The trouble with Form Designers

Source: Baltimore Sun ()

From the cover

Three historic buildings on the west side of downtown Baltimore will be preserved as part of a $40 million hotel, apartment and restaurant complex conceived by the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents selected a team headed by A & R Development of Baltimore to carry out the project, which will preserve the former Drovers and Mechanics National Bank building at the northwest corner of Eutaw and Fayette streets, the front portion of former Sons of Italy lodge on Fayette Street and the former Devine Seafood building at 110 N. Eutaw St.

Source: Allentown Morning Call ()

Hues true to form

Lara Bly accentuates the feminine in exhibit of her colorful fashions

By Steve Siegel |
Special to The Morning Call
December 23, 2007

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Fashion designer Lara Bly will do that little black dress for you, if you really insist — but black, as well as gray and brown, are not popular parts of her palette unless it’s combined with a splash of color.

Bly’s elegant, colorful designs wed the classic with the comfortable, making them go-anywhere pieces with as much versatility as that proverbial little black number, and she’s showing some examples of her work in the exhibit ‘’Artfully Elegant: Fashion'’ at the Monsoon Gallery in Bethlehem.

Pairing 12 handmade dresses with a fashion sketch and one of her paintings, the show dazzles in variety as much as color, with a spectrum of hues from aqua and green to bronze and gold, and styles ranging from a classic Grecian gown to a funky polka-dot print. But Bly’s designs are no mere runway wonders. All of the outfits, mostly in linen and cotton, are eminently wearable and feminine.

‘’I like silhouettes that are very feminine, with beautiful color combinations — the things that make a woman look better, not worse,'’ says Bly. ‘’This is why I don’t follow trends all the time. They sometimes can look fabulous on the runway but ridiculous when worn. I try to make things that can look good on any woman, any age.'’

Bly, was born in Phoenixville and lives in Bethlehem, says her interest in fashion goes back as …

Source: Orange County Register ()

Setting the table means setting the scene for a memorable evening. In this case, the occasion is an exclusive New Year’s Eve dinner for 10, “Dishes for Wishes,” conceived by the Gracious Living Group, a newly formed company in Costa Mesa that helps clients excel at in-home entertaining. Here, the group demonstrates the elements of an evening that ushers in good fortune, from the décor to the menu to the party favors.

The table glows rather than glittered, said Diana Martin, who, with interior designer David Rance and chef Adam Navidi, are principals of the Gracious Living Group. “We wanted to design a table that was very festive but not the predictable black and silver,” she said. Toward that end, Rance covers the backs of the seats with bronze silk slipcovers. Instead of a harsh bling, the tones of the plates and glassware are warm: amber coupes by Kim Seybert, copper-trimmed plates by Michael Wainwright (no two are identical in shape or design) tortoise and gold chargers by Jaune de Chrome. Wooden bowls with metal bases by Atticus Lola and beaded place mats also by Seybert add a global flair. The centerpiece incorporated bare wintery branches decked out with hints of metallic sparkle and pure white flowers.

The invitations come in a fortune cookie sprinkled with edible copper flecks. The place cards are Chinese envelopes in which children receive gifts of New Year’s cash.

Navidi, executive chef at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, has designed a menu of international foods that symbolize good fortune for the coming year.

There are dessert and cheese courses. From Peru, a 12-grape tart with walnut pastry and blue cheese – the exact number of grapes is important, with each one wishing the guests luck in every month of the coming year. As a finale, each guest received a cupcake with a jaunty swirl of icing and a gold chocolate coin on top.

Wines are served in no less than The Riedel …

Source: Trading Markets (press release) ()

Market Review: Progressive Following on Research in Motion Limited

Friday, December 21, 2007; Posted: 12:13 PM

Dec 21, 2007 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) — RIMM | charts | news | PowerRating — Investors need to turn to the markets these days if even to simply counter the depreciation of their hard earned wealth. Consumer inflation surged by the largest amount in more than two years in November, led by a huge jump in gasoline prices. Inflation also hit home with big increases in the cost of clothing, airline tickets and prescription drugs. The 0.8 percent rise in consumer prices was worse than the 0.6 percent advance that economists had expected. With one month to go, inflation in 2007 is rising at an annual rate of 4.2 percent! This well outweighed the 2.5 percent increase in 2006. There is worry that the jump in energy costs will leave consumers with less money to spend on other items, worsening the slowdown in economic growth that is already manifesting this nation. Research in Motion Limited (TSX:RIM) performance for December 21, 2007, we noticed that the Canadian Market reacted to the third quarter results. December 21, 2007, the early morning trading is up 10 percent on higher than average volume. Our research resources have been aimed towards the large caps and the various prospective companies therein Research in Motion Limited was among those that we have been closely examining due to their recent news and trading patterns. Research In Motion Limited (RIM)(NASDAQ:RIMM) (TSX:RIM), reported on December 20, 2007 third quarter results for the three months ended December 1, 2007 (all figures in U.S. dollars and U.S. GAAP).Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $1.67 billion, up 22% from $1.37 billion in the previous quarter and up 100% from $835.1 million in the same quarter of last year. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately for devices, 14% for service, 4% for software and 2% for other revenue. Approximately 1.65 million …

Source: Trading Markets (press release) ()

Market Review: Smart Modular Technologies. vs Current Events

Thursday, December 20, 2007; Posted: 11:15 AM

Dec 20, 2007 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) — SMOD | charts | news | PowerRating — Investors need to turn to the markets these days if even to simply counter the depreciation of their hard earned wealth. Consumer inflation surged by the largest amount in more than two years in November, led by a huge jump in gasoline prices. Inflation also hit home with big increases in the cost of clothing, airline tickets and prescription drugs. The 0.8 percent rise in consumer prices was worse than the 0.6 percent advance that economists had expected. With one month to go, inflation in 2007 is rising at an annual rate of 4.2 percent! This well outweighed the 2.5 percent increase in 2006. There is worry that the jump in energy costs will leave consumers with less money to spend on other items, worsening the slowdown in economic growth that is already manifesting this nation. Smart Modular Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:SMOD) performance for December 19, 2007, we noticed that the American Market reacted to the first quarter results. December 19, 2007, at the bell the stock was up slightly on higher than average trading. Our research resources have been aimed towards the US large caps and the various prospective companies therein Smart Modular Technologies was among those that we have been closely examining due to their recent news and trading patterns. SMART Modular Technologies (WWH), Inc. (”SMART” or the “Company̶ (NasdaqGS:SMOD), reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 on December 19, 2007. Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 were $175.0 million, up 6% compared to $165.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, and down 26% compared to $237.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Gross profit for the first quarter of fiscal was $33.5 million, up 5% compared to $31.8 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, …

Source: Earthtimes ()

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Source: United Press International ()

Famed Italian filmmaker and stage director Franco Zeffirelli, who is also a Roman Catholic, has offered to give Pope Benedict XVI a makeover.

But, so far, the Vatican has not been in touch, the BBC said.

Zeffirelli, who has helmed lavish film productions of “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet,” told La Stampa he thinks Pope Benedict, with his cold image and showy clothes, needs a new look.

The BBC said Zeffirelli had been hired by the Vatican as a designer for the staging of numerous papal events during John Paul II’s reign.

Zeffirelli, 84, told La Stampa he would jump at the chance to be the new pope’s image consultant.

“If they gave me an official supervisory role, I would dedicate myself to it full time,” Zeffirelli said.

“I know (Joseph) Ratzinger he added, using the pope’s pre-pontiff name. “He is very attentive to the importance of how the sacred is represented.”

Source: Gizmodo Australia ()

Behold the Sound Machine, a dock for the iPhone created by a company called Audio Jibe, headed up by Robert Brunner, one of the Apple design bigwigs between 1989 and 1996. Set to ship at the beginning of next year, the Sound Machine communicates with an iPhone via Bluetooth, but it also plays back DVDs and hooks up to Internet radio stations Wi-Fi. No pricing info was forthcoming, but we’re going to search CES far and wide for this baby. [Gizmos]

Source: Showbiz Spy ()

Heather Mills, the estranged wife of former Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney, claims she has bombshell videotape footage of Paul, 65, saying he hopes she will commit suicide.

In a phone to his fashion designer daughter Stella, the music legend allegedly says: “If we turn up the pressure on Heather, with a bit of luck she will top herself and then we won’t have to pay her a penny.”

The shock new recording is believed to have been made last year - while Paul was in the farmhouse of his East Sussex estate.

The recording could form a major part of Heather’s case for a multi-million dollar divorce settlement.

A source close to the embroiled couple, said: “Her [Heather’s] legal team feel that if the tape is genuine it is one of the most damning things Paul has ever said.”

A Spokesman for Sir Paul refused to comment, as did Heather’s.

The source added to Britain’s News of The World newspaper: “When Heather found out what was said on the tape, she was very distressed. It was such a terrible thing to say, whether it was meant or not.

“Heather was very shocked and hurt and has discussed the tape several times with her sister Fiona.

“She knows that she and Stella never saw eye to eye but she never expected anything like this.”

Only last month, it was revealed that Heather, dubbed Mucca by British tabloids due to her porn past, wanted around $100m from Paul - and claimed to have a secret recording of Paul mocking her amputated leg.

The ‘Mull of Kintyre’ star is alleged to have called Heather a “one-legged bitch” on a cassette of his calls, handed to Heather, 39, by an unnamed third party; it is not known who made the recordings, but it has been suggested that Heather was behind them.

Heather is expected add the tapes to her secret “box of evidence” which was made prior to the couple’s …

Source: Globe and Mail ()

World-famous fashion designers are no doubt sucked up to on a daily basis, but it’s rare when they do the sucking up.Enter acclaimed Japanese couturier Issey Miyake, who is lending his name and considerable cachet to the latest hand-held vacuum from Sir James Dyson, the superstar vacuum-cleaner designer - no, that isn’t a typo; the debonair Dyson has quite the fan base - and long-time friend of Miyake’s.
In addition to the usual Dyson features - the sleek form and extra-light weight, the patented "cyclone" suction technology - the new, limited-edition Root 6 hand vac sports a fashion-forward (and especially festive) colour: shocking raspberry pink.
The shade was on display during the Paris showing this past fall of Miyake’s 2008 spring and summer collections, for which Dyson designed the runway set.

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Only 500 of the Root 6 vacuums have been shipped to Canada, the Bay is selling them for $179.99. They can, however, be purchased online at http://www.dyson.com. No sucking up required.