The month of March proved to be a fashion enthusiast’s dream. From the countless trunk shows that filled South Florida, to Funksion Fashion Week bloggers and socialites alike were out in full force and we must admit that it was all a gift to our camera lenses. The headliner of all the fashion related festivities undisputedly was Miami Fashion International Week. The week offered up a few unexpected changes that created a healthy buzz around the 15th anniversary of the international fashion week. All shows as well as parties were confined to the Miami Beach Convention Center, which was a feature our legs and gas tanks loved. However, the most notable feature of the week was the inclusion of  international designer Carlos Miele. Fashion followers were in awe about the designer’s showcase being announced as part of the week. The designer was also named international designer of the year.

The week did a phenomenal job this year in providing the diversity that is becoming synonymous with the Miami culture. Carribean, Hispanic, European and African designers were all represented on the runway this year. While every show was a treat for the eyes and flickering lenses, the African showcase was literally a fashionista’s dreams.

Mike Sylla for Baïfall Dream

The designer who was a part of the African showcase graced the runway with hand painted one of kind leather pieces that were beautifully feminine and culturally strong. The vibrant dark brown faces painted on the back of the designer’s pieces told a dynamic story of beauty and strength that was impossible to ignore.

 

 

The entire week featured one of a kind designs that could be described as the visual kindred spirits of the Miami culture- romantic, luxurious and colorful. Tap Designs was another favorite of ours Thursday night of the week.

 

This flowy number was one of our favorites from Heather Jones Bridal.

 

According to recent reports from NBC News, Kanye West  made headlines by merely speaking his mind- yet again. The latest issue to make the artist sound off? Business. His latest comments were slightly directed towards Jay-Z’s latest collaboration with Justin Timberlake. West took to the stage for a London performance on Saturday and spoke his mind about business, music and Jay-Z’s appearance on “Suit and Tie,” all to the instrumental of the hit record “Clique.”

“I got love for Hov, but I ain’t f——- with that ‘Suit &Tie,'” West said.

“I hate business people,” West rapped, according to Billboard. “People get on the phone with me and tell me, ‘What kind of business can you do, though? What type of business are you doing? What’s the numbers? How much did you sell? What’s the radio spins? How much shampoo can you sell with your face on it and sh–. Remind me again why we in this sh—. Can you remind me again why we in this sh–? Since when (is) making music about getting rich? Since when was making art about getting rich? … Remind me again why we in this sh–. Can I sell a drink for you, please?” West continued. “So you can help me put on a better show. Please corporations. Can you please support me? I swear I’m a nice n—- now. I swear I’ll put the pink polo back on. I swear to you. Please. Just for three million dollars. I need it so bad. I need a new pool in my backyard. I tell my fans your sh– is cool. And if they believe in me they should also believe in you. What’s my public rating now? Are they liking me again? They forgot about the whole Beyonce thing right? Okay, cool.”

Last week, Jay-Z and Timberlake officially announced that they will embark

on tour together, performing in 12 cities this summer.

Not too sure what prompted this revelation but we all know Kanye is known for his slant towards creativity which is prone to outspoken and often eccentric behavior. However, like the artist pointed out it is interesting hearing him say he is not about business when he has benefitted from so many business transactions. It would be cool to see him accept Jay-Z as a business mentor as well. In the meantime, we will just cross our fingers and hope for the best for Kanye.

The icing on the cake is that there is video of the rapper’s 11 minute rant.

 

 

The reviews for Microsoft’s brand new tablets, the Surface RT and the Surface Pro, were less than stellar. In fact, the reviews for the Surface RT were damning. The latest release, The Surface Pro was touted by Microsoft as a tablet with no compromises. It was billed as a full PC, capable of running all of Microsoft’s processor intensive legacy business softwares. Critics unfortunately disagreed. The tablet, at 2.0 pounds was mocked as obese. It’s battery life, determined to be around 4 hours, was ridiculed as paltry compared to the iPads 10 hours. Microsoft, the critics declared failed to create a tablet computer with “no compromises” and instead created a tablet PC that was itself defined by compromises. The critics charged that it was too heavy to comfortably function in the casual use-case of a tablet and the effort to grease and squeeze a PC into the form of a tablet, created a laptop that was awkward and clumsy: a poor value when compared to other options on the market. The critics, we believe, were wrong!

 

For those unfamiliar with the surface pro, it is a full PC. It has a kickstand imbedded flush with the tablets body. It has a thin cover with a touch type keyboard embedded into it or an option for a slightly thicker cover with real type-able keys. When users want a tablet, they can have a tablet by simply flipping the cover back just as they would an iPad. When they want a laptop they simply open the cover, flip out the kickstand and they now have a full PC or laptop.

 

Why are the critics wrong? They fail to see how trivial their concerns are and they are writing about products with only the particular needs of journalists in mind.They claim the device can’t sit on their laps when they want to type articles ( in airports for instance). This claim is contradicted by many that have used the Surface but it’s also small and nit-picky. I’ve always found the term “laptop” to be a misnomer because I never enjoyed using my laptops on my lap. I didn’t enjoy that warm heat on my legs after extended use nor did I enjoy using cooling fan trays to prevent that feeling. When critics charge that the surface is too thick, Its this clumsy history that I think about.  It’s thinner than most laptops and ultra books. Its thinner than many ipads wrapped in thick cases for users that wanted stands.

 

The Surface Pro is blistering fast and most importantly it offers so many interesting uses that its difficult to understand what reviewers aren’t seeing. The Surface Pro can mirror itself on a larger monitor. I imagine my desktop at working consisting of nothing more than a monitor (and maybe a Bluetooth key board) with a similar setup at home. This means that for really serious tasks for which a tablet is always going to be too small, users can effectively carry their desktops with them. The surface simplifies the desktop, eliminating the need to have separate laptops and desktops.

 

The critics have failed to see the potential in the digitizing pen that comes with the Surface Pro. They have displayed a monumental lack of vision, treating this innovative input mechanism as an after thought. They have treated the pen, which allows for onscreen editing of documents, graphics work, and designing, as a cute but kitschy add on. I believe that in the initial reviews, many tech journalists were in a maddening rush to declare Microsoft a failure. Lazier journalists were so use to the familiar (and true) refrain of Apple’s dominance that they simply repeated the memes they were use to composing. Now, later reviewers, those with admittedly less access seem to be more fond of the Surface Pro. They are pointing out that the device can handle, with ease some of the most popular and demanding gaming titles. They are correcting the myths about the comfort of using the device, pointing out that it is different than an iPad—but wasn’t that the whole point of this venture?

 

The Surface isn’t perfect. It is heavy but only slightly heavier then the original IPad (which I still use). It’s battery life is abysmal but on par with ultra books in the same class. For those that think Apple’s walled gardens are too restrictive and IT directors that need devices that plug easily into existing software infrastructures, The Surface Pro offers the hope of reducing redundancies down to a single, elegantly designed, magnesium covered device!

 

After a shameful parade of iPad clones, Microsoft has delivered a truly unique device.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West took to the cover of L’Officiel to show the world how their baby came to be in Kim’s belly. The reviews so far are mixed as to whether this is something that people want to see. However, we will say that we love it. The cover is provocative and unapologetic what more could you ask for a steamy magazine cover?

In a booming and at times contentious address the President delivered the first State of the Union Address of his second term. The speech was at times poetic but it was also workman-like and policy oriented. The President delivered several new ideas that deserve highlighting.

 

The President proposed the creation of new manufacturing hubs that capitalize on new technologies such as 3D Printing. These technologies are making it easier and cheaper to build and operate manufacturing factories in the United States. The President specifically noted that Apple is manufacturing it’s computers in the U.S, once again. The Manufacturing hubs are intended to revive manufacturing by educating workers in high-tech constructions for the creation of new jobs. We love this idea-and we will bring you more info on the rise of the-do it yourself-manufacturing (DIY) the President highlighted.

 

The President’s manufacturing initiative marries well with his desire to improve the quality and kind of education we are providing young students-especially those that don’t attend college. The President stated his belief that High-school grads need to be able to gain employment in jobs that pay a livable wage. But in a dynamic and tech driven world this means that High-school grads need to be prepared for the high tech jbs that need to be filled. This means high schools need to be in close cooperative initiatives with the industries and community colleges in their communities. The President wants high schools to model themselves after educational initiatives in countries like Germany, in which young people graduate prepared to tackle technical and manufacturing jobs. He says that High-school students should graduate with the equivalent of a High-school diploma and an Associates Degree.

 

Lastly, the President also advocated that the federal government work with states to create Nationwide Pre-school. He noted that the sooner children can receive a substantial education the brighter their futures will be.

 

If the President’s initiatives are in acted we can only hope that they would work well together to create an educated and more prosperous citizenry.