Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Tribeca Film Festival Announces Its Juries















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


The full list:

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

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

New York Competition Categories:

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

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

Short Film Competition Categories:

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

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

Tribeca Film Festival Picks Jury [Deadline]

By: Josh Duboff

Indian Vogue Tackles Prejudice Against Darker Skin
























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

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

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

Dawn Of Dusk [Vogue UK]

By: Amy Odell

In rotation..











LVMH Sales Increase Suggests Luxury Goods Are on the Rebound!





















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

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

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

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

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

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

By: Amy Odell

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

New giant lizard species found in the Philippines

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MULTIDIMENSIONAL




































Monday, April 12, 2010

In rotation..









Can Chocolate Actually Brighten Your Mood?























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



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

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

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

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

By Lauren Dzubow

Are You Attracted to the Wrong Type?























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





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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dalai Lama
















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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oprah: So happiness begins in our minds?

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

Oprah: That's right.

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

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

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

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

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

Oprah: So happiness begins in our minds?

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

Oprah: That's right.

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

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

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

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

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

Oprah: So happiness begins in our minds?

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

Oprah: That's right.

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

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

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

Oprah: Is Buddhism a path to happiness?

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

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

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

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

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

Oprah: What function does religion serve in our lives?

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

Oprah: And what is our purpose here on earth?

Dalai Lama: To help one another.

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

Dalai Lama: That's right.

Oprah: Can a person be good without practicing religion?

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

Oprah: Is it possible for everyone to be happy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dalai Lama: No.

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

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

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

Dalai Lama: No, no, no.

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

Dalai Lama: Yes.

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

Dalai Lama: That's true, too.

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

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

Oprah: Have you ever wanted a family or children?

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

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

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

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

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

Oprah: What is a perfect day for you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oprah: None?

Dalai Lama: That's right.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday, April 11, 2010

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


































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


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


For more info, go to:


Mos Def on Yo Gabba Gabba!

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

Pharrell Interview w/ The Duke Chronicle

- Do you love what you do?

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

New Website Allows Anyone to Invest $50 in Young Labels
















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


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


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

How Sex Is Like Pizza...











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



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

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

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

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

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

What about oral sex?

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

Do some men prefer receiving oral sex to having intercourse?

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

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

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

How hard is it for a man to be monogamous?

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

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

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

What are guys insecure about?

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

Do guys exchange notes in the locker room?

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

Are men threatened by female sexuality?

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

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

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

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

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

A woman talking dirty?

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

A fit body? A woman who works out?

That's an 8.

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

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

Breast implants?

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

Request for more intimacy in the relationship?

Say that again?

How can a woman—

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

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

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

In rotation..








How happiness is contagious



















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



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

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











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



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


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


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



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


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


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



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


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


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



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


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


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



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


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


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



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


Monday, April 5, 2010

Shabazz Palaces - "Belhaven Meridian" [OFFICIAL]

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

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

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

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

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

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

also you can see DAM new video below.
Thanks Dav


the rep

June 19, 2009 by mixtapesmixtapes

dam-funk-01

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

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

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

LISTEN!!! – DAM FUNK on ONE DAY LATER

>

August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

July 9, 2009 by mixtapesmixtapes

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




Ex–French Vogue Fashion Director to W?




















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

By: Amy Odell

Rock & Republic Files for Bankruptcy




















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

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

Rock & Republic files for bankruptcy protection [LAT]

By: Amy Odell