Before Andrew Sullivan decided that the purpose of gay marriage was to confer “dignity” on gay relationships (a definition ironically bought by the California Supreme Court), he made perhaps the most solid social argument for extending state recognition of marriage to same-sex couples.
In his landmark 1989 essay, “Here Comes the Groom,” what he called a “socially conservative” argument for gay marriage, Andrew claimed the institution is “good for gays” as it “provides role models for young gay people who, after the exhilaration of coming out, can easily lapse into short-term relationships and insecurity with no tangible goal in sight.”
If the experience of Patrick Range McDonald, an openly gay writer for the LA Weekly (and correspondent of Bruce and myself) is any indication, the recent spate of gay weddings in California appears to be proving the point Andrew made now nearly twenty years ago. After covering the gay weddings this week in West Hollywood for his paper, Patrick wrote me (and granted me permission to publish his comments):
The wedding on Monday touched my deeply. I don’t feel any peer pressure to get married, which I think some gays may be feeling these days, but it made me realize how nice it would be to go forward in life with another man as my husband. Life turns into something bigger than yourself, and I like the idea of that.
Maybe gay marriage will indeed promote the cultural change Andrew once (and may still) advocated.
Yet, other evidence suggests that for many gay men, marriage does not impose the same requirements on them as it has on heterosexual couples. According to the New York Times, one “married”* gay man, Eric Erbelding says, “men view sex very differently than women. Men are pigs, they know that each other are pigs, so they can operate accordingly. It doesn’t mean anything,” adding that while “most married gay couples he knows are ‘for the most part monogamous, but for maybe a casual three-way.’”
Sorry, Eric, that ain’t marriage. If you want to engage in occasional threesomes or any other extramarital liaisons, you should certainly be free to do so, but once you do, you can’t call yourself married. Nor should a swinging heterosexual couple call their non-exclusive union marriage.
With advocates like Erbelding, no wonder Maggie Gallagher (whose National Review article alerted me to the Times piece) claims “the conservative case for same-sex marriage is looking pretty tattered.”
She contends current evidence suggests marriage will not help tame what Erbelding might call men’s piggishness. Taming such “piggishness” has been one of the institution’s many purposes for as long as it’s existed.
Unfortunately, Gallagher conflates her argument with another, contending gay marriage will limit religious freedom, a point Dale Carpenter effectively demolishes in this piece, noting the problem is not so much state-sanctioned gay marriage as it is non-discrimination laws. Dale’s post helps make my point about the detrimental effects of such laws.
While I don’t agree with everything Maggie and Dale have to say in their respective pieces, each makes strong points. I recommend their pieces highly. We do need address the problem Maggie raises about gay men wanting marriage without the monogamy long associated with the institution.
If gay marriage is to have any meaning, its advocates must take issue people like Eric Erbelding who wish to redefine the institution so it does not limit their ability to mess around with someone other than their partner. If they want an open relationship, fine, just don’t call it marriage.
Those who are serious about gay marriage should call him — and others like him — on their failure to acknowledge monogamy as a defining aspect of the institution..
Please contact me if you find other gay bloggers, pundits or activists taking issue with such redefinition and I promise to link them in this post.
2009年4月22日星期三
By FETISH-BDSM-Bondage-Lite in Lite Bondage, Video
Bondage passion and love in Italy. Dedicated to those who get turned on by the bondage that creates sexual release, romance and fantastic foreplay. Two guys, tied up by their Master, see immobilizing scenes while they try to set them free. After the bondage, and after they got signs on their skin, once free they let them go to flood of love. Bondage gay - what a passion!!! This video is dedicated to all the lovers for the soft - under control domination.
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明星: Matteo Locati, Diego Sierra, Jago, Marco Colosso, Alex Drago, Iuri Nero, Riccardo Nocera, Ronaldo Ribeiro, Luca Vampiro, Giacomo Faggi, Enrico Levrero
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明星: Matteo Locati, Diego Sierra, Jago, Marco Colosso, Alex Drago, Iuri Nero, Riccardo Nocera, Ronaldo Ribeiro, Luca Vampiro, Giacomo Faggi, Enrico Levrero
The Five Mistakes Married Women Make
1. Mistake: Handing Over the Purse Strings
"Ignorance is not bliss," says Patricia Powell, a CFP based in Martinsville, N.J. By not engaging in the family finances, women set themselves up for potential hardships. Powell says she has worked with at least two clients who managed their finances perfectly well while they were single, only to file for bankruptcy after they got married because of their husbands' premarital debt and extravagant spending habits.
Solution: Pay Attention to the Household Finances
Both partners should attend the meetings with insurance agents, accountants, financial planners and lawyers, says Watchung, N.J.-based Kaye. Women should also look over monthly bank statements and credit-card bills. And Kaye recommends that couples make a list of all bank and brokerage accounts and insurance policies and keep it with other important documents, such as wills and medical directives.
2. Mistake: Losing Your (Financial) Identity
When Elizabeth Lundin (who asked that we not use her real name), now 33 years old, got married six years ago, her husband offered to take over the couple's finances. She happily agreed. The couple merged all of their bank accounts, and Lundin even gave up her individual American Express card and started using a shared credit card. Two years later, when the couple decided to divorce, Lundin learned that the couple's credit card was actually held in her husband's name, and that she was simply an authorized user. Her name was taken off that account, and she let many months go by before trying to secure credit in her name. When she tried, she found that her lack of an active credit history worked against her. She was offered only high-rate cards with small lines of credit.
According to Craig Watts, spokesman for Fair Isaac Corporation, the company that helps generate consumer FICO scores (the most common credit score used), the credit bureaus won't calculate a FICO score for an individual whose credit history has been inactive for six months or longer.
"[Recent] college graduates had an easier time securing credit than I did," Lundin says. She says it took her two years to get a card with a competitive interest rate and sizable credit line.
Solution: Maintain Some Individual Accounts
"You always want to maintain your own credit identity," says Lisa Caputo, president and CEO of Women & Co., a division of Citigroup. She recommends that couples keep three bank accounts (his, hers and ours) and maintain separate credit cards.
3. Mistake: Walking Away From Your Career
The number of stay-at-home moms has increased by 18% over the past decade, according to 2006 U.S. Census data. While you might welcome the chance to stay home with your kids, the longer you're out of the work force, the harder it can be to jump back in. Women often face lowball wages or lower job titles when they try to return to work after a long hiatus.
Solution: Keep Your Skills Fresh
It might be hard to do when you're up to your eyeballs in dirty diapers, but unless you're independently wealthy, you should always be aware that you might someday return to the work force for one reason or another. (Kids, after all, do grow up.)
So don't lose touch completely. Try to take on consulting projects during your industry's busy season and attend professional networking events. Even charity work can give you a leg up when you start applying for a new job. For more tips on re-entering the work force, read our story.
4. Mistake: Not Saving for Retirement
Many married women don't make retirement-saving a priority. If the husband is the primary wage earner, the wife often trusts her spouse to save enough for their collective golden years, says Ginita Wall, a certified financial planner and co-founder of Women's Institute for Financial Education, a San Diego-based nonprofit dedicated to educating women on finances. Compounding the problem, women are more likely than men to blow what little savings they have on something other than retirement. Nearly 24% of women who take a lump sum distribution from a retirement plan spend the money on general consumption, vs. 19% of men, according to the Employment Benefit Research Institute.
A woman spending her retirement savings is particularly distressing considering that women, on average, live six years longer than men.
Solution: Penny-Pinch Now for Your Future
Make saving for retirement a priority, says Women & Co.'s Caputo, even if it means stashing away less for your children's college education. If you're working, save as much as you can in your company's retirement plan, or in an IRA. If you're not employed, contribute to a spousal IRA, which has an annual contribution cap of $5,000 in 2008 ($6,000 if you will be age 50 or older by the end of the year). Click here for more on these accounts.
5. Mistake: Asking for the House During a Divorce
When Borden separated from her husband, she decided her priority was to get custody of her two children. So she hired the best child custody lawyer she could find. Looking back, she says she now regrets her decision to focus on just one issue and wishes she had found a lawyer who had also looked out for her financial well-being. While she succeeded in getting custody of the kids, she is now struggling on the meager child-support payments her lawyer negotiated for her.
Borden's story isn't unusual. Women often focus so intently on winning custody of the children or keeping the house that they lose sight of the bigger financial picture, says Wife.org's Wall. On average, a woman's standard of living decreases by 27% after divorce, according to Richard Peterson, of the Social Science Research Council.
Solution: Get Financial Guidance
When women are going through a divorce, they need to determine which assets will help them pay their bills and reach their long-term goals. Some women might want to consult a financial planner, says Wife.org's Wall. Too many women, says Wall, fight for the home to avoid uprooting their children, only to find that they don't have the cash flow to pay for it.
"Ignorance is not bliss," says Patricia Powell, a CFP based in Martinsville, N.J. By not engaging in the family finances, women set themselves up for potential hardships. Powell says she has worked with at least two clients who managed their finances perfectly well while they were single, only to file for bankruptcy after they got married because of their husbands' premarital debt and extravagant spending habits.
Solution: Pay Attention to the Household Finances
Both partners should attend the meetings with insurance agents, accountants, financial planners and lawyers, says Watchung, N.J.-based Kaye. Women should also look over monthly bank statements and credit-card bills. And Kaye recommends that couples make a list of all bank and brokerage accounts and insurance policies and keep it with other important documents, such as wills and medical directives.
2. Mistake: Losing Your (Financial) Identity
When Elizabeth Lundin (who asked that we not use her real name), now 33 years old, got married six years ago, her husband offered to take over the couple's finances. She happily agreed. The couple merged all of their bank accounts, and Lundin even gave up her individual American Express card and started using a shared credit card. Two years later, when the couple decided to divorce, Lundin learned that the couple's credit card was actually held in her husband's name, and that she was simply an authorized user. Her name was taken off that account, and she let many months go by before trying to secure credit in her name. When she tried, she found that her lack of an active credit history worked against her. She was offered only high-rate cards with small lines of credit.
According to Craig Watts, spokesman for Fair Isaac Corporation, the company that helps generate consumer FICO scores (the most common credit score used), the credit bureaus won't calculate a FICO score for an individual whose credit history has been inactive for six months or longer.
"[Recent] college graduates had an easier time securing credit than I did," Lundin says. She says it took her two years to get a card with a competitive interest rate and sizable credit line.
Solution: Maintain Some Individual Accounts
"You always want to maintain your own credit identity," says Lisa Caputo, president and CEO of Women & Co., a division of Citigroup. She recommends that couples keep three bank accounts (his, hers and ours) and maintain separate credit cards.
3. Mistake: Walking Away From Your Career
The number of stay-at-home moms has increased by 18% over the past decade, according to 2006 U.S. Census data. While you might welcome the chance to stay home with your kids, the longer you're out of the work force, the harder it can be to jump back in. Women often face lowball wages or lower job titles when they try to return to work after a long hiatus.
Solution: Keep Your Skills Fresh
It might be hard to do when you're up to your eyeballs in dirty diapers, but unless you're independently wealthy, you should always be aware that you might someday return to the work force for one reason or another. (Kids, after all, do grow up.)
So don't lose touch completely. Try to take on consulting projects during your industry's busy season and attend professional networking events. Even charity work can give you a leg up when you start applying for a new job. For more tips on re-entering the work force, read our story.
4. Mistake: Not Saving for Retirement
Many married women don't make retirement-saving a priority. If the husband is the primary wage earner, the wife often trusts her spouse to save enough for their collective golden years, says Ginita Wall, a certified financial planner and co-founder of Women's Institute for Financial Education, a San Diego-based nonprofit dedicated to educating women on finances. Compounding the problem, women are more likely than men to blow what little savings they have on something other than retirement. Nearly 24% of women who take a lump sum distribution from a retirement plan spend the money on general consumption, vs. 19% of men, according to the Employment Benefit Research Institute.
A woman spending her retirement savings is particularly distressing considering that women, on average, live six years longer than men.
Solution: Penny-Pinch Now for Your Future
Make saving for retirement a priority, says Women & Co.'s Caputo, even if it means stashing away less for your children's college education. If you're working, save as much as you can in your company's retirement plan, or in an IRA. If you're not employed, contribute to a spousal IRA, which has an annual contribution cap of $5,000 in 2008 ($6,000 if you will be age 50 or older by the end of the year). Click here for more on these accounts.
5. Mistake: Asking for the House During a Divorce
When Borden separated from her husband, she decided her priority was to get custody of her two children. So she hired the best child custody lawyer she could find. Looking back, she says she now regrets her decision to focus on just one issue and wishes she had found a lawyer who had also looked out for her financial well-being. While she succeeded in getting custody of the kids, she is now struggling on the meager child-support payments her lawyer negotiated for her.
Borden's story isn't unusual. Women often focus so intently on winning custody of the children or keeping the house that they lose sight of the bigger financial picture, says Wife.org's Wall. On average, a woman's standard of living decreases by 27% after divorce, according to Richard Peterson, of the Social Science Research Council.
Solution: Get Financial Guidance
When women are going through a divorce, they need to determine which assets will help them pay their bills and reach their long-term goals. Some women might want to consult a financial planner, says Wife.org's Wall. Too many women, says Wall, fight for the home to avoid uprooting their children, only to find that they don't have the cash flow to pay for it.
Follow your cheating wife with GPS in real time!
MiniTrakPRO - The Smallest GPS Vehicle Tracker available!
Sure cabbies, trucking companies, Fed-Ex and UPS all use GPS for tracking packages or vehicles but with this wicked little GPS device, you can now track your wife as she drives or walks around town without her having any idea that you are keeping a watchful eye on her!
This GPS tracker enables you to see you wife on both Street Maps and GOOGLE Satellite Maps. One-click to locate her or automatically setup your location intervals for as little as every 5 minutes for 4 weeks straight!
You have complete control over your interval tracking. Get easy to read and printable location reports plus last known locations from the logged history. Now you will have print outs showing exactly where she was and for how long.
Finally you will be able to check and make sure her alibi is actually true!
Sure cabbies, trucking companies, Fed-Ex and UPS all use GPS for tracking packages or vehicles but with this wicked little GPS device, you can now track your wife as she drives or walks around town without her having any idea that you are keeping a watchful eye on her!
This GPS tracker enables you to see you wife on both Street Maps and GOOGLE Satellite Maps. One-click to locate her or automatically setup your location intervals for as little as every 5 minutes for 4 weeks straight!
You have complete control over your interval tracking. Get easy to read and printable location reports plus last known locations from the logged history. Now you will have print outs showing exactly where she was and for how long.
Finally you will be able to check and make sure her alibi is actually true!
2009年4月11日星期六
08/09 Gutenberg love China Business casual men's winter fashion trends released
England fans Habitat: Topsy love Oldenburg cube lattice
- Love Gutenberg winter 08/09 China Business casual men's fashion trends released
March 30, Beijing, D. PARK The first workshop was on the external walls of lattice cloth highlighted edenbo (love Oldenburg) brand "style." Gutenberg in love China 2008/2009 autumn and winter fashion trends of men's casual business conference T stage, dressed in costumes of the Scottish pipers plaid walking leisurely, extended out of the psychedelic color LED screen colors, and clothing with the theme of change and change.
- Love Gutenberg winter 08/09 China Business casual men's fashion trends released
March 30, Beijing, D. PARK The first workshop was on the external walls of lattice cloth highlighted edenbo (love Oldenburg) brand "style." Gutenberg in love China 2008/2009 autumn and winter fashion trends of men's casual business conference T stage, dressed in costumes of the Scottish pipers plaid walking leisurely, extended out of the psychedelic color LED screen colors, and clothing with the theme of change and change.
| According to edenbo (love Oldenburg) who introduced the company, show the release of "fans throughout the UK" as the theme, "Castle Shadow Chance", "City Blues", "leisurely Variations," "science fiction backlighting" four chapters of the autumn and winter the perfect interpretation of the style of England, the trend of a gentleman. The release of more than 80 sets of clothing, retro implication means that the overall design, from the appearance of fine fabric, structure and texture to the steady, solemn colors, convey all the cool and elegant, natural distributed style of English books. Business casual elegant, shows a man city gentleman. edenbo (love Oldenburg) 2008/2009 autumn and winter clothing is divided into men's business casual and casual men's fashion to windbreaker-style, mainly hit series Parker category. Goods in socks, shoes, tie type, belt type, purses, etc. with the next category, including the type jacket, suit-type, type of trousers, shirts category type sweater, jeans and other casual clothing, in their interpretation of the model, the Do not have a flavor. Parker, windbreaker, casual suit and the past, military-style fashion and fashion is increasingly bright, three-dimensional sense of strong cotton loaded the same Games. Season clothing, colors tend to like shiny ores and metal with a strong sense of reflective memory fibers and fabrics have been widely used, with the effect of the coating texture, rich in the most representative of the washed cloth to make scientific sense of the material appears to different |
苏格兰方格的使用是本次秀的经典之作。素雅简洁的款式配合复古格纹，格子斜裁以及格子图案的拼接，彰显层次美学。经典的苏格兰围巾、方格图案的旅行箱，闪光的巨大包袋、牛皮涂层闪光皮鞋等是这一主题的经典搭配。
Present, China is experiencing men's leisure suits of the wave of the epidemic, the international brand of high-end involvement in the "business casual" has become China's men's competition in the market one of the focal points. At present, the main domestic "business casual" men's positioning plate, the love of Oldenburg is undoubtedly the most representative fashion, it's a strong British culture and simple design style led the Chinese men's business casual trend, "Fashion and simple "its brand positioning and demands.
In fact, promoted the idea that "men, simple!" The edenbo (love Oldenburg) in 1991 will hold high the "minimalism" banner in mainland China reached the men's market, in simple fashion prevalent today because of their unique personality charm well-known brand among the forefront of men's leisure has become the focus of the industry. The edenbo (love Oldenburg) released a series of Chinese men's business casual, it will also be filled with elegant, simple, fashionable style of England, all the simple dissemination of mature men and a new look.
In fact, promoted the idea that "men, simple!" The edenbo (love Oldenburg) in 1991 will hold high the "minimalism" banner in mainland China reached the men's market, in simple fashion prevalent today because of their unique personality charm well-known brand among the forefront of men's leisure has become the focus of the industry. The edenbo (love Oldenburg) released a series of Chinese men's business casual, it will also be filled with elegant, simple, fashionable style of England, all the simple dissemination of mature men and a new look.
Business Etiquette and Protocol in China
Relationships & Communication . The Chinese don't like doing business with companies they don't know, so working through an intermediary is crucial. This could be an individual or an organization who can make a formal introduction and vouch for the reliability of your company. . Before arriving in China send materials (written in Chinese) that describe your company, its history, and literature about your products and services. The Chinese often use intermediaries to ask questions that they would prefer not to make directly. . Business relationships are built formally after the Chinese get to know you. . Be very patient. It takes a considerable amount of time and is bound up with enormous bureaucracy. . The Chinese see foreigners as representatives of their company rather than as individuals. . Rank is extremely important in business relationships and you must keep rank differences in mind when communicating. . Gender bias is nonexistent in business. . Never lose sight of the fact that communication is official, especially in dealing with someone of higher rank. Treating them too informally, especially in front of their peers, may well ruin a potential deal. . The Chinese prefer face-to-face meetings rather than written or telephonic communication. . Meals and social events are not the place for business discussions. There is a demarcation between business and socializing in China, so try to be careful not to intertwine the two. Business Meeting Etiquette . Appointments are necessary and, if possible, should be made between one-to-two months in advance, preferably in writing. . If you do not have a contact within the company, use an intermediary to arrange a formal introduction. Once the introduction has been made, you should provide the company with information about your company and what you want to accomplish at the meeting. . You should arrive at meetings on time or slightly early. The Chinese view punctuality as a virtue. Arriving late is an insult and could negatively affect your relationship . Pay great attention to the agenda as each Chinese participant has his or her own agenda that they will attempt to introduce. . Send an agenda before the meeting so your Chinese colleagues have the chance to meet with any technical experts prior to the meeting. Discuss the agenda with your translator/intermediary prior to submission. . Each participant will take an opportunity to dominate the floor for lengthy periods without appearing to say very much of anything that actually contributes to the meeting. Be patient and listen. There could be subtle messages being transmitted that would assist you in allaying fears of on-going association. . Meetings require patience. Mobile phones ring frequently and conversations tend to be boisterous. Never ask the Chinese to turn off their mobile phones as this causes you both to lose face. . Guests are generally escorted to their seats, which are in descending order of rank. Senior people generally sit opposite senior people from the other side. . It is imperative that you bring your own interpreter, especially if you plan to discuss legal or extremely technical concepts as you can brief the interpreter prior to the meeting. . Written material should be available in both English and Chinese, using simplified characters. Be very careful about what is written. Make absolutely certain that written translations are accurate and cannot be misinterpreted. . Visual aids are useful in large meetings and should only be done with black type on white background. Colours have special meanings and if you are not careful, your colour choice could work against you. . Presentations should be detailed and factual and focus on long-term benefits. Be prepared for the presentation to be a challenge. Business Negotiation . Only senior members of the negotiating team will speak. Designate the most senior person in your group as your spokesman for the introductory functions. . Business negotiations occur at a slow pace. . Be prepared for the agenda to become a jumping off point for other discussions. . Chinese are non-confrontational. They will not overtly say 'no', they will say 'they will think about it' or 'they will see'. . Chinese negotiations are process oriented. They want to determine if relationships can develop to a stage where both parties are comfortable doing business with the other. . Decisions may take a long time, as they require careful review and consideration. . Under no circumstances should you lose your temper or you will lose face and irrevocably damage your relationship. . Do not use high-pressure tactics. You might find yourself outmanoeuvred. . Business is hierarchical. Decisions are unlikely to be made during the meetings you attend. . The Chinese are shrewd negotiators. . Your starting price should leave room for negotiation. What to Wear? . Business attire is conservative and unpretentious. . Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits. . Women should wear conservative business suits or dresses with a high neckline. . Women should wear flat shoes or shoes with very low heels. . Bright colours should be avoided. Business Cards . Business cards are exchanged after the initial introduction. . Have one side of your business card translated into Chinese using simplified Chinese characters that are printed in gold ink since gold is an auspicious colour. . Your business card should include your title. If your company is the oldest or largest in your country, that fact should be on your card as well. . Hold the card in both hands when offering it, Chinese side facing the recipient. . Examine a business card before putting it on the table next to you or in a business card case. . Never write on someone's card unless so directed.
How to Create Memorable Business Cards
At a time when networking is extremely important, freelancers can’t afford to have a business card that isn’t eye-catching. My rule of thumb is if people aren’t complimenting you on your cards, then it’s time to make a change.
After collecting business cards over the years, I’ve seen some pretty interesting and creative designs along with some that just plain aren’t effective. Before going over some ways to ensure your cards don’t fall into the latter group, I think it’s important to ensure all of the proper information is accounted for. When designing cards for myself and my clients, I ensure the following information is included:
1. Your logo. Build brand recognition on every promotional piece you hand out.
2. Your name. Help people to remember who you are!
3. Phone number. If you don’t want people to reach you by your cell phone, don’t put it on your business card. Make sure the contact information on your card is where you can, and want, to be reached.
4. Email address. For many, this is the preferred way to communicate. It’s fast and convenient. Make sure your email address is working properly. Also, it’s much more credible-looking to have an email address that’s the same as your website domain. For example, since my website address is www.13thirtyone.com, it only makes sense that my email address be design@13thirtyone.com as well.
5. Mailing address. This helps customers and colleagues to remember where you are. It can help others to feel more comfortable when making referrals and to easily locate you in case of scheduled meeting.
6. Web address/blog address. Allow people to find you easily online. If you have a very informative blog, let people know they can use this as a resource. Especially for freelancers, websites are a great portfolio tool; help people find it! Printing your web/blog address on your materials also helps drive traffic to your site, thus increasing your search engine rankings.
7. What you do. If you choose not to include your service type in your logo or in your tagline, be sure it states clearly on your card what service/product it is you’re offering. If someone handed you their business card at a networking function with only a name, logo and contact info, you might be left trying to remember what service it was exactly that individual provided.
Optional pieces of information to add include your company tagline, fax number, hours of operation and your job title, along with anything else you feel is important to include.
Once I have all of the necessary info, I’m ready to start a business card design. Of course I’ll want to be sure to use colors and design details that reflect a client’s branding. However, there are other ways to make business cards more interesting as well, such as folds and shape.
After collecting business cards over the years, I’ve seen some pretty interesting and creative designs along with some that just plain aren’t effective. Before going over some ways to ensure your cards don’t fall into the latter group, I think it’s important to ensure all of the proper information is accounted for. When designing cards for myself and my clients, I ensure the following information is included:
1. Your logo. Build brand recognition on every promotional piece you hand out.
2. Your name. Help people to remember who you are!
3. Phone number. If you don’t want people to reach you by your cell phone, don’t put it on your business card. Make sure the contact information on your card is where you can, and want, to be reached.
4. Email address. For many, this is the preferred way to communicate. It’s fast and convenient. Make sure your email address is working properly. Also, it’s much more credible-looking to have an email address that’s the same as your website domain. For example, since my website address is www.13thirtyone.com, it only makes sense that my email address be design@13thirtyone.com as well.
5. Mailing address. This helps customers and colleagues to remember where you are. It can help others to feel more comfortable when making referrals and to easily locate you in case of scheduled meeting.
6. Web address/blog address. Allow people to find you easily online. If you have a very informative blog, let people know they can use this as a resource. Especially for freelancers, websites are a great portfolio tool; help people find it! Printing your web/blog address on your materials also helps drive traffic to your site, thus increasing your search engine rankings.
7. What you do. If you choose not to include your service type in your logo or in your tagline, be sure it states clearly on your card what service/product it is you’re offering. If someone handed you their business card at a networking function with only a name, logo and contact info, you might be left trying to remember what service it was exactly that individual provided.
Optional pieces of information to add include your company tagline, fax number, hours of operation and your job title, along with anything else you feel is important to include.
Once I have all of the necessary info, I’m ready to start a business card design. Of course I’ll want to be sure to use colors and design details that reflect a client’s branding. However, there are other ways to make business cards more interesting as well, such as folds and shape.
10 Business Words to Ban
As a follow up to my post on poor writing in business, I'd like to present a short list of the most pompous business words and phrases I'd most like to never see or hear again:
10. As well as The three word version of "and," which should always be replaced by it, unless you are MacGyver trying to delay a mad scientist from blowing up the world by speaking as much as possible.
9. And/or An editor once told me, "And-slash-or means 'and' or 'or,' so pick one, unless you have no idea what you're trying to say, in which case, by all means use it."
8. People manager As opposed to "Goldfish supervisor?" Seriously, this is a "try not to offend anyone term," that makes managers of people and non-people (whatever that is) feel less like managers or people and more like guppies.
7. Value, valued, valuing Like "bad" in the '70s, "value" now seems to connote its opposite. When someone says, "You and your ideas are valued," you know both you and your ideas are a step closer to the door.
6. Value Add Like value, "value add" doesn't mean "value" or "add." It is a substitute for the potentially embarrassing, "I don't understand." As in, "Yes, but what's the value add to take away from your presentation?"
5. Take Away You take away food in a paper bag with a clown on it. Period.
4. Net-net Like "irregardless," this phrase is meaningful when chopped in half, and meaningless in whole--except to indicate that the speaker doesn't know what "net" means.
3. At the End of the Day It's omnipresent. Google shows 15+ million hits. One source says it was the most written cliché of 2006. Otherwise respectable people use it like Sarah Palin used "ya know," and chances are you'll hear it several times per meeting--if you don't just run away to get to the end of your day without screaming.
2. Out of pocket This means you were on company business and using your own funds. But people increasingly use it when they are unreachable, on vacation, or even just in the restroom and away from their Blackberry (you don't email from there, right?). Instead, just say "away." Otherwise I will keep imagining a giant pocket somewhere that you couldn't get yourself back into.
1. Individual The five-syllable "Individual" reduces us to police speak, "The individual exited the vehicle" instead of "He got out of the car." Like the word "troop" for "soldier," it's a way to distance the speaker from actual people, which is potentially useful if you want to say "30,000 troops were lost," which sounds far less bloody than "30,000 soldiers died." In business, "individual" gives me a similar chill. Especially in the phrase that unites two words from this list: "We value the individual." We all know what that means.
What about you? What words and phrases make you want to lunge at the throat of the co-worker who utters them? Or do you think this is all too nitpicky, and that it is folks like me who make you crazy?
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10. As well as The three word version of "and," which should always be replaced by it, unless you are MacGyver trying to delay a mad scientist from blowing up the world by speaking as much as possible.
9. And/or An editor once told me, "And-slash-or means 'and' or 'or,' so pick one, unless you have no idea what you're trying to say, in which case, by all means use it."
8. People manager As opposed to "Goldfish supervisor?" Seriously, this is a "try not to offend anyone term," that makes managers of people and non-people (whatever that is) feel less like managers or people and more like guppies.
7. Value, valued, valuing Like "bad" in the '70s, "value" now seems to connote its opposite. When someone says, "You and your ideas are valued," you know both you and your ideas are a step closer to the door.
6. Value Add Like value, "value add" doesn't mean "value" or "add." It is a substitute for the potentially embarrassing, "I don't understand." As in, "Yes, but what's the value add to take away from your presentation?"
5. Take Away You take away food in a paper bag with a clown on it. Period.
4. Net-net Like "irregardless," this phrase is meaningful when chopped in half, and meaningless in whole--except to indicate that the speaker doesn't know what "net" means.
3. At the End of the Day It's omnipresent. Google shows 15+ million hits. One source says it was the most written cliché of 2006. Otherwise respectable people use it like Sarah Palin used "ya know," and chances are you'll hear it several times per meeting--if you don't just run away to get to the end of your day without screaming.
2. Out of pocket This means you were on company business and using your own funds. But people increasingly use it when they are unreachable, on vacation, or even just in the restroom and away from their Blackberry (you don't email from there, right?). Instead, just say "away." Otherwise I will keep imagining a giant pocket somewhere that you couldn't get yourself back into.
1. Individual The five-syllable "Individual" reduces us to police speak, "The individual exited the vehicle" instead of "He got out of the car." Like the word "troop" for "soldier," it's a way to distance the speaker from actual people, which is potentially useful if you want to say "30,000 troops were lost," which sounds far less bloody than "30,000 soldiers died." In business, "individual" gives me a similar chill. Especially in the phrase that unites two words from this list: "We value the individual." We all know what that means.
What about you? What words and phrases make you want to lunge at the throat of the co-worker who utters them? Or do you think this is all too nitpicky, and that it is folks like me who make you crazy?
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Setting up a fashion business 101..what do I need to know?
Whether you enter the fashion business as a bricks and mortar retailer, internet retailer or as a fashion designer, the rules are the same. Dedication and tenacity rule.
The only thing glamorous about fashion are the clothes themselves otherwise expect to spend a great part of your time unpacking boxes at 2 am, steaming clothes over and over again, and spending time pouring through receipts with an accountant will and must become part of your routine.
In order to be successful, you should think of yourself as a CEO first, fashion designer second.
A CEO is a manager of people, finances and processes. Therefore, you will have a great deal of responsibility and important business decisions will face you each and every day. The buck stops at you and the business should always be at the forefront of your mind, not just an afterthought.
For fashion designers, you will likely spend less than 10% of your time designing, while the rest of the time you will be managing production, sending clothes to magazines, dealing with suppliers who want their money yesterday.
Here are some question you must ask yourself.
“Do I really want to run a business?”
“Do I already have or can I find the necessary skills, contacts and funding to create a successful fashion company?”
“Do I have something unique to offer the market?”
Aside from these obvious questions, you must decise what your niche is. Who do you ideally want to sell to. The youth market?- very fickle or the older market - very staid and indecisive.
It’s worth pointing out now that not all fashion businesses have to operate at the high end of luxury, although it seems that that is where every designer wants to be.
Remember, your business concept needs to offer a clear proposition of value to your customer, and that value could be world-class design at more reasonable prices.
Look at Zara or H&M or Coach or American Apparel and how they have taken clear business ideas that allow them to deliver great fashion to the masses.
While it may seem ideal to be a “luxury” brand, also remember that some of the most influential fashion businesses are on the high street and in your neighbourhood mall, because they dress thousands of people around the world.
My opinion is that because you love Chanel does not necessarily mean you must sell Chanel. The whole point of being able to afford such luxuries is why you must become a successful fashion entrepreneur.
The only thing glamorous about fashion are the clothes themselves otherwise expect to spend a great part of your time unpacking boxes at 2 am, steaming clothes over and over again, and spending time pouring through receipts with an accountant will and must become part of your routine.
In order to be successful, you should think of yourself as a CEO first, fashion designer second.
A CEO is a manager of people, finances and processes. Therefore, you will have a great deal of responsibility and important business decisions will face you each and every day. The buck stops at you and the business should always be at the forefront of your mind, not just an afterthought.
For fashion designers, you will likely spend less than 10% of your time designing, while the rest of the time you will be managing production, sending clothes to magazines, dealing with suppliers who want their money yesterday.
Here are some question you must ask yourself.
“Do I really want to run a business?”
“Do I already have or can I find the necessary skills, contacts and funding to create a successful fashion company?”
“Do I have something unique to offer the market?”
Aside from these obvious questions, you must decise what your niche is. Who do you ideally want to sell to. The youth market?- very fickle or the older market - very staid and indecisive.
It’s worth pointing out now that not all fashion businesses have to operate at the high end of luxury, although it seems that that is where every designer wants to be.
Remember, your business concept needs to offer a clear proposition of value to your customer, and that value could be world-class design at more reasonable prices.
Look at Zara or H&M or Coach or American Apparel and how they have taken clear business ideas that allow them to deliver great fashion to the masses.
While it may seem ideal to be a “luxury” brand, also remember that some of the most influential fashion businesses are on the high street and in your neighbourhood mall, because they dress thousands of people around the world.
My opinion is that because you love Chanel does not necessarily mean you must sell Chanel. The whole point of being able to afford such luxuries is why you must become a successful fashion entrepreneur.
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