ECHOES

Michael  Jackson  once recalled that whenever he’d watch James Brown dancing on TV during his childhood, he’d shout at the screen in frustration when they didn’t film his feet. He wanted to learn the moves. “If I had the chance to talk to [Michelangelo],” he told  Oprah Winfrey  in 1993, “I would want to know about what inspired him to become who he is. Not about who he went out with last night, or why he decided to sit out in the sun so long.” In my eyes, growing up a Michael Jackson disciple, the art always went hand-in-hand with the artist, this mythical creature seemingly of another world. From his fantastical face to his fairy-dusted wardrobe, Michael had to look as superhuman as he did to match his incomprehensible talents and the enigmatic phenomenon he was. Watching his interviews, I had similar childhood experiences, only I’d be shouting, “Ask him about his wardrobe!” Hung up on scrutinising his eccentricities, they never did. On August 29th he would have tu...

      Lily McManus and Courtney Dober have called it quits. The  Bachelor Winter Games  couple, who was loved by many fans, announced their split on Instagram Monday. "Wish I didn't have to do this... Unfortunately it's the world we live in, so here it is," Dober, 31, captioned a video of one of he and McManus' first encounters on  Winter Games . "There's probably not many of you who'll understand this or even be able to relate, but Lily and i have chosen not to end our relationship but to continue it as mates," he wrote. "We're best friends and its become clear to both of us that the emotional side of our relationship just doesn't allow us to be the best versions of ourselves." Dober added, "Perhaps in a world where there are no distractions, no life obstacles, nothing else mattered and looking into the future wasn't even a thought, things might be different... but that's not reality and we've decided that this...

Fujifilm appears to have  stopped producing its Neopan 100 Acros black-and-white film . I've lost count of how many stocks Fujifilm has now discontinued. It's the Fujifilmpocalypse! The company has teased the film community with the possibility that it  might resurrect some of its black-and-white films , but I'll believe it when I see it. What I like most about Acros is how images come back with lovely grays across the tonal spectrum, no matter the light. Many ISO 100 films I've used tend to go high contrast in direct sunlight, blowing out highlights, which makes me nuts. Not so Acros. It's also extremely fine grained, so much so that if I told you I shot digital and converted to black and white you might believe me. I've fed Acros into cameras ranging from a simple box with a meniscus lens to my Nikon F2 with good Nikkor glass attached. I've metered precisely and wildly misguessed exposure. Acros handles it all with aplomb. Here, look: Argus A-Four, 2010. A...

After weighing "almost 140 forever,"  Kim Kardashian West  says she's dropped down to 116 lbs. — and now she's sharing more about how she got there. The reality star, 37, posted a glimpse of her workout to her Instagram  story on Saturday. She focused on her legs, and shared part of the rigorous routine: four sets of 15 front squats, four sets of 20 kettle bell swings (she uses a 30-lb. weight) and four sets of 30 hip thrusts. RELATED: Kim Kardashian’s Trainer Shares the Star’s 'Bodybuilding' Diet and Exercise Routine: 'She’s a Workhorse!' In another video the mom of three — North, 5, Saint, 2, and Chicago, 7 months — said her own mom, Kris Jenner, was asking for tips. "@krisjenner over here trying to steal my food plan & trainer" Kardashian West captioned the video with the crying-laughing emoji. She also shared that her "abs these days ... look good" in a selfie style video. To tone up, the Kimoji creator has been working with...

Heart transplant patient Sofia Sanchez had a birthday to remember. Nearly one week after  Drake   visited the 11-year-old  in her hospital room at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, Sofia received news that she will be getting a new heart. In a video posted to Instagram on Sunday evening, Sofia can be seen learning the news for the first time. "My birthday wishes are -- and it did happen, well one of them did," Sanchez says in the clip. "To meet Drake and that one did happen, and it was great. And my other wish is to get a heart -- which is gonna happen soon." That's when Sofia's mom says, "Well guess what, it happened today. You're getting a new heart." Drake and Sofia Sanchez "I'm getting a heart mom! Oh my God!" Sofia excitedly screams. This summer, Sanchez was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition that often results in heart failure, according to the  Chicago Tribune . She underwent transplant s...

It amuses me when women (working women, most importantly) who talk of empowerment and feminism, say “You have to talk to my husband/father about it.” Or “I don’t normally manage my finances.” when it comes to managing their money. Empowerment comes from being curious. It comes from educating yourself, and people around you. Take some time out and do what it takes to know where your money goes. Or what you can do with it. And once you are conversant with the process and the terms, take your mom, aunt, neighbor, friend or relative with you. Help them find out the various accounts they are eligible to open. Help them file their own tax returns. Educate them on how they can manage their finances themselves. Help them take the first step towards doing that. Enlighten them on the various privileges they are entitled to. It might all seem a little too far fetched in the beginning, but a little bit of practice is all it will take, to bring in the transformation. Travel that extra mile and do i...