Life After Ramen

back in effect!

2010-09-03T15:53:00.000Z

I know it's been forever since I posted, but life just happens. A lot has happened...in a good way...and I'm ready to start blogging again. Whether people comment or not, I'm ready to journey my life. So look out for new topics and more personal thoughts. Hope you enjoy the ride.

tightrope remix with b.o.b and lupe fiasco

2010-07-01T15:46:00.000Z

This track is so bomb. The remix is just as good as the original. And B.O.B looks cuter and cuter by the month. Even Ms. Monae flows on the track. She can do no wrong.

Tightrope (Wondamix) ft. B.o.B & Lupe Fiasco

Janelle Monae

bp oil spill song: it ain't my fault

2010-06-26T12:00:00.000Z

I love it when musicians can turn tragic situations and come up with the most creative songs. Mos Def was so disgusted with the BP oil spill that he enlisted Lenny Kravitz, Trombone Shorty, Tim Robbins, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to make a tribute song to raise funds. In true Mos fashion, the lyrics are catchy with a great tune. Case in point: "Oil and water don't mix/Petrolio don't go good with no fish/Aw, it ain't my fault." This song stemmed from an all-night jam session. Proceeds from the song downloaded from itunes will go straight to gulfaid.org.

free concerts! the roots, smokey robinson, john mayer & more...

2010-06-25T14:45:00.000Z

DC gogo band

Thanks to a tip from a friend, the Kennedy Center is sponsoring 3 free concerts to conclude the Arts in Crisis 50-State Tour. The Kennedy Center president has been going around the country offering free consultations to struggling arts organizations. Titled "An American Playlist," from July 18-20 the Kennedy Center will feature artists such as Branford Marsalis, John Mayer (do we like him again?) Mambo Sauce and The Roots. Every concert requires a ticket, but tickets will be distributed on July 10.

Details can be found here. Get in line early!

link tuesday: book blogs

2010-06-22T19:00:00.000Z

My favorite childhood book

I am a certified bibliophile and naturally love finding new books. Here is a list of some of my favorite book blogs.

Written by an all-girl cast, Uptown Literati posts book by an eclectic mix of topics. It doesn't shy away from feminist authors and occassional posts great photos related to books.

If you're the type of person who has to read the latest "it" book, NY Times' Paper Cuts will suite your needs.  Omnivoracious by Amazon also provides a great variety of books that are top sellers.

Another great way to get book ideas is to look at the list of literary awards.  For my social justice fix, I look at books from the Anisfield-Wolf book awards. The Book Awards Reading Challenge does the work for you and compiles lists of literary awards based in the U.S.

How do you find you next literary fix?

world cup 2010: legos recap u.s. vs england match

2010-06-21T05:00:00.003Z

I don't know about you, but I've had my eyes glued to the T.V. during this World Cup season. I'm already trying to see how I can make World Cup 2014 in the beautiful Brazil happen. Man, Brazil is getting a lot of attention in the sports world. Don't forget they won the Olympic bid for 2016. Side note: Speaking of Olympic bids. Dallas is our best US city for the Olympics 2020? I'm just saying. How 'bout New Orleans? or Miami?

Anywho, here's is a super cute legos video capturing some of the highlights of the 2010 World Cup.

video friday: estella couture - african designer in D.C.

2010-06-18T22:59:00.001Z

Check out this designer from Nigeria on the African program Studio53. Her line Estella Couture is chic and fun!

link tuesday: my favorite photography blogs

2010-06-15T06:02:00.001Z

Le Coil

Y'all know I love photography. I'd like to think of myself as a pseudo amateur photographer. I've been carrying a camera in my purse for years now. Always ready for that photo-op or some random event. So why not share my favorite photography blogs? This is an eclectic mix of topics celebrating the diversity photography has to offer. Enjoy!

I already did a post on crazy soccer hairstyles, but if you like natural hair, then the Le Coil tumblr page is the blog for you. A site dedicated to celebrating natural hair, this blog shows how going natural doesn't have to equal boring. Kinda makes you want to stay away from the creamy crack.

If you love beautiful events, like weddings, Jan Garcia's blog will cater to your needs. With divorce rates through the roof, it's nice to see people who at least appear to be in love. On the other end, Awkward Family Photos celebrates the uniqueness in our families. This montage of photos will have you dying of laughter. I could spend hours looking through this blog.

On a more serious note, when I want to reflect on what's going on in the world, I look at the NY Times photojournalism blog, Lens. Each photo captures real events and people all over the world.

The Sartorialist

Fashion is all around us. The best designers get inspiration from everday people on the streets. That's why The Satorialist blog exists. With a monthly feature for GQ magazine and over 15 years in the fashion industry, this blog is the go-to for male fashion. For the ladies, The Real Kesh is about the life of British born Kesh and her recent move to the US. A style maven in her own right, Kesh can turn a paper towl into a couture dress. Plus her photography skills are on point.

Makes me want to get my flickr page up to speed.

june 17, 1994: a day of triumphs, chases, and lasts

2010-06-14T20:17:00.001Z

O.J. Simpson low speed chase with LAPD, June 17, 1994

ESPN celebrates 30 years (1979-2009) of being the premier sports broadcasting network by showing 30 documentaries on the biggest sporting events of the past decades. ESPN 30 for 30 has been showing films since October of last year. Topics include the Los Angeles Raiders, the Edmonton Oilers, and Marion Jones. And with the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa, there is even a film about the South African 1995 Rugby World Cup as well.

This Wednesday, the documentary June 17, 1994 premiers at 10 pm on ESPN. The film chronicles a list of unrelated events all happening on the same day. All sports enthusiasts will have something to relate to.

New York Rangers, Stanley Cup Winners Parade, June 17, 1994

world cup 2010: crazy hairstyles

2010-06-11T20:05:00.000Z

Soccer players are known for having great legs and some of the craziest hairstyles. Here's a look at some of the most interesting.

Bacary Sagna (France)

Djibril Cisse (France)

Jermain Defoe (England)

Ronaldo (Portugal)

Loco (Angola)

Abel Xavier (Portugal)

Taribo West (Nigeria)

Roberto Baggio (Italy)

Would you rock any of these styles?

world cup 2010: interactive schedule

2010-06-11T11:30:00.003Z

Thank me later.

Via FD.

dear diary: buddha bar restaurant review

2010-06-09T14:00:00.001Z

DC is known for having plentiful restaurants. The diversity in culture is amazing as I'm able to sample a kaleidoscope of different types of food without leaving the country. I, for one, am determined to taste all DC has to offer. Here is my review for the cities hottest new restaurant, Buddha Bar.

My drink

This past week, I celebrated my birthday. On Friday, I went to the internationally known Buddha Bar and boy does it live up to the hype. The food was really good and it was beautiful inside. I had the fried rice with chicken which had a cinnamon flavor and one of there specialty drinks. I think it was called Drink of Darkness or something like that, but it was reallllyy good. There was also cinnamon in this drink and fresh fruit. The workers were so attentive. Our busboy was on point with pouring water. Almost OCD type. There was one incident where my friend had taken about 4 sips and he refilled it! He even wiped up a spot that noone even saw on the table.

The music was wordly and the gigantic Buddha really made the place look authentic. I loved the black kimonos the staff wore and asked if I could have one. Regretfully, I walked out without one. :-(

All in all, I would definately go back, but make sure you bring a little bit of money. It is a little pricey but worth the money. I give this place 4.5/5 ramen noodle packs.

then that's what they called music series (november 2000)

2010-06-08T12:00:00.001Z

This volume has some of my favorite songs. Mya's "Case of the Ex" was in heavy rotation. I loved the video and was dying to dye my hair her color. Mystikal, before his jail days made everyone want to "shake it fast" while Sisqo serenaded us with his "Incomplete" balad. Dru Hill is still one of my favorite groups and they are nothing without Sisqo.

In early 2010, A.V. Club writer Nathan Rabin decided to listen to and write about the bestselling, zeitgeist-friendly CD series NOW That’s What I Call Music! in chronological order. Each one of the 33 American NOW! collections compiles a cross-section of recent hits from across the musical spectrum. Beginning with the first entry from 1998, this column will examine what the series says about the evolution and de-evolution of pop music.

1.“It’s Gonna Be Me,” ’N Sync

2.“Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” 98 Degrees

3.“Jumpin’ Jumpin’,” Destiny’s Child

4.“Don’t Think I’m Not,” Kandi

5.“I Think I’m In Love With You,” Jessica Simpson

6.“Faded,” soulDecision featuring Thrust

7.“Shake It Fast,” Mystikal featuring Pharrell

8.“Case Of The Ex,” Mya

9.“Aaron’s Party (Come Get It),” Aaron Carter

10.“Lucky,” Britney Spears

11.“Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely,” Backstreet Boys

12.“Incomplete,” Sisqó

13.“I Wanna Be With You,” Mandy Moore

14.“Doesn’t Really Matter,” Janet

15.“Back Here,” BBMak

16.“Absolutely (Story Of A Girl),” Nine Days

17.“Kryptonite,” 3 Doors Down

18.“Wonderful,” Everclear

19.“It’s My Life,” Bon Jovi

Britney Spears’ “Lucky” is about a girl named Lucky—we know this, because the song opens with the words “This is a story about a girl named Lucky”—on account of she’s so lucky. She’s got it all, this Hollywood girl: a perfect smile, stardom, a thriving film career, an Academy Award, her very own makeup artist. But is she really lucky? No, she is not. In a bit of irony every bit as ironic as a black fly in your chardonnay or meeting the man of your dreams—then meeting his beautiful wife!—Lucky, it turns out, is not so lucky.

Continue reading here.

link tuesday: my top 5 discount sites

2010-06-08T05:00:00.001Z

Who doesn't love stuff at a discount? With the economy slowly recovering, people are still trying to hold onto their pennies. I am known to have a coupon for something whether it's for movie theaters or groceries. I don't believe in wasting money (especially my own) and will not pay for something that I know I can get for free. With that said, there are plenty of discount sites out there. Here are my top 5 favorite sites. If you know of anymore, do share. Sharing is caring and I'm sure other readers would appreciate it!

1) Entertainment Book - This is the first for a reason. Remember those Gold C books you used to sell back in the day for your school fundraising? Well, they've come a long way and have upgraded to lots of categories. Discounts range from theme parks to even airfare! I have saved sooo much money using this book and don't leave home without it. Check out the website to find your city.

Pros - Includes a card so you don't have to carry coupons for a list of selected restaurants. The variety of categories helps you save a lot more.

Cons - There could be more coupons for the actual city and not the surrounding areas.

2) Groupon - This is a daily discount site. A deal of the day is delivered to your inbox. You have until the end of the day to purchase the deal.

Pros - When they have restaurant deals, they really save you a lot of money.

Cons - You only have a day to purchase the discount item so you have to have money available that day.

3) Living Social - Another daily discount site, they also deliver to your inbox. I have not used this as much as Groupon, but the deals are similar.

Pros - The discounts are more varied with other items if you don't eat out a lot.

Cons - Because I am a foodie, I would like to see more restaurant deals.

4) Goldstar - This site features loads of concerts and other entertainment. I have been using this one for years now and have seen McCoy Tyner and Savion Glover at an unbelievable price.

Pros - It's not just events you've never heard of. You can see big name people and go to sporting events.

Cons - You can't pick where you sit so you risk sitting really close or really far.

5) Audience Rewards - This is the latest of my discount findings. A site dedicated to plays, you answer various questions and take mini quizzes that earn you points toward discounted play tickets. Though I have not used any of the services yet, there are a list of plays that I am dying to see.

Pros - Plays can be expensive and anything that gets tickets even half off is so worth it.

Cons - Unless you're willing to travel, most are located in New York.

world cup 2010: official artwork

2010-06-07T12:00:00.004Z

It's almost here!! From June 11-July 11, the worlds biggest sport spectacle will be in South Africa. One month of competition and the right to earn 4 years of bragging rights for your country, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is creating such a worldwide buzz. Epecially being the fist time the World Cup is hosted by an African nation, even the art world has been commissioned for promotional efforts.

17 international artists have been licensed to create official posters to celebrate this occasion. Collect all 17 Limited Edition posters or buy the book that includes them all. The diversity in art is fantastic!

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More posters here.

Fine artists also have created exhibitions for the World Cup 2010. Unique to South Africa, this is a first for the World Cup. There's even a section solely dedicated to African Fine Art artists. Whatever your artistic palet desires, there is something for everyone.

you should absolut(ly) think of spike lee + jay-z when drinking

2010-06-07T05:00:00.001Z

The latest promotional collaboration by Absolut Vodka is with Mr. Brooklyn himself. Spike Lee has collaborated with Absolut Vodka to design the forth in the city sponsored flavor series. Absolut Brooklyn is flavored with red apples and ginger and features a picure of a brownstone with the number of Spike's childhood home in Cobble Hill. Not just for looks, each bottle has a charitable initiative attached to it where some of the proceeds will be donated. Spike Lee's charity of choice is Habitat for Humanity and $50,000 will be donated to help with affordable housing in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Retailing at $29.99, this beverage will be on the market for about 4 months. Other cities in the series have included Absolute New Orleans, Absolute Los Angeles, and Absolut Boston. Spike Lee isn't the only Brooklynite getting some shine.

I swear Absolut Vodka has some of the best spirits promotional ads. In addition to teaming with great people, they have produced this documentary on Jay-Z. It even has a cameo from John Mayer. Jay-Z - aholics can thank me later.

NY-Z with Jay-Z from John Riley on Vimeo.

i know it's not monday, but i had to post this now

2010-06-04T23:03:00.000Z

regular scheduled program will resume on monday

2010-06-04T03:04:00.000Z

Sorry there hasn't been any posts in awhile. With going back home to California for my sisters' graduation and my birthday this week, I have been extremely busy. (Shout out to the Geminis!) The posts will resume on Monday. Thanks for understanding. Hope your summer is going well.

video friday: Official Song World Cup 2010

2010-05-28T15:13:00.000Z

In preparation for the 2010 World Cup, which starts June 11 in South Africa, groove to this. Enjoy!! It's time for Africa!

dr. susan rice tells spelman grads not to forfeit starting a family for career

2010-05-24T16:49:00.000Z

This has to be my favorite commencement speech I have read so far during this graduation season. I love how Dr. Susan Rice talks about having a demanding career and still being able to balance family life. She herself has broken many barriers and has two small children. She even brought her infant son to a hearing for her appointment as Assistant Secretary of State for African American Affairs during the Clinton Administration. How bossy is that! It's frustrating to hear people say that women have to choose between having a burgeoning career of having a family. I have never believed that - my mom is a prime example. You can still be an ambitious female and not have to sacrifice your femininity. Or as the saying goes be "a pitbull in heels."

I wanted to share with you Dr. Rice's commencement speech she gave to Spelman College. I hope men and women take some of these pearls of wisdom.

Thank you very much. President Tatum, thank you for that warm introduction, and thank you for this tremendous honor. It’s a privilege to share the podium with you and my friend and role model Marian Wright Edelman. What incredibly inspiring leaders you are.

Now, I believe that a good commencement speech should be like a good commencement speaker: short. This is really your day to celebrate with loved ones, and you must be pretty warm in those robes. So I’ll make a deal with you: the more clapping I hear, the shorter the speech. Deal? (Laughter) You’re gonna make a liar out of me.

I want to start with the parents and grandparents in the audience today. My kids are still several years away from this, so I can only begin to imagine the depths of your pride in these tremendous young women. You have raised them, nurtured them, and let them make their own way in the world. Today marks a milestone for you too. You’ll miss hearing their tales of campus life and the excitement in their voices as they describe their studies and discoveries. But I’m pretty sure you won’t miss the tuition bills—that’s what someone I know calls change you can believe in. Parents, grandparents, families, friends—thank you for your countless silent sacrifices and your boundless support of these young women. And congratulations to you as well on reaching this blessed day.

I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to recall the sad and senseless loss this close-knit community suffered last fall. On behalf of President and Mrs. Obama, let me convey our deepest condolences to the loved ones and friends of Jasmine Lynn and to the entire Spelman family. Jasmine loved this place, and her friends here loved her back. We will never know what mark she would have made in our world. We just know that all of us have lost something unique and precious. Our joy is tempered by sorrow at her absence.

Now, young women, it is you I have come to talk to today. You are graduating at a truly amazing moment—a moment of perhaps unprecedented opportunity and challenge—a time of change so rapid that it can make us rub our eyes in disbelief.

Eras of change often cause us to cherish the values that do not change, to reaffirm the principles that define who we are as a people and a nation. This is such a moment when we are called again to test the founding proposition of our republic: that all men—and yes, all women—are truly created equal, and endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. Those words still sound the great American chord. Those words are still our creed and our calling. Those words are still America’s harbor and America’s horizon.

You can no more separate the concept of equality from America than you can have strong bones without healthy marrow. The question for us today is not whether we have heard the promise of equality but whether we are serious about realizing it—not whether we acknowledge the great philosophical truth that runs through the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech but whether, finally, we are willing to work together to make that truth fully manifest, at home and abroad.

I hope we are, because I believe we must. The pursuit of genuine equality has been the animating theme of many of our best leaders’ most worthy labors. My own passion is to give sinew and strength to the deeply American proposition that we are each human beings of equal worth, equal dignity, and equal consequence, who thus must enjoy equal rights.

If we genuinely believe this, then we are obliged to ensure that no one is left to languish in violence, poverty, and despair. People can’t be truly equal if they live in fear or famine. People can’t be equal if they lack cover from the elements or access to health care or medicine to protect their families from treatable killers, whether diabetes, TB, or HIV/AIDS. People can’t be equal if they are unable to send their kids to a decent school or any school at all. People can’t be equal if they are unable to speak freely, to trust in the rule of law, and to find shelter beneath the shade of durable democracy. People can’t be equal if their leaders are corrupt or care more about their grip on power than about delivering for their citizens.

Human beings around the world share common dreams—dreams of freedom, prosperity, and security. So being serious about equality means striving to realize those shared hopes that unite ordinary people across our interconnected world. Being serious about equality means helping forgotten communities and fragile states build their capacity to deliver greater opportunity to their citizens. Being serious about equality means ensuring that people everywhere—from Harlem to Harare—can contribute to the full extent of their talents. This isn’t asking for the moon. It’s asking for decency and dignity.

For it is America’s founding premise and promise that, in a moral sense, all our fates are bound together. And it is America’s modern course and urgent challenge to work with partners old and new to help create a world that raises us all up.

Now, America is an inspiring model of equality and justice for many in the world, but it is not nearly a perfect one. We still have miles to go. But the struggle only makes the promise matter more.

Equality, in this deeply American sense, doesn’t mean that we all get to the same place. The race will have winners and losers, but we should all start out of the blocks at the same time. Talent should win out, but everyone should be able to rise as far as their merit will take them. America doesn’t mean equality of outcome, but it does mean equality of opportunity. America doesn’t guarantee you a result, but it should guarantee you a fair shot—and whether you succeed or fail or wind up somewhere in between should be up to you.

I don’t quite know how my parents did it, but growing up in the 1960s and ’70s, it never really occurred to me that my race or gender would somehow deny me the chance to make my own mark. I grew up with permission to dream to be whatever I set out to be.

That’s not something to take for granted. Like President Obama, I am among the first generation of African Americans whose dreams were not immediately bounded by legalized segregation and institutionalized Jim Crow. The President has spoken of mine and his as the Joshua generation—the generation that came after the Moses generation of the great civil rights leaders, of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Ralph Abernathy, Dr. Dorothy Height, John Lewis, the young Marian Wright Edelman, Thurgood Marshall, and so many more. Mine is the generation that did not just see the Promised Land from a mountaintop but instead was privileged to cross over Jordan and make our way into a land changed forever by those who came before.

Those of us from the Joshua generation have faced hurdles, but they were nothing like the poll tax or the dogs of Birmingham. I still got called the N-word, but it happened rarely enough to be jolting. More typically, my experience entailed being discounted by some of my classmates’ parents, who reassured themselves that I got into top colleges more because of my race than my abilities. Growing up, my generation did indeed clash with the narrow-minded, the intolerant, and the bigoted. But our ability to follow our hearts was not so constrained by the racism that was once carved into the body of American law, and our ability to dream was not as stifled by a psychology of oppression.

The journey is not over. But we’ve come far.

Graduates, you won’t have it easy. But you will have it better.

I know this must feel like a precarious time to leave college. Many of you may not be sure what your first jobs or next steps will be. Most of you surely worry that your ambitions may be shackled by an economy that is still climbing out of a deep hole and that has left far too many people across the country hurting. No one can promise that all will turn out right for each of you. But I can tell you that each one of you holds a winning hand.

I can tell you that all of us here are so proud of you. We believe in you. So don’t lower your sights. Don’t you dare settle for second-best. Yes, you’ll face obstacles. Yes, these are challenging times. But the plain fact of history is that no generation of African-American women has ever had more opportunity than you do. So what we expect of you is not excuses. It is, simply put, excellence.

So set high goals, show some hustle, stand up for yourself, prepare better than anyone else, learn from everyone else—and when you get knocked down, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back in the game. A Spelman woman should come to play. She should come to compete. And she should compete to win.

That’s because we need you to make your mark. We need you to become lawyers who will deepen and widen our liberties in an era of change and challenge. We need you to become engineers and scientists who will cure modern-day plagues and save our warming Earth. We need you to become business leaders and innovators who will create prosperity that works for all Americans. We need you to become teachers and professors who will instill a love of citizenship and learning in the next generation. We need you to become doctors and ministers who will bring health to wounded bodies and strength to suffering souls. And we need one of you to become the first African American woman President of the United States.

But always remember that with greater opportunity comes greater responsibility. All of us who cheer so hard for you also expect you to give back—to continue the legacy of local, national, and global service that is the Spelman way. We are confident that you will all play your part in what President Obama calls “a new era of responsibility”—that you will embrace your duties to your cities and communities, to your country and the world we share.

And remember this too: the spirit is not fulfilled by work alone. In this life, we give both our labor and our love. If you are fortunate, you will find great meaning in your work. But take it from someone who’s wound up with a pretty good gig: there’s more to life than time at the office—even if that office happens to be oval.

So let me conclude with six quick personal lessons from my experience.

To begin with: put family first. Family is the foundation that makes everything else worthwhile. Tall trees need deep roots. Tending to family means that, when times get hard, you rise to it. Both of my parents have been struck by serious illnesses over the past few months—and my brother and I have taken care of them first and foremost. My colleagues were tremendous about stepping in for me in the halls of the UN, but nobody could step in for me at the hospital. There’s usually somebody else who can do your job, but there’s nobody else who can be a strong and loving daughter. Some corners you just can’t cut.

Second, in your focus on career, do not sell short the fulfillment of starting a family, if that is what you wish. I am honestly not sure when I would have finally gotten around to deciding that it was the right time to have kids. But luckily, when I was 31 years old and working crazy hours at the National Security Council at the White House, I got pregnant. My husband and I had not exactly planned to have kids just yet, but we knew we wanted a family. When my son was a mere three months old, I started working at the State Department. I was not only the youngest Assistant Secretary of State but I was also a breastfeeding mother. I’m the first to admit that this felt crazy at times, and the balancing act is never ever easy. But my two kids are the most wonderful things that have ever happened to me. So if you want a family, get yourself launched, find a worthy partner, build a support network, put some money in the bank—and then get going.

Third, follow your passion. Focus on what truly inspires you and fires you up. It’s hard to be great at something that you don’t love doing. And if you haven’t quite found your calling, try something else. When I was your age, I figured I’d become a public interest lawyer and then go into politics. I started studying foreign policy as a way to round myself out, not to find a career path—and then I got hooked. Sometimes it’s the calls we don’t expect that become a life’s calling.

Fourth, bring others with you. If you’re lucky, you’ll have mentors who will help you along the way. You pay them back by extending your hand to others coming up behind you. As one of my most valued mentors and friends, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, often says, “There’s a special place in hell reserved for women who don’t help other women.”

Fifth, make a real difference. There’s nothing wrong with comfort, but you should be about more than money. You should be about getting meaningful things done—about making lasting change in people’s lives. I know it may not seem this way to you now, but life really is short, and we have urgent problems to deal with. Don’t take things for granted. Give back—to your communities, to Spelman, to those less fortunate than you, to our country, to people around the world grappling with poverty, conflict, and disease.

Finally, be true to yourself and your values. Ambition is fine, but you should never want something so badly that you do something you don’t believe in to get it. There’s no point in service, if you’re not always trying to do the right thing. If you act with integrity, you won’t always win—but you’re likely to earn the respect of others, and you’ll always respect yourself.

In conclusion, graduates, I hope you will take this magnificent day as a moment to reflect—to think about what your accomplishments mean to your family, and to think of the lines you will add to the American story.

Ultimately, America is what we make of it. I love our great country not because it is perfect but because it is perfectible. I love America not just for the genius of its creation but also for the glory of its ongoing maturation. The American idea is not rooted in complacency or callousness. It is rooted in the belief that we can be better together and do more together. It is rooted in energy. It is rooted in daring. And it is rooted in hope.

As I look out at you, I see more than the Class of 2010. I see another generation taking its place in the world. I see the generation after Joshua. You grew up in a country that has knocked down the legal walls that once would have held you back, in a society that isn’t yet free of the heavy hand of past injustice but is itself a powerful engine of change. So, if the Joshua generation was about coming into a brave new world, perhaps your generation will be about blazing paths along new frontiers. If the Joshua generation was about coming into the land, perhaps your generation will be about making it a truly blessed place—a story of how young people born into times of great promise shouldered their responsibilities and built mighty towers.

But that is your story to write, not mine. I know you will write it well.

Graduates, congratulations. I wish you great luck and good fortune. Thank you so much for allowing me to share in this wonderful day. God bless you all.

I love her all over again. What do you think? Can women have both a family and a demanding career?

then that's what they called music! series (july 2000)

2010-05-24T13:57:00.000Z

The start of the 21st century exploded with a variation of experimental music. Latin pop was everywhere and songs like "Blue (Ba Ba Dee)" by Eiffel 65 brought in the new millenium. One of my favorite artists, Montell Jordan was riding off the success of his first song (This is How We Do It), and his next single was a club hit. After everyone realized that the world wasn't coming to an end, we simply just danced.
In early 2010, A.V. Club writer Nathan Rabin decided to listen to and write about the bestselling, zeitgeist-friendly CD series NOW That’s What I Call Music! in chronological order. Each one of the 33 American NOW! collections compiles a cross-section of recent hits from across the musical spectrum. Beginning with the first entry from 1998, this column will examine what the series says about the evolution and de-evolution of pop music.

1.“Larger Than Life,” Backstreet Boys

2.“You Drive Me (Crazy),” Britney Spears

3.“I Need To Know,” Mark Anthony

4.“Candy,” Mandy Moore

5.“Blue (Da Ba Dee),” Eiffel 65

6.“It Feels So Good,” Sonique

7.“I Belong To You,” Lenny Kravitz

8.“I Knew I Loved You,” Savage Garden

9.“I Wanna Know,” Joe

10.“Try Again,” Aaliyah

11.“Waiting For Tonight,” Jennifer Lopez

12.“Get It On Tonight,” Montell Jordan

13.“Steal My Kisses,” Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals

14.“Then The Morning Comes,” Smash Mouth

15.“Meet Virginia,” Train

16.“I Try,” Macy Gray

17.“This Time Around,” Hanson

18.“All The Small Things,” Blink 182

Who can forget the Latin pop explosion of the late ’90s? The music industry woke up one morning and recognized an untapped market that was growing larger by the day. Today, Latinos constitute 15 percent of the U.S. population, but studies show that by 2035 the United States will be 175 percent Latino. How is that even possible? I’m not sure. All I know is that if you’re Irish today, in 25 years you’ll be doubly Mexican. It’s just going to happen. Don’t fight it. And would it kill you to learn Spanish? Must you always be such an ugly American?

Continue reading here.

photo thursday: pad for sale

2010-05-20T16:34:00.001Z

I love photography and I wanted to start a series where I showcase different types of photography. Introducing: Photo Thursday. To start things off, here is Kanye West's house which has just been listed on the market. This L.A. pad is selling for a whopping $3,995,000! At 4,214-square-foot, there are 3 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. More pics after the jump.

museums + typewriters = the cutest proposal

2010-05-19T06:00:00.002Z

Smithsonian Insitute has some of the best blogs. One of my personal favorites is one that the National Museum of American History produces called O Say Can You See? While reading it, I came across this cute post about how Erin Nielson, the floor manager of the museum, aided in a marriage proposal. I can imagine the Smithsonian museums have experienced there fair share of engagements over the century. Check out the story here. Two thumbs up for attention to detail plus sentimental value. Men take notes.

link tuesday: my favorite short film sites

2010-05-18T04:00:00.002Z

I wanted to introduce a new series called Link Tuesday. Every Tuesday, I'll post links related to a particular topic. I am always sharing links or receiving great links from friends and thought that this would be a fun way to highlight some favorites. Everyone likes options. The more the merrier!

To start off the series, I wanted to highlight sites that showcase short films. With the increase of webisodes and the demise of movie carrying stores like Blockbuster, short films are becoming increasingly popular. Plus, they don't cost nearly as much as regular full length films and are great ways to get the attention of major motion picture companies.

Nomads Land - The social advocacy site of the bunch, these films aim to "boost the signal and reduce the noise of video found on the Internet" according to the site description.
Hulu - Easily one of the most recognizable film sites online, this site not only specializes in short films/documentaries, but tv shows as well. Disclaimer: I am not responsible for loss of days while perusing the site.
Snag Films - I love how the categories are displayed. They not only split them up based on interest, but give you great recommendations of other related films.
Lens on Talent - A short film contest sponsored by BET, these stories are both inspiring and entertaining. Make sure you check out Locks by Ryan Coogler who gradated from my alma mater.
Point of View - This is one of my favorite sites. Being a PBS fanatic, this site caters to the lifelong-learner in all of us. Check out Bronx Princess. It's a must see.

Tip: Video sharing sites like Vimeo and Youtube have great short films as well.

What are your favorite short film sites?

something to start your week off!

2010-05-17T14:32:00.000Z

Check out this wedding reception featuring a New Orleans style second line. Beware: Movement is expected. Via Diasporique.

Autumn and Chip's Wedding (Second Line) from VideoDesign Films on Vimeo.

then that's what they called music series (december 1999)

2010-05-17T11:27:00.003Z

The end of the nineties ended with rock and roll and the boy band phenomenom beginning to fizzle out. More like split up. Enrique Iglesias wanted us to dance ("Bailamos") while Chante' Moore told us she had a man. Plus, everyone thought the world was coming to an end with the new Millenium anyway. Can you believe it's already 2010?

In early 2010, A.V. Club writer Nathan Rabin decided to listen to and write about the bestselling, zeitgeist-friendly CD series NOW That’s What I Call Music! in chronological order. Each one of the 33 American NOW! collections compiles a cross-section of recent hits from across the musical spectrum. Each entry in this column examines what the NOW! series says about the evolution and de-evolution of pop music.

1.“All Star,” Smash Mouth
2.“American Woman,” Lenny Kravitz
3.“What’s My Age Again?” Blink-182
4.“Bailamos,” Enrique Iglesias
5.“Sometimes,” Britney Spears

6.“All I Have To Give,” Backstreet Boys

7.“Tell Me It’s Real,” K-Ci & JoJo

8.“The Rockafeller Skank,” Fatboy Slim
9.“Nookie,” Limp Bizkit

10.“Special,” Garbage

11.“If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time,” R. Kelly

12.“Get Gone,” Ideal

13.“Chanté’s Got A Man,” Chanté Moore

14.“Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me),” Blessid Union Of Souls

15.“Why I’m Here,” Oleander

16.“Happily Ever After,” Case

17.“The Hardest Thing,” 98 Degrees

18.“Out Of My Head,” Fastball

Being an inveterate pessimist, I once envisioned a future even more horrifying than 1984’s famous conception of tomorrow as “a boot stamping on a human face forever”: a world where Limp Bizkit put out endless hits, flooding the airwaves with its juvenile aggregation of the worst in metal and hip-hop. This prospect terrified me. But I felt like Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst had tapped into something deep, true, and utterly douchetastic within the male psyche.

Read more here.

there's no way i wouldn't post this.

2010-05-14T17:04:00.000Z

The Sound of Music is my absolute favorite movie! When a friend of mine sent this to my inbox today, I immediately got excited! Life isn't that serious. Enjoy!

so...are these shirts getting donated?

2010-05-14T15:55:00.002Z

Itsuo Inouye/AP

A Japanese clothing maker completed this homage to Vincent van Gogh's self-portrait in a Tokyo building's lobby. It took 2,070 polo shirts in 24 different colors. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were all donated to a charity?

he's just not that ordinary

2010-05-14T09:39:00.000Z

Another piece from one of my favorite blogs, Flowing Data. I love statistics! Secretly, I'm a quasi-geek with better clothes. This chart, taken from PCWorld, tells how to spot a fanboy. Coming from the Urban Dictionary, a fanboy is "A passionate fan of various elements of geek culture (e.g. sci-fi, comics, Star Wars, video games, anime, hobbits, Magic the Gathering, etc.), but who lets his passion override social graces." Whew! Talk about a strong date!

Some of the characteristics are on point. For example, I love The Apprentice, can't wait to see the movie Wall Street, and do love a pair of power jeans. What's funnier is the mantra "What's your BBM pin" because I so say that. But the leased Lexus and AC/DC band? Not so much. What kind of fanboy are you? Come on. We're all nerds at heart.

happy 60th birthday stevie wonder!

2010-05-13T12:14:00.001Z

May 13, 1950-

Stevie Wonder has been a staple for American music for decades. I don't know a single person who doesn't like Stevie Wonder. His music is timeless and still plays on radio stations today. Boasting 22 Grammy Awards, the most ever by a male solo artist, Stevie is an amazing song writer. His songs make you want to dance (Master Blaster, Boogie on Reggae Woman) and his ballads are often wedding songs (Ribbon in the Sky, Overjoyed).

Stevie Wonder & his daughter Aisha,
the inspiration for "Isn't She Lovely?'

I remember seeing Stevie Wonder in concert the summer of 2008. I was at the Taste of Chicago and every day for two weeks were free concerts. I happen to be there when Stevie Wonder was scheduled to perform and boy did he tear it up! I looked around sheepishly wondering if anyone else thought we should have paid for this. That's the beauty of Stevie Wonder and his gift. He puts on a performance regardless if it's for a concert or a festival. I was sold.

Below is one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs. It's extremely old and the quality isn't the best, but the song is still a classic.

What is your favorite Stevie Wonder song?

is toyato's new ad racist?

2010-05-12T14:55:00.000Z

The blogosphere is buzzing about the new Toyota ad promoting the 2011 Sienna minivan. The comercial features a white suburban family who raps about how they love their minivan. Titled "Swagger Wagon," there are constant parodies to hip hop culture. Even saying lyrics like "word to your motherfather." Some feel that the video is pushing the wrong limits, while others think that it's just plain funny. Isn't the whole premise of Saturday Night Live based off of this? I, personally don't find it offensive and feel there are other more racist ads we could boycott that are way more detrimental. If the target audience is white suburban families, then the comercial is right on point.

Roland Martin (CNN, TV One) says there's "nothing racy about it" while Giant magazine editor-in-chief Smokey Fontaine feels it's a bit offensive. Watch the comercial and make your own opinion.

So is this racist or just smart advertising?

designers want you to look and stay in luxury

2010-05-11T22:01:00.000Z

Armani Hotel, Dubai

The newest trend amongst Italian (or eye-talian as my grandma would say) fashion designers is to not only make revolutionary clothing, but to dabble in other business ventures as well. After all, your portfolio better be diverse. Just ask real estate mogul Donald Trump. He has his hand in everything! But, back to the post. Hotels. Someone who wears lavish clothing stays at the Holiday Inn? Of course not. They stay in places like the W hotel or The Point Resort which will cost you a whopping $1,350 a night on the low end! High end designers recognize this disconnect and have increasingly invested in the hotel business. I mean, that's brand loyalty to the max.

Armani - Housed in the Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made building in the world, sits the worlds 1st Armani Hotel in Dubai. Boasting 160 guest rooms and suites, this place shares the same sleek lines as Armani's clothing line. With a contract for seven luxury hotels and three vacation resorts with Emaar Properties, the Armani name will definately be known for more than just fabulous clothes.

http://dubai.armanihotels.com/

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

Missoni - Known for their colorful knitwear, Hotel Missoni will surely be just as colorful. A different feel than Hotel Armani's sleek look, remnants of Missoni's unique patterns can be found throughout Hotel Missoni Edinburgh. Hotel Missoni Kuwait is slated to open this fall while hotels in South Africa, Oman and Brazil will open by 2012. Can't get to any of these places by 2012? Don't worry! Missoni and the Rezidor Hotel Group have plans for 30 Hotel Missoni's completed or in the creative process by 2012.

http://www.hotelmissoni.com/

Maison Moschino, Milan

Moschino - Located in the heart of Milan, Maison Moschino opened last year. The Moschino brand creates colorful, innovative and sometimes eccentric pieces. So eccentric that Kylie Minogue and Madonna used Moschino designs for their tours. I love the look of this room. The female sillouette and the mushrooms are a nice touch and makes the room feel like you are in a scene from Lord of the Rings.

http://www.maisonmoschino.com/

Palazzo Versace, Australia

Versace - Palazzo Versace is one of the older hotels having opened in 2000. It is located in Queensland, Australia with one opening this year in Dubai. The Versace brand is operated by the barbie-esq Donatella Versace. Versace boutiques are all around the world and the accessories are to die for. Next time you're in Australia, make sure you stay in this hotel. With your Versace glasses of course!

Australia - http://www.palazzoversace.com/
Dubai - http://www.palazzoversace.ae/

then that's what they called music! series (July 1999)

2010-05-11T11:28:00.000Z

I know you know these boys. We continue with our musical time capsule taking us back to the middle of summer 1999. Sidenote: This is also the month that American Pie and The Blair Witch Project came out.

In early 2010, A.V. Club writer Nathan Rabin decided to listen to and write about the bestselling, zeitgeist-friendly CD series NOW That’s What I Call Music! in chronological order. Each one of the 33 American NOW! collections compiles a cross-section of recent hits from across the musical spectrum. Beginning with the first entry from 1998, this column will examine what the series says about the evolution and de-evolution of pop music.

1. “…Baby One More Time” Britney Spears

2. “You Get What You Give” The New Radicals
3. “Millennium” Robbie Williams
4. “Closing Time” Semisonic
5. “Sweetest Thing” U2
6. “My Favorite Mistake” Sheryl Crow
7. “Praise You” Fatboy Slim
8. “I Think I’m Paranoid” Garbage
9. “Never There” Cake
10. “Because Of You” 98 Degrees
11. “Goodbye” Spice Girls
12. “Take Me There” Blackstreet, Mya & Ma$e
13. “When A Woman’s Fed Up” R. Kelly
14. “Father Of Mine” Everclear
15. “What I Got” Sublime
16. “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” Backstreet Boys
17. “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” Jay-Z
18. “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” Baz Luhrmann

When I interviewed Brittany Murphy during the junket for Girl, Interrupted back in the prehistoric days of The A.V. Club, I remember thinking very vividly, with all the world-weariness a 23-year-old can muster, “Wow, what a sweet, guileless, sincere young woman. This industry is going to destroy her.”

Continue reading here.

then that's what they called music! series (oct 1998)

2010-05-10T11:23:00.000Z

Remember these British chicks? The ultimate in girl power, I can't remember a single girl who didn't want to be a Spice Girl. I always patterned myself after Posh Spice because she always looked like she came straight off the runway. Can you believe it's been 14 years since their debut single "Wannabe" came out? I don't even want to remember what I was doing.

On May 5, Bob Mercer, the CEO of the NOW! That's What I Call Music compilation cds died. Nathan Rabin of the A.V. Club has started a project where he takes us back memory lane and digests all 31 NOW! That's What I Call Music cds in chronological order. His column called Then That's What They Called Music! comes out every other Tuesday but since we are starting late, I will post each segment until we catch up. Remember, these songs were the hit songs of that year. Even if they were pretty bad. I hope you enjoy this as much as I will.

It all began on the road to Milwaukee for an Inventory reading/signing. Keith warned Scott and me that we should make mix-CDs for the trip, or we would be forced to listen to the only CD he had in his car: volume three of NOW That’s What I Call Music! Scott and I failed to heed Keith’s call, however, so on the ride home, we were transported back to the bygone era of 1999.

We had unwittingly hopped onboard a musical time machine; seemingly the sum of pop music in the late ’90s was represented on one magical disc, from the Latin explosion (Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailamos”) that briefly alerted the public to the existence of something called “Latinos” to obnoxious nü-metal rap-rock (Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie”) to the song that appeared in every movie trailer that year (Smash Mouth’s “All Star”).

Continue reading here.

feeling hungry? why wait. - the rise of mobile food vendors

2010-05-06T18:42:00.002Z

Covenience

Follow me. You're in your office and have a craving for a cupcake. If you're blessed to work in a place that provides a cafeteria, you say to your self, self, I should go down there and get a cupcake. But then you realize. The cafeteria is closed! What do you do then? Do you sit in your cubicle complaining about how you are craving a cupcake? Or maybe you go on the computer and look at pictures of cupcakes. Nah, you actually search online for a place that sells cupcakes and go get one. If you don't want to do none of the above, then this post is for you!
Mobile food vendors are becoming increasingly popular. With the economy still not at its best, business owners are having to think of creative ways to increase or keep revenue. Here's a list of mobile food vendors to quench the hunger pains. Most of these vendors don't have a set location so you have to follow them on twitter or stumble on them.

yahzarah's cd release party may 8!

2010-05-05T15:40:00.000Z

If you can't tell by now, I love concerts! There's nothing like live music. Back to the post. I first heard Yazarah (which means "Queen Mother is the brightest star") when I went to a Foreign Exchange concert last year here in the district. Let me tell you. Yazarah can sing her tail off! Plus she wears the fiercest dresses! How can someone who used to be Erykah Badu's background singer not have chops? She grew up in D.C./Virginia and just released her third, (you heard me right) album titled Ballard of Purple Saint James. She is having a cd release party at Liv with close friends Darien Brockington and the Foreign Exchange. This will be a phenominal concert and is only $15!! Tickets can be purchased here.

When: May 8, 2010

Time: 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm

Where: Liv Lounge, 2001 11th St., NW

Social Media Info:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/YahZarahPSJ
Myspace: www.myspace.com/yahzarah
Twitter: @Yahzarah

the best concert of the summer!

2010-05-04T12:16:00.001Z

Fresh off her controversial video for Window Seat, Ms. Badu herself is starting her tour for her latest venture, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). Entitled "Out My Mind, Just in Time" with a track of the same title, her first stop is none other than chocalate city! We are blessed to get 2 dates with the funky, political, soul sistah. Run to get your tickets for either the May 28 or May 29 show at Dar Constitution Hall. I'm sure her incense will be flowing and a good time will be had. I still have not seen her in concert as she is one of my favorities. Baduizm still plays in heavy rotation on my ipod. Plus, with my born day June 2, this would be the perfect bday present! Oh and we can't forget her tour mates: Janelle Monae and N*E*R*D.

in honor of the recent news on our financial systems

2010-05-04T11:37:00.001Z

happy birthday to the hardest working man in show biz!

2010-05-04T00:46:00.000Z

James Joseph Brown, Jr.

May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006

never leave a trace...digital that is

2010-05-03T19:39:00.001Z

If you don't know who this girl is, you probably won't unless the media decides to be non-partisan when it comes to race. Meet Stephanie Grace. A third year Harvard Law student who just got the biggest media boost of her premature career. While at dinner with some of her classmates, Stephanie argued that blacks are genetically inferior and less intellectual than whites. Sounds a little Bell Curve-ish to me. I do think that if you're at dinner or in the privacy of your own space, you can say whatever you want. But she didn't just share a few thoughts amongst friends. No. That wasn't enough. Stephanie decided to further the conversation by emailing people her reasons. And low and behold, it landed into the inbox of a member of the Harvard Black Law Student Association (HBLSA). Have we not learned from former Mayor Dean Grose? Never leave a digital trace people!

Entire email after the jump.

I absolutely do not rule out the possibility that African Americans are, on average, genetically predisposed to be less intelligent. I could also obviously be convinced that by controlling for the right variables, we would see that they are, in fact, as intelligent as white people under the same circumstances. The fact is, some things are genetic. African Americans tend to have darker skin. Irish people are more likely to have red hair. (Now on to the more controversial:) Women tend to perform less well in math due at least in part to prenatal levels of testosterone, which also account for variations in mathematics performance within genders. This suggests to me that some part of intelligence is genetic, just like identical twins raised apart tend to have very similar IQs and just like I think my babies will be geniuses and beautiful individuals whether I raise them or give them to an orphanage in Nigeria. I don't think it is that controversial of an opinion to say I think it is at least possible that African Americans are less intelligent on a genetic level, and I didn't mean to shy away from that opinion at dinner.

I also don't think that there are no cultural differences or that cultural differences are not likely the most important sources of disparate test scores (statistically, the measurable ones like income do account for some raw differences). I would just like some scientific data to disprove the genetic position, and it is often hard given difficult to quantify cultural aspects. One example (courtesy of Randall Kennedy) is that some people, based on crime statistics, might think African Americans are genetically more likely to be violent, since income and other statistics cannot close the racial gap. In the slavery era, however, the stereotype was of a docile, childlike, African American, and they were, in fact, responsible for very little violence (which was why the handful of rebellions seriously shook white people up). Obviously group wide rates of violence could not fluctuate so dramatically in ten generations if the cause was genetic, and so although there are no quantifiable data currently available to "explain" away the racial discrepancy in violent crimes, it must be some nongenetic cultural shift. Of course, there are pro-genetic counterarguments, but if we assume we can control for all variables in the given time periods, the form of the argument is compelling.

In conclusion, I think it is bad science to disagree with a conclusion in your heart, and then try (unsuccessfully, so far at least) to find data that will confirm what you want to be true. Everyone wants someone to take 100 white infants and 100 African American ones and raise them in Disney utopia and prove once and for all that we are all equal on every dimension, or at least the really important ones like intelligence. I am merely not 100% convinced that this is the case.
Please don't pull a Larry Summers on me,

Stephanie

Wasn't our president, a black man, the president of the Harvard Law Review? I think so.

free event: national museum of women in the arts

2010-04-28T21:50:00.000Z

This Sunday, May 2, the National Museum of Women in the Arts will be open for free nintey nine! (that's free for the not so hip folks) The only museum dedicated to women in the arts, this museum is filled with thousands of artificats related to women in all types of artistic talents. Usually the musuem is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students. Make sure you go out on Sunday and check it out!

Where: The National Museum of Women in the Arts

1250 New York Ave, NW
Metro: McPherson Square

When: Sunday, May 2 from 12:00pm - 5:00pm

summer 2010 film clips

2010-04-28T18:32:00.000Z

I'm not much of a movie buff, but when I do go to the movies (after I decide whether to pay rent or see one) it has to be something that really interests and excites me. I love action movies and crime movies. Hence one of my favorite movies being New Jack City. You can't beat a movie with Wesley snipes (pre tax issues), Ice-T (who looks like my daddy), and a young Chris Rock. Here is a snippet of the summer 2010 movies.

baskin robbins 31 cent scoop night April 28!

2010-04-27T17:00:00.001Z

Thanks to a heads up from a friend, I found out that tomorrow, April 28 is Baskin Robbins' 31 Cent Scoop Night. The sun is finally coming out and ice cream is the perfect way to bring in the summer. This year, Baskin Robbins is teaming up with the National Fallen Fighfighters Foundation and donating $100,000 towards the foundation. More info about them can be found here so you can get your ice cream knowing it's for a good cause. Make sure you bring a sweet tooth and some patience because those lines are going to be ridiculously long! Event is only from 5:00 pm-10:00pm.

Here are the locations in D.C.

801 Pennsylvania Avenue SE

Washington , DC 20003

1511 17th Street NW

Washington , DC 20036

2750 14th St NW

Washington , DC 20009

Shirley Memorial Hwy Pentagon

Washington , DC 20301

yahoo!'s 100 movies to see before you die

2010-04-26T11:55:00.001Z

While browsing through Yahoo!, I came across their list of "100 Movies to See Before You Die." They focused the list on movies only from 1990-2009 and include everything from independent films to blockbuster hits. With movies like Goodfellas (1990), Scream (1996), and Children of Men (2006) Yahoo!'s list is actually pretty diverse. I was particularly excited to see City of God (2003) make the cut. Throw a couple film parties and watch one old and new movie until you've seen the whole list. I'm searching through On Demand now for some of these titles.

See the rest of the list here.

you better think twice about that handle bar mustache.

2010-04-25T13:41:00.003Z

One of my favorite blogs, Flowing Data had this post on Friday. It shows how a mans beard can tell there level of trustworthiness. I think it's funny because I can pinpoint some of my own male friends who have at least half of these styles. Now are some more trustworthy than others? Yes, but I don't necessarily think it has to do with the amount of hair on there face. Although, if someone had the Hilter, I might give them the side eye.

So what they're saying is that George Lucas

is more trustworthy than say

Charlie Wilson?

9 songs that get you movin' when hear the beat drop

2010-04-24T18:18:00.002Z

There are certain songs that make you tap your foot, and there are others that make you do a little more. I love to dance so anything that can make me move is a winner. But there's a difference between the typical 2-step and then dancing. I mean the kind of dancing that makes you sway your head back and forth, throw your hands in the air and get them shoulders low. These songs are a rarity and should be treasured. I've compiled a list of 9 songs that I think fit this description. Hopefully you agree. And if not, at least you could reminisce on how you felt when you heard the beat drop.

Songs after the jump.

Talib Kweli & Hi Tek

1) The Blast - Hi Tek and Talib Kweli
Together known as Reflection Eternal, I had to start with this song especially after the news of their second LP Revolutions Per Minute dropping next month. Hi Tek is a beast on the production with a kind of warped tune. It just flows throughout the whole song. Definitely one of the most underrated hip hop songs. If this song still makes you move, people in the District can see them perform next month at Black Cat.

2) Vivrant Thing - Q-Tip
This is one of my favorite dance songs. There is no way anyone who is blessed with hearing can sit down during this song. Even if you have 2 left feet it's almost better to move rather than be the odd ball out not dancing. Although I still think of Prison Song every time I hear him, he is still from one of my favorite rap groups. Plus his latest album The Renaissance was sooo underrated.

3) We Be Clubbin' - Ice Cube
There was no way I was going to let the East coast rule this coutdown. Sometimes pinned as the laid back bbq songs, the West coast has its fair share of club bangers. Ice cube gives you 4 bars from the beginning to get you ready and then drops it. He even teaches you club etiquette with 'remeber when they push an' shove, it's only love.' I'll be the first to admit that still irritates me but nonetheless, people still go crazy over this song.

4) How Do You Want It - Tupac feat. Jodeci
The drums. Did you hear the drums? The most celebrated ~~chillin' on an island~~ dead rapper of the west. With help from the - we're not raunchy but God fearin' - group Jodeci, this song is a classic. Makes you want to through up your W's even if you're not from the West coast. Well, don't do it if you're not. :-) As a Tupac fanatic, this song definately gets me movin'.

5) Ghost Town DJ's - My Boo
If this don't take you back! It starts out all slow and then those drums again. This is the ultimate 'blast your speakers and cruise in your car' music. One of So So Def's earlier talents, Ghost Town DJ's brought us the perfect cat-and-mouse song that made us move, shake and work for your boo. Makes me want to go dance on a beach right now!

6) No Diggity - Blackstreet
One of my mamas favorites, you know if older people like it, it's a hit. The lyrics alone are telling you to get down. My shoulders automatically start moving when I hear the piano. This song came out when groups where dominating the air waves. I miss this kind of music.

Magoo & Timbaland

7) Luv 2 Luv Ya - Timbaland & Magoo
One of the most underrated rap duos of the 90's, this song showcased the genius of Timbaland's producing. Magoo was always one of my favorite rappers and his unique voice made the song that much hotter. Go ahead and get your backyard bounce on. And if you don't know what that is, ask anyone who likes hip hop music born before 1990 to show you.

8) Funky For You - Common feat. Bilal & Jill Scott
I sometimes get in ~~arguments~~ discussions about which Common album is the best. His records sales would say Be, but I would argue that people slept on Like Water For Chocolate. How could you not like an album produced by the late great J-Dilla? This song in itself is too funky NOT to move. Here's a clip of Common talking about the making of this song here.

9) Too Close - Next
Any song that plays on the oldies but goodies and hip hop stations deserves to be on the list. Especially since the entire video features dancing. It's funny how many older people like this song. Only if they listened to the lyrics.

numbers don't lie

2010-04-23T11:36:00.001Z

Percentage of Hispanics who frequently snore.

Percentage of African Americans with excessive daytime sleepiness.

From the Center for World Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Phoenix, AZ.

Is this true? I know I don't get enough sleep during the night.

Via here.

if there was ever a doubt today's music is not creative, listen to this.

2010-04-22T19:31:00.001Z

I'm sure the music execs are scrambling to find the next "It" star now.

featured stamp

2010-04-22T16:01:00.000Z

To continue with Earth Day and National Parks Week, I wanted to hightlight this beautiful stamp from the FDR era. The Charter Oak was used to commemorate the tercentenary of Connecticut and debuted April 26, 1935. Considered sacred by the Indians, the tree was preserved and contained the Connecticut charter hidden under its roots until King James II demanded the surrender of it. Thus its name.

what have you done for the earth lately?

2010-04-22T11:38:00.000Z

Undoubtly the biggest thing happening in the District related to the environment is the National Climate Rally on Sunday, April 25. After President Obama's declaration for offshore drill last week, yesterdays unveiling of the postcards honoring America's National Parks, and D.C.'s new law requiring any business that serves food or alcohol to charge 5 cents per bag, the environment (after healthcare) could get the award for the most talked about topic.

But what are we actually doing for the environment? How many of us still use water bottles? Or get to-go containers only to throw them away because of the foul smell that takes over our homes? I know I can be more environmentally friendly and with this administration taking more efforts toward environmental issues, this world has got to change.

What: The Climate Rally

Where: National Mall

When: April 25, 11 am

Who: A whole lot of people!

More info here.

Ps.You might want to get there early because I heard people like John Legend, Sting and James Cameron will be there. Metro will definately be your friend.

dc facts: should've invested in gold. shucks!

2010-04-21T15:52:00.001Z

Which foreign embassy in D.C. was originally constructed as a mansion for a mining millionaire?

If you answered the Embassy of Indonesia, you would be correct. Dubbed the Walsh-McLean House, it was originally constructed for Thomas F. Walsh, a penniless immigrant from Ireland who struck it rich opening a gold mine in Colorado. By 1903, Walsh had sold his mining business for $5 million dollars. Walsh's daughter, socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean called the mansion "2020" because of it's size. The house was the epitome of social gatherings boasting 60 rooms and 4 stories. Even an official state dinner was held here with Vice President Thomas Marshal and Belgium royalty as the White House was deemed innappropiate after the stroke of President Wilson.

Evalyn Walsh McLean inherited the mansion after her mother died in 1932. She was the last private owner of the Hope Diamond. Shortly after, many of her family members died from automobile accidents and mental illnesses. People worried this was the curse of the Hope Diamond. Still a humanitarian, Evalyn rented the mansion to the Red Cross during WWII. She eventually died in 1947.

In 1952, the Indonesian government purchased the mansion for a mere $335,000. An addition was constructed in 1982 to open the larger rooms for entertainment purposes.

Via embassy.org.

how love & basketball has captured our hearts 10 years strong!

2010-04-21T12:16:00.003Z

USC should have paid royalties to Gina Prince-Bythewood after she directed and wrote Love & Basketball. I know after I saw the movie, everyone around me started professing how USC was their top school of choice. If not only to find a love greater than Monica and Quincy, at least for the athletic powerhouse that USC is. And the academics ain't bad either. On April 21, 2000, Love & Basketball came into our lives. Yearning for a good black love movie, it had been 3 years since our beloved Love Jones made its debut. Not centered around poetry, prose or politics as other black love stories had been, Love & Basketball was centered around sports. Plus, anything that had a soundtrack that included Maxwell was a keeper. I know I can't listen to This Woman's Work without thinking of the love scene. We watched as Monica trasformed from a tomboy into a beautiful swan, but still kept her mean jumper. Quincy made us want to choke him for being so blind, but always kept it real saying stuff like "I took that ho to Burger King." Even the parents made their marks with Alfre Woodard as Monica's high class mom and ~~Allstate~~ Dennis Haysbert (my birthday twin) as the cheatin' Zeke McCall. Love & Basketball is the perfect mesh of love, sports and trust. Both characters struggled to realize which of the 3 they were willing to play for. I think what appealed to me most about the film was how it showed how timing is key. You can't get everything you want when you want it. Years had passed before Monica and Quincy realized that fate had brought them together. It was a matter of which ball you were willing to drop. So when you go through the game of life, take a second and think. Is it worth putting on the line? Or am I in the game just for the jersey?

Pics after the jump.

on priorities: which ball do you drop?

2010-04-20T20:20:00.003Z

Last month a friend of mine sent me one of those chain emails. Usually, I don't read them, but the title on this one caught my eye and I opened it. Titled "On Priorities: Which Ball Do You Drop?" the email focused on a commencement speech Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises gave to a university a couple of years back. I liked this so much that I forwarded it to a couple of my friends. Sharing is caring. He stated:

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same."

Very important life lesson on which priorities we treasure the most.

first day of issue ceremony with secretary Ken Salazar

2010-04-20T12:05:00.002Z

With offshore drilling hot in the media, this couldn't have come at a more pefect time. The United States Postal Service has a First Day of Issue ceremony today, April 20 unveling Scenic American Landscapes celebrating our breath-taking parks. Celebrity guests include Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and Postmaster General John E. Potter. This should be a beautiful event!

WHEN: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 11:00 am

WHERE: Smithsonian National Postal Museum

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE

(across from Union Station)

featured stamp

2010-04-17T22:14:00.001Z

Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington is a staple for Jazz. One of the most influential artists, Ellington led his orchestra, wrote and produced musical scores, and toured the world. Born in Washington, DC, April 29, 1899, Ellington made his mark playing at society balls and embassy parties. His music was widely popular amongst blacks and whites as he only called his music "American Music." Duke Ellington made the crucial decision of leaving his beloved DC in favor of Harlem where the Harlem Renaissance was thriving. He made significant marks in Harlem where he eventually died there of lung cancer. Ellington received many awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 and the Legion of Honour, Frances highest decoration.

Remnants of Ellington are everywhere in DC. The Duke Ellington School of the Arts located in Georgetown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Duke Ellington Bridge, and The Ellington Apartments all are Duke Ellington inspired. In celebration of Ellington's music, the historic Lincoln Theatre has a show called Sophisticated Ladies playing April 9-May 30 starring the legendary Maurice Hines brother of the late Gregory Hines.

gospel music...you better sang!

2010-04-17T09:18:00.003Z

You've heard the saying "The best singers come from church." This is so true. There's something about gospel music that weeds out the singers from the sangers! Though I know anyone who wants to sing for the Lord should be able to, some just move people more than others. Ahem Shirley Ceasar.

The Kennedy Center here in DC has realized the importance of gospel music and has put together a gospel music festival called Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America. Gospel greats such as The Clark Sisters and Howard alum Richard Smallwood will be gracing the stage April 17 - 25. Some of the bigger events are ticketed, but in line with the Kennedy Center's free nightly concert series, gospel choirs and singers will be performing as well. Here is a list of the free concert performers after the jump:

All performances start at 6 pm.

April 17 - The Remnant Concert Choir of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church

April 18 - Richard Smallwood & Vision

April 19 - Commnity-Wide Hymn Sing

April 20 - The Campbell Brothers

April 21 - Maggie Ingram and the Ingramettes/Seven Sons of Soul

April 22 - Fisk University Jubilee Singers

April 23 - The Sweet Heaven Kings/Todd Ledbetter Gospel Jaz Quartet

April 24 - WPAS Children of the Gospel Choir and JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise

April 25 - The Clark Sisters

**If you can't make it to the performances, get your gospel fix every Sunday night at 8 pm on BET's Sunday Best. Plus I found out somehow I'm a distant cousin of Kirk Franklin. :-)

DC chooses national big read challenge book

2010-04-13T01:46:00.002Z

When I came across this, my heart skipped a beat! My love for reading is evident in my every day life and anything that brings communities together to discuss books is up my ally. Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Big Read challenges communities within a city to read one classic book. DC has chosen to read A Lesson Before Dying (Oprah's Book Club) by Ernest J Gaines. From the same author as A Gathering of Old Men comes a story about a young man returning to a city to teach but develops a relation with a black youth on death row for a crime he didn't commit. For those who read slow or have a long list of books to read such as myself, you have until May to read the book. In conjunction with the theme, events are scheduled all over the District including film screenings, art showcases, and discussions related to the book. The kick-off event starts Wednesday, April 14 celebrating our teachers:

"Why I Do What I Do" - The Big Read Celebrates Educators

Date: Wed, Apr 14, 2010

Event Location: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 555 12th Street, NW

Time: 6:30pm – 8:30am

More events listed here.

PETA supporters won't be drinking these

2010-04-12T15:02:00.000Z

While looking through one of my favorite e-magazines, Cuisine Noir, I came across this tip on meat-infused cocktails. I'm all for innovation with food, but these fat-washed cocktails (the high-brow term) are a little much for me. Who knows. Meat makes me happy and these upscale MRE's might be the perfect fusion between a nice drink and some protein! What do you think of this latest food crave? If you've had one, how are they?

Via here.

Obama's nuclear summit yields road closures for 4/12-4/13

2010-04-11T15:16:00.002Z

President Obama will meet with over 40 world leaders for the Nuclear Weapons Summit held April 12-13. All to convene at the convention center, this means traffic will be an absolute mess these next 2 days. The closures will start tonight, April 11 at 8 pm until 8 pm on Tuesday, April 13. I'm glad I ride the metro to work. Here is a list of all the roads that are closing:

* New York Avenue NW, eastbound and westbound from 6th Street NW to 7th Street NW and 9th Street NW to 11th Street NW.

* K Street NW, eastbound and westbound from 6th Street NW to 7th Street NW and 9th Street NW to 10th Street NW - Traffic will be allowed to run eastbound and westbound on K Street NW between 7th Street NW and 9th Street NW but will then be diverted southbound on one of those two streets.

* Massachusetts Avenue NW, eastbound and westbound from 9th Street NW to 11th Street NW.

* L Street NW, eastbound and westbound from 6th Street NW to 10th Street NW.

* M Street NW, eastbound and westbound from 6th Street NW to 10th Street NW.

* N Street NW, eastbound and westbound from 6th Street NW to 10th Street NW.

* 7th Street NW, northbound and southbound from O Street NW to Massachusetts Avenue NW.

* 8th Street NW, northbound and southbound from O Street NW to N Street NW.

* 9th Street NW, northbound and southbound from O Street NW to New York Avenue NW.

* 10th Street NW, southbound from L Street NW to New York Avenue NW.

That bike is looking a lot nicer isn't it.

treme: the series we've been waiting for

2010-04-11T04:07:00.005Z

If there is any television series I have been the most excited about, it's this one. HBO's newest drama, Treme makes it's debut tonight at 10 pm. Set in the culturally explosive New Orleans, Treme is the latest mastermind of David Simon and Eric Overmeyer who collaborated on the hit series, The Wire. The show starts 3 months after the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and showcases Mardi Gras Indians, musicians, chefs and anything else you can associate New Orleans with. Using the same idea as The Wire, the directors try to cast as many natives of New Orleans as possible. Wendell Pierce being a New Orleans native was the first actor casted with fellow veterans as John Goodman and Steve Zahn. Heartthrob Rob Brown also has a starring role as Delmond Lambreaux. Already garnering much talk from major news sources such as the Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal, Treme must live up to the hype. After all, the Saints victory has made New Orleans the hot city of the year.

featured stamp

2010-04-10T16:02:00.000Z

To keep up with the theme of the month, here is a stamp honoring Jazz. Making it's debute on May 28, 1998, Jazz is the pulse of American music. Coming from the depths of New Orleans and other parts in the South, the stories Jazz tells is much too important to keep to oneself. Greats such as Billy Holiday, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and others keep our hearts beating, our feet tapping and our souls yearning for more. Currently, more and more Jazz and Hip Hop fusions are emerging. I, for one am excited and continue search for the newest artists. Until the next fix, light some candles, kick your feet up, and experience all that Jazz has to offer.

Side Note: You can never go wrong with Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue."

this song is too funky to share a post

2010-04-10T13:20:00.010Z

can I get jazz with that turkey? well now you can!

2010-04-09T02:01:00.001Z

In honor of Jazz Apreciation Month, also known as JAM, (how purposefully ironic) I'd like to bring attention to how influential Jazz music is around the world. This American-born music has impacted not only this country, but our friends across the Mediterranean Sea (definately looked that up) have embraced Jazz as a musical artform and incorporated it into their culture. Ankara, the capitol of Turkey opened it's first Jazz Department at Hacettepe University. With the help of Fullbright Scholars and the American Embassy in Ankara, Turkey was able to be a leader in spreading the legacy of Jazz throughout Europe. The Brits already have taken soul music by storm. It won't be long until we see a Turkish Jazz artist.

a bibliophile's dream...new library opens in DC

2010-04-06T15:33:00.002Z

There's nothing better than being surrounded by a plethora of books. Books take you to places where the pockets can't. So when I heard that the Benning Neighborhood Library was opened, I was thrilled! Plus it's in my neck of the woods in NE. This 22,000 sq ft of beauty-ness is an architects dream. To keep with the times, the back door leads to a Safeway and CVS. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for this Saturday, April 10.
The Benning Neighborhood Library is 1 of 5 libraries in DC being renivated or refurbished this year. The District even enlisted famed architect David Adjaye, (here) to design 2 new libraries scheduled to open in 2011. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he is the lead architect chosen to design the National Museum of African American History & Culture scheduled to open in 2015 on the National Mall here in DC.

Winning design by Freelon, Adjaye Bond/Smith Group

date idea: feeding your mind + belly at the same time

2010-04-06T04:10:00.004Z

Every morning, my inbox is filled with all sorts of newsaper emails telling me about what's going on in the world. One of my favorite columns is the New York Times photography slideshows. They always have interesting topics and being an amateur photographer myself, I become inspired to take even more pictures.

Recently, they featured photographs of restaurants in museums. Being a Smithsonian volunteer myself, I love the idea of bridging lux restaurants in already fabulous places. Men take notes!

Museum of Arts & Design

Guggenheim Museum

remember MLK...40 years

2010-04-04T07:38:00.003Z

“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!”

Today, April 4 is not only Easter, but the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's death. One of America's most celebrated leader/visionary/peacekeeper, Dr. King changed the way many people thought about race relations. I've been wanting to post more photography on this blog and thought this would be the perfect start. To celebrate his life, I've compiled some of my favorite photos. Remember, reflect, renew. Enjoy!

Dick Gregory with Dr. King

women make history during our month

2010-04-02T15:02:00.004Z

Women have traditionally been left out of the history books. We fight in wars, fly planes and do all other sorts of risky things often saved for men. To combat the lack of acknowledgment, Sen Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Rep Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) co-sponsored a Joint Resolution to declare March as "Womens History Month" in 2001. Originally, it had been a "Womens History Week" started by the Sonama school district in ~~the best~~ California.

Here are a few women who made history this year during the month of March:

No longer the "good ol' boys" club, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman in history to be awarded the coveted Oscar for Best Director for her movie The Hurt Locker. What's interesting is that she used to be married to James Cameron (Avatar, Titanic) who was also nominated in this category for his film during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. How's that for payback!

It gave you shivers. It made you feel uncomfortable. If you felt anything like this while watching Lee Daniels (Monster's Ball) movie Precious, then his goal was reached. Adapted by the book Push by Sapphire, Precious tells the story of a twice pregnant teenager with her father's kids and abusive relationships. When I saw this movie, you couldn't help but want to hate Monique for her role as the abusive (both sexually and mentally) mother. For that, it came as no surprise when she was awarded an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She is only the 5th African American actress to win an Oscar for acting.

The word hike will have new meaning as long as Natalie Randolph is here. A former DC pro womens football league player and biology teacher at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School, Natalie became the first woman to be named head coach for a high school varsity football team. She is currently the only female to hold this position in the country as well. Who said women can't be smart and like to get dirty?

library reading challenge

2010-03-28T15:01:00.001Z

This is a simple challenge. Read books from your local library. There are even different levels to choose from. I'm going for The Mini which is to check out and read 25 library books. This task will be easy since I get most of my books from the library anyway!

why kindle will never live in my house

2010-03-20T23:03:00.006Z

Call me old school. Call me out of touch. What you can call me is a quasi-neophobe for electronics. Not in the crazy sense of course. Inventions can make life easier or sensible such as the washing machine or the traffic light. But when there's one new it item, that means another is about to be extinct. Just ask any postal worker. I'm a big proponent for jobs and making sure people don't get replaced by machines. If man is faulty and technology is man made...yeah. I even wait in line at the grocery store for a human cashier rather than use the self check-outs. Those things are job killers! Plus it seems like everytime I use one, a cashier has to come put her secret pin in just to give me my item of the week discount. Why bother? I'm a very tactile person. I gotta feel it in order to fully understand it. My chances of remembering something are much higher if I write it down. Therefore, I will never own a Kindle.

Here are my reasons:

1) Kindles aren't creative.

They have the same jacket cover for every book. How many times can you use a white jacket? The Life and Times of Princess Diana, white cover. The Secret to the Secret, you guess it, white cover. Seeing the cover on a book is almost as exciting as reading the book itself.

2) Kindles need juice.

If it needs to be charged, I'm not chargin' it. There's nothing more irritating then when you have something that is battery powered and the batteries die. Fail. What if I was on the metro and my kindle died? No plug on the metro. Guess I'm screwed. No such problem would occur with a book.

3) Kindles are a quick ticket for glasses.

Optometrists will be in high demand. With all that squinting and neurons coming off the screen, I'm sure it can't be good for your eye sight. I mean I work on a computer all day. I'm trying to limit the amount of time spent looking at technology.

4) You can't swap Kindles.

When there's a Kindle swappin' party, you let met know! Matter of fact, when there's a library where you can check out a Kindle, you let me know!

5) Kindles will turn more people from reading.

Most old people don't do technology. Take away books and what do they read? The newspaper you say? Just ask the Los Angeles Times. The cost alone will filter underserved people from affording one.

Kindles will never replace books.

book review: Kindred

2010-03-15T03:19:00.004Z

This has to be one of my favorite books now. I mean, from the very beginning, the story captures you and takes you on this dark, truthful, historical journey that most people would like to forget. I am not really a sci-fi reader, but I had so many people rave about this book that I had to read it! And boy am I glad I did.

What to say. Kindred is about a black woman married to a white man in the 1970s, but begins having uncontrollable dizzy spells and is transported into the antebellum south during the late 1800s. She soon learns that her spells are trigured by her white ancestor who happens to be the son of a plantation owner. Dana's husband mistakenly transports with her during one of her spells and he ends up getting trapped. This is a must read and should definately be made into a movie. Also, finishing this book has gotten me a free meal from a friend who I made a bet with. Winning never tasted so good...

Book Awards Reading Challenge

2010-03-15T01:37:00.002Z

Since I'm on this book adrenaline rush, I've found myself perusing the internet for different reading challenges. It's a great way to find book ideas. I signed up for my first of hopefully many reading challenges called the Book Awards Reading Challenge. This challenge requires you to read 10 books from 10 different book award winners from January 1, 2010 - November 1, 2010. i.e. Pulitzer, Newberry, and Nobel. After looking through the different awards, I found a book I just borrowed last week is a 2010 Alex Award winner! That's not a coincidence, just validation. Since I'm starting 2 months late, I better get to reading.

Numbers Don't Lie

2010-03-13T16:40:00.011Z

2003:

2007:

Percentage of minority TV writers

Via the Writers Guild report. More info here and here.

Numbers Don't Lie...A New Series

2010-03-13T16:11:00.003Z

I have a love for math. It is my favorite subject. I even started as a math major in college but quickly realized I love math now and not the evolution of math. Just had a flashback of linear algebra. Yikes! With that being said, I love numbers. In particular I love statistics. I got an A in stats in college. After reading through one of my favorite magazines New York , I came up with the idea of having a section on here that shows stats on various topics. It's always interesting to see how numbers work and how vital they are to society. Hence the census hint hint. So to show how cool numbers, I've started the new topic forum Numbers Don't Lie. Take it how you want it. It's out there on the table.

Disclaimer: Though I realize there's a song by yet another ~~extremely diluted~~ rapper from the south with the same name, this series is in no way related. That is it.

Determined to be the most diverse conversationist by reading 50 books in a year!!

2010-03-12T23:38:00.005Z

Last month while perusing through one of my favorite blogs Uptown Literati, I came across this fabulous site for bibliophiles such as myself. I mean, how many times do you finish a book and are on a book high from how great it was but don't know what to read next? Unless I have a stack of books piled on my nightstand waiting to be read, I temporarily have a book drought. Then comes Goodreads. It's like the facebook of books!! You can create a profile, keep track of the books you read, check out other people's book choices and so on. You can even see when you're favorite author is coming to a city near you. I'm mad I didn't think of this myself. So while spending countless hours on this site, I came across this group called 50 Books in One Year. Now at first I was a little hesitant...I mean after doing the math, that's like 4.16 books a month. But being the super hero I am, I decided to take up the challenge! Hey a girl can strive, right? I will keep a tab on the number of books as I read them on my side bar. Join me! Don't forget my monthly literary challenge.

Featured Stamp

2010-03-07T00:39:00.005Z

August 14, 1911 - May 28, 1991

With my love for stamps, it's been awhile since I featured one. Since I volunteer at one of the best Smithsonian Museums, the National Postal Museum...I may be a little biased...I try to feature different stamps of people/events/places that normally would get overlooked. A little hint for the bibliophile- When I find a stamp that interests me, I go find a book related to it! Smart I know. Thank me later.

Fresh from an event at the National Potrait Gallery for Womens History Month, I only saw it fit to feature a phenominal woman. After all, girls are the bomb.com. After rumaging through all stamps that have featured women...there aren't as many as the men...surprise surprise...I came across journalistic great Ethel L. Payne. Now I'd be the first to admit that I didn't know much about her, but anyone born the same year as my grandpa (RIP) and dubbed the First Lady of the Black Press deserves a second look. So I put on my flyest Sherlock Holmes hat and did some snooping. Her resume is incredible! First black lady commentator employed by a national network news, traveled with then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on a six-nation tour of Africa, and even putting President Eisenhower on the hot spot!

Ethel's career started in Japan when she was employed as a hostess for the Army Special Services Club. A visiting reporter from the Chicago Defender used her journal writings of the black soldiers experience in the Vietnam War as features for the paper. As they say, the rest is history.

Avatar the Novel

2010-02-26T15:33:00.004Z

If you don't know who James Cameron is by now, you must be a hermit. Word on the street is that Mr. Highest Grossed Films Ever confirmed at a reception that he is writing the book version of Avatar.

“There are things you can do in books that you can’t do with films,” Cameron says and I whole-heartedly agree! I hope the book captures the (insert the best uber adjective here) adventure like the movie did. And if you haven't seen it already, I suggest you ~~run~~ go see it. Let's make a bet that this book will be out by Christmas. Any takers?

(via WSJ)

Book Review: Man of Fortune

2010-02-24T15:55:00.007Z

Since February is romance month, I'm going to consider this my romance pick since it has to do with relationships. Hey I'm stretchin, I know! I finished this book last week and liked it a little more than Man of Fate. Duncan is a financial guru and meets his lady while being stuck in an elevator. Tamara is an ER doc and has sworn off men after a failed first marriage to an older man. The plot is really cute and I like how they dated each other. Duncan was more of a Casanova than Kyle in Man of Fate. The ending was a lot more realistic than the first book in the series. Maybe because I actually saw growth between both characters throughout the book. I have the last book in the series, Man of Fantasy, but I wanted to shake things up and read Kindred by Octavia Butler instead. Plus this book is due in about 2 weeks to the library!

Ps. I'm a member of Goodreads, an online community of book lovers and authors. Check out my books-to-read on the side panel! Happy reading!

An Ode To Sex and the City

2010-02-11T19:10:00.005Z

div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I think I may have been one of the last girls on earth who had not seen an episode of the all-time female liberation series Sex and the City. I intended to change that. Plus, I was tired of getting looked at like I had a third eye every time I uttered the words 'I've never seen an episode.' For one, I didn't have HBO growing up and two, well revert back to one. Plain and simple. I hadn't really heard of the show until about a few months before the first movie was rumored to come out. So when I did hear about it, I asked my girlfriends what the show was all about. I got the same type of answers, 'Well, uh, sex...city life...oh, and the fashion is to die for.' I quickly figured that I would have to see an episode for myself.

I remember May 30, 2008 like it was yesterday. Word spread like wild flower that Jenifer Hudson would be in the film. Now the ~~sista~~ black girls had someone to relate to. Girls couldn't wait 'til opening day and went to the midnight showing of the film dressed in their trendiest outfits. Still, I did not see it. I think I felt I would be lost if I saw the movie before seeing the shows.

After visiting with one of my girlfriends in New York last summer, I saw that she had the key I'd been looking for. The complete Sex and the City series! I still hadn't seen the movie, so we watched that. I was in love... Plus being a fashionista, I loved the clothes. It would be months before I still would see a single episode. I visited my friend again during Thanksgiving and she let me borrow the series. It took me close to 2 and a half months to finish, but I finally did this week! The Snowpocalypse in DC helped speed up the process. I am now a believer. I see why girls...and some men...get excited about this show. Though Carrie is the main character and the favorite of mosts, Charlotte is my favorite. I love her optimism about love and life. And she has sista-girl hips. Carrie is a close second though.

May 28. The date our favorite gals Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and the free-spirited Samantha meet up for another adventure. This time I won't be the one missing the party! I might just have to go to New York to see it.

Watch the trailor for Sex and the City 2.
http://www.sexandthecitymovie.org/

Dear Diary...The First Installment

2010-02-11T00:02:00.006Z

So this is my first entry in the Dear Diary section of this blog. After being trapped in the house since Friday, (it's Wednesday) I thought it timely to talk about my ~~Snowmaggedon~~, ~~Snowtorius~~ Snowpocalypse adventures. Even though the Washington Post has categorized this as the snowiest winter EVER for DC.

At first, the thought of being snowed in was almost relaxing. A day off from work! Who can complain about that, but when news broke out that we would be having snow all weekend, all the supermarkets were packed! I mean lines backed up to the streets packed! You would have thought this was the last calling. After work, a coworker and I went to gather food for our adventure this weekend, but when we saw the lines in DC, we looked at each other and said "Oh no." Then we preceded to go to Maryland and thought that would be better. Plus, after the District's jab at trying to be eco-friendly with the 5 cent per bag charge, it would be a little cheaper to shop outside DC. Boy were we wrong. The parking lot was packed! It was like trying to find parking at school, but by the grace of God, we found one almost instantly.

Now going into the grocery store was a whole different animal. People were everywhere. Food was not. After perusing the store for about 30 minutes, I went to the back to get chicken. Low and behold, they were all out! I couldn't believe it. Out of chicken! I thought I was dreaming. But then again, it was Super Bowl weekend also. Chicken should of been my first call of duty. Then I went to the bread isle. When I say those racks were bare, that's an understatement. A couple loaves of Wonder bread were left. But I only eat wheat. White sticks to your insides. It only took almost 2 hours to get out of there because of such the long lines. I didn't mind. I had food.

I go into work the next day only for a couple of hours though. We leave early because the snow had started falling on que at 10:30 am as predicted. As soon as I walked out the office, two cars crashed into each other. Screeeech! Head on collision. Both men stepped out and obsceneties where obviously in order. It was cold, snowing, and both their bumpers fell off! This was going to be an interesting weekend already. I walk to the metro and there were ten thousand people in there! Mind you it's only 1:00 pm, but with the snow falling, people were trying to start their weekend early.

The whole weekend, I cooked and cooked and cooked. You would think I was eating my last supper. One thing was sure, I may have been stuck inside for days, but I was not going hungry. I cooked greens, made soup from scratch, spaghetti...anything to keep busy. I swear I would make a great wife one day. Then came Super Bowl Sunday. After an intense battle, the New Orleans Saints came out on top. I was impartial to who would win, but was leaning a little towards the Colts because a good friend of mines dad is one of the coaches.

Thinking the snow would stop over the weekend, it started snowing again today! DC is apparently not equipped for snow because the streets are still not plowed so where does that leave the new snow? On top of the already hills of snow on the streets. A girl can only read and watch tv so much. This snow has got to go.

If you don't want to read all this, this clip of the weather man sums it up best.

Book Review: Man of Fate by Rochelle Alers

2010-02-09T01:29:00.012Z

I have finally completed the first book in my monthly literary challenge. I intend to read more than one book a month, but I got a late start in January, so don't hold me to it! :) The first book in The Best Men series Man of Fate follows Kyle Chatham. He is a handsome, witty lawyer who falls in love by accident (literally). After getting into a car wreck with Ava Warrick, there love affairs begins. The story line is cute, but there are some parts that are not realistic. I didn't really like how abrupt the ending was. I felt like there should have been something a little more romantic.

Other than that, I give this book 3.5 out of 5. I'm currently reading the next book in the series, Man of Fortune. We'll see how this one turns out. I'll keep ya'll posted!

Vogue Photoshoot with Diddy

2010-02-08T16:15:00.008Z

For more pics, click here.

Black History Month Events: Week of Feb 1

2010-01-31T18:20:00.007Z

With February being Black History Month, it means a plethora of activities are going to pop up around the DMV related to black culture. Although it shares the month with ~~all single women who are reminded they are single for 28 days~~ cupid and his love arrows, Black History Month is in no way, shape or form forgotten. Unless you're Chris Matthews who ocassionally goes blind when it comes to race. Here are a list of events/programming for the week of Feb 1. Now I can't post up everything, but I'll post things that I find interesting myself. If you have any tips, please send me an email lifeafterramen@gmail.com.

Feb 1:

Famed artists Terry Dixon and Robert Morris talk about there exhibit on display at MLK library. Base on the book, Slavery by Another Name : The re-enslavement of Black people in America from the Civil War to World War II. 6:30pm

Check out more events about this exhibit here.

Book signing: Author Wil Haygood will talk about his latest book, "Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson" at Busboys and Poets on 14th and V. 6:00pm

Programming:

BET Honors hosted by Gabrielle Union with P. Diddy, Mary J. Blige and others. 9:00pm BET

Feb 2:

Book signing: "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander. Busboys and Poets, 14th and V. 6:30pm

New Section: Dear Diary...

2010-01-25T02:03:00.006Z

I started this blog initially to document my journey here in DC so my family and friends could see it. I'm not one of those people who kept a diary while I was growing up. I'd rather just call someone and ~~tell my life story~~ gab to my friends or family about my day. There isn't really a post on here where I recap my day/week and I wanted to start doing that. So look out for postings about my life. I'll try to live as eventful as I possibly can! Who knows. Maybe some random newspaper will pick me up as a contributing editor! Hey, a girl can dream.

DC Winter Restaurant Week: Jan 11-17

2010-01-09T18:56:00.002Z

Some people eat to live, I live to eat! One thing I love is going to different restaurants trying out different foods. So when I heard DC Winter Restaurant Week was coming this week, I was uber excited! Plus, my sister and friend are coming to visit me this week and we definately are going to try some of these restaurants out. I've already made reservations at B. Smith's in Union Station. I have loved this woman for many years and always wanted to try her food.

There are nearly 180 restaurants participating in DC Winter Restaurant Week and for only $20.10 for lunch and $30.10 for dinner, you could eat a 3 course meal and dine like royalty. Make reservations now. They fill up quickly. I suggest you make it a point to eat at Eatonville.

New Year, New Books

2010-01-09T15:47:00.011Z

Hi all. I know it's been a minute since I wrote on here, but with the holidays and traveling...well let's just say it's hard work keeping your blog updated. I mean, who knew you would actually have to be dedicated! LOL But, I am enjoying this journey nonetheless. One of my ~~New Year's Resolutions~~ things to do for the new year, is to read more. I used to read books like they were all about to go extinct. Even carried a book in my purse because riding public transportation, you NEVER know how long your wait is. Despite what the schedule says. So to make sure that I do read different genres, I came up with 12 different genres for each month of the year. During the month, I'll ~~only read books~~ read at least one book related to that genre. Now the problem isn't going to be reading the books, it's finding books for some of these topics that I'd be interested in reading i.e. romance and science fiction. This is where you guys can help me!

January - Fiction

February - Romance

March - Mystery

April - Political

May - Auto/Biography

June - Chick Lit

July - International

August - Classics

September - Made to Movies

October - Historical

November - Sports

December - Science Fiction

I invite all of you to join me in my challenge. It's a great way expand your literary portfolio. Plus it'll give you something to talk about amongst your friends, during that akward date, or to that random guy on the metro. If there are any books you would like me to check out, please let me know. Happy reading!

Featured Stamp(s)

2009-12-06T02:41:00.002Z

Ok so it's not the just one stamp, but they look better in a bundle don't you agree? In honor of my first ~~frozen~~ winter snow experience and the first day of snow here in the District, I decided to feature these pretty snowflake stamps. Theses pictures were shot by Caltech Physicist Kenneth Libbrecht and debuted on October 5, 2006 in New York City. This past week, my coworkers and I got the holiday spirit and made paper snowflakes for the office. I felt like a little kid and realized how much I missed arts and crafts as a child.

The earliest experience I've had with snow was when I went to Lake Tahoe with my Girl Scout troup. I was determined to learn how to snowboard and ended up switching to regular skies because I hated having my legs confined to one thing. My latest snow experience was during the ever so cold innaguration. According to all of my DC friends, that day was one of the coldest days they've ever experienced. Though there were thousands of ~~Obama lovers~~ supporters packed like sardines on the National Mall, I lost feeling in my toes somewhere around the third hour. I'm also hearing that this is going to be a bad winter. I better invest in a heated blanket! What are some of your snow experiences?

Sesame Street Turns 40!

2009-11-22T17:00:00.002Z

Sunny Day...Sweepin' the clouds away, on my way to where the air is sweet...Takes you back to memory lane doesn't it. Who can forget the theme song to one of America's favorite children shows, Sesame Street. On November 10, 1969, the first show aired with the help of Jim Henson's puppets. Known for educating children around the world (and being quite progressive in their programing I might add), Sesame Street became a household name. Since it's inception, Sesame Street has hosted every First Lady starting with Barbara Bush. On November 10, forty years to the date exactly, First Lady Michelle Obama was a guest on the show and interacted with the muppets about health eating. She is the first First Lady to have grown up watching Sesame Street herself.

Sesame Street has been celebrating its birthday all over the country. Here in DC, there is a photo exhibit on display at Union Station of the muppets taking pictures with children around the world. ~~Because I'm special~~ I had the opportunity to go to the opening VIP cocktail reception and boy was I excited! Although, I did feel funny drinking wine at a Sesame Street event. The place was decked with great food and even better company. The highlight of my night was when I met Elmo and Telly! I felt like a little kid and quickly grabbed my camera and ~~pushed my way~~ waited in line (which was quite long) to get my picture taken with these furry friends. I finally got to the front and Elmo is just as bubbly in person as he is on TV. All in all, it was a fun night. And I wish Sesame Street 40 more years!

Mental Instability? Or Just Plain Crazy!?

2009-11-10T18:18:00.006Z

Flashback to 2002 when every news station was talking about the DC sniper. The whole city was on lock down. People didn't know whether it was one person or a crew. I remember hearing comments that the sniper had to be white. But when he was identified as a black man, people were shocked. Especially blacks. "We don't usually do things like this," muttered one black woman. "I mean look at Columbine." Though I understood where she was coming from, I still don't think it is impossible for black people to commit crimes such as these. The DC sniper, John Allen Muhammed was skilled in machinery having been discharged from the military.

Today, November 10, John Allen Muhammed is scheduled to be given lethel injection. Odly enough, it is a day before Veteran's Day. The Supreme Court denied his appeal yesterday and the decision is left to Govenor Kaine on whether to pardon him, delay, or go on with the lethal injection. Muhammed's attorneys are expressing that he is mentally ill and is suffering from Gulf War Syndrome. At this time, Kaine has not made a decision.

I remembered...John once told me: "You know I could take a small city and terrorize it and they would think it would be a group of people. But it would only be me."

Mildred Muhammed, John Allen Muhammed's second ex-wife released a book last month titled, Scared Silent. She talks about her abusive relationship and how Muhammed would say he was going to kill her. After he stole their children, changed their identity, and moved to Antigua, Midlred knew she was dealing with a dangerous man. In her book she states, "I remembered what John once told me: "You know I could take a small city and terrorize it and they would think it would be a group of people. But it would only be me." Mildred Muhammed conveyed that she felt some responsiblility for his killings because his goal was to find and kill her. The victims were just his way of getting her attention.

Mental illness is one of those diseases that often is overlooked. Though the severity of the illness can range from multiple personalities to even suicidal attempts, there are more and more people who suffer from some form of mental illness. We all remember Britney Spears and how she shaved her hair off during her divorce and Mariah Carey's public breakdown, but many actors and actresses suffer from it as well. Take for instance funnyman Owen Wilson and his suicide attempt in 2007 or Maia Campbell, the daughter of now deceased author Bebe Moore Campbell who is best known for her role as "Tiffany" from the television show In the House who has a video of her on YouTube acting in a reckless manner. Something has to be done. If the recent news of shootings at military base Fort Hood and the Orlando business building don't send red flags that more attention needs to be addressed regarding mental illness, then the reprocutions of untreatment will continue to plague this country.

** John Allen Muhammed is scheduled to be given 3 forms of lethal injection tonight at 9:00 pm EST.

"The Wizard of Oz" Celebrates 70 Years!

2009-11-10T00:11:00.008Z

Who doesn't love a movie with red ruby slippers, golden streets, and green cities? One of my favorite movies is The Wizard of Oz. The movie is an American classic and cited by the Library of Congress as the most watched film in history. The novel written by L. Frank Baum was brought to cinematic life in 1939 and stars a then 16 year old Judy Garland as 12 year old Dorothy from Kansas. The role of Dorothy was originally chosen to be played by Shirley Temple, but she was under contract with 20th Century Fox. Good thing. I don't think a blonde-haired Dorothy would have the same effect as a red-head.

Although Judy Garland's role in The Wizard of Oz is revered as one of the greatest in American cinema, her life afterwards was not as pleasant. With multiple marriages and criticism for her "plumpness," she began using drugs which ultimately led to her death at the young age of 47. Her famous daughter, Liza Minneli followed in her footsteps as a singer and film actress.

The homestate of The Wizard of Oz, Kansas has been celebrating this anniversary all year. I wonder how many people were charactes from the movie for Holloween? There are lots of festivals around the country that have a Wizard of Oz theme. Also, there have been many rendition of the classic book ranging from plays to ice skating performances. And who can forget one of the best movies of all time? With an all star cast of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Richard Pryor, and Lena Horne, The Wiz is surely one of the best renditions. If not for it's music alone! TBS is having a marathon of The Wizard of Oz starting November 13. Check your local listings for times.

FYI: did you know Toto's original name was going to be Terry? I'm glad they stuck with Toto.

Who Said Legs Can't Be the Center of Attention!

2009-11-08T22:42:00.002Z

I absolutely love stockings! They are the perfect accessory to add spice to your outfit without looking tacky. Lately, there have been a lot of celebrities rockin' black tights, but with a modern twist. You can dress them up or down by rockin' them with a classic dress for work with some boots showing a hint of your tights or throw on a hot short dress with some great pumps for the night out. Trust me, a great tight will surely get a conversation started. Here are some styles I like:

Black Stockings by diorst featuring Falke tights

Items in this set:
Colette.fr tights, 24 EUR
Falke tights, 20 GBP
We Love Colors tights, $15
Modcloth.com tights, $15
American Apparel tights, $14

Who Said Your Clutch Can't Make a Statement!

2009-11-08T00:59:00.002Z

Today on the Wendy Williams Show, she featured a unique clutch by designer Regine Basha. From her line titled 2Enlight10, her She was born in Israel, but raised in London and New York. While attending Tulane University, Regine would sell custome jewelry and hats purchased from New York on the weekend. All her clutches light up. Her collection currently features four cities: Aspen, Miami, Las Vegas and New York. The taxi clutch is from the...guess which city...New York collection. With this clutch, I'm sure you'll be stopping all types of traffic other than just taxis!

Ballin' on a Budget: Jimmy Choo for H&M!

2009-10-31T22:31:00.003Z

All my fashionistas who are ballin' on a budget, November 14 is a day you want to mark on your calendars! This is when Jimmy Choo's line hits stores in 200 select H & M locations. The lines are going to be ridiculous! Hopefully no one gets trampled on.

Free Event: Politicians and Policeman Battle It Out

2009-10-27T02:38:00.002Z

Congressional members and Capitol Hill policemen battle each other at the 4th Annual "Longest Yard" Congressional Football Game. The game raises funds for the Capitol Hill Police Foundation, Washington Literacy Council. This event sponsored by NFL features a VIP lineup including former NFL players and Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. Pre-game hosted by Budweiser. For more info, go to http://www.longestyarddc.org/.

Event: 4th Annual “Longest Yard” Congressional Football Game

Benefit: Capitol Hill Police Foundation, Washington Literacy Council

Date: October 27, 2009

Location: DC Armory

Doors Open: 6:00 pm

Pre-Game Show: 7:15pm l Kickoff: 8:00pm

Free Event: Politics & Postage in the Great Depression

2009-10-25T13:52:00.008Z

Today is my second event volunteering at the National Postal Museum and I wanted to highlight my event! The National Postal Museum is putting on a public programs event called Politics & Postage in the Great Depression. This program will highlight how President Franklin D. Roosevelt used stamps to communicate with the public during the Great Depression. President Roosevelt was a stamp collector himself and knew that postage stamps reached a wide range of people where he could express his political agenda. Who knew stamps where so controversial! If you are looking for something to do and want to learn, come by to the National Postal Museum and see me!

What: Poltics & Postage in the Great Depression

Where: National Postal Museum

When: 1 p.m.

Get My Best Side

2009-10-25T00:46:00.010Z

Over the years, I have noticed a growing number of artists who do side profiles on their cd covers. Even though the eyes are not staring directly at you, a side profile can display a sense of power or mystery. Or it can simply say, "I am fierce!" like with Erykah Badu's cd, Worldwide Underground. There's always something so captivating about side profiles. They heighten a persons physical features as if to say here's a piece of me, but you can't have it all at one time. You have to wonder what message the label wanted to portray in each artist. Whether it's to show the innocence of new talent, such as John Legend's 2004 hit, Get Lifted, or to remind fans that sexy was never out of style, as with R&B crooner Maxwell's highly anticipated album, BLACKsummer's Night. CD covers are sometimes just as important as the music because it's the first taste of how the rest of the cd is going to be. Next time you see your favorite artist's cd, take a look at the cover. You never know which face they want to give you. Examples of cd covers below.

From top to bottom: Get Lifted, John Legend, 2004; Worldwide Underground, Erykah Badu, 2003; BLACKsummers' Night, Maxwell, 2009; Lyfe Change, Lyfe Jennings, 2008; Ain't Nobody Worryin', Anthony Hamilton, 2005; Subject, Dwele, 2003; 1st Born Second, Bilal, 2001; The Grand Unification Theory, Stefon Harris, 2003; Growing Pains, Mary J. Blige, 2007; Mary, Mary J. Blige, 1999.

Exclusive Interview With Bay Area Artist, Sheba A. Tamakloe

2009-10-24T16:22:00.009Z

If you put Pixar, Basquiat,and Digable Planets together, you'd probably come up with Sheba A. Tamakloe. Sheba's experience growing up was not just confined to one part of the country, but boasts a bi-coastal experience. Staking the Bay Area as her home, she also has spent notable time in Florida as well. Read below to learn about this rising, all-inclusive artist who is easily making her mark in the arts world!

Life After Ramen: Hello Sheba! It's been awhile since we see each other, but I knew that I wanted to have you featured on my new blog! Thanks for agreeing to do this. This is my first interview!

Sheba: Cool it's all good! I'm happy to be asked!

LAR: So you are a woman of many talents! You do art, animation, rap. Am I missing anything else?

Sheba: Haha yes along with producing and video editing : ) Art and music are truly my passions

LAR: Wow! How do you balance everything?

Sheba: Well the fact that I am out of school (graduated) kind of helps!

LAR: That's great! What school did you go to and what degree did you get it in?

Sheba: Free time is good but I also need money in the interim! I got my Masters from Academy of Art and my Bachelors from the University of Central Florida

LAR: But you're from the Bay Area right?

Sheba: Actually, born in the Bay raised in Miami. Most of My Moms side lives here in the Bay and my dad is from Ghana. So I guess you can say all of the above!

LAR: Does your cultural background influence your art in any way?

Sheba: The Bay Area really caters to my Artistic side! -Yes it does. My art tends to be very bold, daring and energetic! My cultural upbringing definitely exhibits this.

LAR: I love it!

Sheba: :)

LAR: So what got you interested in art? Do you prefer one medium over the other?

Sheba: Well, as far as fine art: I remember the first time I really considered myself as an artist was in the fifth grade. Myself and [a] friend of mine used to always draw to pass the time away. Then I discovered I really enjoyed putting pen to paper, and paint to a canvas! I started doing it more and more and shortly became the "class artist." It was a lot of fun. I took art from elementary through high school. You could always find me carrying around an art project of some sort! In High school I decided to take the route of Animation. I had a passion for 2-d but decided to go to college and major in 3d animation. I later found out that I loved both 2d and 3d! So having a background in fine art has really helped me overall

LAR: You figured out what you wanted to do early in life. That's a blessing. Most people are still trying to figure that out in their 20's and 30's!

Sheba: I have to thank God for that and for enabling me with the patience to do this. If I wasn’t doing art, I'd probably be a writer or poet.

LAR: Add that to the long list of things you do. LOL What don't you do?

Sheba: Math! I try to avoid that like a plague. LOL

LAR: Aww, now that I can do. I started as a math major in undergrad, and then switched to sociology because I figured I like math in general. Not the evolution of how math came to be.

LAR: But give me an equation, and I can solve it!

Sheba: But I feel like people can do a lot with focus....I needed you all through undergrad !

Sheba: --and high school for that matter!

LAR: LOL I should've had a side hustle and tutored math. A lot of my friends struggled.

Sheba: But I don’t like to say I can't do something because with prayer and patience anythings possible.

LAR: Amen to that!

Sheba: Haha that's how you do it! Get your hustle on!

LAR: So, looking at your artwork, one of my favorite pieces is the one of Nina Simone. What inspired you to do that one? And do you love soul music?

Sheba: Oh thanks I really enjoyed painting that piece. How I got inspired to do it is kind of funny...

Sheba: Someone I knew had that picture on his shirt...I'll show it to you later ...So when I saw it I said I had to paint it! It was calling me! And now I don’t even talk to that person with the shirt anymore. We lost contact. I guess his purpose was to inspire me to paint that piece!!! LOL

LAR: Aww, well maybe he will read this blog and get in contact with you!

Sheba: Haha yea!

LAR: If you could give one piece of advice to any creative souls, what would it be?

Sheba: Oh one more thing

LAR: Ok

Sheba: I got inspired to animate by watching the Simpson’s since i was like 5!... which is what I’m doing now. LOL

Sheba: But to answer [your] question…I would have to say the best advise I could give would be to follow your dreams and don't let the negativity of others detour you from what you want to do. Because chances are they hate on you because they wish that they could do what you do.

LAR: Ain't that the truth!

Sheba: Also patience is essential...shoot I'm still waiting myself! LOL

LAR: I want to thank you girlfriend for being my first interview!

Sheba: You're very welcome!! I'm honored!!

LAR: Y'all don't know, but me and Sheba met at a Dwele concert!

Sheba: Heck yea!! He is my favorite!!!! Along with Musiq Soulchild!!!

LAR: We both have a love for him and I knew that anyone who was there, was alright with me! And we've been friends ever since!

Sheba: Dwele unites!! You're the only female who loves him like I do!!

LAR: So I guess we have to thank Dwele for our friendship. Dwele, if you’re reading this, we both are FANatics! Holla at me! LOL

Sheba: Yes thank you Dwele! My dream is to do a song with you! Holla at ya girl!

LAR: And I'll be sure to be at the concert!

Sheba: 7Daize feat. Dwele!!!

LAR: That sounds hot!

Sheba: YESSSS!!!

LAR: Here at Life After Ramen, we like to ask our guests what there best memory involving ramen noodles is. Do you have any?

Sheba: HAAAAAAAAAAAAA yes too many! Shoot I'm building up on memories-in the present LOL

LAR: Hilarious.

Sheba: I be hooking 'em up with some chicken [and] veggies.

LAR: That sounds yummy.

Sheba: I even tried to fry ‘em! A definite staple!

LAR: Wow! Never tried that. I've put cheese in them, but never fried.

Sheba: yea you have to try it sometime! Like won-ton. LOL

LAR: Well, I thank you again for this interview.

Sheba: You're very welcome

LAR: I wish you success in everything you do and I hope to get an original Sheba art work sometime.

Sheba: Haha. Yes I'll see if I can make that happen for ya!

LAR: Wonderful!

LAR: Well, I'll let you go. But thanks again! It's late on the east coast and I have to go to bed. LOL

Sheba: Haha nite nite!!

LAR: Goodnite!

To see more work from Sheba, go to her site: http://www.sheba-tamakloe.blogspot.com/.
For her music pages go to: www.myspace.com/7daizemusic and http://www.7daize.blogspot.com/.

Featured Stamps

2009-10-20T00:52:00.007Z

You all are in for a treat! I not only have one stamp, but a series I wanted to highlight. Some of my favorite "oldie but goodie" shows have been featured in the US Postal Service's "Early TV Memories" series. The series featured 20 television shows from the Golden Age and were released to the public on August 11, 2009 in a commemortive ceremony in North Hollywood, CA. According to wikipedia, the Golden Age is a period between 1940 and the early 1960s where there were many hour long anthological drama series on television. Even though I wasn't even a thought when these shows first aired, thanks to TV Land and other channels that show reruns, I was able to watch these great shows. I mean, how you not get excited everytime the handsome Perry Mason came on television or fell out laughing from the antics of Lucy and Ethel. They don't make series like these anymore. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I did. My favorite shows are highlighted below!

**Side note: I know you can't be alive to be featured on a stamp, but I feel compelled to get a petition together to put The Cosby Show on one. Who's with me?!

White House Garden Tour

2009-10-18T23:52:00.012Z

Today I went to the semi-annual White House Garden Tour. Starting with First Lady Pat Nixon, the White House has opened its doors to the public ever since. There were a lot of people there and although it was cold, it was worth the wait. The gardens are beautiful and peaceful. Below is a slideshow of the tour. Enjoy!

Fab Houses!

2009-10-18T16:56:00.004Z

Throughout the year, some of America's most fab people have opened up their homes so design enthusiasts like me can marvel at their work. I have compiled a list of some of my favorites including a home decorating guru, a former DC School Board president, and an Atlanta fashion monsieur!

Free MP3 Downloads

2009-10-18T15:38:00.011Z

Every so often I go to amazon.com's site to download free mp3 songs. It's a great way to not only get free songs, but also to be exposed to various different genres of music. I consider myself to have an eclectic interest in music and always look for talented people. Some of the new talent I came across (new meaning new to me) is Eric Lindell and The New Mastersounds. They don't just have artists that are under the radar. I just downloaded a Ziggy Marley song! Click here for your fusion of musical talent. Don't ever say I never gave you anything. :)