Exercise Better than Drugs for Preventing Heart Disease? February 29, 2008

Exercise appears to be an important factor for preventing heart disease. This does not mean training for a marathon. It simply means light exercise for moderate periods of 30-60 minutes. Proper exercise keeps the blood flowing smoothly through the arteries, thereby preventing blockage. This is known scientifically as improving endothelial dysfunction. Second, exercise lowers homocysteine levels. Homocysteine in the blood is a risk for heart disease due to its ability to scars arterial walls and elicit plaque build-up. Finally, exercise lowers blood glucose levels. High blood glucose has shown to increase the risk of heart disease exponentially. This is why diabetics have a 4.5 times greater chance of suffering from heart disease relative to non-diabetics – high blood glucose. These benefits of exercise are proof that habits create and eradicate disease, not drugs. Recognizing this, drug companies and medical doctors will have to take huge pay cuts. Personal trainers and fitness instructors are the true custodians of public health – as dictated by science, not hype. 

About the Author :

Shane holds a Master’s degree in organic chemistry and has first- hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis. He understands that Americans want and deserve education rather than prescriptions. His shocking ebook surrounding cholesterol lowering drugs can be downloaded for FREE as a pdf file at www.health- fx.net/eBook.pdf. His book Health Myths Exposed is available at www.healthmyths.net or Amazon.

“Revisiting The Birth of The Foamposite and The Penny Behind It” February 29, 2008

The last official Foamposite that we came across with some style, was the Zoom Lebron IV. The flashy and bold sneaker was a hit in the retail stores and offered several colors followed by hilarious commercials and ads showing the many personalities that make up Lebron James.

Seeing the Foamposite today is nothing special or new, but during its first debut in 1997, it offered a taste of what Nike had to offer and since then, Nike has not failed in the innovation of sneaker technology… hence the Nike SHOX. The Foamposite was something unique and strange rolled into one element, but it was hot. Before Jordan’s – it was hard to conceive wearing something that cost over $100 to $130, but the Foamposite took it to the next level at $180 and was worn by a budding star at the time in Penny Hardaway. His signature “1” overlapping a “C” to represent “1 cent” or a penny, which represented the nickname his grandmother gave him, was strapped on the sneaker and a ready stream of phenomenal marketing concepts followed suit to project these two tangibles together as the face of both Nike and the NBA. Penny’s commercials were funny and a complete success. Not taking anything away from Lebron James, but many of the commercials and ad concepts around his marketing campaign are reminiscent of that of Penny’s concept in his prime. When I see the commercials for Lebron, I don’t see originality – what I see are rerun’s but who am I… a 20 something year old that grew up in the Jordan era and saw a healthy and fun to watch Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Shaq, Chicago Bulls and the NBA All-Star game on NBC after I watched the Simpson’s, yeah… I know something. I saw some of the hottest Nike commercials back then, but I’m straying from the point. The Foamposite… yes, the Foamposite. Although Penny endorsed the first Foamposite sneaker and went on to have a couple made for him – theory has it – that the original sneaker was not distinctly designed for him or for anyone at the time. It just so happened that when Penny saw the futuristic shoe by accident, he wanted to have it and how could Nike say no, especially when Penny was hot and being compared to Scottie Pippen and Magic Johnson rolled into one at the time

The creation of the Foamposite wasn’t an easy process, from what I’ve been told by one Nike designer, Carl Blakeslee, who was on the team that designed the very popular Nike Goadome he says, “I remember it was a difficult process only because of the huge mold cost associated with each pair. I believe 4 molds each! not sure about that, but it was an issue. The other interesting part of this process was how the upper material was placed into the mold and then the PU shot around it. I also remember the materials that worked well for this, were quite limited, it was not easy to get those parts to come out wrinkle free or without any other defects.” Carl was not on the team that created the Foamposite, but knew designers that were and he witnessed how it came together. To give you more dept on what he was saying about molds, he was explaining because the sneakers are not made of traditional materials such as leather, the shoe were created in a mold to create the shell of the shoe, which is the upper. It’s the same principal as creating dental molds at a dentist office. The dentist puts molding putty in you mouth to capture an impression of your teeth and then pours an alloy or something to that nature in the hardened mold. After a few hours or days, the impression from the mold is a jarred from the breakable mold, and now you have new teeth or dentures or what ever.

Essentially, the sneaker were the first of it’s kind. It’s is the combination of, “two molded polyurethane halves stitched together on the tip and heel and then the bottom (outsole) holds it all together.” You add in Zoom technology and a flashy name, then you have a sneaker to sell.

I’ve actually owned one pair of Foamposite’s in my entire life and it was the Penny Foamposite 1. In a ranking from 1 – 10, it ranks #2 as one of my favorite sneakers behind the Jordan 4. These are great retro’s to have and they can grant style to anyone’s wardrobe.

JUDGE REJECTS BID FOR DIDDY’S FINANICAL RECORDS: Man in assault case wanted mogul to turn over statements February 29, 2008

The man suing Sean “Diddy” Combs for assault has lost his bid to have the rap mogul turn over financial statements that could reveal his net worth.

 

      Gerard Rechnitzer’s lawsuit accuses Diddy of punching and pushing him at an Oscars afterparty in Hollywood last February.

 

      According to E! Online, Superior Court Judge Robert Hess stated that Rechnitzer could gain access to info regarding Diddy’s sources of income only is if he wins his civil trial, which is scheduled to begin on May 27.

 

      “If you were to get a finding of fraud, oppression or malice, some or all of this information you would be entitled to,’ Hess said. “I’m not persuaded at this point to give it to you today. We have privacy issues here that are very important.’

 

       If the jury sides with Rechnitzer, Hess said he would reconsider the request for Diddy’s financial documents to help determine the amount of punitive damages he might be entitled to.

‘GANGSTER’ TAKEOVER ON DVD CHARTS: Denzel flick beats ‘Michael Clayton’ to top of the heap February 29, 2008

American Gangster” flew to No. 1 on the DVD sales and rental charts, topping this year’s best picture Oscar nominee “Michael Clayton” by selling twice as many units, reports Reuters.

 

       “Gangster,” starring Denzel Washington as 1970s drug kingpin Frank Lucas, sold an estimated 4 million units during its first week in stores, according to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data.      

       Also starring supporting actress Oscar nominee Ruby Dee, the drama earned $129.8 million at the U.S. box office to date.      

       The previous week’s top seller, “Why Did I Get Married?” slipped to No. 3.

HALLE BERRY TO LAUNCH NEW FRAGRANCE: Actress throwing her name on new line from Coty February 29, 2008

Halle Berry is the latest in a long line of celebrities to launch a new fragrance line with the perfume house, Coty.

 

      WWD magazine is reporting that the Oscar winner and expectant mother will unveil the product globally in Spring 2009, joining previous celebrity Coty endorsers, Jennifer Lopez, Victoria and David Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Kate Moss and Tim McGraw.

 

       “Halle is an iconic actress and symbolizes beauty to many generations,” said Steve Mormoris, senior vice president of global marketing at Coty. “She adds another dimension to the celebrity fragrance market. Halle has always been a little more mysterious, not quite as open with her personal life as some other stars. Her fragrances will allow her to present another facet of her personality to her fans.”

 

       Under her scent development deal, Berry will develop a fragrance portfolio as well as appear in its advertising. The first Berry products will launch in what Coty terms “mid-tier” department stores, such as J.C. Penney, and then will move into the mass market as well.

 

       According to WWD, such celebrity deals include $3 million to $5 million up front, with a royalty of about 5 percent, according to industry sources. Mormoris declined to discuss the terms of Berry’s deal.

A MUST-READ! February 29, 2008

Our friends over at Rap-Up are not only poppin in the online world but now their venturing out into the publishing world with their first book, Rap-Up: The Ultimate Guide to Hip-Hop and R&B, hitting bookstores today via Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group.

The 335-page book, an all-access pass inside the exciting world of hip-hop and contemporary R&B, includes a foreword by T.I. Complete with one-of-a-kind profiles on the hottest artists, takes on must-own CDs and tracks, pop quizzes, career highlights, and artist road maps, this unique, definitive handbook is all you need to get down with everything hip-hop and R&B.

This makes a great gift for that special hip hop head in your life. Go cop a copy and support real entrepreneurship!

TYRA, ASHTON TEAM FOR REALITY SHOW: Former model and ‘Punk’d’ creator join forces for new ABC project February 28, 2008

Mix the beauty business represented by former model Tyra Banks and the unpredictable nature of Ashton Kutcher and what do you get? A new reality series about a beauty pageant with a twist.

 

      That’s all ABC would say about its new as-yet-untitled unscripted series from the duo’s respective production companies, according to the Hollywood Reporter.  The network has ordered eight episodes of the project and production is scheduled to begin in the coming months.

 

       Kutcher is behind MTV’s celebrity prank series “Punk’d” and the CW’s “Beauty and the Geek,” while Banks executive produces the CW’s top-rated “America’s Next Top Model” as well as an upcoming CW project in which contestants compete to become assistant editors at a fashion magazine.

BOBBY BROWN GETS COMMUNITY SERVICE: Judge would like for him to mentor young people February 28, 2008

Young people in Brockton, Mass. beware. A judge has given Bobby Brown community service in his cocaine possession case and has recommended that he volunteer to mentor area youth.

 

      According to the Associated Press, Brown, 39, will not face criminal charges in the case, which stems from a Dec. 1 arrest at a Brockton hotel. Police said they were responding to a disturbance call at the hotel and found him sitting in an SUV in the parking lot with a small amount of cocaine in his possession.

 

      Brown’s attorney said Tuesday a Brockton District Court clerk magistrate found no probable cause to issue a criminal complaint, but recommended that Brown volunteer to mentor young people, which is what he wanted to do all along.

 

       Brown agreed to a year’s community service and his attorney said if no other issues arise over the next year, the matter will be struck from the docket.

ABC’S ‘RAISIN’ SCORES HIGH RATINGS: Viewers give network best Monday numbers since November February 28, 2008

More than 12 million viewers turned in to watch Sean “Diddy” Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan star in the three-hour telefilm “A Raisin in the Sun,” giving ABC a Monday night victory, reports the Associated Press.

 

       The Sony Pictures Television picture, which in January became the first broadcast network film to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival, drew 12.69 million viewers overall from 8 to 11 p.m., according to national estimates from Nielsen that include same-night DVR playback.       

       It placed second in its opening hour and then led from 9 to 11 in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. In women 18-49, the film had the highest ratings for an original movie on television in about two years (since ABC’s premiere of a new take on “The Ten Commandments” in April 2006).       

       Combs, who executive produced the film, also saw his 10 p.m. Monday episode of MTV’s “Making the Band 4″ (which he executive produces) become the cable’s top show in the 10 p.m. hour among adults 18-34.      

       Diddy, Rashad, McDonald and Lathan originated their roles on Broadway during its successful revival. The film, in January, became the first broadcast network film to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival.

JANET JACKSON COVERS VIBE’S FIRST ‘PHOTO ISSUE’: Singer’s photo spread shot by Michelangelo di Battista February 28, 2008

Janet Jackson graces the cover of Vibe magazine’s first-ever Photo Issue, which will feature the work of nearly 100 photographers exploring the different eras in photography.       

       Shot in January by renowned fashion photographer Michelangelo di Battista at New York City’s Milk Studios, the magazine’s exclusive photos show Janet in Balenciaga, Vera Wang, and Dolce & Gabanna.       

       Due March 4, Vibe’s Photo Issue will run the gamut – from Polaroids to digital cameras – offering a journey through hip hop as seen through the camera’s lens.

       In this month’s cover story, Janet speaks one-on-one with Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith about her new album “Discipline,” her influences growing up and her relationship with super-producer Jermaine Dupri.       

       “We worked together and became friends,” she says of her longtime love. “Aside from being amazing, it was the things he’d shared with me. The kinds of things I’d never share with anyone … Not bad — just so far left.”       

       More excerpts from the interview are listed below:

 

• Janet discusses her musical influences: “My influence came from my family. And I used to listen to … all the classics. But was there a major influence, someone whom I studied? No.”

• She also talks about working with a new group of producers on her latest project: “I listened to the songs and I immediately fell in love with them. This sounds like something Jimmy and I would do … this sounds like something from a past album, so it’s still me.”

• Regarding her early years in the Jackson household, Janet said: “I remember being a kid and they’d come over … you take so much for granted…. you’re not thinking about the fact that it’s Marvin Gaye over all the time, or Diane or Smokey.”

• Janet expresses her feelings about Jermaine Dupri: “Married or not, it’s not important … I feel like it’s it …. It’s been about eight years. He’s just a sweetheart. Truly a good-hearted person.”

• Janet on being a responsible child in the entertainment business: “One of the major things was my work ethic, since I was a kid … I never had my mother wake me up … I’d get myself up everyday. It never struck me … that’s a lot of difficulty for a 10-year-old … I don’t know if it’s something in the genes, or from watching my brothers, seeing them working hard.”

• Janet’s answer when asked ‘if everything was more fun when she was younger’: “No … It’s still fun.”