S: Is for Spreading Light!

Most people know of the term "Randon Acts of Kindness' because of Oprah Winfry. Did you know yesterday was "Random Acts of Kindness Day"? Created by locals citizens in Hastings in the UK, they're hope is it will become a country-wide event, promoting kindness in communities, schools workplaces across the UK. My hope is it will spread even further. Encouraging people to make small acts of kindness is something that costs nothing and has a profound impact. They asked people to do little things, like taping a thank you note to the front door for the post person, putting an extra treat in your shopping basket to give to the person behind the cash register, or paying for the person behind you at a toll bridge or tunnel. Anything at all that makes someone else feel good. Spreading and receiving kindness which will create a ripple of happiness throughout the UK and beyond.


One summer I was depressed and my friend Stacy wanted to make me see the good in life again. I was staying in Provencetown MA and we would ride bikes early in the morning saying "Good Morning" to everyone we met. It became a game at who could catch a persons eye first and deliver the message. The amount of smiles, surprised looks and gratefulness was amazing. I started to look forward to waking up just to see this change we could create. One morning it was raining so I missed a few people. Later that day the people I missed found me and asked why I had not said "Good Morning". That small gestured had them looking forward to the morning as much as me. I tried to continue the ritual in NY but people hear are so afraid you want something from them that they become scared instead of just receiving. While on the bus or the subway I always try to smile at someone new and am almost always rewarded with a smile back. Whenever I make extra on a film or a paycheck I pay for someone I don't know subway or bus ride. It is such a blast to see that person become amazed that you would do something nice just because. It is easy to give to those who are in need but we all need to know we are cared about. Random acts of kindness brings out the best in not only the receiver but the giver.

They're is a website dedicated to just this philosophy www.actsofkindness.org

Saying "Good Morning", "Good Day"or just simply "Hello" costs nothing but it could mean everything to the person you are saying it to. We can make a difference and that is a simple F.A.C.T.

T: Is for Trading Debt!

Yesterday, New Yorkers heard the news that we are 2.3 Billion in debt in the city and $26.2 billion state wide in three years. My question is why? We have the highest taxes, we are rated one of the highest places to live in the US and they keep raising the transportation fares. There is talk of privatizing buses which I am in favor of. Right now there is a monopoly and we need that competitive edge. Cosco's is coming to the west side according to last nights news. That should bring revenue. From what I am seeing part of the reason is because we have been bailing out Wall Street. Since when did the one become more important than the whole. because that is what's happening. They want to privatize the state lottery. On the up side it provides the state with billions of dollars up front and billions more over the life of the contract. On the down side, what does that mean in the long run? It seems to me this is the perfect way for an individual or another entity to buy a state, especially if it is up for sale. Seller beware! Like The Carson Show I have decided to do a top 10 ways New York can make money. If you have any ideas e-mail me and I will add them.

1: We have bus lanes that are always filled with cars and trucks stopped, parked or getting their way. Fine them $500 1st offense, $1000 second offense and loss of car for third offense to be auctioned off. Just think how travel would run so much faster.

2: Citizens could hand out the tickets thus saving on the rude police force and trafficking individuals and making the offenders just a little more afraid.

3: If you are caught littering trash, gum, whatever you are fined. Not only would we get a clean city but people who cared just a little more.

4: If you are a resident you can get bus and subways passes for a lower price. Out of state and tourists would pay a higher fare. Finally New Yorkers would be appreciated.

5: If you are an illegal immigrant NO free health care.

6: If you are sending money out of the country a tax should be imposed.

7: Higher rates coming in and out of the city with only one passenger in the car with extra communal transportation available. Cleaner air for those who live here.

8: If you are on welfare and have more than one child you should lose your welfare if you get pregnant again. Since I fell at Duane Reade I have had to go to the hospital a lot and the amount of people with multiple kids who are pregnant is overwhelming. They talk all about how much they make from the state getting pregnant. I have heard this conversation more than once.

9: No more over time to any state employee

10: Cut the salaries of all state employees making more than what normally is made for the job that is being done. No more state cars, no more state over spending.

We are living in a time that we can make things better. Now is the time for change and that is a F.A.C.T.

C: Is for Creating Curves with a Wrap

You've got a date and your favorite outfit is just a little to tight. Imagine those Inches gone in 45 minutes. Now you can transform your body and your life! This body wrap tightens, tones and firms the skin, and visibly enhances all your assets. I tried it and my skin was taunt and I lost 2 inches without liposuction. Smelling a little like ben-gay due to it's natural herbal ingredients, it also has a calming effect on your psyche. All of us have fat cells. They can expand or they can shrink. When you diet or work out, you don't lose fat cells; you lose the "subcutaneous fat" inside the cell. The herbal gel on the Body Applicator works it way through your pores and to the first layer of fat cells and breaks up the subcutaneous fat and releases into your system. It is this process that causes you to lose inches. Drinking water is the key to seeing maximum loss and flush excess fatty material away. The Applicators natural ingredients help saturate the wall of the fat cells causing lipids to be released into the lymphatic system. Liquefied by the herbs the lipids goes through the blood circulation to the lymph system to be expelled from the body. The results is permanent inch loss depending on your life style. The best news is no dieting is required, however, The Body Applicator is the perfect partner for a diet. The detoxifying and sculpturing wrap will firm and tighten showing the full benefits of your weight loss. The Body Applicator is a safe alternative to obesity surgery or cosmetic surgery. Trying to detox your body from chemicals or toxins? Again this wrap does the trick. The results remain for two to six months if you maintain your weight. If you are dieting and continue to use the body wraps you will see on going improved results. Looking to tone from pregnancy? Here is an easy option. Most people average 1 to 3 inches the first and again the second time, and about half as much the following application. The price for such a break through is $90 for 4 applications and half that if you are a frequent buyer or a distributer. I can't wait to try it on my arms. For more info log onto www.itworks.net/minstayfit or call Mindy at 954-815-2352,

With all the side effects and the cost of liposuction, here is a safe, natural alternative and that is a healthy F.A.C.T.

A: Is for the Art that Sheds Light!

I was researching tree art when I came upon photographer James Balog. Winner of the 2007 Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure and the 2008 award The North American Nature Photography Association. The reason was his EIS project. The best way to understand global warming is to set up a cameras in the coldest places in the Northern Hemisphere. An hourly photographic chronicle from 2006 until 2009 of melting glaciers began that he called EIS - Extreme Ice Survey. Eis, is also the German word for ice. Extreme Ice Survey is an ambitious project to capture global warming and glacial retreat in the act. Starting in December 2006, photographer James Balog and his colleagues set up 26 solar-powered cameras at glaciers in Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, the Alps, and the Rocky Mountains. In 2008, Balog's team began to return to each of the camera sites to collect images. In the end, they will have more than 300,000 images to analyze and stitch together to produce dramatic and eye opening videos. This kind of multiyear effort, says Balog, is necessary to 'radically alter public perception of the global warming issue.'" and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have partnered to develop and present a new exhibition of breathtaking videos and 24 of Balog’s spectacular photographs, featuring glaciers that reflect the rugged—and vanishing—beauty of some of the most extreme and remote environments on Earth. Balog has been breaking new ground in the art of nature photography for 25 years. The Extreme Ice Survey, combines art and activism on a remarkable scale. From Greenland to Antarctica, the world is losing its ice faster than anyone thought possible. Primary sponsors include National Geographic, NASA and the National Science Foundation, with several companies providing equipment. More exposure should come via the PBS series Nova, which is planning a program on the project for next year, and an IMAX film is also in the works. The photographer is planning a book for 2009 or '10 and is hoping to create a site on Google Earth. This multipronged approach is needed to counter the skeptics. "The argument that we're not involved (in climate change) is immoral. It reminds me of the Medieval Era, when people dumped garbage and human waste on the street, with no thought that it might cause disease." "Society is in denial," he said. "I find myself being bizarrely optimistic. I've always believed that photography is a way to shape human perception. People need to see that this is happening, this is real, this needs to change. Failure is not an option." To discover this project on you own go to http://www.extremeicesurvey.org/ but expect to spend hours as it is truly awing and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Focusing on Men!

I've been solely focused on fashion for women and have excluded the men. This column is dedicated to the masculine set or those who buy for them. I have concentrated on new designers to keep your eyes on. First up is a designer who grows his own organic cotton in the Peruvian jungle, uses recycle wool, has offices in three different countries and doesn’t use computers! John Patrick has mastered the art of turning old bed sheets into chic shirts, using harmless and natural dyes. He travels around the world, training his factory workers to mill the organic crop into fibers, to maintain sustainable, local cottage hand-production industries. His menswear casual rustic looks from the recycled wool herringbone pants and recycled alpaca, storm-dust gray, short-tie to the organic cotton and recycled-wool, kelp-green vest are perfect for a New York look. His clothes reflect a lifestyle. These garments are not just for a new generation of people who really care about where their clothes come from but who also care about their own personal style. He is also one of ten finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards. This prestigious award includes financial support (up to $200,000 for the winner, $50,000 each for two runners-up) and business mentorship. Good news girls, they have a whole line for us as well.

I saw Adam Spagnolo modern designs at Projects a trade show for medium sized design houses. Architectural rigid horizontal and vertical lines with strong grids apply to each of his pieces. Thin light weight material elegantly draped and reminiscent of fine Italian suits make them even more appealing. Even the leather jackets and vests are lightweight. Detail orientated with an air of style Spagnolo small silver chains added to the the bottom of the vest weight it down so it doesn't open unexpectedly. These pieces have a edgy rock-and-roll feel. Shirts are slim with black lines that resemble ties. His pants in leather and black denim are sexy as hell and the tuxedo inspired jackets in brushed Italian wool are a look that has been seen before but the combination allows the urban male to go from event to event.

British invader Andrew Buckler formerly of Emanuel Ungaro is making a splash. His collections are a refreshing take on the classics and reminiscent of John Galliano. Cropped suits, tailored topcoats, draped shirts and plunging necklines. Buckle is reinventing today’s modern man to a vision women will want to stare at. Mixing British and American sense, darkened hues contrasted with reflective bronzes and coppers. Buckler challenges the conventional wisdom with a gritty vibe and paired with a bowtie. Ribbed sweaters layered with vests, vests worn on top of overcoats which combine with Rescued Vintage Animal Furs (recycled). Buckler is a designer that makes us swoon with the mixture of the collegiate who has a bad boy exterior.

Men's fashion is coming into its own. Men and women will both reap the rewards and that is a F.A.C.T