One wonders why bananas and monkeys have been associated, especially in cartoons. How did this happen? My take on this is that it happened as a result of colonialism. The United States of America bought the Philippine Archipelago from Spain for $20,000 and occupied it for 50 years. In the beginning of the occupation, there was resistance on the part of the Filipinos. There were several fierce fights between the insurrectos and the American soldiers resulting in the death of thousands on both sides of the combatants. Civilians were also killed. Obviously and logically, the colonizer feels superior to the colonized. Americans looked down on Filipinos. Some soldiers even called the Filipinos monkeys without tails. And they sang songs with words like ...in Zamboanga the monkeys have no tails. Filipinos love bananas. Then and now one of the main agricultural products is banana. So, Americans saw Filipinos always eating and enjoying several varieties of banana. Yes, monkeys love bananas, too. But their main diet in the jungle, their natural habitat, is not a banana. Bananas don t grow under the trees and in the thick of wild growth. They grow in open and sunny spaces. Filipinos planted bananas in their yard. Monkeys thrived on insects and fruits other than banana. The pet monkeys in captivity, of course, were served bananas since bananas were abundant in the Philippines. Some Americans did business by exporting monkeys to the U.S. for experimentation in laboratories. They fed the monkeys with bananas. Cartoonists naturally drew monkeys eating bananas.

On the sad news that Ann Nicole Smith had died in Florida, I naturally reflected on Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Anna Nicole recently lost a son and gave birth to a baby. Her death will continue to generate a frenzy because there is money involved. The father of her child will be first in line with a blood sample to be checked against the DNA of the baby, the obvious inheritor of Smith’s wealth. That wealth could be humongous after the courts decide on what she should inherit from her aged husband. The first thing I said to my wife was that Anna Nicole’s death would probably be interpreted as murder. I don’t really think that she was murdered but if she was found dead like Marilyn Monroe, someone is going to start the murder myth. I hope I haven’t started it here right now. Tomorrow the autopsy will be held and eventually the results will be revealed to the public. By then the murder theorist will have a well developed scenario and they will use the autopsy to reinforce it. The motive will be murder, of course. I wrote an article on Marilyn Monroe and showed how theorist develop what I called “obvious truths.” UFO-ologist use that tactic all the time. The media loves stupid thinking and will join on the bandwagon. A good story can make you a good deal of money on the lecture tour and by authoring books. Anna Nicole seemed to have little talent other than gaining publicity. Like many nobodies with great bodies she started as a Playboy Bunny®. Hugh Hefner said he hoped that she was now happy with her brother. I didn’t know that Hugh actually believed in anything of a religious nature but I guess he does. Marilyn Monroe on the other hand had acting talent. Jayne Mansfield, who died in a horrible automobile crash, was probably in between the two talent-wise. A good summary of Anna Nicole’s life can be found at hollywood.com/news/3654096 It saddens me to see young lives cut short. The media attention to a famous person can cause disaster. They thrive on the media but the media and money drives them to drink and drugs. James Dean’s death at age twenty-four is a good example where money put him in fast cars and reckless behavior. Dean was a talented actor and is still missed by his fans. Read about the car accident at history1900s.about.com/od/1950s/qt/deandies.htm It seems that the celebrity life goes double time. Jayne Mansfield died racing to get to New Orleans in the wee hours of the morning. Her three children survived. Read about the death of Jayne and a number of other celebrities that died in auto accidents at who2.com/deathbycarcrash.html including Princess Grace (who may have suffered a small stroke ) and Princess Diana. I hope that Jayne’s death will be a warning to other celebrities with more money and than they can spend and more fame than they can tolerate. That includes athletes who are not use to celebrity status or money. The call to fame can be very rapid in our media circus. Many celebrities we old folks don’t even know other than we see them on television walking down a red carpet dressed to the “Tee.” We don’t know why they are celebrities but they are in some obscure soap opera or such where we never see themâ€"but they have money. Here is some advice for celebrities that were not born rich and don’t know how to handle money and fame: Stay away from drugs and avoid excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. Prescription drugs can destroy you. Don’t go to multiple doctors for prescription drugs. Some over-the-counter drugs are not safe. Don’t drive and drink. Avoid high speed and reckless driving and stay out of cars having such a driver. Wear your seat belt. Learn how to manage your money and don’t trust others with your money to the extent that gives them control. New friends and experts can hurt you. Trust the banker in your home town if you know one well. Let him lead you to proper asset management. Don’t over do it. You have to have some time off from work. Drug usage is often because of overwork. Why am I writing this? Celebrities don’t read my stuff. Well, the rules are good for everyone. Rest in Peace, Anna Nicole. The End John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com, a retired VP of RandD for Lenox China, is author of detective and western novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering, humor), poetry, etc. Former editor of Ceramic Industry Magazine. He is Executive Representative of IWS sellers of Tyler Hicks wealth-success books and kits. He also sells TopFlight flagpoles. He calls himself Taylor Jones, the hack writer. More info: tjbooks.com Business web site: tjbooks.com .

More and more D-list actors and out-of-work celebrities are accepting holiday and birthday party invitations, for a reduced fee that is. It s not enough to get a festive party invitation, a full buffet and an open bar anymore. Well-to-do private and corporate party hosts are turning to celebrities to make their events truly impressive, spectacular and unforgettable. The current trend appears to be the wealthier the host, the larger the appetite for celeb meet and greet party appearances. A-list celebrities can cost anywhere from $500 to $1M. Jessica Simpson can request as much as $1 million where Anson Williams, Potsie from Happy Days, is a mere $3,000 to $6,000 depending on the shindig and travel requirements. If Linda Blair from The Exorcist accepts your holiday party or birthday invitation expect to pay around $5,000, although her fee goes up the closer your event is to Halloween. Justin Timberlake allegedly accepted a birthday party invitation overseas for $1.5 million. Some parties may require a celebrity to perform in character, however, in many cases celebs may accept a holiday or birthday party invitation and not even have to recite their signature lines, sing or tell jokes. The host just expects them to make an appearance and mingle with their guests for a short time. Whether celebrities are embarrassed to accept a complete stranger s birthday invitation or holiday gig is up for debate. With figures skyrocketing into the six figures for the right talent, the bottom line no doubt supersedes any humiliation. So who would you like to meet for your birthday? Paul is a sometimes writer for tinyprints.com Tiny Prints is an online stationer where you can find unique and stylish personalized baby photo birth announcements, birthday party invitations, holiday cards, thank you cards and more!

The deep symbolic meaning of cross tattoos have expanded to include a wide range of personal creations that may or may not depict religious significance. As one of the most flexible of tattoo designs, the cross is often combined with many other additions that utilize hearts, flowers, animals, names, and faces that enhance the overall meaning, Crosses are often chosen as the design for many first-timers, which often follows the loss of a loved one. The acceptance that this tattoo does not always refer to religious conviction is currently widespread, as there are plenty of individuals who choose this design simply because they are attracted to the shape of the cross. For this reason, tattoo artists are often knowledgeable in the various tattoos that represent both religious and non-religious beliefs. Popular tattoos showcasing religious crosses include the Latin, Celtic, and St. Andrew s cross. Non-religious crosses often selected include the Ankh and the Gothic Cross. The Latin Cross is highly recognizable in the world of tattoos, as it is comprised of a vertical line intersected at right angles by a shorter horizontal line positioned around 1/3 of the way from the top. This uncomplicated design is often associated with Christianity and is frequently used to pay tribute to others. One of the most attractively designed crosses is the Celtic selection, where a knot is created in the space where both lines cross. Most options highlight an intricate border that involves a series of Celtic knots. With the St. Andrew s Cross, the style is much different from the traditional design of a T and instead presents an X. The Gothic Cross mirrors the German style of elaborate wrought iron work displayed during the Edwardian and Victorian periods. This type of cross is often used to express pain, anger, and the Goth culture. Many designs associated with the Gothic Cross utilize dark imagery, such as barbed wire and daggers. It is also not uncommon to view cross tattoos that are full of mystery or even depict an unsettling image. See some more kick-butt info, recommendations, photos, and much more. Visit the number one content site about tattoo designs on the internet: modern-tattoo-designs.com/cross-tattoos.html

Once you have decided that you want a tattoo and have found the artist that you are going to use then the next stage is to decide on the particular tattoo design that you want. This is where the hard work really starts but it can also be a lot of fun looking at all of the possibilities. Of course, the type of artwork that you select for your tattoo is very much a personal choice but there are some that are more common than others. For example, a rose or butterfly tattoo pattern is always popular with women. These sexy adornments are often discretely placed on the back of the shoulder, top of the thigh, close to the navel or other area of the body that is not normally exposed. Men may prefer a larger Celtic tattoo design that may be a cross tattoo or a more complex Celtic band that wraps around the upper arm. The choice of designs is endless and finding the right tattoo design may seem a daunting task but there are a number of sources of inspiration available to help you. The Internet is a good place to start your search as it is full of websites relating to body art. There are a number of sources of free tattoo design samples available. These can vary greatly in terms of size and complexity. Some of the tattoo design examples will be shown after the work has been performed for a client, while others may just be the tattoo design itself. You will also find a large number of sites that have a tattoo gallery with pictures that are copyrighted and you will need to purchase a copy before you can use it. Obviously, the cost will depend on the size and complexity of the design but it is also affected by the popularity of the actual artist. A tattoo design from a star tattoo artist who has celebrity clients will obviously cost more than one from a lesser known one. People often want to have the same body art as their favorite movie star, singer, sports star or other celebrity and this demand is reflected in the cost. Your chosen tattoo parlor is also a good source of inspiration for designs. After all, this is where you are going to have your artwork done. You will see hundreds of designs on display in the window and on the walls. It is worth bearing in mind that these may not be the work of the tattoo artist who runs the tattoo shop and may actually be examples of another artist s work. A tattoo design that has been printed onto a piece of paper or card is known as a tattoo flash. These were originally unique hand drawn designs created by the artist himself and used to promote his work to potential customers. Also, many artists will also have a portfolio of their designs with photographs of them after they have been completed for a customer. Nowadays the Internet has led to many tattoo artists creating multiple copies of their designs and selling them to other professionals and customers. This means that the shop s artist may not be able to recreate the tattoo design exactly but can use it as the basis for your own unique piece of artwork. For more information about how to pick that perfect tattoo design , click over to Awesome-Tattoos.com where you will find additional useful tips and tattoo related advice.

Why Harry Potter the movie became one of the most fascinating movies? While we all know that the movie is full of visual effects created with the aid of the advance technology, the effects to the movie goers seems to be overwhelming and it does tickle most of the crowed. Why such a movie becomes so accepted by movie goers? Where did it start anyway? It all started from the imaginative minds of the writers. That using a descriptive technique, lets a reader visualizes the situations in which it stimulates the fiber senses human. The vivid presentation of scenes in the written version of the story is a factor that it could be presented in the wide screen. The second factors to consider will be the producer who wants to venture on the said story. That what is written will be accepted by the movie goers. In here, the massive advertisement plays a vital role for a movie to be watched. Advertisements of preview scenes could stimulate also the audience senses. The nicest way of advertisement is when a famous star is announcing to the public via interviews that the movie is good. It adds color and intensity to the movie. The last factor to be looked on will be the characters. Most of the celebrities started from the bottom. Celebrities’ key advertiser is their manager. This person (the manager) is the one marketing for a celebrity to be chosen on a certain project. The producers are really looking for the best celebrity to represent the character especially the protagonist and antagonist. In some movies or even in a simple TV program, producers are conducting elimination process through challenging obstacles just to select the best one that could perform the personality of the character. There are lots of factors to be considered for a movie to be accepted in the society. The launching should be timely that there are, if possible, no competitor movies launch at the same time. Harry Potter movies, hit the big screen not only because of its quality, but because of the target market â€" the age bracket that composes most of the people going to the cinema. The popularity of the celebrity can be remedied through massive promotions. Of course, a famous celebrity to perform the main character is an advantage to hit the big screen. Advertisements and promotions still have something to do if a movie will be accepted or not. If you notice, most of the famous movies that hit the big screen have more ads than the others. I am fond of collecting beautiful faces and sexy pictures on the net. I spend time online about Celebrities that attracts my attention. View some of my Celebrity Collection

Celebrity endorsements are big business, with over 20% of all ads today featuring a famous face. The reason is simple: Stars sell. Consumers pay more attention to stars because they are attracted to the familiar. Using a celebrity to advertise your business adds awareness, credibility and star power to your company. 3 ways a celebrity can be used by your business include: 1) Advertising – Celebrities can pitch your product via print, television, radio, etc. 2) Appearances and events – Celebrities can make personal appearances for your business at events ranging from charity fundraisers to grand openings. 3) Media opportunities – Your spokesperson can speak on your behalf on TV talks shows, or at press conferences, trade shows or other media events. Things to keep in mind when hunting for a celebrity spokesperson include: • Define your objectives Determine what you expect from your partnership with your spokesperson and how to best utilize their talents. Clarify your needs and expectations from the get-go. Get-It-Done: Brooks International and Burns are a couple of many agencies who specialize in booking celebrity and sports talent. These talent brokers can help you assess your needs. •Find the right fit It s important that the spokesperson you hire is a good match for your product or service. The clearer the link between your company s product and your talent, the better the partnership will work. (Think Michael Jordan and Nike!) Get-It-Done: The Hollywood-Madison Group uses a proprietary database called the Fame Index to match businesses with appropriate talent. The Fame Index contains the names of 10,000 stars and uses 250 categories to match talent to businesses and products. • Plan well in advance When deciding on a celebrity spokesperson for your business, start early. Make your plans at least 6 months in advance. The bigger the name, the longer the lead time. Get-It-Done: Celebrity Focus and The Celebrity Source are two talent agencies who can connect your company with talent and help you navigate the celebrity maze. • Consider the costs Talent fees and celebrity endorsements run the gamut from a few hundred dollars for a local DJ appearing at a business to literally millions of dollars for an international movie star. Catherine Zeta-Jones long-term endorsement deal with T-Mobile was reportedly worth 20 Million, but T-Mobile s U.S. sales jumped 25% during the campaign. Get-It-Done: If you re looking for major star power, you can go with Hollywood biggies like William Morris or PMK/HBH Public Relations. On a smaller scale, many local celebrities can be contacted directly or through their management. • Make contact Talent agencies, entertainment marketing firms and even speakers bureaus can put you in touch with potential celebrity spokespersons. Contacting talent can be easier than you might think. Get-It-Done: In addition to some of the agencies listed above, the Screen Actors Guild provides an actor-locator service. Other things to keep in mind when shopping for a celebrity spokesperson include: • Don t be afraid to ask. Maybe that certain superstar is not out of your reach or budget. • Consider B-List stars who may be more available and less expensive. • Local celebrities or athletes may turn out to be your best bet. • Make sure you have an out clause in case your celebrity gets negative press or is involved in a scandal. (Sorry Britney!) Hollywood TV veteran Lou Bortone is an award-winning writer, marketer and television producer who more than 20 years in the television industry, including stints at Fox and E! Entertainment TV in L.A. Today, Lou specializes in helping entrepreneurs create breakthrough TV and video for the Internet. Email Lou at lou@theonlinevideoguy.com or visit theonlinevideoguy.com

Hip-hop Jewelry and Today s Stars Watch any of the major movie, television, and music award shows on television today and one of the first things you’ll notice about the celebrities on the red carpet, aside from their extravagant (and sometimes outlandish) attire, are the amount and size of the jewelry they are wearing. Hip-hop jewelry, more commonly known as bling-bling, is definitely not understated fashion. The bigger and the flashier it is, the better. Preferred by many of today’s celebrities, hip-hop jewelry adorns the fingers, necks, arms, even the teeth of many stars. Oversized studs and chains are the trademarks of hip-hop jewelry and are preferred by celebrities such as Sean Combs, or P. Diddy. At the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, he sported a diamond ring, bracelet, and watch from Jacob and Company. Rapper 50 Cent is another celebrity who is hardly ever seen without his hip-hop jewelry. On his web site, 50 Cent offers more affordable, though just as flashy, bling-bling for those of us who do not earn the megabucks that he and his fellow celebrities rake in. There are also many other web sites that offer low-priced hip-hop jewelry inspired by popular rap artists. Hip-hop jewelry comes in many shapes and sizes, all of them meant to catch the eye and attract attention. Heavy chains of silver or gold (or both) can oftentimes be seen on celebrities such as LL Cool J and Ja Rule in their music videos. Hip-hop jewelry web sites offer fully ‘iced-out’ bling-bling, or watches, rings, bracelets and earrings that are heavily decorated with real or faux diamonds. So-called ‘spinner’ watches and rings are big best sellers in the hip-hop jewelry category. Also available are customized, removable gold, silver and platinum teeth which may be studded with jewels and gemstones, so even the pearly whites can have their share of hip-hop jewelry. Women celebrities are keeping pace with their male counterparts when it comes to wearing hip-hop jewelry. Stars such as Beyonce, Lil’ Kim, Ashanti and Missy Elliott are regularly seen in pictures wearing large diamond jewelry items of various colors. Even young female celebrities are getting on the bling-bling bandwagon. Teen stars like Jo Jo and Hilary Duff are said to be avid hip-hop jewelry enthusiasts and count themselves among the large number of bejeweled stars today. Large, ostentatious pieces of jewelry did not start becoming popular only because of the hip-hop cultural phenomenon (think Elvis Presley and Tom Jones), but hip-hop has altered the jewelry market in a big way. Fans see what their favorite celebrities are wearing, and there are numerous options for them to emulate their idols – at least in terms of fashion. Jewelry has always been a part of popular culture, and today’s hip-hop jewelry and the celebrities who wear them are even more so in this age of instant information. Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of â€Å"How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at morninglightjewelry.com

Who is The Top Gear andquot;Stig?andquot; The anonymous Stig s mission is to produce perfect lap times in exotic supercars and execute death-defying stunts with immaculate precision. With BBC s Top Gear returning to our screens this weekend, Auto Trader is kicking off Top Gear week by tackling the biggest mystery in motoring: Who is the Stig? Last week, stunt driver Russ Swift hinted that it could be him - and bookmaker William Hill rank him as 2/1 favourite. Trackside s Keith Collantine surveys the field. What do we know about the Stig? Top Gear appearances suggest the Stig is male and of average build, with eclectic musical tastes. But theories abound there are actually multiple Stigs. Could there be more than one man behind the mask? Let s find out. Russ Swift Pros: If there are two Stigs, then Russ Swift must be one of them. No-one is better equipped to pull off the Stig s dangerous tricks than this holder of multiple stunt driving records. We put the question to him last week and his response was: No comment. What we... (laughs) what Top Gear like about the Stig is the fact that nobody knows who it is. It is not one person. Cons: He spends a lot of time out of the country making international motor show appearances. But that hasn t stopped him working for Top Gear in the past - he taught three grannies how to do doughnuts... Ellen MacArthur Pros: The fastest celebrity to lap the Top Gear track in the old Suzuki Liana. Cons: Although MacArthur clearly lacks nothing in driving skills or mental fortitude, her physical stature (female, short) and the Stig s (male, tall) don t match up. Plus, given the enormous amount of time she spent circumnavigating the globe in a dolled-up dinghy, it s doubtful that she could have met the filming commitments. New and Used Car News and Reviews - Auto Trader UK

Chinese Tattoos have always been hugely popular. At one stage they were the realm of criminals and the mafia. Now it seems even Hollywood celebrities seem to have caught on to the mystery and allure of the Far East. While it is undeniable that classic Chinese tattoos have an attraction which can easily be appreciated regardless of whether one can understand the often subtle meanings or not. Aesthetics should be the primary consideration when getting tattooed, and Chinese characters are very well suited to this purpose. While tattoos have always been conversation pieces, Chinese tattoos add another element, since the typical viewer will probably ask you the meaning, which allows the wearer to not only translate the characters, but to explain the story behind the decision to make such a lasting statement. Meaning is an important question however and for this reason can make Chinese tattoos date very quickly. Often it is not quite what the wearer was told by the tattooist at the tattoo shop or the meaning can become irrelevant after a few years. Hopefully the person being tattooed has done his or her research and consulted with a native Chinese speaker about the meaning before being inked. Some non Chinese speakers have unwittingly tattooed their bodies with Chinese symbols which when translated become meaningless. The most common Chinese tattoos are ones that are supposed to represent ideas and qualities like love or strength. Keep in mind that the concepts are aimed at English speakers, and on that level peace, love and happiness are easily understandable. But before you run off to the studio to get one done you should do your research. Selecting a Chinese tattoos deserves careful study and attention. It should have less to do with style and more to do with your character, work, and values. It s permanent, so it s a pretty important decision in your life. In the end, it is important to choose something of lasting appeal not something faddish. Chinese Dragons For centuries, the Chinese dragon has been a symbol of power and mystery. Depicted in countless legends, both Eastern and Western, the dragon has provoked man to fear and worship it. In medieval Europe, it was a bloodthirsty, fire-breathing figure. Its malevolence and ferociousness struck terror in all. However, in Asia, it is the contrary. The mighty dragon is a mythical beast long celebrated for its benevolence, intelligence and good will. The Chinese dragon has been a common symbol of identity for Far Eastern cultures. In fact, Chinese people all over the world are affectionately known as “lung de chuan ren”, or the descendants of the dragon”. There are several distinct species of Chinese dragons. The Horned Dragon is considered to be the mightiest. The Celestial Dragon supports the heavens and protects the Gods. The Earth Dragon rules all of the earth. The Spiritual Dragon controls the wind and rain. The Treasure Dragon is the keeper of precious metals and gems. The Winged Dragon is the only dragon with wings. The Coiling Dragon dwells in the ocean. The Yellow Dragon is a hornless dragon known for its scholarly knowledge. Tattoo Site for Tattoo Lovers Subscribe to Kinky Ink eZine FREE

This day and age, more and more people decide to take the permanent tattoos, leaving their mark on the choice of their skin. If the tattoo is applied by an artist, the risk is minimal. As it is sad that, however, many people who get tattoos eventually go to the studios that use unsanitary equipment resulting from infections or other serious problems. A few years ago, tattoos were found temporary quarters in machinery, packaging bubble gum, and even toy sections of the local store. Children loved to get these temporary tattoos, they presented as a way for children to have a tattoo, the one that was completely safe and rinse. Today, even adults are starting to think that this idea is correct. The temporary tattoos today are no longer just for children, like most long-lasting, making them perfect for adults. The best thing about it, is the fact that they are temporary. You do not have to worry about equipment infections or unhealthy, because there is no drilling of the skin. Temporary Tattoos are safe, and remove easily with soap and water. This cost is quite unfriendly, as well as permanent tattoos require surgery to remove. If you have thought about doing a tattoo, you must first give a temporary tattoo try. The temporary tattoos are a great way to test models, and to see whether a tattoo is for you. If you do not, all you have to do is wash off. Then you can buy another and see if you like best. There are literally thousands of temporary tattoos that exists, with illustrations that are sure to please everyone. If you decide to get a permanent place tattoo, you are pretty much stuck with it. To get rid of a permanent tattoo, you need to have it surgically removed, which can cost thousands of dollars. You can also face the risk of infection, with a permanent scar. Permanent tattoos are great, if you are happy with the tattoo. In most cases, temporary tattoos look just like a tattoo. To use them, simply lick the tattoo or use water and apply to your skin. When you wherever you want, just apply pressure for a few seconds. They are easy to implement, and the last until you wash off. If you decide to get a longer duration of temporary tattoo, it will last for a longer period of time. This way you can decide whether a tattoo will be the value of the investment. You can find temporary tattoos in local stores or on the Internet. They are very affordable, even cheaper if you buy in bulk. Tattoo artists also sell them, and generally have a wide choice of the hand. In this way, you can look through the available choices and find the tattoo that best fits your style. In general, temporary tattoos are easier to implement permanent as tattooing, and they pose no risk to the skin or to your health. Those who are afraid of needles tend to like them, as it gives you the chance to have a tattoo without going under the needle. Before you rush and get a tattoo, you must be permanent tattoos try. They will not cost you a lot of money, but they will give you an opportunity to see how you look with a tattoo-and decide whether this is something that you want. Please visit protattoos.blogspot.com thank you

When it s celebrity news and gossip you want, there s never an end to the latest scoop on the hottest ladies in Hollywood. It s as if they are required to do something stupid on a schedule. From child neglect to private home movies exposing their most personal photos, the girls from the big screen and the music venues are forever letting it all hang out. Currently it seems Britney Spears can do no right. With her losing custody of her children to now losing her visitation rights to boot, Britney is the hottest media ticket in town. With an endless supply of beauties, you can always expect to see some of them in the National Enquirer or on the tube shows, like Extra or the Inside Edition, Hollywood episodes. Lindsey Lohan has filled the tabloids lately with her early checkouts from rehab. Britney Spears has totally lost it. Even her own mother applauded the court rulings against her. Seems as though her mother is to the point of administering a tough love approach to her situation. The top 10 celebrity females are Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Vanessa Minnillo, Hayden Panettiere, Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, Pamela Anderson, Eva Longoria, Aishwarya Rai. While Jessica Simpson is an equal from the hottie s category, she appears to be staying out of the limelight, or at least she s behaving and that doesn t make the celebrity new circuit. Celebrity News and Gossip keeps the home fires burning for those of us without a life and we live to see what our age matched famous counterparts are up to. Other than the great weight loss programs they seem to pull off, I for one am completely satisfied that all my dirty laundry comes out of the washer and is washed down the pipes. For more celebrity news and gossip stop by our site for more up to the minute news of the celebrities. Celebrity News Gossip Photos and Videos wealthsmith.com/celebrity-news-gossip-photos-videos.htm Jim is an online writer and reporter of subjects his readers find interesting and current. Today he talks about an ever popular subject of celebrity news gossip photos and videos: wealthsmith.com/celebrity-news-gossip-photos-videos.htm

Two years ago, thousands of people rushed to get a piece of the booming housing market. Mortgages were easy to get, even for buyers with little or no credit. Once interest rates shifted however, buyers who received sub prime mortgages were no longer able to make their monthly payments. Now the housing market is being flooded with foreclosures. Lenders have learned their lesson, and are much stricter with their lending policies. Now, many people who would like to enter the housing market are unable to obtain sufficient financing. This has led to a serious drought in the buyers pool. There are also many people who were considering buying a home, but have now been scared off by the rate of foreclosures. With buyers hesitant to make a purchase, sellers are having a tough time unloading their homes. This stalled housing market has led to a substantial rise in the rental market. Buyers who are unable to secure financing must face the reality that they can t purchase a home at this time. These folks need to sit tight in a rental unit while they work on building their credit rating, and save money for a down payment. Experts are saying that the housing market will bounce back within a year or two, so potential buyers should focus on improving their credit and financial situation until things shift. Buyers who are eligible for home loans are also finding this a good time to take a step back until the housing market is on steadier ground. Young urban professionals Cheryl 28, and Raoul, 34, already have enough money in the bank for a down payment. Their credit is good, and both have steady incomes. They have decided to rent until interest rates go down. Says Cheryl, With all the doom and gloom you see about real estate these days, we figured it d be a good idea to just wait a year or two. We want a home, definitely, but we don t want to pay through the nose. We can save money for now by renting, so that s what we ll do until the market changes. Many owners who have lost their homes to foreclosure are now heading into the renting world. Their credit has been badly damaged, and they don t have enough money to buy a new home. Without a suitable rental unit, many of these people would end up on the streets. They have no choice but to take a rental while they rebuild their financial security. This foreclosure situation is the main reason that the cities that were booming in 2005 are now becoming rental hot spots. Places like Miami, where buyers flocked to scoop up the great housing deals, now find themselves in trouble. Foreclosures are most rampant in these cities, and the housing market has stalled completely. In these areas, where demand is high, there has been a substantial increase in rental rates. In other areas of the country, where new construction has led to an increase in available units, rents are decreasing slightly in order for landlords to remain competitive. Consider riding out the housing market turmoil by renting. You can find a beautiful property to suit your family s needs, while saving money and building your credit at the same time. National Rental Properties is the premier online resource for bringing rental properties together with prospective tenants. Search homes for rent from all over the country!

Body art comes in different forms, the most common of which are tattoos. Tattoos are one of the most ancient forms of body art, for which you will be providing the canvas. And because tattoos have soared in popularity over the past decade, there is no shortage of tattoo studios more than willing to practice their artistry on you. Tattoos originated as ancient, symbolic art forms, and many of them retain their symbolic meanings today. Although there are still some people who get tattoos strictly based on the design, some of those people tend to regret their choice of tattoo later on in their life. Tattoos can be quite beautiful, and capture a lot of positive attention. Most people who decide to get tattoos today choose them for their symbolic meaning, as well as the beauty. Men and women alike have tattoos, some small tattoos, some large tattoos encompassing their entire body and today tattoos are more common than ever, particularly small tattoos. Tattoo artists are no longer willing to place dull lifeless designs in a seemingly haphazard way, but they tend to treat the body as a three-dimensional canvas onto which each tattoo is placed, to live in balance with the body and any existing tattoos. Permanent tattoo designs differ depending on culture, religious affiliations, gender, or personal liking and selections. For certain tattoo designs, some people prefer to look at real life photos or browse through artwork for ideas pertaining to their tattoo designs. Many individuals select tattoo designs from those presented at a tattoo parlor, while others prefer to do some research and help ensure that their design is unlike any other. While there are tattoo designs that are gender specific, it is important to keep in mind that getting a tattoo is a very personal thing and the image that is ultimately chosen should be one that reflects something that is important to the wearer. Although there are some exceptions, most men and women will naturally be drawn to different tattoo designs. Of all tattoo designs, women commonly select small feminine tattoos with hearts, butterflies, flowers, lettering, etc. Men, on the other hand, often prefer that their tattoo designs be placed on the upper arm, like a Robbie Williams tattoo on the chest or back. Some of the more popular themes center around the following: *Butterlies *Dragons *Flowers *Crosses *Fairy *Irish *Celtic *Animals *Dolphins *Tribal Some popular sub themes are: *cat tattoo designs *zodiac tattoo designs *dolphin tattoo designs *heart tattoo designs *small feminine tattoos With the exception of those that have already chosen their preferred image, it can be very difficult to select from the many tattoo designs on the spot. Most of the time, people do not take the time to really think about why they choose a particular tattoo and look at other tattoo designs that are available. It takes a lot of decision-making as well as researching for meanings of different tattoo designs and ideas. There are millions of designs out there for tattoos - including different color combinations that have helped to make tattoos the phenomenon they are today. If you are ready to make a significant investment in your body art then custom design tattoos are for you. If you are ready to move forward and want to find that perfect tattoo, the tattoo you will always be proud of, then we recommend you read a review that has taken all the legwork out of your search. Go to tattoo designs .

What Are The Signs Of Anorexia Bulimia? How can a parent recognize the signs of anorexia or bulimia? Why is it important to recognize these signs? And why is it so difficult to recognize the signs of anorexia? These are good questions and are questions that every parent should know the answer to. The signs of anorexia bulimia are hard to recognize because the person suffering from the disease do such a great job of hiding the facts from their parents, so the parents need to learn what signs to look for. While anorexia nervosa and bulimia can affect young men, it is predominately a disease that affects young girls. This is due in part to the unhealthy fixation that the western world has being thin and beautiful. The modeling industry has told everyone that it is important to be skinny, and movies and magazines are always showing photos of thin movie stars and celebrities. As a result, it is only natural that young girls going through puberty want to be popular and associate being thin with being popular. The first sign that a person may be suffering from anorexia nervosa is their weight. Does your child look a lot thinner than their friends who are the same age and height? If so, you may need to pay closer attention the some of the other signs. Other things to look for include not wanting to eat with other people or eating in public. An anorexic will often hide food and dispose of it later to keep their parent from knowing they haven t eaten. Someone suffering from bulimia will gorge themselves and later regurgitate their food. So if your daughter eats excessively large meals and never seems to gain weight, she may be suffering from bulimia. People that suffer from this tend to have discolored teeth from the stomach acids discoloring the enamel when they vomit. They also tend to have sour smelling breath. Once the disease progresses further, the anorexic will develop serious health issues. By the time these symptoms appear, it becomes much harder to treat the disease, in fact, you have having to spend so much energy and time treating symptoms, it is hard to get past the physiological issues that cause the disease in the first place. The most horrific thing about anorexia bulimia is the fact that so many sufferers actually die from the effects of this disease. It is estimated that over 15% of anorexics die prematurely as a direct result of the organ failure associated with anorexia nervosa. Remember to look for the early signs of anorexia bulimia in order to head the disease off before it is too late. The easiest is sign to recognize is being underweight. However, with preteen girls, this can be very difficult to recognize. The easiest way is compare your daughter to her friends, if she is grossly underweight compared to other girls her age; get a medical opinion as soon as possible to determine if there is a problem. Sydney Heiden has a website dedicated to information about Anorexia Nervosa. To learn more about the effects of anorexia, go to anorexic-info.com

Why I Want To Be Osama Bin Laden s Publicist Just before the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden released a new videotape. Osama recently released yet another message calling for new attacks. The hype surrounding the release of Osama s new tapes got me to thinking-- if Osama was a rap star or a big movie actor like Tom Cruise, I would probably be the richest publicist on the planet. So rich I could buy up all the world s oil and sell it in cute little bottles at the 99cent store. He seems like he would be a typical client... always wanting the world to hear what he s got to say. And, he would always be coming up with some new idea or theory for me to publicize. Just like most celebrity clients, he would be somewhat hard to get on the phone. It wouldn t matter if people liked me or not because I would be holding the key to the voice of the most notorious person on the planet. Imagine it. This guy releases a new tape almost every year and if it was available on iTunes, it would make a killing (not literally). He changes the color of his beard and people pay attention. Osama is, in fact, the new Britney Spears. And just like Britney, at some point people will no longer pay attention to what he has to say and who knows, one day an Osama tape just might flop. But none of that will happen until Osama walks the red carpet in a hideous outfit. But then, that would be new, news right? Prada Jones is a former publicist and writes a daily blog about how brand and name recognition move quickly online, on television, in print and in every possible media platform with an entertaining, bold voice. Check out her blog at ILoveMyPublicist.com

What Is An MAI Appraisal? MAI appraisals are among the most sought after appraisals in the commercial real estate world. MAI stands for Member of the Appraisal Institute, a trade organization which monitors appraisers and holds them to a higher standard than appraisers who are merely licensed and do not belong to such an organization. There are other appraisal trade organizations active in the world of real estate. However, MAI is the best known, and thus the most popular. Technically, there is no such thing as an MAI appraisal. There are only appraisals performed by an appraiser who has completed the MAI Appraisal Institutes class offerings, and holds this designation. However, it s often much easier to refer to the appraisal itself as being certified than to hold to technicalities. An appraiser who has earned the MAI designation is qualified to and experienced in the performance of both residential and commercial properties. Many other appraisers are only qualified for residential property. At one point, lenders were likely to require that an appraisal be done by an MAI certified appraiser, or a member of another trade organization. However, this has been unlawful since 1989, as there is not federal regulation of these organizations. Still, certified appraisals can increase the chances of a favorable lending situation, since the lender will feel more comfortable. An MAI certified appraisal offers lenders a reliability that allows them to be confident in their investment. A commercial appraisal by an MAI certified appraiser can include many things. Generally, it will provide an overview of the community, neighborhood, and general area in which the property is situated, as well as a detailed description of the site and all buildings it contains. Zoning analysis, an analysis of the highest and best use for the property, and an in depth discussion of the property s value from several different approaches will also be included. The appraiser may also make a recommendation of which valuation is most appropriate in his or her opinion. Appraisers tend to be conservative in their estimates. However, this does not mean that one will receive a low appraisal. An MAI certified appraisal firm assumes liability if the appraisal is too high, and the property cannot be sold for the price they recommend. The firm also assumes liability if the price is too low and the property is sold for too little money. Because of this, appraisers have a vested interest in making sure that their estimates are in the middle range. Which sales an appraiser places the most emphasis on will depend in the type of market. In a rising market, emphasis will be placed on higher recent sales, and in a falling market, that emphasis will go to lower recent sales. A good appraiser is interested in giving clients the most accurate estimate possible. Anthony Seruga and Yolly Bishop of Maverick Real Estate Investments, Inc. work with builders, developers and other players in the commercial real estate industry to acquire and develop properties. They use progressive investment strategies that have proved extremely profitable. In addition to their own deals, they teach both seasoned and inexperienced investors how to be big players in the game. Visit the website for more info.

There is no doubt that love for some celebrity exists within us all. This is not the traditional definition of love but rather defined by an excessive admiration for a famous person whom we will probably never meet. The use of “love” is appropriate here as we who love celebrity tend to exhibit signs of undue influence by those highly visible. Famous people, the non-elected representatives of the human race, have always held some influence over the masses. In the days before mass media, television sets and computers fame was circulated orally, carried by the gossipy nature of social beings. Today, we open our eyes and cannot avoid these people. Of course, in a developed society entertainers are necessary. We laugh and sometimes cry at a quality performance. Our memories are seared with images, movies and songs which have touched us, frightened us and stimulated us. They dramatize the political, the romantic, the good and bad. We see in them the potential for perfection of man or woman as an expression of utopian ideals of love and success. Yet, have we gone too far? How much influence should they have over us? Our choice of clothes, jewelry and hairstyle, our languages and ideas are often areas that we look toward celebrities to define. If you deny this then you are exceptional; the rest of us are invariably, more susceptible. Our culture has become saturated with celebrity influence. We watch their every move including who they are with and what they do. We absorb their politics and gobble up their quotes. We think about what it may be like to be that beautiful, rich and powerful. Fame is an aphrodisiac or so it seems to the unrecognized. Today we have TomKat(Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes). Yesterday it was Bennifer(Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez). Public Interest in these people is frighteningly obsessive in nature. After all, their claim to fame is usually based on pretense or non reality. They are the constant pretenders, illusionists with screens as their canvas. The entertainment value of a celebrity stretches beyond the screen or stage and they are wholly aware it. We are witness to carefully arranged relationships, sudden sightings in sports arenas and controversial quotes days before a new movie or show opens. They appear on your screen suddenly seemingly not to promote themselves but rather attempting to come across as natural, likable, smart and funny. Sometimes we get a glimpse into what certain celebrities are really like. Unfortunately, it is usually when they do something wrong. Drugs, infidelity and physical assaults are a few areas where celebrities have slipped in their public presentation. Mug shots and unflattering photos of famous people are the currency of entertainment news outlets. Being a celebrity has its drawback in this regard as they are monitored as closely as governmental heads of the biggest nations on earth. Alas, the power of celebrity is here with us to stay. Or is it? Can we teach our children who the chancellor of Germany is before we explain the history of Madonna? If we can’t, America will become a nation of uninformed celebrity worshippers numb to the more important realities of the world. Derek Belay works for Jewelry Payless.com and KingIce.com as a marketing manager.

The mystery of anorexia biochemical cause could be unraveled according a new research of Dr. Valerie Compan of Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Montpellier, France. The findings of this new study showed that both anorexia and ecstasy reduce people s appetite by stimulating the same receptors in the brain. These receptors are located in the part of the brain which is responsible for pleasure, addiction and laughter. It also gives us reward feelings. The research was done only on animals at this stage. They stimulated these receptors in the brains of Mice: this led to the mice starting anorexic-like behavior that significantly reduced their appetite. The researches also noticed that stimulating these receptors make the mice produce the same kind of enzymes in their brains, which are produced as a response on amphetamine and cocaine use in humans. When these receptors were blocked, the mice s appetite increased and the researchers found that the mice were less sensitive to drugs like ecstasy. This study indicates the possibilities of developing new kinds of drugs, which affect this particular part of the brain by blocking its receptors and reversing the effects anorexia has on the pleasure centers of the brain. To conclude, this research showed that anorexia and ecstasy addiction have the same biochemical base. And this new research could lead to a possible fix for the biochemical cause of anorexia by developing a new treatment regime for it. Although this is a good breakthrough in understanding eating disorders and how they play out in the brain; there are other causes involved in developing eating disorders. These causes are environmental, social and behavioral which still have to be addressed separately. It is normally these causes that lead to an eating disorder in the first place, before the chemical reaction hooks the sufferer into continuing their unhealthy behavior. Find out more at mom-please-help.com Dr Irina Webster is the Director of Women Health Issues Program which covers different areas of Women Health. Dr Irina Webster has a holistic approach to medicine and her favorite area is to discover natural treatments for Women health problems and share these treatments and methods with other people. Dr Irina Webster believes that the majority of women health problems can be treated naturally without drugs or surgical treatment. At present she does Eating Disorder natural treatment research. mom-please-help.com Dr Irina s web-site: womenhealthsite.com

Real estate is really a game of supply and demand. The trick is finding the demand and being in the position to supply. This is the kind of situation investors and builders run up against all the time. It is a matter of assessing the market and trying to find the perfect area at the perfect time. One those variables are known then action can be taken, investments can be made and profits can be collected. So the question remains, where is a good area for this kind of action? Arizona comes to mind. Over the past number of years Arizona has been one of the hottest real estate markets in the country and this trend shows few signs of slowing down. There are a number of reasons that Arizona can make this boast and it would seem that there are going to be a few more boasts made over the coming months. People love to go to Arizona, it is one of the most traveled to destinations in the country and it s not hard to see why. Fantastic weather, scenery, golf, recreation and many other attributes can be claimed by this state. Real estate has been in high demand in this state for many years. This is partially due to Arizona s popularity as a retirement destination and it s notoriety as a destination resort location. In fact tourism is one the strongest aspects of Arizona s economy pouring millions of dollars per year into this state. Arizona is a state that is ideal for any recreational pursuit. This is one of the main locations for MLB spring training as the home of the Cactus League. Arizona is also known as the home of some of the most amazing desert scenery in the world. However Arizona is much more diverse in land than one might think, the northern part of the state is home to the Colorado Plateau, a more forested and cooler area. Arizona has always been known as a great place to visit. However, with the abundance of education, the excellent economy and a great and stable real estate industry. Hopefully this has explained why there is such a demand for quality homes and properties in Arizona. Supply and demand does not work unless there is interest from both sides and Arizona is a perfect example of a balanced area where supply meets demand. Rick Leforce is a specialist when it comes to Peoria Arizona Real Estate . Let Rick and Jen inform you about Peoria real estate in sunny Arizona. Contact us anytime or visit us online at personalizedhomesearch.com

The press and media love an expert. It provides them with a valued opinion on a story and also helps them to move the story on. Making yourself an expert in the eyes of the press and media is hugely valuable. It gives you exposure to many people and used wisely will help to support your business. So, what can you do to make yourself an expert? Demonstrate your expertise - If you are good at what you do then you should be able to demonstrate your expertise. This could be through awards, how you have helped individuals, businesses etc, your past experience in providing comment, your years of experience, the major projects you have been involved in. Very often it’s what you might say to other business people when networking to illustrate how you have helped customers. Shout about your credibility - It’s no good being shy - no one will think you are an expert if you avoid talking about yourself and what you and your business have achieved. Your position as an expert must filter through to everything you do and every piece of marketing material. Demonstrate your expertise on your website and through other promotional literature. Submit articles to directories like ezinearticles - It’s important to get your name out there. Journalists, just like everyone else, are searching for information on the Internet â€" they want background information that will help to support a story. Submitting articles to directories like ezinearticles will help to establish your expertise. Approaching relevant publications to offer comment - In addition to submitting articles to directories, you should consider approaching target publications with ideas for articles and comment you can provide. Online publications, in particular, are on a constant search for material. The nature of the Internet is that these publications are always looking to keep their sites fresh with new material to draw readers back. Articles for online publications give you access to key target groups as well as helping to build credibility with journalists. Propose an expert column - As well as providing articles there is often scope for suggesting an expert column to publications, or that you might be a worthy addition to the current panel. That in itself brings huge kudos and helps to build your profile â€" with readers as well as editorial staff. Approach the press and media on the back of a breaking news story - Once a news story breaks journalists rush around to get comment from experts â€" you need to ensure that they know what subjects you can comment on. There are a number of ways to approach this. You can submit your details to expert databases that journalists subscribe to. Or, you can be the first off the mark when a relevant story breaks and directly approach the press and media. The latter is more time consuming and relies on you having a good idea of the press and media and those likely to cover a particular story. In an ideal world you would do both. Secure speaker opportunities - The more speaker opportunities you can secure the more you can build your profile and demonstrate that you have something worthy to say. Certainly, if you can amass a number of speaker opportunities then this can look very impressive. Don’t forget your local press and media - National journalists do pick up stories from local papers and never forget that many local journalists have ambitions with the national press. If you can build relations with local press and media then that can be hugely valuable. In addition, it’s useful to get experience of handling the press and media at a local level before embarking on targeting national journalists. Call yourself an expert - If you don’t call yourself an expert then no one else will. How do people know unless you tell them and demonstrate it to them? Be available - It’s important that when press and media call you for comment you can make yourself available. Do this on a consistent basis and you will build a healthy working relationship â€" a ‘win-win’ relationship that will encourage them to come back to you time and again for comment. Journalists need you as much as you need them. Give what they want - well-sourced and credible opinion and views and you will be one step ahead of many of your competitors. Using PR to build your profile and protect your reputation can help you influence the audiences that are important to you - I invite you to access more free articles, tips and information on this and other subjects by visiting the free stuff section of the website - profilematters.co.uk/resources.php You can also receive regular advice, support and information by signing up to the newsletter via the website as well as accessing the DIY PR Toolkit, designed to give businsses a step-by-step approach to doing their own PR. Debbie Leven - Profile Matters - PR Consultants UK

Skinny Jeans, whether you love them or loathe them, they’re everywhere. But where did they come from? 1950s and 1960s fashion: Jeans became the symbol of rebellion and passionate youth worn by the sex symbols of the day. James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Elvis wore their jeans straight and slim. Although women in the 50’s didn’t often wear jeans; Audrey Hepburn, Sandra Dee, and Marilyn Monroe wore the 50’s fashion of slim, close fitting pants that had the same sexy silhouette as today’s skinnies. By the 60’s women’s jeans were more common (even though the zipper was in the back) and they continued to have that skinny silhouette. The look could be super sweet like the girl next door, or sexy and rebellious like those greaser chics in the musical and movie of the same name. Rock and Roll was coming of age and tight jeans were the uniform. 1970s Fashion The essence of Rock and Roll stays strong in skinny jeans despite the fluff and flash of the Disco era. When we think of 70’s fashion, we think of elephant bells and groovy flare jeans; but dig a little deeper and you’ll find the beginnings of the punk movement and the skinniest jeans in history. Tight from the waist to the ankle, safety pins were often used to keep them snug around the body and increase that bondage appeal. Think of The Sex Pistols and The Ramones as prime examples. Vivian Westwood had her own shop selling this “anti-fashion” to the ultra hip crowd. 1980s fashion Flash Dance collides with Spandex to bringing a whole new look to the denim scene. Tight jeans were definitely in for women and men. Tight and stone washed, (still no stretch in denim) 80’s fashion is where tapered leg jeans really made their mark, and the style lasted well into the early 90’s. Remember those oversized sweatshirts and the colorful leg warmers? Pat Benetar, Chrissie Hynde and The Rolling Stones, all the serious rockers wore their denim tight (without the leg warmers of course). 1990s Fashion While mainstream fashion heads toward the boot cut, skinny jeans recapture their cool. No longer popular in 90’s fashion, tight jeans could still be found on the music scene. The Rolling Stones were still rolling along, and underground Punk with its Goth cousin were entrenched in tight skinny jeans (anti-fashion once again). Ever wonder why “Rock n Roll” is so often mentioned in reference to jeans? For mainstream America the skinny jean had taken a disturbing turn, evolving into tapered leg styles and even the horrors of faux denim leggings (some people just have trouble moving on). 2000-2003 Denim is everywhere, after years of boot cuts and flares, the skinny jean looks suddenly fresh and new. Here we are again, but skinny jeans didn’t just pop up over night. It has taken a while to hit the mainstream. In fall of 2002 cutting edge designers were showing skinny jeans scrunched over high heels and tucked into boots. Stella McCartney, Versus (Versace), and Rock and Republic are all showing skinny jeans. By 2003 the trend becomes even more prevalent on the runways and all the premium denim brands are on board. You have to admit, it looks great on those runway models. 2004-2005 The Power of celebrity is omnipotent, if Kate is wearing it, it’s got to be good. Designers are still pushing the skinny, and the trend catches on in London. Visitors to High Street feel totally out of date in their tried and true boot cut jeans. JBrand Jeans is launched in LA, producing straight and skinny jeans in dark washes with minimal detailing. Celebrities such as Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie, and Sienna Miller embrace the new trend and look fabulous in it. Our very own fashionista, Ada, bought her first pair of skinny jeans in 2005, but mainstream America is still slow to catch on. Lucky Brand Jeans introduces skinnies to their customers only to watch them languish on the store shelves. 2006 The Skinny Jean is all the buzz! It’s hard to wear but you know what they say: “No Pain, No Gain”. It’s here, it’s there, it’s everywhere! Suddenly Americans are seeing Skinnies in every store. Almost all denim brands offer at least one version of a skinny, cigarette, or super straight. There are other jeans out there, but these are the ones that are on the top of everyone’s list. Stores are pushing the new look, and everyone from fashion editors to bloggers are writing about this new trend. Early in the year news reports are varied, predicting that this is a style that just won’t catch on with mainstream America. But by the fall season you can get your skinny fix everywhere from the trendiest boutiques to the local discount store. The skinny is definitely at the peak of popularity right now. How long will the style last? What’s next? Let’s look to London and see, is that a wide leg jean? Visit zafu.com to find out which jeans fit you best. The zafu jean finder provides personalized recommendations for your body type. zafu makes jean shopping easy .

The hit TV series Friends, featuring Jennifer Aniston, sparked a new craze for sedu celebrity hairstyles. All of a sudden, everybody wanted to have the sleek, straight hair sported by this stunning star. It became so popular, in fact, that someone started a website dedicated entirely to pictures of Jennifer Aniston and her sought-after Sedu celebrity hairstyle. What you may not know is that sedu is short for seductive â€" a Sedu celebrity hairstyle is a seductive hairstyle, which is why women who want to look sexy get themselves a sedu hairstyle. If you follow the tips below, you too could be adopting the seductive secrets of Jennifer Aniston. First things first, sedu hair is clean and healthy hair â€" clean, healthy, shining hair is already on its way to becoming seductive. Regular shampooing and thorough brushing is a must if you are to achieve your ideal Sedu celebrity hairstyle. Start imagining yourself as Rachel in Friends. For the sedu look to work, you have to walk the walk and talk the talk, sedu is an image, it is a way of expressing the passionate side of your character. But I wasn’t born with that lovely straight hair , I hear you say. No problem. If you don’t have naturally straight hair, the next best things are the ceramic straightening irons on sale now â€" some of which will moisturize your hair as it straightens it. The hair is divided into sections and then the irons are placed round a section and drawn down the length of it. Repeat the process with each section, then comb and spray lightly. Let one side fall over your eye for extra sedu emphasis and there you have your sedu celebrity hairstyle. See below to find out how you can see what your own uploaded photo looks like with different Jennifer Aniston Sedu style. See what YOU look like with the latest celebrity hairstyles - view them on your own uploaded photo now! Try On 5,000 Hairstyles! FREE Demo thehairstyler.com

When you are a tattoo artist, nothing is as important as getting the designs your customers want right. Permanent mistakes can ruin you as a credible artist. The tool most often used by professional tattoo artist to make sure the designs are right is tattoo stencil paper. Read on to learn how it works and where you can get it. Tattoo stencil paper is a very useful tool for the tattoo artist. Its purpose is to transfer designs temporarily onto skin in order to use as a guide for the tattoo. There are a couple of different kinds of tattoo stencil paper, but most work in the same way. The design is either printed or drawn onto the stencil paper using a special transferable pencil or ink. The paper is then pressed onto the skin to transfer the image. The image can then be traced in order to ensure a perfect tattoo. Why should you use tattoo stencil paper? Perhaps you think you don’t really need stencil paper. But mistakes are possible, even with very experienced tattoo artists. Perhaps the design wasn’t effectively communicated by the customer. If you use tattoo stencil paper, the customer has a chance to view the design before anything permanent is done. This also allows the customer to be sure they like the design and where it is going to be located. Now that you know about tattoo stencil paper and why it is such a valuable tool, where can you purchase it? Tattoo stencil paper is usually available at any tattoo supply store, whether online or retail. There are different kinds of tattoo stencil paper available as well as tattoo stencil pencils and ink. Consider trying a few different kinds in order to see what styles you prefer. From needles, ink and machines to body piercing jewelry and equipment, we can provide you with all the info as well as industry news and new products. Beginning with tattoo equipment, it s important to research the types of equipment that are out there and the pros and cons to using each. Tattoo guns , needles, tubes, machines, tattoo transfer paper , and inks are all key elements to starting a studio, shop, parlor or business. The guns and machines are usually hand crafted or homemade. As for the inks, it is crucial to carry a wide variety of colors so you as the artists can create rich and unique tattoo designs .

The cocktail is practically an American institution. One of the very first Bartenders to popularise the cocktail was Jerry Thomas, Americas original Celebrity Bartender . Thomas wrote what is widely considered as one of the first books to contain cocktail recipes, “The Bartenders Guide”. When I first came across this little volume (last published in 1887) in a dusty old book shop I was blown away. Here at last was cocktail history laid bare! I bought it on the spot and literally sat up all night and read the book cover to cover. For anyone with even a flicker of interest in cocktails and drinks its an enthralling read. Jerry Thomas is to cocktail culture what Louis Armstrong is to Jazz! Here at last, set down on paper, were some of the very first cocktail recipes ever recorded. It was amazing, but it wasn t just cocktails, the book contained a host of other recipes, for Punch, Egg Nogs, Juleps, Smashs, Cobblers, Mulls, Sangarees, Toddies, Slings, Sours, Flips, Negus, Shrubs, Pousse Café, Cups and many, many more. In total there were some 230 original recipes. Some were famous, some I d never even heard of! They represented an amazing cross-section of exciting and wonderful drinks. Jeremiah P. Thomas was born in Jefferson County, New York in November 1830 and first learned the bartending trade in New Haven. He then went to San Francisco and the California gold fields. In 1851 he opened the first of four saloons in New York, below Barnum s Museum at Broadway and Ann Street. He then seems to have travel around the US for several years. Working as head bartender at top hotels in St. Louis, Chicago, San Francisco, Charleston, S.C., and New Orleans. Slowly turning himself into Americas first celebrity bartender! In 1859 he visited London and Paris. He took with him a set of solid silver bar utensils constructed at a cost of $4,000! Returning to New York Thomas became the principal bartender at the Metropolitan hotel. Then in 1866 he opened his most famous bar located on Broadway between 21st and 22nd Streets. Thomas was an imposing and lordly figure of a man, portly, sleek and jovial, yet possessed of immense dignity . His trade mark was a jacket of pure and spotless white which encased his great bulk . He also sported a huge moustache, in the Walrus style! Obviously a man once seen, not easily forgotten! The various saloons he operated became showplaces where he demonstrated his mixologist s art. They were very popular with the sporting and theatrical celebrities of the day. To quote the New York times on his death in 1885 he was at one time better known to club men and men about town than any other bartender in the city, and he was very popular among all classes . He is credited with inventing the Blue Blazer and the Tom and Jerry and certainly popularised many other early cocktails and drinks. In reference to the Blue Blazer the Bartenders Guide says, “The novice in mixing this beverage should be careful not to scald himself. To become proficient in throwing the liquid from one mug to the other, it will be necessary to practise for some time with cold water.” Thomas s book was first published in 1862, and quickly went through half a dozen printings. The book was updated in 1876 and the final edition published in 1887. In the first edition there were ten recipes which Thomas referred to as cocktails (by the 1887 edition the cocktails numbered some 20 ). His book was probably the first to include actual recipes for cocktails and certainly the world s first bartender s guide. Martin Lloyd is a long time cocktail enthusiast. He has recently published a new digital edition of the Bartenders Guide which can be downloaded from cocktailoriginals.com

New York or the Big Apple has been home to various television shows for years. From hit late night programs to award-winning talk shows. The following TV shows are all filmed in the studio or shown live in New York City. These television shows cater to all types of audience from the news hound to the comedy addict. If you live in New York or you are just visiting, you can even be a member of the studio audience of many of these programs. It is free and really fun but getting tickets can be tough so you should do so way ahead of time! The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Shown on the Comedy Central network, this television show airs every week night with a celebrity being interviewed. It s one of the hippest shows on television today and it s audience is more well informed than that of many real news programs. Good Morning America - This ABC program airs every morning on weekdays. This is where you can see Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion. The Early Show - This CBS program mainly focuses on lifestyle and news as well as the latest daily issues. This airs every morning. The Late Show with David Letterman - This popular late night comedy talk show on CBS has won multiple Emmy awards. It airs on weeknights and feature celebrity guests. Live with Regis and Kelly - This is one of the longest running shows in New York. It is hosted by Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin. Saturday Night Live - SNL has become an NBC tradition having been on the air for more than 30 years. This television show airs every Saturday night. It features a celebrity guest host and musical act every week. Late Night with Conan O Brien - This Emmy award-winning show airs weeknights on NBC, it features a wide range of comedic material, stand-up comedy performances, celebrity interviews and musical guests. The Today Show - This NBC daily morning show mainly features lifestyle stories and provides some news. The show features Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Matt Lauer, Tiki Barber and Al Roker. Total Request Live - This popular MTV staple is filmed in Times Square. The View - ABC s Emmy-award winning daytime show features an eclectic all woman panel currently composed of Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, and Elizabeth Hasselbeck. For more information on traveling to New York City read the NYC Travel Blog . It is recommended that you make all of your New York Hotel Reservations online with New York Hotel Deals.

Celebrity Big Brother is upon us again. And lets face it we love it. This years Celebrity Big Brother will be the fourth after it was originally conceived as a fund raiser for Comic Relief in 2002. The show was won by a rather grumpy and embarrassed Jack Dee who actually staged a successful escape during the show. He still refuses to be interviewed on the subject but it didn’t do his career any harm! Anyway the real drama came from the larger than life presenter, Vanessa Feltz. Celebrity Big Brother proved very good at spotting fading celebs who are on the verge of imploding and to the eye-balls-glued-to-the-TV horror and delight of the millions watching, Vanessa let nobody down and imploded with some style. This sort of on-screen celebrity unravelling was to set the standard for the second and third Celebrity Big Brother series and boy they haven’t disappointed. Series two saw former Take That singer and all-round nice guy, Mark Owen, win it but the real interest was provided by the marital angst of not-so-funny-man, Les Dennis. Poor ol’ Les was Celebrity Big Brother Two’s imploding unravelling celebrity. It seemed like he was the only one in the country who didn’t know Amanda was about to walk. Cringe! Last year we were spoiled for spectacle. Celebrity Big Brother excelled themselves when they managed to get the freak show that was John McCririck, Brigitte Nielsen and Jackie Stallone, in the same house. Will we ever forget the horror of McCririck (in full frame) pulling a juicy bogey from his nostril and then greedily lapping it up or his massive moody and being denied diet coke (of all things!) by Big Brother! Or the horror on Brigitte’s face, when ex-mother in-law Jackie Stallone was introduced into the Celebrity Big Brother pit. Fantastic. Baz from the Happy Mondays walked off with the prize, upsetting the bookies favourite child rapper, Blazin’ Squads’, Kenzie. So on to this year and Celebrity Big Brother Four and if Celebrity Big Brother were looking for a washed up fragile celebrity who could spectacularly unravel, right down to his DNA, before a hungry public, they can only have had one man at the top of their list. Step forward Mr Michael Barrymore. Yes folks the former multiple winner of the UK’s Entertainer Of The Year is rumoured to be going in to the Celebrity Big Brother House (for a fee of £150k). Already, the father of the boy who drowned in mysterious circumstances in Mr. Barrymore’s pool, is asking for him to be grilled on the subject by his housemates. Ouch. So who are the other housemates likely to be? The list is endless but the best supported rumours for Celebrity Big Brother Four are, girly Boy George, saggy girl Lisa Nicole Smith, Dead or Alive front girl-man, Pete Burns, boy who looks like a girl Macaulay Culkin, funny girl Liza Tarbuck, toothy girl Esther Rantzen, lovely girl Fern Cotton and … well I’m out of girlie prefixes so I’ll leave it there. So that’s it. Thursday January the 5th on C4 will kick-off the madness. Can’t wait. Author Mike Kearney © celebrity-big-brother.com This article may be re-published but must be left unchanged and must include the URL to celebrity-big-brother.com

Properly timing the sale of your home could mean tens of thousands of extra dollars in your pockets. Real estate, like many industries has cyclical periods that could have serious effects on buyers and sellers. As strange as it may sound, you can approach the real estate market like a farmer would consider his activities. We can very easily identify the 4 seasons of spring, summer fall and winter in real estate. Lets use an investment property as an example and assuming that you want to be in the game for a long period of time. A farmer would typically plant in the spring and harvest in the fall. Plan in the winter and tend in the summer. So how does this relate to real estate? Real estate cycles don’t necessarily reflect the temperature outside or a particular calendar month. It illustrates the fact that prices don’t go up in a linear motion and there are months or years when prices increase more or less. Just like a farmer would read books and educate himself about different products in the winter a real estate investor’s job is to take courses, learn new strategies, etc. when prices aren’t increasing at all. When real estate prices start to rise, investors need to start purchasing or planting their seeds as a farmer would do the same. Summer is the best cycle to be in either as a farmer or as an investor. When prices are still continuing to grow we need to look after our real estate portfolios. Sometimes we have to complete smaller renovations at our properties, find new tenants etc. At the end of the day our whole purpose is to manage our investments and make sure that our investment will be in great shape for harvest when it’s time to sell. Fall, this is the most exciting time out of all 4 seasons. Lets rake in the profits! If you are a wine lover, you know that the sweetest wine comes from a late harvest. However the people producing the wine are sometimes risking all year’s work in case of an early frost. To determine the best time to sell, you really need to be on top of your game. I always recommend selling before everyone else does. Never wait to get out at the very top, leave something on the table for someone else to be greedy. To determine when it is the right time to sell, you need to be able to do your own due diligence about what’s driving the real estate industry. Far too often, we listen to daily news and we only base our decisions on the short term outlook. Not that long ago, I read a newspaper article about our former Premier, Ralph Klein. In that article I was surprised to find out that he never reads the newspaper because he doesn’t care much about the daily news. He rather do his own research from an independent source who has no interest in providing bios information. What if you aren’t looking at real estate as an investment? Rather you just want to decide what is the best time to sell your principal residence? July, August, December and early January are usually the best times to buy. The reasons have to do with prices softening during these months and less buyers to compete with as most have taken a break from the market to go on vacation or they have committed themselves to some family time with holidays or recently succeeded in buying their home in the spring or fall. Another reason these months can be good for buying pertains to the cycle of price increases--often in September (the fall market) and early spring (the spring market) the prices go up in our appreciating market. Just waiting an extra few weeks at certain times such as mid-August or early January can cost one 5-10% on their home purchase. Paying tens of thousand of dollars extra is an insane amount of money for waiting a few weeks longer for what one was planning on doing anyway when it was more convenient just because you waited an extra month. Usually the increase in the fall is less than the one in the spring but several percent on a $500,000 house is very significant. If one is going to buy... it s non-sense to do it several weeks late and spending $10,000s of extra for the same property. In the fall the buyers come back to the market again as they get into their routines--kids going to school, working, vacation planning and a whole new set of buyers that are just starting with the hopes of being in a new home by the end of the year. For sellers, the worst time of the year to sell are the months listed above that are the best time for buyers to purchase. Sellers listing in July/August/late Nov/Dec/Jan/early February are not going to get the highest dollar for their house. List at the time the demand is highest and when inventory takes a dip. It pays off to think ahead a little bit and plan your moves in advance. Remember, just like a farmer knows when to spend time to educate himself, plant the seed and bring in the harvest. If you do the same, chances are good that you will maximize your profit. Posted by JoeSamson.com Professionalism Joe Samson is an Alberta based real estate professional and licensed member of the Real Estate Council of Alberta - Proudly representing MaxWell Canyon Creek Realty. Joe began building his personal real estate career in 2000 and hasn t looked back since. Using unique real estate strategies he managed to help countless clients of his to become on route to be financially independent and happy home owners. At that time, Joe worked as a Project Manager for a major International gas compression manufacturer. After regular business hours Joe managed to dedicate a large amount of his time to his passion - Real Estate. Joe spent countless hours educating himself of how to buy, where to buy and what to buy while minimizing risks and maximizing returns. Then he took that knowledge and began working with clients who were interested in purchasing revenue-producing real estate using his own unique strategies. Over the years, Joe has dramatically increased his personal net worth, along with that of many of his clients.

The medium hairstyle is among the most popular hair lengths sported by both the common woman and the celebrity diva alike. The medium length hair in fact is a compromise between the long hair and the short hair, offering up advantages of both the worlds of the short haired woman and the long haired woman. The woman with medium length hair has a wide range of styling options from which she can choose. Some of the more popular haircuts of the woman with the medium length hair revolve around the layered haircut. This is in fact one of the most versatile haircuts that a woman could get. Quite simply, it can compliment almost any type of face and can be very easily re-invented for a different look. With razor cut layers, the flipped out layers would look ever so chic and sassy, while the graded layer would take the years of an older woman’s age. In addition, the layered hairstyle is one that can be very easily swept up into a simple ponytail or brushed open for a more playful look. It is very important for young professional women to find a hairstyle that can very easily change from the professional look to the club look. The layered hairstyle does this very sleekly and smoothly. The bob is another popular medium length cut, as is the shag. These styles are very popular among the chic and confident women, though not necessarily so among the more professional or mature women. Although both these styles include some layering, they are difficult to pull up into the more severe looks required on the job, and therefore not acceptable in some professional professions. But in addition to the cut, the medium hairstyle is also versatile in that its range of textures can be easily transformed into the other so that you never get bored with your hairstyle or run out of styles for those different events. The curly hair can be straightened and the straight hair can be curled; the frizzy hair can be tamed and the tame hair can be teased; the wavy hair can be crimped or the crimped hair can be made wavy â€" the options are endless with the medium length hair. You can even choose if you want a semi-permanent change or a temporary one or even a semi-permanent one. Curling irons and ceramic straightening irons, even traditional curlers are all temporary means of changing one’s hair texture for a single special event or outing. On the other hand, chemical treatments are more permanent or sometimes can give a semi-permanent effect. Chemical treatments can be used on any type of hair to get it to the desired texture â€" the curly, wavy or frizzy hair can be relaxed to give the straight hair, or the straight hair can be permed to give the curly hair. Some semi-permanent options include straw curls and temporary relaxer treatments. David Yu - write medium hairstyle for Idola Fashion. He also writes about Bikini , Lingerie and more. Get Your fashion experience on idolafashion.com/

The term â€Å"infill development” refers to any kind of new, significant construction in an already established area. Infill development can take many forms, including developing previously vacant lots and replacing older buildings that aren t in great shape. Infill development offers a great opportunity for real estate investors, since it s encouraged by many community governments. In California, the California Infill Opportunity Law permits any city or county to designate particular areas as â€Å"infill opportunity zones.” To become one of these zones, an area has to meet four major criteria: 1. It must me zoned either for infill residential or mixed use development. If the area isn t already zoned this way, the city or county has to change the existing zoning as part of the first step. 2. The area also has to be located within a third of a mile of a transit stop featuring frequent service. In this case, â€Å"frequent” is defined as having no more than fifteen minutes between buses and trains for at least five hours per day. 3. The area must be located in a county where the population is at least 400,000. In California, this is a little less than half of the counties. 4. Last, these zones have to be designated in an area where the community plans call for higher density infill development, to make sure that the development that occurs in the infill opportunity zone is consistent with existing planning. If you re a developer or prospective developer who d like to get involved in infill development, this law is a great opportunity. It allows you to find areas where the local planners want your development. This means you ll have a much easier time getting things underway. If you don t live in California, but would like to see a similar law in your state, read the full text of the law, and get in touch with the Surface Transportation Policy Project for more information about how the law was enacted there. With this information, you ll be able to campaign for a law like this in your state, giving others the opportunity to take advantage of infill opportunity zones. Many local decision makers might be unaware of the benefit that infill development can bring them. Therefore, it can be advantageous to the success of your project if you help spread the word about it. There are a few things you can do to help get local officials on your side. Knowing your community is step one. If you identify the areas that would best benefit from infill development or from being designated as infill opportunity zones, you can share that information with local and city officials. Areas that need more affordable housing, are in failing commercial areas, or that need better amenities for people on foot, bicyclists, and public transit users are all prime candidates for infill development. Be sure that you look for the area s ability to accommodate the development, too. There should be a large number of vacant areas, structures that have been abandoned, large parking lots, or older low-density structures. Once you ve done your research, you can get in touch with the City Council or other officials to let them know of these areas. If you can show them how infill development will benefit the area, they ll be much more interested in assisting you with your investment plans. Anthony Seruga and Yolly Bishop of Maverick Real Estate Investments, Inc. work with builders, developers and other players in the commercial real estate industry to acquire and develop properties. They use progressive investment strategies that have proved extremely profitable. In addition to their own deals, they teach both seasoned and inexperienced investors how to be big players in the game. Visit the website for more info.

In this article, we want to explore the idea of using the popularity of celebrities and current event (news) topics to help market any internet business. The Idea Celebrities and news events are not only popular topics, they are also popular keywords in the major search engines. Thousands upon thousands of users everyday search the engines to find the latest info. The idea is to build mini sites that target this market. We call these pop surfer sites. It sounds a bit far fetched at first, but with a little strategy, these pop surfers can help sell our products - NO MATTER WHAT WE SELL, or at least generate a decent amount of qualified traffic. To get an idea of the type of traffic, have a look at these sites: buzz.yahoo.com 50.lycos.com wordtracker.com google.com/press/zeitgeist.html Look at the terms in these lists. I m sure you recognize most of them, as they are an indication of what and who is happening right now. Also, keep in mind these sites (Yahoo, Google, Lycos, etc.) are among the most visited sites on the net. The Pop Surfer Mini Site The first step is to develop a pop surfer mini site (or sites - the more the better). It doesn t have to be the greatest or prettiest site ever created. Don t put as much work into it as you would your primary site. The key to these sites is to get the popular names and terms on the page so the search engines can find and spider them. When developing your pop surfer page, keep in mind that you want a page that will 1) get into the search engines, and 2) grab the pop surfers attention while they are searching for their favorite artist, news story, etc. The Strategy After we have our pop surfer mini site(s) built and listed in the engines, how do we use it get customers to our businesses? There are two models that we will call the Indirect model and the Direct model. Each approach has it s own advantages and uses. In one model we indirectly target the pop surfers , and in the other model we directly target them. The Indirect Model This model gives us the most qualified visitors. In this model, we utilize the power of traffic exchanges . After we start getting our share of pop surfer traffic, we use the exposure ratio from these exchanges to drive qualified, targeted visitors to our primary business site. This works because exchanges allow us to target our visitors. When signing up for an exchange you are usually asked what category you want exposure in. They often give you a list with such categories as Health and fitness or Business Opportunities. This gives us control over where we want our primary sites information viewed. Some exchanges have a 1:1 ratio where one exposure on your page is worth one exposure on someone else s page. Others use different ratios such as 2:1 which gives two exposures on your page for one exposure on someone else s. There are several types of exchanges. The more popular ones are: Banner Exchanges, which gives banner exposures in exchange for placing other banners on our site. Exit Exchanges display your whole website, usually as a pop under window when a visitor leaves your site, in exchange for your site being displayed (as an exit pop under window) on someone else s site. The most powerful, however, are: Opt In list exchanges. These are special, because in every marketing circle, the number one rule for promoting your online business is to obtain an opt in list of subscribers. Opt in exchanges deliver the most targeted, and qualified visitors we can get with the exchange model. How they work is when someone enters or leaves your site, a list of newsletter, or business opportunity sign up forms are generated in a small unobtrusive window. When that happens, your newsletter or biz-opportunity is listed on someone else s website - IN THE TARGETED CATEGORY THAT YOU CHOSE when you signed up. Put the exchange code(s) on your pop surfer sites, and take advantage of the traffic. The Direct Model The direct model is more of an indirect approach in that we may not necessarily use the pop surfers for our primary business but we can still profit from them. How? One way is by utilizing Pay Per Click. Not pay per click in the sense that we bid for our sites exposure in a search engine, but Pay Per Click in the sense that we place listings on OUR sites and GET PAID for having them there. Every time someone clicks a result in your page, you get a percentage of the bidding amount for that click. If you use pay per click strategically, it can be very profitable. Merchant affiliate programs work well also. Amazon.com, for example, sells books, music, toys, and more. They let you place their products on your website, and you get a percentage when someone buys from you. Several other merchants work the same way. Do a search for merchants who sell CDs, books, video, toys, or clothing, and have an affiliate program. There are many out there. Finally, you don t only have to look for affiliate programs. If you have a business or product that you think might cater to popular culture, target the pop surfers directly!! For instance, if you print T-shirts, you could probably sell some with hottest stars faces on them. Do your research for your pop surfer page topic. You can bet that if a celebrity or topic has recently made news, the traffic is sure to follow. Rony Perry is an internet marketer with a B.S. In Computer Science. He maintains websites on various popular topics. fasbnet.com/celeb/