Korean Beacon

No Joking~ Stop Smoking!

irene — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:41:40 +0000

I’ve been meaning to write about the topic of smoking for a while, but I always felt like such a hypocrite.

I’ve now been smoke free for 2 months, so I figure now is the time to write about it (just in case I fall back into the habit!)

If there are 3 things that I think are many Koreans’ vices, I would say that they are Food, Drink, and Cigarettes.

Now I’m not saying that all Koreans are fat, chain-smoking drunks.

However, I do believe that there are a LOOOT of koreans that like to drink (a lot) and smoke (a lot).

We all know smoking is bad for you. It’s extremely bad for your health and it’s REALLY bad for your looks.

If you don’t want cancer, emphysema, or heart disease, quit smoking now.

If that’s not enough to stop you, think of the yellow teeth, bad breath, leathery skin, wrinkles, and grayish skin you get as a smoker.

Here is a timeline of the benefits of quitting smoking:

The moment you quit smoking, you set in motion an amazing healing process that starts with the feeling of fear and excitement over making such a positive change in your life. The healing process continues:

Thirty Minutes Later …

Your blood pressure goes down. The nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the release of adrenaline , which raises your blood pressure. Chronic smoking then keeps your blood pressure high, which in essence creates ppersistent hypertension. Hypertension is a risk factor for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, arterial aneurysm, and chronic renal failure.

Your pulse rate also decreases. Just like with blood pressure, the nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the release of adrenaline, raising your heart rate. An increased heart rate, especially over a period of time, can create a number of problems, increasingly inefficient pumping of blood by the heart and an imbalance in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the hemoglobin in the blood.

Eight Hours Later …

Two great things happen in your blood: the levels of poisonous carbon monoxide decrease because you’re no longer inhaling so much CO. This then allows your levels of oxygen in the blood to increase.

A Day Later …

Your chances of having a heart attack begin to go down—in just one day after having quit!

Two Days Later …

Your nerve endings begin to re-grow and your senses of smell and taste begin to improve

Three Days Later …

You will be largely nicotine-free. Most of the nicotine metabolites in your body will have been passed through your urine. Although nicotine withdrawal will be peaking, your bronchial tubes will be relaxing, increasing your ability to breathe.

Two Weeks To Six Months Later…

Your circulation gets better, simple activities like walking get easier and you fatigue less quickly, the function of your lungs improves, you aren’t coughing nearly as much and your sinuses are less congested.

One Year Later…

You will have lowered your risk of coronary heart disease by half compared to smokers.

After Five Years …

You will have lowered your risk of stroke down to the same risk as people who have never smoked.

After Ten Years…

Your risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of people who continue to smoke. Furthermore, you will have significantly reduced your risk of developing cancers of the oral cavity, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas.

After Fifteen Years…

Your risk of developing coronary heart disease will be no higher than that of people who have never smoked.

And most importantly, you will have lowered your risk of death—period—nearly to the level of people who have never smoked.

* So I know it’s not easy. I smoked for over 11 years. I’m wasn’t even allowed to tell my friends when I was trying to quit because of the countless “Last Cigarettes” I’ve had over the years.

Here are some of my tips to help you quit:

Don’t give up. Even one or two less cigaretttes is better than nothing.
If you quit for a while (even a day or two) but fall back, don’t be discouraged. Keep trying.
Try to pick up some healthier habits. Eating healthier foods, Sleeping more, Excercise~ Living a healthier lifestyle can make quitting easier.
Watch You Tube anti-smoking videos. The Australian ones are the WORST!
Candy. Lots and Lots of Candy.

So, I hope you have the desire and motivation to quit. It won’t be easy~ I loooooved my ciggies. But I love being healthy, looking younger, and living longer more.

Good luck. I wish you the best of luck on your journey to becoming smoke free.

Now go out and get some Korean BBQ and Soju (but skip the stog)! Cheers!

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*

http://irenekimmakeup.com
http://irenekimmakeup.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/irenekimmakeup

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A New Style and Song from IZ

Korean Beacon — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:35:21 +0000

We interviewed Korean American rapper, IZ, a few months ago. Check it out here!

IZ recently came out with a new song called Paper Chaser and all we can say is that it’s smooth and a nice change of pace from his other material. We can see this song being a nice song to dance to at the club and think the music video is creative. Check out the music video below and for more info go to: http://454life-ent.com

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Drop 5 Years in 5 Minutes

irene — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:48:25 +0000

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been”

-Mark Twain

Another year has passed and I’m getting older.

Aging isn’t so bad, but unless you’re 16, you probably don’t want to look older.
(Ohh… the days when I longed to be older. How I miss the impatience of my youth!)

Here are some tips from an old(er) Instyle magazine issue (1/09).

* Eyes *
Give Your Eyes A Lift

So long dark circles and droopy lids. When you swap smoky shadows and sooty pencils for a softer palette, tired eyes take on a decidely youthful glow.

Rethink Your Concealer: Instead of applying under the entire eye, start at the inner socket, and tap a peach-based shade to a point just underneath the center of the pupil, blending well to cancel out blue shadows.

Don’t use concealer on outer corners; it can accentuate crows feet.

Skip The Shadow: Define your crease with a pencil instead, in a shade slightly darker than your skin tone- then smudge it. You’ll get the illusion of bigger eyes without the heavy look

Go Nude: Trace your lower lashline with a flesh-toned pencil. “It’s like 8 hours of sleep in a liner”

* Lips *

The perfect kisser is cushiony and plush with a whisper of color- not overly inflated or sharply defined

Lighten Up: Tiny shadows at the corners of your mouth can turn your smile upside down. Keep them under cover with a dot of concealer

Pencil In A Pout: Use a chubby tip in a neutral shade to trace the fullest version of your lips. Then blend with your fingertip to soften the edges

Go Shiny: A bit of gloss on the center of your lower lip and cupid’s bow gives the appearance of fullness. Try dusky pinks an dsoft toffee hues

* Cheeks *

Just because we weren’t born with killer bone structure doesn’t mean we can’t fake it. Create the illusion of chiseled cheekbones and give your face a lift

Start Soft: A Mousse primer smooths the skin’s surface to help the flushed, dewy look stay put

Add Contour: Use two tones of cream blush. Swirl a rosy hue on the apples, then blend a swoosh of bronze below the cheekbones. The result: Pretty definition and babylike fullness

* Skin *

Older complexions can look dull; youthful ones appear moist and even in texture. Look for formulas with light-diffusing particles and avoid powders, which can settle into fine lines and add decades

Keep It Sheer: Apply foundation only where needed, and choose a formula that can be layered for more coverage

Welcome Matte: “Nothing is more aging than overly powdered skin”. Opt for a mattifying primer instead

Stay Hydrated: Treat dry patches with a refined face oil.

Add Shine: Skin that seems to glisten naturally usually involves a little artificial sparkle. Apply luminizer to cheek, brow bones, and to the bridge of your nose

Slim Fast: Using a fluffy brush, blend powder in a shade two hues deeper than your skin just below your chin

*~*~* Is Your Makeup Aging You? *~*~*

Matte Lipstick accentuates age-lines, creating a puckered effect.

Yellow-Based Bronzer makes skin look sallow, not sun-kissed

Powder Blush rarely delivers a youthful glow (unless it’s loaded with shimmer)

Retro Eyeliner is cool, but not when you’re trying to look younger

Mascara on your lower lashes tends to cast unflattering undereye shadows, so skip it.

Here are my tips on how I stay young at heart:

* Have fun! People are too serious. Relax and enjoy the day.

* Spend time with kids. They’re fun, they enjoy the little things in life, and they’ll remind you of your childhood. Play!

(I like to bite my nieces on the cheek and tell them I’m stealing their youth… but I’m just weird…)

* Spend time with older people: You’ll instantly feel younger… because you are! Plus they can give you really good advice and reassure you that you’re still young =) But keep the “I’m so old” statements to a minimum or else you’ll just piss them off ;)

* Look at everything as a learning experience and an adventure. If you take the time to slow down and really notice what’s going on around you, you’ll see that there’s so much to do, so much to see… and that makes me feel young.

* Stay active. When I’m busy (which is most of the time), I don’t have time to feel old.

* Attempt to live a healthy lifestyle~ I always feel good when I’m eating better, sleeping more, and able to take care of myself. I always feel old when I gain weight and I’m tired.

* Live life in the fast lane. There’s a whole lotta world out there and I’m gonna experience as much of it as I can!

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter”

-Mark Twain

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*

http://irenekimmakeup.com
http://irenekimmakeup.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/irenekimmakeup

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PK is Now on YouTube

Korean Beacon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:25:14 +0000

Our funny man, friend and leader of the Korean world in Los Angeles is now on YouTube. PK’s got his own brand channel at youtube.com/channelpktown. He’s also the man who created the very successful Kollaboration which is now rolling into towns like Tulsa. Support our buddy PK!

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Time Magazine Says Kpop is Going Global!

Korean Beacon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:17:27 +0000

Big props for Johnny Noh and AllKpop for knowing that Kpop was going to be big and Time Magazine is now recognizing that. Time interviewed Johnny and others about the growing popularity of Korean pop music.

“Korean artists are now out there,” says Johnny Noh, who runs the (AllKpop) site. “People like [Korean artists] and want to know more about them.”

For many artists in Korea’s booming music industry, social media like YouTube and Twitter have become crucial tools to reach audiences in formerly hard-to-access markets like the U.S. and Europe. Korean artists are bypassing traditional outlets like radio and television, “aggressively steering their efforts to go international via the Internet,” says Bernie Cho, president of DFSB Kollective, a Seoul-based agency specializing in the international marketing of Korean pop acts. “Social-media-savvy K-pop stars are now tweeting, YouTubing and Facebooking their way up music charts across and beyond Asia.”

Source: Time Magazine

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Kim Yu Na Splits with Orser

Korean Beacon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:08:37 +0000

The perfect skater-coach marriage of Kim Yu Na and Brian Orser has turned into a nasty divorce. Apparently the management team of Kim Yu Na, headed up by her mother, has dismissed Brian Orser and apparently Orser has now broken a cardinal rule in figure skating and that was revealing the song to her new long program for 2011. There’s some sniping going on between the two parties. This is pretty unfortunate because they seemed like the right dynamic for a winning pair. Making things even more awkward is the fact that Kim Yu Na is still practicing in Toronto at the same rink that Orser is coaching other pupils. This is like dating where you work and you see each other in the cafeteria. Awkward!

For the more on this story, go to NBC Universal.

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Burn Baby Burn: Sunburns

irene — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:41:10 +0000

Ouch.
You wanted to get a nice dark tan while laying out and you ended up getting burned.
You should know better than to skimp on the SPF, but I’m not here to lecture you (or I’ll try to refrain….)
The Damage is done (literally), so here a few tips to help you deal.

Keep it cool: Apply cold compresses — such as a towel dampened with cool water — to the affected skin. Or take a cool bath.

Keep it moist: Apply aloe or moisturizing cream to the affected skin.
* Try making Aloe Cubes by filling an empty ice tray with Aloe. Use the frozen Aloe Cubes to ease the pain and cool down the skin
-Avoid products containing alcohol, which can further dry out skin. (Beware of sunburn treatment products containing anesthetics, such as benzocaine. There’s little evidence that these products are effective. In some cases, they may even irritate the skin)

Leave blisters intact: If blisters form, don’t break them. You’ll only slow the healing process and increase the risk of infection. If needed, lightly cover blisters with gauze.

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever: If needed, take anti-inflammatory medication — such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) — according to the label instructions until redness and soreness subside.
-(Don’t give children or teenagers aspirin. It may cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease)

Drink Water: A sunburn can cause a mild fever and a headache. Lie down in a cool, quiet room to relieve the headache. A headache may be caused by dehydration, so drinking fluids may help.

Treat peeling skin gently. Within a few days, the affected area may begin to peel. This is simply your body’s way of getting rid of the top layer of damaged skin. While your skin is peeling, continue to use moisturizing cream

Consult a doctor for sunburn treatment if:
- Severe sunburn covers a large portion of your body with blisters
- Sunburn is accompanied by a high fever or severe pain
- Severe sunburn doesn’t begin to improve within a few days

So remember to cover yourself in SPF~
It sucks getting burned…. but at least you’ll end up with that tan you wanted!

*~ Have a Beautiful Day! ~*
http://irenekimmakeup.com
http://irenekimmakeup.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/irenekimmakeup

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Danielle Kang wins women’s amateur

Korean Beacon — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:11:53 +0000

This shouldn’t be a surprise but a Korean won the USGA Women’s Amateur Championship. Holla! Just like last year when Jennifer Song won the coveted trophy. Danielle is only a high school teenager but it looks like this win may just be the beginning of a stellar golfing career.

Danielle Kang’s 4-foot putt on the next-to-last hole in the U.S. Women’s Amateur on Sunday gave her a 2 and 1 match-play victory over Jessica Korda.

Kang led deep into the second round during the final at Charlotte Country Club. But she conceded the lead when she ran into bunker trouble on the 30th hole. Korda took the lead for the first time when her third shot reached within a foot and Kang’s fourth shot stuck in the rough.

Kang squared the match three holes later with a 5-foot par putt. She retook the lead on the 34th hole, when she converted for par and Korda missed a putt from at least 10 feet. Korda missed a birdie on the next hole and Kang had a putt from five feet to seal it.

“Today was very stressful,” Kang said. “When I made that I just wanted to cry because all of the stress was in me. I’m trying not to show it. I’m smiling, but it’s stressful, so it was really big.”

The 17-year-olds were both vying for their first U.S. Amateur title. Sunday was the third straight match in which Kang, the women’s amateur medalist a year ago, fended off a rally during the final three holes.

“Danielle was just making birdie after birdie after birdie or birdie on top of my birdies or birdies before my birdies,” Korda said. “It was a birdie barrage.”

Kang will attend Pepperdine after graduating from high school early.

Source: AP

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Who’s Funnier Than Danny Cho?

Korean Beacon — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:57:24 +0000

All we can say is there anybody like or crazy as Danny Cho? Danny talks about how proud he is to be Korean and his project, Ktown Cowboys. Our own Christina Lee dares to interview Danny Cho and she survives.

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International Secret Agents 2010

Korean Beacon — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:26:38 +0000

The International Secret Agents Concerts are back for the biggest year yet in 2010. ISA presented by JCPenney and teaming up with MTV Iggy and 4C The Power are bringing this groundbreaking concert series with a line up of industry buzzing accomplished talent to Los Angeles and New York. International Secret Agents 2010 is coming to New York and Los Angeles. The biggest YouTube stars will be performing and that includes David Choi, Jay Park and the Far East Movement.

For more information and tickets, go to http://internationalsecretagents.com/

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