Articles written by Sophie London

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About me - Sophie London

Freelance writer with almost 20 years' experience in advertising. But please don't hold that against me.

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Politics, News & Issues > Climate Change Debating whether global warming is a threat or just media hype: 9 of 163
My mother lives in Australia where, for years now, she has lived with water rationing. She gets two inches of water a day with which to cook, clean and bathe. Before you start picturing a shack in the desert, let me assure you she lives in a regular house on a typical street. When I left "The Lucky Country" 20-odd years ago,... More..
Home & Garden > Furniture How to buy furniture for small spaces: 2 of 20
When you're furnishing a small space, size matters. But it's not the only thing. Here are some tips to keep in mind to help maximize every square inch.Fit FirstIt may sound obvious, but always measure before you buy. Don't just measure the piece of furniture, or the space it's going in. Make sure it can fit through the door a... More..
Style & Beauty > Style & Beauty (Other) How models are the illusion of beauty: 2 of 17
If you saw the Dove "Evolution" spot, where an ordinary woman is transformed into a model, then you know that the beauty industry is built on fictitious ideals.Big whoop, right? We've already known that for years. Well, yes and no. Most people know that models have a small army of assistants, from hair and make-up, to wardrob... More..
Creative Writing > Humor Humor: Relationships: 12 of 78
Outie bellybuttons scare me a little. I dated a guy who had an outie once. The first time I saw it I practically screamed. It was huge. I mean, this thing looked like an appendage. I almost ran out the door, it was that much of a turn-off. But I decided to stay. Why? Because I didn't want to be shallow.OK, so the guy's not pe... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving The saving crisis: A generation of Americans who can't save money: 7 of 44
North Americans had a negative savings balance in 2001. In other words, the average person spent more than they earned. If that's sounds alarming, it is.Not being able to save is not a new problem. As Dickens' character Mr Micawber observed, "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happin... More..
Business > Advertising Do ads that use sex to sell their products degrade women?: 8 of 48
This is one of those loaded statements, kind of like, "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." Yes, advertisers use sex to sell products. And women are used more often than men for this purpose. But no one is holding a proverbial gun to the head of the women in these ads.Don't get me wrong. I grew up in a feminist househ... More..
Style & Beauty > Makeup Summer beauty tips: 3 of 16
Summer's the perfect time to lighten up on your beauty routine. The key to looking sensational? Keep it simple.This is the season to show off some skin, and there are lots of products on the market that can add a natural-looking glow. Dove Energy Glow and Jergens Natural Glow lotion add a subtle shimmer that catches the sun's... More..
Politics, News & Issues > News Industry How the media uses scare tactics to portray potentially negative news: 11 of 55
Breaking News: 2006 was one of the safest years in aviation history, with the number of crashes at a 43-year low."Airline travel, safer? That's not what I've heard," you're probably thinking. And no wonder.Michael Moore dubbed CNN "The Fear Network" and it's easy to see why. Turn on the news any time of day and you'll see sen... More..
Health & Fitness > Diet Tips Study adds strength to the argument that vegetables reduce cancer risk: 1 of 5
The American Institute for Cancer Research released a study which stated that up to 70 percent of all cancers can be prevented by not smoking, exercising regularly, and following a "predominantly plant-based diet rich in a variety of vegetables."Clearly, you don't have to be card-carrying vegetarian to see the benefit in eati... More..
Computers & Technology > Phone Technologies & Issues Should cell phone use be banned while driving?: 61 of 270
I worked for a company that helped launch cell phone service in North America. Just before it was introduced, a damning study came out that compared driving while talking on a cell phone to driving over the alcohol limit. The study was done in Europe, where cell phone use was already well-established.Everyone held their breat... More..