What do men want?

Women often wonder what do men want when they are looking for a long-term relationship and a wife. While each man may have his own priorities, I got an email from Charles, who I think has a great list to get some ideas on how most men think.

1. She is comfortable about her weight and she holds no illusions about being too thin or overweight.
2. Health-wise, she has no problems. Here I am referring to the fact that she looks healthy on her skin, hair and everything about her physique.
3. She is the one who is serious about life and plans ahead with regards to money and retirement.
4. She is a woman with an inquisitive mind and it is fun to engage in a conversation with her.
5. She is a very lovable person with a strong personality and is kind.
6. On a more serious note, we are one of a kind and understand each other on many levels such that you don't have to say it in words and you already know your lover's needs and wants.

Why am I fat?

If I look at all the ads on television for losing weight, I started to think that people were really trying to become skinny through diet, exercise, or weight loss surgery.

How wrong I was! According to a new poll from Woman's Day magazine, only 8% of those polled admitted to exercising on a regular basis, yet when asked what they most wish for, 37% stated to be thinner. Just to put it in perspective, two out of three Americans have a weight problem.

And while I also thought that women would want to look younger -- I want to and am terrified of getting old -- in this poll only 6% stated to look younger.

The final shock came to me when I read that if given the option, 78% would rather get a million dollar payout than have Jennifer Aniston's slim physique.

I guess we now know why so many women are fat. They are simply not willing to do the hard work needed to lose weight and would happily waste money on diet pills.

British women with large breasts

I reported earlier how the breast size has been going up in England. The Daily Mail has some more statistics. The average bra size has grown from a 34B to 36C and according to the department store Marks & Spencer, a quarter of all their bras sold are a D cup or above. They now also carry cup sizes to J, a relatively recent phenomenon. Bravissimo, which specializes in lingerie for large breasted women, now sells K cup bras. It seems that there is now even a celebration called Breast Pride Week.

While millions of women with small breasts suffer each day and would do anything to be in this situation, scientists still do not know the reasons. Some of the change is, of course, due to rising popularity of breast augmentation surgery, but it is also known that women are becoming obese, hence, adding fat in all parts of the body. Many women who are on hormone therapy also report change in their breast size. Another related factor is higher consumption of alcohol (extra calories consumed without realizing).

Which wine should I buy?

Previously I wrote How to enjoy wine. As has been documented, wine has many healthy benefits and I have found that almost any food tastes better when accompanied by a bottle of wine. Plus, there are all these great recipes, for example, my favorite pears in wine.

Like most other things, we often associate high price with better quality. As far as wines are considered, we are awed by a bottle of wine that costs more than $100. Some wines can cost a lot more than that, of course.
Does that mean expensive wine is always better?

No, according to latest research by Antonio Rangel, associate professor of economics at the California Institute of Technology. He found that you can increase a person's enjoyment of wine by just sticking a higher price on it. In a blind test, he discovered that people's brain concluded that higher price wine was more delicious, even though the professor has merely slapped a label on a cheap bottle of wine.

I agree that wine connoisseurs and sommeliers can distinguish a cheap wine from an expensive one but for the rest of us, there is no difference.

So how to buy a good bottle of wine for a party?

• Don't experiment. Stick to the brand that you have drank before and like it. I love the Charles Shaw available at Trader Joe's for less than $5 a bottle. I have served it at dozens of parties and no one said that they didn't love it.
• There is no reason to talk endlessly about the wine that you are serving. Focus on the food instead. People come to a party for entertainment and eating; alcohol is least important.
  
• Follow the rules of drinking wine. Red wine should be served at room temperature and white wine should be chilled.
• In case, you want to spend the money, here is a list of best wines.