Link Chronicle: Lifestyle

Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts

May 12, 2014

40 is not too late to hit the gym

Even if you are above 40, it is not too late to hit the gym as researchers have found that "relatively intense" endurance exercises confer benefits on the heart irrespective of the age at which a person begins fitness training. "Despite biological changes with age, the heart still seems - even at the age of 40 - amenable to modification by endurance training," said David Matelot from the "Inserm 1099" research unit at the University of Rennes in France. "Starting at age 40 does not seem to impair the cardiac benefits," he added. The study was performed with 40 healthy men (without cardiovascular risk factors) aged between 55-70 years who were divided for assessment according to the level of exercise they took and the ages at which they began. Ten people had never exercised for more than two hours a week throughout their lives, and 30 had exercised for at least seven hours a week for over five years - either beginning their programmes before age 30 or after age 40. When the researchers tested the men on fitness measures like heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake, both groups of men who trained regularly fared about equally, and significantly better than their peers who had never trained. "It is never too late to change your way of life and get more physically active," Matelot said. "Using the stairs rather than the elevator, or gardening regularly, can also be beneficial," said the findings recently presented at the "EuroPRevent Congress" in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

London real estate shows how expensive property can be

London's real estate market is booming with an incomplete apartment selling for a record US$237 million.

The property, which was sold to a foreign national, has 16,000 square feet of floor space and sits on a prime site overlooking Hyde Park in central London.

Once furnished and renovated, the apartment is expected to be worth much more.

The high-profile transaction has brought attention to the London property market, which has been overheating by any standard.

House prices in the city have increased by nearly 18% over the last year.

People living in the city have complained about the prices being paid for top end properties, saying they are being priced out of the market to the benefit of rich international investors. The typical home in London now costs 458,000 pounds ($770,000).

Overseas investors, especially from Russia and China have been parking excess funds in London property, often to capitalise on tight supply and strong demand through low interest rates and government incentives.

Foreigners are also attracted to the city because of its vibrant culture and business.

The housing boom in London has been stoked by low interest rates, a strengthening UK economic recovery and aggressive government incentives.

A government Help to Buy program has led to a rush of mortgage lending.

A software that turns text into music

NEW YORK: Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have used a first-of-its-kind software to translate the emotions of the written word into music. The work could transform the way people interact with literature and spark new ways to visualise information, such as audiovisual e-books that generate music according to the emotions on the page or novel music apps, researchers said. "Given a novel in an electronically readable form, our system - called TransProse - generates simple piano pieces whose notes are dependent on the emotion words in the text," said Saif Mohammad, a computer scienti...

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Video of Solange Attacking Jay Z in an Elevator

Video footage of what appears to be Solange attacking Jay Z in an elevator has just surfaced. Obtained by TMZ, in the video Jay, Solange, and Beyoncé are all packed in the elevator along with what looks to be a security guard , and are all still dressed in their formal wear. Solange begins kicking and hitting Jay repeatedly, while he backs up towards one side of the elevator.
After leaving the Met Gala after party, Jay went solo in one limo, and Beyoncé and Solange in the other.

The Standard Hotel in NYC's Meatpacking District has sent an official statement:
"We are shocked and disappointed that there was a clear breach of our security system and the confidentiality that we count on providing our guests. We are investigating with the utmost urgency the circumstances surrounding the situation and, as is our customary practice, will discipline and prosecute the individuals involved to our fullest capacity."

Update: Here is the full video of the elevator incident:

Sep 3, 2013

Miley Cyrus says people are overthinking her VMAs performance

Miley Cyrus says she wanted to "make history" with her raunchy performance at the MTV Video Music Awards show in New York last week.
"I don't pay attention to the negative because I've seen this play out so many times ... Madonna's done it. Britney's done it. Every VMA performance, that's what you're looking for; you're wanting to make history," the 20-year-old former Disney Channel star told MTV Monday.
"Me and Robin [Thicke] the whole time said, 'You know, we're about to make history right now,'" Cyrus said.
The former "Hannah Montana" star was seen scantily clad, grinding against Thicke and making vulgar gestures with a foam finger throughout her performance at the VMAs.
"They're overthinking it," Cyrus said of those who criticized her song and dance routine. "You're thinking about it more than I thought about it when I did it. Like, I didn't even think about it 'cause that's just me."

Aug 29, 2013

It's a burger! It's a pizza! It's ... Megaburgerpizza?

KYOTO, Japan —If you've ever wrestled with deciding between burgers and pizza, there's a Japanese pizzeria that understands your dilemma.

The Pizza Little Party chain of restaurants is offering the best of both worlds with its Megaburgerpizza, which goes on sale Sept. 1.
The menu item promises more than ¾ pound of ground beef sandwiched between two 11-inch pizzas.
The Megaburgerpizza is also topped with meat sauce and a special cheese blend, in addition to classic burger toppings such as ketchup, onions, pickles and mustard.
The 2.65-pound Megaburgerpizza will cost $26, which is near the average pizza cost for Japan, and will remain on the menu until Nov. 22.

Why booze is music to the ears!

A new survey has found that four alcohol brands-Patron tequila, Hennessy cognac, Grey Goose vodka, and Jack Daniel's whiskey-accounted for more than half of alcohol brand mentions in the songs that mentioned alcohol use in Billboard's most popular song lists in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The study from researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health and the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which is the first to examine the context of specific brand mentions in depth, found that alcohol use was portrayed as overwhelmingly positive, with negative consequences rarely mentioned.
Of the 720 songs examined, 167 (23.2 percent) mentioned alcohol and 46 (6.4 percent) mentioned specific alcohol brands.
The leading four brands accounted for more than half (51.6 percent) of all alcohol brand mentions.
Alcohol mentions were most common in urban songs (rap, hip-hop and R and B - 37.7 percent of songs mentioned alcohol), followed by country (21.8 percent) and pop (14.9 percent).
At least 14 long-term studies have found that exposure to alcohol marketing in the mass media increases the likelihood that young people will start drinking or, if already drinking, drink more.
Adolescents in the US spend approximately 2.5 hours per day listening to music.
"Given the heavy exposure of youth to popular music, these results suggest popular music may serve as a major source of promotion of alcohol use among youth," study co-author David Jernigan, PhD, director of CAMY, said.
The study is published online by Substance Use and Misuse.

Miley Cyrus' dad supports her raunchy act

Singer Miley Cyrus' father Billy Ray has spoken up in support of her recent bold and flirtatious act at an awards function. The performance with Robin Thicke, at the MTV Video Music Awards, saw Cyrus twerking and flirting with the fellow singer. It got her a lot of negative publicity. Cyrus' father says he would have done the same thing, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Cyrus took to Twitter to convey a message from her father to her followers on the microblogging site. "Mile, if twerking would have been invented and I had a foam finger I would have done the same thing you did - dad," Cyrus posted on behalf of Billy Ray.

Grand Theft Auto 5 official trailer is live – watch it here

Ohh, for the love of GOD! Rockstar, we GOT IT! Another trailer? We will later see: Release day: Ohh let’s release a release trailer. After the release: Release day has passed, let’s make another trailer about the game. Etc etc etc.. Rockstar, THE TRAILER GURUs!! )

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Aug 25, 2013

Summer weight loss is a myth fitness experts say

Temperatures hovering past 40 degrees centigrade are being hailed as good news by outdoor fitness enthusiasts who believe that heat has multiple benefits.

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It's all about timing in the battle of the smartwatch

Samsung , the gadget will have a 2.5-inch screen, smartphone-like engine power, will run apps and will even sport a camera. Whether or not it works independently as a phone, the device will be designed to work closely with smartphones and tablets.But the Galaxy Gear smartwatch will not just compete against Apple's yet-unnamed wrist gadget, it will also go head-to-head with a number of existing smartwatch devices Here are four you can buy now.

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Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook hunt for five billion new friends: Can we trust Silicon Valley's do-gooders?

Out of America: First Bill Gates's malaria mission, now Mark Zuckerberg's global ambition. Philanthropy from profits seems to be the way forward ...

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How to find clarity in face of trauma

A new research has claimed that the best method to make sense of a tragedy is to turn away from reports in the news and social media and adopt a more simple understanding of the event.

According to new research from The University of Texas at Austin, in the wake of a negative event, people are more likely to find clarity by considering the larger picture.
Lead author Jae-Eun Namkoong, marketing graduate student in Red McCombs School of Business, said that such a firm understanding helps to diffuse negative emotions and the feeling of a lack of control.
He said that certainty about what causes tragic events not only helps people feel better, but also gives them a sense of direction for action.
Namkkong said that people launching petitions for government actions, constituents voting for policies, or even consumers boycotting against products that malfunction are all motivated by their certainty of the causes behind negative events.
As part of the study, the researchers presented 196 participants with information about the Sandy Hook shooting and altered their sense of time by framing the incident around different reference points.
For example, the shooting appears to be much more recent when compared with the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001. But in comparison with a similar incident that occurred just two weeks prior, the Sandy Hook shooting seems much farther away.
According to the results, the participants who perceived the shooting as farther away in time were more confident in their understanding about why the event happened.
Marlone Henderson, assistant professor of psychology and co-author of the study, said that as time passes, people naturally gain more certainty about events.
He said that if a person is trying to give themselves a feeling of meaning, they can distance yourself from the incident with time and space. And this also applies to personal problems, such as troubles at work, a broken appliance, or even a bad breakup.
In another experiment, the researchers presented 202 participants with a list of potential causes of the Sandy Hook shooting that were frequently mentioned in the media and public discourse (e.g., suspect's poor social support, weak security in elementary schools, shooter's personality disorder, loose gun control). They were then asked to assign a percentage value to each cause.
The results: Those who perceived the shooting as a distant memory were likely to attribute the event to one or two possible causes. However, the participants who perceived the incident as much closer in time associated the causes to a multitude of factors.
The study has been published online in Social Psychological and Personality Science. (ANI)

Gaga turns love letter into song

Pop star Lady Gaga's upcoming album "Artpop" features a "love letter" she wrote to Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace.

"The song 'Donatella' is my love letter to Donatella Versace," aceshowbiz.com quoted Gaga as saying.
She described the song as "an incredible, crazy fun pop song with really raising electronic beats that I did with producer Zedd.
"It's about being a fearless female and not caring what people say about you, being proud of who you are, and walking the walk no matter what," the 27-year-old added.

Goldankauf

Jan 7, 2013

Bieber Alleged Drug Photos Is Lil Twist A Bad Influence On Justin

Don't do drugs, kids! Well, Justin Bieber hasn't made a community service announcement just yet, but the 18-year-old singer has issued an apology for photos leaked on paparazzi site TMZ of him smoking a "smouldering blunt".

"Every day growing and learning. Trying to be better. You get knocked down, you get up," Justin tweeted at the weekend.

"Back on tour tomorrow. Ready to see u all smile. Time to do what I'm supposed to be doing. Performing. #BELIEVEtour."

The star continued with a series of similar-themed tweets, telling fans "I never want to let any of you down".

Justin had been photographed at California's Newport Beach hotel on January 2 enjoying a suspicious-looking cigarette with his best pal, 19-year-old rapper Lil Twist.

According to TMZ, Justin's mate was "happily rolling blunts" for him and his friends.

Security were reportedly present at the evening party, but no issues arose from the photographs being taken.

TMZ's sources close to Justin claim that Lil Twist is a "powerful negative influence" in Justin's life, and that this is not the first time they have smoked together (whatever the substance may be).

The latest scandal couldn't have come at a worse time for Justin. On New Year's Day, a paparazzo was killed while trying to photograph Justin's white Ferrari.

The photographer, Chris Guerra, reportedly called a photo agency claiming he had seen Justin smoking marijuana while driving his car. Lil Twist was seen driving the car when he was pulled over by police.

Justin issued a statement saying his "thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim".

But it was business as usual for Justin, who shed his shirt at a concert on Saturday night for his first appearance since the incident.

Internet pirate sentenced to jail

An Internet movie pirate has been sentenced to a US federal prison for five years.

A judge in Norfolk, Virginia sentenced Jeramiah B. Perkins, 40, of Portsmouth, Virginia to jail after he pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement.

Three other defendants were indicted for the same crime in April.

Perkins had been accused of being the lead person in directing activities in which movies only showing in theatres were recorded and made available for purchase on the Internet.

The Motion Picture Association of America was invited to give evidence that Perkins had been at the forefront of the most prolific movie piracy group operating on the Internet.

It was alleged Perkins and others had been distributing the copyright material from September 2009 through September 2011.

Perkins was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following the completion of his jail sentence. A $15,000 fine was also levied.

Justin Bieber pays surprise visit to cancer-struck fan

Teen sensation Justin Bieber paid a surprise visit to seven-year-old fan Millie Flamm, who is suffering from cancer, ahead of his concert in Utah.

Flamm had been hoping to catch Bieber live in Salt Lake City, but had to cancel her plans after falling seriously ill. A family friend started an online campaign in a bid to get Bieber to come and see her.

"A friend posted a picture on Facebook, and it's been shared thousands of times," contactmusic.com quoted her father - Brad Flamm - as saying.

The social networking campaign worked and Bieber Saturday stopped by the Primary Children's Medical Center, where Flamm is being treated.

He delighted her by hugging, kissing and singing to her. He also treated fellow hospital patients with free tickets to his Salt Lake City show.

The 18-year-old has become known for taking time out of his busy schedule to treat ailing fans to special meet and greets.

He invited sick youngster Emma Routh backstage after a gig in Texas in October last year.

Today´s Winner

Winner Rick Marvel

Rick Marvel´s Music

Dec 13, 2012

10 great PC accessories that cost less than $200

our guide to gaming upgrades if you're looking to get more from shooters, strategy games, and so on. And if you're just looking for an inexpensive new monitor or a comfortable keyboard, we've got you covered too. But there's a lot of stuff to choose from, and prices can vary wildly. We took a look at peripherals and accessories that won't set you back more than $200, and rounded up 10 of the best.

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Dec 1, 2012

Depardieu arrested after scooter crash

Frenchman Gerard Depardieu has been arrested for driving his scooter while under the influence of alcohol, RadarOnline.com reports.

The eccentric actor was held for questioning by cops on Thursday afternoon after a minor accident in Paris, which saw the burly Green Card star fall off his scooter and scrape his elbow. No one else was hurt in the accident.

When police arrived on the scene, Depardieu, 63, failed a sobriety test blowing a blood alcohol level of 1.8 grams per litre, nearly three times the French limit for driving of 0.5, Agence France-Presse reported.

He was then brought to a police station to face misdemeanor charges "after a period of sobering up," a source told the French news agency.

This is isn't the first time Depardieu has found himself in hot water with the authorities on the road.

Back in August, a motorist filed a complaint against the larger-than-life character accusing him of assault and battery following an alleged altercation in Paris.

Depardieu was accused of punching the motorist after his scooter allegedly collided with the unnamed driver’s vehicle.

And last August, Depardieu was given a life-time ban from Air France after urinating in the aisle of a plane.

Passengers on the flight said Depardieu appeared drunk and said he was desperate to use the bathroom during takeoff, which is, of course, prohibited.

In a statement issued on Depardieu's behalf to French media, actor Edouard Baer - who was traveling with him on the flight - said he had passed the Golden Globe winner a bottle in which to urinate, but it had overflowed.

"Gerard was upset at this and offered to clean up the mess," Baer said.

"He has prostate problems and it was very worrying and humiliating for him.

"He was also stone-cold sober at the time. This is not the way he usually behaves."