The Refined Savage

Solomon Burke 1940-2010

2010-10-11T11:16:00.000-04:00

Solomon Burke passed away at age 70 in Amsterdam's Schipol Airport. He was there to perform a sold out concert with a local soul/R&B band. He never got the due of some of her peers, maybe due to the peripatetic nature of her career. He could do gospel,soul, blues and even country in an authentic way that took the material out of any one genre. As good a singer as he was, he had an even bigger heart. Rest in peace.

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love from Top of the Pops 2003.

Betsey Johnson/Steve Madden

2010-10-09T08:32:00.001-04:00


Betsey Johnson

Women's Wear Daily reporting that Steve Madden has increased his stake in Betsey Johnson from a $48.8 million loan to ownership of the brand’s intellectual property. Through licensing deals with Betsey Johnson LLC, Madden will get royalties from Johnson’s firm and its other licensees.

It's not clear to me if Betsey has been struggling in the current retail environment or was just looking to partner up with a deep pocketed backer. Have to suspect the former if the relationship went from loan to equity stake. Hopefully, it will be a positive for both parties, but hoping the new relationship doesn't suck the creativity out of her designs. I know Steve Madden knows retail but selling apparel a bit different game, n'est-pas?

Steve Madden

2010 Illinois State Fair Hog Calling Contest

2010-10-09T08:11:00.000-04:00

I've lived in cities or suburbs my whole life. I love country music, lakes and all that stuff but have never lived on a farm. Watching this video made me feel like an anthropologist who just discovered a tribe of Sasquatches. Amazing!

Thanks and a tip of the trucker's hat to Trading for the Masses.

Be All That You Can Be

2010-10-07T15:02:00.003-04:00

You may of heard of this breakthrough in men's health issues. Rare footage here.

Peniplus: For Men Who Only Have One Penis - watch more funny videos

You're So Vain

2010-10-07T13:11:00.001-04:00

I've lost weight over the last year. Ok, more than a little...50 lbs. or so. I guess I've reached the point of diminishing returns, i.e. I have to put in a lot of work for marginal improvement from here. So, obsessed or not, if I have a choice between doing a few thousand more crunches or painting on a six-pack, I have to give it some thought. Here's an article from today's New York Times about some alternatives.

NY Times-Get a Six-Pack WIthout the Work

Base Jumping Plus Fire = Great Video

2010-10-07T13:03:00.000-04:00

German daredevil...damn!

Randy Moss-Back to the Future

2010-10-06T15:29:00.000-04:00

The New England Patriots traded receiver Randy Moss back to his old team, the Minnesota Vikings for a third round draft pick in 2011. The Vikings think this is their one chance to win a superbowl. It might, if Brett Favre and Rany were a lot younger and the Coach had an IQ above room temperature. The roster has enough high maintenance types that if they don't win, will make for plenty of finger pointing and a long rebuilding process. Good luck.

Lady Momsen

2010-10-06T15:10:00.001-04:00

From what we can tell, "Gossip Girl" is doing a masquerade party episode in the upcoming weeks. Here's a shot of l'enfant terrible, Taylor Momsen, going onto the set (hopefully, in costume). Someone commented that they thought it was Blake Lively, not TM, in the photo. From the body language here, I'm sticking with Taylor.

Mark Ronson

2010-10-05T15:42:00.000-04:00

Style arbiter and music producer Mark Ronson is an interesting cat. Like the kid on the outside trying to learn whatever social codes will unlock the doors to the "cool" group, Ronson is adept at different musical styles and is able to draw a thread through them in a way that seems natural and fresh. If you like a very eclectic, rock and R&B sound mixed with some hiphop, check out Record Collection.

Bang, Bang, Bang from the album.

Here's a link to the current NY Magazine with an article about Ronson, Strangely Insecure for a Cool Guy.

Natali Vodianova at French Vogue Party

2010-10-05T11:36:00.001-04:00

French Vogue held a 90th anniversary masquerade party last week in Paris. Lots of witty, sexy outfits but one stood stood out. Tres jolie.

Divine Comedy from Sotheby's

2010-10-05T11:07:00.000-04:00

As the lines blur between gallery/museum/auction house blur, Sotheby's reinvents itself as curator more than just gavel swinger. I thought this was quite well done.

NY Jets 38-Buffalo Bills 14

2010-10-04T10:23:00.000-04:00

It really wasn't much of a game. The Bills looked so bad that it's hard to tell how much the Jets have really improved since the loss to Baltimore in week one. LT and Shonne Greene both rushed for over 100 yards and Mark Sanchez continued his interception-free streak. The defense looked dominant and with Calvin Pace and Darrelle Revis close to returning, should only get better.

Jim Leonard showing Ryan Fitzpatrick his Frankenstein imitation during the Jets' 38-14 victory over the Bills-10/3, Orchard Park, NY

Lawrence Welk 1971

2010-10-01T20:59:00.001-04:00

"A modern spiritual," indeed.

Enter The Void

2010-09-30T12:52:00.001-04:00

Between business meetings yesterday, I took in Enter The Void the new film by Gasper Noe. A lot of very cool things about it as well as some terribly ridiculous ones. Ambitious in scope and very well acted, the film has great visual imagery that is enough to at least make it worthwhile to see.

Jets 31, Dolphins 23

2010-09-28T11:45:00.000-04:00

Belated post...Mark Sanchez looked great, the D looked terrible, but the team found a way to get an ugly win on the road.

It would have made a lot of people feel better about the team's decision to play Braylon Edwards if he just handed the ball to the ref after his TD (after the defender fell down).

Bronx Beat SNL Katy Perry

2010-09-27T13:55:00.002-04:00

Bed Bugs.

Emily DiDonato by David Roemer for Marie Claire Spain October 2010

2010-09-25T16:40:00.002-04:00

I've posted other photos of Emily before. Even though a NY girl, she definitely has the Italian looks of the Italian actresses of the '60's. Very sultry (just the Indian Summer weather here in NY today).

The Anti Jack La Lanne

2010-09-24T15:53:00.000-04:00

From the UK's rag (which I read religiously), The Sun.

Drinking and Smoking

It's 2010...Do You Know Where Your Country Is?

2010-09-24T15:13:00.002-04:00

Here's a chart from Societe Generale showing where countries' fiscal policies/debt loads put them in relation to different policies and each other. Even like me you'd rather focus on individual companies, this kind of viewpoint is invaluable. Thanks to Clusterstock for the chart.

Shorting US Debt via ETF's

2010-09-22T10:28:00.001-04:00

The US bond market seems to be quite bubblicious. Whether it is a deflation fears or a more general economic angst, investors have driven longer dated US bonds to extremely low yields. There are many scenarios that blow this scenario up....they're priced for perfection, in my opinion.

If you feel more comfortable trading ETF's than treasury futures/options in Chicago, here are some ideas via Seeking Alpha.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/226505-shorting-long-term-treasuries-four-different-etf-plays?source=feed

Katy Perry On Sesame Street

2010-09-21T09:20:00.001-04:00

Katy showing her pedagogical skills with Elmo. Thanks, New York Magazine.

Jets 28-Pats 14

2010-09-20T15:11:00.001-04:00

Even without Darelle Revis (out for a few weeks), the Jets outplayed and outcoached the Patriots. Wes Welker couldn't get untracked and the San Diego castoffs, Cromartie and LT, had solid games. Bite me, Tommyboy.

New Cheryl Tweedy Video

2010-09-20T10:20:00.001-04:00

Promise This via Perez Hilton.

Early Christmas Gift Idea

2010-09-18T06:26:00.000-04:00

Ebay has really made things soooo convenient!

Vampire Transformation Spell on Ebay

The Veil

2010-09-17T13:26:00.000-04:00

Reminds me of turn of the century New York...like The Alienist...like it a lot.

Credits:

Director: Catherine Camille Cushman

Designer: Junya Watanabe

DP: Peter Trilling

Featuring: JP @ IMG

Stylist: Graham Tabor

Producer: Cat Christensen

Editor: Catherine Camille Cushman