All for Tony

Last night I sat on the couch with my Mom and she flicked on the 2010 Tony Awards. Now, since I don't get out much to actually see a musical or play, I was watching to see who was wearing what. Over all, I was very impressed by most of what people were wearing, from mini-dresses to ornate gowns, everyone was looking their best. At 84 years old, Angela Lansbury didn't let her age stop her from looking great in red gown. Jada Pinkett Smith (and I have to note her husband Will as well who looked so handsome in his patterned tux) and Camille Donatacci Grammer followed suit in red dresses as well, although Jada's was much shorter and accentuated her toned body with large ruffles. I must say, that although I am not a huge fan of musicals, especially Glee, Lea Michele looked drop dead gorgeous in her golden yellow Zac Posen gown. Gotta say that her bangs worked perfectly with the look and her minimal
jewelry just helped to show off the dress and her figure. Cate Blanchett made a bold move by choosing a sleek and fitted silver blazer and matching pants. I must say that I approve of this look and her edgy bob--it really works for her and I would love to borrow that blazer some time. As for Naomi Watts, I was bored by her subdued nude/blush colored gown and black belt. Lucy Lui on the other hand showed everyone how to wear such a neutral color in her tulle Marchesa gown. And of course, Scarlett Johansson looked sultry and beautiful as ever in an emerald Elie Saab gown; it was also nice to see her flying solo from her Ryan. I can't wait to attend some sort of even where I can hopefully wear a gown like one of these (preferably the yellow Zac Posen).

no such thing as a free lunch

As I was browsing the paper today I came across an article about Chapel Hill offering free lunches for families who demonstrated need. This reminded me of my Poverty and Human Capability class that I took Spring term and all that it encompassed. The class opened my eyes to the issue of poverty in our nation and the problems that exist in the way we measure and handle it. I would attach my final paper but it is 16 pages of my opinion that you proba
bly don't want to read during your summer break. I believe the biggest contributer to poverty is the way children are raised and the places they live; when they have parents who never went to school or value and education that mindset is almost always passed onto the kids. As a college student in the world and economy today, I really understand the value of an education and the necessity of one to truly succeed in life. The neighborhoods these kids grow up in affect them as well, especially when they are gang ridden and surrounded by other families growing up in poverty. There is a ray of light in these situations, that the child will possibly see his current life as one he wants to escape and so he will go on to higher education and eventual escape of poverty, but this ray rarely shines through the clouds. Anyways, the big picture I got out of it and the part of me that really changed is the way I now perceive the poor. I used to look at the man holding the cardboard sign on the side of the road as simply a guy who never got a job or put any effort into his life, but after Spring, I understood that being lazy was rarely the case of people living in poverty. There are many changes that need to be made in our welfare system and the treatment of the poor, many that I fear may never be addressed. If you have a chance to take a course about poverty at any time in your career, take it. It will make you question what the American Dream really is now and how it has changed over time.