Coretta Scott King

Upon learning of her death, I had to set up a post. Its just too despressing to write anything further... Rest in Peace...

deus ex machina -- n: 1. In ancient Greek and Roman drama, a god introduced by means of a crane to unravel and resolve the plot. 2. Any active agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty

"Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated"
---- Coretta Scott King

Fear of a Black Jesus??

So last week, Sundance introduced a film entitled "Son of Man", a South African film that portrays Jesus as an African revolutionary and Mary as a virgin who argues with the angels. Director Mark Dornford-May asserts, ""We wanted to look at the gospels as if they were written by spin doctors and to strip that away and look at the truth...We have to accept that Christ has been hijacked a bit -- he's gone very blond-haired and blue-eyed". It slaways nice to see people interpreting and analyzing images that have been co-opted for so long. I'm definitely going to see this film and I suggest you all do the same!

comity -- n: A state of mutual harmony, friendship, and respect, especially between or among nations or people; civility.
comity of nations -- n: 1. The courteous recognition by one nation of the laws and institutions of another.2. The group of nations observing international comity.

"We must learn to be still in the midst of activity and vibrantly alive in repose"
----indira ghandi

R.I.P. Wilson Pickett

Last night, my beloved Wilson Pickett passed away at 64 years young of a heart attack. "In the Midnight Hour" was one of the first soul songs that I can consciously remember pervading my household in my youth and on those three hour trips to visit my grandparents in Northern Louisiana. I grew up an 80s baby and soul and gospel music pervaded my house. The timbre of his voice and the depth of his soul reminds me of of my childhood. I will miss him...

confrere -- n: a fellow member of a fraternity or profession; a colleague; a comrade; an intimate associate

"The end of all education should surely be service to others. We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about the progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others."
-Cesar Chavez

Books, Books and More Books

So I was looking at Maryann's website last night and she had a great idea --- Book-itz 2006. The way I understand it, the people who participate have to create a list of books that they want to read for this year. So i have done just that. I have created a list of books that I have been wanting to read for the longest time. It sabout 50 or 51 titles. I just finished Danzy Senna's Caucasia which was really good and now I'm reading J.R. Moehringer's The Tender Bar. So far so good with The Tender Bar. Its so well written and its a poignant and engaging read. More on the book when I finish. I encourage all my fellow bibliophiles to go to here and create your own book list. It would be great to create a list of notable books that we could read and suggest to each other.

diktat -- n: 1. A harsh settlement unilaterally imposed on a defeated party 2. An authoritative decree or order

"The end of all education should surely be service to others. We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about the progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others."
-Cesar Chavez

Battery's Not Included

So I found this poem on this website and I really liked so I decided to make it the post of the day:

"Battery's Not Included"

I’ve taken a vow of poetic non-silence
To disavow and correct
a sense of domestic violence.
The Palm Pilot I write with guides this
as it strikes its latent surface.
So to stop hits, I’ll drop this.
When the cops miss, I’ll admonish…
Battery topics are catastrophic
when they break the circuit.

Somewhere along the Alpha line
Some primates crossed the alkaline.
Some men are satisfied
smacking and being rude to women.
I don’t care how much acid she spits,
NO woman EVER asks to be hit…
No woman wants to match bruises
of blackened blueness with hues of crimson.

To operate relationships,
the battery’s not included.
If he stomps you into disgracefulness
–such flattery’s abusive.
Let me gladly stop the foolishness –real men don’t bruise or hit their better halves.
And just so you know,
that pink bunny he gave you
Can’t excuse being a beating dummy
to channel his rage through…
As long as he tramples his way through
–such kinetics can never last.

Whether an internal bruise or verbal abuse,
You’d best believe it’s still hurtin’ you.
Certain brutes choose rudeness
to influence their ladies’ worth.
Undermining the treasure within women
Un-designs their measure suspended in gems…
As the extent of such men upends them
with hateful words.

Such emotional scars left
run deeper than the physical.
Such vocal alarms set
leave discreet residuals.T
hey’re completely pivotal
as they load interior bombs set.I
f this is his tune –
dislocate him from your hips.
If dude berates you like a b*tch
You ought to replace him by the pitch
of his inferior complex.

Even worse, there should be
no quicker way to draw a charge
Than when liquor plays a part
in battery – small or large.
Cell units should foster and guard
them if AA’s part of their past.
Alcohol only worsens the scenario
As amalgam brawls merge with barley flows…
Only sorry bros spar their souls’
match once they’ve left the bar smashed.

Whether abusive drunks or unruly punks,
These men should use a ‘rule of thumb.’
Though disproved by some
–its lore should be viable for some.
It states that women can’t
get hit by a blunter source
Than anything wider
than a thumb of force…
So whether she’s collided
with one punch or four
–she’s liable to shake, slide him and run.

Sadly though, when females’
strength is beaten out of them
With strategy blows detailed
by heathens that pound them,
There’s a power outage
expounded by cowards
who assault their worth.
As they’re allowed to devour
our brightest sparks,
They sour our women’s timeless marks…
It’s high time they’re tossed
– lest they trample afoot
the true salt of the earth.

--- Reggie Legend

outre -- adj:Unconventional; eccentric; bizarre

"The end of all education should surely be service to others. We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about the progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others."
---Cesar Chavez

Its a Boy

(This isn't a picture of our baby but isn't it the cutest little boy!!!)

Although its not the best situation in the world, my cousin Jay's baby mama ( I guess this is the appropriate word now) just gave birth to my second cousin Jayce Gerald Leonard a few hours ago. Despite the situation, I feel that a child is a reason to celebrate. I love babies so I'm excited. I think my sister and I are going to drive over there tomorrow! Welcome to the world Jayce!

buss -- n: a kiss; a playful kiss; a smack; transitive verb:to kiss; especially to kiss with a smack

"I always knew I was destined for greatness" --- Oprah Winfrey

I'm Back

So I am back from a semi-long hiatus. Christmas break and New Year's were good. I am ready to make this year prosperous, successful and hopefully financially lucrative. I have some of my first work published on popmatters in the film, TV, and DVD segments so I'm glad to start the year off with my first official publishing...I hope the year will bring the same prosperity to you all!

carapace -- n: 1. The thick shell that covers the back of the turtle, the crab, and other animals 2. Something likened to a shell that serves to protect or isolate from external influence

"I always knew I was destined for greatness" --- Oprah Winfrey

New Year's Resolutions

So I have decided to make my annual New Year's Resolution List. After eating the traditional greens and black-eyed peas, I make my list. Last year I got pretty far and this year I hope to complete it.

1. Take care of finances
2. Finish Book and find a publisher
3. Learn Spanish
4. Take up martial arts
5. Take on huge risk
6. Get fit
7. Go to Vegas
8. Go somewhere abroad
9. Take up yoga
10. Learn about another religion

sine qua non -- n. an essential condition or element; an indespensible thing

"I always knew I was destined for greatness" --- Oprah Winfrey