Author Archives: Frostie

Top Cosmetic Surgeries of 2013

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·      473% increase in arm lifts as patients wave goodbye to bingo wings

·      Buffalo hump removal up 350% in 2013

·      ‘Moobs’ a hot topic as enquiries for male breast removal doubles

·      221% increase in those opting for buttock lifts

 

From Kim Kardashian’s infamous derriere tweet sparking surgery rumours, to Heidi Montag’s breast reduction –in 2013 cosmetic surgery was a talking point. New statistics from clinic comparison site WhatClinic.com, shows what cosmetic treatments were hot or not in 2013.

Arm lifts saw a whopping 473% increase in 2013 as many patients waved goodbye to those dreaded bingo wings. Fluctuations in weight and growing older can cause the upper arm skin to sag, which is what the surgery – also known as brachioplasty – corrects. The cost, however, is not for the faint hearted – averaging £3,872 – over a third (35%) more than it cost in 2012.

beyonce booty most wantedWith Beyonce’s booty once again taking centre stage in her raunchy new video, ‘Partition’, it’s not surprising that enquiries into buttock lifts more than tripled (221%) last year. However, the surgery, which aims to contour and sculpt patients’ rears, comes with a hefty price tag of around £4,226 and experts recommend no physical exertion for three to six weeks following treatment.

One of the more unusual procedures trending in 2013 was buffalo hump removal, which had no interest in 2012, but saw a 350% increase in 2013. This surgery removes the fatty build-up at the base of the neck caused by excessive weight gain. Although it’s still not widely available in the UK, demand amongst British patients is certainly on the up.

It wasn’t just women going under the knife in 2013, as male breast reduction enquiries more than doubled (119%) last year. However, over a third (35%) of those looking to banish their ‘moobs’, went overseas to countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Belgium, where surgeries are considerably cheaper.

Full abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, saw enquiries fall by half (46%) last year, while abdominal etching dropped by almost a fifth (17%). Etching, hugely popular in the 1990s, is aimed at people who are quite fit but have a small amount of fat covering their abs. Demand for both procedures is now falling as many patients opt for alternatives like fat transfer, which saw a 126% increase in the past 12 months.

Mini-facelifts also dropped by 60% as less invasive treatments, such as non-surgical facelifts and dermal fillers (both up 93%) and Thermage skin tightening (up 80%) proved more popular with patients.

The following table shows the treatments that have seen the biggest increases in enquiries in 2013:

 

Treatment

% increase in enquiries over past 12 months

Average price

Arm lift

473%

£3,872

Buffalo hump removal

350%

£3,315

Cleft lip palate

260%

£350

Buttock lift

221%

£4,226

Eyelid surgery

158%

£2,125

Thigh lift

141%

£4,298

Fat transfer

126%

£2,548

Neck liposuction

123%

£2,142

Male breast reduction

119%

£3,493

Neck lift

110%

£3,258

 

The following table shows the treatments that have seen the biggest decreases in enquiries in 2013:

 

Treatment

% decrease in past 12 months

Average price

Genital reshaping

-74%

£4,707

Mini facelift

-60%

£4,299

Asian bkepharoplasty

-57%

£1,000

Full abdominoplasty

-46%

£4,912

Breast reconstruction

-41%

£5,794

Eye lift

-32%

£1,191

Pectoral implants

-28%

n/a

Nasal tip surgery

-18%

£2,317

Abdominal etching

-17%

£5,313

Jaw contouring

-16%

£1,625

BBC To Commercialise World Service

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BBC_TV_CentreThe BBC have unveiled plans to commercialise the 80-year-old World Service, causing anger in some parts.  Coverage of politics will be downplayed. The BBC is to take over funding of the World Service from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It will transfer to licence-fee funding in April. One of the reforms may be advertising on the site, which staff believe that the changes are in part to attract advertisers, outside of the UK the BBC relies on commercials on it’s channels and websites. BBC Global News Ltd lost £800,000 last year, and £21million was lost in the UK operation according to accounts, most of the loss was offset by advertising and sponsorship money made overseas.

A spokesperson for the BBC told The Independent: “The BBC’s reputation for providing impartial and independent news will always take precedence over wider commercial goals. Our experience with World News, bbc.com and some limited World Service commercial activity shows that these forms of funding are generally accepted by audiences outside the UK, and that editorial standards and public service priorities can be maintained.”

 

However Shadow culture minister Helen Goodman said: “The proposed drift away from the core purpose of the World Service is precisely what people feared when this Government said that the Foreign Office would no longer finance it. It’s really important that the World Service stays on mission as a reliable, truthful broadcaster of important news to people in places where this is not otherwise available.”

 

What do you think? Is commercialisation a good or bad thing? Is this just a sign of the times?

 

How to Spot a Lying Used Car Seller

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Nose touching, mouth covering, fidgeting and throat clearing are all common signs of someone telling a lie and detecting these signals could save used car buyers from making a costly mistake.  Vehicle information expert HPI is urging consumers to be on their guard and pay attention to more than a vehicle’s body work, but a seller’s body language and facial expressions too.

HPI check. how to spot a lying used car salesperson

“Have you ever had that uneasy feeling that someone was lying to you but didn’t know why you felt that way? It could be because you’ve subconsciously noticed their lying signs,” explains Shane Teskey, Senior Consumer Services Manager at HPI.  “Trust your instincts.  Pay close attention to body language and facial expressions.  For example, look for nose touching and mouth covering. People touch their noses more frequently when they’re lying. They’re also more likely to cover their mouths.

 

“Of course, if you are buying online you can’t look the seller in the eye or take into consideration how they are behaving so investigate the seller’s history by reviewing the ratings from other buyers to ensure you’re dealing with someone who will deliver the car according to the terms you are offered.”

 

Another potential tell-tale sign of lying to look for is nodding, says HPI. When the head is nodding or shaking in contrast to what is being said, buyers should be on their guard.  “Make sure the seller isn’t giving you inconsistent signals,” continues Shane Teskey.  “Does your used car seller look shifty? Perhaps constantly fidgeting? Too much fidgeting, either with their own clothing, jewellery, hair or things around them, could indicate that they are feeling uneasy and may be lying to you about the car’s history.”

 

Buyers should try to observe the level of “mirroring” going on between themselves and the seller. When two people have a conversation, they naturally mirror the behaviour of each other, but unscrupulous sellers mirror significantly less when lying.  Finally, pay attention to the person’s throat. Excessive lubrication of the throat by swallowing, throat clearing or gulping may indicate someone is dealing with a dodgy seller.

 

Shane Teskey concludes, “We always urge buyers to take along someone else with them when going to view a car.  Having a second pair of eyes to check out the seller whilst you check out the bodywork will never go amiss.   And if you don’t know much about cars, try to take someone who does know a thing or two, or invest in the services of an independent vehicle inspection.  Most importantly, don’t let your heart rule your head and trust your instincts.  If the car looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

 

The best way to avoid being deceived by devious used car sellers is to get the official HPI Check online at www.hpicheck.com, via it’s App (now available from iTunes) or by phone – which will confirm if a vehicle has been stolen, written-off, or has outstanding finance against it.  The official HPI Check also includes a mileage check as standard, using its National Mileage Register (NMR), which holds more than 160 million mileage records, helping buyers avoid the risk of buying a clocked vehicle.  In addition, the HPI Check offers a Guarantee of up to £30,000 in the event of the information it provides being inaccurate or incomplete, offering added financial protection to used car buyers.  For the ultimate peace of mind, used  car buyers can invest in a 202 point vehicle inspection by a qualified engineer with the new HPI Inspection.

 

How to Spot a Lying Used Car Seller

 

1.    Look for nose touching and mouth covering

 

2.    Watch when the person nods. If the head is nodding or shaking in contrast to what is being said, this can be a tell-tale sign that they are lying.

 

3.    Beware of constant fidgeting.

 

4.    Observe the level of mirroring.

 

5.    Watch the person’s throat for excessive swallowing, throat clearing or gulping.

 

 

How To Choose Jewellery Colours For Your Skin Tone | Weddings

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buying the right jewellery for your skin toneEach person has their own individual and very unique colour palette and this consists of skin tone, hair colour, eye colour and even the time of year. But selecting that sought-after fabulous piece of jewellery can be overwhelming with such a vast range available. Whether you’re looking for a wedding gift, or want to rework a piece of jewellery you already have, here’s a guide to help:

 

Identify your skin tone using your wrist. Look at the inside of your wrist to see if your skin tone is cool or warm. Cool skin tones are identifiable by bluish coloured veins, their eye colour is most likely to be blue or brown.

 

Warm skin tones are identifiable by greenish coloured veins., hair colour having a red or auburn, strawberry tones.

 

How do you choose between gold and silver for your skin tone?

There is no steadfast rule on this; you really need to try both against your skin to test. What can make a difference is the finish on your jewellery – polished, satin, textured, oxidised (blackened silver).

 

A yellow gold ring with a polished finish might not suit you, but then the same ring with a satin finish might look amazing. So remember if you have a piece of jewellery already which you now are unsure of – it might just be the finish. Bentley & Co often change simple things like this for customers which can make a dramatic change for the better.

 

Can you wear a mix of colours together?

Yes you can definitely wear silver, and yellow gold jewellery together. If you are wearing pieces closely together then a satin finish to the gold can give it a wonderful look.

 

Can you add coloured stones and what colours suit people?

Skin tones are diverse and unique to each person; even family members who will have similar skin tones, might not suit the same stone colours. Here’s a rough guide to help:

 

Reds tend to suit autumn and winter tones more than spring and summer tones, but that doesn’t mean that the paler skin tones cannot wear red at all. It’s all down to the tone of red. Try testing a few shades of red against your skin to see if it’s right for you. You will know the moment you put it against your skin; a wrong shade will clash immediately and the right one will look like you were born to wear it.

 

Winter/deep tones

Winters should wear colours that are sharp, stark and clear. Deep blue sapphires, Ruby and Garnets in red and cerise pinks all go well with winter complexions. For lighter colours, wear icy tones rather than pastels e.g. White pearls, opals, diamonds, Emeralds, blue-green tourmalines and turquoise.

 

Summer/cool types look good in pale amethysts and pale blue topaz and should choose pastels and soft neutrals. Pale amethists, rose pink spinels, soft blue tourmalines, and Lemon beryl.

 

Warm tones suit golden undertones.

People with autumn or warm skin tones should select colours with golden undertones, Smokey quartz, amber, fire opal, warm yellow citrine.

 

Spring tones look best in wear warm orange-based colours like Scarlet red Ruby, garnet , fire opal, and coral. Lighter types should choose soft or pastel shades while clear types can wear more contrasting colours.

 

Collider Hits Cinemas This Friday

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Sci-Fi fans rejoice: Collider an Irish production from beActive Entertainment, that started as a Comic Book and multiplatform project, and will now be released as a Feature Film in Irish cinemas next Friday, January 10th.

collider movie

Collider was inspired by experiments performed at the CERN campus in Geneva, where scientists found the Higgs Boson and won the Nobel Prize in physics 2013. With the theme of “What would you do if you could go back in time?” COLLIDER’s action takes place in 2018. The planet has just collapsed and the human species will be wiped out due to a succession of natural disasters and the emergence a mutant race called the Unknown. In the movie, Peter, Alisha, Carlos, Fiona, Luke and Lucy must join forces to reactivate the Collider, to go back in time and prevent the apocalypse. This will not be an easy journey: in less than 24 hours, the time portal will close forever.

Directed by Irish helmer Jason Butler (Republic of Telly, The Rubberbandits) and produced by Nuno Bernardo (we have an exclusive interview with him here, done before production started), Triona Campbell and John McDonnell, COLLIDER features actors Iain Robertson (Basic Instinct 2, Plunkett & Macleane, The Contractor, Band of Brothers) and Lucy Cudden (Pulp, Judas Ghost Afterlife) in the lead roles. It was written by two-time EMMY nominee Nuno Bernardo (“Final Punishment” and “Beat Girl”).

Collider will be released in Ireland this January 10th, followed by a release in the UK, USA and Japan.

Matthew Jure | New Faces

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Today’s New Face is an actor and musician. Just starting out on his career, he only got an agent when he was 30. He has a solo album coming out called Solitary Blooms, two films; Night Bus and Standing Water [playing the lead in the latter], and a self-penned play, Order/Progress which is about football and politics in Brazil and will be staged in the summer. Phew.

He also played DS Stan Davies opposite Jim Broadbent in BBC crime film, The Great Train Robbery: A Copper’s Tale. All good stuff which is why we have made him one of our new faces, we predict good things. http://www.matthewjure.net/

matthewjure

New Mongrels | Music Profile

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Band: New Mongrels
Location: Los Angeles (me and 6 others); Atlanta;  Decatur, Alabama: Boston; Seattle; Vancouver, B.C.
Styles: Folk/Roots, Americana, Indie, Folk Rock, Acoustic
Similar to: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Lumineers, Decemberists, Blind Pilot, Dawes
CD: Raised Incorruptible
Release date: Jan 14, 2014

Accolades:
* NM are an artist collective spanning 7 cities.
* One of the members is Indigo Girls member Amy Ray
* Michelle Malone is a grammy-nominated touring artist
* Laura Hall was the house musician for the TV show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” * * Kubilay Uner is a film composer
* Haynes Brooke is an actor and playwright.

Members/Instruments:
Haynes Brooke: guitar, vocals, mandolin, piano, ukelele, percussion
Katie Green: vocals, violin
Kubilay Uner: bass, keyboards
Jeff Mosier: drums, vocals
Michael Lorant: vocals
Michelle Malone: vocals, guitar
Amy Ray: vocals
Laura Hall: vocals, accordion
Rick Hall: vocals
Lucy Brooke: vocals
Mike Moynihan: trumpet, vocals
Ken Palmer: drums, vocals, harmonica
Nicolas Green: guitar

Websites:
Official
Facebook
Soundcloud
Youtube

Bio:
Raised-Incorruptible_450x406The New Mongrels’ Raised Incorruptible is a new record from a 148-year-old band.

Those familiar with group will know the bizarre history of band member Haynes Brooke and his great-great grandfather Henry.

Deaf in one ear, shell-shocked, a 17-year-old veteran of  the civil war, Henry  founded the “Smythe County Mongrels Society” in 1861. He stated their purpose as “the joyful promotion, through song and rhythmic utterances, of a unified moral code for all creatures.” Apparently the group met to drink hard cider and sing the entire book of Psalms to their own improvised melodies. Dogs and instruments welcome. Great-great grandpa rocked.

Brooke found the charter of the “Mongrels,” as they were called, legally intact in the Smythe County courthouse and brought the group back to life as the New Mongrels.

Today this underground society of musicians, artists and writers still operates under an amended version of the original by-laws, which calls for, among other things, “membership by invitation without regard to species affiliation.” This makes for strange committee meetings but great music.

Raised Incorruptible began in a rented house on the Rogue River in Oregon, when some impromptu mongrel recording sessions yielded promising results. Back in LA, Brooke created a calamitous batch of low-fi demos working with drummer Ken Palmer, house percussionist for Tim Robbin’s Actors Gang Theater. These demos went out to mongrel members across North America for input and review in keeping with the group’s odd collectivist procedures. Field trips to New Hampshire and Canada brought back musical contributions, then Brooke’s garage became the main recording facility and as mongrels passed through LA they were added to the final project. The record was mixed by film composer and mongrel member Kubilay Uner.

Despite the sometimes cumbersome procedural demands of their organization, a dispersed and evolving group of Mongrels built a powerful and unified sound. An ear-catching,  mixed-breed blend of styles emerged, anchored always by the unique and lyrically rich songwriting of Brooke. Each cut has its own strong personality; together they have the combined intensity of a pack of wild dogs.

The New Mongrels: 131 years old and still rocking.

“Writing songs is a constant in my life,” says New Mongrel band leader and producer Haynes Brooke.

Why then the big gap between albums from his celebrated roots-folk outfit?

“The Mongrels are an unwieldy bunch to coordinate – and everyone has their own artistic pursuits,” says Brooke. “The time has to feel right for a record to emerge.”

“I’ve been busy myself with other projects. In recent years, a lot of my songs have actually ended up on the stage. I’ve written three full-length musicals for the underground theater scene here in LA, and I think the exercise of writing from the point of view of a range of characters has probably broadened my creative skills.”

Last year Brooke sat down to go through some of his songwriting archives.

“I realized a group of songs was emerging that felt like they needed a home. Then new songs started coming that felt like they belonged to the same family. Time to make a record, I thought.”

“I played some demos for another LA mongrel member, film composer Kubily Uner, and he not only liked them, he agreed to help produce and mix the record. We made a plan, double-checked that it was in accord with our weird mongrel by-laws, then hit ‘record’ and started playing. When other mongrels started joining in, coming down to LA from Seattle or on tour from Alabama, the thing started to take off,” says Brooke.

My main thought was, ‘Why did I wait so long?'”