S: Is for spending gone aray!

We are a country going into a recession. In a spirit of "generosity" Congressional leaders and the White House will dole out $600 to individuals to help out an ailing economy. Yet Democrats and Republicans have raised more than $582 million for their 2008 presidential campaigns. For what? To slander, to pollute our skies with their state to state romps. Am I the only one that sees this as hypocritical? With the office of president comes a great deal of power, power that could be used to set an example. What if instead of all the parties, the dinners, the racking up of frequent flyer miles they went to New Orleans and rebuilt a school. You don't think that wouldn't get votes and or press? We spend too much time and money on the presidential election. Campaigning is a demonstration and economic booster for the printer and marketing companies. In election years there is always a paper shortage. F.A.C.T. Isn't our environment a crucial issue? It is easy to fall into a category of ignorance, but if we ever want to make a difference, we need to start somewhere. The big deal as of late is Obama $6.1 million to McCain's $2.2 million. Did you know candidates who accept public funding are eligible for about $85 million, which is paid for by a $3 checkoff on IRS tax return forms. If a candidates reject public funds it would be historic rejection of the public financing system. No major party candidate has ever rejected public funds for the general election since the system was put in place in the 1970s after the Watergate scandal. John McCain's campaign today is drawing unwelcome scrutiny from the agency that monitors US elections in a dispute that could reverberate if he faces Barack Obama in November's general election. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) released a letter to McCain today that questions his ability to withdraw from the presidential public financing system – and avoid the spending limits that come with it. The FEC asked McCain to explain whether he used public funds as collateral for a $1m bank loan last month, a move that would commit him to a taxpayer-funded campaign. The query is especially awkward on a day the senator is fighting allegations he had an affair with a lobbyist, and given that he has blasted Obama for appearing to hedge on his pledge to accept public financing for the general election. McCain's $1m loan, was taken out just before the New Hampshire primary. The loan effectively wagered that McCain would continue winning future primaries – which he did, taking South Carolina and Florida soon afterward – allowing him to pay back the bank with new donations. Cash strapped Hillary Clinton asks supporters to dig deep for the underdog pleading with voters to stick with her and telling donors they must help to “level the playing field” before crunch elections on March 4. Figures published showed Mrs Clinton’s campaign would have ended January about $4 million in the red if she had not lent it $5 million of her own money. Mr Obama, by contrast had almost $20 million cash in hand. Debts include $2 million owed to her chief strategist, Mark Penn, and unpaid bills for insurance, phone banks, printing and catering. Obama is appealing for still more donors so that his total of more than 900,000 contributors will hit seven figures before March 4.

I think the focus needs to change. How many lives could of been changed with the amount of money spent? How many people healed? How many people could of been educated? Imagine the dent if the money went to admissions and the environment. Imagine, imagine, imagine and maybe someday it will be a F.A.C.T.

T: Is for toys that encourage!

For the past four days I have been working the Toy Fair. Once a year children's ware is set out for the display of venders, tradesmen and the press. Since I was working I had the chance to view and then to pass onto you some of the most exciting things out there for kids. So for the next couple of Thursdays watch for these innovative items to cross these pages. Tonight I focus on books with toys that enhance the joy of reading. I have always loved reading at it is this passion that has me ravng about these three companies.

On Tuesday I wrote about Seuret and Sunday in the Park, MerryMakers a company founded in 1993 provides dolls and toys based on children's books as well as museum collections. A couple of there products include "Princess Baby" a poor baby, no one calls her by her real name! Wearing a shiny crown, a fancy dress, sparkly shoes, a velvet cape, and glittery jewels, pays off in the end. Now your child can be the Princess she has always wanted to be.

Bad Kitty turns bad when her family runs out of her favorite food, this is really a clever alphabet book for kids. The kitty is a gasp in horror and set against a series of vegetables, alphabetically arranged from asparagus to zucchini. For those allergic to the real thing and even those who are kitty lovers this betwixt feline will sure to win you over.






My favorite when I learned the story was a hippo and Tortoise. In December 2004, a frightened young hippo, separated from his family by a devastating tsunami, bonded with an Aldabra tortoise named Mzee. The 130 year-old tortoise accepted Owen as his own, and an inseparable bond was forged. This true story will have every child wanting this duo on their bed.


The next company is out of the UK. Jasmine is a butterfly girl, half human, half bug, so she’s just like you only she can fly and talk to the animals of the forest. Jasmine and all her Butterfly friends are the protectors of nature. But Jasmine, is growing concerned. So much damage is being caused to Mother Nature that the girls are working extra hard to keep it safe, but they need help. This is the first in a series by the little humbug company and is sure to be a collectors item while teaching children about the environment.

Last but not least by Madame ALexandra are the EthiDolls, an African Dolls Educational Signature Collection Featuring: Historic African Women Leaders. Again a series the first is Queen Makeda & King Solomon’s Extraordinary 3000 Year-Old Story.
Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, is depicted as she probably looked at the height of her glorious reign. Handwoven in Ethiopia by artisans using ancient methods, the costume is an authentic Ethiopian design with a traditional border of gold, lapis lazuli, ruby red and the emerald green colors of her kingdom. Her lustrous black hair is braided from the front to back in a long, natural wave. The storybook is beautifully illustrated by a young Ethiopian artist. The CD provides a compelling narration of Makeda’s rise to the throne. Her legendary journey to Jerusalem to visit King Solomon still speaks to us today.

If you teach a child to read you give them the world and that is a rich F.A.C.T.

C: Is for Cash for Voicing your Opinions!

One of the many ways I have made ends meet in past years is focus groups. It is a quick interesting way to pick up substantial check while participating in the decision making of advertising, packaging and product placement. The abundance of Advertising Agencies who need "feedback" for many of their client products are extensive as we live in the advertising capitol of the world.  Focus groups typically meet in midtown Manhattan for an hour or two and pay anywhere from $75-$300 and often include lunch or dinner.  Many people have asked me how I got into this and where they too can join in. The firm that I have the most respect for is called "Focus On Recruiting".  Their unique approach to recruitment comes from working in the technology, marketing, and financial service industries for over 12 years. If you go to www.focusgroupcash.com and fill out our questionnaire, you too can participate. It takes less than 3 minutes and your information will NOT be shared with any advertisers. It is an easy way to make some quick funding.  You could be voicing your opinion on financial services, medical, pharmaceutical, consumer, children, media, politics, and business-to-business. They personally contact each applicant and interview you prior to acceptance. 

If you are a company looking for a Focus Group Recruiter I also recommend this company. There has never been a group that the participants have not been well rounded and talkative. Their marketing database is always growing and constantly evolving. Their engineers allows recruiters to properly screen based on client specific criteria. Using algorithms; they utilizes enhanced technology believing that everything begins from a database.

I can not say enough good things about this company. It is a F.A.C.T that feedback is needed to make a product more successful with Focus on Recruiting both sides win and that is a productive F.A.C.T.

A: Is for the melding of science and emotion

One of the most illuminating shows New York has seen in years was “George Seurat: The Drawings,” at the Museum of Modern Art. Seurat, is one of the great late 19th century visionaries. In the musical theatre community Seurat is valued because of the musical Stephen Sondheim wrote about his masterpiece, “Sunday on the Island of Grand Jatte,” a revival which opened to rave reviews at the Roundabout and is still playing. Seurat took to heart the color theorists' notion of a scientific approach to painting. He believed that a painter could use color to create harmony and emotion in art in the same way that a musician uses variation in sound and tempo to create harmony in music. Seurat theorized that the scientific application of color was like any other natural law, and he was driven to prove this conjecture. He thought that the knowledge of perception and optical laws could be used to create a new language of art using lines, color intensity and color. Seurat called this language Chromoluminarism. We see Seurat’s works through the sketches he made in preparation for his paintings. Invariably you notice that the effect of the soft pencil on the heavy paper is to create a pointillisme that pointed to what he would do on canvas. One such drawing is “The Zone (Outside the City Walls),” shows the silhouette of a young woman against a background that, though sketchily drawn, suggests the harshness, the coldness of the pre-suburban space on the outskirts of Paris. It is a reminder that even in his mastserwork, “Sunday,” the figures have a sense of isolation that signifies the tensions of modern life despite the ostensible beauty of their surroundings and costumes. In his drawings you see what a consummate draftsman he was. His gifts at conveying character are manifest in many of the works that were on display, nowhere more impressive than in several portraits of his parents. The profound emotional effects he creates come not from his gift for line, evident in many drawings, but from his ability to create masses of shading. One simply stands in awe before them.

Seurat captured humanity and you too can enjoy his work at The Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and The Pierpont Morgan Library. There is an upsurge in the works of Seurat because he touches places within us and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for fashion continued

Last Monday I wrote about the International Couture Show held at the Weston. I saw six designers but only had time to write about two, so here is the continuation.

Haya Al-Houti a Kuwaiti fashion designer was made to design for film and stage. Designing several evening and wedding dresses she captured the attention and imagination as her creations took a powerful strut down the runway. This was the second time the designer made an impact on the New York fashion scene. Producing 21 separate pieces she claimed to be inspired by the era of the sixties. The colors were rich and were reflected of sun rises and sunsets. Her creations are a breathtaking combinations of satins, sliks, chiffon, organza, tull and lace with rich beading and jeweled embellishments. Al Houti shows a taste for the theatrical and humorous and though she dresses The royality of the world it is this writers recommendation to become a costume designer. For this work yearns for a bigger stage and a larger audience.

Next up was Catalin Botezatu whose show transitioned you to an all black collection! It reminded me of My Fair Lady goes into morning and instead of at the track they are woefully walking down the runway towards a funeral. Exquisitely crafted this collection was morbid. Catalin Botezatu hails from Romania and was named "Designer of the Year" six years in a row by VIP Magazine (Romania), and has twice been presented with the "Award for Excellency in Fashion" by Fashion TV Romania, Carlo, Cannes, Moscow, Budapest, Ibiza, Malta, Sun City South Africa and Windock Namibia. He recently showed his designs as part of the Ford Agency's Supermodel of the Year competition in Las Vegas. I have previous admired this designers work but this collection left me wanting a color and life infusion.

New York's International Couture show is well produced and gives you a taste of what the other fashion designers in the world have in their minds eye. I highly recommend it if you are looking for that eye popping awards gown or gala to attend and that is a high fashion F.A.C.T.