NYC Celebrates "Brazil's Independence Day!"

(Check out my webisode below of me my experience at the festival) Viva la Brazil! I had such an awesome time at NYC's celeration on Brazil's Indepedence Day! This was the 25th year that NYC has held it's annual festival, honoring the day in 1822 that Brazil won it's independence from Portugal. It was a fun day of dancing and eating great food. They had live music, and we had such a blast. I really want to go to Carnival, the big festival they have in Rio, Brazil every year. So the plan is to make here in NY, so I can afford to travel around the world and check out different cultures in their native land. But I sure did feel like I was in Brazil!

Chris Brown Fails To Redeem Himself, Rihanna Keeps On Shining!

Chris Brown has failed to redeem himself on his interview with Larry King this week (not that an interview on TV could do that anyways, it has to genuinely come from the heart), which was obviously a last effort attempt to save his plundering career and endorsements. He downplayed the magnitude of his incident, and even went as far as to say that the media is “blowing it out of proportion” and insulted blog land for expressing their disappointment in his abusive actions. Newsflash Chris, the severity of what you did was a big deal, you did'nt just push or slap (which would still be horrid), you were repetitive and damaging in your violent blows to a young woman who was “physically” weaker then you (we all saw the picture and read the report!). She may be smaller then you in size, but now we all see she is bigger then you in self-esteem and expression. He sounded so arrogant in the interview, which is the type of attitude that probably led him to think it was ok to hit a woman in the first place. Anytime a man hits a woman, it’s just pathetic! Some abusive men think it asserts their “power” when they brutally attack a woman, however, it takes real power to be gentle, and in control of one’s self. Only a weak and immature man would ever disrespect the feminine in such an aggressive way that Brown did. Also, there are men who are emotionally and mentally abusive to women, and that is just as damaging. Being a “real man” does not mean “controlling a woman”, it means “protecting her well being”, not that she can’t protect herself though. Kanye West has commented on how significant Rihanna is to our culture, and she has been nicknamed “Princess Ri Ri” by the hip hop community, so when Chris Brown hit Rihanna, he did more then hit her, he attacked a community’s princess archetype. He degraded the anima, the vessel of light, the heroine. He needs to apologize to all women, because as a celebrity, he has a responsibility to know that his actions affect millions. Rihanna has handled this situation gracefully, and she is still a strong and great role model in my eyes. Every time I see and talk to her, she radiates light and strength, and even this dark incident will not dim her, for she will only rise above and empower women to not put up with disrespect. I say Rihanna’s own words back at her, from her hit single “Live Your Life”, she preaches, “You're gonna be a shining star, And then you'll see, you're gonna go far. Cause everyone knows who you are-are. So live your life, ay ay ay. Just live your life!” Please visit this site to know more about this important issue: http://www.domesticviolence.org/

Michael Jackson is laid to rest, an angel he was.

Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest tonight. And I do hope people will just let him be. The music he made will forever remain a part of our culture. He was more than the King of Pop, he was a hero to anyone who wanted to authentically express themselves and not conform to what society dictated. Michael was an amazing talent, who taught so many how to dance, and inspired so many singers to try to follow in his footsteps. He was also an activist who fought to make the world a better place, and endorsed so many causes. Even in the lyrics of some of his songs he challenged the human race to acknowledge many important social and humanity issues. I love what he symbolized and I feel a loss that he’s graduated on. However, he will always have a place in our world, for he was an angel whose presence touched so many hearts and lives. God bless you Michael, those vultures can’t touch you now! May you come back as a dove, or a flower or whatever else your beautiful spirit manifests to be. I know the attacks on you provoked troubles for you during your time here, but all that you gave is what matters, and that was a whole lot of light. I’m sending love to you, and a rose.

Discriminatory Former Miss Calif. Sues For "Discrimination"

I just landed in New York City! I’ve lived in California my whole life, so I need a change. Yet before I dive into writing about all things NYC, I have one thing to express about my native home…an imposter has tainted the image of California and is threatening the pursuit of happiness for many Americans, and that would be Carrie Prejean, the former Miss California. As of a couple days ago, she is now suing the Miss California pageant for “religious discrimination”! This is so hypercritical, for she was the only one using “religion to discriminate”, when she expressed that two people loving each other is unacceptable, unless they subscribe to her narrow ideas of what’s worthy of “legal protections and dignity” or not. She thinks its ok for her to discriminate, but heaven forbid she’s “discriminated” against. For the record, she was not discriminated against; she failed to live up to her contract, and was given the boot! She is not in a place to be a spokesperson for Jesus, for he was about compassion, unity and love. Prejean is about judgment, shallowness and feels the oppression of minorities is justified! Yet, if she wants to uphold the Bible as absolute, then why is she breaking the “Thou Shall Not Lie” commandment? “It was a windy day” she says when asked about her nude photos! “Windy day” my arse! Carrie is not a victim as she pathetically tries to convey, yet the LGBT Americans who she is a spokesperson against are the real victims of her and her kind. I was so proud growing up as a Californian, for my native state paved the way in so many social change movements. The rest of the country always looked to us to progressively shake things up. Northern California produced the peace loving hippies, the revolutionary Black Panthers and collage protests. Southern California has given so much to immigration reform, and inspired the term “California love” due to the fun in the sun, mellow, relaxed optimistic bohemian like cultures. What a liberal legacy we have! Prejean is in direct opposition of everything positive my home state has contributed to this country’s evolution of humanity and social reform. Sadly, the religious right wing is lifting her up to spread their agenda of tyranny. She is more dangerous than some acknowledge! She’s also suing for “slander”, yet she’s the only one slandering same sex couples! Good God! The bottom line is Carrie is in need of attention, for her 15 minutes are almost up. Liar, bigot & entitlement issues are all things Prejean. I applaud Shanna Moakler for resigning as co-director of the pageant saying, “I want to be a role model for young women …and feel it more important to be a role model for my children.” Exactly! We must protect our children from people like Prejean who teach prejudice and lies. She’s living in a fantasy if she thinks she’s a “martyr”. I pray this nuisance of a lawsuit is dismissed! Moakler expressed through her lawyer two days ago, “Ms. Prejean’s unfortunate and bigoted statements are responsible for any public humiliation or damages to her reputation that she has claimed to have suffered.” Amen to that! Carrie, please stop embarrassing my beloved state, and go work as Sarah Palin’s secretary or something!