944

A couple years ago, Brett Leve relentlessly approached me about joining something called Summit Series. A co-founder, Leve and his team have created a group that engages the world's most dynamic dreamers and doers through curated events and initiatives designed to make the world a better place. I had no clue what this Summit Series was nor do I think they do either yet, but the passion he exuded was electric. For a long time I made excuses on why I couldn’t go witness his dream he was pitching me on, but this April I went. Now I am hooked like a junkie on smack. Words can't explain the experience so I will skip it but if you are lucky enough to have Elliot (the other founder), Brett, Josh, Justin, Jeff or one of the other amazing people from Summit ever ask you to be part of their family just say yes, trust me. Girls and gays, the boys I named happen to all be young and good looking, but don’t say yes for that. Don’t ask to join either, it's an invite-only thing. If you should be there, they will know.

During my three-day Summit, I was lucky enough to listen, speak, inquire, challenge and occasionally party with the below who stood out most from the group.

Sir Richard Branson
Chairmen, Virgin Group
As the opening of the weekend, Branson discussed his vision and how taking risks are important because if you are scared of failure you can't be successful. Have you heard of Virgin Cola and Branson’s idea to take on Coca-Cola? It's always entertaining when number 254 on Forbes list of Richest People In The World tells you about their big fuck-ups. But it's even more inspiring when the same person announces he is launching Virgin Oceanic, where they are building the world's first submarine capable of taking a human to explore the depths of our planet. No one has been to the bottom of our planet but several people have walked on the moon. Scary thought.

Blake Mycoskie
Chief Shoe Giver, TOMS Shoes
You gotta like someone who lives on sailboat, but you must love someone who has given more than 1 million shoes to people in need. Blake’s entire outlook on life could be viewed as crazy or genius — I go with the latter. As he brought out a 7-foot-tall cardboard cylinder he told us, "The next one-for-one product is inside this mystery box, which will be opened on June 7. The truth is what’s inside this box is not nearly as important as what is represents. TOMS is no longer a shoe company, it's a one-for-one company."

Beth Comstock
CMO, GE
There is this small outfit called GE, it’s a 130-year-old advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. Operating in more than 100 countries and employing about 300,000 people, Beth leads the company's organic growth. “Business needs to enact social change, not just for internal staff, but for the community,” she says. “It gives employees a sense of mission and purpose.” Just from seeing her commanding approach in speaking, it's easy to see how she has moved up as one of the most successful females in our time. She's married with two kids, yet still finds time to solve the largest problems we are faced with in global change. Ecomagination, a brilliant concept is what everyone should take a look at. While GE doesn’t need to do this, they realize they should, and its engaging their staff and public exponentially. ecomagination.com

Bob McKnight
CEO, Quiksilver
I grew up in NY during the Spicoli days thinking all surfers were just stoned and burnt. Wearing boardshorts and holding a beer, Bob chatted in a calm, cool and collected way about how he got started following his lifestyle and turning it into a billion-dollar business — and how he almost lost it all over a bad acquisition of Rossignol. Mistakes aside, he relentlessly persevered through the challenges in his quest to be the leading global youth apparel company. His views on “co-opetition” and why he is friends with the other brand owners who are competing with Quiksilver is how you can tell this is only the beginning for them. If you aren’t sure, check out the awesome retail space they have in NYC's Times Square next time. Guess this surfer showed me.

Gary Vaynerchuck
Founder, Vayner Media
The Tony Soprano of the children’s neighborhood lemonade stand business, Gary was probably the most entertaining of the bunch. From New York Times best-selling books like Crush It! to his new book The Thank You Economy, I am excited to see what the next 10 years brings Gary (maybe he will complete his dream of owning the NY Jets).

Shai Agassi
CEO, Better Place Electric Vehicles
TIME magazine named Shai one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2009, and not just because he is Jewish, but because of his solution to free cars from oil. At $5/gallon to fill up my car these days I am hoping Shai succeeds in his vision as many countries have signed on, with Israel leading the movement.

If you Google, check these people out. If you Facebook, look them up. If you Tweet, follow them. But if you have time to do more than that online, well, that explains why you'll never be invited to the Summit Series.


Marc Lotenberg
Carnival Crusder/Dynamic Dreamer/Survivor of Coachella 2011
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg Written by: Marc Lotenberg

Potholes, the dreaded archenemy of the well-heeled, are at best a nuisance, and at worst a heel-breaker. Artist Juliana Santacruz Herrera decided these evil-looking imperfections needed some creative attention. Herrera took to the streets of Paris to fill in ankle-spraining potholes with yards of cheerfully colorful braided fabric. San Francisco next please!

View more of Juliana Santacruz Herrera's work here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39380641@N03/ Written by: Erica Henderson

With the entire young, hip art scene seeming to be caught in a frenzy of street art and satirical pop-culture references to political figures (namely: Obama), Erin Riley provides a break in the monotony by creating something socially relevant, yet completely unique.

Although drunk and embarrassing Facebook photos are an aspect of modern life that all young people have had to face at one point or another (and most likely detag), Riley takes the photographs everyone hopes will never resurface and turns them into art using a medium that the spray-paint-multi-media-obsessed art scene seems to have ignored entirely: weaving tapestries. Hickies, girl-on-girl make out sessions, kegs, boobs, and bongs all serve as subject matter for Riley’s tapestries, amounting to one of the most distinctive and noteworthy artistic interpretations of mass-media and the repercussions that inter-connectivity combined with too much alcohol can have on the modern youth.

With evident and eclectic influences, ranging from Vice Magazine-style pictures and culture to traditional tapestry-weaving, Riley provides the modern art scene with a breath of fresh air through her creative integration of these two very different sources of inspiration, and serves as a reminder of what can be created with art by taking a traditional and historic medium and using it on a very modern and current subject matter.

erinmriley.com Written by: Megan Youngblood

“Alright, already the show goes on

Alright, till the morning we dream so long

Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up

Just remember when you come up

The show goes on!”
-Lupe Fiasco, 944 April Music Issue Cover

I am one of those people who have trouble remembering things — maybe it’s the drugs from my college years (thank you Arizona State University) or the liquor from the present — but music helps recall every detail of a situation. One minute you are smiling and happy and then “Fair” by Remy Zero comes on and brings you back to the one that crushed you and suddenly a dark cloud of memories alters your mood instantly. And in other cases you are in a rut and just down on life and a great song like “Let Go” by Frou Frou comes on and gives you the spark to get up and shake it off. Music is more than just lyrics and notes, it can control your emotions, your thoughts and your actions.

Billboard may have its top 100 and iTunes has its top charts, but I have taken a little more … shall we say creative approach. Below is my list of songs along with a description of a girl who would most likely be listening to it, a frame of mind or when to play the song.

“A Beautiful Mess”
Jason Mraz
You love her, she loves you. It’s a magical experience every time your eyes meet, but you found each other at the wrong point in your lives. Or maybe in a prior life you shared something amazing and you now have a natural magnetic energy in the present. Either way, every time you make love the world stops and everything makes sense. Then when the song ends you go on your separate ways and look forward to the next encounter, still not understanding how to fix this beautiful mess.

“Caramel”
Suzanne Vega
You can find her at the Fasano Hotel in Rio, hanging out in the Baretto-Londra lounge. She seems nice, although you each don’t understand each other's native tongue, but still find a way to connect through music and flirt through your eyes. You won't see her again, but will always remember that point in your life.

“The Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
Diana Krall
Three different failed engagements and two unsuccessful marriages leads this 40-something-year-old cougar to re-enter the dating scene with distorted expectations. Us men have one advantage over women, as we get older our choices become bigger, but as you women get older your choices become smaller. It's sad, I know, so maybe when you have someone that’s 80 percent perfect, bite your lip and do whatever it takes because as you get older you will find yourself forced to settle for 50 percent perfect and that might be with two kids from his previous marriage and those kids will hate you because you will be bitter on life. But what a great song to drink wine and cook to.

“Love is a Losing Game”
Amy Winehouse
She's dressed in all black, wearing long sleeves and big boots in the middle of summer. No, those wounds that look like she's been getting beaten is not from someone else but herself — she's a cutter. Somehow she has given up on life yet gives me dirty looks when I walk by as I should be ashamed my nails are freshly manicured. When does that gothic/cutter thing eventually click with them to change? I've never seen an 80-year-old dressed as a goth, so I'm left with only two conclusions: they kill themselves at some point or they go off with a vampire.

“Sweet Child O’ Mine”
Guns N’ Roses
A little Hank Moody of Californication in all of us. Maybe you’re at the Whiskey Bar at Sunset Marquis Hotel or Rose Bar at Gramercy Park Hotel, she says she's 18 and that’s good enough for you, but deep down you know there is a chance she is 16. You consider yourself accomplished and a smart individual ,yet the fact she goes with 18 and not 21 doesn’t alert any red flags despite being in a bar.

“Angel”
Massive Attack
I preface this by saying if you truly don’t know how to fuck, I wouldn’t play this song. And by fuck I mean just that, not make love, not have sex but a straight up evening you will not forget and will linger for some time as you continually ask yourself, “Did that really happen?” There might be some ropes, blindfolds, cuffs, chains and an occasional slap. (OK, fine, maybe a hit.) You don’t need to seek her out, she will find you by your reputation — or you can roll the dice and head to the Viper Room in LA and seek out the girl with daddy issues.

“I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You”
Colin Hay
She loves coffee, but won't step foot in Starbucks. Brilliant in every way, but hasn’t been able to get over an issue with the one she loved. The principal of the matter seems to overpower the risk of losing the one you are destined to be with. Bite your lip and don’t worry about the principal — when you are sitting in a hammock together 30 years later you will be glad you didn’t stand your ground over principal. Reference “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” girl as the alternative.

“I Love, You Love”
John Legend
By day she's holding power lunches for top agencies as a force to be reckoned with, and at nights she's the host of dinner parties at swanky restaurants. On her off time she is with you. Smart, successful and sophisticated. While she doesn’t need you, she respects and

“Nasty Girl”
Notorious B.I.G., P. Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge & Avery Storm
There are “around the way girls” and then there is the nasty girl — you can find her doing laps at the ghetto malls where Sears was the main tenant previously, but recently left due to the incident when there was a shooting between two cousins and their baby's momma. You can spot her with the 7-inch long nails, the big bubbles of gum she's poppin' and the tube top that’s three sizes too small. Don’t bother talking to her as the only thing she knows how to say is “Heyyyyyy daddy.” Meanwhile ‘daddy’ hasn’t seen her since … well, he just hasn’t ever seen her.

“Numb”
Portishead
She's not happy, she's not sad, she's just numb. Hang by the local CVS and wait for the girl to pick up her monthly supply of Zoloft or Xanax that she ingests for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Find a way to bump into her with a pamphlet you inconspicuously have in your hand about Lunesta and if it's right for you. Act mellow and invite her to grab a drink in a dark and depressing bar even though its bright and sunny outside. Give her the upper hand and make yourself seem worse off than she is. The sorrow she feels for you will lead to heavy cuddling. Play a song at a lower bpm, like 80, instead of the song's natural 156 and keep on repeat.

“If I Were A Boy”
Beyonce
This gets complicated, but try and follow me: The girl who thinks she is a lesbian, not bi but not sure, and still young so you manipulate her to think you also are confused and get her to hook up with you. That makes it OK with her because it seems like it's still a gay experience because you have never hooked up with a boy, but she can fill in. Be careful on this one, it can backfire on both people.

“Against All Odds”
Postal Service
You loved her, cheated on her, crushed her, she still wants you and now you can't respect her. You both know it’s the final encounter, but she wants one last moment. You shouldn’t do it as you know she will regret it half-way through and she will be left crying in the bed, but like a blackjack dealer in Vegas you still give them what they ask for even when you know they should just walk away.

“Raise Your Weapon”
Deadmau5
It's Vegas, 115 degrees in summer and you are off with your buddies to hang outside by a pool. Enter Marquee Day Club, where the women this summer will make the Sultan of Brunei jealous with the quality of talent. You can find this girl holding a glass of champagne but not drinking it, she's smiling and loving life. Here you think she is winking at you, but she just wants you to introduce her to your friend Molly.

What did we learn?
Women want their “perfect” even if it's not realistic. Men can have their “perfect” yet it doesn’t seem real.

Read more of Marc's list at 944.com

MARC LOTENBERG
Womanizer/Princess in Training/Cupcake Connoisseur
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg Written by: Marc Lotenberg

As we enter into a better economy than prior seasons, I am always excited to see what the creative geniuses at the fashion houses plan on unveiling. On that note, the nine items below should help you enter the season more properly focused.

1. "You really are going to spend $3,000 on a Dior jacket? It's just a silly jacket, no one knows the difference. You're just wasting money being a label whore." Quote from someone who shouldn't be reading 944 but rather the New Times. If you look at a jacket as a jacket then maybe try adjusting your view and look at it as a piece of art. The cut, style and textures all make each seasons rendition's unique as a form of expression. Fashion is art or art is fashion but either way you look at it, a Dior jacket isn't just a jacket.

2. Wear clothes to fit your size. Just as it looks horrible for an overweight person to be sporting a tight tank top, it looks equally as bad and even more comical to be wearing overly baggy clothing. Cross Colors and Iceberg died off for a reason. You don't look like a baller wearing the same outfit as me four sizes too big, you look like a clown.

3. Speaking of circus folk, a girl strutting toward me strong and determined in a 5-and-a-half inch Louboutin can make an 8 look like a 9, but the same 8 walking toward me looking like a bad stilt walker about to fall into me doesn't have the same effect. (And don't tell me you don't need to work out because you're skinny when you can't even walk straight. Go take some Pilates at the very least.)

4. My little homeboy Justin Bieber says Never Say Never, but I don't think he meant that in relation to Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier. In that case, Never means Never. (Although big props to my friend Christian, that fast-moving funny Frenchman made a fortune.)

5. It's kind of sexy when a girl rocks her man's clothing, but its more than gay when a guy rocks his girl's gear. #ManorexicTendancies

6. If you take a knapsack like the one from high school to your new job, then clearly you should go back to your prior job of bartending.

7. If you are shaping your style off what you see on Jersey Shore, I have some helpful tips for you actually, no I don't, you are beyond help. Just settle on the fact that you are past the point of no return, go start a match.com profile and sign the deal with the first person who will take you. There is a reason the show is so popular: People love train wrecks. No cool fashion brand is trying to get their clothing on the cast, so if you need TV for style tips, wait for season two of How to Make it in America.

8. Girls, you might have missed the makeup lessons when you were younger as hopefully you were more focused on having your girlfriend teach you how to give head versus how to apply makeup, but there is always time to go back and learn. It's a painful experience when you arrive and there's an inch of makeup so thick I can't tell if you're just really fucking ugly underneath or losing your depth perception. Makeup can't make you look pretty you either are or you are not. It can add a little character, but don't confuse the two. And if you have the makeup lesson down pat but not the other, have no fear as its one trend that never goes out of season.

9. Are NYC girls just born with style where as LA girls need to put effort into it? Settle down divas out west, I'm not saying you all are tragic, I'm just saying I had to do extra neck-stretching exercises before I walked out of the Gansevoort Hotel when I was in NYC this February. I guess that's why the Oscars belong in Hollywood and Fashion Week belongs in NYC. Period. The end.


MARC LOTENBERG
Arbiter of Nothing/Obsessive Compulsive/Narcissist
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg
Written by: Marc Lotenberg

As written by newly-wed Olivia Guerra Long, her 10 day trip down bridal memory lane continues:

Day 9:
The Beatles say "All You Need is Love." It is clear to me when John penned these lyrics he had never been through the process of bridal portraits with either Cynthia or Yoko, not that either actually took formal bridal portraits. If he had, he would have had to change the song to something along the lines of "All you need is a button down shirt, large java, and a gown." Ok, ok, and in my case you also need a hairstylist, a make-up artist who can work with an un-enhanced face, and a kick ass photographer (George Fiala) capable of making munchkins look like statuesque supermodels.

Through the whirlwind I learned: I can carry a cathedral length gown and veil on my own by wrapping them around me like a cocoon; bridal portraits can be taken barefoot; little boys and girls alike will stop and stare at you and ask if you are a real princess; a dame can make it from dawn to dusk on a large coffee and two bottles of water; and when in need those around you become friends indeed -- my makeup artist Penny Sadler was a doll about going above and beyond the call of duty.


Day 8:
I've been so busy trying to meet deadlines, follow up on details, and make sure everyone has everything they need; I was honestly a bit surprised when New Years Eve approached. How had I lost track of time to the point that New Years had snuck up on me? For goodness sake, this wasn't me! I sparkle and shine on New Years. I wear tiaras, beads, and glitter eye shadow -- not yoga pants and a T-shirt. Yet last night as the last seconds of 2010 were being counted down and I heard my soon to be hubby calling me to "hurry it is almost time," I realized this was the warmest New Years Eve I have celebrated in my adult memory -- curled up with fiance and our two beagles. Welcome 2011.
Written by: Michelle Parsons

It's been a while since I've blogged, and my sincerest apologies. Much has happened in the life of Nine Four Four, and all of the fine editors of this establishment spent many recent hours perfecting our February's Wedding Issue. We've never published an issue like this before, but all of us, including me, are now attuned to all things betrothed. With that said, the Dallas edition included a journey of sorts, of a local bride ten days leading up to her finest hour -- her wedding day. We asked her to keep a diary and share her innermost bridal thoughts -- good and bad -- with all of you. And for the next week or so, I will be publishing her daily bridal journal (the almost unedited version) through my blog. If anyone ever wanted to know what it feels like for a bride to be -- then read on, dear reader.


As written by newly wed Olivia Guerra Long

Day 10:
I am convinced I was born without the bride gene. This suspicion surfaced when I came home from Hawaii and announced "I'm engaged!" Women would squeal as they grabbed for my left hand and the questions would start. "When's the date?" "What are your colors?" "How many bridesmaids will you have?" "Where will you honeymoon?" I did not have answers. All I knew was at some point in the future the people my fianc and I love and care about would gather to witness and celebrate our legal commitment to one another. People were stunned when I did not have immediate responses. Apparently, every woman is expected to have been born with the wedding gene, which prods her into planning her entire wedding from start to finish prior to ever getting engaged. I had barely become betrothed and was already behind.

Fortunately, I have an immense network of friends who were willing to step in and help me get moving in the right direction. My BFF since the first day of kindergarten, Kelly, took it upon herself to ship me a "Bridal Planning Bible" from a few states away. Then my friend Renee dragged me to my first bridal show where I became overwhelmed with all the offerings. How was I ever going to pull this off?

I chatted with my future husband to be about our budget. It was agreed we would search for a planner to help me with my bridal gene deficiency and help us both not put ourselves in the poor house. No, we didn't hire David Tutera. Instead, we got Stephanie Watkins of One Event Design, a gregarious gal who immediately honed in on my tastes and has been helping me navigate the tulled, taffetaed, topsy-turvy, and oft-tumultuous terrain of getting married.
Written by: Michelle Parsons

I want a girl with extensions in her hair
Bamboo earrings
At least two pair
A Fendi bag and a bad attitude
That's all I need to get me in a good mood
She can walk with a switch and talk with street slang
I love it when a woman ain't scared to do her thing

LL Cool J in 1990 knew what he wanted. If it was only that easy. Entering my prime, everyone from nagging Jewish mothers who swear "their daughter is perfect for me," to my nagging (in a very loving way) Jewish mother who claims she found the perfect girl for me every time she meets a single girl are constantly trying to set me up. Of course, being so shallow (or is it judgmental? I can never distinguish between the two), my first reply is always "What does she look like?" So, after further review I
decided to actually sit down and make a list I love lists for those of you who don't know me of what I really want.

1. Yes I want to get married and only once. Not that I have an issue with divorce but I think some people view getting married as buying a shirt at Neiman's and returning it if they don't like it.
2. Religion. Hopefully open-minded cause my view is religion is a dying business and we shouldn't be forced to believe a certain set of codes, but what we actually feel is right.
3. Looks. Yes, I can't be with an ugly girl or even a 6. Call me what you want, but I am who I am and I ain't gonna change. I will also say that over the years I have learned the lesson that I will take a sane 8 over a crazy 10.
4. She has to be fun and open to being adventurous, and not just behind closed doors.
5. Honesty is the best policy. That's my real breaking point. I can tolerate a lot, but not lies. Everyone makes mistakes, but once the trust is gone you have nothing left.
6. Body. I love to work out so she has to be someone who cares about how she looks. The fake shit ain't for me, while its not a deal breaker I like au naturale. (But please support our plastic surgeon advertisers, they keep our lights on and a good set is always fun to look at.)
7. OK, here comes the real asshole comments, but it's hard to argue against it. A good girl needs to have her nails always neat and her car not looking like it's a yard sale. And compromise is meeting in the middle but there are certain things where compromise doesn't work. For example, if I like my place super neat and organized and you don't care to clean up around yourself and you don't mind your place looking like a dorm room after a long weekend party took place, there is no option of compromising. I am not compromising on whether a place should be clean versus dirty. That's a deal breaker, end of story, period, the end.
8. Family. I can't fault her if her family is dysfunction junction, but hopefully she can differentiate between how she was raised and how she should've been raised.
9. There is nothing more sexy than a girl with drive, confidence and a feeling of accomplishment.
10. Tattoos. Well I used to be really against these as you don't put a bumper sticker on a Bentley, but I guess if it's super important to you then it is what it is.
11. And last but not least, someone who is caring, compassionate and emotional as I am an emotional teddy bear.

You find me that person and the un-marryable will get married.

MARC LOTENBERG
Commander of Dysfunction Junction/Heartbreaker/Administrative Assistant to Moni D.
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg

Written by: Marc Lotenberg

Not only did the past week bring freaks and geeks to Las Vegas courtesy of the CES and AVN shows, respectively, and not quite so respectfully; but comedy was everywhere at Palms Casino Resort starting last Sunday with Pauly Shore "Vegas is My Oyster" and ending Saturday night with Lisa Lampanelli.

Pauly Shore's "Vegas is My Oyster" was a shit show to say the least, but in a good way if that makes sense. What else could one expect from an all improv format that included the likes of Faizon Love, Bobby Lee, April Macie, Tom Green and Andy Dick. Oh Andy Dick. Last we saw Mr. Dick he was in the sober house ... time which apparently served him well since he was actually funny and not falling down. When he's coherent, his Andy Kaufman style humor is quite a delight and he did a musical number entitled Good Luck with That. All in all, quite entertaining.

Even more comic relief happened outside the Pearl Concert Theater. During a break, I ran outside to meet a friend and Dave Navarro just happened to be walking by (he was also performing in the show). He had an extremely disturbed look on his face to see people leaving the theater and asked me "What's wrong, why are you leaving?" This is really funny coming from a performer who was only minutes a way from talking the stage at said show. I reassured Dave that the show was great and that is wasn't him, it was all me.

Once I did retake my seat, there was a lot more fun to be had. Pauly was great. I mean really good, way funnier than I ever expected. I can't wait to see the special which will air on Showtime sometime in the coming year.

Lisa Lampanelli is sure to be a huge draw this weekend. The Queen of Mean is so raunchy, sometimes she makes my toes curls. Sounds like I will be spending another weekend at the Palms. Over the last year, the Pearl has become one of my favorite venues and there's such good people watching and great restaurants too. Viva La Palms.

http://www.palms.com/pearl
Written by: Melinda Sheckells

The last year was filled with an equal amount of chaos and celebration.

Here is my top 20 list of things that stood out.

-Bedbugs crawled their way into your bedroom.
-General Motors exits bankruptcy and then does a record breaking IPO, which will be written about in business books from now on.
-The vuvuzela became a international buzzword.
-Conan O'Brien stood tall again with a comeback.
-Betty White somehow rode the fame train all over again.
-Kanye West went from most hated entertainer to No.1 album chart topper.
-The Facebook movie comes out and now your parents joined Facebook.
-Drake puts out more songs that sound exactly the same yet still all sell.
-Lindsay Lohan realized she just doesn't have the power she thought she did. You are not OJ, sweetheart.
-The iPad becomes a revolutionary product even though the iPhone winds up not being a good working phone.
-Groupon explodes and convinces people to buy things they don't need but with an expiration date to later find out its illegal to put expiration on currency.
-Jetblue flight attendant Steven Slater freaks out.
-Haiti earthquake starts the year off with tragedy and the U.S and others come to the rescue with a star-studded TV charity affair
-LeBron James gets overexposed.
-Lady Gaga rocks a sexy outfit made purely of meat. Really, people?
-Somehow Chelsea Clintons wedding became top news. It must've been a boring week. Or was it top news that someone married her?
-BP turns into Public Enemy No. 1.
-Angry Birds don't seem so angry when looking at their bank account.
-Bieber Fever.
-944 enters chapter 11 reorganization on April 6, and against all odds exits on December 17. Entr'acte


MARC LOTENBERG
CEO/Equinox Addict/Professional Flirt
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg
Written by: Marc Lotenberg

As the holidays approach and the makeup from Halloween wears off, this becomes a bittersweet time. While "we are living in a material world and I'm a material girl" (a quote I use often at 944) the emotional side of me begins to think of those who don't live the glam life.

So as you glance through the many pages of this month's 944 holiday gift guide, looking for fabulous gifts to give to your loved ones, try to do three acts of good for those who will never get to touch a piece from Lanvin or even know what that means. Try spending one hour at a food bank or giving up a weekend to walk for a cure. If you can't spare the time of missing a facial this month, or don't think you have it in yourself to miss the big bowl game, then maybe you should try haveing one less tequila shot on Saturday night and use the money to do something for someone else. Or better yet, have the shots and figure out something else to cut back on. We need to keep this realistic. All the clothes, watches, cars and even money can never give you the satisfaction attained by helping someone less fortunate, so pay it forward and see how rewarding an hour can be. Try this: Whatever you decide to spend to spend on gifts this season, take 1 percent of that and spend it on someone less fortunate.

On the 944 front I have to say the team here is producing amazing work and I'm so proud of the product and everything we have planned for 2011, leveraging the accomplishments of the past year and prior years. Next month I'll shed some light on the wow things we have planned, or if a month is too long, follow me on twitter.com/MarcLotenberg and you can find out first. After all, there are no editors screening my comments like at other places (cough, cough).

Stay sexy this holiday time and when you're thinking of indulging in the extra helping of dessert, think twice Miami is gonna be off the fucking charts this season.


MARC LOTENBERG
CEO/Troublemaker/DIVA
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg

Written by: Marc Lotenberg

A lot happened in October. And it wasn't just the fall harvest drinking festivals, the fashion events, the art openings, the charity walkathons, the tiring inundation of political attack ads or even the three-day debaucherous Halloween extravaganza that was completely exhausting.

It was work.

For me, the month of October seemed to trudge on into an abyss of long-hours, hurling curse words at my laptop and dreams of marketing strategies and editorial features. I'd also like to think the universe aligned itself with a very creepy and very malignant stress demon -- a little gremlin of a monster who stomped over all my well-made plans and turned me into a bit of a scheming work devil myself. It was rough waters I was sailing over. But now that a new, perhaps more forgiving 30 days is upon us, I've had time to reflect. And much like the rest of my fellow workaholics, the stress I found myself in was ultimately of my own doing. Wrenches are thrown into everyday life all the time, but it's how we deal with those little devils that puts us in either a Matthew McConaughey-L-I-V-I-N state of mind, or the loony bin, alongside pageant show moms and Justin Beiber fans.

We all know good and well sometimes a few extra hours in the ol' cubie is necessary, but we must not devolve into a memo-crazed, Post-It note eating, 3 a.m.-emailing zombie. It ain't right, and it ain't healthy. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, about half of Americans feel their stress has increased over the past five years and three quarters of Americans experience stress related symptoms every month.

So, in lieu of my previous month-long stressathon, below I have bestowed upon you, dear reader, some tips for staying sane and staying focused in the workplace.

From Oprah.com:

Simplify your environment
Humans are biologically programmed to pay attention to new stimuli, says Maggie Jackson, author of "Distracted." At your computer, close superfluous windows, turn off Twitter, and disable automatic e-mail notification. Put unnecessary papers out of sight, and turn off your cell phone's ringer.

Build up your focus
Chronic multitaskers may have weakened their ability to focus, says Christine Hohlbaum, author of "The Power of Slow." Set aside a block of time -- even if it's just five minutes -- to deal with a mentally challenging task; once you accomplish that, extend the time further.

Embrace discomfort
People often give up on difficult tasks in order to escape to something easier. "Any project that takes mental effort, or involves critical thinking and creativity, is going to be a little painful sometimes," says Jackson. When you hit a wall, don't point-and-click -- push past it.

Take breaks
Humans work in cycles; we can concentrate for a period of time but then need time to rest. Every hour or so, take a quick walk around the block, or just step away from your desk for a few minutes.


Here are a few more from Caroline Dowd-Higgins of Huffington Post:

Sleep is non-negotiable
I prefer a full 8 hours of sleep whenever possible but a minimum of 7 is my deal breaker non-negotiable time to recharge and keep my body healthy and ready for the day ahead. If you ignore your body and do not give it time to rest you will end up unhealthy and unable to work. I once heard Arianna Huffington speak at a conference about a time when she was so exhausted that she fell over on her desk in the middle of the workday which resulted in multiple stitches on her chin. This was her literal wake-up call and helped her re-evaluate and prioritize the necessity of sleep in her daily routine. Honor your inner time clock and get the sleep your body needs to be healthy and productive.

Eat well and take breaks
It's so tempting to eat at your computer and work through a meal but this lack of focus as you eat may cause you to over consume. Plan your meals and take short breaks to give your body a chance to breathe and your mind a chance to clear. Hunger is often caused by dehydration so keep the liquids flowing and get up and stretch or take a walk to help your body avoid bad computer posture and neck pain. A massage every now and then doesn't hurt either!

Know when it's time to stop working
As ambitious as you may be, there comes a time when you should stop working because you can't remain focused or productive. Figure out what your best hours are and schedule your high productivity needs during that time. Are you a morning person or a midnight owl? Set your schedule accordingly so you can capitalize on your peak hours and let your family and friends know these are your "office hours" so they too will honor your work time.

Reward yourself and schedule fun time
Your time is precious so when you successfully accomplish your goals be sure to reward yourself for a job well done. Don't forget to schedule in fun things during your day. Whether it is a time out for a lunch with friends or quality time with loved ones, make these important priorities part of your actual schedule so they are not compromised when other things come up. Non work tasks are just as important when you are booked from the crack of dawn till bedtime so honor your private life, even when you are busy.

Have a sense of humor
In reality sometimes the best-laid plans crash and burn because life happens as do things beyond your control. Realizing that you can't do it all, at least not all of the time, will liberate you to admit that you are not super human. You may have a messy house or an overgrown yard in exchange for accomplishing a work deadline and that's ok. Allowing for this will relieve stress and give you an appreciation for reality. Give yourself permission to laugh, especially at yourself, and know that tomorrow always brings a new day and a new beginning for the tasks ahead.


For even more quick tips, go here: http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-100-things-to-do-when-you-feel-like-youre-losing-it/

Written by: Michelle Parsons

Several years ago, my ex-girlfriend invited me over for Thanksgiving dinner. There was good food, pleasant conversation and friendly, encouraging relatives. Quite frankly, it was the most boring six hours of my life. When I hit up a Turkey day soiree' I expect these seven things present.

1. The Racist Old Person that Makes Everyone Uncomfortable “ I want to hear the phrase she was raised in a different era at least six times before the main course.

2. The Loser Boyfriend Your Niece Brought Home from College - Bonus points if he smells like a Phish concert and majors in Philosophy.

3. A Drunk Uncle Determined to Ruin Something “ He's been wasted since noon and is looking to do some damage. Whether it's a spilled gravy boat, broken vase or his not-so-sharp nephew's dreams of going to college, this guy is drunk, angry and not afraid of an intervention.

4. An Outspoken Vegetarian “ There's nothing better than an unprovoked, emotional speech about the perils of eating turkey.

5. Someone Who's Been to Jail “ Why yes, I would love to hear more about the yams they serve in San Quentin!

6. A Couple Headed for Divorce “ Is it really a family holiday if somebody doesn't yell I'm sleeping with the gardener during desert?

7. A really attractive relative “ She really just serves as a conversation starter/creeper for the drunk uncle. I could also throw in overachieving cousin who now works at Kinkos and aging aunt desperate not to die alone, but I've got to save something for Hannukah.

Marc LoteNberg
CEO/Hopeless Romantic / ‘—, ‘—
teammarc@944.com
twitter.com/MarcLotenberg
facebook.com/MarcLotenberg
Written by: Marc Lotenberg

Just like throwing 90's parties are the cool thing to do now, so are music labels making cassette tapes, apparently. In a recent article on NPR.org, at least 25 small labels are starting to produce cassette tapes rather than the regular CDR format.

They interviewed 23-year-old label manager of Patient Sounds, Matthew Sage, who says, "The work involved in dubbing the tapes, cutting the inserts, and making the tapes is half of the process for me." He goes on to say, "The tape is more an art object that also plays music (similar to vinyl) where the CDR is more a vessel for a piece of music."

NPR points out that while this guy and a few others see this as a kitschy art form, most labels and artists won't be wasting their time. And time, as it seems, is not in the efficiency category for making these nostalgic vessels. It takes three months to make 300 tapes, says article writer Megan Arellano.

Sage also says it's neither efficient nor profitable to make these cassette tapes, but he's doing it anyway. "They [tapes] are technologically regressive, less portable than an iPod and don't sound like digital music files ... But I think, generally speaking, the kitsch appeal of the tape, when matched with their affordability to produce, make them a perfect medium for artists struggling to happily release their art in an economy that is totally in shambles."

Well, he's got the shambles part right. So, let me get this straight -- in the cut-throat, endless struggle that is the music industry, where processed, auto-tune puppets are up to their ears in green and honest to goodness songwriters are endlessly working for peanuts and in most cases for free -- some 'indie' labels decide it's in the best interest for the band to spend their hard earned cash on a batch of 300 tapes most likely no one will buy? Because it's arty?

The last bit of info writer Megan Arellano shimmies into the end of the article is that 2009 was the worst year for cassettes sales since Nielson started measuring them.

While it's great a lot of bands have embraced an analog/lo-fi sound, that shouldn't mean the resurrection of impractical mediums. But then again, saying I haven't bought any vinyl in the past six months would be a total lie.

My suggestion for use of cassette tapes? Leave them on the intramural benches with the laser disk and 8-trak. Either that or what these people are doing with them: http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/cassettes.html



Now here's a solid band who's been making waves lately. I wonder if they make cassette tapes?









Written by: Michelle Parsons

I'm not really one for video games. I've played Rock Band exactly once, the last console I actually owned was the original Nintendo, and I'm about as ambidextrous on a Wii motion-censored remote as Stephen Hawking is at tennis. But, I received a press release in my Inbox the other day that had me schoolgirl giddy for some reason (and no, it wasn't the Britney Spears Glee episode, although it was pretty awesome). The epic hip hop label Def Jam has moved into video games -- well, one in particular called Rapstar, to be released on virtually every game console on October 5th. It features over 40 of the greatest hip hop and rap songs to date, including Busta Rhymes' "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See," DMX's "Ruff Ryder's Anthem," Lil' Jon's "Get Low" and Ice Cube's "Today Was A Good Day." It works similar to the Rock Band games, but it includes an option to record your rap skills with the console camera and upload the video to a fully integrated Def Jam Rapstar community website. Let me reiterate -- you rap, you upload, we watch, we are filled with pure joy and giggledom. Now that's entertainment gold.

Deep down in my fumbling, stuttering soul, watching wannabe Lil' Rappers on the interweb is just too good of an idea to pass up. Will it be ugly? Will it be a train wreck? Will it be the most grotesque sight since the ass to mouth scenes in The Human Centipede? You bet. But will it be glorious? Oh yeah. The prospect of watching balding, pot-bellied suburban dads rapping "To the window! To the wall!" or bratty tweens throwing down to "What's a goon to a goblin? I'm muthaf**kin' ill!" -- it's almost too much funny to bear. So, with everyone's giggle factor in mind, I encourage you to make your own video and send it my way...and I may or may not post your video on this very blog. Just a suggestion.



See below for greatness:





For more information on the game including pricing, visit defjamrapstar.com.




Can't stop the bum rush,

Michelle Parsons
Dallas Managing Editor



Written by: Michelle Parsons