Interesting & Funny

Artist and social activist Adriana Bertini launched a new range of her trademark dresses made entirely out of used condoms at the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne as a way of raising awareness of safe sex.

And the work of the Brazilian-based designer – who calls herself an ‘artvist’ – is not just hastily thrown together to make a statement, with some of her dresses even making it to the catwalk.

Adriana’s Condom Couture collection includes impressive creations that show incredible attention to detail as well as variety, despite being entirely made of unused or defective contraceptives.

(Picture: Adriana Bertini/Facebook)
The ‘artvist’ also runs workshops where she teaches others her craft (Picture: Adriana Bertini/Facebook)
‘She transforms into art and awareness the material that would be destined to incineration,’ reads an excerpt on her website.

‘Creatively preserving man’s individuality, her work has the objective of wide spreading the use of the condom in the manner of art, creating a new form of thinking in the people in order that they become aware of the reality in situations of risk in the face of HIV.’

Adriana also runs workshops where she teaches students how to cut, dye and sew condoms into wearable clothing while breaking down taboos about sexual health.
Source Metro

Six-year-old Charlie Tilloston, of Sidmouth in Devon, did away with 2ft of her golden locks to raise more than 1,400 for charity.

The young fundraiser told her dad she wanted to give up the hair she had spent years growing – never having even a trim – in order to help cancer sufferers after watching a television documentary.

Mr Tilloston told the Sidmouth Herald: ‘She came up to me a couple of weeks later and said, “daddy, would you mind if I had all my hair cut off for children with cancer?” ‘I welled up.’

The community has bought Charlie a dress and a tiara to wear at this year’s Sidmouth Carnival.

The Little Princess Trust will now send the hair to China to be made into a wig. It will return to the UK and be given to boy or girl going through cancer treatment.

Source fr: ViralCharg

1. Set a duration of how long you think it should take to solve a problem - C'mon, admit it! I'm just as guilty as the next programmer. I've seen programmers sit in front of a monitor for eight hours at a time trying to solve a particular problem.

Set a time table for yourself of 1 hour, 30 minutes, or even 15 minutes. If you can't figure out a solution to your problem within your time frame, ask for help or research your problem on the Internet instead of trying to be super-coder.

2. A language is a language is a language - Over time, once you understand how one language works, you'll notice similarities between other languages. The language you choose should provide you with a suitable "comfort" level, the ability to produce efficient (and clean) code, and, above all, allow the language to suit the project and vice-versa.

3. Don't over-"design pattern" applications - Sometimes it's just easier to write a simple algorithm than it is to incorporate a singleton or facade pattern. For the most part, it even allows for cleaner, understandable code. :-)

4. Always backup your code - I've experienced a complete hard drive failure and lost a lot of code when I was younger and felt horrible because of what had happened. The one time you don't back up your data may be the one time where you have a strict deadline with a client and they need it tomorrow. Source code/version control applies here as well.

5. You are not the best at programming. Live with it. - I always thought that I knew so much about programming, but there is always someone out there better than you. Always. Learn from them.

It’s your first date. You’re finally going out with a guy you’ve had the hots for. No points for guessing you want to look your best. You pick out your favourite dress, take a leisurely trip to the parlour, and use that expensive perfume you had stashed away for special occasions. While on the date, you charm him with your conversation skills and do everything perfect until you order your food. And bam! You lose all the brownie points you had scored, only because you ordered the wrong dish or got hopelessly drunk.

Sounds incredulous? Many of you are wondering what’s the big deal about choosing the right kind of food on your first date. But first impressions do matter. If you want your first date to culminate successfully and lead to subsequent dates, there are certain foods you must stay away from, to prevent embarrassments, gastric or otherwise!

Coffee and conversations...
To begin with, pick the right location for your date. Grooming and etiquette expert Rukshaha Eisa suggests, “It’s best if you choose a coffee shop for your first date. It’s the ideal place to break the ice. You could order coffee and pastries. Not everyone is comfortable with crockery like knife and forks, so a fancy meal may sound intimidating.” In case you want to opt for dinner, choose a casual restaurant. A gourmet meal in a classy restaurant is best reserved for later dates.

Photo via fc01.deviantart.net

When you were a kid, did you want to grow up to be an astronaut, a singer or an engineer? If so, how’s that working out for you? Hopefully, it’s going great and you are living the life of your dreams. But for the rest of you who are not, here are 13 signs that you might be wasting your life… but you don’t want to admit it:

1. You spend too much time doing things you shouldn’t be doing.
Video games. Reality TV. Surfing the ‘net. Stuffing your face with too much food. Drinking too much. And the list goes on. Take a serious look at your life. Where are you spending the majority of your time? And does it serve you well? Is it leading to a better life? Is it laying the foundation for a bright future? If not, then you need to reevaluate your routine activities and make changes.

2. You find yourself complaining a lot.
I know people who are constantly overwhelmed with life, and they never cease to tell me. Are you one of those people? Do you complain about your job, your boss, your salary, your neighbors or your spouse? If you do, then you are doing nothing but exuding negative energy. Negativity doesn’t change things. It keeps you stuck. So change your thoughts and talk about what you appreciate about your life, not what you don’t like.

3. You don’t feed your mind.
If you’re not continually growing and learning as a person, then you are stagnant – just like a still pond that doesn’t move and grows green gunk on it. That’s what your mind does if you don’t keep it active and learn new things. Positive challenges in your life will expand your mind, not send it backwards.

4. You have a lot of negative self-talk.
Self-talk can make or break your life. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t… either way, you’re right.” If you tell yourself that you’re not smart enough to get that promotion or start a business, then you’re right. If you tell yourself you’re too exhausted to put effort into changing your life, then you’re right. Whatever you tell yourself becomes your reality. So closely monitor what you say to yourself, because you will find that your life matches your thoughts.

5. You feel uninspired.
Do you have a passion for anything? I know a lot of people who think they don’t have a passion. But that’s never the case. There has to be something that you enjoy doing. So you need to rediscover what excites you, and then do more of it.

6. You don’t plan for your future.
While it’s always great to live in the “now” and “be in the moment,” sometimes you need to look ahead to see where you want to go. If you don’t have a goal or a plan, then you are like a boat that is wandering aimlessly in the ocean hoping to end up somewhere good. But you can’t do that. You have to make a step-by-step guide to get where you want to go. Just like a GPS gets you to a destination, you need your own inner GPS to guide you.

7. You spend too much time with people who don’t contribute to your growth.
It’s easy to get stuck hanging out with people who are not making you feel like a better person. But if you keep doing that, then you will stay stagnant or get pulled down with them. I like to call them “Energy Vampires.” They suck the life out of you and give you nothing positive in return. Instead, go find growth-oriented people to be around.

8. You’re addicted to your phone.
Sure, cell phones are super cool gadgets that can leave us entranced when we use them. While that’s fun, think about all the time you are wasting with your phone. Even worse, think about all the relationships that might be affected. Maybe you’re texting or searching the internet while you’re having dinner with your spouse or kids. If you are, you’re missing out on meaningful time you can spend with your loved ones – or time you could devote to making a plan for your future.

9. You spend money on things that don’t matter.
There is a difference between a “need” and a “want.” I’m sure we all learned that in kindergarten. However, in today’s society, we have blurred the lines quite a bit (see #8… the cell phone). In fact, I know people who can’t pay their mortgage, but still have the fanciest gadgets on the planet. If you stop to think about it, there is very little that we actually need. Food, water, shelter and love are some of those things. All the rest are just bonuses. So look at what you’re spending your money on and see if you can make adjustments. Maybe you can use the money you save to invest in your future.

10. You don’t get enough sleep.
I’m not a medical doctor, but I have read enough books to know how vitally important sleep is. I could write 20 pages on it. But I obviously don’t have enough room in this short article. Sleep is crucial for good health. If you’re too busy to get enough sleep or if you simply have a bad habit of staying up until the wee hours of the morning, you should re-evaluate your habits.

11. You’re not taking care of your body.
Not only is sleep essential to your health, so is food and exercise. I know I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. But eating a balanced, healthy diet and moving your body around truly does have more positive effects other than weight loss. It affects your mental attitude and overall well-being. So take a look at your diet and level of activity. You might find that making a few small changes will greatly improve your life.

12. You don’t leave your comfort zone.
I know how easy it is to live in a comfort zone. In fact, when I go to a familiar restaurant, I always order the same thing. Not because I’m afraid to try something new, but because I like the food I normally order. But that’s not the kind of comfort zone I’m talking about. I’m talking about taking a risk that will improve your life. And keep in mind, there is a difference between a “risk” and a “calculated risk.” Any risk has the possibility to be deadly, but a calculated risk is one in which you’ve weighed all options and thus come up with a good, sensible plan of action.

13. You’re living a life you don’t like.
The way I measure success is by someone’s level of happiness. Are you happy? If not, then you should change something! Even a feeling of contentment or satisfaction doesn’t tell you that you’re living life to the fullest. Life should be exciting! So if you’re not enjoying life, take a look at some of the changes you can make to get you to a better place.

If any of these 13 points sounded like you, don’t despair. You can make changes. But the first change you need to make is getting rid of the idea that you can’t do it. Many times, your biggest obstacle is your own thought process. So start there. Change your thinking – then change your life!

There myths that after eating you should move about, eat fruits or even relax by sleeping for a while. We would like to correct these myths as they can actually harm your digestive system and cause health related issues. Here are seven things you should not do after eating:

• Do not smoke – Studies from experts proved that smoking a cigarette after a meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes, causing higher chances of cancer.

• Do not eat fruits immediately as eating fruits after a meal will cause your stomach to be bloated. Therefore eat fruits 1 to 2 hours after a meal or 1 hour before.

• Do not drink tea because tea leaves contain a high content of acid. This substance will cause the protein intake from the food we consume to be hardened and thus difficult to digest.

• Do not loosen your belt! Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted and blocked.

• Do not take a shower as it will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease. This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach.

• Do not walk about – People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live longer! It’s a myth! Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we eat.

• Do not sleep immediately – The food we take will not be able to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric problems and infections in our intestine.

 Via arabia.msn.com

Do you typically spend your lunch hour scarfing down an unhealthy meal at your desk? Maybe you run out for a quick bite but keep your eyes glued to your smartphone. Or perhaps you just skip lunch altogether.

Experts say your lunch hour is critical for keeping your productivity and energy levels up. Working or rushing through it can be detrimental to your success.

“Your lunch hour is your chance to get refocused, reenergized, and refueled (literally) for the rest of your day,” says Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of “You Can’t Be Serious! Putting Humor to Work.” “Successful people treat it like the half-time show at a football game — an opportunity to regroup and consider how they’re going to play out the rest of their day.”

Dale Kurow, a New York-based executive coach, agrees. She says the most successful people she knows don’t spend their lunch hour at their desk. They use that time to do things like meet new people, exercise, and read. “Being tied to your desk only expands your waistline and rarely results in making a dent in the pile of work awaiting you.”

Here are 13 things successful people do during their lunch hours:

They plan their day with lunch in mind.
They never schedule important meetings or conference calls right at lunchtime, and they typically block of at least 10 minutes of free time after lunch to reassess their goals for the day and shift priorities around as needed, Kerr says.

They get up and get out.
Even on the occasions where you feel you must work through lunch, always get away from your desk. That’s what successful people do, Kerr says. “In the worst case scenario, if you have to work through lunch, working in a different location will at least offer up a much needed change of scenery and perspective.”

They network.
Try and set a goal to have lunch with a different person in your office or network at least once a week, either as an introduction or to catch up. “You are guaranteed to learn something new about your organization or industry, and may even make some new mentors and friends in the process,” says Ryan Kahn, a career coach, founder of The Hired Group, and author of “Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad.”

They get organized.
“Take advantage of this short break from work by making a to-do list for your personal life — or even to cross a few items off that list,” Kahn says. “Feeling like things are in control and organized in your life outside of work will free up mental energy and reduce stress levels to perform better professionally.”

They take the time to eat.
“They eat healthy, and eat mindfully,” Kerr says. “Nutritionists talk about the need for people to be mindful when they are eating, which means eating slowly, appreciating the food, and being fully present.” Not being mindful leads to poor dietary choices such as eating too fast or eating junk food, which not only affects your health in the long run, buts also affects your stress level and ability to focus in the afternoon.

They work out.
Exercising during lunch provides a great energy boost and sense of accomplishment for the second part of the workday. “A regular workout schedule, in addition to promoting good health, has been shown to reduce stress and increase focus,” Kahn explains. “These are all positive things for your performance at work, so get moving.”

They reflect on their morning.
Lunch is the ideal time to evaluate the progress you’ve made, Kerr says. “Take the time to self-reflect on what you have accomplished. Expressing gratitude is a major happiness booster and a great way to keep your momentum up for the afternoon.” If you have had a difficult morning, then remind yourself that you can hit the reset button over lunch and head into the afternoon with a positive attitude.

They read.
Successful people don’t spend their lunch hour reading emails and reports. They catch up on newspapers, blogs, and books, says Teri Hockett, chief executive of What’s For Work?, a career site for women.

Kerr agrees. He says reading helps you focus, offers a mental break from work, and can give you some much-needed solitude.

They accomplish personal tasks.
Hockett says successful people might run errands during their lunch hour, which they would not otherwise be able to take care of during the day. They also use this time to make personal calls, schedule appointments, write thank you notes, and achieve any other tasks from their personal to-do list.

They do things they enjoy.
Successful people also use this time of day to do things they enjoy most, like seeing a friend, going shopping, or visiting the park. “All of these activities will be like mini-vacations and help refresh you and completely change the channel. You will go back to the office with a different mindset,” Kurow says.

They unplug and recharge.
Use your lunch hour to recharge by shutting off electronics and enjoying some peace and quiet, Hockett says.

They spend time on career planning.
During your lunch hour, take a few minutes to think about and write down what you want your professional future to look like, Kurow says. “Successful people rarely have time in the office to do this. Take a notebook, and find a place to journal your thoughts. Then decide what the first step would be to move those thoughts, wishes, and plans forward.”

They brainstorm.
Successful people use this time to dream of new concepts, ideas, and solutions that can be applied to their professional and/or personal lives, Hockett concludes.


Via - businessinsider.my

According to a study, taking zinc supplements at the first signs of a cold might be a good idea.

While there is still no cure for the common cold, there is one way to make sure the symptoms are over as quickly as possible. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers concluded that zinc supplements taken at the first signs of a cold could reduce the duration of symptoms by as much as half.

It may start with a sneeze, a runny nose, or a cough. Regardless of how it begins, you know you’re in for at least a week or two of unpleasant symptoms.

But zinc supplements, taken orally within 24 hours of the first cold symptoms, could reduce the duration of the illness.

This is the conclusion reached by pediatricians Rashmi Rajan Das, of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar, and Meenu Singh, of the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, upon analysing data from 18 randomised controlled trials.

The researchers warn, however, that “given the high heterogeneity of data, these results should be interpreted with caution” and that “the prevalence of adverse effects with zinc lozenges is high.” According to the pediatricians, zinc was observed to be effective in limiting the duration of a cold at doses of above 75mg per day.

The study also revealed that the preventative use of zinc over a period of five months reduced the incidence of colds in children. However, the side effects associated with excessive zinc intake limit the attractiveness of prescribing the supplement to children over an extended period.

The study’s focus on preventing colds in children is particularly relevant in light of the fact that the average adult experiences between two and four colds per year, compared to between eight and ten for the average child. — AFP Relaxnews

It's as much a part of your daily existence as your diet and exercise routine, and yet, even those who prioritize movement and nutrition are a bit misled when it comes to sleep. Much of this in-the-dark behavior stems from a misunderstanding of some of the most important factors affecting your sleep (which, by the way, affects your waistline as well as your performance at work and in the gym). To set the record straight, we asked Equinox advisory board member and sleep expert James B. Maas, Ph.D., author of Sleep for Success!, to dispel five of the most common falsehoods.

Myth: Sleeping too much makes you gain weight.

"Sleep is actually the best diet there is," says Maas. "Research shows that if you sleep just one extra hour a night, you can lose a pound a week." According to a study out of the University of Colorado, subjects who didn't get ample sleep ate about six percent more calories than those who did.

Here's why: Levels of leptin, a hormone that controls your appetite by telling your brain your fat stores are fine and you've got enough energy, drop when you haven't had enough sleep. And Maas says that even if you get six hours a night (and not the generally recommended eight to nine), leptin decreases. You wake up starving-and probably craving high fat and carbs to feel satiated. "So, the brain is tricked into eating more than you need to," he says.

Myth: You can catch up over the weekend.

Sure, sleeping in on a Sunday to counteract a super late Friday or Saturday night-or even a week's worth of running around-may make you feel like a million bucks, but it's not that easy to really reset a sleep deficit. "You can't replace lost sleep, be it a week's worth or a one-nighter, in one shot-it can take several days or a few weeks," says Maas. A good rule of thumb is to sleep for half the amount of time you're awake.

As in: if you're up for 16, then you should be asleep for eight. But catching up is crucial. "Just like how you can't ignore a charge on your credit card because it will keep building up, if you ignore your lack of sleep, it doesn't disappear into thin air," says Maas. "You literally have to think of it like a sleep bank account."

Myth: You can condition your body to need less sleep.

You know how some people brag about being able to run on only a few hours of sleep because their body is used to it? Don't believe them. "You can become conditioned to waking up earlier but you can't alter your body's sleep requirements," says Maas. In fact, 'getting by' on less could mean you're doing your health a great disservice. "There are so many people that say that five hours is all you need-that's a giant mistake," says Maas. "It may be there are individual differences and genetic factors like what your parents sleep habits are and so on and you might be one of the lucky few that really only need seven hours, but if not, over time, some aspect of your health like weight or mental focus will be effected by lack of sleep."

Myth: One glass of wine promotes deeper sleep.

While a little bit (or a lot for that matter) of vino can sure make you feel like you can sack out the minute your head hits the pillow, you won't get the same quality of sleep as you would if you were completely sober. "Any alcohol within three hours of bedtime can disrupt REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, so you never get into the deepest sleep possible, which is the critical sleep," says Maas. Do that one or more times a week and not only will your sleep deficit increase, but you'll risk the associated weight gain and memory loss issues.

Myth: Sleeping straight through the night is crucial.

Between taking a few sips of water, getting up to use the bathroom, or just tossing and turning, you could end up waking up a few times a night. The good news: NBD. "It's actually unusual for someone to sleep through an entire night without interruption," says Maas. The critical element however, is whether or not you fall back to sleep within 10 minutes of waking. It's only when you keep tossing and turning that ample sleep as well as memory consolidation gets sacrificed. "If it takes you longer than 15 minutes to go back and you're up for 90 minutes or longer, the equivalent of more than a full REM deep sleep cycle, that's when it's disrupting and [could be a] sign of insomnia."


Via -yahoo