Free Makeover from Estee Lauder

With the change in seasons you might be hoping to get your hands on some new makeup, but don't want to pay a pretty penny. If so check out Estee Lauder. Beginning October 16th, the company which owns other famous brands such as Origins, Bobbi Brown, and M.A.C. Cosmetics is offering FREE makeovers as well as glam/professional pics at select Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Saks department stores.

Pros: Free makeover for your profile pic, plus a 10-day supply of foundation to all participants, with NO (I repeat "NO") purchase required.

Cons: The offer is only available at select locations. Unfortunately for me, I can't find a participating location here in West Bumble. Also, the foundations come in a variety of shades that should be able to match MOST brown skin, but I'm skeptical that the colors will match very dark skin. If the names are any indication, I'm not too hopeful. Judging from what I've seen online "Truffle" and "Spice" are the darkest options (disclaimer: I haven't seen them in person). Check out their foundation finder and let me know your thoughts.

Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize?

So call me a hater, but what in the hell was the Nobel Committee thinking in awarding President Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize? Announcing the award, the Nobel committee cited President Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and said that he had "created a new climate in international politics." Not only is the award premature, but how does the committee justify giving the award to someone who is advocating the escalation of a war in which civilians are being killed on a near daily basis? I'm all about recognizing potential, but giving the award to someone because they pay lip service to change is just downright stupid. Please name FIVE things that President Obama has done that warrants his receipt of this award.
Also, I'm no Bill Clinton fan, but damn, even he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize before Obama. I bet Bill and Hillary are silently super pissed right about now. At least Clinton helped negotiate peace agreements in the Middle East and Northern Ireland! Granted, the Middle East peace was fleeting, but that's more than what Obama has done to date in that area. Listen, I campaigned for the man, donated money to his campaign, and I voted for him, but let's stop treating the man like Jesus! I'm also just really tired of people who act like if we are supposed to support him without question, just because he is "progressive," black, or whatever other shared identity I am presumed to have with him. Get a grip people! How can we ever hold the President and our government accountable if we behave like sheep?
Finally, I'm really annoyed by people on both the Right and the Left, who equate criticism of the President or the United States with being unpatriotic. I don't typically like to go around quoting slave owners, but I think Thomas Jefferson said it best, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." So if dissent or critical thinking are equivalent to "hating," then just call me "quirky black hater..."

Hateration

OK. So why is everyone obsessed with terming something as "hateration," or referring to someone as a "hater"? I am over this era of calling someone a hater, just because they dislike something or express a dissenting opinion. As a matter of fact, don't "hate" on me, just because I am a critical thinker. Sometimes so called "hate," is well founded criticism and an opportunity for self reflection. I feel like we've entered an age in which people don't ever think that their ideas or behavior should be challenged, because it's automatically assumed that someone is "hating" on them. Sometimes there are haters, and sometimes you just need to do better. Either way, it's an opportunity for you to examine yourself, and perhaps fuel your desire to succeed.