American Apparel — such a family-oriented retailer. (Insert sarcasm font.)

Do you want to be a model for the L.A.-based retailer? OK. Better question: Do you have a great ass?

Right now American Apparel is searching for "The Best Bottom in the World." Submit a close-up photo of your tush wearing American Apparel undies, and you might be a winner.

We're looking for a brand new bum (the best in the world!) to be the new "face" for our always expanding intimates and briefs lines. The winners will be flown to LA, photographed and featured online. Send in a close-up photo of your backside wearing American Apparel panties, bodysuits or briefs for consideration and vote for your personal favorites.

You must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Submit your photo(s) between January 28, 2010, and February 21, 2010. Two winners - selected by American Apparel judges - will be eligible to be our next butt model. The top ten contestants, as voted on by the public, will receive a grab bag of American Apparel items valued at $300. (Details via AmericanApparel.net)

Not sure what to submit? Here's one of the top-10 submissions:

If you haven't heard by now about Apple's new tablet, the iPad, you're living under a rock and need to join the rest of society.

You're excused this time though — you're not missing too much.

Why? Because from where I'm sitting, the iPad — which Apple calls a "magical and revolutionary device" — isn't much different from my own trusty iPhone. And I don't even have the latest VERSION of the iPhone (that being the 3G2. The regular ol' 3G is fine by me, thanks). I can already access my e-mail, watch videos, read books, take notes, launch Safari, flip through photos, access iTunes and watch YouTube videos via my smartphone. OK, so maybe my iPhone is a little smaller than the 9.7 inch screen that the iPad boasts, but I'm going to be real with you: If I want to watch a movie, I'll watch it on TV. If I want to read a book, I'll just read one the old-fashioned way. But hey, that's just me.

Not to mention that my iPhone has two functions that the iPad doesn't: Making phone calls and taking pics.

But some have speculated on an iPad Revolution. Could it be? While of course I personally hope something will ultimately save the newspaper industry, I don't know if this is it or not. How many people do you know will shell out money for an iPad to access their fave news outlets when they already have a smartphone, a laptop, a desktop computer and multiple TVs in their household — and can readily buy a newspaper at the gas station?

If you are interested in this new product (as I'm sure there are plenty of Apple nerds out there salivating in anticipation), here's what you'll be spending: You can get a Wi-Fi iPad for $499 to use on existing Wi-Fi networks, or, for wireless access anywhere, you'll spend $629 for the 3G iPad.

So ... what say you? Will you be purchasing the new Apple iPad? (By the way, you'll notice I didn't say ANYTHING about the name, unlike others.)

It seems Hitler wasn't too happy with the new iPad.

Just got this press release in my inbox. Got me thinking about the random shoes that are falling out of my closet right now that I don't even wear anymore. I'm sure you've got some pairs of shoes that you don't wear anymore but keep around "just in case" too. Get on it and help out those in need, will ya? It's good karma.

Charlotte, NC. (January 22, 2010) – Soles4Souls (www.giveshoes.org) and Lebo’s Inc have joined forces to bring shoes to victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Lebo’s will help collect footwear to support Soles4Souls’ commitment to donate 1 million pairs of shoes to affected areas. Effective immediately through February 7, customers at Lebo’s Inc will have the opportunity to drop off a gently worn pair of shoes. All donations will directly support relief efforts. Please drop off your donations to any of our 7 store locations.

Soles4Souls has partnered with Operation Compassion, a charity that mobilizes support for victims of natural disasters around the world, to transport and distribute the aid. Thirty containers of supplies, including work boots, rain boots, children’s athletic shoes and clothing items, are already en route to Haiti.

“As we struggle to comprehend the magnitude of this disaster, we cannot forget how important basic necessities – such as shoes – will be in the ongoing rescue and rebuilding efforts,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. “We deeply appreciate the support of Lebo’s Family Shoe Stores and their customers in helping us provide shoes to survivors and volunteers as they work in horrific conditions.”

The death toll from Tuesday’s quake continues to rise, and survivors and rescuers are facing dire health conditions including stifling heat, lack of clean water, broken glass and raw sewage.

“There are lots of shoes in your closets that are not going to be worn, that no longer is one in style or they no longer fit, so those are prime candidates for someone in need”, said Mr. Jerome Levin; CEO of Lebo’s Inc.  We have been a drop off location for Soles4Souls for over a year.  It is time to make an even bigger impact.  We are reaching out to churches, student organizations, local and national businesses to help make a difference.  They are in desperate need of work boots, children’s shoes and sneakers.”

For more information on how to get involved and donate to the victims in Haiti, visit www.giveshoes.org.

Lebo’s Since 1923 – Family Shoes – Western Wear – Dance Wear

7300 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28227 (704-535-5000)

8324 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Mcmullen Creek Market (704-295-1221)

1020 Clover Leaf Plaza, Kannapolis, NC 28083 (704-786-4818)

Akers Cnter, 1405 E Franklin Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054 (704-866-7777)

2349-73 The Market at Cherry Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732 (803-325-7700)

551 Haywood Rd, Greenville, SC 29732 (864-234-9921)

1209-A W Roosevelt Blvd, Monroe, NC 28112 (704-296-0306)

www.lebos.com

Looking for organic beauty care products that are cruelty-free and natural? Now you can find Beautorium, a natural and organic beauty product emporium, here locally at The Boulevard. Before setting up shop at the NoDa boutique, you could only find these products online at Beautorium.com, so it's kind of a big deal that one of our locally owned shops was able to snag this addition. The chicks at The Boulevard are pretty excited, so head over and see what all the fuss is about.

Looks like IKEA's getting some company soon.

Furniture retailer Furniture Row expects to build a 70,000-square-foot store starting early this year in Belgate, a mixed-used project in the University City area, according to the developer, Crescent Resources.

The project includes giant home-furnishings retailer IKEA, which opened a 356,000-square-foot store in early 2009. Belgate is planned to ultimately include an additional 400,000 square feet of stores, two hotels and two apartment communities. Site work is under way for a Pantry convenience store.

It would be Furniture Row's first full-service store in the Carolinas. The Denver-based retailer has an outlet center off Independence Avenue.

Read the rest of this Charlotte Observer story here.

Nationally, the holiday shopping season was a lot better in 2009 than the previous year.

According to Reuters, "SpendingPulse, a unit of MasterCard Advisors, showed retail sales rose 3.6 percent in the period from Nov. 1 through Christmas Eve on Dec. 24."

Comparatively, in 2008, spending fell 2.3 percent as tracked by SpendingPulse and 2.8 percent as tracked by the National Retail Federation, as the financial crisis led consumers to cut back, Reuters reported.

Though the rise in spending across the nation seems to point to an economic recovery, what's going on in Charlotte's retail backyard?

The city's economic landscape is still reeling from banker layoffs and an unemployment rate in the double digits. But some local retailers said the holiday season gave them reason to hope for a better year.

Busy is how Julie PageSmith, owner of Cottage Chic -- a lifestyle store that offers furniture, personalized jewelry and many other things in between -- describes the holiday shopping at her store.

Read the rest of this story here.

Even though she looks crazy as hell, Lady Gaga talks about her new job as creative director of Polaroid in this video. Remember Polaroid? Yeah ...

According to Guardian: "Despite the fact that the traditional analogue Polaroid cameras were discontinued last year, the company continues to sell a range of digital products and sees Lady Gaga as the ideal spokesperson for a 'specialty line.'"

No, but a billboard in Time Square using his image says he does.

When President Obama was on his trip to China back in November, he was photographed wearing a Weatherproof jacket. Weatherproof president Freddie Stollmack saw the photograph and decided to utilize it for their ad campaign — without seeking permission from the White House. Ooooohhhh....

The White House said Wednesday that it will ask Weatherproof to remove the billboard because the ad misleads by suggesting it was approved by Obama or the White House, which has a long-standing policy disapproving of the use of Obama's name and likeness for commercial purposes.

The ad has potential to be effective with consumers because the president and first lady both carry considerable fashion credibility, said Dudley Blossom, chairman of the marketing department at fashion-focused Lim College in Manhattan. But it also risks passers-by getting so caught up with the image that they won't notice the brand name, he said.

Read the rest of the story here.