The Piaget Dancer Exceptional Piece = "Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer!"

"Piaget’s Dancer collection has been evolving since 1986 with the newest addition of the thinnest haute mechanical watch in the world. The case which is only seven point seven millimeters thick and has more than one thousand two hundred specially cut diamonds encrusted into the white gold case. The Piaget Dancer Exceptional is a one of a kind watch available exclusively from Piaget."

Information Courtesy Of: Sybarites.Org x Worldtempus.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: As a discipline, Livestyle is singularly dedicated to the pursuit of happiness and the fostering of the superior refinement necessary to fully experience and enjoy such soaring enthusiasms. It's ALL about identifying what Y.O.U. like and then ambitiously exploring the shit out of it ... lol.

To that end, with regard to fine timepieces, I always use my G.round-P.enetrating R.adar like senses to look beyond the frozen-over surfaces of bejewelled watches - so, I can see what the fuck is really going on there - and encourage Y.O.U. to do the same. Granted, this can prove to be a bit difficult, particularly when the watch in question is as dazzlingly distracting as the Piaget Dancer Exceptional Piece. This latest haute horological achievement for Piaget represents the next evolutionary step for the "Dancer Collection" which has continued to excite and impress watch connoisseurs since the introduction of the series waaaaaaaaaaaay back in 1986.

At 1st glance, one might come for the diamonds (NOTE: Of which there are almost 1,230!), however, anyone who has a pesky yet overwhelmingly rewarding tenant named Mr. OR Mrs. "Intellectual Curiosity" dwelling in their head will undoubtedly stick around and fall in L.O.V.E. with the seductive substance of this watch. Yup, just like the "Relationship Status" on your Facebook page, this baby is "complicated" ... but, in this 18 carat white gold encased case, that's a good thing ... lol. This mechanical hand-wound 2.5 mm thick Calibre 830P powered masterpiece is the perfect blend of elegance and technical accomplishment; of watchmaking brilliance and artistic tenacity.

Hey, ultra-thin watches leave absolutely 0 margin for error on the watchmakers part (NOTE: Because of smaller height tolerances and the thinner parts employed in the production of such tiny tickers) - making that pricey piece that slides seamlessly beneath your French cuff pretty special indeed! Of course Y.O.U. can't afford this watch right now ... and neither can I ... lol. Still, aspiration is 1 H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks of a motivator my nigga! Scared money don't make money. Let's get it!




BONUS:

As previously explained here, per Livestyle Executive Order 1988-92, in exchange for your undying loyalty AND timely post commentary, it is incumbent upon me to recognize and make clear any recondite references made within any given entry. That having been well established, however, my allusion in the title of this post to Sir Elton John's (NOTE: Yeah, he's a certified knight, ya know? Deadass. LOL.) 1971 classic song, the amazing "Tiny Dancer", really shouldn't even need an in-depth explanation. I'm just posting this video for the sake of continuity yall. I mean, whether we want to or not, we ALL know this joint, right? Right. SMH. Don't make me fuck Y.O.U. up! This is Livestyle.

British Drug Dealers Are About To Have To Pay Out The Arse To Score Some "Kisses And Hugs"! (NOTE: That's Cockney Rhyming Slang For Drugs Mate.)

"Largest Hard Drug Bust in British History
By MATTHEW SALTMARSH
Published: August 3, 2011


LONDON — British authorities said on Wednesday that they had seized the largest shipment of illicit hard drugs — known as Class A drugs — in the country’s history, and that the seizure had led to the arrests of six people suspected of working with an international narcotics ring.

The UK Border Agency said that it had seized more than 2,600 pounds of almost pure cocaine in June, with an estimated street value of up to £300 million, or more than $490 million. The haul was found inside a luxury yacht at the Southampton docks on the southern English coast in June.

Since then, the British authorities have worked with Dutch police to track the members of the gang they believe to be responsible. The arrests came on Tuesday in the Netherlands.

The agency said in a statement that its crime team had tracked the luxury yacht Louise, said to be worth more than £1 million, as it was transported to Southampton from the British Virgin Islands on a cargo ship.

The subsequent search took six days, the agency said, and the drugs were finally found stashed beneath the boat’s bathing platform, having been packed there in Venezuela.

The seizure formed part of an operation with the Dutch police, acting on intelligence provided by the British Serious Organized Crime Agency, or S.O.C.A., and in cooperation with other agencies and countries, including France.

The UK Border Agency estimated the drugs’ value at £50 million wholesale, with a street value of £300 million. It said the cocaine, which originated in South America, was 90 percent pure. The average purity of cocaine seized at the British border is 63 percent."

Read The Full Article Here: NYTimes.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Hold up! So, a month or so back in early June, niggas just ran down on a $1 million yacht off the southern English coast and str8 seized 2,600 pounds of 90% pure (NOTE: A level of purity that as almost unheard of!) cocaína that carried an estimated street value of damn near half a billy in U.S. dollars!? Whaaaaaaaaaat!? BREAKING NEWS: This just in. Unconfirmed reports indicate that, upon hearing this horrific news, many rappers became unconsolable and were visibly shaken. Yes, as I type this, somewhere Pusha T gently weeps ... lol.

Nahh, all jokes aside though yall need to know 2 things regarding this trafficking catastrophe: 1) A few people already got themselves and their entire families cooked behind this major fuck up. Beelee that. 2) To paraphrase the famous and oft referenced words of Alexander Graham Bell, "When one port closes another one opens ...". LOL! The drought that this massive drug bust is sure to cause is most definitely going to hit Western Europe hard, but, especially @ this rarefied level of illicit activity, there is ALWAYS more work on the way my nigga. Stop playing. Scared money don't make money.

Steve "The Commissioner" Stoute Talks Making Money In Today's Music Industry @ WSJ.Com.

LVMH Can't Hold Their Liquor?

"News of a potential sale of the liquor division of LVMH has the luxury business world buzzing. A report in the Telegraph says that spirits giant Diageo has tendered a 12 billion euro offer for LVMH's two-thirds stake in Moet Hennessy and that Diageo has set about raising capital with bankers working behind the scenes for several weeks.

The Financial Times asserts that Diageo has not made an unsolicited offer for Moët Hennessy but might be willing to buy if both parties could agree on a price. So far the talks appear to be more theoretical than actual because LVMH hasn't decided that they are ready to sell. The potential deal brings up an interesting question, in a softening luxury market which is better to hold onto, fashion brands like Marc Jacobs, Fendi and Louis Vuitton or liquor brands like Glenmorangie whisky, Belevedere and Chopin vodka, and Veuve Clicquot?"

Information Courtesy Of: Luxist.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: As a founding member of the world renowned Veuve Crew, this story indubitably piqued my interest. According to some recent reports, the lord of luxury labels, my main man Bernard Arnault, might be considering dropping the "MH" from his L.ouis V.uitton M.oët & H.ennessy empire. Only earlier this month did I feature a story about Mr. Arnault and his extensive portfolio of high society lifestyle (Shout out to Curt@!ns) holdings and, now, there's talk that he could be persuaded to sell the remaining two-thirds stake of his lucrative liquor division to drink brand dynamo Diageo if they can raise the ducketts to do it.

Now, be clear, Moët & Hennessy are hardly dead weight, however, in this recessionary market even the rich guys are having to tighten their billion dollar belts. I mean, LVMH did just acquire Donna Karan International and continues to remain active in several key selective sectors - so, maybe fashion is the future my friends. Shiiiiiiiiit, if Y.O.U. ask me, champagne and fine clothes always go together.

Mr. LVMH, Bernard Arnault, Drops A Few Gems In An Interview Over @ WSJ.

"The Big Interview
March 5, 2009

Being Bernard Arnault

How do you predict global good taste in a time of economic downturn? LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault is quietly confident. Plus, a guide to Arnault’s holdings


On the day the house of Dior is presenting its pre-collection of women’s clothing and accessories for the fall 2009 season in Paris, Bernard Arnault, France’s richest man and arguably the most influential tastemaker in the world of luxury, is—in what his wife describes as a recurring phenomenon—“obsessing.”

“I just don’t like it. I don’t like it at all,” Arnault mutters as he examines a red-rimmed cotton canvas bag. The shelves of Dior’s sunlit showroom are neatly stacked with dozens of purses, totes and clutches in leather, shearling and python. To one side sit $1,900 serpent-shaped crystal-encrusted sandals with 6-inch-heels and shiny patent-leather ballerinas. Yet Arnault is fixated on this one $750 tote. He tugs disapprovingly on a round plastic pendant on the bag’s handle. “Can this be taken off?” he asks the cluster of Dior executives standing behind him. He takes the bag off its perch and continues: “The black and gray versions of the bag are already bordering on the commercial, but the red goes too far…it’s just not Dior.”

As chairman and majority owner of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, which includes high-end brands Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Tag Heuer watches, Donna Karan, Fendi and Moët & Chandon champagne, and of Dior and other companies, Bernard Arnault is required on a daily basis to balance the business needs of his sprawling empire with the exquisite good taste those brands must convey. What Arnault thinks matters globally. His is a $22 billion company in a $200 billion business. “They say God is in the detail,” says Sidney Toledano, CEO of Dior and a longtime Arnault buddy. “Here, the boss is in the detail.”

Read The Full Story Here: Magazine.WSJ.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: I draw my inspiration from a very deep and eclectic well of well bred interests and people whom represent excellence and appeal to my better and more industrious angels. Fellow Piscean and the richest man in France, Bernard Arnault, is 1 such inspirational figure in my life. As the head of LVMH he owns and actively operates some of the world's most readily identifiable and respected luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Moët, Hennessy, Fendi and Christian Dior ... and that's only a sample of his portfolio.

WSJ recently published a great feature on this brand baron and the daily demands that he faces selling a high end lifestyle in an increasingly recessionary global market. If Y.O.U. fancy yourself a cosmopolitan hustler, then this is must read indeed. If nothing else, Y.O.U. might just want to find out a little about a man whose companies get so much of our money ... lol. Remember: The real "baller" is not the guy who buys out the bar, but, rather, the man who owns the bar. Let's get it!

Warren Buffet Has $250 Million Breakfast @ Tiffany's.

"Famed billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. picked up a pricey bauble this Valentine's week, $250 million of Tiffany & Co. debt. Tiffany & Co. is still the world's second-largest retailer of luxury jewelry but like many retailers, especially those in the jewelry business, it took a deep hit over the past holiday season. With its stock share price falling and lower sales numbers, the Buffett boost provides much-needed insulation in an unsure world.

Buffett has been buying up debt everywhere lately on companies as varied as Harley-Davidson and Sealed Air Corp., the makers of Bubble Wrap. Bonds on this debt pay between 10 and 15 percent. The Tiffany bonds are at 10 percent and half of the bonds will mature in 2017, the rest two years later. Tiffany will use the money to repay debt and regroup in a time that has seen other jewelry retailers including Whitehall and, just last week, Fortunoff, fall into bankruptcy. In the last year or so much of Tiffany's strategy has involved opening smaller stores and creating more entry-level sterling silver pieces. Last March before the economic crisis really got into full spin, I questioned whether these stores and this merchandise represented a dilution of the Tiffany brand. Given the prevailing winds of change, Tiffany could decide to reverse course, open fewer stores this year and strengthen its luxury reputation or it could continue on the current track and hope that consumers with less money to spend will still want a little piece of Tiffany."

Information Courtesy Of: Luxist.Com

Read More About Warren Buffet Here: Buffetsecrets.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: They do not call this man the "Oracle of Omaha" for nothing my friends. Multi-Billionaire titan of industry Warren Buffet has made a career of shrewdly purchasing debt ridden, under valued companies and assets, streamlining those acquisitions and cakin' up while the rest of the world is still waking up!

Yes, he adheres to that time honored Illuminati banker Baron Von Rothschild adage (that I have quoted here before) that Y.O.U., "Buy when there's blood in the streets, even if that blood is your own". Such intrepid contrarian investments on Buffet's part are a major reason why a single share in his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. holdings company usually hovers somewhere around $80,000 OR better. One word of interest in a company from this mentor and personal advisor to Barack Obama and stock markets around the globe react and bend to his will. Whoa! Y.O.U. don't understand.

If it don't make dollars it don't make sense to the Livestyle Board of Review. See, my disdain for the feckless following of trends transcends fashion and music and, as master mogul Warren Buffet does so superlatively, can be applied to all walks of life - including money. The homie Warren "The Wallet" (my personal nickname for him ... lol) has substantial (READ: majority) holdings in the millions of dollars in such diverse companies as American Express, Coca-Cola and, now, has just added a good portion of legendary luxury accoutrement manufacturer Tiffany & Co. to the tune of $250 million to his portly portfolio. Oh yeah, he flat out owns GEICO ... yeah, he gets it in ... lol.

Obviously, as mere mortals we cannot currently make such expensive and relatively risky purchases, but, as I have stated previously on this very blog, we should ALL be on the look out for investment opportunities, steals and deals that we can manage during these troubled financial times. Y.O.U. know the motto my nig: Scared money don't make money! Let's get it.

LiveStyle Essential Viewing DVR Reminder: CNBC Presents: "NEWBOs: The Rise Of The Black Overclass" - 02/26/09 @ 9PM x 1AM EST.

"CNBC's "NEWBOs: The Rise of America's New Black Overclass," is an original one-hour primetime documentary about the growing wave of young black multimillionaires coming out of the sports, media and entertainment industries. This project examines the rise of "Newbos," -- young black athletes, entertainers, and creative entrepreneurs – who, with the right amount of financial literacy, collaboration, intergenerational mentorship and social awareness, could have a profound, positive impact on black America. The special, hosted by Wall Street Journal reporter and CNBC correspondent Lee Hawkins, who coined the term "Newbo," is based on Hawkins' forthcoming book of the same title.

Newbos captures the pressures and prominence of the fascinating Newbo class and includes data about the wealth and financial impact of black athletes and entrepreneurial black music moguls in America. Contradicting old-guard leaders who assert that Newbos offer little to the black community as a whole, Hawkins puts the spotlight on the entrepreneurial, social and charitable efforts of several Newbos and their contagious financial power. The documentary offers behind-the-marquee stories on several high-profile Newbos, including NBA superstar LeBron James, Major League All-Star Torii Hunter, The Williams brothers of Cash Money Records, Dallas Cowboy star Terrell Owens, billionaire entrepreneur and Newbo pioneer Bob Johnson and musician, Multiplatinum gospel star Kirk Franklin, and television network owner Wyclef Jean.

There are more black multimillionaires and potential billionaires in the United States than ever before, and a startling new black overclass has emerged out of these three industries, generating billions of dollars of income per year. While there is no shortage of coverage of the unfortunate realities of black America-such as crime, incarceration rates, and wealth disparities-this is the first analysis of the growing number of self-made young black multimillionaires and the impact fast-wealth has on them and others that surround them."

Read The Full Story Here: CNBC.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: As a young sophisticate adept @ both navigating the streets and, increasingly, making a name for myself as a savvy business minded man in these corporate suites, the stories and profiles by Wall Street Journal reporter/CNBC correspondent Lee Hawkins in "NEWBOs: The Rise of the New Black Overclass" (and his forthcoming book of the same name) sound like the type of tales that I want to hear more of homie.

I aspire to reach such impressive financial heights and I have no doubt that these features will encompass the entire inspirational, intellectual and cautionary scope of lessons that this new information brings. In light of that, my only complaint is that a 1 hour documentary (NOTE: Actually, with commercials included, shows like this can be whittled down to approximately 40 minute programs) is not enough time to cover all of the ground necessary when addressing this often ignored segment of our population - this CNBC special is so special that it should have been a series ... lol. Be that as it may, this is still mandatory Livestyle viewing. Seriously, I expect to read some good essays from yall after this program airs! LOL. Holla @ ya boy in BK!

The Most Brolic Joint Bank Account In The Game.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is obviously NOT the newest picture of the Couple Carter because, as of late, Jay-Z has entered into a pact with Kanye West and the 2 have gone on a bullshit billionaire boycott of their respective barbers.

"The Star Economy
Hollywood's Top-Earning Couples
Lacey Rose and Lauren Streib, 11.19.08, 04:00 PM EST

For these Tinseltown celebrities, one plus one equals millions.


What happens when you marry an $82 million hip-hop brand and an $80 million R&B empire? You get Hollywood's best-paid power couple.

Thanks to a monster year filled with music, movies, fashion and endorsement deals, Jay-Z and his new bride, Beyoncé Knowles, collectively raked in $162 million between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008. The jaw-dropping sum garners them bragging rights atop our first annual ranking of Hollywood's Top-Earning Couples, a list that also includes A-list pairings Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, David and Victoria Beckham, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, among others."

Read The Entire Story Here: Forbes.Com

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Did Y.O.U. actually read the mega-wattage stars that Jay-Z and Beyoncé trounced on their way to celebrity couple cash supremacy this year? Y.O.U. did? Good, then Y.O.U. are aware that these 2 aint playin'.

Forget about their marriage for a minute and, instead, consider the rare union of beauty, talent and bank that is Beyoncé. If Y.O.U. think that motivated ride or die chicks like this are just walking around the streets or, even less likely, running around the entertainment industry, trust me, they are not. Dammit man! Jay-Z hit the Daily Double my nigga ... lol. Good shit.

Ouch! Indian Steel Magnate Catches $28 Billion Bad Break.

"Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, 58, the richest man in Europe and the 4th richest man in the world, can now be known as the world's biggest loser after his net worth plummeted by a whopping $28 billion over the last four months due to the global financial crisis. Mittal, a London resident who paid a record $200 million for a Georgian mansion in Kensington Palace Gardens earlier this year, still has $17 billion left, the London Times reports. We don't yet know how Mittal's stunning loss - which equates to $240 million / day or nearly $10 million per hour - re-positions him on the world's rich list as several other plutocrats have also suffered reversals, but it's safe to say he'll end up much further down unless the stock market recovers soon."

Information Courtesy Of: Luxist.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Wooooooooooooooooooow! The homie Lakshmi Mittal just lost more fetti in a mere 4 months than the entire Forbes "Hip Hop Cash Kings" list are worth combined! Please keep this man away from any guns and rooftops ... lol. On the real though, I thought that I had lost $50 last week ... do Y.O.U. know how tight I was? LOL. This just goes to show that money, as with everything else in life, is completely relative.

Robert Kiyosaki - The Wall Street Wipeout x Y.O.U.

"As Capitalism Crumbles, U.S. Taxpayers Pick Up the Pieces
by Robert Kiyosaki
Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 12:00AM


As we all know, the world changed drastically on Sept. 11, 2001, when the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell.

This year, on the eve of Sept. 11, the twin towers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac crumbled. Then, on Sept. 15, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch disappeared. Actually, that was a triple-tower collapse if you count AIG.

In a few years, the biggest pair of towers will collapse: Social Security and Medicare. Even today, they're looking shaky. How many ground zeros can we as people, a nation, and a world withstand before we admit something is very wrong with our global financial systems? What will it take to wake us up?

Government Can't Fix It

Personally, I believe the biggest it's a problem that (NOTE: I have no idea what content is missing from this sentence, but Yahoo needs to hire a real editor - like ME ... lol) so many Americans are looking to this year's presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, to save our financial system. How did we become so financially weak that we surrender our economic independence to politicians? Where does it say in the Constitution that the government should solve our financial problems?

And why have so many people throughout the world come to expect financial life-support from their political leaders? It seems most people will vote for anyone who promises a chicken in every pot and a guaranteed mortgage payment.

We're in the midst of a problem neither candidate can solve: A lack of comprehensive financial education in our school systems. What else explains the economic blunders committed by our political and financial leaders? Or why so many consumers are in debt up to their eyeballs? Or why millions of people expect a quick government fix of some kind?

Under Water

A few months ago, a friend of mine from Hawaii asked me if I wanted to buy his new powerboat with twin motors. Apparently, in late 2007, he purchased it brand new for approximately $85,000. His plan was to refinance his house when it appreciated in value and use the difference to pay for the boat.

Failing to obtain new financing, he called to ask me if I would buy the boat from him -- just take over the payments and it was mine. I passed, and the bank eventually repossessed his boat. Later, his wife called to tell me he's now having problems making his mortgage payments. Apparently, my friend planned to pay for his house the same way he planned on paying for the boat, by refinancing his debt.

I mention this story because it illustrates the problem Obama or McCain face: Limited financial education and diminished financial common sense. Apparently, my and the nation's business leaders all went to same school of finance.

A Cynical Aside

If you want to know why the towers of American capitalism are crumbling, I recommend reading "The Creature from Jekyll Island" by G. Edward Griffin. It's not an easy book to find, but once you start reading it's [hard] to put down. In fact, in many ways it's a murder mystery about the financial "murder" of the middle class.

A very important lesson in the book is how political leaders use financial spin to deceive the public. The very, very rich use the system to legally steal from the rest of us by appealing to our sense of patriotism. When our leaders say, "We're bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because we want to protect the American people," they really mean "We're saving our rich friends."

All the bankers and politicians have to do is wave the red, white, and blue, play a few bars of "Yankee Doodle," and the masses get teary-eyed and pledge greater allegiance to legalized robbery. Yes, it's true that ignorance is bliss -- but ignorance is also expensive, and it cost us our freedom.

Freedom at Peril

A bailout can be different things. First, printing more money is a kind of bailout that leads to higher inflation. Rather than protecting people, it makes life for the poor and middle class more expensive. The other kind of bailout is protection for our rich and incompetent friends. If you or I fail at business, we fail. If we cheat and fail, we go to jail. But if you're rich and politically connected, your incompetence may be protected by a government bailout.

As a former Marine and a Vietnam War veteran, it saddens me to see some of the freedoms I thought I went to war to protect being stolen from us by bankers and politicians. Unfortunately, few Americans know the difference between the words "nationalize" and "socialize." Socialize means we turn more of our personal powers over to Big Brother, not free enterprise. It means we as a people grow weaker and need a higher power -- the same power that got us into this mess -- to protect us.

In short, when the towers of Fannie, Freddie, Merrill, Lehman, and AIG came crashing down, more came down than just money. What we're losing is the very freedom this country was founded on, and what most of the world yearns for."

Article Courtesy Of: Yahoo.Com


CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Whether you regard Robert Kiyosaki as a true investment genius or as simply a shrewd marketer and motivational speaker, I have found his work to be incredibly informative and valuable.  I posted his most popular book "Rich Dad Poor Dad" in audio form a few weeks back ... get it here if you need it.

Anyway, this particular article is a great read jammed packed with cogent opinion and a good basic breakdown of the current financial crisis that the country now finds itself in the throes of and what it means to the average American. We are ALL familiar with the phrase "money makes the world go 'round", but very few of us (myself included) really understand how macroeconomics (The country's financial standing - ie: GDP, etc.) affects our microeconomics (Our wallets). It's not enough to only know how to get money, Y.O.U. have to know how to keep it too. Step ya game up homie.

Everything That I Need To Know About The Current Economic Crisis I Learned From Watching Ducktales.

How real is this? Very.