Main Exhibits

Have you ever attended a Jewelry Trade show? WIthin the next 6 months I'll be searching for an engagement ring and was wondering if anyone has any experience buying at a Jewelry Trade show. I'm guessing I could get a sweet deal where dealers go to purchase their jewelry. Please if you have any ideas or suggestions let me know.

Does anyone know the next jewelry or diamond trade show in the bay?

What trade shows can I attend in Atlanta area? Hi, I have a small biz for selling impoted gifts from Egypt. Mainly papyrus, jewelry and home decor items (christmas ornaments, handmade glassware, alabaster jars, and gass perfume bottles). For the past year I have been selling online through our web site www.egyptiangiftstore.com I was wondering if it would be a good idea to sell face to face at trade shows, swap meets, flea markets and the like. What would be a good venue to start with, I am looking for something within driving distance of Atlanta, GA and with clients that are retail consumers or small shop owners looking to buy wholesale. Thanks. Mohamed

What is the best way to promote a new B to B web site at an industry trade show? We have a new wholesale (only) fine jewelry web site that we want to promote at a regional trade show next month. What kind of give-aways, signage, etc. is most effective at getting the owners of retail jewelry stores to our web site.

what is the most appropriate thing to wear for a professional exhibit for a woman? Jewelry trade show

Does anyone know of any jewelry factories? I have decided to open a jewelry business -- sterling, cubic z, trendy stuff. Have been asking people in the business about this. I need to know if anyone here knows of a factory or factories overseas that I can buy the product from? The people I have asked have taught me only one thing, really. And this has been pretty much across-the-board: "Do not even THINK about buying your product in this country. Buy overseas only. Don't buy from trade shows, don't buy from supposed 'wholesalers,' etc. etc. ETC." A few told me they buy everything "from Asia" but were not exactly forthcoming about where or from who...I guess I can understand why some would not want to help create competition, etc. So I come here. Does anyone have any contacts in that business they can share? Would also consider factories in the Miami area that do manufacture the stuff here, but am not certain that exists. Also, does anyone know if there is a listing of factories that make silver jewelry? Thank you!

What should I wear? Next week is the Jewelry Trade show in NYC. There is a party at a hotel for all the people in the diamond industry. I work for a diamond software company so this is a networking event. I need something elegant and tasteful. 500 or under please. I have a large chest so no spagetthi straps, though I have worn off the shoulder before and that would work. Any suggestions?

Looking for jewelry suppliers - factories? I have decided to open a jewelry business -- sterling, cubic z, trendy stuff. Have been asking people in the business about this. I need to know if anyone here knows of a factory or factories overseas that I can buy the product from? The people I have asked have taught me only one thing, really. And this has been pretty much across-the-board: "Do not even THINK about buying your product in this country. Buy overseas only. Don't buy from trade shows, don't buy from supposed 'wholesalers,' etc. etc. ETC." A few told me they buy everything "from Asia" but were not exactly forthcoming about where or from who...I guess I can understand why some would not want to help create competition, etc. So I come here. Does anyone have any contacts in that business they can share? Would also consider factories in the Miami area that do manufacture the stuff here, but am not certain that exists. Also, does anyone know if there is a listing of factories that make silver jewelry? Thank you!

Looking for jewelry suppliers? I have decided to open a jewelery business -- sterling, cubic z, trendly stuff. Have been asking people in the business about this. I need to know if anyone here knows of a factory or factories overseas that I can buy the product from? The people I have asked have taught me only one thing, really. And this has been pretty much across-the-board: "Do not even THINK about buying your product in this country. Buy overseas only. Don't buy from trade shows, don't buy from supposed 'wholesalers,' etc. etc. ETC." A few told me they buy everything "from Asia" but were not exactly forthcoming about where or from who...I guess I can understand why some would not want to help create competition, etc. So I come here. Does anyone have any contacts in that business they can share? Would also consider factories in the Miami area that do manufacture the stuff here, but am not certain that exists. Thanks. Does anyone know if there is a listing of factories that make jewelry?

Looking for jewelry factories.? I have decided to open a jewelry business -- sterling, cubic z, trendy stuff. Have been asking people in the business about this. I need to know if anyone here knows of a factory or factories overseas that I can buy the product from? The people I have asked have taught me only one thing, really. And this has been pretty much across-the-board: "Do not even THINK about buying your product in this country. Buy overseas only. Don't buy from trade shows, don't buy from supposed 'wholesalers,' etc. etc. ETC." A few told me they buy everything "from Asia" but were not exactly forthcoming about where or from who...I guess I can understand why some would not want to help create competition, etc. So I come here. Does anyone have any contacts in that business they can share? Would also consider factories in the Miami area that do manufacture the stuff here, but am not certain that exists. Also, does anyone know if there is a listing of factories tha

Can someone answer an accounting question? I have a small retail business and use quickbooks. I have accounts receivables for large orders and trade work (jewelry repairs) that I use invoices for on quickbooks. My accountant told me to use sales receipts for my register printout at the end of the day. I did my first retail show in another city (had to collect sales tax for that city instead of where my store is located). The show did not have electricity so I only had a cash box with no register. My question is how do I post that in quickbooks. Should I put it as a sales receipt with the tax breakdown for the state and other city even though I have no register printout. What is the best way to post the deposit of what I made from the show to keep track of it? Also, I have another show planned for next month so I am trying to figure out the best way to handle it before I see my accountant

Make my own jewelery/watch displays? I am looking for an inexpensive way to showcase my watches at home shows that I do and also for trade shows/expos. I do purse parties- but carry at least 12 watches to sell. Besides laying them on the table, and without spending a lot for fancy jewelry counter displays- does anyone have any ideas on some displays i could make myself? I like the ideas of t-bars- but some of the watches are like bangel braclets where they dont have a 'chain'... they are solid and fit around the wrist.. I would prefer something for each watch to have it's own holder. I am crafty and have access to tons of fabric and a sewing machine- so go ahead-- could I make my own t-bars? Something with dowels? Maybe make some small pillows? I want the items to showcase the watches and add some visual interest to my tables instead of just laying them out over the table cloth! Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!

Do you want to know what I think of the Dallas Mavericks? Pat Riley first promised it 11 years ago: a Miami Heat victory parade down Biscayne Boulevard. Shaquille O'Neal guaranteed it two summers ago, vowing to add a fourth ring to his big hand in his new city. And with one tenacious game after another in these NBA finals, Dwyane Wade delivered both. The Miami Heat are champions for the first time, thanks to two basketball greats who made good on their promises -- and the next great one, whose promise seems unlimited. The man they call "Flash" had 36 points and 10 rebounds in the teeth of a hostile Dallas crowd Tuesday night, capping his magnificent playoffs and the Heat's sizzling four-game comeback by leading Miami past the Mavericks 95-92. "It's one of the best feelings, next to my wife and my son, that I've ever had in my life," Wade said. "I'm going to live it up!" The Heat roared back from a two-game deficit to win the NBA finals in six. Wade, the obvious finals MVP, cemented his superstardom with a dominant four-game performance capped by four pressure-packed, final-minute free throws in the same building where Miami went down two games to none. He even missed a pair in the waning seconds, giving Dallas a final shot to tie. But Jason Terry missed an open look for 3, and Wade grabbed the rebound and flung it joyously into the stands as time expired. Where there's a Wade, there's a will. His grace added a fifth ring to Riley's finger -- third-most among NBA coaches -- and the first jewelry in Shaq's collection with no connection to Kobe Bryant. "The great Pat Riley told me we were going to win today," said O'Neal, who had nine points and 12 rebounds. "I didn't have the best game. But D-Wade's been doing it all year. He's the best player ever." Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavs, but Dallas couldn't manage the last basket it needed to topple Wade's determination. With their crowd booing every call and seething with every missed opportunity, the Mavs missed their own chance for their first title. A day after the Carolina Hurricanes became first-time champions in the NHL by winning the Stanley Cup, Miami also made history. The Heat finished the franchise's 18th season with one of the league's greatest rallies in a finals, and the last period of Game 6 was appropriately gritty. Miami nursed a narrow lead, taking an 89-85 advantage with 2:36 left on two jumpers by James Posey. Jerry Stackhouse cut it to a point with a 3-pointer in his first game back from suspension, but after Udonis Haslem and Josh Howard traded jumpers, Wade hit two free throws with 26 seconds left. Erick Dampier then fumbled a pass on Dallas' next possession, and Wade fought to get the loose ball. He hit two more free throws with 17.7 seconds to play, but after Howard hit a pair, Wade missed two with 10.3 seconds left. But Terry missed an open 3-pointer. It was the last of 11 straight misses, and the final disappointment in the Mavs' otherwise remarkable season. "We made a lot of progress this year," said Dallas' Avery Johnson, the NBA's coach of the year. "We aimed high this year, and I told them that a lot of teams have to go through this. This will really hurt this summer. I hope they work out hard, make me a better coach. I'm ready to try it again." Miami hung onto the clincher in front of more than 20,000 Dallas fans still furious at every NBA official and commissioner David Stern for the Mavs' three losses in Miami last week. Owner Mark Cuban stoked the furor with his antics after Game 5, which resulted in a $250,000 fine earlier Tuesday. But while the Mavs worried about every perceived slight, the Heat focused on fulfilling the promises of Riley and O'Neal. "I came to Miami because of this young fella right here," O'Neal said, indicating Wade. "I knew I wanted to make him better." Dallas' fans both booed and cheered the trophy presentation, and Stern was jeered repeatedly. Cuban stole the finals spotlight earlier in the day, getting socked with the fine for his complaints about the officials and general conspiracy theory. All of Dallas caught the Mavs' us-against-the-world vibe: Signs supporting Cuban and suggesting a league conspiracy against the Mavs dotted the stands for Game 6, and fans screamed at Stern in his courtside seat. But the series actually was controlled by Wade, who ascended to the most elite tier of NBA stars. He scored 121 points in three victories in Miami before capping it with one more tenacious win. Riley wiped away tears while hugging his players, and Miami crowded onto the hastily assembled podium with the excitement of a high-school graduation. Riley, who won his first ring since 1988, claimed he never considered the possibility Miami wouldn't finish with four straight wins. "I packed one suit, one shirt and one tie," he said before the game. "That's it." Riley tied John Kundla with his fifth title as a head coach. Only Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach have more, with nine apiece. O'Neal, who fought foul trouble, was held to two of his worst career playoff games in the earlier Dallas debacles, and he endured another extraordinary struggle at the free-throw line in the series. None of it will matter to the Big Champ: He'll take a special pride in winning his first ring without Bryant. Their partnership resulted in three titles and four finals trips for the Los Angeles Lakers, but their clashing egos caused a power struggle that led to Shaq's trade. O'Neal has no such problems with Wade, and their cohesion peaked in Miami's four finals wins. Riley, the slick-haired strategist who led the Lakers to four titles in the 1980s, now has vindication from those who criticized his decision to take over the club from coach Stan Van Gundy early in the season. Leaning on Riley's savvy in coaching veterans and defense, the Heat rolled through the postseason with surprising force -- never even facing a seventh game. Riley now has seven rings, counting his single championships as a player and an assistant coach. And the Heat's roster is studded with stars who never won a title. Point guard Gary Payton reached the finals with three teams before finally grabbing the ring, while Alonzo Mourning played through 13 seasons, two retirements and a serious kidney ailment for a championship. Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Posey, Haslem -- all endured serious career troubles, and now they're all champions, too. Baron Davis knew his tender hamstring would limit him, so Stephen Jackson took a huge load off Golden State's do-everything star. Davis and Jackson shot the ragtag Warriors right into the second round, capping perhaps the NBA's biggest playoff upset with yet one more memorable performance on their home floor. Davis willed his team on one good leg, shaking off a strained hamstring to score 20 points, Jackson made a franchise playoff-record seven 3-pointers, and Golden State became the first No. 8 seed to capture a best-of-seven playoff series with a 111-86 victory over the NBA-best Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 on Thursday night. Whoa, Nellie, what a shocker! "We made NBA history tonight and that's the best thing about it. We did it as a team," Davis said. "I'm so proud of my teammates and proud to be a part of this franchise." Coach Don Nelson's emotional bunch of castoffs beat his old organization by holding likely league MVP Dirk Nowitzki to eight points and 2-for-13 shooting, after he saved the Mavs with 30 points in their six-point Game 5 win Tuesday. The Warriors, making their first playoff appearance in 13 years, will open the second round Monday night at either Houston or Utah. "This is a pretty special place to be right now," Nelson said. Jackson -- who avoided a suspension for Game 6 after two ejections in the series -- hit four 3-pointers during a decisive 24-3 third-quarter run and finished with a playoff career-high 33 points. "I wanted to be aggressive," Jackson said. "Baron came out and told me he wasn't feeling as good as he had in previous games, and he wanted me to carry us. I wanted to stay focused, not worry about calls, not get too emotional, just bring my energy with my play." Davis also added 10 rebounds and six assists. He sat down with 2:19 to play, throwing his arms in the air to the fans who chanted "MVP!" When the final buzzer sounded, the Warriors hugged as confetti streamed onto the court. Andris Biedrins had 12 points and 12 rebounds, not to mention a handful of key hustle plays, Matt Barnes took advantage of his first start of the series with 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, and Jason Richardson added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. "It feels great, that's the only words I can say," Richardson said. "I don't know when I have to pinch myself or wake up from this dream. This is everything I wanted. I wanted this for our fans, for our organization, for ourselves. We work hard and we deserve it." Josh Howard scored 20 points and Jerry Stackhouse had 14 of his 20 points in the first quarter for the 67-win Mavericks, who along with volatile owner Mark Cuban had high hopes of going deep in the postseason after their remarkable regular-season showing. The Warriors became only the third eighth seed to upset the No. 1 and the first since the opening round went from best-of-five to the current format. The Denver Nuggets (1994) and the New York Knicks (1999) are the only other teams to win a series. After years of failure and its share of unsuccessful personnel moves, Golden State is suddenly as big in the Bay Area as Barry Bonds' home run chase across the water in San Francisco. "Baron toughed it out," Barnes said. "He's our leader and nothing's going to stop him right now. We've got a lot of talent and a lot of heart and we're looking to do a lot more damage." The Warriors lured Nelson out of retirement to turn around a franchise that hadn't been to the postseason since he took them there in 1994 during his first stint as coach, dropping former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery in late August after two losing seasons. Back home, Golden State won again behind its deafening, towel-waving crowd that Mavs coach and former Warrior Avery Johnson described this way: "If you haven't been to the playoffs in 13 years, your fans are going to be pretty crazy." And the "We Believe" mantra that now rocks Oakland -- Mickael Pietrus led the team out of the locker room holding one of the bright yellow T-shirts sporting the logo -- has even caught the attention of celebrities like rapper Snoop Dogg, popular guitarist Carlos Santana, actors Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson, and golfer Fred Couples. They were all in the stands for the clincher -- and a few even headed to the celebratory locker room afterward. Ron Artest stopped by to offer his best, too. "The fans gave us so much energy," Richardson said. "It felt great that we actually put them away like that. We played great defense tonight." Nowitzki missed his first eight shots, bricking consecutive 3-point tries late in the second quarter before hitting a 16-footer for his first basket of the game with 38 seconds left in the period. Dallas trailed 50-48 at the break but couldn't match the Warriors' energy in the third. The Mavs went 5:07 without scoring as Golden State turned it into a rout, leading 86-63 going into the final 12 minutes. "We were there at halftime," Johnson said. "We were only down two. We just came out and had one of our worst third quarters this year. ... This is a very disappointing end to the season." The Warriors traded for Jackson in January in an eight-player swap with the Indiana Pacers to pair him with a healthy Davis as this playoff-starved franchise tried -- and ultimately succeeded -- to end the NBA's longest postseason drought. Johnson, groomed by Nellie to be a head coach, said the Warriors had "10,000 pounds on their right arms up there in Oakland" to close out a series Golden State led 3-1, but 20,677 screaming fans from every corner of Oracle Arena put all the pressure on the cold-shooting Mavs. The Warriors hadn't won a best-of-seven series in 31 years, since beating Detroit in a first-round series in 1975-76 -- the year after winning their only NBA championship in California. Golden State had lost its last five best-of-sevens and hadn't won any playoff series since beating San Antonio 3-1 in the first round in 1990-91. Johnson brought his team back to California immediately after Game 5 so the Mavs could get more comfortable in the Warriors' raucous confines, while Golden State spent the night in Dallas. Dallas' first seven made field goals were 3s, 4-of-6 from Stackhouse in the opening period, and the Mavs were 0-for-14 from 2-point range before Jason Terry's jumper at the 11:22 mark of the second quarter. "Great regular season, but a disappointing finish in the playoffs," Terry said. "We all take fault in our mistakes, but you have to give credit where credit is due. That's a hot team." Barnes earned his first start of the series over Monta Ellis and played through a pulled right hamstring, just like Davis. The Mavs, who lost in last year's NBA finals, became the first time to win 65 games and fail to win at least one playoff series. Even worse, it came against Nelson, who spent 10 seasons helping taking Dallas from among the league's worst teams to one of the best. "This is not like last year was," Cuban said. "Losing the finals was really painful. This is just the first round." That's what I think about Dallas. Source(s): Yahoo.com

how does the article make distinction between firms? use these distionctions to analyze and gain insights? Abstract (Summary) Instead, Giancarlo Di Risio, Versace's bespectacled chief executive, presided over an evening that highlighted luxury goods: Parked at one end of the courtyard was a half-million-dollar Lamborghini Murcielago with a black-and-white leather interior by Versace. A huge poster showed an AgustaWestland helicopter with a Versace-designed cabin. Stacked nearby was luggage embossed with the brand's Greek motif, with pieces starting at about $4,000. The company found it increasingly tough to squeeze profits out of highly perishable fashions as production costs rose in Italy. In 1997, Mr. Versace was murdered outside his Miami villa. The firm's finances went into a tailspin, and it was forced to shelve plans to go public. Mr. Versace's 50% stake in the label went to his niece, Ms. Versace's then-preteen daughter Allegra Versace Beck, shifting the balance of power. Though Ms. Versace owns only 20% of the company, she was seen to exert huge influence because of her daughter's stake. A third sibling, Santo Versace, owns the remaining 30% of the company. Ms. Versace Beck, now 20 years old, manages her stake with the help of advisers. "I said to Di Risio, 'This is not going to work. This is going to die,'" recalled Ms. Versace. But, she said, "I was wrong, and he was right. We sell more now." » Jump to indexing (document details) Full Text (1463 words) (c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Reproduced with permission of copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission. Milan -- When Italian fashion house Gianni Versace SpA recently threw a cocktail party in the courtyard of its 16th-century palazzo to promote its latest creations, designer Donatella Versace ducked out of the soiree early, flanked by bodyguards. Instead, Giancarlo Di Risio, Versace's bespectacled chief executive, presided over an evening that highlighted luxury goods: Parked at one end of the courtyard was a half-million-dollar Lamborghini Murcielago with a black-and-white leather interior by Versace. A huge poster showed an AgustaWestland helicopter with a Versace-designed cabin. Stacked nearby was luggage embossed with the brand's Greek motif, with pieces starting at about $4,000. Mr. Di Risio is trying to shift Versace's attention away from clothes and to accessories, home interiors and other lifestyle products that will bring in new streams of revenue and offset fickle fashion cycles. "Fashion does not exist at Versace," he said, describing his strategy in an interview before the reception. The new approach is bearing fruit. Versace swung back into the black last year, posting a $25.4 million profit after years of losses, and has shaken off millions in debt. Driving that turnaround were rising sales in the lucrative accessories Mr. Di Risio is pushing. Yet the effects of the makeover have touched the core of the company's identity. Ms. Versace has begun taming the flamboyant clothing designs that once set her and the fashion house apart from the crowd. "I no longer recognize myself in that kind of woman," the 52-year-old Ms. Versace said in a telephone interview. The culture shift at Versace highlights how an increasingly competitive fashion industry is forcing even the most freewheeling players to embrace a corporate culture. Many labels, including LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton's smaller brands like Celine and Marc Jacobs, have also been toning down their looks to appeal to a wider swath of consumers. Designers who once called the shots are ceding authority to executives who run the numbers. "In the beginning, it was a shock for me," Ms. Versace said. "When you tell a person who is used to being in power -- to saying yes or no on everything -- to take a step back, it's not easy. But it was necessary." Tweaking a label's aesthetics carries risks. If pushed too far, transformations risk alienating loyal customers, says Robert Burke, head of New York-based luxury-goods consultancy Robert Burke Associates and the former fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman. "You will always want to see a fashion edge to Versace," he says. Yet for family-owned fashion labels like Versace, pressure to make more money is high. They compete with publicly traded conglomerates such as LVMH and PPR SA's Gucci Group, which have the financial heft to expand with stores in the emerging markets of China, India and Russia -- seen as fueling the industry's growth. A number of Italy's top family-owned fashion houses, including Versace, Prada SpA and Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, are considering stock- market listings in the next couple of years. "An IPO would be the best way to raise money and implant in these countries," says Peter Farren, a luxury-goods analyst at the French investment firm Bryan Garnier. At Versace, a sobering realization is spurring Mr. Di Risio's moves: The clothes that once made the brand are now struggling to make money. In its heyday in the early 1990s, Versace stayed ahead of the fashion mainstream with lavish catwalk shows that celebrated the racy designs of founder Gianni Versace. The label amassed collections of real estate and artwork that enhanced the family's jet-setter status. The company found it increasingly tough to squeeze profits out of highly perishable fashions as production costs rose in Italy. In 1997, Mr. Versace was murdered outside his Miami villa. The firm's finances went into a tailspin, and it was forced to shelve plans to go public. Mr. Versace's 50% stake in the label went to his niece, Ms. Versace's then-preteen daughter Allegra Versace Beck, shifting the balance of power. Though Ms. Versace owns only 20% of the company, she was seen to exert huge influence because of her daughter's stake. A third sibling, Santo Versace, owns the remaining 30% of the company. Ms. Versace Beck, now 20 years old, manages her stake with the help of advisers. The Versace stakeholders decided the company needed a CEO who could turn the company around. Fabio Cacciatori, at one time an outside financial consultant for the company, became CEO in September 2003 but resigned in December. The company named Versace's then-Chief Financial Officer Daniele Ballestrazzi interim CEO as it searched for new leadership. When Versace recruited Mr. Di Risio from LVMH's Fendi label in the summer of 2004, the house was saddled with more than $146 million in debt and heading to a net loss of $124 million for the year, on revenue of $416 million. High-end retailers like Bergdorf Goodman had stopped carrying the brand. Bergdorf Chief Executive Jim Gold recalls that Versace was distributing too widely, diluting its exclusivity, and was overly consumed with making a splash on the runway. While many labels had started delivering retailers fresh designs more frequently, ahead of the runway collections, Versace resisted. Mr. Di Risio arrived with a new mantra. Clothing that is too fashionable, he told his lieutenants, is bad for business because it eats up capital and goes out of style quickly. Accessories and other leather goods are a better bet because they have a longer shelf life and fatter profit margins. To reduce Versace's dependence on fashion, Mr. Di Risio shut down lines such as Versace Intimates lingerie and Versace Young, a children's line. The company sold its unprofitable perfume, jewelry and watchmaking divisions, replacing them with lucrative licensing agreements with U.S. watch group Timex Corp. and Italian perfume and cosmetics maker EuroItalia Srl. Mr. Di Risio homed in on the company's shoes and handbags, which have higher profit margins because they cost less to produce than clothes but are easier to sell to a wide array of customers. Last year, more than 30% of Versace's $383 million in revenue came from accessories, compared with 4% when Mr. Di Risio arrived. He also expanded the label's push into home furnishings -- a business that generated sales of $82.5 million in 2006, up 55% from the year before. Versace recently unveiled its "Jet Seat," an aerodynamically-styled leather chair in a high-tech ceramic frame that is sold in Europe for <euro>38,000 (about $50,000). "It was like taking a blank page and rewriting everything," Mr. Di Risio says. To succeed, however, he had to get Ms. Versace on board. She had hoped to resurrect the costly haute-couture fashion shows the label had discontinued before Mr. Di Risio's arrival. But he argued she could more effectively enhance the line's exclusivity by holding showings for individual clients. "I said to Di Risio, 'This is not going to work. This is going to die,'" recalled Ms. Versace. But, she said, "I was wrong, and he was right. We sell more now." Ms. Versace had to become more conscious of how much time and money the label invests in promoting designs at events like the Oscars. Last year, the designer dressed actresses Hilary Swank, Uma Thurman and Salma Hayek and director Robert Altman's wife, Kathryn Reed Altman, who donned a navy-blue sequin gown. This year, however, Ms. Versace limited herself to one gown, designing a rose-colored dress with a sweeping train for best-actress nominee Penelope Cruz. For Versace's ready-to-wear line, Ms. Versace is going for looks she calls "a little more understated." Bergdorf Goodman will carry her designs in the fall for the first time in years. Ms. Versace is also working more closely with retailers, adding four more collections beyond the traditional spring and fall runway collections. These are shown to retailers in private visits, giving them a preview of what to expect. On the financial side, Mr. Di Risio has untangled the company's assets from those of the family, selling property he deemed "nonstrategic" to pay the company's debts. The family's Manhattan townhouse was sold for about $35 million, and its contents went up for auction in 2005. The paintings alone -- including works by artists Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein and Julian Schnabel -- fetched more than $11 million dollars. Flagship stores in New York, London and Milan that Mr. Di Risio described as "decadent and sad," were redone with sleek, minimalist designs. The label, which operates 82 stores and has 35 franchise operations, plans to open more than 10 boutiques by the end of the year, including seven stores in China alone. When Versace opened the doors of its updated Moscow boutique in April, an array of leather bags, belts and shoes greeted customers at the store's lacquered ground-floor entrance. The label's ready-to-wear collection was relegated to the upper floor.

Save......or Sell? I have a huge collection of Hercules and Xena items that includes props from the shows, original comic art, 8 complete sets of trading cards with all autographs (in custom binders)...All of the action figures from both shows, including prototypes of several figures, Autographed photos and plaques, a Gabrielle staff, 2 Xena swords with leather scabbords, Xena original chakram, Hercules sword, sterling silver jewelry, etc, etc, etc. This collection fills an entire room in my house, and I need to move it to a larger room. That is no problem, since I live in a big house. My question is: Should I keep this collection as a possible investment, or sell it? It would be sold as a complete collection, not individual items. Your opinions?

Feeling Pinch, Stores Woo Lagging Shoppers. Evaluate Article? Lackluster sales in this holiday season have retailers scrambling to wring a few last dollars from procrastinators by slashing prices, extending hours and wooing customers more persistently than last year. The moves show that retailers' strategy during this final weekend before Christmas -- when about 10% of holiday sales are expected to take place -- has become increasingly reliant on the same promotions and marathon hours once unique to the "Black Friday" weekend following Thanksgiving. But the discounts also reveal the pinch stores are in this year as the credit crunch, rising gas prices and winter storms have taken a toll on companies dependent on end-of-year sales. The tough economy has left aisles more empty this year. Total foot traffic at U.S. retail outlets took an 8.9% dive during the second full week of December, compared with the same period last year, according to an estimate from ShopperTrak RCT Corp., which bases its numbers on a formula that involves an electronic count of shoppers in malls and other retail outlets nationwide. A bright spot, however, has been online, where aggressive discounting and cut-rate deals on fast shipping have contributed to a surge in spending. From Nov. 1 to Dec. 16, online shoppers spent $23.5 billion, 19% higher than the corresponding days last year, according to comScore Inc., a Reston, Va., market research firm that tracks Web spending and traffic. Videogames, consoles and accessories are the fastest-growing category, more than doubling from the comparable period last year. Furniture, appliances and equipment ranks second, up 63%, while event tickets and consumer electronics are up 29% and 24%, respectively. Now, a final push is on, both online and in stores. Web retailers continued to hunt for business by cutting shipping charges to seal deals before the pre-Christmas shipping window closes. Shoebuy.com, a Boston-based unit of IAC/InterActive Corp. offered free express shipping until today. Online handbag merchant eBags upgraded purchases made by Wednesday from standard shipping to two-day air-shipping through UPS for no extra cost. Brick-and-mortar stores, meanwhile, retooled their hours for the weekend, hoping to spark their own shopping flurry. J.C. Penney Co. stores are staying open until midnight tonight and Saturday. Select Macy's Inc. stores on the East Coast will stay open nonstop throughout the weekend -- 107 hours straight for one branch in Queens. And New York-based FAO Schwarz made discounts of 25% to 50% on certain toys. Ed Schmults, the chief executive officer at FAO Schwarz, said that while foot traffic was up, business had not been as booming throughout the season as he hoped. The National Retail Federation, a trade group, is predicting just 4% in sales growth for 2007, the smallest growth rate in five years. Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group, paints an even grimmer picture: He lowered his forecast of 2% retail sales growth to 1.8%, his lowest forecast in nearly 10 years. In the apparel category, men's clothing has showed modest single-digit growth through the first 20 days of the shopping season, according to MasterCard Spending Pulse, a unit of MasterCard Advisors, which tracks spending of all types. But women's apparel -- which last year constituted three times the sales of men's -- has been a major disappointment, as shoppers have avoided big purchases. Sales were down 5.7% from the same time last year. Retailers have responded with a flurry of price cuts, but large inventory remains in some stores. One of Gap Inc.'s Old Navy stores in downtown Chicago on Wednesday had piles of festive sweaters marked down to $20 from $36.50. Women's coats still stuffed the racks, despite being already marked down 50%, and its signature "performance fleece," also half off, was stacked eight shelves high. The bad tidings for apparel have left some retailers looking for other items to push. At Banana Republic, also owned by Gap, $64 gift sets of its perfumes, body creams and shower creams were marked down 30%. Gold-boxed gift sets of a new line of bath products at Ann Taylor Stores Corp. stores were discounted to $19.50 from $29. At Limited Brands Inc.'s Victoria's Secret, stores were piled with beauty gift sets, many 40% off. Meanwhile luxury goods are expected to have a good season this year, and retail consultant Frederick Crawford of AlixPartners predicts "pockets of good news" for high-end retail. For brands like Prada and Gucci, he expects to see 5% to 7% growth. According to retail surveys, electronics sales were down 0.5% in the three-week period between Nov. 18 and Dec. 9 compared to a year ago, according to Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for market watcher NPD Group. He said consumers in recent years have been delaying purchases until closer to Christmas, which may account for the slowdown. Indeed, Angela Smith has waited until the last week to make her purchases. A 39-year-old bank employee in Dallas, Ms. Smith said she is waiting for prices to drop further as well as trying to spend less. For her three nephews, ages 12, 8 and 7, she plans to buy remote-controlled cars, which Wal-Mart Stores Inc. initially priced at $59 and has since dropped to $49. "I am going to swing by this weekend and see if they are going to take it down one more time," says Ms. Smith, who was shopping for a co-worker's present at her local Wal-Mart midweek. Home-furnishings retailers, fighting the weak housing market, are being particularly aggressive with their promotions this year. At Williams-Sonoma Inc.'s Pottery Barn store on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, Christmas-tree-shaped candles were discounted 50%, and holiday garlands of fake evergreen branches were 30% off. Wrapped gifts such as silver jewelry boxes, also marked down 30%, were stacked high Wednesday afternoon. Home-improvement outfits like Lowe's Cos. Inc. and Home Depot Inc. are destined to be hardest hit, says AlixPartners' Mr. Crawford. "Consumers are absolutely showing us that they will be delaying discretionary purchases" like gear to remodel a kitchen, he said. A boom-bust pattern is typical after Thanksgiving's Black Friday discounts, which encourages a flurry of purchases early but leads to a tapering off in early December, killing shopping momentum. This year the pattern was more pronounced: A double-digit sales surge on Black Friday exceeded retailers' expectations; but come December, throngs of shoppers didn't return. There was one exception, however: online retail. Web merchants have discounted and promoted heavily this season, say industry analysts. Shipping promotions have been particularly popular. Sixty-eight percent of surveyed Web retailers said they are offering express shipping promotions this year, up from 49% last year, according to Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org, an online retail trade group and unit of National Retail Federation. As the boom continues, these companies are becoming increasingly creative to draw customers. This year Ice.com, a Montreal-based Internet jeweler, has rolled out new videos to promote products and free overnight shipping. It has experimented with new marketing tricks such as buying front-page ads on Microsoft Corp.'s MSN and Yahoo Inc.'s Web sites this week. Ice.com even tried to tap influencers to drive word-of-mouth among blogs, magazine mentions and celebrities.

Islamic Empire influence the development of world history? I was wondering if you had any ideas or comments on how to start and write an essay that was assigned and is due on 12/15. Thanks: hERE IS THE ASSIGNMENT: Write a 5 paragraph essay that addresses the following question: How did the Islamic Empire influence the development of world history? Choose 3 areas of advancement and discuss their advancements in each area. Also explain how these advancements are important to our world today. SOME INFO: Culture of Traders The Arabs had been traders for centuries before their empire developed. Muhammad himself had been a trader. It is not surprising, then, that trade was important to Muslim culture. The empire was at the center of a world trade network that linked Europe, Asia, and Africa. India and China sent goods to ports in Syria and Egypt. As trade grew, other cultures increasingly demanded the quality goods that Muslims produced, such as textiles manufactured from silk, cotton, and wool, as well as beautiful woven tapestries and carpets. Muslims also made metal products from gold and silver. Steel swords from Damascus and from the Spanish city of Toledo became world famous. Luxuries such as jewelry, perfumes, and spices were in great demand. Muslim artisans produced pottery and glassware. Artisans in North Africa and Spain made fine leather goods. All this trade made the Islamic Empire wealthy. Muslims exchanged ideas with other cultures as well. Both Córdoba and Toledo in Spain were famous centers of learning. Christian and Jewish scholars carried Muslim ideas from Spain into western Europe. Sicily under the Muslims was known for its astronomers and geographers. They, too, influenced Europeans. Many Europeans, in fact, viewed the Muslim world as a source of advanced knowledge in many scientific areas and in banking and commerce. Government and Society Under Arab rule, the Muslim Empire was organized into provinces. At first one caliph headed the government. Disagreement over succession to the position developed, however. In time, these disputes led to the breakup of the empire into three areas, or caliphates. The caliphates were ruled by caliphs in Baghdad, Cairo, and Córdoba. Muslims throughout the Islamic Empire lived according to the Qur'an. It guided both their religious life and daily life—there was no separation. The Qur'an gave detailed instructions about how society should be organized and how people should live. All Muslims were expected to follow the Islamic laws in public and private life. Slavery was common in Arabia. The Qur'an urged Muslims to free their slaves. Those who chose to keep slaves were required to treat them humanely. No free Muslim could be enslaved, and the children of a female slave and her master were free. The family was the core of Muslim daily life. Muslims showed concern for all members of their family—parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. They particularly respected the elderly. In Islamic families everyone had specific roles and duties. Men were responsible for the family's needs. Parents usually arranged marriages for their children. However, the Qur'an gave a woman the right to refuse the arrangement. The groom was required to give his bride a marriage gift of property or money. It was common in Arabia for a man to have several wives. The Qur'an restricted a Muslim man to four wives, and he had to treat them equally. In fact, the Qur'an gave women more rights than they had received under traditional Arab law. For example, if a woman got divorced, she kept her own money and was free to remarry. She could also inherit money and own property. Muslim women enjoyed more freedom than most women at the time. Later, however, women began to be secluded and lost some rights. The government supported schools and libraries. The family and the mosque also took responsibility for education. A person who could speak and write well was thought to be educated. Students attended religious study groups at the mosque. Advanced students could attend schools established for the study of science, mathematics, or law. Medicine. Some of the most important contributions that Muslims made were to medical science. They studied the work of the famous Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen. Then they added to what the Greeks had done. Scientific advances in the use of herbs, foods, and prepared drugs added to the Islamic world's vast store of medical knowledge. Some of this early Muslim work in the development and preparation of pharmaceutical drugs is still in use today. In some cases, techniques such as distillation that were first used by Muslim scientists to prepare medical drugs are also followed by today's manufacturers. Muslim doctors achieved great progress in the techniques of dissection to study anatomy. They also developed improved surgical instruments and processes. The Muslim surgeon Abu al-Qasim, for example, practiced in Islamic Spain, in the city of Córdoba. His work did much to

Tell me why is my boyfriend being stupid and mean!? Yesterday I just had an argument with my bf. It was my b-day this Wed. I just turned 21!! I had to go to school early in the morning, get off work then come home. I didnt do anything with my friends instead I celebrated with my parents because I couldnt anyways I had to prepared a test the next day. SO YEAH, feeling bummed out my bf told me he'll take me out this weekend to the mall. We walked by a jewelry store and they were having a big sale. I just wanted to look because for some reason shiny things always catch my eyes. The sales man showed me two beautiful heart necklace in the front window. They cost around 600-900 I told my bf someday I will be able to afford those. The sales man say hey you buy a cheap one instead and trade a better one later. He reminded me I did have one of my own my ex bf gave me and I've been wanting to get rid of that one because the necklace means nothing to me now. I told my bf after dinner I will think about putting money into it to get a nicer one. He kept telling dont do it dont waste your money you're still saving up for a car and you need your dorm money. (btw I work) I told him it means so much to me just to own a piece of REAL jewelry and I have nothing to wear except the fake and as a man he doesnt understand infact I think what make me mad is I felt he was being a little controlling and that made me cry because he tells me I cant afford it til I get a real JOB. I said shut up I make more money than you! He may get paid more but I work more to earn more $$! And its not like he ever buys me one and I've been with him for 2.3 yrs!!!!!!!! What do you guys think? Finally after an hr and a half he said sorry and said fine do whatever you want.. what was that all about?! So yeah I got so mad at him I decided to wear my ex's necklace the next day I meet up and he didnt say a word. How do think he feels? BTW my ex's necklace is worth around 360 and I wanted to put 200 in but anyways if I wasnt getting that necklace I wanted something different with the same value.

Bf tells me not to buy my own jewlery!!!!!? Yesterday I just had an argument with my bf. It was my b-day this Wed. I just turned 21!! I had to go to school early in the morning get off work then come home and I didnt do anything with my friends instead I celebrated with my parents because I couldnt anyways I had to prepared a test the next day. SO YEAH, feeling bummed out my bf told me he'll take me out this weekend to the mall. We walked by a jewelry store and they were having a big sale. I just wanted to look because for some reason shiny things always catch my eyes. The sales man showed me two beautiful heart necklace in the front window. They cost around 600-900 I told my bf someday I will be able to afford those. The sales man say hey you buy a cheap one instead and trade a better one later. He reminded me I did have one of my own my ex bf gave me and I've been wanting to get rid of that one because the necklace means nothing to me now. I told my bf after dinner I will think about putting money into it to get a nicer one. He kept telling dont do it dont waste your money you're still saving up for a car and you need your dorm money. (btw I work) I told him it means so much to me just to own a piece of REAL jewelry and I have nothing to wear except the fake and as a man he doesnt understand infact I think what make me mad is I felt he was being a little controlling and that made me cry because he tells me I cant afford it til I get a real JOB. I said shut up I make more money than you! He may get paid more but I work more to earn more $$! And its not like he ever buys me one and I've been with him for 2.3 yrs!!!!!!!! What do you guys think? Finally after an hr and a half he said sorry and said fine do whatever you want.. what was that all about?! So yeah I was thinking I am meeting up with him today later .. I feel like getting him back since he made me felt so bad I'll just wear what my ex gave me...

Jokes for Women and some other gender jokes? before the jokes just won't to let you know I'm not trying to offend anyone I'm good person don't judge me by jokes please here are my blonde jokes they are really funny. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjppTMi1qB0caFMi2wSRAl_WxQt.;_ylv=3?qid=20071106151918AAx7Pto Man: Haven't I seen you someplace before? Woman: Yes, that's why I don't go there anymore. Man: Is this seat empty? Woman: Yes, and this one will be if you sit down. Man: Your place or mine? Woman: Both. You go to yours, and I'll go to mine. Man: So, what do you do for a living? Woman: I'm a female impersonator. Man: Hey baby, what's your sign? Woman: Do not enter. Man: How do you like your eggs in the morning? Woman: Unfertilized. Man: If I could see you naked, I'd die happy. Woman: If I saw you naked, I'd probably die laughing. Man: Your body is like a temple. Woman: Sorry, there are no services today. Man: I would go to the end of the world for you. Woman: But would you stay there? RELATIONSHIPS: When a relationship ends, a woman will cry and pour her heart out to her girlfriends, and she will write a poem titled 'All Men Are Idiots' Then she will get on with her life. A man has a little more trouble letting go. Six months after the breakup, at 3:00 a.m. on a Saturday night, he will call and say, 'I just called to let you know you ruined my life, and I'll never forgive you, and I hate you, and you're a total floozy. But, I want you to know that there's always a chance for us.' This is known as the 'I Hate You I Love You' drunken phone call, and 99% of all men have made it at least once. There are community colleges that offer courses to help men get over this need. LOCKER ROOMS: In the locker room men talk about three things: money, football, and women. They exaggerate about money, they don't know football nearly as well as they think they do, and they fabricate stories about women. Women talk about one thing in the locker: sex. And not in abstract terms, either. They are extremely graphic and technical, and they never lie. MATURITY: Women mature much faster than men. Most 17-year old females can function as adults. Most 17-year old males are still trading baseball cards and giving each other wedgies after gym class. This is why high school romances rarely work out. MAGAZINES: Men's magazines often feature pictures of naked women. Women's magazines also feature pictures of naked women. This is because the female body is a beautiful work of art, while the male body is lumpy and hairy and shouldn't be seen by the light of day. Men are turned on at the sight of a naked woman's body. Most naked men elicit laughter from women. BATHROOMS: A man has five items in his bathroom - a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of Dial soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 437. A man would not be able to identify most of the items. GROCERIES: A woman makes a list of things she needs and then goes out to the store and buys these things. A man waits till the only items left in his fridge are half a lime and a beer. Then he goes grocery shopping. He buys everything that looks good. By the time a man reaches the checkout counter, his cart is packed tighter than the Clampett's car on Beverly Hillbillies. Of course, this will not stop him from going to the 10-items-or- less lane. CATS: Women love cats. Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats. OFFSPRING: Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and soccer games and romances and best friends and favorite foods and secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house. DRESSING UP: A woman will dress up to: go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, get the mail. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals. LAUNDRY: Women do laundry every couple of days. A man will wear every article of clothing he owns, including his surgical pants that were hip about eight years ago, before he will do his laundry. When he is finally out of clothes, he will wear a dirty sweatshirt inside out, rent a U-Haul and take his mountain of clothes to the Laundromat. Men always expect to meet beautiful women at the Laundromat. This is a myth perpetuated by reruns of old American sitcoms. MIRRORS: Men are vain; they will check themselves out in a mirror. Women are ridiculous; they will check out their reflections in any shiny surface: mirrors, spoons, store windows, Joe Garagiola's head. MENOPAUSE: When a woman reaches menopause, she goes through a variety of complicated emotional, psychological, and biological changes. The nature and degree of these changes varies with the individual. Menopause in a man provokes a uniform reaction...he buys aviator glasses, a snazzy French cap and leather driving gloves, and goes shopping for a Porsche. TOYS: Little girls love to play with toys. Then when they reach the age of 11 or 12, they lose interest. Men never grow out of their obsession with toys. As they get older, their toys simply become more expensive and silly and impractical. Examples of men's toys: little miniature TV's. Complicated juicers and blenders. Graphic equalizers. Small robots that serve cocktails on command. Video games. Anything that blinks, beeps, and requires at least six 'D' batteries to operate. MOVIES: Every actress in the history of movies has had to do a nude scene. This is because every movie in the history of movies has been produced by a man. Men will only show their butts, because butt size doesn't really matter. JEWELRY: Women look nice when they wear jewelry. A man can get away with wearing one ring and that's it. Any more than that and he will look like a lounge singer named Ramone. TIME: When a woman says she'll be ready to go out in five more minutes, she's using the same meaning of time as when a man says the football game just has five minutes left. Neither of them is counting time outs, commercials, or replays. FRIENDS: Women on a girl's night out talk the whole time. Men on a boy's night out say about twenty words all night, most of which are 'Pass the Doritos' or Got anymore beer?' RESTROOMS: Men use restrooms for purely biological reasons. Women use restrooms as social lounges. Men in a restroom will never speak a word to each other. Women who've never met will leave a restroom giggling together like old friends. And never in the history of the world has a man excused himself from a restaurant table by saying, 'Hey, Tom, I was just about to take a leak. Do you want to join me?' Sorry it is so long star if you like the jokes

Relationships, yes or no lol? Relationships: When a relationship ends, a woman will cry and pour her heart out to her girlfriends, and she will write a poem titled 'All Men Are Idiots.' Then she will get on with her life. A mail has a little more trouble letting go. Six months after the break-up, at 3 am on a Sunday morning, he will call and say, 'I just wanted to let you know you ruined my life, and I'll never forgive you, and hate you, and you're a total floozy. But I want you to know that there's always a chance for us.' This is known as the 'I Hate You, I Love You' drunken phone call and 99 percent of all men have made it at least once. There are community colleges that offer courses to help men get over this need. Sex: Women prefer 30 to 40 minutes of foreplay. Men prefer 30 to 40 seconds of foreplay. Men consider driving back to her place as part of the foreplay. Maturity: Women mature much faster than men do. Most 17-year-old females can function as adults. Most 17year-old males are still trading baseball cards and giving each other wedgies after gym class. This is why high school romances rarely work out. Magazines: Men's magazines often feature pictures of naked women. Women's magazines also feature pictures of naked women. This is because the female body is a beautiful work of art, while the male body is lumpy and hairy and should not be seen by the light of day. Men are turned on at the sight of a naked woman's body. Most naked men elicit laughter from women. Bathrooms: A man has five items in his bathroom - a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 437. A man would not be able to identify most of these items. Groceries: A woman makes a list of things she needs and then goes out to the store and buys these things. A man waits till the only items left in his fridge are half a lime and a beer. Then he goes grocery shopping. He buys everything that looks good. By the time a man reaches the checkout counter, his cart is packed tighter than the Clampetts' car on The Beverly Hillbillies. Of course, this will not stop him from going to the 10?items?or?less lane. Cats: Women love cats. Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats. Offspring: Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and soccer games and romances and best friends and favorite foods and secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house. Dressing Up: A woman will dress up to: go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, get the mail. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals. Laundry: Women do laundry every couple of days. A man will wear every article of clothing he owns including his surgical pants that were hip about eight years ago, before he will do his laundry. When he is finally out of clothes, he will wear a dirty sweatshirt inside out, rent a van and take his mountain of clothes to the Laundromat. Men always expect to meet beautiful women at the Laundromat. This is a myth perpetuated by reruns of old American sitcoms. Eating Out: When the bill comes, Mike, Dave, Rob and Jack will each throw in $20 bills, even though it's only for $22.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators. Mirrors: Men are vain; they will check themselves out in a mirror. Women are ridiculous; they will check out their reflections in any, shiny surface: mirrors, spoons, store windows, bald boyfriend's/father's heads. Menopause: When a woman reaches menopause, she goes through a variety of complicated emotional, psychological, biological Changes. Nature provokes a uniform reaction in men. He buys aviator glasses, a snazzy French cap and leather driving gloves, and goes shopping for a Porsche. Richard Gere: Women like Richard Gere because he is sexy in a dangerous way. Men hate Richard Gere because lie reminds them of that slick guy who works at the health club and dates only married women. Madonna: Same as above, but reversed. Same reason. Toys: Little girls love to play with toys. Then when they reach the age of 11 or 12, they lose interest. Men never grow out of their obsession with toys. As they get older, their toys simply become more expensive and silly and impractical. Examples of men's toys: little miniature TVs. Cell phones. Complicated juicers and blenders. Graphic equalizers. Small robots that serve cocktails on command. Video games. Anything that blinks, beeps, and requires at least six big batteries to operate. Locker Rooms: In the locker room men talk about three things: money, football, and women. They exaggerate about money, they don't know football nearly as well as they think they do, and they fabricate stories about women. Women talk about one thing in the locker room: sex. And not in abstract terms, either. They are extremely graphic and technical, and they never lie. Movies: Every actress in the history of movies has had to do a nude scene. This is because every movie in the history of movies has been produced by a man. Men will only show their arse, because arse size doesn't really matter. Jewelry: Women look nice when they wear jewelry. A man can get away with wearing one ring and that's it. Any more than that and he will look like a lounge singer named Ramone. Time: When a woman says she'll be ready to go out in five more minutes, she's using the same meaning of time as when a man says the football game just has five minutes left. Neither of them is counting time outs, commercials, or replays. Friends: Women on a 'girls' night out' talk the whole time. Men on a 'boys' night out' say about 20 words all night, most of which are 'Pass the chips' or 'Got am more beer?' Toilets: Men use toilets for purely biological reasons. Women use toilets as social lounges. Men in toilets will never speak a word to each other. Women who've never met will leave a toilet giggling together like old friends. And never in the history of the world has a man excused himself from a restaurant table by saying, 'Hey Tom, I, was just about to take a leak. Do you want to join me Yes, I know, it is verrryyyyy long lol.

Leave home in Alexandria between 650 A.D.-700 A.D.? i have to write a page letter on that i left my home and went through some places, across the red sea to mecca. The places and landscapes is desert, some trees, oases, and dry riverbeds. Incidents are someone in caravan died. And didn't have enough money so we traded camels for money, and hired someone to give us a ride on a ferry to across red sea. Preparation for arrivals are cut hair and nails, must bathe, take off jewelry, put on white seamless garment that represents purity, and fast during ramadan. Activity in mecca is show charity to poor, repeat a phrase and pray 5 times a week. CAN U PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!! IF NOT, CAN U HELP ME START IT OFF? THE PROJECTS DUE MONDAY. PLEASE EMAIL AT nppatel4428@yahoo.com if u made a story. Thanks

Civilization, Human Development/Native American Cultires? My question concerns the native americans. the basis of the framework of this quarry is, there are certian things necessary for a civilization to develope. like, we start out as nomads. then we start farming. then with advancments like metal working and writing we grow and start developing into great civilizations. some groups, such as say indegenous tribes in the amazon or tribes in africa, still live the way they have for several thousand years. still using stone tools, no metal working besides basic unrefined jewelry.there are several key factors to this. one is the availiabilty of some type of cereal grain, which would allow solid farming of a crop which is high in nutrition and capable of being stored over long periods and transported feasibly. another factor is the lack of proper beasts of burdon, which are necessary for farming to be efficient enough to allow that each family is not required to spend the majority of their time towards growing te basic food to live. this allows a portion of the society or group to do non-farming tasks usually priests are the first luzury positions as well as builders and professional military or traders. when advancements are made thru true innovation or learning from other groups, it gets applied to farming,, military and making life better. and perhaps the priests/educated people can somehow record this knowledge, thru writing if lucky. the people need access to enough land to be able to farm and support an increasing populaton and they have to be able to defend themselves, though their knowledge would probably be assimilated. they need access to natural metal deposits to be able to begin working soft metals such as gold, silver and copper. then they start messing with alloys and stuff and then your at the bronze age. thats pretty good, alexander the great thought so. anyway, why didnt the native americans do this. they had access to all these things. even the writing to some degree, and they did have lots of contact and trading between groups. some of which was war, so they had plent of necessity to motivate any advancement. so why didnt they grow the way the european, or asian cultures did? i guess the aftican cultures didnt really, they were brought from the "dark continent" to the modern world when the british and other eurpoeans took over. but, afticans asside? why did the netive americans not evolve as a culture and society along a similar path as the major societies? they had a nomadic cultire that may not have had the farming that allowed as large of a percentage to devote to craftsmen and inventers, but still? why? does anyone with any antropological or sociological or other backgrounds or book learnin types know? or have any good suggestions? if your opinion comes from something you saw on tv, what show? thanks

Save.....or Sell? I have a huge collection of Hercules and Xena items that includes props from the shows, original comic art, 8 complete sets of trading cards with all autographs (in custom binders)...All of the action figures from both shows, including prototypes of several figures, Autographed photos and plaques, a Gabrielle staff, 2 Xena swords with leather scabbords, Xena original chakram, Hercules sword, sterling silver jewelry, etc, etc, etc. This collection fills an entire room in my house, and I need to move it to a larger room. That is no problem, since I live in a big house. My question is: Should I keep this collection as a possible investment, or sell it? It would be sold as a complete collection, not individual items. Your opinions?