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Talk of the web

File photo shows a surgery to fix a cleft palate on a patient. In the US, female genital cosmetic surgery is a small segment of the US plastic surgery market, but it is growing, with thousands of women estimated to undergo such procedures every year. that growth comes despite a warning from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, in a 2007 notice to member physicians, that strongly questioned the medical validity and safety of female genital cosmetic surgery. – Reuters picLOS ANGELES, Aug 25 – Trained as a gynaecologist and reconstructive surgeon, Dr John Miklos calls himself a “medical tailor,” specialising in surgery to reshape a woman’s private parts.

The Atlanta surgeon, who has performed gynaecological surgery for nearly 20 years, cites cases of patients who say their sexual response improved after vaginoplasty, a procedure to surgically tighten a vagina stretched by childbirth or aging.

“Women come to me and say they don’t have the urge to have sex anymore because they don’t feel anything,” Miklos said. “I guarantee that if a man didn’t feel anything, he wouldn’t have sex either.”

Female genital cosmetic surgery is a small segment of the US plastic surgery market, but it is growing, with thousands of women estimated to undergo such procedures every year. that growth comes despite a warning from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG), in a 2007 notice to member physicians, that strongly questioned the medical validity and safety of female genital cosmetic surgery. Earlier this year the group debated the trend at its annual meeting in San Diego.

“None of these procedures have proven effectiveness, and there is potential for harm,” Dr Cheryl Iglesia, a Washington, D.C., gynaecologist and former ACOG committee member, wrote in an editorial published in the June issue of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. “Women are being misled or are confused about what is normal,” she wrote – and about what constitutes a condition that can actually be helped through treatment.

Critics say the trend is the latest service aimed at women pursuing an impossible ideal of physical perfection, hyped by Internet pornography and advertising by surgeons who may not explain all the risks, such as infections, scarring, pain and the loss of the very sensations some patients seek to enhance.

“even when women are told of potential complications, like insensitivity of the clitoris … they still may be unstoppable if they have the notion that they need a younger-looking or more perfect or more desirable vulva,” said Harriet Lerner, a psychologist specialising in women’s issues.

More than 2,140 US women underwent “vaginal rejuvenation” last year, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons put the US total at nearly 5,200 in 2010. Experts note such figures do not include the many procedures done by gynaecologists.

ACOG not only points to the risks of genital surgery but also emphasizes that female sexual response is driven by psychological factors rather than genital appearance. The group has asked its members to be aware of how they might unwittingly influence a patient to consider surgery.

In practices across the country, doctors say more women, from teenagers to those in their late 70s, want to discuss the procedures, which can cost between US$2,500 (RM7,752) and US$12,000 and are usually not covered by insurance.

“I tell every patient you are normal the way you are,” said Miklos, who each year performs as many as 180 labiaplasties to cut back the skin flaps surrounding the vaginal opening. “I would never suggest that they get one. What is the right size of a nose, or a chin? That’s up to the individual. It’s her right to decide.”

FROM REPAIR TO AESTHETICS

Corrective gynaecological surgery has been available for decades, including procedures to alleviate incontinence or sagging of the vaginal canal after childbirth. In the 1990s surgeons began offering procedures that promised the improved aesthetics, self-esteem and confidence associated with nose jobs or other plastic surgeries.

“one side was longer than the other side. … it was something that bothered me,” said Kari, a 36-year-old labiaplasty patient of Beverly Hills, California, plastic surgeon Fardad Forouzanpour. (She did not want to give her last name.) “it makes me more comfortable. I like the way that it looks.”

She said her boyfriend was not involved in her decision, but she did “look at a few Playboys here and there.”

One patient, who did not want to use her name, said she had surgery because she hated the look of her labia, even though her husband had no problem with her appearance.

Other procedures include creating a new hymen for “revirgination” and “G-spot amplification,” which involves injecting the area in the front wall of the vagina with collagen or another filler to enhance sexual gratification. In some cases, patients may not leave satisfied. one way Miklos seeks clients is by running a website called botchedlabia.com, where women who have already experienced complications can get advice on revisions.

Surgeons say many patients have been influenced by images of the waxed, buffed or surgically altered genitals of porn actresses.

“They see these porn stars who have things done, and they look so nice and clean-cut,” said Forouzanpour, who does 15 to 25 labiaplasties a month. “it is normal to have some extra skin, or some discoloration.”

While studies have shown some social advantages to plastic surgery that improves a person’s overall appearance in public, like a nose job or face-lift, there is no data showing the benefits of altering one’s genitals.

“The ethical question is: how much are you playing on women’s insecurities?” Dr Iglesia said. “Women are getting very much duped into thinking there is a standard look for the vulva.”

For example, surgery claiming to enhance the “G-spot,” which may play a role in sexual arousal, raises red flags as no controlled studies have been done, or are likely to be done, to show whether it has any effect.

“I don’t routinely do them. People ask for them, but I don’t want someone to pay US$1,000 and have high hopes,” Miklos said. “People get upset when there is no response.” – Reuters

Talk of the web

Five Common Misconceptions About Marketing to Seniors

With all the possible target markets out there, why would anyone want to market to seniors, anyway?

Thought of by some as a lost cause, they are labeled as too old, too disabled, too oblivious or too frugal. while those monikers may apply in some cases, it is astonishing how wrong those perceptions are when you examine the reality of today’s buying public despite a sour economy, a real estate crisis and unemployment at its worst level in decades.

Suddenly, seniors are looking mighty appealing to some, if not all, marketers because of a few major facts:

Misconception #1: Senior citizens are in the minority

Fact: 76 million baby boomers in the United States are now turning 65, a fact which is putting senior citizens in the majority. According to a Feb 6, 2011 New York Times article on the business of aging, these new senior citizens are different from previous generations, anticipating a life expectancy that is longer than in the past – a period of at least another twenty years. Worldwide, the segment of the population 65 and older will more than double, from 523 million to 1.5 billion by the year 2050, according to estimates from the United Nations. The US Census Bureau reports that there are more females than males nationwide with the Northeast in the lead for that distinction, as well as for having the largest percentage of people in the age group 65 and over. although more people will be postponing their retirement in the interest of maintaining a sustainable income, those who choose to retire will have lots of time on their hands for which the only salvation is to keep busy. and extrapolating truth from reality, keeping busy means that senior citizens will comprise one of the country’s largest markets, too expansive to ignore and certainly too available to dismiss.

Misconception #2: Senior citizens are too old, technologically challenged and computer phobic

Fact: with senior citizen defined as someone who has reached old age, (yet, to the amusement of this writer, still described as ancient in some dictionaries), the bulk of baby boomers will be a relatively young group (age 65-74) until the year 2034. That’s a good twenty years of time in which marketers can benefit. Baby boomers are not some wall flowers intimidated by the prospect of stepping out to dance. indeed, these are our gadget-savvy, forward-thinking, mature and experienced, movers and shakers who have been big participants in, if not initiators of, today’s technologically advanced style of life for most of their existence. hardly prone to dropping out of society, these are connected individuals aware of the ramifications of social media and Google rankings, alternately engaged and irritated by the entourage of political missteps and world events, and influenced by the fallout from job loss and home foreclosure. These are acutely aware consumers of the most formidable stature.

Misconception #3: Senior citizens are too cheap to spend any money

Fact: Seniors are today’s biggest spenders. According to estimates based on a consumer expenditure survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009 about $2.6 trillion was spent by baby boomer households in the United States. That’s up 45% year over year as measured by a Gallup poll cited in a June 10, 2010 New York Times article by Catherine Rampell, entitled Who’s Spending Again? The Rich and the Old.

While it is true that seniors tend to be more conservative in their tastes and frugal in their choices, it is also true that their habits of spending are greatly affected by the wants and needs of those important to them: their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. if, for instance, the son of a senior citizen has lost his job and can no longer support his family to the level of comfort they once enjoyed, far be it from grandma to watch them suffer. Many older Americans have welcomed the younger generations back into their homes and are now spending liberally to keep them fat and happy, so to speak.

But there is another reason why seniors have relaxed the tight reins on their often extra-large nest eggs. recent stock market gains have a psychological impact on the mindset of retired people with investments, even if those investments are bond- or annuity-based, leading them to the conclusion that they are wealthier. Add this feeling to the rationale that seniors may feel that life is too short and now is the time to splurge before it is too late. Bolstered by years of moderately successful finances now enhanced by the tenuous fruits of social security benefits, some of these seniors enjoy significant means and plan to experience life’s luxuries before time runs out.

What does that mean? It means vacations, cruises, luxury vehicles, and home entertainment purchases. It means shopping for apparel, jewelry and gifts for the kids. It means spending on hair and nails and plastic surgery and a new smile. It means dining out and going out for an evening of pleasure. all on a regular basis. Once they get started, it’s hard to stop.

Misconception #4: Senior citizens have no brand loyalty

Fact: Seniors demonstrate brand loyalty much more than members of today’s younger generations who tend to be fickle, flitting from one thing to another at the drop of a hat. while fads, trends, and social influences lure youth from one product to the next, seniors are considered more valuable as customers, according to a September 26, 2007 New York Times article by Matt Richtel on Sticky Old People. a senior will take time to assess a decision carefully and will stick with that commitment longer as a general rule.

Although seniors have a lifetime of experience to draw from, a wealth of knowledge about a whole range of topics, and valuable skills representing a variety of careers, such wisdom is viewed with some reservation in today’s rapidly changing world. first, old age tends to bring on forgetfulness and memory loss. second, when it comes to availability of knowledge, Google provides answers to everything and anything in a matter of milliseconds, hardly a level playing field for a senior citizen (or anyone for that matter), regardless of how smart or accomplished they may be. Finally, the skills seniors have mastered tend to be for things we no longer need or use, like yesterday’s engines or obsolete entertainment hardware, for example, now replaced by wireless computer technology of the most advanced level. Even if seniors have kept up with every technological development through the years, their motivation for keeping abreast of such changes once retired lessens greatly, as does their capacity for retention. a younger person has the edge here.

Misconception #5: Senior citizens won’t buy anything unless there is a discount

Fact: if there is one thing which seniors totally dominate, it is the healthcare market, discount or no discount. no one purchases more health-related products than senior citizens, making them easily the most valuable market for businesses in that industry, bar none. Old age, by nature, brings on difficulties with balance, dexterity, autonomy and mobility, as well as sensory maintenance and retention. Some of these conditions encourage social withdrawal. The industries that cater to protecting seniors from physical and psychological demise can only expect to reap the rewards of their manufacturing and marketing acumen. yet, it is evident that the prospect of investing heavily into the development of products which can serve such purposes is conjuring up trepidation within companies poised to benefit. The reason for that is that the senior market is yet unproven territory, having not shown that it will buy into new technologies which preserve health and well-being even if there is a dire need for it. Rather, companies like Ford Motor, which has a hands-free, parallel parking system which eases the need to strain one’s neck (a common pitfall of aging), coupled with blind-spot detection and a voice-activated audio system, take solace in their ability to market to a broad-based market, not just targeting the mysterious seniors for product success.

During the writing of this article, I was coincidentally contacted by a local non-profit Aging in Place organization who claimed they needed a marketing plan to facilitate an increase in paid membership. Aging in Place is a concept used by national senior citizen groups to describe efforts to help older adults remain in their own homes for as long as possible, while receiving assistance from a variety of outside services, if needed, to find solutions for any inconvenience or problem confronted. This could include help with medical, social, financial or nutritional needs, to name a few.

At the same time, many of the real estate development companies nationwide have embraced the idea that constructing senior-appropriate residential or retirement centers which incorporate new technologies to monitor the health and safety of its residents, as well as on-site social, dining, entertainment, fitness and physical therapy areas, are a safe bet for senior marketing.

Certainly either scenario makes sense as long as all marketers address the age-old question: what is the best way to reach senior citizens? or, is the question instead, how to reach the adult children of senior citizens? while the choices remain the same as when trying to reach the total market, all of which are expensive when an unknown response rate is always possible, there are ways to target seniors with some intuitive reasoning. Think old-fashioned if you want an older demographic; think creatively to reach the newly inducted younger baby boomer senior or his adult children. among a whole array of strategies, old-fashioned means advertising in the daily newspaper; on conservative talk radio programs; or sponsorship marketing and live presentations with handouts at senior fairs and events at community or religious centers. Creative marketing may mean using the Internet to reach the more tech-savvy senior through an email campaign; or sponsored ads to accompany appropriate Google searches, to barely touch the tip of the iceberg of possibilities. Probably the safest route to any age senior is through his postal address, lists of which can be purchased through age selection plus a gamut of other parameters which may be appropriate.

And as with any marketing, one effort may not be enough. a diversified approach as well as multiple attempts are usually what spell a more successful outcome, being vigilant to measure response throughout every step of the process. but keep one thing in mind. Seniors have become victims of scams more often than we care to admit. while some may still be helplessly vulnerable, others have become even more wary, distrustful of every marketing offer they encounter

Five Common Misconceptions About Marketing to Seniors

Make Me Over: ‘Fat Banking’ preserves your own fat for later use

TUCSON – in today’s “Make Me Over” segment we’re talking about “fat banking, a way to “save” fat taken from one area of the body and use it in another area, instead of using a synthetic filler.

Dr. Gwen Maxwell, our plastic surgery contributor, stopped by to discuss this method.

Here is information from Dr. Maxwell’s discussion with Allison:

A new kind of service called ‘Fat Banking’ is allowing surgeons to harvest adult adipose tissue and stem cells, and then save this tissue for their patients. Normally, after liposuction, the fat that is removed from the body is discarded as medical waste. this valuable tissue has been called ‘liquid gold’ by some for its ability to naturally restore lost volume in the face, hands, and body and its high stem cell content. Now, with cryopreservation tissue storage options being more accessible to the general public, patients have the option to have their fat preserved for future usage in aesthetic or medical procedures.

Fat Banking:• Cryopreservation of human cells and tissues has been in use for years.• there are several companies in the market that offer fat and stem cell banking. recently a company based here in Tucson, AdiCyte, headed by Dr. David Harris, Professor of Immunology at the University of Arizona, has begun to offer these services.• the fat itself needs to be collected by a qualified surgeon.• the fat is collected during a liposuction procedure and cryogenically (by freezing) stored at a tissue bank for future usage.• Laser liposuction patients cannot have their fat saved.• the fat may be retrieved at a later date to be used instead of synthetic filler in the face, lips, hands, and breasts.• Fat is rich in regenerative stem cells, which potentially may be used in future medical procedures.• in the future, the fat may be used for medical therapy as the science of stem cell therapy makes new discoveries.

Procedures where Stored Fat may be used:• Facial Rejuvenation• Breast Augmentation with or without implants• Buttock Augmentation• Breast Reconstruction• Trauma or wound care• Stem Cell Therapy

The adipose tissue (fat) collection process:During a procedure such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, or breast reduction, the surgeon uses a sterile collection kit, which is provided by the tissue storage bank. the fat is sent to the tissue bank where it is purified, processed, and cryogenically stored for future usage. when needed, the tissue bank will provide the patients their adipose cells within a few days. Typically, about 90-92% of the fat is viable for future usage.

Price Range of Fat Storage: $900 – $1000 for initial collection, approximately $100 per year storage fee, and a fee for retrieval from the fat bank which varies from company to company.

Make Me Over: ‘Fat Banking’ preserves your own fat for later use

Practical Cosmetic Surgery Methods Around The UNITED STATE

Of Head Games as well as Tucks

Of late, cosmetic surgery has indeed experienced an awe-inspiring boom in the quantity of business it is having. The data tend to vary, yet most agree that the boost is someplace in the 650 to 700 % assortment over the last years. This is not merely because of the re-constructive worth of plastic surgery, which is certainly not as sizable a segment of the business as one might be resulted in presume. Most of the people that visit the business of a plastic surgeon go there for cosmetic surgery, rather than re-constructive surgical procedure. in the latest times, there have actually been some signals that these gos to are even more deeply rooted in a range of psychological issues as well as apprehensions than previously thought. some have indeed even come so far as to declare that there is a durable link in between bodily appearance (as granted by cosmetic surgery) and mental health.

The key intellectual wellness issue associated to cosmetic surgery is body dismorphic condition. The affliction results in an individual being encouraged that their image is poor, thus making them willing to go through procedures again and again again. This is a main issue, as there are still simply vague statistics to prove that cosmetic surgeons are turning down people that prove the signals of this mental health condition. The issue is often defined by severe degrees of anxiety and discontent with one’s body, regardless of just how lots of procedures have certainly been performed on it previously. in some situations, the operations change from check out to pay a visit to, which makes it difficult to establish without close observation. having said that, many other victims with this complication could go through the same type of surgical treatment continuously.

Plastic surgery can and also performs have a variety of positive side effects on an individual’s intellectual health. The major advantage is available in the form of recovery after the stress and also stress and anxiety caused by extreme physical stress. Repairing the physical destruction is able to regularly be a crucial step in assisting an individual adapt getting back to a normal life and also regular after being burned or physically traumatized. Whether the surgical procedure should come earlier or later on through the advising process may vary depending on the degree of damages. Even so, it is usually taken that re-constructive operations are a bulk of the emotional healing procedure. for some individuals of physical trauma, having a procedure to fix or disguise the ruined areas is a vital action to find things back to usual, specifically if the destruction is to a regularly laid open place of the body.

South Florida Center for Cosmetic Surgery Ad – Miami Brazilian Butt Lift Video

Cosmetic treatments could also raise a person’s self-respect and help lessen issues of sociable anxiousness related to appearance. some people can easily experience extraordinary sociable anxiety or status anxiety due to blemishes in their physical look. it really isn’t unusual for cosmetic surgeon’s workplaces to have folks being available in attempting to have one location of their body fixed, due to the fact that “it doesn’t follow the remainder of my body” or “I’m just not delighted by having just how it looks,” among many other feasible explanations. in those situations, supplied that the client performs not have severe intentions, the result can easily regularly relieve virtually any stress and anxiety they could have placed on themselves because of that “flawed” area.

There may be additional mental perks to plastic surgery, as the hookup in between the two is still an open spot for further study. The presence of an in-house psycho therapist in the business of some plastic surgeons is a sign that these links are being taken seriously, and that the arena is starting to “grow,” in a means. Whether or not even more intellectual health advantages as well as afflictions are connected to cosmetic surgery is a matter of speculation, but for nowadays, the prospective benefits exceed the prospective risks.

Cosmetic surgery has certainly been around for so long that it literally has no traceable start.Maybe take a peek at Why Not try these Out for well-rounded guidelines.

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Practical Cosmetic Surgery Methods Around The UNITED STATE

Kris Jenner Wants Bey and Jay On ‘Kardashians?’

Anonymous sources are always tricky when it comes to news, but knowing the attention-craving shark that Kris Jenner is, this story probably has some truth to it. the HKIC of the reality TV family is reportedly working overtime to try to get Beyonce and Jay-Z to appear on an episode of “Keeping up with the Kardashians” because she wants Bey to have a big Blue Ivy reveal on the show—and of course increase ratings. According to Hollywoodlife.com:

“One of the main reasons [Kris] so approves of Kim and Kanye’s romance, is the fact that Kanye has tons of celebrity friends,” the source said (and I believe it).

“Kris has her ways, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the cameras captured Kim and Kanye on a double date with Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Kris wants to convince Beyoncé to bring Baby Blue on and make it her first-ever TV appearance! She thinks it would be cute to have a segment of Beyoncé and Kim talking about babies.”

Kris would probably have a better chance of getting Amber Rose to sing at Kim and Kanye’s wedding than to get the Carter’s to appear on their reality show–especially with baby Blue. but after watching the way Kris works from the very few episodes of the Kardashian’s different shows, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was really trying to leverage Kim and Kanye’s pseudo-relationship for her own benefit. Hmmm. maybe that’s why they’re together in the first place?

Since we know this will never fly, my question is do you think its true Kris is really trying to make this happen?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

Kris Jenner Wants Bey and Jay On ‘Kardashians?’

Star of The Doctors tv show comes  to  the Bronx for knee surgery

“I think it’s very cool that he was comfortable coming to a little community hospital where I work when there are all these big institutions in Los Angeles,” Rose said.

Ordon is one of the hosts of the Emmy Award-winning CBS show in which medical experts tackle everything from breast cancer to eating disorders to common phobias.

during one recent taping, Ordon and Dr. Jim Sears donned 50lb. sumo wrestling suits for a fun segment on fitness.

“We do a lot of crazy stunts on the show,” Ordon said. “We got in there and had a little fun. it was great. but in doing that, I twisted my knee.”

An MRI confirmed he had a tear in his right knee. Ordon called Rose.

“I know him and trust him implicitly,” Ordon said.

Hours before his surgery, Ordon said he wasn’t nervous about being on the other side of the knife.

“They’re going to give me a little propofol, which is the same stuff Michael Jackson used,” he said chuckling. “But they’re going to give me the right dosage.”

Rose said he didn’t feel any extra pressure on his end.

“He’s not a family member so I didn’t have any trepidation about it,” he said. “We pay attention to everybody but you’re always a little extra cautious when you’re operating on a friend.”

during the 45 minute procedure, Rose re-contoured Ordon’s meniscus, the crescent-shaped disc that cushions the knee.

in true Hollywood fashion, the surgery was taped for a future episode of the Doctors . That didn’t matter to Rose either.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years,” said Rose, who operates on about 10 knees each week. “You get into what you’re doing so it didn’t bother me at all.”

Ordon will spend the rest of the week recovering at his Chelsea apartment before headed back to California.

“New York is a great place to recover,” he said. “And I always like coming to the Bronx. Hopefully I can make it to Arthur Ave.”

tsamuels@nydailynews.com

Star of The Doctors tv show comes  to  the Bronx for knee surgery

Clay Aiken Says Rihanna Has ‘Pitch Problems’

Clay Aiken knows about competition. the TV veteran was not only a runner-up on the second season of “American Idol,” but he’s also hanging tough on the 12th season of “Celebrity Apprentice.”

But during an appearance on Bravo’s “Watch what happens Live,” he told host Andy Cohen that there’s one person he’s not worried about competing with: Rihanna.

The dis came when Aiken was on the hot seat in the “plead the fifth” segment. when asked which current pop singers wouldn’t make it past the first round on “Idol,” Aiken said, “Oh God, there is too many. too many … Current pop singer? I’ve stopped listening to them because they can’t sing.”

Then he thought about it for a second and said, “Rihanna has some pitch problems for sure. she does … Now, am I gonna get in trouble?”The openly gay singer also had a unique answer to the “marry, kill, screw” question, when asked who he would choose between former tormentor and ex-”Idol” judge Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest. “Oh gosh, that’s awful, I wouldn’t want to kill any of them,” he said. “I’m gonna kill Simon, because it’s the obvious choice … of the two that are left, I would probably screw Ryan and marry Randy. That’s the obvious choice, right?”

As if he hadn’t revealed enough, when asked if, as rumored, he’d ever had any plastic surgery, Aiken at first demurred, then admitted, “I had surgery on my jaw for a TMJ thing and I had them suck the fat out of my chin while they were in there. I was like, ‘You know what? while I’m already down, go ahead and take the vacuum in there and suck the fat out of my chin.’ “

Clay Aiken Says Rihanna Has ‘Pitch Problems’

A peek at season 7 of ‘Real Housewives of O.C.’

Welcome to the first thrilling preview for “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” season 7 edition!

We know you missed this recurring segment, which we publish just before every new episode of Orange County’s best-known (and most hated?) reality TV series. But we had a little break called the off-season, remember?

Bravo doesn’t actually air the season 7 premiere until 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7. But the cable network has leaked some juicy pre-season videos on its website, bravotv.com, as well as some one-on-one interviews with the housewives and plenty of pictures from upcoming episodes.

View a slide show of exclusive, not-yet-broadcast scenes from season 7 of “Real Housewives of Orange County.”

We’ve given you a synopsis of some of the highlights of season 7 in our TV blog, Pedro and the Watcher. Based on recently released videos and interviews Bravo has posted on its website, viewers can expect as much – if not more – drama, catfighting and odd romances as we witnessed during season 6.

Adventure is high on the agenda, as the housewives go on a mud run, go white water river rafting, and ride in a helicopter. it appears as if at least a few of the housewives also venture on a trip to Costa Rica. Sex also seems to be on many housewives’ minds.

We see Tamra Barney shopping, and she says, “I have a boy toy, but I have no sex toys.”

Gretchen Rossi is posing naked with a handbag, and a photographer says, “Make America fall in love with you.” She later appears scantily clad on a stage as an audience hoots and screams. this might be a scene from her gig as a singer and dancer with the Pussycat Dolls in Las Vegas.

Slade Smiley, Gretchen’s boyfriend, appears on a stand-up comedy stage that looks like the Irvine Improv. He’s thrusting his hips forward and back in a sexual fashion, and yells out, “Boom! Boom! Boom!” We see newest housewife Heather Dubrow and her husband Terry give a look of surprise, then we see Slade’s mother open her mouth in sheer shock and horror. Poor mom.

Alexis Bellino is wearing bandages over her nose, which presumably are helping her heal from plastic surgery. She says, “I’m going to look so much better, praise the Lord!”

Since Alexis is such a devout Christian, it’s time for the Bible quote of the day! “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? you are not your own; you were bought at a price. therefore, honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Next we see the newest housewife, Dubrow. to a friend who wants her boyfriend to get down on one knee and propose, Heather advises, “No honey, he needs to buy a ring.”

Later, Dubrow says matter-of-factly, “I’m also an actress, I sing, and I’m a good mom.”

Tamra chimes in and says, “Alexis is so intimidated, because Heather actually is wealthy. She’s not pretending to be wealthy.” The next quote may be lifted out of context, but one of the housewives exclaims, “Game on, bitch!”

Flash back to Slade. He’s chatting with his mother. He says, “I was considering proposing to Gretchen.” And his mom takes a breath and says, “No!”

Next we see Tamra having a serious discussion with her boyfriend Eddie Judge. Eddie says, “You put another man’s hand on your boob. of course it’s going to (tick) me off.”

Original “housewife” Vicki Gunvalson is shown speaking with her daughter, Briana Wolfsmith. Briana says to a surprised Vicki, “You’re on your second divorce. I don’t want you to go through this again.”

Back to Tamra. She’s in her lawyer’s office. “This is the document that’s going to dissolve your marriage tomorrow,” the lawyer states calmly. Tamra bursts into tears.

Then Vicki is shown again, this time with her son Michael. “He thinks it might be cancer,” she says through tears. Vicki adds in an interview, “The thought of someone removing a very vital organ sent me over the edge.”

We see Brooks Ayers, Vicki’s new boyfriend. He assures her, “My desire and my wish is to let you know that you’re not alone anymore.”

It’s time for Slade to say what’s on his mind. “I’m the deadbeat. Yeah, (Vicki’s) in a relationship with someone who’s been arrested for not paying support. And that’s the problem I have with that bitch.” Ooooo, them’s fighting words.

Next, we see Alexis and Tamra lock horns. Alexis: “If you don’t like me, then don’t act like you do to my face.”

Tamra: “Take this (expletive) and throw it away and be a true person!” Alexis wipes away tears.

OK, what are “The Real Housewives of Orange County” without a few wild, crazy outbursts?

“You’re supposed to be my friend!” Vicki screams at Tamra.

“Will you (expletive) call the bitches and talk to them yourself?” Gretchen exhorts to Slade.

At a 1980s party, Vicki is screaming at the top of her lungs at Gretchen. The first part is indecipherable, then she shrieks, “You have no idea! you are a piece of (expletive)!”

Gretchen cries, “What gives her that (expletive) right?”

At the end of the preview, Heather says, “I need a drink.” Don’t we all, at this point?

In a separate video interview with Heather, we learn that she’s married to Terry, a Newport Beach plastic surgeon. (He previously appeared on Fox’s “The Swan” and E!’s “Bridalplasty.”) They met on a blind date on Dec. 7 – “a date which will live in infamy,” according to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The Dubrows have been together for 15 years, and have been married for 12 ½ years. They have four young children: Max and Nicki are 8-year-old twins; Katarina is 5, and Collette is 1. She was “a surprise.”

Heather Paige Kent is the newest housewife’s maiden name, and she had a career as an actress, with roles on “Married with Children,” “Stark Raving Mad,” “That’s Life” and “Jenny.”

Now, Heather is a stay-at-home mom, but she tries out for TV roles and pilots every year.

“What you see with me is basically what you get,” she says in the interview. “My husband and I are very down-to-earth people. We’re not defined by where we live or what we have. We’re just normal people who are incredibly grateful for all that we have and for each other.”

Wow, some words of wisdom and common sense from a Real Housewife of Orange County! how incredible!

We’ll have more about Heather, the other housewives and season 7 in this space and in Pedro and the Watcher. So check back soon!

Contact the writer: 714-796-6026 or rchang@ocregister.com

<a href="http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/says-335059-housewives-season.htmltag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/says-335059-housewives-season.htmlWed, 11 Jan 2012 08:05:49 GMT”>A peek at season 7 of ‘Real Housewives of O.C.’

Link2Weather Launching of a New Web Site Dedicated to Trip Planning According to Weather Forecast

Sunnyvale, CA, February 10, 2011 –(PR.com)– a family vacation, a business trip or any other road trip can be exciting, yet stressful. the driving part is easy; the planning part though can at times cause you a headache. Once you have chosen your route, you might want to check the weather to make sure that there are no surprises along the way and that your trip will be safe and worthwhile. Link2weather.com announces the launching of a new website dedicated to planning any road trip according to the weather forecast.

Link2weather.com allows its users to enter their trip starting point and their destination in up to five segments along the way. in each segment the user can enter the date and time for their departure and arrival. the site also allows the user to select the distance between each forecast segment. the map can display the weather forecast every 25 or 50 miles along the route. a very important feature that link2weather.com offers its users is the ability to drag and change the route along the trip. Just click on any place along the road, and drag the route to any alternative road available along the way. the forecast will then adjust itself to display the weather along the new route you have chosen.

Using this new and important tool will allow you to stop depending on the old weather forecasts where you have to check each and every segment along the way separately. It enables you to see the whole route on one map with the weather forecast spread out on the map, according to the segments you applied. you will now know what the weather will be like ahead of time, prior to driving, which will allow you to plan your trip in advance.

Soon to come, link2weather.com will also include additional features such as weather alerts, tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms, and more. you might not be able to control the weather, but you will be able to control the route you take. other alerts might include hazards along the way, road closures and construction, with alternate suggested routes for those incidents. the site will also be featuring points of attraction, hotels, restaurants, amusement parks, beaches, campground, visitor centers and more. It will also be able to calculate gas costs from one point to another. With all those options spread out for you on one single map, all throughout the U.S. – you will be ready for your trip to sit back and enjoy the road.

They will appreciate your suggestions and advices as this site is still in progress.www.link2weather.com

<a href="http://www.americanbankingnews.com/2011/02/09/exilis-as-seen-on-tv-jumps-to-the-forefront-of-skin-tightening-at-precision-aesthetics/tag:news.google.com,2005:cluster=http://www.americanbankingnews.com/2011/02/09/exilis-as-seen-on-tv-jumps-to-the-forefront-of-skin-tightening-at-precision-aesthetics/Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:11:04 GMT 00:00″>Link2Weather Launching of a New Web Site Dedicated to Trip Planning According to Weather Forecast

» General Surgery's summer academic program jumpstarts medical careers

View WUSF-TV University Beat segment…

Dr. Alexander Rosemurgy, founder and director of Division of General Surgery’s Academic Summer Program, and Dr. Sharona Ross, one of the surgeon mentors, with some members of this summer’s class — the largest ever.

Each summer they arrive with primarily one common goal – a career in medicine. By the time the summer ends they know if that’s what they really want.

“when they come into our program most students don’t know a pneumothorax from a pneumovax”, said Alexander Rosemurgy, MD, professor of surgery for USF Health and surgical director of the Digestive Disorders Center at Tampa General Hospital. By graduation, he adds, they not only know what a pneumothorax is, they likely have observed the insertion of a tube thorocostomy to treat the condition.

Each Friday at 7:30 a.m., students and mentors meet in the TGH/USF Digestive Diseases Office conference room to critique research projects.

Largest Class EverOver the last five years, 48 participants have rotated through the Division of General Surgery’s Academic Summer Program, which educates and mentors students interested in careers in medicine. The program, founded and directed by Dr. Rosemurgy since the late 1980s, provides a wide range of supervised research and clinical experiences to undergraduates, recent baccalaureate graduates, and beginning medical students. This summer the program is hosting its largest class ever — 25 students — overseen by Dr. Rosemurgy; Dr. Sharona Ross, a GI endoscopy and minimally invasive surgeon (MIS) at TGH/USF; and Dr. Michael Albrink, an MIS surgeon in the Division of General Surgery. they come from various universities across the country, including USF, Auburn, Columbia, Cornell, Emory, Purdue, the University of Michigan, University of Florida and Florida State University.

During the intensive three-month program, students learn medical terminology; attend lectures and conferences; produce videos of surgical procedures; collect and manage data; learn statistical analysis; prepare, edit and submit abstracts and papers; present their research results; and shadow USF surgeons in the operating room, on rounds, and in outpatient clinics at Tampa General Hospital. Putting in 10 to 12-hour days is not unusual.

Paul Harold shows off a video depicting a single-incision laparoscopic removal of the gall bladder. Students have the opportunity to produce surgical videos used for instruction.

While many academic medical centers across the country may have similar programs, Dr. Rosemurgy said, what helps distinguish the TGH/USF program is the volume of student contributions to abstracts and papers presented at national and regional surgical conferences and published in high-impact medical journals like the Annals of Surgery, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Gastroenterology, and Surgical Endoscopy, to name a few. within the last five years, participants have co-authored 112 national presentations, 46 published abstracts, 57 peer-reviewed published manuscripts, and more than 20 videos presented at national meetings.

“This program is highly productive,” Dr. Rosemurgy said. “Students can’t do everything that needs to be done to research and write a paper without learning something in the process. Productivity is used as a surrogate marker of learning and mentoring.”

L to R: Andrea Marcadis, Paul Toomey, Kenneth Luberice and Connor Morton in the research room.

Medicine’s Next thought LeadersThe continuing research projects students are tackling this summer include investigating whether a more aggressive approach to removing pancreatic cancer based on tumor margin information impacts patient outcome, evaluating how to best distinguish between benign and cancerous pancreatic tumors before undertaking resection, and determining whether patterns of reflux affect symptoms before and after laparoscopic operations to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The rigorous studies require creativity, critical thinking, and plenty of painstaking work to complete and meet the criteria worthy of being submitted and accepted to peer-reviewed journals or for national presentation, Dr. Rosemurgy said. “Our goal is to influence the career choices of bright young students interested in medicine, medical research, or related fields, and to encourage them to become thought leaders who will improve health care research and delivery in the years to come.”

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I’m so proud of these kids. They’re going to do great things!”- Dr. Alexander Rosemurgy, program director______________________________________________

A recent study by the Division of General Surgery indicates the program’s efforts are paying off. a blinded survey of the 48 participants over the last five years found that their scholarly skills improved after the summer research program. The overwhelming majority (92 percent) of the students developed more favorable opinions of careers in medicine, and only 8 percent reported the experience deterred them from a career in medicine because of lifestyle or studious demands. in addition, more than three-quarters of students felt the program promoted a career in surgery, and 82 percent reported it elevated their goals to become leaders in American medicine.

Paul Toomey, starting a USF surgery residency in July, looks over some research data with Marcadis. a graduate of the summer program, Toomey returned this year to help mentor new students.

Student Returns As MentorProgram veteran Desiree Villadolid, MPH, began in summer 2001 as a USF undergraduate in biomedical sciences. She has worked with Dr. Rosemurgy to develop, refine, and maintain databases tracking the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of hundreds of patients with achalasia (a rare disorder of the esophagus), GERD, portal hypertension, bile duct cancer, and pancreatic cancer. She continued the extracurricular summer research full-time while pursing a graduate degree in epidemiology and biostatistics at the USF College of Public Health, returning to mentor other program participants. This will be Villadolid’s last summer as a mentor — helping students to collect, input, and make sense out of complex patient data — before heading off to the University of Miami to begin medical school. She plans to be a surgeon.

“I know there aren’t many woman surgeons, but Dr. Sharona Ross has been a tremendous role model for me. She’s married with four children and still has a career she loves in surgery,” said Villadolid, who already has more than 20 published papers, 19 abstracts and five presentations to her name as well as a production credit on a surgical video used to teach residents.

The Gee-Whiz FactorVilladolid helped Dr. Rosemurgy cull the 100 ideas for this summer’s research projects that the division’s faculty and residents began identifying in the spring – narrowing the topics down to the most fascinating and clinically-relevant hypotheses for students to test.

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“it has to pass the gee-whiz factor. that means, if we study this, will the findings likely add something we didn’t already know to the body of knowledge in medicine?” – Desiree Villadolid, student mentor_____________________________________________

Paul Toomey, a 2008 graduate of the USF College of Medicine who will begin a general surgery residency at USF in July, is helping Villadolid mentor students this summer. Toomey participated in the summer academic program between his first and second year of medical school. He worked on a project with Dr. Rosemurgy, Dr. Ross, Villadolid and others evaluating whether preoperative therapy for achalasia (botulinum toxin injection to relax the sphincter muscle, balloon dilation of the sphincter, or both) impacts the difficulty or outcome of laparoscopic Heller myotomy. This minimally-invasive surgery, which allows food and liquids to pass into the stomach, is intended to improve the swallowing difficulties of patients with achalasia. The findings were presented at the 2006 International Congress and Endo Expo Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Annual Meeting. “We found preoperative therapy did not make the operation more difficult or adversely affect its outcome,” he said.

With a background in biomedical engineering (his bachelor’s degree is from Duke University), Toomey wants to apply research to help solve clinical problems. “The summer research experience definitely helped solidify my decision to become an academic surgeon,” he said.

Above: Dr. Rosemurgy reviews a case with students Demetri Arnaotakis, Andrea Marcadis and Kenneth Luberice, l to r, shadowing him at the General Surgery Clinic. Below: The students listen as Dr. Rosemurgy consults with the patient.

First-Hand look at SurgeryAndrea Marcadis, 19, and Kenneth Luberice, 20, are among the undergraduate students in the summer program’s 2008 Class.

Marcadis, who will be a sophomore at Emory University in the fall, plans to major in chemistry and apply to medical school. “This has made me think more about specializing in surgery,” said Marcadis, whose father is a plastic surgeon. “I like that surgeons can go in and directly fix something that’s wrong. for instance, they can take a patient into the OR and take out the cancer.”

Luberice will be a USF senior this fall and is majoring in biomedical sciences. a linebacker for the USF Bulls football team, he jumped at the chance to get a head start on his medical education when a counselor from USF Academic Enrichment Center told him about the General Surgery summer program. Luberice, who underwent a shoulder operation to repair a high school football injury, recently observed his first operation — Dr. Rosemurgy undertaking a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, a surgical procedure to prevent the back flow of stomach acid into the esophagus.

“I was surprised at how many people were in the operating room. it was really amazing to see how everyone worked together as a team,” Luberice said.

Dr. Ross leads students in a discussion of their ongoing surgical research projects.

Dr Ross, one of the surgeon mentors, said Dr. Rosemurgy has been and remains a very influential person in the development of her surgical career and in the lives of many students he has mentored.

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“very rarely do students have the opportunity to test the waters of a profession the way this research program affords.” – Dr. Sharona Ross, academic surgeon-mentor__________________________________________________

“A career in academic medicine, and surgery more specifically, is a life commitment to the disciplines of dedicated patient care and unending scholarly pursuit,” she said. “I look forward to the opportunity to share Dr. Rosemurgy’s lessons together with my experiences as a woman surgeon and mother of four children with the annual research program participants.”

Story by Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health CommunicationsPhotos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Media Center

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» General Surgery's summer academic program jumpstarts medical careers