MJ MJ MJ Fever---Speed Demon

I loveeee me some MJ :)...my favorite artist of all time (and Sade:)

In Lieu of a "Happy Bday Post"....

I love this song, "Let it be Me" by Ray LaMontagne....absolutely love it! I think about God and just what it means to have a real support system in one's life. He's all the support I need.

"I will be your God throughout your lifetime. Until your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you."
-Isaiah 46:4

So in lieu of a b-day post of all my "goals" for 2011...Enjoy a lovely, inspirational song ...Happy Jan. 12th! :-)

Find more artists like Ray LaMontagne at Myspace Music

The V- word: Vulnerability

 

Vulnerable: capable of being wounded or hurt; susceptibility to injury or attack; state of being exposed.

I am exploring this word, a word that often sends chills down my spine. Vulnerability. Boy does it hurt just typing it. I recently shared at a church event that "I don't like people." Sounds a bit disturbing coming from a loud mouth, Christian woman, who's extremely personable and incredibly outgoing, right? If that thought did in fact cross your mind, imagine how it sounded to a bunch of devout Christians in a small room? But as people laughed and others waited to see what's coming next, I explained that the reason I don't like people is because of the fact that my greatest fear, when it comes to building relationships, is being open and being hurt. 

"I don't mind accumulating a lot of acquaintances, I mind being open and vulnerable."

I often consider Mtt.22:39 when my palms begin to sweat, my stomach turns, and my haughty and entitled  attitude starts creeping out from within my fearful heart: Love your neighbor as yourself. And boy oh boy, do I love myself. I think I've mastered the art. I mean I got it down to a science. So it is a call that always raises the bar in my life. I do it, only because I believe this stuff, only because God is real to me, only because he committed to unconditionally loving a jacked-up person such as myself through thick and thin. I don't think I could do it any other way.

I am learning the value of soul-searching and being vulnerable in relationships...all relationships: It really benefits all involved. I know the desire to default to "self-protective" ways can often be tempting, but I am ready to brave this journey and dive into the ugly. I am writing this in hope to inspire, and that someone out there is wishing me the best of luck in this, and sending up a little prayer for me. I think it can be good.

"It will be good. "

Image: 

truewhisper.com

Book Review: Choosing God's Best

I've been kind of by the way, maybe slightly haphazardly, making a conscious effort to build some sort of foundational beliefs and convictions on Christian dating, and what the Bible says. My conclusion: While anything, when misused, misunderstood, and ill-represented, can be a matter of salvation, dating in and of itself, doesn't quite fall into that category for me. However, because I really do believe the Bible and the existence of an omnipotent, omnipresent, all-knowing God, with deep, intense, concrete conviction, its important for me to lay a foundation for what matters to me and my God in matters of the heart.

I've read a few books, so over the next few weeks I hope to share my reviews with you....succinctly, 'cause Lord knows I can ramble ya'll. :) The first book was "Choosing God's Best" by Don Ranikaur. The book has a few things I agree with and some I disagree with. But the overall gist is that the Bible promotes "courtship"  over dating, when it comes to relationships. Ranikaur talks about various stages of friendship: acquaintance, casual, close, and then intimate as a foundation that forces people to develop patience and time to really build something worth standing on. I agree with that because once the looks fade, and all you're left with is a flabby, saggy, baggy ex-supermodel, you'll really wish you had something more substantial to stand on (and maybe something better to look at, or at least some sunglasses). The Proverbs actually mention this reality: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting.." (Prv.31:30a).

Ranikaur then goes on discuss the stages following intimate friendship, the next being courtship, where one's church family and physical family (given that they are righteously minded, or void of detrimental relational issues) are involved in the entire process. Courtship is a public affair, think of your favorite Jane Austen book, where everyone is made aware of the interest between the couple and nothing is hidden, no seclusion, nor any excessive one-on-on interactions. The courtship process is short and is time for building strong ties with family, friends, and strengthening bonds with each other. Courtship is then followed by engagement which is also short, basically enough time to plan a wedding and develop a deeper emotional oneness. And then comes the wedding union and physical oneness. The premise of Ranikaur's suggestions assumes that you are a Christian who is wholehearted about following God and the bible and that you have your spiritual, emotional, relational, and vocational foundation laid and solid before considering a spouse. Ranikaur also presents the fact that God gives us free will, but wants us to wait on Him to bring us the best choice, in oppose to simply settling for a "good" choice. God will never make the decision for you, but He will expect you to seek him and advisers, wait on Him, and trust Him through the entire process.

How do I feel about this?

I think that aside from a solid and secure relationship with God, a great friendship is the second best foundation of anything worth having, especially male- female relationships. I also believe that if Jacob had the love, patience, and trust to wait 14 years for the woman he loved (Gen.29), what are we rushing for? I desire the next man I date to be the man I marry, so I'd rather someone know me and all my jacked-up flaws and exactly what they're getting, instead of dating for 3mos and realizing they rushed into it...or worse get married and divorce because they didn't count the costs of making the commitment (Lk.14:28).

God made a commitment to unconditionally love a jacked-up person, faithfully and flawlessly, no matter what...shouldn't we also hold ourselves to that same standard in friendships and relationships (Jn.13:34)?

Clueless & a Google random question...

GOOGLE:  

Come up with some possible band names for your group that features a washboard and a styrofoam tuba.

ME:
Wash-a-foam-bubba and the Styrettes; )

This question reminded me of Clueless...Oh my gosh Cher...! Lol.I was totally a fan. I wanted to be Dionne. I think I begged for the Clueless lunch box and the dolls. I watched the t.v. episodes too. Had no business watching them, but I sure did. And then the  sequel came out: Mean Girls. Lol. Oh come on, you know when you first saw Mean Girls with Lindsey Lohan, you thought the same thing I did, "Isn't it a bit late to have a Clueless 2?" But they tapped into the materialistic, egotistical, consumerist nature of teens everywhere...and they had a cool $56K revenue, tv series, dolls, and other little spin-offs and spoofs to prove it.

"W" Whatever!

*Rest in Peace Brittany Murphy...one of the many Hollywood tragedies:(

Officially a Size 3/4! Word.

Today on my lunch break I decided to go buy some work pants. I've been wearing jeans, slacks, and pants that are held up only by the saving grace of a belt. Not to mention my skinny jeans now fashion straight leg or boy-cut jeans. But anyhow, I ran into the most awesome problem ever: all the small pants were still too BIG for me! I was slightly agitated at first because I really have to let go of the leggings...I mean, I could wear them long after they go out of style, but come on. I'm an adult with a real job. Then it hit me, the realization of the fact that I am officially a "skinny mini", a "lepa" as is the term in my native tongue. I was thrilled. I ran through the store searching for size 6, then a 4, then a 2. A size 2...and it fit, a bit tighter than I prefer, but it fit!

What was my plan of action you ask? Simple: in February 2010 I decided that being overweight really is a problem...I even went as far as to call it a sin due to the greed and gluttony that I so easily gave in to. I just no longer desired to be a woman who lacked discipline and self-control, and I could see it in other areas of my life. So I got a trainer and changed my eating habits. I worked out 2 days a week, then 4- 5 days when I picked up momentum. I kept a food journal and counted calories daily. I lost 20 lbs in 4 months and then kept it up on my own. I had to learn to love working out so I could be motivated. And the best motivation is RESULTS. I also get a gym "fee reimbursement", every 6 months, from my job, and I've decided to use it to buy new clothes for my newly svelte physique. I'm glad that I became radical about my health and I'm really grateful for the men and women God put in my life to help me.

Now...I ....must...go...extinguish...the...kryptonite...the evil evil strawberry cheescake. Lol, I still have a ways to go. But glad to have gotten this far. :)

What helped me:

• www.cdc.gov
• www.self.com
• www.caloriecount.about.com
• www.mysportsclubs.com

Image: 
grandmary.org

What's all the Hoopla About SPF?

The Issue: Sunburn

So I figured since I do not have a shortage of skin pigment, I don't need sunscreen in the summer. Then I read an article about a woman who got skin cancer on one side of her face because that side faced the window in her office. She never used sunscreen because she was an African- American woman and felt that black women don’t get sunburn or skin cancer. After reading that, I decided, its time to get some year-round sunscreen. I opted for SPF 30 winter, spring, and fall, and I recently just bought SPF 100+ for summer and beach protection. No skin cancer here! 


The Stats: (From The Skin Cancer Foundation)

•  Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million cases in two million people are diagnosed annually.
• Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
• More than 20 Americans die each day from skin cancer, primarily melanoma. One person dies of melanoma every 62 minutes.
• The majority of people diagnosed with melanoma are white men over age 50.
• First exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent
• Asian American and African American melanoma patients have a greater tendency than Caucasians to present with advanced disease at time of diagnosis.
• Melanomas in African Americans, Asians, Filipinos, Indonesians, and native Hawaiians most often occur on non-exposed skin with less pigment, with up to 60-75 percent of tumors arising on the palms, soles, mucous membranes and nail regions.

Well if I have to be so careful in the sun, how do I tan? I’m sure you’ve noticed the orange-yellow lizard skin of some older women who tan frequently. Well most people don’t think about it, but tanning is basically voluntary perpetuation of skin cancer. The reason is because Ultra Violet (UV) rays penetrate the skin causing DNA and cell damage, and then melanin (skin pigment) is produced as a response to the damage. This is similar to the formation of scabs after an injury. Increased exposure to UV rays, whether indoor or outdoor, results in age spots, altered skin texture, wrinkling, eye damage, and immune suppression. Long story short, tanning is bad news.


The Solution: 
 
Get some Sunscreen. I’ve been hearing different things about sunscreen, like the higher SPF means the amount of time it takes before wearing off, or it doesn’t matter how high the SPF is because its all the same after SPF 30. Well what’s true? 


Everyone needs sunscreen, and the best ones are water-resistant, with UVA and UVB protection and minimal of SPF 30. SPF stands for Sun Protecting Factor, and it refers to the product's ability to deflect the sun's burning rays, or UVB. How does it work? Well based on the information from the American Academy of Dermatology, the SPF rating shows the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on sunscreen-protected skin to the amount of time needed to cause a sunburn on unprotected skin. In laymen terms that means, multiply the SPF times the amount of time it takes you to burn. So if you have SPF 30 and it takes you 10 minutes to burn regularly, then 10x30= 300, so it will take 300 minutes to burn in oppose to 10.  No SPF provides 100% protection, in fact SPF 15 provides 94%, SPF 30 provides 97%, and SPF 100 provides 99% against harmful UV rays. And even with this protection, all sunscreen breaks down and rubs off with normal wear, sweat, and swimming, so its best to reapply every two hours.

So go ahead and get your sunscreen on, and stay protected all year long! 

Restaurant Review: Cafeteria

Cafeteria

119 7th Ave

New York, NY 10021

Neighborhood: Chelsea

I love me some Mac and Cheese and red velvet cake (not together though)! On my birthday I went to Cafeteria for the first time, and then I went again in the summer. Its a trendy little restaurant in Chelsea. Its a 2 level space and upstairs the decor is that of an upgraded posh cafeteria, and more like a private lounge downstairs. I especially love the booths and leather seats.

I had a decadently moist red velvet cake. When I first had red velvet, I was repulsed just by the color. I always felt like it would be dry and weird tasting. I was a yellow and chocolate cake girl. Pound cake, angel food, marble, lemon, devil's food...all was a plus, but red velvet: ewww and double ewww. Now red velvet and carrot cake, once my most hated desserts, are total favorites. I think my taste has matured over the years. I also had a nice toasted pecan- crusted salmon, buttermilk fried chicken, waffles, pesto polenta, and rich macaroni and cheese. The mac and cheese comes on a tray in sets of 3, one with cheddar and fontina, another with smoked gouda and bacon, and the last with truffle oil. 

Did I already say I love mac and cheese?

Well the one here is one of the best in my book. Un-trusting? Go taste it. Happy Eating!

Designer Profile: Theo Courtnay

Theo Hackney, of Theo Courtnay NY, is among one of the incredible phenomenons known as an "Indie Designer." Although you may not yet find his designs in between the pages of your monthly Vogue or at your neighborhood Bergdorf Goodman (yes, everyone has a neighborhood BG, it just may go by the name of "Target"), but he can assure you that he has arrived and his Fall 2008 line is a clear indication of that!

Coming from a fairly stylish family, New York raised Theo Hackney, fell in love with the New York fashion scene at a ripe young age and became inspired by the fashion of the city itself. His story is the quintessential American-story, the celebration of life wrapped in high-living and quality lifestyles. His philosophy: the customer wears the clothes, the clothes don’t wear the customer. We were fortunate enough to score an interview with Theo during the hustle and bustle of NY Fashion Week Fall/Winter 08.

What inspires you and how do you interpret that in the construction of your designs?

As an African American designer, I am inspired by the duality of the world that I live in. The culture that surrounds fashion is almost completely foreign, so I live for the rush of bridging the gap between that culture and my culture.

My inspiration comes from the women around me, the styles and fashion individuality of the different types of women in New York. I aim to create designs that appeal to the diverse Afro, Asian, Latin and European markets, all merged in, yet still relentlessly subtle.

Do you have a muse, and if so, who?
My muse is any woman who is at the top of her game and celebrating her life and her style in

her own way.

What other mediums inspire your collection?
Architecture definitely, the world around me, as well as military influences because I see your

style of clothing as a part of your daily attire, a uniform so to say. So I look at how the woman

fits the clothes and the clothes fit the woman.

What is your proudest moment in your career, and why?
I try not to look back on my career as much, I try to focus more on the here and now because

each moment is a new moment and in order to embrace that experience, you have to live in

the present.

Did you always dream of designing?
No, it was a natural evolution. I was always told I had a

great sense of style. I started with corporate retail

management then went on to personal shopping and fashion

styling.

How do you believe fashion has changed since you

started?

Do you still love it as much? Fashion is always changing. Its

about recreating the same thing in a new and innovative

way. I've always loved fashion but I have to battle with focusing on my creativity without

getting engulfed in marketability.

How do you begin your design process?
I get inspired by what I see around me, my environment, cultural influences, shoes and

sometimes fabric.

What will your brand be branching off to next?
Home design, accessories and shoes.

Do you have any advice for upcoming designers?
Do what you love to do and do it well, or don’t do it at all.

Theo Courtnay’s Fall 2008 designer women's wear collection is inspired by the “Luxe Life”, the people who are celebrating their early onset career success. Check him out on www.TheoCourtnayNY.com

Poetry: A Silent Christmas

I love the holiday season, but I can't help but place myself in other people's shoes at times. This is a poem inspired by a good friend of mine. I hope you enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A Silent Christmas

The sun's rays crept into the corners of his eyes,
He raised the back of his hand,
Rubbed his eye in so coy a manner,
And peered over his pinkie to the door to his bedroom.
The door never opened,
No laughter filled the hallways,
No children ran in pajamas to impede upon his peace,
To wake him from his slumber,
Only the sun.

He listened to the pain-staking quietness,
Grieved over the absence of giggles and the scurrying of little feet.
He heard nothing, not so much as a peep.
No little children anxiously awaiting to unravel gift wrap,
No scents of hot apple cider creeping underneath his door,
Infusing the house, and his entire being with the aromas of Christmas.
No enchanting carols to permeate his ear drums,
Nothing,
Only silence.

He dare to put the white down comforter back over his head,
Dared to look over at the empty space in his queen size bed,
Dared to dream of the love of his life laying beside him,
Awaking to celebrate such a joyous occasion.
But no one lay beside him,
No one to stare at and thank God to have another holiday with,
No one to gently whisper a "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" to.
No reason to slowly climb out of bed so as to not disturb,
No one to instruct to go back to sleep,
So he could calm the rambunctious imaginary children.
No one.
Just him,

And his Silent Christmas.

~Olaitan F.

Feature: Love, Romance, and Mansfield Park

I am an avid Jane Austen fan. I love the tales of romance, love gone awry, unrequited affections, and the like. I have realized and dare to say that I too am a hopeless, or better yet, a hopeful romantic.

Mansfield Park, like Pride and Prejudice, and unarguably the majority of novels by the famed Jane Austen, focuses on the same story line. A woman of standards and intelligence, enters into high society and is courted by a gentleman of wealth and mundane appearance, and half her status in intellect. However, she inevitably falls in love with an eligible bachelor who is cultured and comparable to her in education yet, ironically still superior in social status. Austen never fails to ensure that the gentleman that her heroine chooses is slightly off-putting in appearance, yet made handsomer and more charming by his love and pursuit of the heroine. In the end, they often fall in love, marry, and live happily ever after.

Mansfield Park is a royal mess in so many words, yet I adore it. The British accents, the exceptional grammar and immensely challenging vocabulary, and the drama, the fabulous drama! One sister marries for wealth, yet leaves her "unagreeable" husband for a charming playboy, another sister rivals for the affections of one such eligible bachelor, the heroine is in love with a childhood sweetheart who happens to fall in love with another woman of high society and the whole thing is a never-ending labyrinth of royal mess.

"I cannot know if he loves me, says Eliza. Well I ask, did he ever gaze on you with admiration, tenderly press your hand, drop an involuntary tear and leave the room abruptly? Never replied she, he's always left the room indeed when his visit has been ended."

I love this line, the complexity of a woman's mind, intertwined with the overwhelming feelings in her heart, forces her to read into things and look for a deeper meaning than most men intend to send off. I too am guilty of this. He loves me, he loves me not and so on and so forth, when in actuality the man in question isn't even thinking of you. How often do we love one who loves another. Its a travesty of genuine human emotion, to say the least. Every woman longs to be romanced, to be courted, to be loved, to be desired, to be fought for, to be chosen by the object of her affections, yet the one who actually follows through is rarely the one that she herself has chosen. Why? C'est la vie, I presume, but why is life so cruel to the heart?

Sir Crawford says, "There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved. You're killing me." To which Ms. Price replies, "No man dies of love, but on the stage."

I believe this to be true, on both ends. Love is the only happiness in life. But what you chose to love and give your whole heart to is what defines that happiness. Be it God, the object of your affections, knowledge, wealth, or well-being. Over time, many things fade, but true love is the only thing worth having.

On the other hand, no one dies of love but on the stage. However, when all the world's a stage, an individual will anguish and suffer from disappointment. When this happens, eventually the pain of heartache, can drive them to the point of death--or at least what feels like death.

I, for one, have learned an incredible lesson from Mansfield Park...do not awaken love until it so desires, a theme common to the biblical book of Songs of Songs, and echoed within the pages of Jane Austen's novels. Love, such complexity. But such is life.





Images:
Guardian.co.uk
Soundtrackcollector.com

Feature: Sex Sells: The Descent of Popular Music

I recently came across the latest Beyonce video, "Video Phone," and needless to say, I've become increasingly disheartened by the downward spiral of popular music. The video was laced with all types of gyration, provocation, and sexually suggestive lyrics and movements. Which, of course, occurred in the first few seconds of the video.

Surprisingly, one mom and former avid Beyonce fan, let MTV and Beyonce know exactly how she felt about the video. Her comment was posted on the forum below the video and she openly spoke of her disgust with the music video. Furthermore, she challenged Beyonce to consider the message that her video would send to her own children one day. But above all, this mom absolutely won my heart when she made a bold statement, which was something to the effect of, "Beyonce, you have a beautiful voice and you don't need to use your body to sell records. I know sex sells but don't sell out. "

I never quite made it through the entire music video because I couldn't help but think that 20 years ago, this video would have been X- rated, and never would have made it to mainstream television. They may have shown it on a pay-per-view music television channel, like The Box. You all remember The Box, that cable station where you could order any video, especially those with various sexual innuendos and risque lyrics not shown on VH1 or MTV. Like many curious children, my siblings and I would try to catch the video previews to see if they would at least let some PG-13 footage slip through the cracks. But much to our dismay, the previews were always subtle and clean.

Today, the attire for popular music has become the unnervingly skintight- spandex sequined leotard, 5 inch stilettos, plunging necklines, and multiple cut-outs. Female artists like Beyonce, who started out in the business with more tame images, often leaning towards cute and tasteful, have long left the role model road and joined the likes of their pop music predecessors. In the realm of sex appeal and selling records, less is more, sex sells and you've got to put it out to get paid. Its an unarguable fact that Beyonce is one of the hardest working, innovative, corporately endorsed female musicians of this decade. Celebrities like Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Shakira each have at least one song or music video that is reminiscent of the songstress, proving that she is indeed often imitated but never duplicated.

However, when the tween crowd progressively wears less clothing, the pregnancy rate soar higher, television shows, advertisement billboards, and commercials all say sex sells so get sexy, its difficult to differentiate whether art imitates life or life imitates art. In the next 20 years all curse words will most likely be permitted on basic cable television, more unfiltered and unadulterated sex scenes and nudity will seep into mainstream media, and a 13 year old can watch an R-rated movie with nothing short of a high school identification card. Its a scary thought, but this is where we're heading towards, and its up to us to stand up for classic morals and ethics before raising socially conscious and responsible children become almost impossible.


Images from:
Carina100
Real Talk NY
MTV.Com

Feature: When I was 13...I liked Rappers and Pink Bikes

When I was 13 years old, I liked boys. I wasn't up on current events much, I went out to play with my siblings, rode pink bicycles and I had a crush on the rapper DMX. I knew nothing about what it meant to have a sense of style and a knowledge of fashion. All that resonated with me was the fact that if I didn't get a pair of stretchy Parasuco jeans and kung-foo baby doll slippers, I would be deemed "irrelevant" and continue on the rise to being the most uncool kid in middle school. I aimed for school honors and academic recognition, and avoided anyone that tried to fight me or worse yet, throw me in the garbage bin. I mean for goodness sakes, I bought my sneakers at Payless!*

Today, 13 year olds are fashion icons, they grace the covers of innovative fashion magazines, they wear Miu Miu, boast extensive vocabularies, and maintain internationally recognized blogs. One such tween is Tavi. I may be a bit late, but I came upon her blog a few months ago, once I actually decided to become a voracious blogger, and I was amazed. She is beyond her years. She has a knowledge of the fashion industry that supersedes most fashion interns. I think the most refreshing thing about her is that she has fun. She loves magazines, she reads newspapers, she goes to school, hates sports and makes nifty little hats and headpieces for her eclectic ensembles.

I thoroughly enjoy reading her blog when I can, I love seeing her featured on other people's blog sites and I am beguiled when I read about her on some magazine site that I frequent. So here's to being 13 again...an ode to Tavi.

*Note: By the way, nowadays I buy whatever I like from wherever I like, and Payless is not exempt. Fashion is bigger than designer labels and padded bank accounts.

Visit Tavi's Blog: http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/

Image:
Interview Magazine

Vampires, Superstitions, and Gangs...Oh My!

October 31st marks the day known as All Hallows Eve or Halloween, where children go door-knocking in innovative costumes, dental visits become more frequent due to excessive candy consumption, and fresh eggs and toilet paper litter the streets of cities all across the United States. However, there is a little more to worry about than creepy costumes, mischievous children, and cavities.

Vampires, Superstition or Truth:
With today's books, movies, and television shows romanticizing blood-sucking, pale faces, and crucifixes, its not surprising that vampires are slowly incorporating themselves into pop culture.

It is believed that vampires are as old as man himself and have existed alongside werewolves, demons, and extraterrestrials in the superstitious mythologies of all cultures worldwide. In 1897, Bram Stoker's novel Dracula officially introduced the fictional and mythological creatures to print mediums. After a vampire victim's escape in 1985, people have become very aware of the fact that vampires really do exist, and Don Henry is living proof.





Suicide Forest, Superstition or Truth:
Following San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Aokigahara is the second most popular suicide site in the world. Aokigahara, also known as the Sea of trees, is a forest found at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. It is littered with an average of 30 dead bodies per year, with over 70 bodies in the late 1990's to present. Since the 1950's over 500 people have lost their lives in the forest. After two lovers in Seicho Matsumoto's novel, Kuroi Jukai, killed themselves in the forest, Aokigahara increased in its popularity for suicides. Japanese officials have placed signs in the forest to discourage further suicide attempts. Aokigahara is now a popular site for thrill seekers and scavengers.

Gang Initiations, Superstition or Truth:
Every year, for the past 20 years, Halloween has had a special significance among the Black and Hispanic gang circuit nationwide, that plagues major metropolitan areas with fear. As early as the late 1980's gangs have spread word that initiation begins the week of Halloween, reaching its climax on Halloween day, when several brutal killings are to occur. These murders target women, and prompt city departments, fire departments and law officials to be on guard on Halloween night. The general public has also fed into this scare by sending mass texts and emails warning their family and friends to be extremely cautious.

Examples of the texts, emails and fliers:
http://www.thefolklorist.com/criminal/gang2.htm

Best advice: Whatever you decide to do, or wherever you decide to go please be cautious on Halloween night.


Images and content background courtesy of:
New York Times
Youtube National Geographic
Must Love Japan
The Folklorist
Google Search

L2E CNN.com: Balloon Boy Continues

Letter to the Editor CNN.com/US : Balloon Boy Saga Continues
Read the Original Article

Bizarre hoax, class 3 misdemeanor, possible felony charges, and flying balloon children are all synonymous with the name of mad scientist Richard Heene. (And that is the nice way of putting it). I mean when I first heard of this whole ordeal I was enraged. Who in the world would "accidentally" let there 6 year old get caught up in a weather balloon? I mean for goodness sakes when I was tutoring a 6 year old, I'd practically yank his arm right out of the socket so he wouldn't cross the street on his own, let alone mistakenly allow him to climb into my flying aircraft experiment and fly halfway across Colorado.

The parents, who met a few years ago at a Hollywood acting class, have appeared on a number of shows over the years, including "Wife Swap". Authorities and law officials strongly believe that the whole thing was staged and that the couple wanted to gain media attention and their own television show. Well it looks like they succeeded at that endeavor. Funny thing is, when the couple's son Falcon, aka the balloon boy, was asked why he would pretend to be in the balloon and later go hide in a box in the attic, he innocently told the media officials that his parents "wanted a show." After 2 or 3 interviews with that same response, Falcon mysteriously became sick and his father had to answer the questions for him.

In my unsolicited opinion, I think that if this was indeed a deliberate act for attention, the couple should suffer the consequences of their actions, maybe not to the fullest extent of the law because I do believe in mercy, but imagine what real emergencies the Air Force and police departments could have been tending to.

Overall, I think its a shame when your own son gives you up. But then again, some people know no shame. I'm just glad the boy is safe.



More on the Balloon Boy

Feature: Love...a Chemical Imbalance?

Sometimes I wonder what is the point of endless wooing musical pieces that capture the heart of a woman? Why would one want to hear romantic poems and declarations of love until their ears bleed scarlet valentine hearts and crimson red roses? Why would any woman desire to be swept off her feet and whisked away into some wonderful "paradise" ? But most importantly what woman would want a man who would dare to love her enough to lay down his life for her? Beats me, but so many women seem to desire it! (I hope by now you've sensed the incredulous amounts of sarcasm oozing out of the past few statements). The truth is that every woman wants to feel important. Every woman desires to be desired, to be needed, to be loved.

But as much as love is emotional, physiological, and physical, science has proven that it is also chemical. Surprised? Come on, what hasn't science proven? (They have an answer for even the unexplainable, but that's another topic entirely.) Helen Fisher, an anthropologist who studies love at Rutgers University, has categorized love into 3 stages: lust, attraction, and attachment. Each stage has its own chemical breakdown:

• Lust responds to testosterone in both men and women. Yes, women have testosterone too, generally much less than men, but some women have more than others.
• Attraction is marked by high levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, and low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
  
• Attachment is associated to varying levels of the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin.

Testosterone is the "male" hormone, an instantaneous hormone that responds best to physical properties such as looks. Dopamine works in the pleasure pathways of the brain and is activated by things that make us feel good. But funny enough dopamine is also activated by nicotine, cocaine, and chocolate. Norepinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is activated by heart-pumping emotions, like fear, and helps us respond immediately in emergency situations. Vasopressin, in high levels, can increase pressure in certain blood vessels. And lastly, oxytocin, which is released during childbirth and nursing, affects social behaviors such as bonding, love, and trust.

Someone once said, "dopamine brings people together and oxytocin keeps them together." And at the end of the day every woman and man-- don't be fooled, men need love too--want to know that their chemicals are in balance...not imbalanced.

*Images from
www.conversationsforabetterworld.com
http://dryicons.com/free-icons/preview/valentine-love/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Serotonin-3D-vdW.png

L2E Marie Claire: Stiletto Stoners

Letter to the Editor: Yael Kohen
Original Mare Claire article

What is a stiletto stoner you ask? Well from reading Yael Kohen's article I think its safe to assume that its a woman in her mid 20's to 30's, who's at the peak of her career and smokes pot to unwind, in oppose to the nightly cosmopolitans and apple martinis. When I ran across this article in Marie Claire, I was like "what is this news?! Everybody knows that pot- smokers come in all shapes, sizes, and bank accounts." But the truth of the matter is that as people we don't like to feel any discomfort, we don't like to suffer. So of course we're always looking for some quick fix, some microwave solution. And be it the age of high income potheads or $100 bill coke addicts, the fear of actually "dealing" with our lives still exists.

What I thought most interesting about Kohen's article was the 28 yr old reality tv production manager who said there's no need to hide her habit because everyone at her job uses the same pot dealer. Classic! I read this and was thinking to myself, isn't weed still considered a drug? A depressant to be more exact. Aren't people still subject to charges if caught? Kohen did make note of the fact that pot is becoming widely accepted all over the country. First time offenders who sell in "small increments" are getting off easy, the medicinal properties of the drug allow some people to be licensed to grow it in their backyards, and in some places its as accesible as milk at the grocery store. But what happened to the fact that in high doses over time brain cells are actually terminated, or the fact that each drag is equivalent to 6 pulls on a cigarette and hence can lead to lung cancer? I guess the answer is that as long people still have lives in need of escaping, and weed toking remains a non-felony offense, dealers will still exist in the workplace and stiletto stoners will always have a cheaper habit to drown their sorrows in. Sad, but such is life.

Read the original article here

Yael Kohen's site

9.13.09 MTV VMA's...My Top Picks

While I didn't watch the VMA's live because I just can't take some of the raw, un-edited, unadulterated jokes, I did watch performance re-caps on the MTV website. And I think that I haven't seen an award show, at least on MTV, that has been this stellar in a very longggg time. The Janet Jackson tribute to MJ was incredible! It was great to see celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Ne-Yo and Alicia Keys being fans and showing "fan-love". It reminded me of the fact that today's celebrities really are "fans" of Music Icons like MJ, Janet, Madonna and the likes. I mean, think about it, most of them were like 6 when most of today's over 40 musicians were in their prime!

New Music - More Music Videos

Pink's performance was mind-blowing. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, literally praying that she doesn't miss a step, or worse yet...fall. I think the most impressive thing is the fact that she sang her heart out, in tune and on pitch while swinging upside down with blood rushing to her head, every muscle in her body being exercised to great extremes and trying to remember each step of the routine in mid-air. How's that for talent!

P!nk - New Music - More Music Videos

Sleek in Black:

Olivia Pallermo (The City)


Chance Crawford


Most interesting Outfits:

Lady GaGa


All American Rejects (I think he's very brave to wear an entire suit in this color)

Double Take: Makes you wonder if they called each other up the night before and planned this ...

Pink and Shakira (Glad their laughing about it)


All images and videos courtesy of MTV.com

Feature: Food Affairs and Belly Fat

Thick alfredo sauce on penne, garlic focaccia bread, roasted chicken and bell peppers, basmati rice and chicken tikka masala, pepperoni pizza, wild Alaskan salmon with mashed potatoes, red velvet cake with butter- cream icing, German chocolate cake and a cold glass of milk....food is to me, what kryptonite is to superman. And when I see food, my knees buckle, my heart melts, and I give in to my long standing secret love affair with such delicious goodies.

But upon recently looking down at the spare tire that has added 1o solid pounds to my midsection, I have decided: The time has come to put an end to the madness! I mean for goodness sakes, how many times can one be mistaken for a woman that's 3 months pregnant? So forget the diet pills, the master cleanses, the sure fire ways to lose belly fat, and the gastric bypass, I'm going back to the basics--starvation and emaciation. Okay, so maybe not, but it might as well be as painful as that. I mean really, who enjoys muscle pain and rabbit food? Not I! Yet, experts claim that when you lose weight, belly fat is often the first kind of fat to go.

Medical research has shown that stomach fat, also known as visceral fat, is more metabolically active and easier to lose than subcutaneous fat under the skin. And the good news is that the more fat and flabby your stomach is, the easier it will be to lose the weight. Now ain't that just grand?!

What's even more morose is that as you grow older, belly fat increases in stages. This is due to the body storing fat in order to prepare for moments of starvation and avoid going into shock. In women, the metabolism starts to slow between the ages of 18-21, then takes a huge drop at 40, and then again at 60 and 80. Furthermore, pregnancy, beer, and increased food intake can all contribute along the way to a slower metabolism and increased visceral fat.

So how can you rid yourself of the stubborn belly fat? Here are some tips that I know I could use, and maybe you could too:

• Eating whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates.
  
• This will change the body's glucose and insulin response and make it easier to mobilize fat stores.
• Maintaining a 1,600 calorie-diet that is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAS), which have proven health benefits.
  
• MUFAS are found in avocados, nuts, seeds, olives, soybeans, chocolate and canola and olive oil.
• Getting plenty of high-intensity aerobic exercise, such as 60 minutes a day of moderate activity.
• Brisk walking is an excellent example of moderate activity
• Crunches and sit-ups complement aerobic activity, but don't help if done alone
  

Good luck!

For more helpful hints, click here or here.

Feature: The Art of Interviewing Whitney Houston

We all have some oddities when it comes to personal taste in pleasurable and recreational activities, be it music preference, thrill seeking adventure, or food choice. Personally, I have an affinity towards mega-stars who have given into momentary insanity and are barely able to salvage their careers. Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Whitney Houston all fall into that category. But each of them have taken their brief hiatuses, re-energized and regrouped, and made phenomenal comebacks. Michael may not have had the chance, but Whitney is making sure not to miss hers.

After almost 3 decades of career success, and a slew of private and public lows, Whitney "The Voice" Houston returns to the #1 spot with over 300,000 sold in her first week, which I'm sure its just the start, because after all it is "The Voice". Her new album, I Look to You, is slated to sell millions more and Whitney's musical performances and promotional appearance will make sure of that.

While I my have never had the pleasure of interviewing Whitney Houston, I read her autobiography almost 6 years ago, and I know that this woman is good at being all over the place. Dotting eyes, blank stares, sporadic thoughts and avoiding questions are just few of the things that Houston herself admits to doing. That being said, I am extremely interested in seeing how Oprah Winfrey conquers these issues in her personal interview with Whitney, which airs in 2 parts on September 14th and 15th.

This morning I saw Diane Sawyer show a clip from the upcoming Oprah interview. Oprah claims that Whitney was incredibly open, detailed, and raw when it came to answering questions. In fact, Oprah told Sawyer that, "I had to pray and repeatedly watch your [Diane Sawyer] 2002 interview with Whitney in order to be adequately prepared. And then I had to pull her aside and ask her what she wants from this interview, and she said, I want to tell my story."

And I for one am thrilled to finally hear the unfiltered, raw and unedited Whitney Houston story. Look forward to it in the new season of Oprah, airing on September 14th and 15th.


Get your fill of Whitney Houston on her website: click here