Riots in Iran.

When I watch the television riots in Iran several things come to mind.

1. No matter what complaints or problems I have with our government and political system I'm blessed to live here.

2. It's so important that we exercise or democratic right, because people are literally dying for theirs.

3. How lucky we are that we have technologies like twitter, face book, and youtube that allows us to relieve information that the Iranian government is attempting to contain.

4. Lastly, that Iran needs our thoughts, prayers and actions, whatever that means to you personally. Many americans strive to make sure we receive all the rights we deserve, even the most miniscule ones. As Americans we can empathize with there desire for political justice. This isn't a political problem, or an Iranian conflict, it's a human struggle for rights that everyone deserves.

Count your blessings, and pray for those who haven't received the same.

Damsel

There once lived a damsel locked up in a castle
far away from the worlds sight
Of her prince she would dream and although it did seem
hopeless she wait each night

She grew weary and thought of the life that she sought
believing that happiness was gone
But that night it changed, her thoughts rearranged
and she decided her waiting was done

The idea of prince charming now seemed alarming
She would no longer pray to be rescued
Princess would escape not a moment to late
it was clear what she must do

Without a man she still can
live and love her life
joy would not come from the boy
nor from man and wife

She finally realized she’d been hypnotized
The prince would not deliver salvation
The curtains she tore than bust down the door
Once damsel now, liberation

Hope.

this is a poem I wrote. It's about a topic that's not often talked about but needs to be. child sex slavery. If you haven't hear of love 146 check it out... http://www.love146.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21460


Hope.
born.
born, a victim of circumstance.
victim
victim of her future.
future,
a dream she’ll never know
dreams
the one’s that haunt her.
of her family who’s face’s she cannot recall.

family,
the one’s who sold her
sold
for a small amount of money
money
she believes her only purpose
purpose
a choice she did not make
choice,
a word she’s unaware of
words,
the thoughts that no one hears
thoughts
the one thing that’s her own

owned
owned as a slave
as a slave to her body
slave
to the family who sold her
slave
to the man who bought her
slave
to the one’s who’ve had her
and slave
to the world that forgets her

forget
something she’d love to do
love
a word she doesn’t believe in
belief
a concept pain stole
pain
a feeling thats strong
but stronger is the hope.

hope
that someone will save the slave she has become.
hope
that someone will hear her thoughts of freedom.
hope.
that someone will care.
hope
that someone will love.
hope
that someone will listen.
hope.
that the someone is you.

Look HOT, Be Irresistible, Demand Respect.

"Women's" magazines are a popular form of media we assume are meant for females. The covers are filled with titles like Look HOT, Be IRRESISTIBLE, make HIM want you, 33 sex positions HE craves. It's pretty clear without even opening the magazine that its focus has nothing at all to do with women, rather it provides ideas for how women should strive to improve the lives of men.
Cosmopolitain claims on it's cover to be the "1# WOMENS magazine" on the cover of a previous months issue it included the following:

""Guys Talk Sex"
"How To Be Just Bitchy Enough"
"His Body"
"For Naughty Girls Only"
" 15 Dates He'll Be into"
" Kate Hudson: her sexy views on love"
" How Long Guys Want Sex To Last"
" Scents That Seduce Any Man"

The same months Issue of the popular Men's Magazine GQ's cover listed:

" The Coldest Job On Earth"
" How To Act Like A 21st Century Gentleman"
" The Meanest Chef In The Kitchen"
" The Hottest Neighborhood In The US"
" James Bond"
" Big Boi" (a popular singer)
" America's Favorite Virgin"

Just by looking at the titles of these articles its clear what kind of image our culture continues to perpetuate about females. The Men's magazine provides not a single article on pleasing or trying to impress a woman. Rather it focuses on issues men may be interested in for self improvement and entertainment. The closest topic related to attracting a woman may be " How to act like a 21st century GENTLEMAN".
In contrast the women's magazine contains only one article not about sex or men and its title is " How To Be Just Bitchy Enough". The "women's" magazine is using the word BITCH to describe the consumers of their product.
I'm insulted, and ashamed that my only value according to Cosmopolitan lies in my ability to please a man.
We buy the magazine, and are provided with no information to better our heart, minds or lives at all.

This is a serious problem.

Cosmo, is clearly a MENS magazine.

I'm not saying I have never bought a "women's" magazine or that I never will again. Unfortunately, like the rest of our society, part of me still gives into believing that these degenerating topics, have some importance in my life. I give in and buy a magazine, I know is not only anti- woman, but anti-equality.
Why do we purchased a magazine like this? Is it because in some small way media and society has made us feel as though these topics will in fact better our lives as women? That men are the only places where our successes may lie?

We have the power to make change, in magazines, television, our communities our lives.

We need to realize these ideas send the wrong message to our children, sisters, ourselves, and the world.

We are strong, smart and as capable as any man, lets start acting like it.

What They Are Really "Selling"

The popular designer Dolce and Gabanna is world renowned for their clothes,shoes, and celebrity following among other things.
Dolce and Gabbana, even if I found a way to afford it, will never get a cent from me. There clothes are fine, there bags are nice, but there advertising on the other hand is absolutely disgusting. In my journalism class I was shown a picture from a spring 2007 Dolce and Gobbanna add campaign that was widley spread over many european countries. This image was supposedly advertising the Spring 2007 "clothing collection".
Look at this image for a couple seconds.
What did you think of?
When I saw this image "fashion" is the last thing that came to mind, for me it brought ideas more along the line of "gang rape".
The majority of Dolce and Gabbana's consumers are women. The same group of people the company blatantly disrespects in many of there advertising campaigns. This ad in particular glamorizes the idea of men forcibly imposing sexual advances on a woman which is what all of us in the real world would usually call "rape". There is nothing beautiful, artsy or fashionable about this. Why a woman would ever choose to spend any money on items this company associates with is mind boggling. This type of marketing is a personal insult to any self- respecting person, not only females.
Eventually the designer opted to pull the campaign because of the large amount of complaints they recieved from "special interest groups".
If you are a D&G shopper, or ever considered being one think twice. As long as people continue to financially support companies that perpetuate sexist stereotypes they will never go away. It's not just about hot shoes and cute handbags anymore.

ATTENTION WAL- MART SHOPPERS: The High Cost Of A "Happy" Holiday.

The Friday proceeding thanksgiving has always been know for crazy traffic, long lines and of course even better sales. This year the words "Black Friday" have taken on a whole new meaning.
At a Wal- Mart on Long Island a man was trampled to death by holiday shoppers attempting to be the first in the store.
A crowd waiting on line outside of the Wal-Mart broke down the door crushing the man, and proceeded to run over him.
All of us need to recognize what an atrocity this event was.

I don't care how bad the economy is,how awesome the DVD sales were, or that no one cares about the real meaning of the holidays anymore, but when people stop recognizing the importance of human life we have a problem.

This "man" was a person. With a name, a family, a life. He like the rest of us, was working hard probably in order to buy some gifts this season as well. I'm sure his family wouldn't mind being gift-less if they knew what price they were going to pay. Because sale or no sale, he is dead. No digital camera will hug them, No xbox will fill the hole they have in there hearts and Nothing, not even a Wide Screen HD TV will bring him back.

It's our duty to make sure this incident which should have never happened in the first place never happens again.

When you hear this story it's obvious that "things" just aren't that important.
We need to top defining our self worth by the items we posses.
We need to recognize people love us because of who we are not what we buy and that life is a gift in and of itself.

I've decided to start giving thanks for "who" I have, instead of "what" I have, because the "what" doesn't seem so important anymore.

Jack's Mannequin.

This Saturday I attended the Jack's Mannequin Concert at the Blender Theater on East 23 in Manhattan. In case you've never heard of the band, there a piano based alternative rock group. I've listened to the band before, but until I saw the concert I was never truly a fan. This band really knows how to put on a show. I've never seen a piano player rock out as much as lead singer, Andrew McMahon. He banged on the piano, rarely looked at the keys, and sung completely on pitch the entire time. They covered the Bruce Springsteen Song "I'm On Fire". It was original and mainly focused on the piano part, Jack's did the song justice, Bruce would have been proud. McMahon spoke about his battle with Leukemia and his non- for profit organization called" The Dear Jack Foundation", which raises money for cancer research. The band dedicated the song "Caves", from there new album "Glass Passenger" to all of those still struggling with the disease. The song combines a classical piano part, with a rock bass drum and guitar part. Compared to earlier songs, Jack's has come a long way musically. Now, the music is much more logistically complex, and sounds much more sophisticated. They played some of there earlier songs such as, "Dark Blue" and "The Mixed Tape", which are easier to sing along to. One of McMahon' songs which remained off Jack's Mannequins newest CD, titled "hey, hey, hey, We Are All Going To Die", was thematically out of character for the group. It's a good thing the pessimistic not- so creative song, stayed off the record, it probably shouldn't have seen the stage either. Aside from one musical mishap the show was amazing. The crowd was pumped, The band didn't miss a beat and they seemed to really enjoy playing. If you like piano, or are looking for a new sound definitely give Jack's Mannequin a shot.