Digital gets Fashionable--or is it the other way around?

By Josie Tao (Hong Kong)

(Image taken from londonfashionweek.co.uk)

Next minute you're out
Anyone who watches Reality TV knows Heidi Klum's tagline in Project Runway-- "In fashion one day you're in, the next day you're out". But a look at what is happening at London Fashion week will prove that Fashion is moving a lot faster than what Miss Heidi has anticipated. Thanks to digital and social media, reactions to what's hot and what's not pile up to millions by the time your minute rice comes to a boil.

London Fashion Week brings new meaning to Fashion Forward
New this year to London fashion week is a "LFW Digial Schedule" where you can find information and access to realtime streaming of live fashion shows. Viewers can now have front row seats to any show that catches their interest in their comfortable and less stylish pajamas. Viewers may also watch Fashion Films via the website--one of the most notable movie is probably one put together by British Fashion Council celebrating 25 years of British Fashion with a showing of 25 most stylist and innovative dress designs.

(image taken from alomoda.ro)

Fashion going Digital= Fashion Editors working a double shift?
Realtime access to shows at London Fashion Week is bound to send Fashion Magazine Editors straight for their 9th double espresso--- now bloggers and fashion addicts are reacting instantaneously to the new looks and styles. Indeed editors reveal that they definitely feel the pressure to duck backstage immediately after each show, interview, or meeting in order to constantly provide updates online. Because lets face it, being fashionable means having access to the newest, coolest and most exclusive---now this information of what is new is no longer exclusive. What's trendy about finding out the latest style a couple days--if not a couple weeks later in Vogue Magazine when that "news" is already day old bread?
Henry Holland and model Agyness Deyn aka Aggy(Image taken from www.nahuo8.com )

Fashion going digital---what's the appeal?
It is no secret that Fashion Week is the craziest and most important moment for designers, not to mention the most stressful--just look at what happened to Alexander Mcqueen. So why add the extra stress of up-to-the-minute tweeting and exposing your collection without the flattering filter of your editor,model,celebrity friends??

The House of Holland even developed a Blackberry application that allows anyone to buy the collection immediately as they see the designs parade down the runway. This allows dedicated fashionistas to get first dibs on designs before they are even launched in-stores.

One key advantage designers like Henry Holland sees in going digital is associating their name to some of the most innovative technology. In 2010, where not knowing what facebook equals a social death-sentence, going digital means you're one of the cool kids--and this is the most important image for a designer to broadcast.

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E-mail me at: jtao@prosperity-research.com
Visit my blog: http://josietaonews.wordpress.com

Partnership with Yahoo: What's in it for Microsoft?

By Josie Tao (Hong Kong)

Let’s talk details and numbers

Back in 2006, oldschool Microsoft wanted to team up with Yahoo to rival against search engine godfather Google. Remember the $47.5 billion bid Microsoft offered to buy out Yahoo? Despite what looked to be a hostile and aggressive attempt that got completely shunned, it is now apparent that the two Tech giants have been in close talks after Microsoft's high profile moves.

With what seems to be shaping as a 10-year deal with Yahoo, Microsoft will be able to tap into Yahoo's Internet search audience and advertisers.

So what does Yahoo have that Microsoft wants?

Microsoft makes the majority of its profits through its software products (Microsoft operating system, Microsoft office). But the personal computer is the the only component that makes Microsoft such a household item---it also has a strong presence in home entertainment such as Xbox and MSNBC. The average living room in America will have a slice of Microsoft in it.

Right now, comScore Inc tells us that two-thirds of the world's search is done through Google---while Yahoo amounts to 7.4%, China's Baidu takes care of 7% and Microsoft (Bing) at only 3.2%. A simple calculation will quickly tell you that only about 10% of current search engine activity occurs in Microsoft and yahoo combined.

Mind you, there is a hefty pricetag for a lousy 10% of combined search engine activity---Yahoo will be keeping 88% revenue from search ads in the first five of the 10 year deal. Meanwhile, Microsoft will pay most of the expenses.

If its not the big bucks, then what is it? Just ask Hong Kong billionaire Li Kai Sing.

Anyone recall Microsoft's advertising campaign tagline in the 1990s "Where do you want to go today?" If we take a closer look at the pattern of how people search online, there are two main ways internet users find information: search engine (yahoo, google etc) and social graph (facebook, forums, twitter).

In 2007, Microsoft paid a fortune for a small share of Facebook--$240 million for 1.6%. Our very own Hong Kong billionaire Li Kai Sing has poured $60 million into facebook.

With a Yahoo-Bing partnership in place and an on-going relationship with Facebook, Microsoft clearly sees the value and influence search engine and social graph play in online activity. Microsoft will soon have both tools to give them a clear picture of internet user behaviour: What are people looking for ? What are they talking about? What's interesting? Not only does Microsoft want to know where you want to go today, but more importantly how can they influence you on those decisions?

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Email me at jtao@prosperity-research.com

Visit my blog at: http://josietaonews.wordpress.com

香港基金会每年一百多万资助广东聋儿植入人工耳蜗

中新网广州1月24日电 (记者郭军)1月24日下午，香港港安医院慈善基金辖下儿童听觉基金与亚洲著名慈善家、企业家及商界名人叶靖女士(Ms. Katherine Yip Geicke)，联同著名艺人王敏德及马诗慧伉俪一行共30人专程来访广东省残疾人康复中心，看望由该基金会资助植入人工耳蜗的聋儿。
据了解，自2004年起，香港港安医院慈善基金儿童听觉基金会与广东省残疾人康复中心联手启动资助贫困聋儿植入人工耳蜗项目，基金会每年筹集善款100多万港币，资助广东省1-4岁的贫困听障儿童免费植入人工耳蜗。截至2009年底，广东省已有60名听障儿童获得资助，经过植入人工耳蜗和康复教育，现有33名已经回到普通学校或幼儿园，2名在聋校就读，其余25名还在省残疾人康复中心接受康复教育。
香港港安医院慈善基金儿童听觉基金很关注内地残疾儿童的康复工作。曾于2006年和2008年先后访问深圳市特殊需要儿童早期干预中心和广东省残疾人康复中心，此次到访是他们第三次访问内地康复机构。
广东省残疾人康复中心副主任郭在祥代表康复中心对基金会表示感谢。(完）

王敏德马诗慧探残疾儿童 望社会关怀残疾儿童

　　知名艺人王敏德及马诗慧伉俪今天在探望广东省残疾儿童，当四个受到香港港安医院资助得以植入人工耳蜗的小朋友用尚未完全恢复的稚嫩声音朗读文章时，马诗慧眼泪夺眶而出。　　今天下午一时许，王敏德及马诗慧与港安医院慈善基金、亚洲著名慈善家及商界名人叶靖同参观广东省残疾人康复中心。

　　现场有获得港安医院慈善基金辖下儿童听觉基金资助贫困聋儿表演的节目，虽然这些小朋友刚植入人工耳蜗尚处语言恢复阶段，朗读的发音仍像外国人学讲中文一样，但小朋友的努力，仍让现场的王敏德及马诗慧伉俪深受感动。

　　马诗慧现场发言时，眼泪已流了出来，她感动地说：“幸福不是必然，这些小朋友都很漂亮，看到他们现在受到香港慈善机构资助能重获听说能力，就知道幸福的意义。”她说希望更多的社会力量参与到这项爱心行动中，让更多的残疾聋儿得到帮助。

　　在发表教育小朋友的心得时，马诗慧真诚的说，“做父母一定要以身作则，父母的行为将影响下一代”。随后，王敏德及马诗慧更与现场的小朋友一起玩游戏，并将一批儿童玩具送给现场正接受术后恢复语言训练的小朋友。

Planet Yoga Guest Instructor Series

Guest Instuctor Master Jack (Dec-Jan)

Jack is a true inspired Indian dance Instructor, who also is a Master of Martial arts.

He has concurred Black belt 2nd don, "Tae-Kwon-Do", 7-Gold, 2- Silver and 3 Bronze medals in National level tournaments in INDIA among a billion people.

He was selected and represented by the Indian Tae-Kwon-Do Federation for international level several times.

Currently he is the honorary secretary & Chief Technical Director Of jury in National tournaments in India.

Recently, under his direction Orissa state Tae-Kwon-Do program for “schools & Clubs" is a big success in India.

Professionally dancing and choreographed in Bollywood (the Indian movie industry) more than 15 years, conducting events with Bolly-Wood stars throughout INDIA, working in movies as director for 10 years, working experience for 4 years in BKK under CaliforniaWOW, making every show a success with new effects... Presently posted as dance coordinator BKK...

My moto is to make every single person HAPPY and HEALTHY.


"Enjoy each and every moment.... "


Master Jack showing off a signature dance move at Planet Yoga Hong Kong

Special Guest Instructor Rahul visits Planet Yoga Hong Kong

Planet Yoga Special Appearance: Rahul

8-time winner of National Yoga Championship.

Rahul graduated in Yoga Praveen from Yoga Vidhya Dham Nasik Institute in 2005.

He has learned the Patanjali yoga sutras and worked as yoga instructor in several different institutions and schools .He has been teaching yoga since the past 7 years.

In 2003, he has been selected for inter-university yoga competition from Pune University state. He has experienced in various types of yoga (Rhythmic Yoga, Artistic Yoga and Rope yoga) and he was also selected for International Yoga Competition to perform yoga in Italy.

Rahul was kind enough to take time from his busy schedule and visit us at Planet Yoga Hong Kong for a special guest instructor class for Patanjali Yoga.

For photos of Rahul and our members trying out an exciting class, check our facebook photo album.



Special guest instructor Rahul visiting Planet Yoga Hong Kong from Thailand

贊成全港校本驗毒 馬詩慧：Monique應入戒毒所

(星島日報報道)靚模周凱盈（Monique）在校內藏有毒品，出庭前還被驗出仍有吸毒，身為名模的馬詩慧（Janet）認為要盡快判對方入戒毒所，而她亦讚成校園強制驗毒。

　　昨日Janet帶同兒子出席港安醫院慈善基金的活動，提到有o靚模Monique吸毒，她說：「法庭話她再吸毒才可能會被判入戒毒所。仲等下次？最好立即戒毒，毒癮更難戒。」她謂一直都留意女兒在學校的情況，亦很支持強制驗毒，「有時家長真的不知道子女吸毒，本身如果沒有吸毒，怎會怕驗毒？」她認為校園驗毒是對社會好，但要有適當的配套解決私穩問題。

　　汪詩詩與女兒 Jasmine出席，戴了眼鏡的Jasmine十分可愛，詩詩謂她與老公甄子丹有近視，相信女兒是遺傳，她說：「最初配眼鏡時她好開心，後來覺得不漂亮，影相要除眼鏡！」她謂兒子亦遺傳了爸爸喜歡打\夫的興趣，不時會拿着木棍舞來舞去！她透露甄子丹會回港出席首映，而她已預備了驚喜的聖誕禮物。

■馬詩慧與兒子一同製作聖誕曲奇公仔

■汪詩詩與女兒Jasmine出席慈善活動。

■（後排左二起）歐陽妙芝、汪詩詩及馬詩慧享受親子樂。

汪詩詩子女得真傳

汪詩詩、馬詩慧（Janet）和歐陽妙芝三位靚媽咪，昨日帶同子女一起出席港安醫院慈善基金活動，即場創作聖誕曲奇。汪詩詩的囡囡Jasmine戴了眼鏡，詩詩表示囡囡有百多度近視：「佢咁細個就有近視，應該係遺傳，因為我同子丹都有近視。我帶佢去配眼鏡時佢好開心，但我就唔開心。囡囡都好貪靚，有時影相都會除眼鏡。」

詩詩又笑言囝囝James好像有功夫底似的，經常拿起公公的拐杖揮舞，不知是否老公甄子丹遺傳，至於是否因囝囝看得爹哋的戲太多？她說：「我唔畀佢睇啲暴力嘢，淨係睇卡通片。」講到今個聖誕，老公要在大陸拍戲，她和一對仔女則會留在香港過節。


另外，對於近日有o靚模被控藏毒一事，Janet亦贊成實行校園驗毒計劃。

■汪詩詩與女兒Jasmine出席慈善活動。

■（後排左二起）歐陽妙芝、汪詩詩及馬詩慧享受親子樂。

港安醫院慈善基金聖誕曲奇記者招待會

葉靖女士愛心支持為本年度節慶季節揭開序幕港安醫院慈善基金假香港君悅酒店舉行首次聖誕曲奇記者招待會，為聖誕佳節揭開序幕，並以此進一步擴展港安醫院慈善基金現有的外展慈善項目。基金的受惠基金包括兒童心臟基金、兒童聽覺基金、護眼基金、癌病基金、兒童醫療基金等，所有活動均以幫助香港及內地急需醫療服務的兒童為宗旨。記者招待會更即場讓嘉賓試食由Complete Deelite精心炮製的聖誕曲奇餅。

香港港安醫院院長暨行政總裁楊銘澧博士聯同一眾名人媽媽，包括歐陽妙芝、汪詩詩及馬詩慧出席記者會，盡顯他們對此一慈善活動的無私支持。其他重要嘉賓尚有小兒科專科醫生梁平，他在會上為嘉賓講述兒童先天性心臟病的概況。此外，Complete Deelite創辦人余麗麗女士亦即席示範了粉飾曲奇的技藝。

這次活動背後的一股重要動力──亞洲著名慈善家、企業家及商界名人葉靖女士 ﹝Ms. Katherine Yip Geicke﹞可謂功不可沒。她除了慷慨解囊資助基金會之外，還抽出寶貴時間與基金會外展計劃的受惠兒童共渡美好時光。葉靖女士身為AMW HK Ltd.創辦人，長期從事兒童教育產品的開發。她更是Sanrio Digital、Vina Capital及Pacific Alliance的創辦夥伴暨董事會成員，一直堅守「樂於助人」的原則。

葉靖女士表示：「我相信成功的商界領袖應該回饋社會，這是與社區保持聯繫和建立互信的重要方法。尤其在現今的困難時期，信任更是前所未有地重要」。

葉靖女士更詳述她如此投入慈善活動的原因：「我一向熱心幫助兒童，我是兩名孩子的母親，因此對兒童問題特別關心」。

葉靖女士是各種慈善活動的常客，除了與伸手助人協會、香港癌症基金會、港安醫院慈善基金等機構已經合作逾十年之外，更積極為The Yip Geicke Foundation籌謀。

香港港安醫院院長暨行政總裁楊銘澧博士表示：「這次活動大獲成功，而且成果令人喜出望外，這實在有賴於各位的支持。活動籌得的善款將可幫助大量急需醫療服務的兒童。我想藉此機會深深感謝歐陽妙芝女士、汪詩詩女士、馬詩慧女士及葉靖女士對本基金會的不懈支持」。

如欲支持此一別具意義的慈善活動，可惠顧Complete Deelite的聖誕曲奇。曲奇禮盒分為三層禮品聖誕樹及七層禮品聖誕樹兩款，裡面有聖誕蛋糕、大朱古力曲奇、瑞士朱古力、雜錦曲奇等精品，售價視乎禮品組合由港幣100元至2,000元不等，亦有價值200元的禮券公開發售。詳情請瀏覽http://completedeelite.blogspot.com/ 或http://www.hkahf.org.hk/。

由2009年12月10日起，聖誕曲奇亦於UA戲院有售。所有慈善義賣將於2010年2月結束。
查閱港安醫院慈善基金詳情，請瀏覽：http://www.hkah.org.hk/

Planet Yoga's Master Naveen shares his experience in Hong Kong.

Master Naveen is the leading instructor at Planet Yoga central, Hong Kong. With seven years of practice and experience and a solid knowledge of yoga concepts, Naveen has a huge, loyal following at the centre.
How did you decide to come to Hong Kong and teach Yoga?
A couple of years ago, before all the other centres opened in Hong Kong, Planet Yoga was the only big studio. It is renowned in India that, all the experienced Yoga instructors would come here, if they wanted to be in Hong Kong. In fact, most of the directors of big yoga centres in Hong Kong now started at Planet Yoga.


That's very interesting. Not a lot of people would know that. What lead you to become a yoga instructor?
Yoga is intricately tied into religious practices in India. As a child I was always involved in praying, performing rituals and meditation.
In my senior year in high school, my sister suddenly passed away. My whole family was devastated. Our family doctor saw how the tragedy had affected my father's health and suggested a yoga retreat for him to go to. After my dad came back from the retreat he was a renewed man.
I watched him practice at home and I started doing yoga with him. It was our way to bond as father and son. Through yoga we healed from the sadness together. After that, I started studying yoga in University and have not stopped practicing ever since.
We are sorry to hear that, but it seems that you now practice what you preach because yoga has actually been life changing for you. You have worked in Planet Yoga for a while, do you see a change in the clientele or what their needs are?
A couple of years ago, most people came to Planet Yoga to exercise and have a good workout. Now I think that the focus has shifted and there is a new interest in meditation, detox, and yoga as a lifestyle. Kapil and I host information sessions (offered nowhere else in Hong Kong) every week and many of our members come in to listen and talk about the concepts of yoga.

Finally, what does Real Yoga mean to you?
Real yoga is internalizing and engaging all five aspects of yoga, the physical, mental, emotional, social and the spiritual.

Namaste

To see the full list of classes taught by Master Naveen, visit http://www.planetyoga.com.hk/