tiffany jewelry

WSLS to launch entertainment show

A big change is coming to local television's noon news lineup.

WSLS (Channel 10) announced this week that the station will replace its news Paloma Picasso at noon with a half-hour show focusing on entertainment and lifestyle topics such as travel, dining, gardening, fashion and interior design.

"Our Blue Ridge" debuts March 1. The co-hosts include a familiar face and a familiar voice. Natalie Faunce, once the anchor of the Fox 21/27 10 p.m. news show, has joined WSLS full-time. Her co-host will be Jay Prater, formerly a radio DJ with WROV.

Faunce described the show as akin to "a local 'Regis and Kelly.' " She said she's looking forward to the new show, which will be quite different from her stint with Fox. "It's not news. It's all entertainment."

WSLS Vice President Warren Fiihr said the change is permanent. The change frees reporters up to pursue stories through the day for the afternoon and evening broadcasts, he said.

"The noon news is a product that's really born more out of the early days of TV," he Return To Tiffany. During the day, most people are getting news instantly from other sources, such as the Internet.

The new show is intended to better serve a daytime television audience, Fiihr said. "TV is changing really quickly and we're changing with it." The half-hour show's format will allow for a lot of flexibility in its content, he said.

"Our main demographic is going to be women," Faunce added.

Nielsen ratings from November 2009 show the WSLS noon news program trailing those produced by WSET (Channel 13) and WDBJ (Channel 7), which has long been the ratings leader in the region.

Fiihr said ratings weren't behind the decision to change programming. All noon news shows have relatively small audiences, he said.

Amy Morris, WDBJ news director, said her station has no interest in pursuing a similar Tiffany 1837. "I do think people still want news on television.

Goodwill fashions order out of chaos

Barbara Mason was on a mission Thursday morning as she entered the new Goodwill Tiffany Necklaces on State Road 56.

She had seen a teapot she liked the day before, but didn't buy it. The thought of it gnawed at her overnight.

Mason described the 25,000-square-foot store as "tidy," which she said was unlike the discount retailers in her native Ontario.

She is perhaps the new store's first regular customer.

"I bought a sign to hang in the kitchen for my grandchildren and some plastic bags for packing" on Wednesday, she said.

The store at 2390 Willow Oak Drive opened quietly this week, but a grand opening is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday. The new location is the latest in a series of warehouse-concept stores Goodwill has opened in the region over the past several years.

With its contemporary, eye-catching architecture and mix of new and used merchandise, Tiffany Rings Wesley Chapel superstore is Goodwill's way of competing with larger discount retailers. The free-standing store is in the Cypress Creek retail development on the north side of S.R. 56 just east of Interstate 75; it employees 45 people.

The Cypress Creek location also features a drive-through lane where people can donate items.

"This will become a destination for anyone interested in bargain shopping," said Michael Ann Harvey, Goodwill spokeswoman. "In this dreadful economy, we think a big, beautiful store is a welcome addition to the community. We buy closeouts and discount items from wholesalers, and we get donations from other companies.

"It helps us compete with other retailers, including very large ones."

Harvey said the new store is expected to attract most of its shoppers from New Tampa and south Pasco County. On Thursday morning, shoppers from as far away as New Port Richey and Hudson browsed the aisles.

Other Goodwill superstores were built in Oldsmar last year, and Spring Hill and St. Petersburg in 2008.

Revenue from Goodwill stores supports the agency's human services, which includes employing people with disabilities. Goodwill also has employment and training programs for people with other barriers to employment, such as those in community corrections programs.

Although the grand opening isn't until Saturday, Harvey said word-of-mouth advertising had Tiffany Money Clips drawn lots of shoppers.

As she entered the store Thursday morning, Diana Murphy's eyes lit up.

"Wow," she said. "This is a good store and beautiful."

Mason brought friend Margaret Brock, also of Zephyrhills via Ontario, with her on Thursday.

"At home, our (discount stores) don't look like this. This is modern," Brock said. "It kind of welcomes you to a clean place. It even smells clean."

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 259-8116.

Sustainable fashion: what does green mean?

The tabular content relating to this article is not available to view. Apologies in advance for the inconvenience caused.

At the end of last year, just as most fashion designers were beginning to tilt their imaginations Tiffany Notes the autumn/winter women's wear shows, that begin next week in New York, and most consumers were mulling over which fashion items to put on their Christmas lists, I was at a conference in Copenhagen, thinking about something very different indeed.

And no, it wasn't the big, laden-with-hope-but-frustrated-in-the-end United Nations climate change conference that took place in the city at that time. Rather, it was what fashion people might call an accessory to that conference. A sustainable fashion conference. You can laugh now. Everyone I told at the time did. Not just because I am not a particularly "green" type - though I compost and recycle - but because of the subject itself.

"Sustainable fashion?" friends and colleagues would chortle. "What's that?"

Good question. And here's the truth: having spent two days in Copenhagen immersed in the concept, having thought about it over the weeks since then, and having canvassed a wide variety of fashion figures, I can honestly answer ... no one knows. And the more you try to figure it out, the more confusing it becomes.

Consider the following responses to the same, straightforward, question: "How would you define sustainable fashion?"

Frida Giannini, Gucci creative director: "Quality items that stand the test of time - it is this concept of sustainability, symbolised by a timeless handbag that you wear again and again, and can pass on, that I am always thinking of when I design."

Oscar de la Renta, designer, brand founder: "Sustainable fashion implies a commitment to the traditional techniques, and not just the art, of making clothes. I work today in the same way that I first learnt in the ateliers of Balenciaga and Lanvin 50 years ago. We need to ensure that the next generation of seamstresses and tailors Tiffany Keys the skills necessary to develop clothes that are not only beautiful but extremely well made."

Anya Hindmarch, designer, brand founder, and initiator of the "I am not a plastic bag" initiative: "I would define the ideal as locally sourced materials that don't pollute in their creation or demise (preferably recycled) and with limited transportation to achieve the completed product."

And, lastly, designer and brand founder Dries van Noten: "Most of what we may currently refer to as sustainable fashion is a contradiction in terms. It refers to how the fabric used for a new garment has been produced ... Yet, I believe, we need to consider this issue from a more macro and profound perspective. Though a cotton may be unbleached, we need to examine how it arrives to the manufacturer or to us the wearer. What was the 'carbon imprint' of its delivery, for example?"

Not all the same, then.

. . .

This is a problem, because words such as "sustainability", "green", "eco", "organic", and "ethical" are discount tiffany a part of the fashion conversation. Last month the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva hosted an EcoChic fair, featuring a "sustainable fashion show" in which well-known designers created garments out of natural fibres manufactured in the "most sustainable way". At London Fashion Week this month, an exhibit called Estethica will be devoted to "eco sustainable fashion". Next month, the Fashion Institute of Technology joins forces with the University of Delaware and the Parsons design school to mount a sustainable fashion exhibit, tentatively titled "Passion for Sustainable Fashion", which will feature student-created clothes designed and made in an ethically-sourced and eco-friendly manner. Meanwhile, ahead of the film awards season, Oscar-nominated actor Colin Firth's wife Livia has said she will wear only "ethical fashion" on the red carpet.

And yet not one of the above institutions or people has really specified what they mean by combining those two words. Indeed, while the London College of Fashion defines "sustainable" as "harnessing resources ethically and responsibly without destroying social and ecological balance", it does not go so far as to pin down how that might evolve when attached to the word "fashion".

This lexicographical fuzziness is not a problem unique to the style world - by which I mean the world of high-end fashion, the glossy, global brands that capture the imagination and position themselves as leaders, in every sense of the world. (High street fashion, with its worn today/tossed tomorrow ethos, brings up entirely different issues when it comes to sustainability.) The UN itself doesn't have an agreed definition of "sustainability". The food industry has for years been wrestling with the slippery nature of terms such as "lite", "organic", and "grain-fed".

Indeed, it's the widespread interest in these words elsewhere that has brought the issue to the forefront in Tiffany Bangles. The industry's great talent is, after all, tapping into the Zeitgeist.

As well as ethics, the question of sustainability is one of economics. Mintel, the international market research company, notes: "As consumers demand more from the companies they do business with, they'll want ... more scrutiny on ethical claims than ever before."

As a brand then, it's not enough to attach a word to your actions - you have to understand specifically what you mean by that word, and be able to prove it. A fashion brand may say it is "eco" but, in the mind of the consumer, this means something entirely different to what the brand itself intends. And that way lies not consumption and balance sheet growth, but confusion.

I have plenty of first-hand experience of this. As the FT's fashion editor, rarely a day goes by when I don't get an e-mail about a new product attaching one of these green terms to its pitch: "It's an eco-friendly baby carrier!"; "it's a recyclable shoe!"; "it's made of pre-organic cotton". Generally, I read these with certain assumptions: for example, that "recyclable" means you can toss said item in the bin with your bottles; "pre-organic" means fabricated from some sort of absolutely untouched natural material.

But further investigation reveals that pre-organic cotton is, in fact, cotton from a farm that is on the way to being organic, so it's not organic at all. The shoe that claimed to be recyclable was, in fact, only theoretically recyclable because, though it was plastic, not all recycling authorities accept shoes. This creates a situation in which I am filled with distrust and doubt, not just about these products but about all such products and all similar claims.

However complicated the explanation, there needs to be a shorthand method of communicating specific Tiffany Bracelets. If the car industry managed to do it (hybrid, anyone?), so can fashion. Some sort of public lexicon has to be created.

I am not the only one who thinks so. The blogger Fashionista-at-law, writing last December, asked: "Is Fashionista acting sustainably if she buys organic or fair trade clothes and what exactly are 'ethical' clothes? Fashionista would love to see those terms on labels so that she no longer has to spend her time researching a brand that claims to be ethical, green, organic, before facing the tricky question as to whether it is more 'green' to order the item of desire online or to check for its availability in a shop close by."

Christian Kemp-Griffin is chief mission officer for Edun, the sustainable fashion brand created in 2005 by Ali Hewson and her husband Bono, the lead singer of U2. At the Copenhagen conference, Kemp-Griffin told me: "The problem is there is no cohesion in this space. We're all just doing what we can but, because there's no official anything, no one knows the answer."

When Edun first launched, the brand identified its mission as driving "sustainable employment" in Africa - not anything to do with the earth. But, four years later, it has expanded its definition; specifically, Kemp-Griffin said at the conference: "We found it was very important for us to know what was happening with the source of our Tiffany Pendants ... not just the manufacturing, but with the farmers."

Nicole and Michael Colovos, creative directors of Helmut Lang, have taken account of this evolution too. "We believe sustainable fashion is clothing that continues to be relevant - that can be worn for years," they say. "It is the opposite of disposable fashion. It is about quality of fabric and construction, intelligence of design, and the ability of a concept to withstand the test of time." However, they say, it now also "extends to working with factories and mills that work in an ethical environment with regards to the employees and the environment".

So how come fashion didn't start at the beginning, and pin down a succinct and broad language of sustainability? The answer is partly because, for a long time, though fashion brands sensed they needed to engage with the questions on some level (just in case), they didn't really want to explain what they were doing. Their tentative forays into combining luxury and environmentalism were more defensive than offensive. Why? Because an industry predicated not on need but desire is one that is often associated with indulgence and excess. To add a moral dimension is to invite charges of hypocrisy.

Case in point: two years ago, the World Wide Fund for Nature published a report called "Deeper Luxury", seeking to grade the 10 biggest publicly listed luxury brands in 50 different eco and ethical categories; none got higher than a C+.

One of those brands was the jewellery house Tiffany, which had, since the jewellery industry was caught up in the blood diamond scandals of the 1990s, been fairly active in the ethical and environmental arena. Despite this, Tiffany was given a D+, primarily because of a lack of communication about its efforts. I asked Tiffany chief Michael Kowalski why this was the case. He explained that for a big glitzy brand to claim any kind of "green" credentials was to open itself to attack for what it didn't do. It was safer, he reckoned, to simply fly under the radar and go quietly about its business.

There are exceptions, of course - smaller, niche collections, such as Commun and Noir, whose mission statements have included sustainable or organic sourcing from the beginning. But even they are more concerned with selling themselves on the strength of great design rather than depending on the value of, well, values, to move product.

And that doesn't even get into the complications of fabric creation and the point that some synthetic fabrics are "cleaner" to create than some organic ones, though most people assume that natural is always better (see Prince Charles's recent campaign for wool over polyester).

No wonder fashion has so far taken an approach best summed up as: we are doing what we can but we don't talk about it unless asked. In one way this is good (we should all take individual responsibility for our own efforts) but at the same time it has meant there has been no public discussion about the questions, and so no consensus built about meaning. Everyone has done their own thing, and used words their own way. And now that we need a common tongue, it doesn't exist.

Thus, one of the aims of the Copenhagen conference was to resolve, or at least expose, the problem; to get the industry to admit it has a problem in the hope that this may be the first step towards fixing it.

Because, in fashion, green is not the new black, not just another trend to come in and go out with the Tiffany Earrings. Rather, we are in the middle of a paradigm shift, and such shifts, whether political (Glasnost) or technological (the internet) demand their own language: not he said, she said, but we said.

Vanessa Friedman is the FT's fashion editor

Additional research by Lottie Young

MAGIC fashion convention grows despite economic downturn

If a girl wears Gotta Flurt shoes, she's probably got an attitude. That's the look cheap bracelets Jia wanted when he launched the brand 15 years ago in Europe.

His signature shoe is the zip-up "disco" shoe. They're hip and out of the ordinary.

Jia was marketing the shoes Tuesday at MAGIC, the fashion industry's giant trade show that comes to Las Vegas twice a year.

It's his fifth year at the show, and even in a down economy, he said he can't afford to miss it.

"Why not? Make the economy grow. Spend more money," the Los Angeles businessman said. "We're always on top of fashion. It's the image."

The Men's Apparel Guild in California show is expected to draw about 75,000 people during its three-day run at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay.

The show floor was expanded 16 percent to 750,000 square feet this year, with 1,200 new exhibitors, MAGIC spokesman Chris DeMoulin said. First-time buyer registration increased 9 percent and overseas buyer registration increased 13 percent.

Convention business in Las Vegas declined 24 percent in 2009, mostly because of a sour economy. It didn't help when President Barack Obama admonished a bank for scheduling a meeting in Las Vegas after receiving federal bailout funds.

"You can't get corporate jets. You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super cheap cufflinks on the taxpayer's dime," Obama said a year ago at a town hall meeting in Indiana.

"I think he was under pressure because of the money being loaned to big corporations, mostly from Wall Street," Gotta Flurt sales manager Doug Vesling said. "He had to say what's politically correct."

That didn't stop apparel manufacturers and retailers from throwing lavish parties for their clients at places like the Hard Rock Hotel and Mandalay Bay Foundation Room. They could write a $100,000 deal out of that event, said Vincent Moreno of Australia-based Seduced Group.

"It gets a little expensive, but I guess it's a necessary evil," he said.

Moreno said he has to show the company's line of products somewhere, not only to get new business, but to build the brand's namesake. MAGIC brings international vendors and buyers together in one place to hash out the best prices, he said.

Liza Deyrmenjian, founder and chief executive officer of afingo.com, chose MAGIC to launch her Web site, a social network for the fashion industry. She said Obama's remarks didn't pertain to her.

"This is the mother of trade shows for the fashion industry. It's a matter of how you budget and forecast where you want to be and how get to that goal," she said.

Moti Reuben, president of Los Angeles-based 26 International, said Obama was wrong to bash conventions in Las Vegas.

"You have all the shows. You have business and pleasure and the opportunity for people to get out cheap earrings their routine," Reuben said. "It is expensive, but it's also advertisement. It's worth it because you can show what you're making and get a reaction for those from the people who come."

Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0491.

Gillette Makes Runway Debut During New York's Fashion Week

NEW YORK, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Gillette(R) [PG], the world's leading male grooming brand, tiffany bracelets make its New York Fashion Week debut at Bryant Park on February 11, as part of a creative partnership with acclaimed menswear collection Duckie Brown.

Celebrity groomer Merrell Hollis will be backstage, preparing models for their turn on the runway with a close and comfortable shave using the Gillette Fusion Power MVP razor, Fusion HydraGel Pure & Sensitive and Fusion HydraSoothe Balm. Front-of-house guests will receive a complimentary array of Gillette grooming products.

As part of the partnership, Gillette has committed to contribute $200 to the Children's Safe Drinking Water Fund for every guy who gets a barber shave as part of the Duckie Brown + Gillette Shave Challenge. The Shave Challenge will kick off at Duckie Brown's after party at The Griffin; donations will help to provide tiffany cufflinks drinking water to children and their families all over the world.

"Gillette is the perfect partner for Duckie Brown; both brands are about quality, comfort, performance and the modern man, whether in our seasonal designs or Gillette's Fusion Power MVP razor and grooming products," said Daniel Silver, who with Steven Cox, designs Duckie Brown.

"Partnering with Duckie Brown was a no-brainer for us," said Anne Westbrook, P&G External Relations. "Throughout our more than 100 year history, we have remained committed first and foremost to technological and design innovation, and we feel a natural affinity to Duckie Brown's unique fabrics, bold colors and masculine designs."

Guests at the Duckie Brown Fall 2010 runway show will receive a limited edition "Duckie Brown + Gillette" branded dopp kit, which will include the Fusion Power MVP razor, Fusion HydraGel Pure & Sensitive, Fusion HydraSoothe Balm, Gillette Odor Shield Body Wash, Gillette Shampoo, Gillette Precision Putty and Gillette Odor Shield anti-perspirant and deodorant.

For more information about Gillette products, please visit www.gillette.com.

About Duckie Brown

Duckie Brown is a designer menswear collection, that received CFDA Fashion Award nominations, in 2006 for best new menswear designer, and in 2007 for menswear designer of the year. Each season the label features exquisitely hand-tailored jackets, trousers, shirts, knits, and accessories. Duckie Brown clothing is tiffany earrings in stores worldwide including Barneys, Odin, and Kesner in New York, Revolve Clothing in Los Angeles, and Harrods in London. For more information about Duckie Brown, please visit www.duckiebrown.com.

About P&G Grooming

P&G Grooming helps men look, feel and be their best everyday. P&G's recent purchase of The Art of Shaving(R) and the super premium men's skin care line Zirh(R) strengthen its position as the world's premier male grooming company. The acquisition of these premium male grooming and skincare brands expand P&G's presence in the prestige grooming category which compliments its strong portfolio of mainstream male grooming brands, including Gillette(R), Braun(R) , Old Spice(R) and a collection of leading male Fine Fragrances including HUGO BOSS.

DailyCandy Dossier Takes Readers Inside Tents During NYC Fashion Week

NEW YORK, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- DailyCandy, the free e-mail and website delivering the inside scoop on all things fashion, food and fun, announced today the return of its Fashion Week Dossier, the one-stop shop for what's happening in and outside the tents starting February 10, through February 18, silver rings. With eight to ten posts per day, right from the runway, DailyCandy editors will be reporting on the fashion industry's latest news, happenings, and gossip, and will include special features like interviews with designers, fashion obsessions, DIY projects, and fashion predictions from industry insiders.

"DailyCandy has always brought our audience closer to fashion, an industry that can seem exclusive and out of reach to most," says Jasmine Moir, senior editor at DailyCandy. "The DailyCandy Dossier will take its readers straight to the front row with frequent updates on all-things Fashion Week served up in the fun, upbeat, and pithy DailyCandy way."

DailyCandy Dossier readers will also get the chance to win daily fashion giveaways by answering puzzles and riddles. To follow DailyCandy editors on their Fashion Week beat, visit dailycandy.com/dossier.

DailyCandy, a free daily e-mail newsletter and website distributing 3 million subscriptions daily, is the insider's guide to what's hot, new, and undiscovered -- from fashion and restaurant news to gadgets and travel. DailyCandy publishes 28 editions via e-mail, including 12 local editions covering New York, Los tiffany accessories, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, London, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Seattle; one national edition (Everywhere) featuring online picks; and 16 weekly editions comprising 12 local Kids editions (published Mondays); 2 national Kids editions (Tuesdays and Thursdays); DailyCandy Travel (Wednesdays); and DailyCandy Deals (Tuesdays), which features special sales and promotions exclusively for DailyCandy subscribers. ShopTalk delivers great gift ideas online and in e-tiffany bracelet every Tuesday to the NYC, L.A., and Everywhere editions. Swirl, Sample Sales by DailyCandy (swirl.com) features hand-picked apparel and accessories from the up-and-comers and brands we love at up to 80 percent off. DailyCandy is a unit of Comcast Interactive Media.

SOURCE DailyCandy

1 behind bars in Miramar Valentine's Day home invasion1 behind bars in Miramar Valentine's Day home invasion

Police have arrested one of two men they said entered a house through an open garage door, tied up the residents and then fled with jewelry and cash on Valentine's Day.

Officers arrested Terrell Sharn Montgomery, 21, on Tuesday on a charge of home invasion Valentine's Day gift with firearm or other deadly weapon, according to Broward Sheriff's records.

He is being held at the Main Jail, without bond.

"The other one -- we still need help identifying him," police spokeswoman Yessenia Diaz said today.

The armed robbery happened Saturday at about 2 p.m., in the 7700 block of La Salle Boulevard, police spokesman Sgt. Jose Sanchez said.

Police say surveillance cameras captured part of the crime.

Sunday, police described one suspect as 5-foot-6 to 5-8, and weighs 150-180 pounds.

He wore a dark-colored shirt and short black pants.

The other suspect, they said, was 6-foot to 6-4, weighs 180-200 pounds, and earrings was wearing a green shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers. He also had a goatee and wore a dark baseball cap.

Diaz could not immediately say which of the two descriptions Montgomery fits, nor could she give details of how he was identified and caught.

STUDENT BOARD RAISES MORE THAN $400 FROM VALENTINE'S DAY COOKIE SALES

The city of Mission Viejo issued the following news release:

The Mission Viejo Student Advisory Committee raised more than $400 tiffany from cookies the committee baked and sold on Valentine's Day.

The student fundraiser will help committee members buy craft supplies and materials for upcoming committee service projects.

The 25-member Student Advisory Committee was formed to act as a liaison between youth and City government. The committee, which meets the first Sunday of the month, gives students from Mission Viejo high schools the opportunity to participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of services for their peers. Committee members plan events and programs to engage youth in town.

Committee members plan to assist the City with upcoming events including Bunny silver key rings Days, Artes de la Vida, Spring Fling Night out for parents, Special Olympics and Relay for Life.

The committee meets from 5 to 6:30 p.m. March 1 in the Saddleback Room at City Hall, 200 Civic Center.

For more information about the Student Advisory Committee and its meetings, visit the City's Web site at www.cityofmissionviejo.org. Information is also available by calling 949-470-3061.For more information about US Fed News contract awards please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, US Fed News, Email:-silver necklaces htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.

Virginia Nonaca Chavez, 949/470-3072.

'I Hate Valentine's Day'

Although the legions of actors and writers dreaming of their big score won't have much sympathy for Nia Vardalos, her predicament can't be easy. When your very first movie (that would be "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") became perhaps the biggest sleeper hit in history, with worldwide grosses topping $360 million, what can you possi bly do for an encore ?

Vardalos realizes she never will top that movie's success, as she has acknowledged with refreshing candor in interviews. Her subsequent ventures, including "Connie and Carla," a TV version of "Greek Wedding" and this summer's boxoffice disappoint ment "My Life in Ruins," only proved the obvious truism that blockbusters are notoriously difficult to duplicate.

"I Hate Valentine's Day," which had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival and tiffany and co will open this week in theaters, will not mark a sudden change in Vardalos' fortunes. This time she not only stars and wrote the screenplay but also makes her directorial debut. She will not be a threat to Woody Allen anytime soon, but some of her fans will find this romantic comedy endearing. Vardalos reteams with "Greek Wedding" co-star John Corbett, and they demonstrate that their chemistry in the earlier movie was no fluke.

As the title hints, Vardalos set out to undermine the commercialization of romance that makes so many feel inadequate. Her character, Genevieve, runs a flower shop in Brooklyn, and while she makes a living catering to people's romantic fantasies, she is not buying the mythology. In her personal relationships, Genevieve has a "five -date" rule, which means she breaks off every budding romance after five dates, before the fun has gone out of the fling and anyone gets hurt. Of course, her rule is tested when she meets Greg (Corbett), a disenchanted lawyer who is opening a tapas bar in the neighborhood. Greg has a rather melancholy history with women, so he's receptive to Genevieve's happygo-lucky formula. Eventually, both must break their selfdestructive patterns before they can connect.

What is the reason for Genevieve's refusal to commit ? Any student of Psychology 101 will guess it has something to money clips do with an untrustworthy father, and indeed Dad is the movie's Rosebud. Although the Freudian back story is simplistic, the scene when Genevieve finally confronts her philandering father is one of the most effective because it's surprisingly understated.

Directing herself, Vardalos isn't objective enough about her performance. Although she's inherently likable, she smiles too incessantly during the first half of the movie; a more rigorous director might have convinced her that less is more. Although "Ruins" was slammed by critics, director Donald Pétrie did a good job making the most of Vardalos' innate charm by encouraging her to be more bedraggled and less perky.

The strength of Vardalos' movies is that she loves all of her fellow actors and allows large ensembles to flourish. The supporting players in "Valentine's Day" are delightful: Zoe Kazan as Genevieve's dreamy young friend, Jay O. Sanders as a weary delivery man with his own wisdom about relationships, and Gary Wilmes as Greg's piggish pal deserve special praise. All in all, Vardalos conveys a most appealing sense of community.

Although the movie clearly was made on the cheap, the cinematography, sets and costumes belie its modest budget. No one will be thunderstruck by the insights buried in "Valentine's Day," but couples seeking romantic fluff probably will find just enough humor and heart to satisfy them.

16 Projects for Creating Beautiful Bracelets

Make Bracelets: 16 Projects for Creating Beautiful Bracelets.

ISBN 1-56496-272-5. Moody, Jo.

Make Earrings: 16 Projects for Creating Beautiful Earrings.

ISBN 1-56496-273-3. Moody, Jo.

Make Necklaces: 16 Projects for Creating Beautiful Necklaces.tiffany and co ISBN 1-56496-271-7.

ea. vol: Quarry: Rockport. 1997. 95p. illus. index. pap. $15.99. CRAFTS

The books in this delightful series contain projects for colorful costume jewelry using beads, polymer clay, and a variety of found materials such as shells. Color photographs illustrate each step of every project. Each book has a chapter of basic information on making its particular type of jewelry. An identical chapter of "Bead Basics" on making beads from scratch is common to each book. The finished products are highly individualistic and should provide inspiration to budding jewelers among young people as well as adults.

Look for bracelets, rings, necklaces sporting Lennon's artwork in June

Imagine if you could wear the late John Lennon's peace message on a sterling silver ring.

Starting in June, consumers can. That's when retailers will begin to sell jewelry designs crafted to include well-known drawings and words penned by the former Beatle for his son Sean and licensed by his widow, Yoko Ono, to JewelAmerica. The whimsical drawings of animals were compiled in Lennon's book Real Love: The Drawings for Sean.

The licensing for the moderately priced jewelry is the latest in Ono's attempt to transform the Lennon name into a household brand. The artwork already appears on kids' clothing by Carter's.

"The Beatles were the forerunners of marketing," says Lynne Clifford, director of Bag One Arts, the company owned by Ono that oversees the rights to Lennon's art. "It's not like we are re- inventing the wheel here."

But the company is trying to build up its mass-market brand with the 50-piece jewelry line that will be sold in department and discount stores. The pieces include bracelets, cuff links, necklaces and a collection of etched silver pictures and picture frames.

While the line is priced at $49 to $149, experts don't expect it will make jewelry sales sparkle. Sales for the industry were down 4% in 2001 to $40 billion, according to industry group Jewelers of America.

"It sounds like Wal-Mart pricing for silver, and it's time for something new," says Tom Holliday, president of the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association division of the National Retail Federation. "But this sounds a little dicey."

Carter's figures suggest otherwise. The brand has licensed similar Lennon images since 1999 for kids' tiffany and co bedding, apparel and toys. The line is bringing in an estimated $100 million a year in a $27 billion category.

"It's been a really successful line for us," says Suzanne Calkins, Carter's vice president, licensing and strategic development. "We've had great reaction to the animals because they are whimsical and endearing."

Bag One and JewelAmerica hope the images are just as endearing in jewelry.

A national poll indicates they could be. Though Lennon was shot and killed in New York in 1980, his name and association remain marketable, according to a poll of 2,800 adult Americans by Harris Interactive.

About 47% of females and 38% of males say they would purchase John Lennon Collection jewelry if it were available, according to the poll. About 60% say they consider Lennon an important cultural icon.

"Unlike watches and apparel, jewelry has never really been branded," says Rachel Wertheimer, executive vice president of JewelAmerica. The company is looking to establish the John Lennon Collection as a stand-alone jewelry line that can be sold by multiple retailers. "We've only scratched the surface on what we're doing."

JewelAmerica will design and market the line. Ono has input and final OK.

JewelAmerica is trying to reach mainstream America, not just upscale Lennon fans in the baby boom cufflinks generation. It is placing the line in mass retail outlets rather than specialty stores and galleries. It is using affordable metals such as sterling silver, 14- karat gold and diamond and gemstone accents.

Despite seeming marketability, Ono, who controls the Lennon trademarks and recently authorized rights for Absolut Vodka to use the couple's image in advertising, wasn't sure at first about the jewelry, the company says. She came around, but at least one analyst is unsure the public will follow.

"The Lennon name would help most anything at first pass," says Al Ehrbar, chairman of BrandEconomics, a brand strategy consultant. "But it's hard to see this as a huge winner. The association of Lennon with jewelry is a reach."

Online Diamond Company to Give Away Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet on Emmy Nominated Show

SmallCapVoice.com (Investor Relations) Stuart T. Smith, 760-643- 1946 SSmith@SmallcapVoice.com or BlueSky PR Rebecca Kollaras or Helena Zacharis, 954-568-5450 Rebecca.Kollaras@discoverblue.com Helena.Zacharis@discoverblue.com

Abazias.com (OTCBB:ABZS), a leading online supplier of discounted diamonds, will make one lucky contestant shine in 2005 on the longest running game show in broadcast history, The Price is Right.

During the 2005 season of The Price is Right, one contestant will have the chance to win a tiffany jewellery sapphire and diamond bracelet set in 14k white gold, worth a retail value of over $3,000 dollars from Abazias.com. The dazzling bracelet is 1.46 carats total weight, and is sure to send any contestant home sparkling. This promotion marks the first partnership with CBS, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. NYSE (VIA), and Abazias.com and is one of many giveaways the diamond company will participate in during the next few months.

"We are thrilled to work with such an exceptional game show as The Price is Right," states Oscar Rodriguez, CEO of Abazias.com. "They are known for continually rewarding contestants with only the finest prizes and we are confident that this will support in highlighting Abazias.com as a credible choice for online diamond buying."

In further promotions, Abazias.com has wrapped up a giveaway with Maximonline.com and is cufflinks currently featured in the December issue of Shop Etc. magazine and will also be featured in their February issue offering readers of the publication 20% off all jewelry with the Smart Checks offer.

About Abazias.com

Abazias.com features the largest certified loose diamond databases in existence with a database of over 60,000 diamonds, valued at over $350 million. All Abazias.com diamonds are GIA, AGS or EGL certified. Abazias.com offers the "Couples Diamond"(R) which is required to meet even higher standards for cut, clarity and dimensions. For more information, visit www.abazias.com or call 800.603.9940.

Claim Jumper Has Changed Its Bracelet Policy

Claim Jumper Restaurants has released the following statement in response to recent inquiries received from customers and the media regarding our cause bracelet policy:

As a food service and customer service business, Claim Jumper is concerned about safety and sanitation in our restaurants, which is why we established a policy in December 2004 prohibiting the wearing of colored rubber cause-related bracelets. These bracelets can catch on kitchen equipment and may be unsanitary, so we money clips drafted a policy, which we felt was in the best interest of our employees and guests.

Brian McKillip, who was terminated after he refused to remove his Livestrong bracelet, has made us aware that there can be very deep and personal emotions behind the bracelets. Brian has lost family members to cancer, and his bracelet is an important statement.

We therefore have changed our policy to allow employees to wear one cause bracelet per wrist, so long as the bracelet represents a qualified national health-related charitable organization. To maintain our safety and sanitation standards, we require that the bracelets fit pendants snuggly and are washed along with hands each time hands are washed.

Claim Jumper's Support of Charitable Causes

We are a family owned company. Cancer has taken members of our family, and our president, Craig Nickoloff, is himself a cancer survivor. We are currently supporting an employee who is fighting valiantly against leukemia, and we support both the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the City of Hope.

Claim Jumper Restaurants feels very badly about the misunderstandings caused by this matter, so we are making a $10,000 contribution to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. That is the equivalent of buying one bracelet for each of our employees, and one bracelet celebrating someone they know who has fought bravely tiffany jewellery against cancer.

Claim Jumper Restaurants, a popular dining establishment for families as well as business professionals, operates 34 privately owned casual dining restaurants in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Washington. The menu offers an extensive selection of American favorites prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. For information visit www.claimjumper.com.

ATTORNEY GENERAL LONG TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION OF ALCOHOL MONITORING BRACELETS

The South Dakota Attorney General issued the following news release:

Attorney General Larry Long said today that his office will begin implementing the use of a special ankle bracelet to expand his 24/7 Sobriety Project to rural areas of South Dakota.

SCRAM, or the Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor, is an 8 oz. leg bracelet that monitors alcohol consumption by analysis of the emissions from the wearer's sweat glands. Tests are random and the subject has no idea when the testing will take place. The information is transmitted though a modem placed in the subject's home via conventional phone line and emailed to the agency assigned to testing. The testing agency has the ability to customize testing schedules and monitor subject tests at any time.

Many 24/7 Project defendants have difficulty traveling to a testing site to submit tiffany jewelry twice-a-day breath tests," said Long. "The bracelets would play a key role in filling the void for those counties that do not have jails and allow defendants from remote areas of South Dakota to benefit from this program."

The State has received 25 of 100 bracelets purchased by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The cost of daily use will be $4.30 per day per user. State officials will charge wearers for part or all of the related costs. Major alcohol distributors have donated monies to help defray some of the costs. Those distributors include: Anheuser-Busch, $10,000; Brown-Forman Corporation, $5,000; The Century Council, $10,000; Coors Brewing Company, $3000.

The State has distributed the first 25 bracelets as follows: Pennington County 10, Minnehaha County 10 and the Department of Correction 5. The bracelets are currently being used in 37 states and a product of Alcohol Monitoring Systems (AMS), a Colorado based company. AMS manufactures the world's only continuous alcohol testing system that uses Transdermal Analysis to measure alcohol consumption.

If you need additional information about this program contact Sara Rabern at 605-773-3215.

Children's Charm Bracelets Sold by Buy-Rite Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

Hazard: The recalled jewelry contains tiffany high levels of lead. Lead is toxic

if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled charm bracelets have silver-colored charms,

including angels, crosses, and hearts, and clear and pink beads that

hang from a silver-colored chain.

Sold at: Dollar stores and other small retail stores pendants nationwide from

March 2004 through August 2007 for about $1.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from

children and return it to store where purchased for a full refund. If

unable to return it to the store, contact Buy-Rite for information on

how to receive a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, earrings contact Buy-Rite at

(888) 777-7952 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or

visit the firm's Web site at http://www.buyriteinc.com.

Firm's Recall Hotline:(888) 777-7952

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772

CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Credit: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Sales of Men's Jewelry Surge As Bling Goes Mainstream

An enduring image of men and their jewelry is the 1970s guy with his tiffany and co polyester shirt unbuttoned to reveal a regrettable glimpse of gold chain. So it may seem strange that jewelers from Harry Winston to Kay Jewelers have been rolling out men's pearl necklaces, pave diamond rings and gold bracelets.

Annual sales of men's bling have taken off, nearly doubling from 2004 to 2006 and reaching $6 billion in the U.S., according to Unity Marketing, a research firm in Stevens, Pa. While we often blame trends on the young, it was a middle-age businessman seated beside me at a dinner last spring who unbuttoned his shirt collar to reveal a glowing black pearl on a leather cord.

Frederic DeNarp, chief executive of Cartier North America, said recently that Cartier has been selling an unusual number of diamond- encrusted men's watches.

And there has been a recent run on $250 pearl bracelets for men at PearlParadise.com, tffany keys where 5% to 10% of sales are for men these days, up from almost nothing five years ago. More than half of the 1,052 men surveyed recently by Harris Interactive said they view grown men wearing jewelry -- other than watches, wedding bands and cuff links -- as "fashionable" and "sophisticated."

These days, luxury brands are hoping to spur new sales growth by luring in men, and jewelry marketers are going after a market they perceive as untapped. But the companies have seen the opportunity for years; why are they now starting to succeed? For most grown-ups, men's jewelry has long been so loaded with subliminal messages concerning sexuality, masculinity and class that no Madison Avenue advertising guru could persuade the average man-among-men to wear it. For men to get past these associations and wear the stuff, there must be some cultural explanation.

A 20-year-old surfer wearing a silver chain at his collar bone simply looks virile. But on an older man, the look is more complex; at its worst, it can be dangerously close to the look of a too-skimpy T- shirt on a grown woman. A graying fifty-something man I know recently confessed to me that he purchased a necklace, saying it reminded him of one he wore back when he was in his 20s, the last time men's necklaces were mainstream. This time around, "I just had to feel it on my skin," he said, sounding primal. His wife rolled her eyes.

Some men may be taking their cues from celebrities. Among the men with gray at their temples who are adorning themselves, Pierce Brosnan wears a Tahitian pearl at his neck.

The growth in men's jewelry tracks a broader interest among men in their own appearance, with sales silver bangles of men's apparel, accessories, and even cosmetics on the rise. Indeed, the jewelry boom may be the latest outgrowth of the now-aging metrosexual phenomenon, in which young, urban, heterosexual men began to adopt personal-care habits such as eyebrow grooming that had long been more common among women. "In the post-metrosexual world, with David Beckham wearing nail polish and sarongs, you have the baby boomer who's not growing old gracefully," says Michael Macko, men's fashion director at Saks Fifth Avenue, which has been selling a lot of men's jewelry lately. "He's exercising and having cosmetic surgery -- there's so much more acceptance of what you can wear."

Fifty-year-old Milton Pedrazza, chief executive of the research group Luxury Institute, posits that "men are beginning to adorn themselves more because women are so much more self-sufficient and successful and far more picky, and now men need to compete in a more Darwinian fashion."

"Just a theory," he adds.

Neil Patak, a 20-year-old college student in Northridge, Calif., seems to concur. Mr. Patak, who has set his sights on a certain young lady, recently had an American Express platinum-card concierge chase down a $155 Dolce & Gabbana pendant for himself at Harvey Nichols in London. It's important "to distinguish yourself among the other guys with the girls," he explains. "Girls want to see something noteworthy." American Express concierges have fielded many requests for men's necklaces, including an antique Roman-coin pendant and a black-diamond silver rings dog tag by jeweler David Yurman.

The jewelry boom is also part of the ebb and flow of fashion. After the freewheeling 1970s, most men avoided jewelry or hid it under their clothes. But a market for humongous pendants and rings grew among the hip-hop subset, and eventually, the style caught hold in the generations that followed the boomers. Hip-hop youth culture became normalized and toned down. Diamond Cartier watches? "That's a carryover from hip-hop and bling," says Tyler Thoreson, executive editor of fashion site Men.Style.Com, "and now it's made it to orthodontists in New Jersey."

Music entrepreneur Russell Simmons figures he can cash in on the interest in men's jewelry. He became a mogul by selling hip-hop and rap culture outside the 'hood. The jewelry industry, with its limited offerings for men, has overlooked the market "in the same way that the music industry missed what rap was," says Mr. Simmons. He recently launched a line of men's jewelry called the Simmons Jewelry Men's Collection, with a broad choice of chains, diamond crosses, dog tags, bracelets and rings. He reports it has a healthy 40% sell-through, meaning that 40% sells at full retail price, and it's sold in 1,900 stores, up from 180 in January 2007. "I've never seen a more untapped market," he says.

But still, unless you're Johnny Depp, there are limits to men's new freedom with jewelry. Judith Bright, a Nashville, Tenn., jewelry designer who works in hammered gold and silver, said she has received requests for men's pieces with semiprecious stones wrapped in silver or gold wire. She said this with her eyebrows raised and her nose wrinkled.

And even individuals who wear jewelry don't wear it everywhere. Diversity Affluence, a Hamburg, N.J., consulting group that helps marketers reach the "affluent ethnic consumer," recently surveyed 30 African-American professional men about their attitude toward jewelry for men. The verdict was widely in favor of buying it and wearing it almost anywhere except the one place where first impressions count most: a job interview.

Perhaps this explains why so many of the necklaces being sold to men these days aren't visible on the street: They're disappearing under men's shirts.

Bracelets raise money for diabetes research

In June 2005, when Rachel Tobin learned she had type 1 diabetes, she began making tiffany and selling her own bracelets, donating all of the money to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The project, called "Designs for a Cure," began as Rachel's bat mitzvah project. "I wanted to do something to give back to the community," she said, "and people just started buying the bracelets and everyone loved them."

Rachel is now a 15-year-old student at Shady Side Academy and "Designs for a Cure" has raised well over $22,000; all of it has been donated to JDRE

The bracelets are all designed by Rachel and carry a special hope charm that signifies the bracelets hope for a cure for diabetes. The demand for the bracelets has gotten so big that Rachel no longer has time to string them all, so the Tobin family relies on the help of family friends to get the job done.

When she began the project, she never imagined it would get this big. Carabella, a women's clothing store in Oakmont, was the first store to carry Rachel's bracelets in November 2005. The bracelets are now being sold out of state, because of the help of a family friend, Bobby Chajson, who is 17. He began an organization called "Embrace Hope," and has placed Rachel's bracelets in retail locations and hospital gift shops in Pittsburgh, New York and Florida. During the five months that Chajson has been working on this project he has donated more than $2,500.

David Tobin, Rachel's father, said that since Rachel began "Designs for a Cure" the JDRF has become cufflinks a big part of the lives of the whole family. David and his wife Linda have both become very involved with the cause. David is on the board of directors of the JDRF and Linda co-chaired the Family Team Walk, a charity walk that benefits the JDRF.

Rachel will be selling her bracelets in a booth outside of Littles Shoes on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill this Saturday afternoon, June 7, for $25 each.

GPS bracelets show tech lapses

When used properly technology is a wonderful thing. But investing taxpayer tiffany jewelry money in technology for technology's sake is, well, a giant waste. And we fear that is exactly what is happening with the system that tracks criminal offenders using satellite technology.

The Herald has been generally supportive of using GPS to track violent criminal offenders, particularly sex offenders who are released to the community after serving their sentences.

But twice in the past few weeks we have been reminded that slapping an ankle bracelet on a violent criminal is neither 1) a guarantee that he won't commit another crime, nor 2) a foolproof way to keep the offender where he ought to be.

And the state Department of Probation, which oversees GPS monitoring of offenders after they're sprung from jail, doesn't seem particularly interested in reassuring the public that the system as designed and deployed is worth what we're spending on it.

First there was the horrifying rape case at the Back Bay MBTA station, allegedly by a tiffany accessories twice-convicted armed robber who was wearing a GPS ankle bracelet at the time of the assault. The suspect, Richard Flowers, 48, served 13 years and the terms of his release included the ankle bracelet and a 10 p.m. curfew. The assault took place at 8:30 p.m.

Fortunately for the victim and the public, Flowers was apparently too stupid to realize that ordering jewelry with the woman's stolen credit card and having it shipped to his house might give him away. Probation, meanwhile, won't say whether the bracelet would have placed him at the scene of the crime.

Then there is the sickening case involving Robert Sicari, a convicted child rapist who had no home to go to after his scheduled release from prison. A judge at first had given Sicari 30 days bracelet-free to find a permanent residence with a land-based telephone line, which would allow the tracking device to indicate if he broke tffany keys curfew or violated other limits on his travel. Sicari, who is apparently staying at a homeless shelter, was eventually released with an ankle bracelet, but no one one will say how he's going to be tracked, if at all.

We recognize that it's impossible to plan for every possible scenario. After all, a person like Robert Flowers might just decide that the crime is worth the risk of getting caught.

But if we can track a package every step from the Amazon.com warehouse to our front door, shouldn't the commonwealth be able to get around some of these technological challenges?

After all, when we invest millions in taxpayer money in a program designed to protect us, it ought to provide more than just a false sense of security.

Cloud Co. runner wears the memory of his teammate on his wrist, in form of bracelet, as he competes at junior college track tourney

Julius Kiptoo Bor's inspiration likely tiffany jewelry went unnoticed by spectators Saturday as he ran his races.

In sections of black, green and red, a rubber bracelet was wrapped around his left arm bearing the initials of his former teammate, roommate and best friend.

Though he was tired after a grueling 800-meter run during the national junior college track meet at Gowans Stadium, Bor couldn't help but stop and grin as he talked about Julius Kiptum Kosgei.

"He was a nice person," Bor said. "Fun and outgoing."

Kosgei and his cousin, George Muta, were killed Aug. 4, when their car bangles collided with a semi in Nebraska.

It was a blow to Concordia and Cloud County, where Kosgei was well-known for his athletics and academics.

"It shocked them bad," said Harry Kitchener, head cross country coach at Cloud County. "Everybody loved him. He had an unbelievable effect on everybody."

Expenses to send Kosgei and Muta's bodies back to Kenya, their home country, were extensive -- nearly $25,000.

As a fundraiser, Cloud County ordered and is selling the bracelets, which bear the colors of the Kenyan flag. Crosses are on each side of the initials JKK.

Excess money from the bracelets go toward a scholarship in Kosgei's name, in honor of his motto: "Realize rings the importance of an education."

The JKK Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to international track students.

The bracelets aren't just at Cloud County, Kitchener said. There are several around the country and the school sent several hundred to Kosgei's friends and families in Kenya.

DeeDee Coppoc, head of the advising center at Cloud County, said during Julius' stay at Concordia, he became part of her family. Even after he left to attend Cameron University in Oklahoma, he would check in to make sure the family was doing well.

He majored in business at Cameron.

Bor, who is also from Kenya, remembers seeing people light up when they saw bracelets Kosgei.

"He influenced a lot of people."

Dr. Maya Angelou Receives 6 Millionth Complaint Free Bracelet

Bowen said, "Since our endeavor to positively transform tiffany the world's attitude began three years ago, a quotation by Dr. Angelou has been our motto: 'If you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change your attitude -- don't complain.' The six millionth Complaint Free bracelet is a huge benchmark for us and we felt it only proper to present it to her."

"I live by this," said Dr. Angelou, "You'd have to get up pretty early in the morning or stay up pretty late at night to hear me complain. Complaining is dangerous for your prosperity and it's dangerous to your posterity."

At the ceremony, Dr. Angelou quoted another of her writings, "Don't whine, first it does nothing to the reason for your complaint. And, more importantly, it lets a brute know a victim is in the neighborhood."

A Complaint Free World began in July 2006 when Will Bowen, lead minister at One money clips Community Spiritual Center in Kansas City, gave out 250 purple bracelets. The recipients were instructed to switch the bracelet from one wrist to the other every time they complained. Scientists believe it takes 21 days to form a new habit and so they were encouraged to switch their bracelet with each complaint until, ultimately, they went 21 days without switching their bracelets and became Complaint Free.

The idea exploded around the world and, to date, more than 6 million Complaint Free Bracelets have been sent to people in 106 countries. A Complaint Free World's goal is to ultimately inspire 60 million people (1% of the world's population) to give up habitual complaining. A Complaint Free World is a non-profit, non-religious pendants 501c3 organization and has developed a school curriculum and a business program which are available free of charge at www.AComplaintFreeWorld.org.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Will Bowen, contact Autumn Paige at 816.606.3668. You can view a video of Dr. Angelou being presented the 6 Millionth Complaint Free Bracelet at www.AComplaintFreeWorld.org.