A Tribute to Madonna

Madonna has just been inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. It's about time that a superstar like Madonna, the Queen of Pop music, gets recognized for her contributions to music. This lady has done it all for over 25 years and with insufficient praise--especially in the U.S. Worldwide, she has been the number 1 female music artist. Madonna is an amazing and unique woman. She has sold hundreds of millions of CDs, performed in sold-out concerts, acted in movies, and written children's books.

Unfortunately, Madonna's music is usually overshadowed by controversy and prejudice. People would make judgements even before her music has been released. As a fan of 14 years, I know that Madonna's music is largely positive, uplifting, and avant garde. Her music isn't simply superficial dance or pop. They convey important messages of love, equality, and being true to oneself. She is a strong, intelligent, open-minded woman who puts 100% into whatever she does. Madonna's success however, is not attributable only to her blond ambition and tenacity. The woman has talent!

She was a dancer who learned to write music, sing, and play guitar. She has written dozens of beautiful songs throughout the course of her career. Among them are "La Isla bonita," "Like a prayer," "Oh Father," "Secret," "Frozen," "Ray of light," and "Get together." With every new album, there's a new look, feel, and style. She is the ultimate diva--far ahead of any other. A close 2nd would be Kylie Minogue. Madonna seems to know what the next big thing will be in the music scene and she boldly tries it. Although she tries new things, she never compromises the integrity of her image. She doesn't reinvent herself. Rather, she reveals more and more of herself throughout the years, but she still leaves more to figure out as she's such a complex woman. Congratulations Madonna for being such a remarkably talented woman. I don't care what anybody else says, you are a beautiful and talented woman!

That don't impress me much

No, I'm not writing about a Shania song. I'm actually going to write about Barrack Obama. I really don't understand this guy or the strong support that he's receiving. Supposedly, his support is just about even with Hillary's in New Hampshire. Obama is an ambitious first-term senator from Illinois who thinks that he can be a great president. Ambition is good, but Obama is just too ambitious and presumptuous. He's charismatic and gifted--I'm not disputing that. He seems to be a great orator and usually says the right things. However, does he have qualities that will make him a great president, a world leader? No, I don't think so.

I see Obama as a talker rather than a doer. He said that he was opposed to sending troops over to Iraq from the beginning. He wasn't even in office at the time! It's so easy for Obama to say that. What has Obama done for Illinois so far in his unfinished term as a senator? He's even won the endorsement of Oprah Winfrey--another great talker. Of course Winfrey is successful, smart, and altruistic, but what does she know about politics? I would take advice from her about talking to people, cocker spaniels, and gaining weight. Definitely not when it comes to politics.

If you were looking to hire a chauffeur to drive you around town, would you hire a 17-year old who got his license the previous year? If you're smart, you wouldn't. Not even if he had a perfect driving record and scored high on his driver's test. You would hire someone who's at least 25 and has a good driving record. Why should we entrust the presidency, the highest office in the land, to a first-term senator who thinks living in a foreign country between 5 and 10 counts as international experience? You must be kidding, right? What would a kid know about foreign policy or international relations?

Obama should step aside and let a seasoned professional get her well-deserved nomination. He should be aiding her rather than challenging her. From Obama, I get all this talk, but not enough action. If he wants to be president, he should focus on his job as a senator and gain experience. Even if he were to get the nomination, I doubt that he would win. From first-hand experience, I know that Americans generally don't like foreign names. Despite being a diverse country, Americans are xenophobic and Obama is a foreign name. It's not a presidential name like Adams, Jefferson, Wilson, or McKinley. I really hope that Hillary not only gets the nomination, but also that she wins the presidency. She has the intellect, experience, leadership, courage, and expertise that America so desperately need in the White House. She's a great person who would bring credibility back to the office of the presidency. Why not support someone who has a done more than talk? As Hillary said, the office of the presidency is no such place for a novice who requires on-the-job training.

Best Dressed Women 2007

I firmly believe that I have a sense of fashion, taste, and style. It's just one of those things that people either have or don't have. Of course it can be acquired by paying close attention to detail. I think that it's about time for me to write about the 10 best dressed women of 2007. I've seen other lists from fashion magazines and old men who think that they have a sense of fashion, and I have been largely disappointed with their horrible choices (ex. Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez). Not only are their faces ugly, their clothes are ugly too. I feel that I owe it to the stylish ladies and to the world to announce who I think dress well. I urge you to read, take note, and emulate how these women dress to impress.

The women that I have selected look great on the red carpet and in everyday life. They dress well whether they're promoting movies or running errands. They wear things that flatter their bodies and skin tones. Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Watts, Emmy Rossum, Elizabeth Hurley, Michelle Pfieffer, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Claudia Schiffer are women who have style. They were all so chic this past year. What I like is that their clothes are feminine, classic, modest, and sexy. Yes, it is possible to be modest and sexy at the same time. The things Britney Spears wears are not sexy at all.

All women should try and learn something from these 10 best dressed ladies. The dresses that I especially liked this past year were Angelina's little black dress at the Cannes film festival, Reese's little yellow dress at the Golden Globes, and Naomi's yellow maternity gown at the Academy Awards. Brad and Angelinia looked absolutely fabulous in Cannes last May. He was wearing a Gucci tuxedo and she was wearing a lovely black lace dress to the premiere of A Mighty Heart. Reese wore a golden yellow Nina Ricci dress to the Golden Globes. It was fitting and glossy like satin. I do think that blondes look terrific in yellow. Naomi's dress at the Oscars was an off-the-shoulder creamy yellow gown with a black empress-waist sash. The colour complimented her fair skin and golden locks and the light material flowed off her belly.

I'm disappointed that many of my picks did not make it on anybody else's best dressed list. I will be sure to write another best dressed list next year. I'm sure that there will be women recognized on other lists that I would find to be bad dressers.