Ebonee Bowers said in court Tuesday that she was in an abusive relationship and the only person who could have stomped on her child's face was her boyfriend, Dametrius Freeman.
Bowers, 25, is on trial on charges of child abuse and neglect, accused of slamming her then-17-month-old daughter's head into the floor and then stepping on Imani while wearing white Crocs shoes.
Bowers made the claims about Freeman, 24, while jurors were out of the courtroom, as Judge Lawton McIntosh and attorneys ran through Bowers' expected testimony in an effort to see if her accusations will be allowed to be made in front of the jurors when the trial continues today.
McIntosh dismissed the jury Tuesday afternoon to examine the legal implications of allowing or forbidding Bowers to accuse someone else of the crimes. Freeman faces the same charge of neglect but not the more severe abuse charge. He is on a list of potential witnesses but has not been called to the witness stand, even as prosecutors rested their case Tuesday.
Defense attorney Bruce Byrholdt said investigators neglected to look at Freeman after they had coerced Bowers into signing a confession.
Bowers signed two statements in early August 2010, shortly after Imani was injured and nearly died.
The first was in AnMed Health while her child was being prepared for a medical helicopter flight to Greenville and the second was at the Anderson County Sheriff's Office.
In the first statement, Bowers told investigators Imani had fallen from a counter and a bathtub in the house on separate days. She said it was what Freeman had told her had happened while she was at work.
In the second statement, a confession, Bowers admitted stomping on her daughter's face and slamming Imani's head into the floor.
When jurors were gone, Bowers said on the witness stand that she did not injure Imani in any way.
She said that Freeman had physically harmed her and after Imani was injured she found out he was on probation and could get in trouble for having lived with her instead of his listed address.
Tuesday was the second day of Bowers' trial and began with lead investigator Todd Owens of the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, who detailed how Bowers signed the confession.
Owens testified that he told Bowers she needed to tell the truth or risk 20 years going by without being with her children.
Byrholdt said it was a clear threat, made before she signed the confession.
"Twenty years she wasn't going to see her kids," Byrholdt said. "You don't think that's putting pressure on her?"
Judge McIntosh said jurors would be able to make up their minds but he interpreted Owens' comments as relaying to Bowers the factual penalties of such a crime.
Department of Social Services worker Megan Overton said she witnessed the confession process but her notes had been inadvertently destroyed. She could not recall Owens saying anything about 20 years to Bowers, but Overton told Byrholdt that if Owens had said something to that effect, it could be considered a threat.
Anderson County sheriff's detective Michele Hendrix also witnessed the confession process and she testified that, as sheriff's deputies, she and Owens had no control over the Department of Social Services, which had already taken Bowers' other two children, including Imani's twin, into protective custody.
Another social worker testified that Imani is recovering with grandparents in another state and she still walks with a leg brace while continuing work with physical, speech and occupational therapists.
Owens said he kept a calm demeanor as he begged Bowers to tell the truth in an interview room.
"Did Mr. Freeman do this? Did someone else do this? Did you do this?" Owens recalled asking Bowers.
He said she paused at the last question, as if she had something to get off her chest.
"She puts her head down a bit and turns, she stops sucking her thumb and she starts telling me what happened," Owens said.
Owens then took Bowers to his office to draft a typed confession.
Owens said he typically types out confessions for suspects, to keep the statements focused and factual, but he works with the suspects next to him and reads it as he goes to allow for corrections and changes.
Byrholdt said it was all too convenient.
"It sure would be easier for the jury if we had a video tape," he said.
Owens and Hendrix each said Anderson County Sheriff's Office policy calls for not recording any confessions.
"It makes it hard to challenge (a confession), doesn't it?" Byrholdt said.
Byrholdt said that no physical evidence ties Bowers to the abuse. Shoes taken from her apartment, including a pair of white Crocs, did not have any DNA or blood found after forensic tests, investigators said.
Owens said there may not have been blood because the injuries were internal, to Imani's brain.
Byrholdt said Owens should have asked Bowers if she was afraid of Freeman. The detective said he gave Bowers opportunities to say it was Freeman but he didn't push Bowers to see if she felt intimidated by her boyfriend.The trial continues Wednesday, with Bowers expected to return to the witness stand.
2012年9月18日星期二
2012年9月17日星期一
Sneakers sneak in a money lesson
The basketball superstar and the giant of the sneaker world are combining starting Sept. 22 on the rollout of Nike's priciest shoe yet. The LeBron X Nike Plus will sell for $270. There was initial speculation that it would break the $300 barrier, but this remains the LeBron sneaker series' most expensive version yet.
Those pricey sneakers reportedly will come embedded with motion sensors that tell how high you jump so you can refine your rebounding and shot-blocking skills.
I can hear the collective gasp of disbelief from parents. Who in their right mind would shell out that much for basketball shoes, unless the powers behind the Nike swoosh also guarantee your teen will swish every shot and become an NBA millionaire?
So why do I give praise?
Because James and Nike have provided you with a perfect opportunity to discuss smart money habits with your youngster on saving, planning, goal setting and even how to spend NBA money.
The easiest money conversations between parents and kids occur when the topic is relatable.
Sam Renick, the founder of It's A Habit, a Los Angeles company that promotes financial literacy, suggests that parents focus on the work angle. Encourage the mindset that you can have anything you want that you are willing to work for.
Renick said you might ask your son or daughter, "Is this something you really want? If so, let's figure out a plan on how you can work to get it."
From there, you could talk about getting a part-time job or taking on more chores around the house.
Renick likes this strategy because it emphasizes sacrifice and discipline, hope and independence. And it puts your kids' money on the line rather than yours.
I also think you need to set a realistic timetable on how long it will take to earn enough money to pay for the shoes. Do the math.
Some other sneaker lessons worth sharing:
Marketing and branding. Why are the shoes so pricey? How much of the cost covers marketing, packaging, etc.? And do you think $270 shoes will improve your game more than a $70 pair?
Technology. How cool it must be to get paid to design a basketball shoe with computer chips. What skills are involved?
Stock ownership. Skip the shoes, but buy Nike stock. The NBA season is just around the corner, and LeBron will surely be a promotional machine for Nike. Start watching the stock.
Of course, you could look at the price of LeBron's new sneakers and just say no to your son or daughter on the latest hot material thing.
But wouldn't it be better to engage them in a topic that doesn't involve homework, dating or any other teenage conversation stoppers?
Those pricey sneakers reportedly will come embedded with motion sensors that tell how high you jump so you can refine your rebounding and shot-blocking skills.
I can hear the collective gasp of disbelief from parents. Who in their right mind would shell out that much for basketball shoes, unless the powers behind the Nike swoosh also guarantee your teen will swish every shot and become an NBA millionaire?
So why do I give praise?
Because James and Nike have provided you with a perfect opportunity to discuss smart money habits with your youngster on saving, planning, goal setting and even how to spend NBA money.
The easiest money conversations between parents and kids occur when the topic is relatable.
Sam Renick, the founder of It's A Habit, a Los Angeles company that promotes financial literacy, suggests that parents focus on the work angle. Encourage the mindset that you can have anything you want that you are willing to work for.
Renick said you might ask your son or daughter, "Is this something you really want? If so, let's figure out a plan on how you can work to get it."
From there, you could talk about getting a part-time job or taking on more chores around the house.
Renick likes this strategy because it emphasizes sacrifice and discipline, hope and independence. And it puts your kids' money on the line rather than yours.
I also think you need to set a realistic timetable on how long it will take to earn enough money to pay for the shoes. Do the math.
Some other sneaker lessons worth sharing:
Marketing and branding. Why are the shoes so pricey? How much of the cost covers marketing, packaging, etc.? And do you think $270 shoes will improve your game more than a $70 pair?
Technology. How cool it must be to get paid to design a basketball shoe with computer chips. What skills are involved?
Stock ownership. Skip the shoes, but buy Nike stock. The NBA season is just around the corner, and LeBron will surely be a promotional machine for Nike. Start watching the stock.
Of course, you could look at the price of LeBron's new sneakers and just say no to your son or daughter on the latest hot material thing.
But wouldn't it be better to engage them in a topic that doesn't involve homework, dating or any other teenage conversation stoppers?
2012年9月16日星期日
GPS shoes shape-shifting bicycle and a wheelchair helicopter
Apple dominated the news cycle this week with the debut of the iPhone 5, as the internet was buzzing with details about the lighter, thinner and faster new iPhone. But not everyone was thrilled with the news. A journalist in China spent 10 days undercover working at a Foxconn factory, detailing the grueling conditions workers undergo to produce the new gadget. Apple wasn't the only tech company in the news this week, though; Google got some time in the spotlight this week too, as the company's new augmented-reality glasses were trotted down the runway at New York Fashion Week. Continuing the trend of high-tech fashion, British designer Dominic Wilcox unveiled a GPS shoe that guides you home from anywhere in the world.
This week, a team of Finnish researchers did what we would have thought was impossible, building an electricity-free computer that's powered by water droplets. Israeli designer Nitsan Debbi cooked up a batch of working electronic products made of bread. A Boise-based tech company used 3D printing technology to produce a new working beak for an injured bald eagle. Artist Luzinterruptus fitted 10,000 books that had been discarded by public libraries with LED lights and covered the streets of Melbourne with them, and in an exciting development the much-anticipated Low Line underground park in NYC debuted a full-scale model of their incredible fiber-optic solar-concentrating technology in New York City's lower east side. And in a surprising development, a researcher in Switzerland discovered a special strain of fungus that can make an ordinary violin sing like a Stradivarius.
In Inhabitat news this week, we announced the 40 finalists in our design-a-laptop-bag contest that we partnered on with HP. There are some pretty awesome and innovative laptop bag designs in this competition, and the top 40 are duking it out to win $10,000 and a possible production run, so please be a judge and go vote for your favorite laptop bag here. Speaking of design contests, we also kicked off the European Solar Decathlon this week with a look at six incredible solar-powered homes that are competing at the European Solar Decathlon right now to win top prize.
We love finding simple solutions to seemingly complex problems, and aircraft manufacturer Airbus' vision for the future of aviation is just that. Part of the vision calls for flying jets in the same formation as a flock of birds, which would reduce energy use and carbon emissions. In other green transportation news, Cannondale unveiled a chainless concept bike that can changes shape as you ride it. In Utah, a grad student from the University of Denver shattered a world speed record by hitting 216 MPH on a home-built electric motorcycle. And in one of the most remarkable stories we came across this week, a Honduran man who is confined to a wheelchair has devoted most of his life to building a helicopter out of scrap metal.
A new study from the Carnegie Institution for Science found that there's enough wind power to meet the whole world's energy demands. And with the help of airborne wind turbines, we'd be able to generate even more power than with ground- and ocean-based units alone. In solar news, Morocco is on its way to becoming a world-class solar energy producer, as the country recently announced plans to harvest 14 percent of its energy from the sun by 2020. For renewable energy on a smaller scale, a graduate student in Israel developed a prototype for an elegant rocking chair called Otarky that produces energy from its rocking motion and can be used to charge devices and power a lamp.
This week, a team of Finnish researchers did what we would have thought was impossible, building an electricity-free computer that's powered by water droplets. Israeli designer Nitsan Debbi cooked up a batch of working electronic products made of bread. A Boise-based tech company used 3D printing technology to produce a new working beak for an injured bald eagle. Artist Luzinterruptus fitted 10,000 books that had been discarded by public libraries with LED lights and covered the streets of Melbourne with them, and in an exciting development the much-anticipated Low Line underground park in NYC debuted a full-scale model of their incredible fiber-optic solar-concentrating technology in New York City's lower east side. And in a surprising development, a researcher in Switzerland discovered a special strain of fungus that can make an ordinary violin sing like a Stradivarius.
In Inhabitat news this week, we announced the 40 finalists in our design-a-laptop-bag contest that we partnered on with HP. There are some pretty awesome and innovative laptop bag designs in this competition, and the top 40 are duking it out to win $10,000 and a possible production run, so please be a judge and go vote for your favorite laptop bag here. Speaking of design contests, we also kicked off the European Solar Decathlon this week with a look at six incredible solar-powered homes that are competing at the European Solar Decathlon right now to win top prize.
We love finding simple solutions to seemingly complex problems, and aircraft manufacturer Airbus' vision for the future of aviation is just that. Part of the vision calls for flying jets in the same formation as a flock of birds, which would reduce energy use and carbon emissions. In other green transportation news, Cannondale unveiled a chainless concept bike that can changes shape as you ride it. In Utah, a grad student from the University of Denver shattered a world speed record by hitting 216 MPH on a home-built electric motorcycle. And in one of the most remarkable stories we came across this week, a Honduran man who is confined to a wheelchair has devoted most of his life to building a helicopter out of scrap metal.
A new study from the Carnegie Institution for Science found that there's enough wind power to meet the whole world's energy demands. And with the help of airborne wind turbines, we'd be able to generate even more power than with ground- and ocean-based units alone. In solar news, Morocco is on its way to becoming a world-class solar energy producer, as the country recently announced plans to harvest 14 percent of its energy from the sun by 2020. For renewable energy on a smaller scale, a graduate student in Israel developed a prototype for an elegant rocking chair called Otarky that produces energy from its rocking motion and can be used to charge devices and power a lamp.
2012年9月13日星期四
Shoes tip off officers
A pair of upscale tennis shoes being worn by a man on Bradshaw Avenue proved to be his downfall Tuesday after city police officers arrested him for receiving stolen property, with additional charges pending.
Chief John Lane said Detective Rob Smith and Capt. Darin Morgan have been working non-stop on a rash of burglaries over the past two months in the city and on Tuesday were headed to a report of another one when they noticed David J. Sisco Jr., 22, 709 Marcus St., walking with a woman identified as Rebecca Sisco, 24, address not listed.
David Sisco was reportedly wearing an expensive pair of Nike tennis shoes, and officers recalled one of the burglary victims may have had such an item stolen.
With Morgan detaining David Sisco, Smith went to the place of employment of Amy Barr, where she identified the $130 pair of shoes as having been stolen from her St. Clair Avenue home, Lane reported.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Sisco gave officers permission to search her purse, and a detective saw some credit cards inside, but before he could ask about them, she reportedly said they "belonged to David."
Officers found the cards to be those of another burglary victim, Robert Bloor, a retired city police officer, who had reported numerous items taken from his home, including the service revolver he had used as an officer.
David Sisco was arrested at that point for receiving stolen property and officers asked to search his home, but he declined, and Lane said Smith worked all day Tuesday to obtain a search warrant for the home, which was executed Tuesday evening.
Inside the home, they reportedly found "quite a bit" of stolen property from numerous burglaries. Some items had been sold and recovered by officers prior to search of the house, which also led to Sisco, according to Lane.
He said it is believed Sisco walked through neighborhoods with a baby stroller, knocking on doors, and chose to enter those homes where no one was home.
"He hadn't encountered anyone (at home), but he would have eventually," Lane predicted.
He said more information is being unearthed as Morgan and Smith keep investigating, saying, "There are definitely others involved. Other charges are pending. The hammer's coming down."
Lane continued, "Rob and Darin did an excellent job on this case. I imagine it's very gratifying to them to be able to call these people and return their (stolen) items. How often do you (as a police officer) get to do that?"
David Sisco appeared Wednesday in East Liverpool Municipal Court on the receiving stolen property charge and had a pretrial scheduled Sept. 13, with cash/surety bond set at $15,000. He also was fined $75 for a driving under suspension charge from an earlier case.
Chief John Lane said Detective Rob Smith and Capt. Darin Morgan have been working non-stop on a rash of burglaries over the past two months in the city and on Tuesday were headed to a report of another one when they noticed David J. Sisco Jr., 22, 709 Marcus St., walking with a woman identified as Rebecca Sisco, 24, address not listed.
David Sisco was reportedly wearing an expensive pair of Nike tennis shoes, and officers recalled one of the burglary victims may have had such an item stolen.
With Morgan detaining David Sisco, Smith went to the place of employment of Amy Barr, where she identified the $130 pair of shoes as having been stolen from her St. Clair Avenue home, Lane reported.
Meanwhile, Rebecca Sisco gave officers permission to search her purse, and a detective saw some credit cards inside, but before he could ask about them, she reportedly said they "belonged to David."
Officers found the cards to be those of another burglary victim, Robert Bloor, a retired city police officer, who had reported numerous items taken from his home, including the service revolver he had used as an officer.
David Sisco was arrested at that point for receiving stolen property and officers asked to search his home, but he declined, and Lane said Smith worked all day Tuesday to obtain a search warrant for the home, which was executed Tuesday evening.
Inside the home, they reportedly found "quite a bit" of stolen property from numerous burglaries. Some items had been sold and recovered by officers prior to search of the house, which also led to Sisco, according to Lane.
He said it is believed Sisco walked through neighborhoods with a baby stroller, knocking on doors, and chose to enter those homes where no one was home.
"He hadn't encountered anyone (at home), but he would have eventually," Lane predicted.
He said more information is being unearthed as Morgan and Smith keep investigating, saying, "There are definitely others involved. Other charges are pending. The hammer's coming down."
Lane continued, "Rob and Darin did an excellent job on this case. I imagine it's very gratifying to them to be able to call these people and return their (stolen) items. How often do you (as a police officer) get to do that?"
David Sisco appeared Wednesday in East Liverpool Municipal Court on the receiving stolen property charge and had a pretrial scheduled Sept. 13, with cash/surety bond set at $15,000. He also was fined $75 for a driving under suspension charge from an earlier case.
2012年9月12日星期三
Now that I had decided where would I go?
It's not that I wanted another pair of cute shoes. A good pair of shoes is a necessity. Really. (Is there a woman alive who hasn't said that?)
I have feet issues, big time. I wear a size 12 in ladies' shoes, and in athletic shoes, a men's size 10 1/2. Did I mention I have fallen arches and huge bunions? Needless to say, my feet always need help.
After more than 40 years of pushing around rolling racks as a fashion coordinator, I decided that it was time to invest in a good shoe. My giant feet were sending me a message: Get some fashionable shoes with comfort. With this in mind and credit card in hand, I decided to listen and invest in some custom-made shoes.
Great idea. But how do I find these "investment shoes"? Lucky for me, I was about to go on a trip to Italy where the finest shoemakers in the world would surround me. Surely it would be a breeze to find relief for my poor old feet. I travel to Italy every two years and have noticed the small, quaint shops of handmade leather shoes, but I never thought about having a pair made.
Now that I had decided, where would I go? I could just wander the streets and by chance happen upon a shoe shop, but I had a better idea. I turned to the Internet and found some likely candidates. Then, I decided that I would e-mail my friends in Florence and ask for their help in finding the perfect maestro calzola io (master shoemaker in Italian).
After all, my friends are top craftsmen in their own fields. Jean Saade, a third-generation jewelry shop owner, and Smilie Mimmo, a third-generation leather factory owner, both design fine handcrafted goods. I hoped they would help me find a shoemaker and would explain my wants and needs, rather than let me wave my hands around trying to explain my predicament with my limited Italian vocabulary. Within 24 hours, I had my answer. Yes, Jean and Smilie would help me. I decided the best and most versatile shoe for me was a ballet-type flat, with an orthotic built into the shoe and designed to avoid my bigger-than-Texas-size bunions.
Fast-forward a few months, our trip had finally begun. After a few days of traveling in Italy, my husband and I arrived in Florence and took a walk along the cobblestone streets, wandering off on a side street away from the hordes of tourists. Suddenly, I stopped in front of a tiny shop window. Like a scene out of a movie, an older Italian gentleman was sitting at his cobbler's bench slowly hammering tiny nails into a leather shoe. Apprentices, soaking up his every move, surrounded him. I remarked that I would just love it if "my shoemaker" could be just like this one.
Little did I know that the next day when my friend Smilie took me to meet his choice artisan, it would be the same man -- Calogero Mannina, a master shoemaker for more than 54 years and a second-generation shoe designer. I saw the framed articles in magazines and newspaper clippings from around the world claiming his talent. He was even featured in an exclusive book on elite Florentine artisans. I was sure that I was meant to have the best size 12 shoes that Italy could produce.
As we walked into his tiny workshop without an appointment, Smilie explained what I wanted. Surrounded by stacks of leather samples, nails and hammers, Mannina was ready to solve my foot problems with a shoe made of soft, beautiful Italian leather.
What color do you want? Round or pointed toe? What heel height?
As I conveyed my answers to Smilie, the Italian shoemaker's expertise put my fears to rest. He took a million notes, measured my orthotics and then sat me down on the worn bench, one end stacked high with shoeboxes and soon-to-be shoes. He began to trace my feet with a pencil onto paper, just how I remember my foot being measured as a child in the 1950s. Mannina meant business. He jotted down numbers and notes about my foot, in Italian, of course. The measuring and shoe talk was over in less than 20 minutes. Then we left the workshop and walked around to his storefront. It was a beautiful store full of shoes. Of course, those shoes were for people with normal-size feet, not my big size 12s.
Suddenly I remembered that I had forgotten to inquire how much my custom shoes would cost. As the kind, friendly craftsman handed me a form to complete with my mailing address back in the States, I started to panic. What if these shoes had "movie star" prices? After all, Mannina was pictured with lots of movie stars on the store's wall. I decided that I just would not shop for shoes for a year (or maybe more!) and surely that would offset the price of my custom shoes. When Smilie asked him the price, I already had my credit card out, ready to bite the bullet.
After Smilie told me the price, I realized that my math had been correct: No shoes for a year or so. That worked for me because now I would have wonderful custom-made shoes that would last forever. And if I did wear them out or want another style, Mannina would have my shoe pattern and my wooden form filed right there with all the movie stars'. All I would have to do is e-mail and give him my credit card number and another pair would soon be on the way!
Mannina explained that I should expect the handcrafted shoes in about a month. This talented artisan makes only one pair of shoes each day with the great care and pride. Why would I rush this dying art? I would be happy to wait.
Mannina and I walked out of the shop practically hand-in-hand. He wished me well, gave me a kiss on each cheek and a big hug and off I went. I received my custom-made Italian leather shoes nine weeks and one day after purchasing them. They fit like a glove. The leather wraps around my bunions with no pain and is even softer than I remembered back in Mannina's shop. I wear the shoes practically night and day. My big feet and I are very happy and stylish, too!
I have feet issues, big time. I wear a size 12 in ladies' shoes, and in athletic shoes, a men's size 10 1/2. Did I mention I have fallen arches and huge bunions? Needless to say, my feet always need help.
After more than 40 years of pushing around rolling racks as a fashion coordinator, I decided that it was time to invest in a good shoe. My giant feet were sending me a message: Get some fashionable shoes with comfort. With this in mind and credit card in hand, I decided to listen and invest in some custom-made shoes.
Great idea. But how do I find these "investment shoes"? Lucky for me, I was about to go on a trip to Italy where the finest shoemakers in the world would surround me. Surely it would be a breeze to find relief for my poor old feet. I travel to Italy every two years and have noticed the small, quaint shops of handmade leather shoes, but I never thought about having a pair made.
Now that I had decided, where would I go? I could just wander the streets and by chance happen upon a shoe shop, but I had a better idea. I turned to the Internet and found some likely candidates. Then, I decided that I would e-mail my friends in Florence and ask for their help in finding the perfect maestro calzola io (master shoemaker in Italian).
After all, my friends are top craftsmen in their own fields. Jean Saade, a third-generation jewelry shop owner, and Smilie Mimmo, a third-generation leather factory owner, both design fine handcrafted goods. I hoped they would help me find a shoemaker and would explain my wants and needs, rather than let me wave my hands around trying to explain my predicament with my limited Italian vocabulary. Within 24 hours, I had my answer. Yes, Jean and Smilie would help me. I decided the best and most versatile shoe for me was a ballet-type flat, with an orthotic built into the shoe and designed to avoid my bigger-than-Texas-size bunions.
Fast-forward a few months, our trip had finally begun. After a few days of traveling in Italy, my husband and I arrived in Florence and took a walk along the cobblestone streets, wandering off on a side street away from the hordes of tourists. Suddenly, I stopped in front of a tiny shop window. Like a scene out of a movie, an older Italian gentleman was sitting at his cobbler's bench slowly hammering tiny nails into a leather shoe. Apprentices, soaking up his every move, surrounded him. I remarked that I would just love it if "my shoemaker" could be just like this one.
Little did I know that the next day when my friend Smilie took me to meet his choice artisan, it would be the same man -- Calogero Mannina, a master shoemaker for more than 54 years and a second-generation shoe designer. I saw the framed articles in magazines and newspaper clippings from around the world claiming his talent. He was even featured in an exclusive book on elite Florentine artisans. I was sure that I was meant to have the best size 12 shoes that Italy could produce.
As we walked into his tiny workshop without an appointment, Smilie explained what I wanted. Surrounded by stacks of leather samples, nails and hammers, Mannina was ready to solve my foot problems with a shoe made of soft, beautiful Italian leather.
What color do you want? Round or pointed toe? What heel height?
As I conveyed my answers to Smilie, the Italian shoemaker's expertise put my fears to rest. He took a million notes, measured my orthotics and then sat me down on the worn bench, one end stacked high with shoeboxes and soon-to-be shoes. He began to trace my feet with a pencil onto paper, just how I remember my foot being measured as a child in the 1950s. Mannina meant business. He jotted down numbers and notes about my foot, in Italian, of course. The measuring and shoe talk was over in less than 20 minutes. Then we left the workshop and walked around to his storefront. It was a beautiful store full of shoes. Of course, those shoes were for people with normal-size feet, not my big size 12s.
Suddenly I remembered that I had forgotten to inquire how much my custom shoes would cost. As the kind, friendly craftsman handed me a form to complete with my mailing address back in the States, I started to panic. What if these shoes had "movie star" prices? After all, Mannina was pictured with lots of movie stars on the store's wall. I decided that I just would not shop for shoes for a year (or maybe more!) and surely that would offset the price of my custom shoes. When Smilie asked him the price, I already had my credit card out, ready to bite the bullet.
After Smilie told me the price, I realized that my math had been correct: No shoes for a year or so. That worked for me because now I would have wonderful custom-made shoes that would last forever. And if I did wear them out or want another style, Mannina would have my shoe pattern and my wooden form filed right there with all the movie stars'. All I would have to do is e-mail and give him my credit card number and another pair would soon be on the way!
Mannina explained that I should expect the handcrafted shoes in about a month. This talented artisan makes only one pair of shoes each day with the great care and pride. Why would I rush this dying art? I would be happy to wait.
Mannina and I walked out of the shop practically hand-in-hand. He wished me well, gave me a kiss on each cheek and a big hug and off I went. I received my custom-made Italian leather shoes nine weeks and one day after purchasing them. They fit like a glove. The leather wraps around my bunions with no pain and is even softer than I remembered back in Mannina's shop. I wear the shoes practically night and day. My big feet and I are very happy and stylish, too!
2012年9月11日星期二
Shoe designs by day fire juggling by night for Jennifer Romas
Bombshell brunette Jennifer Romas is a star dancer at “iCandy Burlesque: the Show” with her sizzling striptease, unbelievable gravity-defying pole routines and her phenomenal fire-juggling skills. By night, she KOs audiences six times a week in the hot, new Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile show.
But by day, she’s knocking out extraordinary and exotic embellishments for her shoe line Sekshual Design.
“Dancing is my passion,” Jennifer told me. “But I like keeping busy and creative. So I worked on my own costumes, and the shoe accessorizing followed automatically.” Now the former gymnast and stilt-walker has a shoe-in fan following with fashion aficionados and her fellow dancers at shows up and down the Strip.
It’s not yet to the level of where Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik are opening boutiques at every hotel in town, but Jennifer is busy finishing her first full boutique collection ready to showcase.
Born in Michigan, she became a competitive athlete in track, diving and gymnastics and went on to become the U.S. Gymnastics Federation state floor and vault champion in Minnesota. Her coaches encouraged her to take dance classes to help her routines, and Jennifer wound up in the international touring jazz company Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago.
En route to Los Angeles for her career, she stopped in Las Vegas, won an unexpected downtown gig at “X-Treme Scene” in Union Plaza and still has yet to continue her 270-mile journey to the California movie capital. She’s danced in shows in Las Vegas, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, Korea and China. She’s been seen on NBC and Fox, for NASCAR on Speed TV and placed in the Top 15 of “America’s Got Talent” with her Sexy and Dangerous act.
Jennifer danced in the Charo and Rick Thomas shows on the Strip and was the headliner in “Striptease,” which played at the Sahara until the casino hotel closed in May 2011. Michael Jackson show director and choreographer Kenny Ortega hired her to perform at Steve Wynn’s birthday dance show at XS.
To keep fit, she does 40 minutes of cardio training with sit-ups and lunges at the gym five days a week and adds in a 6 a.m. boot camp. Needless to say, no pizzas or cheeseburgers in her diet. “I even use green cabbage leaves around my knees to reduce the swelling from all the dance workouts,” Jennifer said.
Her dancing, modeling and choreography assignments keep her busy, but she managed to debut her Sekshual Design shoes a year ago at the Vegas Rocks Magazine Awards at the then-Las Vegas Hilton (now LVH). “I love creating the unusual, the unique, the exotic,” Jennifer said. “I rework the shoes over in feathers, crystals, straps; in fact, the embellishments also work on hats, lingerie and costumes.”
She's thrilled dancing in"iCandy Burlesque" and that her erotic shoe designs have caught on:"I love Las Vegas because you can do what you need to do or want to do any time of the day or night. I feel like I never really have any free time, but with all the work I pack into a day, I am the happiest I've ever been in my life. Everything is beautiful, and I know it's going to continue getting even bigger and better."
But by day, she’s knocking out extraordinary and exotic embellishments for her shoe line Sekshual Design.
“Dancing is my passion,” Jennifer told me. “But I like keeping busy and creative. So I worked on my own costumes, and the shoe accessorizing followed automatically.” Now the former gymnast and stilt-walker has a shoe-in fan following with fashion aficionados and her fellow dancers at shows up and down the Strip.
It’s not yet to the level of where Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik are opening boutiques at every hotel in town, but Jennifer is busy finishing her first full boutique collection ready to showcase.
Born in Michigan, she became a competitive athlete in track, diving and gymnastics and went on to become the U.S. Gymnastics Federation state floor and vault champion in Minnesota. Her coaches encouraged her to take dance classes to help her routines, and Jennifer wound up in the international touring jazz company Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago.
En route to Los Angeles for her career, she stopped in Las Vegas, won an unexpected downtown gig at “X-Treme Scene” in Union Plaza and still has yet to continue her 270-mile journey to the California movie capital. She’s danced in shows in Las Vegas, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, Korea and China. She’s been seen on NBC and Fox, for NASCAR on Speed TV and placed in the Top 15 of “America’s Got Talent” with her Sexy and Dangerous act.
Jennifer danced in the Charo and Rick Thomas shows on the Strip and was the headliner in “Striptease,” which played at the Sahara until the casino hotel closed in May 2011. Michael Jackson show director and choreographer Kenny Ortega hired her to perform at Steve Wynn’s birthday dance show at XS.
To keep fit, she does 40 minutes of cardio training with sit-ups and lunges at the gym five days a week and adds in a 6 a.m. boot camp. Needless to say, no pizzas or cheeseburgers in her diet. “I even use green cabbage leaves around my knees to reduce the swelling from all the dance workouts,” Jennifer said.
Her dancing, modeling and choreography assignments keep her busy, but she managed to debut her Sekshual Design shoes a year ago at the Vegas Rocks Magazine Awards at the then-Las Vegas Hilton (now LVH). “I love creating the unusual, the unique, the exotic,” Jennifer said. “I rework the shoes over in feathers, crystals, straps; in fact, the embellishments also work on hats, lingerie and costumes.”
She's thrilled dancing in"iCandy Burlesque" and that her erotic shoe designs have caught on:"I love Las Vegas because you can do what you need to do or want to do any time of the day or night. I feel like I never really have any free time, but with all the work I pack into a day, I am the happiest I've ever been in my life. Everything is beautiful, and I know it's going to continue getting even bigger and better."
2012年9月10日星期一
High fashion pieces at college student prices
With summer coming to a close, it is time to break all your summer clothes out of your closet one last time before fall settles in. Some of the best trends of the summer of 2012 included high-to-low skirts and dresses, cutouts, peplum tops and dresses, neon, platforms and the return of the 90’s with crop tops. As a Drew student, these trends are all extremely wearable, even on a budget.
The “high to low” look is a skirt or dress cut higher in the front and longer in the back. It combines the best of mini and maxi, allowing you to show off your legs while still enjoying the effortless, flowy feel of a long skirt. When wearing this type of garment, make sure that its length is proportional to your body type— something cut too high in the front can look vulgar, while too long in the back runs the risk of dragging on the ground behind you. Dress it up with some wedges on the weekend, or dress it down with a simple tee to class. Check out some options at Forever 21 (Pleated High-Low Skirt, $19.80),and Urban Outfitters.
Cutouts allow you to show a little skin without showing too much, and they raise any outfit’s edginess. Cutouts can be anywhere on a garment, from the back, the shoulders, the midriff, the side or even the thigh, which will bring attention to your best features while the perhaps less-than-perfect areas stay covered. Some great cutout clothes include the Blaze Cutout Dress, the ASOS top with Extreme Dip Back and Strappy Back, Funktional Night Slash Leggings, Petites Floral SideBra Top, and the Petite Dip-Dye Cutout Sweat.
Typically on the dressier side, 50’s inspired peplum conjures mental images of Zooey Deschanel, red lips, and suicide roll hair-do’s. Peplum creates curves in all the right places—perfect for those with a straight up and down frame. Channel your inner pin-up girl this weekend with a Peplum Skirt ($35.00, Zara), Petite Sleeveless Peplum Top or Tiffany Embellished Neck Peplum Dress.
Perhaps due to the explosion of dance music into the mainstream, neon ‘is all the rage’. Even if you didn’t make it to any music festivals this summer, neon adds a pop of fun color to gym shoes, sweatshirts, tops, and leggings. Stop traffic in shoes from Charlotte Russe (Mixed Brights Cage Heel, $42.50),or leggings from Delias (Neon Seamless Legging, $20.00)
A favorite is the platform shoe. When the Spice Girls turn Earth into Spice World with seven inch platforms, many were inspired to do the same. Jeffrey Campbell in particular brought this style back with his unique and often gravity-defying shoes. Although these shoes can get pricey, it is worth it. Nothing beats the feeling of towering over your friends, or finally meeting eye level with them. Believe it or not, they are extremely easy to walk in, and are much easier to walk back to your dorm room from the suites on a Saturday night, regardless if you’ve had one drink or five.
On the topic of the Spice Girls, the 90’s have officially made their return. Whether you want to channel Kurt Cobain’s grunge or Alicia Silverstone’s crop tops from Clueless, you can’t go wrong. Just make sure that you don’t take it literally—scrunchies and the thighmaster should probably never see the light of day ever again. Pair a crop top with a high-waisted skirt and show a sliver of stomach in the Scribbles Cropped Top ($4.99, Forever 21) or the Electric Wave Crop. If plaid is more your style, look no further than the Riot Plaid Skirt which also follows the high-to-low trend, or the Black Red High Waist Hollow Pleated Dress.
Let’s get the most out of summer fashion while we still can! Before long it will be time to stock up on boots and scarves. Just remember, fashion is meant to be fun. If something is not your style, don’t feel like you have to buy it just because it is trendy. Fashion reflects personality, so make sure if you follow a trend, your own personal style is still being represented.
The “high to low” look is a skirt or dress cut higher in the front and longer in the back. It combines the best of mini and maxi, allowing you to show off your legs while still enjoying the effortless, flowy feel of a long skirt. When wearing this type of garment, make sure that its length is proportional to your body type— something cut too high in the front can look vulgar, while too long in the back runs the risk of dragging on the ground behind you. Dress it up with some wedges on the weekend, or dress it down with a simple tee to class. Check out some options at Forever 21 (Pleated High-Low Skirt, $19.80),and Urban Outfitters.
Cutouts allow you to show a little skin without showing too much, and they raise any outfit’s edginess. Cutouts can be anywhere on a garment, from the back, the shoulders, the midriff, the side or even the thigh, which will bring attention to your best features while the perhaps less-than-perfect areas stay covered. Some great cutout clothes include the Blaze Cutout Dress, the ASOS top with Extreme Dip Back and Strappy Back, Funktional Night Slash Leggings, Petites Floral SideBra Top, and the Petite Dip-Dye Cutout Sweat.
Typically on the dressier side, 50’s inspired peplum conjures mental images of Zooey Deschanel, red lips, and suicide roll hair-do’s. Peplum creates curves in all the right places—perfect for those with a straight up and down frame. Channel your inner pin-up girl this weekend with a Peplum Skirt ($35.00, Zara), Petite Sleeveless Peplum Top or Tiffany Embellished Neck Peplum Dress.
Perhaps due to the explosion of dance music into the mainstream, neon ‘is all the rage’. Even if you didn’t make it to any music festivals this summer, neon adds a pop of fun color to gym shoes, sweatshirts, tops, and leggings. Stop traffic in shoes from Charlotte Russe (Mixed Brights Cage Heel, $42.50),or leggings from Delias (Neon Seamless Legging, $20.00)
A favorite is the platform shoe. When the Spice Girls turn Earth into Spice World with seven inch platforms, many were inspired to do the same. Jeffrey Campbell in particular brought this style back with his unique and often gravity-defying shoes. Although these shoes can get pricey, it is worth it. Nothing beats the feeling of towering over your friends, or finally meeting eye level with them. Believe it or not, they are extremely easy to walk in, and are much easier to walk back to your dorm room from the suites on a Saturday night, regardless if you’ve had one drink or five.
On the topic of the Spice Girls, the 90’s have officially made their return. Whether you want to channel Kurt Cobain’s grunge or Alicia Silverstone’s crop tops from Clueless, you can’t go wrong. Just make sure that you don’t take it literally—scrunchies and the thighmaster should probably never see the light of day ever again. Pair a crop top with a high-waisted skirt and show a sliver of stomach in the Scribbles Cropped Top ($4.99, Forever 21) or the Electric Wave Crop. If plaid is more your style, look no further than the Riot Plaid Skirt which also follows the high-to-low trend, or the Black Red High Waist Hollow Pleated Dress.
Let’s get the most out of summer fashion while we still can! Before long it will be time to stock up on boots and scarves. Just remember, fashion is meant to be fun. If something is not your style, don’t feel like you have to buy it just because it is trendy. Fashion reflects personality, so make sure if you follow a trend, your own personal style is still being represented.
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