Lance Burton: Master Magician

In this amazingly crafted act of illusory showmanship there are seven doves, one parakeet, eight ducks, two geese and about fifty pigeons. There are also five female dancers and one male assistant. No, it isn’t Animal Planet Meets Dancing with the Stars. It’s theLance Burton Master Magician Show at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

“Master Magician” is a title granted to an extremely small number of magicians over the last two hundred years. Passed on to worthy candidates by mentors, Lance Burton is universally acclaimed to be the worthy successor of this honor. Watching him work certainly seems to confirm his acclaim, as shown by the thousands of stunned audience members who have been filling the Lance Burton Theatre every night for years.

In 1994, Lance Burton entered into a 13-year contract to star in, produce and direct a newer and bigger version of his already celebrated magic show. It was to be the longest running entertainment deal in Las Vegas history. It was also a significant honor to have a $27 million theatre built especially for him and named after him.

The Lance Burton Theatre has been praised by media critics and visitors’ polls as the “Best Theatre” in Las Vegas, having 1,274 plush velour seats with drink-holders. It’s the onlylegitimate theatre on the Las Vegas Strip and a lot more comfortable than the typical showrooms left over from the old glory days of the Las Vegas dinner show.

The Lance Burton show is all about entertainment. His magic is performed in a simple, elegant style that makes it seem easy. Especially when he makes a shiny blue Chevrolet Corvette disappear right in front of your eyes! Headshaking disbelief abounds, and “How does he do that?” echoes through the audience. Lance fully engages his audiences into his act by asking personal questions and having folks join him onstage.

Lance’s love for kids is evident. At every performance several children are chosen from the audience to be a part of his act. It’s charming and fun. The evening we went, he showed an incredible amount of patience with a 3-year-old who was selected for a special trick. At its conclusion, the little boy was honored with a Lance Burton t-shirt, and his picture was displayed on a giant screen on the stage.

Burton is obviously proud of the many kids whose photos now grace his theater and equally proud of his success as the Master Magician for our times. Lance Burton’s contract at the Monte Carlo is running out soon and you just may want to see this dazzling show before hedisappears!

Lance Burton Theater
Monte Carlo Hotel & Casino
3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
800.851.1703

Drive, Fly, or . . . LuxBus?

I was planning a trip to Las Vegas to meet Dennis, who was driving back from the East Coast. Unfortunately, we made our plans too late for me to get one of the good economy airfares. Then I thought of Whoopi Goldberg.

Because she’s afraid to fly, Whoopi took a bus from New York to Los Angeles and back to attend the Academy Awards. Now that’s a hell of a bus ride! But hey, if it’s good enough for Whoopi, it’s good enough for me! Of course, Whoopi had her own private bus. I can’t quite afford that, so I did the next best thing?I called Greyhound.

I was shocked to find out that “the Dog” doesn’t run from Los Angeles to Las Vegas anymore. And even if it did, I wasn’t relishing finding a way to get to their bus terminal in downtown Los Angeles.

So I searched the Internet to find other ways to get to Las Vegas. There were no trains. Limos were way too expensive. On Craigslist, I found one ride that was pricey; one in a broken-down car; and one guy who wrote he would drive me for free, except he would be driving naked! Thanks, but no thanks!

It was back to surfing the web. Then I hit a true find: the LuxBus!

LuxBus America offers daily, deluxe service to Las Vegas. Based in Orange County, the Las Vegas buses leave from their Anaheim terminal near the Disneyland Resort. If you’re going from Los Angeles, a shuttle picks you up at a nearby hotel and takes you to Anaheim to board their luxury bus. I live about a block away from the Marriot Marina Del Rey, so in the morning I just walked over and the LuxBus Van was waiting for me.

Billed as an “airline on the ground,” the LuxBus is outfitted so you feel like you’re in an airplane, except the seats are much roomier, and they don’t charge for luggage! The luxury motor coaches feature color-coordinated interiors, tray tables, pillows, blankets, and a restroom in the back. There is an onboard attendant, who serves you complimentary snacks and beverages, including beer and wine (limit two per person). An entertainment system provides music and full-length movies, and passengers are given complimentary headphones. I was told there would be wireless internet access, but my bus wasn’t equipped with it. Their new fleet of buses supposedly has wifi available.

Driving time is approximately 4 hours from Anaheim to Las Vegas, where passengers are dropped off at one of three hotels: the Flamingo Hilton, Harrah’s, or the Golden Nugget.

Morning pickup in Los Angeles is at 7 a.m.; afternoon departures from Vegas are at 3:30 p.m. The price is fairly economical. From Los Angeles to Las Vegas, round trip is $99.

So if you don’t feel like driving, have a fear of flying, or don’t like the security hassle and lines at the airport, try the LuxBus. It’s relaxing and easy. After napping and watching a movie, I arrived refreshed and ready to enjoy my Vegas getaway.

LuxBus America also offers daily scheduled service between Los Angeles, San Diego, and Anaheim area hotels. In addition, the company offers tour packages to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Group charter services are also available.

LuxBus America
638 N. Eckhoff St.
Orange, CA 92868
888.589.2871
www.LuxBusAmerica.com

Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning’s ROMANCE ON THE ROAD

ROMANCE ON THE ROAD

Room (and Bar) with a View . . .

The Penn’s View in Philadelphia

Philadelphia used to be thought of as a dull place, and consequently was the butt of jokes for decades. It was so unexciting, in fact, that WC Fields infamously stated, “I once spent a year in Philadelphia; I think it was on a Sunday.”

But things have changed.  Jokes about boring Philly aren’t appropriate anymore. That’s because downtown Philadelphia is now hip, hot, hustling and bustling, with great restaurants, clubs, galleries, boutiques, and of course, many famous historic sites. Philadelphia is our hidden, national treasure with a glam side. Gentrification has taken off over the last 15 years to fill center city with fashionable people, shops and artistic endeavors. You’ll never get bored in Philadelphia.

When you’re visiting, a wonderful, romantic place to stay is thePenn’s View Hotel. On the National Register of Historic Places, it’s an intimate, non-smoking, boutique hotel, located in the heart of the Old City. Its waterfront location offers great views and an easy walk to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, and other historic sites that make up the birthplace of America. Also within walking distance are the vibrant nightlife, theatres, shopping, and strolls along the Delaware River.

Privately owned by Luca Sena of Naples, Italy, and managed by his son Carlo, the hotel has a warm and welcoming ambiance that makes it feel as if you’re entering an Italian home as the honored guest. The Senas have imbued each room with comfortable furnishings, Jacuzzi baths, fireplaces, and great views. Two outstanding features of the hotel are its restaurant and bar.

Ristorante Panorama is an authentic, casual Italian trattoria. The cuisine is contemporary Northern Italian, specializing in homemade pastas, veal, and fresh seafood. Hand-painted murals and contemporary decor provide an elegant, modern setting with traditional accents.

Il Bar is the central focus of the restaurant. This fascinating wine bar features a custom-built, 120-bottle keeper providing an extensive “by the glass” wine tasting opportunity for visitors.

You can have a lot of fun just ordering your wine at Il Bar. There are 27 “Flights,” each of which is a tasting of five different wines (1.5 ounces each) from a select group or region. Flights allow you to taste-compare a variety of wines or sample an expensive wine you might not normally splurge on. They have over 150 wines available by the glass, in tasting Flights, or by the bottle. The “everyday” wine list changes every week!

Oenophiles will love the 530 vintages on the Proprietor’s Reserve List. It’s no surprise that Ristorante Panorama was named Best of Philly for their Wine List in 2008 and is well known as having one of the best selections of fine wines in the country.

For the end of the work week, the Panorama Wine Bar presents special “Friday Night Flights” from 6-8 PM.  This Happy Hour includes cheese, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting discussion with sommelier William Eccleston and a guest wine specialist. The cost is $20.00 per person in advance or $25.00 at the door. Tickets are available at www.localwineevents.com.

Whether it’s a Friday or any other night, if you enjoy wine, make sure to plan an evening at the Ristorante Panorama for a Flight you’ll remember for a long time.  And spending a night or two for a getaway at the Penn’s View Hotel will definitely add to the enchantment. Various packages are available that include accommodations, dinner, and flights of wine. Like us, you’ll come away realizing Philadelphia isn’t just the city of Brotherly Love . . . it’s an exciting city for wining, dining, and romance!

PENN’S VIEW HOTEL
14 N Front St @ Market Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19106
800.331.7634 – www.pennsviewhotel.com

Ash Gupta – A Skilled Photographer with Multiple Disciplines

Ash Gupta – A Skilled Photographer with Multiple Disciplines

“A fashion photographer must be good in multiple photography disciplines. You need to be a portrait photographer as well as be able to create images for the advertising market.” —Ash Gupta—

From offering tips like“Determine whether you’re shooting a personality or shooting fashion,”to knowing when to use proper metering to aid tonality of an image, Ash Gupta is indeed a skilled practitioner when it comes to photography. Gupta has shot several celebrities, countless fashion editorials, and magazine covers. Lately you can see his work with some of the biggest icons in the music industry, but with each shoot, whether a celebrity or just a person wanting a beautiful portrait, Gupta always treats each subject with special attention and care.

Ash Gupta’s work is gallery-worthy and was just recently celebrated April 22, 2009 at an event put on by Signature LA Direct Magazinewith several celebrities in attendance (BailLing, Max Ryan, Michael Hirshensen). The appreciation of his photography grows with each published shoot, and celebrities and art-lovers alike are becoming fans exponentially!

“Rules are meant to be broken, but before you break the rules, you must first know what they are.”

Ash Gupta continues to shoot beautiful pictures and his work is critically acclaimed. He is often compared to Helmut Newton with his attention to environment, story, and most importantly “angst”—often giving him the edge over other fashion photographers. However, inspite of his growing international appeal, Gupta continues to mentor up-and-coming photographers with his innovative Studio 838—helping them to avoid common pitfalls and offering tools to expedite the success of their careers.

“To be a successful fashion photographer you must also have a love of fine design clothes – without it you will never achieve the heights that bring success.”

In celebration of spring 2009, Agenda Magazine‘s Ash Gupta presents “The Complete Spring Look.”

See the editorial.

By Kaylene Peoples

Spring Fashion on a Budget Featuring Lindy Flowers

I’m Lindy Flowers and I’m going to show you how to stretch your dollar and still keep up with the current spring trends by taking something you already have in your closet, a simple tank top and a pair of jeans, and show you how to wear them three different ways.

My first look is a hip—trendy—casual look. I’m wearing a pair of flat sandals along with a vest, which is a huge trend for the spring season. Around my neck I have a Doll House necklace and I’m carrying a Charlie Lapson crocodile handbag, and to top it off, I put on a pair off inexpensive sunglasses from Forever 21.

For my second look I’m headed out to lunch with the girls. On my feet I have a pair of neutral colored low-healed patent-leather pumps by Stuart Weitzman paired back with another huge trend for the spring season, a lightweight trench coat. This one by Michael Kors. On my eyes, a pair of Chanel sunglasses, I’m carrying a Nordstrom handbag, and to pull together my whole look, this beautiful Shankari necklace.

And for my third look, I’m heading out for a night on the town. On my feet I’m wearing a pair of metallic strappy stilettos, and I’ve layered my jewelry, including this beautiful bangle from LENA made from recycled coins. To complete my look, I’m carrying a purse just big enough to hold a cell phone and a tube of lipstick for those touchups. Now I’ve shown you three completely different looks using just a pair of jeans and a simple camisole, this one by Itty Bitty Bra found in the Intimate Apparel Department.

Next, take a little black dress out of your closet, and I’ll show you how to use this spring’s accessories. I took a pair ofcomfortable flat sandals, a few pieces of simple jewelry, a bracelet and necklace from Jules Smith, and a statement ring from Vintage Glo. As my handbag, I’m carrying an inexpensive multi-colored tote just large enough to fit a towel, magazine, and sunscreen. And Finally to complete my look, I’ve added a pair of Tom Ford sunglasses, and I’m off to the pool!

For my second look I’m headed off to the office. I replaced my flat sandals with a classic pump, put on a chic cashmere cardigan, and a simple pair of drop-earrings. For a splash of color, I added a red handbag by HOBO. Off to the office I go!

For my third look I’m headed off to an upscale (evening) event. I put on some sexy, strappy sandals, added some couture jewelry—some vintage—some new, and a stylish clutch. So don’t be afraid to be creative when you’re out there shopping.

Lindy Flowers

Health 101 In-Depth Look at Sleep Deprivation

Sleep is a wonderful thing, wouldn’t you agree? Your body is a big fan of rest for a variety of very good reasons. We ask everything of our bodies as they endure our life’s daily beatings, and still we ask for more hours in the day as we cheat sleep. The best caffeine will allow us to. We de-prioritize the most important time of our day, the rest and repair phase that allows us to get up and come back for more. In this issue of “Fitness Couture” we took a look at the weight gain repercussions of sleep deprivation, but there are so many other consequences that you might not even be aware of.

·      Adverse Effects of Sleep Deprivation

o      Mood Swings

o      Chronic Fatigue: Repairs occur in the REM or Delta phase of sleep, deepest levels of sleep. If these levels are not reached, your body cannot properly refresh you, leaving you to feel exhausted after a long night. 

o      Accelerated Aging: During the deep stages of REM sleep, the body repairs and regenerates tissues, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens the immune system. As you get older, you sleep more lightly and get less deep sleep. The less sleep you incorporate the less time your body has to keep you young, thus prematurely aging you.

o      Clouded Mind, Foggy Thoughts

o      Hindered Work Performance

o      Affected Mental Health: Sleep deprivation has mental as well as physical complications. While those with depression are more likely to suffer from insomnia, insomniacs or those suffering from other sleep disorders are also more likely to develop depression, impaired memory and thought processes.

o      Decreased Immune Response: As part of the immune system, cytokines play a key role in fighting disease and infection. As the body’s levels of cytokines drop, you become more susceptible to illness and infection.

o      Increased Alcohol Sensitivity: Sleep deprivation also magnifies alcohol’s effects on the body, so a fatigued person who drinks will become much more impaired than someone who is well-rested.

o      Increased Pain Perception

o      Increased Cortisol Levels: Cortisol levels are increased in your body during stressful times, promoting fat storage as a form of self preservation.

o      Unbalanced Hunger: An imbalance in the hormones Ghrelin increasing (Hunger Hormone) and Leptin decreasing (Satiety Hormone) causing the body to crave carbohydrates and sugar.

o      Slower Reaction Time: After 24 hours of no sleep, you are as impaired as if you had enough alcohol to be legally drunk in most states.

o      Restricted Nutrient Absorption: Sleep deprivation interferes with the body’s ability to metabolize carbohydrates and causes high blood levels of glucose, which leads to higher insulin levels and greater body fat storage.

o      Reduced Levels of Growth Hormone: GH is a protein that helps regulate the body’s proportions of fat and muscle. You will be more likely to store fat and use lean muscle tissue for energy.

o      Insulin Resistance (possible): Since hormone levels are not allotted proper time to regulate themselves, an imbalance can contribute to increased risk of diabetes as the body is less receptive to insulin.

o      Increased Blood Pressure (possible): When the body is not allotted the proper time to recuperate it is forced to work harder under these stressful circumstances. The hours you don’t sleep add up in debt that your system adapts to by pushing harder.

o      Increased Risk of Heart Disease: Due to body systems working overtime with a non recuperated body and reduced immune system, heart disease is more likely.  

Sleep Deprivation as Bad as Being Intoxicated

Working yourself to the edge of your limits on no sleep is no better than working intoxicated. After staying awake for 24 hours straight, a person will be as impaired as if he/she had had enough alcohol to be legally drunk in most states.

In one Australian study, researchers created a blood alcohol equivalent test with 40 volunteers for different levels of impairment from sleeplessness. Group one stayed awake for 28 hours while group two drank alcohol every half hour until reaching a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent, the drunken-driving standard in most American states. Every half hour the subjects took a computerized test of hand-eye coordination. “Results showed that after 24 hours of sleeplessness, participants were about as impaired as they were at the 0.10 percent level of blood alcohol. After 17 hours, they were about as impaired as they were with an alcohol level of 0.05 percent, which many Western countries define as legally drunk, the researchers said.” – National Sleep Foundation,

Weight Gain from No Sleep

Stanford University held a study in which 1000 volunteers were surveyed on their sleeping habits and then had their ghrelin (hunger hormone) and leptin (satiety hormone) levels measured. “After eight hours of no sleep all volunteers showed increased levels of ghrelin (weight gain hormone) and decresed levels of leptin (weight control hormone). Results conclusively proved that those who slept the fewest hours per night also weight the most, holding larger amounts of body fat.” The body is simply adapting to a stressful environment, it is doing what it knows best. This is one reason you are more likely to eat more when you are not feeling at your best. “One thing I have seen is that once a person is not as tired, they don’t need to rely on sweet foods and high carbohydrate snacks to keep them awake — and that automatically translates into eating fewer calories,” says Dr Micheal Breus of the Atlantic School of Sleep Medicine.

Solutions

Whether your sleep issues exist due to your work life, family life, medical reasons, or simply lifestyle in general, you must tend to this in order to keep yourself healthy. Treatment options depend on your particular circumstances, but here are some suggestions to help you begin your rejuvenation. The key is to create new habits and improved consistent sleep patterns. Normalize your amounts of sleep. Infants usually require about 16-18 hours of sleep per day, while teenagers need about 9 hours per day on average. Optimal sleep for health improvements are between seven and nine hours of sleep a night.

Ways to improve sleep include

  • Exercising regularly earlier in the day to help regulate energy levels
  • Consuming low levels of liquids before bed
  • Finding a non-habit forming sleep aid, for example, melatonin
  • Relaxing with a hot bath before bed
  • Avoiding alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine before bed
  • Avoiding treating heartburn at night
  • Creating an ideal sleep environment by removing media distractions and making the bedroom as dark as possible to fall asleep faster and remain asleep.

Find whatever works for you, and above all, make it consistent for your health’s sake. You will feel and look like a million bucks. Good night, Agenda readers. (Sources)

Written by Anthony Heredia

Fitness Book Review 101 Fat-Burning Workouts & Diet Strategies for Men and Women By Muscle Editors of Muscle & Fitness His & Hers

Workouts & Diet Strategies for Men and Women
By Muscle Editors of Muscle & Fitness His & Hers

Muscle & Fitness Magazine has been the leader in health and fitness for nearly 70 years and counting now; so when they speak, we should listen. They have proudly presented two very thorough one-stop-shop-kick-butt fitness books I highly recommend. We are taking a look at 101 Fat-Burning Workouts & Diet Strategies for Women by editors of Muscles & Fitness Hers magazine.

Burn fat and add sexy curves with this progressive eight-week body blast.

-Hers

We are also delving into its male counterpart, 101 Fat-Burning Workouts & Diet Strategies for Men by personal trainer Michael Berg and the editors of Muscle & Fitness magazine.

Ready for a nine-week program that will help you burn off that unwanted flab and get fitter, leaner and stronger than ever before?

-His

I am usually pensive about one-stop-shop books due to the all too often fact that they lean on a gimmick to grab your attention, such as “Hollywood Cookie Diet Plan.” But this is not the case here. First of all, these books are teaming with vivid motivational instructionalphotos of exactly what they are asking of you. Gorgeous fit bodies are cascaded amidst the pages to keep you motivated. Along with eye candy, you will find the vital mind candy that will make you eye candy: great realistic and truthful content. The best of information falls on deaf ears if the readers find themselves lost in translation. Clarity is critical to a good workout book. The contents of both publications are organized very effectively, each catering to the needs of its male or female audience. Our guides both include sections dedicated to proper resistance training, nutrition, fitness calendar, cardio, recipes, and very useful tips and tricks. The “Hers” edition is more focused on various cardio, leaning out techniques, and recipes, while the “His” edition is heavier on muscle gaining, performance techniques, and muscle maintenance.

Burn 300 calories in 20 minutes . . .

-Hers

These Muscle & Fitness strategy books have cutting-edge techniques for getting lean fast with real science. They are designed appropriately for those serious about reaching their goals, providing industrial-strength training and professional nutrition advice. “The 101 workouts and diet strategies include expert training advice, cardio programs that incinerate body fat, meal plans to help you look and feel your best, recipes that make eating healthy taste great, and so much more!” I recommend these two programs because of their effective, thorough content, clarity, beautiful layout, and all around intense approach to fitness. You have reading to do. Now get to work. (Sources)

Written By Anthony Heredia

Losing Weight Through Better Sleep

Welcome, Agenda readers, to another exciting look into your health and fitness goals. We are venturing into an absolutely critical aspect of your health this issue, your beauty sleep. Did you know that beauty sleep really does keep you thin, radiant, productive, youthful, and cheerful? Next time someone interrupts your beauty sleep, make sure to make it crystal clear that next time they wake you they will not be around for a second chance. Successful weight loss consists of exercise, nutrition, and self-maintenance. Along with hard hours exercising and proper nutrition, you need to heal and rest your body so that it can make the changes you are asking it to make. Sleep deprivation has been proven to significantly accelerate the aging process, increase fat storage, along with a plethora of other adverse effects. For this article we will focus on weight gain and how to reverse this tragedy.  Visit my “Health 101” article for the full story on sleep deprivation and its other vast negative effects on our bodies. Simply to name a few, sleep deprivation results in

o      Mood swings

o      Accelerated inner and outer aging

o      Hindered work performance

o      Depression

o      Impaired memory

o      Magnified alcohol effects on the body

o      Inaccurate hunger signals

o      Interference with the body’s ability to metabolize carbohydrates

o      Increased craving of carbohydrates and sugar

o      Body’s reduced ability to balance fat and muscle

o      Possible increased blood pressure

o      Increased fat storage

o      More in “Health 101” article . . .

Help me!  What is going on inside me?

Deep sleep is repair time.  Your body needs to catch up from the day’s toils. Should you deprive it, it has no choice but to defend itself, resulting in a destructive attack on your health and beauty. This is not personal, ladies; it is survival. Yes, I know that in today’s fast paced busy world sleep can be a very inefficient part of your schedule, but consider the price you are paying. “Sleeping is so overrated” seems to be the LA mantra. Sleep deprivation interferes with the body’s ability to metabolize carbohydrates and causes high blood levels of glucose (sugar), which leads to higher insulin levels and greater body fat storage. The hormonal imbalance between leptin and ghrelin is actually the largest internal battle, transforming you into a carbohydrate/sugar craving, fat storing machine. You also begin to produce reduced amounts of growth hormone, which is what helps regulate the body’s proportions of fat to muscle. This is reducing the muscle that helps you burn that evil fat in the first place.

What is all this hormone imbalance talk about?

Leptin and ghrelin are our focus.  They work in a kind of “yin and yang” system to balance the feelings of hunger and fullness. Ghrelin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract and stimulates appetite, while its counterpart leptin is produced in fat cells and sends the signal to our brain that we are full and have no need to store fat. Leptin and this full feeling are triggered exclusively by good fats (Omega-3s, fish, nuts, oils, etc) and fiber. This all ties together as we introduce low amounts of sleep. Sleep deprivation drives leptin levels down, resulting in its taking longer to feel satisfied while eating, driving you to overeat. Lack of sleep also causes ghrelin levels to rise as a self defense mechanism, increasing your appetite for high-fat foods to hit that satiety sweet spot. I am sure I do not need to clarify how stressful it can be not to be able to get much needed sleep. Stress itself increases your cortisol levels, a stress hormone that also puts our bodies in self defense mode by turning the fat storage dial up a few notches in bad times. I hope by now I have convinced you that sleep is not a luxury, it’s a necessity, ladies and gentlemen.

You win, I am listening. How do I fix this?

Sleep! More specifically you need deep recuperative sleep, also known as Delta sleep or NREM sleep. This is the stage in sleep where you dream.  This is also the time all repairs take place. Deep sleep is your goal to reverse this process. “Infants can spend up to 50% of their sleep in the REM stage of sleep, whereas adults spend only about 20% in REM,” states the National Sleep Foundation. Please take the time at night to make an event of sleep. Turn off all ambient light and rude distractions in the room (including those you share your bed with) so that your body can reach this delta stage of sleep. If you need white noise (TV or sound) in the room to fall asleep, you will be fine as long as you set a timer for your appliances. You will need to consistently achieve a full night’s sleep for at least one solid week for your body to begin to regulate itself once more. When your body receives consistent rest, it will do the work for you. Combine good rest, proper nutrition, and some regular fun exercise, and I guarantee you a summer body to die for. Look forward to a future article on tips and tricks to getting in a full night’s sleep without sleeping the whole night.

So how much sleep do I need?

According to the National Institute of Health, infants usually require about 16-18 hours of sleep per day, while teenagers need about 9 hours per day on average. Most adults need about 7-8 hours of sleep per day.  According to Dr Colette Bouchez of WebMD, “A presentation at the 2006 American Thoracic Society International Conference showed that women who slept 5 hours per night were 32% more likely to experience major weight gain (an increase of 33 pounds or more) and 15% more likely to become obese over the course of the 16-year study, compared to those who slept 7 hours a night.” Reaching your 6-8 hours of sleep a night I know is easier said than done, but as you can see, it is critical to your health, beauty, and in this case, your waistline.

If you enjoyed the information here, make sure to take the in-depth tour in “Health 101” for more reasons to treat yourself to a good night’s sleep.

Sweet dreams, Agenda readers. (Sources)

Written by Anthony Heredia

An Interview with Toni Lee – A Fitness Model with a Healthy Affirming Message!

Toni Lee is a stunning result of good old hard work, sweat, knowledge, and determination. Today we delve into the world of our multifaceted in-demand fitness model Toni Lee. You can find this talented hard body in numerous spotlight articles and photo spreads for popular magazines, such as Muscle and Fitness, and LA Sports and Fitness, among many others. Do not be fooled by the pretty face and vicious set of six-pack abs, as she doesn’t stop there. Toni is also a passionate TV/film producer, a hilarious comedian, and an accomplished musician, mastering the piano, harp, and flute. You would never know how talented this rock-hard beauty is by simply looking at her—looks can be so deceiving. This wonder woman has taken her healthy affirming messages into television appearances on UPN Channel 13 News and KTLA’S morning shows. Toni Lee lives by the philosophy that success is created by action. She is the perfect example of her own positive thinking as a successful businesswoman who shows that working on yourself each day results in a healthier lifestyle.

So, Toni, we have learned that you are a global woman. What common health concerns have you found in your travels?

I began to see the world when I worked as flight attendant some years back. It let me see the world through new eyes. I grew greatly as a person, being able to appreciate the things in my life after seeing so much of the world. I sawcommunities that have very little and those that had a lot and realized how lucky I am. No matter where I was I loved experiencing and appreciating every culture I came across.

At what age did you first begin to take interest in the health world and why?

I have always been athletic; it goes back to my track days in high school. I focused on taking my fitness levels to new heights around 17 years old to gain more confidence. At age 20 I decided to break boundaries with my body by pushing the sculpting of my body. I am very competitive, and my brother was a big weight lifter. We would work out together and I would find myself competing with him. He motivated me to achieve bigger and bigger gains in sculpting my body.

How did you first begin to learn about fitness? Was it a book, a fitness magazine, another fitness buff you know . . . ?

My brother started the ball rolling, but like anyone else I picked up the “Muscle & Fitness” magazines and started reading. I started meeting more and more body builders being so fitness-conscious, and they became a huge expert source of information. I just started to ask a lot of questions from body builder friends who knew what they were doing.

What period in your life would you say has been the most difficult in obtaining your fitness goals?

Right about now actually, its getting hard. I am “plateauing” now because it is hard to keep up an aggressive workout plan when you have so many projects on your plate. I still keep up my fitness, but it’s not the same right now because I am so busy right now. To compensate I make sure to eat extra healthy, though.

High performance fitness takes so much inner and outer strength. Is there anyone that you look up to for strength, encouragement, or advice when you are in need?

My parents are great for encouragement when I am down. My boyfriend (Jace Hall) is a huge support system. He really motivates me. Jace is very fitness and health conscious, so it makes life so much easier being on the same page inthat aspect. We have a much healthier relationship, I think, because we both love to be healthy and fit. We cook 90 percent of the time to stay at our healthiest. I do the cooking, though. I just love to cook.

What advice do you have for the average fitness enthusiast who really wants to get a long, lean body like you but has no idea how?

Go to the source. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Make your way to the bookstore, grab a fitness magazine, or ask someone who already knows. Find professional advice from someone who has been there and done that to save yourself time and frustration. Personal trainers that know their stuff are a huge asset in achieving fitness goals. They save so much time. They are worth the money—they are saving you a lot of time and keeping you safe.

As a fitness model you are exposed to your share of ups and downs in the industry, I am sure. Do you have any advice for other aspiring fitness models?

Staying fit and beautiful is the basics. You need more. The key to achieving your goals in fitness modeling is in your personality. You need to radiate positive energy. If you don’t feel positive, it shows up on the film, and you lose work. People with great energy can pick up those that have bad energy real quick. (Smile.)

What is a typical day in the nutrition and fitness life of Toni Lee? I read that you enjoy jujitsu.

I eat very healthy. I am always cooking so I can control what goes into my body. I stay as organic as possible with a good balance of carbs, protein, and good fats. I don’t do the starvation methods. I believe in balance. I eat evenly throughout the day to keep my metabolism running, and [I] drink tons of water. Some consider me boring because I don’t drink alcohol—and I don’t smoke—but I call that being healthy and smart. I work out at least five times a week, mixing up my cardio and resistance training throughout the week. Yes, I do practice martial arts. I am disciplined in Japanese jujitsu and tae kwon do, so watch out.

The world’s health needs so much attention. In your opinion what would you say is hurting us in the U.S. as the world’s worst?

Fast food by far is a big problem; bad food choices. People need to educate themselves better on what goes into their bodies. We really need to learn how to eat to better our lives. You need to love yourself first.

So what is in store for Toni Lee? What projects are you working on currently?

Well, I have several Hollywood production projects right now. I first focused on creating and producing a screenplay based on a very unique yet true family. It is a hilarious comedy. I love comedy. Life is about being able to be happy and learning to laugh, not taking yourself too serious. You can find a lot of projects at www.myspace.com/tonitv. Take a look.

I am also taking my gaming to the next level. I am a huge video game fanatic, Street Fighter IV being my favorite game. I am working on becoming a “professional Gamer.” There is a lot more to that, but you will need to stay tuned for more juicy details. Keep track of my adventures at www.twitter.com/tonitv. It will be well worth your time.

Visit www.myspace.com/tonitv for more on Toni Lee.

Interviewed by Anthony Heredia

Written by Anthony Heredia

Book Review – A Mercy – Tony Morrison

Set in America in the mid to late 1600s in the early days of slavery,A Mercy is Toni Morrison’s latest novel. It begins in medias res, a literary and artistic technique where the narrative starts in the middle of the story instead of from its beginning. The characters, setting, and conflict are introduced through a series of flashbacks or through characters. And so it is with A Mercy. It is 1690 when the story opens. The narrator, Florens, sixteen years old, is traveling to find the blacksmith, a free black man who has never known slavery, to bring him back to cure her mistress of smallpox, believing him to be a savior because he cured Sorrow, another servant, of her “boils.” Thus, it is quite sometime into the narrative before the reader feels confident that she or he understands what is going on. Of course, this adds to the suspense that is so like Toni Morrison. In addition, it is rife with superstition and multiple meanings (symbols), reminiscent of her Nobel Prize winner, Beloved.

Florens at six years old was given up by her mother to Sir, Jacob Vaark, in an act of mercy. Her mother had been taken from her country, Africa, by Portuguese slavers and brought to America, where she remained in slavery. At the “mercy” of the men on the plantation, she had two children, one a little boy, still a baby in her arms, and Florens, now six years old. Sir, orphaned himself at an early age, was a farmer from the north, having inherited property from a relative. He prospers, tires of farming, and becomes a trader and moneylender, finding enjoyment in the traveling his newfound interest requires. We meet him as he travels from his home in the north to Maryland to collect a debt. Expecting to be repaid in money, he ends up accepting Florens, not as a slave but as a second helper for his wife and Lina, an American Indian servant he had purchased to take care of his home and to help him on the farm. When he traveled, he preferred to leave his home and property in the care of women instead of men. Though he hired men, none except the blacksmith, whom he befriended and trusted, ever spent the night on the property.

When it is clear that he is not going to get his money from De Ortega, the plantation owner, he asks for Florens’s mother and her little girl, having no use for the baby boy she holds in her arms. Florens’s mother, having “read” something in Sir and surmised that her daughter would be better off away from the plantation, where the only future she has is the repeat of her own fate, has deliberately placed herself in such a way so as to attract his attention. The owner says no to Jacob’s request, as she knew he would, so she offers Florens instead.

Florens’s future does look bright for ten years as she joins Lina, Mistress, and now Sorrow, another female taken in by Sir as an act of kindness to help his wife take care of the farm in his absence as he travels. Then Sir dies; and the women are left unprotected, with an unpredictable future ahead of them.

Other characters include two indentured servants, Willard and Scully, and of course the blacksmith, who is better off than any of the other characters. Florens has fallen in love with him and believes he will protect her. She willingly travels to find him to bring him back to save Mistress from death, as he was too late to save Sir. Mistress herself had traveled from England to marry Sir, having been sold to him by her father.

When Florens returns to the farm alone?the blacksmith having preceded her alone to arrive at the farm more quickly?things have drastically changed. Mistress, previously kind, has turned to religion and has become quite harsh in her treatment of the servants, who before were treated not as servants but as equals and friends. (What is Morrison saying about religion and its influences in a person’s life?) But the blacksmith has turned against Florens; and she returns to the farm only because she has no place else to go. It is in the last chapter, narrated by her mother in a flashback, that we understand the “acts of mercy” most of the characters have undergone, only to be left awash in the end.

Each of the characters in one way or another has been the receiver (victim?) of some sort of mercy gone awry. Lina, “Messalina,” the American Indian, was rescued by the Presbyterians when her family died and her village burned. At fourteen, she was bought by Sir from the Presbyterians to tend his home and help him with the farm.

Rebekka, later called Mistress, without much of a future in her own country, came over from England on the Angelus at the age of sixteen. She had been sold to Jacob in the New World. She travels by ship across the water, is married, and becomes the mistress of Jacob’s home.

When she becomes ill and delirious, she imagines she is visited by the seven women who came over with her: Anne, sent away in disgrace by her family; Judith and Lydia, prostitutes ordered to choose between prison or exile?Lydia was accompanied by her daughter, Patty, a ten-year-old thief; Elizabeth, who said she was the daughter of an important Company agent; Abigail, who was quickly transferred to the captain’s cabin; and one other, Dorothea, a cutpurse whose sentence was the same as that of the prostitutes. Rebekka alone, her passage prepaid, was to be married. The rest were being met by relatives or craftsmen who would pay their passge.

Born to Rebekka and Jacob was first a daughter, Patrician, who lived to five years old while three brothers after her died from one or another illness. Patrician died as the result of being kicked in the head by a horse, and something inside Rebekka began to die. She never recuperated. Then Jacob died, and the three servants were left to fend for themselves.

Sorrow, born and raised on Captain’s ship, not as a daughter but as perhaps a future crewman-to-be, was saved from drowning when the ship foundered and everyone else on board was either killed or drowned. She was difficult to train and was thought to be cursed, always seeming somewhat unbalanced. Dressed always in boys’ clothes, she was fit for little else than sewing. Until the accident, she had never set foot on land. At eleven years old, she was accepted by Sir and taken to his home to assist with the farm and to help his wife when her saviors wanted to be rid of her.

“Such were the ravages of Vaark’s death. And the consequences of women in thrall to men or pointedly without them” (155).

Reviewed by Lee L. Peoples