CONSUMER PRICES JUMP

Consumer prices climb in June at quickest pace in 11 months, industrial production slide slows.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer prices shot up in June by the largest amount in 11 months, reflecting the biggest jump in gasoline prices in nearly five years.

The Labor Department said Wednesday that inflation at the consumer level rose by 0.7 percent last month, slightly higher than the 0.6 percent increase that economists were expecting. It was the biggest one-month gain since a 0.7 percent increase last July.

The big jump was seen as a temporary blip, however. Inflation is not expected to be a problem any time soon given a severe recession which is keeping a lid on wage pressures.

The Federal Reserve reported Wednesday that industrial production fell 0.4 percent in June as the recession crimped output for a wide range of manufactured goods including cars, machinery and household appliances. However, the decline was not as severe as the 1.4 percent plunge in May, a possible sign that the recession is easing its grip.

Underscoring the low threat of accelerating inflation, prices in June compared to a year ago were actually down by 1.4 percent, the biggest year-over-year decline in nearly six decades.

Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, posted a moderate 0.2 percent rise in June, slightly higher than the 0.1 percent rise that economists had expected.

The absence of an inflation threat has allowed the Federal Reserve to drive a key interest rate to a record low in an effort to fight a severe recession which is already the longest since World War II. The central bank pushed its target for the federal funds rate to near zero in December and it is expected to remain there until the nation’s unemployment rate, currently at a 26-year high of 9.5 percent, stops rising.

The 0.7 percent jump in the Consumer Price Index in June followed three months of moderation including a small 0.1 percent rise in May.

The upward surge was driven by a 7.4 percent rise in energy prices, reflecting a 17.3 percent increase in gasoline prices, the biggest one-month jump in gas prices since a 20.9 percent spurt in September 2005 after Hurricane Katrina had shut Gulf Coast refineries.

 

Analysts are looking for gasoline and other energy costs to retreat in coming months. Already, gasoline pump prices are down by about a dime since the start of July.

Food costs edged up a small 0.1 percent in June, held back by a big drop in the cost of dairy products.

The 0.2 percent rise in core inflation left the core inflation rate rising by a moderate 1.7 percent over the past 12 months, reflecting the downward pressure on costs coming from the prolonged recession.

For June, new car prices jumped by 0.7 percent and clothing costs were also up 0.7 percent. However, those gains ere offset by a 0.6 percent drop in airline fares. Price increases were also moderate in the health area with medical care edging up by 0.2 percent, the smallest gain in three months .*By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer

ALICE IN CHAINS

We knew Alice in Chains would be putting out their long-awaited comeback album some time in September, but now we know what the record will be called and when exactly it’s coming. Black Gives Way to Blue, the group’s first studio effort since 1995’s Alice in Chains and the first with new co-lead singer William DuVall, hits stores September 29 through EMI/Virgin.

“We were just hoping to make the best record we possibly could, and we did that. Sean and I talk a lot about (how) when you do a record, you’ve been working on it a long time and you’re pretty sick of it by the time somebody else hears it. You’re already thinking of the next thing. And we’re still listening to this. It’s still like really exciting to listen to, and that’s really good.”

* A picture of my Poster! I have to get the signature’s .Frame it for my son.The Party started at 7 pm. Started with the release of the Album. All the songs recorded on a Cd were played along some visual images from the Album on the screens. The band performed 3 songs on stage.And finito.Was fun.The release was at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Hollywood.Located at 1615Vine st, CA.

WHITE TAIL RESORT

skinny dip

intr.v. Informal., -dipped, -dip·ping, -dips.

To swim in the nude.

skinnydipper skin‘ny-dip‘per n.

White Tail Resort, just 30 miles from Norfolk, VA, near Zuni, is participating in the Guinness World Records™ Largest Skinny-Dip Across North America. The record attempt takes place at 3:00 p.m. this Saturday, July 11, 2009. In conformance with stated rules, all participants to be counted must be completely nude during the skinny-dip. First-time skinny-dippers are welcome and to be included in the Guinness World Record, all participants must bring a photo ID.

White Tail Resort, established in 1984, is the only landed clothes free recreation facility in Virginia. Through the years White Tail has become a favorite vacation spot for over 600 members and numerous visitors. A family atmosphere, planned activities, great facilities and beautiful grounds keep people coming back time after time, visit our website to see rates and pictures of the grounds.

White Tail Resort is an active member of the Virginia Campground Association, the Franklin-Southampton Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of RV Resorts and Campgrounds, and the Trade Association for Nude Recreation. The resort maintains affiliations with the American Association for Nude Recreation, the Federation of Canadian Naturists, the Naturist Society, and the American Association for Nude Recreation Eastern Region.

The White Tail Resort is a year round resort, offering snow skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing, and other out door activities. Overnight accommodations are located within 6 miles

 http://is.gd/1tRb7

http://snipr.com/miokj

Skinny Dipping Stars http://is.gd/1tTY2

Scarlett Johansson Goes Skinny-Dipping http://snipr.com/mis8h 

DID YOU KNOW THAT:

In the Nordic countries, with their sauna culture, nude swimming in rivers or lakes was a very popular tradition. In the summer, there would be wooden bathhouses, often of considerable size accommodating numerous swimmers, built partly over the water; hoardings prevented the bathers from being seen from outside. Originally the bathhouses were for men only; today there are usually separate sections for men and women.

It is not uncommon for private clubs with male-only or female-only facilities to allow (for example) nude swimming.Some argue that in more private environments (whether at home or in, say a single-gender bathhouse), the less clothing one has on when exercising or doing any activity the better.

Nudist clubs traditionally offer members and guests of both sexes the opportunity to swim nude. Many own or lease facilities that allow other sports to be played, including volleyball, tennis, badminton, bowling and the like. Typically these sports are played at a recreational level of intensity, and need not be particularly competitive.

*Some naked bodies can be very inspiring for a portrait or shoot.The great masters of paint used to make wonders with the human shapes. How do you see naked bodies ? Leave a comment about skinny dip. I like to know from an artistic perspective all others will be ignored( go to a porn site ).

MICHAEL JACKSON

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut as an entertainer in 1964 as a member of The Jackson Brothers (later renamed The Jackson 5). He then began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group, and that successful career led to him being dubbed the “King of Pop” in subsequent years. Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller remains the world’s best-selling album of all time, and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

A LIFETIME  TO REMEBER

History will remember Michael Jackson as a black man who managed to break through every racial and artistic barrier to become a global pop icon, a true musical genius.

A winner of 13 Grammy awards, he etched a place for himself in the hearts and minds of people as the King of Pop with his signature song and dance moves, unusual wardrobe, feminine voice – and also as Wacko Jacko for the weirdest controversies.

Capable of unleashing mass hysteria like the Beatles and Elvis, he introduced mega-stardom through his massive live concert tours. He made a mark on the music scene by selling a total of 750 million records, a record for a solo artist.

SUPPORT AND CHARITY

Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his Heal the World Foundation, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his changing appearances and behavior, generated significant controversy that damaged his public image.  The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s along with conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, actions which caused further controversy.  The singer died suddenly on June 25, 2009 at aged 50.

THE OTHER SIDE OF FAME

“Celebrity [is] the reward of those who project a vivid or pleasing exterior or have otherwise attracted attention to themselves,” Christopher Lasch wrote in The Culture of Narcissism. “It is evanescent… In our time, when success is so largely a function of youth, glamour, and novelty, glory is more fleeting than ever, and those who win the attention of the public worry incessantly about losing it.”

“To be a celebrity means to have more than the usual assaults on one’s ego,” says Charles Figley, Ph.D., director of the Psychosocial Stress Research Program at Florida State University. “You’re very vulnerable to the personal evaluations of other people. The public is ultimately in control of whether your career continues.”

The celebrities’ reactions to  stress are: depression, loss of sleep, crying over nothing, bad moods, acting out and misbehavior on the part of their children, lack of concentration, stomach problems, paranoia, over-spending, lack of trust, and self-hatred.

Causes of  stresses peculiar to celebrities, conducted a survey in which 200 questionnaires were mailed out to names randomly selected from a list of the public’s top-ranked celebrities. From 51 replies, he compiled a list of the primary sources of stress for celebrities and their families, as well as their reactions and solutions. Most of the questionnaires were completed by the celebrities, the rest by a spouse, friend, or adult child of the celebrity. The top 10 stressors, in order, were:

The Other side of FAME, sadness, loneliness, distress. The worse of all the accusations and lies. The pressure from the critics and the Media.

Hope is Better on the Other SIDE!

Peace to Michael and to all the people who chose this path in Life! You will be haunted by:

• the celebrity press
• critics
• threatening letters/calls
• the lack of privacy
• the constant monitoring of their lives
• worry about career plunges
• stalkers
• lack of security
• curious fans
• worries about their children’s lives being disrupted

FROM HIS OWN HEART

“I wanted to have a place that I could create everything that I never had as a child. So you see rides, you see animals, there’s a movie theatre. I was always on tour travelling, you know, and I never got a chance to do those things. So I compensated for the loss by – I have a good time – I mean, I can’t go into a park, I can’t go to Disneyland as myself. I can’t go out and walk down the street. There’s crowds and bumper-to-bumper cars. So I create my world behind my gates.” Michael Jackson

“Everything that I love is behind those gates.”.Michael Jackson

AS IT HAPPENS WITH MOST GENIUS

U.S. retailers sold 415,000 albums by Michael Jackson in the four days following his death last week. In addition, Michael Jackson sold more than 2.3 million digitally downloaded songs since his death.

* Thank you for your Music and for your Genius.Unforgetable that’s who you are!

SHORT HAIR STYLES FOR 2009

Curly hairstyle, can be a blessing, but if it is not cut well, you can get a wild look to avoid this, you should always remember:

If curls are unruly, apply hair spray to palms and smooth over hair’s surface.

If hair is long or very curly, you can ‘straighten it’ with a large round or paddle brush, some straightening balm and a blower.

Most important of all a Curly hair should always be layered.

A  few options for short hair cuts, for someone that has curly hair. These are some very stylish looks for 2009.I love all these options.Not only for 2009 but for as much you decide to wear.It’s about feeling good and looking good.That’s a personal choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

HAIR HEALTH FROM INSIDE OUT

Hair Structure

Hair is mostly made of a protein called keratin. Fingernails an the top layer of skin is also made of keratin protein. Each strand of hair consists of three layers.

 

1.An innermost layer or medulla.

2.The middle layer is the cortex.

3.The cortex provides strength , color, and the texture of hair.

The outermost layer is the cuticle. The cuticle is thin and colorless which protects the cortex.

The center of the hair is called the cortex. It makes up 80 percent of hair. It’s made of small fibrils that twist together to make the longer fibers stronger . The cuticle is made of of dead cells that overlap each other in several layers. The condition of the cuticle plays a part in the appearance of the hair. If the dead cells lay closely together (closed cuticles) then the hair looks shiny and healthy, however, if they lift up (open cuticles) the hair appears dull, dry, and tangles easily.

                                           
(Cells that lay closely together or healthy hair) 

        

(Lifted Hair Cells or damaged hair)

Medulla cells contain air pockets that are found inside the hair shaft which form the medullary canal. Lipids, a fat substance, is passed through to the cortex or cuticle from the medulla cells. Layers of lipids are formed to bind moisture and protein to the hair shaft. African American hair consists of 88% protein, 10-15% water, 5-10% pigments, minerals and lipids. The cortex and cuticle are formed from solid keratin fiber and the binding material is formed from amorphous keratin, which fills in the spaces inside the cortex and cuticle. The amorphous keratin holds the fibrous structure together.

Structure of the hair root

Benath the surface of the skin is the root of the hair , which is enclosed within a hair follicle. At the base of the hair follicle is the dermal papilla. The dermal papilla is fed by the bloodstream which nourishment the new hair produces. The dermal papilla is essential to hair growth because it contains receptors for androgen and male hormones . Androgens regulates hair growth.

 The Hair Growth Cycle

 

 Hair follicles grow in repeated cycles. A cycle can be broken down into three phases:

 Anagen – Growth Phase

Catagen – Transitional phase

Telogen - Resting Phase Each hair goes through the phases independent of the neighboring hairs.

The regeneration of hair is influenced by many factors:

• health
• hereditary factors
• diet
• hormone balance
• age
• physical condition
• climate
• chemical effects
• sex
• effects of disease

YOUR HAIR IS HUNGRY!

Your Hair is Hungry! Feed It! We all know that eating certain food is good for your body. But what about what’s good for your hair? Do you think washing and conditioning is enough? Think again. Your hair is hungry, and here’s information on how to feed it from the inside out. A healthy diet equals healthy cells, and your scalp is full of cells. It makes sense that when we eat healthy foods that help to regenerate cells, our hair will benefit. With hair growing at the rate of about ¼ to ½ inch per month, it needs plenty of iron, protein and all kinds of good nutrients to keep it healthy. Forget the supplements – you don’t need them if you eat right; let’s talk about getting what your hair needs from foods that you love. We’ll start with dark green vegetables, like spinach, green beans and broccoli. Chocked full of vitamins A and C, they help your body make sebum, that natural oil that’s found on your scalp that your hair thrives on. Dark green veggies can be eaten alone or in many recipes. (By the way, when you feel that natural oil on your scalp, massage it through to the ends of your hair before washing it out – it’s like a natural conditioner.) Let’s focus now on omega-3 fatty acids, a very good protein source. Fish oil contains plenty of omega-3, which promotes good circulation. Good circulation means more blood flow to your scalp, helping your hair stay shiny and hydrated. You can enjoy salmon and other fish, nuts, and ground flaxseed used in recipes, knowing that you’ll not only enjoy fabulous tasting foods but that you’re feeding your hair as well. Speaking of nuts, did you know they contain zinc as well? Not getting enough zinc in your diet can lead to your hair shedding, and since many of us experience thinning hair as we get older (that includes we women), we want to make sure we’re getting enough zinc in our diets.