Site of the Week - Rush Holt

In honor of President’s Day, which is tomorrow, I’ve decided to choose a more political website that I visit every so often. He may not be Jersey-born but he's all for the Garden State. Rush Holt is the Representative for the 12th district of New Jersey. Holt does tons for his Constituent (voting members of the community). You can research NJ grants (both business and school related), find information for reservists and National Guard member, get a nomination to attend a Military/Navel/Air Force/Marine academy and get help with Medicare problems. You can even order a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol.

One of the most recent topics he talks on is the importance of scientific research. Investing in this would not only provide jobs for those involved in the research of new discoveries but help the state by finding new innovations to get the economy back on track.

You wouldn't be surprised to find that he is co-chair of the Research and Development Caucus, and sits on Congressional caucuses dealing with issues from Renewable Energy to Biomedical Research to Women’s Right to Choose. Rush Holt is a man for the people. If you're a student you can apply for an internship in his office or any political associate.

Check out his site, Youtube channel and remember his name when election time rolls around.
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Now playing: Bayside - Carry On
via FoxyTunes

Love Songs: #1 "I Bruise Easily"

My last song on this list is:

"I Bruise Easily" by Natasha Bedingfield.

This is probably the most played song on my iTunes. In the video she walks back to her hotel room in Geisha wear. She then begins to shed her mask and clothing leaving nothing but her bare and vulnerable soul. This song is about shedding the doubt, the fear, and taking a dive with love. But this openness and vulnerability will leave you exposed to possible heartbreak. Sometimes it's worth it, though. This pop song was released on her album "Unwritten" then as a single in 2005. The single didn't fair very well, mainly because it was already on a full album, but it's still an amazing track.

(FYI, listen to the song with headphones on. After the violin solo, if you remove your right earpiece, you can hear her sing part of the chorus a cappella style).

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE! If you don't have someone, take time to appreciate yourself as well as the people in your life that you can always depend on.
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Now playing: Natasha Bedingfield - I Bruise Easily
via FoxyTunes

Love Songs: #3 & #2 "Daisuko Da Yo" & "You"

These songs really tug at your heartstrings.

#3: "You"
This song is from the anime show Samurai Champloo that played on Cartoon Network nite-time block for awhile. It’s the ending theme of episode 17 from the show. It's sung by Kazami and she has a cute video for the song. It's a sweet, soft, lilting tune that talks of how a person can make you feel when you're around them. You can feel their presence like you do a summer breeze and the sunlight.

Samurai Champloo is a show about a girl who meets these two samurai (polar opposites) and she swindles them into helping her search for the Sunflower Samurai. It's a cooky adventure and the music is pretty funky; it's a mix of hip-hop and R&B with Japanese lyrics.

#2: "Daisuko Da Yo"
This is a song by a Jpop (Japanese Pop) artist Ai Otsuka. It’s about reminiscing and thinking about someone who’s not with you anymore. Even though it’s sung in Japanese, you can still feel the love and tenderness in her voice. This multi-talented artist from Osaka, Japan has more than music going on. At age four she played the piano, she writes her own lyrics, acts, has a radio show called “Otsuka Ai ai-r Jack”, does graphic design work in her CD booklets and website, and has a column in two Japanese magazines ("Love Column" in Zipper and "Love World ~ Eye Love Pictures" in B-Pass).

Check out the English lyrics and some of her other CDs.

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Now playing: Ai Otsuka - 大塚愛 - Daisuki Da Yo - 大好きだよ
via FoxyTunes
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Now playing: Samurai Champloo - You
via FoxyTunes

Love Songs: #4 "#1 Crush"

Today's song is by Garbage and it's called "#1 Crush". This song should have been called Obsession. It talks of all the things a lovesick person might do for the object of their affection. There's some lying, crying, praying and even a little killing. It evens has this sensual darkness in the opening. I think most people can relate to that feeling of love and passion crossing that line into crazed acts. Probably only with secret crushes or unrequited love. If you haven't Facebook stalked someone, walked past their apt, called and hung up, or Googled their name, then you haven't been hopelessly infatuated or head over heels in love.

You might have heard this song in the soundtrack of that 1996 remake of William Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" with Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio. It won three U.S. Billboard awards (Hot 100 Airplay, Hot Modern Air Track and Top 40 Mainstream). The group consists of Scottish vocalist Shirley Manson, guitarists Steve Marker and Duke Erikson, and Butch Vig on drums. Check out this song and some of their other tracks.
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Now playing: Garbage - #1 Crush
via FoxyTunes

Love Songs: #5 "Obsession"

This month I’d like to do a series of my top 5 fav love songs. Some of them may not be so lovey-dovey or sane, but love is involved.

The first song is “Obsession (I Love You)” by Amiel. This song is on her Audio Out album. Amiel aka Amiel Muki Daemion spent most of her childhood in Australia, where she played in a few movies. 20 years later her music career took off. You may have heard her song "Meet Me in the Red Room" from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. Amiel's songs are mostly played in Australia and the UK, but it doesn't mean you can't find her cds. Just hop on Amazon or iTunes and you're bound to find them.
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Now playing: Amiel - Obsession (I Love You)
via FoxyTunes

Belated Tech Thursday - Netflix Instant Watch

I wanted to do something a little different for Tech Thursday. Instead of a tangible piece of technology, I want to rate an online system.

Netflix "Watch Instantly"

You can finally watch Netflix movies instantly on Mac computers. But there are a few system requirements you need before you begin. You gotta have an Intel-based Mac with OSX, use the internet browsers Safari or Firefox (who's not using Firefox these days), and at least a GB of ram. Other than that, your good to go.

When you add movies to your Netflix queue, certain movies have a play now button next to the title. Most of the older movies or animations will have this option. When you click play for the first time, a program will download. Then the browser will check your internet settings and start playing your movie. I thought I'd give it a try and watch "Justice League: The New Frontier". It was a pretty good movie and the system worked really well, eventhough my wireless connection was cutting on and off all day. If you lose your connection you can click the refresh button and it will start from where you left off. Pretty awesome, huh. Be mindful that I was watching the movie on my iMac with 4GBs of RAM and cable internet.

So, if your looking for some entertainment on your comp and movies in your mail, get Netflix.
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Now playing: SunSet Swish - Mosaic Kakera
via FoxyTunes

Taxes, taxes, taxes

I just got my taxes done and I got back a pretty sweet amount. Usually I wait til April 14 to get them done, but I kinda needed that $$$ asap. I held onto every receipt, every donation and any purchase towards my 3D class that I could think of. Which got me wondering: how many people miss some common deductions? So, I made a list:

Lucy's Top 5 Overlooked Tax Deductions

1. Any out-of-pocket medical expense including eyeglasses, prescriptions, anything dental, tolls, parking, and mileage for trips to health facilities, doctor's offices, laboratories, etc.
2. Any money paid for a class or training course you took for your career.
3. Membership dues to any organization for said career such American Institute of Graphic Arts, Siggraph, or Association for Computing Machinery as well as professional journals, magazines, and newspapers that are job-related.
4. Any books, computer, or software brought for said career while attending said training course.
5. Mileage incurred in performing charitable activities.

Happy Tax Refund, everyone!
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Now playing: Quindon Tarver - Everybody's Free
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Congrats, Steelers Fans!!!

Steelers won the SuperBowl!!!

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Now playing: The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go
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