Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Now here is a guy who likes his fish...


What you're looking at is the extraordinary bed of New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. I had never before stopped to think about what Chad's bed might look like, but if I had, I probably would've guessed something exactly like this.
The aquarium that arches over the headboard was made by Wayde King and Brett Raymer, who operate Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM), the largest aquarium maker in the country. They make aquariums for casinos, business and celebrities, including Steven Spielberg and Dr. Dre, and now they have their own show on Animal Planet (Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT).
Oh, and they also made a shark tank for his living room, upon which three HDTVs hang.
I've got to hand it to Chad. If you're going to do something absurdly extravagant in your home, I like the route he's taken. I love the idea that you have this gorgeous, custom-built shark tank in your living room, but that's not enough to look at -- it needs three big TVs on it, too. I guess there's something for everyone sitting on his 700-ft. couch.
The aquariums aren't without their inconveniences, though. About the fish tank arching over his bed, Chad once tweeted that his fiancĂ© Evelyn Lozada "stares at these damn fish every time before bed." What a tremendous inconvenience! Sometimes, the scalding hot lady in bed next to him likes to look at the fish tank literally built around the bed in which she slumbers. I'll pray for Chad.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Treating cancer with Ecstasy? - Cancer - C-Health

Treating cancer with Ecstasy? - Cancer - C-Health

Treating cancer with Ecstasy?

Written by: QMI Agency
Aug. 21, 2011

Long associated with club culture, the designer drug known as Ecstasy is known to induce euphoria in users for several hours, and in some cases, has resulted in death.

But, new research shows that a modified form of the drug has 100 times more cancer-busting properties than the popular designer drug itself. And scientists at the University of Birmingham say they hope to redesign it to treat leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

The study, published online in the journal, Investigational New Drugs, builds on the scientists’ discovery six years ago that revealed that ecstasy and anti-depressants such as Prozac had the potential to stop cancers growing.

At the time, the team stressed that translating their findings into a usable clinical compound would present significant problems, mainly because the dose of MDMA - the scientific name for Ecstasy - required to treat a cancerous tumour would have proved fatal to the patient. So, they began working towards breaking down the actions of the drug to isolate its cancer-killing properties from its general toxicity.

On the university's website, lead author professor John Gordon, said, "This is an exciting next step towards using a modified form of MDMA to help people suffering from blood cancer. While we would not wish to give people false hope, the results of this research hold the potential for improvement in treatments in years to come."

Monday, August 22, 2011

Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) - YouTube

Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) - YouTube

Jack Layton head of NDP dies from cancer


Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton dies after second cancer battle

OTTAWA - Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton has died.
The party issued a statement this morning, just weeks after a gaunt Layton held a news conference to announce he was fighting a second bout of cancer.
The party says Layton died peacefully at 4:45 a.m. ET today at his Toronto home, surrounded by family and loved ones.
Funeral details have not yet been announced.
Like some political Moses, Jack Layton led his people out of the wilderness, only to die within sight of his own Promised Land.
In the preface to his 2006 book, "Speaking Out Louder," Layton wrote a passage that turned out to be eerily prescient:
"Oftentimes, life's highs and lows are inextricably linked. That has certainly happened to me and, occasionally, the ups and downs were virtually simultaneous."
In eight years as leader of the NDP he took his party to heady heights, but fell himself to a tragic disease at the age of 61.
The end came with a terse announcement.
"We deeply regret to inform you that the honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, passed away at 4:45 am today, Monday August 22," said the statement from his wife, Olivia Chow, and children, Sarah and Michael.
"He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and loved ones."
Funeral details have not yet been announced.
Layton rebuilt his party, muted its internal squabbles, united its fractious factions and weaned it from old-style dogma to present a face more palatable to middle-class voters.
He starred in the most successful election in the history of his party and won the title of Opposition Leader, which had eluded his more storied predecessors.
Layton hobbled across the hustings last spring, leaning on a cane against the pain of a surgically repaired broken hip. He shrugged off the effects of treatment for prostate cancer. His dogged campaigning as Le Bon Jack won him a majority of the seats in Quebec, a cherished but illusory goal for New Democrats for decades.
He slew the Bloc Quebecois and saw the long-dominant Liberal party reduced to a battered hulk.
Layton was ready for a new Canadian political alignment that would pit left against right across the moribund Liberal middle.
But the victory cup was dashed from his lips by the onslaught of another, more brutal cancer that wasted him to skin and bones — and killed him just 16 weeks after election day.
Layton went, in one short summer, from triumph to tragedy and left behind less a political legacy than a political question: What if?
He was a man who carried politics in his genes. A great-grandfather was a Father of Confederation. His grandfather, a Quebec provincial cabinet minister in a Union Nationale government. His father, a Tory cabinet minister under Brian Mulroney.
He was a believer. He made that clear in the first sentences of "Speaking Out Louder:"
"Politics matters. Ideas matter. Democracy matters, because all of us need to be able to make a difference."
Layton was born in Montreal on July 18, 1950. He grew up in Hudson, Que., an Anglo community complete with a celebrated yacht club. It was a small town, but hardly typical of small-town Quebec.
He was a child of the placid Fifties in a well-off family in a well-to-do town. He was a teen and university student of the Sixties, with all that went with a decade that has claimed the word "turbulent" as its singular descriptive.
Layton took his BA at Montreal's McGill University in the late 1960s, when radicalism blew through campuses like a stiff gale. The rebellious vigour of the times led him to political activism. He doffed the conservativism of his family and embraced socialism.
"Events in the Sixties and Seventies were formative for me," he wrote in "Speaking Out Louder."
"My path grew out of the tumultuous days of the October Crisis."
He became an activist, canvasser and organizer for a community movement in Montreal as a student.
By the time he earned his master's degree at Toronto's York University in 1972, his political genes had clearly activated. He had studied under Jim Laxer, a key figure in the Waffle movement that rocked the NDP at the time.
Layton taught at Ryerson University in Toronto. But by the time he received his PhD in 1984, he had already largely abandoned academic theory for community activism and then the practicalities of municipal politics.
"I was hooked on local politics and neighbourhood engagement," he wrote.
First elected in 1982, he served on Toronto and Metropolitan Toronto councils for 20 years, honing his instincts and skills at the level of retail politics. He was a politician in the mould of a people's tribune, with rolled-up sleeves, 14-hour days and seven-day weeks. Every hand was there to be shaken, every story was there to be heard, every windmill was there to be charged.
His politics were those of the poor, the homeless, the alienated, the disenfranchised. He served as vice-chair of Toronto Hydro, chair of the Toronto Board of Health and president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. He twice ran federally and lost.
Layton's first marriage to high-school sweetheart Sally Halford, which had produced two children, ended in 1983.
He would eventually team up with Olivia Chow, another municipal power-broker. Together they would become the go-to couple of the left in Toronto politics. They rode a tandem bicycle along the waterfront, entertained, led rallies, marched in parades, ran for office and won.
Chow would follow Layton into the House of Commons in 2006. And she would be beside him in the dark summer of 2011.
In his rise, Layton gained a reputation as a brash, aggressive, even abrasive figure.
On a trip to Calgary for a meeting of the federation of municipalities, he raised local hackles with dismissive comments about the city, its appetite for new buildings at the cost of older properties and even its ritzy new city hall. There was an outcry in the local media and Art Eggleton, then mayor of Toronto, dispatched his own apology for Layton's comments.
He also gained a reputation as a master of the political stunt and the over-the-top comment. Some joked that the most dangerous place to be around city hall was between Layton and a microphone, where one might get trampled.
Rightly or wrongly, the image of a loud lout shouting into the mike from the left side of any issue clung to him after he won the NDP leadership in 2003.
It was a leadership contest that pitted Layton and the trendy new left against Bill Blaikie and the traditional, Prairie populist wing. Blaikie was a United Church minister in the best traditions of NDP and CCF champions of old. Layton was an academic and a firebrand. Blaikie was a Manitoban, Layton was from Toronto, font of all evil for many Canadians, especially westerners.
Layton won on the first ballot and went into renovation mode. He began to rebuild and re-brand his party. He was a people person whose BlackBerry kept him linked to hundreds of organizers, fund-raisers, recruiters and policy wonks. He worked through meals and vacations, pushing himself and his goals.
He toned down the wild rhetoric, although he raised an uproar in the 2004 election campaign by accusing then-prime minister Paul Martin of responsibility for the deaths of homeless people because he failed to produce affordable housing.
Despite that, Layton won his Toronto-Danforth seat in Parliament in 2004, an election that left Martin's Liberals with a minority government. The NDP raised its seat total to 19 from 13.
It was a start. Layton criss-crossed the country to raise the party profile and in doing so, became the public face of the NDP. The trademark grin, the brush moustache, the earnest optimism, the trademark head tilt were the tools of his trade. The hellfire rhetoric cooled. This was reasonable Jack, optimistic Jack, the Jack of the kitchen table, not the street corner.
The approach seemed to strike a chord with regular folk.
In 2006, Layton's campaign produced 29 seats, but boosted its vote to 2.59 million. Momentum was building.
In 2008, Layton campaigned not as a third-party leader, but as a prime minister-in-waiting. The vote total slipped slightly, but his campaign won 37 seats, just six short of its then all-time high under Ed Broadbent.
By 2011, Layton was ready for a breakthrough. Despite the prostate cancer diagnosed in early 2010, despite the mysterious hip fracture, he was everywhere. In Quebec, his working-class French and his call to action on behalf of the ordinary family struck a note with voters grown weary of the Bloc and leery of the Liberals.
On May 2, about 4.5 million people cast ballots for the NDP, giving the party 103 seats — 59 from Quebec — and making Layton leader of the Official Opposition.
Just over two months later, looking pale and gaunt, he called a news conference to say he was suffering from another, unspecified cancer and he would temporarily step down as party leader. Nycole Turmel, rookie MP and veteran labour leader, took over in the interim.
Deuteronomy 34 says God took Moses up to a high place and showed him the Promised Land in the distance.
"I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord."

Sunday, August 21, 2011

1. Embrace Pillow Talk - 33 Things Every Woman Should Know About Sex

1. Embrace Pillow Talk - 33 Things Every Woman Should Know About Sex

PictureNet/BlendImages

Unlocking the secrets to how to have better sex is just as easy as asking the right questions. So, we turned to Dr. Lissa Rankin, author of What's Up Down There? Questions You'd Only Ask Your Gynecologist if She Was Your Best Friend to set us straight.

"It's hard enough to talk about sex when you're in the middle of making love. Instead, discuss positions you'd like to try, things you like, things you don't like, while you're in a relaxed setting to take any judgment out of the conversation."


2. Work for Your Orgasm

Rubberball/MikeKemp

"The women who are able to orgasm from sex, alone, have learned how to put just the right amount of pressure on the clitoris. It's completely normal to need added stimulation from oral sex, masturbation, or sex toys to fully orgasm."


3. He Can't Always Get It Up

John Richardson/Digital Vision

"After ejaculation, most men experience a period of time where they're psychically incapable of achieving an erection, no matter how much they're stimulated."


4. It Will Always Smell Down There

Marc Fischer/Vetta

"Every vagina has its own smell and certain things can alter that scent. Bacterial overgrowth can make it smell like fish. Working out also increases the funk, because your girly parts are full of sweat glands, just like your armpits."


5. Some Old Wives' Tales Might Be True

Stockbyte

"While there's no solid evidence to support the myth that certain positions during and after sex will help you conceive, it does make logistical sense to choose positions that optimize the amount of time sperm spend near the cervix."


6. It's Ok to Fake It... Kind Of

George Marks/Retrofile RF

"You should never fully fake an orgasm, but going through the motions of being sexual can get your juices flowing, even when you're not in the mood."


7. Some Women Are Allergic to Sex

Lauren Burke/Digital Vision

Not sex, actually, but, "In rare cases women develop allergies to semen, condoms, lubricants, and/or spermicides. Most experience itching and swelling after intercourse, but some cases can be life-threatening. So, see your doctor if you're concerned."


8. Always Try New Positions...

Fuse

"...And take your cues from erotic movies and books as you send your inner critic on a time-out."


9. Schedule Sex Dates

STOCK4B-RF

"If you're up late doing dishes, doing laundry, and doing the children's homework, you won't feel like doing your lover. Plan ahead and make it happen."


10. Get a Little Kinky

Photodisc

"If you've been in a sexual rut, take out your vibrator and initiate playtime with your partner. If you've never tried experimenting with sex toys before, it might be time to go shopping."


11. Understand Viagra

Creative Crop/Digital Vision

"While Viagra is known to bring blood flow to the clitoris the same way it brings blood to the penis in men, women seem largely indifferent to this physical change. Why so? Arousal in women relies on many complex factors, which are usually more psychological than physical."


12. Pain During Sex is Not Normal

George Marks/Retrofile RF

"Painful sex is normal when you lose your virginity. But, after that, an array of conditions (tissue inflammation, involuntary muscle contractions, etc) can be responsible for continued discomfort. Remember, women can also manifest physical signals in response to psychological issues, so make sure you're discussing your needs with your partner, and see your doctor if symptoms persist."


13. You're Allowed to Get Randomly Horny

Sam Diephuis/Lifesize

"It's not weird to want sex more than your partner. A recent survey showed that almost 80% of married women craved more from their sexual relationships. If you're in this boat, open the lines of communication and sensitively explore why your man's dealing with a decreased libido."


14. It's OK for Your Body to Make Noises

Tetra iMages/Tetra Images

"Vaginal farts happen to almost all women because the vagina and uterus shift during sexual arousal, causing air to get trapped. If you make a funny noise, just giggle and say, "Excuse me." Sex is supposed to be fun, and there are likely to be other squeaks, squirts, and gurgles that erupt from a good romp in the sack."


15. Bodies Can Adapt to "Larger" Men

Plush Studios/Photodisc

"Vaginas can be trained to accommodate men with larger penises. But it takes dedication and time. Talk to your doctor and experiment with lubricants and muscle relaxation."


16. Female Fantasies Don't Make You a Lesbian

Bill Ling/Digital Vision

"Finding women in a porno sexy does not make you lesbian."


17. Certain Things Will Kill Your Sex Drive

Robert Kohlhuber/Vetta

"Hormones, medical conditions, and stress are all factors that can influence how horny you feel. When you wish your partner would take a hike, express your feelings, but be sensitive. A sexual relationship requires compromises to achieve long-term bliss."


18. The Deal With Discharge

Gustaf Brundin/Photodisc

"The fluid that drips out after sex is mostly abnormal sperm and other components of semen that nourish sperm, including proteins, citric acid, minerals, enzymes, and sugars. Once they serve their purpose, the result is the inevitable wet spot."


19. Spermicides Aren't the Only Things That Slow Down Sperm

Jay Lim/Imagezoo

"A few foods and lubricants have been shown to impair the mobility of sperm. All that said, if you're trying to conceive, do your homework, but don't forget to have fun."


20. Kegels Are Key

Mimi Haddon/Photodisc

"Childbirth and age can stretch vaginas, making them looser over time. While you can't tighten vaginal tissue itself, you can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles around the vagina with Kegel exercises to counteract these effects."


21. Don't Douche

AnnabelleBreakey/Digital Vision

"Douching washes out the vagina's normal bacteria, allowing bad bacteria to overpopulate and increase the risk of vaginal infection. Deodorants can also mask the pheromones that your body secretes. If your vagina smells funkier than usual, check in with your gynecologist. Chances are the cause of a funny smell can be easily fixed."


22. Fetuses Don't Care if You Have Sex

Stockybyte

"While fetuses show positive responses to being "tickled" during pelvic exams, the fetal mind actually has no clue what's going on down there. So, rest assured, you're not messing up the baby's psyche when you have sex while pregnant."


23. Old People Have Sex Too

Kemter/Vetta

"Just because we age doesn't mean we go out of business. When my patients experience menopause, most feel young at heart but may need a little help getting their bodies to cooperate."


24. There are Different Types of Multiple Orgasms

Knape/The Agency Collection

"Women can experience multiple orgasms in multiple ways. They can range from short and distinct to numerous and separated by mere seconds. Ultimately, each woman's orgasm is completely unique, an "orgasm fingerprint" of sorts."


25. Porn is Photo-Shopped

Joan Vicent Canto Roig/Vetta

"Porn stars' vaginas have usually been air brushed to appear picture-perfect. Some women even undergo surgery. In real life, vaginas come in all shapes, sizes, and colors."


26. You Can Make Your Vagina Smell Better

Anna Moller/Digital Vision

"If you bathe daily and are infection-free, there are a few things you can try to make it smell fresher down there. Go hairless (hair traps odors); wipe with baby wipes instead of toilet paper to remove all residue; drink cranberry juice; take probiotics; steer clear of tight jeans; and opt for breathable cotton panties when possible."


27. Signs He Might Have an STD

Image Source/Getty

"While you should always use condoms with non-monogamous partners and get regular STD tests to scan for symptom-less diseases, there are some signs to look for that might indicate that your partner is infectious, including: cauliflowery warts on the genitals (HPV), green or yellow discharge from the tip of his penis (gonorrhea or chlamydia), reddish ulercations (herpes), and little white eggs (pubic lice). Though, at the end of the day it all comes down to trust. And do you really want to hook up with someone you can't trust?"


28. Get Loud!

Fuse/Getty

"Men usually find louder sex sessions to be gratifying, instructional, and affirming. That said, some men do not (for a whole host of deep-rooted reasons), so give your partner the head's up before letting loose."


29. When to Worry About Bleeding

B2M Productions/Photodisc

"If you're expecting your period, sex can stir things up in your body, resulting in some blood. If you're not close to menstruating, and you bleed more than once, alert your gynecologist to make sure it's not something more serious."


30. Sometimes Your Body Won't Cooperate

Jupiter Images/Comstock Images

"Natural lubrication happens when blood flow increases to the vaginal walls and glands produce fluid to make you wet. As we age, levels of estrogen may drop, resulting in vaginal dryness, even when you're turned on. Try using olive oil or an artificial lubricant to simulate what isn't happening systemically."


31. O.M.G-Spots

B2M Productions/Photodisc

"While there's no medical evidence to support that G-spots exist, many women argue otherwise. The G-spot is suspected to be a cluster of blood vessels, nerves, glands, and part of the clitoris that lies two to three inches inside the vagina on the side closer to your belly button. That said, the goal of sex is intimacy, so don't let you or your partner stress about finding a proverbial holy grail if it's going to keep you from enjoying the wine."


32. Women Ejaculate, Too

Headhunters/Photodisc

"Some women may pee during orgasms, but others have been known to emit fluids that have different chemical compositions from urine. The truth is, no body knows for sure what's up down there when these squirts happen. But if you're a squirter, embrace it. Guys do it all the time and don't feel self-conscious about it. And you shouldn't either."


33. Sex Can Be Really Good for You

Goldmund Lukic/Vetta

"In addition to the giddy euphoric effects that make our toes curl, safe sex can have other health benefits, such as enhancing fertility, lowering your risk of heart disease, and boosting immune systems. The evidence is mounting. Orgasms aren't just good—they're good for you."