Every Single Vote Counts!

Someone mailed this video to me this morning and it scared the living bejesus out of me... I am still shaking but strangely exhilarated after watching this video... Now you must promise me that after you watch the video below you will go to the website, customize the video and forward it to all of your family and friends (http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/)... We must remember that every single vote truly counts.

Barack the vote!!! Or else!!!

Fashiongate

"Hey that’s no lipstick on that darn pig! That’s Valentino!" Can you believe the Republicans have forked over $150,000 for Sarah Palin’s wardrobe? Have they lost their collective minds? This goes to show that sometimes you can put Valentino on a pig. and well you know the rest...

Yesterday while watching Sarah Palin shooting off her big mouth all over the news, I couldn’t help but notice the ill fit of her red leather jacket pictured above. Of course, I also couldn’t help but wonder why the PETA folks have been so quiet regarding Sarah Palin. In my opinion Governor Palin is an ideal candidate for a “PETA Stalk-fest” not Vice President of the United States. Not that I have any great love for Vogue's Anna Wintour, PETA most certainly gives her a much harder time. To date, we haven't even seen Anna killing any moose – but God knows she skinned a few designers.

Seeing as I am on the Sarah Palin kick today, I can’t stop there. While I believe Sarah Palin is a fairly attractive woman (reminds me of the naughty school teacher stripper found in the heartlands), I simply can’t fathom the Republicans spending this outrageous amount of money on this self-proclaimed "hockey mom" – especially during an economic crisis. All I have to say is, “Sign me up for the hockey rink where she’s hanging out! I would love to go there to host my next trunk show.”

Sorry for not letting this one go, but is it just me, or is there something strange going on in the “funky side eye” here babysitter, I mean daughter, is giving Sarah?

video courtesy of CBS News

The dreaded F-Word

I know it has been a very long time since I’ve used the F-Word… No, not FUCK… I have no problem with using that particular F-word… I’m talking about “FASHION.”

I will admit I have spent the lion’s share of the summer obsessing over the election, in particular Barack Obama. As you may have noticed there have been weeks where I haven’t even been able to bring myself to mentioning the F-word… I have felt almost guilty when I would find myself chatting about fashion in the face of the serious nature of this election and our current economic woes. I think to discuss fashion at this moment is almost unpatriotic. Now I know some people might be saying, “But don’t most designers find a way to interpret the turmoil and political process in their creative process…” Well, some do, but not me. I have come to enjoy my mental disorders and for me, they require my full attention, dedication and devotion. Via my some professional but mostly my own self-diagnosis, I have figured out that I have AADD with an acute onset of OCD. In other words, I am all f’d up…

But today, feels like a special day… One of those days when the market seems to be doing okay, Barack is enjoying a comfortable lead and a major endorsement (not enough of a lead for us to get lazy) and the sun and wind here in New York City seemed to have struck an amazing deal. Therefore, I am ready to talk “fashion.”

Fashion sucks! Is it the economy, the election or what that seems to have drained the entire fashion industry their balls! Come on people! What the “F” is going on… I take a little break to assure that a brother stands a fighting chance of becoming the next President of the United States, and all of my colleagues seem to have put up gone fishing signs for the season. Instead of my normal rant, I will show a bit of restraint by not calling out any of my fellow designers on their lack of boldness during these trying times… I will not question the wunderkind Zac Posen on his flat, risk-free collection or Philip Lim about his dry-as-paint runway presentation or even the young and beautiful fairy, Erin Fetherston regarding her regurgitated fashion of fancy. Instead I will focus on my obvious absence from the New York fashion scene.

According to the fashion industry the above represent the best... Anything missing???

My explanation in a nutshell is simple… First I must focus on placing an African-American man in the white-house and then I will focus on putting an African-American man on the catwalks of New York City (just in case no one has noticed - we still haven’t been able to rectify this situation under the white tents of Bryant Park). But for now “F” Fashion!

You must see this video, it is the funniest F-Word video I have ever seen…

Purple is the New Black

On Friday evening, yours truly was invited to a front row and extremely intimate performance by none other than Prince. Now, I will be the first to admit I am not a huge Prince fan, as growing up I was “Team Michael” all the way. However, after Friday night’s performance, I can proudly say, “Prince has kicked Michael’s royal ass!”

What an amazing performance! Instead of donning one of his usual purple lace ensembles, Prince actually looked very chic and sleek. At one point I said to myself, “This dude is 50 fucken years old and he still looks amazing!” All it took was one look at Prince prancing across the stage for me to realize “Purple is definitely the new Black”.

The only problem I have with Prince actually has very little to do with Prince himself. My problem with Prince however has all to do with his die hard fans. What a bunch of psychos! Most of these people are absolutely certifiable. I know this is not a nice thing to say as one of my closest friends (my brother from another mother), Jacques, actually is the biggest Prince fan on the planet. And strangely enough he has a million dollar memorabilia collection to prove it.

You see this dear friend happens to live on the Upper East Side in perhaps one of the swankiest addresses in the 1-0-0-2-1. But please do not let the zip code or uptight building fool you… My friend Jacques is perhaps one of the coolest dudes to ever cross the pond. Within his tastefully decorated apartment his wonderful wife, Camille, has been gracious enough to allocate Monsieur Jacques with his own little private room. Instead of turning this room into a “mini-frat house” like most of my married straight male friends, Jacques has instead opted to turn his kids/wife free zone into something quite unique – “A Prince Shrine” (alter included).

This room is completely comprised of items previously owned by the Purple One himself. Upon entering this room you immediately begin to wonder if this brilliant husband, father and friend might not be ready for a Cindy McCain prescription cocktail. Honestly this room, which is the size of an average NYC apartment, is covered in Prince’s original guitars, shoes, costumes, gold records, microphones and even an original doodling of Purple Rain and Little Red Corvette. I refer to it as the “The Purple Cave.” But to be completely honest, this room “freaks me the fuck out!” I often leave this room wondering one thing, “Who is the real Jacques?”

An I-Phone photo of Jacques "kinda-sorta" recently meeting Barack Obama - Hysterical!!!

But all it takes is one look at Jacques’ face light up when we are out on the town and a Prince record happens to hit the turntables. It’s magical and infectious... I will admit most of the time I too find myself dancing around like a Purple Fool. So just imagine my surprise, peppered with a bit of hesitation, when Jacques invited me to join him at the Gansevoort Hotel in the Meatpacking District after spending a week solving riddles and deciphering clues leading up to Friday night’s intimate concert for 200 die-hard Prince fans and celebrities.

The crowd included Anderson Cooper (avec boy-toy), Dave Chapelle, Spike Lee, Dennis Rodman, Tom Greene and many others sequestered in private viewing areas etc. But of course, Jacques and I had the best seats in town – front row, center stage. We were so close, I could have pinched Prince on his tiny little ass. There were several points within the concert I had visions (a la Allie McBeal) of picking him up and putting him in my pocket, sort of like a “Mini-Prince Ipod.” I could imagine showing up to parties or restaurants and taking him out to perform for me and my intimate circle of friends and simple slipping him back inside of my pocket to be recharged. Come on now, you must admit that would be pretty damned cool. But for now, I will simply settle for the memories of witnessing one of the most amazing concerts of my life as well as being close enough to Prince to pinch his tiny little mini-Ipod ass.

My personal favorite Prince song and video - "Pop Life"

Dolls for Darfur / UNICEF

In a time of need there is nothing more important than giving. Inspired by Designers for Darfur, UNICEF has partnered with some of the world's top designers to benefit the 6th anniversary of their Frimousses de Créateurs event to help befit their vaccination programs. The long list of designers that will be showcasing their unqiue dolls include Chanel, Emanuel Ungaro, Giorgio Armani, Lanvin, Moschino, Mal Sirrah, Oscar de la Renta, Sonia Rykiel, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent (only to name a few of course).

Last year UNICEF raised 220,000 Euros which helped to create 250 centers in Darfur devoted to vaccinating children (under 5 years of age) against the six most life threatening childhood diseases: measles, tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio, tetanus and whooping cough. So far (because we are far from quiting) the charitable journey has done wonders by vaccinating over 31,000 children.


The Petit Palais, which housed fashion photographer Patrick Demarchielier's exhibition just last week, will too be the host of various "sweet face" dolls from November 18th through November 23rd. If everyone bought one doll, could you imagine the difference we'd make? With Christmas around the corner you can give a gift that keeps giving.

Style Matters

Last night’s United States presidential debate proved one thing “Style Matters.” In my opinion, Barack Obama out styled and out swaggered poor John McCain by leaps and bounds. John McCain came into the debate bragging about how he was the “king of the town hall”, but judging by the way Barack swept the town hall floor with Senator McCain, he came out looking more like the town jester.

I will admit that I have been through several presidential elections in my lifetime, and never in before can I recall a candidate’s visceral appeal being so important to their electability. Viscerally, I believe most Americans felt as if they were watching “President Barack Obama” whereas John McCain looked like the frustrated guy that was running against the incumbent. Am I the only one that feels this way? I doubt it.

In the end, this debate will simply become fodder for “Faux News” and the "Vuiffington Post”, but for most Americans, we will simply remember this as the debate we clearly understood what it meant to look Presidential.

My name is Mal Sirrah and I approve this message:

The current economic crisis demands that we understand John McCain's attitudes about economic oversight and corporate influence in federal regulation. Nothing illustrates the danger of his approach more clearly than his central role in the savings and loan scandal of the late '80s and early '90s.

John McCain was accused of improperly aiding his political patron, Charles Keating, chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. The bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee launched investigations and formally reprimanded Senator McCain for his role in the scandal -- the first such Senator to receive a major party nomination for president.

At the heart of the scandal was Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which took advantage of deregulation in the 1980s to make risky investments with its depositors' money. McCain intervened on behalf of Charles Keating with federal regulators tasked with preventing banking fraud, and championed legislation to delay regulation of the savings and loan industry -- actions that allowed Keating to continue his fraud at an incredible cost to taxpayers.

When the savings and loan industry collapsed, Keating's failed company put taxpayers on the hook for $3.4 billion and more than 20,000 Americans lost their savings. John McCain was reprimanded by the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee, but the ultimate cost of the crisis to American taxpayers reached more than $120 billion.

The Keating scandal is eerily similar to today's credit crisis, where a lack of regulation and cozy relationships between the financial industry and Congress has allowed banks to make risky loans and profit by bending the rules. And in both cases, John McCain's judgment and values have placed him on the wrong side of history.

For full documentary visit: http://www.keatingeconomics.com/

Citizens for Global Solutions

“Citizens for Global Solutions is holding its 4th Annual Multimedia contest for artists, designers, poets, activists and just about anyone interested in thinking about global issues and making some cool art. The top contenders will be published on their website.

CGS are looking for short multimedia pieces (flash animation, spoken word, digital video) that can inspire, amuse and activate people out there who believe that a better world is possible. You are welcome to work alone, in a team, or as part of a classroom project (but the cash prizes remain the same).”

Please read more at their site: Globalsolutions.org

Afternoon Quickie - "Gone to the Dogs"

I had to share this photo of my friend's little Italian Greyhound repping for Barack Obama... Folks, the election has officially "gone to the dogs"...

Rachel Getting Married = Anne Getting Oscar

Last night I had the pleasure of being invited to a private screening of “Rachel Getting Married” hosted by the films director, Jonathan Demme at the Paris Theater here in New York City.

Jonathan Demme is perhaps one of my favorite directors on the entire planet, so to listen to him explain how this film came to being was like listening to Michael Angelo explain how he painted the Sistine Chapel.

I don’t usually like making these grand predictions, but something tells me that Anne Hathaway might actually receive an Oscar nod for her performance in this gritty and stirring role. Personally, I have never really been a big Anne Hathaway fan, but this movie may have been the turning point…

Now don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate her in the “Devil Wears Prada”, but that movie for me was more about Patricia Field then it was about any of the characters in the movie. But this movie is all about Anne Hathaway and the progressive multi-cultural story telling of Jenny Lumet (daughter of famed film director Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of legend, Ms. Lena Horne).

“Anywhatever” (my favorite made up word), check out the movie trailer below and make sure you run out to see it…

A Lesson in Fierceness!

Clifton Oliver, foreground center, and,

above from left, Angela Grovey, Rebecca Naomi Jones

and McKenzie Frye in “Wig Out!”

Gather round boys and girls, I have a little story to tell you all… Once upon time there was a little boy who used to love playing in his mother’s dresses, high-heels and make-up…

Come on now - can you imagine me ever doing anything like this?

"Drag above courtesy of Daily Makeovers"

But seriously, the guys starring in the new play, “Wig Out!” could perhaps teach all of us a thing or two about being fierce and strutting around in a pair of heels. “Wig Out!” is a new play currently unfolding every evening on the stage of the Vineyard Theater here in New York City. Today the New York Times gave this play a glowing review which, as you can imagine, say’s a hell of a lot these days.

Stars Erik King, left, and Nathan Lee Graham

"Wig Out!" focuses on an underground gay culture called “The House Balls” which originated here in New York City in the late 70’s / early 80’s and has recently begun to spring up across the globe. I know this first hand as I too in my youth belonged to one of these gay houses – The House of Xtravaganza. And as you can imagine, I was quite fierce and shady (for those of you who are unfamiliar with gay slang I will upload a mini-dictionary in a later post).

It was the fierce young members of The House of Xtravaganza that taught me my take no prisoners attitude as well as my die-hard loyalty to family and friends. Who cares that this make-shift family was comprised of a drag queen mother, a rough-trade father and a bunch of screaming homo-thugs, trannies and butch dykes for brothers and sisters… But we were the "shit" and fiercely loyal and loving. But fortunately time has a way of changing us all and eventually we all leave the nest to fly on our own.

(WIG OUT! By Tarell Alvin McCraney; directed by Tina Landau; sets by James Schuette; costumes by Toni-Leslie James; lighting by Peter Kaczorowski; sound by Robert Kaplowitz; hair, wig and makeup design by Wendy Parson; production stage manager, Barbara Reo; associate director, Kim Weild; production manager, Ben Morris; general manager, Reed Ridgley; associate artistic director, Sarah Stern. Presented by the Vineyard Theater, Douglas Aibel, artistic director; Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, executive director. At the Vineyard Theater, 108 East 15th Street, Manhattan; (212) 353-0303. Through Oct. 19. Running time: 2 hours. )

Homework: Rent the movie “Paris is Burning” and submit your quick review

Bonus Homework: Rent the movie “Truth or Dare” and identify the main two characters of the House of Xtravaganza.

WELCOME BACK! NOW LETS CHANGE THE WORLD!

As we all know, the world is changing before our very eyes and so is “The World of Mal Sirrah”.

We are extremely excited to announce our updated website (http://www.malsirrah.com/) and invite you to take a trip to the “World of Mal Sirrah”. Our newly created website is a safe haven where dreams come true and a better world realized.

Upon your arrival we invite you to check out our re-launched blog, “The Changing Room” (formerly Cut, Sew and Blog), a blog filled with politics, art, music, charity, interesting characters, and of course, fashion.

Explore our exciting and hopefully inspiring YouTube video presentations and online slideshows as Mal Sirrah attempts to present fashion in an engaging, inspiring and modern context. It is our goal to prove to the world that sometimes a beautiful dress can do more than simply adorn. Instead a beautiful dress can also assist in building solar powered schools and hospitals, play a role in saving women from a life of abuse as well as help in feeding our fellow human beings. But you won’t know this unless you visit http://www.malsirrah.com/ for more information and exploration.

During your journey to our special place, we also encourage you to join our MySpace and FaceBook networks so we can keep you posted on upcoming fashion shows, capsule collections, humanitarian causes and exciting events. When you join Mal Sirrah’s social networks not only do you join our community, you also expand your individual horizons with links to people, causes and movements that connect us all as citizens of the world.

So what are you waiting for? You are merely a double click away from entering the “World of Mal Sirrah” - a world filled with endless possibilities for “changing the world – one dress at a time.”

Until we return, check out - From the Desk of Phyllis

Until we return, check out - Free Arts NYC

Every child deserves food, clothing, and shelter. At Free Arts NYC, we believe they also deserve paint, glitter, clay and the opportunity to express themselves creatively with the help of a supportive mentor.

Free Arts NYC is a volunteer-based nonprofit established to bring the healing power of the arts to children and families who face poverty, homelessness, and other risk factors. At no cost to the children, families, volunteers, or our collaborating agencies, we provide programs that are mobile, making it possible for our volunteers to bring creativity and hope directly into the communities where there is the greatest need.

Our core programs – Free Arts Days, Weekly Mentor Program, Parents and Children Together with Art (PACT) and Cultural Enrichment Opportunities – use painting, dance, drama, writing, music, sculpture, photography and other creative outlets to help children express themselves and gain confidence and self-esteem. Working with trained volunteers and professional facilitators, Free Arts programs allow young people to gain self-confidence and strengthen their relationships with their peers, parents, guardians and mentors.

Since 1998, founding Director Liz Hopfan has taken the nonprofit from a budget of $100,000 to over $1,400,000. Free Arts NYC volunteers have now served over 22,000 children and families.

Free Arts NYC volunteers and facilitators give all of the children and families we work with a high level of personal attention. Our volunteer to child ratio is often 1:1 and, at most, 1:3. We are able to reach these ratios without exorbitant expense because of our unique volunteer model.

The key to Free Arts’ success lies in the creativity of our programs, designed by an extremely capable and passionate staff, as well as the organization’s unparalleled ability to meet the needs of many different communities around the city.

Until we return, check out - Nelson Mandela Children's Fund

Vision & Mission

The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund strives to change the way society treats its children and youth.

In the pursuit of its vision, and in order to ensure that the legacy of its founder, Nelson Mandela, is secured in perpetuity, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund will:

• develop partnerships and initiate programmes which empower and improve the well-being of children and youth;
  
• promote the rights of children and youth through the influence of public policy and social awareness; and
  
• sustain these initiatives through the development of a sound financial and knowledge support base.
  
  

Proud American

This video truly makes me proud to be an American. A 94 year old African American woman will be voting for the first time - you must watch this video.

Until we return, check out - Diane a Shaded View on Fashion

Diane Pernet, fashion icon, journalist and blogger, world traveler, mentor to many and staunch supporter of talent and creativity.

Until we return, check out - The Business of Fashion

Imran Amed - The Business of Fashion

Based in London, Imran Amed is Editor of The Business of Fashion, a blog which has gained a cult following amongst fashion business professionals and entrepreneurs in over 150 countries.
Imran is a professional advisor, commentator and investor operating at the intersection of business and fashion, working with major international luxury and fashion brands and high potential fashion start-ups. His particular expertise is in acting as the bridge between the industry's most gifted creative and business talent. He also advises private equity firms, hedge funds and private investors who are interested in the fashion and luxury market.

Imran regularly contributes to fashion and business publications around the world including Style.com, The Financial Times, Vogue India, and JC Report, amongst others.

His ideas and expertise have garnered coverage on Fashion Television, Dow Jones, Women's Wear Daily, and Vogue Korea. He is regularly invited to speak at fashion schools, business schools and luxury and fashion conferences around the world.

Previously, Imran was a management consultant at McKinsey & Co. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a B.Com from McGill University, and a Diploma in Speech Arts and Public Speaking from the Mount Royal Conservatory.

Until we return check out - Photographer Nick Knight's - ShowStudio

About SHOWstudio

“SHOWstudio is based on the belief that showing the entire creative process—from conception to completion—is beneficial for the artist, the audience and the art itself.”Nick Knight SHOWstudio is an online fashion broadcasting company committed to pioneering, live fashion media. Led by photographer Nick Knight, SHOWstudio has consistently broken new ground with its experimental interactive projects, films and live performances. Its unique collaborations with the world’s most sought-after and influential photographers, artists, writers, designers and cultural figures are broadcast live, in real time on the award-winning SHOWstudio website.

Committed to unveiling the entire process of creativity to a highly fashion literate audience, SHOWstudio involves its global community of dedicated viewers, encouraging them to respond and contribute to its projects. The progress of each of SHOWstudio's 250+ collaborations –from pre-production meetings and stylists’ selections to the live shoots- is documented as it occurs, communicated immediately via the BLOG and discussed and evaluated with viewers on the FORUM.

No other fashion media offers this direct connection between the closed, ‘insider’ world of high-end fashion and its international audience. Constantly changing, SHOWstudio delivers live fashion, as it happens, 24 hours per day.

VOTE FOR CHANGE

YOU ARE ONE CLICK AWAY FROM CHANGING THE WORLD

WWW.VOTEFORCHANGE.COM

Until we return - check out - The Fashion Bomb

Until we return check out - "Shake Your Beauty by Tia Williams"

Tia Williams, 32, lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with her husband, Adam Cabezas. In 1997, she graduated from University of Virginia with a BA in English and moved to New York City after landing a plum editorial assistant position at Doubleday Books. After grouchily reading other people’s manuscripts for a year, she realized that she was a frustrated writer and joined the staff of YM as Beauty Assistant. She went on to work her way up the mastheads of Elle, Glamour and Lucky, and finally, landed the Beauty Director position at Teen People.

Tia, a Fairfax, Virginia native, has covered beauty and fashion trends on shows like MTV’s Total Request Live, CNN, and the WB Morning Show—where, in 2002, she enjoyed a year-long stint reviewing award show looks, Joan Rivers-style (but far sweeter!). In 2001, Tia briefly left the magazines to teach English in Seville, Spain--and ended up writing a manuscript. The novel, THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA (Putnam), hit bookstores in May 2004. An excerpt ran in Cosmopolitan, and the book received glowing coverage in Marie Claire, Essence, Lucky, Elle, Shape, Allure, Today’s Black Woman, Publisher’s Weekly, The New York Times, and The New York Daily News. Tia was also nominated for the African-American Literary Award Show’s Breakout Author of the Year!

In April ’05, Tia left the magazine world to become a full-time author. She co-wrote Iman’s makeup book, THE BEAUTY OF COLOR (Putnam, Oct. ’05) and penned the first novel in her young adult series, THE IT CHICKS (Hyperion/Disney, Spring ’07)—the second installment, SIXTEEN CANDLES, hits stores in May ’08. Tia was an original co-host on Cosmo Radio’s morning show, “Wake Up With Cosmo” (Sirius Satellite Radio), and in ’07, she was In Touch Weekly’s On-Air Personality, covering celebrity news on various television programs. Currently, she’s covering style as the Senior Writer at The Daily/Fashionweekdaily.com. Her three-year-old beauty/style blog, “SHAKE YOUR BEAUTY” has become enormously popular, garnering profiles in Allure, New York Times and WWD, and winning a 2007 Glam.com Network Award for Best Voice/Creative Writing.

Until we return, check out - "Fashion Indie"

Dedicated to the discovery of emerging fashion talent, Fashion Indie Media is the premiere source for emerging fashion, style and the independent lifestyle.


Over 400,000 Indies connect to us each month looking for our unique perspective on the down and dirty world of fashion. A champion for the young designer, Fashion Indie Media has developed a network that connects to over 5,000 fashion designers from around the world.


FashionIndie.com : Updated 30 times daily, FashionIndie.com provides a daily dose of emerging fashion, beauty and style. Street culture, emerging trends, and behind the scene looks at fashion abound on our home page. Features focussed around becoming a designer cater to our trendsetting 18-26 year old reader, which are influencers in the fashion world. Features like Sinners & Saynt, The Bashed, and Interviews of Fashion enthrall our readers and give them a true view of the lifestyle.

John McCain - "Friend of the Gays"

Not in a million years would I have believed how much John McCain really loves the gays! Imagine how excited I was today as a gay man when I awoke to find out that John McCain had selected Karen from "Will and Grace" as his running mate. I was through the moon. Or am I imaging that the current Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, looks a hell of a lot like Megan Mullally.

Way to go John McCain - you have finally done something that no other candidate, Republican nor Democrat, has ever been able to do in the history of politics - - - satisfy Gay men all over the country while royally pissing off our mothers, sisters and fag-hags that we cherish, love and respect. You have just proven that you have little to no respect for women at all... May God help you Mr. McCain - you are really going to need it.

By the way - I hear they are hiring over at the Monty Python Studios and the roll of "Jack-Ass" is all yours - hands down.

p.s. This is not at all to be misconstrued as an idictment of Mrs. Palin, as I am sure she is a very capable woman as Governor of her home State of A-l-a-s-k-a. But unless I need a wild moose shot, an igloo condominum project greenlighted, or a young teenage girl tied down so that she can't have an abortion after making one foolish mistake, I'll simply file her number away for future reference.

YouTube Junkie

I am sure every single blog across the globe today will be featuring highlights from Barack Obama’s masterful speech he gave at the closing of the DNC last night. Well for my contribution, I have decided to share with you all a little treat I found as I was trolling around YouTube like a junkie looking for heroine.

Four years ago, most of us got to witness Barack Obama give the key note address at the DNC in Boston. I can still remember catching the tail end of his speech and being completely upset with myself for not tuning in sooner (where was YouTube when you really needed them). Luckily, Barack’s speech made such an enormous impact that for weeks the pundits found themselves dissecting every syllable this young State Senator had uttered.

Well last night I found this amazing YouTube video of the correspondents covering the convention for PBS immediately after Barack’s speech… In all honesty, I would love to find these same gentlemen sitting at this round table today in order to find out if they could email me the numbers for next week’s lottery. The predictions in this video are absolutely frightening. But I can guarantee you - - - none of them I had any idea how soon their predictions would come true.

I Have A Dream

Can you believe, it was exactly 45 years ago to this very day that Martin Luther King gave the greatest speech of his life.

Tonight Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama will give a speech that will forever change the course of the United States and the World.

BARACK OBAMA for PRESIDENT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

"I HAVE A DREAM"

"I HAVE A DREAM"

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."


I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.



And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Standing at History's Door

If a picture is worth a thousand words - this photo taken immediately after Barack Obama was formally named as the Democratic Nominee for Presidentat of the United States, stands at a word count of approximately 1,398,224,679,908,217!

This day will forever be ingrained in my heart and in the fabric of very being. We are all standing at history's door. Please vote for Barack Obama so we can all finally kick this door in...

Fashion Icon - Diana Vreeland

The greatest four words ever spoken by a fashion icon - "Please don't stand there!"

The Legendary Ms. Diana Vreeland

I am currently reading for perhaps the fourth or fith time in my adult life, "D.V. by Diana Vreeland". Diana Vreeland was one the most wonderfully inventive and creative people to have ever hit the fashion world. Her power was truly found in her ability to make the ordinary into the extraordinary - she coloured the lives of so many people and this book only exemplifies that. When asked if this book was fact or fiction she replied 'faction'. Who cares - it is still one of the most inspiring and delightful books ever written!

Please don't stand there! Diana Vreeland discusses life in the 18th Century as she prepares for the opening of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - circa 1971 (part 2)

Demand to see - "Pray the Devil Back to Hell"

"The film is inspiring, uplifting and is a call to action for all of us"

Desmond Tutu, Winner 1984 Nobel Peace Prize.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is the extraordinary story of a small band of Liberian women who – armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions - came together in the midst of a bloody civil war, took on the warlords, and brought peace to their shattered country.Pray the Devil Back to Hell reconstructs the moment through interviews, archival footage and striking images of contemporary Liberia. It is compelling testimony to the potential of women worldwide to alter the history of nations.