Female Lemurs Adopt Male Coloring to Escape Competition from other Females

I love National Geographic! There is a lot we can learn about the natural world. And in many cases by understanding the world around us we can learn much about ourselves. Check out the article on red-faced lemurs of Madagascar.

"Male and female red-fronted lemurs—with red and white heads, respectively—drink from a pool in Madagascar in an undated photo.Young female red-fronted lemurs adopt male coloration to avoid conflict with their aggressive female groupmates, a study released in July 2008 found.The young females grow into their true colors once they are old enough to withstand hostility from their elders, experts say."

To Read the rest of this National Geographic article Click Here

What's your Horoscope say?

Here is my horoscope for my sun sign and and my rising sign. Check out your Horoscope for this Leo Moon at These Little Drops.


Aries: Ah, satisfaction is sweet! This new moon wants you to sit back and appreciate the result of some sustained patient effort. (A brief pause in your headlong drive.) Something you’ve been nurturing a while. Congratulate yourself on your commitment and accomplishments thus far and then consider carefully the next few steps since it’s not quite ready yet. It’s nice so far though, isn’t it? How can it be refined? What would make it even better? More enjoyable? There’s a finishing touch that will really fulfill your vision and possibly earn you the acknowledgement and admiration you’ve been hoping for.

Taurus: Looking good, Taurus! Very good. You’ve been making tough decisions, but the there’s no arguing with the results. Now is the time to really consider your creative vision and not to compromise it for anyone. There is something you’d really like to try. Something new? Try writing it down. Just to give it form. Then share it, later, with someone you trust. See what they have to say or what they may have to contribute. It’s still your vision, but I think others would like to see it too. Makes it more real. There’s no hurry. Take your time. Hide out at home for now. You’ll know when it’s ready to take flight.

Gemini: This is not a time for indecision and over thinking, but a time to sit and be in the wisdom of your experience. What have you learned so far Gemini? Try not to be distracted by other people and their opinions just now. Write down seven things you know for sure. Things you don’t bother to flip flop over anymore. It’s time for a little discipline and an assessment of your own research. A time will come when you will really have to stand by what you say. You have the knowledge to back it up. Do what you need to feel super confident about it. It involves being flexible, but firm, and doing your homework.

I can't even tell you how excited about this movie coming out

Yes I am a Harry Potter Geek and Yes I have read all the books.

Take the Pledge.

Hey,Right now the murder rate in Oakland is over twice what it was last year. 80% of murders in the Bay Area are folks under 28.

Young people are struggling to find real opportunities and hope.Even though it's pretty grim out there, I just signed the "Silence the Violence Pledge," and and joined the movement for real solutions for violence in Oakland.

Silence the Violence:

1 - Holds exclusiveÊconcerts and parties to create more positive recreation in Oakland.

2 - Brings together community members to for peace vigils and other events.

3 - Is launching a new CD featuring Bay Area legends like Mistah FAB and Goapele.

4 - Helped win a community based mediation program in Oakland and fights for better programs and more recreational opportunities for youth.I hope you'll sign on too and part of the solution.

5 - Nina Parks just took the plegde. And is working on a new project. I would like to do a portrait series and a collection of stories of the friends and family left behind by those who have lost a loved on to violence. If you have a friend or family member who you've put on a memorial tee please share your story with me at LADYBIRD420@gmail.com.

Although we need to silence the violence, we do not need to stay silent about violence. Please share your stories, share the story of your lost loved one/s.

Check it out:http://www.bayareasilencetheviolence.org/

Thanks!

Respect,

Nina Parks

LADY BIRD'S YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THIS

Lady Bird Dreams in Color: Pain is Relative

Lady Bird SF is a supporter of the tattooed community. For me being tattooed allows me a place for things in my life that I want people to know about me but don't feel the need to tell everyone all the time. It allows people to see and seek if they want to know. Also I feel like it's a rite of passage in many ways.

The other day I went to Skull & Sword to get inked up by tattoo ronin, Lango.

Who you can now book an appointment with at Skull & Sword or at Seventh Son Tattoo

Brazilian born, self-taught, self motivated tattoo G.

I first fell in love with Lango's style at the Skin Vandels Art Show in San Jose.

He did an amazing painting of a women teathered to a stake in the middle of the ocean in green water color. (I'm still saving to purchase the painting LOL) But something about Lango's style was very intruging to me. Now almost a year after the art show I finally got my Lango tattoo.

I've been tattooed before. I have some small momentos of time on my wrists, inside arm, and above my elbow. But non of those tattoos were as intricate as my latest. Lango's tattoo guns were locked and loaded.

I sat down in the chair and the journey began... I have to admit this tattoo hurt and I was having trouble quiting my mind and sitting still which is a must when you are getting tattooed.

So let me explain the ink. 1 women 2 faces. In my life I've delt with some craziness as well as created my own drama and stress but at the end of the day all the stress and pain and struggle has made me. The flower is a Sampaguita the national flower of the Philippines and 1/2 of myself. The flower symbolizes a deep promise. But to me it's not of a marital promise to some one else. It's a deep promise to myself, to stay forever true.

Still I Rise

I remember 7th grade litature class at the second middle school I attended. The teacher assigned us a poetry assignment, we had to memorize a poem and recite it in front of the class. I hadn't really interacted with the class except for the first day when they announced that I was the new kid and made me spew a few facts about myself.


I remembered hearing a poem at the black history assebly at my old middle school that touched me even deep even though I'm not of African decent. It spoke to me as a women and as a women that knows that she strengths that she shouldn't be ashamed of. It was a long poem and a lot of work to momorize it fully. I recited it in front of the mirror, I recited it on tape and played it back for myself and recited it along with myself. I figured I better go big or don't go at all.

The poem, "Still I Rise," by Maya Angleou. Here it is:


STILL I RISE
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.


Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame - I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain - I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.


Leaving behind nights of terror and fear - I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear - I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

You are what you Drink

I LOVE THIS BOTTLE! The Love Bottle is the creation of Miss Minna "The Love Bottle Lady." I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Minna at my day job, while she was picking up some cloths to rock on her interview on channel 7's The View from the Bay. She was telling me about her vision and her journey up until her walking into the store. We swapped inspiration and came to find out that we have a similar vision of promoting the transfer of positve and healling energy.


Minna's found her inspiration in a study by Dr. Emoto who has dedicated his life to studying the effects that the environment, sound vibrations and writing has on water. Check out more on his life's work at http://www.hado.net/. So in a similar spirit, Minna took Dr. Emoto's findings and applied it to her own life and created the Love Bottle after writing the word "Love" on her water bottle. And after a postive response fron frinds and strangers she founded Love Bottle inc.


So, me and the "Love Bottle Lady" swapped creations. And ever since I've been drinking more water, and wondering why I haven't felt this good about drinking water before. I've written all over my bottle with reminders to myself and words of motivation and affermation. I advise everyone to get a Love Bottle. It's good for you and good for the environment. Check out http://www.lovebottle.net/ for more on "The Love Bottle."

Finding My Signature

So if you haven't noticed my logo keeps changing. And I've come to the decision that it will just keep changing as Lady Bird SF grows and developes. This is one of the first logos I attempted, I hand drew the feather and the bottle and used basic computer text for the lettering.

I felt like I was selling myself short by not developing my own text so I tried a signature... Still working on the Graphic Design skills.

And this... this is the latest developement of LBSF as a Monogram.Stay tuned to see what Lady Bird SF comes up with next.

Lady Bird of the Month: Hopie Spitshard: THE DIAMOND DAME

The Diamond Dame, Hopie Spitshard's first solo album written by Miss Kae Hope herself and produced by the effortlessly, effervescently talented 6Fingers... The Diamond Dame is 13 original tracks and features Del the Funky Homosapien, Bambu of the Native Guns, EyeASage, Topkat, Kid Static and Smigg Dirtee.

The Diamond Dame is NOW AVAILABLE at Amoeba in SF & Berkeley and at various Rasputins around the Bay. Also, The Diamond Dame will soon be available through iTunes and CDBaby in the next couple weeks. Finally, you can grab em at www.ladybirdsf.com starting today!

Hopie Spits' has recently been submitted to URB's NEXT 1000 at www.urb.com/promotions/next1000! check out the artists and vote.



2ndly, Hopie recently had the opportunity to chop it up with MAMA herself -GDK of MAMA Clothing. Check out my exclusive interview at www.MISSCREW.com!

Lastly, She has an album release party at Etiquette Lounge in SF on July 17th! Be there check her out and then cop her album, support your independent artists!



www.myspace.com/hopiespitshard
www.youtube.com/hopiespitshard

The Streets of Gold

Saturday July 5th, 2008 the fam at OH DANG! Magazine hosted "The Streets of Gold" a show case of local talent and young entrepreneurs at Cocomo's on Indian St. in San francisco, so of course Lady Bird SF was there. Here are some flicks from the event.

Working on the presentation.
Set up by the Miss Amanda Lynn
Who has a gallery show opening in L.A. August 2nd, 2008. I'll Post the flier when I get it.

Red Velvet Cupcakes, Cremesicle Cupcakes, Strawberry Cupcakes, S'more Cupcakes, Cookies, Cookies and Cream Cake, and Brownies provided by Soul Desire Desserts.
The culinary master mind behind Soul Desire, Miss Lelani (you can find her shining like a star at Delessio Bakery on Market and Gough St.)

The wonderful Ladies who keep me on point and pushing towards success. Shannon (left) and Best Friend of 11 years Hopie Spitshard

A.Lynn & Gretta two talented women.

My adorable nephew Kahlil heard his mama recording "Married to the Hustle"
"Better tuck in your chain, I like them shinny things." -EyeASage

Elizabeth Travelslight and Fam

With performances from Hopie Spitshard with her Hype Man and mi familia MC Krush eLs

Their were other performances but I couldn't leave my table so I missed the photo ops. But Check OH DANG! Mag for full event coverage or Guerilla Busfare.

2008 Baby! We're taking over.