The Green Children// Once upon a time... by crossroad magazine

DIGITAL CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE THAT INSPIRES HOPE THROUGH CHRIST CENTERED CONTENT FRESH NEWS, MUSIC, INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS AND FEATURED AMBASSADORS: BUILDING 429 / JAPHIA LIFE / BROOKE BARRETTSMITH / ADDISON ROAD / FM STATIC

ISSUE#3

INSIDE THE GOOD SHEPARD BAND WALT HARRIS SALVADOR JONNY DIAZ

N E R D IL H C N E E R G E //TH Once Upon a Time..

CROSSROAD Magazine // May 2009, Issue #3 The Green Children // Once Upon A Time.....

PUBLISHER / CREATIVE EDITOR / FOUNDER Victor Flavius // crossroadmag@gmail.com

EDITORIAL + Editor // Matoaca Hardy-Martin + Music Editor // Kory Boone

CONTRIBUTORS Robert Moment, Dr Saleem Ahmed John Casement, Sickamore, Kory Boone, Tobias

CREATIVE MARKETING + ADVERTISING The Brand LLC - thebrandllc@gmail.com + Brand mgr // Askia Fountain

MISSION STATEMENT Crossroad magazine website is a place for those motivated by faith to transpose their lives from a secular-focused world to a Christ centered life. Crossroad Magazine covers Christian music, reviews, healthy living, books that impact our spiritual growth and lives, ministry overview and music interviews. We provide the vehicle and outlet to positively influence each individual. Our vision is to inspire hope to those that feel confused and misguided about their purpose and to build a platform that will plant a seed or help transform individuals one by one. Welcome to the Crossroad. Crossroad magazine is published bi-monthly and is distributed free online. to contact Crossroad magazine, e-mail us at crossroadmag@gmail.com. we appreciate your feed back Crossroad magazine all rights reserved. reproduction without permission, by any method whatsoever, is prohibited.

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CROSSROAD MAGAZINE CONTENTS ISSUE #3 • MAY • www.crossroadmag.com

FORGIVENESS HOW TO FORGIVE YOURSELF BY ROBERT MOMENT

MUSIC REVIEWS

ISLAM RELIGION OF PEACE? BY DR SALEEM AHMED

10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT BY JOHN CASEMENT

FOODS YOUR BODY NEEDS FOR A HEALTHIER YOU

CHOOSING THE BEST COLLEGE

LIFE SKILLS 101: ROOMMATE SURVIVAL

FRESH, FAMOUS, FLY: 101

THE GREEN CHILDREN ONCE UPON A TIME...

BY SICKAMORE

ALL ABOUT BUSINESS TIES

ON THE COVER 10 46 48

WAKE UP SLEEPER // THE GOOD SHEPERD BAND FAITH AND FOOTBALL // BY WALT HARRIS THE AMBASSADORS // FEATURES NEW MUSIC

10 // FAITH

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d n a B d r e h p e h S d o o G e th

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worth over top er Jody Killings ng si ad le ns my head / I bed” croo ut mine went to you go to your B / nd p A / cu r r te tte gh bi ank a ng. Meet the to the slau t matter soberi “Our fathers dr ec n. he Lamb went bj tio su ta its en d m an ru tiful rene inst thtakingly beau a hauntingly se he song is brea T ” d. ea st in e drank win epiBand. “lethal sleeping Good Shepherd s engaging the g, feetng in so pp tic la he -c op nd erant, ha ction of pr ub lle ex r co ei a s th rm om fo r, s,” each of today. Fr Wake Up Sleepe lical churches n “Rock of Age ge ow an kn ev lt el os w Their debut EP, m e th ed Killingsworth, king of lieve has infect scipleship. Says novative rewor di in n d tia an is e demic” they be hr C tiv s ec seriou w a trumpet in ack to their refl the battle cry to cried out, ‘Blo ds he un n so he moving title tr r w pe y ee da e, for the day of d in his Wake Up Sl the land trembl prophet Joel di of e s th nt the six songs on g ta in bi th ha e in m e to do the sa ntain! Let all th “We’re trying on My holy mou m ar al an d un Zion, and so ood ming.’” , Indiana, the G the LORD is co in Bloomington odern ch m ur as ch r ch ei ur th the local ch worship at g of t in ex ad nt le co of e e ithin th so write new for the purpos ed to serving w worship, and al itt l m na m tio co Formed in 2007 ga ily re ar ng ng biblical s for co remains prim cused on revivi ns to new tune fo m ily hy e ar d Shepherd Band ol im pr st ca is ir work ted; these includ orah. They re tely been neglec od’s people. The la G day Sons of K ve en th ha ng at re th st s t. urie age and ming judgmen ughout the cent music to encour fare, and the co Christians thro ar l w fu n ith tia fa is hr by C , themes sung avity of man e of judgChrist, the depr with this them ly id nd ca t the Lordship of os m es denying , deals to spend our liv e of the record cy ec en pi er nd nt te r ce e ou th on emned and assault ” which forms we stand cond o-holds-barred od “n G a “Hiding Place, ly as ho it s a be re befo nly doesn’t worth descri the song certai to be true—that , re ow ve ment. Killings kn se y lly gl ua in ct only place unnerv e all instin us.” But while inting us to the po to , the one thing w g or in and vi m Sa co a r t’s fo ding place!”), r need bit of wha Jesus, be my hi deserve every ace” exposes ou O Pl es(“ g t pr in l en id pe m os “H dg . G ju t hope , this is true the coming ds of or ry w r fu leave us withou e he th ot . In find shelter from re it is too late where we can ves to God befo el rs ou it bm su e demands that w om 2 Timothy nest. fi its at n takes its cue fr tio e) ov enta ab d te uo n life,” says ed?” (q re the Persecut “I look at my ow A .” re ed n: he ut ec “W rs m pe the albu will be obvious questio in Christ Jesus rced to ask the Another gem on y fo dl ’s m go I’ ng e d hi liv et an m to it, so of desire And that means se and comfort 3:12, “All who there isn’t any. erwhelming ea confess the is ov , to se he “t ur an , th co th er of or , th w Killings d by all ra ve ’ The answer lo n? d io an ings that ut , ec ch rs ri ng pe e avoid sayi th safe, happy, to s be ay to w ‘So...where’s th en ed os at ch sophistic a biting, sarmeans I’ve scovered very Persecuted’ is] di e ve th gone wrong. It I’ re A ns ea re m he [‘W ripture. It elf—not God. other.” plain truth of Sc eans I love mys e Pharisee to an m on It d. om lle fr , ki e ds ar w co to d might get m ar cow Institute at spoken from a e Early Music castic, lament th d an ic us M hool of ght into the ious Jacobs Sc isdom and insi w tig al es ic pr CM us e m th of of l ni ar in modern C hing leve Made up of alum brings a refres anything you he ilco, e nd W lik e ba un e lik th ite , t’s “I qu ity y’re really responded, he th T or Indiana Univers e. w m gs ho in .” ll ill er K geth they now ca lead singer Jody t and stirred to alt/rock genre ed into one po ne their sound, ur fi de po l to al d ls ke na as m today. When d really old hy Arcade Fire, an nd’s website Radiohead, The nload at the ba w do t” an w uall the more hat-yo g first effort is free or “pay-w tin r ci fo e ex bl edid la an ai d av he r is ment with incr bly polis Wake Up Sleepe member’s base . This remarka m y nd gl co ba in d. a sh an in ni db ed to er d record lds up as www.goodsheph lf-produced an Up Sleeper ho e se ak en W be . ct ng fa vi is th delightful for ha n’t be put off by pment. But do ui today. t eq r ou g ge in ea m m co y s bl best record e th of y an t well agains

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We’re trying to do the same thing the prophet Joel did in his day when he cried out, “Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming.’”

12 // FAITH

S S E N E V I FORG e yourself

how to forgiv

by Robert Moment

e about. We want to ble to give those we car ssi po t gif t bes the for g s lookin those around us aren’t on, we often find ourselve rse, the best gifts to give asi cou occ Of the u.” at yo wh ut r tte abo e ma car No says, “I pain that they have ection to give them that d to let go of the hurt and aff r nee ou we of , en ers tok oth e e lov som d we fin give to others. w much best gifts we can possibly in any store. To show ho ht the ug are bo s be nce can cha t d tha on se sec tho ng with Love and forgiveness alo caused and forgive them. ready to be free and eness this year? Are you giv for of t gif the elf urs elf for the mistakes ut giving yo ? Have you thought abo , you must forgive yours elf are u urs yo yo If ut ? abo ure at fut wh t the Bu ut them, but what we and love in stakes and not think abo o a life of graciousness mi r int ou ad e ahe hid ve and mo try to to dy y rea ! It’s eas ce and our sense of be a difficult thing to do away at our self-assuran can ing t eat tha , ter and fes de ma and s e nd u’v yo ourselves just as God k of our mi our mistakes and forgive it can sit there in the bac of us; go er ov let r to we e po hav has We e y. hid ly worth g us wonder if we are tru God’s love for us, makin with no reservations! and y tel ple forgive us, com es do He d An us. es giv for rciful.” Nehemiah 9:17 forgive, gracious and me to dy rea d ” Go a are ou “Y and you will be forgiven. be condemned. Forgive, t no ll wi u yo and n, t condem will not be judged; do no “Do not judge, and you Luke 6:37 path to self-forgivepful in helping me on the hel y ver nd fou e I’v t tha six steps ce forgiveness: give yourself, there are u past mistakes and embra yo of When you are ready to for go let to gle ug str p you in your ness. Perhaps they will hel e never let g Yourself in all of those things you’v iv ut rg abo Fo nk d thi ar to w e To tim e s Six Step at the top. Now take som er and write your name 1.Take out a sheet of pap elf for. or physical abuse? u haven’t forgiven yours them, etc. Was it verbal rt hu u yo w ho rt; hu go of in your past that yo u yo o tion? Adultery? transgressions are and wh eft? Rape? Lying? Addic Th n? tio jec t with yourRe ? yal 2.Write down what those tra cared about? Be t mistakes. Be very hones u yo pas e ur eon yo er som ov ng gs cti lin gle fee Dishonesty? Ne of these unresolved d knows how you feel and l about yourself because u still feel unworthy? Go yo do , ers oth by en 3.Write down how you fee giv n for have made amends or bee w release them! self. Although you may l and let the emotions flo st Gifts from God. He has fee u yo w ho er pap on ss pre will and one of the greate Ex the rt. of n isio dec a t bu He sees your hea g lin fee the decision to do so. elf. Forgiveness is not a ss. I so but it all begins with 4.Decide to forgive yours do to r we po give up my unforgivene the us e giv t He will I come to You today and , ord into “L m m. the t Hi pu to t told us to forgive and tha ss bu f, ene against mysel es edge your forgiv wl ens no off se ack the and ld d ho Go to to t the 5.Take your list this moment, I choose no s and help me to let go of ________________. At ve forward without regret mo en to giv e e abl hav be u to yo t forgive myself for ____ me for p th the same com wounds and hel wi al e on els oti e em eon my l som to hea t d, for Your Hands. Go er upliftment and com give me the ability to off and scatpast and start fresh. God ____into Your Hands.” ed it, burn it or tear it up __ shr __ to __ ide __ of dec s u sin yo t er pas eth me. I release my be very freeing. Wh the same manner. e. This visual exercise can yed and floating away in 6.Destroy the list in privat tro des ng bei kes sta mi t your pas ns ter it in the trash, imagine ore our lives as Christia on what has happened bef ell dw to of us e nt fre wa is t ’t tha esn t rd do e yourself a wonderful gif be “born again.” The Lo giveness and love. So giv This is what it means to for in ng lki wa , ure fut w and in the are about who we are no s year forgive yourself! thi ess cel charge and yet pri continued on page 14

We have to let go of our mistakes and forgive ourselves just as God forgives us. And He does forgive us, completely and with no reservations!

14 // FAITH

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Alone with You in this moment of meditation and prayer, I release any unresolved feelings of resentment or regret. Help me through this process of healing. I release to you any unresolved feelings that I have toward myself. I understand that not forgiving myself is disobedience toward you. Forgive me for any pain that I have caused in the lives of others. Forgive me for not letting go of the past and moving forward in love. I experience now the relief of forgiveness to the depths of my being. Heavenly Father, I acknowledge and give thanks for Your love that strengthens me, comforts and soothes me emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. In the complete fullness of Your Love, I can and do forgive myself. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for healing my heart and bringing Joy and Meaning back into my life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. This is a new beginning releasing the past and embracing forgiveness. Forgiveness opens the door to the enrichment of all our relationships so that they flourish with understanding and love. With the forgiveness we express today we open the way to a brighter future. Robert Moment is a Christian business coach, speaker and author of newly published book, God Will Always Be There for You. Robert is passionate about empowering individuals on how to experience Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love, power, joy, peace and prosperity. Visit http://www.ChristianInspirational.org Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

16 // FAITH

JONNY DIAZ

More Beautiful You:

CD REVIEW

In a time of cookie cutter music meet Jonny Diaz; He stands apart with his fresh organic sound that talk of a world many would say is a page in a fairy tale book. The first CD titled song "More Beautiful You" starts off with a big band sound like that of U2or Dave Matthews with Jonny delivering the message that we are all made with a purpose despite all that we go through. More Beautiful you really speaks on self-esteem, self worth and being accepted, a place everyone can relate to at some point in their life. On his other song "Stand for you" Jonny talks of being free and standing for the truth with a clear message of hope and salvation. The entire 11-track album combines fun flavors of pop, love, adult contemporary and alternative. Although Diaz is fairly new to the scene, his music is reminiscent of some of the most popular acoustic singers (think John Mayer) meet Jason Marz). A fun and upbeat album great for a road trip. 4.0 out of 5 praises

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MANDISA

Freedom:

CD REVIEW

Success. the only word that can describe Mandisa. A success as a woman, a success as a Christian artist and a success on her sophomore release- Freedom. What more can you ask for? American Idol and the people counted her out probably because of her size (In America the media and entertainment industry can be so vain). After her surprisingly low ratings and harsh criticism on the 5th season of American Idol she hasn't glanced at the past working hard at what she does best with the inspiration of her recent 75-lb. weight loss, Freedom is the title of Mandisa's sophomore studio album which expresses her journey and place in life. Freedom celebrates life with purpose. On her first two singles "My Deliverer and How Much," Mandisa creates a great atmosphere for listeners while delivering a clear inspirational message. On the Hip-Pop song "Definition Of Me" Mandisa grooves with Christian Hip-Hop artist Bianca of Group 1 Crew, the two create an agreeable chemistry. "Not guilty" a power house ballad that shows us why we love and support Mandisa - a true artist! At the end, Mandisa gives encouraging words, on the ballad "You Wouldn't Cry." talking to the heart of many with lyrics that goes straight to the places on unopened emotions, In this song she says "Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to lay it down cause Jesus holds me now and I am not alone your faith is wearing thin But I am watching him and he is holding you too." Overall, Freedom has a great blend of music with message and Mandisa has shared with us an exceptional sophomore experience which Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure will keep many talking. 4.7 out of 5 praises

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20 // FAITH

ISLAM RELIGION OF PEACE?

by Dr. Saleem Ahmed, featured in Liberty Magazine

o the majority of Muslims, Islam is a religion of peace. They are law-abiding citizens who mind their own business, respect others’ religious beliefs, and lead a low-key life. Their interfaith activities are guided by verses such as the following in the Qur’an, their holy book:

Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and discuss with them in ways that are best and most gracious (Qur’an 16:125) (Within parentheses are chapter (sura) and verse (ayah) numbers); The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but (also) chaste women among the People of the Book (Qur’an 5:5);

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Let there be no compulsion in religion (Qur’an 2:256). While extremist Muslims also believe Islam is a religion of peace, this peace can only be on their terms, based on their interpretation of selected Qur’anic verses and hadith (Muhammad’s purported sayings and actions). They do not mind their own business. In their vendetta for perceived injustices to Muslims historically or currently, they are willing to kill others, including Muslims who disagree with their philosophy. They thrive on terrorizing the public— locally and internationally. And while they also use the Qur’an for guidance, the tenor of verses they select is totally different: Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them. And seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war) (Qur’an 9:5); Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day nor hold that forbidden which has been forbidden by Allah and His apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of truth (even if they are) People of the Book, until they pay Jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued (Qur’an 9:29); Take not Jews and Christians for your friends and protectors. . . . And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them (Qur’an 5:51).

pened: Muhammad was cautioned against trusting “outsiders” earlier in his ministry when he was a marked man with a price on his head; and the reconciliatory posture toward “People of the Book” was part of the last message he received around 632 C.E., when Islam had spread throughout Arabia and he no longer faced the same danger. While the prophet lived, no need was felt to consolidate all guidance he had received as this was an ongoing process. The need for consolidation took on urgency after a particular battle, one to two years after Muhammad’s death, in which several Qaris (who had memorized the divine guidance) were killed. Fearing that Muslims would be lost without a central repository of prophetic guidance, Umar (later the second caliph) suggested to Abu Bakr (then caliph) to consolidate all revelations into one book. Initially reluctant to do something that had not been “sanctioned by the prophet,” Abu Bakr asked Zaid, another close companion of Muhammad, to coordinate this project. Zaid collected verses written on “leafless stalks of the date-palm tree and pieces of leather, hides, and stones, and from the ‘chests of men’ (who had memorized verses).” The Qur’an thus compiled contains more than 6,200 verses, arranged in 114 suras of unequal length. The shortest has three verses (sura 108); the longest, 286 (sura 2). While some Muslims believe Muhammad had instructed his followers on the placement of verses, others believe this was a later decision. Probably both happened to varying degrees.

Qur’an’s Divergent Interpretations

The Challenge Muslims Face

Since Qur’anic verses indicate neither context nor chronology of revelations, some Muslims freely pick whichever guidance and/or hadith supports their agenda at any time, ignoring other guidance suggesting the opposite. The consequence of this pick-and-choose approach is exemplified by the following divergent writings on terrorism, all quoting verses from the Qur’an: (1) press releases from the Fiqh (Islamic law) Council of North America and Islamic Society of North America (both dated July 25, 2005) condemning terrorism, labeling suicide bombers as criminals/murderers, and promoting Islam as a “Religion of Peace;” and (2) an article by Saudi Arabia’s former chief justice Sheikh Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Humaid inciting Muslims to constantly fight unbelievers and projecting Islam as a “Religion of War.” Reading this 19-page article (included in the book Interpretation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur’ân in the English Language by Al-Hilali and Khan [Riyadh: Darussalam Publishers, 1996], suicide bombers shine as martyrs.

Unfortunately, the Qur’an is not arranged chronologically. For example, guidance permitting Muslims to eat with and marry “People of the Book” (Jews and Christians) is followed 46 verses later—in the same sura—by guidance prohibiting Muslims from trusting them. While this gives the impression that initially Muslims could trust Jews and Christians but were later advised against this, actually the opposite hap-

The extremists’ puritanical vendetta against other Muslims may also be gauged from the following five headlines in the newspaper Dawn (Karachi) during April through September 2007, mostly involving Lal Masjid, a pro-Taliban group in Pakistan: “Lal Masjid Threatens Suicide Attacks”; “Anti-polio Campaign Thwarted by Clerics”; “Woman and Three Men Publicly Executed”; “Lal Masjid Fatwa Against Magazine”; and “Women Beheaded for ‘Immoral Activities’” (April 7 and 27, June 5 and 17, and September 8, respectively).

While thoroughly confusing messages when taken as “snapshots” frozen in time, these “mixed signals” in the Qur’an represent an evolution in the divine message Muhammad received over the 23 years of his prophethood (610-632 C.E.). While guidance on spiritual matters remained unchanged, that on temporal matters evolved after he fled from Mecca (622 C.E.) and was welcomed as head of state in Medina. Responding to fluctuating sociopolitical developments, these verses guided Muhammad on how to respond to threat: with equal force, or with diplomacy and compassion.

22 // FAITH

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ISLAM RELIGION OF PEACE? That extremists have little following worldwide may be gauged from the absolute routing of orthodox Muslim parties in Pakistan’s 2008 elections. While they had won 20 percent of the seats in Pakistan’s National Assembly in 2002 and formed governments in the two provinces bordering Afghanistan and Iran, they won less than 5 percent of the seats in 2008 and also did poorly in these two provinces. In fact, the 2002 results probably represented a “protest vote” against the U.S.A.’s massive bombing in adjacent Afghanistan. Similarly, the 2008 results clearly showed people’s protest against extremism. Undeterred by their increasing unpopularity, however—but having more faith in bullet than ballot—extremists march on, destination unknown. Hidden within Qur’anic passages we also find an antidote for extremists’ blind use of selected Qur’anic verses. This is in the form of another Qur’anic verse: None of our Revelations do we abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something similar or better (Qur’an 2:106). Thus, earlier Qur’anic guidance on any subject stands abrogated by later guidance. “War verses,” revealed to guide Muhammad in earlier years, when enemies were out to throttle his fledgling religion, should be considered replaced by “peace verses, ” revealed later when Islam had spread throughout Arabia and he no longer faced danger. So, while Muslims continue to recite Qur’an’s “war verses, ” they should only follow its “peace verses” . This would be similar to our reading of the U.S. Constitution. The original U.S. Constitution set the value of non-free men and women at 3/5 the value of free individuals. And while the abolition of slavery in 1865 repealed this, the original Constitution, preserved in the U.S. Archives, will forever carry that proclamation.

Demystifying Islam as a Religion of War Since “sensationalism sells news,” the voice of majority Muslims—moderate and self-respecting humans—gets drowned by the “noise” of extremists. For example, majority Muslims were saddened by the 2001 destruction of Buddha’s statues by the Taliban in Afghanistan and by the emotional and violent outburst of some Muslims protesting publication of Muhammad’s unfavorable caricatures by some European newspapers in 2005. While the media prominently covered both these reactive events, it largely ignored the press releases of Muslim organizations expressing dismay at both above-mentioned reactive Muslim actions. Perhaps the media—and publications like Liberty—can help bring to the world’s attention the voice of “Muslim majority protest”? And while at it, the media might also consider investigating the following questions: (1) To what extent do Sheikh Abdullah’s thoughts reflect the official Saudi position? (2) Should Muslims who unquestioningly follow Qur’an’s “war verses” be permitted to live in or visit countries where such violence is prohibited? (3) Why don’t we hear of extremist leaders killing themselves in suicide missions? Why are their followers so “expendable,” while they decline to sacrifice themselves for a cause? The bottom line: Yes, Islam can be, and in practice usually is, a religion of peace; but we cannot say the same for all its followers.

Dr. Saleem Ahmed writes from Honolulu, Hawaii. He is the author of Beyond Veil and Holy War: Islamic Teachings and Muslim Practices with Biblical Comparisons (Moving Pen Publishers, 2002). A second book on Islam—Islam: A Religion of Peace?—is due out early 2009.

24 // LIFESTYLE

10 Ways To Improve Credit Score by John Casement

any of us could stand to do some cleaning up with our credit. However, all too often we think there is not that much we can do. Actually, we have quite a bit of power when it comes to improving our credit scores. Here are ten simple tips on how you can make a positive impact on your credit score. Chances are that at least one tip on how to repair bad credit will be right for your situation, and will hopefully motivate you to try some other ideas as well.

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“Failing to treat your creditors with respect and meeting your obligations will only lead to a bad credit score.” IDEA # 10 - Get A Better Paying Job. One of the main reasons that a credit score goes down is because you simply owe too much money when compared to your annual income. One of the best ways to start correcting that situation is to find a job that will allow you to realize more income during the upcoming year. Assuming that your level of indebtedness does not increase, your credit rating will improve, even if you don’t make any changes in your spending habits. IDEA # 9 - Make More Than The Minimum Payment. As your credit balances go up, it becomes harder to make more than minimum payments on your credit card accounts. At the same time, your credit rating will go down a few points, even if you are consistently making those minimum payments. In order to bolster your credit rating, always pay more than the minimum amount, even if it is only a few dollars. IDEA # 8 - Curb Your Credit Card Spending. Along with paying more than the minimum amount each month, cut back on how much you use the cards. Chances are this will mean having to cut back on entertainment and eating out, but those are things that most of us could stand to do anyway. Start out by setting a maximum amount that you will allow yourself to charge each week. Calculate this amount by taking the most recent calendar month, adding up all the credit card charges you made, and divide that amount by two. That will be your monthly allotment for credit card purchases. Divide by four and you will have your maximum amount of charging for the week. Do not carry over an unused amount from one week to the next, or you will defeat the whole point of the exercise. IDEA # 6 - Separate Needs From Wants. Many people use credit cards to pay for essentials like groceries or gasoline. That is fine, as long as those expenses are paid in full each month. For the rest of your charges, learn to ask yourself if you really need what you are about to purchase on credit. If you do not need it, but still want it a great deal, ask yourself if you will still want it as much next week or next month. If you cannot honestly say yes, put it back on the shelf and move on.

IDEA # 5 - Get A Copy Of Your Credit Report. So many people don’t get around to doing this. There is a good chance that something on your credit report is not right and is negatively impacting your credit score. If you don’t get the report, you won’t know about it until you are turned down for something you really need. IDEA # 4 - Get A Copy Of Your Credit Report From All Three Main Bureaus. Even people who do get one credit report each year often don’t get a copy of their credit report and score from each of the three main agencies. It is very possible that there are line items on one report that are not on the others. Looking at one credit report is not enough; get a copy from each bureau and go over it in detail. IDEA # 3 - Correct False Information. If there is anything on any of the three credit reports that are not correct, report it immediately and take the necessary steps to have the information updated. One bad note can knock you out of getting the best mortgage rate, or getting a car loan with the best terms. IDEA #2 - Pay Off Credit Card Balances At Every Opportunity. Keeping low balances will help to make you more attractive when you need to make a major purchase on credit. If your income is obviously tied up in making a series of payments to ten different credit cards, your chances for getting what you need are much better. IDEA # 1 - Respect Your Credit. The simple fact is that credit is a privilege, not a right. Creditors are not obligated to extend credit to you, and it can be revoked if you choose to abuse it. Failing to treat your creditors with respect and meeting your obligations will only lead to a bad credit score. Limit the amount of credit you use, pay off all accounts in a timely manner, and always remember to be grateful for the credit you have been granted. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/10-ways-to-improve-credit-score-308364.html

26 // LIFESTYLE

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DS FOR A E E N Y D O B R FOODS YOU

U O Y R E I H T HEAL

and supplements ducers of diet programs pro us rio va by de ma foods that aid in any recent claims er if there are specific nd wo to c bli pu ral ne the simple truth are leading the ge many of these claims, on t ou ll sti is y jur the ely replace less weight loss. While for you, should absolut od go is ds foo of list t an extra bonus is that the following diet process, that is jus the up ds ee sp o als and if it healthy food choices, ight loss goals! we ur yo to on the path

s Studies have + High Fiber Foods no-brainer. Foods high in dietary fiber will speed up ssthecawelorighiest los d an a ce ex is one is actually help to quickly expel the y aid in digestion and the realized by adding e indicated Th be us l ca wil Be . als ss go ce s pro nt of weight los s me ve hie ac er ick qu ads and pastas and lot fat from the body, such as whole grain bre ns o tio als lec se ich ke wh a Ma tor t. te fac e that more fiber to your die , to aid in the roughag les with the skins still on tab ge ve d an its fru raw of with added promotes digestion. Not pear before each meal. lemon zest, + Pears ight loss program guides will recommend eating a de ars pe t bu e, ed abov Many we e process, as scrib tiv es dig the pre for o od als d go beforehan fiber content g a pear with the skin specifically, onalslyo iskicthe tin Ea . ss all ce in pro nta c co oli t no k start the metab wn to a meal that may hungry when you sit do too g lin fee m fro u yo also show an vehents althy components. improvement + Lean Protein shown. Be sure tabolism, studies have me ve pro im l wil t die the in metabolism. urces of lean protein in unteract the increase co t no in heart So es do nt nte co the fat on, low-fat dairy the source is lean, so key breast, tuna, salm tur or en ick ch are n tei od sources of lean pro s. health and Go tel lin d an s an be products, circulation. ight. At the d Herbal Tea

+ Green an

in losing we and herbal teas will aid en gre ke t tha f lie be ing t levels in these teas ma It is a long stand ted with the antioxidan cia t so tha as fits ted ne ica be ind h ve alt dies ha very least, the he prove overall health. Stu im d to e an h oic alt ch he e art rag he ve in it an excellent be show an improvement zest, specifically, also suppressant and tite pe ap a as t tea with added lemon ac tea may also the in nt nte co ine ffe e the urge to eat out of circulation. The ca sipping hot tea will reliev t tha d ve lie be o als is psychologically, it boredom.

promote healthy cell to aid in digestion and ter wa of nty ple nk dri mote weight loss to As always, be sure to foods that claim to pro er oth ny ma are re immediate weight regeneration. While the may contribute to some list e ov ab the dy, bo ll health goals. specific parts of the ive influence on overa sit po a be y inl rta ce l loss progress and wil

+ Water

28 // LIFESTYLE

CHOOSING

THE

BEST COLLEGE

By FAS/Guest Contributor

icking a college is one of the more important life and career choices you can make. Your choice of college lays the groundwork for your path in life and depending on your college and program of choosing doors may either be opened or closed for you. Regardless of field, college selection is important but theatre presents unique challenge. In engineering or liberal arts based education your experience can largely be influenced the texts you study from and the work you put in personally. As such, even if you go to a second or third-rate school but work really hard you can still get a really good educate and excel in your field. If your field of study is theatre though it is very important to choose the best theatre college for you. As a theatre student the instructors and your fellow classmates will largely influence your quality of education.

The next tip is to be selective with your theatre choice but realize that there is no such thing as the best theatre college in the world. There are many world-class theatre colleges but no one can claim to be the best. Instead, it is your responsibility as a theatre student to choose a theatre school that is best for you unique needs. For instance, if you want to specialize in film, you need to choose a program that has a very strong film program. Therefore, the best theatre college will vary from student to student and so there is only one way to find the one that works for you. Visit prospective schools. Given the importance of your investment in a college education it is vital to get out and visit a few schools. You will want to meet with and talk with students and professors and you will want to sit in on a few classes.

Visit prospective schools. Given the importance of your investment in a college education it is vital to get out and visit a few schools. You will want to meet with and talk with students and professors and you will want to sit in on a few classes. Well, in this article, we will discuss how to choose the best theatre college for you. Are you ready theater student? Let’s begin. Take your time when searching for a suitable institution. After all, you should choose a theatre college that is mentally stimulating and taught by knowledgeable professionals. It means choosing a college that will give you personalized attention and encourage you to apply your “book knowledge” in the theatre. For instance, you don’t just want to learn about the theory of theatre production, you also want a college that will allow you to get involved in a “real live production” which will teach you the “ins and outs” of the theatre. Be selective but realistic.

Try to sit in on practical performance based classes in particular. This will give you an idea of the teaching methodologies and allow you to see a “bird’s eye view” of the college environment and teaching style. Once you get a flavor for the schools under consideration you will be able to make the right choice. In conclusion, choosing a theatre college as a theater student isn’t easy but it is well worth the effort. By taking your time with your search, being selective and realistic and visiting prospective schools, you will find the best one for you and your unique needs. Good luck theater student and may all your dreams come true! For more information on colleges, visit http://studentsmicroblog.com and http://theatrecolleges.com

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Picking a college is one of the more important life and career choices you can make. Your choice of college lays the groundwork for your path in life and depending on your college and program of choosing doors may either be opened or closed for you.

30 // LIFESTYLE

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: 1 0 1 s l l Life Ski teSurvival Roomma

ur own is to and live on yo e m ho om fr away oose your ssible to move , you need to ch po st be lly k ia or nc w na to fi s if you and r this way it’s yourself. It help l roommates. Fo it ra Often, the only m ve m se co u en ev yo fore mate or out specifics be live with a room d really talk ab an lly fu s. re ce ca roommates estyle preferen have similar lif es at m om ommate assign ro ur yo e of arbitrary ro ng le al ch ee pr th g to experience eck in day, bein n means having eet them on ch te m of or e ge lle tim co of d to ea Going off ul situation. ur roommate ah g to a successf er you know yo tin th bu ri he w nt , co et Y to t. men a long way perience may go d you’ll need to pared for the ex en instantly an pp ha om ld se s you have ship t best friend. If mind that friend an in st ep in ke ur to yo l fu be k It might be help for instance, as ur roommate to the friendship, Don’t expect yo . of e ow ag gr nt to va e ad give yours tim sure not to take ’t mind. best friend, be ur yo ith w your friend won in ow kn u moved yo if en g something, ev r a mutual before borrowin make and hono ly ul tf gh ou th s visiting, er if they such as friend survive togeth n es ca su is le up on e co st t ahead of tim they become Even the odde ent worked ou f issues before em of re ad ag he an lp g he in may in both agreement. Hav ing and music, ns arise can be ow io rr at tu bo , si ng ky ni ic st ea n od, cl to pull out whe study hours, fo tten agreement ri w a g in av H big problems. sts. for everyone your best intere ents that work em ng ra ar e ak lit the bill ont. M what right upfr e service and sp r bl fo ca t ys ge pa to e ho re Nail down w ample, don’t ag penses. For ex ex l ua e to watch TV. ut m tim y ve an u never ha regarding yo e us ca be it paying for g arrangement. and then resent successful livin y an to y ke e ect ar ake sure that ication and resp ommate but m ro un m ur m yo co of n, s tio ed fConsidera mmodate the ne ldn’t have to su le effort to acco rformance shou ab pe k on or as w h. re as y ur cr er yo Make ev hit the books or . Your grades or hen you need to up for yourself w d e an m st ho so ur al u yo yo ve guests in u constantly ha before they fer because yo their roommate ith w e bl ou tr your ving about them with rents they are ha pa lk r ta ei to th rt ll te fo ef ts Often, studen ise make every When issues ar t. ou it k or w even try to ctly. roommate dire sometimes that eferences, but pr le ty es lif r simila lems and ommates have have to be prob t ro no ur yo do s d ce an u en ffer It’s great if yo member that di may help to re It . se ca with them. e g th t on just isn’ to get al ne eo m so e lik ssary to that it isn’t nece

Having an agreement worked out e + ahead of tim on issues such as friends + visiting, , study hours food, cleaning, + borrowing and music, + may help head off issues + before they become big problems.

34 // LIFESTYLE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are always

challenges when you want to do anything in this world, the trick seems to be patience and persistenceâ&#x20AC;?

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n e r d l i h C n e e The Gr .

Once Upon A Time .. by Tobias

boy and girl mysteriousth century where according to legend, a re strange clothing and 12 the to wo Children dates back an unfamiliar language, a “The tale of The Green olpit. The children spoke English, she told the village that they came from Wo of e lag vil sh gli En d rne lea l gir the ly appeared in the en t green beanstalks. Wh refused to eat anything bu ntly lived in twilight.” sta con ple s one of the Greatest mind sunless land where the peo ladesh, Teamed up with e an Album under the ng Ba in s tal spi ho eye t firs eas s) and currently set to rel llion dollars for one of the They’ve raised half a mi ace Prize recipient Professor Muhammad Yunu , ren of this century (Nobel Pe print. Welcome to the world of The Green Child im p ou Gr sic Mu l rsa ive Un e Green Children Bevan better known as Th m To and e nd Su lla Mi Meet in the world. You got Once Upon a Time.... for a long life of success journey, what classm the ing par pre and that a person ing Arts. Take us a bit on y important in molding I believe Education is ver rtney established Liverpool Institute for Perform A is really an amazing place, full of creative and Ca your start at Sir Paul Mc help direct and guide you to this place today? LIP initely very useful and allowed each individual e iev bel u yo itself was def , LIPA is like do rs che tea es/ und the world. The course s working on lots of projects outside the course fingertips. aro all ies ntr cou m fro best part wa ilities at your diverse people cialty. I personally felt the hnicians and excellent fac to focus on his or her spe world with musicians, actors, dancer, sound tec - Tom nt’ ch. a ‘miniature entertainme of this I don’t think I would have learnt as mu age ant adv en m in my very first If I hadn’t tak actually worked with To and ng riti gw son on lot a ek. What I love about used dents had written that we was over the moon! I foc When I got into LIPA I up and listening to the new songs that fellow stu ted in the teaching staff, there was something lec g class! It was great turnin ividual and allows them to grow. This was ref e, belief in a dream comes as standard at LIPA! ind enc the eri s exp ate the ebr cel for it ul is tef A gra LIP h one of them. I am really different to learn from eac - Milla same question for a name for sure everyone asks this I’m ” ren ild Ch een ange, we’d been looking Gr str y he “T ver s e wa nam It g us! stin se ere in the woods probaname cho What an int ll, we really believe the . I think the fact we were We ren m? ild fro Ch e een com Gr it e Th did th Where up wi whilst walking we came some time and one day it! of t ’ par if there were any combly prompted the ‘green of checking online to see we were definitely a ht ug tho we er, lat eks we end about a boy and girl, just went with it. A few It seemed to suit us so we ch to our surprise we discovered a medieval leg nd! fou Mu panies or bands using it. g deeper couldn’t believe all the similarities we du ergic to sunlittle shocked and as we d with no sun, Milla is all Earl of the lan a m fro e com to ed e and claim end was the y appeared outside a cav ple who reported the leg The children mysteriousl older than the boy, as we are and one of the peo olpit where they appeared over 800 years ago, light. The girl was a little Even stranger, when we visited the village of Wo y with curly dark hair. They apparently spoke bo in! castle in town I grew up artists depictions of a girl with blond hair and a ir skin… ed the tur to t fea m tin en seu gre mu a all had sm the e clothing and ang str re wo , age gu lan r maybe the world in an unfamilia in all of this, who knows ng ani me per dee a is re e the if we wanted to! We believ st part all We couldn’t make this up Children, so now we’re back again! - Tom Music Group), For the mo al ers niv een (U Gr rld e wo Th for the in wasn’t ready gest labels signed to one of the big true character? There The Green Children are matter the sacrifice or process. duct that resembles your sometimes it’s hard labels want hit records no en it comes to being creative and producing a pro e, lin ney is on the mo and wh t re jec ssu pro pre big of a lot of a Is there the heart your mind. pressure when you’re at ess world of music is on sin bu is always an element of the and g son at ate a gre ng. The music when you’re trying to cre en’t had to sacrifice anythi m. - Milla hav we far so and ent fer rdo to sta are dif e just for a quick ticket el signed us because we However, I believe the lab and we won’t release anything we don’t really lov is first and foremost to us

he Tale...

36 // LIFESTYLE

The Green Children: Once Upon A Time... Milla, when you decided to start writing for this project, what motivated you? I’ve been writing songs and melodies for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a small town on the west of Norway I have been so inspired by the dramatic nature. Singing is something that has always come naturally to me, as has a vivid imagination. I’ve been dreaming about this project since I was young, I even envisaged a partner who I would work with. My motivation is to create magical, positive and meaningful music for the world! Milla The message and influence of music are enormously effective on today’s generation. It’s everywhere, commercials, TV shows, and now even downloadable ring tones. Its evident that generation X clearly follows mainstream media. What message of influence would The Green Children give this generation? To be yourself, to believe that small things make a difference, to not take yourself to seriously and to celebrate positive stories. We’re still working hard on all these ourselves! Tom, who influenced your life the most and how did they impact your life? There are definitely a lot of people who have influenced me, in many different ways. My parents have always been very supportive of my non-traditional career path! And of course Milla is the really the most important person that I’ve met on my journey, she has definitely made me a much better person. I think when you meet someone special they really bring out the best out in you. Professor Muhammad Yunus is a huge inspiration to me and I’m honored to call him a friend. I have never met anyone so selfless and attentive to everyone he meets. For 30 years he has been helping millions of poor women in Bangladesh with his ‘bank for the poor’, Grameen Bank. He is very unique and something to aspire to. - Tom What do you two do to prepare for this road and journey ahead? How involved are your families? We work very hard! If you have a dream you really have to live it. Both of our families have been very supportive so we are very lucky and grateful for that. It’s one step at a time right now, we are on a interesting path and it always seems to be changing direction, so who knows what is next, we try to trust the universe! - Tom Work, Work Work...boring! Let’s talk Playtime. What do you do for fun? I’m a big nature freak, so any chance to get hiking or active I jump at it! To be honest if we’re not working these days, it’s mostly work related! It’s always nice to relax with some good friends though! – Milla The world is waiting for this new project to arrive, fill in the blanks. You should visit our myspace page to embrace the green child within you! (and listen to some music!). We would make an awesome add to your collection because we will take you somewhere new. The Green Children Rock because we see the future and it’s green! That was fun, Ok back to realilty...Let’s turn the page, Let’s talk Foundation

The Green Side... Tell us about The Green Children Foundation and why it was created? There are so many other foundations in the world, what sets this one apart from the rest? We created our foundation to give positive solutions a bigger voice. As a young boy I’d often watch the early evening news whilst waiting for my television show to start. I remember being shocked and confused by some of the harrowing images of human poverty I saw around the world. So, years later, when Milla and I decided to start a foundation, we knew that we wanted to focus on highlighting positive stories and engaging people, as opposed to making people withdraw from the hopelessness of it all. After searching for the right cause to get behind, we discovered microcredit and it spoke to use immediately. Through very small loans, millions of poor women have helped themselves out of poverty by developing small businesses. After traveling to Bangladesh to visit the ‘bank for the poor’ known as Grameen Bank, we were hooked. Over 7 million women are now borrowers of the bank and have a secure sustainable future! - Tom Speaking of being unique, what changes do you feel the leaders around world need to make when it comes to issues concerning our healthcare and education? At the end of the day we are musicians and not experts on foreign policy. However, I feel it is very important to try and help the poor as directly as possible, so that money is spent efficiently and really impacts their lives. Any effort to make projects sustainable is very important, then they will continue to help the poor in the long term, it’s no good having a great new school open that closes in year because donor money runs out. - Milla Since 2006, The Green Children Foundation has been working with micro credit, education and healthcare in countries like Bangladesh. What has been the biggest challenge that you have faced to date? Well, we have been very lucky to work with Grameen in Bangladesh, who are very experienced and have really been the perfect partner. There are always challenges when you want to do anything in this world, the trick seems to be patience and persistence. Even with all the media outlets, it’s probably harder than ever to get your cause to stand out, that’s why entertainment and music is such a great vehicle. - Tom Let’s talk about the Hospital for a minute. What is the size of the staff and the administration at this hospital? What kind of services do they offer? Is it for anyone or just a select (lottery only) group? The hospital is focused on eye care and performs sight-giving operations for people who have gone blind with cataracts, it’s really quite amazing. The hospital is for everyone, from the very poorest upwards. It is based in rural Bangladesh, so this facility is totally unique to the area. The hospital is doing really well and is working towards serving 50,000 people a year, 10,000 of which will get the simple cataracts operation and restore their sight. It’s also a sustainable model, as everyone pays a little which covers the running costs. There are about 30 people working at the hospital. Prof. Yunus introduced this project to us during our first trip and we thought it was a great thing to support. - Milla

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38 // LIFESTYLE

In poor cities around world, underprivileged children and struggling families are growing. Many homes only have one parent others are having a difficult time financially. Does the Green Children Foundation team up with other foundations to “fill the void” in these big gaps? That is partly the purpose of microfinance in developing countries, to help the poor to generate more income. At the moment, we are not directly supporting any such projects, our foundation is quite small but we are hoping for more outreach in the future. Overpopulation is a massive problem and a hard one to fix. Interestingly, the birth rate in Bangladesh has decreased by half in the last 20 years. When we spoke to the women they were proud to have smaller families, now they were not in poverty their mindset had changed. Extreme poverty creates large families, since children are traditionally supposed to bring income into the family - Milla The Green Children have also expressed interest in the cause to protect nature’s vital resources, tell more about this decision and your plans. Whom have you decided to work with on this? At this stage, we are not entirely sure. We love nature, so it makes sense for us to protect it. We are still looking for the exact cause to get behind and would also like to get involved in the conservation of wildlife. - Tom What are some of the programs offered through the Foundation and what determines a person’s eligibility? The hospital was our first big project, which opened last year and is serving anyone who comes through the door. We have also supported some student scholarships, another Grameen project, the students are the children of the microcredit borrowers. It was incredible to hear them speak English to us, since their parents are totally illiterate. ‘Potential lies within the youth, their shoulder needs a gentle tap, invest in them to find their way, a generation jumps a gap’. We are just starting a project for orphans in Kenya right now, which we also excited about – Tom I would love to be a part of this, what does it take now that The Green Children Foundation has establish this hospital, what are the requirements to be a partner in this? We are always looking for partners, at the end of the day it’s all about teamwork! We are continuously collecting members to help us spread awareness, some donate their talent and some donate a little money. For example a great web designer is currently designing a new MySpace page for our foundation, we are always looking for creative ways for people to get involved. Everyone can be a Green Child! - Milla How has the world embrace The Green Children Foundation and its efforts to make an impact on 3rd world countries? What kind of support does the governments of those countries give when it comes to working with the foundation and it’s events? People have in general been very supportive, our foundation is about helping people and organizations with great projects, so to be fair we do not have the hardest job. Grameen is such a respected organization in Bangladesh, Prof. Yunus is the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and the country is very proud of that. We have not personally have any direct support from Governments, but what we’re doing is relatively small at this stage. - Tom

What other special events have The Green Children Foundation planned for this year and whom do you contact for more info? A second hospital will open in Bangladesh this year, which we raised some funds towards. As I mentioned earlier, we are launching a new orphans project in Kenya. It’s always been a dream of ours to support children with no parents, by supporting orphans we are supporting those who have the least and cannot currently help themselves. Please visit our foundation website at www.thegreenchildren.org to keep updated or contact us. - Milla For someone looking to donate financial contributions to this great cause where can they do this and can anyone donate time if money is not an option for them? Yes, of course if people don’t have money there are lots of ways they can help. We have a whole list on our website and are always looking for more creative ideas. We don’t have an overseas volunteer program right now but can offer advice if people are looking for a real hands on experience. People can donate money online through our website, or by check (address on website). Because we are a small foundation we do not have administrative costs, which means unlike most non-profits, 100% of our donations go directly to the cause. Its Official Green is the new color and definition of Success! Thank you Milla and Tom for giving your hearts and minds to creating a “better” place for others. The Grass is always Greener at the home of the Green Children. Thee End.

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CREATE THE BRAND BUILD THE BRAND EXPERIENCE THE BRAND FEEL THE BRAND BECOME THE BRAND

The Brand LLC was established to create, enhance and preserve the image of unique companies, entertainers, and products. What’s in a name? The signature mark of a company begins with branding to create a reputable name that will be impactful and impressionable. The Brand LLC strives to facilitate the marketing and branding needs of our clients in effort to make their image strong enough to out shine competition .We are a results-driven company dedicated to providing unique opportunities to successfully market and promote our clients. The Brand LLC is true to service, quality and professionalism creating lasting relationships with consumers, fans, and corporate connections. inquiries: thebrandllc@gmail.com

THE BRAND LLC BRANDING • MARKETING • PUBLIC RELATIONS

40 // LIFESTYLE

fresh

FAMOUS fly:101 hosted by SICKAMORE

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With his ear and sights on what’s hot in young America, Sickamore, a tastemaker and rousing figure for his generation, is insistent on making those who deserve to be famous, famous. Fresh, Famous and Fly: 101 is where you will find his tips and picks on the latest gear, gadgets and fashion directly affecting you - the young professionals and aspiring moguls.

GADGETS

Everyone is into the latest technology and mobile devices to make their lives easier and to stay up on the current happenings. Here are the 7 Hottest Gadgets that you here in conversation around the world.

+ FlipCam + Perspex Chanel Briefcase + iPod Mini Nano + TweetGenius + Google Latitude + Kindle + Blackberry Pearl Flip

SWAGGER

The big craze and term that is everywhere is the word Swagger. Not everyone has swagger or should I say, “can express swagger” properly, Swagger is not what you wear but how you carry yourself more of a persona. It’s the new word for fly, fresh, or hip etc... Again not everyone has Swagger. Here’s my list of Swagger hits and misses

HIT + Nice Watch + Quiet Confidence + No Logos + Clean Sneakers + Aviators MISS + G Shock Watch + Bragging about anything + All White Air Force Ones Low + “Arab” Scarfs + You use the word swag

ABOUT SICKAMORE: Always captivating and commanding, music industry veteran Sickamore, a tastemaker and rousing figure for his generation, is insistent on making those who deserve to be famous, famous. It began in 2001 with the development of custom mixtapes that lead to international success and relationships with the entertainment industry’s elite. From there Sickamore went on to become Executive A&R of Fort Knocks and then later Director of A&R at Atlantic Records, with an unrivaled gift for undiscovered talent, Sickamore flourished. However, after losing faith in the major label system, Sickamore left Atlantic, armed with the respect of the industries power players and a vision; he began focusing his attention on his own company, The Famous Firm, which specializes in talent development and representation. Along with The Famous Firm, Sickamore has Thank God I’m Famous and I Can Make You Famous Services. A pioneer who is building an empire that didn’t even exist, until a few years ago, in a room full of titans of industry, he towers above all.

44 // CULTURE

ALLABOUT BUSINESS

TIES

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n the corporate world, wearing a tie means business. Business ties symbolize a kind of professionalism the industry needs. Aside from that business ties also add style to a plain wardrobe and also serve as a piece of reminder that one should not get too comfortable in the working place- wearing business ties can sometime be very uncomfortable.

Not a wearing a tie, however, does not at all mean you are not professional. Some well known big bosses can get away without wearing business ties. Russell Simmons and Larry Ellison do not wear business ties because both of them are already established and well respected that they do not need a business tie to show it. They themselves already epitomize professionalism that wearing a business tie would seem redundant. If you are in college or if you just recently graduated, you will need the following tips to make sure you are getting the perfect business ties suited to your style and personality.

COLORS Most people do not know which colors make them look good. If you do not know the color that is perfect for you, take some time to think about the different compliments you have received when you are wearing a specific color. Remember that, just because your favorite color is green, does not mean you look good in it. Choose colors of business ties that will bring out the good looking in you.

FIT & CUT It is sad that not enough attention is being diverted to fit and cut. When your business ties fit well, your body will look good, making you feel better about yourself. Make sure that your business ties fit you well and make sure its length is just right for you.

MATCHING & COMPLEMENTING Never wear business ties that do not match your top. Remember the rule of thumb, which is to wear dark and light colors together to help each other become visible. Do not wear business ties that have almost similar tones as your top. This will make you look funny. Make sure you wear a top and a tie that complement each other.

PATTERNS If you want to choose business ties that have patterned designs, make sure that you match them up with solid colors. Doing so will lessen dizziness and will make your whole outfit look more appealing and pleasing to the eye. Also remember that if you have a wide body frame you may want to stay away from horizontal lines that can make you look bigger. These are just some tips you should follow when wearing business ties. Hopefully, these tips can make you look more professional and even more dedicated to the kind of job you are doing.

46 // CULTURE

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WALT HARRIS // faith and football Hey, Walt, thank you for this opportunity. It’s always good to hear from an athlete who believes and demonstrates good morals and values. Your parents must be proud of you as a man and a professional athlete, Who encouraged you throughout your career from college to the NFL? I was given great support by my mom and family. From transportation to emotional support my family and a few friends played major roles. Many young men have dreams of being a professional athlete because they see the money, endorsements, fame, and party-life and too many times most of them wouldn’t’ make the cut. What is your advice to them and what should be the main focus? My advice to anyone with big dreams is to keep dreaming but reevaluate the purpose behind the dream. Many times those who accomplish the dream ultimately find themselves alone and empty because the purpose (money, endorsements, fame, etc..) has no real substance but is really an internal issue that never has been dealt with.

“anyone with big dreams should keep dreaming, but reevaluate the purpose behind the dream.” Walt Harris You are in your 13th Career year as a Cornerback with the San Francisco 49ers, outstanding showmanship and career in the NFL (from the Bears, Colts, Redskins to now 49ers, a big part of the Community (programs for the youth), what keeps you focused on what is important? The #1 thing is my faith in God. It never fails me whenever im dealing with certain issues in life that reading his Word causes me to refocus and put life back in perspective. What do you feel has changed since you got in the league? Football is still football. The #1 sport in World. The big change is just the faces and the level of skill that rookies has nowadays coming into the league compared to when I got in the league. From off season practice to a full season, how do you keep in touch with your family and your children’s day to day? Well that’s exactly how I do it... day to day. It’s a challenge sometimes with my schedule but mainly I try to create my environment when I’m not working to be with them. My wife is mainly the home colonel that manages all the day to day. She makes it easy for me. What book(s) would you recommend for young athletes to read that you found to be a great inspiration during your years at college? Although it wasn’t till I entered the NFL when I began to read often but the Bible has to be first and foremost. But there are tons of books out there authored by great leaders such as pastors and businessmen that

would have carried me during my college years. I would just encourage young athletes to just read as often as possible. In your years with the Chicago Bears you worked up with teammates on the Donation program “Corner to Corner” to help the Boys and Girls club also the Meals on Wheels program to “Intercept Hunger”. What are some of the programs you are involved with now? Although I support many programs such as United Way, Garth Brooks Foundation, many church programs I’m really focusing on my Foundation: Walts’ World Inc. in which I’m really excited about it and the potential it has to really help kids at risk and create programs that support the community in various ways. What can parents do when they find out that their son or daughter wants to play professional sports? Is there a program, website or some advise for them? I have two daughters and a son that are very athletic. One of my daughters loves tennis and the other two loves to run. There is so much information and opportunity out nowadays on the internet for parents if they have interested youth. Get them involved in school sports if the school has it. I’m sure there are a ton of programs in the community such as camps to develop and maximize your child’s full potential. Get them involved and support them. When they are older and if they are good enough teams will find them. From a political viewpoint, When Barack Obama became president what did that mean to you? And do you have any advice for our current president? As we all know or should know, the accomplishment of President Obama is historical and has shown just how far we have come as a nation of people. It shows us that deep down we really want and have the ability by looking past our own perception and biased opinions to embrace different even if its looks that way. To me it meant we grew as a people.

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the

AMBASSADORS This section introduces you to New Artist, Music, Authors, Ministries, Producers etc..

Ye are the salt of the earth Matthew 5:13

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BUILDING 429 against all odds photo and bio courtesy of building 429

very building block leading up to who Building 429 is today has prepared them for such a time as this. The many valleys and mountaintops they’ve faced together have molded them-breaking them, making them, and priming them for what looks to be their most rewarding period yet. “Everybody at some point reaches a defining moment in their faith life, a moment with massive questions that we don’t have the answers to, questions you can’t ever really tie a bow around,” Roy says. “‘Always’ is my attempt to answer those questions. God has said that He is before us, He is after us, and He will be with us along every step of the way. All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord. This life is just one piece of the puzzle.” In a way, Building 429 acts as a culmination and a beginning for the trio, a stepping stone in a faith journey through the highs and lows of life on the road and the busyness of music, to a place of solace and contentment in who God wants them to be. “This record feels like the beginning of a new season in our career,” says Jason Roy, Building 429’s front man and chief songwriter. “Having recently departed from Word Records, it felt like we are starting everything over for the first time. You don’t always get that opportunity, so it felt like this was the time to do a self-titled record. We understand a little bit more about who we are and what we’re trying to do.” If anything, Building 429’s eponymous INO Records debut is a testament that the band is ready to go to the next level-spiritually, musically, and otherwise. You could say they’re starting over: with a clean slate, a reinvigorated sound, and a renewed message.

http://www.myspace.com/building429

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JAPHIA LIFE on fire for the gospel photo and bio courtesy of japhia life

Not many artists can say that they may become responsible for sparking the next phase in the evolution of an entire genre. If things continue to transpire the way that they are Japhia Life may be that very artist. Born and raised in Philly by his father a bible teacher, and his mother a gospel singer and pianist. By age fifteen Japhia found himself headed down the wrong path, and eventually sitting in a dope house focused on living out his street dreams. Eventualy Japhia realized that his ability as an emcee could provide the escape from the trappings of his environment that he so desperately needed. In 2001 he inked a deal with a Los Angels based indie hip hop label called Ready Rock Records, and released (Pages of Life) which was compared to (Illmatic & Reasonable Doubt), and hailed a hip hop classic in the underground hip hop market.

Weaving creativity with heartfelt lyricism has proven to become an explosive combination in terms of his fan base. He was recently featured in an article in (URB Magazine) that starts off by mentioning him as being the heartfelt voice that will be heard by this generation, and the future of Hip Hop. “It’s humbling to be named among the next generation of artists. But I’m really just trying to convey a message and impact this generation.” He has been generating a firestorm of interest, making his own lane and using the Internet to brand himself as an artist by releasing mixtapes which contain all original material and production by Hip Hop notables, as well as launching his blog “Everyday D r o p o f f ” , ( w w w. e v e r y d a y dropoff.blogspot.com). He is currently in the process of working on his highly anticipated album “Westside Pharmacy”, writing a novel, and setting up domestic and international tours. “I remember a time in my life when I thought I may not make it to see 18, so for me to leave my city, and go around the country and over seas, and see the response is mind blowing. I know that God has a purpose for my life, and that I’m in this industry for a reason.”

http://www.myspace.com/japhialife

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BROOKE BARRETTSMITH dedicated to the cause photo and bio courtesy of brookr barrettsmith

t only 26, new Essential artist Brooke Barrettsmith has discovered a wisdom that eludes many twice her age. This is a young woman who is completely comfortable in her own skin and thoroughly certain of the career path she’s chosen in Christian music. Whether performing onstage, writing songs in her suburban Chicago home, speaking to teen and college women at regional conferences, or studying online for her Moody Bible College exams, Brooke is unquestionably living her life for a greater purpose. Just ask her why she’s tackling higher education in the midst of a heavy touring schedule: “it’s always been a dream of mine to go to Moody since my dad went there. I’ve always been interested in having a deeper knowledge of the Bible and the fundamentals of what we believe. I want to be accountable to have answers and to know as much about Jesus and my faith as I can know. I’m doing it honestly for personal enrichment. I want to know Jesus more, and I want to represent Him well.” That calling is now being fulfilled in a number of arenas, including her work as a youth group leader at her home church and her frequent appearances as a guest speaker at Unlimited Hope Women’s Conferences. Of course, her focus at the moment is on communicating the messages of faith and encouragement that are threaded throughout the songs on her debut CD.

http://www.myspace.com/brookebarrettsmith

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ADDISON ROAD the journey of a lifetime photo and bio courtesy of INO records

ix years, thousands of miles, hundreds of performances at festivals, conferences, camps (and everywhere in between) and three impressive independent recordings later, Addison Road has renewed its mission and found its voice. Produced by Chris Stevens (TobyMac, Sanctus Real, Mandisa), Addison Road is the culmination of the band’s mission to inspire people from all walks of life to find their hope, their identity in God, to be changed by His grace and to extend that grace to a world in need. More than a year in the making, the band’s INO Records debut is fueled by a passion that comes from finally getting to the heart of the matter. Finally knowing what they want to say. “Whether we’re playing at a conference or a camp, we want to be in relationship before, during and after the fact, in the pool with the kids, in prayer groups, having Oreos with the kids in the cabins, sharing with the staff at night” Jenny adds. “We’re there to love on people. We’re not just musicians and singers with a platform, we’re humans, and we look at what we do as a process of going through life together.” Addison Road’s self-titled INO Records debut is proof enough that great things happen when people put their heads and hearts together toward a common creative goal. In music and in community-online or on the road-Addison Road takes that call to action seriously, as enthusiastic supporters of Village of Hope in Uganda, a ministry to women and children ravaged by poverty and AIDs. Through Mocha Club, the band raises funds and awareness for this ministry. “We’ve always believed that living beyond ourselves is essential. One of the first things we did, as a band was look for an organization that we could get behind as part of our mission, to use what small influence we might have to encourage others to reach out, Ó Ryan Simmons says. Addison Road hopes to travel to Uganda in the near future to experience Village of Hope community in real time.

http://www.myspace.com/addisonroad

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SEVENTH DAY SLUMBER rock solid victory

photo and bio courtesy of seventh day slumber

eventh Day Slumber has continuously raised the bar of alternative rock excellence coupled with an unabashed gospel message. It’s a tightly wound dynamic that’s not only seen the band’s last two albums land on the Billboard Heatseekers charts (at 33 and 10 respectively), plus a string of Top 10 singles (including the smashes “Caroline” and “Oceans From the Rain”), but it’s also quite literally saved lives. As the group prepares to release the worshipful Take Everything, the story of front man Joseph Rojas’ delivery from depression and a $400 per day cocaine addiction has already been well circulated. But many might not be aware of the fact that his previously estranged father came to Christ as a result of a recent Seventh Day Slumber concert. More than being merely an anecdote, the experience was one of the many catalysts behind Take Everything, which finds the group specifically centering its content around a praise motif, but in a remarkably unexpected way. Instead of merely copying the current cuts on Christian radio and cranking out a few cliché-drenched copycats, the project puts a fresh coat of paint on familiar favorites, enriched by three original cuts that find Rojas and company at their most spiritually vulnerable and intimate. “We wanted to make these songs more appealing to some of the youth and teenagers out there,” he says of staples like “How Great Is Our God,” “I Can Only Imagine,” “Famous One” and “Nothing But the Blood.” “They’re all really amazing songs and are obviously known by millions of people, but we wanted to record them in way that wasn’t wrapped around the traditional arrangements. We wanted people who wouldn’t normally listen to worship music to hear it in a way that’s relevant to them, taking the same lyrics and basically the same melodies, but putting a completely different spin on them.” These songs let them know that there’s more to life than toys and they also let me know there’s more than my own situations and problems. He’s the ultimate source of our souls finding hope and rest, which after seeing it happen firsthand with my own life and now my father’s faith walk makes me even more excited to sing these songs than ever before.”

http://www.myspace.com/7thdayslumber

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FM STATIC walking in faith photo and bio courtesy of fm static

What’s the difference between FM Static and Thousand Foot Krutch? Singer-songwriter Trevor McNevan and drummer Steve Augustine lead both bands, but the former is a side project to the latter. In fact, the public has shown center-stage love for each act’s efforts. More than anything, having two names makes it easier to take some fun creative chances. Like pursuing the idea for a concept album where every lyric is the innermost thought of a soul-searching teenager. “This is the first concept album I’ve worked on, and it was a ton of fun,” says McNevan, who has also penned hits for tobyMac and Hawk Nelson. “It felt theatrical from the start. I imagined this high school boy, new in town, writing through life’s big questions about faith and fitting in as he grows up toward college. He’s also falling in love for the first time with a girl from across the street and dealing with how crazy that can be. It’s been a while since I was in high school, but I’m still enthralled with all of those politics.” No doubt FM Static listeners—by and large a student audience—will also be enthralled with the spot-on relatable happenings and character confessions of Dear Diary, a project whose special story can only be unlocked as it happens, from song one to song ten.

http://www.myspace.com/fmstatic

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SALVADOR total surrender photo and bio courtesy of salvador

ard work. Two words fans don’t usually associated with contemporary Christian music. After all, artists are supposed to step on the stage and deliver a performance that is effortless, seamless, and spontaneous - not to mention spiritually significant. But the truth is nothing good happens by accident. Good happens when talented musicians work hard. Great happens when that hard work is combined with dedication, determination, focused attention to detail, and a conscious decision to deflect the credit from themselves to their Creator. For Nashville-based jam band, Salvador, great music was incubated in the blistering Texas sun, birthed on the road for umpteen days a year, and nurtured by an unwavering commitment to the collective creative process. The eleven songs on their sixth studio album, Aware, amply demonstrate the virtue of the American work ethic in producing fresh expressions of worship that are at once culturally relevant, original, and actually sound effortless, seamless, spontaneous. Yet, this time around Nic Gonzales, the band’s frontman and primary songwriter, discovered Great required more than ever before. "I have always depended on working hard and being diligent when it was time to get to work,” Nic explains. “My Dad was a ‘roll up your sleeves’ kind of guy. That is the heritage I come from. That was the approach I took for our first five records. But for Aware, I think God really stepped into my life in a different way. This time I leaned so much more on Christ. I had a new wife and we were getting ready to have a new baby. I didn’t have 20 hours a day to just be alone and write.” “My writing time had been split; not in half, not in a quarter; but down to an eighth of the time I usually have to write. I didn’t know what to do. My Mom used to tell me, ‘If you give God His time, He will give you extra time.’ I know that is Biblical, but I had never seen it in action like this before,” Nic continues. Rather than shifting into writer mode, Nic sat quietly in his studio staring at a blank sheet of paper, listening to the hiss of the speakers in the background. “I remember thinking, ‘If I approach this the same way I’m going to get the same results, and I don’t want that.’ It was in the silence that I realized what was missing in my results-oriented drivenness. I was missing being quiet. I missed allowing God to be who He is in me.”

http://www.myspace.com/salvadorofficial