Fasten your seat belts

AKA: COMO AFIAMBRAR UM TIPO DURO COMO UM DINOSSAURO SEM RECORRER A SPIELBERG

Já estou a ver os vossos sorrisos de orelha a orelha. Mas por este título ter a foto de Steven Seagal, nem tudo o que parece é. Executive Decision consegue a proeza de que ao chegar a um quarto do filme, matarem esse colosso da arte da pacadaria. Como e Quem, devem sser as questões que afloram no vosso cérebro. Uma simples falha num F117 foi o suficiente para acabar com este dinossauro. Por isso já sabem, em combate contra Seagal, é mete-lo num F117 e voilá. Bem, a partir dai, o filme melhora. Um terrorista Tchecheno é capturado pelo Stone guy Seagal e a sua companhia de pseudo Força Delta. Em jeito de vingança, o nº2 do terrorista captura um avião e decide fazê-lo cair em Washington D.C. juntamente com uma bomba que traz a bordo. Uma equipa é reunida para parar os objectivos dos terroristas, mas como já vós contei, nem tudo corre bem. Os sobreviventes da equipa tem de levar avante o seu objectivo, perante a ameaça de terroristas, jactos da marinha e ficarem sem pilotos do avião. De Stuart Baird, com Kurt Russell, Steven Seagal, Halle Berry, John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, Joe Morton, B.D. Wong, Len Cariou, Whip Hubley, Andreas Katsulas, Mary Ellen Trainor, Marla Maples, J.T. Walsh, Ingo Neuhaus, William James Jones e Ropert Apisa.

Foto da Prémiere do ultimo sucesso da Asylum. Os tipos das armas são os realizadores e o tipo da seta é um membro da redação que não cabe em si de felicidade

Vale a pena deixar de ver a bola e a caneca da cerveja a aquecer para ver isto

By Gabriel C. Tyler

The before and after of Sammy Sosa. Photo courtesy of Yazmar.com

Out of nowhere, Sammy Sosa ─ legendary baseball player, hero and media-proclaimed poster child for the Dominican Republic ─ has found his new brighter, whiter face plastered across television screens across the world. Headlines that once praised the baseball player now taunt him and his seemingly new physical appearance: “Is Sammy Sosa the New Michael Jackson?” and “Sammy Sosa Bleached, Sammy Sosa White.” He claims that his lighter skin pigmentation is an accident. A result of a skin revitalization cream that he has been using to reverse the harmful effects that playing baseball in the blistering sun for so long has done to his skin. (To read more into the controversy click here.) Those who have viewed photos of the former baseball player claim that Sosa, like many other celebrities of color, has bleached his skin in an attempt to obtain whiter skin and higher social ranking. No conclusive answers exist yet, so all we can do now is speculate. However, whether Sammy’s new skin complexion is an accident or intentional, one thing stands true: among people of color all across the world, there still exist a great distinction and animosity between light-skinned and dark-skinned individuals.

The importance of skin color in the lives of people of color is one that begins early on in life. From preschool to kindergarten, children soon shift from learning to color in the lines to learning to distinguish between colors. This new awareness leads to children separating themselves into groups based upon their own colors, which then becomes the foundation for discrimination and hatred within people of color. With division comes the idea that one group is different from another and in those differences dwell the idea of inferiority and superiority among groups. It seems to be the proclivity of human beings to separate themselves into groups based upon similarities and differences. On a larger scale, these divisions are created between races and classes. However, this idea of division has deep roots in the African-American community ─ some individuals place great emphasis on skin pigmentation, so much so that it becomes a way to evaluate one’s worth.

Even I, as a child and still as a young adult have had to confront issues with my skin color. Everyday I strive to not be pigeonholed by my complexion. Being the youngest of two boys, it’s not unusual for me to be compared to my older brother. He was always referred to as “light,” “fine” and “a looker,” while I faked smiles at being called a “handsome brown boy.” I never fully understood why the words “brown boy” had to be attached to me like a nickname ─ it is apparent to me that my skin is brown but it is not my title. As a young child, I stared at my ceiling many nights, angry at a God who would make me this “brown boy.” I often asked God to make me lighter. Obviously, I never got my request. I just grew into a “brown young man.” The battle with being comfortable with skin complexion is nothing new, especially for those in the black community.

Social drugs pumped into the minds of people of color over time have intensified the division between those of different skin complexions. From the plantation to the Jim Crow era, blacks have fallen prey to the idea that the whiter the skin, the greater the opportunities. A culture raped by white blood lines birthed children of various skin tones. Those children, as a result of vicious cycle such as slavery, argued that the brightness of their skin entitled them to inherit the privileges of white men and women. Individuals began to marry into lighter-pigmented families to produce children with lighter skin, and just like that, “light, bright and damn near white” became the ideal for obtaining great social status.

Another large part of this skin whitening process is bleaching, or chemically removing the color from the skin using creams and even lemons turned into bleaching agents by the sunlight. It can be a harmful process for an individual’s skin ─ bleaching agents containing hydroquinone kills off the melanin-making cells, melanolyte, while bleaching agents containing mercury (ammoniated mercury or mercrous chloride) have been scientifically proven to cause mercury poisoning in excess. The bleaching process shows how deeply ingrained the quest for whiter skin is in people of color. People are willing to risk their health for an external appearance. It is as if white skin is so great to certain individuals that bleaching turns into an addiction.

The media perpetuates the ideal of having lighter skin among blacks. The Los Angeles Times did a piece, entitled “The Beyoncé ad and skin bleaching,” about the controversy with Beyoncé’s L’Oreal ads, which feature her with lighter skin than she actually has. For years, people pointed fingers at celebrities, such as Michael Jackson and Lil’ Kim who have apparently had unnatural skin transformations. Womeninquire.com offers women of color the “secret to lighter skin,” claiming that stars, such as Rihanna, Halle Berry, Beyoncé, Amerie and Thandie Newton get whiter skin from their products. An episode of the Tyra Banks show entitled, “Black Women & Their Children Bleaching Their Skin” showed how ingrained the idea of having a lighter complexion still is in the African-American community. Women were not only bleaching themselves, but their children, claiming that “their children would be better, if they were lighter.” It becomes evident that many have sacrificed their mental and emotional well-being for lighter skin ─ it seems the minds of many people of color have been poisoned.

An already fair-skinned Beyoncé next to the controversial lightened L'oreal Ad. Photo courtesy of ClevelandLeader.com

I do not know what the truth is behind the Sammy Sosa scandal. I do not know if there is a simple solution to the divisions among people of color based on skin complexion. However, I do know that black is beautiful (not that white is not), and there is no need to be anything but who you are, whether that be a “brown boy” or a light-skinned boy. When we stop looking at color or physical appearance as an aspect of an individual’s character and value in society, then progress will finally happen. Until then, we’ll keep on bleaching, literally and figuratively, until the scraps of identity that we do possess disappear. What happened to “Black Power” and “Black Pride” ─ are we running from our roots by trying to externally be something that we are not?

Halle Berry (Born 1966 in Cleveland, OH) is a Academy Award, Emmy Award, and Golden Globe Award winning American Actress and Producer. In a Hollywood career that began in 1989, she has quickly established herself as one of the most successful Actresses in recent film history. Her films to date include “The Last Boy Scout”, “The Flintstones”, “Jungle Fever”, “The Program”, “Losing Isaiah”, “Executive Decision”, “The Rich Man’s Wife”, “Bulworth”, “X-Men”, “Die Another Day”, “Monsters Ball”, “X-Men: The Last Stand”, “Gothika”, “Robots”, “Perfect Stranger”, “X2″, “Catwoman”, “Swordfish”, and many others. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her role in “Monster’s Ball”. She is the first African-American Woman to ever win the Best Actress Oscar. She has also done extensive work in Television including her Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge in the made for cable movie “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”. She has also made appearances on shows such as “Frasier”, “Living Dolls”, “Knots Landing”, and “Amen”. As a Producer, she produced the made for cable films “Lackawanna Blues” and “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”. A former beauty queen, she was crowned Miss Ohio in 1986 and finished as first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant. She has a Star on the Hollywood Walk-of-Fame.

Autograph #257 in Collection.

En cada familia siempre hay personas que contribuyen al crecimiento de la misma, muchas veces a costa de ser señaladas por los menos osados.

¡A veces merece la pena ver películas en televisión aunque haya que armarse de paciencia con los anuncios! El largometraje norteamericano “La Boda”, The Wedding, 1998, es uno de esos contados casos, y no por exhibir a la exuberante actriz Halle Berry, sino por ahondar en la profundidad de familias que viven en la apariencia a lo largo de varias generaciones a costa de su propia felicidad.

Si miramos alrededor, y en Navidad es un momento muy apropiado para ello, tristemente, en general, nos hemos acostumbrado a vivir manteniendo relaciones basadas en “lo políticamente correcto”, la apariencia de crear un mundo perfecto, de puertas para afuera, como es el caso de la citada película, se ha convertido en parte de la cotidianidad, lamentablemente.

Cuando somos niños espontáneamente nos comportamos tal y como somos, pero según vamos creciendo, vamos pasando por un proceso de domesticación que en demasiadas ocasiones nos hace vivir interpretando personajes que nada tienen que ver con nuestra verdadera forma de ser. Llega un momento que “el personaje creado” puede usurpar nuestra verdadera personalidad y ni nosotros mismos lleguemos a ser conscientes de que hemos perdido el contacto con nuestra esencia.

Los padres tienen una labor fundamental a la hora de educar y fomentar que sus hijos sean ellos mismos, en lugar de la proyección de sus sueños, intereses y planes de vida, pero si los padres no han recorrido el doloroso camino del auto-descubrimiento, es imposible que puedan enseñar a sus hijos. En ese caso, serán los hijos los que tendrán que tener la valentía de romper “la cadena de montaje” en algún momento de sus vidas y luchar por ser ellos mismos “le pese a quién le pese”. Siempre hay personas en todas las familias que “rompen los esquemas y patrones establecidos” para dar un salto evolutivo en el desarrollo de la historia familiar. Estas personas suelen ser juzgadas, señaladas y marcadas como “las ovejas negras”, cobrando este color un matiz especial de purificación y de iluminación, en la sombra, para alcanzar un estado de paz interior que solo se consigue siendo honesto y consecuente con uno mismo.

El más difícil todavía para las personas que osan romper las creencias familiares establecidas es el no dejarse atrapar en los chantajes emocionales de otros, en sus limitaciones, en la utilización de la culpa para encerrarte en el redil y no permitirte volar. El miedo a dejar de ser querido, a perder la idea de pertenencia a una familia puede resultar absolutamente paralizador para aquellas personas que luchen contra corriente.

¿Dónde encontrar las fuerzas para atreverse a ser uno mismo por encima de las creencias e imposiciones de aquellos que dicen querernos, pero solo si hacemos lo que nos exigen? ¡Siempre dentro de uno mismo! La fuerza está en atreverse a “dejarlo todo para alcanzarlo todo” como decían Teresa de Jesús y Juan de la Cruz. La Luz está en tomar conciencia de que al fin y al cabo nos aferramos a ideas ilusorias de la Vida como son “la necesidad de pertenencia y el querer ser amados y aceptados por otros”… El individuo en realidad no pertenece a nada ni a nadie porque todo es efímero en la Vida, y el amor y la aceptación están dentro de cada cual. Si alguien no respeta tu libertad de elección, ni te ama ni te acepta, por tanto ¿Por qué dar tanto valor a alguien tan pobre de Espíritu?…

A veces, algunos descubren tarde que desperdiciaron su vida interpretando papeles para ser aceptados al más alto precio, a costa de su libertad, dignidad y de su propia Vida.

Una margarita nunca fue creada para ser una rosa. No se puede esperar que un gato sea tan veloz como un león, eso lo sabe bien quién nos creó para ser tal y como somos. ¡Aceptémoslo también nosotros mismos!

MARIA CICUENDEZ

www.mariacicuendez.webs.com

Here’s a good video about everything you need to know from 2000 – 2009

Même s’il a l’air super intéressant, pas besoin de voir le documentaire de Chris Rock pour s’apercevoir que désormais, les perruques fleurissent sur les têtes des filles comme des mauvaises herbes entre les dalles d’une terrasse à la campagne.

Qu’elles soient connues (ou non), belles (ou non), adeptes de la frange (ou… bref), les femmes modernes aiment se rajouter sur le crâne des cheveux en poils de cheval ou des mèches d’hindoue domestiquée, pour un résultat plus ou moins réussi (Emilie de Secret Story, si tu nous lis).

Alors au risque de briser vos illusions, mais dans un souci de vous éviter une mauvaise surprise la prochaine fois que vous passerez la main dans la crinière de votre future conquête, voici une sélection de perruques (baptisées “wig” aux Etats-Unis) et de vrais cheveux, mais qu’on aurait aimé voir recouverts d’extensions capillaires synthétiques pour le coup. A vous de reconnaître ce qui est vrai… ou non.

Alors, oui ou wig?

Beyoncé:

Serena Williams:

Somaya Reece (la nouvelle meuf de Joe Budden, qui se fait pas chier l’enfoiré):

Gabby:

Halle Berry et Tyra Banks:

Foxy Brown:

Diana Ross:

Snoop Dogg:

Andre Agassi:

Le cousin gay de T-Pain et Sébastien Folin:

La fille de Kelly Rowland:

JLo falls onstage...then pops up and keeps it moving

Last night,Dick Clark and ABC television hosted the annual American Music Awards, where all kind of crazy and cool happenings went on,and Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert still stood out.

I like it how every year some new act feels the need to shock and push the limits of the public morals to the breaking point, and this year the winner for that category is Adam Lambert.

Adam,the runner-up for last seasons American Idol competition,decided to out do Katy Perry who kissed a girl, or at least had a hit record about it, by kissing a guy on stage.

And, as if that was not enough to get his point across, he then grabbed a male dancer, and had him kiss,…or do something like that, to his crotch. Many guys have done this on stage before,except with women.

I think the best one was that awards show on Spike TV hosted by Jamie Foxx,when he grabbed Halle Berry’s nice behind and laid a good kiss on her…remember that.

Jamee and Halle...very hotJamee hugs Halle...

Halle hugs Jamee,who hugs her back...

I know that was kind of different, but I think many will get my point. I became a bigger Jamie Foxx supporter after that one.

http://www.ballerstatus.com/2009/06/01/jamie-foxx-and-halle-berry-make-out-fondle-each-other-on-tv/

If you missed Adam’s act…we have the pictures here…

He showed up looking like this…

Edgy…or just another way to market his album…who knows.He is from San Diego, so good luck with that Adam…

Anyhow, here is a selection of the beautiful people who were there, and of course my favorites,Rhianna,Alicia Keyes, and all the other cute sexy and talented musical superstars….and oh yes, JLo fell,see image above article,watch video below before it gets deleted,and read the story in the link provided under the video…

http://www.examiner.com/x-6788-TV-Trends-Examiner~y2009m11d23-Jennifer-Lopez-falls-at-American-Music-Awards-with-video

…Oh yeah…as usual,like clockwork…Lady Gaga got down!…she is the most interesting performer out there currently, and whenever she performs…I simply can not take my eyes off of her,because of her performances.

She has way more concept than the rest of her fellow performers,and I can tell she is having a big influence on others stage shows. Good going Gaga….

Follow the JLo story here,their video may not be deleted very quickly because they got more pull…

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/22/jlo-falls-video-amas_n_367094.html

A lot of people got offended when I called Nicole Richie fat, when she was clearly prego. People, I know that she was pregnant and by “FAT” I mean looking larger than the average person, not that’s she’s unhealthy or a lazy slob. See, this is what tabloids and beauty magazines tell us: that the term fat refers to a lazy, ugly, unhealthy, pig. When I just meant that she’s “bigger.” The word fat used because for a normally skinny person, she was way “heavier” (obviously because she was with child.) Anyway, I have made of list of top 10 Prego Celebs who still look hot. Damn them! (in no particular order.)

1. Jessica Alba

2. Christina Aguilera

3. Angelina Jolie

4. Ashlee Simpson – Wentz

5. Britney Spears

6. Nicole Richie (Yup, she made the list!)

7. Halle Berry

8. Jennifer Lopez

9. Kate Hudson

10. Gwen Stefani

I don’t think anything will top the Most Beautiful TV News Women of 2008 blog, but this’ll have to do for now.

So this is my list of the 20 most attractive actresses in movies.   I list them as the most “attractive” instead of “beautiful,” because though most of them are beautiful, “attractive” implies personality traits and other intangibles.  The roles are also important, though this isn’t a list of great actresses – it’s a list of the most attractive women in my opinion based on their roles in these movies.  So it’s sort of more the character than the person, since obviously I don’t know them.

Without going through the whole list, this competition was over before it began.  Linda Hamilton has the nice girl, innocent look in “Terminator” and she shows she has a lot of heart.  Then in “Terminator II” she becomes a bad ass.  Franka Potente in “Bourne Identity” has moxie and style.  If I had just seen her without her being in the role, she might not make the top 100, but she is pretty phenomenal in the role of Marie.

Sometimes it’s a particular scene that leaves the impression, like when Sigourney Weaver is possessed by a ghost in “Ghostbusters,” or when Phoebe Cates walks by the pool in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” with an assist by the song “Moving in Stereo” by the Cars (one of the most underappreciated rock bands of all time).  Then there’s the woman as authority figure, like P.J. Soles who played an MP in “Stripes,” a variation on the teacher theme.  In “Silver Streak,” Jill Clayburgh looked wholesome; in “Basic Instinct” Sharon Stone did not.

Back before older women were called cougars, you had Jacqueline Bisset (“Class”), Anne Archer (“Patriot Games”) and of course, Anne Bancroft in “The Graduate,” who just edges out Katherine Ross from the same movie.  Believe it or not, Linda Fiorentino of “Vision Quest” was also an older woman although she played someone who was only 21 in the movie.  Her suitor in Vision Quest was 17.  I always thought her character was more like 25 until I saw the movie again.  Cheesy movie but great.

The mention of Sandra Bullock reminds me that I saw her twice in bars in Washington, D.C. about 10 years ago.  Each time she had her hair colored blond (or was wearing a wig) like she has it in her new movie “The Blind Side.”  It was definitely her.  Once was in Atomic Billiards in Cleveland Park.  I honestly can’t remember where the other time was.  Anyway, I went up to her to talk.   I didn’t mention anything about her looking like (or being) Sandra Bullock – just tried to talk with her but I have to say she was pretty underwhelmed.  She blew me off both times.  Then after that I told her I knew who she was.  Again, she was a little bit unimpressed.  Oh well.

So here you have it.  I’m going to add pictures later.

1. Linda Hamilton, Terminator
2. Linda Hamilton, Terminator II
3. Franka Potente, Bourne Identity and Bourne Supremacy
4. P.J. Soles, Stripes
5. Jacqueline Bisset, Class
6. Sigourney Weaver, Ghostbusters
7. Jill Clayburgh, Silver Streak
8. Linda Fiorentino, Vision Quest
9. Sharon Stone, Basic Instinct
10. Anne Bancroft, The Graduate
11. Katherine Ross, The Graduate
12. Anne Archer, Patriot Games
13. Julia Roberts, Ocean’s Eleven
14. Sandra Bullock, Speed
15. Lucy Liu, Charlie’s Angels
16. Jessica Lange, King Kong
17. Debra Winger, Officer and a Gentleman
18. Halle Berry, Swordfish
19. Robin Wright Penn, Forrest Gump
20. Ashley Judd, Double Jeopardy
21. Phoebe Cates, Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Honorable Mention:  Lynda Carter.  I know she was a TV actress and hardly did any movies, but I had to include her on the list. She can occasionally be spotted in Bethesda, MD and looks as great as ever.

Anyway, I’m sure I’ve missed a ton of attractive actresses but this is the list.  It was almost a year ago that I did the list of the most beautiful newswomen of 2008, and that blog entry has gotten more traffic than all my other blog posts combined.

So as I put this one up, and the previous one just below this, part of the hope is that more people will read the other parts of my blog that deal with www.mikeneedsakidney.com, which by the way, isn’t just for me but is designed to raise awareness for all people who need kidneys.  While I’m on the topic, check out the song that the Dirtbags, the Redskins Appreciation Club band did for me.

“Anda tidak berhak dipuji kalau tidak bisa menerima kritik”. Itulah yang diungkapkan oleh artis Halle Berry ketika menerima Razzie Award pada tahun 2005 lalu. Ketika itu Halle Berry mendapat anugerah sebagai pemain terburuk dalam film Cat Woman. Sebelumnya, tak ada satu artis pun yang berani hadir secara langsung dan lebih memilih mengirimkan pesannya lewat video.

Sebenarnya, seberapa jauh kritik itu dianggap sebagai musibah atau kehancuran? Dan siapa saja yang mampu menerima kritik layaknya saat menerima pujian? Apa pun bentuknya, kritik memang tidak disukai oleh siapa pun. Dan bisa dipastikan bahwa di dunia lebih banyak pengkritik daripada yang dikritik. Mulai dari nasehat, sindiran, lelucon, hingga caci-maki yang teramat pedas pun bisa muncul kapan saja. Dan tak ada yang bisa menjamin siapa pun bebas dari kritikan.

Ketika orang mengkritik kita, berarti kita diperhatikan orang lain. Nah, jika diperhatikan orang lain berarti ada yang ingin dibangun pada diri kita. Ketika orang orang masih mau mengkrikitk kita, sebenarnya itu adalah satu anugerah bagi kita. Mengapa harus dikritik? Ada tiga poin penting di sini. Yang pertama, kalau kita mau menerima kritik itu, ya kita terima saja semuanya. Karena munculnya kritik disebabkan adanya ketidaksesuaian menurut pandangan orang terhadap norma atau etika yang ada. Bagi pihak yang mengkritik, biasanya berpikir sah-sah saja karena memang perlu dikritik. Namun bagi yang dikritik pun, sah-sah pula jika berkata, bertindak, atau memberlakukan sesuatu. Ketika sebuah institusi atau individu melakukan aktivitas atau sebuah keputusan, maka orang lain akan menganggap itu adalah sikap institusi atu individu tersebut. Tetapi ketika suatu aktivitas atau keputusan itu menjadi sikap kelompok, maka itu akan menjadi budaya. Demikian pula ketika seseorang dari sebuah kelompok atau institusi melakukan sebuah tindakan, maka tindakan itu akan langsung dikritik dan melekat menjadi budaya kelompok atau intitusi tersebut. Padahal sesungguhnya yang terjadi tidaklah demikian.

Untuk mengatasi kritik tersebut, sepatutnya dan sesegera mungkin dilakukan klarifikasi bahwa tindakan tersebut hanyalah tindakan individu yang tidak mencerminkan budaya kelompok atau institusi. Dan akan lebih baik lagi jika dilakukan tindak lanjut yang diperlukan, termasuk perbaikan. Tetapi kalau kritik tersebut tidak sesuai dengan apa yang sebenarnya terjadi, ada tiga poin yang bisa dilakukan. Pertama adalah anggap saja hal tersebut menjadi sebuah pengalaman. Kedua, anggap saja kita sebagai orang ketiga sedang melakukan ekseperimen atau observasi. Yang ketiga, it’s a business thing and nothing personal.

Kalau sampai ada yang mengkritik pada personality atau kebiasaan sebagai individu, maka itu sudah menjadi sebuah komposisi yang harus diubah. Tidak ada cara lain. Apalagi jika sudah dianggap cara berlaku yang tidak sesuai dengan norma, etika, atau peraturan pergaulan, ya ubahlah segera. Artinya tidak bisa kita bertahan tanpa penyesuaian. Apalagi jika kita sudah menyadari bahwa kita berada dalam lingkungan dan hidup bermasyarakat.

Untuk mengatasi kritik, hal yang paling penting adalah harus disadari bahwa kritik itu akan selalu terjadi dan cenderung disebabkan adanya tindakan atau perkataan yang kurang baik dan tidak sesuai dengan yang ada dan berlaku di masyarakat. Lalu bagaimana mengatasi kritik dengan bijaksana?  Terimalah kritik sebagai anugerah. Kalau ada yang mengkritik, berarti pengkritik tersebut menyayangi pihak yang dikritiknya. Lebih sulitnya adalah ketika seseorang diam dan tidak melakukan apapun.

Kritik yang positif adalah selalu membangunkan kita, apapun isi kritiknya. Apa saja yang membangkitkan dan memberikan manfaat bagi kita, maka itu akan menjadi kritik yang baik. Tetapi ketika kritik itu sudah memasuki ranah yang menyangkut jati diri dan harga diri, mungkin itu sudah tidak termasuk kategori kritik yang membangun, bahkan bisa dianggap sudah merambah dalam ranah penghinaan. Artinya, sebuah tindakan kritik yang diakibatkan karena tindakan seseorang, maka itu dianggap laik. Jadi kritik yang positif itu dibatasi pada hal yang membangun dan memberikan manfaat. Namun yang sering dilupakan adalah bahwa kita dibangun di atas perkataan dan tindakan kita sendiri. Setiap saat kita selalu berupaya membangun dalam hal pergaulan, kehidupan, aktivitas, bisnis, dan juga pencitraan diri. Sadar atau tidak, itu adalah akibat dari perkataan dan tindakan diri sendiri. Jadi perhatikanlah apa yang sedang kita pikirkan karena akan berakibat pada ucapan dan tindakan yang berujung pada kebiasaan.

Jadi, suka atau tidak suka, kritik itu baik bagi siapa saja. Maka bersyukurlah jika banyak yang mengkritik. Dan bagi siapa saja yang belum siap menerima kritik, bisa dianggap yang bersangkutan belum siap untuk hidup. Ketika kita berjalan, orang akan menilai kita. Dan kita harus siap menerima penilaian tersebut walau hanya sekedar dengan mimik dan tak diungkapkan melalui perkataan atau tindakan lainnya.

Menyangkut kasus yang terjadi antara Rumah Sakit Omni Internasional dengan Prita Mulyasari terkait dengan email keluhan layanan yang dituangkan Prita Mulyasari sebagai pasien, seharusnya bisa diselesaikan tak sampai berlarut hingga ke meja hijau. Setidaknya pihak Omni bisa memanggil Prita atau mendatanginya untuk menyelesaikan masalahnya. Hal yang bisa dilakukan pihak Omni adalah meminta maaf jika memang telah terjadi kesalahan di pihak Omni, atau meminta klarifikasi dalam bentuk pernyataan terbaru dari Prita jika terdapat kesalahpahaman dalam isi keluhannya. Akan lebih elegan jika hal itu bisa diselesaikan dalam ranah dunia maya juga. Artinya, ketika salah satu pihak seperti yang dialami Omni tidak mampu menerima kritik, kemungkinan penyelesaiannya akan memakan biaya yang lumayan besar dan hasilnya pun belum tentu memuaskan.

Andai pihak Omni sejak awal mau bersikap lebih bijak, selain tak perlu mengeluarkan biaya, juga tentunya akan mendapatkan simpati yang lebih luas dan berdampak pada pencitraan positif. Jadi sadarilah bahwa manusia itu diciptakan dengan “keterbatasan” dan sudah “tercemar” (created-limited-polluted). Bahkan banyak perusahaan besar yang rajin melakukan survey hanya untuk mengetahui kelemahannya. Sesungguhnya kritik memiliki kemampuan yang luar biasa untuk membuka persepsi, wawasan, dan paradigma baru. Setidaknya, dengan kemampuan mengelola kritik yang diterima, akan melatih mental menghadapi tantangan yang mungkin saja bisa lebih berat lagi di masa mendatang. Jika perlu, hadapilah kritik dengan senyuman.

*Hasil wawancara dengan sales trainer Sutio Putra Gentakarya yang telah ditulis dan disunting kembali.

Halle Berry is no stranger to domestic violence, having dealt with the abuse against her mother by her father as well as an abusive relationship in the past.

That said, she had some thoughts on the incident between Rihanna and Chris Brown:

“Recently, Rihanna stepped forward and obviously she had an issue with domestic violence. She was able to get away which isn’t often the easiest thing. Any time a woman frees herself from that kind of bondage and that kind of situation I’m proud.”

Halle just helped launch photographer Mark Liddell’s book Exposed: 10 Years in Hollywood, in which some of the proceeds with go towards the Jenesse Center, a domestic violence organization.

Like Vintage Rita Hayworth photo shoots, Leona Lewis drops Echo for your entertainment. Here’s your top tonight in Hollywood on Horiwoood.Com.

1. Twilight New Moon’s Mall Tour is what America hearts.

2. ALEX MERAZ can sky dance Native American Indian style. So gifted, naturally.

3. STEFANI GERMANOTTA is #1 on iTunes with a rendition of a Bad Romance American pop stylez according to LADY GAGA.

4. One question: Why is New Moon looking like the film Angels & Demons. Red cape city.

5. LEONA LEWIS is a pretty British Echo of the pop world for her 3rd album.

6. NEW MOON’s alternative casting route is a hit with wolf pack lads casting.

7. JANET JACKSON is much loved by America.

8. GERARD BUTLER is in a kilt with his mom in Glasgow Scotland.

9. HALLE BERRY is proud of RIHANNA

10. OPRAH is moving to Los Angeles 2011.

~Love~

~Horiwood.Com 11.20.09~

Access Hollywood is reporting that domestic violence advocate Halle Berry has this to say about pop star Rihanna overcoming her domestic violence situation earlier this year. 

Says Halle: “Recently, Rihanna stepped forward and obviously she had an issue with domestic violence. She was able to get away which isn’t often the easiest thing… Any time a woman frees herself from that kind of bondage and that kind of situation I’m proud,” Berry said.

“Halle speaks so from the heart about her experiences with domestic violence,” photographer Mark Liddell added as he stood next to Halle. “It’s incredible. Halle is joining with Liddell to help launch his debut book, “Exposed: 10 Years In Hollywood.”

Some proceeds from the book benefit the Jenesse Center, a domestic violence organization for which Halle is a passionate advocate. Inside the pages, the sultry silk laden star joins a sizzling Janet Jackson, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey.

~Reposted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA~

Halle Berry still beautiful after 40 but she is not a fair comparison for most

The stunning Halle Berry recently vowed to never undergo the knife. She admits she can make this choice due to the fact that she has a intensive skin care routine-not to mention an on call glam squad if needed-but what about regular women? How can we look as beautiful as Halle Berry in our 40’s?

Dr. Eisemann gets confronted with this question on a daily basis. Halle Berry brings up an interesting point by stating that she has chosen to “take care of what she has” so that surgery isn’t needed. She admits this is a vigorous skin care routine. We don’t all have the time, effort or energy to fight the aging process manually. Dr. Eismann offers non-invasive skin care treatments such as fillers in addition to facelifts, eyelid lifts, and brow lifts which can provide dramatic results. It is important to note that genetics play a huge part in the aging of skin. Also, ethnicity and climate. It is unfair for women to believe that everybody has the same options to maintain a youthful appearance.

Dr. Eismann wants his patients to know that it is their choice to maintain their image manually with medical grade skin care and fillers or undergo surgery for a complete new look.

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Halle Berry tells OK! Magazine that she has no plans to undergo any plastic surgery procedures. The actress, who is 43 years old, says she maintains her youthful look through a good skin care routine.

“I’m not one of those people who opts for plastic surgery, so my philosophy is to take care of what you have. I’m really serious about my skin care regimen at night. I never go to bed or even nap with makeup on,” says Berry.

Investing in a proper skin care regimen now can save you from considering cosmetic procedures later. Cleansing, exfoliating (with chemicals like Lactic Acid and Vitamin A), and wearing an SPF daily are excellent ways to maintain youthful skin.

Does skin care leave you feeling confused? Fill out a Face Mapping form and receive a FREE product recommendation!

Do ano de 2007, da realizadora Susanne Bier.

Há algum tempo que não via um bom drama.

Halle Berry uma mãe de dois filhos que perde o marido numa situação trágica e Benicio Del Toro ,  o melhor amigo do marido e viciado em heroína que tenta “fugir” ao vício; conseguiram dar um bom ênfase à história e pôr-me com a lágrima no conto do olho.

O desenrolar do filme, alterando sempre do passado para o presente dá também mais intensidade à história que na verdade não tem nada de novo nem de especial;  o que torna o filme, um bom filme é as interpretações dos dois actores principais e de como assuntos como a morte, negação, vício, perda, felicidade e desespero podem funcionar sem serem banais.

Eu gostei.

Minha cotação: 8/10

TORRENT

TRAILER

IMDB

Lista de reprodução:

Almost Home.

Gosto da banda, apesar de estar sacado há algum tempo ainda não tinha ouvido como deve ser este novo album. Continua com o mesmo feeling  para quem gosta, apesar de se notar algumas diferenças dos ultimos albuns, acaba por soar ao mesmo Evergreen Terrace anyway. Realmente não gostei tanto como do Sincerity Is An Easy Disguise In This Business mas acho que gosto mais do que do anterior Wolf Biker. É ouvir mais umas vezes e ver…

Já agora tenho que partihar aqui o video da música Sending Signals que já está disponível no myspace da banda.

Karate kid !!! ahaha

Evergreen Terrace – Almost home Download

Ghostface Killah – Ghostdini Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City Download

“Put my hopes beside the river, lay them down,let the water hold them under

Please you got to give us more time My god its the end of the world“

The Ghost of a Thousand – This Is Where The Fight Begins Download

Something that has always irritated me is how people with diabetes who happen to be famous don’t talk about diabetes enough in my opinion. I feel like if I had the power to inform millions more people about diabetes I definitely would. I see misinformation as one of the biggest problems facing diabetics. It also impedes efforts to raise money for research, support, and education.

Therefore I have decided to share my thoughts on a few celebrities and how they talk about diabetes. I’ve included videos as examples of how I’ve derived my opinions.

Jay Cutler

I think Jay has done a great job talking about diabetes. Being newly diagnosed, he’s a great spokesperson for other newly diagnosed diabetics. He often talks about what it felt like before and after the diagnosis as well as what it’s like to play professional football with diabetes. He is truly a great role model and spokesperson for people with diabetes.

Nick Jonas

Nick has become a great asset to the diabetes community! He has been able to reach millions of young people who previously knew very little about diabetes if anything at all. I have actually seen little girls out in public wearing t-shirts in support of Nick Jonas and his diabetes. Every single night he includes diabetes in his shows and talks about the trials and tribulations of living with diabetes on the road. He discusses how tough it is but how it doesn’t control his life. They even sell those previously mentioned shirts at their concerts with proceeds benefiting diabetes charities. I personally am not a Jonas Brothers fan, but I am SO excited about Nick Jonas!

Elliot Yamin

Another one of my favorites. I think of all the diabetic celebrities (with the exception maybe of Mary Tyler Moore) he does the most! He is usually in attendance at the JDRF gala here in Central Virginia, and I’ve seen video of him doing the LA walk. I remember when he was on American Idol and him and his mother talking about diabetes. He even wore one of those silicone diabetes bracelets every show. I even have a World Diabetes Day pin that was given to me by a friend who bought it at an Elliot Yamin concert. I absolutely love what he is doing.

Bret Michaels

Oh Bret… There is so much I could say… I know for a fact that he can properly pronounce the world “diabetes” so I have NO idea why he keeps saying “die-uh-beet-us”. He always seems like he is proud to be a diabetic, but it always seems like just a weird act. I can’t say I’m a huge Rock of Love fan, but I did watch the first season and most of the second. I only remember one episode where he truly addressed his diabetes. It was the very last one. He was with the one girl and he went low in a go-cart. And it was kind of funny to watch because you could tell by the look on his face that he was low. But that was the good part. There was also a scene where he’s sitting at a table for dinner with a girl and he says “If I pass out, just shove this in my a**” and put a glucagon package on the table. It made me scream at the TV. I do give Bret credit for not just giving money to big diabetes organizations but also helping fund camperships so diabetic kids can go to camp. It’s a cause near and dear to my heart as I know it is with Bret. But still, some of the junk he says just doesn’t make any sense and he frustrates me to an incredible degree.

Halle Berry

NO ONE MAKES ME ANGRIER THAN HALLE BERRY! Even before this video I used to get so upset when she’d speak. She cries about being a black woman but never even mentions she has type one diabetes until she claims she got rid of if. This video just made it exponentially worse. Besides her claiming to get rid of her type one diabetes, she says that she thinks she had it as a kid and went diagnosed. Halle clearly has never met a child who has gone “undiagnosed” for a very long time. I had a kid at a camp event who had gone TWO YEARS with symptoms of diabetes and was nearly in a coma. You don’t go any longer than that without being diagnosed or going into a coma and dying. She clearly has NO idea what she is talking about. I don’t know what exactly her situation is, but I DO know that she is not and never was a type one diabetic.

Whew. Ok. Sorry I tend to rant when it comes to Bret Michaels and Halle Berry. Does anyone else have opinions on these celebrities? Or other diabetic celebrities? I know I didn’t include Mary or most of the type two celebrities you see in commercials all the time. But these are the ones that pop into my little head the most.

Halle Berry was still in NYC the other day and decided to hit up Morandi in West Village for a little lunch.  Halle we’re still waiting on a movie release date.  Do any actresses names come to mind that might be more skilled this Ms. Berry?  More images of Halle out to lunch when you

Halle Berry says she will never go under the knife to save her beauty.

“I”m not one of those people who opts for plastic surgery, so my philosophy is to take care of what you have,” Contactmusic quoted her, as telling OK! Mag.

The 43-year-old star added: “I”m really serious about my skincare regimen at night. I never ever go to bed – or even nap – with make-up on.”

Meanwhile, the Oscar-winning actress is all set to receive The Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at annual Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment event on December 4.

The former Bond girl will grace the stage at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California at the industry publication’s 18th annual Power 100: Women in Entertainment breakfast.

Her predecessors to land the accolade include Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster, Glenn Close, U.S. news anchor Barbara Walters and movie mogul Lansing herself.

Dance Flick (2009)
★★ / ★★★★

Damien Dante Wayans directed this parody about a girl (Shoshana Bush) who moves to the city with her father after her mother dies on the way to her dance audition. With the help of a friend (Essence Atkins), she’s able to meet others, open up a little more and fall for a guy (Damon Wayans Jr.). If that sounds familiar, that’s because that’s pretty much what “Save the Last Dance” was about. But this movie takes it a bit further by adding in “Step Up,” “Step Up 2 the Streets,” “High School Musical,” and “Hairspray” into the mix with occassional popular references to icons such as Britney Spears, Halle Berry, and the like. As accessible as those references were, I liked that Wayans added some less popular jokes such as from movies like “Black Snake Moan.” As idiotic as this movie was, I somewhat enjoyed it because I saw it when I was in the mood for watching something where I don’t have to think. I also liked the fact that it showed some vignettes where it revealed the stupidity of the plot or meaningful of certain dance movies. For instance, in “Step Up 2 the Streets,” people constantly had to fight for “respect” (whatever that means) instead of focusing on issues that would most likely impact their futures like education and working toward achieving something most people would assume to be impossible. This movie’s ability to bluntly present issues like that made me like it because I hardly think fighting for so-called respect should be the main drive of young people today. Still, the movie consistently lost focus such as whenever it would refer to something ridiculous like “Twilight.” In my opinion, if such in-your-face spoof pictures should stay in their own universe. That glaring decision to show something so out of the blue was not only unfunny, it also reflects desperation. “Dance Flick” could have been so much more fun if it had its act together. After all, there are a lot of dance movies out there to make fun of because they take themselves too far. The difference between those and this movie is that “Dance Flick” knows it’s being ridiculous.

Spotted at the Musueum of Contemporary Art 30th anniversary exhibition–>Ciara and Zoe Saldana

Spotted at Leona Lewis’ Album Celebration in LA–>Leona Lewis, Eve, Ciara & Justin Timberlake

Spotted abroad–>Rihanna, Mariah & Nick, and Beyonce

Spotted around Cali and NYC–>Bobby Brown and fam, Halle Berry, Ciara, Gabourey Sidibe, Cassie, Halle, Tyra, and LL Cool J

7 things to learn from these stylish chicks.

Looking for something to wear.

Its been said once and it will be said again. Choose the perfect LBD and you’ll be set for those moments when stumped.

When you’re not sure what to wear, but need to make an impact, your best friend is the LBD. Find one, and never be worried again.

Ciara, Amber Rose, Rihanna and Cassie show us how to do it.

What to look for in any LBD. 7 things to learn from these stylish chicks.

1. a LBD is meant to be sexy, don’t be afraid to let loose but choose a dress that fits well and is not too tight. You’ll be thankful when you don’t have to keep sucking in the whole night
2. Show off your key features. If you have great shoulders, wear an asymmetrical dress that accentuates it. Beautiful legs… show it off with a shorter dress. Toned arms…wear something sleeveless.
3. Make sure its comfortable. You want to look good, but you also want to feel good
4. Keep it simple. A LBD is in essence a simple dress. Pick a dress that is plain except for one flare like an accentuated shoulder, a fanciful collar or cut away slits.
5. Look for a style that you can dress up or down. For instance, a long sleeve jersey black dress can be dressy with thigh high boots yet casual with high top sneakers and a hoody.
6. As a staple in your closet, your LBD should be about knee length to allow for a variety of occasions
7. Lastly, choose a classic dress not based on the current trends