Wednesday, April 20, 2011

50 THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

The word "queue" is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.


Beetles taste like apples, wasps like pine nuts, and worms like fried bacon.

Of all the words in the English language, the word 'set' has the most definitions!

What is called a "French kiss" in the English speaking world is known as an "English kiss" in France.

"Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

"Rhythm" is the longest English word without a vowel.

In 1386, a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child

A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off!Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

You can't kill yourself by holding your breath

There is a city called Rome on every continent.

It's against the law to have a pet dog in Iceland!

Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day!

Horatio Nelson, one of England's most illustrious admirals was throughout his life, never able to find a cure for his sea-sickness.

The skeleton of Jeremy Bentham is present at all important meetings of the University of London

Right handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people

Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, everytime you breathe!

The elephant is the only mammal that can't jump!

One quarter of the bones in your body, are in your feet!

Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different!

The first known transfusion of blood was performed as early as 1667, when Jean-Baptiste, transfused two pints of blood from a sheep to a young man

Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails!

Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin!

The present population of 5 billion plus people of the world is predicted to become 15 billion by 2080.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian, and had only ONE testicle.

Honey is the only food that does not spoil. Honey found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs has been tasted by archaeologists and found edible.

Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a "Friday the 13th."

Coca-Cola would be green if colouring weren’t added to it.

On average a hedgehog's heart beats 300 times a minute.

More people are killed each year from bees than from snakes.

The average lead pencil will draw a line 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words.

More people are allergic to cow's milk than any other food.

Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand.

The placement of a donkey's eyes in its' heads enables it to see all four feet at all times!

The six official languages of the United Nations are: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.

Earth is the only planet not named after a god.

It's against the law to burp, or sneeze in a church in Nebraska, USA.

You're born with 300 bones, but by the time you become an adult, you only have 206.

Some worms will eat themselves if they can't find any food!

Dolphins sleep with one eye open!

It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open

The worlds oldest piece of chewing gum is 9000 years old!

The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds

Queen Elizabeth I regarded herself as a paragon of cleanliness. She declared that she bathed once every three months, whether she needed it or not

Slugs have 4 noses.

Owls are the only birds who can see the colour blue.

A man named Charles Osborne had the hiccups for 69 years!

A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue!

The average person laughs 10 times a day!

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

"SPRING 2011 FASHION" KAT DELUNA'S NAUTICAL CLOSET

One of the trends for Spring 2011 is a Nautical theme. There are many ways to rock this trend - you can wear striped dresses, skirts or loose shorts with sailor or navy school boy blazers and even play around with neutral and bright colors. Whatever colors you choose, the key is to keep with a Nautical theme and as long as you accomplish that, you'll be styling! Whether your style is sporty, sexy, or punk, anyone can pull this look off. If you want some inspiration check out the pics below of me wearing three different nautical looks without going overboard—no pun intended! I hope these pics can give you some ideas on how to add your signature flavor to it like I do, making you the style captain of every party. Nautical, Baby!




Look #1

This navy blue school boy vintage blazer paired with a striped t-shirt underneath it and long wide-leg khaki pants with beige pumps is a daytime look for when I have to run errands and attend meetings, but still want to look cute. To add more fuego and not be so casual add a red stiletto!



Look #2

This is a sexy nautical evening look that you can rock out on the town with your friends or with your boo. I wore a long-sleeved striped blue and white t-shirt with long, but really high-waisted black pants to add a sexy edge and make my waist appear smaller. And, of course, I wore classic black stilettos. This look is easy, breezy and will make you the center of attention! Try it with a smoky eye and let your hair down.



Look #3

The third look is similar to the evening look, but if you want a bit more comfort, wear an all-white blazer like this Mariniere one I have on that has a black outlined collar and gold sailor anchor buttons that just give you a touch of nautical without going overboard. If you want this look for the daytime, wear it with long white wide-leg pants and beige or red espadrilles a la Ralph Lauren.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Happy Birthday Selena Quintanilla #SelenaDay










Selena Quintanilla-Perez was a beautiful and talented, Mexican American singer-songwriter born in the 70′s. She was named the “top Latin artist of the 90′s” and “Best selling Latin artist of the decade” by Billboard. During her short-lived career she managed to get fourteen top-ten singles on the Top Latin charts.
People say she’s the latina version of Madonna. The beautiful songstress sold over 21 million albums worldwide! Unfortunately, at the young age of 23, and at the height of her success, she was murdered by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar on March 31, 1995. It's been 16 years since and I still can’t believe someone wanted to murder the humble and talented artist.
Two weeks after her death, George W. Bush, then governor of Texas, declared her birthday “Selena Day” in the state of Texas. Warner Bros. even produced Selena, a box-office hit movie about her life which starred Jennifer Lopez in 1997.
She will always be remembered and if she was still alive, she would have turned 40 today.
Her heart-wrenching ballads, beautiful voice, charisma, and natural beauty made her shine. But what I loved the most was how humble and proud she was to be a Latina. She was always true to her fans and never turned them away. Selena was never seen acting like she was better than anyone else. She was what a true star should be and a great role model.
Check out some videos and tributes of the late and great Selena.

Prince Royce Tribute To Selena March 24, 2011:



Rare Video: Selena At The Sabado Gigante Show




Selena - No Me Queda Mas



Selena - Si Una Vez



Selena - I Could Fall In Love



@MelissaSWEETS
@SWEETRadio Show every Friday 1pm to 4pm www.UrbanLatinoRadio.com

Monday, April 11, 2011

5 THINGS YOU CAN LEARN FROM JAY-Z'S CAREER



(CareerBuilder) -- I recently came across Zack O'Malley Greenburg's book "Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office." I have to admit that I didn't know if a hip-hop icon had much to teach me (aka a regular worker) about succeeding in our respective fields.



But seeing as career books often begin to sound alike when you read the summaries on the flap, I couldn't pass up this interesting angle. Plus, he's just a good artist.



I didn't doubt Jay-Z was a prime example of success. His picture might as well be next to the Wikipedia entry on "living the dream."



Whether or not you're a fan of his music -- and between "Empire State of Mind" and "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," you have to like at least one of his tracks -- you can't deny that the man has been able to achieve and exceed his goals.



Jay-Z (née Shawn Corey Carter) has countless hits, co-founded Rocawear clothing, co-owns a basketball team, and was an executive of two different record labels. Oh, and Oprah picked his 2010 autobiography to be one of her favorite things, which is about as coveted an endorsement as you can hope for.



But after reading Greenburg's book, I have to admit I understand why he makes a superb guide for your career, even if you are looking to be an investment banker or grocery store manager instead of a hip hop legend.



If you look at what Jay-Z has done with his career, you might realize that what made him successful is what makes many great leaders successful.



Below are five lessons that I think we can all learn from Jay-Z's career:



1. Find something your passionate about and make it part of your life



What Jay Z did: Jay-Z is a sports enthusiast. He's a proud Yankees fan and he's been a courtside fixture at NBA games for years for The Cavaliers, Knicks and Lakers.



Not content with just being a fan, Jay-Z assembled a team (that included Lebron James) in 2003 to play in Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC) and then became a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets.



What you can do: Many of us are sports fans, but few of us have the bank account and business savvy to own an NBA team. However, we can find a way to make one of our passions part of our everyday life, even if your interest doesn't fit within your current job.



For example, if you are obsessed with politics but you work at a clothing store, you should leave your opinion of Congress at home. But that doesn't mean you can't start your own political blog or become a contributor to another one.



That way you can immerse yourself in a subject you love and still improve your analytical and writing skills. You never know what will become of your side venture -- maybe a new business opportunity.



Maybe nothing will happen beyond gaining readership, but at least you'll have space where you can indulge your passions.



2. Market yourself



What Jay-Z did: One of the other reasons Jay-Z decided to assemble that basketball team in the EBC? He knew it was great marketing. He branded a bus with the image of a sneaker he designed for Reebok, had the team tour in it, all while his music blared.



And then they'd celebrate at the club he owned in New York. It was his project from top to bottom and he wasn't afraid to promote it.



What you can do: The odds are slim that somebody will walk up to you and say, "Wow, all that great work you do? Unbelievable! Let me offer you this high-paying job that is perfect for you."



Instead, make sure you let your boss know when you perform well. Don't brag, but forward any positive feedback you get from clients or colleagues



If you're looking for a job, piece together an impressive portfolio or résumé. Think about the awards you've won, leadership positions you've held, and references who will speak glowingly about you.



Don't play meek when it comes to finding a new job because employers don't have time to beg you to talk about yourself. Impress them from the beginning. (And if you can afford to plaster your face on the side of a bus, go ahead.)



3. Know when to move on



What Jay-Z did: In 2003, at the peak of his career (up to that point), he decided to retire. Barely 34, Jay-Z felt he couldn't top himself, so he decided to walk away. (That said, he un-retired a few years later, which is something we have criticized before, too. So don't cry "wolf" either.")



What you can do: Jay-Z retired, but most of us don't have that luxury right now. However, if you're just going through the motions and the excitement and passion you once had are lacking, then don't be afraid to look around.



Maybe you need to talk to your boss, find a new job or get into a new industry. Whatever is right for you, make that move. If you're spending 40 hours each week doing a job that bores you, then you're wasting a lot of your life.



You'll be so much happier and more productive if you're interested in what you do.



4. Be willing to shake things up



What Jay-Z did: When Jay-Z took over Def Jam records in 2005, he couldn't believe that the business model hadn't changed for decades, and employees had no incentive to work hard. He wanted to see people trying new things -- taking risks and competing to be more innovative than the other.



So he held a retreat with the employees, told them what he wanted, and then began to transform the organization. Greenburg notes how people were intrigued by the fact that Jay-Z wanted to learn as much as he could about the business.



What you can do: When you're not the boss, you can't revamp the organization. But workers can get the attention of the boss and other leadership by coming forward with new ideas.



If you're the person interacting with customers every day, you know when the process can be improved and what would make your job more efficient and maybe bring the company more money.



Always be respectful, but don't be afraid to be bold once in a while. It can be the only way you stand out sometimes.



5. Manage your private life



What Jay-Z did: Jay-Z and Beyoncé are basically music royalty, and when they began quietly dating, everybody wanted to know about it. Yet, they wouldn't comment on their romance, and even to this day the married couple is tight-lipped about any personal information.



Therefore you hear more about his and her music than about their personal lives, unlike some famous people.



What you can do: You don't need to keep your marriage a secret from your manager, unless you want to, but your weekend partying or marital bickering don't belong at work.



Often, professionals decide to post Facebook photos of their drunken adventures or get into a big fight with a spouse over the phone so that the entire office hears. Suddenly your personal drama overshadows your hard work.



Remember that your professional reputation is a significant factor in promotions, raises and even layoffs. Don't let a killer keg stand undo your years of hard work.



Of course, there are a lot of other things Jay-Z's done right in his career, so I suggest checking out "Empire State of Mind." It's especially refreshing if you're a music fan and/or someone who's not keen on the typical career guides.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

More Latinos Being Casted On TV As Hispanics Are A Key Demographic For Retailers & Brands





Three of the four prime time English-language networks received failing grades from The National Hispanic Media Coalition's annual "Network Report Cards" last year. CBS was the only network that received good grades when it came to hiring Latinos. Yet, this year an unparalleled amount of Latinos were casted as leads in pilots with a few more roles to be casted. 


It's still unsure how many Latino based pilots will get picked up, but the fact that so many Latinos roles are available now is an indication that networks are realizing how important it is to include Latinos on primetime television. Yes, it could be because the networks want a better "diversity grade" but it may also be because the 2010 census numbers no mienten! (don't lie).


The U.S. Census Bureau reported that by 2015 the U.S. Latino population will grow to 57.7 million which will account for 18% of the total population. 
The Nielson Company is a marketing and advertising research conglomerate that gives their clients an understanding of what consumers watch/buy stated that: 
"[In] the 2009-10 television season, the number of U.S. Latino TV households grew 2.3% to 12.9 million. In comparison, total TV households grew 0.3% to 114.9 million, African-American TV households grew 0.3% to 14.0 million, and Asian TV households grew 0.8% to 4.7 million."
Think that's crazy? Check out these facts

  • U.S. Hispanics are 58% more likely to click on search ads, compared with the general population
  • This market segment is significantly more likely to recall online ads, particularly video ads, when looking for retail-related information
  • Six out of 10 made a purchase in a store as a result of seeing online advertisements while researching products — 22% more than the general population
  • About 86% have high-speed Internet connections at home; and 78% use the Internet as their primary source of information, above TV and friends and family

Gotta love how technologically advanced us Latinos are.

We taking over!!! 

Source.

@MelissaSWEETS 
*Listen to my show @SWEETRadio 1pm to 4pm Est every Friday on www.UrbanLatinoRadio.com 

Monday, April 4, 2011

FUTURE EVENTS!!!



RED ONE : Q & A



In 2008, when Moroccan-born producer RedOne (real name: Nadir Khayat) conjoined his globally honed dance sensibilities with Lady Gaga's subversive star power for a string of top 10 hits, the entire industry shifted. Their first hit, "Just Dance," spent 49 weeks on the chart, three of those hovering at No. 1; "Poker Face" was its chart-topping follow-up.






While RedOne's singles for Gaga, including "Bad Romance" and "Alejandro," continued cracking the top 10 into 2010, he was enlisted for flashy synths on Usher's "More" and Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It" -- each cementing the growing demand for spacey, big-room club tracks.

As the American industry catches up to a sound that Europeans perfected a decade ago, RedOne hopes to propel his music forward. The global nature of his upbringing-in Morocco, Sweden, the United States-has helped him understand mass markets worldwide, and right now he's betting on Porcelain Black, a new artist on his imprint 2101 who blends traditional rock with gritty dance beats.

Sound & Vision: RedOne and 10 Other Producers Ruling Music

But the ultimate test of RedOne's scope will be his work with U2 -- one of the only groups on the planet bigger than Gaga, with fans equally as fierce -- which he's taking, he says, in a more futuristic direction. If RedOne ends up getting Bono to a rave, the world will indeed be his.



How would you describe your sound?



RedOne: The songwriting is the first thing, before any sound. Musically, I feel like I have no boundaries. I can do rock, disco, dance, whatever. I'm always thinking about a strong melody that travels the world. Before I knew English, I loved melody. That's how the rest of the world knows songs-melody is the universal language. It's so important to me, because they're the consumers, and you want to send a message to their hearts and their souls.



You've been successful with that. But how do you know what people want?



I travel a lot. I'm from Morocco, I lived in Sweden, the U.K., New York. If you're only in America and listen to American radio, you don't know what's going on outside. Traveling to Africa, they know everything that's going on-Moroccan styles, Middle Eastern styles, flamenco from Spain, dance music from Europe, rock music in America and all that. I always loved all kinds of styles so I know what's going on constantly. It's part of [the] job, to know what people like.

European dance styles have never been very big in American pop-until Lady Gaga hit.



All her music is chord progressions that would work with a piano or a guitar, not just a loop doing one straight note. Of course it's a dance vibe that's going to make people move, but [it's about] the song. The first song that really broke was "Just Dance," which was essentially a rock track but with synths instead of guitars. Big drums. The vocals were the melody, with a simple chorus. Thank God we were lucky and it was perfect timing. The moment the public heard it, they bought into it. Big DJs-I'm not going to mention names-come to me and thank me for opening those doors for them. They say, "If it wasn't for you, we'd just be doing remixes. Now we're producers."



And now you're recording with U2. What's your approach with the band's project?



I'm a guitar player, so it was just me and Bono and Edge playing guitar, exchanging melodies. We were just like musicians jamming. I loved it.



What will the album sound like?



We've put down a few ideas, but we don't know how many will end up on there. They have a very special way of working. A song is never done until the day before it comes out almost, so you never know. They're always experimenting, so it's not like, "OK, we're finished." It's still an ongoing process. Bono described [the album as] "futuristic." U2 going sci-fi, or something [laughs]. That's how he described it, but I don't know.



You and Lady Gaga wrote tracks for the new album from Jennifer Lopez, who's a different sort of diva from Gaga. How did that work?



We sat down with her, had dinner and talked about where she is at now, what her image is. The thing that grabbed me is that she said, "I'm a dancer first." And we were like, "Yes, Jennifer Lopez has got to have dance music. She started as a dancer." So of course I had to make her move. She's incredibly happy with her family and her husband, and she's so inspiring-it was easy to make music with her.



What about your musical chemistry with Gaga?



We click. It comes naturally. It comes easy. It's shockingly quick.



Did you really write "Poker Face" in an hour?



Yeah. We hit it on the right spot. It's like, "Hey, this works." But if we come up with different suggestions, we respect each other, both the positive or the negative. We never spend energy on anything. She trusts it if I say, "Oh, maybe this is not the right thing," and vice versa. She would never say it just because. We just have fun.



You didn't do as much for "Born This Way" as you did for "The Fame."



I did three songs-not that much, no. Honestly we were both crazy busy and with me it was sort of like, I did good songs. Whatever I did fulfilled a function on her album. But that felt really enough to me.



You've said you're always looking into the future. Where do you think you'll take it next?



The beautiful thing about music now is that it's not going to go toward one thing. I want to be able to prove that if you go this way, this way and this way, it will work. I always want to bring more freshness to the music.

JENNI RIVERA AND CHUIQUIS ON THE COVER OF LATINA MAGAZINE


Latina magazine gives us a mother and daughter combo in their new issue.




Jenni Rivera and her daughter Chiquis posed together for the cover of the mag. They seriously have an incredible relationship and a very strong bond between them.



We find it awesome that Jenni posed behind her girl, giving her daughter a bigger spotlight in the pic.



Both mom and hija are looking fab!!

Pick up your issue and tell us what you think!