Archive for January 8th, 2012
Jan
08
Mr Armanis Milan PHOTOS
Milan evokes a strong opinion in those who know it; people either love it or, frankly, they hate it. It’s not exactly beautiful when compared to its southern sisters, Florence or Rome, and, on weekends, it empties out like it’s the holidays: People head to the mountains in the winter or the seaside in the summer.
It is, however, Italy’s style hub and I happen to be quite fond of it. This fashion nucleus has an inherent style doctrine and sensibility that I am drawn to time and time again, and, since launching Dea Rosa, it’s been my second home.
I’ve stayed in nearly every hotel in the city, so when the newly-opened Armani Hotel Milano promised a “home-away-from-home” experience in line with their signature Stay with Armani philosophy, I decided to give it a try for my first night back in the city.
Designed in 1937 by Enrico Griffini, the rationalist style building just steps from the famed Via Monte Napoleone is now the Armani kingdom. An interesting fact I learned over a smooth grappa (the grappa selection is amazing)–pointed out to me by the general manager via Google Maps on his phone–was this hotel, created within Griffini’s palazzo, is shaped by the architectural ground plan as an immense “A” (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Hiking Kauais Ne Pali Coast And Princeville Hawaii PHOTOS
My favorite kind of wedding to attend is, by far, the destination wedding. While an open bar is never not fun, it’s even better if the drinks are located in a country that takes a passport to get into. And a wedding is a genuine excuse to blow your budget to travel. (I barely need an excuse to get out of town, but it’s always nice to have one.)
So when my boyfriend received an invitation to nuptials in Kauai, I started planning the trip immediately, even though I had never met the bride or groom (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
5 Ways You Waste Time and How to Stop
When surveyed, the most popular subject on which HG life coaching clients wanted coaching was time management. So I am dedicating today’s blog to helping you stop squandering your time and feeling out of control about it. We live in an age where you can’t possibly get everything done. It’s time to accept that (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
WHiP It The Wisdom of Wholeness
How many of us feel empty, disconnected from our work, our significant others and things present in our lives? An apathy, a sense of sleepwalking living, where we become victims to other modes of power, people, ideas or expectations — conscious or not… and then THAT designs our lives.
The gift of being human, in every possible and probable way — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually — is ours to evolve, expand and emerge, and take it to its latest, greatest version. Many of us have felt disempowered, displaced, discounted and deeply insecure as youngins that we have recapitulated a state of separation that we take deep into our adulthood. It may show itself in who we choose for a partner, what and how we do business and who we bow to as our gods (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Pack Your Bags
As I prepared to move into the University of Southern California this past week, I went through a number of activities and responsibilities so that everything would be taken care of before I start school. The most taxing and fascinating process that occurred was the packing of the materials I needed for my apartment. Many people use the new year as a time to start afresh, and begin new journeys in their lives. Some people become so focused on where they are going that they forget to take necessary items and pieces of their past with them (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Traveling to Ethiopia
I started The Abyssinian fund 18 months ago out of my deep love for Africa and its people. The Abyssinian Fund is an organization committed to reducing poverty and creating programs for Ethiopians to better their lives. This past trip to Ethiopia helped to open my eyes to a world very different from my own as I connected with men, women and children who are directly benefiting from the work that we are doing in their village. I am also very grateful for my connection to The Abyssinian Baptist Church whose ministry continues to extend its helping hand beyond Harlem.
Traveling is one of the best ways to experience different cultures and learn new things about the world and yourself (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Love the World
Your brain evolved in three stages (to simplify a complex process):
Reptile — Brainstem, focused on AVOIDING harm
Mammal — Limbic system, focused on APPROACHING rewards
Primate — Cortex, focused on ATTACHING to “us”
With a fun use (to me, at least) of animal themes, the first JOT in this series — “Pet the Lizard” — was about how to soothe the most ancient structures of the brain, the ones that manage the first emotion of all: fear. The next one — “Feed the Mouse” — addressed how to help early mammalian neural systems feel rewarded and fulfilled. The third one — “Hug the Monkey” — was about weaving the sense of being included and loved into the primate cerebral cortex.
Of course, these three practices go way beyond their anatomical roots. The three primary motivational systems of your brain — avoiding harms, approaching rewards and attaching to “us” — draw on many neural networks to accomplish their goals (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Miami Heat vs New Jersey Nets Recap January 07 2012 ESPN
Source:Associated Press
__________________________________________________________________________
NEWARK, N.J. — LeBron James swears he wasn’t trying to send a message, though his coach couldn’t help but notice.
Heat Reaction
For a quick take after each game, check the Heat Reaction.
• Heat Index | 3-on-3
“You could kind of tell after about halfway through, he took three alley-oop lobs and a 360. I think without even talking to him that kind of spoke to us in volume that he was ready to go,” Erik Spoelstra said.That was during the morning shootaround.Then James did roughly the same thing against the New Jersey Nets.James returned to the lineup and scored 22 of his 32 points in the first quarter, and the Miami Heat rolled to a 101-90 victory on Saturday night despite playing without Dwyane Wade.Wade missed his third straight game with a bruised left foot, but James had the game under control by the time his All-Star teammate arrived at his seat on the bench.James made his first seven shots, leaping high for dunks, lobs and blocked shots and showing no effects from the sprained left ankle that forced him to miss a game. The NBA’s leading scorer added nine assists and seven rebounds.”If I feel like I’m good to go, then I’m going to go out and play my game,” James said. “I’m not going to give no restriction, just try to do the things I do out on the court and I was able to get a couple of breakaways, some easy points, get to the free throw line and I was able to test the ankle out in the first quarter.”Chris Bosh added 16 points after a slow start for the Heat, who won their third straight and ran the NBA’s best record to 8-1. They hope to have Wade back when they move to the West for the final three games of a five-game trip.
Nets Blog
Looking for more information on your Nets? ESPNNewYork.com has you covered. Blog
Kris Humphries tied a career high with 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Nets, who shot just 33.7 percent in front of a sellout crowd of 18,711. Deron Williams had 10 points and 10 assists but was just 4 of 16 from the field.James took part in the morning shootaround, but the Heat didn’t decide he would play until shortly before tipoff in order to see how he felt after warming up. And he denied his dunk show in the morning was designed to get Spoelstra’s attention.”No, I don’t need to show no coaches what I can do,” he said, laughing. “I’ve been in this league long enough. Just trying to test it out this morning, try to get it warm, get it loose and see what I could do, what I couldn’t do.”Once the game started, he did it all.James took a hit but converted the basket for a three-point play barely a minute into the game during the Heat’s 10-0 start. He hung on the rim as the backboard shook for a couple of seconds after one dunk, appearing to motion to someone near the court.Wade also worked out prior to the game before the Heat decided to give him additional rest. He arrived at the Heat bench near the end of the first quarter, just in time to see James throw down a fast-break dunk in the final minute and later hit a 19-foot jumper with 0.2 seconds left for a 31-18 lead.”Mainly we turned the ball over and he’s gone,” said Nets coach Avery Johnson, whose team’s 22 turnovers led to 26 points. “He’s a combination of a wide receiver, tight end, running back once he gets two or three steps on you.”James finally missed after returning from a second-quarter rest, off on an attempted bank shot, but made his final shot of the half and Miami took a 57-35 lead into halftime.Bosh, who had 33 points and 14 rebounds Thursday in the Heat’s triple-overtime victory in Atlanta without the other two-thirds of the Big Three, shot 1 for 6 in the first half.The Nets were 15 of 31 behind the arc in Friday’s 97-85 victory over Toronto, and Johnson said the 3-ball needed to be a weapon because his team has no post game with starting center Brook Lopez out with a broken right foot. But the Nets missed 18 of their first 21 Saturday before finishing 10 of 33.Williams criticized his play and the team’s.”I like the offense. I like the system. I just think we’re not executing good,” he said. “We’re not finishing. We’re not hitting shots. You know we’re messing up plays. We’re not on the right spots. Yesterday we were. Today we weren’t. It’s a night and day frame you know where we were yesterday.”Still, the Nets cut it to 10 on Williams’ 3-pointer with 4:27 left in the third, and had a chance to get closer on their next possession when rookie MarShon Brooks drove for a layup. But James blocked the shot to trigger a fast break that led to Shane Battier’s 3-pointer, and rookie Norris Cole followed with one to make it 72-56.Udonis Haslem had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat.Game notes Spoelstra said injured swingman Mike Miller (hernia surgery) will take place in his first practice with contact Monday in California. Also, Spoelstra said Eddy Curry (hip) is getting closer to being cleared for full contact and was “very encouraged” by the oft-injured center’s progress. … Lopez said his recovery from surgery was going well and that an X-ray Saturday was negative. He was injured in a preseason game at New York on Dec. 21 and learned the extent of the injury the next day. “I didn’t see it coming at all,” he said. “I thought it was a tweaked ankle or something.” … Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald was at the game.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The
Links:Full news story
Source:espn.go.com
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Jan
08
Sunday Roundup
This week, the results from Iowa demonstrated that, even in the age of social media-powered protests (“convenience fee” this, Verizon!), unlimited money and going negative still pack a potent political punch. These early contests are supposed to be about small-scale retail politics but, post-Citizens United, Romney didn’t win by winning over people in diners, he won with a blizzard of negative ads funded by “outside groups.” While outside money killed Newt, all the dollars spent by Romney and his allies weren’t enough to buy Mitt the caucus-goers’ love, as he scraped by with an eight-vote win and a lower percentage of votes than he attracted in 2008.
read full news from www.huffingtonpost.com
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Jan
08
MittMoMentum
My 1-Word Review: Mitt unflappable Newt tiresome Santorum sad Paul gone Perry foolish Huntsman pretty
Debate reversal: Candidates played their own drinking game, How many times would moderators ask about gay marriage instead of jobs?
Even sadder than debate itself, ABC pundits desperately pretending it was interesting
2nite Mitt paid 20% dn, passed on debt 2 others & collected a fortune in dividends before bankruptcy. O wait, that was Bain Cap
Romney rivals would have kissed his ass tonight but ABC wisely kept podiums too far apart
Romney wins again by keeping his hands in his pockets
Debate followed by yet another Fred Thompson commercial hawking an insurance fraud to seniors. Perfect!
Diane Sawyer thanks our families for watching but made sure debate not about anything we care about
Yep Perry would be at a shooting range in the dark. Even Cheney is afraid of that
What’s more exciting? Googling “Santorum” or whatever Huntsman just said in Chinese?
Thanks to this debate, CVS commercials are absolutely riveting
Oops, Huntsman spoke Chinese — i’ll bet he watched Frank Sinatra’s “Manchurian Candidate” with captions
Mitt “Bain” Romney — you probably killed more jobs than China
Mitt says his tax plan for those who “desperately need help” (thus his 150k cut for millionaires)
Mitt , you say Barack wants European welfare state, but you’re the one who speaks French
Wow Diane Sawyer just heard jobs worth talking about (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Dispatches From The Campaign Trail Retail Politics in New Hampshire
Over a 24-hour period in New Hampshire I observed firsthand what modern “retail politics” looks like: a Gingrich sponsored Town Hall in Littleton, a Santorum sporting store walk-through in Jaffrey and a Ron Paul mega-rally in Nashua.
In the first two cases the majority of attendees seemed to be press, lending the events a surreal emptiness – a building full of reporters from around the world listening to a candidate speechify about his love for the Granite State. In Littleton, Gingrich appeared to be going through the motions, repeating his now oft-cited promise to challenge Obama to a series of Lincoln-Douglas debates with the identical cadence and language he was using a month ago in Iowa. He charged that Obama’s campaign motto should be changed from “We can’t wait” to “We can’t wait…to shred the U.S. Constitution.” But, tellingly, the crowd of supporters was small enough that he had enough time to individually speak with every one of them following the speech.
The press/supporter ratio was even more unbalanced at Pelletier’s Sports Shop in Jaffrey, a hamlet in southwest New Hampshire, where Rick Santorum waded through a throng of reporters while talking gun rights (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Is Tim Tebow a Hypocrite
Tim Tebow represents America’s two great religions: Christianity and Football. But the way the young Denver Broncos’ quarterback intertwines the two has made some followers of each faith uncomfortable. His post-game interviews always begin with “I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” and he frequently drops to one knee on the field and bows his head in prayer–a posture now called Tebowing. (Check out the website featuring photos of others Tebowing in public places.)
But Tim Tebow’s behavior on the field does raise important questions about prayer and how Christians ought to practice it (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Behind Mr Brainwashs Art Show 2011 Video
Sunday, Jan. 8, will be the final day of Mr. Brainwash’s Art Show 2011, an exhibition which has drawn thousands each day to behold the childlike imagination of Thierry Guetta. This abandoned industrial space also happens to be adorned with a significant contribution from the street art community of Los Angeles, after Brainwash allowed 20,000 square feet of the ground floor to be entirely covered with other people’s posters, paintings, stickers and spray paint (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Supernatural Recap Adventures in Babysitting
Since my colleague Mo Ryan decided to step back from recapping Supernatural, I’ll be pulling double duty between this and its Friday-night companion, Nikita — at least until sleep deprivation gets the better of me.
The episode before mid-season hiatus ended with one hell of a cliffhanger, leaving our beloved Bobby holding on to life by a thread, with an irritatingly persistent reaper offering him two equally unappealing choices: pass on, or hang around to eventually become an angry spirit, the likes of which he’s spent his life hunting.
The show deliberately avoided revealing which option he chose, opening instead with Sam and Dean in the weeks following their father-figure’s death. We don’t know whether Bobby was buried or cremated, or whether he’s potentially brain-dead but being kept alive by machines following his last flat-line, and that ambiguity obviously leaves room for Bobby’s return, either in ghost or comatose form, if not a proper resurrection (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Accelerating San Francisco
As we all know, technology has led to ongoing disruptions in industries ranging from music to publishing, but our government, the institution designed to serve us all, has been left behind, saddled with outdated and inefficient software, not to mention the substantial pricetag the comes with them.
But now that’s hopefully about to start to change, right here in San Francisco.
On January 6, Mayor Ed Lee announced a partnership with Code for America to create the world’s first Civic Startup Accelerator, connecting tech startups with City Hall: “San Francisco is home to some of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs, the ones who have ‘disrupted’ numerous industries and made our City a hub for innovation.” He added, “The challenge now is to bring those same disruptive technologies to make government more accountable and engaged, and make San Francisco, the world’s first City 2.0.”
You’re likely wondering, “So, what’s a civic startup?” Take an older example for context, TurboTax. It’s not created by anyone within city hall, but millions of Americans use it each April, and it sure is convenient way to pay your state or federal taxes. Here’s another: SeeClickFix, which allows citizens to report neighborhood issues — illegal dumping in Bernal Heights or sidewalk defect in Bayview — to local government through their mobile device or computer, saving the city time and money (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Penn State and the Blame Game
It has now been two months since scandal rolled into the Happy Valley, with the news that Jerry Sandusky has been charged with 52 counts of child molestation. Much is still uncertain and yet the university, the surrounding community, and the nation as a whole remains fixated on the question of responsibility. In particular, does Penn State bear responsibility for any of the alleged acts of abuse and, if so, on what grounds? If the institution does bear responsibility, ought we to transmit that responsibility to members of the Penn State community? To which members? And what measures should Penn State undertake in response? We address each of these questions in turn.
Official Responsibility
Suppose that the facts alleged in the grand jury report and at the preliminary hearing for Tim Curley and Gary Schultz several weeks ago turn out to be true: In 2002, Mike McQueary, then a graduate assistant coach and, until the scandal broke, receivers coach for the team, witnessed Sandusky sodomizing a young boy in the showers. McQueary told head coach Joe Paterno, though he apparently spared the coach the graphic details of what he witnessed out of respect and instead told the coach that he witnessed something “extremely sexual” in nature (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
3 Times You Should Commit Financial Infidelity This Year
Chances are, you’ve heard about the other way to cheat on your spouse, the one that doesn’t involve a trip to Vegas or a tryst with a co-worker. In fact, this kind of playing around never involves anybody else. It’s all about you– and your bank account.
These days, lying to your partner about how much you spend, save or borrow all fall under the same general heading of “financial infidelity.” And according to the most recent data, quite a few of us are getting it on with our checkbooks.
Chances also are, you’ve come across an article or blog somewhere, or seen a credit counselor or marriage expert spouting the same mantra: tell the truth (the whole truth, and nothing but the truth) or risk ruining your relationship for the long haul. If not, google “financial infidelity” and you’ll get a screen full of advice about how not to do it and why financial transparency is always the key to a stronger marital bond (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Will Momentum for EU Oil Embargo on Iran Wreck Diplomacy
The temperature between the West and Iran has increased dramatically. Escalation by both sides coupled with a reckless discourse that has normalised the idea of war have created an environment where military confrontation is a rising probability. The next escalatory step pondered by Europe — in the midst of its own economic crisis — is a total embargo on Iranian oil. An idea that a few months ago was considered a non-starter now has an air of inevitability.
Sanctions are rarely effective (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
The Myth of the Attractive Mistress
A few weeks ago, I was having drinks with some girlfriends when Ginger White, Herman Cain’s mistress, made her way into the conversation. One member of our party aggressively stated, “Oh I saw her picture. She is not attractive — at all! She is just not pretty.” I was taken aback. First, I don’t think Ginger White is so unattractive that she warrants that type of response, but I was more surprised that this girl was endorsing the age-old assumption that the mistress is a nymph, goddess type — the only woman attractive enough to lure a man away from his wife (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Jerry Brown 20 at 1
A year into his latest go-round as governor of California, Jerry Brown doesn’t stand much on ceremony these days. That was evident even before the snafu which caused the roll-out of his state budget five days earlier than scheduled (and delayed this about to roll-out piece). I talked with Brown over the holidays about how things have gone, how they are going, and how they (he hopes) will go.
President Barack Obama will carry California. That’s not in question (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
The Benefits of a January Term
By Alana Patrick, St. Olaf College
For many college students (myself included), this week marks the end of holiday break and the beginning of a new class, professor and set of textbooks.Though Christmas decorations are still being boxed and the New Year’s ball plunged to its destination just days ago, it is now January — and for those who attend a school with an interim program, January means returning to school.
Those of you who are still at home, basking in the laziness of a longer hiatus, may be wondering what exactly a J-Term (as it is commonly abbreviated) entails. Though all colleges that incorporate such programs are obviously not identical, the basic idea is this: the academic year is proportioned into three sections, comprised of first semester, J-Term, and second semester. The number of months each of these sections last gives rise to the “4 – 1 – 4″ phrase that is oft-cited in college admissions pamphlets and the like (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Heroes A Playlist For David Bowie On His 65th Birthday
I have led a pretty charmed life in the sense that for no compelling reason, I’ve gotten to know some of the most famously charming men and women on earth – many of whom were my heroes growing up. But I don’t think I ever met anyone as deeply charming as David Bowie. When I first met David, it was back during what some Bowie scholars would identify as his Dark Ages – a.k.a. The Tin Machine years (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Why And How Causes Should Use Pinterest
One site I’m committed to spending more time on in the new year is the virtual pinboardPinterest. It’s easy to use, powerfully visual, populated with cause marketing-loving women and growing like crazy.4,000 percent in six months!
The heavy presence of women 25-44 on Pinterest is what distinguishes it from other new social media platforms, which are generally populated by men 18-24. Here’s a site that already has the audience everyone wants: women and moms who make most of the household buying decisions.
I think most people jump on Pinterest for the same reason I did (continue reading…)
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Jan
08
Nikita Recap Alexs Past Comes Back To Haunt Her In Season 2 Episode 11
Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 2, Episode 11 of The CW’s “Nikita,” entitled, “Pale Fire”
“Nikita” knows how to leave us wanting more, and it’s been a long month’s wait since Alex crept into her old home and came face-to-face with the mother she thought was dead. We might not have been as surprised as Alex was by the revelation, but I was still wholly invested in seeing how the reunion played out.
It was a touching scene, performed with poignancy by Lyndsy Fonseca — who always excels with emotional material — and Alex was eager to believe the best of the Udinov family matriarch, assuming that she had somehow been tricked or threatened into staying with Semak following her husband’s death. Sadly, as we later discovered, Katya was complicit in Nikolai’s murder, since she and Semak had been having an affair long before “Operation Pale Fire” was mounted (continue reading…)
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