The Curious New Life of Linda Nieves-Powell

I'm not going to make any New Year's resolutions. I've learned that they are always too hard to live up to or more often than not the novelty wears off; in the same way that one plans a night of sex with the spouse only to find out in the end, the visual foreplay was a bit more exciting than the actual act.Although, I sweared off listing my goals, I would like to continue to challenge myself intellectually, physically and spirtually. 2008 was a big year for personal growth. I asked the everloving universe to afford me a chance to expand my wings and to my surprise it had. But like Ying and Yang, I was given these gifts along with the heartbreaking reality that when one desires more from life, something else is ripped away. I see a change in me and it is affecting everything and everyone around me. How does someone live a full life but remain unchanged for the benefit of their loved ones? I don't know the answer to that and I do find it strange that someone or something is possibly trying to help me find the answer.I have been thinking about death and relationships a lot lately. A whole lot. In fact, I wrote a new play called THE END which is about ADAM and EVE and the rest of us married and not so married folk. I'm trying desperately to figure out how we can live happily ever after and remain true to ourselves.What I find ironic is that the minute I start to think of an idea for a new piece, voila, there it is in front of me. There are two movies out in the theaters that are EXACTLY about what I am writing. One is called THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTONS--a story I wished I had written. It was mainly about death and dying but it is also very much about life. If it weren't for the creepy visual effects, the movie would have been perfect. It is based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story by the same name. However, the film, I assume, gets free license to go beyond what Mr. Fitzgerald had intended to say. There are Forrest Gump style isms written all over this movie. Some I truly loved and that very often made me cry. I love a line that seems as if it came from God. It touches the depths of your soul in the same way that when a perfect note is song, it can bring you to tears.So while I sat in the theater on New Year's Eve to see Brad Pitt live a backwards life, a trailer for a new movie speaks to me. It is called REVOLUTIONARY ROAD and stars my favorite actors: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The log line says it all: HOW DO YOU BREAK FREE WITHOUT BREAKING APART? It it so amazing to me how whenever I am going through something in my own life, a book, a movie, a play enters my life and speaks to me. I'm actually afraid to see what the answer is.2008 was the year I questioned whether I had it in me to write something extraordinary. Something unique. Something that would change my life. Something that would make me feel as though I just walked out of a pitch meeting with the Almighty One. I'm still working on it I guess. See, I'm hoping that the jaded me stays behind in 2008. I learned way too many negative things about the publishing business. It's a joke actually what one must do to sell a book. What does seem to work is when you're a bit controverisal or a bit of a gossip girl. I have a problem with that since insecurity and hatred are part of the controversial personality. How can one be insecure and save the world at the same time? Don't think it can happen. And what I've learned more than anything else is that you should never write a book only for Latinas. How stupid of me to think that I would make a huge difference in this world by inspiring my woman to become greater than they ever imagined? How naive was I to think that writing a book to save the Latina soul would actually become a bestseller? WTF was I thinking? It's sad. It truly is sad that what I want to say to women isn't going to sell. Maybe the samaritan in me really needs to lay low if she wants to sell books. I never thought I'd have a love hate relationship with writing. I have to change the way I've been thinking. Again, I must say goodbye to a big part of who I am if I want to make a bigger impact--so it seems.I don't know if what I'm feeling is temporary or if the search will go on until my dying days. There was a line in the Benjamin Button movie that I loved. I'm paraphasing but it was something along the lines that no one knows who they should be. You can start over at any time. It doesn't matter, it's never too late to be someone else. And maybe my problem is again not having a clear identity of myself. The Latina thing doesn't work for me any longer because I found her and I'm extremely proud of her. I'm bigger than just a commonwealth of the U.S. I'm bigger than just being American. But I honestly don't know who that person is.I pray that the answer comes in 2009, during the early morning when I'm alone sitting in front of my computer waiting for God to speak through me. When all is silent and still...I hope I can be quiet enough to hear the answer.

The Occupational Hazards of Helping Others

Dear Whomever Wants to Read This:I was inspired recently to write about The Occupational Hazards of Helping Others.Why is it that when relationships in this business don’t work out, people want to sling you through the mud and destroy your name and reputation? I can think of a few answers to that but choose not to, play psychoanalyst at this time. Listen, it’s no surprise that with as many people as I have met, and I’ve met a lot, that not all are going to like me, get me or are meant to share in my journey. I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again: I am not here to win a popularity contest or make friends but if we become friends, great. And lord knows, this is too much work for it to be a game for me. I really love what I do because in the process of doing it, there’s this side effect of empowering others. That’s the part I love. Because when you empower others, their joy somehow ignites more inspiration in the empowerer and others--it’s contagious and in a beautiful way changes everything around you for the better. I know that my purpose is to write, direct and produce stories, ideas that empower Latinos. So why am I writing this?Yesterday, as I was reading the status updates, I stumbled on one very angry person’s blog who has accused me of stealing an idea from her. Specifically, the EPISTLES idea. Normally I would not give this negativity a second thought but I’m going to be honest here, even through the thick skin, I feel I’ve developed over time, this one really penetrated me in a way that I feel a need to write about it.I met this person a few years ago, an inspiring writer who actually came to seek me. She was a fan, she came to a show of mine and said she wanted to talk to me because she had an idea about starting a workshop. Here’s my problem. And I’m going to be honest, it was and sometimes still is (in certain situations) my biggest problem: I always want to help without giving thought about what I have to sacrifice in terms of time and energy. I don’t know if being a Virgo has anything to do with this, because Virgos are natural teachers, but I’m going to say that I’m learning to let go of the need to help or work with everyone because of situations like this. So she wanted guidance and I was there to give her what she needed – validation. For me, it was another way of networking with a great Latina artist. However, I know most of the time, aspiring artists need validation and opportunities more than anything and they usually look for them in someone who is paving the way. A few weeks later she invites me to a birthday party. I didn’t attend because I felt I didn’t know her that well but I sent her lovely daughter a monetary birthday gift anyway. (BTW, I get invited to a lot of places and am asked to donate a lot of money to causes and quite honestly, I have to take myself off the list now because it’s gotten really bad.)Anyway, she told me that this relationship with me is similar to the one in THE ALCHEMIST. Teacher and student. I was in ways showing her the ropes, just because that’s what I do and enjoy doing. I was trying to find a way to fit her restless energy into Latino Flavored Productions Inc. She’s an angry writer with a lot of passion and I thought that would translate well on camera or as a radio show. It didn’t work though. My idea was to have a show that focused on inspiring motivational tips on writing. Her intention was to use four letter words in a show that was meant to empower writers. Hey, no one loves the word motherfucker more than me, but fuck and motherfucker and any variation of the word, did not have a place in this show. Her blog says I was controlling her words. No, I was structuring a show. I didn’t want a fuckfest of words in this format. Because as you read the words now, doesn’t it just change the feeling of the writing? It becomes negative. So this idea did not work out. At all. One day I get an email that she no longer is interested in doing the show. Okay, fine. I knew it was going there. So why the need to say I bounced?Beware that when “some” aspiring artists are beginning to fly and they are critiqued, they will retreat and damn you for not giving them the much-needed validation they need to face the fear.Long story short, not everyone is meant to be on my journey. And I have to tell you, when they find that out, they get really mean. They want you to fail miserably. How delusional of her to write in her blog that when she felt she surpassed my success that that made her powerful. That in a nutshell told me everything. I’m not going to apologize for not finding room in my agenda for those I don’t have anything in common with or share the same goals and intent with. No, I won’t do that. Everyone should be mature enough to accept that we are not all supposed to travel on the same road.It’s okay for you not to get along with everyone or realize that there is a dead end in certain relationships. I have found that when two people in the community are not getting along people say, “Oh come on, you are Latino you have to support one another.” It’s not an obligation to stay in a relationship that doesn’t grow or work. Some people are meant to be together and some are not, it’s that simple. For reasons we cannot control.Going back to the reason I started writing this: there are people that use your success as the barometer for their success. I use no one in that way because success comes in varying forms. I don’t want to be like anyone else because that limits me from my own success. She wrote she’s surpassed my success, I’m quite sure she hasn’t grossed over a million dollars considering her need to own a letter idea. What success is she talking about? The one in her head? And as far as Epistle ideas go, they have been around forever. No one owns the right to letter writing. So when Jenny Saldana and I were looking for a new show, I tapped into what I had been learning in a recent English Literature class this past spring, since we did not want to host a poetry or spoken word event. We love poetry, but we didn’t want to produce that type of event this year.So, why do I feel the need to write this, because as I learned in Epistles, it’s a great way to purge bullshit in your life. The world is full of beautiful people and as she wrote BAD PEOPLE.It’s funny how she didn’t use my name but used the same references she had so often spoken to me about. This will be her response to this blog: If she didn’t steal the idea then how does she know I’m talking about her? Here is my response: “It’s obvious fool.”Here’s the other thing I learned: There is always going to be a group of folks that don’t like you regardless of how much you explain yourself. You can jump hoops for these people. And they will continue hating you for the sake of hating you.I have since removed this person off my Facebook Friends and Myspace Friends. I don’t care to know what she does or doesn’t do. But since she’s all in my business, I figured I’d write A LETTER TO A FRUSTRATED ARTIST who feels the need to bring a sistah down based on assumptions and false accusations.And for those who want to work for me or with me, don’t get angry or hurt when I ask for a contract. Friendships and business do not mix at all. Sometimes you get lucky and find really good souls. But just the nature of business can change that in an instant. And I find it’s harder for women than men just because men tell it like it is. Women don’t always say what they mean. So please be clear, frank and honest! And if a friendship develops, then that’s icing on the cake.Sincerely,An artist, entrepreneur, motivator and potential friend

Reebok Collection Freestyle Hiver 2008-2009

Reebok Collection Freestyle Hiver 2008-2009

Communiqué de presse:
Afin de célébrer des femmes authentiques, ambitieuses et débordantes d’humour, originaires des quatre coins du monde, Reebok lance son Freestyle World Tour Collection. Présentant une ligne de chaussures entièrement intégrée, inspirée de la célèbre chaussure Freestyle qui a changé à jamais la condition physique des femmes, et en hommage aux villes les plus glamours et les plus tendances du monde, telles que Tokyo, Paris et New Delhi (pour l’été 2008), Madrid, Londres et New York (pour l’hiver 2008), le Freestyle World Tour Collection a démarré à New York, le 21 février 2008.

La tournée des Freestyle Cities entend capturer l’énergie vibrante de chaque ville à travers la vision de six femmes authentiques et ambitieuses. Chacune des six villes du Freestyle World Tour est représentée par une artiste montante, à savoir la première pom-pom girl de la NFL, Ai Yasuda, pour Tokyo, l’auteur/compositeur à succès française Yelle, qui représente Paris, l’actrice indienne de « Bollywood » Sagarika Ghatge, qui représente New Dehli, la top-modèle espagnole Bimba Bose, qui représente Madrid, l’une des DJ les plus branchées en Europe, DJ Nikki Beatnik, qui représente Londres, et l’actrice américaine Sheetal Sheth, qui figurera à l’affiche du nouveau film très attendu « Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World », de et avec Albert Brooks. Sheth représentera New York.
Chaque célébrité a une histoire unique à partager et les cultures des villes qu’elles représentent sont illustrées dans notre collection de chaussures:
- Le design du Freestyle de Madrid s’inspire des costumes brillants et audacieux des danseurs de Flamenco, suscitant la passion de la danse par de complexes motifs floraux et des frous-frous.
-S’inspirant des motifs et matériaux anglais traditionnels, comme le pied-de-poule, le motif en chevrons et le denim, le Freestyle de Londres représente également le célèbre corbeau de la Tour de Londres, brodé sur le talon.
- La dernière silhouette du Freestyle World Tour collection, le Freestyle de New York s’inspire du plus célèbre moyen de transport de la cité : le taxi. Le Freestyle de New York est jaune brillant et est parsemé d’impressions graphiques de noms de rues et de sites touristiques populaires.
http://www.reebok.com/

Crépuscule Présente Freestyle session vol.1

Crépuscule Présente Freestyle session vol.1 en libre téléchargement

PRESENTATION DU PROJET
Premier projet Crépuscule de cette année 2007. 20 tracks écrits et enregistrés sur le vif sur faces b et sur productions originales pour vous présenter l’effectif. On y retrouve Chinese, Sidéral et 2D aux micros, Dj Gomes pour la majorité des scratches ainsi que pour 3 prods tandis que les enregistrements et le mixage sont assurés par Anonyme. Pour cette première session se trouvent également en invité au micro Bjlc et 10SiPL ainsi que H.D.I. aux manettes d’une prod. La pochette est réalisée par le Collectif 39 (Anonyme/Cheep/Mr.Toc).
Le tout en libre téléchargement via http://www.legalsounds.be/ et les myspaces.
Bonne écoute à tous…

Pour télécharger Freestyle session clic ici

Freestyle

L'adjectif freestyle ("style libre" en français) est utilisé pour décrire une activité (souvent individuelle), pour laquelle un participant est libre de choisir son style, ou les règles à suivre.

Dans les sports
Souvent confondus, le freestyle est différent du freeride, qui consiste plus en la pratique d'une activité dans des lieux naturels les plus vierges possible. Les notions de liberté et de limitation des règles classiques relient ces deux pratiques.
Le choix du style s'orientant souvent vers la pratique de figures, ce terme est aussi souvent synonyme d'acrobatie.

Voici une liste non exhaustive des pratiques freestyle :
Le motocross freestyle, discipline dans laquelle les pilotes de motocross font de la voltige lors de sauts.
Le BMX, le roller acrobatique et le skateboard, ou encore la trottinette freestyle dont le but est de reproduire des figures en vélo, en roller, en skate ou en trottinette.
Le freestyle (sport d'hiver), sport de glisse sur neige consistant à faire des figures en ski à l'aide de modules de neige ou de métal. On y trouve :
Le ski freestyle
Le snowboard freestyle
Le kayak freestyle (ou rodéo) en eaux vives.
Le Kik

Le footbag freestyle, jonglerie aux pieds avec une petite balle ou une balle de taille normale.Le freestyle football est une pratique en pleine expansion.C'est son caractère libre qui fait tout son succés.En effet ,le freestyle se pratique dans la rue et ne possède aucune règle précise.Ainsi ,on peut aussi bien "freestyler" assis par terre ( sitdown ), avec la partie haute du corps ( upper ) ou en jonglant ( lower )ou en enchainant les blocages derriere la cuisse et entre les jambes ( blocks ), on peut aussi jouer avec les mains
Le Frisbee Freestyle qui consiste à faire tourner le frisbee sur son doigt (comme une assiette chinoise sur une baguette) et de multiplier les figures telles que de passer les frisbee entre ses jambes ou le faire rouler le long de son corps.
Ces pratiques existent aussi en parachutisme, kitesurf, motomarine, planche à voile, cerf-volant et même en corde à sauter.

Dans le domaine de la musique
un genre musical des années 1980, aussi appelé latin freestyle ou latin hip-hop (exemples : Shannon : Let The Music Play, The Cover Girls, Sweet Sensation...)
de l'improvisation en rap. Un texte "écrit" à l'avance et sans thème particulier serait plutôt qualifié d'égotrip.

Dans le domaine animalier
du dressage de chiens pour leur faire effectuer des danses (Obé rythmée).