Tabloid Edition

The new breast implants

There's been a long history of controversy over breast implants. Everything from the desirability or not of the technique itself: for example, there are those who insist we should stay as nature made us. However, if we stayed with that idea we would of course never use make up, train, diet or dress well, so that idea is out.

There are others who have focused on the procedure itself and the material nature of the breast implants themselves. While there was, at least arguably, some concern over the first generation of them this has now been resolved by the work that has been done on the new generations of them. For example, we know a great deal more about both depth and width, about how tissue reacts with various rough or smooth surfaces and so on.

It's also true that the entire subject of breast implants has become much more personalised, as with much other medicine. We most certainly do not think that there is a one size fits all solution any more: a plastic surgeon will take you though all of the available options and help you decide which is the best for your particular circumstances.

Click through any of the links for more information about this field.

Annie Lennox is not HIV Positive

There seems to be a gross misunderstanding about Annie Lennox's HIV status.

No, Annie Lennox is not HIV positive. Rather, she has been a campaigner for those who are.

This seems to have got rather garbled as the news has passed around the information superhighway. To campaign on behalf of those who are HIV positive, as Annie Lennox has, is not the same thing as being HIV positive oneself, as Annie Lennox is not.

How to watch Hulu shows outside the US

If you've ever tried to watch streaming services in the UK, or wherever you happen to be outside the US, you'll run into the error 'content not available in your area.' The issue here is that Hulu, Netflix and now Youtube, the internet's main online providers of tv shows and movies have licensing deals that block outside-US traffic from using their services, instead focusing on the US market for its lucrative advertisements for US-based services.

Many people from the US will encounter these frustrating blocks whenever they are traveling. 

Solution:

If you're American and happen to travel a lot, using a proxy service is one way to get around the blocks. 

A proxy is computer access you can rent for around $5-10 a month to gain access to US-only content wherever you are in the world. These services work for anyone of course, wherever you happen to live and already have broadband access.

OK, but if you're like me you won't know about how to set up a proxy....but help is at hand! If you go to WatchTVoverseas.com then they can (and will) tell you all about it.

The Gadhimai festival

The Gadhimai festival seems to be the latest thing to get the animal rights activist's panties in a twist.

Yes, tens of thousands of animals are being sacrificed in this once every five years festival honouring Gadhimai. But so what?

They're all animals that have been raised to be killed to be eaten, the carcases will all be taken home and eaten.

All that's happened is that the animals have all been killed in one place rather than back in hte home villages. And as to the argument that the methods are cruel: well, yes, they tend to be in poor rural areas.

Your point is what?

Emma Watson and Rafael Cebrion

So, Emma Watson decided that studying in the US would be a better idea than in England as everything would be less high profile.

And then we see things like this: Emma Watson and Rafael Cebrion. She goes to an ice hockey game with a fellow student and it's all over the newspapers.

So, err, how's that "less high profile" thing coming along then Emma?

Berlusconi the super lover

Patrizia D'Addario has just published a book about her one night stand with Silvio Berlusconi. It doesn't really advance the story all that much.

She shagged him last November, she didn't take any money although hoped for help with a planning permission problem, help she didn't get.

Well, except for one part of it:

Berlusconi is sexual record-breaker, says prostitute

So, err, 74 year old man who has had treatment for prostate cancer is still a tiger in bed, eh?

This is politically damaging, in Italy of all countries, in what manner?

Cheating Madeleine McCann's parents

This might not be something all that wise to do: cheating Madeleine McCann's parents.

A bloke called Ken Halligen has been had up before the beak for what looks like skipping on a hotel bill. He's also been indicted in the US for ripping off some lawyers.

But what's likely to cause him a great deal more trouble in the long term is the attempt he seems to have made to rip off the Maddy McCann fund.

There's nothing quite like the fury of the public when they find out that money donatde for the children has been stoled. More details here.

Wikipedia could be failing

This isn't good news, that Wikipedia could be failing.

The essential point is that the number of volunteers is dropping quickly. But twhether that's a problem depends on how you view Wikipedia itself. If they've pretty much done what needed to be done and now all that's needed is updates and housekeeping then it doesn't.

If, however, you think they need millions more pages written then perhaps it does.

Up to you which you think really.

Jane Andrews is back in jail

Jane Andrews, Fergie's (ie, the duchess of York) former dresser is now back in jail.

Where, of course, Jane Andrews belongs. For she's been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Not that life actually means life in hte UK, she'll get out after a minimum of 12 years....prbably.

Basically, her boyfriend, a rich businessman, declined to marry her so beat him to death with a cricket bat. Would have been more appropriate to use a polo mallet but none available at the time perhaps.

Any, the question is, why did Jane Andrews bunk off for a couple of days: she must have known she would get caught. I like the speculation here.

She's 42: if she doesn't get pregnant soon she never will. So over the wall, get shagged, back to prison to have the baby.

Weird and wild speculation, yes it is indeed.

Markets in everything: menstrual blood

It won't come as a suyprise to some, that there are markets in everything: we've recently seen that there is a market in human fat for example. But a market in menstrual blood? Yes, indeed there is and it's a company called C'elle leading it. But no, it isn't quite what you think: no one is actually selling it. The point is to collect it and store it.

For, you see, scientists have discovered that menstrual blood is rich in adult stem cells: yes, that's right, the little things that we're pretty certain are going to revolutionise medicine in the years to come. For from stem cells can be grown replacement organs (yes, this has already been shown to be possible) and who knows what else might be possible?

To find out more you can look at their FAQs or read more about C'elle. But the basic point is quite simple.

Adult stem cells are already being used to treat and cure horrible diseases: but they are usually harvested from invasive procedures like bone marrow sampling. Menstrual blood is rich in adult stem cells and can thus be a better source and this company will help you in how to collect and store it.

There truly are markets in everything.