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As the top 13 in American Idol 2009 performed the other night, only a handful seemed to show promise in making it through the next few weeks. Among those who received bad reviews from the judges were Megan, Jorge, and Anoop. And as expected, the top performers were Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey.

Today’s show had voters eliminating Jasmine and Jorge who received the least number of votes. Although Jasmine did not disappoint the judges as much as Jorge, her lack of personality probably made viewers oblivious to her presence.

The judges likewise announced a new format during the elimination round. They now have the power to save a contestant who gets the least number of votes if they believe he/she deserves another chance. Should this happen, there will be 2 competitors eliminated for the succeeding performance to make up for the save. In today’s elimination, the judges decided not to use this option, believing that both Jasmine and Jorge did deserve to go packing home.

As the world continues to grapple with the multitude of diseases and health problems, many likewise strive to find the remedies that would alleviate human suffering. Nevertheless, many life-threatening disease are still left untouched in decades while the list of incurable illnesses increase. While traditional medicine still cannot provide the cure nor relief, it is not surprising that many seek out unconventional ways to find the answer.

Alternative Medicine is not a new concept in the world. As a matter of fact, some of them are based on ancient practices of our forefathers. They are merely called alternative because the process or methods have not been validated through the scientific method and standards imposed by the medical industry. Yet, some alternative procedures also use advanced technology that have provided relief to hose who have almost lost hope.

One of the clinics that do specialize in alternative therapies is the Whitaker Wellness Institute.  The clinic provides Acupuncture, Chelation Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and many more.  It was founded by Julian Whitaker, MD and he is supported by a team of medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine.  This is a team of dedicated physicians and professionals whose aim is to improve the lives of their patients.  Notably, the clinic will not suggest any reduction or discontinuation of medicine a patient is currently taking without the consultation of their physician.  Though the clinic is intent on healing its patients, they are responsible enough to understand the limits of their treatments.

At a point when you think that your illness has gotten the best of you and all else fails, remember that there is always hope.

How would coffee connoisseurs distinguish the best in the world? Which would fare better? Price or taste? While coffee enthusiasts have various criteria when it comes to taste, price would be an easier measure since the most expensive coffee cost about US$300-US$600 per pound. If you watched the 2007 film “The Bucket List,” you know what coffee beans I am talking about – it’s the coffee beans that Jack Nicholson’s character was munching on.

Kopi Luwak is not only considered the most expensive coffee in the world, but also the strangest. These are coffee berries defecated by the Asian Palm Civet, a jungle cat native to countries such as Indonesia (known as Luwak), the Philippines (known as Alamid or Musang), and East Timor (known as Laku). The luwak’s normal diet consists of insects, small mammals and reptiles, nestling of birds, fruits, and coffee berries. However, the luwak only ingests the ripe coffee berries in the forest. This is the premise that surrounds the reputation of Kopi Luwak. The luwak only chooses superior beans which cannot be surpassed by the normal harvest of coffee where some are not quite ripe or some are overripe. The outer flesh is digested while the inner bean remains intact and defecated. These are collected and washed before being roasted lightly. According to experts, the enzymes in the luwak’s digestive tract somehow penetrate the beans and add flavor as it breaks down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste.

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American Idol fans were happily surprised when judges chose 4 contestants in the wild card round instead of only 3. For the first time in American Idol history, it is now down to a top 13 instead of a top 12. It was good news for most since the last one chosen was Anoop Desai, undoubtedly one of the better singers who did not get enough votes in the previous round. Though there are a few in the top 13 that will certainly be booted out early, it is a good collection this season.

For the wild card round, Jasmine Murray, Megan Joy Corkrey, Matt Giraud, and Anoop Desai successful survived the lifeline given by the judges. According to judges, the decision between Giraud and Desai were so tight they felt it was necessary to just bring both in. Though I believed Murray was the weakest of the 4, her African-American youthful beauty probably made judges decide she had time to improve her vocals — though it’s unlikely she will ever have enough time to be as good as Lil Rounds, the only other African-American to make it to the top.

So, who’s your pick? Personally, I think it will go down to Danny Gokey, Lil Rounds, and Adam Lambert. Of the 3, Lambert has the edge with his wide vocal range and matinee idol looks. Having performed constantly on theater also gives him an advantage over the rest. Knowing American Idol, picking the winner this early is not that simple. We eagerly await the surprises in the coming weeks as it winds down to the final stages.

Probably one of the bestselling and most profitable products in the market today are those that involve delaying the effects of age on the body. The market segment for anti-aging is not only exclusive to women but likewise involves all other genders. Products from botox to viagra have proven to be profitable, not only to manufacturers, but also to dealers or retailers. This also translated to the popularity of cosmetic or dermatological treatments.

Since I belong to the female gender, let me just talk about those that make women pour out their hard-earned bucks to just to stay young and beautiful. During the 20th century, only women in their late thirties or in their forties are known to put all sorts of gunk on their face to slow down the appearance of wrinkles or make them younger than they are. Now, dermatologists suggest that skin care should start as early as 25. With so many brands in the market, it’s almost impossible to pick the right one. Even research proves futile since everyone knows that testimonials are paid endorsements and most don’t hold much water. Beauty forums actually give out better and more reliable information – - women do take care of each other. What I do regularly though, that has given positive results is diamond peeling. I have a reliable dermatologist do this for me every month. It is a bit pricey but I get mine at a good price since she includes a free facial cleaning before the actual procedure. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the problems that women are always trying to resolve in terms of beauty and hygiene is getting rid of unwanted hair. Before science or research finally discovered good options for hair removal, the only option is shaving. Then using hot wax became the new method. This gets rid of unwanted hair but the risk of burning your skin and making it hyperpigmented was high. Thus, I kept to the shaving part. The problem with this is, the hair that would grow back stiff and thick. If you miss out on shaving, it was very uncomfortable, not to mention unattractive. I even consider myself luckier than other girls because I only had my underarm to shave. Other women have to do their legs or their upper lips or arms.

Well, finally the angels gave women the answer to their hair problems. Aside from treating the hair follicles with laser to remove unwanted hair, cold sugar waxing was discovered. With laser treatment, some dermatologist claim that several sessions can make that part of the skin permanently hair-free. However, you have to pay a hefty price for this. Being a bit thrifty, I went for the more reasonable option. I tried cold sugar wax in a waxing salon. It did better than I anticipated. After the waxing, the skin on my underarm was smooth and hairless. No razor ever did this for me. The wax is made of sugar, lemon, and honey. The good thing about this method is that the lemon can make the discoloration on your underarm go away. And like the laser treatment, when the hair grew back, it was fine and soft. Some even claim that after several cold wax treatments, chicken skin on the underarm disappears. I don’t have much chicken skin since I never plucked, but there are minimal bumps on some areas due to shaving.

Whenever I gain weight, it’s my tummy and my waist that usually gains first. It’s frustrating because it is also the most difficult to trim whenever I try to lose weight. For those who have the same problem, here are some tips from health experts on how to trim off those belly fat. Here is a list of nutritious food your diet shouldn’t be without. Complement these with moderate exercise, and those stubborn fat on your middle plus all other excess flabs will melt away.

1. Spinach

2. Yogurt

3. Tomatoes

4. Carrots

5. Blueberries

6. Black Beans

7. Walnuts

8. Oats

These will not only help you lose weight, but will also keep your muscles strong, your heart healthy, and give you protection from the dreaded C.

During the weekend, I caught a bad case of cold and cough.  I have been looking forward to some rest bu  ended up sleeping in bed most of the time with most of my taste buds useless.  I am feeling better now despite the continuously weird weather.   For those suffering the same fate, here’s how I managed to get better faster (though I’m uncertain if I should’ve made a slower recovery so I didn’t have to go to the office today).

1.  Take lots of citrus juice and water.  Taking lots of fluid will minimize stuffy nose and sinusitis. Even if you have to blow your nose every 10 minutes, it still leads to faster recovery.  It is also good to eat citrus fruits.

2.  Increase dosage of Vitamin C to 1000 mg.  Although there is no scientific basis for this, some say it is therapeutic.

3.  Rub liniment on your chest and back regularly.  Again, no doctor will support this.  However, when I put on Yee Tin Oil (Chinese herbal liniment), I don’t get dry cough (which is a killer for sound sleep) and my nose doesn’t get clogged.  All the yucky fluid in my nose and lungs are excreted — this is the objective of getting better instead of letting it dry up in your lungs.

4.  Stop acting like your sick.  If you act like you’re sick and lie around more than you should, you will really get more sick.  It is better to move around but avoid doing strenuous tasks.

As for the problem with the taste buds, I have no idea how to cure that.  Everything I eat taste like cardboard.  Even eating food with stronger flavors taste weird. I guess I will just have to wait this one out.

Yesterday, American Idol 2009 has filtered the top 9 among the 36 that advanced from auditions and the Hollywood showdowns. Most of them were expected. Still, there were worthy performers eliminated during the 3 shows because only 3 could advance from each group. Nevertheless, American Idol remedied this problem by creating a final wild card round. In this round, judges chose 8 singers from those eliminated to compete in the final round. The final 3 that will be chosen from the wild card showdown will complete the top 12 competitors.

Here is the list of the top 9 who secured a slot for the final rounds.
1. Danny Gokey
2. Alexis Grace
3. Michael Sarver
4. Allison Iraheta
5. Kris Allen
6. Adam Lambert
7. Lil Rounds
8. Scott MacIntyre
9. Jorge Nunez

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Nothing else can fulfill a woman than becoming a mother. For most, the epitome of womanhood is the ability to raise your own child. However, despite all the wonders of bearing children, the process takes such a heavy toll on the mother’s body. Skin problems such as stretch marks, blemishes, and oily skin caused by hormonal changes are only among the beauty problems a woman has to endure for the price of pregnancy. The wonders of science did find possible ways to combat these side effects.

Nevertheless, a pregnant woman’s delicate condition does not give her the liberty to just use any ordinary health and beauty product. She is only allowed to use those that are safe for her and her unborn child. It is under these circumstances that Beaute de Maman was developed.

Beaute de Maman health and beauty products were developed specifically for mothers-to-be and are made from natural products that have been proven to be safe for pregnant women and the developing fetus. Their products are backed by board-certified obstetricians who ensure that these remedies for the hormonal changes that pregnant women undergo will not harm the mother and her child. Thus, it is the choice of many expectant mom celebrities to avoid damaging their looks from child-bearing. They have stretch mark creams, nipple gels, face and body cream, and facial scrubs.

For those who choose Beaute de Maman, pregnancy is not the end of beautiful skin. Visit their website at www.beautedemaman.com and order now

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Rumors circulating that Rihanna and Chris Brown are back together have shocked fans after the brawl that transpired between the couple just weeks ago. Some go so far as expressing outrage and disappointment. Are they back in each others arms?

Reports claim that the couple were spending quality time together at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Miami home with he blessings of Rihanna’s father. According to Rihanna’s dad, he loves her daughter and supports her decision.

Did Brown’s public apology appease Rihanna? Though many were dismayed by the news, it has been the common resolution that battered women resort to. Most put the beating incident behind them believing that it will not happen again. Then again, most have also been wrong in this belief. Regardless, here’s to hoping that the couple can fix their problems, if only to repair the damage it has made to their careers and personal life.