by larvae in salt water, Drucker says. One rash that occurs on exposed parts of the skin is more common in fresh water and is called "swimmer's itch." It's caused by little parasites of birds and snails, she explains, and while not dangerous, it can be uncomfortable. It can be treated with hydrocortisone, she says.

Another common ailment Drucker sees during the summer are children with raw finger and toe pads.

The culprit? The concrete at the edge of the pool.

"Kids hold on to the edge of the pool and walk on the concrete around it. It's especially a problem with new pools. It's an abrasion and people don't realize what it is," Drucker says.

-BATHING. This is the grimy season for kids, but, says Drucker, they don't need a bath to wash off sunscreen. If anything, the buildup of a previous day's sunscreen just provides a little extra protection.

That said, sweat and dirt should come off.

Because of the frequency of washing, Drucker recommends switching to a milder soap and not soaping up quite so much - just enough to get clean.

Dry skin is more of a problem during seasons of low humidity, mostly winter, but it still will bother some kids during the summer. One option is a moisturizing sunscreen, says Drucker, while another would be an oil-free lotion.

Pomega5 skincare, Nims, the salon esthetician, also notes that moisturizers with aloe or shea butter are calming and might soothe sunburns.

-HAIR. Bathing and swimming do strip moisture from the hair so it should be conditioned following every shampoo, advises Cozy Friedman, founder of the Cozy Cuts for Kids salon chain in New York. If hair is very dry and brittle, leave a little conditioner in as added protection.

"At the first haircut after camp or the back-to-school haircut, the stylists say it's like cutting off straw," Friedman says. "The stylists have to sharpen their scissors every September after the rush."

It's also the season for knots. To prevent tangles, Friedman recommends children with long hair wear a ponytail or loose braids both when they're active and when they're sleeping.

The other concern in the summer is the green tint that can come from chlorine.

"If I could tell people one little bit of advice, it's to use a swimmer's shampoo," Friedman says.
Her brand's version is made with orange extract, which helps remove chlorine and impurities, she says.

Monday, July 7, 2008

The art of greenwashing... search for the real thing

Will social networking stop greenwashers?

Whether marking printers or produce, the increasing number of "green" claims on products can make it hard to separate sincere efforts at sustainability from marketing fluff.

Environmental watchdogs warn that corporate "greenwashing" will lead jaded consumers to abandon efforts to shop responsibly.

However, individuals can counteract the confusion and police the marketplace using online tools, according to Joel Makower, executive editor of GreenBiz.com.

"In this age of the Web, the blogosphere, and social media, I don't think greenwashers are going to get very far or that fraudulent, hugely misleading companies are going to gain traction."

A wiki-style Greenwashing Index, run by an environmental marketing firm, invites people to upload suspicious-looking ads. Eco-themed groups have sprung up on MySpace and Facebook. A steady stream of new green blogs continues to join a chorus of thousands. Flock, known as the "Web 2.0 browser," will release an Earth Day edition pre-loaded with green media feeds.

Most notably, perhaps, is the emergence of dozens of "green" Web sites, many from tech industry veterans, that aim to put like-minded people on the same page. These social-networking efforts enable users to assess products personally, offering a balance to green labels and ad campaigns.

"The more you get into the business of green, the more you see there are no one-size-fits-all magic-bullet products," said Makower, who sees social media as helping to fill the gap left by the lack of green-business standards. "Can you have a green product from a company that's less than perfect and if so, how much less?"

One of the more popular Web sites inviting users to answer that question is Sustainlane, which has collected more than 20,000 user-generated listings of products and services since 2004.
"So many people have different values," said Christine Volden, a Sustainlane spokeswoman. "Someone may be looking for most inexpensive product and another may say, 'I'm not concerned about price; I want the best, safest product.' You can find a person most similar to yourself."

Ratings site Alonovo enables users to weigh ratings according to their personal values. Someone could, for instance, tailor a score to reflect a greater concern with the humane treatment of animals over the use of toxic chemicals.

The landscape of green networking and news Web sites, independent and "mainstream," is sure to shift as some flop and larger companies snap up others.

However, mobile tools that could help to inform a decision at a store are only beginning to bubble up. Along the lines of natural disaster alerts delivered via mobile phone, Twitter, or Facebook, several new tools harness text messaging to inform shoppers.

Amazon's TextBuyIt text-messaging system, unveiled last week, enables people to comparison shop while strolling store aisles.

Consumer advocacy group Healthy Toys offers a service whereby shoppers can send the name of a toy via SMS, then receive a reply noting the possible presence of toxic ingredients at a low, medium, or high level.

The nonprofit Blue Ocean's FishPhone service launched in the fall as a mobile Web page and service enabling users to SMS message the name of a fish and receive a note back about likely fishing practices and potential toxic chemicals in the species. The Monterey Bay Aquarium in September released a PDA-friendly version of its pocket guide to sustainably caught seafood.

But where can one find an all-in-one, Web-tied listing of a vast range of products for a mobile device?

"It has been very difficult to develop applications for handsets without the huge expense of porting across the four major carriers," said Dara O'Rourke, an associate professor of environmental science and policy at the University of California at Berkeley. "They have not made it simple, which is why most people focus on simple SMS."

O'Rourke and other researchers at Berkeley's Consumer Information Lab have experimented with a prototype mobile service that would enable shoppers to scan a bar code to pull up a menu of product details.

However, technical hurdles and the challenge of pooling data from myriad sources hamper the development of sophisticated mobile tools, O'Rourke said.

"There's a huge void in information that's becoming increasingly important to consumers. The day the iPhone was released, we knew everything about the feature set. Yet, probably 99 percent of people had no idea where it was manufactured, what the environmental impacts of the phone or battery would be, or what the impacts on workers were."

And user-generated content can flesh out a portrait of a product's value and sustainability, but it can't exist in a void, he added.

"There's a really important role for base data, not just people's opinions, but information based on science and an evaluation of the supply chain."


Sunday, July 6, 2008

Mouth to mouth kissing on national kissing day in the UK

National Kiss Day For Lovers

On 6th July is the National Kiss Day is celebrated in U.K by lovers out there. Photographers like to stage and Italians love to eat it. Moreover in London people conducted conference about role of kiss in history as well as its importance in arts and culture from Graeco-Roman antiquity to Paris in the 1950s.
The organizers described the kiss as a capacious carrier of much social, political and cultural freight. National kiss day is to celebrate kissing. A kiss is more than a sheer kiss. Because according to Freuds passion killing formulation it is the sexual use of the mucous membranes of the lips and mouth. But sex is not the only thing to come in mind while talking about kiss. Royal Holloways Bedford Center for the History of Women arranged a conference to point out that kiss ranges from the stylized performative gesture to the ordinary ingredient of daily conversation. It ranges from stage kisses to perfunctory ones, from politicians kissing babies to a peck on the check between friends.
National Kiss Day reminds some famous images of kissing, such as Robert DOisneaus photograph of lovers kissing outside the Hotel de Ville in Paris. Top of the most celebrated kisses, is the kiss performed between Princess Diana and Prince Charles. When the Prince embraced his bride on a balcony at Buckingham Palace, traveled around the world on TV screens and published in millions of magazines and newspapers.
It is the all time hit portrait of pure expression of love. National Kiss Day describes kiss which is an intimate gesture relating two people whose actions may mimic each other but their intent may vary. It is an untold transaction, fraught with scopes for misunderstanding and bad faith. It may express anything from Hello to I Love You, from I quite fancy you to I would like to have passionate sex with you this instant. There is a fear related to it and thats sometimes expressed by pubescent girls who have not received sex education, that kissing may lead to pregnancy.
According to Feud, No one who has seen a baby sinking back satiated from the breast and falling asleep with flushed cheeks and a blissful smile can escape the reflection that this picture persists as a prototype of the expression of sexual satisfaction in later life.

But it is correct that viewing mouth to mouth kiss is not just as a beginning to genital sex.
If it is so then people wont loss energy on banning it in public places, setting limits to how it could be shown in a film, painting it on Greek vases and writing poems on it. Most of all people dont spend time to celebrate National Kiss Day


Saturday, July 5, 2008

The demand for 45 plus old models drives up the sales of POMEGA5 products


Demand for older models grows


Until recently, a fashion model and a carton of skim milk had a lot in common -- not enough fat and a short shelf life. The average model's career typically expired at the age of 25. And, really, did anyone cry over such gorgeous spoiled milk?

But a funny thing happened on the way to the model retirement home. Laugh lines became commodities.

"The market for older models has exploded," says Ginni Conquest, co-director of the sophisticated women's division at Wilhelmina Models in New York. (Models who are 25 and older are often referred to as "classic" or "sophisticated.") "It's our fastest-growing area, and it's a first for the industry."

Companies didn't suddenly become smitten with stretch marks. The trend is driven by the $2 trillion spending power of baby boomers -- born between 1946 and 1964 -- who make up 26 percent of the population. After all, what middle-aged woman wants to buy moisturizer from a model who's too young to order a martini?

Or a cashmere cardigan from a coed? In September, J.Crew will introduce an online section within its Web catalog that features 58-year-old Los Angeles model Pia Gronning. The sundresses will be the same, but the styling will be more age-appropriate and sophisticated.

"We kept hearing women say, I'm not 25. I can't wear your clothes,' " says the preppy retailer's creative director, Jenna Lyons. "We did it for the women who wanted to see someone they relate to."

J.Crew's mature model, a Danish stunner with a 27-inch waist, returned to modeling full time four years ago with L.A. Models as her booking agency. She had been working as a successful interior designer, collaborating with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and other notables.

"I was seeing girls that I used to work with, and so I got back into it," says Gronning, who was discovered by Eileen Ford in 1974. "I am much more relaxed about it now, and I am doing amazingly well."

Using models with some existential mileage makes sense for a few reasons. Baby boomers and thirtysomething Gen Xers see the best physical examples of their peers and glean hope that they, too, can age as well. They also covet the good life experiences that often come with good looks.

"The aspiration in these ads has shifted to having a full, rich life. Open up any Vogue and you'll see models over 35," says John Caplan, president of Ford Models. "In the Rolex ad, you have Carmen Dell'Orefice, and she's in her 70s."

Of course, it helps to have a fulfilled life and exquisite bone structure too. This fall, you won't be able to flip a dozen ad pages in a fashion magazine without glimpsing a 35-plus supermodel. Linda Evangelista, 42, pouts for Prada, while 38-year-old Claudia Schiffer smirks for Chanel and Ferragamo. Christy Turlington, 39, models for Escada. Naomi Campbell, 38, just replaced the 34-year-old Kate Moss as the face of Yves Saint Laurent's fall print ads.

Could America's next top model be addicted to multivitamins? TV Land sure hopes so. Earlier this month, the cable network -- along with Wilhelmina Models as a partner -- debuted "She's Got the Look," a search for a 35-plus supermodel. Host Kim Alexis, 47, who graced 500 magazine covers in the 80s, plays the ax model with the not-so-catchy dismissal: "You're off the board."

"The expression well-preserved' has become a compliment," Alexis says. "And unlike the 20-year-old girls on America's Next Top Model,' these women are more well-rounded and confident."
Perhaps. But that doesn't mean that they don't bicker like hungry chinchillas and bemoan their thighs and midriffs. Still, Keith Cox, TV Land exec and the show's creator, thinks the winner will have a better shot at landing campaigns than a dewy twentysomething model: "It's a different market, and it's less competitive," he says.

Still, this trend that appears to be one giant leap for modelkind doesn't apply to the runway -- which is still strictly for kittens.

"If I submitted a 45-year-old model for a runway show, the designer would laugh at me," says Crista Klayman, director of runway at L.A. Models. "They still want the 18-year-old."

In other words, got milk?




How to reward your pregnant man?


US 'pregnant man' has baby girl

An American man who was born female but subsequently underwent gender reassignment has given birth to a girl, US media have reported.

Thomas Beatie, 34, is legally male but kept his female reproductive organs after having breast surgery to remove glands and flatten his chest.

Both Mr Beatie and his daughter are reported to be doing well in a hospital in Bend, Oregon.
He was inseminated using sperm from an anonymous donor.

The birth was natural, a source at St Charles Medical Center in Bend told ABC News, and took place on Sunday.

While he has had his breasts removed and has taken male hormones to give him facial hair, he has kept his female reproductive organs and can therefore carry a baby

Former model

Mr Beatie, who sports a wispy beard, made headlines around the world when he revealed in April that he was pregnant.

He told chat show host Oprah Winfrey it had been his dream to one day have a child.

"I opted not to do anything with my reproductive organs because I wanted to have a child one day," he said.

Mr Beatie grew up in Hawaii as Tracy Lagondin and was a Girl Scout, model and finalist in a teenage beauty pageant.

He began to live as a man when he was in his 20s and officially changed his gender, he told People magazine.

He has been married for five years to his wife, Nancy.

Mr Beatie's obstetrician, Dr Kimberly James, told Oprah Winfrey in April: "This baby is totally healthy. This is what I consider a normal pregnancy."

Friday, July 4, 2008

There is life after the age of 70

World's oldest mother gives birth to twins at 70

Grandmother Omkari Panwar has given birth to twins aged 70

She was utterly determined to have a son.

The fact that to do so would make 70-year-old Omkari Panwar the world's oldest mother didn't even cross her mind.

Her resolve was matched by her husband Charan Singh Panwar, 77.
To pay for the IVF treatment vital to producing a male heir to the family's smallholdings, the retired farmer sold his buffalos, mortgaged his land, spent his life savings and took out a credit card loan.

And it all paid off when Mrs Panwar gave birth to twins - a boy and girl - by emergency Caesarean section in hospital in Muzaffarnagar, seven hours drive north of the Indian capital New Delhi.

The twins, born a month premature and weighing 2lb each, are healthy, according to doctors.
The Panwars already have two adult daughters, and five grandchildren, but the latest arrivals are what they have been waiting for - not least because a son will benefit from a dowry when he marries and will be able to work their land.

Mrs Panwar said: 'For eight months the pregnancy was hectic and painful. But I have given birth before, so I knew what to expect. Sometimes, you have to face the pain if you want something good.'

Her husband added: 'At last we have a son and heir. We prayed to God, went to saints and visited religious places to pray for an heir.

'The treatment cost me a fortune but the birth of a son makes it all worthwhile. I can die a happy man and a proud father.'

Wonders of science: The twins born to Omkari Panwar

Mrs Panwar, who has no birth certificate, uses the date of India's independence in 1947 to gauge her age. She remembers being nine when the British left India - meaning she is now 70.
Romanian Adriana Iliescu, who gave birth to a daughter through IVF aged 66 in 2005, was previously the world's oldest mother.

Mrs Panwar was told she had beaten the record as she recuperated on a rusty steel bed in the mudbrick home of one of her daughters.

Proud parents: Omkari Panwar, 70, with her husband Charan, 77

'I didn't know that,' she said. 'But it is of little benefit to me. I have not even seen my own children yet - they were taken to a specialist hospital while I was still unconscious.
'If I am the world's oldest mother it means nothing to me. I just want to see my new babies and care for them while I am still able.'

Gynaecologist Nisha Malik, who delivered the twins in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, said: 'I was shocked when this old lady told me she was pregnant. I have been in medicine for 20 years and I have never heard of such a case.'

Monday, June 30, 2008

Fact: green is sexy...and men wants you to be sexy...


So what does make a woman sexy?
Every woman wants to know! Well, you can stop wondering, because we have the answers for you. Men have confessed of what they mostly believe is sexy in a woman. Here are the most popular comments:

Whether you like or not, the truth is, men are first attracted to a woman who is In Shape. They like to able to see a woman’s true figure, as well as toned and healthy. A woman who takes good care of herself gives the impression that she is confident, responsible and stable…which are qualities all men admire. Nice Lips is another thing men consider sexy in a woman. A woman with nice lips makes a man wonder and fantasize about how it tastes and how good of a kisser you are! Find a lipstick that flatters your skin tone and lip line your lips, especially if you do not have full ones naturally. For a sexier touch, roll a little gloss over your lipstick, for a wet sexy woman and juicy effect.

To most men, the sexiest women are those who have Medium/Long soft hair. Medium and long hair really represents womanhood, for women are the ones known to have the long, soft and sweet smelling hair! Find a shampoo and conditioner that have the best smelling scent and ones that provide you with the best moisturizing results. You can also add more health to it by getting a product that adds body, shine and extra moisture to apply on after your shower, before or after you style. If you have short hair, do not worry! Just be sure to keep the volume in it and keep it soft and shiny.

When you go out with your soft hair, be sure to put on that Sparkling smile! Smiling is one of the biggest people magnets you can ever use! Everyone is attracted to cheerfulness and sureness, so be sure of yourself and let the world know it…you will be surprised of just how many people respond to your smiling. Funny is one essential quality you must remember. Men just love it when a woman can laugh at their jokes, make their own tasteful jokes and being able to laugh at themselves. Get in touch with yourself and discover what makes you laugh and what funny memories you have regarding yourself, so that you may bring it up the next time you are on a date, or meet someone interesting. While you are out there laughing at jokes and making some yourself, also remember to have something intellectual to discuss, because Intelligence is considered very attractive. Bring something up you heard on the news, or bring up any subject that you think can get a conversation going, such as school and the experiences you had there.

Being Independent makes a woman sexy to a man. Men like to know that the woman they are interested in can take care of herself, has a good head on her shoulders and knows what she wants. If you do feel insecure about something, try not to advertise it in front of people. Keep your head up high, with a pretty smile, and then work on your insecurity when you get home or seek expert advice. When you and that certain someone enter your intimate stage, always remember that it is important to carry Sexy underwear beneath your clothing! This may sound like something you already know, but women tend to get lazy with it over time. If you want to keep him hooked, entertain with something sexy every time you take your clothes off!



Putting all that sexual and seducing stuff aside, men also long for a woman who is Caring. This may sound funny, but men are looking for a hot, irresistible woman, with a motherly personality. They want a woman who will nourish them and take care of them emotionally, just as we expect them to do for us. So always listen to him when he expresses himself and do your best to show that you care.

Last but not least, believe it or not, it is still important for a woman to be a good cook! There is nothing better for a man than coming home to a fresh, hot and home made dish on the table. They really admire the effort and time a woman puts into preparing a meal and they feel special and rewarded after a long day. If you need ideas for what meals to cook, you can get them at our Romantic Recipes Page! So try discovering your seductive self by keeping these ideas in and putting them to use. You will soon realize you had the seductive goddess in you all this time. After all, every woman has one!



Sunday, June 29, 2008

What women prefer in men?


Women prefer men with stubble 'for love, sex & marriage'

London, June 29
There's no need to scratch your chin to cultivate why Bollywood heartthrobs like Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan prefer flaunting stubble -- well, it's the way to win a woman's heart, according to a new study.

Researchers in Britain have carried out the study and found that women are more attracted to men with stubbly chins than those with clean-shaven faces or full beards -- in fact, the fair sex prefers them for love, sex and marriage.

According to the researchers, stubbly men offer women the best worlds -- not too strongly masculine, but mature and with the potential to grow a full beard, British newspaper The Sunday Telegraph reported.

"Facial hair or beardedness is a powerful sociosexual signal, and an obvious biological marker of sexual maturity," said lead researcher Dr Nick Neave of Northumbria University.

In their study, the researchers altered pictures of 15 men's faces so that they showed various degrees of hairiness, using latest computer technology. Five levels of facial hair were used -- clean-shaven, light stubble, heavy stubble, light beard and full beard.

The pictures were shown to 76 women who were asked to rate them for masculinity, aggression, dominance, age, social maturity and attractiveness. They were asked how desirable each man would be as a short-term or long-term partner.

The participants rated men with stubble as tough, mature, aggressive, dominant and masculine -- and as the best romantic partners, either for a fling or even for a long-term relationship, the researchers found.


Stubble on a person's face is the unshaven hair growth that exists before it becomes long enough to cover the skin and be considered a full beard or moustache. ...

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Don't be tempted by green washing -- go for the real thing: POMEGA5


Sustainability top of mind at LOHAS

Annual conference hits Boulder this week

By Alicia Wallace Tuesday, June 17, 2008

But in one way or another, they all are part of the LOHAS -- or Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability -- market.

From Wednesday through Saturday, about 500 people from those companies and many other businesses and institutions will attend the sold-out LOHAS 12 Forum at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa in Boulder.

The 12th annual conference -- which is back in Colorado after a four-year stint in Los Angeles -- is a gathering and networking event designed to help businesses from a variety of industries further embody health and sustainability ideals and business practices, said Ted Ning, director of LOHAS and executive editor of LOHAS Journal.

It's an event filled with panels that range from socially responsible entrepreneurship and socially conscious funding to the value of organics and how Whole Foods and Wal-Mart are using sustainability in their businesses.

"We're not about fighting the trenches and keeping the gates," Ning said. "We're not gatekeepers. We consider this conference to be bridge-building."

This year's conference will be of special importance to members of the $209 billion LOHAS market, Ning said, adding that he believes there is an incredible amount of "green-washing" occurring in the business world. Companies may be touting that their products are "green" and natural, but that's not necessarily the case, he said.

Consumer consciousness is increasing, but so is confusion, he said, adding that it is up to businesses to make strides in sustainability and environmental consciousness in response.

Aveda Corp. founder Horst Rechelbacher recently embarked on another startup called Intelligent Nutrients to help increase awareness that health and body care products can be certified organic and completely free of petrochemicals and other synthetic products.
POMEGA has introduced its new bio-dynamic products.

"I just have basically reinvented myself," Rechelbacher said. "I have always thought activism, it's good for spirituality. It's good that you talk about it, but it's even better if you do something about it."

Rechelbacher will be speaking at the LOHAS 12 Forum; hold a book-signing Thursday at the Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St.; and stay through the weekend to attend and present at The Organic Summit next week in Boulder.

Men Skin care by POMEGA5 -- protect your skin from daily abuse, leave it to your GIF


Skin care for guys goes beyond vanity

In the U.S., white men over the age of 50 make up the majority of deadly melanoma cases, outranking prostate and lung cancer

No other organ would stand for this kind of abuse.

Men cut it, scrape it, sunburn it and generally abuse it every day. But skin -- our custom-made suit of armour and the body's largest organ -- quietly protects our insides from the nasty outside world.

Skin isn't a drama queen like other organs. It doesn't beat fast or have sudden life-ending attacks. But dermatologists say protecting the skin is key to staying healthy and looking young throughout your life.

That means it's time to give up on that weather-beaten look men have sported for centuries as a sign of ruggedness. The leathery neck and crease-checkered face is out.

Dr. Paul Cohen, a Toronto dermatologist, says men should become more conscientious about their skin.

Thankfully, skin care is finally becoming socially acceptable for men. In a recent issue, the men's magazine Details ran an article on how to pull off a fake tan so you can get that "healthy glow" without having to bake under the sun.

Old Spice is trying to entice men to start using its body wash line by packaging it in a bottle covered by a photo of macho NASCAR driver Tony Stewart and the NASCAR logo.

Salons and spas now offer many skin care products for men. Before you mutiny on the grounds that you don't want your bathroom counter filled with bottles that scream "I am girlie-man," read on. Cohen gives the goods on drugstore skin care products that protect your skin and keep you looking your best.

It only takes a few minutes a day to give your skin a fighting chance against the harsh sun, wind and airborne grime.

SUNBLOCK

In the U.S., white men over the age of 50 make up the majority of deadly skin cancer melanoma cases, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Skin cancer also outranks prostate cancer and lung cancer as the most common cancer diagnosis in men over 50.

Cohen thinks he knows why.

"Men just frankly don't pay as much attention to precancerous spots on their skin as women," he says.

These statistics make the case for daily sunscreen use, according to Cohen. Men should opt for skin-care products that offer at least a Sun Protection Factor of 15. Many sunscreens are now available in spray-on forms, such as Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Spray SPF 30, 45, or 60 ($15.99).
He also strongly recommends every man use a mirror or a partner to check his skin each month for precancerous spots. Pay special attention to your back, which is the most common place for men to develop skin cancer.

MOISTURIZER

A man's face is usually oilier than a woman's.

Cohen recommends using a daily facial moisturizer with SPF 15. Any moisturizer in these companies' men's care lines are tailored to work on a man's oily face.

But below the neck, men's skin isn't all that different from women's. Use a gentle soap in the shower and apply a moisturizing lotion as soon as you towel off to lock in your skin's natural moisture.

Many moisturizers come in an easily applied spray form and include sunblock.
Regardless of which moisturizer you choose, apply it at every morning and night.
EXFOLIANT

This isn't just for vain men.

Exfoliation helps remove abnormal cells that can become precancerous. Shaving acts as a natural exfoliant for the face, but Cohen says men with oily or acne-prone skin may need a chemical cleanser to remove hair and skin cells from their neck and body.

Try the Healing Cream by POMEGA5, or Neutrogena's salicylic acid cleanser ($10.99), to help prevent uncomfortable ingrown hairs.

Unless your skin is sensitive, look for a chemical exfoliant enriched with vitamin C or other antioxidants.

Guys with sensitive skin should avoid cleansers with exfoliant in them. Instead, opt for Active C moisturizer.


ACNE

It takes only one red splotch to evoke memories of our acne-ridden teenage years.

But even after our hormones have settled, men are prone to acne rosacea. Triggered by such factors as sun, stress and alcohol, this condition can make your skin red and pus-filled.
Unlike other forms of acne, rosacea doesn't typically cause blackheads.

Behind the counter cleansers with benzoyl peroxide, which kills the bacteria in the acne, are the most effective. Try Benzaclin topical gel with five per cent benzoyl peroxide for oily or acne-prone skin ($45.69). There are no parabes in POMEGA5 products.