8 Minute Abs

Started the New Year determined to get rid of those mince pie tops you seem to have gained over the festive period?

My best friend introduced me to 8 Minute Abs a few years ago; a short YouTube exercise video, focussing solely on your abs.

Lycra-clad bodies and motivational chants of “Come on Gang” aside, the video really is good. You work up a sweat and for those without the time or means to attend the gym, this is a perfect alternative that you can fit into your morning routine quite easily.

Also on YouTube are workout video’s focussing on legs, arms, bums and other areas; all in 8 minute segments.

The best thing about these video’s are that they require no additional gym equipment, and as they’re on YouTube are completely free so no gym membership fee’s to worry about either!

Floxx: The New FitFinder

http://www.floxx.com

FitFinder is back kiddo’s!

Yesterday I wrote about Loughborough’s Gossip Girl and mentioned FitFinder which allowed the anonymous cataloguing of hotties studying in University libraries across the country, under the tagline ‘Witness the Fitness’.

Despite achieving over 5 million posts across 50 different universities the website was forced off-line after the founder, UCL student Rich Martell was fined for “bringing the university into disrepute”. It was thought that UCL were forced to bow to pressure placed on it from other institutes over concerns of sexist content and anonymous bullying.

Facebook campaigns to bring back FitFinder were immediately launched with Martell promising FitFinder’s resurrection.

And now from the ashes that was FitFinder, we have Floxx.

Funded by former Dragon’s Den businessman, Doug Richard, the concept of Floxx remains the same. Users can post 140 character messages detailing any hotties in the vicinity.

An improvement to the new site is that these hotties can also be plotted on a map, allowing users to see where the best looking people hang out. Hence the name Floxx, a play on the term ‘flock’, as the website facilitates social gravitation to all the “hotspots” (pardon the pun) in the country-much like sheep.  

One of the main criticisms of FitFinder was the distraction it created for students revising for end-of-year exams in 2010. However, Floxx places no limits on user participation; meaning those who fell in love with FitFinder and have since graduated are not secluded from the action simply because their playground is no longer the campus library.

I give it three months tops before, like Facebook and many other social networking sites, workplaces begin to restrict access to this undeniably addictive website!

Lets map the beautiful people!

Loughborough Gossip Girl: Your One and Only Source Into The Scandalous Lives of Loughborough’s Social Elite

Ever woken up after the morning after the night before hoping that noone saw you make out with, or even go home with that person you really shouldn’t have done?

It happens to everyone, and often with a little damage limitation work carried out by your nearest and dearest, your dirty little secret can often stay that way.

That used to be the case for students at Loughborough University too.

Until now.

Based on the hit American TV Show Gossip Girl, an anonymous Loughborough student has set up a blog cataloguing the antics of “Loughborough’s Social Elite”.

“Whoever it is, they know everything,” a 2nd year Management student told me, “and noone’s got a clue who it could be”.

While the gossip is basically an A-Z of who went home with whom last night, the social stalker also publicises potential love triangles, cheating partners, and also tensions between housemates.

An email address has been set up for people to send photo’s, sightings and gossip to. While Gossip Girl clearly has a finger in a lot of pie’s, the website relies on the input of others. One may say those featured only have themselves or their friends to blame.

Appearing on the site is a clear status symbol, and one which seems to be taken well by those named and shamed. Everyone that appears on the site is a Club or Committee exec and well-known around campus. The fact that Loughborough students of all years live in halls, and the majority of students living in housing are based within The Triangle means that not only is the community quite small but that gossip travels fast and easy.

But you can’t help but fear for the little people. Knowing that your Sports exec boyfriend or girlfriend has cheated on you is one thing. But having everyone know? And for the cheater, wondering which of your friends sold you out to the website?

And it really is everyone. Since being set up in November 2010, the site has received over 72,000 views spanning as far as America and Malaysia.

Much like FitFinder last year which started at UCL and spread across UK universities facilitating anonymous admiration of hotties studying in the library, there are bound to be spin-offs. Already someone’s created a Loughborough Gossip Guy. It’ll be interesting to see if the same template can be applied to other universities.

With the Christmas holidays nearly over, Gossip Girl’s mailbag is no doubt fit to burst with juice gossip to get 2011 started.

“You know you love me”

To view the site click here

Learning to use my Ipad: The Real Christmas Miracle

It came as a surprise to many when I announced I was getting an Ipad for Christmas, not least my parents!

Anyone who knows me is aware that I have a slight issue when it comes to technology. This issue being that generally speaking I can’t use it!

However the boredom of train journeys, the back-ache from lugging my laptop around London, as well as looks given by smug commuters with their Ipad tucked under their arm while the rest of us awkwardly resort to pen and paper; our laps a poor work-desk slowly made me realise that an Ipad could be the way forward.

But aren’t people with Ipads usually city-types looking to fill the void having a small penis has left them with?

I thought so too.

But with its WordPress and Audio editing apps, as well as the ability to get the Internet anywhere (with the 3G versions anyway), some basic research into the Ipad, and a very enthusiastic course-mate, fellow Ipadder and one of Apple’s newest members of staff (!) I realised how much the Ipad could actually help me out.

As a Journalism student I am constantly on the move. If I’m not desperately searching for a story (emphasis on ‘desperately’!) then I’m commuting to my part-time job or travelling home for my once-a-week physio session. Part of the frustration felt by a lot of London commuters (aside from the many fallabilities of TFL) is the mental list of all the things they could and should be doing.

The feeling of both guilt and panic this instills is really quite astounding, and the idea that this small cross-breed between a phone and a laptop could alleviate this feeling was too much, even for a technophobe like me!

Having negotiated a 50/50 contribution with the parents (Thanks Mum and Dad!) with my Ipad, my Blackberry (a replacement for the one that got pinched back in October-Thanks Mum!) and my laptop I literally felt like the bees knees and was ready to get going.

I was pleased to see that it came fully charged…mainly because my first hurdle was how to charge the thing!

Most technology comes with a huge manual telling you the ins-and-outs of your gadget. I love these manuals. I am a bit of a book-worm-anything with a front cover and pages is my friend and makes me feel safe!

Apple, however, has decided to do away with this silly notion of manuals. Instead, they provide their customers with a small piece of card-A picture with labels for each of the external buttons on your Ipad, and a website to go to just in case you need more instructions!

I can see why people with Ipads always look so smug-They’ve just figured out how to switch it on!

To be fair, the Apple website does contain a lot of handy information with video’s and guides to help you set up your Ipad. It also contains lots of adverts for loads of other gadgetry you can buy to go with your Ipad!

Now, the shopper in me goes ‘Oooh’, ‘Aaah’. Whilst the practical human being in me thinks that buying all that other rubbish would completely defeat the point of purchasing something that is easy to carry around.

Ipad Case, £35. - Image courtesy of Net-A-Porter

Although while we’re on the subject, Ipad covers are the one Ipad accessory I have got a little excited about. I am a clumsy oaf, and the main issue my parents had about buying me an Ipad was the fact that I would break it before Boxing Day. Marc by Marc Jacobs have released some beautiful Ipad cases and covers including this turquoise one; ensuring that my Ipad remains safe from my butterfingers.

There have been some setbacks. I facebooked my course-mate in a panic when I was trying to set up my I-Store account. I kept making up email addresses for myself only to be told they didn’t meet the conditions required. After umpteen addresses I finally realised it just wanted MY email address.

Similarly, the first time I used the WordPress App to write a blog, I had to go straight on my laptop to edit it and change all the formatting which I’d managed to mess up.

I am still slightly intimidated by the App Store. Unless you go on there knowing what the type of thing you’re looking for is, you can be lost for hours!

But there have also been successes, including using the Ipod on it whilst getting ready for New Years Eve. Getting the Ipad has also given me the confidence I need to buy my first proper camera.

On the whole, like many things in life, you learn by doing. Quite often I’ll find myself getting my Ipad out to do silly things like look a film up, or check train times, when it would be both easier and quicker to just use my computer, but I’m determined to get the hang of it.

I’ve got an Ipad and I’m not afraid to use it!

Chloe Swaby: Creating her own Zeitgeist

Female soloists are having a bit of a zeitgeist moment. So it should be no surprise that there’s a new girl on the block armed with the cool girl’s instrument of choice, a guitar.

Same old, same song you say? Just like with the X Factor, we’ve got a little bored of the Florence, Ellie and Lissie carbon copies that seem to litter the charts.

 But this one’s different.

 Hertfordshire born and bred, Chloe Swaby is pretty on the ears as well as the eyes.

Her acoustic sounds suggest a KT Tunstall influence, but the girl’s got an edge. While her single ‘Racing Car’ deals with the trials and tribulations of a new relationship, there’s no wailing, no whimpering – Just a surprisingly upbeat melody, complemented by Chloe’s velvety tones.

Here’s Chloe performing her debut single ‘Racing Car’ at a charity gig in aid of Oxfam

Signed to Downtown Artists on a promotional deal, you might be suspicious of a singer with only a short time to impress. But listening to the rest of Chloe’s tracks on her MySpace page you’ll find that each track has been given the special Swaby treatment.

But still there’s more.

Not only is Chloe a talented singer and songwriter, she’s also a professionally trained dancer and is currently preparing for her role in a production of Rent taking place at the YMCA Theatre in Cardiff this year. This is all alongside her studies in History and Philosophy at Cardiff University.

Chloe cites her musical influences as ranging from Newton Faulkner through to Tracy Chapman and it is their unique sounds and honest approaches to life which seem to shine through in Chloe’s own music.

She’s also a cracking hockey player!

For news about Chloe’s gigs and to read about the experiences of an up-and-coming artist please visit her personal blog.

 To buy Chloe’s single click here