Hunter S. Thompson

The more I work on my Assigment 3 paper, the more enamored I become with Hunter S. Thompson. He was such an interesting person, with a very unique life. Ultimately it is my goal to write more like him. I wish I could do it in my journalism classes here, but USC's school of journalism is more of a finesse school. Learning about Thompson makes me wish I had more freedom, or at least took some creative writing classes.
Right now, as I write this paper, I am struggling with the question; "Is journalism art?" I can't decide. I guess it depends on how you look at it, but what Hunter S. Thompson did will probably always be remembered as art. And for that, I respect him. He inspires me to be more creative with my writing, which is not often commonplace in the broadcast journalism world.

Famous Thompson quotes:

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."

"If I'd written all the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people - including me - would be rotting in prison cells from Rio to Seattle today. Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism."

"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."

"Publishers are notoriously slothful about numbers, unless they're attached to dollar signs - unlike journalists, quarterbacks, and felony criminal defendants who tend to be keenly aware of numbers at all times."

"The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason."

"You better take care of me Lord, if you don't you're gonna have me on your hands."

Feist's New CD

I can't wait for Feist's new album to come out.
This fall I became obsessed with her old CD, "Let it Die."
My best friend attends Berklee College of Music in Boston and she burned me a few CDs of what she was listening to over the summer. I always liked Feist's voice on a few tracks, but never listened to the whole CD. However, when I actually sat down and played the entire album, I realized how good she really is. Her voice sounds like she has been classically trained, but there is something alluring and sylistic about her voice.
"Let it Die" is something I would play over dinner with a glass of red wine.
She's also very Parisian, and I like that about her.
I would reccomend her to anyone who likes Fiona Apple's style.
So, look out for her new album this Fall!

I Don't Know if Anybody Reads This, But...

My mom just called me to say that her best friend's standard poodle, Max, went into cardiac arrest last night at 1:00 in the morning. The doctors tried to recessitate him, but he did not make it and 30 minutes later he died.
Would you like to know how he went into cardiac arrest?
This dog had to go under the knife because he swallowed a Ralph Lauren wallet. Now, Max was no ordinary dog. He ate everything. A plate full of cookies....survived. A plate full of brownies...survived. A leather work-out glove...pooped it out. A various assortment of chanel bags and shoes....expensive dog with expensive taste. Nevertheless, he SURVIVED all of these things.
But a Ralph Lauren wallet did him in.
Ralph Lauren puts a lot of crappy dyes into their products, especially leather, and it ate away at Max's intestines. If the stuff they put in a wallet is enough to send a standard poodle into cardiac arrest...I am NEVER purchasing Ralph Lauren EVER AGAIN.

just thought you should all know if you care about this sort of thing.

Raffi Knows What's Up

As a child I was infatuated with Raffi, as many children are. However, a few years after the hits "Baby Beluga" and "Down by the Bay," as innovative as they were, Raffi put out an album called "Evergreen Everblue" which I also listened to growing up.
Now here's where things get interesting...
I completely forgot about this album (who could blame me, we're talking 1996, people.) until a few weeks ago when my memory, that often surprises me, somehow dug one of Raffi's catchy tunes up. So I went onto itunes, God's gift to mankind, and sure enough they had it. I purchased it and listened to it.
Hearing this album again as a quasi-adult was pretty amazing because although the album is listed under the genre of children's music, the songs are basically about environmental issues. While listening to songs, I was surprised to find that I remembered a lot of the lyrics and this was something I listened to 10 years ago.
Raffi is a genuis because without really knowing it, I was singing along to these songs about the environment. What a way to influence a younger generation. Put out a CD about issues that need to be called attention to and slap Raffi's name on it!
In any case, you should check out "Evergreen Everblue" because it's good. Definitely don't buy it unless you're a die-hard Raffi fan, or a hippy, or someone like me who enjoys childhood nostalgia. I've actually been listening to it quite a bit these days, I can't lie!.
I will be the first to admit some of the songs are really corny, in a tree-hugging kind of way, but props to Raffi for putting his agenda out there (I mean, at least he's promoting a beneficial message).
And without further ado, here are the lyrics to my favorite song on the album...


Mama's Kitchen by Raffi

Mama's kitchen got no dress code
You just come and eat your fill
Mama's kitchen got no color code
come in your native skin
Mama's kitchen got no borders
It's everywhere you turn
Mama's kitchen got no dress code
Isn't it time we learned?

No politics on Mama's menu
On the left page or the right
Food enough for each human belly
In the heart
within it's sight

Mama's kitchen for the needy
Serves a piece of planet-pie
And the spoils go to the greedy
Spoilin' horizon sky, sky high

No politics on Mama's menu
On the left page or the right
Food enough for each human belly
In the heart
within it's sight

Mama's kitchen got no dress code
You just come and eat your fill
Mama's kitchen got no color code
come in your native skin
Mama's kitchen got no borders
It's everywhere you turn
Mama's kitchen got no dress code
Isn't it time we learned?

Barbie Loves MAC...and I do too.

Call me a girl, but I love make up.

And when applied correctly, I consider it to be an art form. Why else would anyone hire a "make up artist"??? It's not easy to apply make up well. On the contrary, it is VERY simple to mess it up. So why is a cosmetologist, or make up artist a profession that's often looked down upon? Surely there are plenty of people in the industry that somehow got hired and have no idea what they are doing. However, there is a proper technique to applying make up that I've learned over the years (mainly from San Francisco-based professional Hillary Clark). But in my opinion, as long as you have confidence in what you are doing (and apply with some kind of technique in mind), there are no rules and the possibilities are endless!

I have to admit, I am biased. And although I like different products from different companies (I'll get into that later), my favorite overall make up company is MAC due to their insane color diversity, but mostly, due to their advertising campaigns.

I am absolutely inspired by MAC's latest line, "Barbie Loves MAC."

The pinks and greens are very barbie-esque and I love it! However, I have to say that the look is a little costumey, and not very wearable (at least during the day...unless you're brave and want to spend a lot of money on all of the new products). So, with Barbie Loves MAC as inspiration, here are my favorite products for Spring/Summer 2007.

1) Nars blush/bronzer combination

I discovered this product over the summer when I lived in Paris. It belonged to my friend Ashley, and one day I needed to borrow some blush randomly. She passed me the NARS blush/bronzer duo (in Orgasm/Laguna) and from the moment I tried it I was addicted! I tried to find some in France immediately. Throughout our trip, my other three roomates also tired this duo and I'm not joking when I say it looked good on everyone (An fair-skinned Italian, a tan Aremenian, a brunette Mexican, and me...the blonde)Unfortunately I had to wait until I came back to America to get some, but you can get it now at Sephora!

2)Smashbox Lip/Lid Primer

Most people don't know the joy of primer. And that's okay, I actually think it's useless most of the time. However, in the spring and summer my eyelids tend to get moist and it causes my eyeshadow to crease and eyeliner to smear (if I'm wearing it). I'm sure 90% of the make up-wearing population can say the same happens to them. If you are one of these people, then Smashbox makes a great product you should know about for those hot summer nights. When applied before eyeshadow, primer works like a "make up glue" because it sets everything in place, and keeps it where it's supposed to be. As an added bonus, this product also comes with a lip primer too, if you wear lipstick! Also, at Sephora.

3. Bare Essentials foundation

Now I hate to be an infomercial. But Bare Essentials foundation is perfect for Spring because it's light, provides good coverage when applied correctly, and has an SPF. What more could you really ask for? It looks natural if you blend well, and is compatible with all skin types. I have very sensitive skin and would get irritated when I wore Clinique oil-free foundation. So, I decided to give this stuff a try and my skin has been fine ever since. I highly reccomend it. Sephora and Bare Essentials carries it.