Belisi is the Go To Tie Guy

I love to go look at all the great ties that
Belisi Fashions has to offer. Peter Belisi also has a lot of advice and insight on his fashion blogs.

Take a look at all the photos from Belisi on Technorati. There are models wearing his stuff. There are also somewhat candid pics showing his personal side.

If you need a great tie, or you just need the last word on how to tie one on, Belisi is your go to guy.

Plans for This Blog

I am thinking of creating original videos especially for this blog. Watching Shakira do a cover of AC/DC made me think about all the cover songs I could put up on YouTube. I do a mean Mika impression. Be afraid, be very afraid.

If I can find it I will wear a rabbit head just like the one Mika's guitarist wears.

Find Friends at Friendfinder

I haven't looked at FriendFinder for years and I was surprised at how active and functional the site was. There are so many personals sites out there these days. Besides being very well designed, FriendFinder has the great advantage of name recognition. Let's face it, having useful features and user friendliness are great, but when it comes to social sites, people go where the people are. Personally, I think MySpace is a wretchedly designed website, but it it huge simply because that is where the people went.

The search functions are incredible, even for a free member. Paid members get an even more detailed search page.

I have had online relationships. I have had the full spectrum of online relationships, for the ones where a woman asks what I do for a living as the second question (and then doesn't have a third question)....all the way to happily ever after.

What I like personally is the fact that as a free member you can have unlimited browsing of profile pictures. Call me superficial.

Meeting people using a service like FriendFinder is easy. Meeting people safely and meeting people with whom you can begin a positive relationship, that is your responsibility. I have advice for both men and women. Men should resist the urge to contact EVERY woman they possibly can. Spend time searching and when somebody really seems suitable put some thought into how you approach them. Woman should be prepared to immediately discard a big percentage of the responses they get. If a man doesn't make the effort to impress you with his response, he's is not worth your time.

Shakira Will Play at Live Earth

Live Earth is a huge event that is taking place in Hamburg Germany. Shakira will be taking part along with an impressive list of other international artists that include ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, JAN DELAY, JULI, KATIE MELUA, LOTTO KING KARL, MANÁ, MANDO DIAO, MARIA MENA, MIA, MICHAEL MITTERMEIER, REAMONN, ROGER CICERO, SAMY DELUXE, SASHA and many more.

Featuring artists that have poular followings in different regions of the World is a good strategy to guarantee a huge television audience. I was surprised to find out that Enrique Iglesias has sold more than twice as many albums as Shakira. His popularity in the USA has been sporadic, but he is practically a God in Europe and Latin America.

Here is a press release about Live Earth

Live Earth is a monumental music event that will bring together more than 2 billion people on July 7, 2007 to combat the climate crisis. Live Earth will stage concerts in New York, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg and Hamburg, and will feature more than 150 of the world’s best music acts – a mix of both legendary music acts like The Police, Genesis, Bon Jovi and Madonna with the latest headliners like Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson, Black Eyed Peas and Jack Johnson.

Live Earth’s 24 hours of music across 7 continents will deliver a worldwide call to action and the solutions necessary to answer that call. Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve the climate crisis. Live Earth is partnering with the Alliance for Climate Protection, The Climate Group, Stop Climate Chaos and other international organizations in this ongoing effort. Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, CEO of Control Room, the company producing the concerts globally. Former Vice President of the United States Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection and a Partner of Live Earth.

Exclusive online media partner MSN is helping Live Earth reach people in every corner of the globe. Live Earth Hamburg will be streamed live at http://liveearth.de.msn.com. MSN’s 39 localized web portals worldwide attract 465 million monthly users.

smart is the world’s only automaker serving as an Official Partner. Unlike any other vehicle, the new smart fortwo combines a modern, individual lifestyle with environmental protection by setting the standard in urban mobility and offering the lowest CO2 emission of any vehicle on the market. smart responds to environmental demands with innovative, technologically sound solutions and as a result produces positive and credible answers to the question of ecological driving.

Philips, as the world’s leading lighting supplier, joins Live Earth as an Official Partner. Philips was the first to introduce the energy saving light bulb in 1980 and has put environmental product improvement at the heart of its business with its EcoDesign program since 1994, increasing its green product range year by year.

Live Earth is partnering with companies on a local level who share the commitment to helping people live a more energy efficient lifestyle. PepsiCo, an Official Partner of Live Earth, is committed to making a difference with eco-friendlier packaging, energy and water conservation and waste reduction. It’s all part of PepsiCo’s commitment to Performance with Purpose — to do better by doing better. Esurance, the direct-to-consumer personal auto insurance company, joins Live Earth as an Official Sponsor and is the latest extension of Esurance’s efforts to conserve energy and preserve the planet’s precious resources. For more than seven years, Esurance policyholders have helped save thousands of trees by buying their auto insurance online and using electronic documents.

Fabulous Furniture

For me, looking at furniture catalogues is almost erotic. I love exquisite dark woods and rich fabrics. Coaster Furniture has classically beautiful pieces for every room in the house. HomeAndLiving.com has Coaster Furniture.

Someday I want to have a seriously boss-type desk. A cherry desk with fancy brass drawer pulls would make me feel accomplished.

I suppose I could buy an fancy desk as a way of pressuring myself to succeed. that Could backfire though. I suppose I could use the desk as a makeshift shelter if I was homeless.

Shakira's Wedding Dress

I have seen a source claiming that Shakira's future mother-in-law Inés Pertiné said that Shakira has already ordered Argentine designer María Pryor to design her wedding dress.

If this is true you can expect the gown to be tasteful and fabulous. The dress to the left was designed by her. I think it was anyway, it was on a Spanish or Portugese fashion site.

The Magnetic Diet is Attractive

The Magnetic Diet is an original nutrition concept devised by Nick Smith. He describes food magnetism as the means by which people can lose weight and achieve an incredible level of health and well being.

His book contains techniques that you can use in order to overcome cravings. They include special breathing patterns muscle toning exercises that you can do at home without special equipment.

The book also has a special meditation regimen and a very special price. IT IS FREE.

Lose weight with food magnetism, what do you have to lose, besides weight?

Is Shakira Drinking?

If People says that Shakira is drinking, I guess it must be true. Or maybe not.

I suppose her non drinking might have been imposed by her parents and, well, she is 30.

Here is a quirky AC/DC cover that she performed live. Don't expect to see it on an album anytime soon.

My Dog Has Fleas

The title of this song is the pointless sentence that my mother always said in tones that were meant to help me tune my ukele. Don't ask, I have no idea where it came from. I thought it would make a good name for a band though. If you want it, it's yours.

I once had two kittens tossed onto my lawn by a passing car. My toddlers insisted that we adopt them. As luck would have it, they were absolutely infested with cat fleas. I am so glad that there are truly effective treatments to control fleas these days.

FleasControl.com has a comprehensive rundown of your different options for controlling fleas. My advice is to jump to it as soon as you notice the problem. Unchecked flea populations tend to explode.

Shakira Getting Ink

Shakira was Miss Business for the better part of a year. Now, it seems, it is time to party. There are reports of her showing up at a Hollywood club with Penelope Cruz, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore.

Shakira was also said to have been dancing with Eva Longoria's future husband.

The detailed reporting of relatively tame nightclubbing by people like Shakira is a sign of Britney Spears trainwreck withdrawal in the media.

Source: Daily News

New Music Charts For Unsigned Artists

tourdates.Co.UK is happy to announce a new unsigned chart with free music downloads. I am not going to blow smoke up anyones anything about this, I'm just going to have a quick look and tell you what I think...

It's a pretty cool site. I like it. Check out this band, they are called Gossip.

Here is a press release about the unsigned chart on the site.


tourdates.Co.UK, Britains fastest growing new music website, has launched a chart for unsigned bands.

The site allows new bands to upload promotional tracks, announce gig dates and create profiles to promote themselves alongside major artists such as the Artic Monkeys and The Twang.

Tourdates Jarrod Robinson says, there are some fantastic unsigned bands in the UK and we wanted them to know how much our community likes their music, an unsigned chart seemed the perfect answer.

Chart results are announced on the site at 19:00 every sunday, the sametime as the No1 single of the week is announced on BBC's radio 1.

Does Shakira Have Sexy Feet ?

To each his own, I suppose. Most women I know are insecure to some degree about the appearance of their feet. I really am not suggesting with my image that worshiping feet is any more inappropriate than worshiping bums. Like I said, to each his own.

Shakira's feet look nice. I had never noticed them until this YouTuber pointed it out.

Be Charitable in an Effective Way

Being charitable is good. being charitable in ways that benefit your business is good and smart. The WealthSpa.com is personified by Elizabeth Potts Weinstein. She has teamed up with philanthropy expert Maggie F. Keenan to create a free teleclass to teach business owners how to give wisely. Click here to learn more or join the class. All the information related to the teleclass is in the following press release. Celebrities like Shakira tend to have it easy with creating or choosing a charity, because they are their own product. They still have to do some work to ensure that the charity has the right goals and good ethics and management, but their 'product' gets a boost directly from their connection with a feel good charity. Shakira builds schools in developing countries.

Business Owners Learn How to Give to Charity & Increase Their Profits in New Teleclass

In the new teleclass, Top 10 Mistakes Small Businesses Make With Charitable Giving, a financial expert & a philanthropic expert explain how business owners can simultaneously donate money to causes important to them and grow their businesses.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) June 20, 2007 -- Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, CFP®, JD, a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner and attorney, and Maggie F. Keenan, Ed.D., philanthropic expert, have teamed up to offer a free teleclass teaching business owners how to avoid the top ten mistakes most business owners make when creating and launching a charitable giving program.

Weinstein, owner of The Wealth Spa, and Keenan, owner of givingadvice, have found that their small business clients were missing vital information they needed to create charitable giving programs that both changed people's lives, as well as contributed to the bottom line of their business.

Keenan explains that "there are challenges business owners never imagined with just giving to local charities -- you get caught up in wanting to help them all. Your heart is in the right place, but you just don't know how to make giving a part of your business that is successful, fulfilling and makes a difference in your business and the world."

Business owners also want information about the practical side of giving. "Business owners want to give their time and money to charity, but also want to get all the tax benefits of doing so. In this program, I explain how to take tax deductions for your giving, and how to create a responsible giving budget for your business," says Weinstein.

In the teleclass, Weinstein and Keenan will teach attendees simple strategies to make giving matter where it matters most, how to avoid mistakes that drain small business owners, which donations are taxable & where to claim them on a tax return, and how much of a business's gross revenue should spent on giving.

Weinstein and Keenan are offering this information in a teleclass format. A teleclass is a class taught virtually, over a telephone bridge line. Using the teleclass format, business owners from all over the world may attend without having to leave the comfort of their own office or home.

The teleclass is offered on July 11, 2007 at 1:00 PM EST (10:00 AM PST). For additional information about the free teleclass, go directly to http://www.thewealthspa.com/giving, or contact The Wealth Spa at (800) 752-3592.

About Maggie F. Keenan, Ed.D.: Keenan, the Owner & Principal of givingadvice, is an expert at creating results-oriented giving programs. She is recognized by her clients and colleagues for her personal commitment to improving philanthropy and acknowledged for her insight, intellect and applicable value her programs provide. She is a member of the Inaugural Class of the Robert Hull Leadership Fellow of Southeastern Council of Foundations, a Savannah Leadership Fellow, and initiated the building of a community foundation in Southeastern Georgia. She is the Founder of Savannah Women Connect. Keenan holds a doctorate from the University of Georgia.

About Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, CFP®, JD: Weinstein, is a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner and attorney, and the owner of The Wealth Spa, an independent fee-only financial planning firm that specializes in helping women achieve their most important goals through financial planning, money coaching, classes, and books. She publishes the weekly electronic financial planning magazine, Prosper!, and is co-author of Power & Soul: 42 Successful Entrepreneurs Share Their Secrets for Creating the Business and Life of Your Dreams (2007).

###

Press Contact: Elizabeth Potts Weinstein
Company Name: The Wealth Spa
Email: Email Us Here: http://www.prweb.com/emailmember.php?prid=534151
Phone: (800) 752-3592
Website: http://www.thewealthspa.com

Is Shakira still a Non-Drinker?

This video reveals more about the paparazzi than it does about Shakira. They are one pushy bunch of morons. With some other stars, you get the impression that they bring it on themselves. Kudos to both Shakira and Penelope Cruz for being cool under pressure and for being beautiful.



Perez Hilton implied that Shakira is out partying almost every night. I am curious as to whether she still says no thanks to alcohol. I will assume that she doesn't drink until I see proof to the contrary.

Celebrity Gossip

So, this is a bit of a coincidence. Shakira is causing some hollywood gossip on the very day that I discovered the new website called CelebrityGossip.com. I am going to have to see if they talk about her.

Yes, the news of Shakira and Penelope Cruz partying together is there, as well as the rumor that Penelope is going to be Shakira's Bridesmaid. I really like the look of CelebrityGossip.com. This site brings together the latest celebrity gossip from the most popular sources and organizes them by topic. Users who join can rate story and comment on them. I was a bit perturbed that the writer for TMZ made a comment about Shakira getting fashion tips from Britney. I might go make a comment on the CelebrityGossip.com section for that story.

I followed the link to Perez Hilton's take on the same story. He had nothing bad to say about the way Shakira was dressed but he said that she has been partying a lot lately. Dude, when you see somebody at the club almost everynight, where are you? oh yeah that's right, you're AT THE CLUB TOO !!! Let she who is without sin cast the first cocktail umbrella.

Shakira is Actually Acting Like a Celebrity

TMZ has a video of Shakira out on the streets of Hollywood, hanging out with Penelope Cruz. They even have Shakira and Britney mentioned in the same paragraph. They were talking about fashion choices rather than mental state.

The sight of these two big names together out on the town has sparked a rumor that Penelope is going to be part of Shakira's wedding party.

If you want to see the paparazzi video, go check out TMZ.

Score Summer Camps

This post could not possibly be made at a more appropriate time. My 13 year old kids are driving me crazy as we speak. They came home early because today is the day that students are tested for the speaking and listening part of their language courses. They are taking French.

Soon school will be over and the children will be bored teenagers sitting around the house constantly disrupting my efforts to have a productive home office.

I am searching for options with which to fill their days with useful activity OUTSIDE of the home. Summer Camps look like a great option.

Score 30 sounds especially convenient. A parent pays for 30 one hour sessions and they can schedule them in any way they choose. You could send them for several hour per day for a few weeks, or spread it out over the entire summer. I like having the option of having the education sessions broken up by a few family fun days here and there.

Peace on Earth

I think I finally understand why John Lennon had the little kids sing the line "War is over, if you want it" so many times in a row.

At the time I thought it was a typical call for political activism. The kind of activism where young people who think tha stopping war is their thing try to make enough noise to get the leadres of democratic countries to listen.

I am starting to realize now that he was speaking to EVERYONE and that it really is true. War mongering despots don't kill people, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE. OK, some World leaders have personally killed a few people, but for the most part they get others to do the dirty work.

What would happen if everyday people all over the World decided of one accord to just stop killing each other?

I have never killed another human being. I have paid taxes that paid the salaries of some soldiers and policeman who have killed some people.

ScreenDig

I can see a lot of potential in ScreenDig. This site plays host to member who can make pages about their favorite TV shows or Movies. The TV show pages are having the most activity at the moment. There are even pages about old favorites like Seinfeld.

Users are given a 50% share of ad revenue from the site. I used to have similar ads running on this site. The revenue adds up over time. I really should put some back on here.

Help Find Maddie !!! Madeleine McCann

There a many different videos uploaded to YouTube that all have the same purpose. Madeleine McCann was abducted from a hotel room in Portugal and millions of people are doing what they can in the hopes that she will be returned unharmed to her loving family.

Embedding this video on this blog is one of the things that I can do. Happy endings in cases like this are not unheard of. Do not be hesitant to report any suspicious situations involving children to the police.

Playlists For Free

I like free music. I bought some cassettes of old music for 10 cents each. The playlists on Freemusic.Myplaylist.biz are more current and ther is none of that screechy old tape noise. If these things load well I am going to be using them a lot. I might even join and make some playlists of my own.

And Now For Something Completely Different: Mika Singing Hips

Here is a BBC appearance featuring Mika doing a cover of Hips Don't Lie. I like it, but it is far from perfecto, listen for his laugh as he flubs the words on the second or third verse. Given the adoration this man gets from young girls, I predict that he is not going to come out for many years to come. Heck, he might not even be homosexual. Mika shifts quite easily between the two parts of this duet.

Spy Sweeper

I think a computers vulnerability to spyware is largely related to usage patterns. I generally stick to informational and entertainment websites and I don't usually have much of a problem. My son, on the other hand is a gaming freak and he usually has so much stuff downloaded on his laptop that he doesn't even have enough free space to properly defragment his hard drive.

He had a total spyware onslaught with his desk top a few years ago. At the time, we weren't even acutely aware of the risk involved with spyware. These bits of software that you unknowingly download along with stuff that you really do want can slow things to a crawl or stop them altogether. That is not their intention. They want your computer to provide information. Somebody, somewhere then gets paid for handing your information to somebody else.

At first, we just thought my son's third hand computer was just a piece of crap. I was then assigned the task at work of regularly running a spyware sweeper on my work computer and I realized that we needed it at home as well. I had a few bits of malware on my PC. Every computer in the house did. The number on my son's computer was staggering. If I remember correctly, I think he had about 600 objects.

If my post has you starting to question the state of your PC, the Webroot Spy Sweeper might be the answer. It is a lot better than the software I initially resorted to years ago. I guess you could say my old software was like an ER and Spy Sweeper is that, but also great preventative medicine. It can detect and actively block spyware allowing you to download with more confidence.

Natural Skin Care

I am pleased to be able to help spread the word about Whole Foods Market. This natural and organic foods supermarket now has a podcast series all about natural health alternatives.

This months podcast is on the topic of "Natural Skin Care". I was actually blogging about this subject on an environmental blog that I have started. I was researching on ways to reduce my plastic consumption and I found out that many commercial body scrubs contain tiny plastic beads as an exfoliant. These beads go down the drain and contribute to water pollution.

The focus of the podcasts is more on the benefits of all natural products on out skin. They urge people to read the ingredients on their purchases and to try and choose natural alternatives.

I noticed two ingredients in the podcast info that I have growing in my neighborhood. One is bergamot and the other is borage. Bergamot is the citrus fruit pictured above, it is used for Earle Grey Tea as well as treating acne prone skin.

Shakira is Beautiful

I have a guest blogger writing my titles for me. His name is Captain Obvious. You may have read some of his biting criticism on YouTube comments. He outed AAGM's William Sledd. He questioned Paris Hilton's virtue. He pointed out that the baby playing the guitar really wasn't very good at it. I gave him a part time job out of pity. I just wish he would stop wearing that stupid cape around the office.

A Tie is Still a Good Choice for Father's Day

I got my father a really classic looking tie for Christmas last year. I haven't really thought about Father's Day yet. This particular day always sneaks up on me. I always feel like I am doing a real public service when I write these buzz posts about fashion or flowers or jewelry leading up to special occasions. I figure that there is a chance that I might help somebody remember an occasion and avert some kind of negative experience that might result from forgetting. Valentine's Day is the most important one to remember.

Father's are the easiest people to shop for, in my opinion. All families are different, maybe you have a father that is hard to please. I wonder how many ties I have bought my father over the years. It's kind of silly in a way because he is a farmer and he probably wears a tie less than once a week on average. He does wear one to church occasionally and he is a director of some associations. He does have a use for a few ties. I think he could probably get by with what he has for the next 30 years.

I think the biggest problem that a lot of sons and daughters have on Father's Day is that many fathers have a tendancy to not need very much and to already have the things that they do need.

A tie is an ideal present, especially when it is tasteful. Novelty gets old fast. If your dad is like mine and only wears a tie for at most a few hours per week, something silly just isn't going to cut it. Maybe if your are the sone or daughter of a junior high school english teacher or an eccentric CEO, something funny might be a good present. I get my dad ties that have rich traditional colors and simple elegant patterns. Belisi has lots of those.

Here is some Father's Day Help From Belisi.

Finding the Right Gift for Father’s Day May Not Be as Hard as You Think

Give a Gift Dad Will Remember…Luxurious, Stylish, and Thoughtful

PALM BEACH , FLORIDA– (MAY 15, 2007) --Okay, so Father’s Day is right around the corner. Wondering what to get Dad? Neckties are often times considered the “stand-by” gift for guys but not anymore. More and more Dads are putting their best fashion foot forward with colorful neckties, as they know this simple accessory can make or break an outfit. Whether you are looking for the red power tie or sophisticated yet casual, there is a tie for every occasion. Give Dad a gift he will remember, something he can wear and treasure for years to come. Dad will feel extra special this year with a beautiful Italian necktie or pocket square from Belisi. With each Father’s Day purchase at Belisi, customers will receive free shipping with their orders. To qualify for free shipping, customers should visit Belisi.com.

Belisi ties are made with more silk per inch than the average tie, which creates a fuller necktie knot, the hallmark of true luxury silk neckties. They come in a variety of colors and styles, so it’s easy to select a thoughtful gift that any father would appreciate.

Pocket squares, which are making a big comeback, also make excellent Father's Day gifts. Belisi pocket squares are oversized, made with a lavish thick silk and hand-rolled on the border. So if you want to give a unique gift for that special guy in your life, a Pocket Squares fits the bill. Another reason ties are still a fresh gift idea is that men can wear ties that accessorize with their partner’s silk scarf, which she can wear tied around her neck or draped around her shoulders as a shawl, tied on her wrist, worn as a belt or handbag accessory or in her hair (a very hot trend right now).


Belisi Fashions remains steadfast in giving back to those less fortunate. Through the “Belisi Luxury with Meaning” program a minimum of 10 percent of the company’s pre-tax profits are donated to those in need. Keeping in-line with Belisi’s mission to create a community within a community, customers decide which charity to make their contribution. Some of the charities include: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, American Heart Association, and 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com.



Belisi was built on the philosophy that a tie or a scarf is more than an article of clothing—it completes your look. “There are plenty of Web sites where you can buy accessories but few where you feel like you’re a part of a fashion community,” affirms Peter Belisi of Belisi Fashions.



The Belisi brand is flourishing, and anticipates the release of its new luxury handbag collection in Fall ’07. As with all Belisi products, the handbag collection will feature extraordinary detailing including real gold hardware, soft treated Italian leather and brushed fabrics, plus many other exclusive features only available through www.Belisi.com.



About Belisi.com


Belisi.com is an online community where customers are “Insiders” instead of order numbers. Being an “Insider” means access to special privileges including free shipping, gift wrap on all orders and a designated place on the Belisi Insider’s Advisory Board. Belisi Insiders’ opinions are more than thoughts expressed in cyber space. Peter Belisi embraces each comment, suggestion or question and responds to his clients personally. Belisi’s fashion blogs offer up-to-the-minute insight from fashion, beauty and lifestyle experts. Find out more by visiting: www.TheDivasDreams.com for women and www.SharpByDesignblog.com for men. Belisi also has a beauty blog, www.BeautifulMeblog.com, which keeps customers “in the know” about all things related to beauty—inside and out.



About Belisi Fashions

The Belisi brand is the brainchild of Peter Belisi, whose lifelong aspirations were to fuse the luxury and prestige of Palm Beach with Italian sophistication. Belisi embodies the spirit of true entrepreneurship with a passion for the best of everything, which is evident in the quality products produced. Each dramatic detail in a Belisi tie, pocket square and scarf represents Belisi’s unwavering commitment to creating fashion products that embody timeless sophistication and enduring beauty.



# # #

Belisi Press Contact:

Amy Covington

amycovington@belisi.com

800.434.1962




Agency Contact:

Cher Murphy
cm@newsworthystories.com
703.323.5976

Ummm.... ¿que pasa?

This appears to be an interview with Shakira. The interviewer appears to be a giant mouse puppet. I am reminded of the guy in the bee costume on the Simpsons. I have always wondered what they did with those scenes in the Spanish dubbed version of the Simpsons. I have seen the Simpsons in four or five different languages. The German one bothers me. Homer sounds too smart.

The Police Still Rock !!!

Win a New York fly-away to see The Police live.

There is an incredible greatest hits police cd out now and the band are out on a huge arena tour to support it. After spending two decades as a seminal pop band, these guys parted ways to pursue their own endeavors. A couple of one-off shows in recent years sparked a renewed interest in working as a band and a summer long tour is the benefit that the fans are reaping. The Police were successful because they spoke to both the heart and the mind of listeners. They drew from influences around the World like reggae, punk and rock and created a unique sound that is still imitated by truckloads of bands today.

My favorite song has to be Synchronicity II. It is considered by many as the heaviest track ever made by this band and is definitely the heaviest thing on the new police cd. I think it has had a lasting hold on me because I sort of grew into it. When I first heard it as a kid it was catchy and moody, but I didn't identify with the stressed out modern family guy in the song.

I managed to hold it together much better than the guy in the song. I think the sea creature in my chorus is a manatee.

Shakira 'Attached' to Movie

Shakira's management has denied that Shakira is set to costar in an upcoming movie. despite this, her name remains on the data at IMDb.com for Dare to Love Me.

Here are my thoughts on the subject. My thoughts are not verified. My thoughts are not properly cited.

Maybe Shakira is a big enough star that she has final approval on the script and there have had to be numerous rewrites related to her role. Maybe IMDb is becomeing as unreliable as Wikipedia. I personally know people who have created their own IMDb pages cataloging their own barely mentionable accomplishments. The movie is a biopic of Carlos Gardel.

Pingo Saves You Money on International Calls

The close family ties that Shakira has inspired me to check the phone rates between her new digs in the Dominican Republic and her home town in Colombia. With the Pingo online phone card, you can call Dominican Republic from Colombia today for only 25.9￠ per minute.

I'm sure she doesn't worry about rates too much, but many people are living far away from their immediate and/or extended families as an economic necessity. Phone communications still seem to carry the most emotional portent despite all the other digital communications available these days. I'm sure there are millions of people like me who have parents who still don't have internet access. I'm happy because my mom has a nice neighbor to whom I can email pictures. I still phone her twice a week to keep in touch.

Pingo is a Global Calling Card. They have a reliable network. This is important. When I moved away in 2005, I tried a couple of cheap calling cards that were very unreliable. It was frustrating for me, and I felt awful about frustrating the people that I was calling. If I had needed to make business calls at the time, the service simply would not have been adequate.

If you refer a friend to Pingo, you can get $5 USD worth of calls for free. An instant calling card from Pingo just makes sense.

What a Crowd

Go to Shakira.com and look at the picture of the crowd at the Mexico City concert. Even if you were there you will be amazed at what 200,000+ people in and around a space meant for 100,000 people looks like from a distance.

It looks kinda like this:

Despite the overcrowding, there were very few incidents of injuries or inappropriate behavior.

the concert broke attendance records for the city. It was a free concert.

New Police CD is Comprehensive

The Police have created music that has affected more than one generation of people. When the reunion tour that is happening right now started to generate buzz in the blogosphere, I was SHOCKED to see a lone voice that claimed to have never heard of The Police. After I recovered from my shock, I realized that the fact that only one 20 year old girl drew a blank said more in the band's favor than against them.

How many other bands who started in the 1970's have the same level of relevance?

I spent the first half of my life in an isolated part of Canada. The Police, like most really big bands, played Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver only when they toured Canada. Sting and his wife made an unscheduled landing at the Halifax International Airport as the result of a medical emergency. This was understandably not the best of circumstances and he was quoted in the local papers as being a bit nonplussed with the area. God Forsaken was the term he used, and I think some locals took it the wrong way. I thought he was just being apt.

The band is embarking on a huge World tour and they have released all their hits on a new police cd. It is probably the most comprehensive tracklist to ever encapsulate the creative life of this band. I have a hard time choosing a favorite track. I like the music for Message in a Bottle quite a lot, but the actual messages in other songs like Syncronicity II really stand out as profound.

I did get to see the band after I was all grown up and spending some time with family in Toronto. Many of the songs that I remember them playing at The Police Picnic on the CNE grounds are on the new police cd. I remember them stopping for a 'tea' break, yeah right. I enjoyed my tea as well. I wonder if Peter Tosh was pushing the tea trolley around backstage?

Vanity

The concept of sin is perverted in pop culture. The notion of PRIDE being a sin has largely gone by the wayside. LUST is the favorite sister of GREED because of how many records it can sell.

VANITY it another of the Deadly Sins. I do not have that much to say about it. I do find it interesting that the Peacock is the common symbol for vanity, when in reality, the peacock's display is often a form of self defense.