Everyday somebody thinks I'm Beyonce!

Any avid reality TV addict can’t help notice that each season of our beloved weekly indulgence features a few new words or phrases that we dare repeat in our own conversations.  Throughout the dramatic fights, break-ups, throw downs, and verbal lashings, these ladies (and a few men) are notorious for their outlandish vernacular.

Some of my favorite reality starlets include the ladies of Real Housewives of Atlanta, Basketball Wives (LA and Miami), Bad Girls Club, Love & Hip Hop (New York and ATL), Mob Wives, and Braxton Family Values.

In the wise words of the witty Tamar Braxton, this is your guide to reality slang.com! Get your life.

Season 3 of Love & Hip Hop New York revealed the trials and tribulations of love in the hip hop music industry.  Actress/Model/Singer Erica Mena can be noted for repeating “feel a certain type of way” in her tumultuous relationship with Manager Rich Dollaz.  Translation: You had some sort of emotional feeling in direct relation to something I’ve said or done. Although… I may not know what that is so I use this vague sentence.

For those of you who tuned into Basketball Wives Miami and can recall the heated dish-throwing argument between firecracker Evelyn Lozada and her bf turned nemesis Jennifer Williams then you remember Lozada’s epic slogan “you ain't about that life”.  Translation: You’re all talk and you pretend to be someone you’re not.  And my other favorite from miss Lozada is the infamous “you’re a non mother-f***ing factor b****”, which came after she reluctantly divulged to fellow cast mate Tami Roman that she had previously slept with her ex-husband.  Translation: You really don’t matter or didn’t matter at the relevant time you are upset about. 

It seems the ladies of Basketball Season 2 were all about one thing.  Getting “turnt up”.  Translation: Having a real good time.  Actually the best time, probably inebriated.  But don’t call any of these women “ratchet” because they might get turnt up in a bad way.  Translation: Many people use this word differently but in this case let’s just say this adjective describes someone who doesn’t know how to act, cannot get their fashion right, or will do and say the most inappropriate things at the worst times. 

One stunning woman who would never consider herself ratchet is Kenya Moore of the latest season of Real Housewives of Atlanta.  This former Miss USA really knows how to win her battles with her distinguished twirl and famous line “Gone with the wind fabulous”.  Translation: I am THE most fabulous person without having to try.  I am timeless, and pretty much amazing.  Can’t nobody hold me down (especially not if you’re Porsha Stewart).

And last but not least are the feisty Mob Wives of Staten Island.  The women of Mob Wives are certainly not a bunch to be messed with- that is unless they are fighting with one another.  Ticking time bomb Renee Graziano, fearless Karen Gravano, and the “sweet until you piss her off” Carla Focciolo can all be quoted threatening “you don’t want to go to war with me”.  Translation: You don’t want to start a verbal or physical battle with me because I will ruin you. 

There you have it!  The quick guide to understanding the women we can’t help but watch tear each other to shreds each year. 

Bow Wow in England?

Shad Moss, 24, also known as rapper Bow Wow of Cash Money Records made an appearance in Kingston nightclub, Oceana last Tuesday evening.  Apparently he is making random appearances in London venues, I'm assuming, to promote his upcoming and highly anticipated album "Underrated".  It's been a long time since we've heard from Bow Weezy but can expect to hear new tracks featuring many other artists in the Cash Money family including my favorite lady in the game Nicki Minaj in addition to the Biebs, Chris Brown, Meek Mill, Talib Kweli, and Boyz II Men- just a few to name.

Unfortunately for those who attended the performance at Oceana, we didn't get to hear much of anything new from Bow Wow and instead heard some of his older songs dating back to 2007.  The rapper kept his faithful fans waiting for hours until around 1:30ish am when he decided to grace the small stage space complete with his hype men, DJ, and a random woman who held his coat.

I for one was not impressed and waiting hours in 3 inch stilettos was my first fail of the night.  I forgot that celebrities don't really have any concept of time or consideration when making appearances.  Though my disinterest with Bow Wow seemed extremely apparent, it didn't seem to bother the heaps of female fans who pushed their way to the front in hopes of touching his hand or letting him pour Moet champagne all over their face in attempt to aim for their mouths.

So Bow Wow, I applaud you for coming to Kingston but next time, come with some new material.

Confessions of a uni student

University students are known to get in a bit of trouble here and there but this one student seems to come back with the craziest stories and this is one of them...

The night started with heavy drinking and the possibility of drug consumption before entering Fabric, one of London's popular nightclubs, for a group of young men. This group of young university students is quite an eclectic bunch: mix a hyperactive kamikaze, a lightweight, a fearless/impulsive rule-bender, + two individuals who spend a lot of time with Mary Jane and you can start to see the scene.

The story is told by the hyperactive kamikaze, let's call him "H" for confidentiality purposes.

His mission started Friday: "I was so drunk, I didn't really know what was going on." (Great way to start a story) After the boys left their flat they boarded a Southwest train heading to Waterloo Station and on the way ran into a "raving lunatic of a girl" who persisted to pester H when he came to realise that one member of his wolf pack had a bleeding face after trying to drink vodka out of a plastic bag full of glass.

The train went further and the night began to unfold. The group was one man down after someone got sick and after they reached their destination they lost another. Three were left and only three made it into Fabric, leaving me with the image of sweaty swaying people, strobe lights, dubstep, and acid.

After the club H decided to head back to Oxford to see his mum:

(sometime in the early am)
"I went to the coach station where I missed the coach back to Oxford. I had to sit there in the cold for an hour, luckily a guy called Chris with brilliantly coloured ginger hair turned up looking to get on the bus, he was from Detroit. We exchanged stories about stupid nights we had out, real nice guy. We both got on the coach when it came, slept back to Oxford, said 'farewell' to Chris and headed home.

When I got home I went upstairs to wake my mum but she wasn't home so I thought I'd go to bed. The next day I went to see my cousin. We kicked it at his house with his house mates for a while.  We were watching the football and he won a few bets on the African Nations cup. For a while we sat there thinking of something cool we could buy but couldn't think of anything.

A Russian girl who was at his house suggested we go on a road trip! My cousin automatically said Amsterdam! I was automatically game because that place is awesome. Only problem was my passport was back in Kingston.

We made a few calls and no one could give us a lift, we made a plan to go up to London in the morning and then go to Luton Airport. We both were getting ready to go to sleep when my cousin got a phone call from his friend who said he could take us.

We both sprang up and jumped in the car, about half way through the journey we were coming off the m40 onto the m4 going roughly 70mph and the car started to power slide- it was an unusual feeling-the car was sideways and still traveling!

We thought the car would flip for sure! And if it flipped we would have been dead. Luckily we hit a road barrier which popped the front two tyres making a horrific noise, then the headlights popped and a burst of yellow light covered the front windscreen. The air bags went off filling the car with smoke. My cousin and the driver jumped out of the car, I tried, but the seat was stuck.

I was thinking 'if this car blows up I'm SCREWED'. We yanked the seat out of place and ran up the road. We used the sos phone to call for help and because we were on a slip road the cars were shooting by.  I stood in the middle of the road dodging traffic, waving my hands to try make them slow down. None of the street lamps were working and I had nothing on but black so I nearly got hit a few times.

Two lorries were coming down the road they saw our car and tried to drive around.  The Tesco lorry was going a little too fast, hit our car and stopped- the other lorry stopped just to make sure there was no damage. After 30 seconds a BMW came shooting around the corner, I jumped into the road trying to slow it down and the driver looked at me like 'what a chump'. He then saw the collision. He drove to the right then swerved to the left, hit the Tesco lorry, bounced off it, crashed into our demolished car and then deflected back off onto the Tesco lorry.

He had driven directly into the gas tank of the lorry which contained 250L of petrol. By the grace of god he didn't split it he only dented it quite badly. The drivers got out and ran. I was in shock and couldn't stop laughing.  The driver of our car was organising someone to pick up our write off and my cousin had double vision. The highway patrol came and secured the situation and re-opened the road.

When the salvage truck came he asked who was in our car, we said we were and he replied 'really?' We were puzzled and asked why, he said 'there's nothing wrong with you, you should be massively injured or even dead'.  He then told us he could only drop us off at Heathrow so we had to negotiate a deal.

He took us Kingston where we signed off the car and went back to Halls. We all went inside and put on more clothes and I got my passport, trained back to Oxford and headed to Luton Airport with no sleep.

We completely brushed the whole situation like it didn't happen, we didn't tell anyone anything. We jumped on the plane to Amsterdam where we persisted to chill in baller hotels and smoke up in coffee shops.

Moral of the story: Have fun, but wear a seatbelt."

Back from a long hiatus...

Today I am re-entering the blogosphere after an almost 2-year hiatus from my beloved platform of expression. Since I graduated from the University of San Francisco in 2010 I have enrolled in a Journalism Master's programme in London and have been taking rigorous courses for the past 5 months, training me for the real working world! In the mean time, I will be posting on "The View" more frequently about my own experiences, relevant news, features stories, short stories and special interest topics that inspire me! Please feel free to comment or make any suggestions as for topics you would like to see on my blog. I am currently working on a few pieces right now so stay tuned :) If you would like to see some of my previous work check out www.KingstonCourier.co.uk, it is a student-run local news site of which I am a former Editor of the Lifestyle section. I contribute to this news platform frequently, keep up with us on Twitter too @courierkingston. That's all for now. Thanks for reading!

Edo Hair Salon and Art Gallery

There is one art that is extremely overlooked. It requires precision, an eye for perfection, and even demands a license for professional practice. To be a hair colorist takes patience, strategy, and skill to satisfy every customer who requests specific colors be added to alter their natural hair color. Because hair is a very personal attribute and people take pride in their appearance, it is important that a good hair colorist have impeccable judgment. Hair services in San Francisco are not cheap, so when I decided to look for a hair colorist, I wanted the best. Her name is Marissa Estrella and she is a senior stylist at Edo hair salon located on lower Haight street. Edo was rated “best salon” in 2009 by the Bay Guardian, and the staff certainly live up to their expectations.
Located on the corner of Haight street at Steiner, this quaint salon sits situated between local residences and the fine dining of lower Haight. With a small pink banner that reads “Edo Hair Salon and Art Gallery,” it is easy to overlook the second part of the title. Yes, a hair salon that doubles as an art gallery. Instantly intrigued, I called to schedule my appointment, prepared to shovel out over $100 for a partial highlight. Stephanie who answers the phones was not the most enthusiastic person to schedule a hair appointment with- it was as if my business was not needed. However, upon arrival I was greeted by a very nice front desk staff and offered water or wine while I waited. This is when I decided to check out the art. Currently featured at Edo is the work of Catto Vanessa Houghton, a Canadian born artist who just recently moved to the Bay Area. Her showcased portraits called “Falling Together” resemble pop-art with a more realistic flare. One portrait features a close-up of an African American male with dread locks. The picture looks like a real portrait, capturing the man’s distinct features and incorporating intricate detail. The photos were a great distraction from the fact that Marissa was running late.
As I sipped my red wine Marissa assessed my hair needs and recommended the best plan of attack: light bleach and brown toner in order to create golden bronze highlights. As someone who comes from a family of hair stylists and colorist I have learned to become extremely picky and exact with my hair. Colorists can put color on top of natural hair, or they can bleach the hair- which is essentially starting from scratch and then decide to add color. This is the most difficult part of creating the perfect color and determining if bleach is appropriate for different hair types. With one hair color in mind, Marissa explained adequately how long she would keep the bleach on, then how she would add brown toner to bring out the caramel and bronze in my hair. If I was not satisfied with my hair color, she explained that I could come back for a retouch.
Edo lives up to its positive reviews with friendly and knowledgeable staff. They have a full line of Bumble & Bumble hair products to compliment their services. After my first visit I even received a $10 off coupon as a new customer for my next visit. I am more than content with the result of Marissa’s expertise and would recommend Edo to anyone who needs a great stylist. The cost of my trip: $130, my experience: great, my hair color: amazing. Not only are the services great, there is always an art showcase that changes monthly on display.

My rating: ****1/2

The Urban Unseen- Art Exhibit

Attracting tourists and future homeowners, tightly packed together apartment buildings and Victorian style homes are a trademark of San Francisco. On almost every block of the city, every lot is somehow connected. Are these just closely built homes, or architectural masterpieces? Tanu Sankalia, Architecture professor at the University of San Francisco, examines the overlooked complexities of San Francisco Victorian homes in his art exhibit “The Urban Unseen.” The art exhibit, located in Thacher Gallery on the University of San Francisco campus, explores the spaces between homes and the way they are connected.
Sankalia’s vision was to draw attention to and analyze more than just the façade, but the multiple dimensions of the houses near the university’s campus. Some of these Victorian residential houses on Turk Street were built in the mid to late 1800’s, embodying the style of English architecture during the rule of Queen Victoria. They were also built on top of bedrock so they were able to survive the San Francisco earthquake and fire. During a walking tour, Sankalia explains that he wanted to tell the story of San Francisco in a different way. He asked “How do you look at things that are unseen?” and hoped to convey his conclusions through his exhibit.
Sankalia obtained his undergraduate degree in Architecture in India before he moved to the U.S. to continue his studies at UC Berkeley. He has taught in India and has been a professor at the University of San Francisco, which funded his exhibit, for four years. He is extremely passionate and equally knowledgeable about his project.
The actual exhibit encompasses his findings through various art forms. There are wax sculptures, detailed drawings, video, and photographs of the different spaces that exist between lots. Some homes are connected by a wall, which Sankalia describes as row houses, when two houses share a wall and there is little to no space between them. Other homes are connected by a gate, and some are connected by a wall that begins further back than the first dimension of the house. These are the complexities that the average passerby may never notice which makes this exhibit original and unique. He notes that facades are highlighted during the day, drawing attention away from other dimensions of space. However, as night approaches the visibility of intricate details of Victorian architecture and space becomes apparent.
Sankalia explains that there were four main elements to understanding and expressing his vision. He believes these elements to be observation, mapping, documentation, and interpretation. He began his project observing the streets, spaces, and homes and then mapped his exact focus. Next he used various mediums to document the spaces and created ways in which others could interpret them. He worked along with four other artists to convey these images. Catherine Chang was another architect involved, as well as Pedro Churion who used film to interpret the spaces, and students also participated in creating the art exhibit.
The exhibit is creative, interactive, and most certainly something I’ve never seen before. However, the reason why it may have been so effective is that the concept goes beyond the exhibit. After leaving the art showcase, Sankalia’s idea can be found all over San Francisco. He was able to take a part of a city that unites everyone who lives in a home that is somehow connected to another. Since speaking with the artist and reviewing the showcase, I am constantly aware of the spaces that connect Victorian houses and even my own apartment building. Well done Sankalia, well done.

My Rating: *****/*****

Learn to Be Latina

Learn to Be Latina
Impact Theatre
La Val's Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley
Ticket cost: $12-20
Show runs to March 27, 2010
Running time is two hours and 10 minutes

Sitting in a small basement full of cobwebs beneath a pizza place where UC Berkeley students gather to shoot pool, do homework, and drink beer you would never expect to see a phenomenally written and directed play. Up and coming playwright Enrique Urueta did not have a wide variety of venue choices for his play Learn to Be Latina, but the talented cast made the intimate setting work.
Learn to Be Latina is a contemporary comedy that addresses issues of race, sexuality, and identity that seeks to offend and entertain at the same time. 22-year-old aspiring singer Hanan Mashulani, played by Carlye Pollack, brings her demo to a record label where she is told that she will not be marketable because she is Lebanese Will, Bill, and Jill, the label consultants, are vetoed by some kind of “ethnic advisor” Mary O’Malley. Mary O’Malley shines throughout the entire play with her blunt humor, awful Irish accent, Spanglish, and a Cuban hand puppet named Casatina. Mary decides that Hanan should be marketed as a Latina, completely ignoring her Lebanese roots, due to a personal vendetta we later learn of.
Mary points out that Latina artists Selma Hyek and Shakira are both of Lebanese descent yet their Middle Eastern heritage is never highlighted in the media. The music executives make terrorist references to Hanan’s ethnicity and take cover when she picks up her bag. Their comments are extremely racist but the audience cannot help but laugh at their ridiculous assumptions. Urueta calls attention to the tumultuous careers of Middle Eastern ethnic pop stars Tiffany and Paula Abdul, establishing a need to change the ethnicity of Hanan. After a “Latina boot camp” Hañan emerges as a international superstar who speaks little Spanish and takes on a Colombian heritage, that she later confuses with Cuban. She struggles with her identity throughout the play and her sexuality as well when she falls for “Office Bitch,” a.k.a the Chicana office secretary.
No minority group is exempt from Urueta’s humor. He pokes fun at Mexicans, black people, lesbians, gays, Latinos, women, and he even makes fun of white people calling them the “race-less” group. The characters use racial slurs, “politically incorrect” words, they cuss, perform sexual acts, do and say anything and everything to make us feel uncomfortable. As a resident of San Francisco and a product of pop culture, I was not offended. However, perhaps a more conservative, older audience would not have been a fan of Learn to Be Latina.
The small basement theater allowed for a relaxed setting where most of the audience enjoyed pizza, beer, and wine from La Val’s Subterranean (the pizza place above). The lighting was appropriate for the small space that was allotted for the stage, and the sound was just right. The costumes looked as though they were thought out, but perhaps needed to be a bit more flashy for Hañan’s role as a superstar. I enjoyed all two hours and 10 minutes of the up-beat, in-your-face dialogue, multiple dance performances, pop culture references, crude comments, and high energy performance. Overall, I think Urueta’s play was fantastically written and well thought out. His professional partner, Director Mary Guzmán did an equally amazing job at directing the actors and helped put Urueta’s words into action. Together, the two nailed it.
My Rating: ****

Rating:
* (Yawn)
** Still listening
*** Great acting and solid plot
**** Amazing acting, great storyline, and no one’s sleeping.

Alice in Wonderland, quite a dissapointment

Thank goodness for 3D graphics because they were just about the only thing that saved Tim Burton’s 2010 take on Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps established actors Johnny Depp (the Mad Hatter), Helena Bonham Carter (the Red Queen), Anne Hathaway (the White Queen) and Burton’s reputation as a director are the reason this film had so much hype and publicity. With strange sexual undertones, unexplained circumstances, and frightening looking creatures, I would not suggest taking the kids. As an fan of the old Disney movie Alice in Wonderland, my longing for childhood nostalgia was crushed with this slow and anticlimactic storyline.
From the first scene we see young Alice as a girl who suffers from bad dreams often and then we abruptly fast forward to her life as a 19-year-old rebellious girl on the way to her engagement proposal. As an audience we are not quite sure what occurred in those passing years but we are to assume that Alice once visited what she calls “Wonderland” and has now forgotten all about it.
The beginning of the film sets up for what seems like might be a nineteenth century film about arranged marriages. Alice, who has about a 2.5 second attention span, fails to pay attention to the fact that she has just been proposed to and instead chases a rabbit that, surprise, goes down a rabbit hole. Following the rabbit she enters what is called “Wonderland” or what looks like a place drug addicts might go after their first hit. This is a land where you can drink a potion to make you smaller, eat a small cake that magically makes you grow taller, animals can speak, and humans take on strangely enlarged facial features.
Alice encounters a number of creatures that she befriends who are convinced that she is not the same Alice that visited this land once before. She meets the wise caterpillar who smokes out of a hookah until he cocoons, a magical healing cat, and the most intriguing character, the Mad Hatter who looks like a clown on methamphetamine. A quirky, hat-making, Mad Hatter played by Johnny Depp takes on the role of Alice’s “watcher,” yet it seems as though the two may have a connection deeper than friendship, perhaps a romance.
Alice also has an interaction with the King where he expresses his lust for her by pushing her up against a wall. Throughout the entire movie she is constantly consuming potions that alter her size and her clothing disappears as she grows taller or smaller. Her lack of clothing and risqué attire distract audiences from the once innocently portrayed Disney Alice and turns her into a bit of a sex symbol. She is even charged for unlawful seduction and brought before the Red Queen who delivers her famous line “Off with her head!” Explaining the reason for Alice’s beheading may not be inappropriate for the young ones since the PG rating allows anyone to view the film.
Alice in Wonderland is drawn out over an hour and forty minutes of film that attempts to keep audiences suspenseful for a climactic ending in which Alice must slay a large evil creature. However the ending is the opposite. It is quite slow and Alice eventually returns from Stonerland, crawling out of the rabbit hole and arriving at her engagement proposal party. The amount of time that has elapsed is unexplained and viewers are unsure what the party guests have been doing all this time that Alice has been missing. Despite all of her adventures, Alice’s character does not go through much of a transformation. In fact, she seems to be the same Alice that the film opened with. Was she dreaming, did she really go to Wonderland, or did she do some serious drugs?

Rating:
* Not a great film
** Somewhat entertaining
*** It was good, but I wouldn’t see again.
**** Mind stimulating and entertaining throughout
***** Film genius

My rating:
** 1/2

Boycott Forever 21?

Documentary film Made in L.A. (2007) reveals an uncomfortable truth about the sweatshop industry in Los Angeles, capturing the lives of three Latina immigrants whose fight brings justice to the garment workers producing clothing for major retailer Forever 21. The film gives viewers an intimate look into the lives of Lupe Hernandez, Maria Pineda, and Maura Colorado letting us also celebrate their victorious win after a three-year-long boycott of the garment industry and pending lawsuit against Forever 21.
Unlike the many documentaries produced each year, Director and Producer Almudena Carracedo was able to convey a very clear message about human rights, rather than impose an opinion on an uniformed audience. It is apparent that these women, along with many other illegal immigrants, have been exploited and taken advantage of by garment industries that pay them far less than minimum wage and degrade their dignity as humans.
The fact that the documentary is almost entirely in Spanish further aids the understanding of where these women have come from and who they are. Subtitles are provided, however, as the documentary progresses you find that you have stopped reading them so carefully and focused more on the emotions these women feel.
The camera predominantly films the characters from a medium-long shot which seems like their lives and experiences unfold right before our eyes in a non-invasive way.
Just by simply taking a look into their lives we see Lupe Hernandez, originally from Mexico City, and Maria Pineda along with Maura Colorado who immigrated from El Salvador, transform from quiet, struggling women into powerful, fearless representatives of a widely oppressed population of exploited people. The courageous act of these women are inspiring for all. As an audience, we respect them completely for fighting and bearing their personal lives as they could easily be deported or blacklisted from future employers.
By learning about their rights from a small Garment Workers Center in Los Angeles, these women along with many others learn that if they stick together and fight for their rights, the system will crumble. However, by boycotting their jobs they are forced to look for other means to survive. We may wonder how these people are providing for themselves and maintain their homes and families. Here, the director fails to address how survival is possible during a boycott.
This documentary is able to convey a very clear message about human rights while showing the daily struggle of these immigrants who live in fear that they cannot provide for their families. They are humans just like legal U.S. citizens who deserve the right to be treated fairly in and outside of work. The cameras follow a particular strike in which the protestors stand outside of a Forever 21, in hopes of persuading others not to shop in the store. One scene in particular stands out when a woman looks at a garment she’s sewn in the window of a Forever 21. The garment sells for at least twenty dollars, when she received nineteen cents to make it.
Though the only commentary from a Forever 21 representative came from an Assistant Manager, holding a McDonalds cup in her hand, admitting that she “had no idea” Forever 21 exploited their workers, the documentary does capture the nature of Forever 21 C.E.O, Don Chang. After a protest at Chang’s home in Beverly Hills, he is filmed getting in a Range Rover and driving away, failing to address or comment on the strike. Shortly after this strike, we learn that he has filed a charge of libel against the protestors and the Center, something many big corporations do to intimidate others out of their lawsuits.
After a strenuous boycott, endless protesting, and lawsuit, the garment workers finally win when Forever 21 settles the case, instituting minimum wage and fair labor regulations for its workers. Hernandez, Pineda, and Colorado are all ecstatic along with the rest of the workers, we too partake in their victory. But, the end is bittersweet as we learn that much of the garment production ceases to exist in Los Angeles and Forever 21 moves their production to third world countries.
This film exposed an awful truth that many of us fail to recognize because the topic is widely absent from the media. Unfortunately, people will still continue to shop at retail stores like Forever 21 who exploit their workers because this issue does not directly affect them. For those who have seen the film, simply remembering one of the women whose life was directly influenced by the garment industry may stop them from shopping there all together.
My rating: ****
Rating Scale:
* Not good
** Interesting
*** A little more fascinating, but so what?
**** Wow, I didn’t know that!
***** Completely informative with views of the other side

“Yea, e-a, e-a, e-a, Dunder Mifflin is a part of Sabre”

If you’re up for a good laugh, then tune into NBC’s “The Office” to watch the hilariously sarcastic cast make a parody of everyday life. With an unconventional office atmosphere that promotes the throwing of scissors, misuse of office equipment, and relaxed relationship between employees and management, “The Office” pokes fun at the typical day job of many Americans. From flirty office relationships, to the routine day in a cubicle, this show covers it all.
Last weeks episode “Sabre” addressed the current economic situation affecting many Americans with a comedic twist. The infamous Dunder Mifflin paper company has been bought by an electronic company called Sabre run by Kathy Bates’s character, due to the fact that most branches are going under. Michael (Steve Carell) finds that his staff are unhappy with the changes that Sabre has brought to Dunder Mifflin.
It all begins with the arrival of a package which Michael anxiously opens, not realizing it is not addressed to him. Along with the help of office workers Pam (Jenna Fischer), Dwight (Rainn Wilson), and assistant manager Jim (John Krasinski) they manage to tape the box back together. Just as Michael is promoting the “great team-work” of his employees, they hear a cell phone ring. It’s in the box. It’s hard to hold back a laugh at the stupidity of a company manager who can’t even complete a simple task.
Upon the arrival of a Sabre representative, two employees of Dunder Mifflin prepare a song to the beat of Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA,” in which they mispronounce Sabre for “Sab-ray,” ruining the overall fluidity of the song when they are corrected half way through. This scene provokes laughter and a bit of sympathy from the audience as we watch them struggle through the rest of the song, making them look incompetent.
Expecting parents Jenna and Jim have more on their mind than the office. In pursuits of finding the perfect day care for their expected child, they encounter an arrogant headmaster. Like most parents who just want the best for their kids, this scene shows the competitive nature of the day care industry. The anticipation of their baby keeps viewers interested in future episodes of “The Office.”
Audiences may wonder, what exactly do they do at Dunder Mifflin? Work seems to be the last thing the employees execute. The television show serves as a relief for the many Americans who work in an office, in retail, or management through the humorous situations employees of Dunder Mifflin encounter, that we too may have experienced. With “reality-type” filming, one-on-one conversations, and character eye contact with the camera, the show almost invites you into their world.
Dunder Mifflin must conform to the new rules of Sabre when company manager Michael realizes there is nothing he can do. Much like the real world today, many companies are bought by larger ones because they cannot financially survive. Employees must adhere to new company policies and regulations. “The Office” recognizes that, so why not address it with comedy? If you can appreciate abrupt scene changes, an unclear plot line, and comedy without fake laugher, then this show might grab a few laughs. The work place situations that leave us stressed, irritated, and exhausted are mocked in this satire that airs every Thursday night on NBC at 9/8 Central.
My Rating: ****
*- Dull/Boring
**-Held my attention
***- Forced a few laughs
****- Easy to follow and funny
*****- Overall comedic genius

Axum Yum Yum- Restaurant Review

If you have an insatiable appetite for Ethiopian food or even a slight curiosity to try it, Axum Cafe will satisfy your taste buds. With a moderate amount of authentic Ethiopian spices, these select cuts of meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes are worth the twenty dollar bill. This small restaurant located on lower Haight street draws in older and younger crowds who share an appreciation for the exceptional cuisine.
Unlike many places where the menu is full of options, leaving you distraught in deciding what to order, Axum provides a brief, yet concise description of each meat and vegetarian entrée. The level of spice is comprehensive and the cuts of beef, marinated chicken, lamb, fish, shrimp, and assorted veggies are explained adequately. No forks are needed here, as it is custom to eat the dish with injera, a sour, sponge-like bread. Ask for a fork? You might get some stares.
Don’t expect extraordinary service, the one server responsible for every customer did not seem to be interested in wowing anyone with assistance. Though he was attentive enough to refill water, he failed to the mention the ample list of drinks offered. The menu provides white and red wines, beer, tea, coffee, soft drinks, juices, and milk which are helpful in taming the spicy food, but you have to find that out for yourself.
With dim lighting and low music, Axum Cafe is not a place where you have to scream over the noise to hear your neighbor, the setting is rather intimate. While waiting for your food, one can’t help but notice the tasteful décor. Above each table that seats four, hang traditionally decorated Ethiopian chandeliers with a red fringe. The surrounding walls are painted yellow and are decorated with several paintings. Above the bar, hangs a clock and a traditional Ethiopian fly swatter made of horsetail. The only sign of technology here is the small plasma that hangs from the corner, otherwise the restaurant maintains its festive appearance.
The cooked-to-perfection food is served on a large platter in the center of the table family style, so it is wise to order two or more entrees. The first bite leaves you believing you may want to order more, but the combination of the injera and meat and/or veggies will fill a hungry stomach. Taking a drink between bites, of something besides water, is suggested for those who do not fancy spice. You may find silence as those engorged in eating cannot stop for conversation. As a connoisseur of traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean food, I must say that I am impressed.
Surrounded in a hub of restaurants on one of San Francisco’s busiest streets, laid back, Axum Café is not to be overlooked. The restaurant’s name stems from the Axumite Empire in one of Ethiopia’s most ancient cities and is significant for the early foundations of the Orthodox Church. If you are unsure of what Axum looks like there are an array of pictures around the restaurant, and one even sits on the window sill for curious passerby’s.
Overall, the quality of food is superb. The menu offers a wide variety of options for meat lovers and vegetarians. The drink list provides both Ethiopian and American beverages to quench the average thirst or to conquer a spicy dish. The service is okay, perhaps another visit may persuade a change of opinion.

My rating:
Food: *****
Overall: ****
Axum Cafe
698 Haight Street (at Pierce)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 252-7912

Open Monday through Friday: 5:30pm-10:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12:30pm-10:00pm

Accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover
Price: $15-$20

(Restroom available)

Rating:
None, horrendous, bad, satisfactory, great, exceptional
-,*, **, ***, ****, *****

Genocide in Darfur... How do you remember it?

Since its beginning in 2003, the genocide in Darfur has been widely ignored and left out of U.S media, therefore out of the public's collective memory. Because the mainstream media has failed to address the issue, press coverage is left to alternative media outlets. Documentary films like The Devil Came on Horseback and Familiar Voices, non- profit Darfur awareness websites, and blogs have become the main source of information about the genocide. T-shirts that read “Save Darfur” have also become a trend and help spread awareness, but still do not inform the public to the necessary degree of understanding. Since the Sudanese government has not declared genocide, superpowers like the U.S and the U.N cannot intervene. Previous to the genocide in Darfur, there was a major genocide in Rwanda in 1994. A feature film called Hotel Rwanda was a success in educating people 10 years later, however served as a major distraction from the current genocide in Darfur.

Is it ethical for the U.S media to continue to ignore such a large issue?

Ethics in the MOVIES!

Ever seen the movie Shattered Glass with Hayden Christensen? It follows the life of Stephen Glass who worked for The New Republic magazine...

“Broken Glass”
It’s 1998: Stressed out, underpaid and overworked journalists work hard to be the first to report breaking stories for The New Republic magazine. The pressure is on to find the most interesting stories and scandals at this political magazine. Few do, but one journalist seems to find the quirkiest, most intriguing stories that no other magazine or journalist has covered. It almost sounds too good to be true. In fact, 25-year-old Associate Editor Stephen Glass fabricated 25 of 41 stories during his time at The New Republic, and his story is portrayed in the 2003 blockbuster Shattered Glass. This film not only depicts the true nature and story of Glass’s deceit, but it also calls attention to a number of ethical dilemmas that lead to the investigation of Glass’s reporting and following pieces. In addition to exposing Glass, the film ultimately warned viewers to be critical of the media.
The New Republic had been a trusted news source since 1914, and its staff in 1998 consisted of 15 young, eager, hardworking journalist (Shattered Glass, 2003). The film begins with a clip of Stephen Glass, played by Hayden Christensen, gloating while walking through a crowd saying, “Your work can actually influence public policy. It’s an amazing privilege and huge responsibility” (Shattered Glass, 2003). He continues to give a public speech to a high school classroom full of young journalism students, “I never encourage anything sneaky in pursuit of a story, such as a phony identity… it’s important to get every quote and every detail” (Shattered Glass, 2003). Glass followed half of his own advice because each one of his fabricated stories were so detailed that the average person would not question their validity. Glass was challenged by Journalist Adam Penenberg, who worked for Forbes Online, about one story in specific titled “Hack Heaven.” Penenberg intended to write a follow up in response to Glass’s completely made up article about a 15-year-old computer hacker who was hired as software security by a company called “Jukt Micronics” whose system he had hacked into (www.forbes.com). Penenberg could not confirm any of Glass’s sources which is where the first ethical dilemma arose. Glass had fabricated stories prior to this particular article under Editor Michael Kelly, however with the expulsion of Kelly came new Editor Charles Lane who uncovered Glass’s lies (www.cbsnews.com).
Should editors have complete trust in the integrity of their writers? And secondly, can a story be valid solely based on the notes of the journalist? Glass knew that as long as his notes matched the specifics of his story he could pass a basic fact check at his magazine. But the legitimacy of “Hack Heaven” proved that more fact checking was necessary, and as Editor Charles Lane unraveled Glass’s lies another ethical question came about. Lane called the editor of Forbes Online and explained that revealing Glass and his fabricated story would ruin his [Glass] career and morale. Should Lane’s loyalties be to his news magazine, or to care about the potential damage this could cause to Glass? Freelance Photojournalist Amber Mosby, 24, believes that editors should have trust in their writers but at the same time listen to their gut feeling when a reporter consistently comes back with extraordinary stories. Mosby suggests that Editor Michael Kelly should have fact checked Glass’s notes and called or emailed sources. In response to Lane’s call to Forbes’s editor Mosby revealed, “Lane only called Forbes to save his own ass. It’s apparent that what Glass did was wrong, so obviously Forbes was going to print it. Lane just didn’t want to look bad because he was ultimately responsible and that’s unethical.” In an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Glass reveals that he was driven by people’s reactions of his stories during conference meetings, that he wanted every story to be a “home run,” and that he lied in order to be published (www.cbs.com).
Did he feel too pressured by his boss and colleagues to provide a home run story every issue? Should editors expect less from younger reporters? 27-year-old former reporter for the Indianapolis Star and Northwestern graduate, Andrea Cohen, can identify with Glass in the fact that she too was a young journalist who wanted to make a good impression. “I think there is a lot of pressure to come to staff meetings with big features, but some weeks there is really nothing going on,” she says. Cohen also thinks that editors should always support their writers but at the same time check the validity of their stories. She explains that basing a story entirely on a journalist’s notes is a reliable way of reporting, but that it is the editors job to call the sources. Two preventative measures that could have taken place to ensure the legitimacy of Glass’s stories are 1.) A tape recording of the interview conducted (Cohen), and 2.) Photos of the subjects (Mosby). Mosby says that it is too easy to make up a name or an email these days, but that photographic proof shows validity of the sources.
In a Baltimore City Paper review of Shattered Glass, Journalist Blake de Pastino suggests that the reason Glass’s stories were never questioned is because his editor was pleased by their entertainment, suggesting that the media seems to thrive on sensationalism (www.citypaper.com). He thinks that the film serves as a criticism of the media and essentially brings attention to the fact that a journalist can make up stories and get away with it. Film Critic Clint Morris says that the film is a “Do Not guide to journalism” (www.citypaper.com). Mark Sells of the Oregon Herald believes, “This film caused the entire industry to rethink and evaluate its editorial practices
and it's a great learning tool for young, aspiring journalists; particularly in the way it engages you in the editorial process” (www.oregonherald.com). Sells explains that the pressures in journalism can drive journalists to cross the boundaries between uneventful true stories and sensationalized interest stories. Perhaps director Billy Ray produced Shattered Glass as a warning to be more critical of the media and not believe everything we read. Throughout the film a series of ethical dilemmas arise that ultimately reveal Stephen Glass as a liar and suggest that had they been addressed earlier, he may not have gone on fabricating stories for so long.

Going Undercover

There can be a lot of controversy around the topic of journalists going undercover to get a story. Is it ethical to deceive your sources, or is it sometimes a necessary measure to get the story?


Misleading or Investigative Reporting?
It is no lie that undercover reporting has brought about changes in corrupt institutions throughout history. Ambitious Elizabeth Cochrane posed as mentally ill “Nellie Bly” in 1887 in hopes of exposing the horrible conditions of the Women’s Lunatic Asylum near Manhattan Island. She was successful in helping raise awareness and eventually a larger budget was initiated for the Asylum to improve the conditions (www.womensenews.org). But sometimes undercover reporting can go terribly wrong like in the case of Cecelia Lynn Coy-Jones who posed as a “suspicious” character wearing scrubs in the nursery of hospital. There had been two local kidnappings prior to Coy-Jones’s stunt, which was the initial reason she entered the hospital undercover. She was arrested, charged with two counts of attempted aggravated kidnapping, and bail was set for $10,000 (www.amarillo.com). Not only can going undercover be risky, but it can also raise questions about deception, dishonesty, and overall trickery. There are benefits to going undercover, but in doing so, some journalists lose their respect in a business widely held accountable for its system of ethics.
In the fall of 2003 Chronicle reporter Kevin Fagan and photojournalist Brant Ward hit the streets of the Tenderloin area in San Francisco. Anyone familiar with the area knows that it is highly populated with the homeless, junkies, police, and a few confused tourists. They ran a series called “Shame of the City” that took readers into the world of the homeless and addicts. It was a call for change and brought hope to the people Fagan and Ward had become very close with. The two Chronicle reporters spent a lot of time with their sources before they pulled out a notepad or snapped a photo. They didn’t want to intimidate, and ultimately their tactics were successful in capturing the lives of the individuals most people group together as “the homeless” (www.sfgate.com/homeless).
In one specific instance, Fagan and Ward entered a shelter notorious for dangerous and unsanitary conditions. They stayed two nights at Multi-Service Center South Shelter, and upon arrival did not identify themselves as reporters. However, they did not dress any different than they normally would and never lied about their purpose of visiting; no one had asked (www.gradethenews.org). They spoke with many people about what goes on in the shelters and how they ended up there. Fagan paints a vivid picture of four men who easily sneak in beer and crack and begin to use in an isolated corner of the shelter. They [Fagan and Ward] are warned to hold their belongings tight because things go easily missing. A late night attendant reveals that, "This is where the city sends the dopers or boozers who say they don't want to clean up,” later explaining that they are aware of the crack and booze in the shelter they just don’t hunt for it. During their time in the shelter Fagan and Ward asked permission to print photos or quotes if names were used. An ethical question arose after the story was published: Was it ethical for Fagan and Ward to go undercover?
Yes, says Fagan. He thinks that if the shelter were warned in advance of the Chronicles presence his experience would have been different. "If you let public officials know you're coming, you're going to get the cleaned-up version," said Fagan in his defense of going undercover. His intentions were to capture the reality of shelters, not to deceive anyone (www.gradethenews.org). He admits that he did wrestle with the idea but that it was originally editor Phil Bronstein’s idea and ultimately the collective decision of the editors.
The Chronicle follows a set of ethics that determine whether or not it is justified to go undercover. The newspapers asks: Is the resulting news story or photograph of such vital public interest that its news value outweighs the potential damage to trust and credibility? Can the story be recast to avoid the need not to disclose one's identity in gathering the information? And, have all other reasonable means of getting the story been exhausted? In this case, the issue of homelessness was of vital public interest and a big problem that needed to be addressed. The story needed to speak for itself in the form of pictures that were more powerful than words; and the reality of the issue was emphasized through first hand accounts. On the other hand the newspaper also applies the same code of ethics when it’s necessary that a reporter identify him/herself. Will some of the most vulnerable people on the streets be upset when they learn the person they have been speaking with turns out to be a journalist? Most importantly, failing to identify oneself as a reporter is deceiving.

Pulitzer-prize worthy?

Kevin Carter photographed the devastating famine in Darfur in 1993. He won a Pulitzer-prize for his compelling picture of an emaciated child struggling to make it to a food center. Behind the child is a preying vulture waiting to attack. This photo was extremely powerful and served as a rude awakening to a lot of people. He didn't help the child get to the food center however, he just chased the vulture away. Should he have been deemed such a hero, even though he didn't help the poor child?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5241442

TMZ first to report Michael Jackson's death?

Over the summer when Michael Jackson passed away it was TMZ of all sources to first report his death. Here's the story: http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/25/michael-jackson-dies-death-dead-cardiac-arrest/

Before hand TMZ was not considered so credible, but I'm wondering if their ability to report the death of such a great musical figure has given them a more dependable name?

Ethical Sports Dilemma

I was reading my monthly Glamour magazine when I came across an interesting little snippet. The woman who exposed Alex Rodriguez's use of steroids came back to visit him in a locker room where she asked him a question and he responded coldly to her. She explains that it was her job and duty to report his use of steroids and that the public deserved to know, apparently he didn't see it that way. Was she intruding on his personal life or was she warning baseball fans about a baseball player's abuse of drugs?

Audio Slideshow

West African Dance Slideshow

Last Post of the Semester

As the semester winds down, I thought I'd write my last blog post of '08 about my experience with Journalism this year. I realized that my dream job is NOT working at the Chronicle, that newspapers are slowly diminishing, the future lies in the internet, that I was lucky to be able to write about the presidential election, that I may want to pursue something in documentary film, dry news is NOT for me, I want to write features, how to record audio/how to use final cut pro, how to use my camera and take decent pictures, my resume still lies at the bottom of endless piles- may have even made its way to the garbage, how to write an amazing lead, how it feels to be both a reporter and a photographer, and how to really offend someone you're interviewing.

I think I want to work at Current TV.

Black Friday brings bad news

Black Friday brought out the worst of a New York crowd that stampeded over a Walmart worker last Friday. I found a CNN article about this, but I just found it shocking that this even happened in the first place. People will take a persons life over a $5 discount? This economic crisis has brought out the worst in people. I think it's absolutely ridiculous. The holidays, which are supposed to bring people together, are driving people to do crazy things for savings. Check out the article below, and you can comment on the website as well....

Black Friday Death of a Walmart Employee