AIM Magazine March 2010

M A G A Z I N E March 2010

Dj Adrian

March 2010

[CONTENT]

Editor’s Note Feature Story Furniture Food G-Spot Hair Health

Evalyn Githina Editor AIM Network

Linda Obel Editor AIM Network

Fashion Fashion Philanthropy Eye Wear Alita’s Travels Buzz

Wangechi Ruguaru Graphic Designer AIM Network

Wambui Wamutogoria Editor AIM Network

Tech Buzz No Evil Red10

Gerald Montgomery Contributor AIM Network

Mutheu Kiilu Contributor AIM Network

By Linda Obel

[EDITOR NOTE]

Quality of life. . .

When you were 18 you thought you would be a millionaire by the time you were 30. Or perhaps you thought that you would have your PhD by the time you were 24. Too often we kick ourselves over things we wish we had, and forget to look at the positive things we do have in our lives. When I was a child there was a song our teachers made us sing, and as I got older I finally started to see the relevance of it. “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done” So what if you haven‟t achieved what you thought you would have achieved by now? Take the mistakes you made previously and use them as learning experiences. If you keep looking back, you will never be able to move forward. Think about it, would you ever drive you car in reverse to your next destination? Sure, there are people out there who drive in reverse for stunts, but in reality, they don‟t drive this way in their day to day lives.

Oogway (A character on Kung Fu Panda ) says it best „Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present”.‟That‟s probably not who originally said it but you get the message, right? You need to take yesterday‟s mistakes as life lessons to be applied in the future. Like our feature story, DJ Adrian, in everything you do you must “…take it to the next level, remain relevant and consistent” So take life for what it is, roll with the punches, try to look on the bright side of life and don‟t forget the most important thing. Only you can make yourself happy. Like my mom says, “Life is not a rehearsal”. There is no “Take 2”.

‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present”.

By Wambui Wamutogoria Linda Obel

[DJ ADRIAN]

A

drian Washika, aka DJ Adrian, is one of Kenya’s top DJs. He has been a DJ for over 12 years and like a good brandy keeps getting better with time. Rather than creating a DJ name, he opted to maintain his own name for his individuality.

He started DJ-ing professionally in 1998 and in 2001 won his own mix show on Capital FM Radio, one of Kenya’s most popular radio stations.

From the day his father allowed him to change the record on his record player, Adrian was hooked to the feel of vinyl on his fingers; not to mention the appeal and flexibility of being able to put the needle exactly where he wants to play a hook or just a word.

For this reason Adrian prefers to play vinyl to this day. He understands better than anyone that “…technology would never teach anyone knowledge of music…”

He is internationally known for his unique mixing style and vast knowledge of music. He has toured extensively in the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia and Dubai. His radio show “The Wheelz of Steel”, which is the longest running DJ mix show in the country, recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary. He also mixes on The Sunday Soul show, which makes you want to get up and go clubbing as soon as he signs off.

So what would be next for someone who has obviously made quite a name for himself all over the world? If you were to meet him, one of the first things that would jump out at you besides his quiet demeanor is Adrian’s great sense of style.

“

●●●

…take it to the next level, remain relevant and consistent.”

●●●

Adrian is about to launch his own clothing line, featuring T-shirts and hats for men, women and children. The designs are geared towards people looking for Afro centric casual wear. When asked what trends he follows, Adrian puts it well by saying “I don’t follow trends. I just get creative with my combinations, and make sure the colors coordinate; nothing too loud or bright, just casual and laid back”.

Adrian’s greatest lesson through his journey has been to “…take it to the next level, remain relevant and consistent”. Looking at his designs, you can tell that he puts a lot of thought into it, and you can definitely see his touch.

Adrian’s plan for 2010 is to launch a website which will make the clothing readily available for order to the international market. In the meantime, if you are interested in ordering his designs, please send an email with inquiries to Adrianwashika1@yahoo.com. They ship worldwide so there is no chance of you feeling left out!

Adrian’s clothing line ….Moja Unified

By Wangechi Ruguaru

[FURNITURE]

Other than it’s functional and home decor purposes, African furniture can also be dramatic and with symbolic expressions of messages and guiding principles. You don’t have to worry about shipping charges; you can incorporate the same look from your local stores if you live in the Diaspora. Stores like Target and TJMaxx carry pieces that are actually imported from Africa….Happy spring cleaning!

Trade in the hang on the wall artifacts for this beauty

Armless zebra prints in both black and white and brown are a must get. Retail price $120-$200 at Target

Drum side table is unique and a piece that can go with any furniture

Be bold and add in rugs with a wow effect…also found at Target $100-$300 Throw in and a contemporary look with a splash of color …..

Elizabeth Armless Accent Chair – Red $180 www.target.com

Pieces featured on this page can be found at www.target.com... Prices indicated are subject to change

By Evalyn Githina

[FOOD]

CARAMELIZED PLANTAIN AND BRIE CHEESE DESSERT RECIPE Ingredients: ripe plantain, Brie Cheese, Berries and other fruits, Walnuts, Lemon custard, brown sugar, mango for decoration

Recipe:

Buy a yellow, ripe plantain, not when it's still green, because when it is ripe, the plantain is softer and more manageable and tastes better. Grease the sides of a ramekin cup for crème brulee and put parchment paper on the bottom. Cut a long slice of the plantain and fold it along the inside of the ramekin cup. Fill the plantain ring with chopped Brie, walnuts, berries and other diced fruit of your choice and bake in a preheated oven at 375 F. until the sides of the plantain turn brown.

Sprinkle with sugar and cook for 5 minute more or until caramelized. Keep at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Serve with lemon custard on the side.

By Gerald Montgomery

[G-SPOT] Let’s talk about… L-O-V-E (part 2)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes; always perseveres.”

I Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV In other words love is not a human invention! It is always all of these characteristics, not just some of them some of the time. When we exercise love we do so from a place that is outside our nature, external to our being. It is like the air we breathe out of our lungs; air that was not created in our lungs. We can neither keep air out or in for any meaningful length of time. It is drawn into us, serves it purpose then leaves us.

We are incapable of producing these love traits naturally because they are not conducive to the human condition. Human nature is survival of the fittest, eat or be eaten, self preservation and, in the most extreme circumstances, self-centeredness. Our [natural] ways are calculated goodness and necessary evils, not love.

Most of the good deeds we craft are tainted with selfishness or are investments towards a return of more good fortune (e.g. deposits made in the “Love Bank” analogy).

In „Let’s Talk about L-O-V-E part 1‟, I promised that in the sequel I would share with you where I believe the “liquid”, that is love, comes from. To recap a bit, the cup (our capacity to love) is our whole being; it is our esteem, connection to humanity, education and physical well-being. The more esteemed, rooted and mature we are the larger the cup is.

The cup is dynamic, not static. This means the cup‟s size is subject to change throughout our lives relative to our experiences. As with our lungs (the cup) and air (the liquid) analogy, the bigger and stronger the lungs the more available air they will take it. But if there is little to no air available it really doesn‟t matter what condition the lungs are in. Likewise in an oxygen-rich environment you will only be able to drawn in as much air as your lung capacity will allow.

As you may have guessed by now, the liquid comes from God. This is not about religion, as religion sometimes gets in God‟s way. This is about the ancient, intelligent forces which govern our reality. So love is the liquid in our cup, the cup is our soul. How much we have in our cup at a given time depends on how often and how deeply we “draw from the well” (I trust you can draw a conclusion here).

The liquid, unlike the cup, is static. Love is a force; a concept unto itself and is always in its purest form (i.e. There is no “tough love” or “true love”, only love), it is we who discount or water-down love to fit our perspectives. As we mature we understand and accept more about the nature of love, which is why love seems to “grow”, but it is we who are in fact growing. When truly operating out of love we can do no wrong to those we claim to love! The more we know about the nature of love the better we know what actions are expected of us.

Iron sharpens iron, so let’s be better because of it!

By Evalyn Githina

[HAIR] The Ponytail is a classic hairstyle that is even more dynamic when you have natural hair. The texture in natural hair allows for a variety of ways in which we can manipulate the texture of our hair in order to obtain the perfect ponytail for any specific occasion.

The trend for this season is to wear the high ponytail. To obtain this, brush the roots of your hair and then gather it using a shoelace or elastic band to secure. Tease the hair to make sure the curl is even.

For an even more dramatic look, wear the ponytail higher as a top knot if you have longer hair. To obtain this, smooth the hair at the crown and gather it up as you did for the ponytail, then wrap it around itself to create an “orange” shape on top of your head. Pin down the ends using bobby pins or a more decorative or flowery pin.

In order to start things off right, I recommend starting off with a good base i.e. a well moisturized and conditioned head of hair.

I tried the Burt’s Bees Avocado Butter PreShampoo Hair Treatment. In keeping with my hair philosophy, I simply rinsed it off using warm water after leaving it in and wearing a shower cap for about an hour. I then conditioned my hair using the Mane ‘n Tail Replenishing Conditioner, and then moisturized my scalp and hair using Darcy’s Organic Coconut Butter Styling Pomade.

These are the products I am currently using so please keep in mind that these are recommendations. Because we all have different types of hair that behave in totally different ways, it is good for you to learn what works great for your hair. You have to do you!

Mane ‘n Tail Replenishing Conditioner Essential, weightless conditioning provides hair with body without buildup resulting in a healthier scalp and refreshed hair.

Conditions and detangles Enhances softness and shine Reduces split ends and frizz Anti-breakage formula Available size: 12 oz.

Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment restores body, shine and manageability to dry and damaged hair.

List Price: $15.99

Cantu shea butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream is made with real shea butter and essential oils to replace vital oil in your hair leaving it stronger and healthier with a natural shine.

Darcy’s Organic Coconut Butter Styling Pomade Organic Coconut Butter Styling Pomade will provide you with the much needed healthy nourishment your curls require along with lovely sheen, softness. Light enough to use as hairdressing "grease" too.

Excellent for all natural styles like locs, twists, braids, afro, and waves.

$12.00

By Evalyn Githina

[HEALTH]

Sandal season is upon us and it’s time to show off those lovely feet. Considering that your feet have been in socks and boots all winter long, we need to make them presentable for spring by giving ourselves a pedicure......this goes for you guys too!

Remove any nail polish using a cotton ball Soak your feet in a mixture of Epsom salts and scented oil such as Tea Tree Oil for approximately 10 minutes.

Tea Tree oil has a mild minty fragrance and is beneficial in fighting athlete’s foot and reducing itchiness.

Exfoliate your feet and heels using a pumice stone, which should already be a staple in your bathroom and rub the stone against your heel, the ball of your foot and the bottom of your big toe.

Exfoliate your legs using a mixture of 1/2 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt with 1/2 cup brown sugar. Yogurt contains lactic acid, a natural skin exfoliant that helps jump-start cell turnover and brown sugar is gentler than your usual salt scrub when it comes to sloughing off those dry patches. Massage the yoghurt/brown sugar mixture on dry skin until sugar dissolves.

If the yoghurt/brown sugar mix is not for you, try a homemade mixture of olive oil and kosher salt or raw sugar. Or, choose a scrub such as Cocoa Butter from The Body Shop which costs about $16. Apply the scrub in an upward motion for two to three minutes. Then, rinse your legs in your foot bath.

Trim nails with a toenail clipper then file them to your length of choice. Make sure not to cut them too short though.

Soften your cuticles by Applying oil to nails to soften and revitalize rough areas.

Push your cuticles back or if you prefer to cut your cuticles you might as well get the pedicure professionally done, otherwise just push the cuticle back using an emory board to improve the appearance of your nails.

Polish/Buff your nails for shiny well done toes, and beautiful, sandal ready legs and feet!

Order this gift online at Eden4gifts.co.uk

By Mutheu Kiilu

[FASHION] “I believe you can tell a lot about a person by the way they dress; so go on….Express yourself but don’t go too crazy!”

Mutheu!

AIM Fashion Columnist

Jump Suits & Rompers – LOVE THEM!! This is my go to outfit when I’m at a loss for what to wear. There is an understated sophistication and sexiness to this trend. For the curvier woman who thinks she couldn’t possibly pull this off, try a belted halter jumpsuit. I prefer the blockcolored style for an evening look and the short printed style for a fun/playful daytime look.

See-through and sheer: Remember to keep it classy.

The Boyfriend Blazer – Every closet needs one! Get One!!

Wear it slightly oversized, with leather pants and sexy heels.

Roll up the sleeves to expose your wrists for a more feminine look.

By Wambui Wamutogoria

[FASHION PHILANTROPHY]

I love fashion; every aspect of fashion to me is escapism from the reality of everyday life. It’s aspiration of what I want in life. The very reasons that I love the fashion industry; the glamour, fantasy and beauty make it very difficult for it to grow significantly in Africa. Poverty affects the way we think and feel about ourselves, life becomes merely a game of survival from day to day, which makes it impossible to include any kind of fantasy and glamour in everyday life. Fashion however is also about practicality, everyone needs to wear clothes and shoes, and you need a bag of some kind to put your things in. Fashion business in Africa is possible if it fits the lifestyle that we face on a daily basis on the continent.

I was involved in a project that changed my concept of fashion and the role it can play in rebuilding Africa’s promise. Smile network teamed with the fantastic people from “The Find” a high end department store located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The concept was genius; smile network was looking to do operations in Africa and needed to do a fund raising event to fund the flights, hotel and other expenses incurred by the doctors who volunteer to do these operations while in Africa.

They were planning a trip to Africa to find unique items that would be auctioned to raise funds.

The Find is a department store, whose buyers go around the world to find unique items from indigenous cultures and bring them to the US market. The Find also wanted to empower women in these communities by buying local crafts and selling them to consumers in the US. They also advised these African artisans on how to make their products more marketable in the US market. We visited various local markets almost on a daily basis getting a feel of the local Kenyan theme in crafts.

Most women made house hold goods like carved wooden spoons, bowls, napkin holders, cool aprons and mittens made in brightly printed fabrics, salt and pepper shakers made from animal bone and soft stone. They also made accessories like earrings, bangles, bracelets and sandals decorated with bright little beads. During our trips to the market, Annie and Lisa from the find made a point of talking to the women they bought items from, they asked them

about their inspiration, aspirations and everyday struggles and achievements. This made the project that much more personal for everyone involved.

We also visited the Kazuri factory a bead factory that makes its beads from glazed clay; the beads are designed into high end necklaces, bracelets, and rings which are sold in the global markets. They also make amazing pottery and leather bags. Kazuri bead factory has also become a tourist attraction with buses of tourists coming to see the factory that produces products they buy back home. The visitors get a chance to see how the beads are made and they get to mingle with the women who make the beaded jewelery.

According to their website here are some facts about Kazuri Kazuri produces over 5 million beads a year.

Kazuri employs over 400 women, mostly single mothers Kazuri Exports to over 30 countries worldwide and can be ordered online from their distributors Kazuri is a member of the world fair trade organization (WFTO) Other similar projects have been launched throughout Kenya. Soko-Kenya is one such project.

“Soko is all about making a difference; it is a project that aims to provide a sustainable and creative long term solution to Kenya’s economic crisis by promoting community driven, ethical and environmentally aware trade in fashion.”

According to the website this is how SokoKenya will work “Soko will establish a self sustaining eco-clothing production plant for the export market that will create fair employment and offer training and skills development for the local community in Ukunda. It will act as a pilot for potential expansion into other areas of rural Kenya in order to see widespread recovery and significant impact on the national economy.”

Jacaranda workshop like Kazuri beads focuses on making and designs beads and beaded

products like necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings. They provide disabled children from the jacaranda school with skills that they can use to earn a living. Their work is of the highest quality from a group of people who are often overlooked in the workforce.

According to the website the objectives for jacaranda workshops are all charitable; Accept suitable handicapped children from jacaranda special school for the handicapped and to train them to fabricate costume jewellery and the like or any other trade or vocation and to provide them with employment in such trade or vocation.

Collaborate with other charities, technical institutions of learning, schools etc engaged in purposes similar to those the workshop and to enter into agreements or arrangements of co-operation and exchange information with them in furtherance of the objectives of the workshop.

Engage in activities to promote and assist handicapped children in Kenya.

Projects in Fashion play a significant role in rebuilding Africa’s promise.

Here are the links and contact info for the companies mentioned The Find contact annie@thefindep.com or lisa@thefindep.com Soko-Kenya: www.soko-kenya.com Contact jo@soko-kenya.com Jacaranda workshop: www.jacarandaworkshop.com contact jacarandaw@iconnect.co.ke Kazuri: www.kazuri.com

Jac Bones Earrings $10

Utamaduni Wear Email:utamaduniwear@gmail.com Website: www.utamaduniwear.com Apparel

Accessories Jewelry

Tel: +254 717 681 674

By Wangechi & Evalyn

[WARBY PARKER]

Webb $95.00 Includes Prescription Lenses FREE Ground Shipping and Returns COLOR: Crystal Matte WIDTH: Medium MEASUREMENTS: 48-20-145 DESCRIPTION: A slight contemporary twist to what could be traditional old school frames, the Webb's smooth, rounded eye wire give it an attention grabbing look.

Eyewear with a Purpose!

Warby Parker believes that everyone has the right to see.

Unfortunately, millions of people around the world today don’t have access to proper vision care. To help address this problem, Warby Parker partnered with renowned non-profits, such as RestoringVision.org, to deliver one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair that we sell. In doing so, they enable you to share the gift of vision with someone who can’t see today and give them the opportunity to read, to work and to live a fuller life.

www.warbyparker.com Roosevelt $95.00 COLOR: Revolver Black

Matte

WIDTH: Wide MEASUREMENTS: 54-18-

145

DESCRIPTION: A modern

classic, the Roosevelt is a large, masculine frame with a keyhole bridge that immediately inspires confidence.

Huxley $95.00 COLOR: Tennessee Whiskey WIDTH: Medium MEASUREMENTS: 48-22-145 DESCRIPTION: If Clark Kent wore the Huxleys, he

may have beat Superman to Lois Lane. The thick walls, boxy shape and slightly rounded edges make a bold statement and look great on almost any face.

Warby Parker glasses will provide all the style you need to travel your road with class and their price will leave you with some extra cash to use on your journey.

Colt $95 COLOR: Tangerine WIDTH: Medium MEASUREMENTS: 48-18-145 DESCRIPTION: The combination of

www.warbyparker.com

slightly rounded edges on a predominantly square-shaped eye wire makes the Colton one of our most versatile frames. This shape looks great on almost any face.

Images of people, places and products are the property of Warby Parker. AIM wants to thank Warby Parker for allowing the use of the content in the eyewear section.

[ALITA’S TRAVELS] This installation of Alita's Travels is a compilation of journal writings that capture Alita's initial travels to Ghana. These are her first perceptions of Ghana and the people and events she experienced.

Alita is blessed to be able to travel for work, passion and pleasure. These travels take her to countries in Africa and South America. While on the road, Alita is witness to a great many adventures. She pens these encounters in the most amazing way that captures our hearts, transports us to the regions she is visiting and traveling through and she unwittingly brings us face to face with all she encounters on the road.

Alita shares these writings with her friends and family and AIM Magazine is honored that she has chosen to share this series of stories with us.

Thank you Alita!

By Alita Watson

[GHANABOBHANA]

So, I made it. I was greeted by a friend from the organization and my dear friend Pearl's boyfriend at the airport, and I was SO relieved to have someone holding my hand as I walked out realizing that after a 17 hour plane trip I finally made it to Ghana!

I really can't put into words how it feels to be here; I had my orientation yesterday and my new friends Latif and Monica brought me all over Accra. I found it hard to find my voice because I was so overwhelmed with all there was to take in.

We went to the market where hundreds of people pushed and shoved their way to find everything you can imagine from dry fish to fake Rolex watches. There are these little girls carrying enormous amounts of purchased goods on their heads in hopes of getting tipped by consumers, and when I started to talk to one of them I slowly found myself surrounded by about eight other girls under the age of 13 who were parentless and homeless. I wish I could have taken their pictures so you could see these beautiful faces, who managed to smile despite their circumstances, but I felt it would be insulting to ask.

I am treading lightly on my first days, but everyone I have encountered so far here has been SO friendly! They carry a beauty and recognizable intention of survival at any cost. I have never been more certain that this is where I should be at this point in my life, and I can't wait to find my voice so I can start to learn from these people and make a difference in any way I can.

I am about to jump on a bus and take a 14 hour trip to "Tamale" where Pearl anxiously awaits my arrival. This reunion will be like no other, as we are soul mates who haven't seen each other in 3 long years.

Woooohoooooooo! She has rented a beautiful 5 bedroom house for us and I will start working with the Yaro project on Monday. We will have a house phone so you can call a sista any time you can, I can't wait to hear your voices! I'll send the number and some pics as soon as I get situated; I feel you are all with me every day.

Love you love you love you!

Alita In Tamaleeeeeee: Hello hello!

So, I have arrived in Tamale and conditions are quite different and more difficult than I had imagined, however I am safe and healthy! Pearl greeted me at the airport and Ghanaians watched us in awe as we hollered and hugged like two little peacocks that just had their feathers plucked!

I cannot BELIEVE the heat here, and Ghana has a severe energy crisis so we only have power every other two days which means no fans, lights, or AC!! I walk around the house naked with my head lamp on, carrying a "sachet" in my mouth which looks like an IV bag full of water! Half of the things I packed will likely be given away to Ghanaians because only several of the tank tops and two of the skirts I brought are light enough and appropriate enough to wear in the village.

I have had two days of orientation and was brought out "in the field" yesterday after getting three more vaccinations due to recent outbreaks of meningitis in rural villages. I took a ton of pics but will need a little time to get them to you as my laptop fizzled into oblivion yesterday!

Pearl and I luckily have a great sense of humor and we have been catching up on our back porch behind a large metal gate as the village hustle surrounds us.

I already have a splendid little group of Canadian friends who have been busy teaching me the ''do's and don'ts of Tamale;'' some of which I have had the experience of discovering on my own the hard way.

For example: Never offer a child anything in an open market, as a screaming and hair pulling riot will break out as soon as the others see, and you will literally have to run from the midget mob to escape!

Responding to a young Ghanaian man’s "hello" gives him the un-questionable right to begin courting you. I have become PRO at avoiding eye contact and changing sides of the street as

soon as men approach and start yelling "Allo Allo Allo Obruni Obruni Obruni!!� (White girl).

There are no white boys in this town, which is not too disappointing, considering the amount of sweat continuously drenching our bodies which leaves you with no libido whatsoever!

Furthermore you would likely slide right off each other should any type of intimacy be attempted!

Meat on a menu consists of goat, guinea fowl, sheep, or dog! Needless to say I have finally managed to commit to being a vegetarian! ''A few minutes'' can mean up to two hours!

Maybe this means I will be the most patient saint ever when I return, which hopefully will be the end of my road rage tickets...isn't it just lovely how I'm managing to find the positive in all of this!?

When waiting in line, if the person in front of you can't feel your breath on their neck, you are leaving an open invitation for someone to cut in front of you. When this happened to me I said ''EXCUSE ME!'' And the Ghanaian had no idea what he had done wrong because there was OBVIOUSLY an open spot in front of me, duhhhhh.

Shaking hands, taking/offering anything with your left hand is VERY offensive as this hand is only used as your "bum hand"...which leads me to the toilet situation: there are none, and toilet paper is non-existent! This is why you never peer into the

ditch to see why cars/bikes have pulled to the side of the road. Ew. People use their horn to make conversation here.

When I get honked at riding my bike it can mean any of the following ''hello, how are you, you are pretty, watch out, I'm coming, and what's your sign?''

People get stoned to death here for stealing, so the crime rate is incredibly low (good thing there's no Starbucks here!), (inside joke).

It has been an exhausting but incredibly interesting few days. I am happy to say that my organization is certainly one of the best and most honorable in Tamale. Tomorrow I begin working at the Yaro project, and I cannot wait to get started! Every free moment I have here reminds me of the heat and my devastated surroundings. Thank god for Pearl, there is no way I could have done this alone.

I got a cell phone today (very necessary) and Pearls mom calls her from Canada for only 13 cents/min!

You will have to ask the operator what the country code is or how to dial Tamale Ghana, but here it is: ***-***-**. Dad can you call mom and give her this, I'm not sure she's getting my emails (her number is ***-***-***). I'll write later this week, big fat smooches to all of you!

Love Alita

[BUZZ]

By Wangechi Ruguaru

Helps to soothe and calm the irritations caused by shaving. Specially formulated for sensitive skin, it is light and easily absorbed. Can be found at Walgreens, CVS or Target 3.3oz Price $6.99

A Kiss of Moisture Hydrating Lip Care , SPF 4

Size/Count 0.17 oz.

Light-weight Fast absorbing formula For longlasting moisturization Price: $2.99

One and Only Man Can!! All the bath goodies a man could handle come in this cleverly packaged kit. Can includes Fisherman's Hand Butter, Fisherman's Scrub Soap, Spicy Shave Gel, Bay Rum After Shower Oil, Body Mitt, and Man Can Container.

The Man Can is $44.50.

Healthy Feet Buffing Pad Size/Count: 1.0 ea.

Price: $5.99 MenEssentials, the first online retailer to specialize in men's prestige skin care products, has unveiled the first comprehensive luxury grooming range for Black men. The range is made in part by members of rural South African Xhosa cooperatives. Sale of the products raises their standard of living and improves their communities’ healthcare and educational resources.

This innovative skin care and grooming range is available to the world through MenEssentials, the men's skin care specialists.

Rasta Locks & Twist Locking Creme Wax,Jamaican Mango & Lime Size/Count 6.0 oz.

Starts & maintains locks & twists Long lasting hold No build up $4.99 at Walgreens

By Linda Obel

[TECH BUZZ]

CALLING ALL SERIAL TEXTERS… Remember when the earthquake hit Haiti and there were all these ads about texting to donate $10 to Haiti? Well this one teenage girl, God bless her soul, thought that all you had to do was text the number but it wouldn’t charge your phone. She proudly announced on Facebook that she had text 100 times to help Haiti, urging her friends to join her in this selfless act. Of course, her friends were quick to jump in and advice their friend that the texts were actually charged to her phone line. So let’s do the math… 100 text messages at $10 each… you get the idea…

And then there is the story of the teenage girl who sent 500 text messages a day, without her parents’ knowledge of course. The phone bill came to over $4800. Hopefully your texting nightmares haven’t been this bad, but have you ever gone over your text messaging plan? Those overage charges can sometimes double or even triple your monthly cell phone bill.

Allow me to introduce you to textPlus. This application allows you to send unlimited texts for free! Yes, I said free… So long as the people you are texting have the same application or have a texting plan, you’re good to go!

TextPlus allows you to send group text messages, and also create communities so that you can send text messages in a flash to a select group of people each time. TextPlus is currently available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, Android and any phone which has text messaging enabled. They are yet to update it to accommodate the Blackberry so sorry for now “crackberry” users.

This is an ad sponsored app (of course, that’s why it’s free) so you have to deal with ads, but I think the girl’s parents whose phone bill came to $4800 would be more than happy to deal with ads instead. They have an ad free version for iPhone and iPod Touch for $2.99, but you have to admit, that’s still quite a steal. Try this app out today and let your friends worry about receiving multiple text messages from you, not the other way around! What the heck, it’s free anyway!

By Evalyn Githina

[SEE, HEAR NO EVIL]

Dr. Joseph Mbele

Somi of Rwandese and Ugandan heritage was born in Champaign, Illinois. Living in an african family in America, she also spent her early childhood in Zambia. Her music relentlessly evokes all that is pure, honest, and true. Listening to her exhale a belly full of stories on life, love, and liberation, one is involuntarily reminded of their own private moments of passion. Her voice soars over, through, and in between nuances of an incomparable musicianship that organically fuses jazz, classic soul, African folk, and rare urban grooves.

If the Rains Come First builds upon elements that first surfaced on Somi's two previous recordings: the electric soul-jazz of 2003's Eternal Motive (SanaaHouse) and the acoustic, culturemerging elegance of 2007's multilingual Red Soil in My Eyes (World Village/Harmonia Mundi). But her further evolution becomes immediately apparent as If the Rains Come First unfolds. Singing in English and three East African languages, Somi's vocal delivery is subtle yet the power she exerts is enormous.

Courtesy of (http://www.obliqsound.com/artists/bio/somi.html)

Joseph Mbele presents English translations of 10 folk tales from Southern Tanzania which he recorded in the mid-1970's.

Matengo is the Mr. Mbele’s mother tongue and, in addition to the English translations of the folk tales, there are some songs presented in the original Matengo as well. The tales cover a wide range of themes and styles; these translated folk tales help the reader appreciate the stories in their original cultural context. The stories are hilarious in their simplicity but deeply moral and practical in their message.

They bring into sharp focus the traditional storytelling tradition.

Somi

Red10

[DO YOU KNOW YOUR STATUS?]

HIV Stats in Minnesota. 1st 2009 Report African Born persons make up for 11% of the new HIV infections in 2009 Among foreign born persons, 4 African countries out of 6 accounted for 56% of new HIV infections in 2009 Men of color make up approximately 12% of the male population and 42% of the infections diagnosed among men in 2009 Between 2000 and 2009, there has been a 42% increase in progression from HIV to AIDS among African born persons. This could have been prevented if the detection had been made earlier.

GET TESTED TODAY FOR FREE! African Health Action 1931 1st Avenue South, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55403 Phone/Fax: (612)-216-3886

May 16th, 2010 Walk with us or donate http://community.mnaidsproject.org/netcommunity/RED102010

Last Year we took on a project that changed all our lives‌. Red10.

RED10 is a partnership between AIM Network, Funkhouse, Soljams, AHA (African Health Action), friends & family and other organizations that raise funds and awareness of the impact HIV/AIDS has in the Minnesota African community.

Raise awareness. Raise funds. Raise hope.

Start by donating or registering to walk. If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring Red10 please contact 612.208.9655 or email aimminnesota@gmail.com

Website: http://community.mnaidsproject.org/RED102010