Many years have come and gone with fondness and despair, but this year will be the year that we will seek all that is fair.
Best wishes for a prosperous New Year!
from the creator of
Chocolate Grey
Happy New Year 2010!
Merry Christmas!
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Christmas is the Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ The Son of God. It's also become a commercialistic as a non-religious holiday in much of the world by people who are not Christians. Because the holiday is so widely celebrated, there's many different ways to celebrate it. People often give each other gifts, and many cultures have special foods that they eat at this time. In some countries, people put up a Christmas trees and young children wait for Santa Claus to give them gifts. This is a special holiday for the Christians as they believe that on Christmas, Jesus Christ was born. Jesus is a very important person in the Christian faith.
The traditional date in the Christian calendar for Christmas is always December 25. In the past, christmas was celebrated on the 6th of January, but as time moved on, it was decided that Jesus's birth was on the 25th of a month, and no one was sure what month, so they chose the closest date to January 6th, which ended up being December 25. There are other holidays that take place around christmas. The Jewish people have Hanukkah and the African Americans have Kwanzaa. All the beliefs are different but revolve around religion in some way.
Men Vote San Francisco 3rd Best in the World
(HoodScope) - In AskMen.com’s most recent mega-feature, they rated the world’s top cities to decide which ones are the best for men to live in. Coming in first is the US’ very own Chicago, followed by Barcelona. I can’t argue with Barcelona, but Chicago at Number 1? Of more importance, though, is that San Francisco was rated at Number 3, besting locales such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, LA (how did they even make the list?), Sydney, and the most overrated city in the world, New York.
[...] they rated cities based on Sports & Entertainment (have they heard of the Warriors, Raiders, and Niners?), Culture, Fashion, Health, Power & Money, Dating & Sex, and The Good Life. San Francisco scored the max on every category except Fashion. I guess the editors aren’t into Hipster trends.
The first thing I noticed in their feature was the “Average cost of a pint of beer in this city” which lists a pint at $4 in San Francisco, lower than the national average of $4.48. Sounds about right, but my unemployed self usually pays about $3-4 for a pint.
Their reasons for rating San Francisco so high included many of the usuals, like our gorgeous bay, politics, recreation, bars and nightlife, and the world-renowned culinary scene that has “some of the best restaurants in North America, claiming one restaurant for every 279 people.”
One interesting fact they mentioned that some may not know is that “San Francisco was the healthiest city in the U.S. in 2008, at least according to USA Today.” It makes sense when you think about the fact that everyone here is an absolute health nut, but giving it an official ranking really puts it into perspective of how nutty everyone is here about their health. Full Story
Ditch Shampooing Your Hair, For Good!
Andrea Lynch can’t exactly remember the last time she shampooed her hair. Maybe it was last summer? No, more like September. She thinks.
For most Americans, the idea of skipping shampoo for even a day is enough to make us feel a little itchy. But some hair stylists and dermatologists say going a few extra days between shampoos — or ditching the stuff entirely — could actually benefit your tresses.
It's a bit counterintuitive, but those who've tried it are quick to brag about the improved condition of their hair. "I'm thrilled with it; my hair's very shiny and it's just thick," says 34-year-old Lynch, who lives in South Vienna, Ohio.
In recent years, "no poo" has become something of an underground beauty trend (despite being saddled with an unfortunate moniker) that's split into two camps: beauty mavens who believe they've found hair care's dirty little secret, and environmentally minded folks who want to use fewer plastic products and products with fewer chemicals.
“I think we’ve been so conditioned that you have to wash your hair every day ... that it’s just bizarre for somebody to think something otherwise,” says Lynch, who fits comfortably within the eco-friendly category of no-pooers.
Europeans and Australians have a more lax attitude toward shampooing, but in the U.S., the thought of going more than 48 hours without shampoo makes many squirm. Still, the idea seems to be finding its footing here — beauty blogs and message boards are abuzz with 'poo eschewers, and some stylists say more of their clients are asking about it.
Invasion of Privacy?
I just watched in horror, a commercial for Loud 'N Clear, and had to write something. The commercial has actors playing bingo, at parties, and various other situations where other people are not in listening distance. The shocker is that this device can amplify a conversation from across a room. In other words, someone can eavesdrop on your private conversation without your knowledge.
This is definitely an invasion of privacy if I ever heard of one. The commercial tries to persuade the viewer that the device is for the hearing impaired, but the underlying reason is clear (as in Loud "N Clear) that you can spy on anyone and at anytime. All you need is this surveillance device that looks exactly like a bluetooth headset for cell phones.
After I closed my mouth from the shock and awe, I decided that I would document the commercial as another attempt to invade our privacy. Other, more blatant moves include "wire-tapping" homes, illegal search and seizure, and internet monitoring. We all know that these practices are the products of our legal establishment, but this new attempt clearly comes from the private sector. Or, does it?
NOTE: Even the Loud 'N Clear website is full of popups to take your mind off their sinister mission.
Slowing Down, Stopping, and Turning Back Time!
The Today Show has done something that we all wish we could do: turn back the hands of time, stopping it, or at least slowing it down. These "miracles" are easily to do with the skill of a hair-stylist and makeup artist. A new look has the same effect as when you give a room a fresh coat of paint. It's amazing!
Some might say, "Sure, we've seen makeovers before". Of course we have, with reality TV shows like Extreme Makeover", "What Not to Wear", and "The Swan", but they all took weeks or months, and loads of cash. Well, not everyone has the time or money, or want to "change identities" completely. A relatively quick and inexpensive re-do can "do" the trick for 99% of all women.
Not readily noticeable is that fact that the photos above are of just two women. Yes, just two (2). I poured over more than 200 photos of makeovers that appears on The Today Show Website, and it took about an hour to find the most dramatic re-do's. But, I'm only one judge of the evidence.
There were some that deserved awards, and some that were not so deserving, but all of the women transformed into new versions of themselves. Whether they looked younger, beautiful, or different, they all seemed more confident about their looks, and their femininity.
Every woman needs a change from time to time, whether its to spark up a relationship, or boost her own confidence. And, with more than 100 makeovers to peruse, its certain that a "before" look will be fit just for you. The transformation will stun you, and everyone you meet.
So, to sisters of every culture, creed, and color, go ahead and make over your presence. What's the worst that could happen? Bad haircuts will grow out, and makeup washed away in minutes! The best that could happen is that you'll rethink your tired old saying, "Oh, I don't do that anymore".
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