Evolution and Flashback

First Date In Brooklyn

2011-11-14T21:31:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago I went on a date, my first date actually now that I think of it. After reading this, you'll probably see why. Yes, I'm 22 and I've only been on one date and it sucked. Anyway, I joined this online dating site out of desperation, loneliness and boredom. I had (and still have) just one friend in New York, and I'm shy so I figured this would be a viable option for me. I had received messages from quite a few questionable characters which was somewhat flattering, but still depressing. Then, I got a message from this one guy. It took me a couple of days to decide whether or not to respond, but since he could spell, wasn't obese and liked art, I figured I'd give this him a try. His pictures were a little blurry, but I thought I spotted a hint of attractiveness in one of the pictures and in my situation, that was enough.

So homeboy (we'll call him Phil) and I were set to meet up for lunch but it had to be early because he said he had work. I was annoyed because this meant I would have to get ready within the next hour. Then he texted me asking me where I wanted to eat, knowing I was new to the city and didn't know of any places. Again, I was annoyed. Then he asked for my address because he decided he was picking me up on his motor scooter. Now, Mama always told me not to give strange men my address, so I gave him a nearby intersection. I reminded him that that it was raining and about 35 degrees outside, but in his mind, that didn't seem to register as "Oh maybe I shouldn't pick her up on my motor scooter," hence his response: "Yea ur gonna have 2 hold the umbrella wile i ride."

"Guess he can't spell after all," I thought. My annoyance continued to grow.

After waiting out in the rain for about 20 minutes, finally an incredibly small and slow motor scooter puttered up to the corner across the street. "Oh, lord. I guess that's him," I thought. "Thank god I didn't dress nice." I walked up to him and he kinda looked me up and down and smiled. "Well, hop on." Luckily the rain had died down and he seemed nice, so I decided to my put my attitude away for the time being. "Wow, you look even better than the picture," he said as I struggled to secure myself on the back of the bike. Wishing I could say the same I just replied with "Thanks...Glad the rain died down. It would have sucked to be drenched on this bike."
"Oh yeah," he replied, "We're gonna have to ride pretty slow since the streets are wet. I don't want us to get in an accident. So...um, where do you want to eat?"

"I don't know of any places. I just moved here."

After a few minutes of awkward silence, I finally said,"Ok, well just take me to an area with a lot of food places and we can decide once we arrive."

Ignoring my request, he said "Oh yeah, there's this one place near where I live. Do you like Spanish food?"

"I don't know. Never had it."

"You've never had Spanish food? Are there no Spanish people where you're from?"

"Not really."

So we rode around for a while. The bike took some getting used to, especially after almost getting hit by a truck a couple of times and almost hitting a lady.

"I guess the cars don't really like scooters too much."

"No, not really."

As horrible as it sounds, the adventurer in me allowed me to enjoy it somewhat. I loved the breeze in my hair and decided that I needed to get a scooter of my own. I started feeling like I was in the middle of some cute overrated little indie flick.

"So are you always this quiet?"

"Not all the time. I'm trying to get used to being on this scooter."

"Oh, ok. Um, you're really pretty."

"Oh, uh thanks."

Finally we arrived at this little hole-in-the wall place across the street from what looked like the projects. When we walked in it was set up buffet style. All the food looked like different stews and nothing was labeled, so when they asked what I wanted, I basically had to point to whatever looked good and they filled the container.

"So um do you want to eat back at my place?"

Now, in retrospect, a smart female would have said no, but I really didn't want to eat there so I said yes. Mama would've been shaking her head.

"Good 'cause I really don't want to leave my bike next to the projects."

We rode to his apartment which was nearby and to my surprise he took the scooter right on the elevator. He said that since it wasn't a real motorcycle, it was classified as a bike and it could be taken inside. When we walked in, he plugged it into the wall to recharge. In the living room was his sleeping sister on the couch and a crying toddler in a playpin. He was probably kind of embarrassed since I had just finished telling him how much I hated living at a house with a live-in daycare because of the crying kids. We went in his room to eat. The walls were covered in his art, mostly consisting of female nudes and aliens. He took out some DVD's and asked me to choose. He put in the movie and we started to watch as we ate. Suddenly, the movie froze, so he took it out to clean it. It still didn't work, so I chose another film...which didn't work either. After a few more unsuccessful DVD's Ocean's Eleven was the only one that worked. The cat sat between us, creating a comfortable barrier. I was sympathetic and even thought "Hmm, well maybe he'd make a good friend." Conversation picked up and he hadn't mentioned anything about the whole bisexual thing on my profile, so things were okay.

After about 20 minutes into the movie, I guess he began catching feelings because he started rubbing by back and trying to kiss my cheek. "I love your nails. I bet girls would kill to have your nails." I looked down at my chipped nails in confusion as I replied "I guess." After a few other odd compliments for attributes such as my skin (which was broken out and peeling from a tan), my hair (which was a mess) and my bony spine, I began feeling as though I wanted to jump out the window and commit suicide. Then he started rubbing his head against my shoulder and his rough chin hairs were scratching me. Scooting over wasn't really sending the message.

"Uhh could you back up a little."

"Oh sorry, I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Sorry about that."

After a few more minutes he started staring at me. I looked at him and he was smiling with admiration as if he was moving in for a kiss. All I could see were his coke-bottle glasses maginifying his eyes to epic proportions, causing him to resemble an anime character. I tried to smile back, but I knew my face more closely resembled the look I give when someone is wearing a bad lacefront asks me if I like their hair. He attempted kisses a few more times, but I kept my eyes intently on the movie. The rubbing and scooting away continued.

After the film, I quickly proclaimed "Well, I gotta get some laundry done, so I'd better head out."

"Okay, I'll give you a ride home."

As we got downstairs, I recognized a dilemma. "Uh oh, where am I gonna put the food?" Finally, I ended up squeezing the hot container between myself and his back.

"Ya know you're really hard to read. I can't tell if you like me or not."

Caught between being desperate for a friend, but not wanting to sound too interested, I awkwardly replied, "Well we just met. The food was good."

"Great!" he replied a little to eagerly for my comfort. When he dropped me off at the intersection, he gave each other a light hug and then I was left to figure out what store to disappear to since it wasn't my actual address. Since I mentioned I was sick earlier, I decided to run into the Pharmacy.

In the following days he texted me a few times...okay a lot. I guess I was taking too long to respond for his liking and I got the inevitable "do i hv a chance w/ u? r u feelin n e thing 4 me?"

After much thought, but not much insight I replied, "i mean, we just met. i don't even know u that well. we could be friends and still chill i guess."

We set up a time to hang out, but he didn't follow through. I asked him why and he said he forgot and had a prior engagement with family. "R u mad @ me?"

I never replied. I was actually kind of relieved and realized it was probably better I didn't subject myself to anymore torture in the name of making a friend. Maybe it was his vindication, or maybe he was actually telling the truth. Either way, my wishy-washiness along with his sensitivity and thirstiness would have made things end far worse later on. As of now, I'm still single and still only have one friend here, but so far that's working out fine. I still have the online profile, but I think I may fare better meeting someone in person…but who knows? I am pretty desperate.

Image: Source

Occupy Wall Street: The ADD Revolution That Needs Some Ritalin

2011-11-06T10:59:00.005-05:00

Back on the 15th, out of curiosity, a friend an I decided to check out Occupy Wall Street's big shebang in Times Square. Although weary of the movement, I sympathized with many of the sediments and decided I should see it for myself. Considering this was more of a rally than a forum, perhaps it wasn’t the best representation of their usual meetings. Either way, I thought this would at least give me a taste.

When my friend and I got there, we were amazed. Times Square was literally flooded with people. While this may sound normal for Times Square, it really wasn’t. You literally couldn’t move. Part of that was thanks to the NYPD who decided that barricading everyone, stopping up the street and blaming it on the protesters was somehow keeping the area in control. I must say, though, it was beautiful to see so many people standing up for what they believed in. I even started thinking “Maybe I wasn’t born in the wrong decade after all.

I couldn’t help but wonder, however, how many of these people were there for the same reason I was...just to see it. I began feeling conflicted because as I looked around people were holding up signs for almost every issue imaginable: racism, the wars, healthcare, government corruption, tending the Fed, etc. Yes, all of these issues are worth fighting for, but I didn’t see a focus. I don’t necessarily believe that a movement should be limited to one issue, but they need to communicate their message better. The problem is, I don’t know if they have one that is straightforward enough. You can have all the passion and dedication in the world, but if you want to open hearts and minds, you have to make sure your supporters are somewhat on the same page. It turned me off a little bit.

To make a long story short, I wasn’t feeling it. It was disappointing because I really wanted to. Maybe it was me being impatient, or maybe I’m not as revolutionary as I thought I was. I do think we’re overdue for some kind of major cultural turnaround, but I don’t know if Occupy Wall Street is it. Maybe its just the beginning. Although I’m not quite down with the movement, I wouldn’t write them off just yet.

Ash In Brooklyn

2011-10-24T20:09:00.003-04:00

Hey friend(s). I'm baaaaack.

I know you missed me, whoever, wherever you are. Oh how life has changed. I would have come to you sooner, but my internet connection is crap. First of all, I am no longer in Philadelphia. After I finished classes in August, I was immediately whisked away to NYC thanks to an internship. This is my fourth week here and it's been well...interesting. Due to time and monetary constraints, I am living at a house in Brooklyn with a home daycare in the living room, so every morning I get to wake up to the sound of screams and crying. Good times.

Since I've been here, I've made exactly one friend, thanks to another friend's suggestion. I've also been on an online date which was, again, interesting. The one part of my life that isn't interesting is my internship, interestingly enough. While there, I get frequent urges to jump out the window, only to realize that there is no window; I'm trapped. I get this odd feeling that my resume was far more impressive than I turned out to be as a person (and my resume is almost as thin as I am).

So here I am, this loser intern on a shoestring budget, largely provided by mom and dad (until the internship is over), one friend, babies screaming, the only non-Jamaican for blocks (just a regular ol' African-American), and well, something about the whole thing feels right. I'm supposed to be here and that's comforting for some reason. I'm thankful my family was willing to help me for these next few months and it makes me determined to make this all worth it. Hopefully I'll find enough of myself to stand alone on two feet.

Along with all the regular BS I spew on this blog, I will be documenting some of my adventures...and misadventures. So much craziness has already transpired, so there shouldn't be anymore long hiatuses like this last one, unless the internet completely shuts down and doesn't work again. Keep an eye out. I'm back. Yeah, I'm serious this time.

RIP Amy Winehouse

2011-07-23T18:19:00.001-04:00

In her honor, here is my favorite Amy song, Love Is A Losing Game:

Help Wanted

2011-07-07T19:24:00.003-04:00

Not that you care, but here's an update on my life. I wish I could somehow make this sarcastic and snarky like most of my other posts, but I can't because I'm actually serious...kind of.

Right now I'm interning for an online magazine. It's really fun and the place has a really nice laid-back vibe (just my style). While I enjoy it, it leaves me with little energy for my personal blog, but I'm still trying to keep it up. I'm also getting my final classes out of the way before I graduate in August, but I'm more fearful than excited. I'm applying for jobs and not hearing anything back and I really DO NOT want to have to return home. I guess its the typical story for a college senior these days.

My real intention is to move to NYC, but my ticket would be a decent paying job and that's hard to come by. Maybe I'll just get a retail/food job in downtown Philly, get a cheap apartment and just stay here a little longer. I don't know, everything is up in the air these days.

Its an interesting time, though. Since I'm graduating a semester late, many of my friends/acquaintances have left Philly, so it's kind of lonesome. People are changing, entering and exiting my life. Nothing is certain or permanent anymore. My safety net is wearing thin. My mind is progressing and regressing simultaneously at optimum speed, keeping me in the same tired, confused parameter.

The idea of starting another blog has been brewing in my head, as well. Now I know you're thinking, "But Ash, you barely update this one." but to that I say "Well, this is a personal, semi-anonymous blog and there isn't much I can do with it. Also, most of the time, I'm not sure what to put on it because it has no real focus." I want to come up with something more "official" that I can do something with. I also like to make fun of things, so it will be satirical in some way. This idea has been brewing in my head for a while now, but it needs some steam. If you got any ideas, please feel free to share (though I doubt you will because no one ever comments even though I see I have readers based on my stats. C'mon people don't be shy!)

So yeah, that the present "me" in a nutshell. Nothing special in the grand scheme of things, but astronomical from my own egocentric perspective. Peace.

Les Twins

2011-07-01T12:14:00.003-04:00

I've been seeing videos of these guys here and there for a minute now, and they totally deserve a post. If you aren't already aware of the awesomeness of Les Twins, you're in for a treat. If you already know about them, you're still in for a treat.

Les Twins is an amazing, internationally acclaimed French dance duo of 22 year old identical twins, Larry an Laurent Bourgeois (hence the name, Les Twins).

Underground Symphony

2011-06-08T18:22:00.002-04:00

Now here's something that looks pretty cool. Underground Symphony is a documentary about a group New York subway performers, which includes Jadon Woodard, the poet I featured a while back. Apparently, he left Philly, moved to Brooklyn and joined this group of artists.

An everyday commute in New York City can be daunting, monotonous and quick, but when a subway performer enters your car, you know, whether you enjoy it or not, your commute will now be anything but. It takes a certain type of person to live in New York City and it takes a special kind of musician to be able to perform underground on the hustling subway platforms.

"Underground Symphony " is a short documentary that takes a look into the life of these mysterious subway serenaders.

I hope this documentary has a large viewing audience and inspires people to listen more closely to the plethora of sounds surrounding them. By supporting my documentary, I'll be able to take the finished project to a number of different festivals and viewing platforms. I have an amazingly talented crew who volunteers their time, but festivals, DVD packaging, meals, transportation, marketing materials are a little harder to fund.

So view, enjoy, tell a friend and support!
Directed and Produced By Natasha Rivera

Kickstarter Profile

Stan Wars

2011-06-08T17:21:00.004-04:00

People with lives may not be familiar with the following phenomenon, but those of us who don't, probably already know what a "stan" is. According to Stan-Wars.com, a "stan" can be defined as:

...an overzealous and overly devoted fan of a celebrity. The word stan is derived from the Eminem song of the same name. Stans will spend all day looking for news and videos because they want to know everything about their favorite as it happens.

Stans are the ones who troll message boards, blogs and Twitter day-in and day-out to praise their favorite celebrity and curse out those who don't (the antonym for a stan is a "hater"). A stan war can sometimes run several pages and hundreds of insults before it finally diffuses. For example, a typical Rihanna stan may say something like this:

"b***h, rihanna is selling millions of records and selling out shows. if she cant sing then y da f**k is she making her millions while your fat a** is sittin at home hatin. ha! rhi-rhi is the queen and there ain't nothin ur b***h a** can do about it."

Ring a bell?
Anyway, theres this website called Stan Wars that puts the whole thing into perspective in a hilarious way. Personally, I wish I had thought of it first. Here is a funny hypothetical Twitter stan war of theres between Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross: queenaretha vs. missross.

Image from Mrs. Grapevine

In Case You Need to Glue Your Eyelids Open...

2011-05-30T11:04:00.002-04:00

I saw this on TV last night. I really can't even think of anything to say. Just watch and be amazed:

RIP Gil Scott-Heron

2011-05-27T23:08:00.004-04:00

Wow, I'm just returning from this impromptu NYC trip I took. I get online and there it is. Gil Scott-Heron has passed away.

More from NPR

R6 Cypher

2011-05-24T20:25:00.002-04:00

Good hip-hop is not dead. It lives. And it may live much closer than you think it does. Personally, I'm more of a soul/jazz listener but I really can enjoy some good hip-hip when I hear it, and I love cyphers. They kind of fascinate me because I am in no way capable of doing what they do.:

The R6 is a bimonthly MC cypher that will be filmed in various locations around the city of Philadelphia. During each session, we will feature five guest MCs, allotting 16 bars per person. In addition to the MCs, the R6 will also feature the talents of local producers. The showcase will be taped every first and third Sunday of the month (beginning in March) and the footage will be released via various media outlets (i.e. YouTube, hip hop blogs, facebook, etc) the Wednesday thereafter. The R6 will be an invaluable opportunity for local artists and producers to expand their network, gain exposure, and perfect their craft. We are striving to feature the dopest MCs, producers, DJs, and videographers to make the R6 Cypher the premiere MC showcase in the tri-state area.

So far there have been 4 episodes. Here are episodes 1 and 4. You can find the rest on YouTube:

I actually heard about this in a class. We were talking about how independent artists are pretty much shut out of any mainstream avenues of exposure because of the corporate nature of the music industry. We also talked about how local radio doesn't even promote local talent anymore and all that jazz. Of course, thanks to the internet and social media, they get to showcase themselves to the world at little to no cost...if they can be discovered in an endless pool of other people trying to get their names out there. It's tough out there, so I figured why not give them some shine?

Daria...The Movie?

2011-05-23T22:09:00.000-04:00

Daria and I are kindred spirits...only she got better grades than me and she actually had a boyfriend. But other than that, I could relate to her, an alienated teenager who was over the BS before it even started. The thing that got me thinking about it was this little rant I found on Jezebel. Apparently a live action Daria film is being made. I really don't know what to think about this. It's bad enough when they do live action versions of cartoons (most of the time), but then to do it like 10 years after the show has been off air, ugh. Anyway, the rant is actually more about the fact that there are very few well known actresses that could be considered for the role because of the lack of "alternative" actresses. I guess alternative is supposed to mean "quirky" but I hate that word too (especially since it's been used to describe me a few too many times). I guess there really isn't a good word for it. "Regular" doesn't work. I can't really think of anything that means "normal" and "different" at the same time, but I digress. You can have plenty of Michael Ceras and Jesse Eisenbergs, but Hollywood doesn't seem to want any more than a few Ellen Pages. There's no use even throwing black people into the mix. Damn. Hollywood sucks. Why did I major in TV production again?

Oh, and to make this post more entertaining:

Sonia Sanchez Documentary in the Works

2011-05-23T19:48:00.002-04:00

Poetry fans!
There's currently documentary in the works about Philly's own Sonia Sanchez! I would post the teaser, but I can't embed the video. Here is the link: BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez

Please watch the video because even the teaser is entertaining. I can tell this is going to be a great finished product. For those who don't know much about her, this is the description from the site:

BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez

A new documentary—now in production

by Barbara Attie and Janet Goldwater, with Sabrina Schmidt Gordon

Poet, playwright, teacher, mentor, activist. Sonia Sanchez plays all these roles. For her, writing is both a personal and political act: She raises her voice in the name of black culture, civil rights, women's liberation, universal literacy. She is among the earliest poets to have incorporated urban black English into her poetry; she was one of the first activists to secure the inclusion of African American studies in university curricula. Deemed "a lion in literature's forest" by poet Maya Angelou and winner of major literary awards including the American Book Award, 76-year-old Sonia Sanchez is best known for 16 books of poetry that explore a wide range of global and humanist themes, particularly the struggles and triumphs of women and people of color.

BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez, a one-hour documentary, will examine her contribution to the world of poetry, her singular place in the Black Arts Movement and her leadership role in African American culture over the last half century. Despite her achievements, there is—as yet—no major film documenting her life and the impact of her work. Our documentary—the title is drawn from Sanchez's second book of poetry, We a BaddDDD People, which picks up on the street usage that subverts the word bad to mean good—will look at Sanchez as writer and at the groundbreaking artistic and political movements she embraced and influenced. At the heart of the film will be her performances: Her powerful "spoken word" reading style often segues into song or chant and can include instrumentation and spontaneous or choreographed dance.

Are You a Producer or a Consumer?

2011-05-21T14:18:00.002-04:00

I wanted to attend the Punk Rock Flea Market today, but when I got online to check the address, I found out that it's actually tomorrow. I was bummed out and ended up spending the day indoors with my best friend, the internet. (Sad, I know.) Upon surfing the web, I came across this really cool article about a non-profit program called Hack/Change that aims to help close the gap in the digital divide. They offer free web design and programming training to students so they can use their skills to help improve their communities. Here is the full article originally from Noire Digerati:

Nerd Culture finds its way into the trenches of Harlem, NYC

May 12, 2011

Words by: Dionne Walker

In a digitized world, Sekai Farai has emerged as a high-tech fairy godmother. She spots would-be beneficiaries on the streets of New York City - a teen in a Best Buy electronics store, for instance - and asks them a simple question: Are you ready to become a producer of technology, not just a consumer?

Those who answer yes are offered a golden ticket of sorts, invited under Farai's wing for a pro bono curriculum of high-tech training designed to lift urban minorities out of poverty one homegrown innovation at a time. Farai operates Hack/Change, a nonprofit that offers free training in designing, programming and marketing new technology. In exchange, students pledge to use their newfound knowledge to create tech startups and products that can improve their communities.

She's still at the very beginning of reaching her lofty goal - only 30 students have made it through the first segment of her nine-month curriculum - and faces an uphill battle as she targets communities that typically exist on the losing side of the digital divide. Within a year, however, the 28-year-old hopes to release a small army of multicultural creatives versed in what she calls the currency of the 21st century - tech literacy.

"Technological fluency is the literacy of this millennial moment," says Farai, adding that minorities must increasingly strive to not only own computers, but put them to their fullest use.

"It's more important for minorities to really think about technology as a way of solving their problems," she said.

Farai sees those problems first hand in her Harlem neighborhood. Among her hand picked students, most are retail workers, nursing assistants or others working what Farai calls "wage labor" jobs. She sees it as a waste.

"Train them to do something where it can change the game," Farai says.

Her "game changing" program is a rigorous one. Students at Hack/Change (the name is part tribute to nerd culture, part recognition of technology's power to transform) meet for three hours, four times a week. Field professionals deliver 15-minute mini lectures on topics like programming, then pair off with students for hands on sessions before repeating the cycle again.

Her curriculum is broken into three progressively challenging segments, each heavy on marketing and tech entrepreneurship. At the end of each three-month period, students are expected to produce a project - a website that aggregates popular YouTube videos and lets visitors vote on them, for example. After nine months, Farai says students will be armed with mentors and, ideally, either ready to take on an apprenticeship or even launch their own, community-aimed product.

Until then, the students meet daily milestones. "They're going to write their name with a little message, hack it together and go live - that's exciting," Farai said. The communities Farai targets have had tough relationships with burgeoning technology. For years, studies have found blacks and Hispanics lagging behind whites in access to the Internet.

Smartphones are changing that: A July 2010 Pew found that while nearly half of the Hispanics and blacks asked had Internet access via their phones, though many used it largely to visit social networking sites and lacked home connections for things like updating resumes.

Farai worries it feeds into a longstanding trend of minorities using goods and services, but lacking the know-how to get better earning jobs by producing those services. Farai herself was a late comer to what she calls "nerd culture." Starting out as a teen entrepreneur, she would later head to college and law school. All along, she remained haunted by knowledge of the economic hardships she'd seen while splitting her time between her hometown of Houston and Zimbabwe, her family's homeland. It was while a graduate student at Columbia University, in New York, that she stumbled upon a technology event.

"It just hit me - technology, that's what's up. This is what I need to mobilize poor people," said Farai, who immediately began seeking funding to study tech entrepreneurship and learned there was a lack of minorities on the path. Now she's trying to get more of them to give it a try. But convincing adults to tack on 12 hours a week of brain-bending tech training isn't always easy. Many of her would-be students rebuff her program as too hard, or the realm of the Bill Gates' of the world. Farai says she doesn't press them. Instead, she leaves them with a business card and a choice.

"If you're a programmer, you're not going to be magically lifted out of poverty," she said. "But the reality is, if you're a producer - and you're producing things that people like - you're going to have opportunities." —ndm

Kudos to Sekai Farai and Hack/Change. I absolutely love what they are doing. I could use some free programming lessons, too. *wink wink*
Hack/Change

Greaseless Gluttony

2011-05-21T13:16:00.003-04:00

I watch a lot cooking shows. This isn't necessarily because I love them, it's just that despite having a bunch of channels, I can rarely find anything better to watch. It's not the news, a celebrity gossip show or a reality program featuring has-beens desperate for relevance. Plus it's somewhat educational, and I'm trying to learn to cook for financial reasons. Although most of the recipes are well beyond my skill level, it does help with motivation...or does it?

Anyway, this morning I was watching this show called Hungry Girl and the recipes were downright awful! Her little gimmick ('cause all these shows have gimmicks) is creating healthy alternatives for regular American everyday classics. Now, this sounded like something I'd be interested in since I try to eat relatively healthy since I have stomach problems and can't eat too much processed food. I was wrong. Based on what I saw, she takes regular greasy American food and makes nastier tasteless versions of it. My thing is: Why make nasty versions of fast food when you can make delicious foods that were already healthy in the first place? In other words: Rather than eating onion rings coated in Fiber One cereal, why not just eat some salad as a side dish? I think I was pretty much done when she had a burger at the fast food place and took the bread off and wrapped it in lettuce, saying,"You'll never miss the bun!" If I had to eat it like that, I'd rather go somewhere else, or just not eat. Don't even get me started on her carrying spray salad dressing in her purse. Take a look:

Now maybe I'm being a hater. She seems like a sweet lady and it seems like a lot of people like what she's doing. I just didn't get it. Rather than eat a sugarless, butterless apple pie, I'd rather just eat an apple.

Oldie but Goodie: Last Poets Article by David Mills

2011-05-18T10:45:00.004-04:00

Upon looking up information for my overdue paper, I came across an old 1993 Washington Post article about the Last Poets by none other than the late David Mills (aka Undercover Black Man). Although, they've cemented a place in popular culture most people don't know much about the men themselves. This is probably the best article I've been able to find about their story:

The Last Poets; Their Radical Past, Their Hopeful Future, Their Broken Voice
December 12, 1993
By David Mills, Washington Post Staff Writer
A fat vein, throbbing, rises from his T-shirt collar and disappears into a graying underbrush of beard. His wet brow bulges like an angry knuckle under his brimless leather hat. Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets is hemorrhaging language. "When the revolution comes, guns and rifles will be taking the place of poems and essays ..."

The conga player's hands are speaking in a ceremonial staccato of pops and booms. And Oyewole's vocal partner across the stage, Umar Bin Hassan, is laying down a third layer of sound: When the revolution comes ... when the revolution comes ...

"When the revolution comes," Oyewole's deep, smooth voice continues, "white death will fall off the walls of museums and churches, breaking the lie that enslaved our mothers, when the revolution comes... ." These words were cut into black vinyl more than two decades ago. They're being recited this night before hundreds of wide-open ears inside a Howard University ballroom in honor of Malcolm X's birthday.

"... But until then, you know and I know, niggers will party and bull[ -- ]..." The poet's pace slumps as he repeats the last three words, again and again, a mantra of frustration. A well-dressed woman in the audience smiles with recognition, then mouths it along with him. "Some might even die," Oyewole pronounces, "before the revolution comes."

Precisely 25 years earlier at another Malcolm X celebration, this one in Harlem, the Last Poets came into being. They were products of a 1960s cultural explosion, a big bang of capital-B Blackness and worldwide radicalism. They would become, in turn, one of the most influential underground recording groups of the '70s, combining the romantic rhetoric of armed struggle, the profane vernacular of the streets and the flamboyant performance standards of jazz. Plus a solid dose of African American machismo.

Hailed today as forefathers of rap, the Last Poets may be pop culture legends, but their story is largely unknown, even among their admirers. Perhaps because it is such a tangled story. Seven men in all have recorded as the Last Poets, though never at the same moment. They have feuded among themselves almost from the beginning, their rifts resulting in two competing sets of Last Poets, a court fight, street fights and a lingering rancor over who can legitimately claim the name.

So ... beyond the still-rousing preachments, beyond their standing as elders in "the struggle," the Last Poets can be seen as a classic rock-and-roll tragedy: friendships complicated by ego, ambitions complicated by fame, and the deep desire to come back, years after their time, and do it all again.

"Niggers do a lot of shooting. Niggers do a lot of shooting... ." It is Bin Hassan's turn to take the Howard crowd back to the days. He's doing it with "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution," one of the most famous pieces in the Last Poets canon, and one that epitomizes their use of the word "nigger" -- frequent and damning -- as a symbol for all they see wrong in black people.

"Niggers shoot off at the mouth. Niggers shoot pool. Niggers shoot craps." Bin Hassan stands there in sneakers and well-worn jeans, microphone pressed to mouth. Words fly fast from the loudspeakers -- big, hard shards of sound. "Niggers cut around the corners and shoot down the street. Niggers shoot sharp glances at white women. ... But where are niggers when the revolution needs some shots? ..."

His murky eyes fall slowly shut. His cheeks draw up taut and round. His voice turns hoarse while the percussion simmers and Oyewole bobs and grins, chanting only that word. By the time Bin Hassan rolls into "This Is Madness" some minutes later, his keen, soaring voice is reduced to a rasp, a roar of static in a revivalist's cadence.

The people give the Last Poets a standing ovation.

Birth Up close, Abiodun Oyewole's overgrown beard and booming, embracing voice are even more dramatic. Umar Bin Hassan's opaque eyes and smoky-voiced reticence are more mysterious.

These two men, now in their mid-forties, have done a world of living since they recorded the first Last Poets album in 1969. Oyewole has been a convict and a schoolteacher. Bin Hassan is a produced playwright and a recovering cocaine addict. They count three marriages and five children apiece.

They sit here in a downtown Washington health food store not as relics of the "black power" movement but as active street poets once again, applying a more worldly-wise black consciousness to the crises of a new generation.

They sit here, too, as recording artists with fresh product on the market. Bin Hassan's first solo album, "Be Bop or Be Dead," came out this summer to critical acclaim, and a new Last Poets project, "Holy Terror," is on the way. So when they revisit their past, it's with a mind to learn from the mistakes, to make this comeback thing work. "It's not like shooting hoops," Oyewole says. "It's serious."

Let us return, then, to Harlem, 1968. America was sending men to the moon while tearing itself apart over Vietnam. In big cities, black people were challenging as never before the "white power structure," as Bin Hassan calls it -- the police, the public education system. Art and radical politics had already been forged into a heavy blade by writers such as Amiri Baraka ("We want 'poems that kill.' Assassin poems ...") and Larry Neal. These were, says Bin Hassan, "fellows who made us aspire to a certain standard."

But before that, Oyewole confesses, "I was writing love poetry in French." David Nelson, with whom he worked in an anti-poverty program, was sweetening his own verse with Spanish. "We were trying to woo the ladies," Oyewole says with his generous grin.

Invited to share some culturally correct poetry at a Malcolm X commemoration in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park), Oyewole and Nelson and a third poet, Gylan Kain, decided to take the stage as a group. "But nobody had any idea what to do," Oyewole recalls. "So I said, 'Let's try to sing. "Ooo Baby Baby" or something.' But they couldn't sing, so that was out." Then he remembered a chant sung by Howard University student protesters during their campus takeover of March '68: Are you ready, niggas? You've got to be ready! Are you ready, niggas? You've got to be ready!

"And I thought that was so hip," Oyewole says, grinning again. "I mean, I never heard nothing like that on television. So we sang that as we went onstage. Had the entire park singing that." Oyewole, Nelson and Kain then proceeded to kick their political poems.

"From that moment on" -- May 19, 1968 -- "we got gigs."

They didn't have the name, though. Nelson came up with that, inspired by a poem by South African-born K. William Kgositsile that concludes: "When the moment hatches in time's womb there will be no art talk. The only poem you will hear will be the spearpoint pivoted in the punctured marrow of the villain ..." "Therefore," amended Nelson, "we are the last poets of the world."

David Nelson, ironically, would be the first of the Last Poets to leave. Now a minister near Siler City, N.C., he recalls an early disagreement over the group's direction: Should the Last Poets be a fixed trio or, as he preferred, a "free-flowing" collective of writers? Essentially, though, Nelson believes the falling-out was a matter of "black men just learning to work together."

Nelson was replaced by Felipe Luciano, a Puerto Rican ex-con and aspiring writer to whom Kain had taken a liking. It was this lineup of Last Poets -- Oyewole, Kain and Luciano -- that changed the life of a young man in Ohio named Umar Bin Hassan.

The group was performing at Antioch College, and Bin Hassan, "into my black militancy thing" at the time, was working security. "It just blew my head," he remembers. "I guess I understand what people be gettin' from us [because of] what I got from them. It's that feeling, that very spiritual thing that comes out and just pulls you in and makes you become part of the pain, the diaspora... . That was it. I wanted to become a Last Poet."

Oyewole invited him to stop by the East Wind, the 125th Street loft where the group was headquartered, the next time he was in Harlem. "I left about six months later," Bin Hassan says, "with a book of poetry and a little raggedy country suitcase."

Fissure The East Wind became a cultural epicenter, a space for political workshops and art happenings, where you might find H. Rap Brown or Stokely Carmichael dropping knowledge or see a yet-unknown comic named Jimmie Walker doing his thing. Or witness the Last Poets giving motion to the spoken word.

The father figure of the group, according to the lilting reminiscences of Felipe Luciano, was Gylan Kain, now living as an expatriate in Amsterdam. "If ever there was a Christ, it was Kain," says Luciano, now a TV reporter for New York City's Fox affiliate. "He had an aura around him. Satin blue-black, intense probing eyes, Semitic features, a resigned smile. Humility, compassion. The ultimate poet. And he suffered. His brow exuded that kind of pain."

To illustrate Kain's demanding "honesty," Luciano tells of a poem that Kain wouldn't allow him to read. "Pig Woman" described Luciano's hatred of white women, though he happened to be deeply in love with one. "You must never, ever get onstage and lie," Kain told him.

In 1969, Kain's desire to bring David Nelson back into the group led to a bitter fight with Oyewole. And so the two remaining original Last Poets split apart, with profound consequences. Oyewole took two writers who were hanging around the East Wind -- Umar Bin Hassan and Jalaludin Mansur Nuriddin (then Alafia Pudim) -- and continued as the Last Poets, with the East Wind as their base. Kain and Luciano joined with Nelson, and they performed as the Last Poets as well.

The animosity between the two camps got so intense, it actually came to blows. By the accounts of Nelson and Luciano, Bin Hassan and Nuriddin "jumped" Nelson on the street and double-teamed Kain at the East Wind. According to Bin Hassan, the fights were "one-on-one." "We were young, man," he explains. "It was like a turf war. We didn't see the big picture."

Kain was beaten so badly that his prote'ge' Luciano proposed the maximum retaliation. He was, by then, leader of the Young Lords -- New York's Puerto Rican equivalent of the Black Panthers -- so "there were revolutionaries, black and brown, ready to take them out," Luciano says. But Kain wouldn't allow it. He told Luciano, "The moment we take our brothers' heads, we're perpetrating the evil."

Fame Flash forward to 1990. Something remarkable is going on. Gylan Kain, Abiodun Oyewole, David Nelson and Felipe Luciano are seated abreast in a lounge of some sort, thinking back two decades and trying to make sense of what happened. A video camera is taking it all in. A planned "resurrection tour" has brought the founding Last Poets together for the first time since '69, but this isn't a joyful scene. A brotherly bond is evident between them, but the air is weird with tension.

Oyewole, surprisingly, turns a finger on himself. You see, back when Kain was leading the original Last Poets, he'd declared: "We're not going to do a recording." As Kain himself recalls, with his head hanging heavily and a cigarette smoldering in his grip, "I didn't want any white person being the business behind [us]."

"I understood that," Oyewole says, frowning. "I breached that entire thing when we broke up as the original members of the group and I went on to hook up the other brothers [Bin Hassan and Nuriddin] ... and did an album. Because the white man waved some dollar bills ... and evidently I lost my mind for one minute.

"I didn't get into the Last Poets to become wealthy," he says, stabbing the air. "I didn't do none of this for no fame and glory."

Of course, without the white man's dollar bills -- specifically those of record producer Alan Douglas -- poems such as "When the Revolution Comes" and "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution" wouldn't have been put on wax (and now on compact disc), and rappers wouldn't be sampling them, and folks in 1993 wouldn't fill a Howard University ballroom to hear the Last Poets, and no one would care about these middle-aged men and their bickering.

"The Last Poets" was released in early 1970. Radio stations wouldn't touch it, but it created such an underground buzz in the black community that the Poets were booked into the Apollo Theatre on a bill with Jerry Butler and the O'Jays. The album exploded above ground that summer, catching on with radical-chic whites. "All the razzy, jazzy, sassy sounds of black culture meet and mingle in the chants of these uptown medicine men," opined Albert Goldman in the pages of Life magazine. (He and other commentators tended to ignore the group's less-than-progressive references to homosexuals and Jews.) "The Last Poets" sold more than 300,000 copies.

Oyewole, who brought all this about, wasn't in a position to savor any of it. After cutting the record, he left the group. "I thought I was a fake revolutionary" is what he says now. "I wanted to be a real revolutionary." Instead of rapping about that distant day when guns and rifles would replace poems and essays, Oyewole went down South and ripped off hardware stores for weapons and cash.

Sentenced to 20 years for armed robbery (though he wound up serving less than four), Oyewole was behind bars in North Carolina in 1970, just as his voice was booming from record players across the country. "People coming in the joint talking about the Last Poets, and I couldn't even tell them who I was," he says. He already stood out as a militant from up North. If word got out he was one of them fire-breathing Last Poets, it wouldn't exactly endear him to the guardians of North Carolina's penal system.

Kain, Nelson and Luciano earned their own piece of the media spotlight. They'd shot a movie titled "Right On!" in 1969, but it didn't get much attention until the other Last Poets got hot. It was hailed at European film festivals and by the group's artistic forebear Amiri Baraka. The New Yorker gave it a rave.

Of course, the movie and its soundtrack LP were bankrolled by white people. "Can it be said we went against our principle?" Luciano asks today. "Possibly." Again, though, it allowed these "Original Last Poets" to survive in the mass memory. A lawsuit by the rival group's manager eventually forced "Right On!" off record store racks, but Nelson's "Die Nigga!!!" remains a Last Poets classic. "Niggas know how to die. ... Niggas plan beautiful lives for when they're dead. ... Die niggas! Die niggas! So black folks can take over!"

Recrimination Use of the name Last Poets remains a source of conflict 20 years later. Oddly, the last two men even to become Last Poets -- Jalal Nuriddin and Suliaman El-Hadi -- are the most vociferous in claiming the name for themselves.

Through the 1980s, long after the others had gone their separate ways, Nuriddin and El-Hadi continued to perform as the Last Poets. In 1985 they put out a book of their writings, "Vibes From the Scribes," as the Last Poets. As recently as this year, they gigged at European music festivals. And they've persisted in spite of what Nuriddin has called a "covert conspiracy" to keep them from getting a record deal. "We don't know exactly which federal agency was behind it," he told a reporter in 1986, "but we do know it was a federal agency."

Suliaman El-Hadi, oldest of them all at 57, speaks disdainfully of the 1990 "resurrection tour" by the founding members, which lasted only four dates. "They put in the papers that the Last Poets are being 'resurrected,' when we've been working all this time," he says from his Brooklyn home. "My vibe is, 'Why didn't you jump on board when it was hard times?' They wasn't there to raise money for [imprisoned '70s activists] JoAnne Chesimard or Reverend Ben Chavis, or the Black Panther Party. They ain't been there for none of that... .

"I have nothing to gain by reaching back to 1968 to grab David Nelson," El-Hadi goes on. "Nobody asks me about him when we're onstage." To which Nelson, the minister, responds: "God on high put the words 'Last Poets' in my mouth and nobody else's. Suliaman is not in a position to define who the Last Poets are."

Nuriddin and El-Hadi's beef with Umar Bin Hassan is another story. Record producer Bill Laswell, a longtime fan, had revived the Last Poets' recording career in 1985 with an EP called "Oh My People," featuring Nuriddin and El-Hadi. He maintained a working friendship with Nuriddin, now living in London, ever since.

Last year, as Laswell tells it, he invited Nuriddin, El-Hadi and Bin Hassan to his Brooklyn recording studio after the trio filmed a brief scene for John Singleton's movie "Poetic Justice." The session wasn't fruitful, he says, but Bin Hassan returned the next day, alone, wanting to do better. This, along with his soaring vocal chops, impressed Laswell. Bin Hassan kept dropping by the studio, and thus evolved his solo album, "Be Bop or Be Dead."

"It was like a stab in the back, man," El-Hadi says. "Umar didn't say to me, 'I'm going back over to the studio.' When we heard about it, it was a done deal." This feeling of betrayal is compounded by the fact that Nuriddin and El-Hadi had reenlisted Bin Hassan for "Poetic Justice" as he was rebounding from drug problems. "We reached out for Umar," he says. "We tracked him down."

To Laswell, the solo deal was simply a matter of Bin Hassan's determination and talent. Bin Hassan says it was all about "who was a little more ready to do the album." And it's hard to argue with the finished product. "Be Bop or Be Dead," released on Laswell's own Axiom label, includes remakes of "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution" and "This Is Madness," but its most moving pieces offer mature reflections on life, love and the deadly seductions of the street.

Bin Hassan doesn't write directly about his addiction to crack cocaine, but in person he's straight about it. "I had come out of the streets. And when I got frustrated, when I quit the group [in the mid-'70s], I went back out into the street, man. Dibbling and dabbling, a little selling here, a little smuggling here. I was dancing to the piper, I had to pay the price... .

"I thank Allah for allowing me to get back to this point," Bin Hassan says, "to be able to express myself and share some of my experiences."

Already Bill Laswell has built a second project around Umar Bin Hassan, the upcoming "Holy Terror" album, which includes Abiodun Oyewole and the veteran rapper Grandmaster Melle Mel. They will be called the Last Poets. For this, El-Hadi calls the white producer a "cultural bandit." "God willing, he's going to have a lawsuit on his hands," he says.

"Who is Laswell to come and make a recomposition of our group? ... I'm beginning to believe he's hooked up with the CIA and FBI or something like that," El-Hadi says. "It looks like an organized attempt by the government to destroy the group, to destroy our credibility."

"Being real about it," Bin Hassan says sharply, "the division is based on silliness and pettiness. We're talking about getting black people together. How are we going to do that when we can't come together amongst ourselves?"

Dreams Onstage at Howard University for Malcolm X's birthday, Oyewole spoke of the once and future Last Poets as "a fraternity of brothers." He gave respect to each of the seven by name. This wasn't so much a false public face as a defining bit of wishful thinking.

The next day, he and Bin Hassan met at Oyewole's home with David Nelson and Felipe Luciano to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the birth of the Last Poets. It was "momentous," says Nelson. "We met as men who are living our lives, surviving, respecting one another."

Painful as their past has been, these men still talk hopefully of bringing all seven Last Poets together, for the first time ever -- though Jalal Nuriddin and Suliaman El-Hadi want nothing to do with it. "One of our goals," Oyewole says, "would be to recapture the East Wind, the place we once had as our home base."

David Nelson's dream is for a black philanthropist to come forward and fly all seven poets off to a Caribbean island, or maybe Africa, for a "retreat." There they would settle all their differences, and return a unified group.

"I think what we need," says Felipe Luciano, "is a 'word-chestra,' in which the seven of us, with seven different experiences, get together and lead our folk. Especially our young people... .

"There is nothing -- other than ego, fear, mistrust and pure bull[ -- ] -- that keeps us from making money," Luciano adds. "A word-chestra! With a video... .

"If it can be done with rock groups, why can't we?"
Read other David Mills music articles here.

Even in death, David Mills is giving me a helping hand.

How To Be A Poet

2011-05-16T19:35:00.002-04:00

This post was jacked from Exit the Apple, a blog far better than this one. In case you didn't know. I frequently attend poetry events and open mics (which is why I signed up for that poetry class I miraculously didn't fail) and I must say this list is very very very very accurate. Don't give me wrong, I love good, original spoken word, but a lot of these events are a mixed bag. It can also be somewhat painful to see people with horrible poetry but good delivery get praise over the less showy poets with better material...but anyway, before I get off topic, read an enjoy this satirical take on how to be a poet:

HOW TO BE A POET
Mike Believe brings you a tongue-in-cheek guide to getting your slam on

BEFORE YOU START:
1. Change your name: Sorry to tell you this, but the name ya mama gave you ain’t gonna cut it. The names of gods of lesser known religions always work. Prefixes like “king”, “queen,” “sista” “brotha” or “mother” will do.
Here are some ideas to get you started: Allah-zilla, sista tofu, olos nah, Al Bino, kizer SEW SAY, bob Marley jr jr, omega supreme, optimus prime, M.C. squared, Unspoken word, the brown hornet, SO SO BLACK, NICK SAINT, queen Solomon, Jesus Jackson, brotha twig .

2. Look the part: It’s not what you say, but how you look when you say it. Here are some fashion tips for the aspiring slam star:
- NEVER comb your hair! Grow locks if you can – might be a good prop later on. Remember facial hair works for both males and females.?
- Head wraps & wool hats are appropriate in any season. Looking hot and uncomfortable will subconsciously bend the audience in your favor.
- Wear red black and green wrist-bands. If you’re not black, red gold and green works just as well.
- Approach the mic with a well-chewed chew-stick in your mouth.
- Rock t- shirts of slain political leaders. When Che or Malcolm X are not available, Bob Marley makes a good stand in.

3. Never have paper- Reading from paper on stage makes you appear amateurish and unsure about your feelings. Unless you are an established slammer in which case you can say you JUST wrote this & folks will be even more impressed Remember this is not a forum about sharing your true feelings with a group of caring, listening people? It’s about performance, first & foremost. Your poem about your dear departed mother may be heartfelt and well-crafted, but if you’re shuffling through papers the implication is that she wasn’t good enough for you to memorize the piece.

4. From foreign lands- Whenever possible, be a person of color, preferably from a place with an accent. It makes you seem exotic and people are less likely to question you, as Americans don’t get out much. If unsure what ethnicity to claim, just say that you are half or three quarters of something.

CONTENT
1. Explore the canon with this list of mandatory subject matter:
- I don’t fit your stereotype poems
-I hate (insert name of political leader everyone hates here)poems. No research necessary for this one. Remember this: no one checks facts that are stated loudly.
- The revolution will not be (something that rhymes with televised) poems
- I really love hip-hop poems, preferably referencing old school personify hip hop as a woman be sure not to mention that Common did that on his second album
- Sex poems. In graphic detail, preferably featuring extended metaphors about food, sports, or architecture.
- Poems about poetry
- Being a woman/all things womb related
- Answer poems. These are a great way to ride the steam of last week’s most popular piece.
- Cultural food poems
- Weed poems.
- I love your genitalia poems. This archetype is also commonly known as the ***** poem . It’s the theatrical equivalent of a personal ad. Context and innuendo is everything here. As an exercise, read the package instructions to BEN GAY aloud, really slowly and with many breathy pauses.

2. Never be happy- Misery loves company that’s why poetry readings are packed. On the off-chance that the audience is actually listening, you should never have anything celebratory or particularly happy to say. I did a poem one time about how happy I was and was nearly beaten to death by the angry mob wielding still-hot tea bags and sharpened chew sticks. Keep your tone somber, accusatory, strident, and/or mournful.

3. Have a chorus or hook – If you don’t think your thought will pan out for your full 5 minutes of microphone time, a chorus or hook can be your best friend. Repeat a catchy line, or even just the title of the poem after approximately 3 lines of literature. If the audience looks like they are not buying it, have them say it with you. side note if you’re black you can do an entire poem using the N-word at the end of every line to rhyme, try it.

4. Buzz words you can never go wrong with
- 3rd eye – Cipher – 360º – Higher level – Sista/brotha/queen/king? – Mental? – Womb and/or tomb (together are a lethal combination) – Lick – Amerikkka? – Made-up words that sound like they might be real. Trust, no one will remember them long enough to check when they get home. Try these out: Divionism, angeration, fuckery, de-mock rah see, conversate

5. Other artists names to evoke or quote:?Bob Marley, Che, Malcolm X, Gil Scott-Heron, Nikki Giovanni, Saul Williams, Maya Angelou, Chuck D, KRS 1, Taye Diggs. The key is to try to evoke names of people you are sure not to meet any time soon. Dead people don’t get out much so using their names is virtually risk-free. Feel free to misquote them as you see fit.

PERFORMANCE TIPS
1. Voice Control : Two strategies here, and both are good for emphasizing key points. The first is to learn to yell really, really loudly. Things spoken loudly must be the truth, or at least seem intense enough to pass as such. The second is to hold the last note of every fifth word or so. Yes its cliché but clichés are clichés because they work not matter who does it.

2. The art of the intro: This is the only time people are guaranteed to actually listen to what you have to say, so drag out your intro for as long as possible. Think of it as getting 2 poems out for the price of one. Here are some classic ice-breakers:
- I just wrote this
- Where’s Brooklyn at? (guaranteed to work anywhere in the world)
- I just moved here last week
- I had a hard day today, y’all. . .
- Peace and blessings?
- You’ll have to excuse me if I cant get through this with out crying its about my ________
- This was really hard for me to write
- Have you ever been _________ and _______ happens well that happened to me and I wrote this?
- This one’s for the ladies
- This is my first time up here
- Can u hear me in the back?

3. Closing your eyes and flailing your arms: Arm-flailing is absolutely necessary. (In fact, having hands free to flail is an extra advantage of not using paper.) The effect on the audience member is that you are possessed. Even more effective when combined with closed eyes.

4. Mastering the silent thank you: When the clapping starts at the end of your piece, first bite your bottom lip, then silently mouth the word VELENCIO to yourself while nodding and walking off. It looks like you’re saying something gracious and humble. Try it in a mirror to get the gestures right.

ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
Once you have mastered the basic poetry skills, it’s time to introduce the advanced techniques. The following are major theatrics and are best left for the pros:
Tears -If you can cry on cue, do so at every possible opportunity. Even better if you are already crying when you come to the mic.
Partners/group work- If you are not into sharing the love please don’t attempt.
Singing- Always great for emphasis(no actual singing skills required)
Abstract poems (advanced) This my friend is my favorite of all. You can literally say anything. It’s all in the delivery.
You should see a difference in your fan base within 2-3 weeks by following these simple steps. Results may vary.

This was originally written in 2005, and obviously nothing has changed since then. For more wonderful posts such as this one, please check out Exit the Apple I'm not sure about proper blog etiquette, but I figure they won't mind me using this if I plug their blog.

Um...What the HELL Just Happened?

2011-05-16T18:16:00.003-04:00

Ok, so you know how I was supposed to fail 2 of my classes? Well...I didn't. In fact, my professors gave me A's and B's in those classes. WTF! Is this some kind of reverse psychology thing because I don't think you're supposed to get grades like that without turning in your finals...and oddly enough rather than being happy, I feel 10X worse. So much worse, I'm about to fight my wandering mind and actually finish that 10 pager and turn it in with a letter of apology. Somebody upstairs (or fate, or the energy of the universe, or karma for giving $$$ to homeless people, etc.) has a more twisted sense of humor than I do. This can't be life.

Praying This Isn't My Life in 2 Years

2011-05-12T12:14:00.000-04:00

This web show has recently entered my radar via the blogosphere. It's called The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl. I knew I had to check it out because the name sounds like it should be the title of this blog. I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. Watch and laugh:

You can check out episode 4 on one of the websites.
Awkward Black Girl
Issa Rae

Jesus, Take The Wheel

2011-05-12T11:12:00.000-04:00

(Written last night)
Please God, let ADD be legit. I alone cannot bare the burden of my own stupidity. I spent the last few days at home and got absolutely no work done. I returned to Philly from my hometown today, thinking the semester would be over tomorrow for me to turn in my second 10 pager. As I sat in the school computer lab in a 2-hour Monster Energy fueled Twitter rampage, a monotone voice from above announced the computer lab was closing in 10 minutes and wished everyone a great summer...awakening me to the reality that the semester was ending today, not tomorrow! So I'm currently contemplating whether it's worth it to finish the paper and slip it into the Professor's mailbox. Technically, I'll still get a somewhat tolerable grade if I don't get credit, but I probably would've gotten an A if I had bothered to finish it.

I am 22 years old going on 2 and completely aware that I cannot make it through life like this. How will I ever survive in the struggling job market? Sometimes I wish I could run away to some mythical bohemia somewhere, free of chemical imbalances, social norms and responsibility. Unfortunately, my parents aren't rich, liberal or gullible enough to fund such an endeavor. They're good parents. I’m a flaky daughter. I wish I wasn’t an only child, so my sibling could be the good one and I could go ahead and be dumb with a little less guilt.

In other news: I recently found out I may be decent at writing and I kinda like doing it sometimes. At the same time, I could never have a career in it because I hate writing about things I don't feel like writing about, especially when it's 10 pages. I've also realized that I like the idea of film and video, but I don't know how to do it that well. I'm also not sure If I like doing it all that much. Too bad that's my major. All that's left to have hope for right now is to graduate so I can finally move up to the next social demographic and feel somewhat superior to someone (Isn’t that what college degrees are for these days?)...because my ass sure as hell won't be anywhere near a Graduate school. I just need to see what is like to be alive and not enrolled in an educational institution for once. I need to be freed from the chains of homework!

Fuck school. Fuck adulthood. Fuck bad habits and stupidity. Fuck possible gluten allergies.

Common=N.W.A.???

2011-05-10T13:02:00.004-04:00

Alright, so I still haven't exactly finished that 10 pager, but I just had to post this, you guys. I came across this The Blaze article today and I just can't...I just can't. *shaking my head* Check this out:

Obama to Honor Controversial Rapper Known for Cop-Killing, Misogynistic Lyrics

WASHINGTON (AP/THE BLAZE) — President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, will celebrate American poetry and prose with a gathering of poets, musicians and artists at the White House next Wednesday night.

Professionals Elizabeth Alexander, Billy Collins, Rita Dove, Kenneth Goldsmith, Alison Knowles, Aimee Mann and Jill Scott will read, sing and highlight poetry’s influence on American culture.

And there is another poet whose works will be honored: as NH Journal points out, “One of the poets who will attend is Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. who goes by the name ‘Common.’”

“Tell the law my Uzi weighs a ton … I hold up a peace sign but I carry a gun,” raps Common in one appearance that was posted onto YouTube. The performance, you’ll see, is full of racially-tinged language.
According to NH Journal, Common is an acolyte of Rev. Jeremiah Wright:

It is likely Obama met Common at the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s Trinity United Church of Christ where both men were members. Several of Wright’s sermons caused a firestorm of controversy during the 2008 presidential campaign due to their caustic, racially charged, anti-American tones. One sermon in particular caused Obama a severe headache – the one in which he blamed America for Osama bin Laden’s terrorist attacks. “America’s chickens are coming home to roost,” he said.

Obama at first tried to defend Wright. But when that strategy became untenable, he disavowed him. Not so Common. In fact, Common defended his minister.
“What I picked up from the pews…was messages of love,” Common said at the time. “Anything that was going on against that love he would acknowledge and expose. He’s been a preacher that’s helped raise one of the greatest political figures in the world, and hopefully, the next President. He’s also raised one of the greatest rappers in the world [meaning Common himself].”

…

Some of Common’s poetry could also raise some eyebrows among those who might find cop-killing and racially-tinged or misogynist language beneath the Office of the Presidency.

The White House says the first lady will also hold an afternoon workshop for students from across the country so they can learn from some of the night’s performers.

In 2009, Mrs. Obama inaugurated a White House music series that has celebrated jazz, country, classical, Motown and Latin music. She has also arranged salutes to Broadway, the music of the civil rights movement and Judith Jamison, an Alvin Ailey dancer and artistic director.

If you aren't already amused, check out the comment section!

Yes, I Still Exist

2011-05-06T09:09:00.003-04:00

Yo, it's everyone's favorite suburban misfit, Ash.
Be on the lookout for new blog posts in the near future. Its the end of the semester and I've got shit to say...as soon as I get this late 10 page final paper out of the way. Heres what's up:

Graduation is on the horizon for the summer (at least I hope).
I'm sort of a poet now...even though I mighta failed my poetry class.
I may have a gluten allergy.
I'm not sure if I'm interested in my major anymore.
I have to move in a month or so.
I have no freakin clue what to do with my life.
Bin Laden is dead, but I'm not celebrating because I'm waiting for the backlash.
I don't think my parents like the direction(s) my mind is moving into.
I really miss my cat.
I lost my Droid yesterday.

Honestly, my life kinda sucks right now, but what better way to deal with it than make fun of it? Maybe it'll help save someone from making the stupid mistakes I keep making. Keep me on your radar. Evolution and Flashback is coming back with a vengeance...just not at this very moment.

Just For Kicks

2011-03-20T12:15:00.003-04:00

I'm taking a class about the hip-hop and it's effect on popular culture over the past 30 years. Here's a really interesting documentary we watched clips of, that ties in the role of sneakers. It's about so much more than just shoes, though. Upon watching this, I found myself asking questions about commercialism and authenticity. I really enjoyed it and I think you will too. Here are the first 3 parts of Just for Kicks.

The rest of the film is on YouTube. Just click the video and you should be able to find the other parts on the right.

Creatives Explained

2011-03-07T18:14:00.003-05:00

The other day I found this interesting article on HuffPo about some the contradictory traits of creative people. Give it a look:

"Do I contradict myself? / Very well then I contradict myself, / (I am large, I contain multitudes.)" - Walt Whitman

Recounting his recording sessions with the young Michael Jackson, famed record producer Quincy Jones remembers that "Michael was so shy, he'd sit down and sing behind the couch with his back to me while I sat with my hands over my eyes -- and the lights off." What a contrast from his onstage extroverted, charismatic and bold performance!

In the CNN.com article "The confusing legacy of Michael Jackson," Todd Leopold discusses the perplexing combination of seemingly contradictory traits displayed by Michael Jackson. In explaining his many sides, Jackson biographer J. Randy Taraborelli essentially throws his hands up in the air in exasperation as he tries to make sense of the apparent contradictions:

I think that when you're talking about Michael Jackson and you try to analyze him, it's like analyzing electricity, you know? It exists, but you don't have a clue as to how it works.

Creativity researchers aren't so confused. They have long-ago accepted the fact that creative people are complex. Almost by definition, creativity is complex. Creative thinking is influenced by many traits, behaviors, and sociocultural factors that come together in one person. It would be surprising if all of these factors didn't sometimes, or even most of the time, appear to contradict one another.

As creativity researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi notes in his 1996 article for Psychology Today entitled "The Creative Personality," creative people "show tendencies of thought and action that in most people are segregated. They contain contradictory extremes; instead of being an "individual," each of them is a "multitude."

To me, some of the most fascinating contrasts are those found in creative performers -- those who are constantly on stage and in the public eye. Out of Csikszentmihaly's list of 10 complex personality traits of creative people, which were based on interviews with a wide variety of creative people, I think these three are the most relevant to creative performers:

Creative people have a great deal of physical energy, but they're also often quiet and at rest. They work long hours, with great concentration, while projecting an aura of freshness and enthusiasm...This does not mean that creative people are hyperactive, always "on." In fact, they rest often and sleep a lot. The important thing is that they control their energy; it's not ruled by the calendar, the dock, an external schedule. When necessary, they can focus it like a laser beam; when not, creative types immediately recharge their batteries. They consider the rhythm of activity followed by idleness or reflection very important for the success of their work.

Creative people tend to be both extroverted and introverted. We're usually one or the other, either preferring to be in the thick of crowds or sitting on the sidelines and observing the passing show. In fact, in psychological research, extroversion and introversion are considered the most stable personality traits that differentiate people from each other and that can be reliability measured. Creative individuals, on the other hand, seem to exhibit both traits simultaneously.

Creative people's openness and sensitivity often exposes them to suffering and pain, yet also to a great deal of enjoyment... Being alone at the forefront of a discipline also leaves you exposed and vulnerable.

These three seeming contradictions -- energy/rest, extroversion/introversion, and openness/sensitivity -- are not separate phenomena but are intimately related to one another and along with other traits form the core of the creative performer's personality.

All three are also linked to what Elaine Aron refers to as a highly sensitive personality (HSP). HSP's make up 15-20 percent of the general population and tend to be more aware than others of subtleties, get more easily overwhelmed when things get too intense or there is too much sensory input, are easily affected by other's moods, and are deeply creative and moved by arts and music. Some of the most creative people have very high levels of sensitivity.

A recent study illustrates this point. Psychologist Jennifer O. Grimes went to three major summer metal rock tours, including one of the largest heavy metal/hard rock festivals in the world -- "Ozzfest." Talk about extroverted performers! Grimes interviewed 21 musicians associated with signed touring acts in an isolated room backstage for approximately 20-25 minutes.

Behind the curtain, how did these hard rock musicians describe themselves? Below are some of Jennifer's impressions (for a fuller summary, see here).

Introversion / Extroversion

* All participants showed interest in physical activities but also reported requiring "alone time."

* Most participants reported "overthinking everything" and being hypercritical, exhibiting critical attention to detail and a careful method of planning everything.

* Those familiar only with the subjects' stage persona believed the subjects to be friendly, bold and approachable. The acquaintances who were able to respond to Grimes' interview questionnaire reported that the subjects were not approachable or appeared to hold a condescending view of others until one became better acquainted with the individual. Those closer to the musicians thought they were warm, friendly, calm and pleasant.

* The introverts in her sample seemed adept at using introversion and extroversion in various facades to manipulate their appearances to the various circles of friends, acquaintances and others. As Grimes puts it, musicians were adept at "juggling multiple faces" (I really like this way of phrasing it!).

* Many of Grimes's participants felt as though they were often misunderstood or perceived in a negative light, sometimes due to shyness.

Openness / Sensitivity

* The musicians in Grimes's sample reported being in the zone onstage, and being able to "tune out" external stimuli unrelated to the task. At the same time, Grimes found a lot of the musicians reported a heightened sensitivity to their surroundings and their experience of sound, lighting, scents, etc.

* All of the musicians reported some degree of unusual perceptions, especially relating to high sensory sensitivity.

* All participants described music as a means of self-expression, relating to others, and finding fulfillment. Subjects reported that listening to or creating music allowed them to recharge when overstimulated.

* Musicians reported that any amount of inhibition hindered creative production. Apparently, this was a conscious decision: artists explained how they learned to work with the process so that they did not unintentionally inhibit their creativity by blocking their own flow.

* Many of Grimes's subjects showed an appreciation of fantasy; daydreaming was commonly reported.

* Grimes concludes that it is her hope that the stereotyping about introversion will cease to pervade introversion literature without unbiased support for those claims.

So that's heavy metal rockers. Are they the only performers who show these seeming contradictions? Perhaps other extroverted performers, such as stand-up comedians, show similar complexities.

Psychologists Gil Greengross and Geoffrey Miller compared the personality traits of 31 professional stand-up comedians and nine amateur comedians against the personality traits of 10 humor writers and 400 college students. They found that the comedians (both professional and amateur) scored on average the lowest in self-reported extroversion, even lower than comedy writers!

According to the researchers:

The public perceives comedians as ostentatious and flashy. Their persona on stage is often mistakenly seen interchangeably with their real personality, and the jokes they tell about their lives are considered by many to have a grain of truth in them. However, the results of this study suggest that the opposite is true. Perhaps comedians use their performance to disguise who they are in their daily life. Comedians may portray someone they want to be, or perhaps their act is a way to defy the constraints imposed on their everyday events and interactions with others.

The evidence is clear: for a large majority of performers, in some of the most extroverted forms of performance, there is a great ability to juggle multiple faces and a need for downtime and reflection. New psychological research is showing just how intertwined and prevalent Openness to Experience, flow, abnormal perceptual experiences, and extroversion/introversion contradictions really are in creative people, especially artists. Hopefully by combining methods, such as self-reported experiences, peer reports, and more objective tests, we can shed more light on the many complexities and seeming contradictions found in creative people of many different flavors, and by so doing counter common black-and-white stereotypes about people in general.

image from Architectural Digest

Taylor McFerrin feat. Ryat: Place In My Heart

2011-02-14T19:48:00.002-05:00

This is not a music blog, but I sometimes I just can't help myself. The video for Taylor McFerrin's Place In My Heart is on Vimeo and I had to post it. Enjoy.

Taylor McFerrin feat. Ryat - Place in My Heart from Simon Benjamin on Vimeo.

Nas and Damian Marley: Patience

2011-02-07T15:33:00.001-05:00

This is the video for one of my favorite tracks on Damian Marley and Nas' joint album, Distant Relatives, called Patience.

I love it. What do you think???

Crunch Time

2011-01-23T09:20:00.002-05:00

This blog has existed for more than a year now. I'm pleasantly surprised it's lasted this long and glad to keep it going. 2011 will be an interesting year, but I haven't decided whether I'm looking forward to it or not. The possibilities are exciting but unpredictable. I'm graduating in either the summer or the fall. I'm looking for and internship, and for some reason all of my classes are forcing me to challenge myself in ways I was hoping to postpone. The scariest one is a performance poetry class. Not only do I have to read in front of the class, but I have to read something I wrote. For one who's uncomfortable with the sound of her own voice, it's a big deal. I've thought about dropping it, but being the self-righteous person that I am, I probably won't. I've always foolishly expected myself to grow out of my lack of confidence, but it's become more evident that you can't just grow out of something like that. You have to silence the negative voices in your head by remembering that they're just in your head. Those watching you aren't necessarily waiting for you to fail. You aren't inherently making a bad impression until you begin to project your own insecurity...and you probably won't realize it. More importantly: if you make a bad impression, why should it matter so much?

Now, being intellectually aware of this is quite different than putting it into practice. We'll see how it goes and I'll keep you posted. Until then, I'm going to leave you with something that's about 10 years old but was released just last week. You may have seen it somewhere on the web already, but if not, give it a listen.

Lauryn Hill, age 25:

The 'Splintering' Of America's Black Population

2010-12-10T21:10:00.004-05:00

I came across this interesting NPR story about a book called Disintegration: The Splintering of Black America by Eugene Robinson. The book discusses divisions in the black community that were widened after integration. Black Americans are so often seen as a monolithic group with one collective culture and set of values, but it's so far from the truth. With integration came progress (of course), but with that there were also negative repercussions. The lack of unity has widened the disconnect between low-income blacks and the mainstream middle class. The divide can be seen within many families, not unlike my own. Here are some good excerpts:

From the article:

He cites Washington, D.C.'s Shaw neighborhood as a prime example of this because of how Shaw was home to a vibrant black community and a thriving entertainment scene in the 1930s through the 1950s. By the '70s, Shaw had become a desolate, drug-ridden area.

"In city after city, African-American neighborhoods that …once had been vibrant and in a sense whole — disintegrated," Robinson says.

He attributes that change to African-Americans taking advantage of new opportunities, resulting in a more economically segregated community.

From the book:

Instead of one black America, now there are four:

* a Mainstream middle-class majority with a full ownership stake in American society

* a large, Abandoned minority with less hope of escaping poverty and dysfunction than at any time since Reconstruction's crushing end

* a small Transcendent elite with such enormous wealth, power, and influence that even white folks have to genuflect

* two newly Emergent groups-individuals of mixed-race heritage and communities of recent black immigrants-that make us wonder what "black" is even supposed to mean.

These four black Americas are increasingly distinct, separated by demography, geography, and psychology. They have different profiles, different mind-sets, different hopes, fears, and dreams. There are times and places where we all still come back together — on the increasingly rare occasions when we feel lumped together, defined, and threatened solely on the basis of skin color, usually involving some high-profile instance of bald-faced discrimination or injustice; and in venues like "urban" or black-oriented radio, which serves as a kind of speed-of-light grapevine. More and more, however, we lead separate lives.

Check out the full article and audio at NPR
Thanks em2wice!

Cool Random Things: Mimobots

2010-11-30T09:54:00.005-05:00

A few months ago, I bought something called a MimoBot, but I've just recently started using it since it's finals season. It's a USB flash drive, but cooler because it comes in different little characters. I own the R2-D2 one from the Star Wars collection. They come with pre-loaded with screensavers and wallpapers featuring your character. Plus, mine lights up when you plug it in!

For all you Philly people out there, you can pick one up from this little Japanese culture shop called Omoi , located downtown at 16th and Pine. You can also get one online at MimoCo.com. Here are a few more selections:

They make a great Christmas gift, too!

Jimmy Fallon as Neil Young singing Willow Smith

2010-11-17T15:55:00.002-05:00

...featuring Bruce Springsteen. I'm not making this up.

Congratulations, Tina!

2010-11-16T19:10:00.005-05:00

I love Tina Fey. She recently won the Mark Twain prize for humor. I actually didn't catch it on TV because I was busy watching Real Housewives of Atlanta. Don't judge me. If I wasn't about to have a heart attack every time I graced a stage, I actually wouldn't mind having a career like hers. Until then, I'm an existentially confused, socially awkward college student. Things change. Maybe there's still hope. Here is her wonderful acceptance speech:

Watch the full episode. See more Mark Twain Prize.

Thank you, thank you, Tina, for saving us from Sarah Palin. Thank you for keeping SNL funny as long as you possibly could. You rock!

I Feel You, Girl

2010-11-15T14:55:00.002-05:00

A perspective on Bush's Oprah appearance (that i didn't actually watch, but saw enough previews for):

As we all know, Ex-Prez George Bush is making his media rounds to promote his new book. Because of his friendly on-air personality, he's not looking like too bad of a guy these days. Now that he's got a forum to explain himself, maybe we can all learn to forgive and forget. I mean hey, he won't say anything negative about Obama, so can't not such a bad guy.

Yeah, f*ck that.

What the hell is this fool doing on Oprah laughing and joking? All of a sudden he has remorse for the unnecessary war in Iraq, the economy and the response to Katrina?! This crap must be a set up for Jeb in 2012, I swear. Qaadir says it best, like no one else can:

Bilal-Robots

2010-11-04T16:00:00.003-04:00

Great imagery in the video. Lyrics are on point (and mad deep!). That's all I'm gonna say. I'll let you come to your own conclusions. Enjoy:

FULL SCREEN
The Sounds of VTech / Bilal "Robots"

VOTE, PEOPLE!!!

2010-11-02T09:06:00.002-04:00

I went to a couple of rallies recently, to try to mobolize the youth vote.

The thing in the middle is Bill Clinton, with Joe Sestak behind him. (My camera phone is the worst!)

Here is Obama. At least this time, you can make out his face.

We cannot afford to let people like this determine the fate of this country:

PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE TODAY!!!

Find all the info you need: Here

Gil Scott-Heron: New York Is Killing Me

2010-10-20T10:26:00.005-04:00

I don't know how I missed this, but it premiered at the Museum of Modern Art the end of September. Here is the new video for Gil Scott-Heron's New York is Killing Me by Chris Cunningham. It's about 10 minutes long. The song was remixed for the video.

Gil Scott-Heron - New York Is Killing Me (2010)

Kinda makes me think twice about wanting to move to New York.

The Rent Is Too Damn High

2010-10-19T11:14:00.004-04:00

Damn Right!
Props to Mr. Jimmy McMillan.
http://rentistoodamnhigh.org

Good Music: Sandbloom

2010-10-04T20:42:00.008-04:00

I've been listening to Sandbloom for a few years now. I was supposed to finally see him perform live the Thursday before last, but it didn't happen. The guy sucks at coming to Philly at decent times. Last year, he came during the transit strike, so I had no way of getting there. This time it was torrential downpour, but I digress. Good music is hard to find nowadays, but it still exists. My best description of Sandbloom's sound would be "folksy-soul."

A signature tune, Viva Los Angeles

Here he is demonstrating the guitar loop pedal:

Sentimentaly Yours video:

Dope, right? He's sort of a case of the-face-not-matching-the-voice. He also does a great cover of Sade's Is It A Crime but I'm not trying to upload every video to this post. If you want to hear more, you can follow these links:

Myspace
Official Website
You can also just type his name on Google or Youtube and you'll find plenty.

UPDATE: He will be opening for Bilal in Phoenix, AZ on October 30!

Night Catches Us

2010-09-30T08:54:00.007-04:00

Good Movie Alert:
Anthony Mackie? ✓
Kerry Washington? ✓
Jamie Hector and Wendell Pierce from The Wire? ✓
Black Panthers? ✓
Philly? ✓
The Roots? ✓

Comes out December 3rd.
See it.

What Else Aren't They Telling Us?

2010-09-23T18:00:00.005-04:00

I haven't spoken about Lousisana in a good minute. It's most likely because there is so much to say that the idea of it overwhelms me. We all know about the oil spill, but I don't think people are comprehending the seriousness of the problem. Obviously, the national media wants it that way. Otherwise, I think I would have heard about this:

Part of the problem is that environmental issues are so politicized. As soon as you start complaining about wildlife dying, you're a leftist tree-hugging loon.

I'm taking this corporate media class and we were talking about how BP's PR problems and how Tony Hayward's refusal to take responsibility for the spill hurt their image even more. To reverse some of the damage, in their apology commercials, they've started using a "more relatable" local black lady to do the talking. To top it off, the government is totally helping them cover up the severity of what's going on. Is it even safe to eat seafood right now?

Ya know, I'm starting to wonder why I'm still in school. Maybe I should just drop out, travel and see the world for a while...just in case the world actually does end in 2012.

Chico Debarge: Oh No

2010-09-23T17:22:00.003-04:00

I was flipping channels this morning and ended up settling on a 2009 episode of The Mo'Nique Show with Chico DeBarge. To be honest, I don't really know much about the guy other than the fact that he's a DeBarge and he had some songs out in the 90's. (Don't hate! I'm still young!) Out of curiosity, I decided to sit through a few more minutes of Mo'Nique yelling at the audience to see him perform. The song, is called Oh No and it's from his 2009 album aptly titled, Addiction. I must say, I was very impressed. I'm loving the instrumentals. Obviously I couldn't find the live clip, but here is the recording.

I say in a match-up of comeback songs, Chico > El.

Airtight's Revenge

2010-09-14T19:04:00.004-04:00

Just streamed the new Bilal album, Airtight's Revenge and I can safely report that it's hot, like... actually good enough to spend money on. If you wanna hear for yourself, check it out at NPR's website.

It's Funny 'Cause It's True

2010-09-09T09:31:00.008-04:00

Comedian Eliza Skinner portraying 5 roles for a white girl in a Tyler Perry movie:

Okay, so we're all well aware of the limited diversity of roles available to black women in Hollywood, but this video cracked me up. Unlike some people, I don't think she's trying to say that white women have it harder in Hollywood or anything; she's just making fun of Tyler Perry movies. After all, if you've seen a Tyler Perry film, you know you've seen these characters. Don't even try to deny it!

Um, Philly...What the Hell??!!!!!!!

2010-08-23T20:16:00.005-04:00

Mayor Nutter has officially lost his mind. The city of Philadelphia is demanding bloggers to pay $300 for business privilege license as well as taxes on any profits made (if any).

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video.

Hopefully Nutter will be shamed into repealing this.
Full article: Here

...But It's For a Good Cause

2010-08-20T11:32:00.004-04:00

Ok, so this post kinda negates the point I tried to make in my last one, but whatever:

Working downtown has it's pros and cons. On one side, it's lively and you deal with people from all walks of life. At my job, most of the customers are business employees, but we get anything from French tourists and hipsters to homeless people and construction workers. As boring and stressful as the job can get, the diversity is one thing that keeps it somewhat interesting. Cons: too many people, rude people (employees and customers) and CANVASSERS! Ok, so canvassers don't really come to my job, but walking to work can be like a game of Dodge the Canvasser. There's this one chick in particular who I always manage to run into. She asks me "Do you have a minute for equal rights?" and I always say "I've gotta get to work." You'd think she'd realize I'm never going to stop for her by now.

Generally, I'm always down for the cause of making the world a better place, but something seems so sketchy about the way these organizations go about it. During the school year, they raid my campus. Once, I let one of them talk to me for almost 10 minutes about the environment. The guy made a lot of sense and even complimented my locs. Then he asked for my for a donation of $50 via credit card. Suddenly I remembered that "Oops! I'm sorry. I don't have my credit card on me. Gotta run!" Briskly walking away, knowing I my credit card was actually in my backpack, I wondered who in their right mind would give someone in the street their credit card.

When I was searching for a job, I remember seeing tons of ads around the city looking for college kids to work for a canvassing organization. The pay looked good and I was tempted to look into it until a friend told me about how he got fired for sexual harassment because he hugged someone. Apparently, hugging is against regulations? I don't know, but in the end, making sandwiches seemed like a much more noble cause than annoying people for a living.

This interesting article in the Philadelphia City Paper is what prompted me to make a post on this subject. It talks about how canvassing organizations like Greenpeace exploit idealistic, money-strapped college students. Here's an excerpt:

However idealistic its employees and noble its goals, canvassing is, after all, a business. It's a big business, in fact, dominated by just a handful of organizations — two in particular — that, over the last quarter-century, have developed the humble door-knock and street-pitch into a well-oiled machine, operating all over the country and steering tens of millions of dollars toward a network of public interest groups and high-profile nonprofit organizations — a remarkable achievement, considering the canvass's humble beginnings.

It all began in the 1970s, when — partly under the tutelage of Ralph Nader — liberal student groups began to incorporate their activities into statewide "public interest research groups," or PIRGs, to advocate for progressive causes. They wanted to beat the right at its own game, to become a powerful progressive lobby that could stand up to greedy corporations, industry-bought politicians and polluters. Those forces had money. The left had people — and so it only made sense: Get the people to raise the money.

Full article here: Idealists for Hire

Based on the number of comments, I would say this issue hits home to a lot of people.

Whats Been Going On

2010-08-15T11:05:00.004-04:00

As you've probably noticed, I don't update here as much as I used to. (I think a lot of blogs have at least one post that starts like this). I've been working at a sandwich place over the summer (I could write a book about the shenanigans in that place) which has left me a lot less time to ponder the meaning of my existence and much less write about it. I don't, however, believe that I haven't had enough time. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's just been me getting in my own way. So no, this is not my last post...you can exhale now. I just think I should go about things differently since I'll be starting classes soon.

I'm one of those people who never finishes what they start, and I'm really trying to change that. Therefore, in order to keep the blog going, I'm going to start making shorter, more frequent posts, rather than just a few long ones. Originally, I wanted this blog to be full of interesting thoughts and revelations about life from my perspective, but maybe that doesn't always have to translate into every post being an essay. After all, I'm not really on that level of discipline or insight yet. Plus, some of this can also be attributed to downright laziness, not gonna lie.

I think a lot of times, rather than just get my thoughts out, I feel like every time I put my pen on paper, a masterpiece has to come out. In turn, rather than disappoint myself, I just won't write anything at all, which is even worse. Never let yourself get in your way, like I've been doing. It's not good. If you can, try to change it as early in life as possible.

To the 5 or so people who actually read this blog, yes, I'm still here.

Out of Our Right Minds-The Full Film!

2010-08-04T09:29:00.003-04:00

I don't know if you remember this post about the independent film, Out of Our Right Minds: Trama, Depression and the Black Woman. Here is the full film:

OUT OF OUR RIGHT MINDS, Trauma, Depression and the Black Woman from INTELLIGENT MEDIA GROUP on Vimeo.

What do you think?

Thoughts on Michael Jackson

2010-07-30T03:07:00.005-04:00

I’ve always considered myself a fan of Michael Jackson. I wasn’t the type who knew every single lyric or little fact about him, but I pretty much knew and liked all of his hits. You could say I was more of a passive fan, I guess. My interest increased, like many, after the Bashir interview, and not necessarily in a good way. I thought the man was crazy and felt the same about his defenders. The child molestation allegations didn’t help either, but they did keep me glued to the media coverage. Based on the information presented, the logical conclusion would have been that he was guilty. If someone was strange enough to hang out with kids and bleach their skin, then there’s on reason why they can’t be a child molester, right? For some reason, I always held some doubt in my mind, since the allegations came so soon after the interview, but my logic said otherwise. I decided to take the popular opinion on the issue.

After the acquittal, Michael fell off my radar for a little while. In my early to mid teenage years, I had a lot of trouble relating to other kids my age. I was sort of over high school before it began. I couldn’t get into what was popular and was searching for some kind of authenticity. At the time, that meant taking on a hippy persona and hanging out with the “misfits.” That search also led to a desire for “real” music. I wanted to listen to artists with actual talent and it slowly led me back to Michael. Not much before his death, one of my favorite activities was to watch YouTube videos of his performances. I had never seen anything like it and I couldn’t wait to see him live someday.

On June 25th, 2009, I was at home for summer vacation when my friend called me and told me the news. CNN hadn’t announced it yet, so I hoped it was just a rumor. It wasn’t. My mom and I watched all of the TV coverage and music video tributes for weeks. My father thought we were crazy. I wasn’t sure why it was affecting me so much, but I think it was a combination of guilt, disbelief and a symbol of the end of my childhood. It really changed the way I looked at my reality.

Suddenly evidence of his innocence was being revealed after the fact. Leeches came out of the woodworks with contradictory claims about what they knew about him. Out came the demands for money and the paternity claims. Suddenly, Michael Jackson seemed credible. He did have vitiligo. His oldest son was recently revealed to have vitiligo, evidence (maybe not proof) that he is the biological father. (I refuse to post it out of respect, but you can Google). Of course, this wasn’t widely publicized because they didn’t want to discredit themselves or destroy the persona they had created of him. Bashir admitted to sensationalizing the interview. As a media student, I now realize how easy it is to do that. It’s amazing what people will do for money, or even just a little attention. Human nature can be a scary thing sometimes.

Although his situation was extreme, I felt like I could relate to Michael Jackson in a lot of ways. I’ve always felt like an outsider because of my extreme sensitivity and yearning for peace. As an idealist, I’ve always given people the benefit of the doubt even though I’ve repeatedly been disappointed. I’ve also looked at adulthood as the corruption of the true self in order to fit into society’s norms. No matter how hard I tried, I never quite fit in, so I gave up to some degree. I saw that in Michael too. There can be a yearning to unapologetically be yourself, but sometimes you can’t shake that need to please others and be liked. You try to be nice and do doing good, but it doesn’t work. In this world, being nice doesn’t get you anywhere.

Looking at our culture today, you’d think there was a conspiracy against “goodness.” Maybe there is. Look at the messages being portrayed in popular music. Nowadays, people would laugh at the idea of a song about world peace, but why is that? Why is it “corny” to sing about the love of your child or the beauty of nature? Why is it that a song about getting head will get people running to the dancefloor? I know these questions sound cliché, but really think about it. What’s really going on? Are our preferences and tastes really that easy to manipulate?

I also think people overlook Michael Jackson’s intelligence. He was a genius who was the best at his craft. He was extremely well read and socially conscious. Many of his best known songs seemed to be about dancing and having fun, but there was a larger message which was peace and love. Even “Bad” was an anti-violence song. It wasn’t just about being a rebel. He was great at making positive messages entertaining (which apparently is very hard to do, seeing how rare it is in music today). He was no stranger to challenging authority. Just look at the black panther sequence in Black or White , or They Don’t Care About Us (the prison version). He challenged Tommy Mattola when he felt Sony was mistreating him.

I actually think the purchase of the Beatles catalog was the end for him. I don’t intend to spread rumors, but I do find it interesting that as soon as he made that move, his media crucifixion came into full force. I also find it interesting that he died literally days before his comeback. Why was a movie conveniently shot right before he died? Sony is making billions now that he’s out of the way. Looking at how crooked these corporations can be, I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole thing was orchestrated…I’ll leave it at that.

All I know for sure is that on June 25th, 2009, the world lost a great force of good. Michael did so much for others and never asked for praise. Most (not all) celebrities do it for photo-ops, positive attention or the tax write-offs. I think his heart was truly genuine. It’s a shame he had to suffer so much for it.

The Afro-Punk Festival: A Half-Assed Review

2010-07-03T08:53:00.005-04:00

Because I'm lazy and very busy these days (oxymoron?), here is Spin's review of the festival: Click Here
I think they sum it up pretty well, except for omitting one of my favorite performers of the show, Martin Luther. I'll give him his shine, since they didn't want to. Here's a performance of Heart Shaped Box from a different show since there were none posted from the festival.

(The version I saw was better)

Another favorite of mine was J*Davey. Here is a 2008 performance.

I loved her voice and energy on stage.

Another surprise of the night was the very dope, Cubic Zirconia. Music video here:

Love that beat.

Of course Mos Def brought the house down as he usually does. It probably helped that he was in his hometown, too.

He looks so little in person!

Aside from running on about 3 hours of sleep and an exhausting afternoon at work the night before, I really enjoyed myself. I was about to faint from exhaustion and heat the whole time, but it was fun. I would come back as long as the price doesn't go up.

I assume my exhaustion probably wasn't the best state to be in for social interaction. I came up with a guy I didn't really know aside from Facebook. We got along ok, but he was a bit of a social butterfly and I'm obviously not. Most of the time he was running around taking pictures and making friends, while I was looking for shade and watching his stuff...including a backpack with a laptop. (Who brings a laptop to a music festival?) I probably could have chatted with a few more people if it didn't look like he was my boyfriend...

In general, he was nice. Without him, I would have been forced to take a taxi since I DO NOT understand New York's subway system AT ALL. That could've gotten expensive. He didn't have to be my tour guide the whole time, but he was nice enough to do so at least.

Experience: B- (Deduction for heat, lack of decent food, and awkward social situation)
Music: A (Everyone was great! Very rare for a music festival!)

I'll Be Here on Sunday

2010-06-26T08:54:00.004-04:00

Yup, I will be attending the Afro-Punk Festival. Sunday's lineup includes Mos Def, Martin Luther, The Cool Kids amongst many others.
Very excited.
Stay tuned for a review in the next few days.
I don't actually know the people I'm going with that well, so it should be pretty interesting.

Roommate Drama: The Anticlimactic Ending

2010-06-23T09:27:00.005-04:00

Hey people. I'm back. It's been a while. I have no reasonable excuse this time other than lack of motivation and inspiration...and a job. Sue me.

I've been living in a new place now with Jenn (the good roommate) and 2 other sane people. We've been here for a few weeks so the situation with Tiara seems like old news...other than the fact that b--ch still never paid me my money. She claimed she was mailing it, but I haven't seen one red cent. Luckily, it's nowhere near as much as she owed Jenn.

Before moving, the house was pretty quiet. We still continued to ignore Tiara and she kept sleeping in the living room until she moved out. According to a friend/co-worker of both Jenn and Tiara, she was sleeping there because she saw a mouse in her room one night. Idk, still sounds sketchy to me. Also Tiara was fired from her restaurant hosting job for having a shouting match with another employee in the middle of the restaurant in front of customers.

One night, when Jenn left, Tiara decided she was going to have her birthday party in the house without telling me. I noticed she was being awfully clean. She started cleaning the house until it was spotless, so I knew something had to be up. Luckily, I was out at a friend's place when the party started.

Suddenly, out of the blue, Jenn calls me from vacation saying that the neighbor was threatening to call the police because Tiara's party was too loud. Apparently she knocked on the door asking her to turn the music down (since she has a child), and Tiara and her friends gave her attitude and refused. That's when she called Jenn trying to see if she could get Tiara to turn her music down. She was yelling about how she was going to call the police and that she could put a hit out on her in the streets to "get her ass taken care of." (We live in a borderline hood neighborhood). I realized I needed to go back to the house to make sure nothing was going to happen.

When I got to the house, everything seemed okay. I was relieved to see no police and the music wasn't all that loud. I was going to go upstairs to bed, when one of Tiara's drunk friends grabbed me and hugged me. Turns out I knew the girl and she used to live in my old building. She decided to talk my ear off for about a half hour and even introduced me to her sister. I could tell Tiara was mad that I was infiltrating her birthday. The party didn't last much longer after I went to bed.

There was one morning when my dad came up to help me move stuff out of the house. Tiara was up doing laundry, but when my dad knocked on the door, she must have hopped back on the couch and started fake sleeping and hiding under the blanket. My dad didn't even realize she was there until I told him she was fake sleeping (loud enough for her to hear...and I know she did because she moved a little bit after I said it). Being the non-confrontational wimp that I am, I left a note asking for the money on the coffee table.

After that, not much else happened. I asked for my money in person and I was promised I would get it after she got her security deposit. Same with Jenn, only she was able to confront Tiara's mom when she was moving out. Her mom, who was embarrassed, gave Jenn a hundred dollars (about a fourth of the money owed to her). Apparently, Tiara had been getting more than enough money from her mom for bills, but Tiara was spending it on clothes. Jenn hasn't seen anymore of the money either. I guess being trifling runs in the family.

Either way, I'm just glad to be out of the situation. I feel bad for her next roommates and even more so for whoever she marries one day.

Ugh, I really need to learn to be more assertive so things like this don't happen again. Everyone in the world does not have principles, so maybe I should stop giving everyone the benefit of the doubt...

Random Dopeness: Yancarlos Sanchez

2010-05-28T10:31:00.005-04:00

Upon starting this video, I was wondering what the big deal was. To me, it looked like just a guy playing a kalimba and beatboxing with some trumpet music in the background. Then, I realized he was the trumpet!

Yancarlos Sanchez is a 21 year old beatboxer from Allentown, Pennsylvania. I've never heard beatboxing infused with jazz quite like this. He also sings and plays other instruments. I'm definitely a fan now, and I wish this guy all the luck in the world.

For more info and songs, you can check him out:
Myspace
YouTube Channel
Facebook

Behind the Scenes

2010-05-10T10:41:00.010-04:00

I've been slacking, I know. There is a perfectly reasonable excuse. It was exam week and well...I was interning on the set of a feature film. Yes, the Queen-BSer Procrastinator Extraordinaire managed to land something pretty big. No GPA required! Come when you can. My kinda internship. It feels like such a long time ago, but I'll try my best to remember. Filming went on for about a month, but I was there 4 days. Here's a condensed account of what went down:

Day 1: Fancy Hotel/Typical Clueless Intern

I called the production manager, Jenny, and met her at the hotel where shooting was taking place. I was taken upstairs to put my stuff in the hotel room. In the room, were two guys on a laptop; one a veteran stage actor/film character actor, the other a film actor. They were discussing their careers and how tough it was to land a good job, which was pretty interesting to listen to. They were both pretty friendly. The second actor was a huge muscular black guy with long strait hair. My mental name for him was "Black Fabio." He kept saying I didn't look a day over 14, which kinda annoyed me because people say this to me all the time.

When I got downstairs, they were having lunch but all that was left was chips, so I survived the rest of the day continuously eating bags of chips and gummies.

Tasks throughout the day included:
-being a stand in
-distributing release forms to extras
-sitting around
-helping to move things
-watching peoples things during shooting
-more sitting around

I met some really nice extras too. I also saw a once marginally popular female rapper who was in the film. I had no idea the woman was an actress, but they threw her in a classy dress and some heels and she was looking pretty nice.

The end of the day kinda sucked. I really needed to get to the hotel room to get my stuff and Jenny had already left. Since I couldn't get any help from any of the crew members, I had to call Jenny like 10 times (literally) to figure out how to get my stuff. After that, she was probably hoping I wouldn't come back.

The director was kind of annoying too. He kept bothering me because I was quiet. It was cute at first, but it got redundant. Note to outgoing people: Telling quiet people to talk more won't make them talk more. It may make them hate you, though.

Day 2: Kids

I arrived at a really nice high school in the middle of the hood. Class was in session but shooting was going on in the unremodeled, closed off section. The scene took place in the 70's and the set was full of children. As much as I'm not a fan of kids, they didn't bother me too much. The parents were more whiny than they were. I can't say how many times I was asked when shooting would be over.

My tasks included:
-watching the door
-appeasing parents
-walking kids to the classroom (which wasn't necessary because the kids knew what to do already)
-waiting around with a walkie-talkie trying to look busy
-helping to move equipment

Parents were kept in a separate classroom with a TV screen so they could watch their kids being filmed. Many of them were taking pictures of the screen whenever their kid's faces popped up.

I got to know some of the crew members better. Many of them were recent film and art school graduates. I felt a little out of place since I was just a general "media" student.

Day 3: The Big Church Scene

I arrived at the church, which was, once again, in the hood. It was actually rather small and historic. It reminded me of a southern church. I was stuck outside most of the day. I can honestly say I did absolutely nothing but sit around in excruciating heat. Luckily, there was plenty of water available...which inevitably meant we would need a bathroom. Unfortunately we were forced to go to the funeral home next door to go to the bathroom. Many people were freaked out about going in there...especially since an actual funeral was happening. One of the guys at the funeral came up to me saying he recognized me because I walk by his house all the time. I didn't recognize him, but I ran to him a few more times after I got back and he turned out to be really nice.

There were tons of extras in church clothes. Many of them were the director's old college buddies. Some were actual paid extras and the actor I had made friends with on the first day was there. We actually ended up exchanging numbers. He's texted me a couple of times since, but we never decided to hang out or anything.

Overall it was a fun day. I met nice people. I ate good food. The church's band was rockin the house in between takes. It was like a nice day at church, without the church part.

Day 4: Sex Scene

It had been a week since the last time I came in because of finals. I called Jenny asking if I should come in and she gave me here usual "Um, if you want to." (I don't think she liked me that much.) So I decided to come in. Little did I know, it was sex scene day. The film was to be shot at some guy's expensive 2-story apartment (with a roof deck!). I was the first to get there, so it was a little awkward showing up to this random dude's house and being fed alfredo. He was nice, so which made things a little better.

After everyone ate and watched some Vh1, all "non-essential" crew members, including myself, were kicked into the hallway. Occasionally, some of the actors would come out and chill with us.

The sex scene apparently involved two women and a guy. The women were supposed to be prostitutes. One of the actresses was actually a stripper and word was going around that she was high on something. She seemed awake to me, but she did look a little strung out. The two of them were walking around in robes all day.

The guy was kinda cocky and had a knack for telling sex jokes. He managed to get other crew members in on it too, which got pretty interesting. One woman even admitted to getting paid $1,000 for sex. Like I said, it was an interesting day.

One guy kept talking about the lack of artistic integrity of the film. He was one of the few who read the script and was telling everyone how awful it was. For example, he said that in the last scene, the character referred to a city as a country. He also said that the director didn't seem to care about mistakes and loose ends. He mentioned a scene were a man was carrying a blue book and in the next shot, the book was black and how the director didn't care. He didn't seem to care how loud he was either. Most people just nodded or smiled. I admit, it made me laugh a little.

After that, I was called for PPA(Philadelphia Parking Authority) duty. Basically, me and this guy had the sit in the parking lot and make sure the Parking people wouldn't give crew members a ticket, since they didn't have enough "Film Crew" signs. By the end of the day, 2 crew members still got tickets. I was pretty much useless. The guy I was with had some fun arguing with them, and calling their superiors. The tickets stayed, though.

Now That It's Over

I wish I could have come in more days, but it was exam week and most of the times I was available, they were shooting in locations outside of Philadelphia that I couldn't get to. It was an interesting experience. Did I learn a lot about film? Sure, but I didn't get much hands on technical experience. I would consider doing it again.

A Heads Up

2010-05-03T09:29:00.002-04:00

Evolution and Flashback has been featured on the Black Weblog Awards website!!! You can read about my experience with starting my blog. Here's a snippet:

I was into reading blogs, but never saw myself as someone who could sustain one. As a very introverted person, I’ve always struggled to express myself outwardly. Sick of always hiding my thoughts and opinions, I decided to create a blog called Evolution and Flashback. The blog was a way of broadening my intellectual horizons, improving my writing and giving exposure to whatever I found interesting. It started out as an experiment because I didn’t think I would have the discipline to keep it going. So far, I’ve been blogging for over 4 months and it’s been far more rewarding than expected.

Read the rest here: Black Weblog Awards

New M.I.A.-Born Free

2010-04-26T14:31:00.005-04:00

This video needs no introduction. Just watch and take it all in.

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

NSFW

Here is an interesting article, explaining the video from MTV.

A Rant

2010-04-22T14:00:00.006-04:00

I love animals. I don't love PETA. I came across this ad today, and I was reminded why. Their tactics are so tasteless and tacky. How am I supposed to take a bunch of naked people with signs seriously? I realize this statement may sound contradictory to what I said about Erykah Badu , but I never said I took what she was doing seriously either. Plus, the "point" she was making actually became validated in the aftermath of her video. With PETA, the opposite happens. When they chase around celebrities who wear animal products, they don't earn my respect or willingness to hear their point of view. They just annoy me. Now they're bringing dead people into the mix. I have a feeling McDonald's isn't quite shaking in their boots over this ad.

I think the similar things can be said for many other organizations. At my old college I transferred from, there was a "Funk the War" event. It was essentially a group of kids dancing around in the park as a statement against the Iraq War. (Bush was still in office at the time). I thought about joining in, but something about it didn't sit well with me. Who would take something like that seriously? Is this really what progressive activism has come to?

Sometimes I feel like a lot of these organizations (I'm not going to name names) are just formed so people can feel good about themselves. They get together to talk and complain about an issue, and suddenly it makes them legitimate activists. *cough* Tavis Smiley *cough* Once they've created their own little elite social circle, they lose sight of who they're supposed to be representing.

I can't tell you how many student organizations at my school claim to help the community around campus, without even engaging the people they're supposed to be "helping." Do they even want what you're offering (if anything at all)? Did you ask them? 'Cause I'm pretty sure Tavis Smiley never asked me if I agreed to his "Covenant with Black America"...and apparently I have to pay $10 to find out.

Ugh, I'm starting to get mad now. I'd better stop because this post is starting to not have a topic. Animals to Tavis Smiley? This is true evidence of an ADD brain in action.

Roommate Drama Pt. 2

2010-04-22T11:30:00.002-04:00

Here's what's going down:

Jenn and I have formed an alliance against Tiara. There has been a lot of strategic reverse psychology going on these days and I'm not sure where it's going to lead. Since my last post on this situation, Tiara has returned, but we have not spoken to her or acknowledged her presence. She has done the same to us, but lately we think she's been trying to send some indirect messages to us. Unfortunately for her, they are either so petty that they're funny or they just don't make sense:

*She's been sleeping on the sofa bed in the living room with her bags all around her. I guess this is supposed to either annoy us or make us feel bad. Instead, it has given us the fun new routine of making as much noise as possible when we're leaving for class. The cat's even in on it! He jumped on her head yesterday!

*She has taken the handsoap out of the bathroom, which was one of her only contributions to the house. It's fine with me because it was cheap and didn't even smell that good.

*After using the shower, she intentionally tries to get as much water on the floor as possible. The new rug was so soaked this morning, Jenn was forced to put it in the washer and dryer. Meanwhile, Tiara's rug (that she cared so deeply for) is still sitting outside.

*Tiara's put her beloved toilet seat cover on the floor with the cat's ball on top of it. I'm assuming this is a jab at her finding the cat using it as a bed a few months ago. Um...it wouldn't have been that way in the first place if she had moved it!!! We thought she was the one who put it there, since she never picked it up.

*This morning, there were globs of laundry detergent all over the basement floor. Hmm...wonder who's responsible for this? She also took a bunch of dryer dustballs and scattered them all over the floor, many of them getting stuck to the detergent globs.

It's kind of like the Cold War. Symbolic actions are being taken, but no one will strike. So far, our course of action has been to act like none of this effects us since she's obviously trying to get to us. I don't know how long this plan will work. I just got the electricity bill and if she doesn't give me her portion of the money, I can't continue my peaceful approach. A showdown is imminent.

I will keep you posted.

Yo Gabba Gabba....starring Mos Def?!!

2010-04-16T23:12:00.005-04:00

No words can describe the awesomeness of this video. None.

According to Filter Magazine, other appearances include; Sarah Silverman, Erykah Badu, The Black Kids, Travis Barker,Of Montreal, The Killers, Biz Markie and The Flaming Lips. Since when did Yo Gabba Gabba become so cool? Guess I betta join the club.

A New Revolution in Marketing!

2010-04-14T21:13:00.005-04:00

I had a very interesting StumbleUpon discussion today which led to an exciting new discovery in the world of marketing. It's actually been around for a while, but it is rarely talked about and largely ignored. This phenomenon is called Sympathy Marketing and appears to be very prevalent in the music business.

I was looking a blog post about Whitney Houston's latest trainwreck performance in Birmingham and Pashon asked me why I thought people would pay to see her, knowing they'd be disappointed. I thought about it and my mom came to mind.

My mom was pretty excited about her new album, especially since she heard that Whitney was back to her old self. As soon as the album came out, her coworker got her the bootleg. She said it was pretty good, but she felt bad that the bootleg wasn't really supporting Whitney (plus it kept skipping). She had my dad go out buy her the CD. I'm honestly not even sure if she liked it that much, because right after that, she bought Maxwell's CD and that's all she's been listening to since. Like so many other nostalgic Whitney Houston fans, she bought the album out of sympathy, and lucky for Whitney, she got a Number 1 record.

Pashon was intrigued and stated that a new type of marketing had been discovered. Suddenly, more sympathy artists began popping into our heads. Here's my top 10 (3-10 are in no particular order).

1. Whitney Houston: see the above
2. Taylor Swift: the Kanye West thing, even Obama expressed his sympathy
3. Eminem: all of his music is about how much his life sucks, fans love it
4. Drake: wheelchair Jimmy, that awful fall on stage, video that everyone hated
5. Ashlee Simpson: underdog little sister, lip-syncing, slight tomboy image
6. T.I.: before he went to jail, kids, that Road to Redemption show
7. Britney Spears: mental breakdown, Kevin Federline breakup
8. Solange: Beyonce's little sister, the "alternative" one
9. Kelly Rowland: some marginal hits, in Beyonce's shadow
10. Mariah Carey: post Glitter come-back, losing voice

Honorable Mentions:
-Michael Jackson: I couldn't put him in the top 10 because I like him too much, but honestly, people did a 180 after he died. He was talented to the end, but everyone suddenly stopped making fun of him and started feeling sorry for him. It did wonders for album sales.

-Aretha Franklin: This is another one I couldn't bare to put in the top ten. I have a lot of respect for this woman, but honestly, that inauguration performance was not as good as people claimed. It was kind of a mess, actually. Patty Labelle still has it, but unfortunately Aretha is losing it a bit. (I know she would choak me if she saw this)

-Usher: He'd be in the top 10 if people actually felt sorry for him. I mean some were looking forward to seeing him take back his crown from Chris Brown...but then he had to go back into his little "breakup" marketing ploy that he used for his last album and everyone saw through it. Plus, the songs sucked.

-Sly Stone: Even after that horrible (and sad) Grammy's comeback, people were dumb enough to buy tickets to his tour...and then they had a nerve to be mad when the show was a mess. I love Sly and the Family Stone too, but the man is in no condition to be performing anymore.

I really hope this list didn't anger too many people. I mean it's not like this blog is all that popular anyway. You gotta admit, though, there's a definite pattern here. I'm even seeing it in the acting world, as well. Politics too. I'm wondering in what other types of creative ways sympathy marketing can be used. Hmmm...I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Our Little Secret

2010-04-14T20:49:00.003-04:00

Ok, it's not really a secret because all you really need is Google...
I know you're probably sick of me talking about Treme, but I have to because it premiered on Sunday. It was awesome, but I'm not going to review it because I have something better than a review. I have the actual show: Right Here

Unfortunately after 72 minutes, the show will pause and you will have to wait 24 hours to watch the rest, but it's better than nothing. I'm stuck relying on this because, for some reason, I never realized that I don't have HBO on my stupid Comcast basic cable package. What kind of cable package doesn't have HBO? That's almost like buying one of those snack variety packs and realizing there are no Dorritos! What the hell?!

Enjoy.

Ash is Movin Up

2010-04-14T16:43:00.005-04:00

Dude!
Recently, I got invited to be a contributor to Day & Night Blog! Very exciting times. If you don't know about Day and Night Blog, you should, because it's one of the coolest art/music/culture blogs out there. In fact, I'm not even sure I'm cool enough to be making posts there, but I'll give it a try. I haven't made any posts yet, but check it out:
Day & Night
Day & Night is also affiliated with another great blog called Grevious Bodily Charm. You should check that one out too: Grevious Bodily Charm
Thanks, Pashon!

Roommate Drama

2010-04-14T16:28:00.004-04:00

It all started with a rug.

I was sleeping Monday morning when I suddenly heard a knock on the door. I rolled out of bed wondering what the deal was. I opened my door and my roommate (we'll call her Tiara) was standing there with her hand on her hip.

"Um, did you put my rug outside?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Well uh, my rug is ruined. Why did you put it outside? It's on the ground and somebody's gonna have to pay for it."

"I hung it up. It's not on the ground. The rug is fine."

You see, my other roommate (who we'll call Jen) had some friends over for the weekend and someone must have soaked the bathroom floor when they got out of the shower. Well, the rug in front of the shower was soaked and started to smell. It had been sitting there all day and I was sick of stepping on it, so I was kind enough to neatly hang the rug outside to let it dry. If she cared about it so much, why did she let it sit there and get moldy for so long?

"No, I'm going to need my money! It's ruined!"

I stood in amazement, wondering how I could owe this chick money, considering the rug was fine and the fact that she owes ME money. Not only that but she's been a HORRIBLE roommate all year. Consider the following:

* Owes my roommate 2 months in rent from the first few months & owes me about $75 for utilities

* Has borrowed countless subway tokens from both of us

* Consistently leaves floods of Cup-A-Noodle juice in my microwave and chunks of food

* Never washes dishes, takes out trash or wipes up her spills

* Leaves open/moldy food and dishes around the house

* Name is not on any of the utilities

* After the upstairs toilet clogged and flooded causing the kitchen ceiling to collapse, she locked herself in her room and did not help clean the ceiling tiles and toilet water from the kitchen (awful week: Phillies lost the World Series and the SEPTA transit strike)

* Stole my roommate's Ipod and charger(hoping to charge it so she wouldn't know it was used), then called me asking to sneak into her room and tell her what cigarettes she smokes to make up for her finding out

* Jacked up the heat bill by turning the heat to 80 in her bedroom and in the bathroom

* Compulsively lying and telling coworkers that Jen was the dirty one in the house

* Left the house knowing the kitten was missing and not telling me (I got stuck finding out he was missing and looking for him by myself, happened twice)

* Orders stuff from Forever 21, knowing she owes money

* Got us to room with her by claiming her old roommates were dirty and cheap and that she wasn't

* Never contributes the basics: toiletries, milk, butter, cooking oil when Jen and I do

* Cheap: She offered to let Jen's friend eat as many of her Cup-A-Noodles as she wanted, but later asked for a reimbursement. What are those, $0.10 each?!!

I could go on, but I was trying to tell a story, so let's get back to that. Personally I think she was desperately trying to get money because over the past few weeks she had been asking me if she could not pay next month's rent, so she wouldn't have to wait for the security deposit. Of course, each time I replied with a good ol' "Hell no."

Anyway, before I could even open my mouth to say I wasn't paying anything, Jen comes out from behind yelling, "She doesn't owe you SHIT!"

That's when all hell broke loose. At that moment I was no longer a part of the argument and my 2 roommates went to war. Voices were loud. Four and five letter obscenities were exchanged. Moms were mentioned. Female dogs were mentioned. I assume Jen was waiting for an excuse to strike after Tiara had stolen her Ipod out of her room the day before. Tiara's defensive argument was pretty weak:

* "You can't say I don't do anything. I cleaned the toilet a few months ago!

* "You left my toilet seat cover on the floor and let the cat sleep on it!"

* "You came home with the b---hiest attitude yesterday!"

I closed the door and got dressed for Spanish class. I took a peak outside and saw the rug perfectly in tact, hanging up on a rack. Never was able to make it to the shower, so I put on some deodorant, put on some body spray and got the hell out of there.

Later that day, I got a text from Jen saying that Tiara was asleep on the couch with a comforter over her head and some duffle bags sitting out. When I got back from my night class, Tiara was gone, but the bags (which were empty) were sitting in the living room. I'm assuming the bags were just a message or something. Also two pans had been cleaned, which I assume to also be some sort of message...even though the sink was still piled high with more of HER dishes.

As of now, Tiara is still AWOL. I assume she's staying with some friends and spewing lies about how awful we are. Jen and I have spent the last few days venting on the craziness this girl has put us through. It sucks coming home wondering what's going to happen when you open the door everyday. During class, I keep visualizing the three of us on Judge Joe Brown telling this same miserable story. Let's pray it never gets to that point. I'll keep you guys updated.

Hot Mess of the Day: Kiely Williams

2010-04-09T12:29:00.008-04:00

While on The Black Snob , I came across the post, Sexual Consent: Kiely Williams Ur Doin' It Wrong about the video for her new song, Spectacular. I watched the video and I'm wondering why someone would voluntarily sing a song about blacking out and waking up the next morning in some random dude's bed. Not only that, but she appears to be proud of it. This video lit a fire in me I can't even explain, as you can see from my comments:

PATHETIC. DISGRACEFUL. WAAAAAAACK!
Even if this crapfest wasn't about being blacked out and raped, it would still be horrible. The dancing sucks. The singing is horrible. The beat is played out. Hell, they couldn't even get an attractive "love interest" for the video. She deserves every bit of criticism she's received about this mess. Sorry, Kiely, you are no Beyonce, Lady Gaga or Rihanna. I'm glad people are finally starting to wake up and question the messages of the songs they're dancing to (not that anyone is dancing to this).

Now, she's backtracking and claiming she was trying to spread awareness about the dangers of date rape. Um, no. I don't know too many girls who run the streets in bright red mini-skirts, fur coats and handcuffs, while winking at every dude that looks their way after they've just been in this situation. Maybe I'm just sheltered.

I am in no way a puritan who is against anything sexual being in music. Could there be less of it? Sure. That isn't my issue. I know it's hard out there in the music business these days, but not ALL sex sells. Foot fetishes don't sell records. Pedophilia doesn't sell records (Nevermind, forgot about R. Kelly). Neither does rape.

The Mother Theresa act of trying to create awareness about date rape is not working, Kiely. I'm not that dumb. All you needed to do was take responsibility and admit you were wrong. Then maybe you could have regained some respect, but I don't think that's what you're looking for anyway. Oh well, if the music thing doesn't work out, maybe Vh1 will do a celebrity edition of Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew.

Another Horrible "Experimental" Video

2010-04-08T17:47:00.003-04:00

This was a project called "Color Correction." It is an experimental video class, so why not go all out, right? As awful as it is, I'll probably get at least a B for following the instructions correctly. Once again, the footage came from the internet archive. It's some kind of performance art punk band in Brooklyn. I guess my video somewhat Major Lazer inspired. The class got a kick out of it...and probably not in the good way. Luckily, I don't take myself that seriously so I'm sharing this mess with the world.

Dancevader from Ashley H. on Vimeo.

Can you imagine me trying to explain this to a class?

The Boondocks is Back!

2010-04-06T21:02:00.006-04:00

I think Season 3's preview speaks for itself.

Final season premieres May 2nd

Return of the Donk

2010-04-03T10:42:00.008-04:00

I don't think I've ever seen more ass on the news than I have this past week. We can kindly thank Ms. Erykah Badu for all of this. Isn't it great how the news outlets are criticizing her for setting up a publicity stunt when they're the ones giving her the free publicity? It's rather amusing. I'm not saying that running around naked in the street at the scene of JFK's murder is tasteful or anything, but celebrities have done far less tasteful things. Hell, politicians have done worse things. Is a naked body really that big of a threat to "our children?" I don't necessarily enjoy looking at naked people, but so far it hasn't turned me into a raging pervert. According to Fox News, at least one child, Kaylee, might be scarred for life.

Most of the comments I've read about Window Seat have expressed either disgust, solidarity, some long drawn out interpretation, or the question, "Where do you find the uncensored version?" I do admit that "groupthink" was not really the first thing that came to mind after watching the video. Perhaps it went over my head a little bit.

As of now, she's been charged with disorderly conduct and will be asked to pay a fine. Fair enough, I guess. Overall, I find it interesting that the video was shot on March 13, and the woman waited until now to say anything.

The Bus Ride from Hell

2010-04-03T09:26:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I took a Chinatown bus back home for Easter. Not a day goes by that I don't wish I was a more assertive person, but this time, I think my shyness may have prevented a really bad situation. The ride didn't start out too bad, other than the fact the man next to me was so wide, he took up half of my seat. I was somehow able to sleep until we got to our first stop. After the man next to me got off, all hell broke loose.

Apparently, someone had been in the restroom for a while, so I began hearing a group of girls in the back laughing and joking that someone must be "taking a shit." They then, started saying "Plop, plop! Plop, plop!" repeatedly, as if they were children. (They were actually in their early 20's). Just when the noise began to die down, I started hearing music.

"Turn it up, girl. Most of these mothaf---s are asleep or got earphones on anyway."

They, then began singing out of tune, in unison to several songs. When the Beyonce song came up, they made sure to try to hit all of the notes and do all of the runs. I looked back as a passive way of showing I was annoyed.

"That chick keep lookin back here like we doin somethin," I heard one say.

I was fuming. These were the kind of fools who make it hard for the rest of us black people. I kept imagining the conversations the rest of the passengers would be having about these girls once they got off the bus.

It got worse.

Once the music stopped, the bus got to listen in on their sex lives. One of them talked about having sex with some guy 3 times in a day and how someone else had sex with six people. Then out of nowhere...

"Whew, just farted, girl. Ok, I'm done now."

I closed my eyes in an attempt to meditate and take my mind off of the coonery going on behind me. Unfortunately, before I could relax, I heard the largest belch in the history of mankind.

"Hahaha! I did this on the bus another time and people was lookin at me like I was doin somethin wrong. This shit is natural. I don't know what's wrong with them. Hahahaha!"

The ignorance continued and no one had the guts to say anything. I kept my eyes on the window, looking for a distraction. I imagined the bus stopping and the driver kicking the girls off the bus and leaving them in the middle of the highway. Then, I thought of them standing there yelling and a tractor trailer coming full speed, running them over. I would never wish anything like that upon anyone, but, hey...it was just a thought, nothing more.

When we got into the city of destination, they proceeded to point out people on the street and laugh at how ghetto they were. Ironic, right?

Finally, we made it to the bus station (ok, street corner) and it was all over. If I had been given 15 more minutes on that bus, I would have been that one person who went off on those b---hes. I then, probably would have been insulted and left without a sufficient comeback, and shamed into sitting back down. I'm glad I stayed quiet.

As I got off the bus, I could feel the tension ease itself a bit. My dad was standing there waiting, so it was good knowing I would be leaving immediately. Finally, I was driven back home to the boondocks. This time I was glad to go home.

David Mills, Head Writer of 'Treme,' Dies on Set

2010-04-01T08:26:00.006-04:00

From Side Reel:

'Treme' Writer David Mills Dies After Collapsing on Set

Sad news coming out of the New Orleans set of the new HBO series 'Treme': writer and producer David Mills collapsed Tuesday on the set and later passed away at a local hospital. According to the Times-Picayune site, Mills had a brain aneurysm.

Mills was head writer and producer on the show, which is about how a group of people of New Orleans rebuild their lives after Hurricane Katrina. Mills won two Emmys for his writing and producing on the HBO miniseries 'The Corner' and wrote for several other shows as well, including 'ER,' 'Homicide: Life on the Street,' 'Kingpin,' 'NYPD Blue,' and was a story editor on the CBS drama 'Picket Fences.' He also wrote for several newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Treme' premieres on April 11.

Very sad news. For those of you who didn't know, (I don't know why I never made the obvious connection in my head. Guess I never bothered to click his profile, after all that time.) David Mills was also the man behind my favorite blog, Undercover Black Man It was the first blog I followed regularly and a big inspiration to this blog. In fact, when I first started Evolution and Flashback, he was the first to add a link to my site, which was a big honor to me. I think it's what legitimized what I was trying to do.

Here is an interview of him talking about Undercover Black Man.

RIP David Mills. Thanks for being a voice to those who have been ignored and demonized my mainstream society.

Making Treme

2010-03-29T15:54:00.005-04:00

Here is a great new behind the scenes look at Treme, HBO's upcoming series on New Orleans. I'm extremely excited about this series, not only because it's made by the producers of the Wire (and includes some of the actors), but also because it shines light on issues the city is still facing. Also, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint make appearances!

The show premieres April 11th.

Life Without A Book

2010-03-28T16:11:00.005-04:00

Heads up on another independent film everyone should keep their eyes open for.

Life Without a Book Trailer from J K on Vimeo.

From the synopsis:

Life Without a Book is a documentary film telling the story Rick "Pepper" Holmes, an accomplished funk drummer who graduated high school unable to read in 1974. After high school his music took him around the world with some of the biggest names in R&B music. Now fifty-three years old, he still struggles with the most basic level of reading. The film is an up close portrait of one man's struggle with reading, and surviving in our visual, alphabetical world. The larger issues of literacy, education, and the power of music are channeled through the subject of Rick, and his situation is one that is familiar to so many people. Through interviews, musical performances, poetry, and cinema veritae, Life Without a Book gives a voice to those affected by dyslexia and educational struggles, and presents a hard hitting, raw, look at one man's struggle with reading and life.

Life Without A Book was made by Philadelphia director, Jon Kaufman. I took a class with him and he's a nice guy, so you should all go out and support this film!!!

A Few Videos of Mine

2010-03-25T23:31:00.003-04:00

In case you didn't know, I'm a media student. I'm taking an experimental video class, so I thought I'd share a couple of projects I've done. You don't have to like them (I'm not even sure if I do), but I'm still learning Final Cut.

The first video is a found footage project using clips from the Internet Archive. I found a public access show called The Happiness Show and immediately knew I had to use it. At first I laughed at the video, finding it corny, but as it went on, I realized how profound it was.

Happiness from Ashley H. on Vimeo.

The second is a space and place project which is a non-narrative portrait of a place. The place I chose is my basement which is quite scary. Basically, it gives me another reason to avoid doing laundry. As soon as we moved here, my roommates and I determined that something bad had happened in there. We're still convinced someone is buried in the cave in the back wall...yes, cave.

Basement of Death from Ashley H. on Vimeo.

Feel free to leave feedback.

Joe from Ohio

2010-03-19T11:56:00.003-04:00

I met a man on the subway last night. For the sake of confidentiality, we'll call him Joe from Ohio. I was headed back to the house from school, when I stepped on the train. When I sat down, a man to the left of me asked how many stops there were to get to his stop. As I started to count the stops in my head, mentally naming each one in order, I noticed the man looking at my backpack. He was trying to read a button on it. He tried to read the words aloud but he couldn't really see, so he was saying the wrong words. I mentioned it had to do with volunteering.

"Oh, volunteering! That's real good. That's great. You know, I did some volunteering. I helped with the Obama campaign!"

This must have sparked a passion in him as he began telling me about himself. He was visiting Philadelphia from Ohio and his friends were waiting for him downtown, wondering where he was. He couldn't call them because there was no reception underground. He was in his 40's. Then the subject came back to Obama.

"You know, everybody wants to blame Obama for all the problems going on right now. The man is tryna do the best he can, but people aren't looking at the big picture. You know most of those Republicans, and a lot of the Democrats are owned by the insurance companies. The people who voted for him aren't even supporting the change they asked for. You can't depend on one man to do everything."

He mentioned something about the Klan (that i didn't really understand) and then went on about how children ask questions, but adults accept what their told.

"People are full of shit. They say they want things to change, but they don't know what to do once they get it. If he doesn't get reelected, what do you think they'll be getting then? The same thing we had with Bush."

He went on about the healthcare debate and how those fighting against it either already have everything, or are misinformed and fighting against their own interest.

"You see anyone that looks like you in those Tea Parties?"

"No," I replied timidly.

I noticed the man's stop was coming up and let him know.

"Oh ok, well thank you. I like you, Sista. I'm Joe from Ohio," he shook my hand.

"Ash."

The doors slid open, as he walked off the train.

I found it funny that he liked me even though I barely said a word the whole time he was talking. I was kind of sad to see him go. Joe had a point. I'm not sure what the Klan had to do with it, but he did have a point. People are full of it, most of the time. Everybody wants something for nothing. They say they want things to change but look to everyone but themselves. How can you look to one man who only exists to you on your TV screen and expect them to change your position in life. The closest governing body to you, as an individual, is your own brain.

I also think that sometimes people think they want things to change, but secretly they don't because it means they have to change. Once you get used to being on the defense, sometimes you don't want the responsibility of being on the offense.

I'm not giving the president a pass. I'm not above depending on others to feel worthy of changing my condition. No one is, completely. Joe had a point, though.

(None of the quotes are direct. They are based on memory).

The Day I Met Melvin Van Peebles

2010-03-19T09:55:00.005-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I met Mr. Sweetback, himself, Mr. Melvin Van Peebles. He came to my school fresh off the plane from France. It was a Q&A panel discussion and book signing. He was the panel. The book was a graphic novel charmingly named Confessions of a Ex-Doofus Itchy Footed Mutha, based on his play of the same name. I was surprised at how few students showed up. Half of the people were from other parts of the city, many in the film industry. Looking back, this could have been a great networking opportunity had I been more forward thinking and outgoing. Oh well.

The event started out with Melvin telling us about his life and it was quite a story. He talked about his travels around the world, the Air Force, and the lucky breaks that lead him to where he is today…the kinds of stories most of us would never be interesting or adventurous enough to have. His sarcasm made it even better. His story was like Forrest Gump on steroids. I know, bad metaphor.

Here are a few things he said that you may not know:

-was a street performer in France for a while
-became a translator for Mad Magazine and journalist in France
-was a street car operator in San Francisco
-went to Ohio Wesleyan
-paid a black janitor to rave about one of his films to producers so they would be confident enough to release it to black audiences and fund it’s promotion
-not just a filmmaker, has done music (including the Sweetback soundtrack), theater, art, writing…pretty much all forms of art
-won a suit in a bet over whether a film of his would be successful (he was wearing the jacket)

I would have remembered more if I had written this earlier...

After this, was the Q&A. First up was a disgruntled fan who asked for Melvin’s signature back in the 70’s and was turned down. It was kinda awkward, but funny at the same time. He went on about how much respect he had for him until he refused to give his autograph. You could hear the anger and passion in his voice. The audience was silent. Melvin explained that he hated giving autographs because he didn’t believe people should look up to him like he was above them. “You’re somebody, too,” he said. He explained that he has since stopped refusing them since people seem to take it the wrong way. Good enough answer, I guess. The man seemed satisfied and at peace. There were more questions that led Melvin to reveal more about himself. Others received smart-ass answers that made everyone laugh. He really has a great since of humor.

Next, everyone got a chance to talk to Melvin and get his autograph. I generally become nervous in regular social interaction, so speaking to Melvin Van Peebles did not go as I had planned it in my head. I didn’t end up saying much. He asked if I was a film student and I said I wasn’t because I chickened out and did media instead. He smiled. “Just go for it. You’re the only one holding you back.” It was a simple exchange, but a nice one. He autographed my book, (even though I felt weird about it, since he said he didn’t like giving autographs). The girl behind me in line snapped snapped a picture of us…she did a horrible job, by the way.

There was free food in the back that I helped myself to. Others stormed Mr. Van Peebles to chat. I left him alone, partially out of shyness, partially just to give the guy a break. It was a good evening.

Here is a promo for the film based on the graphic novel and play:

You can buy the Graphic Novel here: Confessions of a Ex-Doofus Itchy Footed Mutha

Disconnected, Yet Connected

2010-03-19T09:44:00.000-04:00

I lost my internet this week. What’s strange is that it works for both of my roommates. It’s not the computer because I tried it on my old laptop and it doesn’t work on there either. My conclusion: God is responsible for this. I have to put the blame somewhere. The weirdest part is that I’m sort of enjoying it. It’s forcing me out of the isolation of my bedroom and into the new spring weather. I could have called Comcast days ago, but I’m not in a hurry. Ironically enough, if I hadn’t lost my internet connection, I probably would have waited even longer make a new post.

Got Booty?

2010-03-10T12:13:00.003-05:00

If not, then you need Booty Pop.

I saw this commercial while watching Soul Train on Centric. What I want to know is why this is being shown on a black station. Wouldn't MTV or Vh1 be stations better suited to segments of the population in need of such a product? Just sayin'.

Out of Our Right Minds

2010-03-09T15:41:00.005-05:00

A week ago I received an e-mail about a documentary called Out of Our Right Minds: Trauma, Depression and the Black Woman, by Stacey Muhammad. It immediately appealed to me because of my own battle with depression. The explores possible reasons behind the disproportionate number of black women suffering from mental health disorders, as well as the lack of dialogue about it in the black community. The film will premiere at the 7th Annual PATOIS International Human Rights Film Festival in New Orleans on March 13. Out of Our Right Minds is presented by Wildseed Films and Block Exchange Films. Here is the trailer:

Out of Our Right Minds - Trauma, Depression and the Black Woman from Stacey Muhammad on Vimeo.

I'm sure the film will be shown in other places later on, so keep an eye out for it. After all, if you want to see rarely discussed issues like this addressed in the media, the best way to do that is to either support people who do it, or do it yourself.

Wildseed Studios
Film Festival
Block Exchange Films

History Erased

2010-03-02T09:28:00.003-05:00

A big story here in Philly is the arson and burglary of Philadelphia International Records, home of Gamble and Huff. For those who don't know, this recording studio produced records from artists like Patti LaBelle, Jackson 5, Teddy Pendergrass and The O'Jays. The man charged with the crime was supposedly intoxicated when he broke in.

I don't understand how something like this could happen on Broad Street in the middle of downtown. The building must not have had much security, which is ridiculous because of all the memorabilia. Now 40% of the memorabilia is gone (including gold and platinum records). Luckily the recording studio and masters were spared.

Link

Can I have your number?

2010-02-24T08:57:00.004-05:00

Something eerily similar to this happened last night when going to the corner store to get some iced tea. I had on a hood and a baseball cap, so I don't know how this dude could even see my face that well.

For me, even the "I have a boyfriend" line didn't work. Instead, he offered to buy me AND my non-existent boyfriend a drink.

Guys: Don't do this to us.

By the way, Darrell is actually a woman named Nicole Randall Johnson. Crazy, right?

We Are the World: What Do You Think?

2010-02-21T20:03:00.004-05:00

Personally I agree with Jay-Z.

MTV Shows

When I first heard it was being remade, I was automatically cynical. Why couldn't they just make a new song to raise money for Haiti? I knew it couldn't be as good as the original considering the caliber of the artists in the original. I even made the joke to a friend about how funny it would be if they gave Lil' Wayne an auto-tune solo. Apparently that idea wasn't that far fetched...

A YouTube version was also made. Don't laugh. This is actually better than you think. A group of independent amateur artists put together their own version of "We Are The World" and I have to say, it beats the official remake in my opinion.

No matter what your opinions are, at least money is being raised for a good cause.

Open Post: This is what rape culture looks like

2010-02-16T09:46:00.002-05:00

Saw this on the way to the supermarket.

It's Mardi Gras

2010-02-16T09:21:00.002-05:00

Spirits are up in New Orleans:

Saints Winning the Superbowl
New Mayor
Mardi Gras

I know I'm a bit late on this, but I saw this video of people celebrating after the Superbowl and really wanted to share it.

Saints Superbowl Victory Celebration from Cottage Films on Vimeo.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T09:47:00.003-05:00

I could write a really long run-on sentence about how I think holidays like Valentine's Day are just excuses to boost the economy by forcing people to buy useless cards and stuffed animals no one really wants out of guilt...but I'm not going to go there.

I hate this holiday, but I like love songs. I got a good one for ya.

This is Love Conversation by Jose James featuring Jordana De Lovely. Jose James is one of my new favorite artists. I found out about him a while ago, but just recently I've just really been getting into his music. I'll do a more detailed post in the future. I don't know much about Jordana De Lovely, but her voice is fantastic on this track. Both of them have myspaces if you want more information.

Jose James
Jordana De Lovely

To all the lonely people out there, I can relate. The only card I'll be getting is from my parents. At least it's something, I guess.

Cool Show Alert

2010-02-10T17:02:00.002-05:00

Today I found out about this show called How to Make it in America that will premiering on the 14th on HBO. From what I can see, it looks pretty good and HBO is pretty reliable for decent programming, so I think people should check it out. Kid Cudi is also randomly in the cast. Here is a description:

"How to Make It in America" follows two enterprising Brooklyn twentysomethings as they hustle their way through New York City, determined to achieve the American Dream. Trying to make a name for themselves in New York's competitive fashion scene, Ben Epstein (Greenberg) and his friend and business partner Cam Calderon (Rasuk) use their street knowledge and connections to bring their ambitions to fruition. With the help of Cam's cousin Rene (Guzman), who is trying to market his own high-energy drink, and their well-connected friend Domingo ("Kid Cudi"), the burgeoning entrepreneurs set out to make it big, encountering obstacles along the way that will require all their ingenuity to overcome.
"How to Make It in America" also stars Lake Bell as Ben's ex-girlfriend Rachel, who is concentrating on her own career and a new relationship; Martha Plimpton ("Beautiful Girls," "200 Cigarettes") as Rachel's boss Edie, an eccentric interior designer; Shannyn Sossamon ("40 Days and 40 Nights," "The Holiday") as Gingy, Ben and Cam's artsy friend; and Eddie Kaye Thomas ("Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," "American Pie") as David Kaplan, a successful hedge fund manager and high school friend of Ben's.

Clip Trailer

Looks like a good time.

Chat Roulette

2010-02-10T16:15:00.004-05:00

Down in the lowest depths of the internet lies a place called Chat Roulette.

This morning I was shown penises, called a nigger, asked to show my tits and chatted with some complete strangers from different parts of the world. Thank you, chatroulette.com.

Basically, it's a videochat website that pairs you up with random people. You can click next whenever you want to see the next person. You never know what you might run into. I take that back. You will, without a doubt, come across some creeps. Think about your typical inmature, ignorant youtube comment coming to life and and talking to you. Then, maybe you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about.

I don't know what to think of the internet's newest viral sensation, but I know that once I signed off to hop into the shower, I was eager to see what would happen when I got back on. No, I am not a masochist...I don't think. I could only take so much of it, as I began to feel unclean in some way. The site creates a new, strange sense of voyeurism that began making me uncomfortable. Perhaps I didn't like what I saw when given a glimpse into the collective mind of cyberspace. Even so, I can't promise I won't return to the site out of boredom. It's kinda like the feeling I get every time I watch a Vh1 reality show (yes, it's been more than once, a lot more).

As awful as this sounds, I'm sure a few of you are still a little curious. If so, it's ok, you don't have to tell anyone. Click here if you must: chatroulette.com You were warned.

D'Angelo, is that you?

2010-02-01T09:13:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine brought this to my attention. An unmastered leak from D'Angelo has surfaced! I'm really feelin the psychedelic vibe of this song. It reminds me a bit of something by Bilal. This is 1000 Deaths from Richmond, Virginia's very own D'Angelo:

Update: My apologies. I had the wrong video posted at first since I was in a rush to get to class. I've replaced it with the right one.

Vote for Jadon

2010-01-29T14:04:00.003-05:00

I'm all about supporting the arts, so I want to spread the word about a guy named Jadon Woodard. We've talked a few times but I don't really know him all that well. I do know, however, that he is a great poet and that he's competing in the NY Knicks' digital poetry slam competition. I received this message from him the other day, so I thought I'd help spread the word.

To those who know me and to those who don't, my
name is James Jadon Woodard. I am a 19 year old performance/literary
poet competing in competition known as the NY Knicks Poetry Slam. I am
in an online slam taking place at
http://www.nba.com/knicks/community/poetryslam_vote. It is an online
competition for the final... spot on the NY Knicks Poety Slam finals
taking place February 19th on Broadway.
I really believe that i will be on final stage, I have claimed it and
manifested it, but now all I need is a strong community that will be
backing me in the quest for final stage. To vote all you need to do is
go to http://www.nba.com/knicks/community/poetryslam_vote.html, and
vote for me.

He also did a Sprite Commercial.

If you like what you see, please show your support and vote for him.
Vote Here

Weirdness on the Subway

2010-01-25T02:39:00.003-05:00

At 8:30 on a Sunday night, I really wasn't in the mood to go to a meeting with the student organization I'm a part of. I was dragging my feet, but decided I should finally get out of my room and do something constructive. After waiting forever, the train showed up and I sat down. Only a few people were on our car. When I looked to my left, I noticed a woman with no shoes on who appeared to be removing nail polish from her nails. I could smell the nail polish remover.

If that wasn't weird enough, she then began changing her clothes. She removed her shirt (luckily she had an undershirt underneath) and then changed her pants (she had on shorts too). Everyone kept stealing glances at her, trying not to stare too long, myself included. The woman seemed as though she was in her own world, completely oblivious to bewilderment she was causing amongst the other passengers. As the subway made stops, her audience grew more and more. She proceeded to brush her hair, primp and repeatedly adjust her pants.

Then, she took out a small handful of fake hair from her pocket and started brushing it while pacing back and forth up and down the aisle. The fake hair was black and didn't even match her hair color and looked as if she had found it on the floor. It was obviously for African-American hair and she was white, so I don't know what she was doing with it. People were exchanging awkward smiles and glances, trying to make sure they weren't the only ones witnessing this.

Another woman got on the train announcing that she needed money for community college and that she was selling candy. It looked like a good way to escape being next to the weird lady, so I decided to get some candy. I gave her a dollar, and she handed me a baggy (taped closed with masking tape) of something called "Chews." The woman combing the fake hair continued pace back and forth.

In retrospect, If I was smart, I probably shouldn't have eaten the candy, but I'm still alive. I can't help but wonder the story behind the woman who was changing. I also hope the woman with the candy is able to pay for school (if her story was even true). I know this post was extremely random, but I just kept thinking about it.

Just another day in the life.

Wake Up.

2010-01-21T11:39:00.003-05:00

On campus, there were men (around boomer age) passing out fliers for an Antiwar Public Forum. I noticed, everyone was ignoring them and no one was taking a flier, so I took one to be nice. I admit, I felt some apprehension, but then it got me thinking. Why did I feel this way? I know everyone has their own views and I don’t expect everyone to be against the war in Afghanistan, however, I thought college campuses were the places were kids cared about things like this. It seems as though college has become less about learning to ask intelligent questions and more about shutting up so you can get a job.

I’ve never pretended to be the most informed, articulate or enlightened person in the world, but on my college campus, I’m realizing that most kids I know are far less informed than I am and it scares me. Even some of the smartest kids, wouldn’t even recognize the names Mitch McConnell or Harry Reid. We’re supposed to be the internet generation with all the information in the world at our fingertips, yet we don’t know anything and nobody seems to care. It goes beyond politics too.

Look at the quality of today’s music. Why is it that a catchy beat and good looks is enough to get a Grammy these days? Didn’t the Grammys used to be like the Oscars of music? Content doesn’t even seem to matter anymore if it’s wrapped in a pretty package. Woman willfully dance to songs that call them hos. Kids will put all of their hopes and dreams into the highly unlikely chance of becoming rich and famous, while ignoring the reality that will come to pass if they don’t graduate high school.

All of this is right in front of our faces, but we still don’t see it. We’re fooled by corporate sponsored images and false idols of uniqueness.

You really can’t blame the government for all of the problems going on in this country anymore. Our government has become a reflection of our own apathy. Just look at how quickly Obama’s “army of volunteers” died down. As soon as he got into office, people thought it was enough to let one man change everything. What they forgot is that a president does not create “change”. People do.

Brown

2010-01-21T09:24:00.003-05:00

Yeah, I know. I've been slacking a little bit. The semester just started and...yeah. I'm sure we're all aware of Scott Brown's upset in Massachusetts. Maybe this is the wake up call the president needs. He really needs to stop trying to please everyone by trying to seem "bipartisan." The republicans gave up on that a long time ago. All he's doing is watering down his policies to the point where no one is happy. Now the democrats are being punished for it. The president needs to get a little, ok, a lot meaner. One thing I can say about President Bush is that he didn't care if he was making people furious, he just did what he thought he needed to do (even though it was wrong).

No one really knows where the healthcare thing is going. Then again, we never knew much about what was in the bill anyway. I was hoping something would happen since, I'll be too old to stay on my parent's plan in a year. I know I won't be able to afford it on my own right away.

I don't really agree with those who say the president went too far left. If he had more conviction when speaking about the public option, maybe more people would have had faith in it. He never acted like he truly believed in it would happen, so it was hard to trust him. The bank situation didn't help with credibility either. Now they're trying to go back and add some rules after they already gave the banks the money.

At the end of the day, it's not over yet and Obama does seem to be waking up, according to this article. He's also trying to get tougher on the banks. I just hope it's not too little too late. What were really need right now is a little "The Rock Obama" and maybe things will start getting done correctly.

Beyond "I Have A Dream"

2010-01-17T22:41:00.005-05:00

Ask anyone what they first think of when they hear the name Martin Luther King Jr. and they'll probably mention his "I Have a Dream" speech. All we seem to remember about Dr. King are his words about civil disobedience and racial harmony, or how beloved he was by people all over the world.

What about those who didn't love Dr. King...like our own government who put him under electronic surveillance hoping to dig up enough dirt to bring him down?

No one ever wants to talk about the later years of his life when he started taking on other issues like the Vietnam war, poverty(regardless of race) and exploitative foreign policy. As soon as Dr. King began challenging the nation's fundamental values and policies, his popularity started dropping. The FBI started surveilling him. Liberals began abandoning him. The media started demonizing him.

"Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam"

This is more relevant today than ever before because we seem to be repeating the same mistakes.

If you want to know more:
The FBI and Martin Luther King
Wikipedia
The Martin Luther King You Don't See on TV
Remembering Martin Luther King

My New Favorite Show

2010-01-17T09:32:00.002-05:00

And it isn't even on air yet. I don't know if you've seen the preview for Treme, the new HBO show by David Simon (who brought us the Wire). It creates hype for those of us who were fans of The Wire, but doesn't provide much information. I found an article on Flavorwire with a few more details.

-It takes place 3 months post-Katrina
-Education and crime will be major themes
-Wendell Pierce (Bunk from the Wire) will play a musician
-There will be musical guests (including Dr. John and Allen Toussaint)
-It follows several people and their experiences
Follow the link for more info.

Maluca

2010-01-16T18:08:00.005-05:00

I'm not sure how I came across this video, but I saw it online one day and loved it ever since. Strait outta Washington Heights, this is Maluca with El Tigeroso:

Anyone who can rock soda cans instead of rollers is okay in my book. Not quite sure I could pull that off.
Her Myspace

New Gil?

2010-01-16T12:24:00.002-05:00

I start a blog called Evolution and Flashback and suddenly I find out Gil Scott-Heron is coming back. It must be fate. This video was brought to my attention today:
R5B8MS8FFTQB
Source of the Video
The album comes out in February. What a great birthday present.

Remember New Orleans?

2010-01-15T17:41:00.002-05:00

I know coverage has died down about hurricane Katrina. When something stops being publicized, we often forget about it's existance. This rang especially true upon leaving New Orleans and stopping at a Pizza Hut in Alabama. I was with a few other kids from my volunteer group and and employee asked us what we were doing in Alabama. I guess we stood out. We told him we were coming back from doing some volunteer work in New Orleans and he looked puzzled, "Ya mean they still haven't fixed it up yet?"

"Nope. Not the ninth-ward," I replied.

He shook his head.
It's true. Only about 15% of the population of the ninth-ward has returned. I don't blame them. Theres nothing there. No school. No hospital. No supermarket. No reliable public transportation. Half of the lots are empty or dilapidated. Meanwhile, in St. Bernard's parish, a predominantly white area hit just as hard looks almost completely rebuilt. It has stores and everything.

New ninth-ward levees (which are worst than the old ones)

17th St. Canal levee (a whole freakin park)

For me, it was like going back in time. I thought these kinds of things only happened in my parent's generation. They get away with it because it isn't covered enough. I know a lot of people were saying that the ninth-ward wasn't worth rebuilding because it will flood again, but if they had levees equivalent of those in higher income areas, this wouldn't be a problem. You can't put a monetary value on people's lives. There is also something called the "Good Neighbor Program" where they fine people $500 everyday if their grass is above a certain height.

I could go on and on. I just figured it would defeat the purpose of having a blog if I didn't speak on this. For a better account, I found this link: More info
I'll continue to bring up this issue here and there. Don't be depressed, though. Mos Def will cheer you up.

Haiti

2010-01-15T17:28:00.004-05:00

I have a feeling their reaction would be different if this had happened in Europe.

Legit ways to help Haiti

Update: Rush Limbaugh told Americans not to donate to Haiti.

Oh well.

2010-01-15T15:59:00.006-05:00

I had a bag of clothes that I wasn't wearing, so I decided to take them to Buffalo Exchange to see if I could make a few bucks. I'm aware that they only accept current styles, but I figured they'd take at least one of my items since I had so many. If you don't know what Buffalo Exchange is, it's basically a hipster resale store that is usually found in urban areas.

I got into the store and there were some twenty-somethings in line with their bags of clothes. Most of their items were being accepted, so things looked good.

So I finally get up to the counter to take out my clothes. The sales guy begins looking at each item one by one and gently folds them, moving them to the side of the counter. I notice he isn't putting anything to the sale area. "I'm sorry, we do accept these brands, but they aren't quite current enough for us. Thanks, though," he says in so many words. He was nice, but I couldn't help but feel a mild sense of rejection. Basically I wasn't cool enough for them to sell my clothes...at least that's what it felt like, as lame as it sounds.

So, after that I hauled my heavy backpack of clothes for about a mile to the regular thrift store where they were glad to take my items. Suddenly, I felt cool again...and charitable.

By the way, I'm not trying to diss Buffalo Exchange or anything. It's a great store for nice, but cheap stuff. Just don't bring anything over 3 years old or you'll feel like the last kid picked in gym class.

Buffalo Exchange

Awkwardness

2010-01-14T20:48:00.000-05:00

Awkward is a really awkwardly spelled word, isn't it? Sometimes I wonder if whoever makes up our words does these things on purpose.

Anyway, I was thinking this word because I realized this word has a lot of power over me. I'm a bit shy, so I often find myself trying my best to avoid awkward situations or avoiding being perceived as awkward. In turn, I have become even more awkward around other people. I mean isn't it more awkward not to speak at all than to talk and maybe make a few awkward comments? Hmmm...

My First Post

2010-01-13T14:53:00.003-05:00

It can be shocking the day you wake up and realize half of your life you've been asleep. I'm thankful I found this out sooner rather than later, but I'm still trying to figure out what to do with this realization. I guess this blog is part of that process. Basically I've been dwelling on the past and being in constant fear of my future, while ignoring the present, the only thing that truly exists. I look in the mirror and see a person really hasn't grown as much as I thought I had. As of now, all of that is in the past. Today, I move on.

All right, so enough of the philosophical shit. You're probably wondering why this blog is called Evolution and Flashback. Honestly, it's probably not as deep as you think. Basically, I'm a Gil Scott-Heron fan. (You don't know him? Google him). He had an album called Evolution (and Flashback): The Very Best of Gil Scott-Heron, (which isn't actually his best in my humble opinion) and the name stuck with me. I guess it just sounded cool.

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this blog, but I think that’s a good thing. Nothing should be 100% certain because you can miss out on some really good ideas. Despite what it looks like, I don't intend for Evolution and Flashback to be completely serious or pessimistic. I have a sense of humor and I do have a little faith in humanity (thanks to a wonderful trip to New Orleans I just returned from). I also do not intend to preach my ideas to anyone. I'm young and still learning to broaden my intellectual horizons. Hopefully you, whoever you may be, can be a part of that with your feedback.
To conclude my first post, I leave you with The Vulture.

The Vulture by Gil Scott-Heron by evolutionandflashback