Google Sky

Just when you thought Google Earth was crazy and being able to look at the liscence plate of the car in your driveway wasn't enough, Google took something and made it astronomical, for real. Google Sky allows viewers to see detailed images of photos taken by the Hubble telescope, Mars, the moon and what we know as the sky.

Google Sky chronicles a panoramic of the sky with detail, labeling a describing different gallexies and even directing you to the nearest google search engine results about them. On the moon, each of the apollo landings have been labeled and on Mars a heat sensitive topographic layout of the planet has been generated. As late as I am, Google Earth was Launched in August of 2007 and I still think it's pretty amazing, but see so for yourself.

Cue the Boos

Thanks to the wonderful world of Yahoo homepage, celeb gossip and trashy performances, in case you haven't seen Kanye's performance on Saturday Night Live please save your time because it's definitely not worth it.

West definitely ruined it for himself, even with the help of an auto-tuned, voice enhancing microphone and someone in the backgroup to hit all the falsettos he refused to sing. I felt bad for him until I read he's been accused of lip synching, then I was thinking "Word? it sounded good enough to be lip synched?" Like, that was a really bad performance, now with the reassurance of gossip news telling me that was not really him, I can sleep easier knowing Kanye can do better, maybe.

But really, that was him. Gossip is lying and if they're concerned about him lip synching, they should really be concerned that he performed that bad live. Go figure, I thought lip synching is suppose to make you sound good.

And I included the performance just you could procrastinate a little longer.

Believe the Hype Kills

So I was bored and looking back at some old facebook history I had on my feed. I find it pretty amazing how much of a documentation of my life facebook has become whether it be involuntary or with intent. None the less, I'm guilty once again of partaking in the worldly pleasures fueled by hype, and hype kills.

So allow me to reintroduce the top hypes of the year, in no particular order, more like a "Remember When..."

1. Hands down, the top hype of the year was Barack Obama. Label me guilty again because even I could not resists stretching my fingers over the keyboard to spit my nickels of knowledge and opinions about him. Considered phenomenal, "lesser of the two evils," hope, change, progress and the effervescent "black cool," I would have to say just as my profile documented my life, other's profiles have done the same for them, and Obama definitely showed up for months in status updates, homepages and blogs, and even as religious and political preferences around the world.

Rallying for Obama also managed to fuel instances of black pride, patriotism and the campiagn that "change has come to America." Obama became buzz central worldwide, and at times I wondered was I the only who one thought the rest of the world was in love with him. From songs to shirts to posters to tattoos, hairdos and Halloween costumes, he has been it all.

2. Savedarfur.org? Yes, Savedarfur.org is what I thought was going to be the bane of college students existence to help a country in need. Not at all. Savedarfur.org actually seemed to pop up more like a disclaimer for punchlines, and what made the act so bad is everyone, including myself, have only publicized the situation without making in progress.

Save darfur only raised temporary awareness for thing such as genocide, but other sites advocating social welfare popped up like Free Rice , and Self Help Africa. This was all only hype and I wonder if anyone besides myself felt like more agency should have been taken for something so unrightfully claimed. So I guess since it was on the Tyra show and represents another inhumane act, I can expect next years awareness fad to be female circumcisons...

3. Lil' Wayne, Kanye and T-Pain, but mostly Lil' Wayne, were thee top music fads of the year. Lil' Wayne became so popular, I personally feel like he just stopped trying, not that he wasn't still good but when you sell a million albums in one week, it's safe to assume that your voice is good enough. These three artists just decided they could officially do whatever the wanted musically and we would love it anyways, and as consumers, we proved them right. I would have to say that T-Pain took the initiative to introduce Lil' Wayne and Kanye to the world of auto tuning and they have officially been turned out. Now, we have the pleasure of lyrics so slurred and sloppy we have to carry around the words just in case the opportunity to sing along comes up. These three are most definitely the music fads of the year.

The Other Cool Ass

So it must feel good to be Obama, right? Nominated ____ of the year by every website, magazine and tv show to have ever been created, even ones that don't exist. So we know a plethora of things about his recent life but what about way back when? What about the days when Obama was "chill as hell". Check out some photos taken by Lisa Jack for Time Magazine... I bet. And this smokin' hot video on youtube. I know, its late and the punchlines are corny.

African American Express

Not really, in fact I'm sure few black people will really ever have the chance to behold such a glorious specimen of human life. Made of titanium, weighing a total of 12 grams, three times your average credit card and a first month set up fee of $5,000, not to mention the chance to land on the moon, hosted by your favorite Japanese space explorers, literally, this will never be your average credit card. If you haven't guessed by now, I'm talking about the Centurion Card, also known as the Black Card.

Not even offered to 95% of America, those of whom who are already in the top 5% of the world's wealth, the black card has ridiculous statistics in America alone possessed by only a few in that select 5%. This is the only card that can buy you happiness. I just happened to run into a blog about the black card, full of legends, maybe even myths about just what a black card can do for you. I can almost guarantee for those of you who value materialism, the minimum $250,000 annual spending requirements can buy the happiness you desire.

Just to jog around it, here are some rumored legendary moments the black card experiences:
1. The black card has a monthly newsletter, so exclusive, it doesn't even have a name
2. The largest known purchase was a jet for $30 million
3. One of the most outrageous, yet "cost to be the boss" rumors I read was child needed some sand from the Dead Sea for a religious project and the cardholder called the concierge and a motorcycle was dispatched for a handful of sand which was then couriered to London.

Internationally, cardholders receive the service of a personal concierge, which basically becomes your personal assistant when it comes to things you don't want to do for yourself, like book hotels, harass the restaurant owner into closing early for your special party, and looking into that digital camera you wanted. And, if you have a secondary cardholder i.e. spouse/mistress, they too receive all the benefits at your expense. Upon enrollment you get access to unlimited concierge, valet and no black out dates for all flights, ever, and the personal shopper at Gucci never hurt either. So guess once you go black, you never go back?

And of course imitation is suicide, which is why rival companies such as Visa and Matercard offer similar cards with no-where-near comparisons. The Matercard platinum for instance has a $99 annual fee, with a concierge and unlimited companion flights, but you don't get exclusive offers and the concierge service acts more like an operator than a personal assistant, so I've heard of course.

But then I wonder, with all this wealth and upfront imaginary money, why are there still people starving in Ethiopia, war in Iraq and not a cure for HIV or cancer. These people should just buy these people out of it, or at least enough happiness until they die miserably from something avoidable. Despite my taste for material wealth, I think I would call my concierge and schedule something on the magnitude of Oprah's fame and make all the starving children full and happy. Yes my friend, its that exclusive

Some last words:
"I went to the malls and I balled too hard
'Oh my god, is that a black card?'
I turned around and replied, why yes but I prefer the term
African American Express "

Kanye West- "Last Call"

1,000 Words

I've been inspired to buy a camera. Consider me visual, I love pictures, appreciate sunsets and cold, clear days, and pay particular attention to details. Of course this blog will have updates of my visual excursions but in the mean time, please add more math to the hit list for The Big Picture. The pictures are crazy amazing and document the world in 2008 through photography.

From the recent terrorist bombing in Mumbai to the presidential election and even those astronomical events city lights will never let us see. I'm in love again, but this time it's almost tangible. I can't really think of a clever, syntactical way to work in how much I love Annie Leibovitz, I would have to say she began my interest in photography way back when...

Although editorial and almost cliche, Leibovitz is easily my favorite photographer. She's done celebrities from the likes of Michael Jordan, Scarlet Johanson and Jack Nicholas. She's even emabarked on a series of photos that bring animated Disney movies to life using celebrities. I'm waiting to see how she does with Princess and the Frog (upcoming animated film premiering Disney's first black priness). And yes, that's Beyonce as Alice.

"Me and My Lonesome Ass Friends"

When I was young and used to ask my grandma about homeless people, she used to always tell me to never assume or question why someone was homeless. Some of the best people in the world are homeless and don't underestimate them.

As a matter of fact, I was Pasadena the other day, and I wouldn't have remembered this woman if my aunt wouldn't have pointed her out back in March for her attempt to disguise herself. Well, its December and she's still on that same corner, Lake St. and the 210 exit. Could it be a scam?

Anyways, peep the raw homeless talent.



two versions, this one is original and auto-tune free..

Not So Good Samaritan

So I guess I'll think twice before I help anyone out ever again.

Seriously, They're Serious

While browsing Youtube, I know you will come across some of the raunchiest, funniest and most outright appalling videos. A couple weeks ago, I had one of those moments. This is completely ridiculous, and I'm wondering where are the rest of the views for the video...

Damn, who's mom is that?

7lbs or Seven Stars

Will Smith has to be the movie man of the year. His movie career this year has really done him justice and I think audiences all over can look past the cheesy and soppy points the movies he stars in attempts to make and look at the role he played.

Yesterday was opening day for Seven Pounds and although this movie started off slow I would consider it a must see. Not necessarily a tear-jerker, but for those of us who are pathos stricken, this movie will hit you. Seven Pounds takes a completely different approach than I Am Legend, but you have to appreciate the character Smith plays. It's acting at its finest.

But it's been a while since I've been able to look at a movie for what it instead of over analyzing the scene setting, lighting, props diction etc., and I have to give this movie recognition for grabbing my attention (and tears) in spite of.


Sorry Keanu, Will gets seven stars and the Oscar for this one.

Coolass' Ten Questions

With my life being swamped with school, I finally have time to get my thoughts and ideas into words. So I've compiled a list, something life Vibe's 20 questions. Take a gander.

10. Is it me, or is Juicycampus really not that juicy?
9. Are away messages on AIM getting entirely too personal?
8. Isn't MTV's True Life getting entirely to real for TV?
7. Speaking of too true for tv, what happened to censorship?
6. Aren't you tired of the calls telling you your factory warranty on your vehicle is about to expire?
5. Not his best of course, but is there anyone else who agrees that 808's and Heartbreak was legit?
4. Isn't Married to the MOB the best brand out that almost no one knows about?
3. Why isn't the rest of the world in love with Miguel?
2. Is it me, or is the trailer for Seven Pounds the most vague trailer ever?
1. Where have I been?!?

WTF?!

I can't emphasize enough how difficult is its to find positive images of black people. So why is she putting this on youtube and why does it have over 700,000 views. I chose to put a question mark at the end of that sentence, because it doesn't require an answer.



I'm not doctor grammer extraordinaire, but its only a fact that, "its so cold in the d, how the fuck do we suppose to keep peace?" is not correct, EVER.

Feel free to leave a comment on this belligerent act of ignorance.

Google Me

"Google Me." Pop culture has a new saying, so I guess if you were popular enough, one could google someone and they would come up. But how does R. Kelly feel about this?

Random I know, but I came across this picture, thinking "wtf."

Hood Genius-ness

I was forced to revisit what I thought to be my liking of James Baldwin during this summer. In high school when I had to do the meeting of the minds I was taking the task on as another project, but now I think it means more.

James Baldwin was hands down my favorite author on merit alone. He was a gay, black man during the Civil Rights era in America, who then moved to France where he was widely accepted. Not only did he become accepted in France, but acclaimed in America, a country where he couldn't even be proud to be who he was. Amazing. But my point was that I remain amazed at the topics he discusses.

An Ethnic Studies professor introduced a concept James Baldwin mentioned in his book Giovanni's Room that I never caught when I read the book in high school. The concept was that love is such a powerful and uncontrollable emotion, that who would someone be to tell someone else not to feel how they feel just as a human being. That humans never possess the power and never will to stop someone from feeling the way they do. But of course, James Baldwin says this way more eloquently than I have and its too true.

I think as much as people desire the love of someone else and don't accept the love they are handed, why not? Why not take the love you're given, it's irrevocable and unintentional. Most of the time you can't help the way you feel anyways...

With that being said, James Baldwin as well as my Ethnic Studies Professor are examples of hood genius-ness

I Mean...Hey?

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness.
		- Emo Philips

Untitled

The title is ironic, right? Anyways today was filled with just about everything my life encompasses: old friends, family, functions, missing and going to events, my desperate attempt to study spending, necessities the list is ENDLESS... One thing I especially love about college is the variety of people. There is always someone somewhere who knows something about anything that will strike my interest. Today was Banksy. Striking to say the least as I come down from my 22 oz double shot high coupled with too many red apple chips and hours of chapter three from McMurry's Organic Chemistry book with Miguel's "Supernatural" on repeat.

Banksy, my newest favorite commodity since Obey, but I don't want to make him mainstream, I'd just like to let you know.

Like Sam Cooke Said...

Amazing. This moment leaves me speechless and I'll remember where I was, how I felt and what I was doing and who I was with when the news came. Now about half of America is on some supernatural high, too afraid to come off of cloud nine, better yet known as change. But the other is half is not so speechless, where a lack of words would be appreciated...

So what do you say to the first African American President of one of the strongest standing democratic establishments? Congratulations? Fuck you? What's next? I would say thank you among other things. Thank you for wanting change enough in a superficial nation where race is more than arbitrary than the composition of dirt and where capitalist rule a society of dollar signs and material wealth. And thank you for wanting change enough to risk your life, family and in some cases even values to save a country.

But then again, Obama is in on that. And by that, I mean that government stuff. Still I don't think we question the government enough. So many theories have been proposed, facts established and eyebrows raised at what it takes to become president. One of course is the secret society factor and Obama, like every other president has that box checked off. It is hard to establish where I stand with things like this because I think Obama means common ground, change, the things he stood for essentially.

But then I find out he's in the Masonic Order, 32nd degree, where 33rd degree is as high as you can go so he'd be like one step away from being the leader of the leaders. And for those who do know, no one has ever been able to be president without being a member of one of these secret societies (skulls, masonic order...etc.). So where does the shit end and the change begin? Is he going to screw us over or is he going to be everything we've expected and hope for and then some? Is he one player who played the game to well or just another pond?

Was the black suit reminiscent of Malcolm X a ploy on black people's emotions? Is the genuine smile meant to trick us? Was his articulation in every speech meant create false expectations or raise our standards? How is it that the man with the stereotypical black family grows up to be president? Who is Obama really working for? I've got to many questions, so I may need to ask him in person...

Rock the Vote

Today I voted. I voted in what will be known as the most historical election since the creation of the United States. I voted in the first election where a black man was elected as the presidential candidate for a major political party. Today, I voted because I like the hype.

Although America is full of flaws, will never truly be a perfect union, and may be a huge conspiracy, I can say today that I am proud to be an American. I participated in what I know to be true democracy.

"Good Morning. On this day we become legendary, everything we dreamed of..." -Kanye West, Good Morning Intro

Come On

The question would be now who hasn't endorsed Obama? Somethings are getting pretty ridiculous and I'm not all that sure Obama would like these renditions of his likeness...

Another Man Dragged to Death in Texas

Let's be real, racism still exists but we won't dwell on it at this moment. The point I'd like to make is about a man named Brandon McClelland, 24 years old of East Texas, was dragged to death on September 16th by two white men, one of which whom was his friend, prior to his death. Now I wonder why we never hear about stuff like this. The news is really a heap of bologna now and I can't believe they blow up things like Obama's "terrorist handshakes" with his wife when people are being murdered on a the daily.

I'm reading a lot of different stories but the main one tells me this was not a hate and will not be tried as a hate crime because of the previous friendship among the three. In fact, one of the main stories that will pop up when you google his name is entitled, "Suspect's Sister: Texas Dragging Death Not Racial." However, according to the Associated Press, Deric Muhammad of the Nation of Islam who is leading an independent investigation of the case says that the friendship among the two, minus the accomplice, motivated this case to be a classified as a hate crime.

I've looked into this story since I heard about it over two weeks ago which is far from the date of the incidence. The even larger picture is that media and people who know of the case are comparing it to James Byrd Jr. who was also dragged to death in Jasper Texas and this was a hate crime. So is this a hate or the epitome of American?

Not to mention that the "gang" reporters keep referring to is the white supremacist group that suspect acquired affiliation with after a prior prison sentence. And why don't we hear about things like this again? I know people would argue that blacks murder white people too and in fact thats just about all they murder (I've seen this argument on other blogs). But the truth is, about half of all murder victims are black and the majority of murderers, or least convicted ones, are black (hence the high population of blacks in prison). So when we loathe over white people who are murdered, which should not be disregarded, lets consider black people who have been killing each other

So why when a black man is dragged to death for nearly 70 feet underneath a truck this does not get publicized? When is body is so badly mangled that it could not be embalmed after having poured beer on it and leaving pieces of his body on the pavement, why is this not publicized? I guess its just the epitome of American since it obviously isn't hate.

1,161,022

1,161,022, that was the number of views that this video had when I looked at it. It's only been up for a little over a week and I must add to the popularity. Not to mention that I must give her credit for putting this video up of herself. Kudos.

No Bitemarks No Scratches & No Hickies

I'm in love... but with a voice and not really a person. If you haven't heard Miguel Jontel please jump into the astrovan (new age bandwagon) quickly, because his voice is amazing. It's rare that I will just disregard the lyrics because the voice is grade A, but Miguel is an exception.

Mischief the Mixtape features some of Miguel's songs that are less familiar than "Quickie" but good none the less. I can't explain enough of the level of perfection that was reached in the song "Quickie." Now I know you're probably reading this thinking a song could not possible be that good, but harmonies were perfect and all the write notes were hit. This is that song that has me over over the superficial words because that song hits thee spot.

I'd almost be all over the next guy who can sing this song legitimately, but I listened to the words.

"Had to Make It Hurt..."

Jazmine Sullivan is quite possible the best thing since sliced peaches. I know the U.K. movement is in full effect with people like Estelle and what not, but their voices fail in comparison. I must give her credit for her word choice. In Fact, Ms. Sullivan was definitely on her innovation game when she made these songs. Has it ever been said/sung better?

Exhibit A: Bust Your Windows. Her songs, voice and sound is fresh. I haven't liked a female artist's album this much since Back to Black by Amy Winehouse. And please, expect a blog soon on Ms. Winehouse, drug use should strictly discredit morality and not talent and I love her music none the less.

But back to Jazmine Sullivan, her music is hot. Reminds me of a Keyshia Cole and a Lauryn Hill with a smidge of pop.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised...

But it should be. If you have the time, watch the second video.

Why don't we question the government more often?

Heaven Deserves You

Today I received the news that a friend passed away. Honestly, we were never the closest of friends and even under the circumstances that I met him, those six weeks in Indiana could not have made us any closer that we were meant to be. But I feel like his death has taught me a lesson none the less.

Today after reading the message with the news, I didn't feel like a new person but the senseless motions I go through everyday felt numbing. I can't help but wonder if I'm making the most of my life. Life is full of possibilities, the chances to become some famous athlete, find the cure for cancer, produce a movie, ANYTHING! And I wonder what am I doing with mine? I love college and this is really the happiest I have ever been my life, but is being happy enough?

Is happy going to make me feel like I accomplished all of my goals or helped others or is happiness really all I need? I can't help but remain perplexed by the fact that the possibilities are out there, but here I am, in college living this life despite the fact that so many other choices exist.

And age means nothing. He was so young, nineteen is nothing. I can guarantee he didn't expect to die. Now Jordan is gone forever, no one will ever see him, his mom will never get another call, his sisters will never get another visit and holidays are will be relentlessly incomplete.

But while some people say they imagine their life flashing before their eyes, a friend of mine reasons that when we die we won't regret not having done something. I don't want to think that I let taboo notion stand in the way of what I wanted. Whenever that time comes, I don't want to view my life as I knew it, wondering why I let what life could have been for me pass me by. So now my question is, do I live it up preparing to die tomorrow or do I plan for the long run which may never come?

I'll never know. But I'm thankful to have known him. Heaven deserves him.

I'll end with the last words that stayed on Jordan's aways
"Started off hustling ended up ballin"
"Its like rolling a dutch with the windows down"

Urban Thesaurus

Grind: to be on one's game, basically a hustle.

I've been hearing it often, and I'm kind of getting sick of it.

I'd like to make UrbanThesaurus.com. I just had to blog quickly so I can claim it first.

Ms. IndePending

I know, I know. I haven't on this for a while, but with school back in session I hardly have time alone with my personal thoughts. I've started many blogs, but they arise where creativity and inconsistency meet.

Ms. IndePending is a term I would like to coin for all women, females, ladies, girls, "gurls" and even hermaphrodites who aren't quite on that Ms. Independent game, and yes, it's all a game. I think the idea of having to embody Ms. Independent arises as a response to men, and in some cases: boys. But why are we giving ourselves so much credit for swag we should already possess? So until we quit the games, we remain pending.

In other words, the image we strive to conceptually control will continue to be defined by men until we decide that we won't care. Women will remain "under construction" and "pending" until we stop relying on what others thing or say about us define us. Not to say that the ideals men have for women control our lives but few of us, as I would like to assume, get up and get cute to entertain the eyes of other women. So the idea of my own car, own house, work hard, to jobs as a bad broad never really verbally personified us because even if I have all that, I still think there is so much more to independence than material satisfaction.

I'd like to think I can never fully consider myself grown until I'm financially and emotionally independent anyways, and I don't really see that in the near future. There will always be someone or something you need, always. But don't mistake me for a staunch feminist, of course I like equality minus the gender dominance, but lets all be real with ourselves, Ne-Yo probably hasn't met the typical college female working 1.5 jobs to maintain a phone bill and buy as many mini corndogs as her heart desires (or budget can afford). So until that mini corndog supply becomes unlimited, Ms. Independent shall remain pending.

But I'd still like to than Webbie, Lil Boosie Bad Azz and Ne-Yo for making that songs that put a definition to a physical being, kind of. But ladies, lets remain pending while we can... because if its bills that make me a boss, I think I will remain the employee.

Liars, Tigers and Bears

So I've been vexed by the concept of lying and how much I dislike liars. In all incidences in my most recent adult life, I've been posed with the idea that people lie for one of three reasons.

They either would like to keep you entertained with the image they have failed to uphold, or they would like to please you. Because after all ignorance is bliss and if you never know, that particular person can never disappoint you.

However, I dislike the idea of lying altogther. I actually deem lies more dangerous than lets say, a tiger or a bear because physical pain only last for so long. I consider lying bad because one lie only leads to another lie which leads to another, which leads to a point where comprehension of a person's personality, lifestyle and plain existence don't matter much because I'll just be left uncertain.

In Case You Haven't Been

Yesterday I went to the Griffith Observatory on Mount Wilson in Los Feliz. Amazing. I loved it. I love museums and places of display anyways so this has to be one of my favorite places of in the Los Angeles area yet. Also, the architecture was pretty amazing and the amount of detail that went into this building is amazing.

Some Facts I learned:
The Griffith Observatory was a $93,000,000 restoration project
Home to the Hubble Telescope (never knew that, thought the Hubble was in space)
Oh, and I learned how a pendulum works...








the pictures are only camera phone pictures, don't expect too much, but click on them for a larger image.

I Like Quotes

If you haven't noticed by now, I like quotes and lots of them. Check 'em.

"If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl, but by all means keep moving." Martin Luther King Jr.

"You never stop living someone, you just learn to live without them"

"I didn't come here to spell with my ears, I came to scream with my eyes" head & shoulders commercial

"You can only see as far as you think." Post Secret

"Reality is for those without imagination" -my Aunt

"What you want might make you cry, what you need might pass you by" Lauryn Hill

"Borrow money from a pessimist, they won't expect it back"

E Pluribus Unum

The titles is a Latin quote, also on the United States motto which means "Out of one, many" or in other words, chaos. Aside from my late night frustration with class enrollment, and my newly cracked out sleep schedule, I was recapping on the VMAs.

Beyond that was T-Pain and Lil' Wanye's performance. Legitimate to say the least. It was what we typically should be expecting from the both of them now. The fact of the matter is that neither need to try as hard as they used to because we as fans demand little from the except music. I mean, when you sell a million in a week on lyrics alone, I would figure the sound of your voice is enough, right?

I enjoyed the VMAs this year in spite of minor mediocrity. I saw it as a prime example of entertainment for our short attention spans with the constant movement. Anyways, the point I wanted to make in this textual repertoire is that T-Pain has acquired more dreads than he had during his debut. I guess money will do that for you but I remember thinking "who is this pop-locking-stripper-sprung sensation with three dreads" (one of them being blonde)? But T-Pain has evolved a lot and now he pulls the ladies, drunken of course.

But I do like T-Pain, and he only comes up so much in my blogs, along with Lil' Wayne, because he is the hottest thing out right now, and we all love fads. Anyways, peep the before and after. Or maybe the dreads just got neater. Anywho, you decide.

The Before

The After

In Other Words, Irony

Among other attributes, Facebook is addictive. So addictive that its got a good number of it's one hundred million plus members asking for the typical addictive fix. If you haven't already guessed I'm talking about the new Facebook. But the irony comes in when I see people who are using Facebook to complain about Facebook. If you're going to protest, another site maybe your wisest backdrop.

I myself don't care very much and embrace change. As much of a loser at it makes me sound, I have discussed this "issue" with a few friends but have rightfully come to the conclusion that change is good. I mean, you only need facebook to keep in touch with friends, post pics and spy on people's walls, so does it even matter that its giving itself and upgrade?

I actually like the change, after getting used to the unexpected switch over every time I logged in I happen to like it. Anyways, I feel like if the change affects your life that much, maybe you should really get one and log off Facebook. I mean, after all you do like technology, you are on a computer and you managed to make yourself a virtual profile online, so one change shouldn't be that drastic anyways. EMBRACE IT!!!!

Be Back In Five

Now a days I think it is rare to find true creativity. And I'm not talking about distinguishing colors in the spectrum or changing up the laces on your shoes, I'm thinking real ingenuity. The stuff that really makes you think which is the same stuff that leaves people speechless because they either don't know what side to take, or can't think of a side at all.

Ingenuity I think, in many cases, has been mastered by rappers. Lil' Wayne for instance, I think it took real creativity and ingenuity to relate all of his punchlines metaphorically while captivating our attention long enough with his wittiness. I enjoy it, however I have to take into consideration where has the attention span of most Americans has gone. After all, it only takes at most six seconds to deliver a punchline, and we deem it the greatest line of all time.

Next, where has the creativity gone in television. Reality TV has become trash. I'm glad that I hardly have time to watch TV anymore because I only laugh at all the ridiculousness. In fact, I'm glad that ingenuity created entities such as Youtube to cater to my short attention span and now we can just get straight to the point, without letting the beat build, b!*@#!

"Gimme Da Gol'"

I accidentally deleted the original post, but I just wanted to added to the popularity this video has already received. This video is easily one of my favorites. Peep it.

Facebook Lames

My encounter with Facebook lames has only recently reached its apex. I just wanted to share it with you. This arose from a FB group, of which shall remain nameless, most people know what it is anyways.

Beyond that, I guess this girl is pretty but hurt and after many correspondences, I figure she just gave up and had no other choice but to block me because I hurt here feeling. As some of you know, only some of you have even seen this side, I'm very argumentative and I don't quit till I will. But I must wonder if I won this one.

BTW: I was wondering if this girl really felt she was hurting me, after all, Ashley Williams is just about the most generic name in America. Next, "suckdick" is never a name anyone would give themselves. Maybe she should have organized her plan of attack more thoughtfully, just maybe.

"They Told Us That All Was Lost..."

The title is was Governor Palin said when referring to how some people felt when they heard McCain was going to the republican candidate. Well, whomever she talked to was right. This particular blog dedicated to the atrocity called the Republican National Convention.

So I guess by now you've figured that I'm a democrat supporter, but not necessarily a democrat. Occasionally I can see why people would choose to become Republican: you make a lot of money and you want to keep the money you earned. People who typically support a democratic government like the government to serve the people who made the government ("of the people, for the people"). And since I was so late at writing on how I felt about the DNC, I thought it would only be fair to write about how I felt about the RNC.

First, this election, from a democratic view has become nothing but mudslinging. Its shameful to see that a nation that prides itself on unity, the same nation that also prides itself on its democracy, also prides itself in ruthless competition. Hey, I guess we all can't play fair.

Next, the Republicans enjoy that America is the leading nation in dependency on foreign oil and had the nerve to chant "DRILL BABY, DRILL". Republicans also enjoy tax cuts. Do they realize taxes pay for EVERYTHING? Do they realize not everyone is as privileged as them to own business at all? Do they realize that the unemployment rate only continues to rise, and in case you were wondering, that makes 17,64,977 (the city of Los Angeles twice over). Tax cuts mean more money in the hands of the wealthy, less money to fund public job opportunities to decrease the unemployment rate and so on.

Do the republicans realize that John McCain did come back alive among the 58,159 dead, 2,000 missing and 303,635 wounded. John McCain came back from the one war America lost, he came back spared from guerrilla warfare, chemical warfare, free of illnesses, drug dependency and depression, despite his injuries. But still he attacks Obama, just as Palin and Guiliani do, because he lacks experience with leadership. I must say and always have said that no one knows how to be president, until you become president. Leading a divided nation is different from any political position, trust and believe. Never did a governor requisition war, never did a senator allocate tax cuts for a nation composed of oil tycoons and people on welfare, and never did a mayor come face to face rebuilding a nation after the decomposition of foreign policy.

Not to mention the lack of color at the at the convention. That alone is OBVIOUSLY not an accurate representation of America. It seems as if they showed every black person in sight, all three of them, literally. It's pitiful that Palin & Guiliani resorted to criticizing Obama more that providing their audience with the infrastructure of their campaign. How can they criticize Obama for representing the society he came from, the working class, the community organizers and those who choose to represent their community rather than expediently working their way up the political ladder?

OMG! And not to mention that a female running mate was only a political strategy. I know McCain pulled this one out of his 70+ year old ass because he only met her once. Had he known Palin's scandalous background better, he probably would have been better off choosing Clinton. Also the stoic nationalism images one the backdrop for the entire convention, as to say we are proud of America. Sometimes, I don't think republicans realize that Americans aren't proud to be Americans. How can someone be proud to be American when they supposedly live in the richest country in world, but can't afford to feed their children? How can people be proud to be an American when the nation they serve can't even bring their brother and son's home from war? Sometimes, they can't.

It is scary to think that these are the same people that think they are capable of leading, rebuilding and uplifting a nation that has been economically destroyed by war, still rebuilding after hurricane Katrina (mind you was three years ago), and continues to pride itself in the nuclear power rather than the educational system or even the freedom of speech. Actually, I take that back, freedom of speech was rampant at the RNC. No where else would republicans be able to criticize their opponent more than they did than at the RNC. I bet the Obama name drop exceeded 300.

I think politicians should either be concerned about one of two things, either their beloved nation, or their affair with the media. And with that being said, if Palin can't even run her own kids, how the hell is she going to run a nation? If McCain can't even remain loyal to his country during times of pressure (he gave a confession while he was a POW slandering America), then how the hell is he going to remain loyal to America during two wars and damaged alliances with foreign nations? We are all left to wonder.

Well that is all, I just had to let off some steam after watching that trashy convention. Again, some Republican views I agree with, most democratic views I agree with and even if I was a foreigner looking in from the outside, I would think of America as a divided nation, and the republicans as a mudslinging political party. And it the GOP managed to screw itself over (without lube) despite the fact that public enemy number one, G.W. Bush Jr., was absent from the convention.

Quote of the night:
"I would kill George Bush"
- Kirsten Dunst, if she was Spiderman for a day

Beyond the Usual

Since summer school has begun, I have found myself waking up every morning to a man cutting the grass in front of the dorm I stay in. However, I wonder, WHERE THE HELL IS ALL THIS GRASS HE IS CUTTING?!!?! Every day, and I do mean everyday, he is out there cutting grass. Mind you, this is at six thirty or so in the morning, about two and a half hours before I really get up.

I like their ambition, they do their job well, but I just doubt all these things to be cut really exist.

Well today I woke up to chain saws cutting down the Jumanji vines that cover the window. I kinda of liked them. I 'm an outdoorsy person anyways but I guess I shall enjoy the vines elsewhere.

"Niggas Love Not To Know"

Niggas love not to know. Simple. And no one put it better than Chris Rock. The other day I had a conversation with someone who I think I might have expected too much from based on the age and the amount of ambition I estimated this person to have based on their major.

What I realized from this conversation which I should have realized before is I was giving this person, who I will further refer to as Kool-Aid (for no particular reason), too much credit. In fact, they told me, "Hey I'm just a regular person, I don't know what you expect from me." It honestly wasn’t that I expected any particular smidgens of knowledge from this person, I think it was the magnitude for learning and the openness for knowledge that I was expecting, but I was abruptly proved wrong.

I think what I was expecting an absence of confused looks and the "why the fuck is she talking about this?" look. But Kool-Aid took it to the next level. Instead of holding his thoughts to himself, and remaining just ignorant to that particular piece of knowledge, he said, "well I don't know, I just know...." and right there is when I realized I was talking to a Nigga.

Kool-Aid went on to break the scenario down into some simpleton ass situation. And it wasn’t that he was a nigga because he didn’t know, or laughed off that he didn’t know. He wasn’t even a nigga because his joke became somewhat lewd (I was far from impressed).Kool-Aid was a nigga because he didn’t embrace the knowledge, and unlike everyone else at the table, he had to take it that step further and profess that he didn’t know. What happened to the plain shoulder shrug and the awkward silence?

After all, why is ignorance still cool? Why is ignorance still cool in college, the one place in the world where being intelligent has never been more in? This was just one situation but I have come across and will come across many people that just don’t know, and won’t know. I think it is a matter of capacity and how much information they are willing to take in.

I Can't Believe It Either

Thank you to my fellow facebook friend who made this point. But since this is my blog, I get to take this to where I would like it to go.

Sorry to all you Wanyiacs, but what language is Lil' Wayne speaking in "Can't Believe It"? I like this song, it's got this nice little two step beat accompanied by the voice box, but the voice box is not flattering on all voices.

In this case, the voice box did Lil' Wayne no justice, so much that I don't even understand the lyrics. Now if I'd like to sing along with the lyrics, I have to google them and have them on deck. However, for incidences like this, I'd have to thank T-Pain for killing us softly with that synthesizer, a.k.a. the voice box. But that is another blog for another day.

Haters

Thought I'd make this quick just to pose another question. I always joke around with my best friend about haters. Yea, your typical hater, the one that wants to, shall I say, "steal your shine". I still feel like this subject is so high school.

Everyone is always concerned about people hating on them. Why can't we just call it an opinion. And of course, EVERYONE is guilty of hating, this I can say confidently, despite that fact that everyone says they never hate.

And sometimes its not even an issue of jealousy. Maybe I just don't like what you're about at the moment. Hey, it happens. You can't please all of the people all of the time. You can't even please some of the people most of the time.

So in that case, if no one likes haters, and no one is a hater, why is everyone still concerned about haters?


note to reader: i do not endorse "shitting" on haters, I was merely amused by the picure

Swag Attacks and Wall Flowers

Today I'm in a writing mood. Also let it be known that I coined the phrase swag attack, so if you hear it nowhere else you heard it from me first.

Today I am mostly inspired by last nights events, yes my friends, another party. Now, I don't use my waking moments as an opportunity to sweat out my hair and shake my derrière, but I do enjoy activities of the sort (minus sweating out the hair). After all, it's fun, requires almost no mental operation and its super social. But, I've realized there are three types of people: those who party, the wall flowers and those who have swag attacks.

Each and every party I go to, I'm forced to wonder who would come to a party to just stand around? Can we say high school dance, 9th grade, in the cafeteria? And not only do these people stand around, they occupy a lot of space. They can never stand alone either, its as if there was a congregational rule that says : if you must post up, never post alone. And if you haven't noticed, because I have, these are the ultimate spectators. It makes me laugh to to think they left the house with intentions to party, told all their friends their whereabouts, never really partied, and came home to say the party cracked.

Which leads me to the next question: Do these people really deserve to to have an opinion about the party even though they only contributed to the population and not the fun? I must, however, give much credit to the person standing to my left having the swag attack of his life.

In case you were not aware, a swag attack is when a male or female (usually a male), has become the life of the party in his/her own mind. Such symptoms include singing all the words to the song as if they were in a recording studio, knowing all the ad libs, hand gestures, a variety of engaging facial expressions, a crowd performance and a suave two-step. This is when I start to think I might be in music video, real life wouldn't do this to me. But then again, life just did.

I do love swag attacks, though. One thing the wall flowers are good for is company during down time as I watch those suffering from a swag attack. So, once again, pour the swag attackees a drink, post up with the posted and wait for the party to crack.

*random photo courtesy of googling thug party.

"...Impell Them to the Seperation."

After a conversation with a few friends at the dinner table, we were faced with the fact that America is a country of everyone's culture but their own. Among other things mentioned from the Olympics, to scars to bobcats (lol), we just realized that America has an abundance of culture, but no culture at all.

The conversation began when we were talking about the little Chinese lip-synchining girl, then all the Chinese children carrying the flag in a variety of traditional clothing. I thought: what if this would have been American children carrying the flag? What would they have worn? It might have been a mixture of Vans sneakers, skinny jeans, cowboy hats, Fubu jackets, hypebeasts, punkrockers, Paris Hiltons, college students, orthopedic-shoe wearing elderly people, soccer moms and CEO's. And believe that they would not have all be Chinese either.

Now don't get the wrong impression, I love America, and not just because the Patriot Act prohibits me from saying otherwise. I love America because where else can you get tacos, cheeseburgers and curry chicken all in one place? I love America because where else can you unintentionally become famous for being bipolar and swearing at a random old woman on the train? Where everyone knows you because you have a name like Crunchy Black, Soulja Boy or Garth (as in Garth Brooks).

But in all seriousness, I really do love America. Despite governmental faults, America is still the land of opportunity and prosperity. And along with all the opportunity comes the opportunity for all ethnicities to assimilate and contribute to what America is. On a small scale I go to school with people who are first generation American, where in my classrooms are people who like like me or nothing like me at all in 25 different ways. But on a large scale we have fast food companies that capitalize on introducing new cultures to us, i.e. Taco Bell.

Because America has no specific culture, we have really become a melting pot. I really see America as a land full of immigrants, after all, what really is American? I also think that because of such diversity, no specific ethnicity will exist in about five generations, but thats just me and my California state of mind.

But the fact is, America does not lack culture at all. I think its effervescent with culture, and I love the diversity. I know other locations across the country may prove me wrong about the diversity part, but that what makes America what it is.

So, I'll leave you with a few last words:
"American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it" -James Baldwin

Adele: 19

On to a new endeavor. This time I'll spill my feelings about Adele. I'm pretty sure even you don't know who she is because she is about as recluse as Amy Winehouse in rehab. Umm...not really. Like Amy Winehouse, Adele is an artist out of the UK and I'm almost in love with her album "19".

Her lyrics wax despair but the sound in soothing. I can't help but be fond of her for now until I discover the next best thing. So yes, she is another artist fueled by heatbreak and past relationships, but I think she is easily a classic.

I really don't know much about her except that I think she is just as comparable to artists like Amy Winehouse, Me'Shell NdegéOcello or even Chrisette Michelle, in her sound though. Enough of the praise, listen to her yourself.

Remember "I" before "E" Except in Budweiser

Its hot, its muggy, someone else's sweat is dripping on you, someone else just stepped on your entire foot but you quickly let this go because you didn't come here to fight. Red solo cups, beer cans, glass handles, a dark room and music loud enough to make an elderly person go blind (yes, blind), and all this wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for our well known party advocate: Mr. CH₃CH₂OH, better known as alcohol, drank, booze or whatever else you choose to call it.
From freakbacks to kickbacks to those parties the fire marshal would deem hazardous, alcohol is undeniably the number one constituent. In fact whoever said they were the life of the party obviously didn't realize they were living in the shadows of Barcardi, Popov and that one blue drink.

If there was enough to drink, its automatically considered a party. Hell, even if there weren't enough, you showed up too late or the party just happened to occur where you stayed sober all night consider it a party anyways, someone else drank all the liquor for you. And its almost guaranteed that at every party you'll be brought back to Kat Williams' "The Pimp Chronicles" with someone yelling on the sideline, "TONIGHT...WE'RE GETTIN' FUCKED UP."

And not to mention how alcohol is every drunk person's excuse. Yes, I too am guilty. After all it is thee best excuse. Its like the get-out-of-jail-free card and it didn't require a trip to boardwalk avenue with a Rodney King beating riding along side (because the police are still ready and willing). And alcohol isn't just the excuse for a couple stumbles over that same person's foot, it's the excuse for a few hook-ups (just a few), belligerency and plain disorientation. Although my need for excuses is rare, I still even find myself brushing off things that are too serious for sobriety because alcohol was involved. I even find swag and confidence rising to levels unheard of, because after all, if they just make an ass of themselves, we'll just blame it on the alcohol.

So the next time you find yourself amused by someone at a party singing all the lyrics to your song with a lisp, stutter and a suave stumble, go on and pour them some more and excuse them... they usually aren't this entertaining when sober.

"Come Holla I Got the Dollas, Got More If Ya A** Will Swallow"

I'm guilty, real guilty in fact. This blog can go either one of two ways, the side where I ask where has all the good music gone, or why do I still "shake that money" to song that could never validate my womanhood? Well on this day, I'll just get at the question that questions the quality of music (I'll save the womanhood issue for another day).

To begin, let me give you a list of the top five hip hop songs currently, as detailed by Billaboard.com

1. A Milli

2. Get Like Me
3. Bust It Baby Part 2

4. Put On
5. Got Money

(I was just thinking about the content of these songs)

So when I say I'm guilty, what I'm really guilty of is knowing the words to these songs, singing them as if I wrote the lyrics myself and dancing to them as if my tuition depended on it. But I can't help but question where has all the good music gone? I know Lil' Wayne has punchlines for days but where is the substance. I've figured eventually the typical rapper knows he can't talk about drugs, guns, bitches, hoes and his cash flow forever but really, has music really gotten any better?

I'm kinda looking for a song that will give me more than just a swag attack, a song that will more than just the opportunity to drop it low, or hang over the wall of the VIP whenever I get the chance to get in because clubs cost too much. Listening to everyone get on that synthesizer hype and the punchline bandwagon makes me miss groups like The Roots, or Musiq, and even the old Lil Wayne.
I guess I could just look at it as Hip Hop is not dead, its just evolved like every other type of music and this is what it has turned into. Don't get me wrong though, I do like the music, its catchy as hell, but I'm only forced to evaluate the content when artists are more oriented with the quantity of music they put out rather than the quality.

Well I'll leave you with the last line of the night:

"put your right hand in the air and the left one in your underwear...."