Latest movie: Fur

I really liked this movie. But I would be partial to a semi-autobiographical portrait of an artist. I just
want to say that I think Robert Downey Jr is a great
actor. And that is no offense to Nicole Kidman.

'In For the Kill' (remix)

Pee-wee gets an iPad

The Best Thing Ever

Yes, you can buy it.

Interesting species: Liger

The liger is a hybrid cross between a male lion (Panthera leo) and a tigress (Panthera tigris), hence has parents with the same genus but of different species. It is the largest of all cats and extant felines due to hybrid vigour.

Ligers borrow characteristics from both species. Ligers enjoy swimming which is a characteristic of tigers and are very sociable like lions. However ligers are often faced with a variety of health risks and other issues. Ligers only exist in captivity because lions and tigers live in different regions and would never breed voluntarily in the wild. Ligers are larger than both their parents, which is usually dangerous to the pregnant tigress and may make it necessary for offspring to be delivered via caesarean section. The liger often has a very limited life span as well as birth defects and other mutations.

Sacred (with Hope)

by Damien Hirst

The struggle continues in Haiti

Oil in Haiti

Since the early twentieth century the physical and political map of the island of Haiti, erected in 1908 by Alexander Poujol and Henry Thomasset, reported a major oil reservoir in Haiti near the source of the Rio Todo El Mondo better known today as the River Thomonde. The deposit of oil in question straddles the boundary between the boroughs of Hinche and Mirebalais in a mountainous area located at the foot of the chain of the Black Mountains, due west of Thomond.

On June 2nd of last year, Chevron Corporation announced that it had entered into a securities purchase agreement to sell its fuels marketing businesses in Haiti to Medley Capital Limited, which is owned by GB Group. GB is a Haiti-based industrial group with core holdings in energy, steel and food products. Some of
the items discussed in this press release were forward-looking statements about Chevron's activities in
Haiti. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "targets," "projects," and "believes," were used to describe future plans. Under the terms of the agreement, Medley Capital Limited would acquire 58 service stations, a portfolio of approximately 120 commercial and industrial customers, and other lines of business. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Reference 1, Reference 2, Reference 3

Toussaint Louverture

Haitian liberator

Trilogy Meter

Latest movie: Changeling

Changeling explores female disempowerment, political
corruption and child endangerment. Based on real life
events in 1928 Los Angeles. I liked it. I liked it alot.

Black Art History: Dorothy Towles Church

Dorothea Towles Church (July 26, 1922—July 7, 2006) was the first successful black fashion model
in Paris. Church was born in Texarkana, Texas. She was the seventh of eight children in a farming family. She attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, where she majored in biology. After her mother's death, a wealthy uncle invited her to move into his house in Los Angeles. She transferred
to the University of Southern California, where she received a master's degree in education. Church initially considered an acting career, but was discouraged by the lack of roles for black actors. She enrolled in the Dorothy Farrier Charm and Modeling School in Los Angeles.

Her sister, Lois Towles, sang in the Fisk University concert choir during its European tour in 1949. Church scheduled a two-month vacation in Paris that coincided with the Fisk choir's concert schedule. While in Paris, Church decided to try out for some modeling assignments. Christian Dior hired her on the spot to replace one of his regular models who was out on vacation.

Church found Paris so inviting that she decided to stay in France. She told her husband, a wealthy dentist, that she wouldn't be returning to California. "He wrote me and even called me, but I told him I wasn't coming back," she said. "He finally got tired, and then he got a lawyer and sued for divorce."

Church also designed her own gowns with samples she bought from Paris designers using her model's discount. In 1954 she returned to the United States and began a tour of black colleges, showcasing her couture line. Her fashion shows served as fund-raisers for Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

She later signed as a model with the Grace del Marco agency in New York City. Shortly after moving to New York she met Thomas Church, an immigration lawyer. They married in 1963 and had one son. They remained married until Thomas Church's death in 2000.

Reference

'Nights in White Satin'

Will the Haiti relief funds actually get to Haiti ???

Supreme Court sells off U.S. public office

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws that banned corporations from using their own money to support or oppose candidates for public office.

President Barack Obama said that the decision gives 'a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics.' The president pledged to work with Congress to 'develop a forceful response' to the court's ruling.

Latest movie: Religulous

Bill Maher is highly critical of organized religion, which he describes as a neurological disorder that justifies crazies and stops people from thinking logically. He set out to find irrefutable evidence of God, his son, and/or his likeness and their encounters with man. He was unsuccessful. Funny movie.

God prefers Atheist ?

Macarons

'Blue Flowers' remix

History of a Haitian Holocaust

Check out Greg Palast's story on Haiti. He describes U.S.
inaction, former French rule and a corrupt Haitian government.

'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised'

Latest movie: Rachel Getting Married

This is indie movie was recommended by a friend. The
hand-held camera action definitely worked perfectly
for the story. Plus the live music was a nice touch.
I highly recommend this one, but beware it is a downer.

Risks

Latest book: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

William Kamkwamba
www.thedailyshow.com

This is an amazing story about a young man named William Kamkwamba.
He and his family lived in a modest village in Malawi. He built a windmill
from discarded motor parts, PVC pipe, and an old bicycle wheel. John Stewart
said he is like the real life version of MacGyver. William had to overcome many
setbacks. The part in the book about his ailing dog was the roughest spot for me.

Haiti hit hard by earthquake

Not too distant future

Admiration

Never before seen

Here is a picture I took a while back.
Not too many people know about it.
Feel free to buy the print.

U.S. reopens embassy in Yemen

On Tuesday, as the embassy reopened, the Interior Ministry insisted the fight against al-Qaeda was under control, saying that Yemeni forces "have imposed a security cordon around al-Qaeda elements everywhere
they are present and ... are observing and pursuing them around the clock."

As the U.S. alliance grows, the Yemeni government is sensitive over any hint of meddling in its internal affairs. At the same time, it is being battered by multiple crises and needs assistance.

Many tribes are disgruntled with President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and some have allowed al-Qaeda fighters to take refuge. The British Embassy, which had also closed, resumed operations, though consular and visa services remained closed.

Source

style your 'Gaga'

Amber

Eat then die

Pizza sandwich


The Double Coronary Burger

In case of zombie emergency

Latest movie: Sex, Lies and Videotape

Brilliant movie. Here is the dinner scene.

Singing in the rain

New

We were at Starbar. Happy New Year !