X Factor 2008 FINAL: Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah

This is one of my favorite songs and only the second time I heard Alexandra sing. I am unfamiliar with her competition to be honest, but nevertheless she is the Winner!

"This is your farewell kiss, you dog!"

The proposed American Commerce Center

The proposed American Commerce Center will join the ranks of superstructures Taipei 101, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the Sears Tower and the Empire State Building. The ultramodern architecture and sheer magnitude of the skyscraper is a truly captivating symbol of arrival for Philadelphia.

With its 300 ft spire piercing the skyline and its glass exterior, the 1,510 ft American Commerce Center will reinvent the skyline. The unique shape of the building will include a 63-story Tower for Office space with public gardens, movie theaters and high-end retail and restaurants. A 2-story skybridge will overlook the city streets and connect the Tower to a 26-story, 5-Star hotel, while the shops and gardens on the first levels.

Progressive in every element of its design, Philadelphia's newest skyscraper is aiming for LEED Gold Certification in an effort to not only mitigate the skyscraper's impact on our resources but also to positively benefit the environment.

Trapped In Paradise

Thai anti-government protesters shut down Bangkok's second airport on Thursday, further crippling the kingdom as tourists scrambled to leave and fears grew the crisis was deepening.

Below is an email from my oldest friend, who was also my first love, he is trapped in Thailand.

"Guest what? I'm stuck in Thailand! Yes, my sister and I were scheduled to depart today from Phuket via Bangkok and then through Taipei into LAX. Since the takeover of the airport in BKK, we've been in the south but all flights through Bangkok that had not been re-routed are cancelled. Thousands are stranded.

We're working with out travel agency's representative to get out through Malaysia on 12/3 and perhaps then onto LAX via Taipei, but so far only Malaysia destination is certain. We're safe and yes, we are stuck, albeit in paradise. We would like it to become less cloudy, but that hasn't stopped us from getting cheap Thai massages daily, fending off the sellers of every cheap trinket, or enjoying the beach.

I hope all is well with you and I hope you enjoyed the holiday and are relaxing and taking care of yourself. I will speak with you soon and I have my laptop so I am in touch and making the best of Paradise!

Love,Marc

-- "I'll admit I may have seen better days, but I'm still not to be had for the price of a cocktail, like a salted peanut."Margo Channing (Bette Davis)All About Eve - 1950"

Three days and counting .....

Three days and counting until my dearest friend Alejandro leaves the country for a new life in Medellin, Columbia.

In spite of SKPE, VideoChat, Messaging, and Email I am going to greatly miss you Alejandro. For the past two years we rarely missed a day of being in touch unless one of us was out of the country. Countless hours spent laughing, sharing, debating, and even arguing with you made each day complete.

Te adoro Alejo! Estoy esperando tus fotos y mensajes. Espero que se reunirá en Colombia tan pronto como sea posible! Mucho suerte en tu vida nueva!

He's back, 007 in "Quantum of Solace"

Last night, my wait was finally over, it was the premiere of the latest Bond film, "Quantum of Solace". the story line was unexpected but nevertheless a pleasant surprise. Daniel Craig was quite impressive in Casino Royale, he recast the Bond mold. In Quantum of Solace Craig takes ownership of the franchise; gone are the gadgets our hero is now three dimensional.

I am one of the few Bond fans who adored Roger Moore, it was the navy blue blazer and white dinner jacket, he was a walking GQ layout. Then there was Pierce Brosnan who embodied everything a new age Bond had to be, handsome, smug, smart, and tech savvy.

Quantum of Solace replaces the gadgets with actual cutting edge technologies. They are not as much improbable as they are cost prohibitive, but they are real.

I highly encourage you to watch Casino Royale again before seeing this film. You will appreciate my advice and the film that much more. Please let me know what you think. My greatest disappointment was in the new Bond song. I've read how the troubled Amy Winehouse was tapped to sing the tune, then rumored to be replaced by Leona Lewis and finally Beyonce. Unfortunately neither songbird graced the soundtrack as only they could. The song is a collaboration between Jack White and Alicia Keys, it is quite forgettable.

I love the Bolivian subplot but I can't discuss it for fear of spoiling your experience.

Please share your opinions I am very curious what you think.

Obama, Clinton meet to talk about her future

President Elect Barack Obama met with Senator Hillary Clinton yesterday to discuss her future options. It is highly speculated that Clinton is on Obama's short list of candidates for Secretary of State. Personally I would like to see either Bill Richardson or Hillary occupy that post. It would be good for the country and on a selfish note a nice launchpad into the 2012 elections.

An Israeli Injustice

U.N. says Colombian military executing civilians

Colombia's U.S.-backed security forces are engaging in "systematic and widespread" extrajudicial executions of innocent civilians as part of their counterinsurgency campaign, a top United Nations diplomat said last week.

Speaking in Bogota after a weeklong fact-finding tour, Navi Pillay, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the scale of the killings could constitute a "crime against humanity" under international humanitarian law, adding that international courts could intervene if the Colombian government was "unwilling or unable" to handle the investigations itself.

"An offense becomes a crime against humanity if it is widespread and systematic against the civilian population," Pillay said at a news conference.

This brings us to the story of two brothers who had not seen one another in almost ten years.

The soldiers in Antelope Company's Third Platoon hadn't registered a guerrilla kill in months. And without results, they feared they wouldn't be let off base for Mother's Day. So they hatched a plan, according to Pvt. Luis Esteban Montes: lure a civilian to their camp, murder him and register him as a rebel slain in combat. Montes, 24, didn't object -- until he met the quarry. It was Leonardo, the older brother he hadn't seen since he was 9.

Montes says he tried to dissuade his commander, who responded with threats. He slipped his brother out of the camp, he says, only to see him show up dead a week later, a "guerrilla kill" with three bullets in his torso and a gaping facial wound likely caused by a knife.

The men of Antelope Company of the 31st Rifle Batallion, 11th Brigade, 7th Division, did not get their "liberty passes." Montes' family filed a formal complaint, one of 245 involving alleged killings of civilians by Colombian security forces last year that prosecutors are investigating.

The scandal comes at a particularly delicate moment for Colombia's President Uribe. U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has cited human rights concerns in opposing the U.S.-Colombia trade agreement that President Bush wants ratified before he leaves office in January.
Obama has told Bush that he opposes including the deal in an economic stimulus package the U.S. Congress is to begin debating next week.

New Pyramid found in Saqarra, Egypt

In April of this year, 2008, I traveled to Saqarra, Egypt to see the worlds oldest pyramid. It is the unfinished step pyramid of Sekhemkhet designed by the great Imhotep. My photos above give you a brief view of Saqarra, the first photo is of the step pyramid. I have hundreds more photographs should anyone be of interest.

Earlier today another pyramid was discovered beneath the sands of Saqarra. The 4,300-year-old monument is believed to be the tomb of Queen Sesheshet, the mother of Pharaoh Teti, the founder ancient Egypt's 6th dynasty. Nearly five stories tall, the pyramid—or at least what remains of it—lay beneath 23 feet of sand as well as a small shrine and mud-brick walls from later periods.

My excursion to Memphis and Saqarra from Cairo was rich in culture and history. It was an unbelievably moving experience to walk amongst the tombs and architecture of our ancestors. I remember my first night in Cairo, standing on my balcony overlooking the Nile, listening to the call to prayer echoing over the sounds of traffic and weeping.

Bolivia on the brink of Civil War, partially blames Bush administration

Bolivia is on the brink of civil war, a nation divided by race and wealth. In the past three months hundreds have been murdered, and hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in protest.

President Evo Morales elected in 2006 claims to be the first full blooded Amerindian to hold such a position since Spanish Conquest 470 years ago. Although some praise the ever increasing mestizo culture of Bolivia there remains great divides in wealth, education, and entitlement across racial divides.

President Morales is considered a Socialist doe to his redistribution of the wealth generated by Bolivia’s natural resources such as natural gas and his commitment to land reform. Morlaes is also titular President of cocalero, a federation of coca growers' unions who are resisting the efforts of the United States government to eradicate cocoa in Bolivia.

Although over 80% of the population supports President Morales he does have his opposition. They are demanding greater control over policies ranging from land reform to the allocation of the earnings of Bolivia's natural gas exports, which originate in their regions. Earlier this year, the departments of Tarija, Santa Cruz, Pando and Beni voted in favor of opposition-drafted autonomy statutes, but since those referenda were not sanctioned by the national electoral court, the central government refuses to recognize the results.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bush administration have been accused of supporting the opposition and inciting violence. As a result he kicked out U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg this past September, accusing him of inciting conflict. The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) has rallied to his support. At an emergency meeting the presidents of nine Latin American countries gave Morales their full support, and offered to send a team to mediate.

President Evo Morales, cast his decision on Saturday to suspend the activities of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in his country as a matter of national security. "We have the obligation to defend the dignity and the sovereignty of the Bolivian people," said Morales. "There have been DEA agents who, carrying out espionage, financed rogue groups with the intention of taking the lives of [Bolivian government] officials." The Bolivian President made clear he envisages repairing the relationship with the U.S. as soon as President Bush has gone. More than once, he referred to his own victory in Bolivia as having brought "the change we need."

Please VOTE before November 13th - Mr Gay Competition

Vote NOW for the United States Finalist - Cast your vote for Mr Philadelphia

Vote NOW for the United States Finalist - Cast your vote for Mr Philadelphia

Rarely do you meet someone with a kind disposition, great personality, charisma, and is drop dead handsome. I had the good fortune to meet John, what a nice guy. He needs your votes to become the finalist in the Mr. GAY Competition. Voting ends on November 13th, so please vote now for Mr. Gay Philadelphia to represent the U.S. in Mr. Gay International.

R.I.P. Miriam Makeba

Grammy Award-winning Miriam Makeba has been called "Mama Africa" and the "Empress of African Song." She sang for President John F. Kennedy's birthday, testified before the United Nations about apartheid, married Black Panther Stokely Carmichael and spent decades in exile from her South African homeland. South Africa's First Lady of song has died at the age of 76 after collapsing at a concert in Italy.

Fareed Zakaria on Obama's win

The brilliant Fareed Zakaria hosts GPS, Global Public Square, on CNN Sundays at 1:00 PM.

Material Culture presents All Of India

One of my favorite stores to explore Material Culture is hosting a special event on November 15. Their is a lecture by Pravina Shukla followed by party and exhibitions. I highly recommend that you stop by anytime the store is amazing. Hoping to see you there!

Lewis Hamilton talks about world championship

Palin didn't know Africa was a continent

Secretary of State Colin Powell is asking all Americans to get behind Obama.

Senator Barack Obama is the forty-fourth President of the United States

From MLK to Obama