Watches are classic. They are an essential part of every wardrobe, but they must also possess style and functionality to the wearer. For years, watches have been extremely popular gift ideas while remaining a constant self-indulging accessory.

In 1881, Kintaro Hattori opened a clock shop in Tokyo, which established a foundation for modern clock and watch making in Japan. This new brand was titled Seikosha. The store was the direct ancestor of the current Seiko Corporation, Tokyo, which is the parent company of Seiko Corporation of America. Eleven years later, Hattori opened a clock factory with ten employees. Two months after it is inception, the first dozen clocks were produced. In 1895, the production of pocketwatches began. Following that trend, the company began to produce alarm clocks in 1899, which was followed by the introduction of table and musical clocks in 1902. In 1912, Hattori began considering ideas regarding the production of a Japanese wristwatch. The following year, his company began working on the first Seikosha wristwatch to ever be made in Japan. In 1924, the Seiko brand was officially created. After 43 years of the company’s existence, the first Seiko wristwatch was made.

Since that time, there have been many modern advancements to the world of watches. But, throughout the changing times, Seiko has remained a powerhouse in the timepiece industry. In 1956, they produced the first self-winding wristwatch made in Japan. In 1964, Seiko released the world´s first quartz chronometers and became the official timer of the Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo. In 1968, they introduced the world´s first quartz wall clock. The following year, in 1969, Seiko released the first quartz watch. Also that year, Tiffany & Co. began selling the Seiko Astron 35SQ, which was encased in solid 18kt yellow gold. During the next several years, Seiko introduced many firsts to the world of watches, including the first multi-function digital watch and the first LCD quartz watch with six-digit digital display.

Seiko has served as the official timer for various athletic competitions and events. Among the collections offered by Seiko include the Tressia, La Grand Sport and Elite Collections, which includes the Sportura, Arctura and Coutura. Their line of technology timepieces include the Kinetic Perpetual, Kinetic Chronograph, Kinetic Auto Relay, Kinetic, Analog Digital, Chronograph, Flight Computer and Perpetual Calendar. The majority of Seiko timepieces are designed to be water resistant. The U.S. warranty for Seiko watches, which are sold by Seiko Corporation of America, is three years. The warranty for clocks is one year. Certain restrictions and exclusions may apply, so be sure to read your warranty information closely when purchasing any new timepiece and always retain a copy of all such warranties.

As with any timepiece, caring for your watch will promote a longer life for the product. If the battery is in need of changing, be sure to have this done immediately. Seiko advices that customers contact an authorized Seiko dealer for battery and other minor repairs. If the timepiece needs further repair or replacement parts not serviced by an authorized dealer, customers may return the watch to the address on their warranty card for proper handling. If the watch is under warranty, the repairs should be done at no cost. If the warranty has expired, however, the customer will be responsible for the cost of repairs and replacements.

Hair has become unequivocally important as it can literally make one look like a movie star or a has been from Hee Haw, which died out many years ago. It is big enough that it is a multi billion dollar industry and the average bill in a salon is approaching $100. In the big cities with a hot hairstylist like Jonathon in Beverly Hills prices can easily top $500 for a cut and style. Hair and hairstyle are also some of the most searched keywords on Google and the internet. So, its obvious that to millions of people it is vitally important to know what is in and what is out. Listed below are four of the hottest and sexiest styles that experts are predicting will rule through 2007 and beyond.

For this article we consulted with the expert hairstylists from top salons from NewYork City, Atlanta, Miami and, of course Los Angeles. As the famed hairstylist Jonathon from reality TV series Blow Out says, “your hair will make you or break you. Your hair can make you look like a super star and this is what I strive for with every client.” The hairstylists we consulted with had a lot to say and freely gave lots of pointers and interesting tips.

The short business cut. This style is actually equally popular with both men and women. You can see it on Hillary Clinton, Ellen Degeneres, and the first lady, Mrs. Bush. It is a simple, but elegant and all business hairdo. It is popular due to the fact that it tkes little upkeep to stay in place or quickly fix on a windy day. What you will be seeing as we head into 2007 and beyond is this short do will get shorter and more punk, messy. In some cases it may become almost shaved short. This variant will be slightly longer on top and coming to almost zero by the ears and back. As the females role in society and business grows so will the seriousness of her hair. Look for a marked increase in short, styled and very tight hairdo’s similar in part to many current male hairstyles.

The shaggy just sexed look. This look is just catching on and has been popularized on many of the current reality shows and other popular TV programming. This style is obviously longer than the short cut listed above and is purposely styled to look messy, punk and sexy at the same time. The secret to this style according to one hairstylist is to not wash the hair every day. Washing the hair too often will dry it out and make it lose its natural shape. Hair with proper moisture and oils is healthier and looks better. Depending on the length of hair desired for this style some stylists recommend using gels and others creams to style it and make it look just sexed. Wash your hair at night and once it’s dry, apply your personal hairstyling products. Then go to sleep, wake up, and go. You may need to fuss with it a little, but this is the style and it is hot. Jonathons new product Dirt works well for this. This is a very under rated style that will become hotter as we head into 2007. Some male models have turned to a shorter version of this style as it is a definite headturner.

Long, sexy waves. Perms are way out of style, but the latest secret fashion trend in the hottest salons in NYC is salt spray and long sexy waves. Just as in the above hairstyle, you don’t wash the hair everyday as dirty hair is easier to manage. Get the hair damp and use salt water in a spray to bring out the wavy curls. Salt spray will do amazing things to your hair. According to the salons, everyone’s hair has some natural waves and patterns and this will bring this out and intensify it. This style is so hot, just look at the sexy sirens that sport it, Jessica Alba and Shakira. They wear this style so very well. Add a simple locket or amulet to make it that much hotter. So try spritzing or spraying a little salt water on already damp hair, scrunch it and then let it air dry. Scrunching it while it is wet will give it volume and randomness. Since most hair has some sort of natural wave, the salt spray will bring it out.

The side part. This previously all male cut is making it big in fashion shows in the city and will be coming to a salon near you very soon. This will be a classic and trendy, high fashion style. It will take a sexy, rock or punk variation, though. L.A. celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger helped start this style and called her version of it the Twiggy Punk. It has become so popular that a $500 – $600 price tag usually goes with it. Purportedly Meg Ryan and Kirsten Dunst are big fans of this style. This style will continue to become very popular throughout 2007 and some new variants will probably emerge as the year goes on.

Simplicity and good styling is the key with all four of these hot hairstyles and cuts and there are many variants of each with punk or more conservative touches. According to the many hairstylist experts, these four and their variants will be big for years to come.

AmazingPortrait

Hair has become unequivocally important as it can literally make one look like a movie star or a has been from Hee Haw, which died out many years ago. It is big enough that it is a multi billion dollar industry and the average bill in a salon is approaching $100. In the big cities with a hot hairstylist like Jonathon in Beverly Hills prices can easily top $500 for a cut and style. Hair and hairstyle are also some of the most searched keywords on Google and the internet. So, its obvious that to millions of people it is vitally important to know what is in and what is out. Listed below are four of the hottest and sexiest styles that experts are predicting will rule through 2007 and beyond.

For this article we consulted with the expert hairstylists from top salons from NewYork City, Atlanta, Miami and, of course Los Angeles. As the famed hairstylist Jonathon from reality TV series Blow Out says, “your hair will make you or break you. Your hair can make you look like a super star and this is what I strive for with every client.” The hairstylists we consulted with had a lot to say and freely gave lots of pointers and interesting tips.

The short business cut. This style is actually equally popular with both men and women. You can see it on Hillary Clinton, Ellen Degeneres, and the first lady, Mrs. Bush. It is a simple, but elegant and all business hairdo. It is popular due to the fact that it tkes little upkeep to stay in place or quickly fix on a windy day. What you will be seeing as we head into 2007 and beyond is this short do will get shorter and more punk, messy. In some cases it may become almost shaved short. This variant will be slightly longer on top and coming to almost zero by the ears and back. As the females role in society and business grows so will the seriousness of her hair. Look for a marked increase in short, styled and very tight hairdo’s similar in part to many current male hairstyles.

The shaggy just sexed look. This look is just catching on and has been popularized on many of the current reality shows and other popular TV programming. This style is obviously longer than the short cut listed above and is purposely styled to look messy, punk and sexy at the same time. The secret to this style according to one hairstylist is to not wash the hair every day. Washing the hair too often will dry it out and make it lose its natural shape. Hair with proper moisture and oils is healthier and looks better. Depending on the length of hair desired for this style some stylists recommend using gels and others creams to style it and make it look just sexed. Wash your hair at night and once it’s dry, apply your personal hairstyling products. Then go to sleep, wake up, and go. You may need to fuss with it a little, but this is the style and it is hot. Jonathons new product Dirt works well for this. This is a very under rated style that will become hotter as we head into 2007. Some male models have turned to a shorter version of this style as it is a definite headturner.

Long, sexy waves. Perms are way out of style, but the latest secret fashion trend in the hottest salons in NYC is salt spray and long sexy waves. Just as in the above hairstyle, you don’t wash the hair everyday as dirty hair is easier to manage. Get the hair damp and use salt water in a spray to bring out the wavy curls. Salt spray will do amazing things to your hair. According to the salons, everyone’s hair has some natural waves and patterns and this will bring this out and intensify it. This style is so hot, just look at the sexy sirens that sport it, Jessica Alba and Shakira. They wear this style so very well. Add a simple locket or amulet to make it that much hotter. So try spritzing or spraying a little salt water on already damp hair, scrunch it and then let it air dry. Scrunching it while it is wet will give it volume and randomness. Since most hair has some sort of natural wave, the salt spray will bring it out.

The side part. This previously all male cut is making it big in fashion shows in the city and will be coming to a salon near you very soon. This will be a classic and trendy, high fashion style. It will take a sexy, rock or punk variation, though. L.A. celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger helped start this style and called her version of it the Twiggy Punk. It has become so popular that a $500 – $600 price tag usually goes with it. Purportedly Meg Ryan and Kirsten Dunst are big fans of this style. This style will continue to become very popular throughout 2007 and some new variants will probably emerge as the year goes on.

Simplicity and good styling is the key with all four of these hot hairstyles and cuts and there are many variants of each with punk or more conservative touches. According to the many hairstylist experts, these four and their variants will be big for years to come.

is going to a ceilidh, tonight …

Despite widespread protests by religious communities and human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan, unregistered religious activity is now banned under the restrictive new Religion Law which began in January 2009. In addition, minority religious communities have many barriers to gain legal status, Forum 18 News reports. “To register our many unregistered congregations we need to give the names and personal data of 200 members, which we will not do,”

Aleksandr Shumilin of the Baptist Union told Forum 18 earlier this month. In order to protect their congregations, leaders of evangelical churches have decided that registration is not an option.

Two mosques have been registered while Protestant churches and other religious minorities have not obtained legal status. Kyrgyzstan officials stated they will close churches in order to pacify Muslim majorities, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Christians in some villages face physical violence and eviction from ethnic Muslims.

Please Pray!

Pray that God will place a hedge of protection around believers in Kyrgyzstan as persecution increases. Pray that their testimonies would serve to draw many to Christ.

Pray for the government officials of Kyrgyzstan who are blinded to the truth. Ask the Lord to draw them near.

Source: Voice of the Martyrs’ Be-A-Voice Network

still has to lock the car …

reckons that his daughter did well to rescue the cat …

HappyThanksgivingFromTheVekStaffandFriends

It was the only way we could set today off right.

DOPE

AGAIN! Damn..

DAMN HE WENT IN

DOPE>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalejfphotography/

was a bit scared, tonight …

Ive Been A Fan. For A Lil.

WOWWW DOPE.

The trail on the precipice when all beyond the edge is obscured by dense fog.
© 2009 D L Ennis, All rights reserved.

NOTE: Permission for the use of my images is granted for personal websites and blogs but is to include a link back to this site and proper credit given to me, D L Ennis. Link to be used…(Visual Thoughts http://dlennis.wordpress.com/)

NOTE: Commercial use, and the creation of prints, must be purchased! For more information you can contact me here.

doesn’t live here …

Charles Hamilton Is Back

YES!

is way, way, way …

in opening his book called ’simpler living, compassionate life’, michael schut observes that although we in “the west” have achieved more, created more, conquered more, and realized more than most others in the history of the world, yet there remains a longing within…a missing piece to our perfect puzzle.  how can this be? 

how can we have so much and still be wanting?  perhaps in our striving for seeking and attaining more things, we have lost an essential element of our lives…or perhaps obscured it.  maybe our confusion comes from how we have defined the ‘good life’ and perhaps mistakenly made that ‘the abundant life’ that Jesus so richly promised. 

if we somehow shifted away from the patterns of overconsumption, would we be left still more hollow?

would it be like what Jesus describes in luke 11, where an evil spirit is cast out of a person, but since nothing replaced it, it goes and gets a bunch more evil spirits and they come back and the man is worse off then when he started? 

william gibson, founder of cornell university’s eco-justice project, once pointed out that consumerism is itself a substitute, a most unsatisfactory – though addictive – substitute for that which makes human life meaningful and fulfilling: loving, caring relationships with one another and with God.  in short, consumerism can be seen as a substitute for life-giving community. 

consumerism is a bad substitute for, and therefore a barrier to, community.  it can keep us from community, because our goal – our identity – becomes entwined with our stuff…what we consume and accumulate for ourselves.  

recently, my friend jason coker spoke at verge l.a. 2009 about “economy and mission”, and I’d like to share his considerable thoughts on this, because we should all consider them:

 Manna in the Desert
There are several powerful economic stories in scripture, but I’d like to suggest that the defining economic narrative for the Kingdom is found in Exodus Chapter 16. It’s a familiar story. The Israelites are sojourning in the dessert, starving and desperate, and God caused food to fall from heaven. Manna in the desert. We tell this story to remember that true sustenance comes from God – including the eternal sustenance of Christ (John 6) – but something else amazing happened those forty years in the dessert, something that has direct bearing on our economic orientation as a community of faith, and we almost never discuss it in American churches because it disrupts our preferred neo-liberal economic narrative: Exodus 16:18 recounts that after the Manna fell,

“He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little” (Ex 16:18).

What this means, bluntly, is that God’s generous daily gift created an economy of open sharing. Paul explicitly exegetes what Exodus implies, flatly stating in 2 Cor 8 that whoever gathered too much shared with those who gathered too little, thereby creating a society of genuine economic equality. Paul then confers this same economy to the early Church, saying,

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality” (2 Cor 8:13-14).

God even created a mechanism for those desert-dwelling Hebrews to insure that selfish hoarding couldn’t occur: any Manna stored for more than one day (other than on Friday) quickly infested with maggots (Ex 16:19-20), thereby creating the powerful object lesson that greed invites decay into the community of God.

Questions:

1. What narratives (biblical or secular) would you say presently define the economic orientation of U.S. Churches and Christians? Why?
2. How can the story of Manna in the desert challenge our economic thinking?
3. What does “equality” mean to us as Americans? How does Paul use this word differently in 2 Cor 8 than we usually mean it?