(PCM) Cocktails named after the rich and shameless are nothing new – what could be more decadent than the lifestyles of our favourite celebrities, after all? We’ve collected some fabulous recipes that were concocted in honour of all sorts of entertainers, ranging from David Bowie to Dita Von Teese.

We’ve mixed them up with a few imaginary cocktails that we think would be perfect for those celebrities who are perhaps past their best – can you separate the actual cocktails from our made up ones – there’s definitely a clue in working out who’s still cool and who is best left behind…

So, next time you’re at your favourite club or having a private party integrating playing online at http://www.jackpotcapitalcasino.com and want to start the evening with style, you know exactly what to offer or ask for – and what not to! You never know, if you’re lucky you might just bump into the celebs themselves sipping on their very own cocktail before they get stuck into their high rolling roulette game!

THE DAVID BOWIE

A chocolate and bourbon concoction dreamt up by the New Deal Distillery in Portland, Oregon.

Method: Stir five parts chocolate liqueur with one part bourbon and serve on the rocks with a slice of orange.

THE COINTREAU TEESE

Inspired by the sexy and talented Dita Von Teese, this cocktail is sharp, distinctive and feminine.

Method: Combine Cointreau, apple juice, violet syrup and fresh lemon juice and serve in a glass rimmed with essence of ginger.

THE MURRICANE

Created by The Anchor Bar, Soho, New York, in honour of Bill Murray who popped in for a drink once, this is apparently extremely popular – much like Bill himself.

Method: Combine fresh watermelon with basil leaves in a shaker and muddle. Add bourbon, fresh lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, along with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with black pepper.

THE OBAMATINI

Because he deserves an ace cocktail!

Method: Add pineapple juice, gin,lime juice, sugar water and a half a Thai chili into a shaker, add ice and shake vigorously for 15 minutes. Strain into a glass and garnish with a twist of lemon.

THE BI-POLAR

Especially for Mel Gibson – back when he was not showing himself to his best advantage – the Oak Room in New York made this.

Method: Combine vodka, gin, vermouth, club soda and a splash of cocktail onion juice. Serve on ice.

RIHANNA ON THE ROCKS

Inspired by the legendarily awful relationship that is Rihanna and Chris Brown, this seductive yet sharp cocktail will make your taste buds think twice.

Method: Strain one part gin, one part vodka, one part blue curacao over crushed ice, serve in a tall glass and garnish with fresh mint.

THE PRINCE

Created for the young Jacko himself, Prince Jackson, this is a sweet treat perfect for the younger cocktail aficionados – but don’t let them have too many, it’s pretty lethal…

Method: Crush one pack of skittles, mix with two parts milk and one part absinthe. Stand well back.

LADY B

In honour of Beyonce and JayZ, this sophisticated and full bodied cocktail is guaranteed to get you shaking your booty on the dancefloor, but only the poshest and richest of dancefloors.

Method: Mix vodka with raspberry gin liqueur, lemon juice, raspberry syrup and iced tea. Top up with soda water and serve with raspberries and lemon.

(PCM) This May 25th, 2013, there will be Marches Against Monsanto held all over world, inspired by marches already held in Europe, protesting Monsanto, the primary source of genetically modified foods.

Why Are We/They Protesting This Time?

It is all about GMOs – Genetically Modified Organisims, basically foods with modified genes for human and animal consumption.

In plants, it means that they are modified to be more tolerant to hebidides and insecticides.

in animals, research in using genetically modified animal cells are creating possible cures for diseases, or even grow faster in the food chain.

Given that these new genes are, by intellectual property law, owned by the companies that created them, many people feel that not enough is known about the long-term safety of these scientifically-created foods.

Wikipedia offered a fair view of the controversy: The genetically modified foods controversy is a dispute over the relative advantages and disadvantages of food derived from genetically modified organisms, genetically modified crops used to produce food and other goods, and other uses of genetically modified organisms in food production. The dispute involves consumers, biotechnology companies, governmental regulators, non-governmental organizations and scientists. The key areas of controversy related to genetically modified (GM) food are: risk of harm from GM food, whether GM food should be labeled, the role of government regulators, the effect of GM crops on the environment, the impact of GM crops for farmers, including farmers in developing countries, the role of GM crops in feeding the growing world population, and GM crops as part of the industrial agriculture system.

There is broad scientific consensus that food on the market derived from GM crops pose no greater risk than conventional food. No reports of ill effects have been documented in the human population from GM food. Supporters of food derived from GMOs hold that food is as safe as other foods and that labels send a message to consumers that GM food is somehow dangerous. They trust that regulators and the regulatory process are sufficiently objective and rigorous, and that risks of contamination of the non-GM food supply and of the environment can be managed. They trust that there is sufficient law and regulation to maintain competition in the market for seeds, believe that GM technology is key to feeding a growing world population, and view GM technology as a continuation of the manipulation of plants that humans have conducted for millennia.

Of course, others queshat ‘we are what we eat’ and genetic modification can affect humans interanally in ways we may not see for years.

Over 60 countries, including the European Union, Austailia, Japan, India, Brazil, Russia, and even China mandate GMO labeling – but not the United states.

Labelling such products may not be such a bad idea… many people prefer to use natual sugar over high-fructose corn syrup; we must label fat content and other dietary/ nutritional information, even what country some foods are grown in.

As we take the time to explore each of the Flirting and Foreplay Sparks, provided as part of the challenge, we have learned that both trust and communication are the key to making any relationship a successful one. We are learning how to trust each other and be unafraid to delve into further exploration with one another both mentally and physically.

We have both read through the Sparks and are trying to incorporate at least a few of them everyday. Spark #1 suggests use small gestures to get the biggest payoff and Spark #3 urges us to add an element of surprise. I feel that these two especially go hand in hand, as Mike has surprised me quite a few times with small gestures such as flowers or bringing me home a coffee from my favorite local shop, and trust me, he certainly got his reward.

My next post will be focusing on more the ForeplaySparks and the ways in which “The Liberating Side Of Being Together Challenge” is helping Mike and I shed our inhibitions in the bedroom and #GetCloserGoFurther like never before!

For more information about Durex, please visit: http://durexusa.com/

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#GetCloserGoFurther

If you happened to visit the stores, you will certainly notice that they do not at all carry women’s sizes XL or XXL, only catering to those women who are a size L or smaller. It is easy to draw the conclusion that Abercrombie & Fitch do not want overweight women to be seen wearing their brand. Apparently larger women just can’t be part of the so-called “in-crowd”.

Author Robin Lewis told Business Insider that Jeffries doesn’t want “larger people” shopping in Abercrombie and Fitch; instead, “he wants thin and beautiful people.”

“He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing,” Lewis said. “People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.’”

The stores do offer sizes XL and XXL in men’s sizes, but only to appeal to the football player and wrestling demographic.

In a past interview with Salon, Jeffries stated that the communication between hot people is his primary marketing tactic.

“It’s almost everything. That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that,” he said.

Jeffries also went on to tell  Salon that he wasn’t bothered by excluding fat people. In fact, he said that not limiting his ideal demographic would make his clothing less desirable.

Personally I am completely saddened that these types of stereotypes continue to exist and angered that Jeffries has absolutely no shame about his idiotic ideals. Women today have a constant struggle with body image and it is deeply alarming and disappointing that companies like this one continue to thrive. Wonder what would happen to this elitist company if suddenly all the “cool kids” turned their backs on them? Bet you Jeffries would be back pedaling then! Till then, I plan to boycott Abercrombie & Fitch, not that I shopped there to begin with, and I certainly urge everyone to at least give it a second thought before cashing in your hard earned dollars to a completely bigoted organization.

We have recently received our absolutely fabulous “Play Together, Stay Together” Toolkit from Durex, filled with all kinds of fun items to help us in our journey of relationship growth and exploration both mentally and of course physically as well (wink, wink).

I will be posting updates every few days to keep you posted on our journey and stay tuned for some tips and notes about what we are learning about ourselves and each other, what we are enjoying the most, and of course the ways in which the “Liberating Side Of Being Together” challenge is helping us to grow even stronger as a couple.

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Join in the conversation and let us know some of the ways in which you and your partner incorporate the “Get Closer, Go Further” philosophy into  your relationships. Use hashtag: #GetCloserGoFurther and please visit: http://durexusa.com/

by Deanna Brann, Ph.D.

Wedding season is almost here and wedding preparations are in full frenzy. You have so much to think about and plan – invitations, dresses, showers, cake, flowers, ceremony location, reception details, and on and on. The list seems endless! Even so, one vital element for making the day flawless often gets forgotten—deciding how to “manage” your future mother-in-law.

This relationship, after all, may feel a bit awkward at first. Your fiancé’s mother is not your mother, and she’s also not really your friend – yet she’s about to become a big part of what you hope will be the rest of your life. As if that wasn’t stressful enough, you have no doubt heard all sorts of stories about what an absolute nightmare mothers-in-law can be. It doesn’t exactly tempt you to embrace this near stranger with wild abandon, does it?

Dealing with your future mother-in-law isn’t nearly as difficult as you may fear, though. Keep in mind that she is not sure how things are supposed to be either. The situation is just as new to her as it is to you. After all, even if she has other daughters-in-law, the relationship she has with you will be unique to the two of you. And trust me, if she ends up feeling like a fifth wheel during the wedding festivities, that is not going to serve you very well in the future. (Another good thing to remember: You may well be in the same position yourself some day, so have a little heart!)

With that in mind, here are some tips for starting out on the right foot and setting the tone for how your relationship will go.

1. Decide what you will call her. Figuring out what you are comfortable calling your future mother-in-law may not seem like a big deal to you, but it’s a really big deal to her. Once you’ve made the decision, talk with her about your choice so she can get used to it. Let her wear it for a while.
2. Give her a piece of the action. Let her be part of the preparations – as well as the wedding itself. You can assign her major duties or small tasks, but be sure to give her something to do that she can feel good about that will ensure she won’t feel pushed aside or ignored.
3. Ask her for input. Remember, this is her child’s wedding too. You don’t have to let her make the most critical decisions, but asking her for her opinion now and then is a gracious gesture that will make her feel valued.
4. Let her join in the fun. If you’re having a “nail” day or other excursion that includes your mother and bridesmaids, consider asking your future mother-in-law to come along. You don’t have to ask her every time, but extending a few invitations assures her that you want her to be a part of your new life with her son.
5. Share with her. Keep her updated on the wedding plans and share some of the funny stories with her. Many mothers of the groom feel as though the wedding is happening around them, with them being merely passive observers instead of key players. Help her to have some special memories that she can share with her friends, too.

Above all, remember to speak and act with kindness and compassion. Trust me, it never hurts to be gracious, and your efforts will go a long way toward ensuring that everyone lives happily ever after!

Deanna Brann, Ph.D., is a leading expert in the field of mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships. She has over 25 years experience as a clinical psychotherapist and ran her own private practice for more than 18 years. Based in Knoxville, TN, Dr. Brann is a sought after speaker, author and seminar leader. She is the two time author of Reluctantly Related: Secrets To Getting Along With Your Mother-in-Law or Daughter-in-Law and Mothers-in-Law and Daughters-in-Law Say the Darndest Things. www.drdeannabrann.com

In her book, How To Save Your Daughter’s Life: Straight Talk For Parents From America’s Top Criminal Profiler (HCI Books — $14.95), Pat Brown, who has provided crime commentary and forensic analysis in more than 2,000 TV and radio appearances, talks to parents and their daughters in a no-holds-barred voice to get them to understand how predators choose victims and how to avoid becoming a target. She covers all of the dangers that today’s young women face and arms parents with information they rarely get from professionals.

Brown says that no one deserves to be murdered, even if she was out selling her body on the street or was buying drugs in a bad part of town, or was cheating on her boyfriend with his brother. She feels it’s terribly important to be honest and show women how the behaviors victims engage in may bring them into harm’s way.

“Talking about the perpetrator may be fascinating and educational, and we can rail about changing the system, locking these monsters up, but it isn’t going to do much to save your daughter’s life today,” Brown says.

In How To Save Your Daughter’s Life, the author hopes to help parents and young women understand the world of psychopaths and criminals; how they think, where they lurk, and how they lure and grab victims. She talks about what kinds of choices and defenses will protect her and which ones are dangerous. Each chapter in the book also has suggestions for the more willful child, and at the end of the chapter is a “Letter to My Daughter” that even a defiant daughter may benefit from.

This book reads like a handbook and should be a part of the household of anyone with a daughter.

TeamPOPwater, which includes Troy Carter (Atom Factory CEO and manager to artists including Lady Gaga & John Legend), Terry Richardson (world famous fashion/music/photographer), Atom Factory artists, mad scientists and more, is ready to debut the fruit flavored sparkling beverage with only 30 calories, 7 grams of sugar and just the right amount of POP.

“After working closely with our friends at Coca Cola and Pepsi on various music related initiatives over the years, we were inspired to create a beverage that had music and pop culture in its DNA. Terry Richardson and our creative team are bringing this vision to life and we’re excited to have them tell this story,” said Troy Carter, founder and CEO of Atom Factory.

Starting today, you can preorder a limited edition 4-pack of POPwater’s signature flavors (orange, pineapple, apple and grape) plus a POPwater t-shirt and a bonus first taste download – including free shipping to any US address. Watch POPwater Creative Director Terry Richardson try his first taste in this new video and stay tuned for the official POPwater release on April 16th. Product will be hitting shelves in Los Angeles this month as well, with a national rollout to follow.

Joe Groh, 50, who went to work at Chink’s at age 16 and bought the business from Samuel’s widow in 1999, got a complaint from an Asian-American student about the name in 2004.

“It was a tough decision,” Groh told MSN in an interview. “I mulled that over for a few years.”

“It’s a good and dramatic change,” said state Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia, who came to the restaurant for the sign changing Monday. “I understand people who want the past to govern the present, but there comes a point when you have to be responsive to changes that exist in the city.”

Of course, not all customers were happy with the name change. “I mean, he’s ignoring the 10,000 signatures on the petition to keep the name? Now, he’s giving in to political correctness,” said Robert Quinn, 59. “I just think it’s ridiculous,” said Eleanor McGonigal, 60. “Cracker Barrel hasn’t had to change their name. I mean, that could be made into a racist thing.”

While people are perusing cruise packages to Alaska, your creative dishes could be pictured on the ship’s website. Maybe even one day you too could be recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a featured chef like Celebrity cruise director of culinary operations Chef John Suley. Ships set sail every day, so if you have the passion, the drive and the adventure in you, follow these steps to freedom.

Pay and Position

Oceangoing ships can carry as many as 3,000 or as few as 500 passengers. There are also smaller river cruise lines that traverse the major rivers of the Earth. In the kitchen, there are different galleries (hot and cold) and a large number of culinary needs from Sous Chef to Crew Cook to Pastry Chef. Dozens of positions are required as cruisers get hungry at all hours of the day. Cruiselinejob.com spells out each and every position available, their requirements as well as possible salary ranges. Supervisors can make anywhere from $1900-$5000/month while bakers and cooks can make $1200-$2200/month, depending on experience.

Getting the Gig

Where to start? First, get a culinary arts degree from an accredited culinary school. Be sure your health is good (being on sea can pose serious risk if illnesses get out of hand). Do your research. If you want to go to certain areas of the globe, call and ask which ships are hiring. You may or may not get what you wanted but once you get going in the system, chances are you can get year-round gigs. You may need to begin as an assistant but internal promotions often happen.

Prepare and send a solid resume highlighting your education, skills and previous employment that might help you stand out. Even if it’s not kitchen-related but is customer service, add it. Being on a ship for weeks or months at a time requires good people skills and team work.

Have your passport and a “go bag” ready so when the cruise ship does call, you are ready to roll. You can move up the ladder fast if you focus.

What It’s Like Aboard

Get ready for long hours and separation from family and friends. Some crew report working 84 hours or more per week. The crew, ranging from ages 20-40 or older, will come from all over the globe. Most don’t have kids, spouses or mortgages. Be ready for a revolving door; workers are coming and going all the time as contracts end and begin. And because most crew members are fun-loving and free-spirited (most…some are bat crazy), there is a lot of socializing happening. There are often crew-only parties to enjoy after a very long 10-hour day.

“Work hard, play hard” might be the best motto to describe working on a cruise ship.

Preparing to go on vacation is an exciting time, particularly if you are travelling to a far-flung destination. However, as well as thinking about what new clothes you plan to treat yourself to for going away, it’s vital that you consider what steps you can take to keep yourself fit and well while you travel. Here we take a look at a number of important areas that you should take into consideration before you step on to the plane to jet off.

Vaccinations

Although sometimes you do plan a last minute holiday, it’s important to check whether you need to have any travel vaccinations in plenty of time; ideally leave yourself two months to do this, as some require a course of injections and can’t be taken alongside other vaccines. Check you are up to date for the usual shots, as conditions such as measles, meningitis, tetanus and TB occur in many parts of the world. Which additional vaccines you need does depend on where you are going, but if your travels are taking you to South America, Africa or Asia the chances are you may well need at least some immunizations to protect you from the diseases that are more prevalent locally. As well as the country you are holidaying in, which region you are going to makes a difference, as sometimes it is just more remote or poorly developed areas that pose a danger for specific diseases; the time of year is also important, as outbreaks of certain diseases only occur in a particular season.

Generally if you are backpacking or camping you are at greater risk than someone staying in a resort, as you are more likely to pick up infections when cooking or from where you are staying. If you already have existing health conditions, this can also make you more vulnerable to infections especially if you have a condition that weakens your immune system. Don’t forget to arrange a course of anti-malaria pills if you are off to an at risk region. Your usual doctor can advise you on the shots you will need for the destination you are visiting, but you can alternatively use the services of a travel clinic.

Travel insurance

Around a fifth of people taking a vacation don’t take out the travel insurance they require, which if involved in an accident or they require hospitalization due to illness they regret. Even though you have medical cover for within the United States this will not necessarily cover you for treatment elsewhere in the world. Equally currently being in perfect health is no excuse not to get it either, as you can’t predict whether you might take ill on holiday or injure yourself.

The cost of medical bills can mount up if you need to receive treatment abroad, so it pays to take out travel insurance. If taking part in adventure sports or trekking at high altitude, check your policy covers these; you may need to pay extra if taking part in what are considered more risky activities, but the extra dollars are worth it to know that you will be able to claim for the cost of treatment if needed. Don’t withhold any information about your current health when taking out a policy, as this could invalidate your insurance if you need to claim and it comes to light about your pre-existing conditions. If you are worried a chronic health problem will make it more difficult for you to take out a travel policy, be aware that you can get pre-existing medical conditions travel insurance, which would be ideal for you.

Food and drink on vacation

Around 40% of travellers experience diarrhea when they holiday abroad and not only is this an unpleasant experience when on vacation, but can sometimes result in the need to change plans, missing out on activities you had planned to do. Digestive upset on vacation is usually the result of consuming contaminated food and water, including produce that may have been washed in it. Trying new food is part of the fun when you go away, but you need to be particularly cautious with street food and that from a buffet that has been left standing; even some of that available in hotels can pose a risk. As a general rule if food isn’t cooked and can’t be peeled – as might be the case with fruit – avoid eating it to be on the safe side. There are particular foods to be aware of that pose a greater risk to health. Avoid unpasteurized milk, reheated rice and shellfish; even in the Mediterranean, an area thought to be a safe bet for holidays, only 5% of the shellfish is safe to eat. When eating meat make sure that it is well cooked, so avoid it served rare. Strict hand hygiene has never been more important when away, so always wash them prior to eating and drinking.

It is safest to buy bottled water and bottled soft drinks, though hot drinks shouldn’t pose as problem, as boiling water will have destroyed any microbes; ice should always be avoided unless made from bottled water. If you are travelling to remote areas and don’t have access to bottled water, use iodine solution or bottles with a filer to purify the water. In case you do succumb to vomiting or diarrhea carry oral rehydration sachets, but if a bout doesn’t clear up within three days it is best to seek medical advice in case you have come down with a more serious infection. Remember that oral contraceptive pills may be ineffective when you have a stomach upset, so use an alternative form of contraception.

For drinkers, alcohol is likely to be part of your vacation, but drink sensibly, as if you drink to excess you place yourself at high risk of a number of situations. If you go swimming you are more likely to come into difficulty, the chances of you falling asleep in the sun and burning are greater, you are more likely to be a victim of crime and the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection are also higher.

Staying safe in the sun

Even if you don’t burn badly, you are placing yourself at risk of developing skin cancer and cataracts in the future if you don’t protect yourself from UV light. It goes without saying to pack sunscreen sunglasses and a hat, but try to stay out of the sun when it is strongest – between 11am and 3pm – and if you do go out at this time, try to cover up your skin as much as possible with loose fitting clothing. If you do get burnt apply after sun or calamine lotion drink plenty non-alcoholic fluids and stay out of the sun till it heals. When you burn it’s a sign you are either not using a high enough factor of sun cream or are not reapplying it regularly enough, so change your practices regarding this to prevent burning again.

More than 20 relationships formed between “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” have ended in less than a year, and only two of the couples are in a lasting marriage or engagement to this day. It’s not limited to relationship shows, either. According to Direct.tv, every season of the “Real Housewives” show ends with several divorces on average. Despite the disparaging statistics, we still glue ourselves to the TV hoping for the next couple to make it, but it turns out we’re just watching the wrong shows for romance. Couples are falling in love on reality TV in places we’d never expect.

Dating for the Sake of Dating

Skeptical viewers and media outlets have suspected the choices made on “The Bachelor” have been rigged for years— producers gently suggesting who gets the roses based on which contestants bring in better ratings. There’s no proof how true that accusation is, but it would definitely explain the catastrophic failure rate once the show wraps after the final rose is given to the winner. And even if none of it is true, what are we expecting?

Remember that the episodes may air on television over several months, but the contest itself is filmed across mere weeks. That means a bachelor or bachelorette meets a few dozen contestants and is expected to fall in love with one of them in less than a month. The idea of forced connections quickly fizzles once the cameras stop rolling.

A Common Struggle

If you’ve never seen “The Biggest Loser,” it’s quite an emotional show, especially if you’ve ever battled weight loss in your life. Contestants who are dangerously overweight are put into boot camp-style training that pushes their limits, both physically and emotionally. As the men and women undergo a complete transformation, they make lasting friendships and relationships along the way.

A Huffington Post article highlights five “Biggest Loser” couples that formed throughout the show’s history. If five doesn’t sound like a high number, consider that, for one, the show’s purpose isn’t even romantic matchmaking. Secondly, that’s more than twice as many in the history of “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.” So what’s the secret ingredient? Well, nothing about the love connections is forced or staged for starters. But the common grounds of enduring such a difficult challenge brings everyone much closer together. The same chemistry can be seen on other physical challenges like “The Amazing Race.” Those who go through hell together, stay together.

So if you think you this year’s “Bachelor” couple will be any different, look elsewhere.