Lincoln Heights Wrap-Up (Season 4, Episode 2)

09/22/2009
Lincoln Heights, TV
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Oh Lincoln Heights-

Charles and Cassie are still in trouble with the police about his stepfather’s death in the earthquake. Their stories don’t match, Charles is troubled and has a history of violence with the evil stepdad. The corner ruled his stepdad died from a knife wound to the back, casting suspicion on Charles. Charles is scared to tell the truth (that they did fight but that the stepdad fell on his knife and all they did was refuse to left the refrigerator off of him) b/c he doesn’t want to go to jail. Cassie doesn’t like the lying, so this strains their relationship.

Tay’s jealousy over  Nate is reaching a boiling point, putting Eddie in the middle. Tay sees Nate giving a man some prescription pills and tells his parents that he’s dealing drugs. Nate says he was assisting an old army buddy and they get into an argument in front of Jen and Eddie. Eddie believes Nate, further infuriating Tay and Jenn, who sticks up for her son.

Lizze is having trouble adjusting to high school and falls in with some mean girls (who only want to hang out with her b/c she knows Little Miss Popular Sage, who is back btw). Sylvia, her new friend (a fellow outsider) takes exception to her hanging out with the mean chicks and lashes out at Lizze so the mean girls encourage Lizzie to send a mean text (telling Sylvia that a boy she likes said he missed her). Lizzie does it, Sylvia embarrasses herself in front of him and Lizzie feels really bad after the fact, but the damage is done.

Charles flees Lincoln Heights, then has a change of heart and comes back b/c he loves Cassie. The police come to the Sutton house to search Cassie’s things and to Charles’ apartment so he has to hide the tool box containing the stolen cash at Sage’s apt. upstairs. The police don’t find anything and decide to close the investigation but Cassie still feels guilty about not helping save Charles’ stepdad.

Jenn is having trouble accepting the next extended family (particularly the inclusion of Dana, Nate’s mother and Eddie’s first love). Jenn takes up for Tay and wants Eddie to mend their relationship, at any cost. She becomes unsettled when Eddie suggests Nate’s mother go to the clinic where she works to look for a job, but hires her anyway, to do scut work, basically.

The family comes together for Nate’s birthday- Eddie cooks, everyone else, including Nate, decorates- and all seems to be going ok until Dana shows up with a present  for Tay. Eddie invites her to stay and eat, Tay has an attitude b/c no on asked him, Jenn asks her (in private) to leave which sets off Nate and ruins Tay’s dinner. He pouts. The Sutton kids (minus Nate) have a little heart to heart and talk about their troubles. Lizzie tells her brother and sister how she ruined a girl’s life at school and Cassie confesses what really happened with Charles’ stepdad. They bond.

Lizzie apologizes to Sylvia and finds out the real deal about why the mean girls pick on her- the boy in question was dating one of the mean girls and broke up with her to date Sylvia. He was her first love and first lover. She sexted him a picture of her and the mean girls stole it off his phone and sent it out to everyone, causing Sylvia to have a breakdown (and seek treatment at Jenn’s clinic, of course). Lizzie feels really bad and they  (sort of) make up. Lizzie stands up to the mean girls, quits their club and Sage stands up for her when they try to threaten to “ruin her life.” (turns out they were mean to Sage, too, before she was voted homecoming queen).

Nate moves out of the house b/c of all the drama. Charles shows Sage the secret money (mind you- Cassie does not know about this and if you didn’t tune in last season, Sage and Charles have…history. She was the bad girl, rebel daughter of Eddie’s partner who showed up out of nowhere and caused havoc. She pursued Charles, even though he was with Cassie, got into a bad accident with him, fought with Cassie, true frenemies style; but they eventually all made up and were friendly.)

Jenn and Eddie talk about their new family dynamic, particularly her difficulty with it which mirrors Tay’s. He encourages her to accept his Nate and Dana in their lives, she tells him to be patient. The original Sutton family (minus Nate) get together to share Tay’s birthday cake.

I understand Jenn and Tay’s discomfort, but they are both testing my nerves. I mean Jenn, you have the man, the ring, the family, the job and the house. How can you be insecure? His ex had to come to you and practically beg for a job? Get  your life right. Plus, I like Dana (although she was wrong for not telling Eddie about Nate for like 17 years or whatever.

And Tay….please grow up. That is all. Why do I get the feeling that Nate is going to have to save his life or something to finally get some love.

Cassie and Charles are an interesting pair. How far would you go to protect the one you love? Would you lie to the police? Cover up a (possible) crime?

Sage is definitely going to be a problem in that relationship.

I’m surprised Lizzie fell for the peer pressure, but they say high school is a mutha…Have you ever done anything mean that “ruined” another girls life? That’s pretty deep.

Are you watching the show? Thoughts?

One Tree Hill Wrap-Up (Season 7, Episode 2)

09/22/2009
One Tree Hill, TV
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Yeah, I watched it again. Mainly because people actually read the last post I wrote on OTH, so who I am not to give the people what they want?

One Tree Hill. What can I say? Well, first, allow me to recap- When last we left off a week ago, Julian had (finally) declared his love to Brooke after a whirlwind bi-coastal summer romance. He quit his job directing his new movie and moved to Tree Hill, and in with her. Brooke was very happy. Nathan was still without a contract and mysterious woman was threatening to go public with (what he claims are) bogus accusations that they slept together. Nathan was not happy. Haley was on her job being everywoman- good mom who planned a great birthday for Jamie, good friend who consoled (w/o judgement) her sister and offered her a place to stay when she appeared out of nowhere sans her hubby, a good wife to Nathan, you know her. But, in the final scene, (some might call it a twist), a music exec threatened to shut down Red Bedroom Records making Haley, you guessed it, not happy. Dan is still alive (!) and giving motivational speeches…who in the hell left the gate open?! Really. No clue as to whether or not he’s really a changed man, one who made a deal with the devil, or still is the epitome of evil. (full disclosure, Dan was an terrible guy, no doubt, but he had his moments…and he was funnier than a mug). Who else? Ah yes, Mouth was trying to oust Skillz from the apartment so he could get closer to Mille so he resorted to walking around naked. Skillz, unfazed, shed his clothing in kind. No sign of Nannie Deb. Karen and crew, Leyton and Peyton are all off traveling. And scene!

This week, I have to say I really wasn’t impressed and I can’t tell if it’s just me being negative or if the show is really not good this season. Here’s what happened- Julian’s dad came to TH to tell him that he was ruining his career by walking away from the movie to be with a harlot, basically. Julian revealed to Brooke that the one good memory he has of spending time with his father lives on in an ugly picture he has hanging in the living room. Yes, he is a scarred man with daddy issues…hmmm….where have I heard that before? In any case, she confronts his father (like he did with Victoria for her last season, only less angry) and father and son hug. They are happy.

Haley figures out a way to save Red Door Records with the help of Mia (hey Kate Voegele!) and is happy.

Jamie goes to the beach with Skillz and Ms. Lauren, buries them in the sand and spends some time with his aunt (Haley’s sister. Don’t know her name). He and Skillz are still doing the McCauley/Denzel thing and apparently no one works now (except for Mouth who didn’t get any face time and Mille). Perhaps Ms. Lauren isn’t at work because it’s summer, but I know Skillz has some houses to baby proof or something. What happened to all that creative energy and talent they had bursting at the seams last season? Did Leyton drive off with it, into the sunset. Skillz and Mouth are still doing the naked thing (which, for the record, they need to stop) and Millie wants them to work it out, preferably with clothes on. So Millie is not happy.

Speaking of Millie, she convinces Brooke to hire some model/actress-type to be the new face of Clothes over Bros, but in person she’s not quite what they had in mind. Chick is hilarious though. She’s like Brooke 2.0, before she was all pined-out over Julian and lost her spunk (we saw flashes of the old Brooke, but come on!) Model chick called Brooke fat, applauded her for making clothes for plus-sized girls and played her out to keep her job. (Brooke was going to fire her, model chick overheard and gave her some line about really needed the work and being inspired by COB which Brooke totally fell for.) We later learn that model chick was just repeating a line from a TV show she was in. She’s a little devious that one.

Nathan’s agent tries to get more info. on nathangate girl and agrees to meet her to talk. Nathan (having learned nothing from the previous seasons), shows up and has a tantrum at the restaurant, embarrassing himself and professional athletes accused of cheating on their wives everywhere. Agent boy chastises him, Nathan is like whatever. Turns out groupie girl claims Nathan fathered her baby and shows a sonogram (looked kind of big and developed for three months, but hey, I’m no MD…or WebMD, so what do I know.) Nathan still insists he didn’t sleep with her (although the night in question, he and agent boy were both wasted…cue Gucci). Both Nathan and agent boy are unhappy. Nathan (in a smart move) goes home to tell Haley, thus ruining her day and making her unhappy.  These two, I mean seriously. When the season started, all I could think of was, hmmm, Leyton is outtie, so how are they going to increase the drama quotient on this show? Naley has been through it all- teenage marriage, teen pregnancy, poverty, points shaving scandal, a secret sex tape, drug-addicted mother, murderous father, cheating, abandonment, he almost died after getting hit by a car, she almost died after getting hit by a car, the rise of superstardom and the fall from it (for both), paralysis, depression, crazy stalker tried to kill me and take my kid Nanny, a kidnapping, near divorce. I mean seriously, what.else.could.go.wrong? Insert groupie. eh..I’m not so sure I buy it. It’s going to take a whole lot more than that to break up this happy home. So how else is the CW trying to get you tune in? Why, by showing gratuitous nakeness of course! This time, though, it’s of the guys. Nathan and agent boy, for some reason, kept having meetings at the beach, shirtless and well-oiled of course. Skillz appeared naked again and there were two booty shots (Haley’s sister in a bikini and model chick in her panties). Yeah, I’m not buying that.

Oh, and in other news, Dan Scott is married…to Rachel Gatina…really. Can you say recovered addicted spouse 2.0? I’m still confused about how (and why) that happened. Dan appears to be a changed man, he gave a signed book and had a drink with a bum, but Rachel still seems schemy…

Questions I have:

What is up with Brooke?! Go design something! Stop laying up under Julian and…idk…be Brooke again! We miss ya, girlie!

And Julian giving up his career (I mean, let’s face it, we all say what happened the last time he tried to make a move in TH)…that doesn’t seem like a winning move. I see (relationship) problems ahead. Hey! Maybe he’ll branch Red Bedroom Records off into a film studio?

And is it just me, or does the chemistry (both between Brooke and Julian) and just in general seem off? These kids look like they’ve aged waaay more than the year the show leapt forward. Like say, they’re worried about their jobs and the series not being picked up for another season? I’d say that’s probably a lock.

Where is Nannie Deb? I miss Boozie 2.0!

Did I really see Kate Voegele in a commercial declaring that she is a student at the University of Phoenix? What is she supposed to be, the people’s champ?

How is Dan still alive? Did he kill Deb and steal her heart or what?

Nathan, if you and agent boy can’t handle groupie chick, get Haley to handle your light work…I hear she goes hard in the paint!

Speaking of Haley- I’m liking you more and more. Your impression of Leyton was on point. Now, who’s catching a beat down from you this season? You stay read to fight. Maybe Rachel, your new mother-in-law?

Brooke quotables-“Umm…I’m normal-size,” “That’s what she said” (used when someone says seeming vaguely sexual) You have to watch it to get it.

And that wrap-up was waaaay too long. I’ll have to work on being succinct.

Brick City Premiere Tonight!

09/21/2009
New Jersey, TV
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Alright, girls- Jersey girls…Newark girls…where are you?

TONIGHT TONIGHT TONIGHT is the premiere of the Sundance documentary/mini series, Brick City. Five nights, five episodes and it looks like a stunner. Here’s a quickie promo video that gives  you an overview (I’m assuming) of what the series is all about.

Are you excited yet? Kind of? Well, here’s a little more, a music video about the series, called  Brick by Brick.

So tune in at 10:00 pm. Tell a friend. Check it out. And oh, yes. We will be discussing it. All week long. I believe its channel 101 on Time Warner Cable.

Brighton Teen Fashion Designer Makes a Difference

09/21/2009
Fashion, Garment District, Giving Back
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Kristin Cash became a fashion designer almost by accident. “I think the first thing I made was a Halloween costume because I couldn’t find anything to wear,” she said, “so I just made my own.” She bought a pattern from the store, changed it a little and made a corset and a frilly tulle skirt—the perfect costume for a pixie fairy.

When she wore the outfit to school, she got noticed. “People would see it and say, ‘where did you get that,’ and I’d say, ‘I made it,’” she said. Seeing how much people liked her designs, she started making more- without any formal training. “I taught myself completely,” she said.

So how did she learn to design on her own? “Some of it I just made up,” she said. She also Googled a lot, read some books her mother bought her and asked her grandmother, a sewer, for help. “It was definitely hard because I don’t exactly know what I’m doing, but it was really fun to me,” she said. “I really just kind of did it.”

Earlier this year, Kristin used her talent for a good cause, designing and hosting a fashion show to benefit the Jonathan B. Angelone Foundation, which educates kids about cancer.

Using Project Runway as her inspiration, Kristin starting planning the show, with the help of her teachers, family, and friends. One of her favorite teachers worked at Excess Studios, where Kristin held the show. A friend provided the music, her girlfriends modeled the clothes, and local businesses donated tuxedos for the guys, desserts and little gifts for her guests. But Kristin was responsible for creating the designs.

“It was so much work,” she said.  She finished sewing her last dress the morning of the show. She ended up creating 17 original designs in three categories,  innocent, elegant and edgy.  It was a lot of hard work, but “it was fun,” she said.

It was also for a good cause.

“Jonathan Angelone went to my high school,” Kristin said. “He was friends with my sister. He was diagnosed with cancer during his freshman year of college. His parents began the Jonathan B. Angelone foundation to inspire people to ‘Just Be Aware’ and to promote the early detection of cancer in people of all ages. I wanted to incorporate that into it, just so that it had something behind the fashion show,” she said. “Just so that it had a point to it.”

She also had Crazy Pitches, the a capella singing group Jonathan had been a part of, sing in between each category. “So it all kind of worked together,” she said.

They ended up raising $2,000.

Check out her designs here (move your cursor over each photo for info. on the model)

(Photographer:  Brandon Kornprobst)

Kristin is now an 18-year-old freshman at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she’s majoring in fashion. hg nyc caught up with Kristin during Fashion Week to see what she’s been up to recently.

Hg: Hi Kristin! Congrats on getting accepted to Pratt. How’s it been so far?

KC: It’s fun. The first week was kind of boring, I guess because we were getting introduced to the classes and everything. But, it’s going to be fun.

Hg: With so many fashion institutes in NY, why’d you choose Pratt?

KC: Pratt’s like one of the top schools. There’s Parsons, Pratt and FIT. Pratt is a really nice place, there’s a campus, which you really can’t find in New York; it has a nice environment, nice people. People just have fun, they’re all friends, there’s no competition. You also get to meet everyone from different majors like architecture, industrial design and photography, film, so you’re not just focused on fashion.

Hg: So what inspires your designs?

KC: Things I see, buildings, people.  Even if it’s other designers- I might see something and like it, but- I’ll change something about it. I like making things for specific people to wear, not just designing in general.

Hg: Who are you favorite designers?

KC: I love Betsey Johnson, her clothes are just fun. Bottega Veneta, whose clothes are every elegant. Christian Siriano from Project Runway, I love him. I like fun stuff.

Hg: What’s the hardest part about fashion design?

KC: Not knowing what I’m actually doing. For the fashion show, it was hard getting stuff out on time and finding time to design.

Hg: Do you think you’ll do another fashion show?

KC: Right now I’m focused on school. I don’t know if I’ll have time to do another fashion show. People at home were saying they want to make it an annual thing, but I don’t think so.

Hg: What’s your take on personal style?

KC: I like seeing other people wear whatever they like to wear, whatever makes them happy. I’m not really into that whole “colors for fall and you have to be in black or gray for winter” thing. Wear what you want, be happy!

Hg: What about your own style?

KC: Really just comfortable. I don’t have a specific style because I’ll just wear whatever. I shop cheap. I’ll do like H&M sometimes, Forever 21, Target for the basics, but I go cheap. I do not spend a lot of money on stuff. I’m a sale girl.

Hg: Did you go to Fashion’s Night Out?

KC: Yes and it was so much fun! We saw Taylor Momsen from GG, April from ANTM, and Lindsay Lohan. It was a fun night. We didn’t buy anything, we just walked around, but it was fun.

Hg: So what’s next for you? Maybe starting your own label…

KC: I really just kind of decided I love lingerie. It’s fun to look at and pretty. So that’s what I want to do- design lingerie. Only, I haven’t had the time. I’m thinking of naming the label Cashio- it was my great-grandparents’ name before they changed it; and it’s Italian and pretty.

Hg: Any advice for aspiring designers?

KC: If you love what you do and you want to do it, try anything. Figure out how you’re going to get to where you want to be and eventually you’ll figure it out and be happy.

National News (09/09/09-09/20/09)

09/21/2009
Uncategorized
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Patrick Swayze Died, 09/14/09, Associated Press (AP), Everywhere

Patrick Swayze…how can one describe him? At once so masculine yet, oh, so tender. Yeah. Him. Well, the trained dancer, 80s teen heartthrob (does anyone still say that anymore?),  husband, and movie star lost his two-year battle pancreatic with cancer last week. R.I.P. (Re-watch Dirty Dancing and Ghost…it’s SO worth it) “No one puts  baby in the corner”….Indeed I’m sure a couple of tributes are planned…google it. Go to youtube for THE video, too.

Kanye Acted a Fool at the VMAs, 09/13/09, MTV (Everywhere)

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If you don’t know this by now…we have some other things to discuss…In brief, Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the VMAs, she got sad, Beyonce saved the day, he got roasted by basically everyone, apologized on his blog, she went on TV, he apologized again (to her), she accepted. The end.

Serena Williams Goes Off at the US Open and Loses , 09/13/09, NYT

Serena Williams, our tennis-pro homegirl, was competing in the semi-finals at the US Open when she went off on a line judge for what she thought was a bad call. She was penalized a point for her behavior and lost the match. She got fined $10,000 (oh, yes) and apologized.  Everyone was talking about it…and still might be.

Sex Bracelets Banned, Again, 09/12/09, The New York Times (NYT)

Ok. So some school in Colorado had banned those colorful plastic “jelly” bracelets because they fear the  colors represent various sex acts the wearer has done or will do. But some think they are just fashion statements. Sex bracelets? Really? Um..where they (still) do that at? Wasn’t that like 3 years ago?

Senator Interrupts President Obama’s Speech, 09/10/09, NYT, video (AP)

So, President Obama was giving a speech a week or so ago, talking about, what else? healthcare. When all of a sudden, Rep. Joe Wilson (Republican from South Carolina) yells out, “You lie!” Yeah. So begins the brouhaha. Sen. Wilson got roasted by just about everybody and apologized for his lack of decorum.

Teen Tennis Player Wins Big, then Loses, 09/08/09, NYDN, NYT

Melanie Oudin, a 17-year-old Georgia girl, became a tennis fan fav when she (surprisingly) defeated known champs, like Maria Sharapova (yes, the one from the camera commercial with the dog) at the US Open. She was being lauded the next big (cute, young, spunky) thing in US tennis, all while wearing colorful tennis shoes that said, “believe.” Then she lost in the Grand Slam quarterfinal and the balloon deflated. But she’s young, the fans love her so, well keep an eye out.

Local News (09/09/09-09/20/09)

09/21/2009
News
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So, I’ve decided that every week (on Sunday), I’m going to do a quick re-cap of what’s happened in the news the past week that might be of some interest to you. (I’m still debating if I should list them in the order that they occurred or in ascending order of importance. What do you think?)

Here’s the local news:

Teens Looking for “Fame,” the Old-Fashioned Way…With their Talent, September 20, 2009, NYDN

Cute article on 5 NYC teens who are pursuing their dreams at performing arts schools around town.

Hofstra Student Lied About Sexual Assault, 09/16/09, New York Daily News (NYDN)

Last Tuesday, an 18-year-old female student at Hofstra accused five men of sexually assaulting her and four young men were arrested. She then recanted the claim, setting off a flurry of debates about if race played a part in the way the suspects were initially villainized in the media. What basically happened is that she had sex with multiple men in a freshman dorm bathroom and one of them recorded some of it on his cell phone. Speculation about why she accused them ranged from her not wanting to get a bad reputation and mental instability. I’m not going to give a speech, because I see several issues at work here; but the main three lessons learned- 1) don’t lie about sexual assualt.ever. (the results are always disastrous for everyone involved and there is no excuse for ruining lives) 2) don’t “run trains” on people or participate in lewd sex acts that make you vulnerable to such accusations. (just because it’s legal, doesn’t make it right. have some respect for yourself. be a better person). 3) if you need psychological attention, please get it.

Bronx Teen Sues over Misuse of Photos, 09/16/09, NYDN and The New York Post (phot0)

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Katelyn Lee Aviles, a 17-year-old from the Bronx is suing a Bronx catering hall for using a picture taken at her Sweet 16 party in advertisements for their business, without her permission. The photo is one Katelyn and her uncle took at her Sweet 16 party, but the ads for the catering hall (which works mostly with brides and weddings) make it look like they are married. How dreadful, no?

F.B.I Raid in Queens, 09/14/09, The New York Times (NYT)

The F.B.I. raided several homes in a Queens neighborhood as part of a terrorism investigation. Detailed timeline  here.

Missing Yale Graduate Student Found Dead, 09/14/09, NYT

Annie Le, a 24-year-old Yale University graduate student was found dead in a campus lab after an exhaustive search; a vigil was held to remember her life; and a lab technician has been charged with her murder.

New Jersey Teens Suing the Newark Bears, 09/14/09, NYT

Apparently, three teens attending a (minor league) Newark Bears baseball game refused to stand during the singing of “God Bless America,” and were asked to leave by Bears’ president Thomas Cetnar. The boys claim their constitutional rights were violent and, surprise, surprise, are suing the Newark Bears.

Bronx Teen Founded Murdered, (09/08/09), NYDN

05_Flatbed_1 - SEPTEMBER

Jamia Hazel, a 17-year old from the Bronx was found stabbed to death and dumped in an alley. Her foster mother said that the teen wanted to turn her life around (get a GED, become an anesthesiologist) but “couldn’t break her bad habits” (running away, staying out late, running the streets, dealing with older guys). One of those older men she was seeing has been charged with her murder. Very sad story.

Bronx Native-American Festival

09/21/2009
Culture, Events, Local, Native-American, the Bronx
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Hey, homegirls! What did you do this Sunday? I went to the Bronx Native- American Festival (that ride to Pehlham Bay Park was SO long from Brooklyn, but you know I’ll do anything for you, dolls!)

The festival was very much a family-oriented event- something you can go out to with the whole fam and have a fairly good time. And I was particularly impressed that the activities related back to Native American History specific to the area that is now the Bronx. The majority of the people there were families (with younger children), but there some teenage folk in the place, too.

I went, I saw, I heard, I learned, I recorded and I enjoyed, for the most part. I wish I had a video camera (working on that, next year definitely). But here are some pics from the day.

Activities with very well-informed park staff

Activities with very well-informed park staff

Supplies- potatoes, berries, and plastic forks

Supplies- potatoes, berries, and plastic forks

Instructions- use the knife to cut the potato in half; then carve a design in the potato and cut away the excess (creating a design pattern); mash berries in a small container; dip potato into mashed berries and apply to fabric or pottery!
Instructions- use the knife to cut the potato in half; then carve a design in the potato and cut away the excess (creating a design pattern); mash berries in a small container; dip potato into mashed berries and apply to fabric or pottery!
A little crowd participation
A little crowd participation
And voila! Decorated deerskin (SO soft) clothing, in this case.

And voila! Decorated deerskin (SO soft) clothing, in this case.

Traditional (male) Headdress

Traditional (male) Headdress

MC
MC
Live music/performances
Live music/performances
A little fun for everyone (hopefully, including the horse)
A little fun for everyone (hopefully, including the horse)
Know me, love me, pet me
Know me, love me, pet me
People came out
People came out
...and got to know each other (preparing to learn and do a traditional dance)
…and got to know each other (preparing to learn and do a traditional dance)
DSC02799 DSC02809
A TV station was there.

A TV station was there.

Perhaps a j-school student...

Perhaps a j-school student...

DSC02814

And, of course, the kiddies!

And, of course, the kiddies!

90210 Recap & A Public Service Announcement on Sexting

09/15/2009
90210, Sexting, TV
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Was anyone else excited to see this episode of 90210? Did she or didn’t she? Will she or won’t she? Hmm…and wait. I thought Annie was still a virgin…I must have missed that memo. In any case, if you missed it, here’s the teaser-

Whew. Alrighty then. So that didn’t go exactly as I thought it would. But interesting nonetheless. So let’s go in.

90210 (Pt.1) I typed this while watching the first half of the show:

Laim’s mom- get.a.backbone. I know you don’t want to go back to sweeping and mopping, instead of parlaying and shopping for a living but it’s California…if he divorces you, he has to split his bucks…right down the middle. So stop letting your husband verbally abuse your kid!

Liam- stop being a punk. Tell Naomi you had sex with her sister and take your lumps like a man-boy. She’s already pissed at you, so what is there to lose? I know you think you’re protecting her and what not, but have we not learned that secrets, like dairy products, will not keep?

Naomi’s sister- are you serious? stop being a psycho! Where is Kelly when you need her? Both for therapy (isn’t she a counselor or something) and a beat down. Scratch that, call Brenda for the beat down, she’d be better at it.

Naomi- poor, jaded Naomi. You’re not a bad person, really, but I can’t really say that feel bad for you. As sneaky as you are, you should be better at spotting the snakes in the grass…mirror much?

Silver- oh, Silver. Snap out of it girl! What  happened to you? I know you’re hurting and all, but it’s hurting me to watch this. Get your spirit back on track, blog something! And since when did you become a part of the crew? I thought you were all “I’m not a prom queen/normal teen/alternative” Let’s revisit that, shall we?

Ryan- get a clue. Can you possibly be that naive? Seriously. At your age, (you passed young and dumb a long time ago) you had to have been around long enough to know better.

Dixon- get over yourself. Annie is your sister and even she’s been acting like a major bia as of late, you have got to have her back! always. Also, I thought you were supposed to be Brandon 2.0. What’s with the Dylan-like brooding, sullen leaning and now, surfing?

Annie- oh, Annie…when did you get so annoying? Were you like this last season? All this mealy mouthed whining, and passive aggressive behavior…get a grip.

New guy- Teddy is it? Steve Sanders, much? Seriously…the famous parent, “the blond and beautiful” thing, blah blah blah. I’m still sussing you out.

Navid- hater, much? Perhaps it’s all the sexual repression but you need a hobby or three.

Adrianna- good job. I’m liking you sober. Way to call Navid on that wack apology and stand your ground. A word of caution though, watch out for new guy, I’m not sure he’s to be trusted.

90210 (Pt.2)

Liam’s mom- now, didn’t it feel good to take up for your son just a little bit? I know it’s hard to choose between your husband and your teenage son (as a mom, you must ask the eternal question- at what age does your happiness matter more than his- and either dislike the answer, be unhappy, make him unhappy, or both)

Dixon- “Did you put your weight behind it?”

Naomi-  you were sooo close…

Evil sister- “you’re scary good,” I hate to see what comes around for you. I just don’t like you. At all…Who are you supposed to be Valerie?

Annie-  good job standing up for yourself and breaking dude’s phone. You still got outed, but you tried.

Liam- bonding with the fellas, huh? Awww…good for you, making some friends. If Dylan could do it, so can you!

[oh and very cute “I’m a New Yorker” moment between the fellas…I guess NY pride doesn’t ever wear off]

Idk…the jury is still out, but I am kind of interested to see what happens this season.  I’m trying very hard not to be a Beverly Hills 90210 purist, but it’s just too easy…I mean, look, we never got our Brenda/Dylan/Kelly resolution and here you go trying to update the show?!. Come on!

At least they know what shows to try this stunt with. Can you imagine if someone tried to “remake” My So-Called Life?! (Blasphemy! Btw, if you’ve never seen that show…it will change your life. Classic.)

Oh, and before I go, I would be remiss not to say a word about sexting…Look, it’s nothing new. People get caught up…in feelings, in the moment, in situations…in flagrante…and things happen. I know that I’m not one to tell you all what to do, (Besides, I’m sure there’s very little I could tell you that you don’t already know), but, I will proffer a word of caution.

Actually, I fall back on something I wrote a year or two ago, called, the “NEW” rules of dating:

Re: Text photos (or sexting)

New dating rule: Do not send incriminating photos over the phone!

When to follow it: When you don’t know him well enough to trust that you won’t end up exposed on the Internet. Or when you’re planning a career in politics, law, medicine, media, business, or have any aspirations to be great.

When to break it: When you trust him (or her) and have equally (if not more so) incriminating photos of him.

Re: Text- stalking

New dating rule: Do not continue to text message him if he is only (half-heartedly) responding to you and never initiating contact.

When to follow it: When you two are just getting to know each other. You don’t want to come off like a text stalker, a pest or a lame with nothing else to do. You also don’t want to give him all the power. Let him work foryour time and attention as well.

When to break it: You know him well enough to decipher that something is not right and suspect that there is a reason he is avoiding contacting you. Be the adult and encourage him to “use his words,” even if it is through a text. If you respond by just avoiding him as well, you’ll soon tire of the “I can ignore you better” game. Besides, you’re better than that and if he’s not interested, he’s wasting your time.

Re: Friends

New dating rule: Don’t blab too much about the new guy person you’re dating too soon.

When to follow it: When you don’t want to mess things up or jinx it. Or when your girls talk way too much.

When not to follow it: When you just can’t keep it to yourself, you need some good advice, and you know your friends are trustworthy (and can keep a secret).

Use as needed. Apply as directed.

Brooklyn Teens Volunteer in South Africa

09/15/2009
Giving Back
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Hey Homegirls!

Have any of you ever heard of something called Journey for Change? No? Well Journey for Change is the organization Malaak Compton-Rock founded in Bushwick, Brooklyn (where her husband, comedian Chris Rock grew up) to encourage and show young people how they can give back and be of service to others. This summer, Malaak took 30 kids from Brooklyn to South Africa (an 18-hour flight! and believe me, you feel every minute of it) to volunteer in some of the poorest communities there that have been ravaged by AIDS. It was the first time that a lot of the kids had been outside of the city, and definitely the country; a crash course in international education. They learned some Zulu, visited shantytowns and saw the exteme  poverty there (no electricity, an extended family living in a two-room shack, sharing bathrooms, no windows, no heat, no air), spent time playing with HIV-infected babies who didn’t have parents, learning traditional songs and dances, donated school supplies and clothes, and helped sew seeds for crops. They also took photos and video of their experiences. Amazing.

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Photo Source

Now, while this post is about Journey for Change, I want to take a quick moment to just point out that while the group visited a lot of poverty-stricken areas, all of South Africa is not like that; just like all parts of New York City are not the same. So in the same way Bushwick is different from Ft. Greene or Astoria is different from Forest Hills, Capetown is not Johannesburg (in fact, just like in neighborhoods in NYC or in cities here  in the U.S., you can have very different experiences on different parts of town). I know that because of the fraudulent way the mainstream media depicts stories about Africa, it’s easy to assume that it’s one monolithic place. It doesn’t help that every time you turn on the TV and see a Feed the Children commercial, there is a starving, crying, malnourished baby with a pot belly and flies surrounding him. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that there isn’t a lot of poverty across the continent, there definitely is, I’m just saying that there is also a lot of beauty. So keep an open mind.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled post.

I thought the story of Malaak and the Project for Change kids’ journey to South Africa, particularly the kinds of volunteer work that they did there, and the things they discovered, was very inspiring. Only, it’s too bad that the people it was meant to inspire- young people like you- have probably never heard of it. Sure, it was profiled on CNN‘s Black in America (you didn’t watch it? Well believe me, you didn’t miss much) and written about in about both Essence and Time for Kids. But do you read either of those publications? Probably not. That’s because a lot of (positive) stories written about young people are written for newspapers or magazines that only adults read. And the teen publications don’t cover these types of stories either. So that’s one of the reasons I started this blog- to try create a place where young people like you can go to find stories written about other teens who are from where you’re from (NYC, Jersey and Connecticut). So instead of only hearing about the negativity that makes it on the news, you can get a balanced picture of what it means to me young, creative and live in the city. The good and the bad. And the places and people (here in NYC) where you can go for help. In one convenience place…right here…at Homegirl NYC. Ok (Jumping off my soapbox).

If you are interested in reading more about Journey for Change (and I would highly recommend it), you can visit Malaak’s website (there are photos, and even videos from the kids who went on the trip and plenty of other information). You can also read about their incredible journey in Time for Kids and Essence.

What did you think of the stories? Would you be interested in going on a journey like that? Why? Why not?

Let me know what you think!

Revisiting the “Victimization” at the VMAs

09/15/2009
TV
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Homegirls, please lend me your ears…

Ok. I tried not to address this, I really did. But I’ve had enough and now, I have to speak. For the record I generally don’t support or watch awards shows on TV. I have a few reasons, but mainly, I find that they are rarely worth the time investment. They are predictable to a fault- the awkward moments between the forced banter of the host and the stiff audience, the same popular artists winning the same major awards year after year, the mediocre performances and lack of enthusiasm from the audience, the crippling boredom- so what I wasn’t doing was tuning in to the VMAs this year. Initially, I forgot that they were coming on, but when someone called and asked me if I was watching them (no!) I remembered that Janet Jackson was performing a tribute to MJ- and that I wanted to see, so I flipped back and forth until she was on and then changed the channel. I figured I could just watch the clips from the performances I wanted to see on youtube the next day. (I’ve watched none, btw) But plenty of people have seen this one…

So I missed what is now being called the Taylor Swift (who?) Kanye West “incident.” Yet, I feel like I was there. I am so sick and tired of hearing about it. So I must now speak my piece, so I can stop being aggravated. Yes, Kanye was a jerk for going up on stage and interrupting her moment in the spotlight. But since when is his behavior a surprise? Remember when went off prompt at a Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief telethon to say, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people?” I’m sure the former president does. But, for the most part, he wasn’t called a “jerk” for that, because many people believed there was some truth to what he said. Seriously, watch the clip again. Mike Myers’ discomfort is palpable…and hilarious.

So is it the fact that Kanye is rude/impetuous/unpredictable/(overly) emotional that people object to? Is it what he said? How he said it? Who he interrupted? I think it’s probably a combination of all three. I mean it’s one thing to interrupt a Hurricane Katrina telethon because you’re emotional; people get that. But to take a microphone from a 19-year-old singer during an awards show because you don’t think she deserves the award she was given? Please. If everyone did that, there wouldn’t be any awards shows.

Now, you can blame his behavior on the Henny (Kanye doesn’t strike me as a “quiet drunk,” so perhaps his posing on the red carpet with a bottle of Hennessy- isn’t that illegal btw- was the first clue that there was trouble ahead); you can blame it on his people (did no one on his payroll think to pull him to the side and suggest he put the bottle down?) But the ultimate blame falls on Kanye. He gets that now. He has apologized ad nauseum. Great. If his “image,” or career, as it was, suffers, that’s his bad. But who cares? It’s called (say it with me) personal responsibility.

His behavior was unfortunate, tacky and ill advised, no doubt. But so is how far out of proportion it’s been blown. My biggest issue, and the reason I’m writing about it on this blog (where we don’t do the celebrity thing real heavy) is because of the way people are treating Taylor Swift like the poster child for victims of unforgivable crimes. Yes she was wronged. Everyone can agree on that, Kanye included. But she had someone take her microphone away during the VMAs; she wasn’t assaulted, battered, kidnapped, or forced into prostitution. (Things, btw, that are happening to girls all over the world right now) She got her feelings hurt and was embarrassed…ergo, she is not a victim. So stop treating her like one.

Now, the main question I had in all of this was, how in the world did he get the microphone away from her in the first place? If I’m on stage, accepting an award for excellence in my chosen profession- the culmination of hard work and the realization of a life’s dream- and someone wished to interrupt said moment and forcibly take a microphone from me, allow me to paraphrase for a moment, but he would have had to wrestle it from my dead lifeless fingers. Now, clearly she didn’t expect anything like this would happen. So understandably, she was surprised. And caught off guard. And stunned. But a victim? Not so much. In fact, Kanye probably did more for her career by interrupting her speech than winning the award would have in the first place. And that’s just being honest.

Speaking of taking things that don’t belong to you, and not being a victim, this movie scene comes to mind.

I’m just saying.

A word of wisdom to my homegirls reading this…if someone attempts to take something from you that you don’t wish for him or her to have (say a microphone, your cornbread, or your dignity), a little strong arm goes a long way…not to mention a swift roundhouse kick or a chop to the throat. Don’t allow anyone to “victimize” you, before or after the fact.

Now I know that people who want to get into an online confrontation will find a way to take this the wrong way, so let me be clear. I am not saying that Kanye’s behavior (or the subsequent backlash) was in any way Taylor’s fault. But I am saying that she’s not a victim. Was it unfortunate? Yes. Has it happened to artists before? Yes. Will it happen to someone else at another awards show in the future? Probably. Will it happen to her again? Doubt that. And THAT is the biggest lesson in all of this. Live and learn.

P.S. Justin Timberlake ripping Janet Jackson’s clothes off and exposing her breast on national TV brings to mind a scenario whereby a woman could be said to have been “victimized,” but somehow, in the subsequent media coverage, Justin’s role was downplayed and downright ignored while Janet was villainized…hmmm, I wonder why that is?

Speak your piece (I can handle it. I’m a big girl). Remember, we can disagree and still be respectful.