So everyone is concerned about swine flu and such, but I really think this a great opportunity to make Great Television people!When the inevitable zombie outbreak happens due to the swine flu I’m going to create and star in a new reality series for VH1 called “Apocalypse of Love”

I’m going to live in a specially fortified commune hidden deep in Alaska with 14 sexy ladies. These ladies will compete for permanent residency within the commune walls. These women will be from diverse backgrounds and all bring unique skills to the table. They will include; a doctor, farmer, athlete, mechanic, Mensa member, carpenter, painter/poet, solider and of course six drunken party girls. They will compete in numerous challenges like creating a melee weapon from household items, making pizza from scratch, fixing generators, and of course an obstacle course. [Read more →]

I’ve just returned from a marvelous 10-day trip to Greece, which now ranks as one of my favorite places to visit.  What’s not to love about a mountainous country with picturesque landscapes, impressive ruins and delicious food?  While there are many things I enjoyed about Greece, here is a list of my top 10 favorites:

1) The Oracle of Delphi: a stunning must-see if you’re ever in Greece!  The ruins are as majestic as the natural surroundings.

2) The Acropolis in Athens:  what an astounding glimpse of the ancient world!  Spotlights illuminate the Parthenon at night, which can be seen from most parts of the city.

3) The marketplace in Athens: small shops can be found along narrow cobble stoned streets near the Acropolis.  The Greek currency is the Euro, but some vendors accept US dollars and many are willing to bargain. [Read more →]

Right at the beginning of every year, I go to Florida to visit my family for about two weeks. I figure if I go once for a long time at the beginning of the year, I won’t have to go back for that long any other time during the year. I can come back and stay for a long weekend, see my family: kiss, kiss, hug, hug and then go back to New York. No fuss, no muss. [Read more →]

As we all know, the economy is in a downward spiral: there might be even less of a reason to live in Detroit if the government doesn’t bailout the car companies, people might have to leave New York if the MTA raises the price to $3 a ride, and so on and so forth.

Well, the good and frugal folks of Queensland, Australia have a solution! They are throwing a party, and not just any kind of a party - a NUDE “Anything Goes” party, from now until March 2009. This is a party that you do not have to shop for! However, you may need to invest in a gym membership.

The party will turn the White Cockatoo Resort into a risque palace in March 2009.

Tough economic times call for some creative measures!

In Mexico City, chiles are not the only necessary spice to life. Mayor Marcelo Ebrand believes that sexuality “has a lot to do with the quality of life and our happiness.” And so, the city will be handing out free Viagra, Levitra or Cialis pills to under-overly-excited men over 70.

Article on www.msnbc.msn.com

Just in time for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which I think involves a bunch of penguins who attempt to pilot an airplane, hundreds of penguins have been airlifted back to the South Atlantic by the Brazilian Air Force.

Over a 1000 penguins have washed up on Brazil’s beaches in the past couple of months , probably due to strong currents. By the time most of the penguins landed on the beach they were close to death, so before being sent back to safety they were given shots of glucose, vitamins and antibiotics.

Check out the pictures of the penguins on the move

According to The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, at least 33 women were burned in acid attacks and 45 were set on fire in 2007. These women are assaulted by gilted-husbands, fathers who are ashamed of their daughters…all men who find it within their power to destroy the lives of women who live in a society with less rights then they.

Thanks to the Depilex Smile Foundation , these victimized women have the opportunity to get reconstructive surgery and - to become beauticians . (*click on the Depilex name to go to their website to find out more or to donate.)

Masarrat Misbah, head of a slew of Depilex salon chains, was approached for help by one of these women over 5 years ago. She immediately began a quest to help them, but soon discovered that many of these women had interests in her line of work.

“And I felt so sad,” Misbah says. “Because beauty is all about faces and beautiful girls and skin.”

She arranged for 10 women to start training in a beauty course in Italy, and these women are now employed as beauticians in salons in Pakistan. Some clients find the sight of these women disturbing. Even after many surgeries they are still scarred and deformed for life. But most women in Pakistan see it as a good thing- they are proud to benefit women who have been brought back into the circle of female society.

One of the young beauticians, Akbar, while talking about why she likes helping women to look beautiful when she herself is forever scared said :

“They do it because the world demands it. For them, it’s a necessity. For me, it isn’t.”

For this amazing article by Nahal Toosi on MSNBC.COM including photos head to:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26223335/from/RSS/

For several other blogs about Pakistan and woman’s rights visit:

Mukhtar Mai, article about leading female Crusader on CBC.CA

CulturalAnarchyst

A Promise for Pakistan

Is there anyone out there that can watch a film set in Southern Europe without thinking “I WISH I lived there?”

Good News for YOU- The guys at vodkasoda.com tell us how YOU TOO, can own a villa in the Sicilian town of Salemi for only 1 euro. Apparently many of the coastal buildings were rocked by an earthquake 40 years ago, and all you have to do is fix the darned things up! ( try watching Under the Tuscan Sun for a little inspiration before you jump in). It’s the bright idea of the local mayor - Vittorio Sgarbi.

For the article:

http://vodkasoda.wordpress.com/

High Gas Prices - Bad News, People using more bikes - Good News!

First some math (we know you love actually using that part of your brain!).

• The energy used to produce 1 car could produce 100 bicycles
• Bicycling is 110% more efficient than walking
• Big Bike Commuters: Tokyo, Japan and Odense Denmark - 25%, Dhaka, Bangladesh - 40%, Groningen, Netherlands - 50%, Tiangiin, China - 77%!

At only 1% overall, US bike-to-work commuters lag sorely behind the rest of the world. But in 2008 bike sales rose from 5.8 to 6 billion over the previous year. Bike shops and second-hand stores are seeing increases, and if mom and pops didn’t have time to teach you that life skill, there are now a plethora of local bike schools that will help you get on your bike and ride through the toughest of terrains (like city streets).

If you weren’t aware, the US Government actually did a really good thing: in 2003 they alloted $3 billion for bicycle and pedestrian improvements under the Transportation Equity Act. This is one reason why you might be looking around now and finally noticing all those bike lanes popping up. (yes, those are bike lanes, NOT places to stop and check your voice-mail)

Of all the US cities, however, Portland, Oregon gets the gold medal; inspired by European cities, they created 300 miles of bike paths and special “green boxes” which allow bikers to stop ahead of cars at intersections for better visibility. This resulted in a 150% increase in bike usage over the past 5 years.

Find your city’s bike and commuter statistics at www.bikesatwork.com

*wouldn’t it be really good news if, in addition to a hybrid car tax-break, the US Government gave tax breaks for buying a bike?!

Who has an “IN” with the IRS? Anyone? Anyone? Contact me directly …I have many questions for you…Wait, that’s another story…