Mel B spends, “7 Days On The Breadline” as a single mum on benefits

Harehills in Leeds is rough, many of the homes have bars on the windows, drug abuse is rife among teenagers, there are vermin everywhere and hope is absent in the stale air of deprivation.

Mel B has returned to her home town of Leeds after two decades. The Daily Mail reports Mel saying: “it’s a world away from the glamour of Los Angeles where I now live what is, admittedly, a very privileged life.”

Mel B was in Harehills to take part in an ITV documentary series called, “7 Days On The Breadline.”

She tells the Daily Mail: “I agreed to take part because I thought it was a worthwhile social experiment, spending seven days and nights living as a single mother on benefits. Anything that takes you out of your comfort zone and gives you a chance to challenge yourself is always rewarding - and it was even harder to say no when this project involved returning to Leeds.”

The impoverished home prior to be invaded by the star was occupied by Elaine Henry and her five children - aged six, eight, 12, 16 and 18. Living on a budget of £264 in benefits. Mel B was reported to have been constantly monitored by her own minders and police.

Mel continues: “Although I was living on the estate for only a week I was cut off from everything. I had no access to a mobile phone or a computer.

“Elaine’s life, so similar to others around her, is apathetic - how can she instil any drive into her own children? It’s a vicious circle that leads to what some have called ‘ Broken Britain’.

“The Government might disagree, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes and that is exactly how I would describe the situation for huge numbers of people who barely survive on the poverty line.

“The truth is that the families who live on benefits are largely forgotten - and ignored unless they cause problems. It’s only after some horrible event is reported in the media that people start wringing their hands and asking why more wasn’t done.

“If the Government will not admit that things have reached a chronic state, then I don’t see how we can begin to put things right.

“I had to run a home and feed six people on £264 - I got £46 on the Monday and a further £218 on the Wednesday, when I did the big weekly shop.

“The total benefit money paid to Elaine and her family was barely enough to live on - it certainly didn’t leave much left over to go anywhere or do anything. Not surprisingly, the Henry family has never had a holiday.

“Families like Elaine’s are stuck in a rut, what job can they get that will cover the money the State hands out?

“Even if Elaine managed to get a part-time job, she would end up being penalised and lose a chunk of her benefit. So there is often no incentive for people to get back into work, even if they really want to.

“Of course, I accept that there is also a culture of benefit entitlement that has killed ambition.

“Teenagers know that they will get dole money once they reach adulthood and girls learn from their parents that if they have babies they will become eligible for a council flat. It’s little wonder that teenage pregnancy rates are higher in Britain than anywhere in Europe.

“I believe his attitude might have been better had he been able to attend a community centre while growing up or if he had got involved in some local project.

“Local government spending cuts have meant that many community centres have since closed. The few that remain often get vandalised.

“It was not my role to tell Elaine how to live her life, but when she saw how I had cleaned and organised her house, and that I had respected the property, I think on some level she did say to herself, ‘Yes I do have to clean up more often’. Whatever your living conditions, there’s no excuse for your house being in a mess.

“During my time at Harehills, I organised a car wash so that the children could understand the concept that money equals work and work equals money. It’s important for them to get that motto into their heads very early on in life.

“It is what I have done with my own daughter Phoenix. She carries out chores for which she is rewarded with pocket money.

“Despite all the luxuries that I could provide for her, I want her to value money. So, at the end of the week, if she has done her chores, she gets $6 to do what she wants with it.

“The experience of filming this documentary showed me that I have a lot of patience. I usually do things full steam ahead - if I want something I just go out and get it. But while living with Elaine’s family I had to be realistic and logical with every decision I made.

“It also reminded me just how good my life is. Not that I was ever complacent, but just in case I needed a jolt, that’s what it gave me.

“I hope the show will make people think twice about people on benefits, rather than calling them lazy moneygrabbers.

“That’s another reason why I wanted to do the show - to expose the rut people get in when living on benefits. If you do not give people a way out, educate them, provide them with somewhere to live, and a community centre for them to visit and be stimulated, then how can you expect them to have the urge to get up and do anything with their lives?”

One resident said of her passing visit, ‘We’ve seen more police cars this week than in the whole year.’

ITV1’s factual entertainment series, “Seven Days on the Breadline” opened with almost 4 million viewers on Tuesday 19th October.

Read the full story here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1222661/MEL-B-My-week-Apathy-City-living-family-benefits.html

         

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Zoe Ball talks about excessive drinking, sobriety and motherhood

TV and radio presenter Zoe Ball has given up drinking, just like any responsible pregnant woman, but after the birth has no plans to start boozing again. Seven months pregnant, the fetus and eight-year-old son Woody have sober parents.

Husband DJ Norman Cook aka Fat Boy Slim went into rehab earlier this year.

“I was partying hard and I couldn’t have a drink in moderation anymore,” said Zoe.

“I had a lovely time when I was younger. I was lucky because most of my drinking was done behind closed doors and I was single when I did most of my shagging.

“But as I get older, and I’m going to be 40 soon, I want to be a family woman and act my age. I really do want to stay off booze once I have had the baby.

“Before I gave up drinking, I had got to the point where I’d think I’d just have two glasses, but then I’d carry on and still be there at 6.30am ranting in a corner. I was that mental one you would always get at a party.

“But I was getting depressed about it all, which is why in January I stopped. Those first few months were hell.

Zoe said of a sober relationship: “We laugh at ourselves now. We don’t go out and we potter around our house. We used to have so many parties, now we hardly have anybody around. I have contemplated having a blow-out with my friends when I turn 40 next year, but another part of me says ‘no, don’t do it’ because things are going so well. We have replaced wine with desserts.

“I definitely believe the fact we stopped drinking was the reason I got pregnant and why I had not before.

Zoe plans to take time off to be with her new baby next year.

“I’m going to have a caesarean because I had one with Woody and they have advised me to have another. I plan to work until that point. I want to have some time off and then, who knows? It really is happy days… “

         

Wii Fit Plus get’s endorsement by UK’s Department of Health

The Wii Fit Plus by Nintendo has broken major ground by becoming the first computer game to be endorsed by the Department of Health, despite the gaming industries track record of disapproval and even accusations of playing a role in the obesity epidemic.

Wii Fit Plus is the new, enhanced version of Wii Fit, with every feature and exercise from the original in addition to new exercises, balance games and tools to personalize an exercise routine. Excercises vary from vary from advanced yoga positions to hula-hooping and skiing.

Nintendo’s Wii Fit Plus has gained permission to use the NHS’s Change4Life logo in its advertising.

The Change4Life programme is a campaign by the NHS to target primarily children and then adults to take more exercise and eat healthily.

However, the endorsement by the Department for Health is clouded by Nintendo’s agreement to use its own money to promote the NHS Change4Life programme. Not the first company that the Department of Health has agreed commercial ties with, Cadbury and Pepsi also agreed to commit funds to promote the Change4Life campaign.

         

L’Oreal claims it could turn grey hair back to it’s original colour

L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetics and beauty company, claims it could halt and potentially reverse going grey.

Dye could become a denizen of the past as hair is restored to it’s natural and younger colour and, scientists believe, will be a product available as an oral pill backed up by haircare products.

According to the experts at Centre Charles Zviak, L’Oreal’s research and development HQ, it is science and by no means fiction. Scientists working there have identified a pair of genes that may play a key role in turning hair grey. If the company’s plans come good, going grey will one day be a thing of the past and available within a decade.

Patricia Pineau, L’Oreal’s Research Communications Director, said: “Hair is an enigma,

“It is a fibre, a material with physical properties. It is also a living organ that grows, greys and falls out. How can we fight this? Do we need a physical approach or a biological approach?”

L’Oreal has put it’s money where it’s mouth is, putting some £581 million last year into research.

Hair, like skin, contains melanocytes, pigment cells that give it colour.

When hair goes grey, there is a progressive disappearance of the melanocytes from the hair. Melanocytes, survive however, even when somebody’s hair has turned grey. While there are still melanocytes in the hair, there is still hope that it could be re-pigmented.

Dr Bruno Bernard said while much more work is needed the findings could lead to new treatments.

“If we can block this progressive decrease, we could block the whitening process,”

         

Celebrity Parents Sign Shoes for “Stars for a Wish” Auction

Over 60 celebrity parents have decided to participate in the Stars for a Wish initiative by autographing baby shoes for auction.

The Stars for a Wish program is a colaboration between Make a Wish Foundation and Pediped to raise money that will go directly to the Make a Wish Foundation. The foundation helps to grant wished for children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Beginning today you can start bidding on baby shoes by Pediped which have been signed by some famous celebrity parents. Some of the celebrities who have participated in the auction are Halle Berry, Courtney Cox-Arquette, Tiger Woods, Jessica Alba, Allison Sweeney, Charlie Sheen, Faith Hill, Heidi Klum, Jennie Garth, Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg, and Pierce Brosnan.

The winning bidders on the autographed shoes will get the shoes in a cherry-finished shadow box or clear acrylic box complete with an engraved plaque.

The Stars for a Wish has a goal of at least $25,000. Most of the auctions start at $100 with some of them starting at a minimum bid of $200.

Click this link for a full list of charitable auction items: http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/pediped/catalog_items

         

Baby Einstein Refund Program Expanded by Disney

The Walt Disney Co. announced that it will expand its Baby Einstein refund program by offering cash refunds on any DVDs bought from June 5, 2004, to September 4, 2009.

The company has been under scrutiny concerning the educational aspect of the Baby Einstein products.  Customers are given the option of exchanging DVDs for a Baby Einstein book or music CD, or receive a 25% discount on any other Baby Einstein product.  The new program offer expires March 4, 2010.

The attack on the product line was launched by The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood with a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission in May 2006 alleging that educational claims on the Baby Einstein web site and the product packaging were not supported by scientific research.  They do not believe that videos teach words to babies under 2 years old.  Some pediatric experts say that watching television can lead to attention problems.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has also questioned whether television or videos will enhance the skill development of children under two years of age.

Although the company refuted the claims, Disney eventually removed some of the testimonials from the Baby Einstein web site and modified the product packaging.  In December, 2007, the FCC decided to take no formal action after investigating the claims.

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood was not satisfied with Disney’s action and retained attorneys who threatened a class-action lawsuit against Disney.  It is unclear at this point whether Disney’s expanded refund program will settle the threatened lawsuit.

“We believe that this is an acknowledgment that baby videos are not educational,” said Susan Linn, a psychologist and director of The Campaign.

The Baby Einstein Company was founded in 1997 by Julie Ainger-Clark, a mother and former educator, and was later bought by Disney in 2001.

For complete details of the refund program, visit The Baby Einstein DVD Upgrade/Moneyback Guarantee.

         

Researchers study women’s wombs for link to obesity

Researchers in the US and Canada are finding potential links to a child’s future obesity and the weight of their mother at conception, but more research is required.

On a base level, it sounds reasonable that an obese expectant mother may pass some gene or chemical on to her unborn child, leaving the child with a similar proclivity towards obesity. But scientists are interested in finding provable links between a mother and child’s obesity, links that, with further research, could yield a healthier generation of people.

Researchers at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York and Laval Hospital in Quebec have been looking at the children born from severely obese women who had a weight-loss surgery before or after child birth. They found that when mothers had weight-loss surgery before giving birth or conceiving, they had children less prone to severe obesity.

As the women who had the surgery didn’t typically change their diet or lifestyle afterwards, the researchers believe that the surgery itself is related. They discovered that the surgery had the effect of making the women’s digestive system less efficient causing lower sugar and fat levels in the blood stream and thus fewer calories to the womb.

However, the researchers weren’t able to pinpoint a particular gene or chemical that may have caused the lower levels of obesity in the children. Robert Waterland, of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, thinks that perhaps there’s a link to how critical genes are regulated during pregnancy. Chemical “tags” that attach to the developing embryo’s chromosomes may act like switches that control how effective certain genes function.

Waterland has conducted research with mice that are genetically prone to obesity. He found that while obese rats tended to give birth to obese offspring, obese rats fed with food containing a chemical cocktail prevented the genetic obesity trait from functioning as well in the offspring.

Waterland cautions that it’s too soon to tell if the blocking agent that worked in the rats would work in human medical trial. More work must be done to pinpoint the obesity signal that’s transmitted to offspring, but there are hopes that in the future, mothers may use diet or behavior modification to help their children’s obesity levels.

In the meantime, doctor’s recommend that obese women avoid pregnancy until they’ve lost weight, a tactic performed to help future children live a healthier life of their own. In addition, a doctor-approved exercise regime to keep weight gain down during pregnancy is also recommended.

         

IVF treatment in Scotland found to be a ‘postcode lottery’

IVF treatment in Scotland could be had in as little as six months or as long as three years prompting some to ask for more consistency within the system.

A recent freedom of information request made by the Scottish Labour party discovered a huge disparity in wait times between IVF clinics in Scotland. Dumbarton MSP, Jackie Baillie, contacted all of Scotland’s health boards after being prompted by a constituent about IVF wait times.

She found that some of the worst wait times were to be found in NHS Lothian, where prospective mothers might have to wait as long as three years for IVF treatment. NHS Borders had the lowest wait times with no waiting lists and a promise of treatment within six months of referral.

“The Scottish Government must take action to end the postcode lottery for IVF treatment,” said Ms. Baillie. “It is unfair that patients in some parts of Scotland have to wait three years for treatment when others are treated in less than 12 months.”

“There is also no consistency in the rules,” she added. “NHS Borders will fund patients for treatment in neighboring areas if they have shorter waiting lists, but other Health Boards refuse to consider such a sensible step.”

As the director of strategic planning and modernization at NHS Lothian, Jackie Sansbury said that that NHS Lothian follows the guidelines set by the Scottish government for the provision if fertility services.

“In Lothian, unlike many other health boards, couples are offered three cycles of IVF,” Sansbury told the BBC. “We are working with the Scottish Government and infertility services to establish a common pattern of provision across the country.”

“As part of a review of our fertility services we are investing an additional £180,000 to increase the number of IVF cycles we are able to offer by around 40 percent during 2009-2010.”

Shona Robison, the public health minister of Scotland said that she is aware of the level of demand for IVF and that work is being done “to make access as fair as possible.”

“We are funding Infertility Network Scotland—an organization of past and present patients—to work with boards to ensure fairer access. Together they will consider the best ways to address waiting times and local differences in access to treatment,” she said.

“We’re also setting up the Expert Group on Infertility to make recommendations on issues including waiting times. Within six months I expect them to submit an interim report to me and I expect to see quick progress on the ground too.”

         

Swine Flu declared a, “National Emergency” in US by Obama

Barack Obama has declared swine flu or H1N1 a national emergency.

The White House confirmed the president signed the swine flu proclamation on Friday evening, officials said the president’s declaration was similar to ones issued before hurricanes make landfall.

US officials said that last week swine flu activity was widespread in 46 states with over 1,000 deaths linked to the virus. Although figures are hard to verify, it is thought H1N1 has hospitalised about 20,000 people in the US.

The directive authorities to bypass certain federal requirements in order to deal more effectively with emergencies. The aim is to remove bureaucratic hurdles, allowing sick patients to receive treatment more quickly and giving health-care providers more flexibility in providing it.

Paperwork on patients can be reduced and additional health centres set up outside hospitals to care for the sick.

In his proclamation statement, Barack Obama says the 2009 H1N1 pandemic “continues to evolve”.

“The rates of illness continue to rise rapidly within many communities across the nation, and the potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities.”

Barack said the US had already been “proactive” by implementing public health measures and developing an effective H1N1 vaccine.

Children and young adults have been among the hardest hit by H1N1. Almost 100 of the deaths have been children.

In a seperate warning to the public, the FDA warned about bogus Swine Flu Internet sites that claim to sell Tamiflu without a prescription. The FDA bought and tested five such products. One contained powdered talc and generic Tylenol, with no Tamiflu.

Tamiflu and GlaxoSmithKline’s Relenza are the only drugs recommended for treating swine flu and are available from your doctor or GP, but are rationed and subject to medical guidelines, experience and expertise in dealing with H1N1.

         

X Factor’s Cheryl Cole - Longing for a baby but torn with career

Cheryl Cole, 26, the X Factor judge and singer has no time for the baby she so desperately desires. Looking tired and bedraggled of late, the turmoil appears to be weighing her down.

As her solo career begins to kick off she’s too busy juggling work commitments to start her family with husband Ashley.

A source is reported telling Now Magazine: “Cheryl’s run-down. She’s suffering chronic insomnia

“She’s in too much of a state to think about falling pregnant right now.”

Cheryl’s professional life is blossoming, her debut solo single Fight For This Love shot to No.1 in the midweek charts. Smugly Simon Cowell predicted the success saying on the X Facor: “That was an incredible performance. And unfortunately you’re going to be number one next week.”

X Factor is going to the United States next year and it follows that Cheryl will front that as well. America is Cheryl’s chance at real success, in a country which will likely embrace her. It’s unlikely that the pull of family will ever surpass the wishes of Simon Cowell or the call of America.

You can’t have it all pet.

         

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