Certified Blogaholic

Would you believe it possible for a brassiere to prevent breast cancer?  Well, a recently well-marketed brassiere claims that it can prevent the disease most women fear.  It is called Brassage, a bra built with bumps on the side that supposedly massage away toxins from the breast.

According to its maker, Christina Erteszek of Intimate Apparel, traditional bras are hazardous to women’s health as they typically cause toxins to be retained in the breast.  And of course, this revolutionary $59 bra with its massage bumps stimulate lymphatic flow and flush those toxins away.

ABC news investigated the claim and sought the advice of Dr. Susan Love, a breast cancer researcher.  According to Dr. Love, there is no scientific proof that toxins accumulate in the breast on a daily basis.  In other words, it’s all bull.  It is also worth noting that the doctor who invented the bumps in the Brassage as published in their website is not actually a physician, he is actually a chiropractor.

When ABC News’ Juju Chang pointed out Dr. Love’s comments to Erteszek during an interview, Erteszek became upset and stalked out.  She did return eventually after calming down, but her confidence and composure was not the same as it was during the start of the interview.  Following the interview, the manufacture of Brassage has ceased and only a few retailers now carry the product.

There are more products out there that offer unsubstantiated claims. Needless to say, women should not allow other people to exploit our fears.  Let us be more discerning and avoid falling prey to these unscrupulous merchants.

Seems like every new mobile phone coming out in the market is either mediocre at best or trying to be an IPhone. Now, we have the Palm Pre, another multimedia smartphone with a multi-touch screen and a user interface that is almost identical to the IPhone.

Let’s not sell it short though. Palm integrated some innovations on the Pre like the webOS which is a Linux-based operating system developed by the company. Unlike the IPhone, it is a slider which provides a separate QWERTY keyboard underneath the screen which allows for easier input. But what will make the Pre stand out is its wireless charging — the first ever on a smartphone. It will be called the “Touchstone” which utilizes electromagnetic induction through the use of a wireless charging dock. For this to work, a special Palm Pre wireless charging back cover is also necessary.

Palm expects launch around June 2009 but has not released any indicative price tag on this new toy.

The bottom 3 tonight in Season 8 of American Idol is Matt Giraud, Scott MacIntyre, and Michael Sarver. After 36 million votes, Sarver is eliminated from the competition. When judges were asked if he would be saved, Simon Cowell addressed the singer saying that it was a long time coming. Actually, I thought he should have been eliminated last week instead of Alexis Grace. He was lucky to have stayed on for another week.

Yesterday, Sarver performed “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” which sounded amateurish and it was pretty obvious he was not up to league with the rest of the contenders. I’m glad Megan Corkrey remained on the show after her horrible singing of “Once in My Life.” Simon said she should fire the person giving her advise on song choice. He was right because there are numerous Motown songs that would’ve perfectly fit her unique voice. I was actually expecting the genre to be up her alley and hoped she would overtake most yesterday.

Adam Lambert did acoustic with Tracks of My Tears which wasn’t so bad. Gokey likewise performed as expected, though I was hoping something spectacular from him too. Anoop did well too, but not outstanding. Yay, I was really looking forward to the Motown genre that night but none of the contenders made me hoot. Here’s a video of Adam, which was the best one for me among the rest.

Human vanity encompasses not only the skin and body figure.  A large part of vanity involves a healthy head of hair.  They say that the hair is the body’s crowning glory and enhances beauty.  Thus, hair loss has been considered a major problem for most people, especially men.

Hair loss is common for men due to the natural occurrence of “Male Pattern Baldness.”  In this phenomenon, men gradually lose hair over the front, top, and the crown while those on the sides and lower back of the head are retained.  With this pattern, specialists developed hair transplant which is considered the most successful remedy to balding or thinning hair.

With hair transplant, donor hair will be taken from the sides and lower back of the head and transplanted to the balding areas.  The procedure results in the most natural solution to hair loss.  Transplanted hair is exactly the same shade as the rest, it can be cut and combed as if it had naturally grown there.

Nu/Hart Hair Clinics are considered the experts in hair transplant.  Some of their clients are popular Hollywood stars or international celebrities that bank on their looks for a living.  The procedure is done by a specially trained physician.  They have mastered it so well that it now translates to faster healing, more grafts, and the best results in just 6 months.  Due to their success, they now have 10 offices around the world and have already performed over 30,000 successful hair transplants.

Why use sprays, shampoos, pills, or laser treatment?  Reliability of such remedies are so poor that many realize too late that they have wasted so much money for nothing.  If you are not a candidate for hair transplant, Nu/Hart can offer other solutions that would still achieve better results than other treatments.  If you are still wary about the procedure, you can avail of a free consultation to get expert advice on what would be the best solution that would fit your problem.

Most women obsess about getting wrinkles or looking old. It is no wonder that the cosmetic industry continues to grow at a fast and steady pace. Now, even men have their own skin regimen. It is an accepted fact that no human being wants to age and lose his/her youth.   In ancient times, myths about the Fountain of Youth have been spun into so many tales, proving that vanity remains a value held by many regardless of gender or era.

While we hear so many claims from cosmetic manufacturers about the magic they can do for your skin, none can actually validate their claims beyond reasonable doubt.  As such, it would still be practical to stick to natural and safe ways of taking care of your skin.

1. Use a soap-free facial cleanser. It is not necessary to purchase expensive facial cleansers for your face. The objective is to rinse off dirt, oil, and other impurities on your face without making it dry. The key is to use a soap-free cleanser that will help retain moisture while cleaning your face. For oily skin, a foaming gel or an alpha hydroxy acid wash works best to degrease your face. Massage your face with cleanser at least 30 seconds to be able to break down make-up and sebum on the surface.
Read the rest of this entry »

The war on game consoles may just go a notch higher with Palo Alto’s entry into the market. Palo Alto’s new system, OnLive, is poised to enter the market as the new console to contend with because of cheaper cost and easier access for gamers.

Unlike popular game consoles such as the Wii, PS3, and XBox 360, OnLive streams top-end games to your television or computer. It is a small set-up box that can be plugged to your TV/PC and a broadband connection. It will provide players the same top-end games with no install time, no download wait, and the ability for continuous upgrade. With upgrading mainly software-based, you may never be stuck with obsolete hardware again. It even offers a replay feature which you can record and send to your friends.
Read the rest of this entry »

As Michael Jackson’s empire started to crumble following his arrest in 2003 for child molestation, his famed Neverland Ranch has been scheduled for foreclosure and auction on 19 March 2009 due to his inability to service a US$24.5 million debt for years. Though the King of Pop has been in seclusion and hasn’t lived on the ranch for years after his arrest and acquittal, all efforts are still being made to save the property.

Fortunately, the valuable property was saved from foreclosure when an investment entity purchased the loan to give Jackson time to settle his debts. At the moment, keeping his property is now possible with his London concert tour sold out within hours upon availability. Despite the controversies and difficulties that Jackson has gone through, he is still undoubtedly one of the most famous celebrities of all time.

On related news about Jackson’s financial troubles, dispute about the auction of his personal items has now been brought to court. Jackson filed a lawsuit against Julien’s Auctions, claiming that he had never given permission to sell off many of his priceless and irreplaceable items. Darren Julien, the auction house president, fired back saying that it was the pop king’s representatives that came to them and claimed that the ranch was in shambles when they visited it. Following the lawsuit, he even claimed that he has been receiving threats from Jackson’s camp should he decide to pursue the auction. Of course, Jackson’s lawyers denied the threats and claimed Julien’s statements were a ruse to gain the spotlight and divert attention to his misconduct. Even with the dispute, the personal items are currently on publicity tour while the auction is scheduled on 21 April 2009.

Included among those items that will be allegedly put on sale are Jackson’s glittery white glove and 1999 Rolls Royce. A conservative estimate of proceeds from the sale is between US$1.5-3 million.

A year ago, there were still doubts about the sorry state of the economy. By the latter part of 2008, millions have already been laid off and several companies declaring bankcruptcy. Now, there is no denying that we are in hard times.

I have been a part of the blogosphere for over a year now. This blog served as my therapist and a good source of extra income. I earned thousands of dollars last year from blog advertising. Most of it were from sponsored posts I was able to solicit from various get-paid-to-blog sites all over the web. Unfortunately, the opportunities offered by these sites started thinning out. And for those that remained, the offers from advertisers had been significantly reduced.

Nevertheless, I am certain it will pick up soon as the economy starts to recover. Many already acknowledge the strength of advertising in the worldwide web. At present, the number of hours people spend surfing the web has increased and may soon overtake those spent watching TV. It is for this reason that there are new websites offering blog advertising to the blogosphere.

The new kid on the block is PayingPost.com. After my blog was approved, it had been the break I was looking forward to since the start of 2009. There were several opportunities available to bloggers that offered better pay than those I had been with for over a year. While expenses have been getting higher, I consider this new membership a lifeline. PayingPost.com also shows a lot of promise even in its early stages. The account panel is simple and functional — no complicated requirements or controls needed. Being a new site, it is not as sophisticated as the others but it provides all the support needed by advertisers and bloggers. They have their own blog where users can find relevant information about blogging and advertising.

PayingPost.com is a refreshing change in the blog advertising industry that I am certain will keep the blogosphere and the worldwide web flourishing.

The bottom 3 this week in American Idol 2009 are Allison Iraheta, Michael Sarver, and Alexis Grace. Based on my personal assessment of their vocal talents, I was pretty sure Michael Sarver would make the exit. Unfortunately, the last one that I thought would be booted out was the one — Alexis Grace. What?!

Alexis is considered one of the better singers among the remaining contestants and it was a bit of shock for me. She didn’t perform Jolene that well the other night, but then again, I couldn’t even understand a word of what Michael was singing. It was totally undeserved. There was no doubt Alexis could redeem her poor performance in the coming weeks. Country music had always been the more difficult genre during the final rounds of the competition. It was too early an exit for such a talented singer.

Since the judges have a one-time option to save anyone from elimination, they did give Alexis a chance to be saved by letting her sing Jolene again. Although her singing was a little more passionate from desperation, it was no better than her previous performance. The judges deemed her undeserving to be saved. I’m pretty sure they are keeping that option for emergency purposes to save either Gokey or Lambert in the event any of the 2 gets a surprise kick.

Anyway, we look forward to next week when the contestants go for Motown music. Michael would have to come up with something spectacular to stay in the competition or pray that someone else messes up big time.

The first roadable aircraft, the Transition, made its first flight yesterday at Plattsburgh International Airport.  Also known as the flying car, it seats two and can take off and land in any local airport.  It can also cruise along any road with its wings folded.  It has a front-wheel drive and fits into a normal garage.  This new innovation was created by Terrafugia, a company founded by graduates of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

This milestone in transportation can cruise up to 450 mi at 115 mph.  It runs on regular unleaded gasoline.  It is estimated to be able to fly within a range 100 to 500 miles.  It is categorized as a Light Sport Aircraft and requires a Sport Pilot license to fly.  It is expected to be released in 2009 with a price tag of $194,000.

I’ve been trying to get a video showing its capabilities, but I have yet to find one that clearly shows how high it can go.  If all the claims about its abilities are true, it is truly a preview of what the future can bring.

Many are asking how it is possible that AIG will be giving out $165 million in bonuses to executives when they reported $61 billion in loss for 2008.  AIG’s loss is considered the biggest corporate loss in American history and yet it is deemed necessary to give their executives bonuses?  Where I come from, bonuses are premised on good income — an incentive to top management for a job well done. Considering that AIG has been given the biggest bail out money from American taxpayers, I find it indecent that a portion of the recent $170 billion bail out will be used to give bonuses. As a matter of fact, the earlier billions in bail out given to them did not produce results. What did they do with the previous bail out money? Oh I remember, they were supposed to send their executives out on a vacation as incentives for exemplary performance. Of course, it had to be rescinded because the public got word of it.

I can understand the outrage of the American people. Millions have lost their jobs, not because they did not perform well, but because of this economic catastrophe perpetrated by the financial sector. Economic analysts have been warning them for years that this day would come. Maybe they don’t care, they are at the top of the food chain. If all hell breaks loose, they will not lose their jobs — they will even get their bonuses. It’s the ordinary tom, dick, and jane who will be affected, not them.

For whatever its worth, it is good that this was revealed to the public and not hushed up like most inappropriate activities. While AIG attempts to rebuild its financial status, this type of activities will further ruin people’s trust and confidence in the company. Raising themselves from the ashes will now prove to be a more daunting task.

With millions losing their job the past year and a replacement job unavailable, many believe the answer may be starting your own small business.  A business doesn’t have to involve big capital.  You can start a franchise business that can be your family’s life support even wihou employment.

Buying Franchise businesses is actually easier than setting up your own independent business.  With a franchise, the brand has already been established, marketing is usually covered by royalty fees, and business procedures are already established.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to educate yourself and determine if franchising is the right business for you.  Establish you budget and find out the industry you are most knowledgeable and comfortable with.  MatchPoinNetwork.com is the best resource in franchising business on the net.  Unemployment may not be the end of the line for you — it may be the opportunity you have been waiting for all these years.

In view of the current economic crisis, the world’s top billionaires lost billions, but some still stayed on top of their game. Bill Bates lost $18 billion of his net worth but regains the top spot from Warren Buffet whose fortune fell by $25 billion as Berkshire Hathaway’s shares fell almost 50% the past year. There are now 793 in the list from 1,125 last year. The financial catastrophe the past year took 355 off the list while 18 died. The collective networth of this elite group also fell by $2 trillion and now only stands at $2.4 trillion from over $4 trillion last year.

The biggest loser this year is Indian billionaire Anil Ambani, last year’s biggest gainer, who lost $32 billion following the Indian stock market’s downfall by 44% and the Rupee’s depreciation by 18% against the dollar. India now cedes the top spot in Asia for billionaires to China who now has 28.

Rumors are circulating that Mandy Moore and Ryan Adams just got married. The ceremony was secretly held at Savannah, Georgia yesterday. Sources say that the couple obtained their marriage license at Chatham Probate Office in Savannah just Tuesday.

The couple started dating in December 2007 but broke up a few months later. Moore then rekindled her relationship with former beau DJ AM, but eventually reunited with Adams. Seems like Adams is in a hurry to hook Moore since engagement was only reported last month. Considering that their relationship was an on and off thing, here’s hoping for the best.