Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:11:32 GMT

Not Yet Worn

It seems I''ve always known of zines, but for some reason I''ve never even set eyes on one before. I should be the target customer for a zine, right? I mean, I love reading everything from poems to short stories to philosophical articles, I take delight in beautiful artwork, I don''t have a lot of money to drop, and I find the idea of making one''s own mini magazine to be empowering.

I''d say it''s about time for me to get in on the zine scene.

Ack, sorry for the rhyme. I couldn''t resist.

I have a particular zine in mind:

enticed me first with its scintillating artwork.



When I managed to get my hands, which were furiously scrabbling for my credit card, under control, I read a little bit about the Worn. To give you an idea of the content, the most recent issue includes "Toile de Jouy textile, Elsa Sciaparelli, Countess de Castiglione, feminisim and fashion, origami shirt instructions, some great illustrators."

"Worn plays a unique role by bringing a political, environmental, historical and cultural context to fashion. Pushing boundaries of collaboration and authorship with fashion magazine tropes like the photo story, Worn expands traditional relationships between models, designers, writers, photographers and illustrators. By exploring where art and fashion overlap, connecting with Fashion scholars and artists, and paying attention to how what is worn gets made, interpreted, transformed, disseminated and copied, Worn opens new avenues in art theory. "

"Worn issues appear twice a year, in fall and spring, but our content is not time driven. We don’t discuss the newest collections or the latest trends, but perfur to take an more encompassing look at the whole of fashion. Consequently, our subject matter does not stale date and back issues will be as interesting in five years as they are today."

Sounds glorious, right? I love the concept!

I consider it a miracle that I have been able to hold off on buying an issue while I write this post. It won''t be long until I crack.

To learn more about Worn, purchase the zine, or even write for it, head here. Please note that all quotes and pictures from this post originated from the Worn website.

Do you read or contribute to zines? What are your favorites? I''d love some recommendations! Posted by: Kori      Read more     Source

April 8, 2008, 9:59 PM CT

'Get real' by talking about the competition

Innovators trying to establish new markets would be wise to try to attract attention by publicizing not only themselves, but also the competition, as per a new sociological study by a faculty member at the University of Southern Californias (USC) Marshall School of Business.

Mark Thomas Kennedy, assistant professor of Management and Organizations at USC, used breakthrough research methods to reduce tens of thousands of pages of media coverage into mental maps of technology market competitors.

His conclusion challenges the conventional wisdom that has marketers focusing exclusively on what makes their product unique. His research shows that, when trying to create new markets, firms that dare to publicly mention their competitors in their public positioning actually do better for it.

From business schools and marketing consultants, entrepreneurs are mostly taught that talking about the competition is a dangerous no-no, says Kennedy. But in the early stages of new markets, talking just about yourself is even more dangerous. In fact, it actually hurts innovators chances of success by increasing the odds theyll be overlooked or ignored as lone voices. We know that there is strength in numbers, but what we havent known is how firms get counted in the media......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:25:52 GMT

Brits refuse to give up their holidays

© maveric2003

It would appear that the British have no intention of giving up their holidays despite inflation busting increases in the price of food, fuel and mortgage costs eating up a higher proportion of household budgets. In fact, defying logic, there's been a 40% increase in holiday bookings during the first three months of 2008, compared to the 2007 figures.

Why is this? Are people so stressed that they feel they couldn't cope without a holiday to look forward too? Have several holiday and short breaks a year become an integral way of life? Maybe they will choose a cheaper holiday e.g. stay at a 3 star hotel instead of a 4 star or a short haul instead of a long haul destination.

Is the rising cost of living affecting your travel plans this year? Personally, I've found the fall in the value of the pound against the euro is pushing up my spending in mainland Europe by more than 10%. This is having more influence on my travel plans than the rising cost of living in the UK. Posted by: Karen Bryan      Read more     Source

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:42:07 GMT

Wine Varietals: Viognier

Viognier, pronounced Vee-on-Yay, is a lesser known white wine grape, originally cultivated in France's Rhone Valley (likely imported there by the ancient Greeks or Romans). Almost extinct by the 1960s, this difficult-to-grow, but delightful-to-drink wine has made a resurgeance in France and lately in California, Australia, and South Africa.

Viognier is the main grape in the French appellation, Condrieu. It is also found in France and abroad labeled simply as Viognier. It is characterized by a deep, yellow color; a high alcohol content; and pronounced peach, apricot, and mango tones. Viognier is a perfect accompaniment to spicy foods, such as Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines. It also goes well with fish, pork, or chicken that is served with a fruit sauce. Alone, a glass of Viognier is a nice beverage to enjoy as an aperitif on a hot summer's day. Posted by: Sandy Mitchell      Read more     Source

April 3, 2008, 8:16 PM CT

Traders Who Sell Short Stocks Are Well-Informed

The term "short selling" refers to the practice of selling shares the seller does not own, in the hope of repurchasing them later at a lower price. A new study in The Journal of Finance reveals that there is a large occurrence of shorting activity and that short sellers are highly informed about the relative value of stocks.

Led by Ekkehart Boehmer of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, Charles M. Jones of the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University, and Xiaoyan Zhang, of the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, scientists used information from the New York Stock Exchange to examine the incidence and information content of short sales. Used to measure shorting flow, the sample consisted of all NYSE system order data records correlation to short sales from January 2000 to April 2004.

The study shows that there is a surprisingly large amount of shorting activity across both large and small NYSE stocks. During the sample period, shorting accounted for at least 12.9 % of trading volume, suggesting that shorting constraints are easily surmounted and not widespread.

The study also illustrates the extent to which short sellers are able to identify overvalued stocks and profit by anticipating price declines in these stocks. Short sellers are extremely well-informed, with institutional traders being the most informed......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

April 3, 2008, 8:07 PM CT

Proximity To A Flood Zone Lowers Property Values

A study appearing in the March 2008 issue of The Journal of Risk and Insurance reveals that proximity to a flood zone lowers property values.

By law, a property is considered in a "flood zone" if any part of the structure falls within a floodplain, an area that is adjacent to a stream or river that experiences periodic flooding. It has been acknowledged that the level of risk linked to a property may be linked to natural hazards.

Scientists examined flood hazards in the coastal housing market of Carteret County, North Carolina. Carteret County has substantial access to water including the Atlantic Ocean, the Pamlico Sound, waterways, lagoons, rivers, streams, creeks, and wetlands.

Utilizing Geographic Information System data on National Flood Insurance Program flood zones and residential property sales in Carteret County from 2000 to 2004, scientists examined the effects of flood hazards on coastal property values.

The findings indicate that the price of a residential property located within a floodplain is significantly lower than an otherwise similar house located outside the flood zone. On average, location within a floodplain lowers estimated sales value $11, 600, representing a 7.3 percent reduction of the average house sales price......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:46:09 GMT

Add All Your Favorite Videos To One Place

You love to watch videos, I know you do, that's why you're going to love WeShow. They're not just another YouTube, they're more than that. They let you save all your favorite videos to your own WeShow profile. This lets you share all your favorite videos with all your friends.



The videos shown on WeShow are pulled in from other sites like YouTube and Yahoo Video just for your viewing. Then you browse through them and choose your favorites and add them to your profile. Then your friends can come and see what videos you think are the best.

Create video clubs and invite your friends to add videos they find on a certain subject. Add Web apps and other widgets to your profile page too. Design your WeShow profile page the way you want it. Best of all, you earn ad revenue whenever someone clicks on an ad on one of your WeShow pages. Posted by: Linda Roeder      Read more     Source

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:21:36 GMT

George Clooney And Renee Zellweger On Tour

George Clooney and Renee Zellweger are a pair of talented actors who are paired together on the Clooney produced movie "Leatherheads"..

This duo, both of whom are known for having a good sense of humor, are traveling around the country promoting the film primarily in the South, and they and the fans are having a great time at these events.

Read the story about the George Clooney - Renee Zellweger promotional tour and learn about some of Clooney's family and early life.

Image Source:www.clooneystudio.com Posted by: jim      Read more     Source

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 07:32:30 GMT

You, the Living in the UK.

"''Painterly'' is an overused adjective for films, but here''s one where it makes sense," writes Peter Bradshaw in the Guardian. "I don''t know of any filmmaker whose work gives the viewer so much incentive and indeed leisure to examine the background of a shot..... You, the Living is a very funny film - though in the darkest possible way. It is a silent comedy, but with words."

"To call it deadpan is barely to hint at [Roy] Andersson''s style, which he mostly applies to the world of commercials (watch them on YouTube, they''re hilarious)," writes Dave Calhoun in Time Out. "But just when you think the only answer to Andersson''s view of the world - alcoholic couples; depressed psychiatrists; a girl searching for a disappeared rock star who shows her a modicum of affection - is to throw yourself under one of Stockholm''s trams, he unleashes a set-piece that has you marvelling at its choreography or wondering at the sheer ridiculousness of life."

Updated through 3/30. Posted by: dwhudson      Read more     Source

March 21, 2008, 4:17 PM CT

What Exactly Rev. Jeremiah Wright say in 9-11 sermon

The media played over and over again the video clips of Jeremiah Wright giving sermons the Sunday after the 9-11 attacks. This has caused an uproar across America and Senator Obama had to come forward and explain these comments.

Jeremiah Wright's comments have to be heard in the right context. One should hear what he told before and after those controversial comments. Listen to the full sermon at this website.

Listen to Jeremiah Wright's 9/11 sermon........ Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source