| Converse Launches Global Spring 2008 ''Connectivity'' Advertising ...
Rolling out around the world from February 2008, "Connectivity" is a striking artistic showcase of true originals who define the essence of the Converse brand since 1908. The advertising visually 'connects' past and present Converse icons brought together by their optimistic rebellion and homage to the Chuck Taylor(R) All Star(R) shoe. Legendary icons featured in the global campaign include the ultimate 20th Century rebel, James Dean; gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson; and Sex Pistols bassist and original punk idol, Sid Vicious. These cultural heroes from the past are shown 'connecting' with today's influencers including female rocker, Joan Jett; eclectic urban music star, M.I.A; Green Day's infamous Grammy award winning front man, Billie Joe Armstrong; Grammy award winning hip hop star and actor, Common; basketball player and Converse athlete Dwyane Wade; and lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, Karen O.
Keith Smith: Hard-headed trumpeter
Keith Smith was a powerful trumpeter, an astute businessman and a deeply unattractive man. He was better known for his achievements abroad than he was in Britain. They included at one time running a fish and chip shop in New Orleans – an innovation in the city – until it was suggested to him by the mob that he move on. A determined man who could think what was to other English musicians the unthinkable, Smith took his trumpet to the States and worked comfortably as the leader of musicians who in Britain were regarded as legends. His accomplished playing was broadly based on that of Louis Armstrong, but he had begun by moulding himself on the unsophisticated New Orleans style of Kid Howard and progressed eventually to take in the maverick and comparatively complex ideas of another New Orleanian, Red Allen.
Gardner can blossom at Villa: Boss
Villa boss Martin O'Neill believes playing right-back could do for Craig Gardner's game what it has done for Gabriel Agbonlahor. Striker Agbonlahor was an ever-present in his first full campaign last season and ended up 10-goal top scorer, despite playing most of his games at right midfield. This season the 21-year-old has gone from strength to strength and is again the club's top scorer this season with seven goals. Fellow Academy graduate Gardner is a central midfielder but he has filled in at right-back, most recently in last week's 3-1 win against Reading, while he has also figured at right midfield numerous times in 2007-08. O'Neill, who takes his side to Liverpool on Monday, is convinced playing full-back can only develop Gardner's game. .
Coats get the dress treatment at NY Fashion Week, with touches of ...
Outerwear got top billing at New York Fashion Week on Thursday, with even daytime coats getting metallic touches, shiny fabric and fur trims. The renewed attention may reflect economic realities: Jackets are seen as a good investment piece, since they can be worn every day and over multiple seasons. Phillip Lim opened with a light gray suede duster coat and moving on to a bronze matelasse trench and a raven-colored alpaca cropped anorak with the potential to be the go-to piece of a woman's wardrobe. Vera Wang featured a quilted, fur-trimmed bed jacket. Standout coats were shown earlier in the week at shows by Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors and Narciso Rodriguez. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week runs through Friday, with shows still to come Thursday from Zac Posen and Calvin Klein.
Longbridge revival hit by hitch with parts shipments from China
The long-awaited restarting of production at Longbridge, the old MG Rover car factory, has suffered a fresh setback after a series of problems with shipments of components from China. Nanjing Automobile Corporation, the carmaker that bought the assets of the defunct MG Rover business, had intended to start selling the revamped MG TF sports car this autumn. However, after problems with parts being shipped from China, the launch has been put back to next March. NAC UK, the division of the carmaker based at the Birmingham factory, is now seeking to source some components from Europe. The company denied that there were problems with the quality of the parts and said that breakages and damage had occurred when the supplies were sent on the 10,000km (6,200 mile) journey.
Banks target ultra-wealthy
PORTLAND, Ore. - The conference started with a cookout at the Mandarin Oriental hotel on Elbow Beach in Bermuda and ended with a talk by 23-year-old Lauren Bush, an anti-hunger activist, former model and niece to President George W. Bush. In between, executives at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. taught scions of wealthy families how to invest in hedge funds.
Last October's "Next Generation" gathering was a small prod in Goldman Sachs' push into the lucrative profession of private banking.
It's an area of finance that New York-based Goldman - the world's largest securities firm by revenue and profit - doesn't dominate. Instead, Swiss and U.S. banks reign. .
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