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Thursday, October 22, 2009
The N Word / News Model behavior?
Posted By Nsenga Burton on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Another model was fired allegedly for being a size 4. If this is true, this is yet another indicator of the ridiculous industry known as fashion. If a size 4 is fat then I guess that makes the average sized American woman (size 14) absurdly obese. It is a wonder to me why women continue to support an industry that lets us know at every opportunity that there is something wrong with us. We have to look like prepubescent boys or coat hangers in order to stay employed? Nothing feminine about that look at all.
Arts / News Preparing an Altar for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Posted By Teresa Hernandez on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 10:37 AM
The Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) is coming soon. This is a holiday celebrated primarily in Mexico but also touched on in other countries in Latin America. Although the Day of the Dead falls on November 1st and 2nd, it should not be confused with Halloween — for it has none of the gore or fright accompanied with Halloween.
On the contrary, Day of the Dead is a festive yet contemplative day; a time to remember and honor friends and family members who have died. The belief is that the souls of the dead return to be with their living loved ones. In preparation for the return of the dead, families set up altars to show their respect.
There is really no wrong way to set up an altar, but it should look happy and show your guest that you welcome the visit. A few staples include candles, incense and marigold flowers; more than anything, to create a nice ambience for the dead and also, because of the light and the smell, these items help lead the souls to the altar. A good picture of the dead person is often placed on the altar in addition to water, favorite foods and other things the dead enjoyed in the world of the living. Think of it as preparing a table with a feast for a very special guest — one who visits only once a year.
For example, an altar created in my honor should have red wine, good strong coffee, chicken with mole, chiles rellenos, frijoles borrachos with Mexican rice, beef fajitas, jalapeños en vinagre, goat cheese with chile poblano, sushi, peaches, cajeta envinada, mangos and jicama with lime juice — all my favorite foods. I would like a nice tablecloth and lots of flowers and candles. If I show up and find nothing but crackers, I’m not going to feel very wanted and may not return the following year.
So once you’re finished playing scary on Halloween, take some time to remember and enjoy the company of the dead. They’ve been waiting to be with you all year long.
(Editor's Note: Be sure to check out Pura Vida's FREE Day of the Dead celebration this Saturday, Oct. 24 in Plaza Midwood.)
News Something smells fishy in CMS
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Could it be board chair Molly Griffin and her sneaky ways? Ummm. Maybe. Though she isn't the only one slinkin' around behind closed doors at Eastover Elementary School.
A private meeting convened to let board members and interested parties talk about Eastover Elementary options got tricky Tuesday when the uninvited vice chair of the school board showed up to the session convened by the chair.N.C. law requires public bodies to announce meetings in advance and open them to the public. Board chair Molly Griffin had invited colleagues Trent Merchant, Tom Tate and James Ross to a session at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Central Learning Community to discuss plans to relieve crowding at Eastover Elementary. That's one short of a majority, the point at which a private meeting would be illegal.
Griffin also invited about a dozen representatives of several schools and neighborhoods affected by the proposals, as well as Superintendent Peter Gorman, student placement director Scott McCully and other high-ranking administrators.
Griffin said Wednesday she opened the meeting by saying, "I want to be perfectly clear: This is not a negotiation. Nobody in this room can strike a deal."
About 15 minutes into the meeting, vice chair Kaye McGarry arrived. She said she'd learned about it from an e-mail forwarded by a constituent. She called colleagues Larry Gauvreau and Ken Gjertsen, who told her they didn't know about the meeting.
McGarry said she was struck by the size of the crowd and the number of top officials present: "It wasn't just like a little roundtable of eight people coming into Dr. Gorman's office. They had a typed agenda and handouts."
Griffin, noting that five members would constitute an illegal meeting, volunteered to leave and turned the meeting over to Merchant. When Tate left early, she stepped back in.
Arts / News 'Floetically' speaking
Posted By Carlton Hargro on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Back in the day, Natalie Stewart used to rock the mic as “the Floecist” — one half of the U.K.-based musical duo Floetry. These days, the group is no more, but Stewart is still entertaining crowds across the globe with her funky blend of poetry and hip-hop. Catch her unique sound when she comes to Charlotte on Saturday, performing along with DJ Boney B and more. $17.50-$37.50. 8:30 p.m. House Of Jazz, 8630 University Executive Park Dr. For tickets or more information, call 866-388-4tix or visit www.ticketannex.com.
Arts / Today's Top Five / News Today's Top 5: Thursday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Oct. 22, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• The Mars Volta at The Fillmore
• Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum at Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade at Carolina Actors' Studio Theatre
• Everything Doesn't Suck Party with Horse Ghost and Hot Hand Spirits at Neighborhood Theatre
• Take a Slice out of Cancer at Villa Francesca
• Robot Johnson at Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
News Oprah and Sarah, sittin' in a tree
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Oprah needs viewers. Sarah needs more conservative groups to buy her book in bulk so they can give it away for free or sell it at a discount.
Ah, capitalism. As long as everyone's making money, anyone can jump under the fiscal sheets together.
But, don't feel pressured to run out and pre-order a copy of Palin's book. If you're patient, you can pick a copy up on the Conservative Book Club's one cent list in a couple months.
And before you get excited about how much Palin's grammar has improved over the last year, don't forget that Lynn Vincent actually wrote her book.
Oprah Winfrey, on a campaign to climb back from last season's ratings slump, will attempt to kiss and make up with conservative viewers on Nov. 16 when she has Sarah Palin on her syndicated talk show .You may have noticed that the appearance by the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate is happening smack dab in the middle of the November ratings derby.
It's also the day before Palin's new book, "Going Rogue: An American Life," is scheduled to hit bookstores.
Oprah's production company, Harpo, claims it will be Palin's first interview about the book. We'll see about that.
Oprah has largely abandoned her whole aspirational programming mantra this season and gone in for the more purely commercial.
That has translated into the longest-two-day-interview-ever with Whitney Houston to kick off Houston's latest comeback attempt; Oprah's deliciously detailed interview with Erin Andrews, the ESPN reporter who was unknowingly videotaped nude in a hotel room by some stalker guy; and her highly touted, things-could-get-rough, face-to-face meeting between former world champion boxers Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield -- their first meeting since Tyson bit off part of Holyfield's ear during a 1997 WBA heavyweight title fight.
And now, add to that list Palin, whose book was No. 2 on Amazon.com's bestseller list Tuesday afternoon.
Read more from The Washington Post.
Conservatives don't seem too excited about Palin's interview with Oprah, either:
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Film / Film News / News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 11:54 PM
Amelia - Hilary Swank, Richard Gere
Astro Boy - Animated; voices of Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant - John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek
Good Hair - Documentary; Chris Rock, Maya Angelou
Saw VI - Tobin Bell, Betsy Russell
Arts / News Simon Fashion Now at SouthPark Mall
Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 5:14 PM
This weekend, Simon Fashion Now invades SouthPark Mall. The fashion frenzy kicks off on Fri. Oct. 23, with fashion shows, snacks and cocktails, and "Style Stops," to showcase fall and winter clothing and accessories in a variety of stores, some of which will also be offering special discounts and promotions.
On Sat., Oct. 24 the merriment continues with even more fashion shows, "Style Stops," and in-store events. This is the perfect time to become enlightened on "what's in" and "what's out" of style, so you don't make a dreadful mistake in the selection your attire (You know, one that leaves you thinking, after one wear, 'Why did I buy this?'). C’mon, we've all done it at some point or another, and we all know how nauseating it can be ... especially when that ugly sweater had a rather large price tag ... sighs. That said, Simon Fashion Now is the place to be whether you have a clue ... or don't .... about fashion and style. For more information and a schedule of dates/times and clothing retailers participating in Simon Fashion Now, see the schedule below.
Friday, Oct. 23
· 5:00 p.m. – Trends & Friends Night
· 5:30 p.m. – Macy’s
· 6:30 p.m. – Aeropostale, Lucky Brand, Francesca’s Collections, Puma, GUESS and bebe
· 7:00 p.m. – Dress for Success Fashion Show featuring local personalities showcasing looks from the Dress for Success boutique
· 7:30 p.m. – Cole Haan, United Colors of Benetton, Pure, BCBGMAXAZARIA, Billy Reid, Intermix and Nordstrom
Style Stops: Aveda, Bath & Body Works, Belk, Dillard’s, Francesca’s Collections, J. Jill, John Ric Hair Spa, Mac Cosmetics at Belk, Macy’s, My Skin Within, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co.
Film / Arts / News Stamp of approval
Posted By Matt Brunson on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Longtime Charlotteans Kent Smith and David Temple have combined their talents to create The Last Passport, a feature-length movie that will enjoy its hometown debut tonight. Smith, whose photography work has been featured in over 200 films, publications and ad campaigns, and Temple, whose previous shorts Rewind and Poke the Sleeping Bear were reviewed positively in these pages, took a mere 30 days and $5,000 to co-write, co-direct and co-produce this story about an elderly man’s experiences while spending a day inside a passport office. All proceeds from the event (which includes a pre-screening cocktail party with the cast and crew) will be donated to Goodwill Industries, Southern Piedmont. $10. 8 p.m. showtime (7 p.m. for cocktail party). Epicentre Theaters at Mez, 210 E. Trade St. For tickets, call 704-688-2400 or visit www.epicentretheaters.com.
Film / Film News / News Box Office Top 10
Posted By Matt Brunson on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 3:54 PM
1. Where the Wild Things Are - $32.6 million ($32.6 million)
2. Law Abiding Citizen - $21.0 million ($21.0 million)
3. Paranormal Activity - $19.6 million ($33.1 million)
4. Couples Retreat - $17.2 million ($62.6 million)
5. The Stepfather - $11.5 million ($11.5 million)
6. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - $8.0 million ($108.2 million)
7. Zombieland - $7.6 million ($60.6 million)
8. Toy Story / Toy Story 2 (3-D) - $3.0 million ($28.5 million)
9. Surrogates - $1.9 million ($36.3 million)
10. The Invention of Lying - $1.9 million ($15.4 million)
(Gross for weekend of Oct. 16-18. Figure in parentheses is total gross to date. Source: www.boxofficemojo.com.)
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The State of North Carolina vs. pimento cheese 2
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Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
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Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today.
