Open Free Press

Reveal Your Celebrity Type

2012-02-04T20:59:00.000-08:00

Rihanna type of TV watcher
Depending on how you watch TV, you could be like one of these celebs, says a psychologist

How you watch TV can reveal your celebrity personality type. A leading British psychologist has divided viewers into five ‘megastars’ based on how they keep up with their favourite shows. So you could be a Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, Helen Flanagan, Charlie Sheen or Piers Morgan.

The study found that a massive 70% of Brits are “Ruthless Removers”, who record shows from live TV to watch once and then delete them, a tabloid reported. Behaviour expert Jo Hemmings said these viewers were organised and practical, like fashion designer Victoria.

Hemmings said that there are now so many ways in which people can watch TV – live, on-demand or through catch-up services. “Therefore, it’ll come as no surprise that we’ve developed particular viewing habits and patterns that tend to reflect our personalities in daily life,” she said. Her research found Ruthless Removers kept their homes tidy and clutter-free, just like immaculately turned-out Mrs Beckham.

Meanwhile, a quarter of those surveyed were deemed Multi-Taskers, who surf social networks while they watch TV. Almost one in 20 admitted to updating their Twitter or Facebook four times a show, just like internet-obsessed singer Rihanna. Hemmings said that these multi-taskers care a lot about the opinions of others.

Another quarter of Brits are Self-Indulgers, who record several episodes of programmes to watch in one marathon sitting. These TV hoarders are likely to enjoy a bit of luxury and often plan their diaries months in advance, like I’m A Celebrity star Helen Flanagan.

A further one in six are Demanders, who sit through more than five hours of ondemand TV a week at their convenience. These viewers were likely to be spontaneous in their approach to life, like bad boy Charlie Sheen.

Finally, one in seven Brits prefer to watch shows live because they suffer from ‘Fear Of Missing Out’. These on-the-ball personalities like to stay up-to-date with the latest news and gossip, like telly host Piers Morgan.

This is called Bad Luck

2011-09-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

Funny Exams

2011-08-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

Riding the Bridal Wave - Times News Network

2011-08-06T05:21:00.000-07:00

For Indian designers bridal wear is big business, while their Hollywood counterparts would swoon in horror at the thought of being asked to dress a dulhan! Nona Walia reports

Hollywood wedding gowns
Jennifer Lopez wore a dazzling cream white dress from the 2005 Vera Wang collection. Eva Longoria wore an Angel Sanchez mermaid gown, with a scoop back, and a long train when she married in 2007. Jennifer Garner wore a Vera Wang empire waist wedding dress. Nicole Kidman wore an elegant ivory-coloured tulle wedding dress designed by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga. When singer Gwen Stefani wed on September 14, 2002 in London, she wore a gorgeous pink and white wedding dress designed by John Galliano for Dior.

IF you are a bride in India, and if you can afford it, chances are you wore/will wear a lehenga-choli or saree designed by a Tarun Tahiliani, Ritu Kumar, Manish Malhotra and their ilk on your big day. Politician Praful Patel’s daughter Niyati wore many ensembles by Manish for her week-long wedding functions, Shilpa Shetty wore a Tahiliani design. (The recently-married GVK heiress Mallika Reddy wore Abu Jaani and Sandeep Khosla at her spectacular Hyderabad wedding, just like Twinkle Khanna a decade ago. Ritu Kumar dressed Anoushka Shankar when she took saat pheras.)

Brides = big bucks
In India, weddings are big business and there’s big moolah to be made by wooing the dulhan.The recent Delhi Couture Week, witnessed a spectacular bridal tamasha. On the catwalk were outfits priced between 3 lakh and 25 lakh. Almost all were sold out, immediately. Bridal wear remains highly lucrative for most Indian designers, who’re cashing in on the growing $20 million Indian wedding industry. Interestingly, the clients are becoming global. Says Sunil Sethi, president of FDCI, “Couture in India is bridal wear. It’s the bread and butter for designers. Last season, Sabyasachi on the second day had made a business of one crore. Manish’s entire collection was sold out to a single buyer. That’s the appeal of bridal wear; money is huge and people are willing to spend. The payment is usually undisclosed, profits are high. Bridal is couture and bespoke and can be bought off the rack, altered to size. Girls are crazy about their bridal dress, and they choose the dress first and then decide, ‘I want to get married now’.”

Tough market to ignore
Says fashion expert Asha Baxi, “The Couture Week is overloaded with bridal wear. Yet, some designers like Rajesh Pratap and David Abraham do only high fashion. But the profits are so amazing that most designers can’t resist the temptation.”

Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee recently made an observation, “Till Indian designers do bridal wear, they’ll never feel the pinch of recession.” Adds Sethi, “The business is so good that even designers, who were till recently doing pret and evening wear like Gaurav Gupta and Varun Behl, are now doing bridal wear. Designers are making the costliest of outfits and selling them anywhere between 5 lakh and 20 lakh.” Designer Varun Behl agrees, “I got lured into it, though I do a lot of evening wear. But almost 50 per cent of my sales are from bridal wear.” Fashion expert Harmeet Bajaj agrees, “The market is only growing bigger.”

The West side story
Personally, for designer Tarun Tahiliani, ‘bridal wear’ involves creativity and meticulously engineered clothes. Says Tarun, “Designing bridal wear remains important for Indian designers, because every woman wants to look her best for one of the most special events in her life — her wedding.” Internationally, the designers don’t reveal their bridal sales. Says designer Suneet Varma, “Armani, Valentino and Elle Saab have bridal wear collections. But they don’t do too much publicity about it. Almost all couturiers do have bridal collections. No designer reveals his or her bridal business in the West.” Riding the Bridal wave
The twist in the tale is that the business of designing bridal wear is getting huger as patronage becomes global. According to a report, a typical Indian wedding in the US costs between $75,000 and $100,000 — three times more than the average American nuptials. Say designers Nikhil and Shantanu, “The wedding industry is pegged at around 50,000 crore and growing, our profits are amazing.”

Couture is bridal in India
For the fashion designer, bridal wear is about showing superb showmanship. Says designer JJ Vallaya, “I feel couture in India deserves an indigenous definition.” How important is bridal wear to a designer in his collection every season? “Significantly important. Often, couture is also considered largely classic in order to protect its timelessness. I would say an A-grade couturier would be deriving up to 70 per cent of his revenues from bridals in India.”

Last season, Sabyasachi on the second day had made a business of Rs one crore. Manish’s entire collection was sold out to a single buyer. That’s the appeal of bridal wear; money is huge and people are willing to spend. - Sunil Sethi, president of FDCI.

India’s top couturiers display their wedding collection with pride and have special collections for dulhans. However, their Hollywood counterparts would baulk at the idea of doing a wedding collection. They wouldn’t even consider it, although they would make an exception for a top actress, royalty or a close friend. Actress Katherine Heigl wore a stunning Oscar de la Renta wedding dress on her special day. When Katie Holmes married Tom Cruise in 2006, she wore an exquisite Armani wedding gown. But when it comes to wedding gowns, the first choice of the rich and the famous is Vera Wang. She has dressed wedding gowns for many well-known public figures, such as Chelsea Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham, Avril Lavigne, Sharon Stone, Uma Thurman, and Kate Hudson. In India, there is no one name that leads the pack, it’s a pie everyone wants a piece of.

Resisting the lure
Are all designers tempted by the bridal business? “No,” says designer Ritu Kumar. “The market has lots of designers who are specialising in bespoke garments. There are some designers such as Rajesh, David and Rakesh who don’t do bridal lines.” Says designer Raghavendra Rathore, “Bridal wear generally is the base of all designs for the other collections as it lays the foundation of motifs, materials, colours and trends.” The ateliers that fabricate these clothes are making bridal wear into an art form.

Can there really be fashion without the bridal segment in India? “No,” says Manav Gangwani, “Usually, bridal outfits are more expensive due to the fact that they are more heavily embellished. There’s skill in making them, the satisfaction of the stitching, the fall and the rustle and the silhouette. It’s the ultimate glamour.”

Try this with your Girlfriend

2011-08-04T05:37:00.000-07:00

Hero Honda Karizma ZMR

2011-08-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable Wild Animals

2011-07-25T01:04:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous New Comer in Sandalwood

2011-07-08T01:46:00.000-07:00

♥ Great Prank for your Friends ♥

2011-07-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

Poonam's Ready for a Full Monty

2011-07-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

She loves strutting her stuff in a bikini, but for model Poonam Pandey that is not the limit of exposure ~ Richa Bhatia

Who needs clothes when you have a body like Poonam Pandey? That’s what bikini model and controversy’s favourite child Poonam says, “I am very comfortable in a bikini, be it for a shoot or for a film.”Which is also why the MMS clip of her in a two-piece, taken during the shoot of a reality show, does not perturb her. In fact, the model is loving all the attention she’s been getting on the Internet. “It was not fake. Someone shot it during a photo shoot. I actually want to meet that person, because I liked the video. I love it when people download my photos,” says Poonam, who is intent on keeping up the Most Downloaded Internet Model tag.

In fact, Poonam, who shot to fame when she declared she’d strip to celebrate India’s victory at the Cricket World Cup, but later chickened out, says that with her calendar shoots (in a bikini) she’s already reached the half-way mark in stripping. The other half, she maintains, is not out of bounds. “I won’t wait for four years for another Indian WC victory,” she laughs and adds, “I have a surprise in store for my fans and I will keep up my promise. I’ve told them on a social networking site that I’ve already stripped 50 per cent. The rest will happen soon.”

According to Poonam, she was one of the hopefuls for Sajid Khan’s Housefull 2. “But then the World Cup brouhaha erupted and I was on live TV while Sajid waited at my office,” she says. But while she missed out on that big Bollywood chance, Poonam claims that she has been inundated with offers since then. “I turned down 31 offers in the last 45 days,” she says. Some of these included films with Rahul Mahajan and Ashmit Patel. “It was not about the role, but the names involved. I want to act with the big guns of the Bollywood industry. Why should I work with a small production house, when I’m getting offers from big banners?” asks the model.

Being body beautiful also means that Poonam is one of the most sought-after models for item numbers in the south. “I get calls practically every day with offers of item numbers. There was a call from a Telugu director for a song, but I turned it down as I don’t want to begin my career with an item number,” she says.

He's Fine - Pepsi Max

2011-07-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

So you want Ice Cream

2011-06-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Ala Modalaindi Fame Nithya in a Soup

2011-06-24T00:31:00.000-07:00

The Telugu actress’s seemingly candid remarks about fellow actors have created a furore ~ Vrinda Prasad

Nithya Menen, who shot to fame in Telugu cinema with Ala Modalaindi, has had her share of ups and downs in the last few months. Her debut film Ala Modalaindi took everyone by surprise and so smitten were critics that they began comparing her to the late Soundarya. Within no time, she ‘almost’ bagged two films opposite Venkatesh and Siddharth respectively. However, it has not been a smooth sail since then. The actress rejected the offer with Venkatesh and got replaced in the other film at the last moment.

Recently, when she was asked why she had turned down Venkatesh’s film, she reportedly said that the age gap between the two was too big to take up the role. If this ‘revelation’ wasn’t enough, she quipped that she was replaced by Shruti Haasan as per Siddharth’s wish in the other film. Candid as it may seem, but for the industry, where diplomacy is an unwritten rule, the outburst was tough to digest. There was more in the offing. In another press meet, when she was talking about her film 180, a journalist asked her why she turned down Venkatesh’s film. She said, “My statements were misinterpreted. I am a big fan of Venkatesh and I would never say anything which would offend him. All I meant was that it would be difficult for people to relate to our onscreen pair, because we belong to different generations and I look so small standing next to him.” As soon as she mentioned about the height factor, another journalist asked her if she would act opposite Prabhas, given a chance. “I don’t know who Prabhas is!” she replied, leaving everyone stunned. She continued to justify her ignorance by stating that the last Telugu film she had watched, apart from Ala Modalaindi, was Magadheera.

“I don’t watch films at all, not even my own films,” she added. While the conversation was on a lighter note, media started painting a different picture of the incident and branded her as an “arrogant actress” who does not even know one of the biggest stars in Telugu. Wonder what else is in store for her in near future. Will there be a third faux pas?

Living a chaotic life? Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

2011-06-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

Constant feelings of loneliness, insecurity, mood swings and unstable relationships plaguing you? Lisa Antao uncovers the perils of Borderline Personality Disorder

For most of us, life isn’t fair but on the other hand it’s not that bad either. Are you the type of person who sees others as totally good or bad? Do you constantly suffer from extreme mood swings and chaotic relationships? Do often get accused of shifting loyalty from one person or group to another? In order to combat loneliness, do you accept a stranger as a friend or behave promiscuously? Signs like chronic feelings of emptiness, extreme boredom and the lack of a consistent sense of identity steer towards having a Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Read on to find out more about this condition...

DEFINITION
“BPD is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships and self-image, and marked impulsiveness. Often, there is a description of ‘a feeling of chronic emptiness’. It usually starts during early adulthood and is more common among females,” says psychiatrist Dr Kersi Chavda. Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Anjali Chhabria explains, “In this disorder, mood swings are very common. Individuals can be argumentative at one moment, depressed the next and later complain of having no feelings. Their behaviour is highly unpredictable. The painful nature of their lives is reflected in repetitive selfdestructive acts. They may often slash their wrists and perform other self-mutations to elicit help from others, to express anger, or to numb themselves to overwhelming effect.”

CAUSES
Although social, genetic and biological factors are all responsible for the occurrence of BPD, an individual’s upbringing and inputs from parents and significant others in the early years of development plays a major role. Clinical psychologist and hypnotherapist Neha Patel says, “Disturbed family life, especially an abusive relationship between the parents and the child, sexual abuse or extremely strict parents play a role here — an ‘invalidating environment’ where the experiences of the child are not given importance. The child’s negative characteristics are always brought up without any acknowledgement for the positive. Such children tend to become emotionally vulnerable and react excessively to even low levels of stress.”

As with other mental disorders, the causes of BPD are complex and haven’t been completely understood. But research findings suggest certain factors such as genetic predisposition, brain abnormalities, etc.

EFFECTS
Individuals suffering from BPD tend to have an unstable self-image and therefore unstable interpersonal relationships. As for personality, Dr Chavda says, “There are frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment, which then entails a pattern of unstable and intense relationships. There is impulsivity in areas that are potentially self-damaging.”
Such people tend to go through a lot of inner pain and turmoil and feelings of powerlessness. They get defensive about themselves in front of others but from within there is a lot of self-loathing, which leads to repetition of harmful behaviour. The fluctuation in behaviour, the impulsiveness, tend to form the impression of someone who is unstable. Sexual promiscuousness has its repercussions and relationships are seen as superficial, whereas the person is actually seeking acceptance and love from within. Their style of expressing it tends to be misinterpreted. Therefore the feeling of emptiness continues to exist even if things are going their way. This becomes a vicious circle, opines Patel.
The intense irritability, anxiety, anger and difficulty in controlling overreactions, self harm all add up to a person who others tend to avoid or are apprehensive about. Family and significant others tend to give up on them, adding to the feeling of abandonment.

COPING
Treatment of BPD includes psychotherapy and for better results, medication may be suggested. Chhabria recommends behaviour therapy to help the individual control his/her impulses, outbursts and to reduce his/her sensitivity to criticism and rejection. This helps the individual regain self-confidence and have a positive selfimage, which in turn helps the client feel more efficient and set priorities and goals in life. Also, it helps individuals change their distorted inter-personal relations to more healthy and stable relations, making them feel more secure and independent.

SYMPTOMS
Significant and persistent unstable self-image or sense of self Pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships Impulsive and risky behaviour, such as risky driving, flings, unsafe sex, gambling sprees or illegal drug use Intense but short episodes of anxiety or depression Inappropriate anger, sometimes escalating into physical confrontations Difficulty controlling emotions or impulses Self-destructive or suicidal behaviour Chronic feelings of loneliness and insecurity.

All Work and No Play for Deepa Sannidhi

2011-06-15T02:19:00.000-07:00

Deepa Sannidhi’s debut film with Darshan is yet to hit screens, but she’s shooting for her second with Yogaraj Bhat on her birthday ~ Prathibha Joy

Working on their birthdays seems to have become a fashionable thing for Sandalwood actors, especially if they are on the sets of a major project with a great star cast and director. Take for instance, Priya Mani who was cheering for the stars battling it out on the cricketing field, or Ragini Dwivedi, who was away in Mysore shooting for her next movie. Newbie Deepa Sannidhi too, will be busy at work on her birthday today. And she’s not complaining. She is, after all, working with two powerhouses of the industry — filmmaker Yogaraj Bhat and Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar — for their film Paramathma. “Getting to work with YB’s team is the biggest treat I could have asked for. I love the energy on the set,” says the birthday gal. Paramathma, says Deepa, is shaping up nicely.

“There’s not much that I am allowed to divulge. It is a love story. It’s also a story that will appeal to youngsters today. It’s a very Gen Now story. Shooting for the film should be completed in a month or two,” she says. But what’s happening to her debut vehicle — Sarathi — opposite Challenging Star Darshan? “The film’s been ready for a while. I don’t know why its release is delayed. Last I heard is that it might release in June or July,” says Deepa. And while she still awaits the release of Sarathi, Deepa is glad she worked on that film before reporting on YB’s set.

“During the making of Sarathi, director Dinakar and my costar Darshan encouraged me to give it my best. They never made me feel like a newcomer, which helped. Also, Dinakar pointed out my drawbacks and told me how best to iron out these issues. Now, when I report on the sets of Paramathma, I’m more confident,” she adds. And while this is the only film keeping her busy these days, Deepa says that there are several other projects awaiting her approval. “I guess having worked with Darshan and the fact that I’m now in a YB film has helped.

Other filmmakers have, after all, not yet seen me on screen,” she says. The offers, she adds, are not just from Sandalwood. “There are offers from Tamil and Telugu too, but I haven’t signed on anything yet. I will, though, soon.” So does she have any plans at all for her birthday. “I normally don’t make plans. This is the first time that I’m not at home on a birthday. What’s exciting is that I’m working. I’ll probably catch up with friends later in the day. I hope to be happy and smiling all day,” she says.

Love is in the Air - Actress Ramya Tattoo

2011-06-14T03:53:00.000-07:00

RAMYA INKS HER LOVE

The actor tattoos boyfriend Raphael’s name in Hebrew on the nape of her neck

Ramya is in love. And she’s determined to show the world how much her relationship with Raphael means to her by inking his name on her body. “I’ve got a tattoo of my boyfriend Raphael’s name. It’s an interesting tattoo done in a different script, a Hebrew inking. While Raphael means saint, in Hebrew it also translates as I’m blessed. That’s why I opted to get the tattoo in that language,” explains Ramya, adding that Raphael himself doesn’t know Hebrew. And while she’s excited about her new body art, she’s in no mood to divulge where and when she got the inking done. “That’s very personal,” says Ramya. But given that Ramya is not the first star to ink a loved one’s name on the body, did she take inspiration from any celebrity? “Raphael is my inspiration. I don’t imitate anybody’s work. This is my way of appreciating our relationship. My life has been better ever since Raphael has come into it,” she says. Portuguese Raphael, meanwhile, has been keeping a track of Ramya’s work, since she makes sure that he watches her films.

“Recently, I got him to watch Sanju Weds Geetha and Johnny Mera Naam. I had to translate the dialogues and explain each scene to him. He totally loved the experience,” says Ramya, who’s currently in Mysore, shooting for her new film Siddlingu.

The Power of Two - MS Dhoni and Sakshi

2011-06-10T23:01:00.000-07:00

MSD vrooms in with Mrs D

They are the new celeb couple on TV. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and wife Sakshi recently shot their first TVC together for a bike ad ~ Sarah Salvadore

Mahendra Singh Dhoni flew into Hyderabad along with wife Sakshi earlier this week. Though the visit was kept hush-hush, sources confirm that the couple was there to shoot for a twowheeler commercial. The skipper and his pretty wife were whisked away from the airport and put up at a city hotel. After checking in and resting for a bit, the duo travelled to an undisclosed location to shoot the ad film.

According to sources, the ad film was directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, who are on a high, post the success of Shor: In the City. The commercial marks Sakshi’s acting debut and is the couple’s first endorsement together. “It’s a two wheeler commercial and Sakshi has been roped in for it as well. She is an extremely stylish girl and has a great face. Sakshi was excited to shoot for the commercial as she got to wear designer outfits,” a source reveals.

For the Indian skipper, who was rested for the ongoing series in West Indies, post the hectic World Cup 2011 campaign and the recently concluded IPL season 4, this trip provided a welcome break, adds the source. “The long cricketing season has been very tiring for Mahi. This was a nice break for him. He also had some other commitments to honour during his visit,” says the source.

Confirming the Ranchi lad’s presence in Hyderabad, his manager Yuddhajit Dutta said, “Yes, MSD and Sakshi were in Hyderabad for a private visit.”

[MSD and Saskhi]

Obedient wives club: Good sex to keep hubby happy, curb social ills

2011-06-05T02:47:00.000-07:00

KEY TO MARITAL BLISS: Members of the ‘Obedient Wives Club’ after its launch in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday

Rawang: As a new bride, 22-year-old Ummu Atirah believes she knows the secret to a blissful marriage: obey her husband and ensure he is sexually satisfied.

Ummu and some 800 other Muslim women in Malaysia are members of the “Obedient Wives Club” that is generating controversy in the country, where many Muslim Malaysian women hold high posts in the government and corporate world.

The new club, launched on Saturday, says it can cure social ills such as prostitution and divorce by teaching women to be submissive and keep their men happy in the bedroom. “Islam compels us to be obedient to our husband. Whatever he says, I must follow. It is a sin if I don’t obey and make him happy,” said Ummu.

The club, founded by a fringe Islamic group known as Global Ikhwan, has been dismissed by politicians and activists as a throwback to Medieval times and an insult to modern women of Malaysia. But the group’s activities, which previously included the setting up of a Polygamy Club, show that pockets of conservative Islamic ideas still thrive in Malaysia. AP

Brits Fashion: Hits and Misses

2011-06-05T01:38:00.000-07:00

Super cool ... Rihanna
LAST night London unfurled the red carpet for the THIRD time this week.

And fashion mad Rihanna made sure that the Brits' carpet was every inch as glamorous as the BAFTAs and even the Elle style awards.

The Barbadian babe chose a psychedelic Christian Dior Couture prom dress - costing in excess of £10,000 - to attend the music awards, teaming it with patent stilettoes and a neat bob.

Gothic glam ... Cheryl
And she wasn't the only one to use eye-popping colour to cause a style statement.

Cheryl Cole channelled a gothic glam look in a shimmering Stella McCartney backless gown accessorised with nude Christian Louboutin heels and a £1000 Alexander McQueen knuckle duster bag.

Alesha Dixon's dodgy 'rock chick' look was more night at the Ritzy than red carpet fabulous.

Dolled-up ... Alesha Dixon, Avril Lavigne and Sophie Ellis Bextor

Wild child Avril Lavigne failed to set any pulses racing in her fringed LBD, which made her look skinny and young rather than rocking.

And Heidi Range and EastEnders' star Preeya Kalidas proved that it's almost impossible to pull off a catsuit.

Presenter Tess Daly teamed her purple halterneck dress with a cute Heidi hairdo and silver accessories.

Halterneck ... Tess
Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt also opted for a mini - in a simple brocade lace dress and nude stilletoes.

Arrivals ... Corinne Bailey Rae and Pussycat Doll Kimberly WyattAFP/AP

Corinne Bailey Rae brightened up a chilly evening in a purple puffball dress and YSL clutch bag.

Green goddess ... Katherine Jenkins
Redhead Paloma Faith was the first to buck the micro mini trend, channelling old school glamour in a Vivienne Westwood floor-length column dress teamed with satin opera gloves and an oversized bow that only she could get away with.

Jessie J showed off her fabulous legs in an emerald green Vivienne Westwood micro dress and statement tights.

Leggy ... Jessie J
Ellie Goulding opted for floor sweeping Westwood but was swamped in a shapeless cream satin frock.

And sexy soprano Katherine Jenkins chose a green printed corset dress by the fashion dame.

Eliza Doolittle chose a £2000 body-skimming knitted dress by LFW favourite Mark Fast - wearing it back to front and teaming it with sky high colour block wedges.

Knitted number ... Eliza Doolittle AP

Performer Adele played it safe in a beaded black dress and pumps - but we loved her glamorous make-up, including some serious false eyelashes.

Black outfits ... Adele, left, and Rumer
Ex Atomic Kitten Liz McLarnon played it safe in a black shirt dress teamed with a pretty fishtail plait.

Joker ... Johnny Vaughan with Lisa Snowden
While model and presenter Lisa Snowdon ramped up the red carpet colour, choosing a lime green assymetric frock that made the most of her pretty, tanned pins.

Party time ... Hofit Golan, Fearne Cotton and Emma Willis

Unfortunately playgirl Kayla Collins made a faux-tan boo boo, completely mismatching the colour of her face and legs in a sexy ballerina style dress.

Radio 1 gals Jo Whiley, Sara Cox and Annie Mac arrived en masse looking cool and comfortable.
While fellow DJ Fearne Cotton caused a stir among the snappers with her almost see-through Alice Temperley dress.

Imagine a Life without Electricity

2011-06-01T22:06:00.000-07:00

Don't Try this at Home ;-)

2011-05-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

Mark Zuckerberg Butchers Animal to Eat

2011-05-30T04:22:00.000-07:00

Mark Zuckerberg Only Eats Animals He Has Personally Killed. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has vowed to only eat meat of animals that he has killed himself.

Mark Zuckerberg - when he's not building Facebook - likes to give himself personal challenges to "learn something about the world, expand my interests and teach myself greater discipline, he recently told a magazine.

For example, last year his Challenge was to learn Chinese, giving himself an hour a day to do it.

"It has been a very humbling experience," he said in an e-mail to Fortune published on Thursday. "You just need to practice and practice."

He said he has traveled to the country, learned about its culture and history and met "a lot of interesting new people."

His latest personal challenge revolves around "being thankful for the food I have to eat." Zuckerberg says he has started to slaughter the meat that he eats. A hint of his practice was revealed publicly on May 4 in a Facebook posting where he wrote" "I Just killed a pig and a goat."

"I think many people forget that a living being has to die for you to eat meat, so my goal revolves around not letting myself forget that and being thankful for what I have," Zuckerberg told Fortune in an e-mail on Thursday.

His way for doing that has meant that he has "basically become a vegetarian since the only meat I'm eating is from animals I've killed myself."

He says it that so for it has been a "good experience" noting he's eating healthier foods and has learned about sustainable farming and raising of animals.

When did the seed for this come about?

He started thinking about it at a pig roast at his house last year. Many people there told him they liked the meat but didn't want to think about the fact that the pig had once been alive.

"That just seemed irresponsible to me," he said. "I don't have an issue with anything people choose to eat, but I do think they should take responsibility and be thankful for what they eat rather than trying to ignore where it came from."

Zuckerberg says he first killed a lobster boiling it alive and told Fortune that it was difficult emotionally.

"The most interesting thing was how special it felt to eat it after having not eaten any seafood or meat in a while," he said.

He later killed a chicken. Zuckerberg is chronicling his year-long vow via Facebook status messages and recently uploaded a photo of a chicken he had killed and a list of dishes he had made out of it. Zuckerberg’s friend Jesse Cool gave him advise on how to go about killing his animal and even introduced him to farm owners who provided him with the animal, Fortune reports.

Huge Success For Melbourne's SlutWalk

2011-05-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

Thousands of people turned out for Australia's first "SlutWalk" on Saturday, organizers said, protesting for women to be able to wear whatever they like without fear of being sexually assaulted.

SlutWalk began in Canada in April after a Toronto police official said that "women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised".

Australian Lauren Clair, one of the organisers of the Melbourne event, said about 2,500 people showed up to march through the city's streets.

"I think that's because it's a global issue, it's not just something that happens in Canada; it's something we see in our society every day of our lives," Clair, 27, told AFP.

While women were often judged on how they dressed, it was wrong to suggest that only those who wore provocative clothes were the victims of sexual assault, she added.

"It's a big myth that women can protect themselves against sexual assault and rape by dressing modestly," she said.

Clair said the majority of marchers chanting slogans such as "However we dress, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no" were women, but there were all genders in the crowd.

"Yes, there was anger and frustration that we still live in a culture where this is permitted," she said, adding there was also joy, and a sense of empowerment.

SlutWalks have already spread to the United States, and thousands registered for events in Australia after notices were posted on Facebook earlier this month.

Prior to the Melbourne event, Clair had said she was keen to reclaim the word "slut" as a source of pride, not shame.

"I've spent my entire life being judged for my appearance and sexuality. I'm sexual, I have sex, I enjoy sex. I'm not going to be ashamed," she told Fairfax newspapers.

SlutWalks in Sydney and Adelaide are planned for next month.

Source-AFP

Half of All Brit Women Have Rectangular-Shaped Bodies

2011-05-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

A new research has revealed that there are five times as many rectangular-shaped British women as those with the classic Marilyn Monroe hourglass figures.

Almost one in two British women fall into the rectangle category just like Keira Knightley and Cameron Diaz.

Using 3D imaging technology to measure 50,000 women in the UK and Europe, it had produced more accurate templates.

Its 'size 12', for example, measured 35.4 inches on the bust, 28.3 inches on the waist, 35.4 inches around the high hip and 38.6 inches on the low hip.

Analysts insisted that once it was applied in the high street, the proportion of women who find an excellent or adequate fit rose from 40 per cent to 63 per cent.

However, a spokesman added that there are three other mainstream body types in the UK.

One in three women is a 'spoon', where the hips are at least four inches wider than the bust. And slightly more than one in ten are 'inverted triangles', where the bust is at least four inches greater than the hips.

Nearly one in ten falls into the hourglass category, where the bust is at least 7in bigger than the waist while the hips are within 4in of the bust.

"People are frustrated and confused by the different sizes and fits they find on the high street," the Daily Mail quoted Alvanon chief executive Janice Wang as saying.

"The industry uses an hourglass figure, which has not changed for many years.

"However, the reality is that the most prevalent shapes are the rectangle, which is not as curvy, the spoon and the inverted triangle. Brands need to adapt to reflect this reality," Wang added.

Clothing fit analysts at Alvanon, which develops size models used by designers and retailers, have collated the figures.

Source-ANI

Office Love Story - Post it Love :-)

2011-05-29T09:13:00.000-07:00