The Colombian hot property Amparo Grisales is an actress and model who has been active on screen for decades. Born September 19th, 1956 in Bogota, well-known for its “actress sexports”, Grisales knew early that she was a coquettish material. She was into acting at a tender age of five, by thirteen she had caught up with several soap operas. Grisales oomph earned her several roles in mini-series coming out of Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and France and South Africa.

The alluring star was always ravening for more, and flew to Los Angeles with her Spanish fly body. Grisales’ histrionics were a great hit with the soap operas, theater and mini-series and she even scored high as a tantalizing TV anchor with her fans. Now, those looking for more of her pulchritude can watch La Virgen y el fotógrafo and for her erotica there can be no better picks other than De mujer a mujer and Bésame mucho.

However, Grisales peaked popularity with her leading role exposed in the original version of El Cuerpo del Deseo known as En Cuerpo Ajeno. She continues to look intoxicating in her latest appearance in Telemundo serial Madre Luna (2007), playing the character especially created for her.

More pictures of Amparo Grisales

Joost is recently in news for an agreement with Viacom. It has acquired the license to distribute the company’s contents over its media divisions including film studio Paramount Picturesm, MTV Networks and BET. The move came shortly after Viacom’s realization of Joost as a better platform over YouTube.

Basically, a peer-to-peer (P2P) TV technology, Joost enables distribution of TV shows and other forms of video on Internet. It boasts of a high-quality full-screen near-TV resolution images, easy channel-flipping and hundreds of full-length shows that makes it a favorite for watching videos on Web. In addition, it comes completely free and supports most modern PCs and Intel Mac-based computers having broadband connection.

The P2P TV technology used by Joost differs from other streaming technologies as it is in an open beta stage where the servers attend only a handful of clients, who can further invite other downstream clients to join. However, on May 1, 2007 a newer stage of the beta was announced and every user was sent unlimited invitations. Joost has signed up with several companies for the beta including Indianapolis Motor Speedway Productions, Warner Music and production company Endemol. Currently, the team is negotiating with FOX networks for further developments.

Joost - The new way of watching free, full-screen, high-quality TV

The Bentley Continental GT popularly referred as the “Baby Bentley” is a darling with most celebrities.

The four seater deluxe tourer replaced the Rolls-Royce-based Continental R and T, to take the roads in 2003. GT became a hot property after it appeared on screen in the remake film ”The Longest Yard” with Adam Sandler, who featured in a co-star’s role. In September 2005, Bentley proposed a convertible version of the GT, the continental GTC. The new version was made available since the Autumn of 2006.

The car peaked its performance during early 2007, when four times World Rally champion Juha Kankkunen broke the World Speed Record on Ice on the frozen Baltic Sea near Oulu, Finland. The GT recorded an average speed of 199.86 MPH or 321.6 km/h in both directions on the “flying kilometer”. It attained a maximum speed of 207MPH or 331km/h. It broke the earlier record of 296 km/h set by Bugatti EB110 Supersport. The Bentley featured tires with spikes from Nokian. However in spite of demonstrating the best standard, GT required certain improvements in aerodynamic, roll-cage, calibration and low-temperature fuel.

Recently on August 1, 2007, the automobile major announced the details of a better equipped GT with a 600 bhp (610PS) powered engine, which is supposed to generate a top speed of 202 mph and a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds. The new version is expected to be down by 35 kgs. The exteriors would also undergo some minor changes with larger exhaust pipes and tinted grill in the front. The new model is set to be priced at £137,000.

© NeckerIsland.com

Necker Island is a lavish paradise located in the British Virgin Islands, a stunning place in the midst of Caribbean. Its one of the exclusive retreats from Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition - an ideal destination to spend some quality time with friends and family. There is a plethora of picks for eating, drinking and viewing and there is a team of fabulous staff to take care of every request.

The greatest attraction of Necker is of course The Great House. Situated in the heart of the island it is a marvelous house on the top of Devils Hill. The Great House is designed to unite all the guests on every occasion - leisurely chat on the cozy sofas, a game of snooker, dancing away to the tunes of piano or local calypso band or even for drinks before dinner.

There are resplendent Balinese style houses offering a great view of the ocean with the cool breeze skirting balconies. There are five gorgeous Bali houses dotted over the island that are best for enjoying a tropical seclusion. While three of them have three tiered structure with alfresco style living, the other two are large one-level suites.

Dining is a special pleasure at Necker – grand locations of Beach BBQ’s on Turtle beach, Gala evenings in The Great House, or Sushi in the pool – the chefs are ready to dish their Michelin star cuisine.

Well, Necker Island offers all this and more at great rates. There are houses to be hired to accommodate up to 28 person sharing rooms. The rates for private hire essentially depend on the time of arrival and the period of stay. According to the 2007 charts a room in the Great house for a couple per week is $22,500, a room in Bali Buah, Bali Beach, Bali Cliff, Bali lo or Bali hi for the same would cost $24,100. Given the myriad of luxuries and comfort, the price is worth paying.

Necker Island Official Site

“I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.”
- Jackie Mason.

The widely popular and most exclusively charged Black Card, is the prestigious Centurion Card offered by American Express. The card associates a range of esteemed privileges that supports extravagance in its own way. Earlier available on invitation in United States, the Black Card is now acquirable through request and requires the card holder to meet certain strict criteria. As of 1 August, 2007, in the United States, the prerequisites included an exceptional credit history apart from a minimum annual expenditure of $250,000.

The card owes its genesis to an urban legends during the 1980s that narrates about an black-colored card used by celebrities and dignitaries, which allowed inexhaustible spending. The rumors were mere hoax, however not until American Express launched its Centurion Card in October 1999, committed to selected holders of its Platinum Card. The myth over Centurion being an unlimited spending card erupted as certain high-spending card members were given a black information card containing important telephone numbers like that of the American Express travel and concierge services.

Often encountered in the TV series and movies the Black Card enjoys an apical reputation among most elites. The card appeared with Jessica Simpson on her hit reality TV series “Newlyweds, Nick and Jessica”. Come to HBO’s prime show Entourage ‘The First Cut Is the Deepest’, Eric, Vincent, and Vince’s financial adviser discusses how Vince can’t live off his Black card. Of latest, the Bond movie Casino Royale features the Black Card being used in The Ocean Club. Entering the Club (an exclusive Bahamian resort) Bond, requests the concierge for a room without a reservation, and simply hands the concierge a black credit card.

More so, whether its music or literature the Black Card is nowhere unmentioned. Jabbing into Robert Crais new novel The Watchman, a rich businessman’s daughter is described to be owning an black Amex card. Lauren Weisberger’s novel Everyone Worth Knowing cites a co-worker of the protagonist, paying for the dinner with a black card.

Of course, the “Black Cards” – Rap group Clipse of the “Black Card Era” titled themselves after American Express Black Card. Not to forget Janet Jackson’s Amex interview comments on how would she spend on her shirt - “I don’t even know, isn’t that bad? When you sign it and walk away… that Black Card is dangerous!”

The bottom line often blares up “a limitless credit card”, not really, limits are pre-set but redefined with prodigalities. Purportedly the largest redemption with the card was the one that exceeded $30 million made for a private jet. The Black Card like any of its American Express counterparts, specifies limits that depend on the card holder’s spending history, financial resources and personal credit profile.

The CEO of Garage Technology Ventures, Guy Kawasaki is a Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Formerly associated with Apple, marketing Macintosh in 1984, he is a B.A. in psychology from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from UCLA. Kawasaki also bagged an honorary doctorate from Babson College.

Guy Kawasaki is engaged in various organizations – managing director and co-founder of FilmLoop; director of micropayments company BitPass; director of SimplyHired, Bowman International School; advisor to iStockPhoto, Reactrix, Versiontracker, Tripwire; and a member of social committee Ice Oasis.

Kawasaki is acknowledged for his introduction of the concept of evangelism into high-tech business. This was completely devoted to the creation of ardent user-advocates for the Apple brand. For him “Evangelism is selling a dream”. This was a zealous effort for propagandizing a brand name into market. Kawasaki preaches team work is essential for deriving maximal amplification. He explains,

“The days when investors would fork over cash for a promise are gone. The way you do it is evangelism, … It’s also options, quite frankly.”

His radical dogmas implicates “Don’t worry, be crappy.” Kawasaki believed there were a lot of elements that made Macintosh look like a “a piece of crap”, however there was something evolutionary about it that turned it into a great success. He seems to be an ultra optimist who believes that

“A good idea is about ten percent and implementation and hard work, and luck is 90 percent.”

While Guy Kawasaki is celebrated for pioneering a unique style of marketing with which he manages Garage.com, he is also an excellent writer and business highbrow. He has authored seven books. A few of his famed works include Selling the Dream, Rules for Revolutionaries and The Art of the Start. Kawasaki’s books are explicit treasure for entrepreneurs.

Still Kawasaki’s aspirations are hard to predict however, the astute visionary in one of his encounters revealed

“Our mission is to democratize venture capital. We’ve made great progress in the U.S. market in 1999. Now we are expanding globally so that talented entrepreneurs in the European high tech centers can get access to the world’s best venture investors”.

You should see it before you die:

Great speeach by Guy Kawasaki - The Art of the Start Video
Guy Kawasaki’s blog - How to Change the World

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
- Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973)

Burj Dubai is the 8^th wonder - the tallest man-made steel framework slated to finish by the end of 2008. Burj Dubai, the glitzy tall building is scheduled for occupancy in September, 2009.

The edifice is a rich man’s paradise, with lavish ambiance and breath taking arrangements to sweep you off your feet. Standing tall at Doha street, along Sheikh Zayed Road, the building lets you have a rendezvous with the extravagant and rocking glamour world! Celebrated designer, Adrian Smith, first conceived the layout of the building. Samsung Engineering and Construction is the main constructor of the building and Skidmore Owings and Merrill LLP are the spearheads behind the structural, architectural and mechanical engineering.

So far, there has been no official announcement regarding the actual height of the building. However, a contractor involved in the project has revealed a height of around 818 meters. Based on the height, it is expected that the building will have around 160 floors. The tower of the building will reach in helical shape with terraces (almost 26), casting its glance on the entire city.

The architectural splendor will leave you breathless. Right from the maintenance system, structural components and facade maintenance – everything is impeccable and awe-inspiring. The enigmatic building will render you many interesting facts, which you have never heard or seen before.

The elevators will have the longest journey from bottom to top, at world’s fastest speed of 18m/sec, that is 40 mph. The tower hosts the world’s highest elevator installation. The curtain walls of the building will be equivalent to the stretch of 17 football (soccer) fields. The building is going to be the first mega high rise, in which the elevators will be programmed to permit controlled evacuation in case of fire events.

The dancing fountains will look enchanting at the foot of this massive structure. Moreover, the water system of the building will supply an average of about 25000 gallons of water per day!

The building houses the most extravagant water-cooling system. The tower will require at least 10,000 tons of cooling per hour, which is equivalent to 10,000 tons of melting ice per day. More surprising is the tower’s electricity demand, which is estimated at 36 mVA, that is 360,000, 100 watts light bulbs.

To fight the nature’s odds, the tower is designed for seismic conditions. The walls and the slabs are built in a way to provide high resistance to fire. The building has all the arrangements to take care of the safety and security of those in the building and also in close proximity to the building. People can rush to the pressurized air-conditioned refuge areas, located at every 25 the floor. At times of emergency, this will be a boon for the victims.

Dubai Marina, UAE

photo by Stacey Murphy

What do you think about Burj Dubai? Rate it.

One of this panels moderated by Guy Kawasaki that every entrepreneur should watch at least three times…

“Markus Frind, the founder of PlentyOfFish.com is my new hero (James Hong of Hot or Not is a close second). Marcus spends about two hours a day in his underwear managing a free dating website that gets twelve billion page views a year. He is the only employee, and he only has one server. And by the way, he makes $5-6 million/year with Google ads.”

Watch this awesome video and see how making millions in underwear from home:

No Plan, No Capital, No Model…No Problem

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Web Celeb 25 is the list of the biggest, brightest and most influential people on the Internet published by Forbes.com. From bloggers to podcasters to YouTube stars, these are the people who are creating the digital world from the bottom up.

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