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Posted on August 12th, 2008 by Mayur.
Categories: History & Politics.
This response from Mayur deserved posting all on its own:
“Perhaps certain men are simply pre-disposed to putting their hand in the cookie jar more than others. Perhaps its simple brain chemistry and evolution to blame.
Newsweek’s recent article on: “His Cheating Brain” offers a slightly different perspective. More specifically: monoamine oxidase A and testosterone may be the true culprits…. I summarize:
1. Many fallen politicians fit a personality type known as a “sensation seeker,” defined in the early 1970s. Sensation seekers crave novel and intense experiences more than other people do, and, as part of that, they tend to have many sexual partners. “They get a bigger kick out of things,” says Marvin Zuckerman, a pioneering psychologist and author of the 2006 book “Sensation Seeking and Risky Behavior.” There’s chemical evidence: sensation seekers have lower levels of monoamine oxidase A, which regulates the brain’s levels of dopamine, the “pleasure” neurotransmitter.
The problem is that they never seem to get enough excitement. “Their experiences have to be either very new or very intense, or both, or else they get very restless,” says Zuckerman. “When things get monotonous, they have to do something else to increase their arousal.” That’s the flipside of finding pleasure more pleasurable: for sensation seekers, boredom is also more boring.
2. Alpha males are high on testosterone, the hormone that underlies almost all the typical traits of the politico-sexual animal: high levels of testosterone make for a high sex drive, a love of risks, aggressiveness and competitiveness. “These people have a strong need to win at games, which is obviously important in power politics,” says Zuckerman.
Although it is still inexcusable behaviour, perhaps this perspective offers our politico-sexual animals a little bit of sympathy?”
Posted on June 11th, 2008 by Mayur.
Categories: Travel & Leisure, Consumer Products, Business & Finance.
The recent US-led credit crunch may be hitting middle-class Americans hard. But one section of the population and the industry that serves them seem almost invigorated by the world’s economic woes – the super-wealthy and the businesses that serve them. A recent article in Newsweek indicated that 80% of the richest Americans – those worth $10 million or more – actually planned to increase their luxury spending this year. You add the moneyed Muscovites, and newly minted Indian and Brazilian billionaires to the mix and its magic!
So as the plebians hoard gasoline, cut-back on air travel and make Walmart their new favorite pastime, here’s what the billionaires are up to these days:
- They are buying products from brands that offer timeless-luxury: Bottega Veneta, Prada and Hermes: At Bottega, first quarter sales were up a staggering 31.5% while Hermes posted an impressive 13% rise.
- They are going bespoke: Mass luxury is now banal. Tom Ford’s made-to-measure suits, which range from $2,900 to $8,600, are going faster than Magnolia’s cupcakes. For a mere $90,000, Cartier’s nose will create a bespoke perfume just for you! Finally, it’s time to upgrade Casey and Bentley’s doghouse. “La Petite Maison” offers intricately detailed canine palaces featuring recessed and exterior lighting for $35,000.
- On holidays, they seek deluxe deprivation: Forget facials, mojitos by the pool and a rubdown. The people who have everything in life are now interested in putting themselves through hell. They will pay $500 to spend a chilly night at the ice hotel in Sweden. And for $3000 per day, Moscow-based Kniazev Event Agency gives the ultrarich a chance to be ordered around by former Marines and Special Forces veterans of the war in Chechnya during a 5 day bootcamp. Genius!
So, what are you waiting for? Buy that canine palace on a credit card. Some savvy bank will find a way to securitize and trade the AAA loan (using the doghouse as collateral…obviously).
Posted on April 22nd, 2008 by Mayur.
Categories: Travel & Leisure, Consumer Products, Arts & Literature.
Ever had restless nights wondering what the next fashion and luxury trends are? You can now leave those worries behind by simply attending the best runway shows, parties and sample sales listed below.
These events have been posted on Vitruvian World.
April 22, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
A Cointreauversial Affair cocktail party, Angel Orensanz Foundation, 172 Norfolk St., NYC. Featuring the American debut of Dita von Teese’s new burlesque performance and unveiling of her signature cocktail, the Cointreau Teese
April, 28th - May, 2nd
Rosemount Australian Fashion Week Spring/Summer Collections (Sydney)
April 30, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Vogue Celebration of “Photobook” by Michael Roberts for Carlos Miele, 408 W. 14th St., NYC
May, 2nd - May, 4th
Dolce & Gabbana and D&G Resort and S/S 08 Sample Sale, D&G Showroom, 85 Spring St., NYC
July 18-22
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim, Miami
August 7-12
Copenhagen Fashion Week, Copenhagen
August 13-19
Stockholm Fashion Week, Stockholm
August, 27th - August, 31th
MasterCard Luxury Week, Hong Kong
September, 5th - September, 12th
Benz Fashion Week New York, NYC
September 13-21
London Fashion Week, London
September, 22th - September, 29th
Moda Donna (Milan Fashion Week), Milan
September, 30th - October, 8th
Paris Fashion Week, Paris
October, 24th - October, 30th
Moscow Fashion Week presented by VISA, Moscow
Posted on April 19th, 2008 by Mayur.
Categories: Food & Wine.
Fred’s is a smartly perched bistrot on the 9th floor of Barney’s New York recommended by CitySearch as “the best lunch spot to see and be seen”. Therefore we decided to pay Fred a visit this afternoon to see and be seen. During our 45 minute wait, I couldn’t help but notice a concoction of high-heeled housewives (some more desperate than others) engaging in light banter while having “lunch”. My quarrel is not so much with them as with the implicitly derogatory use of the word “lunch”. The kind of repast that these women were indulging in was essentially a Chardonnay-fueled shopping break with a partially eaten mesclun salad on the side.
I feel that this is a travesty to the true meaning of lunch.
I am all in favor of healthy and light lunches, but whatever happened to a real lunch? From time to time, I believe it’s important not to focus on the Chardonnay and instead to focus on the true essence of “lunch” - food and friends.
By food, I mean - how about having a real meal occasionally? Perhaps a salmon carpaccio followed by a steak au poivre? Or how about a turkey club sandwich or certified angus burger? Or perhaps some spinach ravioli or penne basilico for the vegetarians? Any thing but a few mesclun greens and a glass Chardonnay to wash them down…please.
By friends – I’m referring to real conversations about real issues. In the words of FT columnist Harry Eyres, “a good lunch can remind us how lucky we are still to be in a place where words, if we speak them thoughtfully and from the heart, can still have rich meaning and delight”.
Posted on March 29th, 2008 by Mayur.
Categories: Media & Entertainment, Food & Wine, Consumer Products.
The Russians have done it again. First the launch of Sputnik. Now the first vodka designed exclusively for women. “Between us girls,” is the catchphrase for the new vodka label, “Damskaya”.
“In Russia, vodka is definitely a masculine product,” said Natalya Shumilina, the marketing director at Deyros, the distillery that produces Damskaya. A woman also likes “to relax with her girlfriends” and drop a few shots when the children go to bed, Ms. Shumilina said, but desires a vodka with a bit more femininity that retains a traditional kick.
Cost: $12 a bottle
Target market: “This is not some super businesswoman, simply a girl who wants to visit her friend and relax a little because her husband is home with the children,” Ms. Shumilina said.
Russian men need not worry. The Russian subsidiary of Nestle has come up with a consolation prize: a chocolate bar named “For MEN”.
Posted on March 19th, 2008 by Mayur.
Categories: Philosophy & Spirituality, Food & Wine, Arts & Literature, Definitions.
Remember feeling guilty about skipping Sunday School in 6th grade? You probably have no remorse playing hooky…but you should! If and when you do, I suggest using the only tried and tested procedure to “wash down your guilt” and rediscover Sunday School in new light.
1. Order champagne (preferably Dom Pérignon) on Sunday any time past 12:01am
2. Ensure that each bottle ordered is a minimum of 3 liters (there is no upper limit)
3. Make a toast and celebrate your attendance to Sunday School
4. Pay the bill to avoid arrest
Still confused? The creation of champagne and the nomenclature of the various bottle sizes are inextricably tied to Christian monasticism. Understanding this deep-rooted link is the key to revitalizing Sunday School at Space Ibiza.
Champagne was created by monastic orders in 1600AD:
As Christianity and the influence of the church spread in 380AD, considerable vineyards were bequeathed to the monastic orders. Most of the vineyards in Champagne were virtually nationalized in clerical hands when the crusaders didn’t return home. For centuries these wines were used for sacrament, coronations, the royal table and for the consecration of treaties.
The first successful and deliberate methods of capturing the ‘mousse’ (bubbles) in the bottle were due to the combined efforts of the monastic orders in Pierre and Epernay. Respective cellar-masters in the 1650s, Frère Jean Oudart, and Dom Pierre Pérignon, the abbeys of Saint-Pierre aux Monts de Châlons and Saint-Pierre d’Hautvillers apparently had a lot of time on their hands to perfect the critical ‘mousse’ creation process…
Size matters:
Nomenclature of champagne bottles is based on capacity. Each bottle starting from the Jeroboam pays homage to a king referenced in Christian theology. Memorize!
So the next time you’re at Set Miami or Space Ibiza on a Sunday morning, why not find that perfect balance between sanctity and sin by ordering a Dom Perignon Nabuchadnezzar? Before having second thoughts on footing the tab, just remember: 1. tip is always included; 2. why attend Sunday School any other way??
Posted on February 20th, 2008 by Mayur.
Categories: Food & Wine, Consumer Products, Science & Technology, Sports & Health, Definitions.
Just when you thought that your potent antioxident combo-meal of blueberries, green tea and champagne couldn’t get any better – here comes the Goji. The Goji Berry is a berry that grows on the plant Lycium Barbarum, which is native to certain remote regions of China, Tibet, and Mongolia. Goji Berries have played a central role in Chinese medicine for thousand’s of years with a flavor profile reminiscent of raspberry, plum and currant.
Goji berries strengthen the immune system, increase energy and reduce fatigue, reduce the effect of free radicals in the body – the anti-oxidant / anti-aging effect, and boost sexual drive. Goji berries have gotten the highest rating on the ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity test) - higher than blueberries and pomegranite.
ORAC Scale:
TIBETAN GOJI BERRIES – 25,300
Black berries – 2,036
Blueberries – 2,400
Nutritional fast facts:
Three ideas on how to integrate Goji into your daily regimen:
