I have written in the past about my fears of getting old and what I have been doing to stay young (apart from regular exercise and very tight control over what I eat).  Even at this moment I am applying a very expensive anti-wrinkle cream.  The question arises Is it working?  Well, I don't think I am getting young (only plastic surgery can do that) but I like to believe that if I were not applying these creams I might definitely be getting older.  These creams might simply delay the aging process.

How wrong my beliefs have been all along? According to a new study conducted at the University of Washington Medical Center’s Cosmetic Surgery Center and published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, devices sold over the counter to consumers as facial stimulators, claiming to produce results similar to those of a traditional face-lift, provide little, if any improvement to aging skin,

“We were unable to detect any improvement in signs of facial aging from the use of these devices,” says Dr. Sam Most, assistant professor of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in the UW School of Medicine. “There are more than 50 of these types of devices being sold over the counter and on the Internet.”

In the study, Dr. Most cexamined two of these facial stimulator devices. These devices work on the medically unproven principle that electrical stimulation of the facial muscles results in improved facial tone, and thus reduces the signs of facial aging. Study participants were instructed to use the device for four months.  Two facial plastic surgeons who checked the study participants were unable to detect any improvement in signs of facial aging. Participants rated the devices as minimally effective at best, and reported mild discomfort with both devices.

This is the second study in the past year in which Most has tested an over-the-counter facial enhancement product. In a study published previously, Most showed that particular lip-enhancement products also do not meet their claims to consumers.

So I should simply eat right, workout regularly, sleep well, and have fun. 

Remember the first case of face transplant plastic surgery in France?  Well, despite all the controversy and complications, doctors were successful in giving the patient her life back.  But she may not really want it that bad, it seems.

According to reports, she is smoking again.  As anyone who has watched any of the plastic surgery reality programs knows, smoking and plastic surgery don't go together very well.  What can go wrong?  The recovery period is longer, the healing can be bad, and if someone has received donor tissue as part of facial transplant surgery, chances of rejection are higher.

As I design websites one of the things I like to do is to follow the guidelines from Google.  In other words, keep it simple.  While there may be some skepticism about using Microsoft Front Page but in our previous review we found it to be a great software for web development.

Here is an update though.  Being an early adapter, we started using the program in 1999.  Since then it has run trouble free.  However, after hearing all kinds of wonderful things about Microsoft Front Page 2003, we finally decided to upgrade it yesterday.  Let me say that I am truly delighted.  An easy to use platform for web publishing for anyone.

A friend of mine who is in a lesbian relationship recently shared her plans to celebrate her girlfriend's birthday.  Since I found her plan to be so creative and romantic, I thought I would share it here.

"I am making her a toolbelt for her graffiti, since we are both artists.  On the actual day, I am taking three purple (her favorite color) roses to her workplace.  I am getting some of her friends together that night at her favorite resturaunt in town and then I am sure we will all party the rest of the evening till we pass out.  Then she knows that I have something planned the day after but she does not know what, because I essentially told her to schedule an hour at noon for me that day.  I have her scheduled for a manicure at a day spa where a world-reknowned classical guitar player plays at that time.  Then I am taking her back to my place where I will fix her favorite meal (breakfast, my specialty) with truffle oil (an aphrodisiac if you didn't know).  Actually, I am making potatoes with peppers and mushrooms on the side of eggs cooked with spinach, tomatoes and basil in truffle olive oil.  I will be serving this with fresh coffee from a French press and orange juice.  If I have the money we will probably have mimosas instead of just orange juice."

What do you think?