A good look at the world map marking countries by their per capita alcohol consumption tells us that alcohol consumption is higher in countries that are further away from the equator. Denmark, Ireland, Romania and other European countries have the highest alcohol consumption in the world, while North African nations, and West and South Asian nations have the least. This observation can also be made in the Americas. Nigeria, Norway and Sweden seem to be an exception in this regard.

There could be several reasons for this. The human body probably takes in alcohol easily when the weather is colder, as would be the case with countries closer to the polar caps. It is also possible that it is easier to prepare and store alcoholic drinks in colder regions. That all Indian beers contain Glycerin in order to prevent it from spoiling is an indicator of the unfavorable conditions for preserving alcoholic drinks in the region. Per capita alcohol consumption is closely correlated to per capita income. This could indicate that alcoholic drinks are probably considered as luxury goods (in strict economic terms) in regions close to the equator. Consumption of alcohol in India has seen a steady increase in the past few years, and this is correlated with increasing per capita income.

Alcohol consumption is accepted (rather, not thought of as something wrong) in the so-called ‘Western’ societies (or ‘Northern’, such as European states, Russia, and the likes), while it is condemned as a vice in South Asia, Arabia and North Africa. Physical, real-world factors affecting alcohol consumption have influenced the society and it’s norms. It goes without saying then, that religions that have evolved and have influence in a particular region considers alcohol consumption as a vice or an accepted social norm in accordance with the social perceptions of that region.

Antonio Azzuolo makes the best suits. Bold statement okay, but it's tough to denounce. Honing his skills over ten years at major high end labels like Hermes, and Kenzo before moving on to Design Director at both Ralph Lauren's Purple and Black Labels it's safe to say his abilities are tried and tested. Mr. Azzuolo presents his first independent line for FW '08.

By: Mikhail Budhai - Style

I’m just wondering how it can be used since it is, after all, a suitcase that gets carried around all over the world. If it were something I would purchase I would just use it as something to add to my bedroom as a decor.

Anyway, those who are thinking of buying this precious item, well – there are only 30 pieces of the suitcase in Europe, via Colette Paris. But I must say that the, Oh So Fabulous Samsonite Black Label Swarovski trunk is definitely something to go googoo-gaga over. This is one hot item!

Note: What do you think of this Samsonite Black Label Swarovski Trunk? Is it Oh So Fabulous or Oh So Not For Me? Please leave a comment below.

Now, I'm not saying Peter Watkins looks like a well-worn gay porn star here, but... I can't think of a way to end this post.

First, if you read carefully, you'll find in Kris' bio that, hmmm, his CD is now due out in the Fall.  While I'm not gonna hold my breath (sorry, Kris, but history speaks for itself LOL!), I will continue to look forward to this long-awaited CD.  In addition, it will be "released on the independent label, Big Head Rebel Records."  All I can say is:  Bring on the Fall!

Second, if you scroll down a bit on the bio page, Kris lists his band members.  There's Kris, of course, and familiar names Coop and Shane, but then, what's this?  "Craig Smoot-Guitar"?  Who the heck is that?  Well, a little Googling gave up his MySpace page and a bit of information.  Seems he's a Huntsville native (or at least he went to high school and college there), and, depending on how recently he's updated his MySpace, he's currently playing with 3 bands (not including Kris' band).  Looks like he likes to keep busy.

So, now I have a few questions.

1. October 3 is technically in the Fall.  Will I be able to purchase a Kris Bell CD at his Redding, CA, show?
2. Will New Guy actually be adding a 4th band to his list of current gigs?
3. Will New Guy be joining Kris in Redding on October 3?
4. What is the meaning of life?

I figure we'll get a few answers in the next month.  That last one?  Well, I figure that's up to each of us to figure out on our own.

For the terminally curious, like me, here's a pic of New Guy Craig Smoot, taken in 2007, playing with Black Label.

Hmmmm...  Smootylicious :)
(No, I didn't make that up.  That's his MySpace addy:
www.myspace.com/smootylicious )

Last week I chatted up a black girl at a club after nurturing myself with the above mentioned mixture if Black/Diet Coke, leaving about 30% of a newly opened bottle (of whiskey not coke, hehe) empty. Needless to say I kept on drinking in that club.

She is just average looking and really black, no white blood line of some horny colonialist grand-grand father that banged the maid while telling everybody back home how backwards those nXXXers are. No, she is 100% black and from the Ivory Coast. Studying in my home-country, 29 years old. Smart girl, nice. Her body is slim but a bit "strong". Her face not bad, nice mouth, but her hair not my style. Short and somehow flattened (My Caribbean ex-GF looked definetly better). We exchanged phone numbers. I told her I would call her the next day which I did not.

On August 7, I also started drinking some beer and then switched to my whiskey mixture again. I left home at around 12.30 p.m. and went to a club. Unfortunately there were no apparent pull-options in sight and the music was rather lame. After about an hour I did what I often do when I am drunk and lonely: I text or call a girl. In this case it was P., my Ivory Coast chick.

She did not reply my message and I called her... the call ended with me hopping into a taxi and going to her place - a student dorm with small single apartments. We talked a bit and cuddled then fell asleep. In the morning we started to make out a bit and she started to suck my cock while I touched body, in between licked her boobs and could feel the soft skin of her tight ass. With 2 or 3 interruptions she kept on sucking but we did not do more... she had her period. I also did not come and soon had to get dressed to go home by taxi and then to work. I only slept maybe 3 hours and had a bad hangover the whole day.

Her room contained two images of the Catholic pope and some other Christian stuff. Well, considering that, her BJ-technique was not bad. I told her I would text or call her but did not do it so far. Maybe when I get drunk the coming weekend again. We shall see.

1. Heirloom Clubs Silk Tie - Classic and versatile (easily goes from casual, to classroom, to office); 2. Silk Knit Tie (Black Label) - SOPHISTICATED and very trendy! This is what I call the hit or miss tie -- you either do it right, or you miss the point completely (no pun intended). But when it's worn properly....absolutely flawless.

1. English Repp Solid Tie - Bright solid ties command attention, they become the centerpiece of a good outfit; 2. Heraldic Clubs Bow Tie - Dope. From the green accents to the detail embroidery work. Definitely adds an English feel to your attire.

1. The Polo Players Tie - Yo, this joint is SICK. I appreciate the details with the polo man pattern. Eye-catching, but not overkill; 2. Savile Row Spots Tie - THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE COSMOPOLITAN FUN! Great tonal quality, the dots make the tie playful, but not goofy. AND, it still retains a refined look.

1. English Repp Stripes Tie - This is probably my favorite tie up here. It's clean, crisp. The wide stripes is what makes this tie cool (like Billy Dee cool). Easy to mix with khaki, navy, blazers, summer suit, even linen. It; 2. Pin Dot Tie - Regal (as pin dots should be). A nice way to show flair at a formal event. Most people opt for the black with pin dots, but the blue can show off your personality. AND, it grabs attention.

Definitive Technology said it will ship next year its "Disappearing In-Wall" series of custom architectural speakers that will be all but invisible. The speakers will feature hidden flanges, discreet micro-perf grilles and small diameters, making them nearly invisible to the naked eye. (TWICE 7/9)

Net income more than tripled in the latest quarter for South Korea's flat-screen manufacturer LG Display as demand surged for LCDs while supplies of PC panels dried up. But analysts are not so upbeat about LG's prospects for the remainder of the year due to the global economic slowdown and falling panel prices. (The Washington Post/Reuters 7/9)

Zakk Wylde
Zakk’s House
January 27, 2007

I have to be honest, I have known Zakk Wylde for a number of years and I love the guy to death…but for some reason, nothing with Zakk ever goes smoothly. I knew in the back of my mind when I accepted this assignment, I was walking into a trap.

Ruin Magazine had hired me to do a shoot with Zakk at his home. Off the bat I was a bit worried about not being on neutral ground – Zakk had the hometown advantage. I made a deal with Rick, the magazine’s editor, that we would go together and stick together – no matter what happened. What should have been a one hour shoot came in at a whopping nine and a half hours. To make a very long story short, Rick and I were tested in every way imaginable and pushed to our limits.

Imagine having to bench press freeweights before we can get strarted; imagine having to drink countless bottles of beer when you don’t really drink; imagine having to wear lucha libre wrestling masks while chatting with Zakk as he wears a leather gimp mask; imagine watching Zakk pump iron until he screamed in pain; imagine watching Rick get his face shoved and licked up by a British Bulldog as he is forced to do leg lifts; imagine being shanghaied and taken to a seedy biker bar for hours on end for more drinking; imagine having to pick up the tab at that bar after all that drinking; imagine driving up a mountainous dirt road in pitch blackness in the heaviest rains we had seen in years; imagine being caught in a mudslide and nearly flipping my SUV; imagine going through all of this and yet, in the end, receiving the warmest hugs and kisses from Zakk Wylde.

That was our day, that was our night. And you know what? I would have been disappointed if it happened any other way. That’s Black Label.

]]> http://haikumusicreview.wordpress.com/?p=68 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:40:54 +0000 haikumusicreview http://haikumusicreview.pt-br.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/osbourne-ozzy-no-more-tears/ Back in Ozzy's prime,

Before Zakk and BLS,

Sounds most reckless here.

Según un estudio realizado por la consultora Strategy Analitics, las ventas globales de LG han crecido cuatro veces más que el promedio del sector de la telefonía móvil en el primer trimestre de 2008. El crecimeinto en España ha sido del 300% en los dos últimos años.

Black Label

En la misma convocatoria, el equipo de LG presentó los nuevos terminales que han llegado a España en estos meses, a la cabeza de los cuales se sitúa el KF 750, Secret; pero también los llamativos KF 600 y KF 700, dos teléfonos diseñados dentro de las más recientes tendencias y con incorporaciones tecnológicas de alta gama. El cuarto protagonista es el KF 510, un slide de generación 2,5 con cámara de 3 Mpx.

Fonte: Blue Bus

Back to the bottle: It was in fact the first bottle of whiskey I ever bought for myself in my entire life. No kidding. I think until my last Thailand vacation in March this year I never really liked whiskey. But somehow after trying some in the LOS I suddenly found it tasty and a nice supplement for beer. In Thailand last time I usually had beer and whiskey/coke together in one evening. I was especially fond of Johnnie Walker Black Label. I once also had Red Label, but Black is far better.

Ok, I am tasteless: I drank Black Label with coke. Last Friday I even mixed it with diet coke. I am on a diet, my Project 97. On Friday I managed to drink about 40% of the Black Label bottle plus Diet Coke (switched to normal coke later after the diet stuff was empty) and then went out for some clubbing. Before, I received a text message from M. my old Asian affair. (for some more about M. see here, here and here). She was out with a girlfriend and two of her daughters. I went to two other clubs by myself first, then went to "her" club. But her elder daughter said she was drunk and went home already. I texted M. several times but did not get a reply.

So I stayed and partied with her daughters, 22 and 17 years old. Both mixed Asians, dark skin, the younger one slighty prettier than her elder sister, but both hot for sure. I would have gone home with the elder one for sure if there had been any chance. We drank together, talked, they danced, talked to other friends or flirting with other guys their age. At one point I asked the elder one where she would still go later.. well, "home..." was the reply. If I had not known her and her mother before I might have asked more directly.

Later, being drunk myself, i texted and eventually called M. again. She once picked up the phone and said she was in a hotel.... a hotel?... ok, she was with another man... in a hotel... Before she said she wanted to text or call me to meet me later that night. She seemed to have found a different guy in that club that night. No objections, but she texted me first that evening and was keen to meet me. So I was somehow pissed. She is not really that attractive to me anymore, but I think that night (or the next morning) I would have banged her. She called me again yesterday but I did not pick up the phone.

After some more beers and Whiskey cokes in the clubs I had a bad hangover yesterday. I also got sick: Sinusitis and pain in my throat. Once had a bad accident where I broke some of my facial bones. At the left side of my face where I shattered the bone covering my left sinus, I easily get sinusitis, more and more in the last years. It always starts on that left side. I am especially sensitive their I guess. Probably caused by that accident many, many years ago, which also left me with a broken lower jaw on the right side, cheekbone and the described area below my left ear, where the bone was shatter and hat to be restructured with surgery (the cheekbone too) and fixed with wire (the cheekbone received a metal plate).

(Not my x-ray but still a nice one, right? Seems like this person was hurt even worse than me)

My lower jaw was broken in two pieces on the back upper right side. Surgery was not possible the doctors said, otherwise some muscle would eventually have died off, leaving me in an even worse state. They still wired my teeth and extended my lower jaw for four weeks with rubber bands attached to a metal pole coming out of the upper part of my wired mouth, to pull the lower jaw to the front back in it's original position. (Later the poled was cut off followed by another couple of weeks having the rubber bands inside my mouth attached to the wired teeth to get back the original position for proper biting). The broken piece of the lower jaw also moved a little bit closer to it's original position again but it remained twisted and didn't grow back on. My lower jaw is since then permanently broken. But without any pain, thank God. Lost 10kg within 4 weeks at that time. Best diet I ever had. I also seed double when I look up to the left due to the deeply impressed fracture of my left cheekbone, but I seldom notice this in every day life

Yesterday evening my Asian GF sucked me off while we lied on my bed in my bedroom while her kids played in my living room, with all doors open. Nice. But I came good and she swallowed as always. Now she is out with the kids to a playground. I am still sick from my sinusitis but feel a little better than yesterday and have some time to write this post. Usually I would take antibiotics now, but I don't have any at hand. If I still feel not good tomorrow I will go to a doctor.

The elegant Silk Puff-Sleeve Blouse in a beautiful hot pink, one of my favorites, with modern pants in a fresh and feminine crisp white.

Here, left below, the Beatrice Striped Silk Blouse in a romantic white and pink combination. Stretch Cotton Halter right below with the 625 Wide-Leg Pink Jean, a stretch denim that sits low on the waist.

I have the pleasure of being a Castilian Voice Over Artist for the Ralph Lauren videos. Here is one of the videos I narrated for them:

Victoria Vives narrates a Ralph Lauren video

For more information about Ralph Lauren collection, prices, and shopping, please visit:

http://www.ralphlauren.com/

Polo Ralph Lauren named an Official Sponsor of the 2008 Olympic Games.
Learn more here:

Eu andei fuçando, fazendo pesquisas, e tal.. E encontrei em um blog a história, vejam:

A JOHNNIE WALKER tem uma história de determinação que se estende por três gerações de uma família. Cada geração compartilhou da mesma paixão pela fabricação e destilação do uísque. Johnnie era filho do fazendeiro, Alexander Walker, que morreu em 1819, e o rapaz, então com 15 anos, era muito novo para continuar tocando a fazenda da família. Com a venda da fazenda, John abriu uma pequena loja em 1820 na cidade de Kilmarnock, localizada no oeste da Escócia, investindo £417 no novo negócio. O pequeno estabelecimento vendia chás, vinhos, bebidas e comidas secas, começando a desenvolver uma clientela de alta reputação. Enquanto isso, o mercado de uísque estava mudando no mundo inteiro. As destilarias, muitas delas ilícitas, começaram a se profissionalizar e Johnnie viu uma grande oportunidade de ingressar nesse ramo de atividade, começando a destilar seu próprio uísque. Utilizando toda sua habilidade, iniciou a produção, vendendo o produto para seus clientes, que logo começaram a exigir um nome para o uísque. Foi neste momento que o uísque ganhou o nome de JOHNNIE WALKER. Em 1857, o filho de John, Alexander, assumiu os negócios da família com a morte de seu pai. Em 1865 surgiu o percussor do Black Label chamado Walker Old Highland Whisky, mediante a combinação de cerca de 40 dos melhores maltes e uísques de grãos escoceses, envelhecidos por, no mínimo, 12 anos. Em 1867, criou a etiqueta para o uísque, muito parecida com a etiqueta atual do Black Label. Em 1876, conseguiu registrar como marca, o modelo da tradicional garrafa quadrada, introduzida em 1870, e as cores preta e ouro das escritas de seu rótulo. Em 1880, abriu escritório na cidade Londres, por onde exportava seu produto para o resto do mundo. Quando Alexander morreu em 1889, deixou o negócio para seus dois filhos, George e Alexander. Alexander ficava responsável pela produção dos uísques e George viajava o mundo estabelecendo uma rede de distribuição. Em 1920, podia-se encontrar os uísques Johnnie Walker em 120 países. Nas décadas de 30 e 40, investiu no setor de distribuição para popularizar ainda mais a marca pelo mundo. O resto da história é o sucesso de uma marca que se espalhou pelo mundo.

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A linha do tempo
1909
● Quando George e Alexander Walker perceberam a oportunidade de desenvolver uma marca global no início do século XX, foi criado Johnnie Walker Red Label, um uísque destilado 8 anos e antes conhecido com Very Special Old Highland Whisky, que possuía uma seleção inigualável de maltes em sua composição, garantindo assim sua superioridade. Eram mais de 35 tipos, tendo como principal o Cardhu, reconhecido malte das Terras Altas da Escócia (Highlands).
● Johnnie Walker Black Label (um uísque destilado 12 anos e antes conhecido como Extra Special Old Highland Whisky) foi criado em virtude da demanda, no mercado internacional, por uísques com características mais suaves. Foi o primeiro a carregar a afirmação de ser 12 anos no seu rótulo, pois os mais de 40 maltes utilizados na sua composição são envelhecidos por, no mínimo, 12 anos. Em 1920, já era distribuído em mais de 120 países, alcançando uma qualidade inigualável.
1932
● Com a intenção de a garrafa acompanhar o movimento do mar, Alexander Walker II criou o Blend Swing (envelhecido 15 anos), inspirado na receita do Johnnie Walker Black Label.
1992
● Lançamento no mercado dos uísques Blue Label (feito a partir de uísques raros e envelhecido 21 anos) e o Gold Label (18 anos).
1997
● Lançamento no mercado do uísque Green Label (puro malte e envelhecido 15 anos).

Uma jóia rara
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Baccarat é o resultado de uma parceria histórica entre a mais tradicional Cristallerie do mundo e a mais renomada família produtora de uísque. Nessa edição especial e limitada, o Blue Label se apresenta num decanter Baccarat, com design que remete ao frasco de um perfume. Assim como um frasco de perfume reúne as notas mais marcantes de uma fragrância, o Blue Label Baccarat é uma versão especial da bebida, mais intensa e concentrada. O design exclusivo Baccarat possui características que ressaltam o sabor do uísque. Essa preciosa garrafa vem numa caixa de couro azul, com um livro que conta as origens do Blue Label. Na sua composição, o master blend mistura os maltes mais raros e de características mais marcantes da Escócia. Não existe um número exato de maltes e nem idade mínima de envelhecimento. Com edição mundial limitada de 4 mil unidades o produto é vendido hoje pelo valor de R$ 10.000,00 (dez mil reais), distribuídas para 20 países. A preciosidade foi lançada no Brasil em novembro de 2005.

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Striding Man
O famoso logotipo da marca, chamado de Striding Man, ou andarilho, foi lançado em 1909, ao mesmo tempo em que os renomados uísques Red Label e Black Label. A tradicional figura, com chapéu de pele de castor, túnica vermelha, calça branca botas de montaria, e monóculo inquisitor, foi criada primeiramente pelo popular cartunista Tom Browne, como uma homenagem de George e Alexander Walker a seu avô e ao progresso, pioneirismo e a saga da família Walker. O símbolo foi redesenhado através dos anos por uma sucessão de grandes artistas plásticos como Basil Partridge, Leo Cheney, Clive Upton e Michael Peters. Sua roupa foi alterada ocasionalmente e diferentes posições foram adotadas, mas nunca perdeu o conceito de “continuar andando”, se tornando um dos logotipos mais reconhecidos no mundo e um verdadeiro ícone da industria de bebidas alcoólicas. O ícone da marca ganhou sua última reformulação visual no ano de 2003, quando a marca apresentou suas novas garrafas e rótulos. Além desse elemento gráfico dominante, a garrafa quadrada e o rótulo inclinado sempre deram caráter próprio às embalagens de JOHNNIE WALKER.

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Campanhas que fizeram história
A marca efetuou sua primeira ação publicitária global em 1999 com o lançamento da campanha “Keep Walking”, criada pela agência de publicidade BBH de Londres com custo inicial de US$ 150 milhões. O conceito da campanha era simples, “continue andando”, que representava o progresso e pioneirismo dos produtores da marca. A nova fase atual da campanha com o conceito “Eu não sou o futuro. Você é”, mostra um robô que fala diretamente com o telespectador. Ele se diz mais forte, mais rápido e afirma que com certeza irá durar muito mais tempo. Apesar disso, fala que se pudesse desejar algo, desejaria ser humano.

O filme tem grande apelo emocional, porque toca na questão da imortalidade. O personagem afirma que enquanto ele só precisa evitar desgastes para ser imortal, o homem tem que fazer algo notável para tornar-se eterno. Atualmente, uma das campanhas publicitárias mais bem sucedidas do mundo, está presente em mais de 120 países ao redor do mundo.

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Os slogans
1976: Born 1820 - still going strong.
1996: Taste life. (Red Label)
2000: Keep Walking!

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Os dados
● Origem: Escócia
● Fundação: 1865
● Fundador: Johnnie Walker
● Sede mundial: Kilmarnock
● Proprietário da marca: Diageo plc
● Capital aberto: Não
● Chairman: Lord Blyth of Rowington
● CEO: Paul Walsh
● Faturamento: US$ 3 bilhões (2006)
● Destilarias: 27
● Presença global: 200 países
● Presença no Brasil: Sim
● Maiores mercados: Estados Unidos, Grécia e Brasil
● Funcionários: 22.000 (Diageo)
● Vendas: 150 milhões garrafas/ano
● Segmento: Bebidas Alcoólicas (uísque)
● Principais produtos: Red Label, Black Label, Green Label, Gold Label, Blue Label
● Ícones: As garrafas quadradas e o homem andarilho
● Slogan: Keep Walking.
● Website: http://www.johnniewalker.com/

A marca no mundo
Atualmente a JOHNNIE WALKER possui 27 destilarias espalhadas pela Escócia, vendendo cerca de 150 milhões de garrafas (10 milhões de garrafas a mais que seu principal concorrente) por ano em mais de 200 países. A cada segundo são consumidas cinco garrafas de JOHNNIE WALKER ao redor do mundo.
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Você sabia?
● O RED LABEL é o uísque mais consumido e conhecido do mundo, tendo o Brasil como quarto principal mercado para a marca no mundo, atrás somente dos Estados Unidos, das lojas do Freeshop e da Grécia. Tem uma fatia de 49,4% no segmento standard (oito anos), segundo o Instituto de Pesquisas Nielsen.

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Bom, mesmo o texto sendo antigo, seria uma falta de consideração não linkar a fonte: http://mundodasmarcas.blogspot.com

Voce confere o post original clicando aqui