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Left of Center: Back with a DVD review of TIMECRIMES

The Wulf — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:21:03 -0500

TIMECRIMES is the debut film from Spanish writer director Nacho Vigalondo and takes an intense look time travel in a simple (or not so simple) thriller. If you are a fan of time travel films, then you should enjoy TIMECRIMES.

Visit the official site for TIMECRIMES

Visit ClevelandFilm.org for information on the 34th Cleveland International Film Festival

Socialist Steve & Jimmy

Stephen Manchester & Jim Falco — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:52:58 -0500

LA-Story: Kathy Joosten Talks about Lung Cancer and lots more!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Kathy Joosten is a name you might not get right off the top of your head, but you would definitely recognize her from Desperate Housewives, though she isn't like her character except in her forthright and outspoken nature. Kathryn Joosten is currently starring as Mrs. McClusky on the popular, award winning series Desperate Housewives. In 2005 and 2008, Kathryn won an Emmy for her portrayal of the crotchety, gossipy neighbor on the hit ABC comedy. Kathryn was also nominated for a SAG Award for Desperate Housewives in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2005 Kathryn won a Camie Award (Character and Morality in Entertainment Awards) for her work in the Lifetime Movie, Secret Santa. Kathryn also won an Theatre Los Angeles Ovation Award for her work in the play, "Ladies of the Corridor" in 2000. Prior to joining the Desperate Housewives cast, she was probably best known as Mrs. Landingham, secretary to the President of the United States, (Martin Sheen), on the critically acclaimed and Emmy award winning NBC drama, The West Wing. She has also recurred on "Dharma and Greg", and guest-starred on many hit television series such as My Name Is Earl, Becker, Arli$$, Ally McBeal, Providence, Scrubs, and over twenty other prime time shows. Her credits are impressive for any actor, let alone as part of a career that only began at age 42. I ran into Kathy Joosten at the Buick Regal Launch event and we got to talking about her personal battle with lung cancer and then the conversation took a different sort of turn as we discussed the situation with research on treatments, causes and prevention of lung cancer. Kathy told me of an 8 year old child who had lung cancer-- she certainly didn't smoke, nor did a 21 year old woman who has been diagnosed with the cancer as well. What's really sad is that while there is so much more push for breast cancer, AIDS/HIV, and other cancers, why nothing has been done about lung cancer which has more cancer deaths than all other cancers combined-- according to what Kathy told me and these statistics are verified by the National Lung Cancer Partnership.

Approximately 219,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the U.S. each year - over 103,000 women and nearly 116,000 men.1 Lung cancer kills more than 160,000 people annually - more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.1 Lung cancer is responsible for more than 28% of all cancer-related deaths every year.1 Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer. Approximately 87 percent of lung cancer cases occur in people who are currently smoking or have previously smoked.2 Although the risk of developing lung cancer goes down with smoking cessation, a significant risk remains for 20 years or longer after quitting.2, 3 Approximately 50 percent of all lung cancers (106,500) occur in people who have already quit smoking.4 Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and the leading cause of lung cancer among never-smokers.5 More people who have never smoked die from lung cancer than do people from AIDS or liver cancer or ovarian cancer.6, 7 Risk factors for lung cancer other than those from smoking include lung scarring from tuberculosis, and occupational or environmental exposures to radon, second-hand smoke, radiation, asbestos, air pollution, arsenic and some organic chemicals.1 Only 16 percent of lung cancer patients are diagnosed before their disease has spread to other parts of their bodies, (e.g., regional lymph nodes and beyond), compared to more than 50 percent of breast cancer patients, and 90 percent of prostate cancer patients.1, 8 Men's mortality (death) rates from lung cancer began declining more than 20 years ago, while women's lung cancer mortality rates have been rising for decades and just recently began to stabilize.9 African Americans experience the highest incidence of lung cancer, and the highest death rate.10 Roughly 84 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer die within five years of their diagnosis, compared to 11 percent of breast cancer and less than 1 percent of prostate cancer patients.1 Less money is spent on lung cancer research than on research on other cancers. In 2007, the National Cancer Institute estimated it spent only it spent only $1,415 per lung cancer death compared to $13,991 per breast cancer death, $10,945 per prostate cancer death, and $4,952 per colorectal cancer.1, 11

Kathy's request and on behalf of all those with lung cancer and their loved ones, please contact your congressperson and senators and ask them to move this out of committee and on through Congress so that it hits the president's desk as law or funding . Stevie Wilson

The Red Carpet Report: Tiger Talk, Miley's tat, and celebrity babies!

The Red Carpet Report — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:16:46 -0500

LA-Story: Jeff Pulver's 140 Character Conference offers more than just tweets & tweeps!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I was invited to attend Jeff Pulver's 140 Character (aka Twitter) Conference but because of the overlap with the Women's Conference, I asked PR & Social Media expert Thom DeLorenzo if he would mind stepping into some of the sessions and give us him impressiions via podcast. Wow...... impressions aren't a strong enough word. The text messages that were flying between him and me while he was in session and I was covering the WC09 was amazing.

So rather than talk a lot about it in text and attempt to translate it into words or even a few words, I just left it all in a very very long podcast.

It's more than just about twitter--
it's about deciphering twitter;
how to use twitter-- personally and professionally
how not to use twitter
consumer engagements and losses
placing twitter in the realm of web 2.0 and social media
use of social media tools in campaigns and online brand awareness
and much much more.

It's a long podcast-- well over 30 minutes. I wish it were shorter but there was literally nothing much to cut and you would have missed out on some of the other things.
Thank you to Thom DeLorenzo for his time, his effort and his business and social media savvy to articulate what he learned at the conference.

Stevie Wilson, LA-Story.com

The Red Carpet Report Ep. 5 - 12/4/09

The Red Carpet Report — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:41:45 -0500

LA-Story: Celebrity HairStylist & Men's Grooming Specialist Diana Schmidtke Talks About MEN!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

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<strong> Diana Schmidtke and I were on the phone for over an hour and when she found out that I had written a men's grooming column for a men's print magazine (alas the magazine folded!) for over a year, we were onto something really hot.

Suddenly "guy talk" and "men's grooming" dominated the entire conversation! The interesting part about this was that Diana's main focus is men! Her editorial and celebrity client work is amazing. Here's just a sampling of the photos of men that she has "cleaned up" -- from her portfolion on her website.

Amazingly casual but clean and well-groomed!

A musician (obviously) -no clue who he is -- but I would love to add him to my collection of favorite men! His hair is casual yet groomed as is his face.

If you don't recognize Mad Men's Jon Hamm, where have you been?

George Clooney graces the cover of a magazine and he looks amazing-- courtesy of Diana's tweak here and there.

You need to listen to the podcast. Each part is at least 30 minutes long.

Diana Schmidtke -- www.dianaschmidtke.com

If you listened to the entire podcast, you will know what brand of products Diana works with quite a bit.

That brand will be featured in another post because it turns out that I had featured that line before and I loved the line for men since it's easy, guy-friendly and affordable.

Stay tuned for more with Diana's favorite men's grooming line!

Stevie Wilson

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Socialist Steve & Jimmy

Stephen Manchester & Jim Falco — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:56:25 -0500

LA-Story: Celebrity Hair-stylist & Men's Grooming Specialist Diana Schmidtke Gives You the 411 on How to Enter the Biz!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

<a href="http://www.gotomypc.com/podcast">GoToMyPC: As secure as online banking. Try it FREE for 30 days.</a>

Diana Schmidtke is not a household name to you-- but she is on the speed-dial of every manager and male celebrity, magazine editor and photographer when it comes to men's grooming. I don't want to categorize her as "just" being into men's grooming-- she goes way beyond that-- and so does her book,Shortcuts to a Successful Career As a Hairstylist or Make up Artist in the Fashion and Entertainment Industry

Diana's a dynamo and I had an opportunity to talk to her without being totally aware of her very extensive background--which if you check out her website www.dianaschmidtke.com you will find out just who she's worked with and what work she has done. Here are a few "tidbit" photos for you to peruse.

Her book is "spot on" with all the relevant information that one needs to make it in the business and her portfolio on her website is proof that her book is really a worthwhile purchase.

A WSJ Makeover on a guy with Diana Schmidtke-- and she's GREAT! (see WSJ online and search for WSJ makeover in the search engine)

Talk about a pro-- this is a pro about men's grooming. Her portfolio is killer and I am not going to tell you much more than you need to buy her book: Thank you to Diana for her time. She's amazing!

Stay tuned for part 2!!

Stevie Wilson

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You need to listen to the podcast. Each part is at least 30 minutes long.

Socialist Steve & Jimmy

Stephen Manchester & Jim Falco — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:02:20 -0500

We're back with almost an hour of issues, laughs, insults and inappropriate remarks. Come join the fun!

The Red Carpet Report Ep. 4 - 11-20-09

The Red Carpet Report — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:45:37 -0500

LA-Story: Lelia Broussard Talks about "Waiting on the Nine" and a Lot More! Podcast Alert!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

<strong>Lelia Broussard's CD was reviewed on this blog not too long ago and I have been listening to it still-- it's that good.

Lelia Broussard Lelia and I spent some time on the phone before she went on tour (east coast bound) and now that that leg of the tour is about to wrap up, she's setting up for some down time (for about a week), then heading back out to the West Coast for a tour kicking off with a date at the Hotel Cafe on Sept 12, 2009 at 9 PM.

She was headlining at the Hotel Cafe so it's a safe bet you need to order tickets in advance and note that you would need to buy tickets to see anyone else that night as well. We talk about many things including what life is like on the road. I know some musicians who love it and others who aren't so fond of being away from home. Guys view it differently often but they also travel "lighter" than girls-- and Lelia and I talk about just that-- how to deal with life on the road.

Lelia Broussard If you can tell through out this conversation, we had a lot to talk about (and more that got edited out-- even silly stuff). Lelia's extremely accessible and her music is equally so. The power of her personality and her musical ability is evident in the videos and she's absolutely incredible on the EP (which you need to buy at www.myspace.com/leliabroussard or iTunes.com).

You also need to get out there and see her play live. According to common friends (aka Erik DiNardo and Michelle Ranheim) she's amazing onstage. This will be updated as soon as I get the 411! Thank you to Lelia Broussard for all her time on this podcast. It was a great time to speak with her.

Stevie Wilson

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The Red Carpet Report Ep. 3 - 11-13-09

The Red Carpet Report — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:53:43 -0500

LA-Story: Jay Nash Talks About the Business of Music and Going on Tour! Podcast!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Jay Nash is currently in LA about to play at the Hotel Cafe tonight. (PS.. this post is about 2 months old). Tomorrow night is Sainte Rock in Hermosa Beach and then he has a tour that's kicking into high gear for a good while with Tony Lucca and a couple other musicians who hop on the musical tour bus from time to time.

Jay Nash playing for an audience of 1 and 1/2.

As we started out the podcast, we talked about the genre and how some of his singing is a bit "country" though I made the reference to early Eagles and Jackson Brown when they were just starting out. Not quite rock-a-billy but more of a unique sound that had some country vibe and not so "LA". It spoke volumes about lives, emotions and dreams. Jay Nash carries on that theme and walks that path -- and stretches it much farther.

If you want to learn more about All the Stars in Copenhagen, , check out the podcast we did earlier in the year that is linked HERE .

Want to know more about Jay Nash?

Hit him on www.jaynash.com or www.myspace.com/jaynash

PS: Jay, if you read this, I already wore out a burned cd of the EP.. and the addiction to your music is pretty steady. It's about time I buy a new copy of The Things You Think You Need -- because I DO need that.

Stevie Wilson

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The Red Carpet Report: Red Carpet Report Ep. 2 - 11/6/09

The Red Carpet Report — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:05:28 -0500

LA-Story: Green Bliss Eco-Spa Talks About Creating Your Own Home Spa Experience!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Get into the "green groove" with Randi Ragan of the Green Bliss Eco-Spa and learn how to create your own eco-friendly spa at home. It's easy, fun and extremely affordable. Can I tell you it's also addicting because suddenly you don't need an appointment for a great pedicure or decompressing spa experience. You just need a cd player and the products that Randi Ragan suggests you try out at home for that practically instanteous spa experience that cost pennies on the spa dollar and learn how to create your own eco-friendly spa at home.

It's easy, fun and extremely affordable. Can I tell you it's also addicting because suddenly you don't need an appointment for a great pedicure or decompressing spa experience. You just need a cd player and the products that Randi Ragan suggests you try out at home for that practically instanteous spa experience that cost pennies on the spa dollar.

The significant content that Randi talks about is really on the podcast-- but it's about doing some shopping for easy things that you can even order online or shop for basics like Target, Tuesday morning or stores that are both brick and mortar as well as online that you can find things on sale so that you don't spend a chunk of change. 1) Genuine cotton and/or natural fiber towels and rugs. You can find these on Target.com or a variety of sites including overstock.com

2) Painting your bathroom a soft soothing color-- and it doesn't have to be a latex paint but you can check with home-depot about that. Check Home Depot or Lowe's for easy painting instructions and getting the paint.

3) If painting isn't an option, do think about window shades or curtains that have soft soothing colors that are washable and easy to install.

4) Get great essential oils. A suggestion would be is to check with a Whole Foods store or any local health foods or beauty store that has essential oils to find the scents you would like to try. Or if you are the gutsy type, hit the net and find other sites that would sell you samples and also provide you larger quantities. newdirections.com is one site that offers therapeutic grade oils. There are many other sites-- ask around on various forums and sites.

5) Assemble the tools you need: large bowls, pumice stones, natural sponges and other items via your local beauty supply or find them online.

6) Substitute full spectrum lightbulbs in your light fixture and install dimmers so that you can change the amount of light that you are using-- dim for more soothing time in the bathtub or bright for giving yourself a pedicure.

7) For that soothing light, check out candles that are made from soy and have genuine essential oils.

8) Visit your local health food store or Whole Foods store for organic bath salts and other sorts of utensils you would need. 9) Go to Home Depot or your local nursery and grow your own herbs and flowers in small pots so that you have your own natural ingredients.

Listen to this amazing podcast and check out what you can do to make YOUR bathroom your own spa sanctuary which costs perhaps the amount of one reallyl good spa treatment at a local spa-- and will give you the luxury of having many spa treatments at home.

PODCAST with Randi Ragan, founder of the Green Bliss Eco-Spa Randi gives you lots of ideas on how to do this at home for a small investment. It doesn't have to cost a lot but you can do a lot for yourself with products that last a long time.

Thank you to Randi Ragan for her time and suggestions.

Visit Green Bliss Eco-Spa website

Stevie Wilson

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The Red Carpet Report: The Debut of the Red Carpet Report - 10-30-09

The Red Carpet Report — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:28:30 -0400

LA-Story: American Rag: Talking Vintage Accessories with Alex!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

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American Rag has been featured here before -- talking about brands to buy in their store but the American Rag store is so much more than just a regular boutique. The exceptionally curated and even updated vintage pieces work well. Here's a podcast with Assistant Manager Alex Ferreira (Fashion Island American Rag) to talk about vintage accessories and photos with clothing and the accessories will be featured.

Look # 1: Check out the RED handbag!! Swimwear turned body suit paired with high-waisted black shorts, cute slightly oversized lacey vest

Look # 2 Silver Lurex Clutch! White lace tiered skirt, gunmetal sequin and lace top with belt

Look # 3 Messenger bag Navy and white print dress with tulip sleeves paired up with the belt

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: American Rag Cie: Talking About Vintage and Working the Look-- with Alex!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Look # 1: Swimwear turned body suit paired with high-waisted black shorts, cute slightly oversized lacey vest and a great bag. (more about the bag later)

Look # 2 Navy and white print dress with tulip sleeves paired up with the belt and messenger bag (see more about the messenger bag later-- another post)

Look # 3 White lace tiered skirt, gunmetal sequin and lace top with belt and silver lurex clutch. (more about the clutch and the other bags later)

Look # 4, black spiderweb sequin dress with dipped back and scalloped hem. The scarf cinching the waist and a hat!

Look #5 Fringed jeans, mesh top, thermal shirt and flannel shirt tied at the waist-- bringing back the grunge look with style.

Look # 6 Sheer black and teal lace with beading worn with a slip with lace hem pulled up under the top and over the bustline to give you coverage.

Look # 7 : Slips, slips and more slips!

Look #8 Another very detailed lace colored slip

Look #9 Tutus!! (crinoline slips in colors)

Look #10 Overdyed denim shorts in a range of colors

More shorts!

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: Arden Kaywin Talks About "The Elephant in the Room", Music and Her Life as a Musician!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0400

Arden Kaywin is an very accomplished, gifted musician with an incredible voice and an amazing stage prescence. Her gorgeous voice will transport to new mental journeys but she is definitely making a statement both musically and personally through this new cd, Elephant in the Room which is available on myspace.com/ardenkaywin or on her website.

Love the lyrics and the musical presentation and rather than go through it all here with you (I have to finish listening and digging into this cd first).. in a half -baked review, I will post the review later when I have finished the cd completely (because it speaks to me !).

Here's a podcast with Arden Kaywin that was done a couple weeks ago and she was getting ready to play BuFest in Malibu which is now over and is covered in a separate post on the blog.

Kaywin is a potent singer/songwriter who is quite aware of what's going on in life, the world and the economy and how we all need to get involved and participate to make things work. Her work with the AIDS awareness programs is much-needed and really says something about her commitment to giving back.

Find her music on amazon.com, www.myspace.com/ardenkaywin and www.ardenkaywin.com

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: Jay Nash Talks About the Business of Music and Going on Tour! Podcast!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Jay Nash is currently in LA about to play at the Hotel Cafe tonight. Tomorrow night is Sainte Rock in Hermosa Beach and then he has a tour that's kicking into high gear for a good while with Tony Lucca and a couple other musicians who hop on the musical tour bus from time to time.

For Jay, it's about promoting All the Stars in Copenhagen his latest EP and I haven't written the review yet because I can't seem to stop listening to it-- it's that fabulous. His music is evocative. It reaches down deep and will touch that emotional chord with some song, some verse, even part of a phrase and suddenly you will be plugged into Jay Nash. As we started out the podcast, we talked about the genre and how some of his singing is a bit "country" though I made the reference to early Eagles and Jackson Brown when they were just starting out. Not quite rock-a-billy but more of a unique sound that had some country vibe and not so "LA". It spoke volumes about lives, emotions and dreams. Jay Nash carries on that theme and walks that path -- and stretches it much farther. If you want to learn more about All the Stars in Copenhagen, , check out the podcast we did earlier in the year that is linked HERE .

Nash playing for an audience of 1 and 1/2. How to Pack a Prius: Jay Nash & Matty D!

Tour Dates for Jay Nash

Oct 10 2009 12:00P Riverview at Vasa Park - as Low Stars Elgin, Illinois

Please check Jay Nash's website, myspace.com/jaynash or his facebook pages for a newer list of his tour dates. This was posted 4 weeks earlier so many more are to come.

Want to know more about Jay Nash?

Jay playing for a special audience

Hit him on www.jaynash.com or www.myspace.com/jaynash

PS: Jay, if you read this, I already wore out a burned cd of the EP.. and the addiction to your music is pretty steady. It's about time I buy a new copy of The Things You Think You Need -- because I DO need that.

People if you read this-- you need a copy of that CD as well.

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: American Rag Cie: Talking About Vintage and Working the Look-- with Alex!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

What's great about going south in LA/ Southern California? More than just beaches, babes (and I don't just mean girls), and bikinis, it's all about the shopping. Orange County has tons of shopping including the mega-mall South Coast Plaza-- but wait!! There's more to the OC than just that mall! Check out Fashion Island which is a mere 10 minutes and a world away from the enclosed mall atmosphere and packed parking. Fashion Island is a retail island of department and specialty stores along with a slew of high end boutiques from a myriad of brand names you know. However there are a few boutiques that you should know about because of their well-curated selection of denim, shoes, handbags, fashions for him and her, home furnishings -- and more importantly VINTAGE!! American Rag has been featured here before -- talking about brands to buy in their store but the American Rag store is so much more than just a regular boutique. The exceptionally curated and even updated vintage pieces work well. Here's a podcast with Assistant Manager Alex Ferreira (Fashion Island American Rag) to talk about how to put the looks together.

Look # 1: Swimwear turned body suit paired with high-waisted black shorts, cute slightly oversized lacey vest and a great bag. (more about the bag later)

Look # 2 Navy and white print dress with tulip sleeves paired up with the belt and messenger bag (see more about the messenger bag later-- another post)

Look # 3 White lace tiered skirt, gunmetal sequin and lace top with belt and silver lurex clutch. (more about the clutch and the other bags later)

Look # 4, black spiderweb sequin dress with dipped back and scalloped hem. The scarf cinching the waist and a hat!

Look #5 Fringed jeans, mesh top, thermal shirt and flannel shirt tied at the waist-- bringing back the grunge look with style.

Look # 6 Sheer black and teal lace with beading worn with a slip with lace hem pulled up under the top and over the bustline to give you coverage.

Look # 7 : Slips, slips and more slips!

Look #8 Another very detailed lace colored slip

Look #9 Tutus!! (crinoline slips in colors)

Look #10 Overdyed denim shorts in a range of colors

More shorts!

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Gillette Fusion Razors Give Guys a Real Edge: Regular Razor & Power Razor! Podcast TEST & Review!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

When it comes to men's grooming, guys are pretty picky about the products they use. They want simplicity yet they want effectiveness when it comes to razors. Ditto with the grooming products that get the beard ready to shave.

Gillette has launched a new product group called the Gillette Fusion Gamer Power Razor and the Gillette Custom Plus 3 with pivot head (non-powered). These razors are amazing-- and for the price tag are a great bargain.

Gillette Fusion Power Gamer Razor Gillette Fusion Power Gamer Razor is the most technologically advanced razor. Eight years of shaving innovation with 20 patents make Gillette Fusion Power better than the Mach 3. Gillette Fusion Power Gamer is an advanced shaving system and provides optimal performance when using either side of the razor. On the cartridge fron, Gillette Fusion Power features 5 PowerGlide® Blades spaced closer together to form a shaving surface technology. It distributes the shaving force across the blades to help reduce pressure, with more comfort and less irritation.The 5 Blade Shaving Surface engages more hair more times with successive cutting action--talk about smooth, there is no beard that can stand up to this design.

The back of the cartridge has a innovative Precision Trimmer--a single blade tucked into the back of the cartridge, making it easy to trim sideburns, shave under the nose, or shape facial hair like goatees, soul patches, and chinstrap beards. A soft touch, secure handle that ergonomically rolls across the fingers and makes for an easy 180-degree transition between the shaving surface and the Precision Trimmer.

Faster, more coverage and greater precision, Gillette Fusion Power also contains a Flexible Comfort Guard that follows the contours of your face and pulls your skin taut for a comfortably close shave. (sounds cool doesn't it? Wait till you try it!)

Included is an Enhanced Indicator Lubricating Strip that gradually fades to white when you are no longer getting your optimal shave. Meaning this bad boy will tell you when to change blades-- no more nicks, scrapes or rough drag. The handle has an internal oscillating motor that delivers soothing micropulses (sort of like a Venus razor for men) and it helps to reduce friction and increase razor glide.

The technology never stops on this razor! Within the razor is an onboard microchip, which creates an entirely new platform of technology improving the system's performance by bringing an electroniccomponent to wet shaving for the first time. The microchip serves three primary functions: It regulates voltage for consistent power, it controls the Low Battery Indicator Light,--alerting you when the battery runs low, so you always have power when you need it, and it powers the Automatic Shut-Off, which turns the razor off after about 8 minutes in case of accidental activation and protects the battery during travel. Pretty impressive technology and it makes shaving faster, snappier and a more functional product.

The 5-Blade Shaving Surface Technology with 5 PowerGlide® Blades are spaced closer together to help reduce pressure-with more comfort and less irritation than MACH 3 One of the products tested was the Gillette Fusion Hydragel Moisturizing Shave Gel

This product got awesome reviews in the test -- and it really sets up the beard hairs easily so that the shave is nice, close and smooth. The Gillette Fusion After Shave was tested too. While it was nice, the issue of fragrance (many men talk about this too) -- meaning too many conflicting scents drives them bonkers. A recommendation to either scent all products the same or create an "unscented" shave line.

How to get the best shave

If you are a guy looking for a new razor to improve your shaving experience or a "significant other" who wants to get the man in your life a better shaving experience, then check out the new Gillette Fusion Power Gamer as well as the Gillette Custom Plus 3 manual razors too. Available at all mass merchants, super markets, drugstores, drugstore.com and amazon.com

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: What Does It Take to Break Into the NYC Music Scene? Indie Musican Kylie Edmond Talks About the Evolution of Her Music on Podcast!!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Kylie Edmond is not a name that's well-known name in the music business around the globe or across the US-- yet!

Kylie is becoming a known quantity in New York City and doing a lot of performing in various clubs and lounges typically with a "roundtable" of women musicians of various genres.

At the time this podcast was recorded, Kylie Edmond had done her first solo gig at Googies in New York City which is a pretty well-known lounge and music venue. She talks about how it was to be pretty much solo during the show without her usual back-up musicians.

If you want to know what it takes and how much work goes into creating music, getting a musical career off the ground, this is a great podcast to hear. If you want to know about an up & coming musician who makes a serious statement in her lyrics, Kylie is someone you should hear.

Kylie at Googies during her performance This girl has tons of talent and you should be checking out her mp3's and downloading whatever you can onto that iPod and buying her EP's.

Hope you all like it and go sign up for her on Facebook and also on myspace.com/kylieedmond
Tour Dates:
Sep 11 2009 10:00P Uncle Mike's - Girls Rock The Night New York, New York
Sep 24 2009 8:00P The Underscore - Girls Rock The Night New York, New York
Sep 26 2009 8:00P Northwood Inn - Girls Rock The Night Carmel, New York
Kylie's really something special!

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Signature David Mixologist David Brogan Gives Cocktail & Punch Tips for Summer. Podcast!!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Digging into the upcoming holiday? Do you have Friday off? Whether or not you do, you need to hear *this podcast" about what to make for insanely great drinks for the guests you are having over. (oh, you mean you haven't invited them yet? Better get started!). No matter if you have 2, 4, 24 or 100 people showing up, there's no reason not to have a great drink to put the icing on your event.

It's economical to entertain at home and if you provide the location and the cocktails, ask others to bring an appetizer and hang out having a great holiday weekend. It's definitely time to celebrate.

David Brogan of Signature David Helping out to give you some holiday cocktail inspiration is Signature David's David Brogan who has a website and an amazing blog that's chock full of great recipes and ideas.

Aquatini Here's the recipe for this amazing cocktail: In a large pitcher, combine 1/3 of a 750 ml of vodka, (p.i.n.k. vodka?).

8 oz Dekuyper Island Blue Pucker,

8 oz white cranberry juice,

3 oz pineapple juice,

3 oz sour mix and 3 oz of Cointreau over ice.

Stir and serve. Garnish with pineapple rings and drizzle the top of the cocktail with Blue Curacao liqueur.

p.i.n.k. Watermelon

1/3 750 ml bottle of p.i.n.k. vodka

8 oz watermelon liqueur

4 oz triple sec

4 oz fresh lime juice

8 oz sprite

On the lime juice, don't use those squeeze containers or bottle juice. If you can't handle squeezing that many limes, here's the BEST lemon, orange and blood orange juice around (and if you check with them you will find lime juice too)

Volcano and Lime Burst Juices are organic and Italian and TASTY!! Combine ingredients in a pitcher filled half way with ice and stir. Garnish with watermelon balls placed inside the drink.

p.i.n.k. Lemonade

1/3 750 ml bottle of p.i.n.k. vodka 2

0 oz of lemonade 4 oz of Cointreau

Suggestion: Add a few drops of Chambord or Pama Juice to this recipe for a brighter color.

Combine ingredients in a pitcher ffilled half way with ice and stir. Garnish with lemon and lime wheels placed randomly in the pitcher.

For added fun, use real pink lemonade and drizzle chambord into the bottom of each glass when poured.

Thanks to David Brogan for his time, patience and amazinng recipes. Join his FACEBOOK group: Signature David

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story Recessionista, Celebrity Stylescope, Celebrity Style Slam Trademark/Copyright: KBP Inc. 2007-09Lemon

LA-Story: Hayden Black Talks About New Sci-Fi Musical Series, "The Cabonauts" and Comic-Con Appearances Today!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Hayden Black is not a new name to me and shouldn't be to you (and if it is, 'search" back into this blog for the posts about Hayden Black). He's a genius actor,director, writer, producer and CEO for the Global Evil Empire creating a variety of series including GoodnightBurbank.com,, and Abigail's Teen Diary . The Cabonauts This post is the frame for the podcast about The Cabonauts which features Hayden Black, Norm Thoeming, Nichelle Nichols, Monica Young as the key regulars and get well-known iconic sci-fi and horror actors courtesy the fabulous ability of Erin Gray (remember her as a model, actor and sci-fi icon in Buck Rogers, tv show) who has her own company, Heroes for Hire , to pull in various "known" actors from a variety of series and movies to play guest roles in The Cabonauts. The Cabonauts cast photo.

See
Nichelle Nichols interview #1
by cabonauts

Nichelle Nichols announces she joins the cast of The Cabonaut

Nichelle Nichols interview #2
by cabonauts

Nichelle Nichols -- part 2

Nichelle Nichols interview #3
by cabonauts

Nichelle Nichols -- part 3 (just released on Wed!) Here is an image of the Cabonauts' cab, the Scarad There are changes to be made as it goes to the web and becomes a more 3-D image to be driven.

Premiering at San Diego's Comic-Con Nichelle Nichols will be at the Cabonauts booth on Saturday & Sunday -- and also there will be a premiere of The Cabonauts trailer at the Masquerade Ball on Saturday night.

Podcast with The Cabonaut's Creator, Hayden Black If you don't/aren't attending Comic-Con, it's no big worry. You can get all the information on The Cabonauts website or stay tuned to this blog! I am dying to see this series!! Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story Recessionista, Celebrity Stylescope, Celebrity Style Slam Trademark/Copyright: KBP Inc. 2007-09

LA-Story: A-List Stylist Jen Rade Gives You Haute Tips on Eyewear, Courtesy of Ilori!!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Jennifer Rade is one of the most sought-after stylists in LA (actually her reach is much larger than that but homebase is LA). Her client list is a who's who and she reallyl knows what works for different people and how to push that fashion/style envelope and still < have clients comfortable in their personal fashion skin.

Jen Rade (from jenniferrade.com) Not one who seeks out the limelight, Jen Rade seems to stand aside when her clients are walking the red carpet and she's about the fashion sense and creating a compelling statement -- whether it's in shoes, clothing or accessories -- regardless of price tag.

The May 31 Image section of the LA Times All the Rage blog/column written by Booth Moore (what the heck happened to Monica Corcoran?) featured a piece on Jen Rade as much about her styling philosophy as well as her clients. Here's what Booth Moore had to say about Jen Rade: That said, everything she wrote is true-- and it's been underscored by a number of people who have worked with Jen Rade over the last few years including one person who told me to interview Rade about 3-4 years ago (only I lost the darn phone number). Given the opportunity to interview Jen at the Ilori store on Rodeo Drive (there is a store on Robertson and a website), I didn't hesitate on this one, though I had met Jen a couple of times before very briefly. Her distinctive curls and her low-key manner sets her apart from many stylists. She's fun and easy to talk to about all things fashion and beyond.

Super-stylist Jen Rade is the anti-Rachel Zoe, and the right stylist for right now. We had breakfast together last week, and I was struck by how grounded she is considering the world she works in. "I'm not a label whore," says Rade, whose star client is Angelina Jolie. She's dressed her in everything from Hermes to Max Azria over the years, but the outfits always look comfortable and no-nonsense. "People are like, 'It's so great that you pull from Max Azria,'" she says. "But why wouldn't I? I treat every dollar like it's my own."

Ilori Store exterior on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills

Catching up to her at the Ilori stores, I managed to shoot several photos of styles I liked throughout this store. Shopping in an Ilori store is absolutely heaven for the sunglass junkie or if you are looking for a stellar acessorie that could set you back about 100-1000 bucks but depending on the wallet, you can find something that will fit your budget that will be a perfect fit and also spot-on trend-setting that will last years. Call it signature styling by Ilori and mix in Jen Rade as the spokesperson/brand ambassador for the store and you have a match made in heaven!

Interviewing Rade in the Ilori store was as comfortable as the surroundings and talking about sunglasses and eyewear is a pretty diverse topic as can be heard in the podcast.

Thierry Lasry Pimpy sunglasses

Here's an array of the sunglasses that Jen and I discussed. I loved the entire store. It's awesome-- a sunglass *amusement park* for adults.

Badgely Mischka -- fabulous glasses with superb detailing

Balenciaga oversize glasses

Lanvin eyewear

Jen Rade in Ilori sunglasses. What brand ? No clue. Will find out for you.

Thank you to the Ilori Store and the incredibly fab Jennifer Rade for her time, patience and knowledge of what works-- and doesn't work-- in sunglasses.

I have a slew of photos of this store and lots more sunglasses. You will find them in a photo montage post on www.LA-Story.com

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Charla Krupp Talks About How Not to Look Old: Fashion & Beauty Updates for Summer 09!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Beauty and Style Expert Charla Krupp (In Style, E!, "Today" Show, "Oprah," Shop, Etc., Eve.com), and author of the new New York Times best-selling book HOW NOT TO LOOK OLD: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter and 10 Times Better is back with a new updated version in paperback as well as making personal appearances across the country.

While here in So. California, we got a chance to talk to Charla and she gives you some serious advice on how to dress better while spending less (that's no mean feat there!) and also have a great time.

Check out her new website HowNottoLookOld.com

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Lancome's National Artist Darias Provides Tips & Tricks for Summer 2009!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Darias is Lancome's National Makeup Artist for the West Coast and he certainly has the street cred for the job -- which he's been doing for 3 years.

Essentially an art school-trained artist, Darias wound up at the MAC store on Robertson Blvd in LA working when Lancome plucked him from the store and offered him the dream job of his life-- using faces as his canvas and cosmetics as his paint. Known for his celebrity work and comentary on tv for key red carpet events, Darias is extremely talented yet very down to earth.

Darias-- such a cutie!

Scene-stealing glamour is celebrity makeup artist Darais' passion. He elevates makeup to an art form and is passionate about helping women everywhere find their inner-superstar. Known for his signature red carpet looks, Darais is a favorite among Hollywood's elite. Salma Hayek, Kristen Bell, Ellen Page, Emma Roberts, Sissy Spacek, Cher, Jennifer Beals, Hillary Duff, Pink, Brittany Snow, Kelly Osbourne, Janice Dickinson, Paris Hilton and Zoe Cassavetes all flock to Darais for gorgeous makeup that stands up to the glare of awards show flashbulbs.

Star Bronzer

Darais has also provided edgy, artful makeup for photographer David La Chapelle and music videos like Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" and Pink's "Stupid Girls". Darais believes that educating clients about their facial structure and features is essential to discovering the makeup options and techniques that enhance their beauty the most. His philosophy is clear: proportion, balance, composition and color theory are the artistic principles behind every great makeup look. "Makeup magic happens when light takes darkness by surprise," says Darais. Nominated with key makeup artist Billy B for "Best Makeup" at the MTV Video Music Awards, Darais's show-stopping looks have appeared at the Oscars, the Emmys, on America's Next Top Model and in movies, magazines and more.

Ageless Mineral Foundation Darais is Lancôme's impresario of color on the West Coast, ready to affect emotions, moods and attitudes for each client he touches and every sensational look he creates--which amounts to about 10 thousand women a year and he's just as comfortable working with you as he is working with celebrities-- because they are just as concerned about how they look as you are.

Listen to the podcast of the conversation with Darias about life with Lancome! Key products that Darias mentioned in the podcast-- if not already featured include the following.

Le Vernis Exotique Kiss polish

Color Design Shadow (not the color Darias mentioned however) All are available on Lancome.com

Thank you to Darias for his great tips, ideas and all his time that he gave for this interview.

If you have a chance to see Darias at a Lancome National Makeup Artist PA-- you really should go!

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Chris Abraham Shares Thoughts About the Economy, Housing & Lots More (Even Where to Shop!) Podcast Part 3!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Put Chris Abraham and I on the phone and it's bound to be a L O N G chat. This is the last part of the latest podcast with Abraham Harrison's president-- and we scurry all over the conversational topic map.

Podcast 1: Why Do You Need to Spend Money? Recession-Buster Chris Abraham Chats Up LA-Story.com

Podcast 2: Chris Abraham & CNN.com Agree: Cheap Chic Is Ok !! Podcast Alert!

At the end of podcast 2, Abraham and I were talking about the cost of housing-- prices for purchase and the cost of rentals.

We morphed into talking about the gentrification of "iffy" neighborhoods as people sought to find affordable housing and that along with that comes some danger-- both personal and economic danger that plays out into the beginning of this podcast.

Chris starts off talking about the high and low water marks and that when the tide lowers overall, it's good on one side but perhaps not another -- yet if affects everything and everyone across the board. So we pick up the conversation with that remark.. Watch how we meander across the gamut of topics and how the left coast and right coast aren't that different in what we want, seek or feel.

Thanks to Chris Abraham for all his time and patience.

FYI-- if you haven't heard about the Abraham Harrison webinars that have been coming out every week, then you should check out www.chrisabraham.com and sign up for a couple.

The webinars deal with social media, blogging, digital worlds, and the internet and in a variety of ways. These online seminars are free and worth hearing - as they are only 60 minutes and very tight with slides/ppt presentation and someone else sharing the podium with Chris Abraham.

I have some of the slides and will be serving up some podcasted clips of the highlights soon.

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Going Green-- in a Spa Environment that Comes to You!! Green Bliss Eco-Spa Podcast!!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

GreenBlissEcoSpa was born out of the desire to fuse two interests that have been threads throughout founder and owner, Randi Ragan's entire adult life: a connection to natural health, healing, and well being; and a consuming interest in the vital ecological issues of our day

At GreenBlissEcoSpa, Randi and her staff's belief is that everything in life is connected: people, business, and community. Listen to the podcast/interview I had with Randi Ragan, owner of Green Bliss Eco-Spa The health of each is dependent on the others. When you are a healthy, vital, and peaceful person, then you are more apt to seek out and insist on those qualities in your home life, your work place, and ultimately the world around you.

Green Bliss is dedicated to providing customers an opportunity to renew their spirits and nurture their innate, natural beauty without exposure to the harsh chemicals and invasive procedures practiced by other, more traditional spa service providers.

Anakiri

Anakiri Skincare Green Bliss Eco Spa uses the most ecologically sound methods to treat and educate their clients while keeping pace with the newest trends emerging in the green and holistic lifestyle movement. Equally important is Green Bliss's dedication to creating and promoting a model for community-based, environmentally responsible business practices.

Randi Ragan Formerly a documentary filmmaker and writer, Randi has spent over 12 years in the wellness industry as a yoga and meditation teacher, lecturer, spiritual retreat leader, and creator of customized healing ceremonies and rituals. Her teaching and workshops have been featured at some of Los Angeles' top yoga studios, and she regularly counsels industry leaders from the worlds of entertainment, finance and business, and seniors' health care, with her yoga and meditation techniques. Her work has taken her to top retreat centers and spas in Southern California, Hawaii, and Mexico. .If you are in LA-- you need to book Green Bliss Eco-Spa. If you are visiting So. California, book a treatment. She comes to you.

Definitely worth the time-- and the bliss remains with you!

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: What Does It Take to Break Into the NYC Music Scene? Indie Musican Kylie Edmond Talks About the Evolution of Her Music on Podcast!!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Kylie Edmond is not a name that's well-known name in the music business around the globe or across the US-- yet! Kylie is becoming a known quantity in New York City and doing a lot of performing in various clubs and lounges typically with a "roundtable" of women musicians of various genres.

Kylie at Googies during her performance This girl has tons of talent and you should be checking out her mp3's and downloading whatever you can onto that iPod and buying her EP's.

Hope you all like it and go sign up for her on Facebook and also on myspace.com/kylieedmond

HOT NEWS!! New song from Kylie Edmond: Mine For the Day. streaming mp3!! See this on the post on http://www.la-story.com/indie_music/what_does_it_take_to_break_into_the_nyc_music_scen/

Tour Dates:

Jul 16 2009 8:00P Nightingale Lounge - Girls Rock The Night New York, New York
Jul 28 2009 8:30P Googie's Lounge At The Living Room - Justin & Kylie STRIPPED w/ Justin Moore New York, New York
Aug 8 2009 9:00P Don't Tell Mama - Girls Rock The Night New York, New York
Aug 15 2009 7:00P Starving Artist Cafe & Gallery - Girls Rock The Night Bronx, New York
Aug 25 2009 7:00P Otto's Shrunken Head - Girls Rock The Night w/ Robert Daniels New York, New York
Sep 11 2009 10:00P Uncle Mike's - Girls Rock The Night New York, New York
Sep 24 2009 8:00P The Underscore - Girls Rock The Night New York, New York
Sep 26 2009 8:00P Northwood Inn - Girls Rock The Night Carmel, New York

Kylie's really something special!

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Lauren Lipton, Author, Journalist, Beauty Babe & Fashionista!

Stevie Wilson — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:09:50 -0400

Lauren Lipton is a gifted author, writer and journalist. Her sophomore venture in the literary world, The Mating Rituals of the North America WASP is again set in the context of the "comedic feminine literature" -- a segment of literature that's discussed at great length in the podcast. Lipton has been interviewed here on this blog previously for her first book, It's About Your Husband .

The lovely Lauren Lipton who takes a much better photo than she thinks! Here's the update on this blog & podcast. I read the book from cover to much abused cover and loved it. Lipton as always is able to set up an emotional as well as visceral context for the characters in which they act out their dramas, issues and other matters-- much like a play but this book is more visual than a play. Think more like SATC but much much better and with a better plot line that really takes us to the heart of the book and of each character in the book. You do indeed become "one" with the universe that Lauren has created. She's very very good at what she does -- and creates a believeable happy ending that really cries out for a second installment to find out what happens to Luke, Peggy, and friends.

The cover says it all I think! Lucky for me, I happen to know Lauren Lipton pretty well. We communicate by email, IM, facebook updates and comments, (really it's so true-- social media at the most basic level. We might start texting eventually (?), phone calls and then also podcasts that suddenly morph from interview to become two friends chatting away and oops suddenly you get to hear the dish that two women in fashion, beauty and style often talk about-- and that's what's in the podcast. What I love about Lauren is that in this book, she has done some serious research into the lifestyle of the "American Yankee" milieu AKA WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) , nailed down the essentials and the very specific details right down to the architectural details and the issues that make these people tick within their own environment. You are feeling what they are feeling, seeing through their own eyes what is going on and perhaps having a peek (or more) into their minds and hearts.

More poems by Luke Sedgwick At the end of Mating Rituals of North American WASP, Luke prepares to read a poem he has just written. You can see this poem and more information about the actual poet who wrote the poems for Lipton's book at www.LA-Story.com

Readings/Events/ Personal Appearances of the "lovely Lauren Lipton"

Wednesday, July 22, time and location TBA Mating Rituals of the North American WASP book party Mediabistro.com New York, New York Invitation required

Thursday, August 6, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Reading/signing: Mating Rituals of the North American WASP
RJ Julia Booksellers
768 Boston Post Road
Madison, Connecticut 06443
(800) 747-3237

Wednesday, August 12, 6:45 to 9:45 p.m.
Seminar: How to Get a Literary Agent
Mediabistro.com New York, New York
Advance registration required

(Ms. Lipton.. we need to get some West Coast dates please. Just so we can have a martini or something alcoholic together. Come over and hang out by the beach) The Mating Rituals of the North American Wasp is available at all major booksellers including Amazon.com OR get original and order direct from Lauren Lipton's website HERE Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Peter Shankman Talks About How NOT to Use Social Media!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Peter Shankman is a well-known person around the net-- if you are plugged into advertising, pr, social media or branding.

If you are a PR person, you probably know who Peter is. If you are a journalist who has used the Helpareporterout.com site, you definitely know who Peter Shankman is-- because that's his site along with his geekfactory.com business.

Grabbing 411 from his website: PR Week Magazine has described Peter as "redefining the art of networking," and Investor's Business Daily has called him "crazy, but effective." Peter Shankman is a spectacular example of what happens when you harness the power of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and make it work to your advantage. . (Peter calls it ADOS: Attention Deficit; Oh Shiny!)

Here's one of his work centers: at home social media center. Ummm Peter.. "oh shiny" doesn't begin to touch this!!

Entrepreneur, author, speaker, and ingenious worldwide connector, Peter is recognized nationally and globally for radically new ways of thinking about social media, PR, marketing, advertising, creativity, and just about everything else.. Peter is the founder and CEO of The Geek Factory, Inc., a boutique Marketing and PR Strategy firm located in New York City, with clients worldwide. His blog, which he launched in 2002, (www.shankman.com) both comments on and generates news and conversation.

There's a great deal about Shankman that I could tell you here-- but it would only duplicate what's in the podcast.

Here's a bit of the stuff from his site that tells you where and how he got started and how many fingers he has in so many pies (makes me wonder if he has 4 hands and not two-- besides his trusted assistant Meagan!)

Thank you so much to Peter Shankman for sparing a chunk of time for this podcast and for also getting me into the Newport Beach conference.

Check out that short but sweet video with notes on key points--which you can also find on my twitter feed. The post is Tuesday.. about the same time!

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: Film Producer Will Packer, Rainforest Films, Talks About the New Film: "Obsessed" With Beyonce & Idris Elba

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Will Packer might not be a household name -- yet but this man is a ball of fire when it comes to being an entrepreneur and film producer. Given his background, he's taken a different direction for his career and he's quite interesting to speak to.

Will Packer, Producer and Partner, Rainforest Films

Packer never stops giving about his work, the film Obsessed came about. Not only does he discuss the cast and the choice of Beyonce in a major role, Will is big on Ali Larter and Idris Elba as the man who creates the dynamic tension is this taut suspenseful film. Packer is definitely an interesting character -- with the company based out of Atlanta and Packer rolling between LA & Atlanta, he is focused on work and and raising his children. He's got a lot on his plate and Will Packer is definitely high energy.

Will Packer, Idris Elba and Beyonce on the set of Obsessed!

This movie is a "must see" and it just released. Make sure you make time to see it ASAP!! It's a great film and I think you will love the casting and the plot line.

Thank you to Will Packer for his dynamite interview!

For more 411 on this podcast/interview please see it live on http://www.la-story.com/podcast/film_producer_will_packer_rainforest_films_talks_a/index.php

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: OLX.com Brings New Vision to Online Classified Sites. Podcast with Fabrice Grinda, Co-Founder!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Something I just came across on the web -- courtesy of some friends who turned me onto this site-- and while there are similar sites and precursors to this site, OLX.com is very different from its competitors!!

What is OLX.com? It's a unique classified ads/posting site that has any category of products, services, jobs, and meet-ups of Craigslist.org with some of the graphical interface that Ebay.com has and yet has managed to create an entirely unique presentation. Recently launching in the US is a new spin on this sort of business model that goes a bit farther and provides a more user-friendly approach as well as social-media enabled.

What OLX.com offers 100% free (forever) even in jobs and real estate Ability to include videos and pictures in listings A city, neighborhood and zip code database so the entire country is covered and not just pre-selected cities Ajax "WYSIWYG" rich-text editor for richer listings

Ability to comment on listings to create a stronger community Advanced search functions with sliders allowing searches at variable regional settings

A distance field allowing you to see postings near your zip code wherever possible Ability to post listings in any language in any country Ability to view the site in any country in any language Global reach-view OLX in your local language

Mobile version -- with reasonable access. Easily design rich colorful listings with pictures and videos Control your selling, buying, and community activity in My OLX Display your listings on your social networking profile (Facebook, Myspace)

Fabrice Grinda

Fabrice Grinda and his partner Alec Oxenford created something truly unique: online classifieds that out-"ebay" Ebay.com and outsmart Craigslist.org with their new to the US creation, OLX.com that is FREE-- and allows one to upload or view photos and videos of the various things you might be looking at in the classified ad website.

Want to learn MORE about this site and how it came about? Listen to this podcast with Fabrice Grinda.

Thank you to Fabrice Grinda for his time and his great interview.

If you need a job, if you want to sell something, if you want to meet up with other people, you should check out www.OLX.com and find out just how user-friendly and how web-friendly to allow you to upload videos and photos to illustrate postings. www.OLX.com

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: Jodi Wing Talks About the Art of Social War- Part 2!! Video Interview

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

This is part 2 of the video interview with Jodi Wing, the author of the really fun read-- and highly educational-- The Art of Social War

THE ART OF SOCIAL WAR (Harper Collins $13.95) is an intoxicatingly funny, "chick-lit'-like book with serious undertones that really gives you the insider scoop on what the social strata and lifestyle is like in the upper echelons of So. California lifestyle, While Jodi writes pretty specifically about LA, there are similar situations and events that occur in San Francisco, Newport Beach/OC and other areas of California, It's very much a state (both literally and figuratively) about who and what you know.

What I love about this book and about Jodi's long-term goals is that she has created a website that's truly a community where women can share their own war stories and also be supportive of and supported by Jodi and other women. Who better to help you out than other women who have gone through this situation? Also Jodi makes a strong point about reading the book, The Art of War by Sun Tze

Jodi Wing (one of the best photos I have ever seen!)

Purchase the book on Amazon.com and BarnesNoble.com.

Visit her website www.theartofsocialwar.com to share and learn more about the art of social war. This is more than just a book-- it's definitely a philosophy and a way of negotiating life both personal and business! Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: Jodi Wing Talks About the Art of Social War

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

If you are a book addict, the Art of Social War won't be news to you nor the name Jodi Wing however if maybe you aren't up on the latest (and greatest) books, this is your chance to check out a book that is both fun, fashionable, flirty and also philosophical-- all at the same time.

THE ART OF SOCIAL WAR (Harper Collins $13.95) a hilarious, delectable and dishy novel about Hollywood high society,

New York career woman Stacey Knight marries James Makepeace just as she learns he's been offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run a major Hollywood studio. There's one catch: they must relocate to Los Angeles. Will Stacey be lost in translation, or will her hard-earned New Yawk survival skills prove yet again, as Ol' Blue Eyes so often said, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere? The unwitting newlyweds land in a Technicolor high-stakes Social War, pursued by ruthless power brokers in the film demimonde. What's a girl to do when the promise of a glittering blockbuster future descends rapidly into film noir despair? At once seduced and repelled by the rigid caste system and predatory aspect of Hollywood life, Stacey navigates a sea of confusing social obstacles and extremely bad behavior. Empowered by 2,500-year-old military strategist Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Stacey takes control of the War Game and learns that they must adapt to survive and attack if they are to thrive.

Jodi Wing is a dynamic, fun, and interesting woman is is the epitome of the protagonist of the book. She's really smart, savvy and got a lot on the ball. Her self-deprecating sense of humor is so in tune with the LA lifestyle-- meaning she's a bit of an iconoclast but ever so much fun.

Bear with the little blips on this video. We were recording this at the Beverly Hills Hotel and we were supposed to hit the Polo Lounge but it was 1) packed and 2) noisey so we wound up in the lobby-- with people walking by and wondering what the heck we were doing. It was definitely a surreal moment since Jodi could see everyone and I could hear them-- and there were some really unusual people there and it was worth every moment to be there.

PS-- This is only part 1 of the Jodi Wing interview about the Art of Social War

Stay tuned for part 2 of this interview, a bit shorter, a different perspective and really getting more interesting.

Note that there will be more updates with Jodi Wing coming. We had a great time chatting!

Want the book? (Am I crazy? What a dumb question! Of course you do!!) Buy it at Amazon.com Visit her site www.theartofsocialwar.com to share "war stories" and chat more other fans of the book and Jodi Wing. it's a great place to learn, share and visit! Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: Chris Abraham Returns!! Part 2 of a Conversation about the Value of Fluff & Red Carpet Events.

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Chris Abraham returns for part 2 of a conversation about the relative cost of celebrity-hood as compared to what it costs. Does celebrity justify the expenditure? The conversation turns from celebrity to actually talking about the context of cost versus perceived value as it applies to everyday life and your typical consumer. The question would be is what's a reasonable expenditure and what's unreasonable? Is 800 thread count sheets over the top? Would 400 thread count not work just as well? How about 250 thread count?

At what point do you buy things just "to buy" versus buying something as an investment as in a perfect pair of black , navy or grey pants or trousers that fit well and have them tailored to fit. The point being if you get years of wear (providing you stay in the same size range) from a specific piece of apparel (or accessory) and it becomes a staple that works with a number of tops/shirts and jackets allowing you to bring the cost of perhaps $200 for the initial purchase to the cost per wear-- which could be 50 cents or less if you hold a great pair of pants for about 4-5 years if you wear them once a week.

Chris Abraham

Part of what this conversation evolves as it continues to be about confidence and what you do, what you feel and what you wear. It's not about the confidence you derive from the clothing you wear, rather that the clothing should just be the icing on the cake of your confident self. The example of students on scholarship to Ivy League schools often don't feel quite up to par as those whose families have a history of attendance to Ivy League schools and how to learn that if you *earned* your place, and didn't just buy your way in-- grades being relatively equal.

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: Hayden Black Kicks Back Into Gear with a New Season of Goodnight Burbank

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Goodnight Burbank launched it's new season of insanely funny, character-driven comedy webisodes.

Hayden Black starring in Goodnight Burbank.com

Add into the mix a bit of Abigail's Teen Diary where Hayden Black plays Abigail. Twisted humor with a genuine valley girl voice and you have something seriously different!

Previously, Hayden Black had been featured here on LA-Story.com via podcast and now we got to finally meet The man Behind the Evil Global Corporation.

www.goodnightburbank.com www.abisteendiary.com

We "heart" Hayden Black and his quirky sense of humor as much as we adore his seriously great business savvy!!

Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: A Serious Chat with Abraham Harrison’s Chris Abraham About the “Expat Expat” , State of the Blogosphere & Politics, Economy & More!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

When Abraham Harrison's president, Chris Abraham find the time to chat, I always have time to listen. While he was living in Berlin, we were always trying to figure out ways of getting another podcast together despite the difference in time zones and distance--not always an easy thing. While we might IM at 3 AM his time and that's about 8 PM PST, it's not worthy of a post-- and it's not the same either

The schedule was to talk to Chris over the holidays and get a couple of podcasts on the books to be released over time. However things have changed for this US-German expatriate who loves to talk about how Berlin is poor but sexy (it's in one of his blogs, AdAge)

However it worked out that this expat is no longer an expat but now a resident once again of Washington D.C., and digging in deep into the advertising/marketing business of working on internet (and other) projects. Getting him on the phone meant making sure he was stationary and not buzzing around as he typically is and this is a longer podcast than usual. It's also much more serious-- as we talk about the blogosphere and how the big gun bloggers manage to be the big guns and still have lives while some of us work 7 days a week and work incredible hours getting the work done and still trying to have lives and enjoy some of it. However since we are on the eve of the inauguration, this post/podcast is particularly applicable as everyone seems to be wondering, asking and contemplating the same issues that Chris Abraham and I eventually talk about. So sit back and have a listen- or do yourself a favor-- download this to an mp3 via itunes or podcaster news (it will be up really soon I promise) and get this on your "must hear" list.

As you can tell, he's one of my favorite people to talk with and what you don't hear in the podcast is the back story that sets up the podcast about what's happening on both sides of the world and nation. While this was a serious podcast and much longer than I thought it would be, it's well worth the listen.

While Chris is waist-deep in social media and you can find him all over the web, check out his blog on ChrisAbraham.com , Because the Medium is the Message. If you hit his blogs (and there are several) make sure you leave a comment and bookmark/subscribe to his rss feed. He's got interesting -- and funny -- posts and perspectives on life. I promise you the next one is much lighter in tone-- but given this is just before the inauguration, it's the perfect time to discuss these topics. Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: JenandBarb.com: How Becoming A Mom (or Parent) Changes Your Life!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Jennifer Pate

and Barb Machen

met in a baby fitness group and bonded almost instantaneiously. What's fun and fab about this friendship is that between the two women, multiple children and their husbands, they found time to create

1) a website-- www.jenandbarb.com

2) a blog 3) a series of webisodes!! You can find them on youtube.com

here's one episode

All this while juggling the rigors of being full-time mom along with kids (both well and sick), husbands and the usual stuff that moms have to do -- of which the list is endless. In the course of talking to these two moms who are like flip sides of the same coin, I found that we had much in common as moms and how hard it is to juggle all that's going on. (heck you think I just sit here tapping on this computer eating bon-bons and having endless capuccinos? We all wish!)

As you can tell in this podcast which has about 10 seconds of editing (really!!), that it was an easy conversation with these two moms/women who hold their own while helping each other out.

The entire point of their site www.jenandbarb.com - A Mom's LIfe, is that women need to help each other out-- and moms particularly need to bond and be a mutual support group. Loved talking to them. Definitely find the video about the birthday parties-- you will find it interesting and informative. Look for these ladies to appear soon on this blog-- hopefully on video! Stevie Wilson

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LA-Story: Priscilla Ahn on Tour Promoting CD, Talks about Life on the Road, “A Good Day” and Lots more!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Priscilla Ahn first came to my attention via Joshua Radin’s first CD release where she lent her voice to backup vocals and harmony with Radin (done in his apartment!).
Now she has a new CD that’s launched on Blue Note Records, entitled, A GOOD DAY

In case you are unfamiliar with her work or her incredible voice, here’s a bit of the release that is the best synopsis of her current work

For A Good Day, Ahn reunited with Waronker, and along with multi-instrumentalist Gus Seyffert—who co-wrote “Astronaut” with Ahn—the trio basically recorded the tunes live. “Gus would play bass or guitar, I would play my guitar and sing, Joey would play drums,” explains Ahn. “Once we laid that base down we would overdub quirky things. After a month of just us, we decided we should get some other people in there and add some new sounds.”
Among the guests making their own memorable contributions were keyboardists Greg Kurstin (the bird and the bee, Lily Allen), Keefus Ciancia (Fiona Apple, Cassandra Wilson, T Bone Burnett) and Zac Rae (Fiona Apple, Macy Gray), guitarist/film composer Mike Andrews (Me and You and Everyone We Know); musical saw player Ursula Knudsun; cellist/string arranger Oliver Kraus (Joshua Radin, Beth Orton, Liz Phair); and celebrated jazz keyboardist Larry Goldings. Veteran R&B session singers Jim Gilstrap and Orin Waters lend their voices to “Leave The Light On,” a gentle, folk-gospel sing-along. Ahn herself plays a wide range of instruments including guitar, ukulele, piano, harpsichord, harmonica, and autoharp, amongst others.

Waronker’s approach is elegantly economical. He keeps Ahn’s pristine voice front and center, surrounding her with subtle, beautiful sounds from a range of unusual instruments. A Good Day is grounded in folk, country and pop, yet it’s never constrained by the dictates of any genre. For example, Ahn ingeniously transforms Willie Nelson’s breakup ballad, “Opportunity To Cry” into an upbeat shuffle, while maintaining all its pathos. Though Ahn presents a dreamy, sunny facade in her lyrics, her songs display a serious emotional depth and an almost preternatural maturity. When Ahn impetuously hit the road a few years back, she may not have known exactly where she was going, but A Good Day proves she’s always been headed in the right direction

See more content/videos and 411 on http://www.la-story.com/podcast/priscilla_ahn_on_tour_promoting_cd_talks_about_lif/

Thank you to Priscilla Ahn for her time in talking about her CD, music and life as a musician.

Check out Priscilla on www.PriscillaAhn.com
Facebook
Her CD A GOOD DAY is available on Blue Note Records.

www.myspace.com/priscillaahn

LA-Story: SING with the “Handsome Devil” Jim Bianco! Podcast with Indie/Alt Musician

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Jim Bianco is not stranger to this blog. (part 1, part 2, part 3)

Quirky, funny, outrageous, distinctly outside the box — way out there, are all comments that fit Jim Bianco. Yet he’s also a seriously deep and thoughtful person who has roots into music and serious books as well. He’s much more than you would expect.

Take a listen to the podcast. Realize these are a riff based on the original 3 podcasts above and a series of emails.

Check out LA-Story.com for videos on him too.

Thanks to Jim Bianco for the great podcast. Go check out his sites
www.JimBianco.com
www.myspace.com/jimbianco

Make sure you check out his 2 CD’s SING (the most recent one) and HANDSOME DEVIL both of which will blow you away.

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Burn Notice Sizzles with Gabrielle Anwar’s Phone Inteview/Podcast Part 2!!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Burn Notice keeps rocketing up the ratings charts and what better reason than simply to watch Gabrielle Anwar play off Bruce Campbell and Jeffrey Donovan. Having seen her character evolve over the 2.5 seasons, she has really come into her own as a woman and a person. She has depth. Her life has meaning. The question is where is it going? What about Michael and Fiona

If you listened to part 1 of the podcast, part of that was answered. Listen to part 2 with Gabrielle Anwar on cell phone with a group of journalists about their questions about her role and her life!

Want to see the transcript? check it out on LA-Story.com

LA-Story: Burn Notice Gets Hotter With Gabrielle Anwar! Podcast/Interview, Part 1

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Burn Notice is sizzling hot and heavy as we left off last week’s episode with things heating up between Michael and Fiona. Here’s a 2-part podcast wtih Gabrielle Anwar who plays Fiona on Burn Notice and it’s really interesting to see how differently she reacts to the questions and the character she plays as well as those people she works with. Her character is one that pushes the envelope quite a bit and so it’s an interesting interview

Want to see a transcript of the interview ? check it out here on LA-Story.com

LA-Story: Red Carpet Secrets: Rodney Cutler/Cutler Salons Shares Tips for Spring & Red Carpet Hair Styles

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Rodney Cutler, one of our favorite hair stylists, is a man of many facets: Redken platform stylist/artist — particularly known for New York Fashion Week styles; creator of Cutler Hair Products; and running 3 Cutler Hair Salons (2 in NYC, 1 in Miami!). He’s the man to talk to when you have hair questions because he’s got a lot of ideas and answers.

The coolest part about Rodney Cutler is that he’s so easy to talk to and he’s got genius hair products that he talks about in the video interview below.

The products in the Cutler Hair Care line are some of the best on the market and make taking care of your hair easier and offer protection so that your hair is healthier overall.

Between those products and his tips about the “low updo” and the tourmanline infused balm for your hair, what else do you need?

(Tip, Rodney, LA needs a Cutler Salon outpost please!! We could use a little Cutler “hair love ” here).

A big thank you to one of my fave stylists— Rodney Cutler. He’s so easy to talk to — you will find other podcasts on this blog where I talk to Cutler about different Redken products too.

Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Belegenza Talks About New Products at the Patrick Melville Oscar Suite!!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

It’s a rough life having to deal with an Oscar suite— really! It’s harder than it looks because this suite was popping— as you can see in this video. The Patrick Melville Salon and Oscar Spa Experience was *packed* with people and I finally gave up on editing it because there were so many people going by. It was haute and happening. When I shot this Debra Messing had just come in and everyone was amped up over that!
Lucky for me, Alan Eschenburg was willing to go with the flow on this video and talk about his Belegenza product line: all natural, no water, free of parabens and other not good for you ingredients too. There is a reason why I love this line— it does amazing things to my hair including give it more bounce, shine and I love that it’s natural and good for my hair (remember your scalp is skin and absorbs the ingredients into the body. Anything potentially hazardous to your health should not be applied to your scalp!)

Belegenza creator Alan Eschenburg talks to us at the Oscar suite about the hottest new products that he has added to the line.

Find out more 411 and to make purchases at www.belegenza.com
Stevie Wilson

LA-Story: Red Carpet Glam: Tim Quinn, Makeup Artist for Armani Beauty, Gives You the Inside Scoop!

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

It’s Oscar time and I love it because I can touch base with my favorite fashion and beauty people— like the ever-popular, very much in demand, Tim Quinn, Head Makeup Artist for Armani Beauty.

Thankfully, he was able to make time to see me and we squeezed in a couple of videos.
Armani Beauty’s Tim Quinn at the Sunset Tower Hotel

Here are the key products he’s talking about in the video:
Crema Nera Eye Cream

The new Onde fragrance collection is Inspired by the exotic journeys to the East. The three perfumes (Vertige, Mystere, and Extase) are encased in beautiful vintage-inspired ribbed bottles with colored silk tassels.

Vertige has a very floral presentation of lush frangipani flower, splashes of jasmine Black liquorice and patchouli help round it out, sending us on a whirlwind tour of the Kama Sutra. The bottle is designed after the temples of India.

Representing Japan, Extase is all about the powdery mimosa, Egyptian jasmine, and narcissus. It’s the sweetest of the trio. I like the vanilla/caramel laid down against the bergamot, pepper and cedar to create depth. It’s not for everyone but works well layered with the other scents and can be worn playfully on its own.

Mystere opens up spicy and bold yet the the incense and amber go surprisingly soft. The Moroccan Rose and vanilla take the edge off this thick, rich scent.

Almost the best for last: the Armani Beauty Spring 2009 Collection.
Don’t forget to check out that new foundation (and the primer too!). This foundation works so beautifully and despite a more than 12 hour day on Friday, I went to lunch on Saturday and was told that I looked really good.

Products are available through Armani boutiques, online and through Saks Fifth Avenue pretty exclusively.

www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

Thank you to Tim Quinn and Mara Stimac for the interview and the time.

LA-Story: The KIN on the Road with Josh Kelly and Pat McGee Band/ Video

Stevie Wilson — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

It's not all the time I hit the clubs. There are musicians who can attest to that-- mostly because of deadlines or time frames of when they are going on and the distance I have to drive. Recently THE KIN toured with Josh Kelley and the Pat McGee Band for well over a month across the US, expanding the reach and exposure of their music.

Their sole date in LA was at the Troubadour and a friend and I went up to LA to
1) hear the bill at the Troubadour and
2) interview The KIN, Josh Kelley and Pat McGee Band..

Thanks to an amazing comedy of errors -- and blame it on the mercury retrograde -- and if you don't know what that means, email or comment me and I will tell you-- everyone was late. I was pretty much on time.
What you are about to see is the VIP acoustic performance by THE KIN in the Troubadour before the doors opened to the public. The live performance for the public was inspiring and showed an increasing confidence in their music and performance-- they got your attention and it was a nice ride..... a thrill ride of sorts.

Check out the LA-Story.com for more details about the interview