Puerto Rico residents to sue Merck over Vioxx deaths

In March this year, a study conducted showed that while Merck deliberately hid the risks from patients, doctors, and the FDA, it did not even provide the basic safety information on Vioxx to non-English speakers. A consumer rights group Consejo de Latinos Unidos compiled its report based on interviews of Spanish speaking patients in Puerto Rico. Vioxx was sold as Ceoxx in some Spanish speaking countries.

The same group is now planning to help victims in Puerto Rico sue Merck. It may be recalled that in a recent trial in Texas, Carol Ernst, the widow of a man who died after taking the drug, was awarded $26 million. The second trial, Humeston vs. Merck is scheduled to start in less than two weeks.

Recommended article: Lessons from Vioxx for all of us

Olive oil found to act as a painkiller

Not just in Italy or countries on the Mediterranean coast, but people worldwide have discovered the benefits of olive oil. Now scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center have found that olive oil actually has a compound that mimics the active ingredient in ibuprofen.

At a time when dangerous drugs like Vioxx have been banned due to their serious side effects, and even ibuprofen has been found to be dangerous if taken for a long period of time, we definitely need a safer painkiller.

Plastic surgery affordable by almost anyone now

According to latest report from ASPS, plastic surgery costs have dropped to such low levels that almost any American who wants it can afford it.

Recommended article: How to pick the right plastic surgeon?

Tips from Gwyneth Paltrow to Pitt and Aniston

Just two weeks ago we had advised that we should never make our private life public - it helps no one. That is exactly the message from Gwyneth Paltrow, a one time girlfriend of Brad Pitt, to him and his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston.

"I learned my lesson at 24," she says in an interview with Time. "It would be a lot easier on Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston now had they not talked to the press about each other and everything to begin with."

If you recall that after Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston decided to divorce, first Pitt spoke to GQ and then Jennifer Aniston spoke to Vanity Fair. While both of them were civil and kind to each other, it would have been much better that these highly private issues had been kept that way. Our advice as always - "Never share with anyone else what you two share as a couple."

Recommended article: Share your secrets only with your partner

Redheads more likely to get skin cancer

We have been talking in detail about how skin cancer continues to rise and a lot of it is simply because we are careless. For instance, we recently reported about younger women who were using tanning beds are more likely to have skin cancer. We also talked about how young people were even more susceptible to skin cancer.

Now comes another study that says that redheads are even more likely to get skin cancer due to their unique chemical constitution.

So what can redheads to take better care of their skin? Pretty much what everyone else needs to do but the redheads have to do more. Avoid sunburn, particularly when the sun is at its peak between 10 AM and 2 PM. Cover up if you have to be in the sun, wear sunglasses, and use a high quality sunscreen. You can also use self tanners to get the tanned look if that is what you want.

Recommended article: Care of sunburnt skin

Drink coffee and stay young with its antioxidant power

If you want to delay or even prevent aging to some extent, you have to consume more anti-oxidants. And as everyone knows, consumption of any nutrient through natural products is ideal but if you cannot for some reason or have deficiency or just want some extra kick to start with, it is perfectly fine to take supplements.

So where can you find more anti-oxidants - the chemicals that actually keep you young. Coffee is a good start. A recent study found that coffee and black tea (though do not drink it like the English and the Indians do - with lots of milk) may be excellent sources of antioxidants. You may also try alpha-lipoic acid which is often referred to as the mother of all anti-oxidants.

Related article: Benefits of green tea

What gifts did celebrities get at VMA 2005?

This year's Video Music Awards (VMA) had all the buzz despite the weather in Miami, but let us talk about the products that we specifically liked in the celebrity gift basket and are recommending to our visitors:

Shay Todd Swimsuits - If you don't know the brand yet, think Paris Hilton's outfit in the Carl's Jr ad that showed the style diva bite The Spicy BBQ Six Dollar Burger while washing a Bentley car.

Fredericks of Hollywood - While there are other lingerie brands that we like, this company has come back with a vengeance (they were bankrupt for a while) with very hot designs.

Sphatika - The company has a skincare line that uses only natural (totally chemical free) ingredients and products are then infused with Elixir of Quartz Crystal. The company also uses mantras from the holy books of Hindus, The Vedas, to make the products have the right energy.

Hylexin - Hate those dark circles? Hylexin is the answer and celebrities are lapping it up. It is not a concealer but instead reduces hemoglobin degradation byproducts through optimization of enzymatic activity in the peri-orbital tissue.

Shu Uemura - The world famous Japanese designer was popular as always. No doubt that Hollywood celebrities want them all from Shu Uemura.

Recommended article: How to have a personal style makeover?

Perfect butt without plastic surgery

It’s all about the butt these days - particularly after Jessica Simpson used it so effectively showing it off in her Daisy Dukes. The new rear zone, in addition to the other obvious one(s), has grown in popularity thanks to the likes of J-Lo and Beyonce. A plump rump, or as some like to call it "junk in the trunk" has become a girl’s most important accessory.

Sweet and Vicious, the compay that makes the Bubble line of "new butt boosting lingerie" (an alternative to butt augmentation plastic surgery) recently conducted a poll of their fans to find out who in the eyes of their fellow tush-challenged fans, these celebs could use a pair of Bubbles too:

1. Paris Hilton
2. Gwyneth Paltrow
3. Cameron Diaz
4. Britney Murphy
5. Mischa Barton
6. Penelope Cruz
7. Heather Locklear
8. Uma Thurman
9. Sarah Michelle Gellar
10. Lara Flynn Boyle

“Women who have been blessed with high metabolism or the ‘thin gene’, have a harder time finding flattering fashions than the average woman would believe – especially jeans,” says Karen Jones, founder of Sweet and Vicious. “Bubbles is a comfortable and sexy solution to a well-known syndrome familiar to the unshapely woman otherwise known as ‘flat-butt.'"

By supporting the derriere from beneath each cheek, Bubbles provides a “pop” to the backside without extending up and over the hips. Bubbles’ low-profile design disappears under snug-fitting pants so it’s perfect for the fashionista who has more than one pair of sexy low-rise jeans or tight-fitting bottoms.

Bubbles is the hot new jeans accessory and a must-have for any fashion conscious female (or male for that matter). Bubbles is offered in three styles: Bubbles Bands, Bubbles ThighShapers and Bubbles Capris.

Recommended article: Butt implants

How to pay for plastic surgery?

The cost of plastic surgery has dropped significantly in last few years and you can always go overseas to reduce it even further, but you still gotta pay.

How are you going to pay for it? Cash is, of course, the best option and if you can wait till you have it, the better it is for you. But here are some more tips on how to think about financing of plastic surgery.

Our sexy photo for today

We believe that you do not have to be 16 to be sexy. In fact even a mature woman can be as sexy. So take a look at our sexy woman for today. Great smile, nice perky breasts, and the bikini top positioned strategically to show just the right amount of cleavage.

Recommended link: Sexy photo for today

Merck wants to settle Vioxx cases

After news that Vioxx lawsuits are growing rapidly and now near 5,000, Merck is backing off somewhat from its initial hostile tone. Afraid that it may not be able to pay some $65 billion in Vioxx liabilities, the company is now saying that it may want to settle some lawsuits with the victims.

As you can expect, the company is putting some restrictions and since each situation is different, the best person to suggest all your options is trial lawyer well versed in such matters.

Related article: How to pick a Vioxx attorney?

If you must, file for bankruptcy now before the law changes

While every attempt should be made to avoid filing for bankruptcy, sometimes it is not a choice - particularly for those driven to bankruptcy due to a medical situation.

But if you must, you have to do it now. Starting October 17th of this year, a new law is going to take effect that makes it tougher to erase debt obligations in bankruptcy. Pushed by credit card companies, President Bush and Republicans overwhelmingly approved this law that is very hard on America's poor. However, there are still about 7 weeks left to get organized and work with a lawyer to make it all happen. As the chart shows on the right, many Americans are working hard to take advantage of the old law.

Related article: How to consolidate your debt?

Ford and GM troubles multiply

Moody's have lowered the credit rating of both Ford and General Motors to junk status. The employee discount plans run by these two carmakers out of desperation, have definitely helped their sales but has been like a going-out-of-business sale for them. The discount programs have been extended further and it is hard for anyone for us here at eCreativa Media to imagine that car companies would ever be able to sell the same cars again at full prices.

GM, in particular, has many serious financial challenges, and things are not going particularly well for its GMAC subsidiary.

Gas prices expected to rise further

There is no relief in sight for people worldwide as oil prices broke another record. Oil prices have now crossed the estimates made earlier by the Department of Energy. But Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, has his own forecast - $100 per barrel of oil by 2012. Ouch! Let us hope that he was simply trying to irritate Pat Robertson.

Recommended article: How to deal with high gas prices?

Forth and Towne shopping experience report

If you have already shopped at Zara and H&M, you probably do not like Old Navy or Express or even Victoria's Secret. So now comes a totally new concept in shopping for women - Forth & Towne. The new store from Gap offers four brands, Allegory, Vocabulary, Prize and Gap Edition, that provide distinct styles for casual, business or dress-up needs within one space.

Allegory: Suiting with a distinctly feminine touch and classic pieces with modern elegance: tailored pants, beautifully cut blazers and clean shirting.

Vocabulary: For the individualist. Offers comfort and graceful femininity with rich knits and pants accented with prints and jewelry.

Prize: Celebrates fun, wearable trends with flattering silhouettes, flirty fabrics and stylish cuts.
Gap Edition: For the women who grew up with the Gap.

What you will also like are the dressing rooms. No mess, lots of rooms with mirror, and even refreshments.

Related article: Trying on lingerie

Are you tight down there? If not, try surgery

If you don't like the shape of your private parts or are not tight enough or in any way not pleased with how you look, there is no need to make love with lights off or be embarrassed about it. Now you have help - from a plastic surgeon. Using designer plastic surgery, they can give women the perect look that they want.

Read more on labiaplasty and other details on the procedure, recovery time, and cost.

Dermalastyl elastin cream makes skin young

In a world where Botox and collagen injections are almost a non-event, there are still people who are afraid of needles. Plastic surgeons say that the pain is so minor that no one should even worry. Plus, they can use a numbing cream to make it as painless as possible.

For those who are terrified of the needle anyway, a solution could be to use an elastin cream. It is neither Botox nor collagen. It is a related material to collagen. Read more about the Deramalsytel elastin cream.

GlaxoSmithKline disputes Paxil or Seroxat safety

Yesterday we had talked about the latest research by scientists in Oslo, Norway who had found that Paxil (sold as Seroxat in the UK and chemical name being paroxetine hydrochloride) increases the risk of suicide among patients.

GlaxoSmithKline has now issued a response criticizing the study and standing by the safety of the drug. "The Company disagrees with the conclusion from the sub-analysis conducted by scientists based in Oslo. It serves only to cause confusion and unnecessary concern for patients using an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), such as paroxetine, for treatment of depression," it said in a statement.

Such responses from drug companies are common as is evidenced by how Merck talked about the safety of Vioxx while knowing fully well that it was a dangerous drug.

The company is, however, admitting that "depression is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self harm and suicide and it is general clinical experience with all antidepressant therapies that the risk of suicide may increase in the early stages of recovery."

Recommended link: All Prozac type drugs are being investigated by the FDA

Brangelina relationship blooms as Brad and Jen divorce

The divorce of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston became final today a judge approved and signed the documents. All the fans are now hoping that some of the ugly parts of the process (for example, comments from Eva Longoria about having a baby with Brad Pitt or a former boyfriend's wish to get rich by selling Aniston's love letters on eBay, or comments from Kimberly Stewart about how Aniston is not really attractive) can be put behind by both and they can move on.

While Brad Pitt is clearly enjoying his Brangelina relationship with Angelina Jolie, as confirmed by George Clooney, he is not pleased with the way the media has treated his ex-wife. Criticizing the media that portrayed her as a sad, unhappy woman (though Aniston's Vanity Fair interview was balanced), he commented "Jen is the sweetest, kindest woman that you could imagine. I really don't mind what they do to me, but to take advantage of someone who's the sweetest and most pleasant person in the world and to do it day after day seems to me despicable."

Related article: Brad Pitt's interview with GQ

Merck likely to pay millions to each Vioxx victim

More details are emerging on the Vioxx lawsuit trial in Texas last week. Not only that Ms. Carol Ernst was mistreated by Merck attorneys during cross examination, but also that the jury punished the company for being too aggressive in marketing the drug. And everyone now agrees that the jury was very professional throughout the trial.

The company, however, continues its attack on the victims and is also appealing the verdict so that Ms. Ernst will receive about $26 million rather than $253 million that the jury awarded to her.

But there is more trouble ahead for Merck. It appears that the company delayed label changes that could have saved thousands of American lives, and analysts argue that if all plaintiffs were to get even 5% of the $26 million (or just $1.3 million) that Ms. Ernst is receiving, then Merck will have to settle the cases out of court since the company's liabilities will exceed $65 billion.

Dog lovers fall in love with Nintendogs video game

If you love dogs, you will love Nintendogs. And even if you don't love "real" dogs or cannot have "real" pets, not to worry. Nintendogs are virtual pets. Remember Tamagotchi or Neopets? And these dogs are amazingly real.

When you buy the game, this is what you get:

1. You get to pick the breed that you like. So the game comes in three different packs: lab, Chihuahua, and dascshund. Then each game has 6 different breeds to choose from.
2. The game is played on Nintendo DS that uses almost no buttons and you can simply use the touch screen to play.
3. The system has voice recognition so that when you train your dog, your dog recognizes only your voice and considers you as the master.
4. Plus, you can wirelessly play with other Nintendogs owners. You can actually set your system to bark whenever another puppy is in the range.

Lovely game for all ages - strongly recommended.

Paxil linked to suicide attempts among adults

Paxil or paroxetine hydrochloride (which is sold as Seroxat in the UK) is in trouble again. The manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, was so negligent about quality that the FDA seized the drug during a raid in March this year.

Now a study published by University of Oslo scientists finds that the risk of suicide attempt is four times higher among those taking the drug than those on a placebo. The use of the drug is already banned for patients under 18.

Paxil or Seroxat belong to the same family of drugs as Prozac which has also been found to be linked with increased risk of suicide in many studies. However, despite expectations that Prozac might be recalled, nothing has happened.

Change neighborhood to lose weight

That is the recommendation being offered by scientists. They found that people who live in neighborhoods surrounded by graffiti, with streets full of garbage and broken glass, are more likely to be obese than those living in well-kept lawns and gardens surrounded by wooded areas.

In the past it was believed that obesity was a suburban problem but it seems that people in the suburbs are now more motivated to exercise and adopt a healthier lifestyle. However, those who live in concrete jungles full of cheap, fast-food restaurants and poorly maintained public areas, just are not motivated to eat right and exercise.

Recommended article: How to lose weight without a diet?

Are your children playing violent video games?

Recent research shows that violent video games can cause a lot of harm to your children:

1. Exposure to violence in video games increases aggressive thoughts, aggressive behavior, and angry feelings among youth.
2. Exposure reduces helpful behavior and increases physiological arousal in children and adolescents.
3. Perpetrators of violence in video games go unpunished 73 percent of the time in all violent scenes and that sends the wrong message to children.

The American Psychological Association is asking the gaming industry to do something about it but as a parent you can teach children how to view television critically, help them to differentiate between fantasy and reality, identify less with aggressive characters and helps children better understand what they are watching.

Related articles: Girls who play video games - Video game rentals - Netflix video game rental

When should you buy a big screen TV?

Just wait a couple more weeks - that is the advice from industry insiders. If you have been tempted by a big screen TV or plasma screens or high defintion TV (HDTV) or home theaters, just hold on tight to your wallet.

Matsushita, one of the Japanese electronics giants and maker of Panasonic brand electronics goods, is expected to start the price war starting this fall. From then on prices will simply go downhill. Our expert suggests that if you are really patient and believe in bargains, you might even want to wait till January 2006 when the really discounts will be available. The holiday shopping being over by then, retailers will be desperate and offer huge discounts. Olevia is another new brand that is expected to join the price war. But then Sony, Samsung, and Philips will simply need to match the prices.

Related articles: Satellite television

Kelly Monaco and John O'Hurley in dance faceoff

Last month we had reported that Kelly Monaco may compete in a dance-off. Well, the news is now confirmed. She, along with Alec Mazo, will now compete with John O'Hurley (and Charlotte Jorgensen) in a two-part program in which the judges have no votes - only American people can vote. Both couples will need to dance Latin, ballroom and freestyle dances. We think that this is the "Mother of all dance battles."

Update on Vioxx reward - over a quarter billion dollars

Since the publication of our earlier report about the report that Merck had lost the first ever Vioxx trial, we now have more updated information available. The actual amount is $253.5 million dollars. It is important to understand though that Merck has already declared that it wants to appeal the verdict. Legal experts do not think that Merck has any chance in this case though it is likely that the reward may be reduced somewhat. The most interesting part of this trial is that Mark Lanier, the attorney for Carol Ernst, relied solely on Merck internal documents to prove that Merck was ruthless in marketing Vioxx and put profits over life of American people.

So what does it mean now?

Other Vioxx victims now have a much higher chance of presenting their case since they do not have to prove that Merck is guilty - the evidence for that is already available now. All they need to show is that they were actually hurt by Vioxx. According to FDA estimates as many as 140,000 Americans have been injured by Vioxx. "This just tells me -- and should tell everybody -- that a jury of 12 people didn't buy anything Merck had to say," Don Strong tells Melissa Davis of TheStreet. His firm is handling more than 2,000 Vioxx cases. Many lawyers believe that by refusing to settle the cases out of court and trying to fight each case individually despite the overwhelming evidence against the firm, Merck is essentially preparing for bankruptcy but can use the legal process to delay its eventual end.

Edward Ricci, another attorney, compares Vioxx to Pinto. In other words, no matter how much noise Merck lawyers make, it is bound to lose all the cases one by one.

Recommended article: Merck admits to aggressive marketing

Vioxx victim to receive $229 million in Vioxx trial

According to reports coming out of Angleton, Texas, Carol Ernst, the widow of Robert Ernst has been awarded $229 million in the lawsuit against Merck. The jury was convinced that Vioxx killed Robert.

While Merck has lost the first ever Vioxx trial, it is promising to appeal the verdict.

Earlier reports had indicated that Mark Lanier, the attorney, had asked for only $40 million in damages but it seems that the jury has awarded over five times that amount.

Merck's aggressive marketing tactics reportedly killed over 60,000 Americans and injured many more worldwide. This is expected to be the largest ever product liability trial and it is expected that over 100,000 plaintiffs will join the Vioxx litigation.

Eminem addicted to sleep medication; how to get rid of it

Eminem announced today in a statement by Interscope Records that he will be canceling his European tour dates, which run from September 1 through 17. Eminem is currently being treated for exhaustion, complicated by other medical issues (read addiction to sleep medication). The shows are not expected to be rescheduled.

There is absolutely no doubt that in order to stay healthy and delaying the aging process, one has to get good sleep. However, for a variety of reasons, not everyone is so lucky. For instance, our very own Pierre Coda was literally dependent on what is not a true sleep medication but is an over-the-counter hormone - Melatonin. Read how he got rid of his dependence on melatonin.

Daily sexy pic

In picking our model for our daily sex pic, we were clearly guided by picking someone who is "all-natural" or as some might call "girl next door." A naturally large chest, a simple white bra, tan lines, and a beautiful smile.

Vioxx trial decision expected soon

According to Mark Lanier, the attorney for Carol Ernst, she should be given about $40 million by Merck for causing the death of her husband. Robert Ernst, who died within a year of being married to Carol, succumbed to a heart attack allegedly caused by the painkiller Vioxx.

Merck has been accused of hiding the risks of the drug and promoting it aggressively. The drug was eventually recalled last year after reports of approximately 60,000 deaths and 140,000 injuries in the US alone. Since the recall, overwhelming evidence has emerged about Merck's unethical sales tactics.

Analysts expect that Merck will face approximately 100,000 plaintiffs in trials that will go on for years. While no good numbers are available on Merck's legal liabilities but the highest number reported is $38 billion.

The jury is deliberating the matter and did not come to a decision after a day of deliberations. However, an ex-juror, Raul Hernandex, is reported to have told the Houston Chronicle that he was convinced that Merck clearly exceeded the limits of drug marketing.

Recommended link: Complete coverage of Vioxx lawsuits

Oh, the hair on our bodies; always a problem

Oh the hair! Whether you are a man or a woman, hair is a problem. While waxing may soon become popular among men too after what you see in "The 40-year old virgin," we all have a hair story to tell - whether a Brazilian bikini wax or while shaving legs or underarm shaving or exploring sugaring or getting rid of pubic hair, but the worst hair story has no hair in it. That's right...when you go bald. So today we have advised Courtney on how to find the right hair transplant doctor for her husband.

Sexy model Christie Brinkley is back

If you are too young to know Christie Brinkley, then think of Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Simpson or Jessica Alba. She was everywhere. You could not read a magazine (particularly Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editions) without her photos. She is now back as the Covergirl girl promoting their so-called "New Advanced Radiance Age-Defying Compack Foundation in Creamy Natural."

And if at this age (she is 51) she can make faces turn, don't think that she is addicted to Botox or visits a plastic surgeon each month. In a recent interview with Good Housekeeping magazine, she actually talks about never having plastic surgery of any kind. She also discusses who's too thin in Hollywood and why she will never diet again.

Celebrate Breast Pride Week

Earlier we had reported how the average breast size has been going up in America. We also did a similar story about the changes in Japan. Then we talked about how some of these developments are putting pressure on teenagers who are worried about their chest growth. You may have also heard about the recent survey that concluded that men now find curvaceous women sexy. "Women are now taller with broader chest wall dimensions and larger frames than they had 30 years ago," Dr. James Baker, Jr. (plastic surgeon who specializes in implants) says. So he helps women pick the right implant size.

Now comes a new report that says that the phenomenon is not limited to just the United States or Japan. According to Fayreform, "In the past 10 years, the average bra size has increased in Britain from a 36B to a 36C." They found that men prefer bigger busted women too with over 73% of men claiming to opt for C Cup and bigger over a smaller bra cup size.

So the lingerie company has decided to celebrate this week as the "National Breast Pride Week." And who do they cite as the icon of bigger breasts? Kelly Brook - she wears a 32E bra. So if you are a woman with a big bust, show it off this week. And men, praise someone who is proud of her assets.

Recommended article: Tips on choosing the right bra

FDA refuses to recall Meridia

When Dr. David Graham had mentioned the top five most dangerous drugs in America, apart from Vioxx and Bextra (both since recalled), he included Accutane and Meridia. In another instance of how FDA favors the industry over the health and safety of American people, the agency has refused to recall Meridia.

According to a statement circulated by Abbott, the FDA has concluded that "(Meridia) sibutramine's overall risk-benefit profile supports it remaining available as a prescription drug for the treatment of appropriately selected obese patients." The response came to a petition filed by a consumer rights group Public Citizen.

Approximately 15 million patients in more than 75 countries have used sibutramine for the treatment of obesity since it was approved in 1997.

In another statement by Sidney M. Wolfe, MD, Director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, he expressed shock at the FDA decision and Abbott's statement that is highly critical of his petition. "Once again, the FDA is siding with a large drug company, much as the agency did several years ago with Merck concerning Vioxx, when it failed to demand a black box warning on that drug. How many more dangerously flawed decisions will the FDA make before the Congress repeals the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which brings the agency ever closer to – and makes the agency less vigilant over – the companies that give it almost $200 million a year in funding?" he asks.

Do you have varicose veins?

Nothing bothers more both men and women on the beach than varicose veins - not only that they look bad, they also bring pain. But now laser technology is being used to treat varicose veins. In fact a plastic surgeon in Nebraska has perfected the varicose veins surgery that includes use of lasers and ultrasound and there are not stitches.

In other words, not only is the price somewhat lower, the recovery time is negligible. Plus, you will be able to walk and stand without feeling any pain.

Never expose your private life in public

We believe that no matter how long a relationship lasts, everything about it should be private. That is why we protested when an ex-boyfriend of Jennifer Aniston wanted to get some cheap publicity by auctioning off her love letters on eBay.

We are also disgusted by the fact that Patrick Sheehan, husband of Cindy Sheehan, has chosen to file a divorce petition now. While their relationship was over a while ago, the fact that he has chosen to file it now simply makes it appear as if he wants his five minutes of fame too and maybe some money from conservative media outlets to sell his story.

So when Eminem uses private messages from Mariah Carey at his concert, that just comes across as sick.

Watch out for free credit report offers

While current law (Fair Credit Reporting Act) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months, according to the Federal Trade Commission, dozens of crooks are offering so-called "free" credit reports, which are essentially schemes to sell you other services for a big fee. Several of these companies are under investigation or have settled with the FTC.

It is extremely important to read your credit reports regularly and you are entitled to get a free copy each year. So simply ignore any advertiser who wants to send you a report "Free." The way to get a copy that is allowed by law is to follow the instructions on the FTC website.

Do you know the cost of having plastic surgery?

Shockingly enough, in a recent survey that we conducted, we found that three out of four times people got the wrong answer. And how wrong were they? Well a majority of people overestimated the cost of plastic surgery. Due to lack of knowledge and a myth that only the rich have plastic surgery, we tend to think that it costs a lot.

Well, not any more. Due to strong competition among plastic surgeons and improvement in technology, the costs have come down significantly. Costs can vary significantly, though, depending on the surgeon, location, and your specific situation. But here is a good list to get started if you want to know what does it really cost to get a plastic surgery procedure done.

How to deal with high gas prices?

As gas prices explode, do not think that you should simply sit and do nothing. Eventually your financial planning will go totally out of whack. Here are a few tips on what you can do to deal with high gas prices.

Prescription drug prices rise faster than inflation

There must be something wrong with this picture. While drug companies earn record profits each year and spend billions on television advertising (particularly for Viagra), they also keep raising the prices of prescription drugs. In the richest country in the world, one out of five Americans does not have health insurance, and therefore, no access to prescription drugs. Even those who do have insurance, they have to find cheaper drugs somewhere else.

According to a AARP "Rx Watchdog Report" study average increase in the price manufacturers charge for brand name prescription drugs widely used by older Americans continued to substantially exceed the rate of general inflation through March 2005. The cost of drug development is not rising since drug firms now outsource many of their operations overseas.

Of course, there is no relief in sight for Americans. Importing prescription drugs from Canada is an option but the current administration is unlikely to make it legal for Americans to do so.

Sharon Osbourne has a breast lift

Sharon Osbourne, no stranger to plastic surgery, has reportedly had some more work done on her body as she prepares to be a judge on a reality television program in the UK. As you will see in some of her latest images, she does look great after her surgery.

While it is not clear if she had breast implants put as well, but she did confirm in a recent interview that since she had saggy breasts, she decided that the surgeon should take care of them.

Recommended link: How to fim up a saggy chest?

Multiple plastic surgery procedures found to be safe

If you watch any of the plastic surgery reality programs you will notice that the patient arrives in the clinic and when the doctor asks her/him what s/he can do, the response is vague. "I would like my face to look younger," or "I would like a better looking nose," or something along those lines. We found in our research that most patients have only one procedure in mind when they start doing the research but then the doctor starts to explain that they actually need more than one procedure or what doctors call as "extreme cosmetic surgery."

Such surgeries last much longer (you are under anesthesia for a longer period of time), but the recovery time is shorter and you see the results sooner. In most cases, they cost less than having multiple surgeries over a period of time.

New research now shows that these multiple surgical procedures are actually safer than what was initially believed.

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher having a baby soon

As the trend of mature women dating younger women exploded, Demi Moore became an icon of the phenomenon. Moore who is 42 is dating Ashton Kutcher, a 27 year old. Not only is their relationship rock solid since it has lasted without any hitches for over two years. They were also seen together at the Teen Choice Awards ceremony where Kutcher won three.

In fact if there are any rumors they are about their having a baby together. But now it seems that while Moore is not pregnant with Kutcher's baby yet, she wants to be. "The next phase? The growth of my partnership with Ashton. The growth of our union. The growth of our family ... which is all the things we truly desire ... to expand our family," she says in an interview with Harper's Bazaar, according to People. She also referred to Kutcher as a soulmate - a clear implication that they are likely to get married soon.

Recommended article: What is the right age to get married?

Latinas that rule the world

It is no surprise that we are seeing a lot of powerful Latinas. According to Time, that has released its list of powerful Hispanics, six of them are women. While some are known to all of us and we may not even think of them as Latins - for instance, Salma Hayek or Jennifer Lopez - others are known just to the Latin community primarily because of their focus.

Cristina Saralegui, the host of the TV program "El Show de Cristina," is also the founder of the magazine "Cristina La Revista." She also published her autobiography, "Cristina! My Life as a Blonde."

Aida Giachello is the founder of Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is working hard to bring healthcare to the Hispanic community.

Sara Martinez-Tucker founded the Hispanic Scholarship Fund to promote higher education among young Hispanics.

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez is often called the "The Godmother Of Chica Literature." She became known for her book "The Dirty Girls Social Club." Her latest book is called "Playing with Boys.

Waxing chest hair on men may now become popular

You must have seen those ads on television of Steve Carell, the star in the movie "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" having his chest hair waxed. Well it so turns out, as the voice of the actor on the ad says, that was no acting - it was all real. He just happened to have a lot of hair on his chest and volunteered to get it waxed for the movie.

There is no consistency among men and women regarding body hair for men. While some love it, others hate it. Some Latinas and Asian women adore men with a lot of hair on their chests, while others find it disgusting. Despite this, many gays and metrosexuals choose to take off at least some of their body hair.

Trimming of pubic hair is another story altogether.

Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson may hook up again

Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson are both in the news for three different reasons. Tommy Lee is starting in an NBC reality show “Tommy Lee Goes to College,” while his ex-wife is being roasted by the Comedy Central in "Roast of Pamela Anderson." But the third reason why they are both in news is that there are rumors circulating (though both have denied them, though with a twinkle in the eye) that they may get back together.

It does not surprise us. First of all, while divorces are almost a part of modern society, if they do happen there is no reason for them to be so bitter. We have always supported the idea of a friendlier relationship with an ex-spouse, particularly when kids are involved and the two partners continue to remain single after the divorce.

Sexy woman and hot couple for today

We are pleased to update our daily sexy woman and hot couple. By the way, if you want to be featured on these pages, just contact us.

Acne drug Accutane use restricted by FDA

When Dr. David Graham, the world-renowned scientist a the FDA, included Accutane in the same list as GlaxoSmithKline's asthma drug, Serevent, AstraZeneca's cholesterol fighter Crestor, Pfizer's arthritis treatment Bextra, and Abbott Laboratories weight-loss drug Meridia, everybody expected that within a matter of months all of these drugs will be recalled. Dr. Graham was responding to the recall of Vioxx by Merck and news that as many as 140,000 injuries may have been caused by Vioxx, including upto 60,000 deaths.

Here is an update. None of these drugs, except Bextra, have been recalled. In the case of Crestor, Meridia, and Serevent, the FDA has essentially taken the same irresponsible approach for which it is now notorious - favoring the industry over American people. In an annoucement that appears very similar to its previous decisions, the FDA again has refused to force a recall of Accutane. Instead, it is developing a highly complex program that can be very confusing and cumbersome to consumers. Plus, even a small mistake in its administration will have disastrous results.

The manufacturers of Accutane and its generics (Isotretinoin) are implementing a program that requires registration (iPLEDGE by) doctors and patients who agree to accept specific responsibilities before receiving authorization to prescribe or use the drug.

Accutane is believed to be a highly effective drug for severe recalcitrant nodular acne, but it carries a significant risk of birth defects if taken during pregnancy. The other brand names under which the drug is sold are Amnesteem, Sotret, and Claravis.

Recommended article: Backne treatment

Relieve heartburn with an abdominal massage

If you are like most people then you might suffer from heartburn, acidity, and gastritis, but instead of popping one of those Tums like pills, there is now a natural alternative - an abdominal massage. The technique originally perfected in the Mayan civilization is now experiencing a comeback.

Plastic surgery makes you an alien, says Jamie Lee Curtis

Plastic surgery is controversial again as it always has been. This time the controversy is coming from Hollywood. Jamie Lee Curtis is now saying that women who have cosmetic surgery look like aliens or wax statues. Isn't that mean? After all there were as many 3 million people who had Botox last year. In related news, Scarlett Johansson who has not had plastic surgery was horrified to see her digitally enhanced breasts on a poster.

Are you the father of your child?

When you watch all those couples fighting on the Jerry Springer show about the real father of a child, most of us ignore the cases as isolated, just entertainment, and even fictitious. But it turns out that Springer has a large pool of people to choose from.

Research shows that 4% of men are raising children that are not their own. In other words, the mother committed adultery. It has always been known that a woman chooses a male based on how capable he is of giving a healthy seed and then eventually raising a healthy child, but it appears that women do not always make the right choice all the time. So the interesting scenario that a child fathered by someone else is actually raised by another man.

Now that paternity tests based on DNA testing are affordable (around US$200) and easily available, it is easy to find out who is the real father or if the "father" really fathered the child. While such tests may be useful in some cases, most often, if everything else is going fine, we suggest that this question be better left unanswered.

Obese girls reach puberty earlier

If you have seen a lot of girls in their early teens look like mature teenagers, there is a reason for it - obesity. Childhood obesity is becoming a major problem in the US and many other parts of the world and obese girls are showing signs of early puberty.

In a study published in Pediatrics by Aviva Must and other scients at Tufts, they also find that the vice versa is not true. In other words, just because a girl reaches puberty earlier, adult obesity is not a given.

Recommended article: Dealing with childhood obesity

Jennifer Aniston gets an apology from Kimberly Stewart

The divorce of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston has continued to have its ripples on their lives months after it was announced. First Pitt spoke about his divorce to GQ and then a few months later Aniston spoke to Vanity Fair about her feelings. Then out of nowhere came this ex-boyfriend who wanted to get rich selling old love letters from Aniston - luckily, he realized how inappropriate that was.

But the ex-boyfriend was not the only one with poor judgment. Eva Longoria sported a T-shirt proclaiming how she would love to have Pitt's baby but she apologized later. In a similar tasteless comment, Kimberly Stewart called Aniston "homely" and did not think that she was "gorgeous or anything" in an interview with Blender. Now Stewart is sorry for what she said and has apologized to Aniston in an interview with Access Hollywood. Shouldn't people think before speaking?

Rolling Stones release a controversial song

At a time when support for the Iraq war is evaporating and Cindy Sheehan is creating a huge buzz in blogosphere, comes a song that is bound to turn right-wing media crazy. The new CD, "The Bigger Bang," contains a song "Sweet NeoCon" that supposedly criticizes President Bush and his policies largely driven by neoconservative philosophies.

The lyrics go somewhat like this:

"You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite / You call yourself a patriot, well I think you're full of @#%*...How come you're so wrong? My sweet neo-con, where's the money gone, in the Pentagon."

Kate Hudson makes The Skeleton Key worthwhile to watch

Earlier this week, Kate Hudson was on The Daily Show (Jon Stewart), and she was a delight to watch. She is sweet, fun, and a charming person. And so is she in the movie "The Skeleton Key." While she takes her clothes off more often than needed (for the male audience) despite having very small breasts, she has definitely made a great impression with her acting.

Generally speaking, scary movies are not good for health (compared to comedies, according to a recent study), but if you do enjoy a horror flick once in a while, this one is worth watching.

Grand Theft Auto Hot Coffee disabler patch released

As video games have become a way of life for people worldwide, and even women play video games, what goes into a game has come under scrutiny. The recent scandal started with the finding that one of the most popular video games - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas actually had some scenes that were hidden and could only be found by using a small program. The company denied any such hidden parts but without much fanfare the company has now released a patch to prevent and remove the "Hot Coffee" modification. In a statement, RockStar Games says, "The "Hot Coffee" scenes were not intended to be part of the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas experience."

Recommended article: Rent video games instead of buying them

Will you miss Viagra ads?

If you were too embarrassed to answer questions from your kid - "Dad, do you take Viagra? - you have some relief. Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, says that Viagra ads will show up less often, later in the evening, and on programs not likely to be watched by children.

Pfizer has been one of the worst offenders for prescription drug advertising and has been warned by the FDA for misleading ads. The company is now promising that it will subject itself to greater scrutiny by the FDA. The recall of Bextra earlier this year by Pfizer may have been a reason for the change of heart since Viagra is the most advertising prescription drug on the market in the US.

The issue has gained relevance due to the number of lawsuits being filed against Merck and Pfizer after high-profile drug recalls. In an ongoing trial in Angleton, Texas, Carol Ernst is accusing that she asked her husband to discuss Vioxx with his doctor after seeing a Merck ad. Robert Ernst died soon after.

Teacher loves a student

Mary Kay Letourneau went to jail for having a relationship with her student (who was a minor at the time), but eventually she did come out of the prison and is now happily married to the same man. But the laws do not apply if both the teacher and the student are adults. And it does happen sometimes at university campuses.

We respond to a query from one of our readers who is in a typical student teache relationship, and to make it more complicated, she is married and has a child.

Link: Student teacher relationships

Tips to approach Japanese women

This is one of the most common questions asked, and while we have a lot of advice on our websites, each case is unique. This time we are dealing with the request of a 19-year old college student in Australia who is desperate to get the attention of a Japanese girl. Read more on how can a man approach a Japanese woman and win her heart.

LuvCube helps couples

From time to time we publish some of the fan mail that we get. Anthony, an officer with the military, wrote to us yesterday and we were simply delighted to read his message.

"My wife and I have been married for almost 18 years and we need some help because we have been throught a lot together and we lost something or never had it in the beginning. I have been looking for a wesite like LuvCube for weeks now and I amd glad I found you guys. I have only read a few pages and it all has enlightened me. Our marriage is not the best and we want to make it better for both of us in and out of the bedroom. Thanks for all the stuff here."

Thanks Anthony and everyone else who writes to us.

Skin cancer increases due to use of tanning beds

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide, and its incidence is increasing, according to a study published in JAMA by a team of scientists at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. This increasing incidence is most likely due to a combination of multiple factors, including increased exposure to UV light, ozone depletion, and increased surveillance. (Related article: How to prevent skin cancer?)

The use of a tanning bed has been shown to be a risk factor for nonmelanoma skin cancer in young women. A national survey conducted in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology in 1986, with follow-up in 1996, showed that regular use of a tanning bed had increased from 2% to 6% among those older than 18 years.30 In the 1996 survey, this use was shown to be higher for younger age groups, women, and whites. These studies support the possibility that increased use of indoor tanning contributes to the increasing incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer seen in young populations, especially women. (Related article: Self tanners for the tanned appearance)

Recommended articles: Skin care for sun damaged skin - Hyperpigmentation

Learn to vacation like President Bush

Here are some statistics about the vacation habits of President Bush:

• His current 5-week vacation is the longest presidential vacation in nearly four decades.
• Since coming to office in 2001, he has taken a vacation each month (49 vacations in 55 months).
• Bush has spent close to a year of his presidency on vacation -- more than 20 percent of his time in office.

Compared to our president, most Americans are lucky to get 2 weeks (ten days) off each year. A 2004 Expedia survey found that nationally, at least 30 percent of employed adults give up vacation time they earned, for a total of 415 million unused vacation days in 2004.

These statistics came to our minds as we did a story today on how to prepare a budget for your honeymoon/vacation. We are also closely following the developing story of Cindy Sheehan who wants to meet a vacationing president but he has refused to do so. Maybe Americans can refuse to check their voice mails and emails while on vacation.

Jessica Simpson denies rumors about plastic surgery

They are real, Jessica Simpson says, talking about her large breasts. On the other hand, last week, Victoria Beckham said that she wants cosmetic surgery to enhance her appearance.

Read all the news like this in our newly launched plastic surgery blog at BeautyNova.com.

Cindy Sheehan fights on while president vacations

We started to follow the Cindy Sheehan story in a totally different context. Since we are not a traditional newspaper but more of a lifestyle publications company, we typically do not report on news. But we had initially done one story on a woman who was facing problems in her relationship after her boyfriend returned from Iraq. In response to that story we heard from dozens of other family members of those fighting in Iraq and the challenges that they were facing in adjusting to normal life.

So it is kind of interesting that President Bush is on his 49th vacation in 55 months of his job at the White House but has no time to spend 5 minutes with an American. He is expected to interrupt his vacation to attend a fundraiser, though.

Pamela Anderson promotes vegetarian diet

Pamela Anderson recently arrived at the Sony Studios at Culver City in California for the taping of the upcoming show "Roast of Pamela Anderson" on Comedy Central. Several celebrities including Adam Carolla, Charo, Anna Nicole Smith, Courtney Love, Jimmy Kimmel, and Tomy Lee. But what was noteworthy was Anderson posing with an unidentified character dressed in a carrot costume promoting vegetarian diets. (Related article: Is raw diet for you?)

Now a lot of people have this wrong concept that vegetarian diet is somehow incomplete or tasteless. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Some people of religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism do not eat any meat, but they are just as healthy as everyone else in every way. In fact, as we reported recently, vegetarians from South Asian countries that consumed a lot of turmeric had very low rate of cancers.

Related articles: Preparation of delicious vegetarian dishes Vegetarian chili recipe

Recipe for steamed cabbage

Set goals for retirement planning, work with advisors

No matter how much experts tell us to save and plan for retirement, we just don't do it. In fact most of us carry debt and have a hard time making payments. But Oppenheimer has some great on how to set retirement planning goals and how to work with a financial advisor.

Practice yoga and lose weight, scientists say

As we heard how the Hollywood celebrities are enchanted by yoga, particularly during pregnancy, there is now conclusive evidence that yoga can help you lose or maintain weight. Of course, yoga is not just for pregnant women; if you are in reasonable health to practice yoga, almost everyone can do it.

The research was conducted at FHCRC with the help of Seattle Yoga Arts and was published in a medical journal.

Cindy Sheehan to be arrested Thursday

Only this morning we had mentioned about Cindy Sheehan, the mother whose son died in Iraq war. All she wants to do is to meet with President Bush who is on vacation at his ranch in Texas. DailyKos is reporting that Sheehan called him to tell him that she has been told that she would be arrested Thursday for being a "threat to national security" since President Bush, Condi Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, and many other Republicans will be attending a fund raiser in the area.

Consequences of infidelity on family, children, society

Bill Mitchell, a contributor to eCreativa Online Media, has written an excellent article on how adultery affects the workplace and the society. In the second part of the article, Mitchell, who is a private investigator and helps people find out if their partner is cheating, talks about how cheating can destroy families and cause permanent damage to the personality of children.

Evan Rachel Wood in Pretty Persuasion sparks controversy

Evan Rachel Wood, the star of "Thirteen" has just finished another movie "Pretty Persuasion." In this movie, her character Kimberly exploits her sex appeal to seduce whoever matters so that she can achieve her goal. We all know that people do leverage their charm to go ahead in life and you probably know of dozens of stories of people who even slept with someone else to get that job or a raise or a promotion.

Wood, who spoke to New York Daily News recently says that she is not against teenagers exploiting their sexuality. Unfortunately, she says, that the society and the media tend to cover it all up. We live in a society where everyone wants to teach abstinence only while we all know that even tweens are fooling around with each other in classrooms and schoolbuses. In fact, the more adults try to ignore it or make it appear as if it were something bad or "dirty," the more kids get curious about it and engage in it.

So next time you are thinking about seducing your boss to get that promotion, if you can get away with it, then just do it, though the way our HR policies are written, workplace romance is almost always a bad idea. Think what happened to Paula Abdul recently.

Recommended articles: Office romance can hurt you

Honey, are you listening to me?

So are you a woman who is frustrated that your man simply not paying attention when you are talking to him. While he might often find watching television (particularly if it has sports news or sexy women or beer commercials on) more entertaining than you, he might now have another excuse - his brain. Scientists at the University of Sheffield in the UK have explained the differences in the way the male brain interprets male and female voices, explaining why people who hallucinate and hear false voices almost always hear a man.

"The female voice is actually more complex than the male voice, due to differences in the size and shape of the vocal cords and larynx between women and men, and also due to women having greater natural 'melody' in their voices.. This causes a more complex range of sound frequencies than in a male voice," says Dr Michael Hunter, of Professor Peter Woodruff´s group in the Department of Psychiatry and Division of Genomic Medicine.

So, while it is important for couples to have great communication and both should work at it, women also may need to learn to be more patient when the man ignores what she is saying.

Recommended article: Romantic communication with your partner

Businesses try and fail at podcasting

Even before businesses understand how to exploit blogs, they are trying podcasting. But most businesses have failed to do an admirable job since they have yet to understand both. Companies that are used to generating boring press releases do not know how to engage an audience that hates any corporate-speak. Now there is a report that IBM is embracing podcasting. In a recent article in Wired, Suzanne Wu talks about Unilever, Oracle, Microsoft, GM, and American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and she does not think that anyone gets it yet.

Recommended article: To blog or not to blog

Apple iTunes sets a record in Japan

After Apple scored a winner with iTunes in the United States, the company is reporting that Japanese music lovers have purchased and downloaded more than one million songs from the iTunes Music Store since its launch just four days ago. Wow! Apple has truly transformed its business model with the launch of iTunes and iPod, but it is also obvious that companies like Yahoo will have a tough time competing with Apple in the online music download business. In other words, Apple has essentially duplicated its success with iPod mini in Japan.

Recommended article: How to pursue products with short life cycles

Delphi ready to file for bankruptcy

The network of companies that GM has is headed for some serious financial trouble. First, GM itself is facing several financial challenges of its own, but Jay argues that American automakers including GM are simply engaging in self-destruction. Then the restructuring at GMAC is not proceeding well either. It is likely that GMAC may be spunoff soon. Now comes the report that Delphi - a company that relies on GM for almost half of its sales - is headed for bankruptcy. Delphi is being hurt by the same things that GM is - huge so-called legacy costs that typically include healthcare benefits and pensions. While experts think that the US healthcare system is ready for a major overhaul driven by market forces, it is likely to sink a few companies before that happens.

Recommended article: Healthcare system reforms

Warren Buffet and Berkshire Hathaway face investigation

No doubt that many people worldwide count Warren Buffet as their favorite business leader, it seems that things are starting to look a little dark for the wizard of Omaha and Berkshire Hathaway. According to the company, "Governmental authorities are also inquiring about the accounting by certain of Berkshire’s insurance subsidiaries for assumed and ceded finite transactions.” The company has gotten into a lot of trouble for some of its transactions with American International Group Inc.

Cindy Sheehan energies American families

While President Bush is on his rather long vacation (most Americans either do not have the luxury of taking a vacation or take very short ones), Americans are still dying in Iraq on a daily basis. Cindy Sheehan, whose son died there last year, wants to speak to the president directly, but he refuses to do so. As horrified Americans watch the drama developing in Texas, many readers of ours asking the question that why does the president run away from answering direct questions from American people who were kind enough to elect him twice.

We are also hearing from our readers that Cindy Sheehan is giving a voice to many American families who have silently grieved over the death or injury of a loved on.

Recommended article: Challenges of relationships with military men returning from Iraq

It is all about Jessica Simpson and her butt

"I WAS very concerned, frankly, that my butt might jiggle. I didn’t want that to happen. I definitely wanted it to be firm.” If you couldn't guess, that is Jessica Simpson, the star of the movie "The Dukes of Hazzard" talking about her role as Daisy Duke in the movie. “My director, initially, said I didn’t have a butt. Can you believe that?” Simpson continued in an interview during an appearance in New York City for promoting the movie. “I swear to God, I didn’t use butt padding to wear those Daisy Dukes. That was all muscle, honey. That butt was all mine.”

So how can you get a butt like Jessica Simpson. First, of course, is exercise. You can also try padded underwear if all you want is to create the impression of a perfect butt. Finally, if you have the dough, how about some butt implants?

Recommended article: How to have a great looking butt?

If you have low libido, buy some lingerie

"Women should also know the value of keeping things interesting, which means 'not going to bed in that nasty T-shirt every night." That is Dr. Patricia Allen, founder of an organization called the Women's Voice for Change (WVFC) to promote the idea that menopause and mid-life in women are periods to be enjoyed - not to get depressed and feel miserable.

In an interview with Jean Hanff Korelitz in Vogue, she says that if a woman suffers from low libido, she should head to the lingerie shop rather than seek treatment for depression.

Recommended articles: Tips on lingerie shopping

Where are you going on your honeymoon?

Pick a place that you both like but what if you also took a look at the list that LuvCube readers have come up with. So read our top picks for honeymoon destinations.

Sexy woman today

Maggie River, the model, was recently asked in an interview about tips on wearing a bikini. Her answer was: "Just have confidence. Even if you don’t feel confident, work it like you do. Confidence equals sexy." That is exactly what you will see in our sexy woman today.

Victoria Secret launches IPEX bra

Gisele Bundchen, the Victoria Secret supermodel, was talking to A. J. Hammer on ShowBiz Tonight. And she was there to talk about a hi-tech bra called the IPEX™ demi bra. According to the company, this is lowest weight bra in the world. The bra uses a graduated pad seamlessly integrated at the apex of the bra cup. The idea is to have the features of a sports bra but make it sexy like the other bras from Victoria's Secret.

But the interview got pretty funny when Gisele held the bra in her hand to show it to the audience and then put it on her eyes as if to use it as an eye-mask. That was pretty sexy!

Recommended article: Show your bra

Curvaceous women are sexy

We are falling in love with curves, or should we say, women with curves. According to a survey conducted by a lingerie company, Curvation, three-quarters of American women (73%) want the term plus-size replaced with a more positive term, and the most popular new term was “Curvaceous” (40%). It is estimated that there are as many as 60 million curvaceous women in the United States and not all of them are Latinas or African Americans. Here are a few more interesting findings from the study:

1. More than three out of five women (62%) believe it is time curvaceous women had more prominent roles in film and TV. Queen Latifah is the official spokesperson for the lingerie line.
2. The majority of women find it easier to relate to curvaceous women on screen: more than half of women surveyed (53%) said that seeing these women in films and on TV help them feel better about themselves.
3. Five out of ten American men (49%) think curvaceous women are sexy.
4. Two out of five (42%) admit they are actually MORE attracted to curvaceous women.
5. Seventy percent of men say curvaceous women can be fit and healthy.
6. Two out of five say there is "nothing more natural than a curvaceous woman."

Recommended article: Dating BBW

Starved comedy show generates controversy

While the definition of what is humorous varies for each individual, the show "Starved" is generating a lot of controversy since it seems to promote behavior that may have serious consequences on health. Eating disorders are no jokes and most doctors take them very seriously. People undergo treatments at special recovery clinics.

The prorgram has been created by Eric Schaeffer who has tried to document the story of four friends (Schaeffer, Sterling Brown, Del Pentecost, and Laura Benanti) - all struggling with their eating disorders of some kind.

Recommended article: Dealing with eating disorders - Detox programs

Aniston talks about her relationship with Pitt

First Brad Pitt spoke to GQ about his divorce with Jennifer Aniston and now we get to hear Jennifer Aniston tell her side of the story in an interview with Vanity Fair. In summary, it is a very revealing interview of what a woman goes through when a man decides to divorce her.

Sexy woman August 2

Not many women are comfortable getting their picture taken while they are undressing. But that is not the case with our sexy woman for today. As she stands proud in her baby blue bra and white panties, you will not fail to notice her perfect butt.

Recommended article: How to undress?

Eva Longoria apologizes to Jennifer Aniston

When Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt divorced, they did it in a very professional manner and when Pitt did speak out about it, he was a gentleman. He has, however, not been a gentleman in the way he is flirting with Angelina Jolie. And then came this ex-boyfriend of Aniston who wanted to auction off her letters to him in return for some cheap publicity and a few thousand dollars. Luckily, he backed off.

And then out of the blue, if you remember, that Latina hottie Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives fame, decided to wear a tee with the message, "I'll have your baby, Brad," to put salt on Aniston's wound. IMDB is now reporting that Longoria realized how impolite she was and has written an apology to Aniston. Divorce is painful and the best thing you can do when someone you know is going through it is to leave them alone.

Recommended article: Divorce destroys families

Employee discount programs for cars extended

Just last week we were advising that you must wait to buy a car till the next round of employee discounts came. Well we didn't expect that they would come so soon. Ford has already extended its Ford Family Plan till September 6. Chrysler is offering something called Employee Pricing Plus, while there are unconfirmed reports (at the time of publication of this article) that GM will do the same.

So a great time to buy a new car, but if you don't have the money right now, don't you worry. These sorts of discounts are expected to be offered more often and other carmakers may be forced to do the same.

Recommended article: Review of employee discount programs for cars

Romantic vacation destinations for couples

While we had been providing information on romantic vacation spots for couples on our website LuvCube since its inception, on popular demand for a separate channel, we are proud to announce the launch of a Vacations for couples section. So check it out. Of course, we will continue to pick great destinations through our research, but please do write to us to with your suggestions.

Lower joint pain by reducing weight

A group of scientists that include Stephen Messier, David J. Gutekunst, Cralen Davis, and Paul DeVita have found that each pound of weight loss can lead to a 4-fold reduction in the load exerted on the knee per step during daily activities. Accumulated over thousands of steps per day, a reduction of this magnitude would appear to be clinically meaningful in improving the life of people with joint pains.

This finding is particulary relevant to obese and overweight senior citizens with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a post Vioxx/Bextra recall world. As scientists have recently found that even traditional NSAIDs have adverse side effects, this research indicates that a lot of pain relief can be achieved simply by losing weight.

Recommended article: Is it OK to be fat?

Smoking during pregnancy causes ADHD in kids

Karen Markussen Linnet, Kirsten Wisborg, Carsten Obel, Niels Jrgen Secher, Per Hove Thomsen, Esben Agerbo, and Tine Brink Henriksen, researchers at Aarhus University in Copenhagen, in a research paper entitled "Smoking During Pregnancy and the Risk for Hyperkinetic Disorder in Offspring," say that women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD treatments are very controversial and drugs that are used to treat ADHD, particularly among children, have serious side effects. Adderall XR was recalled in Canada after reports of deaths, though the FDA has refused to act. Cylert was also recalled but other ADHD drugs like Ritalin and Prozac are still available. In fact, Shire Pharmaceuticals is actually working to launch an Adderall patch in the US.

Related articles: Plastic surgery for smokers - Smoking to lose weight - Stop smoking to prevent premature aging - Smoking can make your body fluids taste bad - Look younger simply by quitting smoking - How to have a healthy lifestyle

Links: Some American doctors support FDA decision not to recall Adderall - Adderall recall decision may be reversed

Atkins diet no longer popular

If you caught the Atkins bug, you were not alone. For past several years, Atkins Diet, despite being controversial if it helped one lose weight, low-carb dieting was the rage. It seems, though, that the trend may have come to an end. Atkins Nutritionals, the parent company of Atkins dieting, has filed for bankruptcy signaling that Americans may have lost their faith in low-carb meals.

What does it mean for you? While any diet is a good diet, the key to weight loss is:

1. Calorie consumption in proportion to your lifestyle
2. Regular exercise

If you are overweight or obese, then you may have to cut your calories even more and exercise longer while you lose weight. You may also want to look gastric bypass surgery and obesity surgery as options.

Recommended article: How to lose weight easily?