Oldest photograph of New York City?

The Sotheby's is being offered the latest claim to the oldest photograph of New York City. The 4-by 5 1/4 inch daguerreotype image depicts a lawn planted by evergreens with a road in the foreground and a house in the background.

The photograph is believed to be have taken around October 1848 or earlier and since it is a rare find, considering that most daguerreotype images only date back to the 1950's, Sotheby's is auctioning off the photo on March 30.

"No one ever leaves a presentating saying, "I wish it was longer."

"Plan for the end," urges Seth Godin.

From speeches to assignments, time management is always key. In an effort to secure one's reputation and exit gracefully one must always be aware of time.

A presenter who charges through his presentation or a caller who keeps asking for one more minute to finish his rant on the radio either steal time from others or rush through an otherwise wise thought.

"Expect that the time you've got is going to be the amount of time you've got. And then use less"- Seth Godin

"Do you know where I can find...?"

One Chase Manhattan Plaza and the Consolidated Edison Building are now landmarks according to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Constructed mainly of aluminum and glass, the Plaza was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and was the sixth-tallest building in the world at the time of its completion in 1961.

The Con-Ed building began construction in 1911 and was designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh.

Excuse me Prime Minister, how much is your painting

On January 17th, Russian Prime Minister officially added another title to his resume: painter.  

Vladimir Putin's painting of a frost-covered window framed by curtains sold for $1.1 million at a charity auction in St. Petersburg on Saturday.

Sorry China, mob mentality wins again

The bronze sculptures of a rat and a rabbit once owned by fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent are being asked to be returned to the Chinese Government.

According to them, the sculptures were taken by British and French troops in an 1860 raid. Jiang Yu, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said, "These relics were stolen, robbed and taken away by invaders."

However, the sculptures were slated to be auctioned off in February and given "the public nature of an auction, the return of these works to China is not guaranteed."

Sign o' the times

From layoffs in the Indianapolis Museum to the Walter's Art Museum to the Detroit Institute of Art, it seems like not one aspect of society is impervious to this volatile economy.

Usually during hard times, one would expect many to turn to the arts to bring some pleasure, however, in the panic of the unknown frugality has become prevalent and indulgence eradicated.

Guernica in London

A tapestry version of Picasso's Guernica that was once hung outside the U.N. Security Council Chamber is on its way to London.

The 1937 22-foot long anti-war mural is being lent to the White Chapel Art Gallery for an exhibition that centers around this controversial painting.

Our future...according to Microsoft

From healthcare to retail, Microsoft has mapped out our futures. Microsoft Office Labs have glimpsed ahead and proposed a way of life for consumers.

By 2019, according to Microsoft "your health team can share data seamlessly." The company imagines a future where individuals can monitor their own health with the assistance of "smart, connected devices."

Secondly, the Microsoft believes that through predictive measures, banks will be able to provide individuals with their finances seamlessly and efficiently.

Next, manufacturing would be faster and more productive, with workers collaborating across time zones.

Lastly, and probably most anticipated, is a greater and more efficient retail process. With this, stores and merchandise will be easily accessible and retailers can anticipate and provide shoppers' needs.

Could you please fill out this survey? No, thanks!

It seems like everyday we run across tedious online surveys. Though the better part of us would love to help a fledgling business out, the length and monotony of online surveys often discourage participation. Seth Godin lists five ways to compile an effective survey.

1.) Avoid length surveys. To keep the participants' attention and ensure that they answer your survey honestly, the survey should contain no more than 10 questions. After this, surveys get exhausting.

2.) Avoid loaded questions. In Seth Godin's words, "If you ask, 'which did you hate more...' then you've planted a seed."

3.) Try to make some of your questions interesting. The more engaging the survey is, the better the answers will be. Boring question beget boring answers.

4.) Every question counts, so in as few questions as possible try to ask what you truly want to know.

5.) Along with interesting questions, try a unique format. Different is always captivating.

It's a sign of the times...

Even the wealthy cannot escape this whirlpool of an economy that the world is not harboring. 

They may not be losing jobs or standing in welfare lines, but they are struggling to maintain lives that this volatile economy no longer permits. Artists and the affluent, alike, have resorted to pawning off wildly underestimated assets: art.

Companies such as Art Capital and ArtLoan are now thriving. They issue loans of 500,000 or more at interest rates ranging from 6 percent to 16 percent to the wealthy who are willing to part with their Rubens in order to maintain three town houses and daily lunches. 

It may be headquartered on Madison Avenue, but it doesn't help to divert minds and eyes from what this company really is: a pawnshop. It also brings to light the dire position our economy is really in if famed photographer Annie Leibovitz and rich collectors like Veronica Hearst  are among such companies' clientele.

Fashion = Escape

Fashion may be another aspect of society vulnerable to the state of the times, but according to Versace, Galliano and their counterparts, consumers don't care to know that. Galliano expressed this notion well when he proclaimed "we are in a credit crisis, not a creative crisis."

Shoppers and fashion savvy amy be willing to cut down on their spending, but not on their style. For now, fashion is the world's escape.

Good News for the Undomesticated

A Swedish brand, Eton Shirts, has developed a cotton-fiber that no longer requires ironing After washing, the fiber returns to its original shape simply through body heat. While this invention reduces energy use and is another step on the eco-friendly front, it poses a major question:

With the banishment of several step in the manufacturing and the invention of many environmentally beneficial products, will unemployment rise as the world's population becomes more "green?"

Success...five steps away!

According to Seth Godin in order to successfully when spreading ideas and earn one only needs to follow five simple rules.

1.) Set your sights on what is REALLY possible.
2.) Make wise decisions!
3.) Know your goals
4.) Understand how to get things down and change minds
5.) Earn the respect and turst of your peers.

"The only pink on their horizon is the color of a dismissal slip"

An unpredictable and immortal portion of society, fashion was always thought to be impenetrable to the solemn effects of the economy. After all, we all have an underlying and inexplicable need to separate ourselves through clothing.

However, this recession is proving itself more potent that its predecessors. Once proclaimed "seers" of the fashion industry, fashion directors are slowly becoming obsolete. With two of the six fashion directors currently featured in Harper's Bazaar laid off, Ruth la Ferla of the New York Time proclaims that, "these days visionaries need no longer apply."

With the advent of blogs, style websites and shows like "Project Runway" the fashion conscious are slowly becoming their own style prophets, making fashion directors dispensable. And proving that no one is impervious to the pink slip.