The iPad 2 {Technology Review/Preview}

Despite his illness troubles Apple fans were relieved to see Steve Jobs take to the stage to introduce the new iPad, the iPad2. The product is an improved version rather than a radical new design but in any case consumers are set to benefit as the iPad2 starts at the same price as its predecessor $499 for the base 16GB model with new improved features.

• Tapered design and 33% thinner
• Faster chip (dual-core A5 CPU, claimed to be twice as fast as its predecessor)
• Dual Web Cams (Rear facing 720p HD resolution)
• Integrated gyroscope for games
• 3G Units available
• The same 10 hour battery life as its predecessor
• Available in black and white
• App store with 350,000 Apps

As the tablet market continues to expand the iPad2 is set to help Apple stay one step ahead of its rivals for the time being.

Prices $499-$829

The iPad2 is released on March 11 in the US and internationally on March 25

How to Be the Perfect Boyfriend and Make Your Woman Happy.

There is a myth in society that women are incredibly complicated and you can’t make them happy. Well that’s a load of rubbish, women are actually simple and, yes, you can make her happy! Here are a few tips below which will hopefully make you a better boyfriend and make your girlfriend happier.

Be independent, have your own goals and purpose and never depend upon her

This is vitally important; a woman will never love a man whom depends on her. A woman wants to feel the strength of her man and his ability to confront any situation. If a man is constantly depending on his woman for support, whatever that may be financial, emotional, physical etc; he appears weak. In other words he is not really a man.

When you depend upon your girlfriend. Your girlfriend will think she is acting like your mother. Nothing could be less attractive to her. Always remember, your girlfriend is not your mother.

This poor guy never stood a chance: Guy calls out a girl who rejected him for years on Facebook

Don’t moan or complain

Women hate it when their men constantly moan and whine. Well it’s not just women, everybody hates it. We all know whining or moaning is unattractive and yet many of us continue to do it regularly because it makes us feel better.

When you moan or complain your basically saying life is unfair. Whether it is or isn’t doesn‘t matter. By moaning or whining you’re not taking responsibility for your own actions. You’re feeling sorry for yourself. It’s not just unhealthy for your relationship, it’s unhealthy for yourself. Successful people don’t complain, they don’t feel sorry for themselves they get on with things. They create solutions and work around tricky situations.

Your girlfriend is not someone to unload all your grievances onto. Remember, your girlfriend is not there not support you, you are there to support her. When we moan and say how everything is so unfair we are showing ourselves as weak. We are using our women as a crutch and this goes back to our first fundamental principle. Never depend on your women.

Why would your girlfriend want to be with a moaner? This is clearly a man who can’t cope with the world, who will never be successful and who most importantly won’t be able to support her and can’t be relied upon.

She will test you

A good girlfriend will test her man. Women may often pick at things which may seem trivial. Men often don’t seem to understand this and some men get bothered and annoyed by it. Why do women test their partners, because they want to be certain about their man? Is he trustworthy, does he have integrity is he strong and can he cope? The strong man relishes such challenges and is more than happy to be tested. What sort of things will she do? A test might take many different forms, perhaps you contradicted yourself (integrity test), A weak man may think her picking as unnecessary and trivial but the strong man recognises his integrity has been questioned and will then seek to allay his girlfriend’s fears. Other tests might be physical or mental strength tests etc.

Use body language, don’t try and have an argument with her

This is a classic problem which most men fall into at some point. Weaker men may joke about how it’s impossible to have a rational argument with a woman. But men often fail to see things from the women perspective. For a start she usually doesn’t give a damn what your arguing over and this isn’t to say she can’t have a rational argument when she wants to. As an example maybe you were supposed to do something with her but you didn’t. What’s she’s really upset about is usually that you’ve shown you lack integrity and can’t be trusted, not that you didn’t do thing were you were going to.
Maybe you had a great reason for not doing that thing with her. But here’s the thing NOBODY CARES, least of all her. Never try and talk or argue her round. Instead use your body and body language to communicate with her. Reassure her of who you truly are.

In The Realm of the Census – The Changing Face of Britain

Any day now, postmen and women throughout the country will stumble, grumbling, to every residence in the UK delivering Census forms.

March 27 is Census Day. And every household will be legally obliged to complete it. Those who fail to do so, could, in theory, face prosecution, a fine up to £1000 and a criminal record.

For some, the ten-yearly pry into the affairs smacks of 1984 (what a shame that wasn’t a Census year) – and Big Brother.

The Government’s official line is that the Census is needed to ‘help government and local authorities plan the services and resources people need, such as transport, housing, healthcare and education’, although you can bet your last penny that there will be rabid frothing in a number of publications about immigration and Jedi Knights after the results are finally published.

The truth, at least according to the 2001 Census is more prosaic. Of course things have changed in 10 years, but the key facts of 2001 showed the population of 58.8m was lower than expected, a growth of just 17% compared to the European average of 23%. In contrast, Australia showed a change of 133%.

And while two areas of London, Newham and Brent, became the first in the UK to have a non-white majority, 87% of the population of England and 96% of the population of Wales gave their ethnic origin as White British. Only 9% of people in the UK said they were non-white.

As expected, London had the highest proportion of people from minority ethnic groups. Black Caribbeans accounted for more than 10% of the population of the London boroughs of Lewisham, Lambeth, Brent and Hackney. With the same figure for Black Africans in Southwark, Newham, and again, Lambeth and Hackney.

Yet countrywide, after white British and Irish, the largest ethnic population was Indian, accounting for a mere 2% of the population.

In the whole of England and Wales, just a little over 1% of people are Black Caribbean, while less than 1% were Black African.

Moreover, despite a media backlash over the Muslim community, Christianity is by far the main religion in Great Britain. There were 41m Christians in 2001, making up 72% of the population. In contrast, a touch under 3%  were Muslim – a total of 1.5m people. While that means that Muslims are now the second largest religion in the UK, people with no religion formed the second largest group, 15% of the population.

Under ‘Other Religions’, the largest of these were Spiritualists (32,000) and Pagans (31,000).  One cannot help but think TV programmes like Charmed and Buffy the Vampire Slayer led to a large surge in the 7,000 Wicca, eclipsing the 5,000 Rastafarians.

An internet campaign to have Jedi Knight recognised as a new religion failed to resonate with the Government, who lumped them with the ‘No Religion’ crowd. Nevertheless, 390,000 called themselves Jedis.

Whether the Jedis actually met women and fathered children remains a question for this latest census, but the questionnaire continues to provide a fascinating snapshot.

The Census was introduced in 1801, when the UK recorded a population of just 10.9m.

Unfortunately, not even Frost has the space to document every change since, but hare are some key facts of our lifetime.

1911 – Population 36.1m

The average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime – The Total Fertility Rate – was 2.8, higher than it is today. Infectious diseases were the main cause of death.

Sadly, 110 out of every 1,000 babies died before reaching their first birthday – almost one in four.

A child born in 1911 had a short life-expectancy – 51 for a boy, 55 for a girl.

1921 – Population 37.9m

The 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic caused 152,000 excess deaths in England and Wales between June 1918 and May 1919. Most of these were infants, children, and adults under 40.

The Great War drastically reduced the male population aged between ages 20 and 40 with a total of 723,000 British servicemen losing their lives between 1914 and 1918.

1931 – Population 40m

With the loss of so many marriageable men, many women were single and childless. The Total Fertility Rate fell to just to 1.8 children per household.

However, improved public health and changing childcare practices lowered infant death rates, to 62 per 1,000 babies born.

Life expectancy was now 59 years for boys and 63 years for girls.

1951 – Population 43.8m

There was no census in 1941 because of World War II, so the 1951 Census highlighted 20 years of change.

The post-World War II baby boom led to a sharp increase in the number of children aged between two and four – 5.4% of the population.

Meanwhile, the impact of the National Health Service, introduced in 1948 boosted survival rates among all age groups.

Infant death rates fell to only 27 per 1,000. A boy born in 1951 was expected to live to 66 years and a girl to 71.

1961 – Population 46.1m

Most deaths were now caused by degenerative conditions such as heart disease, cancer and stroke, rather than infectious diseases.

An NHS programme of vaccinations again boosted survival rates with that of men aged between 45 and 64 catching up with women.

The late 1950’s/early 1960’s baby boom showed the Total Fertility Rate had gone back up to 2.8 children, matching the 1911 figure.

Infant death rates continued to fall – to 21 per 1,000 born. A boy born in 1961 had a life expectancy of 68 years, a girl 74.

1971 Population 48.7m

While the 1960’s baby boom boosted numbers in the younger age groups, the 1970s showed a falling birth rate, with a Total Fertility Rate of 2.1, due in part to the availability of the contraceptive pill for married women.

More people lived longer and fewer babies were dying, with just 17 out of every 1,000 lost before their first birthday.

A boy born in 1971 could expect to live to 69 years, a girl to 75.

1981 – Population 48.5m

In 1974, the National Health Service made free contraception available to all women, which contributed to a period of very low childbearing in the late 1970s. The total population actually fell by about 200,000.

Infant deaths also fell to just 10 per 1,000 and survival rates among older people improved too. There were now noticeably more people aged 65 and over.

Life expectancy at birth reached 71 and 77 years for boys and girls respectively.

1991 – Population 49.9m

Births once again gradually increased throughout the 1980s. This was due to a combination of the 1960’s baby boomers having children and anxiety over the safety of the contraceptive pill – in particular, the link to breast cancer in 1987.

Life expectancy at birth was now 73 years for boys and 79 years for girls.

2001 – Population 52m

The 1990s again showed slow down in the birth rate, to just 1.6 children per household. The infant mortality rate also continued to fall, with just six babies dying before their first birthday for every 1,000 born – a massive sea change from the 110 per 1,000 in 1911.

2011 – ?

Census 2011 is likely to be an eye-opener. The population of the UK is estimated to be a touch under 62m. And there will undoubtedly be big changes in the diversity of the UK in all areas.

It remains to be seen whether the plethora of Harry Potter books and films, Twilight and True Blood lead to a UK  full of wizards, witches, vampires, werewolves or Lonely Ones.

Watch this space.

The Frost Girls with Bethanie Lunn – How to Walk in High Heels!

Friday February 18th 2011 – the first day of Fashion week. A flurry of high fashionistas making their way to the central point of all things chic – the quintessential week commencing all factor fabulous a La Mode.

 

The ladies of Frost Magazine were fortunate enough to be invited to a presentation hosted by none other than Beauty and Fashion pioneer Bethanie Lunn, on her talk ‘How to Walk in High Heels.’ Held at the exquisite May Fair Hotel Suites, we were greeted courteously by an array of cup cakes and bellinis – plus endless champagne for a gathering of high fashion women.

Bethanie presented her deep narration on high heel technique in a friendly, professional manner – highlighting the points us ladies all wanted to know. How to maintain posture, the do’s and don’ts of street chic walking and the imminent importance of looking after our precious feet. Lunn’s beautiful outfit was complemented by a delicious pair of daring pink shoes – in true illustration of her love for the femme fatale look – simply divine!
Sipping on our delectably fine glasses of champagne, we sat ourselves down in what can only be described as a ‘dream’ suite – presented with a narrative of Lunn’s acute vision and knowledge of good footwear, which in turn focussed on more paired up physical activities.
Lunn is simply a lady of 21st Century modernism, encompassing all the essential elements of style. Her profound knowledge and individual approach to the Beauty and Fashion industry is a true inspiration for a catalogue of fashion daring women. Establishing herself as a Fashion Editor and Stylist by the mere age of 22 is an accomplishment to marvel at. Her carefree manner, together with a strong vision for all facets of fashion, makes her presence all the more interesting and educational.
Through the course of the presentation, Lunn taught us the some tricks of the feline posture trade – breathing techniques, how to prevent slipping on untoward surfaces (which involves scratching the surface of the sole) and the ‘heel to toe’ step – enabling less distress to the front part of our feet. It wasn’t long before all us high heel wearing ladies took to the Bethanie Lunn Catwalk, to show what we had learned.
For someone who has walked in high heels since I was 16 (the height disadvantage made me do it!), Lunn’s talk really enlightened me and my fellow Frost girls on how important it is to look after our feet. In the hustle of everyday city life, we often choose to brave the pain of our delicate toes, without thinking of the consequence.
As fashion wary as we are, it’s imperative to maintain a friendly balance. Lunn masters and teaches the techniques to combining the necessary care along with an even level of manageability. By the end of her session, the once wobbly-heeled Frost girls were ready to purchase the highest pair of heels Louboutin had to offer!

Onken Vanilla with Chocolate Flakes Yoghurt Reviewed {Food}

What I’m snacking on today… Onken’s Vanilla yogurt with chocolate flakes. So January’s over and new year’s resolutions to get fit have been dropped for another 11 months. It doesn’t mean we can’t mix a little healthy food in with our naughty treats does it? That’s what I’m aiming to do.

Onken has launched its latest flavour – Limited Edition Creamy Vanilla with Chocolate Flakes. It’s only on sale for a short period of time and hopes to be an alternative to the big-pot-of-fruit-yoghurt market.

So dessert style yoghurts are nothing new, with cheesecakes and fudge dessert style yoghurts floating around, so vanilla with chocolate flakes doesn’t seem all that adventurous. However, this product has something the others don’t…it comes in an enormous pot.

Apart from eating it on its own, you can pour it over fruit or mix it with muesli or granola. I would be tempted to eat it with chocolate fudge cake. Yep, diet definitely over.

The Onken Limited Edition Creamy Vanilla with Chocolate Flakes yogurt comes in a 450g big pot and is available from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose & Morrison’s in the UK, RSP £1.25.

Male Cancers – A Whole New Ball Game

A triumphant, red-shirted Bobby Moore, proudly hoisting the World Cup while chaired by his victorious teammates, is English football’s most iconic image.

But the famous 1966 tableau represented more than just a sporting milestone for Moore. Just two years earlier, the West Ham United talisman had been treated for, and beaten, testicular cancer.

Regrettably, it proved only a respite for England’s favourite footballer, who tragically finally succumbed to bowel cancer in 1993 at the age of just 51.

The figures can be frightening. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in England, counting for one in four of all male cancers, while bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK, resulting in the deaths of around 16,000 people every year.

And yet, NHS research shows that while incidents of bowel and prostate cancer increase with age, awareness is relatively low.

Considering that early diagnosis increases the chances of beating the disease, the fact that men are less likely to visit their doctor than women adds to the risk.

Understandable embarrassment is one factor, allied to the fact that bowel cancer symptoms can be non-specific. According to Cancer Research UK, the presenting features of colon cancer can be weight loss and anaemia due to blood loss.

Rectal and distal colon cancers, on the other hand, usually present themselves as bleeding and/or altered bowel habits. Symptoms can also overlap with less serious, and more common conditions, such as bowel obstruction.

The causes of bowel cancer can vary. A high intake of red and processed meat will increase the chances of developing the disease, while a diet rich in fibre will reduce it.

An inactive lifestyle also increases the risk, with at least 10% of colon cancers in the UK related to overweight or obesity. Research has also shown that people drinking more than 30g/day of alcohol (around four units) have a greater chance of contracting the disease.

But just taking a small dose of aspirin (75 mg/day) can reduce the risk of dying from colon cancer by a massive 39%.

For prostate cancer, the strongest risk factor is age, with a very low risk in men under the age of 50, which then increases. And the disease can often be common among families. Men with immediate relatives – such as a father, son or brother – diagnosed with prostate cancer have an increased risk of being diagnosed themselves, especially if the relative was diagnosed before the age of 60.

West African men and black men from the Caribbean have a higher risk of prostate cancer than white men, while men born in Asia have a lower risk than men born in the UK.

The symptoms can be similar to prostate enlargement, namely frequency and difficulty in urinating, and occasionally blood in the urine. If untreated, bladder obstruction can occur, while men with more advanced disease may experience pain where the cancer has spread, especially in the back.

Meanwhile, testicular cancer in the UK is rising, particularly in Caucasian men and has doubled since the mid-70s.

Whether this is because widespread campaigns to encourage self-examination aren’t working, or contrarily, because many more cases are being treated as a result, isn’t certain. However, the facts are that around 2,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with testicular cancer every year and while it is rare before puberty, it is the most common cancer of men aged 15-44.

Despite this, if there is any good news story in cancer, testicular cancer is the one. Since the introduction of combination chemotherapy in the 1970s, survival rates for testicular cancer have risen every year. The cure rate is now over 95%.

As stated before, with any cancer, the earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chances of survival.

It’s a standing joke among men that we fondle our testicles every day – albeit not for a medical diagnosis. But with the most common symptom being a painless lump or swelling on one of the testicles, men – and their partners – need to take careful notice.

Other warning signals include testicle enlargement, an increase in testicular firmness, pain, an unusual difference between one testicle and the other, an ache in the lower stomach or groin and heaviness in the scrotum.

In advanced disease, symptoms can include chest tenderness, back pain, shortness of breath and coughing up blood.

In short, guys and girls – don’t be shy. And don’t be scared. I know from bitter experience that when you read a set of symptoms in a medical book, or in an article like this, it can feel like you have them all – and your world falls apart.

Remember, these symptoms can all be a result of something completely different, minor and sometimes, maybe, almost laughable, but your GP won’t care if it turns out to be nothing.

I had a cancer scare at the age of just 22. In the end, it was something relatively minor, but here’s the thing. It may not have been.

So. Simply. If you have any doubts at all, visit your GP. And now, I know it’s a cliché, and it’s one I’ve used before, but it’s valid. So here you go: “If one person gets checked out and something is flagged up, and if this piece affects even one person, I class that as job done.”

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/bobbymoorefund

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

EDUN NEW YORK FASHION WEEK – LET ME TELL YOU A STORY …..

HUGH JACKMAN, HELENA CHRISTENSEN, MICHAEL STIPE AND ALI HEWSON  ATTEND EXCLUSIVE FASHION SHOW IN NEW YORK

Edun presents the FW11 Women’s Collection “Storytellers and Liars,” the second collection for Edun under the creative direction of Sharon Wauchob. The theme “Storytellers and Liars” explores storytelling as it changes over time in various cultures. When a story is passed down through generations it becomes a reflection of the teller and develops a new meaning that can be seen as real or fantasy.

Who is the storyteller and who is the liar?, the clothes ask light-heartedly. When does a story become a lie? The pieces translate this notion through prints and the juxtaposition of fabrics with carefully selected iconic references repurposed to create a feeling that is completely fresh and new.

The palette includes pops of saturated blues and golds alongside neutral tones of camel, saddle, and licorice transformed into authentic, effortless prints.

Fluid and rigid fabrics are combined together, from layered, airy silks to textured boiled wools and chunky knits. Silhouettes, such as long, easy skirts that hit just below the knee and cropped knits and jackets are staples of the collection. Standout pieces include cascading dresses printed in saturated colors and reconstructed Fair Isle patterns in rich earth tones.

The collection also carries Edun’s personalized, signature handcrafted detailing, specifically knotting and embroidery. Iconic Macintoshes, parkas, and bomber jackets top off the collection paired with easy frill skirts and shirtdresses that are reworked with mixed fabrics and prints in silk and organic poplin cotton.

Launched in 2005 by Ali Hewson and Bono, Edun is a not-for-profit fashion company founded on the premise of trade for aid as a means to alleviate poverty through sustainable employment and growth. Its aim is to encourage trade in Africa and raise awareness of the possibilities there.

The Most Powerful People on Twitter

I Love Twitter – I’m at @Balavage- so I was excited when i launched the inaugural i Twitter 100

The List reveals the most influential people in Britain on Twitter

Sarah Brown tops list ahead of Stephen Fry


i
, the first new national newspaper for 25 years, has today launched the inaugural
i Twitter 100 – a list of the most powerful Britons on Twitter. The list, to be published in the paper today (Tuesday 15th February), is the first time ever that the most influential, rather than most followed, people have been ranked.

The top ten includes commentators from the worlds of comedy, philanthropy, music, fashion and broadcasting with Sarah Brown topping the list. Surprise entries in the top ten are Umair Haque (5), a corporate strategist and blogger, and Zee M Kane (8=) who is editor-in-chief at The Next Web.

The i Twitter 100 top ten is below

1.Sarah Brown
2.Richard Bacon
3. Eddie Izzard
4. Stephen Fry
5. Umair Haque
6. Russell Brand
7. Tinchy Stryder
8= Hilary Alexander
8= Zee M Kane
10. Fearne Cotton

i, the UK’s most innovative paper, worked with the PeerIndex to compile the list using methodology that worked out who holds the most influence and power, not just who has the most followers. The workings are based on the number of re-tweets each person generates and the language associated with them.

Commenting on the results, Independent and i Editor-in-Chief Simon Kelner said;
“Five years ago, Twitter was regarded as a passing fad. Today it is a phenomenon, influencing world events and news stories in every sphere of life. This inaugural list recognises the power of Twitter and those with the most influence.’

Highlights from the list include:

· Sarah Brown, White Ribbon Alliance, (1) knocks Stephen Fry (4) off his perch.

· Richard Bacon is highest DJ (2). Radio 1’s Fearne Cotton (10) beats Chris Moyles (70=).

· Sir Alan Sugar (14=) beats arch rival Piers Morgan (61=).

· Jonathan Ross (27=) beats Piers Morgan (61=) in the battle of the presenters.

· Boris Johnson (36=) is highest politician on the list, followed by ex MP Dr Evan Harris (66=), Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, (68) and John Prescott (93). Sally Bercow, wife of the Speaker of the House is included (91).

· Katie Price, model and business woman features in the list (88=).

· Tinchy Stryder (7) is the highest music entry, beating Lily Allen (36=) and Mark Ronson (97).

· Businessmen include Duncan Bannatyne (12=), Sir Alan Sugar (14=), Theo Paphitis (54=) and Peter Jones (77=).

· Surprise entries in the top ten are Umair Haque (5), a corporate strategist and blogger, and Zee M Kane (8=) who is editor-in-chief at The Next Web.

Breakdown of results by sector

Media

· Digital writers feature highly, with the Guardian’s Jemima Kiss (14=), Bad Science writer Ben Goldacre (18=) and The FT’s Tim Bradshaw (48=) all making the list.

· Broadsheet journalists were well represented with The Telegraph’s fashion guru Hilary Alexander (8=), The Independent’s Johann Hari (20=), The Guardian’s Alan Rusbridger (22=), The Sunday Times columnist India Knight (42=) and Caitlin Moran (96) making the top 100.

· Alastair Campbell, the now author and diarist, is the only PR entry (66=).

Broadcasters

  • C4’s Krishnan Guru-Murphy (24=) comes out top of the TV list, followed by Jonathan Ross (27=).


  • Jonathan Ross (27=) beats Piers Morgan (61=) followed by Jon Snow (70=).


  • BBC correspondents include Robert Peston (31=) and political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg (80=).


  • Richard Bacon is highest DJ (2), followed by; Radio 1’s Fearne Cotton (10), Annie Mac (87) and Chris Moyles (70=).

Comedians

  • Eddie Izzard (3) comes top, followed by Russell Brand (6), Jimmy Carr (31=) and Simon Pegg (36=). Josie Long is the only female comedian (54=).


Music

  • Tinchy Stryder (7) is the highest music entry, followed by instrumentalist Imogen Heap (14=), Lily Allen (36=), Marina Diamandis, Marina & The Diamonds, (61=) and Mark Ronson (97).


Fashion

  • Highest fashion entries are for Telegraph’s Hilary Alexander (8=), fashion bloggers Liberty London Girl (34) and Style Bubble’s Susie Lau (36=).


Politics

  • The politicians to make it are Boris Johnson (36=) and John Prescott (93=). Sally Bercow, wife of the Speaker of the House, is also in (93=). Guido Fawkes (27=), political blogger, makes the top 100.


Internet

  • Digital and corporate strategists include Umair Haque (5), Zee M Kane (8=) and entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox (77=).


  • David Rowan, editor of Wired (70=), and Mike Butcher (14=), editor of TechCrunch, both make it into the top 100.


  • Bloggers include financial journalist Felix Salmon (12=) and Don Tapscott (18=).


Business

  • Three out of five Dragons are included, Duncan Bannatyne (12=), Theo Paphitis (54=) and Peter Jones (77=).


Academics

  • Richard Dawkins (22=), British ethologist and evolutionary biologist, and Tim Harford (20=), The Undercover Economist / Financial Times, are both on the list.


Sports

  • Sportsmen include golfer Ian Poulter (51=), cricketer Michael Vaughan (91), footballer Rio Ferdinand (95) and cricketer Kevin Pietersen (100).