Brazil Takes Emerging Market

Brazil has become the world's largest emerging market.
Brazil edged past China to become the largest emerging market in the world, as measured by Morgan Stanley Capital International's emerging markets index. Brazil has a free-float market capitalization of $509.10 billion and comprises 14.95% of the index; China, $481.80 billion and 14.15%, respectively, according to MSCI, FactSet and Citi Investment Research. read more at portfolio

Starbucks Coffee Break 3 Hours Today

Coffee chain to close all 7,100 stores for employee training from 5:30PM PM to 8:30PM local time.
...my studio will also be closed.

REGIA SHOW Starbucks Coffee Break Reconnect Animation Draw

New IKEA Homes in England

IKEA introduced their newest product Ikea homes to Gateshead, England,
but unlike their furniture line, there's no assembly required.
Potential buyers are required to put down a 5 percent deposit, and total mortgage costs cannot exceed 40 percent of the buyer's annual net income.
The apartments and townhouses range from £99,500 to £149,500.
I wonder if they will eventually try this houses in the U.S.
[from Portfolio]

Masterwork Residences 995 Fifth Avenue Needs Art

The 995 Fifth Avenue, originally commissioned by Lord Rothschild and designed by renowned New York architect Rosario Candela, is being reinterpreted into 26 masterwork residences by famed architects Cetra Ruddy and John Simpson.
The location offers unsurpassed views of Metropolitan Museum and Central Park.
Pricing for the masterwork residences in 995 Fifth Avenue starts at $12,000,000 and go as high as $47,500,000.
Masterwork Residences at 995 Fifth Avenue Needs Art.
Artist is here to help...regiaart@gmail.com

No Change Provided

Once upon a time inside a New Jersey train station.
...I know I know, you want
all my money (my art).

Brazilian Music with Sergio Mendes

Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66, an album that went platinum based largely on the success of the song "Mas Que Nada".
"The O'Keefe Centre Presents: The Rock Scene - Like It Is!" October 16, 1967.

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 - Mas Que Nada
CHORUS 1
***********
Mas que nada
Sai da minha frente eu quero passar
Pois o samba está animado
O que eu quero é sambar
Este samba que é misto de maracatu
é samba de preto velho
Samba de preto tu

CHORUS 2:
***********
Mas que nada
Um samba como esse do legal
Você no vai querer
Que eu chegue no final

Art Auctions Strong Sales

Some buyers spend money on art because they want to live with it.

Francis Bacon, "Untitled (Head)," circa 1967. Estimate: £500,000-750,000; sold: £558,100)

Red Portrait of a Woman by Regia Marinho.

Happy Lunar New Year of the Rat

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2008 is a Year of the Rat (Earth), which begins on February 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009.

A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find. People born in an Earth Rat are said to be logical realists, shrewd, charming, ambitious, and inventive.

Rat Years
01/31/1900 - 02/18/1901 (Metal), 02/18/1912 - 02/05/1913 (Water), 02/05/1924 - 01/24/1925 (Wood), 01/24/1936 - 02/10/1937 (Fire), 02/10/1948 - 01/28/1949 (Earth), 01/28/1960 - 02/14/1961 (Metal), 02/15/1972 - 02/02/1973 (Water), 02/02/1984 - 02/19/1985 (Wood), 02/19/1996 - 02/06/1997 (Fire), 02/07/2008 - 01/25/2009 (Earth)

Famous Rat People
Cameron Diaz, Charlotte Bronte, Daryl Hannah, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennie Garth, Kristen Scott Thomas, Lauren Bacall, Lucrezia Borgia, Margaret Mitchell, Margot Kidder, Mata Hari, Nancy Wake, Olivia Newton-John, Sinead Cusack, Stevie Nicks, Toni Collette.

Street Party Carnival Colors

Read about Carnival in Rio here

Brazil Carnival's Begins

Brazil's annual explosion of samba began Friday, with scantily clad revellers hitting the streets from Rio to Recife to celebrate carnival.
Street Dancers Open Rio's Crazy Carnival. more