Thursday, March 3, 2011

Britney Spears Covers V Magazine

Imaginary Britney.

V Magazine Issue #70
Editorial:
"Britney Forever"
Photographed by
Mario Testino
Styled by
Panos Yiapanis

Britney Spears is apparently more of an idea than a person now, if this editorial and interview with her from V Magazine is to be believed. First, the interview:

As a child, what did you imagine fame would be like?
I don’t think I thought about “fame” when I was a child. I knew I wanted to perform and I knew I wanted to be on stage but I don’t think I ever thought about fame or what comes with being famous.


Your every move is reported in the media. What are your tricks to staying balanced and not letting it get to you?

I’m past all of that. I try to block it all out and not pay attention to anything they write about me in the magazines or online. I’m done with that.

If you walked away from it all tomorrow, what would you do instead? What would you miss the most? The least?
I’d be a full-time mom which would be cool. I’d miss my fans and all of the love the most, but I definitely would not miss having my picture taken everywhere I go.


Completely robotic, non-committal, boilerplate responses: "I don't think about fame; I'd just be a mother; I'd miss my fans the most." Revealing absolutely nothing about the subject, this interview could have been pieced together from refrigerator magnets.

Now let's turn our bitchery toward the pictures:

Tom Ford Spring 2011 Collection [ Bustier stylist’s own]


Ralph Lauren Spring 2011 Collection


Salvatore Ferragamo Spring 2011 Collection [Bra Agent Provocateur]


Ralph Lauren Spring 2011 Collection


Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2011 Collection [Collar vintage]


Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci Spring 2011 Collection [Top stylist’s own]


Valentino Spring 2011 Collection

Britney, honey? Are you in there? It's kind of hard to tell under all the filters and Photoshop and saturated light. We realize that all stars are packaged and that the bigger the star, the more plastic the packaging gets, but even then, this is a bit silly. An interview that reveals nothing and a set of pictures so whitewashed they could be of anybody. This whole enterprise whiffs of heavy-handed "handling." Certainly we don't blame her people for keeping her under tight wraps, given that she's demonstrated a, shall we say, lack of stability, but it forces the question of why this girl keeps pursuing fame (or why the people around her keep pushing her to) when she can't seem to handle any of it. She certainly doesn't need the money. We're not suggesting she should just hang up her career, but she's so packaged and handled now that we get no sense at all of the woman or artist underneath anymore. Just a somewhat hazy picture of a somewhat fragile celebrity.

[Photo Credit: Mario Testino via wmagazine.com, elle.com]


Post a Comment

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Britney Spears Covers V Magazine

Imaginary Britney.

Click here for full post.

Product Review - Acculab Vicon Digital Scales

About the Product
The new Acculab VICON series digital balances are the ideal scales for Industrial, Laboratories, Research, Educational, Postal, Specialty and more. Whether weighing multiple samples with totaled results, formulating a color, counting, percent weighing, specific gravity, or under pan weighing, Acculab has the answer in VICON. The new Vicon digital balances feature a flip-down protective cover, stainless steel pan and back-lit display.
  • 15 models (enhanced by four milligram units)
  • Protective flip-down and removable plastic cover for shipping protection and allows stackable storage
  • Integrated external calibration weights on models 710 gram capacity and below
  • Unique durable design for all applications
  • Applications include: Counting, Percent Weighing, Totaling, Display Hold, Specific Gravity, Mass unit conversion
  • 14 Mass unit conversions (g, oz, lbs, lbs:oz, dwt, ozt, grains, Newton , carats, Taels HK/Taiwan/Singapore/China, user defined)
  • Optional RS-232 or USB interface kit (field installable)
  • Parts counting with selectable reference sample
  • 9 volt Battery operation (or included AC adapter) (excluding milligram models)
  • External “one button” calibration with 3 weight options
  • Lock down capability
  • Two year manufacturer warranty
My Take on the Scale
I was given the chance to try out this scale, and was amazed at how accurate it was. My daughters and I decided to try weighing so many things from food, to larger items like marbles. We were careful with it though as we didn't want to mess with the calibration of the special instruments. The scale itself was very easy to use. The instructions were clear and even me, a non-scientific guy could figure it out without much problem.

To be honest, I could see this being the science teacher's dream instrument, and I wish that I could simply give the scale to a local science teach that I know as I know that he would just love it!

If you are looking for an extra-accurate scale, then I would highly recommend that you check this scale out, you will not be disappointed!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Gazillion Bubbles Photo Contest

I know that for many people across the country are not quite having spring weather yet (I just look out at the frozen tundra that is Michigan to know that), but out in Los Angeles, CA where Gazillions is headquartered they have already kicked off the spring season with their third annual "Ultimate Gazillion Bubbles Photo Contest"! 

The contest is currently running until July 22, 2011. The Grand Prize winner will receive a $1,000 Toys 'R Us Gift Card along with a "summer fun package" of Gazillion products valued at approximately $100! We will be giving away monthly prizes of $250 gift cards and bubble prizes too!

Please visit www.funrise.com/photocontest for more information. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but yours can actually be worth $1,000!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

Protect our kids: Parents, Foundation host National Cyberbully Day Sunday March 6; live streaming

Recent studies show that one in every three kids will be cyberbullied.  That is why the Where Our Kids Matter Foundation is hosting a town hall meeting in Chagrin Falls, OH at the Chagrin Falls Town Hall Sunday, March 6 from 4pm-5pm at 83 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls, Ohio to provide solutions to families to help protect children. Where Our Kids Matter Foundation is a resource for parents to help protect and educate themselves on the dangers of “the cloud”, a term used for accessing things online remotely. This event will mark the first National Day of Cyberbully Awareness, co-sponsored by Project Love/Purple America. Project Love/Purple America is a 16-year old Cleveland-based charity dedicated to helping build kindness, caring and respect in the lives of children.

The panel will be comprised of eight individuals representing eight "points of life" in a child's life (family, school, government, media, etc.)  including Mark Pollock (Author of the soon-to-be-released Generation "Friend Me" which is about the dangers of cyberbulling and co-founder of the Where Our Kids Matter Foundation), Mayor Tom Brick, Pastor Chris Fisher (who led the funeral ceremony for a local teen who recently committed suicide due to cyberbullying), school administrators and more.  The event has gained endorsement of the National Education Association (NEA).

The event will be live video simulcast on
www.LiveStream.com/cyberbullyday in 19 cities - and counting.  Everyone is free to join via the live stream.

For more information you can text Bully to 90210 or visit
www.cyberbullyday.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

GiftCardGranny Challenges Stay At Home Mom to Live Off Discount Gift Cards

Gift Card Granny is proud to announce that she has challenged stay-at-home mom of two, Ashley Grimaldo to live off gift cards through the month of March.

Ashley is required to make all of her regular purchase -- excluding rent and utilities -- using discount gift cards purchased from GiftCardGranny.com resellers.

"Gift cards are traditionally something we buy for friends and family, not ourselves," said Gift Card Granny founder Luke Knowles. "Now with discount gift cards, we want to show people how much money they can save on their own everyday purchases. With thousands of cards to hundreds of top merchants available for up to 50% off, it's really a no-brainer."

The revolutionary discount gift card marketplace GiftCardGranny.com allows shoppers to find and buy other consumers unwanted gift cards for less than the cards value.

Follow Ashley as she blogs daily about her gift card adventure, while the savings ticker will show you how much she has saved so far.

Why not join Ashley by taking your own 30-Day Challenge? Just use discount gift cards for your everyday purchases and watch the savings pile up. If you're curious to see just how much you can save, use our Savings Calculator before beginning your own adventure.

###

GiftCardGranny.com is one of four websites operating under the brand name The Frugals and is dedicated to helping consumers save money and live more frugally. Other members of The Frugals family include CouponSherpa.com, MrFreeStuff.com and MrsSweepstakes.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com

4 Steps to Raising a Future Writer

4 Steps to Raising a Future Writer
By Dr. Richard Gentry
Adapted from his new book, "Raising Confident Readers"

Lots of parents read aloud to their baby and toddler, but few take the next step: encouraging early writing. Did you know that babies can draw pictures (prewriting) and create narratives at between 2 and 3 years of age? A young child who is stimulated with targeted activities early and often can be writing and illustrating complex stories by age 4 or 5.

Why does this matter? Because studies show that when reading and writing is taught to children starting at birth, their neural pathways develop in different ways. They are more intelligent, have a 32-million-word advantage by kindergarten over children who did not get this exposure, and are less likely to develop learning problems such as dyslexia.

Over 30 years as an early childhood literacy, reading, and writing specialist, I have developed fun and simple activities parents can do with their babies and young children that help them develop writers' brains. They can be summed up in four easy-to-remember words in the acronym READ.

Repetition. Joyful repeated readings of favorite books are a hallmark of early reading and writing success. Long after you are exhausted rereading these favorite books, your baby or toddler will thrill in reading them over and over again. Babies love repetition, which encourages him to mimic the words and babble sounds -- early language responses. Over time, this mimicking behavior turns into higher-order concepts and understandings, and eventually memory "reading." Babies also mimic feelings during book sharing. If you read with feeling, it encourages your baby to have positive associations with reading.

Enthusiasm. Many experts agree that talking to your child and having frequent read-alouds, surrounded by talk about books during book sharing, are the most important brain-stimulation activities in parenting. You are activating her social, hearing, emotional, and linguistic systems all at once. The other E's in this step are Enticement, Exploration, Engagement, and Explosion. By enticing your child with fun reading activities, exploring new books, and engaging her in the process, her vocabulary, knowledge, and love of learning will explode. From birth to age 6 is when your baby's brain has the greatest ability to establish language proficiency.

Attention. When you read or write with your child, you are constantly making decisions about how to direct his attention. Since reading and writing are complex, at various times you must focus his attention to the many different aspects of language, reading, writing, or spelling. You are switching off between attention to sounds, meaning, rhythm or musicality of language, expression, feelings, letter naming, and letter formation, to name a few. The key is to do a variety of targeted reading and writing activities with your child that are appropriate and fun for his phase of development.

Drawing. Your child might be ready to scribble on paper long before you think she's able. Early scribbling is the precursor to early writing. With early marking and scribbling, she is showing an internal desire to communicate, joy in expressing ideas, and the urge to make meaning. Experts agree that drawing almost always opens the gate to early literacy. There are lots of fun and easy activities you can do with your toddler or preschooler to help her be an early writer.

About the Author 

J. Richard Gentry PhD is the author of Raising Confident Readers: How to Teach Your Child to Read and Write -- from Baby to Age 7 (Da Capo / Perseus, www.jrichardgentry.com), which is chock-full of reading and writing development tips and activities you can do with your baby and young child. Dr. Gentry is a nationally acclaimed expert on childhood literacy, reading, and spelling development, with more than 30 years of experience working with beginning readers. A former university professor and elementary school teacher, he is currently an educational consultant in Florida. 


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New to the Divadom or to Dad of Divas Reviews?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com