'Heaven Can Wait'

Latest movie: The Room

Spoon!!!! We went to the Plaza to watch this one. It was
too much fun. We threw plastic spoons at the screen and
yelled ''Denny!'' everytime he showed up in a scene. Read
up on this movie, it may be the worse one ever made.

Baboon gangs in South Africa

Visitors to South Africa's Cape Town who are worried about becoming victims of the country's high crime rate could find themselves instead robbed by baboons.

The primates know how to open car doors and jump through windows in pursuit of sandwiches and snacks.

City officials are battling to control the increasingly aggressive troupes and there are fears the problem will only worsen with the influx of visitors to Cape Town during the World Cup next year.

There are about 420 baboons in 17 troupes that roam the city's outskirts, especially the popular scenic sites along the coast. Baboons are a under South African legislation but their persistent pursuit of food has led to conflict with residents.

Political massacre in Philippines

Latest book: The New Moon's Arms

This my second Nalo Hopkinson book. The first,
Brown Girl in the Ring, was real good. I'm glad I
gave this one a shot too. The first chapter moves
kind of slow and then out of nowhere, everything
starts happening. I'm not gonna say anything else.

Biluxi clothing

I designed a few items of clothing. Click here to visit my store.

AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com

Latest movie: Butterfly Effect (director's cut)

We have got to get Ashton Kutcher to do more stuff like this. Great movie. It kind of reminds me of Donnie Darko, but not really though.

New

I took this picture at Apache Cafe yesterday.

G.E. MRI dye causes kidney failure

Many MRI patients are injected with a GE dye to enhance
images. If they have weak kidneys, they might develop a
rare and sometimes fatal disease. Click here for the full story.

Latest movie: Cool Hand Luke

Very good movie. This came out the same
year as The Graduate. Gotta love Paul Newman.

New

I took this picture of Nicole at Apache Cafe yesterday.

Black Art History: Jeffrey Banks

Jeffrey Laurence Banks knew from an early age growing up in Washington, D.C. that he was going to be a fashion designer. "I was only 10 years old when I designed an Easter suit for my mother," he told Black Enterprise magazine. "The dress was raw silk and it had a banana-colored, wool jersey coat that buttoned to one side. I picked out the fabric, went to the dressmaker with my mother and even picked out the accessories."

By the time Banks was a design student at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, he had already proven his ability to rise in the professional ranks. While still a student there he worked as a design assistant to Ralph Lauren. Next he honed his skill as an assistant to the president of another fashion giant, Calvin Klein, while completing his degree at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Successful at both the creative and business ends of the design world, Banks established his own firm in 1978 at the age of 25. According to Lloyd Gite in a 1997 issue of Black Enterprise, millions of people around the globe were wearing designs by Jeffrey Banks at that time. "From Bloomingdale's in New York to fine shops in Japan, his name appears on everything form shirts and suits to neckwear and small leather goods, even sunshades and prescription eyewear."


Banks cashed in on his increasing visibility in fashion by creating his own design firm in 1978, with himself as president and chief designer. He continued building on his reputation as a designer of furs for both men and boys. According to Andre Leon-Talley in Ebony, by 1980 Banks was creating furs for males "so smart and tailored that some women want to wear them." At this time he was also designing outerwear for L'Aiglon,
and men's clothes for Glanzrock. Perhaps he made his biggest mark as a designer with his line of so-called "spectator sportwear" for men, women, and children for Merona Sports.



Despite receiving frequent praise for his design vision and creativity at such a young age, Banks has never harbored any illusions about what it takes to be successful in the clothes universe. "Fashion is not art," he said in Black Enterprise. "It comes very close, but at the end of the day it's commerce. The more you know about business, the better designer you'll be. Many young designers don't realize that they can't go to a bank or the investment community without a business plan. They just think that everyone will look at their sketches and see their talent shining through."

Banks himself struggled on the business end during the mid 1980s, but then got a shot in the arm by Japanese businessman Tomio Taki. In 1988 Taki, who already owned a successful design company in New York City, agreed to invest in a new business with Banks that would give him a one third share in the company. Banks claimed at the time that Taki's infusion of money would "free me up to design after spending the last three years so enmeshed in the business side of my company," according to the Wall Street Journal. Various ups and downs were also experienced by Banks during the 1990s. He was beset by legal difficulties in 1994 when he was sued by the artist Gloria Fox Lynn, who said that he had produced shirts using her copyrighted paintings without her permission. In 1995 Banks bounced back by signing a licensing agreement with Neema Clothing Ltd, granting them permission to manufacture and market clothing that had the Banks label on it.


By 1996, Banks was heading two companies --Jeffrey Banks Ltd. and Jeffrey Banks International. Between them, they boasted sales of almost $20 million a year. And he continues to be a force in the fashion world after nearly a quarter century of active designing.

Awards

Special Coty Award for Men's Furs, Coty Fashion Critics Award, 1977; Excellence in Men's Wear Design, Harvey's Bristol Cream Tribute to Black Designers, 1978-80; Special Coty Award for Menswear, 1982; Cutty Sark Award for Outstanding U.S. Designer, 1987.

Reference 1, Reference 2

Boscolo Exedra Hotel - Milan