In the News.

nContrast Goes Primetime on BETJ

http://thebirminghamtimes.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=81594&sID=22

Is He the Next Big Thing?

OBAMA: THE NEXT BIG THING. By Elise Seagrest

Barack Obama was born on August 14, 1961 in Hawaii to a diverse family. Obama’s mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in Kansas while his father grew up in a village in Kenya. The two met while attending the University of Hawaii but parted ways not long after Barack’s birth. Barack was raised by his mother in Hawaii and spent a couple of years in Indonesia. Barack eventually moved to New York where he began accomplishing many things that would ultimately lead him to become a strong voice in politics, while at the same time serving as a down-to-earth family man.

After moving to New York, Obama attended Columbia University. Instead of delving into the corporate field right after graduation, Obama moved to Chicago and served as a community organizer with a church group. The main focus of this group was to provide aid to families with poor living conditions because of their low socio-economic status; people whose lives were distraught with violence and unemployment. After the time he spent with these families, Obama realized that in order to truly change the lives of people such as these, reform would need to take place deep within the structure of the nation- to politics and laws that the U.S. is based upon.

Obama went on to Harvard Law School and was awarded a degree in 1991 along with the honor of being the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Obama’s accomplishments did not end here, they were actually just beginning. In 2004 he was elected into the U.S. Senate and thus became the third African-American since the Reconstruction to be elected into this power. While holding his position in the Senate, Obama learned to think with an open mind by having to work with both Democrats and Republicans in efforts to address many of the nation’s problems, such as, the Earned Income Tax Credit program, expansion of early childhood education and law enforcement reforms.

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama has many points of view on existing issues in the government and nation, as well as propositions to correct these issues. He also has his own opinions of what needs addressing in order to recover the U.S. from the shock that the war in Iraq has caused. Some of the most important issues in the nation that Obama is committed to improving are energy and environment, immigration and the border, his plan to end the Iraq war, and creating a healthcare system that works.

In his plan to improve energy, while at the same time conserving our environment, Obama has and will continue to push for a comprehensive national energy policy. Obama calls for increased research in order to create cleaner, more fuel-efficient energy sources. Obama believes that the fuels used to power automobiles should contain less carbon, which directly contributes to global warming. Obama made a passionate statement while speaking to the University of New Hampshire campus, “I believe that we still have a chance to pass on a planet to our children that is cleaner and safer and more prosperous than we found it,” he goes on to encourage, “This is our generation’s moment to save future generations from global catastrophe.” Clearly Obama feels that the fuel and energy crisis has been long overlooked and that it is up to all American citizens to do their part to make a difference along with government officials.

Barack Obama disagreed with the war in Iraq from the start by claiming that Saddam Hussein posed no imminent threat to the U.S. and that the war would ultimately drain our economy and morale with no certainty of an ending. He says, “I think the war was a tragic mistake and should have never been authorized.” Obama does, however, have a plan to progress actions in Iraq and bring troops home for keeps. Obama feels that his smart judgment of the war will be a good quality to bring to the office of president.

Senator Obama believes that politicians have exploited the immigration issue in order to divide a nation instead of offering a solution. Realistically, the U.S. economy depends on millions of these workers and U.S. borders have actually become less secure since the problem has worsened.

Health care reform is also long overdue in the U.S. and Obama recognizes current health care as “unsustainable.” Not only is he concerned with changing health care forever, but Obama is also raising support now so that he can ensure this change once he is elected. Obama is quite concerned with carrying his plan through Congress and notes that in many previous campaigns plans fade after the election. Although he keeps an open mind about proposed systems, Obama feels that he will most likely support a system that will offer universal coverage and will force efficiencies out of the health care system. He will also support preventive programs such as weight control. Obama also rejects suggestions that higher taxes are required for a new health care system and assures his supporters that he will have a plan drawn up in a couple of months.

Sources:
http://www.barackobama.com

Fashion: What's Your Scent?

CHEMICAL REACTIONS.
By Emmanuella Prival

We're born to smell. And how we smell defines us. That being said, it's important to know that being said it's important to know that scents smell different on every person. The way a scent takes to your body is a question of chemistry. So while your friend smells great in Calvin Klein, it might make you smell more like a gym locker. 

So before you purchase the latest scent, be sure to try it on. Try these tips for picking the scent for you!

How to select a scent

If you're feeling ambitious and want to smell all the scents, go for a card instead of your arm. If you try them all on your arm, you'll be overwhelmed and won't be able to distinguish your favorite scent.

When the person standing in front of the men's cologne section at the department store is ready to spritz and spray, stand back and tell them to spray a card instead. Keep your wrists scent free until later! 

After you've smelled all your scents, try taking a breather and walking around to refresh your scent. You want to give your nose a bit of a rest before making your choice.
With your nose in check, you can now return and try out your scent on you.

Other options

Can't pick one? Try blending scents like jasmine, vanilla or cinnamon. Not only will you drive women wild (vanilla and cinnamon are known to be aphrodisiacs), you get to create your own fragrance. You can purchase these natural scents at The Body Shop.

If you're not in to cologne, you can opt for after shaves and scented soaps. They aren't as potent as cologne but will keep you smelling great.

Keep in mind that if you work in small quarters, it's good to avoid strong scents. Opt for citrus or lemon-based scents, and splash on the stronger fragrances for nights on the town.

A change in personal fragrance is a great way to update and modify your style and look.

EP TOP TEN FAVORITES: Top 10 Men's Cologne

Fragrance isn't just for girls - guys can smell good too. Here are scents for our generation.
1. Cool Water Deep
The fragrance is a woody aromatic. Sensual, masculine and fresh.
2. Lacoste Red by Lacoste for Men
Fragrance Notes: Green orange, apple, maclura, thuja, icy wood, jasmine, cedar, patchouli, white musk.
3. Obsession for Men
Contains amber, vanilla, orange blossom and sandalwood.
4. Eternity for men
Lavender, jasmine and amber, blended with notes of rosewood, vetiver and sandalwood.
5. Bvlgari BLV for Men
Woodsy spices are combined with rich, oriental notes to produce a cool refrshing scent.
6. Swiss Army
Sweet spice fragrance for men.
7. BLACK for Men
Mixture of fresh scents including mint, fresh fruits, spices, and watermint.
8. CK One Summer by Calvin Klein
Launched in 2004, Calvin Klein introduced its unisex scent for the Summer.
9. Curve for Men
Spice scent with lavender, clove, and bergamot.
10. JOOP!
Spicy oriental fragrance for men.


 

EP's Movie Favorite: "Talk to Me"

Never underestimate a man with something to say.

DIRECTOR: Kasi Lemmons

CAST: Don Cheadle, Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Sheen, Vernell P. Watson, Mike Epps, Chiwetel Ejiofor

SUMMARY: “Talk to Me” is the story of how one voice shocks a nation. Inspired by a true story, Don Cheadle plays 1960s’ famed radio personality Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene Jr., who upon his release from prison talks his way onto radio and takes the nation by storm.

The ex-con’s outrageous personality and spirit electrify listeners in the midst of America’s great racial divide. “Petey” speaks openly
about race and power and isn’t afraid to ‘tell it like it is.’ With the support of his upstanding program director Mike Dewey (Chiwetel Ejiofor)
and Petey’s vivacious girlfriend Vernell Watson (Taraji Henson), Petey empowers fans and his own life.

nContrast

Welcome to Epiphany Magazine's blog! Epiphany Magazine is the sister magazine of today's hot urban entertainment show nContrast. Epiphany goes more in-depth with interviews, profiles and stories on the latest fashion, style, music, movies, food, insight, travel and more. Be sure to check here for updates on Epiphany's top stories.

MEET MS. HALLE BERRY

Epiphany's Chuck Faush Interviews super star Halle Berry on her latest movie "A Perfect Stranger"

Chuck: So people will go to any length to forgive and forget?

Halle: I don't know about that but I do know that people will go to any length to keep a secret and hide who they really are from the world. I think everybody does it.

Chuck: So we all have secrets then?

Halle: I think so.

Chuck: Why do we do this? Why do we hide them and keep going?

Halle: Think about when you first meet someone. Say you're on a date, and you meet somebody for the first time. Wouldn't you say it's true that most people send their representatives? The real them is at home in bed somewhere. We start off hiding.

Chuck: In the Perfect Stranger, are you caught up with Bruce Willis character or are you caught up with using Bruce Willis' character to get what you want?

Halle: She's masterfully using him for what she wants but making him believe that she just might be interested. What did you think about that?

Chuck: I thought I had it figured out at every turn. Most times you get down to the last three or four minutes and you know exactly where it's going. And in this, you have absolutely no clue.

Halle: (exclaims) Yes!

Chuck: It was a good thing. When it was over, I sat there stunned. There were so many twists and turns all the way through but the thing that struck me was that your character was almost always in the same predicament all the time.

Halle: (nods her head) And even in the end, you get the feeling that the cycle never ends. It doesn't end for her so she will remain the very thing that she was trying to free herself from. It starts all over again.

Chuck: So the back and forth thing wasn't just between you and Bruce's character but between you and Giavanni's character.

Halle: Yes. All three of us. We were all sort of interconnected in a way.

Chuck: So is that a good or a bad thing?

Halle: It depends on what you consider really bad.

Chuck: Oh come on.

Halle: (laughs) It's really like that. It never stops.

Chuck: So it continues but continues in a good way.

Halle: I think so. I think my character did what she had to do. She uncovered what she needed to uncover and she exposed what she needed to expose and at the end of the day, she's a survivor.