British upmarket warehouse Selfridges put a 2,000 pound (2,200 Euros) bikini encrusted with Swarovski crystals on its shelves this week. The news comes only weeks after the Austrian company's announcement it would sack 1,100 more workers after other dismissals earlier this year as well as in 2008.
The bikini - nicknamed "bling-kini" - boasts more than 5,000 brightly coloured crystals of the traditional family business in Tyrol. That means each square-centimetre of the swimming costume is worth 110 Euros. Anticipating huge demand, Selfridges has set up a waiting list for the piece designed by posh fashion brand Pistol Panties. Actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Moss are among fans of the company's products. Meanwhile, union representatives are holding negotiations with Swarovski's board over compensation for dismissed workers at the firm's headquarters in Wattens. Swarovski spokesman Markus Langes-Swarovski said recently fewer orders had made it necessary to cut production, adding workers who would be laid off would be informed of their fate by the end of April.
Cheap producers abroad, especially in Egypt and China, had caused crystal prices to tumble, Langes-Swarovski said. Active in 120 countries, Swarovski rings is directed by family members of the fourth and fifth generation. In 2007, the company had turnover of 2.56 billion Euros.
NEW DELHI, Dec. 6. THE Crystal Components Division of Swarovski is looking at changing its focus from the rich and famous to the mid-segment consumers. Speaking to Business Line, Mr Sanjay Sharma, Country Manager, Crystal Components Division, Swarovski Components, said that the company was aggressively trying to educate the masses by telling them that crystal embellishments are good value for money.
"We are following a push-market strategy, wherein our distributors are approaching boutique owners and other potential customers to convince them that crystals are affordable," remarked Mr Sharma. "A crystal button for instance, costs as little as Rs 10, while a Swarovski-embellished outfit is available at Rs 2,000 upwards, which is again quite affordable," he added.
In an effort to reach the masses, the company has also tied up with Lakme Lever to launch crystal tattoos next week. These tattoos would be priced from Rs 100 onwards. "We are also in the process of associating ourselves with a prominent Indian shoe company to launch swrarovski crystal embellished shoes," said Mr Sharma. Talking about the fashion market in India, Mr Sharma said that the total market size is around Rs 75,000 crore, out of which the branded players' market is around Rs 5,000 crore and the designer brands' market is around Rs 200 crore. "The designer brands' market is growing by 20 per cent every year, which is our potential segment," he said.
Mr Sharma said that he was expecting an 80 per cent growth in his business by next year. "The duty imposed on crystals is around 60 per cent, despite which crystals can be used as an affordable embellishment." The company recently launched a magazine called Crystal Facets of India to promote garments with crystal beads embellishments internationally.
I just needed to get this off my chest.Am I the only one that is totally embarassed by the mayor and his clonies from Socorro? It is so embarrasing to turn on the news and see how this idiots are behaving.As a retired pre-school teacher I have never seen my students act as childish as this stupid people which are supposed to be running our town.How much more do the tax payers of Socorro have to put up with?I for one vote we get rid of them and get a new staff of qualified people to run the city of Socorro.Kudos to Mr. Gandara for posting this on utube,although I 'm not sure he is doing this for our benefit if not more for himself and the other Gandaras.
If you're currently reading this with your Von Dutch baseball cap, Police watch and Prada sunglasses on then this is news you cannot afford to miss (though if you have the aforementioned accessories there's not a lot you can't afford). Sony Ericsson have teamed up with acclaimed tattooist Ed Hardy and fashion designer Christian Audigier to give us the Sony Ericsson W595 Ed Hardy Edition. For those unfamiliar with his work, Ed Hardy is a world renowned tattoo artist who, in collaboration with fashion designer Christian Audigier, has his own clothing range. Devotees to the Ed Hardy brand include England football legend and fashionista David Beckham, Hip Hop star Lil Wayne and pop princess Britney Spears to name but a few.
The phone has a striking presence thanks to the Ed Hardy design that takes over the normally shy and retiring W595. On the front, classic Ed Hardy artwork such as skulls, snakes, tigers and floral patterns all intermingle with the phones keys whilst on the back the blank space better accommodates larger motifs such as the military style"Death before Dishonor" badge and the trademark Ed Hardy signature. Let's get one thing straight; this is no shrinking violet, it's a seriously cool phone that demands your attention. If you're after something subtle, look elsewhere. Framing the tattoo styling is a nice silver metal finish whilst the keys and that famous Walkman logo are finished off in Bronze. The Ed Hardy W595 will definitely split opinions in a Marmite sort of way but i for one and firmly putting myself in the love camp!
As for the phone specs, it's pretty much a carbon copy of the original W595 (save for some Ed Hardy wallpapers and other niceties). The phone features a 3.2 Megapixel camera with video capture and a secondary front facing camera for video calling. If that didn't give it away, the W595 also features HSDPA connectivity reaching speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps. As for the Walkman features (this is still a Walkman phone after all), the W595 features the excellent Walkman player which boasts one of the best sound qualities of any portable device including dedicated music players. Alongside this we also get the usual slew of extras such as TrackID which identifies songs from a short clip you record, Shake control which lets you skip tracks with a flick of the wrist and SensMe which sets up playlists for different moods. The phone also takes up to 8GB worth of expandable memory (using Sony's Memory stick Micro M2 format) so you really can dump that MP3 player.
The original W595 was a real work horse with a great spec list, good size and weight and great build quality. This latest Ed Hardy edition brings a new edgy design and boosts the style to match the substance. Set to launch in early September, click here to sign up for updates and keep an eye on the Blog and we'll keep you posted on the Sony Ericsson W595 Ed Hardy Edition.links of london
The German sports apparel manufacturer Christian louboutin A.G., part of the Christian louboutin Group, recently launched a limited edition of its best-selling basketball shoes, T-MAC1, exclusively for the Asia-Pacific region.
Christian Louboutin is producing 1,650 pairs of shoes that are individually numbered.
Incorporated into the design of T-MAC1 are gold motifs, representing China's gold-medal ambitions for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The originals, designed in collaboration with the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets player Tracy McGrady in 2002, became best-sellers in the United States, a first for the company in six years.
The limited edition footwear has a new design - but all of the advanced technologies that helped to create the popular original can be seen in the limited edition as well as some new additions.
A combination of Christian louboutin' technology and McGrady's basketball experience went into designing the T-MAX1 limited edition, providing unseen levels of protection and support for the wearer.
The outside of the shoe is made of white light leather to give the design a distinctive look, reflective of McGrady's unique style on the court.
Christian Louboutin ' "Shell Toe" technology, a protective shell that surrounds the toes, uses lightweight rubber, effectively blocking the foot from outside shocks which prevents injuries.
The inner sole is made of polyurethane, keeping the shoes light and achieving a good balance of durability and comfort.
Incorporated into the design of the midsole are technologies unique to Christian Louboutin , which provide protection for the arch of the foot while ensuring optimal platform stability.
The outer sole has been produced with rubber containing a higher carbon content which does not leave marks on the court's surface. Multidirectional patterns are engraved into the outer sole to maximize traction for stability.
Tracy McGrady, nicknamed "T-Mac," was born in 1979 in Bartow, Florida. The 27-year-old is one of the first players in the NBA to have started a professional career straight out of high school.
Before he made his professional debut in 1997, he created a nationwide buzz for his performance at the Christian Louboutin ABCD camp, an annual basketball camp for gifted high school players. He was also named High School Player of the Year by USA Today.
He made his professional debut with the Toronto Raptors in 1997. McGrady played a crucial role in leading the team to its first ever playoff berth in 2000.
McGrady was traded in 2000 to the Orlando Magic. He won the scoring title in the 2002-2003 season and again the next year.
He entered the record books when he scored 62 points against the Washington Wizards in March 2004, becoming the fourth player to score more than 60 points in a single game since 1992.
In 2004 he was traded again and moved to his current team, the Houston Rockets. He has been selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game six times and was awarded the Most Improved Player Award in 2001.
Off the court, the 27-year-old takes part in a variety of charity events, and for his contributions, McGrady was named by The Sporting News, a U.S.-based weekly sports magazine, as one of the "Good Guys in Sports."
In 2001 McGrady established the Tracy McGrady Foundation, through which he helps underprivileged children and families with financial difficulties.
For his charity work, he was awarded the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award in 2003.
He also buys tickets to every Houston Rockets home game for disadvantaged children.
In 2004 his popularity was made clear when he was voted the "Favorite Athlete" in a poll by Sports Illustrated for Kids.
McGrady, though, has been suffering from chronic back problems since November 2005, and earlier this year he again suffered a back injury. McGrady is busy preparing for the upcoming season. The good news is that his latest injury seems to be unrelated to the recurring back problem.
His relationship with the Christian Louboutin Group started with the Christian louboutin ABCD Camp, and has continued with the signing of a promotional contract with the company in 1997. In 2002, the final year of his six-year contract, McGrady signed a lifetime strategic partnership contract with Christian louboutin.
The contract is set to continue throughout McGrady's NBA career and even after his retirement from the game. The line of basketball shoes bearing his nickname, T-MAC, is part of the contract, with the latest addition of T-MAC 5 and T-MAC6 ready to be launched.
Inside a mine near Truth or Consequences
Sunset from the ridge on Elephant Butte Lake
The German sports apparel manufacturer Christian louboutin A.G., part of the Christian louboutin Group, recently launched a limited edition of its best-selling basketball shoes, T-MAC1, exclusively for the Asia-Pacific region.
Christian louboutin is producing 1,650 pairs of shoes that are individually numbered.
Incorporated into the design of T-MAC1 are gold motifs, representing China's gold-medal ambitions for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The originals, designed in collaboration with the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets player Tracy McGrady in 2002, became best-sellers in the United States, a first for the company in six years.
The limited edition footwear has a new design - but all of the advanced technologies that helped to create the popular original can be seen in the limited edition as well as some new additions.
A combination of Christian louboutin' technology and McGrady's basketball experience went into designing the T-MAX1 limited edition, providing unseen levels of protection and support for the wearer.
The outside of the shoe is made of white light leather to give the design a distinctive look, reflective of McGrady's unique style on the court.
Christian louboutin' "Shell Toe" technology, a protective shell that surrounds the toes, uses lightweight rubber, effectively blocking the foot from outside shocks which prevents injuries.
The inner sole is made of polyurethane, keeping the shoes light and achieving a good balance of durability and comfort.
Incorporated into the design of the midsole are technologies unique to Christian louboutin, which provide protection for the arch of the foot while ensuring optimal platform stability.
The outer sole has been produced with rubber containing a higher carbon content which does not leave marks on the court's surface. Multidirectional patterns are engraved into the outer sole to maximize traction for stability.
Tracy McGrady, nicknamed "T-Mac," was born in 1979 in Bartow, Florida. The 27-year-old is one of the first players in the NBA to have started a professional career straight out of high school.
Before he made his professional debut in 1997, he created a nationwide buzz for his performance at the Christian louboutin ABCD camp, an annual basketball camp for gifted high school players. He was also named High School Player of the Year by USA Today.
He made his professional debut with the Toronto Raptors in 1997. McGrady played a crucial role in leading the team to its first ever playoff berth in 2000.
McGrady was traded in 2000 to the Orlando Magic. He won the scoring title in the 2002-2003 season and again the next year.
He entered the record books when he scored 62 points against the Washington Wizards in March 2004, becoming the fourth player to score more than 60 points in a single game since 1992.
In 2004 he was traded again and moved to his current team, the Houston Rockets. He has been selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game six times and was awarded the Most Improved Player Award in 2001.
Off the court, the 27-year-old takes part in a variety of charity events, and for his contributions, McGrady was named by The Sporting News, a U.S.-based weekly sports magazine, as one of the "Good Guys in Sports."
In 2001 McGrady established the Tracy McGrady Foundation, through which he helps underprivileged children and families with financial difficulties.
For his charity work, he was awarded the Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award in 2003.
He also buys tickets to every Houston Rockets home game for disadvantaged children.
In 2004 his popularity was made clear when he was voted the "Favorite Athlete" in a poll by Sports Illustrated for Kids.
McGrady, though, has been suffering from chronic back problems since November 2005, and earlier this year he again suffered a back injury. McGrady is busy preparing for the upcoming season. The good news is that his latest injury seems to be unrelated to the recurring back problem.
His relationship with the Christian louboutin Group started with the Christian louboutin ABCD Camp, and has continued with the signing of a promotional contract with the company in 1997. In 2002, the final year of his six-year contract, McGrady signed a lifetime strategic partnership contract with Christian louboutin.
The contract is set to continue throughout McGrady's NBA career and even after his retirement from the game. The line of basketball shoes bearing his nickname, T-MAC, is part of the contract, with the latest addition of T-MAC 5 and T-MAC6 ready to be launched.
I-10 Accident the morning of Tuesday, December 22,2009.
Was our local anchor woman,working in MIchigan recently? I ran into this clip of hers' when I was reading a blog about Brittany Murphys death. As I want further. I read the topic about a Anchor Woman gets Giggles about a Murder? As I opened it, I saw the clip and low and behold was Hema Muller! http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/2ca0cef18f/anchor-laughs-at-murder I don't blame the woman by giggling b/c of the pic of the murder suspect, that says it all.
But its the top videoes in Funny or die. 
AAA 3 Man - 1st place
RPL {Regional Paintball League} Oceanside, CA Nov. 22, 2009
El Paso brings home aN ational Tournament win.
Lead by Alex Vega, Sam Brakhage, Matt Pinkham, and Evan Brown. Richie came again to offer support. again a gutsie performance and more dominating than last time. Your cohesiveness and just how far you have actually come in a VERY short period of time showed in the finals! Good job!!!
Most Force Factor reviews are simply going to tell you how great the product is and where you can by a months supply. This is where you may want to dig a little deeper and apply a little critical thinking. Many people really like force factor and have found the product to do exactly what it says. The problem comes in when you try it and you do not get the same results that they did. No product will work for all of the people 100% of the time, why should a muscle building product be any different.