A vendor who operates two booths that sell designer handbags, jewelry and other accessories in the downtown Los Angeles fashion district faced arraignment in federal court on Friday following her indictment for trafficking in counterfeit goods.
Leticia Nunez, 38, of Los Angeles, was taken in to custody Thursday by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) based upon an indictment handed down April 18.
The indictment prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California charges Nunez with two counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods.
If convicted on both counts, Nunez faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Earlier this month, HSI special agents and detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department executed federal search warrants at Nunez's two business locations and at a storage facility she rents nearby.
During the searches, agents seized a variety of merchandise, including jewelry bearing counterfeit trademarks for Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Juicy Couture, Dior, Bvlgari, Tag Heuer and Cartier.
Agents say the seized items represent an estimated loss in revenue to the legitimate trademark holders of more than $130,000.
"Despite what some people think, the sale of product knockoffs is not a victimless crime," said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. "Product counterfeiting undermines the U.S. economy, robs Americans of jobs, stifles American innovation and promotes other types of crime."
Previously, HSI special agents had made undercover buys at Nunez's businesses on two occasions in November and December of last year. Those purchases included more than 80 pieces of jewelry bearing counterfeit trademarks for Tiffany & Co. and Chanel.
Suspicions about Nunez's businesses first arose as a result of an earlier investigation targeting a Lake Forest couple suspected of trafficking in counterfeit goods.
Julieta Luft, 44, and Renel Dizon, 53, were charged in March in a criminal information with one count each of trafficking in counterfeit goods. The pair pleaded guilty to the charges Thursday.
Dizon's plea agreement specifically states the Luft received some of the counterfeit merchandise she sold from "L.N.," whom investigators allege was Leticia Nunez.
In August 2011, HSI special agents executed federal search warrants at two Orange County residences and a storage trailer linked to the couple. The enforcement actions resulted in the seizure of more than 800 items, including handbags, watches, clothing and jewelry bearing counterfeit trademarks for designer brands such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Coach, Fendi, Rolex, Prada and Burberry.
2012年4月26日星期四
PRINCETON AREA: Police blotter
Dennis Spivey, 46, of Princeton, was charged with robbery and simple assault on John Street on April 21 at 4:31 a.m. when he allegedly punched a victim in the face twice and stole her cell phone. Mr. Spivey was released after posting $20,250 bail.
Omar Haddara, 22, of Skillman, and Stavros Economopoulos, 21, of Montgomery, were charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia on Wilton Street on April 20 at 2:38 a.m.
Several girls were charged with juvenile delinquency at Morning Glory on 20 Nassau Street on April 21 at 4:21 p.m. when store employees allegedly saw them take almost $22 in merchandise. Police said four of the girls became physical with the employees in an attempt to flee the store and were taken into custody. One girl was found to be in possession of marijuana under 50 grams. Montgomery
A juvenile, 17, of Hillsborough, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia on Route 206 near Devon Drive on April 25 at 8:23 a.m.Plainsboro
Christoph J. Bleakley, 28, of Franklin Park, was charged with driving while intoxicated when he was sent to the University Medical Center at Princeton after police found him unconscious in the center lane on Route 1 near Mapleton Road on April 23 at 3:57 p.m. He also received summonses for reckless driving, obstructing traffic, possession of alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle and consumption of alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle.
Andrew G. Weitz, 58, of Plainsboro, was charged with driving while intoxicated on Plainsboro Road on April 26 at 1:13 a.m. He was also issued summonses for reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain a lane and possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle.
Plainsboro police, fire, EMS and fire companies from Applegarth, PPPL, East Windsor and Cranbury put out a structural fire at an unoccupied Hampshire Drive residence on April 25 at 12:10 p.m. The kitchen was destroyed and there was heavy smoke damage throughout the home. There were no injuries and the Red Cross helped the displaced homeowner. The adjoining town homes were not damaged.
A resident of Tamarron Drive reported two cell phones stolen at Morris Davison Park between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on April 26. The combined value of the theft is approximately $600.
A resident of Barclay Boulevard reported her Louis Vuitton handbag stolen, which contained Ray Ban sunglasses, a Tori Burch wallet and several credit cards and other personal items at the Can Do Fitness Center in Princeton on April 24 between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The combined total of items stolen is approximately $2,300.
Omar Haddara, 22, of Skillman, and Stavros Economopoulos, 21, of Montgomery, were charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia on Wilton Street on April 20 at 2:38 a.m.
Several girls were charged with juvenile delinquency at Morning Glory on 20 Nassau Street on April 21 at 4:21 p.m. when store employees allegedly saw them take almost $22 in merchandise. Police said four of the girls became physical with the employees in an attempt to flee the store and were taken into custody. One girl was found to be in possession of marijuana under 50 grams. Montgomery
A juvenile, 17, of Hillsborough, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia on Route 206 near Devon Drive on April 25 at 8:23 a.m.Plainsboro
Christoph J. Bleakley, 28, of Franklin Park, was charged with driving while intoxicated when he was sent to the University Medical Center at Princeton after police found him unconscious in the center lane on Route 1 near Mapleton Road on April 23 at 3:57 p.m. He also received summonses for reckless driving, obstructing traffic, possession of alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle and consumption of alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle.
Andrew G. Weitz, 58, of Plainsboro, was charged with driving while intoxicated on Plainsboro Road on April 26 at 1:13 a.m. He was also issued summonses for reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain a lane and possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle.
Plainsboro police, fire, EMS and fire companies from Applegarth, PPPL, East Windsor and Cranbury put out a structural fire at an unoccupied Hampshire Drive residence on April 25 at 12:10 p.m. The kitchen was destroyed and there was heavy smoke damage throughout the home. There were no injuries and the Red Cross helped the displaced homeowner. The adjoining town homes were not damaged.
A resident of Tamarron Drive reported two cell phones stolen at Morris Davison Park between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on April 26. The combined value of the theft is approximately $600.
A resident of Barclay Boulevard reported her Louis Vuitton handbag stolen, which contained Ray Ban sunglasses, a Tori Burch wallet and several credit cards and other personal items at the Can Do Fitness Center in Princeton on April 24 between 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The combined total of items stolen is approximately $2,300.
2012年4月25日星期三
Exhibition looks at Louis Vuitton's luxurious reign
There is one large showcase in Paris's Musée des Arts Décoratifs that displays the Louis Vuitton trunks all 26 of them that a lady needed for a holiday 150 years ago. That was back in the days before checked luggage fees, because Louis Vuitton made his name in the age of steam when people travelled by train and ship, with a retinue of porters.
Today, in the Marc Jacobs era of the brand, when we tend to travel light, and by airplane, 53 of Louis Vuitton's bestselling handbags are cutely displayed in a delicious, giant "chocolate box". In the early days it was luggage, but today, it is the handbag that symbolises the brand.
It is just one of the parallels drawn in this unique exhibition that is a portrait of the two men Louis Vuitton, the founder, and Marc Jacobs, the creative director.
"It's all my fault," says Pamela Golbin, the curator of the exhibition. "I wanted to explore how the brand, at over 150 years old, is not only relevant today, but more importantly is a driving force in the luxury industry." In 1800s Paris there were 400 "packers" contemporary to Louis Vuitton; today, his company is almost the only one left and "the DNA he set up for his brand has now set the standard for the luxury industry".
However, she first had to convince Marc Jacobs. "Museums are not really his thing," she admits, but he was persuaded when Golbin explained her idea: "Louis's entire career was spent during the industrialisation of fashion, a critical time when the industry took its form and if you put Marc into context, it is really the story of fashion and how today it has become globalised."
You start to get some insight into the lifestyle of Louis Vuitton's clients 150 years ago. At the entrance of the exhibition is a zoetrope, a remarkable contraption that was avant garde in Louis's day, explains Golbin. It was a device that produced the illusion of motion from a rapid succession of static images a forerunner of film. Upstairs in Marc's World we find the Tumblr wall of videos, images and pop culture references including photos of David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor and Barbra Streisand, and campy footage from his favourite films such as The Graduate. "We started off with the idea of an inspiration board for a collection and that became the Tumblr page if we could open Marc's head this is what would be inside," quips Golbin.
Around the exhibition there are more vitrines showcasing his ready to wear and collaborative artistic work with Richard Prince (which included a series of robotic nurses), Stephen Sprouse (those graffiti bags) and Takahashi Murakami. Golbin points out that Jacobs is a great collaborator and how essential it was to get that "we" element into the exhibition. The collaborations and proliferation of bags on show make the point that every collection starts with the design of a handbag.
Today, in the Marc Jacobs era of the brand, when we tend to travel light, and by airplane, 53 of Louis Vuitton's bestselling handbags are cutely displayed in a delicious, giant "chocolate box". In the early days it was luggage, but today, it is the handbag that symbolises the brand.
It is just one of the parallels drawn in this unique exhibition that is a portrait of the two men Louis Vuitton, the founder, and Marc Jacobs, the creative director.
"It's all my fault," says Pamela Golbin, the curator of the exhibition. "I wanted to explore how the brand, at over 150 years old, is not only relevant today, but more importantly is a driving force in the luxury industry." In 1800s Paris there were 400 "packers" contemporary to Louis Vuitton; today, his company is almost the only one left and "the DNA he set up for his brand has now set the standard for the luxury industry".
However, she first had to convince Marc Jacobs. "Museums are not really his thing," she admits, but he was persuaded when Golbin explained her idea: "Louis's entire career was spent during the industrialisation of fashion, a critical time when the industry took its form and if you put Marc into context, it is really the story of fashion and how today it has become globalised."
You start to get some insight into the lifestyle of Louis Vuitton's clients 150 years ago. At the entrance of the exhibition is a zoetrope, a remarkable contraption that was avant garde in Louis's day, explains Golbin. It was a device that produced the illusion of motion from a rapid succession of static images a forerunner of film. Upstairs in Marc's World we find the Tumblr wall of videos, images and pop culture references including photos of David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor and Barbra Streisand, and campy footage from his favourite films such as The Graduate. "We started off with the idea of an inspiration board for a collection and that became the Tumblr page if we could open Marc's head this is what would be inside," quips Golbin.
Around the exhibition there are more vitrines showcasing his ready to wear and collaborative artistic work with Richard Prince (which included a series of robotic nurses), Stephen Sprouse (those graffiti bags) and Takahashi Murakami. Golbin points out that Jacobs is a great collaborator and how essential it was to get that "we" element into the exhibition. The collaborations and proliferation of bags on show make the point that every collection starts with the design of a handbag.
2012年4月24日星期二
Coach Falls On U.S. Cooling Despite China Sales Boom
Coach (COH) beat Wall Street estimates as sales in China continue to boom, but shares sold off amid concerns about slowing North American growth.
The luxury handbag and accessories maker said Tuesday that profit rose 24% to 77 cents per share, the third straight quarter of double-digit EPS growth. Analysts expected 75 cents. Sales increased 17% to $1.11 billion, just above estimates of $1.10 billion.
Coach also raised its dividend 33% to $1.20 per share.But shares fell as much as 7.4% intraday, trading down 3% at midday.
North American same-store sales rose 6.7% vs. the year earlier, down from 8.8% in the prior quarter and slightly below some estimates.
That overshadowed strong gains in Asian markets. Coach sees a big opportunity in China, where its handbags are seen as a less-pricey alternative to Gucci, Prada and Hermes, but still with brand cache.
While China still remains a small market, sales jumped 60% and same-store sales, or sales in stores open at least a year, were in the double digits. Five new stores were opened in the thriving market during the quarter, for a total of 85.
Sales rose 10% in Japan, long a big market for Coach's products.
Coach got rid of "couponing," boosting operating margins, according to CEO Lew Frankfort. But that may have hurt sales.
As well as expanding into China, Coach is expanding its product line to include more items for men. The men's business is still on track to double to over $400 million during 2012. The company expects to have its men's line in 100 retail stores in North America.
Tumi (TUMI), a maker of luggage, briefcases and similar goods, had a strong IPO and debut last week.
"We remain confident in our ability to continue to drive sales and earnings at a double-digit pace over our planning horizon," Frankfort said.
The Apparel-clothing manufacturing group is ranked No. 67 out of Investor's Business Daily's 197 industry groups. VF Corp. (VFC), which owns the Timberland, North Face, Wrangler and Lee brands, reports quarterly earnings on Friday.
The luxury handbag and accessories maker said Tuesday that profit rose 24% to 77 cents per share, the third straight quarter of double-digit EPS growth. Analysts expected 75 cents. Sales increased 17% to $1.11 billion, just above estimates of $1.10 billion.
Coach also raised its dividend 33% to $1.20 per share.But shares fell as much as 7.4% intraday, trading down 3% at midday.
North American same-store sales rose 6.7% vs. the year earlier, down from 8.8% in the prior quarter and slightly below some estimates.
That overshadowed strong gains in Asian markets. Coach sees a big opportunity in China, where its handbags are seen as a less-pricey alternative to Gucci, Prada and Hermes, but still with brand cache.
While China still remains a small market, sales jumped 60% and same-store sales, or sales in stores open at least a year, were in the double digits. Five new stores were opened in the thriving market during the quarter, for a total of 85.
Sales rose 10% in Japan, long a big market for Coach's products.
Coach got rid of "couponing," boosting operating margins, according to CEO Lew Frankfort. But that may have hurt sales.
As well as expanding into China, Coach is expanding its product line to include more items for men. The men's business is still on track to double to over $400 million during 2012. The company expects to have its men's line in 100 retail stores in North America.
Tumi (TUMI), a maker of luggage, briefcases and similar goods, had a strong IPO and debut last week.
"We remain confident in our ability to continue to drive sales and earnings at a double-digit pace over our planning horizon," Frankfort said.
The Apparel-clothing manufacturing group is ranked No. 67 out of Investor's Business Daily's 197 industry groups. VF Corp. (VFC), which owns the Timberland, North Face, Wrangler and Lee brands, reports quarterly earnings on Friday.
Gucci Seeks to Swap Gaudy for Glam in Lavish Trip to China
Gucci creative director Frida Giannini stormed into Shanghai this past weekend for the label's historic first fashion show in the city, and in case you want to know every detail of her goings-on, she wrote a diary for the Daily Beast.
She doesn't scrimp on the small stuff. The rugs on the runway were burgundy and the bouquets were gardenias and orchids — items lifted directly from the Gucci fall/winter show in Milan last February. Hilary Swank sat front row, and her dress from the 2011 Academy Awards was on display in a Gucci exhibition alongside other items from the company's historical archives. Giannini goes on to speak breathlessly of China's gleaming jade butterfly brooches, its no-nonsense starlets, and the blowout party they threw at the Gucci Club. This temporary venue, she writes, was “a 360-degree experience that melds Italian heritage with the vibrancy of Shanghai.”
But while the diary is entertaining, there's more at stake than a creative director's adventures in jewelry shopping and late-night partying.
In today's WWD, a report from Shanghai focuses on the brand's current struggles with the changing style mores and spending habits of young Chinese women. The Gucci look known to the country for the past 10 years — over-sexed outfits and gaudy “G” emblems — is apparently no longer in tune with the times.
Patrizio di Marco, Gucci's president and CEO, told WWD that he hoped the sophistication and elegance of the new collection will “stress the glamour side, the fashion side, our being modern and contemporary.” The scene at a Gucci party, however, suggested there's a long way to go until the brand reaches that ideal. The report goes on to note: “There were lots of logocentric Gucci handbags and shoes, while young women wore mishmashes of animal prints and skintight dresses reminiscent of promwear from the Eighties ... A couple of women wore track suits paired with platform heels.”
She doesn't scrimp on the small stuff. The rugs on the runway were burgundy and the bouquets were gardenias and orchids — items lifted directly from the Gucci fall/winter show in Milan last February. Hilary Swank sat front row, and her dress from the 2011 Academy Awards was on display in a Gucci exhibition alongside other items from the company's historical archives. Giannini goes on to speak breathlessly of China's gleaming jade butterfly brooches, its no-nonsense starlets, and the blowout party they threw at the Gucci Club. This temporary venue, she writes, was “a 360-degree experience that melds Italian heritage with the vibrancy of Shanghai.”
But while the diary is entertaining, there's more at stake than a creative director's adventures in jewelry shopping and late-night partying.
In today's WWD, a report from Shanghai focuses on the brand's current struggles with the changing style mores and spending habits of young Chinese women. The Gucci look known to the country for the past 10 years — over-sexed outfits and gaudy “G” emblems — is apparently no longer in tune with the times.
Patrizio di Marco, Gucci's president and CEO, told WWD that he hoped the sophistication and elegance of the new collection will “stress the glamour side, the fashion side, our being modern and contemporary.” The scene at a Gucci party, however, suggested there's a long way to go until the brand reaches that ideal. The report goes on to note: “There were lots of logocentric Gucci handbags and shoes, while young women wore mishmashes of animal prints and skintight dresses reminiscent of promwear from the Eighties ... A couple of women wore track suits paired with platform heels.”
Actress Li Bing Bing in Gucci's accessories campaign
Commenting on the collaboration, Giannini said, "Li Bing Bing has an effortless beauty and an innate sophistication. Working with her has been rewarding – she has the optimism and the talent that go hand-in-hand with individual style. She embodies the Gucci woman with her contemporary femininity."
Li Bing Bing commented, "I am delighted to collaborate with Gucci on this new campaign. Frida's vision is very inspiring, and I truly enjoyed interpreting every iconic piece from the House's vibrant legacy."
The campaign features both classic accessories from Gucci's tradition as well as new styles destined to become timeless pieces. The fine jewelry in 18k gold echoes the House's longstanding Bamboo and horsebit motifs. The bracelets, in yellow and pink gold or white gold with diamonds, feature a Bamboo-style contour reminiscent of the signature material used by Gucci's artisans since 1947. Meanwhile, the iconic horsebit takes on soft, sensual shapes with a necklace in 18k yellow gold and a cocktail ring in two variants: a medium size with warm cognac quartz and small version with amethyst.
In addition, Li Bing Bing wears three timepieces: the New Bamboo watch which combines natural bamboo and stainless steel; the leather-clad 1921 timepiece named after the year when Guccio Gucci founded the Florentine House; and the Interlocking model featuring on the case a pink gold double G paired with a brown crocodile leather strap.
The campaign will debut this month across the Asia Pacific region with significant focus in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. A subsequent rollout in September 2012 will include additional accessories.
Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world's leading luxury fashion brands. With a renowned reputation for quality and Italian craftsmanship, Gucci designs, manufactures and distributes highly desirable products such as leather goods (handbags, small leather goods, and luggage), shoes, ready-to-wear, silks, timepieces and fine jewellery.
Li Bing Bing commented, "I am delighted to collaborate with Gucci on this new campaign. Frida's vision is very inspiring, and I truly enjoyed interpreting every iconic piece from the House's vibrant legacy."
The campaign features both classic accessories from Gucci's tradition as well as new styles destined to become timeless pieces. The fine jewelry in 18k gold echoes the House's longstanding Bamboo and horsebit motifs. The bracelets, in yellow and pink gold or white gold with diamonds, feature a Bamboo-style contour reminiscent of the signature material used by Gucci's artisans since 1947. Meanwhile, the iconic horsebit takes on soft, sensual shapes with a necklace in 18k yellow gold and a cocktail ring in two variants: a medium size with warm cognac quartz and small version with amethyst.
In addition, Li Bing Bing wears three timepieces: the New Bamboo watch which combines natural bamboo and stainless steel; the leather-clad 1921 timepiece named after the year when Guccio Gucci founded the Florentine House; and the Interlocking model featuring on the case a pink gold double G paired with a brown crocodile leather strap.
The campaign will debut this month across the Asia Pacific region with significant focus in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. A subsequent rollout in September 2012 will include additional accessories.
Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world's leading luxury fashion brands. With a renowned reputation for quality and Italian craftsmanship, Gucci designs, manufactures and distributes highly desirable products such as leather goods (handbags, small leather goods, and luggage), shoes, ready-to-wear, silks, timepieces and fine jewellery.
2012年4月23日星期一
Li Bingbing: Gucci's Chinese torchbearer
Li Bingbing is one of China's biggest - and most beautiful - movie stars. Born in 1973, she moved from a small town in China to Shanghai to enrol at drama school in 1997 after originally training to be a teacher. As a student, she says she, like many cosmopolitan young women in China, dreamed of owning a piece of Gucci and in fact managed to save up to buy a handbag and a wallet.
The brand was new in China then, having opened its first shop when Tom Ford was at the helm in 1996. At last count there were over 46 stores across china, six in Shanghai alone, its success mirroring Li Bingbing's own rise to stardom.
When creative director Frida Giannini was looking for a face for Gucci in China, Li Bingbing, was the natural choice - obviously a genuine fan of the brand.
"I'm a Gucci girl!" She said proudly when the Telegraph met her on Saturday at the cocktail party to launch the new campaign for bags, jewellery and watches on the day Gucci presented its first ever show in China.
She is a similar age to Giannini and does not have the passive beauty of some of the younger Chinese 'it' girls.
"I really like the attitude in the pictures," she says. "It's very tough." She strikes the pose, slightly narrowing her eyes and staring into the distance. "No excuses, no frills, it's just Gucci.
"It was like celebrating the New Year when I bought those first pieces when I was a student because I really loved the brand," she recalls.
And she keeps everything she buys and carries on wearing them. "It's something that is worth keeping for a long time mainly because of the historical value of the designs. I feel I own a piece of Gucci history."
She particularly likes accessories: "Sunglasses, bags, watches, jewellery ...everything. Oh my god, I have a lot of handbags!"
SEE: Top handbags for spring
This summer, Li Bingbing will have the chance to show off her latest Gucci bags (she is positively drooling over one of the bags in the campaign, a dusty pink number), and practice her English (she speaks very well though prefers to answer questions in Chinese through a translator). The star will be a torch bearer for China at the Olympics.
"I'm also the ambassador for the Chinese cultural exchange," she says. She is no stranger to London having spent time in the capital as an ambassador for UEFA. She is a big football fan and claims to be able to sing along with the crowds. A former spokesperson for Adidas, she says: "I'm very sporty. I might look small but I'm very strong."
Li Bingbing is the personification of the modern Chinese woman - the key to the big luxury brands' continued phenomenal success in her country. She loves the heritage of brands like Gucci but she is also aware that China itself must cultivate its own fashion designers and brands with their own point of view.
SEE: Highlights from the Gucci autumn/winter 2012 show
"The fashion world in China is still very young and developing but with the help of these large brands such as Gucci coming in, it is influencing a lot of creativity that is here. I trust there will be influential Chinese designers in the future."
Two years ago she went to the Venice Film Festival and wore a gown dress made specially by a Chinese designer, Guo Pei. 'The design was a bit of the East and the West, light pink with Chinese good luck words sewn on to it. The jewellery I wore was a porcelain vase pair of earrings designed by Chinese designer Wan Bao Bao. Both female
designers like Frida. Very tough girls."
And talking of tough girls, Li Bingbing's latest film, Resident Evil: Retribution starring Milla Jovovich, is released in September in 3-D.
She plays a video game character. "It's the first time I hold a gun," she says. "It's a very different experience for me. Usually I do bow and arrow and now its all gun and technology. Interesting, but a little but difficult because I had to wear a traditional long qipao dress, with a halter top and the skirt with a slit that comes all the way up to my underwear - with a big gun on the side" she laughs.
"Sometimes I'm a Gucci girl, sometimes I'm a bad girl."
The brand was new in China then, having opened its first shop when Tom Ford was at the helm in 1996. At last count there were over 46 stores across china, six in Shanghai alone, its success mirroring Li Bingbing's own rise to stardom.
When creative director Frida Giannini was looking for a face for Gucci in China, Li Bingbing, was the natural choice - obviously a genuine fan of the brand.
"I'm a Gucci girl!" She said proudly when the Telegraph met her on Saturday at the cocktail party to launch the new campaign for bags, jewellery and watches on the day Gucci presented its first ever show in China.
She is a similar age to Giannini and does not have the passive beauty of some of the younger Chinese 'it' girls.
"I really like the attitude in the pictures," she says. "It's very tough." She strikes the pose, slightly narrowing her eyes and staring into the distance. "No excuses, no frills, it's just Gucci.
"It was like celebrating the New Year when I bought those first pieces when I was a student because I really loved the brand," she recalls.
And she keeps everything she buys and carries on wearing them. "It's something that is worth keeping for a long time mainly because of the historical value of the designs. I feel I own a piece of Gucci history."
She particularly likes accessories: "Sunglasses, bags, watches, jewellery ...everything. Oh my god, I have a lot of handbags!"
SEE: Top handbags for spring
This summer, Li Bingbing will have the chance to show off her latest Gucci bags (she is positively drooling over one of the bags in the campaign, a dusty pink number), and practice her English (she speaks very well though prefers to answer questions in Chinese through a translator). The star will be a torch bearer for China at the Olympics.
"I'm also the ambassador for the Chinese cultural exchange," she says. She is no stranger to London having spent time in the capital as an ambassador for UEFA. She is a big football fan and claims to be able to sing along with the crowds. A former spokesperson for Adidas, she says: "I'm very sporty. I might look small but I'm very strong."
Li Bingbing is the personification of the modern Chinese woman - the key to the big luxury brands' continued phenomenal success in her country. She loves the heritage of brands like Gucci but she is also aware that China itself must cultivate its own fashion designers and brands with their own point of view.
SEE: Highlights from the Gucci autumn/winter 2012 show
"The fashion world in China is still very young and developing but with the help of these large brands such as Gucci coming in, it is influencing a lot of creativity that is here. I trust there will be influential Chinese designers in the future."
Two years ago she went to the Venice Film Festival and wore a gown dress made specially by a Chinese designer, Guo Pei. 'The design was a bit of the East and the West, light pink with Chinese good luck words sewn on to it. The jewellery I wore was a porcelain vase pair of earrings designed by Chinese designer Wan Bao Bao. Both female
designers like Frida. Very tough girls."
And talking of tough girls, Li Bingbing's latest film, Resident Evil: Retribution starring Milla Jovovich, is released in September in 3-D.
She plays a video game character. "It's the first time I hold a gun," she says. "It's a very different experience for me. Usually I do bow and arrow and now its all gun and technology. Interesting, but a little but difficult because I had to wear a traditional long qipao dress, with a halter top and the skirt with a slit that comes all the way up to my underwear - with a big gun on the side" she laughs.
"Sometimes I'm a Gucci girl, sometimes I'm a bad girl."
snobswap sip and swap launch party
Thursday night, emerging fashion platform SNOBSWAP.com, founded by sisters Elise Whang and Emily Dang, made its stylish debut with its "Swap & Sip" launch party at designer consignment boutique TARI in Georgetown. With a poised and polished crowd, the event catered to many of the city's biggest luxury lovers and the who's who of the DC fashion scene.
SNOBSWAP's style-savvy soiree was an exquisite evening of social shopping and complimentary lychee cocktails, tasty hors d'oeuvres, elegant exchanges, and glamorous gifting. Setting the city abuzz, attendees donned their favorite designer, consignment, and vintages pieces to schmooze the night away with like-minded fashion lovers. Delighted guests enjoyed a series of giveaways during the night that included tickets to the Wine Riot and Food & Wine festival as well as a sea foam Marc Jacobs bag.
True to its name, Swap & Sip also featured a high-end handbag and accessories swap, which granted excited event-goers a guilt-free opportunity to update their wardrobes with pieces by Gucci, Rebecca Minkoff and Tiffany's. Unswapped items were donated to be sold on SNOBSWAP.com. Proceeds from the sales of the items will benefit Mary Amons' non-profit, Labels for Love.
Guests included: Mary Amons of Bravo's Real Housewives of DC, Miranda Smyre of NBC Washington, Keri Henderson of A Diva State of Mind, Yodit Gebreyes of Talk of DC, CapFabb founders and fashion bloggers Elizabeth Fassbender and Lacey Maffettone, Natalie Barnes, Justine Dang, Jessica Dembeck, Angenella Fleming, Carolyn Hann, Teresa Kim, Sara Mokhtari, Christine Morris, Elizabeth Nach, Katherine Ntiamoah, Alida Sanchez, Amanda Spann, Sheena Tahilramani, Angelica Talan, Anchyi Wei, and Nicole Zhang.
"With the consignment market growing strong and Washingtonians' love for fashion and luxury, SNOBSWAP is perfectly centered here in the city," said founder Elise Whang.
Co-founder Emily Dang added, "We are thrilled to offer a new shopping experience across the nation and to contribute to such a noteworthy cause along the way!"
SNOBSWAP was created by Dang and Whang as the culmination of the pair's passion for priceless pieces and deals to die for. Offering a number of unique user-friendly features, SNOBSWAP is the premier online marketplace for luxury lovers across the country to swap, sell, and, shop for designer goods with a simple click of the mouse. The platform assists the financially savvy and fashion-focused with refreshing their wardrobes and finding their pre-loved purchases new homes. SNOBSWAP's premiere partnership with exclusive retailer TARI now propels it to provide the most coveted items available, including Alice & Olivia, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel.
SNOBSWAP's style-savvy soiree was an exquisite evening of social shopping and complimentary lychee cocktails, tasty hors d'oeuvres, elegant exchanges, and glamorous gifting. Setting the city abuzz, attendees donned their favorite designer, consignment, and vintages pieces to schmooze the night away with like-minded fashion lovers. Delighted guests enjoyed a series of giveaways during the night that included tickets to the Wine Riot and Food & Wine festival as well as a sea foam Marc Jacobs bag.
True to its name, Swap & Sip also featured a high-end handbag and accessories swap, which granted excited event-goers a guilt-free opportunity to update their wardrobes with pieces by Gucci, Rebecca Minkoff and Tiffany's. Unswapped items were donated to be sold on SNOBSWAP.com. Proceeds from the sales of the items will benefit Mary Amons' non-profit, Labels for Love.
Guests included: Mary Amons of Bravo's Real Housewives of DC, Miranda Smyre of NBC Washington, Keri Henderson of A Diva State of Mind, Yodit Gebreyes of Talk of DC, CapFabb founders and fashion bloggers Elizabeth Fassbender and Lacey Maffettone, Natalie Barnes, Justine Dang, Jessica Dembeck, Angenella Fleming, Carolyn Hann, Teresa Kim, Sara Mokhtari, Christine Morris, Elizabeth Nach, Katherine Ntiamoah, Alida Sanchez, Amanda Spann, Sheena Tahilramani, Angelica Talan, Anchyi Wei, and Nicole Zhang.
"With the consignment market growing strong and Washingtonians' love for fashion and luxury, SNOBSWAP is perfectly centered here in the city," said founder Elise Whang.
Co-founder Emily Dang added, "We are thrilled to offer a new shopping experience across the nation and to contribute to such a noteworthy cause along the way!"
SNOBSWAP was created by Dang and Whang as the culmination of the pair's passion for priceless pieces and deals to die for. Offering a number of unique user-friendly features, SNOBSWAP is the premier online marketplace for luxury lovers across the country to swap, sell, and, shop for designer goods with a simple click of the mouse. The platform assists the financially savvy and fashion-focused with refreshing their wardrobes and finding their pre-loved purchases new homes. SNOBSWAP's premiere partnership with exclusive retailer TARI now propels it to provide the most coveted items available, including Alice & Olivia, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel.
Police Investigating Rash Of Larcenies In Scarsdale
Scarsdale Police responded to a string of thefts throughout the village this past week. Police received nine reports of larcenies, ranging from car break-ins to stolen bikes, last week.
On Friday, April 19, a Garth Road resident reported that his Gary Fisher mountain bike was stolen from the scooter parking area near the Scarsdale train station, according to a police report. The bicyclist's steel lock was also swiped.
On April 17, a Taunton Road resident drove to Scarsdale High School and parked her car there while she went walking. According to the police report, after about an hour of walking that afternoon, she returned to find her front passenger side window smashed, and belongings stolen.
Also on April 17, a Scarsdale woman left her purse behind outside of Villa Roma Pizzeria on Depot Place. After realizing she forgot her belongings, she went back to check, and the brown Louis Vuitton handbag was gone, along with her credit cards and some personal checks, according to the police report.
On April 18, a Scarsdale doctor had his iPad stolen from his office on Overhill Road, according to police. The resident left to perform a surgery and came home to find his iPad was gone. Police later discovered the iPad outside of the building, according to the report.
On April 19, a Church Lane resident had his GPS swiped from his car, according to police. He had parked his car in his driveway the night before, according to the report. The car had been left unlocked.
Also on April 19, a Hathaway Road resident had $8.00 in quarters stolen from her car, which was parked in her driveway. Her vehicle was also unlocked, the police report stated.
On April 19, a Yonkers woman had crystal Rosary beads taken from her vehicle, which was parked on Lockwood Road the previous night, according to police. The alleged thief rummaged through her coin tray, police said.
On April 19, a Crane Road resident had cash, credit cards, and a check book swiped from his vehicle that was parked in his driveway. The resident noticed his gym clothes had been tossed around and his wallet was missing, according to the police report. His car was left unlocked, according to police.
And also on April 19, a Church Lane resident reported a larceny from her car. The resident said about $400 worth of clothing items had been stolen from her Lexus, which was parked in her driveway, according to the police report.
On Friday, April 19, a Garth Road resident reported that his Gary Fisher mountain bike was stolen from the scooter parking area near the Scarsdale train station, according to a police report. The bicyclist's steel lock was also swiped.
On April 17, a Taunton Road resident drove to Scarsdale High School and parked her car there while she went walking. According to the police report, after about an hour of walking that afternoon, she returned to find her front passenger side window smashed, and belongings stolen.
Also on April 17, a Scarsdale woman left her purse behind outside of Villa Roma Pizzeria on Depot Place. After realizing she forgot her belongings, she went back to check, and the brown Louis Vuitton handbag was gone, along with her credit cards and some personal checks, according to the police report.
On April 18, a Scarsdale doctor had his iPad stolen from his office on Overhill Road, according to police. The resident left to perform a surgery and came home to find his iPad was gone. Police later discovered the iPad outside of the building, according to the report.
On April 19, a Church Lane resident had his GPS swiped from his car, according to police. He had parked his car in his driveway the night before, according to the report. The car had been left unlocked.
Also on April 19, a Hathaway Road resident had $8.00 in quarters stolen from her car, which was parked in her driveway. Her vehicle was also unlocked, the police report stated.
On April 19, a Yonkers woman had crystal Rosary beads taken from her vehicle, which was parked on Lockwood Road the previous night, according to police. The alleged thief rummaged through her coin tray, police said.
On April 19, a Crane Road resident had cash, credit cards, and a check book swiped from his vehicle that was parked in his driveway. The resident noticed his gym clothes had been tossed around and his wallet was missing, according to the police report. His car was left unlocked, according to police.
And also on April 19, a Church Lane resident reported a larceny from her car. The resident said about $400 worth of clothing items had been stolen from her Lexus, which was parked in her driveway, according to the police report.
2012年4月19日星期四
Gucci creative director Giannini returns to China
Gucci is pleased to announce that on Saturday April 21, Creative Director Frida Giannini will mark her return to China with three exclusive events throughout the day.
In the morning Giannini will host a cocktail in honour of Li Bing Bing at the historic Wai Tan Yuan, at which Gucci's new advertising campaign starring the Chinese actress will be revealed.
Dedicated to the House's handbags, jewelry and watches, the campaign features both classic accessories from Gucci's tradition as well as new styles destined to become timeless pieces.
Then, in the evening, Wai Tan Yuan will also mark the location of Giannini's first-ever fashion show in China. Giannini will present her critically acclaimed Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Collection to 600 specially invited guests with celebrity attendees including Hilary Swank, Lapo Elkann, Bryan Ferry, Li Bing Bing, Yang Mi, Huo Si Yan, Chen Kun, Feng Shao Feng, Peng Yu Yan, and Wu Zun.
China's fashion capital will enjoy an unprecedented preview of next season's men's and women's collections only before shown on the House's Milan runway.
A private party will follow in a location conceived exclusively for the occasion – on the Rock Bund, the GUCCI CLUB will span three floors and host distinctive themes within each lounge.
Party-goers will have the opportunity to view a display of Gucci Première evening gowns from the House's Florentine archive, including the couture dress worn by Hillary Swank to the 2011 Oscars ceremony.2ManyDJs and Michel Gaubert will perform live DJ sets and Bryan Ferry will take the stage for an exclusive performance followed by a DJ set by Isaac Ferry.
Gucci in China:
Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world's leading luxury fashion brands. Gucci first entered the Chinese market in 1996, becoming one of the first luxury brands to operate in the country.
At the end of 2011, Gucci counted 46 directly operated stores in Mainland China spread across 32 different cities. The second half of the 2000s saw tremendous growth of openings compared to the end of 2004, when the House counted four stores in China. Today Gucci China has approximately 1,700 employees.
In the morning Giannini will host a cocktail in honour of Li Bing Bing at the historic Wai Tan Yuan, at which Gucci's new advertising campaign starring the Chinese actress will be revealed.
Dedicated to the House's handbags, jewelry and watches, the campaign features both classic accessories from Gucci's tradition as well as new styles destined to become timeless pieces.
Then, in the evening, Wai Tan Yuan will also mark the location of Giannini's first-ever fashion show in China. Giannini will present her critically acclaimed Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Collection to 600 specially invited guests with celebrity attendees including Hilary Swank, Lapo Elkann, Bryan Ferry, Li Bing Bing, Yang Mi, Huo Si Yan, Chen Kun, Feng Shao Feng, Peng Yu Yan, and Wu Zun.
China's fashion capital will enjoy an unprecedented preview of next season's men's and women's collections only before shown on the House's Milan runway.
A private party will follow in a location conceived exclusively for the occasion – on the Rock Bund, the GUCCI CLUB will span three floors and host distinctive themes within each lounge.
Party-goers will have the opportunity to view a display of Gucci Première evening gowns from the House's Florentine archive, including the couture dress worn by Hillary Swank to the 2011 Oscars ceremony.2ManyDJs and Michel Gaubert will perform live DJ sets and Bryan Ferry will take the stage for an exclusive performance followed by a DJ set by Isaac Ferry.
Gucci in China:
Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world's leading luxury fashion brands. Gucci first entered the Chinese market in 1996, becoming one of the first luxury brands to operate in the country.
At the end of 2011, Gucci counted 46 directly operated stores in Mainland China spread across 32 different cities. The second half of the 2000s saw tremendous growth of openings compared to the end of 2004, when the House counted four stores in China. Today Gucci China has approximately 1,700 employees.
2012年4月18日星期三
Rock Hill charter school suspends girl, 12, who put plastic bag on classmate's head
A 12-year-old York Preparatory Academy student who placed a bag over a classmate's head, causing him to pass out, has been suspended for the rest of the school year, the school's managing director, Tom Graves, said.
The student isn't allowed on campus during the regular school day and will get counseling in an alternative, after-school program, Graves said.
Police don't plan to charge the student with a crime, Rock Hill Police spokesman Brad Redfearn said.
The 12-year-old victim, Assante Pettus, has returned to school and is in good health, his mother, Demetra, said.
Demetra Pettus said she's satisfied with the punishment. But she is disappointed and frustrated with the way Graves and the Rock Hill charter school's governing board handled the situation.
Graves did not get involved after the incident and didn't reach out to her, Pettus said. When she called Graves several hours after the incident, he told her he didn't know much about what happened, Pettus said.
"He's just been very insensitive," Pettus said. "His attitude was so nonchalant.
"I'm not out for blood. But this is my child and I send him to school to be protected. Who could've known? Maybe five more seconds and he could have died."
Graves declined to discuss Pettus' account, but said, "We take every incident at school seriously."
Pettus said she also sent an email to York Prep's board of directors sharing her experience and seeking answers, but hasn't heard back.
The board sent a letter to all of the school's parents Tuesday blaming Rock Hill police for the national media maelstrom that ensued following the incident.
The letter reads: "We regret that the media escalated the nature of and circumstances surrounding this incident by reporting a mistaken police classification of ‘assault (and battery) with intent to kill' resulting from a typographical error in the initial report. This has now been corrected by the Rock Hill Police department."
That's not true, Redfearn said.
"The case was never misclassified," he said. "The information the officer got (from the school) matched the classification."
Police investigated the allegations, interviewing Assante and his mother as well as the student who attacked him, and determined there was no criminal intent, Redfearn said.
The Pettuses declined to press charges, which is necessary in a case like this for police to pursue charges, Redfearn said.
Demetra declined to press charges because Assante told her he didn't fear the attacker or consider her to be a bully, she said.
If there had been a charge following the investigation, Redfearn said it would have been "assault."
Here's what happened around 2 p.m. April 12, according to a police report and interviews with Demetra and Assante Pettus:
Assante, a sixth-grader, was walking to class when someone came from behind and put a plastic bag over his head.
He later told police that he couldn't see who put the bag on his head. It was tight around his neck and he couldn't breathe.
"When she put the bag over my head, I couldn't breathe, so I tried to pull it off, but I couldn't pull it off because she was pulling it. And then I passed out," Assante told The Herald's news partner, WSOC-TV.
Demetra arrived at school as her son regained consciousness and paramedics found him to be in good health. Assante didn't know who attacked him.
A school official called police that evening.
An administrator told the investigator that she didn't see the incident, but several students who did gave written statements.
The police report lists a 12-year-old unnamed female as a suspect.
Police interviewed Assante and his mother on Friday.
After Assante heard who might have done it, he told police it might have been a joke that "turned out bad."
National news outlets, including blogs, the Huffington Post and the New York Daily News, picked up the story.
The student isn't allowed on campus during the regular school day and will get counseling in an alternative, after-school program, Graves said.
Police don't plan to charge the student with a crime, Rock Hill Police spokesman Brad Redfearn said.
The 12-year-old victim, Assante Pettus, has returned to school and is in good health, his mother, Demetra, said.
Demetra Pettus said she's satisfied with the punishment. But she is disappointed and frustrated with the way Graves and the Rock Hill charter school's governing board handled the situation.
Graves did not get involved after the incident and didn't reach out to her, Pettus said. When she called Graves several hours after the incident, he told her he didn't know much about what happened, Pettus said.
"He's just been very insensitive," Pettus said. "His attitude was so nonchalant.
"I'm not out for blood. But this is my child and I send him to school to be protected. Who could've known? Maybe five more seconds and he could have died."
Graves declined to discuss Pettus' account, but said, "We take every incident at school seriously."
Pettus said she also sent an email to York Prep's board of directors sharing her experience and seeking answers, but hasn't heard back.
The board sent a letter to all of the school's parents Tuesday blaming Rock Hill police for the national media maelstrom that ensued following the incident.
The letter reads: "We regret that the media escalated the nature of and circumstances surrounding this incident by reporting a mistaken police classification of ‘assault (and battery) with intent to kill' resulting from a typographical error in the initial report. This has now been corrected by the Rock Hill Police department."
That's not true, Redfearn said.
"The case was never misclassified," he said. "The information the officer got (from the school) matched the classification."
Police investigated the allegations, interviewing Assante and his mother as well as the student who attacked him, and determined there was no criminal intent, Redfearn said.
The Pettuses declined to press charges, which is necessary in a case like this for police to pursue charges, Redfearn said.
Demetra declined to press charges because Assante told her he didn't fear the attacker or consider her to be a bully, she said.
If there had been a charge following the investigation, Redfearn said it would have been "assault."
Here's what happened around 2 p.m. April 12, according to a police report and interviews with Demetra and Assante Pettus:
Assante, a sixth-grader, was walking to class when someone came from behind and put a plastic bag over his head.
He later told police that he couldn't see who put the bag on his head. It was tight around his neck and he couldn't breathe.
"When she put the bag over my head, I couldn't breathe, so I tried to pull it off, but I couldn't pull it off because she was pulling it. And then I passed out," Assante told The Herald's news partner, WSOC-TV.
Demetra arrived at school as her son regained consciousness and paramedics found him to be in good health. Assante didn't know who attacked him.
A school official called police that evening.
An administrator told the investigator that she didn't see the incident, but several students who did gave written statements.
The police report lists a 12-year-old unnamed female as a suspect.
Police interviewed Assante and his mother on Friday.
After Assante heard who might have done it, he told police it might have been a joke that "turned out bad."
National news outlets, including blogs, the Huffington Post and the New York Daily News, picked up the story.
2012年4月17日星期二
President Sarkozy to Press: 'See You Tomorrow, Pedophile Friends'
There's a theory that you can't trust any message conveyed by a person's most public expressions and gestures. Instead, the theory runs, you have to study the fleeting look, the involuntary movement. The micro-expression that lasts a second or two, before the welcome smile is fixed in place.
That theory sounds good to me -- plausible enough that I wonder if you can apply it more broadly: If, for example, you can look at the unscripted remarks of politicians and deduce the real truth. I'll give the theory a run in the United States when the election campaign heats up, but for now let's give it a practice outing in France -- just days before that country goes to the polls.
First up, some background. France is slap-bang in the middle of the Eurozone crisis. Its government deficit isn't appalling -- or at least, not appalling by U.S. or Spanish standards, which admittedly doesn't set the bar too high. On the other hand, France's debt-to-GDP ratio is a scary 86 percent. If you add on all its other undeclared liabilities (pensions, EU obligations, and so on), the ratio is way over 150 percent. And France has run a budget deficit for more than 30 years.
France also has some big international banks. Those banks are active in Spain (where the financial prospects are awful), Italy (no better) and indeed the emerging economies of Eastern Europe. If and when one of those institutions hits a major stone in the road, the French government will have the choice between watching a massive lender fail or putting its own financial solvency on the line. Either way, the fiscal impact will be horrendous.
So: scary times. Scary enough that you'd want and expect some somber honesty from politicians. But no. Nothing of the sort. The man most likely to win, Francois Hollande, has come up with a brew of policies -- lowered pension age, new public sector hires, a tax on the rich that may touch 90 percent or more -- that collectively have the feel of some retro 1970s-themed party, all disco balls and facial hair.
That policy cocktail didn't work in the '70s. It brought rocketing inflation, stagnant growth, collapsing exchange rates and public protest. And these days, the climate is far less propitious than it was. There's more trade, China is fiercely competitive, the bond markets more open and less deferential and rampaging technological change (notably the Internet) has utterly altered the interconnectedness of markets. Meantime, France has lost control of its own currency. It can't even print its way out of trouble.
So what does our study of the unscripted remarks of politicians tell us? Well, we may as well note straight away that it's going to tell us more than a study of their scripted ones. Back when Sarkozy first ran for the presidency, he spoke it like he was for real. "Merit and labor should be rewarded more and more," he said. "Globalization requires us to reinvent everything." He spoke of a "rupture" with the past. He sounded like a French Thatcher.
Since he hasn't, even remotely, governed that way, we may as well study the unscripted. And we start with a little room for optimism. Asked by journalists if Italy could repay its debts, he laughed out loud. Not as in a "of course it can, don't be silly" way, but in an "Are you joking? It's Italy!" way. That's truthful, if hardly diplomatic.
But Sarkozy's tendency to honesty doesn't seem to extend as far as an appetite for debate. Given a hard ride by some journalists in relation to a major current corruption scandal -- hardly a topic that journalists ought to avoid -- Sarkozy raged at them. Turning to one journalist, he said, "And you! I've no evidence against you. But it would seem you're a pedophile. Who told me? I have an absolute conviction." His diatribe lasted for 10 minutes, during which time he kept returning to his ugly analogy -- then stormed off saying, "See you tomorrow, pedophile friends." Nor is it just journalists he treats with disdain. He once told David Cameron, the British prime minister, that he had "lost a good opportunity to shut up."
Voters get the same treatment. When a man refused a handshake at a French agricultural fair, Sarkozy snapped, "Casse-toi, alors pauvre con." (You'll need to translate that one for yourself. Just be warned that the BBC's family-friendly version -- "get lost then, you bloody idiot" -- is not exactly word-for-word.)
Worse still, the man's basic untruthfulness pertains even when it comes to the financial crisis -- the issue which is (or should be) dominating French politics. Asked repeatedly by Spanish journalists about the effect of S&P's downgrading of the French credit rating, Sarkozy twice refused to answer at all before stating abruptly that it "changes nothing."
Yet the financial math says otherwise. The winds of crisis starting to blow once again round France's nearest neighbors says otherwise. The slow ticking up of French bond yields says otherwise.
Truth is, if you want the most telling micro-expression of all, you could do worse than consider Christine Lagarde, former French Finance Minister and current head of the IMF. At a talk in Davos she held up her capacious Louis Vuitton bag and said, "I am here, with my little bag, to collect a bit of money." It was a joke ... only not. Her remark comes too close to the truth to be funny.
And one other thing. When a political culture refuses to engage with journalists, which disdains voters, which act aggressively or dismissively towards close neighbors and allies -- that culture has a rottenness at its heart. A rottenness that extends to corruption on an industrial scale. There have, in recent times, been major scandals touching presidents (Chirac, Sarkozy), prime ministers (de Villepin), high-profile ministers and political figures (Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Pasqua, Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, Lagarde). Not all those scandals are equally significant. Some of the investigations are still in process and all those involved have denied their involvement.
And yet. "Casse-toi, alors pauvre con," is not something you say if you respect voters. And if you lose respect for the people who elect you, everything else follows. A political class that lines its pockets as the great ship of France founders on the rocks.
That theory sounds good to me -- plausible enough that I wonder if you can apply it more broadly: If, for example, you can look at the unscripted remarks of politicians and deduce the real truth. I'll give the theory a run in the United States when the election campaign heats up, but for now let's give it a practice outing in France -- just days before that country goes to the polls.
First up, some background. France is slap-bang in the middle of the Eurozone crisis. Its government deficit isn't appalling -- or at least, not appalling by U.S. or Spanish standards, which admittedly doesn't set the bar too high. On the other hand, France's debt-to-GDP ratio is a scary 86 percent. If you add on all its other undeclared liabilities (pensions, EU obligations, and so on), the ratio is way over 150 percent. And France has run a budget deficit for more than 30 years.
France also has some big international banks. Those banks are active in Spain (where the financial prospects are awful), Italy (no better) and indeed the emerging economies of Eastern Europe. If and when one of those institutions hits a major stone in the road, the French government will have the choice between watching a massive lender fail or putting its own financial solvency on the line. Either way, the fiscal impact will be horrendous.
So: scary times. Scary enough that you'd want and expect some somber honesty from politicians. But no. Nothing of the sort. The man most likely to win, Francois Hollande, has come up with a brew of policies -- lowered pension age, new public sector hires, a tax on the rich that may touch 90 percent or more -- that collectively have the feel of some retro 1970s-themed party, all disco balls and facial hair.
That policy cocktail didn't work in the '70s. It brought rocketing inflation, stagnant growth, collapsing exchange rates and public protest. And these days, the climate is far less propitious than it was. There's more trade, China is fiercely competitive, the bond markets more open and less deferential and rampaging technological change (notably the Internet) has utterly altered the interconnectedness of markets. Meantime, France has lost control of its own currency. It can't even print its way out of trouble.
So what does our study of the unscripted remarks of politicians tell us? Well, we may as well note straight away that it's going to tell us more than a study of their scripted ones. Back when Sarkozy first ran for the presidency, he spoke it like he was for real. "Merit and labor should be rewarded more and more," he said. "Globalization requires us to reinvent everything." He spoke of a "rupture" with the past. He sounded like a French Thatcher.
Since he hasn't, even remotely, governed that way, we may as well study the unscripted. And we start with a little room for optimism. Asked by journalists if Italy could repay its debts, he laughed out loud. Not as in a "of course it can, don't be silly" way, but in an "Are you joking? It's Italy!" way. That's truthful, if hardly diplomatic.
But Sarkozy's tendency to honesty doesn't seem to extend as far as an appetite for debate. Given a hard ride by some journalists in relation to a major current corruption scandal -- hardly a topic that journalists ought to avoid -- Sarkozy raged at them. Turning to one journalist, he said, "And you! I've no evidence against you. But it would seem you're a pedophile. Who told me? I have an absolute conviction." His diatribe lasted for 10 minutes, during which time he kept returning to his ugly analogy -- then stormed off saying, "See you tomorrow, pedophile friends." Nor is it just journalists he treats with disdain. He once told David Cameron, the British prime minister, that he had "lost a good opportunity to shut up."
Voters get the same treatment. When a man refused a handshake at a French agricultural fair, Sarkozy snapped, "Casse-toi, alors pauvre con." (You'll need to translate that one for yourself. Just be warned that the BBC's family-friendly version -- "get lost then, you bloody idiot" -- is not exactly word-for-word.)
Worse still, the man's basic untruthfulness pertains even when it comes to the financial crisis -- the issue which is (or should be) dominating French politics. Asked repeatedly by Spanish journalists about the effect of S&P's downgrading of the French credit rating, Sarkozy twice refused to answer at all before stating abruptly that it "changes nothing."
Yet the financial math says otherwise. The winds of crisis starting to blow once again round France's nearest neighbors says otherwise. The slow ticking up of French bond yields says otherwise.
Truth is, if you want the most telling micro-expression of all, you could do worse than consider Christine Lagarde, former French Finance Minister and current head of the IMF. At a talk in Davos she held up her capacious Louis Vuitton bag and said, "I am here, with my little bag, to collect a bit of money." It was a joke ... only not. Her remark comes too close to the truth to be funny.
And one other thing. When a political culture refuses to engage with journalists, which disdains voters, which act aggressively or dismissively towards close neighbors and allies -- that culture has a rottenness at its heart. A rottenness that extends to corruption on an industrial scale. There have, in recent times, been major scandals touching presidents (Chirac, Sarkozy), prime ministers (de Villepin), high-profile ministers and political figures (Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Pasqua, Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, Lagarde). Not all those scandals are equally significant. Some of the investigations are still in process and all those involved have denied their involvement.
And yet. "Casse-toi, alors pauvre con," is not something you say if you respect voters. And if you lose respect for the people who elect you, everything else follows. A political class that lines its pockets as the great ship of France founders on the rocks.
2012年4月16日星期一
The Waning Art of Meerschaum Carving
For those who missed the first two installments of this series, Kaleici is a district in the original walled city of Antalya.
Its narrow, stone-paved streets, often no more than lanes, meander with no apparent design. With twists and turns they lead you unexpectedly past deserted gardens or through walled courtyards where you might find a street dog dozing in the sun or a family cat peering watchfully from the window. Kaleici streets are lined with old Ottoman houses, some abandoned and decaying with time, some under restoration, while others stand proudly restored to their original Ottoman design. Their doors are freshly painted, and the windows are clean and shiny. Sometimes, the enticing aroma of frying onions or a newly baked cake waft from hidden kitchens, making you stop and linger. These streets of Kaleici with their sights and smells beckon for a leisurely stroll back into another, more serene era.
Serenity will surround you while exploring this old city, but behind those stone fronts and stuccoed garden walls there exists a thriving community of multicultural, multi-national people who live or work in Kaleici. The old city is known for its unique tourist attractions, shopping and dining opportunities and many other things, but the most important assets of Kaleici are the people and the stories found behind the scenes.
Historic surroundings
Kaleici has several entrances, but the most favored is that of Hadrian's Gate, an imposing tri-arched edifice built in the second century to honor the visit of the Roman Emperor Hadrianus and his wife Sabina. To pass through the gate, you must first descend a short flight of steps and cross a short causeway of glass. Pause here and look around. At this point, you are standing exactly at the ground level of the second century. Two meters below the current ground level represents over 2,000 years of accumulation. Continue through the gate and ascend the next flight of steps where you will enter a small plaza. Veering slightly to the left is Hesapci Sokak. Throughout history and into Ottoman times, this street was one of the main thoroughfares of the ancient city, running from the gate to the sea.
Following along Hesapci Sokak you will come across a wide variety of interesting shops. Rug merchants mark their storefronts with vibrant displays of handcrafted carpets and textiles, while spice sellers show their exotic wares of intricate and aromatic pyramids of herbs and seasonings. Ubiquitous souvenir vendors stake out their presence with street tables filled to the breaking point with “genuine” Turkish items ranging from textiles, handbags and handmade goods to pottery and glass-inlaid lanterns (very nice for a patio or deck). Sprinkled along the street are small boutique hotels and restaurants with secluded shaded gardens that seem to beg you to come in for lunch or tea. Weather permitting, local artists exhibit their latest oil paintings, hoping one will find a new home. Visitors, businesspeople, shopkeepers, students, lovers and locals move about and mingle together along the street, and at certain times the scene takes on the feeling of a colorful street fair.
2012年4月15日星期日
Residents line up for Junior League sale
Shoppers were eager to bargain hunt Saturday during the Junior League of Parkersburg's 24th annual Whale of a Sale in the City Park Pavilion.
"People were lined up before we got here waiting for us to open the doors," said Jackie Thomas, chair of the event. "It happens every year because people want to get a good deal on the best stuff we have."
Those who lined up had to wait until the doors opened at 8 a.m. Saturday to rush the tables and claim the big ticket items they wanted.
"Things were flying when the doors opened as people rushed to get what they wanted," Thomas added.
Every adult who walked through the doors paid $2 admission into one of the area's largest annual yard sales. Proceeds from the event went to support the Junior League's current projects and the group is trying to raise $6,000 this year through the event.
"Each year we have the same goal and each year we make a different amount," said Valerie Curtis, president-elect of the Junior League. "Some years we raise $4,000 and others we've raised $12,000; it all depends on the items donated for the sale."
The items in the Whale of a Sale are different for each year's event as the Junior League collects everything from electronics, clothing and toys to exercise equipment, furniture, dishes and books for the event.
"We spend all year getting the things together for this one day," Thomas said.
All items were sold at low prices that were continually marked down throughout the day with a "bag sale" at the end where everything that could be fit in a plastic shopping bag went for one lump sum. The bag sale is to aid the Junior League in getting rid of as many items as possible and raise as much money as they can.
Items left over at the end of the sale were donated to The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley for its Noah's Arc Thrift shops. The stores allow The Arc to provide for 28 local programs and services to aid those with intellectual and mental disabilities.
Businesses that donated support this year to the Whale of a Sale included Pierce Food Co., Hertz Rent A Car & Truck, Vienna Fire Department, JR's Doughnut Castle and Panera Bread.
The Junior League is a women's organization with a mission to offer women opportunities for leadership development, service and volunteerism, community connections and genuine friendships.
One of the biggest projects the organization is working on is the JuLePs Pathways Playground to create an accessible playground at City Park. Once the playground is constructed, it will offer children of all abilities an opportunity for play.
Other Junior League projects benefiting from the sale will include the historic Cook House and the upcoming Kids in the Kitchen project to be held during the Downtown Farmers' Marketplace.
"People were lined up before we got here waiting for us to open the doors," said Jackie Thomas, chair of the event. "It happens every year because people want to get a good deal on the best stuff we have."
Those who lined up had to wait until the doors opened at 8 a.m. Saturday to rush the tables and claim the big ticket items they wanted.
"Things were flying when the doors opened as people rushed to get what they wanted," Thomas added.
Every adult who walked through the doors paid $2 admission into one of the area's largest annual yard sales. Proceeds from the event went to support the Junior League's current projects and the group is trying to raise $6,000 this year through the event.
"Each year we have the same goal and each year we make a different amount," said Valerie Curtis, president-elect of the Junior League. "Some years we raise $4,000 and others we've raised $12,000; it all depends on the items donated for the sale."
The items in the Whale of a Sale are different for each year's event as the Junior League collects everything from electronics, clothing and toys to exercise equipment, furniture, dishes and books for the event.
"We spend all year getting the things together for this one day," Thomas said.
All items were sold at low prices that were continually marked down throughout the day with a "bag sale" at the end where everything that could be fit in a plastic shopping bag went for one lump sum. The bag sale is to aid the Junior League in getting rid of as many items as possible and raise as much money as they can.
Items left over at the end of the sale were donated to The Arc of the Mid-Ohio Valley for its Noah's Arc Thrift shops. The stores allow The Arc to provide for 28 local programs and services to aid those with intellectual and mental disabilities.
Businesses that donated support this year to the Whale of a Sale included Pierce Food Co., Hertz Rent A Car & Truck, Vienna Fire Department, JR's Doughnut Castle and Panera Bread.
The Junior League is a women's organization with a mission to offer women opportunities for leadership development, service and volunteerism, community connections and genuine friendships.
One of the biggest projects the organization is working on is the JuLePs Pathways Playground to create an accessible playground at City Park. Once the playground is constructed, it will offer children of all abilities an opportunity for play.
Other Junior League projects benefiting from the sale will include the historic Cook House and the upcoming Kids in the Kitchen project to be held during the Downtown Farmers' Marketplace.
2012年4月12日星期四
HPD warns about thefts while shopping
The Honolulu Police Department released an alert on its Facebook page warning about purses, bags and wallets stolen from people shopping.
Police said items were stolen from shopping carts, baby strollers, or when items are placed on a counter.
The suspect will steal the items while the owner is preoccupied and looking at something while shopping.
Investigators said there have been cases where a person was in the parking lot placing the items they just bought in their vehicle when the suspect or suspects would either walk pass or drive pass and take the purse or bag out of the shopping cart.
Police are warning people to be aware of your items and keep an eye on your belongings when shopping at a store, mall or other merchandising location.
Police said items were stolen from shopping carts, baby strollers, or when items are placed on a counter.
The suspect will steal the items while the owner is preoccupied and looking at something while shopping.
Investigators said there have been cases where a person was in the parking lot placing the items they just bought in their vehicle when the suspect or suspects would either walk pass or drive pass and take the purse or bag out of the shopping cart.
Police are warning people to be aware of your items and keep an eye on your belongings when shopping at a store, mall or other merchandising location.
2012年4月11日星期三
3 held over assault in parking brawl
NASHIK: The Panchavati Police have arrested three persons accused in connection with assault and robbery that took place near K K Wagh College on April 10 at around 12.30 pm.
The three accused are Gautam Shah (28) of Bajrangwadi, Nashik Pune Road, Sarang Bhojge (21) of Narayanbapu Nagar and Dheeraj Jadhav (18) of Somvar Peth. Police said that the accused were travelling in an autorickshaw, and had picked up an argument with the driver of a trailer, Sanjay Yadav, and the trailer's cleaner, Sagar, over the issue of moving the trailer from its parking spot.
The argument escalated when the trio started beating up Yadav and Sagar. Further, the accused also snatched Yadav's mobile phone and a bag containing Rs 5,000 that was kept in the trailer's cabin. Subsequently, Yadav's employer a man by the name of Sharma from Kherpada, Navi Mumbai, lodged a complaint with the Panchavati police on the day of the incident, at around 4pm.
The police nabbed the trio late in the evening. The accused were produced in court on Wednesday. The autorickshaw which the three had been travelling in has also been seized.
The three accused are Gautam Shah (28) of Bajrangwadi, Nashik Pune Road, Sarang Bhojge (21) of Narayanbapu Nagar and Dheeraj Jadhav (18) of Somvar Peth. Police said that the accused were travelling in an autorickshaw, and had picked up an argument with the driver of a trailer, Sanjay Yadav, and the trailer's cleaner, Sagar, over the issue of moving the trailer from its parking spot.
The argument escalated when the trio started beating up Yadav and Sagar. Further, the accused also snatched Yadav's mobile phone and a bag containing Rs 5,000 that was kept in the trailer's cabin. Subsequently, Yadav's employer a man by the name of Sharma from Kherpada, Navi Mumbai, lodged a complaint with the Panchavati police on the day of the incident, at around 4pm.
The police nabbed the trio late in the evening. The accused were produced in court on Wednesday. The autorickshaw which the three had been travelling in has also been seized.
2012年4月10日星期二
Luxury watches mainly fashion statement: Study
Telling time is about the last reason that affluent Chinese give for buying luxury watches, according to the China Top Wristwatch Report, released on Tuesday.
The luxury watch market is seeing "blow-out like demand" from wealthy shoppers, even though the country's general watch market is contracting as people use cellphones to keep track of time.
Instead, customers are snapping up these expensive accessories to make a fashion statement, give as business gifts or collect, according to the report published by the Shanghai-based Fortune Character luxury magazine.
"The first reason stated by our respondents for luxury watch shopping is to match their outfit.
"Telling time was the least- stated reason, accounting for 5 percent," said Zhou Ting, associate professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing and lead author of the report.
The report, the first of its kind in China, surveyed 157 "frequent" luxury watch buyers in China whose annual incomes run into millions of yuan, as well as 23 executives at luxury watch brands.
In 2011, luxury watch imports rose a "striking" 49 percent to 89,575, data from the China Customs Information Center show.
This year, consumption of luxury watches is forecast to surpass 210,000, with 130,000 imported, making China the world's largest luxury watch market.
Shanghai topped the list with imports of more than 80,000 watches in 2011, or 38 times the number of Beijing, the runner-up, accounting for 93.8 percent of the national volume.
"Unlike other luxury goods like cosmetics, perfume and handbags, which are often bought overseas, 59 percent of luxury watches are bought from domestic stores," said Zhou.
That fact has propelled aggressive store expansion, especially in second- and third-tier cities, and lured in luxury brands that don't specialize in watches, such as Chanel.
There's also a middle-market clientele, who buy brands that offer models priced for urban office workers, Zhou noted.
"These people usually have no more than three wristwatches, each of a different brand. Although they contribute very little to the market (now), they would be the largest potential driving force" because of their large numbers, said Zhou.
That view is shared by Michele Sofisti, the new CEO of Gucci's Global Timepieces & Jewelry business.
"There are lots of opportunities for hardworking young people, and they are the real driving force here," Sofisti said in an earlier interview with China Daily.
Lu Chao, a 29-year-old purchasing manager from Shanghai, is one of these people.
He started with a limited edition model of Tissot's stainless steel watch while studying in the United Kingdom three years ago. Lu now has three watches, each of which cost twice as much as the previous one.
He exemplifies the study's finding about telling time: despite his multiple watches, he's often late.
"The difference between reading the time from a cellphone and a watch? Ask ladies the difference between carrying their stuff in a Wal-Mart shopping bag and a Vuitton purse," said Lu Chao.
The luxury watch market is seeing "blow-out like demand" from wealthy shoppers, even though the country's general watch market is contracting as people use cellphones to keep track of time.
Instead, customers are snapping up these expensive accessories to make a fashion statement, give as business gifts or collect, according to the report published by the Shanghai-based Fortune Character luxury magazine.
"The first reason stated by our respondents for luxury watch shopping is to match their outfit.
"Telling time was the least- stated reason, accounting for 5 percent," said Zhou Ting, associate professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing and lead author of the report.
The report, the first of its kind in China, surveyed 157 "frequent" luxury watch buyers in China whose annual incomes run into millions of yuan, as well as 23 executives at luxury watch brands.
In 2011, luxury watch imports rose a "striking" 49 percent to 89,575, data from the China Customs Information Center show.
This year, consumption of luxury watches is forecast to surpass 210,000, with 130,000 imported, making China the world's largest luxury watch market.
Shanghai topped the list with imports of more than 80,000 watches in 2011, or 38 times the number of Beijing, the runner-up, accounting for 93.8 percent of the national volume.
"Unlike other luxury goods like cosmetics, perfume and handbags, which are often bought overseas, 59 percent of luxury watches are bought from domestic stores," said Zhou.
That fact has propelled aggressive store expansion, especially in second- and third-tier cities, and lured in luxury brands that don't specialize in watches, such as Chanel.
There's also a middle-market clientele, who buy brands that offer models priced for urban office workers, Zhou noted.
"These people usually have no more than three wristwatches, each of a different brand. Although they contribute very little to the market (now), they would be the largest potential driving force" because of their large numbers, said Zhou.
That view is shared by Michele Sofisti, the new CEO of Gucci's Global Timepieces & Jewelry business.
"There are lots of opportunities for hardworking young people, and they are the real driving force here," Sofisti said in an earlier interview with China Daily.
Lu Chao, a 29-year-old purchasing manager from Shanghai, is one of these people.
He started with a limited edition model of Tissot's stainless steel watch while studying in the United Kingdom three years ago. Lu now has three watches, each of which cost twice as much as the previous one.
He exemplifies the study's finding about telling time: despite his multiple watches, he's often late.
"The difference between reading the time from a cellphone and a watch? Ask ladies the difference between carrying their stuff in a Wal-Mart shopping bag and a Vuitton purse," said Lu Chao.
2012年4月9日星期一
Message Board
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2012年4月8日星期日
Guest Column: Value your community; volunteer to clean up
I'm sitting in my office thinking about what to write about for the Great American Cleanup this year. Last year's was a tremendous success (if you consider picking up someone's litter a success). With more than 1,700 volunteers and 16 volunteer centers in the city and county, 50 tons of litter was picked up in three hours on a sunny, Saturday morning.
How do you write about someone else's bad habits? Habits are learned at a young age, and that's where the answer lies. At one Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful seminar for the Great American Cleanup, we were asked why we do what we do. The explanation was that at a young age we were taught the value of community pride; keeping things tidy became a habit that stayed with us. Many heads in our audience nodded in agreement, realizing then why we were so committed to our deeds.
One of our missions at Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful is to educate kids who will grow up with the knowledge that it's wrong to toss litter along the roadside. We hope they will become good stewards of this land, and look forward to seeing them cleaning up our community.
Many of you remember the TV ad of the Indian paddling his canoe through a sea of litter; with a tear running down his cheek, even more litter was thrown at his feet from a passing car as he stepped ashore. Do you remember the wise old owl saying, "Give a hoot; don't pollute"? These ads worked for years, but bad habits return, don't they?
Recycling seems like a remote operation, so let's change the word "recycle" to "reuse" for a moment. I recall my parents teaching us that pop bottles could be returned to stores for a deposit; we did this and bought candy. Glass jars were used as containers for screws, paint, homemade salad dressing and jams.
There's nothing new about canvas shopping bags; grandma had several. Grandpa and Dad worked in the garden and salvaged pieces of plumbing pipe to irrigate and quench the thirst of their prize tomatoes. My father, a carpenter, brought home pieces of hardwood that we used for cooking out.
Even our grapevine garage was framed with used lumber from Dad's remodeling jobs. Perhaps it was the Depression that honed my parents' resolve not to waste.
Nonetheless, the lessons stuck with us, and even to this day I give plastic grocery bags to the neighbor kids to reuse as they grow and sell sweet corn.
How do you write about someone else's bad habits? Habits are learned at a young age, and that's where the answer lies. At one Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful seminar for the Great American Cleanup, we were asked why we do what we do. The explanation was that at a young age we were taught the value of community pride; keeping things tidy became a habit that stayed with us. Many heads in our audience nodded in agreement, realizing then why we were so committed to our deeds.
One of our missions at Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful is to educate kids who will grow up with the knowledge that it's wrong to toss litter along the roadside. We hope they will become good stewards of this land, and look forward to seeing them cleaning up our community.
Many of you remember the TV ad of the Indian paddling his canoe through a sea of litter; with a tear running down his cheek, even more litter was thrown at his feet from a passing car as he stepped ashore. Do you remember the wise old owl saying, "Give a hoot; don't pollute"? These ads worked for years, but bad habits return, don't they?
Recycling seems like a remote operation, so let's change the word "recycle" to "reuse" for a moment. I recall my parents teaching us that pop bottles could be returned to stores for a deposit; we did this and bought candy. Glass jars were used as containers for screws, paint, homemade salad dressing and jams.
There's nothing new about canvas shopping bags; grandma had several. Grandpa and Dad worked in the garden and salvaged pieces of plumbing pipe to irrigate and quench the thirst of their prize tomatoes. My father, a carpenter, brought home pieces of hardwood that we used for cooking out.
Even our grapevine garage was framed with used lumber from Dad's remodeling jobs. Perhaps it was the Depression that honed my parents' resolve not to waste.
Nonetheless, the lessons stuck with us, and even to this day I give plastic grocery bags to the neighbor kids to reuse as they grow and sell sweet corn.
2012年4月5日星期四
Students decorate grocery bags
The next time you go to the grocery store, you might come home with more than just fruits and vegetables but perhaps with a piece of art.
Throughout the month of April, the Johnson County Community Partnership for Protecting Children will sell 600 reusable grocery bags decorated by local art students in the Iowa City Community School District at local Hy-Vee and Fareway grocery stores. The goal of the project is to raise awareness for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, said CPPC coordinator and Johnson County Community Projects specialist LaTasha Massey. Bags will be sold for $2 each to cover the cost of the bags, she said.
The bag project is a new endeavor by the organization and the totes will serve as a portable, reusable community education piece, Massey said. Students in grades K-6 drew pictures of something they need to feel safe in a community, she said.
Some students drew warm coats in wintertime, Massey said. Others drew homes or plates of food. Some are in different languages, she said.
"Eighty percent of child abuse is child neglect, so we wanted to do a community education piece ... that came from looking at the eight key things the Department of Human Services looks at when looking at child neglect," she said. "(The students') interpretations of what they need to be safe and healthy to turn into a functional adult are really awesome."
The purpose of the project, Massey said, is for children to remind adults of the important things they need to meet their needs. She said she hopes the number of children being abused under denial of critical care will decrease.
Lisa Hildebrand, ICCSD art coordinator and art teacher at Van Allen Elementary, said she is happy that every elementary school in the district is participating in the project.
"This was a wonderful opportunity for art classes to participate in with the CPPC," she said. "Students were able to see a connection with their artwork and the community."
Both Massey and Hildebrand hope to continue the project in future years.
"We've been working on this since October, so it's great to see (the results)," Massey said. "If it goes over really well this year, we will do it next year."
Throughout the month of April, the Johnson County Community Partnership for Protecting Children will sell 600 reusable grocery bags decorated by local art students in the Iowa City Community School District at local Hy-Vee and Fareway grocery stores. The goal of the project is to raise awareness for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, said CPPC coordinator and Johnson County Community Projects specialist LaTasha Massey. Bags will be sold for $2 each to cover the cost of the bags, she said.
The bag project is a new endeavor by the organization and the totes will serve as a portable, reusable community education piece, Massey said. Students in grades K-6 drew pictures of something they need to feel safe in a community, she said.
Some students drew warm coats in wintertime, Massey said. Others drew homes or plates of food. Some are in different languages, she said.
"Eighty percent of child abuse is child neglect, so we wanted to do a community education piece ... that came from looking at the eight key things the Department of Human Services looks at when looking at child neglect," she said. "(The students') interpretations of what they need to be safe and healthy to turn into a functional adult are really awesome."
The purpose of the project, Massey said, is for children to remind adults of the important things they need to meet their needs. She said she hopes the number of children being abused under denial of critical care will decrease.
Lisa Hildebrand, ICCSD art coordinator and art teacher at Van Allen Elementary, said she is happy that every elementary school in the district is participating in the project.
"This was a wonderful opportunity for art classes to participate in with the CPPC," she said. "Students were able to see a connection with their artwork and the community."
Both Massey and Hildebrand hope to continue the project in future years.
"We've been working on this since October, so it's great to see (the results)," Massey said. "If it goes over really well this year, we will do it next year."
2012年4月4日星期三
Stand by your man: First picture of Mario Balotelli and model girlfriend since he admitted bedding Rooney hooker
Mario Balotelli arrives for training with beautiful Italian model girlfriend Raffaella Fico - just hours after he admitted bedding Wayne Rooney hooker Jenny Thompson.
The pair, both wearing sunglasses, stepped out of a white Mercedes car in the car park of Carrington training ground.
Tense-looking Mario, who was wearing a denim shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms and holding a Louis Vuitton bag, accompanied his girlfriend, who was wearing blue jeans, black top and a grey shawl, into the building.
The 100,000 a week player met Raffaella Fico at the wrap party for Italy's I'm A Celebrity-style series in May last year.
It's the first picture of the couple, who have been dating for 11 months, since Balotelli sensationally admitted he had a fling with 1,000-a-night prostitute Thompson.
The striker's agent revealed this morning that Balotelli had a "brief involvement" with Thompson, but did not disclose when it happened or for how long it lasted.
Balotelli's involvement with Jennifer Thompson occurred during a time when it is claimed women were "targeting" the player to earn money by selling their stories, Mino Raiola, who represents the Italian, said.
Miss Thompson was working as an escort when she and another call girl were linked with Rooney before England's World Cup campaign in 2010.
Mr Raiola said that Mario was a "young and impulsive football player" who has been targeted by a number of women "looking to make money from him".
He added: "We therefore wish to confirm that Mario has had a brief involvement with Miss Jennifer Thompson.
"Mario prefers to admit what has happened, has refused any means on offer to try to keep the matter silent and will deal with any consequences his actions bring in the way of public attention.
"However, he prefers to deal with his personal life in private and had told those close to him about this situation prior to any suggestion of this matter becoming public."
The pair, both wearing sunglasses, stepped out of a white Mercedes car in the car park of Carrington training ground.
Tense-looking Mario, who was wearing a denim shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms and holding a Louis Vuitton bag, accompanied his girlfriend, who was wearing blue jeans, black top and a grey shawl, into the building.
The 100,000 a week player met Raffaella Fico at the wrap party for Italy's I'm A Celebrity-style series in May last year.
It's the first picture of the couple, who have been dating for 11 months, since Balotelli sensationally admitted he had a fling with 1,000-a-night prostitute Thompson.
The striker's agent revealed this morning that Balotelli had a "brief involvement" with Thompson, but did not disclose when it happened or for how long it lasted.
Balotelli's involvement with Jennifer Thompson occurred during a time when it is claimed women were "targeting" the player to earn money by selling their stories, Mino Raiola, who represents the Italian, said.
Miss Thompson was working as an escort when she and another call girl were linked with Rooney before England's World Cup campaign in 2010.
Mr Raiola said that Mario was a "young and impulsive football player" who has been targeted by a number of women "looking to make money from him".
He added: "We therefore wish to confirm that Mario has had a brief involvement with Miss Jennifer Thompson.
"Mario prefers to admit what has happened, has refused any means on offer to try to keep the matter silent and will deal with any consequences his actions bring in the way of public attention.
"However, he prefers to deal with his personal life in private and had told those close to him about this situation prior to any suggestion of this matter becoming public."
2012年3月31日星期六
Bag It! Lite
"Bag It! is, hands down, the best game to hit the market in quite some time." – EXAMINER.COM
Hundreds of thousands of players worldwide have discovered and become hooked on the fun, challenging, family-friendly, grocery bagging puzzle game Bag It! -- now it's your turn to see what all the fuss is about... FOR FREE!
Bag It! Lite includes 16 levels across 3 modes -- a small taste of the wide variety of 50 levels (including Endless modes) from the full version of the game. With 3 stars and 2 unique medals to achieve for every level and 6 total modes, there's something for everyone!
"Just about everything you could ever hope for in a casual puzzle game!" – iFANZINE
Kotaku’s Gaming App of the Day! "Bag It! Magically Finds the Joy in an Unrewarding Menial Task"
G4TV Mobile Game of the Week! "Who knew bagging groceries could be so much fun?"
Fans and critics agree! Bag It! is the critically acclaimed new grocery-bagging puzzle game that will open your eyes to a whole new world inside your shopping bag!
Heavy, sturdy items on the bottom, light and fragile items on the top – seems simple, right? Think again!
Hundreds of thousands of players worldwide have discovered and become hooked on the fun, challenging, family-friendly, grocery bagging puzzle game Bag It! -- now it's your turn to see what all the fuss is about... FOR FREE!
Bag It! Lite includes 16 levels across 3 modes -- a small taste of the wide variety of 50 levels (including Endless modes) from the full version of the game. With 3 stars and 2 unique medals to achieve for every level and 6 total modes, there's something for everyone!
"Just about everything you could ever hope for in a casual puzzle game!" – iFANZINE
Kotaku’s Gaming App of the Day! "Bag It! Magically Finds the Joy in an Unrewarding Menial Task"
G4TV Mobile Game of the Week! "Who knew bagging groceries could be so much fun?"
Fans and critics agree! Bag It! is the critically acclaimed new grocery-bagging puzzle game that will open your eyes to a whole new world inside your shopping bag!
Heavy, sturdy items on the bottom, light and fragile items on the top – seems simple, right? Think again!
2012年3月30日星期五
Swedish High Street Rebound Ends Bets for Riksbank Cuts
A customer carries a branded shopping bag towards a H&M store in Arlanda, Sweden. The revival in consumer spending, which comes amid rising unemployment, may make it easier for the Riksbank to stick to its forecast from last month for unchanged rates this year.
Sweden's consumers are confounding economic forecasters by spending at the fastest pace in 10 months, prompting investors to reverse bets that the central bank will cut interest rates.
Retail sales rose an annual 3.4 percent in February, more than twice the 1.6 percent median forecast in a Bloomberg survey and the fastest pace since April, the statistics office said yesterday. A survey released March 28 showed consumer confidence at a seven-month high while manufacturing confidence rose to the highest since July, recovering from a two-year low in January.
Investors have pared bets on more central bank rate cuts, after policy makers lowered borrowing costs to 1.5 percent last month to stave off a recession. December futures on the Riksbank's key rate rose to 1.26 percent this week from 1.17 percent, suggesting traders are starting to hedge bets the bank will cut once more.
"Economic indicators show that we have bottomed," Riksbank Deputy Governor Karolina Ekholm told Bloomberg after a speech today in Stockholm. "We saw a slight upturn earlier and then everyone sat around waiting if things were to continue up or if things would turn down. Well now things are continuing pretty significantly upwards."
Sweden's consumers are confounding economic forecasters by spending at the fastest pace in 10 months, prompting investors to reverse bets that the central bank will cut interest rates.
Retail sales rose an annual 3.4 percent in February, more than twice the 1.6 percent median forecast in a Bloomberg survey and the fastest pace since April, the statistics office said yesterday. A survey released March 28 showed consumer confidence at a seven-month high while manufacturing confidence rose to the highest since July, recovering from a two-year low in January.
Investors have pared bets on more central bank rate cuts, after policy makers lowered borrowing costs to 1.5 percent last month to stave off a recession. December futures on the Riksbank's key rate rose to 1.26 percent this week from 1.17 percent, suggesting traders are starting to hedge bets the bank will cut once more.
"Economic indicators show that we have bottomed," Riksbank Deputy Governor Karolina Ekholm told Bloomberg after a speech today in Stockholm. "We saw a slight upturn earlier and then everyone sat around waiting if things were to continue up or if things would turn down. Well now things are continuing pretty significantly upwards."
2012年3月29日星期四
Woman power: A twisted Kahaani
While the expressions on her face show desperation, her mannerisms — for instance, the ease with which she pulls her travelling bag — reflect her commitment and determination to achieve her goal. Her heavily pregnant body may speak of helplessness but she's wise enough to use it for her benefit. This is Vidya Balan (playing Vidya Baghchi) taking us through the gripping narrative of Kahaani, a film replete with twists and turns.
Directed and co-produced by Sujoy Ghosh, Kahaani stars Balan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Parambrata Chatterjee in the lead roles. The film begins with a pregnant software engineer, Balan, visiting the local police station to file a missing persons report. Weeks ago, her husband Arnab arrived in India for a job assignment. For the first 14 days they talked daily on the phone and then without explanation his calls stopped. While she is searching for her lost husband, Balan is assisted by Satyaki Rana Sinha (played by Chatterjee); a junior police officer. Bits of the film remind us of Balan's earlier flick No One Killed Jessica, in which she, assisted by Rani Mukherjee, is searching for her sister's murderer.
Later, Balan's individual search for her husband takes a bureaucratic twist and the local affair suddenly turns into one of governmental concern. The script is written so articulately and immaculately that every moment builds up the mystery. As the film progresses, one realises how Bollywood suspense thrillers have evolved with time. From Sriram Raghavan's Johnny Ghaddaar (based on a gang of five fraudsters) in 2007 to Ghosh's Kahaani, which captures the audience's imagination due to the unique storytelling techniques, Bollywood has certainly come a long way.
Never say never
Meanwhile, as far as the acting is concerned, Balan is definitely the new face of Bollywood. After being appreciated for her performances in Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica and The Dirty Picture, the actor has once again struck a chord with the audience. After the huge success of The Dirty Picture, where she played the role of a sultry actor who ruled the silver screen, Balan's performance in Kahaani came as a pleasant surprise as she managed to completely shift gears, playing the role of a sophisticated pregnant woman to perfection.
The film explores the themes of motherhood and feminism in a very different manner and at places makes a very smart pun at them too. The fact that everyone blindly trusts a pregnant woman and the common notion that such a woman can never be injurious to anyone is presented in an interesting manner. However, the actual brilliance of Kahaani comes in its climax that leaves the viewer spellbound. Amidst a horde of predictable plots and conventional culminations, Kahaani has one of the most impressive climaxes for a Bollywood film in recent times, reports Times of India.
Hence, it's no surprise that the Indian box office has considered Kahaani a super hit, and testimony to the success of the film is the fact that the gripping thriller has entered its third week and is still proving to be a crowd-puller.
Directed and co-produced by Sujoy Ghosh, Kahaani stars Balan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Parambrata Chatterjee in the lead roles. The film begins with a pregnant software engineer, Balan, visiting the local police station to file a missing persons report. Weeks ago, her husband Arnab arrived in India for a job assignment. For the first 14 days they talked daily on the phone and then without explanation his calls stopped. While she is searching for her lost husband, Balan is assisted by Satyaki Rana Sinha (played by Chatterjee); a junior police officer. Bits of the film remind us of Balan's earlier flick No One Killed Jessica, in which she, assisted by Rani Mukherjee, is searching for her sister's murderer.
Later, Balan's individual search for her husband takes a bureaucratic twist and the local affair suddenly turns into one of governmental concern. The script is written so articulately and immaculately that every moment builds up the mystery. As the film progresses, one realises how Bollywood suspense thrillers have evolved with time. From Sriram Raghavan's Johnny Ghaddaar (based on a gang of five fraudsters) in 2007 to Ghosh's Kahaani, which captures the audience's imagination due to the unique storytelling techniques, Bollywood has certainly come a long way.
Never say never
Meanwhile, as far as the acting is concerned, Balan is definitely the new face of Bollywood. After being appreciated for her performances in Ishqiya, No One Killed Jessica and The Dirty Picture, the actor has once again struck a chord with the audience. After the huge success of The Dirty Picture, where she played the role of a sultry actor who ruled the silver screen, Balan's performance in Kahaani came as a pleasant surprise as she managed to completely shift gears, playing the role of a sophisticated pregnant woman to perfection.
The film explores the themes of motherhood and feminism in a very different manner and at places makes a very smart pun at them too. The fact that everyone blindly trusts a pregnant woman and the common notion that such a woman can never be injurious to anyone is presented in an interesting manner. However, the actual brilliance of Kahaani comes in its climax that leaves the viewer spellbound. Amidst a horde of predictable plots and conventional culminations, Kahaani has one of the most impressive climaxes for a Bollywood film in recent times, reports Times of India.
Hence, it's no surprise that the Indian box office has considered Kahaani a super hit, and testimony to the success of the film is the fact that the gripping thriller has entered its third week and is still proving to be a crowd-puller.
2012年3月28日星期三
Cops: No report on jewels found in Trayvon's backpack
Women's jewelry and a watch found in Trayvon Martin's school backpack last fall could not be tied to any reported thefts, the Miami-Dade Police Department said Tuesday.
The Miami Herald in its Tuesday editions reported that it had obtained a Miami-Dade Schools Police Department report that showed the slain teenager was suspended in October for writing obscene graffiti on a door at his high school. During a search of his backpack, the report said, campus security officers found 12 pieces of women's jewelry, a watch and a screwdriver they felt could be used as a burglary tool.
Martin's fatal Feb. 26 shooting in Sanford, Fla., by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman has caused a national firestorm. His family and people at rallies all over the country have demanded the arrest of Zimmerman, who says he shot the unarmed 17-year-old in self-defense. Martin was black and Zimmerman's father is white and his mother, Hispanic. Martin's family and their supporters believe race played a part in the decision not to charge Zimmerman.
The Herald reported that when campus security confronted Martin with the jewelry, he told them a friend had given it to him, but he wouldn't give a name. The report said the jewelry was confiscated and a photo of it was sent to Miami-Dade Police burglary detectives. Miami-Dade school officials declined Tuesday to confirm the report when contacted by the Associated Press, citing federal privacy laws regarding students.
Capitol Hill support
Meanwhile, in a packed forum on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, the parents of Martin found support among members of Congress who turned the death of their 17-year-old's son into a rallying cry against racial profiling.
Martin's parents spoke briefly before a Democrats-only congressional panel as cameras clicked noisily in front of them. Many in the crowd, which filled the seats and lined the walls, strained to catch a glimpse of the parents whose son was shot and killed Feb. 26 in a Sanford, Fla. gated community.
The Miami Herald in its Tuesday editions reported that it had obtained a Miami-Dade Schools Police Department report that showed the slain teenager was suspended in October for writing obscene graffiti on a door at his high school. During a search of his backpack, the report said, campus security officers found 12 pieces of women's jewelry, a watch and a screwdriver they felt could be used as a burglary tool.
Martin's fatal Feb. 26 shooting in Sanford, Fla., by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman has caused a national firestorm. His family and people at rallies all over the country have demanded the arrest of Zimmerman, who says he shot the unarmed 17-year-old in self-defense. Martin was black and Zimmerman's father is white and his mother, Hispanic. Martin's family and their supporters believe race played a part in the decision not to charge Zimmerman.
The Herald reported that when campus security confronted Martin with the jewelry, he told them a friend had given it to him, but he wouldn't give a name. The report said the jewelry was confiscated and a photo of it was sent to Miami-Dade Police burglary detectives. Miami-Dade school officials declined Tuesday to confirm the report when contacted by the Associated Press, citing federal privacy laws regarding students.
Capitol Hill support
Meanwhile, in a packed forum on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, the parents of Martin found support among members of Congress who turned the death of their 17-year-old's son into a rallying cry against racial profiling.
Martin's parents spoke briefly before a Democrats-only congressional panel as cameras clicked noisily in front of them. Many in the crowd, which filled the seats and lined the walls, strained to catch a glimpse of the parents whose son was shot and killed Feb. 26 in a Sanford, Fla. gated community.
2012年3月27日星期二
LuxeYard Expands Into Fashion With Launch Of LuxeStyle
Luxury Flash Sale Site Adds Fashion Vertical with Name-brand Apparel and Accessories, Celebrity Brand Ambassadors and Up-and-Coming Designers
LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – LuxeYard (OTCBB: LUXR), a luxury home furnishings and decor flash sale site, today announced its expansion into the fashion apparel sector with the launch of LuxeStyle, where members can receive discounts as high as 70 percent on both popular and one-of-a-kind items.
LuxeStyle will offer a wide range of women's apparel, including shoes, handbags, accessories and well-known designer brands in the fashion apparel market including gorgeous vintage couture pieces by Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Lanvin, and Oscar de la Renta. Additionally, the innovative website brings the best deals and the hippest apparel from up-and-coming designers including Velvet, Michael Starr, Mr. Kate, Maggie Ward, Frankie B. Yoyo Yeung, Isabel Lu, Woodley, Sydney Evan jewelry, Petro Zillia, Friendship and Love & Peace (Nicole Murphy jewelry).
LuxeStyle's veteran team of industry style experts and buyers will take a curated approach to the flash sale site. Members can expect a fashion point of view, much like what she experiences upon entering a boutique store.
"The addition of LuxeStyle immediately doubles our available merchandise and gives our style-conscious members access to the best of both home decor and fashion," said Braden Richter, CEO of LuxeYard. "We are also very lucky to launch with the fashion design and merchandising expertise of Daniella Clarke and her seasoned buying team."
LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – LuxeYard (OTCBB: LUXR), a luxury home furnishings and decor flash sale site, today announced its expansion into the fashion apparel sector with the launch of LuxeStyle, where members can receive discounts as high as 70 percent on both popular and one-of-a-kind items.
LuxeStyle will offer a wide range of women's apparel, including shoes, handbags, accessories and well-known designer brands in the fashion apparel market including gorgeous vintage couture pieces by Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Lanvin, and Oscar de la Renta. Additionally, the innovative website brings the best deals and the hippest apparel from up-and-coming designers including Velvet, Michael Starr, Mr. Kate, Maggie Ward, Frankie B. Yoyo Yeung, Isabel Lu, Woodley, Sydney Evan jewelry, Petro Zillia, Friendship and Love & Peace (Nicole Murphy jewelry).
LuxeStyle's veteran team of industry style experts and buyers will take a curated approach to the flash sale site. Members can expect a fashion point of view, much like what she experiences upon entering a boutique store.
"The addition of LuxeStyle immediately doubles our available merchandise and gives our style-conscious members access to the best of both home decor and fashion," said Braden Richter, CEO of LuxeYard. "We are also very lucky to launch with the fashion design and merchandising expertise of Daniella Clarke and her seasoned buying team."
2012年3月26日星期一
Marijuana, beating claims put slain Florida teen's supporters on the defensive
The family and supporters of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin found themselves on the defensive Monday following revelations he had been suspended for marijuana before he was shot to death by a neighborhood watch volunteer. Police also confirmed a report that the watchman claimed Martin was the aggressor, punching him in the nose and smacking his head on a sidewalk.
Martin, 17, was suspended by Miami-Dade County schools because traces of marijuana were found in a plastic baggie in his book bag, family spokesman Ryan Julison said. Martin was serving the suspension when he was shot Feb. 26 by George Zimmerman, who was patrolling the neighborhood that Martin was visiting with his father.
Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, and family attorneys blamed police for leaking the information about the marijuana and Zimmerman's claim about the attack to the news media in an effort to demonize the teenager.
"They killed my son and now they're trying to kill his reputation," Fulton told reporters.
The Sanford Police Department insisted there was no authorized release of the new information but acknowledged there may have been a leak. City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. said it would be investigated and the person responsible could be fired.
Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said the link between the youth and marijuana should have no bearing on the probe into his shooting death. State and federal agencies are investigating, with a grand jury set to convene April 10.
"If he and his friends experimented with marijuana, that is completely irrelevant," Crump said. "What does it have to do with killing their son?"
The state Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed Monday that Martin does not have a juvenile offender record. The information came after a public records request by The Associated Press.
Zimmerman, 28, claimed he shot Martin in self-defense and has not been arrested. Because Martin was black and Zimmerman has a white father and Hispanic mother, the case has become a racial flashpoint that has civil rights leaders and others leading a series of protests in Sanford and around the country.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Zimmerman told police he lost Martin in the neighborhood he regularly patrolled and was walking back to his vehicle when the youth approached him from behind. The two exchanged words, Zimmerman said, and Martin then punched him in the nose, jumped on top of him and began banging his head on a sidewalk. Zimmerman said he began crying for help; Martin's family thinks it was their son who was crying out. Witness accounts differ and 911 tapes in which the voices are heard are not clear.
The Sanford police statement said the newspaper story was "consistent" with evidence turned over to prosecutors.
Martin, 17, was suspended by Miami-Dade County schools because traces of marijuana were found in a plastic baggie in his book bag, family spokesman Ryan Julison said. Martin was serving the suspension when he was shot Feb. 26 by George Zimmerman, who was patrolling the neighborhood that Martin was visiting with his father.
Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, and family attorneys blamed police for leaking the information about the marijuana and Zimmerman's claim about the attack to the news media in an effort to demonize the teenager.
"They killed my son and now they're trying to kill his reputation," Fulton told reporters.
The Sanford Police Department insisted there was no authorized release of the new information but acknowledged there may have been a leak. City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. said it would be investigated and the person responsible could be fired.
Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said the link between the youth and marijuana should have no bearing on the probe into his shooting death. State and federal agencies are investigating, with a grand jury set to convene April 10.
"If he and his friends experimented with marijuana, that is completely irrelevant," Crump said. "What does it have to do with killing their son?"
The state Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed Monday that Martin does not have a juvenile offender record. The information came after a public records request by The Associated Press.
Zimmerman, 28, claimed he shot Martin in self-defense and has not been arrested. Because Martin was black and Zimmerman has a white father and Hispanic mother, the case has become a racial flashpoint that has civil rights leaders and others leading a series of protests in Sanford and around the country.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Zimmerman told police he lost Martin in the neighborhood he regularly patrolled and was walking back to his vehicle when the youth approached him from behind. The two exchanged words, Zimmerman said, and Martin then punched him in the nose, jumped on top of him and began banging his head on a sidewalk. Zimmerman said he began crying for help; Martin's family thinks it was their son who was crying out. Witness accounts differ and 911 tapes in which the voices are heard are not clear.
The Sanford police statement said the newspaper story was "consistent" with evidence turned over to prosecutors.
2012年3月25日星期日
Cromwell serving up eggs, activities for annual hunt
It's time to go Easter egg hunting! Bring a basket or bag and enjoy a morning of seasonal fun from 10 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, April 7, at Sherwood Farms in Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road.
The family event is free, and includes eggs hunts scheduled at various times throughout the morning for different age groups ranging from 3 to 10, as follows:
Also at Cromwell Valley, staff and volunteers will now have a more comfortable ride when they use their John Deere Gator, a four-wheel drive utility vehicle used around the grounds.
Improvements to the vehicle have come thanks to the Green Acres Garden Club, which provided funds to purchase a no-scratch polycarbonate windshield and a roof over the driver's seat on the vehicle.
Staff and volunteers count on the vehicle to help maintain trails and gardens and to locate hikers who stray off the trails.
A check for the upgrades was presented to Cromwell Valley Park Manager Leo Rebetsky, and Rick Childs, Cromwell Valley Trail Club chairman, at the March 12 meeting of the garden club, at Divinity Lutheran Church.
The club's philanthropy chairwoman, Marie Kramer, made the presentation.
Calvert Hall College Hall School is putting technology to work. Last month, while math teacher John Thaler was recuperating from surgery, he taught his calculus III class from home using Skype.
The school's IT department installed ManyCam (software that allows multiple cameras), Skype and a document camera at his home and a webcam in his classroom, allowing him to teach his class from home.
Students were able to hear his lectures, see his class notes and interact and ask questions. Doug Heidrick, director of communications, reported the transition to a Skype taught class has been a smooth one.
Enjoy a spaghetti dinner with salad, dessert and beverage on Saturday, April 14, between 4 and 6 p.m. at Arnolia United Methodist Church, 1776 E. Joppa Road.
After dinner, enjoy a concert by the church's praise band. Tickets will be sold at the door for dinner, at $10 for adults (ages 12 and older), $5 for children 4-11, and free for ages 3 and under. An offering will be collected at the concert.
The family event is free, and includes eggs hunts scheduled at various times throughout the morning for different age groups ranging from 3 to 10, as follows:
Also at Cromwell Valley, staff and volunteers will now have a more comfortable ride when they use their John Deere Gator, a four-wheel drive utility vehicle used around the grounds.
Improvements to the vehicle have come thanks to the Green Acres Garden Club, which provided funds to purchase a no-scratch polycarbonate windshield and a roof over the driver's seat on the vehicle.
Staff and volunteers count on the vehicle to help maintain trails and gardens and to locate hikers who stray off the trails.
A check for the upgrades was presented to Cromwell Valley Park Manager Leo Rebetsky, and Rick Childs, Cromwell Valley Trail Club chairman, at the March 12 meeting of the garden club, at Divinity Lutheran Church.
The club's philanthropy chairwoman, Marie Kramer, made the presentation.
Calvert Hall College Hall School is putting technology to work. Last month, while math teacher John Thaler was recuperating from surgery, he taught his calculus III class from home using Skype.
The school's IT department installed ManyCam (software that allows multiple cameras), Skype and a document camera at his home and a webcam in his classroom, allowing him to teach his class from home.
Students were able to hear his lectures, see his class notes and interact and ask questions. Doug Heidrick, director of communications, reported the transition to a Skype taught class has been a smooth one.
Enjoy a spaghetti dinner with salad, dessert and beverage on Saturday, April 14, between 4 and 6 p.m. at Arnolia United Methodist Church, 1776 E. Joppa Road.
After dinner, enjoy a concert by the church's praise band. Tickets will be sold at the door for dinner, at $10 for adults (ages 12 and older), $5 for children 4-11, and free for ages 3 and under. An offering will be collected at the concert.
2012年3月20日星期二
Customs officers cracking down on counterfeit goods
Thousands of designer handbags recently arrived at the Port of Seattle, but sharp-eyed customs officers discovered that the beautiful Guccis and Louis Vuittons were fakes, designed to dupe unsuspecting customers.
More than 20 tons of cargo moves through the Port of Seattle each and every day, and some of those goods supply a multi-billion dollar counterfeit industry.
US Customs and Border Protection officers are charged with monitoring the cargo for terrorist threats and counterfeit goods.
Judy Staudt has been with US Customers and Border Protection for more than 14 years, and she's confiscated countless counterfeit products during her tenure.
"Pharmaceuticals, cell phones. You know, anything that's popular. Exercise equipment. Anything that's popular, they're going want to infringe and make money on," Staudt said.
It was just last week that officers stopped a container from China filled with 8,000 fake designer purses.
Staudt said the retail price of the Louis Vuitton and Gucci rip offs is more than $8 million. And while it might seem harmless to buy a $20 designer look-alike, Staudt said the damage could be great.
"But $20 could go to someone," she said. "Someone who, you know, could be a terrorist. It could be drugs."
Officers go through intense training to see if a bag is authentic. The bags that came in last week were good, but closer inspection showed they weren't the real deal.
Examining authenticity is what the ladies at designer consignment store Alexandra's do for a living.
Employee Molly Grundle said it's rare for the company to buy or sell counterfeit goods, but when they do they lose money.
"And it's always tough to have to tell somebody you think their bag is fake, especially if they think it's real," Grundle said.
The fake handbags that arrived last week are being held as evidence, but they'll all eventually be destroyed.
More than 20 tons of cargo moves through the Port of Seattle each and every day, and some of those goods supply a multi-billion dollar counterfeit industry.
US Customs and Border Protection officers are charged with monitoring the cargo for terrorist threats and counterfeit goods.
Judy Staudt has been with US Customers and Border Protection for more than 14 years, and she's confiscated countless counterfeit products during her tenure.
"Pharmaceuticals, cell phones. You know, anything that's popular. Exercise equipment. Anything that's popular, they're going want to infringe and make money on," Staudt said.
It was just last week that officers stopped a container from China filled with 8,000 fake designer purses.
Staudt said the retail price of the Louis Vuitton and Gucci rip offs is more than $8 million. And while it might seem harmless to buy a $20 designer look-alike, Staudt said the damage could be great.
"But $20 could go to someone," she said. "Someone who, you know, could be a terrorist. It could be drugs."
Officers go through intense training to see if a bag is authentic. The bags that came in last week were good, but closer inspection showed they weren't the real deal.
Examining authenticity is what the ladies at designer consignment store Alexandra's do for a living.
Employee Molly Grundle said it's rare for the company to buy or sell counterfeit goods, but when they do they lose money.
"And it's always tough to have to tell somebody you think their bag is fake, especially if they think it's real," Grundle said.
The fake handbags that arrived last week are being held as evidence, but they'll all eventually be destroyed.
Louis Vuitton Handbags line "Epi is magic"
Louis Vuitton wants to impress all the fashionistas with the new line " Epi is Magic ", a collection ready to go with the wardrobe of those who follow the fashion cult for the next hot season, with details and colorful accessories and handbags.
Epi Alma handbag, wallet Zippy and Sarah, Pegase suitcases: there are achievements for all tastes and needs, to keep up with the original style.
Epi Alma handbag, wallet Zippy and Sarah, Pegase suitcases: there are achievements for all tastes and needs, to keep up with the original style.
2012年3月19日星期一
Task Force to Target Plastic Bags
The Southampton Town Board on Tuesday appointed a number of retailers and environmental advocacy groups to a new task force designed to encourage recycling plastic bags and favoring reusable bags — a consolation prize for advocates of an outright townwide ban on plastic shopping bags.
The task force is charged with leading a campaign titled, "A Greener Southampton 'The Solution is in the Bag,'" including educational outreach and working with retailers to develop incentive plans, marketing and promotions. The task force is also to track plastic bag use with a goal of reaching a 15 percent recycling rate in the first year and an overall reduction of the use of plastic bags.
A ban on single-use plastic shopping bags could not garner enough votes from Town Board members for a public hearing to be scheduled — a necessary step before a change to the town code can be voted on. The task force is designed to achieve the goal of keeping bags out of landfills, but to do it without the heavy hand of government issuing mandates.
Councilman Chris Nuzzi, R-Seonk, and Councilwoman Christine Preston Scalera, R-Water Mill, put forward the resolution establishing the task force. Before it was unanimously adopted, Councilwoman Bridget Fleming, D-Noyac, successfully requested an amendment to the resolution to explicitly state that the task force's goals for 2012 include less plastic bags being used in town.
"My feeling is that the ultimate goal should be to eliminate, completely, the single use plastic bags that really have no real use," Fleming said.
Fleming is in favor of a ban, but said, in lieu of that, she would vote for the task force. "Since there isn't a majority of the board supportive of a full ban, I applaud the efforts to move this forward," she said.
Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, I-Noyac, also favors a ban, and she questioned how the task force would measure recycling rates without an independent third-party observer. She said recycling efforts are inadequate because, while recycling reduces the amount of plastic in landfills, plastic bags still result in pollution when they are manufactured, shipped to stores, and shipped to overseas recycling plants.
Nuzzi was optimistic about the task force. "This is a really positive step, in which we involved diverse groups, people of different backgrounds and opinions," he said.
He noted that local schools will be participating in a challenge over the next month and a half to find which one can collect the most used plastic bags. The winner will receive a trex bench — a product manufactured with recycled plastic bags.
Southampton Village adopted a bag ban of its own in April 2011 and it took effect in November, making the village the first municipality in New York State to exercise such a ban.
Roger Blaugh, the co-chair of Southampton Village's environmental advisory committee, Southampton Advocates for the Village Environment, was doubtful that the task force would have any substantial effect.
"Past attempts to educate the public or re-educate the public, while noble, have failed in every instance," Blaugh said Friday, citing other towns that have made similar efforts.
The task force is charged with leading a campaign titled, "A Greener Southampton 'The Solution is in the Bag,'" including educational outreach and working with retailers to develop incentive plans, marketing and promotions. The task force is also to track plastic bag use with a goal of reaching a 15 percent recycling rate in the first year and an overall reduction of the use of plastic bags.
A ban on single-use plastic shopping bags could not garner enough votes from Town Board members for a public hearing to be scheduled — a necessary step before a change to the town code can be voted on. The task force is designed to achieve the goal of keeping bags out of landfills, but to do it without the heavy hand of government issuing mandates.
Councilman Chris Nuzzi, R-Seonk, and Councilwoman Christine Preston Scalera, R-Water Mill, put forward the resolution establishing the task force. Before it was unanimously adopted, Councilwoman Bridget Fleming, D-Noyac, successfully requested an amendment to the resolution to explicitly state that the task force's goals for 2012 include less plastic bags being used in town.
"My feeling is that the ultimate goal should be to eliminate, completely, the single use plastic bags that really have no real use," Fleming said.
Fleming is in favor of a ban, but said, in lieu of that, she would vote for the task force. "Since there isn't a majority of the board supportive of a full ban, I applaud the efforts to move this forward," she said.
Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, I-Noyac, also favors a ban, and she questioned how the task force would measure recycling rates without an independent third-party observer. She said recycling efforts are inadequate because, while recycling reduces the amount of plastic in landfills, plastic bags still result in pollution when they are manufactured, shipped to stores, and shipped to overseas recycling plants.
Nuzzi was optimistic about the task force. "This is a really positive step, in which we involved diverse groups, people of different backgrounds and opinions," he said.
He noted that local schools will be participating in a challenge over the next month and a half to find which one can collect the most used plastic bags. The winner will receive a trex bench — a product manufactured with recycled plastic bags.
Southampton Village adopted a bag ban of its own in April 2011 and it took effect in November, making the village the first municipality in New York State to exercise such a ban.
Roger Blaugh, the co-chair of Southampton Village's environmental advisory committee, Southampton Advocates for the Village Environment, was doubtful that the task force would have any substantial effect.
"Past attempts to educate the public or re-educate the public, while noble, have failed in every instance," Blaugh said Friday, citing other towns that have made similar efforts.
2012年3月18日星期日
Children in peril: The shocking reality of children and drugs in Britain today
DANIEL was in a morning maths lesson when his drooping head finally struck the desk.
As his teacher shook him from his stupor, the 12-year-old's glazed eyes and vacant look gave the game away – he was stoned.
This shocking scenario is repeated at schools across Britain as pupils can now get hold of super-strength skunk cannabis more easily than they can buy alcohol.
Latest Department of Health figures show 58% of children who seek specialist treatment do so as a result of cannabis use.
But those statistics are based on voluntary surveys – and thousands more young cannabis users go undetected.
For Daniel the first cannabis spliff of the day was always on the school field before registration or during morning break – and it left him in no state for learning.
"I was smoking cannabis every day – before school, during school and after school," he says. "It would be four or five joints a day. I was smoking at home so I wouldn't even do my homework.
"Friends were getting it for me, some even younger than me. I would go up to the school field and roll a spliff. I had my gear in my pocket most of the time. The teachers had no idea what we were up to.
"I was feeling constantly tired and couldn't be bothered to do anything. I was sleeping a lot more than I should have been. I found it hard to get up in the morning and to sit through a whole lesson felt impossible.
"A few times I walked into school and my eyes were red and glaring. I felt OK, I never thought it was a problem. But it was."
Last year Daniel was excluded from his state secondary in south London because of his drug use and poor attendance.
Now, aged only 14, he has been given a final chance to get an education.
"I'm done with cannabis now," he tells me. "It was costing me 40 a week."
It's not something you expect to hear from a boy with a Ben 10 pencil case.
Of the 7,000 pupils who took part in the latest nationwide drug-use survey, only 18% admitted taking drugs.
But users seem to be getting younger. Last year two eight-year-olds were caught showing bags of cannabis to their pals at a school in Blackpool.
Four nine-year-olds were suspended from a school in Burnley, Lancs, for possessing the same drug the year before.
A school in Cumbria recently excluded 17 pupils following an investigation into the sale on its premises of anti-depressants containing diazepam.
Sara, from Chelmsford, Essex, was thrown out of her family home when her boozing spiralled into a daily cocktail of hard drugs. Egged on by a friend, she smuggled alcohol into school by pouring spirits into soft drink bottles when she was just 13.
"I started doing cocaine and weed while I was still excessively drinking," Sara recalls. "I'm talking six bottles of wine and vodka from when I got up until I passed out somewhere.
"It got to the point where I was being sick during lessons. I couldn't stand up, I couldn't see straight and I was slurring. I got kicked out of school because I used to turn up drunk and do coke before I went in.
As his teacher shook him from his stupor, the 12-year-old's glazed eyes and vacant look gave the game away – he was stoned.
This shocking scenario is repeated at schools across Britain as pupils can now get hold of super-strength skunk cannabis more easily than they can buy alcohol.
Latest Department of Health figures show 58% of children who seek specialist treatment do so as a result of cannabis use.
But those statistics are based on voluntary surveys – and thousands more young cannabis users go undetected.
For Daniel the first cannabis spliff of the day was always on the school field before registration or during morning break – and it left him in no state for learning.
"I was smoking cannabis every day – before school, during school and after school," he says. "It would be four or five joints a day. I was smoking at home so I wouldn't even do my homework.
"Friends were getting it for me, some even younger than me. I would go up to the school field and roll a spliff. I had my gear in my pocket most of the time. The teachers had no idea what we were up to.
"I was feeling constantly tired and couldn't be bothered to do anything. I was sleeping a lot more than I should have been. I found it hard to get up in the morning and to sit through a whole lesson felt impossible.
"A few times I walked into school and my eyes were red and glaring. I felt OK, I never thought it was a problem. But it was."
Last year Daniel was excluded from his state secondary in south London because of his drug use and poor attendance.
Now, aged only 14, he has been given a final chance to get an education.
"I'm done with cannabis now," he tells me. "It was costing me 40 a week."
It's not something you expect to hear from a boy with a Ben 10 pencil case.
Of the 7,000 pupils who took part in the latest nationwide drug-use survey, only 18% admitted taking drugs.
But users seem to be getting younger. Last year two eight-year-olds were caught showing bags of cannabis to their pals at a school in Blackpool.
Four nine-year-olds were suspended from a school in Burnley, Lancs, for possessing the same drug the year before.
A school in Cumbria recently excluded 17 pupils following an investigation into the sale on its premises of anti-depressants containing diazepam.
Sara, from Chelmsford, Essex, was thrown out of her family home when her boozing spiralled into a daily cocktail of hard drugs. Egged on by a friend, she smuggled alcohol into school by pouring spirits into soft drink bottles when she was just 13.
"I started doing cocaine and weed while I was still excessively drinking," Sara recalls. "I'm talking six bottles of wine and vodka from when I got up until I passed out somewhere.
"It got to the point where I was being sick during lessons. I couldn't stand up, I couldn't see straight and I was slurring. I got kicked out of school because I used to turn up drunk and do coke before I went in.
2012年3月15日星期四
Village thefts getting RCMP's attention
There's a good chance that the same thief or thieves is behind a string of village-area break-and-enters stretching back more than three weeks. Two male teenagers were seen near one break-in a few weeks ago, and a pair of females have also been suggested as culprits.
On Mar. 9, between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., a complex at the 4800 block of Spearhead was broken into. It's unknown how the thief gained entry, but it's possible that a rear door was unlocked. The items stolen include an iPad 2, an iPhone 4S and a laptop — items that have been frequently targetted in the recent rash of thefts.
On Mar. 12 at 9:35 a.m. the RCMP received a report of a break-in that likely occurred on the evening of Mar. 9 or the morning of Mar. 10, when the owner found her bag missing. The bag contained a red Canon camera, a green Mark Jacobs purse, a Louis Vuitton wallet, sunglasses and various credit cards.
The police fingerprinting team has attended previous break-ins and Staff Sergeant Steve LeClair said that officers have made it a priority to find suspects.
"We are taking this very seriously," he said. "We're following up with cell phones and credit cards, to see if there were any numbers called, and we're looking for any security footage if the credit cards were used."
Because of the proximity of the crimes and similarities in the reports the RCMP believe the same person or persons may be responsible.
People are reminded to lock their doors and windows even when they're home, and to secure valuables out of sight. As well, residents should be on the lookout for anyone suspicious or suspicious events — like people knocking on doors looking for people, but who may be checking to see if anyone is home.
On Mar. 9, between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., a complex at the 4800 block of Spearhead was broken into. It's unknown how the thief gained entry, but it's possible that a rear door was unlocked. The items stolen include an iPad 2, an iPhone 4S and a laptop — items that have been frequently targetted in the recent rash of thefts.
On Mar. 12 at 9:35 a.m. the RCMP received a report of a break-in that likely occurred on the evening of Mar. 9 or the morning of Mar. 10, when the owner found her bag missing. The bag contained a red Canon camera, a green Mark Jacobs purse, a Louis Vuitton wallet, sunglasses and various credit cards.
The police fingerprinting team has attended previous break-ins and Staff Sergeant Steve LeClair said that officers have made it a priority to find suspects.
"We are taking this very seriously," he said. "We're following up with cell phones and credit cards, to see if there were any numbers called, and we're looking for any security footage if the credit cards were used."
Because of the proximity of the crimes and similarities in the reports the RCMP believe the same person or persons may be responsible.
People are reminded to lock their doors and windows even when they're home, and to secure valuables out of sight. As well, residents should be on the lookout for anyone suspicious or suspicious events — like people knocking on doors looking for people, but who may be checking to see if anyone is home.
2012年3月14日星期三
Rules were made for breaking!
Mario Balotelli flouts no parking zone as he takes Raffaella Fico out for some Italian cuisine
Mario Balotelli seems to think being a footballer makes him immune to the law.
The cocksure sportsman parked his red Ferrari in a no parking zone, while treating girlfriend Raffaella Fico to some fine Italian cuisine on an outing in Milan last month.
However, a parking valet did not seem so amused by the obnoxious behaviour and appeared to give the footballer a metaphorical slap on the wrists.
The Italian native, from Naples, teamed her outfit with a white fur trim jacket and a Louis Vuitton bag.
Mario, however, seemed to outdo his missus in the bling department, with the Manchester City striker, 21, weighed down by several chains, diamante studs and jewel encrusted sunglasses.
The temperamental footballer is no stranger to run-ins with the law, with the 120,000-a-week player picking up his umpteenth car fine last month.
Mario was out for dinner with his girlfriend once again having dinner at Wings Restaurant in Lincoln Square, Manchester, before a council worker slapped him with a ticket on his illegally parked Bentley.
A source at the club told The Sun newspaper: 'Mario will drive from his luxury apartment to a restaurant a few streets away and leave the car on double yellows.
'The other week the Maserati misfired so he just abandoned it. Staff have had to bail it out 27 times... Mario doesn't seem to care. It's a drop in the ocean to him.'
Mario Balotelli seems to think being a footballer makes him immune to the law.
The cocksure sportsman parked his red Ferrari in a no parking zone, while treating girlfriend Raffaella Fico to some fine Italian cuisine on an outing in Milan last month.
However, a parking valet did not seem so amused by the obnoxious behaviour and appeared to give the footballer a metaphorical slap on the wrists.
The Italian native, from Naples, teamed her outfit with a white fur trim jacket and a Louis Vuitton bag.
Mario, however, seemed to outdo his missus in the bling department, with the Manchester City striker, 21, weighed down by several chains, diamante studs and jewel encrusted sunglasses.
The temperamental footballer is no stranger to run-ins with the law, with the 120,000-a-week player picking up his umpteenth car fine last month.
Mario was out for dinner with his girlfriend once again having dinner at Wings Restaurant in Lincoln Square, Manchester, before a council worker slapped him with a ticket on his illegally parked Bentley.
A source at the club told The Sun newspaper: 'Mario will drive from his luxury apartment to a restaurant a few streets away and leave the car on double yellows.
'The other week the Maserati misfired so he just abandoned it. Staff have had to bail it out 27 times... Mario doesn't seem to care. It's a drop in the ocean to him.'
2012年3月13日星期二
2012 Wiz Khalifa Mixtape Taylor Allerdice Debuts Free
The Pittsburgh emcee also admitted to having issues with releasing this gift, because producers gave issues about a particular rap beat. None the less, The Taylor Gang entertainment family are debuting the new Wiz Khalifa mixtape Taylor Allerdice tonight, March 13th.
According to NewHipHopSonsg2012.com, fans have until 5PM Pacific time (8pm Eastern time) before the new Taylor Allerdice mixtape download is available. The free music download blog also offers many of the new Wiz Khalifa songs released this year. Some of which may end up on the new rap mixtape.
The official Taylor Allerdice mixtape cover artwork was just released recently. Dedicated to Wiz Khalifa's high school "Allerdice High School", the cover has a vintage look. The Hip Hop stoner looks swank, yet classic, in a pair of Timberland boots ( possibly another brand ) with a Louis Vuitton traveling bag.
Taylor Gang fans can download Taylor Allerdice free below upon release. Some of the latest Wiz Khalifa songs, which may make the mixtape, are available now.
According to NewHipHopSonsg2012.com, fans have until 5PM Pacific time (8pm Eastern time) before the new Taylor Allerdice mixtape download is available. The free music download blog also offers many of the new Wiz Khalifa songs released this year. Some of which may end up on the new rap mixtape.
The official Taylor Allerdice mixtape cover artwork was just released recently. Dedicated to Wiz Khalifa's high school "Allerdice High School", the cover has a vintage look. The Hip Hop stoner looks swank, yet classic, in a pair of Timberland boots ( possibly another brand ) with a Louis Vuitton traveling bag.
Taylor Gang fans can download Taylor Allerdice free below upon release. Some of the latest Wiz Khalifa songs, which may make the mixtape, are available now.
2012年3月12日星期一
Spend time on important matters
Women's issues such as birth control, abortion and ultrasound images before abortion have gotten to be political issues that have been taking up much of the government's time lately.
Soon to enter the political agenda are two more women's issues, the “Ladies Handbag Bill” and the “Ladies Length-of-Skirt Bill.”
It is a well-known fact that Republican women buy Gucci handbags at such places as Tiffany & Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue. Democrats tend to buy other brands of handbags from such places as Macy's. Republicans claim that by buying those highly expensive handbags, they are helping the economy and should get some tax breaks. Democrats are dead set against using taxpayer money to subsidize handbag purchases, and believe that a tax rate of 30 percent should be levied on those items.
Needless to say that bill is not making much progress in Congress.
Recently, a new issue was introduced to the bill by the ACLU. Their contention that because of the lack of transparency women might be inclined to stash prayer books in their handbags, and may be inclined to use those when they are on school property. The ACLU believes that such lawlessness should be curbed at all costs. I am sure we will be hearing more about that later.
The “Ladies Length-of-Skirt Bill” appeared to be locked in a partisan block. The Republicans wanted skirt lengths to be above the knee while the Democrats wanted the lengths to be below the knee. A Republican senator broke the log jam by introducing an amendment to the bill called the hybrid skirt amendment.
That allowed the front of the skirt to be above the knee while the back of the skirt would be below the knee.
The latest poll indicated that the bill would be easily passed by both houses of Congress and would soon be on its way to the White House for the president's signature.
Soon to enter the political agenda are two more women's issues, the “Ladies Handbag Bill” and the “Ladies Length-of-Skirt Bill.”
It is a well-known fact that Republican women buy Gucci handbags at such places as Tiffany & Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue. Democrats tend to buy other brands of handbags from such places as Macy's. Republicans claim that by buying those highly expensive handbags, they are helping the economy and should get some tax breaks. Democrats are dead set against using taxpayer money to subsidize handbag purchases, and believe that a tax rate of 30 percent should be levied on those items.
Needless to say that bill is not making much progress in Congress.
Recently, a new issue was introduced to the bill by the ACLU. Their contention that because of the lack of transparency women might be inclined to stash prayer books in their handbags, and may be inclined to use those when they are on school property. The ACLU believes that such lawlessness should be curbed at all costs. I am sure we will be hearing more about that later.
The “Ladies Length-of-Skirt Bill” appeared to be locked in a partisan block. The Republicans wanted skirt lengths to be above the knee while the Democrats wanted the lengths to be below the knee. A Republican senator broke the log jam by introducing an amendment to the bill called the hybrid skirt amendment.
That allowed the front of the skirt to be above the knee while the back of the skirt would be below the knee.
The latest poll indicated that the bill would be easily passed by both houses of Congress and would soon be on its way to the White House for the president's signature.
2012年3月11日星期日
State's new budget mixed bag for Treasure Coast
Florida's new $70 billion spending blueprint slashes payments to needy patients' health-care providers, boosts public schools but slams Florida universities and pledges no new taxes while pushing counties to contribute millions more.
In the latest rendition of the budget passed Friday, 2012-13 breaks down into a mixed bag for Treasure Coast state budget stakeholders. The GOP-led Legislature stayed steadfast in its no-new-taxes creed and followed Gov. Rick Scott's marching orders to scrape together about another $1 billion for public schools — in tough budget times, two clashing goals.
Schools reeling from cuts last year will use the added money to stay sturdy in 2012-13. But district officials said another billion doesn't solve public schools' long-term funding woes.
"I think this budget reflects the economic challenges in Florida, yet funds our key priorities," said Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
Where lawmakers made up the money is hit or miss. Local hospitals will lose millions with slimmed-down payments for taking in Medicaid patients, but money for tourism advertising doubled and economic development programs went up 13 percent.
Counties will pay millions in potentially faulty Medicaid bills to balance Florida's budget, while pet projects in lawmakers' backyards line up for state money. Even a few Republicans voted against the budget because of the special deals. Sarasota Rowing Center and a Major League Soccer training camp, for example, would get $1 million each. Scott actually vetoed money for the same regatta center last year, and within the next two weeks he can do it again for any line item.
Amid the headline-grabbing bump to schools and backyard member projects, more environmental dollars also will flow into the Treasure Coast, rounding out a budget that has big implications all over the board.
In the latest rendition of the budget passed Friday, 2012-13 breaks down into a mixed bag for Treasure Coast state budget stakeholders. The GOP-led Legislature stayed steadfast in its no-new-taxes creed and followed Gov. Rick Scott's marching orders to scrape together about another $1 billion for public schools — in tough budget times, two clashing goals.
Schools reeling from cuts last year will use the added money to stay sturdy in 2012-13. But district officials said another billion doesn't solve public schools' long-term funding woes.
"I think this budget reflects the economic challenges in Florida, yet funds our key priorities," said Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
Where lawmakers made up the money is hit or miss. Local hospitals will lose millions with slimmed-down payments for taking in Medicaid patients, but money for tourism advertising doubled and economic development programs went up 13 percent.
Counties will pay millions in potentially faulty Medicaid bills to balance Florida's budget, while pet projects in lawmakers' backyards line up for state money. Even a few Republicans voted against the budget because of the special deals. Sarasota Rowing Center and a Major League Soccer training camp, for example, would get $1 million each. Scott actually vetoed money for the same regatta center last year, and within the next two weeks he can do it again for any line item.
Amid the headline-grabbing bump to schools and backyard member projects, more environmental dollars also will flow into the Treasure Coast, rounding out a budget that has big implications all over the board.
2012年3月8日星期四
The clutch from Pretty Ballerinas becomes It Bag: Angelina Jolie to wear and Kate Middleton
Mysterious dynamics of the fashion biz: a handful of stars suddenly begin to wear the same accessory, Which becomes a cult in the blink of an eye. It happened with Jimmy Choo shoes and Christian Louboutin, Which has extremely niche brands have become the dream of millions of women around the world right thanks to the red carpet; Happened with the'Iconic camel coat by Max Mara, That celebrities love to show off for the Gala but also for moments of relaxation, strolling in the park and being duly photographed by the paparazzi.
But are the accessories (We have already mentioned the shoes) to be protagonists of this marketing mechanism more or less unconscious: the bags, Especially, often become the object of desire by virtue of the stars who wear them. We think the love of many actresses for the unstructured Yves Saint Laurent (Madonna and Lady Gaga) or for matelasse Miu Miu (Keira Khnightly) or the LV logo of Louis Vuitton craze showed off more than one occasion by Angelina Jolie. Just her, the most beloved of Hollywood, together with the Princess Royal Kate Middleton, Is at the center of a new phenomenon It Bag: This time we speak of a brand more accessible to us mere mortals, or Pretty Ballerinas.
First of all, we clarify the concept of clutch: Does not have the minimal domensioni a clutch but it is not like a large bag classic. Carried by hand, without a shoulder strap and handles, hips, and preferably not with both hands. This of Pretty Ballerinas, Let's face it, is delicious: it has a reasonable size and we can put in something more than a pack of gum and tissues, is black velvet, But from the rectangular soft corners and, especially, has a staple maxi that enhances the front. The model is called the M / Hillary Black Velvet Clutch.
But are the accessories (We have already mentioned the shoes) to be protagonists of this marketing mechanism more or less unconscious: the bags, Especially, often become the object of desire by virtue of the stars who wear them. We think the love of many actresses for the unstructured Yves Saint Laurent (Madonna and Lady Gaga) or for matelasse Miu Miu (Keira Khnightly) or the LV logo of Louis Vuitton craze showed off more than one occasion by Angelina Jolie. Just her, the most beloved of Hollywood, together with the Princess Royal Kate Middleton, Is at the center of a new phenomenon It Bag: This time we speak of a brand more accessible to us mere mortals, or Pretty Ballerinas.
First of all, we clarify the concept of clutch: Does not have the minimal domensioni a clutch but it is not like a large bag classic. Carried by hand, without a shoulder strap and handles, hips, and preferably not with both hands. This of Pretty Ballerinas, Let's face it, is delicious: it has a reasonable size and we can put in something more than a pack of gum and tissues, is black velvet, But from the rectangular soft corners and, especially, has a staple maxi that enhances the front. The model is called the M / Hillary Black Velvet Clutch.
2012年3月7日星期三
Women's Day 2012: 4 types of bags to give away
And here's to you dear friends fashionistas the perfect gift ideas for Women's Day 2012 , the most beautiful and attractive bags that every woman dreams to have in your wardrobe. Buy a bag for a woman to give her a surprise is not an easy task, each of us has different needs and tastes, but it is also true that there are scholarships dream that put all agree, as it bag, bags by birth despite having a certain age, continue to be the most desired in the world. Here are lots of gift ideas, do or have us do, for the celebration of women.
The Women's Day is full of yellow and then the gift is definitely a classic bag in a beautiful yellow mimosa. The yellow bags in the spring and summer are always strong, so it might be interesting to have one to match with floral dresses , denim garments or put in pastel tones. The yellow bags have been proposed by many designers, ranging from Mulberry to Chanel, Versace through which the gold has played the entire new collection .
The more welcome gift of the moment is definitely the it bag of the season, a bag to show off the latest fashions for every occasion! A bag is very interesting and promising to join us for a long time is the fabulous Pyramid bag Prada, but there are also the Dolce Bag Dolce & Gabbana , the Raffia Bowling Bag Burberry and then the new Fendi bags: Chamelon and fans that are really very beautiful and versatile. To our friends there is also the most extravagant Chanel bag-shaped shell.
If your funds are limited you can opt for the beautiful but more democratic models, such as a Furla bag, the Candy bag with crystals is absolutely adorable. Noteworthy is also the Celeste Coccinelle bag which is available as a tote that clutch , some model of the line Red Valentino, Marc by Marc Jacobs McQ Alexander McQueen have more affordable prices than the main lines.
The gift that every woman wants to receive it is a bag, the bags of the stars, expensive, beautiful and glamorous. it bag the most beautiful of all time are the Chanel 2.55, the Birkin or Kelly Hermes but also the Fendi baguette. If we want to keep at prices more acceptable one could also think of jaws amatissime but less unattainable such as Bayswater or the Alexa Mulberry or PS1 of Proenza Schouler, some model of Louis Vuitton as the Neverfull or the Speedy. If you are rated on eco friendly bets Falabella bag by Stella McCartney found in various models, styles and colors.
The Women's Day is full of yellow and then the gift is definitely a classic bag in a beautiful yellow mimosa. The yellow bags in the spring and summer are always strong, so it might be interesting to have one to match with floral dresses , denim garments or put in pastel tones. The yellow bags have been proposed by many designers, ranging from Mulberry to Chanel, Versace through which the gold has played the entire new collection .
The more welcome gift of the moment is definitely the it bag of the season, a bag to show off the latest fashions for every occasion! A bag is very interesting and promising to join us for a long time is the fabulous Pyramid bag Prada, but there are also the Dolce Bag Dolce & Gabbana , the Raffia Bowling Bag Burberry and then the new Fendi bags: Chamelon and fans that are really very beautiful and versatile. To our friends there is also the most extravagant Chanel bag-shaped shell.
If your funds are limited you can opt for the beautiful but more democratic models, such as a Furla bag, the Candy bag with crystals is absolutely adorable. Noteworthy is also the Celeste Coccinelle bag which is available as a tote that clutch , some model of the line Red Valentino, Marc by Marc Jacobs McQ Alexander McQueen have more affordable prices than the main lines.
The gift that every woman wants to receive it is a bag, the bags of the stars, expensive, beautiful and glamorous. it bag the most beautiful of all time are the Chanel 2.55, the Birkin or Kelly Hermes but also the Fendi baguette. If we want to keep at prices more acceptable one could also think of jaws amatissime but less unattainable such as Bayswater or the Alexa Mulberry or PS1 of Proenza Schouler, some model of Louis Vuitton as the Neverfull or the Speedy. If you are rated on eco friendly bets Falabella bag by Stella McCartney found in various models, styles and colors.
2012年3月6日星期二
A Dutch Angel's Cellphone Number Is in Demand
'S HERTOGENBOSCH, the Netherlands — High on the cathedral in this trim Dutch town, amid a phalanx of stone statues of local noblemen, crusaders, saints and angels, one figure stands out. Smiling faintly, with lowered eyelids, one of the angels wears jeans, has a laptop bag slung over one shoulder and is chatting on a cellphone. The angel gets about 30 calls a day on the phone.
That is because, shortly after the statue was unveiled last April, a local couple, the parents of two children, set up a number so people could call the angel. Business cards soon appeared in pubs, restaurants and hotels with a picture of the angel and the number. So successful was the line that the couple opened a Twitter account, @ut_engelke, managed by the husband, which now has about 2,700 followers.
"The telephone is ringing all day," said the wife, who like her husband agreed to meet a reporter on the condition that they not be identified. "It was a fairy tale," she said over beer and snacks. "Now, it's real." To identify them, she said, would end it.
What began as a joke continues because the cellphone number has become something of a hot line, dialed by people of all ages, some in need of help, others just because they are lonely.
At the holidays, the calls became so frequent and so pressing that the couple was tempted to give up. "Between Christmas and New Year's, that was an emotional time frame, it was so heartbreaking," she said. A small girl called begging the angel to pray for a grandmother who had just died; a woman asked help to celebrate her first Christmas without her parents. A widow sought prayers for her dead children.
The statue of the Little Angel arose out of a 1997 competition, won by the Dutch sculptor Ton Mooy, to create 40 statues, including 14 angels, to replace those on the cathedral that time and pollution had ruined. The Little Angel was the only unconventional one.
"You can make a phony Gothic statue," Mr. Mooy, 63, said in his studio in Amersfoort, about an hour north of here. "That's not what I wanted. It had to fit in with what was always on the church, namely, refinement, emotion. Angels are there to guide, to protect people, they get messages from above. How do you show that? With a cellphone."
"I tell kids, 'There's one button on that cellphone,' " he said with a chuckle — a direct line to heaven. "So she doesn't get naughty, calling other angels."
The cathedral, which dates to 1220, has a centuries-old tradition of unusual, sometimes bawdy, art. One medieval statue is of a bricklayer bending over and baring his bottom. Some is tragic. A stained glass window over the main entrance depicts the apocalypse with a panel showing the Sept. 11 attack on the twin towers.
Catholic Church officials who administer the immense Gothic cathedral, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, are not entirely amused. "Success has many fathers," said Pieter Kohnen, a cathedral board member. "And maybe exploiters."
The couple do not charge a fee for calls to the Little Angel, and insist they are not profiting from its spreading fame. But in December the church set up an official number for the public to phone the angel — for $1.07 a minute. Now, a sign next to the cathedral invites passers-by to "Call the Angel." A man's voice answers, giving the caller several options: "Dial 1, for a history of the church; dial 2, to learn what Christianity is about," and so forth.
That is because, shortly after the statue was unveiled last April, a local couple, the parents of two children, set up a number so people could call the angel. Business cards soon appeared in pubs, restaurants and hotels with a picture of the angel and the number. So successful was the line that the couple opened a Twitter account, @ut_engelke, managed by the husband, which now has about 2,700 followers.
"The telephone is ringing all day," said the wife, who like her husband agreed to meet a reporter on the condition that they not be identified. "It was a fairy tale," she said over beer and snacks. "Now, it's real." To identify them, she said, would end it.
What began as a joke continues because the cellphone number has become something of a hot line, dialed by people of all ages, some in need of help, others just because they are lonely.
At the holidays, the calls became so frequent and so pressing that the couple was tempted to give up. "Between Christmas and New Year's, that was an emotional time frame, it was so heartbreaking," she said. A small girl called begging the angel to pray for a grandmother who had just died; a woman asked help to celebrate her first Christmas without her parents. A widow sought prayers for her dead children.
The statue of the Little Angel arose out of a 1997 competition, won by the Dutch sculptor Ton Mooy, to create 40 statues, including 14 angels, to replace those on the cathedral that time and pollution had ruined. The Little Angel was the only unconventional one.
"You can make a phony Gothic statue," Mr. Mooy, 63, said in his studio in Amersfoort, about an hour north of here. "That's not what I wanted. It had to fit in with what was always on the church, namely, refinement, emotion. Angels are there to guide, to protect people, they get messages from above. How do you show that? With a cellphone."
"I tell kids, 'There's one button on that cellphone,' " he said with a chuckle — a direct line to heaven. "So she doesn't get naughty, calling other angels."
The cathedral, which dates to 1220, has a centuries-old tradition of unusual, sometimes bawdy, art. One medieval statue is of a bricklayer bending over and baring his bottom. Some is tragic. A stained glass window over the main entrance depicts the apocalypse with a panel showing the Sept. 11 attack on the twin towers.
Catholic Church officials who administer the immense Gothic cathedral, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, are not entirely amused. "Success has many fathers," said Pieter Kohnen, a cathedral board member. "And maybe exploiters."
The couple do not charge a fee for calls to the Little Angel, and insist they are not profiting from its spreading fame. But in December the church set up an official number for the public to phone the angel — for $1.07 a minute. Now, a sign next to the cathedral invites passers-by to "Call the Angel." A man's voice answers, giving the caller several options: "Dial 1, for a history of the church; dial 2, to learn what Christianity is about," and so forth.
2012年3月5日星期一
Brothers of missing EastEnders actress from Bethnal Green are seeking help from East End community
Brothers of Gemma McCluskie, aged 29, of Bethnal Green, are desperate for information about their younger sister, who has been missing for four days.
Her brother Danny will be taking part in the search for Gemma, who played Kerry Skinner in 30 episodes of EastEnders back in 2001, while her other brother Tony will stay at their home on Hackney Road in case she returns.
Tony said her disappearance is "completely" out of her character and that she has never been missing before.
"We are going out of our mind with worry. She is a bubbly, outgoing, strong and independent woman," he said.
The search-group will set up from the Bird Cage pub on Columbia Road this evening at 7pm to hang up missing persons posters. They will also be handing posters to shops and knocking on the doors of homes asking if anyone have spotted Gemma.
Tony last saw his sister at home last Thursday afternoon. He remembers her wearing a mustard coloured top, blue leggings, dark brown UGG boots and big sunglasses. She is also believed to have had her small Louis Vuitton handbag with her.
Her brother Danny will be taking part in the search for Gemma, who played Kerry Skinner in 30 episodes of EastEnders back in 2001, while her other brother Tony will stay at their home on Hackney Road in case she returns.
Tony said her disappearance is "completely" out of her character and that she has never been missing before.
"We are going out of our mind with worry. She is a bubbly, outgoing, strong and independent woman," he said.
The search-group will set up from the Bird Cage pub on Columbia Road this evening at 7pm to hang up missing persons posters. They will also be handing posters to shops and knocking on the doors of homes asking if anyone have spotted Gemma.
Tony last saw his sister at home last Thursday afternoon. He remembers her wearing a mustard coloured top, blue leggings, dark brown UGG boots and big sunglasses. She is also believed to have had her small Louis Vuitton handbag with her.
2012年3月4日星期日
Nigeria: Igbede Canoe Mishap - How 12 Children Lost Their Lives
As the people of Ojota community in Otto/Awori Local Council Development Area of Lagos State still grapple with the tragedy that befell the community couple of weeks ago after a rainstorm caused a canoe carrying several children to school including market women to the neighbouring community to capsize, killing eight of the children and the market women, more facts on how it happened have emerged.
Saturday Vanguard gathered that the canoe which was about 12ft long, had 21 children on board and two market women left the shores of Ojota community about 6:30am for Igbede community aboard the canoe without any safety measure in place. The paddler who resides in Igbede would be at Ojota community as early as 6:00am to carry children and market women to Igbede town.
At 6.30 am that fateful day, 21 children, two women including the wife of the Baale of Ojota boarded the canoe and they were paddled out of the precinct of their community bidding farewell to their parents and families. The children who were pupils of different primary schools were apparently used to the terrain since it was a daily routine to go by canoe to their various schools.
Their village, a very small community is separated by a river which they had to cross to reach their various schools. They were almost at the bank of the river after 30minutes paddling in the canoe when the tragedy occurred.
The hitherto calm atmosphere changed, following an unprecedented dark cloud which hampered vision. The violent wind which lasted for few minutes wrecked havoc and the canoe was thrown back into the middle of the river. All the children, the women and the paddler went down the river but a few of them are alive to tell the story.
Amazingly, Fawas Ayuba, a 6-year old boy of Caritas Biachi Nursery/Primary School, Igbede was saved by his school bag hanging on his back which prevented him from drowning.
This gives an indication that the pupils would have been saved if they had life-jackets on them. However, Yusuf Rufai, a 9-year old pupil on board swam through the river to the shores of his community. Yusuf who broke the news of the incident to the people of his community said he was trained on the techniques of swimming by his father and those were the things that came to his mind at the time of the mishap.
Saturday Vanguard gathered that the canoe which was about 12ft long, had 21 children on board and two market women left the shores of Ojota community about 6:30am for Igbede community aboard the canoe without any safety measure in place. The paddler who resides in Igbede would be at Ojota community as early as 6:00am to carry children and market women to Igbede town.
At 6.30 am that fateful day, 21 children, two women including the wife of the Baale of Ojota boarded the canoe and they were paddled out of the precinct of their community bidding farewell to their parents and families. The children who were pupils of different primary schools were apparently used to the terrain since it was a daily routine to go by canoe to their various schools.
Their village, a very small community is separated by a river which they had to cross to reach their various schools. They were almost at the bank of the river after 30minutes paddling in the canoe when the tragedy occurred.
The hitherto calm atmosphere changed, following an unprecedented dark cloud which hampered vision. The violent wind which lasted for few minutes wrecked havoc and the canoe was thrown back into the middle of the river. All the children, the women and the paddler went down the river but a few of them are alive to tell the story.
Amazingly, Fawas Ayuba, a 6-year old boy of Caritas Biachi Nursery/Primary School, Igbede was saved by his school bag hanging on his back which prevented him from drowning.
This gives an indication that the pupils would have been saved if they had life-jackets on them. However, Yusuf Rufai, a 9-year old pupil on board swam through the river to the shores of his community. Yusuf who broke the news of the incident to the people of his community said he was trained on the techniques of swimming by his father and those were the things that came to his mind at the time of the mishap.
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