Weird

there is an acquaintance of mine who I find adorable...

who seems to me an amalgam of fornercoworkercurrentff.

and

(dundunduuuuuuun)

college gf .

can't figure out if the previous is the reason for the perception,

or wld the perception stand in it own,

or y this occupies me so.

i h8t my brain smtymes.

Ah, youth....

Congratulation Season

i'm not jealous.

(much)

Nothing like a little Monday

morning lovin'.

(creak.creak.creak)

I've always wondered if Gizmo cared. Apparently not.

Voltron Reebok?

Check.

Oh, yeah, the milk thing.

Well, internet sources aren't generally regarded as good sources,

but they can usually lead you to where their info comes from, if they've got something useful to say.

If you happen to be of the group who are lucky enough to keep producing lactase after childhood, congrats.

Don't know how that's going to help with the hormones, though.

(and no, the hormones in the meat supply don't help, either)

I talk for a living (well, usually), and I despise have my voice break with mucus stickin' up my larynx...

So, I'll continue to minimize my intake of the stuff. I'm sure soy/rice/almond milk ain't perfect, but I'll take it.

(here's some TV appearances of cuzzin above, fwiw)

Raising Victor Vargas

I could complain about some of the content, but it's nothing unrealistic.

Me encanta la abuela.

(update: had a dream influenced by the above....one misses innocence,,,first seems a long time ago --- such is life past young youth)

Man @ 125th/Lenox

wearing an Obama pin on his lapel & purchasing Apple Booty 5 (bootleg, no less).

While looking at a

page on the dreaded myspace,
that has, as one of it's profile songs
"4th Theme - Electric Company"

Gizmo matter-of-factly

got up and walked out of the room.

He funny.

!!!!!!!

Have cable? This is what your kids are watching in the morning.

(may seem to start slow, but your patience will be rewarded)

As usual, I'm confused.

Insanely funny,
or
insanely depressing that this much sexual innuendo makes it to children's tv....

"Hey, what are those?"

Ridiculous.

Nothing this relevant since dancing banana.

In case you haven't gotten a chance

to catch the NKOTB tour billboard over ESPNZone on B'Way,

I'll sum it up for you:

stuck somewhere between bwahah and ew.


(bow)

Educational Focus

On most colleges/university campuses, facilities are built around the administrative buildings,

often the "main" building is where the prez's office is.

Take a look at this interactive campus map.

Can you find the admin bldgs?

Notice the what the centermost bldg is?

Interesting

One of these kids

is doing her own thing,

and she's doing it with no shame.

See if you can find waldo.

(hint: high heels suck)

{bwahaaaaaaahaa}

Liz Padilla's Ghost Bike

at the corner of Warren and 5th Ave. in Brooklyn

Customer Appreciation

This





was placed just inside the door way of this establishment




Times Square circa 70s-80s stikes again.

The Album Leaf - Outer Banks

Nice.

Something about the beginning.

Longer, lower quality more "complete & balanced" version here

As I should be spending

less money given the unexpected financial burden due to the actions on my personal transportation by the city and it's thieves, it is quite ironic that it has caused me to be slightly more given to ordering in...

and,
therefore,
spending more money.

I wonder how differently all this would have gone the speech/comm disorders route.

(shrug)

Statemata Obviosa

The greatest downfall of the intelligencia is,

generally,

their intellegence.

(ia)

(takeitfromthekettlethatscoffedatthepot))

S's & A's

Season 1, Ep. 3

Parts

IV & VI

bwa-tothekmickifickin-haha

Slings & Arrows

Just came across this show on the Sundance Channel (I finally added the alternative movie channels to my favorites; I still refuse to add the "premium" movie channels - too much bollocks).

A series about a modern theater company - it's remarkably apt.

Now we need to something that focuses on the hole-in-the-wall, exist only when one can scrounge $20 to produce a reading theater companies that make up the vast majority those in existence.

At least that's the case in this particular purview.

(edit: Nevermind, they've got it covered)

(actually, they didn't dwell, so the subject is still to be considered; i'll update as i make my way through)

First-Person Perspective

Since a child, I've wanted this.

Should the cost become reasonable, it will probably make it's way into my menagerie.

Once they make one small enough to fit in a slot car....mmmm - possibilities...

(stare)

(drool)

Though we've had our disagreements,

there's only one true original.

Gizmo poseurs need not apply.

Tow Truck

$!#%ery. So, I'm not the only one to deal with that this week. Well, take that and multiply it by about 2.5 to get to how bad they $!@#ed me.

Parking tickets are generally more than traffic tickets. They're cities' %@$5ed up way of raising revenue.

No, that's not right - it's $#%%^ing capitalistic venture. Plain and simple. If you really want me to serve penance for breaking a law, have me serve the city, Parking tickets, like speeding tickets, are about paying mayors and e'body below them. Make no mistake.

I guess I'll actually try to get a police report for the vandalism performed on my *ish* tomorrow.

(eyeroll)

(sigh)

(sneer)

Postal Service

"Nothing Better"

Effin' hot!

Le Tour

(warning, most of these pictures suck full size. I'm lazy)

Waiting for the boat


This is the only time the plebs gets to ride on this part of the ferry. It's where cars would make the trip if this were another city - it's generally empty, though.


Lined up on Church St., waiting for the start


Nitwit in what is supposed to be an afro wig


Held up around 56th & 6th; we were staggered into groups going into Central Park


Bottleneck going onto the Queensboro bridge




Views on the bridge






Riding on the freakin' BQE!


No hands: bicycle cruise control


and another bottleneck, this time exiting from the BQE (yes, we were moving about as fast as the traffic in the other side)


What I was compelled to use the back of my tour bib for...

How to not Be Objective

I guess I really am old.

'Cuz they must've stopped teaching objectivity in journalism school, like 100 years ago.

Or maybe I just made up that part in my COMM classes.

(warning, the above is Wright/Obama related)

I find the interviewee's position sort of canned,
but I think still fits under "the color of legitimacy".

EDIT - Wait, I'm sorry, this dude is apparently from the O'Reilly show. Journalism doesn't apply here. My bad.

[إين دو تيم]

So, on my way to an audition seminar that I had to force myself to go to and decided that I was just going to spectate at,

while looking through my messages on my phone to double-check the address,

thinking that I'd locked the phone on said message but not, thus having to go all the back through all the messages,

I found the following that was sent to me on the same day (two weeks ago) that I'd not read:

Hi {me}:

Just wanted to say it was great meeting and working with you on the shoot for (cable network that shall remain nameless). You brought really great energy to the set, interacted extremely well with all the {other, pre-adolecent talent} (which ain't always easy…particularly as the meltdowns begin), and you were professional through and through...

We have... more videos on deck with {production co. which shall remain nameless} and it would be great if we could work with you again. We'll see how this all shakes out..

...Please keep us posted on any upcoming shows you may have...

Best and have a great weekend..

Normally: two weeks late. Today: right on time.

(preach among yourself(ves))

Catalytic converter

has been cut from beneath my truck.


i hate fucking new york city.

Chrysler is generally

avoidable in my estimation.

But this special version of the eventually-coming Challenger does have it's share of 'zazz.
The wheels really do it here, I think.

Still a monument of waste, however.

Update! 5-4-08
The above was a vehicle competing in the One Lap of America cross-country rally (that which the film Cannonball Run is based on).

Well, there was an incident.

Reportedly, they will be continuing in an orange version of the same vehicle that will basically looks like a modernized Gen. Lee w/o the potentially offensive markings.

Empathic Guitar (Chilluminati)

Damn. Ooh.

(mmph).

You better cop
Shiiiiiiihhh.

Oh, you know SomaFM's got a new stream, right?

listennnnnnnnnn

May has started

fairly shittily and, to be honest, I haven't been riding since last Friday night.

don't really feel like it now. My theory is this somehow all connects to breaking my rule about hanging out with inebriated people in general and going to a function I said I wasn't because it was too late AND I planned on going riding the next day.


yet more of me not doing what I blow ever so hard that I will.


Take out the garbage in O 8.

I HATE

VULTURE ASS TOW TRUCK COMPANIES.

Be aware that, not only will the bastards lurk around lots they have deals with to tow

(therefore, they don't have to actually be called to perform the tow),

municipalities will actually allow them to sit and run plates on ANY car to see if there is an outstanding ticket.

Vile, garbage tactics for a vile, garbage industry.

By the way,

I think this is the most complete compiliation of links to WHOLE Rev. J. Wright speeches. Best I've found anyway.

I'm waiting for Mr. Obama to comment on the (past) considerable numbers of US - oops, I mean U.S. Black folk that firmly believe the sentiment of Wright...

And, quite frankly, much of the (asserted) fact.

I just found out

that the reason my posts require verification is because,
to blogger,
my blog looks like a spam blog.

no matter how clean I keep my nose
and goody I keep my two-shoes,

I'm ever viewed as a threat.

(eyeroll)

Yikes

do the booty bra
do the booty bra
do the booty
do the booty
do the booty
do the booty bra

(you probably need to know a little bounce to understand the repetition)

{above pun serendipitous, but wholly welcome}

I found this all completely amusing until I looked through the pics - then I saw the one of ol' girl in the acrylic pumps.

stripper shoes depress me.

Since I'm tired

of BO
and JW
of political newstertainment
of thinking of exactly how I'm going to tell the manager where he can go
(but not doing it)
of how 50 shots from 3 guns does NOT EVEN CONSTITUTE RECKLESSNESS,

I present the flyest word you've heard thusfar

this week.

Quick!

Before Mr. Cornelius catches us!

Wisecrack

Sending this one out from J.W. to B.O.


(johnny always was the best one, ya'll just aint wanna admit it)

Tour Videos

Youtube strikes again.

2 guys from Canada

(bonce..bounce..bounce) why aren't you freestyling?

frickin' VIP elitists...we're gonna pass your asses so fast...(well, some of your asses)

got-dang propaganda

Ride Report

Wo.....

36.7 miles,
3:04:15 total ride time
about 25 of those were done on the Central Park bike loop, home to a curving hill that I've not only dreaded, but managed to avoid last season as well.

On the 3rd lap, managed to get all the way that without standing.
Next lap, got all the way around the loop without standing.

(preach, K, preach! birthdaybirthdaybirthday!)

All well, but probably too much work, plus it was a little cool today.
Came in feeling pretty crampy and tense.

Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer is the jAwN. (I suggest a double when it's real rough)

Tomorrow will definitely be a break day.

"Ur crazy"

While the above may be applicable in certain situations,

as a response to information regarding a gathering re: a court decision involving
a death...

you can use it,
but it will probably not be taken with a grain of salt.

Don't take for granted that an adult human will know this.

signed,
Desperately trying to not to reply by questioning the abundance of one's IQ points

Atlas

I had this idea while in grad school that, if I were to ever get a tattoo,

(and why in the world would I do that)

I would get one across my back and shoulders that said

"place your pain here".

I used to be on some real wannabe superman *ish. But instead of lifting buildings,

I figured I could be strong for a bunch of ya'll when ya'll needed to not be,

'cuz, despite the death and disappointment I've experienced,

I felt like I'd not trod my share of the muck yet.

And I don't really feel like I have a whole lot to offer,

other than the hyper-marathon running of my yack about all things....ever.

So,

since being here, I feel like I've had several ops to be strong, but just floated
along with the rest of the shrimp.
Funny thing about being a hero: you got to
be a weakling a few times before the x-gene kicks in.

and I'm waiting.

I see friends of mine in moments when they've been strong,
and have earned a rest,
yet there's still something that leads me to tell them,
"maybe now is not the time for you to lie down".

Or, maybe I won't say anything...

Because I'm afraid they're going to find
out about my quick-to-high-tail-it ass...

And say in some composition of verbiage:
"yeah, well, who the %#^ are you?"

Fact remains,
the burden of the strong is a lack of respite.

Ask Atlas.

signed,
Desperately Awaiting His Ink.

(maybe I'll just do henna..:/

Yesterday's Ride

41.7 miles in 3hrs 40 min
did about 4 laps around Prospect
(all those long descents are nice,
but that hill by the meadow sort of hurts)

Ended up taking more of a break after Prospect that
originally planned, about 30 mins - but got a free small Silk at Starbucks!
(shoulda asked for a grande....)

Went up the West Side up to around 100th so I could make 40 for the ride;
going was ok, coming back was plodding.

Still need to learn pacing. Think I still need to choke up on the rear derailer.

Note about breaks: it's best not to let the booty cool back down.

Wait...I saw somebody ELSE I knew on my way out of SB's to that break had to be longer than 30.

Question: are you allowed to take a non-Apple computer into NYC StarBuxes?

My (vain)glorious thighs...

Off on today's ride in a few. Gonna try going from the ferry terminal via the streets, over the BK bridge, up to Prospect Park, lap that and return via the same route.

If I'm not back in 12 hours send the Juice Crew after me.

Orange County History

I mean, not all of it.

I wanted to go to Ghana first anyway.

Attacking Comidas en Empujares

How I wish the Houston Press was a daily.

The best generally-associated-with-Brown-people food I've had since being in NYC
came off a truck at 2 in the morning in Harlem.

Word.

Gingerbread ice cream cake

well, soy cream anyway.

Attempted to make one last night.

Need to put it in the fridge to thaw a little bit.

Ergo, the jury's still out.

Things Never Before Noticed Files

Entry 1:

Richard Simmons in Panthose.

...sucka does got some nice calves, though.

Ride Report

33 miles
Over 3 hours
Avg speed - 10.5 mph
Max Speed - 22.1 mph
Quadriceps - quite upset for me after a while afterwards.

E3 form saddle feels at least no worse the the Selle Royale,
without the tendency to have the nose push toward the right.
I started with thermals on between cargo short and riding shorts,
took the thermals off part way. Things were hot, but more cushy with them on...
If I can find some thermals cheap, I'll prolly get some and cut them off as high as possible.

Lotsa heavy breathing. The layoff was evident.

Paying to have the shifting adjusted was a definite waste. I can have the tallest sprocket or the shortest, but not both. The front shifter is closer to working but not quite. I don't know if I can get the back working, but I've more confidence about getting right with the front. I'll fool with it and see.

Being able to brake form the tops is grand. Nevertheless, the rear brake is WAY too mushy for me right now. Methinks I'm going to have to suck it up and try another new cable.

The current bar wrapping/padding works well. No crampy hands or uncomfortable positions. Ironically, for all the time I spent wrapping the brake hoods, I never really rode there - they're too low.

For some reason, toward the end of the ride, things felt cramped. I think it had to do with fatigue, though.

Hamstrings felt unused, like the seat was too low....I don't know.

(shrug)

I'm going to go have to Kashi almond cluster now.

edit: forgot to mention that, due to the boat ride during the route, there was about an hours worth of rest during the ride; although there will be rest stops if desired during the tour - me, 42208

Mathematics

($500 + 10%) - 15% = $467.50

Which is fairly distinct from $425.

It would be great if people in this $#@% business treated you like a person,
and not a used car customer.

(not that used car customers should be treated that way)

(sigh)

The Homicide Report

Since the early 80's, they tried to tell you themselves over beats
and on brick/concrete structures,

but we know people only believe it if somebody _____ says it.

Maria Tallchief

U.S.'s first prima ballerina.

I ain't know...

Finished Product

(for now)


The little b@st@rd$ in the middle of the handlebar gave me hell all the way until the wee hours of this morning. First I couldn't get any tension after I installed the one for the front brake, then realized that I needed a longer cable for the rear (a realization that only took 'til 5:27am Sunday morning to sink in). After managing to get some brake functionality... and losing it as I coasted into the ferry terminal... and precarious tip-toe-riding through the LES... I proceeded to the only bike shop in the LES that's open on Sunday (that I know of). After an initial condescension at my attempt, it was suggested that I try again with new cables (an additional $8 to go with the other $80*).

I eventually made it back to the abode and after a nap of epic proportions I started at it again. I got the front to work nigh on immediately. Now the rear refused to tension properly, meaning another all night/morning-er. Sometime around the arrival of this previous day's dawn I made the great-ape level realization that where the cable was positioned inside the top tube had an effect on the tension. I fiddled with that until it was worked sufficiently and went to wrap the bars.

Of course, in the glee of achieving working brakes (read: stupor), I neglected to 1) properly match the wrapping on both sides of the bar near the inlines, 2) forgot to go back and level the brake hoods with each other before wrapping. You may note that the inline levers aren't level either, that however is on purpose. They are actually a little too close to each other for the cable movement necessary. Just to give them a little space for the cables to flex, and angled them off a little. The rest is goof. I'm not completely happy with my job of it, but I'm very satisfied with the idea of wrapping the brake hoods; wish I'd done it last year.

Things I've learned about bikes this weekend:

• messing with brake cables sucks; but I knew that already
• if you've got your bike set up in any way out of the ordinary, make sure you let the bike know in advance to LEAVE IT THAT WAY; otherwise there'll be some surprise conventionality upon it's return
• if you can change a shifter, you can do the $40-$60 bike shop tuneup yourself; eschew laziness and do it
• if, like me you despise any one part of the process (truing, for example) or there's something that genuinely requires a special tool you don't have, take it in and have them do JUST that one thing
  
• I want $40 of my $80 dollars* back...I'd chalk it up to not specifying, but I could've sworn I asked to be called before anything involving extra cost was involved...ask me before doing extra work! [growl*]
  

*although they did seem like a nice crew. and I do support the cause. perhaps it was due to the season rush. ..

oh, and at that other store, I left the bike in the condition it was in when I was grasping at straws, so I had to show her how it was set up when done "correctly", at which point the condescension left....mostly (wink).

The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo

hbo.com
thefledglingfund

I guess I'd feel that Iraq is warranted if I heard stories like this coming from Iraq.

But I don't. Certainly not before the invasion.

These women don't deserve a strike force?

The most beautiful girl-child that I've ever seen on this tv just looked at me and told how they raped her;
the child held up her child.

4 year old rape victim.

Children so traumatized by the sight of men with guns, that somebody pointing a video camera terrifies them.

Soldier admitting to rape wearing a tee shirt bearing the image of Robert Marley, smiling;

Men trying to repair the bodies of women burned, torn apart by men.

(exhale)

(amin)

(imp grin)

This finally came today.
Hm....
Am going to have to study the rules to see how we can get away with having not wearing this bib like a bib.

My current best idea is to turn into a super hero cape. I was planning on some sort of tribute to Capt. Bike anyway.

I ended up not having to do the after school thing today. Wish I would have known sooner so I could have planned a ride. Decided to come home and start the frame wrapping project instead and go ahead and put the dread knobbies back on the Schwinn.

I feel pretty good about the wrapping, but I still think I should have gone for no overlap. Still a nice , if completely cosmetic (for now) change.

Before:



After:



I'd originally planned to wrap the head tube (you know, where the badge is) and the forks....but I'm not sure now. Wasn't sure about what to do with the current handlebar wrap either, but I just had an idea to use the remaining black cloth tape and try some kinda harlequin design.

At any rate, I finished this much and then put the knobby tires on the Mesa. Ever since I've gotten more into efficiency I've despised the knobby tires more and more. Funny thing is, once I got out with them, not only was riding not a chore, it was actually quite fun. When you don't have to ride them every day, the mid-low buzz-roar the make going downhill on pavement is actually quite enchanting.

Now I understand how those two car people feel.

(rich bastards)

My intent was to tear up and down the hills at Silver Lake for about an hour, but I realized about 10 minutes in that the wheels on that bike are quite un-true. Decided to bring it back in rather than paint my rim black with my brake pad. There were even some decent little muck puddles forming, too.

Alas...there is always the morrow.

{inshallah}

More Bwaha

bwahahahaha

(and such)

More dreamtime

Have you ever had a dream about somebody,
and there were ethnically divergent from their
real-life self?

Then there's that adultery thing...

Ah, noni. how I miss thee.

Low Road

While walking into SI terminal, having just disembarked from the boat,

got a full double-one-finger from adolescent mugging behind the glass doors -

Returned fire with a sly-waist-high.

Now, I'm sure I should've waited and asked the young person what the purpose was, instructed him on the impropriety of the act.
Afterward it occurred to me that I should've taken his picture and posted it around the island in hopes it would get back to his parental unit.

But I always seem to think of what I "should've done/said".
But that ain't nothing new, right?

Yet more proof of a distinct lack of super-humanity.

I should've stayed in theory.

(howl)

Don't tell me a beat can't make you cry.

Hell, made me moan some.

Funny how making a certain sound can well one up.

Well.

Wail.

Wail one up.

(p.s.: keep clickin' the backgrounds! It's the jawn!!)

Hm.

Girls and Cars

more specifically, a grown-ass woman and what may be the first electric car produced by an American, traditionally ICE car co.

Interesting pic, no?

although, the speech is pretty standard/corporate.

Prolly not quite

Yunusian, but interesting nonetheless.

and while I'm pissed off about the game,

chicken and okra and whatever else was in there is the jawn.

Did you know they had brownie Jiffy Mix?

Diabetes is of the devil.

Through her what?

I didn't even know you could get there from there.

Perhaps I needed that high school sex ed class after all.

The Vapors

To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress,
Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
For by means of a harlot, a man is reduced to
a crust of bread;
And an adultress will prey upon his precious life. (NKJV)

To keep you from ___ evil____,
From the flattering tongue of _ seduct(ion),
Do not lust after ___ beauty in your heart,
Nor let (it) allure you ____ ___ _______,
For by means of a harlot, (one's worth) is reduced to a
crust of bread*;
And an adult(erer) will prey upon ___ precious life. (hisi**)

* both the harlot and the harlotee
** how i see it***

*** (for what it's worth)

Training

(wrote a post about how I have not been riding as much as I should've been the past couple weeks,
yanked power cord out of computer while heading to kitchen for second helping of Jiffy Mix (c) Bran and Date murfin, for some reason blogger didn't autosave a draft.

so eff it)

(sigh)

It is new information for me that Dr. King's mother was murdered as well.

(fwiw)

"You can't stop pain,
you can only bear it until it's gone.
Then, it will make you a stronger person"

JS Foster - Losing the Light

Carl Nacht's Ghost Bike

Gothamist
BikeBlog








'07 NYC Marathon Medal. He'd run in every one from '06 back for 29 years. I guess somebody ran for him this year.

Random Crap

that would be on MySpace if I was ever silly enough to think Myspace was worthy of my phone's camera:




Political grafitti.



A Black History Month Poster in Harlem



One of the new fish tanks in the SI ferry terminal



How published poets get exposure in NYC



The dogs after a several blocks of walking the bike (stupid flat tire...)



Note: "Best of" does necessarily mean "good"
(SWV Video Soul interview - official classic)



Al Green wearing eyeliner



And how many high school bands do you know that have an album?
Rep, dammit.



Mr. Mohandas strolling in Union Square



Is treating a Ferrari like a pair of shoes proof
the inconsequence of money or tackiness?



Well......

A vs A-A

One wonders how much has changed in 10 years...

And this is why

you should always have a stage manager.

(preferably one that's awake)

Sheldon Brown's Blog

I'd never looked at this before.

What blog do you know of that goes all the way back to '75?

Strange thing to see somebody's thoughts up until their last day.

Hm.

Was only able to sleep 3 hrs. Guess I'll go for a ride.

I just registered

for the tour.

Now I need to get my wack ass back out on the bike.

I just realized I only have 5 weeks to get in the right shape.

The longest ride I've done included some pretty strong thigh cramps.

And that was under 40 miles, though I doubt I'll be pushing as hard as I did that day.

Sheldon Brown

Sheldon Brown is, for better or worse, the internet guru of bicycling. Feel free to run all over the internet for cycling info if you like, but all that will probably just lead back to his site (or links that lay therein).

So, by the time I came across this gentleman, he was being pelted daily with e-mail q's from, like, all of internet-dom. Back in '06 (remember when gas only cost $2.20/gal) I took to trolling eBay for cheap bikes to sell in the city/look for a road bike to keep. I finally came across a good deal that came with Shimano Biopace chainwheels - significant because they are slightly oblong. I read a few things about them and they supposedly gave you a some mechanical advantage at the top of the pedal revolution, thereby providing potential relief for those with tender knees.
Having already been made acquainted with Mr. Brown's site, I looked around there for more info and found that he, in fact still rode using these long-discontinued components. At long last I finally had a legitimate question to ask the master (not that I'd been looking). I sent him an inquiry (more than likely convoluted in its wording) asking if there was a particular technique he used when pedaling the Biopace.
His response:

"Just ride".

Well, I'd been blessed with a response by the master. Although I'm pretty sure I took some time wondering if the brevity of the response was an indication the depth of his consideration - or the level of dumb inherent in the question....

Well, while looking up info on tires, I came across a reference to Mr. Brown that made it seem as though he was no longer with us.

In fact, he passed in Febuary. Heart attack. He was only 63. I had no idea that he'd been diagnosed with multiple schlerosis.

This information makes me that much more determined to participate in this year's 5 Boro Bike Tour.

I think I've finally become accustomed to the idea that I've been here long enough for people I know leaving this plane of existence to not be an entirely unique experience.

One thing I can certainly say it's teaching me is that

there is NEVER
anytime
likethepresent.

So why not now?

Thanks for the help, Mr. Brown.

Peace.

I am increasingly

aware of my fetishes.

And, I think,

progressively less subject to them.

Revision a:

One's dreams and one's skills don't always lie in the same bed.

Revision a:b

One's dreams and one's skills don't always rest in the same bed.

(I'm trying to find the right fulfillment of the metaphor...)

I am currently in a play

that I don't exactly like,
that I'm technically not supposed to be doing,
with a backstage that doesn't quite jibe with my personal philosophy
and a stage crew that is fairly non-existent,
(although, we found out this past weekend that things seem to happen better
with fewer people back there anyway),
in a space where I have to compete with weekend birthday parties,
(at what point will multi-use spaces start scheduling events so they don't interfere with
each other?),

but I look forward to it.

The play no longer feels like it takes 3 days to finish.
I actually seem to enjoy figuring out how to work around the audience participation.
(it's also nice to have been the one in the cast who knew what to expect from the Black Theatre Audience Experience).

I decided to try the after-school program and a gig at the same time to see if I could maintain the energy. I expected to learn more working with the kids. Well, to this point I feel like the most I've learned is that I may actually have the need to act that elder actors have spoken of. I think this is the first time I've ever been in the middle of a project - the beginning to me, really, since previews first started last week - and I'm already hungry to work after this project is over.

I've felt the need, but I never expected it to grow.

All this when I was very resigned to going back south - and comfortable in that resignation.

Being here requires justification. If you're not here and actively doing something, it wears on you.

There's a part of me that doesn't want to be one of those people who exist in New York just so they can act, be a part of the "community"; but I can't deny that is part of the draw.

Whenever I leave here, it will be one of the things I miss. Maybe I'll be fortunate enough to find it elsewhere. I'd want it to be born out of the creation of something that was necessary -

Not just because I missed having people clap.

(shrug)

[ramblerambleramble]

I need a hug.

There. I said it.

........what?

Though I'm suspicious of the precision of this report,
I will nonetheless use it's prospect to propose substantiation
of my position on the over-sexualization of today's youth.

(well, American society in general, really)

(or something like that)

Sex is used to sell EVERYTHING to us,
then we're told it's wrong,
(but get as much as you can *wink*)

Now you got a bunch of confused gals with the clap.

politico-pseudo-prudism isn't the answer
porn-osity isn't the answer.

For something that seems like it should be so easy to come by,
normal sure is hard to find.

I am not your

nigger
nigga
niggah
nigguh
nigg
nagga
nyuhka
nyooka
nooka

or other current/future spelling varied for justification's sake...

I have no appreciation of the pimp...

And any possibility of being a player has been undermined by my inability to wield any 'semblence of game.

Now, if I would ever become brave enough to say the above to people of the same sex and similar anthropology as me,

I might actually believe it.

Forgot to mention,

Ralph Carter came to the opening Saturday night. He appears to intend to nominate it for an Audelco.

Because I despise those words,

I submit these:

Don't hate the hater,
Hate the shame.

Posting in Ingles

Has the number of non-english Blogspot bloggers increased this much, or did all the english-typers just go to Facebook and Myspace?

Who actually reads blogs on Myspace?

Dreamtime Is a Mutha

Strange dream just now.

Current FF, who I've suspected of being desirous of more than that, is staying over at house - parents house for some reason.

(skipping ahead)

Attempts an oral act - at which point I fall asleep (in the dream)

I wake up, and of the acted-upon member has been removed* (though healed and still capable of being acted upon).

(skipping ahead)

I confront FF and end up slamming FF face-first into certain fairly stationary objects like the wall, floor.

I leave FF upside down where she appears deceased.

Time shifts to the late 19th, very early 20th century. FF reappears talking to (a woman who is apparently runs the house as my family is apparently wealthy in this dream). I take from what I see that this was all just an attempt by FF to get a raise.

(shrug)

*I checked, it's still there.

In celebration of

Black I-Hope-You-Learned-Something-Now-What-? Month,

I present the only one of these that has mattered. (thusfar)

And the text...
(certain musical elements have been removed for the sake of clarity)


Well, today's topic, self destruction
It really ain't the rap audience that's buggin
It's one or two suckas, ignorant brothers
Trying to rob and steal from one another
You get caught in the mid
So to crush the stereotype here's what we did
We got ourselves together so that you could unite
and fight for what's right
Not negative 'cause the way we live is positive
We don't kill our relatives



Pop pop pop when it's shot who's to blame?
Headlines, front page, and rap's the name
MC Delight's here to state the bottom line
That black on black crime was way before our time


Took a brother's life with a knife as his wife
Cried cause he died a trifling death
When he left his very last breath
Was I slept so watch your step
Back in the sixties our brothers and sisters were hanged
How could you gang bang?
I never ever ran from the Ku Klux Klan
and I shouldn't have to run from a black man cause that's



Funky Fresh dressed to impress ready to party
Money in your pocket, dying to move your body
To get inside you paid the whole ten dollars
Scotch taped with a razor blade taped to your collar
Leave the guns and the crack and the knives alone
MC Lyte's on the microphone
Bum rushin and crushin, snatchin and taxin
I cram to understand why brother's don't be maxin
There's only one disco, they'll close one more
You ain't guarding the door so what you got a gun for?
Do you rob the rich and give to the poor?
Yo Daddy-O, school em some more 



Straight from the mouth of Wise and Daddy-O
Do a crime end up in jail and gotta go
Cause you could do crime and get paid
today And tomorrow you're behind bars in the worst way
Far from your family, cause you're locked away
Now tell me, do you really think crime pays?
Scheming on taking what your brother has?
You little suckers.. you talkin' all that jazz.



It's time to stand together in a unity
Cause if not then we're soon to be
Self destroyed, unemployed
The rap race will be lost without a trace
Or a clue but what to do
Is stop the violence and kick the science
Down the road that we call eternity
Where knowledge is formed and you'll learn to be
Self-sufficient, independent
To teach to each is what rap intended
But society wants to invade So do not walk this path they laid.



Ms. Melodie
I'm Ms. Melodie and I'm a born again rebel
The violence in rap must cease and settle
If we want to develop and grow to another level
We can't be guinea pigs for the devil
The enemy knows, they're no fools
Because everyone knows that hip-hop rules
So we gotta get a grip and grab what's wrong T
he opposition is weak and rap is strong


Doug E. Fresh
This is all about, no doubt, to stop violence
But first let's have a moment of silence
...
swing Things been stated re-educated,
evaluated THoughts of the past have faded
The only thing left is the memories
of our belated and I hate it, when
Someone dies and gets all hurt up
For a silly gold chain by a chump;
Word up
It doesn't make you a big man,
and to want to go out and dis your brother man,
and you don't know that's part of the plan
Why? Cause rap music is in full demand.
Understand


My name is Just-Ice a man not a prankster
I was known... as the gangster
But believe me that is no fun
The time is now to unite everyone
You don't have to be soft to be for peace
Robbin' and killin'and muderin is the least
You don't have to be chained by the beast
But party people it's time I release!


Aaayyyo here's the situation:
Idiocy Nonsense, violence,
not a good policy
Therefore we must ignore, fightin and fussin
Hev is at the door so there'll be no bum rushin
Let's get together so we don't be fallin apart
I heard a brother shot another. It broke my heart
I don't understand the difficulty, people
Love your brother, treat him as an equal
They call us animals uhnn uhnn I don't agree with them
I'll prove them wrong,
but right is what your proving them
Take heed before I lead to what I'm sayin
Or we'll all be on our knees, prayin



Yo Heavy D, deep in the heart of the matter
The self destruction is served on a platter
Makin a date not failing to aniticipate
They got greedy so they fell for the bait
That makes them a victim, picked then plucked
New jack in jail, but to the vets they're a duck
There's no one to rob, cause in jail you're a number
They never took the time to wonder about




Yes we urge to merge we live for the love
Of our people the hope that they get along
(Yeah, so we did a song)
Getting the point to our brothers and sisters
Who don't know the time (boyyyee, so we wrote a rhyme)
It's dead in your head, you know,
I'll drive to build And collect
ourselves with intellect,
come on To revolve to evolve to self respect
Cause we got to keep ourselves in check
Or else it's...

Self Destruction, ya headed for Self Destruction
Self Destruction, ya headed for Self Destruction

Africana

You mean BETJ has an entire show dedicated to films from the continent?

I didn't even know I got BETJ.

In other news: pork really does suck. I thought I was getting shredded chicken...guess I know what "carnitas" means now....

(ack)

Ayo

Perhaps this is what Lena Horne would look like if she'd been born half-a-century later.

Maybe not.

edit!

Watch this....okay, now see that thing she did with her mouth right at 5 seconds in.....

I'm sayin', tho, right?? I'm sayin'!!! Like, sassy-but-completely-innocent??!

Ya'll 'scuse me, I think I need time alone.....

I wonder if I'll

be this ready to get out of NY once Spring springs.

I wonder I'd be this ready if I'd gotten home (or somewhere) for Christmas.

(shrug)

Brandie Bailey's Ghost Bike

Ghost bikes below 14th can become fairly permanent installations. The ones around Times Square seem to disappear after a time (as much pun intended as necessary).

To Brandie....

Frank Scorcia's Ghost Bike

At the corner of Broadway & 40th.


12/6/07.

Note to Harris County Pedestrians:

STOP TRYING TO CROSS THE DAMN FREEWAY

(or beltway, or anything else with no traffic lights)

Resolved

IF a heart must be broken in 2008:


well...


don't.

"Yeah,

but why he do the same dunk, tho?"

Magic funny.

At 2:50a, on what is now

the day AFTER dia de los be$os, my apartment-lord and his girlfriend are conspiring to drive me batty with their cuteness. All I need now is some sounds of passion and one will certainly be better advised to check for me near the big red splat on the pavement 'neath my window rather than at either of my appointments for the day.

Well...

what do you think?

(u big hater, u.)

3rd day

Seemed like we had them.... and they went stupider than they ever have before.

Had to yell to break a "you a bitch" battle. Made myself hoarse in 30 seconds.

(which prolly don't speak well what I'm trying to sell to them about efficient voice use)

Scary part is, I think I can go louder. Imagine if I'd supported myself!

There are ones there who really want to be there. After seeing them so disappointed at having to leave, then come back and have the class break down again was...I guess "heartbreaking" is the word, but it seems trite in context...

...
......
........

(shrug)

For me, the problem

with the metaphor is that it's the "building" that's in the bag, not the cookies. The misdirected elements "building" and "bag" in their poor use weaken the usefulness of "cookies" as a symbol.

...not that he and great writing are traditionally associated.

Other news:
Just so we're clear, the Giants have officially overplayed the "underdog, 18-1 giant-killer, nobody believed us" thing with that goofy stomp performed in front of city hall. From this point on, it's whining - trophy or no trophy.

And shouldn't we have known that the Patriots were doomed the second it was obvious that Brady'd begun enjoying the media's brie*?

(* in the event you wanted to see what a metaphor looks like that requires thought, but maintains relation)

Like red tape?

You'd love P.A.L.

Too many people.

Too little communication.

Piled on top of kids who being place in after school activities they didn't choose.

(funkyasseyeroll)

First Day

Group leader had no (apparent) idea that we had the kids for 3:30p.

Started 10-15mins late due to trying to figure out whe no-one was there at 3:30p.

Felt under-prepared.

Good news:

Only one group of 10/11

In other news:

Boys start being assholes early.

Carry on...

As of Jan 18, 2008,

nobody's read my blog!

I blame the writer's strike!

Ha!

addendum 2/11/08:
Forgot to add statcounter tag back to template after change. You remember stuff like that when you do it the hard way. Damn the automation.

All Full Force, All the Time

no, I'm not kidding.