As if Google didn’t already have enough to party about, their party continues. On Wednesday night technology giant Google.com celebrated their newest market entry, Boutiques.com. This site will establish their presence in the high fashion world online.

Munjal Shah of Google had the following to say about the entry and the site launch - “Fashion is overwhelming, and so what most people want when they shop is a curated experience, So we said, celebrities, designers and others, ‘come in.’ They actually curate items for you to come in and buy, so it’s a virtual boutique they set up. And in addition to that, they actually teach boutiques.com what their taste is like. We literally used some of the key strengths of Google – the ability to build artificial intelligent system that can understand and learn. One example is we built a system to automatically recommend things to complete a look.”

The technology is amazing, it allows for certain things like a simple pair of shoes to be entered into the search form. Based on your entry Boutiques.com will then provide you with not only the matching necklaces, bracelets, jewelry but even things like diaper bags and other accessories to match the style. It will also direct you to where you can purchase these items online.

A social media factor of the site also exists, which currently only has items for women, as it also allows you to follow people whose trend you admire to get updates on what they’re buying and looking at similar to following their updates on social networking sites like Twitter.

What some in the fashion industry said they like in particular about the site is that it’s a good starting off point for anyone – from women who think they’re ready to produce their own runway show to those who can’t even choose a t-shirt to go with a pair of jeans.

Google says Boutiques will eventually cater to men, as well.

For those who try it and like it enough to want the experience everywhere, there’s also a Boutiques iPad app.

– When socks or smellies just won’t suffice, a Seiko watch is an ideal gift choice this Christmas.

Seiko watches from the Watch Hut, the UK’s largest watch website, are smart, stylish and highly sophisticated watches that would be a pleasing discovery under any tree.

With models available for both ladies and gents, the Seiko watch collection is as varied as it is consistently impressive - and will appeal to both men and women come Christmastime.

Seiko has a well-earned reputation for producing revolutionary watches, its history scattered with a number of breakthroughs and achievements. It currently manufactures some of the most technologically advanced sports watches in the world.

Prefer to bypass all the fuss of setting up your new watch on Xmas morning? Seiko Kinetic watches are powered by human movement, offering an alternative to batteries.

The likes of Premier, Coutura and Velatura are examples of different ranges that fulfil different functions, so you can ensure you choose the perfect Seiko for your loved one - or, indeed, yourself.

For more choice from the Seiko watch collection, visit the Watch Hut. The UK’s largest watch website is an official Seiko retailer and you can find a broad range of Seiko watches online:

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MSNBC's Keith Olbermann To Return To Television

The indefinite suspension from MSNBC that was handed down to anchor Keith Olbermann for his political contributions to Democratic Congressional candidates is set to end on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 based on a statement released by the NBC network on Sunday, November 7, 2010.

Olbermann was suspended indefinitely on Friday, November 6, 2010 for making political campaign donations to 3 different Democratic Congressional candidates. NBC News cited their policies and standards as reason to suspend Olbermann immediately and indefinitely without pay once they became aware of the contributions.

The MSNBC network, which is a joint venture of NBC Universal and Microsoft has a known policy in place prohibiting any employed journalists from contributing to political campaigns. This was known to Olbermann and was the reasoning for his suspension after Olbermann admitted to donating the maximum possible ($2,400) to the 3 candidates. MSNBC feels political contributions by employed journalists make it difficult to be perceived as an un-biased news source.

The NBC statement that was released on Sunday by MSNBC President Phil Griffin who publicly admitted he was torn over the issue and debated the suspension and actions for many days.

“I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night’s program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy,” Griffin was quoted as saying. “We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night.

On Olbermann’s own Twitter account, @KeithOlbermann, Keith broke his silence about the suspension  on Sunday. A tweet reading “Greetings From Exile! A quick, overwhelmed, stunned THANK YOU for support that feels like a global hug & obviously left me tweetless XO,” was posted to the service at 10:00 PM CST.

There was an online petition that had been created by colleagues in the news industry as well as fans and friends that called for his immediate reinstatement, run by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. This was likely what he was referring to also in his Twitter post as the petition as of Sunday night had received over 250,000 signatures.

– LONDON-For 40 years Haim Steinbach has been investigating the thin line between object and artwork, and the hierarchy we impose on the things that surround us. Sometimes decidedly Pop, sometimes clearly Minimal, his prototypical shelves constitute micro-spaces where objects can be presented and articulated like words in a sentence. Steinbach was recently commissioned by Louis Vuitton to create a piece for their “maison” concept store on New Bond Street. In an interview with ARTINFO UK, the artist goes back to the origin of his structural device and talks about the opportunities offered by different exhibition contexts.

What led you to the shelf as a conceptual and structural framing device? How did the first one come about?

In the ’70s, I was exposed to and interested in new ideas that were surfacing about social and cultural context in relation to art practice. I was aware of Duchamp very early on and he had a great effect on me. I remember having a long discussion at Yale University with the painter Al Held, who was teaching there, about Duchamp, the status of the object, and the way art is presented. Museums have benches and carpets, they are architecturally designed for people to walk in and inhabit. It’s the same with all institutions and above all with the home. I was particularly interested in the home, in what happens to the art object in the home, what is art, what is not art - in other words, in the hierarchy of attention we give to things. In a sense, all objects are immensely fascinating to look at: they’ve been invented, constructed, designed for a purpose, and have different forms and shapes.

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What kind of materials did you work with in 1970s?

In the late ’70s, I made painting panels made out of linoleum. It came in different patterns, each had different social associations, whether it was a colonial wood or an Italian marbletype of pattern, and I was interested in the fact that these things have social and cultural origins. These works led me to the objects and I had to find a place for them. I was looking at what happens in a home: you have a couch, you have a counter on its side and there’s a lamp on it. There’s a painting on the wall, and sculpture would be on a pedestal. Then I started thinking about the way we install things and the shelf evolved as a way to designate a place to put things on. I began to make installations with wallpaper and on top of them I hang prefab brackets holding a plank of wood. This immediately raised the question of how people saw the shelf in relation to the objects and brought in the discussion about sculpture, furniture, the design of furniture, the design of sculpture, and the way they occupy space. I then made shelves that imitated different styles with fragments of materials from various sources. They took different forms: a little bit more Baroque, a little bit more Rococo, a little bit more Minimal. The idea was that it was a shelf, but it was also a sculpture and it had an object on it, which led to the question: what is a sculpture, what is an object, what is the art, and so on? That eventually led to these reduced, Minimal shelves, which on the one hand are generic like household objects, and on the other hand bring in the Minimal paradigm as a structural device.

I would argue there are two poles in your practice: the Minimalist pole, linking to the work of people like John McCracken, and a Pop pole with your inclusion of everyday objects.

What about a linguistic pole? There are probably more than two poles, my work points in different directions. The shelf is for me a device to present, organize and arrange the objects. These objects can be quite reduced, like geometrical shapes, or more Baroque. My work has been discussed in terms of Pop art, and it’s been discussed in terms of Minimalism.

It has also been seen as a critique of consumerism and of our fascination with objects. Isn’t it somehow ironic for your work to be displayed at the maison Louis Vuitton?

What has been said has some truth to it but it’s not the whole picture. People who write criticism and art history usually put you in a niche and you become completely identified with it. Of course, there’s a critical relationship to objects in my work, there’s a critical relationship to consumerism, there’s a critical relationship to the social and cultural aspect of the object, but there’s also a critical relationship to the way we exclude rather than include relationships than can allow new ways of looking and appreciating things. The work can be contextualized in a Louis Vuitton store, or a supermarket, or a department store, or a university gallery, or a home. These are all part of the world we live in. They are different kinds of context in which the object can be explored. In the process of exploring it, the work can reflect a certain critical dimension in relation to the place and space, but it can also illuminate contradictions that can spark new ways of appreciating things.

– John Brereton Jewellers  are now offering a stunning collection of coloured Gem Stone jewellery. This collection displays a superbly crafted array of  precious gem jewellery comprising of the following:  Lemon Quartz,  Amethyst, Blue Topaz, Diamond, Sapphire, Citrine, Pink Quartz, and Pink Sapphire.

The growing awareness of rare gems in the fashion industry has brought these amazing coloured stones back into the height of fashion.  John Brereton Jewellers are proud to offer a uniquely sophisticated range of these latest designs.

The picture shows a sample of three of the  Coloured Gem rings  in this collection. Here are the descriptions of  these rings:

Top to Bottom

This beautifully crafted ring displays a superb 9.79ct Lemon Quartz centre stone framed by an array of shinning round brilliant cut diamonds (0.25ct ). The full profile of the centre stone is visible from the side due to the open work of the setting.

This wonderful 2.65ct Amethyst gemstone is framed on both sides by stunning round brilliant cut diamonds (0.36ct ). Amethyst jewellery is extremely popular this season and this wonderful gemstone looks so beautiful set in platinum or white gold, accentuated by the white diamonds.

Show off your exquisite sense of style with this 9.48ct Blue Topaz, Diamond, and Sapphire ring. When paired with the matching Blue Topaz Pendant, this look is complete. A large, smooth Blue Topaz stone is set in the centre and surrounded by 48 round brilliant cut diamonds (0.40ct). With 44 dazzling  sapphires (1.20ct) on display further along the band. A stunning piece of jewellery.

The Dublin based jewelers are displaying these coloured gems at their O’Connell, Chatham  & Capel Street stores.

About John Brereton Jewellers:

John Brereton Jewellers was established in 1916 at 108 Capel Street, Dublin. Specialising in both new and antique jewellery the business has grown with the city of Dublin. John’s youngest son Jack joined the business in the 1930′s. By the early 1970′s the third generation of Breretons, Jack’s sons John and Liam, joined the company.

Shortly afterwards they opened the company’s second store on Chatham Street, Dublin. The third store, opposite the General Post Office (GPO) on Dublin’s O’Connell Street, opened in 1986.

In 2003 Paul Brereton became the fourth generation to join the family business. He graduated as a gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America in 2006. Paul now works closely with his father and uncle in the running of the three unique stores. Together they share over 160 years of jewellery experience. This enables John Brereton Jewellers to offer their customers some of the  finest diamonds and jewellery in Ireland today.

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– ‘Swim Sexy’ swimwear is swimwear to make you feel good no matter what your age.

A Swim Sexy woman is young at heart, she wants to look good and she wears swimwear which suits her shape.

With the 2011 Swim Sexy Collection every woman will be able to wear the high fashion looks to the beach.

The Collection:

Animal Prints come to life with beading and crystals

The innocence of white becomes a little naughty with cheeky pink ruffles

Little black bikinis are oh so chic with tribal influences

Neon goes tropical and have shells embellishments

Deep rich colours draw you into a world of luxury

Monochrome pieces are simply stunning

The ‘Swim Sexy’ look is uber chic, feminine and glamorously grown up.

The new collection offers the ‘Swim Sexy’ woman a choice of unique pieces for her holiday wardrobe; bikinis, monokinis, bathing suits, covers, kaftans, jumpsuits, playsuits, maxi dresses and accessories made of high quality fabrics in gorgeous prints all of which are hand finished in the UK.

The ‘Swim Sexy’ collection has flattering pieces which creates and caresses gorgeous curves on any woman.  All the swimwear is double lined, most have removable cups and each piece has the Sandstorm Boutique Signature Butterfly embroidered on the bottom.

The ‘Swim Sexy’ collection is the first collection from the young entrepreneur and designer Naomi John.  Naomi is the owner of Sandstorm Boutique, she is the driving force behind the company and she is the creative director of the company and the Swim Sexy brand.

In essence, ‘Swim Sexy’ is fabulous swimwear and beach wear at fashionable prices.

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Oct 20, 2010 –

The latest edition of TV hit ‘Designing Spaces’ features revolutionary dishwashing detergent FINISH ‘Quantum’, a detergent that provides clean dishes the first time, every time even without pre-rinsing. FINISH ‘Quantum’, from the FINISH portfolio of products, offers a solution to the irritation of wasting time  and washing dishes especially when it comes to pre-rinsing and rewashing. Tune in November 5th, 7th, and 8th at 9:30 a.m. (ET/PT) to watch this episode on WEtv.

“Today’s advanced dishwashing detergents like FINISH Quantum are designed to do the pre-rinsing work for you and to deliver perfect results the first time you wash, saving you time and money,” says Diane Hoffman, an expert in automatic dishwasher operations. “Many people are surprised to find out that for optimal results with Quantum?, you should scrape and not rinse your dishes, then let the detergent do the work for you. It can truly revolutionize your kitchen clean-up routine!”

Fifty percent of U.S. households own a dishwasher and 90 percent of them pre-rinse. However, pre-rinsing dishes can waste up to almost 20 gallons of water per load.  In this episode, Hoffman demonstrates the power behind FINISH? Quantum?, and how it eliminates the need to pre-rinse. Here are additional dishwashing tips for viewers to try at home:

Scrape, don’t rinse Scrape your dishes because active ingredients in your detergent need food residue to work properly.

Load properly As a general rule of thumb, cups, glasses and less soiled items should be placed on the top rack and larger and dirtier items are best on the bottom rack.

Select the right detergent Try FINISH? Quantum? which has detergent so powerful there’s no need to pre-rinse your dishes.

Avoid cloudy glasses If cloudy film can be removed by rubbing vinegar on your glass, then you have hard water in your home and need to use a detergent, like FINISH? Quantum?, that’s been designed to soften the water so the detergent can do its work.

Clean your dishwasher Dirt may build up in hard to see places such as the spray arm and pipes. Cleaning your dishes should be done with a clean dishwasher, so remove this filming and dirt by using a dishwasher cleaner once a month.

Lysa Liemer, ‘Designing Spaces’ Executive VP of Programming and Chief Operating Officer, says, “We are always exploring exciting topics and trends to inspire viewers to take on all home challenges, and energy efficiency dilemmas and Reckitt Benckiser, along with their innovative line of FINISH dishwashing products delivered the perfect solution.”

About Designing Spaces

Created by O2 Media’s Quorum Productions, Designing Spaces is a half-hour informative series that inspires viewers to make every space count and instructs them on the smartest ways to make their homes more beautiful and functional.  Quorum Productions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of O2 Media Inc., is a Florida-based production company that is nationally renowned for creating award-winning educational programming. If you have a great idea for a story, or want to be a part of the show please contact Lysa Liemer.

About FINISH/Reckitt Benckiser

Reckitt Benckiser is a world leader in household, health and personal care. It is a FTSE top 15 company and since 2000 net revenues have doubled and the market cap has quadrupled.  Today it is the global No 1 or No 2 in the majority of its fast-growing categories, driven by an exceptional rate of innovation near 40% of revenue comes from innovations launched in the prior 3 years. It has a strong portfolio led by 17 global powerbrands which are: Finish, Lysol, Dettol, Vanish, Woolite, Calgon, Airwick, Harpic, Bang, Mortein, Veet, Nurofen, Clearasil, Strepsils Gaviscon, Mucinex and French’s, and they account for over two thirds of its net revenue. Reckitt Benckiser people are at the heart of the company’s success. They have an intense drive for progress and action and a desire to outperform wherever they focus, including in CSR where the Company has the most ambitious corporate responsibility programme in the industry through its Carbon 20 initiative. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the Company employs 23,000 people worldwide, with operations in over 60 countries and sales in nearly 200 countries. For more information visit RECKITTBENCKISER.COM.

– From the most elaborate custom design, to performing the most minor repair, Jewelry Design Gallery does it all. With a unique and distinct attention to detail, Cowit and his team of master jewelers makes sure every customer leaves satisfied.

At Jewelry Design Gallery, “Custom design is our niche,” said owner Drew Cowit.  While most other jewelers are concentrating on selling their own inventory, Cowit and his team of master jewelers specialize in special orders and total customer satisfaction.

Jewelry Design Gallery creates custom designs by hand through an extensive process that gives the client full control of the final product.  Customers are able to bring in pictures of their desired item or discuss a concept with the trained professionals at Jewelry Gallery Design.  The sketch artist will then depict the idea through a remarkably detailed sketch.  Once the customer is content with the design, a wax mold is formed and cast in gold or platinum.  Throughout this progression the client’s approval is required, so as to ensure perfection in the purchase.  Through tedious attention to detail, Cowit and staff truly put a touch of art into their jewelry using materials imported from Italy, Brazil, and France.

We understand that sometimes your vision might entail a slight modification on one of our designs. Maybe the piece you have in mind is a bit smaller or larger? Maybe it holds a precious gem such as an emerald or sapphire? Maybe you have a symbol or image of your own you’d like to use? Maybe you’d like to combine several types of personalization on your piece?

We’ll work with you to modify our existing designs to incorporate your vision.

With locations in Manalapan and East Windsor, Cowit has followed in his father’s 48 years of experience in manufacturing.  The success of this family-owned business is proven in its’ 25 years of authentic and personal customer service.

Jewelry Design Gallery also does appraisal work for insurance companies and repair work using their on site, high-tech equipment.  Without the confusion and inconvenience of middle men, Cowit, a 38 year resident of the Marlboro/Manalapan area, caters to each and every customer’s preferences while simplifying the process every step of the way.

Jewelry Design Gallery

357 Route 9 South

Towne Pointe Shopping Center

Manalapan, NJ 07726

(732) 536-1184

Jewelry Design Gallery

319 RT 130 North

Town Shopping Plaza

East Windsor, NJ 08520

(609) 371-1800

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– Specialist services of the tailors trade are now being unravelled across the web thanks to the new online Clothing Alterations service offered by quickstitch.co.uk. The service is simple, affordable and can all be done with the click of a button thanks to their online postal service.

The North East based company traditionally have offered a range of stores across the North East of England and Scotland, but have recently set their sights on bigger projects and launched a brand new online service to the UK.

Customers can browse through a range of services for both men and womens clothing alterations, find out measuring guides and then simply post their garments off to Quickstitch, once they are complete they are simply posted back out to their owners.

Phil Harker, MD said: “We came up with the idea because we had seen the success of similar postal services in recent years. We wanted to offer our services online to the UK and we saw an opportunity to offer people to maintain their favourite clothes with an easy service from their own home at an affordable price.”

With the current economic climate and the move to a more digital age upon us, we could start to see more and more of these traditional businesses make the switch from offline services to online in the hope of capturing a bigger audience.

Oct 11, 2010 – Thinking of a unique gift idea for the fitness enthusiast in your life this holiday season? Online kettlebells resource Russian-Kettlebell.com is now featuring kettlebell quick start kits - gift bundles of a kettlebell, a workout DVD, and kettlebell training book all together at one low price for a perfect gift idea.

“Training with kettlebells is truly a unique, effective workout that many people are starting to become more and more aware of,” said a spokesperson for the site. “With the holiday season fast approaching, what better idea for the fitness enthusiast in your life than to introduce them to the kettlebell workout with a pre-bundled set up with everything they’ll need to get started the right way. There are different quick start kit packages specifically designed for both men and women at different levels of fitness, and different choices between kettlebell weight sizes tailored to each individual need. It’s definitely a unique idea, and one they’re sure to enjoy.”

Featuring kettlebells for sale, training DVDs, and kettlebell instructor certification resources, Russian-Kettlebell.com has been online as a major kettlebells resource since 2004.

For more information on kettlebells, kettlebell quick start kits, and other unique fitness gift ideas, please visit Russian-Kettlebell.com.

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