NGC Debuts Mad Scientists



New Series Mad Scientists Premieres Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
on the National Geographic Channel

 Before Thomas Edison (seen above) was dubbed “The Wizard of Menlo Park” and recognized as one of the greatest inventors of all time, do you think his neighbors just shook their heads while he was tinkering in his workshop and called him the wacky, offbeat guy next door?  Yet did they secretly want to peek inside his whizbang, apparatus-filled space to see what was clanking and smoking?  Well, wouldn’t you?

Starting Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 10 pm ET/PT, travel across America with professional builder, master-of-all-trades and host John Bowler as he goes into gadget-filled garages and junk-strewn backyards to meet the amateur inventors, weekend scientists and eccentric engineers next door in National Geographic Channel’s (NGC) new half-hour, 12-part series Mad Scientists.  They are the brainiacs with a penchant for outrageous “toys” — like a jet-powered minivan, a fire-breathing wheelchair, a water-powered rocket belt or a giant telephone pole seesaw.  We’ll check out their prized gizmos and challenge them to improve their greatest inventions.

With a diverse background ranging from design and demolition to electrical and plumbing systems and custom carpentry, Bowler is accustomed to rigging up “thingamajigs” of all scales.  Now he travels from the suburbs to the swamps to meet our country’s modern Mad Scientists.  Whether it’s an electrician in San Bernardino who builds jet engines from scratch; a robotics whiz in New England who makes mechanical servants out of trash cans, coolers and handi-vacs; or a backwoods genius who builds gyroplanes and lives in the Florida bayou swamp with his cat and peacock — each has a novel story.

Bowler checks out their cool, one-of-a-kind creations (“This is awesome!”) and then challenges them to brainstorm, design and fabricate an upgraded version of their innovation.  Using scrap-yard treasures, spare parts in the garage and quite possibly duct tape, the duo get their “MacGyver” on.  Working side by side over 48 hours, they test the components and offer viewers insight into the underlying science of the oddball contraptions.  After they race to finish, the creation is revealed and tested before a local audience.  Is it crazy enough to work? Who knows, but they’re “crazy” enough to try!

Premiere Episodes Include:

Mad Scientists: Ultimate Rock Crawler
Wednesday, September 28 at 10 pm ET/PT
In the sandy, rocky Tierra Del Sol California hills, Bowler gets a ride in Cameron Carlson’s one-of-a-kind rock-crawling machine: the Chain Link 4x4.  Built to move like a lizard, it can do unbelievable things with wheels that have their own independent suspension and chain drive.  Carlson’s design imitates nature, so now, the duo has an idea to build a “tail” for the beast and stand it up like a kangaroo with an ingenious mount for a fifth wheel.  The next day, they take the new contraption out to a quarry where Carlson tries to run the truck backwards in a wheelie.

Mad Scientists: The 26-Foot Lawn Dart
Wednesday, September 28 at 10:30 pm ET/PT
In Detroit, John has teamed up with “Speedcult,” a group of Detroit fabricators with a taste for metal, speed and rock n’ roll. Together, they combine a homemade fire throwing roller coaster with a modified wheelchair that launches riders at dizzying speeds using compressed air. Within 48 hours, “The Lawn Dart” 24-foot backyard thrill ride that launches riders down 180 feet of monorail track emerges. Like everything Speedcult comes up with, “The Lawn Dart” turns out to be loud, scary and totally raucous.

Mad Scientists: The Moon Jumper
Wednesday,  October 5 at 10 pm ET/PT
In Reno, Nev., Bowler works with the Needham brothers, a pair of wildly adventurous scientists who have built a one-man “Moon Jumper” — a 40-foot-long counterweighted teeter-totter that spins atop a two-story-high telephone pole in the desert like a merry-go-round and allows for a 90 degree jump straight up.  Sound crazy?  It is.  The new challenge is to create a portable version of this contraption for two people that allows for a 180 degree jump in the opposite direction.  Their design calls for two bicycles on the ground to turn a center axle that helps it spin.  With helmets on, they give the new and improved Moon Jumper a test!

Mad Scientists: Turbo-Charged Leaf Blower
Wednesday,  October 5 at 10:30 pm ET/PT
Chris Krug is a South Carolina jet engine builder who has transformed his minivan into a drag-racing super-machine.  Bowler challenges Krug to build the ultimate multipurpose lawn tool out of one of his homemade turbojets.  The new creation is designed to blow leaves and mulch, and is retrofitted with an afterburner to melt ice, a water hose to spray the garden and a cooler.  But the build does not go according to plan.  Krug fries the turbojet and, in the process, sets his driveway on fire.  In a mad rush, they substitute another jet engine for the fried one.

Mad Scientists: Swamp Flyer
Wednesday, October 12 at 10:00 pm ET/PT
George Jacobs is a self-described “Swamp Critter” the locals call Gyro Jake. This aerodynamics genius lives in the Everglades’ swamp with his cat and peacock and builds one-of-a-kind Gyroplanes from scratch. Now, John challenges Jake to put his aerodynamic expertise to work in the water.  Together, they set out to build a floating gyro that can maneuver through the water the way a flying gyro maneuvers through the air.  But the weather turns against them, and so do the laws of hydrodynamics.

Mad Scientists: Water Cannons on Wheels
Wednesday, October 12 at 10:30 pm ET/PT
Phoenix-based Lance Greathouse builds the coolest wheelchairs ever — ones that go off-roading, shoot pellets like a machine gun or have fire cannons attached.  His brother was confined to a wheelchair before he died, so Greathouse dedicates himself to building regular and jacked-up wheelchairs for other people.  He and Bowler brainstorm a new water chariot wheelchair and then work to retrofit the chairs with water tanks.  Hours before the public reveal, one wheelchair fails, and the men must retrofit another at the last minute.  Once on the course, they set up for an old-fashioned jousting match with a watery end.

ABOUT JOHN BOWLER:
John Bowler is a professional builder and master-of-all-trades with the experience to tackle even the oddest custom jobs — like repairing a roof to hold a 300-pound gargoyle and building a tree house with a trapdoor.  His broad expertise includes the intricacies of design, electrical, heating, cooling and plumbing systems combined with the artistry of custom cabinetry and furniture.  His self-owned company website, www.jbbuildstuff.com, describes some of the subtleties of his carpentry projects.  Of his role with Mad Scientists, he says, “I’ve done enough diverse things to give me an abundance of weird information to draw from.”  His eclectic background includes projects in writing and illustration and jobs as a personal trainer, art gallery assistant, truck driver, security guard, model, bouncer, drummer, window painter and, very rarely, an actor.

Mad Scientists is produced by Silent Crow Arts for the National Geographic Channel.  Matt Bennett is executive producer; Paul Fargione is producer.  For National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Allan Butler; senior vice president of production and development is Michael Cascio.

For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com or www.ngcpr.com. 

Special at Luxury Bliss 

Spa in L.A., Hollywood

For Her: The beauty experts at Bliss know that soft, supple, fuzz-free skin is a must – not just during the summer months, when weekends are filled with beach trips and rooftop tanning, but year-round. An established leader in fuss-free preening, they’re famous for their “tongue-in-chic” approach to beauty and wellness. Their products look good. Smell good. Feel good. And their facials, massages and manicures are fit for a queen. You’ll see why these bustling spas are the talk of the town when you visit for treatments like the Hot Milk and Almond Pedicure, a luxurious sixty-minute session that will leave your feet clamoring for peep-toes. You’ll love the Rapid Rub, too: it promises a half-hour of undivided attention to the area that’s ailing you most.
Fabulips Treatment - $25 (30% off)
Brazilian Bikini Wax - $49 (30% off)
Fabulous Feet Pedicure + Manicure - $56 (30% off)
Blissage75 - $105 (30% off)
Taste of Bliss - $105 (30% off)
Triple Oxygen Facial - $112 (30% off)
The Youth As We Know It Facial - $130 (30% off)
Best of Bliss - $280 (30% off)

For Him: Never thought you were the spa type? We’re about to change your mind. After all, well-groomed guys are sexy – and when it comes to the facials, massages and waxing treatments that put the “man” in manly, there’s no place that does it better than Bliss. Gilt City guys will see what homme improvement is all about when they visit this bustling spa for treatments like Blissage75, a head-to-toe rub-down that focuses on the muscles that are ailing you most. It’s the perfect way to wind down after an intense workout, and it concludes with a  warm-wax foot wrap that’ll have you waving goodbye to pesky calluses. And since fuzz-free is the way to be- yes, even as summer comes to an end – we think you’ll love these chest and back waxes, too. They’re essential for any spiffed-up dude.
Basic Brief He-Wax - $25 (30% off)
Back He-Wax - $46 (30% off)
Ultimate He-Wax - $84 (30% off)
Blissage75 - $105 (30% off)
Homme Improvement - $112 (30% off)
Three-Piece Birthday Suit - $168 (30% off)

Bliss Spa Hollywood
www.blissworld.com - 6250 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood - (877) 862-5477
Bliss Spa Los Angeles
www.blissworld.com - 930 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles - (877) 862-5477

Actress Reese Witherspoon was spotted strutting about Los Angeles in Stuart Weitzman's tan nubuc "Strutting" platforms.

Designer Plange + 

Manolo Blahnik

Mimi Plange has partnered with one of the world’s most legendary fashion brands, Manolo Blahnik for her Spring Summer 2012 collection.  The floral and Eastern inspired collection is globally infused with references to the Himba and Herero women of present day Namibia.

Plange says, “I wanted to take the Eastern floral of Spring, the traditional dress of the Himba, the Victorian dress of the Herero, and blend them together into something modern, soft and strong.  The shoes are reflective of that spirit-modern shapes and heels grounded with traditional beading and patterns.  It has been wonderful to see the inspiration showcased with the beauty of a Manolo Blahnik shoe and I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to be able to collaborate with the brand.”

The exclusive shoe collection will debut at her Spring 2012 presentation in September, during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  Manolo Blahnik for Mimi Plange consists of two shoes, one demure soft pastel blue sandal, and a beautiful floral beaded bootie.

Amy Poehler wore a yellow chiffon MaxMara dress, Stuart Weitzman's nude patent Stiltsling platforms, a Kara Ackerman bangle at VH1 Do Something Awards in Los Angeles.

Inspector Lewis Returns 

For 4th Season on PBS

Masterpiece Mystery! “Inspector Lewis, Series IV: Old, Unhappy, Far Off Things”
Kevin Whately returns as Inspector Lewis for a fourth season of the popular detective series. In four new episodes, Lewis and his young partner DS Hathaway (Laurence Fox, A Room With a View) continue solving cases in the seemingly perfect academic haven of Oxford.  Premieres 4 September 2011. Check PBS listings.

Engineering Ground Zero

Nova “Engineering Ground Zero” premieres Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 9PM ET/PT
www.pbs.org/nova/wtc
On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, NOVA presents an epic story of engineering, innovation, and the perseverance of the human spirit. With extraordinary access granted by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Engineering Ground Zero follows the five-year construction of One World Trade Center (1 WTC) and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. NOVA captures the behind-the-scenes struggle of architects and engineers to make the buildings safe and highly secure under the pressures of a tight schedule, the demands of practical office space and efficient "green" architecture, and the public's expectations of a fitting site for national remembrance. Featuring interviews with 1 WTC architect David Childs; Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Mayor Michael Bloomberg, chairman of the 9/11 Memorial Foundation; and Michael Arad, the man behind the breakthrough concept for the 9/11 Memorial.

The Big Bang Theory, starring Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayya will air Tuesday and Thursday night on TBS, starting Thursday 20 September 2011 at 8 p.m. on TBS.

A denim crystal-snake calfskin extreme platform pump with stud detailing down the back of heel co-designed by Michelle Trachtenberg. It retails for $425.

A black suede extreme platform ankle boot with metal hardware accent co-designed by Hayden Panettiere. It retails for $498.

A satin strappy ankle-wrap sandal embedded with fuchsia feathers co-designed by Olivia Palermo. It retails for $425.

A red patent man-tailored cut-out oxford platform with contrast burgundy lacing co-designed by Scarlet Johansson. It retails for $425.

Starlets Team with Stuart Weitzman

Celebrity Designs For Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Stuart Weitzman has teamed-up with young Hollywood to raise money for ovarian cancer. Scarlett Johansson, Hayden Panettiere, Olivia Palermo and Michelle Trachtenberg worked with Stuart to each co-design a footwear style from which proceeds will benefit Dr. Marsha Moses’ pioneering research in ovarian cancer at the Folkman Institute in Boston, MA.

The Stuart Weitzman Young Hollywood Cares Collection will be available exclusively in late August at www.stuartweitzman.com and the following Stuart Weitzman flagship boutiques: New York (Madison Avenue & 5th Avenue), Beverly Hills (Rodeo Drive) and Chicago (Michigan Avenue).

The Stuart Weitzman Young Hollywood Cares Collection includes the following:

    A denim crystal-snake calfskin extreme platform pump with stud detailing down the back of heel co-designed by Michelle Trachtenberg. It retails for $425.

    A satin strappy ankle-wrap sandal embedded with fuchsia feathers co-designed by Olivia Palermo. It retails for $425.

    A red patent man-tailored cut-out oxford platform with contrast burgundy lacing co-designed by Scarlet Johansson. It retails for $425.

    A black suede extreme platform ankle boot with metal hardware accent co-designed by Hayden Panettiere. It retails for $498.

The event to celebrate the unveiling of the Young Hollywood Cares collection will be at Fashion Night's Out on Sept 8th with both Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere at our Madison Avenue store (625 Madison Ave) in New York City.

The Stuart Weitzman Young Hollywood Cares Collection is available at www.stuartweitzman.com on 22 August 2011

Jackson Browne

Rob Wasserman

Woody Guthrie

"You Know The Night" by
Jackson Browne, Rob Wasserman
On Radio 22 August 2011


First Single from Note of Hope, Based On
Woody Guthrie's Writings, On
September 27, 2011 On 429 Records
CD Kicks Off A Centennial Celebration of Guthrie's Birth

"You Know the Night," performed by Jackson Browne with Rob Wasserman, will go for adds at Triple A Commercial, Non-Comm and Americana radio on August 22nd. The song is the lead single from Note of Hope, a celebration of Woody Guthrie, based on primarily unpublished writings that the great American Master penned between 1942 and 1954 while living in New York City and Brooklyn. Working from a 30-page notebook entry of Guthrie's, Browne and Wasserman wrote the music for "You Know the Night." The album version of the epic love song - which describes the evening Woody first met the woman destined to become his second wife, Marjorie Mazia - is nearly 15 minutes long while the radio edit is four minutes. You can check it out at:



http://www.429records.com/sites/429records/pressclips/newreleases/jacksonbrowne/



Other artists on the CD include: Ani DiFranco, Kurt Elling, Michael Franti, Nellie McKay, Tom Morello, Van Dyke Parks, Madeleine Peyroux, Lou Reed, Pete Seeger, Studs Terkel, Tony Trischka, and Chris Whitley. A pre-order for Note of Hope is underway at:



http://www.amazon.com/Note-Hope-Celebration-Woody-Guthrie/dp/B005ARYEFK.



Due out September 27, 2011 on 429 Records, the release is the first of a multitude of events leading up to the 2012 centennial celebration of Guthrie's birth. The GRAMMY Museum and Woody Guthrie Publications will produce "This Land Is Your Land," a series of four Woody Guthrie tribute concerts. The first will take place on March 10, 2012 at the Brady Theater in Tulsa, OK, and the second is slated for April 14, 2012 at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Nora Guthrie and The Woody Guthrie Archives in conjunction with Bob Santelli and The GRAMMY Museum will curate the traveling exhibit "This Land Is Your Land," which will stop at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa (Feb.-Mar. 2012), the University of Southern California (April-May 2012) and Bethel Woods Museum in Bethel, NY (June-Aug. 2012). Numerous other events are planned worldwide. They will be tracked on a special anniversary website, www.woody100.com, where fans can also submit listings of events that they have planned.

Born on July 14th, 1912 in Okemah, Oklahoma, Woody Guthrie is widely regarded as America's greatest folksinger. He wrote over 3,000 songs in his lifetime, including "This Land Is Your Land," which became America's unofficial national anthem.

Choose Your Mood With Lifetherapy

by Lindsey K. Wagner

BeansTalk New York Correspondent

Celebrating the launch of Lifetherapy's Skin Nourishing Body Scrub, Lynette Lovelace, the innovator and force behind the brand, has been at Henri Bendel in NYC, August 15-21, 2011, to help customers choose a mood.

Lifetherapy gives customers the opportunity to chose a mood and set the tone of how to feel for the day. Helping escape from everyday life, Lovelace gives offers evoke five moods: Chill, Flirt, Vacation, Escape and Play.

Available in hydrating body lotion, pulse point oil-roll on perfumes, body cremes and everyday hand cremes, Lovelace's newest edition, skin nourishing body-scrub, combines all-natural raw sugar and fresh sea-salt that melt into skin and give a base layer that helps absorb body lotion.

Feeling playful yet innocent? Choose Flirt, which blends together water flowers and bergamot with notes of rose, muget and coconut. For those in a peaceful and subtle mood, chose Chill, which has hints of calming rose, citrus and heliotrope ending with vanilla and amber notes.

Not only are the five moods of Lifetherapy good as a singular mood scent, but creators suggest combining moods, such as Flirt and Vacation, for a unique mood.

Lifetherapy in popular with celebrities, too. Carolyn Manzo and Jill Zarin from Bravo's Real Housewives series, famed photographer, Nigel Barker, from America's Next Top Model, and Eva Longoria are just a few celebs crazy about the brand.      

In addition to the launch of Lifetherapy's body scrub, Lovelace and her friend of 24 years are introducing a new jewelry line. Each piece conveys a different notion, such as Love, but share one thing in common: a turquoise stone, symbolizing the deep connection of friendship.

Lovelace will be at Henri Bendel, 712 5th Ave., New York, NY, throughout the week to help customers choose their Lifetherapy mood.

"I'm generally a Chill girl," she said, but feeling youthful and feminine the first day of her launch she was donning Play.

Lisa Panzarella, Lovelace's right-hand woman commented, "People that fall in love with Lifetherapy go crazy for the brand." She's right, we already have. 

The new scrub priced at $34 is available in all five moods.

Lifetherapy is available at a variety of stores such as Henri Bendel, the Spa at Trump International Hotel and Towers in Chicago and all Body Factory and Beauty Collection locations in California. Information and a list of retailers: wwww.lifetherapy.com.

Howard Jones 2009

Howard Jones 1983

What is Love?

Howard Jones Performs His First Two Albums
Tickets On Sale Now

It was in 1983 when Howard Jones first burst upon the contemporary music scene and brought his very English song-writing and pioneering synthesizers to an unsuspecting world. His first two albums Human’s Lib and Dream Into Action were massive worldwide hits.

Human’s Lib reached #1 in 1984 in the UK and featured the hits “New Song,” and “What Is Love?”  In 1985 Howard released his follow up: Dream Into Action, which quickly became a Top Ten Platinum album here in the US and featured the massive hits: “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life In One Day,” “No One Is To Blame,” and “Like To Get To Know You Well.”

Now for the first time ever, Jones will perform these first two classic albums in their entirety in the US this fall. A true icon of the 80’s and godfather of modern electronic dance music, Jones will be giving the fans what they’ve longed for.

“The idea of doing the first two albums came from the fans constantly asking me to do this,” Jones remarked.  “When I was finally able to get the multi-tracks from Warners in 2010 it was then possible to do these shows in an authentic way. The technology was not available in the mid 80's to do justice to the songs and so many of them I am performing for the first time live. It seemed a great opportunity to add video to the show and I commissioned visual pieces for all 24 tracks.. I am really looking forward to playing in America in October with my electronic band - Robbie Bronnimann on live sequencing and effects, and Jonathan Atkinson on electronic drums.

Jones has also re-mastered those albums and the associated 12 inch mixes, the latter being a special limited edition box set. They are available now directly from his website: www.howardjones.com or Amazon.

A classically trained pianist, Jones applied his technique to the early synths particularly the Roland Juno 60, the Jupiter 8 and the Moog Prodigy. He also pioneered the classic Roland 808 drum machine and the Sequential Pro-One. In the early days he was triggering sequencers live on stage whilst playing and singing, something that no one had done before.  These days he still operates on the cutting edge of today’s technology and has been one of the leading exponents of the Roland Fantom G8 and the Roland V-piano.

If you were too young the first time around it’ll be a chance to find out where all those beats and sounds came from, and if you were around it’ll bring all those memories flooding back.


HOWARD JONES Human’s Lib & Dream Into Action LIVE

10/12/11 4th & B                                  San Diego, CA
10/13/11 Cox Auditorium                    St. George, Utah
10/14/11 The Music Box                     Hollywood, CA
10/15/11 The Summit Music Hall        Denver, CO
10/18/11 The Flying Monkey               Plymouth, NH
10/19/11 Irving Plaza                           New York, NY
10/20/11 Keswick Theatre                   Glenside, PA
10/25/11 Oakville Centre                     Oakville, Ontario Canada
10/26/11 Oakville Centre                     Oakville, Ontario Canada
10/27/11 Bottom Lounge                     Chicago, IL
10/28/11 Paramount Centre                 Peekskill. NY

Anne Hathaway sparkled in PLATINUM jewelry by Tiffany & Co. at the New York premiere of “One Day” on August 8th:


• Platinum and diamond stud earrings (2.12 total carats) by Elsa Peretti, Tiffany & Co.
• Platinum and diamond necklace worn as a bracelet by Elsa Peretti, Tiffany & Co.
• Platinum and diamond bracelet by Elsa Peretti, Tiffany & Co.
• Platinum and pear shaped diamond ring (4.48 carats) by Tiffany & Co.

Hathaway wore a black and gold strapless dress from Alexander McQueen Resort 2012 Collection with gold pointed heels by Christian Louboutin and chic gold clutch by Christian Louboutin.


Hathaway's Hair



Fekkai Celebrity Stylist Adir Abergel Created a Soft Romantic Look for Anne Hathaway at her “One Day” Premiere
INSPIRATION: A wavy, effortless 1970’s look that was soft and romantic.

How To Get the Look:  Adir began by applying Fekkai Advanced Full Blown Volume Styling Whip to the roots of the wet hair. He then added Fekkai Coiff Bouffant Lifting and Texturizing Spray Gel from the middle of the hair to the bottom, helping to hold a slight natural wave. Adir then dried the hair while using a Fekkai Large Round Brush to ensure that the ends of the hair had a nice bend. Once the hair was completely dry, he used a 1” curling iron to create waves from the middle of the hair to the ends. After allowing the hair to cool, he added softness to the waves by spraying Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray and brushing it through. Adir finished the look by applying Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Sheer Shine Mist to the ends of the hair, creating beautiful shine and bounce.

All products by Fekkai: Fekkai Advanced Full Volume Styling Whip ($23), Fekkai Coiff™ Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel ($24), Fekkai Large Round Brush ($65), Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray ($24), and Fekkai Advanced Glossing Sheer Shine Mist ($24). Available at Fekkai.com and Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

Cambodian Filmmaker's Two Films

The map says it is over 8200 miles from Cambodia to the United
States. But for filmmaker Daron Ker, bridging the gap between the two
cultures is at the root of his passion for storytelling and the
driving force behind his burgeoning career.

Born in the “Killing Fields” era of tyranny and violence, one of his
earliest childhood memories is seeing Stanley Kubrick’s epic
“Spartacus” projected onto a sheet in an internment camp. Soon after,
Ker and his family emigrated to the United States, where Daron began
to slowly realize that his destiny was to tell great stories on screen.

Since attending film school in San Francisco, Ker has made two
impressive feature films that illustrate culture clash in unexpected,
poignant, and surprising places. “Rice Field of Dreams” follows
Cambodian refugee Joe Cook, who escaped the Khmer Rouge and eventually
became a chef in an Alabama restaurant, as Cook returns to Cambodia to
form the nation’s first competitive international baseball team. “I
Ride” focuses on biker culture, and remains stateside as Ker’s camera
focuses on the Fryed Brothers Band, the best rock band you’ve never
heard of. Ker follows along as the brothers travel the roads of
America, playing concerts for motorcycle clubs, recalling old stories,
and creating new legends along the way. Filmed with sensitivity and
an outsider’s keen eye for detail, both films mark Ker as a young
filmmaker to watch, and both films will be released by FilmBuff/
Cinetic Media this fall.

While continuing to promote his two very different films, Daron Ker
is also preparing for his first narrative feature, “Holiday in
Cambodia,” which will be shot by veteran cinematographer Hiro Narita,
and tells the story of a young Cambodian living in America who is
deported back to his homeland, with unexpected results.

Ker is committed to representing the Cambodian culture on film, and
one day to help open a film school in his native country. But he also
considers himself a storyteller with universal appeal. “I gravitate
towards stories that speak to more than one audience,” Ker says, “and
that’s what I think makes my films unique.” Having travelled over
8200 miles and back again to find his own style, Ker is poised to tell
powerful stories that otherwise might remain untold.

Blake Lively sparkled in PLATINUM jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz at the “2011 Teen Choice Awards” in Los Angeles on August 7th:


• Platinum earrings with diamonds and turquoise triangle drops
• Platinum and diamond bracelets
• Platinum and diamond rings

Actress Emmy Rossum was out and about Beverly Hills on a recent afternoon wearing a white pointelle polo dress from the Lacoste + Malandrino collaboration collection. RETAIL: $365.000 Available at Catherine Malandrino boutiques, Lacoste boutiques & on shop.catherinemalandrino.com  

Robert Downey Jr. in a scene from "Iron Man." He's wearing Robert Marc Sunshades

Accessories Galore


The Accessories Council is excited to announce its first round of honorees for the 2011 Accessories Council Excellence (ACE) Awards Gala, highlighting individuals and brands that have made a significant contribution to the accessories industry.  The 2011 ACE Awards are scheduled to be held on Monday November 7th at Cipriani 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan.

The ACE Awards were created in 1995 to pay homage to those individuals and groups that have made great strides in raising the awareness of the accessories industry. The purpose of the awards is to celebrate those who have had a positive impact on accessory consumption during the prior year.   Awards are given to designers, retailers, journalists, celebrities and emerging companies.

Honorees are nominated and voted upon by their peers in the accessory industry, retailers, and the Accessories Council Board of Directors. Honorees are announced in advance of the event that takes place annually.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the ACE Awards this year, where we will be honoring designers, brands and influencers who have produced outstanding work in the accessories industry,” remarked Accessories Council President Karen Giberson.

A partial list of 2011 ACE Awards Gala honorees are listed below (in alphabetical order):

• Mary Lou Luther Journalism Award- Kate Betts
• Business Visionary Award- Frank Fialkoff
• E-Tailer- HSN
• Visionary Award- Robert Marc
• Magazine of the Year- Marie Claire
• Breakthrough Award- Rebecca Minkoff
• Hall of Fame- Temple St. Clair
• Specialty Retailer- Tourneau
• Designer of the Year- Philip Treacy

Additional nominees will be announced in Fall 2011.  

Lincoln, a Ford Motor Company brand, in conjunction with Union Square Agency, is ramping up its marketing efforts to reach a younger, higher end fashion consumer with a first time sponsorship of the ACE Awards.  Returning sponsors include Marchon, Swarovski, Judith Leiber and Accessory Network.

Tickets and tables to the 2011 ACE Awards Gala are currently available for $1,000 per person or $10,000 for a table of ten for Accessories Council members ($1,200 pp and $12,000 per table for non-members).  Tickets can be purchased by calling 212.947.1135 Accessories Council or info@accessoriescouncil.org

About the Accessories Council
The Accessories Council is a not-for-profit, national advocacy organization established in 1995. Our mission is to stimulate consumer awareness and demand for fashion accessory products. We serve the industry globally which generates over $30 billion dollars annually in the United States alone. 

Over the past 5 years, membership has grown to include over 150 corporations representing the world's leading brand names, designers, publications, retailers and associated providers for the accessories, eyewear and footwear industries.

Dalai Lama: DVD Series

Dalai Lama, H. H. - A Practical Way Of Directing Love And Compassion
The Dalai Lama describes how compassion is the most precious treasure.
Our basic human nature is compassionate and gentle. H.H. (His Holiness) The Dalai Lama describes how compassion is the most precious treasure, and it involves a sense of responsibility for the well being of others. Mixed Tibetan and English.

DVD
SKU: HHDL351DVD
UPC: 5060230860862
SRP: 19.95
Street Date: 08/23/11
PreBook Date: 07/19/11
Label: GONZO DISTRIBUTION L
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 165 mins

Dalai Lama, H.H. - Contentment, Joy And Living Well
The Dalai Lama discusses how our essential human nature is compassionate and affectionate.
H.H. (His Holiness) The Dalai Lama discusses how our essential human nature is compassionate and affectionate, and how when this is combined with our intellect, this balance can contribute to happier human life and a better world for all beings. Mostly English with some Tibetan.

DVD
SKU: HHDL352DVD
UPC: 5060230860879
SRP: 19.95
Street Date: 08/23/11
PreBook Date: 07/19/11
Label: GONZO DISTRIBUTION L
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 165 mins

H.H. Dalai Lama - Interdependence, Interconnectedness and The Nature Of Reality
H.H. The Dalai Lama gives a profound teaching on dependent origination and emptiness.
This programme is approximately 165 minutes in length and during its course H.H. The Dalai Lama gives a profound teaching on dependent origination and emptiness with great clarity and insight. He includes a discussion on the nature of time and how it is a mere convention; time does not exist beyond the relationship between past, present and future. Nothing happens without the aggregation of causes and conditions, and His Holiness describes how Buddhahood comes about in this way. This DVD is presented in a mixture of Tibetan and English.

DVD
SKU: HHDL354DVD
UPC: 5060230860893
SRP: 19.95
Street Date: 09/27/11
PreBook Date: 08/23/11
Label: GONZO DISTRIBUTION L
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 165 mins

H.H. Dalai Lama - Facing Death And Dying Well
H.H. The Dalai Lama's teachings on suffering, existence and death.
This programme is approximately 165 minutes long and includes H.H. The Dalai Lama teaching about the truth of suffering, the Three Characteristics of Existence and the dissolution of the body's elements at death. Meditating on impermanence and the momentary changing nature of existence helps us appreciate the basic unsatisfactory nature of existence, and strive towards liberation. His Holiness encourages us to develop our awareness of death and move from gross understanding to more subtle levels. This DVD is presented in a mixture of Tibetan and English.

DVD
SKU: HHDL353DVD
UPC: 5060230860886
SRP: 19.95
Street Date: 09/27/11
PreBook Date: 08/23/11
Label: GONZO DISTRIBUTION L
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 165 mins

Complete Series:

HHDL351DVD   H.H. The Dalai Lama      Practical Guide to Directing Love and Compassion
HHDL352DVD   H.H. The Dalai Lama      Contentment, Joy and Living Well        
HHDL353DVD   Dalai Lama        Facing Death and Dying Well
HHDL354DVD   Dalai Lama        Interdependence, Interconnectedness & the Nature of Reality
HHDL355DVD   Dalai Lama        The Power of Compassion
HHDL350DVD   Dalai Lama        Dealing with Anger and Emotions        
HHDL368DVD   Dalai Lama        A Message of Peace and Compassion His Holiness the
Dalai Lama UK visit
HHDL55DVD     Dalai Lama        The Essence of Mahayana Buddhism
HHDL128DVD   Dalai Lama        In conversation with the Dalai Lama
HHDL136DVD   Dalai Lama        Meditating with the Dalai Lama
HHDL159DVD   Dalai Lama        Towards a Peaceful World
HHDL12DVD     Dalai Lama        Universal Responsibility in a Nuclear Age
HHDL335DVD   Dalai Lama        335 Walking the Path of Peace
HHDL155DVD   Dalai Lama        155 Avalokiteshvara Initiation (Chenrezig Initiation)                    
HHDL85DVD     Dalai Lama        85 A Guide to Walking Meditation
HHDL56DVD     Dalai Lama        56 Buddhist Philosophy