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

L2E PBS Frontline: Perpetua, Iconic Martyr and Unsung Hero

PBS Frontline: From Jesus to Christ
Part Two: The Prison Diary of Perpetua, a Martyr
Original Article Here

PBS has some incredibly detailed and informative pieces that they air, and periodically, they show one production that just sticks with you. For me the segment on the martyrdom of Perpetua, in the Frontline series From Jesus to Christ, was that piece.

In the early 3rd century, around the year 203 in ancient Carthage, North Africa, Christianity was quickly becoming a crime and recanting Christ was the only path to freedom. Perpetua, a pregnant North African woman chose to give up wealth, freedom, and eventually her life, instead of renouncing her faith in Jesus. Perpetua was charged and imprisoned for her faith. She had caught the attention of the Governor, who begged her to cooperate and pay her dues. At one point, her own father pleads with her, practically beating her into renouncing Christ in order to be freed, but Perpetua chooses death. As she documents her entire experience in a personal diary, she gives birth and has to give up her only child before she is sent to the arena. Her diary is completed by another Christian, possibly someone who admired her faith, came to visit her in prison, and went with her to the arena for her death. The diary concludes with Perpetua being mauled and tormented by several animals and then a trembling young gladiator is sent to execute her. Even in the face of her own executioner Perpetua is confident, tranquil, and resolved to the point that she guides the gladiator's sword to her own throat and he slays her.



Some may term that stubborn, but others would call it heroic. I belong to the latter group, and not only do I deem it heroic, but also obedient. Perpetua was a woman worthy of the calling*, a woman after God's own heart, for she did not need to hold violent protests to stand up for what she believed in, her heroism exuded great serenity and much submission to God's will. In one of Peter's letters to persecuted Christians, he writes that a woman of a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God's sight.* And I believe that a woman of circumstance such as Perpetua could only be confident because of the fact that her death would mean freedom to be dispatched towards heaven. Historians have not found the diaries of many martyrs, in fact, its more likely that in the face of persecution, people often recanted their faith in Christ and then eventually repented and returned to the faith. Perpetua, however, was in a class of her own.

In one of the synoptic gospels, Jesus shares a parable about justice and persistence in which a widow consistently brings her case to the judge in order to receive justice. With much annoyance and little deliberation, the judge grants the woman's pleas and justice is served. The point of this parable is to show that persistence and boldness are rewarded. And given the fact that we live in a microwave society, where everything moves at the speed of light, and things are here today gone tomorrow, its not surprising that Jesus ends the parable with this question to his disciples, "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"*

"In the blood of the martyrs, lie the seeds of the church." Are you willing to be a martyr for your faith?


Listen to the story of Perpetua

*(Ephesians 4:1) (2Thessalonians 1:11)
*(1Peter 3:4)
*(Luke 18:1-9)

Image from:
Christian Multimedia

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

Fashion Profile: House of Dagmar

Google.com has different themes to help personalize your iGoogle homepage. My theme is "House of Dagmar," and everyday I get to stare at the magnificently innovative designs of the Swedish fashion label and pretend, just for a moment, that instead of sitting at my computer desk working, I am dancing in a ballet studio simply stunning and glamorously dahhhlllling in Dagmar! So I decided to do a fashion profile on the fashion label. Enjoy!

*******
Since 2005, three Swedish sisters, Kristina Tjader, Karen Soderlind, and Sophia Malm have successfully launched and maintained House of Dagmar, a stellar fashion label that caters to the arty chic type. Each sister has had major exposure to the fashion industry, with previous experience working under top designer labels such as Christian Lacroix and H&M.

House of Dagmar incorporates colors from the 1920's and 1930's Art Deco period, with a feeling of femininity, trendiness, and quality that makes each garment glamorous and unique. The sisters claim that their late grandmother and seamstress, Dagmar, is the muse and inspiration of their collection. In keeping with the family tradition , many of the pieces in the collection have some hand-made detail that gives it an extra personal touch.



House of Dagmar has been recognized as the Rookie of the Year by the Swedish Fashion council in 2005 , Gen Art during NY Fashion Week 2007, and the Best Designer of the Year Award by Swedish Elle in 2006 and 2008.


Images from:
B/W of sisters
House of Dagmar

Fashion: Topshop, Kate Moss, NYC & Shiny !

Friday night and nothing planned? Do what I do and go shopping...okay "window" shopping if you insist on being accurate.

I rarely have the opportunity to shop till I drop and look at, try on, and touch everything my little heart desires. The reason being: I often go to the boutiques with women and men who cannot tolerate the constant back and forth of an avid window-shopper and fashionista like myself. So I take my own trips to Bergdorf' s, Saks, and Bloomingdales and I burn calories climbing up and down the escalators to each floor and toning up the muscles in my fingers by pushing endless buttons on the gorgeous gold elevator panels. Let me tell you, this beats out Tae Bo any day!


Anyhow, after walking the cold, dark streets of Soho, and strutting in and out of each boutique on Broadway, I finally made it to Topshop. I've seen the line in magazines and even browsed the collection online, but nothing beats the sea of shiny that awaits you once you enter the boutique in the flesh! I was entranced, mesmerized to say the least. I saw so many trinkets, baubles, sequins, glass beads, glitter, and sparkly embroidery that I was near blind. Not to mention the chains, lots and lots of chains, on handbags and booties and jackets and leather and dresses and blouses.

I thoroughly enjoyed the pieces in the collection and the overall design line was superb, with a little something for everyone. Kate Moss did an excellent job. My favorite floor was the main entrance level, and the Christopher Kane collection on the 2nd floor. Oh, how I love shiny.



All images from: Topshop. Click to Shop

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

Mary J Blige & Drake -->The One

I think I really like this song...but in application to my life I wonder if me liking it is b/c its on the border of confident or conceited? Prideful or positive? Arrogant or ....ok I can't figure out any more rhyming or alliterative words to illustrate my point. But I'm feeling it. Listen/Watch Now:



Anyhow, after several decades and pushing 40, Mary J. Blige still looks fresh! I love love love the short blond cut.


Image courtesy of You Tube and Interscope Records.

Image of the Week

Alexander McQueen is a monster!!!!!!!!!!!! A brute beast!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean who comes up with such phenomenal shoes that the average person most definitely cannot afford AND most positively cannot walk in....unless you're trying to lose your life.







I'll be looking forward to the editorial spreads with these baby's in them! Til then..."I'll be dreaming..."

See the entire Spring 2010 Collection and highlights

Flooded Faith

In a world where so many worries can consume us on a daily basis, I find that its easy to become overwhelmed, resentful, angered and apathetic. You can question your role in society and your ability to successfully contribute to social change and reform. And after exhausting days where your own personal problems and tribulations have completely taken you out, you come to your own self-evident truth: I cannot change the state of the world. People will do as they please, misfortune will overtake some, and bad decisions will overtake others. Therefore, I can and will only look out for me. I am my greatest responsibility. I am my only responsibility.

The problem with this is that it creates a society of self-absorbed, prideful, and narcissistic individuals, which ends up leaving the world in worse state than it began. Can you be responsible for the whole world? Maybe not, but you can be responsible for what you pour into the world. The reason we don't is because we have completely lost faith in faith.

I think that we've come to believe that it is impossible to do anything. Our own strength is not sufficient to change the world and we can't carry burdens that are not our own. The truth is: that's right. As long as this world exists, we

"will always have the poor among us*," and on our own strength, we will be "weary and burdened."

Typhoon Ondoy, also known as Hurricane Ketsana, hit the Philippines 9/26/09. Thousands of acres of crops and produce had been wiped out, 10,000+ homes and businesses were destroyed, children had to be carried on the shoulder of adults who were barely able to keep their heads above water, and 240+ were killed by the typhoon.


Now imagine this: You are 1 of 70 people missing. No one knows where you are, or whether you are dead or alive, no one can account for you. Would you lose faith in faith then....or would you fight and hold on for dear life?

One of my church's sister congregations in Manila, Philippines had over 70 Christians missing and un-accounted for after the typhoon. All that ran through my mind was, "what are they running on? What's keeping them above water?" Our own worries are minute and simplistic, in comparison, yet we have of such little faith.

My question to you is "where has your faith gone and what are you putting your hope in? While you may not be able to conquer the world, you can increase your faith...one mustard seed at a time.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

* John12:8

For more on Typhoon Ondoy click here.


"Faith" image from www.virtueradionetwork.com

Image of the Week

I love splashes of color, electromagnetic art, and phenomenal fashion photography. And I absolutely adore Jed Root's line-up of fantabulous fashion industry professionals. So of course I always go back there!

This is a peek at the portfolio of the fantastic Argentinian photog Diego Uchitel. Enjoy!







View more Diego at Jed Root

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

Bloggher Love....

Personal Post:

I've come to realize that is a daunting task to view all your favorite blogs because you like them. To see each bloggherlicious post pop-up on your news feed every hour on the hour of every day is taxing. To click on each and every single blog you follow and read every single post you've bookmarked and make comments on every itsy bitsy thingy that you likey is tiring. To multi-task and toggle between facebook and blogspots, wordpress and typepad, myspaces and yahoos, qwerty phone pads and emails....its all daunting, darling but daunting.

So I am here to say to all my blogging blogosphere icons, my bloggher-loving readers, my photo-hawking internet galacticons, my back-breaking mini-upcoming blogger children...it is a tough job to be on the edge of fashion and lifestyle and all things "interesting". It is a tough job to always have something to post that's so refined that no one can find fault. Its a tough job to find your favorite blog-subjects ridiculed and mocked by your readers. Its a tough job to try to make a living out of this thing called blogging....its a small world after all.

So please, I ask that you understand just how hard we have it. That you give us time to gather our thoughts, and be gracious with us when we write run-on sentences, and massive typos...please spare us, and just read.

Thank you.
-signed, a citizen for the advancement of dialogue between strangers. :)

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