'The Chronicles of Nic'

Latina Entrepreneurs Like Martha Martines Talks About Her New Eco-Friendly Company Bangledox

2008-02-08T16:34:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

Latina Entrepreneur Creates Her Own Opportunities With A New Eco-Friendly Business Venture

June 21st, 2007, Chicago, Ill – Entrepreneur Marta Martines had always dreamed of starting her own company, after losing her job in the beginning of 2007 she turned that moment in her life into an opportunity for herself.

What started out as a way to earn extra cash selling organic t-shirts from a booth several years ago quickly became the foundation of her plan to starting her own business, with her natural concern for the environment Ms. Martines set off to create her new green fashion company.

Introducing Bangledox Eco-Friendly Clothing, a new Latino owned t-shirt company thats helping set the standard for green fashion while incorporating environmentally safe materials in their clothing line.

Organic clothing and green eco friendly fashion have entered mainstream consumer consciousness with a slew of media attention, and for good reason. Its great for the environment and it helps draw attention to a very important topic.

“I originally started with just a few t-shirts selling at local events in my hometown” says Marta, I’m having a great time, and I enjoy what I’m doing..that’s what’s important when starting a venture”

After a humble start at local flea markets in St. Roberts, MO in 2003, the company has recently launched its first online store to the public; the new site is located at www.Bangledox.com.

The site includes helpful tips on saving energy as well as other useful environmental information.

Bangledox is grounded in the concept that the clothing industry and environment can co-exist, all of their clothing is sweat-shop free and produced in U.S.

Currently the company as well as its owner is featured in the October 2007 issue of Image Chicago Magazine.

To read the full article please click on the link.

http://www.imagechicago.com/magazine_flash.aspx?publication_no=23

You said goodbye

2007-12-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

Why Did You Say Goodbye?

Why?
Why?
You had to end it,
You had to say good bye,
Why, oh why,
Did you say goodbye,

The reason you say makes no sense at all,
How could it be,
You left me,
Now I am confused about my life,
And I keep getting into fights,

You did have a right,
To end it that night,
But why you did is not right,

I said I love you,
And you said it too,
Then the day after you tore my heart in two,
You left me so lonely and blue,
We both thought our love had been true,

But why did you do what you did,
Your just some kid,
Who wanted to do what you wish,
You gave me a long perfect kiss,
Then shut my lips and left,
But I still don't know the real reason why, you said goodbye...

Scary Halloween Films !

2007-10-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

25 films to consider watching on Halloween.....starting with number 25!

25. The Island of Lost Souls
This really is more of a science fiction film than a horror film, but it is still very scary. It isn't terrifying, suspensful, or shocking, though, It relies on a horrifying thought or idea to chill the audience (trademark H.G. Welles). The thought of torture, sadism, and inhumanity drive the horror in this film. The character of Dr. Moreau is arrogant and childish in his search for perfection, and is played extremely well by Charles Laughton. The monsters themselves are brilliant because they are the perfect combination of animal instinct and humanity.

24. Gothic
The only way I can begin to describe this film is as an "assault upon the senses." Gothic grabs you early on and bombards you with emotional sequences and disturbing moments that leave you bewildered. Once the emotion begins, there isn't anything tying the scenes together except for the characters. While this hurts the movie as a whole, it gives the director free reign to scare us out of our wits. And it's based on a true story.

23. The Silence of the Lambs
No real explanation is needed. Not much of this film is really scary in the traditional sense; it relies mostly on shock value and disgust to influence its viewers. However, there is the horror mainstay: Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. Hopkins plays Lecter as an intelligent, evil manipulator so well that you can't help but get goosebumps.

22. Hellraiser
Sadly this film often gets lumped together with the other Hellraiser films as just more mediocre horror from the 70's and 80's. Those that know the film, though, realize that it is a very unique horror film. Unlike the others, it doesn't rely soleley on gore and shock to scare you. Hellraiser works with simple themes: love, romance, death, and the pain suspended between them. It deals with simple themes in a well-designed plot; and as a result, it is a very interesting and unique horror film that scares you in a different way.

21. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3
As a rule sequels tend to be cheaper and less entertaining than the original. However, some sequels of very good quality are often overlooked just because of the number at the end of the title,. The third Nightmare on Elm Street film is one of the best, because it reverts to the formula of the original: you can't escape, you can't hide, he'll always get you. Freddy, of course, is incredibly fun to watch due to his creativity and humor. And of course, you have to sleep with the lights on after watching this one.

20. Hold That Ghost
Yes, I am serious. It's true that most of the comedy/horror films are never actually scary and rely on merely the presence of scary things to scare you. Hold That Ghost is different. It reaches the impossible balance between comedy and horror. The mood, photography,. and direction are classic haunted house techniques even in a comedy film. This rates as one of Abbott & Costello's best and most overlooked.

19. Dr. Giggles
Dr. Giggles should really be classified as a comedy. Larry Drake is hilarious, and the script keeps feeding him one-liners. Again though, it is still a very scary and disturbing movie. There is a large gore factor, but there is also a very scary story behind it. The suspense and chase scenes are directed very well, too. "The doctor is out -- of his mind."

18. The Howling
It's amazing that a film as poorly made as this could spawn six sequels. (The Howling III is high on my list of worst film ever made) Again though, even a poor film can succeed at being scary. Werewolves are hard to handle in film today, but The Howling used them well. The chase scenes and transformation scenes are astounding, and the atmosphere and mood are both done very well.

17. The Wolf Man
Rarely can a film create a horror character with such classic style and popularity as the Wolf Man. Werewolf stories are legend, but the modern trend of the common man watching his life torn in half owes its popularity to The Wolf Man. Lon Chaney, Jr,. plays the role of Larry Talbot flawlessly.(he would sadly be typecast for life) Horror techniques and cliches are combined with new ideas for characterization and filming. This is one of the best horror films, but it is also very scary.

16. Bram Stoker's Dracula
Another very difficult concept in film is to blend horror with romance. Dracula is the perfect example, and Coppola brought Stoker's novel to the screen with remarkable romance, integrity and terror. Dracula had been perverted for so many years, that it was time to get close to the original novel again. Vampire movies are back again because of the chills caused by Bram Stoker's Dracula.

15. Halloween 2
It's true that the second Halloween film isn't as good as the first. Still, it can't be denied that the same techniques are used to scare as in the first film, with great results. It may not be believable, but an empty hospital is a wonderful setting for a horror film. The filmmakers overdosed on gore this time, but it is undeniably a terrifying film to watch(especially in the dark on Halloween).

14. Poltergeist
Poltergeist is a very different horror film for many reasons. The first is the sense of reality. There is very little fantasy involved in this film, it works on the basis of everyday people in an ideal world caught in a horrific situation. Put a young girl in the middle of it, and you have a scary film. The second difference is that you don't actually see the "monsters". So many horror films no rely on visuals and gore to scare peoplem, but Poltergeist shows us that the lack of a scary presence can be just as terrifying. And it's based on a true story.

13. The Blair Witch Project
This is, of course, unlike any horror film you've seen before. Its realism is so great that you almost forget that you're watching a movie. The horror isn't shock value or gore, it's all psychological. You are left to wonder about all the little clues the film leaves. It also taps into our childlike fears of unknown noises in the dark, only this time it's much more real. The suspense and pressure build wonderfully at the end, and I must admit I loved the ending, even though it did leave me wanting more.

12. Friday the 13th
No line of sequels have been more stupid, senseless, and bad than the Friday the 13th sequels (they beat out Police Academy!). However, many people forget that the reason so many sequels were made is because the original was so damn scary! No stalk-and-slash film (except for Halloween) has been directed and filmed so effectively. You can criticize it all you want, but weren''t you constantly terrified every time somebody walked around a corner? Didn't you jump every time someone was killed? Weren't you constantly on the edge of your seat? That's all that matters.

11. Night of the Living Dead
It's so hard to make a scary zombie movie. George Romero did it and did it well. Of course the film itself isn't up there with Casablanca or Citizen Kane, but the whole zombie concept was used so well that the film turned out to be very scary. The whole idea of a human, yet inhuman monster that keeps coming and will never stop scares us all. That feeling of being trapped and having nowhere to go is a lot scarier than people admit.

10. The Exorcist
It's hard to call a movie like The Exorcist overrated, but surprisingly it was. It was unmistably scary and disturbing, but there always seemed such a distance between you and the characters on film that it really wasn''t significant. This may be because I've grown up in the new era or horrific images, but The Exorcist still seems fairly tame.

9. Jaws
No horror film has had more of an impact upon the viewing public than Jaws. You know you've made a damn good movie when it causes a nationwide scare among beachgoers. There are so many little things that are done well in Jaws that it would take a book to explain them. The music is fantastic. You never see the shark until the end. Shots are filmed from the shark's viewpoint, almost giving it a conscious evil. Death is painful and messy. And for the first time in mainstream horror, they killed a little boy.

8. The Thing from Another World
The original Howard Hawks classic is perhaps the premiere science fiction film of its time. Most alien films involve large attacks on big cities by dinner plates on a string. The Thing is unique; there is only one. You are trapped with it. It wants blood. You can't kill it. The Thing is scary not just because of the monster. It is scary because you can see how people react to it. The characters are so human and everday that you can see yourself in them. Again, the horror is not from seeing the monster, but from the suspense that you might see him. Each sequence is filmed and directed very well. All respect to John Carpenter, but the remake focuses on gore. There are no real characters, and you are left to be scared by the photography and music. The original is what is truly scary. And of course, there is no true closure. At the end, you are warned, "Watch the skies. Keep watching!"

7. The Blob
I am of course referring to the original. The Blob serves basically a zombie. It has no name or identity. You don't know why it kills, and you don't know where it's from. You just know it kills, it grows stronger, and it never stops coming. The film could easily have been turned into a silly farce, but it is handled with taste and precision. It's not a gore fest. You are left to wonder what unbelievable death these people could face. It keeps coming, and you can't kill it. That's everyone's nightmare.

6. Candyman
Wow. Clive Barker strikes again. Was there ever a more unique idea for a modern horror figure? An inner city urban legend that's real. He has a legend, and he has a desire to kill. He could appear anytime. Suspense in a horror film has rarely been directed better. Candyman WILL scare you. I dare you to go into a dark room and say his name into a mirror three times.

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street
Most horror icons are those that had an amazing start and make an impression on the viewing public that makes them part of film lore forever. The prime example of this is Freddy Krueger. The film is simplicity itself. Slowly stalking, great legend, unescapable death. You can run all you want, but you still have to sleep. Of course, Freddy's character is such that you can't wait for him to show up next, because he is so funny and has such personality. Still, it doesn't detract at all from the deep, instinctive fear that dwells in this film.

4. The Shining
The Shining as a film is amazing. It's very lucky that it was shot in the 70's, because the cold, distant photography seen here is what makes it so incredibly scary. Buried beneath the snow, an old hotel stands. It holds a history of horror which we unwillingly witness through the eyes of a terrified little boy. Of course, Jack Nicholson is just your regular guy, but can the hotel get to him, too? Shelley Duvall does fantastic as the everyday woman caught in her own horror, fear, and sadness for her husband and son. The images in this film are photographed better than perhaps any other(for effectiveness). A loving husband becomes a maniac chasing after his own family? Was it just cabin fever, or was the hotel really his destiny? We're not sure . . . until the end. Wow.

3. The House on Haunted Hill
Yes, I am serious. Watch this film late at night alone with the lights off and see how it really is. I really can't make many general statements about the horror, it is so step by step and bit by bit. I guess you can say that you feel bombarded by horror and carried away by the same desperation the characters feel. You know from the opening moments that you will be terrified. And then it just ends. Be prepared to be enraged by the ending of this film.

2. The Fog
thump . . . thump . . . thump. You never actually see them, but you know they're coming. Every time the fog rolls in. The story opens with a melodramatic retelling of the town legend of the old dead sailors who come back on land on that . . . certain . . . night. The night is tonight. Don't be prepared. It will send chills down your spine. Even the very ending will leave you with your mouth open gaping at the screen.

1. Halloween
What else? Michael Myers is the perfect serial killer. He doesn't feel, he doesn't hate, he isn't funny or mad. He just kills. No one knows why. He just kills. He doesn't come in your dreams, he doesn't stalk you at camp, and he doesn't live in Texas. He just prefers Halloween. He is the personification of evil. Donald Pleasence's performance is melodramatic, but isn't that what makes it fantastic? Pleasence's description of Myers is so well filmed and well acted. The mask will never stop. The ending is one of the best I've ever seen on film. It was directed (better than any other horror film has been directed) by a young John Carpenter. It is just the simplistic piano music that makes your heart stop and your throat dry out. It is just the grainy camera angles and long shots that make this film so scary. This was one of the first horror movies to film from the killer's point of view. Also, like The Blair Witch Project, there are no quick cuts and close-ups that are obviously fake. It looks like just someone holding a camera and following people around. Michael appears suddenly and the strings hit a high note, making you stop breathing. The next minute, he''s gone. The scene in the tool shed is so unique and wonderful. By the end, you are so worn out that you just want to cry. This is a film that haunts you for days. It invades your reality. Always think twice before turning a corner. Wait a minute, didn't I lock the car?

Halloween customes for adults

2007-10-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, its that time of the year where even adults can partake in the Holiday when many associate it with children and candy.

Not just for kids....adults are gearing up and heading to custome shops to get their hands on THE outfit for upcoming Halloween parties....minus the children in most cases.

However spending the day with the little tikes collecting tons of candy is rather..well, fun. At the end of the night everyone sits around and pours the candy on the floor and starts picking out whats good and whats..not good enough to eat!

I happen to have a love hate relationship with this spooky holiday...depends if I get to wear MY chosen character for the night....and if theirs a cool after party.

Time to startlooking into some customes myself....and start stocking up on some candy and some of my favorite halloween flicks!!!

If you don't like having to dress up and coughing up the dough for a one time thing...check out this clothing store www.bangledox.com for some of their Halloween tees...pair up with some dark slacks, a little scary makeup and you're ready to go!

Introducing Bangledox Eco-friendly Clothing. We're more that just a Brand, we're a movement.

Image Chicago Magazine

2007-10-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

Currently I am featured in the Fall 2007 Image Chicago Magazine !!!

To view my inteview in Image Chicago Magazine please go to www.imagechicago.com and CLICK on Launch Flip Magazine, and please don't forget to check out our eco-friendly clothing line at bangledox.com !!!

Why do people feel the need to attack others for their opinions?

2007-09-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

I choose not to respond to hatred or anger with the same tone of tongue, so when she chose to spew such words against me I refused to return the favor and not use my time to personally attack her. Our argument is unnecessary.

There are times in life when we are presented with a clear opportunity to do the right thing. In the heat of the moment it is not always easy to not allow yourself to get caught up.

Her temper,and tendency to spew such words simply to try and hurt me, verbal vomit carelessly spewing forth without reservation and with the intent to wound.

I believe that in times like these such opinions and responses should be conducted in a way that avoids as much as possible unnecessary personal attacks.

Why do people feel the need to attack others for their opinions?

Hate only begets the same...

2007-09-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

...remember that name slandering and hate only beget the same and lower yourself to the level of this type of behavior if you allow yourself to fall to it. I, just like everyone else have a right to my opinion and responses should not be that of attacking another person publicly , all you are doing is re-enforcing a stereotype of hate.

Hope you're proud of yourself.

GearWire interviews DJ Nicci C

2007-09-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Technics 1200s--Chatting With DJ Nicci C
September 06, 2007

Chicago-based DJ Nicci C hosts an online show Nic@Nine on Myspace every Wednesday and Friday nights at 9 p.m. Her focus is Latin music and the aim is to promote up and coming artists as well has have remixes from hot DJs from around the globe.

Nicci C started spinning in much the same way many DJs do--at friends' parties and houses.

"I love music--its huge in my family, and I was looking to make my way," she says. "One thing lead to another and since at the time there were only a couple females doing it , it helped me get gigs. My focus is old skool house music with latin beats."

She is also a proponent of turntables and says it is more than just sound--it is look and vibe.

"Some events want that look--you spinning you know?" says C "Personally I enjoy it-- I LOVE VINYL. As far as drawbacks of vinyl, the beats of both records need to be heard as one so its all in the technique and balance and if you don't master that the end product is going to be...well, not good..it takes skill...perhaps that's why not as many do it today as they did 20 years ago."

She is partial to Technics 1200 turntables.

These are, of course, the turntables (first released in 1972 and intended for the home stereo) that DJs everywhere revere. There have been numerous versions of 1200s including the SL-1200MK2. If you talk to DJs one thing you always hear about these tables is "they don't break."

You can also control the pitch and have a magnetic direct drive. You can scratch like a mother on these.

You can find out the whole history of the 1200 at SL-1200.com. [5].It is a comprehensive history. For more on where to find parts for the turntables go to 1200s.com [6].

When it comes to DJ software you cannot have much of a conversation with Nicci C--She doesn't use any.

"I prefer doing without," she says "To me if it ain't broke don't try to fix it."

Upcoming plans include working on a show for her sister, a fashion designer, and is in talks about having an big event with DJs, poets, designers and others.

Link to interview with GearWire.com

http://www.gearwire.com/djniccic-turntables.html

DJ Nicci C on Myspace.com/livewithnicci

Another weekend of rest and relaxation....

2007-09-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

There's nothing sweeter than a long weekend to relax and get some time to yourself.

Encore Friday Night Nic@Nine Broadcast - Listen Up! Topic: Resentment

2007-08-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Encore Friday Night Nic@Nine Broadcast - Listen Up! Topic: Resentment - and DJ Mixes!!!

Nic@Nine Sponsor: Bangledox Eco-Friendly Clothing

2007-08-07T21:31:00.000-07:00

My show Nic@Nine sponsors is Bangledox Eco-Friendly Clothing which is becoming well known and gaining many fans around the country for there products and what they stand for, created by an environmentalist who is a huge t-shirt lover, Bangledox was started with the environment in mind.

Please check out my sponsors site !!!*FREE Gift from Bangledox Eco-Friendly Clothing !

Quickly becoming the #1 urban organic clothing line that combines Earth friendly materials, and cool styles.

Fashion with purpose, Feel great about what you're putting on, so if you love t-shirts and caps, concerned for the environment or would like to start using Eco-Friendly products, you'll love our clothes!!!

What is eco-friendly clothing? Eco-friendly may be recycled or organic material; and/or a product that does not harm the environment and is biodegradable. We only use earth friendly inks and dyes as well as organic cottons for our tees or hemp.

Read our Press Release as well as the interview with the owner of Bangledox with Chicago Latina Underground Magazine, hear how she got the lead singer of Los Cocodrillos and up and coming Latina actress/model Ashley Martinez to model for her very first promo ad!!!

We're more than just a brand. We're a movement.®

Click HERE to view Press Release June 2007

Click HEREfor Eco-Friendly Company Listing on Ecofirms

Click HERE Bangledox Clothing gets a thumbs up on Keetsa!

***Bangledox [ban'gel-dox] Clothing is not sold in ANY stores and can only be purchased through our company online store at www.bangledoxclothing.com!!!

EntertainmentBrouhaha.com To Create Talent Directory

2007-08-05T12:25:00.000-07:00

DJ Nicci C chats it up with one of the creators, Marisol Martinez, of the blog Entertainment Brouhaha on Nic@Nine, about their goal of creating a new and fresh medium in the form of a Talent Directory for up and coming artists, actors, models and voice-over talent to go live sometime in 2008.

Here's a sneak peak at the interview.

DJ Nicci C: Hi Marisol , thats for taking the time to chat with me, tell me what is Entertainment Brouhaha? I don't think I even know what brouhaha means...

Marisol: You're very welcome, and thank you for having me on the show. Well,Entertainment Brouhaha is the title of our popular industry blog, its a combination of celebrity news, industry resources and soon access to a new talent directory that filmmakers and industry leaders can use to help them find new talent for their projects. Brouhaha means "commotion", which we think fits perfectly with hollywood, there's always some kind commotion going on, and its usually newsworthy to those who stay plugged into the industry!

DJ Nicci C: I got a chance to check out your press release and I have to say, there's are a lot of sites out there trying to do the same thing and are failing, why jump into this pool? What will make your talent directory any different?

Marisol: ... well, as you know the Entertainment Brouhaha Blog is geared towards helping anyone interested in the business get closer to their goals with helpful resources connecting them to Hollywood to help them get on the right track, and people are responding to it. I love this business and have been in it for quite some time starting back in the early 80's as an extra in small films, since then I've been enjoying this crazy ride. We started to see a lot of sites popping up trying to do what we are doing and have failed, mostly because of neglect.

.....Many of the site managers simply go to the site when someone signs up and never updates any of the information, links are dead and the site is rather poorly designed, no personal attention at all goes into them, and you sometimes never here from that site again after you've paid the fee.

...Our goal is to be involved 100% with the sites content on a daily basis, regularly updating our links, adding to our site and using a weekly newsletter to keep our users informed about the site. We decided to create this blog in hopes that one day this will be THE site to go to for all your industry needs, and soon we'll have a talent directory connected to the site to help actors and models promote their work and skills. The blog itself is becoming very popular, we're pretty happy with it....

DJ: I see a lot of sites that basically allow anyone to join, I mean anyone!.. they post photos that don't look very professional, and the entire site looks like a crazy combination of professionals and wannabe stars all meshed together, how will you try to prevent that from happening to yours?

Marisol: Number one, we will have some restrictions. Other sites only care to have you pay a fee. One main requirement is only professional looking photos are accepted, No nudity, and nothing deemed inappropriate or offensive. This is not an adult site, so clearly we will not have that type of photos displayed,this will be a professional talent directory for actors, models, voice-over talent and even stunt professionals. Also, we prefer that anyone signing up is already represented or has some work under their belt as well as training.

DJ: LOL...I know what you mean, I've seen some other sites and have to say the photos on many are quite shocking, and its clear that a huge portion of the registered users are not professionals, sounds like you're already setting yourself up for success,

Marisol: We hope so.

DJ Nicci C: Tell me, you mention about fee's other sites ask you to pay, is your site going to charge?

Marisol: Yes, our site will require that you pay a very small fee of $24.95 which gets you listed within our main Talent Directory, you can get up to 2 free photos and your contact info will be displayed underneath including your personal site if you have one. You can also have us place that link on our main page for only $45 per year, a picture link is $99. You also get our regular newsletter to keep you in the loop.

DJ Nicci C: Pretty affordable as we all know many actors and models are on a budget,what kind of visitors check out your site?

Marisol: We get a combination of everyone, from actors to directors. Thousands visit us from all over the world.

DJ Nicci C: What motivated you to even think about creating a talent directory?

Marisol: We started getting emails from those in the industry asking if we knew of some legit national talent directories they could check out, we figured this was an opportunity we needed to look into. The traffic from the blog was our starting point, we could use that to drive traffic to our up coming talent directory, hence allowing our users more exposure to the right people.

DJ Nicci c: I will definitely check out the site and tell everyone about it, sounds like you guys are going to be very busy.

Marisol: ...I think so too.

DJ Nicci C: Thank you for sitting down with me and giving me a little more insight on Entertainment Brouhaha, and good luck with everything.

Marisol: Thank you, it was my pleasure!

Contact Entertainment Brouhaha Here

September 2007 - For the full interview check out Nic@Nice.
One on One with the creator of EntertainmentBrouhaha.com Marisol Martinez.

Sometimes reality is something I refuse to allow take control of me...

2007-07-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

Reality is LIFE, in its truest sense. the good, the Bad and the sometimes ugly.

I personally refuse to succumb to reality, sure I am AWARE of it...payments you need to make, work to complete, and a family to tend to. However, I don't allow the negatives in life get me down.

I say, if you want to give yourself a great chance in succeeding in life, you need to stay focused and that means not allowing negative thoughts and experiences hold you down.

Reality is something I refuse to allow take control of me.. what I mean is, I accept it for what it is ...and I move on.

Life can get hard sometimes, especially as we get older....I look it life through the eyes of a child sometimes....how wondrous it really is and full of possibilities. Reality may be that you have a crazy job, an ungrateful spouse or your neighbors suck, who cares I say....sure that may be the reality of the situation, however I choose to look on the brighter side of MY reality.

=]

Sometimes you have to force yourself to stop...and smell the roses.

2007-07-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when you are slammed with deadlines and the time is just a tickin... people panic...instead of taking a moment and stepping away for a second to regroup...sure I'm not perfect, however, I do make it a habit to step out if I'm feeling like the day is getting to me....get some fresh air, call a friend....just stepping away for a second helps a great deal!

Whatever happened to the days when I was a kid when a whole day was like..WOW..I have all day to play...and WOW ...I have the whole day to watch cartoons and don't forget...all day just hanging out with your friends.

Factor in growing up and getting a job...

Now we have panic attacks, freaking out and having heart attacks from the stress of life.

Its not doing anyone any good to out themselves through that, sure life can throw you a curve, you'll have challenging days...you're trying to keep up with the rat race...you have an employer you must keep happy, a spouse to tend to...kids...the house...your own personal life wants and needs...everything....doesn't it make sense to gather all that up and have a plan to dealing with it all, when things are getting stressful make it a habit to step aside for a second...you'll see....it'll make a huge difference!

=]

Sometimes I feel like screaming

2007-07-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like screaming to the top of my lungs because I'm in pain.
I have to take medicine everyday to keep myself from going insane.
I have schizophrenia just like my late uncle did.
He was committed three times when I was a kid.

Unlike my uncle, I always take my medicine.
He always stopped taking it and that was why he was committed again and again.
With each breakdown he had, he got even worse.
Having schizophrenia is like having a curse.

My uncle thought he was God, he was completely out of his head.
I don't want to suffer the same fate, I'd rather be dead.
It's terrible to know that schizophrenia is what I've got.
I guess I was destined to be mentally ill but I hope you're not.

How is your relationship?

2007-07-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

Abuse
How is your relationship? Does your partner:

* Embarrass you with put-downs?
* Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
* Control what you do, who you see or talk to or where you go?

* Stop you from seeing your friends or family members?
* Take your money or Social Security check, make you ask for money or refuse to give you money?
* Make all of the decisions?
* Tell you that you�re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
* Prevent you from working or attending school?
* Act like the abuse is no big deal, it�s your fault, or even deny doing it?
* Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
* Intimidate you with guns, knives or other weapons? Shove you, slap you, choke you, or hit you?
* Force you to try and drop charges?
* Threaten to commit suicide? Threaten to kill you? .

If you answered 'yes' to even one of these questions, you may be in an abusive relationship

Safety Alert
Computer use can be monitored and is impossible to completely clear. If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, call your local hotline, and/or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Learn how to say no

2007-06-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sure it's easier to say yes, but at what price to your peace of mind? Here's why saying no may be a healthier option for stress relief.

Be honest with yourself. Is your plate piled too high with deadlines and obligations that you're trying to squeeze in between meetings? Are you trying to cram too many activities into too little time? If so, stress relief can be as straightforward as just saying no — or no more.
Why say no?

There are countless worthy requests out there just waiting to decrease the amount of free time you have, and increase your level of stress. So, it's easy to create stressful situations in your life, if you don't turn down requests for your time and talents.

Who will make costumes for the school play or coach your children's Little League team if you don't? The answer may not be simple, but you should still consider these reasons for making sure it's not you.

* Saying no can be good for you. Saying no is not a selfish act. In fact, it may be the most beneficial thing that you can do for your family and your other commitments. When you say no, you'll be able to spend quality time on the things you've already said yes to.
* Saying no can allow you to try new things. Just because you've always helped plan the company softball tournament doesn't mean that you have to keep doing it forever. Saying no will free up time to pursue other hobbies or interests.
* Yes isn't always the best answer. If you're overcommitted and under a lot of stress, you've got a much better chance of becoming sick, tired or just plain old crabby, which doesn't benefit you or anyone else.
* It's important to recognize the power of other people. Let those around you come through. Although others may not do things exactly the same way you would, you can learn a valuable lesson by allowing others to help, while gaining treasured free time.

When to say no

Sometimes it's tough to determine which activities deserve your time and attention. Use these strategies to evaluate obligations — and opportunities — that come your way.

* Find yourself. Saying no helps you prioritize the things that are important to you. You'll gain time that you can commit to the things that you really want to do, such as leaving work at a reasonable hour to make time for a mind-clearing run at the end of the day. Examine your current obligations and overall priorities before making any new commitments. Ask yourself if the new commitment is important to you. If it's something that you feel strongly about, by all means do it.
* Weigh the yes-to-stress ratio. Is the new activity that you're considering a short- or long-term commitment? Taking an afternoon to bake a batch of cookies for the school bake sale will take far less of your precious time than heading up the school fundraising committee for an entire year. If an activity is going to end up being another source of stress in your life — especially for the long term — take a pass.
* Let go of guilt. If friends want to get together for an impromptu evening out on the town when you've already scheduled a quiet evening at home with your partner, it's okay to decline their offer. Do what you've set out to do and don't veer off that path because of feelings of guilt or obligation. It will only lead to additional stress in your life.
* Keep your current commitments in check. If you have relatives coming over for dinner, don't go overboard. Order pizza or ask everyone to bring a dish to share.
* Sleep on it. Are you tempted by a friend's invitation to volunteer at your old alma mater or join a weekly golf league? Take a day to think over the request and respond after you've been able to assess your current commitments as well as the new opportunity.

How to say no

No. Nope. Nah. See how simple it is to say one little word that will allow you to take a pass on the things that aren't a priority? Of course, there are always instances when it's just not that easy. Here are some things to keep in mind when you need to say no:

* Practice full disclosure. Don't fabricate reasons to get out of an obligation. The truth is always the best way to turn down a friend, family member or co-worker.
* Let them down gently. Many good causes land at your door, and it can be tough to turn them down. Complimenting the person or group's effort while saying that you're unable to commit at this time helps to soften the blow and keep you in good graces.

Saying no won't be easy if you're used to saying yes all the time. But learning to say no is an important part of simplifying your way to a better, less stressful life.

In Pursuit of Happiness

2007-06-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

This may change your mind in whether or not you think you're trapped in your current position.

Back in 1978, Joanne Davidow was a frustrated 35-year-old saleswoman in a high-end ladies' clothing boutique. She felt stifled. "If I gave my opinion about the business to the owners, they didn't want to hear from me," she says.

Desperate for a change, she studied for a real estate licensing exam. Today she has 70 agents working for her at Prudential Fox & Roach in Philadelphia, and she racked up $50 million in sales in 2004. "I had no idea whether I would be successful or not," Davidow says. "But on my first day as a real estate agent, I felt like I was home."

Almost half of the U.S. workforce changes careers at least once, according to the Census Bureau. And at any point, roughly half of workers say they are unhappy at work. But the decision to leave a steady job—no matter how soul-crushing—is a difficult one, particularly if a dream position requires new skills or a specialized degree.

Worker bees often fantasize about breaking out of the cubicle to do something more hands-on, says James Borland, a coach with The Five O'Clock Club, a career-counseling network. "Particularly if they've been let go, a lot of people say, 'I'm going to buy a bed-and-breakfast in Vermont.' But they don't realize how hard they would work."

Harnessing momentum for change is admirable, experts say, but they caution career switchers to keep their feet on the ground. Make sure your fantasy job is both economically viable and in line with your personal strengths and values before jumping ship. "Often, when someone wants to go back to school, she is doing it as an escape," says Connecticut-based career coach Julie Jensen. School lovers, she says, may happily apply to academic programs without critically assessing the jobs they will lead to.

But sometimes heading back to school is the only way to make a sharp career turn. Tess Autrey Bosher, 30, gave up a six-figure salary to follow her passion: cooking. While she enjoyed law school, she was unhappy during her three-year stint as a lawyer. She quit the firm to attend the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, where most students are career changers. She hopes to work in a French restaurant where she's likely to earn just above minimum wage.

Frustrated workers often discover that the seeds of a more fruitful career were planted long ago. Christina Drogaris, 30, held hectic film-production jobs for five years after college. But she had always had a flair for interior design; as a kid she would accompany her mother, an antiques dealer, on furniture-hunting exhibitions. After thoroughly scoping out the field, she decided to attend night classes at Parson's School of Design in New York City. "School was much easier this time around," she says. "I finally knew what I wanted to do, so I couldn't wait to go to class."

Jensen advises people who wish to strike out on their own to make a small move before the big one—by taking on consulting work or a freelance assignment, for example, or by volunteering at a restaurant before enrolling in cooking school. "You need to break it down into small pieces, so it doesn't feel like you have to jump across a deep canyon," says Washington, D.C., coach and psychologist Ellen Ostrow. "Talk to people who have made these kinds of transitions and create a strategy. Unless you are in jail, you are not trapped. You do have options."

Latina Producers

2007-06-23T10:03:00.001-07:00

Latina Producers

As the years go by and our population grows, more and more opportunities become available for Latinas, and many of them are in, YES, the entertainment industry! Most likely when the word “producer” is mentioned, what comes to mind is a dumpy, balding, smoking cigar-chomping man cutting deals in a cluttered office. But a voracious appetite for television programming and innovative films, coupled with an increasing Latino population in the United States, has opened a once closed door to ambitious and talented Latinas with an eye on calling the shots behind the scenes. Meet Barbara Martinez-Jitner, Kathryn Galán, Nely Galán, Shawna Baca, and Corina Bartra, rising stars in the film, television and music field. This Latinas are a perfect example of why a growing number of Latinas are scoring success in Hollywood and elsewhere in the entertainment industry, a demanding profession that not long ago was male domain.

“There are a lot of Latinas who are producers today, and the reason is simple,” says Barbara Martinez-Jitner, one of the top Latinas in the film industry. “Latinas are producers in the home, we run everything. It wasn’t Cortez who conquered the New World, it was Malinche,” she emphasizes referring to the native woman who was the conquistador’s mistress and confidant. “It’s the women who make things happen!” Martinez-Jitner proudly says to have learned her producing techniques from her grandmother, who was a farm worker. “She miraculously raised eight kids,” she says. “If she could do that, I think I can produce a movie!”

Martinez-Jitners’ career is a clear representation of climbing up the ladder—her resumé includes acting, writing and directing as well as producing. On the 1999 film Selena, based on the life story of the slain Tejano pop singer, she worked with famed director and producer Gregory Nava, whose critically acclaimed feature films include El Norte and Mi Familia. Within a few years, she was establishing herself in the industry as a writer and producer of American Family, the first Latino drama with a Latino-theme broadcast nationwide on television. Nominated for the Golden Globe and Emmy awards for her work on American Family, Martinez-Jitner is now poised to garner even greater fame.
Her current project is Bordertown, a feature film starring Jennifer Lopez, based on the ongoing and tragic story of murdered Mexican women in Ciudad Juárez. To research the story, she risked her own life and went undercover, posing as a worker in a maquiladora (factory) to gain firsthand knowledge of the reality that has led to the unsolved murders of over 400 young women in recent years. “In that society,” she charges, “the people who are working in those factories, their lives mean nothing. You can murder one of those women, and there are no repercussions.” In the film, which debuted at the Berlin Film Festival in February and is scheduled for release worldwide later this year, Lopez portrays a newspaper reporter who courts danger while investigating the crimes.

Driven by a passion to explore themes that have captured their imagination, Latina producers are an increasingly important presence in the motion picture and television industries. Some have risen to the top by virtue of the fame they’ve garnered and the power they command as successful actresses. Salma Hayek, for instance, has put her producer’s stamp on two recent productions—the 2002 film Frida, a portrait of legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, and Ugly Betty, ABC’s hit TV series starring Golden Globe award-winner America Ferrera. Eva Longoria, known as the most beguiling of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, has also logged producer’s credits for the 2004 film Carlita’s Secret and the 2006 ALMA Awards broadcast. But for the vast majority of Latina producers, the road to success has come through hard work away from the glare of the spotlight.

Kathryn Galán, an experienced producer whose credits include films such as French Kiss and Becoming Colette, has a unique perspective on the profession as an executive director of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). She speaks from hard-earned experience when she says, “being a producer is very challenging, but when it works, it is the most rewarding.”

Galán’s organization serves as a focal point for Latinos working in the film and television industry and throughout these years, Galán has seen commendable progress. “Over a dozen Latino and Latina-made or focused documentaries have received national broadcasts in the past couple of years,” she says. “Programs like The George Lopez Show and Ugly Betty, not to mention Resurrection Blvd, American Family and Welcome to Tucson have had runs that build audiences, make money and advance careers. More Latinas, for instance, are considering film school and attending professional development programs that advance their projects and relationships.”

One executive whose career personifies the success that Latinas are currently enjoying as producers is Nely Galán. For over a decade, her Galan Entertainment firm has been a force in developing new programming in both English and Spanish for networks such as HBO, NBC, Televisa, Telemundo and Fox, for which she produced the hit series The Swan. Galán’s record of success has made her one of the most influential Latina executives in the entertainment field and a role model for those aspiring to follow in her footsteps as a successful producer. “I think this is a great time to be Latina in this business,” Galán says. “We have a unique voice that represents many millions of people and companies want to reach us.”
In her history-making trek to the top of her profession, Galán learned quickly that the road to success was fraught with both obstacles and opportunities. “Being Latina has been very helpful to me in being a producer in the mainstream; it gave me a differentiating proposition,” she recalls. “I was different than everyone else, but it has been more difficult to be a Latina producer working in the Latin market within the U.S. and Latin America, where they have a harder time accepting women in this role. However, what has been difficult is just the choice of deciding to be a producer—it is not an easy career for anyone. It is similar to being a real estate developer.”

For Galán, being in the entertainment industry is a high risk but rewarding business. “You spend a lot of time putting projects together on your own time that don’t amount to anything,” she says. “Many of the people in it are rich to begin with, so they have the advantage and the staying power. However, when it all works it’s amazing. I feel like I get to be an investment banker, a real estate developer, a marketing guru and a creative idea person all in one career. It’s never boring.”

Fledgling Latina producers who hope to replicate Galán’s record of success know they face an uphill climb, but, driven by strong personal interests, they forge ahead, paying their dues and waiting for recognition to follow.

Shawna Baca was a stage actress before she became interested in filmmaking and producing. She quickly attracted attention, winning praise for her short film 3:52, featuring America Ferrera. “It’s important that we tell our stories,” Baca states emphatically. “Part of the reason acting was such a turn off was due to the roles that were out there for women, especially minority women. We seem so behind the times. I felt a strong desire to work on films that showcased Latinos in a positive light. With independent films growing in popularity, it was time to jump into the game.”

Today, Baca is working on a documentary that explores a theme that is close to her heart, especially to her descent. “My mother’s side of the family is Pasqua Yaqui, Apache and Mexican,” she explains. “My father’s side is Spanish. My grandmother, who is full-blooded Indian, half Yaqui (Mexican Indian) and half Apache (American Indian) always took me to Native American Pow-Wows since I was little. I’ve come to know the community well. When a Danish producer friend of mine expressed an interest in me taking her to a Pow-Wow, she was blown away by the beauty of the tradition.” Ever since, Baca explains to partnered up with her producer friend to make a documentary that explores the modern traditions of Native Americans and show how Pow-Wows honor their tradition and keep them alive.

Barbara Martinez-Jitner

Kathryn Galán, executive director of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP)

Nely Galán, producer of The Swan

Corina Bartra, producer, composer and singer.

Shawna Baca, actress and independent filmmaker

It’s not only in film and television that Latinas are making headway as producers, in the equally competitive music industry, Latina artists who assume the producer’s role in managing their careers have to consider every detail, from raising funds to marketing. Composer and singer Corina Bartra, whose latest album is Bambu Sun on her own Blue Spiral label, works tirelessly to get her concepts from the studio to the marketplace. “The most challenging thing as a producer is to come up with the money to do the project and organize it,” she explains. “You have to pick the material, musicians, and studio, and you have to organize rehearsals, get art work for the CD cover, and many other things. For me, music goes beyond being just an entertainment form. And, ultimately, the greatest challenge facing independent producers is finding ways of marketing the recording. This requires all of your skills, and some luck.”

The good news is that, as NALIP’s executive director Galán sees it, “Hollywood is a pretty color-blind business. Good executives with taste, experience and relationships can become successful producers.” What stands out to Galán is that Latinas have only begun to make big inroads as producers. “Latinas are wildly underrepresented in the executive and decision-making ranks of Hollywood,” she observes. “And those working in independent film do not yet have wide rolodexes full of equity investors such as doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs who are willing to take a gamble on talented young Latina filmmakers. We are making progress, but these are barriers that impede success.”

Baca, for one, is up for the challenge. “This is a great time to be a producer in the entertainment industry,” she says. “With the demand for Latino projects and the success rate of independent filmmaking, this is a good time to tell our stories from our perspectives and environments. I have a voice today that my great-grandmother didn’t have, nor did my grandmother or my mother. We face the challenges of being a minority and Latina. But I’m not going to stop, and that’s what makes it unique.”

Just Live Out the Sex Fantasies of Your Dreams ...

2007-06-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Live Out the Sex Fantasies of Your Dreams

Certainly nothing is unnatural that is not physically impossible....

Crowd Scenes. Different Strokes. Domination and Discipline. Flying Solo. Girls and Girls/Boys and Boys. Head and Tail. Pursuit and Capture. Serendipity.

The provocative themes from Letters to Penthouse are the stuff of sex fantasies, hot-blooded writers speak in their unguarded correspondence of carnal rubbing and licking, devouring and pumping — in settings like a college dorm room and a backyard pool. The popular editions of Letters, with their cover-to-cover stories of daring experimentation, are evidence of an open-minded interest in the vast variety of imaginable sexcapades.

Try This at Home

Experimentation breeds excitement in the bedroom. Keeping things hot can be as simple as reading an erotic book or trying a new sexual position (maybe taking a page out of the Kama Sutra). Or consider these creative ways to make sure you and your partner don't become bored in bed.

Once in a while, pick a different place and time. Awaken your partner before the alarm goes off for some morning sex. Or try a 3 a.m. thriller for a change. Make love on the kitchen floor, consider visiting the guest bedroom for another change of venue, take your blindfolded partner to the nearest "no-tell motel," or drive a little farther to your own little love shack in the mountains. Stop on the way for a back-seat "quickie," or rendezvous with your lover at a private picnic spot.

Take turns at role-playing. Rachel obliged sit-com "Friend" Ross by donning the Princess Leia look straight out of Star Wars. Some men might have a hankering for a classic French maid or a buxom blonde. Women might appreciate the chance to make a move on Elvis, or a doctor or a lifeguard — to each her own. Any fantasy is fine, sexologists (sex therapists) say, as long as it improves intercourse rather than detracts from it.

Women tend to have fantasies about relationships and great moments they've had, or "being-taken" fantasies, says sociologist Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., while men often have "submission fantasies — she sees him, wants him."

It's All in Your Head

By definition, fantasies live in the mind. "It's not a fantasy if you go out and do it," says Howard Ruppel, Ph.D., chancellor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. Your thoughts during sex are not a reflection of your real-life mindset. Rather, sex offers the opportunity "to experience things you can't possibly act out," wrote the late Alex Comfort, M.D., in his classic bestseller The Joy of Sex (recently updated 30 years after its first edition). "These fantasies can be heterosexual, homosexual, incestuous, tender, wild, or bloodthirsty — don't block, and don't be afraid of your partner's fantasy; this is a dream you are in."

Think your partner will take pleasure in playing along? In some relationships, revealing your fanciful desires to your partner can fuel sexual fulfillment, Schwartz says. "It can produce a huge amount of intimacy if you're sharing these most private thoughts only with each other, which demonstrates a deep trust."

But only do so if you know your partner will respond positively — otherwise, don't feel the need to tell all, says Nancy Friday, author of the bestsellers My Secret Garden, Forbidden Flowers and Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Sexual Fantasies.

Good Kind of Mind Game

Sex is a game with only two rules, Comfort wrote: Don't do anything you don't enjoy, and try to indulge your partner's expressed needs. Men and women should take turns setting the game plan. Heed Comfort's words: "[S]ex is no longer what men do to women and women are supposed to enjoy." Indeed, a fantastical adventure — where both partners are enthusiastic participants — could be just the recipe for a fulfilling sex life.

People of the island of Puerto Rico

2007-06-19T16:33:00.001-07:00

There are about two million Puerto Ricans in the United States. Most of them live in New York City. Puerto Ricans consider themselves Americans but they are also proud of their island and their culture: music, dance, customs and traditions, food, arts, religion, and language. They are a lively and happy people.

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

Puerto Rican culture is alive in our community. Puerto Ricans keep their customs strong by keeping their traditions. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and Puerto Rican Day are the best times to see, hear, and feel the spirit of being Puerto Rican. On these holidays Puerto Rican families come together. People in our community enjoy what it is to be a family- Puerto Rican and American. And being American you can either speak English or Spanish and make new traditions.
We celebrate the holidays much like the people in Puerto Rico do. Parents and grandparents bless the children with "La Bendicion". We stay in touch with our families and help out when needed. We also try to speak our language at home so that it is handed down from one generation to the next.

Every year Puerto Rican families in New York celebrate Puerto Rican Day either by joining or watching the parade in Manhattan with a Puerto Rican flag in hand or just viewing it on TV. They also hang flags in their cars or homes. This is one way many Puerto Ricans remember and show pride in their culture. This has been a tradition for many years and it is a way of keeping Puerto Rican culture alive and strong.
Christmas time is a special celebration for everyone every year. Everyone in the family comes together and enjoys a great time. We sing, dance, and eat many traditional food, such as "all-you-can-eat-buffet" at Christmas with rice, pigeon peas, roast pork, vegetables, and cakes or sweets. It is a mix traditional Puerto Rican and American treats with candy canes, chocolates, and other treats for children. Special Navidena music is played during this special holiday season. You can also hear Latin music and see the people dancing the Salsa and the Bolero. For this occasion, we do not wear special clothing or costume. We dress comfortably to enjoy the occasion.

FOOD
Puerto Ricans eat a special food called tostones for snacks which is fried plantains (large starchy bananas). If you want a hearty meal try a bowl of asopao, a stew made with vegetables, rice, and meat or fish. We eat meals like this for every special occasions. Puerto Ricans love to eat mangoes especially when they are fresh. We also eat many other fruits such as bananas, coconuts, and mangoes.

For lunch or dinner, here are some dishes you may enjoy eating:

1. Frijoles negros (black bean soup)
2. Sopon de pollo con arroz (chicken soup with rice)
3. Pastelon de carne (meat pies)
4. Lengua rellena (stuffed beef tongue)
5. Sesos empanados (breaded calf brains)
6. Lechon asado (barbecued pig)
7. Nisperos de batata (sweet potato balls with coconut)
8. Arroz con pollo (chicken with rice)
9. Boudin de pasa con coco (coconut bread pudding)

CLOTHING

Like the other ethnic groups in our community, Puerto Ricans wear special clothing during special occasions. Women usually wear flowers in their hair, loose colorful blouses, and skirts especially used for dancing. Men wear hats and scarves around their loose shirts. Both show Spanish influence.

MUSIC AND DANCE

Music is always a part of the Puerto Rican way of life. They love to sing and dance during fiestas and festivals. Their music and dance have Spanish influence with flamenco style moves and traditional costumes.
We have different types of music and dance like the Salsa, Danza, Plena, Bomba, and Cha-Cha. It means a lot to very Puerto Rican family to hear the Puerto Rican beat.
Salsa ia a spicy dance because of its beat. Musicians blend African and Caribbean rhythms for the beat that always gets the crowd to dance. Salsa bands have several singers, a piano, a bass (large stringed instrument), trumpets, trombones, and saxophones. We use the Salsa for concerts, festivals, and other special gatherings like Block Association parties and shows. We also use the maracas (rattles) or tapping cowbells. Whenever Puerto Ricans hear the Salsa they get up and start dancing to the beat of the drum.

Tiger's wife gives birth to a daughter

2007-06-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

Tiger's wife gives birth to a daughter...just in case you missed it!=]

June 19, 2007

Tiger has a cub.

Less than 24 hours after Tiger Woods finished second at the U.S. Open on Father's Day, his wife gave birth to their first child, a daughter. He announced Monday night on his Web site that Sam Alexis Woods was born early Monday morning.

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"Both Elin and Sam are doing well and resting peacefully," Woods wrote. "We want to thank our doctors and the hospital staff for all their dedicated and hard work. This is truly a special time in our lives and we look forward to introducing Sam to our family and friends over the next few weeks. We thank everyone for their well wishes and continued respect of our privacy."

Woods said he would miss a major if it meant seeing the birth of his child. Now he won't have to, but it's not clear how his upcoming schedule will be affected.

Woods finished a shot behind Angel Cabrera on Sunday to finish second in a major for the second time this year.

He's scheduled to host a tournament in Washington, D.C., from July 5-8. The British Open starts July 19, and the PGA Championship begins Aug. 9 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa.

"I'm pacing myself already just because of the fact that I have a baby coming up," Woods said about two weeks ago. "I don't know how much I'm going to play after that or how much I'm going to play before that. A lot of that is depending on what happens and the health of Elin and our child."

The past two years have been life-changing for Woods, who has won 12 majors in his brilliant career.

He turned 30 in December 2005, and the following May his father, Earl, died at age 74 after a long bout with cancer.

A month later, Woods failed to make the cut at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He came back to win the British Open in July and broke down in tears on the 18th green at Royal Liverpool, sobbing on the shoulder of his caddie.

In December, Woods went public with his wife's pregnancy. Last week, before the U.S. Open he talked about becoming a father.

"My practice sessions are going to have to be tailored around a little bit, have to move things around. But, you know, I don't really know how my game is going to be affected by it because I've never gone through it before," he said.

"All I know is that Elin and I are excited, and that this is far more important than any game of golf. This is an opportunity for us to raise our first child, and we're really looking forward to it."

Do Not Look Under The Bed

2007-06-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Let's speak on Fears for a moment....by DJ Nicci C

.......As Lisa crawls quietly and slowly into her bed late that night, she listens intently to the silence around her. Waiting for the slightest noise to break the entrancing stillness. Slipping under her covers, her senses seem to become heightened in the blanketing darkness. It seems as if she could see the smallest movement and hear the faintest whisper. Her muscles groan silently under the stress as Lisa looks maniacally around her room for anything that might be lurking there. The floor creeks just outside her bedroom door, the lights in the hallway switch off without a sound, a branch falls outside her window, and then… could it be? Yes- there it is. Sitting maliciously beside her dollhouse. She can feel it staring menacingly at her, daring her to close her uneasy eyes. Although she dares not make a sound or a motion, she strains her mind to reach it. Her wandering mind slipping into the depths of its realms to where her innermost fears lie. Lisa, in a motion so painfully slow, slips her hand from under her covers, and moves to the light beside her bed. Just as she began to pull the chain, the grotesque figure slithered its unshapely body underneath her bed to where all shadows hide. Sighing back into her pillows, her heart beating with fear and agony, she is at last able to rest under the safety of her lamp, away from the fears of the night.

Sound familiar folks?

As a child I had a lot of fears, the darkness, sounds I didn't recognize...the fear of getting punished.

Fears control all of our actions. Fear of rejection, fear of heights, fear of people, the list goes on and on. Fear is undoubtedly one of the strongest weapons, one of the most powerful tactics, and one of the best tools. Yes, tools, for you to use as a weapon to getting things done and overcoming fears altogether. Fears determine your thoughts, your actions, and your reactions. What can bring about this powerful emotion, and what role does it play in our lives? Something so common, yet, can you really explain it?

In order to explain fear, we must first understand what fear is. Fear is generally defined as "a distressing emotion aroused by IMPENDING danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Children often describe their fear as an imagined creature or being come to harm them. Their envisioned fears are ones of general unreality, adults are more commonly known to describe their fears as paranoia about upcoming events, or tasks they must accomplish.

Fears can be easily organized into three categories: pathological fears (natural fears), conditioned fears (fears generated through experiences), and third-party fears (fears generated through people).

Differences in genders bring about many factors influencing fears too. For example, being a male has many effects on fears. The way a man was raised will have many effects on the type of fears he develops as he matures later on in life. His role in the household also plays a very large part in his development of fears. Depending on his parents, or what is expected of him, he will conform to those standards. Causing his fears to also conform to those certain expectations. His ego, stamina, and personal appearance will place his fears in a changeable perspective. Pushing them to non-existence or a complete reality.

As with the males, females will have their fears changed by their appearance, role in household, affect on their children, sensitivity, feminine expectations, and parental expectations.

Differences in genders do affect the fears individuals develop, but more than that, genders will affect the individuals' outlook on fears, and how those individuals present their fears, for example, a man may present his fears with caution around his peers, to conform to the expectations those certain people have placed on him, whereas a woman may present her fears with more openness and sensitivity, because those stereotypes have not been placed upon her. Although, so far the only discernable difference in fears between men and women is the fact that men tend to have a greater fear of spiders than do women.

As I mentioned before, age is also a factor influencing the development of fears. For example, infants tend to experience higher anxiety, clinging to their parents when confronted with people they do not recognize.

Toddlers experience separation anxiety, becoming emotionally distressed when one or two parents leave. Children have anxieties mostly about things that are not based on reality. Kids often have fears reflecting real circumstances, such as natural disasters, and possible bodily harm.

Fears from a young child, are very general, and encompass a larger scope of view than maturing children. As the individual ages, past fears grow in intensity, and new fears develop with maturity. These fears formed from maturity shape who the person will become. Fears will become more defined, and more focused on one certain thing, than an all over general paranoia.

Lastly, fears will vary through experiences. These are called conditioning fears. A person may have experiences during childhood that will provoke him to fear or overcome fear of a certain thing. Then there are experiences that individual will face in the present time, that will lead him or her to take more decisive action regarding his fears. There is also the prospect of the futurea. Which may stimulate fears in him that are not necessarily going to come to pass. These fears are frequently over-exaggerated,unrealistic, and fictitious, yet, they still leave a definite impression in the individuals mind, causing unmerited worries.

Fear is a very general name for our discomfort and dislikes, but more often than not, we will see fear as anxieties, or phobias. Phobias are fears that have persisted on late into life, and begin to interfere with daily life. Phobias cause extreme inappropriate reactions, and actions, and intense distressing emotions.

Phobias will often relate to certain anxiety disorders, such as phobias of the following: animals, situations, separation, bill and financial related. These can become very serious if left unhandled for too long.

Anxieties are not as severe as phobias, but are very much in the same category. Fear is known to stir up the 'flight or fight' response. Anxieties cause that same response, with the exception that there is no way out. These fears seem inevitable and unbreakable. For people with anxieties they have the 'flight or fight' feeling everyday, most of the time, even when there is no real danger. This of course will affect thought, feelings, and cause the individual to make inappropriate or unjust decisions.

Childhood anxieties are the most serious.

So now that we can 'define' fear a little easier, how do we conquer it? We can only conquer fear with the help of God, but there are certain things that we can do to help ourselves.

First, we need to understand the reality. Think back on the times you have been afraid of something you were never really in danger of. How many time have you thought of an even, but it never came to pass, or you have had an event happen and the results were not as bad as you imagined? Think on those things, and realize that, if you are like most people, your fears are not harmful.

Have a positive outlook. Never give up on yourself. Train yourself to see the beauty of situations, instead of the negative. You will begin to loose sight of what caused you to fear in the first place.

In conclusion, Fears play an extremely important role in our lives. Not only do they form our actions, but they also shape who we are, and who we become. Having effects not only on ourselves, but also on those who come into contact with us. Fears should not be taken lightly, and should be dealt with as necessary. No person should have to deal with it, because you can overcome fear.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE DADS!....by DJ Nicci C

2007-06-17T07:53:00.001-07:00

Father's Day, contrary to popular misconception, was not established as a holiday in order to help greeting card manufacturers sell more cards. In fact when a "father's day" was first proposed there were no Father's Day cards!

Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across American other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honored on Father's Day.

So to all the fathers out there....I WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY FATHERS DAY !!!

The Gift Of Life....by DJ Nicci C

2007-06-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

The Gift of Life

Sometimes I wonder

as life passes by.

Is it worth all the struggles,

the hate, and the lies?

I see the evil,

feel the pain,

Hear the cries.

I smell the fear in the air,

it cannot be disguised.

But when I start to believe that all hope is gone,

something beautiful happens and again I feel strong.

I gain strength from the single mothers, who work sixteen hour days,

and teachers who change lives, on low-income pay.

From doctors who instead of making big bucks,

choose to open small clinics in the neighborhood where they grew up.

From children who fight devastating illness,

with courage, determination and endless amounts of kindness.

For all the people who quietly change the world,

who fill it with love and not hate,

who give and dont take,

who are honest with everyone they come in contact with,

I know you are out there, you are not a myth.

So I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

You are the thing that gives me strength,

the reason I am so determined to always do my part.

And for all the people who see only the pain,

Im here to tell you, you have nothing to gain.

If you dwell in the dark, your life will be lived in vain.

For there is beauty to be seen in everything, everyone, and every day.

So take the beauty in, and it will make you strong come what may.

So is life worth all the struggles, hate, pain and lies??

I tell you there is nothing worth more,

than the beauty of the gift of life.

**I am passing this on to you from a friend!