I love underwater photography. Everything looks so serene…

Here are my favorites:

Photo by Zena Holloway

I see lights by Elena Kalis

Photo by Elena Kalis

Photo by Elena Kalis

It really reminds me of being younger. You know how when you’re little, you could spend all day in the pool. I did underwater tea parties, underwater gymnastics, I had about 20 different mermaid personas…

It’s so quiet under the water. It feels kind of magical.

Does that make sense?

I went to Brighton for a day at the seaside on Sunday, damn was the weather rough.  As soon as I turned the corner onto the coast road I was pushed back by the wind and literally felt bruised by the rain.  The sea was crazy rough with the highest waves that I have ever seen in the UK.  In fact higher waves than I saw in California this summer.  Pretty intense.

Here’s a taster, obviously other cooler pictures will feature in an obligatory facebook album that shall appear at a later date.

Stand by for a real blog entry tomorrow.

Its a pretty sight in the darkness,
its a face dat is staring at me in the unknown..

in the beauty of this night,
its just the heartbeats that feel pretty..

its the darkness wen it meets the destiny..
its sunshine when it is about a face..

the dew drops… or the blood drops…
they feel the same in the beauty of the darkness..

The sunshine reveals more then what you need..
its never enough though to feel what u want..

the darkness is pretty cos it is the reality
there is a curtain but its not the mask of cruelty..

its a pretty sight in the darkness,
its a face that is staring at me in the unknown..

Are you a roasted duck?

Are you a pork’s leg?

Or are you a steamed chicken?

Although not preventable, glaucoma can be treated if detected early

Glaucoma – often called “the sneak thief of sight” because it can strike without pain or other symptoms – is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans – 91 percent – incorrectly believe glaucoma is preventable, according to the newest survey by the American Optometric Association (AOA). Although glaucoma is not preventable, if diagnosed and treated early, doctors of optometry can help a patient control the disease. Medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss.

Approximately 2.2 million Americans age 40 and older have glaucoma, according to National Glaucoma Research; of these, as many as 120,000 are blind because of the disease. The number of Americans with glaucoma is estimated to increase to 3.3 million by the year 2020, as baby boomers age.

According to the AOA, glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that occur when internal pressure in the eye increases enough to cause damage to the optic nerve, leading to loss of nerve tissue, resulting in vision loss. The AOA’s annual Eye-Q® survey, which identifies attitudes and behaviors of Americans regarding eye care and related issues, showed that a large number of consumers do not know what glaucoma is and how severe the effects of the disease can be. Ninety-five percent of respondents did not know that glaucoma damages the optic nerve, and only 21 percent of respondents were aware that glaucoma causes deterioration of peripheral or side vision.

According to the AOA, there are two types of glaucoma. The most common type, primary open-angle glaucoma, develops gradually and painlessly, usually without symptoms. A rarer type, acute angle-closure glaucoma, occurs rapidly, and its symptoms may include blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, seeing colored rings around lights, and pain or redness in the eyes.

“As glaucoma progresses, a person may notice their side vision gradually failing,” said Kerry Beebe, O.D., Chair of AOA’s Clinical Care Group Executive Committee. “When glaucoma remains untreated, people may miss seeing objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will continue to slowly lose their peripheral vision, and eventually their central vision as well. And vision lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered, so early detection and treatment is paramount.”

Anyone can develop glaucoma. However, some people are at higher risk than others. They include:

• African-Americans over age 40
• Anyone age 60 and older, especially Hispanics
• People with a family history of glaucoma

Since vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, the best way to detect glaucoma is in its early stages by having regular, comprehensive eye exams. A comprehensive exam should include dilating the eyes which allows a doctor to clearly see the retina, optic nerve and vessels in the back of the eye. The exam should also include a test to measure corneal thickness, eye pressure, and a visual field assessment to measure retinal function. African-Americans and Hispanics are genetically more susceptible to glaucoma. Yet, 37 percent of African-Americans and Hispanics did not have their eyes dilated during their last eye exam, according to the American Eye-Q® survey. The AOA recommends eye exams every two years for adults under age 60 and every year thereafter. A doctor may recommend more frequent exams depending upon a patient’s medical or family history.

Treatment for glaucoma includes prescription eye drops and medicines to lower pressure in the eyes. In some cases, laser treatment or surgery may be effective in reducing pressure.  ~ American Optometric Association ~

For questions, or to schedule a comprehensive eye exam, contact:
Premier Eyecare of Edmond, Julie Moore, O.D., #405.513.8150

20/20 vision – clarity, acuteness or clearness of vision depends on the sharpness of the focus and the sensitivity of the interpretative faculty (from Wikipedia).

The abundance of information on the Internet can easily be overwhelming.

How do you sort out what is relevant from what is, frankly, a waste of time.

This programme works on both levels. It has the focus and clarity to demystify complex topics around internet marketing and wealth creation and management. It also develops your skills to discern the value of information you receive from the many other sources in daily life.

To start to gain that clarity for yourself just click here and enter your contact details and we’ll lead you to the next level.

Before we got comfortable with quaint lil cafe, we had neighbourhood kopitiam to tide our coffee cravings.

Before we got high fashion glossy magazines, we had paper magazine.

Before we exposed our body to minimal clothing’s, the intricacy and detailed patterns of a kebaya, beautify a lil nyoya.

Will have a great time.

Owl City – Hello Seattle

From the various ideas that I’ve had about this problem, one thing keeps coming into my head, based on the idea I had earlier that looked at the idea of sound in the retail environment.

Speaking to the various different stakeholders I’ve met, and also looking at other research material online, one of the biggest deterrents amongst shoplifters appears to be based around the presence of staff. Equally, staff feel most comfortable about loss prevention when their high-risk items are within sight. This allows them to see when people are interacting with them – regardless of whether this is in a criminal manner, or a legitimate one. For a legitimate customer, the presence of staff is ultimately useful in their shopping experience (as long as the interaction does not stray into a cack-handed instance of a store detective following them).

So how can I make the most of this?

Having a think about the sensory interactions that a store employee may use to become aware of a shoplifter – or suspicious behaviour in general – it’s clear that there are two main senses involved in the process. Excluding taste and smell (unless someone is willing to counter that store detectives can actually smell the fear of a potential criminal), touch relies too much on the close proximity of a shoplifter – something that is very much avoided by thieves. Realistically, sight and hearing are what retail staff rely on the most, and increasing the range and ability of these senses should ultimately improve their perception of what’s happening on the shop floor. (Click the image to enlarge)

So with these two senses as the primary methods of increasing awareness amongst staff, what is their role in aiding loss prevention?

Predictably, previous methods of preventing theft in retail environments have focused on both these areas before. In relation to hearing, EAS systems utilise loud alarms to alert staff to the theft of items from the store, while CCTV systems augment the visual perception of the staff, allowing the recording of theft, and ultimately allowing the identification of individuals who are stealing from the store. However, the reality of both these systems is a costly one. Both require staffing to allow them to function at their best (CCTV requires monitoring to ensure criminals are caught in the act, whilst EAS needs security staff to catch those leaving without paying). In both instances, staffing is the key to their function, and security-specific staffing is not preferable amongst small businesses. Additionally, EAS only allows identification of theft upon leaving the store, which is too late to prevent it happening.

The point of all this? Well, it’s clear that the solutions that exist in this area, at present, offer partial coverage utilising relatively high-tech equipment. Given my aim of low cost, low tech solutions for small business who cannot justify these methods, it seems clear that there is the opportunity to alert staff to potential loss without relying on electronics. How can I stimulate sight and hearing in a manner that fits with my brief?

Holiday’s…. mere mention of the word leaves a smile on the face and a sparkle in the eyes. All of us want to go away for a while from our routine mundane demanding lives. We want to spend some quality time with our loved ones, ourselves and above all with nature. But the million-dollar question is where to holiday?

Let me take you to a new holiday destination, which I am sure you have not visited yet. Elba island is an Italian island located in the Tuscan Archipelago. Sun, sea, beaches and a memorable holiday trip are guaranteed here. The island that is situated about 10km from the mainland can be accessed by a ferry, taking about an hour’s time. Elba is an island that welcomes you with a warm smile that’s all embracing…the vast seas, the beautiful beaches, and the green countryside all welcome you to the island. Elba Island is sure to thrill you with its natural beautiful landscapes and tourist spots. The climate here is typical as like of most marine climates. You can look forward to a mild weather here even during the winter season. Rains here are very scarce.

Rocky coastlines, cliffs, sandy beaches, beaches with pebble stones, sunny windy shorelines, and green pastures of land are all going to give you a beautiful sight that you are bound to remember for ages. The beaches of Elba are many and each one is unique in itself. On one hand you may see long golden beaches, on the other you may come across a beautiful beach of black sand. Beaches with tiny stones, those with white pebbles are a rare sight that is common here on Elba Island. Cliffs of smooth granite rocks, crystal clear seas, luxurious hilltops with fragrant sweet smelling flowers, woods with trees that have stood for ages, small villages by the sea or on the ridges, all make a spectacular sight.

Apart from its natural bewitching beauty Elba is a paradise for all those who enjoy and love nature sports. The island of Elba offers a variety of memories for the tourists. Trekking, mountain biking, squab diving, windsurfing, sailing, fishing, Para-gliding, golf are some of the adventure sports you can look forward to.

The holiday to Elba islands would be incomplete without getting a taste of their cuisine. The flavors of the cuisines here are exotic. You can get a good catch here that smells and tastes good too…I meant the fish it’s excellent and worth trying. And to give you a little high the island offers an array of fine wines red, white and sweet dessert wines are a must have.

Shopping can be a wonderful activity when one is relaxed and has leisure time. A holiday without some local shopping is not complete. Elba Island has a lot to offer on this front too. You can find typical Elba hand made products that will make for interesting souvenir. Mineral shops, shops selling antiques, boutiques, souvenir stalls will all help you find that special thing that you would want to take back home from Elba island.

I am sure that the visit to Elba Island will make a memorable trip. It will charge you up for the hectic schedule that will step in once you return from the holiday. Take that much needed holiday now you know where to go. Visit Elba and do remember me when there. Enjoy the holiday. See ya.

Which of your five senses (touch, taste, sight, hearing, or smell) do you value the most?

Crushed with a mere sight
Destroyer of human souls
Youngest girl in town

If you remember this,

I have been loving this song since I first heard it MONTHS ago.

and the video is finally here!

It’s safe to say…Toni Braxton is back…and I love it!!

{oh and check out Brooke Hogan playing the skank other woman}

Empty – vacant; unoccupied

Empty-containing nothing; having none of the usual or appropriate contents

Empty-destitute of some quality or qualities; devoid

Are you or are you not empty?

Finally!  I got ahold of my camera cord so I can share some photos from my trip to Mexico.

I was in Punta Mita for four days on a press trip for the magazine. I had never been to Mexico before (I know, so embarrassing for a California girl) so this was really a first for me.

It was absolutely amazing. Nothing can beat waking up to the view of perfect, sky blue water and bleach white sand.

Here’s a glimpse into my little business trip, in 10 of my favorite photos:

From the left: The beach at the Four Seasons, and my favorite breakfast on the balcony of my room

The view from the cliff at the Four Seasons where we had cocktails, Dinner on the beach with sample menu from Ketsi by Richard Sandoval

Private residence in Porta Fortuna, dessert from our Ketsi beach dinner

A cove at the Marietta Islands where I went snorkeling, the view from one of the hot tubs at the St. Regis

The view from the St. Regis lobby, the bathtub from heaven in my suite at the St. Regis

This trip left me feeling truly rejuvenated.

I like how people have such a different perspective on life in Mexico than in the US. A lot of people I talked to said that when you move there, you get on “Mexican Time.” It’s about savoring the moment. It was so refreshing–I need to start doing that more.

The rain as cold as winter.

The rain makes the street glistens.

I love the rain. Don’t you?

Did you know Vanessa means butterfly in Greek? It’s one of my favorite things about my name.

Needless to say, I was kind of butterfly obsessed when I was younger.

The obsession still exists, but I like to think it’s more refined.

I knew a girl in middle school who was terrified of butterflies. I always thought that was so sad–I think it’s hard not to appreciate their simple yet complex beauty.

Clockwise from top left: Butterfly painting by Osso, Photo by Irene Suchocki Photography, Interiors shot from Decor8, Photo by Julcha on Flickr

I’ve been very into all things French lately. I’ve even been considering whipping out my beret.

I’m not totally sure why, it might be because of the book I’ve been reading (The Elegance of the Hedgehog. I highly recommend), which is set in Paris.

Or the fact that I’m going to Paris in TWO MONTHS!

Here are some French things I like:

Via parisdailyphoto.com

Isn't this cute? via Oh Joy!

La Tour Eiffel stationary set, from petiteparis.net

Paris Je T'Aime Japanese poster, via www.lolita.se

Paper dolls from Zoe de Las Cases via petiteparis.net

I just feel like Paris is everything  that is thoughtful, detailed, elegant, and softly feminine.

It’s weird right? People collapsing to the ground all over the place? To the point where you almost have to pile them on top of each other because you’re running out of room up front to lie them down?

That was what life was like last night. We had Mahesh Chavda come to speak at Hillsdale college yesterday. Quite a funny guy! He tells lots of random stories and has a great time and then prays for people. And he also gets quite a few words of knowledge.

In fact, he had all the people who couldn’t read books without glasses stand up, put their hands on their eyes as he prayed, and then take them off and see if anything was different. One man proved it was by coming up and reading right out of a tiny print Bible, something he couldn’t have done twenty minutes ago!

Other people stood for back pains and then people who wanted prayer came down to the front, for the most part getting slain in the Spirit and collapsing to the ground. My job was to catch people on their way down so they didn’t hit the floor. And sometimes it would take more than one of us to catch them.

My first two catches didn’t go very well… I actually kind of dropped them a bit. For those of you who are novice catchers such as myself, people crumble straight down for the most part, not backwards like I expected. So you gotta try to catch them the right way! If somehow the first two people I went to catch read this, I’m sorry! Didn’t mean to drop you!

At one point Mahesh said that he felt the glory in the room had gotten stronger so he lined up the next people, touched them on the head and prayed for them really quick and many of them went down. Not all of them, but probably most of them.

I was one of the ones who didn’t get knocked out. But Mahesh prayed for me really quick, then blew on me (which I suppose is some kind of impartation of the Spirit kind of deal) and I started falling backwards and then realized that I wasn’t actually going down. So I went back to catching. But one these days I shall be slain!

Hey folks,

A great friend of mine, Christine(1/2 of LunchboxTheory) has been working really hard over at  National Geographic to get the word out to the masses about this amazing event called Distant Relatives at National Geographic. It’s going to be NAS+DAMIAN MARLEY.in.one.room. (and there’s several other Hip/Hop greats in the building too! like Kool Herc, Rakim, Daddy U-Roy, King Jammy, Jeff Chang, Moussa Lo and DJ Red Alert). A HIP HOP and REGGAE panel discussion…AND THEN an AFTERPARTY (there will be an OPEN MIC at the party…so all local artists should definitely make sure to come and you know the greats themselves will PERFORM! so you know you don’t want to miss that!). Event is on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12th, 2009. Tickets became available Tuesday after midnight. And you are probably wondering…how much? and What does a ticket give me access to, right? Tickets are $25.BUT  JUST WAIT, that INCLUDES not only seating at the panel discussion but also covers your admission into the afterparty later that night.So you know, soon as I heard about this event, I wasted no time to purchase my ticket yesterday at work.Yes it’s that serious. Tickets are limited too! So you better hurry up and get yours!

Here’s the Press Release below if you want detailed information on the whole project and the all the people behind it:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE TO PRESENT RECORDING ARTISTS NAS AND DAMIAN ‘JR. GONG’ MARLEY FOR SPECIAL PROGRAM

‘Distant Relatives’ Event Dec. 12 Will Feature Hip-Hop and Reggae Legends In Conversation Moderated by MTV VJ Sway, Made Possible by VTech

WASHINGTON (Nov. 18, 2009)—National Geographic Live will conclude its fall event series with a one-of-a-kind evening with some of hip-hop’s most legendary figures. “Distant Relatives,” sponsored by VTech, will feature hip-hop icon Nas and Grammy-winning artist Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, son of Bob Marley, in a discussion about the often under-appreciated evolution of and deep-rooted connections between reggae and hip-hop.

Joining them for this conversation, moderated by MTV VJ Sway, will be key players in the development of both musical genres, including Kool Herc, Rakim, Daddy U-Roy, King Jammy, Jeff Chang, Pat McKay, Waterflow and DJ Red Alert.

The event will take place at National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at www.nglive.org, via telephone at (202) 857-7700, or in person at the National Geographic ticket office between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Tickets purchased online can be picked up in the lobby prior to the event.

Hip-hop, now a multibillion-dollar industry, originated as a vital form of cultural expression in Africa that was translocated by the slave trade to the Caribbean and the American colonies. It blossomed a half century ago in the dance halls of Kingston, Jamaica, and soon migrated to the parks jams and recreational centers of New York City, where the culture became known as hip-hop.

This evolution forms the basis of the “Distant Relatives” music project, a collaborative effort by Marley and Nas, which will comprise an album set for release in early 2010, a documentary film, performances and a series of public discussions, the first of which is this event hosted by National Geographic.

An open-mic party will be hosted at popular Washington nightclub Zanzibar following the event. National Geographic ticket holders will receive free admission with proof of purchase. For more information on the Zanzibar event, visit www.zanzibar-otw.com.

This event also will be streamed live and broadcast online at www.natgeomusic.net.

About National Geographic Live
National Geographic Live is the performing arts division of the National Geographic Society, featuring live concerts, films and dynamic presentations by today’s leading explorers, scientists, filmmakers and photographers, covering a wide range of topics, including exploration and adventure; wildlife and habitat conservation; natural phenomena; world cultures and ancient history; and relevant issues such as climate change and sustainability. Proceeds from speaker series help fund future National Geographic initiatives in field research, exploration and education. For more information, visit www.nglive.org.

About Nat Geo Music
Nat Geo Music, a division of National Geographic Entertainment, was established in 2007 to inspire people to care about the planet through the power of music. Content developed by Nat Geo Music is utilized across all National Geographic platforms, including online media, radio, print media, film and television. The Nat Geo Music label, launched in January 2009, records, releases and promotes modern music from around the globe from a variety of artists and genres. The Nat Geo Music Channel programs music from every corner of the planet and showcases global legends, local stars and up-and-coming artists. For more information, visit www.natgeomusic.net.

About VTech
VTech is one of the world’s largest suppliers of corded and cordless telephones and a leading supplier of electronic learning products. It also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services. Founded in 1976, the Group’s mission is to be the most cost-effective designer and manufacturer of innovative, high-quality consumer electronics products and to distribute them to markets worldwide in the most efficient manner. For further information on VTech’s blogs and its array of products, please visit www.vtechphones.com.

About “Distant Relatives”
“Distant Relatives” is an album created by two great artists to explore and celebrate the correlations and deep-rooted connections between reggae and hip-hop, tracing both sounds back to the African motherland that is both the cradle of humanity and the wellspring of mankind’s music. Unlike all previous collaborations between Jamaican and American artists, “Distant Relatives” is neither a remix nor a featured guest spot on a single track but a fully collaborative effort filling an entire album, opening new avenues of musical expression. Who better to fulfill this long-overdue mission? The youngest son of the legendary Bob Marley, and a hip-hop icon since 1991: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Nas, whose success as a duo was proved in 2006 with the double-Grammy-Award-winning “Road to Zion.”
###
Contacts:
Stephanie Montgomery
National Geographic
202-857-5838
smontgom@ngs.org

Carleen Donovan
Press Here Publicity
212-246-2640
carleen@pressherepublicity.com

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I really hope to see you all there! Don’t wait too long to purchase your tickets! This is one event you will not want to miss out on!

-Selamawit

Now THIS is a PERFECT example of how an already great song is made BETTER by the music video!

Oh MY.

I LOVE IT

and is it just me, or does she kind of look like Kelly Clarkson (at times)?

Check It!

Patties goes with greens.

Wheat goes with happiness.

Blues goes with what everyone of us is facing, every other now and then.