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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Ralph Nader's ONLY THE SUPER RICH CAN SAVE US!
1st NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
B&N
Ralph Nader begins Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us! with an author's note that attempts to clarify any genre confusion the reader might have. "This book is not a novel," he announces. "Nor is it nonfiction. In the literary world, it might be described as a 'practical utopia.' " It's a smart clarification to offer because, by the aesthetic criteria of either of those two more common forms, it is a colossal, Hindenburgian disaster.
The basic plot goes like this. Moved by pity to travel to New Orleans in the wake of Katrina to oversee relief efforts, Warren Buffett encounters one desperately poor and grateful recipient of his charity who announces, "Only the super-rich can save us." This gets Buffett thinking, and he proceeds to convene a top secret meeting in a Maui resort. There he gathers an eclectic group of the super-rich: Paul Newman, George Soros, Bill Gates Sr., Ted Turner, Barry Diller, Peter Lewis (owner of Progressive Insurance), and, somewhat randomly, Yoko Ono, among others, to create a "people's revolt of the rich."
The group begins fomenting a progressive reformist movement along dozens of tracks: creating an alternative to the reactionary Chamber of Commerce; putting pressure on Wal-Mart to allow its workers to unionize (partly by buying up local competitors and subsidizing them to undercut Wal-Mart's prices); founding a Clean Elections Party to challenge congressional incumbents; and galvanizing public opinion with organized lunch demonstrations and publicity stunts like running corporations for public office and proposing the pledge of alliance be amended so that it ends, "With liberty and justice for some." Oh yeah: and Warren Beatty runs for governor of California. The ultimate aim is to pass a slate of transformational reform legislation through congress, ("The Agenda") that will clean up politics, humanize the economy and usher in a new more democratic progressive era. I won't spoil the ending by telling you if they succeed.
B&N
Ralph Nader begins Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us! with an author's note that attempts to clarify any genre confusion the reader might have. "This book is not a novel," he announces. "Nor is it nonfiction. In the literary world, it might be described as a 'practical utopia.' " It's a smart clarification to offer because, by the aesthetic criteria of either of those two more common forms, it is a colossal, Hindenburgian disaster.
The basic plot goes like this. Moved by pity to travel to New Orleans in the wake of Katrina to oversee relief efforts, Warren Buffett encounters one desperately poor and grateful recipient of his charity who announces, "Only the super-rich can save us." This gets Buffett thinking, and he proceeds to convene a top secret meeting in a Maui resort. There he gathers an eclectic group of the super-rich: Paul Newman, George Soros, Bill Gates Sr., Ted Turner, Barry Diller, Peter Lewis (owner of Progressive Insurance), and, somewhat randomly, Yoko Ono, among others, to create a "people's revolt of the rich."
The group begins fomenting a progressive reformist movement along dozens of tracks: creating an alternative to the reactionary Chamber of Commerce; putting pressure on Wal-Mart to allow its workers to unionize (partly by buying up local competitors and subsidizing them to undercut Wal-Mart's prices); founding a Clean Elections Party to challenge congressional incumbents; and galvanizing public opinion with organized lunch demonstrations and publicity stunts like running corporations for public office and proposing the pledge of alliance be amended so that it ends, "With liberty and justice for some." Oh yeah: and Warren Beatty runs for governor of California. The ultimate aim is to pass a slate of transformational reform legislation through congress, ("The Agenda") that will clean up politics, humanize the economy and usher in a new more democratic progressive era. I won't spoil the ending by telling you if they succeed.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
New York's New Taxi Design
2nd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From NY Times by Micheal M. Grynbaum
An icon of the urban landscape, the humble yellow cab is set to undergo an unprecedented face-lift — perhaps the biggest change to the city’s street aesthetic since licensed cabs were required to be painted yellow in 1970.
The Bloomberg administration on Monday unveiled three finalists in its competition to replace the current taxis, a mishmash of sedans, minivans and hybrid sport utility vehicles, with a single City Hall-approved model.
By 2014, when the first new vehicles are expected to appear, the city’s taxis will bear more resemblance to the oblong, obsolete Checker cab than the fleet’s current stalwart, the Ford Crown Victoria, which is to be discontinued next year.
All three competing designs, submitted by Ford, Nissan and the Turkish manufacturer Karsan, have the bulky appearance of a minivan. Gone is the cramped legroom of a hybrid car: these interiors feature generously sized backseats and, in Karsan’s case, a rear-facing drop seat to encourage conversation among passengers (that, or motion sickness).
The winner of the contest will receive the exclusive right to supply the cabs for the city’s fleet of just over 13,000 taxis for at least a decade. Taxi officials said the contract could have an overall potential value of $1 billion.
From NY Times by Micheal M. Grynbaum
An icon of the urban landscape, the humble yellow cab is set to undergo an unprecedented face-lift — perhaps the biggest change to the city’s street aesthetic since licensed cabs were required to be painted yellow in 1970.
The Bloomberg administration on Monday unveiled three finalists in its competition to replace the current taxis, a mishmash of sedans, minivans and hybrid sport utility vehicles, with a single City Hall-approved model.
By 2014, when the first new vehicles are expected to appear, the city’s taxis will bear more resemblance to the oblong, obsolete Checker cab than the fleet’s current stalwart, the Ford Crown Victoria, which is to be discontinued next year.
All three competing designs, submitted by Ford, Nissan and the Turkish manufacturer Karsan, have the bulky appearance of a minivan. Gone is the cramped legroom of a hybrid car: these interiors feature generously sized backseats and, in Karsan’s case, a rear-facing drop seat to encourage conversation among passengers (that, or motion sickness).
The winner of the contest will receive the exclusive right to supply the cabs for the city’s fleet of just over 13,000 taxis for at least a decade. Taxi officials said the contract could have an overall potential value of $1 billion.
Nissan’s Entry
Ford's Entry
The entry of Karsan, a Turkish company.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Charles LeDray Show @ the Whitney
2nd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Whitney Museum of American Art
Over the past twenty years, New York-based sculptor Charles LeDray (b. 1960, Seattle) has created a highly distinctive and powerful body of work using such materials as sewn cloth, carved human bone, and glazed ceramics. This major survey, which includes works from the 1980s to the present, celebrates both the artist’s virtuosity with materials and his uncanny manipulation of scale to create seemingly familiar objects that engage the collective memory. His techniques of sewing, carving bone, and throwing clay pots find precedents in the traditions of folk art and visionary art, yet rise to a level of unprecedented virtuosity and artistic invention. The exhibition is curated by Randi Hopkins for the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. Its Whitney installation will be overseen by curator Carter Foster.
November 18, 2010–February 13, 2011
Photo: Tom Powel
From Whitney Museum of American Art
Over the past twenty years, New York-based sculptor Charles LeDray (b. 1960, Seattle) has created a highly distinctive and powerful body of work using such materials as sewn cloth, carved human bone, and glazed ceramics. This major survey, which includes works from the 1980s to the present, celebrates both the artist’s virtuosity with materials and his uncanny manipulation of scale to create seemingly familiar objects that engage the collective memory. His techniques of sewing, carving bone, and throwing clay pots find precedents in the traditions of folk art and visionary art, yet rise to a level of unprecedented virtuosity and artistic invention. The exhibition is curated by Randi Hopkins for the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. Its Whitney installation will be overseen by curator Carter Foster.
November 18, 2010–February 13, 2011
Photo: Tom Powel
Monday, November 22, 2010
44% of Congress Are Millionaires
1st NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From CBSNEWS Posted by Brian Montopoli
According to a report released this week by the Center for Responsive Politics, there are 237 millionaires serving in Congress, according to 2008 figures.
While about one percent of Americans are millionaires, 44 percent of those serving in Congress can claim as much.
The richest member of Congress is Republican California Rep. Darrell Issa, whose net worth is estimated to be in excess of $250 million. He's followed by four Democrats: California's Jane Harman (approx. $245 million), Wisconsin's Herb Kohl (approx. $215 million), Virginia's Mark Warner (approx. $210 million) and Massachusetts' John Kerry (approx. $209 million).
Among the top 25 wealthiest legislators – which includes boldface names Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein and Olympia Snowe – there are 14 Democrats and 11 Republicans, suggesting no clear wealth divisions between party. In the executive branch, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the second wealthiest, with a net worth of about $21 million; she trails only Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary L. Schapiro. The least wealthy administration figure is Vice President Joe Biden, whose net worth is estimated at just $27,012. (President Obama comes in at $3,670,505.)
According to a report released this week by the Center for Responsive Politics, there are 237 millionaires serving in Congress, according to 2008 figures.
While about one percent of Americans are millionaires, 44 percent of those serving in Congress can claim as much.
The richest member of Congress is Republican California Rep. Darrell Issa, whose net worth is estimated to be in excess of $250 million. He's followed by four Democrats: California's Jane Harman (approx. $245 million), Wisconsin's Herb Kohl (approx. $215 million), Virginia's Mark Warner (approx. $210 million) and Massachusetts' John Kerry (approx. $209 million).
Among the top 25 wealthiest legislators – which includes boldface names Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein and Olympia Snowe – there are 14 Democrats and 11 Republicans, suggesting no clear wealth divisions between party. In the executive branch, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the second wealthiest, with a net worth of about $21 million; she trails only Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary L. Schapiro. The least wealthy administration figure is Vice President Joe Biden, whose net worth is estimated at just $27,012. (President Obama comes in at $3,670,505.)
Friday, November 19, 2010
Jerry Seinfeld Wants to be in The Approval Matrix
4th NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From New York Magazine by Alyssa Shelasky
Jerry Seinfeld revealed himself as an avid fan of New York's weekly Approval Matrix last night when we spoke to him at the Broadway opening of Colin Quinn's Long Story Short, which Seinfeld directs. Well, maybe not too avid.
"I want to be on that grid thing, please," he said, politely. "I want to be low-brow predictable. There's a section for that, right? [Ed: Nope!] Isn't there an appalling section too? [Ed: Getting warmer.] I'd be fine there. I just want to be on it. It's a big, snotty, snotty board. I love it."
Actually, Seinfeld has already appeared in the Matrix five times, often in the brilliant section. We hope that's okay.
From New York Magazine by Alyssa Shelasky
Jerry Seinfeld revealed himself as an avid fan of New York's weekly Approval Matrix last night when we spoke to him at the Broadway opening of Colin Quinn's Long Story Short, which Seinfeld directs. Well, maybe not too avid.
"I want to be on that grid thing, please," he said, politely. "I want to be low-brow predictable. There's a section for that, right? [Ed: Nope!] Isn't there an appalling section too? [Ed: Getting warmer.] I'd be fine there. I just want to be on it. It's a big, snotty, snotty board. I love it."
Actually, Seinfeld has already appeared in the Matrix five times, often in the brilliant section. We hope that's okay.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sam Sifton Uses the Term Broheim in Review of Lavo
3rd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From New York Times by Sam Shifton
"THE imaginary mailbag this week spilled forth an imaginary request from an imaginary jock. I endeavored to answer him.
Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I’m a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.
Me and my team, we’re big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There’s one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don’t know. We’ve been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?
From New York Times by Sam Shifton
"THE imaginary mailbag this week spilled forth an imaginary request from an imaginary jock. I endeavored to answer him.
Q. I need you to recommend a restaurant. I’m a 35-year-old professional in Manhattan, and I am looking for a place where I can take my boys from the office to meet this smoking-hot girl I hooked up with at Lily Pond in the Hamptons this summer.
Me and my team, we’re big into that whole meatpacking district thing. We like steak, veal. Maybe Italian food? There’s one dude from Mexico City who eats only fish, which is weird. Maybe this girl would eat fish, too. I don’t know. We’ve been to something like 10 restaurants now, and I think her favorite foods are truffle fries and ketchup. But she drinks Champagne. So maybe bottle service?
Speaking of, this place has to be exclusive. I need a little exclusivity to offset the fact that I’m taking a girl to dinner with six dudes who do math for a living, and not six girls who look just like her. Usually, she likes to eat in a room with women who look like beautiful giraffes and dudes tall enough to look down on them.
Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I’m a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!
Finally, if there’s a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I’m done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?
A. Broheim, let me set you up! Lavo is a large and almost luxurious new restaurant on East 58th Street, set above a nightclub, also called Lavo. It sits across the street from another nightclub owned by the same consortium, Tao. (You know Tao, Buddhaman. It’s where Kim Kardashian had her 30th birthday party.) The menu is Italian by way of a steakhouse, and if the food isn’t totally awesome, the portions are huge. You’ll love it."
Which is, by the way, a message I totally endorse: I’m a former rugby back, 6-foot-3, 220!
Finally, if there’s a guy in the restroom who could hand me a towel after I’m done doing my business in there and washing my hands, maybe give me a mint or something? I would be into that. Old school! I would tip that guy $5 just for being there, you know?
A. Broheim, let me set you up! Lavo is a large and almost luxurious new restaurant on East 58th Street, set above a nightclub, also called Lavo. It sits across the street from another nightclub owned by the same consortium, Tao. (You know Tao, Buddhaman. It’s where Kim Kardashian had her 30th birthday party.) The menu is Italian by way of a steakhouse, and if the food isn’t totally awesome, the portions are huge. You’ll love it."
According to Wikibin, broheim literally translates to mean "Bro Home", however it has taken on the connotation of a term of endearment, and effectively means "Friend" or "My Brother" in local context.
Images by
Daniel Krieger for The New York Times
THE TRIP - Steve Coogan And Rob Brydon Impersonate Michael Caine
3rd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From BBC
Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan have become comedy partners in a new BBC Two show called The Trip.
Steve Coogan plays a food critic who is ditched by his girlfriend and forced to take his friend Rob on a restaurant road journey.
From BBC
Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan have become comedy partners in a new BBC Two show called The Trip.
Steve Coogan plays a food critic who is ditched by his girlfriend and forced to take his friend Rob on a restaurant road journey.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Site Asks, WTF Has Obama Done So Far?
2nd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From MSNBC by Sarah Muller
The Democrats’ blah performance in the midterm election has the whole Party reflecting on ways to win back voters. A brand new website with an attention-grabbing name focuses on the positive. It launched right around the election, and has been an immediate web sensation. Creators Richard Boenigk, Will Carlough and Shavanna Miller will join Lawrence tonight to talk about whatthef%*$hasobamadonesofar.com.
It’s simple and straight-forward. Users just click through various screens. Each one lists something major Obama has accomplished. On the same page, buttons read things like “I could do that in my sleep,” “Big deal. What else?” or “I’m unimpressed.” It goes on and on, listing factoid after factoid, serving as a reminder of how much has gotten done, but perhaps gone unnoticed alongside the economic crisis.
The Dems could have used buzz like this prior to the election. But, better late than never. Check out the screengrabs of the more PG sister site, whattheheckhasobamadonesofar.com.
From MSNBC by Sarah Muller
The Democrats’ blah performance in the midterm election has the whole Party reflecting on ways to win back voters. A brand new website with an attention-grabbing name focuses on the positive. It launched right around the election, and has been an immediate web sensation. Creators Richard Boenigk, Will Carlough and Shavanna Miller will join Lawrence tonight to talk about whatthef%*$hasobamadonesofar.com.
It’s simple and straight-forward. Users just click through various screens. Each one lists something major Obama has accomplished. On the same page, buttons read things like “I could do that in my sleep,” “Big deal. What else?” or “I’m unimpressed.” It goes on and on, listing factoid after factoid, serving as a reminder of how much has gotten done, but perhaps gone unnoticed alongside the economic crisis.
The Dems could have used buzz like this prior to the election. But, better late than never. Check out the screengrabs of the more PG sister site, whattheheckhasobamadonesofar.com.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Giant Bubbles Found In Space
2nd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Discovery by Irene Klots
THE GITS
Astronomers discover new type of object -- huge bubbles of gamma rays stemming from the heart of the galaxy.
The two bubbles could have been inflated by a past eruption from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
The bubbles span 50,000 light-years across the sky.
An ancient eruption of a supermassive black hole in the Milky Way may have inflated two huge bubbles of gamma rays which were just now discovered and are considered a new type of astronomical object.
"It shows, once again, that the universe is full of surprises," said Jon Morse, director of astrophysics at NASA headquarters.
Combined, the bubbles, which are aligned at the center of the Milky Way, span a vast distance of about 50,000 light-years. The structures are very distinct, with defined edges, and have as much energy in them as 100,000 supernova.
They were found with NASA's Fermi Gamma-Ray Telescope, which surveys the sky every three hours for the highest-energy light.
Among the 1,500 sources of gamma rays Fermi has mapped so far, nothing resembles the bubble-shaped structures, which stretch across more than half of the visible sky, from the constellation Virgo to the constellation Grus.
Two newly discovered gamma-ray bubbles extend 25,000 light-years, or roughly one-fourth the Milky Way's diameter, above and below the plane of the galaxy, as shown in this illustration. Click to enlarge this image. NASA-Goddard
From Discovery by Irene Klots
THE GITS
Astronomers discover new type of object -- huge bubbles of gamma rays stemming from the heart of the galaxy.
The two bubbles could have been inflated by a past eruption from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
The bubbles span 50,000 light-years across the sky.
An ancient eruption of a supermassive black hole in the Milky Way may have inflated two huge bubbles of gamma rays which were just now discovered and are considered a new type of astronomical object.
"It shows, once again, that the universe is full of surprises," said Jon Morse, director of astrophysics at NASA headquarters.
Combined, the bubbles, which are aligned at the center of the Milky Way, span a vast distance of about 50,000 light-years. The structures are very distinct, with defined edges, and have as much energy in them as 100,000 supernova.
They were found with NASA's Fermi Gamma-Ray Telescope, which surveys the sky every three hours for the highest-energy light.
Among the 1,500 sources of gamma rays Fermi has mapped so far, nothing resembles the bubble-shaped structures, which stretch across more than half of the visible sky, from the constellation Virgo to the constellation Grus.
Monday, November 15, 2010
New Yorkers Know It All Except The Speed Limit
1st NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From NYC
DOT has created a series of television and outdoor ads to call attention to the fact the speed limit in New York City is 30 mph and that it is no arbitrary number. It is set at that level largely because a pedestrian struck at 40 mph is 3.5 times more likely to be killed than one struck at 30 mph. The ads are below, and more background follows.
From NYC
DOT has created a series of television and outdoor ads to call attention to the fact the speed limit in New York City is 30 mph and that it is no arbitrary number. It is set at that level largely because a pedestrian struck at 40 mph is 3.5 times more likely to be killed than one struck at 30 mph. The ads are below, and more background follows.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Project Runway Season Finale Winner Is Gretchen Jones
4th NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From People by Kate Hogan
Although two of the four judges argued against her collection on Thursday's heated season finale of Project Runway, winner Gretchen Jones isn't offended.
"At that point, I was just pretty elated that I even got to present on national TV," she tells PEOPLE. "I feel proud that Michael Kors and Nina Garcia fought for me and could see my potential. They're both huge industry leaders, and it means a lot to me."
Kors and Garcia went head-to-head with host Heidi Klum and guest judge Jessica Simpson, both of whom fought hard for fan favorite Mondo Guerra, who presented a youthful, colorful runway show. "His collection was really true to Mondo," Jones says. "It really showed his potential as a designer, and I'm proud of him for staying true to himself, because that is more important than anything else. He's going to go far."
Jones, an early favorite, was somewhat vilified as the season went on, and at times, saw her fellow designers turn against her. "I knew there was a risk . . . you can be portrayed however the producers care to do it. It's TV – we all need an antagonist, an underdog, in order to fulfill our desire to watch."
And even though the results of one group challenge prompted normally mellow mentor Tim Gunn to call Jones a "bully," she takes the bad press in stride. "It hurt my feelings, but in a way it helped me to have more exposure, because I was talked about, whether you liked me or not," she says. "I know in my heart I'm a good person."
With the Season 8 win under her stylish belt, Jones plans to move to New York City soon to "move forward with the opportunity that will hopefully present itself," she says. "I'd love to get a mentorship with someone the likes of Michael Kors, someone that can guide me into being the designer I want to be."
The move will also allow her to leave a tough recent past behind, one that included an empty bank account and broken relationship.
"I've really embraced this transitional time. Having a true 'phoenix rising from the ashes' moment is not something many people get," she says. "I don't have anything holding me back, and in actuality, that is a luxury. It'll make me a brighter version of myself, and that will translate into my future designs."
From People by Kate Hogan
Although two of the four judges argued against her collection on Thursday's heated season finale of Project Runway, winner Gretchen Jones isn't offended.
"At that point, I was just pretty elated that I even got to present on national TV," she tells PEOPLE. "I feel proud that Michael Kors and Nina Garcia fought for me and could see my potential. They're both huge industry leaders, and it means a lot to me."
Kors and Garcia went head-to-head with host Heidi Klum and guest judge Jessica Simpson, both of whom fought hard for fan favorite Mondo Guerra, who presented a youthful, colorful runway show. "His collection was really true to Mondo," Jones says. "It really showed his potential as a designer, and I'm proud of him for staying true to himself, because that is more important than anything else. He's going to go far."
Jones, an early favorite, was somewhat vilified as the season went on, and at times, saw her fellow designers turn against her. "I knew there was a risk . . . you can be portrayed however the producers care to do it. It's TV – we all need an antagonist, an underdog, in order to fulfill our desire to watch."
And even though the results of one group challenge prompted normally mellow mentor Tim Gunn to call Jones a "bully," she takes the bad press in stride. "It hurt my feelings, but in a way it helped me to have more exposure, because I was talked about, whether you liked me or not," she says. "I know in my heart I'm a good person."
With the Season 8 win under her stylish belt, Jones plans to move to New York City soon to "move forward with the opportunity that will hopefully present itself," she says. "I'd love to get a mentorship with someone the likes of Michael Kors, someone that can guide me into being the designer I want to be."
The move will also allow her to leave a tough recent past behind, one that included an empty bank account and broken relationship.
"I've really embraced this transitional time. Having a true 'phoenix rising from the ashes' moment is not something many people get," she says. "I don't have anything holding me back, and in actuality, that is a luxury. It'll make me a brighter version of myself, and that will translate into my future designs."
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Debt-Collection Company Uses Fake Courtrooms
4th NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Aol News by David Lohr
ERIE, Pa. (Nov. 9) -- Authorities here are investigating a debt-collection company that allegedly used fake sheriff's deputies to deliver phony subpoenas ordering victims to appear in a bogus courtroom, where they were ordered to pay up.
"I've never seen anything like it," Erie County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jon Habursky told AOL News. "You are talking about educated people [who] allegedly concocted this mock courtroom, had a judge in a black robe [make] these judgments and forced these people to pay money that they didn't have."
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett launched the initial investigation into the case after his office's Bureau of Consumer Protection received complaints against Unicredit America Inc.
From Aol News by David Lohr
ERIE, Pa. (Nov. 9) -- Authorities here are investigating a debt-collection company that allegedly used fake sheriff's deputies to deliver phony subpoenas ordering victims to appear in a bogus courtroom, where they were ordered to pay up.
"I've never seen anything like it," Erie County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jon Habursky told AOL News. "You are talking about educated people [who] allegedly concocted this mock courtroom, had a judge in a black robe [make] these judgments and forced these people to pay money that they didn't have."
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett launched the initial investigation into the case after his office's Bureau of Consumer Protection received complaints against Unicredit America Inc.
Coney Island's Shoot the Freak May Close
4th NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From The Daily News BY JAKE PEARSON
Coney Island businesses booted from the Boardwalk by a new landlord don't plan on sailing into the surf any time soon, a lawyer for the group said yesterday.
They're not going to be out in November and they're not going to be out in December and they're not going to be out for a while," said lawyer Marc Aronson, who was hired by eight Boardwalk merchants after amusement giant Zamperla USA ordered them to leave their storefronts by Nov. 19.
Shoot the Freak owner Anthony Berlingieri charged Coney business owners were misled by Zamperla when the amusement company asked them to submit business plans if they wanted their leases renewed.
"They misled us to believe we were going to stay," said Berlingieri, who says he hired a lawyer and spent "thousands" to work up a 60-page business plan.
Berlingieri also charged city officials helped the merchants with their business plans, further making them believe they would get to stay.
"Everything was pushed into the area of us staying," he said. "Then you tell us to get out in two weeks?"
From The Daily News BY JAKE PEARSON
Coney Island businesses booted from the Boardwalk by a new landlord don't plan on sailing into the surf any time soon, a lawyer for the group said yesterday.
They're not going to be out in November and they're not going to be out in December and they're not going to be out for a while," said lawyer Marc Aronson, who was hired by eight Boardwalk merchants after amusement giant Zamperla USA ordered them to leave their storefronts by Nov. 19.
Shoot the Freak owner Anthony Berlingieri charged Coney business owners were misled by Zamperla when the amusement company asked them to submit business plans if they wanted their leases renewed.
"They misled us to believe we were going to stay," said Berlingieri, who says he hired a lawyer and spent "thousands" to work up a 60-page business plan.
Berlingieri also charged city officials helped the merchants with their business plans, further making them believe they would get to stay.
"Everything was pushed into the area of us staying," he said. "Then you tell us to get out in two weeks?"
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
THE UNDERBELLY PROJECT
2 NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From New York Times by Jasper Rees
A vast new exhibition space opened in New York City this summer, with a show 18 months in the making. On view are works by 103 street artists from around the world, mostly big murals painted directly onto the gallery’s walls.
It is one of the largest shows of such pieces ever mounted in one place, and many of the contributors are significant figures in both the street-art world and the commercial trade that now revolves around it. Its debut might have been expected to draw critics, art dealers and auction-house representatives, not to mention hordes of young fans. But none of them were invited.
In the weeks since, almost no one has seen the show. The gallery, whose existence has been a closely guarded secret, closed on the same night it opened.
Known to its creators and participating artists as the Underbelly Project, the space, where all the show’s artworks remain, defies every norm of the gallery scene. Collectors can’t buy the art. The public can’t see it. And the only people with a chance of stumbling across it are the urban explorers who prowl the city’s hidden infrastructure or employees of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
That’s because the exhibition has been mounted, illegally, in a long-abandoned subway station. The dank, cavernous hall feels a lot farther than it actually is from the bright white rooms of Chelsea’s gallery district. Which is more or less the point: This is an art exhibition that goes to extremes to avoid being part of the art world, and even the world in general.
From New York Times by Jasper Rees
A vast new exhibition space opened in New York City this summer, with a show 18 months in the making. On view are works by 103 street artists from around the world, mostly big murals painted directly onto the gallery’s walls.
It is one of the largest shows of such pieces ever mounted in one place, and many of the contributors are significant figures in both the street-art world and the commercial trade that now revolves around it. Its debut might have been expected to draw critics, art dealers and auction-house representatives, not to mention hordes of young fans. But none of them were invited.
In the weeks since, almost no one has seen the show. The gallery, whose existence has been a closely guarded secret, closed on the same night it opened.
Known to its creators and participating artists as the Underbelly Project, the space, where all the show’s artworks remain, defies every norm of the gallery scene. Collectors can’t buy the art. The public can’t see it. And the only people with a chance of stumbling across it are the urban explorers who prowl the city’s hidden infrastructure or employees of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
That’s because the exhibition has been mounted, illegally, in a long-abandoned subway station. The dank, cavernous hall feels a lot farther than it actually is from the bright white rooms of Chelsea’s gallery district. Which is more or less the point: This is an art exhibition that goes to extremes to avoid being part of the art world, and even the world in general.
Marc Jacobs and Rob Pruitt's Green -Screen Catswalk At MoMA P.S 1's MOVE
2nd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From P.S 1
MOVE! is a two-day event merging the worlds of fashion and art through the collaboration of designers and artists, organized by V Magazine's Cecilia Dean and style journalist David Colman. There will be performances and temporary installations presented throughout the building from each of the collaborating designers and artists. Artists and designers include: Kalup Linzy and Diane Von Furstenberg; Rob Pruitt and Marc Jacobs; Terence Koh and Italo Zucchelli (Calvin Klein Collection); Tauba Auerbach and Ohne Titel; Olaf Breuning and Cynthia Rowley; Brody Condon and Rodarte; Rashaad Newsome and Alexander Wang; Dan Colen and Proenza Schouler; David Blaine and Adam Kimmel; Jonah Bokaer and Narciso Rodriguez; CHERYL and American Apparel; and Ryan McNamara and Robert Geller; and TELFAR + Lizzie Fitch, Rhett LaRue, Fatima Al Qadiri, Ryan Trecartin, and Leilah Weinraub.
MOVE! is part of MoMA PS1's Free Space initiative where artists, collectives, and nonprofit arts institutions are invited to make collaborative use of MoMA PS1's gallery space for events, rehearsals, and other live presentations.
From P.S 1
MOVE! is a two-day event merging the worlds of fashion and art through the collaboration of designers and artists, organized by V Magazine's Cecilia Dean and style journalist David Colman. There will be performances and temporary installations presented throughout the building from each of the collaborating designers and artists. Artists and designers include: Kalup Linzy and Diane Von Furstenberg; Rob Pruitt and Marc Jacobs; Terence Koh and Italo Zucchelli (Calvin Klein Collection); Tauba Auerbach and Ohne Titel; Olaf Breuning and Cynthia Rowley; Brody Condon and Rodarte; Rashaad Newsome and Alexander Wang; Dan Colen and Proenza Schouler; David Blaine and Adam Kimmel; Jonah Bokaer and Narciso Rodriguez; CHERYL and American Apparel; and Ryan McNamara and Robert Geller; and TELFAR + Lizzie Fitch, Rhett LaRue, Fatima Al Qadiri, Ryan Trecartin, and Leilah Weinraub.
MOVE! is part of MoMA PS1's Free Space initiative where artists, collectives, and nonprofit arts institutions are invited to make collaborative use of MoMA PS1's gallery space for events, rehearsals, and other live presentations.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Gucci 3-D Glasses
1st NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Luxist by Annie Scott
The Gucci 3-D glasses feature "optically correct 6-base curved lenses with circular polarized technology," optimal for Real D, the system in use by over half the movie theaters in the country. The Gucci 3-D glasses also "contain a high tech multi-layered mirrored coating which allows the wearer to view themselves in a mirror without distortion. The mirrored coating not only provides a premium look as well as offers superior viewing and contrast enhancement, but also allows over 98 percent of visible light through, therefore not affecting viewing in a cinema environment. An anti-reflective coating has been applied to the back of the lens for additional overall image quality by reducing scattered light, glare and blue light." So, they don't just look better than the throwaways that come in a plastic bag; they can also enhance your 3-D viewing experience.
The Gucci 3-D glasses will be available exclusively at US Gucci boutiques for $225 this holiday season.
From Luxist by Annie Scott
The Gucci 3-D glasses feature "optically correct 6-base curved lenses with circular polarized technology," optimal for Real D, the system in use by over half the movie theaters in the country. The Gucci 3-D glasses also "contain a high tech multi-layered mirrored coating which allows the wearer to view themselves in a mirror without distortion. The mirrored coating not only provides a premium look as well as offers superior viewing and contrast enhancement, but also allows over 98 percent of visible light through, therefore not affecting viewing in a cinema environment. An anti-reflective coating has been applied to the back of the lens for additional overall image quality by reducing scattered light, glare and blue light." So, they don't just look better than the throwaways that come in a plastic bag; they can also enhance your 3-D viewing experience.
The Gucci 3-D glasses will be available exclusively at US Gucci boutiques for $225 this holiday season.
Friday, November 5, 2010
David Arquett's Second Interview On The HOWARD STERN Show
4th NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Stupid Celebrities
People were bashing David Arquette for being open and honest about his split from his wife Courteney Cox. But we find it refreshing to see a celebrity discuss what went down instead of having their pr company lie about the situation. Ahem Charlie Sheen!
David Arquette, 39, sat down with Howard Stern to talk about the backlash from his previous comments on his split.
David gave more details on his split and confirmed that he and Courteney didn’t have a prenup.
Listen to David’s interview with Howard Stern below. Please remember this is Howard Stern’s satellite radio show so there is lots of profanity!
From Stupid Celebrities
People were bashing David Arquette for being open and honest about his split from his wife Courteney Cox. But we find it refreshing to see a celebrity discuss what went down instead of having their pr company lie about the situation. Ahem Charlie Sheen!
David Arquette, 39, sat down with Howard Stern to talk about the backlash from his previous comments on his split.
David gave more details on his split and confirmed that he and Courteney didn’t have a prenup.
Listen to David’s interview with Howard Stern below. Please remember this is Howard Stern’s satellite radio show so there is lots of profanity!
Oversexualized Miley Cyrus
4th NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Bris Bane by Natalie Hambly
Miley Cyrus can’t put a foot right according to the US Parents Television Council.
The 17-year-old singer and star of the Disney television show Hannah Montana has upset the conservative council with her latest music video Who Owns My Heart?.
It opens with Cyrus lying on a bed made with satin sheets. She later exposes a lot of leg in the back of a limousine and is then seen dancing suggestively with men and women at a night club while wearing a plunging top.
Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council, told TMZ that the messages it is sending to her fan base are “diametrically opposed to everything she has done up to this point”.
“Miley built her fame and fortune entirely on the backs of young girls, and it saddens us that she seems so eager to distance herself from that fan base so rapidly," said Winter.
Cyrus also raised ire with her skimpy outfits while promoting her album earlier this year. The singer has been seen frequently strutting stages wearing only a low-cut leotard and high heels.
The singer-actress turns 18 in November and is currently in the difficult stage of transitioning from a teen television star into a singer and movie actor tackling adult themes.
From Bris Bane by Natalie Hambly
Miley Cyrus can’t put a foot right according to the US Parents Television Council.
The 17-year-old singer and star of the Disney television show Hannah Montana has upset the conservative council with her latest music video Who Owns My Heart?.
It opens with Cyrus lying on a bed made with satin sheets. She later exposes a lot of leg in the back of a limousine and is then seen dancing suggestively with men and women at a night club while wearing a plunging top.
Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council, told TMZ that the messages it is sending to her fan base are “diametrically opposed to everything she has done up to this point”.
“Miley built her fame and fortune entirely on the backs of young girls, and it saddens us that she seems so eager to distance herself from that fan base so rapidly," said Winter.
Cyrus also raised ire with her skimpy outfits while promoting her album earlier this year. The singer has been seen frequently strutting stages wearing only a low-cut leotard and high heels.
The singer-actress turns 18 in November and is currently in the difficult stage of transitioning from a teen television star into a singer and movie actor tackling adult themes.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Air New Zealand to Offer "Cuddle Class Skycouch" Beds
3rd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From CNN by Tiffany Lam
Some passengers on Air New Zealand flights will get to cozy up to their partners on selected seats shaped like couches in the airline’s economy class starting next year.
From CNN by Tiffany Lam
Some passengers on Air New Zealand flights will get to cozy up to their partners on selected seats shaped like couches in the airline’s economy class starting next year.
The seats, dubbed ‘Skycouch’ by the airline, have been designed so that three separate seats in a row can be converted into a futon-like surface.
Once the armrests are retracted, and foot rests pulled up to fill the gap from the edge of the seat to the seat in front, the Skycouch allows fliers to sleep side by side like they’re in bed at home.
Skycouches will be available on Boeing 777 flights from New Zealand to Los Angeles and London starting April 2, 2011. The company plans to extend the design to all its long haul flights by 2012.
Great news for couples — nothing says separation pain more than armrests and seats with peculiar curvatures.
The Skycouch design was unveiled in January this year and the airline will take delivery of its first revamped 777 jets in November, according to Stuff.co.nz. Those who have already booked flights between Los Angeles and Auckland from April 2 2011 onwards can upgrade to Skycouches now.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Alex Blagg's Blog Bajillionhits Biz
3rd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From BAJILLION
Alex Blagg is one of the hottest young veterans in the viral-social media landscape. A web prodigy since discovering Prodigy at the age of 8, Alex was also an early adopter of America Online, and pioneered online dating almost 12 years prior to the advent of Match.com, when he successfully carried on a long-distance Internet relationship with a girl named Heidi who he met in a Batman Forever chatroom. Alex was also the first person to coin the popular Internet comment “F1RST!!!”
Since formally bursting into the blogosphere in 2004 with BlaggBlogg, a bastion of web-based humor that is widely considered to be a modern blog classic by a niche group of influential media professionals, Alex has created a very large digital footprint on the Internet, having ran a string of successful celebrity and pop culture sites for business giants such as Viacom, Microsoft and Gawker Media, while also cultivating a personal brand that boasts a Twitter following of over 6,000 people, as well as a Tumblr following that is private, but also very substantial.
From BAJILLION
Alex Blagg is one of the hottest young veterans in the viral-social media landscape. A web prodigy since discovering Prodigy at the age of 8, Alex was also an early adopter of America Online, and pioneered online dating almost 12 years prior to the advent of Match.com, when he successfully carried on a long-distance Internet relationship with a girl named Heidi who he met in a Batman Forever chatroom. Alex was also the first person to coin the popular Internet comment “F1RST!!!”
Since formally bursting into the blogosphere in 2004 with BlaggBlogg, a bastion of web-based humor that is widely considered to be a modern blog classic by a niche group of influential media professionals, Alex has created a very large digital footprint on the Internet, having ran a string of successful celebrity and pop culture sites for business giants such as Viacom, Microsoft and Gawker Media, while also cultivating a personal brand that boasts a Twitter following of over 6,000 people, as well as a Tumblr following that is private, but also very substantial.
Eat Whatever Mints
3rd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Eat Whatever and Amazon
From Eat Whatever and Amazon
Eatwhatever is a 2 step solution to post meal bad breath. The 2 steps eliminate bad breath from food so you can eat all the garlic and onion you want. After eating, swallow a vegetarian gel cap containing organic oils, then suck on a mint for instant fresness.
Georgia Engel in MIDDLETOWN
2nd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Vineyard Theatre
Winner of the inaugural Horton Foote Award for Most Promising New Play of 2010, MIDDLETOWN is a deeply moving and funny new play by Will Eno — author of the Pulitzer Prize-finalist play THOM PAIN (based on nothing) — that explores the universe of a small American town. As a friendship develops between longtime resident John Dodge (Linus Roache) and new arrival Mary Swanson (Heather Burns), the lives of the inhabitants of Middletown intersect in strange and compelling ways. A powerful and poignant meditation on birth, death and points between, MIDDLETOWN is a remarkable new play from one of our finest young theatrical voices.
The incredible cast features Linus Roache (“RFK,” “Law & Order”), Heather Burns (“Miss Congeniality,” MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO), Johanna Day (PROOF), Georgia Engel (“Mary Tyler Moore Show,” DROWSY CHAPERONE), Emmy-winner Michael Park (“As the World Turns,” THE BURNT PART BOYS) and David Garrison (Tony nominee for A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD…, “Married with Children,” TITANIC).
NOW PLAYING
OCT 13 thru NOV 21
From Vineyard Theatre
Winner of the inaugural Horton Foote Award for Most Promising New Play of 2010, MIDDLETOWN is a deeply moving and funny new play by Will Eno — author of the Pulitzer Prize-finalist play THOM PAIN (based on nothing) — that explores the universe of a small American town. As a friendship develops between longtime resident John Dodge (Linus Roache) and new arrival Mary Swanson (Heather Burns), the lives of the inhabitants of Middletown intersect in strange and compelling ways. A powerful and poignant meditation on birth, death and points between, MIDDLETOWN is a remarkable new play from one of our finest young theatrical voices.
The incredible cast features Linus Roache (“RFK,” “Law & Order”), Heather Burns (“Miss Congeniality,” MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO), Johanna Day (PROOF), Georgia Engel (“Mary Tyler Moore Show,” DROWSY CHAPERONE), Emmy-winner Michael Park (“As the World Turns,” THE BURNT PART BOYS) and David Garrison (Tony nominee for A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD…, “Married with Children,” TITANIC).
NOW PLAYING
OCT 13 thru NOV 21
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
New York City Documentary Festival
2nd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From NYU
DOC NYC is a new festival celebrating documentary storytelling in film, photography, radio and other innovative formats. The festival takes place in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village with opening and closing events held at the Skirball Center.
Organized by the team behind the acclaimed Stranger Than Fiction screening series at the IFC Center, DOC NYC’s Advisory Board includes Academy Award-winners Barbara Kopple and Michael Moore. Festival programming will range from world premieres to retrospectives to panels, assembling the world's leading creators for dialogue, inspiration and incubation of ideas.
Please click through to the festival's website to read about the following DOC NYC events taking place at the Skirball Center this year:
From NYU
Festival of Documentary Storytelling
Nov. 3, 2010 – Nov. 7, 2010
DOC NYC is a new festival celebrating documentary storytelling in film, photography, radio and other innovative formats. The festival takes place in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village with opening and closing events held at the Skirball Center.
Organized by the team behind the acclaimed Stranger Than Fiction screening series at the IFC Center, DOC NYC’s Advisory Board includes Academy Award-winners Barbara Kopple and Michael Moore. Festival programming will range from world premieres to retrospectives to panels, assembling the world's leading creators for dialogue, inspiration and incubation of ideas.
Please click through to the festival's website to read about the following DOC NYC events taking place at the Skirball Center this year:
Levi's Photo Workshop In Soho
2nd NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From NY Racket by Carlye Wisel
Levi's Photo Workshop, the newest of the brand's pop-up workshop incarnations, has opened its garage door in Soho, and is a skinny jean-wearing artist's dream. Open now through December 18th, the community-oriented space will be hosting workshops, events and parties celebrating various photo exhibitions that will rotate throughout the space's three month lifespan. And, with its slew of photo-friendly goodies, you'll be surprised that almost everything is completely, shockingly free.
Need to print a few of last night's party shots? No problem. Want a t-shirt printed with your face on it? Sure. Dying for a humongous, large-format print of a gorgeous shot you've taken? Go right ahead. With studio time available for rent, vintage cameras that can be borrowed by the day and two rows of Mac desktop computers open for public use, it's so mind-bogglingly complimentary that one staff photographer joked that "Anything can happen" should be scrawled on the wall to drive the point home.
The front end of the space has an upstairs shop with books, goodies and a few Levi's pants and jackets for sale, and as the only spot where items are sold, you can tell this one's for the creatives, and not for people coming in to buy some jeans. The camera rental area is directly below it, where for a $100 deposit, visitors can borrow any of the vintage film cameras displayed on the wall and take them out for a spin for the rest of the day. A photo booth is also near the front door, of which a yearbook will be compiled by California-based Hamburger Eyes from all of the workshop's three-photo strips that are taken.
The studio set-up, complete with enough lighting equipment to have full-on photo shoots, is in the back of the space, set behind the computer workstation and all of the fancy photo printers. Levi's Photo Workshop [Official Site]
From NY Racket by Carlye Wisel
Levi's Photo Workshop, the newest of the brand's pop-up workshop incarnations, has opened its garage door in Soho, and is a skinny jean-wearing artist's dream. Open now through December 18th, the community-oriented space will be hosting workshops, events and parties celebrating various photo exhibitions that will rotate throughout the space's three month lifespan. And, with its slew of photo-friendly goodies, you'll be surprised that almost everything is completely, shockingly free.
Need to print a few of last night's party shots? No problem. Want a t-shirt printed with your face on it? Sure. Dying for a humongous, large-format print of a gorgeous shot you've taken? Go right ahead. With studio time available for rent, vintage cameras that can be borrowed by the day and two rows of Mac desktop computers open for public use, it's so mind-bogglingly complimentary that one staff photographer joked that "Anything can happen" should be scrawled on the wall to drive the point home.
The front end of the space has an upstairs shop with books, goodies and a few Levi's pants and jackets for sale, and as the only spot where items are sold, you can tell this one's for the creatives, and not for people coming in to buy some jeans. The camera rental area is directly below it, where for a $100 deposit, visitors can borrow any of the vintage film cameras displayed on the wall and take them out for a spin for the rest of the day. A photo booth is also near the front door, of which a yearbook will be compiled by California-based Hamburger Eyes from all of the workshop's three-photo strips that are taken.
The studio set-up, complete with enough lighting equipment to have full-on photo shoots, is in the back of the space, set behind the computer workstation and all of the fancy photo printers. Levi's Photo Workshop [Official Site]
IImage via Donald Rasmussen
Monday, November 1, 2010
Rudy Giuliani May Run for President in 2012
1st NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Politico
Rudy Giuliani just [October 26, 2010] told me [Maggie Haberman] at City Hall at his portrait unveiling that "the door's not closed" on the possibility of him running for president again in 2012.
He [Rudy Giuliani] said he won't think about anything until after the November midterm elections, and that he gets encouraged by people as he travels.
I asked, "So the door's not closed?" and he replied, "The door's not closed."
I'd heard from some Republican donors and insiders that he's discussed the possibility with them in recent months as well.
From Politico
Rudy Giuliani just [October 26, 2010] told me [Maggie Haberman] at City Hall at his portrait unveiling that "the door's not closed" on the possibility of him running for president again in 2012.
He [Rudy Giuliani] said he won't think about anything until after the November midterm elections, and that he gets encouraged by people as he travels.
I asked, "So the door's not closed?" and he replied, "The door's not closed."
I'd heard from some Republican donors and insiders that he's discussed the possibility with them in recent months as well.
Women's Hormone Creams Causing Pets to Become Hormonal
1st NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From New York Times By TARA PARKER-POPE
Veterinarians around the country are reporting a strange phenomenon: spayed dogs and cats, even some puppies and kittens, are suddenly becoming hormonal.
In female pets, the symptoms resemble heat: swollen genitals, bloody discharge and behavioral problems. Male animals are showing up with swollen breast tissue and hair loss. Standard treatments and even repeated operations have had no effect.
Now vets have identified the culprit. The pets were all owned by women who used hormone creams on their hands, arms and legs to counter symptoms of menopause. Animals who licked or cuddled their owners, or rubbed up against their legs, were being inadvertently exposed to doses of hormone drugs.
From New York Times By TARA PARKER-POPE
Veterinarians around the country are reporting a strange phenomenon: spayed dogs and cats, even some puppies and kittens, are suddenly becoming hormonal.
In female pets, the symptoms resemble heat: swollen genitals, bloody discharge and behavioral problems. Male animals are showing up with swollen breast tissue and hair loss. Standard treatments and even repeated operations have had no effect.
Now vets have identified the culprit. The pets were all owned by women who used hormone creams on their hands, arms and legs to counter symptoms of menopause. Animals who licked or cuddled their owners, or rubbed up against their legs, were being inadvertently exposed to doses of hormone drugs.
Anna Dello Russo Has An Entire Apartment For Her Clothes
1st NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix
From Gawker
Anna Dello Russo, is also interesting/scary in that fashion editor way. She has an entire one-bedroom Milan apartment dedicated to her wardrobe.
W Magazine, pulls back the leopard-print curtains on 47-year-old Russo's life in their November issue. ("Picture the ballsiness of Lady Gaga and the inventory of Imelda Marcos rolled into one supercharged style hurricane.") She owns 4,000 pairs of shoes and 250 tuxedo jackets, which necessitates an entire apartment to function as a her walk-in closet.
Even so, her actual live-in apartment looks like this:
"New purchases get front-row treatment in the main walk-in closet, next to her leopard-print bedroom. A zoolike collection of exotic fur coats ("It's been a bloodbath-furs are my weakness," she admits) is maintained in labeled cloth bags, while a season's lesser models get relegated to nonslip hangers in the nosebleed back row. Once the season ends, everything is cleared out (except for the furs, which are exempt from expiration dates) to make way for new loot. Depending on the evicted item's star wattage, it may go next door, to apartment number two, from which it may or may not emerge. Or it may be exiled to a giant closeted basement: the fashion graveyard."
From Gawker
Anna Dello Russo, is also interesting/scary in that fashion editor way. She has an entire one-bedroom Milan apartment dedicated to her wardrobe.
W Magazine, pulls back the leopard-print curtains on 47-year-old Russo's life in their November issue. ("Picture the ballsiness of Lady Gaga and the inventory of Imelda Marcos rolled into one supercharged style hurricane.") She owns 4,000 pairs of shoes and 250 tuxedo jackets, which necessitates an entire apartment to function as a her walk-in closet.
Even so, her actual live-in apartment looks like this:
"New purchases get front-row treatment in the main walk-in closet, next to her leopard-print bedroom. A zoolike collection of exotic fur coats ("It's been a bloodbath-furs are my weakness," she admits) is maintained in labeled cloth bags, while a season's lesser models get relegated to nonslip hangers in the nosebleed back row. Once the season ends, everything is cleared out (except for the furs, which are exempt from expiration dates) to make way for new loot. Depending on the evicted item's star wattage, it may go next door, to apartment number two, from which it may or may not emerge. Or it may be exiled to a giant closeted basement: the fashion graveyard."
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