May 14, 2013
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Scented underpants for men, a 'Made in France' special |
(PARIS-AFP) - A company that specialises in "Made in France" underwear has raised nearly 19,000 euros ($25,000) from enthusiastic investors banking on its next titillating creation -- sweet-smelling underpants for men.
The so-called "Indomitable" briefs will be manufactured by "Le Slip Francais", a company set up in 2011 by 27-year-old Guillaume Gibault, who decided to bank on a trend for all things made in France to sell underwear. "You want to change the world, you want to change things, start by changing your underpants!" the firm writes on crowdfunding website, where it has already raised close to 19,000 euros.
The idea behind crowdfunding is that anyone on the Internet can contribute money to a project, in some cases in exchange for shares in a company or other rewards. Gibault told AFP the briefs will be scented thanks to micro-capsules full of homemade perfume that will be incorporated into the cotton used to make the underpants in the Lille region of northern France. As soon as the lucky owner of the briefs moves around, the capsules will release the perfume and the scent will last up to 30 washes, he says. "It's quite a masculine perfume, not very strong, based on musk and pears," he said.
"Le Slip Francais" has become something of a success story in France, which is suffering badly from lack of competitiveness and a general perception of hostility towards business owners and entrepreneurs. It employs five people in its Paris headquarters, and outsources the manufacture of the underwear to factories in different parts of France, including Lille and the southwestern Dordogne region.
The firm has so far sold some 20,000 of its red, white, blue and black briefs, and plans to develop its presence abroad, with Japanese people proving to be particularly enthusiastic clients. Gibault says the company is already profitable, adding that the whole project shows "that we are capable of innovating in France".
"Le Slip Francais" had originally intended to raise 10,000 euros for the scented briefs, but has surpassed that amount by far and could still get a lot more before a June 3 deadline it set on its crowdfunding page. Supporters will get a range of rewards for their donations, ranging from a key ring to becoming the face -- or body of -- the new underpants when the firm's advertising drive begins.
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Cosmetic surgery addict injected cooking oil into her own face |
A Korean woman addicted to plastic surgery has been left unrecognisable after her obsession led her to inject cooking oil into her face.
Hang Mioku, now 48, had her first plastic surgery procedure when she was 28; hooked from the beginning she moved to Japan where she had further operations - mostly to her face.
Following operation after operation, her face was eventually left enlarged and disfigured, but she would still look at herself in the mirror and think she was beautiful.
Eventually the surgeons she visited refused to carry out any more work on her and one suggested that her obsession could be a sign of a psychological disorder.
When she returned home to Korea the surgery meant Hang's features had changed so much that her own parents didn't recognise her.
After realising that the girl with the grossly swollen face was indeed their daughter her horrified parents took her to a doctor. Once again the possibility that Hang had a mental disorder was raised and she started treatment.
However, this treatment was too expensive for her to keep up and she soon fell back into old ways.
Amazingly, she found a doctor who was willing to give her silicone injects and, what's more, he then gave her a syringe and silicone of her own so she could self-inject.
When her supply of silicone ran out Hang resorted to injecting cooking oil into her face.
Her face became so grotesquely large that she was called "standing fan" by children in her neighbourhood - due to her large face and small body.
As Hang's notoriety spread she was featured on Korean TV. Viewers seeing the report took mercy on her and sent in enough donations to enable her to have surgery to reduce the size of her face.
During the first procedure surgeons removed 60g of foreign substance from Hang's face and 200g from her neck.
After several other sessions her face was left greatly reduced but still scarred and disfigured.
And it would seem that even Hang can now see the damage she has done; she now says that she would simply like her original face back.
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Jennifer Aniston`s hairstylist was high when he created `The Rachel` look |
New York: Jennifer Aniston`s hairstylist has revealed that he was completely stoned when he gave her the now iconic haircut - `The Rachel`.
Chris McMillan , who has managed the ` Friends` star`s hair for more than a decade, told Women`s Wear Daily that he was high in 1994 when he chopped her locks into the layered, shoulder-length hairdo, the New York Daily News reported.
"I`m 14 years sober, so I feel safe enough to say that," the salon owner said.
The 44-year-old actress, who is engaged to Justin Theroux, bought into the hair care company Living Proof last October and got McMillan on board with her.
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Home Remedies for Sweat Too Much here are a few tips you can try. |
Home Remedies for When I Sweat Too Much here are a few tips you can try.
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My style mantra at Cannes is Indian: Vidya Balan |
Vidya Balan, the star of Bollywood hits such "The Dirty Picture", will be among the jurors deciding this year's feature film award in Cannes.
Jury member Vidya Balan will be seen in sarees and Anarkalis on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet
Films, films and more films, that’s what I am looking forward to,” says Vidya Balan who is headed for the Cannes festival. Sitting in a sea-facing hotel room in the suburbs, amidst doing the fittings for her costumes for the red carpet, the star says, “I will be watching the best of world cinema and celebrating Indian cinema and everything that’s Indian at the most celebrated film festival of the world.
I am also looking forward to interactions with the jury and with other people from the filmmaking fraternity and deliberations with the jury. I think there is a lot that I will get to learn.”
She seems to stick to her trademark sarees as a safe option. “I will be wearing sarees forever. My style mantra here is Indian so I am going to do the same at Cannes too. I also wear a lot of Kalidars (Anarkali salwar kurtas) some of which I am going to wear there too. I am lucky enough to be dressed by the best designers in the country so I have little to worry about.”
She adds, “Sabyasachi was the first person outside family that I called when I came to know about my Cannes trip. I just told him I will need a lot of nice clothes and he promptly said it will be done.”
However, there is one thing she is going to experiment with.
“I hate wearing a particular shade of blue but Sabya had this really pretty piece in that very colour and he asked me to try that. I will be wearing that for one of the appearances.
Otherwise I stick to my favourite colours like maroon, black, mustard, so you will be seeing them in these shades. Sabyasachi is designing my clothes and Jayati Bose will be doing my styling for Cannes.”
May 11, 2013
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She broke free from child marriage to emerge school topper in Class XII exam |
S. Jeyaprabha (19) of Nondi Kovil Patti at Melur near here, is an example of what girls can achieve if freed from familial and societal pressure.
Given in marriage at 14 after her eighth standard, she broke up with her husband at the age of 16, completed her Standard X examinations as a private candidate and has ultimately emerged as a school topper with 1,136 out of 1,200 marks in the Plus Two examinations held this year.
S. Jeyaprabha |
Her mother S. Vimala rues the decision to marry her off to her brother, as per a prevailing community practice. “I thought she would take care of my aged parents if I give her in marriage to my only brother. But I didn’t expect him to be a drunkard. I curse myself now.”
After losing two years of studies, she wrote the Standard X examinations as a private candidate and scored 469 out of 500 marks. She joined the Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Melur.
She has now completed Class XII with 199 marks each in chemistry and biology, 188 in mathematics, 186 in physics, 190 in Tamil and 174 in English.
“She aspires to study medicine and has a cut off of 195.75 marks.
Daughter of cycle mechanic
“Belonging to a Backward Class, I don’t know whether she will get a free medical seat in a government college. Her father runs a shop that tends to cycle punctures and doesn’t earn much,” says the girl’s relative S. Pandiselvi.
“My maternal grandparents want me to live with their son and are refusing to part with my jewels and other articles given during the wedding. But I am determined not to go to him because now I know that child marriage is not valid in law and I need not apply for formal divorce. My search now is for a benefactor who will help me realise my dream of becoming a doctor,” she said.
source:thehindu.com
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Aesha's progress: Afghan woman's nose nearly complete |
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Whole Foods Recalls Vegan and Chicken Salads for Undeclared Allergens |
Whole Foods Market is recalling two kinds of bulk curried salad- chicken and vegan, because they may contain undeclared allergens of egg and soy. Labels for the products were accidentally reversed. The vegan “chick’n” salad contains soy, and the curried chicken salad contains egg.
Consumers with egg or soy allergies should not consume these products. No illnesses have been reported in association with this recall.
The recalled products were sold at salad bars on May 7 and May 8 at the following 15 stores: Darien, CT; Fairfield, CT; West Hartford, CT; Portland, ME; Framingham, MA; Fresh Pond in Cambridge, MA; Milburn-Union, NJ; Montclair, NJ; Rose City-Madison, NJ; West Orange, NJ; Jericho, NY; Lake Grove, NY; Manhasset, NY; Columbus Circle in New York City and Upper West Side in New York City. Each of the locations has signage is posted in affected stores notifying customers of this recall. All affected product has been removed from the salad bar.
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Sexism is endemic in cycling. Keep calm ladies and ride on |
Female cyclists at a Cycletta event with Victoria Pendleton |
Cycling is by far the most energetic activity you can undertake. Other activities may produce more force, as does weight lifting, or more muscle power over a short period, as does track sprinting or most swimming events, but there is nothing that approaches the long-term, high-power demands of cycling. In these events, the cyclist is working as hard as possible in the most efficient way for many hours at a stretch --
Of all the sports and activities out there, cycling is a great way to get active again, whether you are overweight or not. It is low impact, you can start small and you can get exercise while just going places. Gagnon’s first ride was only 1 mile. Now he rides five to six times a week, for much longer distances and is training for cyclocross races.
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Mindful eating contribute to weight loss |
Mindful eating is not a diet, or about giving up anything at all. It’s about experiencing food more intensely — especially the pleasure of it. You can eat a cheeseburger mindfully, if you wish. You might enjoy it a lot more. Or you might decide, halfway through, that your body has had enough. Or that it really needs some salad.
Two things that contribute to weight loss and maintanence-mindfull eating and regular physical activity. You are a vegetarian, also please monitor your energy levels by keeping an eye on how you feel throughout the day, loss of energy could mean a calorie and nutrient deficit.
If possible do get a body composition analysis done, to find your fat percentage, that way we know you are losing fat, and not muscle. Since you are doing a lot of cardio- tennis, walk , swim, please have a small snack eg, small apple, few dates or raisins, half an hour before your work out. Swimming is a type of weight training, or resistance training, but you might want to add some weight training under expert guidance to your exercise plan. Today’s experiment in eating, however, involves becoming aware of that reflexive urge to plow through your meal like Cookie Monster on a shortbread bender. Resist it.
May 9, 2013
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The Benefits of Eating Fibre |
The most undisputed advantage of insoluble fibre is its ability to soften and expand stool volume, speeding up fecal transit and elimination.
Commercial preparations such as agar (Agarol) and psyllium (Metamucil) are effective stool bulkers.
Improves control
Soluble fibre from legumes, barley, oats, some fruit and vegetables can help regulate blood sugar swings and by lowering serum cholesterol, protect against heart disease.
Excess blood fats are possibly reduced by soluble fibres such as pectin, bean and oat gums, and the types in legumes (lentils, chickpeas, navy, pinto or kidney beans).
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Is chemical treatment the reason behind Jennifer Lawrence's hair loss? |
Los Angeles: Oscar winning actress Jennifer Lawrence is reportedly suffering from hair loss and hiding it from everyone.
The 22-year-old has been sporting shorter hair and it can be side effects of chemical treatments. |
"She's been sporting a shorter do for weeks, and has made out it's for style reasons. But really she chopped her hair off because it's been falling out of her head," a source said.
"Jennifer's had so many chemical treatments and extensions the only thing she could do to make her hair healthy again was to start over. She's getting really paranoid about it," the source added.
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Britney Spears Reveals New Diet, Works Out Five Times a Week |
Whoa! Anyone else getting a flashback of old school Britney Spears?
The 31-year-old mother of two has landed the cover of Shape magazine, and in the June issue, Spears shows off her toned abs that are reminiscent of her "Baby One More Time" days in 1999.
However, 14 years later, Spears admits that maintaining her body is not as easy as it used to be...particularly when it comes to keeping her backside in shape.
"I like it, then again, I hate it," Spears says. "I’m in my 30s now, so I have to work harder to keep it 'up.'"
So what does her hard workout routine entail?
“I’m doing 90 minutes of yoga twice a week in addition to a lot of cardio — hour-long sessions three times a week with my trainer, Tony Martinez,” Spears reveals. This conditioning will get Spears in shape for her upcoming performance stint in Las Vegas. While a start date has yet to be confirmed, it is rumored Spears will perform 40 alternating weekend shows at Planet Hollywood’s PH Live.
“The [Vegas] performances won’t be simple — they’ll be a massive party from start to finish," Spears says. "And to pull this off, I have to be in top condition and running at full speed."
This also includes a more restricted diet regimen.
"Dieting is tough," the "Scream and Shout" singer admits, "because my specialties are spaghetti, brownies and chocolate chip cookies. I try not to make those too often or I’ll eat the whole bowl of dough.”
Spears also cites the Nutrisystem weight loss program — specifically a shake for breakfast and lunch plus a dinner of protein and veggies — for keeping her healthy.
However, the Southern girl can't resist splurging on Kentucky Fried Chicken from time to time. After shooting her Shape cover in March, Spears was photographed carrying two bags of KFC out of the fast food chain’s location in Thousand Oaks, California. Each was filled with fried chicken and side dishes.
Hey, we all have cheat days, right? And clearly whatever Spears is doing is working for her love life. The singer is still going strong with her boyfriend of three months, David Lucado.
source:
May 7, 2013
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Homemade Remedies Remove Skin Tan |
This summer season try sugar-lemon juice pack or fresh coconut water pack or even honey-almond oil pack -- all natural remedies coming from grandma's treasure-trove -- to get a glowing skin.
Cucumber juice-rose water pack
Apply a mixture of rose water, cucumber juice and a dash of lemon juice once a day. Lemon juice helps reduce the tan, while rose water and cucumber work as cooling agents.
Honey-lemon juice pack
Mix two tablespoons of honey with a few drops of lemon juice and apply it on the affected area once or twice in a day. Apply the mixture for few minutes and wash it off with cold water.
Turmeric pack
One can also prepare a paste adding a pinch of turmeric, lemon juice and raw milk. Apply the mixture properly and wait till it dries. Wash it off with cold water.
Oats-buttermilk pack
Buttermilk soothes and softens the skin. Make a pack by mixing a tablespoon of oats with buttermilk and apply it on your face or body to get rid of tanning from body parts. Since oats help in exfoliating the skin, the mixture can prove to be beneficial.
Curd and lemon pack
In olden days, granny used to rely on a mixture of gram flour, lime juice and curd to get a glowing skin. But one needs to slather the mixture regularly to get rid of tanning.
Lemon juice pack for body parts
To keep your knees, elbows and other patchy areas smooth and clean, apply fresh lemon juice. Keep it on for at least 15 minutes and wash it off.
Coconut pack
Fresh coconut water makes the skin soft and fair. Using it twice in a day on hands and face can prove beneficial.
Milk powder and honey pack
Prepare a paste adding equal quantity of milk powder, lemon juice, almond oil and honey. Apply it on the affected portions for at least 20 minutes. It will help reduce tan. One can also store it for a week. If you have time, use it thrice a day for better results.
Sugar-lemon pack
Sugar is considered as the best cleansing agent. Apply the mixture of sugar and lemon juice on your face and wash it after 20 minutes. If you have dry skin, then add a few drops of glycerine to the mixture.
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Miss India-World 2013 Navneet Kaur Dhillon Interview |
INSPIRED BY PRIYANKA, ASH BUT WON'T COPY THEIR ACTING STYLES
"I have been inspired by them in their own unique ways though I do not follow their acting styles or consider them as icons. They are all beautiful women I looked upto but when it comes to giving expressions and portraying a character, they have their individual styles," Dhillon told from Mumbai today.
The doe-eyed girl, preparing for the global pageant to be held in Indonesia later this year, named Madhur Bhandarkar as among the ones she would love to work with.
"I was simply struck by the two films 'Fashion', which realistically brings to the fore the fashion world and 'Chandni bar'," the model-turned-beauty queen said.
"Besides I would definitely want to work with names like Karan Johar, Imtiaaz Ali, Vishal Bharabwaj, Anurag Kayshyap, Deepa Mehta, Madhur Bhandarkar, Zoya Akhtar, should I name all! This is unfair as there will be many more," she said.
However, asserting she would now give 200 per cent for making the country proud at Sentul International Convention Center in Indonesia where the winner of last year's pageant will crown the 2013 Miss World and consider film career only later on, Navneet said, "I intend to get back the Miss World crown, ending the years' long drought."
Navneet, who had pledged to work towards ending female foeticide and harassment of women after winning the PFMI crown, said in most places women are treated as second class citizens and even before participating for miss India pageant, she had turned up in a few short movies based on this issue.
Sobhita Dhulipala and Zoya Afroz were the two runners up in the Ponds Femina Miss India (PFMI) 2013.
May 4, 2013
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Kangana Ranaut creates her own Star style Photos |
Kangana Ranaut: Star style file
Spunky and tremendously experimentative Kangana Ranaut has a lot to say when it comes to fashion and styling.
"My style is androgynous, manly yet feminine," she says. "I'm not somebody who believes in only wearing brands. Even if I wear a designer outfit, it is often something that a girl can look at and get her tailor to make.
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Ask the fashionista how she manages to bring in a lot of freshness in her every avatar, the actress quips: "If I see a dress that needs straight hair with a ponytail, I'll get that. If I feel I have to tie my hair in a knot, I'll do that. That's what I call balance. And that's how I manage to look different every time."
"I would like to be known as an elegant lady one day... someone who is well dressed," says Kangana.
Click on, for a fashion lowdown on the 'Shootout At Wadala' actress, who does not follow trends, but creates her own!