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How My iPhone Got Semi-Stolen at Starbucks

It was a perfectly glorious sunny Monday afternoon. Murphy's Law has been in effect for me for about two weeks now, so it was no surprise that my internet went out on Monday morning at 11am. When I have several deadlines swirling around at once, I try to schedule out my day, and cannot waste one hour. Normally, if my internet were to go out, I'd take the subway down to In Good Company and work in their delightful space. But I didn't want to take the subway time, so I went to my local Starbucks at W. 103 and Broadway.

Everything was jelling, and they even had my favorite type of donut. Many home office workers were in there, and a newly laid off media type who was persistently picking up a young woman sitting next to me, who doubled as an actress and some kind of graduate student. I went to the bathroom, and she agreed to watch my things, which included laptop, bag, iPhone. I came back with no trouble.

A few hours later, the girl had left, and another graduate student took her place. He was the silent type, brooding in his studies, but a frat boy type, so it's odd because they are normally cheery. I had a client call at 4pm, so at 3:50pm, went to use the bathroom. I asked the brooding student to watch my stuff, to which he nodded.

There was a line at the bathroom, of course. The person in the bathroom was taking a very loooong time, and we could hear some running water and other commotion. Usually when this happens in New York, the person is homeless and is bathing. Sure enough, the person came out, a tough looking woman, who was clearly homeless, but her clothes were clean, hair spiked, earrings, that sort of thing. She walked past the drink counter and ask the barrista if he had any leftovers, and he didn't, but told her when to come back. She proceeded to wander around, surveying the room, and took a seat opposite mine at my table, which was now empty because I was standing in line. That was a bummer, because now I had to have a client call with a homeless person across from me, but whatever.

So I left the line to sit back down at my table. I gathered my things to make room for the new guest (at Starbucks, sometimes you share tables when there aren't any left). The plug to my earrbuds caught my eye. They were naked, plugged into nothing. I looked at the table, trying to remember if I put my iPhone in my bag, and then looked at the brooding grad student. He simply nodded his head, and I looked at the woman, and said: "Give it back."

She said: "I don't have it."
Me: "Yes you do. Give me my phone back."
Woman: "Some dude was sitting here"
Me: "No there wasn't. Give it back."
Woman: "Do you want to search me?"
Me: "Yes. Give it back."
Woman: "Ok, let's go in the back" ewwwwwww
Me: "No. Give it back."
She began to stand up. I panicked. I wasn't going to let her get out of there with my phone in her pocket. I asked the brooding grad student if I could borrow his phone to call the police. He ignored me. Incredulous and stunned, I turned to two college age girls who were sitting behind me, and asked them if I could borrow their phone to call the police, because this woman stole my phone. They also were deaf to my plea.

The homeless woman started walking. I doubled round to the front of the Starbucks to block the doors. Or just stand there. I'm not sure if I actually would have held the doors and done something totally foolish looking. I took a deep breath and announced to the store:

"Can somebody please lend me their phone? This woman just stole my phone and I need to call the police."

Finally, another woman held her phone up, saying "Here, use mine." And I proceeded to dial 911, where I was met with questions that weren't getting me anywhere. I told the operator I was at W. 103 and Broadway, and she asked if I was in Manhattan. Are there other intersections of that name? Maybe. Don't they have GPS? Grr.

A Starbucks employee began talking to the woman. He asked her what was she thinking, and to give back the phone. At this point, she was standing at the drink counter, just hanging out there. As I was getting nowhere fast with 911, he suddenly handed my phone to me. I saw my little orange and black WellAlarm sticker on the back, and was hugely relieved. I gave the nice hero her phone, and went to my seat to collapse. I couldn't decide if I should apologize to the brooding grad student for putting him in that position, or for asking what the H$&(# was he thinking to do nothing to help?

At that point, a girl behind me started speaking to me, telling me that this homeless woman is in there all the time, and that she had given her an apple fritter once, and the woman suggested that it would go much better with coffee. She said that from that point on, the woman attached herself to her. The conversation went on for a bit, but I was too rattled to stay, so I packed up my things and headed home.

STANGENESS PART II:

I rescheduled the call, which then affected the timing of another call scheduled for 5:30pm, and went home to check on my internet. Still nothing. I headed off to Sip, another coffee shop in my neighborhood with internet. I had both calls there, continued through emails, edits to Collective-E, and finally called it a day at 9:30pm, which is normal for me these days. At Sip, they are so nice and wonderful, and to pay for my time there to keep the local store alive, I had gone from afternoon coffee time, to a muffin, to happy hour. So, latte, muffin, extremely tall beer.

As I was walking home, actually to pick up a burrito on the way, I saw her - the homeless woman - walking in the opposite direction. I always look at people to see who they are and keep moving. I just like to stay alert. I stared for too long (stunned that it was her), and she stopped, took her ski hat off, and pleaded with me to stop. I thought she was going to stab me, so I kept walking. She begged still, and I did stop to listen. She had been praying to God that she would see me so that she could apologize. She told me about her situation (girlfriend was on the lease, took all of her money from her bank account, can't afford shelters, so can't shower, so can't go to work in Queens, etc.). A few times she may have teared up, but it could have been the cold as she was telling me of her 6 days experience on the street. I told her that despite her losing all of her money, the phone was the way I make my living. She apologized for causing me that stress.

After I accepted her apology, she asked if I would go back to the Starbucks the next day, or whenever, and tell them that she apologized. They know her. I said sure. The words of the girl at Starbucks stayed in my mind, that this woman would attach herself if given anything. So I did not give her anything. I didn't have any change or bills in my pockets, and I don't open my purse in that situation. I felt badly, but she just stole my phone, right? I mean, what would Jesus do? He would probably give money, but I couldn't. I could have bought her some chips at the burrito place, but I feared the attachment.

So I went home and took a hot shower. And I realized that I was taking a shower to warm up, and she couldn't even take one to get clean to go to work. So. I don't know why this happened, but I'm going to remember the things that I do have access to, and be grateful. And I'm going to go to In Good Company when my internet goes out.

Serena Williams Partners with HSN to Launch New Line


s: Lipstick Alley/Jamd

Serena has had her share of fashion hits and misses over the year but the budding clothing designer definitely loves making an impression off the court as well as on. Her first collection, called Aneres, launched in 2004 and now a new line, called Signature Statement, will debut on the HSN network on April 30th.

According to WWD, the items will retail from about $30 to $100 and includes a range of jewelry, handbags and knitwear. Williams herself was quoted in the article sharing that "one of [her] dreams has always been to share gorgeous gifts of fashion and luxury with the world."

Hopefully for Serena, this deal will be as lucrative as past HSN partnerships with Iman and Paula Abdul.

Dinah needs a Katie James Sleep Mask


Dinah needs a Katie James Sleep Mask, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

I think Dinah needs a sexy sleep mask, don't you?

My Mister


My Mister, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Look how his claws just rest perfectly, sunken into my pleather bag.

Liya Kebede to becomes J. Crew "exclusive"



The Ethiopian model and J. Crew creative directory Jenna Lyons have struck up a partnership that will see Kebede become the first model to be the exclusive face of a J. Crew catalog. The deal also allows J. Crew to carry a selection of Kebede's handmade children's clothing line, Lemlem (which is made in Ethiopia.) The line and the catalog will be available in April.

Source: IMG, TFS/fer19dog

Selita Ebanks in Balmain Fall 2008



I like the way the dress is presented on the runway but the look just doesn't translate well on Selita in my opinion. I could see Naomi pulling this one off so maybe it belongs on the body of a rock star or someone with a little more attitude. Do you love it or hate it?

Source: TFS/Fashiongirl_22

Watch Your Inboxes! Daily Candy Spots Some of Best Jewelry - Gemma Redux

Gemma Redux jewelryYou'll notice that the posts on this blog have been slow, well here's why: we're helping whoever wants it with websites. Gemma Redux needed us to convert their cart from a custom constructed shopping cart to ZenCart, and boy oh boy, did we break apart ZenCart and put it back together again to keep her classy design. As we were building the site, mosing along, I got an email from Rachel of Gemma Redux, telling me that there was a good chance that Daily Candy was going to feature them, and can we make the site live asap. As we say at Collectie-E: Yes we can do that! Or as Tim Gun says: Make it work!

So we've been making it work, but how could we not. Gemma Redux designs are like nothing you've ever seen before. Chains, stones, fabric, knots, oh boy. As we were cropping each image to make the detail shot (yes, our handywork is on every single thing you look at there), I have to admit, that I kind of wanted to eat those chains. I know it's weird. But I am so in love with her jewelry. I mean, what makes her tick? What is she thinking as she sits at her desk designing, to create these combinations? And did you know that she was a lawyer in a past life, and just recently quit? Yes! She quit in this economy. And she is a Collective-E member, which means that we pitch members all the time, whether they submit themselves or not (sometimes the pitches are just too quick a turn-around so we run with it), and Rachel was one of the five entrepreneurs and Collective-E members that were included in a Reuters article that was picked up by Forbes.com and Yahoo News right away.

Anyway, so visit Gemma Redux with the rest of the Daily Candy followers. Here's her post! Meanwhile, we'll be typing away on our keyboards and on the phone with servers to make sure that her website sustains the flood of traffic it will hopefully get. Yay!

DSquared2 Eyewear Ad (Tyson Beckford and Linda Evangelista)



I don't usually have much to say about male models but this eye wear ad from DSquared2 really demands some special attention doesn't it?

There's been a lot written about the tendency of some in the industry to fetishize and glamourize violence against women in fashion. While it may be easier for some to write off ads that depict women fighting each other (as in DS2's clothing ads with Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista,) adding a man to the mix changes the tone abruptly.

I mean, I don't even know what to say about this one except, what was everyone involved thinking? I look at DS2's "sexy" domestic violence and wonder what the target audience is. I guess being controversial for the sake of being controversial is the low budget way of generating press in a bad economy.

Peek at Arlenis Sosa ad for Lancome



What can I say, except that she looks gorgeous and I can't wait to see the rest of the campaign. Anyone ever use Lancome products? I seem to remember trying one of their Color ID foundations a few years back but not being impressed enough to buy it.

Source: Dominican Fashion Models

French Revue de Modes #14 - Mia Aminata Niaria



Shiny.

ETA: More featured models from the issue. Apparently there are multiple covers, all shot by Thierry Le Gouès, including one with Arlenis Sosa that has yet to surface online. I have two of Theirry's photography books and I really admire his work but I just don't get the super shiny "slaves toiling under a hot sun" look many photographers and stylistist seem to love on dark skin. It goes way beyond dewy to my eye. I just hope that for Mia's sake there were some towels on the set floor to keep her from slipping under all that body oil.





S: TFS/ONTDfashinfags

Vogue - April 2009 - Beyonce by Mario Testino




She's no Michelle Obama but love her or hate her, Beyonce is probably the top pop star in the world right now and certainly deserves to be on Vogue's cover more than some of the recent cover subjects. Her fashion choices aren't always my favorites but she has taken a few risks here and there that I can appreciate. I also have no complaints about this photo, she looks beautiful and is working that gorgeous blue gown.

I can't even comment on Anna having back to back covers with black women. My jaw, she is on the floor.


S: Rock the Trend, TFS, Lipstick Alley

Amber Rose in Alexander McQueen



She's not a celebrity per se but men's magazine model Amber Rose has been getting a lot of attention since she hooked up with Kanye West and received a complete image makeover in the process.

Here she wears two pieces from Alexander McQueen's 2009 resort line. While I think the clutch is a bit of overkill, I do like the look overall. I just think it's fun and with the weather still dreary where I live, it's nice to see a little (okay, a lot) of color mixed in with basic black. This ensemble literally screams "look at the arm candy!"

I also admit to being a sucker for women with super short hair. I love a baldie.

s: TFS/fashiongirl22, style, dlisted

Essence: Taraji P. Henson, Serena Williams, and Iman




That's a lot of pink.

While I will say that it is nice to see a few unexpected faces on the cover of Essence, I still think it would have been nice to feature Taraji P. Henson (or Viola Davis) alone on the cover. It's been proven a thousand issues over that Essence just hates to put new faces on their covers. I guess this issue is their way of getting credit for three so that next month they can go back to business as usual and split the year between Jada, Halle, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige and maybe Mo'nique.

I haven't seen this one on the stands yet. I wonder if it contains their annual "Black Don't Crack" feature.

Out of curiosity, who would be your top choice to appear on the cover of Essence Magazine?

s: Lipstick Alley

American Laser Center Review: Refund Request Denied

The final verdict on my request for a refund from American Laser Centers is...denied. The office took several pictures of the areas that I was disputing, and submitted them to the "medial team" or whatever. Taking the pictures was the most unprofessional experience ever. This is nothing against the technician who took them, but unfortunately, they did not provide her training with how to best use the camera. If you don't know how to work a digital camera inside, you can get very bad photographs. And for something like this, when you need to capture visual details of your skin, and how many hair follicles are empty, this will not cut it.

The digital camera was tiny, and much less sophisticated than my basic Canon Powershot A610. I had to help the girl figure it out, and ended up taking pictures myself. I took them to the front desk, and politely insisted that the manager download them into her computer so that I could be sure it had happened. When I got home, I took more pictures with my camera, which turned out better and revealed more stubble detail, and emailed them to her.

After about two weeks, she responded with the news that the medical team advised me to continue getting treatments. Mind you, I've had 15 treatments. I'm no scientist, but I don't know the total effects of laser hair removal, and I already have one mystery freckle that wasn't there before, so doing more treatments is not an option for me. She also offered free treatments in other areas, which of course I did not take.

The next step would be to file a claim against them with the Better Business Bureau. My treatment was $2000 and I want half of it back. At this time, I am building and managing two businesses (and a few blogs!), so it's hard to dedicate the time to do this. I have seen and appreciate the comments on this blog from people who want to organize. I am an organizer at heart, but I'm not feeling like I can lead the charge on this one. I do feel that American Laser Center is a total scam and is ineffective for most people. It seems that their training of office people is extremely inconsistent, based on the different stories this blog has gotten regarding customer service.


So at this time, I think my roll in all of this is to be an outlet to people as they do online research, to warn them not to go with American Laser Centers. That everyone wins that stupid $300 prize, and that most likely, you will NOT be done in 6 appointments. If I suddenly learn more about how to file a claim, I may do it. Hopefully there is not a time issue, but there probably is. So...I may be googling it... ;)

Glamour's Salute to American Icons

For their 70th anniversary issue, Glamour magazine enlisted a few celebrities to recreate the images of iconic women. I'm not sure if these particular celebs are the first ones that would have come to my mind if I were charged with pulling this shoot together but the photos are nice enough. You can see the rest of them here.



Not only is Obama the first African American filling the position, but she’s already making best-dressed headlines for a style that ranges from couture to J.Crew. Raised in Chicago, Obama, 45, powered on to Princeton and Harvard Law School before beginning a career during which she met, mentored and married our current President. Hail to our newest smart, opinionated, chic First Lady!

“She has worked hard for everything she’s accomplished, and done so with grace and humility. So many women and girls can identify with her story.”—Alicia Keys, 28, whose most recent album is As I Am



After years of playing segregated tennis, the late Althea Gibson tore down the color barrier of competition in 1950, when, at age 23, she became the first African American to compete in major U.S. championships—and, in 1957, the first to win Wimbledon. In her crisp whites, “the Jackie Robinson of tennis,” as she was known, won 11 major titles.

“She showed women…you can be sweaty, be gorgeous and do a great job.”—Chanel Iman, 19, cohost of MTV’s House of Style



As an aspiring singer, Holiday suffered sexual abuse, struggled with a drug habit and encountered racism everywhere. But the late Lady Day—one of the first African American women to sing with an all-white orchestra—translated all of that pain into some of the most achingly personal songs ever recorded. (Download “Strange Fruit,” which she sang at her 1948 Carnegie Hall concert, and listen for yourself.)

“You can imagine that women at home hearing her songs on the radio felt her vocalizing their emotions and their struggles.”—Paula Patton, 33, of the upcoming drama Push, wearing Holiday’s trademark gardenia in her hair

Gerdy with Snow on her Nose


Gerdy with Snow on her Nose, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Gerdy has been waiting all season for this snowfall...

 
Crossing the Blues, University of the Nations, Social Work and Education