Pre-Final Week Stress!!

       Oh no. It's finally here.
That's right, it's FINALS WEEK every one, the one week where we actually study like no tomorrow.

So what does that mean? Besides lots of Starbucks (Double-Shot Espresso) Monster energy drinks mixed with RedBull and some Adderall on the side. You know that sort of thing.

But like every college student needs a place to just relax, and put allt he crazy-ness that Finals week comes with behind with the help of these wonderfully helpful tips.

The BEST noise canceling headphones:

<- Bose Quiet Comfort15 headphones are better than Dr. Dre's, cancelling even the slightest hint of sound other than from what you are already listening to. So the next time you are in a cramped space in the Library trying to concentrate while the person next to you is loudly talking to themselves while studying.. you can just block all that out.

Naps!!

         There is no need for an explanation for this one. Any moment not spent studying are well worth a moment of precious sleep. Remember this and you will be 100% less stressed once you wake up. (As long as you don't sleep past 15-30 hr because then you will feel like groggy & like complete crap. Trust me on this one.

Music!

There is no better cure for writers block for a paper when it comes ti music. It's always worked for me, and I can only hope it will wokr for you too. Here are some recommendations. Enjoy! =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C8e7nNLZNs - Sweet Disposition by the Temper Trap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxqSdr_vZIs - Unkown but it's great. Trust me.

http://www.youtube.com/user/okanokumo?v=rE65LR0Ef48 - Pure ambiance sound, beautiful and 100% effective.

Scenic Photos!

Beautiful right? Tell me you don't feel at least a little more motivated enough to get through this hell week and actually see places like this!

Breathe! and try to stay POSITIVE!

     Having a crappy attitude during this week is to be expected, but trying to get enough sleep and relax when you can definitely improves your overall essence, and will make you feel more in control of whatever exam/project/paper you MUST finish.

        After all once you are finished with it all, there is Winter Break and all that good stuff to look forward to. It's not like the world would have moved on without you during the whole process.

             Overall you can do it! I hope that I cna get through it but I'm sure with a jug of coffee and some sleep we will all be fine. Then we can all stop looking like this:

                          And feel more like this::

     =)
                                       

Before you catch some Zz's...

  
           Personally, I can honestly say I will never ever take my sleep for granted again once after I graduate May of 2013. That being said, I'm sure all my fellow college students out there can agree that between work both in and outside of school, social events and personal relationships, sleep definitely takes the backseat. 
        Honestly, how many times have you stayed up into the early hours of the morning writing a paper or putting the finishing touches up on a power point/video file; your eyes aching to stay open while the sun rising from outside seeps into your room as you hurriedly try to complete your assignment. 5am and you are just closing down your computer, and drunkenly stumbling into your bed --- only to wake up just 5 or 6 hours later! (And that's If you're lucky enough to have a 1030am class.)

         At this point throughout the day, your mind and body are going to fall into the following states:
1.) Falling asleep in class.
2.) Downing coffee/energy drink and eventually.. falling asleep in class.
3.) Straining to keeps eyes open and remain eye contact with professor... just before you fall asleep.

         Overall, sleep is crucial. But just in case you're one of those people who are so adjusted to not getting any sleep they're okay with pulling an "all-nighter" every single night for no reason, here are a few facts to enlighten your sleepyhead. Until then, get some zzz's!!

                

Common Miscomceptions About Black People

       There are lots of myths that have become quite common among black folk such as myself, as well as popular beliefs among other races concerning the African American community. Listed below are 2 of the most common I grew up hearing, perhaps you have too? Time to educate.


"Black Don't Crack"
        Funny as this saying is, according to Dr. Andrew F. Alexis, director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, this is in fact true. On the topic of African American's having a better rate at aging in terms of skin endurance, Alexis mentions that in her "dermatology practice, black men and women tend to present with skin aging concerns about a decade later than... patients with lighter skin". So what does this say for those of African American descents alike? Just ask 45-year-old, Stacy Dash who still manages to take on roles requiring a 20-something year old. And lets not forget music producer/designer and artist, Pharrell of N.E.R.D. who has looked barely the N.Y state drinking age since the year 2000.

Black men are naturally Athletic
       According to the National Basketball Association and the National Football League, more than 80% of basketball players in the league and over 60% football players are of African American descent. Just what does this mean exactly? According to Jon Entine, an American author and journalist explains that the case is less about race but due to environment and ethnicity.
In his book, "Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We’re Afraid to Talk About It book", Entine breaks down the athletic features of certain ethnic groups:
West-African's: Dominant in speed and jumping; this is due to an increase in fast-twitch fibers in their muscles which can contract faster with greater force. In contrast just as well-trained whites and Asians cannot jump as high as most African-American athletes according to Entine.
        Yet this being said the characteristics named above of the West-African athletes (smaller lungs, increase in contracting fibers in muscles) make them less apt at a sport such as swimming, unlike those in other race groups.
       Caucasian's of Eurasian backgrounds have more of an upper body strength helping to dominate shot-put and weightlifting, while East Asian's show their strengths in diving, ice skating and gymnastics  due to their flexibility.
Al in all, while African American men dominate in a majority of sports played in warmer weather, whites dominate in winter sports.

       At the end of the day lets all just get along, because at the end of the day we all share the same insides. In a way. Sort of. That is all.

Aaliyah Haughton Biopic, anyone?

       Aaliyah "Baby Girl" Haughton. Immensely talented, incredibly humble, beautiful both inside and out --- and replicable?

         Rumors of the late "Queen of R&B" spiritually starring in an Aaliyah biography film surfaced just a year after her passing in an airplane crash on August 25th 2001. As we all know, this was just a month prior to the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City; this left a heavy mourning period for all effected by both the loss of Aaliyah and those involved in the attack.

         Yet around the time of grieving for the lost ones in 2001, a buzz began to surround the process of a movie being made in honor of Aaliyah's life, which was beautiful in thought, until the idea came to decide who should portray Haughton --- meet Canadian born R&B artist, Keshia Chanté.

         Although many may see the two sharing a few resemblances (enough to have Keshia take on the role of Aaliyah), not everyone was content with such a situation; take Aaliyah's brother, Rashad for example.

Rashad Haughton, along with family have been hush-hush on the potential biopic with Keshia Chanté starring as Aaliyah, perhaps in hopes to prevent the situation from blossoming all together. Only as of August 2012, Aaliyah's older brother, Rashad has spoken out on the rumors, taking his opinion public with FaceBook.

         Now if that doesn't put any rumor of an Aaliyah biopic to rest, I don't know what will. In retrospect, according to an interview from CYInterview.com, Keshia Chanté mentions she understands "there are people trying to create a movie and Aaliyah’s family are still mourning her loss and aren’t ready to share her story and create a film". Yet, she doesn't want to "disrespect [Aaliyah's] family" but still "[wants] her family to be on board and to be happy with it", if it ever were to happen.

      Now a lot of Aaliyah fans may be saying that exactly, but in all honesty I feel if the Haughton family wishes to not have a film produced about their beloved 'Baby Girl' while she is portrayed by  Keshia Chanté, or the likes of her, then that should be respected. Aaliyah will after all, remain in our hearts and here in spirit always. Let us remember her life the way she lived it when she was here, and continue to celebrate her legacy.

 

Sundays are for procrastinating

Well, just as it says in the title... Sundays may be considered the beginning of a new week in labor terms but to me, no, Sundays are the beginning of something essential that must be done every now and then. That my friend, is procrastination.

         Now there are many things to do on a perfectly good Sunday, this includes school work, laundry, finally calling that person back from home. OR you can do other things that are perfectly acceptable and involving little to no time at all.

1. Relax
 That's right. Just take some time to actually enjoy your bed and all its glory. Really appreciate how comfortable your bed is: Take into account the thread-count, and the exact fluffiness of the pillow. Trust me, college takes a lot out of you, especially when just being able to take a nap becomes something you've taken for granted.

2.Watch The Notebook
Ladies (and some gents), you KNOW you can't resist the movie that stole the nations hearts from beginning to end (Thank you, Ryan Gosling =) and made us boo-hoo like a baby once the movie was over. I can never get tried of this movie and watching it when I have complete time to myself sounds like a plan to me.

3. Organize!
I can't stress this enough --- cleaning is one of the best ways to spend time and finally find that shoe you've been in search of for weeks. Hopefully your room doesn't look like the one above, and if it does... we then, you know what has to be done. Enough said.

4. Wake and Bake
Sweet goods of course! Like chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cheese cake =) Delicious, not so nutritious but none the less a great way to spend some time doing something for yourself, without actually having to do too much. And either way you look at it, the end result is always in your favor.

5.Get creative.. in the most relaxing way possible.
This is called Crayon art. It takes about 15 minutes to do. All you need are crayons, tape and a white painting board like such and you can have a completely hand made artsy-fartsy piece to add to your dormroom or apartment.
I made my own and it took no time at all, and its completely original and a cool/fun way to spend some time.

Enjoy!

7 Places you MUST visit when in N.Y.C (Even Native New Yorkers may not know about these spots)

The City of Lights - "New York City"

        Born and raised in the Bronx, A.K.A the Boogie Down, A.K.A the BX, A.K.A the birthplace of Hip Hop (Okay, enough with the A.K.A's) whenever I headed into New York City It always felt like a vacation into this really big place surrounded by tall buildings and bright lights. Above all else nearly every corner of New York City has a culture to it, and its own unique make up that sets it apart from any other place in the world. Well, at least to make. Here are some spots that are sure to make your next venture into the city-that-never-sleeps, a day to remember and build your own memories. 

1. Graffiti Culture & 5 Pointz

        This eye-catching place that looks more tatted up than Kat Von D herself sits at 45 Davis Street Long Island City in grand ole' N.Y. With spray-painted images of Biggie Smalls and 'The Joker' from the Batman series gracing walls opposite other artfully designed pieces, this place is sure to be one to visit when in the Big Apple. There is even an are where you can purchase your own piece of street art, bringing back just a bit of wild graffiti culture to your own home.

2. St. Marks Place/Est. Village

        Located at 33 St Marks Pl in between 3rd Ave & Astor Place; here you'll find New York's East Village which used to be home to the punks in the 80's but these days its serves up the best Japanese cuisine and various stores selling glass blown bowls among other artifacts. In any case, if you've ever wanted to experience Tokyo while browsing through hookah pipes, this is the place to be. 

3. Little Italy in the Bronx

        Care for a Cannelloni with a side of Salami Napoli, well go no further than 3rd ave on Arthur and you can enjoy all the Italian delights New York has to offer. There is surely nothing 'little' when it comes to this hot spot; here one can indulge on the most authentic Italian delicacies and forget that you are even in New York. With that said all the Italian food lovers out there, you can now wipe the drool from your mouths and proceed to this not-so-well-known spot.

4. Bryant Park

       If you ever manage to maneuver your way past the tourists standing still in the middle of the sidewalk to snap a picture of the Empire State Building on 42nd and Broadway, be sure to head towards Bryant Park for some much needed change of scenery and...green-ary as well. On the rare occassion, you might even find yourself in the middle of an Improv Everywhere skit (The one I particiaped in last year ended in a mass of people covering themselves in toilet paper and dancing to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' see: http://improveverywhere.com/2010/10/02/mp3-experiment-seven-thanks/.) and really be in for a show. In all honestly what I enjoy most about this place is that in the summer it's a beautiful evergreen zen garden, and in the winter transformed into a giant ice-skating rink; an especially nice place to be this time and for New Years Eve.

5.Flushing Meadows Corona Park

        Now who wouldn't be interested in a 140-foot-tall globe made out of metal with water sprouting out around the sides of it, and it's inside a park? Um I can't think of anyone who wouldn't, can you? This park located near Queens is a staple for New York City and is probably one of its largest hidden attractions to date. So f you haven't been yet, I highly suggest you do, and at night it's a even better sight to see.

6. Creative Little Garden

        This trendy sight for sore New Yorker eye's s located at 530 East Sixth Street in between avenue A and B, and is easily accessible for any passer-by. If the striking yellow gates aren't enough to draw you inside, please allow the home-grown green-house-like garden to coax you in. Known to be a great place for some tranquility and peace of mind, this place is sure to provide you with some new found perspective on something you had not thought of before.

7.  The Highline

        Last but definitely not least, my absolute favorite spot to simply get lost in my own thoughts and enjoy the day: the Highline in Chelsea Piers. This up-routed train-line turned garden/walk-way/scenic genius/best view during the 4th of July is one place that you really have to see for yourself to belive how amazing it is. I know I am amping this spot up more than the rest (Yes, its biased) but I have never had a bad time when visiting this place. It is a great place to venture to if you want to simply sit down and have brunch with some friends, update your photo album for some great sun-set skyline shots or even take wedding photo's from what I've witnessed. Even on ground level of the Highline, there is art and culture to be observed everywhere and expensive top selling name brands including Alexander Wang. 

         Where ever you end up in the melting pot that New York City is, is sure to become a memory you will never forget (especially if you take public transportation; something interesting almost always happens in the train station for some reason). Until then, explore every grimy corner you can until the sun comes up =)

       

Role Models?

'Role Model', or Real-bad choice?

        It seems like the label 'Role Model' has been placed upon celebrities across the nation, leaving young boys and girls with an image to look up to which is more tarnished than trendy.

Here is a list of a few celebrities (In no particular order) whose "role model" cards are in a desperate need to be revoked.

1. Nicki Minaj

        Expressive, trendy and a crowd-pleaser --- yet here is where the lines between animated and absurd are horribly crossed. Although I can respect a female artist who can break into a mostly-male dominated music industry, and then stand toe-to-toe with major artist such as Jay-Z and Kanye West, all respect jumps out the window screaming when such an artist resorts to utilizing her body in every raunchy way possible.. all the time. Without a doubt image plays a huge part into an artists' general make-up, yet Minaj takes image a step too far,  in one instance allowing her manager Lil' Wayne to smack, grab  and grind on her behind on stage in front of her "Barbs"' and "Ken-Barbs". In almost every other instance, Minaj can be found scantly clad in each of her videos, not only emphasizing her assets, but an image that many young girls can be subjected to as well. Although Minaj has stated that she "didn't come in the game to be an artist that appealed to kids" then where does the aware-ness for her younger fans come into play? ie: Sophia Grace rapping the lyrics "when he give me that look then the panties comin' off!" from Minaj's song Super Bass. Long story short, the title 'role model' may not belong to everyone but it definitely does not belong to Nicki Minaj.

2. Rihanna

        The beautiful Barbadian may be a solid entertainer with catchy songs and an exceptional sense of style, but when it comes down to the relationship department, this is where many of the "Rihanna Navy" may be lead astray from their so-called, 'role model'. Knowing full well Rihanna has mentioned she does not consider herself a role model, it still goes without saying that her fans male and female alike can succumb to the decisions she makes in her on screen life, and play a part in their own realities. I don't know if there is a soul on the planet who was not aware of the incident involving Rihanna and then boyfriend, Chris Brown back in 2009. Although the beating of Rihanna in the back of an SUV was "alleged" it was a clear as day in the pictures that emerged the following day, nearly causing a Twitter over-load. Here's my issue, during the aftermath of the incident, Rihanna began seeking Brown out for support on a very low-key note, and recently admitted to Oprah that they "will always love each other." As right as it is to forgive those who have wronged you, it seems Rihanna has completely lost all sense of inhibition, tweeting a sweet message to Chris Brown as he headed to a court appearance: "Praying for you baby, my best wishes are with you today! Remember that whatever God does in our lives, it is WELL DONE!!! #1Love". I'm not sure what to make of this, but it doesn't send a positive message to those who have been involved in an abusive relationship in terms of moving on.

3. Miley Cyrus

      Clearly Hannah Montana is long gone just based on this photo alone. Yet the one thing that bothers me the most with Cyrus is that she seemed to once depend on her Hannah Montana role that brought her to stardom, and within a few years on the Disney Channel show, Miley slowly but surely went through a phase of looks, from country-rocker to edgy-rauncy. I can still remember when I ended up watching the 2010 Teen Choice Awards and saw Miley make her way onto stage...and eventually onto a pole... atop an ice cream stand... in mini shorts and a cut-out tank with a bandeau clearly visible. Not to mention the Disney Channel star was only 16 years old at the time. There are numbers of impressionable young minds who were huge fans of the Hannah Montana star, and were now exposed to yet another side of Cyrus. That being said, it looked like Miley truly was getting "the best of both worlds", and so was a couple hundred teenagers who I'm sure didn't expect to see Miley's pole-dancing skills. On top of that the now ex-Disney Channel star who is only 18 is now set to be married in the following months. Congrats in order? sure. Role Model? Um, no.

4. Justin Bieber

        What happened to the "Never say never" star. The one who gave start to the impossible to not catch, "Bieber-Feaver?" As of late Bieber must truly have started to believe that the paparazzi can in fact be a best friend and a worst enemy at the same time. From "assaulting" a photographer for a tabloid magazine back in early May, to presenting the pap's with a choice finger while driving away with girlfriend Selena Gomez in the passenger seat just three months prior to his incident with the paparazzi assault case. Yet, what kind of behavior is this from someone who admitted he has a responsibility to [his] fans to be a good role model," in June this past summer? I completely understand that things just happend and he is a human being just like the rest of us, but as a celebrity who is known for being in the public eye, and who just "has to be a role model" maybe he should obtain from showing the paparazzi how he really feels when the cameras are still turned on, and pointing directly at him. Just some advice for the future.

All in all as I stated before celebrities are just like us, just different in every other way.