Prince Gives Super Performance...

No wardrobe malfunctions, no lewd acts, no lip syncing. Just Prince, a few guitars and a medley of 6 great songs. "Let's Go Crazy", "Baby I'm a Star", "Proud Mary", "All Along the Watchtower", "The Best of You", and "Purple Rain".

Prince took the rain drenched stage (shaped like his trademark symbol) and brought the damn house down. With the exception of Whitney Houston's performance of the "Star Spangled Banner", this was the greatest Super Bowl musical performance EVER. CBS got it right.

Who will ever forget "Purple Rain" in the driving rain?? It's enough to give you chills. Or have a room full of drunk men singin': "Wooo-hoo hooo-oooh, Wooo-hooo hooo-ooooh, Woo-hooo hooo."

The Game ft. Kanye West - Wouldn't Get Far (DIRTY)

Dope production, tight flow, what more can you ask for? I was wondering when they were gonna make a video for this. It's a little all over the place, but still good stuff.

Are We Ready For a Woman President? How About a Black One?

The short answer, I believe, is no. Now I'm not so cynical or jaded to believe that the fine people of this country are incapable of placing their faith in a woman or a black man. Instead, I believe that this country will not put its fate (through a popular vote) in the hands of THIS particular woman or THIS particular black man. Maybe someday the people of this nation will elect a woman or minority leader, but I doubt it will be in 2008.

Now if the democratic party has it their way, one of your choices at the polls in 2008 will be either Barrack Obama or Hillary Clinton. The charismatic Obama seems to be the fashionable, chic pick of the moment. Backed by hollywood heavyweights, he has been the media darling who has been reluctant to commit himself to the race. Earlier this month, he announced that he's not quite ready to announce wether or not he'll officially throw his hat into the ring. By announcing that he intends to form a Presidential Exploratory Committee, he has bought himself some more time and more importantly, by floating this trial balloon, he has an opportunity to gague his ability to raise funds for the race.

The Hillary Clinton Presidential machine has been packed and ready to go since 2004. She has experience and an early lead in opinion polls over Obama. The tidal wave of Hollywood and media support for Obama must be bad news for Clinton, who probably thought the Democratic nomination was all sewed up. Not so fast, missy. Obama has the support of George Clooney! And that black vote that you thought you had won for sure? You can say buh-bye to it if Obama throws his hat into the ring.

But none of this addresses why I think this country is not ready for Hillary or Barrack to lead it...

I was sick of hearing about Monica back in 1998...

When The Starr Report was released on September 11th, 1998 (yeah, the date is accurate, I double-checked), the Clinton legacy was signed, sealed and delivered. The man who could have been one of the great leaders of our day instead will be remembered for cigars, blue dresses, and getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar. And all the while, his dutiful wife stood by his side, defending her husband when possible, dismissing reports against overwhelming evidence, and finally acquiescing and forgiving.

Mistake? Or sign of weakness? Or will the woman who stood by her man while he cheated gain her some sort of brownie points with the women of America? The bottom line for Hillary is that as much as she will never admit it, her fate was sealed when Bill cheated on her... and she decided to stay with him.

By acknowledging and forgiving that infidelity she has opened herself to many criticisms that the average male candidate would never have to answer to. There will be those who say it's a sign of weakness. Others who say that this is Bill's way of getting back into the White House. The Clinton stigma will follow Hillary no matter what she does. It will effect the way her politics are viewed. It will effect the way her candidacy is run. It will effect the manner in which the Republicans campaign against her. It will effect the way the populace votes on election day in 2008.

His speech gave me chills too...

If you watched the Democratic National Convention in 2004 and were lucky enough to catch Barrack Obama's keynote speech, you were probably moved. I sat and watched the young Senator from Illinois captivate that crowd and all those who watched that night with the expertise of a charismatic thespian recouting a Shakespearian Sonnet. He talked about things like hope, respect, and integrity and managed to make it all sound believable. From his lips, the words almost seeemed to find new meaning. The passion, the intelligence, the charisma and purpose of his words were piercing. One of the great speeches I have ever had the privelge of seeing. (you can view it below in 2 parts)


The attention that Obama garnered after this speech thrust him into the national spotlight. He's a fixture on CNN, MSNBC, and even FOxNews nowadays. You can find him on red carpets, flanked by the likes of George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Or on capital hill with Jesse Jackson and Bill Clinton.

His meteoric rise can be attributed to not only his appeal and charisma as an orator, but also to the media and pop culture society that we live in today. We want our MTV, and we want it now. This first term senator is by all accounts (even his own) still green when it comes to politics. His only glaring weakness is also part of his appeal. He is not viewed as a "politics as usual" senator. Somehow he is seen by many as outside of that system, but in Washington D.C., the media giveth and the media taketh away.

What today is called fresh and exciting is called inexperienced tomorrow. The hollywood backers that he rubs elbows with now become eccentric confidants when his campaign reaches California. The one-term senator who doesn't have to kowtow to the special interests now becomes the ambassador to foreign nations with zero experience if and when he takes the reigns as commander in chief. Part of what makes him great also makes him wrong for the job at this time.

The Deomcratic Party will have none of it, however. Their boy is hot now and they're gonna throw him into that flame whether he's ready or not. The prospect of 4 more years of seasoning and a run in 1012 when he really might have a shot at not only a landslide victory, but of changing the landscape of world politics seems too far off for some.

Count me as one who hopes he does decide to wait. But also count me as one who will vote for him now if he does decide to run. He would not be either the youngest or the most inexperienced person who has ever sought, or even won, the presidency. You only need to go back to John Kennedy to find a politician who landed himself in the White House with such a short resume.

"Us"

People should love and care for each other
They should let go of fear

We should nurture our instinct to create
People should be positive
they should sing and dance
they should laugh and love

Our pain and suffering link us
we should deal with them together

Shame is unnecessary
pain is endurable, it strengthens us
Our conquering of pain and hardship is an example for others

We can be divine
Together, all things are achievable
We are more alike then different
Our differences should be celebrated
Our likenesses should bond us

Energy binds us to all living things
It flows freely through us and between us
It is Love. It is God.

Hope and faith outweigh despair

The time for change is now
No more hate
No more war
Life has value beyond our comprehension

Our sight must be cleared
The clutter in our lives clouds our judgment
We cannot fear undoing what has been done
Our Love and Faith in each other can save us.

Personally, I miss Brian Dunkleman...

I'll admit it, I watch American Idol. I've watched it off and on from the beginning. When Kelly Clarkson won, I was there. When Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard went at it, I watched. I skipped the Fantasia season (she didn't do it for me at all), but I was feelin Carrie Underwood and last season, I caught the Mcfever...

After the premiere tonight, however, I may be done with the show.

You know, I like laughing at people with little or no talent as much as the next guy, but in the end, how long can you milk that angle?? How serious are we supposed to take this show when the first two hour show had maybe 2 or 3 legitimate singers? Everyone they showed just stunk. The show will be on again tomorrow and the day after. Each time, they travel to a new city. Each time, there will be two hours of horrible singers embarassing themselves. It's just... lame.

They would be much better served to show us some real talent that may not make it to the final 10. Perhaps it was just the first city they traveled to (Minneapolis) that was totally devoid of talent, but I doubt it. I'll give tomorrows episode a chance for about half an hour, but if its all more of the same, I'll be moving on and not watching anymore until the contestants are paired down to the final 10. Where there is actually some talent and entertaining going on.

And before I forget, does Ryan Seacrest get on anyone elses nerves as much as he does mine?


I think it might be over-exposure, but this dude is hosting Idol (which automatically means he'll be on TV for 3 nights a week for the next 4 months), in commercials and music videos, and most annoyingly, on drive time radio here in Los Angeles every morning. The guy is everywhere. I almost forgot that he dropped that apple in times square for the now "unfit to perform" Dick Clark on "New Year's Rockin' Eve".

I misss the good ol' days with Brian Dunkleman co-hosting the show. Back then you didn't get so much Ryan overkill. Brian kind of leveled him out a little. Took the edge off of the Seacrest express, which is barreling down the tracks and headed your way this television season.

If this guy gets in a movie I'm gonna seriously hurt someone.

Here's to American Idol getting back to basics and featuring hot talented women like Miss Carrie Underwood and Katherine McPhee, and stop with the silly no-talent acts trying to be so terrible that they get on TV for it.

Getting Dunkleman back and saying goodbye to Ryan Seacrest is probably too much to ask for.

Colts And Saints Deserve The Superbowl

Karmicly speaking, the Colts and Saints are shoe-ins to go to the super bowl this season.

“Always the bridesmaid, never the AFC Champion…”

The Colts have long languished as the 2nd best team in the AFC. Playing second fiddle to teams like Pittsburgh and New England. That’s the same Patriots team they will face on Sunday in the AFC Championship game. A game Colts fans everywhere are hoping will finally be the one that will land them in a Super Bowl.

Fresh in Colts fans minds is the disaster at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers a season ago. A fumble by the usually sure-handed Jerome Bettis at the goalline that the Colts recovered and almost returned for a TD were it not for a super human effort by Ben Rothlisberger to make a game saving tackle. A tackle that seemed all the more important after Mike Vanderjagt missed the potential game winning field goal, sending the Colts home again, and the Steelers on to Super Bowl victory.

It seems like only yesterday that these same Colts were playing on a snowy field against New England in the playoffs. Their wide receivers seemingly being mugged with no reprieve from the officials and a blitzing, dogging defense stymieing and frustrating Manning and the Colts who were sent home in defeat, while New England went on to win the Super Bowl.

And don’t get me started on Tom Brady.



Brady has won 3 Super Bowls and was twice named MVP of that game. He has a career 12-1 record in the playoffs and is the fresh faced youngster you can find on the cover of GQ magazine. If he’s not on the cover, check inside. He’s probably in one of the mags many ads, hawking Tag Huer watches or Calvin Klein underwear.






And the latest piece of news from the “what is Tom Brady doing today” front, Tom has recently started dating Brazillian lingerie model Giselle Bundchen. Yeah, the one you’ve seen in all of those Victoria Secret ads. Don’t get me wrong, Brady’s ex Bridget Moynahan was nothing to sneeze at, but this IS a Victoria Secret model we’re talking about here, a trade up in anyone’s book. So yeah, I would have to say that as far as good fortune goes, Brady has had his fair share. It’s definitely Peyton’s turn.



And I thought my ex-girlfriend Katrina was a bitch…

And then there’s New Orleans, which took it first on the chin from Mother Nature, and then from this nation’s emergency preparedness system. As the levy’s broke and the water rose, the nation watched in horror as an entire region was left to fend for itself. The under-represented and marginalized seemingly left behind as so many of us watched on television, powerless to help.

If any people need something to cheer for, something to get behind, it’s the people of New Orleans. The only thing that would be better then that team getting to the super bowl would be actually having the super bowl in New Orleans, but I’m sure they’ll take what they can get.

Did I forget to mention that Brian Urlacher, the captain of the Chicago Bears team that the Saints will face at Soldier Field this Sunday, has been linked to girls like Tara Reid and Paris Hilton?

How much more do guys like Brady and Urlacher want? There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. I mean, unless these guys are saints (the holy type), how much more good fortune and karma can they have stored up? Brazillian lingerie models? Young Hollywood starlets?

Spread some of the love around guys. I’m sure your girlfriends can keep your minds off of the disappointment of the loss. New Orleans and Indianapolis have waited long enough, they could use the trip to the superbowl, and one of them might even get a ring.

Jack Bauer had me at 'hello'...

I have never watched Fox's wildly popular series '24' in the past. I've managed to avoid its clutches for 5 full seasons. That was, until last night...I had forgotten that the premiere was on Sunday and was going about my own business. I called a friend who as it turns out is a '24' junkie:

"Let me call you back when 24 is at commercial..." she said

"Oh yeah, I had forgotten that tonight was the premiere, ca" [click]

So I figured, eh, what the hell, I'll go ahead and check it out. See what all the fuss is about. So there's Jack Bauer, chained up in a chair, the bad guy leaning over him.

AND JACK BAUER ATE HIM!

Ok, well, he didn't eat him. But he did kill him with his teeth, which last I checked, was damn near close to eating someone. He just stopped chewing when dude was dead. Needless to say, I was instantly sold on the show. I plan on renting seasons 1-5 and catching up on what I missed.

I mean, JACK BAUER JUST ATE THAT GUY!

Writers write, right?

And for too long, I haven't been. I'm back. New year, new motivation, same old compulsive attatchment to my computer, keyboard, and the internets. It occurs to me that not only is the exercise of updating this blog cathardic, it's also necessary in the development of my writing accumen and proficiency. So yeah... I'm back... and that's all I have to say about that.

"Without music, life is a journey through a desert"

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Christina in GQ Magazine

She has a new album coming out. And at the risk of being cliche, it's clear the Aguilera publicity machine believes that sex sells records.

They might be right. They might be wrong. I'm not complaining either way.

Cool Summer Music

Well, it's almost summer anyways, enjoy!

Wish I was here...

Maui at sunset.

They don't make'm like they used to

One of the great passions in my life is music. And one of the most influential genres of music (for me) was/is hip hop. Now, don't laugh. I'm serious. Of course, the stuff that they play on the radio now of days can barely be characterized as Hip Hop and it sure the hell isn't music. The genre has fallen off so much that it's really depressing. There are the exceptions, but they really are few and far between, and for every Common and Mos Def, there are 20 50-cents and Paul Wall's.

I guess I was spoiled in college. I think Hip Hop reached its height of popularity and quality in the mid 90's (specifically 1992-1996). I was attending college at the time and needless to say, Hip Hop culture influenced every nuance of my life. People criticize the culture as being violent and masoginistic, but not all Hip Hop is like this. And more importantly, thie genre of music isn't the only one to hold a mirror to the problems of society. And that's really what it is. Real Hip Hop (at its essence) gives inner city youth a voice. A way to express themselves and what they see and live through.

Thanks to my friends at HHE (Hip Hop Elements.COM) I found some old gems from the golden era of Hip Hop. The first is a clip from the Arsenio Hall Show finale that features Yoyo, MC Lyte, Naughty By Nature, A Tribe Called Quest, Fu Schnickens, CL Smooth, Guru, Das EFX, the Wu Tang Clan, KRS One, and Mad Lion.



The next clip is from the classic MTV Show, YO! MTV Raps. It was their 7th anniversary and the last YO! Mtv Raps show ever. They had a freestyle session that is broken into 2 parts below. The freestylers (in order) are Rakim, KRS-One, Eric Sermon, Chubb Rock and MC Search in part 1. Part 2 featured: Redman, Method Man, Extra P, Special Ed, and Craig Mack.

I miss REAL Hip Hop. Here's to hoping that it makes a comeback.

My end is my beginning...

...With all apologies to Mary I of Scottland, this phrase does not make me think of 16th century history (it's the title of Mary's autobiography). Instead, I equate this phrase with a symbol. That symbol is called an Ouroboros and it represents the cyclical nature of life and the essence of our very existence. I'm getting ahead of myself though, so let me back up and start from the beginning... or is it the end?

I was visiting various blogs, as I have been apt to do since starting this one, when I came across a particular post at a site named thptpth . The title of the post was "I am a snake head eating the head on the opposite side". Thanks to my buddy Mike (co-owner of the very cool business Anahuak Designs) I know that this symbol is called an Ouroboros. Just about every culture that has ever existed on this earth has had its own version of the Ouroboros (regardless of continent or time in which the civilization thrived). The Aztec version looks something like this:


the ancient Egyptians (independent of the aztecs) created this symbol:

here's the Japanese version, Pre 1400.


How can so many different cultures create the same symbol independently of each other? What is it about this symbol that speaks to so many divergent cultures on all sides of the globe? The answer has to do with the very nature of our existence.

The Ouroboros has several meanings interwoven into it. The serpent biting, devouring, eating its own tail symbolizes the cyclical nature of the universe. Creation out of destruction, life out of death. The snake eating its own tail to sustain its own life, in a neverending routine of renewal.

You need only look around to see the symbollic connotations: The cyclical nature of the seasons, the oscillations of the night sky, the rising and cesation of the tides, the revolutions of our earth, our joys, our sorrows, our successes, our triumphs our births, and our deaths. The idea that the beginning and the end are a continuous unending principal.

If you take these connotations and the influences we draw from them to their logical conclusion, how can't we live our lives with empathy and kind consideration for our fellow man? The Ouroboros, the universal symbol of life and death for all cultures is a symbol of the eternal unity of all things. It represents the totality of our existence, being born from nature, we mirror it, because it is what man wholly is a part of. These eternal principles, in their broadest sense, are symbolic of time and the continuity of life.

"By constantly consuming its own tail its a kind of bittersweet meditation on human life, reflecting hope in the immortal existence of the spirit while simultaneously referring to the cycles of birth, death, pain and loss that form the crux of the physical life in which the spirit finds itself." -Br. Matthew Vicar, Apostolic Gnostic Church in America

Regardless of your personal beliefs, the ultimate truth of this symbol and what it represents, permeates our very existence. It is not contradictory to gnostic beliefs, contrary to what most may think. Like the cross Jesus died on, the Ouroboros is a paradoxical symbol. An instrument of death becomes a sign of life, much like the destructive action of eating itself ultimately sustains the serpent in the Ouroboros.

To us Gnostics, this speaks about what Jesus taught us, that to gain eternal life we must in some fundamental way experience a "death to the world" and to physicality – not, of course, the bodily death that we all eventually will experience, but more fundamentally a spiritual death in which, as Lao-Tzu might say, we "make small our desires" and direct both our bodies and our minds to the work of the spirit, through the fundamental Gnostic moral principles of moderation, right intention, and non-harm. -Br. Matthew Vicar

You need only to look around you to see how this symbol permeates our daily lifes. Do these things look familiar to you?

The Ouroboros

Davinci

Zodiac

Clock


The Earth

The Milky Way Galaxy is the inspiration for the symbol of the Ouroboros. Myth refers to a serpent of light residing in the heavens. The Milky Way is this serpent, and viewed at galactic central point near Sagittarius, this serpent eats its own tail.

Did someone say FREE?

Gnarls Barkley is set to perform this weekend at the 2006 Coachella Music Festival. Before they take the stage in Coachella, however, word through the grapevine (thanks Heleen) is that DJ Dangermouse and Cee-Lo will be putting on a FREE concert in Los Angeles on Friday, April 28th.

The concert will take place at the Roxy theater in Hollywood. Doors open at 7pm and the line (according to the folks at the Roxy) will begin at 12 noon. There will be no bracelets or other raffle for tickets, it's strictly first come, first served basis.

"Learn to dream with one eye open"

Ashes and Snow is the ongoing project of canadian artist Gregory Colbert. It combines photographic works, 35mm films, art installations and a novel of letters to breach the boundaries of "modern man and the totemic animals that touch our spirit." The photos are truly breathtaking, as is the Nomadic museum, the 45,000 square foot structure that houses the show. It was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and is made up of shipping containers and paper tubing, which means it can only be installed at shipping ports. According to the design sheet, the museum is “67-foot-wide by 672-foot-long.”

The exhibit is currently at the Santa Monica pier through May 14th (tickets are $15) and if you live in the area I highly suggest you see it. The images and message are breathtaking.

"In exploring the shared language and poetic sensibilities of all animals, I am working towards rediscovering the common ground that once existed when people lived in harmony with animals. The images depict a world that is without beginning or end, here or there, past or present." - Gregory Colbert

"The power of the images comes less from their formal beauty than from the way they envelop the viewer in their mood... They are simply windows to a world in which silence and patience govern time." - New York Times

Colbert traveled for 15 years collecting the content that makes up his exhibition. He participated in expeditions in places like India, Egypt, Burma, Tonga, Sri Lanka, Namibia, Kenya, Antartica and Borneo. Colbert didn't save all of his artful touch for his exhibit. The webpage connected to his work at http://www.ashesandsnow.org/ is truly remarkable. Make sure you have the latest FLASH player installed and are on a broadband internet connection before visiting the site.

Cavemen angered by comments, demand retraction

I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize for my comments in the Jessica Alba post I had made on April 24th. In my rashness I made the following disparaging remarks:

"PS - Jessica if you happen to stumble upon my site, I'd like to thank you for helping out my cause. Unlike these other cavemen, I love you for your sparkling wit and intelligence."

The cavemen have agreed to not press charges as long as I print this retraction. I had no idea anyone was even reading this blog, much less willing to litigate the matter.

They also asked that I publish another Jessica Alba picture (as have others). I'm never one to deny my reader's requests.

Dangermouse + Cee-Lo = Crazy

More specifically, they equal Gnarls Barkley and they're here to bring something hip hop hasn't seen in a while: a sound that is fresh and new. These two guys are making truly beautiful music and if the US release of their album "St. Elsewhere"(set to be released May 9 by Atlantic/Downtown Records) is as successful as the album has been in the UK, the hip hop genre may be in for a big change. True hip hop heads and those in the know have heard of these two before.

Danger Mouse (real name: Brian Burton) created a "mash-up" of the Beatles' so-called White Album and rapper Jay-Z's "The Black Album." Calling it "The Grey Album," that marriage of disparate genres became a watershed event in hip-hop. As a result, Burton was tapped to produce the conceptual rock-dub band Gorillaz's second album, "Demon Days," for which he received a Grammy nomination.

Cee-Lo aka Cee-Lo Green (born Thomas Calloway) is best known for his work with the hip hop group Goodie Mob. Among Cee-Lo's solo hits are the singles "Closet Freak" (2002) and "I'll Be Around" (2003), produced by and featuring Timbaland.

Check out the video to the first single off of the upcoming Album, entitled "Crazy". And when the album drops on May 9th, GO COP IT! Support REAL HIP HOP and GOOD MUSIC in general people!
Happy Easter

Happy Birthday Apu!... and Chief Wiggum... and Comic Book Guy...

Janam Din ki badhai!(I'm told that means happy birthday in Hindi) and best wishes go out to Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. Now of course, it's not REALLY Apu's birthday, but it is Hank Azaria's who turns 42 today and is the Emmy Award Winning voice of Apu. He has provided the voices for over 160 characters on the show including those of Moe Szyslak, Police Chief Clancy Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Cletus, Professor Frink and Snake.

Azaria's most famous character, however, is the beloved Apu. He is the proprietor of the Kwik-E-Mart (a subsidiary of Nordyne Defense Dynamics), the local convenience store. Apu has more episodes revolving around him than any other minor Simpsons character. Apu is married to his wife Manjula, who bore octuplets:(with assumed stage names) [their names when Springfield changed its name to Liberty-ville]:

* Poonam (Dazzle) [Apple Pie]
* Sashi (the rest)[Pepsi]
* Pria (the rest) [Manifest Destiny]
* Uma (the rest) [Condoleezza]
* Anoop (Animal) [Superman]
* Sandeep (Punchline) [Lincoln]
* Nabendu (the rest) [Coke]
* Gheet (The Baron) [Freedom]

In contrast to the generally buffoon-like idiots that inhabit Springfield, Apu is educated and far more knowledgeable about American history:

Homer: Are you sure you don’t want to come? In a civil war re-enactment we need lots of Indians to shoot.
Apu: I don’t know what part of that sentence to correct first.

Proctor: All right, here’s your last question. What was the cause of the Civil War?
Apu: Actually, there were numerous causes. Aside from the obvious schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists, there were economic factors, both domestic and inter–
Proctor: Wait, wait… just say slavery.
Apu: Slavery it is, sir.

Happy Birthday Hank! And in the immortal words of Apu: "Thank you, come again!"