My modelling pictures when i was 17 years old

My mummy and me

Baby Clarissa

In other great news, it turns out that the photos that Britney posed for for the new issue of Allure magazine turned out pretty damn good. Here are the photos that made publication:

She looks good ... very reminiscent of the good ol' days. It's plainly obvious that these photos were taken recently (as opposed to that Believe photo) and that they actually turned out well. [Source via Source]

But, the goodness doesn't end there ... Allure.com has posted the outtake photos from this photoshoot along with some extra commentary from the events that took place during the shoot. Here are some of my favorites of the outtake pics:

My dog writes letters to GOD

Dear God,

Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever,
smell one another?

Dear God,
When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is
it the same old story?

Dear God,
Why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar,
the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit,
but not ONE named for a dog? How often do you see a
cougar riding around? We dogs love a nice ride! Would
it be so hard to rename the 'Chrysler Eagle' the
'Chrysler Beagle'?

Dear God,
If a dog barks his head off in the forest and no human
hears him, is he still a bad dog?

Dear God,
We dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals,
whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID's, electromagnetic energy
fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God,
More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God,
When we get to the Pearly Gates, do we have to shake hands to get
in?

Dear God,
Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to
apologize?

Dear God,
Let me give you a list of just some of the things I
must remember to be a good dog:
- I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they
throw it up.
- I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just
because I like the way they smell.
- I will not munch on "leftovers" in the kitty litter box;
although they are tasty, they are not food.
- The diaper pail is not a cookie jar.
- The sofa is not a face towel; neither are Mom and Dad's laps.
- The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
- My head does not belong in the refrigerator.
- I will not bite the officer's hand when he reaches in for Mom's
driver's license and registration.
- I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the
toilet.
- Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is not an acceptable way
of saying 'hello.'
- I do not need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm lying under
the coffee table.
- I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the
house.
- I will not throw up in the car.
- I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt
across the carpet.
- I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my
crotch when company is over.
- The cat is not a squeaky toy; so when I play with him and he
makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.

Dear God,
May I have my testicles back?

The law of compund interest

http://money.howstuffworks.com/how-to-million-dollars3.htm


A Dollar Saved...(or Invested)
If you save and invest money every month, you will become a millionaire at some point. As Einstein put it, compound interest is the "eighth wonder of the world." It all depends on how much money you currently have, how much interest that money will earn (the tricky part), and how much you can save each month -- and, of course, how long you can wait. Another critical part of the equation is that you leave the interest earned alone so that it keeps earning interest.
There's one often-cited example of the power of compound interest. If Christopher Columbus had placed a single penny in a 6 percent interest-bearing account and instructed someone to remove the interest every year, the value of the interest earned by 2005 would be almost 31 cents. But if he had placed the same penny into the same interest-bearing account but left the earned interest to compound -- earning interest upon the interest -- the resulting balance for 513 years would be $95,919,936,112. That's $95 billion!

All over the Internet, you'll find calculators that tell you how much you need to save each month in order to have a million dollars by an age you specify. For instance, if you're 30 years old, have $5,000 already, save $100 per month, and can earn 8 percent interest, you'll be a millionaire in a mere 51 years -- at the ripe old age of 81. Most calculators will also tell you how much that million will actually be worth by that time because of inflation. In our example case of 51 years, a million dollars will only be worth $213,215 in today's dollars, which probably won't be enough for financial freedom.

The more you save and the better the interest rate, the sooner you'll become a millionaire. However, a million dollars will be worth less in today's dollars.



This means that you have to work to make that million happen in fewer years. Not only will you get to retire sooner, but when you do, your money will have more buying power. Let's go back to our calculator and change the numbers a bit. Let's say that, instead of $100 a month, we save $200. That changes our million-dollar mark to age 73, or only 43 years. It also changes the adjusted worth to $265,069. Now, let's say we find a way to scrape together $500 a month to save. That drops our million-dollar mark to age 63, or only 33 years. Not bad. And, the value at that time will be $361,977. Now, what if instead of 8 percent interest, we invest our funds well and can average 10 percent earnings? Now we'll be millionaires at age 59. Granted, that million will still be worth less than $500,000 in today's dollars ($414,882).

You should also determine how much money you will need. A million dollars sounds like a lot of money and a good amount to shoot for but depending on your lifestyle, it probably won't be enough to retire on when the time comes if that's your goal. Usually, the same Web sites that have those handy millionaire calculators also have retirement calculators. By plugging in your current expenses and an estimate of your expenses once you retire, you can come up with a more realistic financial goal for retirement. You may find that you need to be a multimillionaire in order to retire with the lifestyle you want.

Of course, simply being a millionaire (or multimillionaire) at retirement isn't everyone's goal. Most of us would like to experience the millionaire lifestyle sooner rather than later. We want financial freedom so that our investment interest is enough to pay our living expenses. In that case, let's talk about how you can make that happen.

2008 BMW 6 series

BMW today unveiled the 2008 6-Series Coupe and Convertible. The new 6-series features Featuring highly attractive modifications to their characteristic design, an interior further refined in many details and boasting new color highlights, as well as innovations in drive technology and driver assistance and safety systems.

The 2008 650i Coupe and 650i Convertible is powered by a eight-cylinder power unit eight-cylinder power unit developing 360 hp. The engine is mated with the new six-speed automatic sports transmission.


The new 6-series is characterized by style and sport: either as an elegant Sports Coupe in the proud tradition of a genuine Grand Touring Coupe or as a dynamic Luxury Convertible enabling the driver and passengers to enjoy the wind rushing by in an incomparable manner. Both models combine their strengths with the convincing everyday driving qualities of a large and spacious 2+2-seater.


The BMW 6 Series Coupe and Convertible stand for a heritage of no less than 70 years dedicated to the thrill of mobility and success in motorsport. Cars such as the BMW 327/328 Coupe, the BMW 3200 CS, the BMW 3.0 CSi and the first generation of the BMW 6 Series to this day represent the unique combination of elegance and competition-oriented sportiness so characteristic of BMW.


The history of dynamic driving pleasure with nothing but the sky above was originally introduced in the BMW 327 Convertible, the BMW 335 Convertible, and the BMW 503 Convertible, all of them milestones in technology and design, with a strong and lasting impact on the ongoing development of the brand and its products.


The 6 Series today also plays a significant role within BMW’s model portfolio. It is indeed the benchmark for innovation, and a powerful expression of progress in technology. Cars of this kind establish a particularly active relationship between the manufacturer and the customer, with the dedicated 6 Series owner showing a clear preference for the BMW brand and, at the same time, a strong affinity for innovations in technology, premium quality, and individual style.


An attitude of this kind creates a particularly close relationship with the product and its features not only prior to, but also after purchasing the car. Innovations of this standard endorsed and acknowledged by the critical customer of this caliber have the potential to define the progress of the entire brand. This, in turn, makes the BMW 6 Series a role model not only in design, but also in its control and operating concept, its comfort functions, chassis and suspension technology, and driver assistance systems


Having built over 75,500 cars within the past three years is impressive proof of the close link between the BMW brand and the tradition of the sophisticated, top-quality Grand Touring automobile. In this segment, facing keen competition from a number of high-ranking competitors, the BMW 6 Series, measured in terms of registration figures, ranks a proud second among all luxury sports cars the world over. In other words, right from the start it immediately left the competition with comparable all-round qualities far behind.

BMW's Twin Turbo, Piezo-Incredible Coupe

BMW released a new coupe and a new engine with the 335i. We drove the car through hundreds of miles of elevationchanging mountain terrain and found that it’s not nearly as elegant as it looks. And that’s a good thing.

BMW replaced the fantastic 3-series coupe with an even more fantastic 3-series coupe. End of story. Let’s close the issue and head out for a drive.

But, no, it’s not that easy. The introduction of a new 3-series coupe is more special for car enthusiasts than the introduction of a new 3-series sedan, and therefore it’s worthy of intense scrutiny and constructive criticism. That the new 3-series coupe also features a brandnew twin-turbo engine makes the assignment all the more exceptional.

The new 3-series coupe will be offered with two power variants and two transmission choices for the North American market on its September launch. The 3.0-liter, twin-turbo 335i produces 300 horsepower, while the 328i produces 230 horsepower from a 3.0-liter normally aspirated engine. Both are offered with six-speed manual transmissions (the 335i’s coming from ZF, while the 328i gets one from Getrag) or BMW’s new automatic transmission, which comes with steering-wheel paddles and the ability to direct shift down as many as four gears at a time, which forces us to contemplate the peculiar situations where we’ve wanted a sixth-to-second downshift. The 328i will be offered with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system (called, of course, the 328xi), starting in September, while a 335xi will go on sale at a later date. In Europe, the 3-series also gets two diesel models, but those aren’t planned for the U.S. until well after we have our low-sulfur diesel and our fifty-state regulations sorted out and normalized.

When the options were presented to us, we went right to a manual-shift 335i for our test vehicle, based on the thinking that 300 horsepower is typically better than 230 and because a new turbocharged engine from BMW isn’t something that comes along every season. Yes, the new coupe design is special and any new BMW is worthy of space in an enthusiast magazine, but the fact that this car has a turbo is what really got us excited. What would it be like? Wildly expensive? Unforgiving and massive? Would it come with reversed Turbo decals on the windshield? Thankfully, the answer turned out to be no on all counts.

Without any of the things that we’re used to seeing, hearing, or feeling in a turbocharged vehicle, the new twin turbo delivers on the original promise of turbocharging (i.e., additional power but not additional weight for displacement). The engine doesn’t spool up and frighten the unknowing with a great boost of sudden power. It doesn’t sound like it’s winding up. It doesn’t feel like it’s just gulped an extra mouthful of air into its lungs.

It just feels like an inline six-cylinder engine from BMW—and a quick one, at that.

BMW hasn’t even bothered to put a boost gauge anywhere on the dash, nor have they added a “T” to the badge or an italicized “turbo” anywhere on the car. It’s not that the engine’s forced induction is a secret, but it would appear that BMW is telling its customers that the engine isn’t great because of its turbocharger. It’s great because it’s so quick, so high-revving, and so full of torque. Yes, it has a turbocharger—built by Mitsubishi, incidentally—but it also has direct injection with piezo injectors, variable valve timing, and an aluminum crank case. Oh, and 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque.

So, if you’re reading this hoping that BMW’s new turbocharger is one hell of a powerhouse, you will be disappointed. It’s remarkable because of its ability to blend in with other engine components and become one piece of a whole. It does not define the 335i—it just contributes to its creation.

There is absolutely no delay in the turbochargers’ uptake, and that is certainly due to the fact that two small turbochargers can build power much faster than one single unit. Each turbocharger spools air from three cylinders and they’re arranged exactly symmetrically. There’s a bit of sluggishness when putting down power in third gear at low engine speeds, but otherwise the driver has power on tap in most every situation. The engine reaches its peak torque of 300 pound-feet at 1400 rpm and holds it all the way up through 5000 rpm. BMW claims its new bi-turbo design is fuel efficient, too. With the turbines being treated in a new heat-resistant method, the turbochargers are able to cope with temperatures of up to 1922 degrees Fahrenheit without the use of additional fuel for cooling. BMW’s claim is that it stayed away from turbochargers in these, its contemporary, profitable years because it couldn’t make them efficient. Therefore, it’s the ability to run very hot turbochargers and the very unique use of dirt injection that’s made this twin-turbo unit possible.

“High-precision injection” is the term BMW uses to describe its new fuel system, meaning the fuelto-air dosage can be made more precise and the engine’s compression ratio is higher. The engine’s unique piezo injectors are placed in the middle, between the valves. The small injectors actually open outward and away from the cylinder in order to squirt fuel into the combustion chamber. The highly expensive, Siemens-built piezo units are made of crystals, which can actually change shape on a microscopic level when subjected to voltage.

To get closer to that beloved 50/50 weight distribution (the new turbocharged 335i coupe is set at 51.2/48.8 percent front/rear, slightly more nose-heavy than the lighter 328i coupe), the front fenders were made from a new thermoplastic material, saving twenty-two pounds in total over the sedan’s body. The car does feel light overall, but slightly heavier in the front. Road holding and traction are impressive, with a tendency toward understeer at higher speeds, and a rather easy and steady oversteer at low speeds, but BMW’s traction control will catch you well before any mischief occurs. There’s no sporty M-Diff limited-slip unit as in the M models, but it’s still a driver’s car. “The driver’s cockpit is nearly without fault, with all the knee room a six-footer would ever want.”

The front suspension is structured on two pivots, using spring struts made of nearly all aluminum. In the back, it’s a five-link setup; anti-roll bars are featured on both ends, with stronger roll bars used for the “sport” suspension that we unfortunately did not get to sample on this test. That optional sport setup will come with stiffer springs, a strengthened rear subframe and eighteen-inch wheels (seventeeninch wheels are standard). Like all new non-M BMWs, the 3-series coupe rides on run-flat tires (these are Bridgestone Potenzas), which really do not bother us much in the 3-series models because they were built into the original chassis development (as opposed to the Z4 convertible, which has never gotten along with its run-flat tires, since they were added well after the chassis engineering process).

The driver’s cockpit is nearly without fault, with all the knee room a six-footer would ever want. The only downside of the rather beautiful sloping A-pillar is that your forehead is pretty close to the sun visor—especially with the seat height adjusted all the way up. The old coupe’s problem with its far out-ofreach seatbelts seems to have been solved, fortunately, with an interesting solution. The front belts are housed in the B-pillar but are literally delivered to the driver and passenger by an automatic seatbelt feed. The electronic feeder tray pushes the belts immediately next to your shoulder and then disappears back into the B-pillar once you’ve grabbed the belt. In the back, the rear seats are surprisingly large and headroom is very good, thanks to the fact that the seats are positioned lower in the coupe than in the sedan. This time around, there are only two seats in the back, with a little cluster of doors and spaces for storing things between the two riders.

The coupe’s exterior, drawn by BMW designer Marc Michael Markefka, has been and will continue to be debated for months and years to come, despite the fact that the coupe structure accounts for only seven percent of all 3-series sales (but, seven percent of 434,000 worldwide 3-series sales is still a good amount—over 30,000, in fact). But that this coupe spawns the basis for the forthcoming BMW M3 means that it’s an important shape, and one that all car enthusiasts feel obliged to spend days and nights thinking about. It’s hard to replace a legend, and few would dispute the outgoing E46 coupe’s (sold from 2000 through the end of this year) status as a true classic.

Like most new designs, the best view of the 3-series coupe comes in the flesh. The complicated, ribbon-like panels of the exterior throw off light in different ways depending on where you’re standing and where the car is in relation to a light source. It’s complicated, contemporary, and beautiful. Even though it’s wider by one inch than the outgoing coupe, it’s not as ruggedly manly as its predecessor—but it’s still no hairdresser’s car. It looks fantastic going down the road, it looks muscular when it’s all loaded up on its suspension, and it looks fast when sitting still. It does look more like the 5-series sedan from the front, mainly due to the coupe’s very clean headlights, which were made smaller since the coupe comes standard with bi-xenon beams and the twilight “corona” rings (normal lights are available in the 3-series sedan, which forced that car’s designers to create larger lenses for that model).

The new coupe might not appeal to everyone, but it’s no chop job. It is beautiful and elegant, and it’s got classic BMW proportions—a very short front overhang, a long hood, a beautiful roofline, and a menacing view from dead-on in the front. It grew on us and we’re willing to bet it will grow on you, too. The car is probably more beautiful than the way it drives, and we mean that in the best possible way. It is a 5.3-second zero-to-sixty car, although the exterior doesn’t tell you it’s a firecracker. So, when we speak to the naysayers, let us speak as eloquently as possible, and tell them to go to hell.

2008 BMW 3 series coupe !!!

After a long wait, BMW has finally launched the new BMW 3-Series coupe (known as the E90). Cabriolet versions are not out yet, but it should arrive soon, as with previous product launches. Keep in tune for more information in the days to come.


Despite its close technical ties with the 3 Series Saloon and Touring variants, designers set out with the goal of differentiating the two-door model more than its predecessors. From the front, side and rear, the car is clearly related to other 3 Series models but has its own, classically elongated, shape. Adopting BMW’s typical Coupé proportions of long wheelbase, short overhangs, long bonnet, cabin set to the rear and a low, sleek roofline, the new 3 Series Coupé has an elegant profile.

Key highlights in exterior design are the kidney grilles and restyled headlamps that give a bold yet elegant frontal view. At the rear, the broad rear lights use horizontal light rods with bright LED illumination to accentuate the low, wide appearance of the rear of the car.

Another change from the other models in the 3 Series range is the use of lightweight materials in the body construction in the Coupé. While all 3 Series models use Tailored Blanks that increase panel thickness where structural rigidity is needed, and reduces thickness where it’s not, the Coupé variant also uses plastics in construction. As a result of the lightweight plastic front wings used on the 3 Series Coupé the new car is an average 10kgs lighter than the Saloon variant.


Twin-turbo in-line six-cylinder
The all-new Coupé bodyshell clothes the twin-turbo 3.0-litre engine in the new BMW 335i SE that develops 306hp and 400Nm of torque between 1,300 - 5,000rpm. With such performance statistics, the 335i forms the pinnacle of the new 3 Series range.

The 335i SE Coupé accelerates from zero to 62mph in 5.5 seconds, and, if left unchecked, would travel on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. This level of performance is made possible by two turbochargers, each supplying compressed air to three cylinders each. The use of two smaller units ensures that the turbochargers react more quickly to changes in the throttle position all the way to the 7,000rpm red line while also eliminating the previous scourge of turbocharged engines – ‘turbo lag’.

The turbocharged engine is also considerably lighter than a normally aspirated powerplant of equal power. In the case of the 335i, the new twin-turbo six-cylinder engine weighs approximately 70kgs less than an eight-cylinder engine of corresponding performance. This weight advantage benefits both fuel economy and weight distribution.

BMW’s all new high-precision Direct Injection system also aids these high levels of performance while also benefiting economy. Piezo injectors, located centrally in the combustion chamber between the inlet and exhaust valves, deliver atomised fuel in a conical burst into the chamber to ensure a smooth, efficient burn.

Piezo crystal injectors work when an electrical current is passed through the crystal to create a very precise and consistent fuel delivery. The result? Only the exact volume of fuel required is delivered into the combustion chamber on each cycle guaranteeing that all the vapourised mixture is burnt. This method of injection also serves to aid combustion chamber cooling, thus offering a higher compression ratio. As a consequence, the new car delivers an average fuel consumption of 29.7mpg on the combined cycle.



Entry-level six-cylinder
At the launch in September, the new 325i SE Coupé will form the entry point to the range. Delivering 218hp and 250Nm of torque from its 2.5-litre in-line six-cylinder engine, zero to 62mph is achieved in 6.9 seconds and the top speed is 153mph. However, performance does not compromise economy with the 325i SE Coupé delivering 33.6mpg on the combined cycle. This is made possible thanks to BMW’s patented VALVETRONIC variable induction technology and VANOS variable valve timing that, when combined, balance the requirements of performance and economy.

This level of economy is also made possible as a result of a number of weight and power saving measures in the engine. The 325i Coupé is the latest BMW to benefit from the magnesium – aluminium composite cylinder block first seen on the BMW 630i in Spring 2004. The lightweight combination of materials reduces the overall mass of the car and helps achieve the near-perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution for improved handling.

Finally, the 2.5-litre engine uses an electrically-powered water pump. This not only eliminates the engine power normally needed to drive a conventional crankshaft driven unit but also reduces the engine heat-up time to improve engine efficiency and occupant comfort.

Gearbox options
All new BMW 3 Series Coupé models come with a close ratio six-speed manual gearbox as standard. Those drivers who prefer the convenience of an automatic transmission, but the driver involvement of a manual, should opt for BMW’s new automatic gearbox option. Using an innovative torque converter and software set up, the new automatic gearbox offers a 40 per cent improvement in the response time to throttle inputs and a gear-shift time nearly half that of a conventional automatic transmission. Whenever a driver wants to take control of gear changes a pair of selection paddles located behind the steering wheel can be used to change gears.

Practical and ergonomic interior
Internally, all controls fall easily and ergonomically to hand. The seatbelt is now also delivered to the driver courtesy of a feeder arm integrated into the B-pillar. This only operates on the passenger side when the airbag’s seat detector recognises an occupant.

Both driver and passenger in the 3 Series Coupé sit comparatively lower in the car than they do in its Saloon counterpart. This ensures the maximum headroom for occupants, even with the lower roofline of the Coupé, and also gives occupants a safe, cosseted feeling in the car. Practicality is also a priority with the new 3 Series Coupé offering up to 440 litres of boot space in conjunction with convenient storage solutions in the interior.

Chassis and body – a sound basis
In common with all BMW models, the new 3 Series Coupé benefits from a near-perfect 50:50 front to rear weight distribution and rear-wheel-drive for the optimum in driving dynamics. A double-joint tie bar front axle with spring struts made almost entirely from aluminium and a five-link rear axle work in combination with a rigid body structure to provide very high levels of stability and comfort.

The 3 Series Coupé also comes as standard with Dynamic Stability Control +, BMW’s latest traction control system. With DSC+, the highest levels of traction and stability are complemented by the latest comfort and safety systems including brake pads that are dried in wet weather conditions and brakes that are applied harder when any possible brake fade is detected. This ensures the car remains under maximum control at all times.

To enhance the chassis and suspension set up, the 3 Series Coupé comes with a rack and pinion steering system as standard. Customers can also opt for BMW’s innovative Active Steering system that varies the steering ratio as a proportion of road speed. The Active Steering system additionally links into the DSC+ system, adding small amounts of steering correction without driver input when oversteer is detected.

Extensive safety systems
All of the passive safety systems of the new Coupé are controlled by a restraint and support system. The six standard air bags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and belt force limiters are all activated by the type and severity of a collision.

Recognising that the majority of accidents occur in the dark, the new 3 Series Coupé comes with Xenon headlights as standard. Customers wanting to improve visibility yet further can specify BMW’s Adaptive Headlights that, using the steering angle, aim in the direction the car is travelling rather than the direction it is pointing.

Drivers following a 3 Series Coupé might also notice BMW’s Brake Force Display at work. When the driver of the Coupé needs to execute an emergency stop, or when the ABS system is in operation, the driver behind is warned of the danger ahead by an additional illumination of the LED brake lights in the lamp cluster.

Future Coupé models
Other engine derivatives start production in September to broaden the 3 Series Coupé range. The new BMW 330i Coupé will develop 272hp from its normally-aspirated 3.0-litre six cylinder engine that, like the smaller engined 325i Coupé, uses magnesium alloy in its engine construction. Acceleration to 62mph is dispatched from standstill in 6.1 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. The 330i Coupé still delivers 32.1mpg on the combined cycle.

At the same time as the 330i, the new BMW 330d Coupé will start production, offering 231hp and 500Nm of torque. Performance and economy are both top priorities for the diesel-powered Coupé, with the car posting a zero to 62mph time of 6.6 seconds while still delivering 43.5mpg on the combined cycle.

Study claims that dogs and their owners look alike

IF you own an elegant Irish wolfhound or other good-looking breed of dog, the news may be welcome.

If the pet at the end of your leash is, let's say, a bulldog, you're likely to be less than thrilled.

A study claims to have proven that dogs and their owners really do look like each other.

Previous research has shown that people tend to opt for partners who resemble themselves. Now a study by psychologists at the University of California suggests we choose our canine friends in the same way.


March 30, 2004

Study Claims Dogs And Their Owners Look Alike ---
Suggests People Choose Canines Who Resemble Themselves

By Barry Jagoda

Long the subject of speculation, a new study says that dogs DO resemble their owners. At least this is the case with purebred canines, according to new research conducted at the University of California, San Diego, by social psychologist Nicholas Christenfeld and his UCSD colleague, Michael Roy. The full study, Do Dogs Resemble Their Owners?, appears in the May issue of Psychological Science, the journal of the American Psychological Society that focuses on empirical research in psychology.

The UCSD psychologists found that when people pick a dog, “they seek one that, at some level, resembles them, and, when they get a purebred, they get what they want.”

Forty-five dogs and their owners were separately photographed and judges were shown pictures of an owner, that owner’s dog, and one other dog, with the task of picking out the true match. The proof of resemblance was that a majority of the purebred dogs and their owners could be identified by the 28 judges called upon to examine the photographs, with the results showing 16 matches out of the 25 purebreds. There was no evidence of resemblance between the mixed breed dogs and their owners.

“This is a project in which I’ve been interested for a long time because you hear a lot of casual talk about dog-owner resemblance and we wanted to see what could be learned by formal research,” said Professor Christenfeld. Once the researchers were able to confirm, with randomized photo matching techniques, the high incidence of resemblance between owners and purebreds, and none for mixed-breeds, they went on to conclude that the similarity was due to owner selection at time of acquisition.

Resemblance only among the pure-breeds and their owners ruled out another possible explanation, that of convergence--the theory that similarity might grow with duration of ownership. Not only was there no correlation between how long a dog and owner had been together, as to similarity in appearance, but for convergence to be applicable the mixed-breeds would also have a resemblance to their owners. Since the similarity was only among pure-breeds, whose future appearance could be predicted, the study concluded that, in a majority of cases, owners select dogs who resemble themselves.

To examine whether people do look like their pets, and to explore the underlying mechanism, the researchers asked 28 judges (undergraduate college students) to examine photos of 45 dogs and their owners, taken at three dogs parks. Owners were approached at random and asked to help with a psychology experiment. The pictures were taken so that the background was different for dog and owners. Triads of pictures were constructed with one owner, that owner’s dog and one other dog. A dog was regarded as resembling its owner if a majority of judges (more than 14) matched the pair.

The findings do not reveal at what level the resemblance between person and pet exists. It could be a similarity of physical attributes or of personality traits. The matches seem to be based less on specific obvious characteristics—the connections were not, for example, between hairy people and hairy dogs or big people with big dogs. The data does not reveal how judges were able match dogs to their owners, but the study concludes, “it does appear that people want a creature like themselves.”


Media Contact: Barry Jagoda, (858) 534




how true . we are both good looking

How to lose fats

How To Lose Fat

Obesity is an ever increasing problem in this country. Research has increasingly linked obesity to heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems. Many of us either need to or would like to reduce our bodyfat levels. What is the best strategy?

There are numerous dietary plans that are touted as the surefire way to lose fat. A new one appears monthly. The Cabbage Soup Diet. The Beverly Hills Diet. The Zone. The Paleolithic Diet. Sugar Busters. Weight loss centers such as Jenny Craig are raking in billions of dollars. We constantly hear about a new pill or drink that will literally shrink the fat off of us. How can there be so many obese individuals with all these diet programs, weight loss centers, weight loss drinks, powders, food bars, and pills?

Is one dietary approach superior to another? Yes and no. To start with, the biggest reason why most dietary approaches don't work is that nobody actually follows them. Virtually all of these programs have one thing in common--they involve a lowered calorie intake. And ultimately, burning off more calories (through exercise and other activities) than you take in will result in weight loss. The biggest issues are:

1) Will I feel good enough on this program to want to continue? and
2) Will this program result in loss of bodyfat rather than lean tissue (muscle)? and
3) If I lose weight on this program, will I be able to keep it off?


Let's discuss these in order:

1) Will I feel good enough on this program to want to continue?

You will likely feel sluggish and unhappy on some dietary programs and energetic and happy on others. We each have different metabolic systems and will respond differently to different diets. Being on the right diet for you is at least the first step in trying to stay on it and experience long term weight/bodyfat loss. This may require some experimentation. One of the variables you will need to experiment with is the balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.

The Eat Right for Your Blood Type program is one attempt to match groups of individuals into one of four categories based on your blood type (O, A, etc.), with dietary recommendations for each type. The author, Peter J. D'Adamo, should be given credit for recognizing that we all have metabolic differences and will each thrive on a different program. However, there hasn't been enough scientific research to substantiate this particular program and some of the conclusions don't seem to ring true. And it is very impractical to follow this unusual program.

I recommend that you first try the low fat, low sugar approach, since it is the one most consistent with good health. This means trying to keep your fat intake to a minimum, other than making sure to consume some daily amount of healthy (omega 3 fatty acids) fat, such as olive oil, canola oil, flax seed, nuts, nut butter, avocado, and fatty fish such as salmon. Avoid cakes, cookies, candy, and other sugar snacks. Try to consume whole grains, vegetables, and a lean source of protein (fish, chicken, turkey, etc.) at each meal.



2) Will this program result in loss of body fat rather than lean tissue (muscle)?

Some diets are so extreme that they result in a loss of muscle rather than fat. This is bad, since muscle is metabolically active and the less muscle you have, the fewer calories you burn, even at rest. Eating lots of protein will not guarantee that you will not lose muscle. If your body is too much into starvation mode, it will cannibalize your muscle tissue for energy.

The key is that you need to take in fewer calories than are needed, but not too few. This is why an effective weight loss program is gradual. Quick weight loss is unhealthy and invariably results in a loss of lean muscle tissue along with fat. It is estimated that if you lose more than 2-3 lbs per week that you are losing some muscle, ie., you are losing too fast.

An effective weight loss program needs to include exercise. A regular exercise program will make it easier to maintain your lean tissue (muscle), while losing body fat. You should be doing aerobic exercise (walking, running, biking, or using a stationary ergometers (bike, treadmill, stair climber, etc.) for at least 30 minutes, at least three times per week. Aerobic exercise signals your body to use your stored fat for energy.

Your program should also include at least two days per week of resistance (weight) training to encourage your body to maintain and increase your muscle tissue. Having more muscle in the right places will make you look more firm and shapely. And more muscle will speed up your metabolism. Without such an exercise program, you will lose approximately 1/2 lb. of muscle per year after the age of 30 due to lack of activity.



3) If I lose weight on this program, will I be able to keep it off?

If you follow an extreme dietary program, such as a very low calorie diet (eg., less than 1000 calories/day), you will be unlikely to stay on such a program for very long. Once you halt this program, you will most likely gain back the weight that you lost while on the program. This is a common scenario. Large numbers of people yo yo back and forth between being heavier, and then losing the weight, and then gaining it back again. This is more unhealthy than being overweight. And it results in a slowing of your metabolic rate. If you lose weight on a gradual program over a longer period of time, it is healthier and you will be more likely to keep it off. Your exercise and dietary program should be a change of lifestyle for the rest of your life, rather than a diet to be followed for a period of time.

"Bourne" , an action masterpiece

The Bourne Ultimatum is a 2007 film based loosely on Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name. A sequel to The Bourne Supremacy, it stars Matt Damon reprising his role as Ludlum's signature character, amnesia-suffering CIA assassin Jason Bourne. Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney, and Joan Allen co-star. The cast reprises their roles from the previous Bourne movies, with additions such as Strathairn, playing a CIA department head; Paddy Considine,as a British journalist; and Edgar Ramirez as a new assassin sent to terminate Bourne. The film continues the saga of Jason Bourne after he survives the harrowing Bourne Supremacy car chase in Moscow, Russia, and follows the character as he travels to Paris, London, Madrid, Tangier and New York City to uncover his real identity, while the CIA continues to send assassins after him.

Paul Greengrass directed the film from a script by Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns, George Nolfi and an uncredited Tom Stoppard[citation needed]. The producers were Patrick Crowley, Frank Marshall, Paul L. Sandberg and Doug Liman, who directed the first Bourne movie, The Bourne Identity.

The Bourne Ultimatum was produced by Universal Pictures and was released on August 3, 2007 in North America, where it grossed $69.3 million in ticket sales in its first weekend of release, making it the highest August opening.[citation needed] The film is scheduled to be released on August 16, 2007, in the UK and Ireland.




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The movie begins immediately following the car chase near the end of The Bourne Supremacy, with a wounded Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) evading Moscow police and breaking into a medical clinic to treat his wounds. He then goes to Paris to tell Marie's brother that she is dead. He reads an article about himself and an "Operation Blackbriar" in The Guardian written by journalist Simon Ross (Paddy Considine) and goes to London to find out what Ross knows and who his source is. The CIA also tracks Ross to find out who his source on "Blackbriar" is. Bourne arranges to meet Ross at the south entrance of Waterloo station. When Ross arrives, Bourne sees CIA agents following him and plants a prepaid cellphone in Ross's jacket to give him instructions on evading surveillance. At the same time CIA official Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), the head of the reactivated Treadstone known as Blackbriar, sends an assassin to kill Ross and his source, who they believe he is meeting at the station. After a few minutes, Bourne gets caught on a surveillance camera, allowing Vosen to realize how Ross is able to evade his men so well. Bourne keeps giving Ross instructions, but Ross panics and jumps out from hiding, giving the Blackbriar assassin a clear shot. In the ensuing chaos Bourne rushes to Ross' body to steal his notes. From the notes, he finds out that Ross's source is Neal Daniels (Colin Stinton), the CIA Madrid station chief.

Deputy Director Pamela Landy (Joan Allen), a key figure in the second film, is brought on ostensibly to help capture Bourne, but in reality as a scapegoat in case Blackbriar goes public. The CIA discovers that Daniels was the source and sends a team to his office, but Bourne arrives first, neutralizing the CIA team when they arrive. While there, he meets Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles), transferred from Berlin to Madrid, who tells him that Daniels escaped to Tangier and decides to help him escape the CIA reinforcements. When they arrive in Tangier they realize that the CIA sent another assassin, Desh Bouksani (Joey Ansah), to kill Daniels. Nicky, who has not been listed as rogue yet, sends him a message telling him to meet her to get a new phone, allowing Bourne to follow him to his target. Shortly after their meeting, Desh gets the message to terminate Nicky and Bourne after he is done with Daniels. Landy disagrees that they should both be killed, and quits the mission to help Bourne.


Jason Bourne about to confront Desh in TangierBourne follows Desh, but he is not able to prevent Daniels' death. When Desh returns to kill Nicky, Bourne evades pursuing Moroccan police, fights Desh, and eventually strangles him to death with a towel. He then uses Desh's phone to send a fake message to the CIA saying that both he and Nicky are dead. At the morgue Bourne looks through Daniels' charred papers to learn the location of the CIA substation in New York City. Nicky is forced to go into hiding to keep from being killed by another assassin. Bourne goes to the New York substation, where the ending of The Bourne Supremacy is repeated exactly, calling Landy from a building across the street while watching her and Vosen. He finds out that his real name is David Webb and is told his birthday is "4/15/71", a code for the address of the training facility at 415 East 71st Street. Bourne then sends a text message to Landy to arrange a meeting, with Vosen and his team following her the whole way. This turns out to be a diversion, allowing Bourne to enter Vosen's now vacant office and steal the classified Blackbriar documents.

Bourne arrives at the training facility where he gives Landy the documents before entering the building. When he enters, he meets Dr. Albert Hirsch (Albert Finney), the doctor in charge of Treadstone's psychological training. With his help, he remembers that as Captain David Webb he volunteered for the program. One of Vosen's men finds that Bourne's real birthday is Sept. 13, 1970 and that "4/15/71" was a code. Vosen heads there and confronts Landy as she is faxing the classified documents. Bourne decides not to kill Hirsch, but is soon confronted by another Blackbriar assassin Paz. After convincing Paz not to kill him, Bourne is forced to jump from the roof of the building into the water to escape Vosen, who fires at him. A few days later, Nicky Parsons is in hiding, Blackbriar is completely uncovered, and Vosen and CIA Director Ezra Kramer (Scott Glenn) are arrested. A news report Nicky is watching mentions that David Webb, identified as the source of the Blackbriar documents, was seen falling into the East River, but that his body was never recovered, and in flashback, Bourne is seen swimming away.

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aRTICLE COURtesy of : http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20070803_Bourne_again.html


When we last visited assassin-turned-avenger Jason Bourne, he was facilitating the suicide of a renegade CIA bureaucrat.
The guy was played by Brian Cox, who is on the speed-dial of every casting director who needs a sinister big shot. So the big problem in "The Bourne Ultimatum," which again finds the reformed Bourne cleansing the CIA of upper-echelon rogues, is finding an actor with the built in creepiness of Cox (the original Hannibal Lecter).

The best that "Ultimatum" can come up with is David Strathairn, a fine actor, but a guy who's probably made too many righteous John Sayles movies to properly fill Cox's big, slimy shoes. (Cox is like a size 13 sinister big shot, Strathairn a 10.)

In "Ultimatum" he plays right- hand man to a CIA director (Scott Glenn) who needs to kill Bourne to preserve an ongoing cover-up of the black ops cesspool (now retasked to combat terror via "rendition") that spawned Bourne.

The sudden need to get Bourne arises from reports in a British newspaper by a reporter (Paddy Constantine) who wants to expose the operation - we're in London a few breathless minutes before moving on to Turin, Madrid, Tangiers, and New York.

Those worried about the CIA's ability to combat terrorism will be heartened to learn, through "Ultimatum," that the agency controls every security camera in every city in the world, and monitors every phone conversation.

Every time the Bourne trail goes cold, some CIA apparatchik announces that somebody, somewhere has said the word "Blackbriar" and instantly our "assets" are speedily deployed. (Woe to the CIA if Blackbriar happens to be the name of an Irish bar.)

Director Paul Greengrass and his handheld cameras depict this constant hustle and bustle with great urgency, and the movie (with that punchy John Powell music) has such a caffeine-frenzy feel to it that it's possible not to notice that the plot has as many holes as Bourne's amnesia-stricken memory.

And that it's basically repeating the big beats from "The Bourne Supremacy" - "Ha, I'm looking at you right now," or "Ha, I'm calling you from your own office." And the plot's the same - the CIA races to get to Bourne, Bourne races to get to the CIA to find the men who indoctrinated him into the program that turned him into a remorseless killer.

In the middle is an agent Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) whose regard for Bourne softened when she learned that he was now a remorseful killer.

Anyway, a few excellent car crashes and bombings aside, "Ultimatum" rests upon too many lapses in credibility - part of the plot is based on alleged CIA abductions of terror suspects in Sweden, Macedonia, and Italy, but it's the agency's Wild West show on the streets of Manhattan, the movie's big finish, that looms as the big eye-roller here. *

Produced by Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley and Paul Sandberg, directed by Paul Greengrass, written by Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns and George Nolfi, music by John Powell, distributed by Universal.