BillionaireXchange.com THE NEW ONLINE AUCTION SITE FOR THE MEGA-WEALTHY AND FAMOUS

MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES WHO ARE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK NOW HAVE A NEW PLACE TO SELL THEIR MEGA-YACHTS, LUXURY CARS, AND FAMILY JEWELS WITHOUT HAVING TO RESORT TO THE LOCAL PAWN SHOP. AN INTERNET AUCTION SITE DEVOTED TO MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED MONDAY, AND IS LIKELY TO PROFIT FROM THE WORST RECESSION IN DECADES. BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE AT LEAST A MILLIONAIRE TO JOIN: BillionaireXchange.com REQUIRES THAT YOU HAVE A MINIMUM OF $2 MILLION IN NET WORTH BEFORE BECOMING AN EXCLUSIVE MEMBER. THE COMPANY SAID ITS WEBSITE AIMS TO EXPLOIT A MARKET NICHE BETWEEN INTERNET SALES SITES SUCH AS EBAY, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND AUCTION HOUSES SITES SUCH AS SOTHEBY'S AND CHRISTIE'S FOR THE FINE ART AND COLLECTIBLES. GIVEN THE NATURE AND PRICE OF ITEMS AUCTION HOUSES COME TO MIND AS POTENTIAL COMPETITORS. BUT BillionaireXchange's COMPLETELY ON-LINE MODEL, IS LIKELY TO HAVE A KEY DIFFERENCE. THE SITE FACILITATES SALES AND TRADES OF EVERYTHING FROM FINE ARTS AND ANTIQUES TO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, BUSINESS AND FORECLOSED HOMES. ABOVE ALL ELSE, IT AIMS FOR COMPLETE PRIVACY AND EXCLUSIVITY, REQUIRING OF PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS A MINIMUM OF $2 MILLION IN VERIFIABLE INCOME. BillionaireXchange HAS REPORTED THAT IT HAS ALREADY PLAYED A ROLE IN THE SALE OR EXCHANGE OF MORE THAN $180 MILLION IN ASSETS DURING A TEN MONTH TEST PHASE, AND HAS NOTICED A TREND OF DISTRESSED TRANSACTIONS FROM AMERICAN CLIENTS. BillionaireXchange WILL CHARGE SELLERS A FEE OF 5% OF THE SALES AND SAID IT WOULD HAVE GENERATED APPROXIMATELY $8.75 MILLION IN REVENUE HAD THOSE FEES BEEN CHARGED DURING THE TEST PHASE. THE MIAMI-BASED COMPANY SET HIGH FINANCIAL QUALIFICATIONS MAKE SURE BIDDING FOR THE HIGH PRICED ITEMS WOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, ACCORDING TO A COMPANY SPOKESPERSON. OVERALL, THE FIVE MEMBER FIRM CLAIMS MORE THAN 26,000 MULTI-MILLIONAIRES AS WELL AS 'NEARLY A DOZEN' BILLIONAIRES AS ITS MEMBERS.

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS PROUST NECKLACE

THE STUNNING VAN CLEEF & ARPELS PROUST NECKLACE IS A STUNNING TOUR DE FORCE THAT WAS A RESULT OF SEVERAL MONTHS OF METICULOUS WORKMANSHIP BY THE JEWELERS AT VAN CLEEF & ARPELS. THE ONE OF A KIND NECKLACE FEATURES A DAZZLING COLLAR OF FLAWLESS WHITE DIAMONDS OF VARIOUS SIZES SET WITHIN 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE NECKLACE ARE THE FORTY NINE NATURALLY COLOURED DIAMONDS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT BY THIN STRANDS OF WHITE GOLD. EACH OF THE COLOURED DIAMONDS IS OF A DIFFERENT SIZE, COLOUR, AND CUT GIVING IT A UNIQUE LOOK. THE VAN CLEEF & ARPELS PROUST NECKLACE IS AVAILABLE AT VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, WITH THE PRICE GIVEN UPON REQUEST.

THE WALKER ART GALLERY PRESENTS THE RISE OF THE WOMEN ARTISTS

WORKS BY SOME OF HISTORY'S MOST CELEBRATED WOMEN ARTISTS ARE FEATURED IN A COMPELLING NEW EXHIBITION AT THE WALKER ART GALLERY, LIVERPOOL. 'THE RISE OF THE WOMEN ARTISTS' CHARTS THE PROGRESS MADE BY FEMALE ARTISTS FROM THE 16th CENTURY UP TO THE PRESENT DAY. THE WALKER IS AHEAD OF ITS TIME IN COLLECTING WORKS BY WOMEN ARTISTS, A FACT THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE SCOPE AND DIVERSITY OF THE WORKS ON DISPLAY, THE STUNNING EXHIBITION RUNS THROUGH 14.MARCH.2010. THERE WILL BE A RICH VARIETY OF WORK ON SHOW, FROM BOTH RECENT AND CONTEMPORARY PAINTERS AND DESIGNERS SUCH AS PAULA REGO, HELEN CHADWICK AND ALLISON BRITTON. ALONGSIDE THESE PIECES, HISTORIC WORKS BY ARTISTS SUCH AS ANGELICA KAUFFMANN, MARIANNE STOKES AND LAURA KNIGHT WILL BE ON DISPLAY, WHICH ARE DRAWN FROM THE GALLERY'S HOLDINGS. PAINTINGS, WORKS ON PAPER, TEXTILES, CERAMICS AND SCULPTURE ARE FEATURED IN THE EXHIBITION, WHICH ALSO INCLUDE WORKS BY LOCAL ARTISTS SUCH AS THE SINGH TWINS AND SCULPTOR EMMA RODGERS.
THE WALKER ART GALLERY IS THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF THE NORTH. FOR NEARLY 130 YEARS IT HAS HOUSED LIVERPOOL'S MOST OUTSTANDING ART COLLECTION. MANY OF THE GALLERY'S MOST IMPORTANT WORKS HAVE BEEN ON DISPLAY IN THE CITY FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS. THE HISTORY OF THE GALLERY AND ITS COLLECTION REFLECTS THE PEOPLE OF LIVERPOOL'S COMMITMENT TO AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS. IT ALSO ILLUSTRATES THE GENEROSITY OF THE CITY'S LEADERS IN ENSURING PUBLIC ACCESS TO SUCH WORKS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker

PRINCE CHARLES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HONORED WITH CANADIAN ABORIGINAL GIFTS

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL HAVE RECENTLY BEEN HONORED WITH CANADIAN ABORIGINAL GIFTS DURING AN OFFICIAL DINNER HELD IN THEIR HONOR. THE ROYAL COUPLE WERE EACH DRAPED IN 'FIRST NATIONS' BLANKETS AND CEDER WREATHS WERE PLACED ON THEIR HEADS AT THE EVENT. THE PRINCE WAS ALSO GIVEN AN ORNATELY CARVED WALKING STICK BY BRITISH COLOMBIA'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR STEVEN POINT AND THE PROVINCE'S PREMIER GORDON CAMPBELL, DURING THE EVENT HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN VICTORIA. THE HEIR TO THE THRONE ADDRESSED THE GATHERED DIGNITARIES AND PRAISED BRITISH COLOMBIA'S LEADERSHIP IN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE. HE TOLD THE GUESTS THE PROVENCE HAD SHOWED 'REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP' BY SETTING LEGALLY BINDING TARGETS FOR GREENHOUSE GASES. THE PRINCE ADDED: "IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT WE ARE PART OF NATURE. WE CANNOT HAVE OUR OWN ECONOMY WITHOUT NATURE'S ECONOMY. FIRST NATIONS PEOPLES UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE." THE BLANKETS PRESENTED TO THE COUPLE WERE FROM A FIRST NATIONS TRIBE CALLED COAST SALISH. BLANKETS ARE ONE OF THE MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS FOR CANADA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. ONE WAY TO HONOR SPECIAL GUESTS IS TO GIVE A BLANKET TO RECOGNIZE THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR NATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY. THE WOVEN BLANKET SYMBOLIZES WARMTH, SAFETY AND PROTECTION, A NECESSITY FOR LIFE YET IT ALSO SIGNIFIES WEALTH AND STATUS. THE COMPLEXITY OF THE DESIGN AND THE QUALITY OF WOOL USED IN THE WEAVING GIVE IT ITS VALUE. THE BLANKETS CAN ALSO SIGNIFY 'STEPPING INTO A NEW LIFE'. THE HEADBAND IS PLACED ON THE INDIVIDUAL AS PROTECTION AND A REMINDER TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS TO TAKE PLACE.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND PRESENTS 'PAUL SANDBY: PICTURING BRITAIN'

THIS WINTER THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND, EDINBURGH, PRESENTS A MAJOR EXHIBITION, 'PAUL SANDBY: PICTURING BRITAIN' WHICH CELEBRATES THE BICENTENARY OF THE ARTIST PAUL SANDBY (1731-1809). A PIONEER LANDSCAPE PAINTER AND BRILLIANT INNOVATOR WITH WATERCOLOUR, SANDBY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN PROMOTING THE APPRECIATION OF SPECTACULAR SCENERY ACROSS BRITAIN AND INSPIRED MANY LATER TRAVELERS AND ARTISTS. ALTHOUGH THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS WORK HAS LONG BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED, THIS IS THE FIRST EXHIBITION TO INCLUDE AND ANALYZE THE FULL RANGE OF SANDBY'S ACHIEVEMENT. ON EXHIBITION FROM 7.NOVEMBER THROUGH 7.FEBRUARY.2010.
PAUL SANDBY WAS BORN IN NOTTINGHAM IN 1731. HE VISITED SCOTLAND EARLY IN HIS CAREER AS PART OF A MILITARY SURVEY, WHICH THROUGH MAP MAKING, FORMED PART OF THE CAMPAIGN TO CONTROL THE COUNTRY AFTER THE 1745 JACOBITE REBELLION. DURING HIS TIME AS THE SURVEY'S CHIEF DRAUGHTSMAN HE WAS BASED IN EDINBURGH AND PRODUCED NUMEROUS GROUND-BREAKING LANDSCAPE AND GENRE STUDIES. THESE WORKS BECAME WELL KNOWN THROUGH PRINTS, AND STAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RICH TRADITION OF DEPICTING THE DRAMA AND BEAUTY OF SCOTTISH LANDSCAPE, WHICH LATER DEVELOPED BY ARTISTS SUCH AS RUNCIMAN, NASMYTH, MORE , AND TURNER. SANDBY ALSO CAME TO KNOW THE WORK OF IMPORTANT ENLIGHTENMENT FIGURES, SUCH AS THE POET ALLAN RAMSAY AND THE ARCHITECT ROBERT ADAM. SANDBY HAS OFTEN BEEN CONSIDERED THE 'FATHER' OF WATERCOLOUR PAINTING IN BRITAIN; HE REFINED THE USE OF THE MEDIUM AND EMPLOYED IT TO EXPLORE A BROADER RANGE OF SUBJECT MATTER THAN ANY PREVIOUS ARTIST IN THE COUNTRY. HE DELIGHTED IN THE STUDY OF RURAL AND URBAN VIEWS, STREET SCENES, ROYAL PARKS AND ANCIENT CASTLES, AND ALWAYS RETAINED AN INTEREST IN FASCINATING ANECDOTAL DETAILS, WHICH EMBRACE THE FASHIONS, OCCUPATIONS AND ENTERTAINMENTS OF THE PEOPLE HE ENCOUNTERED.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT http://www.nationalgalleries.org/

BUTCHER WEARS PEN WHILE RECEIVING HONOUR FROM QUEEN

JUST IN CASE HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN WANTED TO SPECIAL ORDER A HOLIDAY TURKEY OR GOOSE FOR CHRISTMAS A CHEERY BUTCHER KEPT HIS TRUSTY PEN BEHIND HIS EAR WHEN HE RECEIVED ONE OF ENGLAND'S HIGHEST HONOURS FROM HER AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE RECENTLY. WILLIAM LLOYD WILLIAMS, KNOWN AS 'WIL THE MEAT' TO HIS LOYAL CUSTOMERS IN A WELSH VILLAGE, IS NEVER SEEN WITHOUT THE BIRO IN ITS TRADITIONAL PLACE. IT HAS BEEN A TRADEMARK FOR 30 YEARS, SO IT WAS ONLY NATURAL TO HIM THAT HE SHOULD WEAR IT TO THE PALACE TO RECEIVE AN MBE FOR SERVICES TO THE MEAT INDUSTRY. SADLY, HER MAJESTY DID NOT PLACE AN ORDER, BUT SHE DID REWARD HIM WITH A SMILE. "SHE NOTICED IT AND GAVE ME A SLIGHT SMILE AS I TURNED AWAY", HE SAID. "I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT ONE WAS AMUSED." IN HIS SHOP YESTERDAY AT MACHYNLLETH, POWYS, WIL, TOLD HOW HE HAD BOWED TO PRESSURE FROM HIS WIFE CARWEN TO REMOVE THE PEN AS HE WENT INTO THE PALACE ON THURSDAY LAST. BUT HE SNEAKILY REPLACED IT AS HE WAITED TO RECEIVE HIS HONOUR. "IF IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY CUSTOMERS THEN IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR BUCKINGHAM PALACE", HE SAID LATER. ROYLE FAMILY STAR SUE JOHNSTON, WHO WAS RECEIVING AN OBE, SPOTTED THE ODD FASHION STATEMENT. WIL SAID: "SHE SAID TO ME, 'DO YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A BIRO BEHIND YOUR EAR?' I SAID, 'YES, I'M A BUTCHER AND I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE A CHRISTMAS ORDER.' SHE LIKED THAT. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS HILARIOUS."

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