How Poetry Saved The World...

...or something like that...

I ran a good bit of this post on Venus back in April, but as this anthology is on the verge of being released - and because 100% of its proceeds go to an incredible cause - I thought it was worth running again.

The anthology is two volumes and only costs $12 per volume; did I mention that all proceeds go to a good cause?

Please read on, and thanks for supporting Heifer International (yeah - I know, it's not exactly sexy-sounding, is it? But, wow - what an amazing concept!). And thanks, too, for supporting little ol' me since one of my poems is included in the anthology (Vol I).



"Goldfish Press has partnered with Heifer International and with the proceeds of it's very first book launch a Poetry Anthology is going to buy some cows! Cows? What would be the better gift for someone? Another present that gathers dust on a shelf? Or a donation that represents a heifer and training in its care, that brings health and hope to struggling families around the world?

The concept is simple, every gift given multiplies, as the animal's first offspring is passed on to another family-then they also agree to pass on an animal, and so on. A good dairy cow can produce four gallons of milk a day - enough for a family to drink and share with neighbors. Milk protein transforms sick, malnourished children into healthy boys and girls. The sale of surplus milk earns money for school fees, medicine, clothing and home improvements. And because a healthy cow can produce a calf every year, every gift will be passed on and eventually help an entire community move from poverty to self reliance. Now that's a goal and a gift worth giving!"

The World According to Goldfish - Vol I Looking Past and Vol II Sight (ADVANCE PURCHASE)

In support of Heifer International, Goldfish Press is pleased to present from the far reaches of Australia, Canada, India, Nepal, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the USA, and beyond a full-length poetry anthology containing never-before published, breathtaking and at times heart-wrenching poetry contributed by authors both renown and unknown.

Cover Art by (neo) Florian Nicolle, a Frenchman and twenty-two-year-old Graphic Designer/Illustrator. (Estimated Release: August 1, 2009)

Click HERE to order Volume I



and HERE to to order Volume II.

Goldfish Press

Heifer International

Hitchens Demolishes Sharpton in Debate on Morality

Fascinating...



Poor Al - in way over his head. *Way* over.

Tennyson Treats

Couture Week Faves

Let's face it, I'd need a full-time staff of bloggers to cover all the visual delights and disappointments of Paris Couture Week. Speaking of Paris - I'd like to throw a shout-out to all of our cousins who are Chunneling their way to The City of Lights tomorrow: Have fun y'all! Am I envious? You bet! C'est la vie et tout n'est pas perdu - nous serons là l'année prochaine !

Anyhoo...

If Couture Week were a contest, John Galliano's Dior designs won by a longshot. Seriously - no contest. I reviewed hundreds of designs and among the rest of the collections presented this week:

Alexis Mabille
Chanel
Christian Lacroix
Armani Prive
Elie Saab
Givenchy
Jean Paul Gaultier
Valentino

...I could only call these keepers...

Armani Prive...


Jean-Paul Gaultier...


Valentino...


I didn't have time to look at any of the ready-to-wear collections (couture is much more fun anyway...well, usually.).

If you follow fashion at all, you probably already know the difference between ready-to-wear and couture; for fun I thought I'd throw in a little Wiki definition of haute couture:

"In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris based in Paris, France. Their rules state that only 'those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves' of the label haute couture. The criteria for haute couture were established in 1945 and updated in 1992.

To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, members of the Chambre syndicale de la haue couture must follow these rules:

- Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings.
- Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time.
- Each season (i.e., twice a year), present a collection to the Paris press, comprising at least thirty-five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear." (Source)

It's a tough gig to get and the number of designers eligible (or able) to present couture collections are dwindling by the second. Damn economy.

I know that only about .05% of the world's population can afford couture designs; that matters not to me - I just enjoy the theatrics and appreciate immensely clothing that's made really, really well.

On that note, I'm going to go put on my men's jammie bottoms from Target and one of my husband's t-shirts and go to bed.

Madonna, Bunny Ears, And One Ferosh Pair Of Boots

Madonna for the Autumn/Winter 2009/10 Louis Vuitton Collection...




This totally makes up for the whole Lagerfeld debacle *and* Madonna seems so much more like the Madonna of yesteryear... Faboosh!

Lagerfeld Disappoints - Again

Oh, no. No. No. No.

What kind of hot mess hath Karl Lagerfeld wrought on the runways of Paris this week? Veiled bucket-caps, capes, heavily-laced tights and open-toed booties? Tired, overly-ladened fabrics, horrible shapes (80s shoulder pads?!). Lagerfeld's was a massive collection - nearly 70 pieces - and I couldn't find a one that I liked. Not even a little bit.

His spring/summer shows are typically glorious - if only for the venue and theatrics; but his fall/winter shows have been consistently disappointing. Boo!

But that's just my uninformed opinion. After all, what do I know? Anyway, see for yourself; a sampling from Chanel's Fall/Winter 2009/10 Couture Collection...



























The man, the myth, the Lagerfeld...



Yuck-O.

Photos: Monica Feudi/gorunway.com

Christian Dior - To Dior For!

From Christian Dior's Fall/Winter 2009/10 collection shown during Paris Couture Week; Ooh la la!

It's like Madonna, Joan Crawford, Bernadette Peters and a Victoria's Secret model had a party in John Galliano's head. I love it.















John Galliano, center...


Yumm-O!

Photos: AFP/AP

Sarah Palin Resigns

Even more shocking - I'm not saying a word.