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Fake Boobs, Real Fights & Prostitution Whores: A Guide to Being a Real Housewife

Ladies, listen up! have you ever watched a group of women screaming at each other on a reality show and thought “I wish that was me”? Do you want to flaunt your lavish lifestyle, but don’t know how to go about doing it? well, today is your lucky day. Here are a few helpful tips to help you reach your potential as a sparkling D-list star.

It’s no secret that real people are the television stars of today. Since the dawn of the 2000s, reality shows have gradually replaced soap operas as the world’s guilty pleasure . I mean, why watch a bunch of fictional characters getting into crazy situations when you can watch civilians get into even crazier situations? one of the most prevalent reality shows is Bravo’s Real Housewives Of… franchise. With six incarnations (Orange County, New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills & Miami), the franchise is both successful and ubiquitous. Tune in to Bravo at any time, and chances are a Housewives show will be on.

The ‘stars’ of the Housewives have enjoyed a degree of success by using the platform to their advantage. Bethenny Frankel, former New York City Housewife, promoted her Skinnygirl Margarita on the show, and has since went on to sell the drinks brand for over $100 million. That’s on top of getting her own spin-off, Bethenny ever After, and, most recently, a daytime television series. It’s no secret, then, that many women want to appear on one of these shows. It generates a lot of exposure, which you can use to promote yourself and your products. so, being a caring philanthropist, I thought I’d give out some tips to any aspiring Housewives out there. Listen very carefully …

The first thing you need in order to be a Real Housewife is money, or at least the illusion of money. The supposed purpose of the series is to showcase the glamorous lifestyles of a group of classy ladies, so a potential housewife needs to have a lifestyle that the viewers will be jealous of. nowhere is this more evident than in the Beverly Hills incarnation, where most of the women live in palatial mansions in one of the world’s most expensive zip codes.

“But Ross, I don’t have any money. How am I supposed to get on the show?”

That’s an easy one. to be on the show, you do have to have a lot of money, but it doesn’t technically have to be your money. What you have to do is max out all of your credit cards, take out a high interest loan and buy a big house. It’s a win-win situation: you appear to be wealthy and glamorous to viewers, and your inevitable bankruptcy will result in an engrossing storyline that will ensure your return to the show. This tactic has worked for Teresa Giudice of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Teresa filed for Chapter 11 in 2010, claiming $11 million in debt – gaudy, shiny clothing must be more expensive than I thought. Teresa’s desperation to keep herself above the bread line, and out of prison, has resulted in the worst case of fame-whoring I’ve ever seen. She’s written books, created a Skinnygirl-knockoff alcoholic drink, and even appeared as a contestant on the always ridiculous Celebrity Apprentice. Her financial woes may not be nice for her, but it’s certainly entertaining for us.

Once you’ve got yourself some money, you need to spend it in appropriate ways. if you’re looking for fame, the smartest way to spend your cash is on a copious amount of plastic surgery. You’re never going to get on television with flabby arms or a forehead that moves. What kind of surgery should you go for? that depends on your location. if you want to get on the Housewives of Orange County, focus on going blonde and getting fake tits. Beverly Hills, on the other hand, is all about the face. You aren’t accepted as beautiful until your face resembles a skating rink and your lips look like they are about to burst. What else would you expect from a series that is based in Los Angeles? Lisa Vanderpump (not a porn actor, apparently) is arguably the most plastic of all the Beverly Hills ladies. Her appearance has been a topic of conversation for a lot of viewers. In fact, my own sister once said to me: “Even though it’s obvious that Lisa has had surgery, I think she looks good for her age.” Unfortunately for Lisa, my sister had assumed that she was in her mid-60s, rather than her early 50s. sorry, Lis.

Let’s get away from the looks now and focus on perhaps the most important aspect in getting you on a reality show – your personality. The Housewives often get high and mighty about being themselves and not acting up for the cameras. However, unless ‘yourself’ is an attention-seeking, aggressive egomaniac; you’re going to have trouble staying on the show. Bravo is notorious for firing cast members they deem to be uninteresting (Alex McCord of New York, DeShawn Snow of Atlanta), so you’d better think about making yourself a bit more TV-friendly before you enter the show.

One thing that every Housewife needs is a penchant for unnecessary conflict. if one of the other ladies has done something to irritate you, you can’t keep your feelings inside. You have to meet her in a public setting and blow the whole situation out of proportion. After all, that makes better television. even if you do resolve whatever conflict you are having, you can never really get over it. In order to be a successful Housewife, you must constantly talk about the fight with the other ladies, and hold the grudge until you can continue the fight at the reunion show. It’s all very complicated.

This grudge-holding was perfectly executed by Kelly Bensimon, arguably the most batshit crazy cast member of all time. This clip showcases Kelly’s overblown reaction to the smallest of situations, as she takes Bethenny to task for making fun of her. The only thing better than Kelly’s attempt at conflict is poor Bethenny’s response. She obviously didn’t realise how much of a nutcase Kelly really is.

So, there you have it. if you want to be a successful star of The Real Housewives … , you must: spend a lot of money on material goods, inject your face and body with a plethora of chemicals, and start fights with your co-stars in order to make the show exciting. I wish you the best of luck. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy; the world of reality television is sink or swim. However, I am saying that it’ll be pretty hard to sink with huge tits and a terrible personality keeping you afloat.

Fake Boobs, Real Fights & Prostitution Whores: A Guide to Being a Real Housewife

Top 10 Most Popular Stories over the Past Week

1) Famous Logos and The Cost of Designing Them

Stock Logos has compiled a list of famous logo designs and the price that was paid to design them.

2) Artist ‘Paints’ with Marijuana Smoke

In a form of protest, Brazilian artist Fernando de la Rocque uses marijuana smoke to print images.

3) Mattel Commissions ‘Drag Queen’ Barbie

Ken’s sexual orientation and faux relationship with Barbie has previously-been exposed by photographer Dina Goldstein. Taking a step further, Mattel has now commissioned the first ‘Drag Queen Barbie’.

4) Infographic: The Worth of IKEA, Apple, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola

After IKEA estimated and sold its trademark at $ 9 billion Euros (US$ 11 billion), The Wall Street Journal decided to find out the worth of some of the world’s most popular brands.

5) 3D-Printed Meat: The Food of The Future?

3D-printing has been used to create an array of different products—from toys to sculptures and even burritos—so why not create some good old fashion steak for the grill?

6) a Tongue-In-Cheek Guide To Branding Terms

Canadian branding firm Compass360 has come up with this tongue-in-cheek guide that features a list of hilarious, made-up branding terms.

7) Early Advertising Artworks By Dr. Seuss

Did you know that Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) was an advertising illustrator for magazines before he found fame as a children’s book author?

8) when this Camera Sees Your Face, It Checks you In On Facebook

Nashville-based ad agency Red Pepper Land has created a system that automatically checks you in at any business location, and gives you a discount, when it identifies your face.

9) Unseen Apple Macintosh Commercial from 1983 gets Rediscovered

Andy Hertzfeld, one of the original creators of the Macintosh, recently posted a short clip recorded in 1983—which was intentionally recorded for a TV commercial for Apple, but was never used.

10) ‘The Little Mermaid’ Goes under The Knife In Plastic Surgery Ads

Who needs fairy godmothers or a genie in a bottle, when you can permanently change your physical appearance with a plastic surgeon?

For the most current updates within the creative, media, and technology industries, please follow TAXI on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or PinterestTAXI Daily News

Top 10 Most Popular Stories over the Past Week

Douchebag Decree: Sarah “Human Barbie” Burge, Mother and Plastic Surgery Voucher-Giver

Except sometimes it gets ridiculous. I’ve read about schools banning touching. I’m talking all physical contact between students. Kids can’t give their friends hugs or high-fives because it could lead to “roughhousing.” Schools have also banned all outside food, forcing parents to buy the school lunch in the name of “safety” for other kids with allergies. Banning tag. Banning recess. Banning bake sales. Banning outside lunches because the principal thought that the food kids were bringing wasn’t “healthy enough.” Banning photography. all in the name of “safety” and “well-being.”

The question is what is harmful? anyone could EASILY argue that a child raised in a strict, conservative religious household is being harmed because of the ideas that they’re taught regarding people who are unlike themselves.

“Even if Poppy rebels (and you can’t know if she will), she’ll still have to face tons of insecurities and trauma further down the line.”

And you know that for a fact? Not every kid with a fucked up parent has issues down the road when they get older. Plenty of people don’t. Sure, it might be more likely statistically, but that’s not enough in my book to have the government intervene and take her away from her mom.

Here’s the thing too. my father-in-law is mentally ill. he is undiagnosed and untreated paranoid schizophrenia. he also raised my husband alone. when he was sick, it was especially difficult on my husband, as you can imagine. he was just a kid and here his dad was, talking about how the government is spying on him and how he (my husband) is really a spy out to get him, sent my grandma and grandpa. he also worked the morning shift so my husband had to walk himself to the bus stop every morning since he was five. There’s more things I could list. but according to you, he would be damaged later on in life, and it’s quite the opposite. He’s one of the most responsible people I know and very successful.

I guess my point is is that I don’t think that the government ought to say what is bad for us and what isn’t, which is why I am a firm believer in small government. the less government in my life, the better. do you want the government telling you what to do, how to live your life, and if you have a child, tell you how to raise him/her? I don’t.

Do I agree that it’s deeply psychologically damaging behavior? of course. Giving a 7-year-old plastic surgery vouchers is inappropriate and disturbing, as well as sad. but is it bad enough parenting to have her taken away? certainly not.

Douchebag Decree: Sarah “Human Barbie” Burge, Mother and Plastic Surgery Voucher-Giver

Sylvester Stallone’s mom gets dramatic plastic surgery

Jackie Stallone debuted her striking new plastic surgery at the ‘Expendables 2′ film premiere Thursday night.

The 90-year-old astrologer took to the red carpet alongside her son Sylvester Stallone – who stars in the action movie – at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles and renewed speculation that her secret to still looking younger than her years may not be entirely natural by flaunting her excessively large lips.

Jackie appeared to be sporting the result of a fresh batch of collagen injections, and the grandmother – who has been married three times – also donned a short black skirt, plunging blouse and high heels as she pouted for pictures in front of the paparazzi.

She attended the premiere to support Sylvester – who was also joined by his wife Jennifer Flavin and their three daughters, Sophia, 15, Sistine, 14, and 10-year-old Scarlet – as he returned to the city where his late son Sage, 36, was found unresponsive last month in his Studio City apartment.

Other stars from the film in attendance included Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jason Statham.

Earlier in the day, Sylvester described Sage – his son from his first marriage to Sasha Czack – as a ”lovely boy” and sympathised with parents who have also lost their children and haven’t received as much support as he has.

He told talk show host Jay Leno: ”When life hits you pretty hard you can go into a dark corner, or you can say, ‘OK, fine, I’m going to find something to focus on, children, your wife, be supportive to other people too.’

”Because I know a lot of people go through [losing a child], and they don’t get the attention that I do. And I feel for them, because it’s one club that no one wants to be a member of, that’s for sure. but I think about his memory, he was a lovely boy and I’ll always treasure that.”

Sylvester Stallone’s mom gets dramatic plastic surgery

Virtual Nose Jobs to Lead This Year's Top Plastic Surgery Trends

Thursday, July 16, 2009 8:28 AM

FaceTouchUp.com, a new online virtual plastic surgery tool, gives rhinoplasty candidates access to affordable, advanced imaging applications and more accurate 'after' photos.

facetouchup.com logoToronto, ON (PRWEB) July 16, 2009 — Gone are the days of cutting out the facial features of some of the world's most beautiful celebrities and pasting them on snapshots to determine what you'd look like if you had your favorite Hollywood star's nose or cheekbones. Instead, enter the era of online plastic surgery and FaceTouchUp.com (facetouchup.com), an advanced online virtual plastic surgery application. By uploading a photo and dragging the cursor, users can discover how they would look after cosmetic surgery within a few minutes.

Every year, millions of women, and an increasing number of men, undergo cosmetic surgery. in 2008 alone, more than 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed. While plastic surgery is a common option for individuals who want to reverse the aging process, boost self confidence and reconstruct damage due to injury, the idea of cosmetic surgery can still cause anxiety among plastic surgery candidates who worry that their post-surgery appearance won't mirror their anticipated results. in recent years, plastic surgery applications have been key in helping to eliminate fears among plastic surgery candidates by giving them the ability to manipulate their own photos and access to unlimited 'after' photos for comparison purposes.

“One of the most common regrets of plastic surgery patients is not having done enough homework before they commit to the surgery,” said Hisham Jawad, founder of FaceTouchUp.com. “In many cases, this lack of due diligence results in disappointment with the final result. to help give plastic surgery candidates an idea of what to expect, we've created a web-based virtual plastic surgery application that can be easily accessed from a personal computer, with no downloading required. It's an especially helpful tool for people who want access to the advanced technology that doctors use without having to incur any expense, as well as those who want to maintain their privacy while still considering whether cosmetic surgery is the right option for them.”

FaceTouchUp.com, the latest innovation in online virtual plastic surgery applications, was developed by Pixineers Inc. with the help of some of the world's leading plastic surgeons. the developers' goal was to create a site that would enable web visitors to undergo virtual cosmetic surgery and give them a better idea of what results they can reasonably expect from surgical procedures. the software is typically offered in surgeon's offices and can cost patients hundreds of dollars. FaceTouchUp.com, however, is available to web visitors at no cost.

To use FaceTouchUp.com, web visitors simply upload a photo or open one of the sample photos available on the site in order to begin their online plastic surgery. By using their mouse, they can reshape and contour their nose to complete a virtual nose job . once the desired results are achieved, users can then compare before and after photos using the Animation View or Side-by-Side View tools. Images can be then saved, printed, and if desired, shared on Facebook to get feedback from family and friends. FaceTouchUp.com was designed primarily for individuals considering rhinoplasty, however, the online tool can be used to help determine the result of cosmetic changes to other facial features, including the lips, chin, eyes, cheeks and ears.

As a testament to the application's professional grade, FaceTouchUp.com is used widely by the industry's top-rated and most respected plastic surgeons who use virtual cosmetic surgery applications in their offices and on their websites. the application can be branded for incorporation on surgeon's websites, and customized to facilitate appointment setting within the application. FaceTouchUp.com is available immediately for licensing across North America and Europe through Pixineers Inc.

FaceTouchUp.com is a virtual cosmetic surgery tool and intended to help users visualize different nose shapes on a face. Virtual cosmetic surgery does not take place of a consultation with a physician. the photos produced on FaceTouchUp.com are for illustrative purposes only and do not guarantee an actual surgical outcome. for an accurate evaluation based on a candidate's unique facial structure, the candidate should consult a qualified physician.

Since its launch, FaceTouchUp.com and its partner sites have processed more than 10,000 photos. for more information or to try FaceTouchUp.com, visit facetouchup.com or call (888) 828-1423. FaceTouchUp.com is designed for ease of use, however a video tutorial is available on the website for users who are new to virtual plastic surgery applications and need additional assistance and instruction.

Related Topics: Rhinoplasty | Cosmetic Surgery | FaceTouchUp.com

Virtual Nose Jobs to Lead This Year's Top Plastic Surgery Trends

Nadia Ilse, 14, gets surgery after being bullied over looks

A Georgia teen is will start high school with a new look after undergoing plastic surgery to alter facial features that were targeted by bullies, according to a Thursday report.

ABC News said 14-year-old Nadia Ilse was teased about her ears since she was 7 years old.

The bullies would reportedly call her “Dumbo” and the teen would make up excuses to avoid going to school.

The 14-year-old said she thought about suicide, but she didn’t think that was the solution, according to the article.

Her mother, who was recently laid off and is also raising a son with cerebral palsy, reportedly did not know about her daughter’s problems because Ilse did not want to bother her with her issues.

ABC News said Ilse eventually revealed her problem to her mother and asked for surgery, but since the family could not afford it she went to a Manhattan-based organization called little Baby Face Foundation.

The organization provides surgery for children who have facial deformities and are in financial need for free, according to the article.

The teen reportedly had $40,000 worth of work done which included her ears, nose, and chin.

She now feels comfortable looking in a mirror and said she sees a beautiful girl.  Read more and see before and after photos.

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. all rights reserved. this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Nadia Ilse, 14, gets surgery after being bullied over looks

KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffEthiopian Air to get Africa’s first Boeing 787

By KIRUBEL TADESSEAssociated Press

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – Ethiopian Airlines next week takes delivery of Africa's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the airline's chief executive says the plane will first be used on routes around the continent.

The airline takes delivery of the Dreamliner on Tuesday in Seattle, Washington. The plane's maiden flight the following weekend is to carry 250 select customers and VIPs, who will fly around Mount Kilimanjaro on the Tanzania-Kenya border.

“We are really excited to become the first carrier in Africa, Europe, Americas and Middle East to operate this modern aircraft,” Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday.

The 787, which so far is operated only by two Japanese airlines, is Boeing's most advanced plane. it is made out of lighter, composite material – 50 percent of the plane is carbon fiber – that allows airlines to save on fuel costs.

Large windows provide a stronger connection to the outside world, on-board humidity is increased and the cabin pressure is closer to what it feels like on the ground. LED lights that slowly change color is another feature designed to fight flight fatigue.

Ethiopian Air will put the 787 on its African routes first – to Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe – before it flies to other international destinations, such as Washington, D.C., Tewolde said.

“This is a game-changer aircraft. it will completely change how people travel across the globe. not only will we enjoy a 20 percent reduction in fuel cost but it is environmentally friendly with less carbon emission than any other similarly sized aircraft,” Tewolde said.

Ethiopian Airlines ordered 10 787s. Tewolde said five will enter service before the end of the year and will be deployed to long-haul routes. The carrier's other five Dreamliners are expected in early 2014.

The airline's first Dreamliner has 270 seats configured in two classes. it will touch down at Bole Addis Ababa International Airport Aug. 17.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says airline profit margins and cash flows are being squeezed by rising fuel prices, a trend that has heavily affected fragile African carriers. Ethiopian Airlines says it is has been successfully mitigating price hikes with cost saving schemes.

The airline is implementing a 15-year plan to evolve into a diversified aviation group with multiple hubs and business units with a target of $10 billion in revenue by 2015. The carrier currently flies to 69 international destinations with an all-Boeing fleet.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffEthiopian Air to get Africa’s first Boeing 787

Nick Clegg opens summit with great news for British engineers

The announcements were made at the opening of the British Business Embassy, part of a series of 18 business summits, which will today focus on advanced engineering excellence.

Leading figures from some of the top global companies will participate in panel-led discussions throughout the day on the strengths of the UK, the UK’s capabilities for growth and exploring British engineering.

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said: “Our manufacturing sector is a national success story and lies right at the heart of our strategy for economic recovery and growth.

“The announcements being made today will create and safeguard jobs and stimulate growth. They are a welcome boost to British business and a vote of confidence in the UK.”

During his opening speech, he emphasised the growing need to attract young people to work in manufacturing. he said: “I want to underline the importance of inspiring the next generation to dream of being the next Brunels and Stephensons.”

The summit has been organised by the Government to coincide with the Olympic Games. The Retail, Food and Drink summit held yesterday saw major UK companies such as King of Shaves and William Santus make positive announcements about the growth of demand for UK export.

Nick Clegg opens summit with great news for British engineers

Asia Pacific Biotechnology & Healthcare Investment Markets

Here is a summary of the key markets you can consider if you are seeking investments from Asia Pacific region.

In general, this market is a fast growing market, with increasing investments allocated to medical devices, life science and pharmaceutical sectors. each market has different characteristics; some markets are more focused in medical devices, while other markets consider biotechnology as part of the overall strategy to boost nation’s innovation and part of job creation strategy.

1. Australia – it is an emerging market for biotech & health related opportunities, Australia has a number of high profile medical devices companies, notably ResMed, Cochlear and Sirtex Medical. the Government also provides some grants and assistance to many R&D projects.

Many global pharmaceutical companies have presence in Australia, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. its universities have strong R&D capabilities and had produced many successes.

The investment market in Australia towards biotechnology sector is also growing, there had been a number of new venture capital funds established and dedicated to the biotechnology  / healthcare sectors, its universities also have own investment funds seeking innovative medical opportunities.

Following a number of major successes, the Australian exchange is also one of the exchanges considered by the biotechnology industry.

2. Singapore – Singapore is very active in investing in new medical technologies, medical device is particularly an area of interest from private investment firms and from government, which provide a range of grants.

One should consider their wide range of venture capital firms as well as Government affiliated funds such as EDB and Temasek for investments. if you are looking to establish manufacturing facilities or R&D centres, there are also different funding programs available.

Singapore is positioning itself as the biotechnology R&D hub for ASEAN, grants and subsidies have been provided for companies that wish to set up R&D facilities in Singapore, its universities also have advanced facilities in place.

Currently, majority of investments are from semi-government investment vehicles, these funds operate like private equity funds, they invest in a wide range of deals ranging from providing seed capital to large M&a deals.

3. Taiwan – Taiwan has an established and large medical devices R&D industry – we also note that Taiwan is especially interested in cancer treatment (particularly liver and lung cancer), medical diagnostic instruments as well as traditional Chinese medicine.

E-health has also been highlighted by the Taiwanese Government as a key industry to develop next decade.

In terms of investments, most of its venture capital firms are affiliated with Taiwan’s major banks and financial institutions. its insurance and banks also own & operate many hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout Taiwan, which also invest in medical related opportunities.

Taiwanese venture capital funds are also expanding in international markets, a number of their investment firms have set up new operations in the United States last year.

4. China & Hong Kong – China’s venture capital industry is booming and many firms are now investing in the life-science & other biotechnology opportunities.

A number of funds have been set up by Chinese universities, providing funding for their in-house projects and take them to commercialization.

One interesting observation is increasing number of Chinese firms setting up offices in United States seeking opportunities in US. Many Chinese VCs and PEs also operate through Hong Kong.

There are also individual Chinese investors taking strategic stakes in many listed biotechnology companies offshore. Many such investors are directors and executives of local pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies.

Chinese medical and pharmaceutical companies have expanding in global markets through mergers & acquisitions. a number of deals were concluded in 2011 & 2012 where Chinese healthcare companies had acquired medical companies in the United States and Europe; this trend is likely to continue as Chinese companies are using acquisitions as a way to expand their R&D capability.

5. India – Indian venture capital firms are very active in biotechnology sectors, not only in India, they have expanded their portfolio to worldwide opportunities.

Indian investment firms have also received funding assistances from US, Israel and UK & German venture capital firms as well as from Japan and China.

Most of Indian VCs in medical sectors are focusing on early stage opportunities at moment, but many private equity firms also invest in India’s fast growing pharmaceutical and medical tourism industries.

7. Japan – Japan has an established and significant venture capital industry, and they had been investing in medical and biotechnology sectors since 1980s.

Japanese investments are from different sources, both from Japan’s venture capital firms; and also from Japanese conglomerates such as those affiliated with Honda, Hitachi, Toyota and other well-known brands, including Japanese medical companies.

It is worth noting that Japanese firms are active international investors, many of them have large subsidiaries and offices in the United States looking for global opportunities.

9.Korea – Rising investment market to consider. Apart from global conglomerates like Samsung and LG, there are also increasing number of new venture capital firms establishing in Korea that participate in the biotechnology and life science sectors.

Typically, they invest in medical devices sector, as it is a key industry in South Korea with existing facilities and technical know-how in place. another big sector in Korea is its cosmetics surgery / skin-care industries, as medical tourism (plastic surgery) is a fast-growing industry in Korea, and Korean cosmetics products are very popular in Asian markets.

These are just some ideas relating to each market in Asia Pacific region, many venture capital and private equity investors in Asia are diversified investors and will look at deals on case-by-case basis. you may also find strategic investors from Asia, and you can also consider partnering with university-affiliated investment funds for R&D opportunities.

Useful Resources

You may find the following resources useful:

The Scientist is the magazine for life science professionals — a publication dedicated to covering a wide range of topics central to the study of cell and molecular biology, genetics, and other life-science fields.

Please Click here for more Information

Today’s Medical Developments covers the medical device and equipment industry including issues such as the need to curtail health care costs, and manufacturing efficiencies to help produce products faster and cheaper.

Please Click here for more Information

Medical Design Briefs features exclusive coverage of the latest medical and bio-medical innovations from NASA, its industry partners, and other major players in medical R&D worldwide.

Please Click here for more Information

Global Biotechnology Capital Providers Guide contains over 900 investment firms and more than 4,000 key contacts around the world – these investment firms invest in diversified biotechnology & healthcare related opportunities.

Please Click here for more Information

 

Asia Pacific Biotechnology & Healthcare Investment Markets

How Urban Parks Enhance Your Brain, Part 2

Last month we explained how parks can restore much of the mental fatigue imposed on our brains by the busy city. the psychological evidence for this concept, known as the "attention restoration theory," is quite clear. What would be great to know, as I noted at the end of that post, is precisely how many trees it takes to recover the cognitive strains of urban life.

Well sometimes the gods of semi-obscure-hybrid-behavior-nature-academic-publications listen to your calls. in an upcoming issue of the journal Landscape and Urban planning, a group of Finnish researchers describe recent work that just so happens to address our exact curiosity. they conclude that restoration reaches peak potential when every inch of the city — which they term the "urban matrix" — escapes our vision:

Our results showed that perceived restorativeness in urban forests was strongly affected by closure of view to the urban matrix through the forest vegetation. This means that perceived restorativeness was higher inside the forest with a closed (i.e. no) view to the urban matrix as compared to semi-closed and open views.

for the study, the researchers identified nine patches of boreal forest in greater Helsinki that bordered the "urban matrix" — in this case either a housing development (some single-family units, some flats) or an urban road with a steady flow of traffic. Within each nature site the researchers found three viewing points that offered a clear open look at the urban matrix (below, A and B), a partial glimpse (C), or no view of the road or homes at all (D).

next, they recruited 66 people of all ages from the metropolitan area. each study participant visited two of the viewing points at one of the nature patches and completed a questionnaire on the restorative potential of that particular site. the results followed a clear linear pattern: as one's view of the urban matrix increased, the perceived cognitive restorativeness of the park decreased. (There was no statistical difference between a view of the road and that of the homes.)

the work lacks a bit of force for its methods. while the researchers focused on "attention restoration theory," they provided only a questionnaire of perceived restorativeness as opposed to direct cognitive tests of attention. the questionnaire they used has been validated in previous empirical settings, but it's certainly a weaker measurement than, say, the "backwards digit-span task" used by other psychologists studying urban parks.

Still the findings provide urban planners with some nice food for thought. the most intriguing conclusion to be drawn here is that the size of an urban park isn't nearly as important as the density of its vegetation. Even when a nature site borders an urban road or housing development, it can function as a restorative place so long as it offers easy access to a dense interior. in other words, the ultimate goal is not to see the city for the trees.

Image via Hauru, K., et al. Closure of view to the urban matrix has positive effects on perceived restorativeness in urban forests in Helsinki, Finland. Landscape Urban Plan. (2012), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2012.07.002.

Photo credit: drpnncpptak /Shutterstock

How Urban Parks Enhance Your Brain, Part 2