Go Go Gazette

by Alex Wise

Though I lost interest in Apprentice long ago I started watching the Celebrity Apprentice this season accidentally and found it rather amusing for the rather eclectic cast. And now that Dennis Rodman - the most annoying after Tom Green and offensive to women character got kicked out in disgrace, the show will be easier on the eye.

Annie Dukes shows off the tattoo featuring the names of her 4 kids

It is also inspiring to see so many strong-willed and successful women. My favorite is Annie Duke - a poker champion and a rock-paper-scissors champion. she refuses to play in women’s only tournaments, saying that “Poker is one of the few sports where a woman can compete on a totally equal footing with a man, so I don’t understand why there’s a ladies only tournament.”

Actually, I am not making bets on who will or should win. After all, reality shows are rigged to make sure the outcome is different from what they have lead you to expect. But I am watching closely what Annie Duke says and does.

You see, there is a theory that playing cards helps you succeed in business as you gain valuable business skills. Winning in cards (unlike in chess) and in business depends on two things: skill and chance. You might be the best strategist in the world but you have no control over what will be dealt to you and you are not aware of what your competition is capable of. Cards teach you to make a realistic assessment of your position, watch your competition, take risks, and quickly adapt to new situations.

So far, Annie has demonstrated all these things and I can’t wait to watch the next episode to see how things unfold.

April 8th, 2009 | Tags: Annie Duke, Celebrity Apprentice, poker | Category: Pop Land | Leave a comment

Valentines Day is a nuisance. If you are in a relationship, it sets unrealistic expectations, if you are not, you feel obliged to attend an Anti-Valenties Day party. Either way, there is pressure. My suggestion is to rebrand this days into The Day of Universal Love & Understanding.

Before this motion has been accepted, we will continue to hate this day as a commercial conpiracy against our wallets which is a mild accusation compared to the accusation in some contries where religious  or nationalist claim that Valentine’s Day is one of several international conspiracies against their culture by Christians.

For example, Valentines Day violence has become a tradition in India. It ranges from ridiculous as it happened in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir where a half dozen burqa-clad members of the radical Islamic women’s group tore up Valentine’s Day cards in a gift shop to actual physical attacks as in the case when police arrested six members of a hard-line Hindu group for attacking and cutting the hair of three couples on Valentine’s Day near the Taj Mahal — a monument to love.

To protest this violence, this year, tens of thousands of Indian women got organized on Facebook to strike back against “moral policing” by religious conservatives who are trying to stop the celebration of Valentine’s Day in India.

A Facebook group, called “A Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women,” was formed to combat plans by the conservative Hindu activists, known as Sri Ram Sena (”the Army of Lord Ram”) to intimidate Indian women on Valentine’s Day.

This conservative group’s leader is now out on conditional bail after his men attacked a group of women in a Mangalore pub for enjoying drinks. He made it clear that his outfit was planning to disrupt Valentine’s Day celebration as it is against Indian culture.

The rebelious consortium chose mockery to fight fanatisism. The plan is get women send pink women’s underwear to Sri Ram Sean’s leader, Mr. Muthalik.

A spokeswoman for the group, Nisha Susan, explained it was giving chaddis (Hindi colloquial for underwear) as they alluded to a prominent Hindu right-wing group whose khaki-shorts-wearing cadres were often derisively called “chaddi wallahs” (chaddi wearers).

“We chose the color pink because it is a frivolous colour,” she said.

On their blog, the Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women explained the action and what they hoped to achieve:

“It does not matter that many of us have not thought about Valentine’s Day since we were 13. If ever. This year, let us send the Sri Ram Sena some love. Let us send them some PINK CHADDIS.

Look in your closet or buy them cheap. Dirt-cheap. Make sure they are PINK. Send them off to the Sena. [...]

What happens after Valentine’s Day?

After Valentine’s Day we should get some of our elected leaders to agree that beating up women is ummm… AGAINST INDIAN CULTURE.”

A perfect Valentines Day message.

February 14th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

This week marks the start of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese Zodiac is said to follow the stations of Jupiter’s orbit around the sun, which is just shy of 12 years. January 26 began the Year of the Ox–coincidentally President Barack Obama’s sign.

So what to expect this year? “We will feel the yoke of responsibility coming down on us this year. No success can be achieved without conscientious efforts. The trials and tribulations the Ox year brings will be mainly on the home front. It is a good time to settle domestic affairs and put your house in order.” In other words, Feng Sui your habitat!

The Empire State Building in New York is celebrating the Chinese New Year by illuminating its tower lights in red and yellow, symbolizing happiness and wealth. The official Chinatown New Year’s Parade starts on Sunday, February 1 at noon in Chinatown.

Happy Year of the Bull!

January 27th, 2009 | Tags: chinatown parade, chinese astrology, chinese new year, chinese zodiac | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (1)

The giveaway is the result of a class action suit that accused Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf, Dillard’s, Filene’s, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue, among others, of fixing cosmetics prices.

For example, Macy’s says free products will be set on tables in the cosmetics department, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Consumers will be limited to one product worth up to $25, and they will be required to sign a form declaring that they purchased the covered products between May 29, 1994 and July 16, 2003.

To get your free cosmetics, go to the following stores:

Bergdorf Goodman    |    Bergner’s
Bloomingdale’s         |    Boston Store
Carson Pirie Scott     |     Dillard’s
Gottschalks               |    Herberger’s
Macy’s                       |    Neiman Marcus
Nordstrom                 |    Parisian
Saks Fifth Avenue      |    Younkers

And here is the list of products that will be given away:

Boucheron (USA) Ltd.: Femme Eau de Toilette (1 ounce/30 ml)

Chanel, Inc.: Coco Mademoiselle body lotion (3.4 fluid oz)

Christian Dior Perfumes, Inc.: J’Adore Eau de Parfum (15 ml)

Clarins U.S.A., Inc. (customers will have a choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last): Clarins Energizing Morning Cream (30 ml) OR Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (30 ml)

Conopco, Inc. (distributed by Coty, Inc. on behalf of Conopco, Inc.) (customers will have a choice of ONE of three products, while supplies last): Calvin Klein Euphoria Bath and Shower Crème (6.7 oz) OR Vera Wang Princess Body Polish (5 oz) OR Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Shower Gel (6.7 oz)

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (customers will have a choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last): Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (15 ml/0.5 oz) OR Clinique Moisture Surge (30 ml/1 oz)

Guerlain, Inc.: My Insolence Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

L’Oréal USA, Inc. (formerly known as Cosmair, Inc.) (customers will have a choice of ONE of eight products, while supplies last): Lancôme UV Expert 20 OR Lancôme Cils Design Pro Mascara R Lancôme Fatale Mascara OR Lancôme Courbe Virtuose Mascara OR Lancôme Primordial Skin Defense OR Ralph Lauren Romance Shower Gel (6.7 oz.) OR Giorgio Armani ACM Shower Gel (6.7 oz) OR Lancôme Hypnôse Shower Gel

Parfums Givenchy, Inc.: Very Irresistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

January 19th, 2009 | Tags: cosmetics giveaway, free cosmetics, Shopping | Category: Shopping | Leave a comment

The Life and Times of a Girl and Her Business in the Madness of NYC

by Susan Cava

Ever notice there are everyday terms we use and use (and use) but never really know what they mean?  Well, perhaps corporation and incorporated falls into that category.  Oddly enough they represent the same thing.  A corporation is a legal entity or business financially separate from the person who forms it and state government approved.  The act of incorporating means that you are becoming a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship – legally separating your professional income from your personal income.

Some businesses list themselves as NAME Corp. while others prefer NAME Inc. – this is really just a matter of taste.  Ultimately it means NAME Corporation was incorporated on DATE XX.  It is your preference which you choose to be known as – corp. or inc.

Many companies nowadays (Dell, Inc or Google, Inc) are opting for the incorporated moniker as opposed to corporation likely thinking it might give a friendlier vibe.  Corporations are higher than LLCs, sole proprietorships, DBA’s – these are generally for large businesses with shareholders.  Shareholders are people who invest in your business for profit.

To legally form a corporation you must be prepared to follow all the rules regarding corporations and shareholders – formal meetings with minutes, appointment of officers, annual reports and detailed records. Corporations do get greater tax savings but it comes at a cost.  However, when a business gets to a certain size this is really the only way to go – but if you can swing by as a LLC or SPA or DBA it’s an easier path.

January 9th, 2009 | Tags: advice, small business, SME, woman-owned business | Category: This Girl's Business, Uncategorized | Comments (1)

eWaste Recycling Event: January 10th at Tekserve
Bring unwanted computers, televisions, VCRs, telephones, and other home electronics to Tekserve on January 10th to be properly recycled at our third annual eWaste recycling event, hosted by Tekserve and the Lower East Side Ecology Center. The harmful chemicals in these products contribute up to 70% of the toxins found in landfills.

To celebrate the event, anyone bringing electronics to be recycled can register at Tekserve for a raffle to win a new aluminum MacBook or one of three 16GB iPod nanos. All participants in the event will also receive a coupon for a $25 discount on any new current model iPod (except iPod shuffle) or Mac purchase.*

When: Saturday, January 10th, 2009 from 10AM to 4PM

Where: In front of Tekserve: 119 West 23rd St., just west of 6th Ave.

* Coupon valid for 30 days after the event. Cannot be combined with other offers.

January 9th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Happy 2009 to all of us! If you are like me, you must be searching the web for your year-start astrological inspiration for the year ahead. I trust AstrologyZone, and here is in short what we should be looking forward to according to Susan Miller. The main event is that Jupiter, known as the planet of happiness, expansion, and good fortune, will move into Aquarius for the first time since 1997 on January 5. Jupiter will stay in this sign for a year, until January 18, 2010. This event will have different effects on our lives depending on our respective astrological signs. Naturally, Aquarians will benefit most.

AQUARIUS

After a long wait (since 1997), your golden year has arrived. What lies before you is a glorious year of good fortune.

ARIES
You begin the year with bright, exciting news about your career. After Jupiter enters Aquarius on January 5, you’ll be mixing and mingling with many more people in the year ahead.

TAURUS
Jupiter, planet of good fortune, will be in your tenth house of honors, awards, achievement, and fame beginning on January 5 and will stay one year, until January 17, 2010.

GEMINI
This year your life will be changing quite dramatically for the better.

CANCER
In your case, Jupiter will be based in 2009 in your house of “other people’s money,” which means their money will come to you now and possibly will help you launch a dream, such as to go to college or grad school, to buy a house, or to move across country.

LEO
The universe is about to make a major correction to your life with the monumental arrival of Jupiter, planet of good fortune, in your house of serious, committed relationships, and that includes marriage.

VIRGO
Look forward to vastly improved working conditions where you work now or where you’ll work next, thanks to the move of Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck, into your work sector on January 5, to stay one year.

LIBRA
When good fortune Jupiter enters your house of true love on January 5, he will brighten your house of true love for a full year. This is headline news in astrological circles, for Jupiter has not been in this area of your chart since 1997. You should see a big pickup in your social life.

SCORPIO
January begins a whole new trend, one that will bring you enormous luck and happiness in regard to home, real estate, and family matters.

SAGITTARIUS
Jupiter will remain a year in your third house of communication, helping you expand your talents in this area in a very joyful way.

CAPRICORN
The year’s new trend - financial reward for hard work done.

PISCES
In this coming year, rather than having the outside world create your experiences, you will create your own world, and many of your opportunities will come because you dearly want them and will find a way to get them. Your intuition will be unusually sharp, and your creativity will be unusually rich.

January 4th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

December 23rd, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

For those in the know, Obama’s victory was not the most Earth-shattering electoral victory of 2008. About the same time, Silverton, Oregon has elected to the town’s mayor the man who’s believed to be the first ever openly transgender mayor in the United States. Yes, he has a girlfriend.

Buying women’s clothes has been challenging for this category of men, as Eddie Izzard well described in his interviews: “Can I try this? – No, you should go home and take your own life.” This is why I was delighted to hear that one Japanese company decided to embrace this opportunity and launched a lingerie line for these “male lesbians” as, again, Eddie Izzard describes himself. The company is called Wishroom and you can check out their merchandise at http://www.wishr.com. Their bras for cross-dressing men have quickly become one of the brand’ most popular items.

December 23rd, 2008 | Tags: gifts for him, mens apparel, Shopping, shopping for gifts | Category: Lifestyle, Shopping, Uncategorized | Leave a comment