BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLDER MAN Action Guide For Men 50 & Beyond

Bard Lindeman, a prize-winning syndicated columnist and author presents an outrageously good read to help the male species learn about aging. His column, In Your Prime, has been published for 17 years and currently appears in 40 ,newspapers nationwide. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience on the subject of aging through his years as a newspaper journalist, magazine editor and author. Defining outrageous as "a code word for the independent, free-thinking, strong-willed mature adult" Lindeman divides his prose into six categories: get outrageous; the outrageous mind; the outrageous body; outrageous actions; outrageous relationships and your outrageous spirit.

This book is about caring and sharing. Lindeman cares about aging; it has been a major focus throughout his career. He shares his experiences and the experiences of others. The combined stories are full of wisdom and suggestions for what has worked and what can be used as a guide for readers interested in being the best that they can be in life's journey. Although the title suggests it is only for men, anyone who enjoys good writing will find Be an Outrageous Older Man fun to read. He loves what he does and it shows.

Irresistible Recipes For An Animal-Free Diet

The authors are longtime friends, having backgrounds in baking and catering, and self-described "lazy vegetarians" whose love of animals inspired them to "go vegan." They present 13 chapters full of vegan recipes organized by category of milks and beverages, soups and stews, side dishes, entrees, breads and muffins, desserts, odds and ends and kids stuff. The last chapter, "Vegan House and Home" covers household cleaners, pet products and has recipes to use to avoid materials containing animal products.

How it all Vegan! is a great book for vegans, helpful for vegetarians thinking about it and informative for the rest who are open minded. NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL earth's secrets and recipes for skin, body and spirit

Dawn Gallagher, text by Melanie Menagh Universe Publishing New York, NY $29.95/hardcover 192 pages

Drawing from her studies in anthropology and her travels around the world, fashion model Dawn Gallagher presents an organic, multicultural approach to beauty care in this colorful, informative book. Natural Beauty is filled with organic beauty recipes using such basic ingredients as avocado and banana as well as easy-to-perform relaxation rituals designed to nurture a healthier, happier lifestyle.

She presents the treatments that women of different cultures have sworn by since ancient times. With step-by-step instructions and photographs, Gallagher demonstrates how easy the treatments are to prepare and apply at home.

For the spirit, Gallagher shares her knowledge of Eastern relaxation exercises, meditation and yoga.

A Woman's World

Dancing, manicures and facials, oh my!

Every year since 1993, for one day, Cleveland Community College transforms into a fantasy for all things feminine. On Saturday, Woman's World was held once again, providing attendees with information on health, beauty and finance.

"It is a one-stop shop for women in our community to come find out how to take better care of themselves," said Spirit of Women Coordinator Paula Vess.

Groups of women lined the exhibit walkways waiting for their chance to receive a health screening or manicure. Others favored free samples from food vendors. Some took the opportunity to register to vote or participate in free events such as shag dancing.

"Exercise doesn't have to be boring or hard," Vess said of the various dancing events available during the day. "It can be fun."

Other events included an "Exercising with Baby" seminar and a speech by Kathryn Hamrick, former "Farmer's Wife" columnist.

Hamrick focused on heart disease -- something she's battled for years -- during her speech in the crowded community college auditorium.

"We need to learn to listen to what our body is telling us about heart disease," she said to avid listeners. "Some of us have risk factors that you can do something about and you're not aware of it, or you're not admitting it. And one day you'll be up here making a talk like this, and you didn't have to be up here."

Back in the main show room, attendees could receive facials from the Esthetics Department at CCC. Vicky Jones, a volunteer representing Cleveland Regional Medical Center, took the chance to try it.

"I enjoyed it very much," she said just a few minutes after the facial. "I would've liked to had it longer."

Health, beauty products to help you recover from party season

You may party as if there is no tomorrow, but tomorrow always comes _ along with puffy eyes, dark circles and other signs of late-night revelry. Here is a sampling of products designed to brighten your eyes, invigorate your skin and help banish the after-party blues.

_ Apivita Party Recovery Kit ($16 at apivita.us): Included are cleansing tissues with chamomile, apricot face scrub, eye mask with ginkgo biloba, face mask with orange, and a stimulating mask for legs and feet.

_ Wei East Chestnut Natural Face Lift ($38 at weieast.com): Sagging dull skin is toned and lifted in 10 minutes, thanks to the healing properties of green tea, Chinese chestnut and wild honey.

_ Philosophy Dark Shadows ($33 at Sephora stores, philosophy.com): Silicone-based brightening balm reduces the appearance of bags and puffiness.

_ SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque ($45 at skinceuticals.com): Hydrating masque plumps the skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and droopy skin. Keep it in the refrigerator for a refreshing boost when applying.

_ Tracie Martyn LotuSculpt Eye Pads and Activator ($45 and $55 at traciemartyn.com): Fine lines and dark circles appear less obvious as eye pads moisturize and soothe.

_ timeBalm Concealer ($16 at Sephora stores and sephora.com): Beeswax-based concealer helps cover wrinkles and dark circles.

Health, beauty products doing well abroad

Despite the country's economic trouble, baht appreciation and rising oil prices, Thailand's health and beauty industry remains in good shape, with exports expected to fetch not less than US$2.6 billion at the end of this year.

According to Siripol Yodmuangcharoen, the permanent secretary of the Commerce Ministry, the healthy and beauty business was expected to grow to at least $2.6 billion this year from $2.467 billion in 2006, boosted by strong demand and quality Thai products.

During the first nine months of this year, Thailand shipped health and beauty products worth of $1.614 billion. The major contributors were cosmetics, soap and skin-care products, which generated $1.186 billion, a rise of 65 percent over the same period last year.

Medical products also recorded strong growth of 24 percent, with shipments worth of $164 million and medical equipment generating $274 million, up 19.9 percent.

The exports excluded medical, hospital and spa services.

According to Mr Siripol, Thailand's medical and hospital services are expected to draw 1.54 million foreign patients this year and 1.69 million in 2008, compared with 1.4 million in 2006. The industry is forecast to generate 36 billion baht this year.

Last year, more than 3.6 million visitors received spa treatments in Thailand, 80 percent of whom are foreigners, generating income of more than $115 million .

Encouraged by the growth prospects, Benjawan Ratanaprayul, deputy director-general of the Export Promotion Department, said the department was studying a new export strategy to focus on the health and beauty industry and encourage more Thai spa operators to go overseas, particularly in target markets such as Japan, Europe and the United States.

Kulnuj Kusolvitya, managing director of Abajour Co (Ramburi spa products), said that despite the high demand abroad for spa products, competition was more intense as well.

She said the company had therefore shifted its strategy to sell more services such as consulting, training , and product and accessories development.

The company exports spa products to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Italy, the UK and the US.

Wireless tracking system would monitor when patients take meds

Grandpa off his meds again? A new business partnership may be able to help.

Confidant Inc. of Durham has partnered with packaging company MeadWestvaco to a develop a wireless tracking system that can monitor when patients take their medications.

The partnership, which will target drug and health-care companies, hopes to start selling next year.

Confidant, an 11-employee business founded in 2003, develops mobile-phone-based communication systems that record and transmit patient data for hospitals and other health-care providers.

"If we can also capture information about patients' prescription adherence, we'll have an even fuller set of data for health-care providers to deliver quality care," said Thomas E. Wall, vice president of business development and marketing.

Patients who deviate from their medication treatment programs risk complications and cost the health-care system about $177 billion a year, according to the National Council on Patient Information and Education. The new tracking product under development could save much of that money, Wall said.

As part of the strategic partnership, Confidant will develop wireless communications to link patients and caregivers.

MeadWestvaco Health & Beauty Packaging will craft electronically equipped packages for drugs and medical-devices that transmit data within those systems.

Care providers, for example, will be able to monitor the blood-sugar level and insulin intake of a diabetes patient, Wall said. Unlike traditional pill bottles, packages would have to be designed with the capability to count off specific units of drugs as they are dispensed.

The system begins with a mobile phone that is programmed to capture data from home medical devices or prescription drug packages. It uses Bluetooth short-range wireless technology to transfer the data. The phone then automatically transmits the information to a server where it is cross-checked with patients' medical histories and treatment programs.

"This is an opportunity to reach out to new audiences and improve the lives of patients relying on medication to take control of their health," Wall said. He said the system would also work as a behavior modifier, detecting when patients lapse on their prescribed regimens and issuing reminders.

Wall said that apart from packaging know-how, MeadWestvaco, based in Glen Allen, Va., has relationships with pharmaceutical companies and hospitals needed to market and sell the system.

"We're now trying to define how exactly the product will be used and what investment level is needed," he said.

There will be a children's area.

Turning Pennies into dollars

Nexia's Black Chandelier Launches Friends & Family Promotion

Nexia Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: NEXA), a diversified holding company, announced the launch of its new online Friends & Family grassroots marketing campaign for its Black Chandelier retail clothing division. This campaign is based around empowering one of its most important consumers to help ensure a healthy and prosperous business, Nexia's shareholders and employees.

Richard Surber, CEO of Nexia, said, 'We have had a tremendous response from our investors who have expressed a great interest in our products, and so we listened and developed an innovative campaign to answer their requests. We will be issuing a promotion code to investors to send out to their friends and families so they are empowered to directly affect the bottom line of our business in which they believe in.'

The promotion code is a 15% discount offered only to friends and family members of Nexia Holdings and its subsidiary Black Chandelier. The code will be sent out via email and investors will also be receiving the promotion code to distribute to their friends and family. 'We expect sales to increase from everyone's efforts,' said Mr. Surber. To learn more about this promotion, please go to www.nexiaholdings.com or request your code by emailing Mr. Surber directly at Richardsurber@nexiaholdings.com.

Andy Montana, Business and Branding Director of Black Chandelier, said, 'I expect the sales of www.blackchandelier.com to exceed some of our brick and mortar retail locations in a short period of time. I have paid close attention to similar campaigns and formatted this promotion similar to DirectTV, whose large marketing campaign is based around a referral program. All in all, our investors have told us how much they love the Black Chandelier clothing line and they want to see us succeed. This campaign is a way for them to make a significant return on their investment.'

Black Chandelier will be launching the campaign throughout the week of June 4, 2007. It will run for 30 days and will only be available by being a friend or family member of a stockholder or Nexia Holding's family of employees. This unique promotion is expected to significantly increase revenue. Nexia Holdings values each shareholder and would like them to know that their opinion and feedback is valuable and well respected..