He Pingping (L) of China gestures as Sultan Kosen of Turkey looks on as they pose for photographers during a promotional event in Istanbul January 14, 2010. He, with a height of 73 cm (2 feet 5 inch), and Kosen, with a height of 246.5 cm (8 feet 1 inch), are listed in the Guinness World Records as the world's shortest man and tallest man respectively.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
He Pingping of China smiles as Sultan Kosen of Turkey rests his hands on He's shoulders during a promotional event in Istanbul January 14, 2010. He, with a height of 73 cm (2 feet 5 inch), and Kosen, with a height of 246.5 cm (8 feet 1 inch), are listed in the Guinness World Records as the world's shortest man and tallest man respectively. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
He Pingping (L) of China looks up at Sultan Kosen of Turkey as they pose for photographers during a promotional event in Istanbul January 14, 2010. He, with a height of 73 cm (2 feet 5 inch), and Kosen, with a height of 246.5 cm (8 feet 1 inch), are listed in the Guinness World Records as the world's shortest man and tallest man respectively.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
He Pingping (L) of China and Sultan Kosen of Turkey talk with members of the media during a promotional event in Istanbul January 14, 2010. He, with a height of 73 cm (2 feet 5 inch), and Kosen, with a height of 246.5 cm (8 feet 1 inch), are listed in the Guinness World Records as the world's shortest man and tallest man respectively..(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Napoli fans to bid for Maradona's earring
by Mark Meadows, Reuters|12 January 2010
Milan Italy: Napoli fans are planning to raise cash to make a bid to buy Diego Maradona's earring, which was confiscated by Italian authorities in September as part payment for his tax arrears.
The piece of jewellery, taken while Maradona was in Italy at a weightloss clinic, will be put up for auction next week with a starting price of around 4,000 euros ($8,024) expected.
"Let's have a collection," Napoli fans, who adore the Argentina coach after he inspired the club as a player to Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990, have written on a supporter website (www.tifosidelnapoli.it).
Paris Hilton Wants to Get Married This Year
Written by BangShowbiz on Jan-8-10 1:19am2010-01-07T10:19:12
Paris Hilton thinks 2010 might be the year she hears wedding bells. The socialite has said that she could see herself getting hitched to boyfriend Doug Reinhardt this year because their "amazing" relationship has tamed her.
She said: "I wouldn't rule out a wedding in 2010. With how amazing everything is going between us, I see a very bright and happy future. He's taught me how real love can feel. Doug's taught me how to grow up and become more domestic, as in not going out as much as I used to."
Paris, who reconciled with Doug in August following a brief split, is not the only one who is smitten. The Hills star Doug can't wait to get the blonde socialite down the aisle and thinks she would make a "perfect" wife. He added to Life and Style magazine: "Paris is the most beautiful girl in the world. I am so in love with her - I feel like I'm the luckiest guy in the world. She is gorgeous, smart, funny and kind. My family loves her, and she would make the perfect wife."
-zimbio.com-
Google phone to be on market soon 
www.chinaview.cn 2009-12-14 09:22:18
Google Inc. has designed its own smartphone and plans to sell directly to consumers as soon as early 2010, according to media reports.
The phone, called the Nexus One and made by smartphone maker HTC, runs the search giant's Android operating system and will be sold online, bypassing wireless carriers in a rare strategic move.
Google first announced the phone had been undergoing testing by its employees in a blog post last weekend, and Wall Street Journal confirmed the device and name hours after.
The Internet giant is taking a new and potentially risky approach to selling the device, experts said. Without a mobile carrier partner, Google will ask its consumers to buy the phone online and buy cellular service for the device separately, which the Americans almost never do.
It is a significant move for the Internet giant on the mobile industry potentially challenging mobile carrier partners in the process and shaking up the business model of the mobile industry.
Google hasn't sold hardware in the past and the move may be a big step for the company into direct sales.
BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhuanet)
Claudia Schiffer plans to create own fashion label
by Astrid Wendlandt, Reuters|02 December 2009
Berlin, Germany: After lending her image to fashion designers for more than two decades, supermodel Claudia Schiffer says she is now ready to create her own fashion business, which could include cashmere wares and handbags.
The 39-year-old-German born model on Tuesday Nov 17said she was looking to give her life a new direction and was on the lookout for partners to back the launch of her brand.
"I would love to create my own lines now," Schiffer told a luxury conference in Berlin organized by the International Herald Tribune.
"I want the brand to be timeless and classic, with a fashion sensibility."
Many celebrities before Schiffer have launched their own trademarked products, ex-pop star Victoria Beckham is getting rave reviews for her evening dresses, Jennifer Lopez launched her own perfumes and Paris Hilton got into luxury watches.
But Schiffer said the product would have to "speak to her" and be close to her personality.
"Consumers are not stupid. They do understand if you don't believe in your product," she said.
Schiffer said she was looking for business partners, who did not necessarily have to be German, and she aimed to give the brand a global reach instantly.
"I would love to do cashmere, it is something I wear all the time myself...I would love to do something that is a bit more price friendly and...a lot of cashmere is very classic, I would like to create something that is a bit more fashion," she said.
But while pursuing her new business interests, Schiffer, who has recently been featuring in Yves Saint Laurent, Salvatore Ferragamo and Alberta Ferretti ad campaigns, said she hoped to continue being a model for "as long as possible."
Schiffer began her modeling career in the late 1980s and is remembered for her Chanel and Guess jeans campaigns among many others. The model said that despite her very public persona, she was a shy person who was cautious and valued loyalty.
"It takes me some time to warm up, but once you are friends with me I am friends for a long time," she said.
"I am very loyal."
Schiffer, who has been living in England for the past nine years, said she often sought to get away from the limelight.
"I do enjoy having a quiet life and on the weekends, we go away to the countryside and do normal things which make me feel good."
(Asiaone.com)
Giorgio Armani Extends
Designer Touch to New Mobile
by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, Reuters|28 October 2009
Milan, Italy: Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani presented a new 700-euro ($1,445) mobile phone, a stylish device aimed at complementing the designer's suits.
Founding designer Giorgio Armani, widely regarded as the doyen of Italian fashion, made a brief public appearance at the launch of the Armani-Samsung smartphone, which also has the new Microsoft software for mobiles.
Microsoft Corp introduced Windows Mobile 6.5 this week, which allows phones to play music, open Word and Excel documents and be synchronized over the Internet.
The sleek phone has both a touch screen and a key pad. It also includes a video player and GPS navigation, as well as bronze detailing "which coordinates perfectly with Giorgio Armani suits," according to a statement.
Armani, 75, did not speak at the presentation, only posing for photographs, but said in the statement he sought to create a phone "perfect for today's managers."
Armany, who suffered a bout of hepatitis this year, announced three senior management changes in late September, signaling an easing of his workload.
Armani, known for his classically elegant lines and muted colors in clothes, said last month he was reshuffling his agenda to take better care of himself after the illness.
The smartphone is the third phone Armani has designed for South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.
Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, wearing a tie signed by Armani, said the phone was "a statement of style" and his company was not looking to work with other designers, adding this partnership with Samsung and Armani was "a unique thing."
Source: plushasia.com
Jacko's crystal glove scoops $49,000 at auction
Sep-7-09 7:00pm2009-09-07T05:00:17
From: afp.com 
A crystal-encrusted white glove worn by late pop icon Michael Jackson has sold for 49,000 US dollars in Australia, doubling the auctioneer's estimate after a frenzied bidding war.
Auction house Bonhams & Goodmans said the glove, which went under the hammer in Melbourne late on Sunday, was the first to go on sale since the superstar's death on June 25.
The right-hand glove, made of white spandex and covered with hand-sewn clear crystals, was snapped up by the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in the United States.
Bonhams & Goodmans said Jackson wore the trademark glove to the Sydney premiere of his film "Ghosts" on November 15, 1996.
The King of Pop was in Australia for the HIStory World Tour at the time and earlier in the day had married his second wife Debbie Rowe.
Music journalist Peter Holmes and his friend Bill Hibble were apparently among the few audience members who laughed at the jokes in the short horror spoof and Jackson threw the glove to Hibble in thanks.
Hibble has since died and his father put the glove up for sale.
Las Vegas Hard Rock curator Warwick Stone said the glove would sit alongside memorabilia from Elvis Presley and Sex Pistol guitarist Sid Vicious.
"Michael Jackson gave it to someone in public in Australia and most collectors of Michael Jackson memorabilia knew about this glove," Stone told public broadcaster ABC.
"I've got the chain that used to hang around Sid Vicious's neck, I've got one of Elvis's .357 magnums which he used to shoot TVs with."
Stone said three more Jackson gloves were scheduled to come on to the market in the United States later this year but added: "I think I got the bargain."
-zimbio-
