While most of us make it a point to eat healthy and exercise as often as possible, we tend to ignore other simple things that actually take a toll on our well-being, The Times of India reports. Find out if you are compromising on your health everyday by indulging in these habits that you must say goodbye to pronto.

Wearing heels often
Do your back and feet a favour and keep the high heels only for special occasions. Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian may swear by their towering stilettos but they also have a battery of help to cater to their every need. An alarming number of women have started wearing heels on a daily basis, or every other day. And experts say that wearing high heels affects posture, puts a lot of pressure on joints and at times even lead to conditions like painful bunions, hammer toes, back pain and arthritis. Not to mention the risk of twisting your leg and falling down.
Damage control: Ensure that if you have to wear heels often, they aren't more than 1.5 inches. Alternatively, carry a pair of flats while you travel and wear heels only for some time. Rest your feet after wearing heels by soaking feet in warm water.

Lugging around a heavy handbag
Most women's handbags weigh an average two to five kilos. Shocked? You should be. The sheer number of things women keep and carry in their handbags can scare most men off. But carrying around such heavy bags put your health at risk - you're inviting health problems like back, neck and shoulder pain. Your posture also goes for a toss - lugging around a heavy bag will make you slouch sooner or later.
Damage control: Make it a habit to empty your bag every week or two and carry only absolutely necessary items. Or even better - switch to a smaller bag to avoid the temptation of putting more things in your handbag.

Not removing your make-up at night
Sometimes even the most meticulous women give in and don't remove their make-up before turning in at night. While this cardinal sin is a strict no-no, what you should know is that leaving makeup on all night is inviting skin problems. Your face needs to be cleaned of the makeup, dirt and oil at the end of the day or you will face problems like clogged pores, tired looking skin and pimples. Wearing eye makeup overnight can cause eye irritation or even infection.
Damage control: Keep a bottle makeup remover and cotton swabs right next to your bed so that no matter how tired you are, you can just reach out and remove the makeup.
Dwelling over the past
When you refuse to let go or stop thinking of your past or worrying incessantly about the future, you are damaging your present as well your future. Mental stress can drain you of energy and affect you in more ways than you realise. And according to studies, women have a higher chance of suffering from stress-related disorders than men.
Damage control: If you find yourself depressed or anxious, ask yourself what is causing it. Is it a broken relationship or health woes? Address the problem at the root and don't be afraid of asking for help.
Worrying about looks
Vanity affects both the sexes but it affects a far larger number of women than men. And women have a range of body issues, which can take a toll on them mentally. Going on numerous diets, having eating disorders and undergoing excessive cosmetic surgery can cause you physical harm.
Damage control: Toss those beauty magazines in the trash and improve your body image by making a conscious effort. Be happy with what you've been given.
Emotional eating
When was the last time you reached out for that comfort food and guiltily ate it? Women are genetically more emotional than men while comfort eating affects both sexes, it is said that men tend to eat emotionally when they're happy and women when they are upset. And women tend to satiate their cravings with sweet, high calorie foods instead of healthier options.From bottega bag , to stylish clutches, to travel wallets & mini purses, Barneys New York offers an impressive selection of designer bags.
Damage control: Next time instead of allowing the carvings to get the better of you (and your waistline), distract yourself with something other than food.
Not sleeping enough
Do you get your eight hours of sleep every night? Or do you scrimp and then sleep all weekend? Don't blame a hectic lifestyle or stress on not getting enough sleep. Not only can inadequate sleep make you feel lethargic, it can also make you look like hell, apart from causing accidents, overeating and an increased heart disease risk. Sleep affects your blood pressure and mood more than it affects men.
Damage control: Go to sleep early as often as you can and wake up at the same time everyday.

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It’s fairly common knowledge by now that St. Darren Lehmann and John Inverarity are firmly wedged between a rock and a hard place regarding selections for the first Ashes Test.

Right now, the only players well-and-truly inked in for Nottingham are Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and James Pattinson. The four left in the top six are up for debate, but Chris Rogers seems a relatively safe bet to open with Watto.

The depth in the fast bowling means any combination will acquit themselves well, but the presumptive incumbents in Harris and Siddle have been shaken up by Mitchell Starc’s new romance with the Duke ball.

However, the Ashes – this Ashes – only have the currency of bragging rights. Whoever has custody of the cremated bails in September should be mindful that they’re only on loan until January, after which they’ll sit in a cabinet for another three and a half years, only occasionally to be dusted off and waved at the old enemy.

It so happens that back-to-back Ashes will work to Australia’s advantage come the final showdown in the sunburnt country.

This Ashes will uncover the batsmen who can truly be relied on, the bowlers who keep their lines and lengths through thick and thin, and the patience of Lehmann to finally gel the Watson/Clarke divide.

Let’s not delude ourselves here. Lehmann, for all his positives, is not a panacea in himself. There will be losses, setbacks and controversies. No point ruling out an innings defeat or off-field handbags within the team. A major away series is the ultimate baptism of fire, as even the champions in 2005 found out.

Luckily for us antipodeans, ancient chemistry is on our side because steel is forged in fire.

After the Oval Test we will have a much better idea of who plays better under pressure, who can handle the swinging ball and who the ball should be thrown to when the chips are down. The short-term disarray will ultimately uncover pretenders and performers on the biggest stage possible.

If you’re still skeptical about how adversity brings out the best in batsmen, have a squiz at the 2006/07 whitewash of the Poms. Who made runs against a line-up of greats hellbent on vengeance? Kevin Pietersen and Alistair Cook. Who made our lives a misery for the next two series? The aforementioned.

A callow Cook in particular cemented his reputation as the consummate rock of the top order and grew to become the most prized wicket in the Test team.

Some emperors might have no clothes – but even when starkers they are emperors regardless.

This series might be written off as a lost cause to the English – but let’s find out who will stand in their way.

“Come into the stores – once you meet us, we’re lovely people,” Sabee grins. “We’re like bartenders – the things people have shared with me .. the connections you make … children, families, parents, dogs, they’re your friends. If they do come into our stores, I think they’ll get that.”

This brings the conversation back around to the stores that are gone. Like Sweetie.

“If I had to close my store … the thought brings tears to my eyes,” Sabee said. “It’s my lifeblood. Maybe people think these are hobbies? (But) it would be devastating. I know Joeanna [Sweetie proprietor] went out with grace and a positive attitude … it would be horrendous to close my store and I don’t ever want to have that.”From bottega bag , to stylish clutches, to travel wallets & mini purses, Barneys New York offers an impressive selection of designer bags.

“I’m an extrovert – I would crumble without interaction,” Walsh adds. “I don’t think it enhances our ability to get along with one another if we’re not talking to each other.” That rolls into the big picture, she posits, recalling the violence-prevention curriculum she once represented as an education-company salesperson: “People should know that good social skills means good violence prevention – you wind up not fighting because you learn how to join in.”
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Director Marc Forster has done the impossible. He's made an exciting and thoughtful zombie movie for grown-ups. "World War Z" is not the creepfest of the undead you might expect. It really plays out as a medical thriller in the mold of "The Andromeda Strain" or "Contagion."

The plot begins with the sudden appearance of a mystery virus infecting humans at astonishing speed. In seconds, it transforms people into violent carnivores with rabies-like symptoms. It overtakes the populations of big cities at a lightning pace until a growling army of mutants threatens all of mankind.

Brad Pitt is cool and credible as a United Nations troubleshooter called upon to hunt down the source of the virus. Hints of political intrigue add to the dramatic reality as the anxious search jumps from Korea to Israel to England.

Spectacular special effects include wide-angle shots and aerial views that boggle the mind. Yet subtle moments and a touch of humor are injected in just the right places to keep the story grounded. But it's the professional and understated performance of Pitt that provides the gravitas to anchor the wild story.

'Bling' isn't worth yours

Based on a 2010 Vanity Fair article, "The Bling Ring" is a detached look at a group of L.A. teenagers who formed their own home shopping network.

They easily broke into the unlocked homes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Orlando Bloom, to name a few, and helped themselves to clothes, jewelry and rolls of cash valued at more than $3 million.

What motivated them was the belief that the items would never be missed from the stars' overloaded closets, the chance to style and party like their celebrity idols and the assumption they'd never get caught.

It's shocking to see this crew of five (played by Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Claire Julien, Taissa Farmiga and Emma Watson) with absolutely no scruples and no sense. The same could probably be said for the parents who failed to take much interest in their whereabouts, education or future.

Sofia Coppola wrote and directed this, her fifth film, and she doesn't give us any empathy for any of the characters. What she shows is pure materialistic worship beyond what was depicted in her earlier "Marie Antoinette."

Coppola doesn't judge or openly mock them (although the ridiculous behavior of Watson's character certainly warrants it) and doesn't bother to ask why.

I wonder why she made "The Bling Ring." It's just a tabloid story put on film to cool music. It's as empty and shallow as one of Hilton's little jeweled handbags. Skip this one and save up for a little bling of your own.

JOHN DEPKO is a retired senior investigator for the Orange County public defender's office. He lives in Costa Mesa and works as a licensed private investigator. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a company in Irvine.

The relationships include service. Walsh recalls buying a clay pot from JF Henry next door: “I had never tried cooking with clay pots – but Tom (Henry) took the time to explain it to me. … I’ve made a lot of friends.”

Sabee smiles at her: “I consider you a friend, and you were a customer.”

Shopping is the best place to comparison shop for bottega purses.

Walsh recalls talking to Sabee when she first considered opening up a shop. Now, they analyze trends together, in addition to the aforementioned commiseration. They believe West Seattle residents are spending money in shops – but maybe in other districts, such as downtown, as well as online. Walsh says a friend with a downtown boutique between the Seattle Art Museum and Pike Place Market is doing really well, with a “steady stream of traffic and tourists.”

The Junction might not get many tourists, but with 85,000 people in West Seattle – and more coming – there’s certainly potential for more shopping. A lot more shopping. The Lindas wonder aloud what it will take – how they can “coax” people into giving local shops a try.

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Luo Wenguang can't say the exact number of Chihuahuas he has, but he narrowed it down to somewhere between 120 and 130. Luo, a single 51-year-old man who stands an imposing 6-feet tall, does not worry about his masculinity being damaged by being so closely associated with the cute, tiny dogs most famous for being carried in heiresses' handbags.

"Some people have golden retrievers or Tibetan mastiffs to show their manliness. But you know, what matters is knowing the importance of dogs and loving them. After all, I already feel powerful in my exhibition business and I don't need to prove anything," said Luo.

Luo is best-known for his career as the founder and general manager of Beijing Sidex Exhibition Service. In his earlier years, he also won international prizes for his pottery, painting and singing. He is a consultant for commerce and agriculture organizations too. Luo also has many more pursuits he'd like to follow. "I might go to a rural area and become a volunteer-teacher, or start an old people's home," said Luo.

The dog pound

But for now, he is tethered to his Chihuahuas. To take care of his dogs Luo bought a traditional courtyard house, and a new apartment close by.

With the help of his full-time assistant, Luo has set up the supersized dog house in accordance with strict, scientific breeding principles. Luo calculates the precise amount of space the dogs need. He lets them out according to a staggered schedule. Outsiders are forbidden from visiting. Even friends and like-minded Chihuahua enthusiasts must be sanitized before entering the house since they might carry bacteria. This reporter was forbidden from entering.

At his apartment in Shunyi district, filled with assorted books on Chihuahua raising from all over the world, Luo lit up a cigarette and said, "I want no fame or profits out of this. My Chihuahuas are not for sale."

This hobby is a luxurious one. Luo has spent more than 2 million yuan ($325,000) on food and medical supplies, in addition to the cost of the house and assistant. "We buy the best pork legs and grind them with canned dog food. We also give them calcium tablets, vitamins and other nutriments."

The whole thing started by mistake, when one of Luo's friends borrowed about 10,000 yuan from Luo to buy a Chihuahua 20 years ago. Unable to pay back the money, the friend gave the dog to Luo, triggering a lifelong, obsessive love affair. "They say I am a weirdo, a geek," he said.

Now Luo is a prize-winning breeder. With their pure descent, beautiful shape, noble walk and graceful gestures, Luo's dogs have won about 120 prizes in international and domestic dog competitions.

Luo shares his experiences with other Chihuahua owners in QQ groups, and sometimes gets into arguments over different opinions.

Luo is recognized as "father of Chihuahuas in China" in breeding circles. "They call me 'the big boss'," he said. People say nobody will overtake his accomplishments for years, but he modestly admits that there's still room for him to grow. "I'll keep studying and surpassing myself," said Luo."Actually it's quite annoying that you win every time."

Luo is obsessed with purebred Chihuahuas. "They are beautiful and cute. Purebreds have apple-shaped heads, thick hair, big eyes and erect ears," said Luo. "Recently I heard a cross-breed weighs about 18 kilograms," said Luo with disapproval, proudly noting that his purebreds weigh at most 2.7 kilograms.

Basically there are two kinds of Chihuahuas, short-haired and long-haired, with the latter being more expensive and rare. Luo is one of the first to breed long-haired Chihuahuas in China. After generations of breeding, his dogs' long-haired genes are sturdy.

Origin of species

Luo studies the origin of each dog and its ancestors before he starts to do his match-making magic. He says he can control the fur colors and gender ratios of the puppies before they are born.

"I like Chihuahuas because learning about their genetics is fun and never-ending," said Luo. He knows, for example, how the weather affects the length of a female's labor, and how to predict the ratio of female and male puppies.

 Luo has a bigger dream than just breeding the best Chihuahuas in the world. "They are called 'lap dogs', and are best as companions. Imagine when the children get married. The parents grow old and get lonely," Luo said. "Chihuahuas follow their owner around. They don't attack, and are best for a Chinese family."

A Chihuahua's health is very fragile. "More than 90 percent of the births are difficult," said Luo. He has to take the dogs for cesarean sections, which cost thousands of yuan each time.

 "To me, the cesarean sections are brutal enough, so I won't have let females get pregnant more than three times." Dog breeders are usually associated with brutal behaviors, such as forced mating, frequent artificial insemination, and cruel midwifery.

Luo says many mate one dog twice a day, or starve a pregnant dog so that the dog can give birth more naturally. Luo condemns such behavior.

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THEIR frustration could be seen by the continual shaking of their heads as the long queue, moving at a snail's pace, snaked to the check point.

Luke Marange (42), and his wife, Chipo Mushowe (34), of Dangamvura in Mutare had been in the queue for a gruelling four hours before they could pass Beitbridge border post into Zimbabwe last week, as congestion at the border continues unabated.

The couple were on their way home from a shopping trip in South Africa.

When Standardcommunity visited the South African side, shoppers and tourists could not hide their anger at the long time they spent passing through Beitbridge border post.

They accused immigration officials from both sides of the border of taking too much time to clear a single person, causing unnecessary congestion.

"We spend about one and a half hours waiting to be cleared at the Musina border post. There were scores of people in the queue when we arrived and the queue was moving at a snail's pace as the immigration workers took their time to clear us," said the visibly exhausted Marange.

But the one and half hours delay at the South African side was nothing compared to the three and half hours the couple later spent at the Zimbabwean side.

Tempers flared as Zimbabwe Revenue Authorities (Zimra) officials started rummaging through the travellers' luggage, searching for those who had evaded paying duty.

The officials took their time searching each and every bag, box and even women's handbags.

"We used to complain of the South Africa immigration officials ill-treating us, but our own people have become even worse," fumed Mushowe. "They are also very slow and do whatever they want with us.

Imagine, we wait about an hour before they even attend to us."

She added: "The level of professionalism at the border post has gone down and we just wonder when this problem will come to an end? I think they enjoy seeing us stuck here at the border."

Mushowe claimed that those who paid bribes to avoid paying duty and had their papers processed quickly.

The Standardcommunity also noticed that a queue for vehicles was stretching up to 100 metres waiting to be cleared.

Efforts to get a comment from the immigration officials at the border were fruitless.

Beitbridge is the busiest border post in southern Africa, handling about 9 000 travellers daily. The figure sometimes soars up to over 25 000 during holidays.

Tourism players have also repeatedly called on the government to resolve the problem of congestion, as it was a "death penalty" to the industry.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke recently said an interim board had been set up by government to address the crisis at the border post to guarantee the swift flow of travellers and traffic, ahead of the United Nations Tourism World Organisation (UNWTO) meeting.

The Calvin Klein man for next summer keeps men in their comfort zone, with a solid focus on basics in reassuring blues. There are bomber jackets, suits with cuffed pants and classic shirts.

Designer Italo Zucchelli offers up monochromatic looks predominantly in blues: wake-up royal, soothing sky and down-to-business navy. Classic double-pocket snap-close shirts are paired with same-color pants that cuff at the ankle. They in turn are worn with a shoe of the matching color and same-color socks — none of the black socks seen on other runways.

Bomber jackets come in white with classic blue vertical stripes, perfect for a day at the ballpark.

On the more daring end of the spectrum, sweatshirts are made of a funky mix of fabrics: One had a neoprene effect, another was chunky knit and finally there were cotton panels. Together, they create a harmonious clash fitting of the heavy metal riffs that resounded down along the runway.

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For young Chinese men, the cost of marrying their lady love, especially a city girl, just keeps going up.

The latest bad news spreading on the Internet is a small, self-reporting survey and correlating map of China, indicating where the priciest and most affordable brides live. Everybody's talking about it and what it says about their marriage prospects and a materialistic society.

The results was released last week: Shanghai girls are the costliest in the nation in terms of what it calls "betrothal gifts" or pin li (聘礼). The price of marrying a Shanghai woman is 100,000 yuan (in cash, ring, jewelry, handbags, luxury gifts) and an apartment. No. 2 is Tianjin at 60,000 in cash and gifts, plus an apartment.

Chongqing is on the bottom of the list, where respondents indicated the cost was zero, but that's hard to believe in this day and age of materialism.

"If I was a bride-to-be in Shanghai, I would have been so happy. But unfortunately, I am a bridegroom-to-be," says Peter Fu, a 28-year-old professional.

"This news is like a thunderbolt. My parents are worried because they already bought an apartment that cost them two million yuan (US$326,320)," he tells Shanghai Daily. Originally his parents agreed to buy a one-carat diamond ring for his bride, but this news about more cash and gifts puts a burden on them, he says. "This is tragedy for the bridegroom's family."

Many people say that the rocketing prices in real estate is driven by mothers-in-law, since nearly all of them demand the bridegroom's family buy a new apartment, the bigger the better.

"Frankly, it doesn't matter to me whether I live with my in-laws because they already have a big apartment," says Rachel Lin, a 28-year-old employee in a public relations company. "But my mother told me how inconvenient it would be to live with my in-laws and said I needed independent space for myself and my husband."

She called the requirement of buying a new apartment in Shanghai "daunting." Her fiance's family agreed to give the couple 1 million yuan as a down payment, but that still means a million yuan mortgage costing nearly 10,000 yuan a month. "That really eats into our salaries and will lower our life quality," she says.

She says she'd rather rent, spare the headache of ownership and "use the money for overseas travel and buying clothing for myself."

For some brides-to-be families, these requirements from the bridegroom are not simply about money but about the future status of their daughters in a new family.

"I am not an unreasonable person, but I still insist my daughter follow the mainstream for her betrothal gifts and apartment," says Wan Mengqi, who has a 25-year-old daughter. "If a man cannot prove that he is able to meet the average financial standard of society, then how could he guarantee a secure marriage for my daughter? Money isn't everything, but no money is nothing.

"The ripe age of young girl is so short and I believe the gifts show sincerity and respect of the bridegroom's family. I'm not asking for a big villa or a sum the groom's family cannot afford. Let's say its amount should hurt, but not wound," she laughs.

Mother-in-law-to-be Wan says the family of the bride also pays a considerable amount, what used to be called a dowry or jia zhuang (嫁妆).

"Usually the bride-to-be families in Shanghai are not the ones who don't know the rules," says Pan Yicheng, a 55-year-old primary school teacher with a 26-year-old daughter.

"We don't want to seem stingy and snobbish to the bridegroom's parents. We have a tacit understanding that we will pay for the complete renovation, outfitting and furnishing of the apartment, buy all the appliances and a car," she says.

She says that when the bride's family pitches in and shares some of the costs, the relations between the two families will be better in the future.

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The corruption of the welfare state is on display in a new undercover video from Project Veritas, which sent undercover videographers to get some of those free “Obamaphones”… while openly telling the corporate reps distributing the phones that they intended to sell them for drug money.

The corporate representatives were not fazed by this in the slightest.  One of them helpfully directed the undercover operative to a pawn shop, to find out how much cash he could get for that taxpayer-funded cell phone.  ”Yeah, I don’t care what you do with it,” the representative mutters.  Another rep seems mildly disturbed by the sale of these phones for drug money, but describes it as a fairly common practice.

One representative acknowledges that selling the phone is illegal, but suggests pleading the Fifth if caught.  (Project Veritas playfully illustrates this with a quick shot of IRS official Lois Lerner taking the Fifth to avoid congressional testimony.)

For an amusing change of pace, a female Project Veritas undercover filmmaker bursts into a profanity-laced rant about how she needs to “sell as many of these phones as possible to pay off my bills and stuff” – bills she ran up by purchasing designer handbags.  ”All I’m saying is, thank god for Obama, because Obama is basically paying for Louis Vuitton bag right now, if you know what I mean,” she declares.  That’s laying it on a bit thick, but the phone company representatives are serenely untroubled, advising her to keep her plans to herself.

(A disclaimer, which is also duly delivered by Project Veritas at the beginning of the video: the “free” cell phone program long predates the election of Barack Obama, but the phones have become widely known as “Obamaphones,” including among beneficiaries of the program.  Most Americans learned about this jaw-dropping excess of the welfare state when an Obama supporter was filmed ranting about “Obamaphones” at a Mitt Romney for President rally in 2012.  The true name of the program is “Lifeline,” its cell phone benefits began under President Bush, and it adds up to a cool $2.19 billion per year, sucked out of you taxpaying chumps through a surcharge on your monthly phone bills.)

If your blood isn’t boiling yet, wait until you see how company managers, including corporate executives, handle reports of illegal conduct by their employees.  The video ends with a promise that it will be sent to Dave Skogen, CEO of Global Connection Inc. of America, one of the big companies that rakes in millions from the “free” cell phone program.  The UK Daily Mail picks up the story from there:

Company CEO Dave Skogen wrote to an O’Keefe associate on June 10, assuring her that ‘[s]hould an agent or employee of GCIOA not live up to our standards, including enforcing the rules of the Lifeline program, we respond quickly and in an appropriate manner.’

‘We do not benefit from customers selling their Stand Up Wireless phones and do not encourage them to do so,’ he wrote.

But when MailOnline contacted Skogen for this story and shared a lengthy collection of direct quotations from his salespeople’s remarks, he offered little other than an assurance that ‘[w]e have been and will continue to be committed to following all applicable laws and regulations as we serve our customers.’

Pressed for a more detailed statement, Skogen complained that MailOnline ‘asked us to respond to a story on a program that does not exist (free government cell phones) and a video we have not seen.’

A “program that does not exist?”  Skogen’s company has made $38 million from the Lifeline program, and he thinks it doesn’t exist?

The Daily Mail weighs the prime corporate welfare steaks that have been cut from this plump cash cow:

Both land line and mobile bills in all 50 states and the District of Columbia include a Federal Universal Service Charge, a portion of which subsidizes the program.

That makes the program a handout to both lower-income Americans and the companies that supply the phones. To many on the political right, the enterprise has been twisted beyond any semblance of its original purpose.

Like industry leader TracFone, which has received more than $1.5 billion – including $440 million in 2012 alone – to provide phones to 3.9 million recipients, StandUp and Terracom behave more like corporate titans than good Samaritans.

TracFone is owned by Mexican multibillionaire Carlos Slim Helu.

Stand Up Wireless’s parent company, Global Connection Inc. of America, has collected more than $38 million for its subsidized phones. The company itself is owned by Milestone Partners, a venture capital firm based in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

The Oklahoma-based TerraCom Wireless has harvested a total of $168 million for its participation across 23 states. Its self-described ‘sister company,’ YourTel America, Inc., has reaped nearly another $103 million.

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A woman loves it when other people compliment her good looking face. It is a fact. These compliments may come up probably because one is wearing appealing gloss on her lips, has some sort of powder or foundation that blends well with the skin complexion or even nicely done hair. In order to keep up with such appearances, many women love keeping mirrors and makeup kits of different varieties in their handbags that they carry wherever they go. And whenever they get the slightest opportunity, they open their handbags, get whatever beauty enhancer is inside at the time and get busy with beautifying their faces.

Let’s forget the usual bedrooms, toilets and bathrooms. Nowadays some women are finding it more convenient to apply makeup while inside their cars, behind the wheel.

Any culprits?
Harriet Bbosa is one such woman. Bbosa has two children aged seven and 11 studying at Kampala Parents school. “I never get any time in the morning to make-up because of these two boys whom I am supposed to prepare adequately for school,” Bbosa says.
“At such a time, I am not thinking about myself but only about my two boys,” she adds.

Often, there is traffic jam at the primary school because there are many parents dropping off their children. This is the opportunity that Bbosa normally grabs to pamper her face a little. “I usually apply a bit of mascara, powder and red lipstick. Also, I take the time to arrange my hair as well,” says Bbosa. The marketer says that she only applies her makeup while in a traffic jam. She simply parks the car aside and does it before driving off to her workstation in Kamwokya.

Some female motorists however go to extremes. Daisy Nakimuli for instance is found of applying hers even when she is driving on a highway. On how she is able to pull it off, the mother of one and owner of a Toyota RAV 4 says that she normally slows down bit and uses her left her hand to either powder her face or put on a bit of lipstick.

Is there a law against it?
There is no law against this vice but this donesn’t mean that it should go on. Lawrence Niwabiine, the Traffic Commander for Kampala Metropolitan strongly discourages such habits because they are distractors that can easily cause accidents.“One’s whole attention shifts to the makeup instead of the driving. In the long run, the motorist can easily knock someone else or even be knocked instead,” Niwabiine states.

Niwabiine encourages such women to wait until they have reached their destination to apply their make-up. According to him, the habit is rampant mainly among women going to work in the morning and these love applying their makeup mostly around traffic lights and in a traffic jam as well. Since there is no penalty for this, Niwabiine says that all they can do as traffic officers is continuously warn the female motorists.

 A Toms River man who authorities said provided false identification to Jackson police is sought after a serious crash last week on Whitesville Road left two people hospitalized.

Authorities are seeking Gary Miller Jr., 36, of Toms River after police said he tried to make an illegal U-turn in a Chevy Astrovan at about 12:37 p.m. on June 2.

Motorcyclist Eugene Lewis Jr., 29, of Green Brook and his passenger Kristen M. Letwenski, 34, of Brick were riding behind the Astrovan traveling north when Miller tried to make the turn, according to a news release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Lewis was unable to stop his motorcycle in time, and he and Letwenski were ejected from the bike, authorities said. They were flown by medevac helicopter to the trauma center at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where they remained in critical condition as of June 11, said prosecutors. Miller was uninjured, authorities said.

During the crash investigation, Miller gave Jackson police a false name and used identification of his half-brother, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

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On Friday, the nation celebrates Flag Day, yet at the mall it seems the celebration has begun early.

After 236 years, Old Glory is trendy; the Stars and Stripes adorn every surface imaginable, from stilettos to denim shorts to sunglasses.

At Express, sequins composed the flag on a tube top; at Old Navy, stars and stripes show up on swim trunks.

A black-and-white vintage version appears on a shirt from Jessica Simpson’s clothing line. Teenyboppers will find red, white and blue skirts and T-shirts featuring hearts instead of the classic stars at Justice.

Some might find the look disrespectful or distasteful, but it’s not breaking any rules. The “United States Flag Code,” laid out in the United States Code to outline proper flag etiquette, states that the design of the Star-Spangled Banner is allowed on clothing, but an actual American flag cannot be used as apparel, bedding or drapery.

Josh Saterman, vice president fashion director at Macy’s, says patriotism has always been envogue.

“It’s fun, and it speaks to the larger trend of pride for our country,” he says of the iconography.

“The flag can be worn in so many different ways, and each demographic, region, climate zone and individual can play with which silhouettes and details speak to them the most.”

Designers tend to play around with the pattern as well. Betsey Johnson features the flag in many of her line’s accessories, replacing the stars with grommets and rhinestones. Her “Americana” collection includes iPhone and iPad cases, wallets and handbags.

Arlene Goldstein, vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction for Belk, says the flag design has been a tradition in fashion for a long time. This year, the flag’s popularity has slightly increased, as it “coexists” with this season’s stripe trend, she says.

Another reason for the spike in flag paraphernalia: In the summertime, “people become more overt with their patriotism,” Goldstein says. Holidays like Memorial Day and Independence Day are prime time for patriotic dressage. The most popular articles of clothing sporting the Stars and Stripes are T-shirts, she says.

Designers who frequently display their American pride in their lines include Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Retailer Urban Outfitters has “American Summer” and “Salute the Flag” collections on its website, offering more than 80 flag-adorned items.

From Nalgene to Sigg, the water bottle as accessory is nothing new. Conspicuously carrying one says, “Water fountain? HA. I care about my body enough to bring this enormous canteen with me everywhere, as if I’m perpetually returning from training to be a Navy Seal and/or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.” Carrying a reusable water bottle means YOUR hydration is never left to chance.

But unfortunately, it doesn’t lead to recurring revenue, and that made Nestle sad. The $92 billion food giant owns more than 8,000 brands, among them Arrowhead Water and Poland Spring, but none apparently has the cachet of a Lifestyle Water — essentially, a drinkable purse. (Nestle also owns Perrier and San Pellegrino, but since they’re fizzy, they aren’t part of the coveted “premium still water” niche.)
 
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Johannesburg - The mayor of Sedibeng Municipality has spent a night in the cells at Vanderbijlpark police station after he was arrested for alleged drunk driving and bumping into another vehicle.

Mahole Simon Mofokeng is alleged to have knocked another car while he was leaving a hotel in Vanderbijlpark on Tuesday evening.Police were called and Mofokeng was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and negligent and reckless driving.

Provincial police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila confirmed that Mofokeng had been taken to hospital, where his blood was drawn.“He was only released this morning, on R1 000 bail.
“He was released from the police station and did not have to appear in court.“His case has been postponed to September 5,” Malila said.

Mofokeng’s spokesman, Dan Manoeli, said: “All we know is that there was a minor accident that took place involving the mayor. We don’t have details and can’t confirm the reports over his arrest.

“We can’t get hold of him or the municipal manager.”This is not the first time that there has been drama involving Mofokeng and alcohol.In February, he was in a bar in Vanderbijlpark when he fell and had to be helped up.Manoeli said they suspected at the time that Mofokeng’s drink had been tampered with.

“He went to the bar to meet some people, and while still waiting, he ordered a drink. He went in and out of the bar, and within a short period of time he felt dizzy and collapsed. That is when we suspected the drink might have been poisoned or spiked.”

Pop-up retailing has made big inroads for landlords as tenants embrace the idea of having a short-term lease for quick and maximum exposure to shoppers.Department store Myer embraced the new style of shopping last December, with pop-up stores at Southern Cross Station (above) and Bondi Junction in Sydney.

The outlets sold an array of small gifts, from perfumes to handbags, with gift wrapping services to catch the late Christmas shopper. More are planned this year.

Lend Lease has had an 8 per cent growth in turnover since the beginning of the year and plans to increase offerings in all its shopping centres.

The model, previously known as ''casual mall leasing'', was traditionally identified as the new car being advertised in the middle of a shopping centre, or an untenanted shop filled with shoes and a spruiker on a public address speaker.

But as malls evolve to keep fresh, pop-up retailers are securing prime space in front of major tenants, busy thoroughfares and shopping centre entrances.

Lend Lease's national new business manager for pop-up retail, Sally Harding, says every spare space in a shopping centre is considered a prime location.

''Every area of a mall is available, such as a wall, which can be interactive, parts of the car park, the centre circle and along the walkways,'' Ms Harding said.

 After they left, Ms. Stromberg realized the bags were gone and called the police. When she checked the changing room, she found five clothes hangers hidden beneath a cabinet and began to take inventory, at which point she discovered that the duo had also made off with five dresses by Chanel and Herve Leger.

Ms. Stromberg, who worked for many years in Manhattan’s garment district, said that she keeps a sharp eye on the store, which is her pride and joy. She has seen occasional attempts at shoplifting, she said, usually by young girls. “I just tell them, give me the blouse.”

She did not discuss the value of the stolen items in a phone interview on Tuesday, but a single Hermes or Chanel handbag can go for several thousand dollars.“I’m still waiting for the mug shots,” she said. “This is not the first time they did it. They have to get caught somewhere.”

She believes the Corner Closet was specifically targeted by the two, speculating that a third party had cased out the shop in advance. She is now installing a surveillance camera system in the store.The village could do more to protect shop owners, Ms. Stromberg said. “Why doesn’t the village have outdoor cameras?” she wondered, asking why the burden of surveillance is placed solely on merchants.
    Ms. Stromberg said police told her that the robbers may have struck another store as well, in Bridgehampton.
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