Interview with Laura Flanders, Host of GRITtv

Your Opinion Matters!
Please take a moment to share your thoughts and views with us. Call the station at (407) 774-1085 and let us know what you’re thinking, your opinion matters!


Cool Trivia for September 12th...
1910 – World's 1st female cop, Alice Stebbins Wells, appointed (LAPD)

1930 – Brooklyn catcher Al Lopez hits major league's last recorded bounce HR

1935 – Millionaire Howard Hughes flies his own designed plane at 352.46 mph

1940 – 4 teens, following their dog down a hole near Lascaux France discover 17,000-year-old drawings now known as Lascaux Cave Paintings

1944 – US Army troops entered Germany for 1st time

1959 – Luna 2 launched by USSR; 1st spacecraft to impact on Moon

1987 – Ethiopia adopts constitution

2001 – Article V of the NATO agreement is invoked for only the second time (the other being in Bosnia) in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States of America

2005 – Israel completes its withdrawal of all troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip


Topmost Recommended Movies...
1. The Final Destination
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. Halloween II
4. District 9
5. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
6. (500) Days of Summer
7. The Time Traveler’s Wife
8. Funny People
9. Julie & Julia
10. Gamer
This Week’s Movie Releases...
Sorority Row
Tyler Perry’s I can Do Bad All By Myself


Jose’s Most Popular Stogie Picks...
Maxx
Cuba Aliados Miami Edition
G.A.R. Vanguard
Viaje Cigars
Alec Bradley Cigars – Select Cabinet Reserve
Padilla Cigars – Signature 1932
GDW Cigars – Reserva Miraflor


Highlights of Today’s Show...
September 12, 2009
The Yo Soy Latino show typically opens with a news segment lasting about five minutes into the show. However, today Jose begins the program after his usual salutation by recognizing the many notable guests that have graced the doors of the YSL show. Next, he examines the issues germane to the local and national news followed by a review of the top movies and latest releases, to his favorite stogie picks, then on to today’s cool trivia before reflecting on Haydee’s vogue of the latest fashion trends for this season.

Afterwards he leads his listeners to the substance of the show, the much anticipated interview with Ms. Laura Flanders. Jose opens with, “So tell me, who is Laura Flanders?” And Laura replies I’m a journalist who’s been in the business a long time in television and radio, print, published books and as of last year I’m the talk show host for GRITtv. As the interview moves forward Laura points out that our job as journalists is not to lecture people but to get them to think. We try to hold conversations, and ultimately get them involve. Jose then asks if Laura had listened to the President’s speech. Laura replied, “Yes, I certainly did!”

“The President, as stated by Laura, really reached people’s hearts particularly in the end when he said, ‘We didn’t come here to fear the future but to shape it’. That was a powerful, powerful phrase that speaks to all. It’s that kind of statement that got so many people excited about Barack Obama a couple of years ago when he was running in the primaries. It reminded you that this was a long shot candidature, a far out shot for the Presidency. Who managed to mobilize people by telling them it’s not about me but about us, it’s about we”.

Laura goes on to say, “frankly I think that we would be better off as a country if we could simply get more proper insurance out of the business of health care. The business they’re in is in making money. That requires rejecting people’s claim for health care clearly that’s their responsibility is to their shareholders. I think we’d be better off with a health system that was only driven by the needs of keeping people healthy and help them out when they are sick. The President makes a great pitch for change and that was a good thing”.

Jose returns to the heckling issue stating his concerns pointing out that over the years we’ve never had this type of behavior before to the extent that it’s being shown against this man. Therefore, it leads one to think that it’s more than a policy issue, what are your views?

Laura answers. “I think you’re talking more broadly now. As a journalist we need to focus on the issues at hand and I think the President would prefer that we really talk about the issues that were raised in his speech rather than the heckling that this guy from South Carolina managed to get headlines with”.

“However, if you’re speaking more in the level of civility being shown to this nation’s first African American President, yes there is a different level of civility. Then you’re asking a big question and your question is right on”.

Wow, what a compelling response. First, in examining the dynamics of the health care system to the shrinking views which certain groups have managed to take control of, goes far beyond what can be explained as ‘for the people’ but a deliberate attempt to mask and delay putting a proper health plan out there that will serve the masses now. Second, the respect showed this man and his office.

To hear more on this discussion go to www.yosoylatino.us click on the archived shows and listen to Ms. Flanders speak. She is quite a personality: intense, passionate and poignant. If you wish to watch GRITtv on television or satellite television depending on where you live, it is GRITtv on Dish Network channel 9415 nightly at 8 pm and all day segments of the show will appear or online at grittv.org. Watch and be a friend! Or you can write comments on the segments or suggests stories they could cover at laura@grittv.org.


Haydee’s Slice of Fashion...
A Splash of the 80s
September 12, 2009
This season’s silhouettes call for a splash of the 80s. As you know September marks the beginning of the fall season and all that surrounds you are the summer months still blazing on while the rest of the world embraces autumn. So for all the fashionistas out there it’s going to be a bit tricky just because fall fashion usually consists of multiple layers and unless you’re in an air-conditioned building multiple layering just won’t work with this heat. However, looking good is still going to be okay.

You will find some of the styles for this fall have shoulders as wide as a coat hanger and hemline up to there, mixed with influences of menswear and exaggerated proportions and you have a revitalization of the 1980s, even the thick platform soles and sky-high heels are back. Everything is coming up 80s this season.

It’s not unusual for designers to scan the glossary of the past to revive the present. For example if you take certain styles from other designers in that period—like Thierry Mugler’s big shoulders to Christian Lacroix short pouf skirt with crinolines underneath that harked back to the 50s, Dior with his new look of 1947 to the brash metal mesh of Gianni Versace's glam years. Combine any three ideas together from those designers and you can actually complete one outfit which will give a modern version of the '80s vision.

While cardigans are still cool, the jacket is back in earnest. Tailored jackets with pockets are what’s in. The new jackets are snug, not oversize (except for those shoulder pads). Yes ladies, shoulder pads are back just like the return of the Grecian dress. Who would have thought that the Greek-goddess look would have become a serious contender for today’s closet space and yet it is.

So here's a quick overview....
COLORS Black is fail-safe, but there are other sober options, like black and white, taupe or light brown, and rust. Fresh ideas include greens (and variation of greens), burnt umber, tan, mineral-gem shades, and sparkling metallics.

JACKETS These are yours for the picking, from the boyfriend blazer to the sporty biker jacket, the snug-fit tailored or double-breasted oversize. They need only one thing to make them look right for the new season: shoulder pads.

PANTS AND PANTSUITS All the summer trouser shapes are still around—tapered, slouchy, harem. Last season's harem pants will look fresh with a taut top or a tailored jacket.

DRAPES Dresses are the most obvious choice, but drape tops can be worn with slender pants to fine-tune the silhouette.

SKIRTS The swag skirt, folds dropping asymmetrically is part of the drape story. But there are other alternatives to consider: short bouncy skirts to the pencil skirts—all slim, elongated, over-the-knee shapes and easiest to wear with a tunic top or a belted jacket. Consider urban shorts, if you have great legs.

Keep in mind that it is how you wear them and what you pair them with that will make the difference, but know your body. If you feel heavy, go easy on all over draping. And last but not least, if there is one thing that I know will make your look modern and won't cost more than a visit to the hairdresser, it is a new hair do.

Well that concludes our show for today. We hope you’ve enjoyed this hour with Jose and Haydee and the YSL team. Come back next week and share that cup of coffee with us as we bring you another exciting interview.