Function Magazine

From prehistoric time to seventeen hundreds, our clothing consists of natural fibers. The development of manufactured fibers mainly linen (also known as flax and mainly used by Europeans), wool and silk came in 1900s. Later cotton was added and became the most common material. These four materials are basic to all varieties that are being used today. However, introduction of polyester, a manufactured fiber, displaced cotton as the main clothing material.

In order to call flax, it must be 100%. Wool is known by more common names such as flannel, broadcloth, polo, or tweed. Silk is also called by several names including satin, velvet, poplin, or chiffon. Cotton on the other hand is known by many names including corduroy, denim, eyelet, jean, percale, muslin, or sateen.

We still have a love affair with hairs of animals such as cashmere which comes from goat, South American alpaca and horsehair.

Plant fibers, mainly hemp and jute, are still play a role.

Weight of a fabric is a main factor in selecting a material. Sheer weight materials are used for lingerie, bridal and hosiery products. Heavier materials weighing more than 600 grams per square meter are used to make winter coats, mats, rugs, upholstery, and carpets.

Betty White celebrated her 90th birthday on January 17, 2012. NBC threw in a big bash for the celebration. You may know her from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” or from “Golden Girls”. But do you know that the seven time Emmy winner and SAG Lifetime Achievement Award winner is an avid promoter of animal health and welfare?

Her love for animals started at her early childhood. Her father brought in stray animals home and asks Betty whether she want to keep them. Betty says she was a lucky little girl.

Betty’s serious work with animals started in 1970 with the Morris Animal Foundation. It is an animal health organization where she was involved with more than 30 animal health studies. She was president emeritus of the organization.

At the same time she got involved with the Los Angeles Zoo. Her untiring work has resulted in renovating chimpanzee and gorilla exhibits at the zoo. Betty also spearheaded the opening of the new elephant forest at the zoo.

Betty says she is not an animal rights activist but a promoter of animal health and welfare. Betty says she like both, comedy and animals, equally.

Latin American art is a collection of work by South and Central America, Mexico, Caribbean and those who live in other parts of the world with an origin of Latin America.

Diego Rivera held a show at the Museum of Modern Art in November 2011. Auctions at prestigious auction houses like Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips de Pury indicate an increased awareness and interest in Latin American art.

Christie’s handled $43 million worth of Latin American pieces in 2011. That is four times more than the sales of 2003. 23 Latin American artists were highlighted during the two-day Christie’s auction in November 2011.

Interest in Latin American art is increasing but there is long way to go. A silkscreen and stainless steel “Balloon Monkey Wall Relief” by Jeff Koons sold for $1.2 million. Compare this to Diego Rivera’s “Retrato de Julieta” which sold for $362,500 about the same time period.

As a reference point, LACMA, the Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art, regularly add to its collection of Latin Art.

Latin American pieces are experiencing a rise in prices. There may be opportunities for art lovers throughout the world to pick up excellent pieces at below market prices for their collection.

NBC threw in a birth day bash on TV for the Golden Girl, Betty White, on Monday, January 16, 2012. She is 90.

Born in Oak Park, Ill, Betty landed her first movie role in a short film, “Time to Kill” at the of age 23 in 1945. Movie was made by the U.S. Armed Forces to encourage solders after the tour of duty.

Betty sang for a Los Angeles area TV station in 1939. By 1952, she had her own daily radio show, “Hollywood on Television”.

First sitcom role came in 1953 in “Life with Elizabeth”. She was the lead and the show lasted until 1955.

Betty married to show producer Alan Ludden in 1963 whom she met at the set of “Password”.

1973 to 1977 she appeared on “Mary Tyler Moore Show” where she won two Emmys.

Perhaps, we all know her very well from her role in “Golden Girls”. Who could not remember four elderly roommates and naive Rose Nylund?

After “Golden Girls”, she made guest appearances in several shows and “The John Larroquette Show” landed her an Emmy.

This is brief may not do the justice for her long career in TV, film and radio. Thank you for being a friend.

The X factor USA final is this week. 3 contestants are remaining. They are: Josh Krajcik, Chris Rene and Melanie Amaro. $5 Million is up for grabs for the winner. In case you have not been following, here is a little summary of each contestant.

Josh Krajcik: He is the oldest of the contestant at age 30 from the over-30 group. He flips burgers during the day, but music is his passion and he has always tried to make it as an artist. His voice has a grungy soulful sound to it. During the rock week, he did a cover of Foo Fighters song, which I feel was his best so far and rocked the house.

Chris Rene: He doesn’t have the best voice of the remaining contestants, but has the charisma, the looks and what it takes to be a super star. He writes and plays his own music. He has performed 2 of his own songs so far and has also written additional lyrics for some of the covers he has done. His style is hip hop and his mentor LA Reid once said that Kanye would be proud of him.

Melanie Amaro: She probably has the best voice of the remaining contestants and has taken on real powerful songs from Maria Carey to Celine Dion. She is only 18. She almost did not make it to the Top 16, but Simon Cowel his mentor changed his mind at the last minute. After he had already picked 4 to go to the next round, he decided he had made a mistake and brought on Melanie as well. It seems he made the right choice.

Let’s watch the show this week and see what happens.

It has been announced that Island Records which is a part of Universal Music will release a posthumous album of Amy Winehouses’s songs. It will be released on December 5 and will be called “Lioness: Hidden Treasures”

The album will feature 12 tracks which have previously not been released and alternative versions of existing classics and new Winehouse compositions according to a statement posted on the late singer’s website.

The album has been compiled by Marc Ronson and Salaam Remi , the producers who worked with the singer at the time of her death.

The multiple Grammy award winning singer was found dead at her home in July at the age of 27 as a result of excessive consumption of alcohol with 5 times the legal driving limit in her blood.

Lioness: Hidden Treasures will be her third album following the first album “Frank” in 2003 and “Back to Black” in 2006. The songs to be included in this album will include “Between the Cheats” recorded in 2008, “A song for you”, a demo version of “Wake up Alone”, “tears dry on their own”, “Valerie” and her recently released Tony Bennet duet” Body and Soul”.

Natalie Woods, the beautiful actress who became famous for her portrayal of Maria in West Side Story met with a tragic end when she drowned in 1981 while on a yatch with husband Robert Wagner and friend and fellow actor Christopher Walken. Her death was always shrouded in mystery with various accounts revealed about how she died. The official verdict however was that she fell overboard while trying to launch a dingy and deemed as an accidental death.

Three decades after her death new evidence has emerged that her husband actor Robert Wagner was responsible for her death with the possibility of the police reopening the case. This is in the wake of the ship’s captain Dennis Davern revealing that on the day of her death they have been drinking heavily and the couple has argued violently before she disappeared and Wagner, when told about the disappearance has told him not to spend time looking for her and that it took some time to persuade him to call the police and by that time it was too late for Natalie.

Natalie Wood’s sister Lana Woods always stated that she did not accept the verdict of death mainly due to the fact that Natalie had a deep fear of the water.

The Canadian teen heartthrob who has been the center of a paternity claim is said to have taken a DNA test to disprove the claims. Beiber was alleged by one of his fans Mariah Yeater to be the father of her 3 month old son.

Yeater claims that she slept with the singer backstage after one of his concerts in Los Angeles in October last year. But after making the claims which were vehemently denied by Beiber she controversially dropped the paternity suit earlier this month after her mother said that the child was from a relationship with an earlier boyfriend and after she asked friends to delete all text messages she has sent them with regard to the paternity suit.

Justin Beiber who is currently in a relationship with Selena Gomes despite rumors of a split, was not obliged to take the DNA test but sources have said that he wants to go ahead with it and that he will be fine with it. Yeater will have to submit a DNA sample from her son Tristyn for comparison.

Meantime Beiber’s team is considering taking legal action against Mariah Yeater for the allegations made by her against the singer.

Singer George Michael had been admitted to hospital in the Austrian capital Vienna to be treated for pneumonia. Sources from the hospital have since then said that he is being treated for a serious heart problem, but his agents have denied this. It is reported that he was admitted to the Wiener Rudolfinerhaus private clinic where he was examined and as his condition was worsening was transferred to the intensive care unit of the AKH General Hospital.

He was in Vienna to perform for his Symphonica tour and was due to perform hours before he was taken to hospital. Gigs in the cities of Cardiff, Vienna and Strasburg have been called off due to his health problems. More shows from his Symphonica European tour which began in Prague in August might have to be cancelled as a result.

George Michael has been a heavy smoker for years and also has a history of drug abuse, both of which can result in the person developing pneumonia.

He rose to fame in the eighties when he performed as Wham with Andrew Ridgelely with songs like “Last Christmas”. His first solo single was Careless Whispers and his solo album “Faith” sold over 25 million copies worldwide.

With winter approaching many of you would be considering purchasing a winter coat. There are many designs and styles available in the market. A well-fitting coat will not only keep you warm and snug but will make you look good as well. Here are some helpful hints to help you select the perfect coat.

Determine your body shape

Look at yourself in the mirror and see if you are a pear or apple shaped, petite, curvy or athletic? When shopping make sure the coat suits your proportions.

Do research on the many coat styles and the ones that suit your body type. This will make it easier for you to make a good choice.

Does it allow enough movement, make sure it does not feel tight when you stretch your arm and are the sleeves are the right length, which is up to your wrist.

Choose a coat that is the right length for you for example if you are petite go for a hip length coat.
A winter coat is a must have during the cold winter weather so spend the time and money to get the perfect coat.