From Velocity Weekly, Nov. 19, 2008
It seemed like a typical Monday.
Mariam Williams had just started her day at Main Line Broadcasting in Louisville, where she worked as a copy writer and research director.
“I had just written about three lines of a new commercial when my supervisor called me down,” Williams said.
It was about 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 13. Williams had been laid off.
And she wasn't alone. Last month, Main Line let go of several Louisville employees, including B96 radio personality J.C. White and the entire on-air staff at the rock station WLRS.
Meanwhile, local businesses have closed their doors as other companies continue to downsize amid a stream of discouraging reports from the number crunchers. Many economists believe the U.S. is headed for a recession — if we aren't in one already.
The signs are there.
In September, the U.S. economy lost 159,000 jobs, the biggest monthly drop in five years. Kentucky's estimated unemployment rate rose to 7.1 percent, up from 5.4 percent in September 2007.
But as bank bailouts and Wall Street meltdowns make the news, local 20- and 30-somethings don't need headlines to tell them things are bad. From lay-offs to failed businesses to home foreclosure, many young adults in the Louisville area are living the harsh reality of the nation's economic downturn.
(Click here for entire story)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Finding inspiration in a tragic life
From Velocity Weekly, Oct. 7, 2008
Late last fall, my husband left town for two weeks and I ended up spending all of my free time in bed with a mysterious woman. But not in the way you may be thinking.
It all started at the library. Catalog number in hand, I was in the biography section searching for a memoir I planned to read while my husband was away. I found it and was about to leave when the title "Girl on Fire" caught my eye. I pulled the thick, heavy book down from the shelf, and there she was -- Edie Sedgwick.
Click here to read more.
Late last fall, my husband left town for two weeks and I ended up spending all of my free time in bed with a mysterious woman. But not in the way you may be thinking.
It all started at the library. Catalog number in hand, I was in the biography section searching for a memoir I planned to read while my husband was away. I found it and was about to leave when the title "Girl on Fire" caught my eye. I pulled the thick, heavy book down from the shelf, and there she was -- Edie Sedgwick.
Click here to read more.
Our curls are a part of who we are
From Velocity Weekly, Sept. 23, 2008
When you see a curly-haired woman getting a makeover on TV, more often than not, by the end of the show her hair will be straight. When Anne Hathaway's character in "The Princess Diaries" needed to be transformed into royalty, her wavy locks went straight. And in the new movie "The Women," we know that Meg Ryan's character has finally pulled it all together again when she emerges with her big blond curls smoothed out.
In the New York Observer article published earlier this month, "Curl, Interrupted: Do Curly Coifs Equal Frazzled Psyches," Sara Vilkomerson explores Hollywood's tendency to straighten out a female character's hair to show that she's straighten out her life.
When Vilkomerson chatted with Jonathan Hanousek, a celebrity stylist who was in charge of Ryan's locks throughout the filming of "The Women," he said Ryan's curls were meant to show that her character was "earthy" and that she didn't care much about her appearance.
As a curly girl, I don't care if you think I'm earthy, but if you think I don't care much about my appearance, then have a talk with my husband who has watched me change clothes four times before leaving the house.
I was 21 before I decided to wear my hair in its naturally curly state, and once I did, everyone had something to say. While most folks love it, many don't. And the few times a year I rock my mane straight, I'm inundated with questions like, "Why don't you wear your straight all the time?" Don't get me wrong. A woman should wear her hair however she wants, and if you prefer straight hair, that's fine. You like what you like. But it would be great if hairstylists, Hollywood and our pals would stop giving us curly girls a complex.
I know what some of you are thinking. But it's just hair. Or is it?
Click here to read more.
When you see a curly-haired woman getting a makeover on TV, more often than not, by the end of the show her hair will be straight. When Anne Hathaway's character in "The Princess Diaries" needed to be transformed into royalty, her wavy locks went straight. And in the new movie "The Women," we know that Meg Ryan's character has finally pulled it all together again when she emerges with her big blond curls smoothed out.
In the New York Observer article published earlier this month, "Curl, Interrupted: Do Curly Coifs Equal Frazzled Psyches," Sara Vilkomerson explores Hollywood's tendency to straighten out a female character's hair to show that she's straighten out her life.
When Vilkomerson chatted with Jonathan Hanousek, a celebrity stylist who was in charge of Ryan's locks throughout the filming of "The Women," he said Ryan's curls were meant to show that her character was "earthy" and that she didn't care much about her appearance.
As a curly girl, I don't care if you think I'm earthy, but if you think I don't care much about my appearance, then have a talk with my husband who has watched me change clothes four times before leaving the house.
I was 21 before I decided to wear my hair in its naturally curly state, and once I did, everyone had something to say. While most folks love it, many don't. And the few times a year I rock my mane straight, I'm inundated with questions like, "Why don't you wear your straight all the time?" Don't get me wrong. A woman should wear her hair however she wants, and if you prefer straight hair, that's fine. You like what you like. But it would be great if hairstylists, Hollywood and our pals would stop giving us curly girls a complex.
I know what some of you are thinking. But it's just hair. Or is it?
Click here to read more.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
A Fall of Firsts
This week in my Write Out Loud column I confessed that, despite its beautiful foliage, fall depresses the crap out of me. I do like how Mother Nature gets all dressed up this time of year, but unfortunately I see autumn as nothing but a welcome mat to winter. And I, being Alabama born and bred, despise cold weather. So in an effort to keep me from being a grumpy face all season I'm going to make like blogger Jen MacNeil and do one new thing each of the 90 days of fall.
But I don't think I can think of 90 firsts on my own. So I need your help. Some readers of my column have already offered a few suggestions, such as trying an art class, taking a flamenco dance lesson and going to Hobby Lobby to find a new crafty project to pursue. But I still need more ideas and I need them before Sept. 22, which is the first day of fall.
I want to fall in love with an album I never knew existed, try some new food, pick up a new hobby and much more.
So tell me about your favorite restaurants, hobbies, bands, etc. Tell me about stupid stuff you've done that you're so glad you tried and community service projects that made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Oh, and as I said in my column, buying something I've never owned before counts too, so if you find a cute, but cheap skirt that you think would look great on me, hit me up.
As a way to thank you for being my muse, I'll share updates of my 90-day adventure on my Velocity blog in hopes of inspiring you to try something new this fall too.
But I don't think I can think of 90 firsts on my own. So I need your help. Some readers of my column have already offered a few suggestions, such as trying an art class, taking a flamenco dance lesson and going to Hobby Lobby to find a new crafty project to pursue. But I still need more ideas and I need them before Sept. 22, which is the first day of fall.
I want to fall in love with an album I never knew existed, try some new food, pick up a new hobby and much more.
So tell me about your favorite restaurants, hobbies, bands, etc. Tell me about stupid stuff you've done that you're so glad you tried and community service projects that made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Oh, and as I said in my column, buying something I've never owned before counts too, so if you find a cute, but cheap skirt that you think would look great on me, hit me up.
As a way to thank you for being my muse, I'll share updates of my 90-day adventure on my Velocity blog in hopes of inspiring you to try something new this fall too.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Get connected
Be sure to check out my Write Out Loud column in this week's issue of Velocity and learn all about OnyxLouisville.com, an entertainment and networking site for young urban professionals in Louisville. The site is run by Michelle Yeager, a true woman about town, who's always in the know.At OnyxLouisville.com you can find out about hip-hop parties, R&B concerts, black arts events and more. The site features profiles of local young professionals and includes black history facts, celebrity news and community announcements.Yeager said she's determined to show local young adults that Louisville really is a cool place to be.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Movin' on up
In addition to writing for Velocity Weekly, I am now also writing stories for the Features section of Velocity's parent publication, The Courier-Journal, which is the major daily newspaper for Louisville, Ky., and surrounding areas.
Check out my story "Louisville planners know how to party" in the Sunday, Aug. 24 edition of The Courier-Journal.
Check out my story "Louisville planners know how to party" in the Sunday, Aug. 24 edition of The Courier-Journal.
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