Stories In Life» trivia

World’s Longest Hair wanted by 55yo Chinese Woman

adminchari — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:29:40 +0000

One Chinese woman is already a real-life Rapunzel but, in the coming years, she wants the Guinness Book of World Records to also attest it. She hasn’t cut her hair since she was 14. She’s 55 now. Ni Linmei has been growing out her hair for so much time that she also plans of making a buck off it and, no, it doesn’t imply selling it for hair extensions even though would probably make her richer by a lot. Instead, she wants to grow it some more and, in a few years, to apply for the Guinness Book of World Records.

One photo shows Linmei after she combed her hair, an operation that is quite tricky given its length, with the main wrapped in a protective piece of clothing. Of course, she’s not the only woman to make headlines for growing out something others like to keep very short. Just recently, we were talking about Chris Walton, the current holder of the title of world’s longest nails.

As it was informed, Walton stopped clipping her fingernails, allowing them instead to grow freely. She says her life is normal even though she has nails that could forbid her from doing anything even remotely “normal.” She cooks, she drives, she does the laundry, and she does chores around the house, the whole 9 yards.

Walton explains that she decided herself to try and not let her fingernails disrupt her life too much because she only wanted to have an eye-catching manicure, not put her life on hold for a Guinness record.

Plastic Surgeon’s Daughter Surgery at 10

adminchari — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:52:19 +0000

In the land of all possibilities, there’s no such thing as too young for plastic surgery. Dr. Michael Niccole, a guest on the latest segment 20/20 on ABC with Barbara Walters, is just the guy to explain to you how that works. Walters, no stranger to plastic surgery herself, seeks to tackle a very delicate question about this type of procedures: when it is too young to have one done, or is age no limit for it?

In the video, before introducing the case of one particular plastic surgeon in California, she says that, right now, plastic surgery is no longer referred to as such, but rather as cosmetic augmentation, perhaps in a bid to create the impression that it’s boosting, improving, if you will, something that’s already there.

Plastic surgery also carries with the connotation of something being cut to be altered, and that’s no longer the case these days: fillers, botox and other beauty procedures are done without a scalpel. This brings her to the story of one Dr. Niccole: not only is he a father, but he is also his daughters’ personal plastic surgery. When Charm, who is now only 23, told him that she was unhappy about her belly button, he had it fixed for her. She was just 10 at the time.

The other girl, Brittani, who is also 23, had him give her larger breasts the moment she turned 18, that is, she was of legal age. Both girls get Botox, fillers and laser treatments regularly, even though they’re at an age when they certainly don’t need any help with looking smoother or more youthful in the face. Asked whether he feels he’s ruining his daughters by performing so many augmentation procedures on them at such a young age, Dr. Niccole says on the contrary, he’s helping them get “maintenance.”

Obviously, experts disagree with him.

beauty within you

adminchari — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:04:04 +0000

Do you know that you are a unique person with a special kind of God gifted beauty which no other person possesses. That beauty is something very personal and individual. You must acknowledge that “hidden” beauty within you to know your own worth as a beautiful person.

Beauty is something which can neither be measured by any scale nor can be described in words. It’s an impression which one leaves on others and that impression is the true reflection of many fine characteristics of one’s own personality. We call it “inner beauty”. I have devoted a full Section of my site to “Beauty and Wellness” articles.

If in doubt about your beauty, you may be suffering from some kind of inferiority complex thus badly affecting your professional and family life. Don’t let the negative forces to ruin your life. Be confident about yourself.

Look straight in the mirror and say with full confidence “I am beautiful”. Wait and let the mirror say “you are beautiful”. On your way to job, shopping or social engagements, keep repeating “I am beautiful” and let others say “you are beautiful”. Your eyes, ears, nose, lips and even the pores of your skin must say “I am beautiful”. This type of confidence about your own beauty will leave no option to others but to admit that you are beautiful.

Why now start a new life as a self-confident beautiful person and achieve success in every sphere of your life. You are no doubt a beautiful person. Say YES!

Culinary Skills, Improving it

adminchari — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:35:34 +0000

It is gradually more important for food manufacturers to utilize both culinary professionals and food scientists in their Research and Development efforts, else we are heading towards a society where there won’t be any good food to eat. Food flavors can be either added to foods or developed during cooking processes. However, processes used in the kitchen usually produce different results than those in manufacturing.

Culinary professionals can help scientists envision fine restaurant food presentations, which can then be taken and duplicated on a large scale through flavor and/or process technology. Although working together can be challenging, food scientists and culinary professionals can benefit from learning each other’s perspectives on product development. Language/terminology differences can create communication gaps as are often the case when people in different disciplines work together.

Matthew Walter, corporate chef at a flavor and ingredient house, says, “To work with manufactured food, a chef does not need to become a food technologist, but does need to understand the ingredients and the parameters within which they are working. When both the culinary and technical views come together, the highest quality product results.” Walters also adds that it is definitely possible to have fine restaurant-quality manufactured food. “Anything can be done for a cost, and while cost has traditionally been the biggest inhibitor of high quality, people are willing to pay for good food,” he adds.

Some feel that a smaller setting can be a friendlier atmosphere for a combination culinary/food science developed product. The larger the company, the more challenging it can be for the two disciplines to work together. Developing a product with fewer people allows everyone to wear more hats and it may be easier for the group to collaborate. People tend to be more specialized in larger companies with each person providing a specific contribution to a product before handing it off to someone else.

Although it is still not extremely common to have personnel from these two differing disciplines working together, the end product is often superior and more quickly developed when scientists and culinary experts put their heads together. This combination of talents creates a synergy that helps the product development team cover all its bases.

How to Select Shoes to Wear with your Wedding Dress

adminchari — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:55:32 +0000

The whole thing needs to be perfect on your wedding day. It has to be a sunny day, the birds must be singing, your makeup has to be just so and your hair dare not be out of place. You have picked out the perfect wedding dress, now all you have to do is find the perfect wedding shoes. Should be easy enough, right?

You may not realize how much time you will be spending on your feet on your wedding day. There is, of course, the walk down the aisle. The receiving line in which you must stand to thank guests for attending your wedding will require more standing time than planned. Walking in to the reception hall, cutting the cake and dancing all night long.

You may fall in love with the beautiful high heel shoe, but keep comfort in mind. During the long day, you will be standing, dancing and walking and you won’t want to be in pain. If you are concerned that you will not be able to get into shoes that are stylish and elegant as well as comfortable, fear not, there are getting to be a lot more options in wide width styles.

Make sure you have your wedding shoes on while you are getting fitted for your dress. Wearing 3″ heels to fittings only to change your mind and go with a pump will affect how the dress fits overall. Try wearing your shoes for a full day, doing normal activities that will undoubtedly include walking through the store, dancing while cleaning and standing in line. Get a feel for the shoe and break them in a bit. You will not want a stiff shoe when you are trying to smile and be pretty.

There are plenty of wedding shoes options available – pumps, heels, stiletto heels and even flats or sandals that will be good for a more informal event.

Fabric is a factor that will go into deciding what wedding footwear you will be happy with. Traditionally, wedding shoes are made of silk or satin. Often, shoe fabrics are matched to the dress. Dresses made from satin or other shiny fabrics, as a rule of thumb, will require satin shoes. If you go with a matte dress fabric such as chiffon or crepe, the shoes should match, being made from crepe as well.

If you go with a non-traditional wedding dress or a more informal affair, make sure your shoes are in sync with this. Don’t, for example, wear overalls to your wedding and then attempt to add some tradition with 3-inch silk shoes. Make your wedding what you want it to be, but make sure your wedding shoes match. Having a western-themed wedding? How about a pair of brocaded wedding boots? There are plenty of options when it comes to wedding shoes.

Your personality should come through in your wedding shoes. Don’t be afraid to spice it up a bit. Maybe you let your niece decorate them or maybe you add your own embellishments. You can get see through shoes that will remind your guests of Cinderella. This is your day and it should be what you make of it.

Therefore your wedding day is probably one you have been planning your whole life. You want everything to be perfect. Make sure you pick out wedding shoes that are comfortable and reflect your personality both as a bride and as a person. The possibilities are almost endless.

Warning to Skin Peeling Products

adminchari — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:10:31 +0000

“We are warning consumers about the use of skin peelers because they can cause serious injuries, particularly when not used under the supervision of a physician,” said Commissioner David A. Kessler, M.D.

The FDA issued the warning after it received reports of several injuries caused by chemical skin peeling products. The products in question contain ingredients that are supposed to remove wrinkles, blemishes, blotches and acne scars, usually claiming that they restore youthful-looking skin. But the FDA says they may penetrate the skin too deeply, causing severe skin damage. In several cases, persons have been hospitalized for severe burns, swelling and pain.

Harsh chemical peeling products contain different ingredients and their strengths vary, as may each person’s reactions to the chemicals used. Peeling products usually contain different acids such as resorcinol, phenol, lactic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid and other alpha hydroxy acids. These are generally applied to the skin for a brief time each day, for 6 to 12 days. The skin initially reddens, like sunburn, then darkens and finally peels away, revealing what manufacturers claim will be “new skin.” But treatments may be painful and leave permanent scars.

Chemical peels used to be performed only by plastic surgeons and dermatologists. However, they are now administered by a variety of non-medical professionals such as cosmetologists and beauticians, some using newly marketed preparations. Some of the products can even be purchased by mail. Many have inadequate instructions; none have been approved by FDA as being safe and effective.

In the course of conducting its investigation, the FDA will review all products marketed with skin peeling claims. Dr. Kessler said FDA is working with state attorneys general who are also taking measures to stop the sale and use of hazardous skin peeling products.

In a warning letter sent to one manufacturer, the FDA said that it considers their product to be a new drug that cannot be legally marketed without FDA approval, and that the product is misbranded and presents a significant health hazard.

Other over-the-counter products designed to renew and rejuvenate are not affected by this announcement. Learn to read the labels on the products you use and choose those that are non-toxic and safe. For more information, see our article on Skin Care Product Labels – Natural vs. Toxic Chemicals.

Study Finds Youthful Faces Live Longer

adminchari — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 02:45:14 +0000

Perhaps, looking younger than one’s age is a curse while growing up, especially as a teen, but it has solid advantages later on in life because it can predict a longer life for the person in question. Researchers have established that a fresh-faced appearance means a longer life, as opposed to those who usually look older than they really are.

Danish researchers looked at 387 pairs of twins to come up with the conclusion mentioned above. Nurses, teachers and colleagues were asked to look at photos of the twins and estimate which one looked younger; then, they determined that the one who did not look their age actually lived a longer life than the twin who seemed older. The explanation for that was found in DNA pieces called telomeres, which were longer in younger looking people. People who looked younger had longer telomeres. All of the twins were in their 70s, 80s or 90s when they were photographed. Over a seven-year follow-up the researchers found that the bigger the difference in perceived age within a pair, the more likely it was that the older-looking twin died first.

Perceived age, which is widely used by clinicians as a general indication of a patient’s health, is a robust biomarker of ageing that predicts survival among those aged over 70. It’s probably a combination of genes plus environment over a lifetime that is important. One explanation that researchers are also considering is that people who look older than they really are lead a tougher life: not only it shows on their faces, but it also takes a toll on their body. Either way, being fresh-faced certainly “pays off.”

Critical Level of Cancer Cases due to Obesity

adminchari — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:06:51 +0000

Just like parents can’t tell when their children are too heavy for their age, there still are thousands, if not millions, of people out there who are not aware of the connection between excess fat and cancer. As a new study points out, the number of cancer cases from obesity has almost doubled over the past years, which means this is just the time to start paying attention to the aforementioned connection.

“The stark fact is that every year in these countries, many thousands of people are diagnosed with cancer that could have been prevented if they had maintained a healthy weight. This is a real cause for concern and the problem is only going to get worse if the number of people who are overweight continues to rise.” Professor Martin Wiseman, WCRF medical and scientific adviser, says for the Daily Mail. People do not know, Wiseman says, that, after smoking, obesity is the second biggest threat of our times, which is why they should be educated on the matter.

“After not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight is the most important thing you can do. But a recent survey showed almost 40 per cent of people still do not know excess fat is a cause of cancer. We need to do more to spread the message.” Professor Wiseman states for the same publication. At the same time, he says, people should be made aware, by one means or another, that body fat encourages the production of growth factors and hormones, which, in turn, leads to an increase in the risk of developing cancer.

The situation is similarly bleak in the US as well, with health experts pointing out here too that something should be done about the “obesity problem” before it’s too late. A recent study in this sense has shown that obesity is as damaging for the health as lifelong smoking is, with both taking an average of 10 years off one’s life.

Study shows, Women with Friends Live Longer

adminchari — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:11:04 +0000

Women who spend more time socializing with female friends are less likely to feel stress and have health issues later in life, a new study seems to indicate. Researchers at the University of California have established a clear connection between the time spent with friends, engaging in fun activities, and overall health past a certain age. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, has also determined that the benefits of socializing extend beyond the health of women. In baboons at least, researchers have established that the offspring of socializing females also live longer than those whose mothers do not bond with other females. This comes to confirm the findings of previous studies, this time on humans that friends actively act to improve health and reduce mortality and health issues.

The benefits of friendship and sincere bonding are more obvious in women, researchers point out. “Females who formed stronger bonds with their mothers and adult daughters experienced higher offspring survival rates.” Dr. Joan Silk of the University of California says of the findings in baboons. However, this also applies to humans, especially in the context in which previous research has established there is a very strong connection between friendship and joy, and stress management on the other hand.

“Being able to connect with women on various emotional levels can assist in lowering blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol. And since stress wreaks havoc on blood glucose levels, healing, bone density and the aging process, friends are able to counteract its detrimental effects as indicated in a Harvard Medical School Nurse’s Health Study. The more friends a woman has, the less likely she is to develop health problems as she becomes older. Therefore, more friends equal more joy.” Dr. Silk further explains.

Facebook can Fight Stress and Stay Healthy?

adminchari — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 13:48:25 +0000

Experts have told us countless times that spending too much time online chatting with virtual friends is bad for our health because it encourages isolation and leads to a lack of communication with our “real” friends. In this sense, Facebook has often been tagged as the biggest culprit, given its soaring popularity. Nevertheless, social networking is not all bad, as Glamour magazine points out, saying that it can actually help us relieve stress and, ultimately, stay in better health.

In this sense, Facebook is modern escapism that helps us “zap stress”. Chatting online can also make us feel like we’re not alone when we have a bad day. Given the huge number of users, we can surely find at least one person who can relate to whatever it is that we’re going through, which comes extremely in handy when we really have no one to talk to, or in those cases when we feel like nobody understands us, magazine author points out.

Facebook is also “good, clean fun,” because it encourages us to reconnect with people with whom we haven’t spoken in years, like our high school or childhood friends. Catching up with them and giving way to memories is not only fun, but it will also make us laugh – and what better way to unwind after a stressful day or to relax than laughing? Moreover, laughter is said to boost the immune system, while also fighting wrinkles.

Last but not least, Facebook is also good for our wellbeing because it usually promotes a positive atmosphere. Here too, we can find people to relate to our status, people who are in an equally good mood, which can only lead to more fun and laughter. In the end, Facebook can be extremely good for our health if we learn how to use it, that is, granted we understand no amount of social networking can replace real people and our relationship with them.