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Ashlee Simpson Defends Her Sister's Figure

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST

CNN reports that Ashlee Simpson told Women's Health magazine that Women's Health magazine that she wants people to refrain from calling her sister, Jessica, fat.

"It's disgusting that people would say those things," Simpson-Wentz, who shows off her own svelte frame in the December issue of the magazine, said. "My sister has an incredible body. I feel sorry for anyone who would judge her, because she's one sexy lady."

We agree. Ashlee says she may be curvier one day herself. "There's gonna be a time when I'm way curvier, and that'll be sexy, too," Simpson-Wentz said.

Meanwhile, Ashlee Simpson is headed for her finale episode of Melrose Place and Kristin says Ashlee will be involved in a "wild crazy" sex scene.

We're hearing there's going to be a "crazy naked" sex scene on Melrose Place before the two recently ousted players go on their merry way: Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Colin Egglesfield.

How racy is it? "It involves us both wearing half-loin cloths that they had to tape to us," Colin himself tells us. "There are very few clothes involved in the near future."

Photo: Michael Desmond/The CW

Posted in Celebrity

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FDA Backs Off on Proposed Raw Oyster Ban

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

The FDA has put on hold its plans to ban the sale of raw oysters harvested during the warm months of the year after criticism from oystermen and legislators from oyster-harvesting states. The FDA said it would continue to study the issue: oysters tainted with bacteria kill 15 Americans each year.

Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), who is going after Senator David Vitter's seat, said that 15 people was a "pretty reasonable" number of people to allow to die given the size of the U.S.

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it will conduct further studies before implementing a plan to ban raw, untreated Gulf Coast oysters during months when they are most likely to be infected with a harmful bacterium. The plan had sparked outcry from Southern politicians who feared it would devastate the regional industry.

The FDA proposal, set to take effect by summer 2011, was an attempt to prevent the 15 deaths on average that occur in the United States each year from the consumption of raw oysters infected with the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus. A number of post-harvest treatments have been developed to kill Vibrio, but some aficionados say treatment defiles the taste of a classic and simple culinary experience.

Many in the oyster industry also said that the treatment equipment is prohibitively expensive for the mom-and-pop oyster processors that dot the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas. Few companies are equipped with the treatment technology.

On Capitol Hill on Tuesday, the FDA came in for stinging criticism from Democrats and Republicans who said they worried about the effect the April-to-October ban would have on an industry that supports 3,500 jobs.

The White House hasn't given up, though. The FDA is meeting with other agencies to see if there is a way to help smaller oystermen afford the equipment that can heat or freeze the raw oysters to kill the bacteria before they are sold. But that is unlikely to go anywhere, and opponents of the ban say freezing or heating ruins the texture of the raw oysters.

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House of Fraser Acquires Biba

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:51:00 EST

Drapers reports that Biba, a British womenswear brand founded by Barbara Hulanicki in 1964, has been acquired by the House of Fraser (HoF). The Biba line will be launch at 30 department stores and online.

HoF will introduce the brand to 30 department stores and online for autumn 10. It is expected that Biba will occupy 1,000 sq ft of space across all categories, including accessories, jewellery, footwear, homeware and fragrances.

HoF bought the brand and its archives from Liechtenstein-based investment fund Hachel International Foundation.

HoF chief executive John King said the brand, which showed at London Fashion Week in September 2006, would be "more accessible".

HoF told Drapers the line will be updated to have a more modern look. This will include adding "flamboyant, sexy prints in silks" and "dark denims with soft washes."

Posted in Fashion

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Demi Lovato: Remember December

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:44:00 EST

Demi Lovato's new music video for her single "Remember December" is out. The single is from her album, Here We Go Again. Demi rocks out in a black leather jacket and black studded gloves. She also dons a sequined hoodie. You can watch the video in HD on Demi's MySpace. Take a look:

Posted in Music

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Paula Deen's Spice Grinder Bottles Coming to More Stores

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:15:00 EST

Paula Deen has a spice line out that is making its way into more store. The spices manufactured and distributed by Quality Food Brands are expected to be available in more than 10,000 retail stores for the holiday season. The Paula Deen line will initially consist of six custom blended varieties of spices that include spice grinder bottles of sea salt, black peppercorns, garlic sea salt, poultry seasoning, onion sea salt, and cinnamon sugar.

"As we head to the first quarter of 2010, we anticipate that over 50,000 outlets will carry the Paula Deen spice lines," stated Richard Cohen, president of Quality Food Brands.

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New Dell Smartphone Will Launch in China and Brazil First

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:51:00 EST

Dell has confirmed rumors they plan to enter the smartphone market. Dell will be starting with China and Brazil and not the U.S. or Europe. China Mobile and Claro in Brazil will be the first two supporting mobile operators to sell Dell Mini 3 smart phones. Dell says its Mini 3 smartphones are designed using Google's Android platform. They have a 3.5-inch high-definition touchscreen.

"Our entry into the smart phone category is a logical extension of Dell's consumer product evolution over the past two years," said Ron Garriques, President, Dell Global Consumer Group. "We are developing smaller and smarter mobile products that enable our customers to take their internet experience out of the home and do the things they want to do whenever and wherever they want."

Dell has not released information about when they would release a sell phone in the United States or the UK.

Posted in Tech

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Dolly Parton Chooses Internet Explorer in the Browser Wars

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:33:00 EST

Dolly Parton says she wouldn't know a "gigabyte from a snake bite" but she is ready to weigh in on the browser wars. The browser wars were a big deal a few years when Microsoft was battling with Netscape for browser dominance. Now the browser wars are heating up again with new players. Customers can choose between browers like Firefox, Opera, Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari and Microsoft's leading Internet Explorer browser. Dolly Parton says you should try IE8 so you can use its Web Slices feature. Take a look:

(via ReadWriteWeb)

Posted in Tech

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Oasis of the Seas Arrives in Port Everglades, Florida

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:15:00 EST

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas arrived at Port Everglades, Florida today. The ship is currently the world's largest cruise ship although it will likely be dwarfed by ships made in the years to come. The AP says the ship is five times bigger than the Titanic was. The massive cruise ship has 2,700 cabins and can accommodate 6,300 passengers and 2,100 crew members. The huge ship even has its own Twitter account, @oasisandallure. Take a look:

Photo: Royal Caribbean

Posted in Travel

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ICD Launching Touchscreen Android Powered Table in 2010

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Gizmodo reports that Innovative Converged Devices (ICD) will be launching several tablets next year that are powered by Google's Android software. ICD's Vega touchscreen tablets will come in 7, 11 and 15-inch models. Gizmodo says the tablets come with a Tegra processor, 512MB DDR DRAM, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability. The battery life will only be around 4 hours. On its website, ICD calls its tablet "kitchen friendly."

The big gadget launch expected next year is Apple's tablet. Apple better have an amazing product ready because its competitors seem to be unveiling attractive tablets every other week.

Posted in Tech

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Business Week: Starbucks' Hard Sell of Via is Irritating Customers, Baristas

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:15:00 EST

Business Week reports that Starbucks' aggressive sales pitch for its new instant coffee Via is really irritating customers and baristas alike. Baristas seem themselves as bartenders, not sales people, and really hate having to push the new product. Customers don't like the hard sell either.

It's too early to say whether Via is a success. But judging from the coffee blogs, including the company's mystarbucksidea.com, for some baristas the pressure to sell the product is intense and unwelcome. "This is the most stressful promotion I have ever experienced, and I've been with the company for seven years," a barista wrote on starbucksgossip.com. Some customers are finding the hard sell a bit exasperating, too. As one wrote: "Please no more high-pressure Via sales pitches. It's annoying - it's completely out of line with Starbucks' vibe."

*****

Starbucks sees great potential in Via: Instant coffee is a $21 billion global market. And Starbucks made a significant investment in Via, the biggest product rollout in its history. Naturally, executives set ambitious sales goals. There, perhaps, lie the roots of the problem. Starbucks baristas typically think of themselves as akin to bartenders, not salespeople. "We were just told to place a Via 12-pack in the customer's hand while asking if they would 'like to add some Via to their order,' " blogged one barista. "I have seen more annoyed customers than enthusiastic ones from all these strong-arm sales tactics. ... Not to say it's not a good product. I think it just needs to be kept in the supermarkets next to the other Starbucks mass-market frill."

We've seen Via in our local Starbucks but so far no one has tried to sell us any. We haven't tried it, so we have no idea how it tastes. But then again we really don't drink instant unless we are in some kind of emergency situation where espresso is unavailable.

Posted in Gourmet

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Microwave Usage on the Rise

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:25:00 EST

Reuters reports that a study by the NPD Group on eating patterns has found that Americans are microwaving meals more than ever. From 1990 to 2007 about 20% of meals were made with a microwave. The percentage of microwaved meals jumped to 30% last year.

Americans have been eating at home more often since the beginning of the decade, but in 2008 their microwaves did much of the work, according to NPD Group's 24th annual report on eating patterns in America.

"Microwaving has been flat for two decades, but it increased last year as Americans found a way to eat at home and not cook," said Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst at NPD Group.

About 20 percent of all meals prepared in U.S. homes from 1990 to 2007 involved using a microwave. Last year, such usage rose ten percent, the market research company found.

The increase usage should ultimatelty lead a rise in microwave purchases as more microwaves will break down if more of them are being used.

Photo: Panasonic NN-H965BF Luxury Full-Size 2.2-Cubic-Foot 1,250-Watt Microwave Oven, Black from Amazon.com

Posted in Home

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Kellogg Warns Of Devastating Frozen Waffle Shortages in the Days Ahead

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:13:00 EST

Kellogg is telling frozen waffle lovers to prepare themselves. Because of a plant closing for repairs, there could be major frozen waffle shortages in the bleak days ahead.

Kellogg Co., the largest U.S. breakfast-cereal maker, said flooding at an Atlanta facility and repairs at a Tennessee factory will cause Eggo waffle shortages through the middle of next year.

The scarcity was triggered by September's floods in the southeastern U.S., which temporarily closed an Atlanta waffle factory, as well as by equipment problems at the company's largest waffle plant, in Rossville, Tennessee, spokeswoman Kris Charles said today in an e-mail.

"We are working around the clock to restore Eggo store inventories to normal levels as quickly as possible," Charles said in the e-mail.

The company said that it didn't expect the shortage to have a material impact on earnings. But it certainly could have a material impact on what a lot of people eat for breakfast.

Posted in Food

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Radar Online: There Are Seven More Carrie Prejean Sex Tapes

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:04:00 EST

Radar Online reports that former Miss California Carrie Prejean has seven more sex tapes and 30 more nude photos floating around.

Now a RadarOnline.com investigation has uncovered that there are SEVEN more "biggest mistakes" of her life -- all of them solo performances, just like the one sex tape that the religious beauty queen has admitted to. And there are 30 photos of Carrie, most topless, some showing everything, and most taken by Carrie using her reflection in a mirror.

On one tape Carrie is wearing just a flowing white blouse as she touches her own body in an alluring manner. Carrie can be heard moaning on a few of the tapes.

In her newly released book Carrie wrote, "God gave us our bodies, and it's perfectly right that we use them in ways where we can give glory to God by making our bodies, our temples of the Holy Spirit, strong and fast."

Okay this is getting ridiculous. She is only 22 years old. Did she spend an entire year just making sex tapes and taking photos of herself in the mirror? And if they were made when she was a teenager -- as she told Sean Hannity the first tape was -- where were her parents? How did she have time to go to school?

Posted in Celebrity

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Recession or Not, Shoe Shopping Continues

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:12:00 EST

The New York Times reports that shoe sales are brisk. In the last three months women are buying more shoes. But experts are conflicted over why women who are cutting back on purchases across the board are still buying shoes.

Retailing executives and analysts offer varying, occasionally wacky, explanations. The one favored by many of them is that consumers consider shoes more of a necessity than, say, dresses, cuff links or handbags, so people feel less guilt about buying them.

"I would argue you wear out shoes more than you wear out handbags," said Marie Driscoll, an analyst with Standard & Poor's Equity Research who is adept at rationalizing her own shoe purchases. Living in New York, she walks everywhere. "I use the argument, 'If I spend $150 to $300 on shoes, this is my car.'"

*****

Among the more curious explanations proffered for the relative strength of shoe sales is that women -- who make up the lion's share of the American shoe market -- get an emotional lift from shoe shopping in a way they do not when trying on jeans and cocktail dresses. "Shoes democratize fashion," said Kathryn Finney, who writes the Budget Fashionista blog. "You probably can't buy a Zac Posen dress if you wear a size 14, but you can buy a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes."

Or, as Jennifer Black, president of research company Jennifer Black and Associates, put it: "It's just fun to shop for shoes. Maybe part of the fun is you don't feel fat. And you don't get hot. It's exhausting trying clothes on, especially the skinny jeans."

We think Jennifer Black has nailed it. It is no fun to shop for swimsuits or skinny jeans, no matter how thin you are. It's an annoying, lengthy, hot process. But shoe shopping is different. You sit in a chair while the salesperson brings you ice water (or champagne if you're at a really nice store). They bring you piles and piles of shoes to try one and don't rush you. You don't even have to leave your chair to sign your credit card receipt.

Which reminds us, Nordstrom's is having a huge shoe sale right now and we really must dash.

Posted in Shoes

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Vans Introduces The Sophie

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:44:00 EST

Vans is introducing a new style of shoe for girls called the Sophie. This Early look at Sohie options includes black and white styles and a light blue shoe. Van's Sophies will hit stores early next year.

(via PSFK, Nitrolicious)

Posted in Shoes

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Ashley Greene Covers Maxim Magazine

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:03:00 EST

Twilight star Ashley Greene covers the December issue of Maxim. In the interview, Ashley talks about landing the Twilight series role, learning to fight for Eclipse and the role she most covets next - Bond girl.

On landing the Twilight role: "Oh, my God, I wanted this part so badly! I worked my butt off for it because I absolutely love Alice, my character. she's sweet, sexy, and a killer! so when they told me I got it, I tried to play it all cool, you know, for about a minute."

On training for Eclipse: "I get to fight in Eclipse. My trainer is teaching me MMA right now. So. Cool. But I feel if I was in a real fight, I'd get my a- kicked...We're just now moving up to more advanced stuff, toward being able to actually kick somebody's a-."

On the role she'd like to get: "I want to hit up James Bond. That would be awesome."

You can see the Maxim photo shoot here.

Posted in Celebrity

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Karl Lagerfeld Dismisses Retirement Rumors

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:25:00 EST

In a new interview with the German magazine Freundin Karl Lagerfeld dismisses the idea that he is ready to retire from Chanel anytime soon. According to Handbag.com Karl isn't going anywhere. As for his weight, Karl says that elastic waists are the enemy of thinness.

The 76-year-old designer has swatted away persistent rumours that he is set to stand down from his position as the helm of Chanel, insisting, "The world can count on me for a long time." "Retirement is not one of the topics with which I deal. Why should I?" he says. "I still have so many projects that I sometimes don't know where to begin. Chanel will still need some clothes when I'm 89."

*****

Lagerfeld, who famously shed 42kg in order to fit into the slim silhouette championed by Hedi Slimane at Dior Homme, counters that he's fighting fit. His secret to maintaining a healthy diet? Step away from the jogging pants.

"Those things are dangerous because they have an elastic band," he told Freundin, a glossy based in his native Germany. "It stretches and then you don't know when you put on weight. I hate it when you let yourself go! I'm always looking the way you see me now."

Karl designs for Chanel, his own label and for Fendi. He also is a photographer and runs his own publishing house. It has been rumored that Alber Elbaz of Lanvin will take over at Chanel when Karl steps down, but Elbaz has dismissed those rumors.

Posted in Fashion

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Demi Moore Covers W Magazine

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Demi Moore looks fabulous in a Balmain's leather and metal mesh dress on the December cover of W magazine. In the interview, Demi talked about her career and how aging has affected the roles she is offered. She also discussed Twitter. Demi was one of the early users of Twitter. Her Twitter account can be found here.

On Twitter: "People are much more interested in what I have to say directly, and that really changed the whole dynamic I have with fans...I can't impress enough the difference in how people are perceiving me. They're getting to see who I am."

On Being Labeled a Cougar: "I'm certainly not the first person to be in a relationship with a younger man, but somehow I was plucked out as a bit of a poster girl" ... "I'd prefer to be called a puma," she says, explaining how she came up with the new designation and "Twittered it out. People wrote back hilarious stuff, saying, 'I'm going to get T-shirts that say puma power.'"

On Age and Her Career: "The frustrating part is that the type of roles I'd be interested in are not really coming to me. I hate to say it's a function of my age [47]-but yes, I think in some ways it is. The majority of [female] roles are geared between 25 and 35."

You can read Kevin West's interview with Demi Moore here. You can see the photos from the photo shoot by Mart Alas and Marcus Piggott here.

Posted in Celebrity

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Yes, Virginia, French Women Really Do Get Fat

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:25:00 EST

A new study reveals that despite persistent urban legends, French actually women do get fat.

Weight-watchers everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief. Contrary to their image as slim models of restraint, French women, it seems, really do get fat. According to a 2009 study published on Tuesday, 15.1 percent of France's women are classed as clinically obese, while a further 26 percent are overweight.

The survey, conducted by TNS Sofres Healthcare and Swiss pharmaceuticals company Roche, also pointed to similar trends among the male population, with 13.9 percent of Frenchmen obese and 38.5 percent overweight. The world has long marveled at the ability of the French population, and particularly its women, to remain thin in a country famed for its pastries, cheese and wine.

French author Mireille Guilano even published a diet manual in 2004 entitled "French Women Don't Get Fat," praising the eating habits of women who prefer to savour their food calmly and never snack between meals. But the reality is that over the past 12 years, the average French person has put on 3.1 kg (6.83 lb) and added a further 4.7 cm (1.85 inches) around the waist, the survey showed.

Doctor Marie-Aline Charles, one of researchers on the study, says that the same factors that are leading the rest of the world to gain weight are at work in France. Urban lifestyles, sedentary jobs and a greater availability of food are to blame. After discussing the study, Dr. Charles then immediately -- and most unkindly -- pointed out that the U.S. still has more fat people than France does.

Posted in Health

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15-Year-Old Justin Bieber Arrives on the Music Scene

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:05:00 EST

15-year-old Justin Bieber is suddenly everyway these days. He has been on many talk shows. He hangs out with Usher and Diddy. Bieber's first album, My World will be released on November 17th. Bieber's first single, "One Time", has climbed into the top 15 spots on the Top 40 chart and into the top 20 on the Rhythm chart. Usher is in the music video for "One Time." The video is harmless unless silly string offends you.

The Wikipedia entry says Justin Bieber was noticed because of his covers of songs by Ne-Yo, Justin Timberlake, Ushers and Michael Jackson on YouTube. Justin's label, Island Records, says the young artist has already generated 100 million YouTube.com video views. Usher has taken the young Bieber under his wing - he first signed Bieber to a music deal with he was just 13. Usher's plans for Bieber seem to be working as Justin Bieber is garnering a large following on Twitter - his account, @justinbieber, is one of the thirty most listed Twitter accounts. He also has nearly half a million followers.

Bieber is also lining up countless talk show appearances. This Saturday, November 14th, Justin will appear on ABC News segment entitled On the Brink. He follows this appearance with a performance on ABC's Good Morning America, Sunday, November 15th. From there, Justin flies to Los Angeles to film his second performance and couch-time appearance on NBC's The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The episode airs November 17th, the day his debut album drops. This will mark his second appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in a span of two weeks, having performed and been interviewed on November 3rd.

Everything seems to be pointing in the right direction for Justin Bieber to become a big star but stardom is a lot of pressure for a 15-year-old.

Posted in Music

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