Media Break!

. After the economy problems of the past week now it’s official! I am drastically reducing media exposure in my life. I just can’t stand the tone of the coverage, the lack of real information and so much whining. OK, I get it, most media dislike the Bush administration but, hell, this, “is this enough?”, “not everybody is happy” routine is not good for us. What are they thinking?

. I am not qualified to make analysis of most things and I have been telling all along that I don’t understand the economy, but I am starting to believe that none of these people do either. They just blab their personal feelings and are extremely annoying. We lived bad times before and we don’t need this pull down attitude. I honestly believe that in the surface all media outlets believe that they are “doing their job” of informing the American people, but in fact they are just manipulating us into going against anything that this administration does. They just don’t get over it and never see that this system is good and there is an expiration date for their misery. It is not difficult to realize that many difficult things happened during these past years and we are still here, cute and irresistible. The economy is down because of the market itself not the White House (read my blog about what I lived in Brazil). Things will eventually get better. We all know that. History shows us that at some point these measures will have results, or something will happen to change the market and it will adjust to reality. Even current toddlers already lived that.

. Americans seem to assimilate a lot what’s in the media but I doubt that they are that much manipulated. Just take a look around and see the division in the polls, and if not the polls, the actual elections and everything else. Maybe Americans are not as smart as they think they are but they are definitely not as dumb as the media think they are.

. I am giving a break in watching and reading the media. Things will happen the way they should in the end and I will probably know then how Americans really see their lives.

. Beijo, tchau!

Marcia

Freedom!

. Throughout my life I bumped with the concept of Freedom in different ways and it seems that people can only fully understand it later in life. However we live it all along from the get go. When applied to bigger groups, from communities to countries it comes with lots of regulations and responsibilities, probably because when people individually feel too free, the tend to mess up the whole mojo. The limitations of what people should do in society are necessary and apparently every day they need to be improved and severely enforced. Just because people are so diverse, different, basically good but, yes, they can be really horrible, disgusting, messed up, plain evil and a waste. 

. Whole populations are stripped from their basic rights in the name of discipline, order, peace and/or personal gratification of leaders who take advantage of their people. When this happens it is always a two part system where there are people who for some reason earn or are chosen to the position of authority/leadership and the people that subject to this leadership by choice, imposition, fear or just indifference. Some people are really born to lead and others to follow. For centuries this has been working in different forms and colors with various results. By now most societies know the importance of partnerships, population, work, fun, life expectancy, health, habits, history, regulations and adjustments. The idea of letting people be what they can be is extremely frightening and scary for some countries. Most of them honestly believe that if they control their population they would avoid “evil” and would produce a bunch of very nice people living in peace. In the process they become authoritarian, controlling, nasty and plain mean because unfortunately there is no way to avoid opponents and people that disagree. But, of course, some leaders are just evil and bad DNA and having power over simple people makes it really scary.

. The so-called free countries also have regulations and limitations. In theory they allow people to be what they are and when this come to be disturbing, criminal, annoying and bad for the common life whoever is the “offender” will pay a price. By now we all know that there are levels of offenses and punishment is determined by how bad you are, can be and the chances of recovery. It is not a simple process but most of the time, with good rules and enforcement, it works. 

. So, in the bigger picture freedom is limited because people during their lives can be pretty flawed. But taking it individually, with all the chances of being flawed, “free” people are much more interesting, creative, intense, complicated and ultimately driven to be good. Living in a controlled society produces people that can be nice and adorable but are dull and too simple, usually “poor” because it’s the only way to be that controlled. They contribute just the basic to what could be colorful and worth the trouble but also could be trouble. 

. During my life I have followed instructions, feared authority, religion and regulations mostly in a free country. In the process I learned the purpose of things and sometimes knowing the choices and consequences, sometimes not, I have made many good and bad choices that I had to deal along the way. And individually I set up the limitations of my freedom to adjust to life in society. That makes my life almost awesome! 

. Regardless, apparently the people that are really free are not the ones that break the rules of society, but the ones that don’t mind or see when they are being judged as ridiculous, i.e. Jerry Springler guests, the obese models on the Tyra Banks show . 

. Woke up thinking about freedom!

Beijo, tchau!

Marcia

Sick and tired!

. Woke up still tired and a little sick. Got this cough since I had a fire in my house and apparently the smoke stuck around but I’ve been waking up with a sexy voice in the past weeks and I kind of like it. I don’t have fever or flu symptoms so I just take cough drops. Today I feel sick, body hurts, headache. And I try to figure out what’s going on. Since I saw the fascinating exhibit at the Seaport – Bodies – I can imagine how things are inside the body and it seems so mysterious? Like an independent production doing its own thingy without my consent, but ultimately responding to what I do. Being healthy is a very sophisticated combo of decisions we make and stuff we have no control. So, maybe, if I continue feeling sick for, say two days, I should try to see my doctor. Dr. Wasserman, my doc, said last time that he would be leaving the hospital (Bellevue). So he ultimately “broke up” with me. He just sees me for maintenance check ups and I doubt he knows who I am even when he has my charts (sometimes he speaks with me in Spanish which I think is cute). But he’s been “my doc” for 3 years and I wonder if I should follow him wherever he goes or just start over again with another doc. Apparently there is a big supply of them in New York.

. Being literally “sick and tired” gets you “sick and tired” in the jaded bored sense. I sleep easily in the first 5 minutes of the TV shows I like and wake up just in time to see the first 5 minutes of the next TV show and sleep again. I don’t care about the news and the news don’t care about me. I get lazy and it’s hard to get up and make breakfast. But I’ll do it anyway. Need to work, go to the bank, post office, these things.

. The world is still happening around, there are crisis to be resolved, work to be done, wars to win, people messing up, people doing good stuff, maybe there is love out there to be found. But I really don’t care that much. I’m just sick and tired! Maybe tomorrow.

Beijo tchau!

Marcia

New York Television Festival

. This was what kept me busy in the past days: The New York Television Festival, which is a showcase of independent television production. Didn’t know about it? Now you do. With all the channels, networks and new media, the market for producers, writers and crews is big but competitive and engaging. There were panel discussions, product presentations, new shows premiers, independent pilots showcase and competition, parties, networking, red carpet and free burritos. Awesome! This Festival was really great for many reasons but what was clearly obvious was the sincere goal of the producers to open the minds of everyone involved into embracing opportunities. If you are interested in producing for TV and New Media, if you want to know what is there, see new ideas and be inspired by other creators that take the chance to get in the market the NYTVF is a good way to do it.

.Having said that, I was surprised by the information about the New Media (Internet and devices). The choice of subject matter of the independent pilots: elections, immigration, serial killers, travels, music, etc, were all familiar: I saw good videography, creative filmmaking and some funny stuff but nothing that I totally loved. But I reviewed and voted for almost all the blocks.

. But I felt like I missed something in the run of things when people tell me what they like in television. I think it’s funny that people that want to be on television don’t like to watch TV. It’s odd to me that people don’t even have a TV set.  And I learned about the huge process of making the whole country digital next year and that we have to ask our elected officials for upgrades in speed, or something. I was confused.

. I’m tired and jururu, this morning, but I am really inspired to learn more and to think about a good opinion about all these issues. I don’t have any now. Just notes. We’ll see.

>Will get back to this later.

Beijo, tchau.

M.

Bomb in Yemen, AIG, the Web

. Just saw on TV about the bomb near the American Embassy in Yemen. Jihad activists apparently want the release of prisoners. Got some cars and suicide bombers and attacked. What’s wrong with these people? Some will say it’s their only choice, but, c’mon… I wonder if they really get something out of this (other than being in the news). Oh, well.

. AIG the insurance company, was “saved” by the government with a loan of 85 billion. What happened to them? How did they get into this hole? Was it the housing market? This one I don’t understand anything unless it is just incompetence and bad management. We know nothing about these problems and all of a sudden they pop and are that bad!!! In Brazil I remember that when these things happened it was always discovered that someone stashed a bunch of the company’s money in Switzerland. Here I never hear this, so, what is it? Oh, the economy…

. Yesterday was Digital Day in the NY Television Festival. During the day many seminars and panels discussed the changes to the new media, how does it work and what works in it. Fascinating! What surprises me is that they say that people 18 to 34 just don’t watch TV anymore and prefer to watch stuff in the internet. Wow! I am a television gal. I like to watch TV and specially now that the TVs themselves are so awesome. I personally don’t watch anything online. On rare occasions I check something I saw on TV in the web. That’s all. I like commercials, the shows, the news. It is surprising to me that “everybody” would prefer to watch things in the IPods. If they are, I’m fine with it. I stick with TV, at least as long as it is out there, which I am sure will be for my lifetime.

Beijo, tchau!

M.

Economy, again!

. Wow! Yesterday Lehman Brothers filed for bankrupcy. It was a huge problem in the whole world. Apparently the House Market got them and their loan assets were worth nothing, or something like that. The US Government, who bailed out others, decided to leave it alone. Employees lost their jobs overnight. A gigantic mess. The Dow fell 504 points and NASDAQ 81. The news could not talk about anything else but just say the same things over and over. As you know I don’t really understand how bad it is unless I had a job at Lehman, but it seems serious. Again, they say, it is the worst since the Great Depression. Oh, well!

. I would like to know what happens with the loans themselves. I mean, I got a loan that was somehow into Lehman hands. Now that it’s gone, do I still owe something or did my debt also disappear? If not, I would owe money to whom? As an investor I understand that if I had money invested in Lehman I would instantly lose it. I lived this before and undestand it is part of the game. But I don’t understand the other end.

. Yesterday I paid special attention in the candidates, though. McCain says that this is happening because of greed and mismanagement which is fair enough. Obama says it is the worst and has to change, which seems obvious but empty. I really don’t think that this specific crisis happened because of government, even if it was in Brazil. I can invest a couple of bucks in the concept that Lehman kept going thinking that it would be somehow bailed out. Probably it works like the spoiled kid of wealthy parents. Well, it did not work. But again, I think about how many problems the Bush administration had to face in these years. Internet bubble, 9/11, fall of Enron, Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina, housing market, Ike, Lehman… How can anybody be ready to be the President of the US. I wonder how it would be if, for instance, Al Gore was president. He would respond to 9/11 differently, but still the market would go down at the time. He would had to deal with Katrina, but how would it be? Silly questions because we will never know. But it is interesting to think about it.

. People everywhere were talking about it like they are high investors in the market. Most of them aren’t. I don’t say anything. I am not qualified. You know that. The news keep promising to tell “what does it mean to your money?” every minute, but they never really say it. Probably because the answer is: not much. Just hang in there. You’ll be fine (unless you worked or invested on Lehman). 

. I just watch. I had some investments during the Internet Boom and Bubble that just disappeared. Got nothing now, but I know we survive.

. We’ll see.

Beijo, tchau!

M.

The people in our lives!

. As you know I work in projects and events and doing so throughout my life I met thousands of people that were really close to me for some time and afterwards I would never see again. Today I am thinking about them. I remember the stuntwoman in Miami, who “dated” one of the boys in our group and told me how the world of the movie stunts operates, the fearless personalities that they have, her stuntman ex-boyfriend that brought her to the business. I don’t remember her name but I remember our time in detail. I remember the arts student that was our interpreter in Spain that did not understand our Spanish, could not speak Portuguese and we did not understand his English that much. He was so much fun. I remember Rosita, my Dominican friend who opened a Hair Salon and started an S&M business on the side. Antonio, whom I would talk every single day in the early 90’s and I’ve never seen him again. Jerry, who hired me as the Djavan tour manager, and changed my whole life in the process. Andre, Miguel, Juliana, Ana, Maurice, Val, Paulo, Carmela, Rosalita, Julie, Nanci, David, Adam and of course, Nara. So many people in our lives!!! 

. I am thinking about this just because Dan, the buddy I met in the NFL Kickoff concert sent me a text message yesterday out of the blue. This is a guy I met in the morning of the show and we spent the whole day there with others and it was such a great time.The day could have been a total bore if he was not around. Holly, his wife, showed up in the end of the concert and she was cute and fun. When we said goodbye I wondered if we would ever talk again even though he wrote down my phone #. I did not expect much. And all of a sudden two weeks later he writes. Actually it doesn’t mean much but it was great, first because it seemed that he remembered me, and second because at least for the near future there will be a chance that we could bump into each other again. Who knows?

. I wonder if I will meet the people from last week at the NY Fashion event. In the NY Television Festival, which I am attending now, I am also meeting many new people that are seeking business connections, networking and in or trying to be in the market. They will too be part of my life and I wonder how much and how long. 

. The people in our lives, especially in the free world, usually come by fate, imposition and choice. Family is given, co-workers are “imposed” and friends and love are basically chosen. Still I have a hard time classifying the temporary BFFs I meet that just pass by like a letter in the Post Office, and move on each one in their directions just leaving a memory. I like them all and somehow I never forget them. And I love the fact that I can really be friends with men without any idea o sex and with women without any kind of competition. Sweet!

. The weird part is that most of them may never remember me at all. Which is just the way it is…

. Sounds silly but it is not. You know that.

Beijo, tchau.

M.

Hurricane Ike!

www.weather.com/newscenter/hurricanecentral/2008/ike.html – 284k -

Satelite view of Ike

. Yesterday, 9/13, Hurricane Ike hit Texas as a category 2 and made a huge mess in some cities. Days before, a mandatory evacuation was announced and most people left to safe shelters in case things were really bad. Some 140,000 stayed, knowing that if things were bad they would be “on their own”. The storm came and it was devastating: floods, power outage, wind, destruction. All in just one day. That is how hurricanes usually operate. I read once that in the past centuries, people didn’t know when hurricanes were coming and were terrified by them. Many times they would come out happy when things calmed down just to face the “eye” of the storm hitting them again without notice. 

. Lots have been improved since then and people by now oversee what in the past was completely unknown. Still people choose to stay for different reasons. But I think the search and rescue crews are aware about them somehow. 

. But what is really impressive is how Americans are together in these times of emergency. All other states come to the rescue in a snap, with people, equipment, food and money. It is when we see how United are these States of America. There is a great sense of “we gotta do something to help them” everywhere and very quickly a whole army of volunteers is activated to support the disaster areas. The authorities in Texas were very efficient and Homeland Security was also at hand. 

. After Hurricane Gustav came and left without that much damage people would normally back down on evacuation orders. Now these orders seem to make sense again as if nature is putting things into perspective for people. 

. I have never been in a Hurricane area. In 1999 Hurricane Floyd hit New York City (during Giuliani times) and  we all followed instructions even though it turned out not to be that bad. But I can’t imagine winds over 35 miles/hour. I have friends in Florida that have lived through many hurricanes and still get amazed and scared. 

. Bottom line is: nature is powerful, never underestimate it. People that stay may regret it too late, but they can also feel good if they survive and are rescued later on. Americans are awesome in emergency times. The tough times are yet to come. But it will be eventually fine.

. I may find a way to help too.

. Beijo, tchau!

M.

 

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The New York Fashion Week

. This past week I was at the NY Fashion Week. It is all over town with fashion shows and parties, lots of designers, celebrities, models, buyers, press, photographers, video crews, guests and “fashionistas”. If you are not familiar with this market you would be surprised with the amount of people that is involved with the fashion world.

. The September New York Fashion Week is the showcase of the spring fashions of the next year. People tell me that it is not like the glamorous Milan and Paris shows with famous European designers, but it is considered one Fashion event where you will actually see outfits that you will want to wear (I have to check the Milan and Paris shows to see what this means). The fashions seen here are fabulous! You will really want to wear them next Spring.

. But I want to talk about the marketplace. The show is not open to the public and only registered guests, press, industry and buyers are allowed in. At Bryant Park, a gigantic tent is set with three spaces where the shows take place. The movement of the crews, models, hair stylists, make-up artists, designers, seamstresses is so creative, active and alive. But there is more: the press and media are special, always with a different idea to get the word (and pictures) out. Many, many people work in the reception, sponsor giveaways, production, maintenance, security, cleaning crews, organizers, etc. But it does not stop here: there are shows in many other places in the city with the same work structure and people. There are the parties, with red carpet and lots to expect. Big money involved in the whole thing. When Mayor Bloomberg tells us that events brings lots of money to the city you better believe it. These 8 days might have moved millions of dollars around the area. It was exhausting, stressful and fun. 

. American Fashion is very practical and easy to like.  Michael Kors was my favorite show but I liked most of them. I did not see them all personally but there is TV coverage and I took my free time to check the New York Magazine: they have this great feature where we can review the outfits as “Fabulous” or “Hideous”, which is pretty fun. We can have an idea of how people agree or not with your opinion. I recommend it. Great TV are the NY1 and the Full Frontal Fashion at WNYC TV. Check their websites. Found a number of designers, models, make-up artists and hairstylists from Brazil and I was so pleased to see their work, how good they are and very respected in the business. 

. Fashion is already a part of our lives, since we need to dress at least before we go out in the streets. We choose our style and it changes constantly, for better and for worse. But it was exciting to see the dimension of this market and the people involved. And in this tone I will quote Brazilian designer Carlos Miele, when he was asked what was his greatest accomplishment and he said: “providing jobs to people.” He has now 2,000 people working in this label and isn’t it just great. 

. Many people complain about those who are too focused in fashion. Let them be how they are. Occasionally we need them to guide us in our inability to be “hot”. With all the new media and technology I wonder if these Fashion Shows are really worthy for the designers, organizers, buyers and sponsors. But taking from what I saw this week I believe it is. The industry seems to have a wonderful time. 

. That’s it for today. Fashionistas, unite! 

. Beijo, tchau!

M.

Is it the Economy, stupid?

. As you know (or not) since I was born, the money in Brazil “changed” 6 times and these Monetary Plans usually were created to “save the economy” and usually included removing 3 zeros from the currency. Sometimes it happened in a couple of years. It would be hard for Americans to understand but, for instance, at some point I had $65,000,000 cruzeiros that became $65,000 cruzeiros novos that became $65 cruzados which were not worth much. I still don’t think Americans can get what I am saying.

. These monetary reforms changed everything including the cash itself. At some point even the notorious and historic people images in the money were taken off because it seemed to be so temporary that the actual people and/or their descendants did not allow the use of their likeness. For us, the people, the new systems were always taken with hope but mostly, we would only “take them” because what else to do? We had inflation in the high double digits for years. Somehow we knew things were tough but in the everyday life most people were just doing what they could. Which is basically what we always do in our individual lives anyway. In the early 90’s the government even froze all bank accounts of the whole country forcing people to “save”. Seems amazing but it really happened and the people just accepted it hoping that things would get better. Well, most plans failed but in the long run the economy finally caught up and Brazil is now very promising as an emerging country. But it is still subject of ups and downs and still faces inequality.

. When I first came to New York in the 90’s, the economy was in a crisis in the first George Bush years. In the Clinton years the economy picked up again and there was the boom of the tech and Internet stocks and most of all, there was a surplus in the country’s trade balance (whatever it is). Then the NASDAQ fell like a ripe mango and by the time Clinton left things were already changing. The George W. Bush years started in this crisis and had September 11, the fall of Enron and others and Katrina. After Sept 11 the Dow came down to 8,000 (whatever it means). Things still seemed to hold on, maybe because Americans are very united in “real” crisis. Now the economy is bad again and I see economists on TV again saying that it is the worst time ever. How can it be??? 

. The American Government does not seem that influential in the marketplace as the Brazilian in the authoritarian times. At some point, most jobs in Brazil were government jobs. The economy in the US does not seem to be that government regulated although I see that sometimes it needs to intervene in isolated cases. The market has been changing with the new technology and media making it hard to make predictions. When the housing market was up three years ago I saw people buying 3, 4 even 5 houses that they could not afford to make a flip. There were TV shows teaching how to do it! Now everything is down (or adjusted to reality) and the economy is again in a crisis. In my vain ignorance I see it exactly how it happened in the late 90’s NASDAQ boom.

. Apparently the US owes more money than it can pay. How does it happen? Did the US become a poor country? What on Earth are they talking when they say this is a crisis compared to the Great Depression? I wish I knew more about economy to understand. 

. One thing I know: countries don’t exactly file for bankruptcy. Years ago Argentina was foreclosing and it is still there. I remember that once Mexico announced that they would not pay their bills anymore and it is still there. And, don’t forget, in Brazil I was able to be a millionaire and worthless without doing anything. 

. That is confusing. I really wish I could understand it. But again, in the everyday life, it does not seem that bad. We’ll see.

Beijo tchau!

M.