New Fashion Trends 2012

At the fashion week held in Paris recently, many interesting garments were showcased by the models who walked the ramp. The garments epitomized the new fashion trends of 2012. A model walked the ramp in a chic black and gray wool dress. This wool dress had a central black panel and gray panels at the sides. The model had a thin leather belt encircling her waist. The sleeves of this sophisticated attire were fitted and fell just below her elbows. This dress is made for all those women who want to look sophisticated and yet maintain an innate sense of simplicity in their clothes.

It was not all simple glamour at the Paris fashion week showcasing the new fashion trends 2012. Some models opted to wear luxuriously minks in shades of gray on the ramp as well to cherish the now departing winters. To complete the attire gray dress pants in slightly soft shades were worn underneath the glamorous mink gray coat. A silk gray dress was also showcased at the ramp by a model. The silk dress comprised of a frilly sort of gray skirt which fell to the model’s knees with a matching silk gray top to go with it.

Some women want to show off their tiny waist that looks smoking hot if you have the right size of bum to show it off with. One such example was a model that walked the ramp in a dress that had a fitted pencil skirt with a figure hugging upper. The dress again at a central straight gray panel and black panels at the sides to go with it as the dress gives one a chance to show off their long and sexy legs and to maximize the effect of this dress you can wear highly pointed stilettos to just look absolutely alluring. 

For those women out there who like to look chic yet ant to preserve a sense of comfort in their office clothes? This is the perfect attire. A model walked the ramp in a dark gray woolen pencil skirt worn under a full sleeved jacket in similar shades and fabric. The neckline of this attire was the sexiest as it had a high closed collar and looked absolutely stylish. This dress again gives you a chance to show off your long and sexy legs without having to bother about looking slutty as you can manage to look decent as well owing to the full sleeves cutoff the gray jacket.

If you are one of those women who want to look hot yet maintain a sense of warmth in odd hours of winter then you should wear a gray mink coat with a fitted cut over a frilly woolen skirt . the skirt should be a mini skirt and hence only women with toned thighs can wear this attire.

2012 Fashion Trends for Women

2012 fashion trends for women have introduced some interesting and unconventional cuts and styles for women especially when it comes to choosing a gown for formal occasions. A designer launched a gorgeous gown in daffodil yellow. This gown consisted of a sleeveless cut, nip at the waist and a straight skirt. The gown also boasted a slit at the front from the knees to the ankles. The model who was wearing this gown also wore fawn colored platform heels that had multiple straps running in horizontal fashion across the feet.

If you have been blessed with a pale complexion commonly found in Russians and Uzbeks then you should try on this dress as suggested by the 2012 fashion trends for women. This dress consists of s sleeveless white embroidered top and a hot pink organza pencil skirt. Around the waist frill made of pink organza encircles your figure to add some volume to your attire. In addition to that a thin black ribbon encircles your waist as well and forms a small bow at the front too.

Peplums were introduced this year when the 2012 fashion trends for women were introduced. Sleeveless lack top was accentuated with a a black and white pencil skirt and black and white peplums. An Asian model wore a satin gown in black that used the concept of peplums beautifully. This gown boasts a cleavage deep V neckline and black peplums trimmed off with frills and tassels. The skirt of this dress had a pencil cut and fell to the models knees. The model wore a pair of black high heel sandals. 

The sandals had horizontal lack straps running across the feet.2012 fashion trends for women offer another dress for the womankind. This dress utilizes the concept of peplums with utmost sophistication. The dress boasts a a pencil skirt made of silver organza and a  peplum to made of silver feathers. A deep gray/silver metallic belt encircles your waist so that your figure is accentuated beautifully.

To add a bit of colour to this attire it might be a good idea to wear tomato red lipstick and tie your hair in a bun in a bun or chignon at your nape. It would be a good idea to wear a pair of black high heel sandals under this gray / silver peplum dress. The straps of this show criss-cross all over your feet in a very becoming manner. And add a good deal of sex appeal to the overall look of this dress. It is the ideal dress for those women who have well toned shoulders and long and sexy legs. So gear up and dress up to dazzle all the hot hunks present at the next black tie event you are invited to.

SUMMER TREND: Round Sunglasses

Even if its not exactly the sunshine we want outside, We all still grab our sunglasses to complete our ‘Summer’ looks …

( Well when else are we gonna wear em?)

Not only do they protect our peepers but they can really finish off an outfit and with so many colors and styles, they can nearly be the key piece!!

A hot sunglasses trend seen as early as Spring, on the runway and right through to Coachella is – ROUND SUNGLASSES!!!
They’re a completely retro 60′s trend but have cropped up time and time again, they even had a little stint in the 90′s … Up til now regularly  seen on the likes of Elton John and Lady GaGa, theyve now gone mainstream with celebs such as Nicole Richie, Rachel Zoe & Kristen Stewart sporting these roundy bad-boys …

DIET COKE FASHION FRIDAY: Must Have Trend – Detachable Collars!

Transform the drabbest of outfits into works of art with a detachable collar!
These amazing fashion accessories are made in an assortment of eye-popping prints, the colorful neckbands inject visual interest without the bulk of an entire shirt. If you’d rather DIY than BUY, check out YouTube for wrangling one of your own.
The ‘collar’ trend is here and here to stay for the summer months and what better fashion icon to stamp this look thank the very own Alexa Chung!
Alexa Chung was photographed traipsing around in Peter Pan collar dresses, designers like Karl Lagerfeld, Sonia Rykieland Marni showed them on the runway, and we finally came to our senses and realised that collars, particularly those of the detachable variety, are actually kind of amazing.
These double-duty accessories can be worn with a lower-cut top as a necklace alternative, with a button-up blouse to fake the real thing, or thrown over a t-shirt for an injection of insta-cool.
Bottom line: you need to add a multitasking collar to your wardrobe NOW, and these stylish ladies will show you how to rock it.

NASA Astronauts Unload SpaceX Dragon Cargo

the astronauts on board the International Space Station have opened the Dragon capsule, a privately-owned spacecraft created by the U.S. corporation SpaceX. 

The astronauts opened the cargo-filled Dragon Saturday morning.

One of the astronauts commented that the inside of the capsule smelled like "a brand new car."
The capsule docked at the station Friday after the astronauts used the station's robotic arm to grab it.

The Dragon will remain linked with the ISS for a week so the station's crew can unload more than 500 kilograms of supplies and reload it with used equipment to be sent back to Earth.  

Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin said the Dragon's docking demonstrates "continued American leadership in space."

The docking of the privately-owned craft begins a new phase in the U.S. space program after the space agency, NASA, retired its shuttle fleet last year.NASA's space station program manager, Mike Suffredini, said the way SpaceX built, tested and flew the spacecraft has been "remarkable."

SpaceX chief executive and billionaire Elon Musk said Friday "there was so much that could have gone wrong, and it went right."

NASA is turning to SpaceX and other private companies to ferry supplies, and eventually astronauts, to the space station, taking over for the now-retired shuttles.

Russia, Japan, and Europe have the capability to resupply the ISS, but Russia's Soyuz spacecraft is the only vehicle currently able to transport astronauts to the outpost.

by voanews

SpaceX Dragon Capsule Splashes Down

In this photo provided by SpaceX, the Dragon spacecraft floats on the surface of the Pacific Ocean about 500 miles off Mexico's Baja California after its mission to the International Space Station (ISS), May 31, 2012.

The SpaceX Dragon cargo ship has completed a historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS), splashing down in the Pacific Ocean after becoming the first commercially operated vehicle to travel to the orbiting outpost.

The Dragon arrived back on Earth Thursday, after its successful demonstration flight.

The International Space Station crew released the Dragon capsule early Thursday from the station's long robotic arm to begin the final leg of its flight.  The unmanned ship re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean southwest of the California coast at midday Thursday.

This NASA graphic depicts the location of the splashdown for the SpaceX Dragon capsule in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, May 31, 2012.

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This NASA graphic depicts the location of the splashdown for the SpaceX Dragon capsule in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, May 31, 2012.

The Dragon departed the ISS less than a week after becoming the first privately-owned spacecraft to deliver supplies to the station. The U.S. space agency NASA has reached deals with a number of private companies to take over the duties of the retired space shuttle fleet to deliver cargo and, eventually, astronauts to the ISS.

The Dragon departed the ISS less than a week after becoming the first private spacecraft to deliver supplies to the station.  The U.S. space agency NASA has reached deals with a number of private companies to take over the duties of the retired space shuttle fleet to deliver cargo and, eventually, astronauts to the ISS.

US, Norway Work to Improve Maternal Health in Africa

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during the Global Health Conference at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, Friday June 
OSLO, Norway - The United States and Norway are working to improve maternal and child health in Africa. In the Norwegian capital, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged $75 million in U.S. support. 

Secretary Clinton says the "Saving Mothers, Giving Life" initiative aims to reduce maternal mortality at a time when the World Health Organization says 800 women die in childbirth each day.

"I often think about issues like maternal health from a personal perspective because I am privileged to have known what it meant to me to have had the great good fortune and gift of my daughter," said Clinton. "And I think about what it would have been like that cold February day in 1980 if I didn't know that the facility was available. Or were it available, I didn't really know for sure if it would be open. And I couldn't count on a doctor or a midwife or a nurse being present."

The initiative is sponsored by the U.S. and Norwegian governments along with the pharmaceutical firm Merck and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Starting in Uganda and Zambia, it is focusing on helping mothers during labor, delivery, and during the first 24 hours after a birth, when two of every three maternal deaths occur and 45 percent of newborn deaths occur.

The public and private partnership is meant to strengthen district health services by building clinics and labs, training staff, improving supply chains, making blood supplies safe, and improving record-keeping systems.

Secretary Clinton says better health systems can not be imposed from outside any more than democracy can be imposed. So each country must shape its own approach based on individual needs and priorities.

But she says there are some universal fundamentals: governments increasing their own spending, donors embracing transparency, and lawmakers bringing down barriers to better health care, including regulatory changes allowing for the faster approval of new drugs.

"It means repealing laws that stop progress, like the unfortunate treatment of women in so many places," said Clinton. "Ending gender-based violence and discrimination. Creating true health equality for women and men. In some countries, women and girls are considered inherently less valuable than men and boys, and they’re treated that way by custom and law."

The "Saving Mothers, Giving Life" program is part of the Obama administration's 2009 Global Health Initiative, which also includes funding to improve nutrition and reproductive health while combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis.

Eyes Skyward, World Watches Venus Cross Sun

A bird comes in to land atop one of the domes of India's Taj Mahal as Venus, top left, begins to pass in front of the sun, as seen from Agra, India, June 6, 2012.Skywatchers across the world Tuesday witnessed an astronomical event that will not happen again for more than a century -- Venus passing between the Sun and the Earth.

Using special viewing glasses or telescopes, people in North and Central America, western Africa, most of Europe and many parts of the Asia-Pacific region watched for more than six hours as Venus crossed in front of the Sun in the form a small, black dot.

New York tourist Simon Beins said he was surprised by how visible the event was.

"Actually didn't know you were going to be able to look at it through just the little filter or even see it without a telescope, so it's pretty amazing."

Some viewed the transit of Venus on websites, including the European Space Agency and the U.S. space agency NASA sites, which streamed images taken by NASA's space-based Solar Dynamics Observatory.

Transits of Venus always occur in pairs, eight years apart, with more than a century separating each pair.  Observations of transits in previous centuries allowed astronomers to calculate the distance between the Earth and the Sun -- some 150 million kilometers, said astrophysicist Harold Williams.

"If we didn't know the distance between the Sun and the Earth, we would not know the distance to the stars or the size of the galaxy or the size of the universe. So without knowing the distance between the Sun and the Earth, we would not know the size of the solar system, we wouldn't know the size and distance of anything, other than on the earth," Williams said.

Tuesday's transit bookends the 2004-2012 pair and will be the last time it occurs until 2117. The previous transit occurred in 1874

Google Warns Gmail Users About Cyber Attacks

Google mouse pad and computer mouse (File).internet giant Google is warning many users of its popular Gmail service that they may be the target of state-sponsored cyber attacks.

The California-based company unveiled a new warning system Tuesday to alert Gmail users when it suspects "state-sponsored" attackers are attempting to compromise their accounts or computers using malicious software.

China users

Many China-based Gmail users reported receiving the warning early Wednesday in the form of a banner message at the top of their email accounts. The warning also reportedly appeared on accounts in the U.S. and Japan.

Google said in a blog post the appearance of the warning does not necessarily mean that the account has been hijacked, but that it may be a target. The company urged account holders to create a strong password and take a number of other security procedures to ensure protection.

State sponsored

Google says it cannot provide details on how it knows that specific attacks are government-sponsored. But it said "detailed analysis" and "victim reports" strongly suggest the involvement of governments or state-sponsored groups.

Although Google did not mention any specific governments that may be behind the attacks, many technology analysts suggest it may be another chapter in the long-running dispute between Google and China over censorship and web privacy issues.

Beijing censorship

The announcement comes days after Google took a veiled swipe at Beijing's massive Internet censorship network. Google said last week it would begin alerting users when they type a search term likely to be blocked in mainland China.

Last week's announcement was careful not to mention Chinese government censors. But it said searching for such terms often causes error messages and temporary disconnections, wryly noting that Google engineers have "taken a long, hard look at our systems and have not found any problems."

Google has in the past blamed China for cyber attacks. Last year, the Internet giant accused China-based hackers of breaking into the email accounts of hundreds of people, including senior U.S. officials, journalists, and Chinese political activists.

Google complained of a much wider cyber attack by Chinese-based hackers in 2010, which led it to move the servers of its popular Chinese search engine to Hong Kong.

Though the move outside mainland China meant Beijing could not fine-tune Google search results, the government still censors material by blocking results for terms that it considers harmful or subversive

Facebook's stock is bouncing back -- for now

Don't look now, but Facebook shares have been on the rise for the last three trading days. Last Wednesday, the social network's stock stood at $27.24. It closed today at $31.41, a 15 percent rise in less than a week.

So far, Facebook has recovered more than $10 billion of the $35 billion in market capitalization it blew off following its disastrous IPO. Facebook's painful low of $25.52 -- just 12 days ago! -- is now starting to fade a bit.

There are many possible reasons for Facebook's recent rise. The company has been on a bit of a spending spree, including its acquisition of Face.com today. It launched a platform for real-time ad bidding last week, one of several recent moves intended to convince investors that it's serious about bolstering its ad revenues.

But there's rarely a single explanation for any given stock's rise or fall. This is especially true of IPO stocks, which frequently remain volatile months after their debut.

Zynga, for instance, debuted at $10 per share before dropping to $8.00 per share and rising back up to $9.22. That's an 18 percent swing in 30 days:

Zynga's first month of trading

Yelp's first month as a public company was even more volatile. Its stock opened at $15, bounced up immediately to $24.60, then dropped to $19.80 before recovering to $28.09. It nearly doubled its valuation in its first month -- twice!

Yelp's stock in its first month as a publicly traded company.

And let's not forget about LinkedIn, which debuted at $45, rose to $94.25, then plummeted to $63.31 in its first month, a 32% drop from its high:

LinkedIn's stock in its first month as a publicly traded company.

History shows that this kind of trading volatility is going to be the norm for Facebook, at least for a while. The company's next earnings report, its first as a public company, will give us a better idea to the overall strength of its business -- and the likely direction of its stock.

Finally, a plug-in hybrid with four-wheel-drive is coming

News leaked out early today that Mitsubishi will debut its upcoming plug-in hybrid Outlander SUV at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Although there is no official news release or announcement from Mitsubishi, Edmunds InsideLine confirmed with a company spokesperson that the SUV is headed to the auto show next fall. It also confirmed that U.S. buyers will get the vehicle either in late 2013 or 2014.

The plug-in hybrid will be based on the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander, and will have three driving modes, including all-electric, serial hybrid, and parallel hybrid. Based on the PX-Miev II Conceptthat debuted at the 2011 Tokyo Motor show, it's powered by a 2-liter 70kW engine, two 60kW electric motors, and a 72 cell lithium-ion battery pack. It will have an approximate 30-mile all-electric driving range, and a total driving range of approximately 500 miles on a full tank with the batteries charged.                                                   

                                              A graphic of the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid powertrain.

                                                                           (Credit: Mitsubishi)

The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander on which the plug-in hybrid model will be based.

(Credit: Mitsubishi)

This news would make the Mitsubishi Outlander the first SUV to enter the U.S. market with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It is also the first plug-in hybrid vehicle to be equipped with permanent four-wheel-drive. The model will be an attractive buy for cold-weather dwellers who want a jack-of-all-trades vehicle with electric drive capability.

Although overseas car prices don't always translate, Australian news outlet Herald Sun says that the plug-in Outlander will be $5,000 more than the internal combustion-engine-equipped SUV. That steep premium means that car buyers won't be choosing this SUV to save money in the long run. But it may be a price drivers are willing to pay to ease their conscience. This combination of fuel efficiency and utility could be the right recipe for U.S. car buyers who are looking to reduce fuel consumption, but not limit where they go or what they can do with their car.

Facebook acquires Face.com for undisclosed sum

Facebook has acquired Face.com, confirming rumors that the companies were in talks.

Face.com announced the acquisition on its blog today, saying that its work with Facebook will offer it "more opportunities" to build products.

The Tel Aviv, Israel-based startup offers application programming interfaces (API) for third-party developers to incorporate Face.com's facial-recognition software into their applications. The company has released two Facebook applications: Photo Finder, which lets people find untagged pictures of themselves and their Facebook friends, and Photo Tagger, which lets people automatically bulk-tag photos on Facebook. Face.com launched its open API in 2010 to help third-party developers get into the mix.

"People who use Facebook enjoy sharing photos and memories with their friends, and Face.com's technology has helped to provide the best photo experience," a Facebook spokesperson told CNET today in an e-mailed statement. "This transaction simply brings a world-class team and a long-time technology vendor in house."

In today's blog post, Face.com specifically mentioned mobile as a "critical part of people's lives," but didn't say exactly what it might do at Facebook. That said, Face.com did note that Facebook will continue to support Face.com's developer community.

Facebook has been on a bit of a spending spree lately. After acquiring Instagram for $1 billion in April, the company picked up social-discovery service Glancee and social-gifting company Karma for undisclosed amounts.Last month, reports cropped up, suggestingFacebook and Face.com were in talks, though neither company confirmed that was the case. Israel-based publication Newsgeek said at the time that Facebook might pay between $80 million and $100 million for the facial-recognition company.

Report: Israel, US Behind Iranian Spying Virus

 
This undated screen grab taken released by the Kaspersky Lab site shows code related to the computer virus known as Flame.

A U.S. cyber security expert says it is "pretty likely" the United States and Israel are behind a sophisticated computer virus that appears to have been used to gather intelligence about Iran's nuclear program.

Tofino Security chief technology officer Eric Byres said there are only a few countries in the world with the resources to develop something as advanced as the so-called Flame virus.

The Washington Post newspaper reports Israeli and U.S. security agencies used Flame to collect information about Iran's preparation for a cyber attack aimed at slowing its nuclear program.

Byres says the virus can be used in a variety of ways.

"The primary focus of Flame as it is currently configured appears to be stealing or collecting intelligence, and that can be everything from what we call autoCAD drawings about factories, to emails, to even things like voice conversations or video of what is happening in the office around the computer that is infected," said Byres.

An Iranian state-run media report says Communications and Technology Minister Reza Taqupour has lodged complaints with unspecified "international organizations" about alleged "state cyber-terrorism."  The report said Iranian officials blame detected computer viruses, including Flame, on Israel and "certain Western countries."

Earlier this month, The New York Times said U.S. President Barack Obama authorized cyber attacks on Natanz, Iran's main nuclear-enrichment facility.   The report said the so-called Stuxnet computer virus was used to hamper operations at the site.

Byres says analysis reports indicate the Flame virus may be more targeted than Stuxnet.

"I would say it's a Middle East-focused piece of malware," said Byres.  "There's also indications that it's designed to only run if it's in those time zones, that it's designed not to spread around the world like Stuxnet did and try and stay close to its drop area."

Western news reports say Flame came to light in May, after Iran detected cyberattacks against its oil industry.  Some reports indicate the virus may have been developed at least five years ago.

Iran has been engaged in talks with world powers about the nature of its nuclear program.  Tehran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, but the United Nations and some world powers have imposed sanctions on Tehran because of its uranium-enrichment activities.

Robotic Fish Attracts the Real Thing

Looks do matter to zebrafish, which were attracted to this robot fish because of its bright color and round female-like shape. (M.Porfiri/Polytechnic Institute of New York University)

Robotic fish could one day play an important role in steering schools of real fish away from aquatic dangers, such as invasive species, pollution and other hazards, according to experimental evidence released in a new study.

Mechanical engineer Maurizio Porfiri works with zebrafish, the so-called lab rats of the aquatic world. He and his colleagues at New York University’s Polytechnic Institute designed a remote controlled, motorized zebrafish robot.

Painted blue with bright yellow stripes, the robotic fish was shaped to resemble a female which was ready to mate.

It was then put into a 65-liter tank, separated from the school by a transparent piece of Plexiglas.

Real fish like look of 'robo-fish'

And, says, Porfiri, "It worked!"

Mechanical engineer Maurizio Porfir holds one of his "robofish" creations in his New York lab. (Polytechnic Institute of New York University)

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Mechanical engineer Maurizio Porfir holds one of his "robofish" creations in his New York lab. (Polytechnic Institute of New York University)

The zebrafish were attracted to the shape and color of the robot as well as the movement of its tail.

Although the real fish preferred each other to the robot, they preferred spending time beside the robot to staying next to an empty space.

Both individual and groups of fish preferred the company of the robot.

Porfiri says even its large size didn’t seem to matter.

However, the researchers did notice the zebrafish tended to ignore the robot in the dark and were scared away by the noise of its motor.

Leading real fish away from danger

The findings bring scientists a step closer to deploying autonomous, self-directing robots to monitor and control fish behavior.

“So, for example, there can be an oil spill and you may want to have like a "sheep dog" that can guide your fish away to a safer area," Porfiri says. "Or you may simply have a hydro-powered plant where there are turbine blades that are spinning and they may be very dangerous to animals. So you may want to have a sentinel [fish] sitting there [to] guide your animals away from those dangerous situations.”

While submersible robots already help scientists with surveillance, exploration and data monitoring, Porfiri says a number of challenges remain before robotic fish can jump into an aquatic environment to manage fish behavior.

“What we need to understand from a scientific point of view is how to change the behavior and the performance of the robot so that it can exert different actions on different fish and behave differently in the presence of other stimuli. There are other animals living there. There are other obstacles.”

Syrian military says it downed Turkish fighter jet

The Syrian military has said it shot down a Turkish plane "flying in airspace over Syrian waters", according to state-run news agency Sana.

"[The jet] was dealt with in accordance with the laws that govern such situations," a military spokesman said.
Turkey had earlier said it believed that one of its F-4 fighter jets had been shot down by Syrian forces.
A search for the two crew members is under way, involving Turkish and Syrian coast guard ships.
The F-4 Phantom disappeared over the Mediterranean, south-west of Hatay province, near the Syrian coast.
A military spokesman told Sana that an "unidentified target" had broached Syrian airspace from a westerly direction at 11:40 local time (08:40 GMT) on Friday.
The target was flying at high speed and at low altitude, the spokesman said.
Anti-aircraft defences had hit the plane with artillery, bringing it down in the sea 10km (6.2 miles) off the coast of Latakia province, he added.
"It later became clear the target was a Turkish military plane which had entered our airspace," he continued.
'Decisive response'
Earlier on Friday evening, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a two-hour emergency meeting with his interior, defence and foreign ministers and the Chief of the General Staff, Gen Necdet Ozel.
Mr Erdogan's office said that Turkey would respond decisively once all the circumstances were established.
Given the breakdown in relations between the two countries over the Syrian conflict, this incident has the potential to provoke a serious crisis, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul reports.
Relations between Nato-member Turkey and Syria, once close allies, have deteriorated sharply since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.
Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have fled the violence across the border into Turkey.

The Health Benefits of Red Wine

Can wine really improve our health and increase longevity? Scientists are beginning to say "Yes!" Supposing that the theory is true -- which wines give us the most bang for the buck?

Researchers have found that red wines rich in flavonoids are best for our health. Flavonoids are best known for their antioxidant qualities and help the body resist such maladies as allergens, viruses and carcinogens.

Red wines also contain anxioxidants, which help the body resist cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir contain the highest concentrations of antioxidants and flavonoids.

Other red wines such as Merlots and red zinfandels contain fewer flavonoids, but more than most white wines. So, the best bet for drinking wine for our health is to stick to the dryer red wines.  Just because wine contains components that are central to good health doesn't give us a free rein to get plastered every night. Don't overdo it -- but adding a glass of wine to your daily diet can definitely make a difference to our health.

Paracelsus, the noted 16^th-century Swiss physician wrote, "Wine is a food, a medicine and a poison - it's just a question of dose." As with almost any food or drink, wine consumed in large doses can be a detriment to our health.

Most health officials agree that one or two four-ounce glasses of wine per day can be beneficial to men, while women should limit their consumption to one four ounce serving per day.

Cardiovascular expert, Professor Roger Corder, has spent years studying the evidence of health benefits from red wine. In his new book, "The Wine Diet," he says he is convinced that most of us should include red wine in our every day lifestyle.

Corder discovered what he eventually labeled the "French Paradox." Specifically, he wondered why the French have a lower rate of heart disease despite the fact that their diet was extremely rich in fats. He concentrated his research on the southwest portion of France, where life expectancy seemed to be highest.

Professor Corder discovered that the region produces very tannic local wines, which contain the highest procyanidin (antioxidant) content of any wines, worldwide. This led him to further research on the amazing medical benefits of red wine.

While wine may not be man's ultimate elixir or fountain of youth, it certainly behooves us to consider adding a glass of wine or two to our daily diet - and raise a "toast" to our continued good health.           

How to Quickly Boost Your Testosterone for Increased Performance

One of the unfortunate realities of life is that as we get older we lose energy and muscle mass, and our endurance and libido suffer.  Of course, throughout the ages, man has looked for a magic elixir that could result in everlasting youth.

Until just a few years ago, most scientists considered anti-aging treatments to be little more than snake oil.

Today, that's all changed. There is little doubt that when our bodies stop manufacturing certain substances, it begins to accelerate the aging process. If the body were to begin creating these substances again, it might restore youth.  The most important of these is testosterone.

As we age the body produces less and less of this key hormone, and the results become more and more obvious; increased apathy, lowered sex-drive and performance, less energy, and less spunk.

The trick is how to safely get the body to start producing more testosterone.  One of the most exciting approaches has been developed by a group of scientists working at a leading Cambridge, Massachussetts nutraceutical company. 

They have developed a safe and effective supplement which actually triggers the body to raise free testosterone levels naturally. It’s called Test X180 and it’s now being made available to the public. Test X180 relies on well-researched natural testosterone boosting ingredients such as Testofen® that can significantly pump up a person’s free testosterone levels.

The product has no harmful side effects and has been shown to deliver improvements in strength and virility in just days. In fact, the company states that results of Test X180 include enhanced sex drive and enhanced physical performance and stamina.

But, just what kind of a difference can a testosterone boosting supplement like this make?  Well, according to users of the product – it’s nothing short of spectacular.  From increased muscle definition and endurance, to increased libido and performance in the bedroom – users have been reporting virtual transformations as a result of safely boosting their free testosterone with Test X180.

Test X180 is manufactured under the strictest quality standards and is available at GNC stores across the nation. 

Best of all, right now, the company that manufacturers Test X180 is giving away samples of the products to qualifying customers who request them online.

Kate Upton says she loves 'all the states in America'; wishes she could change one thing about self

Kate Upton says that if she had one wish, "I would have smaller boobs" in a new in a behind-the-scenes video from her sexy GQ cover shoot. 

But from the number of times Upton loses her top in the video, it seems like she doesn't have too many regrets about her curvaceous body.

The video shows photographer Terry Richardson photographing the model in a variety teeny bikinis, and, in numerous shots, Upton doesn't bother with the tops, TMZ reported.

One segment shows her rolling in the grass topless and covering herself up with her hands. In another she covers her breasts with two, mini American flags, and wears a pair of unzipped denim shorts.

She's also shown seductively sucking on a red-white-and-blue popsicle while pulling down one side of her bikini bottoms. And, in another set up, she poses in a pool wearing a sheer, white T-shirt.

There are also brief interview segments that punctuate the flesh-baring, and, if anyone can manage to pay attention to them amidst the racy images, Upton reveals that he favorite food is "sushi," favorite restaurant is "Nobu" and that she loves, "all the states in America." 

"I just love America," the model says.

On GQ's cover, Upton wears a small, star-spangled bikini.

Katy Perry 'Wide Awake' Video: Singer Punches Prince Charming In The Face

For the past two years, Katy Perry has been promoting her chart-topping album,Teenage Dream, taking her fantastical dream world from one country to the next.

On the outside, Perry really was living the dream. Teenage Dream was certified platinum, selling more than two million copies in the U.S. She then went on to tie Michael Jackson's record of most No. 1's from a single album, with five chart-topping hits.

However, things weren't always rainbows and fireworks, as the video for her new single, "Wide Awake," depicts.

“It’s kind of like the labyrinth of my life in the last two years,” Perry said of the “Wide Awake” video, during an "MTV First" interview. “I just wanted to tell a story about myself kind of going through this journey, maybe sometimes trying to get out of the maze. There’s good parts, there’s bad parts, and the whole time there’s the younger version of me leading me through.”

A huge part of that journey has been dealing with the emotional aftermath of her recent divorce from comedian Russell Brand. Perry alluded -- but never explicitly said -- that "Wide Awake" describes her feelings about her split from Brand. "I was in the dark, I was falling hard with an open heart. How did I read the stars so wrong. I was dreaming for so long. I wish I knew then what I know now. I wouldn't dive in, I wouldn't bow down," she sings.

“Of course there’s been a lot of things that went on last year that I had to get through and overcome and obstacles that I had to, you know, go through,” Perry explained. “I think what kept me going is just, like, the purity of my belief in music and my love for music.”

However, it's hard to deny the symbolism when Perry walks out of the darkness and into the arms of Prince Charming -- who she then promptly punches in the face. If only the prince had actually looked like Brand, then it would have made the moment even sweeter.

The best smartphones to buy right now

Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX (Verizon)

Before Apple forever changed how consumers view smartphones, Motorola’s thin and stylish RAZR was the hottest handheld device on the market. The 2007 debut of the iPhone exposed many of the RAZRs shortcomings, including average audio quality and poor battery life. This dulled sales and forced Motorola to discontinue the series for four years. In 2011, Motorola debuted the new Droid RAZR, a slim and sexy Android-running smartphone that still suffered from poor battery life.

Earlier this year, however, Motorola finally cracked the code with the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX. While the RAZR MAXX offers similar form and function to its pioneering predecessor, it packs a much more powerful battery to ensure you get coverage throughout the day. Verizon and Motorola boast that the device, available for $199 with a new two-year contract, offers the longest battery life of any Android smartphone. Yet it’s still surprisingly slim, packs in 4G LTE capabilities, a dual-core processor and the ability to upgrade to the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The RAZR MAXX also offers a Super AMOLED 4.3-inch Advanced display with its 540x960 pixel resolution, making it quite energy efficient. With its rugged construction and Motorola’s exceptional radio quality, the RAZR MAXX is an old classic that is as sharp as ever.

Nokia Lumia 900 (AT&T) 
Smartphones that run on the Microsoft Windows operating system may not generate the buzz of their iPhone or Android counterparts. That doesn’t mean they are short on features or quality. The best Windows Phone available today is the Nokia Lumia 900. With an elegant design, 4.3-inch display and superb battery life, the Lumia 900 from a hardware perspective can go head-to-head with any handheld device on the market. There is also no shortage of speed as the phone is carried on AT&T’s 4G LTE network. The Lumia 900 runs on the latest Mango 7.5 Windows software, which has a clean and simple interface. Among the pre-installed Nokia features are a free turn-by-turn navigation system, a photo-editing application, and a music streaming service. The phone can also access more than 100,000 third-party applications. Best of all, the Lumia can be purchased for as little as $99 with a new two-year contract with AT&T. 

BlackBerry Bold 9900 (T-Mobile)
Although BlackBerry usage has declined dramatically over the last four years, the phone still has its business benefits. Many corporate IT departments still refuse to accept any other handset for official company business, and the BlackBerry’s email and messaging capabilities are still superior to other options. The best BlackBerry available today – and a great smartphone option for T-Mobile subscribers – is the Bold 9900. The phone offers both a QWERTY keyboard and sharp, 2.8-inch touchscreen display. Battery life is solid (although not spectacular) with more than six hours of talk time. The phone’s powerful 1.2GHz processor will not leave you in the lurch, particularly when you are viewing or sending 720p HD videos. While BlackBerry doesn’t have nearly as many apps as the other mobile platforms, web browsing is fast and efficient. There is also a universal voice-search feature. 

HTC One X (AT&T)/HTC EVO 4G LTE (Sprint)
After some financial setbacks, Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer HTC is focusing on creating fewer devices that are of higher quality. The company succeeded earlier this year with the launch of the HTC One series of Android phones. Available through AT&T for $199 (with a new two-year contract), the HTC One X is the big daddy of the range. It offers swift 4G LTE performance with Beats Audio, a 4.7-inch 720p Super LCD HD screen, and an advanced 8-megapixel rear camera. On the inside, the One X sports Android’s latest Ice Cream Sandwich OS with HTC’s Sense 4 UI skin, plus access to hundreds of thousands of apps available in the Google Play store.  

Sprint subscribers who use a lot of data will want to tap into the HTC EVO 4G LTE. While this phone’s specs match those of the One X, it looks very different with red accents. For better and worse, there are some textured finishes that make it stand apart from its peers. The Evo’s kickstand lets users sit back and view content on that big, beautiful 720p Super LCD display hands-free, and its 2000mAh Li-Ion battery should see it last throughout the day. However, what truly sets the EVO apart is Sprint itself. The carrier still allows unlimited data plans on its network, which could be a bonus in these days of tiered data plans on other carriers. Sprint’s 4G LTE network is somewhat limited right now, but is expanding quickly. So the EVO 4G LTE at $199 with a two-year contract is certainly worth a look if you’re in an area served well by Sprint.

Samsung Galaxy S III (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular)
While you can’t technically buy this one yet, if you can hold out for just a couple weeks it will probably be worth your while. Scheduled to be released later this month, the Samsung Galaxy S III will set a new standard for smartphones. It will also be available on five U.S. networks including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular. Samsung’s flagship handset device sports a huge, 4.8-inch 720x1280 HD Super AMOLED display, offers 4G LTE capabilities, microSD storage, and a speedy 1.4GHz quad-core processor. Running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz skin on top, the Korean manufacturer is flaunting the Galaxy III’s additional software capabilities. This includes S-voice natural language commands, eye-tracking, Dropbox cloud storage and smart alerts. With more than 500,000 apps available and ready on Google Play, this is one smartphone that should be able to take anything you throw at it.