Green Beret Gives Gwyneth Paltrow Some Stern Words After She Compares Mean Tweets To War

Gwyneth PaltrowGwyneth Paltrow got a lot of criticism for saying that reading mean tweets about herself was like ‘war’, but the best response comes from Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient Bryan Sikes on Clash Daily. Read on and tell us what you think.

This is what Paltrow said: “You come across (online comments) about yourself and about your friends, and it’s a very dehumanizing thing, It’s almost like how, in war, you go through this bloody, dehumanizing thing … My hope is, as we get out of it, we’ll reach the next level of conscience.”

To Miss Paltrow,

I’d first like to start out by saying how terrible I feel for you and all your friends that on a daily basis have to endure mean words written by people you don’t know. I can only imagine the difficulty of waking up in a 12,000 square foot Hollywood home and having your assistant retrieve your iPhone, only to see that the battery is low and someone on twitter (the social media concept that you and all of your friends contribute to on an hourly basis to feed your ego and narcissistic ways), has written a mean word or 2 about you. You’ve hit the nail on the head, war is exactly like that. You should receive a medal for the burden you have carried on your shoulders due to these meanies on social media.

You said, “Its almost like, how in war, you go through this bloody dehumanizing thing and then something is defined out of it.” I could see how you, and others like you in “the biz”, could be so insecure and mentally weak that you could pair the difficulty of your life on twitter to my brothers who have had their limbs ripped off and seen their friends shot, blown up, burned and disfigured, or wake up every morning in pain – while just starting the day is a challenge. How about our wives? The ones that sign on to be there for us through thick and thin, that help us to shake the hardships of war upon our return? And do all this while being mothers to our kids, keeping bills in order because we are always gone, and keeping our lives glued together. They do all this, by the way, without a team of accountants, nanny’s, personal assistants, and life coaches. Yeah, reading a mean tweet is just like all that.

You know what is really “dehumanizing”, Miss Paltrow? The fact that you’d even consider that your life as an “A-list” celebrity reading internet comments could even compare to war and what is endured on the battlefield. You and the other “A-listers” that think like you are laughable. You all have actually convinced yourselves that you in some way face difficulty on a regular basis. Let me be the first to burst your bubble: a long line at Starbucks, your driver being 3 minutes late, a scuff mark on your $1200 shoes and a mean tweet do not constitute difficulty in the eyes of a soldier.

Understand me when I say this: war does not define me. It is a chapter in my life that helped shaped me. Being a husband and father is what defines me. Remember, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never…be close to what war is.

 

Cindy McCain, wife of decorated war veteran, Senator John McCain also tweeted:

 

Charlize Theron Admits To Lying On Her CV

Actors are known for being a little bit economical when it comes to the truth on their CV. We can all ride horses and snowboard, oh, and speak French. It turns out that not even famous actors are immune. Even Charlize Theron has admitted she has told the odd lie on her CV.

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Charlize says she didn’t lie about being able to ride a horse (and I am proud to say I can too). Which is just as well as she had to ride in new comedy western A Million Ways To Die In The West.

You can hear Theron’s interview with the BBC’s Genevieve Hassan here.

Lily Allen Shares Her Love of Spanx

We all need a little bit of help sometimes and Lily Allen is no exception. Lily Allen shared her love for Spanx with the world by posting a video on Instagram of her dancing in her dressing room in a pair of Spanx. Later that evening she stunned the crowd in Brussels in a metallic cut out dress, proving that Spanx is the not-so-secret wardrobe essential for women.

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Lily is wearing the Trust Your Thinstincts High Waisted Mid-Thigh Shaper, available from spanx.co.uk for £74.

Beer Butt Chicken

This has to be the best and the only way to cook incredible delicious melt in the mouth chicken. Smothered in whatever your heart desires, be it BBQ with a fiery kick or a more delicate rosemary and lemon tang. Beer Butt chicken is a novel way of cooking a bird, but once you have done it you will wonder how you will ever cook chicken any other way in the future. Shoving the beer can up the chickens bottom is somewhat hilarious and a little unglamorous but who cares when it tastes like a Roman feast at the end!

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Beer Butt Chicken

All you need to do is grab a ton of ingredients and marinate the bird about 12 hours before cooking. We chose to use 4 large scoops of brown sugar, a good glug of soya sauce, an ample helping of BBQ sauce, a few chillies chopped up for a real kick and about a tablespoon of smoked paprika. Mix it all up and smother it all over the chicken. Make sure you cut the elastic holing the legs together. Place it in the fridge until you are ready to cook. Then when you are ready just pop it onto a can of dark beer or ale. Empty out about a 1/3 of the can or drink it before hand so their is space for it to let off steam! It takes a bit of patience and its a 2 person job if you get the giggles! Make sure its sturdy and but that beast in the oven and cook as usual.

P1140846Rustle up some balsamic potato wedges and a green salad and you are in for a delicious feast. 
The juices of the bird make a perfect rich gravy by just adding some flour to thicken over the hob, in the try the bird was cooked in, then thin out the mixture by adding a pint of water and simmer until you are happy with the thickness.

P1140856 P1140862 P1140863 P1140874 P1140884 P1140891 P1140892A nice weekend treat that will send your taste buds to heaven! P1140894 P1140896 The best way to serve this is with a ton of friends and gallons of wine. A truly fantastic memorable meal thats so simple to create, tons of fun and will leave your guests laughing for weeks on end! P1140907

 

Bounce Ping Pong And Cocktail Club | Restaurant Review

It is hard to create something unique and different in London, but it is fair to say that Bounce – Europe’s largest social ping pong and cocktail club based in Holborn, achieves this. In fact, it has everything you could need: cocktails, good food and ping pong.

The venue was designed by lauded interior designer Russell Sage and is visually stunning. It boasts an impressive 95 cover restaurant and cocktail bar and 17 bespoke designed ping-pong tables available for play – one being the Olympic final table. All of this can be enjoyed surrounded by London’s most impressive UV installation rolled out throughout the entire club.

bouncerestaurantreview bouncerestaurantreviewpingpong bouncerestaurantreviewprawns bouncerestaurantreviewfood bouncerestaurantreviewcocktail bouncerestaurantreviewcocktails1 bouncerestaurantreviewdrink bouncerestaurantreviewpingpongcocktailThe Frost team went down in force to review. Here is how we got on.

Paloma, Marcin, James and I arrive and head to the restaurant area. The menu has a great selection and it takes us a while to decide what we want. We order our starters and a cocktail each.

Paloma has the H Forman’s Scottish smoked salmon, roasted beetroots & horseradish cream which she says is earthy and smoked. The horseradish was a perfect accompaniment, didn’t have too much of a sting. Marcin has the Bruschetta 3 ways (Parma ham & pesto, Datterini tomatoes, peas, broad beans & pecorino): he says it is fresh and the pea complimented the mint well. James had the Gamberoni – baked king prawns, smoked garlic, chilli, Sicilian lemon butter, rocket & parsley: he says the prawns were huge and juicy and the sauce was amazing. For my starter I had Buffalo Mozzarella, Pixel tomatoes, Sorrento olives, toasted pine nuts, wild rocket & lemon infused olive oil. It was amazing. The ingredients are high quality and the combination really works well together.

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For mains Marcin had the Baked salmon, heritage beets, broad beans and horseradish cream which he said was excellent: tender on the inside and slightly crispy on the outside. Paloma had the Spiced Newlyn Bay crab macaroni cheese. She said it was slightly a let down and overshadowed by chilli. James had a Spicy pork & fennel, plum tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil & fresh chilli pizza which was excellent. James thought it was perfectly spicy. I had the Pan fried Label Anglaise free range chicken breast with smoked pancetta, roast squash, Italian beans in a rich tomato ragu: this dish was amazing. The best one I think. It was comfort food but even better. The sauce was amazing and the chicken was perfectly done.

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For my dessert I had the Rum & raisin panna cotta with winter berry compote. It was amazing, with real raisins in. A very unique and tasty dessert. Paloma had the Warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, which she said was possibly the best she had ever had. James had the Spiced plum & amaretto tart with Devonshire clotted cream which he says was superb. Marcin had an expresso which he said was good and we also had some really good English Breakfast tea. The service was also amazing. Everyone is really friendly.

We made a fair dent in the cocktail menu. We had The Tipping Point, which tasted fruity and dangerous. It was far too drinkable for something which had every alcohol under the sun in it including absinthe. Bounce only allow two per person, the clue is in the name but Marcin handled it well, a Hatton Garden Spritz which was delicious and summery, a Wiff Waff which was also amazing and different, The Pink One which was yummy, a Ladies Delight No 2, which, indeed, was a delight, a Ping Pong Show which was brilliant, a Daddy Mac, which says it is not for girls but we’ll show them, it was very tasty and strong. Lastly we had a Gin Lane Spritz which was superb. Phew! All of the cocktails were fruity and easy to drink.

Paloma and Marcin play ping pong.

Paloma and Marcin play ping pong.

After all of that alcohol came the ping pong. I was terrible which I won’t blame on the alcohol but just on my general ineptness. I did get a little better towards the end. Annoyingly the boys did very well. Although Paloma held the girl’s side up. The ping pong is lots of fun and comes in thirty-minute slots. Bounce is the home of Ping Pong and you definitely get an amazing vibe from the place. Paloma text me the day before I wrote this review saying Bounce was on Made in Chelsea, so it has reached the peak of trendiness and is showing no signs of letting up. The day before we were going to go, my fiance and I were at his best man and girlfriend’s house and they were also going to Bounce. It is thee place to be seen at the moment.

Bounce has amazing food, brilliant cocktails and excellent ping pong. I cannot praise it enough, we really had a wonderful time. A hen party even come to our ping pong table after we had finished, so Bounce is perfect for many different occasions. We will be going back, numerous times.

 

Bounce
121 Holborn
London
EC1N 2TD

020 3657 6525

BackBliss Lotion & Cream Applicator Review | Summer Picks

I am double-jointed and can reach every part of my back. This is a rare skill however and my doctor does tell me off for ‘overstretching’. So to stop annoying him, and for those without freakish joints, we thought we would review the Backbliss Lotion & Cream Applicator. A great beauty pick for summer.

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The BackBliss Lotion Applicator is a device to help you apply sun lotion, cream or after sun to that awkward middle part your back to keep your back protected in and out of the sun. When Caroline Wagstaff, 55 the product’s inventor from Windsor, Berkshire, appeared on the BBC2 show Dragons’ Den the Dragons thought BackBliss was ingenious!

‘Sun care has improved enormously over the years but it is still difficult to get all this good stuff in the right places’ says Caroline.

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Now anyone planning to enjoy the sun here in the UK or abroad can easily and regularly apply SPF to their backs to protect themselves from the suns harmful UV rays and get a safe and healthy suntan.

Applying stuff to your back is difficult even if you are on holiday with someone else. Your partner, friend or colleague is not always willing to cream your back, they are not always by your side, they often do it begrudgingly or simply not very well. Sometimes you just don’t want to ask them again!

Why BackBliss?

Compact and lightweight, easy to use – take it to the beach, salon, pool or gym

Fun, funky and functional! – Available in blue or charcoal (and pink, purple and clear!)

Hundreds of uses – self tan, sun and after sun creams, body lotions and butters, moisturising cream, medical treatments and ointments.

No wastage! Patented pad material doesn’t absorb lots of lotion – only use the amount you need.

Hygienic Replacement Pads – are washable and long lasting.

Ergonomically tested – BackBliss’s patented design perfectly moulds the contours of your back

RRP Single Pack £11.99, Double pack £19.99.

Some genuine customer reviews

Just what I needed for my holiday. I cannot believe I hadn’t thought to search for this product before. I was able to apply my sun tan lotion (and after sun) easily all holiday.

Gemma Cairns

I wish I had discovered BackBliss ages ago. I’ve had difficulty for a few years due to a stiff shoulder and I hated asking my grumpy husband to rub moisturiser on my back.

This device is a fantastic solution if, like me, you need to regularly apply prescription creams to your back. I shall also use it for sun lotion.

So what did we think?

It really works. It stops you straining or hurting a muscle or having someone you don’t like rub cream into your back. It is also good if you have an itch. It comes with a suction hook which you can attach to the shower and the packaging is handy for traveling. It also comes with a spare pad. This is a very good invention and ideal for people with bad backs too. A highly recommended summer pick. Good stuff.

 

 

Fushi Virgin Marula Oil Review

I fell in love with facial oils last year after being sent some to review. I never thought I would like putting oil on my face; it would be too slick and greasy. But it actually makes a huge difference and is lighter than some moisturisers. Another benefit is that you tend to massage it in rather than just put it on, which also makes a huge difference to skin.

 

Fushi Virgin Marula Oil

Facial oils tend to be natural too, and Fushi Virgin Marula Oil is so natural that you can actually eat it. Perfect for sensitive skin and for those who are sick of putting chemicals on their face.

 

Fushi have a large African oil range, all of which are perfect for protecting and reviving skin and hair from the damages caused by the summer sun and the environment.

 

Fushi Virgin Marula Oil Review

With a higher antioxidant level than Argan oil, Marula Oil works in two ways to help fight the ageing process; protecting the skin against damaging free radicals and also visibly reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

 

Marula oil is often known in Africa as a “miracle oil,” Marula Oil has been revered among African women for hundreds of years for its powerful moisturising and anti-aging benefits. This prized oil is extracted from the fruit kernels of the Marula tree from Kenya. Marula oil deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin and is quite unique due to its super rich content of fatty acids, vitamins C and E. Marula oil is thought to have a richer content of antioxidants than even Argan oil. It is ideal to use to protect the skin from aging, for fine lines and crows feet. A light non greasy oil, Marula oil is absorbed easily and is the perfect anti aging night oil for the face and neck area. It is most effective at protecting the skin from those damaging free radicals that accelerate aging.

 

It says it is perfect for mature skin types but I am in my twenties and I still love it. I don’t have any wrinkles yet but I have noticed some enlarged pores and a few fine lines forming. After using the marula oil I have noticed a significant difference. Even my fiance remarks that I am ‘glowing’. It is also great for dry skin as it really hydrates.

 

The smell isn’t great but it is bearable and doesn’t linger for too long and a little of the oil goes a long way. I don’t use this during the day as it leaves the face shiny and I am just not sure it would work but it is my current night oil of choice. I love it and it is organic, cold-pressed and fairtrade. Sigh, I’m in love.

 

You can buy it from the Fushi site.

 

 

High Costs Putting People Off Higher Education Courses

An educational charity have outlined that the high cost of further education has prevented almost half of UK adults gaining advance qualifications. This comes as figures show that the average graduate debt is now £53,000 after tuition fees rose in September 2012.

The NCFE (Northern Council for Further Education) surveyed 2,000 adults across the UK and found that being too old (36%) and family commitments (24%) were also factor when deciding to undertake a further education course.

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Despite there being a demand for degrees over the past 20 years, with a 140% increase in the number of people studying medicine, and 162% increase in degrees in mass communications and media studies between 2000 and 2012, there is currently a lack of graduates in technical disciplines which has led to a significant skills gap.

With an average of 250 people applying for each corporate job, and with 20% of graduates unemployed in their first 6 months after completing their University course, there is an increasing demand for vocational courses.

In the past couple of years, the Government has put more money into apprenticeships than ever before, and with the demand for vocational courses predicted to peak in 2050, there is an ever increasing demand for more practical and vocationally led courses.