MENS FASHION ~sWaggeR Like US

gOtta Luv a MAN WITH SWAGGER.


Lick two shots in the atmosphere for this week's men with swagger. The "sWagger Like Us" recipients are: Adam Brody, Common, Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Foxx, Jeremy Piven, & Pharrell Williams.

NewS yOU Can USE

“Ok, my answer is YES—this is the sexiest thing I’ve ever posted. Ooh lala! I bet you will feel as warm inside as I do;-)…gotta luv America.”
-Joop

Article:
If you made a mistake on your tax return or if you find that you did not report some taxable income on your tax return, you claimed tax deductions or tax credits you should not have claimed on your tax return, you failed to claim some tax deductions or tax credits you are entitled to on your tax return, or you should have used a different filing status on your tax return, you should file an amended tax return.
If you file an amended tax return shortly before the three (3) year statute of limitations expires and the amended tax return shows you owe additional tax the IRS has sixty (60) days from the date it receives the amended tax return to assess any additional tax - even if the statute of limitations has expired.
The tax form you use to correct a Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ you already have filed is Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
If you file an amended tax return and owe additional tax to the IRS, or you are assessed additional tax by the IRS, you may also owe additional state income tax. The IRS shares it's information with most states, and visa versa. You may be able to avoid interest and tax penalties on your state tax return by promptly amending the state tax return. The reverse is also true if your state tax liability increases.
FOR MORE INFO VISIT http://www.wwwebtax.com/general/form_1040x.htm

Womens FASHION~ "tWisTed Sophistication"

tHis week I'm placing the spotlight on 3 fashionistas.
yOU can best describe their style as sophistication with a twist: "tWisted SoPhistication."



Join me in toasting this week's style stars: Thandie Newton, Rachel Bilson, & Zoe Kravitz.

THE VOTE THAT MATTERS....IS NOT YOURS?



My father and I engaged in a good debate last Friday. It all started when I posed the question: “Does My Vote Count?” He directed me to the article I’ve presented below. The answer is clear—my VOTE isn’t the REAL VOTE!


Thank you Harold Brown Sr. for the article!


Article:
Americans will vote for a new President in about two weeks. But it is a special group of Americans whose votes matter most when it comes to selecting a President. These special voters are electors, and they are members of our nation’s Electoral College.

So…wHat is the Electoral College???
It is neither a school nor a building. It is a group of people whose votes a candidate must win to become President. The nation’s Founders did not think it was a good idea for Presidents to be elected based only on the “popular vote.” The Founders believed that Americans would not educate themselves about the candidates or the issues. So, thus the Electoral College was born.

When Americans vote for the candidate they want to be President, they actually are voting for electors who promise to support that candidate.

So..hOw does iT WoRk???
There are 538 electors. The number of electors that a state has is equal to the number of its U.S. Senators and Representatives combined. [FACT: Every State has 2 Senators] For example, Alabama has 9 electors (2 Senators & 7 Representatives); on the other hand, California has 55 electors (2 Senators & 53 Representatives) [FACT: The number of Representatives varies based on population].

To become President, a candidate must win at least 270 electoral votes, a majority.
NOTE: In most states, whoever wins the popular vote wins all of that state’s electoral votes.

PrObLeMs…??

The electoral vote counts most. So, the candidate who wins the popular vote can still lose the election . Some people argue that this is unfair. The last time this happened was in 2000, when Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush received more electoral votes.

Another argument is that the electoral system encourages candidates to focus more on “battleground” or “swing states.”{A swing state is a state in which no candidate has overwhelming support, meaning that any of the major candidates have a reasonable chance of winning the state's electoral college votes}


So wHy do we SuPporT the Electoral College?

Supporters say the Electoral College is needed. They say it is the only way to ensure that candidates pay attention to the needs of less populated states.

[Article Source: Scholastic News: “The REAL Vote,” Dara N. Sharif]

cUtEsT cOuPLe

Today I received a great article from Essence on interracial couples. It amazes me that some would find it difficult to stomach the fact that black women do find love outside their race (and vice versa). God made us all beautiful-Red, Yellow, Black, & White..we are all beautiful. Here’s a toast to those who Love regardless of COLOR.




Here are some pics of the CUTEST COUPLES compliments of Essence (Getty Images):




Zoe Kravitz, actor Ben Foster

Naomi Campbell & Vladimir Doronin

Paula Patton & Robin Thicke

Halle Berry & Gabriel Aubry

Iman & David Bowie

Chris Noth & Tara Wilson

Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon & Mike Nilon (Twin sons Jax & Jaid Joseph, who were born in 2007)

Mellody Hobson & George Lucas

Alfre Woodard & Roderick Spencer (the couple have two adopted children together)

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck & handbag designer Gelila Assefa

READ MORE AT:

http://photos.essence.com/galleries/color_blind_celebrities_in_interracial_relationships?xid=102108-ENews-Tuesday-AlfredWoodardTextLink

mArK yOuR CaLeNdArS

CLICK HERE TO WATCH:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REHbgBPkvEE&eurl=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1077684/VIDEO-Beyonce-gets-Bootylicious-TWO-racy-new-singles-dances-leotard-pulls



VIPER VIXEN TRYOUTS~NOV. 9TH




When I first saw Beyonce’s new video, (Single Ladies “Put A Ring On It”), I thought to myself: “Man I WISH I was a dance girl.” Well it seems my wish may come TRUE sooner than expected. To ALL the ladies that dream of becoming a dance girl, I have GREAT NEWS…? The VIPER VIXENS are hosting tryouts. If you are in the Tennessee Valley area & want to be a dance girl, like Miss. B, then sign up to become a VIPER VIXEN. Information & Pics provided below:
{Thank you Shaun & Kim for suggesting this post}





Learning day will be Sunday, November 9th, 2008 at the Von Braun Civic Center Ballet Room. Registration will begin at 1:00 PM. Interviews and Choreography will begin at 2:00 PM.

Performance Day will be Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at the Von Braun Civic Center in the arena during the Huntsville Havoc Game. Sign-ins will begin at 6:00 PM.
Performances will be throughout the game.

Auditions are $15 for early registration and $25 the day of registration.
For any questions or further information, contact Bethany Steelman at 256-797-1459
or by email at Bethany@bamajammerinc.com













[Photos provided by Kimberly Torrence & http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1077684/VIDEO-Beyonce-gets-Bootylicious-TWO-racy-new-singles-dances-leotard-pulls-uniform.html]

mY LIFE your ENT presents: ED HARDY

My Life ~ Your Entertaintment Presents:

i luv "Ed Hardy"

I absolutely LOVE Ed Hardy's clothing line. Thank you Harold for requesting this post!

For those of you who don't know Ed Hardy. Check out these pics.

NSG wants to know:

hOW do Y0U R0ck ED HARDY?

[Photos From:http://www.donedhardy.com/events_gallery.html]

NSG asks........????

NSG ASKS:









"FOR A PERSON YOU LOVED DEEPLY, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO MOVE TO A DISTANT COUNTRY KNOWING THERE WOULD BE LITTLE CHANCE OF SEEING YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY AGAIN?"

Note: The questions posed are intended for self-discovery. They seek to challenge attitudes, morals, beliefs, & YOU. There are no incorrect or correct answers to these questions, only honest or dishonest ones. This is a chance to gain insight without actually living through the predicaments described. Feel free to share your answer.

[Questions from: "The Book of Questions" by Gregory Stock, PH.D.]

WARNING: Alka Seltzer Cold Plus~Kills

ALKA SELTZER KILLS



Some may have already received an email with the subject "Phenylpropanolamine." This email revealed a testimony of a young lady whose mother passed away on August 3rd. Her mom had visited her doctor for a check up and received a clean bill of health. While visiting her daughter she developed a cold and had taken Alka Seltzer Cold Plus for 3 days. Since her passing, the family discovered that Alka Seltzer is one of the many cold medicines that contains Phenylpropanolamine (a toxic drug ingredient also known as PPA). Upon reading this email, I did some research on “PPA.” Below is an article I found on Levin Law. You would find it interesting to learn how the FDA seeks to tackle products that contain PPA.



Article:

Manufacturers of some of the world's most respected cold and cough medications have been reeling recently from the fallout of the Food and Drug Administration's finding that the primary ingredient in many popular over-the-counter drugs, Phenylpropanolamine or "PPA," may be unreasonably dangerous. PPA is used in such popular cold medicines as Contac 12, Alka Seltzer Plus, Tavist-D, Triaminic, Dimetapp, Robitussin, and Triaminic. PPA is also found in weight loss products such as Dexatrim and Acutrim.
The FDA's studies have shown an increased risk of stroke associated with PPA. While currently the PPA recall is voluntary, the FDA is in the process of formulating an official and mandatory policy to ban PPA within the next several months. PPA has been associated with strokes in women under 50. Most of the strokes began with a severe headache, stiff neck, and some loss of consciousness. The headaches are often precursors to stroke and can occur several days before the full onset of stroke. Although rare, the strokes caused by PPA are likely to be severe and fatal. Many of the young women who experienced a stroke did so after only one dose of Phenylpropanolamine or PPA. The FDA estimates that annually between 200 and 500 strokes are associated with using products that contain PPA. Typically, the stroke occurs within three days of ingesting PPA. The most likely type of stroke associated with PPA is referred to as the hemorrhagic stroke, which involves bleeding in the brain.
[Article Source: http://www.levinlaw.com/CM/LegalResources/LegalResources81.asp]

yOu Tube~ SPOTLIGHT

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Ok, all I can say about this video is: White boy can dance!!!!

Not to mention his dance partner--the best white Dancehall Queen by far. Thanks Harold for sharing this video. I hope you all like this video.

Enjoy :-)

CLICK & WATCH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVUnU0ZR-LA&feature=email

beAutY~ Check Medicine Cabinet & Fridge

UNUSUAL BEAUTY

SECRETS
REVEALED

Who knew Aspirin could be used to treat dandruff? I found this article very interesting. You may discover that some items in your medicine cabinet & fridge have multiple uses. From Hem0rrhoid cream to Pepto-Bismol, you are sure to find these tips very interesting. The toothpaste tip really works (although I must warn you that your face may experience some severe tingling)!!


Aritcle:
OVER-THE-COUNTER BEAUTY TIPS

·Hemorrhoid cream. The cream version, not the greasy one, can be used for undereye puffiness. Let it soak in and apply makeup. "It's also good to de-puff the jawline."

· White toothpaste. Regular toothpaste, not the gel kind, can be dabbed on pimples to dry them overnight.

· Eye drops. If you don't have time to treat a pimple overnight, anti-reddening eyedrops can also be applied to pimples with a swab, left for 10 to 15 seconds, then makeup applied. The drops take the red right out, making the blemish coverable.

· Vitamin K salve, available over the counter, helps prevent stretchmarks.

· Pepto-Bismol makes a great face-tightening mask. Let it dry, then remove with warm water. It also helps seal the fate of cold sores, Irons says.

· Milk of magnesia. If your skin is oily, apply milk of magnesia and let it dry, then rinse before making up.

· Baby wipes. Forget the expensive face cleansing pads or cloths. These work fine to remove grime and makeup.

· Aspirin can be used to treat dandruff. In her book, The Model's Way to Beauty, Slenderness and Glowing Health, former Wilhelmina model Oleda Baker recommends mixing an inch of warm water in a coffee cup, dissolving 30 aspirin tablets and 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda, and applying the foaming concoction to your hair after shampooing. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then comb to work out flakes. Doing this every day for a week can eliminate dandruff.

· Vaseline. Even though many of the high-end beauty gurus sniff at "mineral oil" for your face, Alexa B. Kimball, MD, MPH, assistant professor of dermatology at the Stanford University Medical Center, tells WebMD that no one is allergic to petroleum jelly and it makes an excellent moisturizer, especially around the eyes. The layer holds in moisture. "It never irritates from perfumes," she says.


[Article Source: WebMD http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/guide/over-the-counter-beauty-tips ]

pOLiTiCs~Colin Powell Endorses Obama

REPUBLICAN now DEMOCRAT




Check out video.





Click Here to Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_NMZv6Vfh8

After a healthy political conversation with my mom about the difference between Republican & Democratic party lines, I discovered one important fact--I never took Polotics 101. On August 27, 2008, my quest for political enlightment was initiated. As many know, I was not a registered voter. I struggled with the whole idea of voting for someone based on distorted facts AND voting solely to support your party. Who knew that one day I would alter my perspective on exercising my right to vote? Thank you mom for that wonderful email. I registered to vote NOT because the majority deemed it vital, BUT becasue I was equipped with the knowledge and puropse for why I choose to vote.

Below is a wonderful article I found. May you find it as inspiring & reassuring as we enter this monumental presidential election.

Article:

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will break with his party and vote for Sen. Barack Obama. "He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said on NBC's Meet the Press.
"I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities -- and you have to take that into account -- as well as his substance -- he has both style and substance," Powell said. "He has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president."

[Article Source: THE HUFFINGTON POST] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/19/colin-powell-endorses-oba_n_135895.html

sTyLe StAr~ lUpE FiAsCO

LUPE FIASCO
STYLE STAR

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is a Grammy-winning American rapper. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his critically acclaimed debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. Prominent hip hop mogul Jay-Z describes him as a "breath of fresh air" in a new hip hop world characterized by mainstream pop and glamour, a sharp contrast with the widespread lyricism-focused rap of the 1990s, and critics have called him the "Hip-Hop Generation's Next Vanguard."
Wasalu was born and raised a Muslim on the Westside of Chicago, and is the fifth child of nine brothers and sisters. His father was an engineer, a prolific African drummer, karate teacher and owner of karate schools and army surplus stores. His mother was a gourmet chef. Wasalu is of African American descent. Jaco went to high school at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois. He started rapping when he was in the eighth grade, but was initially put off by the vulgarity and violent imagery of his father's N.W.A records. It wasn't until he heard Nas' 1996 album, It Was Written, at the age of 14 that he began to pursue hip hop music.
Growing up, Jaco was given the nickname "Lu", the last part of his first name, by his mother. "Lupe" is an extension of this nickname, which he borrowed from a friend from high school. "Fiasco," he says, "came from the Firm album. They had the song, 'Firm Fiasco'. I just liked the way it looked on paper."
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupe_fiasco]

[Photos by: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment]

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/hbpQuwezor6/Coachella+Music+Festival+Day+3/5LXYMjILQns/Lupe+Fiasco

tAke A LoOk at ThIs~GAS FOR 35 CENTS

I PAID 0.35 FOR GAS!!

CHECK OUT VIDEO

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/10/16/35.cent.gas.mistake.wsaw?iref=videosearch