I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.
In an attempt to reach a deficit-reduction deal, President Obama is offering to cut essential programs such as Social Security and Medicare in his new budget proposal. The President’s proposal will include a cut of $1.8 trillion over 10 years and replace the budget cuts that went into effect on March 1. This deal also revisits an earlier proposal to House Speaker, John Boehner, where $400 billion in savings to Medicare would occur over those 10 years.
A senior administration official commented,
The President’s budget to be presented on Wednesday will show how we can invest in the things we need to grow our economy, create jobs and strengthen the middle class while further reducing the deficit in a balanced way
The Social Security portion will include a ‘chained CPI’, an inflation formula which should attract many Republicans as the CPI is argued to be a more accurate calculation of inflation which could possibly help minimize the growth of consumer prices. The idea of whether or not this is truly the case is still being heavily debated.
There’s little doubt that this proposal will cause some dissent against President Obama as cutting Social Security and Medicare is an unpopular choice for many Democratic supporters.
However, this has been an ongoing battle between the President and many Republican incumbents and it’s clear that the President is ready to move forward with some type of compromise that pleases most, if not all, members of each party.
Okay, so last week I talked about The Walking Dead and all its glory, but now I must give mention to my true TV guilty pleasure and that is the uncompromising Shonda Rhimes’ tv creation, Scandal.
The show is celebrating its 1 year anniversary today, April 5, 2013 and has attracted quite a bit of a cult-like following.
Why are so many flocking to this show?
Well, one big reason revolves around a small, little word:
Olitz
And if you’re a fan of this show, then you already know what that means, but let me digress for a bit and give you a bit of a backdrop on this crazy mayhem of a TV show.
Scandal is featured in Washington, DC where politics leads itself to some simple, complicated, and veering all the way to the absolutely bizarre and insane happenings of a scandal.
People who wake up one day and find themselves in a mess they could never venture out of without a media catastrophe occurring to completely ruin their elitist careers.
This is where Olivia Pope, played by the illustrious Kerry Washington, and her team of Pope & Associates (Gladiators in Suits) come in to ‘fix’ the situation and manage a crisis that has gone unhinged. Most weeks we get to view a scandal that Olivia Pope and her team rescues with leaving the clientele as unscathed as possible (sometimes, not always) that often include some twisty turns to keep you guessing until the end.
Yet, the bigger storyline that has everyone on pins and needles is the story that revolves around Olitz. Yes, Olitz. You see, Olivia Pope once was a White House Communications Director before forming her crisis management team. A position that had her working very closely with the current President Fitzgerald Grant(Tony Goldwyn). A man who captured her heart while helping his campaign and run for presidency.
As you may have already guessed, the two developed a striking tortured love saga that becomes quite the messy triangle due to the fact that the President is of course married to Mellie (Bellamy Young) with children. Granted his marriage is more of a business, political arrangement with no love lost between the two, and Mellie will stop at nothing to remain in political power and that includes tolerating an illicit affair of her husband with a woman she hates.
And as Ewww as the affair sounds when written, it is this relationship between Olivia and Fitz that has everyone tuning in wondering what will happen next with those two and the crazy world they both have to manage with no consolation. From the first episode that we meet Olitz, the two characters express a chemistry (HOT!) that is rarely captured on a television show and people are mesmerized by it. It also helps that creator and writer of the show, Shonda Rhimes, delivers these awesome roller coaster rides as we go through scandals that pepper not only Olivia Pope and her team, but just the worlds of all those involved with Olivia and the President.
This show is not for everyone. You really have to take a bit of your own personal morality out of the picture when watching this because no character is purely black or white. They all have various shades of grey that they must accept which makes this show fascinating as there is no real Good Guy. Just a bunch of people trying to do a little bit of good, if it allows, to save the day.
This show has it all and with a strong cast like Jeff Perry who plays Cyrus, (the President’s right-hand man), Joshua Malina as David Rosen, (the US attorney always losing out to Olivia Pope), and the remaining team of Pope & Associates that really help to bring home a deliciously scandalous viewing pleasure.
One of the most well-known movie critics of all time has lost his battle with cancer today, April, 4, 2013 at the age of 70.
Two days ago, Tuesday, April 2, 2013 Roger Ebert reported that he was “taking a leave of presence” in order to undergo radiation treatments for cancer that was discovered due to a hip fracture.
Roger Ebert, born June 18, 1942, had suffered a long hard battle with thyroid and salivary gland cancer. He was first diagnosed in 2002 with papillary thyroid cancer and then later in 2003 for cancer in his salivary glands where he underwent several surgeries that were deemed successful at the time. Unfortunately, several years later in 2006, he had surgery to remove part of his jaw bone in order to remove more cancerous tissue found.
Since 2006, Roger Ebert has underwent several medical complications and future surgeries that slowed his progress, but never deterred him from continuing his work as a movie critic and reviewer.
Roger Ebert was well known for his Siskel and Ebert tv shows and his movie critiques featured in Chicago Sun-Times, and he was also the first film critic to receive a Pulitzer Prize and be awarded a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.
I grew up watching the Siskel and Ebert shows and his passion and love for a great movie will certainly be missed.
R.I.P. Roger Ebert (June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013)
A team led by Francesco D’Andria, an Italian archaeologists from the University of Salento, has discovered a sort of Gates to Hell.
This ancient gateway to hell aka Pluto’s Gate excavated near a cave entrance was described by the Greek geographer, Strabo, in 24 A.D. as a,
Space full of a vapor so misty and dense that one can scarcely see the ground. Any animal that passes inside meets instant death. I threw in sparrows and they immediately breathed their last and fell.
It was believed to be a true portal to the underworld in Greek mythology and a place where the “rites of incubation” would occur. Vapors from the gate would cause hallucinations which would give rise to visions and prophecies to those who slept nearby the cave. The temple complex was also used as place to offer up sacrifices to Pluto. Also unearthed nearby was a thermal pool and courtyard for priests and travelers.
Even today the gateway located in the city of Hierapolis still contains lethal vapors as D’Andria describes of his excavations,
We could see the cave’s lethal properties during the excavation. Several birds died as they tried to get close to the warm opening, instantly killed by the carbon dioxide fumes.
A digital reconstruction of the site is currently being designed by D’Andria and his team to help give more insight into this unworldly find.
Now, if only we could find the Stairway to Heaven next.
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, you’ve most likely heard of The Walking Dead, AMC’s zombie drama success, but the question is….
Have you been watching it??
Last night was Season’s 3 Season Finale and as usual after an hour of watching a Walking Dead episode, I am emotionally spent.
The Walking Dead is about, yes it’s true, zombies.
However, it’s a lot more than that. It really digs deep into the complex social, emotional, and physical relationships that develop once a sort of apocalypse world occurs. I had no interest in watching this show when it first began for the simple fact that it’s about Walkers (another name for zombies) and I just didn’t see the appeal. Yet, someone insisted I watch the show, so I gave the Pilot episode a chance and boy, did it deliver. One episode and I was hooked for life.
The actors on the show are top-notch and they make it easy to get caught up in this zombie flesh-eating world. Andrew Lincoln leads the cast as Rick while he successfully, and sometimes not, leads his group through survival in the new world. Unfortunately, not all of them have/will survive.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the show is that nothing and no one (including their life) is guaranteed. I have shed quite a few tears over the loss of some of my beloved characters, so please brace yourself for that.
The show also does an excellent job of addressing the ever-changing morality issue. In this new world, it’s either kill or be killed because either you kill or you die, or worse, you die and you kill.
So, how far will they go to survive? The show does a beautiful job of exploring this question and more.
We see people like Rick, our fearless leader, go through the emotional and mental struggles of remaining sane in a most illogical world and his fight to keep abreast in order to lead his new family to some sort of normalcy.
We also see that human conflict continues to exist as Rick’s group goes up against The Governor (our little anti-hero who took too many dips into the crazy pool) and his lovely people at Woodbury.
And no zombie show would be complete without some kick-ass mesmerizing Walker battle encounters with Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) leading the fray.
So, if you are one of the few who is still trying to decide if you should follow the masses and get caught up in this zombie-apocalypse creation, then the good news is that Season 4 doesn’t begin until October.
That gives you plenty of time to give this show a try and see what you’ve been missing!
But if you do, you can catch Tilda Swinton at the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York, NY as she sleeps in her box for her performance art pieced called “The Maybe”.
Keep in mind that this will be performed on random days where not even the museum knows when she will pop in for a long nap. So, you may have to stalk Twitter to know just exactly when she is making an appearance.
“The Maybe” includes Tilda Swinton sleeping in a box with just herself and a mattress, pillow, linen,water, and spectacles.
If you suffer from brittle nails that have a hard time growing, you may want to check this supplement out.
It’s called Biotin and it helps with hair and nail growth. The hair growth may take some time noticing, but you will begin to see almost immediate results for nail strength and growth. I discovered this by accident when I was taking Biotin for weight loss and I quickly noticed a difference in my fingernails. They were noticeably longer, thicker, and stronger. I did a little research to discover that Biotin has been indeed proven to help with nail growth.
And while I did lose a few pounds (I have no clue if Biotin was the true cause of that), I can say for sure it made a world of a difference on my nails.
You can take Biotin alone or with Vitamin B6 because they both help produce the keratin protein found in nails. Along with keratin, Biotin also helps with the production of collagen and elastin fibers which is found beneath the nail and also promotes healthy nail growth.
So, if you struggle and feel embarrassed with your nail appearance, give Biotin a try.
You just might lose a few pounds as an extra bonus. You can’t beat that!
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed quite the fixation with different types of oils for cooking, aromatherapy, beauty aides, and alternative medicine.
So, I just wanted to take the time out to highlight some of my favorite oils and how I’ve found them helpful in my daily needs.
Coconut Oil: Organic, Unrefined, Cold-Pressed, Extra Virgin
The BEST natural body moisturizer I’ve come across. Slather this anywhere on your body and you’ll be amazed by how soft and supple your skin will be by the next day. Tip: If you have really dry feet, Try This: Rub coconut oil all over your feet, slip on some socks, and get some rest. You’ll thank me in the morning. 🙂
Dry hair? No problem. Apply this oil throughout the hair to give it some added moisture.
Some people swear that taking 1-2 tablespoons a day of coconut oil helps with weight loss. I can’t attest to those claims, but it is yummy when used to cook up some scrambled eggs. Delish!
Believe it or not, I sometimes use this on my face as a moisturizer and it does a great job of getting rid of dry patches and making the face more supple. However, I only recommend doing this for people with dry skin.
Castor Oil: The Palma Christi (Palm of Christ)
I have grown to love this oil. It’s great as an overnight spot treatment on pimples/acne. This oil is too thick to place all over the face, so I don’t recommend it.
Great for dry hands and feet.
If you’re having trouble in the bathroom area(constipation), this is your go-to oil. It’ll clear that right up!
Castor Oil packs have been used for various issues such as inflammation, congestion, constipation, and liver, kidney, and pelvic disorders.
I don’t have this one confirmed yet, but it supposedly helps with the appearance of cellulite. I’m going to try this one out and let you know my results.
Olive Oil: Any type
This is my go-to oil for most of my cooking needs, unless I’m frying.
This is a good oil for body moisturizing, but I prefer coconut oil for my beauty needs over olive oil.
Many claim that it’s great in your hair. I tried this once and well, never again! Ok, maybe further experiments are needed, but I was not impressed.
Lavender Oil: 100% Pure Essential Oil
Great for healing my acne bumps and scars.
The anti-bacterial properties also help with any cuts and scrapes, including cat scratches (cat owners can relate!)
A few drops on my pillow case help me to finally doze off to sleep when my insomnia starts kicking in.
Always great to use in an oil diffuser as a room deodorizer.
Mix this with Eucalyptus oil in warm/hot water for a relaxing bath.
Peppermint Oil: 100% Pure Essential Oil
If you’re sick, this oil will surely give your sinuses some temporary relief and make it easier to breathe again. However, putting this oil in a bath will give you an extreme cooling effect in all areas including your nether regions, so be forewarned.
Another good choice to scent the room in an oil diffuser. However, the minty smell makes my cat go off-the-wall bonkers!
Clove Oil: 100% Pure Essential Oil
Believe it or not, this oil is stronger than lavender oil with its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. This oil can zap away a zit overnight. Warning: It can sting a little, so you may want to mix it with a carrier oil like olive oil before applying to the skin.
I haven’t tried this, but apparently it’s great to use with your toothpaste/mouthwash for dental care.
Eucalyptus Oil: 100% Pure Essential Oil
This goes well with lavender oil as a calming and soothing bath oil.
This is another good choice for a room deodorizer.
Citrus-Scented Oils (Orange, Lemon, and Lime): 100% Pure Essential Oil
I only use these oils to get rid of any unpleasant smells that may pop up within my apartment. I have citrus oils to be great as a room deodorizer.
Certain citrus oil brands you can use for baking needs (pies, cakes, etc.) to boost flavor.
I do own and use a lot more oils, but these are my main staples. I’m always looking to experiment and add to my collection, so if you have any other good suggestions/recommendations please forward it my way!
I always get asked “Your hair is so healthy, shiny, and silky. What products do you use??”
Well, when I was very young, I had one of those Michael Jackson Pepsi commercial type accidents with my hair (no lie) which was quite the traumatic experience, but it forced me to take extra care of my hair in order to get it back to a healthy, normal state.
I was blessed with having an aunt who was an expert in her craft of hair care and believed in using only quality products that actually work and benefit the hair.
I keep a minimal hair care routine by using quality products that do not cause damage and leaves my hair protected with a shine and silkiness that brings on the flood of compliments.
So listen up, Ladies (and Gentlemen) and see how hair care can really be that simple.
1) Shampoo: Original Mane ‘N Tail Shampoo
I started using this product 2 years ago and fell in love. Yes, this shampoo was originally made to give horses that beautiful gleam for their mane while protecting the hair strands. Well, as many horse owners quickly figured out, it is quite excellent for human hair as well. This product is now specifically made for use on both human and horse hair. Note: Don’t be turned off if your hair feels a little dry right after shampooing. The conditioner will fix that right away.
My Results: My hair grew significantly stronger and LONGER. My hair began achieving lengths I had never seen before. After my accident, I could never seem to grow my hair out longer than an inch past my shoulders. Now, I am able to grow it up to at least 5 inches below my shoulders.
2) Conditioner: Original Mane ‘N Tail Conditioner
This conditioner is protein-based which may be the reason for my hair becoming stronger and much longer after use of this shampoo and conditioner. This conditioner will leave your hair moisturized without weighing it down. My hair has a fine texture and I can’t use products that are too heavy as I won’t be able to have that volume and bounce to my hair.
My Results: Along with the the strength and length of my hair, I noticed less split ends and fuller/thicker hair once I switched to this shampoo/conditioner combo.
I’ve been using this product for almost 20 years and it’s never stirred me wrong. This is an extremely lightweight leave-in conditioner where the texture is about the same as water. It has a Pro-Phytamine complex which smooths hair and increases manageability. It is a must if you are going to put any heat on the hair. I use this product regardless of heat. After the process of shampooing and conditioning, I wring out the excess water from the hair wash, and spray this leave-in conditioner throughout the hair. Do not overdue it. Then I apply my last (and most favorite) product.
Seriously, if you don’t buy anything else, buy this! It is a must have for some dam good silky shiny hair. I have been using this product for over 20 years and it is one of the originators of the clear serums. I have tried main serums, this one is by far the best. I have used this product on all types of hair and ethnicities(both male and female) and it always does the job of improving the shine and feel of the hair. This product is one of your best chances at achieving soft, silky hair. I honestly have no idea what they put in this stuff, but your hair will love you for it! After spraying in the Aphogee, you put about 2-3 dime sized amounts of this serum into the hair(depending on your hair length) from the roots down to the ends. Again, do not overdue it.
My Results: Consistent shine and silkiness. It is my ultimate hair secret. I’ve used it on so many of my friends and they all love it.
Extras: Bio-Silk Silk Therapy Serum
This is a good back-up if you don’t have Bain de Terre. It is also great to apply this to the hair before doing any flat-ironing. I always use this whenever I need to flat-iron my hair. Always.
So, there you have it.
My recommended products to help you achieve that healthy, shiny, stronger, longer, and happier hair which means an even happier YOU!
So, the Emperor Michael Bloomberg….Ahem, Excuse me, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has developed a habit of wanting to ban…well, most anything his arrogance can come up with it. He recently sent New Yorkers in a tizzy when he wanted to crack down on those over-sized 32 oz drinks. Maybe he felt they were in direct competition of his over-sized ego?
One will never know.
He has vehemently expressed that banning these 32 oz drinks will help fight obesity. Oh, really? How exactly does this help fight obesity considering the fact I can just run to my local grocery store and buy a 2 liter in a rebellious state of mind?? Or did he miss the part where many fast food places and restaurants provide free unlimited refills on beverages so that you can drink yourself into a sugary stupor??
If you were truly interested in fighting obesity, how about developing some real plans that could actually work.
For example, our youth is the largest it’s ever been due to the ever increasingly dependence upon video games to fulfill their recreational needs. So, why not try implementing mandatory recess time and Physical Education class in order to help keep our kids active and start a mental trend towards a healthier state of mind and body?
Did you know that too many of New York’s public schools have NO recess or as little as 10 minutes time to run around, play, and burn away some calories? Or that qualified Phys. Ed. teachers are being pulled out of the gym to go teach Social Studies?? Yes, this is really happening in the NY public school system.
Or maybe we can spend some of our taxes on creating more accessible recreational centers that offer plentiful exercise equipment at affordable prices. New York has some, but not quite enough.
Fortunately, someone has finally put Bloomberg at a halt. A New York judge has seen right through this Big Gulp facade and has labeled Bloomberg’s banning desire as arbitrary and capricious and put an end to this silly 32 oz drink ban.
But don’t worry folks, Emperor Bloomberg is going to appeal this judgement and waste more time and money on this frivolous matter instead of dealing with bigger issues that comes with running a major metropolitan city. You know, small things like: crime, economy, hunger and homelessness, and the ever crippling real estate issue.
Bloomberg went so far as to say,
“Anytime you adopt a groundbreaking policy, special interests will sue. That’s America.”
Only in Bloomberg’s world is banning a 32 oz drink a groundbreaking policy.
I just hope the rest of America is paying attention to what’s going on in New York because if the mayor decides to run for Presidency in 2016, we should all be worried at the great lengths and tax payers’ dollars he will spend just to get his way.
For us New Yorkers, we have quickly learned that the tale is indeed true —
Is it ironic that Judge Judy is actually being sued??
Probably not, but it does make for a good twist.
It seems Judge Judy Sheidlin is actually caught up in quite the domestic issue here. Apparently, a Judge Judy Show producer, Randy Douthit, gave the judge a steal on some Christofle chinaware. This china must be quite the tableware as it is claimed to be worth over a whopping $500,000. You must be able to see right through yourself when looking at this china.
Randy Douthit’s ex-wife, Patric Jones, is alleging that Judge Judy received the china from Douthit for an exchange of only $50,000 without her knowledge or consent of the trade. And as you’ve probably figured out by now, the divorce was clearly a bitter one since Jones is looking to reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers and hers alone.
To add more to the twist, Patric Jones is also claiming that Douthit agreed to decrease his salary upkeep on the show in order to get a better deal in the divorce settlement. So, even though the divorce has been settled, the war is still brewing.
Judge Judy is of course denying these claims and she’s also denying that this lawsuit even exists,
I have not seen any complaint by the former Mrs. Douthit, however, I don’t owe this lady a cent. And if this 50-year-old woman would spend her time more productively at trying to find a job, instead of abusing the judicial system with frivolous lawsuits, we would all be a lot better off.
Ah, Judge Judy, even outside the courts you still have your sass.
I must say it would be quite interesting to see Judge Judy Sheindlin on the other side of the bench and maybe even get just a little taste of her own medicine.
January 15, 1929 – The day that gave us Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A man of courage, vision, passion, and fortitude to see equality come for all mankind. There were many who helped during the Civil Rights Movement, but Dr. King was someone with such a dynamic presence that it was hard to not be moved by the conviction of his words. A bold leader who promoted unity through a peaceful force, Dr. King became the recognizable face of the Civil Rights Movement.
Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was all too aware of the social and economic inequities and racial discrimination directed towards minorities. He believed African-Americans were indeed “entitled to the basic rights and opportunities of American citizens”.
As a true activist, Dr. King spent over a decade dedicating his energy and efforts into making strides towards freedom for all. His imminent wish for change would not allow him to rest as continued injustice spread throughout America.
“I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Dr. King went on to lead the Montgomery bus boycott, the Birmingham Campaign, and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Despite being threatened and arrested on several occasions, Dr. King never tired in his desire for change through peaceful demonstrations, nor did he cease preaching both love and reconciliation to America and its lawmakers.
“The end of violence or the aftermath of violence is bitterness. The aftermath of nonviolence is reconciliation and the creation of a beloved community. A boycott is never an end within itself. It is merely a means to awaken a sense of shame within the oppressor but the end is reconciliation, the end is redemption.”
That relentless energy eventually paid off as President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the National Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ended previously legal segregation practices and disavowed discriminatory voting laws towards African-Americans.
Dr. King was taken away from our world when James Earl Ray assassinated him on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April, 4, 1968. Except, James Earl Ray was too late. Dr. King’s message and momentum was already instilled in many and the soul of his movement continued on for change in America up until this very day.
We cannot forget that Dr. King did not and could not do it alone without the bravery of those who were willing to follow his lead, yet he was, and is admired for his willingness to be the face of change for many.
Today, we must continue to spread his message and possess the courage and resilience needed to strive for freedom for the oppressed here in America and our fellow nations.
I will leave you with the powerful words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. …all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
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