Fela Anikulapo Kuti's work enjoys posthumous revival

Abami Eda Lives on: Starting November 23, musical theater fans visiting New York won't just be angling for tickets to Broadway productions of "Chicago," "Mamma Mia!" and "Rock of Ages." They'll also have the chance to see "Fela!" -- a new musical at the Eugene O'Neill Theater about the influential Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and the opportunity to choose Afrobeat over show tunes, ABBA hits and Disney songs.

What's at stake in this Broadway venture, however, is much more than recreational tourist dollars. The show will help find a larger audience for Kuti, who before his death in 1997 pioneered Afrobeat from the sounds of James Brown and West African high-life music, became a political icon in his native Nigeria and earned the admiration of everyone from Paul McCartney to the Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil.

Rikki Stein, Kuti's former co-manager and the executor of his estate, plans to capitalize on this exposure to cement his legacy as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

"I have an abiding regret that Fela never achieved the recognition he deserved during his lifetime," Stein says. "We have a long row to hoe in terms of general knowledge and acceptance."

ALBUM REISSUES

In addition to green-lighting "Fela!," Kuti's estate has licensed his catalog to the newly revived Knitting Factory Records. The well-timed deal will result in the reissue of Kuti's complete catalog -- 45 albums -- during the next 12 years.

"The industry always talks about who the next big legacy artist will be," says Ian Wheeler, label manager of Knitting Factory Records. "It should have been Fela years ago. We're really trying to bring a new audience around the world, and particularly in the U.S., to his music."

Up first is the October 27 release "The Best of the Black President," a compilation of Kuti's best-known material. The set is being sold at previews of "Fela!" and at Felabrations, a series of Afrobeat DJ parties organized by Knitting Factory Records and its marketing partner, Giant Step.

"We're a conduit for raising awareness of Afrobeat," says DJ Rich Medina, who founded the Kuti tribute party Jump N' Funk in 2001 and headlined four of 18 Felabrations nationwide. "It's a way of helping the cause."

"The first thing we're doing is galvanizing the core base of Fela fans," Giant Step founder/CEO Maurice Bernstein says, "then using the messaging to make him relevant in a universal way. You can live in Detroit and understand what (the famous Kuti saying) 'Music is the weapon' means, just like you would Bob Marley's 'One Love' or Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On?'"

The first batch of reissues arrive February 2: "The '69 Los Angeles Sessions," "Live With Ginger Baker," "London Scene"/"Shakara," "Rodoforofo Fight," "Open & Close"/"Afrodisiac" and "Gentleman"/"Confusion." It's not only the first time Kuti's early London recordings with Koola Loobitos will be reissued but also the debut of his catalog on vinyl, which Knitting FactoryVampire Weekend. hopes will attract a new generation of music collectors who listen to African-influenced bands like

"Every day there are traces of new people discovering Fela's music," Wheeler says. "But there has never been a swell of activity around him like this."

Though MCA reissued Kuti's catalog in 2001, Bernstein, who also helped market that series, says its potential wasn't fully realized. "MCA was a major label, and no matter how much they said they loved Fela and how important he was, he was definitely lost in the shuffle," he says.

Stein is all too familiar with labels' conflicted admiration for Kuti. In the mid-'80s, he says he met with every major about the prospect of a deal. "They all received me respectfully and saw Fela as akin to Miles Davis or any of the jazz greats," Stein recalls. "But they'd ask: 'Rikki, which three minutes of this 18-minute song do you want me to put on the radio?' "

"I'd ask Fela to write me a small tune," Stein adds. "He used to say, 'I'm writing African classical music. Don't mess with Tchaikovsky.'"

A deal nearly came to fruition in 1993, when then-Motown Records president Jheryl Busby offered Kuti a five-album deal under his new Africa-oriented label, with a $1.3 million advance for each album and another $1 million for full ownership of Kuti's catalog, Stein says. But after talking to his spirit advisers, Kuti refused to sign until April 1995. Busby left Motown the week of the scheduled signing, and Andre Harrell's first action as Motown's new president was to ax the African label.

BODY/MIND EXPERIENCE

In Knitting Factory Records and the producers of "Fela!," Stein has found partners who are more attuned to the cause of expanding Kuti's legacy.

"Fela!" re-creates the Shrine, the Lagos, Nigeria, nightclub where Kuti played multiple nights each week with his band, Africa 70. A collective of singers, dancers and musicians performs Kuti songs including "Shakara," "Zombie" and "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense" behind lead actor Sahr Ngaujah, who won an Obie Award for his spot-on portrayal of Kuti in the show's Off Broadway run last year. The effect is less stuffy theater and more raucous concert -- just as its creators intended.

"The Broadway experience can be like sitting with blinders on," "Fela!" director/choreographer Bill T. Jones says. "This is a show you enjoy as much with your body as with your mind. It's free and communal."

"There was a constant struggle between keeping Fela's music pure and deconstructing it for the audience," says the show's musical director, Aaron Johnson, who translated Kuti's Yoruba and pidgin lyrics and is also the conductor/trombonist of the acclaimed Afrobeat band Antibalas. "I've been very pleasantly surprised with the response so far."

Nor have the most controversial aspects of Kuti's life been smoothed over, from his simultaneous "wedding" to 27 women to his clashes with the Nigerian government that led to a brutal 1977 attack on his Kalakuta compound. "It's all out there," Stein says. "Fela has not been sanitized."

That hasn't done anything to quell the show's positive word-of-mouth, the result in no small part to the fact that tastemaker musicians like the Roots' Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson have sung its praises. Jay-Z called it "fantastic" after attending a show, fueling reports that the rapper will become involved with it in an official capacity.

"There's going to be an enormous incentive for people to investigate Fela when they know that Jay-Z, Will Smith and Alicia Keys are all rabid fans," Stein says. "It's a sign that the underground is moving overground."

Further proof that a Kuti revival of sorts is under way: A screenplay for a biopic is in the works, to be directed by the U.K. filmmaker Steve McQueen ("Hunger").

"I believe that with the show, the film and the reissues, a lot is going to change," Stein says. "We'll see a much wider audience for Fela. There were a million people at his funeral shouting, 'Fela will live forever.' Of course, they were right."

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard)

Happy Halloween!

This photo is from last year's Critical Mass. Anyone out there with plans to costume your bicycle? I'd love to hear what you're up to!

Joshua Allen Harris...

Joshua Allen Harris creates inflatable street art by creating structures made from plastic bags. He positions the bags to look like trash on top of subway grates but once the air travels upwards it inflates the bags into animated sculptures!





A completely original yet simple idea from fairly unknown artist Joshua Allen Harris has taken the world by storm. He started off with a bear, and developed to gorillas, giraffes, centaurs and the loch ness monster.



Video From New York Magazine.

Inspiring Story on CNN

My friend M shared this CNN story, about 84-year-old nurse Lan Yin Tsai who rides a singlespeed 150 miles for MS research. To top that, she does the ride in a dress and heels.

I'm beyond impressed. I think I'm humbled.

Antique Black Bike in Kendall

This bike, spotted in Kendall Square, grabbed my attention by being both old and unfamiliar. It may be that it's a mish-mash of parts from many bikes, but I think you'll agree it's an interesting assemblage. There is a lot of evidence that the bike is Swiss, see what you think.



This bag is most intriguing to me. I wonder what he keeps in there? I'd never explored the space between my fender and my seat tube, though I think his fender sits further back than mine. You can see a Swiss cross at the top of the license plate.


This is an antique wheel lock, clearly it's of historical interest only as he's using a modern U-lock on the bike.


The front angle shows what an exotic bike this is on the streets of Cambridge.


Here you can see the serial number, up where it's easy to read.


I thus think that this number indicates the year the bike was made. Note the Swiss cross in the lug.


The saddle is old but I've seen them before. The seatpost, however, is new to me. Is that really a seatpost, or did he re-use a stem in an exotic configuration? (yes, the bike behind this one is missing a saddle)

Another Hot Single From Nigerian Megastar “9ice”

Barely two weeks after dropping the first single off his up coming album “Tradition” 9ice hits us with the energy. “Energy” the latest single from 9ice has had people anticipating its release since its teaser was posted online.

In this feel good song, 9ice shows us he can be versatile by fine tuning his style and playing with different languages without drawing too far from what makes him 9ice. He doesn’t disappoint with fluidity in his lyrics, playing with words, and still reminding us about his happiness.


Energy produced by Cheepo, who is currently one of the hottest producers on market will have you dancing and bobbing your head to the tune while still reminding you that 9ice is infact a true modern connoisseur of our Tradition.

Gbamu Gbamu and now Energy leave us without a doubt that Tradition will be very well worth the listen and constant rotation.

Links to the song
http://iLike.com/s/AH5ZA
http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/1949031

From: 9ice Facebook Fan Group.

Slap Bracelets are Trousers Cuffs

When I was in 6th grade these slap bracelets were popular. They ended up getting prohibited at school because they make too much noise when every girl in class is obsessively slapping her bracelet all day.

Amusingly, when I asked the Claire's Boutique employee if I could photograph her product, she told me that I was the second person that day who was interested in these bracelets as a cycling trouser cuff.

Blinking Trainers...

Remember those trainers with the flashing light when you walked??? Jimmy Choo has an adult version coming in spring....why has no one thought of this before!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mystery Bike

Spotted in East Cambridge, the make is no mystery - even though it's painted over the bike is clearly a Trek. No, the mystery is what is contained in the locked box on the rear rack.

This commuter bike is well thought-out. It has Schwalbe marathon tires, full fenders, those upright handlebars, an internal hub, and both a tail light AND a red reflector.


The mystery box is locked, and there is even a bit of foam in the lock, presumably to reduce the rattle. What do you suppose is in there? I'm hoping for something super-top-secret. Any guesses?

Breasts war in Nigeria: Ladies with big boobs compete for prize

Are you a lady blessed with big and beautiful breasts? Are you proud of the endowment and willing to flaunt them? If yes, this is an opportunity for you to use what you have to get what you need. However, the breasts must be natural, not those augmented or ‘pumped,’ as they say in local parlance.

Indeed, a Lagos organization, Salty Land Ventures Nigeria Limited, is organizing a unique pageant for ladies with jumbo size breasts, offering mouth-watering prizes to the winners and participants.
Disclosing this to Saturday Sun, the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the outfit, Mr. Chimezie Egwu- Obasi, remarked that the event is not just about the size of breasts but a celebration of beauty, using unique or uncommon parameters.

He said: “Until recently, when a woman is blessed with extra-large breasts, people look at her somehow, and sometimes such women do not have self- confidence; they tend to be ashamed of their configuration. But gradually, all these are beginning to change.

Society no longer looks at such women with scorn or indignity and the women themselves have rediscovered themselves and are no longer lacking in confidence. In fact, it is not a secret that big breasts are in vogue today. The situation is such that ladies are now acquiring or buying bigger and firmer breasts with the help of medical science provided that they have the wherewithal to do so. What I am saying in effect is that the figures people made jest of in the past have become the desire of many men. So, in a way, the whole thing is evolving, like fashion. But this project is about natural breasts, big and beautiful breasts; the authentic breasts of real African ladies. These are the ones we aim to project and promote even to the global stage. We are saying that you can be beautiful and proud even with a huge burst.”

Obasi said that the pageant becomes imperative due to the wrong definition ascribed to beauty in some climes, which unfortunately our people have started seeing as acceptable standard.

He added: “One other thing we took into consideration prior to embarking on the project is the fact that many of our ladies now bare their breasts in the name of fashion. Everywhere you go these days, including places of worship and corporate environments, you see ladies pushing out their breasts for all to see. So, what we are now saying is those ladies who bare their breasts to the world for free can now show their stuff in a competition with others and win fantastic prizes. Instead of the free shows going on all over the place, generously endowed ladies are being given the opportunity to use what they have in a more beneficial way. With what we are doing, it is a win-win situation, so to say.”

On the take home package for the winning breasts, he explained: “Everybody is a winner. The overall winner and the contestants will all go home with something fantastic. This pageant is unique in every way.” Explaining that discussions with sponsors are ongoing, even as legion of sponsors want to be part of the show, he added that contestants must be single and not less than 18 years of age.

The lab scientist further said that the projet will also include teaching the participants how to care for ther breasts, noting that these are important parts of women. according t him, the participants will be taught how to measure themselves properly, stressing: “It is a fact that some women wear the wrong size and end up causing discomfort and health hazards to themselves. They also ruin their figure with ill-fitting bra, so we will teach them how to pick the right sizes and more”.

By HENRY UMAHI
Sun News On-Line

Duracell Advert...

AMAZING!

Yoruba Movies

Leading Yoruba Movie Stars 2008

Lola Alao:

Lola Alao has been in the Yoruba movie industry for some time, but her skills have not waned. Although she has pulled her weight in the industry over the years, the outgoing year has been particularly eventful for the actress. She has appeared in virtually all the Yoruba movies. Besides, she also produced some hit Yoruba movies.

Ronke Oshodi-Oke:
She is not only well endowed in the upper region, Ronke Oshodi-Oke knows her onions when it comes to acting. Having made a mark in the Yoruba movie industry, it is not a surprise that directors and producers are always running after her. 2008 has not been anything different. For her, it has been a fruitful year.

Toyin Aimakhu:
Irrespective of the scandals that have trailed her in the outgoing year, Toyin Aimakhu sustained her wonderful acting skills. A young producer, Toyin came into the movie industry not too long ago but has taken the industry by storm.

Bukky Wright:
A graduate of Economics, Bukky Wright has been able to sustain her reputation as a versatile actress who is always at home with any role she finds herself playing. In spite of having been in circulation in the Yoruba movie industry for many years, she remains a strong actress who would give other actresses a run for their money.

Saheed Balogun:
He sure has many reasons to count his blessings this year. Last year, he survived an accident that nearly claimed his life. But he came back on track in 2008.In spite of his marital problems, the actor remained on top of his game in 2008.

Femi Branch:
Handsome hunk, Femi Branch, is the man of the moment in the Yoruba movie industry. His profile in the industry has enjoyed a meteoric rise and the actor does not seem prepared to slow down the pace.He has had a lot of movies to his credit this year and seems to have overtaken many who were there before him.

Fathia Balogun:
Formerly married to Saheed Balogun, Fathia is one actress who never allowed scandals or marital problems to affect her career.She has always been a wonderful actress, and she continued to endear herself to fans with her skills in the outgoing year.

Friday Freebie: Autumn Bike Flowers

To celebrate that it's FRIDAY I'm giving away a bike corsage made with the rest of the flowers from my helmet spray. It's not terribly well-made, it just ties on with a red ribbon, but it's free to the first person who emails me with the understanding that you'll send a photo of the flowers on your bike to be published here on the blog. Please, responders located in North America only.

Today was a fun bike ride because Obama is coming to town to give a talk on energy. MIT is in a flurry of excited preparations, I even saw people wearing suits today! I'm gratified to report that while they have barricades up everywhere, they are NOT impeding the bike lanes.

If you're interested in Obama's address, more information is available on the MIT website.

My Trinket

Inspired by Dottie's post, and in agreement with her Emily citation:

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry’s cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I’ll put a trinket on.

-Emily Dickinson

I have switched out my pink flower, and am now wearing a spray of mums and leaves.

Trondheim Bicycle Lift

OK, this thing is pretty cool. My world-traveling friend E took these photos for all of you. The Trondheim Bicycle Lift is a bit like the bunny slope at a ski resort, but instead of getting little kids up a snowy hill "Trampe" gets big people on bikes up the hill (probably in the snow too).

You can buy/rent the a key card for 100 kr from a bicycle repair shop, a kiosk, the Dromedar Coffee Bar, or at the tourist office.



The sign says

"The bicycle life TRAMPE was intstalled in 1993 as an important part of our program to encourage cycling in Tronheim.

This is the first bicycle lift in the world.

You need to be at least 10 years of age to use the lift. Only cyclists are allowed to use the lift.

The Public Roads Administration advises you to wear a helmet whenever cycling.

In the event of any technical problems with the lift, please ring ..."

"He's got a ticket to ride..."


Up, up, and away!
E tells me that his right foot was resting on a little metal "starting block" type thing that was powering him up the hill.

This hill doesn't look terribly steep to me, but I know that hills don't ever photograph as steep as they are. The lady walking certainly looks like she's going down a steep hill. Additionally, the road is clear now but I could imagine that riding up it in the snow would be a challenge, a bit like the hills of Somerville. Indeed it sounds from their website like their community is a bit like ours.

Trondheim is a hilly city, the third largest city of Norway, yet it has the highest share of cycling in all of Norway. Trondheim is a university city with 30,000 students, 90% of whom using their bicycles as their main transport tool

In a user survey, 41% of the lift users claim they're using the bicycle more often due to the installation of Trampe, which has pushed 220,000 cyclists up that hill.

I'd love to try it someday.

Fashematics...

Christopher Kane

Trondheim Skirt Guard

This lovely submission comes from my world-traveling friend E, who noted the charm of what appears to be a home-made skirt guard on this folding bike in Trondheim.

Ever since I examined the skirt guard of that Pinarello in Washington I've been taken with the idea of giving it a try. Could be fun!

Nick Robertson...

Nick Robertson is about as successful as you can get! Founder of ASOS.com. He launched the company in the year 2000...the great-grandson of Austin Reed's Founder. He conceived the idea a long with Quentin Griffiths to capitalise on people wanting to buy the things Celebrities wear on television. (As Seen On Screen)

As Seen On Screen August 2000.
June 2003
May 2006

May 2008

Reaching over 5 million unique hits a month and with over 2 million registered users ASOS is a winner of many awards, and continues to see profits soar within difficult economic climate. The demand for ASOS is huge, and Nick Robertson has definitely jumped from strength to strength over the 9 years of ASOS.

Meet the Next Genevieve Nnaji: Vanessa Nzegwu

By Benjamin NJOKU

She’s a self-taught visual artist and a screen goddess, who holds a lot of promise for her generation. Right from when she launched into the mainstream movie world some few years ago, Vanessa Nzegwu is an actress to admire and watch on screen

Since she started experimenting on canvass, Vanessa may not have abandoned her love for acting, as she admits that “acting is what I have loved to do in life.” In this encounter with HVP, this beautiful actress recounts her journey into the world of make-believe, what defines her relationships with the opposite sex, and her expectations in life.

When was your first movie?

I acted my first movie in 2003. I ‘ve been in and out of the industry. I started from Kano before I moved to Enugu. I wanted to act and sometimes, the job doesn’t come easily. And so, you have to try your hands in some other things.
Vanessa Nzegwu

But after awhile, I decided to come back to the industry to try my luck. In the past, I did some movies where some producers gave me roles that I did not like.

So, I turned them down but they said, ‘oh! She’s rude, she’s this..or that…’. Why don’t I just take a break since I’ ve done something good before now?

How long was the break?

That was in 2004. I came back in 2005 to do a movie before I stayed off screen again for sometime. I wasn’t back into Nollywood until recently.

You started out from Kano ….

Yes, I started from Kano but it was on stage. I can’t exactly remember the name of that play that launched me into the world of acting. I just finished my secondary school education then, and found myself acting on stage. It didn’t take me much time to venture into Nollywood.

From Kano, how did you break into Nollywood?

When I started on stage, there were some actors that were invited to Kano State to watch us perform on stage.
Vanessa Nzegwu

The likes of Sam Loco Efe and Tom Njamanze. After watching us on stage, they passed a remark, saying to me, “ You’re good.

We are going to have productions in Enugu.” They invited me to join them, since according to them, I have all it takes to be an actress. I took time to think about it, before making up my mind to give it a trial.

As it were, I travelled to Enugu to launch out, and the very first day I arrived the Coal City, I got a role. For me, it was quite encouraging and I decided to stay. But then….

How did you get the role in Enugu?

I had to register as a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria(AGN). I actually went to Enugu for registration.

But when I got there, it was the job that came calling. So, I said to myself ‘what are you going back to do?

Why not just stay back, and get more jobs for yourself?’ Because then, we had very few people who could be good in acting in Enugu. That was how I stayed back. I left Enugu for Lagos. The place appeared to be static for me.

There were no challenges coming my way. And the kind of roles that were given to me were not challenging as such.

I needed someone to challenge me; to make me stand up and face the realities of acting. I needed someone to tell me, “You need to do more than what you’re doing,” and I felt I could have that here in Lagos. So, I moved down to Lagos, and so far I’ve been in Lagos and am still in Lagos.

In the movie you acted in, you’re in love with the guy and along the line, you started feeling jealous. In real life situation, are you jealous?

The way I reacted there, even though it’s a script, is something a whole lot of women would do, and even worse.

Some would even go to the extent of attacking their partner. But my character there wasn’t that violent. So, I couldn’t do more than what I was told to do. But then, as a person, I like being sincere to people. I think I will have time to think about what I did wrong or why he took that course of action.

Because for me to have accepted you as partner, you should be able to tell me what you can and cannot do. And if eventually you did it, and you’re truly sincere and show remorse and no matter how you cry and say I don’t love you, at the end of the day, you will still come back to that guy.

What do you think of yourself?

I think am someone God has created to set things right, to help the less-privileged, and in as much as I don’t have the whole world, I try to do my best with the little I have.

What are your assets ?

By assets, if you mean what I can make money with them, I will say my hands. Because without my hands, I cannot make money.

Considering the fact that you are a very beautiful woman, what can you say about the many men that come around you?

I try as much as possible to be down to earth with them. I try to make them comfortable but not too comfortable. And I try to let them know that this is how far I can go with them, unlike some people who will try to give in because there is no other way out. I try to be diplomatic about it.

Are into a relationship?

Yes, I am.

Is it one that will likely lead to marriage?

You don’t predict what will happen. You just do your own part by finding someone who suits you and then you let God do the rest.

What do you look out for in a man?

I look out for naturalist. You just have to be natural. You have to be sensitive, and also, you have to be creative. When I mean creative, I mean being able to make out something out of nothing even when it looks like all hope is lost, you’re able to put yourself together and say I have what it takes and I can make something out of this.

You are a good dancer.

Thanks a lot.

So do you go to parties?

Yes, once in a while, I go to parties.

Have you ever broken somebody’s heart before?

That’s something I have to really think about. The way I handle my fans is the same way I handle my relationships.

In a sense that after awhile, if you find out that it’s not something that is leading you to the next level, you look for a way of ending it amicably. Both parties would decide and at the end of the day, you remain friends because you never can tell where you will meet yourselves again and what you can benefit from that person.

How do you describe the word, love?

To me, love is a gradual thing. Sometimes, you can see love as being stupid. You can also do stupid things for love. It’s just doing something different from the normal things that you do.

Have you ever been disappointed by friends?

Yes. Most times, I ‘ve been disappointed by friends.

Was it in a relationship?

In relationship, I would not say, I’ve had so many disappointments. Sometimes, we end up being friends. So, at the end of the day, nobody is hurt.

Where do you hope to see yourself in the next few years?

In the next few years, I see myself in the international scene and am working very hard towards it. And then, whatever is making those people better than us, I will be able to bring it back and make the industry a better one.

At the same time, I am hope to set the structure for the up and coming fine artists.

Scarf - Gloves - Boots

She's looking cute on that bike, even in this cold. I'm guessing that we're seeing a pair of tights peeking between her trousers and her boots. That's a great trick for staying warm in New England, on and off a bike.

Sabina kelley pin-up inked

Reflective Cycling Cape Update

Well, I've finished my reflective cycling cape and I must say I'm just a tiny bit disappointed. The price and time commitment were definitely right, but the finished result isn't as great as I'd hoped. Oh, it's cute all right. I like it, and I think for someone else it will be perfect, but

• it's too grey for my complexion, I look washed out when I wear it
  
• it's too short for me - the next one will be a different, longer pattern
• it's too light weight for me - this I had suspected but I liked the fabric's slubby weave... This cape belongs in Florida or some place warmer than here

(NOTE, I'm not sure it's any lighter than the Dashing Tweeds cape. Take a look at how theirs drapes. I just know that I'd want a heavier, longer cape for Boston)

• the contrast of the seam binding (which matches the gold fibers) is more striking than the reflection of the fibers themselves - the cape is probably safest worn inside out and while the construction would be proud to be on display (did anyone see the Hermes dresses last spring? Inside out to show the impeccable construction), that wasn't my intent...

On final review it's worth far more than the $5 I spent, but it not yet the ideal reflective cycling cape.

ALERT

In 1965, Slumber Party Barbie came with a book entitled How To Lose Weight, which advised children: "Don't eat".

Emma Watson places #3 on Empire's Magazine sexiest movies stars list

Emma was voted as the number 3 most sexiest movie star this year. It's a very entertaining list with notable inclusions of actresses like Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe. Congrats to Emma. Her classic beauty and keen intelligence is definitely sexy.

http://www.empireonline.com/100sexiest2009/women/default.asp?star=3

Even better news is that Burberry did very well last quarter. They even exceeded expectations! The Telegraph had a nice little article about Emma and Burberry's success.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6328699/Emma-Watson-helps-Burberry-beat-expectations.html

A little more in depth article about the fashion biz:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/14/burberry-luxury-recovery-markets-equities-retail.html

You can still vote for Emma for Spike TV's Scream Awards (also Evanna is nominated in another category) so if you haven't voted go vote for the Harry Potter girls. Emma's in the Best Fantasy Actress category.
http://www.spike.com/event/scream2009/page/vote/category/33663

You can also vote for Emma in Portrait Magazine's top 30 under 30- I don't know much about this magazine or the validity of this poll but it won't hurt to vote as show Emma support.
http://www.portraitmagazine.net/

BTW love this picture of Burberry's huge street display for Burberry's London Fashion show

(credit http://emma-watson.net/ )

Also Emma sightings on Twitter are still pretty regular. Once in a while we get a photo like this one: (the person who sent it to me didn't credit it- but if somebody leaves a comment who to credit I will.)

Little Black Dress on a Little Black Bike

This classy cyclist in Cambridge has me very impressed. It got quickly cold here and I went for comfort today. Not her, she's looking good today. Her black stockings looked especially nice with her coat and heels. Bravo!

Matt's Tribal Dragon Tattoo NY

'Traces' Teaser...