Waiting For Superman

"What percentage of students in New York will not graduate from high school in 4 years?"

This intriguing question and startling answer can be found on the website of the upcoming film "Waiting for Superman". The documentary examines the plight of America’s public-education system with focus on the failing No Child Left Behind Act. New York City students and parents have experienced 1st hand the mismanagement and ill-leadership of NYC Government & it's Board of Education. Budget cuts, scarce resources, school closings, and frustrated teachers, parents, and students are all results of the fall out with the City's Public Education system.

How are students expected to succeed under these conditions? Geoffrey Canada, Education Reformer, Social Activist, and CEO of The Harlem Children's Zone is highlighted in the film. He pledges to lead the fight in in saving our city students and schools.

Visit www.waitingforsuperman.com to view the trailer for what promises to be a compelling film and join the movement to help save New York City schools.

Don't Call it a Comeback

As we know in fashion, major trends never really die. They just go on hiatus, then get recycled and then renewed. As a result 80’s Fashion is back in full force.

The Millenials are the main exhibitors of 80’s fashion, clad in Leggings-Skinny Jeans-Studded belts, shoes, & jackets-Knukcle rings-Midriff tops-Combat boots,High Tops, Sperry Boat Shoes, Day-Glow & Neon Colors-,etc. But do they even have an inkling as to what that decade was all about?

The Good- Music & Culture was alive; Hip-Hop got its wings, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Loose Ends, Hall & Oats all made music you can dance to. Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat made the art scene accessible to everyone. Electronics soared; rise of personal computers, video games, and cellular phones.

The Bad- Famine in Ethiopia. The AIDS Epidemic.
The death of Warhol & Basquiat.

The Ugly- Apartheid in South Africa. The Iran-Iraq War 1980-88.
High rate of illegal drug use, crime, and poverty in the inner city.

Because I am a card carrying member of Generation X, I can fully appreciate revisiting the 80's, remembering movies like Karate Kid, Mad Max, Indiana Jones, The Goonies, Breakfast Club, Can’t Buy Me Love, Purple Rain, Lean on Me, and many more… And Although you probably won’t dare catch me in a midriff top- I do wear an armful of bangles and did cut my hair in asymmetrical style, paying homage to the likes of Boy George and Salt & Pepa.

Below are modern spins on the 80’s movie, music, and fashion scene: