LIVING LAVSH

2011-02-04T09:10:00.001-08:00

2011-02-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

2010-11-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

19TH CENTURY MEN'S CLOTHING

2010-04-16T10:19:00.001-07:00

Tribeca Film Festival Announces Its Juries

2010-04-14T00:28:00.000-07:00

The Tribeca Film Festival has released its list of jurors and it’s… an, uh, eclectic group. Movieline’s question is a good one: "How did a multi-Grammy winner and part-time actress like [Alicia] Keys wind up jurying doc shorts and student films with the chairman of AOL [Armstrong] and an NYC art baron [Gagosian]?” We’re also puzzled by Jessica Alba judging for World Documentary (uh, her character went to a bunch of different countries in the Fantastic Four movies? That's the best we've got... ) and the Narrative Short Film grouping of the boring guy in The Hangover (Bartha), RPatz's dad in Twilight (Facinelli), an indie director (Dieckmann), Brooke Shields and the co-founder of Twitter (Dorsey).

The full list:

World Competition Categories:
Jurors for the 2010 World Narrative Competition: Hope Davis, Aaron Eckhart, John Hamburg, Cheryl Hines, John Ridley, Gary Ross, Gary Winick.

Jurors for the 2010 World Documentary Competition: Jessica Alba, Margaret Brown, Marshall Curry, Whoopi Goldberg, Aidan Quinn, Eric Steel.

New York Competition Categories:

2010 Best New York Narrative jurors: Selma Blair, Zach Braff, Zoe Cassavetes, Darko Lungulov, Andrew McCarthy.

2010 New York Loves Film Documentary Competition jurors: America Ferrera, Dave Karger, Dan Klores, Scott Neustadter, Kate Snow.

Short Film Competition Categories:

2010 Narrative Short Film jurors: Justin Bartha, Katherine Dieckmann, Jack Dorsey, Peter Facinelli, Brooke Shields.

2010 Documentary and Student Short Film jurors: Perry Miller Adato, Tim Armstrong, Jared Cohen, Scandar Copti, Larry Gagosian, Alicia Keys, Shirin Neshat.

Tribeca Film Festival Picks Jury [Deadline]

By: Josh Duboff

Indian Vogue Tackles Prejudice Against Darker Skin

2010-04-14T00:04:00.000-07:00

The new issue of Indian Vogue contains an editorial heralding darker skin. To wit, five bikini-clad models appear on the cover. The demand for skin-lightening creams grew 18 percent last year, and is expected to rise by 25 percent this year. From the issue:

"Every generation has its share of beauty myths. Perhaps it is time to bust this one," the editorial says. "Time to say that as a magazine we love, and always have loved, the gorgeous colour of Indian skin ... dark, dusky, bronze, golden — whatever you call it, we love it."

British Vogue reports that fashion insiders in India are thrilled with the cover, and think the fashion industry is a good agent for a change in attitudes toward skin color.

Dawn Of Dusk [Vogue UK]

By: Amy Odell

In rotation..

2010-04-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

LVMH Sales Increase Suggests Luxury Goods Are on the Rebound!

2010-04-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Rich people really are shopping again! Today LVMH reported an 11 percent revenue increase for the fourth quarter, thanks to increased demand for Champagne, watches, and jewelry — all categories hit hardest in the luxury-goods industry in the downturn. Sales for the three months ending March 31 totaled $6.2 billion versus $5.26 billion in the same period last year. With a comparable structure and constant exchange rates, that's an increase of 13 percent. Wall Street is just tickled by the numbers:

Analysts said the report showed a strong start to the year. "This set of results confirms my expectation of a fast-rebounding luxury market, supported by exceptional strength in emerging markets and a wholesale rebound," said Bernstein analyst Luca Solca.

Fashion and leather-goods sales increased 8 percent (or 10 percent organically). This division is home to Louis Vuitton, making it one of the recession's most resilient brands.

While LVMH's watch and jewelry sales fell 13 percent in 2009, they posted a 33 percent gain for the first quarter. As the industry has shown us, every sexy man needs a great watch.

However, LVMH isn't taking the numbers for granted. In light of the "uncertainty of the strength of the economic recovery," the company said, it plans to be very strict with costs and investments. So as you see, it's not all about spending just yet.

LVMH Sales Rise 11 Percent in First Quarter [WWD]
UPDATE: LVMH Revenue Jumps As Distributors Start Restocking [WSJ]

By: Amy Odell

New giant lizard species found in the Philippines

2010-04-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

The forests of Northern Philippines have yielded a new species of giant monitor lizard, scientists have said.

The brightly-coloured lizard measures two metres (6ft 6in) in length and was found in the forests of the heavily populated Luzon Island.

This secretive, fruit-eating species came as an "unprecedented surprise", scientists reported in the journal Royal Society Biology Letters.

Discovery of a previously unknown species of larger animal is quite rare, they said.

The species, native to the forests of the central and northern Sierra Madre range, has been christened Varanus bitatawa. Biologists have conducted relatively few surveys of reptiles and amphibians in these areas.

According to genetic tests, the species is closely related to the monitor lizard, which exist three non-forested river valleys away on the island. This indicates that the lizards never left the forest area to hazard into open areas.

The scientists said the discovery highlighted the "unexplored nature of the Philippines" and that the species could become a flagship species for conservation efforts to preserve the remaining forests of the region

MULTIDIMENSIONAL

2010-04-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

In rotation..

2010-04-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

Can Chocolate Actually Brighten Your Mood?

2010-04-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

Willy Wonka, meet the Dalai Lama: The latest ingredient to infuse dark chocolate is the goodwill of meditating monks, which is said to lift one's mood above and beyond the usual bliss. O staffers were more than happy to put it to the test.

Intentional chocolate, a Los Angeles–based company, uses an electronic device that supposedly "records" the good intentions of meditating Buddhist monks and broadcasts them into a room where its confections are stored. According to a 2007 pilot study, coauthored by company founder Jim Walsh and published in the journal Explore, eating one ounce of the candy per day boosted positive mood and energy levels by an average of 67 percent after three days (as gauged by a psychological questionnaire). Skeptical? We were, too.

So we set out to mimic the study's design as closely as possible, enlisting the expertise of Dean Radin, PhD, senior scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences in Petaluma, California, who led the Explore study. The company graciously sent us two batches of dark chocolate, one infused with the monks' intentions and one not. (Important to note: We were double-blind—i.e., clueless—as to which was which.) Twenty-two of our staffers were divided into two groups—"intentional" and "control"—and filled out a mood questionnaire while eating their chocolate for three days.

The results? It was actually the control group who showed a positive trend of increased well-being—although the intentional group did have the biggest mood surge on the first day of chocolate eating. Still, we're inclined to believe Walsh when he says, "There's more to food than simply what's sitting on our table." For centuries, the religious have blessed water, bread, and wine. And who would argue that a meal cooked with love by a friend or spouse isn't more satisfying than takeout?

The best gift you can give your body, your soul—even your planet? Delicious, flavorful, satisfying food

By Lauren Dzubow

Are You Attracted to the Wrong Type?

2010-04-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why some men and women repeatedly fall for people ill-suited for them? Here are four possibilities.

Print Email RSS .You’ve probably heard the famous quote by Albert Einstein that says, “Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”

Given that definition, plenty of singles might want to get a mental health check-up. Why? Because lots of men and women are attracted to potential partners they’re pretty sure are wrong for them—confirmed by a history of failed relationships—but convince themselves that “This time it’s going to be different!”

Sure, it could be ... but probably not.

We see it all the time: otherwise sharp, insightful individuals who fall for someone who is clearly (that is, clearly to friends, family members, and other objective people) not the kind of person who will make for a long-term, well-matched, soul-mate-quality partner.

Why do people keep falling in love for all the wrong reasons? At the risk of oversimplifying a complex dynamic, consider four prevalent possibilities:

1. Inadequate self-understanding. People who find themselves in one unsuccessful relationship after another usually do not know themselves well. They haven’t done much introspection, reflection, and self-evaluation—and therefore, they aren’t clear about what kind of person would make a marvelous match. If you want to select a superb partner, the place to start is with a careful understanding of exactly who you are. The more you know about yourself, the clearer will be your sense of inner direction when it comes to finding the love of your life.

2. Enticed by externals. Our culture places such overwhelming emphasis on appearance that even the wisest among us forget that external beauty is not a reliable predictor of internal goodness. Yes, there are plenty of beautiful people who are also kind, caring, and unselfish. But a pervasive myth in our society asserts that those who have it all together on the outside must have it all together on the inside. Eye-catching men and women have just as many hang-ups as those considered average or below average.

3. A case of “compensating.” Lots of men and women try to compensate for some real or perceived personality deficiency by choosing a partner who has the qualities they lack. This is precisely why opposites attract. A shy girl is drawn to an outgoing, life-of-the-party type of guy. A slob finds a neatnik irresistible. A man from an uptight, rigid family falls madly in love with a free-spirited, flaky woman. But how do these matches usually turn out? In a word, badly. Qualities that are attractive or easily overlooked at the beginning of a relationship often prove difficult to live with in the long run. Differences often create early attraction, but similarities almost always sustain enduring and satisfying relationships.

4. Trying to re-do or resolve past hurts. Attraction is often fueled by unmet childhood needs, so we may seek a partner who will help us meet those needs. Speaking about couples in mismatched marriages, psychologist Harville Hendrix explains: “The part of your brain that directed your search for a mate was trying to re-create the conditions of your upbringing, in order to correct them. It was attempting to return to the scene of your original frustration so that you could resolve your unfinished business.”1 This is not always a bad thing, but looking for someone to fulfill unmeet needs can cause us to overlook other relationship qualities that are detrimental.

If you find yourself attracted to members of the opposite sex who are mismatched for you, take a close look at why this is. The more you understand the reasons for your attraction, the better prepared you’ll be to make an excellent choice in the future.

1. Harville Hendrix, Getting the Love You Want (New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1988), p. 36

Dalai Lama

2010-04-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

The renowned spiritual leader tells why material things can't satisfy the soul, why compassion can, and the startlingly simple secret to having no regrets.

He calls himself "a simple Buddhist monk"—a man who rises at 4 A.M. and spends hours each day in prayer and meditation. Yet his nonviolent efforts to free his country, Tibet, have made His Holiness the Dalai Lama an international symbol of peace during the past four decades. In the 46 countries the Dalai Lama has been invited to visit, thousands of people have flocked to hear him speak on what he believes is his most meaningful message—that compassion toward others is the surest path to happiness.

Born Lhamo Thondup in 1935 in the Tibetan village of Taktser, he was first recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama—the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama—at the age of 2. (Several signs led a group of monks, who had been on a two-year search for their next leader, to the toddler.) The boy was taken to a nearby monastery for a year and a half and then moved to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, with his family when he was 4. There, tutors prepared him to one day assume spiritual and political guidance of his country.

In 1950 the Dalai Lama was forced to take on that role at the age of 15, two years ahead of schedule. In an act of unprovoked aggression, China invaded and overtook Tibet. The Dalai Lama's peaceful attempts to regain his country's autonomy were to no avail. In 1959 tension between the Tibetans and the Chinese became so intense that, on the heels of violent outbreaks he had tried to prevent, the Dalai Lama fled for asylum in nearby India. More than 120,000 Tibetans have since followed. It is there, from the city of Dharamsala, that His Holiness has led the Tibetan people for 42 years.

It has not been a silent exile. During his early years in India, the Dalai Lama put forth a democratic constitution for a future free Tibet, based on Buddhist principles and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations. In Washington, D.C., at the 1987 Congressional Human Rights Caucus, he proposed a plan calling for the designation of Tibet as a zone of peace and for an end to the massive transfer of ethnic Chinese into his country. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He has written more than 35 books, including The Art of Happiness (Riverhead Books), which has been a best-seller in the United States since 1998.

I met with His Holiness during one of his many trips to Washington, D.C., a trip that also included his visit with President Bush at the White House. About a dozen Buddhists in colorful Tibetan attire waited in the hallways of the hotel where the Dalai Lama stayed, hoping for a chance to hear him speak. In our time together, we talked about everything from whether he harbors any regrets to what he considers a good day—and how every person can find the secret to a joyful life.

Oprah: Though many Americans have read your book about happiness, some still don't understand how to achieve it. How can someone attain true happiness in a culture that emphasizes materialism?

Dalai Lama: Even when a person has all of life's comforts—good food, good shelter, a companion—he or she can still become unhappy when encountering a tragic situation. Physical comforts cannot subdue mental suffering, and if we look closely we can see that those who have many possessions are not necessarily happy. In fact, being wealthy often brings even more anxiety. On the other hand, those who don't have a life filled with luxury may have a home filled with compassion, based on their choice to be content and to practice self-discipline. Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.

Oprah: So happiness begins in our minds?

Dalai Lama: Yes. That's why mental happiness is more important than physical comfort. Physical comfort comes from the material. But material facilities cannot provide you with peace of mind.

Oprah: That's right.

Dalai Lama: When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, "Oh yes—I already have everything that I really need."

Oprah: What I took away from The Art of Happiness is that compassion is the key to tranquility and peace of mind. But how can you be compassionate toward others when you yourself are suffering?

Dalai Lama: When a person is in a miserable situation, then, yes, it is difficult to develop genuine compassion toward others. That's why I find it difficult to say to poor people, "Please have compassion toward millionaires." That's not easy. And yet even the rich have their own kind of suffering, anxiety, doubt, and fear. So in many cases, wealthy people aren't happy! And once those with material wealth encounter small difficulties, their amount of mental suffering is sometimes bigger than it is for those who have faced such difficulties every day.

Oprah: Though many Americans have read your book about happiness, some still don't understand how to achieve it. How can someone attain true happiness in a culture that emphasizes materialism?

Dalai Lama: Even when a person has all of life's comforts—good food, good shelter, a companion—he or she can still become unhappy when encountering a tragic situation. Physical comforts cannot subdue mental suffering, and if we look closely we can see that those who have many possessions are not necessarily happy. In fact, being wealthy often brings even more anxiety. On the other hand, those who don't have a life filled with luxury may have a home filled with compassion, based on their choice to be content and to practice self-discipline. Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.

Oprah: So happiness begins in our minds?

Dalai Lama: Yes. That's why mental happiness is more important than physical comfort. Physical comfort comes from the material. But material facilities cannot provide you with peace of mind.

Oprah: That's right.

Dalai Lama: When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, "Oh yes—I already have everything that I really need."

Oprah: What I took away from The Art of Happiness is that compassion is the key to tranquility and peace of mind. But how can you be compassionate toward others when you yourself are suffering?

Dalai Lama: When a person is in a miserable situation, then, yes, it is difficult to develop genuine compassion toward others. That's why I find it difficult to say to poor people, "Please have compassion toward millionaires." That's not easy. And yet even the rich have their own kind of suffering, anxiety, doubt, and fear. So in many cases, wealthy people aren't happy! And once those with material wealth encounter small difficulties, their amount of mental suffering is sometimes bigger than it is for those who have faced such difficulties every day.

Oprah: Though many Americans have read your book about happiness, some still don't understand how to achieve it. How can someone attain true happiness in a culture that emphasizes materialism?

Dalai Lama: Even when a person has all of life's comforts—good food, good shelter, a companion—he or she can still become unhappy when encountering a tragic situation. Physical comforts cannot subdue mental suffering, and if we look closely we can see that those who have many possessions are not necessarily happy. In fact, being wealthy often brings even more anxiety. On the other hand, those who don't have a life filled with luxury may have a home filled with compassion, based on their choice to be content and to practice self-discipline. Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.

Oprah: So happiness begins in our minds?

Dalai Lama: Yes. That's why mental happiness is more important than physical comfort. Physical comfort comes from the material. But material facilities cannot provide you with peace of mind.

Oprah: That's right.

Dalai Lama: When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, "Oh yes—I already have everything that I really need."

Oprah: What I took away from The Art of Happiness is that compassion is the key to tranquility and peace of mind. But how can you be compassionate toward others when you yourself are suffering?

Dalai Lama: When a person is in a miserable situation, then, yes, it is difficult to develop genuine compassion toward others. That's why I find it difficult to say to poor people, "Please have compassion toward millionaires." That's not easy. And yet even the rich have their own kind of suffering, anxiety, doubt, and fear. So in many cases, wealthy people aren't happy! And once those with material wealth encounter small difficulties, their amount of mental suffering is sometimes bigger than it is for those who have faced such difficulties every day.

Oprah: Is Buddhism a path to happiness?

Dalai Lama: Certainly—though some people get the impression that Buddhism talks too much about suffering. In order to become prosperous, a person must initially work very hard, so he or she has to sacrifice a lot of leisure time. Similarly, the Buddhist is willing to sacrifice immediate comfort so that he or she can achieve lasting happiness. And in order to develop the willpower it takes to sacrifice, you must first realize that spending all your time and energy pursuing material comforts means you will eventually suffer. It's all about positive and negative consequences. It's very important to be aware that there are long-term consequences [for every action].

Oprah: Though you believe that Buddhism is a path to happiness, you've encouraged others to remain in their own faiths. True?

Dalai Lama: That's right. I always emphasize that it is much safer and better to keep one's own religious faith. The other major religions are thousands of years old and have long traditions.

Oprah: Do you believe that someone can be a Christian and still practice Buddhism?

Dalai Lama: Yes, I think so. There are techniques of Buddhism, such as meditation, that anyone can adopt. And, of course, there are Christian monks and nuns who already use Buddhist methods in order to develop their devotion, compassion, and ability to forgive.

Oprah: What function does religion serve in our lives?

Dalai Lama: It helps us to develop compassion, caring, and, I think, a sense of purpose.

Oprah: And what is our purpose here on earth?

Dalai Lama: To help one another.

Oprah: So the whole reason we are on this planet is to serve each other?

Dalai Lama: That's right.

Oprah: Can a person be good without practicing religion?

Dalai Lama: Yes. And he or she can also be happy.

Oprah: Is it possible for everyone to be happy?

Dalai Lama: It is possible—absolutely. And it is worthwhile for one to make an effort to achieve happiness. Just as the purpose of a plant is to grow, so it is that the main purpose of every human being is to survive and to grow until death. As far as mental development is concerned, we should never be complacent. We can develop our minds infinitely—there is no limitation. Many of us are discontent with how many possessions we have, but we're content when it comes to our spiritual development. That is the mistake we make.

Oprah: That's big! If we all understood that our sole purpose is to help others, wouldn't that change humanity?

Dalai Lama: Yes, and understanding that begins with changing our attitude. We must realize that it is best to focus on our oneness, to reemphasize what is the same about each of us rather than dwell on what is different. Yes, there are differences between us. But it doesn't make sense to emphasize that, because my future and yours is connected with everyone else's. So we have to take seriously our concern for all of humanity. When we focus on our individuality, humanity inevitably suffers. And once humanity suffers, each one of us will also suffer.

For example, a few minutes ago there was a fire alarm in this building. I responded immediately—not because this building is part of my body but because I am here, in it. That's why I have to take care of it. Similarly, whether we love humanity or not, we must realize that we are part of it. My future depends entirely on the future of humanity, and so I am compelled to take care of humanity. That is why being compassionate is actually in my own best interest. And a symptom of my own peace of mind is that I can share comfort with others around me.

Oprah: Doesn't practicing gratitude also affect our lives in the same way that compassion does?

Dalai Lama: That's very true. When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.

Oprah: True. Can we talk now about what it's like to be you? When you were first discovered as the Dalai Lama, did you feel that there was something special about you?

Dalai Lama: No.

Oprah: There wasn't a part of you that had always known you were different?

Dalai Lama: Sometimes, I do feel that, yes, I may feel some effect from previous lives. In the early mornings, when I am still half asleep and half awake, my mind is very clear. And when I am in this special twilight state, I have had glimpses of memory from past lives in which I identify with those from, in some cases, one or two centuries ago. I once had a feeling that I might have been in Egypt 600 years ago.

Oprah: Do you feel you're different from most humans?

Dalai Lama: No, no, no.

Oprah: So like every other human, are you your own master?

Dalai Lama: Yes.

Oprah: But you are the master of no one else.

Dalai Lama: That's true, too.

Oprah: Growing up, did you miss having a regular childhood?

Dalai Lama: Fortunately, I had playmates, though most of them were grown-ups.

Oprah: Have you ever wanted a family or children?

Dalai Lama: No. Well, when I was around 15 or 16, I had some interest. That was biological. But then some of my older playmates who were monks later became laypeople, and they told me about some of the complications of leading a family life. Of course, there can be great pleasure in having a family, but there are a lot of problems, too.

Oprah: I've read that you spend many hours a day in meditation. What value does meditation have for even non-Buddhists?

Dalai Lama: Meditation is valuable for all of humanity because it involves looking inward. People don't have to be religious to look inside themselves more carefully. It is constructive and worthwhile to analyze our emotions, including compassion and our sense of caring, so that we can become more calm and happy. Hatred, jealousy, and fear hinder peace of mind. When you're angry or unforgiving, for example, your mental suffering is constant. It is better to forgive than to spoil your peace of mind with ill feelings.

Oprah: You seem to have a lot of joy. What makes you happy?

Dalai Lama: I don't take myself too seriously! That makes me happy.

Oprah: What is a perfect day for you?

Dalai Lama: There's never a perfect day. There is no perfection in the world.

Oprah: So what would make a good day— a day when you really have fun and laugh a lot?

Dalai Lama: I really like gardening and playing with mechanical things. And when I have leisure time, I spend some of it reading and studying—mainly Tibetan Buddhist texts, as well as readings on my favorite subjects like compassion and altruism. On those days when I can spend a few hours getting some understanding, I feel fulfilled. I feel as if I have made good use of my time.

Oprah: Do you work so hard and travel so much because you want to bring attention to what is happening to the Tibetan people?

Dalai Lama: Not necessarily. Just this morning I read a newspaper that said something like "The Dalai Lama visited six cities in order to explain the Chinese oppression of Tibet." That's wrong. I have never been anyplace where I was not first invited. And upon invitation, if I feel that there is potential for making some contribution to humanity, I will comply in spite of being tired.

Oprah: Will you be unhappy if Tibet has not gained its independence before your death?

Dalai Lama: If I were to die today, I would have some concern for Tibet. But I know that I have personally done as much as I can to use my existence for others. So I have no regret.

Oprah: None?

Dalai Lama: That's right.

Oprah: Have you ever had to forgive yourself for anything?

Dalai Lama: I've had to forgive myself for small incidents, like accidentally killing an insect. My attitude toward mosquitoes and bedbugs is not very favorable or peaceful!

Oprah: Have you ever had to forgive yourself for any big mistakes?

Dalai Lama: I make small mistakes every day. But major mistakes? It doesn't seem so. I've examined my service to the Tibetan people and to humanity, and I've done as much as I can in my life.

Oprah: One last question: Every month I do a column in the magazine called "What I Know for Sure." What do you know for sure?

Dalai Lama: Altruism is the best source of happiness. There is no doubt about that.

LAVSH x uffie x pharrell x kaws x porsche on Uffie shoot

2010-04-11T19:14:00.000-07:00

Chad Hugo of the neptunes wearing LAVSH. Curious to see what LAVSH piece Pharell is wearing...

Pharrell Williams was spotted in LA driving a Porsche 550 Spyder adorned with custom KAWS artwork. He and Chad Hugo (N.E.R.D.) are in town shooting a music video with Paris-based entertainer Uffie. They’ll be around tonight as well. Catch them if you can!

For more info, go to:

http://bbcicecream.com/blog/2010/04/09/uffie-x-pharrell-x-kaws-x-porsche-x-la-x-video-x/

Mos Def on Yo Gabba Gabba!

2010-04-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

- I THING MOS MIGHT WIN AN OSCAR FOR HIS PERFORMANCE HERE...

Pharrell Interview w/ The Duke Chronicle

2010-04-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

- Do you love what you do?

In rotation..

2010-04-10T20:15:00.001-07:00

Download here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=G8TRRJ98

Download here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?0jjdiyxuzyx

New Website Allows Anyone to Invest $50 in Young Labels

2010-04-07T00:20:00.000-07:00

The forthcoming website Fashion Stake is the brainchild of Harvard Business School student Vivian Weng. She previously worked in finance, helping fashion companies secure funding. "Fashion’s dirty little secret is that no one really has a lot of money — even people who are well-known and household names,” she told WWD. “One designer’s first round of financing took 18 months to complete." With her new site, launching this fall, she aims to give young labels a shot at funding from the masses. Anyone can invest just $50 in a label they like.
By buying a $50 stake in a company, “supporters” will be given credits to put toward clothing purchases, as well as special offers like exclusive previews, showroom visits and fashion show invitations. Interestingly, case studies have indicated shoppers value having personal experiences with designers more than getting discounts, Weng said. Supporters will also vote for the styles they would like to see produced.

Well, anyone who has witnessed the gloating faces of front-row fashion-show guests knows personal experiences with designers are more important to fashion folk than discounts no one can actually see them use. Fashion Stake plans to start with no more than five designers, including Project Runway alum Althea Harper. All labels on the site must have produced previous collections and have an established fan base. Established designers Weng declined to name will also produce capsule collections for the site.

The interesting thing about sites like Fashion Stake is what the concept could mean for fashion consultants. Many labels spend plenty of money to have editors or other advisers come in and tell them what they think women want. With a site like Fashion Stake, labels can go directly to the shopping masses with vested interest in the label and find out. And to think, established print fashion editors are still trying to wrap their brains around bloggers.

By: Amy Odell

How Sex Is Like Pizza...

2010-04-07T00:16:00.000-07:00

Today's man can virtually MapQuest the G-spot. But who's got directions to the male un-zip code? To help us find our way, Drew Pinsky, MD, agreed to answer a few blunt questions. Better known as Dr. Drew, this straight-shooting cohost of Loveline, a two-hour radio show on sex and relationships, has spent 18 years with his sidekick, Adam Carolla, advising callers in all matters of romance.

For men, what's the difference between okay sex and great sex?

Well, it is about how the woman looks to the man. It's who he's with that makes the difference…Men do a very, very careful evaluation of physicality…Men look at beauty in terms of genetic loading for fertility and health, although we're not doing it consciously—because men almost never consciously want to have children. So it's things like facial symmetry and glowing skin, signs of good health and the ability to carry a child, that translate to attractiveness for a male. Very primitive stuff.

What about men in their 40s and over, for whom having children is less of an issue?

We still maintain that physical bias throughout life. But when the testosterone levels go down in the 40s, men become more interested in intimacy.

But women shouldn't worry about the actual mechanics. To men, the whole idea of good or better sex is laughable. Sex for us is like pizza, okay? You put anchovies on it, you put pineapple on it—all of it's good. Ultimately, what matters for him is that you're there, and that you'll do whatever particular things he's interested in. Also it matters that you're excited. Women are sometimes so busy worrying about what they can do to make sex great, they forget that what makes it great for the guy is to rock you. Admittedly, part of that great feeling for him is thinking that he's doing something to make you want to have sex with him again.

What about oral sex?

Guys say there's no such thing as a good blow job—just the fact that it's a blow job is good. But they want you to show love to the phallus because it's a reflection of them.

Do some men prefer receiving oral sex to having intercourse?

Yes. There is absolutely no science on this, but my sense from talking to callers on Loveline is that those guys tend to be a little more narcissistic and tend to have been more neglected in childhood. True intimacy requires reciprocity, and these guys are not so into that.

Let's talk about porn, and men with wandering eyes. Should we just get over it?

These male habits are natural, unstoppable instincts. But we're not saying that's the way a man has to—or should—behave. And sometimes the only way he'll change his behavior is if the woman requires it.

How hard is it for a man to be monogamous?

Not that difficult. Listen, cheating harms your marriage, your wife, your children, and your family. Does a man need more motivation than that?

When a man is having sex with a woman, what is he likely to be thinking about?

He's like a pilot landing a plane, absolutely completely zeroed in. And what's going through his head is: Oh my God, she's having sex with me.

What are guys insecure about?

Am I good enough? Am I big enough? Am I doing this right? Is she really into it? Men are also confused because women's sexual responses are so extremely varied.

Do guys exchange notes in the locker room?

They talk a little among themselves, but typically a guy will work things out on his own with one relationship and then apply what he learns to everybody else. Then he's bewildered when his technique doesn't work.

Are men threatened by female sexuality?

If a woman comes on to a guy, he could not be happier. Period, end of story. Now, when it's over, he's going to go, "I wonder if she does that with other guys." And that's where he gets threatened.

What's the one thing men don't want women to find out about them, ever?

Most men could not admit this, but it's how much they need women. They don't want you to know that having the power of "yes" or "no" means you hold all the cards.

Okay, switching gears: I'm going to say a word or phrase, and you tell me how much of a turn-on it is for men, from 1 to 10. The first is making a woman orgasm.

That's an absolute 10 for some men and a 3 for others. But on average it's about an 8 or 9. It's important.

A woman talking dirty?

For some guys that's a 10, but the overall rating: about a 4.

A fit body? A woman who works out?

That's an 8.

Next, let's do the same thing with turnoffs: 1 to 10, 10 being the biggest turnoff. A woman who doesn't feel good about her body?

That's up there in the turnoff category: 7 or 8.

Breast implants?

For most guys about a 7, though there are some who are into them.

Request for more intimacy in the relationship?

Say that again?

How can a woman—

Intimacy, sex, huh? I'm responding like a typical male.

Yeah, right. And you're not exactly in your 20s. I just have one more question. How do you like your pizza?

A good thick sauce, occasionally some mushrooms, and regular crust—emphasis on the regular.

In rotation..

2010-04-07T00:15:00.000-07:00

How happiness is contagious

2010-04-07T00:10:00.000-07:00

"Six degrees of separation" isn't just a good plot line. Science shows the theory has dramatic implications for spreading cheer from one person to the next.

The theory that everyone on the planet is only a half dozen people away from knowing everyone else was popularized by John Guare's 1993 movie Six Degrees of Separation. Now research by a pair of social scientists might have Hollywood thinking of a sequel: Three Degrees of Connection.

Using statistical analyses of thousands of subjects, a study in The British Medical Journal has shown that happiness actually spreads from person to person, up to three connections away. "So if your friend's friend's friend becomes happier, it ripples through the network and affects you, even if you don't know that person," says author Nicholas Christakis, MD, a medical sociology professor at Harvard Medical School. Proximity plays a part: A happy sibling who is a mile away can increase your probability of happiness by up to 14 percent; a nearby friend, by 25 percent; and a next-door neighbor, by 34 percent. Interestingly, the effect also applies to smoking and obesity, Christakis has shown. "If people around you gain weight, it changes your expectations about what an acceptable body size is," he explains. "Our work strongly suggests that when one person quits smoking, loses weight, or becomes happy, others around her follow suit. I am reluctant to suggest you pick your friends solely on this basis, but one could say that helping a friend do better is a roundabout way of helping yourself."

2010-04-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan has been called many things since he burst onto the comedy scene: outrageous, unpredictable, brilliant.Tracy first wowed audiences when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1996. He made a name for himself with impressions of Star Jones and Maya Angelou, and these days he's earning Emmy nods for his portrayal of Tracy Jordan, the pampered, impulsive star of a late-night sketch comedy show on NBC's 30 Rock.Though his crazy reputation precedes him, Tracy says that's only his on-camera persona. "I don't run down the street in my underwear in real life, you know," he says. "I'm pretty subdued. Off-camera, I'm just regular. Where I come from, that was normal—taking your shirt off at parties. Like at Studio 54, people did it all the time. That was partying. But I don't do that just totally in public."

On a regular day at home, Tracy says he sits back and relaxes like any other guy. "I'm just normal, watching ESPN. Not doing nothing crazy," he says. "My humor is based on reality, so I'm in the moment and I'm just keeping my mind open so I don't miss anything. I'm still observing everything, but I'm normal. I'm not being funny. At home with my kids, there's no pressure to be funny. I'm Dad."

Even with all the attention and accolades he receives, Tracy says he doesn't put pressure on himself to be anything other than himself. "When I go to work, I go to work. But when I'm home, I don't feel the pressure to be funny all the time. I don't have to be," he says. "I'm like Marvin Gaye. I'm funny when I feel like it."

When Tracy was first introduced to the world, he said he did feel some pressure to perform for a white audience. "I came from a world of black," he says. "I never did comedy in front of white people, and I would get discouraged, because it's really hard at Saturday Night Live. And then one night, it was about 4 in the morning, Lorne Michaels called me and I guess he saw me frustrated and he said: 'Tracy, you're not here because you're black. You're here because you're funny.' And my fangs came down and I began to feed. ... I didn't have the burden of having the black community on my [shoulders], because sometimes that can just weigh you down. It was just about being funny and free and not worrying and exposing your flaws. Because the writers come from a different world, and sometimes you have to be patient because they don't know your voice."

Tracy says his biggest influences in comedy have been Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. "I remember before I started going comedy, I went to Def Jam. A friend of mine worked for Russell Simmons, so he took me to Def Jam the first season Martin hosted, and I was watching and I said: 'This guy is where I'm from. He's speaking my language; he's talking about things. I could do that,'" he says. "Four months later, I was on Def Jam doing comedy with him."

Tracy says he realized he was funny at an early age. "My older brother has cerebral palsy. ... So when the kids sometimes could be mean in the schoolyard, I couldn't go get my big brother. So I had to learn how to make the bullies laugh," he says. "I knew I was funny when the bullies were on my side and they protected me."

Using comedy to connect with people has always been one of Tracy's strong suits, and he says one of the reasons working with Tina Fey on both SNL and 30 Rock has been so successful is that she understands his humor. "She's my friend. I love her," he says. "She understood that I knew who I was. Where everybody else [said]: 'Oh, he don't know. His whole career is chance.' And she understood that I was making choices. I was making choices on TV. And she not only would write things, she would just encourage me."

In one of his ongoing bits, Tracy loves to joke about his relationship with Oprah. He told David Letterman that she was his Valentine and claims he ran into Stedman at an airport and got in a fight over her. "This goes back to high school, you know, when me and you was messing around," he jokes. "You always running up on me, trying to approach me. You know, this is my woman. [Stedman] know it."

Tracy says his self-proclaimed irresistible charisma is a blessing and a curse. "Charm, man, charm. I've got that charm, you know? And your teeth is pretty and stuff, all you have to do is smile," he says. "I'm the black Svengali."

The perfect woman, Tracy says, is an independent woman. "I like a strong woman, but she's got to be weak enough to need me. I need to be there. I need to be like, she needs to be with me and I need to be with her. It's unity—united we stand, divided we fall. We've got to be tighter than pantyhose two sizes too small," he says. "It would help that she had her own talk show."

When it comes to monogamy, Tracy's says he's working on it. "I try to be," he says. "I'm a man. I've learned to just glance. ... Women are God's greatest creation. Men may be first, but women is his greatest. There would be planet of the apes without you all."

Tracy's wooed women with plenty of romantic gestures, he says. He's bought one woman a puppy, or sent 50 dozen roses, but the most romantic thing he's done? "I painted her toenails," he says. "Just me and her and her toenails. She had fingernail polish all over her feet, but I tried."

One of the funniest things about Tracy is his honesty, a lesson he says he learned from his dad. "My father was a righteous man. I loved him. He never lied to me about nothing. All his drug addictions, the reason why him and my mom broke up," Tracy says. "My father was a very funny man on the level of Richard Pryor. And where I come from, your sense of humor is the knife in which you cut through the wilderness of despair. ... Richard Pryor was honest with us, and I learned that was the best policy. So I'd tell my story and have nothing to hide. I'm me. This is me."

In 2006, Tracy was arrested for drunk driving and says he had to wear a monitor bracelet. "That was my rock bottom," he says. "Some people never hit rock bottom. Death is rock bottom for a lot of people because of their addiction and sickness, and for me that was rock bottom because there was a time where professionally things were happening—I'm making a movie with Ice Cube, I'm doing this and I'm doing that and then I'm home one day and I've got this thing on my ankle and my oldest son is looking at me and he [said]: 'What are you doing? What if I started drinking and driving, would that be cool?' And that was the last time. That was it."

Tracy says he's been sober now for three years. "It's not even like I try. I don't even think about it," he says. "If I go to a club or to a restaurant, I don't focus on what I don't want. I don't go into a restaurant: 'Oh, I hope I don't drink. I hope I don't get drunk.' No, I'll go: 'I want seltzer water. This is what I want now.' I focus on what I want rather than what I don't want."

Every father has a dream for his sons, and Tracy says his dream is simple. "I would just want them to have happiness, joy and good health in their life. And to just be respected and respectful," he says.Tracy says he's extremely close with his kids. "I'm a great dad. I think I'm number one. That's what they tell me."

Tracy's latest film, Death at a Funeral, co-stars comedians Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence and is about a dark family secret that comes out at the funeral for the family's patriarch. "It's surreal for me. I mean Martin and Chris Rock are my heroes. They're two of my heroes in comedy, and to be able to work with those guys? It was a dream. I did a movie with those guys!" he says. "And I made Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence laugh on the set." Tracy says his next goal is to work with Will Smith and Eddie Murphy. Or, as he calls them, "William Smith and Ed Murph."

Shabazz Palaces - "Belhaven Meridian" [OFFICIAL]

2010-04-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

Here is my favorite video of Kahlil`s. There is a great reference in this video to Charles Burrent`s seminal 1977 master piece KILLER OF SHEEP in this video. More to come on KILLER OF SHEEP soon. Thank you to my good friend and new mother Karon Vereen for showing me this video.

NEW Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar (Official Video)

2010-04-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

We seem to be on a role with the Aloe post so I thought I would keep it going. Aloe also went to SC with us. This video was directed by my friend Kahlil Joseph and was edited by another friend Aaron Morris who just edited my soon to be released fashion film MAVU.

MIXTAPE !!! MIXTAPE !!! - GREAT MIXTAPE SITE

2010-04-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

My good friend Davon from SC has a dope mixtape site called MIXTAPE!!! MIXTAPE !!!. Check out all the great mixtapes that he has collected on his blog.

Here are two of Dav`s post from MIXTAPE !!! MIXTAPE!!! about Stones Throw artist Dam Funk as well as an MJ tribute mixtape. Check out this site for more mixtapes here at MIXTAPE !!! MIXTAPE !!!.

also you can see DAM new video below.
Thanks Dav

the rep

June 19, 2009 by mixtapesmixtapes

When I was working at the RECORD STORE back in the day we had this policy that we couldn’t hold records for customers longer than three days. That was it, we’d had enough carrying your crap you ain’t gonna buy. We didn’t bend the rule for anyone.

Well, except for DAM. That fool would have us hold like 8 records and we always held until he came back. It might take a couple weeks but Dam always came back for those records, new exactly what he had and how many. The man loves to dig. REALY LOVES TO DIG. And that earns you rep in the record store.

It makes me feel like all is right in the world seeing Dam come up right now. The machine doesn’t always allow for good cats to get theirs. But on top of doing what he loves and in a way that no one else is doing he is also the coolest motherfucker you will meet.

LISTEN!!! – DAM FUNK on ONE DAY LATER

August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

July 9, 2009 by mixtapesmixtapes

REST IN PEACE

LISTEN!!! – DEA R MICHAEL PART 1 and PART 2

(tracklist)

LISTEN!!! – COO KING SOUL’S MICHAEL TRIBUTE

(tracklist)

LISTEN!!! – DJ SLIMM’S TRIBUTE TO THE KIN G

(tracklist)

I DONT WATCH TV... BUT THESE ADS ARE PRETTY WELL DONE

2010-04-05T17:52:00.000-07:00

Ex–French Vogue Fashion Director to W?

2010-04-05T16:18:00.000-07:00

Ex–French Vogue fashion director Marie Amelie Sauve is rumored to be a top contender for a job at W under Stefano Tonchi. After leaving French Vogue last year, she styled for other international editions of Vogue, AnOther, and T. Fashionista notes that she'd be an odd choice if Tonchi intends to make W "less of a fashion-obsessed publication." Sauve's name was recently in the news when it was thought she had something to do with Balenciaga banning French Vogue. Here you see her with Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière and Charlotte Gainsbourg (left) at a Met Gala after-party in 2006. [Fashionista]

By: Amy Odell

Rock & Republic Files for Bankruptcy

2010-04-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

Rock & Republic announced yesterday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The privately held company expects to continue day-to-day operations, and plans to refocus on its shoe and core apparel businesses. The label hasn't been the picture of financial health for months. It canceled its fall 2010 Fashion Week show and slashed distribution of its makeup line.

The show was always a spendy spectacle, with a plethora of potentially costly celebrity attendees, elaborate sets (which once included an orchestra pit), and sometimes props (which once included guns for the models). And all this for a label whose main thing is jeans — but perhaps the founders believed they owed customers this tomfoolery in exchange for the $200-and-up price tags on those pants.

Rock & Republic files for bankruptcy protection [LAT]

By: Amy Odell

Check out the remix and write up of my friend 10-4 Roger...Good work RJ!!!

2010-04-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

Renton-bred DJ/producer Roger Habon AKA 10-4 Rog, deemed the next shit by Mudede, has remixed "Bodies That Matter" by local indie artist Allan Lumba AKA Multo. Fairly new to Multo aside from a post Matson put up a couple months back, I wasn't sure what to expect. Overused adjectives like dreamlike and gauzy swim through my head like transparent fish, organs visible through translucent flesh.

Multo - Bodies That Matter

Roger's take is a delicacy somehow even more delicate than the original:
Multo - Bodies That Matter (10-4 Rog Remix)

I'm glad there's a producer in the local hiphop sphere with Roger's rare taste and simple, raw aesthetic. Look for more from this guy- hopefully with past collaborators THEESatisfaction and Helladope, as well as young MC The Good Sin and quiet as kept, a Mash Hall remix.

Read more:
http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2010/04/05/10-4-roger-x-multo

MORE ON AMERICAN GREED - SPOILDED CHILDREN

2010-04-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

I saw Spike Jonze` film WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE a couple of months ago and aside from the visually stunning world that he created I couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed about how bratty and spoiled American kids must seem to the rest of the world. Here is an interesting story about an upper class NYC mother who decided to do something about her spoiled child.

ABC STORY

line2 - DOWN WITH AT&T

2010-04-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

This is old news now, and IP phone services is nothing new but I like this story and the amount of mainstream press it is getting. Here are two companies which i really cant stand, AT&T and APPLE, and I love when someone challenges there oppressive and exploitative price gouging schemes. AT&T and APPLE, both have poor costumer service and support. They intentionally over charge their costumers for services and access to technology and deliver poor quality products.

I have to say reading this story made me happy to see that someone is cutting into AT&T ridiculous profits margins. Though you could not pay me enough money to get an iphone, I did think about it for a split second when I read this NY TIMES article, but then just when I had finished reading, my CRAPBOOK over heated, which caused me to restart my computer and remind me why I cant stand APPLE even more.

NY TIMES ARTICLE about line2 .

AT&T ...This is guy has a message for you :

I totally agree cause I have had problems products from both of these companies.

"FUCK THE FUCKING INTERNET"

Thanks, that was great.

It All Begins With Awareness

2010-04-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

“Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.”
- TAO TZU

Awareness is the first step in the creation process. As you grow in self awareness, you will better understand why you feel what you feel and why you behave as you behave. That understanding then gives you the opportunity and freedom to change those things you’d like to change about yourself and create the life you want. Without fully knowing who you are, self acceptance and change become impossible.

Having clarity about who you are and what you want (and why you want it), empowers you to consciously and actively make those wants a reality. Otherwise, you’ll continue to get “caught up” in your own internal dramas and unknown beliefs, allowing unknown thought processes to determine your feelings and actions.

If you think about it, not understanding why you do what you do, and feel what you feel is like going through your life with a stranger's mind. How do you make wise decisions and choices if you don't understand why you want what you want? It's a difficult and chaotic way to live never knowing what this stranger is going to do next.

Who's the expert?
When we want good, solid information, we turn to the experts. So, who are you going to turn to for information about yourself? Who's the expert?
You.

Does a friend, a therapist, a minister, your hero, your spouse, your parents know more about you than you? They can't. You live in your skin and mind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Day in and day out. No one’s closer to you than you! The answers are in there, perhaps all you’ve needed to solve your riddles is a useful question.

Using Questions

Aloe Blacc- Blind World

2010-04-05T07:49:00.001-07:00

"I'm Beautiful" - Aloe Blacc [Shine Through]

2010-04-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

How to make it in America Episode 8

2010-04-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

LIFE

2010-04-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.”
~ TOM BODETT

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”
~ FLORA WHITTEMORE

“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”
~ WALTER BAGEHOT

Paula Patton is so BEAUTIFUL...

2010-04-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

Download mixtape:
http://www.mediafire.com/?5nmm1mtmdjy

In rotation..

2010-04-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

THE ART OF THE STEAL - TRAILER

2010-04-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

This documentary looks great, but this seems like a shameful story. Greed in America is a diseases.

Interview Beats Every Other Fashion Magazine to the iPad

2010-04-02T00:54:00.000-07:00

Interview's iPad version will come out on April 3, the very day the iPad itself comes out. This makes them the first fashion magazine to go Pad, beating out Condé Nast titles Vogue and W, which should soon enough spawn Pad-ready versions of themselves. But it makes sense, because the people who subscribe to Interview are probably the same people who got up early to order a Pad whatever day it went on sale.

The next issue of Interview doesn't come out until April 12, so the special people with iPads get to see it more than a week early. And the iPad Interview is an audiovisual package, including 330 screens of images and a video by Bruce Weber. The issue includes a story on Ke$ha, and the Jersey Shore spread Terry Richardson shot a little while ago. Just imagine, enjoying a nice iced soy latte at Mudspot this spring with your iPad, casually iFlipping through the latest Interview before anyone else, marveling at the Jersey Shore male's remarkable and disturbing physique. Yuppie extremism at its best.

Interview Becomes First Fashion Magazine to Debut iPad Version with April 2010 Issue [Fashionologie]

By: Amy Odell

Cobble Hill Residents Fear the Barneys Co-op Will Make the Neighborhood Pretentious

2010-04-02T00:50:00.000-07:00

Barneys had been scouting Brooklyn for a location for years before settling on a space on Court Street and Atlantic Avenue in Cobble Hill. Barneys executive VP Karl Hermanns calls the store "overdue." From the Daily News:

"I don't think you'll find a single woman around here to complain about Barneys coming to town," she said. "Pretty soon, I'll be able to get all my shopping done in Brooklyn. A few more nice restaurants and I might swear off the city altogether."

But the paper did find a man to complain about it.

Jon Light, 57, a musician who lives two blocks from the future Barneys, wasn't so thrilled. "It's just more of the Manhattanization of downtown," he said.

"When I think Barneys, I think of SoHo and Chelsea and all that pretension," he added. "That's one of the things I like about living in Brooklyn, it's not pretentious."

So says the person complaining about a Barneys Co-op.

Barney's Co-op joining Trader Joe's and Urban Outfitters in downtown Brooklyn [NYDN]

By: Amy Odell

Got love?

2010-04-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

Do you often feel like you have a "kick me" sign on your heart? Would you describe your love life more as an "angst life" or an "I-wanna-strangle-him life"? If so, you can't let negative love from your past tarnish your attitude toward love for your future.

In my book, Price Harming Syndrome, I help women break their bad love patterns for good using principles from modern-day research combined with the ancient philosophies of Aristotle. In particular, I mention how Aristotle was famous for believing that the best way to start any project is to begin with your "final purpose" in mind, or what Aristotle called your "teleology."

"Shall we not, like archers who have a mark to aim at, be more likely to hit upon what is right?" Aristotle asked.

Here is my "teleology" for you: I want to give you techniques to empower you to break bad relationship patterns for good so you can finally snag a happily ever after love future.

How do you envision your "love teleology" of a happily ever after love future? What does healthful, happy love look like, sound like, feel like, smell like, taste like, quack like? I want you to write down your ideal love story and email it to yourself for the next 30 days, morning, noon and night. (Note: If you're single, be sure never to write about a specific person you know. Always leave room to meet someone better!)

I did this love teleology visualization every morning at the start of 2009. It worked. Before year's end, I'd found my happily ever after and am now engaged to be married.

Admittedly, I did not find my guy right from the get-go. And that's exactly why doing this daily love teleology visualization helped me so much. Every time I'd find myself drifting toward cynical thoughts about love, I'd reread my love teleology email. It helped me keep my eye on the prize of what I wanted. I stayed optimistic and focused to find what I could so clearly envision.

I'm a big believer that mornings are your trajectory for your day. You want to make sure your day begins aimed consciously toward what you want in your life so you increase your likelihood of being over the moon about your life.

Every morning I'd go to the gym with my laptop in tow and write three versions of my love teleology. I'd edit each version slightly to avoid any of it becoming white noise to my eyes and spirit. With each edit, I'd get myself re-psyched about the joyous love life I wanted. In particular, I'd close my eyes and envision feeling nurtured, safe, supported, inspired, highly loved. When I could feel deeply how I wanted a healthful love to feel, I'd press send.

What you have in your life all began with your thoughts. Your thoughts created the habits/actions you chose, which then created your life. It makes sense that if you can master your thoughts, you will master your life. It's believed that thoughts with the strongest emotion attract what you're thinking about most quickly to you. So the more you can increase the "feeling" for what you want, the more you can increase the "reeling" in of what you want. This is why when you're angry, and thinking too much about all your love disappointments, you risk attracting more love disappointments in your present.

Know this now: If you want to find happier love, you must start with thinking more positive thoughts about finding happier love.

If you want to change the picture on a TV screen because you don't like what you're seeing, you can't do it by simply wiping the screen with a cloth. You must change the programming to see a new picture. Ditto with your love life.

Your Assignment:

For the next 30 days, I want you to quiet your busy brain and focus on your love teleology email for five minutes, three times a day. This visualization only takes a total of 15 minutes.

You have those extra 15 minutes, so there's no excuses for you not doing these visualizations and to keep on doing them for the next 30 days!

Why 30 days? Psychologists believe it takes about 30 days to get into the groove of a new habit. I agree. Even if you don't see immediate results in your love life, change will eventually happen over time. It took me under nine months to find my amazing fiancé.

As I tell the women I coach: "Seeing is not always believing. But seeding is believing. What you seed is what you get." If you are seeding "positive love thoughts" and "positive love habits" consistently on a daily basis, you can feel confident that, over time, a truly happy love life will eventually blossom for you!

What does love look like for you? What will be the first paragraph in your love teleology?

Karen Salmansohn is a best-selling author known for creating self-help for people who wouldn't be caught dead reading self-help. Get more information on finding a loving happier-ever-after relationship in her book Prince Harming Syndrome.

"To love is to place our hapiness in the happiness of another."

2010-04-02T00:42:00.001-07:00

How Healthcare Reform Will Make Healthy Eating Easier

2010-04-02T00:09:00.000-07:00

One of the most important things about the new healthcare reforms is that soon restaurants and other providers of food will be obliged by law to post detailed information about exactly what they are serving to customers. Personal trainer and Live-ilates creator Andrea Metcalf says this is a great and much needed advance.

In New York, thanks to an initiative by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the menu boards of every deli, restaurant, coffee shop or fast food chain must by law contain a complete rundown of the nutritional value of each item printed alongside. It's like a quick dose of reality when seeing what the actual calorie count and fat grams are. It has a profound effect on the way people chose what they eat.

The technique of rationalization over impulse is one I have used for years to guide my clients'—and my own—weight loss plans. There is a good scientific explanation for why there is a difference between your automatic urges are and what you do when you are informed. Between thinking and acting there is a significant change in neuro-transmitters in the brain. No surprise, then, that when nutritional information is included on every menu, as they will be thanks to the healthcare reforms, we are likely to see a noticeable change in what people choose to eat.

In one of the corporate wellness programs I have designed, I made a simple change in the way the calorie count per tablespoon of dressing at the salad bar was labeled. That simple change resulted in the elimination of one entire type of dressing from the menu as employees shifted from a high-calorie to a low-calorie dressing.

So, what should you look for when you see the new calorie counts that will soon be posted alongside foods in restaurants and cafés?

Thanks to the new healthcare reforms, some restaurant must include health information on their menus. What should you order? Here are my three key tips for ordering:

Multiply by 10
For the average person to maintain their weight as it is, try this simple formula: Multiply your weight by 10. That is the total number of calories you will need to consume in a day without exercise to maintain your weight exactly as it is.

The Truth About "Low-Fat"
Low-fat does not mean low calories. Most low-fat items have the same or about the same number of calories as the full-fat versions. So if those extra calories are finding their way onto your plate, don't fool yourself by sacrificing taste for fat. Just keep them as a once a week or a once a month option.

Fat Guidelines
According to weight loss experts, fat grams should be kept to no more than 30 to 35 grams per day. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website suggests the following:

•A 1,600-calorie-per-day diet should contain no more than 18 grams of saturated fat and 53 grams of fat in total.
•A 2,000-calorie-per-day diet should contain no more than 20 grams of saturated fat and no more than 65 grams of fat in total.
•A 2,200-calorie-per-day diet should contain no more than 24 grams of saturated fat and no more than 73 grams of fat in total.
•A 2,500-calorie-per-day diet should contain no more than 25 grams of saturated fat and no more than 80 grams of fat in total.
•A 2,800-calorie-per-day diet should contain no more than 31 grams of saturated fat and no more than 93 grams of fat in total.

In rotation..

2010-04-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

Janet jackson - Lets wait a while
Uploaded by jade274. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

The Private Life of Plants (Part 2-6) - Growing

2010-03-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

Navigating the Grocery Store: An Attempt to Eat Real Food on a Budget

2010-03-31T01:42:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to make smart yet economical choices in a world where we must coexist with a $1 double cheeseburger? Oprah.com writer Lynn Okura attempts to heed the advice in the documentary Food, Inc. by eating locally, ethically and organically—oh, and on a budget.

A few years ago, an organic bakery opened up a just a couple of blocks from my apartment. I, for one, was baffled. Organic chicken I get. Organic tomatoes, sure. But organic cupcakes? The organic movement was getting a little too trendy for my taste, and I was finding it hard to grasp.

I'm still confused about organic frosting, but I've decided to educate myself. After seeing Michael Pollan on The Oprah Winfrey Show, my fiancé and I watched the documentary Food, Inc. together. It's smart, eye-opening and refreshing in that it doesn't feature a celebrity telling me the "cool" thing to eat. It also made us realize that a lot of what we have been consuming isn't really food. Low-wage labor and practices have made food more affordable, but not more nutritional. I've been living in a bubble, wherein the only thing that mattered about my food choices was how they would effect the size of my wallet and my thighs.

The truth about the way foods are grown and processed is something I'd avoided. I can't even handle the Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercial, so watching a documentary about the animals I eat was not high on my to-do list.

The good news is that our food system is full of choices. I hope to make better decisions now, but I'll admit—I'm a little lost. Now that I've seen Food, Inc., I can't go back to the way I used to eat. I'm left to figure out how I to implement healthy foods into my already busy, budgeted lifestyle. Less processed foods! Free-range meats! Cage-free eggs!

My trip begins at my local grocery store, Dominick's. It's not a specialty store, just your regular ole grocery chain, similar to a Safeway, Food Emporium or Winn-Dixie. I went in with a few goals in mind:

•Buy less packaged, processed foods full of ingredients my grandma wouldn't recognize, as Pollan says. I never bothered to look at the ingredients before. Sure, I'd turn the box around, but it was always to look at the calories, fat and sometimes the carbohydrates. Maybe sodium. It's amazing what you find when you read the ingredients.

•Buy more fruits, vegetables and foods that are overall healthy, low in fat and nutritious.

•Buy free-range meats that do not contain antibiotics and hormones.

Produce
Up first: fruits and vegetables. I wasn't expecting to find much, but when I took the time to look, I found a good selection of organic produce. I've always assumed organic was more expensive and never bothered to price check. As it turns out, the organic bananas are 20 cents more than nonorganic bananas. Organic oranges, 40 cents more. Tomatoes, 50 cents. Celery,15 cents. We're talking small change here! Opting for organic is feeling really easy right now.

My best discovery is the apples. Regular Fuji apples (my favorite) are $1.99 per pound. The organic Fuji apples just so happen to be on sale—for the exact same price. Score! One point for me.

Blueberries are on Dr. Oz's anti-aging checklist for their antioxidants, and I've recently begun to eat them for breakfast mixed with yogurt and granola. I've been very pleased with this healthy new me—until I examined the label a little more closely. My blueberries hail from...Chile. So much for eating locally; minus one point for me. I live in Chicago, where there is still snow on the ground and no farmer's markets to visit until summer. I search the store in hope that I can find at least semi-local blueberries, but no dice. Confession: I bought them anyway.

Something to keep in mind: A printable list of produce worth buying organic based on pesticide contaminations levels.

Poultry
Following the perimeter of the store, my next stop is the meat department. It starts off well. I pick up a package of ground turkey meat, clearly marked as organic: "No antibiotics ever administered, vegetarian feed, humanely raised and no growth hormones." Sounds good to me, and at $4.49 per pound, it's only $1 more than the nonorganic ground turkey.

Chicken is up next, and it's a moral minefield. A package of brand-name chicken is on sale for $2.99 per pound. The organic chicken, stating "no antibiotics, free range, vegetarian feed and no hormones added" is $8.99 per pound. Triple the price!

My thrifty side is panicking, but I can't bring myself to buy the cheap chicken—I think Food, Inc. has changed my taste buds. (It could be the guilt.) My solution: I buy neither. By no means am I turning vegetarian, but I'm starting to think I don't need to eat as much meat as I have been in the past—a shocking concept for me.

Beef
I stay away. For this week, my budget isn't going to allow for grass-fed steak, and I'm okay with that.

Eggs
I'm happy to see my grocery store carries three options of cage-free eggs. The most expensive dozen stands out with its "USDA approved" label, but the other cartons use the exact same cage-free, no-hormone wording. None claim to be free farmed, which would have been ideal. As I'm standing in the refrigerated section for far too long, a couple comes up next to me. They are also looking for cage-free eggs, but clearly aren't willing to spend 10 minutes thinking about it. "Let's just pick one," he says. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe." I notice they pick the cheapest cage-free dozen, and I grab the same. At least they have a system.

Packaged Goods and Pasta
Chips, crackers and other packaged snack foods are always in my cupboards. They're convenient, delicious and there is a low-fat version of every chip, cracker or cookie I could ever want. I'm beginning to realize that equating low fat (and nothing else) with health has been my problem. In my attempts to eat healthy, I wonder if I've been doing just the opposite.

I consider weaning myself off packaged products altogether and eating leafy greens between meals. I'm curious how much money I would save if I stopped stocking my shelves with these products. Two seconds later, I'm back to reality and looking for a box of crackers to snack on. My goal is to find a reasonably low-calorie snack that doesn't list "partially hydrogenated oil" as an ingredient. This proves to be difficult, but I eventually find a box of organic roasted garlic and rosemary crackers that I conclude to be a relatively guilt-less snack.

Wheeling my cart over to the pasta aisle, I find that organic whole wheat pasta is on sale. It's even slightly less expensive than the regular kind, believe it or not. Whole wheat pasta with sautéed spinach, mushrooms, garlic and olive oil is one of my favorite (and easiest) meals to make.

The Frozen Food Aisle
Something tells me I'm not going to have much luck with the microwaveable meals that I've relied on in the past, so I head over to the veggie burgers and meatless meals. As with everything else, I read the backs of the packages and find that some brands seem have more questionable ingredients than others. I've tried many meat-free options in the past and have recently found a brand I love called Dr. Praeger's. The veggie burgers are loaded with vegetables and only ingredients I recognize. I'm a big fan of the taste and hope I've found an inexpensive, healthy staple to my diet.

Dairy
Moving on to milk, the price difference between organic and nonorganic is obvious—a gallon of fat-free organic milk is $5.99, while regular fat-free milk is $2.49. What's more, the organic nonfat yogurt I buy is exactly double the price of the nonorganic, which is on sale. As I'm reading the labels, I notice the vanilla yogurt has a whopping 26 grams of sugar per cup, while the plain has only 9 grams. I put the vanilla down and pat myself on the back for noticing.

My fridge is already stocked with cheese (my weakness) but I still want to examine the packages. Some of the ingredients in the processed cheeses I have been eating worry me. I'm going to have to find a middle ground between low-fat, processed cheese and high-fat, organic cheese. I fear the answer may be to eat less cheese.

Drinks, Soft Drinks and Juices
I skip this aisle completely. You know what's cheap? Water. A year ago, my sister and I decided that we would stop buying all drink products, other than milk. Drinking water saves me about $25 a month, or $300 a year.

It's more than two hours later, and my cart isn't very full. I didn't spend much, but it's probably because most of what I picked up went back onto the shelf. When all was said and done, I spent $47.19 on foods that were mainly organic, or at least "real" food. Had I dismissed the challenge and gone the cheapest route on my items, I could have saved $5.39. Significant? No. Over time? Yes, but I'm hoping to look for ways to save elsewhere.

Shopping for real food is confusing and time consuming...but, ultimately, rewarding. I'm still new at this, and I'm not going to be perfect, but I'm willing to readjust my habits and look for food that has a positive impact on my health, the planet and the people who work to produce it. I still love cheeseburgers, my mom's meatloaf and hot dogs at baseball games, but if I can make better choices most of the time, I can justify an indulgence every once in a while, right?

How do you think Lynn did at the grocery store? Read Food & Water Watch's critique of her shopping experience. Have you changed your shopping habits after watching Food, Inc.? Share your comments and tips for navigating the grocery store below.

By Lynn Okura

Sex with the Ex...

2010-03-31T01:39:00.000-07:00

When you’re newly single, or simply going through a dry spell, your basic human needs can override your common sense. Once your guard is down and you’re feeling vulnerable, you’re more likely to make big personal mistakes, like having sex with your ex. Here’s how to keep it from happening.

How it Happens

On paper, practically everyone knows it’s not a good idea to go back to the source of your pain. You split up from your ex for a reason. Maybe they cheated on you, treated you badly, or perhaps your personalities and aspirations were completely out of sync. You know what you don’t like about them, and you’re fairly certain it hasn’t a chance of working out. However, that’s on paper, out in the flesh-and-blood world, it’s far easier to gloss over the facts.

The problems can start when you get a little distance from the relationship. Suddenly the details of your split become something of a blur. You can remember a vague dissatisfaction, maybe even some specific events, but was it really that bad? Did you give them enough of a chance? Were you in some way to blame yourself? Perhaps you’d have been tempted to have an affair with your best friend under the circumstances too?

Of course you wouldn’t, but when you’ve created distance from your ex, it’s easy to start rewriting the past. Suddenly, the idea of having sex with them again seems comforting. Add in a hint of loneliness and you have the beginnings of a recipe that when fully cooked is going to be nothing but bad for you. Suddenly you’re short of a partner to see that new blockbuster with, or you’ve no one to try out that romantic new restaurant or spend the holidays with. It’s when you’re at your most vulnerable that intimacy with an ex doesn’t seem that bad.

Perhaps you’ve moved on to a newfound love and you’re just not feeling it, you’re not clicking like you did with your ex. Maybe you haven’t found your rhythm together. It can be enough to make you want to reach out for the familiar, who knows what you like and don’t like.

It’s all completely understandable, and it’s in these moments of weakness that we’re most likely to hit the redial button on a number we should have deleted. After all, it can’t be that bad, can it?

Why it's Bad

Actually, it can be that bad. While it’s not unheard of for couples to reconcile after taking a break, more often than not it leads to a cycle of break-ups and get-back-togethers that delay the inevitable – and it often starts with sex.

Maybe you’ll convince yourself you’re not getting back together again, that it’s “just” sex – you can handle that. You’re a person with needs, desires, and the quick fix you’re looking for is just a phone call away. Why shouldn’t you?

Well, for former couples, sex is rarely that uncomplicated. It’s loaded with issues, promises, hopes, fears, and a first step back into a relationship you were once clear you no longer wanted. Having sex with someone is an incredibly intimate thing, and it’s bound to open up the wounds of your relationship. Maybe you can handle it and they can’t. Maybe it’s the other way round. Either way, it can lead to a breeding ground of anxiety.

It will also stop you from genuinely being able to move on. While you’ve still got such intimate links to your ex, how are you expecting to make a real connection with someone new? It just doesn’t leave you emotionally available.

And what message does it send to your ex? That you’re willing to accept their bad behavior? That you’re sorry you broke up? That they’re your only option? You’re worth more than that. Before you waste all of your good years backsliding, you’ll need to find a way to move forward.

How to Prevent It

First of all, you need a healthy cooling off period. When a relationship ends, with each passing week there’s a little more peace and hopefully more clarity. Of course you’re going to miss them when it’s raw and when the dynamic you’ve created is broken. This is when you need to be strong. Set yourself goals. Mark in a calendar the very earliest that you’ll be OK to contact them. Make it at least two months, enough time to at least have begun establishing a new life without them.

Then think about changing the scenery. You know the places you went together, or the places they’re likely to go on their own. Make a strong and determined effort to go elsewhere. If you need some support, round up some old friends. Yes, they may be put out that you didn’t get in touch as much when you were dating, but that’s life … they’ll get over it.

Throw yourself into distracting activities. Take that language class you promised yourself. Head out to Europe like you always wanted to. Break your patterns, and delete their number from your phones. Plan the "event" holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving in advance and spend them with friends and family.

And if you’re not clicking intimately with your new love, work on it rather that running back to your ex, and give it the time to find its own rhythm

“Skin Fruit,” the New Museum’s show curated by Jeff Koons, highlights the cracks in the institution.

2010-03-31T01:17:00.000-07:00

By Jerry Saltz

If I were the New Museum, I’d have whiplash by now. Since opening its spiffy new Bowery building in 2007, the place has gone from being champion of the underdog and advocate of the experimental to starstruck promoter of A-list artists and international cool hunter. With “Skin Fruit: Selections From the Dakis Joannou Collection,” curated by the artist Jeff Koons, this much beloved yet deeply frustrating institution has crossed some invisible line, its already-thin credibility stretched to the breaking point.

“Skin Fruit” is a shapeless amalgam of big names, big dicks, and big price tags, crowded into too little space. Koons’s intention in taking these 83 works from the star collector Joannou’s huge trove was, he said, to choose art that deals with “a vocabulary that people can respond to.” Based on the art he’s chosen, I interpret that language to be big, brash, and bold. Though the title is explained only obliquely, the erotic content suggests it might be Koons’s way of taking “skin flute,” the slang term for phallus, and feminizing it, making it more suggestive, juicier. But trying to think like Koons is almost an oxymoron. And the overwhelming impression I came away with was, Wow, these two guys are really sick puppies. They’ve got sex, shit, birth, and death on the brain. Maybe we all do. But the work displayed here is especially aggressive, and short on nuance, subtlety, and seduction. Perhaps to the New Museum’s credit, much of it would never be shown in any other major New York museum. It’s hard to imagine Kiki Smith’s life-size sculpture of a man performing autofellatio displayed in MoMA’s atrium, for example. Or Pawel Althamer’s live crucifixion reenactment at the Whitney. The sheer amount of transgressiveness, at least, brings a bracing real-life quality of grit and truthfulness to the show. It’s also in keeping with the museum’s stated aim, “to support new art … not yet familiar to mainstream audiences.” There’s plenty of work here that people outside the community of specialists and aficionados don’t often get to see.

The art world has not embraced the show (to put it mildly), and here’s why. In playing to its largest audience to date, the New Museum is not only pandering, but trying to trump the competition with the undeclared game of “collect the collector.” At the show’s core is a distorted and depressing reality: Joannou’s collection is drawn from a tiny slice of the art world—the superrich, the super-hyped and the supermale. (Barely a quarter of the work is by women.) It includes far too many famous artists who sell to major collectors for vast sums. It’s a history of the winners of one particular game—a narrative that’s simultaneously blinkered, elitist, and annoying.

What especially irks me is that the curating tells us more about Koons than it does about contemporary art, and he says it better in his own work. On his own, he takes sex into strangely decorative, materially obsessive, convoluted, and psychotic directions: A bouquet of flowers is all about vulvas and desire and much more. A lot of the art he selected here is less nuanced, simply body-obsessed and often heavy-handed. Koons has said that he “tried to choose iconic pieces … works that seemed to have a really strong voice.” He succeeds occasionally, like when he plays with monumentalism (size apparently does matter). The standoff between Charles Ray’s bizarre eight-foot businesswoman and Liza Lou’s beaded sculpture of a gun-toting Pam Grier enacts Koons’s idea of a psycho-sculptural race war. (Another terrific Ray piece nearby, Revolution Counter-Revolution, is a carousel rigged so it appears to be going backwards and forwards at once.) Roberto Cuoghi’s nineteen-foot Assyrian-Babylonian god and David Altmejd’s mixed-media The Giant—an overscale naked man with squirrels nesting in his limbs—reign, alternately threatening and chimerical, over their respective rooms.

There’s another theme of terror, foreboding, and paranoia. Cady Noland’s 1989 figure of Lee Harvey Oswald, tucked away in a staircase nook, should be installed on the Mall in Washington, a haunting monument to what William Burroughs called “the evil … there waiting” in America. Maurizio Cattelan’s shrouded marble bodies lined up on one floor constitute a chilling allegory to both fear and history, and are made all the more eerie by a nearby Tino Sehgal performance in which a singer intones “This is propaganda, you know you know, this is propaganda.” The room becomes a morgue with a manic mourner. And Robert Gober’s uncanny, surreal paired installation, Highway and Two Spread Legs, in which mannequin legs stick out of a wall papered with cartoon roads, implies how alive museums can be.

But, overall, there’s too much junk: Matt Greene’s amateurish paintings, and sculptures by Takashi Murakami, Paul McCarthy, and Tim Noble and Sue Webster. And what is lacking throughout is a coherent vision.

I hope “Skin Fruit” is the final scene of the New Museum’s uneven first act in its new building. For two years, the institution has emphasized cheek, playing to the obsolete mind-set of “Love it. Hate it. See it!” It’s time to change the formula. Shock value, savvy, and being adversarial are fine if they are backed up by credibility and vision. Too many shows here have lacked both.

In rotation..

2010-03-31T01:06:00.000-07:00

NISSAN - LEAF - 0 EMISSIONS?

2010-03-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

Here is new NISSAN LEAF which claims to be 0 EMISSIONS.

NISSAN LEAF

Tom Ford on Marketing’s G Spot

2010-03-30T12:12:00.000-07:00

Sex on the Brain

2010-03-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

The key to a great sex life is a healthy brain, according to psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist Dr. Daniel Amen. Having accumulated a database of over 36,000 brain scans taken over the past 15 years, Dr. Amen says the way the brain looks and functions says a lot about the way a person will behave.

In his book Sex on the Brain: 12 Lessons to Enhance Your Love Life, Dr. Amen reveals how to use practical brain science to enhance your sex life and your relationships. Here are just a few of his findings:

•The brain is the largest sex organ in the body, Dr. Amen says.

•Brain health and brain illness have a powerful affect on sexuality. "When your brain works right, you work right," he says. "You can be loving, thoughtful, attentive, consistent, romantic, playful."

•There are many "brain issues" that get in the way of great sex, such as Attention Deficit Disorder and depression. Treating these issues can enhance our ability to connect with others and perform sexually, Dr. Amen says. He recommends omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil, exercise and l-tyrosine (the amino acid building block for the neurotransmitter dopamine) for increasing the activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, thereby diminishing these conditions.

•Changing the way you think about a problem can change your brain scan, hence your brain function. "If you focus on five things you're grateful for every day, you're going to have a lot less problems with depression," Dr. Amen says, "And depression is a huge turn off when it comes to sex."

•Male and female brains are different. Understanding these differences is critical to a healthy sex life, Dr. Amen says.

•According to Dr. Amen, women need to ask for what they want sexually, and must teach their men through repetition, practice and good coaching.

•A foot rub really is foreplay. "What a lot of people don't know is that the foot area in the brain—the area of your brain that feels your feet—is right next door to the area of the brain that feels your genitals," Dr. Amen explains.

•There are real aphrodisiacs, Dr. Amen says, and it's all about blood flow. Dr. Amen says he uses Asian ginseng, gingko biloba and L-arginine, all of which boost blood flow to the brain. On the flipside, Dr. Amen says anything that decreases blood flow to your brain decreases it to your genitals, including caffeine, nicotine and a lack of sleep. In addition, Dr. Amen says some natural aphrodisiacs for men are cooked cinnamon, pumpkin pie, donuts, lavender, cheese pizza and roast beef. He says baby powder works well for women.

Michael Rosenfeld, Co - Founder Of CAA, Dies

2010-03-30T00:05:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Michael Rosenfeld, a founding partner at Creative Artists Agency who shaped such showbiz classics as "West Side Story," "Mary Poppins" and "Rich Man, Poor Man," died March 25 of respiratory failure in Los Angeles after a long illness. He was 75.

Rosenfeld, whose son Michael Rosenfeld and daughter-in-law Sonya Rosenfeld have followed in his footsteps at CAA, played a huge role in the growth and success of the Hollywood talent agency. He started the firm's literary department, developing relationships with two giants in the field, Mort Janklow and Sterling Lord, before leaving in the early 1980s for a career as a producer.

A Philadelphia native with a talent for music, Rosenfeld began in the mailroom at William Morris in 1957, then moved to the firm's Los Angeles office in 1959. He co-founded CAA with Bill Haber, Ron Meyer, Michael Ovitz and Rowland Perkins in 1975.

Rosenfeld represented Rita Moreno and George Chakiris and secured their roles in the 1961 film version of "West Side Story," for which they both won Oscars (the film took home a staggering 10 trophies). He also persuaded Disney to cast Dick Van Dyke in his iconic role in "Mary Poppins" (1964); the film was nominated for 13 Oscars and won five.

Rosenfeld also represented William Link and Richard Levinson, the creative team behind TV hits "Columbo," "Mannix" and "Murder, She Wrote," and sold the first miniseries, "Rich Man, Poor Man" (1976), to ABC (that project collected four Emmys and 23 noms). He also brought together the creative elements for MGM's musical hit "Fame" (1980).

Rosenfeld also represented Marlo Thomas, Joanne Woodward, Ann-Margret, Eva Marie Saint and Dyan Cannon, among others.

After leaving CAA, Rosenfeld produced the skateboard cult classic "Thrashin'" (1986) and "Flowers in the Attic" (1987). He also produced the 1984 miniseries "Fatal Vision," which won an Emmy for actor Karl Malden, and the 1989 telefilm "The Case of the Hillside Stranglers."

Rosenfeld was born June 28, 1934, to Maxwell Rosenfeld, a Pennsylvania state senator, and Edith Rosenfeld Ginsburg. At 11, he appeared on the "Horn and Hardart Children's Hour" playing the guitar, and began composing music at 16, first at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia and then at Penn State.

In addition to Michael and Sonya -- who both have a hand in literary work at CAA -- Rosenfeld is survived by his sons Maxwell and Jackson; his daughter Molly; his daughter-in-law Glenele; his grandchildren Casey, Willy and Hannah; and his aunt, Gertrude Mandell.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. April 8 at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CAA Foundation.

How to make it in America Episode 7

2010-03-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

In rotation..

2010-03-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Eyes Have It

2010-03-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

Here’s good news for people easily tongue-tied in social situations: Those who study human communication for a living estimate that only about 10 percent of the information we exchange with each other is verbal.

That’s one part words and nine parts ... something else. Tone of voice and inflection play a role, but the lion’s share of communicating is accomplished through body language.
Yet don’t let that fool you into thinking all parts of the body contribute equally. One feature alone counts for more than all the rest combined -- the eyes. Whatever color, shape, or size they are, the eyes speak volumes about what moves you emotionally, holds your attention, draws your interest, and sparks your desire.

Psychologist Alan Loy McGinnis wrote: “Watch any pair of lovers in a restaurant. There can be an awesome exchange of energy with the use of their eyes. All our talk about erogenous zones and sex organs neglects one of the most powerful organs of all -- the eyes ... the people who follow you with their eyes, who look intently into your face, are hard to resist. Studies show that if you hold another’s gaze for only two seconds longer than normal, you have given a clear signal of interest.”1

If you want to communicate something about yourself to a person you’ve just met, be careful with your eyes -- and turn unconscious and unintentional speech into poetry.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

Be aware of what your eyes reveal. Most people don’t give much thought to what their eyes are communicating -- but they should. For instance, it is a sure sign of low self-esteem or fear when someone reflexively averts their eyes and looks downward. This is significant since confidence is one of the top attractors between members of the opposite sex, and most people are justifiably wary of fearful people -- we wonder what kind of emotional baggage they’re lugging around. But the good news is that your eyes can also convey solid self-confidence, emotional depth, and genuine interest in another person.

Look, don’t stare. Now that you know your eyes do a lot of talking, it may be tempting to “speak up” by using them forcefully. Don’t try. Most people agree that being the object of someone’s piercing gaze is unnerving at best. Coming from a relative stranger, it is downright creepy. Staring is a taboo invasion of private space and is frequently an intentional tactic to intimidate others. Staring can also signal overeagerness, which is always a turn-off. Eye contact is a necessary and helpful part of social interaction, but just remember: there is a fine balance between connecting visually with a date and engaging in a stare-down contest.

Eyes front! You might say, “Okay, I won’t stare. But once a regular conversation starts, I don’t have to think about all that eye language stuff, right?” Wrong. Even after words enter the picture, your eyes have a vital role in whether you have an awkward chat or a promising personal exchange. Fortunately, the rules for success are simple: When listening to your partner talk, keep your eyes on him or her. Act as if your date is the only other person in the room or, better yet, in the world. With your eyes, you will communicate one of two things: “I care about you and what you think” or “I am only biding my time till someone better comes along.” Which message you convey is up to you.

Next, when speaking to your partner, look away every now and then. But be aware of where your gaze lands. Looking over someone’s shoulder or at the people at the next table is a sign that you’re distracted or disinterested. To create safe space for your listener, glance briefly away -- at the coffee mug or plate in front of you -- to release the pressure in a reassuring way.

Eyes are a human being’s most memorable and expressive feature. To attract and honor the partner you seek, use yours well.

Karlie Kloss Now Sexy, Greasy

2010-03-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

Model Karlie Kloss, who is only 17, usually sticks to G or PG-rated work. But in the latest issue of Numero she greased up and posed in sexy outfits, with cleavage and some pretty intense bottom side boob. Her 18th birthday is on August 3. [Models.com]

By: Amy Odell

As Predicted, Terry Richardson’s Scandal Hasn’t Seemed to Hurt His Employment

2010-03-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

After allegations of Terry Richardson's sexual misconduct on shoots surfaced, fashion insiders predicted that no one who regularly employs him would care enough to not hire him. And it looks like, from the shots of Carine Roitfeld and Lara Stone he posted to his blog Terry's Diary, he just did a shoot for French Vogue. He also recently shot Doutzen Kroes on a beach in Miami for American Vogue. One hardly needs to invoke Lindsay Lohan and Kate Moss to know fashion loves the scandalized. [Fashionologie, Coutorture, Terry's Diary]

By: Amy Odell

Did Scarlett Johansson Opt Out of a Russian Accent in Iron Man 2?

2010-03-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

From her Brantley-acclaimed stint in Broadway's A View From the Bridge to a pair of non-embarrassing albums, Scarlett Johansson has proven herself capable of many things — but was a Russian accent too tricky? During Saturday night's Kids' Choice Awards, Paramount debuted this TV ad for May 7's Iron Man 2 in which Johansson's character, the evil Stalingrad-born Black Widow (née Natasha Romanoff), finally says something. She speaks only one quick line, and we might be missing something, but we don't hear a Russian accent. Actually, it sounds a little like a North Dakotan one, which isn't very villainous at all.

Black Widow Finally Says Something In 'Iron Man 2' TV Spot [Playlist]

By: Lane Brown

Backstage of Madonna for Louis Vuitton Campaign & Marc Jacobs Interview

2010-03-29T12:43:00.001-07:00

Lupe Fiasco on Carson Daly - Watch this

2010-03-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Lupe Fiasco: 2009 USA Network Character Approved Award Winner - I know it's old but, I just saw this...

2010-03-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

In rotation..

2010-03-28T17:58:00.001-07:00

"Excellence can be achieved if you risk more than others think is safe, love more than others think is wise...

2010-03-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

...dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible."

In rotation..

2010-03-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

DatNewCudi.com: KiD CuDi - Soundtrack 2 My Life (Directed by Jason Goldwatch) from DatNewCudi / DP on Vimeo.

2010-03-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

ARN`T THEY ?!

Tom Ford Tells Tina Brown About His Midlife Crisis

2010-03-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Nardwuar vs. Lady Gaga

2010-03-27T16:09:00.001-07:00

French Elle Devoted the April Issue to Plus-size Models

2010-03-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

French Elle got a lot of attention abut a year ago for their covers with unretouched images of celebrities wearing no makeup. The April issue is bound to draw plenty of attention as well. It features plus-size model Tara Lynn on the cover and in a roughly twenty-page spread inside the magazine. On the cover she wears clothes, but for the expository shot in the spread she doesn't.

We've asked this question before, but we'll ask it again: Why must so many magazines shoot plus-size models naked? The photos of Lynn that follow in this spread depict her wearing clothes, as she should since this is a fashion magazine, with presumably an aim to show women how to dress. When fashion decided to make the hottest models the skinniest girls they could find, they didn't shoot them naked to flaunt their protruding rib cages. Why must it be different now?

It's nice to see fuller and more diverse figures in fashion media, but it would be even better to see a true mix of sizes. Plus-size, skinny-but-not-sickly, and everything in between. See the full French Elle spread here.

By: Amy Odell

Karl Lagerfeld Shooting the Chanel Campaign From a Crane Lift

2010-03-27T12:54:00.001-07:00

By Amy Odell

Karl Lagerfeld breezed into town this week to shoot the fall Chanel campaign on the streets of downtown Manhattan. He had lunch with André Leon Talley at the Mercer, and shot his models on the streets of Soho and the Lower East Side. In the latter neighborhood he put Abbey Lee Kershaw and Freja Beha on a fire escape and shot them from a crane lift, cherry-picking style. See photos — and video! — of his recent frolics in the slideshow.

www.nitrolicious.com

DILLA

2010-03-27T01:51:00.000-07:00

Stussy - J Dilla Documentary Prt3 (of 3) from Stussy on Vimeo.

AQUA - TERRA

2010-03-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

THIS IS WILD ! WATCH THE VIDEO. HE SAID, "REACHING MASS CONSCIENTIOUSNESS"! CHECK OUT THE LINK BELOW TO LEARN MORE.

AQUA - TERRA , PLANETARY TRANSPORT SYSTEM

In rotation..

2010-03-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

John Waite - Missing You
Uploaded by jpdc11. - See the latest featured music videos.

Inside "The Male Brain"

2010-03-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

From dating and commitment to sex and love, Author Louann Brizendine, M.D. tackles your tough questions as she takes us inside the male brain

Just as her hotly-awaited new book 'The Male Brain' is released ( March 23), we sat down with author and expert Louann Brizendine, M.D. to learn all about what goes on inside that head of his -- literally!

1. What are the biggest differences between male and female brains?

If you’ve ever wondered why it seems like all the guys you’re dating think about is sex, you might be surprised to find out that in some ways they can’t help it. The brain develops an area in the hypothalamus called the area for sexual pursuit, which is 2.5 times larger in males than in females. And the fuel that runs sexual desire is testosterone, which men have 10 times more of than women. Those are just two of the biggest differences (See #4 for more details!).

2. Do you feel that one sex is superior to the other in their physiological makeup?

Both sexes have been designed to be more alike than different -- after all, we are the same species. But when it comes to the brain, it’s clear that there are some things that men are predisposed to do better and some things that women are typically better at. For example, if you’ve ever wondered why guys want to fix your problems -- instead of hearing you out the way your girlfriends do -- the answer may be in their brain circuits. When a man hears a woman in distress about a problem at work or the fight she had with her sister, he races to solve her problem. So when you tell a guy why you’re upset, an area of his brain called the TPJ quickly takes over. As soon as he thinks he understands the problem, he stops listening to you and starts proposing solutions.

When a female hears someone describe an emotionally distressing situation, she continues to listen and empathize and may or may not offer solutions. Both of these brain responses are important for helping the person deal with the situation, and I wouldn’t call one better than the other. The better you understand each other’s brains, the better you can relate to each other and appreciate your differences.

3. Can you explain why men fear commitment -- is there a hormonal connection?

I’m not convinced that men fear commitment more than women do. I think it’s more about men’s innate desire for variety. Studies show that when men and women in their twenties are asked how many sexual partners they want to have in their lifetime, men say 10-20 and women say 1-2. Evolutionary biologists believe this is because males can spread their seed without the consequences of pregnancy and caring for helpless infants, whereas females need to choose one mate who will help provide for and protect her and the children.

4. Do men really think about sex more than women do? If so, why?

Both men and women think about sex a lot. But the male brain’s visual system and sex-drive system are set by default to the “on” position, whereas the female’s may take a little longer to get going. It goes back to two of the differences between the male and female brain. His sexual pursuit area is 2.5 times larger than hers and makes 10 times the fuel that runs sexual desire -- testosterone. So, if the guy you’re out with seems like he’s got only one thing on his mind, now you know why. But just because he’s likely to want sex before you feel ready, that doesn’t make him a bad guy. But it also doesn’t mean you have to follow his lead. If you want to take things slower, tell him.

5. Can you talk about emotional closeness, and what this means to both sexes?

Men say they know “she loves me” because “she wants to have sex with me”; women say they know “he loves me” because “he wants to talk to me.” Couples who come to my office because of a difference in the desire for sex are often shocked when they hear these words come from their partner’s mouth.

6. What is the best way to communicate to a man effectively?

It depends on what you hope to achieve. If a female wants intimacy with her partner, she should be flirtatious and wear sexy clothing. On the other hand, if she wants to have a long talk about their relationship, she should have sex with him first -- to reassure him and make him feel safe -- and then suggest they go for a walk or a drive where she can bring up the topic while sitting or walking side-by-side with him rather than face-to-face.

7. What is something you learned through your research of men that has helped you in relationships with them?

I learned that men sometimes have a stronger emotional response than women do, but are usually much better at hiding their true feelings. The male brain also has larger anger-aggression circuits and a more competitive streak. Testosterone stimulates aggression, strength, and sex drive in men, so we can’t expect men to think and act like they have female brains, any more than they can expect us to act like we have male brains. The thing to remember is that, basically, men and women both want love, respect and gratitude.

8. How can we take our physiological differences in terms of brain structure and activity and make them work for us when trying to communicate with the opposite sex?

This answer could be an entire book! But the main thing to remember is that both sexes want to understand the other. It’s not as easy as we wish it could be but the stories of couples in 'The Male Brain' provide good examples of what works and what doesn’t.

'The Male Brain' is in stores now! Visit Dr. Louann Brizendine's Facebook, Twitter and official website for more information.

About the Author:

Louann Brizendine, M.D., a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the National Board of Medical Examiners, is clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSF. She is founder and director of the Women's Mood and Hormone Clinic and the Teen Girl Mood and Hormone Clinic. After receiving her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, she completed an internship in medicine and neurology at Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital, and a residency in psychiatry at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center of Harvard Medical School. She sits on the boards of many prestigious peer reviewed journals and is the recipient of numerous honors and awards.

SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT COVER - JDAVEY

2010-03-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

THIS IS FOR MY BUDDY ALFRED, FROM SEATTLE. I AM STILL LEARNING TOO. EVERYDAY UNTIL I DIE. ONWARDS AND UPWARDS.

LOS ANGELES NOW...AND IN THE FUTURE

2010-03-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the city that I found last week after the earthquake. It got me thinking about what people imagine the future of the LA will be like. If anyone else has any cool links about Los Angeles in the future, please send.

Here are some links about the LOS ANGELES of the future:

"LOS ANGELES A HISTORY OF THE FUTURE"

"LA RIVER REVITALIZATION PLAN"

"LOS ANGELES FUTURE OF MOBILITY"

"LOS ANGELES TOMORROW"

At Newsweek, Have Women Really Come So Far?

2010-03-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

In this week's New York, writer Nora Ephron recounts her first experiences in New York, a city that her words would eventually bring to life for people all over the world. (Her essay, along with ones by Colum McCann and Parker Posey, is part of an excerpt of New York's latest book, My First New York, out tomorrow.) In Ephron's essay, she describes how she landed her first job in the city, at Newsweek.

At the Newsweek interview, I said I hoped to become a writer, and the man who interviewed me assured me that women weren’t writers at Newsweek. It would never have crossed my mind to object or to say, “You’re going to turn out to be wrong about me.” It was a given in those days that if you were a woman and you wanted to do certain things, you were going to have to be the exception to the rule. I was hired as a mail girl, for $55 a week.

This was in 1962, and Ephron wasn't alone. Throughout the sixties, women felt they were being held back at Newsweek. In 1970, a group of them, nicknamed the "dollies" by their male bosses, filed suit against the magazine. That year, 46 women at the newsmagazine became the first group of women in media to sue for employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. This week, Newsweek also takes a look back at that time, in a story written by three of their young women writers, who note that though the magazine has come far, there seems to still be a long way to go:

No one would dare say today that "women don't write here," as the NEWSWEEK women were told 40 years ago. But men wrote all but six of NEWSWEEK's 49 cover stories last year — and two of those used the headline "The Thinking Man." In 1970, 25 percent of NEWSWEEK's editorial masthead was female; today that number is 39 percent. Better? Yes. But it's hardly equality. (Overall, 49 percent of the entire company, the business and editorial sides, is female.) ... If a man takes an interest in our work, we can't help but think about the male superior who advised "using our sexuality" to get ahead, or the manager who winkingly asked one of us, apropos of nothing, to "bake me cookies." One young colleague recalls being teased about the older male boss who lingered near her desk. "What am I supposed to do with that? Assume that's the explanation for any accomplishments? Assume my work isn't valuable?" she asks. "It gets in your head, which is the most insidious part."

Newsweek's reputation for encouraging the "boys" who work there isn't a secret among young journalists. "The boys used to get taken out for whiskeys," one woman who went to the magazine right after college a few years ago told us recently. "The girls, not so much." Of course, a lot of magazines have a lot of reputations — some earned, some unearned. Regardless of whether Newsweek's rep falls into the former or latter category, the young women who wrote this week's piece are evidence that there are still women there like the youthful Ephron, who are willing to bet that they can be the exception to the rule.

Are We There Yet? [Newsweek]
Related: My First New York [NYM]
Our First New York Arrivals Package [NYM]

By: Chris Rovzar

In rotation..

2010-03-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Damien Walters - this guy is dope

2010-03-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

I am Iron Man: Top 5 Exoskeleton Robots

2010-03-25T08:23:00.000-07:00

By David Goldstein

Everyone has wished they had the strength to lift a car off of ground, or break through a brick wall with the pound of a fist at one point or another. You know, typical superhero stuff. But every one who has tried it knows that most of the time reality, and the limits of the human body, spoil the fun.

Thankfully, scientists have been developing a way around those limits, in the form of wearable exoskeleton robots capable of increasing our strength, stamina, and speed.

These aren't the massive, clunky brutes of old sci-fi movies, but nimble extensions of the human body with the gift of intelligence. They work by sensing and anticipating the movements of the person wearing the suit, utilizing their own power to minimize the efforts of the user.

While most of us probably won't be living out our superhero (or evil villain) fantasies, these robots have some very practical applications, both military and civilian.

Here are the top-five exoskeleton robots that stretch the limitations of our bodies and our imaginations.

1. Raytheon Sarcos Exoskeleto

Designed primarily for military purposes in mind, the XOS Exoskeleton, developed by Sarcos (purchased by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Massachusetts), is the robot perhaps most like the popular comic book character Iron Man. While it doesn't shoot missiles or have boots with rocket thrusters in them, it does allow the wearer to lift or carry up to two hundred pounds repeatedly without making him or her tired. It's unique because it is one of the few full body exoskeleton robots available. Most robot exoskeletons are broken up into either legs or arms.

The idea is that a soldier wearing one of these robots could carry heavy gear over long distances without getting tired, rescue wounded soldiers from the battlefield with ease, or single-handedly wield a weapon that usually requires two people to operate.

The major challenge has been engineering a power source that will power the robot from 4 to 24 hours. Right now the Exoskeleton can't operate that long without being plugged into some external power source, but the engineers are working on making it completely self sustaining.

2. Human Assistive Limb Exoskeleton (HAL)

Want to look your best for a big night on the town? CYBERDYNE Inc. in Japan understands. For those of you obsessed with accessories, this robot is a little more wearable than the others. The Human Assistive Limb Exoskeleton, or HAL, is a "cyborg type" robot designed to help people with mobility problems, in rehabilitation, and for heavy lifting. Although, if you visit the company's website, at first glance it looks as if the robot is designed to help you become a kung-fu master.

HAL isn't all aesthetics though. It has brains and beauty. In one sense HAL is a mind reader, as it uses electrical signals sent to muscles from the brain to anticipate the wearer's movement. It then calculates how much power the user intends to produce and directs the correct amount to the appropriate joints on the exoskeleton. HAL's ability to anticipate movement allows it to move fractions of a second before you do, providing seamless interaction between human and robot. And with its clean, sleek design you'll be the bell of the robot ball.

3. Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC)

Like the Raytheon Sarcos Exoskeleton, the Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) was designed to create a stronger, more durable soldier. Developed by Berkley Bionics in Berkley, California the HULC is a wearable robot exoskeleton for the legs. It enables the user to carry up to two hundred pounds on his or her back over long distances and harsh terrains.

While the HULC is not a full body exoskeleton like the Raytheon Exoskeleton, it does provide one distinct advantage: the HULC is the only wearable exoskeleton proven to reduce the user’s oxygen consumption, giving the soldier greater stamina over long periods of time.

The HULC weighs 53 pounds and is battery powered, but can be equipped with a generator that lasts for three days. The only problem: the generator weighs 85 pounds, a big chunk of the robots carrying capacity.

4. Honda Experimental Walking Assist Device

Saddle up boys and girls, its time for a new breed of walking horse. The Honda Experimental Walking Assist Device is a robot exoskeleton for the legs, designed to reduce the strain of walking for the elderly and those with mobility problems. Essentially a chair with legs, the Honda exoskeleton allows users to sit down in a saddle-like seat and strap their feet into two shoes attached to artificial limbs. The seat supports a portion of the wearer's body weight, reducing the strain to joints in the knees, ankles and hips.

While the device is expected to improve mobility, I wouldn't recommend running a marathon in one, as the lithium ion battery (a more powerful version of the cell phone battery) lasts roughly two hours at a pace of 2.8 miles per hour.

5. MIT Exoskeleton

Designed to use less power and weigh less than similar robotic devices, the exoskeleton developed in Cambridge, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is another wearable robot for the lower body. The purpose of the exoskeleton is to help people with a heavy loads to carry on their back (hikers, soldiers, students with too many physics textbooks) lighten the load of their backpacks.

Unlike other robotic exoskeletons, which can require up to 3,000 watts to power, the MIT exoskeleton only requires one watt to power. However, the device does interfere with the wearer's normal walking motion, which causes the user to expend more oxygen than he or she would without the device. It seems that while all of the featured exoskeletons provide some sort of advantage, none of them can claim to be the true Iron man quite yet.

FILEP MOTWARY of Mastori*Motwary Studio debuts new fashion film at 4fashionshake

2010-03-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

MARCH 24th 2010 - GREECE

My friend, designer Filep Motwary of Mastori*Motwary Studio is presenting his new film fashion film, ‘SARKA 23 JULY 1677’ in Greece at 4fashionshake, produced by OZON`S magazine. Being billed as a fashion festival, 4fashionshake, will also show work from Odeur, Levis/ Jean Paul Gaultier and Digitaria in "a variety of creative ways: through video art projects, films, catwalks, installations", according to the events website.

The program for 4fashionshake is as follows:

20.30 Odeur (Catwalk)

21.00 Filep Motwary – Maria Mastori (Fashion Film Projection)

21.30 Levis – Jean Paul Gaultier (Performance)

22.30 Digitaria (Catwalk)

23.00 Closing Party

ONE OF FILEP MOTWARY`S SICK PIECE IN MIGATO SHOE CAMPAIGN

Filep and I met last September in Paris at our mutual friend Diane Pernet`s ASOVFF fashion film festival which both of our films were playing at. Filep has asked me to work with him and develop a new film for which we hope to shoot later on this year. Two of our respective older films and films from many other great directors will travel with Diane to Moscow April 4TH to open Russian Fashion Week (as mentioned on the blog a couple of days ago).

For any of our viewers in in Athens try to check out the presentation and the film. So far, I have only been allowed to see stills from the film, but from what I have seen it looks. You can find more info on the festival here.

You can also follow Filep`s work and his world at his influential fashion blog , UN NOUVEAU IDEAL.

WHAT IS THIS ?

2010-03-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

MORE COMING SOON...

Fashion Designer for Gwen Stefani, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Shakira, Halle Berry..

2010-03-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

...Hillary Duff, Mick Jagger, Liv Tyler, Christina Aguilera, Michael Jackson(THIS IS IT CONCERT) wear his fashion creations

Zaldy Goco, of Filipino descent and is one of the top and favorite New York fashion designers today.

Referred to as the stylist to the stars, a model and designer of his own line, Zaldy Goco is described as a self- invented creative genius and calming Swami-like character to even the most stressed celebrities seeking his sartorial services. He was the man behind Gwen Stefani's label LAMB, where he was originally a consultant on the line when it started in 2004 and became head designer in 2005.

Zaldy Goco started his career at a very young age. Her grandmother ran her own fashion school in the Philippines. He recalls spending hours with her.

Zaldy Goco finished in Parsons,Los Angeles and Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Then after, Zaldy and makeup artist Mathu Anderson kick-started their career in fashion on the nightclub circuit where Suzanne Bartsch, an event producer knew him.

Zaldy Goco has been a part-time designer for the past decade, constructing one-of-a-kind, made-to-measure clothing for himself and the women in his world.

Zaldy exposed his creativity and talent with international cosmetic companies such as Donna Karan, Shiseido, MAC Cosmetics, Lady Miss Kier of Dee-Lite, and RuPaul.Apart from working with fashion icons and dressing global celebrities, many diverse women also enjoy wearing Zaldy's Collection and look to him for custom made, one of a kind pieces.

Zaldy first launched his eponymous line after he began custom-making clothes for clients such as Jennifer Lopez, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. More recently, he's styled Britney for the red carpet, Beyoncé for the cover of Vanity Fair and Mary J. Blige for her album The Breakthrough.

Always ahead of his time, Zaldy's designs adeptly fuse a grounded, direct aesthetic with the designer's glamorous night-time roots. “I thought about the diverse women in my life and what they would like to wear and own, whatever the occasion. I’m interested in creating strong pieces that remain approachable and non-threatening or overbearing. Easy and uncomplicated comfortable without being dull!”

Zaldy Goco talks about designing for Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga Part I

2010-03-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

To further explore the powerful synergy between the fashion and music industries, BoF brings you an exclusive two-part interview with fashion designer Zaldy, known for his close connection to the music industry’s biggest stars.

NEW YORK, United States — Zaldy Goco is one of those rare creative talents who moves seamlessly between music and fashion. For almost two decades, the New York-based fashion designer has been working at close range with music stars to create looks that fit with their music and amplify their personal style, taste and aesthetic to millions of fans. From Rufus Wainwright to RuPaul, Mary J. Blige to Jennifer Lopez, and Mick Jagger to the Scissor Sisters, Zaldy’s fashion-meets-music resume is impressive and diverse indeed.

And, while his first big break may have come from working with Gwen Stefani on her L.A.M.B. label, it wasn’t until 2009 that Zaldy’s career reached its apogee. Last year, in quick succession, both the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and the reigning queen of the online music industry, Lady Gaga, called on Zaldy to create the costumes for their concert tours. This is particularly noteworthy as both Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga have used costumes to project their unique, star qualities and create iconic images.

In the first part of an in-depth, two part interview, BoF spoke exclusively with Zaldy about how he got started working in the music/fashion space, collaborating with Gwen Stefani, and becoming part of the now legendary Haus of Gaga for her Monster Ball Tour.

BoF: Fashion and music have always been connected, but nobody else seems to have made the connection as closely as you. When did you start working so closely with musicians and why?

I’ve been friendly with the music community for a long time, going all the way back to the nineties band Deee-lite. I’d always wanted to be a part of both industries, and the idea of putting clothes on stage for performance was very new and interesting to me. I realised that it was possible to work in both music and fashion at the same time because they are so linked together. My real focus was fashion, but I entertained what was presented to me and if it was an exciting project I just went with it.

My real start was working with Rufus Wainwright. We worked on so many videos together — “Poses”, “California,” and “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk” — and several album covers as well. In this way, he was very important to my beginnings in the music industry and we remain very close friends to this day. From there I started to work with Antony and the Johnsons, Melissa Auf Der Maur from Hole, and then it went mainstream with Gwen, Britney, Janet and the likes!

BoF: Your first big music collaboration was with Gwen Stefani on her L.A.M.B. Line, which eventually grew into a substantial business?

Yes. Around the time when L.A.M.B. was just starting, Gwen just asked me one day, then and there, if I’d be interested in working with her on it. And I said “Of course” without knowing really knowing what that meant.

You have to remember the idea of music and fashion was just beginning, and celebrity fashion lines were a completely new phenomenon and generally looked upon unfavourably. But I loved Gwen so much and I was a big fan, so I decided to keep my own line and design for Gwen as well.

BoF: And so, for example, when you design for someone like Gwen Stefani, did you have a different creative process?

When I work on my own collection, I pretty much have my muses in place. But when I work with any musician, especially someone like Gwen, she is the muse. Musicians want to work with you because they want to get a certain perspective from me, but it really is a collaboration. It is a sharing of ideas. There’s a different creative energy. It’s not just about you. In fact, inspirations may come from somewhere you never expected.

It’s sort of like a think tank. We just bring our ideas together and just work from there.

BoF: You recently completed the costumes for Lady Gaga’s ongoing Monster Ball tour. She has a whole creative team around her, including stylist Nicola Formichetti and the infamous Haus of Gaga. How do you work with this whole team of people to realise this whole concert vision?

For sure. Gaga has a whole team, a whole package, and whole creative energy around her. I couldn’t help but wonder how it was going to be to work together. I had never really worked with anyone else who had someone like Nicola or a creative director or that many advisers. But, the best thing about working with Gaga and meeting with her in the beginning was finding out how genuine those ideas were to her, whether or not it came from meetings with the Haus of Gaga.

Her instincts were always right on target.

BoF: Speaking of which, can you tell me exactly what the Haus of Gaga is?

I’m not even sure exactly what it is. As she explained it to me, it’s the collective of people who come together to work with her creatively. But, it’s not as if she’s going to launch a fashion line or anything — at least that’s what she told me then. But, I guess you never know. After all, she is a capable, multi-talented overachiever with a lot to give!

Zaldy Goco talks about designing for Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga Part 2

2010-03-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we learned about the beginnings of Zaldy Goco’s work in the music and fashion industries. Today, in part two, we speak to him about his close collaboration with Michael Jackson for the This is It concert extravaganza.

NEW YORK, United States — When Zaldy Goco answered the phone last April and learned that Michael Jackson’s creative team wanted him to develop some costume ideas for the King of Pop’s long-awaited comeback concert series in London, he could scarcely believe his luck. A long time fan of the sometimes-maligned, but always-loved music legend, Zaldy set about developing an approach for creating costumes that at once hearkened back to iconic images from Jackson’s past, while also making him relevant for contemporary fashion of the day.

The results were amazing and once the decision was made to make Zaldy the chief costume designer for the upcoming concerts, the process to get there involved five up close-and-personal fittings between Zaldy and Michael Jackson over a period of a several weeks, including the last fitting, just days before the singer’s sudden death.

Zaldy kindly spoke to BoF about the experience of designing for Michael Jackson and shared some photos of Jackson from the fittings, published here for the very first time.

BoF: And now for the topic that I am sure everyone is most interested to hear about: your collaboration with Michael Jackson for the This Is It tour. How did that come about?

It was such a surprise that began with a really casual phone call from someone who was representing Michael’s choeographer, Travis Payne. It was already the end of April and the tour was starting in July, and he asked me if I was interested in making some outfits. Of course I said yes! But, I really didn’t take it all that seriously as I knew that Michael had only ever really worked with one designer in the past named Michael Bush. He had developed all of Michael’s iconic looks for Thriller and Bad. So, by no means was it definite. I thought maybe I’d get to make a couple of outfits — maybe.

It turns out that Michael had been advised to take more of a fashion look with his presentation, and he had asked to see designs from some really big names, including, I believe, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. My impression is that he got all these packages from these different designers and then he chose who he wanted to work with.

When he got my package, they called me right away and said he that Michael was jumping up and down screaming, saying “I’ve always wanted to do this! I’ve always wanted to do this!”

They asked me to come to L.A. the next day to meet Michael and told me they wanted me to do the entire show. In the end, because Michael is so faithful, he did ask Michael Bush to work on a few of the outfits as well, which I thought was really nice especially because it was supposed to be Michael’s last tour.

BoF: Wow, that’s pretty amazing. How would you describe what you designed for him?

This is the thing. When they first asked me to do this, they said “we need you to re-invent Michael.” And my first thought was that Michael does not need to be re-invented, especially not now. He is one of the only artists who created iconic looks and iconic images to go along with iconic songs. It’s not necessary for those looks to be reinvented — they just needed to be made more relevant for today. Nobody wants to see a Thriller jacket that it isn’t red and black. People were going to want to see those iconic images, made more relevant to the times.

So, that’s what my approach was — referencing what we knew, but bringing more technology and new techniques that Michael had never used before.

BoF: What are your favourite looks that you designed for Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson trying out Billie Jean Light-up outfit | Source: Zaldy Goco
They all kind have their own specialness for me. But, if you ask anyone who works with me, they will always say the We Are The World outfit, embroidered with all kinds of techniques from around the world — from African to American Indian to Japanese to Chinese. It was quite a mix, and very beautiful.

But for me, I loved the Black or White leather jacket, with three different custom plated coloured studs, which was kind of a Sumurai-referenced jacket. The finale jacket is also a favourite, especially because Michael was so excited about it. I had made what Michael called ’secret treasures’ in the shape of little teardrops that enclosed around crusts of crystal chunks.

And then of course there was the light-up outfit for Billie Jean, which was a collaboration with Philips Technology, which really, really made him the happiest. The last time I saw him was about six days before we were leaving for London, and I tried these pants on him and he was silent; completely stunned. After about thirty seconds, he said “It’s everything I’ve always wanted.”

So, that was pretty special for me.

BoF: And then, of course there was his sudden death, which must have turned things upside down for you.

I experience anti-climax after every project, but I was in disbelief. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had been living and breathing Michael Jackson for weeks on end. When I design for a musician, I immerse myself completely in their music. It just has to play in my head the whole time.

I decided I needed to lock myself away in a hotel to get away, but even that didn’t work. Everywhere I went, people were listening to Michael Jackson. There was no escape.

BoF: Did you have any sense that he might be unwell?

Michael Jackson in costume fitting | Source: Zaldy Goco
Not at all. And that is the thing that I think the movie really shows. He was quite lively, energetic and strong. And, he was super in tune to all the details. Every time I met with him, he was always catching little details. When I’d do fittings with him, he was very solid and very strong.

BoF: Last year was quite a year for you. Doing Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson in one year is pretty big. What lies ahead for you 2010?

It’s funny because I kept seeing the two of them side-by-side in stories or hearing their names mentioned in the same story. And then, all of a sudden I was working with both of them. But right now, I’m pretty excited to get back into the Scissor Sisters, who are launching their third album. But also, last year was a big music year, and I’m thinking of leaning back towards fashion again.

BoF: So there could be a Zaldy label again?

There could be. Right now I am working on a gown for the Met Ball. So, let’s see. I’m working on a couple of things.

BoF: Thanks very much Zaldy for sharing your story with us.

IMMORTAL

2010-03-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

This is cool story and beautiful creature.

THE WORLDS ONLY IMMORTAL ANIMAL

Brazil world cup 2014

2010-03-23T10:38:00.000-07:00

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th World Cup, an international tournament for football, that is expected to take place between June and July 2014 in Brazil.

This will be the second time the country has hosted the competition, the first being the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Brazil will become the fifth country to have hosted the FIFA World Cup twice, after Mexico, Italy, France and Germany. It will be the first World Cup to have been held in South America since the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina and the first time consecutive World Cups have been staged in the Southern Hemisphere. Brazil also will become the first nation to break the well-established chain of allowing a European nation to host the World Cup Finals every eight years.

Here are some proposed stadiums:

Obama signs landmark health bill into law

2010-03-23T10:08:00.001-07:00

WASHINGTON - A beaming President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a historic $938 billion health care overhaul that guarantees coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans and will touch nearly every citizen's life, presiding over the biggest shift in U.S. domestic policy since the 1960s and capping a divisive, yearlong debate that could define the November elections.

Celebrating "a new season in America" — the signature accomplishment of his White House so far and one denied to a line of presidents before him — Obama made the massive bill law with an East Room signing ceremony. He was joined by jubilant House and Senate Democrats as well as lesser-known people whose health care struggles have touched the president.

Obama scheduled back-to-back events to mark the moment, with much of his White House audience, as well as hundreds of others, heading to the Interior Department immediately after the signing.

WASHINGTON - A beaming President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a historic $938 billion health care overhaul that guarantees coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans and will touch nearly every citizen's life, presiding over the biggest shift in U.S. domestic policy since the 1960s and capping a divisive, yearlong debate that could define the November elections.

Celebrating "a new season in America" — the signature accomplishment of his White House so far and one denied to a line of presidents before him — Obama made the massive bill law with an East Room signing ceremony. He was joined by jubilant House and Senate Democrats as well as lesser-known people whose health care struggles have touched the president.

Obama scheduled back-to-back events to mark the moment, with much of his White House audience, as well as hundreds of others, heading to the Interior Department immediately after the signing.

"With all the punditry, all the lobbying, all the game-playing that passes for governing here in Washington, it's been easy at times to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing, to wonder if there are limits to what we as a people can still achieve," Obama said, his remarks interrupted by applause after nearly every sentence.

"We are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. We are not a nation that falls prey to doubt or mistrust. We don't fall prey to fear. We are not a nation that does what's easy. That's not who we are. That's not how we got here."

The president praised those House members who had "taken their lumps" during the overhaul debate. Shouted one lawmaker in the audience to laughter, "Yes we did!"

Obama paid tribute to what he called the "historic leadership and uncommon courage" of the members of Congress who pushed ahead with the measure amid the often heated debate. He also hailed the new law, saying it helps lift a "decades-long drag" on the economy.

With Victoria Kennedy, widow of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy in the audience, Obama took note of the long battle to bring the health overhaul measure to his desk. "He was confident we would do the right thing," the president said of the longtime Democratic lawmaker.

The president's victory lap proceeded even as Congress labored to complete the overhaul with a companion measure making changes to the main bill that were a condition of House Democrats' approval. Debate on that bill, also passed Sunday by the House, could begin Tuesday in the Senate.

Not everyone was cheering the new law.

Attorneys general from 13 states filed suit to stop the overhaul just minutes after the bill signing, contending the law is unconstitutional. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum took the lead in the lawsuit, joined by colleagues from South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Michigan, Utah, Pennsylvania, Alabama, South Dakota, Louisiana, Idaho, Washington and Colorado. Other GOP attorneys general may join the lawsuit later or sue separately.

In Washington, Republicans remained firm in their opposition to the giant remake of the nation's health system, declaring it much too costly and unlikely to produce the results that Obama claims. The Republicans pledged to see Democrats punished in this fall's elections for approving the legislation over deep public skepticism.

"By signing this bill, President Obama is abandoning our founding principle that government governs best when it governs closest to the people," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. "Never before has such a monumental change to our government been carried out without the support of both parties. This debate has fostered unprecedented division at a time when this nation needs to come together and address the serious challenges we face."

Terry Richardson: ‘I’m Really Hurt’

2010-03-23T00:22:00.000-07:00

About a week and a half ago, models began coming forward with stories about Terry Richardson's alleged sexual misconduct on shoots. Finally on Saturday morning, Richardson, who had not said anything on the matter, took to his blog to defend himself:

I just want to take a moment to say I’m really hurt by the recent and false allegations of insensitivity and misconduct. I feel fortunate to work with so many extraordinary people each and every day.
I’ve always been considerate and respectful of the people I photograph and I view what I do as a real collaboration between myself and the people in front of the camera. To everyone who has embraced and supported me and my work, I am so grateful. Thank you, it means a lot.

Last week, industry sources told Fashionista that they did not expect these stories to affect Richardson's employment. “Aside from being a great photographer, Terry’s very popular. I think his friends in the business won’t throw him overboard because of some 'Page Six' scandal,” one said. Another recalled Kate Moss's 2005 drug scandal. Though she lost some contracts immediately after the story broke in the tabloids, she continued working for major fashion brands and appearing in major fashion magazines. And just look at how well she's doing today.

Terry Richardson's Diary [Official site]
Will There Be Consequences for ‘Horndog’ Terry Richardson? [Fashionista]

By: Amy Odell

$33 Million Counterfeit Ring Busted; Naomi Campbell Has ‘Matured’

2010-03-23T00:18:00.000-07:00

• Officials in the U.S. and London busted a counterfeit ring peddling $33 million worth of Gucci, Coach, Cartier, and Nike knockoffs. [WWD]

• Louis Vuitton and other brands are calling on Google to stop unauthorized parties (namely, counterfeiters) from using their names as keywords for search ads. [IHT via NYT]

• Naomi Campbell says her violent outbursts are behind her: "I've matured. I stop myself from getting tired and burnt out. I want a quieter life today. I've been through the party scene. You get older and your life changes. Things that matter to you when you're 20 don't matter so much when you're approaching 40." [Vogue UK]

• The New Yorker's style issue is out today, with a cover that pays homage to Alexander McQueen. [NYer]

• An organization called the Impossible Project has developed a new type of analog instant film to replace Polaroid. It will be available online on Thursday and at an Impossible Project store opening in Soho next month. [WWD]

• John Rocha's 23-year-old daughter, Simone, is launching her own label.
[Independent UK]

• Menswear designers including Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld, and Calvin Klein are donating pieces for an AmfAR fund-raiser and fashion show this summer. The theme is "Black Tie/Black Leather." [WWD]

• Swiss watch company Girard-Perregaux will open its first U.S. store at 701 Madison Avenue next month. [WWD]

• British shoe brand Crockett & Jones is opening its first U.S. store on West 56th Street next month. [Racked]

• Heather Locklear's 12-year-old daughter, Ava Sambora, made her runway debut in the White Trash Beautiful show at L.A. Fashion Week. Her dad, Richie Sambora, co-founded the label. [StyleWatch/People]

By: Lauren Murrow

ABSOLUT Vodka presents "NY-Z", a new 15-minute documentary featuring Jay-Z. The film was directed by Danny Clinch.

2010-03-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

WELCOME BACK...TO THE FUTURE

2010-03-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to young John Guanlao, our web designer who has been working very hard with me in the past two weeks to get the new LAVSH site up. I recently saw the amazing new trailer for TRON LEGACY which looks sick. I decide to post both the new with the old trailer for TRON as John says he has never seen the original film.

TRON (1982)

TRON LEGACY (2010)

After Split With WWD, Who Will Edit ‘Dysfunctional’W?

2010-03-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's news that the high-end fashion glossy W and fashion trade-title Women's Wear Daily were finally breaking up their strange marriage of staff and resources has sparked a lot of buzz in the industry. Not just because people have been wondering for years when the divorce would happen, and how it would work — the long-suffering W relies heavily on the staff and finances of WWD — but because with the announcement of the split came news that Fairchild veteran of over 30 years, Patrick McCarthy, would be leaving at the end of the year. McCarthy was the editorial director of the Fairchild Fashion Group division of Advance Publications, which includes W, WWD, and a cadre of other trade magazines. Sources with insider knowledge of the situation disagreed over whether McCarthy was forced out or simply decided to retire from this career, but it's evident that in recent years, he was more and more of an absentee leader at W.

"A lot of people were surprised it didn't happen sooner," said one staffer. "Patrick was very behind the scenes, was very hands-off. He had all these people right below him so that they could be his conduit to the rest of the staff, because he wasn't communicating directly." In fact, multiple current and former workers at the magazine described the day-to-day workings of the title to be conducted in separate "fiefdoms," led relatively independently by Creative Director Dennis Freedman (art and design), Executive Editor Bridget Foley (fashion), and Deputy Editor Julie Belcove (words). While Patrick was well-liked personally by the staff, some described the working situation as "dysfunctional." Recently, one staffer told of a cover meeting in which Si Newhouse himself vetoed a more risqué version of the magazine's current Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler cover — an unprecedented move. ("That was always the cover," a publicist told us.)

In addition to being out of the office, it seemed that McCarthy tired of some of the other requirements of the job — the ad meetings, the dinners, the seeing and being seen all the time. One former staffer spoke of a time he skipped a dinner at the last minute where he was supposed to be seated next to Gwyneth Paltrow, outraging an advertiser. "They want someone who is personally sort of commercial and will be out and about. For the W brand, as a business decision, that's important," said one staffer. "It's not like Patrick was hosting a lot of dinners with Dolce & Gabbana, for example."

The long-awaited split between the two magazines may have been the brainchild of Gina Sanders, a rising star at the company (and Newhouse family member) who was installed as head of the Fairchild Fashion Group last month. But the person officially in charge of hiring McCarthy's replacement is Condé Nast editorial director Tom Wallace. A former Condé publisher explains that this is merely code for assembling candidates to run by the man on top: "Si will choose the person," the publisher explained. "100 percent."

So who will Si choose? W is a title that could go a few different ways right now. Born out of WWD's society coverage, in recent years it grew into almost an art book — where photographers were encouraged to do as they pleased, and where the giant size and lengthy spreads gave opportunity for stylists and artists to run luxuriously amok. While nobody in the office we spoke to seemed to have any hard information on the candidates, sources say WWD editor-in-chief Edward Nardoza told some of his staffers that the candidate would come from outside the company. Other than that, rumors inside Fairchild are running wild. Candidates will need to have a combination of business savvy (or at least personal marketability) to pull W out of the advertising hole it's fallen into, and impeccable fashion connections. With the departure of Bridget Foley to work on WWD full time, there's a hole at the top of the masthead in that department. Here are some names getting mentioned:

Carine Roitfeld: The French Vogue editor has reason to want to be in New York: Her children are here, and W's circulation is more than triple that of her current magazine. She's not much of a words editor, but W has of late stood out much more for its edgy fashion and legendary photography than its features. Si Newhouse reportedly has his eye on her, so this wouldn't surprise many.

Stefano Tonchi: The T editor has made a lot of money for the New York Times, and is very well-regarded. As one former staffer observed: "You couldn't have a male editor at Vogue. You can have one at W." Tonchi, who fills T with small articles and celebrity features, also seems like a good fit, and along with Roitfeld is one of the most buzzed-about names in the office.

Sally Singer: It would be a stretch to regard Vogue's features director as an "outside" candidate, but she's smart and would fill the fashion gap well at the top of the W masthead. She's also worked with Anna Wintour for years, and it would no doubt be helpful to have someone with that experience onboard as W moves into the Condé stable, nestled right next to Vogue.

Katie Grand: Former Pop and current LOVE editor Katie Grand knows edgy, and she knows photography. She's an editor with a vision, and that's something W is going to need moving forward as it tries to streamline and stay afloat.

Joe Zee: Elle's creative director would have to tread carefully in order not to butt heads with W's own highly paid creative director Dennis Freedman. But again, his fashion and styling cred would seem like a good fit for the W job, and is part of why his name is getting mentioned so often this week.

By: Chris Rovzar

How to make it in America Episode 6

2010-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

In rotation..

2010-03-20T14:20:00.001-07:00

"If you change the way you look at things...

2010-03-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

...the things you look at change."

- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Chris Rock's Death at a Funeral

2010-03-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Screen Gems has released the first trailer for Chris Rock-produced re-imagining of Frank Oz’s 2007 British comedy Death at a Funeral. The new focuses on a funeral that “devolves into a debacle of misplaced cadavers, indecent exposure and family secrets.”

The remake was directed by Neil LaBute (In The Company of Men, The Wicker Man, Lakeview Terrace), was written by Dean Craig (Caffeine), and stars Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, James Marsden, Zoe Saldana, and Columbus Short. Watch the trailer now embedded after the jump. Leave your thoughts in the comments below

Death at a Funeral hits theaters on April 16th 2010.

Def Jam Poetry - Jamie Foxx

2010-03-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Funny stuff...