Sieda Johnson

THIS TIME THREE YEARS AGO, Jeffrey Mark was sitting in Charles R. Drew Hall with Aaron Coad and Shannon Jean-Louis, thinking of the next big thing.

T-shirts? No, that’s too typical. Male stuff? No, need a wider audience. Royal Swag? No, that’s an ugly name.

“We didn’t want to come into the market starting just like everyone else,” Mark said. “We wanted to make sure we separated ourselves from other companies.”

The previous summer, they noticed a trend of people starting to wear more bangles, chains, cloth bracelets, beads and other accessories and wanted to add more of that to the market. Mark’s hometown friend, Swain Soo-Hong, had a knack for bead making after learning how to do it from his mother at a young age. The D.C. team decided those skills made him the perfect fit for collaboration on the project.

Drawing from Soo-Hong’s inspiration, the four young entrepreneurs decided to come together and capitalize on the growing trend in semi-formal wrist wear.

“I got it!”

The new name for the brand hit Jean-Louis like a lightning bolt.

“Aussie & Davis,” he said.

Coad later gave the name meaning to show what the company represented: “A Unique Sophisticated Style Influencing Everyone,” Jean-Louis explained, “Dedicated to Advocating Various Individual Standouts.”

Pretty swaggy right?

FAST-FORWARD THREE YEARS, and Aussie & Davis has a faithful clientele spanning from students in the hallways of Howard University to people packing presents under Christmas trees in Germany. As they sit together in a back room in Howard’s Undergraduate Library and reminisce about the humble beginnings of their business, the partners can only laugh in celebration of their success.

“I think before Homecoming, our first taste of success came during the Black Market Friday that spring semester,” Jean-Louis said. Black Market Fridays are held in the university’s student center, providing a forum for budding area entrepreneurs to display and sell their products.

“The response we got from that was an out-of-body experience, seeing everyone gravitate towards the Aussie & Davis table. It was funny to look at everyone else at their table, looking at us like, what’s that, what’s that?”

Mark piped in excitedly, nodding in agreement. “I ain’t even gonna front; we made some money that day,” he said, noting that they nearly sold out of their stock for the day. “That day was crazy.”

Since then, the team has restocked and took off.

So far, the company has 15 to 20 different bracelets ranging from $40 to $60. “It’s not that expensive compared to our competitors that are out charging $150 to 200 for bracelets,” Coad insisted. “We think it’s reasonable.”

All black lava inspired eroded beads with black crystal accents. Brown sandstone with gold and diamond beads. Turquoise beads peppered with hints of topaz crystals. Rosebuds delicately garnishing a white marble finish. There’s an Aussie & Davis piece for everyone.

“I didn’t get any yet, but I want to,” said Winter Coleman, a photography student at Howard. “It’s a versatile jewelry line. You can dress it up and down. I love that.”

Sieda Johnson, an English student at Howard, often witnesses the effect the Aussie & Davis brand has on others. “My mother loves them,” she said. “It definitely gets the envy of my friends. The sweatshirts and bracelets, they want it.”

Johnson also respects their business hustle.

“They managed to make a name for themselves in a really significant amount of time,” she said. “They established themselves as brand on campus, with the D.C. community and beyond. “

Aside from having their pieces featured in the 2011 Howard Homecoming Fashion Show, Aussie & Davis has been featured on several blogs like HBCU Buzz, Barrel House BKLYN, Burgundy Ohio and Dope Files.

The bracelets have been worn on entertainment personalities including Paula Patton, Wiz Khalifa, Letoya Luckett, Big Sean, Wale, Casey Veggies and Tatyana Ali.

“We want to introduce everyone to the other side of Aussie & Davis, because it is a brand, not just an accessory line,” Mark said. “We want to brand ourselves into doing the high fashion men’s clothing. The cardigans, the sweaters and the nice tailored jackets.”

The team hopes to not only collaborate with local brands such as La Vita Clothing, a thriving company popular at Howard, as well as eventually be sold in major department stores like Nordstom and Bloomingdale’s.

SOUNDS FINE AND DANDY, but why start with something as small as bracelets. Why not male clothes?

“Men’s clothing would be the easiest, because of course we’re three males,” said Coad. “But at the same time, females like to shop all day everyday, so why not get the female audience first?”

To purchase Aussie & Davis, visit: www.aussieanddavis.com

Grammy Awards

Adele takes home six Grammy Awards.

Only one word came to mind when reminiscing about the 54^thAnnual Grammy Awards: geriatric.

Hardly any award recipients were questioned on whether they deserved their wins. The show focused heavily on the past, featuring tribute after tribute to honor The Beach Boys, Tony Bennett, James Brown, Don Cornelius and more. All in all, it was a safe show. With just a few eyebrow-raising performances peppered into the mix, a majority of the evening’s musical sets were rated-G, to say the least.

Unfortunately, it was more than likely due to the recent loss of one of Hollywood’s greatest vocalists, Whitney Houston. The sense of mourning hung heavily in the air.

This year’s host, LL Cool J, tried his best to push past the strong emotions in the room and, after a brief prewritten prayer, insisted that the evening be filled with joy.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID. Aesthetically favoring Elvis Presley, Bruno Mars kicked off the festivities with a mood-lightening James Brown tribute.

He was followed by Grammy underdog Chris Brown, who was able to deliver two performances during the evening. Brown fell short of viewer expectations with his neon, stair-climbing performance of “Turn Up the Music” and “Beautiful People.” The young crooner took home a Grammy for Best R&B Album.

Next, Jay-Z and Kanye West won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance for “Otis.” Awkwardly enough, neither of the two were present to accept the award.

Rihanna, who was repeatedly praised for her low-cut, red-carpet attire on Twitter, delivered a flash mob-style performance of “We Found Love” along with singing a new collaboration with Cold Play.

Taylor Swift delivered a number that some Twitter commentators labeled as a “butter-churning performance.” After singing “Mean” (which helped her receive Grammys for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song), Swift received a standing ovation, at which she was visibly shocked.

Pop singer Katy Perry’s dynamic debut of “Part of Me” included ice sculptures, fire, broken glass, a shiny unitard and blatant stabs at her ex-husband, Russell Brand.

Nicki Minaj delivered an undoubtedly unforgettable performance; however, it’s hard to determine if it falls into the category of “good” or “bad.” While assuming the role of her alter ego “Roman Zolanski,” Minaj released her inner-Broadway performer (and inner possession) with the noticeably Lady Gaga-inspired performance of “The Exorcism of Roman.” The relatively blasphemous display, which was decorated to resemble the sanctuary of a Catholic church, raised many concerns and caused controversy among religious viewers.

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, pop/soul artist Adele took it all home and rightfully so. With a calm disposition, she performed “Rolling in the Deep,” causing an enthusiastic and long-lasting standing ovation.

After a tear-jerking acceptance speech toward the end of the show, Adele humbly accepted and carried home six Grammy awards, including Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Song of the Year, Best Short Form Music Video, Record of the Year and Best Album of the Year.

The moment that viewers were waiting for, the tribute to Whitney Houston, hit a soft spot in both the audience and the performer. Jennifer Hudson, the sole singer in the dedication, delivered a reverential, borderline gospelish rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”

Visibly shaken, at the end of the song, Hudson tailored the words to say, “Whitney, we love you.” Although viewers initially wanted more from her, Hudson’s play-it-safe performance earned the respect of Grammy attendees and did the fallen legend justice.

From Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston was pronounced dead on Saturday at 3:55 p.m. (6:55 p.m. ET) in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel. Kristin Foster, her publicist, broke the news of her passing to the Associated Press. Houston was only 48.

“The cause of death right now is deferred,” Ed Winter, assistant chief the Los Angeles County coroner’s department, said in a televised news conference on Sunday upon completion of an autopsy.

“We won’t make a final determination until all the tests are in,” he said, adding that it would take up to eight weeks for toxicology results. Until then, the Beverly Hills police department has issued a “security hold,” limiting the developing information allowed to be revealed to the public.

“There was no visible signs of trauma, and foul play is not suspected at this time,” Winter said. “If any prescription drugs or illegal drugs would be found in her system, that’s what we would be looking for also.” Winter confirmed reports that Houston had been found in her bathtub. Houston’s bodyguard discovered her body, CNN reported.

With hits such as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “Greatest Love of All,” “Saving All My Love” and a rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” from her starring role in the 1992 film “The Bodyguard,” Houston has left an indelible mark on the music and entertainment industry. In her final film appearance, she will reprise the role of Emma in a remake of “Sparkle,” scheduled for release in August.

Over the course of her career, she has won two Emmy Awards, six Grammys, 22 American Music Awards and 30 Billboard Awards. She sold more than 200 million albums and singles worldwide. Jennifer Hudson saluted Houston in song during a tribute at the Grammy Awards on Sunday.

With the news spreading like wildfire on the never-sleeping social networking site, Twitter, celebrities and fans alike react to the vocal trailblazer’s passing, reminisce in her music, and rejoice in her legacy:

@The_HU_Jamaican Someone Betta Wake Up Whitney. . . Stop Playin Games

@PaulaAbdul I am devastated. I am absolutely devastated at the news about Whitney Houston. Such a tragic, tragic loss.

@BrothaBlackMan Damn…Etta James, Don Cornelius and now Whitney Houston….#blackhistory

@rihanna No words! Just tears #DearWhitney

@ATCAM3rd Even if people don’t have a Phd in Whitney Houston.. Doesn’t mean they didn respect a timeless voice..Quit the hate tweets

@iamdiddy Whitney Houston!!! OMG!! I really can’t believe this.. This is one of the saddest days ever.

@MilanBrooke  She didn’t have to break racial barriers. Once they heard her voice, everyone was sold.

@justinbieber just heard the news. so crazy. One of the GREATEST VOICES EVER just passed. RIP Whitney Houston. My prayers go out to her friends and family

@NatalyinAK TeenaMarie, Amy Winehouse Etta James, Whitney Houston…there must be a helluva choir in the Heavens. #justsaying

@RyanSeacrest At Grammys rehearsal hearing Whitney Houston has passed away at 48. Everyone here is absolutely stunned.

@HumorORtruth WTF!!!! Michael Jackson passes before the BET Awards, Amy Winehouse passes before the VMA’s, and Whitney Houston passes before the Grammy’s.

@MariahCarey Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston.

The V Street concert space was the fifth-to-last stop on the Brooklyn-bred rapper’s international tour titled Tour de Roses. His opening act, known under the moniker Phony Ppl, started the event off on a high note, performing a doo-wop ballad, “Does He Really,” a 90s-esque piece, “Is It Good?” and a beat heavy crowd favorite, “Just Break It Off.”

As Phony Ppl exited stage left and the crowd’s applauding hands were still in motion, the headliner ran onto the stage and straight to his rose-decorated microphone.

Clad in ripped black jeans, a spiked leather jacket, red bandana tied messily around his ankle and a pair of Michael Jordan’s famed sneakers, he shouted out his hometown with a braggadocios reminder of the Giants’ Super Bowl victory. All 6 feet and some odd inches of Theophilus London traveled swiftly across the stage, interacting with as many people as possible.

He performed hits from his first EP, Timez Are Weird These Days, like “Last Name London” and “Why Even Try.” He soothed the crowd with softer songs like “Flying Overseas” from his second EP, Lovers Holiday.

London gave his audience a treat by debuting “new shit,” as he continually referred to tracks from his upcoming project, Lovers Holiday II: Rose Island. He serenaded a giggling girl in his rendition of “Lisa,” lit a joint as he introduced “Let Me See You’re Pretty” and crowd-surfed to his crunkest collaboration with A$AP Rocky, “Big Spender.”

Phony Ppl joined London and bum-rushed the stage in excitement, sending the crowd into a beer-spilling, arm-pumping frenzy.

To conclude his set, he plucked the roses from his customized mic stand and delivered a handful to adoring female fans.

]]> http://101magazine.net/2012/02/theophilus-london%e2%80%99s-tour-de-roses-stops-at-d-c-s-930-club/feed/ 0 http://101magazine.net/2011/12/college-students-who-cant-cook/ http://101magazine.net/2011/12/college-students-who-cant-cook/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:11:59 +0000 Christina Downs http://101magazine.net/?p=4300 When Hollis Ledbetter dropped her son, Jakob, off at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., three years ago she noticed something alarming about the then freshman’s dorm room.

“I said ‘Jakob, honey, you’re refrigerator is way too hot to be keeping meats and things cool.’”

This was similar to a distressed call home she received from her third daughter, Marlyn, at Georgia Southern University asking her mother for help to cook something for dinner. For Ledbetter, a mother of four and grandmother to six, enough was enough.

“Okay, I really gotta do something about this,” she thought.

So she got to work, pulling recipes from her mother, mother-in-law, husband and her own to create “Oh My Gosh! I’m in College and I Never Learned to Cook!” Aside from a love of cooking that she and her husband share, Ledbetter’s motivation for the cookbook stemmed from a growing concern for her children’s generation and what she saw as a lack of knowledge in the kitchen once they left home.

“When kids go to college they really haven’t thought about having to prepare their own meals,” she said. “So they’re kind of dumb-founded when they see [things like] pasta. They may think, ‘Okay, I know pasta, but what do I put on pasta? What can I add to it to make it a more delicious meal?’”

Ledbetter’s cookbook includes how-to steps for operating tools and basic cooking techniques in the kitchen while adhering to kitchen safety, tips like ingredient substitution, suggestions for healthy living and recipes, of course, for food that “just tastes good.”

Nisha Vashisht, a sophomore chemistry major at the University of Denver, is not uneducated when it comes to the topic of feeding herself. She can boil water and cook pasta. She can clean and broil meat. For her, it is not that she doesn’t know how to cook; it’s that she usually doesn’t want to.

“I really don’t like the idea of having to work to eat,” Vashisht said. “When you’re cooking, the smallest amount of time it’s going to take is 30 minutes, and that’s a really short meal.”

Like many college students, she found a solution in her dining hall, which is on the bottom floor of her residence building, along with a Starbucks.

Food options like these were not always available to college students, Ledbetter says, and it’s part of the source of students’ resistance to cooking.

“Fast food is on every corner of where you go. Students have a tendency to to think ‘Oh I can just go pick it up here,’” said Ledbetter, who had to make salads, sandwiches and other items when she was in college.

Despite the convenience, eating out frequently can have negative health and economic effects. Students can save anywhere from $1,000 to $2,400 by cooking instead of eating out, Ledbetter said in a press release from her book.

That still does not persuade some. Jordan Taylor, a junior sports management major at Howard University, says he mostly orders take-out when he’s hungry. It’s less of a hassle for him, and he does not really care about the money. As for the nutritional aspect, when he’s not eating take out, Taylor’s average meal may be a protein shake, raw eggs in the morning, protein bars, anything with fish oils. Anything that keeps him “energized and on the run.”

Then there are those like Jessica Harder, a junior majoring in animal sciences at New Mexico State University, who defy their convenient surroundings and enjoy the domesticity of seeing a meal from start to finish.

“I absolutely love to cook,” Harder says. As a little girl in New Mexico, she grew up in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother who are wonderful cooks, she says. It was that time in the kitchen absorbing the scene that influenced her favorite dishes like New Mexican chili, enchiladas, crepes and lasagna.

The convenient options, like cafeteria food, were close to unbearable for Harder. She struggles to remember the times she has even used her microwave, other than to melt butter for a recipe. This week she plans to make green chile chicken alfredo in her kitchen apartment.

Though Harder does not fall under the characteristics Ledbetter has assigned to her age group, she does support another theory of the author’s. It is Ledbetter’s belief that a child’s cooking habits are typically adopted from their parents. Harder credits her love of cooking to the generations of women who were always in her kitchen. Wishing to be part of that world, she always stuck around and learned what they were doing.

Ledbetter suggests that parents take on a more inclusive role, like Harder’s mother and grandmother did, to make kids feel more involved in the kitchen. Unintentional shielding from the kitchen transforms food preparation into an unknown, intimidating world.

“When we’re little in the kitchen with our parents, they’ll always say, ‘Step back. Step back. Don’t touch the stove.’ Most parents wouldn’t think to say, ‘Don’t touch the stove because it’s hot,’ [or] how to safely use knives,” she says. “When kids go to college, they really haven’t thought about having to prepare their own meals.”

This is sometimes easier said than done, she says. It’s hard for many parents to make the transition from the sole provider to an onlooker, there for occasional advice.

“We have seen our kids nutritionally for two decades, and then all of the sudden they go off to college,” she says. “We’re so prepared for picking up their stuff, getting them ready for college that we don’t think about when they get their first apartment.” The result is often a state of bewilderment for their sons and daughters when they, too, realize that it’s their responsibility to deal with the kitchen and feed themselves.

Sarita Reddy, mother of Nisha Vashisht, brought her daughter home-cooked meals on a regular basis during her freshman year. She can relate to her daughter’s aversion to everyday cooking. It’s something she herself could live without.

“[Some people] really enjoy putting a meal on the table, and for me that’s just sheer drudgery. Not so much the cooking part, but the planning part,” Reddy says. “It just gets old — what to make every single day. I just want something that’s easy to fix.”

Nisha was never in the kitchen with her mother when she was younger, mostly because her mother doesn’t enjoy people in the kitchen helping her. She would rather cook for friends and family, as they sit around and entertain her.

“I like cooking for company,” Reddy says. “That’s always fun to me, when you know people who enjoy eating are going to be around. I’m the kind of person who likes having people in the kitchen. You know, ‘Pull up a chair; talk to me.’”

Beyond the basics of feeding oneself, Reddy believes that cooking is a choice, and she respects her daughter’s choice whether she does or does not learn how to be an amazing cook. Plus, Reddy says, college makes it easy to make the latter decision.

“I’m not worried too much about them being able to cook for themselves and things like that, because so much of the environment has changed,” she says. “Colleges offer so much in terms of food options. There’s food everywhere, and you don’t really have to do a lot.”

Reddy did not leave her home in India until she was 23. Like many of her peers, she stayed home and went to school. Her family had people around the house who assisted with things like helping her mother in the kitchen. This left Reddy completely unaware of basic cooking or cleaning skills she would need to live alone in the United States while she earned a Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Georgia.

She couldn’t even clean her apartment floor, but she eventually learned everything she needed to know. Perhaps this is why she is not worried about children when they leave college and are no longer protected by the amenities of their school or the kindness of their parents. People adapt to learn what they need to, she says, and children of this generation will do the same.

“Life happens, and you either have to deal with it, or you have to be de destroyed by it,” she says. “So when something is thrown at you, you figure out a way to deal with it.”

Camira Powell with freshman roommate Sarah-Marie

We came from very different backgrounds. I grew up in California, and my roommate, Sarah-Marie Chan, pronounced “Khan,” is a bubbly blonde from Alaska.We had different academic interests. She’s into the hard sciences, whereas I’m a ride-or-die humanities girl. We even found different groups of friends. Yet, we were still able to bond over a shared love of pink, Disney musicals and late-night study sessions.

Although we chose to room with other people the following year, to this day, Sarah-Marie and I remain good friends. Across the nation, thousands of college students are living away from home for the first time with people they have never met. Many upperclassmen are also living with strangers in off-campus housing.

Universities love to promote the idea that many of these roommate pairings turn into life-long relationships, but that doesn’t always hold true. A  roommate is defined as “one of two or more persons sharing the same room or living quarters.” This is a correct definition, but it fails to capture the significance of a college roommate. This is not just the person with whom you cohabitate. More often than not, you share your life with this person for the year.

The thriller The Roommate tells the story of a young naive co-ed fromMichigan who goes to college for the first time where she is assigned a roommate. The roommate seems like a nice, normal young woman, but she slowly becomes obsessed with the Michigan student ultimately hurting anyone who comes near her. Though the story of an unsuspecting student living with a crazed psycho was exaggerated for entertainment, there is some truth within the film. And some campuses have experienced other real-life situations that they probably wish were fictional.

This fall, Dominique Frazier, 18, a student at Bowie State University in Maryland, died after being stabbed in her dorm room. One of her roommates, Alexis Simpson, turned herself into the police and was later charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree assault. In an incident at Rutgers University, Tyler Clementi committed suicide after having reported conflicts with his roommate. His freshman roommate, Dharun Ravi, allegedly streamed a live video of Clementi having sexual relations with another man. After he discovered the video, Clementi jumped from the George Washington Bridge. A grand jury indicted Ravi for invasion of privacy among other charges.

To make matters worse, a student at the University of Wisconsin was recently sentenced to 90 days in jail for poisoning her roommate with eye drops. Brianna Charapata, 20, had been suffering from symptoms like fatigue, lost of appetite, nausea from an unknown cause until it was revealed that her roommate Luciana Riechel, 22, had been adding Visine solution to her water over several weeks.  Riechel reportedly told police she wanted to pull a prank on her roommate and had gotten the idea from the hit movie Wedding Crashers.

With stories like these amplified in the media, prospective college students have yet another reason to be anxious about moving away from home to start school—just as I was petrified at the thought of meeting my unknown roommate. Typically, colleges and universities pair incoming freshmen in a room ranging in size from 10 feet by 12 feet to 15 feet by 20 feet with two beds, two desks and two closets. This arrangement can vary greatly depending on the college and location.

Some schools allow incoming students to choose their own roommates beforehand by completing request forms. Many schools have some sort of matching process so the school does the work of the students. Stanford has an extensive process to match roommates, requiring incoming freshmen to complete a questionnaire about their sleeping habits, social level and other factors that help the housing office make pairings. According to the official housing website of the university, roommates are matched based on similar interests despite differences in background or culture.

By living with Sarah-Marie, I also learned what it means to respect someone else even when you don’t understand—or agree—with her. Those skills are ones that will serve a person in life. “It gives you an opportunity to learn how to work with people, compromise … share,” Smith says, summing up the benefits of having roommates. And I must agree; I wouldn’t trade my roommate experience for anything. But after watching The Roommate, I wouldn’t trade having a single all to myself either—just in case.

Spy Museum

National Museum of Funeral History Death is an interesting issue and the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston, showcases everything you would or would not like to know about funerals. It is the largest museum of this type, with over 35,500 sq. ft. of exhibition space. The NHFH houses a unique exhibit, in partnership with the Vatican, called Celebrating the Lives and Deaths of the Popes. From a detailed explanation of the Mexican Holiday, The Day of the Dead, to historical hearses, this museum could definitely teach you about funerals and the process of commemorating someone’s death.

Burlesque Hall of Fame This museum is located in in Las Vegas, a city that is known for glitz and glamour. Featuring the playbills, costumes, and other items used in strip tease routines. If you visit the museum the first Saturday in June you will catch the Miss Exotic World Pageant, which features stars from the burlesque world. The museum documents, from its origin in the early 1900s, the history of American Burlesque and its performers, and is sure to entertain you as any striptease may.

Sing Sing Prison Museum The original cellblock, erected in 1825, of the infamous Sing Sing Prison has been converted into a museum. If you have ever been intrigued by prison life this is the museum for you. Sing Sing Prison Museum contains all types of confiscated prison weapons and cells that once housed inmates. There is also an electric chair that has taken the lives of over 600 people on display in the museum. This museum will give you an opportunity to see up close what movies could only imitate.

The Museum of Questionable Medical Devices This museum is also known as the “Quackery Hall of Fame.” There is a large array of odd medical devices and home remedies that have been invented to cure ails. Strange procedures and devices that were used on the prostate and devices that were used to enlarge breasts are housed in the museum. None of these gadgets may actually work, but it will surely intrigue you to see the unusual ways people have tried to cure themselves over the years.

The Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health Menstruation is often a sensitive issue that many women do not like to talk about openly, but if you are a free spirit this museum may be for you. Possibly the largest collection of funny and unique ads about “that time of the month” and the evolution of tampons and sanitary napkins can be found at The Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health, located in Washington, DC.

New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum Voodoo, which originated in Africa, came directly to New Orleans and has a dominant culture in the city. If traveling to the museum with a group, special ritual services can be booked. There is an entertainment aspect, where dances and music from traditional Voodoo rituals are performed. Authentic ritual services can also be requested after you look at artifacts and learn more about Voodoo as a religion and culture. If you happen to be in New Orleans, this museum will be a great way to learn something about the cities historic culture and have a little fun.

The Spy Museum The national government has an air of secrecy around it so it is only appropriate that Washington, DC, is the home the Spy Museum. This interactive museum has a variety of exhibits that show you the “real” technologies and missions of spies. Artifacts, photos, and videos from genuine spy missions are on display, and the secret life of spies is revealed. This museum will be a fun and different experience than the other more popular museums in DC, without doubt.

Lelia’s Hair Museum During the nineteenth century it was a popular custom to make pieces of art out of human hair. Lelia’s Hair Museum contains a extensive collection of hair wreaths and other pieces of hair art. Lelia, who will likely be your tour guide, will be able to give you a comprehensive history of hair art, which was usually made when someone died or as a reminder of home for soldiers. This museum may be leaning toward the odd side, but you just may learn more than you expect.

Trash Museum Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority’s Trash Museum provides a detailed history and tour of trash. Visitors to can watch Hartford’s recycling facility in action and see past methods of trash disposal. There are also pieces of art made from trash removed from the dump on display. Fans of the “green movement” will love this museum, and anyone who is not will surely learn more about conservation.

Museum of the Alphabet The Museum of the Alphabet is for your inner geek. This museum documents the history and evolution of alphabets from around the world. Pictures and the origins of these alphabets are described in detail. So, if you are near Charlotte, NC, make an effort to see this interesting and unique museum.

Filled with a wide range of appetizers, main courses and dessert, the cafeteria can become your best friend. Soon enough the athletic body you had in high school has transformed in to a muffin top. Since the Chicago Tribune‘s introduction of the Freshman 15 in 1985, first year students on campuses everywhere are warned ominously about the mysterious weight gain.

This may be in vain as recent studies have shown otherwise. Researchers Jay Zagorsky and Patricia Smith debunked the myth that has lasted over 20 years. The study which will be released in the December issue of Social Science Quarterly confirmed that the average student only gains 2 to 3 pounds. In total, a mere ten percent of students actually gain the Freshman 15.

Registered New York City dietician Melainie Rogers addressed the causes of weight gain in college students and young adults.

“Sleep patterns can be thrown off when there is a change in our living, studying circumstances,” said Rogers. “We know from studies that with an irregular sleep schedule there can be an increase in carbohydrate consumption as a quick energy source.”

As many college students know, getting to bed before 1 a.m can prove difficult. During finals week, Domino’s is usually on speed dial because of its convenience. However, Roger attributes these late take-out moves as contributing factors to weight gain.

“College hours are notoriously long, often with later night eating of higher calorie foods, such as pizza at the end of a study session, or after a night drinking,” said Rogers.

Josef Brandenburg, award winning personal trainer, elaborated on the topic of college drinking.

“When you go to college the number one past time is drinking at parties every weekend regardless of how old you are,” said Brandenburg. “Easy access to unlimited bad food plus lots of alcohol equals at least some weight gain, or lots of weight gain for some.”

Just one shot of dark liquor can be up to 188 calories.

Although studies have shown the weight gain is rarely more than 3 pounds, when students are seeing the numbers on the scale rapidly increase it is hard not to believe the now debunked theory. Some students insist they are living proof the Freshman 15 is factual.

“For the most part, we frequently ate home cooked meals and coming to college where there is nothing but fast food definitely takes a toll on your weight,” said Taylor Erskine, a Sophomore at Delaware State University.

Gained weight? Josef Brandenburg reveals how to slim down before your body isn’t able to snap back.

“Skipping dessert, and trading your soda or juice for water when you are college aged is usually all you need to do in terms of nutrition,” said Bradenburg. “And for exercise, go sprinting.  Regular cardio takes forever, is boring, and doesn’t really work for fat loss.  A great place to start is with sprints on a bike or the track.”

Just ask Chris Brown and Rihanna. A 2-year-old domestic violence incident did little to detour them off their road to riches.  Most recently, Rihanna released a video for her latest single “We Found Love” from her sixth albumTalk That Talk (Def Jam). The video, featuring model/boxer Dudley O’Shaughnessy as a Chris Brown doppelganger, depicts dark scenes of a toxic relationship with heavy references to a drug-laced infatuation. To fans, it appears that RiRi has added another entry to her very public diary. Belting out heartfelt pain of a love once was, rather than a young entertainer crying out for attention.

“If you’re an artist, you’re going to use your experiences to make music,” says Christina Spann, a fan of Rihanna’s latest video. “If you’re making music about stuff that you have no idea about, then it’s hard for people to connect with you.”

While that may be the case for those telling stories of life’s tragedies, the same can’t be said for celebrities who cause their own scandals. Yet despite tongue-lashings from media and fans alike, these celebrities tend to come out of the fire uncharred. So the question arises as to whether these public figures are really suffering the repercussions of their actions, or if their bad behavior is catapulting them towards success.

Hip-hop blogger and VIBE.com editor Starrene Rhett believes that they are reaping all of the benefits despite their questionable actions.

“I definitely think that celebrities use their scandals or drama to their advantage because sadly, that’s what works,” explains Rhett. ”In Charlie Sheen’s case, he got dropped from Two And A Half Men, but for weeks he was the center of media, and they are now talking about him getting his own show.”

Even up-and-coming “talent” seems to be catching a ride on the money-train. Turn on your television and you’re bound to see a reality show with drunken brawls, raging women and blatant promiscuity amongst cast members. These same individuals often become the new faces of major brands and cosmetic lines, and have even made their way to the Hollywood film scene.

“We’re in this new era where you can be famous simply for spazzing out on TV and being a party animal,” says Rhett. “Evelyn Lozada from Basketball Wives is most known for throwing drinks in people’s face or telling someone they’re a ‘non-mother-fucking factor.’ Now she’s signing million-dollar book deals with Cash Money.”

In the real world we dwell on the consequences of our actions and how our peers perceive us. When you’re a public figure, the opposite can be true. You’re not as focused on your reputation as much as your bank account.

Singer/songwriter Justin Edwards understands the formula for having career longevity.

“If nobody is talking about you, then you’re not getting paid,” says Edwards.

As the saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Even the Kim Kardashian’s of the world are benefiting from public outrage. And for every company that backs out of an endorsement deal, there’s another one willing to shell out the dollars just for an in-store appearance.

“People may be talking negatively about her, but at least they’re talking. That means she’s still relevant,” he adds. “Wherever she goes she can say her name and somebody is going to be like ‘I fuck with you because you’re Kim Kardashian, and I know more people will come here and look at you just to shit on you.’ They just want to make sure that they’re making their money.”

Island Def Jam Recordings

The album opens with the reggae-inspired “You Da One,” a pop song that would be feel-good, if not for the bridge, “When you put it down you shouldn’t give it to me like that, good like that, shouldn’t have hit it like that, had me yellin’ like that, didn’t know you would’ve had me coming back.”

It’s fair to say that Rihanna has traded in her temporarily dark image seen on Rated R, for an overtly sexually sound covered in parental-discretion stickers. Despite the over-sexed project Rihanna still appeals to a mainstream radio. “Where Have You Been” takes on a techno beat with dub-step inspired breaks between verses.  The track is sure to blow up her already exploding reputation overseas.

Rihanna reminds her audience that she can still work a hip-hop/R&B track on songs like “Birthday Cake” and “Talk That Talk” with Jay-Z, the only feature on the album, and perhaps the only one necessary.  Both songs are about sex, of course.  She croons on “Birthday Cake” “It’s not even my birthday, but you wanna lick the icing off.”

“Drunk on Love”, perhaps the album’s best track, is propelled by the infectious sample from The XX’s “Intro,” as well as her usual repetitive, catchy, belted hook.  Though some of her live performances may leave much to be desired, “Talk That Talk” makes it harder to question Rihanna’s vocal talent.  This is never to put her in the same category as singers like Beyoncé, but given the recorded vocal production, one must give credit where credit is due.

“Watch n’ Learn” takes on a funky, xylophone-sampled beat, with flirty lyrics.  “We All Want Love,” may be the least memorable track on the album, despite the somewhat vulnerable lyrics, “I can pretend I’m not lonely, but I’ll be constantly fooling myself,” not present on any other track.  “Farewell” is another ballad, reminiscent of the sub-par “California King Bed,” but far more interesting and dynamic.

“Talk That Talk,” while not explosive, may give some hope to an ever-changing industry.  Talk is cheap, but Rihanna’s image is backed by her latest project 100 percent, and it’s not going anywhere soon.