VHS Head – Video Club 6.2

                 Alright, this was the beginning of what actually panned out to be a fully excellent project. Here you’re given glimpses of the interesting production techniques, and forms their songs would eventually take. Unfortunately, they were still in the process of solidifying a few things. You can hear it through each song as they continually refine their sound. 

                Since it is only 4 tracks long (a 15 second piece doesn’t count as a song) it is fairly easy to see which sort of paths they took or didn’t take. “Kinaid” gives hints of their eventual sound. Halfway in they stumble upon something approximating a groove of sorts. Still it is too hyperactive. The next two song suffer from being too unfocused and unenergetic.

                Out of the four, “Video Club” is the winner. Right from the beginning, they tease around with the groove a little bit, baiting you. When they decide to actually deliver on that promise, you’re given a pretty excellent groove. Then a perfect melody comes in the middle of things, and a transition worthy of their full-length comes in. This is the song that convinced me that perhaps their full length might be a thing of true beauty (which it of course ended up being).

                Generally speaking, only “Video Club” is the one worth seeking out. The rest of the tracks show a group working on getting its act together.

Best Dressed Diva Of The Week: Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton was simply breathtaking at the royal wedding. She looked stunning in her ivory chantilly lace Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown.

It was right amount of tradition and modernity. Pure perfection from head to toe!

I am certain the late Princess Diana would be very proud.

Worst Dressed Diva Of The Week: Melba Moore

I love Melba Moore and I admire her going through difficult times and rising up but this ensemble is beyond unforgivable!

It literally looks like she ripped her curtains off at the last moment and wrapped it on her body.

Whomever is responsible for her hair and make-up needs to be haul off and shot! I can't get over her greasy face. Did she put a gallon of vaseline for her face powder?

Now I have to repent for my evil ways!

Rihanna Reb'l Fleur Fragrance Launch At Macy

Rihanna promoted her fragrance " Reb'l Fleur" at Macy's in New York.

Rihanna continues to show her softer side in this fabulous polka-dot Mandalay chiffon dress.

I simply adore the lace and the satin bow detail. It looks like maybe someone is growing up.

She completed her look with a soft up-do and nude Christian Louboutin pointy heels.

Heart-Sick Groans – Look!!! These Three Painters of Hits Have Done It Again 7.7

                   Sweden exports a great deal of cheerful bands. Perhaps there’s a certain struggle with the dark cold place to bring happy joyful music. If that’s the case, then Heart-Sick Groans work tirelessly to make the environment a little warmer, a little happier. With only 15 minutes, they make you wish they had written a few more songs. 

                No worries though. Their music is as casual as casual can be. All the arrangements are ideal, perfect. Right from the beginning “Ballajero Beach” you’re brought into the beginning of summer. Every promise that beginning offers is displayed on this collection of six songs. It breezes by with a smile.

                My favorite song on here would have to be “Last Night Out with the Gang”. Yeah, don’t worry. The song titles give you a pretty good idea of the hanging out vibe existing all over the place. Vocals match the mood set by the instruments themselves. As a personal preference, I enjoy the more low-key, slower tempo songs. 

                The whole thing is great. Reading that they’ve been around since 2007, I hope they continue to keep putting out sweet little gems. For while I would enjoy every group releasing albums, I understand that may not work out the best for all bands. Heart-Sick Groans do this music out of a sense of love for the sound, and you can really hear it.

The Zen of Boredom

                “The Pale King” David Foster Wallace’s last book came out right in time for tax day. I’ve never read any of his work before but I have started my ritual stalking of the author’s life details, focus, writing style, etc. Usually when I decide whether or not to read an author’s work, I do some preliminary research on whether or not I can relate to the work at hand. Thomas Pynchon went through this phase before I got “Gravity’s Rainbow” and James Joyce went through this before I got “Finnegans Wake” (though in hindsight probably should have started with “Ulysses”). For “The Pale King” I feel the subject matter may appeal to me.

                According to the little I’ve gleaned from reading about it, it focuses on the idea of boredom as a form of Zen. Characters have to figure out exactly how to handle the often tedious nature of their work. I first put my hands on this book in perhaps the best place for tedium, the Port Authority, a place completely devoted to transit and devoid of any meaningful kind of entertainment, interest, or much of a purpose besides housing countless bus lines going to places of dubious interest. New Paltz, I love you but you’re really quite small in the grand scheme of things. 

                I’ve been thinking about that one central idea, the ability to find enlightenment in the most boring places imaginable. Over five years have passed since I began my training under the best dull had to offer. Working in an office sort of prepares you for near-useless, archaic knowledge that may or may not be transferable anywhere else. But while some of that knowledge may not have value, it does teach you the importance of killing time and learning how to appreciate others. How do you manage your time to make sure you accomplish whatever has been set in front of you while still creating a small amount of time for human interaction. Any office job virtually guarantees you’ll learn this skill or go hopelessly insane. 

                Balance is the best word I’d have for this, but it is somewhat incomplete. Sometimes you need to do both work and focus on people at the same time. Zen might be the phrase for this, where you focus on your work peripherally while you are emotionally attached to what is going on around you. Concentration is needed for this skill and you do need a certain amount of knowledge in order to pull this off, but the rewards are amazing. Essentially you are able to do two things at once. While computer screens whiz by as you have the hot-keys memorized, you’re able to avoid being deadened by the sheer tedious nature of the data, of the information. You are aware it is there and what you need to do to interact with it, but you shouldn’t try engaging with it on a heavier level. 

Focusing too intensely on work can often lead to feelings of sourness, of questioning other people’s contributions. This is what I would call the ‘sour’ phase of work, one you really ought to avoid. Questioning what others do or how valuable they are isn’t something that you, as a mere peon (I doubt I have many managers reading this) should be doing in the first place. You’ll begin to put a value on everything everyone does, giving a monetary rather than a more human response. Eventually you may become more emotionally distant from your coworkers and you’ll notice a certain tension growing between you and them. Sure, there will always be egregious examples of the ‘useless’ coworker and that will happen. But try to limit the amount of these negative thoughts. Instead, try to focus on similarities or what you enjoy about the person, that way if criticism ever comes up you can offer ‘constructive’ criticism rather than something bitter.

Waiting forms another large chunk of time we have to spend. New York is a prime example. The city never sleeps since there are so many things to wait for, from buses, trains, lines, tickets, money, food and etc. That’s why I thrive in a city environment. I never understood why people say “in a New York minute”. Nothing I consider worth doing takes a minute or less. Connections mess up. You forget what line to take. Food preparation takes a long time. If anything, I feel by having a giant metropolis you have to accept the idea things will move slowly and ‘all representatives are currently assisting others. The next available representative will be on the line to assist you shortly.’ 

That’s why I can be a sloth in the city. I know how to wait. I know how to be bored. I know I may not always make everything, every train or meeting at a precise time that I want. Automatically I build this into everything I do. Occasionally I’m even given little electronic boards which tell me when the next train is coming, but I can’t really do anything to make things move faster. My expectation remains I may or may not get lucky or my own intuition may improve. Keeping this in mind I have a few different scenarios play out in my head as I’m on my way somewhere, each serving as a back for any given situation.  

David Foster Wallace brought me to think about this expectation we create. I’m not sure whether or not his deliberate goal was to make us think about how we use time or how we interact with others, but I’m glad he decided to focus on such a massive part of our lives. A part of our lives edited out of books, writing and so forth rather than celebrated in its own right. So much writing edits out the gritty little details leaving us with a glossy sheen which is why his posthumous novel excites me. Does a broken escalator force people to move faster since they have the idea it should be moving faster, or do people enjoy running up stairs to see if they can beat that languid machine? I see this all the time, of the little kid outrunning his parents by taking the stairs. Then he stands up on top, thinks, and waits for them to realize the folly of their ways. He’s not even thinking about the extra time he’ll be up there, waiting for them. For the child, he has focus and understands the importance of waiting, of boredom. 

Boredom can be a relieving factor. It can drive people crazy. For literally the least interesting thing in the world, it is a surprisingly divisive issue. Maybe I should get “The Pale King”. What do you think?

5th Annual DKMS Gala

Stunning, Stunning and beyond Stunning!

I actually took my life savings and hire multitudes of scientists to study the beauty of Iman and discover why this woman doesn't age!

The supermodel looks sensational in her fuchsia silk chiffon Jason Wu dress. The color is glowing on her perfect skin-tone.

She completed her look a sleek bob, turquoise earrings and a fuchsia clutch.


Rihanna was honored at the event for her work with finding Leukemia sufferers bone marrow donors.

I love it when she switch things up and look sophisticated and elegant. The singer looks beyond beautiful in her black lace Louis Vuitton peplum dress.

She completed her look with a soft up-do and flawless make-up.


Eva Mendes looks great in her delicate sheer overlay Prabal Gurung dress. I adore the contrast of the black waistband and the crinkle pleated bodice.

She completed her look with a messy ponytail which I am on the fence about and black Casadei pumps.


This is the best that I've ever seen Keri Hilson look! The singer is giving me sexy glamour in her white cut-out Versace dress. "The Girls" are perky and on point.

I am looooving everything about this look from her sleek blond bob to her flawless make-up.


I am not a fan of 100 pounds of weave on top of your head, but I am looooving Solange funky wild afro!

I wish I could say the same about her draped Grecian Halston dress. It's just way tooo much draping and it just look beyond sloppy. I feel the dress needed to be one size smaller.


Leighton Meester looks divine in her chocolate satin one-shoulder Vera Wang dress.

She completed her look with side swept hair and gold satin Brian Atwood heels.

Which Diva Wore It Better? Shala Monroque Or Iman?

Shala Monroque Or Iman

The fabulous Shala Monroque first wore this gorgeous fuchsia silk chiffon Jason Wu dress to 7th annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Funds Awards. She paired her dress with her trademark royal blue turban and dangling earrings.

Supermodel Iman wore hers last night to the 5th Annual DKMS gala. There is no words for how magnificent Iman looks. The woman is a superhero when it comes to beauty and fashion. She completed her look with a sleek bob and a fuchsia clutch.

Both of these women are "Fashion Icons" so this is an extremely tough decision. I just love Shala's pop of color turban so she wins!

The Royal Wedding!

Finally, This royal wedding is over! I am probably the only one in the world who didn't care about this wedding. I love Kate and Prince William but the media just turned their wedding into a circus.

The wedding costed 70 million dollar! Yes, you heard me right. I am sorry but with all the starving children and homeless people in this world, how can you justify such an enormous amount of money for a wedding? I know the royal family do a great amount of charity work but that is still ridiculous.

When I woke up this morning and view the pictures, I did get a little emotional because she looked beyond stunning in her ivory French chantilly lace full skirt Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress.

Her beautiful train is over six feet long and her "Halo" tiara was made by Cartier.

Kate kept the balance of tradition and modernity with artistic vision which is classic Alexander McQueen.

Instyle has more gorgeous pictures and details from the wedding.

Michelle Obama In Duro Olowu

Duro Olowu Spring 2010

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama was in Chicago to taped an episode of Oprah which is airing on Monday.

Michelle Obama is truly a Fashion Icon. She loves taking risk and experimenting with unique designers.

She have worn designer Duro Olowu vibrant designs on numerous occasions. This time she opted for a modify version of a multi print silk dress from his Spring 2010 collection.

She completed her fabulous look with orange kitten heels.

Catwalk – (Please) Don’t Break Me 7.0

               Catwalk prove the 80s phenomena has moved towards the mid to late 80s.The singer’s voice brings up images of  Morrissey, with a bit of haze thrown in for good measure. With only two songs, it is a little difficult to judge exactly how they plan on moving forward with the sounds, but it sounds like promising work.

                “(Please) Don’t Break Me” has just the right amount of jangly guitar and percussion. The drums are mixed rather low, almost at a distance. However, the tambourine feels like it is right there and figures prominently in the mix. I enjoy the far away vocals, and the song itself has a pleasant, spring-time vibe to it. Now that spring has begun I can better appreciate this kind of music.

                Meanwhile, “No Room for Love” takes a more low-key approach, befitting of a B-side. It possesses lower energy. The quiet works well for it. Listening, I hear the late 80s filtered into my head. Personally, I sort of miss that kind of music so I have a bit of a bias on this sound.

                These are both solid, enjoyable songs. I want more from this California-raised band. Hopefully they'll finish up their EP releasing streak and get on top of getting us a full-length.

US Weekly Hot Hollywood Party

When Camilla Alves steps into a room, I don't care how secure you are, she will make you run to the bathroom for a quick touch-up!

The gorgeous model wore a beautiful red satin trim bustier Dolce & Gabbana dress that fits her like a glove.

She completed her look with soft curls and black pointy heels.


I love Garcelle Beauvais because she always give me delicious color.

The actress looks beyond fabulous in her tangerine draped cowl neck dress.

She completed her look with curly locks and hot gold strappy sandals.


This is a perfect example of how hair and accessories can ruin an ensemble!

Dania Ramirez turquoise woven detail asymmetric dress is cute but you can't focus on it due to everything else going on.

Her up-do ponytail looks silly, her turquoise earrings are too much and her metallic bag looks cheap.

The only thing I like is her nude peep-toe heels.


Tatyana Ali wore a sexy LBD paired with some fabulous black bucked strappy sandals.


Whitney Ports always get it right. She looks incredible in her white multi color Guishem one-shouldered dress. This is something that I will rock everyday of the week!

I am lusting over her stunning blue cage and lace-up Giuseppe Zanotti platforms!


Now this is how to rock a jumper! Caroline D'Amore looks fantastic in her rust silk seventy inspire jumper.

She is pure perfection from her great short hairstyle to her marvelous statement necklace.


I still can't believe Jessica Simpson has a billion dollar empire with her shoes and handbags but yet you never ever see her in her own design. I guess she must be allergic to plastic!

On this occasion she wore a great graphic printed Etro dress. She is finally wearing silhoutes that complments her body.

Don't get me wrong, I like Simpson's shoes but you can't compare them to these gorgeous black cork Giuseppe Zanotti wedges she is rocking. They are to die for!


Hayden Panettiere looks lady-like in her black laced Camilla & Marc ensemble. I adore the mixing of her masculine blazer with her feminine dress.

Everybody shoe game is on point tonight. I am loooving her black embellished Jimmy Choo ankle sandals.