Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Mustique Island/Macaroni Beach
Mustique is a private island owned by shareholders of The Mustique Company representing seventeen countries. A controlled development plan dictates that the island currently has one hundred private residences. Seventy-two villas comprise the Villa Collection and are available for weekly rental through Mustique Villa Rentals. It is the island's constant warm climate, private and unspoilt island lifestyle that attracts sophisticated international guests, many who eventually become owners.
Mustique is such a peaceful island that even during peak season, there is little traffic, congestion or noise. Many of the roads are not paved and there is minimal signage, thus there is a very non-commercial feeling to the island. All of the power and telephone lines are underground. You may find yourself totally alone on its white sand beaches and even renowned spots such as lovely Macaroni Beach remain tranquil and uncrowded.
English is the common language but due to an international scope of owners and guests, languages such as French, Italian, German and Dutch are often spoken.
Beaches
Mustique is a picturesque and secluded 1,400 acre island surrounded by nine beaches of pure white sand, with gently swaying coconut palms and warm turquoise waters.
Macaroni Beach is perhaps the most famous of Mustique's beaches and is situated on the east coast of the island. Other popular beaches on the Atlantic or Caribbean are Endeavour, Lagoon, L'Ansecoy and Simplicity. Several beaches have picnic hut facilities. Reservations for picnic tables should be made in advance through the Villa Rentals Department.
Lifestyle & Activities
Mustique has a wide range of recreational activities to enjoy and many heavenly beaches where one can totally relax, sunbathe and picnic. Nature walking and equestrian trails are in abundance and a great way to experience the island at your leisure.
All villas include complimentary use of a vehicle, normally referred to as a "mule". Additional jeeps, horse back ridding, motorcycles and mountain bikes may be rented from Mustique Mechanical Services and more!
Currency : The official currency of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), but most places will accept US dollars.
Passport requirements: Entry requirements vary for each destination, it is your responsibility to verify you have the correct documents prior to travel. July 1, 2005 a valid passport is required for travel to Mustique. January 1, 2006 a valid passport is required for travel to all the Caribbean and Mexico.
Driving : Officially, driving on St. Vincent and in the Grenadines is on the left, but it is unlikely that you'll do much driving around in a car on Mustique.
Time: Mustique falls within Atlantic Standard Time, one hour ahead of the east coast, but does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
Language : Residents of Mustique speak English.
The pictures don't justify Mustique/Macaroni . Be sure to visit
macaronibeach.com
www.cottonhouse.net
I prefer Macaroni Beach but you can always go to Hawaii :)
Monday, September 29, 2008
Dubai Bassics
Nuts-and-bolts information to plan your trip, plus a checklist of essentials to include when you pack.
Planning:
Entry Requirements: U.S. citizens need a valid passport.
Security: Americans visiting Dubai and the U.A.E. are asked to exercise a high level of security awareness as attacks against U.S. citizens are a concern throughout the world. Visit the U.S. Department of State web site for the latest information on the U.A.E. travel.state.gov/travel/
Time: Dubai is nine hours ahead of U.S. eastern standard time during the winter and eight hours ahead during the summer (Daylight Saving Time).
Money: The currency of Dubai is the United Arab Emirate Dirham (AED, Dhs,or Dh). For current conversion rates go to OANDA Currency Converter. www.oanda.com/convert/classic
Phone Calls: U.A.E.’s country code is +971, Dubai’s area code is (0) 4. Local mobile numbers in Dubai come with a (0) 50 or (0) 55 prefix. For international calls, dial 00 followed by country code.
When to Go: The best time to visit is winter (December to February) when temperatures average 75°F (24°C). From May to September the weather is stifling, averaging 105°F (40°C) in July and August. Other months are fine but very warm.
Getting There: Busy Dubai International Airport (DXB) receives direct flights from New York, Atlanta, and Houston. Other flights from the U.S. generally arrive via London.
Getting Around: Driving in Dubai is on the right side of the road. The top highway speed is around 75 mph (120 kph); traveling within Dubai it’s better to use taxis, which are affordable and plentiful.
Checklist:
Tips: “Pack a light jacket—shopping malls and hotels are air-conditioned to the point of freezing.”—Rachel Sharp, editor-in-chief, Harper’s Bazaar Dubai.
Passport/Visa: U.S. citizens don’t need a visa to enter the U.A.E. if they plan to stay for less than a month. They’ll get a (free) tourist visa stamp on arrival at Dubai’s immigration.
Sunscreen and Self-Tanning Lotion: Dubai’s high temperatures and scorching sun mean you’ll burn fast. Take a high SPF sunscreen. “Forget sunbathing: fake tans save both your skin and time to shop.”—Rachel Sharp.
Hat: A baseball cap or straw sun hat is essential for walks and cruises on Dubai Creek.
Sunglasses: Dubai’s clear skies mean glaring light, especially in summer. Pack strong UV-filtered sunglasses or, as Rachel Sharp suggests, “Buy sunglasses here—designer brands are relatively cheap and there’s a massive selection.”
Footwear: Around the city and swimming pool, sandals or leather flip-flops are best—Dubai specializes in glam varieties. For the desert safari, camel ride, and sandboarding, you’ll need closed shoes (sneakers or hiking boots). Going out? “High-heel girls will be in heaven. Four-inch Christian Louboutins at lunch are the norm.”—Rachel Sharp.
Day Attire: While spaghetti straps and shorts are fine at the beach resort, Emiratis think you’re in your underwear—wear shorts/skirts below the knees and sleeves to the elbows. Loose, long linens and cottons protect the skin, let it breathe, and are respectful of the local culture and Muslim religion. “By day, smart casual will take you almost everywhere, but the more traditional the area you’re in, the more modest you need to be. Throw a pashmina in your handbag so you have it ready as a quick cover-up.”—Claire Turrell, editor, VIVA magazine.
Night Attire: “Leave that subtle little black dress at home—Dubai’s dressing’s all about sparkle and color. We love to dress up—cocktail dresses to brunches aren’t out of the ordinary.”—Rachel Sharp.
Toiletries: Leave them at home. Dubai’s five-star hotel bathrooms have beautiful toiletries, from L’Occitane to Dead Sea products. French cosmetics are often cheaper in tax-free Dubai than they are in France.
Ski Dubai
Who would have ever thought that you could go skiing in the dessert? And not sand-dune skiing either, but real, snow-covered-hills skiing! Dubai is becoming more and more known for making the seemingly impossible, possible and swapping the ordinary for extraordinary! Ski Dubai is the name of the indoor ski dome built into the side of the Mall of the Emirates. The Dubai ski area is one of the biggest attractions for all ages and also one of the most exciting things to do in Dubai, if you can ski! The Dubai indoor ski resort is the first of its kind in the Middle East. The Dubai Ski area provides a chance to snowboard , ski, toboggan or simply play inside the snow-covered dome.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Chic & Swag Friday
NASA officially turns 50 on October 1, but the agency celebrated its golden anniversary with an early birthday party on Sept. 24, 2008, at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.
To work for NASA is my dream job!
nasa
Inspiring Words
Being creative is a birthright inherent with each of us. The problem we have is that we tell ourselves and each other that only certain people are creative and the rest of us are not. All that is required of each of us is to individually give expression to that part of ourselves that is in alignment with that which is uniquely fulfilling, that which brings individually the greatest joy!
UTIMATLY COOL!
Mae Jamisom
Mae Carol Jemison (born October 17, 1956) is an American physician and a former NASA astronaut. She became the first Black woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992.
Amazingly COOL!!!
New York Fashion Week 2009
The new Acropolis Museum in Athens
--wallpaper
The Museum of Arts and Design’s
Universe Tugged by Mysterious 'Dark Flow'
The galaxy cluster 1E 0657-56 (known as the Bullet Cluster) lies 3.8 billion light-years away. It's one of hundreds that appear to be carried along by a mysterious cosmic flow.
"You can climb a ladder up to the sun
Or write a song nobody has sung or do
Something that's never been done"
Via Coldplay
Talk
Discovery
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Beyonce
Born on September 4, 1981, to a loving family in Houston, Texas, Beyonce (rhymes with fiance) Giselle Knowles showed an aptitude for music before she could even talk. As a young girl, she would drown out everyone, including the choir, on Sundays at church. Every weekend, she tuned her voice by doing soulful hymns with the congregation and then moved on to opera classes, in which she was classically trained.
A normal childhood was not in the books for Beyonce. At 8 years old, she met LaTavia Robertson while auditioning for a girl musical group and Matthew Knowles, Beyonce's manager and father, later paired the two with LeToya Luckett. In 1992, cousin Kelly Rowland joined the group, and they performed together on Star Search.
Small gigs and much label-shopping later, the four beauties cemented their relationship by calling themselves Destiny's Child. In 1997, "No, No, No" became their first official single, and they got off to a big start as the track went multiplatinum. The girls were instantly popular in the media and impressed all with their self-titled debut.
If critics were impressed with this new R&B group's success, they were absolutely floored when The Writing's on the Wall hit stores in 1999. DC, led by the incomparable Beyonce, had three top 10 hits within the year: "Jumpin, Jumpin," "Say My Name" and "Bills, Bills, Bills." They became one of the best-selling female groups of recent memory after this second album sold more than 9 million units worldwide. At the same time, it was announced that their single "Independent Women Part 1," off the Charlie's Angels soundtrack, had reached the largest audience ever in the recorded radio airplay -- 140.4 million pairs of ears.
Beyonce was no stranger to award nominations in 2007, however, as her role in the musical Dreamgirls (2006) garnered the star her first official nomination as an actress by none other than the prestigious Golden Globes. She was also awarded the International Artist Award at the 2007 American Music Awards.
Beyonce has gained a lot of recognition on AskMen.com. She was voted as the No. 1 Most Desirable Woman of 2007, so it's understandable why she has a high ranking on our Top 99 list of 2008. With fame, and fortune we just can't seem to get enough of Beyonce.
--askmen
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Manny Mashouf
Bebe Fashion Line
At that time there was a gap in the market as related to women and he saw that. He opened his first Bebe boutique in 1976 and since then the brand has grown to over 240 stores in the US, UK and Canada. It has actually expanded to include babies also.
After 14 years of marriage the couple quietly divorced in January 2007. They have two sons who currently work with the Bebe Company.
The Bebe line seeks to reach a broader audience in the future. Maybe in 5 years every up and coming woman will own a Bebe piece!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Michelle Obama
She was a good student at school and was able to attend Princeton on a scholarship. She had to work through school and rely on her scholarship to get through. A start difference to the other more affluent students. It was her time there that really set Michelle up for the future. She said that it was in that school, that she realized her blackness more than ever. So she made a commitment there, to go back to Chicago and help benefit the black community.
They were married and subsequently have 2 children together, Malia and Sasha.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Nelson Mandela
After the 1948 victory of the National Party with its policy of apartheid, Nelson increasingly became more active in the resistance movement. Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racism that created segregation between the often poorer blacks and the more affluent colonialists.
Influenced by Ghandi, Nelson initially advocated peaceful protest through his membership in the ANC. But in 1961 he became leader of the ANC’s armed wing, and engaged in guerilla activities. He was deemed a terrorist by the government at that time that prevented him entering the United States until July 2008!
During his time in jail Nelson studied for another degree and wrote several books. As mounting criticism of the South Africans system of Apartheid mounted, the sitting government wanted to save face and they reversed their ban on the ANC and released Mr. Mandela after 27 years in jail.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Chic & Swag Friday
The Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest mosque in Istanbul and was built between 1550-1557 AD by Sultan Suleyman I - "Sulyman the Magnificent". Suleyman was the richest and most powerful Sultan of the Ottoman empire.
This Sultan is remembered by the Turks as the one who introduced laws and not by his magnificent title.
He undertook much construction, rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (which was part of the Ottoman Empire 1516), and a lot of monuments throughout his empire.
Inside the mosque you will be impressed by its size and also simplicity: tiles from Iznik and colored glass-work brings harmony to a place of prayer and silence.
Four massive solid columns support the mosque: one from Baalbek, another from Alexandria and two from old Byzantine Palaces.
The paintings inside the mosque are dated from the 19th century and were recently renovated.
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr is an Academy Award-winning American film director, producer, screenwriter and chairman of Lucasfilm. He is the creator of the epic Star Wars saga and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones. Today, Lucas is one of the American film industry's most financially successful independent directors/producers, with an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion.
May the force be with you! :)
Underwater Museum for Egypt Sunken Treasures?
Fiberglass tunnels would connect aboveground galleries, near the New Library of Alexandria, to the underwater facility, where antiquities would be visible in their natural resting places at the site of Cleopatra's now sunken palace.
Evoking sails of Nile feluccas (photo) and the cardinal directions, the glassy, towering "four points [at center] will be like the [long-gone] Lighthouse of Alexandria that illuminated the [ancient] library and the world," said Jacques Rougerie, lead architect for the feasibility study. "I want to do the same thing with this museum."
—Illustration courtesy Jacques Rougerie
Mediterranean Landscape
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Natalie Portman
When it comes to Hollywood, beauty and brains don’t often mix. The most intelligent actresses are called “interesting” and the beautiful women are sought after for their sense of fashion and flair. Natalie Portman embodies the best of both worlds. Beauty and brains.
She was discovered in a pizza parlor at the age of 11 and debuted in the 1984 movie ,”Leon”. Since then she has starred in the popular "Star Wars" franchise, Mars Atacks!, "V for Vendetta" among others. Even though Natalie is a talent in Hollywood, she still finds time to dedicate to others by being an advocate for their causes. She currently serves as a an Ambassador of Hope for FICNA, a group dedicated to micro lending to help promote the establishment of women owned businesses in the developing world. Natalie is very vocal and has the ability to speak about her role as an advocate. She has been interviewed on PBS Foreign affairs show, initially rather reluctantly by the interviewer but he commented on the level of knowledge that she knew about her causes.
She currently serves as a an Ambassador of Hope for FICNA, a group dedicated to micro lending to help promote the establishment of women owned businesses in the developing world. Natalie is very vocal and has the ability to speak about her role as an advocate. She has been interviewed on PBS Foreign affairs show, initially rather reluctantly by the interviewer but he commented on the level of knowledge that she knew about her causes. Natalie is more than a Hollywood starlet who seeks a cause for fashion. She is true to her beliefs in many ways….even wearing shoes by Target as part of her vegan lifestyle…she does not wear animal products.
Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala
Born in a mountain village on Naboo 46 years before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Padmé Naberrie is known successively by her Name of State as Queen Amidala and Senator Amidala. She is a key politician in the Galactic Republic who holds to the principles of democracy and rule of law.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Kurt Cobain
There’s something very American about a death of a rock star. The story of Kurt Cobain’s life and death have that ring to it. The leader of the grunge rock group, "Nirvana", Kurt Cobain lead at times a tortured life.
Born in Seattle in 1967, Kurt’s parents divorced when he was only 7 years old. Their separation had a profound affect on the young Kurt. he felt shunted around from family member to family member and as his rebellious nature grew.Therefore, is parents had less effect on his life. He was a sickly child suffering from frequent bouts of bronchitis and as he became older a chronic undiagnosed stomach complaint.
When Kurt was eleven, he heard the sounds of the "Sex Pistols" and so began his progression to full fledged musician. He had several bands as a teenager, but it was after meeting Kris Novoselic, that the band "Nirvana" was born. With the addition of drummer Dave Grohl, the band line up was complete. Their first album "Bleach" was a moderate success, but it was with the release of their subsequent album "Never mind that Nirvana" was propelled into success. Their song, "Smells like Teen Spirit" was an iconic song for he 90’s. It was during this time that Kurt met Courtney Love (Singer with grunge band Hole) and married her after she was pregnant with their daughter, Frances Bean. Their relationship was tumultuous to say the least. They fought the Los Angeles Department of Child services for custody of their two week old daughter, after she was removed from their home, after it was known that Courtney was using heroin when she was pregnant.
Drug use became a huge part of their lives with Kurt suffering an overdose in Italy. Kurt was becoming more and more disenfranchised with his rock life. He worried that he had sold out to his music integrity, after he discovered a woman was gang raped by two men who sang the lyrics to his song "Polly”. His behavior became more and more erratic and it is at this point that things become to get fuzzy. He went into rehab (which he ran away from.) And on April 8th 1994 he was found dead in an adjacent apartment to his Washington home.The coroner concluded that he had died from a heroin overdose.he was found with three times the lethal limit of heroin in his blood, and a gunshot wound to the head. A private detective hired by Courtney to find him, who feel that Kurt was murdered. All can agree with the death of Kurt, a moment in time that was dedicated to teen spirit had sadly ended.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington entered Fordham University in 1972 to begin work on a college degree in pre-medicine. To pay his expenses, he acquired several loans and ran an after-school baby-sitting service at a Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Manhattan. He dropped out of school one semester due to poor grades and worked at the post office and then as a trash collector, but soon returned to Fordham. During a summer job at a camp, he made a recitation on stage that set the direction of his career. He was lauded for his natural acting ability and enrolled in a theater workshop. Changing his career plans, he dropped pre-medicine as a major and embraced journalism. While at Fordham he starred in two student drama productions, The Emperor Jones and Othello. In 1977 he had a professional offer to act in Wilma, the story of track star Wilma Rudolph, a movie made for television. Meanwhile, Washington completed his college degree with a double major in drama and journalism.
Washington took breaks from St. Elsewhere to appear in movies. In 1984 he starred in
Washington's trademark for success in portraying a character has been to learn as much about the individual as possible, including his social, historical, and political environments and displaying physical traits. With this kind of dedication and zeal to be true to the character, Washington has established himself as a leading actor in the movie industry.
gale
celebwelove
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Roots
Formed in the heartland of neo-soul, Philadelphia, The Roots , are known for their use of live instruments while creating the sound of hip hop. They have a jazzy/neo-soul edge that makes them stand out.
In 1997 the group was formed by Ahmir and Tariq, who both attended Philadelphia school for the creative arts. They started playing underground, with Ahmir on the drums and Tariq rhyming on top. They began known for their sound on Philadelphia’s South street.
A short time after, two new members joined the group and completed the formation of The Roots.
The group worked hard for a few years but decided to go to London for a year to gain some experience on the ground. They made their first album "Organix" and used the profits to maintain their life in London. After recording their second album Do You Want More???!!, their popularity increased, they acquired a recording contract with Geffen Records, and they returned forthwith to the US with a new energy, and the promise of better things to come.
In their recording career they have had numerous collaborations with artists such as Erykah Badu and they performed with Jay Z on his fade to black tour. Even though the groups members have changed through out the years the groups mission remains the same--to make real hip hop in their own way and style.
After eight studio albums the Roots are still to find the worldwide success, that other hip hop artists have attained.But, they have stayed true to their musical roots.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Chic & Swag Friday
The Qur’an[1] (Arabic: القرآن al-qur’ān, literally "the recitation"; also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran or Al-Qur’ān) is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believe the Qur’an to be the book of divine guidance and direction for mankind, and consider the original Arabic text to be the final revelation of God.[2][3][4][5] Islam holds that the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad by the angel Jibrīl (Gabriel) over a period of 23 years.[2][6][7] Muslims regard the Qur’an as the culmination of a series of divine messages that started with those revealed to Adam, regarded in Islam as the first prophet, and continued with the Suhuf Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham),[8] the Tawrat (Torah),[9][10] the Zabur (Psalms),[11][12] and the Injeel (Gospel).[13][14][15] The aforementioned books are not explicitly included in the Qur’an, but are recognized therein.[16][17] The Qur’an also refers[18] to many events from Jewish and Christian scriptures, some of which are retold in comparatively distinctive ways from the Bible and the Torah, while obliquely referring to other events described explicitly in those texts.
The revelation of the Qur'an began in the laila al-qadr of Ramadan (one of the odd nights after the 21st till end Ramadan) after the Prophet Muhammad had passed the fortieth year of his life (that is around the year 610), during his seclusion in the cave of Hira' on a mountain near Makka.
Larry David creator of "Seinfeld"
Hotel Tierra Atacama by Rodrigo Searle y Matías Gonzallez
Museum Liaunig
Museum Liaunig a project of industrialist and art collector Herbert W. Liaunig near Neuhaus in Carinthia, Austria was open last week. The Austrian architects Querkraft designed this new museum which houses the contemporary art and gold objects collected by Herbert W. Liaunig. The museum Liaunig projects out on two sides over steep-sided ground. The new museum looks more like a work of land art. But only a small part of the museum building is visible.
cookedbrains