Every New Year I try to assess what sort of year I had and I look forward
to plotting a new course for myself for the year to come. My father always encouraged my siblings and I to make plans and set goals for ourselves and over the years I have found this to be a useful tool not only for doing little things like saving for a pair of shoes but also for doing big things like helping me to stay focused on graduating from university.
However life in itself is unpredictable and our best-layed plans cannot prepare us for things like falling in love and accidents. 2008 was for me a roller coaster with which I underwent several waves of profound change that altered the way I had envisioned my life. One bachelor's degree and beautiful baby boy later I am on my way to preparing and planning for what will no doubt be a year that will test my adaptability, tolerance and resilience.
I've come to realise that while plans and goals give us a sense of direction and focus in our lives, it is also vital that we have be able to adapt and change to suit and deal with circumstance and situations. It is our ability to change and cope with things that will undoubtedly determine how we survive. This is the lesson I am taking away from 2008.
Happy New Year to you all and may 2009 hold for each of us success, happiness and memories that will last a life time.
Cheers
Elaine
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
CNN presents: Scream Bloody Murder
Yesterday (07 Dec) CNN screened a two hour documentary by one of its
long time international correspondents Christiane Amanpour titled Scream Bloody Murder.
Featuring the most prominent cases of genocide since the Holocaust in places such as Cambodia, Iraq, Bosnia, Rwanda and Dafur.
The documentary tells how a handful of people including Francois Ponchaud, Richard Holbrook, Roméo Dallaire, Peter Galbraith and Dr.Mukesh Kapila tried to get the
international community to intervene and stop the killings.
Scream Bloody Murder is a vivid look into how "politics trumps principle" and how the immoral killing of innocent people because
of their ethnicity becomes an inconvenient truth in foreign policy.
long time international correspondents Christiane Amanpour titled Scream Bloody Murder.
Featuring the most prominent cases of genocide since the Holocaust in places such as Cambodia, Iraq, Bosnia, Rwanda and Dafur.
The documentary tells how a handful of people including Francois Ponchaud, Richard Holbrook, Roméo Dallaire, Peter Galbraith and Dr.Mukesh Kapila tried to get the
international community to intervene and stop the killings.
Scream Bloody Murder is a vivid look into how "politics trumps principle" and how the immoral killing of innocent people because
of their ethnicity becomes an inconvenient truth in foreign policy.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Ralph Lauren: The Brand, The Lifestyle
By Teneille Craig
Aesthetically, the purest translation of American aristocracy and refinement. The style embodiment of western nobility and sophistication. Surviving three decades of challenge, change and competition, lifestyle brand Ralph Lauren has artlessly become one of the fashion world’s most iconic style houses.
Debonair and eager, young tie salesman Ralph Lifshitz had inevitably grown exhausted of his product peddling days. With an infectious drive and a natural entrepreneurial intuitiveness he would create the first Ralph Lauren collection in 1968. “I didn’t know how to make a tie, I didn’t know fabric, I didn’t know measurements. What did I know?” Lauren was famously quoted as saying in a 1982 issue of Vogue. But, this early niche tie collection would soon catapult the Ralph Lauren name into Fashion’s Hall of Fame.
Within only a few short years, the Lauren empire would begin to swell at an unexpected rate. With such apparent little experience in manufacturing, shipping and financial management, these early years were also amongst the darkest. Nearing the brink of bankruptcy, a distressed Lauren would finally secure a strong handle on his ever growing empire by the late 1970’s. By the 1980’s, the line had been fully expanded into including complete collections for men, women and children. A home accessories line and fragrance line would also launch during this decade.
But, while the brand’s most apparent competition gained aggressive momentum during the 1990’s, today Ralph Lauren has victoriously remained at the forefront of traditional American fashion and conversely within the urban community. “I think Tommy Hilfiger exploited its popularity during its height and didn’t stay true to its core fan base.” says popular Hip Hop journalist and declared Polo loyalist Brian “B-Dot Miller. “Polo, to me represents a level of sophistication.” he adds. “Polo is an upper crust sport originated in the east and for some reason this guy from the Bronx encapsulated that lifestyle into his brand better than any other designer.” continued “B-Dot”. And while further research yielded similar praises, it becomes overwhelmingly apparent how the Ralph Lauren brand has managed to maintain his devoted customer base.
Hailed for never compromising its core identity, what the Ralph Lauren brand represents is the importance of consistency and integrity in the world of design. In its thirtieth year of existence what was once one man’s small collection of ties has spawned an empire worth more than $3 billion, over 12,000 employees, a charming magazine, a foundation benefiting cancer research and a little polo man that will be encrusted into our hearts forever.
Aesthetically, the purest translation of American aristocracy and refinement. The style embodiment of western nobility and sophistication. Surviving three decades of challenge, change and competition, lifestyle brand Ralph Lauren has artlessly become one of the fashion world’s most iconic style houses.
Debonair and eager, young tie salesman Ralph Lifshitz had inevitably grown exhausted of his product peddling days. With an infectious drive and a natural entrepreneurial intuitiveness he would create the first Ralph Lauren collection in 1968. “I didn’t know how to make a tie, I didn’t know fabric, I didn’t know measurements. What did I know?” Lauren was famously quoted as saying in a 1982 issue of Vogue. But, this early niche tie collection would soon catapult the Ralph Lauren name into Fashion’s Hall of Fame.
Within only a few short years, the Lauren empire would begin to swell at an unexpected rate. With such apparent little experience in manufacturing, shipping and financial management, these early years were also amongst the darkest. Nearing the brink of bankruptcy, a distressed Lauren would finally secure a strong handle on his ever growing empire by the late 1970’s. By the 1980’s, the line had been fully expanded into including complete collections for men, women and children. A home accessories line and fragrance line would also launch during this decade.
But, while the brand’s most apparent competition gained aggressive momentum during the 1990’s, today Ralph Lauren has victoriously remained at the forefront of traditional American fashion and conversely within the urban community. “I think Tommy Hilfiger exploited its popularity during its height and didn’t stay true to its core fan base.” says popular Hip Hop journalist and declared Polo loyalist Brian “B-Dot Miller. “Polo, to me represents a level of sophistication.” he adds. “Polo is an upper crust sport originated in the east and for some reason this guy from the Bronx encapsulated that lifestyle into his brand better than any other designer.” continued “B-Dot”. And while further research yielded similar praises, it becomes overwhelmingly apparent how the Ralph Lauren brand has managed to maintain his devoted customer base.
Hailed for never compromising its core identity, what the Ralph Lauren brand represents is the importance of consistency and integrity in the world of design. In its thirtieth year of existence what was once one man’s small collection of ties has spawned an empire worth more than $3 billion, over 12,000 employees, a charming magazine, a foundation benefiting cancer research and a little polo man that will be encrusted into our hearts forever.
Monday, December 1, 2008
WORLD AIDS DAY
Last night I watched a film called Transit on MTV and as you may have guessed it was about how easily HIV/AIDS can spread. This was a great 90 minute film which touched on the cross-cultural issues of it's four main characters over four different continents, their relationships as well as the HIV/AIDS both in the developing and developed world.
The movie was made in 2005 as part of MTV's Staying Alive campaign, one which it still maintains today.
The Staying Alive website has several great programs that deal with the issue of HIV/AIDS especially among young people in the developing world where there are high infection rates. I'd recommend visiting the site to watch the Xpress 2007 three part series as well as the World Aids Day site for information.
The movie was made in 2005 as part of MTV's Staying Alive campaign, one which it still maintains today.
The Staying Alive website has several great programs that deal with the issue of HIV/AIDS especially among young people in the developing world where there are high infection rates. I'd recommend visiting the site to watch the Xpress 2007 three part series as well as the World Aids Day site for information.
WORLD AIDS DAY
There are now 33 million people living with HIV worldwide. With ever increasing infection rates and still no cure for HIV/AIDS it now more vital than ever the we protect ourselves.
Papua New Guinea has the highest infection rate in Asia-Pacific. This alone should be reason enough for people to firstly get tested to know their HIV/AIDS status, secondly for each individual to take greater care when it comes to protecting themselves (either by using condoms, practicing abstinence or sticking to one partner) and finally for everyone to take it upon themselves get educated about the issue.
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