Where's the Vote or Die song??

I'm really disappointed that Puffy hasn't made a Vote or Die song...

I would've expected nothing less than for Puffy to turn his organization into another self-promotion scheme.. oh wait, it is... but where is the song??

I think that is the only way you can get the kids to vote, approach them on their level... through the hip-hop dominated, thugs, guns, and female exploitation that exists on hip-hop radio and videos.

damn, I'm getting old. I used to love all the ass and titties in hip-hop, now looking at it now, it's just degrading to women, and it's a shame to see so many young females (and males) embrace it.

My Tuesday predictions??

Kerry in a landslide... because I have faith, but Bush and his boys will fight it so we won't know on Tuesday night.

go Obama!

~C

CD of the moment: Guns & Roses - "Greatest Hits"

I think it's all crap...

I gotta admit, I think it's all crap.

so, Osama conveniently shows up 4 days before the election?

wtf is that all about??

I swear, someone thinks the American public are idiots... oops... maybe they are..

This is almost as bad as that one about 19 guys from caves pulling off the worst terrorist attack on US soil...

I voted already, but I'm so cynical right now about the whole process that I'm not sure it even matters... we'll see what happens on Tuesday..

~C

CD of the moment: Heavy D & the Boyz - "Blue Funk"

living in Baltimore...

For the record, I think Baltimore gets a bad rap. I have friends that absolutely refuse to even visit Baltimore, but it's not all that bad. Besides the following drama wouldn't unfold in just any city...

So I'm up late working on the Renaissance architecture lecture when all of a sudden I hear the sound of a car crash, but it was much much louder, then I hear broken glass, then it just continues and gets louder and louder and louder until I hear a final smash which was so loud I really thought it was inside of the house.

I wait for all of the noise to stop, then I look outside the window and much to my disbelief, there is an 18 wheeler located where there used to be a 100 year old brick wall with this intricate iron work. In front of the truck is a mini van that was crumpled up like a piece of paper.

So I get my shoes on, grab a coat and run outside to a smoking truck and I'm trying to determine if there is anyone in the van. Luckily no one was inside. After going outside in the street I realized that I had heard this truck clip a Blazer, smash into this mini van and dragged it for about 60 feet before it went through the brick wall and ended up in the front yard.

The people who lived in the house were out on the town so they came home, walked through the front door and the first thing out of his mouth is, "Okay, I know I'm drunk... but is that an 18 wheeler in my front yard?"

Anyway, living in Baltimore made it interesting because the crackhead just show up on the scene and start antagonizing the drunk driver who is already going to jail and start getting in his face saying, "Why'd you do that man?" or "What were you thinking?" or my favorite was the one who tried to get all mad. He says, "You could've killed somebody!! Don't you have any concern for anyone else's life?? That could've been my sister in that van!!" ... c'mon dude, as if being all cracked out gives you a right to point out someone else's faults.

only in Baltimore...

~C

CD of the moment: Fertile Ground - "Black Is"

undecided?

How in the hell can you be undecided between these two??

I mean, if you were hungry and had to choose between a salad with fat free dressing or a steak dinner with baked potato smothered in butter, you would clearly be leaning in one direction...

I'm sure the candidates have a lot more in common then they would lead you to believe, but I look at it like this. If you as a person have certain values that are important to you or you feel are important for the world, then you should have a pretty good idea of where each of these candidates stand on your issues by now.

I can't understand how there can be this big jump in the polls for Kerry after the debates... If you don't know what Bush is about by now, then what have you been doing for the last four years???

Maybe this all says a lot about the complacent nature of our society. Most people would stick with what they have no matter how miserable or damning the situation rather than try to do something about it. You see this in people with the jobs they have, the relationships they are in, and so many people are reluctant to take risks in fear of failure. I suppose if everyone was proactive about the things in their lives that bother them, we would have a lot of mad employers, botched relationships, and no new entrepreneurs (sp?). So much of this world is based on control and if you empower people to stand up for what they believe, then that causes problems on the macro scale.

I can see how it's much better to allow people to be mad, let people protest, etc... because then they go home and are still mad, but nothing changes... I don't know where i'm going with this....

Where in the hell are Dean, Sharpton and the gang these days??? I at least expected Kucinich to still be out campaigning at this point.

I was trying to make a point..... oh yeah... how can all of these polls jump from day to day?? Are people that influenced by MSNBC and fox news??? If so, these people shouldn't be voting anyway. Have a damn backbone, do a little research on your own and form an opinion based on the issues dammit!! How could you still not know who you want to vote for at this point??

I have a lot on my mind concerning this shit.... First of all, all of this 'swing state' crap just goes to show you how wack the electoral college is.... that's some bullshit and you KNOW it is directly related to where all the people of the darker persuasion are... Did you know that California, New York and one other state... I forget control like 40% of the electoral college votes and the candidates aren't campaigning there at all... So you mean to tell me that the presidency is dependent upon people in the cornfields of Iowa, the mountains of Colorado / Pennsylvania, and the desert of Arizona are going to choose who are president is???

They don't even HAVE Arabs in those states!! So trying to make a case that our standing in the world is destroyed to these people is kinda pointless no???? Sure I'm generalizing, but so what, you get my point.

Then there is this whole thought I have about 'sticking with the status quo'... Our society generally speaking (again) is complacent. We stay in shitty relationships, shitty jobs, etc... and do nothing to get out of them. So maybe, if you think that most people want to elect a leader that is 'like them' there are a lot of people in this country that would rather stay with what we have rather than try something new. There a many people who are hard-headed and the idea that this president is sticking to 'his guns' rather than change the course no matter how wrong he is, is admirable to some people because he is 'like them'... hard headed and determined to prove that they are right no matter how wrong they are... So you can start to see why and how this president could be re-elected.

The masses are idiots. We already know this... just look at how popular Britney and Lil John are....

~C

CD of the moment: Jody Watley - "Midnight Lounge"

Africans save the day

So I'm all excited about going to this interview last week. Earlier in the day i was feeling good and decided to have a meal for lunch that I hadn't had since my return to DC, so I go down to my local Jamaican spot for lunch and order up some Jerk Chicken. They just don't make it in the midwest like they do on the East Coast. It was delicious.

Now at 3:30 about 6 blocks from the office I was going to, it hit me.... with nothing but a salad for dinner the night before and an apple for breakfast, my stomach couldn't take it. As I was getting closer and closer I figured I'd release a little bit on the way so that by the time I got to the interview I would be in good shape.

Even outside, the stench was so bad, that I knew if I was to let one of these out in the interview I surely wouldn't get the job. I contemplated rescheduling the interview, but knew that wouldn't be a good idea. After popping in several busy lunchtime establishments, I just couldn't find a good place to let it all out. I knew I was in trouble and didn't know what to do.

Earlier in the day, these obnoxious Africans were in front of me in the line at the Jamaican spot and I was cussing them out in my head. "fucking cocky ass Africans in their wack ass suits thinking their the shit... pissing me off, move the fuck out of the line..." Then, it all comes full circle.

I enter the office building and approach the female security guard at the front desk, an African, and calmly ask, "By any chance would you happen to have a bathroom on this floor....... please......." she must have seen it in my eye, I was serious and needed a bathroom right away.

So she leaves her post and escorts me through some back hallway, past the mailroom to the most private restroom in DC. One toilet and a sink, and uses a key to get in. It was like heaven.

I blew it up. I mean, I BLEW IT UP!!!

After dropping 5 pounds and freshening up, I go upstairs and had what I think was my best interview thus far.

~C

CD of the moment: Thievery Corporation - "Out of Babylon"

fall / winter dating strategies

As the cold months approach is definitely important for you to replinish the

roster as you head into the cold months.  You have to break out some of

those secret recruiting tactics to make sure you have a team that will take

you through until next summer.



The first thing you have to do is play the numbers and learn from the

mistakes of others.  For example, take this past interation of the US

Olympic basketball team.  What we should all learn from this is that you

will go nowhere with a team full of wannabe superstars.  Role players are

essential to the success of the team.



Pick a region of operation.  If you don't go to the club, no worries.  You

can do just as much macking in the bookstore/library/bus/on the street as

you can in a club, it might be a little more difficult without the

assistance of liquor, but you can still get the job done and come up on AT

LEAST three fresh recruits.  But pick a place, become familiar with it, know

the staff so you can comfortably work without distractions.



Next, at this point you have to remember that the rule is quantity first,

quality second. Basically, you want to get as many macks in as possible

while you still can and sort the shit from the shinola later on. If you

waste your time tryna talk to 8's and up, you're gonna miss out on some 7's

that can run just as good through the cold months.



Prioritise your position players.  If you've had a good one or two from the

summer, keep them around and build your team around them, the rest of your

summer squad can get waivers or bumped up to front office positions.  Or you

could send them overseas to play somewhere in the minor leagues, but you

want to keep them working hard and under the assumption that they can get

called up at any time.  Don't drop your whole squad at one time on some

Denver Nuggets circa 1999 shit, you'll wind up a big loser.  If October

comes and you still don't have two, time to lower your standards.



MOST IMPORTANTLY, let all members of the roster know that the team comes

first.  Lying breeds drama, so it is essential that everyone is on board

with the mission statement. If there is one who is not down for the

concept,you have to let her go. You may even suggest she go if you sense her

hedging on the team concept. This will also help you keep a clean

conscience.



Next, you have to be somewhat discerning in your selections so that if any

two women should meet they are mature enough to handle the situation with

some decorum if not grace.  One way to ensure this is to make sure all are

of the same quality so one member of the squad doesn't get picked on by the

others. If you trash one the others are trash by association so make sure

they are all worthy of your respect (doesn't mean equal time, though).



Possibly you could pull off the sympathy thing for the one that gets picked

on by the others, but this takes advanced skills and shouldn't be tried if

you don't have the ability to keep her from becoming 'the needy one'.  This

is a maneuver that should only be attempted if you have tried, failed and

learned from this mistake in the past.  Otherwise, it is just not worth the

risk.



Lastly, it is too damn early in the Christmas season to narrow the roster

down quickly.  That task should not even be contemplated until january 2. 

Or you run the risk of ending up at some weird family's house being

introduced as the "B" word.



~C



CD of the moment: Marvin Gaye - "Here My Dear"

80's crate dig

Every once in a while, some amazing shit happens to me.



One of the guys in the house, Mrs. Jeff, bought a house and is moving.

In the midst of his purge, he mentions he has all these records and he

doesn't know what to do with them.  I suggest that I'll go through them

and see if I can take a few off of his hands.



If you knew Mrs. Jeff, you wouldn't think that his musical tastes would

extend much further beyond Madonna, cheesy dance music, and corny cross

dressing bands from the 80's.  So I didn't have much hope, but figured

taking a look wouldn't hurt.



The following day he comes up to me and says, "You know what, you can

just have them.  I don't want to carry them to the new place.  I'd just

appreciate it if you could make me a few CD's of the good songs whenever

you get a chance."  Still reluctant to take on 5 crates of records that

I'm  expecting to be bullshit, I say "sure, why not."



I start to go through these records and not only are all of the records

in near mint - mint condition, but they are all from the 80's and most

are damn near impossible to find!  I couldn't believe it!!  The lesson

here is never to judge a book by her cover.



~C





Here is the best of the best:





12" - Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls

12" - Whitney Houston - So Emotional

12" - Tina Turner - typical male

12" - The Jets - Crush on you

12" - Raze - Break for love

12" - Jocelyn Brown - Ego maniac

12" - Starpoint - Object of My desire

12" - Gwen Guthrie - Aint nothin going on but the rent

12" - Nu Shooz - I can't wait

12" - Falco - Rock me amadeus

12" - Vanity - Under the Influence

12" - L.L. Cool J. - Rock the Bells!

12" - Al B. Sure - Nite and Day

12" - Vanessa Williams - The Right Stuff

12" - The system - Don't disturb this groove

12" - Lisa Lisa - Head to toe

12" - Morris Day - Oak Tree

12" - We Are the World

12" - New Edition - If it isn't love

12" - Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian

12" - Simply Red - if you don't know me by now

12" - Alexander O'neal ft Cherelle - Never knew love like this

12" - Jody Watley - Looking for a new love

12" - Whitney Houston - I wanna dance w/ somebody

12" - Michael jackson - The Way you make me feel

12" - Bananarama - Venus

12" - Power Station - Some Like it hot

12" - janet jackson – nasty

LP - Midnight Star - No Parking on the dance floor

LP - Midnight Star - Planetary Invasion

LP - Midnight Star - Headlines

LP - Flashdance original motion picture sountrack

LP - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - Spanish Fly

LP - Lisa Lisa & Full force (w/ I wonder if i take you home)

LP - Culture club - colour by numbers

LP - Footloose original sountrack

LP - Beverly Hills Cop original sountrack

LP - Bright lights big city sountrack (w/ Prince - good love)

LP - Prince - Purple Rain

12" - Mtume - Juicy Fruit

LP - Whodini - Escape

LP - New Edition - Heartbreak

12" - David Bowie - Let's Dance

LP - Shalamar - The Look

LP - Klymaxx - Meeting in the Ladies Room

LP - Cyndi Lauper - She's so unusual

LP - Prince - Sign 'o' the times

LP - the clash - combat rock

LP - Levert - The Big Throwdown

LP - Keith Sweat - make it last forever

LP - Tina Turner - Private Dancer

LP - John Cougar mellencamp - Uh-Huh

LP - Def Leppard - Pyromania

LP - A-ha - Hunting High & Low

LP - Kashif - Love Changes

12" - Janet Jackson - Control

12" - Terence Trent D'Arby - Wishing Well

12" - Pebbles - Girlfriend

12" - Janet Jackson - What Have you done for me lately

12" - Gregory Aboot - Shake you down

12" - Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance

12" - Patti Austin - The heat of heat

12" - Information Society - What's On your mind

12" - The Cover Girls - Because of You

12" - L'Trimm - Grab it

12" - L.L. Cool J - Going back to Cali

12" - Herb Alpert - Diamonds

12" - Cherrele w/ alexander o'neal - saturday love

12" - J.J. Fad - Supersonic (ORIGINAL!)

12" - Erasure - Victim of Love

12" - INXS - What you need

12" - Duran Duran - Notorious

12" - Miami Sound Machine - Congo

12" - Tears for fears - Shout

12" - Jody Watley - Don't you want me

12" - Keith Sweat - I want her

12" - Chaka Kahn - I feel for you

12" - Sheila E - Koo Koo

12" - Salt N pepa - Tramp

12" - T'Pau - Heart & soul

12" - Pajama Party - Yo No Se

LP - Human League - Fascination

LP - Spandau Ballet - Singles Collection

LP - Michael Jackson - Bad

LP - Culture Club - The first four years

LP - Angela Bofill - Teaser

LP - Freddie Jackson - Just like the first time

LP - Sade - Promise

LP - Club Nuveau - Life, Love & Pain

LP - Shannon - Do you wanna get away

12" - Shannon - Let the music play

LP - Michael Jackson - Thriller

LP - Wham!UK - Fantastic

LP - Wham! - Music from the edge of heaven

LP - Wham! - Make it big

LP - Cheryl Lynn - Preppie

12" - Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams

LP - 10,000 Maniacs - In My tribe

LP - Eurythmics - Touch