Amanda Bynes Arrested for DUI: Has Nickelodeon Star Gone Lindsay Lohan With Reckless 'Bad Girl' Behavior? [PHOTOS]

Photo: Twitter

Amanda Bynes Arrested for DUI

Former Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes was arrested for a DUI on Friday after tweeting the day before about being a "bad girl" and a string of previous events of reckless behavior, departing from her sqeaky clean Nick days similar to starlets like Lindsay Lohan. View the slideshow to see photos of Amanda Bynes since her days on "All That" and "The Amanda Show."

Photo: Facebook/The Amanda Show

Amanda Bynes in "The Amanda Show"

Photo: Facebook/Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes in Maxim 2010

“I want to show people who I am,” she told Maxim in 2010. “My parents were like, ‘Does this mean you're gonna do sexy movies now?’ I said, ‘Well, if they're done the right way, then maybe.’ I mean, I'm not gonna do porn, but if it's a Leonardo DiCaprio movie or whatever...

Photo: Facebook/Amanda Bynes

Menswear comes into its own

While male consumers often favor comfort and ease in clothing over the latest styles, the looks on the runways this week are likely to trickle down into mass retail clothing lines as these designers gain influence, they said.

The men's shows in New York this season have been incredibly strong, said Eric Jennings, men's fashion director for Saks Fifth Avenue, a top U.S. store.

At New York's semi-annual Fashion Week, where hundreds of designers are unveiling their fall and winter 2010 lines through Thursday, only a handful of shows feature just menswear.

Standouts include Philip Lim, Robert Geller, Richard Chai and Simon Spurr, said Kevin Harter, vice president of fashion at U.S. department store Bloomingdale's.

This is the most exciting time for American men's designers. They're starting to really emerge, he said. I think these American designers are going to rival the Parisian and Belgian menswear designers.

MISMATCHED PLAIDS

Plaids made a frequent appearance in several collections.

Design line Duckie Brown featured playfully mismatched plaids on jackets and narrow trousers, shortened to the calf, with thick socks and large boots. Rag & Bone combined more toned-down plaids with textured tweeds.

Jim Moore, creative director of men's magazine GQ, said for men, plaid has become a staple.

A plaid shirt has hit that iconic status, he said.

Playing with urban warrior and mountain man images, designers put great emphasis on thick leather boots.

Every outfit in designer Robert Geller's show featured such boots, while designer Tim Hamilton gave his boots a futuristic look by distorting their shiny leather.

Boots hold the weight of the outfit, Moore said.

Men's designers also toyed with layered warm textures and colors. It's going to be a heavy knits cycle, Harter said.

Clothing retailers, who took a huge hit when the U.S. economy soured, said they are seeking quality and price over hitting every trend.

At Saks, Jennings said he was taking a relatively conservative approach and would focus on two factors -- accessible price points and exclusivity.

Similarly, Ryan Conder of Los Angeles menswear store Southwillard said concern for cost and a greater awareness about how clothing is made has prompted a return to value for his customers, amid less concern for the newest trends.

Apparel made in Italy, England, America and Japan now hold real value, Conder said.

When I opened my shop everyone thought I was crazy to have nothing made in China, he added. Now nobody is going to buy a $600 sweater made in China.

For some designers the economic squeeze has served as a reminder that while the fashion cycle of trends and collections can be important for their brand's image, they aim to produce designs that stand the test of time.

Designer Patrik Ervell, who showed a crisp and utilitarian menswear collection, said he hopes his clothes manage to keep the fashion cycle at arm's length.

(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Paul Simao)

Photo: Facebook/Amanda Bynes

The New China Economy

 

China's role on the Global Stage.

In just 40+ yrs of full speed ahead growth, China overtook Japan as the World's # 2 economy in Y 2010.

The West has reacted to this blinding success has been mixed, leaving just 1 Big Q: What role will China play in the World as it continues to grow?

I traveled and lived in China between 2002 and 2007, and while there I learned that throughout its 4,000+ yr history it has looked inward, and not to the outside as a colonizing conqueror. This POV is what I observed when I walked on the Great Wall.

While there, I learned 1st hand that China's vision is not to become a hegemonic power. And for the West to demonize its successful March out of feudalism will not foster long term stability in Asia or be good for a China-US-China relationship.

It is a fact that China has done more than any other economy to help pull the World out of its recent recession, and by doing so established itself as an important economic engine of Global growth in the long term .

China's 12th Five-Year Plan Y's 2011-2015, mandates a move from export-led, investment-driven growth to balanced economic development that promotes a sustainable growth rate going forward, while at the same time playing an active role on the Global stage in the Key areas of climate change, poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, and reforms in the International Monetary System.

Y 2011 presents many challenges; the Global recovery is fragile, Nations threaten protectionism, and fiscal pressures demand strong and coordinated action. It is clear that China is playing an important role in helping to solve these problems.

Just a few months ago China identified rising inflation within at the rate of 5.1%, as its Key near term risk and took steps to cool it immediately. The massive Global liquidity led to rising input costs, but the rise in China's credit over the last 2 yrs is also at fault, when I was there prior to 2007 Credit Cards were only for the elite and virtually not used, they were decorations and transactions made in cash.

Inflation is always a factor when there is flowing liquidity, and strong demand. In order to avoid a Japanese style Boom/Bust scenario, China must stabilize its housing prices, and change the supply of residential units to meet people's demand for affordable housing.

Just as importantly, China must be willing to make short-term sacrifices, such as asset price adjustments or a temporary drop in employment in some sectors, to guarantee the long-term stability of its National economy. China can leverage off its extremely strong fiscal position of 19% debt to GDP ratio, to ensure that domestic demand does not suffer dramatically, these are tough choices.

On one hand, not to cool the economy would result in serious consequences for China's long-term growth.

On the other hand, a hard landing would likely shake the confidence in emerging markets, and set back the Global economy significantly.

The US' attempts to blame a undervalued Yuan for its economic problems are merit less scapegoating IMO . But, it should be recognized (and I believe that it is) that a stronger Yuan is in China's interest as well as the interest of the US, as it will help to control inflation inside the country.

It is likely that the developed World will not to move toward policy normalization anytime soon, capital flows will probably be lopsided at a time when China is working to rein in inflation, and deflate its asset bubbles.

China must strengthen its management of cross-border capital inflows, even though some of them are not speculations.

China's leaders have said that they will not do anything to destabilize the World's sovereign bond markets. And the World expects the US and the EU will act responsibly toward their creditors.

As I have said in prior articles the US is debasing its currency with QE-2, and President Barack Obama's tax deal has failed to address the deficit, and slow the fear of its creditors.

So this year might see China sending a clear message to the US, that being; Do not expect any more showings of great generosity from us.

Those of us who have a handle on the Globalization of the World's economies since the crisis of 2007 note that the absence of alternatives to the USD as a reserve currency fosters a sense of security within the US Treasury Department and the US Federal Reserve.

A slowing and or reduction in Chinese buying as it reduces its current account surplus, and diversifies away from USD assets will surely be felt in the US Treasuries' market.

Photo: Reuters

Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson, author of 'Three Cups of Tea,' poses here with children in Central Asia to promote his books about peace and literacy education. Mortenson's charity, the Central Asia Institute, has been accused of poor financial management.