Somebody Smack Time Warner

Before I get into it…If you have Time Warner cable you’re about to lose Comedy Central, CMT: Pure Country, Logo, Palladia, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Tr3s, Nickelodeon, Noggin, Nick 2, Nicktoons, Spike, The N, TV Land, VH1, VH1 Classic, and VH1 Soul. This means no more "SpongeBob SquarePants," no more of "The Daily Show" and none of "The Colbert Report." You ask, “How is this happening?” The scrooges over at Time Warner, the nation's second-largest cable operator, are refusing to pay Viacom increased carriage fees. How can this be justified by Time Warner when “Americans spend a fifth of their TV time watching Viacom shows but its fees make up less than 2.5 percent of the Time Warner cable bill.” I’m not a math whiz but this one seems pretty simple.
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The Grinch Almost Stole Christmas

Unfortunately this is not a Dr. Seuss tale. Real life Grinches almost got away with stealing one family’s Christmas. “Prosecutors say two men posed as police officers and robbed a couple's home of their holiday presents on Christmas Eve. The men wore bulletproof vests bearing the New York Police Department logo and claimed to have a warrant, the Queens district attorney's office said. They tied up Robert Kapovic and his wife and ransacked their home for nearly four hours, prosecutors said.”
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Diet Tricks

What could you learn from the opposite sex? Many of us don’t think it’s possible to learn anything, but it turns out we may be wrong. Amazingly, the opposite sex may actually help you with dieting. This is because of the different eating styles and perceptions of food that men and women have.
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An Impossible Decision

How could you choose to lose your legs? One brave young man had to make such a decision. Young Nick Nelson made the decision to have his legs amputated and to switch to carbon fiber “J” legs. “Nick was born with a rare birth defect called popliteal pterygium syndrome. Caused by one defective gene, the syndrome expressed itself as winglike webs of tissue growing behind his knees that prevented him from being able to extend his legs.”
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Scientifically Delay Aging

Wouldn’t you use science to delay aging? Through a yeast model scientists have “identified five groups of novel anti-aging small molecules that significantly delayed aging.” These types of breakthroughs have multiple benefits other then just changing how we can look. “These small molecules can be used as research tools to investigate the mechanisms of longevity, says Titorenko, and as possible pharmaceutical agents for age-related disorders that affect lipid metabolism such as heart disease, chronic inflammation, and Type 2 diabetes.”
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It’s Just a Stretch

Can you touch your toes? Should you touch your toes? The age long query: “to stretch or not to stretch…that’s the question.” So what should you do? “Official recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine are to perform stretches for the major muscles and/or tendon groups at least two to three days a week.” However, “there is some concern that being hyper-flexible may make your joints unstable and more susceptible to twists, sprains and strains.” I think I need a second opinion.
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2009 Will Be Crazy

If this is what happened in 2008, what will 2009 be like? Stealing beer, dog mouth-to-mouth and a security sex tape are just a few of the crazy things that happened at work over the last year. Check out the Worst (and Weirdest) Work Stories of 2008.
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Health Food Posers

These are the worst types of food. They act like they’re your friend, say nice things to you and even promise they’re good for you. All this until the truth finally comes out. Liar! You said you were calorie free. Liar! You promised me you were low fat. I can’t believe after all we’ve been through you would trick me like this. I loved you and now look at what you’ve done to me. I hate you.
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Stop Aging

Could there really be a fountain of youth? Better yet, a pill. Researchers at the Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging at the University of California are tinkering with genes that could drastically increase the length of a human life. In tests performed on roundworms, a worm that is usually dead in 20 days have lived up to 144 days.
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Blogs You Need To Be Reading

The web is filled with millions of blogs. They’re no longer hard to build with websites like blogger and wordpress so now every mom, kid, great grandmother and dog has their very own blog. This makes it impossible to weed through them all, but there are five blogs that you should read to benefit your career.
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Sneaky Mom Goes Undercover

Parenting instincts are strong. This is especially true in females, but how far would you go to protect your offspring? One mom decided to take it to another level when her son was convicted of murder. Instead of trying the conventional route, Doreen Giuliano chose to take the road less traveled and gave herself an “extreme makeover — blonde dye job, fake tan, sexy wardrobe, phony name — and began spying on jurors.” After finding her target she stayed undercover for nearly eight months as they “drank at bars, smoked marijuana and shared meals in her tiny Brooklyn hideaway.”
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Never Look Tired Again

Up too late last night? Are you wishing you would've gotten those extra hours of shuteye instead of staying out with your friends? Now it won't matter because you'll never look tired again. This is not to suggest that you shouldn't get sleep, it's just how to always look beautiful when you don't have enough.
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Are You Sexy Enough?

Obviously men’s and women’s idea of “sexy” is different, but how sexy do you have to be to stay in the game? Everyone gets older. The real question is whether you can take care of yourself and stay in shape. Often it’s women that are worrying and talking about this. That’s why it’s so refreshing to get a male’s perspective on aging and lack of sexiness. Read how one man felt when it seemed like he became invisible to women.
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Ashamed to Spend

With wars still ongoing, the stock market dropping and multi-billion dollar companies folding it only seems appropriate that even the wealthiest are starting to cut back. However, these elitists aren’t slowing their spending out of necessity. These present day scrooges are just guilty about buying their high priced toys and vacations while the rest of the country is struggling to keep afloat.
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Men Will Never Get Beauty

There are a lot of things men will never understand. Glamour magazine has compiled “7 Things Men Will Never Get About Beauty.” These include beauty topics such as high-tech hair removal, nail polish maintenance, and disguising beauty marks.
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HIV Eliminated?

Is it actually possible to eliminate HIV? According to a new mathematical model, “the virus that causes AIDS could theoretically be eliminated in a decade if all people living in countries with high infection rates are regularly tested and treated.” Even though this is only a mathematical model it’s always exciting to see where the future of science can take us.
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Soccer Mom Packing Heat

Don’t ever think soccer moms are easy going again. One soccer mom showed up to her child’s game wearing her holstered pistol. Alarmed by this, other parents phoned into the local sheriff who arrived and revoked the woman’s concealed weapons permit. The Pennsylvania woman, Meleanie Hain, is now suing that sheriff alleging he “violated her Second Amendment rights and prosecuted her maliciously when he took away her permit.”
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Facebook has A Eating Disorder

The social network giant Facebook isn’t cutting back on calories, just deleting groups and user accounts that support anorexia. These groups known as “pro-ana” have for years “been a controversial internet fixture, with users sharing extreme diet tips and posting pictures of emaciated girls.” However, since making the move to Facebook, these groups have become more personal and larger in number, with some groups collecting thousands of members. “Many pro-ana Facebookers say the groups provide an invaluable support system to help them cope with their disease, but psychologists worry that the growth of such groups could encourage eating disorders in others.”
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Presidential Puppy

It’s time for change – real change. Finally the change we’ve been waiting for. A new presidential puppy! The question is what type of dog will president-elect Barack Obama pick? Why don’t you tell him? Visit “Vote: What breed should the First Dog be.”

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Paris Hilton Drops Her “Best Friend”

After nine months Paris Hilton says goodbye to her rocker boyfriend Benji Madden. Paris recently referred to Benji as her "best friend," while he swooned just last month that she's "my life, my heart and my soul." "She is saddened by the breakup but they're just too different and they wanted different things in life," said a Paris confidant.

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New Sexiest Man Alive

Drum roll please. Hugh Jackman is the new sexiest man alive according to People Magazine. I don’t think there will be many arguments with their choice either. Jackman stars in the new blockbuster “Australia”with costar Nicole Kidman and is known as “a triple threat: a star who can sing, dance and wield a weapon.” Jackman’s wife of 12 years took the news of her husband being named sexiest man alive well proclaiming, “I could've told them that years ago!”

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7 Great Tips for Cutting Calories While Dining Out

I know it doesn’t sound like the greatest idea. Who wants to think about calories while posting up at your favorite restaurant? Still, in the back of your mind you know even though you’re eating out the calories still count. So what to do? Well, read this article and get 7 great easy tips that will save you extra pounds and inches.

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How to Save on Health Care

With prices on everything on the rise it’s always nice to find somewhere to save money. You might think that health care is the last place you can save money, but there are great ways to cut your health budget. The easiest way to save is by utilizing students. “In every field of health care, student trainees are eager listeners and observers. They are constantly being evaluated and are required to do lengthy medical histories and meticulous physical or psychological exams." By visiting a licensed health center run by a university or a professional school for student training you can cut your cost in half.
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Winter Skin

With all the holiday cheer, turkey and festivities comes bitter coldness. The cold brings along snow and Santa Claus, but it can also put a freeze on your skin. Generally when winter sets in people begin to notice a change in their skin – it gets dry. To avoid over-drying your skin this winter there are a few easy things you can do. Read about Natural Remedies for Dry Winter Skin.

Expensive Skin

Skin is costing Americans big time. According to a comprehensive new study released by the American Academy of Dermatology Association and the Society for Investigative Dermatology, “skin diseases are far more prevalent than once thought and cost Americans an estimated $37.17 billion annually.” The new study found that at any given time, “one in every three people in the United States suffers from a skin disease--exceeding the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and cancer. Among the most economically burdensome skin disorders are skin ulcers and wounds, melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, atopic dermatitis, and acne, the cost of which totaled $22.46 billion in 2004.”

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Considering Medical Anti-aging Treatments?

"A new study conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) and Dermik Laboratories, a business of sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, reveals the influencers that impact a woman’s decision when considering medical anti-aging treatments. The study surveyed women ages 35-69 who’ve considered a medical anti-aging treatment, as well as previous patients who have had fillers or injectable procedures.
According to the study, the top three factors that influence a woman’s decision to either move forward or decline a medical anti-aging treatment, such as injectables are:

1. Physician Training and Expertise: 95 percent of women considering a treatment ranked a physician’s training and experience with the procedure or product as most important compared with other factors, such as how the product works or how quickly results appear.
2. Gradual Results that Last Two Years: 89 percent of women preferred gradual results lasting two years over immediate results lasting six months. Additionally, 75 percent of women preferred gradual results lasting two years versus 25 percent who preferred immediate results lasting one year.
3. Information from Physician and Web sites: 99 percent of women receive information about medical anti-aging treatments from health care providers or health and medical Web sites. When making a final decision, a woman’s doctor was cited as the best source of information."
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Reduce Skin Wrinkles

LEDs may be the cure to wrinkles. Researchers in Germany describe LEDs as a potential alternative to Botox and cosmetic surgery for easing facial wrinkles.
Their study reports that high intensity visible light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) applied daily for several weeks resulted in "rejuvenated skin, reduced wrinkle levels, juvenile complexion and lasting resilience."
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Napping is the Key to Success

Who doesn’t love a good nap? If you’re like me, you probably wish you could take more naps (I wish I had time to take one everyday). However, now you might actually have a good excuse for laying your head down for a little bit. A Harvard Medical study showed that a “short afternoon nap can boost a person's ability to perform memory-based tasks.” Show this to your boss and you may soon find yourself sleeping on the job and getting paid to do it! Read full article

President 2012

The election is finally over. We have our 44th President and we all can take a step back and relax. With record turnouts at polling stations around the country it was obvious how passionate everyone was this election year. Just remember although the candidates campaigns are over, you still need to stay in the fight for beautiful skin. I salute everyone that made their voice heard Tuesday.

Election Day Results

Everyone knows they need to (and should) vote November 4, 2008. However, don’t just wear sweats and your favorite white-tee to your local polling station. This is your opportunity to let your voice be heard and look good while doing it. Whether you’re a republican or democrat, let your smile shine, your skin radiate and your fashion do the talking. This election let everyone see that you made the right choice – the choice to be beautiful.

What’s In Your Skin

It’s almost impossible to think, but more things may be passing through your skin then you think. Tiny objects known as nanoparticles can breech your most personal protective barrier. “Nanoparticles are so small that they can actually seep through skin, especially when the skin has been damaged.”

“The health implications of nanoparticles in the body are uncertain, said DeLouise, an assistant professor of Dermatology and Biomedical Engineering and an expert on the properties of nanoparticles. Other scientists have found that the particles can accumulate in the lymph system, the liver, the nervous system, and in other areas of the body.”

The safety implications of this are still unknown and further research will be conducted in the future.

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Confessions of a Beauty Editor

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The beauty editors of Allure Magazine have distilled thousands of makeup-artist interviews down to ten essential points:
"1. Skip concealer beyond the middle of the undereye—it exaggerates wrinkles.

2. Dab creamy cover-up on the inner corners of the eyes, by the bridge of the nose. This is the area that's darkest, and ironically, also the one most women forget.

3. Press loose powder on the T-zone with a puff, paying special attention to the patch between the brows (which can look shinier because of waxing).

4. Curl lashes before applying mascara. It makes fringe look longer and eyes look bigger.

5. Dab the gunky blob of excess mascara from the tip of the wand onto a tissue; otherwise, it'll leave a smudge or a splotch.

6. If you have undereye circles, apply mascara to the top lashes only (on the bottom lashes, it can make dark circles look worse).

7. Apply an extra few coats of mascara to the outer corners of the lashes to make eyes look elongated.

8. Don't line your lips with anything but a pencil that matches your natural lip color. Or skip it entirely.

9. When in doubt, choose a pinkish-brown lipstick, and never apply it beyond the natural lip line or to the corners of your mouth—unless you want to look like the Joker.

10. Before you go out, check your teeth, and rub off that lipstick."

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Drink Tea for Healthy Skin

In recent years, studies have proven a link between green tea and “skin-cell rejuvenation.” Hundreds of studies have been conducted on tea throughout the years but who would have thought that tea is good for your skin. In the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Stephen Hsu, an expert on tea-related health issues and cell biologist revealed “that other chemicals found in tea are able to reactivate dying skin cells.” "If we can energize dying skin cells, we can probably improve the skin condition," said Hsu.

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Diet Your Way to Beautiful Skin

Did you know what you eat impacts your skin? You can achieve smoother skin, fewer wrinkles, and even clearer skin just by the food you eat. Now you can diet not just to lose a couple pounds but to put that healthy glow back into your skin. No more mascara, I only need my broccoli foundation.
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Natural Skin Care Advice

The Basics of Cleansing

Keeping your face clean and clear is the first step in any skin care regimen. There are so many products to choose from but there are some key things to think about before selecting what cleanser is best for you. You should always remember everyone has a different skin tone, complexion, and composition. Therefore, skin cleansers can and will react differently with each person and can provide different results and reactions. After learning more about your own skin you will be better prepared to make the right purchase for you.

If you still aren't sure what's best for you, my product suggestions are HydroPeptide's anti-aging infusing cleanser. It has these great exfoliating beads that my clients just love and always ask about. For a cheaper option and for extra sensitive skin I recommend Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash by Johnson & Johnson

More great information on skin cleansing:
Dermatology Care