Faye Wong Pocket A Cool $4 Million For Only Appearing In A Shampoo Advertisement

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In an economy downturn, an advertiser is still spending millions of dollars, to invite Faye Wong as endorsee of their product.

Since her marriage with China actor Li Yapeng and giving birth to her younger daughter, Wong has cut down on her workload for child caring. This year is Wong's 20th year into the entertainment scene and she has decided to add meaning to the anniversary by making a full comeback into the industry this year; her first assignment will be an advertisement shoot for a shampoo, which will fetch her RMB20million (about S$4million).

According to reliable sources, this advertiser has approached Wong more than a year ago but was unable to reach a consensus on the price. The deal was closed just last month when she agreed to an endorsement fee of S$4million. This price has also broken the record for a Chinese celebrity endorsement.

News of her endorsement was broke by one of Wong's fan who posted a comment on a forum: "Today I went to a publicity event of the shampoo brand, they introduced Jackie Chan; later they also said that they would be approaching Faye to endorse their new product, but is unsure if she will take up the offer. I'm full of anticipation!"

A Chinese reporter then called up the shampoo company and spoke to a staff from the advertising department who declined to be named. When asked if their endorsee will be Wong, he replied immediately, "It's her." However, he refused to reveal the progress of the commercial shoot.

He said, "It is inconvenient to reveal now. You will find out in due time." As for her endorsement fee of S$4million, the staff claimed that this is not usually revealed to a normal employee in the company.

Wong's friend also readily revealed that Wong has taken up the job and commented that there had been several other advertisers who had approached her previously but had been turned down.

In fact there was a company who offered RMB100million for her to release an album but she still declined and joked, "It's just 100million dollars and he expect me to comeback!"

According to the friend, Wong felt that the time was not right, since her younger daughter was still small and needed the attention of a mother; now that she is already four years old, as long as work does not take up too much time, Wong is willing to re-engage in it. The friend also revealed that Wong has started on the commercial shoot and the advertisement is targeted for air in April.

Wong's manager Katie Chan revealed that Wong is currently writing new songs for her new album. Chan emphasized that Wong will return to the music industry but has no detailed schedule yet; however she did not deny that Wong has taken up the shampoo advertisement but hung up the phone quickly without going in depth about the issue.

Wong's friend also revealed that director Feng Xiaogang has invited Wong to act in his new film "Tangshan Earthquake". There is also possibility for a world tour concert but Wong did not express much interest in it. She would prefer to be in Beijing where she could have more time to take care of her daughters.

Zhang Ziyi Appear On The Sex Video CD Cover

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A pirated sex disc with Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi's photos on its cover is a hot favorite in the Hong Kong piracy market. Besides the beach photos that paparazzi took of her last year, in the disc are five other sex video clips unrelated to her.

A Hong Kong reporter found the disc which is currently retailing at HK$30 (about S$6) in the Hong Kong piracy market. Zhang's beach photos, taken by paparazzi and breached privacy rights, were used unscrupulously to solicit business.

The disc is exquisitely packaged in two layers of wrapper, a colored cardboard cover and a transparent case. Printed on the cover are her portraits and six classic photos in the beach series, in fine prints are the words "Zhang Ziyi Nude Photos". The inside cover also has a short summary of about 100 hundred words on Zhang's series of topless photos disseminated on the Internet.

81 photos of Zhang frolicking on a Caribbean beach with her boyfriend Vivi Nevo while they were on a holiday in January 2009 spread like wild fire on China websites. The photos showed Zhang baring her top and lying on the beach for a sunbath while Vivi "buried" his head into her butt.

A custom spokesperson said they will follow up with investigations should the copyrights owner of the photos decide to file a complaint. When found guilty, the infringer may be sentenced to a maximum of four years imprisonment and receive a fine of HK$50,000 for each infringed material. According to previous reports, an anonymous man has paid an astronomical price to buy the exclusive copyrights of these photos in Taiwan, Japan, Korea and America. For three months between Jan 9 to Apr 9, media in the four countries are not allowed to buy or publish the related photos. It was not reported if copyrights of the photos were bought in Hong Kong.

Recession Force Beautiful Ladies Becoming Strippers

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As a bartender and trainer at a national restaurant chain, Rebecca Brown earned a couple thousand dollars in a really good week. Now, as a dancer at Chicago's Pink Monkey gentleman's club, she makes almost that much in one good night.

The tough job market is prompting a growing number of women across the country to dance in strip clubs, appear in adult movies or pose for magazines like Hustler.

Employers across the adult entertainment industry say they're seeing an influx of applications from women who, like Brown, are attracted by the promise of flexible schedules and fast cash. Many have college degrees and held white-collar jobs until the economy soured.

"You're seeing a lot more beautiful women who are eligible to do so many other things," said Gus Poulos, general manager of New York City's Sin City gentleman's club. He said he got 85 responses in just one day to a recent job posting on Craigslist.

The transition to the nightclub scene isn't always a smooth one _ from learning to dance in five-inch heels to dealing with the jeers of some customers.

Some performers said they were initially so nervous that only alcohol could calm their nerves.

"It is like giving a speech, but instead of imagining everyone naked, you're the one who's naked," Brown, 29, said.

Eva Stone, a 25-year-old dancer at the Pink Monkey, said dealing with occasional verbal abuse from patrons requires "a thick skin."

Makers of adult films cautioned that women shouldn't rush into the decision to make adult movies without considering the effect on their lives.

"Once you decide to be an adult actress, it impacts your relationship with everyone," said Steven Hirsch, co-chairman of adult film giant Vivid Entertainment Group. "Once you make an adult film, it never goes away."

The women at the Pink Monkey say dancing at a strip club might not have been their first career choice, but they entered the business with their eyes wide open. The job gives them more control and flexibility than sitting in a cubicle, and "it's easy, it's fun and all of us girls ... look out for each other," Brown said.

In this economy, "desperate measures are becoming far more acceptable," said Jonathan Alpert, a New York City-based psychotherapist who's had clients who worked in adult entertainment.

For some, dancing is temporary, a way to pay for college loans or other bills. Others say they've found their niche.

Dancers at the upscale Rick's Caberet clubs in New York City and Miami can make $100,000 to $300,000 a year _ in cash _ even with the economic downturn, club spokesman Allan Priaulx said.

Priaulx said 20 to 30 women a week are applying for jobs at the New York club, double the number of a year ago.

Rhode Island's Foxy Lady held a job fair Saturday, seeking to fill about 35 positions for dancers, masseuses, bartenders and bouncers. The Providence Journal reported that more than 150 job seekers showed up to apply for work at the strip club. Foxy Lady co-owner Tom Tsoumas said a recent promotion to cut prices helped the club regain business lost due to the bad economy, forcing it to hire more employees.

Still, analysts say, the industry isn't immune to the economic recession. Business is down an estimated 30 percent across all segments, including adult films, gentleman's clubs, magazines and novelty shops, said Paul Fishbein, president of AVN Media Network, an adult entertainment company that has a widely distributed trade publication and an award show.

"In the past, people have said this industry is recession-proof," said Eric Wold, director of research for financial services firm Merriman Curhan Ford. "I definitely don't see that; maybe recession-resistant."

Strip club dancers and managers said they're drawing in the same number of customers, but fewer high rollers.

"They're not getting the big spenders," said Angelina Spencer, executive director of the Association of Club Executives, a trade group for adult nightclubs. "They're not getting the guys who come in and drop $3,000 to $4,000 a night anymore."

Still, the clubs' operating structure leaves them with low overhead and profit margins of up to 50 percent, Wold said.

Dancers are independent contractors, paying clubs a nightly flat fee depending on how long they work. At the Pink Monkey, for example, dancers who arrive at 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday pay a $40 "house fee," while women who don't arrive until midnight pay $90. And they keep their tips.

Wold and others say it's almost impossible to estimate the size of the adult entertainment industry because few companies are publicly traded. He does pay close attention to three that are: Lakewood, Colo.-based VCG Holding and Houston-based Rick's Caberet, which own clubs, and New Frontier Media, a Boulder, Colo.-based adult film producer and distributor.

All three are profitable.

Rick's Caberet had $60 million in revenue in its 2008 fiscal year, up from $32 million the year before, Wold said, and he estimates VCG will have $57 million for last year, compared with $40.5 million in FY2007. New Frontier Media generates more than $400 million in consumer buying a year.

Larry Flynt, whose half-billion dollar Hustler empire publishes magazines, produces and distributes films and operates a casino, said he's continued to do well. But he doesn't expect those who are solely in the film business to survive.

"A lot of the small studios are out of business now, there's no doubt about that," Flynt said.

Adult magazines also are struggling along with the larger publishing industry, and have to cut pages like everyone else.

But the economic realities aren't keeping jobseekers away.

Vivid Entertainment's Hirsch said the number of women in his business has doubled in the last couple years, with roughly 800 working as adult actresses. "It is more competitive than I've seen it in 25 years," he said.

That doesn't mean all the newcomers are planning on lengthy careers in the industry.

Stone, who has a bachelor's degree in graphic design, took up dancing four years ago to help pay her student loans. She plans to go to graduate school this year to pursue a master's in education.

Brown, meanwhile, has a ready answer for those critical of her career choice.

"I have job security," she said.

Research Shows Teenagers Spend Minimum 8 Hours Per Day On Web Porn

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Teenagers spend eight hours-a-week browsing soft porn, cosmetic surgery and family planning websites, according to new research.

The average teenager, aged between 13 and 19, will spend 31 hours-a-week browsing the internet, said the poll of 1,000.

At least 1hr and 40mins a week - just under 87 hours a year - is spent looking at soft porn.

A further 1hr and 35mins is spent surfing dieting and weight loss websites.

And another 1hr and 8mins is dedicated to exploring cosmetic surgery websites, to learn about boob jobs, nose jobs and bum lifts.

The survey was conducted by Cyber Sentinel, a software solutions company which enables parents to block websites and monitor internet usage.

Ellie Puddle, Marketing Director of Cyber Sentinel said: "The research shows that teenagers are exploring all sorts of topics as a result of modern-day pressures."

She added "Teens find it easier to go online to conduct their research than asking mum and dad for advice."

The poll reveals most teenagers are left alone with the computer for up to two hours-a-day.

One third admitted to hiding some of the websites they have been visiting from their parents.

The survey coincides with Safer Internet Day - a world-wide awareness campaign aimed at making the web less risky for children.

The annual campaign comes as one in four teenagers admit to regularly speaking to strangers online - and more alarmingly thinking it is completely harmless.

A spokeswoman for the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre said: "Teenagers need to stay in control and know when to report suspicious behaviour."

A Low Profile Yet Grand Wedding For Andy Lau

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Every cloud has a silver lining. The woman behind the success of Hong Kong's heavenly king is finally getting her well-deserved reward.

After 24 years of silent support, Carol Chu is finally becoming Mrs. Lau. She will be marrying Andy Lau in end April and their guest list has been finalized. Among the guests included Miu Kiu Wai and Wong Yat Wa, two of the Five Tigers who were credited for their success in the 1980s TVB drama.

Hong Kong Oriental Sunday recently saw Chu shopping for her wedding dowry at North Point, Hong Kong. It was also reported that the wedding is will take place end of April and not Apr 6 as rumored. Lau, who always act with caution, screened his guest list very strictly.

Friends from showbiz who would be invited include Miu Kiu Wai and Wong Yat Wa, two of his friends from the 1980s TVB "Five Tigers". His old friend Sandra Ng will not be invited.

It was reported that Lau was seen in February in Malaysia, meeting with Chu and her parents to discuss their wedding matters. According to reliable sources, Oriental Sunday reported that the actual wedding date is in end April, after Lau's concert in Kuala Lumpur on Apr 27.

The wedding will last for three days because Chu is from an influential family and Lau would like the affair to be a low profile yet grand one. Chu's family and friends, and Lau's immediate family and close friends will only grace the wedding. Miu and Wong and their spouses are the only artistes to be invited so far.

Though the wedding will not take place on Apr 6 as rumored, Lau will still spend the day in Malaysia with his fiancée to celebrate her birthday and to send out wedding invites to Chu's family and friends, adding special meaning to Chu's birthday.

No Money, No Problem Because Mexico Have Offer $2 Million For Grabs

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Mexico has offered rewards of up to $2m for information leading to the capture of each of its top drug lords.

A list of more than 30 men suspected of leading the country's six largest cartels has been published along with details of the cash sums available.

The top 24 names have $2m (£1.36m) on their heads, while $1m (£680,000) has been put up for each of 13 of their lieutenants.

The Mexican government said the money was being offered "to whomever provides information that is useful, true and leads to the location and arrest" of the suspects.

Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora confirmed tip-offs would be accepted from rival drug gangs.

"We don't rule out that those giving us information are part of (organised crime) groups. The important thing is to capture the wanted person," he said.

But he refused to name one suspect as the single most wanted, highlighting the government's determination to take on all of the cartels at the same time rather than separately.

Among those listed are the head of the Sinaloa gang, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, and the leaders of La Familia and Los Zetas.

Guzman, who has been on the run since he escaped from prison in 2001, was recently named on another list - the Forbes magazine list of the world's wealthiest people.

Tackling drug-related violence has been President Felipe Calderon's top priority since he took office in December 2006.

He has deployed 45,000 troops across Mexico to break up rival gangs, who are fighting each other for control of lucrative routes into the US.

More than 5,300 people were killed in the violence in 2008 and another 1,000 have died so far this year, according to the country's authorities.

Tata Ready To Rock The World With World's Cheapest Car

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The world's cheapest car is being launched in India, which the makers hope will revolutionise transport for millions of people there.

The Tata Nano will cost 100,000 rupees (about £1,400) and the aim is to provide Indians with a safe and affordable mode of travel.

However, customers reportedly face a three-year wait for the car because of limited production capacity.

Analysts say there could be up to 500,000 applications for the vehicle - but there will only be 30,000 to 50,000 cars made in the first year.

The Nano's debut was delayed after violent protests over the acquisition of farmland to build the Nano plant, forcing Tata Motors to shift from West Bengal state to Gujarat.

But the new plant in western India will not be ready until late 2010, meaning production must come from existing factories, which reduces output and potentially increases waiting times for deliveries.

Dealers say they have been flooded with enquiries about the Nano, which has a two-cylinder engine, four-speed manual gearbox and a top speed of 65mph.

It has no air conditioning, electric windows or power steering, but deluxe versions will also be available.

Due to its low cost, the no-frills small vehicle, dubbed the 'people's car', will not provide its makers with huge profits. They have to sell between two and three million of them just to break-even.

The launch comes at a tough time for India's top vehicle maker - it has been hit by the global downturn and also owns struggling British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover, which it bought last year.

Sky Motoring editor Alistair Weaver said: "This is one of the most eagerly anticipated cars of the past 10 years.

"It's yet to be proved if it will be the answer to India's mobility."

Company boss Ratan Tata, who is to unveil the Nano at a show in India's financial hub Mumbai, hopes the vehicle will get India's middle-class urban population off motorbikes and into safer cars.

He said: "I observed families riding on two-wheelers, the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby.

"It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family."

Also, environmentalists fear the Nano will accelerate congestion on India's already crowded, pot-holed roads and add to pollution.

Tata is hoping to launch the Nano for the European market by 2011 but it will be more expensive due to stricter safety standards.

Monkey Riding On Giant Mouse

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Austrian Beast Rape Daughter 3,000 Times Serve Life Sentence

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A jury ordered Josef Fritzl detained for life Thursday for imprisoning his daughter as a sex slave in his cellar during a 24-year orgy of depravity in which he fathered seven children.

The court in the Austrian town of Sankt Poelten said Fritzl would have to spend the rest of his life interned in a mental institute after a psychiatrist warned that the married 73-year-old felt "born to rape."

If at a later stage doctors found Fritzl cured, he would have to serve the rest of his sentence behind prison bars.

The jury found him unanimously guilty of murdering one of the seven children through negligence, as well as all other charges of rape, incest and sequestration in the basement of the family house in Amstetten.

Fritzl at first denied murder and enslavement but changed his plea after being confronted by the video testimony of his daughter Elisabeth whom he raped on thousands of occasions, sometimes staying downstairs overnight.

As the sentence was handed down, a composed Fritzl merely said: "I accept the verdict."

Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said his client found the verdict "fair."

"After confessing to 3,000 instances of rapes, 24 years of captivity in a cellar plus murder, it's obvious that such a sentence will be handed down," Mayer told journalists. "Obviously, he thinks this sentence is fair."

Before the verdict had been announced, Fritzl had made a last expression of remorse.

"I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart," the 73-year-old retired engineer told the eight jurors before they retired to quickly reach their unanimous guilty verdict. "Unfortunately, I can't change anything now."

But chief prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser said the remorse shown by Fritzl was a sham.

"Don't believe him, he's shown his true face in trying to exploit people's gullibility," she said of Fritzl and his stunning change of heart on Wednesday when he pleaded guilty to enslaving Elisabeth as well as murder.

The murder charge related to the death of a newborn twin boy called Michael whom Fritzl did nothing to help when aware that he was mortally ill.

Elisabeth Fritzl, now 42, went to the court on Tuesday to see her father's reaction to 11 hours of video testimony she recorded for the trial.

Mayer said her presence may have triggered the defendant's new plea. "At the last minute, my client realised that Elisabeth was sitting there," he said.

Elisabeth's lawyer Eva Plaz also poured scorn on Fritzl's show of remorse, saying the woman wanted her father "to be held accountable until he dies."

"Don't believe one word from the defendant. The defendant wanted to be master over life and death," she said.

Fritzl had admitted the other four charges against him -- incest, rape, sequestration and grievous assault -- but pleaded not guilty to murder and slavery when the trial opened on Monday.

Psychiatrist Adelheid Kastner told the court Wednesday that Fritzl posed a danger and should be held in a mental facility.

Fritzl was emotionally stunted, the psychiatrist told the court.

"He is aware -- he says so himself -- that he has an evil side. He is aware that he was born to rape. He has that partly under control. But as soon as he loosens his grip, everything erupts out."

Fritzl, who ruled his family with an iron fist, locked his daughter up in a cellar of his home on August 29, 1984. He said she had joined an obscure sect.

Three of the surviving children were brought to live with Fritzl and his wife Rosemarie, 69, while the other three spent their entire lives in the dungeon, never seeing daylight.

The case broke last April after the eldest child, a 19-year-old girl named Kerstin, fell severely ill and Elisabeth begged her father to bring her to hospital.

DNA tests later confirmed Josef Fritzl was the father of Elisabeth's six surviving children, aged five to 19.

The jury was told how Elisabeth had initially had to live without hot water, heating, fresh air or sunlight in a narrow cellar. Fritzl gradually expanded the dungeon to 40 square metres (430 square feet).

Elisabeth and her family are now at a secret location while the authorities attempt to help them build a new life.

Men Put Sex Aside And Prioritized Self Finance

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Health is wealth, but with the weakening economy, many Singaporean men are more worried about their finances than sexual health.

In the last six months, doctors said they have seen a drop of up to 50 per cent in the number of patients seeking help for sexual problems like erectile dysfunction.

Urologists said maintaining good sexual health is essential for overall well—being, especially for men aged 40 and above.

Professor Peter Lim, senior consultant urologist, Gleneagles Hospital, said: "Obesity, pre—diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are all linked with erectile dysfunction. They’re all linked with metabolic syndrome which causes failing health and lower longevity in a male."

Studies have shown that one out of every five Singaporean men aged 40 and above, will experience testosterone deficiency — a common sexual health problem.

A new campaign has been launched to educate men about the dangers of sexual health problems and to encourage them to take a hands—on approach.

Doctors said male patients can get a little sensitive when it comes to discussing problems about their sexual health, so this campaign hopes to encourage an open dialogue by using hand signals.

The year—long campaign includes health screenings and public education seminars. Men can also sign up for a free andropause test at participating clinics.

Scientist Develop A Robotic Fish To Fight Water Pollution

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Scientists have designed a robotic fish capable of detecting pollution in water.

A shoal of the 'intelligent' fish will be released into the sea off Spain to track down potentially dangerous leaks from vessels.

The carp-shaped robots are around 1.5 metres long and have chemical sensors which can detect ship fuel and chemicals in water.

The life-like creatures have an eight-hour battery life and their own navigational abilities, meaning they can move without remote control.

Five of the robots are being released into the Bay of Biscay at Gijon at a cost of around £100,000.

The project is part of a three-year partnership between engineering consultancy firm BMT Group and Essex University.

Professor Huosheng Hu from the university said: "The hope is that this will prevent potentially hazardous discharges at sea, as the leak would undoubtedly get worse over time if not located."

Developers say they are simply building on a design created by hundreds of millions of years' worth of evolution.

If successful, they hope the fish could be used around the world to prevent the spread of pollution.

20 Myth You Might Not Even Know About Sleeping

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The official world record for staying awake, possible killers lurking in our mattresses, a continent's war against naps and more...

1. Chronic snoring can be treated by uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, a surgical procedure that tightens the tissues of the soft palate and throat. Possible side effects include changes in voice frequency.

2. Another option involves injecting the palate with a chemical to harden the soft tissue. This is called a snoroplasty, derived from the Greek word "plastos," meaning "molded," and somewhat lamely from the English word snore, meaning "snore."

3. Baaaad idea: A 2002 study by Oxford University researchers concluded, brilliantly, that the traditional practice of counting sheep is an ineffective cure for insomnia. The mental activity is so boring that other problems and concerns inevitably surface.

4. Mattresses have an average life span of eight to 10 years. They grow some nasty stuff in that time; one study links mattress bacteria to sudden infant death syndrome.

5. An adult bed bug can survive up to one year without feeding.

6. In 2004, Americans filled more than 35 million prescriptions for sleeping pills. The number of adults aged 20 to 44 taking pills to help them fall asleep has doubled in the last four years.

7. More than 100,000 car crashes in the United States each year result from drowsiness. Drivers talking on cell phones increase the rate by 6 percent, so don't call someone if you get tired.

8. Your alarm is set for 6 a.m. -- why do you wake up at 5:59 a.m.? The body's internal alarm clock, which enables some people to wake up naturally at the time they desire, is triggered by the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin. The levels of this hormone begin to rise an hour or two before an expected wake-up call, to prepare the body gradually for the stress of waking up.

9. A six-year study of a million adults showed that people who get only six to seven hours of sleep a night have a lower death rate than those who get eight hours. Maybe it's those late nights watching QVC.

10. In 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner stayed awake for 264 hours and 12 minutes, the officially recognized world record. He then slept for 15 hours -- not a record, but not bad.

11. Let's sleep on it first: In a gesture of integration with the European Union, Spain has launched a campaign to eliminate the tradition of siestas, or afternoon naps.

12. Thanks in part to their afternoon naps, Spaniards sleep an average of 40 minutes less per night than other Europeans. Spain also has the highest rate of workplace accidents in the EU and the third lowest productivity rate.

13. Who knew it was that easy? A Muslim couple in India is being forced to split up after the husband uttered the word "talaq," the Arabic word for divorce, three times in his sleep. According to Muslim law, the "triple talaq" is an actual divorce.

14. The idea that it is dangerous to wake a sleepwalker is a myth. Given the things sleepwalkers get up to do, like climb roofs and fix insanely large sandwiches, it is probably more risky not to wake them.

15. Whales and dolphins can literally fall half asleep. Their brain hemispheres alternate sleeping, so the animals can continue to surface and breathe.

16. Dreaming is related to bursts of electrical activity that blow through the brain stem every 90 minutes during REM sleep. Over a lifetime, an average person spends more than six years dreaming, clocking more than 136,000 dreams in all.

17. But nobody knows why we dream.

18. Hey, be glad she doesn't have a telethon: More than 5 million American children suffer from nocturnal enuresis, better known as bed wetting. Actress Suzanne Somers used to be one of them, according to her autobiography.

19. Somniphobia is the fear of sleep.

20. So far, there are no known celebrity somniphobes.

Fish Consumption Can Boost Boys Intelligence

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Teenage boys who regularly eat fish may be doing their brains some good, a new study suggests.

Swedish researchers found that among nearly 5,000 15-year-old boys they surveyed, those who ate fish more than once per week tended to score higher on intelligence tests three years later.

The findings, published in the journal Acta Pediatrica, add to evidence that fish may indeed be brain food.

Researchers believe that the omega-3 fats found in fish -- particularly oily fish like salmon, mackerel and, to a lesser extent, albacore tuna -- are important to early brain development and to maintaining healthy brain function throughout life.

Past studies have found, for instance, that children whose mothers who ate fish regularly during pregnancy tend to have higher intelligence scores than their peers, and older fish-eaters have been shown to have a lower risk of cognitive impairment.

The new study appears to be the first large-scale one to look at the effects of fish on teenagers' intelligence, lead researcher Dr. Maria Aberg, of Goteborg University, told Reuters Health.

This is important, she explained, because the late-teens are a critical period for the brain "plasticity" that underlies intelligence and emotional and social behavior. Plasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize the connections among cells in response to normal experience, like learning a new skill, or to injury.

The findings are based on data from 4,792 male adolescents who completed detailed questionnaires on diet and lifestyle when they were 15 years old, then underwent standard intelligence tests when they were 18.

On average, Aberg's team found, those who ate fish more than once per week scored higher than those who ate fish less than weekly. This remained true when the researchers accounted for several other factors that influence both children's diets and their intelligence scores -- like parents' education levels and the family's socioeconomic status.

"These findings are significant," Aberg said, "because the study was carried out between the ages of 15 and 18, when educational achievements can help to shape the rest of a young man's life."

It's too soon to make specific diet recommendations for teenagers, according to the researcher. "But for the time being," she said, "it appears that including fish in a diet can make a valuable contribution to cognitive performance in male teenagers."

5 Simple Steps To Detox Your Body

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Why you need to spring clean your body?

Your body is naturally equipped with a self-cleaning process. But too much sugar, caffeine, processed foods, stress, and too little exercise can slow the body's natural detox function to a slow pace. And then your body can't clean itself when it is put up against the increasing number of harmful and toxic substances in the environment. Toxins come in many forms: pesticides in produce, formaldehyde in carpets and cosmetics, PCBs from plastic containers, dioxins from bleached paper products, and more.

Your body will process and eliminate some of the hordes of chemicals that enter, but overflow gets stored in the liver, lungs, kidneys, fat cells, intestines, blood stream, and skin—which can result in chronic illnesses down the road. When you undergo a detox, you get these toxins out of your system.

How do you know if you need a detox?

You know you're suffering from toxic overload if you are experiencing fatigue, memory decline, difficulty focusing, allergies and infections, irritability, anxiety and depression, difficulty with weight gain and weight loss, muscle and joint pain or weakness, skin rashes and outbreaks, recurrent yeast and fungal infections, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and indigestion.

Most people report vast improvement in their symptoms after a detox. At first, you may feel a little fuzzy because of the toxins being released. However, when you stick with it, you will begin to feel more alert, energized, and full of vitality.

At-Home Detox

Start small! Begin with a one-day program and gradually increase to one week or more. Here are 5 steps to a daily detox that will gently cleanse your body:

1. Start the Detox Day Right

• First thing in the morning, drink one lemon squeezed in 12 ounces of warm filtered water. Lemon activates your liver to release toxins and helps to cleanse and move the roughage that stays behind in your intestines.

• Take acidophilus or a probiotic supplement. Acidophilus is one of the many "good" bacteria and yeasts known as the probiotics. Probiotics balance our intestinal functions, helping to break down food and control the "bad" bacteria that is also in your system—all of which optimizes the detoxification process. Always take probiotics on an empty stomach.

2. Your Detox Meals

These meals are designed to jump-start your body into becoming healthier.

• Breakfast: Eat oat bran cereal, brown rice, or any other whole grain cereal as long as it is unbleached and does not contain any added sugar or chemicals. Pair with unflavored soy milk.

• Lunch or Dinner: Eat any combination of beans, brown rice, oat bran, vegetables, and organic chicken, turkey, or soy-products. When you eat, notice how your food affects you. You should feel satisfied and energized. If you feel tired and sluggish, try eating smaller meals so that you don't overwhelm your digestion and interfere with the detoxification process.

3. Eat Green to Spring into Health

The green pigment in plants, chlorophyll, is structurally similar to the hemoglobin in the human body—the iron-containing element in blood. It increases red blood cell production and improves oxygenation, detoxification, and circulation. Be sure to eat several servings of fresh green vegetables every day during your detox. Try this super-cleansing broth and juice as a quick way to up your veggie intake.

Detox Broth: Add as many of these ingredients as you can into a large pot of filtered water: collards, Swiss chard, kale, mustard greens, cabbage, dandelion, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, watercress, seaweed, shitake mushrooms, cilantro, garlic, leeks, fresh fennel, anise, fresh ginger, and turmeric. Boil until all ingredients are soft. You can make in a large batch and refrigerate for up to three days.

Detox Juice: Juice the following together: Aloe vera juice (which can be found in most health food stores), apples, asparagus, beets (including greens), cabbage, carrot and carrot greens, celery, cucumbers, and parsley. You can also purchase vegetable juice from the store, but be sure that it has no added salt or chemicals.

4. Supplement Your Detox

• Take a daily supplement of 1 tablespoon of flax seed oil, walnut oil, or deep-sea fish oil.

• Green Tea is a strong antioxidant, and a great beverage choice for your detox. Be sure to drink decaffeinated green tea.

• Dandelion and Milk Thistle both protect and restore the liver. According to Chinese medicine, the liver is most active in the detoxification process during spring.

• Ginger is a bowel and kidney cleanser. Make yourself tea from fresh ginger root during your detox.

A popular herbal formula among my patients is Internal Cleanse, a special combination of natural herbs to detoxify, calm nerves, clear the mind, promote emotional balance, and ease digestion. For more information, click here.

5. Take an Invigorating Herbal Soak

Soak for 20 minutes in a revitalizing herbal bath. Help draw out toxins by infusing your bath water with eucalyptus, wintergreen, peppermint, fennel, cinnamon, and epsom salts.

Spring may be the best time to cleanse your body, but you don't have to wait until spring to start. Detoxification and cleansing is a healthy maintenance program for all seasons.

AIG Still Paying Executives $450 Million Despite Losing $61.7 Billion

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Leaders of the White House economic team and the Senate's top Republican bellowed about bonuses at a bailed-out insurance giant and pledged to prevent such payments in the future.

From one Sunday talk show to the next, they tore into the contracts that American International Group asserted had to be honored, to the tune of about $165 million and payable to executives by Sunday _ part of a larger total payout reportedly valued at $450 million. The company has benefited from more than $170 billion in a federal rescue.

AIG has agreed to Obama administration requests to restrain future payments. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner pressed the president's case with AIG's chairman, Edward Liddy, last week.

"He stepped in and berated them, got them to reduce the bonuses following every legal means he has to do this," said Austan Goolsbee, staff director of President Barack Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board.

"I don't know why they would follow a policy that's really not sensible, is obviously going to ignite the ire of millions of people, and we've done exactly what we can do to prevent this kind of thing from happening again," Goolsbee said.

Added Lawrence Summers, Obama's top economic adviser: "The easy thing would be to just say ... off with their heads, violate the contracts. But you have to think about the consequences of breaking contracts for the overall system of law, for the overall financial system."

Summers said Geithner used all his power, "both legal and moral, to reduce the level of these bonus payments."

The Democratic administration's argument about the sanctity of contracts was more than Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky could bear.

"For them to simply sit there and blame it on the previous administration or claim contract _ we all know that contracts are valid in this country, but they need to be looked at," McConnell said. "Did they enter into these contracts knowing full well that, as a practical matter, the taxpayers of the United States were going to be reimbursing their employees? Particularly employees who got them into this mess in the first place? I think it's an outrage."

In an interview that aired Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke did not address the bonuses but expressed his frustration with the AIG intervention.

"It makes me angry. I slammed the phone more than a few times on discussing AIG," Bernanke said. "It's _ it's just absolutely _ I understand why the American people are angry. It's absolutely unfair that taxpayer dollars are going to prop up a company that made these terrible bets _ that was operating out of the sight of regulators, but which we have no choice but to stabilize, or else risk enormous impact, not just in the financial system, but on the whole U.S. economy."

AIG reported this month that it had lost $61.7 billion for the fourth quarter of last year, the largest corporate loss in history.

In a letter to Geithner dated Saturday, Liddy said outside lawyers had informed the company that AIG had contractual obligations to make the bonus payments and could face lawsuits if it did not do so.

Liddy said in his letter that "quite frankly, AIG's hands are tied," although he said that in light of the company's current situation he found it "distasteful and difficult" to recommend going forward with the payments.

Liddy said the company had entered into the bonus agreements in early 2008 before AIG got into severe financial straits and was forced to obtain a government bailout last fall.

The bulk of the payments at issue cover AIG Financial Products, the unit of the company that sold credit default swaps, the risky contracts that caused massive losses for the insurer.

Goolsbee acknowledged the AIG example could make it harder to sell the administration's financial plan to Congress.

"Yes, you worry about that backlash. But you're also angry that this would happen at an institution that has been so troubled and you're trying to save. So I think that's perfectly fair," he said.

Goolsbee appeared on "Fox News Sunday," and Summers was on CBS' "Face the Nation" and ABC's "This Week," where McConnell also was interviewed.

Killer Send A Bullet To Edison Chen And Threaten To Kill Him

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Hong Kong Cable TV received a threat letter with a bullet directed at Edison Chen, warning him not to appear on any public events after Apr 4, otherwise he will face danger.

The letter warned the actor, whose sex photos were exposed last year, not to return to Hong Kong and to refrain from appearing on all public events in all countries otherwise he will bring danger his own life. The sender also claimed that he had given Chen a last chance during his appearance in Singapore on Feb 27 and this letter will be a last warning to him.

The letter appeared to be sent from Pennsylvania, United States, written in English on an A4 sized paper and placed in a paper bag with a bullet. The station received the package at about 5pm on Mar 11.

Pasted on the envelope was 10 stamps printed with clocks, which to the Chinese is an inauspicious gift signifying sending one to his ends. The "deadline" that was given, Apr 4, is the Qingming Festival, which also carries a strong connotation of death.

According to Hong Kong media, Chen also received phone threats one year ago on Feb 21 before his press conference in Hong Kong to announce his withdrawal from showbiz in the country. After stepping out of the airport in the company of police, Chen received two death threatening phone calls.

Chen spoke briefly to the caller before he passed the phone to the police who heard the caller threaten to kill the former. As the caller had full details of Chen's schedule and personal profile including his new mobile phone number, the police took the matter very seriously and immediately informed their superior of the situation.

The police also classified Chen as "protected person" and leveled up security measures including approving for him to give evidence in the Canada court, in the case of Sze Ho-Chun, a computer technician who was charged in Hong Kong with illegally posting the explicit photos online.

After the death threatening note was exposed, Chen's father told reporters in a phone interview that police has yet to get in touch with him and he has not understood the whole incident, thus was not in the position to comment.

God-father of Chen, Anthony Wong said the police should get to the bottom of this incident and also joked that he has to wear a bullet proof vest and helmet when he dine with his god-son in future. Father of Vincy Yeung, Chen's girlfriend, believed the target is not his daughter and thus did not find it necessary to step up on security or be overly worried.

Both Gillian Chung and Cecilia Cheung, female stars involved in the sex photo scandal, declined to comment on the death threat.

Frustrated Husband Sell His Nagging Wife By Putting Up An Advert

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A British man fed up with his wife's complaints advertised her for sale -- and got a number of offers.

"Nagging Wife. No Tax, No MOT. Very high maintenance -- some rust," wrote Gary Bates, 38, in a small ad in Trade-It, more usually used to buy and sell cars or household goods.

Bates, a self-employed builder from Gloucestershire, southwest England, snapped after his wife Donna on got on his nerves while she was watching television and decided to place the ad as a joke.

"She was nagging me for doing something small, while she was watching some rubbish on TV. So I just thought I'd put an ad in to get rid of her.

"I didn't think anyone would ring up but I've had at least nine or 10 people calling about her. It's gone mad. There was no one I knew -- just people asking, 'Is she still available?'"

The couple only married last year, and Bates said his 40-year-old wife -- whom he advertised in the magazine's Free to Collect section, along with some of his fishing tackle -- initially gave him "a bit of an ear-bashing."

But he said: "She's seen the funny side of it now though!"

Drug Dealer Who Is One Of The World's Richest Man

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Who says crime doesn't pay? A suspected drug lord who is Mexico's most-wanted fugitive made the Forbes list of billionaires on Wednesday with a fortune described as "self made."

The magazine estimates Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's worth at $1 billion _ No. 701 on the list, right between a Swiss oil-trading tycoon and a U.S. chemical heir. Dozens of other people were also tied for the spot.

It is unclear what Guzman thinks of the distinction. Forbes senior editor Luisa Kroll notes that "unfortunately ... Guzman could not be reached for comment."

Often described as Mexico's most powerful cartel kingpin, Guzman has been on the run with a $5 million reward on his head since 2001, when he escaped from prison apparently hidden in a laundry truck.

At the time, he was serving more than 20 years for criminal association and bribery. Mexican officials say he leads the Sinaloa drug gang, though Guzman has never been convicted on drug trafficking charges.

The government had no immediate comment on the listing, which includes an old photo of Guzman taken under police custody while wearing rumpled prison clothes unbefitting the world's alleged 701st-richest person.

Guzman, 54, is not the first drug trafficker to make the list; Forbes says Colombian cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar was once included, before dying in a shootout with the South American nation's security forces in 1993.

"El Chapo," whose nickname refers to his short, stocky build, has been enjoying a bit of notoriety lately. Telemundo, the No. 2 Spanish-language television network in the United States, announced last year that it is working on a new docudrama based on Guzman's life.

Forbes cited estimates that Guzman and his operation likely grossed 20 percent of the $18 billion to $39 billion in drug revenues that Mexican and Colombian traffickers laundered last year _ "enough for him to have pocketed $1 billion over his career and earn a spot on the billionaires list for the first time."

That figure, Kroll said, "is a conservative estimate based on the information we have."

Swiss Gigolo Jail 6 Years For Blackmailing BMW Heiress Using Their Sexual Videotapes

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A man dubbed "the Swiss gigolo" by German media was sentenced to six years in prison Monday for defrauding the country's richest woman of euro7 million ($9 million) and attempting to blackmail her for millions more.

Helg Sgarbi (S'Gar-bee) admitted to the Munich court that he threatened to release secretly recorded videotapes of trysts with BMW heiress Susanne Klatten, 46, who was married, unless she gave him millions to keep quiet.

The 44-year-old also admitted convincing Klatten to give him euro7 million ($9 million) by saying it was to treat a girl left paraplegic after he hit her with his car.

The Munich state court found Sgarbi guilty of fraud and attempted blackmail of Klatten.

He was found guilty of further counts of fraud and attempted blackmail for taking euro2.4 million ($3 million) from three other women _ identified only by the initials H., R., and S. _ who were found by authorities as they investigated the Klatten case.

Prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch praised Klatten for her bravery.

"The only victim who came to us and gave a witness statement is Mrs. Klatten. We had to find the others, with great difficulty," Steinkraus-Koch said.

The four were the latest in a string of women conned by Sgarbi, a lawyer who spoke six languages, worked as a banker at Credit Suisse until the mid-1990s, and served as a reserve officer in the Swiss army, according to prosecutors.

Germany's Stern magazine reported that one victim, a countess 50-years older than Sgarbi, turned him in to Swiss police in 2001 but then had the charges dropped after he returned 20 million Swiss francs ($17 million) to her.

Prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch confirmed a case had been dropped in Switzerland, and said Sgarbi had been sentenced to six months probation in a similar case, also in Switzerland.

Klatten did not attend the trial and her attorney made no statement to the court. Her spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Her husband, Jan Klatten, has also made no comment but according to details released in court the couple remain married and have been working through their difficulties.

Sgarbi told the court he laid the groundwork for his fraud against Susanne Klatten when he first met her at a spa near Innsbruck, Austria, in July 2007.

He showed up a month later at her vacation home in the south of France and their affair began in earnest. Then he told Klatten that he was involved in a car accident in the United States that left a girl paralyzed, and convinced Klatten to give him money for the girl's treatment.

According to her police statement, Klatten eventually met Sgarbi in a parking garage to hand over euro7 million ($9 million) in cash in a cardboard box.

Sgarbi then demanded that Klatten leave her family and invest euro290 million ($367 million) in a trust for him, according to the indictment. When she refused, he threatened to release secretly filmed videos of their affair.

Sgarbi demanded euro49 million ($62 million) not to tell her family, the heads of her companies and the media. He lowered the demand to euro14 million ($17.72 million) but in January 2007 Klatten went to the police. Sgarbi was arrested shortly afterward in Austria's Tyrolean Alps and has been held in detention since.

Another man arrested with him, identified only as an Italian named Ernano B., is wanted by German authorities as an accomplice. He was sent to Italy, where he was sought on charges related to organized crime. A request for his extradition has been refused.

Klatten is the daughter of the late BMW magnate Herbert Quandt and holds a 46 percent stake in the company along with her mother and brother. She also owns a 88.3 percent share of chemical company Altana.

Forbes magazine listed her as the 68th richest person in the world last year, with a personal fortune of around $9.6 billion (euro7.58 billion). The story has attracted vast media attention in Germany, where the Quandt family is regarded as quasi-royalty.

"I deeply regret what has happened and apologize to the aggrieved ladies in this public hearing," Sgarbi told the court. Sgarbi's lawyer, Egon Gries, said his client would not answer any questions about where the money had gone or whether anyone had helped him.

Sgarbi had faced a possible 10-year sentence, but presiding Judge Gilbert Wolf said he decided on six years because Sgarbi's confession had spared his victims from having to testify.

Hillary Clinton Still Love Bill Clinton Despite His Sex Scandal With Monica Lewinsky

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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a sideshow to diplomacy, lamented on Saturday her fashion sense, divulged when she fell in love and shared how she dealt with personal struggles.

Appearing on a popular Turkish television chat show, Hadi Gel Bizimle (Come and Join Us), Clinton tackled a few diplomatic questions but the main focus was on her personal life, such as when she "last" fell in love.

"It was so long ago, with my husband," she told the studio audience, adding that she first met former President Bill Clinton in the spring of 1971 when they were at law school.

"We have been talking to each other and enjoying our life together ever since," she said.

The appearance on the show, with four female interviewers, is part of Clinton's strategy to reach out to ordinary people through public diplomacy efforts.

She appeared on a popular television show while in Indonesia last month on a tour of Asia. During her swing through Europe and the Middle East this week, she met students on the Israeli-occupied West Bank and held a town hall meeting in Brussels. Clinton returns to Washington on Sunday.

Asked what she missed most about private life, Clinton said it was shopping for herself and sitting around in pavement cafes, drinking coffee and "people-watching".

"I sacrificed a lot of my privacy, which I regret," she said, adding that the benefits of public service were huge.

"You can't have everything, you have to make some choices and I am very excited that I get a chance to serve my country in working with President Obama," she said.

But despite her love of shopping, Clinton said she did not have good fashion sense and often told her daughter Chelsea the "fashion gene" had skipped a generation when it came to the former first lady.

But she praised current U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama for her "fabulous" fashion sense and handling of the job.

"I was a first lady and I know how important that role is. I think Michelle Obama is doing a wonderful job and she is also balancing her responsibilities very well," said Clinton.

"She has two young children and she has put their well-being first, because it is hard when your father is elected president and you are still a child."

Interviewers delicately asked Clinton to explain how she had dealt with bitter personal experiences, without mentioning a scandal involving Bill Clinton and a former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

"Oh, love! And forgiveness, and friendship, and family. You know, family, faith, friends are the core of my life and I don't know anybody whose life is smooth sailing," said Clinton.

"If you meet such a person, I want to know them. Because I've lived a long time and I have yet to meet that person."

We Only Got 100 Months To Save The World

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The Prince of Wales is preparing to tell the world we have "less than 100 months to act" before the damage caused by global warming becomes irreversible.

Charles will issued the warming in a speech to business leaders in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil next week.

He is visiting the country on a 10-day tour of South America with the Duchess of Cornwall.

The royal couple are also stopping off in Chile, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

Prince Charles has given a series of addresses over the past 12 months expressing his fears about climate change and the threat to the environment.

He will tell his audience on Thursday it is vital for the business community to join the fight against global warming.

The Prince has campaigned on the issue for some time and set up his Rainforests Project group in 2007 to help find a solution.

A Clarence House spokesman said Charles and Camilla's visit to the Galapagos Islands was "timed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin".

It will also mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species, the book in which Darwin first put forward his theories on evolution.

The first full day of the tour begins on Tuesday when the Prince and Duchess hold talks with Chile's President Michelle Bachelet.

Japanese Superstar Kosei Inoue Found Life In Edinburgh

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Judo’s answer to David Beckham, Kosei Inoue, is used to be mobbed wherever he goes.

Except, that is, for the streets of Edinburgh where the Japanese star is currently enjoying the quiet life, virtually unnoticed.

Kosei, 30, has recently retired from the sport which he dominated for years.

Famous for his big hair and even bigger talent, he is the 'mop-top' of the judo mat who won Olympic gold in Sydney 2000 and has been World Champion three times.

He is a judo icon at home in Japan, where his image adorns billboards, magazines.

Kosei is married to a famous Japanese TV presenter, Aki Higashihara.Together, they are the nearest thing that Japan has to Posh and Becks.

Now, though, the couple live amidst the relative anonymity of Edinburgh where Kosei has come to study English.

The only hint of the celebrity treatment he gets at home is when he passes Japanese tourists in the street who are stunned at the sight of their national hero so far from home.

"I really appreciate my fame in Japan and the support from people," he said.

"Not being recognised here doesn’t bother me.My objectives are to learn English, to popularise judo and strive to better myself."

Kosei will spend two years in the UK and will go to Bath University after spending six months in Edinburgh under the wing of George Kerr, President of the British Judo Association.

"British judo can learn a lot from Kosei," said George Kerr.

"He's a great champion and so modest. Kosei's strong but he's also technically beautiful, poetry in motion."

The judo superstar trains twice a week with members of the Britain's judo Squad and his presence on the mat is almost unbelievable for the fighters aiming for London 2012.

"It's a true privilege," said British squad member Matthew Purssey.

"Kosei is awe-inspiring and has a real aura. You can learn so much just from five minutes practising with him."

Kosei is immersing himself in Scottish culture. He is taking golf lessons and now possesses a Highland outfit from Kinloch Anderson which he plans to wear to next week's rugby international between Scotland and Ireland.

He and his wife are expecting their first baby in May and the birth will take place in Scotland.

British judo bosses still looking for a first Olympic gold in the sport could be forgiven for checking the rules on eligibility.

Annie Lennox Slam Simon Cowell For "Painfully Bad At What They're Doing"

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Simon Cowell has come under attack from one of the UK's biggest-selling female stars, Annie Lennox.

The singer told Sky News she is not a fan of talent shows like The X Factor, and questions Cowell's right to pick who the next big thing should be.

"It is not my bag," Lennox says.

"I really hate that people love the person who is painfully bad at what they're doing. It's hilarious but it is cruel.

"They've got this panel of judges and they're supposed to be the god almighty that says this is good, and this isn't good.

"What do they know? Who are they? All those shows are very very formulaic."

Annie Lennox is back promoting her new greatest hits CD - Annie Lennox The Collection - which gathers together all her post-Eurythmics singles.

Both on her own, and as part of the Eurythmics, she has shifted more than 80 million albums over her career - which is rather impressive.

The star says going back through her past has been an interesting journey.

"I do feel really satisfied with the music that I've made.

"It would be awful if I listened back and thought 'I didn't really like that'!

"No, I thought 'that's dignified', 'that's strong'. It's actually a lot better than I might have thought because I'm always very critical of my own work."

Of course, this week there has been another star who was famous in the 80s making a comeback. A certain Michael Jackson.

Annie Lennox never met the King Of Pop when they were touring around at the same time, but she is looking forward to his return.

"I certainly appreciate Michael's amazing talent as a musician and a performer," says Lennox.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of people who want to go and see him. I do feel kind of sorry for him. But as an artist I have a lot of respect for him, he's a huge talent."

But enough about Jacko, we've heard plenty about him lately - what's next for Lennox herself?

"Now I just feel that I'm enjoying being my own person and having my autonomy," she smiles, clearly relaxed.

"I need that feeling as an artist. I need to keep moving on and not necessarily to be looking back. So that's where I'm at."

5 Techniques To Beat Insomnia

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A good night’s sleep makes you smarter, happier, boosts your immune system and overtime can actually slow the aging process. Unfortunately, during these stressful days, a solid 7-8 hours is harder and harder to come by. You don’t need me to tell you just how lousy and out of it you feel when you sleep badly. Besides, beauty sleep is no mere expression — everyone looks better and brighter when they’ve had a full 7-8 hours. Make sure you’re getting the shut-eye you need with these tips:

1) SKIP THE SECOND ROUND

Alcohol is probably the substance used most often for sleep, reports a study in Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine (it’s also a major ingredient in many over the- counter cold medications.) However, when you fall asleep under the influence, both the quantity and the quality of your sleep are adversely affected. Even small to moderate intakes of alcohol can suppress melatonin (a hormone that help regulate sleep), interfere with restorative N-REM cycles, and prevent dreaming, according to Rubin Naiman, PhD, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona and coauthor of Healthy Sleep.

2) CUT BACK ON CAFFEINE

Caffeine boosts alertness, activates stress hormones, and elevates heart rate and blood pressure — none of which are very helpful when you’re trying to get shut-eye. Some people are more sensitive than others to caffeine’s effects, and one’s sensitivity may be hereditary. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, take note that its half-life — the time required by your body to break down half of it — can be as long as 7 hours. In other words, if you were to have your last cup of coffee at 1 pm, a quarter of the caffeine it contained could still remain in your system as late as 3 am. In women, estrogen may delay caffeine metabolism even further. Between ovulation and menstruation, you take about 25% longer to eliminate it, and if you’re on birth control pills, you take about twice the normal time. (Newer, low-estrogen pills may have less of an impact.)

3) OPEN A WINDOW

Most sleep researchers advise keeping your bedroom cool, but not cold — the National Sleep Foundation recommends between 54 and 75°F. This is because a cool room makes it easier for your core body temperature to drop, which must occur for you to fall asleep. (Body temp reaches its lowest point about 4 hours after you nod off.) However, the thermostat is only part of the story: Proper air circulation and blankets that aren’t too heavy —a big problem in hotel rooms — can also facilitate a drop in body temperature.

A series of fascinating studies done in the past decade and a half by Swiss researchers Kurt Kräuchi and Anna Wirz-Justice, PhD, found an inverse relation between warm feet and cool body temp: When your feet and hands are warm, the blood vessels dilate, allowing heat to escape and body temperature to fall, initiating sleep. Conversely, when hands and feet are cold, the vessels constrict, retaining heat, which may keep you awake.

4) ORDER THE PASTA AT LUNCH, NOT DINNER

It’s true that carbohydrates boost the sleep-inducing amino acid tryptophan in the blood, which in turn boosts serotonin. But don’t assume that a big plate of pasta will put you to sleep; in fact, as a general rule, anything that raises body temperature, including the consumption of calories, wrecks sleep. Plus, if you have any digestive problems such as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eating a big meal before bedtime is just asking for trouble.

5) USE YOUR ALARM EVERY DAY (EVEN SUNDAYS)

Most experts insist that we regularize our sleep. They point to evidence that our circadian rhythm — the natural ebb and flow of energy levels throughout the day — thrives on consistency. The more predictable our sleep schedule, the better our bodies work, they say. But even those who argue this most strongly admit that, while it helps to keep a regular sleep-wake schedule, it may not be the complete answer.

According to researchers, even if insomniacs keep regular sleep patterns, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll sleep well or long enough, notes Kathryn Reid, PhD, a research assistant professor in the department of neurology at the Northwestern University Center for Sleep and Circadian Rhythm. Napping is an issue on which experts are also divided. Bottom line: try to get up and go to sleep at roughly the same time most days of the week.

7 Part Time Jobs That Can Bring You Lucrative Income

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The common perception is that part-time jobs have less to offer than full-time positions.

That may be true in terms of hours in the work week, but many part-time jobs pay just as well as a traditional 40-hour week ones and a number of positions come with health insurance coverage, paid vacation days and employee discounts.

Here is our list of some of the best part-time jobs:

1. Tax Preparer

Thousands of people need help every year to file their returns. Part-time tax preparers are often accountants who know their way around deductions and forms, and who want extra income. Though the job typically peaks in the spring, many clients choose to retain their tax professional as a year-round personal accountant and adviser.

Salary: Set your own fee. H&R Block typically charges anywhere from $100 to $200 for their services, so you can probably charge up to $80 and still offer a bargain.

2. Substitute Teacher

Many states offer substitute teaching positions without requiring a teaching degree. Often, anyone with a bachelor’s degree is eligible, provided they pass a background check and interview. The length of employment varies and you should be flexible for days when you get a frantic last-minute call at 6 a.m., but it’s a good way to put your education to use while aiding in the education of others.

3. Private Tutor

Jeremiah LeBrash started tutoring in college as a way to make some extra income. He’s now making enough money for it to be his full-time job. “I started out teaching SAT prep for Kaplan, but I was only making $20 an hour,” he says. “I realized I could do it on my own, give my students one-on-one attention, and charge twice as much.” LeBrash now charges $80 an hour for test preparation and $60 for general math and science help.

4. Part-Time Receptionist

Answering telephones and receiving packages may not be the most glamorous job, but according to career counselor Judith Gerberg, it’s a great opportunity to network. Gerberg, president of the Career Counselors Consortium, knew a laid off radio DJ who ended up working as a receptionist for a law firm. She soon became acquainted with a filmmaker client who loved her music knowledge so much, he hired her as an associate producer. “Lawyers and small businesses always need administrative help,” says Gerberg. “You might be making minimum wage, but keep your ego under wraps. You never know who will walk through the door.”

5. Computer Technician

Gerberg says there is an increased need for tech support, as more people move their businesses home. Computer technicians make basic repairs, set up wi-fi and perform other jobs. Companies are also looking for individuals who can build websites, which makes this a no-brainer for anyone with a little creativity and HTML experience.

6. Copy Editor

“Copy editing is proofreading,” says Rachel Goldman, who took her skills honed in her day job as an online news producer and used them to score part-time work as well. In addition to checking texts for spelling, punctuation, grammar and formatting errors, "I also help the person brainstorm and flesh out their work,” says Goldman. Although she started out editing essays for college students, Goldman is now working on documents such as patent applications and television scripts as well.

7. Direct Seller

Companies such as Amway and Avon allow people to make money on their own time, while offering incentive programs like discounted insurance. And while the recession may have curbed consumer spending, Avon recently reported earnings that were above expectations. “Our products are selling well because it’s affordable luxury,” says Lindsay Blaker, an Avon spokesperson.

Learn How To Grow Money Tree

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Bring a breath of fresh air to your home and an injection of wealth into your finances. Here are some simple, yet effective, tips to bring you peace and prosperity this year.

You may be surprised to learn that your home surroundings can affect your financial health. The Chinese art of feng shui is based on the science of energy alignment in one's living and workspaces to help optimize health, wealth, and happiness in one's life. You can learn how to use it to empower you and unblock your vast potential. My father, a feng shui master, passed down to me thousands of years of wisdom about how to change people's lives through environmental alignment with positive, constructive energy.

New Years: Out with the old

Early in the New Year is a good time to assess your surroundings. One principle for revitalizing your life through feng shui is to cleanse, detoxify, and let go of the past. Would you like to surround yourself with open space and colors that uplift the senses, or be faced with clutter that elicits agitation?

Create some space in your home. Clutter leaves you feeling disorganized, increasing your stress level when you can't find what you're looking for. Clear out the clutter by donating, reselling, or recycling anything you haven't found a use for in the past year-and don't forget to keep the receipt for a tax write-off.

Clean your living space thoroughly to remove stains, mold, and dirt. Get rid of junk piles and any indoor plants that have died. Repair or discard any broken, chipped, and cracked items -- these reflect aspects of your life that are broken and can trap energy you need to free up and use.

Metal: The money element

Feng shui principles observe that material wealth correlates to the metal element. Therefore, to balance matters of money, gold and silver color décor should be featured and metallic objects should be intentionally placed around the home. For instance, place a bronze sculpture in the foyer or a silver vase holding fresh flowers on your dining table. Also, a waterfall placed in the western perimeter of your home with the direction of water flowing towards east will bring in metal elemental energies and expressions into your home, paving the way for gold in your finances.

Symbols for fruitful finances

A traditional Chinese symbol of wealth and prosperity is orange fruit. Consider planting kumquat or orange trees on your property, in pots on your balcony, or even a bowl of oranges on your dining room table. Images of fish, such as Koi or carp, symbolize abundance and should be a welcome addition to any home's décor.

Grow your own money tree

Recently, a popular practice among feng shui aficionados is to have a money tree in your home. A money tree is an indoor bonsai tree from the Panchira aquatica species that measures one to two feet tall and has clusters of five-lobed leaves. Take good care of the bonsai so that it radiates healthy, vibrant, and prosperous energy in your life. Of course, no matter how many money trees you possess, your financial health will not improve if you do not also take care of it on a practical level. You must institute principles of good money management in your life, including setting budgets, living within your means, and paying yourself first. Paying yourself first means always put aside money in your savings before you pay your bills. These are the ways to achieve abundance in your life.

Even with these small changes, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much better you feel and the good changes that occur in your finances and your life. Now that you have balance in your home, bring balance to your body, with the Five Elements of Health Formula. It helps boost your organ function and maintain balance in all your elemental energies.