In a recent ranking of the most powerful woman in the world, and unseating US Secreatary of State Condelolezza Rice, Forbes magazine names Angela Merkel for the top spot. Despite her short time in office, Merkel has been dazzling world leaders, including Tony Blair and getting unsettling back rubs by President George W. Bush, (see picture)

Born in Hamburg, Germany her parents were pastor and teacher. In her youth Merkel was a member of the offical, communist-led youth movement Free German Youth. Educated in Templin and the University of Leipzig, where she studued physics from 1973-1978. After studying at the Central Institute for Physcial Chemistry from 1978-1990, she graduated with a doctorate in physics.

In 1989, she got involved in the growing democracy movement follwing the fall of the Berlin Wall and joined the new party Demokratischer Aufbruch. She was elected to the Bundstag 1990 and made Prime Minister for the Environment and Reactor Safety in 1994. With this new title, she was given political visibility and one of youngest of Cabinet member Helmut Kohl’s protegees’.

When the Kohl government was defeated in 1998’s general election, Merkel was elected Secretary-General of the Christian Democrat (CDU). (The CDU is a male-dominated socially conservative party with deep Catholic roots). Merkel, a Protestant, critized Kohl’s leadership and advocated a fresh start for the party without him. She was defeated in 2002 for becoming Chancellor of Germany, instead she became leader of the conservative opposition in the lower house of the German Parliament.

Not being discouraged by her earlier defeat, she ran again and in September, 2005 she won the CDU/CSU and SPD national election and was chosen Chancellor of Germany. After only 100 days in office, had the highest approval rating among Germans ever recorede for a chancellor since 1949! Many economic commentators have referred to the ‘Merkel Factor’,which has apparently caused a rapid rise in consumer confidence and market spending, ...something we need desperately here in the US. Her recent visit to the White House was in January 2006 for the first time as Chancellor.

Ref. Angela MerkelAngela Merkel visit to White HouseLinks Angela Merkel

Susan was given the name SARK by author Henry Miller who came to her in her dreams. He told her that her artwork will be famous before her writing. In a dream Susan was told “Your name will be Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy” as Miller told her after he passed away. She then went into a courtroom and realized the first letter of each word spelled SARK

SARK has published of over 13 books with circulation of 2 million in print, her famous web site, makes appearances on PBS and frequents radio shows, started in 1989 when she moved to a cottage in San Franciso with one dollar and a falsified check that she sold her possesions to cover the balance. She made enough money from her creative work she completed there to buy her cottage and the building behind it as her home and office.

She writes openly about her life’s challenges whether it be surviving incest, or relentless perfectism. Susan encourages people to write in her books, she cheers inspirationaly for her readers’ creative potential. She encourages people to read things out of order or tap a mid chapter nap. In the pages of SARK, everything is allowed.

At ten years old she befriended an 80-year old man in her neighborhood named Mr. Boggs who fell ill and went into the hospital. SARK sent him letters and homecard cards every single day for a month! When he got out he siad,”Thank you…you saved my life, because no one else came or wrote.” SARK realized right there that if she could do that for one person, ”...what might I be able to do for the world?” For ten more years she procrasinated and overcame self destrucitve behavior before publishing her first book. She had over 250 jobs, traveled the world, had adventures, and a grandfather who told her, ”...to do everything you can think of doing, so you know you don’t want to do them for the rest of your life…”

^{My first two SARK books were “Creative Companion: How to Free Your Creative Spirit,” and “Inspirational Sandwich,” that were processed in her own handwriting and artisitc style. I can honestly tell you that those books helped me overcome my first bout with depression and dealing with my divorce.}

Susan is one incredible, inspirational women. Spirited artist and creator of Camp SARK that produces over 250 products that help creative living and inspire others such as: cards, posters, calendars, lounge and chat kits; they try and make dreams and foster inpsiration giving therapy and comfort to all who read and delight in her work.

The phase,”succulent wild women” and “succulence” are spontaneous with SARK and she encourages everyone to become a member of “the Society of SARK.”

Some of her Published Works:

%{color:orchid}New Creative Companion:Ways to Free Your Creative Spirit
“Succulent Wild Women: Dancing With Your Wonder-full self…”
“Prosperity Pie: How to Relax ABout Money and Everything Else…”
“Eat Mangoes Naked:Finding Pleasure Everywhere…”
“Living Juicy…”
“Change Your Life WIthout Getting Out of Bed: The Unltimate Nap Book…”
“Transformation Soup:Healing for the Splendidily Imperfect…”
“Making Your Creative Dreams Come Real: A Plan for Proscrationators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day%

Ref: Forum QuotelandHayHouseNews ReviewLiving Balance Magazine

Loretta lives in Plymouth, MA happliy married is a mother with three children. One of my favorite lecturers on PBS stations and has helped me numerous times in my life when everything is in funk. Her work constitutes her energenic meeting style as she seeks to improve learning skills and flood a room with enthusium and motivation. Her corporate clients range from Microsoft, IBM, NASA, The New York Times, Fidelity Investments and has done six one women shows on 80 PBS stations across the nation. She has been nominated for local and prime time Emmy Awards and has made countless appearances on CBS, ABC, NBC and it’s affliates.

Plus, she is founder and president of The Humor Potential, a company offering programs for life style management, member of the faculty at the Mind/Body Medical Institute located in Boston, MA. and donates her time to the Self Esteem Boston Educational Institute develops programs for battered women, K-12, and the homeless.

Loretta is best know for her books and is author to six of them: “The Joy Journal,” “Happy Talk,” “Relax: You may have only a few minutes left,” “Life is not a stress rehersal,” Life is Short-Wear your happy pants,”“Squeeze the Day,” and her latest book due for release in 2007 is “Kick up your heels before you’re too short to wear them”

If you have never listened to her speak or lecture then I am sorry because your missing out on alot. Her wonderful attitude and common sense to life so everyone can experience more joy and humor make her a sucess and inspiration to all.

Ref.Loretta La Roche

On June 25, 1894, Annie Cohen Kopchovsky, a young mother of three small children, stood before a crowd of 500 friends at the Massachusetts State House, located in the Boston, MA area; declaring she would cirlce the world. She then climber upon her 42 pound Columbia rode bike and sailed down Beacon Street.

The route was part of a wager that required Annie to not only cirlce the earth in 15 months but, to also earn $5000 en route, as well. It was a test of a women’s strength, mental fortitude and the ability of a woman to fend for herself.

She abanded her role of wife and mother, temporary, she rode a man’s Columbia bicycle, wore men’s bicycling attire for most of the trip and earned her way photographing of herself appearing as an attraction in stores, a mobile billboard, renting space on herself for advertisers. What makes this an even most daring ride was the fact that little Annie had never rode a bicycle before.

Annie was outlandish, brash and charistmastic, a master of public relations, self promoter, and a skillful creator of her own myth by calling herself,” Mlle. Annie Londonderry.”

From Women’s Enews:

“Bicycling Emancipates
Meanwhile, bicycles, with their promise of mobility and pleasure, became synonymous with women’s lib, prompting Susan B. Anthony to say, “Bicycling has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride on a wheel. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance.”

It was easy to see Kopchovsky as the quintessential “New Woman,” the independent, politically inspired suffragist that emerged in the 1890s as a modern answer to the Victorian model of femininity.

It was a title she embraced, she said, “if it meant she could do anything a man could do.”

But, unlike her predecessor Nellie Bly, who traveled around the world for Joseph Pulitzer’s newspaper, The New York World, four years before, Annie’s story has been largely buried, lost somewhere along the dusty corridors of women’s history.”

Now, a documentary of this marvelous woman and her global ride across the earth is being made. Annie was the woman in the, “most extradordinary journey ever taken by a woman,” mentioned by a New York newspaper in 1895. I wonder who in Hollywood will be chosen for the title role in the movie to be made in the upcoming years?

Ref.AnnieLondonderry

Ref.WomenEnewsStoryAnnieLondonderry

Elizabeth “Tina” Fey, was born in Upper Derby, Pennsylvania and considered herself a supernerd in her early college years. She studied drama at the University of Virginia while working days at a residential YMCA and took classes at Second City Television at night. She joined the cast of Second City televison and through the advice of a friend submitted sketch ideas to Lorne Michaels. After Lorne met with Tina and read her work she was offered the job in less than a week. After a few years later, she made history in 1999 becoming SNL’s first ever head female comedy writer.

She recently developed her work for a situation comedy, “30 Rock” for this Fall 2006 NBC season where she writes and stars in the new comedy pilot series. She is married to Jeff Richmond, a composer on SNL whom they met before their jobs at SNL. They have a daughter Alice Zenobia Richmond.

Fey has made a difference at Saturday Night Live. As the first female head writer of SNL and coanchor of “Update,” she has revitalized the creaking sketch show and its signature news segment doused in gallons of satire. Currently nominated for four Emmys, SNL is enjoying its best ratings in years.

bq.http://mytelevision.com/tv_stars/tina_fey.html

History tells us that the real life Evita was Maria Eva Ibarguren born in the tiny town of Los Toldos, near the edge of the vast Argentina pampas. Venturing to America she carved out a career as a radio and film actress, and the press linked her to a number of powerful suitors.

In 1944, Eva encountered a fast-rising and immensely popular politician named Juan Per’on at a fundraisng concert to help earthquake victims. Within weeks she was sharing his apartment. Juan went on to become Minister of War and Vice President of the Republic, but political unrest at the end of WWII eventually led to his arrest and imprisonment. Freed in a populist revolt, Jaun went on to marry Eva and was eleveted President of Argentina.

With a blend of democratic principle and despotism dubbed, “Peronism” Juan Per’on went on to become on of the most admired and maligned leaders of modern era. Eva herself became the object of intense, almost mystical adoration by the country’s common people. She gained international attention during her Rainbow Tour of Europe to promote Argentinan interests in the formation of the Peronist Women’s Party, as well for charitable works among the nation’s poor.

Eva died in June 26, 1952 with terminal cancer at the age of 33. A measure of her enormous appeal among her fellow citizens could be seen in the outpouring of grief that followed her death. Close to one m,illion Argentineans crowded the streets of Buernas Aires for her funeral pocession and an estimated three million filed past her casket to pay her last respects.

Twenty one years later Tim Rice happened to hear a dcoumentary on the car radio, and on the spot, spawned the notion of “Evita, “a musical treatment of her inspirational life.

Ref: http://movies.uip.de/evita/eva/EvaBio.html

Vera Wang is a Chinese American raised in affluent family and attended the Chaplin School and the Sorbonne in Paris, France. As a young girl Vear trained as a figue skater and competed in the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. When she failed to make the U.S. Olympic Team, she turned to her other passion, fashion design. She has designed figure sakting outfits for Nancy Kerrigan and Michele Kwan which made her a household name.

After sixteen years as a Senior Fashion Director at Vogue and Design Director of Ralph Lauren, Vera was frustrated to find any sophistication in the bridal fashion world. So, she went out and designed her own bridal line. Today, through many years of hard work, overcoming many obstacles in the fashion world, Vera designs outfits for the stars like Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey, and Arvil Lavigne. Her line of fashion includes shoes, jewelry, eyewear and cosmetics. You can not talk about the elite bridal gown without mentioning the Vera Wang name and her outfits can cost up to $6,000-12,000. She followed her passion, and redirected it by bringing it to reality. She is a role model for young girls to have a dream pursue it and make it a reality.

Julia Ward was born in 1819, in New York City, into a strict Episopalian Calvunit family. Her mother died when she was young and Julia was then raised by her aunt. At 21 she married the4 reformer Samuel Gridley Howe. Samuel later became the Director for the Perkins School of the Blind. He also thought that women should not speak publicly or be active themselves in causes of the day. Julia wrote poetry, attended church and it became harder to maintin her isolation. Her jounrals indicate that her marriage was violent and at times Samuel mismanaged her inheritance that Julia’s father had left for her. Instead of a divorce, she studied philosophy and several languages, (at a time a bit of a scandal for a woman.)

Her poetry led to working for peace and publishing of a poem, “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” in 1862 and was quickly put to the tune of “Sam Brown’s Body” for the war effort. Later, she became active in the suffrage movement, (movement to gain the vote for women.) In 1870, Julia distressed by her experience of the realities of war, was determined that peace was one of the two most important causes in thw world, (the other being equality in it’s many forms.) She issues a Declaration, hoping to gather together women in a Congress of action. She failed in the attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother’s Day for Peace. Her idea was influenced by many others and in 1912 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother’s Day, only two years earlier was declared by many states.

Ref. http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_howe_julia_ward.htm

Eve was born in Scarsdale, New York and is know throughtout the world as a playwright and feminist activist best know for her play, “The Vagina Monologues,” “The Good Body,” “Necessary Targets” and founder of “V-Day,” a global movement to stop viloence against women and girls. In college she wrote an undergraduate thesis in contemporary poerty as a way of coping with her childhood trauma with a sexuality abusive father.
The Vagina Monologues was written in 1996 as a response to guilt and embarasment that many women still connect with their bodies and their sexuality.The play has been translated into 35 different languages and performed world-wide.
She has received many awards for her anti-violence work, including the 2002 Amnesty International Media Spotlight Award for Leadership, Matrix Award (2002), Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from Middlebury College.%*

Gabrielle “Coco” Channel may have been the most influential and innoivative fashion designer to date. Chanel known for her little black dress and her No. 5 fragrences but, her classic and timelss suits, shoes, purses and jewelry created a fashion revolution.

Her mother worked in a poorhouse where Gabrielle was born and died when Gabrielle was only six. leaving her father with five children whom he abanded to the care of relatives. There she was sent to be raised in a French orphanage and the influence of simplistic and stark dresses of the nuns influenced her future fashion designs. She adopted the name CoCo after a brief career as a cafe and concert singer.

She was hired by Samuel Goldwin to dress the stars for one million dolars, and dressed stars such as Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Gloria Sawnson.

She briefly served as a nurse in WWI and had a brief affair with a Nazi officer that resulted in her exile to Switzerland for 15 years. Upon her return and glory restored over the years a custom Chanel suit or gown could fetch as much as $12,000 or more.

Coco Chanel was a innovator, fashion designer, perfume maker, designing dresses, suits, jewelry and impacted fashion design through hard work and an excellant eye for detail.