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Hugh Jackman is the Sexiest Man Alive

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:15:00 EST

Hugh Jackman has been named as People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. Here's what he had to say about it:

You turned 40 Oct. 12 and now you're the Sexiest Man Alive. What was your wife's response?

God bless her, she said, "I could've told them that years ago!" And then she said, "Obviously, Brad wasn't available this year." And I said, "That was a joke, right?"

"Hugh is tough and romantic at the same time," says costar Kidman. "Australian men are a different breed. They're rugged and they sweat."

Your marriage is a success story.

In my early 20s, I didn't have a regular girlfriend. I was single and really happy about it. And then when I was 26, I met Deb on [the Australian TV show] Correlli. She was my leading lady. It was just undeniable. I started planning to propose to her at about three months. We are happy. Deb and my kids have been the best things that have ever happened to me, without a doubt.

Hugh Jackman is worthy of the title.

Posted in Celebrity

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Kingston Technology Announces 64GB USB Flash Drive

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:40:00 EST

Kingston Technology has announced the 64GB DataTraveler DT150 USB Flash drive which can hold 64 gigabytes. DT150 offers the largest capacity in Kingston's line of DataTraveler USB drives. 64GB is a lot of storage for a USB Flash drive. When these USB Flash drives first came out they could back up less than 1 GB.

"The new 64GB DataTraveler 150 takes transportable storage to the next level with big capacity in a small package," said Jaja Lin, Flash business development manager, Kingston. "As file sizes increase with digital media content such as music and photos, the need for USB Flash drives with high capacities will continue to rise. The DT150 certainly addresses those needs today."

Kingston's DataTraveler 150 is compatible with Windows Vista, XP and Windows 2000 as well as Mac OS X 10.3 (and above) and Linux 2.6 (and above). This is going on our wish list. Amazon.com is currently selling it here for $127.77.

Posted in Technology

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Fans Bleed For Robert Pattinson

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:05:00 EST

Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Robert Pattinson appeared at the premiere for his new film Twilight in which he plays vampire Edward Cullen. He was met by hordes of screaming teens and pre-teen girls. But that's not the ridiculous part. Two of the girls scratched their necks so they would be bleeding when he met them.

Hundreds of shrieking fans turned out Monday for the Los Angeles premiere of Twilight. Robert Pattinson, who plays sexy vampire Edward, told Usmagazine.com he was used to all the hoopla by now, "but this week it feels like it's grown so much bigger. "They all just scream at me and now it just kind of feel like my job," said Pattinson, who joked with MTV News that he'd gone "completely deaf" at the premiere.

Just the other day, Pattinson realized, "there were some girls who had scratched ... the side of their necks so [they were] freshly bleeding when they came up to get a signature. "They were like, 'We did this for you.' I didn't know what to say. 'Um, thanks guys?'"

Someone needs to take the girls aside and explain that Pattinson is just a good looking actor. He is not a vampire who will be thrown into some kind of bloodlust by their bleeding necks. And also...Eeueew.

Posted in Celebrity

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Kristen Johnston Poses for PETA Campaign Against NYC's Horse-Drawn Carriages

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:50:00 EST

Kristen Johnston has jointed PETA's campaign against horse-drawn carriages in New York City. Johnston poses strategically nude on top of a prop horse in a homage to Lady Godiva. The tagline underneath Johnston in the photo reads, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride. Horse-Drawn Carriages Are Cruel." About horse-drawn carriages Kristen says, "They go from this horrible trotting job, where they're pulling people through the streets of Manhattan, to this tiny jail cell in this building on like the ninth floor-and it's horrible." You can see a larger version of the ad here and you can read why PETA doesn't like New York's horse-drawn carriages here.

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Jennifer Aniston Talks Movies

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:25:00 EST

Jennifer Aniston looks amazing on the cover of New York Times magazine. In the accompanying interview she talks about making movies and whether Friends stands the test of time. Us Weekly gives a sneak preview:

Talking about the title of her new movie: "I wish it was She's Just Not That Into. Unfortunately, it's He's Just Not That Into You. The other would be more empowering."

On her movie career after Friends ended in 2004: "I thought I'd never get movies."

On landing her role of Rachel Green after a string of unsuccessful tv roles: "[It was] the first time I felt like part of the cool kids."

On watching reruns of Friends: "There are times I don't even remember that particular show. This is horrible to say, but there are times when I laugh my rear end off. And I get in debates with people who are over and say, Friends is not my thing.' Excuse you!"

Whether Friends would be a hit show today: "Hard to tell — that was a different time. Now TV has too much to do with celebrity. We have reality television, where people try to become celebrities...."

Jennifer has a film opening on Christmas Day. The comedy, Marley & Me, also stars Owen Wilson.

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Today is World Toilet Day

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

The World Toilet Organization says that today is World Toilet Day. Here are the 3 essential "We (s)" behind World Toilet Day's theme "We Deserve Better."

WE: Toilets deserve better social status. WTO has been striving to elevate the status of toilets to make them status symbols and objects of desire. WTO speaks on behalf of toilets "We Deserve Better Social Status."
WE: The second WE are the toilet cleaners. WTO aims to professionalize the sanitation and restroom industry and to upgrade the skill sets of the restoom cleaners. WTO speaks on behalf of the toilet cleaners "We deserve better pay, Respect and Prospects."
WE: WTO speaks on behalf of 2.5 billion toilet-less people, "We deserve better places to defecate - proper toilets."

We aren't sure about making toilets "objects of desire" but if they mean higher quality toilets then we agree. We also concur with WTO on the second and third point. No one should be toilet-less.

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Confronting Thanksgiving Gravy Anxiety

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:15:00 EST

Julia Moskin of The New York Times confronts gravy anxiety in her latest column. You know, it's the anxiety of having guests coming over who are expecting the perfect gravy accompaniment to mounds of fluffy mashed potatoes and a perfectly roasted turkey.

Gravy anxiety can gnaw away at any cook's Thanksgiving. Many fear not having enough drippings to work with, finding just a crusty slick in the roasting pan rather than the hoped-for sloshy panful. Others dread the moment the turkey leaves the roasting pan and full-blown gravy panic sets in: Where's the flour? Thyme or rosemary? Too much salt? Others must defend against the relative who takes off her coat and takes over the gravy on arrival.

*****

Gravy, American style, is composed of three elements: fat, flour and liquid. The fat can come from the cooking pan, or an outside source such as butter or bacon fat. The liquid can be composed of stock, pan juices, wine, milk, coffee, water -- American ingenuity has produced countless variations, like red-eye gravy and sawmill gravy, made from the crusty bits of breakfast sausage in the frying pan. Wine is controversial: some feel it has no place in classic American gravy, but others like the brightness that comes from the acid in the wine. Some cooks work the flour and fat together into a paste, then add this mixture to simmering liquid. Alternatively, the flour is cooked in the fat until just golden, or until mahogany brown, or anywhere in between -- this depends very much on the regional and personal preferences of the cook.

"I cook my roux for a full hour," said Tina Meche, a cook in St. Mary Parish, in Louisiana, who says she counts the time in glasses of red wine consumed (one every 20 minutes). "I think a pale gravy looks undercooked and kind of raw, but that's just how I was raised." It's the proportion that doesn't vary: one tablespoon of fat to one tablespoon of flour to one cup of liquid will make gravy.

Fear of lumps is common. "Many people think the stock has to be hot to prevent lumps, but that's not actually the issue," Mr. Peterson said. "Add your stock to the roux a little at a time at first, whisk it in really well, and it doesn't even have to be hot." As the mixture heats in the pan, the starch will absorb the liquid to thicken the gravy. Another way to accomplish this is to mix the flour with a little water beforehand.

The quality of the gravy served quickly reveals whether or not the cook knows what he or she is doing. If you love to cook, be sure to check out the Times' slideshow of Thanksgiving delights with the recipes.

But what if Thanksgiving dinner is at your house and you just can't face the thought of making everything from scratch. At this point you have two choices, really. One: you can throw your budget to the winds and have it catered, or two: You can beg a friend or in-law to take over the cooking. In return you can promise dish-washing and to bring the wine.

Posted in Gourmet

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Noah Wylie Returns as The Librarian

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

The perpetually cute Noah Wylie is back as The Librarian: the hit TNT series which features Noah as Flynn Carson, the Librarian of the Library of Congress whose leads an Indiana Jones style lifestyle as he travels around the world obtaining legendary objects of power. Jane Curtin is the exasperated administrator and Bob Newhart is his guide to this secret, yet all important job. In this third movie, Carson is after the Judas Chalice. The Librarian is good clean fun that is G rated, which makes it perfect for family holiday viewing. It airs on TNT on December 7, 2008. Noah takes us behind the scenes in this video:

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Charlize Thereon Accepts Appointment as UN Peace Ambassador

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:00:00 EST

Charlize Thereon accepts her appointment as a new Peace Ambassador for the United Nations. Here focus will be on stopping violence against women and children. She had a bit of trouble getting her pin on, but then recovered to give an emotional acceptance speech. Take a look:

Posted in ____

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Thanksgiving Dinner With Snoop Dog and Martha

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:30:00 EST

Now here's something you don't see everyday: Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg making mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner (he spices his up a little with some cognac, which really didn't seem to go with the cream cheese.) Apparently they became friends backstage at the David Letterman show, exchanged email addresses and voila -- a friendship was born. Martha reads some of Snoop's emails to her: a couple of words had to be bleeped. Then they compare posses. It's all just too funny. Take a look:

(Via HuffPo)

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Michelle Obama Talks J. Crew to Leno

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:45:00 EST

Michelle Obama appeared on The Tonight Show last week and Jay Leno asked her about her outfit. She said the outfit was entirely from J. Crew. Michelle Obama even told the crowd, "Ladies, we know J. Crew." Retailer Daily reports that J. Crew has wisely been taking advantage of the free publicity.

Dressed head to toe in a yellow and brown ensemble from J. Crew, Obama appeared on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Oct. 27.

The origin of her wardrobe was brought to light by a question from Leno about the cost of her outfit, alluding to Gov. Sarah Palin's pricey designerwear from high-end department stores. Obama said it was all from J.Crew and then addressed the audience: "Ladies, we know J. Crew. You can get some good stuff online!"

J.Crew said it was not aware that Obama was sporting some of its branded apparel, but quickly took advantage of the free publicity. The company created a web page on jcrew.com promoting the outfit she had worn, told call-center representatives how to handle queries about her fashion choices, and bought "Michelle Obama" keywords on Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo.

Here's Michelle Obama talking to Jay Leno about her J. Crew ensemble.

Michelle loves sweater sets and J.Crew does those very well. We also like their new line of costume jewelry.

Posted in Fashion

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Alexander McQueen Discusses His New Line For Target

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:04:00 EST

Alexander McQueen discusses his new diffusion line for Target with Women's Wear Daily. His couture clothing retails for thousands of dollars for a dress, where his Target dresses will retail for around $130. McQueen says he grew up as the son of a taxi driver and knows what it's like to be on a strict budget. He also talks about his inspiration for the collection.

McQueen knows what it's like when money is tight. "I was brought up on this," said McQueen, the son of a London taxi driver. "I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth."

*****

A goal of McQ Alexander McQueen for Target is to attract a younger crowd to the designer's collection. "It's more about the music scene and fashion scene in the East End area, where I live," said the designer, adding the point of the line is not to educate people about fashion, but rather, "it's a feeling about the time we're living in. If you start to give the whole of America that sense of where I'm from, the underground music scene, it's not so much about a logo, it's more about a feeling."

*****

It's taken McQueen a long time to reach the mass market and the designer doesn't expect to do it again any time soon. "I have to find something in it to make me want to do it," he said of the hookups. "Target is just one season. I don't like to repeat myself. It's a one-off and that makes it an eclectic collection. It's great as pieces that will never exist again, and for me it's a good marketing strategy. If I do it all the time, it dilutes the concept."

The line hits selected Target stores in March, 2009 and we expect it will do quite well. It's a shame he only wants to do a line for just one season.

Posted in Fashion

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Is Anna Wintour Retiring?

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:14:00 EST

Page Six reports the rumor that Anna Wintour is ready to retire from Vogue.

IS the empress of fashion ready to move on? Sources said Vogue editrix Anna Wintour - who also oversees Fashion Rocks, Teen Vogue and, until recently, Men's Vogue - is mulling retirement. "Her contract is up soon," an insider said.

"She's thinking of retiring. She feels she's done it all and had enough. She has been putting out feelers to intimate friends recommending a possible replacement to S.I. Newhouse. She's so tired out, she just let Men's Vogue close instead of fighting for it." Wintour, who has also nurtured the careers of countless designers, would be sorely missed. A rep said, "This is completely unfounded."

Is this true or is it wishful thinking from the many that would love to take her place? Her contract may be up soon, but that doesn't mean she wants to retire just yet. But we'll see.

Posted in Fashion

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Nestle Recalls Lean Cuisine Chicken Dinners

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:45:00 EST

Nestle is recalling frozen Lean Cuisine chicken entrees because they may contain pieces of hard plastic.

Nestle Prepared Foods Company in Springville, Utah is recalling approximately 879,565 pounds of frozen chicken meals that may contain foreign materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said. The objects were identified as small pieces of hard plastic, which were discovered after the company received consumer complaints and a report of one injury.

The following products are subject to recall:

* 9.5-ounce packages of Lean Cuisine Pesto Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta brand frozen meals. Printed on each side of each package is a production code of 8280595912, as well as a use-by date of Best Before MAY 2010.

* 10.5-ounce packages of Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean brand frozen meals. Printed on the side of each package is a production code of 8231595912 or 8241595912, as well as a use-by date of Best before SEP 2010; a production code of 8263595912, 8269595911 or 8274595912, as well as a use-by date of Best before OCT 2010; or, a production code of 8291595912 or 8301595912, as well as a use-by date of Best before NOV 2010.

* 12.5-ounce packages of Lean Cuisine Chicken Tuscan brand frozen meals. Printed on the side of each package is a production code of 8234595911 and a use-by date of Best before SEP 2009; a production code of 8253595911 or 8269595912 as well as a use-by date of Best before OCT 2009; or, a production code of 8292595911 or 8296595911 as well as a use-by date of Best before NOV 2009.

This is really awful: pieces of plastic that injured someone who probably ate it? We really hope this isn't the start of another round of tainted food incidents.

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100 Disney Stores to Open at Midnight on Black Friday

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:15:00 EST

100 Disney Store locations will be opening at midnight on Black Friday. Disney Stores are promising to offer 20% off "almost everything" for shoppers buying before 10 a.m. on Black Friday. Black Friday falls on November 28th this year - the day after Thanksgiving.

Disney Store locations nationwide will usher in the holiday season earlier than ever with day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) specials starting as early as midnight in more than 100 of its more than 200 stores. In malls across the country, most other Disney Store locations will kick off Black Friday shopping with 5 a.m. openings. All stores will offer an additional 20 percent off almost everything*, including already low one-day only pricing, from opening hours until 10 a.m.

The store for everything Disney is a favorite location for holiday shoppers looking for that perfect gift to fit any budget. Throughout the remainder of the weekend, Disney Store will continue to offer sale pricing on top toys such as Disney Princess dolls, tween and plush toys, and more.

You can find a Disney Store location near you here.

The trend for Black Friday is clearly to get to the stores early. KB Toys is also opening up 270 of its stores at midnight and says it will have the best deals from midnight until noon on Black Friday.

Photo: Disney Store in Chicago by Esparta

Posted in Toys

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Roombas and Pets

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:40:00 EST

The Roomba is a robotic floor vacuum from iRobot. One of the amusing things about Roombas is how pets interact with them. In this video below a clever cat takes the Roomba for a ride.

You can see many other videos involving pets and Roombas on YouTube by searching "cat Roomba" or "dog Roomba." iRobot says in a Faq that the Roombas are pet friendly.

Each pet responds differently. Most are initially curious but will quickly learn to ignore it. Although some pets play with Roomba! Special safety features, including gentle-bump sensors, anti-tangle technology and automatic shut-off, keep your pet safe and ensure that noses and paws will not be harmed if a curious pet interacts with Roomba. We recommend that you run Roomba for the first few cleaning cycles while you are at home with your pet(s) so they can get used to it. After that, you can run Roomba whether you're at home or on the go!

They also sell a Roomba version (see here) that is designed to deal with dog and cat hair. If you have an older Roomba model they also sell a $29.99 upgrade kit for the 400 Series and Discovery Series robots to increase the Roomba's capacity to tackle pet hair. You can buy Roomba directly from iRobot or from other retailers including Best Buy, Buy.com and Target. Amazon.com also carried a number of Roomba's - you can see Amazon.com's selection here. (via BuzzFeed)

Posted in Pets

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Bizarre Lofts Built to Challenge Residents

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:14:00 EST

The New York Times has an article about a strange house that was designed by an artist named Arakawa and his wife to "oppose death." The house has obstacles, disorienting colored walls and a concrete floor that "rises and falls like the surface of a vast, bumpy chocolate chip cookie."

Madeline Gins and Arakawa also built nine "reversible destiny" lofts in Japan (pictured above). The Pink Tentacle blog has more details (via Boing Boing) on the lofts. The lofts are designed to challenge inhabitants with features like uneven floors and tiny exits.

Designed to stimulate the senses and force inhabitants to use balance, physical strength and imagination, the lofts feature uneven floors, oddly positioned power switches and outlets, walls and surfaces painted a dizzying array of colors, a tiny exit to the balcony, a transparent shower room, irregularly shaped curtainless windows, and more.

The concept is that these unique features could keep a person more balanced, fitter and stronger. The problem with the idea is that all the extra activity is not going to help you if you injury yourself from falling or bumbing into something. You can also see the bizzare apartments in the video (in Japanese) below.

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Michael Stipe Designs Shirts For Lacoste

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:40:00 EST

Rolling Stone reports that R.E.M's Michael Stipe has teamed up with Lacoste for a specia line of Polo shirts. The photograph on the shirts shows what an enthusiastic crowd looks like to a performer on the stage.

The polo is available for both sexes and comes in a multitude of colors: Ore, Rubine Red, Mother of Pearl and Palm Green. Only 12,000 shirts will be produced in the limited edition run. Unfortunately, you probably have to be a member of R.E.M. to actually afford one of these shirts, as the polo comes with a price tag of roughly $300. If you're recession-proof, look for the shirt in Lacoste stores this month.

You see the shirts here on the Lacoste website. (via Stylist via Jezebel)

Posted in Fashion

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Payless to Donate $1 Million in Shoes

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:00:00 EST

Payless will be donating $1 million worth of shoes to children in need throughout the United States for the holiday season. This is a huge giveaway that will help out a lot of kids in need of new shoes. Payless is asking local non-for-profit charities to apply to receive the Payless merchandise gift coupons for distribution to children. Details can be found at paylessgives.com. (via New York Magazine via Stylist)

Posted in Shoes

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Tom Ford Helped Bond Look Stylish in Quantum of Solace

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:15:00 EST

Tom Ford designed Daniel Craig's sleek wardrobe for the latest Bond film, Quantum of Solace. The film was a blockbuster hit. Daniel Craig looked so polished -- and stylish -- that we think Tom Ford should dress James Bond in all future movies. The L.A. Times has an article about 007's wardrobe in the latest film.

So how do you push that Bond mystique into the 21st century when Savile Row bespoke is a mouse click away and GPS-enabled iPhones make Q's arsenal of gadgetry seem quaint by comparison? For "Quantum of Solace," the 22nd movie in the series and the first in 13 years with a new costume designer, part of the answer lies in the wardrobe -- which includes a collection of razor-sharp, made-to-measure suits by Tom Ford that turn out to be the perfect workaday uniform for Daniel Craig's dapper but deadly take on the Bond character.

The L.A. Times says the Bond also had a small button tab inside the cuff of each pant leg to keep them where they should be.

Thus, one of Bond's coolest secret weapons this time around is a small button tab inside the cuff of each trouser leg that never has a second of screen time, and whose sole purpose is to keep 007's pant legs precisely where they should be. Another is the suit jacket sleeves with functioning buttonholes (another hardly noticeable detail that conveys a sense of sartorial high status). And then there are the suit fabrics themselves, which have a soft drape and almost imperceptible iridescence that took six months of fine-tuning to get just right.

New York Magazine's blog The Cut says the suits had to be "swishy" and have a "roomy skirt" so they would still look perfect even when 007 was leaping from an exploding building.

Ford's sartorial genius is not merely abstract. To put it concretely, the suits must be cut so that sexy Daniel Craig can run, jump, and blow things up while still looking dashing. Ford's suits have a "roomy skirt" - the part of a suit jacket hanging below the waist - that enables such maneuvers.

Trust us. The word "swishy" in no way applies to Daniel Craig's Bond, who looks fabulously manly in every scene. Craig knows how to wear a tuxedo, that's for sure. But on to accessories. Bond's sunglasses were designed by Tom Ford, as well. You can see them here on Eyegoodies.com for $349. (via Luxist)

Posted in Fashion

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Victoria's Secret Launches New Lingerie Collection

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:50:00 EST

Victoria Secret launched its new lingerie collection last night in a show full of scantily-clad supermodels and celebrities. The Telegraph reports that Victoria's Secret's eight Angels - Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Karolina Kurkova, Alessandra Ambrosio, Selita Ebanks, Doutzen Kroes, Marisa Miller and Miranda Kerr - appeared along with another 23 supporting models. Usher and Mariah Carey both performed. Some of the many celebrities in attendance were Sean (P. Diddy) Combs, Alex Rodriguez, Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, Debbie Harry, Lenny Kravitz, Molly Simms, Robert Duvall and Kyle MacLachlan. The full show will be broadcast on CBS and online on December 3rd.

Here's a video clip of highlights that begins with Heidi Klum walking down the runway in lingerie and giant sparkling angel wings.

You can find more highlights from the show here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Victoria Secret also has backstage highlights here.

Posted in Fashion

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Elf Yourself Returns for the 2008 Holidays

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:50:00 EST

OfficeMax Incorporated and JibJab have announced the return of ElfYourself.com, the silly holiday egreeting site where you can upload photos of friends and family and turn them into dancing elves. The site first debuted in November 2006 and received about 30 million visitors. It returned last November and received a staggering 193 million visits during the 2007 holiday season.

The site's latest version features a few enhancements, including:

Users can upload their photos to three new dances including disco, country and the Charleston as well as the classic ElfYourself dance, powered by JibJab's Starring You technology.
For $3.99 users can buy a downloadable version of their video that they can watch offline, burn to DVDs or transfer to mobile devices.
This year, users can "elf" up to five individuals, up from four in 2007.

Here's a video that shows the four different elf dances.

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CDC Study Names Healthiest and Unhealthiest U.S. Cities

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:40:00 EST

The AP reported today that new CDC data indicates that the healthy city in the U.S. is Burlington, Vermont and the unhealthiest cty is Huntington, West Virginia.

The Burlington Free Press sounds pretty pleased with the CDC's findings. They even asked readers to guess which city in the U.S. is the healthiest - hint it rhymes with Urlington.

What's the healthiest city in America?

How about a couple of hints? It's Vermont's largest city. It rhymes with Urlington.

You guessed it! It's Burlington, our Burlington.

The Queen City is tops among U.S. metropolitan areas by having the largest proportion of people - 92 percent - who say they are in good or great health. Advertisement

It's also among the best in exercise and among the lowest in obesity, diabetes and other measures of ill health, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But in Huntington there was anger and frustration at being named the unhealthiest city. The Herald-Dispatch, a newspaper from Huntington, West Virginia reports (hat tip WSJ Health Blog) that local health experts felt they were being blamed for the unhealthy people living outside the Huntington metropolitan area.

"The information cited doesn't correlate with the conclusion. The city is being criticized and yet the data they're referencing includes a huge area not specific to our immediate Tri-State region. I think that's unfair," said Dr. Charles McKown, vice president of health sciences and dean of the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University in Huntington.

"It's a misrepresentation and certainly not a good scientific analysis," he said.

School of Medicine spokeswoman Beverly McCoy also had some problems with the report. She said the study does not reflect Huntington, but an area of more than 2,159 square miles. Huntington, at less than 16 square miles, makes up less than 1 percent of the metropolitan statistical area, she said.

It does seem a little unfair to blame a small city for people living thousands of miles away.

Photo source: City of Burlington, Vermont

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Lord and Taylor Unveils 2008 Holiday Windows

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:40:00 EST

Lord & Taylor's 2008 holiday windows were unveiled at a ceremony in front of the store's flagship on Fifth Avenue. Lord & Taylor's theme this year is favorite Christmas traditions. The windows include animated figures, puppets and intricate detail. Lord & Taylor has been creating the special holidy windows for over eighty years.

"For more than 80 years Lord & Taylor's windows have been an essential element of the enchantment of Christmas in New York," said Brendan Hoffman, Lord & Taylor's president and CEO. "Once again, they are our gift to the city's joyful holiday spirit."

You can see a video clip of the windows here on NY1.com's website.

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New Giveaway: Win a Clarisonic Skin Care System

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:40:00 EST

We just love our Clarisonic Skin Care Brush. Oprah picked it as one of her favorite things, but somehow we never got around to trying it. But now we're hooked. The skin cleansing brush uses the same sonic technology used in the sonic care electric toothbrush. The brush uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean your skin. It's gentle and it's effective: we were amazed at how much softer our skin felt. It was like having a spa treatment. Our favorite thing about the Clarisonic is that it really removes all traces of makeup. It also smooths the skin so any treatments or moisturizers absorb easier and work better. After one week our skin is looking mighty fine: we've been using it once a day so far, but it's safe to use it twice a day.

We're giving away a Clarisonic Skin Care System, including the Clarisonic brush, charger and three trial size cleansers. Just fill out the entry form here to be eligible to win. There is no entry fee or purchase obligation of any kind to enter. You must be a U.S. citizen and be eighteen or over in order to enter and by filling out the form below you are stating that you are eligible. Winners will be selected in a random drawing, which will be announced on ShoppingBlog.com. Please enter only once: duplicate entries will be ignored.

Email addresses and mailing addresses will remain strictly confidential and will not be revealed to any third parties, except as necessary to deliver the winner his or her prize. You must enter before 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time/5:00 p.m. Central Time, Wednesday, December 3, 2008. Good Luck!

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Bikram Yoga: Some Like it Hot

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:40:00 EST

Yoga has become a popular exercise and relaxation routing for many in the Western world. Kare11.com reports on a new yoga trend called hot yoga where the heat is cranked up to 95 to 100 degrees. Hot yoga is also known as Bikram Yoga. Kare11.com says celebrities like Madonna, Jennifer Aniston and Gwen Stefani are doing this type of yoga. Believers in hot yoga describe the following benefits.

Practitioners of hot yoga believe the heat extends the ability of the ligaments, tendons and muscles. Immersing yourself in hot yoga practice is said to:

Release toxins
Improve flexibility and range of motion
Increase the chances of weight loss
Develop muscle tone
Build the immune system
Proponents of the practice also believe that hot yoga exercise reduces the symptoms of certain chronic illnesses, such as thyroid disorders, arthritis and circulatory problems.

There are also risks with hot yoga like deyhdration because of all that sweating in a very hot room. It is not recommended for pregnant women says yoga.about.com because it can raise your body temperature. To some hot yoga is a too extreme. Whether or not you like it may depend on whether you are hot or cold natured. TimeOut is correct when they write, "There are two types of yoga enthusiasts: those who stay as far away from hot yoga as possible and those who can't get enough of it." You can still get the benefits of yoga in a nice air-conditioned room or outside on a cool crisp morning.

Photo: Bikram Yoga with Bikram Choudhury by tiarescott

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Apple Co-Founder Wozniak Says iPod Will Die Out

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:21:00 EST

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (aka Woz) recently commented on the success of the iPod. Woz says the iPod has already had a "long life at number one" even though it doesn't seem like that old of a gadget.

"The iPod has sort of lived a long life at number one," he told the Telegraph. "Things like, that if you look back to transistor radios and Walkmans, they kind of die out after a while.... It's kind of like everyone has got one or two or three. You get to a point when they are on display everywhere, they get real cheap and they are not selling as much."

Also surprising was Wozniak's criticism of the hugely successful iPhone 3G. His beef with the handset? It has a closed operating system, meaning (unless hacked) the handset can only run applications approved by Apple -- a subject that's stirred up controversy recently. He highlighted the benefits of Google's open mobile platform Android, which allows coders to develop whatever apps they wish.

"Consumers aren't getting all they want when companies are very proprietary and lock their products down," he said. "I would like to write some more powerful apps than what you're allowed."

Woz's comments are interesting. He is absolutely right that technological fads don't last. Things like Atari, the Apple II and walkmans are remembered fondly but are rarely used anymore. This is probably why Apple is focusing more and more on the iPod Touch and the iPhone. As for the iPod they probably need to look towards something more like the appealing iBangle concept.

A lot of developers also agree with Woz on devices with closed operating systems. Developers want devices to be open so they can develop a limitless amount of applications for the public but manufacturers tend to want to retain control of their devies and the software that can be used on them.

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Amazon Launches Frustration-Free Packaging Initiative

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:40:00 EST

Amazon.com has launched a new initiative dubbed Frustration-Free Packaging. The iniative is designed to make it easier for customers to free products from their packaging. Amazon is focusing first on two kinds of items: those enclosed in hard plastic cases known as "clamshells" and those secured with plastic-coated wire ties, commonly used in toy packaging.

Frustration-Free Packaging is being launched in the U.S. with 19 bestselling products from manufacturers including Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and electronics manufacturer Transcend. The products are exactly the same - Amazon has just streamlined the packaging to make it less frustrating to open. You can see a list of the first products with the easier-to-open packaging here.

"I think we've all experienced the frustration that sometimes occurs when you try to get a new toy or electronics product out of its package," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "It will take many years, but our vision is to offer our entire catalog of products in Frustration-Free Packaging. We'd like to thank Fisher-Price, Mattel, Microsoft and Transcend for working with us in this effort - we truly appreciate it."

Jeff Bezos understands your pain and has written a letter to customers about the packaging. Amazon.com also launched a Gallery of Wrap Rage where people can upload their own photos and videos of unpackaging frustration and wrap rage incidents. You can see it here.

Amazon.com's move is one that customers are likely to appreciate. You know the clamshell packaging has gone too far when special products like these here, here and here are being marketed to help people open their packages.

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Gift Cards Become Mini Gadgets

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:00:00 EST

Target and Best Buy are getting very creative with their gift cards this year by turning them into functional mini gadgets. Wired reports that Target is selling a gift card that is also a digital camera.

Target, though, has jazzed things up by actually turning the gift card into a gift itself. This modest digital camera is also a token that can be used to buy a proper digital camera, or anything else that takes your fancy. You can buy one for anywhere between $50 and $1000, fully redeemable, of course.

It's definitely low-spec, with a 1.2 MP sensor and just 8MB memory (enough for 50 pictures). To get the photos off the camera and on to a computer, you hook it up via the included USB cable. Software is provided for PCs, but we imagine that it should just show up as a USB mass storage device anyway.

You can get Target's Digital Camera GiftCard here.

Meanwhile, Best Buy is selling a gift card here that functions as a speaker.

Plug in, rock out and share the sound! This special speaker gift card functions as a speaker to play music from MP3 players, iPods or any audio player with a mini headphone jack. Directions are included on gift-card packaging. All Best Buy gift cards are shipped free and are good toward future purchases online and in U.S. or Puerto Rico Best Buy stores. Safeguards against theft protect your purchase. And, Best Buy gift cards do not have an expiration date.

The Monitor says that $94 billion on gift cards this year. Retailers need any kind of edge they can get to entice consumers to purchase their gift cards. Turning the gift cards into a gift item themselves is one way to do that.

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Mariah Carey Does Not Travel Light

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST

Now this may come as a shock to some of you, but it appears that superstar Mariah Carey does not travel light. On a recent three day trip to London with her husband Nick Cannon Mariah was spotted with 20 suitcases. That's right, 20.

Carey and Cannon recently flew to London for a Nov. 6 appearance on British singing competition The X Factor, and the couple reportedly brought 20 pieces of luggage for the three-day trip.

"There were 15 suitcases on one trolley, and eight on another," an onlooker at Heathrow Airport told In Touch Weekly. The luxury load, which included what appeared to be a $4,000 Louis Vuitton suitcase, was carted by handlers en route to the upscale Dorchester Hotel.

And in case you're wondering who packed all those bags, it wasn't Carey, and it probably wasn't Cannon. "There is nothing worse than packing for Mariah," a former assistant says. "A weekend trip can be a weeklong job. Nightmare, is all I can say."

We wonder: how many suitcases were devoted to Hello Kitty and how many were devoted to shoes? And why doesn't the assistant give more details? Why was it so nighmarish to pack for Mariah? Did she change her mind a lot? Is she really picky about how her lingerie is packed? Or is the sheer volume of clothing that's so daunting?

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