utamaduni-blog

New face model spotlight

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:23:02 +0100

Ty Ogunkoya is a rising male model.

Source : The Fashion Spot Forum

Photoshoot : LIGHT FANTASTIC

Photographer : Alexander Sainsbury

Fashion editor : Toby Grimditch

Hair : Hiroshi Matsushi-ta

Makeup : Harsha Chavda using MAC Pro

Fashion assistant : Callum Hawsworth

Model : Ty O

Androgyny , I think this guy is getting booked coz he can wear both men and Womens wear

beautiful..... not fair this guy is prettier than me

With a body like that..........

There u have it folks!!!! Ty all the best in your career , I have a feeling we will be seeing alot of you

Credits: blacksupermodelschronicals
Photos: Light fantastic

Here comes the Bride

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:58:12 +0100

Vera Wangs Banging new line

I love that she didnt do it in white, I love Bold brides who choose to wear color

I-Mean, this makes me want to......nah smacked my self back to my senses ....LOL

This Versace line up is exactly how your brides maids should look.

Heels and socks trend

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:06:12 +0100

Me and Ciiku have been waiting for this trend for EVER!!!!!!

Verdict: AWESOMENESS

Credits: Shoeblog

The fashion gods must be crazy

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:16:51 +0100

Designers are inspired by different things, sex drugs and rock and roll most of the time.

These pants look like those beaded room dividers that act as curtains...its not that they're see through, they just don't look good

honey, please tell me my ass looks fat in this :) LOL

I call this the "everything but the kitchen sink" dress I can already see where my kitchen knives would fit

Yes people these pants are made with pearls, talk about some major thigh grazers....ouch

Anonymous vs Church of scientology war

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:08:48 +0100

I first heard of Anonymous when they virtually shut down government websites in Australia see more here. This was too much fun I had to share

Anonymous, the internet-based group that has waged sporadic wars on Scientology over the last two years, has released a new letter. Prompted, apparently, by the fawning Today Show piece on Scientologists in Haiti they intend to act.

The group, given to wearing V for Vendetta Guy Fawkes masks, and pictured above during widely publized protests against the church in 2008, released this message.

Hello [audience]. We are Anonymous.
We wish it it were under more favorable circumstances that we have chosen to address the world. However, after the demonstrably inaccurate interpretation handling of the victims of the Haiti earthquake as per the work of the Scientology 'Volunteer' Ministers, Anonymous could not remain silent.

The Volunteer Ministers are volunteers only in name. Their self-proclaimed humanitarian efforts have been shown to be harmful and self-serving time and time again. In the wake of the September Eleventh attacks at the World Trade Center, they impeded the work of the New York City Fire Department, and falsely claimed to have been given a reward for their efforts. These efforts involved little more than handing out pamphlets for the works of L. Ron Hubbard, while intentionally hindering the work of mental health professionals aiding the victims.

This same pattern of self-promotion at the expense of victims of disasters does not end there. Following the tsunami at Sri Lanka, the Volunteer Ministers attempted to convert the vulnerable and suffering victims into their cult, promising them aid and salvation at the expense of their livelihood***. These actions were repeated following the terrorist attack at the Ramada Inn in India*** and the Subway bombings in London, England.

In short: Scientology does not see a disaster as a tragedy, but rather, as a business opportunity.

First-hand accounts, condemnations from legitimate aid groups, and even leaked documents from Scientology's corporate heirarchy itself, all confirm the cowardly and parasitic nature of the self-proclaimed Volunteer Ministers.

The very same self-serving, opportunistic proselytizing has been taking place in Haiti. Scientology has taken every opportunity to release their own manufactured press releases, taking credit for the work of legitimate relief groups. They arrived completely unprepared, and were told to leave by the United States military.

An untrained Scientologist was alleged to be assisting a surgeon, using tools that had not been sterilized. This is blatant medical malpractice. John Travolta has also left several trained medical professionals behind at an airport, instead making it his priority to bring untrained Scientologists into the country with the sole intent of disseminating L. Ron Hubbard materials to an already vulnerable and suffering population.

Know this, Scientology: We are watching you. With every move you make, every victim you exploit, and every piece of choreographed propaganda you release into the mainstream media, the public already knows the truth about your organization. You are not fooling anyone, and no amount of proselytizing will change this. You have already been convicted in the court of public opinion. It is now only a matter of time before you are convicted in a court of law.

We are Anonymous.

We are Legion.

We do not forgive.

We do not forget.

Expect us.

Historical origins

ANON

The Myth Behind The Legend

Few literary puzzles have inspired such universal apathy as the question: "Who was Anon?" Books of quotations are cluttered with sayings attributed to Anon, and these scraps of truth and wisdom have earned Anon universal recognition and immortality. Innumerable biographies have been written about lesser authors, even authors so obscure that their works are seldom read. But Anon, though widely read and widely quoted, has been accorded only widespread indifference by the literary community.

Anon, the Greek.
(Artist's conception
based on various
unreliable sources.

Even the most astute literary scholar would be perplexed if asked to identify the central themes of Anon's work. If a historian were asked how Anon's work was influenced by the culture and events of his times, he would be at a total loss for a sensible answer.

So complete has been the scholarly neglect of Anon that his name has become a synonym for "unknown." In spite of this, his works have stood the test of time, and he continues to be one of the most often quoted authors. (Ibid may be more frequently cited, but his works were derivative.)

What little we know of Anon's life is of doubtful validity. We have no authentic picture of Anon, nor any first hand description of him by anyone who would admit to having known him. Not one scrap of original manuscript in his own hand has survived the ravages of time. Scholars have given up hope of ever discovering an autobiography of Anon in some dusty attic.

Yet, from the available dearth of evidence, we can piece together a sketch (albeit apocryphal) of this prolific genius. We know that Anon's wisdom appeared very early in history. When references to him are traced backward in time, in the general direction towards the emergence of civilization, they lead us to a blank wall. This suggests that Anon must be placed in historical times so ancient as to predate the emergence of intelligent thought. He was certainly ahead of his time, which may be the reason why none of his contemporaries knew of him.

If that argument seems specious, consider this independent and equally convincing evidence which leads to the same conclusion. Anon's work was considered immortal in all historical ages, and it is generally quite difficult for an author to achieve immortality in his own time.

Perhaps Anon inspired an ancient "school" of thinkers who later traveled far and wide disseminating his ideas. This may be true. Nobody knows. But then, he would, since Nobody knew Anon personally. Indeed, Nobody knew a lot of things which baffled everyone else. But the hypothesis that Nobody was a pupil of Anon is dubious, if true.

The historical problem is compounded by the timeless quality of Anon's work. His wisdom seems too old-fashioned for modern times, yet too advanced for ancient times. Either Anon was in the habit of living in the past, or anticipating the future. If so, it follows that he was probably neglected and unappreciated in his own age, and that could explain a lot.

Leaving these irrelevant questions aside, let us look at Anon's career. It can be divided into three distinct phases: the first, the second, and the third. That leaves only the problem of deciding into which phase to place each of Anon's works. This is especially troublesome for his posthumous works. Since we have no idea when Anon died, it's even a bit difficult to determine which of his works were posthumous.

We might at least hope to extract Anon's philosophy from those fragments of his genius which have trickled down to us through the sieve of history. It is a vain hope. While Anon wrote (or perhaps spoke) on many subjects, he had the infuriating habit of speaking on every side of every question. No consistent pattern emerges, but this is itself consistent with Anon's own observation that "Consistency is the curse of small minds." On yet another occasion he said, "Sticking consistently to any one position sooner or later leads to logical difficulties." Perhaps Anon merely wanted to ensure that all sides of every question be heard. Yet he expressed reservations about this approach, saying, "One who can see both sides of a question doesn't understand the question." Such remarks strongly suggest that Anon may be the true father of the disciplines of logic and philosophy.

To achieve a true appreciation of Anon's work we must first recognize that the inconsistencies and contradictions inherent or implied in his work do, in fact, represent the central, unifying theme of his philosophy.

Anon's fragmentary output has become so diffused throughout many cultures that it is nearly impossible to specify his country of origin. Some have suggested that Anon was German, his full name being Till Anon--a ridiculous notion at best. Another improbable theory has it that Anon was Spanish with a German surname: Anon y' Maus. Or could this be a nickname describing Anon's timidity: "Anon, the mouse"?

One historian even goes so far as to suggest that all of Anon's works are forgeries of recent (19th century) origin, perpetrated by author Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) writing under the pseudonym: E. M. Anon. When this name is read backwards it is seen to be an anagram of the kind Carroll loved to devise. This outrageous theory deserves to be rejected on its merits.

Lest we be overawed by Anon's versatility, we should look at what he didn't do, for that demonstrates his discrimination and good taste. He never wrote an epic poem, a play, or an opera. He never wrote a best selling work of fiction, never wrote a textbook, and never edited an anthology. He left such enterprises to hacks and lesser intellects.

No painting or drawing bears the signature "Anon." No sculpture has "Anon" chiseled on its base. If he ever tried his hand at art, he apparently never signed his works.

For all of his output of serious sagacity, homely homilies, and profound pronouncements, Anon had a lighter side. In fact his output of jokes far exceeded the rest of his literary work. It is true that many of these jokes are off-color, but that has only enhanced their popularity. They are remembered and quoted verbatim by people who couldn't recite one line of "The Ancient Mariner." Anon knew that art is of no value without an audience, or as he put it so well, "'Tis better to be obscene than unheard."

So, a picture of Anon emerges: a witty, slightly cynical, philosopher of the people. He could sum up the essence of an idea in one pithy sentence. Though many others plagiarized his works, he never complained. He must have cared little for money, for there is no record that he was ever paid for any of his work.

Anon demonstrated that the best way to achieve recognition is by not seeking it. He was unconcerned about the judgment of posterity, for he said, "Be not obligated to posterity. What has posterity ever done for you? The critical judgment of posterity comes too late to be useful."

Of course any conclusions about Anon, the man, might have to be modified if it were shown that Anon was a woman. The true sex of Anon may be a matter of dispute among scholars, yet we have no reason to believe that Anon ever had the slightest concern about this question.

As usual, Anon had the first word on such speculations when he (or she) said, "Nothing stimulates outrageous theories so effectively as an absence of evidence."

APPENDIX: SCHOLARLY NOTES

1. The name "Anon" is virtually unknown in any language, which suggests that Anon had no descendants. Perhaps Anon's family suffered from hereditary infertility. It's a well-known biological fact that if your parents had no children, it's very likely that you won't either.

2. Recently Anon's works have been subjected to stylistic analysis with the aid of a computer. The tentative conclusion is that Anon plagiarized all of his works from others.

3. Those who fault Anon's style should remember that his sayings would probably sound better in Anon's native tongue, if we only knew what language that was.

4. We may safely assume that Anon never had the advantage of higher education, for no Ph.D. thesis bears his name.

5. Though Anon's life is shrouded in obscurity, his works have far greater merit than those of authors whose meaning is shrouded in obscurity.

This document first appeared in The Vector, 7, 2 (May 1983).

Credits:currenttv.com

Dare to wear fashion: Ballsy office wear

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:31:13 +0100

I remember my days as a bank employee, the money was good but I hated the "dress code" I always found a way of bending the laws enough where I was professional but still dope and edgy. Bend the rules Girls!!!

This Ashley Isham get up can work if you wear something under the see through skirt, Otherwise this could work as is if you work in the playboy mansion

This Erdem outfit will work as is but if they have a jacket rule at your office you can easily throw a cropped one over this dress

I would wear this paul smith original from head to toe, It would definitely turn heads

peter pioto managed to turn this coat into a dress, a man after my own heart :) this way if they have a jacket rule in your office your covered

This Victoria Beckham dress is fiyah...but it kinda reminds me of our empire dress
I don't mind her swagger jacking me though coz she's alright in my book

Ladies lets get ballsier in our office wear.

credits:ashadedviewoffashion

Less than a year to live

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:37:23 +0100

So, a friend of mine just got some bad news, She is currently undergoing treatment for a terminal illness, If it doesn't work she will have less than a year to live. She is still very optimistic, after all the pain she has been in, she sees death as a relief but she also loves life and has vowed to live her life exactly how she's wanted. No apologies, no pretense, no excuses. It made me wonder what I would do if I was in her shoes. Why don’t we realize the fragility of life, her terminal illness has given her a foresight of whats to come, most of us won’t be as lucky. I made a list of things that I would do if I was in her shoes, I won’t post the entire list but I found a couple that were easily attainable

Travel-

I have always wanted to see the world, Luckily I have had the privilage of traveling outside of Africa a little bit, but there is always more to see, I would probably see Africa first as a priority: the old temples in Ethiopia, Historical sites in Egypt, Pyramids of Sudan or ancient Kush, morocco, swahili state ruins, Senegal....Ok lets just say I'd make a list of historical and cultural treasures of Africa and make my way to each and every one.

My work: Utamaduni Wear is my passion I wouldn’t stop creating and exploring new ways to make it better. I would focus more on what I want on the collections as opposed to “what sells” I would put structures in place to ensure it continued long after I was gone.

Pilgrimage: This is about an honest conversation with my creator. This is an extremely personal experience and most people find that solitude takes them to the most honest depths of their souls. I would probably hike Mount Kirinyaga (A.K.A mount Kenya the historical sight where the God of the Kikuyu rests and visits) and take the time for reflection, penance and thanks giving.

After Making my list I realized that these weren't things I wanted to do before I died but how I wanted to live my life. Sometimes pressures from other people imposing their will on us moves us towards living a life that has nothing to do with our dreams, desires and passions. The list made me realize that this is MY LIFE and every decision I make should reflect this. Get rid of the frenemies, achieve your fitness goals, make money doing what your passionate about, Pray to your God and always be honest with your self (if nobody else) and just DO YOU.

What would you do if you found out you had less than a year to live? Make your list and make it a reality in your life.

Haiti's recovery

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:26:27 +0100

A month before Haiti's devastating earthquake, prominent musician Theodore "Lolo" Beaubrun and a few friends were summoned by spirits who tried to warn them about the impending cataclysm.

"They told us to pray for Haiti because many people would die," says Mr Beaubrun - the frontman of the group Boukman Eksperyans.

"I thought it was about politics. I didn't know it was going to be an earthquake."

The spirits may have failed to make themselves understood, but according to Mr Beaubrun - whose music and outlook are steeped in voodoo culture - they are standing by the Haitian people in their hour of need.

"We are extremely traumatised," he says.

"We have seen death. But the spirits entered the minds of people to advise and help them heal. They speak to us. It's like therapy."

But Mr Breaubrun's idea that voodoo should play a leading role in helping victims of the country's worst-ever natural disaster is currently little more than a hope.

Voodoo relief

Haiti's traditional religion has kept a low profile in the aftermath of the earthquake.

The songs and prayers heard amid the rubble and tent cities around Port-au-Prince are overwhelmingly Christian.

The voodoo religion may be practised by many Haitians - the exact number is unknown - and has not been totally absent from the aid effort.

Louis Leslie Marcelin, another singer who also describes himself as a spiritual guide and healer, has used his home in Port-au-Prince as an alternative school and a care centre.

"We work with children and parents," he says. "We work with poor people whose relatives have died."

But such efforts by voodoo leaders have been few and far between. The bulk of the religious relief aid work in Haiti has been carried out by Catholic and Protestant groups.

"For a religion that's supposedly the national religion of the Haitian people, it's amazingly absent in the earthquake phenomena," says Gerald Murray, a University of Florida anthropologist who has carried out extensive fieldwork in Haiti.

Prejudice

Some argue that voodoo's conspicuous absence in the aftermath of the quake is due to prejudice. Many Christians - especially Protestants - regard voodoo as devil worship.

This idea was expressed in its most striking form by the US televangelist Pat Robertson, who said shortly after the quake that Haiti had made a "pact with the devil" when it defeated French colonists two centuries ago.

According to Mr Beaubrun, such attitudes have been in evidence during relief operations.

"Some Christian communities do not want to give food to voodoo followers," he says.

"As soon as they see people wearing peasant clothes or voodoo handkerchiefs, they put them aside and deny them food.

"This is something I've seen."

Hostility to voodoo - which blends elements of Christianity with West African animistic beliefs and practices - is indeed rife among some evangelical groups in Haiti and elsewhere.

However most mainstream Christians - notably Catholics - have insisted on not marginalising the voodoo faith.

Father Reginald Jean-Marie of Notre-Dame, the largest Roman Catholic church in Miami's Little Haiti, insists: "Any system of belief that people cling to especially in a time of crisis can be of help to them."

Blaming voodoo for the country's problems, he says, is "theological nonsense".

"When the (Asian) tsunami happened it was not because people did wrong," he says.

"Things happen because they are natural disasters. If you claim that voodoo is responsible for those things, then is God responsible when bad things happen to good Christians?"

Faraway god

The three days of prayer held for earthquake victims on 12, 13 and 14 February pointedly included voodoo practitioners.

And, perhaps equally pointedly, a houngan (voodoo priest) taking part in the event stressed the common element between his faith and Christianity.

He told the BBC he would "pray to bondye" - referring to the voodoo supreme god, while not stressing the "loa", the lesser spirits that are at the centre of rituals.

This suggests tension between Haiti's rival faiths is not the main reason for voodoo's lack of visibility after the earthquake.

The principal factor, according to anthropologist Gerald Murray, could be theological.

In the voodoo belief system, natural disasters are not caused by the "loa", but by a distant "bondye".

The supreme being that unleashes the forces of nature is an unfathomable entity which cannot be influenced.

Only the lowly "loa", Mr Murray notes, can be accessed or propitiated - often through rituals led by houngans.

The main role of these specialists, Mr Murray adds, is the diagnosis and healing of an individual's illnesses.

"They have not traditionally played a role of national, social leaders of any type," he says.

"They will continue to be spirit healers for people who believe that their problems have been caused by the loa - but this earthquake was not caused by the loa."

Many Haitians will find solace in voodoo, which remains an important element of Haitian identity.

But the coping strategies it offers in the aftermath of the earthquake may be limited.

Credits:BBC.co.uk

Dare to wear fashion

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:26:48 +0100

I guess the inspiration was .....Moose

don't get me wrong for moose wear I-DIG

This was from London 2010 fashion week, all I can say is I hope you donated your tickets for Haiti relief

I-kid they're all adorable, you just need a sense of humor when you rock'em

This is not her booty popping out her skirt, its a new trend in Japan (I love how her underwear is off her booty...like when does that EVER happen)

we've always known the Japanese have a quirky sense of humor, but this takes the cake

Ok please stop FREAKING out its just a print of a butt...LOL

Imagine being behind this chic at the grocery store....dudes must freak out b4 figuring this one out

Credits: ashadedviewoffashion
and
papermag

New face model spotlight

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:55:09 +0100

Rose Cordero is her name and fierce is her game (honestly am over the "fierce" word ma self am looking to replace it with a new invention) But I digress she is refreshingly beautiful

Rose on the cover of Vogue

She doesn't quite look like her but she reminds me of Liya Kebede

Commercial enough to book magazines, yet edgy enough for runway

hunch back bby!! You should see me doing this.....Not pretty

her face holds make up very well and BTW who ever said purple lipstick is the blak chix enemy eat your heart out, this picture should change ure mind

I think you know u've reached ure skinny linits when ure corsette gets baggy....I kid I am insanly jelous of that

Rose Cordero+anything she wears= GEORGEOUS

Credits: blacksupermodelchronicals.com