Info Blogger

Rose Byrne Pulls a Jennifer Lopez in a Floral Jumpsuit

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Thu, 7 Jul 2011 00:32:00 -0700

Rose Byrne wore a billowy floral Rebecca Taylor jumpsuit layered under a pale-pink blazer for her appearance on Live With Regis and Kelly yesterday. She kept the look simple with no jewelry and a pair of satin pumps.

Does the printed one-piece work, or should the look be left to J.Lo, the jumpsuit professional?

Video: The Rachel Zoe Project’s Fourth Season Includes a New Assistant, Stress, Baby Talk, White Bathrobes

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:02:00 -0700

The Rachel Zoe Project's fourth season debuts on August 2 on Bravo, and the countdown is starting now. Since the last season of the show, Zoe has done a lot of different things, like have a baby, debut a clothing line, skip fashion weeks (because of the baby), and part ways with affable former assistant Brad Goreski, who is getting his own show. What's of the most interest in the new season, judging by the trailer, are the new Brad (if there can ever be such a thing) and, of course, the baby.

Brad's replacement is Jeremiah Brent, who seems much darker, judging by these few seconds of footage of him, than Brad — like there's something evil lurking inside him. That evil thing may relate to worthlessness, either of the position or of Jeremiah himself. And Zoe's husband, Rodger, who has watched his wife get her hair and makeup done by Joey wearing her signature white bathrobe so many times in peace, freaks out about her getting her hair sprayed while she's pregnant. 'Don't kill my baby! Stop!' he intervenes. Meanwhile Joey asks what no one was thinking: 'Are you going to let it come out of your vag?' And Rachel says what everyone was thinking she would: 'I'd like for him to just appear.' (But really, who wouldn't?)

Those new plot lines aside, the stress of daily life is the same, the freaking out over the Oscars/Anne Hathaway's needs is the same, the catchphrases are the same. Oh, and Rodger has a beard — that's something else that's new. And a Kardashian has a cameo, but let's pretend she doesn't.

'The Rachel Zoe Project' Returns With Assistants, Oscars, And A Baby! (VIDEO) [HuffPo]

Mango Fashion- The Story Begins

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:54:00 -0700

Mango Fashion- Let the sotry begin

Best gift: Exclusive Designer Jeans by Diesel

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:53:00 -0700

One pair of Diesel jeans is the best gift you can ever give. One can hardly find any guy who doesn’t love Diesel jeans. Such wears from brand like Diesel makes a man complete. Diesel doesn’t have that much type of other garments but they are on the top of their jeans collection. They are creating exclusive designer fashion wears from more than three decades in the industry. It’s not just jeans now it’s a sensation in the international fashion world.

It is almost clear that the Diesel clothing has got a greater publicity for their superb denim collection. Diesel clothing is in Italy and one can find the inspiration of Italian style tend in all of their clothing designs. The Diesel brand was founded in late 1970′s and from then their clothes have gone through many changes for the fans, but one thing remains the same, its reputation among fans of the fashion world. Diesel jeans has had many celebrity fans like David Beckham which reflects how and why the Diesel brand has become so popular in the United Kingdom. Diesel can be an Italian company, but undoubtedly they have their admirers and consumers all over the world. Diesel jeans are just cool to wear and look and they are the fuel power of high street.

Diesel jeans are preferred by many because of their creative designs. It reflects youth along with fashion that is at its finest. Every year they represent their sensational collections to suit what of the fashion “addicts” need or want. They have summer and autumn and winter and spring collection to suit the needs of the season. Each collection includes thousands of models which offer a wide variety of collection. For jeans only Diesel offers Diesel Denim and Diesel for male and female. One can also get customized jeans from Diesel in almost 10,000 toress available.

Diesel exclusively manufactures every pair of these jeans in Italy. It assures unmatched and best quality, style and durability like no other jeans in the market. Every single pair of these jeans is entirely unique and one can find some creative designs. A diesel pair of Diesel jeans can cost you from $100 to $1000 or even more. Some people may find the price unnecessarily expensive. Diesel jeans are never out of fashion no matter what the season is. While you wear jeans from such a brand you have the reason to be confident. Remember that you will pay for its quality, luxury and comfort.

Some exclusive jeans models were offered by Diesel in 2010. Some of them are Larkee, The Poiak andViker-R-Box. They were cool and unique. Some of the authentic collection by Diesel jeans for women are Soozy, the Lhela and the Newz for ladies. These jeans were popular because they can highlight slim figure nicely which makes the woman more gorgeous. Some of Diesel’s exceptional collections are Krooley, Safado and The Darron which had tapered fits. These were the part of ‘Rain’ style which featured rain-washed denims. It had some irregular water drop patterns that add an extra image.

Whatever the price is it’s a matter of your choice and unmatched style. Go for your next collection of Diesel jeans.

Marisa Miller Hosts A Party In Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:52:00 -0700

Victoria’s Secret model Marisa Miller hosted a party with Maxim to celebrate Captain Morgan’s 376th birthday at Chicago’s Public House bar and restaurant this past Friday evening…

Photos via FamePictures

How To Get Started on Twitter in 8 Easy Steps

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:51:00 -0700

The digital world seems to be split into three different Twitter camps: those who are avid tweeters, those who have handles but don’t actively use the platform, and those for which Twitter is still a black box. To the latter two camps, this article is for you.

Many people initially view Twitter as a platform to announce and broadcast what you happen to be doing right now. Hand-in-hand with this misconception is that you read about what other people are doing right now. The question that inevitably follows this notion is, “who cares?” The answer, however, is that over 20 million people do (reported by Mediabistro). And it’s not because they have nothing better to spend their time doing, it’s because they have discovered how Twitter can be a lucrative social and business tool. Here’s why: Twitter is a short-form conversation platform that allows for immediacy and relevancy. This means, unlike Facebook, you do not need to know another user to have a dialogue with them, allowing users to find others based on topic, keyword or name.

An analogy that’s been used before is to liken Twitter to a cocktail party where you are the host. The room (your Twitter handle) is filled with guests (your group of followers and those you are following), some of whom you know and others who have been invited for other reasons (they are friends of friends, acquaintances of coworkers, people you want to get to know, and people who want to get to know you…etc). As the host, you are a social butterfly, going around the room inserting yourself in conversations already taking place and starting all new conversations based on your experience, thoughts and interests. Throughout the course of the party, you’ve made great connections with some of the guests you didn’t know yet based on shared interests, perspectives, or because you just simply like each other. You’ve also formed closer connections to some of the people you already knew. At the end of the party, you had fun, expanded your network, learned a few things and introduced others to your experiences and perspectives.

This is what happens if Twitter is used correctly.

For brands, Twitter is a powerful channel to offer insights, connect with your customers, form relationships with partners, showcase product and expand your brand identity.

For individuals, Twitter can be equally as lucrative. Whether you are looking to remain relevant, stay up to date on information, network, job hunt, get tips and advice or establish yourself within an industry, Twitter can help.

Here’s how to get started and make the most of the platform:

1. Choose a Twitter name (it’s called a handle) and set up your profile. You can add 140 characters about yourself, insert a picture and add a background if you like.

2. Start following those who interest you. When you follow someone, you are listed on their profile as one of their followers. The same applies when people begin to follow you. Unless you have a protected account, your tweets can be seen by anyone (and vice versa). Your followers, however, will get to see your tweets in their twitter feed. The people you follow will appear in your timeline when they post something.

You can also create “lists” and access the lists that others have created. This helps to segment users based on the categories you choose. For example, you may create a list of “emerging designers” or you may access someone else’s list of “fashion bloggers” to start following them. As a general rule, most people like it when they have a lot of followers, but you may want to be more selective with who you choose to follow (if you follow too many people, your timeline may not necessarily be as useful or as easy to keep up with).

3. Tweet. This means you use the space of 140 characters to convey a message. Proper grammar goes out the window. So ds spllng. It’s a challenge to communicate a message with such a limited amount of letters but you are not limited only to copy. You can, and should, also share links to sites/videos and images. Since links can be really long, and you should use a free service to shorten them (one example is bitly), leaving you more space to insert your text. Other free services exist for sharing images so that you can snap a shot with your smartphone and share it on Twitter (for instance, yfrog is useful for this). If you do this, you should also add some copy about the link to provide some information about what your followers will click on.

Especially if you are a brand or business, your tweets should fall in line with your larger content strategy to ensure your positioning is consistent.

4. @ is the symbol to officially mention another user. It is what allows you to communicate with them and also know when people mention you. For example, if you want to talk to or about Fashion’s Collective, tweeting “Thanks @FashCollective for helping me learn Twitter” will ensure that we see the tweet when we check our “mentions” tab. It will also ensure that your tweet appears in a search result for anyone looking for tweets about us.

Note: when you begin a tweet with the @ symbol, only users who follow both you and the user you are mentioning will see this tweet. A short cut some people use is to trick Twitter by adding a “.” before the message.

5. # is the symbol to discuss a topic. This is done simply by adding a hashtag symbol before any word or phrase. Create your own topic or use one that already exists. This helps you to start and participate in conversations around the topics that interest you. For example, if you are at an event there may be an official hashtag to use, or you can create one if there is not. We were recently tweeting from the Firenze4Ever event and each time we tweeted about the event we included the hashtag (#Firenze4Ever). This helped us to connect with the other people who were also talking about/attending the event, and it helped those not attending to be able to follow the event and know that we were participating. Charlie Sheen recently used the hashtag #winning which became a phenomenon and a trending topic because so many people also started using it. Another example is if you are an avid Yankees fan, adding a #Yankees to your tweet will make it more easily searchable by others interested in the good ol’ Yanks.

6. Retweeting is a function that allows you to republish another person’s tweet to your followers while giving the original source credit. If you like, you can also preface a RT with your own comment.

7. If you want to send something privately, you can DM (or direct message) a user so long as you are following them and they are following you.

8. Once you get the hang of the process, you can use tools like Postling or Cotweet to manage your Twitter feed. This means you can do things like schedule tweets in advance, update to Facebook and Twitter simultaneously and have multiple tweeters all on one account.

That’s Twitter in a nutshell! We invite you all to connect with us on Twitter @FashCollective, would love to see you there!

Style Bloggers: Today’s Fashion Renegades

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:50:00 -0700

In an industry rooted in creativity, ingenuity and innovation, in many ways fashion has become marked with an assembly-line structure of profitability and traditional communication strategies. In effect, a business model has been superimposed on the creative model. The result? A symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship where creativity empowers business and business sustains creativity.

In another sense, however, we’ve stifled the very thing that propels our industry forward and ignites a spark within the individuals and teams hard at work; free thinking. The business extension has evolved into a mechanism that, though profitable, places confines on creativity and mandates that passion be largely relegated to the neat organizational structures, marketing models and tried and true design approaches that have come to define our industry. It is this model that has bred the elitist and authoritarian demeanor many brands and high profile editors assume, while also fostering a line of thinking that is very much inside the box.

Thankfully, fashion renegades do exist, and they come in the form of innovators across a variety of different platforms. Comprised mainly of individuals and independent companies, it is the tribes of style bloggers, technologists, experimental marketers and unconventional designers that pave the way for creativity and are bringing forth a new reality, at times ousting established authorities in the process. Alone, they are creative individuals to be noticed and commended; when enabled by business, they become a force powerful enough to shake the elitists from their highly perched seats and enact real change in our industry.

Style bloggers in particular harness their enthusiasm, interest and passion for this industry to tirelessly work at crafting their online persona. Posting a stream of content with an immediacy and point of view that is otherwise unheard, they are exposed with every thought, opinion, outfit, photograph or caption they publish.

To this, the global online community has responded emphatically, ultimately creating a phenomenon. Users become dedicated readers, and shoppers now look for style expertise from an unassuming individual, often who has no formal fashion training or experience and can be based anywhere in the world. Fashion buyers look to style blogs as a source of trend forecasting to better inform the merchandise they will ultimately stock. Even fashion journalists feel the nagging need to consult the very blogs that pose a potential threat in order to remain aware. The industry has changed

With this unyielding power now placed in the hands of the creative independents, the business model inadvertently awakens, and companies are hungry to figure out how to harness this newfound influence in order to extend the reach of their brands. This has the potential to develop into a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship where brands help to sustain style bloggers, reaping financial and experiential rewards in the process. Unfortunately, more common has been the misguided approach where brands attempt to use the blogger as a cheap trick to boost the brand without any regard for the very things that make a blogger successful: their point of view, their interests and their style. It would seem that oftentimes, the business individuals don’t even read the blogs of the people they reach out to, they merely see a quantifiable and impressive number of followers or hear from an executive that their daughter reads “so-and-so”.

We hope that these faulty approaches are simply the growing pains where the business extensions are struggling to keep up with the creative individuals. We are confident that improvements will be made and the passion that these style bloggers bring will not be lost on the “take and take” mentality of big name brands.

Ultimately, the injection of energy, raw passion and tenacity that the leading style bloggers bring to the table is something to be nurtured, cultivated and applauded. The community has responded in this way, now its time for business to follow suit.

In tomorrow’s article, we will cover the impressive stance one brand has created in leading our industry in this new frontier.

Horses and Headpieces at Royal Ascot

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:44:00 -0700

Cow PR via Getty Images

Between the Royal Wedding, Kentucky Derby, and Devon, horses and hats are certainly making the news this Spring.

While the ladies who lunch at Devon know a thing or two about hats, they’re no match for the Brits when it comes to pulling off outrageous headwear.

Here you have it, the best (above) and worst (below) of the headpieces at the Royal Ascot horseracing meet, a national institution and centerpiece of the British social calendar, being held this week near Windsor, England.

Carl de Souza/AFP - Getty Images

2011 Bombshell Summer Tour Comes to a Close

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:43:00 -0700

Our Angel turned cowgirl as Doutzen Kroes and the Bombshell Summer Tour made its final stop—at Victoria’s Secret Galleria Dallas.

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Michelle Obama Wore Tom Ford to a Buckingham Palace Banquet

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:43:00 -0700

The Obamas with the Queen and Prince Philip.

Michelle Obama stepped off the plane in London in a purple suit by Preen, one of the coolest of the cool fashion labels. Before that, she visited a pub in Ireland wearing Marc Jacobs, and before that, she moseyed around Dublin in a dress by Peter Som. She looked smashing at every step and, after meeting Kate Middleton in a Barbara Tfank dress, she had the nerve to change into a Tom Ford gown for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace with the queen, adhering to the formal dress code with a pair of long white gloves. This is the first time Michelle has been photographed in Tom Ford, making what may be her best-dressed overseas trip just that much more dramatic. However, her primary intent may not have been to send all her Ford-obsessed fashion-people fans into bliss-induced seizures. The Telegraph's Hilary Alexander notes that Ford is American, with headquarters in London, so 'subtle fashion politics' seemed to be at play. And after the mania over her wearing Alexander McQueen to the state dinner in January, it's not like she could have worn that label again here. So, Tom wins... as usual.

See more photos of Michelle Obama wearing clothes in our ever-expanding Michelle Obama Look Book.

Michelle Obama dazzles at Buckingham Palace in Tom Ford [Telegraph]

Tiffany & Co. Partners With the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:40:00 -0700

Tiffany & Co. donated $1 million to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund to kick-start a three-year partnership that will a) splash Tiffany & Co. all over the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund publicity materials, and b) include a $250,000 business development grant awarded to one lucky jewelry designer. A joint statement from the CFDA, Vogue, and Tiffany & Co. stated:

Applications have been sent to the nine jewelry designers who have participated in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund since its inaugural year in 2004. Applicants must submit information on their creative vision for their brand and current collection, as well as a portfolio and financial information, including intended use for the grant were they to win.

Applicants will be reviewed by a committee that includes CFDA director Steven Kolb, Vogue accessories editor Filipa Fino, Tiffany & Co. CEO Mike Kowalski, and Anna Wintour, among others; the winner will be announced this summer.

Moda Operandi Is Looking for More Funding

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:38:00 -0700

Lauren Santo Domingo.

Lauren Santo Domingo's e-commerce site Moda Operandi, the go-to source for $270 beach towels, is now seeking additional investors. At yesterday's Reuters Luxury and Fashion Summit, the site's co-founder and CEO Aslaug Magnusdottir announced that they've started their second round of venture capital funding (they got their initial funding from venture capital firm New Atlantic Ventures), adding that there's been a lot of interest from various parties. 'The recent successes of Gilt [Groupe], Rue La La and Net-a-Porter being sold has really made this a much more interesting sector for a lot of investors,' she explained.

Magnusdottir, who was formerly a vice-president at Gilt Groupe, also disclosed some specifics about the site's performance so far: It's launched with 15,000 members in February (to compare, Gilt Groupe has well over 2 million), and they're shooting to reach 100,000 members by the end of the year. It makes sense that they'd have a smaller customer base, since the number of people willing to fill out a multi-step application form to peruse $5,000 Marchesa gowns is relatively small (and they do reject some people). Meanwhile, they expect to be profitable by the end of 2012, although she didn't disclose any hard financial data.
Moda Operandi taps venture capital interest in fashion [Reuters]

It’s Hardly Surprising That There’s Glitter on Ke$ha’s Dress

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:13:00 -0700

Ke$ha attended the 2011 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas last night wearing (almost literally) a dress and a half. Her blue sequined minidress had big shoulders, mid-length sleeves, and cut-out panels, but also featured a bonus floor-length tulle over-skirt. She added chunky heeled sandals and a bunch of jewelry, and painted a couple of lines on one cheek just because.

She's free of greasy glitter for once, but is this more put-together look an upgrade? Or should she not have even bothered with that tulle bit?

Balmain Confirms Plans for Diffusion Line

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:12:00 -0700

Within a month of tapping Olivier Rousteing to replace Christophe Decarnin, Balmain announced plans to launch a diffusion collection of men's and women's clothing in September for the spring 2012 season. Named Pierre Balmain after the label's founder, the line 'will be younger and designed by a new team,' a spokesperson stated today. [Telegraph UK]

InStyle's Ad Pages Have Surpassed All Other Fashion Titles This Year

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:11:00 -0700

According to Women's Wear Daily, InStyle boasted the highest number of ad pages out of any fashion title over the past six months, topping out at 1,156 pages, a 4.7 percent increase over last year. Elle had the biggest increase at 15 percent, reaching a total of 1,802 pages. Meanwhile, Vogue was up 11 percent with 1,094 pages; W was up 5 percent with 440 pages, and Harper's Bazaar was down 5.4 percent to 712 pages. [WWD]

Gwen Stefani’s amfAR Gala Dress Was Apparently Not a L.A.M.B. Design After All

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:58:00 -0700

As part of the auction at this year's amfAR Gala in Cannes, Gwen Stefani put her evening's attire — a lacy black dress that she'd also worn earlier in the day for a L'Oreal photo shoot — up for auction, raising over $125,000. The gown was billed as "a creation of her own, by L.A.M.B.,' but Michael Angel's studio is now saying that he custom-designed the dress for Gwen, complete with lacework from his fall 2010 collection. A rep explained on the phone today that Angel has worked with both Gwen and L'Oreal before, but was wrongfully credited as a stylist while Gwen took the credit for the design, stating: 'In choosing [a dress for amfAR], we just said, 'Let's make one,' which is a whole other job in itself.' Well yes, a whole other job indeed. For somebody else, perhaps.

Charlotte di Calypso, Anne Vyalitsyna, and Barbara Palvin Star in New Chanel Campaigns; See Candid Shots From Gwen Stefani’s L’Oreal Ad

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:57:00 -0700

MAKEUP

• Barbara Palvin stars in the new ad campaign for Chanel's Le Blanc makeup line. [Fashion Gone Rogue]

• Here are some new Burberry lipsticks. [Refinery29]

• MAC's Prep+Prime line has a new addition: a beauty balm foundation that includes SPF 35. [Elle]

SKIN

• Here are shots of Gwen Stefani filming a commercial for L'Oreal in Cannes over the weekend. [ONTD]

FRAGRANCE

• Chanel's Chance Eau Fraîche fragrance also has two new ads and commercials. One stars Charlotte di Calypso. [Design Scene]

• And another stars Anne Vyalitsyna. [Fashion Gone Rogue]

PLASTIC SURGERY

• Though all procedures are technically illegal there, cosmetic surgery is on the rise in North Korea. (Some are performed in exchange for a bribe.) [Independent UK]

NAILS

• After tweeting about it last month, the Kardashian sisters have confirmed they are working on a nail polish line in partnership with Nicole by OPI. The line of products will be called Glam. [Stylelist]

HAIR

• Vogue listed the tools and products needed for perfectly groomed eyebrows. [Vogue Daily]

25 Years of Oprah

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:56:00 -0700

Oprah Winfrey has hit many milestones in her career, from being the first African-American celebrity to cover Vogue, to campaigning for President Obama, to starting her own magazine, to launching her very own network. And whether it's a big moment or a big outfit, Oprah always makes a statement. With her last show airing this Wednesday, May 25, here's a look back at some of her bigger statements over the past 25 years.

Princess Beatrice’s Hat Sells for Record-Breaking $130,700

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:54:00 -0700

The Philip Treacy fascinator set a new record for the sale of a designer hat on eBay, going for £81,101 (about $130,767 at current exchange) when it was finally sold this weekend. The identity of its new owner is unknown, but at one point the leading bidder was Australian children's band, the Wiggles. All proceeds will go to the Little Bee Initiative, a charity that Princess Beatrice set up specifically for the hat's auction to raise money for UNICEF and Children in Crisis charities.

Jimmy Choo Bought by Labelux for About $800 Million

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:52:00 -0700

Jimmy Choo won't be going public after all, at least for now: Yesterday, the privately-held luxury group Labelux bought the company from TowerBrook Capital. Sources told the Times that Labelux paid about $800 million, although the actual price was not disclosed. TowerBrook has been shopping around for a buyer for months, at one point entertaining a bid from new J.Crew owner TPG, as well as rumored interest from LVMH and Jimmy Choo, the man himself. Tamara Mellon will remain the brand's chief creative officer and ~~cleavage~~ perfume model; CEO Joshua Schulman will stay on as well. The Austria-based Labelux was founded in 2007 and also owns Bally, Derek Lam, and Zagliani.

The Mugler Dress Worn by Lady Gaga Is Still Available for $20,000 [Updated]

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:24:00 -0700

If you were hoping to buy it, ~~you're way too late now~~ you still can! But there's also plenty of other stuff available on today's Gaga-themed Gilt Groupe sale, including platform shoes, bikini tops, and hot pants from $39. [Gilt]

Update: A rep from Gilt Groupe said that while the dress has been reserved since the sale began, no one's actually bought it: "It keeps popping in and out of people’s carts but no one has pulled the trigger yet."

Daria Werbowy Enjoys Mojitos at 11 A.M., Not Brushing Her Hair for Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:59:00 -0700

T's Sara Moonves on Daria Werbowy: “While the fashion team struggles to get their sea legs on board, Werbowy is a natural, taking hold of the wheel, pulling at this, tugging at that and instructing our trusty crew on how to navigate these preternaturally blue Caribbean waters. She pours drinks (mojitos at 11 a.m. — why not?) and performs karaoke. (Ace of Base is a top choice.) When she talks about sailing, it’s obvious that it grounds her — she even has an anchor tattooed on her index finger. 'Sailing is the closest I can get to nature — it’s adrenaline, fear, a constant challenge and learning experience, an adventure into the unknown,' she says. 'And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks.' With that, Werbowy jumps into the ocean in all her clothes." [T Magazine]

Screening computer can identified Mesothelioma and Early Lung Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:32:00 -0800

Computed tomography scans to screen former asbestos workers can detect both early and late-stage lung cancer and late-stage mesothelioma.

Exposure to asbestos fibers is a known risk factor for lung cancer and the cause of mesothelioma. Although asbestos is still not completely banned in the U.S., it was phased out of American industry to a large degree beginning in the 1970s. However because asbestos-related diseases can take 20 to 40 years to emerge after people have been exposed, former asbestos workers and those exposed to products containing this carcinogen continue to be diagnosed with asbestos caused cancers.

As researchers search for better treatments and even a cure for these diseases, they are also focusing on new diagnostic methods that might identify the cancers earlier. Early diagnosis is particularly crucial with mesothelioma, because many patients survive only one year after they first start to show signs, and symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from those of other lung diseases.

One potential screening method uses low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to evaluate the lungs and their lining (pleura). LDCT can locate plaques in the lungs, which are a sign of asbestos exposure and have been linked to an increased cancer risk.

Currently, there are no recommendations about using LDCT or any other method to screen people who have been exposed to asbestos, and screening isn’t routinely done. “There are currently no methods for the early detection of mesothelioma available,” says lead author Heidi Roberts, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Toronto. “This is why we are doing the research.”

To determine the effectiveness of LDCT as a screening tool for asbestos-related lung cancers, Dr. Roberts and her colleagues recruited 516 people (most of them men) who had been exposed to asbestos at least 20 years before, or who had known plaques. Participants were given LDCT scans of the chest. Patients who had abnormal scans were given follow-up tests. Those with normal test results were invited to have an annual LDCT scan.

Of the 516 participants, 357 had evidence of plaques. Based on the results of the first scan and annual scans, six of the patients were diagnosed with lung cancers and four were diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Although LDCT was able to detect advanced mesothelioma, as well as early- and late-stage lung cancers, it was not able to diagnose early mesothelioma. The study authors say they need to continue screening patients to help them get a better idea of what early mesothelioma looks like. Also, they say adding biomarkers (substances in the blood that indicate the presence of cancer) to the screening process may provide greater sensitivity to help diagnose those at very high risk for mesothelioma.

Even as techniques are fine-tuned, screening is just one step of a three-tiered effort to combat these cancers, according to Dr. Roberts. “The second step is the parallel development of biomarkers, and the third step is the parallel development of treatment strategies,” she says. “These have to be developed hand-in-hand in order to make this a useful and meaningful tool.”

And also we much pray to god and hope god give health. Amiin

Is Buying Tax Lien Certificates Still Highly Profitable?

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Fri, 5 Feb 2010 07:26:00 -0800

Is Buying Tax Lien Certificates Still Highly Profitable?: "Is Buying Tax Lien Certificates Still Highly Profitable?

By Joanne Musa, the Tax Lien Lady
I get many e-mails from subscribers to my e-course and newsletter about tax lien investing. What most people want to know is; “Is tax lien investing still profitable, is it something that I can do,” and “how do I get started.” In this article I’d like to address the first question, “Is tax lien investing still profitable?”

It’s true that it’s getting tougher to buy profitable tax lien certificates. Tax lien investing is not the secret of the wealthy any more. This is largely due to supply and demand. There are less tax liens available and more buyers in the market. At some of the tax sales that I have attended in New Jersey there are more bidders than there are liens for sale.

There are fewer liens available for two reasons. First, it is very easy to get a low interest loan these days. Couple that with the increase in the value of real estate in the last 5 years and that gives property owners the incentive and the means to pay their taxes, even if they have to get a loan. With fewer liens available and more investors in the market, tax lien certificates are selling at lower interest rates and/or higher premiums depending on the state. In most states either the interest rate is bid down or the premium is bid up while the interest rate remains constant. New Jersey is rare in that first the interest rate is bid down and then the premium is bid up. Hence in New Jersey tax lien investing is not the highly profitable investment it once was.

Judging from the premiums that institutional and private investors have been paying for tax lien certificates in the last couple of years, I would venture to say that they are seeing an actual return on their investment of 4% or less. This is not very good considering you can probably find a bank right now that will give you 4% on a one year CD. Perhaps as interest rates go up over the next year or two, institutional buyers will get smarter and less desperate for tax lien certificates and stop paying too much for them. In the mean time the best way to find out if tax lien investing is still highly profitable in your state is to attend a couple of tax sales and take note of who is buying and what interest rate liens are bid down to or how much premium is being paid for them. Be sure that you do this before you go out and buy somebody’s high priced program on how to make a lot of money with tax lien investing.

Joanne Musa works with investors who want to reap the rewards of tax lien and tax deed investing. She is the author of the Tax Lien Lady’s E-books, Tax Lien Investing Secrets and Tax Lien Lady’s State Guide to Tax Lien and Tax Deed Investing. For more about tax lien investing e-mail MoreTips@taxlienconsulting.com.

Investment Strategy: The Investor's Creed

noreply@blogger.com (BlogBlogger) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:25:00 -0800

Investment Strategy: The Investor's Creed: "Fascinating, isn't it, this stock market of ours, with its unpredictability, promise, and unscripted daily drama! But individual investors are even more interesting. We've become the product of a media driven culture that must have reasons, predictability, blame, scapegoats, and even that four-letter word, certainty. We are a culture of investors where hindsight is rapidly replacing the reality-based foresight that once was flowing in our now real-time veins... just like downhill racing, grouse hunting, and Super Bowls.

The Stock Market is a dynamic place where investors can consistently make reasonable returns on their capital if they comply with the basic principles of the endeavor AND if they don't measure their progress too frequently with irrelevant measuring devices. The classic investment strategy is so simple and so trite that most investors dismiss it routinely and move on in their search for the holy investment grail(s): a stock market that only rises and a bond market capable of paying higher interest rates at stable or higher prices! Just not going to happen…

This is mythology, not investing. Investors who grasp the realities of these wonderful marketplaces recognize the opportunities and embrace them with an understanding that goes beyond the media hype and side show performance enhancement barkers. Simply put, when investment grade securities rise in price [As they are now, with the DJIA finally putting together a successful attack on the 11,000 barrier], Take Your Profits, because that's the purpose of investing in the stock market! On the flip side (and there has always been a flip side, more commonly dreaded as a 'correction'), replenish your portfolio inventory with investment grade securities. Yes, even some that you may have just sold days or weeks ago during the rally. This is much more than an oversimplification; it is a long-term (a year or two is not long term.) strategy that succeeds... cycle, after cycle, after cycle. Sounds an awful lot like Buy Low/Sell High doesn't it? Obviously, Wall Street can't let you know that it is quite so simple!

[Note that Dow Jones 11,000 was last breached during the infancy of this century, and that the last All Time High in this much too widely followed average occurred late in 1999. When the DJIA banner is repositioned on that historical peak of 11,700 or so, it will represent no less than six years of zero growth in this, the most respected, of all Market Indicators! Would the media strip the gold medal from this Stock Market Icon if it knew that during these same years: (1) There have been significantly more stocks rising in price on a daily basis than moving lower. In fact, more than two-thirds of the last 68 months have been positive. (2) Since April 2000, there have been 120 more positive days in NYSE issue breadth than negative days. (3) 250% more NYSE stocks established new high price levels than new lows. (4) We are working on our sixth consecutive year of positive issue breadth!]

So understand that your portfolio statement values will rise and fall throughout time, and rather than rejoice or cry, you should be taking actions that will enhance your 'Working Capital' and the ability of your portfolio to accomplish your long term goals and objectives. Through the simple application of a few easy to memorize rules, you can plot a course to an investment portfolio that regularly achieves higher highs and (much more importantly), higher lows! Left to its own devices, like the DJIA for example, an unmanaged portfolio is likely to have long periods of unproductive sideways motion. You can ill afford to travel six years at a break even pace, and it is foolish, even irresponsible, to expect any unmanaged or passively directed approach to be in sync with your personal financial needs.

Five simple concepts of Asset Allocation, Investment Strategy, and Psychology are summed up quite nicely in what I call 'The Investor's Creed':

(1) My intention is to be fully invested in accordance with my planned equity/fixed income asset allocation. (2) On the other hand, every security I own is for sale, and every security I own generates some form of cash flow that cannot be reinvested immediately. (3) I am happy when my cash position is nearly 0% because all of my money is then working as hard as it possibly can to meet my objectives. (4) But, I am ecstatic when my cash position approaches 100% because that means I’ve sold everything at a profit, and that I am in a position to (5) take advantage of any new investment opportunities (that fit my guidelines) as soon as I become aware of them.

If you are managing your portfolio properly, your cash position has been rising lately, as you take profits on the securities you purchased when prices were falling just a few months ago… and (this is a big and) you could well be chock full of cash well before the market blows the whistle on its advance! Yes, if you are going about the investment process properly, you will be swimming in cash at about the same time Wall Street discovers the rally and starts encouraging people to weight their portfolios more heavily into stocks; the number of IPOs coming to market starts to rise exponentially; morning drive radio DJ's start to laugh about their stock market successes; and all of your friends start to talk about their new investment guru or the 30% gains in their growth Mutual Funds. What are you doing in cash!

This is what I call 'smart' cash, because it represents realized profits, interest, and dividends that are just catching a breather on the bench after a scoring drive. As the gains compound at money market rates, the disciplined coach looks for sure signs of investor greed in the market place: fixed income prices fall as speculators abandon their long term goals and reach for the new investment stars that are sure to propel equity prices ever higher, boring investment grade equities fall in price as well because it now clear [for the scadieighth (sic) time] that the market will never fall again… particularly NASDAQ, which could double and still not be where it was six years ago. And the beat goes on, cycle after cycle, generation after generation. What do you think; will today's coaches be any smarter than those of the late nineties? Have they learned that it is the very strength of a rising market that proves to be its greatest weakness!