http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com SpoonyLife fr-FR http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/frog-mobile-launches-double-sim-start-pack-14549.html Double Card The article you requested is only available to subscribers Please log in at the right top to access the article. Not a subscriber? We offer several different subscription options to access our newsitems. The subscriptions are priced based on the included archiveaccess. For ad-hoc news needs or to test our services, we have twoone-day subscriptions. The euro5 one-day option only allows usersto access recent news (no more than 24 hours old) and the login isvalid for one day. The euro90 subscription also allows you toaccess our website for 24 hours but includes full archive access.You would be able to access all of Telecompaper's news stories backto 1993. In the annual subscription plans, the Light option is ideal forpeople that regularly log-on to our website or that have RSS feedsset up and basically read the news on a regular basis. 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Only the access plans that allow you to read the current articleare displayed below. For the full range . Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:55:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/active-development-woos-buyers-with-new-solutions-14545.html IP Card Reader Reality, high performance and ease-of-use are the hallmarks of theDH500 WifiCam, which ushers in a new era of home surveillance. Thecam is specially designed for long distance surveillance purpose,allowing users to monitor and control from a remote site vianetwork/Internet. The DH500 is also equipped with multiplefunctions including 128-bit data encryption, motion detecting, 3GJava phone and external detector connector. Installation is easierthan ever with the product's user-friendliness and clearly writteninstruction manual. The DMP100 digital media player comes with USB storage and a cardreader. It may be connected to the user's television or stereosystem to allow playback of music, photos and videos from the USBstorage or card reader. The device is equipped with RCA and YPbProutputs and supports the following file formats: RM/RMVB, MPEG.1/2,DAT, AVI, DIVX and XVID. The card reader supports the followingtypes of memory card: MS, SD, MMC and XD, while the USB port allowsfor connection to hard disk. The PA200 TV tuner card offers high quality TV reception. Watchingand recording one's favorite TV programs on the PC can't get anysimpler. The card can also capture video from external devicesusing the included S-Video and composite video inputs. Among thefeatures of the PA200 are: full screen display with resolution ofup to 720x576, a noise reduction function to allow hi-sharp video,a timer function to allow pre-scheduled recording of TVbroadcasting programs, and a time shifting function to allow atemporary pause of a live broadcast. The WA1200 Wi-Fi viewer transforms the living room into the centerof a family's entertainment, connectivity and group learningactivities. The solution allows whatever files stored in the PC tobe wirelessly displayed on the TV set. It supports all mediaformats including MP2, MP4, VC1, H.264, AVS, DiVX, Flash, andH.263. For those who hunger for more, Active also has in store the DH600kit and the HDTV ultra to delight visitors. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:53:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/qwest-names-new-vp-of-ebusiness-operations-14541.html Optic Mouse Miller comes to Qwest from Frontier, where he directed thetransformation of the airline's Website into a major growth enginefor the company, increasing online bookings by more than 21 percentin 12 months. In today's Internet marketplace, it's imperative that Qwest delivera simple and effective online shopping experience, Kruger said.Lowell's leadership and extensive e-commerce background willelevate the role of Qwest.com as a major driver of revenue growthand margin. Residential customers can shop for and purchase all services onQwest.com, including Qwest's fastest fiber-optic Internet service.And, small- and medium-sized businesses can choose sophisticatedvoice and data solutions with the click of a mouse. Customers canalso chat live with a Qwest representative. Qwest offers broadband, video and voice solutions for residentialcustomers, businesses and government agencies. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:52:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/starhub-unshackles-exciting-new-range-of-promotions-and-features-14539.html MMS Card Starhub to Introduce New Range of Promotions and Features StarHub unshackles exciting new range of promotions and featuresset to shake up the local mobile industry FREEDOM comes to Singapore mobile customers as StarHub introduces awhole new range of promotions and features that deliver greatervalue and enhancements to new mobile customers - many of them newto Singapore. "We want to demonstrate to customers who have yet to try ourmobile service that we offer true convenience, quality and valuefor money. These features and promotions are designed to helpcustomers ease into the StarHub family, by offering true value withlittle to no downsides. These plans are set to establish a newbenchmark for delivering mobile services in Singapore," saidMr. Anil Nihalani, Head of Mobile Services at StarHub. Said Ms. Iris Wee, Head of StarHub's Marketing, of thesepromotions, "We've always had a reputation for challenging thenorm, defining new parametres and defying expectations. We believethese new promotions and features will be seen a tipping point forattracting new mobile subscribers or those already with othermobile operators who are curious about what StarHub Mobile canoffer. Together with our Hubbing packages on cable TV andbroadband, we offer the best holistic value of any operatorhere." FREEDOM IS ... TRYING STARHUB MOBILE SERVICES FOR FREE From today, new mobile customers who would like to try StarHub'spostpaid mobile services can do so for three months absolutelyfree, with no contract and no obligations! All customers need to dois to head to any of StarHub's retail outlets, purchase a SIM card(which retails at $36.75 including a one-time registration) with aPowerValue100, PowerValue300, PowerConnect or PowerPlay II mobilesubscription plan, and start enjoying the service. Once connected to the StarHub mobile network, customers can makeany calls and SMS/MMS with the new SIM card up to the allocatedfree minutes and SMS/MMS per month of their chosen plan. Any usagebeyond the free bundled minutes or SMS/MMS will be charged atprevailing rates. StarHub's entire unique mobile features such asFree IDD 018 to 14 destinations, Free Incoming Calls and Per SecondBilling are also available to them. Once the third month has ended,the customer may choose to end the service or continue with itindefinitely with the chosen plan's monthly subscription. Cable TV and MaxOnline customers who sign up for a mobile line canalso enjoy Hub Club benefits immediately. Furthermore, if they signup by 30 June 2008, they get an extra $100 Hubber bonus. Hub Clubmembers get 5% off their MaxOnline bills, 10% off the Cable TVbills and up to 30% off their mobile lines. This promotion is valid from today to 31 July 2008. FREEDOM IS ... FREE UNLIMITED SMS AND MMS TO ANYONE At last! Student mobile customers can finally be free from studentplans of other operators that offer so-called 'unlimited SMS' whenit's only restricted to intra-network communications. Instead, from today, StarHub is the only operator in Singapore tooffer a student plan that delivers free unlimited local SMS and MMSto ANYONE in Singapore, regardless of which local service providerthe recipient is with. You can send what you want, whenever youwant and to whomever you want without worrying about being charged. This new enhancement is valid for both of StarHub's student plans -PowerValue 100 Student Plan and PowerValue 300 Student Plan.StarHub's PowerValue 100 Student Plan is available at $25.68 permonth; the PowerValue 300 Student Plan is at $48.15 per month.Apart from the FREE unlimited SMS and MMS to anyone, the plans alsooffer 100 or 300 outgoing minutes respectively. An additional 100minutes and free caller number display for 12 months is applicablefor new sign-ups until 31 July 2008. FREEDOM IS ... BIGGER DATA BUNDLE WITH A DRAMATICALLY LOWER PRICECAP For mobile Internet users, StarHub now offers a bigger, betterenhancement to the MaxMobile Value VAS making this the best valuemobile data plan for the mobile phone. From today, StarHub's MaxMobile Value VAS is offered with a free$30 worth of bundled data for just a monthly subscription of $5.35(instead of the previous free $20 data bundle). In addition,StarHub has lowered the pricing cap to $36.38, down from $94.16.This means that customers will only be charged for data usage up to$36.38 (which includes the $5.35 monthly subscription) regardlessof how much mobile data they actually consume. StarHub's 3.5G mobile broadband network is Singapore's mostadvanced network, boasting mobile broadband speeds of up to 7.2Mbpsdownlink and 1.9Mbps uplink. With the appropriate mobile device,StarHub mobile customers will be able to have a better onlineexperience as they surf the Internet, perform transactions andstream videos wirelessly. In future, StarHub will roll out itsHigh-Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) network which will enablemobile broadband speeds of up to 21Mbps downlink and 11Mbps uplink. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:51:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/bulkhead-fittings-connect-pipe-to-plastic-or-metal-tanks-14533.html Nuts Hex Hayward Flow Control Systems, Clemmons, NC, a division of HaywardIndustrial Products, has announced availability of their new lineof BFA Series Industrial Bulkhead Fittings. Designed to allow safe, quick pipe connections to plastic or metaltanks, the bulkhead fittings come standard with heavy duty, fullbuttress left hand threads to prevent leaks under pressure. Thefittings are molded 1" longer than previous versions for use withthicker or double wall tanks and with a heavy wall thickness towithstand most abuse, rated to 150 PSI, have EPDM or FPM gasketseals, and feature a hex body for one person installation. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:48:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/belden-has-the-right-products-for-hdtv-14528.html Cable With Connector Exceeding the standard: Belden has the right products for HDTV Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008 While an estimated 95% of all broadcast facilities still have toadopt the HDTV format, Belden already has the products and theexperience to help companies make the switch. At a recent PressBriefing, Werner Eich, Marketing Manager Entertainment for BeldenEMEA, provided an overview of Belden's range of products forBroadcast, sports and residential use. "We are experiencing a digital revolution: broadcasters,television production studios and post-production enterprises areadopting high definition, serial digital imaging (HD/SDI) as theirformat of choice because of its superior performance and otheradvantages. Precision digital video is processed in real time andis extremely stable, which reduces equipment adjustments and allowscopies or reproductions to retain the same quality as the original.Moreover, signal degradation is virtually eliminated and noiseimmunity is greatly improved. Digital technology not only promisesto improve picture and sound quality, but also paves the way forinteractive on-demand TV and other digital services. "In the 1080i (interlaced) format, the image resolution is1920x1080 pixels, sent at 60 interlaced frames per second. In the1080p (progressive) format, the image resolution is the same but issent at 60 complete frames per second. Thus, in the progressive format, the complete image updates every1/60th of a second and in the interlaced format, only half of theimage updates every 1/60th of a second. As a result, progressiveimages result in better image definition and quality." "Cable manufacturing consistency and quality are both key toachieve minimal return loss. Good practice requires testing to thethird harmonic of the operating frequency. For serial, single cable1080p, that means testing to a frequency of 4.5 GHz. This 1080pformat is expected to transmit serial digital video signals at 2.97Gb/s, requiring an operating frequency of 1.485 GHz. Thistranslates to a shorter wavelength and a greater chance thatinconsistently manufactured cables will choke off the signal with ahigh level of return loss. This may be caused by even the slightestirregularity in the cable manufacturing process. A slightly bentshaft, bad bearing or uneven cable tension, for example, can causereflection and affect the signal wavelength. Therefore, utmostconsistency and control in the manufacturing process is essentialto the reliability of the cable's signal transmission at highfrequencies and to minimize return loss. Increased sweep testing "Therefore, broadcast camera and video cables need to delivertop performance, whilst at the same time meeting extendedinternational and European standards. It is for this reason that Belden became the first cablemanufacturer to increase its sweep testing from 3 GHz to 4.5 GHzfor all coaxes designed for maximum bandwidth, minimum return lossand minimum attenuation loss. These cables already meet the verytight specifications for electrical properties and are ideallysuited for both analog and digital video in broadcast,post-production and other critical video applications. In addition,Belden performs 100% sweep testing to 4.5 GHz on every reel of HDcable and provides certification to assure unequalled levels ofcable signal integrity and reliability, with lower return loss (RL)at higher frequencies. "We are prepared for the future. As a pioneer and leader incable technology, Belden has always taken a stringent approach tocable quality assurance. Rather than simply inspect and test randombatches of cables after manufacturing, Belden begins its qualityprocess in the product development and manufacturing stages. "When an independent test laboratory took an in-depth look atthe HD performance of the video coaxes used in TV studios, cableswere tested for return loss, attenuation and maximum cable run onHD (1080i and 720p). In the end results all Belden productsdelivered performance values that exceeded those listed in Belden'sown catalogues." "Belden continually introduces new developments and productsfor a range of different applications for the creation, managementand delivery of entertainment content, including Mobile TV, IPTVand D-Cinema. New products recently introduced include: Digital and analog audio/video composite camera cable 1347A This new composite design, using 1505A Precision Video cable and9451 Audio cable, provides exceptional video, audio and power forENG/EFP cameras standard setting cables. Outside broadcast Tactical fiber optical cable for Outside Broadcast Rugged, resilient and lightweight, these cables aredesigned for fast and easy use in mobile communication systems,digital camera transmissions in electronic news gathering (ENG)vehicles, as well as mining and industrial applications, especiallyfor long haul HD transmissions. Halogen-free cable A version of Brilliance? DigitTruck 179DT lightweight RG-179 Type 75-ohm coaxial cable. It is designed to lighten the load on thetruck, reduce the amount of space needed and to improveair-conditioning air flow and gas mileage. Wireless Access System The unique design with channel blanket technology greatlysimplifies installation and offers improved performance overcurrent technology. Consisting of intelligent 8 and 24-port switches and dual and four-radio Access Points (APs),this enterprise-grade WLAN eliminates the need for deep RFenterprise while eliminating the trade-off between coverage,capacity and mobility. New Product Bulletin NP260. Expanded line of FRNC speaker cables A new line designed for audio professionals who requireexceptionally clear and very precise sound for PA installations.All the single pair and speaker snake cables are halogen-free butstill flexible. The Brilliance? line of unshielded speaker cables consists of three products with1.5mm2, 2.5mm2 and 4.0mm2 constructions. Expanded line of FRNC OFHC premium construction speaker cables All single pair and speaker snake cables are halogen-freebut still flexible, with low capacitance and made with oxygen-freecopper for exceptional sound clarity. Print legends facilitatelocation Identification (such as Room 12345, Zone ABCDE). Banana Peel Precision Video Snake Cables This line now features three of Belden's mostpopular SDI/HD coaxes to include a 1694A composite construction. Itgives outstanding video performance using multiple coaxes in asingle pull. Halogen-free VideoFlex? Snake Cable - A new line of halogen-free component video cables designed todeliver optimum performance while helping to reduce installationand labor costs. An extension of Belden's highly popularVideoFlex? Snake Cable with an easy-to-install bundle of1855ENx, which has the very common European video coaxial dimensionof 0.6/2.8. CATV Multicore Cable for Multi Switch Systems - An extension of the highly popular CATV cables, with aneasy-to-install bundle of H121A, designed for optimum performancein multi-switch systems and to reduce installation time. This hasthe very common European video coaxial dimension of 0.8/3.5 andprovides optimum signal transmission performance for MATV/SMATV. CatSnake Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:45:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/fergie-gives-ronaldo-the-hair-dryer-treatment-at-euro-08-14523.html Hand Dryer Sir Alex Ferguson flew out to Basel in Switzerland today in a totalrage to confront Cristiano Ronaldo on his desire to leaveManchester United and play for Real Madrid, resulting in theultimate showdown. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese winger, has hinted repeatedly hiswish to "leave that Manc s**thole and join a real mansteam!" Sir Alex Ferguson arrived in Switzerland in a volcanic rage,venting his anger at a man with no legs who was begging for moneyoutside the airport "Ge' a job ya wee s**t". He marched into the hotel where Cristiano Ronaldo was staying,carrying only a small bag, heading straight for the pool area. Sir Alex Ferguson immediately spotted Ronaldo getting out of thepool and shouted "Oi, you Portuguese winger, stop rightthere!" Onlookers reported Ronaldo looking like a littleschool boy, as he sat down on his bum and crossed his legs. Fergieapproached him, sliding his arm slowly into his small bag, Ronaldokept his eyes routed to the floor. "I've brought' a littlesomethin' for ya" said Fergie softly. Ronaldo lifted his headand widened his eyes - "Boss, you brought me thehairdryer!" Minutes later Ronaldo was flopping his head forward in joy as hefelt the smooth left hand of Fergie ruffling his hair while hisright hand manoeuvred the small hairdryer around like an artistpainting his very own Mona Lisa with the brush he made as a youngchild out of his own milk teeth. "I don't know what I was thinking boss", murmuredRonaldo, "I want to stay with Man United - the best hairstylists ever" "That's why Beckham had to go" said a close friend of SirAlex, "he shaved his head as an act of defiance - how couldAlex blow dry a bald head? He had to go! Why do you think Giggs andScholes have been there so long? A good head of hair! You see nowthat they're losing a bit on top they go to the fringes of theteam. And Japp Stam - say no more." The whole incident reminded me of my recent trip to Funchalt, thefishing village where Ronaldo was born. I bumped into a couple offishermen in a bar who told me that they used to teach Ronaldo howto deep sea dive when he was a child. When I mentioned thesituation with Real Madrid one said "Stick with Sir Fergie, hea good hair dryer, maybe when he retire he make my hair good!"They burst into laughter and ruffled their hair. But you know what,maybe if Sir Alex does get bored when he eventually retires, he cancome out to Funchalt and enjoy the kind of good times that I haveshared with these two stupid fishermen sitting on the shore talkingfish. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:43:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/losing-your-wallet-in-russia-14149.html lady leather jackets Now that the leather jacket had passed the preliminary fire test,it was necessary to try the damn thing on. But I was running latefor work, as usual, so I told the woman "another day."Before I could make my grand escape she was already holding thejacket out in front of me, like a toreador teasing the bull. Imuttered a mild obscenity, dropped my bag, and slipped my arms intothe unidentifiable animal skin. Then the woman held up a longmirror for me, while offering a barrage of kindly compliments, notone of them remotely true. I gazed at my reflection and was shocked: A total stranger - a cross between a skinny Mafia boss and theMatrix kid - was leering back at me. "Cool, a new me," I reflected in my morning stupor."Just what I need." I inquired about the price and she shot back: "2,500rubles." "Sorry," I said, removing the jacket. "That's wayout of my ballpark." But in her mind, the coat was already sold; it was only a matter ofhammering out an agreeable price. She was so confident, in fact,that she was already folding up the coat to stuff into the derigueur plastic bag. Everything was happening so fast that I found myselfcounter-offering her original price: "2,000 rubles," Isaid. She feigned pain by contorting her facial features, explaining thatshe would only break even on the sale at such a price. I said sorry, shrugged my shoulders, and started to walk away fromthe table. "Okay, okay," she said. "Two thousand rubles, as yousay." "No," I said, sensing her sudden desperation. "Ireally can't, it's just too much." "Okay sir, 1,500 rubles, but I tell you I will lose money onsuch a price." Ah, the thrill of the Russian bazaar. I love it! What couldpossibly compare to the exhilaration of bargaining for your ownleather, besides actually hunting down the animal on your own? Infact, I think it is a great loss that consumers cannot walk intoMacy's or Harrod's and negotiate with the sales ladies. Haggling isa contest, an ancient art, a card game where buyer and seller bluffeach other until both sides finally show their cards. And after thebattle both sides feel victorious: the shopper feels like they gota hard-won bargain (even if he didn't), while the sales person canfeel a sense of pride about being a real participant in the sale. When I arrived home with my new leather jacket, I pulled it out ofthe bag and uttered another expletive. I put it on and looked inthe mirror and realized that I looked ridiculous. There are peoplewho can wear full-length black leather coats and there are thosewho can't. At best, I can don the trench coat in my moments ofboredom and run around the house in slow motion with the stereoblasting the Matrix soundtrack, as I blow away imaginary Mr. Smithswith my imaginary shotgun. This is certainly not the first time a Russian sales person hassweet-talked me into buying something I did not need. Thisunderlines one of the great paradoxes about Russia: it is home tofantastic sales people, maybe even the best in the world. In the West, our sales people have been spoon-fed stupid advicefrom pimply business-school grads who have never experienced thereal world. Slogans like "the consumer is king," and"the consumer is always right," and other such tediouscrap, immediately greet shoppers when they walk into stores, givingshoppers ego trips. In Russia, as with so many other things, thevery opposite is true. The customer is an individual that needssomething that the seller has, therefore, he - the buyer - ispractically an object of scorn and derision. After all, why shouldthe seller, the person with all of the goodies, be nice to a personwho does not have the goodies? Yes, the customer may have themoney, but so does everybody else. If you don't want to buy, theRussian seller seems to say, somebody else will, so you betterhurry up, buddy, and make a decision. I suppose this mentality stretches back into the Soviet period whenthe seller, the merchant, really was a king. Of course these peopleled very dangerous lives (indeed, as all kings do), since the ideaof profiting from the buying and selling of "soul-crushingthings" was a big no-no for the communists. But everybody -from the top ranks of the Communist party, to the lower tier of thetoiling workers - wanted and needed stuff. This put the sellers,especially during the early days of perestroika, into positions ofgreat influence. When you mix this Soviet mentality with the fact that Russians wereborn with silver tongues, which have been brought to a dangerousedge from reciting Pushkin poems, my advice is: don't let yourguard down when haggling in Russia, a place where a fool and hismoney are quickly parted. By Robert Bridge Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:11:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/one-stylish-step-for-man-14142.html Men Bomber Jacket LONDON, Paris, New York, Milan when it comes to fashionweek, women's trends always soak up the spotlight. Althoughmany of the industry's famous designers are male, menswearbarely registers on the style barometer. But fashion matters to men. Despite the credit crunch, when guys dohit the shops the average spend in their favourite clothing storeis ￡140, according to industry analyst Drapers. Inspired by the likes of style icons David Beckham, Brad Pitt andnew cool kid on the block Mark Ronson, men don't have to bevain to care about looking good. With Father's Day tomorrow, it's time for men'sstyle to shine. From George Clooney gentleman to Liam Gallagherrock god, this season's trends should appeal to hisfashionista alter ego. Ian Bryder, menswear design manager at ASOS, gives us the lowdownon this summer's hottest styles. MIAMI VICE If your man likes to scrub up nicely, this summer's smart,preppy look with a twist should tick his style boxes. ASOS hasdubbed this look "Poolside". "It's very ‘Englishman in LA', with smart,relaxed, colourful takes on classic Anglo menswear pieces,"says Ian. "Think cotton blazers, smart shorts, slim short-sleeved checkshirts and canvas deck shoes with retro tortoiseshell-framed shadesand a straw trilby." BAG THE TREND: Next's grey cotton blazer and T-shirt set,￡85; belted jeans, ￡40, and white pointed lace-up shoes, ￡45.Or, from House of Fraser, Ralph Lauren navy blazer, ￡340; RalphLauren blue V-neck tank top, ￡70; Tommy Hilfiger white tailoredshorts, ￡60, and Tommy Denim white shirt, ￡60. SURF'S UP Young hip guys with a passion for standing out from the edgy stylecrowds will love this season's "Digital Surf"look perfect if Mr Norm is his wardrobe nemesis. "It's young, fun, bold, bright and very skinny,"Ian says. "The crowds at the various new ‘urban beaches' inthe UK, where hi-graphic surf culture meets an edgy, streetwiseclubbing crowd, were the inspiration behind this look. "Go for loud, futuristic boardshort prints with bright,hooded sweatshirts, flip-flops, graphic T-shirts and coloured framesunglasses." BAG THE TREND: Topman's yellow frame sunglasses, ￡12; pipedpolo shirt, ￡14, and print cardigan, ￡25. Or, all at Debenhams,Red Herring trilby hat, ￡25; print T-shirt, ￡14; yellow jeans,￡25, and St George by Duffer plimsoll, ￡18. FESTIVAL FARE Festival wear doesn't have to mean grungy macs and greenwellington boots. ASOS has rocked up festival gear with a Tokyostreet-inspired look christened "Fuji Festival". Ian says: "Festival essentials have been given a lightweight,layered, lived-in feel with a vintage Japanese graphic edge. "It's all about lightweight nylon jackets andwellingtons for those midsummer downpours and rolled-up denimshorts, retro checked shirts and Y-neck T-shirts ready for thoserays of sunshine." BAG THE TREND: ASOS.com's metallic bomber jacket, ￡40; checkroll-up-sleeve shirt ￡28; slim-fit trousers, ￡28, and flip-flops,￡6. Or Topman's nylon jacket, ￡45; T-shirt, ￡12; denimshorts, ￡25, and flip-flops, ￡12. SUMMER STAPLES Want to know what to shop for to update your seasonal wardrobe? Ianrecommends the top 10 buys to splash out on this summer andthe key details that make all the difference to ensure that yourman is bang on trend: Smart shorts solid white or navy, or formalwear-inspiredstripes or fine checks. Try Marks et Spencer Blue Harbour navychino shorts, ￡9.50. Check shirt oversized ginghams or colourful madras checkswith rolled-up extra short sleeves. Try Topman multicoloured brightcheck shirt, ￡25. Polo shirt the Blake Fielder-Civil effect. Must be skinnyfit with top button fastened. Try Republic Soul Cal block-stripepolo, ￡19.99. Printed vest striped or retro geometric patterned, or trytwo solid colours layered over each other. Try ASOS green and whitestriped vest, ￡8. Denim shorts jean style worn with hems rolled up above theknee for a relaxed vibe. Try Next denim three-quarter-lengthshorts, ￡32. Hooded tops the perfect layering piece for chilly festivalevenings. Try: Burton graphic hoodie, ￡28. Cotton blazer fine stripes look strongest; team with slimjeans and a bold-coloured polo. Try ASOS fine-striped, fittedblazer, ￡40. Grey denim the new indigo for denim. Works great withsummer colours for a smarter jeans look. Try Dr. Denim Snap FitGrey Jean, ￡40 at Urban Outfitters. Clubmaster glasses the new Wayfarer for this summer. TryASOS Clubmaster tortoiseshell sunglasses, ￡12. Boat shoes this season's must-have footwear, inwhite, navy or bright, preppy colours. Try French Connection whiteboat shoe, ￡50. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:09:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/new-h-m-at-atlantic-station-a-treat-for-fashionistas-on-budget-14141.html Shorts And Shirts I was a penniless student and couldn't wait to get my hands on theinexpensive, trendy duds. But I did wait. Three months. Why?Because it was just too crowded to shop. It probably won't take three months for the crowds to die down atHetM Atlantic Station, particularly since it is the second locationin the metro area (the first at North Point Mall opened in May),but it can't hurt to have a shopping game plan whenever you decideto go. Fortunately, the layout of this big bi-level store, isn't toocomplex. The entire ground level is devoted to women's clothing. LongtimeHetM fans will quickly identify modern basics; white linen shortswith a belted waist, polka dot sundresses, and multi-tiered pinktank tops all for $20. A bikini wall spans the middle of the storewith rows of mix and match tops and bottoms in color combinationsof black and gold or summer brights. Across the aisle, racks ofaccessories include $6 scarves, enamel bracelets and canvas andfaux-leather bags and totes. Shorts, tanks and dresses by L.O.G.G., HetM's casual sportswearconcept, occupy space at the rear of the store while the tailoreditems from the HetM modern classics collection with career womanappeal such as sand colored sailor pants ($30) and printed buttonfront blouses ($25), are just near the East District Avenueentrance. For a special treat, dip into the lingerie room, a section devotedto HetM's line of intimates that includes organic cotton sets like agray and white striped padded bra with matching boy shorts. Take the escalator (or elevator) to level two and find thechildren's section arranged by age; 0 - 18 months, 1-8 years and9-14 years. Boys can choose from drawstring surfer style shorts($10) and t-shirts, while little girls can try the tiered dressesin pink and brown ($17) and Hello Kitty tanks. The men's department is also on the top floor where plaid buttondown shirts, striped polos and other casual sportswear fromL.O.G.G. hang near accessories like sunglasses and flip-flops.Tanks with leaf motifs ($5) and cargo shorts ($30) share space withdressier gear such as jackets and pinstriped dress shirts. Don'tforget a black and white trilby hat ($8) to complete any stylishoutfit. Divided, HetM's concept for ultra-trendy men and women, is housedupstairs as well. The line includes denim for men and women, alongwith other hot-off-the-street looks for the fashion-consciousshopper. Dressing rooms and cash registers on both levels may help quell thecrowds in the first few weeks, but consider yourself warned. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:08:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/in-argentina-che-guevara-finally-gets-more-than-a-lousy-t-shirt-14140.html Soccer T Shirts ROSARIO, Argentina -- No Argentine has left a bigger mark on theworld than legendary revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, yet thereis no major monument in his homeland to the face that launched amillion T-shirts. That changes Saturday with the unveiling of a 12-foot bronze statuein this town where he was born 80 years ago. Since he was killed trying to foment revolution in Bolivia in 1967,the Marxist guerrilla has been a source of inspiration forrevolutionary movements from Northern Ireland to East Timor, asymbol of rebellion for three generations of Western youth, and amarketing ... Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:07:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/guest-opinion-wolf-population-warrants-delisting-14139.html The Mountain Goats By DAVID ALLEN When bald eagles soared off the endangered-species list lastsummer, there were champagne toasts from coast to coast. Americanswere proud to have restored another symbol of freedom and wildness.It was a success that mirrored previous restorations of elk, muledeer, black bears, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, mountain goatsand a host of other wildlife - long before anyone dreamed ofdrafting an Endangered Species Act. Now, 13 years after gray wolves were officially reintroduced to thenorthern Rockies, federal biologists have moved to free them from"the list," too. You'd think the people who argued longest andloudest to bring wolves back would be slapping backs andcelebrating. Instead, they're filing lawsuits. The Endangered Species Act was never intended to create a permanentwitness protection program for wolves. It was meant to recoverrobust self-sustaining populations, to create un-endangeredspecies. And wolves are so there. Ed Bangs is wolf recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service. He's been in charge of restoring wolves to theNorthern Rockies from day one. Bangs has lived in the cruciblesince those first Canadian wolves hit the ground in 1995. He'searned a reputation as a man absolutely committed to good science,not politics or opinion. On wolves, he says, "We're rock-solid. TheEndangered Species Act did its job. It's time to move on." State management needed What does it mean to move on? The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundationbelieves the sooner states take on the responsibility for managingwolves, the better. Maybe the lawsuits can be settled and control fully passed to thestates before another year goes by. It's high time we starttreating wolves as wild animals - more specifically, game animals. Apart from the bald eagle, all of the once-rare species listed inthe opening paragraph have been plentiful and actively hunted for50 years. States have used the best available science to setseasons and quotas. They've teamed up with hunters as hands-onmanagers, keeping wild populations within local environmental andcultural tolerances. In the process, millions of families havecollected a bounty of healthy meat, powerful connections with wildcountry and lasting fond memories. "We strongly support hunting wolves," Bangs says. "Look at thesuccess we've had with hunting mountain lions and maintainingstrong lion populations. There is no reason wolf management cannotbe just as successful." It was hunters who financed the restoration - and continuingstewardship - of the big-game populations that made wolf recoverypossible. Hunting licenses and excise taxes on guns, ammunition,bows and arrows still provide most of the funds that states use tostudy and manage wild species. But rather than supporting huntersand America's proven system of conservation, lawsuit plaintiffs arecondemning both. Certainly, proponents of perpetual wolf protection aren't the onlyones who can get a little emotional. When wolves kill elk orcattle, the carnage makes it easy to imagine that wolves might soonlay waste to all wildlife and livestock. Sometimes it's good tostep back and look at the numbers. Cumulative 2007 numbers for Idaho, Montana and Wyoming: 3 millionpeople, 1,500 wolves - and around 350,000 elk. In 1995, there were a half-million fewer people, no wolves - andaround 350,000 elk. That's right. Since wolves were reintroduced, Montana's elkpopulation has grown by at least 30,000 animals, Wyoming's elkpopulation is down 8,000 and Idaho's is 10,000 lower. Hunterharvest totals have remained very similar since 1995, averaging20,000 in Idaho, 25,000 in Montana, and 20,000 in Wyoming. This doesn't mean that wolves haven't taken an extremely heavy tollon elk and livestock in some places. They have. They will. Andthat's another reason why we should be actively managing wolvesthrough regulated hunting. Endangered habitat From where I sit, the biggest change on the Northern Rockieslandscape since 1995 is not the return of wolves. It's the way ourwild places and open spaces are filling up with houses and roadsand box stores. There is no Endangered Habitat Act. That's why I'mso proud of what the Elk Foundation has accomplished. In Idaho,Montana and Wyoming, our organization has helped conserve aquarter-million acres of prime habitat, and enhance habitat onanother 1.5 million acres for elk and other wildlife. Your role? Support state-based wolf management via hunting. And,even more importantly, support organizations working to ensure thatall of us - you, me, our children and grandchildren, and allwildlife - have plenty of wild country to roam. David Allen of Billings is president and CEO of the Rocky MountainElk Foundation, an international conservation organization based inMissoula. Copyright ? The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises . Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:06:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/sandbox-couture-summer-collection-primed-with-little-girls-clothes-14138.html Designer Kids Wear Rancho Santa Margarita, CA June 14, 2008 -- Sandbox Couture, apopular online children's boutique retailer of baby clothes, babygifts and designer children's clothing today announced the additionof new Ooh! La, La! Couture dresses and coordinating set outfits,as new items of baby gifts and little boys clothes. SandboxCouture.com maintains a large inventory of top designers forfresh, fun and unique baby clothes that are prime for settingtrends among children's fashions. Highlighting Quicksilver forboys and Ooh! La, La! Couture for girls, the online boutiqueappeals to parents everywhere. The fresh and fun styles of Ooh!La, La! Couture offer comfort and style, with a sassy twist of edgyelegance. The new items from this line include the Jacquard Blacket White shirt with matching poufy skort, and a similarcoordinating set in Moss green. In addition, several styles ofpoufy dresses have been recently added as well giving shoppers avariety of outfits featuring a blend of sweet and sassy styles thatare comfortable and appropriate for summer fun. The unique combinations of comfortable knits adorned with fundetails such as funky prints, fanciful trims and even Swarovskicrystals, contribute to this line's success among moms and littlegirls alike. The outfits designed by Ooh! La, La! Couture offerenticing colors and fun patterns that little girls love to wear. Featuring exciting new choices for individual flair and style issomething Sandbox Couture aims for each month. "We understand the importance of selection and creativity whenit comes to children's clothes," stated Sam Brown,spokesperson for Sandbox Couture. "The clothes we wear make astatement about who we are and how we carry ourselves, and it's nodifferent for children. We make it our goal to bring fashionforward designs to parents and children," Brown concluded. In addition to the new items added to the inventory of children'sclothes, Sandbox Couture has a variety of baby gifts ideal forbirthdays and baby showers. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:05:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/muslim-t-shirt-designers-take-a-smack-at-american-ignorance-14137.html mens t shirt "There are almost 1.2 billion Muslim people in the world.At least 15 of us are not terrorists," quipped Obaida Abdel-Rahim,28. "It could even be more than that. Maybe even a lot more." TheCalgary, Canada-born Abdel-Rahim owns the Muslim t-shirt businessPhatwa Factory, one of several Middle Eastern-accented t-shirtbusinesses to spring up in saucy retort to the outpouring ofanti-Muslim sentiment since 9/11. From Rootsgear's "100 percentRandomly Searched at the Following Airports" andcasualdisobedience.com's "Enemy Combatant" tees, to the lighter"Lebanese Princess," and "Allah's Little Angel," they are gettingtheir message across. Abdel-Rahim, who now lives in Gainesville, Florida, said he hopesto use humorous slogans to bust US stereotypes about Muslims. "The best thing to happen to Muslim clothing since pants under athawb [traditional men's robe]," says a slogan for Phatwa Factory,which he started in 2006. "I'd like Muslims to know that it's okay to laugh," he said, "andnon-Muslims to know that we have a sense of humor." Dalia Ghanem had a similar idea. The New Jersey-born,Egypt-descended clothing designer dreams up hip t-shirts for peopleof Arabic heritage. She decided Arab-Americans needed a moreoptimistic representation of their culture after 9/11. "Every store that sold t-shirts was selling 'Everyone loves anAsian girl,' 'Latin girl,' 'Italian' and 'Irish Girl,'" said the29-year-old Ghanem, who develops prints and patterns for a New Yorkfashion company. "I wanted one that said 'Everyone loves an Arabgirl!'" So she designed one, launching her one-woman t-shirtat.co (theArabic plural of "t-shirt") in 2004. Abdel-Rahim named his company to poke fun at the typical USinterpretation of fatwa. "Most people hear fatwa," he said, "andthey think of Don Mohammad Corleone issuing a hit on some poorinfidel." Just as the Western media has misappropriated the word jihad, Abdel-Rahim asserted, the word "fatwa" has become synonymous withan errant death sentence. In reality, he pointed out, it's just anIslamic scholar's religious ruling. Neither Ghanem nor Abdel-Rahim has received any deadly fatwas as aresult of their irreverent designs. "I'm a little disappointed,"Abdel-Rahim joked. "I was kind of hoping for at least a deaththreat or two." Some observers approve of the t-shirt humor, seeing it as a signthat Muslims are successfully being integrated within Americanpopular culture. The brand of humor cultivated in this casual wearisn't to everyone's taste, though, particularly those who feelcloser to the political problems in the Middle East than they areto the discrimination faced by Muslims trying to live in NorthAmerica. "I don't feel [the tee shirts] are derogatory," said 20-year-oldRosalind George, a US citizen raised in the Palestinian section ofOccupied Jerusalem, "just a little gimmicky." She complained thatthe shirts seemed too Americanized. "I'd prefer a 'Free Palestine' shirt to an 'I heart NY-likeshirt,'" said George, who lived in Occupied Jerusalem while herfather worked for the aid organization Save the Children. She did like the shirt printed with "Yallah, bye" ("Let's go,bye"), a common saying used among her friends. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:04:00 GMT http://ueb08ec52.spoonylife.com/bagley-mischka-s-riviera-revery-13517.html Tag : chiffon printing Model walks the runway at the Badgley Mischka Cruise 2009collection show in New York on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.[Agencies] Sometimes Cruise, or Resort, collections have little to do withwarm weather vacations in exotic locals during the cold wintermonths following the purchase of one's fall wardrobe it's simply aretail signifier that new merchandise will be hitting the floorpre-spring. But Badgley Mischka's Cruise 2009 collection, which designers MarkBadgley and James Mischka presented on Tuesday afternoon, June 10,during an intimate runway show in their New York office, epitomizedglamour on the high seas, particularly the kind that might be foundsunbathing on a yacht in a Riviera harbor circa 1955. Grace Kelly and her mid-fifties films "Mogambo" and "To Catch aThief" inspired the collection, said Badgley, but a disco-era Grace- Jones, that is, would be another apt comparison, with all thecriss-cross chiffon halter neck and lamé gowns making up the bulkof the duo's signature pieces. The collection's daywear sectionopened with a series of tropical prints in lush colors like jade,grape and mango adorning a cowl neck chiffon dress, a bikini and araincoat. Smart, tailored safari jackets followed, along with acouple of leopard print pieces. Eveningwear, Badgley Mischka's mainstay, was less focused, withlooks ranging from bohemian caftan-like dresses to empire-waistedchiffon gowns in citrusy colors on the warm end of the color wheelto the aforementioned disco dolly numbers, but when you're dressingstars for the red carpet, variety isn't a bad thing. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:08:00 GMT