tagged w/ Luxury
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"Not many people would argue that fewer jobs for dancers are a boon to ballet, or shrinking advances are good for literature, or newspapers in bankruptcy are good for journalism. But it’s become commonplace to declare, as the Times did recently, that “a financial scouring can only be good for American art, which during the present decade has become a diminished thing.” Newsweek took it further, comparing the art boom to an imaginary world where jazz—once appreciated only by “an audience who really dug what they were hearing” in a “cozy club”—started packing Wembley. The unseemly result, per Newsweek? “A grotesque imitation of heavy metal for the masses.”
The art world’s “brand names” have it easier—they can experiment in a recession, try new media, ride it out—but they aren’t immune. Photographer David LaChapelle says he worries about having to cut back. “I worry about the people who rely on me”—his staff and studio assistants.
The thing the bust fans are missing is that art in good times can capture those good times (even when artists sometimes become overly intoxicated by them). Andy Warhol’s soup cans came out of the postwar era, when cupboards opened to bounties of food. “There’s no correlation” between the economy and the quality of art being produced, says John Good, a director of the Gagosian Gallery. “The great artists transcend.” The art world’s romantic Van Gogh myth holds that starving artists toil anonymously until they’re eventually (or posthumously) discovered. But he was the exception: For centuries, many great artists were patronized in their lifetimes, generously, by popes and kings. (King François I paid for the Mona Lisa.)
Certainly, with things like shows in empty buildings, and a good deal of scrappiness and human suffering, art will adapt, survive. Perhaps it had gotten too easy, too publicized, self-involved. But not any more than anything else during the boom. Maybe it wasn’t such a terrible place to spend some of those now-fanciful-seeming billions. And the level of excitement that a boom brings to art—the sheer number of people paying attention, trying to learn the new names and debating who matters—is itself an engine of creativity. In a boom, it’s cool to love art, see art, buy art. Art is taken seriously. A bust dismisses it as a luxury.""Not many people would argue that fewer jobs for dancers are a boon to ballet, or... more
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Ever seen an infinity pool? It's a pool designed to look like it drops into the sky. From Dubai to Iceland, check out some really cool pools.Ever seen an infinity pool? It's a pool designed to look like it drops into the... more
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Visa seems to think so. Recently introducing the Visa Black Card which promises provide more luxury service than you average joe credit card. 24 hour concierge services are included in the hefty $495 annual fee along with a slew of insurance benefits for those who travel often. Visa has limited its membership to 1% US residents, making the card seemingly exclusive.Visa seems to think so. Recently introducing the Visa Black Card which promises... more
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Aston Martin, the maker of luxury sports cars owned by royals and James Bond, has become the latest manufacturer to cut production amid the global fall in demand.Aston Martin, the maker of luxury sports cars owned by royals and James Bond, has... more
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This video is a profile of custom motorcycle builder Chicara Nagata. Chicara has won numerous awards for his custom motorcycles, which take him over 7000 hrs to build. His motorbikes can be seen at the Ippodo Gallery, NYC.
Vote for this video to show it on TV!This video is a profile of custom motorcycle builder Chicara Nagata. Chicara has won... more
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Luxury safaris in Africa can offer comfort and style with tented camps or small luxury lodges to suit every taste. In Africa, staying under canvas can be one of the most luxurious experiences you'll ever have, and are typically more expensive than solid structure lodge accommodation.Luxury safaris in Africa can offer comfort and style with tented camps or small luxury... more
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Casino profile details luxurious lifestyle of former Fry's executive
When "Mr. S" showed up in Las Vegas, bellboys, butlers and blackjack dealers made sure they were prepared for the high-rolling Fry's Electronics executive flying in from San Jose with his long list of demands.
Fiji water, grouped in bottles of three. Golden raisins and warmed mixed nuts. Aramis cologne and badger hair shaving brush. Lint-free towels. Dom Perignon Rose champagne and Kurosawa Sake in the fridge. And never, under any circumstances, approach him from behind.
If they didn't want to face Mr. S's wrath, maids knew to arrange bowls of Glitterati Mentissimo peppermints adorned with a single rose throughout his suite, and to stock his shower with Nioxin shampoo for "fine and thinning hair." White vases were a no-no — he considered them bad luck.
None of those rules will apply when Mr. S — aka Ausaf "Omar" Umar Siddiqui — is arraigned Thursday in federal court in San Jose on charges that the former Fry's executive laundered about $6 million in kickbacks from vendors to pay off his enormous gambling debts in Las Vegas.
More in the link...Casino profile details luxurious lifestyle of former Fry's executive
When... more
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LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- Attention audiophiles, old-school vinyl listeners and the very rich: Do we have a piece of stereo equipment for you.
It's called the Gabriel Turntable, and you won't find it at Wal-Mart. Crafted in limited editions by an Italian company that will engrave each buyer's name on it, the Gabriel is to a Kenner Close 'N Play what a Ferrari is to a Yugo.
"When I look at it," said Placido Pappalardo, co-owner of maker Angelis Labor, "the only word that comes to mind is love."
--When I look I it the only thing that comes to my mind is, "WTF?" I guess you do have to be really crazy, really into vinyl, and really rich to get one.LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- Attention audiophiles, old-school vinyl listeners and the... more
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In an article on ok.co.uk, Madonna looks stunning as she poses for Louis Vuitton's latest campaign, pretty bad timing considering theres a credit crisis happening at the moment.
Click on the link above for the story and the pictures, also comment on what you think of the pics...In an article on ok.co.uk, Madonna looks stunning as she poses for Louis... more
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Kateskosykorner.com commercial advertising comfortable luxury bedding, blankets, decorative pillows, robes, and throws. Visit us at http://www.kateskosykorner.com today! Video produced by http://www.visible.netKateskosykorner.com commercial advertising comfortable luxury bedding, blankets,... more
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Kateskosykorner.com commercial advertising comfortable luxury bedding, blankets, decorative pillows, robes, and throws. Visit us at http://www.kateskosykorner.com today! Video produced by http://www.visible.netKateskosykorner.com commercial advertising comfortable luxury bedding, blankets,... more
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Somalia's infamous pirates are living a life of luxury - buying large homes, luxury cars, marrying beautiful women, and hiring caterers to prepare food for their hostages. The have become heroes to some Somalians in the towns near where they operate. "The pirates depend on us, and we benefit from them," said Sahra Sheik Dahir, a shop owner in Haradhere. Ransom money came in at $30 million this year.Somalia's infamous pirates are living a life of luxury - buying large homes,... more
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A SCRABBLE board made with more than 30,000 Swarovski crystals and valued at $US20,000 ($30,000) is being auctioned online to mark 60 years of the popular word-building game, the company that markets Scrabble said today.A SCRABBLE board made with more than 30,000 Swarovski crystals and valued at $US20,000... more
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Ritchie was recently reported to have banned his wife from ever again driving their luxury sports cars because she is said to be an "appalling" driver. Apparently Ritchie was expecting a new sports car as a gift from his beloved for his 40th birthday this past September and, if so, there was no way he was letting mommy Madonna drive it.
Ritchie was recently reported to have banned his wife from ever again driving their... more
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In choppy financial seas, even billionaires are unloading their prized but pricey toys.
Despite making a mint on his ImClone holdings, hedge-fund billionaire Carl Icahn is selling his beloved yacht, the Starfire, for $37.5 million.
The 72-year-old put the 177-foot yacht up for sale late last month, just as markets were starting to tank to levels not seen since 2002.
Icahn, known for consistently making a mint by turning around troubled companies, has come upon tougher times lately.
His company, Icahn Enterprises, is down 76 percent this year. And his hedge funds are suffering some of their worst performances in years - dragged down by investments in companies like Motorola and Yahoo! Inc.
While the timing of the sale suggests the billionaire is feeling the pain of the credit crunch like the rest of America, a person close to the situation said the activist investor is actually looking to trade up.
"The reason it's for sale is to buy a bigger yacht," Kevin Merrigan, the broker handling the sale of the yacht, told The Post when reached at his Fort Lauderdale, Fla., office. In choppy financial seas, even billionaires are unloading their prized but pricey... more
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jspace
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added this
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3 years ago
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Despite general opinion that the wealthy are immune to the credit crunch, the global financial crisis is forcing rich people to rethink their spending.
Private bankers say the very wealthy are reconsidering spending money on luxury items such as expensive cars and yachts.
Despite general opinion that the wealthy are immune to the credit crunch, the global... more
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ClareW
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added this
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3 years ago
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The Superior Athos Flueless Gas Fire uses a patented “clean burn” catalytic technology it is capable of actually improve the air in the room, while burning 100% efficiently natural gas and producing approximately 2.0kW to 3.5kW of heat! With the thermal glass front,...The Superior Athos Flueless Gas Fire uses a patented “clean burn”... more
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myndu
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added this
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3 years ago
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This loft designed by Steve Blatz is truly a unique one, a monochromatic look blends with contemporary art, but if you’d live there after a few hours you’d feel dizzy - at least I know I would. I like that it’s one continuous space...This loft designed by Steve Blatz is truly a unique one, a monochromatic look blends... more
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myndu
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added this
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3 years ago
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Matthew Plummer-Fernandez made a chair that is designed after the frequency of a sound wave. Yep, you read it right, after listening to 700 different sounds Matthew chose this particular one (you can listen it on his website) and took the 3D graph....Matthew Plummer-Fernandez made a chair that is designed after the frequency of a sound... more
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myndu
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added this
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3 years ago
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These are from the same company as the Dyno outdoor shower, this set is called Community, designed by More Design. It’s available in a bunch of different colors, and if you’d like to customize the color of each item, you can do that also! Of course the Community.....These are from the same company as the Dyno outdoor shower, this set is called... more
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myndu
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added this
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3 years ago
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