Take one standard trombone, combine with a miniature video camera, and hey presto - you have a online video viewed by over 700,000 people.

The video features a middle-aged man playing a trombone, on the end of which he has fitted a go-pro, a miniature video camera commonly used by extreme sports enthusiasts.

To satisfyingly comic effect, the musician's face looms back and forth as he moves the slide on his instrument.

Since being uploaded to YouTube on Friday, the video has been viewed over 700,000 times.

Video courtesy of YouTube / CDMVette

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It's that time of year when people start trying to shed their Christmas weight. The 5:2 diet isn't easy, but it allows (a little) pleasure in food.

Food writing does not lend itself to weight loss. There are recipes to test, puddings to try, restaurants to visit. It’s work, honestly, and I love it. But it does test the waistband. Proper weight loss takes weeks to accomplish, and calorie counting day in day out is not only unfeasible, but for anyone who loves to eat as much as I do, it’s also unbearable. Food is not simply about hunger, it’s a sensual joy. Take that away and life looks pretty bleak.

But when I realised I had put on nearly two stone in the past decade, I knew that something had to give, for my health, my vanity and my wallet. So when I read about the 5:2 diet, featured in an article by Dr Michael Mosley in the Telegraph in August, I knew he’d hit upon something important. The premise is: eat normally for five days, then limit oneself to 500 cals (600 for men) for two non-consecutive days a week. Foodies have been turning to this diet in droves, including myself; I’ve been on the 5:2 diet for more than a month. The fasting days are tough. It makes me unspeakably bad tempered. Cutting out booze is a trial too. Just this week the World Cancer Research Fund issued warnings that alcohol calories are the downfall of many a diet. Oh dear. I calculate that an entire bottle of white wine has 510 calories, so I’ve allowed an occasional 75 calories for a tiny 50ml glassful, sipped very slowly.

So far I’ve lost half a stone – nothing remarkable, except I’ve managed to do that over Christmas and New Year, and I haven’t missed out on any of the goodies. These recipes, high in flavour but low in calories, help keep me sane while using only half the daily calorie allowance. I shall return to this later, and hope the photograph you see of me will be (almost) half the size.

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Christopher Parr of Parr Interactive wrote the following article for Madison Magazine in 2001, defining the top 10 things, the secrets, you really need to know when creating a successful corporate or small business web site. He recently rediscovered the article — and is publishing it as a 10 year retrospective on online marketing and web design. Before Facebook, Twitter and Klout, revisit 2001:

Creating a web presence? Madison, Wisconsin-based web designer and marketer Christopher Parr offers the inside scoop on what you should know — and what you should avoid.

1. Know your audience. Create a site for the customer, not what someone in your company or an agency “thinks” the site should say or do. Also, consider the new visitor — look at your site with this fresh perspective — and explain who you are and what you offer at a brief glance.

2. Simplify the site. Make it fast and easy to navigate. The colors and images should naturally flow from section to section. Be intuitive.

3. Update frequently. No one will return to your site if the content never changes. Give potential customers a reason to come back for more. From their view, a stale site reflects the nature of your company.

4. You get what you pay for. Not all designers and developers are created equal. Put the money into it and build a site of value that will last. Consider it an investment.

5. Not everyone needs a dot com. If you’re a liquor store or a local dentist, sure, create a brief site that includes directions, phone numbers and an e-mail address. Have an “about us” page. But there’s no reason to build an $80,000 wiz-bang site with Flash animation and distracting bells and whistles. Don’t be talked into something you don’t need.

6. Be prepared for a long and bumpy ride. Regardless of what anyone promises, it’s not easy to create an online presence — especially an e-commerce site. From selecting Internet service providers to working with developers or implementing consumer service software, the process may take twice as long as expected.

7. No presence is better than a bad presence. As customers compare sites and services — a quickie site created by your nephew with Microsoft Front Page might be a turnoff. You may be the best in your field, but first impressions are everything.

8. Cruise the competition. You might be able to catch their mistakes before you make them online. Learn by their strengths and weaknesses.

9. Get the facts. You may go with a developer because you admire one of the sites they created — but the designer who created the site is no longer there. Or, perhaps they just host the site — someone else designed it. Ask who’s working on your project; find out skills and experience; call their clients and ask if they delivered as promised.

10. You’re online. Now what? With the glut of Web sites, it’s hard to get noticed. Be proactive; include your URL on billboards, letterheads, business cards and ads. Avoid blowing your entire marketing budget on that Superbowl ad. Submit the site to search engines and directories, promote it on newsgroups and initiate cross-promotions with other sites. Buy banner ads on Yahoo or purchase keywords on GoTo. Provide excellent customer service and deliver as promised. Basically, you’ve just begun.

Christopher Parr, CEO of Parr Interactive, is an award-winning writer and online marketing strategist. Since 1995, the Madison, Wisconsin-based internet pioneer and marketer has launched numerous successful web projects, viral videos and online marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies. In addition to creating blogging and buzz marketing platforms, services include web design, social media marketing, digital marketing and SEO in Madison and Milwaukee (WI). Visit www.parrinteractive.com to learn more.

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Just for relaxation: John F. Kennedy on the 62 ft Manitou Yacht by Sparkman & Stephens. The yacht was dubbed the “Floating White House.” It was named after Manitou Passage in Lake Michigan — “Manitou” means “Spirit of the Water.”

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A growing number of Americans are living to age 100. Nationwide, the centenarian population has grown 65.8 percent over the past three decades, from 32,194 people who were age 100 or older in 1980 to 53,364 centenarians in 2010, according to new Census Bureau data.

In contrast, the total population has increased 36.3 percent over the same time period.

Centenarians in the United States are considerably different from the overall population. Here's a look at some of the characteristics of people who live to age 100:

[In Pictures: States Where People Live the Longest.]

Female gender. It is overwhelmingly women who live to age 100. In 2010, 82.8 percent of centenarians were female. For every 100 females age 100 or older, there are only 20.7 males the same age. Females also make up 61.9 percent of those in their 80s and 72.2 percent of people in their 90s. "We know that women are more social than men. Other studies have found that staying socially connected predicts greater life expectancy," says Gary Small, a professor on aging and director of the UCLA Longevity Center in Los Angeles, who is not affiliated with the Census Bureau report. "If you are social, it may reduce stress levels because you can talk about your feelings and things that stress you out and it seems to help many people. If you need a ride to the doctor or you fall, they can take you to the hospital or help you find the best doctor."

Less diversity. Centenarians are considerably less diverse than the overall U.S. population. In 2010, some 82.5 percent of centenarians were white, versus 72.4 percent of the total population. Black or African Americans were unique in that their proportion of the centenarian population (12.2 percent) is about the same as their percentage of the total population (12.6 percent). Asians made up 2.5 percent of the centenarian population, while they make up 4.8 percent of the total population. And Hispanics represent 5.8 percent of centenarians, but 16.3 percent of the population.

Living with others. Just over a third of both female and male centenarians lived alone in their own home in 2010, but the majority of the oldest citizens live with others. "As people get older, things in life happen—like you might become a widow or you might have a disability, and because of those circumstances, living arrangements often change," says Amy Symens Smith, chief of the age and special populations branch at the Census Bureau. Centenarian females (35.2 percent) were more likely to live in a nursing home than males the same age (18.2 percent). Centenarian males are the most likely to be living with others in a household (43.5 percent), compared to just 28.5 percent of centenarian females.

[Read: How to Finance Life Until 100.]

City living. A large majority of the oldest U.S. citizens live in urban areas. "As age increases, the percentage living in urban areas also increases," says Smith. Some 85.7 percent of centenarians lived in urban areas in 2010, compared with 84.2 percent of those in their 90s, 81.5 percent of those in their 80s, and 76.6 percent of those in their 70s. "Living in the city, you have a lot more mental stimulation and the symphony and better doctors and hospitals and more social networking," says Small. "There are more resources, and there is better transportation."

Located in the Northeast or Midwest. States with the largest populations generally have the most centenarians. California has the largest number of centenarians (5,921), followed by New York (4,605), Florida (4,090), and Texas (2,917). Alaska has the fewest residents age 100 and older (40). Wyoming (72), Vermont (133), and Delaware (146) are also among the states with the fewest centenarians.

The Northeast and Midwest have proportions of centenarians that are higher than the national average of 1.73 per 10,000 people, while the West and South have below-average proportions of centenarians. "There's a lot of stuff going on in local areas, including access to medical care, diet, exercise, the culture, risk-taking, and more smoking," says Linda Waite, a sociology professor and director of the Center on Aging at the University of Chicago. "People in the Northeast tend to be more highly educated, and education is associated with a longer life expectancy." North Dakota is the only state with more than 3 centenarians for every 10,000 people in the state. Other states where centenarians make up a relatively large portion of the population include South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Three western states have less than one centenarian for every 10,000 people: Alaska, Utah, and Nevada.

[Read: How to Live to 100.]

The proportion of centenarians in the United States is smaller than that of many other developed countries. For example, for every 10,000 people, there are 1.92 centenarians in Sweden, 1.95 in the United Kingdom, and 2.70 in France. And Japan has 3.43 centenarians per 10,000 people, beating even our longest-lived state, North Dakota.

SEE ALSO: These are the 10 best states to retire in >

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A goat and three chickens were decapitated in an apparent sacrifice and dumped into Biscayne Bay where they washed up behind a luxury South Beach condominium to the horror of residents.

"I don't understand this -- the mentality is savage," said Kathryn Bookstaver, an 11-year resident of The Floridian condominium on West Avenue where the animals were found along the seawall. "It's disgusting."

Bookstaver and her neighbors, also faulted Miami Beach officials who left the animals to rot throughout Saturday and into Sunday morning.

A spokesman for Miami Beach police, Bobby Hernandez, said the department didn't get involved because the dead animals didn't appear to be sacrificed as a threat directed against any particular individual.

"If this happened on private property and appeared to be targeting someone, we would investigate," Hernandez said.

"Unfortunately, this kind of thing does happen around here with all of the different cultures," he said.

The dead animals were finally attended to by Richard Couto, a founder and investigator of the Animal Recovery Mission, a nonprofit that helps expose and stop animal-abuse cases. He hauled the animals out of the water and waited for the sanitation department to arrive and remove the animals.

Couto said the animals appeared to have been killed as part of a Santeria or Palo Mayombe rite. Santeria, which blends West African religious beliefs with Roman Catholicism, revolves around the worship of saints. Palo Mayombe, a more obscure religion, is associated with petitioning the spirits of the dead.

Animal sacrifice is legal, protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Since it can't stop the sacrifices, he said, his group tries to ensure that the animals are treated humanely. But sometimes, before they're sacrificed, the creatures are hog-tied or kept in plastic bags or sweltering pens, he said. That's a crime because it's unlawful to abuse animals, though it's legal to sacrifice them in a religious ceremony.

The dead animals were found blocks from the section of South Beach which has been closed off to traffic to host Notre Dame and Alabama fans in town for Monday's Orange Bowl game. Just blocks away, in an unrelated South Beach incident Saturday, police arrested a career criminal who shot and killed an acquaintance.

Couto said ARM has helped investigate and respond to animal-sacrifice cases throughout Miami-Dade County, from Hialeah to Miami Beach.

Nelson Reyes, a police officer who teaches a Miami police course in Afro-Caribbean religious practices, said the South Beach sacrifice could be related to Haitian Voodoo. He said it's almost impossible to know more about the particulars of this sacrifice because other items associated with the ritual were washed away.

Generally, Reyes said, decapitated chickens are associated with a "cleansing" ritual and decapitated goats, rams or other four-legged animals are a sign of a spell cast for a beneficial effect.

Reyes said signs of Afro-Caribbean religious sacrifices can be found throughout Miami-Dade, from the Miami River to the train tracks at Flagler Avenue to the downtown courthouse to Sewell Park in Miami, where supplicants place apples near palm trees.

Except for the location of the animals in South Beach, "this really isn't that big of a deal," Reyes said.

But the sight and smell of four dead animals in the turquoise waters of the bay right near a condominium's pool was a shock for residents of The Floridian. They were also outraged that the police, animal services and the sanitation department allowed the animals to rot for more than a day.

"You don't throw plastic bottles and garbage in the ocean," said Bookstaver as she walked her adopted Lahsa Apso dog, Lexi, on Sunday morning. "Why would someone do this to animals?" ___

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I read an article a few months ago about a new niche group of clients for interior designers — single and divorced men looking to create more stylish living spaces.

Bedroom ideas for single guys >

The standard-issue down comforter, Star Wars and Bob Marley posters, and thrift store sofas are being traded in for something a little more sophisticated. My own single brother asked for art for Christmas, so it looks like some growing up has happened.

My mother and I recently set out to create a sophisticated and stylish bedroom for my bro, and here's what we came up with. — Sarah from The Estate of Things

Bedroom ideas for single guys >

More From Houzz:

• Browse 50K Bedroom Photo Ideas
• Be Inspired By Thousands Of Bedroom Products
• Find A Designer In Your Area
• A Bedroom For Both Of You

Room design ideas from Thom Filicia Inc.

Thom Filicia has a way with casual and modern rooms. This is a great example of the mix of neutral, muted tones in what I consider to be a masculine space.

Check It Out >

Macausland's Blanket: $284 (GBP 175)

I keep seeing the wool camp blanket over and over again. I love its homespun appeal mixed with a classic stripe.

Check It Out >

Courtney Bed: $599.99

The marriage of upholstery and wood on this bed will stand the test of time.

Check It Out >

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There's no end to our quest for self-improvement — the urge to do everything better, smarter, faster, cooler.

In this spirit, we've compiled our 24 best packing tips and tricks — some old standbys, some new hacks — to get you from A to B and back to A with a little more spring in your step and a little less sag in your shoulders.

1. The Golden Rules:
- Carry-on instead of checking so that you can exit the airport immediately after reaching your destination.
- Check in online 24 hours before a flight, not only to save time at the airport but also to get a better seat

2. What to Wear on the Journey: Something cozy but not schleppy. Translation: Instead of sweats, try cashmere lounge pants/leggings under a comfortable dress or comfy jeans and a sweater.

3. Bag It Up:Air-compression packing bags are miraculous, squeezing air out of clothes, giving you more room in the suitcase. Giant Ziploc bags work, too. Just roll them tight. We use Ziplocs in various sizes for everything from toiletries to wet swimming gear and always pack a few extras.

4. Head to Toes: Check that you've packed everything you need by mentally dressing yourself from shoes and socks up to goggles and hats.

5. Bling: Leave pricey watches and jewelry behind. If you aren't prepared to lose it, don't pack it. Buy a cheap Swatch for traveling and costume jewelry for show. (Bauble Bar is a great resource.)

6. Accessorize: Unless you know you are going to be causal, pack something small that can make any outfit smarter. You never know when you'll need to look sharp. For men, an uncreasable silk knotted tie. For women, a fancy scarf.

7. Shoe trees: Pack rolled socks into your shoes (saves space, keeps shoes shaped). Separate shoes in bags and line them along the sides of the suitcase.

8. Outfits: Think about the number of outfits you need and subtract one. You still won't wear everything you pack.

9. Charge it: Charge all phones, cameras, iPads, and laptops before getting to an airport. If you do get delayed, you won't have to stalk outlets, which are always too few and far between. Rokit Boost makes a protective iPhone case that doubles battery life.

10. Adapters: Carry the adapter for your destination — a multi-plug version is the best. If you're sneaky — or are traveling to a problematic area — bring a double plug so you can share outlets with others.

11. Dopp Kit Essentials: Give up squeezing your favorite face wash into tiny tubes. Buying travel-size items of your favorite products — and laundry detergent — and keeping them at the ready in a Ziploc under your sink might seem indulgent, but it will save time, product, frustration, and your skin. 3Fl.Oz. is our favorite source for these.

In a pinch: Pack nearly empty toiletries, and leave them behind. Or just buy certain toiletries at your destination. Why shlep a big can of shaving cream when Gillette is universal?

12. Rx: Make sure you have enough medicine to cover unforeseen delays. (Remember the volcano ash cloud?) And don't forget condoms.

Visit Fathom for 24 more packing tips >

Fathom can also be found on Twitter @FathomWayToGo, or sign up for the newsletter here.

SEE ALSO: 10 Items That Will Make Your Next Red-Eye Flight A Snap

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It is generally accepted that those who overindulge in stilton and roast potatoes during December will want to diet come January.

By the time the twelfth day rolls around most of us are feeling the effects of weeks of scarfing canapes and binge-eating mince pies compounded by excessive consumption of booze.

Unless you're the sort of person who can shrug off any hangover and remains untroubled by an expanding waistline, you'll probably have had the D-word at the back of your mind for a while.

Don't do it. Or at least, if you feel the need to be healthier, don't go all out for one of the extreme diets or detoxes that abound at this time of year; instead try to ease yourself into something more balanced.

I'm not anti diet (I have been dabbling with the eminently doable 5:2 this year) and I'm certainly not against healthy eating, I just think it's futile to start a strict weight-loss regime in January.

The main reason for this is the weather. We're in deepest, darkest winter. The cold and grey is relentless. We can go for weeks without seeing the sun.

This is no time for asceticism: we need something to cheer us up. Even if you feel as though you've stored up enough body fat to see you through until spring, this is not the right time to deprive body and soul of fuel-rich comfort foods.

Salads may taste wonderfully worthy, but on their own they are not enough to sustain. I have no taste for wheatgrass or alfalfa. I feed my family with healthy doses of stodge balanced with salads and greens (which are kept firmly on the side).

Bring on the suet puddings, thick soups and curries, stews with dumplings, bean hotpots enriched with animal fats and some hefty cheese / carb combos.

Secondly, even if you are really careful about what you buy in December, the chances are you will be lucky enough to have leftovers. They're the best thing about Christmas and mine will last beyond January. This isn't just cold meats, pots of dripping and Christmas cake, but is also the result of the annual Waitrose New Year's Eve discount shopping scrum.

My fridge ends up filled with pâté and terrine (bought for the earthenware ramekins) and potted stilton. No diet is worth giving up a January filled with tasty morsels on hot buttered toast.

Finally, there's the cost. January is a time when we need to tighten our belts in more ways than one. Most diets, apart from the dreadful cabbage soup diet, rely on a lot of very expensive ingredients, from the leaner types of protein to all those imported "health" foods. And this isn't just about the pocket – the same ingredients discourage nose to tail eating and actively encourage eating out of season, which may provide the palate with variety but does nothing for your carbon footprint.

If there was a diet (the Nordic diet comes close) which focused on creating healthy, appealing dishes from our winter vegetables instead of depending on produce that is imported or comes from fuel-guzzling heated polytunnels, I'd almost be tempted to try it.

So I say we should leave the serious dieting to when the weather is warmer, diet–friendly produce is abundant and we're more likely to sustain it (the same applies to starting exercise). If you really must make new year's resolutions around food, be more realistic.

There are plenty of things you can do: vow to use up all your leftovers, and cut down on meat and processed food. These, at least, you've a hope of keeping.

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

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Philippe Delgrange's Le Bilboquet changed the restaurant game when it opened its doors back in the '90s.

One part French bistro, one part trendy hotspot, the E. 63rd street establishment has done an exceptional job setting itself apart from many of the other UES restaurants that have come and gone in the past few years.

With the help of nightlife aficionados, The Koch brothers and Aymeric Clemente, Le Bilboquet took the concept of typical NYC brunches a step further by introducing the Saturday brunch.

The very Euro trend of nightlife-meets-daytime dining has since become a staple in some of the city's most popular spots.

Now that the lease on the original Le Bilboquet location has run out, Delgrange has officially closed the doors of his intimate restaurant that had become such an UES fixture.

Apart from the new NYC location set to open in early 2013, we also look forward to the two new Bilboquets, opening in Rio and Sao Paolo.

Click through to remember our time spent at Le Bilboquet over the years >

SEE ALSO: Industry Insiders Pick The 8 Best Bars In New York City

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It’s the start of a new year and a natural time to try to do things better.

Although I don’t make resolutions, I do jot down a list of goals that I’d like to achieve at the start of each year.

So maybe I do make resolutions. (Are goals resolutions?)

However you want to define it, I’m always up for being a better me.

And if you, too, are on a quest for self-improvement, there are some new books offering inspiration, motivation and advice to get you on the right path, whether you’re trying to eat better, lose weight, get in shape or save money.

Eat Better in 2013 

Do you subsist on takeout meals or frozen food because you can’t cook—or are just plain lazy? Well, you don’t have to be a disaster in the kitchen for the rest of your life.

Author Timothy Ferriss, whom you might have seen on The Dr. Oz Show, will bring out your inner Julia Child—or Anthony Bourdain, depending on your taste—with his revolutionary book The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life ($21.70 at Books-A-Million).

Billed as “the cookbook for people who don’t buy cookbooks,” The 4-Hour Chef will teach you everything from how to chop an onion to how to poach an egg. But this book is about much more than cooking. It’s a fascinating exploration of how accelerated learning works, and it might even give you the confidence to master skills in other areas in which you are lacking.

Or maybe learning how to poach an egg will be enough for you. (Get Books-A-Million coupons.) People who make radical changes in the way they eat tend to slip right back into bad habits. But nutritionist Ellie Krieger, host of the Cooking Channel’s Healthy Appetite, takes a slow and steady approach in the revised and updated version of her book Small Changes, Big Results: A Wellness Plan with 65 Recipes for a Healthy, Balanced Life Full of Flavor ($10.88 at Amazon).

The 12-week wellness plan outlined in the book recommends making a series of small, gradual changes, like replacing refined grains with whole grains.

Krieger’s patient and sensible approach to eating better takes the stress out of it and makes it seem possible. The book also features easy-to-make recipes for dishes ranging from Pita Pizzas to Whole-Grain Rotini with Tuscan Kale. Yum! (Dine on savings with Amazon discounts.)

Get Fit in 2013

Body by You: The You Are Your Own Gym Guide to Total Women’s Fitness (on sale for $11.68 at Target), written by Mark Lauren and Joshua Clark, is a practical workout guide depicting more than 100 exercises that you can perform at home without machines or weights. I’m talking basics like lunges and squats.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Lauren, he is a man fully capable of whipping you into shape. In addition to being a personal trainer for civilians, this fitness guru is a military physical training specialist for Special Operations. (Save $5 off orders of $50 or more with Target discounts.)

Another way to get fit: walking. Michele Stanten, formerly the fitness director at Prevention magazine, has created a daily walking program that will have you slimmed down and in better shape in just three months. The regimen is detailed in Walk Your Butt Off! Go from Sedentary to Slim in 12 Weeks With this Breakthrough Walking Plan ($12.51 at Barnes & Noble), a book Stanten wrote alongside Sarah Lorge Butler and Leslie Bonci.

Aimed at beginners as well as experienced walkers who aren’t seeing the results they want, Walk Your Butt Off! is available for pre-order now and will be released on February 26. (Prices are slim with Barnes & Noble sales.)

Get Your Finances Under Control in 2013

You’ll probably wish that I had told you about this book before you went on that Christmas-shopping binge. But according to The Good Life for Less: Giving Your Family Great Meals, Good Times, and a Happy Home on a Budget ($10.95 at Books-A-Million), you don’t have to live beyond your means to enjoy life. Written by Amy Allen Clark and Jana Murphy, the book shows readers how to set a budget and stick to it while also demonstrating how to save on just about every purchase and prepare inexpensive but satisfying meals for your family.

What’s nice about Clark is that she doesn’t talk down to people who are struggling with money issues. In fact, she and her husband found themselves in financial hot water just before the birth of their first child, and that’s what made Clark realize it was time to learn to live on less.

If you routinely leave the grocery store thinking you’ve paid way more than you should have for your weekly meals, check out the Budget Savvy Diva’s Guide to Slashing Your Grocery Bill by 50% or More: Secret Tricks and Clever Tips for Eating Great and Saving Money ($9.35 at Amazon). Author Sara Lundberg writes the Budget Savvy Diva blog, and she’s an expert when it comes to slashing food costs.

Her book, which is available from Amazon for pre-order and ships February 5, provides a ton of useful advice, including how to get the most out of coupons and where to find unexpected bargains in your local grocery store. There are also dollar-stretching recipes to help you maximize your food budget.

SEE ALSO: 13 money lies you should stop telling yourself by age 30 >

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Our daily dream home is a duplex today, but it is still worthy of the “dream” mantle. The Infinity Duplex in San Francisco, California, currently on the market for $3,200,000, offers amazing views of the city and the San Francisco Bay. Infinity Duplex Residence offers an enviable 1,800 square feet of interior living space making it one of the largest residences in the development. Two private sky terraces – spanning approximately 470 square feet – open the home from both levels to the surrounding Bay and Sky. With significant custom improvements to architecture and design, Duplex Residence 39C has a luxurious floor plan, redesigned bathrooms, expanded kitchen, substantial built-in cabinetry as well as sophisticated digital infrastructure systems for lighting, media, window shade and climate control.

Official Listing.

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Montreal-based designers St Ely have created a sofa made up of three interchangeable modules with sliced-off corners. St Ely is a collaboration between industrial designer Eugenie Manseau and architect Hubert Pelletier. The seating has been launched by Lerival, an American design house that connects furniture design with architecture.

“We think the back view is as important as the front or side view. By expressing the fold on the back side we created a formal detail that is coherent with the front view and that animates the back side,” Pelletier said.

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Buckingham Palace seeks General Catering Assistant (Wash Up): jump to it, lads, there's love to be had amid the lather

Come on, chaps! Where’s your sense of chivalry? The £14,200-a-year salary may be modest, and the requirement to travel for three months of the year irksome, but the opportunity to do the Queen’s washing-up, flitting between royal residences in pink rubber gloves, is too good to miss. Every unemployed male in Britain should apply to serve their Sovereign in this humble but necessary role.

The official job title is General Catering Assistant (Wash Up), according to the advertisement on the Royal family website, but that does not do justice to the task. Decanters at Buckingham Palace, saucepans at Sandringham, fish knives at Balmoral, a Crown Derby dinner service at Windsor Castle after a state banquet for the President of France…

It will be unglamorous work. If applicants imagine they will be exchanging tittle-tattle with Her Majesty about the 2.30 at Kempton Park, they will be disappointed. They will be toiling in the shadows, like skivvies in Downton Abbey, and their closest brush with greatness might be a fork used by the Duke of Edinburgh to prong a chipolata. But that should not deter men from applying.

As the post is open to both sexes, they will face stiff competition and probably a tough interview, testing their knowledge of soap suds and scouring pads to its limits. But they should not let that discourage them.

For no menial task – not vacuuming, not ironing, not scrubbing the bathroom floor, not putting out the bins – has quite the cachet of washing-up. And it is a man’s job, paradoxically, because it is not generally thought of as a man’s job. The male washer-up explodes social stereotypes to devastating effect.

Ask any woman, and she will tell you that there are few more winning sights than a man in an apron bent over a sink scraping the last spot of grease off a frying-pan. He cuts a heroic figure, with his sleeves rolled up and his forearms glistening with Fairy liquid. Is it any wonder that history fails to record a single known instance of a wife murdering her husband while he was doing the washing-up?

All the evidence points in the opposite direction. Many a romance has blossomed amid dirty crockery, with the air scented with lavender-flavoured washing-up liquid. With the right cast-list, the kitchen sink can be the sexiest setting in the world, pregnant with possibilities.

As I learnt when I was still a love-hungry teenager, nothing is more likely to endear you to the female of the species than the magic words “Can I help with the washing-up?”. Many was the mother of prospective girlfriends whose opinion of me skyrocketed after I put in my 10-minute shift at the sink after a party. My competitors were still slumped on the sofa, comatose, while I won hearts and minds with a simple dishcloth.

It is a practice I have maintained in adulthood, leaving bankers and lawyers trailing in my wake as I bound forward to assist, doted on by appreciative hostesses. The bankers and lawyers think the work is beneath them. They do not understand female psychology.

The fact is that men and women put a different value on domestic chores, as John Gray argued in his 1992 bestseller Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, which became a bible of the metrosexual movement.

One of Gray’s theories was that couples keep scorecards, awarding each other points, but according to different principles. Thus a man will award himself 20 points for buying a woman an expensive present, but only one point for helping her lift a heavy bag; whereas the woman will give the man the same number of points for each action.

By the same principle, a man offering to do the washing-up, and doing it without breaking anything, will earn more brownie points in 10 minutes than he will score by blowing £500 on jewellery.

Men are always encouraged to do more cooking, and millions rise to the challenge every year. But if they realised the value of washing-up as a life skill, oiling the wheels of family harmony, they would give it priority. It ought to be a GCSE, like operating a washing-machine and remembering to put the loo-seat down.

I do not know who will get the post of General Catering Assistant (Wash Up) at Buckingham Palace. It might be a female applicant who is a wizard with a Brillo pad. But if a man does land the job, he is in for the adventure of a lifetime, an Adonis of the kitchen sink.

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Alexander McQueen, the fashion house created by the late designer and built upon a reputation for staging subversive fashion extravaganzas, held its menswear show in London for the first time on Tuesday evening.

Models with severe slicked-down hair, some wearing slightly unnerving clear plastic masks, small gold hoop earrings in one ear, walked through a series of adjoining rooms with dilapidated ceilings, as an eerie soundtrack rattled the windowpanes.

The collection for autumn/winter 2013, a subversion of the classicism of Savile Row, took in traditional menswear motifs such as pinstripe and velvet, and remixed them so that the stripes darted in various directions across jackets or coats.

Other suit jackets featured contrasting fabric panels. Statement suiting in head-to-toe patterns, reminiscent of stained glass windows, and a long black jacket featuring gold brocade, were among the most show-stopping of the night.

Suit jackets featured the trademark McQueen pagoda shoulder, which creates a striking and strong silhouette, while trousers were cropped short on the ankles with a slight flare, and teamed with leather brogue slippers and pinstripe socks.

Shirt collars were long and pointed, adding strict drama, while silk polka dot dressing gowns were layered with velvet tailoring for a spin on dandyish eveningwear.

McQueen, who died in 2010, trained on Savile Row, so the show was a fitting tribute to his career arc.

Creative director Sarah Burton, who created the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress, said: "It feels right to focus on Savile Row for our first ever Alexander McQueen menswear show in London, especially since we opened our menswear store on Savile Row at the end of last year." She added: "This collection is full of tailoring traditions and subtle references to English style."

Earlier in the day, the outdoors, nature and camping equipment were cited as references for the latest men's collection by Scottish designer Jonathan Saunders, which cemented his reputation as the capital's lead colourist. Orange— quickly establishing itself as the hot colour for next season — appeared alongside earthy rust, mossy green and signature bright turquoise. A V-neck top with gathered bottom that bled pinks into burgundy was a stand out piece.

With men increasingly embracing more vivid colour, these clothes look likely to sell well.

The current collection for spring/summer made its debut on the Selfridges men's floor this month, underlining the success of this arm of the Saunders business.

Brimming with modern shapes, such as his snug bomber jackets, which are now a fixture in fashion circles, Saunders seems to have a knack for creating slick clothes that are interesting but without being overly complicated.

Interesting texture mixes were at the heart of this collection, from fuzzy sweatshirts to plastic fronted T-shirts, colour block wool coats to tech trousers.

The prints this season, another integral part of the Saunders aesthetic, started off life by "splodging paint onto paper at his desk", the designer said of the abstract patterns seen on tops or woven into knits. "There is always a David Hockney thing going on too."

Central St Martins-trained Christopher Shannon, another of London's menswear talents, delivered a well balanced collection, inspired by the likes of hoarding-themed TV documentaries and fabrics found in jumble sales.

Known for a sportswear look that combines fashion ideas with street-inspired details and fabrics, Shannon's clothes and accessories now sell at some of the capital's finest department stores, including Liberty, while his popular diffusion line Kidda sells well at Asos.

Two-tone jeans, leather shirting, hiker-style Kickers boots, panelled bomber jackets and sweatshirts, all looked likely to prove popular with existing fans this autumn. The knitwear was particularly strong, with playful styles featuring contrast colour sections and cartoon-style faces. Given the thirst for statement jumpers, these look likely to be picked by buyers.

Mr Porter, over tea and crumpets and with models in retro red telephone boxes, unveiled their new collaborative initiative with four of London's fledging menswear talents.

Richard Nicoll, Katie Eary, Sibling and Matthew Miller have all created a series of exclusive items for the online retailer. The designs, from Nicoll's graphic knits to Sibling's leopard T-shirt, went on sale at the same time as they were launched to the media – a modern retail approach that leapfrogs the usual six-month waiting time for catwalk clothes.

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

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At CES, Samsung unveiled the Samsung S9 UHD 4K TV, a television with a horizontal resolution of nearly 4000 thousand pixels. At 85 inches the Samsung S9 TV takes the title of largest 4K television beating existing 4k TVs by a full inch. David Steel, Samsung North America’s executive vice president of corporate strategy, said that the S9′s UHD picture quality and design put it head and shoulders above the competition in the Ultra HD space.
“Number one is the image quality, and this is where we have built our reputation. As for design, we believe that this is becoming just as important for consumers,” explains Steel.

In addition, the next-level screen has notable staples like high contrast ratio, 2.2 channel audio, integrated scaler to make your 1080p videos viewable at the higher res and fast quad-core processor to ensure a premium experience and true multitasking capabilities between content and apps. There’s release date or pricing as of yet for the Samsung S9 UHD 4K TV.

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The creative team at Studio Arthur Casas completed the design for Mistral Wine and Champagne Bar, an original venue for the connoisseurs in São Paulo, Brazil. With its minimalist and refined features, the place (initially discovered by Pursuitist here) resembles an art gallery, a stylish exhibition space for the best wines and champagne bottles out there.

Just like in a fantastic maze, the guests can walk around from room to room, enjoying a particular modern atmosphere and reading the labels of hundreds of bottles, guided by neon straps of lighting. The overall design of the bar is said to combine features of the digital world with characteristics of a traditional shop. The project comes with an interesting sales space, a cellar, an interactive gallery, a reading room and a tasting area. The color palette is simple, yet powerful. Used as a primary material, wood is subtitle contrasted by the white neon lights and the black furniture and bottle support panels.

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Here’s the list of Oscar’s Best Picture Nominees for 2013. Best Picture nominees include Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” Ang Lee’s 3D adventure “Life of Pi,” based on the novel by Yann Martel, the Ben Affleck-directed “Argo” and seven other films that got the attention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Which movie will go home with Oscar on February 24th? Share your favorite movie in comments below.

Amour
Director: Michael Haneke

Producers: Michael Andre, Stefan Arndt, Daniel Goudineau, Veit Heiduschka, Hans-Wolfgang Jurgan, Michael katz, Wolfgang Lorenz, Heinrich Mis, Margaret Menegoz, Bettina Reitz, Bettina Ricklets and Uwe Schott.

Argo
Director: Ben Affleck

Producers: Ben Affleck, Chris Brigham, Chay Carter, George Clooney, Tim Headington, Grant Heslov, Graham King, David Klawans, Alex Sutherland and Nina Wolarsky.

Beasts of the Southern Wild
Director: Benh Zeitlin

Producers: Chris Carroll, Philipp Engelhorn, Michael Gottwald, Nathan Harrison, Dan Janvey, Lucas Joaquin, Paul Mezey, Matthew Parker, Josh Penn and Michael Raisler.

Django Unchained
Director: Quentin Tarantino

Producers: William Paul Clark, Reginald Hudlin, Shannon McIntosh, Pilar Savone, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, James W. Skotchdopole, Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein.

Les Miserables
Director: Tom Hooper

Producers: Bernard Bellew, Raphael Benoliel, Tim Bevan, Liza Chasin, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward, Cameron Mackintosh, Angela Morrison and Thomas Schonberg.

Life of Pi
Director: Ang Lee

Producers: Kevin Richard Buxbaum, William M. Connor, Dean Georgaris, Ang Lee, David Lee, Michael J. Malone, Gil Netter, Tabrez Noorani, Jesse Prupas, Pravesh Sahni and David Womark.

Lincoln
Director: Steven Spielberg

Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Jonathan King, Daniel Lupi, Kristie Macosko, Jeff Skoll, Adam Somner and Steven Spielberg.

Silver Linings Playbook
Director: David O. Russell

Producers: Bruce Cohen, Bradley Cooper, Donna Gigliotti, Jonathan Gordon, Mark Kamine, George Parra, Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein.

Zero Dark Thirty
Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Producers: Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Matthew Budman, Megan Ellison, Jonathan Leven, Tabrez Noorani, Pravesh Sahni, Ted Schipper, Greg Shapiro, David Ticotin and Colin Wilson.

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