Seems like I just got used to writing "09" at work and here we are in the midst of the 2009 Holiday season. This year has been especially trying for many of us who struggle through, "the worst recession since,..." you know the rest. President Barack Obama has his hands full with health care, "his" war(s), the economy, and a Nobel Peace prize to embody through like actions. We were astounded to hear about Michael Jackson's 50 concerts in London to be his final career curtain call. Equally astounding was his death and ever-controversial report of a drug overdose from a cocktail of pain-killers and possible malpractice.
Without attempting a "wrap-up" like Virginia rapper Skills, I'll focus on another missing entity from this December's march towards Christmas and New Years celebrations: THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT.
This past weekend kicked off holiday parties and the timing couldn't be more perfect. Here, at the 2010 tailgate, I enjoyed a rousing night of twerking at Atlanta's ever jumpin Central Station Sports Bar. It had been over a year since I stepped foot in this smoky, slang-stained, and liquor splattered night-spot. No fights, dim lights, and a thick, southern-fried atmosphere set the scene for a delightful trip to my younger days attending winter parties in the A where body-heat replaced leather coats and scarves. I even waited in line! Once inside, my coat, more like wooly a layer of fat, came off and I made my rounds doing "the freak," the wop, and shaking my head to the days passed when music wasn't so vulgar I couldn't find the perfect beat to dance solo. I got home about 6am. And I have to thank my hood ambassador Fly, for serving as the impetus for my unlikely yet, refreshingly funky outing.
Everyday is a holiday... and Winters in the A remind me of the Nike Pavilion and other youthful places of delight.
Flipping the page, I sported a collared shirt and slacks at the Latin themed holiday party of the Jarvii. Lauren and Steve are two of my good friends who never disappoint during holiday seasons. More settled in their Buckhead apartment, seven floors above the shoppers, they pulled out all the culinary stops to serve us with excellent music, great company, and delectable food for their guests!
LBJ's homemade salsa was an instant hit and set the stage for more gourmet treats to emerge from their busy kitchen. The music was on-point. A mix of spicy salsa (no pun intended) music and DJ Jazzy Jeff's definitive guide to house music provided the perfect ambiance to groove. Party planners take note! Music and food can turn a regular party to a festive themed party, adding a splash to your entertaining in future holiday seasons.
The Jarvis event was the perfect fit as the sun set over the emerging Buckhead skyline from their magnificent enclosed sun room balcony.
Togetherness, in its many forms are what I'm speaking on today. While retail reports come in offering meager numbers, job-market stability has us all queasy, and travel plans are thwarted because of budget cuts or inclimate weather, we still find reasons to get together and celebrate the joy of good company. Family and friends may not have time to meet during the busy work weeks; holidays provide some much needed breaks from work and a reason to congregate.
This year, while enjoying your egg nog, look around and bask in your surroundings! You've made it another year and are hopefully around happy friends and family. And if that isn't enough, remember the reason for this season, the celebration of the birth of Jesus - possibly humanity's best friend.
The gift of giving remains a strong theme for many who seek to embody the bright glow of Christmas lights...may this season be a time to celebrate the birth of your friendships... a lasting testament to surviving another twelve month year.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Santos - that coming sun
We patiently await your arrival. You are the product of one of the universal miracles... if even for a short time, there was love. And you are the child of that mix of surprise, sun, and smiles. Your father is my best friend since childhood. We used to play outdoors: climbing trees, jumping from high places, exploring music videos, and for kicks, karate.
Your dad loves the sistas... He left his indelible smile with them and in return many women have some lasting love for Mr.T
I would not call myself envious, but curious as to what its like being so free. Your daddy runs free, like a lone wolf or a falcon in flight. As a matter of fact, there is a hawk who showed up at our mention. We were standing in his mother's driveway, discussing life -as we often do- and T brings up the hawk... then in a clearing between many large pines, circles the hawk. After a few loops as if to say, I AM HERE WITH YOU... it flies off into denser forest, and remains unseen. We share many moments like this. You are a moment unfolding in time. I remember a deer as well...
I was there when T met your mother... Somewhat a catalyst, our lives are entangled and I could not help but notice your mother's beauty as well... for she wore her hair in twists and sported a cute hoodie. T went after her, I admired - as i often do- and wondered if I'd see her again. That was a difference between us. See, I give sistas back to the cosmos... with the meditation that those who are good for me, I will see again. Tony leaps head first into the fleeting moment. He claws to seize some remnant of Life's harmonious fusion of humanity and opportunity. Tony, is a type A.
It is the day after what we call "Thanksgiving." I hope you learn the true story of this blood soaked, tear jerked, and pox infested holiday. Our nation buries many of its shameful acts in "proclamations" and public "apologies." All-the-while, history remains taught in its least interesting, accurate, and provocative forms.
History is everything we have done...the past dimension... and to be aware of today is to acknowledge that if notions of evil from an unkind word, to assault, to murder, genocide, abuse, etc exist today, then they always have existed. The Powerful corrupt, enraged women sought revenge, and people have generally f-ed up. So, in looking back, it can't be just a string of random events in the history books, right?
Santos, you already have a story. You are part of mine. I make my own way for you as "God-Father," "Uncle," "Fam." When you are ready for this world... we are ready for you. May you be fed with the Bread of Life, that you might know and find truth, love, light, and joy.
In closing, one day you will pass the Universal Torch of Consciousness to another, this is my only request... serve our future well, as we prepare a way for you.
-delano
Your dad loves the sistas... He left his indelible smile with them and in return many women have some lasting love for Mr.T
I would not call myself envious, but curious as to what its like being so free. Your daddy runs free, like a lone wolf or a falcon in flight. As a matter of fact, there is a hawk who showed up at our mention. We were standing in his mother's driveway, discussing life -as we often do- and T brings up the hawk... then in a clearing between many large pines, circles the hawk. After a few loops as if to say, I AM HERE WITH YOU... it flies off into denser forest, and remains unseen. We share many moments like this. You are a moment unfolding in time. I remember a deer as well...
I was there when T met your mother... Somewhat a catalyst, our lives are entangled and I could not help but notice your mother's beauty as well... for she wore her hair in twists and sported a cute hoodie. T went after her, I admired - as i often do- and wondered if I'd see her again. That was a difference between us. See, I give sistas back to the cosmos... with the meditation that those who are good for me, I will see again. Tony leaps head first into the fleeting moment. He claws to seize some remnant of Life's harmonious fusion of humanity and opportunity. Tony, is a type A.
It is the day after what we call "Thanksgiving." I hope you learn the true story of this blood soaked, tear jerked, and pox infested holiday. Our nation buries many of its shameful acts in "proclamations" and public "apologies." All-the-while, history remains taught in its least interesting, accurate, and provocative forms.
History is everything we have done...the past dimension... and to be aware of today is to acknowledge that if notions of evil from an unkind word, to assault, to murder, genocide, abuse, etc exist today, then they always have existed. The Powerful corrupt, enraged women sought revenge, and people have generally f-ed up. So, in looking back, it can't be just a string of random events in the history books, right?
Santos, you already have a story. You are part of mine. I make my own way for you as "God-Father," "Uncle," "Fam." When you are ready for this world... we are ready for you. May you be fed with the Bread of Life, that you might know and find truth, love, light, and joy.
In closing, one day you will pass the Universal Torch of Consciousness to another, this is my only request... serve our future well, as we prepare a way for you.
-delano
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Uncharted Dopeness
When coupled, these words present a problem and product of today's hip hop. As a recent attendee and contributor to the Art Beats + Lyrics annual gallery showcase, I wonder how long the afterglow of such a crossover event will last? The event has metamorphosed from its beginning at the High Museum of Art to its most recent location at the W Hotel.Co-founders Jabari Graham and Dubelyoo are using flashbulb miracle grow.
But what happens to Atlanta's incredible potluck of creative genius after the gala lights go dim and another week of trolling Castleberry ends up at MJQ? If prints aren't sold and your secret obsession with hip hop culture doesn't translate into a lushly spray painted mural then the incubated talent returns to preaching dopeness to the choir. Bboys and girls still break, real singers still gleam off rhinestones from commercial R&B, and the painters and djs mix colors and sounds for our chemically dependent palates. The process continues as more hipsters emerge from photoblog sites, the land of ego, claiming to slang the newest nuclear threat to those without ambition, sex, and spiritually - all on a graphic tee, in slim jeans, sporting spectral sneakers.
"Let the liquor tell it"
Black in America 2 did a fair job in displaying the multi-layered levels of Black thought, society, and process (emphasis on fair). Again, what happens to the characters after the cameras are switched off and the talents they employ return to just that, abilities? What becomes of our beloved superheroes if there isn't another episode next week? Same bat time, same bat channel, but no batman. To put it another way, if a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to see it, does it make a sound... follow?
Without getting into the discussion about why talents aren't maximized or why one is more successful than another, I'll focus on the "Uncharted Dopness," those who manifest their very best but, don't make the ATL-List and blast off to inking a deal with (insert mogul here).
ATLanta has plenty of stars. Atlantis is a city born of starlight and tidal sways of passion, process, and progress.
For Example: On any given Sunday, Apache Cafe and Java Monkey host poetic open mics... As a former designated driver on the poetic highway, I've heard THE TRUTH in all its candid gore and abstraction leaking amniotic fluid on stages... It's amazing to behold! I bear witness to b-boy's grandeur on beer splattered floors and saw a flautist revert hip hop to straight ahead jazz. Singers still summon purple clouds to spill their guts. It's sickening.
Bottom line, moments like Prince's "Purple Rain" still occur. Black Love and hip hop aren't dead...just invisible, and in some almost forgotten corners of the world, truth prevails. There is a religion to this shit. If you don't know what you're looking for then you won't find shit. But, to those still digging in life's crates, there are more than enough enchanted jewels to raise Atlantis.
So, give an independent artist a try if they REALLY MOVE you. Ask who is still making beats (though the craze may be dying down as reality hits or misses so called "producers"), eat at a family owned restaurant, cop some couture, and you too can be a trend setter.
Seek your creative best and ye shall find... uncharted dopeness.
But what happens to Atlanta's incredible potluck of creative genius after the gala lights go dim and another week of trolling Castleberry ends up at MJQ? If prints aren't sold and your secret obsession with hip hop culture doesn't translate into a lushly spray painted mural then the incubated talent returns to preaching dopeness to the choir. Bboys and girls still break, real singers still gleam off rhinestones from commercial R&B, and the painters and djs mix colors and sounds for our chemically dependent palates. The process continues as more hipsters emerge from photoblog sites, the land of ego, claiming to slang the newest nuclear threat to those without ambition, sex, and spiritually - all on a graphic tee, in slim jeans, sporting spectral sneakers.
"Let the liquor tell it"
Black in America 2 did a fair job in displaying the multi-layered levels of Black thought, society, and process (emphasis on fair). Again, what happens to the characters after the cameras are switched off and the talents they employ return to just that, abilities? What becomes of our beloved superheroes if there isn't another episode next week? Same bat time, same bat channel, but no batman. To put it another way, if a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to see it, does it make a sound... follow?
Without getting into the discussion about why talents aren't maximized or why one is more successful than another, I'll focus on the "Uncharted Dopness," those who manifest their very best but, don't make the ATL-List and blast off to inking a deal with (insert mogul here).
ATLanta has plenty of stars. Atlantis is a city born of starlight and tidal sways of passion, process, and progress.
For Example: On any given Sunday, Apache Cafe and Java Monkey host poetic open mics... As a former designated driver on the poetic highway, I've heard THE TRUTH in all its candid gore and abstraction leaking amniotic fluid on stages... It's amazing to behold! I bear witness to b-boy's grandeur on beer splattered floors and saw a flautist revert hip hop to straight ahead jazz. Singers still summon purple clouds to spill their guts. It's sickening.
Bottom line, moments like Prince's "Purple Rain" still occur. Black Love and hip hop aren't dead...just invisible, and in some almost forgotten corners of the world, truth prevails. There is a religion to this shit. If you don't know what you're looking for then you won't find shit. But, to those still digging in life's crates, there are more than enough enchanted jewels to raise Atlantis.
So, give an independent artist a try if they REALLY MOVE you. Ask who is still making beats (though the craze may be dying down as reality hits or misses so called "producers"), eat at a family owned restaurant, cop some couture, and you too can be a trend setter.
Seek your creative best and ye shall find... uncharted dopeness.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Getting Close
The interview went great. Now you know there is more to the story but overall I am VERY proud of myself!
The trend echoed by the Universe continued during my recent trip to St. Augustine for an interview for PT School. Part of my dream is actualized by making it to this point in the process of becoming a doctor of physical therapy.
It started early friday morning (july 31). Coffee was made by a hostel resident who'd gotten up about 6:15AM. By, 6:40 I was on a lil jog through the neighborhood to wear off some of the jitters from percolated coffee beans and nerves.
I arrived to campus early and was delighted to have the picture requested of me in the interview announcement sent to me via e-mail a month prior. 8:30 rolled around and people trickled in over the thirty minutes allotted before the day's events started.
Founder/Owner Stanley Paris was graciously on-hand to give opening remarks welcoming we potentials of his Physical and Occupational Therapy School.
Two current professors answered questions about each respective program. To my surprise, I received a wave from one of the speakers who recognized me from my sit-in her Neurology class! Wow, the same two professors from the class I happened to observe! Coolness!
After a tour of the campus by two female students, it was essay time. I opened the "top secret" envelope and picked up a pre-sharpened pencil. I composed a perfectly academic 5-paragraph essay. Whew!
last was the interview. An African sounding (and looking) professor greeted my arrival to his office and the questioning began somewhat casually with him asking we three interviewees, "So, are you nervous? If so, why?"
Though the outcome is out of my hands, I left the interview feeling I'd put both my best feet forward.
I am coming close to my goal... "let's meet!"
-delano :c)
The trend echoed by the Universe continued during my recent trip to St. Augustine for an interview for PT School. Part of my dream is actualized by making it to this point in the process of becoming a doctor of physical therapy.
It started early friday morning (july 31). Coffee was made by a hostel resident who'd gotten up about 6:15AM. By, 6:40 I was on a lil jog through the neighborhood to wear off some of the jitters from percolated coffee beans and nerves.
I arrived to campus early and was delighted to have the picture requested of me in the interview announcement sent to me via e-mail a month prior. 8:30 rolled around and people trickled in over the thirty minutes allotted before the day's events started.
Founder/Owner Stanley Paris was graciously on-hand to give opening remarks welcoming we potentials of his Physical and Occupational Therapy School.
Two current professors answered questions about each respective program. To my surprise, I received a wave from one of the speakers who recognized me from my sit-in her Neurology class! Wow, the same two professors from the class I happened to observe! Coolness!
After a tour of the campus by two female students, it was essay time. I opened the "top secret" envelope and picked up a pre-sharpened pencil. I composed a perfectly academic 5-paragraph essay. Whew!
last was the interview. An African sounding (and looking) professor greeted my arrival to his office and the questioning began somewhat casually with him asking we three interviewees, "So, are you nervous? If so, why?"
Though the outcome is out of my hands, I left the interview feeling I'd put both my best feet forward.
I am coming close to my goal... "let's meet!"
-delano :c)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Choose Your Own Adventure
If you want to look for treasure turn to page 37.
If you want to wait for the storm to end turn to page 92.
As a child I distinctly remember "Coose Your Own Adventure" books. These delightful books not only created a wonderful fantasy, but allowed for its readers to play an integral part of the plot development. I'd make a decision, turn the pages quickly and eagerly absorb the fate of the protagonist... Sometimes the "treasure" lead me to be attacked by "pirates" and I'd lose some valuable time or resources on my quest. I'd turn back to the decision-making page and try the second option and turn the pages, with some relief that this fate would at least be different, if not better, than the first outcome.
However, in life, we are not always so fortunate to go back and amend our past mistakes or poor decisions so effortlessly...
A fair approach seems to create as many memories to base future decisions off of. Also the use of breadcrumbs or Polaroids as a trail of reminders can help when trying to find your way back home...
As an adventure seeking, patient, and optimistic person, I'm determined to enjoy life before and after each crossroads. True there are consequences for chosing one path over another, but that's life! I proceed with confident caution. Stay tuned for more unfolding events, as the pages turn!
-dniceness (ooh i like that, d niceness!)
If you want to wait for the storm to end turn to page 92.
As a child I distinctly remember "Coose Your Own Adventure" books. These delightful books not only created a wonderful fantasy, but allowed for its readers to play an integral part of the plot development. I'd make a decision, turn the pages quickly and eagerly absorb the fate of the protagonist... Sometimes the "treasure" lead me to be attacked by "pirates" and I'd lose some valuable time or resources on my quest. I'd turn back to the decision-making page and try the second option and turn the pages, with some relief that this fate would at least be different, if not better, than the first outcome.
However, in life, we are not always so fortunate to go back and amend our past mistakes or poor decisions so effortlessly...
A fair approach seems to create as many memories to base future decisions off of. Also the use of breadcrumbs or Polaroids as a trail of reminders can help when trying to find your way back home...
As an adventure seeking, patient, and optimistic person, I'm determined to enjoy life before and after each crossroads. True there are consequences for chosing one path over another, but that's life! I proceed with confident caution. Stay tuned for more unfolding events, as the pages turn!
-dniceness (ooh i like that, d niceness!)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Funk of 40,000 years
Even in death Michael united the planet. That proves who the Baddest is and will ever be. He shared 40 years of his life with us. He defined icon. His brand ranks next to Jesus as a globally recognizable figure; a class that includes Santa Claus...
Michael Jackson was a gift from God. I consider it a blessing to live during the reign of the King of Popular who encouraged me to look at myself, love deeply, and care for those forgotten about or without voice. He was childlike. He was a witness for Jehovah.
He was the child star who grew into an international obsession. He awakened our desires to stare at a train wreck. He gave the world uncompromising vision that I compare to humanitarians like Gandhi or Mother Theresa. By consolidating the elements of human entertainment: song, dance, acting, appeal, and "faint factor," Michael was inhuman while he walked (backwards) on this earth. His unexpected departure came at a time when underground apparition Jay Electronica was one of few modern entertainers to express sympathy to Michael's mercurial lifestyle.
I believe Michael's actions, though controversial, were right for Michael. Not even the brightest of stars possessed the tear-jerking draw of Michael Jackson... and his death and the international outcry that followed was pure testament that through his God-given talents, his purpose was to connect us. To manifest a harmonic, gyrating, and soul stirring ether that had no boundaries. And he was the vessel chosen by our Creator to deliver powerful messages that crossed generational, ethnic, and musical expectations.
On June 25, 2009, I stood in my parent's driveway, anticipating my own birthday a few minutes later on the 26th. "Human Nature" majestically flowed from my ipod headphones. As the emotional song sparkled in my conscious mind, I had a moment where I acknowledged the global anguish and triumph of our greatest performer's final curtain call.
He had 50 shows in London that were to be his last. Imagine the dollar signs lodged in the eyes of many who wanted their piece of the action. He was an exploited genius. He lived to see his own brand become one of the most recognizable on the planet.
his music stands as an immeasurable contribution to contemporary Black entertainment laced with heart breaking controversy. He brought America's color divide to a song where each could be proud to feel. His smile arose from the most genuine parts of the human experience. His voice gushed with candy and gold.
"sing a simple melody, that's how easy love can be"_ABC
it was 11:30. I stood with many in awe of his departure and my own memory of his music and dance. I felt his kaleidescope aura and influence spread across the vastness of space above planet Earth. His star power reached across the solar system. He was truly international, a universal figure in the pantheon of world music. He had no classification and held the title of King of Popular...
his face wore the scars of personal control in a world of demands...
his final bow was as meteoric as the youthful falsetto that captivated a nation.
He made MTV a place for all musicians.
He sold over 750 million records.
I celebrate my birthday with the world lifting up one of the best to ever...
in a word, my 28th birthday was
THRILLING.
Michael Jackson was a gift from God. I consider it a blessing to live during the reign of the King of Popular who encouraged me to look at myself, love deeply, and care for those forgotten about or without voice. He was childlike. He was a witness for Jehovah.
He was the child star who grew into an international obsession. He awakened our desires to stare at a train wreck. He gave the world uncompromising vision that I compare to humanitarians like Gandhi or Mother Theresa. By consolidating the elements of human entertainment: song, dance, acting, appeal, and "faint factor," Michael was inhuman while he walked (backwards) on this earth. His unexpected departure came at a time when underground apparition Jay Electronica was one of few modern entertainers to express sympathy to Michael's mercurial lifestyle.
I believe Michael's actions, though controversial, were right for Michael. Not even the brightest of stars possessed the tear-jerking draw of Michael Jackson... and his death and the international outcry that followed was pure testament that through his God-given talents, his purpose was to connect us. To manifest a harmonic, gyrating, and soul stirring ether that had no boundaries. And he was the vessel chosen by our Creator to deliver powerful messages that crossed generational, ethnic, and musical expectations.
On June 25, 2009, I stood in my parent's driveway, anticipating my own birthday a few minutes later on the 26th. "Human Nature" majestically flowed from my ipod headphones. As the emotional song sparkled in my conscious mind, I had a moment where I acknowledged the global anguish and triumph of our greatest performer's final curtain call.
He had 50 shows in London that were to be his last. Imagine the dollar signs lodged in the eyes of many who wanted their piece of the action. He was an exploited genius. He lived to see his own brand become one of the most recognizable on the planet.
his music stands as an immeasurable contribution to contemporary Black entertainment laced with heart breaking controversy. He brought America's color divide to a song where each could be proud to feel. His smile arose from the most genuine parts of the human experience. His voice gushed with candy and gold.
"sing a simple melody, that's how easy love can be"_ABC
it was 11:30. I stood with many in awe of his departure and my own memory of his music and dance. I felt his kaleidescope aura and influence spread across the vastness of space above planet Earth. His star power reached across the solar system. He was truly international, a universal figure in the pantheon of world music. He had no classification and held the title of King of Popular...
his face wore the scars of personal control in a world of demands...
his final bow was as meteoric as the youthful falsetto that captivated a nation.
He made MTV a place for all musicians.
He sold over 750 million records.
I celebrate my birthday with the world lifting up one of the best to ever...
in a word, my 28th birthday was
THRILLING.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
prositry
dried flowers never cease to amaze me spacey
are her withered feathers
dancing on the wings of love?
misty are my eyes of glory
staring into the sun
paint the tide upon my brow
and wish upon the starry gate
228am est.
are her withered feathers
dancing on the wings of love?
misty are my eyes of glory
staring into the sun
paint the tide upon my brow
and wish upon the starry gate
228am est.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
When the Saints
"They'll never play surf music again..." Jimi wouldn't dig all the refried tan lines and beach bummified combers of St. Augustine. Europe claims it as its longest held territorially occupied city. In 1564 a strong Spanish fleet obliterated a small occupation of French and free blacks in the region that would become Jacksonville. A year later St. Augustine was born... (for more history read a brochure!)
I was there to visit the incredible facilities of The University of St. Augustine's School for Health Sciences. This is the university utopia for prospective physical and occupational therapists. I had the distinct pleasure of touring the campus and sitting in on two classes during my two-day stay in the city. I landed in Jacksonville after a brief 50 minute flight from Atlanta and an equally long drive to St. A.
I checked in and received a campus tour from an admissions assistant. She was kind enough to confirm receipt of my application. The main lab building was huge. Approx. 60 treatment tables in ONE LAB! Wow! A GREAT gym, treatment pool, and juice bar.
Thursday I sat in on a "Clinical Massage and Manipulation" class. Though I went there to get a taste of class structure I picked up a few techniques and peed the "demographics." I think I saw one cute sista... the whole time there but that's okay. "Remember your priorities," the little voice in my head said... but, I couldn't help but notice the lack of melanin in the place I hope to attend. I stayed for three and a half hours still hoping to add some punch to the punch as a student.
I got a bite to eat on a beach front spot and checked into my hostel. http://www.casayallaha.com/ For those of you who may not know about B&B's and hostels... there THE ONLY PLACE to STAY when traveling on a budget. For around $28 I got a room and a fully furnished house at my disposal. The owner was quite friendly and after a "character check," house tour, and a few ground rules, I settled into my dorm. Fortunately I had the entire room to myself and read The Spellbinder's Gift by, OG Mandino from Tim's personal library.
Dinner at the Columbian. A Heinekin and I read myself to sleep, turning in early around 10:30.
Friday morning I awoke around 6:30, still programmed from my usual daily work routine... no problem. I made a pot of coffee for the house around 9am and Tim loved it! I showered, shaved, and dressed for my day of observation at the university. Making a good impression on my tourguide afforded me an observation in a Neurology class where students were locating structures on human brains. That's right! After a lecture and orientation groups of 5 students prodded specimens.
Another beach front lunch, completion of The Spellbinder, and I was about ready to leave for Jacksonville.
My flight got delayed and I studied James, 1 and 2 Peter, and Revelation at the terminal. With my ipod churning out tunes the time quickly passed and I enjoyed a quick flight home...
In a few weeks I'll know if I'm considered for an interview... I sure hope to return to St. Augustine!
-delano
I was there to visit the incredible facilities of The University of St. Augustine's School for Health Sciences. This is the university utopia for prospective physical and occupational therapists. I had the distinct pleasure of touring the campus and sitting in on two classes during my two-day stay in the city. I landed in Jacksonville after a brief 50 minute flight from Atlanta and an equally long drive to St. A.
I checked in and received a campus tour from an admissions assistant. She was kind enough to confirm receipt of my application. The main lab building was huge. Approx. 60 treatment tables in ONE LAB! Wow! A GREAT gym, treatment pool, and juice bar.
Thursday I sat in on a "Clinical Massage and Manipulation" class. Though I went there to get a taste of class structure I picked up a few techniques and peed the "demographics." I think I saw one cute sista... the whole time there but that's okay. "Remember your priorities," the little voice in my head said... but, I couldn't help but notice the lack of melanin in the place I hope to attend. I stayed for three and a half hours still hoping to add some punch to the punch as a student.
I got a bite to eat on a beach front spot and checked into my hostel. http://www.casayallaha.com/ For those of you who may not know about B&B's and hostels... there THE ONLY PLACE to STAY when traveling on a budget. For around $28 I got a room and a fully furnished house at my disposal. The owner was quite friendly and after a "character check," house tour, and a few ground rules, I settled into my dorm. Fortunately I had the entire room to myself and read The Spellbinder's Gift by, OG Mandino from Tim's personal library.
Dinner at the Columbian. A Heinekin and I read myself to sleep, turning in early around 10:30.
Friday morning I awoke around 6:30, still programmed from my usual daily work routine... no problem. I made a pot of coffee for the house around 9am and Tim loved it! I showered, shaved, and dressed for my day of observation at the university. Making a good impression on my tourguide afforded me an observation in a Neurology class where students were locating structures on human brains. That's right! After a lecture and orientation groups of 5 students prodded specimens.
Another beach front lunch, completion of The Spellbinder, and I was about ready to leave for Jacksonville.
My flight got delayed and I studied James, 1 and 2 Peter, and Revelation at the terminal. With my ipod churning out tunes the time quickly passed and I enjoyed a quick flight home...
In a few weeks I'll know if I'm considered for an interview... I sure hope to return to St. Augustine!
-delano
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
PIMpS (Big Boi in the News)
'Sneakerheads' pay big bucks for rare kicksStory Highlights
Big Boi says he has 400 pairs, including crocodile-skin Nikes he's never worn
Shoe companies capitalizing on niche demand for rare, limited-edition sneakers
Sneakerology teacher: "If they've got money, they can buy coolness"
By Eliott C. McLaughlin
CNN
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- OutKast's Big Boi is a junkie, has been for years.
Big Boi: "You can really tell a lot about a person through the shoes, so I always like to keep me a fresh pair."
1 of 3 The multiplatinum rap star got his first shoe fix back when he was better known as Antwan Patton, a busboy at Steak and Ale. He saved up his paychecks and rushed to a dealer to cop the only thing that could cure his jones -- a pair of British Knights tennis shoes.
"I've actually been into sneakers since I was a little kid," Big Boi, 34, said backstage before his concert this month at the Sneaker Pimps exhibition in Atlanta. "You can really tell a lot about a person through the shoes, so I always like to keep me a fresh pair."
Sneaker culture has thrived for decades, but shoe companies have increasingly capitalized on the demand for one-of-a-kind kicks. Collectors, known as sneakerheads, have lined up to pay hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to ensure few people are wearing the same shoes. See some of the rarest shoes »
"Coming up, my mom got five kids so there wasn't a whole lot of stylish tennis shoes around the house, so I used to want a lot of sneakers," Big Boi said, explaining that he started making up for lost time -- and shoes -- long before OutKast's 1994 debut, "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik."
Juan Castaneda, 27, also grew up in a family of modest means and longed to don the fresh kicks he saw his peers wearing.
"When I got money to buy them, I started catching up," said Castaneda, who works at a nursing home in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Don't Miss
Miuccia Prada, the reluctant fashionista
He estimates he owns about 200 pairs of sneakers, including a pair of Nike Air Jordan XIs with patent-leather trim called "Space Jams." They cost him $500.
It's supply and demand at its simplest, said Elliott Curtis, a former Carnegie Mellon University basketball player who for two semesters taught Sneakerology 101, billed as the first accredited class on sneaker culture.
Shoe companies create a limited number (say, a few hundred pairs) of shoes -- even if it's just an old model with new colors or materials -- and demand automatically spikes.
"It's like a status symbol. If Nike is selling a shoe for $2,000, they're not expecting to sell that many," the recent graduate said, adding that sneakerheads are drawn to scarcity.
"If they've got money, they can buy coolness," Curtis said.
Curtis goes to garage sales and mom-and-pop stores seeking rare and retro sneakers for his 75-pair collection, but he concedes he's waited in line for limited editions and paid as much as $250 for a pair.
Sporting an ultra-rare set of blue-and-red "Bugs Bunny" Nike Air Jordan VIIIs, Big Boi said he today boasts at least 400 pairs of sneakers, but he rarely pays for them because shoe companies send him pairs.
His most expensive, a pair of crocodile-skin Nike Air Force 1s, sell on various auction sites for up to $1,800. Big Boi has never worn them, but he plans on taking them out of their Nike lockbox this summer so he can wear them in a video for his upcoming solo album.
To Peter Fahey, the mastermind behind Sneaker Pimps shoe shows, Big Boi's enthusiasm is typical.
Sneaker culture got its start in New York in the 1970s, mostly among playground streetballers and practitioners of an emerging genre of music called hip-hop. Over the next three decades, rappers and basketball players -- most notably, Run DMC and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan -- would play integral roles in boosting the popularity of rare kicks.
"Run DMC were probably at the height of the whole movement. It was the first time music and sneakers crossed like this," Fahey said of the group's 1986 hit, "My Adidas."
Today, Adidas, Nike and Puma compete with luxury brands such as Chanel, Prada and Gucci. The major sports shoe companies also allow customers to design their own shoes. Upstarts such as San Francisco's JB Classics and Japan's Madfoot and KKOK have snatched up market share as well.
Shoe companies realize hip-hop's influence and work hard to get "a fresh pair of steps" on a rapper's feet. Earlier this year, Converse released a line of its iconic All-Stars in tandem with Chicago rhymesmith Lupe Fiasco. Nike has issued two versions of the Air Yeezy, inspired by rapper-producer Kanye West. Louis Vuitton also has teamed up with West.
Some lines, such as the Yeezys, quickly become collectors' items. Die-hard sneakerheads keep them in their original boxes like "Star Wars" action figures and ferret them away in closets, their soles never to be scuffed by a sidewalk.
Bryan Lyle, 22, of Stockbridge, Georgia, said he recently camped out three nights at an Atlanta boutique to get one of the shop's eight pairs of Air Yeezys.
Lyle paid $300, a small fortune for shoes, but Castaneda said the price more than doubled within days. He got a pair of Yeezys from an eBay merchant in Hong Kong. The damage? $700.
Castaneda's girlfriend, Melissa Bailey, 26, said Castaneda actually bought three pairs. He found two online and paid someone to camp out for the others. Castaneda's modus operandi is to buy three pairs of his favorite shoes -- one to wear, one to store for later and one to sell or trade, she said.
"He will not walk through grass. He will not walk through dirt," Bailey said.
Fahey held his first Sneaker Pimps show in Sydney, Australia, in 2003, but only 200 people showed up. Soon, however, tens of thousands would attend shows in more than 60 cities. A 2006 show in Jakarta, Indonesia, drew about 13,000 sneakerheads.
The shows now feature between 1,000 and 1,500 shoes. Some are rare. Others are signed by celebrities. Hip-hop acts are a staple, as is artwork -- on both kicks and canvas.
At this month's show, hundreds of sneaker enthusiasts filed through Atlanta's Tabernacle with the decorum of museum patrons, stopping to admire the shoes displayed on swaths of chain-link fence.
There were novice sneakerheads, such as Chris Shepherd, 20, and Charnelle Cook, 20, an Atlanta couple who marveled over the DC Comics and Transformers sneakers.
Asked about her multicolored hightops, Cook said, "I couldn't tell you what these are called. All I know is they're Reeboks, and they're fly."
There were seasoned collectors, such as Kyle Self, 35, of Decatur, Georgia, who said he had about 25 pairs, some of them still in their boxes, including three pairs of $400 low-top Pradas, which he called his "everyday sneakers."
There were even female collectors, such as artist Estasha Goodwin, 23, who modeled a pair of shimmering gold, winged -- yes, winged -- hightops made by Adidas and designer Jeremy Scott.
She complained that shoe companies too often focus on the male market and ignored female aficionados.
"When they do cater to us, it's always bubblegum pink. They don't even make them in our sizes," she said. "I know women who know more about sneakers than any dude out here today."
Incidentally, her favorite of the 15 pairs she owns were made for men -- the Nike "Ace of Spades" Dunks, inspired by the Detroit Tigers' high-kicking pitcher, Dontrelle Willis, who is prominently featured on the black-and-aqua shoe's hightop.
Asked why she shelled out $250 for them, she gave a familiar response: "It's a feeling you get when you know you're the only one that has something. Even if you're not, it's the way you walk it."
Big Boi says he has 400 pairs, including crocodile-skin Nikes he's never worn
Shoe companies capitalizing on niche demand for rare, limited-edition sneakers
Sneakerology teacher: "If they've got money, they can buy coolness"
By Eliott C. McLaughlin
CNN
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- OutKast's Big Boi is a junkie, has been for years.
Big Boi: "You can really tell a lot about a person through the shoes, so I always like to keep me a fresh pair."
1 of 3 The multiplatinum rap star got his first shoe fix back when he was better known as Antwan Patton, a busboy at Steak and Ale. He saved up his paychecks and rushed to a dealer to cop the only thing that could cure his jones -- a pair of British Knights tennis shoes.
"I've actually been into sneakers since I was a little kid," Big Boi, 34, said backstage before his concert this month at the Sneaker Pimps exhibition in Atlanta. "You can really tell a lot about a person through the shoes, so I always like to keep me a fresh pair."
Sneaker culture has thrived for decades, but shoe companies have increasingly capitalized on the demand for one-of-a-kind kicks. Collectors, known as sneakerheads, have lined up to pay hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to ensure few people are wearing the same shoes. See some of the rarest shoes »
"Coming up, my mom got five kids so there wasn't a whole lot of stylish tennis shoes around the house, so I used to want a lot of sneakers," Big Boi said, explaining that he started making up for lost time -- and shoes -- long before OutKast's 1994 debut, "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik."
Juan Castaneda, 27, also grew up in a family of modest means and longed to don the fresh kicks he saw his peers wearing.
"When I got money to buy them, I started catching up," said Castaneda, who works at a nursing home in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Don't Miss
Miuccia Prada, the reluctant fashionista
He estimates he owns about 200 pairs of sneakers, including a pair of Nike Air Jordan XIs with patent-leather trim called "Space Jams." They cost him $500.
It's supply and demand at its simplest, said Elliott Curtis, a former Carnegie Mellon University basketball player who for two semesters taught Sneakerology 101, billed as the first accredited class on sneaker culture.
Shoe companies create a limited number (say, a few hundred pairs) of shoes -- even if it's just an old model with new colors or materials -- and demand automatically spikes.
"It's like a status symbol. If Nike is selling a shoe for $2,000, they're not expecting to sell that many," the recent graduate said, adding that sneakerheads are drawn to scarcity.
"If they've got money, they can buy coolness," Curtis said.
Curtis goes to garage sales and mom-and-pop stores seeking rare and retro sneakers for his 75-pair collection, but he concedes he's waited in line for limited editions and paid as much as $250 for a pair.
Sporting an ultra-rare set of blue-and-red "Bugs Bunny" Nike Air Jordan VIIIs, Big Boi said he today boasts at least 400 pairs of sneakers, but he rarely pays for them because shoe companies send him pairs.
His most expensive, a pair of crocodile-skin Nike Air Force 1s, sell on various auction sites for up to $1,800. Big Boi has never worn them, but he plans on taking them out of their Nike lockbox this summer so he can wear them in a video for his upcoming solo album.
To Peter Fahey, the mastermind behind Sneaker Pimps shoe shows, Big Boi's enthusiasm is typical.
Sneaker culture got its start in New York in the 1970s, mostly among playground streetballers and practitioners of an emerging genre of music called hip-hop. Over the next three decades, rappers and basketball players -- most notably, Run DMC and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan -- would play integral roles in boosting the popularity of rare kicks.
"Run DMC were probably at the height of the whole movement. It was the first time music and sneakers crossed like this," Fahey said of the group's 1986 hit, "My Adidas."
Today, Adidas, Nike and Puma compete with luxury brands such as Chanel, Prada and Gucci. The major sports shoe companies also allow customers to design their own shoes. Upstarts such as San Francisco's JB Classics and Japan's Madfoot and KKOK have snatched up market share as well.
Shoe companies realize hip-hop's influence and work hard to get "a fresh pair of steps" on a rapper's feet. Earlier this year, Converse released a line of its iconic All-Stars in tandem with Chicago rhymesmith Lupe Fiasco. Nike has issued two versions of the Air Yeezy, inspired by rapper-producer Kanye West. Louis Vuitton also has teamed up with West.
Some lines, such as the Yeezys, quickly become collectors' items. Die-hard sneakerheads keep them in their original boxes like "Star Wars" action figures and ferret them away in closets, their soles never to be scuffed by a sidewalk.
Bryan Lyle, 22, of Stockbridge, Georgia, said he recently camped out three nights at an Atlanta boutique to get one of the shop's eight pairs of Air Yeezys.
Lyle paid $300, a small fortune for shoes, but Castaneda said the price more than doubled within days. He got a pair of Yeezys from an eBay merchant in Hong Kong. The damage? $700.
Castaneda's girlfriend, Melissa Bailey, 26, said Castaneda actually bought three pairs. He found two online and paid someone to camp out for the others. Castaneda's modus operandi is to buy three pairs of his favorite shoes -- one to wear, one to store for later and one to sell or trade, she said.
"He will not walk through grass. He will not walk through dirt," Bailey said.
Fahey held his first Sneaker Pimps show in Sydney, Australia, in 2003, but only 200 people showed up. Soon, however, tens of thousands would attend shows in more than 60 cities. A 2006 show in Jakarta, Indonesia, drew about 13,000 sneakerheads.
The shows now feature between 1,000 and 1,500 shoes. Some are rare. Others are signed by celebrities. Hip-hop acts are a staple, as is artwork -- on both kicks and canvas.
At this month's show, hundreds of sneaker enthusiasts filed through Atlanta's Tabernacle with the decorum of museum patrons, stopping to admire the shoes displayed on swaths of chain-link fence.
There were novice sneakerheads, such as Chris Shepherd, 20, and Charnelle Cook, 20, an Atlanta couple who marveled over the DC Comics and Transformers sneakers.
Asked about her multicolored hightops, Cook said, "I couldn't tell you what these are called. All I know is they're Reeboks, and they're fly."
There were seasoned collectors, such as Kyle Self, 35, of Decatur, Georgia, who said he had about 25 pairs, some of them still in their boxes, including three pairs of $400 low-top Pradas, which he called his "everyday sneakers."
There were even female collectors, such as artist Estasha Goodwin, 23, who modeled a pair of shimmering gold, winged -- yes, winged -- hightops made by Adidas and designer Jeremy Scott.
She complained that shoe companies too often focus on the male market and ignored female aficionados.
"When they do cater to us, it's always bubblegum pink. They don't even make them in our sizes," she said. "I know women who know more about sneakers than any dude out here today."
Incidentally, her favorite of the 15 pairs she owns were made for men -- the Nike "Ace of Spades" Dunks, inspired by the Detroit Tigers' high-kicking pitcher, Dontrelle Willis, who is prominently featured on the black-and-aqua shoe's hightop.
Asked why she shelled out $250 for them, she gave a familiar response: "It's a feeling you get when you know you're the only one that has something. Even if you're not, it's the way you walk it."
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Patience is Virtuous
Today was one of those days that just felt weird.
Mother Nature sent us a reminder of fall while summer encroaches on us with glaring 87degree afternoons. May daisies and a buzzer beater victory of the Orlando Magic over the nearly perfect-at-home, Cleveland Cavaliers; it was overcast and patients behaved oddly...
I got a reminder of why I'm on my path, which is a good thing leading up to my trip to Florida in two weeks.
A patient called in to schedule an appointment and had no earthly idea about the process of using his insurance to pay for PT services. Something familiar in his voice drummed all the patience I could muster to help guide him towards understanding. I explained to him how insurance works and provided a couple of scenarios that could play out once I got his policy verified. He was very gracious and I did my job well to get him scheduled, despite taking an extra two minutes to do-so.
I had a moment after that phone call. I felt concerned for the many people who get less than tender loving care when trying to navigate the choppy waters of insurance and paying for medical services. I hope to one day try to educate many people on the basics of how insurance works, how to select a good plan, and how to stay on top of your claim once filed and services have been rendered.
Again, this is about doing what others don't care, or have the time to do... explain, repeat, review, and educate.
Something just feels right about leading people to understanding, something empowering, something potentially life-changing...
May this reach you in peace of heart and mind.
-rev. run (kidding!)
-delano :c)
Mother Nature sent us a reminder of fall while summer encroaches on us with glaring 87degree afternoons. May daisies and a buzzer beater victory of the Orlando Magic over the nearly perfect-at-home, Cleveland Cavaliers; it was overcast and patients behaved oddly...
I got a reminder of why I'm on my path, which is a good thing leading up to my trip to Florida in two weeks.
A patient called in to schedule an appointment and had no earthly idea about the process of using his insurance to pay for PT services. Something familiar in his voice drummed all the patience I could muster to help guide him towards understanding. I explained to him how insurance works and provided a couple of scenarios that could play out once I got his policy verified. He was very gracious and I did my job well to get him scheduled, despite taking an extra two minutes to do-so.
I had a moment after that phone call. I felt concerned for the many people who get less than tender loving care when trying to navigate the choppy waters of insurance and paying for medical services. I hope to one day try to educate many people on the basics of how insurance works, how to select a good plan, and how to stay on top of your claim once filed and services have been rendered.
Again, this is about doing what others don't care, or have the time to do... explain, repeat, review, and educate.
Something just feels right about leading people to understanding, something empowering, something potentially life-changing...
May this reach you in peace of heart and mind.
-rev. run (kidding!)
-delano :c)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Seeds!
with the spring came the cool breeze of children...
2009 has been the year of new additions to my circle of friends
the miracle of childbirth has never meant so much to me
as I welcome new arrivals to the planet!
With so much drama in the economy I see what folks did with those long nights in; saving money.
1. SG. her son nearly cost her her life after some postpartum complications - reminds me that even with fibroids and one ovary God decides when and where life happens. She is a true rebel for peace and patience and is well deserving of her new son, biggups to St.P, you two make a great couple!
2.KB - after a long celebrated courtship with a fellow Hamptonian KB, up and marries this other gorgeous chica he met through his mother...Lady MB is the proud wife and mother of one of my best friends and I am ecstatic for this couple to have gotten married BEFORE starting their family! As "old school" kids, I wanna be like KB when I grow up! But, really mad props to folks who tie the knot!
3.CHG - another TWO points for CHG! She too made it official prior to her "bump" project! I had the honor of speaking poetically at her wedding ceremony. With open arms I welcome her new daughter CDG!!! (Keep me in your prayers C, I'm on the cusp of PT school!)
4.ABC - now you know I have to celebrate Copper tones and the blessing of life that comes from unexpected bundles of joy. A friend of mine whom I once dated...I decided to be a true friend when she dropped the bomb on me about her being 'with child.'
5.Tony - my best friend's baby is on the way... I always hoped we would be thirty, single, and childless... he beat me to the child part and is very happy with his new lady Chevy... a true love child in the works, Tony wasn't expecting to meet his baby's momma when he did, but being aggressive has its benefits! The same time he was getting all wrapped up in a new connection he started his parenting phase of life more quickly than I expected. Alas, its just begun!
With all these children I may not need any of my own... ha ha ha! No, I'm just doing me like I know how... career first, ladyfriend/wife second, daddy hat third...
whatever is in God's plan for me, I'm rockin with it!
-delano :c)
2009 has been the year of new additions to my circle of friends
the miracle of childbirth has never meant so much to me
as I welcome new arrivals to the planet!
With so much drama in the economy I see what folks did with those long nights in; saving money.
1. SG. her son nearly cost her her life after some postpartum complications - reminds me that even with fibroids and one ovary God decides when and where life happens. She is a true rebel for peace and patience and is well deserving of her new son, biggups to St.P, you two make a great couple!
2.KB - after a long celebrated courtship with a fellow Hamptonian KB, up and marries this other gorgeous chica he met through his mother...Lady MB is the proud wife and mother of one of my best friends and I am ecstatic for this couple to have gotten married BEFORE starting their family! As "old school" kids, I wanna be like KB when I grow up! But, really mad props to folks who tie the knot!
3.CHG - another TWO points for CHG! She too made it official prior to her "bump" project! I had the honor of speaking poetically at her wedding ceremony. With open arms I welcome her new daughter CDG!!! (Keep me in your prayers C, I'm on the cusp of PT school!)
4.ABC - now you know I have to celebrate Copper tones and the blessing of life that comes from unexpected bundles of joy. A friend of mine whom I once dated...I decided to be a true friend when she dropped the bomb on me about her being 'with child.'
5.Tony - my best friend's baby is on the way... I always hoped we would be thirty, single, and childless... he beat me to the child part and is very happy with his new lady Chevy... a true love child in the works, Tony wasn't expecting to meet his baby's momma when he did, but being aggressive has its benefits! The same time he was getting all wrapped up in a new connection he started his parenting phase of life more quickly than I expected. Alas, its just begun!
With all these children I may not need any of my own... ha ha ha! No, I'm just doing me like I know how... career first, ladyfriend/wife second, daddy hat third...
whatever is in God's plan for me, I'm rockin with it!
-delano :c)
Monday, March 2, 2009
Doing Me
If you know anything about me, you'll know helping others comes naturally... I must take a moment to share the incredible fruits of my efforts.
Direct: My SAT tutor client improved her score by a few hundred points and got into her #1 school Xavier in New Orleans! I am so proud of "Smuckers!" I also want to thank the "Academy" and the folks at Barnes & Noble for letting me run my tutoring business in their space.
Indirect: My best friend Tony is getting some SERIOUS vibes from a sista w/ twists... I told him about "soul sistas," and now he is VERY happy getting to know "Chevy" from Cali! I dig them both and to see my boi happy and scared, nervous and excited makes me remember so much!
I will continue to support both my folks to the end and new beginnings!
Best to my friends,
Delano :c)
Direct: My SAT tutor client improved her score by a few hundred points and got into her #1 school Xavier in New Orleans! I am so proud of "Smuckers!" I also want to thank the "Academy" and the folks at Barnes & Noble for letting me run my tutoring business in their space.
Indirect: My best friend Tony is getting some SERIOUS vibes from a sista w/ twists... I told him about "soul sistas," and now he is VERY happy getting to know "Chevy" from Cali! I dig them both and to see my boi happy and scared, nervous and excited makes me remember so much!
I will continue to support both my folks to the end and new beginnings!
Best to my friends,
Delano :c)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Who is MIA
TAVIS SMILEY INTERVIEW: http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200901/20090128_mia.html
from the Huffington Post:
M.I.A. performed at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.
By THOMAS FULLER----------
Published: February 10, 2009
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — To many Americans, Maya Arulpragasam, known as M.I.A., is the very pregnant rapper who gyrated across the stage at Sunday’s Grammy Awards.
Yet in Sri Lanka, where she spent her childhood years, M.I.A. remains virtually unknown. And some who do know her work say she is an apologist for the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels fighting in the country’s long-running civil war.
M.I.A. — who has been nominated for an Oscar for the song she co-wrote for the hit film “Slumdog Millionaire” — has branded herself through music videos and interviews as the voice of the country’s Tamil minority. In the video for her song “Bird Flu,” for instance, children dance in front of what looks like the rebels’ logo: a roaring tiger.
“Being the only Tamil in the Western media, I have a really great opportunity to sort of bring forward what’s going on in Sri Lanka,” she said in an interview on the PBS program “Tavis Smiley” last month. “There’s a genocide going on.”
But her political views rankle some people at a time when most Sri Lankans are clutching to the hope that the rebels, branded by the United States and European nations as a terrorist group, are on the verge of military defeat by government troops.
“Frankly, she’s very lucky to get away with supporting, even indirectly, perhaps the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world,” said Suresh Jayawickrama, a songwriter based in Colombo.
Mr. Jayawickrama is from the country’s majority Sinhalese ethnic group, and his reaction is similar to that of many Sri Lankans who know M.I.A.’s music. But he also said that M.I.A. deserved credit for her artistry and the fame she had achieved. “She really should have a little more recognition in this country,” he said.
Despite decades of conflict, music has remained largely free of political messages or overtones in Sri Lanka, perhaps because audiences are seeking entertainment and escape from the daily reminders of civil war.
“Compared to other countries, people don’t write many songs here about what is going on politically,” said Dillain Joseph, a singer who is of mixed Sinhalese and Tamil parentage.
Meanwhile, M.I.A.’s claims that the government is carrying out a genocide against Tamils place her on the outer fringe of opinion about the conflict.
Although the government has brutalized and killed Tamil civilians over the past 25 years, human rights organizations spread the blame around, estimating that 70,000 people on both sides have been killed in the fighting.
“This is a conflict in which both sides have terrible human rights records,” said Yolanda Foster, a specialist on Sri Lanka with Amnesty International in London. “The Tamil Tigers have a long history of child recruitment, hostage taking, forcing civilians to the front lines. It’s complicated to assign blame.”
M.I.A. was born in Britain but moved to Sri Lanka when she was 6 months old so that her father, an engineer and a leader in the Tamil separatist movement, could help fight for an independent Tamil homeland. Her childhood took her across northern Sri Lanka, wracked by insurgency, to India and back to Britain, where her mother and siblings settled into a public housing project outside London. Her father remained in Sri Lanka. She now calls New York home.
Sri Lankans who have seen her videos say they interpret some parts as showing support for the Tigers, or at the very least glorifying their cause. But for those not familiar with the conflict, they might come across as generic third-world scenes.
“I kind of want to leave it ambiguous for my fans,” she said in the PBS interview, referring to the lyrics of her song “Paper Planes,” which was nominated for record of the year at the Grammys but did not win.
“Paper Planes,” which compares international drug dealing with selling records, drew a reaction from DeLon, a Sinhalese rapper based in Los Angeles, who made a video remix in which he interspersed images of people being blown up by Tamil Tiger bombs and subtitles about M.I.A. being a terrorist.
M.I.A. responded that she did not support terrorism.
Despite those tensions, which played out largely on the Internet and abroad, musicians in Sri Lanka say the music scene has remained ethnically diverse, with members of the country’s numerous ethnic groups and religions often forming bands together.
“There’s a lot of mixing and matching going on,” said Rienzie Pereira, a guitar player. “It’s basically like sports. No matter what ethnic group you are from, people can play cricket together.”
from the Huffington Post:
M.I.A. performed at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.
By THOMAS FULLER----------
Published: February 10, 2009
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — To many Americans, Maya Arulpragasam, known as M.I.A., is the very pregnant rapper who gyrated across the stage at Sunday’s Grammy Awards.
Yet in Sri Lanka, where she spent her childhood years, M.I.A. remains virtually unknown. And some who do know her work say she is an apologist for the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels fighting in the country’s long-running civil war.
M.I.A. — who has been nominated for an Oscar for the song she co-wrote for the hit film “Slumdog Millionaire” — has branded herself through music videos and interviews as the voice of the country’s Tamil minority. In the video for her song “Bird Flu,” for instance, children dance in front of what looks like the rebels’ logo: a roaring tiger.
“Being the only Tamil in the Western media, I have a really great opportunity to sort of bring forward what’s going on in Sri Lanka,” she said in an interview on the PBS program “Tavis Smiley” last month. “There’s a genocide going on.”
But her political views rankle some people at a time when most Sri Lankans are clutching to the hope that the rebels, branded by the United States and European nations as a terrorist group, are on the verge of military defeat by government troops.
“Frankly, she’s very lucky to get away with supporting, even indirectly, perhaps the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world,” said Suresh Jayawickrama, a songwriter based in Colombo.
Mr. Jayawickrama is from the country’s majority Sinhalese ethnic group, and his reaction is similar to that of many Sri Lankans who know M.I.A.’s music. But he also said that M.I.A. deserved credit for her artistry and the fame she had achieved. “She really should have a little more recognition in this country,” he said.
Despite decades of conflict, music has remained largely free of political messages or overtones in Sri Lanka, perhaps because audiences are seeking entertainment and escape from the daily reminders of civil war.
“Compared to other countries, people don’t write many songs here about what is going on politically,” said Dillain Joseph, a singer who is of mixed Sinhalese and Tamil parentage.
Meanwhile, M.I.A.’s claims that the government is carrying out a genocide against Tamils place her on the outer fringe of opinion about the conflict.
Although the government has brutalized and killed Tamil civilians over the past 25 years, human rights organizations spread the blame around, estimating that 70,000 people on both sides have been killed in the fighting.
“This is a conflict in which both sides have terrible human rights records,” said Yolanda Foster, a specialist on Sri Lanka with Amnesty International in London. “The Tamil Tigers have a long history of child recruitment, hostage taking, forcing civilians to the front lines. It’s complicated to assign blame.”
M.I.A. was born in Britain but moved to Sri Lanka when she was 6 months old so that her father, an engineer and a leader in the Tamil separatist movement, could help fight for an independent Tamil homeland. Her childhood took her across northern Sri Lanka, wracked by insurgency, to India and back to Britain, where her mother and siblings settled into a public housing project outside London. Her father remained in Sri Lanka. She now calls New York home.
Sri Lankans who have seen her videos say they interpret some parts as showing support for the Tigers, or at the very least glorifying their cause. But for those not familiar with the conflict, they might come across as generic third-world scenes.
“I kind of want to leave it ambiguous for my fans,” she said in the PBS interview, referring to the lyrics of her song “Paper Planes,” which was nominated for record of the year at the Grammys but did not win.
“Paper Planes,” which compares international drug dealing with selling records, drew a reaction from DeLon, a Sinhalese rapper based in Los Angeles, who made a video remix in which he interspersed images of people being blown up by Tamil Tiger bombs and subtitles about M.I.A. being a terrorist.
M.I.A. responded that she did not support terrorism.
Despite those tensions, which played out largely on the Internet and abroad, musicians in Sri Lanka say the music scene has remained ethnically diverse, with members of the country’s numerous ethnic groups and religions often forming bands together.
“There’s a lot of mixing and matching going on,” said Rienzie Pereira, a guitar player. “It’s basically like sports. No matter what ethnic group you are from, people can play cricket together.”
Thursday, February 5, 2009
That
some won't believe it till they see it,
so Imma tell it like this
this is not a competition
This is risen from the clenches
a match made in seasons
of I've got to achieve this
dreams implanted and they search for my reason
in disbelief.
we see the musical unfolding on the streets
in character the lines begin to speak
parables and potions, escapism's magnum opus
day and knights
stars board solar winds, rush.
cooling jet screams to poetry
each breath pardons english on cue.
felt tip seamstress weaves epics by the footstep
in the sun she will not rest
in the harvest she is set
in winter
spring
summer idle
practice
and for our next recital: Miss Fancy McCoy!
To Joy we ode
photographic language
emblazoned seconds
thanks is presence
projector screen tv
so u can see
us doing me
connected
welcome,
to that feeling:
-delano
so Imma tell it like this
this is not a competition
This is risen from the clenches
a match made in seasons
of I've got to achieve this
dreams implanted and they search for my reason
in disbelief.
we see the musical unfolding on the streets
in character the lines begin to speak
parables and potions, escapism's magnum opus
day and knights
stars board solar winds, rush.
cooling jet screams to poetry
each breath pardons english on cue.
felt tip seamstress weaves epics by the footstep
in the sun she will not rest
in the harvest she is set
in winter
spring
summer idle
practice
and for our next recital: Miss Fancy McCoy!
To Joy we ode
photographic language
emblazoned seconds
thanks is presence
projector screen tv
so u can see
us doing me
connected
welcome,
to that feeling:
-delano
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A Family Affair
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/15/obama.family/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
It's not that I'm hatin on Oprah but, all the success in the world can't measure up to the powerful image of the Obama Family. In all actuality, I cringe at the widening gender gap in America today. True, physical bondage has ended for those outside the prison walls. True, de-segregation has allowed us to shop at Wal Mart, filling our carts with cheap cosmetics and bulk chicken thighs. True Harvard admits and graduates, brown-skinned people like Gwendolyn Gordon, my cousin and now Lawyer, and Barack H. Obama. The new day has been here all along, just beneath the infectious veneer of mass media.
Another way, many of the real students from A Different World (HBCUs) and other colleges graduated and grew up to be fine citizens. Many started families. According to the above article in CNN, in 2005, 69% of black mothers gave birth out of wedlock. Compared to the 31% of white mothers. This is a startling statistic, devastating the concept and institution of the Black Family.
Why is this? I travel back in time to my freshman year at Hampton University for clues... "Man, its like 16:1 !" The rumored female to male student ratio created a daunting spectrum of estrogen. My freshman year was like watching a tennis match between the Williams sisters. I made the Deans list, much to the chagrin of cliche. We were told during a freshman week orientation session to, "look to our left and right," and that, "one of you will not be here at graduation." A sobering reminder of matriculation realities. I watched both guys and girls leave; after first semester, then the second,... the ratio becoming more lopsided.
I extrapolated similar phenomenon at other HBCUs across the country and knew the "viable" population of Black male partners I was a member of was a shrinking one. As a result, I probed the minds of sistas for their interests and standards concerning males. I experimented with dating and even lost my virginity... I "had" to know what Black Women were about...if the rumors were true about "size mattering" and what they dreamed and griped about. I wanted to marry and start my family with a Black woman, so five years of experimentation, a B.S. degree, and I was feelin like I'd have a shot at being happy, despite my lack of attention and any long-term relationships before or during college.
I consider it an edge. I know a lil about shoes, well at least what sik Choo's are...
I scour magazines and blogs for the dopest lounges, djs, and restaurants. I even keep a running tab of seasonal cocktails, just in case I meet a lush turned plush (but I don't drink much). More importantly, I know "Miss Independent" has her own and is looking for some one to match her. What more could a woman ask for than another comparable (or greater) income? She is also more than likely Christin, so I keep up with my Scripture despite not claiming any particular building. I also know how to flirt, cook, two-step, and kiss.
My goal? Victory. Jay-Z equates it with "a kid" who will carry his "legacy and make history." Family. One way to live beyond the flesh. Family, a true curator of happiness. Family, the motivator of mini-vans and picket fences...
Sly and the Who Stone?
You already know!
-delano
It's not that I'm hatin on Oprah but, all the success in the world can't measure up to the powerful image of the Obama Family. In all actuality, I cringe at the widening gender gap in America today. True, physical bondage has ended for those outside the prison walls. True, de-segregation has allowed us to shop at Wal Mart, filling our carts with cheap cosmetics and bulk chicken thighs. True Harvard admits and graduates, brown-skinned people like Gwendolyn Gordon, my cousin and now Lawyer, and Barack H. Obama. The new day has been here all along, just beneath the infectious veneer of mass media.
Another way, many of the real students from A Different World (HBCUs) and other colleges graduated and grew up to be fine citizens. Many started families. According to the above article in CNN, in 2005, 69% of black mothers gave birth out of wedlock. Compared to the 31% of white mothers. This is a startling statistic, devastating the concept and institution of the Black Family.
Why is this? I travel back in time to my freshman year at Hampton University for clues... "Man, its like 16:1 !" The rumored female to male student ratio created a daunting spectrum of estrogen. My freshman year was like watching a tennis match between the Williams sisters. I made the Deans list, much to the chagrin of cliche. We were told during a freshman week orientation session to, "look to our left and right," and that, "one of you will not be here at graduation." A sobering reminder of matriculation realities. I watched both guys and girls leave; after first semester, then the second,... the ratio becoming more lopsided.
I extrapolated similar phenomenon at other HBCUs across the country and knew the "viable" population of Black male partners I was a member of was a shrinking one. As a result, I probed the minds of sistas for their interests and standards concerning males. I experimented with dating and even lost my virginity... I "had" to know what Black Women were about...if the rumors were true about "size mattering" and what they dreamed and griped about. I wanted to marry and start my family with a Black woman, so five years of experimentation, a B.S. degree, and I was feelin like I'd have a shot at being happy, despite my lack of attention and any long-term relationships before or during college.
I consider it an edge. I know a lil about shoes, well at least what sik Choo's are...
I scour magazines and blogs for the dopest lounges, djs, and restaurants. I even keep a running tab of seasonal cocktails, just in case I meet a lush turned plush (but I don't drink much). More importantly, I know "Miss Independent" has her own and is looking for some one to match her. What more could a woman ask for than another comparable (or greater) income? She is also more than likely Christin, so I keep up with my Scripture despite not claiming any particular building. I also know how to flirt, cook, two-step, and kiss.
My goal? Victory. Jay-Z equates it with "a kid" who will carry his "legacy and make history." Family. One way to live beyond the flesh. Family, a true curator of happiness. Family, the motivator of mini-vans and picket fences...
Sly and the Who Stone?
You already know!
-delano
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
mindSpring
i wish i could remember more...
tonight i had this once before reoccurring dream. I can only recall that I had the ability to "mindspring" from under water. Its kind of like a super power... Somehow, I willingly end up under water, and before anything traumatic occurs, I am able to "think" my body up and out of the water. Its on some "think happy thoughts" like escaping to Never Never Land in Peter Pan.
In the dream, once I am ready to spring upwards, I think "its time to get up", or something, and I am able to mind spring my body up and out. the whole experience is quite exhilarating!
Some times friends of mine are able to do it too and after we are out of the water we share this mutual smile, like after riding the best roller coaster of your life.
Since, I did some light research on dreams and found that some are as short as a roller coaster ride, lasting only a few minutes; others as long as 20 minutes. This being a "good dream," I awoke with a feeling of joy and loosely constructed pride about my super power.
Much is debated about the cause, purpose, and extent of dreams. Its scientific study is called oneirology. What a neat name "One Eye Rology," almost like the study of one vision! Hm. To this day, there are segments of dreams from as far back as my childhood that I still remember. As a matter of fact, with the right cues, I can remember most of my lucid dreams, at least the ones that remain after waking.
Some nights I have multiple dreams in sequence... Often they are unrelated.
-delano
tonight i had this once before reoccurring dream. I can only recall that I had the ability to "mindspring" from under water. Its kind of like a super power... Somehow, I willingly end up under water, and before anything traumatic occurs, I am able to "think" my body up and out of the water. Its on some "think happy thoughts" like escaping to Never Never Land in Peter Pan.
In the dream, once I am ready to spring upwards, I think "its time to get up", or something, and I am able to mind spring my body up and out. the whole experience is quite exhilarating!
Some times friends of mine are able to do it too and after we are out of the water we share this mutual smile, like after riding the best roller coaster of your life.
Since, I did some light research on dreams and found that some are as short as a roller coaster ride, lasting only a few minutes; others as long as 20 minutes. This being a "good dream," I awoke with a feeling of joy and loosely constructed pride about my super power.
Much is debated about the cause, purpose, and extent of dreams. Its scientific study is called oneirology. What a neat name "One Eye Rology," almost like the study of one vision! Hm. To this day, there are segments of dreams from as far back as my childhood that I still remember. As a matter of fact, with the right cues, I can remember most of my lucid dreams, at least the ones that remain after waking.
Some nights I have multiple dreams in sequence... Often they are unrelated.
-delano
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Kooza
Kooza- based on Sanskrit for "box" or "treasure," the 2009 Cirque du Soliel show was something spectacular! Beginning with a chuckle in the audience, a clown with very long balloons scoured the audience for giggles and smiles...apparently the "police", "bobbies", or "coppers" were after him. He asked if anybody had seen them. No one in our section responded. A man with a cumbersome wrapped package sauntered across the stage, but was unable to find its recipient. After 10 minutes of comedic antics and the introduction of the police and other main players of the show, the lights went dim. the audience quietly part of the entire show...
under their signature blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau, Du Soleil presented some of humanities most talented displaying feats of balance, strength, timing, and coordination...
and they do it on a tight rope or as a contorted human sculpture. As an all human circus, I really dug ...
shish-boom-bah,
I was called on stage, and that was my favorite part of the show!
-delano :c)
under their signature blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau, Du Soleil presented some of humanities most talented displaying feats of balance, strength, timing, and coordination...
and they do it on a tight rope or as a contorted human sculpture. As an all human circus, I really dug ...
shish-boom-bah,
I was called on stage, and that was my favorite part of the show!
-delano :c)
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