By: Meaghan Clark

Though they did the bulk of their promotions in 2009, veteran R&B crooners Boyz II Men continue to head out through June with a sporadic set of dates singing classic hits and beats. The trio released the album Love last year, just two years after their first major label release in five years, and have been performing those slow jams since March 2009.

In January 2010 just as the trio was preparing to tour yet again, they announced their once again failed attempts at recruiting long time bass singer Mike McCary to the group. The trio, as they write on their website, “are willing to do whatever it takes to fight for this institution we call Boyz II Men….there will definitely be a 20th anniversary celebration, but it will be without Mike McCary.” Celebrating two decades together, the trio continues to harmonize as they make their way across the country with tour dates through the summer. See them live now with Boyz II Men tickets from http://www.stubhub.com.

For many years, Boyz II Men were the R&B group – performing to millions of fans around the world and hailed as the most commercially successful R&B outfit of all time. Their most recent tunes have been coming in the form of threes, as they follow up 2007’sGrammy nominated Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA with the 2009 release Love. The album comes just as the boys, or men rather, celebrate their 20th anniversary.

The group – Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman – is a commercially distinctive collaboration and paired with Randy Jackson for the album, also earning time on Jackson’s shows. The set seamlessly portrays the veteran musicians in a familiar light, as they sing classic numbers showcasing their provocative vocal chords. “The success of Motown definitely upped our visibility insofar as being able to tour more, in bigger venues, in more cities and more countries,” Stockman said on the ban’s website.

Though Boyz II Men, seemingly off the international radar for several years, kept up a constant touring basis of about 150-200 concerts annually, Motown was the first major release in half a decade. “The beautiful thing was that we already had shows booked in Europe and Japan, as we’ve done almost every year for many years,” Morris said. “But performing the Motown songs was the best album promotion we could have done. And we felt the same effect back in the States as we did overseas…” The result was another expertly produced album that saw comeback results. Love peaked at No. 14 on the R&B Albums charts, while “I Can’t Make You Love Me” made the Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Their veteran harmonizing skills were evident on the Motown episode, while Love turned the group into a sensation thanks to their own hits as well. Boyz II Men first formed in 1988 at Philadelphia’s High School of the Creative and Performing Arts; their voices blended together well as Unique Attraction that they grabbed a record deal after sneaking into a Bell Vib DeVoe concert. The group released the debut Cooleyhighharmony with Motown Records in 1991 and saw success with the first single, “Motownphilly.”

About the Author

This article is sponsored by StubHub.com and was written by Meaghan Clark. StubHub.com is a leader in the business of selling Boyz II Men tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and special events tickets.

(ArticlesBase SC #2048081)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Boyz Ii Men Tickets – Spreading The ‘love’ Through The Summer

By: Ed Hardy Online Store

Designed by Ed Hardy, the first case for the iPad is called simply the Ed Hardy iPad Case ($40), and is a relatively bare-bones design: using a protective lid (which, note to case makers, we’re not enthusiastic about) that folds around the back to become a prop-up video stand, the case is made from vinyl-like PVC plastic and has a microfiber interior. It’s designed to provide access to the device’s side buttons, headphone port, and so on, only exposing the screen when you want to flip the lid open. It looks and feels somewhat cheaper than any prior Apple-designed case for an iPod, but it’s not terrible.

On May 13, 2010, Ed Hardy published The Complete Guide to Ed Hardy iPad Cases and Protection, a multi-page comparison of over 70 different iPad cases and film protectors, sorted by genre. The following details were added to this piece by that comparison article; please click on the link above for additional comparative discussion of similar protective options.

Unlike Sleeves, which keep an iPad inside for slip-out use, this collection of Ed Hardy iPad cases has been designed to split open and reveal the device—generally for use while still in the Ed Hardy iPad case. There are such similarities between these cases that we’ve put them into groups solely for the purpose of indicating which we think are standouts, and which basically blur into each other.

Apple’s Ed Hardy iPad Case is a Middle-of-Pack Pick. Apple’s official Ed Hardy iPad Case is polarizing. The material feels good and light in ways that no other case does, and the flip-closed front isn’t secured to the rest of the Ed Hardy case in any way. But the value of the flap as a video stand is undeniable, and the Ed Hardy case does in fact protect much of the iPad, apart from holes on its top, side, and bottom.

For more information about Ed Hardy iPad Case, just please visit http://www.DonEdHardyOnlineStore.com.

About the Author

Don Ed Hardy Online Store

http://www.donedhardyonlinestore.com

(ArticlesBase SC #2433893)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – The first Ed Hardy iPad case design by Christian Audigier arrival ed hardy online store!

By: Ashley Ford

Rihanna is a huge tattoo lover. She loves tattoos so much that she has a total of twelve and she also enjoys spending her free time just hanging out in tattoo studios. Although the Barbados born beauty has twelve tattoos you probably haven’t even noticed half of them, half of them are very small and in unnoticeable places.

Here’s a list of her twelve tattoo:

1. A music note on her ankle.
2. The Pisces sign behind her right ear
3. A star in her left ear
4. Sanskrit prayer going down her hip
5. The word ‘love’ on her left middle finger
6. A patch of star dust on the back of her neck
7. [she turned #6 into] a trail of stars going down her back
8. The phrase ’shhh…’ on her right index finger
9. The date 11-4-1986 on top of her left shoulder
10. A skull on the back of her left ankle
11. “Freedom in God” written in Arabic on her left side
12. A tribal design on her right hand and wrist that represents strength and love

Rihanna loves to talk about her tattoos and loves to explain what they mean. She sat down with The View in Las Vegas and talked to them about her latest tattoo.

“They’re Roman numerals. Me and my best friend got the same thing. It’s her DOB (date of birth) and she has mine.”

“I like hanging out in tattoo shops. When I am in New York, after all the photo shoots and performances, when I should be resting, sometimes I get dressed and go to the tattoo parlors in SoHo and hang out. I am so intrigued by tattoos. It’s an entire culture, and I study it. Sometimes I go with friends or just by myself. I get bum-rushed, but I don’t care. I don’t take security.”

Your Tattoos Friend

Ashley

About the Author

Ashley enjoys writing on her Tattoo themed blog at http://infinitetattoos.wordpress.com please stop by and drop a comment.

For more information and access to over 15,000 tattoo designs online, check out Ashley’s sponsor at Infinite Tattoo Designs

(ArticlesBase SC #833504)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Celebrity Tattoos: Rihanna

By: Jason Morrison

    Self Miracle refers to your need to reprogram your life to what you really want to achieve. Actually only you possess the power to alter yourself in line with the life you seek. To do that you must live your dreams if you wish to change your life permanently.

      Here i will discuss the seven secrets to revitalize your daily existence as well as renew your hopes. By just practicing these steps your condition will shift while you make space for additional miracles. Most of these miracles might be a big, or, only a tiny change. Give consideration as they take place. You’ll benefit from greater clarity and a much more miraculous life. Who knows, you might be living your dreams and enjoying the comfort of life within your reach.

 1. You will need to meditate every day.  When I say meditate, it’s not necessary to perform yoga exercises. Simply honor your spirit by witnessing the harmony by having an view of sincerity and appreciation. With practicing, the noise will silence itself. Decrease the chatter and focus on your higher guidance and wisdom. The solutions you search for are within, any time you allow yourself to be a channel for clarity.

2. You need to decide on a proper all natural lifestyle. When you are rushing things from moment to moment all of us miss the opportunity on life. Life is tricky as we always say.  Abundant wellness may slide away gradually, for this reason there is a need to try to eat whole-foods; take a frequent walk, workout or perform yoga exercises. Time is really a gift. You can not produce time, however you can use it for taking action. In action, synchronicities will start to flow. You’ll discover the desire to continue to keep taking good care of your body naturally.

3. You will need to communicate with your whole body. It is important to pay attention to your suffering and appreciate it. Discomfort is the body’s method of connecting. Your awareness of the body-mind-spirit interconnection will skyrocket your recovery. Should you end up sick or maybe have a headache, it is actually your body’s method of implying you are neglecting your very existence. Rather than fighting the suffering, love it on all levels. Your body is mostly a timeline of your respective existence and a rendering of your life. Deal with your body properly.

4. You could look back but never give attention to your own past hurts. Everybody is afflicted with wounds from the past. By holding onto adverse emotions from your past, you generate situations which dredge up old, unresolved questions again and again. Rid yourself of every judgment and understand yourself exclusively.

5. You must relieve emotional stress. Most anxiety is usually self-imposed. In places you find anxiety you will also discover feelings associated with victim-hood along with anger. Actually, nobody has authority over you if you don’t let them. You will have the choice to use your free will to eliminate yourself from the problem, breathe deeply and release the worries. I do know it can be done!

6. Thoroughly clean your house, it’s crucial. It’s always an ideal time for you to begin anew. Eliminate all mess from your home, your vehicle and your surroundings. It can be redeeming to clear out and de-stress your life. This creates stability, harmony along with a fantastic sense associated with well-being and understanding. Release what absolutely no longer assists you, inside and out.

7. Buy a journal to write down your feelings, dreams/goals and motives. Make sure they are in conjunction along with your central beliefs. Writing everything down is really a big stage to acquiring what you would like. Create content within the present tense as well as in depth. Get started with imaging your end result. Follow the future and become the powerful leader you have always recognized you will be.

      The road of change and personal development generally is one of two steps forward and one step back. If you see your self inching backward do not throw in the towel. Just understand there’s further development as well as transformations coming. While you move from where you have been to where you are, you will notice increased clarity in the way you think and work out situations. This specific understanding can help you quite simply experience additional tranquility, happiness as well as plethora. So what are you waiting for, make positive changes to your life right now and always be ready to live the ideal life.

About the Author

Next,you will learn everything there is to know about how to change your life through Self Miracle by CLICKING HERE NOW!
 

(ArticlesBase SC #2022380)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – “How To Make Positive Changes To Your Life”

By: David Arnold Livingston

So you have saved enough money for a Florida vacation. You are very excited. You want to go to the beach but still have access to other amenities. But you don’t where to go.

Well there’s no better place to go than to Florida. If your purpose is to have fun and relax, Florida is the perfect place to be.

Florida is known as the Sunshine State because of its long stretches of sandy beaches, larger-than-life theme parks and near perfect climate all year round. It is because of these attractions, Florida is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Florida is composed of 1,200 miles of sugary white beaches and surrounded by clear blue seas. Florida offers a unique blend of tropical sunshine, modern Miami culture and warm Southern hospitality. The best thing you will love about Florida is the weather. Florida’s average temperature is in the mid 80’s in the summer, and the mid 70’s in the winter.

To experience Florida as its best, it is highly advisable that you rent a vacation rental home or a beach front condo that would provide you with the perfect sand and sea holiday.

Aside from swimming and basking under the Florida sun, you can do other fun activities in the sunny state. You can enjoy a round of golf in the cosmopolitan city of Naples; you can do some canoeing through the waterways of Sarasota; you can fish at Fort Myers Beach or feast on the delicious seafood in Tarpon Springs. A Florida vacation would ensure you have a good time both indoors and outdoors.

Another fun activity to do in Florida, is shopping. Miami, in particular, is a very fashionable city. Miami is literally a melting pot of cultures.

To complete your Florida vacation you must visit Orlando, the homeland of Mickey. Orlando is a vibrant city brimming with extravagant theme parks, shopping malls, late-night bars, restaurants and family catered entertainment. This is the reason why Orlando earned the distinction of being America’s theme capital.

Exploring Florida will take time because Florida is a very long state. Be aware that you will spend a lot of time on the road. if you want to visit both the Florida Panhandle and also Key West. So it would be necessary to spend at least two weeks in Florida to see all the sights. One week is simply not enough to catch all the fun Florida can offer.

If you are planning to work while you’re on vacation and will tote along your laptop, it will not be a problem as most hotels offer wireless Internet service. But it is advisable to call ahead to the hotel and verify the connection you can expect.

If you don’t like running into crowds, then plan your Florida vacation for the cooler seasons. You tend to get a bit better service and often a break on hotel prices. February and October are the two best months, due to the really nice weather. Also take note of local Florida events, like the lobster mini-season in the Florida Keys, the seafood festival in Cedar Key and the Daytona 500 NASCAR Race at Daytona Beach. Whatever your preferred activiites, take lots of sun screen!

About the Author

David Arnold Livingston loves to travel with his family
and a favorite spot for a vacation is Florida.
As a resource, he recommends: Florida Fun

(ArticlesBase SC #9066)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Visit Orlando, Miami, Daytona, Naples, or Key West on your Florida Vacation

Author: Charlotte S Green
Artist: Lucas Zoltowski

It’s pretty safe to say that Valentine’s Day can be pretty worrying for couples, especially new relationships. It’s the ideal time to spoil your partner, but if you get it wrong then it’s also a perfect opportunity to ruin your relationship. If one of you forgets Valentine’s Day and the other remembers it, then it can take a LOT of recovering and grovelling on behalf of the forgetter to make it up to the forgetee, and in severe cases it can lead to the end of something that might have been very special. For the record, it’s on February 14th, which is a Sunday this year.

To make sure you don’t mess up a perfect date this Valentine’s Day, we’ve compiled some of the more amusing Valentine’s Day nightmares and disasters for you to read through and learn from. These stories were collected in a Valentine’s Day survey and are genuine, user-submitted stories.

You Must Be Nuts

My ex and I had been together for about three months when Valentine’s Day rolled around. He was a surprisingly romantic man and wanted to make a fuss of me, and I was all in favour of that. He secretly booked a table for two at a small, classy Indian restaurant in a trendy part of town (I’m a huge fan of Indian food). He picked me up from work clad in a suit and had picked out an outfit for me, which was really touching, and he fussed over me for the whole evening. We went to the restaurant and had a lovely, romantic evening. Eventually he went to the bar to pay the bill, and when he returned he kissed me long and lingering on the lips, in front of everyone, making me blush and giggle. But then things went wrong. While he’d been waiting for the bill he’d been eating those nuts they leave out in Indian restaurants, and I have a serious nut allergy. Quickly I couldn’t breathe, went into anaphylactic shock and left the restaurant on a stretcher. He knew I had an allergy and he just didn’t think. He was so consumed with guilt that the relationship couldn’t continue as it had before, and we split up soon afterwards.

Kath, Southampton

Out Of The Ring

My partner proposed to me in the grounds of a cathedral on Valentine’s Day. Sounds thoughtful, but it wasn’t. We were sitting on a bench as dusk fell, just talking and laughing, and I could see he was a quite nervous. After kissing, he shifted off the bench and went down on his knee. He produced a ring box from the inside pocket of his coat, opened it up and asked me to be his wife. I stared confused at the empty box he was holding, and then at him, causing him to look into the box and then swear very, very loudly when he realised that he brought the box but left the ring at home. We’re married now though, and he has never heard the end of it.

S, Lancs

All Choked Up

Just wanted to share this with you. I proposed to my husband by making him his favourite meal, toad-in-the-hole, on Valentine’s Day. He’s a gentleman of simple pleasures, and it’s this sort of thing that he likes. So just before I put the plate in front of him I put the ring I had bought him under one of the sausages for him to find. And he did find it. In his mouth, along with a large section of his tooth that broke when he bit it. I’ve never felt so stupid in my whole life. We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day any more.

Jayne, Belfast

Bare-Faced Cheek

Ok, this is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me but I want you to know anyway. In the run up to last Valentine’s Day my husband had been acting all coy, like he had forgotten about it. He hadn’t mentioned it, but I knew he was aware of it because we’d been married a few years and hadn’t forgotten one yet. Valentine’s Day is also my mother’s birthday and I thought it might have been nice to have a joint party, sort of relaxed and informal. So I picked my parents up on the way home from work and I text my husband to tell him that I’d be home soon. I had made no mention of my parents being with me. They walked to the door of my flat while I got my husband’s gift out from the boot of my car. My dad knocked on the door and my boyfriend’s voice shouted from inside ‘it’s open’. My dad opened the door and walked in followed by my mum, followed by me. The scene we were confronted with will never be forgotten. All the lights were off and the entire room was lit by candles, scented ones. And there at the foot of my stairs directly in front of the three of/all of us was my husband, standing completely naked apart from the blindfold, and with his hands cuffed behind his back.

At least he was saved from seeing the terror on my parents’ face; I wasn’t and I’ve never been so mortified. The thing is, my parents might have been able to escape without too much embarrassment because he couldn’t see they were there. All they had to do was shut the hell up and leave quietly. But no, my mum after the initial surprise simply said, ‘oh err… oh… umm… ha… oh… err… hi Steve!’ Steve fell over in the ensuing panic, his naked body upside down on the carpet. We laugh about it now, but for a long time he didn’t find it very amusing.

Rach, Liverpool

And there we have it. We hope these Valentine’s Day horror stories go some way to helping you have a better Valentine’s Day this year. If you only take away one thing from this, it’s this: listen to your partner and see what they really want. Valentine’s Day can be great fun. With a little common sense you can achieve a new level of intimacy and broaden the horizons of your relationship. Just try not to mess it up.

About the Author:

I am a writer testing adult sex toys from a discreet online store.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Valentine’s Day Disaster Stories

An American Science Fiction Movie

Author: Mitsha

Avatar is a 2009 American science fiction picture written and directed by James Cameron, and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang.

In the year 2154, the RDA firm is mining Pandora, the blooming, Earthlike moon of the planet Polyphemus, in the Alpha Centauri system. Parker Selfridge, (Giovanni Ribisi), the administrator, hires former marines as armed force to impart security. The humans plan to ill-use Pandora’s assets of unobtanium, a priceless stone.

Pandora is occupied by the na’vi, a Paleolithic genus of sapient humanoids with feline personality. Physically stronger and some feet taller than humans, the blue-skinned indigenes live in peace with Nature and worship a mother deity called Eywa.

Humans cannot respire Pandora’s air. In order to move in relation to Pandora open, human researchers have genetically manufactured human-na’vi hybrid bodies called Avatars, which are controlled by genetically matched human operators. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic former marine, arrives on Pandora to take the place of his assasinated twin brother, an Avatar operator. Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), the chief of the Avatar Program, considers him an imperfect alternate for his brother, relegating him to a bodyguard role.

While Jake is accompanying Augustine and biologist Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) in their Avatar forms, the group is attacked by a large predator, and Jake becomes separated and lost. Attempting to outlive the night in Pandora’s fatal forest, he is saved by Neytiri (Zoë Saldaña), a female na’vi, Neytiri brings Jake back to Hometree, which is populated by Neytiri’s tribe, the Omaticaya. Mo’at, (C. C. H. Pounder), the na’vi spiritualist and Neytiri’s mother, instructs her to tutor him their ways.

Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), the mercenary guide of the security forces, comes to know of Jake’s courtship with the Omaticaya, and offers him to walk over again in exchange for providing intelligence on the populace and learning what it will take to make them abandon Hometree, which rests above a big deposit of unobtanium.

In the course of the next three months, Jake becomes intimate to Neytiri and the Omaticaya, and begins to prefer the life he lives through the Avatar. Jake’s warmth begins to corrode his faithfulness towards the firm and the humans and when he is ultimately initiated into the tribe, he and Neytiri pick each other as companions. Jake’s change of faithfulness is exposed when he damages a bulldozer as it destroys the Tree of Voices; upon seeing this, Col. Quaritch forcibly disconnects him from his Avatar, and presents Selfridge and Augustine with a vlog in which Jake had admitted that his operation was fruitless; that the humans had nothing the Omaticaya considered to be of value and that they would never abandon Hometree. This convinces Selfridge that negotiations would be fruitless and he orders the damage of Hometree by a armed hit.

Augustine, whose experiments says that all beings on Pandora are linked in a vast bio-botanical neural network, protests at the destruction of Hometree, but Selfridge persists, letting Jake only one hour to persuade the na’vi to leave before Col. Quaritch’s forces enter. When he reveals the actual reason of his operation to the Omaticaya, Neytiri blames him of betraying them, which results in Jake and Augustine’s momentary imprisonment. Jake’s time runs out and Quaritch’s forces destroy Hometree. Eytucan (Wes Studi), Neytiri’s father and clan chief, and many others are killed in the attack. Jake and Augustine are once over again detached from their Avatars and detained for treason against the humans. Trudy Chacon (Michelle Rodriguez), a security force pilot who is dismayed by the bloodshed, breaks them out but Augustine is wounded by the merciless Quaritch in the course of their escape. With Augustine in a grave state, Jake turns to the Omaticaya for help. Searching for a way to resume their trust, he remembers that Neytiri told him that only five na’vi had ever tamed the Toruk, an extremely powerful flying beast. productively taming it, he flies to the na’vis, who have gathered at the sacred Tree of Souls. He begs with Mo’at to heal Augustine, who is now dying. They makes an effort to transplant her soul into her Avatar but fail.

With the help of Neytiri and Tsu’Tey (Laz Alonso), the new head of the Omaticaya, Jake vows defiance against the humans, and assembles thousands of na’vi from other clans. Col. Quaritch, seeing the na’vi’s growing strength, orders a preemptive attack on the Tree of Souls, as it is the center of na’vi religion and civilization; its damage would depart the na’vi too downhearted to continue resisting the humans. As the humans move against the holy site, the na’vi fight back fiercely, but human technology and firepower outweighs their gallantry; they suffer heavy casualties, including Tsu’Tey and Trudy. When all hope seems lost, the Pandoran wildlife suddenly attacks the humans in great numbers.

Col. Quaritch orders the bombing of the Tree of Souls but Jake destroys the bomber before it can reach its aim. Quaritch flees in an AMP (Amplified Mobility Platform) suit. He finds the Avatar interface pod, where Jake’s human body is situated, and attacks it, damaging it and exposing Jake to Pandora’s atmosphere. Neytiri kills Quaritch and saves Jake, seeing his human form for the first time. With the human attack effectively repelled, they express their love for each other. The beaten humans are expelled from Pandora, while Jake and his friends remain. Jake is seen wearing the emblem of the Omaticaya clan chief, suggesting that he has become the new head after the demise of Tsu’Tey. The feature film ends with Jake’s soul being effectively transplanted into his na’vi Avatar.

Avatar premiered in London on December 10, 2009, and was released theatrically worldwide from December 16 – 18. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 83% of 229 critics have given the movie a positive review, with a rating average of 7.4 out of 10. The picture earned $27 million on its opening day, and $77,025,481 over its opening weekend domestically, making it the second largest December opening ever, behind I Am Legend.

About the Author:

Mitsha is a new writer. Her main job is writing articles about movies. MItsha writes on movie reviews and the trend.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Movie Review – Avatar(2009) An American Science Fiction Movie

The Twilight phenomena began the moment Stephenie Meyer dreamed up the story of Bella and Edward, and put the dream on paper. Since then, the story has captivated readers all over the world. Pre-teens, teenagers, young mothers, grandmothers, businesswomen, somehow the story has managed to appeal to all ages and types. The story was written for young adults. What many people are wondering, however, is why the story appeals to so many adult women. What is it that draws these women to this teenage romance novel?

Twilight is, in essence, a story of forbidden and impossible love. Edward and Bella have to rise above innumerable obstacles in order to be together. This appeals to women because the main characters have to draw on their hidden strength in order to win this battle. Women do that every day. Whether they are a mother, a housewife, or a businesswoman, they are continually drawing on their inner strength to tackle and solve problems.

Women also see Twilight as an opening for them to return to their childhood. The story somehow has the ability to bring back all the memories of being a teenager. It brings back the memories of falling in love for the first time, and the memories of that first electrifying kiss. They experience again the memory of the longing they felt to spend every waking moment with the object of their love, and the pain they felt when their love wasn’t near.

The memories also go back further, to when these women were little girls, dreaming of finding their prince. The character of Edward is the epitome of perfect. He is Bella’s prince. Edward is handsome, intriguing, mysterious, and has a dangerous aspect that is extremely appealing, but he is also thoughtful, understanding, and, most important, unconditional. He loves Bella for who she is. He doesn’t care if she wears ratty pajamas and wakes up looking like a haystack. He thinks it’s endearing. If she cries or gets upset around him, he doesn’t mind. He loves her anyway. In Bella’s mind she is extremely flawed, but Edward only sees her perfection. What woman hasn’t dreamed of a man who will love her no matter what? Who honestly does not see her flaws? Edward and Bella have a love for each other that is totally unconditional. This love is what women hope for as little girls.

The most intriguing aspect of the novel, however, is Edward’s inner struggle to control his natural vampire urges. Bella’s blood is the single most tempting thing Edward has ever stumbled upon. His first thought when he smells her is that he wants her. He can think of nothing else. So, through most of the novel he is in a constant struggle of willpower over desire. This struggle is the perfect metaphor for the sexual desire of adolescents. Adult women understand and relate to this. Most of them have experienced the struggle at some point in their lives. In fact, most people have experienced this struggle. Stephenie Meyer was able to show the emotions involved with this tumultuous time in a teenager’s life, and to awaken in women a remembrance of this struggle.

Ultimately, Twilight is just another teenage novel. But it appeals to such a broad range of women simply because it is a story every one of them can relate to. It doesn’t matter whether they relate to it through the memories of their childhood, or whether it’s through following the journey of adolescence one more time. The appeal for women is there. They may not understand how or why, but it’s there, and it allows them to relive their past once again.

Many web sites are posting 2012 doomsday information; although some of the scientific data is accurate, the predicted results that some sites post is primarily speculation, causing unnecessary fear and terror. Knowing the facts and the possible, not probable, results can ease the anxiety that is always present when facing the unknown.

Being familiar with the scientific terminology when reading about or listening to astronomical explanations is the first step in understanding, which is also the first step in reducing the fear associated with such events. The following is a short list of these terms:

• Alignment – the positioning of objects to form a straight line.
• Equinox – event happening twice a year when the sun crosses the equator of the earth.
• Precession of the equinoxes – the earth’s wobbling on its axis, shifting its position by one degree every 71.5 years, slightly changing its relationship to the other body masses in the galaxy.
• Summer Solstice – June 21 when the sun is at its most northern point causing it to be the longest day of the year.
• Winter Solstice – December 21, when the sun it at its most southern point causing it to the shortest day of the year.
• Solar System – a star or sun with planets rotating around it in uniform cycles.
• Milky Way Galaxy – stars, planets, and other heavenly masses contained within one system.
• Equator – an imaginary line denoting the center between north and south of a body mass. The earth’s equator runs around the center of earth separating the northern section of the planet from the southern section of the planet. The equator of the Milky Way galaxy is also an imaginary line separating the northern and southern sections of the galaxy.
• Solar Flare – Similar to a volcano on the earth, a solar flare is an eruption on the sun’s surface releasing a large amount of heat and particles. This occurrence is also known as solar weather and solar storms.
• Sunspots – regions on the sun where magnetic activity is extreme.

According to most scientists, the Milky Way galaxy is depicted as a somewhat disc-shaped mass containing stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies. The stars, planets and other heavenly masses move above and below the galactic center. According to NASA scientists, our solar system rotates around the center of the galaxy in a nearly circular orbit, approximately 30,000 light years from the center, taking approximately 226,000 years to complete an orbit, and that no galactic alignment with the “center” of the galaxy is imminent.

The theory of December 21, 2012, simply stated, is that the winter solstice sun is predicted to align with the “equator” of the Milky Way galaxy as a result of the precession of the equinoxes, or the wobbling of the earth on its axis. According to many scientists, the sun aligns with the galactic equator annually. However, what makes this event different is that the “winter solstice” sun will be aligning with the galactic equator. This event occurs only every 26,000 years, but is thought to be fairly uneventful. The total process takes approximately 36 years to complete; this cycle began in 1980 and will complete the cycle in 2016. Some scientists report that the direct alignment took place in 1999.

Many astrobiologists and scientists state that web sites and books promoting dire results are simply trying to earn a buck from all the doom and gloom these discussions precipitate. Still, others say the alignment has not yet taken place in this cycle, and with the increased solar activity occurring simultaneously, many catastrophic events could result. So, as usual, many opinions abound and the general public doesn’t know who to believe; although, it would more logical to heed the words of well-known and respected astrobiologists and astrophysicists.

Solar activity, however, is confirmed by all. It is also important to understand the role the sun may play in earthly events. According to NASA scientists, a new solar cycle is beginning evidenced by the appearance of a reversed polarity sunspot.  This means that the polarity of the most recently discovered sunspot has an opposite polarity from the sunspots that preceded it, concluding a new cycle has begun. The beginning of Solar Cycle 24 is not an unusual event. Changes in solar cycles occur approximately every 11 years or so causing a rise in the sun’s solar activity, also known as solar flares. Sunspots are a signal to scientists that solar activity is on the rise; since 2008, this has been the case. It is interesting to note that the most intense solar activity, or peak in the current cycle, is predicted to occur between 2011 and 2012.

Documented predictions made by past civilizations, astronomers, and psychics of a major, planet changing event taking place in December of 2012 can also a bit unsettling to the public. The ancient Mayan civilization lived in Central America between 300 and 1200 AD and practiced exceptional astronomy and mathematics. Their recorded calendar does end on December 21, 2012. Even considering their adept studies of the heavens, many scientists agree that it would have been virtually impossible for the Mayans to predict the end of the world, and they actually don’t predict the end of the world; their calendar simply ends on that day. If the Mayan culture plotted the position of the stars and constellations, which many cultures have done in the past, it is obvious they would have noticed changes in the location of stars and constellations due to the one degree wobbling of the earth every 71.5 years, which, as noted previously, does change the earth’s physical relationship to other heavenly bodies. The ending of their calendar on a particular day could have merely signaled the end of a particular age.

The I Ching, known as the Book of Change, has been said to be the oldest book in the world hailing from the ancient Chinese culture in approximately 2800 BC. This book apparently maps time coincidently ending on December 21, 2012; however, the mathematical equations used to come to this conclusion are scientifically unfounded to date.

Of course, Nostradamus cannot be left out of this scenario. He too also predicted cataclysmic events to occur in 2012. He predicted many events; some happened, others did not.

The public should take note that the interpretation of ancient artifacts and documents can vary from one expert to the next. It is not that difficult to see what one wants to see and read between the lines making ancient documents relevant to the world today. 

Possible Consequences

Will the earth be destroyed or will life as we know it be altered? Will technology merely need to repair damage to satellites and power grids? Will the earth be swallowed up into the black hole? Will anything happen at all?

The impending, intense solar cycle could interfere with satellite signals causing cell phone and cable use to be hindered or completed disabled until repairs can be made. This has been confirmed by NASA. As well, power grids providing electricity could be inoperative leaving large parts of the world without power for a short time. Solar flares have crippled power grids before, as recently as the late nineteen eighties, also confirmed by NASA.

The magnetic shifts of the North and South poles does happen but takes several thousands of years to complete the process, with relatively unnoticeably effects. Geological pole shifts, the North and South poles actually changing places in the span of a few days, would take a massive amount of energy. The earthly effects would be staggering, but no scientific data exists to preclude that is likely to happen.

In Conclusion:

It is safe to say that the winter solstice galactic alignment will continue to occur as it has every 26,000 years. It is safe to say that Solar Cycle 24 is beginning and will most likely peak around 2011-2012. It is safe to say that satellite communication could fail, weather patterns may be affected, but to assume the Earth will be pulled into a black hole or that the poles will geographically flip is a bit of a stretch. There is actually no point at all in worrying about it, spending all your money, digging a cave, or stockpiling ten years of supplies. The most that will probably happen will be that you wake on December 22 and not have a cell phone signal; God forbid.

“Experiences make us stronger.”

Jeannie Ortega, a young, up and coming R&B recording artist, among other talents, is a testament to that old saying. Growing up in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York, she did not live an easy childhood. Witnessing tragedy at a young age made her realize that life was not like it was portrayed in the movies. With a rough childhood, battling with depression and trying to find her way in the world, Jeannie found music to be her savior. As a young child, she listened to Mariah Carey and other R&B artists. They seemed to open up a whole new world. A world she thrived in.

At the age of eight, Jeannie wrote her first song, “Shine Like Me.” She also performed in a kiddie band called “Sugar and Spice” in local Brooklyn parks when she was young. Even at a young age, it seemed success had been embedded in her. A self-proclaimed old soul; “I feel like a forty-year-old trapped in a twenty-year-old’s body,” Jeannie says.

She later moved on to become part of the Brooklyn School of the Arts’ first graduating class. From there, she became a singer, song-writer, dancer, and actress. Her first big break was when her song “Got What It Takes” was on the soundtrack of “Love Don’t Cost A Thing.” Jeannie was then signed to Hollywood Records.

In 2005, she released her second single “It’s Our Time,” featuring Gemstar, N.O.R.E., and Big Mato. Now, she’s on her way to well-deserved fame. “Crowded” and “So Done” were popular hits from her 2006 “No Place Like Brooklyn” album, which happens to be a homage to “The Wizard of Oz.” When asked where her home is, she says, “Any where my loved ones are.”

Jeannie’s first single “Crowded” hit the Top 40 charts. It’s an anthem for anyone who has been pissed off by a significant other. She spent the summer touring with Rihanna, who she describes as a sweetheart, on a nationwide tour. If music was not enough, she now adds actress to her resume, appearing in the films “Step Up” and an independent film entitled “Indelible.”

These days, Jeannie’s fans inspire her to create more. She would like them to know that she is just like them – normal, down to earth, and very emotional. We should expect more albums and acting in her future, as well as seeing her as the new face of 100% Love perfume coming soon. What are Ms. Ortega’s New Year’s resolutions?

“To keep going until I have done everything I have wanted and more,” Jeannie says.

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Jeannie shares the recipe for her success in a brief interview with STOMP Fashion Magazine.

Q: So what is the secret to your success?

A: Putting God first and always believing in myself.

Q: What is your personal definition of success?

A: Doing what you love doing and being able to help others while you do it.

Q: Did you know at a young age that you were destined for fame?

A: I don’t know why, but it must have been embedded in me from birth. I always knew.

Q: There’s an old saying that says, “Everything happens for a reason.” Do you believe this to be true?

A: Yes, I do.

Q: How did growing up in Brooklyn influence your music?

A: Well, I believe it influences the entire style of music, especially the attitude. There is a realness to it that completely represents Brooklyn.

Q: If you could go back and give yourself advice as a child, what would it be?

A: That you can’t be everyone’s superman.

Q: Was there a moment you realized you had arrived?

A: When I ran into a group of old friends and they said, “Jean, you made it.”

Q: What was your first big purchase?

A: First month’s rent and security on a new apartment.

Q: What makes your heart beat quicker?

A: The thought of losing it all.