Brad Pitt has enlisted to play an American resistance fighter battling Nazis in German-occupied France in Quentin Tarantino's latest film "Inglorious Bastards," report said Friday.
Daily Variety and the Hollywood Reporter said Pitt's character is a Tennessee hillbilly who leads a group of Jewish-American soldiers in Tarantino's long-awaited WWII drama. The movie, which is being made by the Weinstein Co. and Universal, will begin filming in Germany in October.
It is the first time that Hollywood icon Pitt has worked with Tarantino, the acclaimed "Kill Bill" and "Pulp Fiction" director. Tarantino, whose last film was 2007's "Death Proof", has also acquired the services of German actress Natassja Kinski for "Inglorious Bastards" as well as British comedian Simon Pegg.
Courtesy of MSN News - Entertainment
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Brad Pitt joins Tarantino's 'bastards'
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Talk Dirty—Oh … Baby … Yeah
There you are, skin to skin, hands stroking soft, bare flesh, and your partner whispers in your ear, “Talk dirty to me.” Do you suddenly find that you’d rather be discussing your taxes than what you are about to do to his body parts (or want done to yours)—let alone making it sound sexy? Are you trying to hold back an embarrassing urge to burst into a fit of girlish giggles? Would you rather “show” than “tell?”
Here's how:
Step 1 - If so, you are not alone. For many, sex is a non-verbal affair. According to an Elle/MSNBC.com Sex and Love Survey, only four in 10 respondents said they have asked their lovers for something in bed in the past month.
If you and your partner aren’t yet comfortable communicating during sex, you might have a hard time jumping into the world of dirty talk. So the first thing to do is to learn how to verbalize in bed.
Start with one sentence. It could be as simple as letting him or her know how much he turns you on. You don’t have to get into the specifics yet. A simple “that feels sooo good” can go a long way. And by the way “dirty talk” doesn’t have to be “dirty.” (Though it certainly can be if you like it that way.) Hot talk is simply sexual communications turned up a notch. It incorporates aural stimulation into the sex, which can be a major turn-on—if it’s within your comfort zone.
Step 2 - A little out-of-bedroom hot talk can help pave the way. Try leaving a sexy note telling your partner what you’d like to do to him when you hit the sheets that night. My husband and I sometimes enjoy some sexy Instant Messaging to get our engines revving. For many, it’s easier to express yourself in writing rather than face to face.
But don’t neglect the bedroom. Start verbalizing your desires. Don’t expect your partner to guess what you want. Tell him. If you want oral, ask for it. If you want it harder, softer, faster, slower, speak up. The beauty is that the more you talk, the easier it will flow. Then you can start to get a little saucy.
Step 3 - One of the keys to mastering dirty talk is to find a vocabulary that works for you. Some words probably make you hot while others leave you cold (or giggling). So what sexy words get your juices flowing? Ask you partner to share some of his preferred vocabulary (and what NOT to say). This conversation alone can get you off and running.
But if you are still at a loss what to say, try simply describing what’s happening and how you feel about it. “Now I’m going to kiss/lick/suck/stroke your ______” or “Mmmm, I love it when you _____.”
Step 4 - The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become. And new doors will likely open up. Who knows what may happen once you start whispering your little secrets in your partner’s ear? Role playing, or sharing fantasies, is an extension of hot talk that can deepen your intimate connection—and make life a whole lot more interesting between the sheets.
World Pyro Olympics 2008 Philippine's Pyro Musical
The 2008 World Pyro Olympics ended in May 31st. The last day of event is called the Fellowship of Fire Display. It is the largest international fireworks competition in the world. The final day also included the awarding of the competition's winner, the exhibition fellowship fireworks show, and the final pyro musical, which is a display of fireworks with the synchronization of music. This year is the 3rd World Pyro Olympics which opened last May 3. The said event was held every Saturday of May at the Esplanade Area of the SM Mall of Asia, the largest mall in the Philippines and the third largest in Asia. The principal sponsors of the big event were SM Mall of Asia and Pepsi.
World Pyro Olympics 2008 Philippine's Pyro Musical VIDEO (Part 1/2)
The participants of this year's competition were Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Venezuela. They compete in their artistry and technical expertise.
The event brings benefits to the Philippines especially in the economic aspect. Since it started, the number of spectators grows bigger and bigger. The crowd does not only include Filipinos but tourists and foreigners, having a chance for them to have a glimpse of the Philippines. The success of the 1st world competition gave way to an annual event.
World Pyro Olympics 2008 Philippine's Pyro Musical VIDEO (Part 2/2)
To close the event, the La Mancha Pyro Productions showed their own display of expertise as exhibitor. They are the pioneer and industry leader for displays in the Philippines. La Mancha is also the organizer of the World Pyro Olympics. The country or team that won in this big annual event is Italy.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Men in dresses
For 27 years, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams have been playing all the wacky folk of tiny Tuna, Texas - men and women, young and old. Yet it's their female characters - such as Sears' cantankerous, dog-poisoning Aunt Pearl and Williams' gravel-voiced, used-weapons entrepreneur Didi Snavely - who grab the most stage time, get the biggest laughs and have become the series' trademark figures.
"We didn't plan it that way," Sears says. "But from the first show (Greater Tuna, premiered in Austin in 1981), they've taken charge. Maybe it's that we both came from families with fairly dominating women. Maybe it's that every play needs some heart. While we can find it in a few of the men, like Petey Fisk (the town's meek but determined animal advocate), it usually arises more naturally from the women."
"I think it's a Texas thing," Williams says. "For instance, you can talk about all the colorful men there've been in Texas politics - but then you throw in Ann Richards and everyone else pales beside her. We've got a line about how Texas men may be scary but it's really the women who run the show."
Or maybe it's just that — as Milton Berle and Flip Wilson proved to TV audiences years ago — a guy in a dress is funny.
That dictum seems especially true for Sears and Williams. Offstage, in their street clothes, these down-to-earth guys probably wouldn't be pegged as actors. They look more like ranchers or truck drivers. However humorous, their male characters usually hew to that offstage reality, a look that's — well, kind of ordinary. By comparison, the Tuna women are outrageous, outlandish and outspoken, letting the actors paint the roles in bigger, brighter colors.
Williams says it's a blast when he and his co-star take on such bold, outspoken personas as sassy Tastee Kreme waitresses Helen Bedd and Inita Goodwin. "These two are not making enough money to be polite," he says.
"I'd have to admit they (the female characters) are more fun to play," Sears says. "It's the stretch they give us, the chance to exaggerate."
Tuna Does Vegas, the fourth and newest in the series, returns to Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House tonight and plays through Aug. 24. The pair (who co-write the shows with director Ed Sears) report it has undergone considerable change since its premiere there one year ago.
Sears and Williams are continuing a long-standing theatrical tradition. In the early 20th century, Julian Eltinge's tasteful impersonations were seen as a tribute to womanhood. Stars from Ray Bolger in Where's Charley? to Harvey Fierstein in Torch Song Trilogy to George Hearn in La Cage Aux Folles won Tonys playing heroes/heroines who (either by choice or necessity) spent much of their stage time in women's garb. More recently, Fierstein won again playing a woman (not a man dressed as one) in Hairspray.
The device has long been a favorite in movie comedies, with such standout entries as Tootsie, Mrs. Doubtfire and the classic Some Like It Hot, the ne plus ultra of drag cinema.
Obviously, the Tuna guys appreciate the comic opportunities in such gender-bending.
"My role model is Flip Wilson as Geraldine," Williams says. "That character was so politically incorrect and absolutely brilliant."
With two actors playing some 20 roles between them, two key challenges of costuming the Tuna shows are keeping each character distinct and making the changes possible in just seconds.
Linda Fisher, the New York-based designer who has costumed the series from the start, says she uses a color code to help the audience keep the characters straight. Perpetually hassled homemaker Bertha Bumiller favors lime green (an "acid green" Fisher calls it.) Would-be social lioness and "smut snatcher" Vera Carp wears peach.
The identifying factor can also be a pattern rather than a color: Aunt Pearl in old-fashioned print dresses, OKKK radio host Arles Struvie in plaid shirts, and so forth.
"When I first did the show," Fisher says, "they'd done some work on their own, coming up with clothes that worked for the characters. The original lime green polyester pants suit for Bertha was something that Jaston had found in a thrift store — and he actually fought a woman to get it."
As to facilitating the quick changes, Fisher says "there's no one solution." The techniques vary, but she most often creates systems of layering, so that pieces of costume can be quickly removed to reveal the next change. Transitional passages often find one or both actors just offstage, morphing from one character to the next, while continuing to deliver overlapping dialogue.
Fisher agrees the series' women are the more flamboyant roles, but feels the team keep the menfolk in proper balance.
"What makes it work is that Joe and Jaston play them all sincerely, including the women. They're acting women characters, not men in drag, camping.
Because it's the first of the series to take the Tuna characters beyond their home turf, Vegas is the team's most elaborately costumed outing. There are new, non-Tuna characters, including dueling Elvis Presley impersonators and hotel manager Anna Conda (who, Williams reports, "favors snakeskin muumuus.) Even some Tuna folk get beyond their Texas-tacky fashion roots. Aunt Pearl wins some loot and gets dolled up. Helen and Inita get jobs as showgirls.
Wait till you see those costumes.
Courtesy of The Houston Chronicle Read More...
Yao carrying China flag at Olympics opener again
Click IMAGE to enlarge:
BEIJING - Olympic host China has selected Houston Rockets star Yao Ming to be its flag-bearer at the opening ceremony. Again. Yao first carried the flag at the 2004 Games in Athens. As China's highest profile athlete, he had long been a front runner to receive the honor for a second time.
The criteria ... is that the bearer should be a skilled sportsman, with excellent sporting ethics and a positive public image," China's deputy chef de mission Cui Dalin said at a news conference on Thursday.
"There are many in the Chinese delegation who fill the bill. What to do? After careful consideration, the delegation decided that the flag bearer for the Chinese delegation should be Yao Ming," Cui said.
Since leaving for the NBA in 2002, Yao has loyally returned for national team duties, anchoring the team in major tournaments and taking China to eighth in the last Olympics. That has helped make him a household name in his homeland, earning him millions of dollars annually in endorsements and placing him consistently near the top on lists of the most popular and marketable celebrities. Exempted as hosts from qualifying, China is fielding its largest ever Olympic team; 639 athletes competing in all 28 sports. The team is slightly older than that of four years ago, with an average age of 24.4. Among them, 73 percent are Olympic first-timers, while 165 competed previously in Athens and 37 in Sydney. Three athletes: 10 meter diving champion Guo Jingjing, shooter Tan Zongliang and men's basketball veteran Li Nan, are three-time Olympians. While China is believed to be aiming to top the medal tallies for the first time, Cui said organizers had never set a target, although he noted Chinese athletes had been steadily improving their results.
"A lot of other countries have also been improving this Olympic cycle," Cui said.
A date with 8s - considered favorable in Chinese culture - could bring you prosperity
Toss aside Lucky 7. This year, look for good fortune to land on the 8s: 8/8/08. Today.
The source of the day's numerical hope is China, where the word 8 sounds a lot like the word for prosperity, said Nine-Min Cheng, community-outreach director of Houston's Chinese Community Center and principal of its language school.Many natives of China - or those inspired by the culture - are drawn to 8. They seek it out for phone numbers, license plates, e-mail addresses, names and special events as a sign portending luck or prosperity in their lives and endeavors.
Take the Olympics. They start today at 8 p.m. Beijing time, according to the games' official Web site. Or 888 Chinese Restaurant, which has three locations including a new one in Clear Lake called 888 Bistro.
"The number in China is a very super lucky number," said Jin Xiu Zheng, manager of the restaurant near Gulfgate Mall.
"We wish luck for all the people, for the customers, for us, for the business."
Hoi Fung, owner of Fung's Kitchen, said he has an 8 in his address, his license plate, his phone number, his fax number and in his bank accounts.
"It is some sort of phenomenon," said Thomas Poung Au, of the Asia Society Texas Center's advisory board.
"It's almost like it's better to believe that it works than not believe it," he added with a laugh. "I don't think everyone takes it too seriously, but they do it in case it actually works."
Even Au points to a couple of significant 8s in his life. He married in 1978 and started his international marketing firm in Houston, Poung Au Design, in 1988. He is retired now.
The association of 8 and luck stems from Cantonese tradition, Cheng said, though some say the verbal association is also in Mandarin. But it now spans China, Au said.
"Everybody from the south, from Hong Kong to Shanghai to Beijing, believes the number 8 is a lucky number," he said. "It's universal."
Its universality has extended all the way to the capital of looking-for-luck, Las Vegas.
"We are anticipating that 8/8/08 is going to be a very popular day for visitation to Las Vegas," said Alicia Malone, public relations manager for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. As a rule, any date with repeating numbers usually plays well in Vegas, she said.
Businesses in the city are hoping to cash in. Salons are offering reduced rates of $88 for services, and at least one hotel will feature Chinese lion dances in the casino. The Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower is hosting a mass wedding at 8:08 p.m. for 88 couples at a cost of $8.88 each.
Even outside Sin City, Super 8 Motel is getting in on the good-luck action by offering 800 rooms daily for 8 days for $8.88 after 8 p.m. today.
Prosperity may come to gamblers with the number 8. But the association is not necessarily with games of chance but for a personal lucky number chosen because it is an anniversary date or the jersey number of a favorite sports star, said Aaron Smith of Casino Event, a Houston-based company that hosts parties.
"Seven is definitely the big one," Smith said. "That is the come-out roll (in craps). People try to hit 7 or 11. But there is really nothing to 8."
When it comes to weddings, the number 8 is no 7.
Last year, 7/7/07 was a winning combination, especially for couples heading to the altar. The Knot, a wedding Web site company, had 70,000 couples registered on knot.com and weddingchannel.com, company spokeswoman Melissa Bauer said.
By comparison, about 22,000 registered users plan to marry today. Bauer said that is many more than the 5,000 who sign up to say 'I do' on a typical Friday in August.
At David's Bridal, which has more than 280 stores throughout the country, today is expected to be the sixth-most-popular wedding date of the year, company spokeswoman Cindi Freeburn said. Nearly 8,000 brides have chosen a dress from a David's store to wear today, 150 of them from stores in the Houston area.
The most popular wedding date of the year for David's customers was June 7, also known as 6/7/08. That day drew about 15,000 customers to the stores, "proving the theory of an interest in numerical significance," Freeburn said.
David's customer 25-year-old Emily Binion and her fiance, Daniel Clay, are among the couples getting married today. The choice was a coincidence, Binion said. But once she started writing out those 8s on forms, she realized they had made a lucky choice.
"It was a cool date," Binion said. "It is easy to remember, so it is lucky for my fiance."
Courtesy of The Houston Chronicle
Thursday, August 7, 2008
How to Know a guy who is not virgin
How do you know if the guy you are dating is no longer a virgin? In most cases, virgin males are quiet and modest. Some guys who are not virgin are loud and talks dirty most especially in a friend's conversation. Some guys who are not virgin are noisy and lack of respect for girls. Not like a virgin man ,he seems very quiet and modest towards girls. Some men who are no longer virgin are aggressive and manipulative with women. They tend to act like the boss in the group, not like some virgin men who have lower pride with other people. Some virgin men will shake their fingers and become cold when girls touched their hands. But for some men, who are not virgin ,God, when you close to them, they are like a shark who are ready to swallow you.
Instructions:
Step 1 - Some virgin male seems to shake their hands if girls approach them but for men who are not virgin, they will grab you right away if you are alone with them.
Step 2 - Virgin men seems to act innocent and scared with women but men who had sex experienced acts aggressive and the girls are the one who are scared of them.
Step 3 - When you go out with men who had sex experienced, be very careful because as soon as they get a chance they are going to force you to a place that you do not want. But some are educated and afraid to break the laws and hurt women.
Tips & Warnings:
Do not go out for a guy who had sex experienced, if you are not sure of him.
How to Embrace
Hugs are as varied as the people who give them. Typically, hugs can be categorized into three groups: the family hug, the friend hug and the lover's hug. A lover's embrace is more erotic with a lot more body contact than the other hugs. Hugging can be very sexy if done right. If you want to change a platonic gesture into a sensual embrace, then you've come to the right place.
Instructions:
Step 1 - Be aware of your body. Body control is important if you want to provide the best embrace possible for your partner. The sensual hug involves a lot of body contact where you get to feel your partner's body. You don't want to squeeze too tightly or too lightly.
Step 2 - Start off with a light hug with eye contact. If you're a man, begin by gently holding your partner's shoulders. Slowly glide your hands down her arms and to her waist. Move your hands to her lower back so that your arms envelop her.
Step 3 - Press her to your body. Breathe into her hair or neck and massage her lower back with your hands. If you're a woman, put your arms around your partner's neck and press yourself against his torso or shoulder.
Step 4 - Move the to the next stage by slowly rubbing your bodies together. Keep the movements small, kind of like gentle swaying. Let your hands roam up and down your partner's back, sides and buttocks.
Step 5 - Lie down and hold each other firmly with your arms and legs wrapped completely around each other. Rub each others arms, necks and backs. You can enjoy this feeling of closeness as is or let things process to the next level naturally.
How to Give a Sensual Massage
Knowing how to give a sensual massage can be a good way to spend quality time with that special someone or a person you're looking to have as that special someone. Follow these steps to give a sensual massage and you'll have your someone special melting from your touch in no time.
Instructions:
Step 1 - Prepare a quiet area to give the sensual massage. Play relaxing music and if you like candles, set up aromatherapy candles to set the mood.
Step 2 - Have the person you're massaging lie down on the bed or a nicely prepared pallet on the floor. Since this is a sensual massage, ask the person you're massaging to remove all of their clothing.
Step 3 - Wash your hands, dry them, make sure they're warm and apply a massage oil of your choosing.
Step 4 - Place your hands on the lower back of whomever you're massaging. With your hands on either side of their spine, start applying pressure and rub your hand up the person's back to their shoulders. From there rub your hands over their shoulders and then back down their back. Repeat a few times.
Step 5 - Start from the lower back again and knead the flesh repeatedly, slowly working your way up to the shoulders and then neck. Once at the neck work your way back down to the lower back, kneading as you go. Repeat a few times.
Step 6 - Take your fingertips and run them gently down the back of the person you're massaging. Without applying any pressure, gently rub them back up to their shoulders. The idea is to use your fingers like feathers across the skin of whomever you're massaging. Repeat a few times to give subtle, sensual clues with the massage.
Step 7 - Incorporate objects in your massaging such as ice, feathers and balls made for massages or anything else you can think of that will feel nice and give a stimulating, sensual massage. Incorporating different objects increases the sensations for the person receiving the massage.
How to Give yourself a PROSTATE massage!
This is a really easy way to masturbate for guys that like more than an Oral or penetrating sexual act. With a little practice, You can become your own best masseur; each massage gets better and more exacting with practice. You may never have considered this option before and it is less evasive than having another male penetrate you. All couples can also enjoy this experience as well. Just know where the "gold" is and how to go for it!
Things You’ll Need:
• A complete shower
• Clean rectum
• Time alone or a willing to try partner
• KY lubrication, there are lots to choose from
• Hand towel or warm cloth
Step 1 - 
Begin by showering THOROUGHLY, this means inside and out. You will want to do a self exam to assure that you have cleaned out your rectum completely. Nothing will stop this adventure like unwelcome skid marks or a fudgey mess.
Water is NOT a lubricant! It can, as a matter of fact, be quite abrasive. You will want to towel dry well externally and know through exploration the target anal area you are about to enter.
Step 2 - 
Now it the time to find your private space and relax a bit. Do what ever relaxes you, be it foreplay, a glass of wine or a favorite video. Lay down a clean bath towel on your bed and ready the hand towel, washcloth and lubrication to the bedside.
You will want to have all the essentials ready. Just like and explorer, using the proper tools will speed things along. For the feint of heart, you might also want to use, at least at first, a rubber or latex glove. Do what ever makes you most comfortable. Using a wedge pillow is a great idea, and will help you get where you are going
Step 3 - Start by lubricating the exterior sphincter. Now lube your finger of choice and go inside your anus. If yo are at all erect, you will feel the firm mass of the prostate just behind where the penile shaft attaches to your trunk. This is your target, treat it gently, at first and you can become more aggressive later.
Some of you will feel that your arm and fingers are just not long enough to reach the prostate. Try several positions until you are assured that you have made contact.
Step 4 - Now, very gently rub and massage the firm mass of the prostate. One or two fingers are preferred, but one is generally enough. If a partner is involved, verbalize what is happening and avoid being too whining or aggressive.
A simple in and out motion should do the trick. Find what feels best to you. This massage, although feeling quite sensual and sexual is actually good for the health and flow of the prostate.
Step 5 - As you do your massage, you should begin to realize a flow to the penile shaft. After much practice you will eventually achieve a new type of orgasm; one without penile penetration. This may or may not be you goal. If it is, go for it. If not use the massage as a precursor to a more obvious male sexual outcome.
When you have thoroughly finished, by feeling fulfilled or by ejaculation, you will want to ease out and clean up.
Step 6 - A very warm cloth is nice to finish the massage. Any physical will tell you that the rectal manipulation is also good for your health. So clean up well. Some enjoy the aftermath as much as the actual massage.
Only you can determine what you want from this massage and how far you will want to take the stimulation. If you are uncomfortable with doing it alone, ask for a partners help. Giving and receiving this anal penetration can be quite the foreplay to greater things!
Be open to the experience!
Tips & Warnings:
• Prepare all necessary tools in advance
• Take a thorough shower
• Clean up after the massage
• Use a large beach or bath towel
• Be open to exploration
• NEVER be rough
• Don't hurt yourself or place anything in the rectum that can create vacuum or tearing
• Know when to stop
• Know when it is safe to share your experience.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Best Way To Lose Fat
How To Lose Fat NOW:
A Basic Fat-Loss Program That You Can Put To Work Today!
As we age our metabolism slows and we also don't do as much exercise as we did when younger. The best way to keep our youthful size is to eat healthily and in moderation and keep up the exercise.
So you want to drop some fat but you're not sure of what the best way is to get started? Here's a short guide that will get you moving in the right direction... an exact training program (done 3 times per week) covering weights and cardio, as well as what to eat, how much to eat, and what supplements you need and don't need.
Let's get right to it! 
STEP 1 - FOOD QUALITY
For fat loss, WHAT you're eating is just as important as HOW MUCH you're eating. Think of it it way...you can lose weight eating ONLY 1000 calories worth of chocolate pudding every day...but how do you think you're going to feel eating nothing but chocolate pudding!
It's VERY important to eat good quality, nutritious food when you're trying to lose fat. Your body needs nutrients to function. Without good nutrition, your body will react in two ways: first, it will shut down your metabolism to try and conserve nutrients. Second, it will set off RAGING cravings to try and get you to eat more nutrients!
Focus on unprocessed foods, as close to their natural state as possible. Unprocessed foods are more nutritious and easier for your body to digest and work with. This simple change can make a big difference to your fat-loss efforts.
Here's the deal...contrary to popular thought, a calorie is NOT a calorie. The popular scientific consensus used to be (and still is according to some people) that all calories are created equal. That it didn't matter what you ate in terms of nutrients (fat, carbs and protein), as long as the total calorie intake was below a certain point, you would lose fat.
Unfortunately, that is NOT the case and it's common sense - what do you think would help you lose fat better...that 1000 calories of chocolate pudding or 1000 calories of lean chicken breast, vegetables and brown rice? Quality of food DOES matter and it can mean the difference between success and failure.
Advice: for 1 week, take a small notepad wherever you go and write down EVERYTHING you eat. And do mean EVERYTHING - even if it's just a snack or a little nibble of a cracker, write it down, as well as how much of it you ate. Remember, this is just for one week - you don't have to do this for the rest of your life so be honest about everything you eat! 
At the end of the week, look at what you've eaten and put a checkmark beside everything that is unprocessed (a good rule of thumb is anything that can be found on the outside aisles of the grocery store, lean meats, fish, eggs, veggies, fruits, nuts, potatoes, whole grains, legumes, etc.). This is a good visual cue to see exactly how you're doing with your food quality.
If you see that more than half of the foods have checkmarks beside them, you're doing much better than average already! Ideally, you want to get that number of checkmarks as high as possible.
STEP 2 - FOOD QUANTITY
Now that you've looked at WHAT you're eating, it's time to turn your attention to HOW MUCH you're eating. Even the highest quality, nutritious food can make you fat if you eat too much of it. So to lose fat effectively, you basically have to eat less food.
There are many, MANY methods and formulas for figuring this out but, bottom line, ALL of them are really just "best-guesses" - even the scientific formulas that work out your requirements to the single calorie are just guesses. These guesses are based on plenty of data, mind you, and they can be very helpful in determining a good starting point. But if a formula says you need X number of calories and you eat that and you still aren't losing fat, obviously that number isn't the number for you.
Here's a very simple rule of thumb for estimating a STARTING POINT for determining your caloric intake to lose fat: take your weight in pounds and multiply it by 10. For example, if you weigh 175 pounds, that would give you a starting point of 1750 calories per day.
Go back to that week-long list of foods that you wrote down (from the previous point) and plug those foods into the database on this site (it has a HUGE number of foods that you can track):
Add up your calories for the whole week, divide that by 7 (to get your average caloric intake per day) and see how it compares to number you get from the simple formula I described above.
If it's higher, you need to eat less food. If it's lower and you find you're STILL not losing fat, you may need to eat even less than that.
I would NOT recommend going below 1000 calories per day for food intake at the VERY lowest. When you start getting that low, you run into problems because your body isn't getting enough energy and nutrients from the small amount of food you're eating. This is doubly true when you're exercising as well. Your body will react by slowing your metabolism and burning up lean tissue (like your muscle mass). This will put a stop to fat loss and can be dangerous!
STEP 3 - WEIGHT TRAINING 
One of the first things people ask when they want to lose fat is "how much cardio should anyone do."
Here's the bottom line: if you go into an aerobics class and take a snapshot of the people in there then come back 6 months later and take another shapshot, chances are VERY good that most of the people in the class haven't made any significant changes to their bodies.
Sure, cardio training burns calories, but it doesn't reshape your body and it doesn't build muscle mass to same degree as weight training. This is true for both men and women.
If you want to lose fat, you should weight train at least three times per week (e.g. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). It's recommend total body workouts each session for beginning trainers as it helps the body to learn the exercises faster and build strength and muscle faster.
Here's what a typical resistance training session would look like:
3 sets of back
3 sets of chest
3 sets of thighs
2 sets of shoulders
2 sets of hamstrings
2 sets of biceps
2 sets of triceps
2 sets of calves
2 sets of abs
Take about a minute rest in between each set and aim for about 8 to 10 reps per set.
The MOST important thing to note here with rep ranges is that those 8 to 10 reps are a GUIDE NOT A TARGET. The idea is to choose a weight that makes it tough to complete those 10 reps. The idea is NOT to take a weight that you can easily do 10 reps with, do 10 reps then stop regardless of whether the muscle was really worked or not. To make progress, you need to push yourself.
People diligently counting their reps as they whip through an exercise then stop before they even put a dent in their strength levels.
Don't be afraid to push yourself! THAT is where the real results are!
STEP 4 - CARDIO TRAINING 
Cardio definitely has a place in a fat-loss program. A cardio workout will burn the fat but if your genes dictate that your fat hangs on to your stomach, it'll be difficult for the world to discover your six pack. Oftentimes, our genes dictate where the fat goes. Spot exercising will build the muscle but it may not remove the fat. Our bodies love to hold on to a certain percentage of fat. If we go too low, then our body starts to tear down our muscle -- an effect that works against us.
1. It shouldn't be the main focus of a fat-loss exercise program when it so often is.
This is a point mentioned above - I believe weight training should be the focus of an exercise program for fat loss. Not only is it more effective for fat loss, there is actually LESS chance of injury than with the typical repetitive-movement cardio activities (anyone who has tried to take up jogging when they're 20+ pounds overweight can attest to that!).
2. It's normally done with low intensity and for long periods of time, which does NOT boost the metabolism.
The REAL key to losing fat is ramping up your metabolism to burn calories ALL THE TIME rather than just when you're exercising. By keeping intensity low, you only burn calories DURING exercise, not so much after. But when you boost intensity, your metabolism gets cranked up and you burn more calories ALL DAY.
3. It's typically done WAY too much.
In order to get results with typical long-duration cardio, many people do it upwards of 5 or 6 and even 7 days a week! This is fine if you're an athlete training for an endurance competition but if you're a busy person (as many people are), you just don't have TIME to sit on a stationary bike for an hour a day.
Couple that long duration and high frequency with a repetitive movement and you not only have greater chance of injury, you also have greater chance of boredom (which sometimes means giving up on exercise altogether because "it just doesn't work for me").
My recommendation is always to use interval training instead of the long-duration cardio training. It can be done MUCH faster (10 to 20 minutes), boosts your metabolism for long periods AFTER training, and finally, it actually helps your body hang onto muscle tissue while burning fat.
There are two ways to include cardio in with the weight training program described above.
1. Do your cardio training immediately AFTER your weights.
When you do it this way, don't eat anything after you do weights - just go directly into your cardio after a few minutes rest. You only need about 10 minutes of training to really make a dent in your fat stores. This has the advantage of allowing you to get all your training done all at once (in the gym 3 times a week and that's it).
2. Do your cardio training on separate days or separate sessions
This is a good way to go in that you won't be tired from the weight training when you do the interval training. You may need go a bit longer in your sessions (e.g. 15 to 20 minutes) when done on its own. This method does have the advantage of giving your metabolism a separate boost in addition to the weights. When doing it this way, you can do cardio on its own on Tuesday and Thursday, for example.
Either method is very effective! The real key is working hard at the training.
NOTE: DO NOT do interval training every day! It may work well for a little while but you will very quickly overwork the body, which will stop your results.
STEP 5 - SUPPLEMENTS 
When training to lose fat, here are the supplements highly recommend:
- Protein Powder - to help with rebuilding and repairing muscle tissue and keeping the immune system functioning well
- Glutamine - helps speed recovery and boost the immune system
- Multivitamins - to help you cover all your nutritional bases
- Vitamin C - helps repair joints, is a strong antioxidant and boosts the immune system
- Calcium/Magnesium - for your bones and also for muscle contractions...it's hard to get enough of these nutrients when reducing caloric intake
These are the basics, as far as I'm concerned. It's critical to give your body ample nutritional support when trying to lose fat.
CONCLUSION:
These 5 simple steps should get you started on your way to losing the extra fat. Here are they are in review:
Step 1 - improve the quality of the food you eat
Step 2 - eat less food
Step 3 - start weight training
Step 4 - include some cardio training
Step 5 - use supplements to support your body
Go through the list step-by-step and you will on your way to fat-loss success!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
(Hair) Style Matters
While choosing the right hairstyle is ultimately about your personal taste there are some basic rules you should follow. At the top of this list is considering what styles suit your face shape.
The oval face is considered to be the ideal shape by hairdressers. People with an oval face shape can wear most hair cut styles and lengths with it still looking "right". The oval face is mathematically 1.5 times as long as its width, with the forehead slightly wider than the jaw.
Round faces are characterised by a round chin. Because they lack the length of the oval face, the hair should be cut to create the illusion of length in the face. This is achieved by creating height on top of the head, and minimising hair width by keeping it flat at the sides and around the ears.
Rectangular faces have a square chin and hairline, and are long and narrow. The ideal style of hair cut is one which creates width at the sides disguising the narrowness. A fringe can also shorten the face, and a style with a side part will help to reduce the square appearance.
Pear shaped faces have a narrow forehead and are widest at the jawline, with a round chin. The objective of a suitable style of hair cut is to give the illusion of an oval face by creating width at the forehead and temples. Heart shaped faces are widest at the temples and narrowest at the jawline. Usually the chin is small and delicate. The hair cut style's objective should be to create an oval by adding width at the jawline.
Diamond shaped faces are widest at the cheekbones and narrow in the forehead and chin. By creating width at the forehead and minimising it at the cheekbones, the illusion of an oval face can be achieved.
Square faces have a square jawline and hairline at the forehead. They are 'too short', so a suitable hair cut style seeks to create height elongating the face. Hair should be layered around the face to soften the jawline. Jaw and brow nearly same width. Hair should wisp around face to reduce squareness.
It's not uncommon for someone to walk into a salon and say, "Give me a Brad Pitt", but the key to finding a style that works for you is having a hair cut that works with your face shape, not against it.
Get the Most Flattering Hair Style
Many people look to celebrities to find a new hair style. Then you go to your salon and get that fantastic celebrity hair style only to discover (usually after the first shampoo) that you need to spend about an hour to get it to look the same way.
There are 5 Important Questions you should ask yourself if you want to get the most flattering hair style that will work for you.
1. How much time you are willing to spend every day fixing your hair? Include hair drying, hair straightening, hair curling, special conditioning, styling, etc. Be realistic about your lifestyle and hair grooming habits. If you don't have the time, don't get a high maintenance hair style.
2. Is your hair in good condition? Don't plan on doing any sort of perms, hair straightening, extensions, bleaching if your hair is damaged or brittle.
3. Do you know what your face shape is? Your face shape is very important for selecting any hair style. What will look great on a square face shape might not look good at all on a round face. See HairResources.com for suggested hair styles for each face shape.
4. Are you generally happy with your hair stylist? Does your hair stylist give you instructions about how to style your hair at home? Do they address all of your concerns about your hair or hair style?
The hair stylist plays a vital role in the way your hair style will look from day to day. You need to get a hair style that YOU can make look great on your own.
5. Do you know what hair styles you like and why you like them? If you explain to your stylist what you like about certain features of a hair style--i.e. long side-swept bangs or long layers in the back---the stylist may be able to add some of these features to your hair style even though the entire hair style may not be suited for your hair.
For more information about the QUALITY HAIR REPLACEMENT SYSTEMS log on to:
http://www.hatsoffhair.com/
Monday, August 4, 2008
Would you pose in Nude?
Click IMAGE to enlarge:
It's not unusual these days for some women/men to want their own nude photograph. After all, the human body has been artistically explored and exhibited for so long.
For some people, posing nude is a "tool of expression," a way to convey ideas. It also improves one's perception of his or her own body image.
'Think you can pose in the nude? In case you suddenly decide you'd want to...
Here are some tips you can try to ease the awkwardness:
1. Get someone you know to take your photo. This could be a close friend who doesn't even have to be a professional photographer. If you're lucky to be friends with a pro, then book him or her for your portrait.
2. Plan your preferred pose beforehand so you won't have to waste time experimenting while you're already naked. You can also practice this in the mirror so you can easily tell the photographer about your vision for the photo.
3. Shoot in your own space so you can be comfortable with the surroundings. If you plan on doing it in your house or room, tidy up your room, and change the bedsheets, curtains, and pillowcases.
4. Be confident. This is your nude photo and there's no pressure to be perfect. Your body is yours to love, and a nude photo should teach you to appreciate it more.
Party at 08/08/08!
We're not very superstitious, but something about Aug. 8, 2008 sounds lucky. After all, it's not everyday that we get to celebrate a day that spells out 08/08/08! And just in time for this day, Miika Eloranta and Janne Mansnerus, better known as Scandinavian trance team Super 8 & Tab, are playing the music for the 08/08/08 Bigfish party in Makati's A. Venue Events Hall.
Last year's Boracay party
Super 8 & Tab hail from Finland, and have hosted the Anjunabeats Worldwide Radio Show that reaches trance music fans in the US, Poland, Romania, and Turkey. In 2007, Super 8 & Tab broke into DJ Magazine’s annual Top 100 DJs poll—and anyone who knows anything at all about music would know that this is the be all and end all of dance music greatness. The pair came in at #127, an admirable feat for a new act that hasn’t even released a debut album yet.
So if you're planning to party on 08/08/08, head over to Super 8 & Tab's Manila debut!
For advanced tickets and reservations, contact 6327762 or 6348238. To find out more info about the event, check out www.bigfishmanila.com. Get to know Super 8 and Tab better by visiting www.super8andtab.com.
Courtesy of FemaleNetwork.com
Bench Blackout
All roads led to Araneta Coliseum last July 25, as men and women alike (all above 18) promptly arrived for Blackout, the Bench Denim and Underwear Show. Nothing short of spectacular is expected whenever Bench holds its underwear and denim show which happens every two years. As always, the apparel giant did not disappoint the many lucky bearers of the hottest ticket in town.
True to its name, Blackout is dark and whimsical, drawing on the world of the arcane and the occult for its inspiration: models dressed as glamorous demons, interpretations of the underworld, masquerade-themed outfits, outer space concepts, and even a Japanese anime feel were the components of the night’s show. Yet despite the dark theme, Bench’s impressive lineup of celebrity endorsers still managed to shine their brightest that night. Some, however, shone more brightly than others.
It has been in the news since then that Annabel Rama has been complaining about her son Richard Gutierrez’ lack of introduction and extremely dark getup (he was sexily rugged, bearing a rough cape and wearing dark glasses), which she blames for the lack of response from the audience when he made his grand entrance. And this was in stark contrast to fellow GMA primetime idol Dingdong Dantes’ loud reception from the audience. As soon as Dingdong entered the stage, the audience started screaming, louder and louder with each piece of his outfit that he lets go of, until he eventually unzips his pants and lets them fall, as he basks in his underwear glory.
Other celebrities who made a statement in the show were PBB Teen Idols Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu, who were among the first celebrities to make an entrance; JC de Vera, who wowed the crowd with his bare buffed torso; Jake Cuenca, who seemed really intense that night, with his raging entrances—at one point even kneeling as if in abandon and later showing off his buttocks in thongs; Sarah Geronimo, who gamely walked down the runway, smiling as she shakes her head; Rafael Rosell, who went “brief-less” behind a screen; Sam Milby, whose tanned lean body elicited screams from the crowd, which includes Anne Curtis; Diether Ocampo, whose body is still to die for; the ever-confident Alessandra de Rossi, who’s a natural in these underwear shows; hottie Marco Alcaraz, who removed one of the pairs of underwear he was wearing, which he threw to the crowd; Angelica Panganiban, who was glowing and glittering as she serenely walked down the stage; and a still-hot Jomari Yllana who quickly regained composure after slipping.
Some celebrities, however, blended into the background and did not shine as much as their fellow stars. The ever-pretty Shaina Magdayao, for one, seemed lost in her elaborate attire for the night; Rica Peralejo, was not so remarkable in her outfit and cropped do; FHM’s Precious Adona walked and posed awkwardly when she walked down the catwalk; and Ehra Madrigal, who elicited no reaction even as she strutted down the catwalk in bright yellow underwear. Conspicuously absent were Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz, whom a lot of women in the crowd anticipated that night.
Bench’s power couple Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres did not grace the ramp this year, except at the end of the show, with Bench mogul Ben Chan. Another big-time couple, Kris Aquino and James Yap, was spotted in the audience.
Which star shone the brightest in this Blackout? See for yourself in FemaleNetwork’s coverage of the show.
Click IMAGE to enlarge:
Courtesy of FemaleNetwork.com
