Four Paws Seeks Face for Laboratory Animal Campaign

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CALLING ALL BEAGLES… FOUR PAWS SEEKS FACE FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL CAMPAIGN!

All animals are wonderful and worthy of celebration, and all animals deserve a life free from pain, fear and suffering, which is why FOUR PAWS continues to campaign on behalf of laboratory (and other abused) animals.

Beagles are no exception…not only are they beautiful (inside and out), they are also the most widely used-and-abused breed of laboratory dog, partly because of their size and short hair (this facilitates vein accessibility) but partly because of their gentle and affectionate nature and great intelligence. Sadly they are also easy and relatively inexpensive to obtain from breeders.

Thousands of beagles are used worldwide in horrific experiments to test drugs and chemicals ranging from green tea to glue; tests involve repeated force-feeding or inhalation for days, months and sometimes years to induce toxic effects such as vomiting, convulsions, seizures, organ failure, paralysis and death. These beautiful dogs have also been exploited for decades in alcohol and tobacco research around the world.

Beagles (and other dogs) neither develop diseases nor respond to drugs in the same way as humans. To overcome key species differences, the disease must therefore be artificially induced, either surgically or chemically, in an attempt to provide a ‘model’ for humans. The dogs suffer not only from the disease itself, but also from the trauma of surgery or the toxic effects of other methods.

FOUR PAWS needs your help to capture the essence of what is so unique and wonderful about the beleaguered beagle. We are looking for a very special image that will be used to spearhead our laboratory animal campaign – it will be reproduced on our website and leaflets and used as part of our international campaigning work, so your beagle will become a star!

Please send us good-quality photos (preferably as an email attachment) of your beloved beagles with a note stating their name, sex, age and a little information about both their background (maybe your beagle companion has been rehomed from a laboratory?) and interests, and of course why you love him/her so much! Please don’t forget to include a brief note giving FOUR PAWS permission to reproduce the image.

Deadline for entries is 1st March, 2012, so start snapping! We can’t wait to hear from you and see photographs of your beagle best friends!

Email: marie-claire.macintosh@four-paws.org.uk
Postal address: c/o Marie-Claire Macintosh, FOUR PAWS, 32-36 Loman street,
London. SE1 0EH.

PAUL COSTELLOE MENSWEAR Spring/Summer 2012

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Paul Costelloe was once again proud to open London Fashion Week with his Spring/Summer 2012. This season Paul Costelloe Man embraces the summer season with an eclectic combination of influences.

The SS12 season sees structured tailoring softened with romantic treatment. In using
rich fabrics and subtle tailoring, the influences of Edwardian conservatism is expertly
mixed with New Romantic frivolity and a slight hark to the seventies.

Linen is key for the collection hinting at the romanticism of the garments, in its tactile
nature and drape. Used in black and white, in cross hatched mélanges, in Changeant
jewel like tones and in three dimensional knitted constructions, linen cloth
compliments the Edwardian structure in the tailoring and introduces the lightness of
summer and a subtler silhouette.

Throughout this season’s Paul Costelloe Man collection, the tailoring is perfectly constructed yet never rigid and is complemented with soft ruffled, pleated, voluminous gauze and linen shirts. Silhouettes embody these sentiments, with trousers in slim and clean lines, or in large, full and soft shapes.

Colours for Paul Costelloe Man SS12 continue the contrasting themes, running through soft neutrals and deepest indigo to crayon brights, with highlights and lowlights in black and white.

Prose AW12

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Most of you will be familiar with the label Prose through the collection they sold at Topshop’s flagship store in 2009. Since then, they’ve gone on to showcase their collections in Amsterdam, Paris and now London. Prose’s AW12 collection definitely fits into the mould of most of the collections we’ve seen this season. The palettes are autumnal with browns, navy blue  being heavily featured with the token splash of Mustard thrown in. The pieces themselves are sophisticated and look comfortable. Matching trouser suits and tailored coats with velvet gathered trousers, woolen jumpers and denim jackets are also incorporated. There are some unusual and organic materials incorporated into the collection providing contrast but also innovation in the way that they are threaded into the more recognisable materials. Compared to the other collections I have seen this week, this is one of those I would have no qualms about wearing as the clothes look comfortable but still have that edge which makes them look unique.

 

Keshini x

  

On A Diet? Pancakes The Dukan Way.

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Pancake Power

On a diet? There’s no need to miss out this Shrove Tuesday or lose your resolve. Try Dr. Dukan’s Guilt-Free Galette!

If you’re watching your waistline this Pancake Day there’s no need to miss out. Dr Dukan –the man behind the plan– has created a revolutionary pancake recipe that’s fuss-free, fat-free and fast. Say hello to the Oat Bran Galette: it’s the modern day pancake that’s actually good for you!

Savoury or sweet, the Dukan Galette is a treat and a savvy solution to Shrove Tuesday. Dr. Dukan has developed a healthy pancake that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner… and not just on Pancake Day. Now that’s flipping marvellous!

Celebrate this year, with Dr Dukan’s “eat as much as you want” policy and an extensive list of over 100 approved foods to choose from. It’s the perfect way to shift those unwanted pounds without going hungry.

Oat Bran Galette Recipe
‘The Classic’
Serves 1
Ingredients
1.5 / 2 tbsp oat bran
1 egg white
1 tbsp quark
1 tbsp fromage frais

Top Tip! If you want a savoury Galette, try adding 175g of flaked tuna or smoked salmon to the beaten egg whites. For a sweet Galette, why not try adding almond extract or orange flower water. A simple store-cupboard solution!

For more information on the diet or to create your free personal weight-loss plan please visit www.dukandiet.co.uk

The Perfect Pancake Toss.

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WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN

Ocado discovers the formula behind the perfect pancake toss

ONLINE SUPERMARKET Ocado has cracked more than eggs ahead of Shrove Tuesday. Teaming up with one of the country’s top physicists, the innovative grocer has mastered the art of perfect pancake tossing.

With more batter expected to hit ceilings than the roofs of our mouths this Pancake Day, Ocado has created the ideal equation for a flippin’ good time. Working with Dr Mark Hadley, researcher at the University of Warwick’s Department of Physics, the formula behind the year’s trickiest culinary feat is above.

Where v is the launch velocity; g is the acceleration; h, the height of the toss; a is the length of the forearm; w, the spin; is the number of pancake half turns; and p, the pan diameter

Don’t be daunted by the science though. Ocado has simplified things, claiming that the recipe for a splat-free landing rests on one key element – ‘perfect pancake altitude’. When tossed at the right height, the pancake’s launch velocity and spin are perfectly matched – much like a topping of lemon and sugar – for optimum results.

For a typical toss, Ocado suggests you aim for a pancake height of 0.5 metres. Your upwards arm swing will naturally give the pancake a velocity of 3m/sec, imparting a spin of five radians per second, resulting in a successful travel time of just over half a second, before landing safely back in the pan.

Ocado has created three toss techniques with Dr Hadley to ensure there is a flip for everyone – from the pancake showboater to the harassed host cooking crepes for a cast of thousands.

· The Show Off This mammoth two-armed throw is suitable for those looking to wow a crowd, or cooks wielding a cast iron pan. With arms outstretched and swinging from the shoulder, one should aim for a height of 0.7 metres

· The Chef This quick, efficient toss is ideal for pancake connoisseurs. Whilst holding the pan near the rim, with just a flick of the wrist this toss will require a height of just over half a foot. 16cm to be precise.

· The Hungry Horde Many mouths to feed? Avoid over-exertion and a nasty case of ‘pancake elbow’ with this toss. The upper arm hardly moves as the forearm swings upwards from the elbow. The distance from the elbow to the centre of the pan is typically 60cm; to achieve the perfect toss time after time, one should aim for a height of 0.47 metres, to be exact.

But what’s the real secret? Dr Hadley flips pancake convention on its head and brings it down to size: “The trick is to break the air pressure. To achieve the perfect flip, one must restrict the size of the pancake. The traditional Ocado pancake recipe provides the ideal consistency to retain a suitable thickness which will combat the impact of air pressure, whilst also being light enough to toss.”

When it comes to cooking up a pancake storm, be sure to follow Ocado’s fundamental tips so the finished article is ready for a terrific toss:

· Lubrication Use one teaspoon of oil to ensure the pancake does not stick, yet isn’t too lubricated, resulting in ‘pancake slip’

· Cooking time Cook the pancake until it bubbles and blisters, to roughen the bottom surface. This allows the air to rapidly fill any void under the pancake and equalise the pressure

· Circumference Make it manageable – for bigger pancakes, the area increases much faster than the air can creep in. By increasing a pancake from 10cm to 30cm diameter, it becomes three times harder to toss

· The Strength Test Use a spatula to lift the edge of the pancake – if you can lift it 2cm away from the pan, then it is strong enough to toss

Jason Gissing, co-founder of Ocado comments: “Ocado strives to deliver more than a just broad range of groceries; we want to make people’s lives easier where their kitchens are concerned. As such, we’re proud to work with a diverse range of experts and suppliers to provide fun, new and exciting ways to celebrate the country’s tastiest occasions.”

For further information on Ocado pancake recipes and ingredients, visit www.ocado.com/webshop/recipes/

Get Lana del Rey's Style

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The ubercool Lana del Rey was spotted on the Mulberry front row yesterday, showcasing her Nancy Sinatra style in a chic Baseball jacket.

Anyone seeking a similar look might be advised to check in with Katherine Hooker, whose Baseball jacket is popular with leading American fashion editors and fashionistas alike.

The Baseball jacket can be bought ready to wear (£530) or made to order (from £645). Over 150 different fabric swatches of tweeds, silks, linens and cashmeres allow customers to match the mood of their garment exactly as they please. Each made to order piece is individually made in London and takes around four weeks to be completed.

Katherine Hooker London 0207 352 5091 http://www.katherinehooker.com

Pam Hogg:Wildlife

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After hearing much talk about Pam Hogg and her collections, I quickly realised this was the one show I did not want to miss out on. It soon became apparent that no-one else did either as the queue was round the block forty-five minutes before the show was even due to start. After making some ‘press friends’ in the queue, they were informing me of the exclusivity and notoriety of the Pam Hogg shows… so much so, one of the girls even said someone had stolen her invite out of her bag that day. All the talk just fueled my need to see the collection first hand. Overhearing crew conversations as we got closer to the front, the general consensus was that the venue was almost at full capacity and it wasn’t helping that there was some crazed woman at the front having a barny with security refusing to leave or move. At this point one of the crew shouted out for a single. For the first time in a while I was relieved that this was me and I ran in while I had the chance. It can only be described as having a Golden Ticket and the show certainly didn’t disappoint. As for the collection, unless your Gaga or Rihanna, who are big fans of Hogg, one cannot really refer to it as ready-to-wear unless you’re ready to get arrested. The attraction of the shows is that it’s become a bit of a spectacle. Jamie Winstone, a big fan of Hogg, even modelled one of the pieces. The show started as a bit of a hoe-down and the models were adorned with huge bonnets, jumpsuits of red and black leather followed by metallic silvers and oranges. They then developed into leather dresses with fur trimming and then a rose coloured sequinned number. The final pieces, sheer jumpsuits with strategically placed fabric panels. Although many of us will probably not be rushing out to buy one of Pam Hoggs more daring numbers, the collection is fabulously original and judging by this show, you can see how originality can easily turn into exclusivity. I am certainly excited about S/S13 already.

Jaime Winstone modelling Pam Hogg

Keshini xx

90% of Brits saying being "Friends with Benefits" ruined Friendship.

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90% OF BRITONS IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES WHO’VE HAD A ‘FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS’ RELATIONSHIP SAID IT RUINED THEIR FRIENDSHIP

The results of a recent survey, asking single people about their views on ‘friends with benefits’ relationships, have revealed that 90% of Britons in their early twenties who have had a relationship with a friend said it ended up ruining their friendship.

The poll of over 15,000 men and women was carried out by mysinglefriend in association with the DVD release of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (out now on Blu-ray and DVD).

Overall results show that of those UK singletons who had embarked on a relationship with a friend, 58% now think it was never a good idea as it always ends in tears. Only 1 in 20 of those surveyed think a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement can work for men but not for women.

“It’s fascinating to find that so many people have at some point dated a friend, and in the vast majority of cases this hasn’t worked out. I’d say we’ve found that it’s best to avoid practising on your friends – most friendships won’t survive!” Said Sarah Beeney, founder of mysinglefriend.

75% of 31-40 year olds won’t admit to ever having had a relationship with a friend
Of the 38% of over 40’s who have had a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship, 73% managed to remain friends after the relationship fizzled out

Despite 90% of those in their early twenties admitting they ruined their friendships, 60% still believe the arrangement can still work in some circumstances

Only 7% of resilient 20-30 year olds ended up getting hurt by having a relationship with a friend

In FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star as two friends who decide to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, soon discovering that getting physical really does always lead to complications…

Directed by Will Gluck and starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, out now on Blu-ray and DVD, also boasts hilarious performances by Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone.