Foodie Jeanne Horak-Druiff  discusses some of The most unusual flavour combinations

Spice company Schwartz recently unleashed their Flavour Forecast of unusual flavour combinations for 2009 on an unsuspecting public, and at least one UK newspaper warned readers that the combinations are “pretty weird”.

What’s really interesting about the list of unusual flavour combinations for 2009, though, was this: usually South Africa lags a season behind European fashions, whether couture or culinary. But quite a few combinations on this list might strike South African palates as strangely familiar.

No longer shocking:

Raw fish with horseradish – when my parents visited Japan in the 1970s, they came back with tales of horror for the children: “Never order fish if you go to Japan because they bring it to you RAW!” Now there can hardly be a city in South Africa where it’s not possible to order sushi with a side order of wasabi.

Strawberries with balsamic vinegar and black pepper – my Italian sister-in-law’s dad used to wax lyrical about this combo which we though was a particularly crazy eccentricity. Now this combo is available in restaurants up and down the land and scarcely raises an eyebrow. Expect a strawberry and balsamic McMilkshake soon.

Chilli and chocolate – the first time I read about this unusual combination in the classic Mexican mole sauce, I pictured Cadbury’s Dairy Milk melted over Jalapenos or similar. Of course, the real thing is far more like cocoa powder mixed with a dash of spice and I defy you to name a top South African restaurant that has not yet dabbled in this combination in some form. Positively passé.

On the Schwartz list for 2009:

Carrot and cinnamon – If you grew up in an Afrikaans household in South Africa cinnamon was practically compulsory with vegetables. My father still refuses to eat any squash or pumpkin without a ton of cinnamon sugar. The only carrots my mom used to make were sweet caramelised carrots, and I don’t see that adding a pinch of cinnamon would be a stretch for any South African’s tastebuds.

Pineapple and star anise – clearly the authors of this list of novelty pairings have not been to Durban lately, where pineapple chunks coated with chilli powder are sold on the beachfront. Star anise is the sissy option.

Apricot and saffron – similarly, the writers are unfamiliar with Cape Malay cuisine. The fragrant curries for which the Bo-Kaap is famous frequently call for saffron (or its cheaper cousin turmeric) as well as dried apricots which are a vital ingredient of dishes like sosaties or bobotie. Shocking? Novel? Hardly.

Flavours that still perturb me:

Seafood ice cream – I regard myself as a pretty broad-minded foodie. I eat oysters, I like ox tongue, and I have enjoyed wholegrain mustard ice cream as a garnish for a soup. But the Japanese take broadminded to a whole new level. Anybody keen for fish, squid, shrimp or eel ice cream? Nope, I didn’t think so.

Chocolates filled with cheese – Paris chocolatier Jean-Paul Hevin makes cheese and chocolate appetisers and naturally I was dubious but curious. I got hold of some of these little cubes of French cheeses each paired with a flavour-enhancing dried fruit and coated in excellent chocolate and gave hubby one without telling him what it was. “These chocolates are off!”, he cried, and sadly I have to agree. Never again.

Bananas on pizza – clearly against the Geneva Convention, and the Natural Order of Things. Just wrong, on so many levels.

So what unusual flavour combinations have you tried lately – and did they work?

Source: food24.com

The quiz

Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn both won the Best Actress Oscar in 1968 for their performances in The Lion In Winter and Funny Girl. This was the first and only time that the Academy announced a tie in the Best Actress category, and Streisand famously greeted her gong with the words: “Hello gorgeous.”

And the Award for Most Excitable Winner goes too… Cuba Gooding Junior. In 1996, the Jerry Maguire actor jumped on stage to collect his Best Supporting Actor Award and launched into an exuberant speech, which was only cut short when he couldn’t be heard above the orchestra.

The late Christopher Reeves received two standing ovations when he appeared at the 1996 Oscars ceremony. The Superman actor had been paralysed from the waist down after a riding accident the previous year.

Lots of actors get emotional when they win an Oscar but few can compete with Gwyneth Paltrow’s spectacular performance when she scooped Best Actress in 1999. The star has since spoken of her embarrassment over the weepy episode: “I keep it [her Oscar] tucked away at the back of the bookshelf in my bedroom because it weirds me out.”

In 2001, Julia Roberts won a Best Actress Oscar for Erin Brockovich. When the actress realised that she had passed her 45-second speech limit, she shouted: “A girl’s got to have her moment. Everybody tries to get me to shut up. It didn’t work with my parents and it didn’t work now.” She thanked everyone, except Erin Brockovich on which her character was based.

For more memorable Oscar Moments visit: Glamour Magazine

When reflecting back on the Oscars,  it’s some of the incredible speeches that come to mind. And here are some favourites :

Meryl Streep was extremely gracious when accepting her Best Actress award for Sophie’s Choice in 1981 … “I have a lot of people to thank and I’m going to be one of those people that tries to mention a lot of names, because I know just two seconds ago my mother and father went berserk and I’d like to give some other mothers and fathers that same opportunity.”

Juliette Binoche was also extremely gracious when she was clearly in shock at her upset win over favourite Lauren Bacall by saying “I’m so surprised! It’s true, I didn’t prepare anything. I thought Lauren was going to get it, and I think she deserves it.”

Mickey Rooney expressed one of the unspoken truths about some people’s stardom, that it can disappear as quickly as it arrives. When he accepted an honorary Oscar in 1982, he said “When I was 19 years old, I was the number one star of the world for two years; when I was 40, nobody wanted me — I couldn’t get a job.”

One of the most touching moments in Oscar history came in the 1977 ceremony, when true sentiment was expressed on the Oscar stage, something we don’t often see coming out of Hollywood. William Holden was out presenting with his dear friend and former co-star Barbara Stanwyck , and he delivered a heartfelt tribute to her, which she had not been expected, and she was visibly moved by it.

He said “Before Barbara and I present this next award, I’d like to say something. 39 years ago this month, we were working on a film together called “Golden Boy”, and it wasn’t going too well because I was going to be replaced. But due to this lovely human being and her interest and understanding, and her professional integrity, and her encouragement, and above all her generosity, I am here tonight.”

All kinds of other acceptance speeches have been extremely moving, including:

Steven Spielberg’s touching tribute to his mother and to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust when he accepted his Best Director Oscar for Schindler’s List in 1993.

Al Pacino’s Best Actor acceptance speech in 1992, encouraging youngsters to go for their dream.

Louise Fletcher signing for her deaf parents when winning Best Actress in 1975 for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

 Whoopi Golderg’s recent tribute to film critic Gene Siskel, who had recently passed away before the 1998 ceremony.

 Dustin Hoffman explaining his past criticism of the Academy when winning Best Actor for 1979′s Kramer vs. Kramer.

But one of the most memerable speeches was Tom Hanks accepting his first Best Actor prize, for Philadelphia, in 1993. His speech represented the voices silenced by AIDS, which was the main topic of the film he won the Oscar for, and as delivered by Hanks, still remains for one of the most moving acceptance speeches in Oscar history.

Here 1s that memorable speech : “I know that my work in this case is magnified by the fact that the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels. We know their names. They number a thousand for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight. They finally rest in the warm embrace of the gracious creator of us all, a healing embrace that cools their fevers, that clears their skin, and allows their eyes to see the simple, self-evident commonsense truth that is made manifest by the benevolent creator of us all.”

” Iwant to thank…everybody I ever met in my entire life” Maureen Stapleton in 1982

Dianne Wiest in 1987: “Gee, this isn’t like I imagined it would be in the bathtub.”

Robin Williams in 1998: “Most of all, I want to thank my father, up there, the man who when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, ‘Wonderful, just have a back-up profession like welding.’”

Short documentary winner Jessica Yu saying: “What a thrill. You know you’ve entered new territory when you realize that your outfit cost more than your film.”

Gwyneth’s cringeworthy acceptance speech in 2003, out-bawling Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman.

Tom Hanks accidentally outing his high school teacher in his Philadelphia speech in 1994.

Marlon Brando protesting about American behaviour by sending a Native American to collect his award in 1973. She was later revealed to be an aspiring actress.

“I am the king of the world” shrieks James Cameron moments after ordering a minute’s silence for the Titanic victims.

Jack Palance doing one-armed pushups when accepting his Oscar for City Slickers in 1991, to prove he could keep up with the young actors of today.

Cuba Gooding Jr in 1997: “Tom Cruise! I love you, brother! I love you, man!…Everybody, I love you. I love you all. Cameron Crowe! James L. Brooks! James L. Brooks, I love you. Everybody who’s involved with this, I love you. I love you. Everybody involved.”

Source: www.suite101.com

Robert Downey Jr., with his Best Actor nod for 1992′s “Chaplin,” is one of only two stars who received Oscar nominations for portraying a real-life Oscar nominee. Who’s the other?

Cate Blanchett won a Supporting Actress Oscar for portraying real-life Oscar winner Katharine Hepburn in 2004′s “The Aviator

 Which actress accidentally left her statue in the bathroom after winning her first Oscar?

Meryl Streep forgot her trophy in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion bathroom after her first win for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for “Kramer vs. Kramer” in 1980.

Three films (“Ben Hur,” “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”) hold the record for most Oscar wins. Which two films hold the record for most nominations with 14 each?

“Titanic” nabbed 11 trophies out of 14 nominations in 1997, while “All About Eve” won just six of its 14 nominations in 1950.

Who’s the only actor to receive two Oscar acting nominations for the same performance?

Barry Fitzgerald was nominated for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Going My Way.” Oscar voters decided his co-star, Bing Crosby, deserved the Oscar for Lead Actor.

What movie won an Oscar 20 years after it was made?

Charlie Chaplin’s “Limelight,” made in 1952, wasn’t eligible for an Oscar until it was released in Los Angeles in 1972. Chaplin won a statue for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score in 1973. 

Who’s the only actor to receive two posthumous Oscar nominations?

 James Dean received Best Actor nominations for “East of Eden” in 1956 and “Giant” in 1957, both after his September 1955 death

 Who has hosted the most Oscar ceremonies?

Legendary actor and comedian Bob Hope hosted 18 Oscar shows, though he was never nominated himself for an Academy Award.

Seven foreign language films have been Best Picture nominees. How many of those have won the award? 

“Grand Illusion,” “Z,” “The Emigrants,” “Cries and Whispers,” “The Postman,” “Life is Beautiful” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” all received Best Picture nods, but none were winners.

“In the Heat of the Night,” the Sidney Poitier drama about racial tension, won the Best Picture Oscar at a ceremony that was postponed because of what event?

The 1968 Academy Awards ceremony was postponed for two days, until after the funeral of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr

Which actress is the youngest person to receive the most Oscar nominations of any actor before the age of 30?

Kate Winslet

Where was the first Oscar ceremony held?

At the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1929. The ceremony lasted just five minutes and tickets to the event cost $10.

Which Oscar telecast featured the infamous Rob Lowe/Snow White song-and-dance number?

Former “West Wing” star Lowe sang “Proud Mary” to Snow White as the opening number for the 1989 Academy Awards telecast

Who received the only Oscar ever fashioned from timber?

Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen received a carved wooden Oscar, presented in honor of his dummy, Charlie McCarthy

In what year did a Los Angeles scrap metal dealer save the Academy Awards when he found dozens of stolen Oscar statues dumped into a supermarket trash bin?

The year was 2000 when 61-year-old Willie Fulgear found 52 of 55 missing Oscars and turned them over to police

Which two stars won Best Actor Oscars for playing the same character?

Marlon Brando won a Best Actor statue for playing Don Vito Corleone in 1972′s “The Godfather.” Robert De Niro won a Best Actor Oscar for playing the younger version of Vito Corleone in 1974′s “The Godfather Part II.”

Which actor said, “I’ve been there seven times and lost. Maybe if I stay away, I’ll win,” right before winning his first Oscar?

Paul Newman, who had been nominated for seven Oscars previously, skipped the 1987 ceremonies, in which he finally nabbed his first statue, a Best Actor trophy for “The Color of Money.” 

Who is the first person in Oscar history to be nominated for directing one movie and acting in another in the same year?

 George Clooney

 What is the Oscar/Academy Award officially named?

The Academy Award of Merit

Who is the only person to win an Oscar and a Nobel Prize?

 George Bernard Shaw

 Who is the only Oscar to win an Oscar?

Oscar Hammerstein II (Best Song: 1941, 1945)

 How much does an Oscar statuette way?

8 1/2 pounds

What was the last black-and-white film to win an Oscar for Best Picture?

“Schindler’s List”

Quotes from Sunday night’s 81st Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles:

“You Commie Homo-Loving Sons Of Guns. I did not expect this, and I want it to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me, often, but I am touched by the appreciation.” – Sean Penn, accepting the best actor Oscar for his role in Milk.

“I’d be lying if I said I haven’t made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror, and this would have been a shampoo bottle.

“Well, it’s not a shampoo bottle now.” – Kate Winslet, holding the Oscar she won as best actress in The Reader.

“My kids are too old to remember this now, but when they were much younger, I swore to them that if this miracle ever happened that I would recede into the character of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.” – Danny Boyle, jumping up and down, after winning the best director Academy Award for Slumdog Millionaire.

Truly accepted

“This award tonight would have humbly validated Heath’s quiet determination to be truly accepted by you all here – his peers within an industry he so loved.” – Heath Ledger’s father, Kim Ledger, accepting the award for best supporting actor on behalf of his son.

“When I was 13 years old my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life.” – Dustin Black, accepting best original screenplay Oscar.

“It’s not going to be 45 seconds, I can say that right now. Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one.” – Penelope Cruz, accepting the best supporting actress award.

“Fifteen career Oscar nominations. That’s a record. I hate to say it but when someone puts up numbers like that, it’s just hard not to think steroids.” – Host Hugh Jackman to Meryl Streep during the opening of the show.

“There are certain places in the universe you never imagine standing. For me, it’s the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium and here.” – Simon Beaufoy on-stage after winning best adapted screenplay for Slumdog Millionaire.

“Now listen, I want you to relax tonight. I want you to say whatever is on your mind because you know we have a seven-second delay, but if you win, we switch to a 20-minute delay.” – Host Hugh Jackman to Mickey Rourke during the opening of the show.

“This award touches my heart and the very depth of my soul because of who the award is from and those who will benefit. The humility I feel is staggering, and I know it will stay with me for the rest of my life.” – Jerry Lewis, while accepting an Oscar for humanitarian work.

Source: News24.com

Although the Oscars are deemed to be a serious affair some comic relief is always necessary.

Here is one of my favourite funny Oscar moments.

It’s not easy being green. Just ask some of our purportedly environmentally conscious celebrities like Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite their best efforts to raise awareness, even they have a hard time leading by example.

See which of your favorite stars have been called out as environmental hypocrites.

ivillage.com

Celeb plastic surgery gone wrong

Celebs who’ve taken surgery to the extreme. WARNING: This may get ugly…

 What on earth was former Knots Landing star, Joan van Ark thinking when she went under the knife? She must be kicking herself right now!

 The eyes, the teeth.. it’s freaky!!! Looks as though Gary Busey is in a permanent state of shock, for no apparent reason.

It’s one thing having surgery with the intention of looking younger, it’s quite another having surgery that leaves you looking older. Tara Reid’s lypo’d tummy and boobjob looks to be about sixty years older than the rest of her.

Are those David’s soccer balls under her jacket? And Victoria Posh Spice Beckham still denies that she’s ever had any work done…

Axel Rose got the bad end of the surgery stick. It’s a shame, really… he was quite a hottie in his younger days.

No plastic list will be complete without Michael. The face of plastic gone bad.

Source: women24

The word “queue” is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.

Beetles taste like apples, wasps like pine nuts, and worms  like fried bacon.

Of all the words in the English language, the word ‘set’ has the most definitions

What is called a “French kiss” in the English speaking world is known as an “English kiss” in France.

“Almost” is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

“Rhythm” is the longest English word without a vowel.

In 1386, a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child

A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off

Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath

There is a city called Rome on every continent.

Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day

Horatio Nelson, one of England’s most illustrious admirals was throughout his life, never able to find a cure for his sea-sickness.

The skeleton of Jeremy Bentham is present at all important meetings of the University of London

Right handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people

Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, everytime you breathe!

The elephant is the only mammal  that can’t jump

One quarter of the bones in your body, are in your feet

Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian, and had only ONE testicle. Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different

The first known transfusion of blood was performed as early as 1667, when Jean-Baptiste, transfused two pints of blood from a sheep to a young man

Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails

Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin

The present population of 5 billion plus people of the world is predicted to become 15 billion by 2080.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

Source: world-english.org

Valentine’s Day is a minefield. Whether you’re single or hooked-up the potential for misery is high because, much like New Year’s Eve, it rarely lives up to its reputation.

For the single ladies

1. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that because there won’t be some significant other mailing you a mass-produced cardboard sentiment this year, that you are somehow lacking or unworthy of love.

Valentine’s Day was designed specifically to sell greeting cards. (And to make single people miserable.) Does being single on Halloween make you wish you were a zombie? No. See how silly you’re being?

2. Unless you’re going out with a group of friends, stay away from bars. There is a certain breed of predatory guy who lives for February 14. He douses himself with cologne, opens his shirt an extra button and packs a pocket full of terrible pick-up lines. It may sound like it’d be cute to tell your grandchildren you met on Valentine’s day, but most likely the only thing you’ll come home with will take a full course of antibiotics to get rid of.

3. Don’t go into desperation dating overload, trying to scare up a date — any date — just so you won’t be home alone on V-Day. Only a masochist or a maniac would ask a woman out on a first date on 2/14. Here’s hoping you want neither.

4. Stay home and sulk if you want, but instead of making yourself miserable with romantic comedies, check out the “War of the Roses” or “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” And whatever you do — don’t eat a pint of ice cream. Nobody should willingly reduce themselves to a cliché. Have some nachos instead.

For the taken ladies

1. If your boyfriend forgets what day it is, you have nobody but yourself to blame. Do you know when the World Series is? Probably not. If you want your man to remember something, remind him.

2. Along with the above, if you have big expectations for THE MOST ROMANTIC VALENTINE’S DAY EVER, you should also convey that. Hinting never works with men — whether it’s willful or just obliviousness, I’ve never heard of a heterosexual male who is capable of picking up a subtle hint.

Give him restaurant suggestions, remind him that he needs to make a reservation in advance, advise him that you’re getting him a gift (if you are), so he might want to select a little something for you. If you must, resort to PowerPoint and pie charts. It’s not very romantic, but it will get your point across.

3. You are not allowed to get upset if he doesn’t propose. Unless it’s completely spontaneous, V-Day proposals rate way high on the cheese-o-meter and you can hardly blame him for not wanting to be part of a real-life Diamonds R Us commercial.

4. Don’t you dare compare your relationships to other couples. Competitive dating is a loser’s game. That twosome making out at the next table? Chances are, they’re married to other people. Your bigmouth coworker who can’t stop talking about the ginormous rock her FIANCE (say it loud!) bought her? He’s probably compensating for shortcomings in other departments. The more in-your-face the display, the more likely they’re just masking the unhappy truth. Be glad for what you’ve got.

Source: CNN

Friday the 13th is said to be an unlucky day. The modern reason for this is said to come from Friday October the 13th, 1307. On this date, the Pope of the church in Rome in conjunction with the King of France, carried out a secret death warrant Against “the Knights Templar”. The Templars were terminated as heretics, never again to hold the power that they had held for so long. There Grand Master, Jacques DeMolay, was arrested and before he was killed, was tortured and crucified.

There are however many other stories behind it, some true and some urban legends. The number 13 has been considered unlucky for a long time. Early Romans thought 13 was a sign of death and destruction.

The fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia. The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia.

Fascinating Facts about Friday the 13th

• In French Lick Springs, Indiana, a law was once passed requiring all black cats to wear bells.
• Greek philosophers called 13 an ‘imperfect’ number.
• Friday was the common day for people to be hanged in the past.
• Hangmen were once paid thirteen pence halfpenny.
• Some Texans say never to cut any kind of garment on a Friday because it will not be completed.
• Many hotels have no room number 13
• Many than 80% of high-rise buildings do not have a 13th floor.
• Many airplanes do not have a 13th row.
• Many airports don’t have a 13th gate.
• Many ships will not start a voyage on the 13th, particularly, Friday the 13th.
• Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery.
• On streets in Florence, Italy, the house between number 12 and 14 is addressed as 12 and a half.
• Many cities do not have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue
• If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil’s luck . Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all have 13 letters in their names.
• There are 13 witches in a coven.

Sources: urbanlegends.com ;

kidsturncentral.com ;

corsinet.com

Big Screen Romance Quiz

Love Quiz

Valentine’s Day can be so predictable. A card, a fancy restaurant and a red rose…

Maybe this year it’s time to surprise your Valentine with something unconventional. Here are a few tips:

1. Love notes

Go back to the basics by ditching SMS and e-mail for the day. Prepare love notes or quotes (see below for a few ideas) and jot them down on these pieces of paper.

Now trace his/her steps for the day, and at each stop, arrange for someone to deliver the notes. Think: One under her door in the morning, at the breakfast table, one for each lecture (you can be brave and ask an actual lecturer to give it to her) etc.

The second to last must have directions to where he/she can meet you – and the last one you deliver yourself can say “I love you”… trust me, they’ll believe you this time.

2. Balloon tied to radio aerial

This is good one if you want to be a anonymous Valentine. If you want to break the secret mms a picture of a balloon (form your phone) later that day.

3. Write her/his name on the black board before one of her classes

This may take some planning, but it possible. The quicker way is to make a small poster and just paste it on the board.

4. Candle light dinner – the student way

Ask him/her if you can collect their dinner for them from the res dininghall.

Set up the candles on the blanket outside. Every campus has an open field or lawn…it’s time you used it!

Once they start wondering where their food is, they’ll call or SMS you – that’s when you send the directions to your romantic set-up!

You could perhaps pick some flowers along the way (make sure you don’t get caught), or even ask him/her for a dance beneath the stars!

Tell us about your unconventional Valentines Day

Tell us about your original / unconventional Valentines Day plans and stand the chance to win a wine hamper (to be share with your Valentine, of course)

Leave a comment or e-mail versuswines@gmail.com

Valentine’s quotes:

Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.

- Albert Einstein

A kiss is a pleasant reminder that two heads are better than one. – Anonymous

Are we not like two volumes of one book?  ~Marceline Desbordes-Valmore

Love is like dew that falls on both nettles and lilies.  ~Swedish Proverb

Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.  ~Robert Frost

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination.  ~Voltaire

Source: studentvillage

The Fashion Police , unlike Chris Brown and Rihanna , were as usual present at the Grammy awards. Celeb critic Kimberly Couzens gave a few thumbs up and a few “please-do-not-try-this-fashion-at-home” comments.

 Thumbs up: Katy Perry in Basil Soda. She looks great in pink, her legs are covered, and she stayed true to her personal style by keeping the dress a little wild with the pleated shape at the waist.  

No-go: MIA. This outfit isn’t nearly as bad as the one she wore onstage, where she looked like a slutty bumblebee. M.I.A., we wish you the best with the baby and everything, but please give birth in the hospital. I was afraid she was going to pop onstage. That plus the overly revealing outfit was just too much to handle.

Thumbs up: Miley Cyrus in Herve Leger by Max Azria and Taylor Swift in Kaufman Franco.  Both dresses are classic black but have modern shapes and embellishments. I also love one-shoulder gowns – I think they are universally flattering.

No-go: Leann Rimes in Philosophy. I hate the detailing, the color combination, and the wrinkled skirt. I just hate it.

Thumbs up: Kate Beckinsale in Reem Acra. Love the detailing  

No-go: Jennifer Hudson.  The dress would look great on someone petite, and the colors would be perfect on Jennifer if they were made from a flowier gown with a soft-draped silhouette. It just looks uncomfortable.  

Source: kimberlycouzens.com

In 1991 the International Association of people who dine over the kitchen sink was found.

Do you think you are a SINKIE?

Here are a few questions, aspects and advantage for being a SINKIE

If you have no time to cook or have no time to eat you are one step closer to become a SINKIE.

If you don’t like to clean up or have an extremely neat roommate you will be drawn to the dark (SINKIE) side.

SINKIES know the difference between fast food and REALLY fast food.

SINKIES prefer refrigeratorlight to candlelight.

Eating and snacking over the kitchen sink? Millions of people around the world have been enjoying this casual dining style for many years.

Their casual dining style can also include standing in front of their open refrigerators, rummaging around the leftovers, taking inventory of the contents

IN OTHER WORDS, IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH HAVING A QUICK BITE, IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH BEING A SINKIE.

Read more about SINKIES on the their official site: sinkie.com

We all lose our temper and say and do stupid things at some point in our lives, but when you’re a celebrity your blow ups are almost never private.

We quiz you on 10 of the most memorable celebrity blow ups of all time

The quiz: channel24.com

The glitzy Hollywood award season has, once again, strutted its way onto the social calendar. Oh, the glamour! Oh, the suspense! Oh, the great big pile of stinky excrement. Yes folks, behind the sparkly dresses and improbably attractive people is the inescapable truth that those gushing thanks and tears play dress up for a living.

Yes. Dress up.

Ah, but wait, before you scoff disparagingly, consider this dilemma: if faced with an eight-armed alien on a desert island with nothing but a paperclip, who would you rather be with? A Nobel-winning scientist or a hot blonde actress who knows how to pacify aliens with paperclips, whilst wearing nothing but a skimpy bikini? Yip, I thought so.

Essentially, the Oscars are there to remind us that the movie industry plays a pivotal role in educating the masses. We’ve put together a few invaluable life-lessons.

When in danger…

- Your car will not start

- If you are female (and scantily clad) you will probably trip or be attacked by a deadly reptile.

- Jumping off a very tall building is perfectly safe as long as there is a pool for you to land in or a glass ceiling to break your fall.

- Don’t stress if you are faced with a bomb big enough to blow the entire city to smithereens. You will cut the right wire. Every time. Failing this (should you not have enough time to assess the wires), you will be able to outrun the bomb.

When in a car chase…

- If you are being chased by a car, run in a straight line in front of the car. Everyone knows that jumping out of the way is futile.

- If you are in a car that veers off the road, rolls, or is hit by a few stray bullets, your best bet is to throw yourself out of the door/window. If not, the inevitable explosion will bring your life to an abrupt end.

-  When in a chase, feel free to drive at a high speed down the pavement or to weave through (unbelievably slow) oncoming traffic. No one will be injured, but you may accidentally destroy a news/fruit stand.

When in love…

-  The best expression of love is a carefully choreographed song and dance. Don’t worry, everyone else already knows the words/steps and will join in unabashedly. Yes, even if you are dancing through the streets of rural Kazakhstan.

-  Remember: the good guy always gets the girl. Hot girls always see the error of their ways and ditch that muscle-bound chap for the more sensitive nice guy. Failing this, the ugly girl actually turns out to be a superhot babe beneath her nerdy exterior. Either way, you win.

When in a fight…

-  Guns don’t need to be reloaded.

-  Most villains are terrible shots, and no matter how much ammo is fired, you probably won’t be hit.

-  If you are shot, it’ll probably be in the shoulder. Luckily, gunshot wounds very seldom disable you and, following a brief grimace, you should be kicking butt again.

-  Your enemies will prefer to attack you one at a time. They will patiently wait their turn while you defeat their friends with your superior martial arts skills.

-  Villains like to explain themselves. This should give you enough time to devise a cunning and highly improbable escape. It also provides a good opportunity to deliver witty one-liners that demonstrate your fearlessness.

-  If you kill the villain, make sure that you do it properly. Do whatever it takes – removing the head from the body and setting it alight will probably cover all your bases. Failing this, the tenacious scoundrel will find a way to defy death simply to come back and kill you.

When saving the day…

Remember that:

-  Landing a plane is easy for anyone who has ever played any video game.

-  Paperclips have more than one use. They can pick locks in a jiffy…and pacify that eight-armed alien.

-  Defibrillation is the standard medical procedure in any emergency.

When faced with a vat of nuclear waste…

-  Jump right on in. Go on, you’re the next superhero just waiting to happen…

This article was written by  Rebekah Kendal

Source: iafrica.com

Zimbabwe is in the news for all the wrong reasons: 231 million % inflation rate, unsuccessful elections and, of course, dictator Robert Gabriel Mugabe who just can’t accept defeat.

Here are some other record achievements by Zimbabweans, documented in the Guinness Book of World Records: Largest game of pick up sticks The largest game of pick up sticks is 9.10 m long and 14.5 cm in diametre and was played by the pupils of St. Johns Preparatory School in Harare, Zimbabwe, on 21 July 2007.

Longest kept diary Col. Ernest Loftus of Harare, Zimbabwe kept a daily diary for over 91 years. He began his daily diary on 4 May 1896 at the age of 12 and continued it until his death on 7 July 1987 aged 103 years 178 days.

Most bee stings removed The greatest number of bee stings sustained by any surviving human subject is 2 443 by Johannes Relleke at the Kamativi tin mine, Gwaii River, Wankie District, Zimbabwe on 28 January 1962. All the stings were removed and counted.

Medication – most pills taken The highest recorded total of pills swallowed by a patient is 565 939 between 9 June 1967 and 19 June 1988 by C.H.A. Kilner (1926-88) of Bindura, Zimbabwe.

Olympic success

Zimbabwe won four times more medals than its neighbor, South Africa, at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Source: Guinness World Records

Babu from India is the crane operator on the top floor of the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building.

If  I had his job I’ll definitely call in sick everyday… “Sorry Sir, I have a mild case of Actophobia (fear of heights)”

Check out other facts about this building: Burj Dubai

Do you have any other unconventional jobs?

A London restaurant has come up with a novel idea to drum up custom in the economic downturn: letting customers decide how much they want to pay for their meal.

The Little Bay restaurant in Farringdon is offering the all-you-can-eat deal for the rest of this month, to cater for credit crunch hit workers from the nearby City financial district.

“It’s entirely up to each customer whether they give £100 or a penny,” said owner Peter Ilic. “All I’m asking is they pay me what they think the food and service is worth.

“It just seemed the right thing to do with everyone under the cosh and feeling pretty miserable. We have seen so many more City folk coming into the restaurant lately, looking for a better value lunch,” he added.

The menu ranges from starters like Smoked Haddock Brandade or Oriental Duck Salad to Paupiette of Salmon or Whole Bones Poussin for main courses, or straight burgers for the more down-to-earth diners.

Normal prices vary from two pounds 25 pence for a starter to eight pounds and 80 pence for a main course, which are already competitive prices for central London.

Drinks are not included in the offer, although “tap water will be freely available”, said the eatery.

Do you think this will work in South Africa? I don’t think so. But maybe in Sandton , where it can become the in thing to pay too much for your meal.

Source: news24.com

Czech artist Andrzej Dragan played around in Photoshop to see what celebrities would look like had they lived to a ripe old age.

Marilyn Then

While a blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe – who was voted the ‘Sexiest Woman of the Century’ by People magazine – turned heads in her youth, she would certainly have lost some of her appeal if Mother Nature and Father Time had their way with her.

Granny Marilyn

While hardly dashing and dapper in his youth, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler would have looked even worse for wear if he hadn’t committed suicide on 30 April 1945.

Hilter in the 40ties

Worst boss?

A British poll indicated that employees believe that bosses with the name John or Anne are the worst to work for.

An online poll of 4 000 workers saw more complaints about people by those names than any other.

Male bosses named Steve, Paul, Alan and Chris are also to be avoided, while the worst-behaved female managers tended to be Catherines, Debbies, Lindas and Janes.

Among stories of bad behaviour reported to the website www.YouThinkYourBossIsBad.co.uk, are some which would make The Devil Wears Prada magazine editor Miranda Priestly appear low-maintenance.

One manager asked an employee to organise his mother-in-law’s funeral, while another requested a single, peeled orange to be delivered to her desk at the same time each day.

One asked an employee to provide him with the alibi of a business event so he could enjoy a dirty weekend with a colleague, and another called her PA in the UK from a hotel room in the US to ask her to book a table at her hotel restaurant.

One boss dictated an important letter to his secretary while urinating in an office toilet and another asked an employee to research colonic irrigation as a possible present for his wife.

The lists: WORST MALE BOSSES 1. John 2. Steve 3. Paul 4. Alan 5. Chris Followed by: David, Mike, Simon, Barry, Andrew

WORST FEMALE BOSSES 1. Anne / Ann 2. Catherine 3. Debbie 4. Linda / Lynda 5. Jane / Jayne Followed by: Liz, Fiona, Andrea, Pam, Michelle

Tell us about your boss-from-hell.

For the full lists: The Telegraph