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Monday, December 6, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Bella Angel supports the Preservation of the Endangered Mountain Gorilla
Jay Kirk hunts for Carl Akeley in 'Kingdom Under Glass'
By Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — Jay Kirk was 9 the first time he visited the lifelike dioramas in the Hall of African Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History.
"I was blown away," he says, by the animals "frozen forever in time." Then, as now, he found it easy to forget the panes of glass between him and the gorillas, lions and zebras.
But like many visitors, Kirk paid no attention to a plaque honoring Carl Akeley (1864-1926), a taxidermist and conservationist who not only envisioned the hall (in a feverish dream in Africa) but shot many of the animals, stuffed and preserved them.
At 40, Kirk is back at Akeley Hall, as the author of Kingdom Under Glass: A Tale of Obsession, Adventure, and One Man's Quest to Preserve the World's Great Animals (Holt, $27.50).
That man was Akeley. Kirk says that "long before Animal Planet or the BBC's Life series, his dioramas put us closer to nature, to see what we otherwise would not see."
Kirk stumbled on Akeley's name six years ago while writing an article for Harper's on inexplicable sightings of mountain lions in the East — "more sightings than Elvis," he quips — long after they had been wiped out.
What grabbed his interest was a mention of Akeley, a taxidermist from Upstate New York, who once "strangled a leopard with his bare hands."
With novelistic details, Kirk's book re-creates the adventures of a brooding genius who went big-game hunting with Theodore Roosevelt and invented a new camera that revolutionized field photography and film.
After nearly being killed by an elephant on Mount Kenya, Akeley dreamed of what would become Akeley Hall: a "monumental nave-like space" with exhibits behind glass panes, "each the size of a motion-picture screen."
Today, 28 dioramas are displayed on two floors encircling a 35-foot-high atrium anchored by eight elephants, including one bagged by Akeley's wife, Micki. The herd appears ready to stampede through the museum's Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda out into Central Park.
In the hall, Kirk likes to eavesdrop, "especially on kids whose comments tend to be an inquisition along the lines of: 'Am I looking at something dead or not dead?' Maybe that's why the whole vampire thing is so popular — because in a sense they are undead."
Kirk, who teaches writing at the University of Pennsylvania, also found a moral: "All interesting characters are ultimately paradoxical, and Akeley was nothing if not a paradox. Here's a man charged with the work of killing animals to preserve a few examples of what were thought to be species on the verge of extinction."
But in 1921, after an epiphany while hunting in the Congo, Akeley helped create a sanctuary for gorillas, where Dian Fossey would do groundbreaking research.
By Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY
NEW YORK — Jay Kirk was 9 the first time he visited the lifelike dioramas in the Hall of African Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History.
"I was blown away," he says, by the animals "frozen forever in time." Then, as now, he found it easy to forget the panes of glass between him and the gorillas, lions and zebras.
But like many visitors, Kirk paid no attention to a plaque honoring Carl Akeley (1864-1926), a taxidermist and conservationist who not only envisioned the hall (in a feverish dream in Africa) but shot many of the animals, stuffed and preserved them.
At 40, Kirk is back at Akeley Hall, as the author of Kingdom Under Glass: A Tale of Obsession, Adventure, and One Man's Quest to Preserve the World's Great Animals (Holt, $27.50).
That man was Akeley. Kirk says that "long before Animal Planet or the BBC's Life series, his dioramas put us closer to nature, to see what we otherwise would not see."
Kirk stumbled on Akeley's name six years ago while writing an article for Harper's on inexplicable sightings of mountain lions in the East — "more sightings than Elvis," he quips — long after they had been wiped out.
What grabbed his interest was a mention of Akeley, a taxidermist from Upstate New York, who once "strangled a leopard with his bare hands."
With novelistic details, Kirk's book re-creates the adventures of a brooding genius who went big-game hunting with Theodore Roosevelt and invented a new camera that revolutionized field photography and film.
After nearly being killed by an elephant on Mount Kenya, Akeley dreamed of what would become Akeley Hall: a "monumental nave-like space" with exhibits behind glass panes, "each the size of a motion-picture screen."
Today, 28 dioramas are displayed on two floors encircling a 35-foot-high atrium anchored by eight elephants, including one bagged by Akeley's wife, Micki. The herd appears ready to stampede through the museum's Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda out into Central Park.
In the hall, Kirk likes to eavesdrop, "especially on kids whose comments tend to be an inquisition along the lines of: 'Am I looking at something dead or not dead?' Maybe that's why the whole vampire thing is so popular — because in a sense they are undead."
Kirk, who teaches writing at the University of Pennsylvania, also found a moral: "All interesting characters are ultimately paradoxical, and Akeley was nothing if not a paradox. Here's a man charged with the work of killing animals to preserve a few examples of what were thought to be species on the verge of extinction."
But in 1921, after an epiphany while hunting in the Congo, Akeley helped create a sanctuary for gorillas, where Dian Fossey would do groundbreaking research.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A hot new look for fall!!
Trendy striped racer back tank with ripped black leggings and a lace cardigan...
Get it now!
Only at www.bellaangel.com
Get it now!
Only at www.bellaangel.com
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Bella Angel's new fall fashion line is in! check out the new line of leggings at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44695&id=100000188674633&fbid=168959153120373
Monday, October 18, 2010
Check out our preview from the new Bella Angel fall fashion line!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44695&id=100000188674633&ref=mf
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
5 Signs You Have Bad-Fitting Jeans
by RealBeauty.com, on Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:23am PDT
A flattering pair of jeans is a wardrobe staple that every woman seeks. Unfortunately, shopping for said amazing denim can be compared to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. (This pair is too loose in the butt, this pair is too tight in the legs, and this pair is almost perfect—if I didn't have to pay to get them hemmed!) One tip that we learned from our days working at American Eagle is that you should always try on more than one pair of the same size, same style jean. Denim stretches, and if the pair that you grabbed has been tried on by a few women before you, they'll fit differently than a pair that was just pulled off the warehouse truck. With the expert help from New York-based wardrobe stylist Shatonia Amee, here are five signs that a pair of jeans is not for you:
1. There's bunching, wrinkles, or sagging in the crotch area. "You shouldn't have excess material in your crotch," Shatonia says. "Your jeans should be able to come all the way up and lie flat in that area. If not, your jeans may be too big, or your inseam may be too long." The solution? A lower-rise jean. Related: How to Fit into Your Skinny Jeans
2. Your jeans are pulling and creasing in the crotch. "This means your jeans are too tight," Shatonia says. "You may want to try a jean with more stretch. Don't be afraid to go up in size, either — remember, your main goal is comfort!" Related: Style Solutions for Curvy Women
3. There's a large gap in the back of your jeans. "If you can fit your fist in the back of your jeans, but they fit fine everywhere else, you need to opt for a lower-rise jean," says Shatonia. "Try a mid-rise; if there's still a little space, go for a low-rise. When changing rises, make sure the jeans fit comfortably, and be sure your underwear is not visible. Sit down in them to make sure you aren't revealing too much. If a low-rise is too revealing but there's just a little space in the mid-rise, you can always wear a belt or have them altered." Related: 9 Ways to Look Fashionable This Fall
4. Your jeans are creating a "muffin-top." "There are a few reasons this may be happening," Shatonia says. "One reason could be that your jeans are too tight. Again, don't be afraid to go up in size — it's only a number! You want to be comfortable and look good. Another reason could be that you need a higher rise — your jeans should lie flat on your hips and waistline. When a pair of jeans is too tight or low, they can create that unwanted spillage, or muffin-top, on anyone, regardless of size." Related: 13 Foods That Beat Bloat
5. Your jeans are either hitting the top of your ankle or they're dragging, even when you're in heels. "The length of your leans is a big factor in fit," Shatonia says. "If your jeans only come to the top of your ankle, opt for a longer jean. Some designers indicate length in numbers, but some use S (short/petite), R (regular, for women of average height), or L (long, for woman who are over 5'6). Another problem occurs if your jeans have a lot of bunching at the bottom and are dragging on the ground. If this is the case, you need to opt for a petite style. If this is your issue, I suggest shopping at department stores; not many boutiques offer petite sizes, while most major department stores have a whole department for petite women."
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Megan Fox on the June's cover of Allure
When she arrives for her cover shoot at Milk Studios in Los Angles, the 23-year-old actress had her Kindle with her; queued up was New York Times best-seller “Jesus Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don’t Know About Them).” Here’s what Megan shared with the mag:
On the topless pic that was leaked while filming Passion Play:
“If I knew who took this picture, I would personally cause them harm — physical harm, I’m not a f—ing reality-TV star that’s courting the paparazzi and wants my f—ing picture taken all the time. I’m at my job and I’m trying to play a character and I’m trying to be serious, and this is the sh– that’s happening to me. It makes me furious.”
On plastic surgery:
“I would encourage anyone to first speak with a therapist, to try and figure out where this want comes from, because a lot of times it’s not related to your teeth or your nose or your chin — the surgery is not going to alleviate that insecurity for you. If, then, you feel, This is something that I want to do, then do it. It’s amazing that we have the technology to do the stuff that we do.”
On avoiding industry events:
“Everyone blows sunshine up everyone else’s ass. I hate receiving compliments; I hate being told I’m talented or people think I’m going to be a movie star. I always feel that it’s forced and fake.”
Check out the full set of pics at Allure.com!
Gossip Girl's Blake Lively on the cover of Vogue
Blake on the cover of June's Vogue in Nicole Miller boy shorts and a Chanel watch at Swami’s Cafe in Encinitas, Calif.
She's looking good! Get your beach body on soon and head out to the beach!
Monday, May 17, 2010
What will she wear this year?
With Sex and the City 2 coming out. What will she wear this time to the premiere? We all remember the bird nest in her head from the last movie's premiere. Perhaps something more subtle?
The winner of America's Next Top Model's interview with LA Times
Going into the Cover Girl shoots, Raina was pretty confident. Did you think she had the upper hand on you there?
Yes. She has more of a friendly appearance. You know, that Cover Girl look. So I was a little worried going into that part, but I knew that I would probably excel in maybe the runway. I knew there was a strong point for each of us. I was better at runway. She was better at the commercial stuff.
You had a fear of having to use the cue cards during the commercial and that fear was realized. How did you feel about that?
I think that I totally psyched myself out. I was like, I don’t want the cue cards! I don’t want the cue cards! I was saying the words all day and I knew the script and I was walking around with it because I didn’t want to miss any words. I got up there and my mind just went blank, like the light cut off. I just had to forget about it and say, give me the cue cards. I just kind of laughed through it. I’m human and that’s what we do. We forget sometimes [laughs]. It’s life!
You said you thought you’d have the runway on your side, since you’ve got a real fierce signature walk. Then we found out it was a happier walk. Did that scare you?Going into it, I did think I was going to have a struggle once I found out it was upbeat and preppy and that kind of thing. I was like, oh, god, [Raina] like smiles and, you know, winks. Oh, gosh, like the sweetheart kind of thing. I thought she might have this one on me too, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. I know my runway walk was good. If I could just get a cute little smile and look young and fresh, I knew that I would still outwalk her. So I was kind of comfortable, but I was worried as far as the cutesy part of it.
During the competition, did you think you’d be sharing the top two with Raina?
Oh, yeah. Secretly, Raina was one of my top people. Her face is undeniable. It photographs amazingly. So she was one of my front-runners. When we got to the top two, I thought maybe it might be Alex. She was doing really well. Or Angelea, because she did well in the beginning. She kind of slowed down toward the end, but there’s a good chance she can still pull it off, so when they said Raina, I thought, oh, this is going to be difficult. I did well with photos and she was doing consistently great. I just grew in the competition and she was just great all across the board. It just depended on who the judges wanted and who they saw more in. And that was who was going to get the prize.
You didn't start out commanding much attention. At what point did you feel you turned the corner?
For me, I think it was the hair shoot. I was like I found my thing. I know what it is. I know what works and I’m going to use it. But, beside that, I kind of think I was a good competitor, because as far as me and Raina, I was called above her every time except three. And I didn’t realize that until I was watching the episodes and stuff like that. I always thought she was ahead of me. Other than that, I was called in the top five the whole time. The hair shoot is when it really turned for me and I kind of took it to the next level. And I had to maintain it, which is very hard when you get a best picture. It’s hard to stay up there once you get it.
We thought the moment you turned was then, too, when you channeled Grace Jones. Is she someone you look up to?
Yes. She’s a model, but she has done a lot of things. She went into singing. She had a CD out and people probably don’t know that about her. And she did acting. So she was very, very successful. She is somebody I looked up to, especially for being a dark-chocolate model. She looked something like me. It was great. I thought I worked that Grace Jones.Rest of the interview can be found at--
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/05/americas-next-top-model-winner-krista-white-i-worked-that-grace-jones.html
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
cracking up "Fashionable" Infomercials
http://www.refinery29.com/10-of-our-favorite-fashionable-infomercials.php
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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