S: Is for Stories that Inspire!

I apologize for the column being late but I ended up in the emergency room again Thursday, due to complications from my fall at Duane Reade and the stress it has caused. I know that there are a lot of people like me who when asked if they want an ambulance think of the cost involved and think it unnecessary, but this is your health and your life, and it is precious. I am learning that more and more as this goes on. I hope those of you who read me, store this in the back of your heads because nobody tells you these things and it is important. Here are children who are making a difference and ways you can join them.


Megan's Library of Love book drive began in 2006, in memory of a student who passed away at Cedar Grove-Belgium Middle School as a tribute to her. The project was formed out of the desire to honor Megan, to help the community heal, and to make a difference in the life of others. Students whose memories of Megan, were the diligent help she gave to her and her enthusiasm for learning and reading gave way to create the Library of Love. Every February, on Megan's birthday, fifth graders at Cedar Grove-Belgium Middle School collect donations of newly purchased books and send them to a school in need. The "Love books" are truly a gift of love meant to inspire reading and learning. Students earn the money for postage by writing letters to local businesses. The fifth graders also have the responsibility of labeling every book with a Library of Love sticker, sorting the books into categories, and packing all the books for shipping. In the two years since the Library of Love project began, students have collected over 5000 newly purchased books to send to schools in need. In 2006, 3419 books were sent to St. Bernard's Parish to help rebuild their school library after Hurricane Katrina devastated the community. In 2007, 1613 books were sent to White Mountain School in Alaska, who lost their high school in a fire. Students look forward to sending the gift of reading to other schools in the future. You can also help by sending a newly purchased book suitable for a K-12 school library to: Megan's Library of Love c/o The Fifth Graders Cedar Grove-Belgium Middle School 321 North Second Street Cedar Grove, WI 53013. You can also nominate a school in need of books to build a library by Emailing manderso@cgbsd.com or
tgerlach@cgbsd.com or czablocki@cgbsd.com Include the name, address, contact person, and phone number of the school, as well as a description of the needs of the school being nominated.

Melissa Poe was just 9 years old when she began a campaign for a cleaner environment by writing a letter to then President Bush. Through her own efforts, her letter was reproduced on over 250 donated billboards across the country. The response to her plea for help was so overwhelming that Poe established Kids For A Cleaner Environment (Kids F.A.C.E.) in 1989. There are now 300,000 members of Kids FACE worldwide and is the world's largest youth environmental organization. Poe has also petitioned the National Park Service to implement a "Children's Forest" project in every national park. In 1992, she was invited as one of only six children in the world to speak at the Earth Summit in Brazil as part of the Voices of the Future Program. In 1993, she was given a Caring Award for her efforts by the Caring Institute. Since the organization started, Kids F.A.C.E. members have distributed and planted over 1 million trees! Ongoing tree-planting projects include the creation of Kid's Yards - backyard wildlife habitats and currently Kids F.A.C.E. is involved in the exciting Earth Odyssey, which is a great way to start helping. "Starting the club turned out to be a way to help people get involved with the environment. Club members started doing things like recycling, picking up litter and planting trees as well as inviting other kids to join their club." "We try to tell kids that it's not OK to be a slacker," she explains. "You need to start being a responsible, environmentally friendly person now, pronto, before you become a resource-sucking adult." To learn more log onto http://www.kidsface.org/

When 11-year-old Aubyn Burnside heard about how many children in foster care programs are forced to carry their belongings in garbage bags because they cannot afford suitcases, she was shocked and saddened. "I thought they must feel like garbage themselves," she said. So, Aubyn founded Suitcases for Kids, dedicating herself to ensuring that every child in foster care would have a bag of his or her own. In the beginning, Aubyn spent her time making posters and local speeches in her community of Hickory, North Carolina. "In January of 1995, I expected to start seeing some donations of suitcases. I figured people would be getting new luggage as Christmas gifts, and in turn would get rid of their old luggage." But for three weeks, she received nothing. Determined not to give up, Aubyn and her mother visited the Salvation Army, and purchased 31 suitcases for $15. This helped launch her organization and eventually donor suitcases started arriving in mass quantities. Six years later, Aubyn has collected over 25,000 suitcases, and her charity has chapters in every state and in over ten foreign countries. She has been recognized in the National Geographic Hall of Fame, inducted into the National Caring Institute in Washington, D.C., and received an award from Prudential for spirit in her community. But, Aubyn is modest about her organization's overwhelming success. "It has to be a shocking experience for these kids," she says, "and I just wanted to help."
Aubyn and her mother hit the road at least once a week, speaking at churches, schools, and local community groups. Each time they leave behind a starter kit so other kids can get involved - and a message of hope. Aubyn says, "Age is no limit. Kids scan do whatever they set their mind on doing. And one kid can make a difference." Aubyn's main goal became to train people to automatically donate their unused suitcases, backpacks, and duffels to children in foster care. She hopes it becomes as automatic for people -- just like recycling glass and newspaper. To learn more and to donate log onto http://www.suitcasesforkids.org/SuitcaseNeeds.htm or you can write Aubyn at: P. O. Box 1144 Hickory, NC 28603

In order to make a difference you do not have to be anything but creative and caring and then what difference you can make. Now these are F.A.C.T.S. that make living inspired.

T: Is for Tax Returns Speaking Volumes!

I had already decided to write this column when I saw this commercial of Hillary Clinton begging for money claiming she was broke. Though it has made me unpopular, I have never liked the Clinton's. I mean these are people who destroyed many lives. So why does no one remember and why would anyone want her running a country? After all Whitewater began with the real estate dealings of Bill and Hillary Clinton and their associates. This morning I awoke to CNN and Sen. Barack Obama asking supporters to help Hillary, settle her debt. Clinton has amassed a campaign debt of about $22 million, but $12 of that million is money she lent herself. The reason the call for help is if this money is not paid back by the convention in August Hillary will have to absorb what is to be believed as the largest presidential campaign debt in history. Besides the $11.4 million of her own money she had about $9.5 million in unpaid bills to vendors. Her largest outstanding bills are to her closest advisers. One example is $5 million to the firm of Mark Penn. All I can think is it sucks to be you or anyone else who puts your trust and faith in someone who has a history of showing little disregard for others. Hillary's campaign must liquidate more than $23 million in contributions set aside for the general election. To do that by law they must return it to donors or designate it for her Senate re-election campaign in 2012, provided she obtains permission to do so. Is she uses it to pay off her debt, categorically that action would be illegal.















What I have yet to understand as millions are losing their homes due to foreclosure. As others lose them to hardship due to weather and unforeseen circumstances. And yet others are struggling to feed their families due to the rising costs of gas and food. HOW DARE YOU! You made in excess of $109.2 million in income over the last seven years. Bill alone made $82 million from speeches and books. You should pay for your dreams. You wanted to be President, not those who are struggling just to stay afloat.

Here are some highlights of the Clinton's tax returns. You don't have to dig hard to be truly disgusted at the inhumanity of it all. Don't believe me, read, research and get mad that they have used their power and position.

Bill's income starts at $50,000 with assets in The Bank of Ireland, matching it. Hey, Hillary is this what you meant by "I helped to bring peace to Northern Ireland ?" Next, stocks held in Exxon Oil and BP Amoco --but hey, somebody other than Dick Cheney should make a profit off America's rape at the pump, so it might as well be the Clintons, to the tune of $250,000. The Clintons also like pharmaceutical companies--GlaxoSmithKline ($100,000), Pfizer ($250,000), Lilly, Eli & Company ($100,000) and United Health Group ($250,000). It's like playing monopoly and owning all of the blue properties. Wal-Mart stock (250,000), Yahoo! ($250,000). The Clinton Family Foundation ( a non-profit charity) well now I understand the charitable deductions. Mr. Murdoch's NewsCorp ($250,000) holdings help explain the recent pro-Hillary media spin. The Yucaipa Global Partnership Fund (suspiciously listed at $1001) Clinton was an adviser to Burkle’s company, Yucaipa, from 2002 to 2007. His substantial paycheck helped pay legal bills left over from his presidency. A profit-sharing provision in the deal kicked in earning Clinton millions. Now he wants out of Yucaipa Global Partnership Fund, in which he and Burkle are partners along with an entity linked to Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. This relationship with billionaire Ron Burkle and Dubai, has Bill earning a $20 million payout. Yucaipa ties could prove embarrassing as Yucaipa funds are registered in the Cayman Islands. What are you trying to hide?

Everything I have stated here is easily found. These tax returns have highly questionable information
that should be looked into and that is a F.A.C.T.

C: Is for Cosmetics by Designory!

Make-up Designory is well known in the cosmetic and film industry as effect specialists. They have written some of the top books on Character make-up and it is required reading for theatre majors. Students in search of a place to hone their craft, know this is one of the best schools to fulfill their dreams. The LA and NY campuses of Make-up designory (MUD) train hundreds of students for jobs in the TV, film, and the fashion industries. Not only are they experts on cosmetic applications but also hair and wardrobe design. With some of the top artists in the entertainment industry, like David Deleon, who has worked on the sets of Memoirs of a Geisha and Pirates of the Caribbean teaching, it is easy to see why they are sought out. But watch out, for it is only natural they would create their own line of cosmetics, with the result bringing great prices, an array of jewel toned colors, well packaged and refreshingly compact and to the point.

I was first introduced to the MUD line at the cosmetic show. There was an informative seminar on quick prosthetics put on by Paul Thompson, director of education at MUD LA. His professional credits include co-creation of the very first silicone body-suit for Luke Perry in Invasion, projects for the MUD/FX Group and many celebrities, including Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Jackie Chan and Cheech Marin. He created some wild looking models that blew the participants away.

My favorite product was a glossy mascara that also thickens. This mascara is rich staying put and shinning long after most mascaras have stopped their magic. To compliment the mascara are matt eye shadows that come in colors like Bone. a light eggshell color, to use as a highlight for under the brows or Cashmere a sparkling rose beige. My friend Maria liked Chamois a soft camel brown and Concord, a deep purple-mauve shade. I am looking forward to discovering Dulce de Leche an iridescent beige, Firebrick Eye Color a vibrant orange with gold flecks and Honeysuckle a highly iridescent, pale gold. MUD"S line of shimmer eye shadows are a great compliment to their original matte eye shadow line and contain some of the most beautiful jewel tones. If you need a way to apply these shadows MUD has created a line of brushes that make application as easy as 1, 2, 3. Don't forget those pencils soft enough in texture to line the eyes, yet firm enough to define the brows. These pencils are rich in pigment and are ready to create that all alluring look. Last but not least MUD's moisturizing lipsticks range from extra light to dark rich colors, accommodating any skin tone. Their silky texture have a lasting presence.

You can buy these great products at 375 West Broadway (212) 925-9250 or visit www.mud.edu to find out more about school or to purchase MUD products at the online MUDShop. Thanks to MUD you don't have to be rich or a genius to look fabulous. You just have to know your options and that is a F.A.C.T.

A: Is for Anarchy in Art!

The art world must be singing "For these times they are a changing". The way the art world works is galleries nurture artists until they become big enough names to trade at auction. This September François Pinault, the owner of Christie’s is opening an art gallery in the same building as the famous auction house, cutting out the middleman and the art world is in an uproar. Collectors have already toured the gallery, including, and already paid a record $86.3 million for a Francis Bacon. It started last year when they bought a London gallery named Haunch, which represents some reputable names. A smart move in a declining economy. The dealers fought back freezing Haunch out of the Frieze and Art Basel art fairs. This actually turns out to be a complicated proposition as last month found a request for a Clyfford Still for sale and on loaned to Haunch’s first New York show. Christie’s originally announced that Haunch employees could not bid because of conflicts of interest or issues of market manipulation. Later a co-founder was spotted bidding on a Jeff Koons.

Sotheby’s not to be outdone by it's rival rival secured new works by Damien Hirst. The sale is dubbed "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever," and is set for Sept. 15-16th in London. Sotheby’s is making the most out of the coup, with the auction of "The Golden Calf", a bull preserved in a tank of formaldehyde -- a classic Hirst trope, this time with the twist that the animal is fitted with a solid gold halo and hooves and horns cast in 18-carat gold. The work is estimated at 16-24 million. As for the rest of the new works his popular butterfly, pill and cancer motifs, as well as a suite of preparatory drawings, are up for sale and all of them were created in the last two years. Hirst not to be put in the middle states, "I never want to stop working with my galleries, This is different. The world’s changing, ultimately I need to see where this road leads. Hirst dealers Larry Gagosian said. "He can certainly count on us to be in the room with paddle in hand." Hmm so many ways to take that.

On another note: The Museum of the City of New York presents "Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election," now until Nov. 4th. Selections from the museum’s holdings of 1,250,000 buttons, banners, posters, hats and other presidential campaign materials will be on display. Many of the items suggest electoral dirty tricks didn’t begin with Carl Rove. Highlights include: a "mechanical nose-thumber" produced for James Garfield’s campaign, A "Robert Kennedy for President" paper dress and an African-American doll embodying accusations that William McKinley had fathered an illegitimate black child. Organized by museum curators Sarah Henry and Thomas Mellinsthis is sure to enlighten on the political front. To see more log onto www.mcny.org

whether it is controversial take overs or the unveiling of political unrest art depicts the times and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Presto, Flying High!

What with all the crane accident in New York, today's column may have some of you feeling a panic attack coming on. Have you been looking for a terrific place to propose? How about throwing that once in a lifetime sweet 16 ( hello VH1) ? Or are you looking to impress a guest list of no more than 22? Well here is the most unique way I have ever seen. Dinner in the Sky, allows you to pick the location and up, up and away, you and your guests will fly. Music, dinner (breakfast or lunch), private chefs, and the world is at your feet. Need to go to the bathroom? Not a problem, one restaurant going down. What is dinner in the sky you ask? It is a table suspended at a height of 50 metres by a team of professionals, with three of your own personal staff a chef, waiter and entertainer at your command. You can also include a second crane with a platform (or more if desired) at the same height as the table, for entertainment such as trio or presentations (i.e. a car). Talk about making a media splash! This is not for those of you with a fear of heights, but for those of us with a spirit wanting to fly, as a part of our dreams have been realized. Not only that it is an entirely legal way of getting high over dinner. Forbes ranks Dinner In The Sky among the world's top ten most unusual restaurants, alongside Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck in England (snail porridge, anyone?) and Ninja in New York, where waiters perform magic while serving sushi. Hiya!

Ninja is an absolutely awesome restaurant on three dimensions: food, decor & service. The entire building has been built to resemble a traditional Japanese village; every table has four walls and a roof, which makes dining a very cosy experience which makes reservations a must. Ninja is hidden in lower manhattan, a few blocks away from City Hall between Duane and Reade.
Once you enter you are in a dimly lit room but be in alert mode as ninja's lurk everywhere. After all this is their lair. The menu's are scroll and all the different menus combined into one scroll. Drinks are around $12 and the house special is Toh sweet champagne with one lychee. It is pricey, ranging $10 to $20 for appetizers, $20 to $50 for entrees, ala carte sushi, $6 to $12; maki rolls, $10 to $15; desserts, $10 to $12; tasting menus, $80 to $200 at dinner, $40 to $60 at lunch. The Tamate Bako* treasure box, us prime beef tartar topped with boiled egg yolk and white, served with minced shallot, tomato, chive and caper on the top, sounded quite yummy! And the sushi Rolls are getting rave reviews. Now comes the coolest part after your main course, a magician will pop into your room to entertain you with magic tricks. A Bon Sai tiramisu with a twisted sugar sounds like the perfect selection to end this unique dinning experience. The critics reviews range from the Times hating it to Forbes loving it.

Dinning experiences like most things in life are individual in taste. So whether it is abracadabra or a birds eye view that excite you these to places are sure to thrill and that is a F.A.C.T.