Mike Ditka gets jersey retired

By Jon Greenberg 

CHICAGO -- There will never be another Mike Ditka, a football coach who became a cultural force of nature, and now there will never be another No. 89 for the Chicago Bears.

Ditka, who won an NFL championship as a tight end for George Halas in 1963 and coached the Bears to a Super Bowl in 1985, finally got his jersey retired Monday night in a halftime ceremony in a game against his other franchise, the Dallas Cowboys.

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AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhOn a cold night in Chicago, Mike Ditka wrapped up his short remarks by saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you. Go Bears!"

"I think Mr. Halas would approve," he said in a news conference.

Without a hat to cover his trademark mane of hair, Ditka shivered through a brief ceremony in the frigid cold -- the wind chill was minus-9 degrees at the start of the game -- that included his Hall of Fame bust and a Super Bowl trophy. He ended it by saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you," and with a thrust of his fist, "Go Bears!"

After that was over, Ditka came into the Bears news conference room with a clear message.

"OK, we're going to do this like the old days, real quick, c'mon," he said, before speaking from the heart for eight minutes.

The 74-year-old Ditka is still ubiquitous in Chicago, and throughout football. He has steakhouses around Chicagoland, a variety of commercials and is a weekly contributor to ESPN 1000 radio and ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" studio show. He makes big money from speeches across the country.

"I'm just having fun with it," he said of his never-ending popularity. "I can tell you honestly, probably the best thing that can happen is when you stop taking yourself so damn serious. And I quit. I don't take myself serious."

Because of the worldwide popularity of the shuffling 1985 Super Bowl team -- not to mention those "Saturday Night Live" skits -- Ditka's fame far outstrips any Chicago athlete, past or present, outside Michael Jordan. Few fans have tired of Da Coach.

"Going through airports is pretty interesting," Ditka said. "I think I have an obligation to do those things. I think when you don't have time for people, you've got a problem."

Once a notorious grouch, Ditka is now America's Grandpa. He doesn't plan on leaving the public eye anytime soon.

"I want to stick around in the present for a while and try to figure out what the heck's going on," Ditka said. "Whatever the future brings, I hope I can accept. I have no regrets about the past. I shouldn't say that. Like Sinatra said, regrets, I have a few, but too few to mention."

Choose Your Wedding Accessories

By Tatiana Porembova

When it comes to wedding accessories, do you know which ones you have in mind or are you struggling to know where to begin? If you know you fall into the latter group, don't worry. Lots of people focus on the big things then realise nearer the time that they haven't thought about the accessories at all.

We're here to help though, so if you need some tips and advice, keep reading to find out more.

Favours

No bridal ceremony would be complete without these - the piece de resistance of all wedding accessories. The easiest way to begin here is to think about what kind of theme you are having for your event. If you want a classic style, you should carry this idea through to the favours as well. If you want something thoroughly modern, featuring a couple of bright colours to perk things up, take these colours as your cue instead. Seasonally themed events are also good for inspiration when it comes to choosing the most appropriate favours.

Table decorations

When it comes to planning the after party, so to speak, you'll need a good selection of table decorations to help complete the look. Remember, your table decorations should tie in with the overall look and theme, so bear this in mind when planning the look.

You'll need tablecloths, place cards and centrepieces at the bare minimum. Other than that you have things like tea light holders, trims, napkin rings and other additional items if you want to use them. Remember less can often be more, and with a budget to think about as well, you will probably need to consider carefully how many additional items you can actually afford.

Don't forget your own accessories

Of course, wedding accessories aren't just the items that make your reception perfect. The phrase also relates to those things you'll wear to complete your outfit on the day. You'll need to consider earrings, a necklace, and whether or not you want to top things off with a beautiful tiara. With so many choices available it couldn't be easier to get everything you need with no trouble at all.

As you can see, a bit of forward planning is all you need to keep in mind when it comes to the finer details of your big day. In fact, if you can give yourself a bit more time you'll find the whole process so much easier than it would otherwise be. It's amazing how much more stress you will feel when you know your wedding is just four weeks as opposed to four months away!

Looking for couture bridal gowns? Tatiana Porembova is one of the leading London designers for bridal wear and wedding accessories and her work spans a range of styles and influences. Based in Richmond, she creates beautiful bespoke wedding attire to provide the perfect garments for the perfect day.

Fun Facts About Watches

By Lilah Adams

We all know what watches do and what they are used for, but there are tons of interesting little watch facts that many people may not be aware of. Learning about watches can be a fun thing to do before you purchase one, or just a fun way to broaden your general knowledge. Here are some cool facts about watches.

The first way to ever tell time was with the sun dial, which was originally created by the Egyptians.

Waterclocks were the next way of telling time invented, and were generally thought to be more accurate than sundials.

Originally, watches were so big that they were commonly worn around the neck on a chain.

The wristwatch as we know it, was invented in 1868 by Patek Philippe.

Before they were for everyone, wristwatches were originally for women, while men generally used pocket watches.

During World War I, wristwatches became popular with men because it was more convenient to wear it on the wrist during battle. Men were able to tell the time without having to pull out a separate item.

The first water proof watch was invented in 1926

Watches on display and in ads are mostly set to ten minute to two o'clock. This is because it gives it the appearance that it is smiling, encouraging the consumer to feel good when they look at the time piece.

The most expensive watch is the Chopard 201 carat watch. The jewels and diamonds in the watch make it beyond valuable. It includes 443 yellow diamonds, 139 round diamonds, 289 pear shaped diamonds, and 3 heart shaped diamonds. It was sold at an auction for 25 million dollars.

When pocket watches were commonly worn, they only had an hour hand. This made them terribly inaccurate and they would lose several hours as the day went on.

The first digital electronic watch was developed in 1970 by Hamilton Watch Company and Electro-Data.

Swiss watches are considered some of the best around. In order to be considered a swiss watch, there are certain rules that must be met. It must have a swiss movement that was set in its case in Switzerland and created by a manufacturer of Swiss origin.

You may have noticed that some watches contain the word Geneve. This term is a mark of prestige given to time pieces that is given by the Bureau de controle des Montres de Geneva.

Director Justin Lin on Paul Walker: A Fast Friend

By Justin Lin

We were 48 hours from production on Fast & Furious and $3 million over budget. Paul showed up on set the first day, and we huddled in my trailer as I walked him through a new chase scene. He smiled and said, “Cool,” and off we went. He ran nonstop for three days. At times, I knew he was beyond tired, but he knew how important it was to set the right tone from the start. That’s when I knew I had a true partner in Paul.

During the press tour for Fast & Furious, we were outside a club in Moscow during a dreadful winter. Paul and I decided to do jumping jacks to keep warm. That’s the thing with Paul — he would never let his friend go do some goofy move alone. He was always there, no matter what. It wasn’t long before everyone joined us outside the club, doing jumping jacks in the snow.

We were back from the rainy U.K. to shoot the final scenes for Fast 6, and we brought the rain back with us. We fought the weather for three days trying to get the perfect finish. With 20 minutes to go, we had to shoot the all-important barbecue scene. I knew this was going to be the last scene I’d shoot in the Fast franchise and wanted it to be special. I pushed the crew and cast so hard, and we barely got it in the can. As we ran out of light on the last shot, I threw my headphones down in frustration and walked off to collect myself. I was beyond spent. Next thing I knew, there were two arms hugging me. It was Paul. He said, “Thank you” and walked off. That was the last moment I had with Paul on set, and it’s what Paul was all about.

The Beauty Myth - How Do Women Really Feel About Their Looks?

By Marcea Hibbert-Roye

In 1991, Naomi Wolf published The Beauty Myth detailing her understanding on how women continue to be oppressed throughout society for the benefit of men.

Wolf argued that the instigation and use of the myth of beauty would be men's ultimate weapon against women and their perceived rising power.

Women continue to face blockades in the workplace due to the political and systemic use of beauty to define worth. Although men define the ideology of beauty, the demarcation of beauty is not defined thereby leaving the female confused about her own feelings of self.

This allows big corporations to levy unfairly the work that women do increasing their revenue whilst enriching both female expenditure and manageability. This has in turn reduced the female's self-esteem, a powerful tool for control.

Naomi Wolf wrote this book in 1991 following both the first and second wave of feminisms. Are we embarking upon a third wave of feminism? Many skeptics of feminism report that the previously overwhelming injustice towards women and their cries that created and sustained Women's Rights movements have now been diluted to a mere whimper. Is there any truth to this statement?

I want to use this article to examine what if any changes have happened since 1991 and how women's lives may or may not have changed.

Women have always been necessary to the workplace even if not respected for their contribution. Latent history informs us that due to the First World War (WW1) in 1914 -18, women were necessary to move out of the home where they worked to fulfill the employment gap due to men being at war. When the war ended, women did not naturally want to give up this level of financial independence and return to the home. Cross-referencing historical information, the fight for Women's Rights began much earlier therefore women were already aware of the injustices towards them thereby informing of the reluctance to 'return to the home.' In 1848, 68 women and 32 men outlined grievances towards women including women having the right to vote and signed a Declaration of Sentiments in New York. It was in 1872 that saw the national movement begin in the UK in the form of the National Society for Women's Suffrage and later the more influential National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. Without this cross-referencing, one would be forgiven for mistaking that up until WW1 in 1914, women were not knowledgeable about their unjust treatment towards them.

With the knowledge that women did indeed know that they were being treated unfairly and that they actually felt strong enough to take action in different forms showed both tenacity and strength; words that were not used to describe women at all. Since 1991, what has changed to strengthen Women's Rights to being more equal to men?

Not much in my opinion from the viewpoint of entry-level top careers for women although according to a recent research carried out by Astbury Marsden, they found that this year has seen an increase of 100% of women in management positions. This equates to 12% overall from 6% overall last year. We should be grateful! What about the significant pay gaps between men and women for equal jobs? Well, according to Dr. Carla Harris from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), the gap is widening, currently for every dollar a man makes, his female counterpart earns 82 cents. I doubt very much that you will find a noticeable difference in the UK. In fact, upon research, women earned 15% less than men. Is this gap made worse in poor economic times?

So not much has changed in terms of respect for females and the contribution they make in society and for society. Not much in terms of how females are viewed, mostly negatively and for sexual pleasures. However what is more startling (perhaps an over-exaggeration) is that although there have always been women 'night-workers' (prostitutes), women appear to be engaging in their own war against themselves. Let me put this into perspective about this internal war going on with women. Notwithstanding the 'glamour' needed for night workers to attract for work, women are now using this same concept for approval from men and in the meantime waging an unsubstantiated war on their self-esteem. Not that those women did not care for their looks previously, as their grooming ritual is natural in attracting a mate. However, because of the Beauty Myth, the natural birthing process of grooming for a mate has become blurred, confusing and instills a lack of confidence in a female. The precocious instigation of the Beauty Myth undertaken by men but calculatingly not clearly defined (Naomi Wolf) has left women attempting to attain not just the indescribable but the unattainable as beauty is left open for interpretation by the beholder (men).

What has been the result?

Financial contributions to cosmetic, diet and surgery have all seen a surge in willing captors, all seeking this beauty myth and all rather quite despondent when they realise that the goalposts keeps shifting. Cosmetic companies revel in ascribing what their latest product is and how wonderfully powerful some ingredient is, now contained in their product. I mean, who on earth really heard of Pentapeptide, let alone researched what it did before buying the product?

Companies such as those in the cosmetic industry rely on the poor self-esteem of women to direct their products to. Women in return respond in an impassioned grab for the 'miracle' product that will stave off or at least slow down the ageing process. Women are made to feel that they no longer visually please and according to Wolf, companies can take steps in removing the female from her role in the workplace in favour of a younger model. Remember Miriam O'Reilly winning her claim against the BBC for what she alleges being dismissed on ageism and victimisation grounds? A second rate victory because she did not win on the grounds of sexism. What this tells me is what Wolf already identified in her book, that it is very difficult for a woman to claim against sex discrimination as the law fully supports what it calls a BFOQ (bone fide occupational qualification- USA) or the UK's version of GOQ (genuine occupational qualification- Wolf). What this means is that a company may dismiss a woman if they feel that she does not measure up to their ideology of beauty. Now remember, this level of beauty is not defined and what would this really say? As beauty is in the eye of the beholder (self) is it not?

The tribunal for Miriam O'Reilly was held on the 4-19th November 2010, 19 years after Wolf's publication therefore women are still demonstrably being targeted and treated according to how they look and not what talents they may have in the workplace. So no real progress here then!

Next time you go shopping, look out for the number of different beauty products. Be aware of the amount of time and energy that commercials use to sell you their copious amounts of products and the images they use. The use of anti-wrinkle creams on models probably not even yet 20 years old yet. Why on earth they need anti-wrinkle cream is beyond me. Next, these kinds of adverts will be shown using a 13 year old!

Now look at grounded products such as lipsticks. Now you can get ones that last all day. In fact, you need another product to get the lipstick off because normal cleanser and water does not always work. Companies have to keep re-inventing the wheel to keep their profits up so their imagination runs riot and comes up with all sorts of products all doing the same thing but differently. Women fall for this; just take a look at her make up bag, products of the same but different thing, hardly used due to the copious amounts.

What about products containing a certain ingredient that will 'benefit' perceived 'bags' under the eyes. Do you really think that by buying this product will alleviate 'baggy eyes'? Why should it, because if it did then you would have to stop buying the product once you have been cured? So companies use only enough to make a slight difference and you have to keep re-buying to secure better results. I imagine companies laughing at women as they stand far at the side of the room throwing in the magic ingredient (that is to say how offensively low the ingredient is in terms of weight and productivity). Now, I am not saying that a particular ingredient does not work, for example caffeine. However, following your lovely cup of tea, you could quite easily reconstitute the teabag and put this on your eyes. Probably has more caffeine in the teabag than in the expensive product you buy.

Let us look at how other companies have cashed in on the creation of poor self-esteem in women. An ostentatious amount of money is spent by females on diet products in the hope that the 'extra' pounds they think they are carrying will disappear leaving the female with a sense of acceptance and perceived beauty. The sugars used in many foods are replaced with a substitute that is less calorific. To me, this is just a lot of useless chemicals being pumped in the body and for no real gain. Processed sugars are not good for anyone in huge amounts and a wise thing for health purposes would be to reduce your intake not substitute this with something that requires the body to work harder to break it down if it is able to use at all.

For research purposes, I typed in 'what effect does artificial sugars have on the body?' and I did not have to look far to clearly see the dangers of artificial sweeteners. According to author Marcelle Pick, (Obstetrician and Gynecologist) she speaks openly about being properly informed of possible side effects of sweeteners. I will not mention the company as I do not wish to give them any form of exposure but you can do your own research. This particular name brand is the trade name for Sucralose; a synthetic compound stumbled upon in 1976 by scientists in Britain seeking a new pesticide formation. (Marcelle Pick) What this company did was twist the sugar component of their product by citing the 'natural sugar' aspect. Yet more importantly, did you catch the word 'pesticide?'

Now we go onto cosmetic surgery. This phenomenon has increased tenfold since the 1970's. Now you can book a botox in your lunch hour and be back to work. The lackadaisical procedure should be seen as worrying and not that companies are seeking to make life easier for women to attain this face stiffening procedure. Remember the poor actress infamously known for her 'trout pout?' I will leave this here to save her blushes! The point I am making is some of these procedures are downright dangerous yet women are still clambering to risk life or limb.

We do not have to search our brains too hard to recall some other poor soul who underwent breast surgery to enlarge her already natural assets and perceptually ended up looking misplaced. The female body is perfect as it stands and whilst some females may have to undergo a surgical procedure on medical grounds, this should not be confused with the female body, being nature at its finest.

Women are undergoing all sorts of procedures in an attempt to gain the unattainable body. Bum enhancements, face lifts, eye lifts, neck lifts (anything that is deemed lift-up-able), nose adjustments, liposuction on any part of the body and do not get me started with lace fronted weaves or extensions. The woman spends a great deal of time and money on products and services to achieve the ideology of beauty and remember this perceived beauty is undefined. So what this means, is they end up chasing a mirage that disintegrates the moment they think that they are now acceptable. This results in a cyclical pattern in women dabbling in metamorphosis, re-inventing something else to feed that ever-growing pit in lost souls leading to other behavioural and emotional difficulties.

If you look at the objective of The Beauty Myth, the power is monumental and the devastation that this myth leaves behind is great news for those instigating this concept for nothing more than mind-control over women. This concept reminds me of the Lynch (Willie Lynch) method; create a divide and rule mask, in this case, in women.

My name is Marcea Hibbert-Roye, qualified Social Worker and Life Coach. I work as a Strategic Lead Develop for Women. My specialism is developing emotional awareness in females. I have devised a 6 Step Program that promotes good emotional health by accessing information held in the subconscious mind to the conscious mind. The result is having more control over thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

Visit the website for great motivational cards for females that will support during difficult times or just to say 'You're worth it.' We have cards designed at the younger female especially as she is navigating through puberty.

Enjoying Your Wedding on a Budget

By Tatiana Porembova

If you're planning your nuptials, you will undoubtedly be aware there are a great variety of costs to consider. You'll be yearning to have custom outfits created by high quality wedding dress designers; keen to book a luxury venue and ensure that the guests are provided with delicious food; and myriad other costs. However, as most people are, you may well be under some financial constraint. If this is the case, you'd be well advised to heed the budget tips featured in this article.

Find An Affordable Gown

If you're an avid reader of the glossy celebrity magazines, you will undoubtedly have noticed the exquisite dresses worn by Kate Middleton, Gwen Stefani and Joy Bryant. However, it is important to remember that the purchase of a designer dress does not guarantee marital bliss. You might find the local wedding dress designers can design customised outfits to suit your budget and it might even be possible to buy a second hand dress from one of the bridal websites.

Hire a Wedding Suit

Those with plenty of money to spend may consider purchasing suits from the specialist high street tailors. However, there will also be the option of hiring suits from stores such as Moss Bros or Debenhams. You should take your time to find a suit that fits your groom particularly well. Just remember that men are generally quite reluctant to spend long periods of time in clothes stores!

Buy Seasonal Flowers

You might be keen to enhance the bride and bridesmaid's dresses with flowers, along with decorating the ceremony and reception venues with beautiful bouquets. However, if you're on a tight budget it is best to use seasonal flowers. Sweet peas will be absolutely ideal for midsummer events and hydrangeas are recommended for the autumn.

Ask For Make-Up Advice

Your chosen wedding dress designers may well be happy to also make recommendations regarding the type of make up that matches perfectly with your outfit. If not, you can always enjoy a free make up session at your local department store. You might even choose to buy some of the recommended lipsticks and blushers in preparation for your big day, and if you don't want the pressure of applying your own make-up, you can ask a friend or local expert.

Borrow Items

If you're a traditionalist, you'll know the importance of finding something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue for your big day. Of course you have the option of asking wedding dress designers to incorporating blue tints as part of your outfit, too. Ask a friend or family member whether they can lend you an old piece of jewellery or it might even be possible to turn up in a classic vehicle you have borrowed. Be creative!

Looking for couture wedding gowns? Tatiana Porembova is one of the leading wedding dress designers and her work spans a range of styles and influences. Based in Richmond, she creates beautiful bespoke bridal gowns and bridesmaids outfits to provide the perfect garments for the perfect day.

Paul Walker's Biggest Films

By Zack Mandell

Paul Walker has been in the public eye since he starred in the film "Varsity Blues" in 1999. Since then, he has made several exciting and memorable films, but he is best known for his work in the films from "The Fast and the Furious" series. This summer, "The Fast and the Furious 6" hits theaters, and this newest release gives fans a reason to revisit some of his other top films.

Many fans consider "Fast Five" to be Walker's best movie. This film, which was released in 2011, is also called "The Fast and the Furious Five" and "The Fast and the Furious Five: Rio Heist." The film follows Walker's character Brian O'Conner as he works with Dominic and Mia Toretto, played by Vin Diesel and Jordana Brewster. Together, the threesome try to steal $100 million from a crooked businessman. Their attempts at the heist are made even more difficult due to the fact that the group is being pursued by an agent from the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. Although a street-racing theme was a central part of the other films in the series, there was only one street race in this film. Instead of street racing, the directors wanted to focus more on action scenes that consisted of gun fights and brawls. Playing an FBI agent who turned into a criminal, Walker trained extensively for the role and did many of his own stunts in this action-packed thriller.

According to many fans, Walker's second most notable film to date is "The Fast and the Furious." This action film was the first in the series, and it helped propel Walker to a greater level of fame. Although many people think the film was based on a 1955 film with the same name, it was actually inspired by a magazine article about street racing that appeared in "Vibe" magazine. In this film, Walker also plays Brian O'Connor; however, in this film, he is not an FBI agent turned bad. Instead, he is working for the FBI. A former officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, Walker was sent undercover to try to stop a group of hijackers. In order to get closer to the action, he works at a chop shop. It is at the chop shop that Brian first connects with Dominic Toretto.

The fourth film in the series was titled "Fast & Furious", and for many fans, this is Walker's third most important film. Walker also plays Brian O'Conner in this installment. Although the film was the fourth to be released, it is actually third in chronological order. In this film, Walker's character is still working for the FBI, and he is trying to find a drug dealer named Arturo Braga. While searching, he finds David Park, who he eventually convinces to become an informant for the FBI. Thanks to his connections with Park, O'Connor is allowed to enter a street race. The winner of that race will be awarded a spot on a heroin-trafficking team. Through a series of twists and turns, the film finally ends with O'Connor quitting his job with the FBI.

"Eight Below" is also one of Walker's most important films, and surprisingly, it is not part of "The Fast and the Furious" franchise. In this film, released by Walt Disney pictures, Walker plays Jerry Shepard, a guide at the Antarctica research base. He is encouraged to help a researcher find a rare meteorite from the planet Mercury. Although Shepard thinks it is too late in the season to undertake such a potentially dangerous journey, he agrees to the idea, and they embark on the search using dog sleds. The journey that results is full of danger and illness, and ultimately, Shepard is forced to leave the dogs behind. He is plagued with guilt over the ordeal, and ultimately, he convinces the researchers to give him their grant money so he can rescue the dogs. Inspired by events from 1958, the tale is heartwarming and exciting.

In 2001, Walker starred as Lewis Thomas in the film "Joy Ride." Walker, a student from UC Berkeley is headed home from college for the summer. During the summer, he hopes to entice his old friend Venna, played by Leelee Sobieski, into a romantic relationship. To woo her, he buys a car and plans a cross-country drive from her school in Colorado to their childhood home. Unfortunately, Thomas is joined by his brother who invites himself on the trip to Colorado. The result is a wild adventure packed with twists and turns.

With so many great Walker films to choose from, fans can easily get their fill of Paul Walker. Whether his fans are looking for action or romance, he does it all. His most exciting work, however, are his films in " The Fast and the Furious " series.