Hi Gilad, looks like you've made some good headway, I like the tweaked center portion.
In your most recent version, the tiny triangular bed in the lower right with the single keyhole path into it... that is a pretty much perfect use of this concept in my opinion. Yet, can you not remove the perimeter path around the outer edge? Or is it needed to access something not shown?
Have you considered starting to design from the outer edge of the lot, allowing enough space there to use the perimeter of the lot for something, and then placing paths as you work in towards the center?
Although the outer path for both the circle and the lot perimeter is narrow, it still accesses plant-space on only one side for a much of its length. Often people will plant berries or vines around the edge/on the fence;
I prefer to put these where I can harvest both sides, away from the deer on the far side of the fence, but this is down to individual circumstance and taste.
If you want to continue iterating in search of an ideal fit, you could also try a leaf pattern, and see how you like the results.
Finally, I would advise against being over-zealous when narrowing paths; I have seen plenty of people plan very tight beds, and then find the results space frustrating to work in. Plants get stepped on, more time is spent being extra careful... I have certainly been guilty of this myself. I now try to allow more generous paths, in the belief that if they prove excessive, it is easy to allow the perennial plantings to encroach on the paths, or to slightly expand the annual plantings next year. I like this better than the alternatives of relocating perennials, or being forced to keep them overly small, or stepping on annuals..
Dan Boone wrote:The permaculture design books and study materials go on for endless chapters with detailed solutions to this basic problem, complete with geometry and equations. A ruthless condensation of that tedious wisdom -- most of which I confess I do not yet understand -- seems to boil down to:
1) Edges. Shape your forest patches so that light comes in from the exterior edges or in through planned clearings.
2) Tree spacing. A mature wild forest has an interlocked canopy that admits very little sun. You'll want to plant your trees further apart than that.
3) Choice of canopy trees. Some trees let in more sunshine between the leaves than others.
4) Shade tolerance in the understory plants. Plants lower in the layers need to be chosen for their ability to tolerate less than full sunshine.
Hope this helps!
Peter Ellis wrote:The tall trees take care of themselves on the sunlight issue. Shorter trees come in a couple of varieties - early succession type stuff that wants lots of sun and dies well at reclaiming open ground for forests, and the types that are adapted to growing under the canopy of the taller trees.
When planning out a food forest, you want to have in mind which kind ofnshorter trees you are working with and where you are planning to place them. If they need lots of sun, you probably want them on the edges. If they are understory trees by nature, then they should be fine in the interior.
There are also considerations for how dense is the shade from your overstory trees. Some are much more, or less, effective at blocking sunlight.
Plotting sun angles, figuring out placement to manage where how much shade falls and which plants to position in which shade levels. All parts of the puzzle of designing a food forest.
But, when it comes to the understory trees, you want to pick trees that like those shaded conditions. There definitely are such trees. Pawpaw leaps to mind, the young trees can be killed off by too much sun.


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From the desks of the Hotel News Now editorial staff:
- Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham lead North America room counts
- CBRE: US Hotel performance to continue gradual slowdown
- Quality Inn, a brand of firsts, marks 80th year
- Amid trade war with China, US sees decline in Chinese tourism
- Hotel industry at ‘crosshairs of extreme weather events’
Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham lead North American room counts: Census data from Hotel News Now parent company STR shows that the portfolios of three hotel companies—Marriott International, Hilton and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts—exceeded half a million rooms in North America.
As of 28 May 2019, the companies with the largest hotel room counts among the U.S., Canada and Mexico were Marriott (886,308 rooms), Hilton (703,238) and Wyndham (546,716), according to STR data. In the same region, two brands had more than 200,000 rooms in their existing supply—Hampton by Hilton (227,581) and Holiday Inn Express by InterContinental Hotels Group (203,792).
CBRE: U.S. hotel performance to continue gradual slowdown: Decelerating U.S. GDP and concentrated hotel supply are expected to contribute to a continued slowdown of U.S. hotel performance over the next three years, according to CBRE Hotels Research’s latest Hotel Horizons report.
A forecast by CBRE’s Econometric Advisors projects U.S. GDP will decelerate from a 2.2% increase in 2019 to increases of just 0.7% in 2020 and 1.4% in 2021. Annual growth rates for U.S. hotel demand are expected to follow, on a typical one-year delay, from a 2% increase in 2019 to 1.1% in 2020 and 0.1% in 2021.
On the issue of oversupply, meanwhile, CBRE adviser and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration professor Jack Corgel said: “While our forecasts for national supply growth from 2019 through 2022 exceed the STR long-run average of 1.8%, the new hotel rooms are concentrated in just a few markets. Therefore, most markets will realize limited increases in new competition and likely won’t experience a meaningful slowdown in performance.”
Quality Inn, a brand of firsts, marks 80th year: Choice Hotels International’s flagship midscale brand, Quality Inn, got its start as an association called Quality Courts, and in its 80-year history has led the way on many now-widespread hotel industry practices, reports Hotel News Now’s Danielle Hess.
As Quality Courts United in 1941, the brand became the first hotel chain in the U.S. Quality Inn is also known as an early adopter of wall-to-wall carpeting, non-smoking rooms and 24-hour front-desk service, sources said.
“We are trendsetters,” said Tim Shuy, VP of owner and portfolio strategy at Choice. Quality has “always changed with guest needs. It’s not like we are getting along to get along, we’re actually pushing the envelope for that segment. As (guest needs evolve), we evolve.”
Amid trade war with China, U.S. sees decline in Chinese tourism: National Travel and Tourism figures, based on U.S. Customs forms, show travel from China to the U.S. fell 5.7% in 2018 to 2.9 million visitors, the first year-over-year decline since 2003, the Associated Press reports.
“Friction between the U.S. and China is one reason for the slowdown,” the news agency reports. “The Trump administration first imposed tariffs on Chinese solar panels and washing machines in January 2018, and the trade war has escalated from there.”
The U.S. Travel Association fears the impact on Chinese travel to the U.S. will worsen if trade skirmishes between the two countries continue, according to a news release.
“The difficulty with trade skirmishes is that the unintended consequences are hard to predict, and we were concerned from the start that tensions with China might affect business and other travel to the U.S.,” said Tori Barnes, USTA’s EVP of public affairs and policy, in a statement.
“The irony is that travel exports have been the greatest success story of our trade relationship with China, generating a $30-billion surplus and accounting for 19% of all our exports to that country in 2017. The Chinese visit the U.S. in strong numbers, and they spend an average of $6,700 per trip—about 50% more than the average international visitor.”
Hotel industry at ‘crosshairs of extreme weather events’: As the U.S. enters another hurricane season, a report by Curbed asks: “Are waterfront hotels ready for climate change?” The answer seems to be no, and the risk to the hotel industry is tremendous.
STR’s VP of Lodging Insights Jan Freitag and Analytics Manager Claudia Alvarado laid out an extreme, but no longer impossible, scenario in a research article for Hotel News Now in March. “One in three hotels is located in an area that would be impacted by a surge of water six feet above the high-water mark,” Freitag wrote. “And, no surprise, 100% of hotels in Hawaii would be impacted by such an event.”
Rohit Verma, a professor at Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, told Curbed that hotel industry preparation should include “better risk management systems in place, better and more expansive insurance, buildings that can withstand climate risk, and even alternative revenue models when this unpredictable weather wipes out a big part of a hotel’s busy season.”
Compiled by Robert McCune.

domain: news


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As everyone has heard by now, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco became the NFL's highest-paid player when he agreed to a six-year, $120.6 million contract Friday. Here are more details about the record-setting deal that surfaced Saturday from the Baltimore Sun and CBS Sports:
Flacco will average $20.1 million over the life of the deal, which is slightly more than Drew Brees ($20 million).
Flacco will average $62 million over the first three years, which is $1 million more than Brees in the first three years of his deal.
Flacco's salary-cap number is $7 million, which is $12 million lower than the cap hit from the exclusive franchise tag. That means the Ravens have more money to spend on keeping their own free agents like safety Ed Reed and linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger.
Based on the $120.6 million deal, he will make an average of $168,908 each day of the regular season for the next six years.


This Porsche 911 E Rendering Is A Subtle Nod To The Classic 935
Could This 935-inspired rendering foreshadow the EV equivalent of the Porshe 911?by Dim Angelov, on LISTEN 02:20
We can all agree that 911 is the definitive Porsche model. It’s the car you think about when you hear Porsche. But in times where everyone is heading towards electrification, one has to ask, what the future of the Porsche 911 is. A rendering done by Sandor Boldog gives us a good idea of what might be the future EV equivalent of the Porsche 911.
The designer has done his utmost to stay in tune with 911’s design philosophy.
The electric motor is situated at the rear – an obvious tribute to the 911 - while the battery pack is located at the floor of the car, for obvious reasons (lower center of gravity).
A strange technical decision imposed by the designer is for the batteries to be air-cooled – something that obviously wouldn’t be sustainable nowadays, given the importance of battery management in an EV. Nevertheless, it’s a nice tribute to classic Porsche 911 models.
Of course, making the thing work is a task meant for the engineers. Design-wise, Sandor has created a perfect, slightly radical mix of current and classic Porsche design elements. While the front looks to be heavily inspired by the Taycan, other elements are an obvious throwback to the classic 935. If you continue looking you might even find a bit of Porsche 904 in there.
Obviously, turning an iconic model like the 911 into an EV is something of a taboo, which is why the company will do everything possible to keep that internal combustion engine hanging at the rear. A logical solution would be to hybridize the 911. In fact, by 2024, we are told that a 992 facelift would turn the current Porsche 911 Turbo S into a hybrid with well over 700 horsepower.
Although the 911 will never become a true EV, that’s not to say Porsche isn’t working on an all-electric equivalent. In fact, the word is the race for a 911 E design is “on” and Sandor Boldog’s work looks very convincing. We’ve already seen the Porsche Mission R and this rendering shares some elements with it. We’ll just have to wait and see what Porsche’s final decision is.


Earlier today, news broke that the Nintendo Switch Pro will reportedly feature a 7-inch OLED screen produced by Samsung. While the new Switch model may support 4K resolutions when docked, it will allegedly still run at 720p when in handheld mode.
Naturally, the internet did what it does best - it complained.
The Nintendo Switch certainly has some problems, even four years on: Joy-Con drift, a lack of themes, lacklustre online, and hardware limitations. But the 720p resolution isn't one of them - here's why.
Small screens and pixel density
As much as 4K is also a marketing buzzword (1440p will do you just fine), a potential Switch upgrade to 1080p would be exactly the same - a nice marketing line to slap on an advert.
With just a 7-inch display, the Nintendo Switch does not need the same resolutions as a monitor or TV. This all comes down to Pixels Per Inch and the Retina display calculation.
When looking at the Pixels Per Inch of the Nintendo Switch Pro's alleged OLED screen, it will have a PPI of 209.8. If the Switch Pro had a 1080p display, the PPI would be 314.7. In comparison, a 4K 21-inch monitor also has a PPI of 209.8.
Using this PPI, the Switch Pro's 720p screen has will become retina at 16 inches, compared to 11 inches if it was 1080p. If a screen is said to be 'retina', it has reached a threshold where the human eye cannot distinguish between the pixels at the viewing distance in question.
Essentially, the Switch Pro's 720p screen has the same PPI and retina distance as a 4K monitor, meaning that unless you hold the Switch Pro incredibly close to your eyes (which I would not recommend, for health reasons), you probably won't notice a difference.
READ MORE: Cloud gaming is not a “top priority” for Nintendo
Would a 1080p screen drain the battery?
Another complaint raised about the 1080p screen is that it would drain the battery much faster than a 720p. While there will be a slight difference between the two, it wouldn't be as big as has suggested.
What is more important is the type of screen used. LCD screens, like the one currently used in the Switch and Switch Lite consoles, spend lots of their power consumption on a backlight for all of its pixels. In comparison, pixels in an OLED display do not require a backlight as they are self-illuminating.
This means that the Switch Pro's OLED would probably offset any battery drainage from the 1080p screen. However, given the impressive imagery an OLED screen offers when in 720p compared to the Switch's LCD screen, this will be more than enough to justify picking up a new Switch when it eventually releases.
READ MORE: Niantic reveals Pokémon GO AR concept for Microsoft HoloLens
For more articles like this, take a look at our Nintendo and Opinion page.


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“Cilantro has numerous health benefits and is packed with nutrients such as fiber, iron, thiamine, zinc, folate, phosphorous, folate, vitamin K, and more,” says Ellis. Plus, it has a great aroma and flavor that screams summer! Cilantro may increase the production of digestive acids, which can help stimulate the gut to move waste out. A healthy digestive tract is key for weight loss, says Ellis.
Apples contain pectin, an ingredient that naturally slows digestion and encourages feelings of fullness. Studies show that eating a whole apple with your meal (as opposed to apple juice or applesauce) is a natural appetite suppressant, helping you consume fewer overall calories without feeling deprived. Sass likes using shredded apple in slaws and stir-fry, or mixing them into burger patties to add moisture.
To prep his patients for success, Dr. Seltzer tells them to plan around a large evening meal by eating a lighter breakfast and lunch—NBD since most people who eat a meal before bed tend to wake up feeling relatively full, he says. Research suggests balanced bedtime meals may also promote steady next-day blood sugar levels, which also helps with appetite regulation.
Yes, nuts are high in calories, but they are also a great source of protein, fiber, and the “good” (monounsaturated) fat -- all of which can help in weight loss. A small handful (10-to-12 nuts) of walnuts or almonds can actually help you “lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes,” says Somer. Try some in your salad, with a piece of fruit, or sprinkled in your cereal – oatmeal, of course.
“For one, fiber-packed foods are a great way to fill up and control hunger, mange blood glucose levels, and promote gastrointestinal health,” says Katherine Zeratsky R.D.N., L.D., at the Mayo Clinic. “Fruits and veggies are rich in fiber and mostly water, which makes them heavy (your stomach feels weight) and keeps you fuller longer, while being low in calories,” she adds.
Not much of a coffee drinker? Tea is also a natural diuretic, and types of herbal tea such as dandelion or fennel root can also lend a hand. In fact: When a recent study compared the metabolic effect of green tea (in extract) with that of a placebo, researchers found that the green-tea drinkers burned about 70 additional calories in a 24-hour period.
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In what is perhaps the biggest buzzkill of all time, sex doesn’t quite count as cardio or burn a significant amount of calories: Women burn about 3.6 per minute. “It’s still a good idea,” Dr. Seltzer says, citing the activity’s other benefits, like increasing the output of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which naturally reduce food cravings.
A squeeze of lemon adds instant freshness to everything from drinks to salads to fish without additional calories, making it an ideal way to flavor food if you're watching your weight. Plus, the pectin fiber in lemons can help fill you up and fight off hunger cravings. And while it hasn't been scientifically proven, some experts believe that the citrus fruit can aid in weight loss, as well.
Yogurt is protein-packed and full of probiotics, which are good for gut health and may help your weight-loss efforts. Your gut health can impact your weight, and eating more fiber and probiotics helps keep your gut bacteria happy, which can be good for your metabolism (read more about your gut-weight connection). Go Greek for more protein; plus, research from Appetite found that consumption of Greek yogurt was associated with reduced appetite and increased satiety. Just keep an eye on added sugars in flavored yogurts, which only add calories. Instead, use fresh fruit to sweeten plain yogurt.
At the point when practice is utilized with the goal of consuming fat, it is conceivable that green tea will add to effectively expanding your weight reduction. Health line reports different investigations in which exercisers who took a green tea separate supplement instead of a fake treatment could consume 17% more fat amid their exercises. While we've just said that the supplement type of green tea isn't the perfect shape, the outcomes do point to some viability.
What's more trustworthy than a diet built by experts from the Mayo Clinic? Created by doctors, nutritionists, and all-star chefs, the plan has a few phases: In the first, you should lose 6 to 10 pounds in two weeks. After that, you can expect to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week until you reach your goal weight. You're also given plenty of resources and advice to help you keep the weight off.
One of the most unexpected health benefits of matcha tea, is that drinkers experience a boost of energy throughout the day. In one study, researchers had thought that this was from the caffeine in matcha, but they found that it was actually the combination of matcha’s natural properties. Another recent study found that matcha even improved physical endurance by 24%.
This popular plan recently underwent a rebranding to create a more balanced program, changing its four-phase approach with the help of a science advisory board. The Atkins Diet is still low-carb, but you won't be chowing down on steak and eggs all the time to promote weight loss. Lean protein is still key, but there's more of a spotlight on fiber, fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats.
The fad military diet consists of low-calorie, odd food pairings such as bun-less hot dogs with banana, carrots, and broccoli. “Any diet like the military diet that severely limits the amount of calories you consume or eliminates one or more entire food groups puts any individual at risk for nutrient deficiencies,” says Kyle. “This can be more harmful than holding onto those 10 extra lbs you’re trying to lose.” (32)
With enticing names such as Green Tea Triple Fat Burner and Green Tea Slim, many people are drawn to supplements of green tea for weight loss. Consumers spent about $140 million on them in 2015, according to the latest data available from the Nutrition Business Journal. Meanwhile, tea, including green tea—made by steeping tea leaves or blending green tea powder in hot water—is the second most popular beverage worldwide, surpassed only by water.
He is, however, quick to point out that nobody is doing this with any harmful intentions. But he does stress that erroneous information has a tendency to be elevated into truths if it’s repeated sufficiently often. And when myths like these are as widespread as they are, they prevent the public and professionals from getting their priorities right in the fight against obesity.
Yes, you can eat dark chocolate to lose weight. A study among women with normal weight obesity (or “skinny fat syndrome”) who ate a Mediterranean diet that included two servings of dark chocolate per day showed a substantial reduction in waist size than when on a cocoa-free meal plan. Researchers attribute dark chocolate’s weight loss abilities to flavonoids, heart-healthy compounds in the sweet treat that the scientists at Harvard say can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and mortality. Like nuts, dark chocolate has also been found to induce satiety. When reaching for chocolate, just make sure you choose a bar with at least 70 percent cacao. Anything less contains more belly-bloating sugar and a significantly reduced flavonoid content.
“When clients come to me, many of them have been through the diet wringer. They’ve tried every fad and gimmick and, of course, they’ve failed to maintain long-term success. The key to weight loss is to never feel like you’re on a diet, because diets don’t work. If you feel deprived, you will never make it past a few weeks. The only way to achieve long-term weight loss is to learn to appreciate food as fuel and slowly replaced processed food that cannot properly energize the body with real food that can. After a while this will become second nature and won’t feel like a daily struggle.” — Laura Burak, MS, RD, CDN
Another popular mainstream diet, Dr. Barry Sears's plan is considered to be one of the first in the recent wave of "anti-inflammatory" plans. It sets you up for success by calibrating your plate to be a third protein and two-thirds carbohydrates (not starchy ones like potatoes, think colorful vegetables instead) with a little bit of MUFAs, or monounsaturated fatty acids (the good-for-you kind ) in the mix.
This study affirms, as many have before, that we can in fact cut calories and, at the same time, eat till we’re full and satisfied when we reduce the calorie density of the foods we eat. The research found that all three strategies to reduce calorie density led to a spontaneous reduction in ad libitum calorie intake, but the reductions in calorie intake were significantly greater with fat reduction.
The idea is that the fasting induces mild stress to the cells in your body, helping them become better at coping with such stress and possibly helping your body grow stronger. The verdict is still out regarding the diet’s long-term effectiveness with weight loss, according to a review of preliminary animal research published in January 2017 in Behavioral Sciences. (17)
Not far into the book they want you to listen to a infomercial. I learned that my doctor is a lying stinking jerk. Apparently he, and ALL doctors, know the secret of losing weight fast and easy but they, and their diet professional, do not want to share it or they will lose money when we get thin and healthy. I also learned that to lose weight I do not have to eat less or exercise more. It’s just bad science that taught us that rubbish…and again All doctors know this. The majority of overweight people are not overweight because of eating in excess or not exercising enough, it’s because they have chronic cellular inflammation.
Chapter 10 talks all about self love, and I agree it is extremely important to have. I lost a lot of respect though because it starts off saying how people who are overweight have a lack of self esteem and look down on themselves viewing themselves as inferior...um, you spent a portion of this book shaming obese people and making generalizations. You treated obese people differently and shamed them then wonder why they have low self esteem or don't feel like they fit in. This chapter meant a whole lot less to me coming from you after reading the rest of book. In this chapter while talking about self love, you spend the whole time blaming the person for their own low self esteem. Telling them that everyone has flaws (so you just told this person they are flawed, with the assumption you're talking about being overweight as a flaw because that's what the book is about and it's already obvious you look down on obese people based on your language throughout the book.)
Cheese isn’t traditionally thought of as something you consume to encourage weight management, but calcium-rich Parmesan, when eaten in moderation, can help stave off sugar cravings that can easily lead to weight gain. How does that work, you ask? The native Italian cheese contains the amino acid tyrosine (a building block of protein) which has been shown to encourage the brain to release dopamine without any unhealthy insulin spikes. What’s more? The combination of calcium and protein found in dairy products such as Parmesan has been found to increase thermogenesis—the body’s core temperature—and thus boost your metabolism.
Ready to step it up with your Fitbit tracker and set some new health and fitness goals? That’s awesome! Cue the fireworks! But if your ultimate goal is to lose weight, unfortunately, activity alone isn’t going to get you there—you also have to change what you eat. That does not mean you need to do a cleanse or detox. But it is possible to get a jump on weight loss, the smart and healthy way. Fitbit Dietitian Tracy Morris developed this kickstart one-week meal plan to help her clients see results, fast. Disclaimers: Please don’t try to lose more than 2 pounds per week, or dip below 1200 calories per day, which can compromise your metabolism. This is not a long-term plan, so you definitely don’t want to eat this way every week. But it’s a great way to kick off a weight loss goal, with specific meal and snack ideas, so you’ll see an initial drop—and be extra motivated to keep the momentum going this year.
I started by making very gradual changes like cutting out soda and limiting drive-thru meals and junk food. Over time, I started adding more fruit and veggies into my diet, and my taste buds started to change. I would actually crave a banana instead of a Snickers bar as a snack. And even though I was eating out fairly frequently, I made a deal with myself that I had to have at least two home-cooked meals a week. Eventually, I started cooking a majority of my meals at home.
Add a cup of low-fat milk, a part-skim mozzarella stick, or a half cup of low-sodium cottage cheese to breakfast, and you may have a belly-busting win. While lots of research links calcium with lower body weights, results from a 2014 study suggest that calcium-containing foods may reduce waist circumference in those genetically predisposed to carrying weight in their midsection.
Did you know turnips could help you shed belly fat? Their high vitamin C and phytochemical levels help detoxify your body—and too many toxins in the body can lead to fat accumulation around your waist, says Maleeff. At only 34 calories and 8 grams of carbohydrates per cup (vs. a potato’s 113 calories and 26 grams of carbohydrates), try making mashed turnips instead of mashed potatoes for a nutrient-dense, low-calorie alternative, suggests Maleeff.
A few months after her death, in January 2009, some family members and I decided to join Weight Watchers. Even though I knew I needed to get healthy, I was reluctant to go. But after starting to get into it, I became so much more aware of everything I was putting in my body. Although the program helped me at first, I decided that I wanted to start making changes to my diet and exercise on my own. I needed to change my lifestyle, and I knew that keeping track of points for the rest of my life wasn't going to work for me.
This double-blind clinical trial study was conducted on 42 obese and overweight individuals (25 < BMI < 35). Participants were selected from those, who referred to a nutrition clinic (Ahvaz, Iran). Participants were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were lack of physical activity, no smoking, no alcohol drinking, no usage of herbal supplements and vitamins, and lack of weight changes in the last 6 months. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, breastfeeding, use of drugs that effect metabolism, lipid and glycemic profile, eating disorder, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, thyroid, digestive, respiratory diseases, and cancer. Participants consuming more than 300 mg of caffeine daily (described as caffeine users) were excluded from the study (20). The level of physical activity was assessed weekly by phone. The subjects, who had moderate or various physical activities, were excluded from the study.
Losing weight on autopilot is appealing. But in the age of meal-delivery services (Blue Apron happens to be Whole 30-approved) — is there really a market need for gimmicky Nutrisystem? Our taste buds tell us no. You could easily recreate its no-prep diet by stocking up on breakfast bars, Lean Cuisine lunches, and signing up with the likes of HelloFresh for fast, healthy dinners. (Rough calculations tell us this approach would be equal or less than the monthly price of Nutrisystem.)
If you’re on a quest to jumpstart weight loss, why not kick your metabolism into overdrive by sneaking spicy foods into your diet. Capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne pepper that gives it its spiciness, revs up your metabolism in a way that’s conducive to weight loss. In fact, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, those who supplemented their diet with capsaicin consumed 200 fewer calories during their next meal.
A sprinkling of cinnamon could be all that’s standing in the way of you and those washboard abs. The sweet spice helps to regulate soaring blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production. There is some evidence to suggest that cinnamon extract also makes fat cells more responsive to insulin, which means they’re much less likely to hold on to excess energy, and far more likely to burn existing fat stores instead.

domain: medical


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There’s been a lot of spirited debate on the merits (or not) of “We Are One (Ole Ola),” the official FIFA World Cup Song, performed by Pitbull with guests Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian Claudia Leitte.
Reviews of the track run the gamut, with some calling it spirited, festive and catchy, and others deriding it for a lack of authentic Brazilian flavor, limited use of Lopez and Leitte, and overall triteness.
But all that is tangential. A hit is a hit, but “We Are One” just isn’t a hit, a fact made even more apparent by its marquee roster and huge promotion.
These are the facts:
“We Are One,” released in early April, has sold 105,000 downloads in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan, but has struggled, spending only three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Following its performance at the World Cup Opening ceremony, the track did spike to sell 22,000 downloads that week, its biggest-selling week.
And, the official “We Are One” video has been viewed 131 million times on Pitbull’s VEVO channel, nothing to scoff at.
These stats are far from a failure. But they trail the performance of “Waka Waka,” the 2010 World Cup song performed by Shakira with Freshlyground.
“Waka Waka” spent a total of 18 weeks on the Hot 100, selling 57,000 downloads its best week. Indeed, sales of the track never dipped below 31,000 on any given week of the World Cup. All told, “Waka Waka” went on to sell 1.8 million downloads in the U.S. alone. Even taking into consideration that only 274,000 of those downloads were sold during World Cup weeks, the Pitbull track is not near approaching those numbers.
And as far as the video goes, “Waka Waka” has nearly 800,000 million YouTube views, and at one point, it held the record for the most-viewed video on YouTube.
And then there’s the other Shakira track—“Dare (La la la),” billed as this year’s official World Cup anthem with a featuring from Carlinhos Brown. Shakira has yet to perform the track on any of the World Cup ceremonies, but it’s outpaced “We Are One” on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 53. And although it’s sold 78,000 downloads–less than “We Are One”—it’s poised to overtake those numbers, particularly with the looming closing ceremony performance featuring Shakira.
On the video end, “Dare” boasts 165 million views on Shakira’s official VEVO channel (the original, non World Cup version has 33 million views), far more than “We Are One.”
And here’s the real kicker: A massive 20% of the 774,000 people that rated “We Are One” (as of June 23) gave it a thumbs down. Meantime, the dislike rate for the “Dare” video sits at a low 6%, same as with “Waka Waka.”
All of which begs the question: Why?
Quite simply, it’s just not a very good song.
“We Are One” has no chorus, no hooks, and lacks a memorable melody to sing along to.
Neither soccer nor the tried and true pairing of Pitbull and Lopez (Whose “On The Floor” is a showstopper), have been able to push this track to the next level.
Many critics have panned “We Are One” because it’s not “Brazilian” enough; because it’s meant to celebrate one of the most musically rich countries in the planet with pseudo Brazilian elements and only the token participation of a Brazilian artist.
But that thoroughly misses the point. Beyond the fact that “Waka Waka” was panned for exactly the same reason—not representing South Africa adequately—World Cup songs are not meant to reflect on a single country and their success really predicates upon global acceptance.
Ricky Martin’s “The Cup of Life,” perhaps the most emblematic World Cup song of all, has nary a French element in it, save for “Allez, allez, allez.” But not a peep was uttered about the lack of French savoir fair, because “Cup” was such a monumentally kick-ass song.
“Waka Waka” wasn’t quite up to par, but its video, featuring Shaki shimmying with Freshlyground and cameos of all the soccer players that mattered, was irresistible.
“We Are One” tries way too hard, covering up its flaws in the video with an overdose of Brazilian flags(to the detriment of all other countries), Brazilian drums and scantily-clad Brazilian dancers. The soccer shots are a generic collage of plays.
“Dare,” instead, smartly emulates the “Waka Waka” aesthetic, prompting viewers to look out for their favorite players in what is finally a way cooler visual experience.
Of course, not all World Cup songs become hits.
Remember Anastacia’s “Boom” from 2002, or Il Divo and Toni Braxton’s “The Time of Our Lives” from 2006? We don’t either.
And while hindsight is 20-20, looking back, “One World” was a gamble. You have two huge superstars—three if you count Leitte’s clout in Brazil—and nine writers vying for relevance in a single song while attempting to adequately represent a host country synonymous with both soccer and music.
But second-guessing has never been a friend of hit-making.
Years ago, Pitbull scored his first mega radio hit, “I Know You Want Me,” by cleverly sampling—solo–“75 Street Brazil,” a track by Italian DJ Nicola Fasano featuring Pat Rich.
It was a cornucopia of styles and nationalities and beats, but it worked.