Renault are attempting to bring a slice of French chic to Britain with their new Megane Experiment.  The idea behind the experiment is to compare the sleepy Lancashire town of Gisburn with the arguably more stylish town of Menton on the Côte d’Azur – and ultimately discover whether or not the new Megane can change a town for the better.

Conducting the investigation is our French friend Claude, who himself hails from Menton. After meeting and greeting the Gisburn residents, Claude sets about explaining how the whole town could benefit from a little extra “Joie de Vivre”. The key indicator used for the test is the local rates of fertility in towns – and Claude is quick to reveal towns with more Meganes have higher fertility rates.

Renault have also set up a microsite, where the whole documentary can be viewed.  Directed by Oscar-nominated director Henry-Alex Rubin, the program is certainly well constructed, not to mention very funny in places - some of the residents are equally as forthcoming as Claude with some of their own opinions on French culture!

In these entertaining video clips tasters, you can see Claude busy at work charming the people of Gisburn, as well as offering them a test drive in his smart new Renault Megane.

Toys R Us is one of the best stores ever to shop in for your kids. They also have a lot of toys for the big kids in your life. We went there recently looking for sporting goods. I was surprised how many softball bats and balls they carried in their stock. We were able to find the kids softball mitts and bats for a great price. Of course we had to look at the other toys on our way out of the store. We found some amazing blocks the kids were so excited to get for themselves. They have a lot of discount options at Toys R Us discount code that other stores don’t even carry. The assortment is amazing. Your kids will be overwhelmed with all the options of toys that they can choose from in this store. You will spend hours in there just letting them decide what toy to buy for themselves. Gift cards are also great from this store since they have so much to buy. Your children will thank you every time that you take them to a Toys R Us. The only problem you are going to have is getting out of the store without breaking the bank. Just remind them you can always come back again!

There are both advantages and disadvantages in dating younger, older and women your own age. Circumstances sometimes put a man in a situation where he ends up dating a woman whose age is not within his usual preference. Should you find yourself in such a situation, here are some things you need to remember.

Dating someone younger

We’re not talking about just five years or so difference between your ages. We are actually on to men in their 40s dating women in their late teens or very early twenties. Some advantages are having someone young in bed, with every part of her in their proper places. Enjoyable sex is usually guaranteed and young women can actually make an older man feel younger.

The disadvantage? She is likely to be immature and will not have much in common with you in terms of habits and likes. And whether you admit it or not, you will always look at younger, more virile men and wonder when and which one she will run away with.

Dating someone older

It has become more common – the cougar concept. For younger men dating older women, the advantage is that she knows where the relationship stands. Most of them are not clingy types and they have likely been around so they know all the tricks to make their men happy in bed.

One disadvantage is that some younger men will inevitably feel inadequate, particularly when the older woman is successful and is part of a social circle that is beyond the younger man’s concept of society. Plus, she might not have the same freshness and figure as younger females, no matter how well she takes care of herself.

Dating someone your own age

A difference of two to three years between you is the same as dating someone your own age. You will likely have a lot in common, having grown up in the same era. What will tip the balance are your individual personalities, not your ages.

Men are usually tasked with providing for the whole family and even though more women are taking over this responsibility, it is still an awkward and an undesirable situation for a man to be unemployed. With the global recession making it even more difficult to find and hold on to a job, men should consider choosing a career in industries that are known for riding out economic downturns. Here are some of them.

1. Pharmaceutical and medical supplies industries. Everything that has something to do with health will always thrive. People require medicines and will get sick no matter what situation the global economy is in.

2. Food manufacturing. Just like drugs and medical supplies, food is a necessity that people will spend money on no matter how little they have to spend.

3. Entertainment industry. Surprising though as this might sound, the worse the economy is doing, the more people go to movies, the theater and watch TV. It is their way of forgetting for an hour or so the difficulties of life and entertainment is always a preferable way to do so.

4. Information technology. No one can imagine a world without IT. Businesses and individuals all rely on this sector for their day to day activities and it has proven to be a recession-proof industry.

Some men are still left in the Dark Ages that they cannot abide to being ordered by a female boss. If this is how you react to a similar situation, then you’re in big trouble since more and more companies have women in top management levels. If you’re not too sure how to behave under such circumstances, here are some tips.

1. Focus on her performance instead of her gender. You should never deny a person his or her dues. Your boss merits respect and loyalty, particularly if she’s doing a fine job.

2. Watch your words. There are jokes and words that will not bother a male boss, but could be construed as offensive by a female boss. Don’t use sexist words around her. Better yet, weed them out of your vocabulary totally for good measure.

3. Be honest and express your views in a polite but dignified manner. The good thing about having a female boss is that most women are good listeners, particularly if you present your case in an inoffensive manner.

4. Work hard and be diligent. Coming to work late and not doing what you’re supposed to do are definite ways to raise her ire. Women are less forgiving if reasons for absences and tardiness are not due to uncontrollable situations (like morning sickness, children or family concerns, etc.). They would never accept a hangover or a late night as a legitimate excuse.

Office politics is a common enough part of employees’ world. This workplace aspect can sometimes make or break a man’s career, particularly if he’s always in the midst of every development. To make sure that it doesn’t hurt your career chances; here are some of the things you need to be aware of.

1. Watch what you say. Even if you have strong opinions about a particular issue, don’t express it unless you are absolutely sure of the consequences that venturing an opinion will produce. Speaking out of turn is always cause for trouble. It would be better to listen and observe first before making any statement.

2. Watch out for people who flatter too much. Those who praise you and others to the moon will likely have their own agenda. These people often build you up for the purpose of having someone to bury when things go wrong. Be careful of individuals who have a habit of staying in the background just urging and supporting, they might not have good intentions.

3. Make yourself indispensable. Hard work and extensive knowledge of the job will always defeat any form of politics. Make your bosses need you by doing your work better than anyone can and you will have immunity.

4. Learn to be diplomatic. It is inevitable that some people will dislike you as much as others will like you. Don’t pick a fight with people who have unfavorable feelings towards you. Try to be polite but noncommittal. As long as they don’t do more than comment and talk, ignoring them would be the better option.

When applying for a job, a man should consider more than the salary being offered. There are other elements that can tip the balance aside from the amount of the monthly paycheck. Here are some things that men should always look at when considering a job offer.

1. Chances for promotion. Find out the parameters that the company has in place when it comes to promotion. Those that do not rely solely on actual statistics are better than firms that depend on numbers alone. You can ask the interviewer about this, they will be willing to discuss it with you and will likely appreciate your interest.

2. Status of the company. Getting a position in a company that has a history of being able to keep upright despite market and national economic downturns are the best companies to work for. They might not offer the highest salaries, but security is more important than actual pay.

3. Additional perks. Between a company offering a stupendous salary and a company offering a reasonable pay but with additional perks – better choose the latter. Firms that have good medical insurance coverage and employee wellness and career development programs are always better than companies that have high salaries but do not consider these perks as priorities.

4. Workplace condition. There are company atmospheres that make you feel good and eager to work. During the interview, get a feel of what it’s like to be in the building and observe what employees’ dispositions are like. If most look happy and the place is well cared for, that should be a plus for the employer.

Having a successful career requires determination and hard work. There are also other factors that can affect a man’s chances of moving up the career ladder. Every guy should strive to move forward and not be satisfied with being on the same position until he retires. Here is some advice on how to do that.

1. Choose a career you like. No point in trying to make it in a field that does not interest you. The less you like your chosen career, the less effort you’re likely to exert. And even if you move up, it is possible that you still will not be satisfied.

2. Take advantage of every opportunity. You know what they say about opportunity, it only knocks once and you’d better be there to open the door and welcome it. Don’t hesitate to take each opportunity or take chances.

3. Learn how to play the office politics game. We’re not saying you need to sacrifice dignity and bow low to every one who has a say on how your career is to shape up. But it is important to keep a balance between being assertive and knowing when to compromise. Also, a person needs to be a good follower first before he can be a good leader.

4. Keep updated. Education does not end once you graduated from college. The most important period of learning comes when you’re employed. Always keep yourself updated on developments in your chosen field and exert more effort to study factors that can affect its success or failure.

Packing your backpack is another important thing to know. Begin with your heaviest items to be near your back and up high in the pack. If you will be skiing or skating, then it is best to balance yourself by lowering your center of gravity. Whatever you will be needing during the day should be near the top so that it is easily accessible.

Another area where tips can come in handy is for sleeping, which means you sleeping bag. This is the most personal item of your outdoor equipment and so you must choose between synthetic or down as your insulating material. You are your heat source and the bag is what retains that heat. Be sure to take a mat to insulate you from the ground as this is another important tip.

Bathroom mixer taps are a good starting point. Design has never been more prominent than in bathroom fixtures such as the basin tap, shower head, and radiator. These are key elements you can use to bring function along with design. From minimalistic to traditional, there are many looks to choose from. Because these are some of the most used, and noticeable aspects of your bathroom, it’s important to give it special focus.

Although changing the tile and sink can be a heavy undertaking, these are also great ways to bring together your remodeling vision. Changing the tap is a little less invasive than pulling up tile, but it is worth the time and effort. Consider your overall vision and it’s ability to adapt to any changes you might implement later; for example, a color palette change. Will the tile and the cabinets match easily with different colors? Most of us won’t remodel our bathroom every year, so it’s important to have the possibility of change.