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Showing posts from September, 2019

Asia’s top film festival opens in shadow of Parasite

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ORGANISERS of Asia’s top film festival, which opens in Busan this week, warn that a surge of global interest in the critically acclaimed South Korean movie Parasite masks a damaging underinvestment in local independent cinema. Bong Joon-ho’s darkly comic tale of class war in the Seoul suburbs won the Palme D’or for best film at Cannes and is firming as an Oscar favourite next year, in what would be the first ever win for a Korean film. It has been sold to 192 international markets – a record for a local production – and has already grossed just over $90 million ahead of its highly anticipated Oct 11 release in the United States. The film is a crowning achievement for veteran director Bong, whose works have been lauded by the likes of Quentin Tarantino and two-time collaborator Tilda Swinton. His work has long been championed by the Busan International Film Festival, a gala event dedicated to both unearthing new independent Asian talent and connecting emerging filmmakers with fin...

Netflix announces fourth season of hit show Stranger Things

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NETFLIX announced on Sept 30 a fourth season of retro sci-fi show Stranger Things , the site’s most successful original production, as it bids to fend off intense competition from other streaming platforms. The video subscription service added that it had entered into a multi-year deal with the hit series’ creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, to work on unspecified film and series projects. Stranger Things , a nostalgic 1980s drama about a gang of suburban adolescents battling supernatural monsters, became an instant hit for Netflix when it was launched in 2016. The third season smashed the platform’s global viewing records in July when 40.7 million accounts viewed it in its first four days of airing. The finale to the third season left the door firmly open for a sequel. Netflix announced the fourth series by tweeting a video along with the tag line “We’re not in Hawkins anymore,“ a reference to the fictional Indiana town where the story began. The tweet appears to suggest that the ...

Not easy being green

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ENVIRONMENTAL advocate Le Zanne had worked in a variety of industries, including consumer analytics, automotive, and even the creative industry. Living in Klang, the 26-year-old had always found it difficult to get hold of zero waste products, since most zero waste stores are located in Kuala Lumpur or Petaling Jaya. That prompted her to set up her own zero waste store, Liquid Etc, in her hometown in May this year. Le Zanne encourages shoppers at her store to bring their own reusable packaging including bottles, containers and recycle bags as a way to reduce unnecessary waste, while progressing towards a greener future together. What is zero waste? “Zero waste to me means reducing unnecessary waste in my life, and that includes most packaging. “For example, the beauty industry has been constantly telling us to buy into all these skincare products including cleanser, toner, moisturiser, oil, serum, masks and many more. “Living the zero waste lifestyle is about selecting the nec...

Bournemouth mum backs radio aid funding campaign

Conor has a radio aid that helps him hear voices more clearly but not all councils fund the devices. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2ndmRh6

When I played the beautiful game - in Biba high heels: BONNIE ESTRIDGE on life with Alzheimer's 

BONNIE ESTRIDGE: I went to Wembley to watch England play in the 1966 World Cup. And my first taste of playing came - yes, I did! - when I was about 20, while working for Vanity Fair magazine. from Health News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2mwVLS3

Pain expert DR HELENA MIRANDA cracked her battle with arthritis and can show you how to

Dr Helena Miranda, 51, from Helsinki, Finland, has had sciatica in her right hip and leg for past ten years. She is a single mother to two teenage boys and has worked in pain research since 1999. from Health News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2npnQKP

Take our pain quiz to reveal what levels you experience day-to-day

Pain Expert Dr Helena Miranda, from Helsinki, Finland and psychologist Dr Meg Arroll, a specialist in how we perceive symptoms, have outlined how everyone's perception of pain is different. from Health News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2lKdEw5

DR MAX PEMBERTON THE MIND DOCTOR: Sex addiction isn't a disease, it's just an excuse to behave badly

DR MAX PEMBERTON: Increasingly - and cynically - some people now use their 'mental health issues' as an excuse for bad behaviour. Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone (pictured). from Health News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2lOJnMM

Judge cancels court-ordered cancer surgery for girl, 13, after mom tried to treat her with CBD oil

An Oregon court canceled a surgery the state had ordered for Kylee Dixon, 13, of Wilsonville, to treat a rare liver cancer, undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma, which she was diagnosed with in 2018. from Health News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2lJQy8Y

Salt shakers and food packaging should have a tobacco-style health warning

Dr Norm Campbell, University of Calgary, said 'urgent action' is needed now to raise awareness of the dangers of high salt consumption. from Health News | Mail Online https://ift.tt/2nj4yqo

Adolescent mental health centre for Cardiff University

Researchers wants to find out how much social media, genetics and the environment impact on young people's mental health. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2osa7DN

Abominable freezes out competition

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ABOMINABLE f roze out Downton Abbey to take the top spot in the North American box office on its first weekend in theaters, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations estimated on Sept 29. The story of a teenager and her friends working to help a young Yeti – whom they nickname Everest –reunite with his family and avoid the clutches of a wealthy man intent on capturing one of the magical creatures took in US$20.9 million. It beat out Downton Abbey , the movie follow-up to the hit TV series about a British upper-class family and their stately home, which fell to second place at US$14.5 million in its second weekend. The Jennifer Lopez movie Hustlers – based on a true story about strippers who plot to steal from their wealthy clients in recession-hit New York–came in third, with US$11.5 million. Horror flick IT: Chapter Two – which features the grown-up versions of the kids who battled the terrifying, shape-shifting clown Pennywise 27 years earlier and now must do it again – placed four...

Opening doors to e-commerce

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DURING the recent media experiential flight event, AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat also announced that the airline is looking at expanding the e-commerce aspect of its inflight WiFi service Rokki. The operation involves finding traders and merchants who want to come onboard the Rokki platform, so that AirAsia passengers will not only enjoy content and internet, but can also purchase products and have them delivered to their homes through the Rokki portal. Riad said AirAsia is opening doors and opportunities for people who want to sell on its e-commerce platform, with some limitations but with full support from AirAsia. He said there is enough data from statistics to show that people actually purchase items while on a flight. “If you’re in an aircraft for two to three hours, apart from the [physical] buying of merchandise, [you] now have an opportunity to browse the e-commerce aspect of Rokki.” Riad also said the e-commerce shop is not a standalone in the aircraft, explaining tha...

Surfing up in the sky

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A irAsia is upgrading its inflight WiFi service Rokki to GX Aviation, a high-speed Ka-band aviation broadband available from Inmarsat, to provide passengers with even better connectivity during their flight. A total of eight aircraft – six operated by AirAsia Malaysia with the AK carrier code and two by AirAsia Thailand with the carrier code FD – have so far been equipped with GX Aviation. The rest of the fleet’s WiFi is expected to be upgraded over the next year. GX Aviation is the world’s first inflight broadband solution offering reliable, seamless high-speed global coverage provided through a single operator. Compared to the previous L-band, GX Aviation’s Ka-band offers an enhanced inflight entertainment and connectivity experience beyond basic broadband, as well as supporting real-time video, music streaming and more. Guests travelling on GX Aviation-equipped aircraft have been enjoying a free 10MB trial of the new service the whole of September. Members of the media had a...

5 Ways That CrossFit May Never Get Fixed

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It's been over ten years since CrossFit shook up the fitness industry. Veterans of the affiliate business recently gathered to look to the future, celebrate the past, and party. Image courtesy of Bev Childress of Fort Worth, Texas   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2m80ppa

Ultrasound breakthrough 'can spot cancer earlier'

A technique created at Heriot-Watt University produces images which pinpoint tumours and could replace biopsies. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2nFm9t9

Silence brings quality to words and actions

By BRIDGET MENEZES A REAL assessment of the self should best be done in silence. Silence means allowing the mind to stop the traffic jam of thoughts and to reflect. From time to time, we should stop and examine how to deal with people, how to understand why things happen like they do, the purpose of life and our own divinity. In silence, we slow down our thoughts and inject quality into our thinking which will then be reflected in our words and actions. With a little, we can do a lot. A few words of quality can do more than a lecture. With a few thoughts rather than many, we can offer a solution. When we are worried, we have many thoughts. Do solutions come with worry? Solutions are often overlooked in the fast-flowing thoughts of a worried mind. Probably the most positive thought we can think of is ‘I am peace’ and that peace is a resource within me. Peace means balance, harmony and contentment. Some people think that it is only by leaving their families and other social re...

Natural luminous fairness

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EVERSOFT Skinz Blossom White is a new skincare range made with advanced Japanese technology and a 100% plant actives formulation. It has been clinically proven to be effective for Asian women who desire a more natural way of whitening their skin. It is also free from six harmful ingredients typically found in other whitening skincare products. The range is free from parabens, artificial colouring, artificial fragrance, mineral oil, alcohol and phthalates. Eversoft Skinz products not only contain safe ingredients, but are also not tested on animals. Derived from 100% plant actives, the Eversoft Skinz Blossom White range contains skin-loving sakura extract, which smoothens and soothes skin while evening out skin tone. It also contains extract of Uji tea, a premium grade green tea which is packed with powerful natural anti-oxidants. It helps reduce pigmentation, while renewing and repairing skin damage caused by UV rays and free radicals. The range is further enriched with shiita...

Boost your skin with Vitamin C

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EUCERIN recently unveiled its latest anti-ageing skincare, the Hyaluron-Filler Vitamin C Booster. This new innovation is the latest addition to Eucerin’s Hyaluron-Filler range, and it comes in an innovative packaging that allows the 10% pure Vitamin C ingredient in the formula to be freshly activated at first use, maintaining its full efficacy upon application. The product can be activated in three simple steps: Press. Shake. Press. With its unique combination of freshly-activated Vitamin C and 40x smaller Hyaluron, the outstanding anti-oxidative power in the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Vitamin C Booster promises to boost skin radiance. It also helps to plump up wrinkles, resulting in a youthful and more radiant look, with noticeable improvements after just seven days of daily use. In addition, the concentration of Vitamin C contained in the booster is 200x higher than the amount of Vitamin C in an ordinary orange. Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Vitamin C Booster is available at all Watso...

Firefighters with cancer demand government takes action

The UK's chief fire officer acknowledges his colleagues have a higher than average rate of cancer. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2nGQck0

Brightening power of Alpine plants

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NAFURA founder Lina Ahmad knows what it takes to succeed in the beauty industry – and that is with hard work and plenty of grit. The former architect launched the beauty company in 2012, carrying a range of South Korean skincare and makeup brands. The company managed to attract the attention of professional makeup artists and consumers alike, gaining a notable following. And after seven years of studying the local beauty market, engaging with loyal consumers, and developing a keen awareness of the importance of ingredients on the skin, Lina now has her very own Nafura beauty brand, and is working with scientists in South Korea to create formulations that suit the modern day woman. Lina said: “I am excited to share two new products from our very own skincare brand, Nafura. The Nafura Alpine Snow White Moisturiser and Nafura Alpine Snow White Serum are formulated with natural ingredients, and are paraben-free, alcohol-free, artificial colour-free and mineral oil-free.” She added: ...

Scent-sual perfumes

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SHIFTING our gaze from traditional hypersexualised adverts aimed at gender-centric audiences, there is now a definite move towards neutral and unisex fragrances. And there is also a growing interest in niche and independent fragrance brands, which are challenging the more mainstream, ‘popular’ perfumery lines. At the recently launched fragrance concept store Amaris located at Isetan, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, niche brands are given a curated, modern retail space. They wear their inextricably understated yet conspicuous identity on their sleeve, bringing their uniquely compelling stories and delicate scents to various bottled-up emotional experiences. “There is this saying,” says Amaris general manager Edouard Dorize, “it is better running into people with the same clothes, than [to run] into people with the same scent. “Amaris was launched to fill the gap in the growing niche fragrance market in Malaysia, as discerning and well-travelled consumers are seeking scents that have uni...

A modern gentleman’s outfitter

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Classic and vintage menswear label Benjamin Barker, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, recently expanded its retail foothold at Metrojaya in Mid Valley Megamall. The newly revamped store for this purveyor of smart-casual, heritage-inspired apparel is ready to resume its status as a lifestyle destination for the discerning gentleman, making clothing that showcases style and personality. From the fit, construction and form, the brand has developed and explored different fabrics with modernised details through a high degree of craftsmanship that is tailored specifically for the Asian physique. Benjamin Baker founder and managing director Nelson Yap shares: “I am thrilled that Benjamin Barker is now in Metrojaya. “We believe that our shirts and suits are the right fit for the Malaysian market as the construction and form of our clothes feature Japanese cutting techniques that give a tailored feel to our Asian gentlemen.” The brand opened its first store in 2009 in Sing...

Revealing designers’ untold stories

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IN an effort to provide a platform for aspiring fashion designers to shine, Esmod Kuala Lumpur has teamed up with Avenue K to launch its new retail initiative Stories . Esmod KL is itself a partnership between The One Academy and Esmod Paris, the world’s first and oldest fashion design school which was established more than 170 years ago. The Stories pop-up store celebrates the craft of young Malaysian designers, and helps nurture them to meet the demands of the fashion industry. The first ‘chapter’ of Stories recently kicked off with 10 talented fashion designers from Esmod KL, who presented their ready-to-wear collections by theatrically sending models down the mall’s escalators and onto the striking fashion runway. Designers from the labels Bunbun, MOM, Homun Hooi, scotty., Vibrate Malaysia, Giovani Phandi, Lhy, Lazyheads, ANGEL PONG and LIREN have all interpreted their definition of Stories in their own strides – a space for which creativity knows no bounds. Their storie...

5 Ways That CrossFit May Never Get Fixed

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It's been over ten years since CrossFit shook up the fitness industry. Veterans of the affiliate business recently gathered to look to the future, celebrate the past, and party. Image courtesy of Bev Childress of Fort Worth, Texas   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2nI0ErD

Cocaine and alcohol a 'deadly combination'

At least 13 self-inflicted deaths among people who took alcohol with cocaine have occurred in a year. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2nGuTiE

Inequalities in heart attack care 'costing women's lives'

Thousands of women are dying needlessly because of delays in diagnosis and poor care, a report says. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2m82BwT

15 Pumpkin Recipes To Make Right Now!

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E very year  as soon as the weather gets cooler, one of the most popular searches on my blog is for healthy pumpkin recipes. So here are fifteen reader favorites, to use up that can of pumpkin in your kitchen pantry! Crustless Pumpkin Pie   Pumpkin Mac And Cheese   Pumpkin Breakfast Cupcakes To-Go   Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars   Vegan Pumpkin Swirl Cream Cheese Bread (From the Hello Breakfast Cookbook )   Pumpkin Workout Brownies   Crazy Ingredient Chocolate Cake   Flourless Pumpkin Blender Muffins   Pumpkin Cupcakes – with Cream Cheese Frosting   Pumpkin Chocolate Cake   Healthy Pumpkin Pie   Healthy Pumpkin Recipes   Vegan Cream Cheese (Includes a recipe for pumpkin cream cheese)   Spice Cake Recipe   Pumpkin Banana Bread If you have any favorite pumpkin recipes, please feel free to link them in the comments for other readers. Or if you have a request for a health...

Primal (or) Keto Pasta Alfredo

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There’s such simplicity in pairing a delicious pasta sauce with zoodles or spaghetti squash, but sometimes you want to pull out all of the stops. When you feel like getting fancy, this Primal pasta is the perfect idea! Since the Primal pasta recipe is not low-carb, we’ve also included a Keto option that is cheese based. Keep in mind that the Paleo recipe is a boiled pasta, while the Keto option is baked. The recipes look a little involved, but the basic premise is: form dough, cut into pasta, and boil. If you’re following the Primal recipe, coconut milk and chopped kale is added to the pasta to provide more texture and body. If the Primal pasta dough seems to wet, add additional tapioca starch 1 teaspoon at a time. The Keto pasta recipe is actually baked, not boiled. Keto pasta should be formed into its desired shape prior to baking. It gets slightly dried out in the fridge and is then baked. Since the baked pasta is delicate, the coconut milk and kale can be omitted from the Keto v...

Health secretary 'looking seriously' at compulsory vaccines for schoolchildren

Matt Hancock says there is "absolute clarity" on the science and not being immunised puts others at risk. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2nBVwVQ

Zantac: CVS latest to suspend heartburn drug over cancer fears

CVS pharmacies become the latest to withdraw Zantac, a drug being investigated for cancer links. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2mBPODr

Government plans 40 new hospitals and a new mental health services pilot

Ministers unveil plans for 40 new hospitals and a new mental health pilot for 12 areas of England. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J from BBC News - Health https://ift.tt/2nv0Daq