Republican national committee spent US $75,062 at Neiman Marcus and US $49,425 at Saks Fifth Avenue in September – all for outfitting Sarah Palin and her family appropriately. The RNC is also said to have spent $4,716 on makeup and hair through September.

Living up to the reputation of being the “party of the rich,” Republicans are having a tough time covering up rumors that their female vice-presidential nominee spent huge amounts of “campaign” money for a stylish wardrobe. Sarah Palin may look gorgeous, but her looks come with a heavy price tag at up-market stores. This dressing up of Palin seems to have started in September.

As expected, this financial disclosure does not seem to have gone down too well with the public and the media are having a field day exposing Sarah Palin, and thriving on disqualifying all her claims of being a simple hockey mom from a small town in Alaska. This sentiment is reflected in the thoughts of the common man, who in spite of understanding the need for public figures to be well-dressed cannot really accept this sort of extravaganza. This behavior is said to undercut the recent Republican stand of rooting for Joe the Plumber.

The preening of a public figure in politics is nothing new and the story in the US goes back a long way to John Kennedy, whose spruced up image was well-known to all. However, the reason behind the hue and cry over Palin’s appearance is caused due to the current US economic situation, which caused severe suffering throughout the country. (more…)

Jewelry has been used throughout centuries, to add to the beauty of a woman and elegance of a man, and it has always been ornamental, whatever metal it is made of.

Things are changing now. Jewelry now has various other uses apart from the obvious. This century sees the influx of jewelry with technology in it; call it wearable computers if you may. The mention conjures up images of something strapped to the wrist or to a belt.

Did you ever hear of jewelry with a USB drive in it, a hidden microphone in a ring, speakers in chains or even electric bulbs in earrings? Researchers across the world have begun to envision devices that can be embedded into items of jewelry that are worn every day.

This vision includes a PAN (Personal Area Network) of devices distributed all over the body in all sorts of jewelry items that include rings, watches, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. This futuristic look or should we call it the “Star Wars look,” will emerge sooner than later. (more…)