It's time for relaxation

2005 was pretty hectic, to say the very least. I'm kicking it for now...do the same. Best for 06 potna.

Honey

This is such a good album.
Jams.
Not to mention how pleasing to the eye the album cover is.
Listen, and you will be inundated with a stack o samples...

If I could slow you down sometime/I'd like to try and change your mind/You're really not the one to blame/You sweet, sticky thing/

Stop Snitching Press Conference

Media Advisory

What: Project Islamic HOPE & a coalition of L.A community
family members who have lost children to gang violence
will launch a city wide campaign to ask store
owners to remove and stop selling shirts with
the slogans " Stop Snitching " in their stores.

When: Monday: Dec 19th 2005

Time: 11:00 AM

Where: 4000 Crenshaw Blvd ( King & Crenshaw )

Why? "The highest rates of homicides due to gang violence
occur in South Los Angeles Ca, "The stop Snitching"
message that is being promoted in our community and
nationally on these T-shirts are a form of intimidation
to potential witnesses who may have seen or have
knowledge of a murder or violent act that was
committed. We want these offensive shirts removed
stated Najee Ali, of Project Islamic H.O.P.E.

Sponsors: Project Islamic H.O.P.E
The National Action Network( NAN)
Mothers of Murdered Children

Contact: (323 )769-5267 www.islamichope.org
Project Islamic H.O.P.E ( Najee Ali)

BUSH ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY!!??

Check out what GW said...

Bush: Iraq invasion my responsibility

Oh, I Heard About That.

The Treasury Dept. is blocking Cuba from playing in the WBC.

That means Cuba can't play in the "highly anticipated" inaugural World Baseball Classic. When is our Government going to reconcile with Cuba? (After Castro dies, blah blah blah). The Cold War is OVER! We WON! The most sad thing about this is I'm not surprised. Cuba should be able to send a team to the WBC. The fact that our Government is casually tainting an event that is, among other things, celebrating our "National Pastime" with the world is terrible. Another sign that our Gov. has its priorities mixed up...

What MLB says about it

Note: I'm a big fan of baseball. I am looking forward to the WBC. I hope the US Gov. changes its position on this issue- so formal.

Still thinking about it. (Of course.)

Photo Credit: AP/File, retrieved from www.streetgangs.com

I'm still thinking about the further destruction of the word "justice" that has occurred because of the execution of Stanley Williams. Justice is solely(just) based on "just" and that only means "upholding the law" it seems. Can someone please explain to me the mission of these prisons that we spend hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain and expand? Reformation...

Haha. Are there those of us who still believe that is what it is about? What do these prisons care for reformation? Or rehabilitation? Let us not digress with things that are already so blatant to those of us who understand, those of use who care, those of us who can make a difference.

Indeed, Tookie "CO-founded" the Crips, one of many gangs that have existed, and will continue to exist, throughout human history. The Crips are particularly notorious because of their standing in recent socio-cultural 'arenas of dialogue', throughout the WORLD. The United States' Media pervades any country with any sort of media market, underground included. Think about everyone who knows Snoop Doggy Dogg, Monster, Daz...that's enough, movies like Boyz n The Hood, I mean must I explain?

...

Tookie represented all I can conceive of reformation, in liberal society's terms (stop associating the word "liberal" with the "American Democratic Party"). How can you blame a young man for creating a group, no matter what the reason, of other young men?Yes...They rebelled. They did what they wanted-let the "blonde beast" come out. I am in no way defending the actions of Crips in general. It seems that some view Mr. Williams' execution as some sort of retribution for all the crimes that the Crips have committed. How disgusting. One can imagine it from a dreadful red perspective, "Jesus must be held responsible for all of the sins that the people in the group he 'CO-founded' committed". Stuck in the swamp.

Turn *pick up the needle (noise)* table.

There were many who mobilized to show that they supported clemency for Mr. Williams in California. Even more mobilized to show that they believe Mr. Williams had reformed. The message he has worked hard to disseminate over the past ten years-- Anti-Gang, Anti-Drug-- seems to gain a level of justice that should have "allowed" (WHO, WHAT, _____ has ordained a person this right?) us to keep Mr. Williams alive...Truly what a tragedy.

Some more about Mr. Williams execution, and the outrage that it has sparked amongst many different groups.

Europeans express outrage over Williams execution

What a debate! Where do you stand? Even in the traditionally liberal San Francisco Bay Area, there was no clear majority stance. The amount that have expressed "satisfaction" (implying pleasure...?!) with his execution seems to equal the amount that have expressed "sadness" (including shock, emptiness, and contemplation). Unfortunately, but hardly surprising, most people don't seem to care.

Are we headed in the direction of nothingness? Nihilism? Willing something, willing nothingness?

RIP Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor passes away at the age of 65. He died of a heart attack. Not only will I remember him for his comedy, I'll also remember him for his role in the Mack. My thoughts are with those who loved him.

Pathbreaking Comedian Richard Pryor Dies

JT Snow, it's sad that you're not a Giant anymore.

All I can say is I respect JT Snow. He's a gentleman, businessman, and familyman...all character traits I respect. I wish him the best of luck.

Not Good.

This definately does not look good, how much more can we allow our reputation to slide? This is extremeley unsettling for me. What do we not know? Not just about torture, about other aspects of the Gov.

US has been blocking the Red Cross from seeing certain prisoners.

That's not the type of action I want to have representing me in the international arena, seriously people?! How can this be so passive in our media? How are we as Americans not disgusted? I'm not talking to we really, where are all those that belive in evil right now? You red ones.

How about the Social Security System and Medicaid benefits? Y'all been listening to Greenspan?

Crippling.

Try to end positive...
You can do something good today.
What is good you say?

There is going to be a World Series of Baseball.

Seriously,

Action.

Save Tookie

I know I already told most of you, but in cased you missed it...Tookie Williams is about to be executed, Terminated by the Terminator. That's F$%K#$ on so many different levels. This man has written about the negative aspects of the lifestyle he used to live that implicated him with events that landed him in prison. More importantly though is that he is able to do this with a large level or respect, indeed he is a co-founder of the Crips.

Executing this man will accomplish absolutely nothing as far as I know. There is no justice, only ironically ominous feelings.

Join Us and Do Something

World of Possibilities

This week has been a busy one for lots of us, especially those in academia. This is a nice, true story about a person who followed their "heart" and chose the unconventional path. He is not long out of high school, long decided not to attend college, half way across the world in (several parts of) Asia, and expanding the groundwork for a non-profit organization that he has started called the "World of Possibilities." I can't tell you how much I respect Wolfe Price for what he has done, is doing, and will continue to do...

Here's a little about what World of Possibilities will do

World of Possibilities empowers less fortunate teens to choose compassion over crime by volunteering globally to change the world and change themselves.

World of Possibilities will send Bay Area teens aged 14 to 20 overseas to volunteer in orphanages and teach English in countries with famine and AIDS. The non-profit will help neglected teens with hardships; teens with deadbeat Dads, teens on drugs who want to stop, promiscuous teens, and any young adult who has fallen by the wayside to spread their wings and fly to the tune of their own heartbeat. The programs take young adults out of a bad situation to become confident and strong seeing themselves be effective in the world by helping others and being part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Source: World of Possibilities website, url below. I hope you check it out, I strongly support this kind of program and hope to make that even more explicit in the future.

World of Possibilities website

So What Do YOU think About This?

Read the Story from the BBC.

CIA flights 'landed in Germany'

MY COMMENTS.
First of all, there really isn't anything surprising about CIA flights landing in Germany. The US military has been in Germany for half a century, our intelligence agents have been in and out of there for years, and the US and Germany have enjoyed a special relationship in regards like this for a long time. Indeed, there are these allegations of illegal prisoner torture. As I've previously said many times, if the CIA is guilty of these particular charges, for they have been accused and guilty before, I will be revolted.
Why then has the CIA not come forward about what they were transporting or doing on these flights, etc? It is an INTELLIGENCE agency, its nature is to be covert, we know only so much about what they are up to in that organization. I mean this in all practicality.
I will never forget Nicaragua. I will never forget Iraq and Iran. I will never forget Vietnam. I will never forget Gary Webb.
Peace y'all.

Soul Imperialist Breaking a Story for Me

Lee Quinones, aka Lee, biked from NY to Miami in 35 days to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. You have to respect that.

Find The Post titled "A Brooklyn Artist"

Writerz Guild Wednesdays!!!

Photo Credit: Note to self, ask Unbeknownst.

The always fresh musiCali Writerz Guild is now playing every Wednesday in San Francisco at the El Rincon (location: 16th & Harrison) I'll see if I can get a flyer here soon.

Today

Toodaaay, I feel like pleeeasiing yooou moore than beefore...

To be living for yooou is aaalllll I waaant to do...

*saxaphone*

...

...

It's for the deejays & producers, A Something artsy Mike plays lots everywhere! T.R.O.Y.