Wise Words of the Week

"One is not born a woman, one becomes one." (Simone de Beauvoir)

My Favorite New Hair Product--Straight From the Kitchen

Don't know if it's the weather that can't make up its mind or what...but lately my hair has gone from a little oily to a total oil slick. When pricey products like normalizing, clarifying, and dry shampoos didn't make a dent, I reached into my fridge for the box of baking soda. A small handful of plain old Arm & Hammer mixed with the usual amount of shampoo (which forms a light paste) and voila! perfectly soft, non-greasy hair. A box of baking soda costs just pennies compared with a fancy "treatment" product, and after using it each day for a couple of weeks, my hair and scalp are back to normal! And we all know the wonders a good hair day can do.

"Pink It and Shrink It"

That's the marketing credo when the product is a techno-gadget and the consumer is a woman. I guess they figure the typical gal wouldn't dream of touching a computer, cell phone, etc. if it isn't pastel, covered in rhinestones or emblazoned with a floral pattern. Click through this slide show to view some of the worst offenders.

And Now for Your Viewing Pleasure...Health Care

Renowned performance artist Anna Deavere Smith brings entertainment to a less-than-entertaining issue in her new off-Broadway show Let Me Down Easy. Smith takes health care from its political platform and focuses on a very personal perspective in her documentary play that has opened to rave reviews. Read more about her one-woman show here.

Wise Words of the Week

"I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances." (Martha Washington)

A Sad (and Shocking) Statistic

A report on women's health recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO) cites HIV as the leading killer among young women worldwide. The report defines "young women" as between the ages of 15 and 49. It's hard to believe these findings are a reality, considering the public awareness push regarding HIV/AIDS in this country for more than 20 years. However, a significant percentage of these cases are in Africa, where education is so desperately needed. Any student of health communication or media campaigns will attest to the difficulties of creating effective public awareness messages. Be that as it may, HIV/AIDS education efforts clearly must be continued in all parts of the world until this statistic is no longer a factor. Read a related article here. Read the full WHO report on women's health here.

That's All She Wrote, But Did Anyone Notice?

Publishers Weekly caused quite a stir upon the release of their Top 10 books of the year list. The reason: the list was without a single female author. A snub against ladies in the world of serious (read: non-chick lit) literature, or just an unintended omission? Read a take on the issue from The New York Times.

Wise Words of the Week

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)