Author Archives: Frostie

Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2014

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Here it is: a list celebrating the most desirable women. AskMen Readers Celebrate Actresses, Performers, Athletes and Other Leading Ladies in Global Poll.

After more than one million votes were cast internationally, Game of Thrones darling Emilia Clarke was voted No. 1 on AskMen’s Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2014. The 13th edition of the Top 99 poll called on readers to elect women who most closely match their ideals, voting on criteria including sex appeal, character, talent and potential for 2014.

mostdesirablewomen

Rounding out this year’s top five are Mad Men’s Alison Brie (No. 2), Blurred Lines music video model Emily Ratajkowski (No. 3), The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence (No. 4) and Harry Potter’s Emma Watson (No. 5). After an eventful year, Miley Cyrus was featured on the list for the first time ever — at No. 99. “AskMen readers are big television fans — the proof is the 27 current and former TV stars that they voted to this year’s list. Emilia Clarke being crowned Khaleesi of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2014 is attributable to the strength and character she portrays onscreen, as well as the global popularity of Game of Thrones. It’s great to see a Brit top our list this year,” commented Mike Goldstein, Publisher of AskMen.

Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2014

British women are appealing to men across the globe: 28 British ladies were voted into the Top 99 this year – with Emma Watson (No.5) and Kate Moss (No.10) also making it into the coveted top 10 spots. There were also spots for It-girl of the moment Cara Delevigne (No.13) and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton (No.35).

The Year of the Musician: Female artists were also incredibly appealing for men around the world, with AskMen readers voting in their droves for Beyonce (No.11), genre-blurring singer Rita Ora (No.18), Harry Styles’ ex-girlfriend and singer-songwriter Taylor Swift (No.30), Brit award-winner Ellie Goulding (No.34), Australian recording artist and model Iggy Azalea (No.95), and Brit singer-songwriter Eliza Doolittle (No.86).

The Reign of the TV Starlet: AskMen’s readers are clearly fans of fantasy series Game of Thrones, electing Clarke’s co-stars Oona Chaplin (No. 43) and Rose Leslie (No. 61) to the 2014 list as well. Additional TV favourites who secured a spot include New Girl’s Zooey Deschanel (No. 17), TV presenter Holly Willoughby (No. 37),  Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara (No. 40) and Fresh Meat’s Zawe Ashton (No.51).

Athletes are hot and coveted this year! AskMen’s readers are seemingly impressed by the drive, dedication and healthy figures of the likes of British Olympians Jessica Ennis (No.59) and Laura Trott (No.93)
and surfers Alana Blanchard (No.36) and Anastasia Ashley (No.67).

Blunda | Music Profile

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Artist: Blunda
Location: North Hollywood, CA
Styles: Indie Rock, Synth Pop, New Wave, Lo-Fi Indie, Electronic
Similar to: Wild Nothing, Beach House, Neon Indian, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, The Cure
CD: “Messages” digital download only

Blunda

Accolades:
* Guitarist for Fastball 1997-1999
* Guitarist, Keyboards for Paloalto on American Recordings 2 albums with
producer Rick Rubin 1999-2004 opened for Supergrass, Johnny Marr, Collective Soul, Stone Temple Pilots
* Guitarist for Jason Falkner late 2000’s 2 Japan tours including Fuji Rock
* Composer for many TV shows including theme song for Showtime series
“Polyamory: Married and Dating” also Storage Wars, American Hoggers and
most recently Appalachian Outlaws on History Channel
* Winner of ASCAP Film and Television award in 2013 for music in highest rated show “After the Catch” on Discovery

Members/Instruments: Andy Blunda all instruments except tracks 4 and 5 drums played by Fernando Sanchez.

Production: Recorded and Mixed by Andy Blunda out of professional home
“Studio B” in North Hollywood
Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge NYC
Assisted by Rich Morales

Tracklisting:
1. A Broken Case
2. If You Want Me
3. Messages
4. Devil Inside
5. The Money Side

Websites:
Official
Facebook

Bio:
Blunda is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Andy Blunda. A classical pianist at University, Blunda landed a touring gig with the texas trio Fastball at age 20 where the success of their song “The Way” kept him on the road for 2 years.

Shortly after he joined Paloalto, who recorded two albums with producer Rick Rubin on his American Recordings label. After years of touring and recording in bands, Blunda made the decision to start recording his own material which he had been writing off and on for the last decade. Messages is Blunda’s second solo EP, and it is his most focused effort to date. It was recorded, produced & mixed by Andy out of his home studio in North Hollywood. The sound is a blend of 80’s new wave & moody indie pop delivered in a very unique style.

 

Come Together For HIV & AIDS: TV Advert Celebrates The Joys of Safe Sex

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INTERNATIONAL HIV/AIDS ALLIANCE LAUNCH RISQUE AND REFRESHING FIRST TV AD

Hot new TV advert celebrates the joys of safe sex

• New ‘Come Together’ advert for the International HIV/AIDS Alliance features a mix of sexualities, races, genders and ages in the throes of passion.

However there is a very serious underlying message.

• Ad marks climax of global Valentine’s Day fundraising campaign by the charity to highlight the importance of safe, protected sex and of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.

• New advert is a risqué and refreshing approach to charity fundraising advertising in a bid to highlight the continued importance of addressing the HIV epidemic.

SEX – but not the usual… This Friday evening sees a new approach to safe sex and charity fundraising with the broadcast of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance‘s first ever TV advert. The risqué and refreshing ad, which is airing for one night only, has been created in a bid to highlight the continued importance of addressing the HIV epidemic, an issue which the charity believes has fallen off the public agenda in recent years.

aids

The visually arresting 60-second advert depicts a mix of sexualities, races, genders
and ages in the throes of passion.

The advert will be airing on Friday night for one night only with Channel Four leading the way at 11.05pm. It is part of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance’s ‘Come

Together’ campaign and has a very serious underlying message. It is designed to both highlight the importance of safe sex and unite people in an effort to end AIDS.

cometogether

Every year, around 2.3 million people are diagnosed with HIV and 1.6 million die of AIDS-related causes. The advert asks viewers to donate money in order to save lives and prevent the spread of HIV around the world.

The first 5,000 people to donate £20 will also receive a ‘Come Together’ box in time for Valentine’s Day which is very much in keeping with the ad’s spirit. The box is designed to celebrate the joys of safe sex and contains a condom as well as a variety of sensual products including a luxury feather tickler, a blindfold and lubricant

Here are some quotes from the actors who took part:

 

Tim, 55, actor
“When Helen and I first arrived at the shoot we had no idea what we were going to do – but then Helen picked up the whip, I donned the fishnets, faked an orgasm and it all came (excuse the pun) naturally! I was fairly innocent in the 80s, but the message then was very different – casual sex without protection was widely accepted, until people were made aware of the dangers of contracting HIV. Now it’s much clearer that people can do whatever they like, provided they are taking sensible precautions with protecting themselves – which is what I took home from the shoot”.
 
Helen, Television/Theatre Actress
“I was in the entertainment industry when the AIDS taboo was prevalent, and scaremongering was rife. I  sadly lost  some of my dear friends to the disease/virus. This is why I was so drawn to taking this part in the ad – to increase awareness that HIV / AIDS shouldn’t have the stigma of a ‘gay’ disease – it affects the international community, no matter what colour, creed, sex or whatever. People should be educated about AIDS, not made to fear it.”
 

The first ever advert from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance has already set tongues wagging amongst industry experts.

Jo Hodges, Head of the Advertising Faculty at London College of Communication

“Historically the advertising campaigns surrounding AIDS only appeared to target the gay community. However, the Come Together ad shows couples of every sexual orientation enjoying sex from every angle and in turn produces what I think is one of the most provocative ads I have ever seen.

This is a welcome and urgently needed departure that doesn’t feel reproachful. Instead it is an open celebration of the joys of safer sex that targets people of all different ages, sexual orientations/preferences and genders.”

Awo Ablo, Director of External Relations at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance said:

“We’ve created a campaign that celebrates safe sex, in all its forms, in a way that’s open, honest and off-beat – and that positions it as a natural and wonderful part of everyday life. We wanted to create an experience that would resonate with people of all different identities. Safe sex should be available to everyone, it can save lives.

“We appreciate that this ad is risqué , but we hope it doesn’t shock or make people feel uncomfortable. The underlying message is vital.We have to communicate that AIDS is a very real problem for people who do not get the care and support that they need, it can mean illness, isolation and death. We need to raise awareness and funds in order to provide the services that people around the world need.”

What do you think?

 

The Wolf Of Wall Street Review

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Greed, riches, drugs, naked women, sex…The Wolf Of Wall Street certainly is debauched, based on the memoirs of convicted stock market trader Jordan Belfort, a man who makes Gordon Gekko seem like a sweet office boy, the film certainly gives the financial industry a bad name- something that the friend I saw it with (a financial analyst) was non to pleased about.

The Wolf of Wall StreetIn truth Jordan Belfort is a different animal all together. He starts off with a wife and no intention to drink or do drugs. How hard he falls indeed. After losing his job at L.F Rothschild he gets a job trading penny stocks, from there he starts up his own business, the Stratton Oakmont brokerage firm (which was the inspiration for the 2000 film Boiler Room) with the help of friend Donnie Azoff, (played by Johan Hill who famously did the role for $60,000; which was less than $10,000 per the 10 month work), they steal from poor people and then work their way up to stealing from rich people. They do more than their own body weight in drugs and they sleep with so many women it is hard to believe their penis didn’t fall off.

It is hard to go wrong with a Scorsese film and DiCaprio and Scorsese make quite a team. DiCaprio deserves an Oscar for his performance. There were times he was so into his character I didn’t even recognise DiCaprio anywhere. He was once so good he was the De Niro of our generation. Now he is just the DiCaprio of our generation: an actor so good he is on a level all by himself. Johan Hill also gives an Oscar-worthy performance. His comic timing is perfect. He can deliver any line in the world and make it funny. This film shows his true potential. Hill has always been under-rated.

It is not necessarily the movies fault but this is a terrible film for women. Few women get to keep their clothes on and the rest do full-blown, full-frontal nudity with shaved ‘private areas’. Ahem. Even the lead, Margot Robbie who plays DiCaprio’s second wife,  who insisted she didn’t mind. Hmm. But despite all of this sex and the actual orgies the only real male nudity is a fake and flaccid fake penis and a from-the-back nude scene of DiCaprio (twice) and, yes, it was really him. Few women are more than window dressing, naked window dressing, and even one of the ‘original 20’ stockbrokers who is female, Kimmie Belzer, doesn’t even get a mention until the end of the movie. Another gets her head shaved for $10,000. An uncomfortable scene. All of the nudity is too much and embarrassing. It is supposed to be adult and decadent but is, actually, just sad and adolescent. I was depressed by the misogyny in the film. It’s 2014. Women deserve more than this.

The Wolf of Wall Street is an enjoyable movie (barring the nudity and I didn’t really get all the drug talk. I felt it was romanticised too much. Drugs actually aren’t cool kids), in fact it is more than enjoyable. It is nearly three hours long and it went by fast and was entertaining. However, Jordan Belfort is possibly one of the least likeable (real-life!) characters in movie history. He has absolutely no redeeming features. He is a complete bastard. Despite this, because he is played so brilliantly by DiCaprio he is also likable in a very weird way. You end up caring what happens to him but you resent yourself for it. These aren’t nice people and you will find yourself hoping Agent Patrick Denham nails them to the wall.

If you go and see The Wolf of Wall Street you will be entertained but you will also be left with a feeling of sexism, shallowness and emptiness.

 

How To Make A Will

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how to make a will - free willOne thing that often gets put off in life is creating a will to protect our families. 2/3 of people in the UK don’t have one; a risky choice for parents in particular, whom, once giving it some thought, would doubt like to ensure they protect their children and partners for peace of mind.

We got Mark Edwards, Vice President and General Manager of www.rocketlawyer.co.uk, to talk us through creating a will. Rocket Lawyer is a complete online legal service.

Mark says:

“Two thirds of the population don’t have a will. Lots of people don’t have wills because the law is daunting, by offering our services online, Rocket Lawyer gives people more control and choice, providing legal help that is simpler and easier to access at a lower cost.”

The new year is the perfect time for parents to bite the bullet and create one. Making a will may seem like a difficult and costly process but there are now great online legal services which simplify the process and make it really affordable, giving you peace of mind that everything will be taken care of according to your wishes, should the worst happen. A will covers appointing executors, guardians for your children, legacies and what will happen to your estate and possessions. Failing to make a will can have consequences which can cause serious problems for you and your family.

Benefits:

Protecting your partner

You might think that when you die, if you are married or in a civil partnership, your surviving spouse or civil partner will automatically receive all of your estate. However, this is not the case. If you die without leaving a will, there are legal rules, called the ‘intestacy rules’, which dictate which members of your family will receive your estate.

Rocket Lawyer recommends connecting with an On Call Lawyer when dealing with matters concerning personal assets valued at over £325,000 or combined assets with your spouse or civil partner valued at over £650,000.

If you are not married or in a civil partnership and you do not have a will on your death, your partner will not be entitled to anything. Even if you have joint bank accounts with your partner, or a home, any jointly held property will not necessarily pass onto your surviving partner.

So here is the overarching golden rule: it’s best to take control of your estate by making a will.

Nominate Executors

Executors are the people who will carry out your wishes after your death. Nominating your
executors means you can select reliable family or friends that you know will be best capable of fulfilling your requests. You can have up to four executors and they can also be beneficiaries of your will. Their roles are sensitive and personal but making a will ensures these responsibilities are managed by people you trust.

Executors make your funeral arrangements in accordance with your instructions. They work out what your estate is worth and decide whether or not there is any Inheritance Tax to pay on your estate. They apply to the Probate Registry for the Grant of Representation of your will. A Grant of

Probate is a document from the Family Division of the High Court which confirms that your will is valid and that your estate can be wound-up in accordance with the terms of your will.

Look after your children

Once you have decided who you would like to be your Executors, you then need to consider whether or not you need to appoint guardians in your will. Testamentary guardians are people who will look after your children if any of them are under 18 at the time of your death. They take over the role of parental responsibility for your children.

If children inherit money and/or property, it is usually held in a trust until they are 18. Specify how you would like trusts to be managed, your nominated executors can deal with this fund.

Remember to follow the signing rules

Once you’ve made your will, you need to follow some rules about how to formalise it. The execution of your will requires three people, yourself and two witnesses.

In the presence of your two witnesses and in the spaces provided, you should date the document and sign your name using your “usual” signature where indicated whilst your witnesses watch. Ask your two witnesses to add, in your presence, their “usual” signatures where indicated, asking them to print their names, addresses and occupations clearly for identification purposes.

Anyone over 18 can create a will for free with Rocket Lawyer’s three day free trial, during Free Wills Month and all year round.

 

 

CARE International’s Walk In Her Shoes Led by Helen & Laura Pankhurst

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Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of suffragette Emmeline, and daughter Laura invite UK women to join her in London on Saturday 8 March (International Women’s Day) to ‘walk in the shoes’ of women and girls across the developing world who must walk for many miles every day to collect water for their families. The walk launches CARE International’s nationwide campaign, Walk In Her Shoes.

Helen Pankhurst

The walk will begin at the Tate Britain and end at the Southbank Centre’s ‘Women of the World’ festival. It aims to raise awareness of CARE’s wider Walk In Her Shoes campaign, which encourages women and men here in the UK to walk 10,000 steps a day for one week from 24-30 March and raise money for CARE.  The charity’s work includes building wells in poor communities, allowing girls and women more time to go to school or work.

 Dr Helen Pankhurst and daughter Laura

Helen Pankhurst said: “Join me on International Women’s Day to walk in solidarity with women and girls around the world who are denied the rights to live, learn, earn and thrive simply because they were born female. Walk In Her Shoes so girls can go to school and women can do paid work instead of walking for miles every day.”

Girl collecting water, South Sudan

Seventy per cent of the world’s poorest billion people are women, many millions of whom walk more than six kilometres a day in search of water and firewood, carrying loads of up to 20kg.

 

CARE will provide fundraising support to all who participate. To join Helen on 8 March or take part in the Walk In Her Shoes campaign, visit www.careinternational.org.uk/iwd2014  or call 020 7091 6111.

 

 

The Current State-of-Mind of Working Mums Today

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GUILT-RIDDEN, TORN BETWEEN TWO ROLES AND OVER-LOOKED -The current state-of-mind of working mums today

* Over three quarters (80%) of women feel guilty about going back to work and worry about leaving their child in the care of others compared with just 39% of men.
* Childcare responsibilities still fall on the mother’s shoulders, even when both parents are working.
* A fifth of dads (20%) say they wished they hadn’t gone back to work after having a family, saying they wished they could have looked after their child while over a third (37%) of men say they work full time with NO flexibility at all.

competitionNew research into the state of mind of working parents in the UK has found that we are a nation divided with women battling to find a healthy work-life balance, taking on the majority of childcare responsibilities while not at work. The research, undertaken for The Work & Family Show which is due to take place for the first time on 21st and 22nd February, found that over three quarters of women (80%) feel guilty about going back to work after having a family. Men, on the other hand, are relatively confident about returning to their jobs with just 39% feeling guilty about leaving their children in childcare.

The biggest concern for more than 35% of women was not having the help or understanding from their employer when dealing with the difficult transition from working woman to working mum. They also worried that their employers would be discriminatory towards them, entrusting them with responsibility and fewer big projects.

One mum who struggled to return to work after having a baby is 31 year old Leah McGrath. She returned to her role as an HR Service Manager at a large agra-pharmaceutical company after a year at home with her daughter. The plan was for Leah to do a job share but this fell through and she found herself fitting in a full time job into her contracted three days a week. She says: “I was finding it such a struggle, commuting three hours, three days a week, and trying my best to be a good mum. I was getting ill all the time; whenever there was a virus going around, I would catch it as I was so run down and my little girl’s behaviour was becoming very challenging. After a while I realised there must be more to life and resigned. It was extremely scary but I am so pleased I did.” Leah has since re-trained as a yoga teacher, running her own Yogabellies franchise, teaching pre-natal, post-natal and baby massage classes in her lo cal wellbeing and community centres. She has managed to get a healthy work-life balance and work flexibly but only by leaving her past career behind her.

Ben Black, Director of MyFamilyCare.co.uk who, together with Clarion Events, are organising The Work & Family Show says: “Due to the lack of support from their employers on returning to work, women often feel forced to give up the careers they have trained and worked so hard for in order to fit in their new role of motherhood. However, it shouldn’t be like this. Staff need to be supported as they return to work and deal with the challenges that being a working parent can bring. Employers who respond to their needs will be rewarded with engaged, productive and loyal employees.”

The research also asked fathers how they felt about the transition from working man to working dad. More than a third (37%) said they returned to work and received no flexibility at all. One in five, meanwhile, said they wished they had never gone back to work at all, wishing they could take on the full-time role of child carer.

Ben Black continues: “So many big companies like Barclays, Discovery Channel and Rolls Royce have made big improvements to their policies to help their parents who work, but these results show there’s a huge deficit. Women shouldn’t feel restricted in work when they become a mother and a man’s role in bringing up a child has evolved so much in the past 30 years and it’s time that businesses recognise this too.”

The Work & Family Show has been born out of the high demand from families in need of help when returning to work or starting up their own business. Jenny Willott, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs, will introduce the show while inspirational experts and employers on the lookout for motivated staff will be on hand to give working parents and career break women access to practical advice. Organised by Clarion Events and My Family Care, it takes place on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd February 2014 at the ExCeL London. Tickets are available from www.theworkandfamilyshow.co.uk from just £12, and people coming to the neighbouring Baby Show will have free entrance*.

Opening times:
Friday 21st February: 9.30am – 5pm (trade and press entry from 8.30am on Friday for a networking breakfast)
Saturday 22nd February: 10am – 5pm
**Ends**

*Free entry will be for everyone who has a paid-for ticket to The Baby Show

We have six tickets to the Work and Family Show to giveaway