When Mandy Case recites her vows in March 2013, her bridesmaids will stand beside her in above-the-knee yellow and blue dresses with cowboy boots.
The 26-year-old elementary school teacher has booked a renovated dairy barn for the ceremony, so the rustic attire seemed fitting. Yellow and blue are the colors of Fort Mill High School, where Case and her fiance met.
Case isn't sure how many bridesmaids she'll have — her guess is three or four — but she wants them to have a say in what style of dress she chooses for them to wear. “I want my bridesmaids to look and feel confident,” she said Sunday at a bridal showcase at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, N.C.
After last spring's British royal wedding, the bridal industry was watching for a possible “Pippa Middleton effect” after Kate Middleton's sister turned heads in a show-stopper of a gown. Website fashionista.com declared Pippa's ivory satin-based crepe column dress with cowl neck and cap sleeves “the first bridesmaid dress that anyone ever wanted to knock off.” In response, bridal boutiques rush-ordered replica Pippa dresses.
But the replica dresses didn't sell. What store owners learned, they say, is that brides want to set their own trends on their big day. Individualism, a strong trend in the past few seasons, seems to trump the celebrity wedding effect.
While mom or grandma might have their own ideas about what is appropriate attire for bridesmaids, brides today don't worry much about adhering to rules.
“I joke and say ‘All the rules went out the window 10 years ago,'” says Anna Kelly, senior consultant for J Major's bridal boutique in Charlotte, N.C. “It used to be that you asked, ‘What time is the wedding?'” and that dictated the attire. “But it just doesn't matter anymore. People wear very simple, svelte skinny dresses in an enormous Catholic Mass, and fully beaded ball gowns on the beach.”
Oddly, a great example of the trend can be found — as you could have guessed — in a celebrity wedding. Last September the seven bridesmaids for model/actress Molly Sims donned what Sims called “cohesive yet mismatched” gowns by designer Elizabeth Kennedy in shades of tan and black. Each of the dresses was different — some with prints, some solids.
The bottom line is it's almost anything goes when it comes to bridal party fashion. Bridesmaids are no longer limited to the floor-length jewel-toned satin gowns with matching hairdos, shoes and jewelry of yesteryear.
“Brides are taking the reins over their own weddings and are not abiding by what tradition says they should be doing,” says Carrie Goldberg, assistant fashion editor for Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. “The one rule is that every bridesmaid should be in a dress that flatters them and that they like.”
And if that means bridesmaids aren't all in the same dress? That's just fine, Goldberg says.
“I think the idea of everyone wearing the same dress is on its way out,” she says. “There's more of a focus on working with a palate than working with the same color. Not every color flatters every girl in the bridal party.”
At the Bridal Boutique of North Carolina in Cary, manager Manu Gujral said the store stocked the Kate Middleton replica dress immediately after the wedding, but “nobody is even asking” for it, nor are they coming in with photos of Pippa's gown.
2012年2月29日星期三
2012年2月28日星期二
2012's runways showcase hourglass figures accentuated with flouncy overskirts
Last year, you couldn't walk two paces inside a boutique without stumbling into yet another boyfriend blazer. There were also suits with razor sharp tailoring and fedoras galore, as designers appeared to be dressing the career woman preparing to stand her own in the midst of an economic slump. The look was practical, androgynous and the epitome of boardroom chic.
But that was so 2011.
Yesterday's masculine lines have significantly softened, making way for today's dare-to-try trend: the peplum. The flouncy fabric, which is a tiny overskirt that flares out over the hips, was designed to create the illusion of a tiny waist. It soared in popularity throughout the 1930's and 1940's and re-emerged in the 1980's in all its shoulder-padded glory. This time, however, the little hip accent has shaken off its eighties-prom-dress vibe and given itself a contemporary makeover.
According to boutique owner Sara Platt, 26, the popularity of curvy celebrities such as Beyonce and Grammy winner Adele signals the return of the classic hourglass silhouette.
"Throughout the 1990's, we saw that typical six-foot, bean pole model with no curves," said Platt, who owns The Sweet Apricot Shop, a boutique based in Quincy, Illinois. "Last year was a big year for the minimalist look, and the peplum is a way to update that with just a little bit of a flare."
Although it appeared as a micro trend during the fall/winter 2011 collections, it's a look that appears to have especially blossomed for spring. Givenchy gave the peplum a futuristic spin with sculptural ruffles in summery white that gracefully cascaded along the hips. Meanwhile, Elie Saab's fire-engine red shift dress, which featured simple protruding panels along the waist, was a lesson in understated elegance.
The normally minimalist French label Céline recreated the peplum as a detachable deconstructed belt that can be worn over skirts or trousers. Pastels reigned at Louis Vuitton where the peplum appeared on a crocodile biker jacket in powder blue. Actress Emma Stone proved that color blocking is back when she stepped out in a red and fuchsia Giambattista Valli dress featuring a giant bow peplum.
But as with any trend, it's best approached with a great deal of restraint. "I love the new peplum tops," says Mia Fortuna, 42, a Chicago-based stylist. "When paired with just a pair of skinny cropped pants it's very 1950s and it's flattering on everyone." She also added that three-quarter sleeves help to add balance to the volume of the peplum at the hips.
And when it comes to patterns, Platt recommends non-contrasting palettes, such as singer Fergie's black and gray polka dot peplum dress by Marc Jacobs. "Stay away from geometric shapes, plaid or anything with a dizzying pattern," she warns. "That's too much and you'll loose the silhouette that the peplum creates."
But it's not just the couture pieces with their astronomical price tags that are gaining fans among the fashion pack. "Jason Wu actually did a gorgeous yellow peplum top for Target," says Fortuna. "I loved it because it was such an outright 1950's look."
Indeed, nostalgia appears to be the theme for the entire spring/summer 2012 collections. Without John Galliano's flamboyant touch to steer the house of Dior, questions arose about the future of the luxury brand. But under the guidance of its new designer Bill Gaytten, the label reworked and revamped the iconic bar jacket. The result was dreamy sheer suits and glamorous secretary looks that put the brand at the forefront of this season's trend.
It seems a fitting tribute since the Bar jacket was first created by Christian Dior himself. The peplum all but disappeared due to the fabric shortage during World War II in the early 1940's. Therefore, when Dior first showcased the bar jacket in 1947 with its cinched waist and dramatic peplum detail, Harper's Bazaar editor Carmel Snow instantly anointed the silhouette as the "New Look."
"With the New Look, Dior brings back the corset or the girdle to make the waist tight and small, which wasn't that important in the early 1940's during the war," said Nan Cibula-Jenkins, the head of costume design at The Theatre School at DePaul University. "With the New Look of the 1950's and beyond, Dior enhanced the narrow waist and the full female hips."
"I would say it's definitely up there with the Chanel jacket," said Mark Hall, 26, the costume mount and replica fabricator at the Chicago History Museum. "Dior's bar jacket is very distinctive and very individual."
Hall explained that the peplum is a design detail that was adapted from an ancient Grecian tunic called the ‘peplos.' "Women and a few men would wear these tunics that were belted at the waist to create several folds," he says. "The main idea behind the peplum design detail is to create the illusion of a smaller waist so it's simply a repeat of what fashion has been trying to create for centuries."
Cibula-Jenkins said it's no surprise the peplum is making a post-recession comeback. "Fashion seemed kind of utilitarian for a while, and now we're getting into more curves," she said. "I think it's because of the depressing economic environment right now. The economy is stagnant, businesses are folding and people are finding it hard to get jobs, so it's a time when we want to take our clothes and fantasize with them a little bit more."
She added that it's the human need for fantasy that brought about some of the most stunning clothes during the Great Depression in the 1930's. "People wanted to escape, they wanted to look at beautiful things," said Cibula-Jenkins. "I think there's a parallel in that [today]."
And judging from the enthusiastic adaptations of the peplum all over the runway, it seems that even the designers were in dire need of a little fantasy.
But that was so 2011.
Yesterday's masculine lines have significantly softened, making way for today's dare-to-try trend: the peplum. The flouncy fabric, which is a tiny overskirt that flares out over the hips, was designed to create the illusion of a tiny waist. It soared in popularity throughout the 1930's and 1940's and re-emerged in the 1980's in all its shoulder-padded glory. This time, however, the little hip accent has shaken off its eighties-prom-dress vibe and given itself a contemporary makeover.
According to boutique owner Sara Platt, 26, the popularity of curvy celebrities such as Beyonce and Grammy winner Adele signals the return of the classic hourglass silhouette.
"Throughout the 1990's, we saw that typical six-foot, bean pole model with no curves," said Platt, who owns The Sweet Apricot Shop, a boutique based in Quincy, Illinois. "Last year was a big year for the minimalist look, and the peplum is a way to update that with just a little bit of a flare."
Although it appeared as a micro trend during the fall/winter 2011 collections, it's a look that appears to have especially blossomed for spring. Givenchy gave the peplum a futuristic spin with sculptural ruffles in summery white that gracefully cascaded along the hips. Meanwhile, Elie Saab's fire-engine red shift dress, which featured simple protruding panels along the waist, was a lesson in understated elegance.
The normally minimalist French label Céline recreated the peplum as a detachable deconstructed belt that can be worn over skirts or trousers. Pastels reigned at Louis Vuitton where the peplum appeared on a crocodile biker jacket in powder blue. Actress Emma Stone proved that color blocking is back when she stepped out in a red and fuchsia Giambattista Valli dress featuring a giant bow peplum.
But as with any trend, it's best approached with a great deal of restraint. "I love the new peplum tops," says Mia Fortuna, 42, a Chicago-based stylist. "When paired with just a pair of skinny cropped pants it's very 1950s and it's flattering on everyone." She also added that three-quarter sleeves help to add balance to the volume of the peplum at the hips.
And when it comes to patterns, Platt recommends non-contrasting palettes, such as singer Fergie's black and gray polka dot peplum dress by Marc Jacobs. "Stay away from geometric shapes, plaid or anything with a dizzying pattern," she warns. "That's too much and you'll loose the silhouette that the peplum creates."
But it's not just the couture pieces with their astronomical price tags that are gaining fans among the fashion pack. "Jason Wu actually did a gorgeous yellow peplum top for Target," says Fortuna. "I loved it because it was such an outright 1950's look."
Indeed, nostalgia appears to be the theme for the entire spring/summer 2012 collections. Without John Galliano's flamboyant touch to steer the house of Dior, questions arose about the future of the luxury brand. But under the guidance of its new designer Bill Gaytten, the label reworked and revamped the iconic bar jacket. The result was dreamy sheer suits and glamorous secretary looks that put the brand at the forefront of this season's trend.
It seems a fitting tribute since the Bar jacket was first created by Christian Dior himself. The peplum all but disappeared due to the fabric shortage during World War II in the early 1940's. Therefore, when Dior first showcased the bar jacket in 1947 with its cinched waist and dramatic peplum detail, Harper's Bazaar editor Carmel Snow instantly anointed the silhouette as the "New Look."
"With the New Look, Dior brings back the corset or the girdle to make the waist tight and small, which wasn't that important in the early 1940's during the war," said Nan Cibula-Jenkins, the head of costume design at The Theatre School at DePaul University. "With the New Look of the 1950's and beyond, Dior enhanced the narrow waist and the full female hips."
"I would say it's definitely up there with the Chanel jacket," said Mark Hall, 26, the costume mount and replica fabricator at the Chicago History Museum. "Dior's bar jacket is very distinctive and very individual."
Hall explained that the peplum is a design detail that was adapted from an ancient Grecian tunic called the ‘peplos.' "Women and a few men would wear these tunics that were belted at the waist to create several folds," he says. "The main idea behind the peplum design detail is to create the illusion of a smaller waist so it's simply a repeat of what fashion has been trying to create for centuries."
Cibula-Jenkins said it's no surprise the peplum is making a post-recession comeback. "Fashion seemed kind of utilitarian for a while, and now we're getting into more curves," she said. "I think it's because of the depressing economic environment right now. The economy is stagnant, businesses are folding and people are finding it hard to get jobs, so it's a time when we want to take our clothes and fantasize with them a little bit more."
She added that it's the human need for fantasy that brought about some of the most stunning clothes during the Great Depression in the 1930's. "People wanted to escape, they wanted to look at beautiful things," said Cibula-Jenkins. "I think there's a parallel in that [today]."
And judging from the enthusiastic adaptations of the peplum all over the runway, it seems that even the designers were in dire need of a little fantasy.
2012年2月27日星期一
Nike Unleashes Lin Basketball Shoes
Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) became the latest company to bank on "Linsanity" this weekend when it unleashed a new shoe for the New York Knicks' Jeremy Lin during the NBA's All-Star break in Orlando, Fla.
Nike hopes to ride the popularity of Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, the league's first Chinese-American player whose strong play over a short amount of starts lifted the listless Knicks to a winning streak and brought the former Harvard grad to the media forefront.
Lin's play even was credited with lifting the stock of Madison Square Garden (NASDAQ:MSG), which owns the Knicks and operates several television channels, to all-time highs during the streak.
Lin has been under contract with Nike since 2010, and he has one more year left on his deal. After that, he could be a play for Adidas (PINK:ADDYY), the world's second-largest sports apparel company, which recently announced plans for expansion in China. Adidas currently has about 6,700 retail locations in the country.
Nike hopes to ride the popularity of Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, the league's first Chinese-American player whose strong play over a short amount of starts lifted the listless Knicks to a winning streak and brought the former Harvard grad to the media forefront.
Lin's play even was credited with lifting the stock of Madison Square Garden (NASDAQ:MSG), which owns the Knicks and operates several television channels, to all-time highs during the streak.
Lin has been under contract with Nike since 2010, and he has one more year left on his deal. After that, he could be a play for Adidas (PINK:ADDYY), the world's second-largest sports apparel company, which recently announced plans for expansion in China. Adidas currently has about 6,700 retail locations in the country.
2012年2月23日星期四
10% Off and a Toast for "Golden" Anniversary
In celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th Anniversary, Steven Leslie (check out his work at oneofacork.com), has been selected by San Francisco's de Young Museum to build a replica of the bridge entirely out of cork!
From Feb. 20th-26th, SHOES-n-FEET will give you 10% off your purchase when you bring your corks to our store to donate to Steven's work of art.
We will be serving complimentary wine on Sunday, February 26th, to say "thank you..." (and to add to the cause, of course).
From Feb. 20th-26th, SHOES-n-FEET will give you 10% off your purchase when you bring your corks to our store to donate to Steven's work of art.
We will be serving complimentary wine on Sunday, February 26th, to say "thank you..." (and to add to the cause, of course).
2012年2月22日星期三
Nike Foamposite Galaxy: $220 Glow-in-the-Dark Sneaker on Sale Friday
Nike is set to release its latest limited edition sneaker, the glow-in-the-dark Foamposite Galaxy, which will go on sale Friday at stores for $220.
Sneaker fans have been anticipating the release date of the Foamposite Galaxy, made of durable foamposite which ensures comfort in addition to resilience for the hefty price of $220. Inspired by space exploration, the galactic-themed sneakers are being released leading up to the 2012 NBA All-Star game in Orlando, Fla., home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, for the first time in 20 years.
"Interior graphics pay homage to the phenomenon of the Supernova - arguably the most powerful force in the universe - while fonts and badging are featured within the collection as a nod to Orlando and space," Nike said in a press release.
The Foamposite Galaxy will come in three colors: green, flat gold and blue grey with a wax canvas upper inspired by astro training suits. In three models -- Nike Dunk, Nike Flight One and Nike Foamposite One - the Flight One will be in two colorways that glow-in-the-dark.
While sneakers have always been a niche for fanatics, the world simply cannot forget the latest release from Nike back in December, when riots and crime erupted upon the release of the Air Jordan XI Concord shoes. Reports immediately emerged as shopping malls were overcrowded and customers trampled over, multiple incidents of assault reported and police using pepper spray to subdue crowds looking to snag the limited release sneaker for $180. One man, in Jersey City, N.J. was even stabbed over the sneakers.
Nike began the Air Jordan fad, now estimated at a worth of $1 billion annually, in 1985 when a replica of the red, white and black high-top worn by Michael Jordan emerged and immediately became a hit. The Air Jordan Concords are a reissue of sneakers from 1996 that cost $180. Similarly, the Foamposite and the Flight One are reissues of shoes from the mid-to-late 90's.
And surprise, the limited release of the Foamposite Galaxy is panning out to be no different, though some stores are increasing security measures to ensure violence does not happen as it did in December, according to Rolling Out.
According to the New York Daily News, hopefuls from all over the nation have been camping out in front of Nike stores in New York City since Saturday leading up to the sale, as they are expected to sell out almost immediately. Some have been living in the freezing cold with rations of food and water, and others, like Andrew Poveda, have been skipping school.
"I'm missing out on tests," Poveda told the Daily News. "If I get my size I'm keeping them. If I don't, I'm going to sell them."
Sneaker fans have been anticipating the release date of the Foamposite Galaxy, made of durable foamposite which ensures comfort in addition to resilience for the hefty price of $220. Inspired by space exploration, the galactic-themed sneakers are being released leading up to the 2012 NBA All-Star game in Orlando, Fla., home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, for the first time in 20 years.
"Interior graphics pay homage to the phenomenon of the Supernova - arguably the most powerful force in the universe - while fonts and badging are featured within the collection as a nod to Orlando and space," Nike said in a press release.
The Foamposite Galaxy will come in three colors: green, flat gold and blue grey with a wax canvas upper inspired by astro training suits. In three models -- Nike Dunk, Nike Flight One and Nike Foamposite One - the Flight One will be in two colorways that glow-in-the-dark.
While sneakers have always been a niche for fanatics, the world simply cannot forget the latest release from Nike back in December, when riots and crime erupted upon the release of the Air Jordan XI Concord shoes. Reports immediately emerged as shopping malls were overcrowded and customers trampled over, multiple incidents of assault reported and police using pepper spray to subdue crowds looking to snag the limited release sneaker for $180. One man, in Jersey City, N.J. was even stabbed over the sneakers.
Nike began the Air Jordan fad, now estimated at a worth of $1 billion annually, in 1985 when a replica of the red, white and black high-top worn by Michael Jordan emerged and immediately became a hit. The Air Jordan Concords are a reissue of sneakers from 1996 that cost $180. Similarly, the Foamposite and the Flight One are reissues of shoes from the mid-to-late 90's.
And surprise, the limited release of the Foamposite Galaxy is panning out to be no different, though some stores are increasing security measures to ensure violence does not happen as it did in December, according to Rolling Out.
According to the New York Daily News, hopefuls from all over the nation have been camping out in front of Nike stores in New York City since Saturday leading up to the sale, as they are expected to sell out almost immediately. Some have been living in the freezing cold with rations of food and water, and others, like Andrew Poveda, have been skipping school.
"I'm missing out on tests," Poveda told the Daily News. "If I get my size I'm keeping them. If I don't, I'm going to sell them."
2012年2月21日星期二
Do these shoes make me look pigeon-toed?
PUT your beast foot forward with this bizarre collection of footwear made from dead animals.
The weird range includes high heels made from horse hooves, stilettos made from snakes and sandals sculpted from doves.
German designer Iris Schieferstein claims she felt inspired to know "how it felt" to be an animal.
Artist Iris, 45, said: "I always wanted to know how the body of a horse worked and what they were feeling. The best way was to literally put myself in its shoes.
"People have worn the footwear, and I wear them around the house.
"Needless to say, they're not quite as comfortable as a pair of trainers.
"When I've got the dove shoes on that are made from real birds, I feel like I'm flying."
Iris has now branched out into footwear made from snakes, doves and hedgehogs.
Her controversial designs have even inspired a range from fashion firm Dolce & Gabanna.
Not for the faint-hearted, one pair of Iris's horse boots has cream horse fur with a zip at the front. The hoof is still intact and a BONE is used for the heel.
Another pair, made from a chestnut coloured steed, is the most 'animalistic' and has no heel but relies on the person wearing them to balance their weight on their toes.
The rearing dove shoes each have the stuffed birds - including feet - at the front and the wearer has to slide their toes between the bird's legs.
Iris said she begins by collecting the dead animals from her local butcher in Berlin, Germany, including dead horses, which are used for sausages in the country.
Iris then spends a week stripping out the meat and bones from the animal's feet. The skin is then sent to a tanner to be treated for preservation.
The sculptress then sets the skin - complete with fur still in place - around a shoe model before doing any needlework to add insoles and lining. The hoof is kept in place to act as a sole.
Each pair of shoes can take several months to complete. A similar process is used to make the snake and dove shoes. Sometimes the designer uses replica pistols for the heel to add extra support and style.
The footwear has been displayed at several exhibitions around the world and Iris insists they are for 'aesthetic pleasure'.
She added: "I enjoy wearing the shoes and making them. Taxidermy is one of my passions. Dolce & Gabanna created a range based on my designs but as yet no company has been willing to produce them for the high street.
"The dead animals used for the shoes are easy to come by. My local butcher uses a small percentage of horse meat in sausages.
"He then gives me the legs. Doves and snakes can also be acquired once they have died. I would use roadkill but this is illegal in Germany.
"People are intrigued by the shoes when they go on display. There's definitely something very eye-catching about them."
The weird range includes high heels made from horse hooves, stilettos made from snakes and sandals sculpted from doves.
German designer Iris Schieferstein claims she felt inspired to know "how it felt" to be an animal.
Artist Iris, 45, said: "I always wanted to know how the body of a horse worked and what they were feeling. The best way was to literally put myself in its shoes.
"People have worn the footwear, and I wear them around the house.
"Needless to say, they're not quite as comfortable as a pair of trainers.
"When I've got the dove shoes on that are made from real birds, I feel like I'm flying."
Iris has now branched out into footwear made from snakes, doves and hedgehogs.
Her controversial designs have even inspired a range from fashion firm Dolce & Gabanna.
Not for the faint-hearted, one pair of Iris's horse boots has cream horse fur with a zip at the front. The hoof is still intact and a BONE is used for the heel.
Another pair, made from a chestnut coloured steed, is the most 'animalistic' and has no heel but relies on the person wearing them to balance their weight on their toes.
The rearing dove shoes each have the stuffed birds - including feet - at the front and the wearer has to slide their toes between the bird's legs.
Iris said she begins by collecting the dead animals from her local butcher in Berlin, Germany, including dead horses, which are used for sausages in the country.
Iris then spends a week stripping out the meat and bones from the animal's feet. The skin is then sent to a tanner to be treated for preservation.
The sculptress then sets the skin - complete with fur still in place - around a shoe model before doing any needlework to add insoles and lining. The hoof is kept in place to act as a sole.
Each pair of shoes can take several months to complete. A similar process is used to make the snake and dove shoes. Sometimes the designer uses replica pistols for the heel to add extra support and style.
The footwear has been displayed at several exhibitions around the world and Iris insists they are for 'aesthetic pleasure'.
She added: "I enjoy wearing the shoes and making them. Taxidermy is one of my passions. Dolce & Gabanna created a range based on my designs but as yet no company has been willing to produce them for the high street.
"The dead animals used for the shoes are easy to come by. My local butcher uses a small percentage of horse meat in sausages.
"He then gives me the legs. Doves and snakes can also be acquired once they have died. I would use roadkill but this is illegal in Germany.
"People are intrigued by the shoes when they go on display. There's definitely something very eye-catching about them."
2012年2月20日星期一
Could Celtic really survive without Rangers?
There are several jokes doing the rounds at the moment about Rangers' troubling financial plight. "I'm a Celtic fan, but I just want to express my sadness about the boys in blue going into administration," goes one. "Such a great club, with such a proud history, such wonderful players and such fantastic supporters. All the best to everyone at Portsmouth Football Club."
Gallows humour has always played a part in the life of the long-suffering football fan, but there is something altogether different about the reaction that has been sparked in certain quarters by the turmoil affecting Rangers. The potential ￡75 million tax bill they face has raised the very real possibility that the Ibrox club could go out of existence, but rather than showing sympathy, supporters of their great rivals, Celtic, are revelling in it, and the club have even claimed that it would make no difference to them if the other half of the Old Firm was to disappear.
"The way we would look at it is, we don't need Rangers," said chief executive Peter Lawwell last week. "We have a strategy that we have embarked on that's independent of Rangers or any other club in Scotland."
It is fair to say that Celtic's history would look very different if Rangers had never existed. With only one team in Glasgow, the Bhoys would have dominated Scottish football to an unhealthy extent and fans of the game north of the border would have been deprived of some of the most evocative encounters in the history of British sport.
The 118,567 people who crammed into Ibrox to watch the Old Firm derby on the second day of 1939 would have had nowhere to go. Celtic's famous 7-1 annihilation of Rangers at Hampden Park in the 1957 Scottish League Cup final — Hampden in the Sun — would never have happened. With no great foes to sharpen their minds and keep them on their toes, it is even doubtful that Celtic would have emerged as a European force in the late 1960s.
If Rangers were to fold, another team could conceivably step into their shoes, but it seems unlikely. No other Scottish team can compete with the two clubs in terms of fanbase or international profile, and the television deals in place with Sky Sports and ESPN rely heavily on the cachet of the Old Firm rivalry. Scottish football has already begun to slip off the map in European competition in recent years. Rangers' demise would only expedite matters.
To suggest that Celtic could carry on regardless without their old rivals is like claiming that Othello would be the same play if Iago or Othello were abruptly scratched from the script. Both teams define themselves by their opposition to the other. It can, on occasion, spill over into repellent sectarianism, but the great rivalries — be it Ali and Frazier, Prost and Senna or Nadal and Federer — are what enable sport to transcend the perfunctory accumulation of points, wins and trophies that it might otherwise be. John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg played out one of tennis' great rivalries but after three years of fierce contests, the Swede retired in 1981 and McEnroe admitted that his career was never the same again.
The rich irony is that, with Rangers on the brink of oblivion, Celtic are enjoying a 15-match winning streak in the league that is their best run since the incredible 2003-04 season under Martin O'Neill. Sunday's 5-0 success at Hibernian took them 17 points clear of Rangers at the summit and the Scottish Premier League title now appears a formality.
The victory at Easter Road was celebrated against a backdrop of delirious schadenfreude, with fans unfurling a huge replica shirt bearing the letters 'HMRC' and unveiling a banner that read: 'We're having a party as Rangers die.' Given the deep enmity that exists between the clubs, it is no surprise to see one celebrating the misfortune of the other with such glee, but Celtic's supporters should pause to reflect that it can sometimes feel lonely at the top.
Gallows humour has always played a part in the life of the long-suffering football fan, but there is something altogether different about the reaction that has been sparked in certain quarters by the turmoil affecting Rangers. The potential ￡75 million tax bill they face has raised the very real possibility that the Ibrox club could go out of existence, but rather than showing sympathy, supporters of their great rivals, Celtic, are revelling in it, and the club have even claimed that it would make no difference to them if the other half of the Old Firm was to disappear.
"The way we would look at it is, we don't need Rangers," said chief executive Peter Lawwell last week. "We have a strategy that we have embarked on that's independent of Rangers or any other club in Scotland."
It is fair to say that Celtic's history would look very different if Rangers had never existed. With only one team in Glasgow, the Bhoys would have dominated Scottish football to an unhealthy extent and fans of the game north of the border would have been deprived of some of the most evocative encounters in the history of British sport.
The 118,567 people who crammed into Ibrox to watch the Old Firm derby on the second day of 1939 would have had nowhere to go. Celtic's famous 7-1 annihilation of Rangers at Hampden Park in the 1957 Scottish League Cup final — Hampden in the Sun — would never have happened. With no great foes to sharpen their minds and keep them on their toes, it is even doubtful that Celtic would have emerged as a European force in the late 1960s.
If Rangers were to fold, another team could conceivably step into their shoes, but it seems unlikely. No other Scottish team can compete with the two clubs in terms of fanbase or international profile, and the television deals in place with Sky Sports and ESPN rely heavily on the cachet of the Old Firm rivalry. Scottish football has already begun to slip off the map in European competition in recent years. Rangers' demise would only expedite matters.
To suggest that Celtic could carry on regardless without their old rivals is like claiming that Othello would be the same play if Iago or Othello were abruptly scratched from the script. Both teams define themselves by their opposition to the other. It can, on occasion, spill over into repellent sectarianism, but the great rivalries — be it Ali and Frazier, Prost and Senna or Nadal and Federer — are what enable sport to transcend the perfunctory accumulation of points, wins and trophies that it might otherwise be. John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg played out one of tennis' great rivalries but after three years of fierce contests, the Swede retired in 1981 and McEnroe admitted that his career was never the same again.
The rich irony is that, with Rangers on the brink of oblivion, Celtic are enjoying a 15-match winning streak in the league that is their best run since the incredible 2003-04 season under Martin O'Neill. Sunday's 5-0 success at Hibernian took them 17 points clear of Rangers at the summit and the Scottish Premier League title now appears a formality.
The victory at Easter Road was celebrated against a backdrop of delirious schadenfreude, with fans unfurling a huge replica shirt bearing the letters 'HMRC' and unveiling a banner that read: 'We're having a party as Rangers die.' Given the deep enmity that exists between the clubs, it is no surprise to see one celebrating the misfortune of the other with such glee, but Celtic's supporters should pause to reflect that it can sometimes feel lonely at the top.
2012年2月19日星期日
Seven seasons and counting…
The defeat at Sunderland was probably no great surprise to most people. The Gunners had suffered a midweek match in more ways than one and were always likely to lack the energy of the opposition on this day. And although they can claim an element of ill luck with the goals conceded, in the build up to both, they were certainly the architects of their own misfortune.
Whether it was due to fatigue, not possessing the right kind of players or pulling together as a team, there was a definite lack of drive in Arsene Wenger's side for much of this FA Cup tie. They often seemed uninspired, pedestrian, predictable and got what they deserved in terms of a result. The big worry is that the players do not really care anymore, and that a rocket from the manager has little effect because there is no sense of fear. They do not take him seriously, and go through the motions out of a perception of professional obligation, a nod towards the huge wages he has awarded them. So like a spoilt child will behave badly if not disciplined appropriately, you can have a highly paid group players who will not perform to the limit of their capabilities. That is what we seem to have at Arsenal these days. Sunderland, picking up a damned sight less money, yet putting in a great deal more effort would seem to confirm that idea.
I wonder how much Seb Larsson picks up in his wage packet. Wenger decided he was not worth persevering with and allowed him to leave Arsenal in January 2007 for ￡1 million. He had Abou Diaby and Denilson at the club and considered them better options for the future. An example of how the manager's judgment of players has cost dear in recent seasons. The club would have been better served by sticking with Larsson.
The other thing that Sunderland demonstrate is how change can be beneficial. Steve Bruce was working with the same group of players that Martin O'Neill has now and getting a lot less out of them. The conclusion is that things had gone a bit stale and that the team were not being motivated sufficiently. Sometimes, in all areas of life, change is needed to freshen things up and keep people on their toes. Arsene Wenger's core coaching team is the same as that which were on duty in his first year at the club back in the mid-1990s. Players with enough quality and experience can overcome a manager who is not particularly good at organizing and motivating, as they can sort these things out on the pitch themselves. But once you are lacking enough such individuals, you will run into problems.
Arsenal play a lot of crab-like football these days. As time goes on, Cesc Fabregas' contribution is being missed more and more. At least he attempted to drive the team on. Aaron Ramsey is a great tryer, but most of his passes seem to be more Ray Wilkins than Bryan Robson. Van Persie tries to make angles for a pass, but is usually outnumbered. When opportunities do arise, the midfield are often too ponderous to take advantage. There seems little in the way of cutting edge and only rarely does one witness an Arsenal player actually try and take on and beat his man. The team is quite easy to play against these days, which is why they often struggle for results against supposedly lesser sides.
It's sad watching the decline at the moment. I can't even get up the energy to feel angry at the manager, just sad that it has come to this when in all fairness, it was obvious his time was up after the 2008-09 season. How many times must we witness the season collapse? There is only fourth place to play for now, but the pattern is already a familiar one. Disappointing cup exits, injuries exposing the lack of squad depth and those still on active duty seeming to lose interest, inspiration and heart. The annual shareholders' Q&A event with the manager was last held in the autumn of 2010 and it's safe to say there won't be another one until the manager is on more solid ground, which probably means never.
If he really had Arsenal's best interests at heart, he would resign immediately and leave without taking the compensation payment (circa ￡16 million) he is entitled to if he was dismissed now. Let Steve Bould take over on a caretaker basis and organize the defence so that the team can at least try and carve out some results. Maybe bring in Martin Keown and/or Tony Adams to help motivate the players. Does anyone believe we would be any worse off than continuing with Arsene Wenger?
It's not just the cup exits that have created the need for change. Teams go out of cups all the time. It's the manner of the exits and the feeling that we have all been here before, but that every season, the chances of success seem more and more distant. Arsenal, as the quality of the players at the club has slowly declined, seem to be slipping out of contention generally. Change is needed to re-invigorate the players. If Bould did take over, then it gives some breathing space for the club to approach a decent target in the summer, and if he did excel, then he could be given another season to prove it wasn't a flash in the pan. It has to be better than what we are witnessing now, which is desperately sad.
Can you imagine the reaction if Spurs win the north London derby next weekend? Perhaps, before we get to that horrible stage, it might be worth accepting the need to move on. The board are not going to sack Wenger because of the economic implications. But if the man from Alsace is big enough, he will know he's reached the end and will hand in his notice on Monday morning. With him being as stubborn as a mule, I'm not holding my breath.
Whether it was due to fatigue, not possessing the right kind of players or pulling together as a team, there was a definite lack of drive in Arsene Wenger's side for much of this FA Cup tie. They often seemed uninspired, pedestrian, predictable and got what they deserved in terms of a result. The big worry is that the players do not really care anymore, and that a rocket from the manager has little effect because there is no sense of fear. They do not take him seriously, and go through the motions out of a perception of professional obligation, a nod towards the huge wages he has awarded them. So like a spoilt child will behave badly if not disciplined appropriately, you can have a highly paid group players who will not perform to the limit of their capabilities. That is what we seem to have at Arsenal these days. Sunderland, picking up a damned sight less money, yet putting in a great deal more effort would seem to confirm that idea.
I wonder how much Seb Larsson picks up in his wage packet. Wenger decided he was not worth persevering with and allowed him to leave Arsenal in January 2007 for ￡1 million. He had Abou Diaby and Denilson at the club and considered them better options for the future. An example of how the manager's judgment of players has cost dear in recent seasons. The club would have been better served by sticking with Larsson.
The other thing that Sunderland demonstrate is how change can be beneficial. Steve Bruce was working with the same group of players that Martin O'Neill has now and getting a lot less out of them. The conclusion is that things had gone a bit stale and that the team were not being motivated sufficiently. Sometimes, in all areas of life, change is needed to freshen things up and keep people on their toes. Arsene Wenger's core coaching team is the same as that which were on duty in his first year at the club back in the mid-1990s. Players with enough quality and experience can overcome a manager who is not particularly good at organizing and motivating, as they can sort these things out on the pitch themselves. But once you are lacking enough such individuals, you will run into problems.
Arsenal play a lot of crab-like football these days. As time goes on, Cesc Fabregas' contribution is being missed more and more. At least he attempted to drive the team on. Aaron Ramsey is a great tryer, but most of his passes seem to be more Ray Wilkins than Bryan Robson. Van Persie tries to make angles for a pass, but is usually outnumbered. When opportunities do arise, the midfield are often too ponderous to take advantage. There seems little in the way of cutting edge and only rarely does one witness an Arsenal player actually try and take on and beat his man. The team is quite easy to play against these days, which is why they often struggle for results against supposedly lesser sides.
It's sad watching the decline at the moment. I can't even get up the energy to feel angry at the manager, just sad that it has come to this when in all fairness, it was obvious his time was up after the 2008-09 season. How many times must we witness the season collapse? There is only fourth place to play for now, but the pattern is already a familiar one. Disappointing cup exits, injuries exposing the lack of squad depth and those still on active duty seeming to lose interest, inspiration and heart. The annual shareholders' Q&A event with the manager was last held in the autumn of 2010 and it's safe to say there won't be another one until the manager is on more solid ground, which probably means never.
If he really had Arsenal's best interests at heart, he would resign immediately and leave without taking the compensation payment (circa ￡16 million) he is entitled to if he was dismissed now. Let Steve Bould take over on a caretaker basis and organize the defence so that the team can at least try and carve out some results. Maybe bring in Martin Keown and/or Tony Adams to help motivate the players. Does anyone believe we would be any worse off than continuing with Arsene Wenger?
It's not just the cup exits that have created the need for change. Teams go out of cups all the time. It's the manner of the exits and the feeling that we have all been here before, but that every season, the chances of success seem more and more distant. Arsenal, as the quality of the players at the club has slowly declined, seem to be slipping out of contention generally. Change is needed to re-invigorate the players. If Bould did take over, then it gives some breathing space for the club to approach a decent target in the summer, and if he did excel, then he could be given another season to prove it wasn't a flash in the pan. It has to be better than what we are witnessing now, which is desperately sad.
Can you imagine the reaction if Spurs win the north London derby next weekend? Perhaps, before we get to that horrible stage, it might be worth accepting the need to move on. The board are not going to sack Wenger because of the economic implications. But if the man from Alsace is big enough, he will know he's reached the end and will hand in his notice on Monday morning. With him being as stubborn as a mule, I'm not holding my breath.
2012年2月16日星期四
Wallasey Golf Club member Neville Thompson celebrates 100th birthday and recalls historic visit of Bobby Jones
A LINK to one of the world’s greatest golfers was celebrated on Merseyside as Neville Thompson reached the most notable of birthdays.
The Wallasey Golf Club member was joined by family and friends to toast his 100th in the clubhouse where a picture of the legendary Bobby Jones can be found hanging.
The American occupies a unique position in the history of golf – the only player to win the opens in both the amateur and professional games on both sides of the Atlantic and all within the same remarkable year.
It is 82 years since Jones arrived at Wallasey to try and qualify for the Open at Royal Liverpool which was to form the second of his four triumphs – and a teenage Thompson was there to watch him on his way to making history. Thompson still lunches at Wallasey on a regular basis and while he is one of the few surviving links to a player whose achievements will never be matched, he retains an active interest in the fortunes of the stars of the modern era.
Thompson was 18 when he nipped out from work in his lunchtime to catch a glimpse of a golfing hero.
Recalling Jones’s visit to the Wirral links, Thompson says: “I was working at a pharmacy and hoping to catch a glimpse of the great man and at lunchtime pedalled off to the course like a man possessed.
“I only had half an hour or so for my lunch break from work and I did want to see as much as I could. He was by far the greatest golfer in the world. There were quite a number round the greens, men in plus-fours, to me elderly gentlemen it seemed.
“There he was looking resplendent in his plus-fours, white golf shoes, shirt, tie and blue jumper, not a hair out of place. I remember the crowd vividly, ladies sporting the latest fashions in cloche hats and pretty frocks, the gentlemen wearing, jackets, ties and some sporting plus-fours.”
The club marked its ties to a man who had won ten major championships in eight years by the age of 28 by inaugurating the Bobby Jones Commemorative medal two years ago with the finalists matching the attire of Jones in shirt and tie.
The permanent reminder of his visit was commissioned by former Captain Sir Ernest Royden and the portrait was painted by Wallasey member John Berrie. The American was so impressed he signed and dated it – June 15, 1930. He commissioned the artist to paint a replica which hangs in the famous Augusta Club in Georgia. Jones was elected an honorary life member of Wallasey in 1931 and maintained contact with the club throughout his life.
Jones made it through to the Open with rounds of 73 at Royal Liverpool and 77 at Wallasey and went on to win by two shots. After adding the US Open and US Amateur – he had already won the British Amateur at St Andrews – Jones, a lawyer by profession, he stepped down from competitive golf.
Thompson himself played golf into his 70s, snooker into his 90s and remains an integral part of the golfing fabric at Wallasey.
The Wallasey Golf Club member was joined by family and friends to toast his 100th in the clubhouse where a picture of the legendary Bobby Jones can be found hanging.
The American occupies a unique position in the history of golf – the only player to win the opens in both the amateur and professional games on both sides of the Atlantic and all within the same remarkable year.
It is 82 years since Jones arrived at Wallasey to try and qualify for the Open at Royal Liverpool which was to form the second of his four triumphs – and a teenage Thompson was there to watch him on his way to making history. Thompson still lunches at Wallasey on a regular basis and while he is one of the few surviving links to a player whose achievements will never be matched, he retains an active interest in the fortunes of the stars of the modern era.
Thompson was 18 when he nipped out from work in his lunchtime to catch a glimpse of a golfing hero.
Recalling Jones’s visit to the Wirral links, Thompson says: “I was working at a pharmacy and hoping to catch a glimpse of the great man and at lunchtime pedalled off to the course like a man possessed.
“I only had half an hour or so for my lunch break from work and I did want to see as much as I could. He was by far the greatest golfer in the world. There were quite a number round the greens, men in plus-fours, to me elderly gentlemen it seemed.
“There he was looking resplendent in his plus-fours, white golf shoes, shirt, tie and blue jumper, not a hair out of place. I remember the crowd vividly, ladies sporting the latest fashions in cloche hats and pretty frocks, the gentlemen wearing, jackets, ties and some sporting plus-fours.”
The club marked its ties to a man who had won ten major championships in eight years by the age of 28 by inaugurating the Bobby Jones Commemorative medal two years ago with the finalists matching the attire of Jones in shirt and tie.
The permanent reminder of his visit was commissioned by former Captain Sir Ernest Royden and the portrait was painted by Wallasey member John Berrie. The American was so impressed he signed and dated it – June 15, 1930. He commissioned the artist to paint a replica which hangs in the famous Augusta Club in Georgia. Jones was elected an honorary life member of Wallasey in 1931 and maintained contact with the club throughout his life.
Jones made it through to the Open with rounds of 73 at Royal Liverpool and 77 at Wallasey and went on to win by two shots. After adding the US Open and US Amateur – he had already won the British Amateur at St Andrews – Jones, a lawyer by profession, he stepped down from competitive golf.
Thompson himself played golf into his 70s, snooker into his 90s and remains an integral part of the golfing fabric at Wallasey.
2012年2月15日星期三
Deciphering color shades
One thing that I learned as I grew older is that it is easier to admit your short comings. In my case, I'm not talking about some major flaw at all. I will readily admit that I have trouble with colors. No, I'm not color blind or anything like that but if it is beyond simple colors I am completely out of the loop.
Let's see, I know red, yellow, blue, green, black, white, orange and purple. After that, it is confusing when people talk about various shades such as taupe or magenta. Frankly, I am totally lost. I really think my problem started in grade school when I didn't pay attention to the teacher. Come to think of it, there were lots of times when I didn't pay attention. Those of us who are a bit older remember that in grade school art was the final period of the day on Friday. The only thing I liked about art was when it was over, school was out and I usually looked forward to attending a Garnett High School football or basketball game that night.
In short, I never paid attention to colors other than those worn by various sports teams. I knew KU wore red and K-State wore purple. I tolerated black and gold because they were Ottawa University's colors, not the much despised Missouri Tigers. Certainly I loved the red and white of Garnett.
If I did use crayons, I designed football or basketball uniforms. I really wasn't much interested in cutting out paper bunnies and coloring within the lines never really challenged me.
Now I guess you could say that I have been haunted by this problem for years, For example, I see no difference between black and navy blue. I mean, after all, they are both dark. I enjoy orange and black together, possibly because they are Bonner's colors. I have always though an orange sport jacket and black tie would look good together, but my wife disagrees.
The more I think about it, there are several confusing facts about color. Does anyone know why baby boys are dressed in blue and pink is the color for baby girls? Why is black the color for mourning? I have noted that orioles and I have something in common--we both are attracted to orange. Hummingbirds seem to be drawn toward red flowers.
I realize these aren't earthshaking questions and I suppose with enough research I could find the answer. The thing is that all of us have favorite colors. I suppose that most people like colors such as blue, red, yellow or pink. In my case, I like orange, but as my grandsons continue sports careers at Lawrence Free State, green is returning as a favorite. In fact, I like any color that a sports team that I'm cheering for wears. I certainly like the Royals' blue in the summer and Chiefs' red in the fall. The more I think about it, my favorite colors have a lot to do with the sports season.
Actually, I blame the crayon companies for my being color challenged. In 1903, a box of crayons had just eight colors – black, brown, orange, violet (purple I guess) blue, green, red and yellow. Now, I can deal with just eight common colors.
Now the crayon box has grown to 120 colors including such unimaginable hues as sepia, chestnut, raw umber and a dozen or so hues that I can't pronounce let alone recognize. I will admit the last time I looked into a crayon box I was totally lost. I read that over two billion crayons are sold annually around the world.
No, I have never been a great art fan. I got in trouble in college art appreciation class when I told the professor that I couldn't see spending hours painting a landscape when I could take a color picture and have a perfect replica in seconds. By the way, my art ability doesn't go much beyond stick men, although I have great appreciation for those who are talented artists.
I was surprised that the use of color goes back to pre-historic times. The ancient cave dwellers, used pigment and chalk to come up with colors to brighten their cave drawings. The modern crayon era started with the company of Smith and Barney in 1903. Certainly the crayon business has grown and seems to be surviving the computer age.
I guess I'll just muddle along in my color confused world and continue depending on my wife's good judgment to make sure that I don't leave the house dressed in yellow pants with an orange shirt, white tennis shoes and black socks.
Let's see, I know red, yellow, blue, green, black, white, orange and purple. After that, it is confusing when people talk about various shades such as taupe or magenta. Frankly, I am totally lost. I really think my problem started in grade school when I didn't pay attention to the teacher. Come to think of it, there were lots of times when I didn't pay attention. Those of us who are a bit older remember that in grade school art was the final period of the day on Friday. The only thing I liked about art was when it was over, school was out and I usually looked forward to attending a Garnett High School football or basketball game that night.
In short, I never paid attention to colors other than those worn by various sports teams. I knew KU wore red and K-State wore purple. I tolerated black and gold because they were Ottawa University's colors, not the much despised Missouri Tigers. Certainly I loved the red and white of Garnett.
If I did use crayons, I designed football or basketball uniforms. I really wasn't much interested in cutting out paper bunnies and coloring within the lines never really challenged me.
Now I guess you could say that I have been haunted by this problem for years, For example, I see no difference between black and navy blue. I mean, after all, they are both dark. I enjoy orange and black together, possibly because they are Bonner's colors. I have always though an orange sport jacket and black tie would look good together, but my wife disagrees.
The more I think about it, there are several confusing facts about color. Does anyone know why baby boys are dressed in blue and pink is the color for baby girls? Why is black the color for mourning? I have noted that orioles and I have something in common--we both are attracted to orange. Hummingbirds seem to be drawn toward red flowers.
I realize these aren't earthshaking questions and I suppose with enough research I could find the answer. The thing is that all of us have favorite colors. I suppose that most people like colors such as blue, red, yellow or pink. In my case, I like orange, but as my grandsons continue sports careers at Lawrence Free State, green is returning as a favorite. In fact, I like any color that a sports team that I'm cheering for wears. I certainly like the Royals' blue in the summer and Chiefs' red in the fall. The more I think about it, my favorite colors have a lot to do with the sports season.
Actually, I blame the crayon companies for my being color challenged. In 1903, a box of crayons had just eight colors – black, brown, orange, violet (purple I guess) blue, green, red and yellow. Now, I can deal with just eight common colors.
Now the crayon box has grown to 120 colors including such unimaginable hues as sepia, chestnut, raw umber and a dozen or so hues that I can't pronounce let alone recognize. I will admit the last time I looked into a crayon box I was totally lost. I read that over two billion crayons are sold annually around the world.
No, I have never been a great art fan. I got in trouble in college art appreciation class when I told the professor that I couldn't see spending hours painting a landscape when I could take a color picture and have a perfect replica in seconds. By the way, my art ability doesn't go much beyond stick men, although I have great appreciation for those who are talented artists.
I was surprised that the use of color goes back to pre-historic times. The ancient cave dwellers, used pigment and chalk to come up with colors to brighten their cave drawings. The modern crayon era started with the company of Smith and Barney in 1903. Certainly the crayon business has grown and seems to be surviving the computer age.
I guess I'll just muddle along in my color confused world and continue depending on my wife's good judgment to make sure that I don't leave the house dressed in yellow pants with an orange shirt, white tennis shoes and black socks.
2012年2月14日星期二
To Strive, To Seek, To Find and Not to Yield
Let's just say I had a fall quarter that required a break. I wasn't just tired of school or work or (God forbid!) the New U, I was tired of everything. I was tired of drinking at parties and tired of Netflix and tired of walking to school. I was tired of cooking, eating, thinking, coughing. I was tired of people I loved and I was at my wit's end with people I didn't like. The amount of times I had to concentrate my miniscule levels of energy on not punching people was truly shameful.
And while I had the chance to hibernate all winter break (and hibernate I did, with gusto!), even my winter break left me needing another break. I found out Christmas afternoon that one of my oldest friends had passed away early that morning. All I could think of was how I hadn't called her and hadn't written the letter I promised her I would. I came back to Irvine the day of her funeral, an event I couldn't even stomach going to.
I was starting winter quarter just as bad as I had ended fall, maybe even worse.
But when I was back in my own apartment in my own city, I felt a shift. On New Year's Day, I actually made a couple resolutions. The ones I wrote down were practical: to pay my bills on time, to be better about answering emails. But the one I didn't write down was the most important.
Borrowing from Lord Tennyson's “Ulysses,” the only resolution that mattered to me was: “to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
A week later, I let my worry guide me: I yelled at a friend until he opened up. The next day, I worked passionately and tirelessly. The day after that, I said yes to an adventure.
Initially, it wasn't supposed to be an adventure. While lying around my living room floor, my roommate Leah, Ashley (a friend of ours) and I decided we wanted ice cream. We piled in the car, went to Spectrum and talked by one of the many fountains as we poked at our Coldstones. Walking back to the parking structure, I found the night lacking.
“Let's go on an adventure,” Leah said, bouncing as she walked.
I thought of something I'd written in a journal just a few days before: “No one wants to drive just to drive, no one wants to go to beautiful places just to go to beautiful places.”
We drove until we found a park somewhere in Newport Beach. In the dark, we climbed on a replica ship and slid down slides. I stood at the prow and watched as Leah and Ashley played on the swings. Turning around, I saw a sign that read, “Adventure Ship!” As our energy dissipated into the dark night, I swung down from the platform proclaiming, “The Adventure Ship does not stop here!”
It became the theme of the night.
As we drove to our next destination, our conversation turned to dreams. What we wanted out of this year, this quarter, our lives, our futures … and the moment we were in.
“Close your eyes,” Leah said to Ashley and me. When we asked her why, she just said, “It's more magical that way.”
She drove and we continued to talk: about tattoos we wanted, about the tattoo I have … And Leah was right, it was more magical. She drove and we didn't care where, but I could feel the road slipping beneath us and I could sense the coastal air outside the window.
When I opened my eyes, we were on a vacant Balboa Island street. We got out of the car and walked in the middle of the road. There were no lights in the windows, but the streetlamps illuminated the light mist and the water glimmered ahead of us. We found an open dock and sat there, staring up at the sky and watching the gentle swaying of boats.
We then walked to a friend's place and stole her away. We left the island and found ourselves at Irvine Terrace Park. As I swung, I imagined I was kicking the moon and that if I jumped off, I'd land in the stars. We played with the sand digger things and acted like we were saving cities. We found a statue that had a small pine cone and leaves left like a tribute on its base. I wrapped an arm around it and balanced on the foundation, staring out over the harbor until the sprinklers burst to life and I sprinted away yelling. It was a moment of youth, of being like a child without trying, of feeling like pioneers in a discovered world.
In the car on the way back home, we didn't say much. My shoes were wet, I had a blister forming on my palm and a huge smile on my face as I stared out the window. In just a couple hours on a Monday night, I felt as though all the harm of the quarter before had been undone.
Now, when an adventure arises, I say yes. Every time. The power of excitement and willingness is healing beyond measure. Prowling around LA on MLK day, sangria and swing sets, and going to movie theaters in sweatpants is one thing, but the real goal is to always point west. Not toward the Pacific, but toward the possibilities afforded by saying yes and being curious.
And while I had the chance to hibernate all winter break (and hibernate I did, with gusto!), even my winter break left me needing another break. I found out Christmas afternoon that one of my oldest friends had passed away early that morning. All I could think of was how I hadn't called her and hadn't written the letter I promised her I would. I came back to Irvine the day of her funeral, an event I couldn't even stomach going to.
I was starting winter quarter just as bad as I had ended fall, maybe even worse.
But when I was back in my own apartment in my own city, I felt a shift. On New Year's Day, I actually made a couple resolutions. The ones I wrote down were practical: to pay my bills on time, to be better about answering emails. But the one I didn't write down was the most important.
Borrowing from Lord Tennyson's “Ulysses,” the only resolution that mattered to me was: “to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
A week later, I let my worry guide me: I yelled at a friend until he opened up. The next day, I worked passionately and tirelessly. The day after that, I said yes to an adventure.
Initially, it wasn't supposed to be an adventure. While lying around my living room floor, my roommate Leah, Ashley (a friend of ours) and I decided we wanted ice cream. We piled in the car, went to Spectrum and talked by one of the many fountains as we poked at our Coldstones. Walking back to the parking structure, I found the night lacking.
“Let's go on an adventure,” Leah said, bouncing as she walked.
I thought of something I'd written in a journal just a few days before: “No one wants to drive just to drive, no one wants to go to beautiful places just to go to beautiful places.”
We drove until we found a park somewhere in Newport Beach. In the dark, we climbed on a replica ship and slid down slides. I stood at the prow and watched as Leah and Ashley played on the swings. Turning around, I saw a sign that read, “Adventure Ship!” As our energy dissipated into the dark night, I swung down from the platform proclaiming, “The Adventure Ship does not stop here!”
It became the theme of the night.
As we drove to our next destination, our conversation turned to dreams. What we wanted out of this year, this quarter, our lives, our futures … and the moment we were in.
“Close your eyes,” Leah said to Ashley and me. When we asked her why, she just said, “It's more magical that way.”
She drove and we continued to talk: about tattoos we wanted, about the tattoo I have … And Leah was right, it was more magical. She drove and we didn't care where, but I could feel the road slipping beneath us and I could sense the coastal air outside the window.
When I opened my eyes, we were on a vacant Balboa Island street. We got out of the car and walked in the middle of the road. There were no lights in the windows, but the streetlamps illuminated the light mist and the water glimmered ahead of us. We found an open dock and sat there, staring up at the sky and watching the gentle swaying of boats.
We then walked to a friend's place and stole her away. We left the island and found ourselves at Irvine Terrace Park. As I swung, I imagined I was kicking the moon and that if I jumped off, I'd land in the stars. We played with the sand digger things and acted like we were saving cities. We found a statue that had a small pine cone and leaves left like a tribute on its base. I wrapped an arm around it and balanced on the foundation, staring out over the harbor until the sprinklers burst to life and I sprinted away yelling. It was a moment of youth, of being like a child without trying, of feeling like pioneers in a discovered world.
In the car on the way back home, we didn't say much. My shoes were wet, I had a blister forming on my palm and a huge smile on my face as I stared out the window. In just a couple hours on a Monday night, I felt as though all the harm of the quarter before had been undone.
Now, when an adventure arises, I say yes. Every time. The power of excitement and willingness is healing beyond measure. Prowling around LA on MLK day, sangria and swing sets, and going to movie theaters in sweatpants is one thing, but the real goal is to always point west. Not toward the Pacific, but toward the possibilities afforded by saying yes and being curious.
2012年2月13日星期一
Mattel Releasing 'Back to the Future' Hover Board
Of the many gadgets featured in the Back to the Future trilogy, the hover board is probably one of the most memorable, second to the self-tying laces.
Now it seems we might not have to wait until 2015 to get our hands on our very own hover board - though the gadget Mattel plans to release will, in reality, glide more than it hovers.
"Finally! This totally awesome 1:1 replica of the hover board from the BTTF 2 and BTTF 3 films includes multiple whooshing sounds and will glide over most surfaces," Mattel said in a post on its collector blog.
For those hoping for a hover board jaunt around their own version of the Hill Valley town square, Mattel stressed that its gadget "does not actually 'hover' – check back in 2015 for that feature."
"Because this is such a high-cost item, there will be a minimum number of orders required to go into production," Mattel said. "If we don't receive the minimum orders, won't go into production and customers will not be charged."
Pricing will be announced later this month.
The hoverboard made its debut in the movie's 1989 sequel, helping Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) escape from his nemesis Biff Tannen on multiple occasions. It showed up again in the third installment one year later as Marty and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) tried to get an 1885 locomotive up to 88 mph.
Last year, Nike unveiled a version of the aforementioned self-tying shoes, dubbed the Nike Mag. Only 1,500 pairs of Nike Mags were released and sold on eBay, with proceeds going directly to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Bidding quickly climbed above $3,500 in the first night, with some models topping $4,000. Like the Mattel hover board, however, the Nike Mag shoes didn't actually tie themselves, but fans were apparently still willing to shell out big money for the BTTF-inspired kicks.
Now it seems we might not have to wait until 2015 to get our hands on our very own hover board - though the gadget Mattel plans to release will, in reality, glide more than it hovers.
"Finally! This totally awesome 1:1 replica of the hover board from the BTTF 2 and BTTF 3 films includes multiple whooshing sounds and will glide over most surfaces," Mattel said in a post on its collector blog.
For those hoping for a hover board jaunt around their own version of the Hill Valley town square, Mattel stressed that its gadget "does not actually 'hover' – check back in 2015 for that feature."
"Because this is such a high-cost item, there will be a minimum number of orders required to go into production," Mattel said. "If we don't receive the minimum orders, won't go into production and customers will not be charged."
Pricing will be announced later this month.
The hoverboard made its debut in the movie's 1989 sequel, helping Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) escape from his nemesis Biff Tannen on multiple occasions. It showed up again in the third installment one year later as Marty and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) tried to get an 1885 locomotive up to 88 mph.
Last year, Nike unveiled a version of the aforementioned self-tying shoes, dubbed the Nike Mag. Only 1,500 pairs of Nike Mags were released and sold on eBay, with proceeds going directly to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Bidding quickly climbed above $3,500 in the first night, with some models topping $4,000. Like the Mattel hover board, however, the Nike Mag shoes didn't actually tie themselves, but fans were apparently still willing to shell out big money for the BTTF-inspired kicks.
2012年2月12日星期日
Picnic classics on the lawn
Some of the 2700 fans at the Summer Concert at Government House enjoy the Vector Wellington Orchestra. The scene showing the Vector Wellington Orchestra and the large crowd.
Classical music lovers kicked off their shoes and lazed on picnic blankets at Government House and enjoyed the Vector Wellington Orchestra and three soloists at the Dominion Post Summer Concert at Government House.
About 2700 people attended Saturday's concert, to hear the orchestra accompanied by lyric tenor Benjamin Makisi, mezzo Helen Medlyn and soprano Julia Booth.
Before the musicians took to the stage, a crew from the Footnote Dance Company plucked partners from the crowd for a whirl.
Lower Hutt woman Jaye Howey didn't need much coercion from her friends to go for a spin with Levi Cameron, 21, whose dance moves matched his Spanish attire. "It was great fun," she said.
The undoubted highlight of the day was a battery of replica historical cannons firing a salvo for the finale of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
Dries Gerryts said he was especially looking forward to the explosions from 17 cannons, but everything about the concert was marvellous. "It's lovely. I love the atmosphere, I love the music."
Also on the playlist were Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, Bizet's L'Arlesienne, Chabrier's Espana, a Brahms Hungarian dance, and a Strauss polka.
The warm-up act featured Whirimako Black performing with violinist Elena and Wellington musicians Simply Fantastic.
Julia Hudson, of Wellington, celebrated her 29th birthday with friend Kirsten Young, also 29. "It's as much about sitting in the sun and having a picnic and sipping bubbles."
Classical music lovers kicked off their shoes and lazed on picnic blankets at Government House and enjoyed the Vector Wellington Orchestra and three soloists at the Dominion Post Summer Concert at Government House.
About 2700 people attended Saturday's concert, to hear the orchestra accompanied by lyric tenor Benjamin Makisi, mezzo Helen Medlyn and soprano Julia Booth.
Before the musicians took to the stage, a crew from the Footnote Dance Company plucked partners from the crowd for a whirl.
Lower Hutt woman Jaye Howey didn't need much coercion from her friends to go for a spin with Levi Cameron, 21, whose dance moves matched his Spanish attire. "It was great fun," she said.
The undoubted highlight of the day was a battery of replica historical cannons firing a salvo for the finale of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.
Dries Gerryts said he was especially looking forward to the explosions from 17 cannons, but everything about the concert was marvellous. "It's lovely. I love the atmosphere, I love the music."
Also on the playlist were Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, Bizet's L'Arlesienne, Chabrier's Espana, a Brahms Hungarian dance, and a Strauss polka.
The warm-up act featured Whirimako Black performing with violinist Elena and Wellington musicians Simply Fantastic.
Julia Hudson, of Wellington, celebrated her 29th birthday with friend Kirsten Young, also 29. "It's as much about sitting in the sun and having a picnic and sipping bubbles."
2012年2月9日星期四
Eiffel Tower Takes Cake in Brookdale Contest
Flip on the TV lately and if Toddlers and Tiaras is not lowering the bar on reality programming, you are bound to find someone in a white chef's coat sweating over a sheet of fondant that refuses to take the shape of a globe or a life-size replica of an Italian woman.
In the reality television world of competition, this you can count on: There will be cursing and their will be crying, but there will be only one winner.
Here, in actual reality, the bakers of tomorrow are still sweating competition, but without the cursing and the crying. At least not until the winners are announced.
That's when Jo Skinner, of Long Branch, finally lost it. This week she and her teammate Amanda Morro, of Middletown, were contestants in the first round of a Skills USA wedding cake competition held at their school, the Culinary Education Center in Asbury Park. The pair are students of the culinary arts program at Brookdale Community College, in the Lincroft section of Middletown.
The college and the Monmouth County Vocational School (MCVS) partner at the center to offer students a smooth transition between the high school and college culinary programs.
When judge Jen LeRoy called their names, Skinner's eyes welled up and she had to fan her face and gulp back the tears as she came forward. "I'm so happy right now," she said with a wavering voice.
Morro and Skinner's Eiffel Tower cake literally and figuratively towered over the competition, with delicate lattice work and rivets of sugar soaring up over its four layers, to peak with a miniature chocolate Eiffel Tower cake topper.
"We're still shaking," said Morro, shortly after the announcement was made. It could have been nerves, or just the lack of sleep. The bakers were up into the wee hours finishing the cake that they had to make in small batches in Skinner's oven, which she admits slants a little.
Now the team moves on to the state competition in Somerset in March. For that contest they will have access to the school's commercial ovens. And they're going to need them. They team will have to go armed with extra cakes and icing, which they will have four hours to craft and assemble into their creation.
Thanks to the very un-reality tv style judging that went on at the contest here, Morro and Skinner know to work on the support for the mini Eiffel tower, which had started to lean, and to make their pretty little fondant flowers more delicate by rolling the icing a bit thinner.
One of the judges was Jen LeRoy, a graduate of the MCVS and the culinary arts program at Brookdale. LeRoy said to her the school was "like a second family."
The staff's encouragement helped her win the national Skills USA competition while she was a student and propelled her into her current career. Now the Tinton Falls resident is head baker at Wegmans in Ocean Township and operates her own cake business, Cakes By Jen.
Also judging was Shari Lepore of Westfield, a pastry chef and a home economics teacher of 34 years, now retired, and Kathy Malinowski, of Toms River, also a chef and teacher for the last three decades. She is currently a Wilton Method teacher at Michaels in Ocean Township.
Together the three gave gentle but direct constructive criticism to each of the four teams in the contest from everything from the thickness of borders and color of sugar leaves to the contestants shoes, which will be under critique in the state round.
The point, said Lepore, is to instruct. "We're not here to tear you apart," she told the students. But Malinowski added, "We're hard markers, because we've been in the business."
In the reality television world of competition, this you can count on: There will be cursing and their will be crying, but there will be only one winner.
Here, in actual reality, the bakers of tomorrow are still sweating competition, but without the cursing and the crying. At least not until the winners are announced.
That's when Jo Skinner, of Long Branch, finally lost it. This week she and her teammate Amanda Morro, of Middletown, were contestants in the first round of a Skills USA wedding cake competition held at their school, the Culinary Education Center in Asbury Park. The pair are students of the culinary arts program at Brookdale Community College, in the Lincroft section of Middletown.
The college and the Monmouth County Vocational School (MCVS) partner at the center to offer students a smooth transition between the high school and college culinary programs.
When judge Jen LeRoy called their names, Skinner's eyes welled up and she had to fan her face and gulp back the tears as she came forward. "I'm so happy right now," she said with a wavering voice.
Morro and Skinner's Eiffel Tower cake literally and figuratively towered over the competition, with delicate lattice work and rivets of sugar soaring up over its four layers, to peak with a miniature chocolate Eiffel Tower cake topper.
"We're still shaking," said Morro, shortly after the announcement was made. It could have been nerves, or just the lack of sleep. The bakers were up into the wee hours finishing the cake that they had to make in small batches in Skinner's oven, which she admits slants a little.
Now the team moves on to the state competition in Somerset in March. For that contest they will have access to the school's commercial ovens. And they're going to need them. They team will have to go armed with extra cakes and icing, which they will have four hours to craft and assemble into their creation.
Thanks to the very un-reality tv style judging that went on at the contest here, Morro and Skinner know to work on the support for the mini Eiffel tower, which had started to lean, and to make their pretty little fondant flowers more delicate by rolling the icing a bit thinner.
One of the judges was Jen LeRoy, a graduate of the MCVS and the culinary arts program at Brookdale. LeRoy said to her the school was "like a second family."
The staff's encouragement helped her win the national Skills USA competition while she was a student and propelled her into her current career. Now the Tinton Falls resident is head baker at Wegmans in Ocean Township and operates her own cake business, Cakes By Jen.
Also judging was Shari Lepore of Westfield, a pastry chef and a home economics teacher of 34 years, now retired, and Kathy Malinowski, of Toms River, also a chef and teacher for the last three decades. She is currently a Wilton Method teacher at Michaels in Ocean Township.
Together the three gave gentle but direct constructive criticism to each of the four teams in the contest from everything from the thickness of borders and color of sugar leaves to the contestants shoes, which will be under critique in the state round.
The point, said Lepore, is to instruct. "We're not here to tear you apart," she told the students. But Malinowski added, "We're hard markers, because we've been in the business."
2012年2月8日星期三
Ford's Theatre opens center to study Lincoln in DC
Flowers once attached to President Abraham Lincoln's coffin and ribbons from mourners have joined videos and interactive displays to explore his life and legacy in a new museum and education center at the theater where Lincoln was assassinated.
The Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership opens to the public Sunday, the 203rd anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The new center built in a 10-story former office building is part of a $60 million project to create a four-part campus for visitors to learn about the 16th president in the nation's capital.
Visitors can begin with exhibits that explore Lincoln's presidency and see the theater where he was shot April 14, 1865. They can follow the story across the street to see where Lincoln died the next day.
More of Lincoln's story can be told in the new center.
Visitors will walk through a replica train car to see objects never before displayed from when the nation grieved for weeks after his death. Lincoln's funeral train traveled from Washington to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City, then toward his home in Illinois. They can retrace the hunt for Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, to a theatrical model of the Virginia barn where he was found. Soldiers set the barn on fire to smoke him out and eventually shot Booth.
Director Paul Tetreault said Ford's Theatre is using the drama of Lincoln's story to teach history with a working theater and vivid exhibits.
"The more theatrical we can make the telling of the Lincoln story, I think the most accessible it is," he said. "It comes alive."
Lincoln's story doesn't end with the assassination, though, said presidential historian and Lincoln scholar Richard Norton Smith, who helped plan the new center.
The new exhibits shift from Lincoln's death to his "historical afterlife" and why he still matters, which is different from other museums, said Smith, who previously led the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill.
"The story goes on to this day," he said. "Few other historical figures warrant that kind of attention. Certainly Washington matters, Jefferson matters but they seem more remote. They seem less accessible."
"Part of it is that Lincoln is a universal figure in a way that very, very few others are."
For instance, Lincoln was a hero to both President George W. Bush and to President Barack Obama, he said.
Since Ford's Theatre reopened to the public in 1968, more than 31 million people have visited. Some come to see plays at the working theater, though not all focus on Lincoln.
About 750,000 people visit each year. With the National Park Service, which owns the theater, Ford's museum has displayed Booth's gun, as well as the blood-stained overcoat Lincoln was wearing when he was shot.
Now Washington can offer visitors more than just the story of Lincoln's death to see how he changed the country.
"Washington, D.C., is where Abraham Lincoln became Abraham Lincoln," he said.
A three-story sculptural tower of books at the entrance represents the thousands of titles written on Lincoln — and is meant to show how the last word on Lincoln has not yet been written.
Beyond artifacts that include pop culture items like Lincoln Logs toys, the new galleries include videos with a history of the Lincoln Memorial and its symbolism as a place for celebrations and protests, particularly for civil rights.
The Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership opens to the public Sunday, the 203rd anniversary of Lincoln's birth. The new center built in a 10-story former office building is part of a $60 million project to create a four-part campus for visitors to learn about the 16th president in the nation's capital.
Visitors can begin with exhibits that explore Lincoln's presidency and see the theater where he was shot April 14, 1865. They can follow the story across the street to see where Lincoln died the next day.
More of Lincoln's story can be told in the new center.
Visitors will walk through a replica train car to see objects never before displayed from when the nation grieved for weeks after his death. Lincoln's funeral train traveled from Washington to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City, then toward his home in Illinois. They can retrace the hunt for Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, to a theatrical model of the Virginia barn where he was found. Soldiers set the barn on fire to smoke him out and eventually shot Booth.
Director Paul Tetreault said Ford's Theatre is using the drama of Lincoln's story to teach history with a working theater and vivid exhibits.
"The more theatrical we can make the telling of the Lincoln story, I think the most accessible it is," he said. "It comes alive."
Lincoln's story doesn't end with the assassination, though, said presidential historian and Lincoln scholar Richard Norton Smith, who helped plan the new center.
The new exhibits shift from Lincoln's death to his "historical afterlife" and why he still matters, which is different from other museums, said Smith, who previously led the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill.
"The story goes on to this day," he said. "Few other historical figures warrant that kind of attention. Certainly Washington matters, Jefferson matters but they seem more remote. They seem less accessible."
"Part of it is that Lincoln is a universal figure in a way that very, very few others are."
For instance, Lincoln was a hero to both President George W. Bush and to President Barack Obama, he said.
Since Ford's Theatre reopened to the public in 1968, more than 31 million people have visited. Some come to see plays at the working theater, though not all focus on Lincoln.
About 750,000 people visit each year. With the National Park Service, which owns the theater, Ford's museum has displayed Booth's gun, as well as the blood-stained overcoat Lincoln was wearing when he was shot.
Now Washington can offer visitors more than just the story of Lincoln's death to see how he changed the country.
"Washington, D.C., is where Abraham Lincoln became Abraham Lincoln," he said.
A three-story sculptural tower of books at the entrance represents the thousands of titles written on Lincoln — and is meant to show how the last word on Lincoln has not yet been written.
Beyond artifacts that include pop culture items like Lincoln Logs toys, the new galleries include videos with a history of the Lincoln Memorial and its symbolism as a place for celebrations and protests, particularly for civil rights.
2012年2月7日星期二
adidas unveils NBA All-Star uniforms
adidas, the official outfitter of the National Basketball Association, unveiled the new uniform and footwear assortment for the 61st NBA All-Star in Orlando.
The 2012 NBA All-Star uniforms were designed by adidas and inspired by the 20th anniversary of the memorable 1992 NBA All-Star game which was also held in Orlando. Inspired by the Sunshine State and the fun atmosphere of NBA All-Star weekend, adidas NBA All-Star basketball shoes feature bright orange coloring to pay homage to Orlando's Orange County and the state's famous oranges.
"NBA All-Star is an exciting event that combines sports, style and entertainment unlike any other in the world," said Lawrence Norman, adidas Vice President, Global Basketball. "NBA All-Star is the premier event to showcase adidas' court-to-street heritage on basketball's biggest stage and bring it to fans around the world. We'll also leverage the league's best big man Dwight Howard throughout the weekend at events, appearances and on the adidas Basketball Facebook page to bring the excitement to fans in Orlando and our global online community."
The All-Star jerseys feature oversized East and West All-Star block lettering that was inspired by 1992 jerseys. The jackets and jerseys feature dip-dyed hardwood heather pattern inspired by the floor of the Orlando Arena where the game was held. The tonal blue and red, and three stripes silver and gold accent coloring on the jerseys and short sides will make the uniforms stand out on court. The woven NBA All-Star shorts are inspired by board shorts and also feature a sublimated mesh pattern for high performance and breathability.
On-court warm-ups feature functional stretch denim pants and lightweight windbreaker style, full-zip jackets with tonal grey coloring with East (Blue) and West (Red) accents for a stylish off-court look to match the laid back Florida vibe. To showcase the court to street feel, the jackets feature elbow patches and laser perforated color contrast and the pants feature mock denim stitching and pockets.
Replica NBA All-Star jerseys are available at retail with a full range of NBA All-Star apparel from adidas including men's and women's tee shirts, track jackets and headwear. Available at the NBA Store at Jam Session, Orlando Magic Team Shop at Amway Center, the adidas Store at Orlando Crossing.
Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose will wear the special orange colorway of their newest adidas signature shoes during the NBA All-Star Game. Five-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard will sport the adiPower Howard 2, while two-time NBA All-Star Derrick Rose will wear the adizero Rose 2.5. adidas Originals will release a special version of the AR2.0.
The fourth signature shoe for reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose, at 11 ounces the adizero Rose 2.5 is the lightest signature basketball shoe he has ever worn to provide next level speed and support for the second half of the season and NBA Playoff run. Inspired by the adizero Crazy Light, the upper features premium SPRINTFRAME and enlarged SPRINTWEB area to reduce weight, add support and allow maximum control. The GEOFIT memory foam collar provides optimum comfort and fit, especially with Derrick's adizero Speed Wrap Ankle Brace.
The 2012 NBA All-Star uniforms were designed by adidas and inspired by the 20th anniversary of the memorable 1992 NBA All-Star game which was also held in Orlando. Inspired by the Sunshine State and the fun atmosphere of NBA All-Star weekend, adidas NBA All-Star basketball shoes feature bright orange coloring to pay homage to Orlando's Orange County and the state's famous oranges.
"NBA All-Star is an exciting event that combines sports, style and entertainment unlike any other in the world," said Lawrence Norman, adidas Vice President, Global Basketball. "NBA All-Star is the premier event to showcase adidas' court-to-street heritage on basketball's biggest stage and bring it to fans around the world. We'll also leverage the league's best big man Dwight Howard throughout the weekend at events, appearances and on the adidas Basketball Facebook page to bring the excitement to fans in Orlando and our global online community."
The All-Star jerseys feature oversized East and West All-Star block lettering that was inspired by 1992 jerseys. The jackets and jerseys feature dip-dyed hardwood heather pattern inspired by the floor of the Orlando Arena where the game was held. The tonal blue and red, and three stripes silver and gold accent coloring on the jerseys and short sides will make the uniforms stand out on court. The woven NBA All-Star shorts are inspired by board shorts and also feature a sublimated mesh pattern for high performance and breathability.
On-court warm-ups feature functional stretch denim pants and lightweight windbreaker style, full-zip jackets with tonal grey coloring with East (Blue) and West (Red) accents for a stylish off-court look to match the laid back Florida vibe. To showcase the court to street feel, the jackets feature elbow patches and laser perforated color contrast and the pants feature mock denim stitching and pockets.
Replica NBA All-Star jerseys are available at retail with a full range of NBA All-Star apparel from adidas including men's and women's tee shirts, track jackets and headwear. Available at the NBA Store at Jam Session, Orlando Magic Team Shop at Amway Center, the adidas Store at Orlando Crossing.
Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose will wear the special orange colorway of their newest adidas signature shoes during the NBA All-Star Game. Five-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard will sport the adiPower Howard 2, while two-time NBA All-Star Derrick Rose will wear the adizero Rose 2.5. adidas Originals will release a special version of the AR2.0.
The fourth signature shoe for reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose, at 11 ounces the adizero Rose 2.5 is the lightest signature basketball shoe he has ever worn to provide next level speed and support for the second half of the season and NBA Playoff run. Inspired by the adizero Crazy Light, the upper features premium SPRINTFRAME and enlarged SPRINTWEB area to reduce weight, add support and allow maximum control. The GEOFIT memory foam collar provides optimum comfort and fit, especially with Derrick's adizero Speed Wrap Ankle Brace.
2012年2月6日星期一
Marty McFly On The Great White Way?
"Great Scott!" Lace up your dancing shoes, theater fans: Back to the Future may be getting the Cats treatment with a live-action stage musical.
Director Robert Zemeckis -- the lensman behind the Michael J. Fox/Christopher Lloyd cinema classic -- is in chats to bring the 1985 film to Broadway! We hear the original Back to the Future director is in early talks with co-writer Bob Gale and film composer Alan Silvestri about adapting the movie into a musical stage production.
Music, after all, was already a driving force throughout the film -- from the Huey Lewis theme tune "The Power of Love" to Marty McFly's futuristic rendition of "Johnny B. Goode."
Deets are scarce, but we hear that Zemeckis' production company, ImageMovers, would be heavily involved with the proposed production.
Back to the Future was the highest-grossing movie of the year. The film also starred Crispin Glover (Willard) and Lea Thompson (Caroline in the City). It went on to spawn two sequels and a ride at Universal Studios.
This isn't the first time, the film trilogy has been transplanted to other areas of pop culture.
Remember the power sneakers that made such a splash in 1989′s Back To The Future II? In 2011, Nike made those new-fangled sensations a reality. Marty McFly's (Fox) famed self-lacing sneakers in the film inspired Nike to launch their own fashion-forward kicks.
The 2011 Nike Mag were a "precise replica" of the Nike Air 2015 Kicks that Marty found when he traveled with Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (Lloyd) to 2015. Approximately 1,500 pairs of the automatic lace-up sneakers were sold and auctioned on eBay with net proceeds going to Parkinson's Disease research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
There's already widespread chatter that the sneakers will be released commercially for a lot cheaper in 2015. Life imitating art indeed!
Director Robert Zemeckis -- the lensman behind the Michael J. Fox/Christopher Lloyd cinema classic -- is in chats to bring the 1985 film to Broadway! We hear the original Back to the Future director is in early talks with co-writer Bob Gale and film composer Alan Silvestri about adapting the movie into a musical stage production.
Music, after all, was already a driving force throughout the film -- from the Huey Lewis theme tune "The Power of Love" to Marty McFly's futuristic rendition of "Johnny B. Goode."
Deets are scarce, but we hear that Zemeckis' production company, ImageMovers, would be heavily involved with the proposed production.
Back to the Future was the highest-grossing movie of the year. The film also starred Crispin Glover (Willard) and Lea Thompson (Caroline in the City). It went on to spawn two sequels and a ride at Universal Studios.
This isn't the first time, the film trilogy has been transplanted to other areas of pop culture.
Remember the power sneakers that made such a splash in 1989′s Back To The Future II? In 2011, Nike made those new-fangled sensations a reality. Marty McFly's (Fox) famed self-lacing sneakers in the film inspired Nike to launch their own fashion-forward kicks.
The 2011 Nike Mag were a "precise replica" of the Nike Air 2015 Kicks that Marty found when he traveled with Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (Lloyd) to 2015. Approximately 1,500 pairs of the automatic lace-up sneakers were sold and auctioned on eBay with net proceeds going to Parkinson's Disease research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
There's already widespread chatter that the sneakers will be released commercially for a lot cheaper in 2015. Life imitating art indeed!
2012年2月5日星期日
A style full of Grace
FOR next month's Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition, Bendigo Art Gallery director Karen Quinlan wanted most to conjure the woman ''to get a clear view of this ordinary person''. Quinlan knew the refined, chaste elegance of Kelly's dresses and suits, sunglasses, shoes, handbags and gloves on the way to the gallery from London's Victoria and Albert Museum would convey volumes about her public persona but Quinlan wanted even more intimacy for her visitors. She wanted more ''food for thought about this amazing woman who pre-dates all we know about celebrity today''.
Quinlan saw Kelly's absence (Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco died in a car crash in 1982 at the age of 52) like a pressing item on her ''to do'' list, a vacuum that had to be filled.
Bendigo's tribute to Kelly consequently has more photos and filmed fragments from her public persona and private life, more evidence of her real body language and the way she looked when she thought no one was looking. There are more triggers, in other words, to nut out just how the language of Kelly's wardrobe worked for her and in its wider social, historic and cultural contexts.
''It's usually the hardest thing about displaying fashion: that absence,'' Quinlan says. ''And remember here, we're dealing with the absence of a very special, real person.''
Most of the mannequins to be dressed in about 40 of Kelly's gowns and outfits - which date from 1954 to the year before her death - for the Bendigo exhibition are headless to minimise distraction, to enable a kind of Brechtian ''suspension of disbelief''. We can mentally conjure Kelly in that suit or this gown on that day without a replica of her head adding to our sensory confusion. Or, so the theory goes.
''You'll be looking at those garments and you'll be imagining her there,'' Quinlan says.
Beyond the whimsical spectre of Kelly herself, there is also a doctorate's worth of data to deduce from her clothes. The exhibition traces her sartorial timeline from lean teen collegiate to elegant royal matron in garments from American and Parisian high-fashion collections including some by Madame Gres, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Chanel, Hermes and Oleg Cassini.
Quinlan saw Kelly's absence (Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco died in a car crash in 1982 at the age of 52) like a pressing item on her ''to do'' list, a vacuum that had to be filled.
Bendigo's tribute to Kelly consequently has more photos and filmed fragments from her public persona and private life, more evidence of her real body language and the way she looked when she thought no one was looking. There are more triggers, in other words, to nut out just how the language of Kelly's wardrobe worked for her and in its wider social, historic and cultural contexts.
''It's usually the hardest thing about displaying fashion: that absence,'' Quinlan says. ''And remember here, we're dealing with the absence of a very special, real person.''
Most of the mannequins to be dressed in about 40 of Kelly's gowns and outfits - which date from 1954 to the year before her death - for the Bendigo exhibition are headless to minimise distraction, to enable a kind of Brechtian ''suspension of disbelief''. We can mentally conjure Kelly in that suit or this gown on that day without a replica of her head adding to our sensory confusion. Or, so the theory goes.
''You'll be looking at those garments and you'll be imagining her there,'' Quinlan says.
Beyond the whimsical spectre of Kelly herself, there is also a doctorate's worth of data to deduce from her clothes. The exhibition traces her sartorial timeline from lean teen collegiate to elegant royal matron in garments from American and Parisian high-fashion collections including some by Madame Gres, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Chanel, Hermes and Oleg Cassini.
2012年2月2日星期四
adidas and the NBA Go Court to Street to Celebrate 2012 NBA All-Star Game
adidas, the official outfitter of the National Basketball Association, today unveiled the new uniform and footwear assortment for the 61st NBA All-Star in Orlando.
The 2012 NBA All-Star uniforms were designed by adidas and inspired by the 20th anniversary of the memorable 1992 NBA All-Star game which was also held in Orlando. Inspired by the Sunshine State and the fun atmosphere of NBA All-Star weekend, adidas NBA All-Star basketball shoes feature bright orange coloring to pay homage to Orlando's Orange County and the state's famous oranges.
"NBA All-Star is an exciting event that combines sports, style and entertainment unlike any other in the world," said Lawrence Norman, adidas Vice President, Global Basketball. "NBA All-Star is the premier event to showcase adidas' court-to-street heritage on basketball's biggest stage and bring it to fans around the world. We'll also leverage the league's best big man Dwight Howard throughout the weekend at events, appearances and on the adidas Basketball Facebook page to bring the excitement to fans in Orlando and our global online community."
The All-Star jerseys feature oversized East and West All-Star block lettering that was inspired by 1992 jerseys. The jackets and jerseys feature dip-dyed hardwood heather pattern inspired by the floor of the Orlando Arena where the game was held. The tonal blue and red, and three stripes silver and gold accent coloring on the jerseys and short sides will make the uniforms stand out on court. The woven NBA All-Star shorts are inspired by board shorts and also feature a sublimated mesh pattern for high performance and breathability.
On-court warm-ups feature functional stretch denim pants and lightweight windbreaker style, full-zip jackets with tonal grey coloring with East (Blue) and West (Red) accents for a stylish off-court look to match the laid back Florida vibe. To showcase the court to street feel, the jackets feature elbow patches and laser perforated color contrast and the pants feature mock denim stitching and pockets.
Replica NBA All-Star jerseys are available at retail with a full range of NBA All-Star apparel from adidas including men's and women's tee shirts, track jackets and headwear.
Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose will wear the special orange colorway of their newest adidas signature shoes during the NBA All-Star Game. Five-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard will sport the adiPower Howard 2, while two-time NBA All-Star Derrick Rose will wear the adizero Rose 2.5. adidas Originals will release a special version of the AR2.0.
The fourth signature shoe for reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose, at 11 ounces the adizero Rose 2.5 is the lightest signature basketball shoe he has ever worn to provide next level speed and support for the second half of the season and NBA Playoff run. Inspired by the adizero Crazy Light, the upper features premium SPRINTFRAME and enlarged SPRINTWEB area to reduce weight, add support and allow maximum control. The GEOFIT memory foam collar provides optimum comfort and fit, especially with Derrick's adizero Speed Wrap Ankle Brace.
The 2012 NBA All-Star uniforms were designed by adidas and inspired by the 20th anniversary of the memorable 1992 NBA All-Star game which was also held in Orlando. Inspired by the Sunshine State and the fun atmosphere of NBA All-Star weekend, adidas NBA All-Star basketball shoes feature bright orange coloring to pay homage to Orlando's Orange County and the state's famous oranges.
"NBA All-Star is an exciting event that combines sports, style and entertainment unlike any other in the world," said Lawrence Norman, adidas Vice President, Global Basketball. "NBA All-Star is the premier event to showcase adidas' court-to-street heritage on basketball's biggest stage and bring it to fans around the world. We'll also leverage the league's best big man Dwight Howard throughout the weekend at events, appearances and on the adidas Basketball Facebook page to bring the excitement to fans in Orlando and our global online community."
The All-Star jerseys feature oversized East and West All-Star block lettering that was inspired by 1992 jerseys. The jackets and jerseys feature dip-dyed hardwood heather pattern inspired by the floor of the Orlando Arena where the game was held. The tonal blue and red, and three stripes silver and gold accent coloring on the jerseys and short sides will make the uniforms stand out on court. The woven NBA All-Star shorts are inspired by board shorts and also feature a sublimated mesh pattern for high performance and breathability.
On-court warm-ups feature functional stretch denim pants and lightweight windbreaker style, full-zip jackets with tonal grey coloring with East (Blue) and West (Red) accents for a stylish off-court look to match the laid back Florida vibe. To showcase the court to street feel, the jackets feature elbow patches and laser perforated color contrast and the pants feature mock denim stitching and pockets.
Replica NBA All-Star jerseys are available at retail with a full range of NBA All-Star apparel from adidas including men's and women's tee shirts, track jackets and headwear.
Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose will wear the special orange colorway of their newest adidas signature shoes during the NBA All-Star Game. Five-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard will sport the adiPower Howard 2, while two-time NBA All-Star Derrick Rose will wear the adizero Rose 2.5. adidas Originals will release a special version of the AR2.0.
The fourth signature shoe for reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose, at 11 ounces the adizero Rose 2.5 is the lightest signature basketball shoe he has ever worn to provide next level speed and support for the second half of the season and NBA Playoff run. Inspired by the adizero Crazy Light, the upper features premium SPRINTFRAME and enlarged SPRINTWEB area to reduce weight, add support and allow maximum control. The GEOFIT memory foam collar provides optimum comfort and fit, especially with Derrick's adizero Speed Wrap Ankle Brace.
2012年2月1日星期三
Here's looking at you, Casablanca
I was desperate to fall madly in love with Casablanca. On my apartment wall I have a framed poster of the 1942 movie classic of the same name, which I've watched more times than is healthy. Who could grow weary of watching Bogart and Bergman's on-screen chemistry? How could you not admire their timeless sartorial panache? And will a writer ever be able to pack more memorable quotes into a screenplay?
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine," says Humphrey Bogart's Rick, owner of the eponymous bar. And when I knew I was going to Casablanca, I decided that I would walk into that same gin joint, where the piano would be playing, the air would be thick with Gitanes smoke and the bar would be propped up by louche men in tuxedos and trench coats.
“
Casablanca, with its shortage of postcard-pretty landmarks, is usually a tourist's afterthought.
”
And then came the bombshell.
Days before my flight, I found out that the film was shot on a cramped studio lot in the Hollywood Hills. As for Rick's bar, it never existed. At least not until 2004 when an enterprising Morocco-based American woman, who had obviously made the same disappointing discovery I did, decided to build one out of bricks rather than balsa wood, knowing it would be a bona fide tourist magnet. It was at this point that I realised I had romanticised the city of Casablanca to the point of absurdity.
Arriving late at night after a long flight from Dubai, I found the roads grid-locked, the pot-holed pavements crammed with people. Young, leather jacket-clad Moroccans socialising in and around the city's hundreds of cafés leaned nonchalantly against mopeds, smoking, laughing, eyeing up potential paramours in their brightly coloured hijabs across smog-filled streets.
Casablanca has a lively alfresco café culture. Certainly one to rival that of any city in Italy or France. By day, groups of men, young and old, chat idly. Or read the papers. Or just sit in a line with their backs to the café windows, watching the world go by. They sip espressos or traditional Moroccan tea (a combination of Ceylon leaves and mint) while getting their shoes shined by adolescent hands that should be holding a school pen not a dirty rag.
Poverty is never far away in Africa's 11th most populous city - old men sleeping in shop doorways at night are a common sight - and, like any big city in the developing world, it draws in the jobless from surrounding towns and villages only to chew them up and spit them back out on the street where they are forced to beg from the city's few tourists.
Casablanca, with its chronic shortage of postcard-pretty landmarks, is usually a tourist's afterthought. Atmospheric Marrakech and Fez invariably get the lion's share of visitors to Morocco. The statistics, however, could be in for a shake-up thanks to the recent opening of Morocco Mall, the country's first GCC-style mega mall, replete with luxury retailers, dancing fountains and a giant aquarium. While this is a major boost for the city, it's also sad that Morocco's first Starbucks in a sterile shopping centre could be the first step towards killing off its vibrant, decades-old street cafés.
Already, Casablanca's Berber history seems to have been all but buried beneath concrete and the peripheries of a sprawling port and naval base. Despite being in the heart of the Maghreb region, its streets are redolent of Paris - a forlorn, crumbling post-war Paris crying out for a good scrub and a battalion of painters to revive the art-deco buildings designed by French architect, Henri Prost, most of which can be found in the Ville Nouvelle (New Town) area of the city. The French influence - Morocco was a protectorate of France from 1912 until 1956 - is everywhere. Not just architecturally but linguistically, with half the Moroccan population able to speak French as well as Arabic and Berber.
Everywhere I went people approached me with a friendly ‘bonjour'. I replied with a mix of stuttering secondary-school French and one of the few Arabic phrases picked up in Dubai: "Je ne comprends pas. Titkallum Inglisi?"
On my second day in the city I set out for the Old Medina, an ancient but recently restored souq in the part of town pre-dating the French protectorate. In warren-like alleyways I found predictable tourist baubles (camel key rings and evil eye bracelets galore) alongside locally made leather products of superior quality and more lampshades than an Ikea factory. In a vast Aladdin's cave of clay pots, ornate cedar wood chests, hookah pipes and tasselled Fez hats, my search for a ‘Made in China' sticker proved satisfyingly fruitless.
Later I went on a bus tour to the old and affluent suburb of Anfa, Casablanca's original name before the marauding Portuguese arrived in the 15th century and re-named it Casa Branca, meaning ‘white house', after the military fortress they eventually built.
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine," says Humphrey Bogart's Rick, owner of the eponymous bar. And when I knew I was going to Casablanca, I decided that I would walk into that same gin joint, where the piano would be playing, the air would be thick with Gitanes smoke and the bar would be propped up by louche men in tuxedos and trench coats.
“
Casablanca, with its shortage of postcard-pretty landmarks, is usually a tourist's afterthought.
”
And then came the bombshell.
Days before my flight, I found out that the film was shot on a cramped studio lot in the Hollywood Hills. As for Rick's bar, it never existed. At least not until 2004 when an enterprising Morocco-based American woman, who had obviously made the same disappointing discovery I did, decided to build one out of bricks rather than balsa wood, knowing it would be a bona fide tourist magnet. It was at this point that I realised I had romanticised the city of Casablanca to the point of absurdity.
Arriving late at night after a long flight from Dubai, I found the roads grid-locked, the pot-holed pavements crammed with people. Young, leather jacket-clad Moroccans socialising in and around the city's hundreds of cafés leaned nonchalantly against mopeds, smoking, laughing, eyeing up potential paramours in their brightly coloured hijabs across smog-filled streets.
Casablanca has a lively alfresco café culture. Certainly one to rival that of any city in Italy or France. By day, groups of men, young and old, chat idly. Or read the papers. Or just sit in a line with their backs to the café windows, watching the world go by. They sip espressos or traditional Moroccan tea (a combination of Ceylon leaves and mint) while getting their shoes shined by adolescent hands that should be holding a school pen not a dirty rag.
Poverty is never far away in Africa's 11th most populous city - old men sleeping in shop doorways at night are a common sight - and, like any big city in the developing world, it draws in the jobless from surrounding towns and villages only to chew them up and spit them back out on the street where they are forced to beg from the city's few tourists.
Casablanca, with its chronic shortage of postcard-pretty landmarks, is usually a tourist's afterthought. Atmospheric Marrakech and Fez invariably get the lion's share of visitors to Morocco. The statistics, however, could be in for a shake-up thanks to the recent opening of Morocco Mall, the country's first GCC-style mega mall, replete with luxury retailers, dancing fountains and a giant aquarium. While this is a major boost for the city, it's also sad that Morocco's first Starbucks in a sterile shopping centre could be the first step towards killing off its vibrant, decades-old street cafés.
Already, Casablanca's Berber history seems to have been all but buried beneath concrete and the peripheries of a sprawling port and naval base. Despite being in the heart of the Maghreb region, its streets are redolent of Paris - a forlorn, crumbling post-war Paris crying out for a good scrub and a battalion of painters to revive the art-deco buildings designed by French architect, Henri Prost, most of which can be found in the Ville Nouvelle (New Town) area of the city. The French influence - Morocco was a protectorate of France from 1912 until 1956 - is everywhere. Not just architecturally but linguistically, with half the Moroccan population able to speak French as well as Arabic and Berber.
Everywhere I went people approached me with a friendly ‘bonjour'. I replied with a mix of stuttering secondary-school French and one of the few Arabic phrases picked up in Dubai: "Je ne comprends pas. Titkallum Inglisi?"
On my second day in the city I set out for the Old Medina, an ancient but recently restored souq in the part of town pre-dating the French protectorate. In warren-like alleyways I found predictable tourist baubles (camel key rings and evil eye bracelets galore) alongside locally made leather products of superior quality and more lampshades than an Ikea factory. In a vast Aladdin's cave of clay pots, ornate cedar wood chests, hookah pipes and tasselled Fez hats, my search for a ‘Made in China' sticker proved satisfyingly fruitless.
Later I went on a bus tour to the old and affluent suburb of Anfa, Casablanca's original name before the marauding Portuguese arrived in the 15th century and re-named it Casa Branca, meaning ‘white house', after the military fortress they eventually built.
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