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Bitten! By TRUE BLOOD, and I just can't get enough!

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:41 GMT

True Blood is a new HBO series, created by Alan Ball who did the very stylish and creative Six Feet Under series, also for HBO. His new True Blood series is based the Sookie Stackhouse book series by Charlaine Harris.

While I've never read or even heard of the book series, I have had the pleasure of watching the new True Blood series from the first episode and I must say I AM HOOKED! I don't want to get technical and invoke film making terms like 'plot-driven' and 'character development'... while all of that is there, it's more than that which drives my infatuation for this new drama series.

The mythology of vampires is definitely of interest to a lot of people. It is one that crosses cultural & land boundaries; to my knowledge, there is some version of a blood sucking creature mythology everywhere in the world. In America, as we tend to do with everything, our infatuation with vampires as humans is BIGGER- more of an obsession than merely a point of interest.

I can't really profess having a great deal of interest in vampires prior to True Blood but the series has certainly peaked my interest with its portrayal of a certain kind of vampire, in particular, one of the central characters in the series, Bill Compton (played by Stephen Moyer). In this True Blood series, vampires have been able to "come out of the coffin" because of Japanese innovation: they've found a way to simulate human blood so that vampires no longer have to feed off of mortals. Of course there are some vampires who still prefer to feed the "old-fashioned way"-its and then there's Bill.

Bill is simply the sexiest, most gentlemanly vampire there ever was and every scene he is in is smoldering hot (I'm not alone in this opinion- check the fan message boards)! He and Sookie Stackhouse's (played by Anna Paquin) chemistry is off-the-charts and I think unmatched by any A-list celebrity in any recent movie I've seen. Their kind of cat-and-mouse romance is not annoying or childish, it is (or should I say was) a repressed love and sexual desire you literally feel mounting in each episode to the point of explosion.

***SPOILER ALERT*** Last night me and I'm sure many other devotees and fans of the show got some relief when Sookie Stackhouse finally lost her virginity to the sexiest, kindest, gentlest vampire ever and of course let him bite her- HARD. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series takes us, I literally count the days until the next show. And lucky me, rumor has it they've already been picked up for a 2nd season. Yay!

Tune in to True Blood Sundays at 9pm CST- and watch for follow-ups to this entry as I've barely discussed anything but how HOT this show is. I'll tell ya why its HOT later but I will say that I am pretty impressed with Anna Paquin's performance- she's less than wowed me in her recent film performances but she does well in this new series. And I don't think I need to say a thing about Stephen Moyer's performance- he is one of the sexiest actors to grace the screen and he embodies his character in every way.

Also, rumor has it that Sookie & Bill's romance is so well received because they are dating in real life! I hope it's true, because then they can carry their roles into real life, 'role play' and have as much fun as they'd like!

GET BITTEN by TRUE BLOOD today! All the past episodes are online at hbo.com or ON DEMAND (if you have Comcast).

Venezuela Closes All McDonald's for Two Days

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:18 GMT

As this global financial crisis continues to spiral downward, even companies like McDonald's are getting caught in the fray.

From CNN.com:

The Venezuelan government's tax body has closed more than 100 McDonald's restaurants in the South American country for two days because of alleged inconsistencies in the fast-food chain's financial books. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government has ordered 115 McDonald's closed until Saturday... Jose David Cabello Rondon, the superintendent of the tax body, released a statement saying that the alleged irregularities were found in the company's purchasing and sale records and were related to taxes... McDonald's restaurants in several locations remain open, Alimentos Arcos Dorados said... Those locations include Anaco, Ciudad Ojeda, La Victoria, Maracaibo Delicias Norte, Maracaibo Galerias, Maracaibo Sambil, Margarita Sambil, San Cristobal Sambil, San Juan de los Morros and Valera, it said.

AIG Executives are STILL Chillaxing!

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:17 GMT

From Current.com:

Former executives of the insurance company AIG have come under fire recently as lawmakers criticize the lavish spending of the company's money. The money, which was spent on spa retreats and inflated contracts, was taken from a loan given to AIG from the Federal Reserve with the intention of keeping the firm operational.

Our Economy: Not Good for Party

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:42 GMT

Watch CBS Videos Online In order to communicate what is Good for Party, we must also communicate what is Not Good for Party. And right now, nothing is more Not Good for Party than the status of our economy. As of this posting, the DOW is down almost 500 points. This is the first time since 2004 that the index has fallen below 10,000. Last night, I saw the 60 Minutes' Steve Kroft investigation into the financial crisis, it was perhaps the best explanation of what the hell has been happening for people who aren't economists or financial experts.

Slydial - Go Directly to Voice Mail and Never Speak to Anyone Again

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:47 GMT

What is slydial?

slydial is a free voice messaging service that connects you directly to someone's mobile voicemail. slydial is a service of MobileSphere.

What's in the name "slydial"?

While the word 'sly' can draw up connotations of being wily, crafty or mischievous (e.g. 'sly like a fox'), it can also mean clever, resourceful and efficient. We created slydial for people who appreciate clever, resourceful and efficient methods of communication, whether they exist in everyday tasks, business interactions, matters of the heart or ... clandescent operations.

Who should use slydial?

Anyone who is short on time, wants to avoid an awkward conversation, or doesn't want to bother someone, but needs to leave them a voicemail. No matter where you are in the walk of life, be it a college coed, a working stiff, a soccer mom, or an empty nester, we guarantee you that there will be situations in your life everyday where slydial will be helpful to you.

The Stitches Fashion Program - Chicago Entrepreneurs Unite!

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:49 GMT

Chicago is getting the short end of the stick when it comes to American fashion. Cities like New York and Miami enjoy the influx of international traffic to add to their style caché, but here in the Midwest, we have to try harder.

The great thing about Chicago is that the people take a lot of pride in their city, and the city returns the favor. For those of us in the Chicago fashion industry, whether on the sales side or the design side, the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) gives us the Stitches Fashion Program.

From stitchesfashionprogram.com:

The Stitches Fashion Program aims at fashion entrepreneurs in all stages of development. First, start-up entrepreneurs will receive information specific to running a fashion business in the Midwest. This includes the Fashion First Steps packet and access to educational seminars. The online packet contains information on various aspects to starting and running a fashion business. Each section is written and endorsed by a noted, Chicago, fashion professional.

The Fashion First Steps Packet contains information on:

How to register to become a fashion business and other legal advice
Financing options available for start-ups and early-stage entrepreneurs
How to brand your product
Creating a website and selling online
How to market and sell your products, B2B and consumer sales
How to grab the media’s attention
Information on fashion community involvement
Pages of links and resources for fashion entrepreneurs

If you are even remotely interested in the fashion and style industry here in Chicago, then you should visit the Stiches Fashion Program site to become a Chicago fashion insider. The world is your oyster.

The Rolling Razor: a Hi-Tech Remedy for Hair Bumps?

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:10 GMT

From Reuters:

After 8 years of intense research and development, the groundbreaking Rolling Razor has officially been launched with a full line of Rolling Razor shaving products available at www.RollingRazor.com. While the basic stick-style razor still has the same natural limitations from its inception over a century ago, the Rolling Razor has been engineered with an innovative ring shaped handle that gives the user superior control & maneuverability. With its unique double-headed, triple convex cartridges, the Rolling Razor is designed to stay in close contact with the skin whether the user is shaving a flat or a curved area. This makes it easy to follow the body's natural contours and access specific areas that are traditionally hard to reach with a stick razor. The design of the Rolling Razor reduces the need for the user to apply excessive pressure on the skin, which can cause unnecessary friction and skin irritation... In addition to the innovative handle, the Rolling Razor allows users to customize their shaving experience with a range of cartridges to meet their individual needs, including regular, sensitive skin and bump prevention cartridges.

Mercs 2 TV Commercial - Download 'Oh No You Didn't' - Full Song and Making of Video

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:22 GMT

Oh man I love a good mashup. Well, it's not really a mashup in the classic sense, but it still feels like one. Although it's tough to find information on who performs this song, the developers of the game are giving the full length MP3 away for free on their website. It's times like this when the power of viral marketing really pays off: I can't stop thinking about this game!

http://www.pandemicstudios.com/mercenaries/audio/Oh_No_Full_Length.mp3

Pandemic Studios' website.

Mercenaries 2: World In Flames.
In Stores NOW
http://mercs2.com

VIDEO: Osunlade feat. Lotus - "Cream"

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:39 GMT

As we move closer to September 5th, we invite you to enjoy the summer's-end sounds of Osunlade with us.

On Friday, September 5th, we will end our outstanding summer event series with a bang, presenting legendary deep house maestro and founder of Yoruba Records, Osunlade, for his first ever performance at Lumen nightclub.

You can find out more about our event with Osunlade in Chicago by following this link.

Happy hunting!

VIDEO: Osunlade - 'My Reflection'

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:38 GMT

From Strictly Rhythm:

One of the stand out tracks from Osunlade's excellent artist album 'Elelments Beyond' from early 2007 hits the shelves with a plethora of remixes from DJ Gregory, Deetron and Manoo Stella. DJ Gregory does what he does best; building and layering tribal rhythms with techy beats with a touch of off-key xylophone action thrown in for good measure. The Manoo Stella mix starts deep before big pads and synths take it in a near progressive direction, while Deetron strips things right back and does away with most of the vocal for a pounding House-rhythm perfect for the late-night clubs. A great track made better by a set of slick remixes makes this a promising start to 2008 for Strictly Rhythm and Osunlade.

If you like what you see here, then you'll LOVE our upcoming event with Osunlade on September 5th. See you at the party!