Mystic Times

DONATE NOW & Support Doctors Without Borders Haiti Emergency Response

2010-01-13T23:03:00.002-05:00

Your gift today will support emergency medical care for the men, women, and children affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Please give as generously as you can to Doctors Without Borders Haiti Earthquake Response and help them save lives.

Wavin' Flag Celebration Mix- Let the Countdown Begin......

2010-01-12T23:11:00.001-05:00

"Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher, see the champions take the field now, unify us, make us feel proud"..

Perfect song, from the perfect artist for the occasion!

Happy Holidays!!!!

2009-12-24T20:54:00.000-05:00

Let Christmas not become a thing
Merely of merchant's trafficking,
Of tinsel, bell and holly wreath
And surface pleasure, but beneath
The childish glamour, let us find
Nourishment for soul and mind.
Let us follow kinder ways
Through our teeming human maze,
And help the age of peace to come
From a Dreamer's martyrdom.
~Madeline Morse

Empire State of Mind

2009-11-13T20:38:00.005-05:00

Beautiful, arresting view from the cold and windy top of The Empire State Building.....

The Lost Tribes of New York City

2009-11-07T18:42:00.002-05:00

The Lost Tribes of New York City from Carolyn London on Vimeo.

From The London Squared Productions

Brilliant!!!

2009-10-27T17:58:00.000-04:00

"....Ohhh how I love a glass of wine or two..For in wine I solely see the truth...." Dellé

Education + Girls= Global Poverty Solution ????

2009-10-20T21:17:00.004-04:00

""Tererai is a long-faced woman with high cheekbones and a medium brown complexion; she has a high forehead and tight cornrows. Like many women around the world, she doesn’t know when she was born and has no documentation of her birth. As a child, Tererai didn’t get much formal education, partly because she was a girl and was expected to do household chores. She herded cattle and looked after her younger siblings. Her father would say, Let’s send our sons to school, because they will be the breadwinners. Tererai’s brother, Tinashe, was forced to go to school, where he was an indifferent student. Tererai pleaded to be allowed to attend but wasn’t permitted to do so. Tinashe brought his books home each afternoon, and Tererai pored over them and taught herself to read and write. Soon she was doing her brother’s homework every evening.

The teacher grew puzzled, for Tinashe was a poor student in class but always handed in exemplary homework. Finally, the teacher noticed that the handwriting was different for homework and for class assignments and whipped Tinashe until he confessed the truth. Then the teacher went to the father, told him that Tererai was a prodigy and begged that she be allowed to attend school. After much argument, the father allowed Tererai to attend school for a couple of terms, but then married her off at about age 11.

Tererai’s husband barred her from attending school, resented her literacy and beat her whenever she tried to practice her reading by looking at a scrap of old newspaper. Indeed, he beat her for plenty more as well. She hated her marriage but had no way out. “If you’re a woman and you are not educated, what else?” she asks.

Yet when Jo Luck came and talked to Tererai and other young women in her village, Luck kept insisting that things did not have to be this way. She kept saying that they could achieve their goals, repeatedly using the word “achievable.” The women caught the repetition and asked the interpreter to explain in detail what “achievable” meant. That gave Luck a chance to push forward. “What are your hopes?” she asked the women, through the interpreter. Tererai and the others were puzzled by the question, because they didn’t really have any hopes. But Luck pushed them to think about their dreams, and reluctantly, they began to think about what they wanted.

Tererai timidly voiced hope of getting an education. Luck pounced and told her that she could do it, that she should write down her goals and methodically pursue them. After Luck and her entourage disappeared, Tererai began to study on her own, in hiding from her husband, while raising her five children. Painstakingly, with the help of friends, she wrote down her goals on a piece of paper: “One day I will go to the United States of America,” she began, for Goal 1. She added that she would earn a college degree, a master’s degree and a Ph.D. — all exquisitely absurd dreams for a married cattle herder in Zimbabwe who had less than one year’s formal education. But Tererai took the piece of paper and folded it inside three layers of plastic to protect it, and then placed it in an old can. She buried the can under a rock where she herded cattle.

Then Tererai took correspondence classes and began saving money. Her self-confidence grew as she did brilliantly in her studies, and she became a community organizer for Heifer. She stunned everyone with superb schoolwork, and the Heifer aid workers encouraged her to think that she could study in America. One day in 1998, she received notice that she had been admitted to Oklahoma State University.

Some of the neighbors thought that a woman should focus on educating her children, not herself. “I can’t talk about my children’s education when I’m not educated myself,” Tererai responded. “If I educate myself, then I can educate my children.” So she climbed into an airplane and flew to America.
At Oklahoma State, Tererai took every credit she could and worked nights to make money. She earned her undergraduate degree, brought her five children to America and started her master’s, then returned to her village. She dug up the tin can under the rock and took out the paper on which she had scribbled her goals. She put check marks beside the goals she had fulfilled and buried the tin can again.

In Arkansas, she took a job working for Heifer — while simultaneously earning a master’s degree part time. When she had her M.A., Tererai again returned to her village. After embracing her mother and sister, she dug up her tin can and checked off her next goal. Now she is working on her Ph.D. at Western Michigan University.

Tererai has completed her course work and is completing a dissertation about AIDS programs among the poor in Africa. She will become a productive economic asset for Africa and a significant figure in the battle against AIDS. And when she has her doctorate, Tererai will go back to her village and, after hugging her loved ones, go out to the field and dig up her can again.
There are many metaphors for the role of foreign assistance. For our part, we like to think of aid as a kind of lubricant, a few drops of oil in the crankcase of the developing world, so that gears move freely again on their own. That is what the assistance to Tererai amounted to: a bit of help where and when it counts most, which often means focusing on women like her. And now Tererai is gliding along freely on her own — truly able to hold up half the sky.""
----
“Investment in girls’ education may well be the highest-return investment available in the developing world,” Larry Summers former chief economist of the World Bank, currently Director of the White House's National Economic Council.
---
Excerpts above taken from the NY Times article ==> The Women's Crusade

Moral: If we educate one girl, chances are we change the destiny of her descendants ..........

Soul In Bloom

2009-10-15T22:32:00.003-04:00

Destiny

2009-10-11T14:33:00.004-04:00

"Destiny is so mysterious but it always find its way".....

By The People: The Election of Barack Obama

2009-10-11T13:32:00.006-04:00

I predict that this documentary, which premieres on HBO on November 3, 2009, will revitalize the support behind the President and remind us of the energy, the hope and other emotions we felt during the election year and the night he was elected. He needs it, we need it , things haven't been hopeful for most since that night and maybe we do need to revisit those moments to reawaken the hope and more......

By The People: The Election of Barack Obama highlights never-before-seen footage of Obama, as well as interviews and candid moments with wife Michelle Obama, the couple’s young daughters, and senior campaign staff, volunteers, reporters, supporters and opponents.

The 120-mintue documentary is produced by Edward Norton, Stuart Blumberg and William Migliore, and is directed by Amy Rice and Alicia Sams.

Source of quote

President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize (for His Potential??)

2009-10-09T17:54:00.013-04:00

Without a doubt, Oslo is rewarding Potential as opposed to Action. Though I believe in the potential of President Obama and I admire his commitment to diplomacy as a method to resolve world issues, this was a very premature move by the Nobel Committee. It is as if they are saying, you (President Obama) have a platform that can reach further than most and you have mentioned your preference for diplomacy, this is the route we always want you to take. But shouldn’t the peace prize be a reward for past (and successful peace) actions?

It may aid him but it will also hamper him. What happens when diplomacy fails, when multi-lateral talks fail, when only a show of force can be effective? For e.g. General McChrystal has requested a troop surge to combat Taliban gains in Afghanistan. The decision was already tough for President Obama, how will the peace prize factor in the final decision?? We shall see...We shall see....

See below reactions from President Obama, his press secretary, aides and others in response to the announcement... courtesy of Huffington Post

You know this win was going to be Kanyed....:)

"An Education"

2009-10-08T12:50:00.008-04:00

"But there were other lessons Simon taught me that I regret learning. I learned not to trust people; I learned not to believe what they say but to watch what they do; I learned to suspect that anyone and everyone is capable of 'living a lie'. I came to believe that other people -- even when you think you know them well -- are ultimately unknowable. " (pp. 55-56)
Relatable Life lessons...
Excerpt from Lynn Barber's memoir "An Education"

The Film, based on the memoir opens 10/9/09

In Paris, Alexander McQueen Was 10 inches Above Ground

2009-10-07T20:27:00.010-04:00

Be the chicest .....

Stand above all in the office :)

Fabulous night out!

Click any of the images to watch the show...Nope, no models were harm, they survived the show and made history!!!....@10 inches, they may be a tad bit high for the everyday walkway but the designs are amazing!!!!

Frank Dellé (Eased from Seeed) is all about the "Pound Power"

2009-10-06T21:21:00.009-04:00

I love this video!! Frank Dellé , aka Eased from Seeed, who is half-Ghanaian, half-German went home to Ghana to film this video and included some of his Ghanaian relatives!!! It was all about the fun and Pound Power!:)

His highly anticipated solo album "Before I Grow Old" is out and it's in English and Patois, hooray for us non German speakers:).. You can listen to entire album here ==> "Before I Grow Old" .
I also love "Waiting on the world to change", the entire album is brilliant, it passes the shuffle play test!!...plus "he well broad & heavy & sexy" ;)

Dankeschön Ingo!! ;) I Love It!!

What does an African tribe have to do with the launch of Snickers in Russia?

2009-09-30T14:55:00.003-04:00

Snickers will be in Russia very soon. This is the ad used in the promotion. My Russian fails me here as I cannot see the connection....you?

2009-09-28T11:38:00.007-04:00

"Okay," I say, "let's see. The choices we're working with here are a block universe, where past, present and future all coexist simultaneously and everything has already happened; chaos, where anything can happen and nothing can be predicted because we can't know all the variables; and a Christian universe in which God made everything and it's all here for a purpose but we have free will anyway. Right?"

Clare wiggles her toes at me. "I guess."

"And what do you vote for?"

Clare is silent. Her pragmatism and her romantic feelings about Jesus and Mary are, at thirteen, almost equally balanced. A year ago she would have said God without hesitation. In ten years she will vote for determinism, and ten years after that Clare will believe that the universe is arbitrary, that if God exists he does not hear our prayers, that cause and effect are inescapable and brutal, but meaningless. And after that? I don't know. But right now Claire sits on the threshold of adolescence with her faith in one hand and her growing skepticism in the other, and all she can do is try to juggle them, or squeeze them together until they fuse. She shakes her head. "I don't know. I WANT God. Is that okay?..."

Excerpt from The Time Traveler's Wife....pg.76-77

Saisissez le jour! Seize the day! Carpe diem!

2009-09-26T12:29:00.006-04:00

~C’est pour toi, pour moi, pour nous… Saisissez le jour! ~
This is for me, for you, for us.....Seize the day!

{~WAX TAILOR ~ SEIZE THE DAY (w/CHARLOTTE SAVARY)~}
“Hold them close, Petals of a rose
Thorns as well, Friends and foes
Have no fear {Don’t you trust me, you must trust me}

Seize the day, Seize the day, Seize the day, Seize the day
I don’t mind whatever happens, I don’t care whatever happens
Let them burn, Things of cotton
Admire the fire, Things undone
There’s applause, There’ll be encores
You’re sincere, That’s what we are
Have no fear {Don’t you trust me, you must trust me}
Seize the day, Seize the day, Seize the day, Seize the day
I don’t mind whatever happens, I don’t care whatever happens”

NOS shoe boutique

2009-09-23T00:47:00.006-04:00

Tonight Dumbo, Brooklyn upped its trendy factor with the opening of NOS shoe boutique.

Entering, it doesn't feel like a store but instead like a gallery, as the shoes are displayed as priceless, treasured, artifacts. Each, searched for with an eye for the unique yet trendy, well designed shoe.

I heart these shoes. I desire them. Beautiful, adorable. I would just sit & stare at my feet...:)

The boutique also sells a tiny collection of women clothing, handbags and jewelry. However these items are merely there to accessorize the shoes, which is the focal point of the shopping experience.

NOS Shoe Boutique
68 Jay Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn

J'aime Paris- The Film by Cedric Klapish

2009-09-22T13:38:00.008-04:00

Cedric Klapish's film, Paris, now playing at the IFC Center is a must see!!!
If you love Paris then you won't be disappointed. Watching this film is like watching your lover interacting with others, in this case Julliette Binoche, Roman Duris (L'Auburge Espagnole, Russian Dolls, Molière), Melanie Laurent (Inglorious Basterds) etc....You are jealous because the interaction is not with you but you also find yourself falling deeper in love because of the undeniable beauty ;).....

All the required elements are present; tragedy, love, sadness, comedy, drama, hint of xenophobia (it is Paris;), Illegal migration from Africa (it is Paris) and accomplished dreams/desires....Beautiful story but it ends up becoming just a vehicle to see Paris in all its imperfect glory ;)......

Currently playing at the IFC Center (NYC)

Voyez-vous la vie en rose comme Edith Piaf???

2009-09-17T23:05:00.007-04:00

La Vie En Rose ~ Edith Piaf

“Des nuits d’amour à en mourir
Un grand bonheur qui prend sa place,
Les ennuies, les chagrins s’effacent,
Heureux, heureux pour mon plaisir.”

les plus belles paroles......

Christiane Amanpour- The Power of the Interview

2009-09-14T22:34:00.009-04:00

I am so excited about this news, Christiane Amanpour has her very own show. Starting 9/21 it will be on nightly on CNNI and starting 9/27, Sundays on CNN USA........This is well overdue CNN !!!

I am a huge fan!! I love HER!! I admire her intelligence, extensive knowledge on International Affairs, this woman knows her stuff......I have been admiring her since, like forever.... If I could walk in someone's shoe, I would choose hers...I assure you America's Sunday "Political TV" just got better.

C'est Brilliant!!!!!!

CNN- USA~ Sundays @ 2 p.m.
See show's site for CNNI schedule....
http://www.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/amanpour/

Serena Williams Ad for the U.S. Open~ Foreshadowing??? ;)

2009-09-14T20:57:00.004-04:00

Was Serena giving us a little hint of things to come in her ad promoting the U.S. Open??? ;>) Maybe, maybe not ....What do you think ???

In Memory of 9/11/01

2009-09-11T08:57:00.000-04:00

“Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.”

Today we remember over 3000 stars, created on 9/11/01…Linger in the arms of the ones you love today, as tomorrow is not promised.

"Summer Moon"

2009-08-30T11:21:00.002-04:00

Jamaicans Shelly-Ann Fraser and Kerron Stewart Take Gold, Silver in 100m Finals at World Championship

2009-08-17T16:36:00.017-04:00

Shelly-Ann Fraser jetted from the blocks and never looked back, proven that her 2008 Olympic gold medal, exactly 1 year ago was not a fluke. She was so fast out of the blocks, the race was hers to loose 30 meters in. Stewart and American Jeter(Bronze medalist) tried hard but they could not catch her.

The highlight for me was her infectious joy after winning, she was like a kid on Christmas morning. And a kid she is , only 22 with an Olympic gold and a World gold medal under her belt, for her August is the new December!!!

Too cute, someone needs to get her an endorsement deal stat!!

Usain Bolt Wins 100m World Championship with New World Record

2009-08-16T15:55:00.014-04:00

Usain Bolt did it again. He went out there to win and he accomplished it. He stays focus on his goals always, his antics before every race can either be described as arrogance or confidence, depends on where you sit in life. From where I am sitting, I say this guy has brilliant tunnel vision!! and that is not from my Jamaican bias :)
His attitude brings to mind, a quote from the French writer Gabriel Riqueti Mirabeau “None, but people of strong passion are capable of rising to greatness.”

Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell-100 m Gold and Bronze.

and they dance! it is great to see Powell doing some celebrating and smiling at a major world meet, emotions that have always eluded him before.....

To watch the IAAF World Championship outside of Versus and NBC, go to www.universalsports.com

Thorns and Life

2009-08-14T19:11:00.003-04:00

Photo from Kell {Live Laugh Love Photography}

"Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."

Quote from this guy, François-Marie Arouet aka Voltaire!!

JetBlue Offers $599 All-You-Can-Jet Pass

2009-08-13T08:08:00.003-04:00

Lets face it, airline travel has gotten a little bit annoying with all the added fees and the extras that have been taken away. It’s a little refreshing to hear of JetBlue's all-you-can jet pass for $599. Unlimited flights to the 56 JetBlue destinations from September 8-October 8, 2009. Of course there are quite a few catches, like you must make your purchase by August 21, 2009 and you must do it by phone.

What You Get
1. Unlimited flying from Sept. 8-Oct. 8, 2009
2. No black out dates

You Give
1. $599-Includes fees for domestic but not for international travel
Some of the Rules
1. Must be purchased by August 21, 2009!!
2. Must be a member of the TrueBlue frequent flyer program
3. You must purchase the pass over the phone
4. Each flight must be booked 3 days in advance of travel date

If you have a few visits you must make during this time, then you may want to take advantage of this. Of course, make sure you compare prices against other airlines, because fare wars aren't uncommon and I am sure JetBlue's competitors are planning their response.

If you would like to know more, click here --> JetBlue- Unlimited 1 month jet pass.

On The Street With Bill Cunningham-The Buttoned Down Shirt Dress

2009-08-09T09:26:00.008-04:00

(Click image to view video on NY Times site)
Check out Bill Cunningham's latest "On The Street" , he says the shirtdress trend is a reflection of the recession/depression.

I love the style because it is simple, classic and it transcends seasons. Another huge plus, depending on the shoes it can be casual or glamorous. He may have a point, one outfit that I can wear all year round, flatters my shape and goes from lunch with friends to dinner date, indeed a wise investment for these times ;).

(On The Street w/Bill Cunningham)

SUNshine Everywhere According to Malibu Rum

2009-08-08T11:59:00.008-04:00

Ok I am force to admit it, this Malibu rum spot has grown on me and I don't even drink rum. Yes, it's cheesy and reeks of the Caribbean cliche, "regardless, life is just sunny" but that is just "details, minor details". SUNshineee everywhere :).

The experience is extended on the website www.radiomaliboomboom.com , which is designed to keep the island vibes going.

Radio station tour, ringtones, learning about the DJs and even a radio station, featuring Universal Studio artists with a Caribbean background, but those are just "details, minor details"....:)

The Friendship Bond

2009-08-07T15:38:00.005-04:00

The bond of a true friendship does not break because others imply it is otherwise. Always be open to your friends, let them know who you are, inside and out, especially as the years go by. There will be a moment, when you wont be around and the creature of deception will try to slither in and attempt to break that bond, but it is guaranteed to fail, as your true friends will use their knowledge of who you are and what you stand for against that deception.

Apoliva Ad Scares Viewers

2009-08-06T22:50:00.003-04:00

According to AdFreak, the Swedish brand Apoliva's new ad has been scaring viewers. Apparently the model featured in the ad is ghostly looking. Judge for yourself, if she scares you too, you can join the support group on facebook, "I am scared of the girl in the Apoliva commercial " , as of now it is 764 short of 100,000 members. Let's hope all this attention translates into sales for the brand.

"In Case Of Emergency, Cut Rope" Says Aircel

2009-08-05T20:16:00.010-04:00

The Milan subway in Mumbai apparently has a history of flooding during the Monsoon season. So, AIRCEL, an Indian mobile company, betting on an almost sure thing, placed a billboard at the station with a real rescue boat tied to it , its logo and the tagline "In Case Of Emergency, Cut Rope" .

On July 15, the bet paid up and the station was flooded. AIRCEL staff, wearing tees with the company's logo was on hand to cut the rope and offer "emergency" transport to the stranded commuters, in full camera view of course.

The company received quite a bit of "hero" press and was even held up as an example to the Government agency BMC of how to prepare for an emergency. (Aircel did what BMC did not)

Springwise label this as sympvertising, hmmmmm, ok, but I see this more as a company leaning into frame and reposition the spotlight on themselves. It was almost guaranteed the subway station would flood , leading to stranded and distressed commuters, who would be willing to get in the boat and be "carried" to safety by men wearing AIRCEL tees. With all the media present, the story could not be reported without the mention of AIRCEL and the images show its customers that the brand cares and is always there for them, even in times of emergency. Yep, they leaned, no, they JUMPED right into frame.

The Sky Is Alive With The Rays Of The Moon In New Jersey

2009-08-04T21:12:00.005-04:00

Took a trip down to NJ this past weekend and the highlight was, standing on the front lawn and just staring at this.

Haven't had the illusion of closeness to the moon in a long time and oh boy, it felt so good. The joy of a warm summer night, where your soundtrack is composed of the laughter of your friends and sounds from night flying insects along with the moon in full frontal uninterrupted view. Brilliant!!!

Armando Iannucci - "In The Loop"

2009-08-04T20:52:00.005-04:00

(Re-posted from my tumblr)

Armando Iannucci's film "In The Loop" is a must see. It is a masterful political satire which shows people in both the UK and USA government running around, tripping over their words, not masterfully walking the line during the days leading up to a "war" with a country that is never mentioned. Hands down the best character is the really foul mouthed British Director of Communications, Malcolm Tucker (played by Peter Capaldi), who may or may not be based on Alastair Campbell, Blair's C.D.

Tucker gives us many memorable quotes, like "Nazi Julie Andrews", "lubricating horse cock" and "I own you now, you are my Kunta Kinta" but the best quote from the film for me is Linton Barwick saying to Malcolm Tucker in the U.N. Meditation room:

"Ok firstly don't raise your voice, this is a sacred place. Now, you may not believe that and I may not believe that but by God it is a useful hypocrisy".

Like I said , a brilliant satirical film, a must see, you will really DWL....

New Dawn, New Day

2009-07-30T15:11:00.000-04:00

Nina Simone, “Feelin’ Good”, Joe Clausell remix….

Happy Birthday AMERICA!!

2009-07-03T11:03:00.004-04:00

Lets spend this Independence week-end celebrating what is great about good ole U.S.A. and what it means to each of us. Sure, its meaning will differ from person to person BUT here lies one of its great beauty. We are allowed to celebrate & voice our love how we see fit! So much can be said but lets leave that for the rest of the year, lets just celebrate living in America!!!

Mrs. Slocombe from "Are You Being Served?" Dies.....

2009-07-01T15:43:00.004-04:00

The actress who played Mrs. Slocombe on "Are You being Served?" died today. I remember watching this show as a child. Mrs. Slocombe always, always, made me laugh as she went on and on about her pussy (cat). She delivered those lines with such a straight face, I don't know how she did it , when surely everyone else was dying with laughter.

Here is a compilation of some her best and funniest "pussy"(cat) moments. Enjoy! May her soul R.I.P

If Today Was Your Last Day????

2009-06-30T06:14:00.001-04:00

"If today was your last day, and tomorrow was too late, could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past? Donate every dime you have?"

"Against the grain should be a way of life. What's worth the price is always worth the fight. Every second counts cause there's no second try, So live like you're never living twice. Don't take the free ride in your whole life."

Do You Know Your HIV Status? -The Whitehouse Wants You To Know

2009-06-27T21:37:00.004-04:00

Today was National HIV Testing Day. The President & his Wife want you to get tested.

Do you know your status? Learn your status anytime by visiting http://www.hivtest.org or text KNOWIT to 566948 to find a testing location near you.

According to the CDC, 1 in 5 American currently living with HIV doesn't know it. This is not a disease that exists only in Africa people, with all the media I know it is easy to think it is not here but it is right here in our world. Protect yourself always, HIV does not discriminate and get tested so you can know your status. I know mine, make sure you know yours!

Better On The Other Side (New Song -Tribute To Michael Jackson)

2009-06-27T09:14:00.007-04:00

Within a few hours of the passing of Michael Jackson, a group of artists searching for an outlet for their grief came together and made "Better On The Other Side". The song features The Game, P Diddy, Boyz II Men, Mario Winans, Chris Brown et. al. It's a fitting tribute to the pop star because we see M.J.'s print all over their careers and they have always acknowledge it in life, so it was expected after his death.

"Better On The Other Side" (click here to download MP3)

@iamdiddy tweeted it out to his followers on 6/26/09 and the song has already exceeded 100,000 plays according to Mashable

With brilliant lyrics like this from "The Game":
“Who is Michael Jackson, You’re Michael Jackson,
I am Michael Jackson, We’re all Michael Jackson. I guess what I am asking is everybody bow their head for a legend, don’t breathe for a second. Now let the air out, grab the hand of somebody you care about……” and ........."I am sorry Mrs. Jackson anything i can ever do to better you, your son was our king, so we go Corretta you,
I am writing this letter to all the Jackson kids, we all Jackson kids, time to let us through"... There is a Grammy in the future .

I predict that this Sunday's BET Awards will be the most watched BET AWARDS show in history, even I am going to watch and I haven't in over 5 years. I hope they won't disappoint.......

Michael Jackson-His Impact

2009-06-26T12:06:00.009-04:00

As the world mourns Michael Jackson, we remember the moments in our own lives when we connected with his songs, whether it was Thriller, Billy Jean, Black or White or "I Wanna Rock With You" to name a few.

For me, the song that had the most impact on my life was “U.S.A for Africa-We Are The World”. I remember watching that video over and over and over again. My favorite words from that song “well send them your heart, so they know that someone cares”. I spend many days, in Westmoreland, JA, in front of the mirror with my hands over my ears like earphones, pretending to be Cyndi Lauper singing “Well, well, well, well let us realizes that a change can only come.” It was about the same time I realized that I was never going to be a singer and made the wise decision to save the world from hearing my voice :).

However, what that song did, was made me realize that we could be in one place in the world and could do something that helped someone else in another part of the world. This was my first exposure to the “Global Village” concept and also to the value of humanitarian work. I knew I wanted to be part of that world, the world where people in the spotlight section did work that help people in the dark section.

Of course as I grew up and faced my own trials and tribulations, that dream faded to the background. Like most people I became focused on the needs of the person in my mirror. Focused on my own goals, my own superficial desires and I walked a different path. I figured that someone else was helping. Occasionally, but only a few times, I would give something to an organization to suppress the cries inside my head to do more.

Recently, life knocked me off on the path I was walking and pointed me in the direction of the path that would let me live the dream that “We Are The World “ placed in my head. Now, everything I do is a means to get to that end and the desire is even greater than ever today. I wasn’t the biggest M.J. fan, at least not like my friends, if I had met him, I wouldn’t have fainted but I loved many of his songs and I did my share of imitating his dance moves without success.
However for me, of all the songs that exist in the world collection of music, the song that had the most impact, the song that affected my view of the world, that opened up concepts to me was one of the songs he wrote (with Lionel Richie). That was the power of Michael Jackson, his ability to touch people from every part of the globe through music. He wasn’t a perfect man, he gave in to “Human Nature” and his insatiable desire to be loved always, by everyone, may have affected the way he lived his life. I will not judge him; it is not my place because I can’t begin to imagine what it felt like to walk in his shoes.

However, on this day as we mourn the death of the greatest musical artist of modern times, I just want to say to him, Thank You. Thank You M.J. for opening up to a little girl, in a tiny section of a tiny island in the Caribbean sea, the concept of sending our heart to those in the world who needs to know that someone, out there in the big world cares whether they live or die. The concept that the world is a Global Village and that we can make a brighter day, by sharing our sunshine with those for whom the sun does not shine.
I will always make sure that I live my life by these concepts, to make a difference always.

R.I.P Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T21:05:00.003-04:00

Michael Jackson is finally doing the ultimate Moon Walk tonight...Lets all do it along with him and link the world to the moon. He is the only pop artist whose music touched every single part of the globe...there was none like him and there won't be another!!!...

R.I.P. MJ

“The Biggest Regret Is The Unlived Life” –MSF Doctor

2009-06-03T23:27:00.006-04:00

I glimpsed a dream that I want to become a reality
I stepped on a path on which I now want to walk
I sensed the stir of a passion that I want to be fully awakened

To not realize this dream
To not walk this path
To not live this passion to the fullest

Will be, THE biggest regret of my life!!

Lost or Found? I Believe Found!

2009-05-23T21:45:00.004-04:00

Floating among the stars, eyes closed, arms outstretched, all control given up, to the power of Lost by Coldplay....

Discovering John Brown’s Body

2009-05-21T22:10:00.007-04:00

On the invitation from an avid fan of John Brown’s Body, I went to Southpaw last Saturday to see this reggae band famous for their energetic live show.

I was late and so I missed the opening act, Passafire. I heard they were brilliant. I did make it right on time for JBB to take the stage and as they did, the house erupted in lots of screams from all the Brooklyn hipsters present.

To me, native of Reggae land, there was something familiar about their performance, their music and their lyrics, actually they reminded me a little bit of Third World. BUT, something was missing, that one ingredient, the ever present “thing” to truly connect with me and touched my soul was not present, I didn't feel it. Now, I am not bias to foreign acts of reggae, I immediately connected with SEEED, the German reggae band, even though their songs are mostly in German. SEEED’s voice, energy, style, performance though foreign went directly through me and that is what Reggae does, it goes through you, connecting to your inner core, getting to your soul.

While my inner core kept missing the connection, the rest of house was hooked and locked in. Every move, every beat, every trumpet solo, guitar rip hit the spot with the fans. It was obvious they all worshipped at the Church of JBB and for them, the sermon was rousing. So, because of the reaction of their fans, I am not going to write off JBB, so many people couldn't be wrong. I am going to continue my exploration of John Brown’s Body and maybe I will find that one thing that I missed last Saturday night.

2009-05-07T12:50:00.004-04:00

If you stare into the Abyss long enough the Abyss stares back at you. - Friedrich Nietzsche

Academic Earth- Using The Web To Bring Free World Class Education to Everyone

2009-04-08T22:12:00.011-04:00

I triple heart this brilliant website Academic Earth , which I discovered via Springwise. Academic Earth is "an organization founded with the goal of giving everyone on earth access to a world class education". Seriously, I hear the angels collectively singing Hallelujah!, Hallelujah!, Hallelujah!, Hallelujah!..Amen! Amen! Amen!...

Founded by Richard Ludlow , the site covers subjects from Astronomy to Religion and everything in between. It features videos from lecturers of top universities such as MIT, Yale and Harvard, to name a few, as well as CEOs and Authors.

The best thing about this site, it's free! World Class education free for anyone with access to the Internet! All you have to do is register, search for a topic and watch the video. I am currently "enrolled" in Yale Professor's Amy Hungerford class on The American Novel Since 1945.

The world just got a bit flatter, you won't get college credits for the lectures, BUT, you get something better than credits, your knowledge increases! This has to be Web 5.0!

Check it out! If you love it as I hope you will do, support the organization by voting for it in BusinessWeek's "Most Promising Social Entrepreneurship Companies."

Academic Earth is Knowledge Heaven!! C'est Brilliant!!!!

Stella Artois 4% Viral Campaign-Spoof Hollywood in French Nouvelle Vague Style

2009-04-08T19:20:00.003-04:00

Stella Artois viral campaign for its 4% triple filtered beer, spoofs films "Die Hard" and "8 Mile" as well as the TV show "24 Hours".

The remakes hail back to the "the days when men were strong and silent, women were chic and sophistiqué, and the action was as smooth" . The films were shot in the style of French nouvelle vague directors Roger Vadim, Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut. The ads were created by UK ad agency Mother.

Die Hard renamed "Dial Hard"

8 Mile -"8 Kilometres"

24 Heures

C'est Brilliant!!

hallelujah-Finally You can Unsend Mail in Gmail

2009-03-23T20:25:00.010-04:00

How many times have we send an email and immediately wish to take it back, but once we hit send, well, its gone......so you just have to start composing the "I am sorry____" follow-up email instead.

Well boys and girls, I am pleased to tell you that the "undo send feature" is finally here!, well for us gmail users. For us old AOL users, remember when you could do that in your AOL mail? The downside was, you could only unsend an email to fellow AOL members and only on the AOL system.

Gmail, of course, allows you to unsend all emails, regardless if they are to gmail users or not. Make sure you enable this feature now!!!!

Go to "Settings", click "Lab" second to last tab and scroll down, check out the other features as you go down, click enable , save settings and voilà you can undo send.
You have to act quickly though, because you only have a 5 second window to undo!

C'est Brilliant!!

Jim Cramer Grovels to Jon Stewart

2009-03-12T23:45:00.000-04:00

After days of back and forth between Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer, (with Cramer hopping from sister network to network) the two final came face-to-face tonight. Well I would say it was more like , Jim Cramer showed up to the Principal office to be punished. Cramer had initially dismissed Stewart as "A Comedian attacking me" on the Today Show, well tonight Cramer was the comedian and not in a good way.

Stewart showed Cramer earlier on Martha Stewart beating dough really hard pretending that it was Stewart. In front of Stewart, he was like a school boy groveling to the Principal to not be expelled. He was stuttering, could hardly make his points, kept saying "the CEOs lied to me" and "What else can I do". Stewart on the other hand was stern, controlled and played the part well as the peoples' whip.

NBC Universal employees must have been squirming in their chairs as they watched tonight. Why did he go to the Daily Show????? Whoever advised him to do that, should be fired. Why attack Stewart all over NBC, MSNBC and CNBC, he and his peacock colleagues dismissing Stewart as unimportant and then show up to Stewart groveling? Did he went on the show to seek forgiveness?? To ask for a second chance??? Because that is what it looked like. So once again Jon Stewart, The Daily Show on a comedy channel made the serious networks look like THE comedy network and they wonder why people are not tuning in anymore.

Best quote came from Stewart... "I know you want to make finance entertaining but its not a f$%king game".

Cramer's response: A flustered, very uncomfortable look, perhaps screaming in his head, "I should not have come here!!!!"

To see the entire interview click here:
Introduction
Cramer Jon Stewart Interview-Part 1
Interview Part 2
Interview Part 3

Alesha Dixon-The Boy Does Nothing

2009-03-11T23:25:00.012-04:00

I found myself today, singing over and over, Alesha Dixon's single "The Boy Does Nothing" from her album "The Alesha Dixon Show”.

This British performer has not been able to export her act stateside, perhaps, because her voice isn't like Adele, Leona, Estelle or even Duffy. Her voice is light, very poppy, so she does not offer anything different from the many pop princesses we have here. However, I believe we are missing out on her ability to entertain!!!

She is very energetic, fun, sassy and very attractive and oh by the way, girl can dance!!!!
(She was the 2007 champion for Strictly Come Dancing, UK's version of Dancing With The Stars)

"The Boy Does Nothing" can best be described as a poppy mambo-ish song, it’s very addictive and the video is filled with loads of dancing and dancers!! After watching/listening to it once, you will find yourself tapping your feet and before you know it, you will be dancing and singing away (or maybe that was just my friend Guillaume, her biggest French fan, who broke out dancing & singing in front of his students...lol...)......So for the energy it brings, I say "The Boy Does Nothing" est Brilliant!!!

Watch it here and dance away!!!

or click the link below to view on YouTube
"The Boy Does Nothing"

Vault Taste Challenge-Don't Dew It

2009-03-09T15:05:00.009-04:00

Are you a die hard “Mtn Dew” fan? Well Coca-Cola’s new Vault Taste Challenge is aimed at you. With the goal to increase its market share against the newly rechristened Mtn Dew, Coke has launched a recruitment promotion. It offers to any consumers who purchase a 20 ounce bottle of Mtn Dew, a free sample of Vault (16 ounce, 20 ounce or 24 ounce).

Coke clearly believes strongly that Vault can stand up to the taste challenge. They are giving it away for free! As the consumer in the middle of this “challenge” we have nothing to loose, we still buy our Dew and get a free product. If we don’t like it, well, we lost nothing. It fits right into our new economically challenged environment, for that reason, C’est Brilliant!!!

Check Out the AdAge article for more information and look out for your coupon, after all its free!!

Coke: Buy 1 Rival, Get Our Brand Free

Lomo Teams Up With Paris Based Boutique, Colette

2009-03-07T19:15:00.008-05:00

Lomo teamed up with Paris based boutique, Colette to introduce a new version of its 60s classic Diana camera. The limited edition package comes with a book inspired by the female perspective and the camera "features the Colette trademark dots".

To celebrate the release, there is an exhibit featuring female photographers at the Colette boutique.....

C'est Brilliant!!

The Daily Show Breaks CNBC Down

2009-03-07T10:26:00.007-05:00

Rick Santelli, the now famous reporter who threw a huge tantrum to get Obama's attention while reporting from the Chicago Board of Trade, was suppose to be a guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He made the mistake by canceling and his employer and co-workers at CNBC paid the price!!!

Santelli as you may recall, got angry because some of the bailout money was going to home owners, who are unable to pay their mortgage. He felt that the homeowners did not deserve a bailout.

Well, The Daily Show did an 8 min + "expose" piece on CNBC that obliterate what little credibility they had as a business network.

Best take away quote from the piece "If only I'd followed CNBC's advice, I'd have a million dollars today, provided I'd started with a hundred million dollars."

Click here to see Video. I love It!

Jon Stewart Take on CNBC

Robbers Caught On CNN Camera in London

2009-03-07T09:37:00.006-05:00

While filming a story on Oxford Street, London for the UK release of Love In a Headscarf by Shelina Zahra Jonmohamed
CNN reporter Sasha Herriman and her camera crew became witness to a jewelery store robbery. In the middle of her sentence there is a huge commotion behind her, you see her dropped her hands in frustration and as the camera pans away, you can hear her saying off camera "I am filming".

One robber, allegedly, used a sledge hammer to break the window of the store, two remained on motorbikes and kept revving the engines to distract the crowds. After the 3rd robber grabbed the jewels, he/she jumped on one of the bikes and they rode away making noises with hands in the air....

She went for one story and got two...All in a days work!

Paris Fashion Week-Style and The City

2009-03-06T19:12:00.015-05:00

Paris Fashion Week is in session and if you are not in the city to experience it, no worries, check out Kamel LAHMADI site, Style and The City.

He gives a "street fashion" perspective of Parisiennes , not the typical fashion pics expected from fashion week.... He promises 50 pics every day, so should be very interesting....
No language barrier here, it's a bilingual site French et L'anglais...

C'est Brilliant!!!!

Click Link:
Style and The City

Unemployment Highest In 25 Years

2009-03-06T15:49:00.011-05:00

The unemployment data for February 2009 was released today and it does not look pretty.

The Snapshot

Unemployment Rate as of February 2009 -8.1%

Jobs lost in February- 651, 000

Jobs lost between December 2007-February 2009- 4.4 Million

Jobs lost between December 2008-February 2009 – 2.6 Million (Yes that’s right, over half the jobs loss occurred in the last four months.)

Obama Spending Bill- $787 Billion ($4.5 Billion of which will be used for job training)

Economist Prediction- “Economy won’t recover before nearly the end of 2009.”

There are so many things I can write here but given that I am part of the 8.1%, I am a little bit shaken by these numbers. Our country needs rebuilding and I want to play my part in the process. I want to go out and spend, but because I am part of the 2.6 million, I have been seriously curtailing my spending.

Without pretending to be brave, my approach can only be, to focus on what is ahead. As President Obama said “this country has never responded to a crisis by sitting on the sidelines and hoping for the best”. We are fighters, we challenge and we take charge of our own destiny. So even with such bleak numbers and a bit of fear in my heart, I will forge ahead to find a new job, to achieve my career dreams and to do my part very soon in the recovery of the good ole U. S. of A.

Click Links To Read Media Coverage

New York Times

International Herald Tribune

World Debates As Darfur Victims Continue to Suffer.

2009-03-06T14:57:00.013-05:00

Are You Kidding Me!
Over the past five years, we have seen the awful images of the suffering of the people in Darfur. Many NGO organizations and even film stars such as George Clooney, have been appealing to the world to do something about this genocide. The 2008 Summer Olympics even faced boycotts because of China’s business relations with the Sudanese Government. Some of us have marched, donated, shouted that something should be done and that we should not sit by while another genocide happens in Africa, especially so soon after Rwanda. Yet apart from a few bones here and there and a whole lot of policy debating, no concrete decisions have been made which we could all support as an effective method to end the monstrosities.

This week, the International Criminal Court tried to change that, when it ordered the arrest of Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al Bashir for orchestrating war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is the court’s first warrant against an incumbent President and in my opinion, the first positive step in ending the genocide. However, the move set off another round of debates and Mr. Bashir accused the Netherlands based court of “Colonial Conspiracy” and even danced at a rally supporting him in Khartoum, as if to say to the court, take your warrant and stuff it. To further cement his “your warrant don't scare me ” stance, Mr. Bashir, according to France 24, ordered out aid agencies, including OXFAM and Médecins Sans Frontières. There are, according to Reuters, over 74 NGOs operating in the region but the 10 that were expelled, accounts for approximately half the aid distributed in the region. This only shows that Mr. Bashir planned exactly how to effectively get back at the court. This action within itself can be viewed (and should be viewed) as a “Crime against humanity” because he has willfully prevented vital aid from reaching the people of Darfur who needs it, desperately. So his response is to publicly commit the crime for which the court has issued a warrant for his arrest. So once again,while the world debates policy, the people of Darfur suffer.

I am saddened that the African Union leaders have showed support for Mr. Bashir and his cries of colonial conspiracy. I am no expert on this issue , so perhaps it is why it's hard for me to understand why the AU cannot see that this is about the victims, African lives, African blood and not about them and Africa’s colonial history. They say that this is an African problem and should therefore be resolved with an African solution but what is the proposed African solution? A shoddy AU-UN peacekeeping team with limited power to protect the people of Darfur?

I support a unified Africa; I believe that if the continent work together then perhaps they will overcome the numerous obstacles that lies in their path to full economical and social development. I also believe that the AU should participate in the decision making whenever the world tries to resolve issues such as Zimbabwe and Darfur, because they should be able to bring a unique perspective to the table. However, it seems that the only unique perspective the AU is able to bring time and time again, is the view of the autocratic leader who does not care about the lives of the African people and believes that all actions from the west to save African lives are “colonial conspiracies”. Honestly for me, its hard to lay blame on who has done more damage to Africa. The Arab slave traders, the European slave traders and the colonists or the modern African Leaders. The thread that binds them all is the view that the lives of the common African men and women are not valuable.

Everything is Amazing, Nobody is Happy....

2009-02-28T08:33:00.009-05:00

Louis CK on Conan O'Brien show, putting life in perspective for us.

Its Brilliant!

(Click to View)
Louis CK

Michelle Obama Lack of Sleeves

2009-02-25T23:43:00.000-05:00

Last night Michelle Obama showed up at President Obama’s first speech to a joint session of Congress sans sleeves and there are, as of now, 597 related news articles on Google on whether she should have or shouldn't have.

Are we worried that her constant lack of sleeves gives the impression that our current economic situation does not provide enough money for a full dress? ha ha ha ha corny joke, I know, but having over 500 news articles about it is just as corny. We elected the Obamas on a platform of change, the change does not stop at administration and different race. If you wanted change, then don't expect to see your mother's first lady.

Personally, I loved the dress, I believe she looked great. She is not a politician, so she shouldn't dress like one. I don't understand why is it that we always want women in the political public eye to look frumpy. Its great to see someone who doesn't subscribe to the "frumpy" order for the politician wife for a change. I don't love everything she wears, didn't like her inaugural gown, but its her style and this is one of the things she brings to the role.

I wonder all the time, how would we react if we had Carla Bruni for a first lady? Doubt we would have been able to handle it, if Michelle Obama's mere lack of sleeve is cause for major discussion on the NY Times political blog with over 300 comments. Yes the political blog people, not the style section!! Imagine! Are you kidding me!

Facebook Managment: NY Times article details "How to use Facebook privacy settings"

2009-02-25T23:29:00.000-05:00

We have seen the stories, perhaps we even know someone personally who became a victim of poor FB management. The NYT recently did an article, which outlines to those who didn't know, a step-by-step process in utilizing the privacy settings of FB.

Many people like to blame FB when a picture shows up which they didn't want someone to see. However, like your offline life, your FB life is about management people. If you are going to network on FB, then it’s advisable that you privy yourself to all the features made available to you to manage your profile, as I hope you do in your offline life.

Click link to view article and learn FB management: http://tinyurl.com/d69qjr

Pre-paid Phone Companies Revamp Plans and Phones

2009-02-25T22:54:00.000-05:00

With everyone making cutbacks in the current economic environment, paying $100+ per month for your mobile phone can be both an emotional and economical downer.

But CHEER up my friends, prepaid phone companies have been revamping their plans and phones to attract you away from the major networks. Yes, they are offering sexy phones and unlimited voice and text plans, as BOOST mobile, a division of Sprint. Oui mes amies this is not your HBO gangster prepaid phone. The prepaid phone has gone mainstream.
Its Brilliant!!

Click link for NYT story: http://tinyurl.com/ctjpng

Instead of Framing Your Photos, Why not Frame Your Vintage Cameras!

2009-02-25T00:14:00.000-05:00

I saw this on flickr. Its Brilliant!
Instead of framing your photos, how about framing vintage cameras.

From Flickr member:

timmelideo

Possible Atlantis map seen on ocean floor via Google Ocean

2009-02-24T23:45:00.000-05:00

Atlantis found? or is this a marketing ploy by Google to promote Google Ocean, which is , for those of you who didn’t know (i.e. me ;) an extension of Google Earth.

Excerpts from the report:
"The “grid” showed up on Google Ocean, a Google Earth extension that uses a combination of satellite images and marine surveys. "

He said: “The site is one of the most prominent places for the proposed location of Atlantis, as described by Plato. Even if it turns out to be geographical, this definitely deserves a closer look.”

Plato did state that Atlantis lies near the Pillars of Hercules, which has been identified in modern times as Gibraltar.

To view story click here:
http://tinyurl.com/deqghm

“Les Coucous, Tapis Bleu et Rose” sold for £28m at YSL Auction.

2009-02-24T23:42:00.000-05:00

Henri Matisse painting “Les coucous, tapis bleu et rose” sold for 28 Million pounds. I know some will balk at this price in this economic environment BUT I actually love the fact that those who have money are spending money.

It provides for visual aspiration. If those at the top are holding back, then those of us in the struggling class will get even more nervous. Someone must be living it up!!! and its an investment for the future!! So there is belief in the future!

To view report, click here:

http://tinyurl.com/dcbcln