The American Dream?

Schwarzenegger announces bid for governor

By CNN (08/07/2003)

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- After dropping hints about his political ambitions, movie action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that he will run for California governor in October's recall election.

The surprise announcement came during a Wednesday afternoon taping of NBC's "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno which was scheduled to air Wednesday night. Prior to the taping, it had been widely speculated that Schwarzenegger, 56, would announce he would not run.

The Austrian-born movie star and moderate Republican helped fuel speculation about his political ambitions this summer, just as his movie "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" was being released.

California voters will decide October 7 whether to recall Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, and who should replace him.

Following the taping of the show, Schwarzenegger answered questions from a crowd of reporters gathered outside the NBC studios.

"I came to the conclusion that even though there are great sacrifices to make, I felt in the end it is my duty to jump in the race," he said. "I'm the most unique candidate because I'm an outsider."

Schwarzenegger tried to strike a populist tone.

"I know the people of California want better leadership, they want great leadership," he said. "It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican, if you're young or old. Everyone is welcome. As you know I'm an immigrant. I came over here as an immigrant and what gave me the opportunities, what made me be able to be here today is the open arms of Americans."

Although Schwarzenegger has never before sought political office, his fame and fortune are expected to make him a formidable candidate against a crowded field of lesser-knowns in an abbreviated two-month campaign.

At openings for his movie, Schwarzenegger quipped about his "terminator" role and Davis' future, and he has been very critical of the Democratic incumbent.

The actor is married to a member of America's most prominent Democratic political family -- Maria Shriver, a niece of President John F. Kennedy.

The announcement came amid a flurry of such news in what has become a race among an increasingly odd mix of candidates. The filing deadline is Saturday and so far the Secretary of State has recorded 356 official notices of candidacy. There are another 155 notices the office has received that are unofficial.

Gary Coleman, who played Arnold Drummond in the 1980s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," entered the race Wednesday. (Full story)

However, Coleman, spoke shortly after Schwarzenegger's announcement and predicted that Schwarzenegger would win. Coleman said he would vote for the "Terminator."

Gary Coleman
"Now that Arnold is in the race, there is no race. Gray Davis needs to pack his bags," he said. "I'm going to stay in the race, but I'm not going to campaign."

Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt has announced his bid for the governor's office.

Flynt suggested as his slogan "Vote for a Smut-Peddler Who Cares" and said he would expand gaming regulations to allow private casinos to have slot machines, which could be taxed by the state at 30 percent.

Others who have filed with the state in order to receive campaign documents include the melon-smashing comedian Gallagher, comedian D.L. Hughley and Angelyne, a model who made herself famous in southern California by putting her picture on billboards.

Dick Rosengarten, editor and publisher of California Political Week, told CNN Wednesday that the California race was drawing so many candidates it was in danger of becoming a farce.

Earlier Wednesday, socialite-turned-columnist Arianna Huffington threw her hat into the ring.

Huffington has never held public office, but is well-known through her commentaries on radio and television.

Huffington, an author and a political Independent, announced her decision before supporters gathered in Los Angeles, California.

"I'm not, to say the least, a conventional candidate," Huffington said, taking note of her Greek accent. But, she said, "If we keep electing the same kind of politicians who got us into the same kind of mess, funded by the same kind of special interests, we'll never get out of this mess."
Also, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, released a written statement Wednesday, saying she would not be a candidate in the governor's race.(Full story)

Other major Republican names expected in the race include Rep. Darrell Issa of San Diego County, who helped finance the petition effort that triggered the recall; state Sen. Tom McClintock of Ventura County; and businessman Bill Simon, who lost to Davis in the general election nine months ago.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, who was considering a bid for governor, has said he would not run if Schwarzenegger did.

Huffington, 53, had said she would not be a candidate if Feinstein, one of California's most popular politicians, entered the race.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/06/candidates.announce/index.html

My commentary:
I wanted to talk about this subject even if the articles is dated of 2003. In fact, I wanted to remind you that it is only in the USA that we can see a man to have such a career path. Immigrant child, Arnold scharzenegger later became a body-builder (Mr Univers), then a famous actor and he became governor of one of the most rich states of the United States. This is not what we called the American Dream??!!

I want my E3

E3 2009: Microsoft's Xbox 360 briefing analysis

E3 2009 opened with a bang in Los Angeles as Microsoft announced new technological developments and a formidable video game line up for the Xbox 360.

By Tom Hoggins, Video Games Correspondent in Los Angeles

Well, what a start to E3 2009 that was. After last year's tedious, scaled-back conference, which one industry friend said resembled 'a car boot sale', Microsoft's glitzy pre-show media briefing was the perfect way to say “E3 is back.” Steven Spielberg was there, a super shiny Audi R8 adorned the back of the stage under bright lights and dry ice. Even Paul and Ringo showed up to mumble something about the new Beatles Rock Band before shuffling off again, clearly somewhat bemused by what us crazy kids get up to these days.

So the showbiz was most definitely back. But most importantly, Microsoft showed off a phenomenal line up of Xbox 360 exclusive titles and, of course, unveiled the new motion sensing technology 'Project Natal''.

Natal is a motion sensing camera and voice recognition system that completely does away with the need for any type of controller. The technology is certainly impressive, but how it is translated into enjoyable gaming experiences will be the real acid test. The preview reel we were shown threw us images of 'lifestyle' families trying out various types of games. Xbox head honcho Don Mattrick described the video as the 'vision' for the new tech, rather than games in development. We saw fighting games, shooting games, driving games all translated into body movements captured by Natal's camera.

A lot was said about the traditional controller being the 'biggest barrier to entry' for video games. But it shouldn't be forgotten that a gamepad offers an incredible amount of dexterity when creating games. With, Natal, it's going to take an incredibly talented developer to make a video game that offers the same depth as many 'traditional' titles. The tech can be as impressive as you like but, without the right direction, the games could end up as fun but ultimately shallow experiences. From a 'core' gamer's point of view, that's exactly what has blighted Nintendo's Wii since its launch.

This is where Lionhead's new project, Milo, comes in. Demonstrated by Lionhead director Peter Molyneux, Milo is an 'emotional AI' character, with whom you interact and talk to using Natal. Depicted as a young boy in a lush countryside, Milo can recognise an individual person, talk to them and even interpret emotions via tone of voice. A video showed a young lady standing in front of the screen, talking with Milo even passing a drawing 'through' the screen, scanned in by Natal's camera. The conversation and interaction flowed seamlessly. Which is, of course, where the suspicion sets in. If Milo works as well as the video suggested, then he is a staggering breakthrough in artificial intelligence. The video was clearly scripted, so it will be fascinating to follow Milo and find out just how well the so-called 'emotional AI' works under scrutiny.

The potential of Milo and the Natal technology is sky-high and it will be intriguing to find out what developers can make of the new tech. The danger of it being a novelty is a concern, despite the fantastic technical achievement, but conceptually the technology could be yet another step to making video gaming appeal to 'everyone', a word that was thrown about with gleeful abandon during the presentations.

Despite the grand unveiling of Natal, for me the real highlight was the exceptional Xbox 360 exclusive line-up. The conference hall rumbled with the explosions and gunfire of several more 'traditional' action games. First person shooters Halo 3: ODST and Modern Warfare 2 looked brilliantly thrilling, while the enigmatic and elusive survival horror Alan Wake also had an impressive showing. Since it was last seen, Ubisoft's long-delayed Splinter Cell Conviction has had a complete makeover and its brutal, Jack Bauer-esque, stealth action made it my early candidate for best game of the show.

Microsoft have opened E3 2009 with a fantastic showing, setting the bar and daring Nintendo and Sony to match them. With Sony rumoured to be unveiling its own new controller technology, it looks to be a fascinating match up. And of course, you underestimate Nintendo at your peril. There's no doubt, E3 is back with a bang.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/e3-2009/5429260/E3-2009-Microsofts-Xbox-360-briefing-analysis.html

My commentary:

videos games are becoming more and more space in people's lives. You should know that initially the sector targeted only the youngest, over the years we note that it is broadening and becoming a sector generating many turnovers. Even parents, grandfather and women play and enjoy.

In France, it is note surprising that for the first time in 2008, a video game has become the cultural property most sold.

Some Must Touch Before They Buy!

The feel of a cup can affect how tasty people find the beverage in it, especially those with a "high need" for touch.

By Greg Soltis, LiveScience

Don't judge a book by its cover. Or a slurp of coffee by its cup.

Recent research might yield the latter advice, especially. A taste test showed that the feel of a cup can affect how tasty people find the beverage within it, especially those who have a "high need" for touch when it comes to assessing products.

A need-for-touch scale was developed by Joann Peck, a marketing professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. People with a high or low need for touch fall either above or below the midpoint on this continuous scale. When high need-for-touch people can't touch products, they become frustrated and lose confidence in their judgments of products, Peck said.

Using that scale, Aradhna Krishna of the University of Michigan and Maureen Morrin of Rutgers University, Camden, found that consumers with a high need for touch rated water served in a stiff cup as tastier than the same water served in a flimsy cup. Subjects with a lower need-for-touch didn't let the cup's stiffness influence their opinion of the beverage.

The results were detailed earlier this year in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Consumers obviously rely on their senses of sight, and sometimes smell or hearing or taste, to determine what products to buy, but research on the role of touch has been sporadic.

"Touch research in marketing is still in its infancy, so researchers are just beginning to look more closely at multi-sensory phenomena," Peck told LiveScience.

The first Sensory Marketing Conference, organized by Krishna, took place this June at the University of Michigan to foster the growth of this field and demonstrate the relevance of sight, sound, smell, touch and taste to marketers. "Our senses are an inherent part of us," said Krishna. "They aren't going anywhere."

By connecting marketing research with findings from fields such as psychology and neuroscience, researchers hope to help marketers better understand the relationship between touch and perceived value. For example, a 2006 study in the Journal of Marketing found that making an organization's pamphlet more tangibly pleasing could increase the chance of receiving a donation. And a paper by Peck currently under review for the Journal of Consumer Research shows that touching an object increases a sense of ownership and leads people to be willing to pay more for the item.

Peck says results like these bear on online shopping, which is becoming increasingly popular, rising this year as high gas prices compelled more consumers to shop from home. A rise in online purchases from companies such as the Gap, Victoria's Secret and JCPenney has helped offset in-store sales losses this year, for example. And Forrester Research says that internet sales overall should surpass $200 billion in 2008, compared to $175 billion last year.

This rise of online shopping may help account for the interest in touch among people who study marketing, Peck said.

A digital image of a cell phone and a list of its functions, size and weight can compensate for the inability to touch it. But a photo on a computer monitor of a sweater labeled as "soft" is insufficient for people who prefer to feel a sweater's fabric before buying it, she said.

Source: http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/culture/2008/09/10/some-must-touch-before-they-buy.html


My commentary:
I was really interested in this subject because i felt quite concerned by what it is talking about. Indeed, i had, and certainly you too, this strange feeling that before buying something often i need to touch the object and that especially when i have to buy clothes. The fact to get the product in my hands influences a lot my perception of the product and makes me to appropriate it. I think my sensory perceptor is very important and therefore on the need-for-touch scale developed by Joann Peck i should be quite high!

I MUST TOUCH and WHAT ABOUT YOU??!!

For better and worse we share!

Living together: the bathroom battles of the sexes
Whether it's tiffs over toothpaste or loo seats, there's one room where couples rarely find peace.

By Michael Hewitt

All couples have their minor rumbles. Late-night altercations over his snoring volume, for example, or ill-advised confirmation that, yes, her bum does look big in that. But if there's a genuine fault line in the relationship, the bathroom will usually be its San Francisco – the epicentre of more bust-ups than anywhere else in the home. Why?

"Because it's the room which, for better or worse, both partners in a relationship are forced to share," says psychodynamic counsellor, Rita Wright. "Here they first see themselves 'in the raw', compelled to witness the other's personal habits. It can be unnerving, often provoking petty arguments."

Such as who changes the loo roll. Many men may be surprised to learn that these essential supplies don't usually replenish themselves by natural accretion. Active third-party intervention is required.

"Rather than change it, my husband prefers to balance the new loo roll on top of the empty tube," complains Anne. "That's if he even bothers getting a new one out."

If he does (a leading manufacturer reports that only 24 per cent of men do, though most women would say it's closer to zero), then how he hangs it can also provoke arguments. "Under", with the flap wall-side, or "over-shot"?

Although both sexes seem equally divided on this, you can usually guarantee ending up married to someone who doesn't do it your way. For the record, the Danish Society of Engineers recommends wall-side, as there's apparently less risk of cute, Andrex-style puppies making a grab for the leading end.

Elsewhere in the bathroom, the toothpaste tube or, more specifically, where to squeeze it, rates high as a casus belli. A Texan woman was recently convicted for shooting her husband because he habitually squeezed down the middle (though, in mitigation, her lawyer argued that he did keep leaving the cap off, too).

Other vexations include singing, badly, in the bath. Two years ago, 39-year-old Caroline Bishop received an ASBO for belting out "tuneless, high-pitched" Gary Glitter numbers. Leaving socks and underwear on the floor also rankles, as does hair in the bath plug and letting the contents of your bathroom cabinet declare lebensraum, effectively forcing out those of your partner.

But all these are, of course, nothing compared to the most contentious argument since Creation: should the loo seat's default position be up or down?

The original position was almost certainly up. This is because history's first sit-down flush lavatory was installed by King Minos of Crete, around 400BC. Legend tells us he kept a man-eating Minotaur in his basement labyrinth which, presumably, always guaranteed him final say on the seat issue. We therefore had to wait until the post-Theseus era before it became a cause célèbre.

These days, 79 per cent of men leave it up, Brian among them. He's unapologetic. "I have been using lavatories successfully for more than 40 years so I do not require what is more often than not partisan guidance on the matter. Why is it wrong for me to leave it up? If it is, then it seems to me it's equally wrong of her to leave it down."

Most women disagree, often citing health and safety considerations, such as the possibility of entering a seat-less lavatory in the dark and slipping into or becoming wedged in the pan. US accident investigators reported more than 200,000 such cases last year alone. But it's also in the US that academic, Jay Pil Choi, has produced a mathematical equation which, he claims, proves the loo seat should remain up.

Other members of the scientific community, however – women scientists, in particular – dispute his calculations. As do feng shui specialists, who advise that not only should the seat remain down but the lid as well, otherwise a house's vital energy risks disappearing down the U-bend (and, in New York, apparently there's a risk of baby alligators appearing up it). Then again, many of those feng shui specialists are women, so this particular argument may yet run.

But ultimately, what are such conflicts really about? Rita Wright has a pithy answer. "In extreme cases, a relationship becoming stale and the loving feeling disappearing. In psychological terms, we're talking misplaced anger. It's far easier to yell, 'You filthy beast – you left the loo seat up again' than, 'I don't love you any more and living with you has become intolerable.' It's the sound of a once-beautiful partnership going down the pan."

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/wellbeing/5443307/Living-together-the-bathroom-battles-of-the-sexes.html

My commentary:

With my girlfriend we have never met this kind of problem because each one take into account the other! And we communicate a lot about things which can encourage troubles and we try together to avoid them. So, in some extent, we have a perfect toilet harmony and not only! And that thanks to the communication.

Wii Fit, my thinness partner ??

Wii tv ads

You feel the summer is fast approaching? Your body has gradually taken the shape of the sofa? You begin to be affraid to show your body at everyone on the beach? Do not worry Nintendo offers the solution for burning calories without having to put the nose outside: I call Wii Fit.

Yoga, step, body: Wii Fit allows you, thanks to a virtual coach, to train at any time. You just have to get on the Wii Balance Board to start sweating and gesticulating in the middle of your living room. So ladies and gentlemen do not be worried about your body, the solution is named Wii Fit!

When i told that marketers are genious : The concept is surprising since they use a person weighing as a game accessory and they have also succeeded to make women on video game.

Who is the Boss ?...

You dirty rat: Daring rodent shows puzzled leopard exactly who's boss by stealing its lunch

By Beth Hale

It's not so much snatching victory from the jaws of defeat as dinner from the jaws of danger. 4

But even the imposing presence of an adult leopard at feeding time is not enough to get between plucky young Rattus Norvegicus (better known as the brown rat) and a free meal.

This extraordinary series of images were captured by photography student Casey Gutteridge, as he trained his camera on the leopard for a course project.

The little rat - thought to be only two to three months old - was spotted scampering into the leopard's enclosure shortly after feeding time at the Santago Rare Leopard Project, in Hertfordshire.

So intent was the plucky rodent on its mission to snatch a tasty snack, that it seemed not to notice that its path was taking it within a whisker's breadth of 12-year-old Sheena.

Clutching a corner of raw meat with its tiny paws, the rat busily tucked in, until it sensed one of those whiskers moving in.

Sheena, bemused by the interloper coming between her and the remains of dinner, padded over on paws big enough to wreak vengeance with a single swipe.

But rather than giving the thief at very least the hearty set down it deserved, she gingerly lowered her nose for an exploratory sniff.

Rattus paused, lifted its dainty pink claws in submission, then - obviously deciding on a nothing-ventured-nothing-gained approach - continued to tuck in.

And after another tentative investigation, Sheena gave the leopard equivalent of a shrug and turned away.

Mr Gutteridge, 19, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, thought the rodent was a mouse.

Mr Gutteridge said: 'I have no idea where it came from - he just appeared in the enclosure after the keeper had dropped in the meat for the leopard.'He didn't take any notice of the leopard, just went straight over to the meat and started feeding himself.

'But the leopard was pretty surprised - she bent down and sniffed at it and flinched a bit like she was scared.

'It was amazing, even the keeper who had thrown the meat into the enclosure was shocked - he said he'd never seen anything like it before.'

An expert at the Wildlife Trust said the creature was in fact a young and 'inexperienced rat', identifiable by its big paws and ears and more importantly its bald, scaly tail with a thick base.

Leopard project owner Jackie James added: 'My son threw meat in for the photographers and it just appeared. Sheena batted it away but it just came back. The determined little thing took no notice and just carried on.'

Sheena was brought in to the Santago Rare Leopard Project from a UK zoo when she was just four months old.

She is one of 14 big cats in the private collection started by Jackie's late husband Peter in 1989.
The African leopard can be found in the continent's forests, grasslands, savannas, and rainforests.

The leopard is the most elusive of all the big cats. They are solitary animals and are primarily nocturnal - preferring to hunt at night.

The species is also a strong climber and is capable of killing prey larger than itself.
The leopard's prey ranges from fish, reptiles and birds to smaller mammals such as hares and monkeys.

A stealthy hunter, leopards are known to stalk close to their prey and run a relatively short distance on the hunt.

They kill by grabbing their prey by the throat and biting down with their jaws, and store their larger kills in trees - out of the reach of prowling lions and hyenas.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190772/What-squeak-Daring-mouse-whos-boss-scares-leopard-steals-lunch.html

My commentary:

We usually say that the relationship between all living beings are governed by implicitly or explicitly codes and hierarchical principles. it is very important to know and to understand them for all marketers because that can be a good tool to adapt their new products.

However, as we can see this example, between the leopard and the mouse, calls into question all of this reality. And, sometimes not to follow what our environment taught us can lead to unsual surprises also. The carelessness and ignorance may lead individuals to transcend all boundaries and that can be so FUN!

The race of perfection...

Is Plastic Surgery a Teen Thing?
For some teens, plastic surgery can be a godsend. But it has to be for the right reasons.

By Denise Mann WebMD Feature

Emily was always made fun of for her rather large nose. Then the summer before her senior year of high school, she got a nose job. All of a sudden, the same boys who called her Pinocchio and some other not-so-nice names were asking her out.

Sixteen-year-old Kimberly's triple D breasts may have gotten the boy's attention, but they made exercise -- and even walking -- painful. But a breast reduction has changed her life. Now she can exercise freely -- even jog without the back and neck pain that her large breasts once caused.

For teens like Emily and Kimberly, cosmetic surgery can be a godsend. But for others such as those who are urged by their parents, it may be ill-advised, prominent plastic surgeons tell WebMD. The key is making sure that the teen is emotionally and physically mature enough to undergo the chosen procedure.

Chemical Peels to Liposuction

For a whole slew of reasons -- from its relative safety to its acceptance in society -- plastic surgery is popular among people of all ages. The number of kids 18 and under having plastic surgery rose from just under 60,000 in 1997 to nearly 225,000 in 2003, according to statistics compiled by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

A report that looked at eight years' worth of data on teenagers found that the most common cosmetic procedures in teens are chemical peels and microdermabrasion to treat acne, laser hair removal, nose jobs, ear surgery, breast reduction, breast enlargement, chin augmentation, and liposuction to remove excess body fat.

In 2000, about 50,000 teens had chemical peels, and more than 21,000 underwent microdermabrasion. More than 15,000 teens aged 18 or younger had nose jobs, and almost 12,000 underwent procedures called otoplasty or ear surgery for protruding ears.

Male breast reduction was done in more than 2,200 young men with a condition called gynecomastia or male breasts, while more than 2,100 girls in this age group had breast enlargements -- some of which are done to correct uneven breasts. Liposuction to reduce fat deposits in the trunk or chin was done in more than 6,200 people aged 18 or younger in 2000.

Why Teens Turn to Plastic Surgery

There are many reasons that plastic surgery is increasingly accepted among all ages, from teens on up.

"First, the surgery is safe; there are very few significant complications. Second, our society places a high premium on physical attractiveness and rewards those who are slender, youthful and handsome," conclude study authors Mary H. McGrath, MD, MPH, and Sanjay Mukerji, MD, plastic and reconstructive surgeons at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, in a recent issue of the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

"Third, we live in a culture that emphasizes competition and legitimizes self-improvement as a way to gain a competitive edge and lastly, plastic surgery lives up to its expectations."

In places like Brazil, sometimes called the new capital of plastic surgery, nips and tucks are fairly common -- especially among beauty pageant contestants. Juliana Borges, 22, the new Miss Brazil who competed in the recent Miss Universe pageant, had plastic surgery four times and underwent 19 smaller cosmetic procedures. Borges had liposuction, chin surgery, fixed her nose and ears, and also had breast implants. In fact, some were suggesting that if she did win the Miss Universe title (Miss Puerto Rico won), the accolades should really have gone to her plastic surgeon.

Is Your Teen Right for Plastic Surgery?

When it comes to teens, part of the challenge is deciding on appropriate candidates who can not only benefit from cosmetic surgery but also understand its limitations.

"Teens who are encouraged to have surgeries by families and friends when they are not interested are poor candidates for plastic surgery," Malcolm D. Paul, MD, president-elect of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and a plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, Calif., tells WebMD.

"The motivation should come from within and not without," he says. "It has to be for the right reasons, not because mom and dad feel that it's something a child should do."

Darrick Antell, MD, a New York plastic surgeon, says before he performs many procedures on a teenager he tries to make sure that the concern is consistent.

"Is it the nose one week, the ears the next, and the breast the following week?" he says. "We want to be sure it is a consistent complaint."

Antell says he also likes to determine whether the concern is self-motivated in his teen patients. "If a parent dragged them in, that would send up a lot of red flags for me," he tells WebMD.
"Some parents in this day and age want everything they can have for their child, from a new stereo to a new car and sometimes a new nose. This may not necessarily be appropriate."

More teens may be undergoing cosmetic surgery today because their parents have undergone it, he says. The parent's attitude may be "I had it done and my daughters inherited the nose I didn't want."

Some procedures may be inappropriate for teens. "I think it would be a rare case where you would do liposuction on a teenager because a lot of teens grow out of their baby fat," Antell says. Breast enlargement, unless it is to make sure both breasts are symmetrical, may also be inappropriate.

"You want to make sure the breast is fully developed before performing breast augmentation," he says.

Breast reduction, however, may make dramatic improvements of quality of life if the teen can't play sports. "Very large breasts can be a hindrance to playing sports and maneuvering, and some people may experience neck, back, and shoulder pain as a result. Breast reduction surgery is a very satisfying operation in the appropriate teen patient."

Nose jobs too can make a tremendous difference in the right teen patient.

Teens who make good candidates for nose jobs are those "with noses with lumps, bumps or hooks; too big or too high; or with a poor angle between the nose and upper lip," according to McGrath and Mukerji.

People with minor imperfections are not good candidates, they note.

How to Get the Most Out of Plastic Surgery

According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the most rewarding outcomes are expected when the following exist:

- The teenager initiates the request. While parental support is essential, the teenager's own desire for plastic surgical improvement must be clearly expressed and repeated over a period of time.

- The teenager has realistic goals. The young person must appreciate both the benefits and limitations of plastic surgery, avoiding unrealistic expectations about life changes that will occur as a result of the procedure.

- The teenager has sufficient maturity. Symptoms of emotional distress must be reduced to a level that will permit the teenager to tolerate the discomfort and temporary disfigurement of a surgical procedure. Plastic surgery is not recommended for teenagers who are prone to mood swings or erratic behavior, who are abusing drugs and/or alcohol, or who are being treated for clinical depression or other mental illness.

The most important part of having plastic surgery is the surgeon you choose. When choosing a surgeon, make sure he or she is board-certified in plastic surgery and has privileges to operate in a hospital (even though a majority of cosmetic procedures are done in office), Antell says.

Source: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51431

My commentary:
This is typically kind of thing that i can not stand!! Today cosmetic surgery is beginning to generalize and I find it really pathetic especially when it affects teenagers. Indeed adolescence is a period of construction for the individual, and this construction is often through the eyes of others.

Thus, any government that would promote surgery for individuals who do not yet know who they are, would be an irresponsible government in my view. Ladies there is a truth that you must remember: the society rewards people who are "slender, youthful and handsome" but us we do not care because we are eternal dissatisfied persons!

So STOP these nonsense things right now!!

Daniel Craig in the women's mouth

Daniel Craig in 007 lolly: Fans of 007 Daniel Craig can keep their cool this summer with an ice-lolly in the shape of his body in swimming trunks.

By ...

An ice cream company created the purple "licence to chill" lolly after asking more than 1,000 women which male celebrity like to see on the end of a stick.

Del Monte Superfruit Smoothies said artists "worked tirelessly" to recreate a sculpture of 41-year-old Craig in the scene where he emerges from the sea in Casino Royale.

"Daniel Craig topped our poll of Britain's coolest celebrities and thanks to our Del Monte lolly replica he is officially immortalised as super smooth and licensed to chill," said spokesman Matt O'Connor.

The Daniel Craig smoothie lollies are blueberry, pomegranate and cranberry flavoured and under 100 calories each.

They are to be distributed during the first National Ice Cream Week which starts today and ends on June 7.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5416143/Daniel-Craig-in-007-lolly.html

My commentary:

Daniel Craig is the kind of example that shows how women can be strongly influenced by the aura and charisma of a person. Indeed, before James Bond Daniel Craig has made films in which he received rewards (Some Voices) or well-known films in the U.S. too (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), but he did not enjoy this renowned among women .

And then, since he symbolizes the man as the ladies like, rich, body-builder, a very macho, in other words, since he has played the part of James Bond suddenly he meets the success with always the same women. Actually, here the women love it for what it represents and not for what it is... This is the power of the perception ! And companies use a lot this kind of tool to market their products when they target women...

Cheap oil where are you??

With some friends we have been planning to go to spend couple days in New York before going back to France. We thought we would take the car because it seemed the most interesting but today when we were walking we were surprised by the price of gasoline. Indeed, in 6 months the price has increased by more than $ 1... This price is still far from the price charged in France, where a liter costs almost 1.5 euro but it reminds us that it is REALLY TIME to find an alternatives from the oil and buy electric cars or rent it!!