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Technology these days can really stack up on a guy if he's not careful. You begin to collect things that you either use rarely or never at all. My cell contract of two years is coming to an end soon and I plan to switch over to another carrier and get the iphone. I think it's a good idea because I'd be knocking out two birds with one stone (i think killing is too strong a word).

But here's the ever present dilema. How do I pay for it? I thought about waiting until my birthday, but that seems so far away even now at the end of October, a month is a long time to string out a contract you don't want anymore. Then I thought, I don't use my DS or PSP much anymore, and there are new versions of both availalble now anyways, so why not sell them to raise the funds? Then I'd still have to save up later to buy the new versions of both, or one of the gaming devices. Now that I think of it, you use a phone everyday and it's helpful in emergencies, but the ds and psp are just for fun, and usually only on long trips. I think I'll sell them both.

All airborne!

Air Art from flip on Vimeo.

Next stop, anime-style gunships and post-apocalyptic society rebuilding!

That's nice, I think?

i found this chair at a yard sale in upstate new york . i re- upholster ed the seat with a thick knit and painted it white to make it younger and less formal. now that i think of it, i should have taken a before pic to make the reveal more dramatic. oh well, next time.

another late pic from my trip to the moma with a friend.

one big guard dog wouldn't be as cute, would it? only in chelsea.

The big picture.

Beached from Keith Loutit on Vimeo

Maybe this is how God sees us sometimes. Who can quibble over insignificant differences when our commonalities are so eloquently displayed? The artists name is Keith Loutit.

Special Signs ?

It took me a while to post this particular photo. It was taken at a birthday party I attentded a while ago. There is also a YouTube video that goes with it. I wish that I could explain why there is a man in a gorilla suit at the party. but I can't. I just can't.

Culture Clash (and then Bash!)

This video put together by the multimedia entertainment team of Ben & Ryan is just simply a joy to watch. It's ingenious. I've watched the original video from the SMACK DVD with the original volume, and although very lyrically impressive, it's not nearly as funny and culturally relevant. Why, you ask? I actually don't know. I'm sure if I really sat down in a corner and mulled it over for a bit, I could come up with something, but as of yet, no real explanation for its communicative power is readily available to me. I like high english, and I like a good verbal assault disguised as a logical argument I guess. It's kind of how my friends and I talk to each other really. I'll just say for now that the plausibility of it all is what makes it so humorous. The way that Ben & Ryan berate each other is completely in line with the "standard" formula for an inner city hip-hop rivalry, it just uses standard English instead of slang and rhyme. Kudos to the creators.

Let's take a closer look

A very good friend of mine forwarded me this interesting email deliniating some of the more pertinent differences between Palin and Obama. Why people are trying to compare the two at all in the first place is beyond me.




Subject: Fw: The Double Standard Lives....



I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

* If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."

* Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, and you're a maverick.

* Graduate from Harvard law School and be President of the Law Review, and you are unstable.

* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a community organizer, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate e representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor , you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.

* If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude," with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

I don't condone, but I do comiserate.

This really sums up how many Americans feel about McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin. We are at war, almost in a recession, and facing some of the most difficult diplomatic situations in a generation, and Sarah Palin is what McCain comes up with? I'm so offended! Doesn't America deserve a little more? I'm upset and apalled, but not as much as Pamela Anderson.

Violence is funny, sometimes.

This video tickles me so much. I love how the simple things in life can bring so much enjoyment.

this may just be a coincidence, but here is a front page placement of Palin wrapped in a babies r us ad . how befitting. i'm having a slow day, so cut me some slack.

Right Here, there and everywhere!

Brandy's new single is a touching teaser for her album that touts the strength of our most treasured personal relationships and how they get us through hard times. Even before I saw the video or the making of the video, I really loved the song for it's honesty and good natured message. The story that the video brings to the song makes it all the better. In the video, Brandy is an angel that has come back down from heaven to console her mother and her love interest. It's really simple and cute. Classic Brandy style. I can't wait to hear and see the rest of the album and all the other life lessons and stories that Brandy will share with us.

Here's a pic of my new block. i'm really excited about getting settled in such a great space.

i'm officially a resident of bushwick. affectionately known to some as obamawick, for obvious reasons.

If it aint Barack....

So. In an attempt to jump back into the fray with the other bloggers around the world who are actually paying attention to what's going on in the world, I watched Obama's DNC acceptance speech tonight. And in another attempt to stand out amongst all the other liberal leaning bloggers of color worldwide, I'm going to dedicate this post to what I believe are mistakes he made in his speech. It would be an understatement to say that inspirational, emotionally charged and often times educational public talks are par for Obama's political course. If anything at all besides his more obvious differences from his opponent has intensified the media coverage of this election, it has been his seemingly innate ability to move the masses with his words. Consistently.

Democrats need a wee bit of a wake up call. (In my oh so valuable opinion) The honeymoon with our candidate is over, and now we need to get down to brass tacks to clinch a victory. (Finally)

1. Barack made the mistake of being vague about fiscal policy. I know that most people (including me probably) will not understand a whole lot of number crunching tossed at them from a podium. However, we do need some particulars on how your ideas add up in the real world.

2. This speech may have been a bit short. I don't know what the usual criteria is for this kind of thing, but if you're in the company of your own supporters, why not give them what they want? Spend a little time pandering to your base to let them know you haven't forgotten them. Hilary and McCain, would never make this kind of oversight. But then again... that may be part of his plan to distance himself from "traditional" politics. Hmmm, tough one.

3. Background, Set-up, and more Background. What have you done for me lately? There was a little bit about his accomplishments as a Senator included in the speech, but not enough. I wanted to be WOWed. I want my jaw to drop in awe and amazement at the many things Barack has already done to improve the lives of the citizens of this nation. Ideology is wonderful, and Barack has certainly saturated the airwaves with some of the best political, cultural and social ideology since, well, John F. Kennedy. Having said all of this, there does seem to be a bit of a lack of hardcore facts that he uses to beat his opponent about the head with in a "whose service is bigger contest?" Perhaps he's saving all of this for November?

Well. That's it. I can't think of anything else negative to say. So... in an attempt to end this post on a positive note, I will say this. Good Luck Obama, and God Bless the choice that America will make in this upcoming Presidential election.

Fighting in the Dark

Ok,

Since some people finally commented on my social commentary, then I guess I should take the content of this blog in that direction. (** one salty tear at the realization that no one's interested in stories about me and my shenanigans, regardless of the level of hilarity **)

So, recently I worked on a radio program encouraging African-Americans to take advantages of the strides we've made in HIV treatment. It's currently still in testing and I haven't heard any official word as to it's effectiveness. But, for the sake of my community and it's health, I hope that the message reaches as many ears and minds as it can. How can I do all I can to make this come to fruition? I'll post it here on my blog and see what happens.

Fact.

Nearly 50% of new HIV patients are African-American.

Fiction.

There is nothing we can do about it.

The olympics have officially begun, so i thought a little social commentary on China was in order. This huge sticker can be seen all around my neighborhood. It suggests that America itself is being made in China.

More Evidence. "Fall" by Brandy

We're ready. Even if you're not.

First I want whoever sees this to watch this short clip and listen very closely.





Now. Let me give you the background for this post. I just finished watching a B. Scott video that talked about not trying to convince people all the time. There is no need when you know what you want and try and surround yourself with people who do the same. Recently, my friends and I were in the car, coming back home after a trip to Martha's Vineyard and we were listening to music. So, of course, Brandy comes up, cause I'm in the car, and they proceed to give it to me about her career, and what it lacks and doesn't lack and all that. I then retaliated with a barrage of accomplishments and perfectly logical reasons why they were uneducated trend puppets who didn't know what they were talking about. I know now, that all of that was unnecessary. No more tirades or rants. Just the facts. If you can't understand why I love her so much, then google her, do your own research. Listen to the old stuff, listen to the new stuff. Learn something about harmonizing and how music is actually recorded. And if after that, you still don't get it, or think I'm just some stupid fan. Then fine. Maybe she's just not your cup of tea. Even if you're not convinced. I am. That is all that matters to Nathanael LyCurtis Holley.