Hey Everybody.  What's goindg on?  So my birthday is in one more week.  I am thinking positive and telling myself that all the folks that say they are going to share in the happiness of my 30th birthday will actually show up. 

I usually don't post on the weekends b/c life is commanding so much of my other attention but believe it or not, I found a free moment.  It's pretty quiet around the house b/c my husband and I argued until there was nothing else meaningful to say.  About what, you ask...washing the  dishes.  So trivial I know but hey in the end, I didn't have to clean up everthing myself and he actually helped by washing the dishes.  Yes, I still cooked dinner, bathed and dressed our child, combed her hair, dumpted the trash, cleaned the bedroom and bathroom, and currently have laundry going.  But he is walking around like King of the Jungle b/c he did the dishes.  But you know what they say, "baby steps."  In the meantime, I just breathe.

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Last night we went to Legacy Books and Cafe to watch a boxing match.  It was Miguel Cotto and Sugar Shane Mosley.  The fight went down at Madison Square Garden (the big house!).  It was a good azz fight.  Cotto was able to win the fight and keep his belt, but it was close.  I honestly think Sugar Shane had him, but I wasn't judging was I?  Speaking of judging, the crazy thing was  one of the actual judges had only judged 2 fights prior to last night.  Now that was crazy.  Cotto is 27 and Mosley is 36 so I guess age really "ain't nothin but a number"

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While at Legacy I ended up seeing a guy who used to live in my college dorm, George.  He had to be one of the first people I met at MU b/c we got to the dorms around the same time.  I recall coining him as somebody that wanted to let people know what he had (or what his parents had) and where he came from, etc.  That mindset was all new to me b/c I came from the country where folks already knew your business.  I wasn't up on the latest bragging and boasting but I soon learned that many of my other fellow MU students had this art mastered as well.  All that aside, he was cool people but I must say that Saturday night was my second time running into him.  The first time was about a year ago and he was with a chic and I smiled and approached him as if I was going to say hi, how are you, etc.  (you know, the regular niceties) but he immediately gave off a nonchalant wave so you know that was my que to make my next move my best move and keep on keepin on.  Well, he decided to speak last night and I don't get caught up in petty mess so I greeted him kindly and he gave me a hug.  At that point I felt obligated to introduce him to Myron.  Well Myron was eating wings and fries and looked like he could care less who I was talking too.  It was so funny, he gave George the pound with his elbow and turned back around to his plate. CLASSIC

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So the Rams actually decided to show up today.  They currently have a huge lead of New Orleans.  It's the 4th quarter and the score is 34 to 7.  Why couldn't they play like that when we went to the game?  I guess they won't be 0-16 afterall.   Speaking of football, the Mizzou football club is still whoopin azz and taking names. The tigers had two touchdown scoring plays and held Texas A&M to one TD to pull off a 40-26 victory at home.  This makes their record (9-1, 5-1 Big 12.) This is the Tigers' best season since 1969.  Now 69, that was a good year...teeheehee.  I can't wait for them to play Kansas.  I might have to take a road trip for that one. 

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Last night while getting ready for the fight, Myron was like, "And don't get all dressed up..."  So I had to ask him to expand on that.  He said I wear heels too much and makeup and basically all the stuff that caught his attention when he met me and still tends to catch the attention of other guys too.  He wanted me to wear a little t-shirt and some tennis shoes....yeah right, on a Saturday night.  WHATEVER.  So then he told me nevermind and to completley ignore his statement, funny.  With that said, I want to bring y'all up to speed on this fall's fashion must haves and faux paus.

One, this fall the shoe boot is in full force and the pointed stilletto hill is out. 

No more triple layering shirts on top of shirts on top of shirts.  This makes even the slimmest chic start to look frumpy.  Well, now it's all about the more tailored 1940s and 1920s look. 

Also, the big belt has survived another season and we will continue to see this accesory hugging the waist of trendsetters around the globe.

You don't have to be in kindergarten to rock fun tights any longer.  Opaque tights are a must have this season.  But please leave the right mod inspired beads at home.  I know, I know you have beads, bracelets, and earrings in every color from white, red, blue, orange,  yellow, neon green (shall I go on), but those days are gone, retire them now and save some face.

This fall's accessories are all about bold and gold.  Put that silver away and go for the gold.  Atleast  that's what the fashion experts are crying.

So you can take heed to these fashion do's and don'ts or you can be like me and wear what the hell you want to wear. 

 

Smooches

 

 

 

 

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Hey Cybernista's.  I am so frustrated right now because I just lost my entire blog post and I am starting over from scratch.  I hope I can remember it all.  I said Got Dayum!  So anyways, what's crackin?  My birthday is November 19th, Monday.  I will be 30 and I can't believe it.  Lord willing, I will survive my 20s and do the dayum thing in my 30s.  As you see in the invite above (that your's truly created, u like?) I am trying to pull together friends to meet up with me and celebrate my milestone birthday over good drinks, good company, and I'm just trying to have a cool time and kick it and have fun.   I haven't ironed out the details regarding what venue I want to kick it at.  My friends and I have been brainstorming.  Should it be the Central West End?  Maybe we should roll Downtown.  Or who knows, there is nothing like your neighborhood juke joint.  Have you been to a banging birthday celebration.  Where was it.  What did you do.  Give me ideas.

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My daughter and I went to the movies last Sunday to see Jerry Seinfeld's and Renee Zellweggers' Bee Movie.  It was really cute.  It was about a unique Bee, Berry, who decided he didn't want to spend the rest of his life working like a busy bee, making honey until he died.  So he ventured out into the real world and discovered that humans are actually stealing their honey and making a profit without kicking them down a dime. 
So he goes to court to sue humans.  There is also a really good lesson regarding the bee shortage, pollination, and what happens when all bees are gone (basically we will all eventually die.)  But check this out, I guess life imitate art (or vice versa) b/c a company named Beeceuticals, which makes cosmetics and skin care products made of organic honey, is suing Dreamworks.  In the Bee Movie, the main message was "give bees a chance" well apparently this is the trademarked slogan for Beeceuticals.  The owner of the company is Howard Stern's cousin and the phrase has been used in conjunction with the Beeceuitcal products on Stern's satellite radio show hundreds of times.  So here we go with the real legal battle.  Humans are now suing the BEE [movie] for stealing their stuff and making a profit, while in the movie the Bee was suing the human.  Wierd, I know???

Also during our movie trip I had to teach my daughter how to sneak snacks into the theatre so you don't have to spend 30 bucks at the concession stand.  We went to the dollar tree and got 40 cent canned sodas, fruit snacks, pretzels, and candy.  I had my big purse and luckily she is a little fashionista and likes to keep a purse on her arm too (yes, she's 6-yrs old, I know).

Well, I made her put her own snacks in her purse.  WHAT?  If we got caught, I wasn't going to be the only person going down.  So I decided to do a trial run b/c you know some workers have gotten smart.  For instance, it is almost impossible to get free cake at a restaurant any more based on the lie that it is your kid's birthday.  When you tell them it's your kid's b-day they have no problem ignoring you and looking your kid in the eye and asking them if today is actually their birthday (you know the hero type, like it's coming out of their pocket...teeheehee). 

So I role played with my baby before we got to the ticket guy.  I was like, "You aren't going to get any popcorn or snacks today, little girl?" and she was like "No, I have snacks in my purse."  WRONG ANSWER.  So I asked her again more slowly and winked my eye knowingly this time.  And her eyes got big and she was like,"Ooooh noooo, I won't be having any snacks today, thank you."  That girl learns quick.

All in all it was a really goofy experience and we both were giggling and laughing.  She always says she wishes I was 6 because she knows we would have been really good friends (umm, yeah, she is me when I was six, she just doesn't know it.)

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Holla at your girl!  It's my birthday.

Smooches.

 

Hey Cybernistas.  Come on it, take off ur cool. 


Can you believe it is almost November?  I can't, but I do turn 30 next month.  My birthday is November 19th.  I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do to celebrate.  Since it is less than a month away and I have yet to start planning anything, it will probably be a whopping NOTHING.  Let me know what you did to celebrate your big 3-0.  Maybe I can bite off of your ideas.

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This past weekend I did not go to Columbia.  Many of the folks that I hoped would attend couldn't make it for one reason or another so I hung out in the Lou.  It's so hard to round up all your college crew for a weekend b/c everyone is all scattered around doing their career-thing.  I'm not mad, but we must get together soon!

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I did get to experience a bit of Mizzou nostalgia at a wedding I attended last Saturday.

  Miss Chantelle Fluker (now Evans) had a beautiful wedding at Ameristar casino .

(I didn't even know they had the facilities to host a wedding  but they do and it was beautiful).  Of course everyone trickled down to the casino when it was over.  I didn't b/c I am not into giving away money, but to each his own. 

There were quite a few familiar faces from MU at the wedding.  None that I was ever hella cool with, but familiar nonetheless.  It was cool to see everyone again, and see how everyone has changed, and whatnot.

So best wishes to Chantelle and Chris Evans as they embark on their new lifelong journey together.  He goes to Iraq in a couple of months so keep him in your prayers.  Also, Chantelle planned her own wedding, Weddings by Lareese, is her business name.  So if you are looking for a wedding planner, holla at ur girl and I can get you the info.

My friend Regina was in the wedding, so I kicked it with her quite a bit at the bachelorette party and wedding.  It was good to get to see her and hang out b/c it has been a while.  We have this ongoing joke that everyone says that her and her husband look like me and my husband.  I guess it's true, people feel most comfortable around those who look like them???

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So in my personal life, I have turned over a new leaf.  I am going to try to go the Noble route instead of the wish-creed route.  Instead of walking around with the I wish a mutha*** would *** with me philosophy, I'm just going to go by the "whatever it is, let it be" creed.  It has really been working well for me.  I just started this last week and it is challenging but I refuse to let anyone upset me.  That is my decision and my decision alone.  I have really been putting it to use when dealing with my "other half" at the crib.  We get on each other's nerves all the time, and I'm not going to argue about who didn't hang something up, or who washed dishes, or who left the light on or any other trivial crap.  It's just now worth it.  I'll have to keep you posted on my progress.  My biggest fear is that I play this noble-girl role for a month and then on week 5 I blow the hell up and just unleash brining up all the crap that I wished I had commented on over the past month and really mess things up.  So please send positive energy my way.  I will just try to keep telling myself, cooler heads prevail!   Remember...He who angers you controls you...and all that good stuff.

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Speaking of not letting other people control your emotions: Tonight at the Missouri History Musuem Jabari Aasim, author of  "The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who shouldn't, and Why," will discuss national and local issues regarding using derogatory language and its impact.  This should be quite the interesting discussion.  Of course there will be a book signing after the discussion.  Books are available for purchase in the MO History museum's shop.  The Mo History Museum is located in Forest Park.  The event is free to attend and will be held tonight from 6-8pm. 

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One of my old English professors, Clenora Hudson-Weems, used to do a hellified presentation on the history of the N-bomb, how it was a positive term based on the latin origin of the word which means black.  The term didn't originate as a racial slur but over time was converted into a derogatory comment as recent as the last couple hundred years.  She also talks about how black people have reclaimed it and have chosen to convert it back to its original form of endearment.  I know she would be pissed at me now for writing this b/c she specifically instructed us to not retell this information, and if anyone wanted to know about it they needed to contact her directly because (and I quote) "nobody is going to be able to explain it better than me and you are just going to sound crazy" but oh well, I guess I'm hard headed. 

Look up Clenora, she's all over the web.  She is definitely known for her book and research regarding the death of Emmit Till and how that act (instead of Rosa Parks) was the true catalyst to the civil rights movement.  Rosa Parks was chosen to go down in American history as the catalyst b/c it was much more acceptable for a lil' lady too tired to give up her seat as opposed to a child from Chicago, visiting his family in Mississippi, who made the mistake of whistling at a pretty caucasion lady, Carolyn Bryant, and later was kidnapped from bed in the middle of the night from the home of his relatives, brutally tortured, mutilated and murdered by several men in Money, MS.  I do believe he was only 14.  It's really something, so learn your history.  It's not just black history, the last time I checked Mississippi was in America, so it's American history.

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Obama to visit St. Louis this Friday.

Obama will be in St. Louis this Friday at the Union Station South Parking Lot for a fundraising campaign event. Recently, Obama has been receiving backlash from gay rights groups urging Obama to sever his ties with gospel singer, Donnie McClurkin. The gay rights groups are upset because McClurkin is spreading "false information" regarding homosexuality being a choice. McClurkin has been quoted as saying in interviews that: "I don't believe that it is the intention of God, Sexuality, everything is a matter of choice." He was also quoted as saying he does not believe in discriminating against homosexuals and... "What people do in their bedrooms and who they are as human beings are two different things."

Donnie McClurkin is among several gospel   singers scheduled to raise money for the Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate at a concert in South Carolina this weekend. According to the Post Dispatch,in a statement, Obama said he believes gays and lesbians are "our brothers and sisters" and should be afforded the same respect, dignity and rights granted all other citizens.

McClurkin is a Grammy Award winner who performed at the Republican National Convention in 2004. At that time McClurkin admitted he was "once involved with those [homosexual] desires and those thoughts," which he attributed to being raped at 8 and 13. "That's what thrust me into it, and then God delivered me from that and gave me back who I really am and my true purpose," McClurkin said. To date, Obama hasn't confirmed whether or not McClurkin will still take part in the concert this weekend.

Is Obama dancing with fire? I mean realistically speaking, first he is definitely eliminating the religious rights vote by embracing homosexuality and then he turns around and pisses off gay rights folks too. That's going to be a hard one to swallow  (no pun intended...teeheehee) src="http://images.bravenet.com/common/images/smilies/17_wink.gif">

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So you all know that St. Louis is a hotbed that birthed many of our greatest musicians.

One in particular, Chuck Berry, will be performing next weekend, Nov. 3rd at the Argosy Casino.  My folks, Ma'at, reported that this may be his last performance.  I think it is fitting that Berry is performing at the Casino b/c he has been spotted on many occasions hanging in the high rollers level (the level us broke folks can't get to unless we know someone that has it like that and invites us up to eat and drink off of all of their comps).  He is difficult to spot, to the unknowing eye, but just keep an eye out for a sailors cap (I think that's his good luck charm) and yep, that's him, ol C.B. in the flesh.

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The word is out for all you Cardinal fans.  Tony La Russa is back.
 
The Cardinals announced yesterday that the most successful manager in the Cardinals franchise history, La Russa, 63, will return to manage his 13th season in 2008. La Russa agreed to a two-year contract to remain as the club’s manager.

Much uncertainty surrounded La Russa's return coupled with the Cards absence of a general manager.  It looks like the Cards expect to have a new general manger by the end of the 2007 World Series.  

At yesterday's press conference La Russa admitted that the lack of a new GM made him uneasy but focusing on the relationships he has built with his players helped him come to his final decision.

It was origianlly rumored that La Russa was a candidate for the NY Yankees vacant manager position.  But it turns out La Russa never had any conversations with the Yanks to that effect.

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When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong

In more St. Louis sporting news, St. Louis Rams offensive lineman Claude Terrell was arrested early Tuesday morning in Webster, TX, charged with assault-family violence.  As of this afternoon, Terrell has been released from the Ram's team.  But I hate when my intelligence is insulted.  According to Jay Zygmunt, Ram's president and GM, "He was released for performance on the field, and just because of how he was playing. This has been contemplated for a while.

So what you all just so happened to decide to come to a decision to cut this guy while his is coincidently still being processed in the Harris County (Texas) Jail.  Just keep it real.  He was already a headache and this was the straw. 

It looks like the law was called out to the Hampton Inn about 2 a.m. (somebody went to Martinit Mondays...teeheehee) b/c of a disturbance.  The officers said a female victim was there who had obvious signs of physical injury.  It later came out that this victim was Terrell's wife. I hate doing this because the media can paint an unclear picture of a person very easily but it is reported that Terrell was currently on probation from a 2006 assault charge stemming from an altercation resulting in bodily injury to one of his family members.  That is kind of gray, I wanted more facts about what happened.  He was arrested today and released today. 

But what I do know is where you clown at is where you get it at.  You had no business putting your hand on that woman.  Now if she did the "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" move and socked herself in the nose with an orange then said you did it, that's messed up but I highly doubt it.  There are three sides to every story.  His side, her side, and the truth.  The later, only God knows. 

The NFL needs to debrief these big azz, testosterone filled, men who make a living out of pounding on people.  Hell, he might have thought he was still in a game...teeheehee.  He is starting against Cleveland on Sunday (well was starting).  He might have saw her out the corner of his eye and thought she looked like Jamal Lewis and just tackled her.


I'm curious to know who will start against Cleveland this weekend because Terrell was only starting because of ankle injuries to Brett Romberg. So how deep does the Rams roster go?  But with Bulger and Jackson trying to limp back into the lineup, who knows.  Hot azz mess for real.

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So "W" (yall's president) was scheduled to come to St. Louis this Thursday to tour World Wide Technology, Inc. and attend a private fundraiser for the Republican National Committee at a St. Louis residence this Thursday.  Well word just came out that he is sending  Vice President Dick Cheney instead.

 Now here is the kicker, WWT, inc. is a mogul when it comes to systems integtation and providing technology and supply chain solutions to customers and suppliers around the world.  Most of their clients are with the federal government or fortune 500 companies.  I know about this company b/c we featured it in our business section when I was the editor at  a now defunct local STL publication.  This company is black owned.  It has only been operating since 1990 and last year they revenued over 2 billion dollars.  And they are based in the  little old Maryland Heights township of St. Louis. 

What do you all want to bet that "W" found out he was coming to meet a brother so he decided he would rather go and "comfort the victims of the California wildfires and let them know firsthand that they are in the nation's hearts and prayers.''  Am I tripping, or was this fool on vacation fishing for a whole dayum week when people were stranded without food, water, electricity, etc. for a whole dayum week in New Orleans.  I just know one thing, if he gets on camera and pats the FEMA guy on the back and says  "You're doing a hellavu job..." that fema guy may as well pack his bags.  You're doing a hellavu job = If the ish hits the fan, you''e taking the fall dude.

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  Don't forget to check out Got Lyrics tonight.  It's back. 




Smooches.

Shoot 'em up bang-bang.

T.I., born Clifford Harris, is a Grammy-winning rapper.  He is also trying to establish himself as an award winning actor,  most recently starring alongside Academy Award winners, Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe in the upcoming film, American Gangster.  It will appear in theaters next month.  While I'm running down his bio, I may as well include that he is also a known felon.  And that's no secret, he did his crimes and time and in many of his lyrics he candidly details his rough beginnings, exploits with the law, and morally dead but very profitable crack-dealing capers, etc. etc. 

Upon the release of his second album, the Atlanta-based rapper informed his listeners that T.I. the nice-guy, go-getter was "no longer in power."  Instead, his small-frame had been taken over by his alter ego, T.I.P. (his worser half.)  T.I.P. is also the person who made all the criminal infractions that  he raps about.  Well, true to his word, T.I.P. is definitely in the building, seeing as how he was arrested last weekend in Atlanta just hours before his scheduled performance at the BET Awards. He was arrested in a parking lot where, according to federal agents, he was planning to pick up machine guns and silencers, said to have been purchased by his body guard.

The arrest was the result of a month-long investigation.  A federal firearms dealer informed ATF that a man was inquiring about buying a machine gun (under the table).  Well unfortunately that man was T.I.P's bodyguard.  And the bodyguard wasn't that into guarding T.I.P's body when it came down to cooperating with federal agents.  He cooperated and informed them that he was buying the guns and silencers for T.I.P.  He also added that to date he had bought nine other firearms for T.I.P., who is on parole.  Newsflash genius: Yes it is illegal to purchase hot firearms.  It is also illegal to give somebody else the cash to purchase them for you.  You are too smart for your own good.  But I digress...

T.I.P. worked his gun deals through the bodyguard because the rapper is a convicted felon, the complaint alleged. This past Saturday, T.I.P. was all set to meet his bodyguard to hand over cash for the weapons.  (I can only hope he wasn't planning on using them at the awards show...teeheehee). He was arrested in a shopping center parking lot not far from the awards show.  At the time of his arrest he had three firearms in the vehicle he was driving, including a loaded firearm between the driver's seat and center console, according to the report.

So while everyone else was at the awards show kicking it, wondering where in the hell was T.I.P., his home was being ransacked by federal authorities.  He lives in East Point just outside of the city.  The messed up part is that they video taped the search and seizure and the only thing they blocked out for privacy, was the last two digits of his four-digit address.  So any groupies, enemies, long lost money hungry cousins, etc. now know exactly what block he lives on and the video feed of the search is going to make the house easy to point out.  I'm sure he won't be living there any longer. Well, I'm sure he is going to be living in a cell for a while anyway, but when he gets out...you know what I mean.

So drum roll please.......during the search agents found:

Six guns located in the closet, including the weapons allegedly purchased by the bodyguard (so much for your word against his.) Five out of the six guns were loaded.  

• T.I. had been expected to perform at the BET show, which will broadcast Wednesday.
• He was nominated in nine categories.
• His nominations included:
  • CD of the Year
  • Lyricist of the Year
  • MVP of the Year.
• His sixth album, "T.I. vs. T.I.P.," was released July 3 and debuted at No. 1.
• He won two Grammys in 2006, including:
  • best rap/song collaboration for "My Love" with Justin Timberlake.
• He also hit the big screen in "ATL" that same year.
• T.I.P. most recent acting role is opposite Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in "American Gangster," set for release Nov. 2.
• He also appeared in a commercial for Chevrolet, which debut during the 2007 Superbowl XLI.
  

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This past weekend Academy Award winners George Clooney and Cate Blanchett couldn't hold a match to "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" Perry's cast included Perry, Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba, and my all-time favorite–Jill Scott! The movie raked in $21.5 million, miles ahead of Clooney's "Michael Clayton" and Blanchett's "Elizabeth:The Golden Age" (honestly I'm tired of movies about the queen.  I believe the movie guru reported that to date there are 13 feature films about Queen Elizabeth, isn't that enough.  But back to Perry, this man is a mogul.  He is a genius in his own right.  Check the stats below.  And big ups to my girl Jill.  Your talent is endless... Now the question everyone is asking is does this movie has legs, or did everyone go out and see it during the premiere?  Will it continue to bring in money?  I don't know about legs, I think it has a Hemi and it's just getting revved up!  I'm a living example.  I haven't seen it yet.  Me and my sis are going to check it out this week.  You make sure you check it out too.

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St. Louis City still putting out fires?

There is more drama surrounding the St. Louis fire department surrounding their testing procedures.  Still attempting to rebound from the recent demotion of Fire Chief Sherman George, St. Louis is now freezing the hiring of all new firefighters.  In tune with their previous departmental conflicts, this latest issue again involves fire department exams. 

Two months ago results from the standardized firefighters' entrance exam were thrown out at the city personnel director's request.  News channel 4 reported Mayor Francis Slay's office informed the station that 70% of 13,000 applicants failed the test.  It has been decided that the test was flawed.  At that time, the personnel director, Richard R. Frank, confidently told the public that the decision to throw out the test results had nothing to do with race. He was quoted as saying the high failure rate, and not the race of those who did poorly, was the reason. (It better not be about race seeing how you just fired the black fire chief b/c he stood firm that the city's firefighter exams were racially biased and you disagreed and he paid the price (a $20,000 demotion) in order to stand by his beliefs.) 

Well, since the personnel director's statement regarding race not being a factor, it has been publicly confirmed that the director did feel that in addition to the failing scores, race too was a huge factor in his decision to cancel the test.  Private email correspondence from Frank and other officials in the mayor's office show that Frank was dishonest in his public statement. 

On August 21, 2007 Frank emailed the mayor's chief of staff as well as St. Louis city's legal counsel saying:
"There were also very serious concerns over potential adverse impact since minority candidates appeared to do disproportionately poorly on the exam." 

On September 5, 2007 another email to the chief of staff and the mayor's press secretary revealed Frank 's disdain when dealing with publicly discussing race as an aspect of the exam:
"I am not sure it is productive to discuss the decision to cancel the exam in any detail," Frank wrote.

When asked about the discrepancies between his public and private comments, Frank said last week that "perhaps I should have been more direct and said race is going to be a problem here. I was very sensitive to the fact that racial tension was so high in the city," Frank said. "We did not want to make that more combustible."    

My Message to Richard Frank:

PERHAPS!....Perhaps you should have been more direct my azz.  That's a bunch of bull.  Even when caught in a lie, you can't man up and say, I wasn't honest.  You got me red handed.  And to add insult to injury, your reasoning is that racial tension was already high.  So I guess you felt the need to continue to support the idea that everything is a rose garden that race issues really aren't happening in this city.  You said you didn't want to add more fuel to the fire.  You idiot, congratulations, you have done a good job of making racial tension more combustible, just what you claim you were trying to avoid.  In the end, your true opinion still came out and it makes you look very deceptive. It definitely shows that your first priority is upholding a facade of what St. Louis city is, instead of attacking the problems and trying to fix them so the city can really start to mirror that pretty picture you like to paint it as.  Oh, Frank-y that work email thing will get you every time.  You should know better. 

FYI: 

• Less than one out of 10 black candidates who took the test passed.
• 670 of the 833 candidates who took the test failed.
• Frank said the city is in negotiation to administer another entrance exam next month. It will cost about $160,000

That work email thing will get you every time.  I wonder if this will trickle over into the Chief George situation or if they will keep it separate.  Do you think Chief George should get his job back?  I mean either way it's not going to happen, but I'm still interested in knowing your thoughts.  I'm still trying to decide if an exam can be racially biased.  One of my fellow bloggers gave a good example of a racially biased question involving an international student at a U.S. university.  Me personally, I'm black (I know you already know that, since my pic is on here, hahaha) and I think that I can answer any question that my caucasion counterpart can.  But maybe I just haven't experienced it first hand.  Who knows? 

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My people, Mocha Latte, sent this breaking news to my inbox today. Got Lyrics is back in effect. If you haven't checked this event out, you need to.  She doesn't disappoint. Peep the flyer, peep the new venue, check the time and admission cost and make plans to attend.

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Quote of the week:

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you imagine.

-Thoreau

  

 

Hey Cybenistas.  How was your weekend.  Mine was very tiresome but eventful.  Come on in and take off your cool, stay awhile!

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Today St. Louis Fire Chief, Sherman George, was demoted to deputy chief.  George has been involved in an ongoing battle regarding his refusal to promote firefighters based on test scores.  These test scores were used to indicate who was eligible for fire captain and battalion chief. George stood firm on his refusal to promote firefighters based on these test scores, despite City Hall's instructions to proceed with promotions. 

This is all connected with a suit alleging the tests were racially biased.  A federal ruling deemed the test were not racially biased, but George still questioned the appropriateness of promoting based on these test scores alone.

Have you ever taken a racially biased exam.  What, for example, deems a question racially biased.  Do you think the fire chief is the best person to determine what fire fighters are best suited for promotion over a standardized test or city hall official?  I'm interested to know your thoughts on this.

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University City High School will break precedence this year with a male homecoming queen.  And yes, there is a king on this court too.  So much for the slow dance (eewwww).  Tonight, the King, Queen, and court will accept their royal honors with many upset onlookers.  Many high school girls are pissed that this year's queen, Aaron Zaggy, is a guy. 

For some high school girls, this is a big deal and to win is a huge honor. But here comes Aaron, and knocks them all out the box.  Apparently he entered the contest as a prank. But the votes started pouring in and he won. 

I love that the Post Dispatch states he is an A-student , an athlete, and has the full support of the school board and his parents.  Well, I'll take off my cool and say what they were afraid to say.  Homeboy is gay.  It's not like he is the first gay, smart, athlete in America.  And yes he does have a girlfriend...what, like he is the first gay guy to have a girlfriend...teeheehee.  I just don't know any straight guys with hopes of becoming the homecoming queen.  Don't get mad at me, he did it, I'm just writing about it.  I'm sure we'll see footage of this on the evening news. 

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Well, I guess Malaysia isn't ready for Beyonce's jelly.  B was scheduled to perform at a concert at the Putra Stadium on November 1.  A statement was released September 28, announcing the cancellation of the show.  Beyonce refused to abide by the dress code among other rules that were set forth. 

The dress code says there must be no hugging or kissing audience members or fellow artists, no jumping or shouting, no throwing objects onstage or at the audience and no foul language. Clothes cannot have obscene or drug-related images or messages, and female performers must show no skin from the tops of their chests to their knees. 

Now you know Beyonce's body is too booty-licious not to show any skin.  Maybe she should have wore a flesh toned skin-tight body suit.  So technically she would not have been showing her own skin.  Or maybe she should have worn that robot suit she wore at the 2007 BET awards.  That looked like something from a freaky sci-fi adult-flick. 

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A University of Memphis football player was shot and killed Sunday night on the college campus grounds. 

According to police reports, defensive lineman Taylor Bradford, 21, was shot around 9:45 p.m. Sunday and drove a short distance in his car before crashing into a tree.

Bradford was taken to Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

It appears that Bradford was targeted and not the victim of a random act of violence. Bradford was a 5-foot-11-inch, 300-pound junior transfer from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

After the shooting, the entire University of Memphis campus was evacuated.  Dorms reopned early this morning and classes were expected to resume.

No suspect has been arrested as of yet.

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Hey Cyber-fam.  Happy Monday.  It's been a rough morning for me.  I got into a heated argument before I even left the house.  I was so mad, my hair was wet, literally.  I'm sitting at my desk in the matrix and I just ran my fingers through it and yep, it's still damp.  It will look like witchy-pooh by the end of the day I'm sure.  I need to stop letting people get me so pissed off, for real. 

So when I get to the matrix, I read a really nice email from my friend, Katie.  It made me smile, so I said to myself, "Self, this might not be a bad day after all."  Then I made the mistake of opening up my email.  I have this author, who is writing a book in English, but she doesn't speak English.  Also, the copyeditor pretty much sucks, so everything is behind schedule.  Yet, somehow my paycheck is tied to whether this book publishes on time or not, but I'm not even the one making it late.  This author finally decided to climb out the cracks of the earth and reveal herself by emailing me today.  Only to tell me, that she is trying hard to get through the edits but she has a full time job, so she needs more time. (note: we can't move forward until she approves the edits.)  First of all, you've had the manuscript for weeks so why are you waiting until the last minute to say it's not enough time.  Second of all, we all have full time jobs and it's your book.  And...to add insult to injury, she sends this whole list of changes she wants to make to the book which would basically require the entire first 15 chapters to be revised and re-edited.  So there went my good mood, right out the window.  Pray for me.

So on the way to work this morning I heard that Elephant Man (who is signed to Bad Boy) got tired of Diddy giving him the run around so he went to the Bad Boy offices and yolked Puffy upside the head a couple of times.  That doesn't surprise me, the way Diddy's soft azz is always kick-ball-changing and one-two-one-ing across the stage, I figured he would be an easy win.  He doesn't seem like the fighting kind.  In the words of Laurie Ann, "Boom-cat!  Boom-cat!"

Okay, if you haven't already figured it out.  I have a ton of stuff to do.  So I'll get up with you all later.  

Smooches!

Hey Cyber-Fam, what's good.  I have to be in a departmental meeting in about 30 minutes (ugh) but I still wanted to take a moment to hit you up with some Wednesday morning tidbits.


What did I tell yall?  Did I say that brains prevails brawn?  Are you lost?  Well you need to take off ur cool and start scrolling down and catch up on my previous posts. 

Kevin Everett's grim medical prognosis has been reversed.  After voluntarily moving  his arms and legs yesterday when he was partially awakened, according to reports, a neurosurgeon says the Buffalo Bills’ tight end will indeed walk again. 

Dr. Barth Green, chairman of the neurological surgery department at the University of Miami school of medicine says, "Based on our experience, the fact that he’s moving so well, so early after such a catastrophic injury means he will walk again.”

This is a miraculous turn of events.  Don't tell me what God can't do....enough said!

I have to go to my meeting, have a wonderful day.

Smooches!

 Hey Cybernistas!  What's good.  I'm busy as hell as usual.  But I couldn't leave my readers waiting any longer.  So take off ur cool and do the dayum thang!

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We need to boost our fan power!

The cardinals turned in their winning streak for a losing streak.  Can they still make it to the playoffs.  Well baseball is back on again tonight and the Cards play the Reds, of course they need to spank dat azz.  Also, we need the Pirates to beat the Brewers and the Astros to beat the Cubs.  All of these matchups are tonight.  So send the cards some fan power by turning on the game.  Even if you aren’t going to watch it, turn it on in the back bedroom.  Today at work, ask people if they are going to watch the game.  Just keep it buzzing.  Don’t underestimate the influence of fan-power! 

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Bootheel Soccer Team Stuck in St. Louis Elevator

 

A soccer team from Cape Girardeau, MO (those of us from around there just call it Cape) and their two coaches packed  into a glass elevator at Mid Rivers Mall last Saturday.  In total, 28 people were on the elevator, and of course it stalled due to the excessive weight limit.  Luckily for the soccer team,  firefighters coincidentally were already in the mall for a career day.  The firemen were able to rescue the team through a hatch in the ceiling of the elevator.  No one was injured.  You can take the team out the country but you can’t take the country out the team.  Now they know good and dayum well they had no business trying to cram into that elevator.

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Birds of the same feather…

Not that this surprises me because I cannot stand Gov. Matt Blunt, but now I can’t stand his Chief of Staff either.  Apparently Hispanic leaders are calling for the removal of Blunt’s aid, Ed Martin, after making a racially charged comment last month during a MO Housing Development Commision meeting.  He was quoted saying if there’s a bunch of Mexican’s on a work site, some are probably illegal immigrant laborers.  So tacky!  Well of course Blunt’s pecan-head azz is standing behind Martin, stating there was no intention to offend anyone.  First of all, when did it become an issue of intention?   It’s always about reception.  In your position you need to think before you open your pie-hole (ass my sister’s co-worker’s daughter loves to say).  That’s like saying if there are a bunch of black dudes standing around in white t-shirts, some are probably gang members or drug dealers.  Stop making assumptions because in the end you only make an azz out of yourself.  Speaking of azz, instead of being slick in the mouth get up off that azz and do some work!  I can’t wait until election time rolls around.  These fools gotta go!

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So Who Watched the VMAs?

I didn’t b/c I was knee deep in manuscript pages.  But I’ve heard about it so much, that I felt like I watched it.  First off, I wasn’t surprised to hear that Kanye threw another temper tantrum b/c he didn’t win any of the 5 categories he was nominated for.  He is a big mama’s boy, but I still love his music.  He was quoted as saying, “That's two years in a row, man ... give a black man a chance.  I'm trying hard man, I have the ... number one record, man."  He also declared that he will never return to MTV again.  It’s all fakery, I’m sure.  Y’all know Kanye, he is always going to show his azz, especially right before his album drops.  You know what they say in “the business” any publicity is good publicity. 

As for Brittney, why is everybody riding this chic?  I saw the video clip and she definitely looked like she wasn’t in the moment as far as her lip synching and her dance moves.  A friend of mine said she looked as if she was on Valium or Vicodin. Now what I can’t stand, is all the people who have negative comments about her body and how it’s not rock hard like it used to be.  Well, she does have two kids right?  I think she looks dayum good.  There was nothing wrong with her body and I’m posting a pic just to prove it.  What do you think? And speaking of bodies, did y’all see Timberland, what the hell kind of workout plan is he on, good lord!

 

Justin Timberlake won the most awards for the night.  He took home four awards, including male artist of the year.  Apparently the cast of the reality t.v. show, The Hills introduced this category, and when J.T. went up to get his award (there are usually a quick exchange of niceties) but he didn’t even acknowledge the cast.  And he went on to say in his acceptance speech, I challenge MTV to play more music videos (directly jabbing at all the reality t.v. shows) so the cast from The Hills was standing there looking like a pack of deer in headlights.  J.T. also added “nobody wants to see the Simpsons on reality t.v. (referring to Jessica and Ashley simpson…CLASSIC).  But my question is this, J.T., how do you think trained professional actors feel about you hitting the big screen.  Can you say, Alpha Dog, The Love Guru, Shrek, Black Snake Moan, etc.  The Emmy’s are coming up, and J.T. won an Emmy this year.  What if during that broadcast, actors start shouting, “I challenge you to stop hiring singers as actors, nobody wants to see the boy-bander gone tinsel town.”  J.T. this is when you say, touche’

 

Beyonce and Shakira won an award for the most earthshattering collaboration for their hit, “Beautiful Liar.”  Apparently Beyonce is determined to have another wardrobe malfunction.  It was reported that her dress was barely holding down the ta-ta’s, again!  Dayum, girl!   What did Big Boi say in Idlewild?  “Baby don’t show so much so soon.  Leave a lil’ sumthin for the imagination.”

 

The most notable performance was Chris Brown, who continues to get compared to Micheal Jackson (I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing).  Alisha Keys, also performed a rendition of Freedom and it was marvelous.  I love Alisha Keys, I always have.  She has this style and grace and it all comes together to make this great package.  You go girl! 

 

I know you all heard about the white-on-white violence (as Jamie Foxx put it) at the VMAs.  Tommy Lee and Kid Rock got into a fight.  Apparently Tommy Lee kept ‘effin with Kid Rock until eventually Kid couldn’t take it any more and backhanded his azz.  Tommy Lee and Kid Rock are both ex-husbands of Pam Anderson, who was a presenter at the awards show.  According to MTV veejay, Sway, Kid Rock seemed to be ignoring him, who was sitting about two tables away.  But Tommy kept antagonizing him.  Kid Rock was able to stay for the rest of the show.  Tommy Lee was dragged out (literally). 

 

VMA Trophy Winners:

Video of the Year: Rihanna, "Umbrella," featuring Jay-Z

Male Artist of the Year: Justin Timberlake

Female Artist of the Year: Fergie

Quadruple Threat of the Year: Justin Timberlake

Best Group: Fallout Boy, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race"

Monster Single of the Year: Rihanna, "Umbrella"

Most Earthshattering Collaboration: Beyonce and Shakira, "Beautiful Liar"

Best Editing: Ken Mowe for Gnarls Barkley's "Smiley Faces"

Best Director: Samuel Bayer for Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around ... Comes Around"

Best Choreography: Marty Kudelka for Justin Timberlake's "Let Me Talk to You/My Love"

Best New Artist: Gym Class Heroes

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Today is the release two highly anticipated albums.  50 Cent’s Curtis and Kanye West’s Graduation.  50 Cent challenged Kanye West to appear on 106 & Park today.  106 & Park is a live show which airs on BET.  Kanye accepted the challenge and a battle will take place today during the show.  50 will perform hits from Curtis and Kanye will perform songs from Graduation.  Stew (ESPN’s Stuart Scott–u know black dude with the eye– will give sports-like commentary during the battle to see who will reign supreme. 

It was reported that the rappers were quoted saying the following:

Kanye West:  "How could I not come to 106 & PARK on the day my album comes out? I'm definitely coming"

50 Cent: "Just make sure that Kanye West shows up."

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No Love Today? 

So Isaiah Thomas, who is famous, to me, from his days as a Detroit Piston is currently the coach for the New York Knicks.   But all is not faaaan-tastic in NBA-land for Thomas.  He is being sued for $10 million dollars over sexual harassment charges.  An ex-marketing executive, Anucha Brown Sanders, was fired from the Knicks and she wants somebody to pay.  The Knicks say she was fired b/c she wasn’t doing her job.  Well she says Isiah Thomas has tried to lure her away from the office.  He has told her he loved her.  Now Thomas has admitted to trying to kiss her on the cheek and when she drew back, he said “No love today?”  (which I think is stupid b/c that alone validates her suite.  What if she didn’t want your crusty soup-coolers on her, but felt intimidated since you were her boss.)  According to BET.com, Stephon Marbury and Malik Rose might be called as witnesses.  Like I said earlier about the Gov. Matt Blunt situation, it is never intention, always reception.

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President C.D. "Dan" Mote Jr. said, "The possibility that this act appears intended to bring to mind the horrific crime of lynching, which is such a terrible and tragic part of our nation's past, is particularly abhorrent."

 The mission of the 30-year-old Nyumburu Cultural Center, which is home to the campus' Black newspaper, the Maryland Gospel Choir and jazz studies, among other programs, is to foster "Black social, cultural and intellectual interaction."

As a black person, I would never feel “intimidated” if I were to see a noose hanging from a tree.  I would feel insulted, angry, and outraged.  But not intimidated.  The real crime here, is we live in a society that does not teach the true history of this nation.   And knowledge is power.  I learned everything I know regarding slavery, KKK, genocide, the raping, killing, shackling, lynching, etc. of black women, men and children from home, from the library, from my elders, but never from school.  Except a paragraph or two that made it to textbooks during black history month.  I guarantee you the kids who hung this noose next to of all place (a black culture center) have never seen a dead child hanging from a tree next to her mother.  They have never seen hundreds of white people gathering at dawn with popcorn and soda preparing trying to get the best spot so they get a good view of the night’s entertainment, another  N-word is getting lynched tonight.  We don’t teach these kids what is real, and then still expect them to get it.  You trivialized lynching, you trivialized oppression, you trivialized slavery, by omitting it from your history books.      And that’s my minor rant…I could really get into this.  I haven’t even talked about Jena 6, which seems to not even be a part of America right now, but talk is cheap.  People respond more to action.

If you want to hear about Jena 6 and Jena High School’s “all white tree” then just google Jena 6.  I’m sure you have heard about it now, unless you live under a rock.  But just in case you haven’t.  Do your homework and look it up.

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25 year-old Buffalo Bills tight end, Kevin Everett injured his spine on a kickoff against the Denver Broncos.  After surgery, there is a good chance he will never walk again.

After a helmet-to-helmet crashing hit against Denver’s Domenik Hixon, during the second-half’s opening kickoff, Everett fell to the ground and never moved.

The game was delayed for about 15 minutes, and the Bills gathered at the sideline while doctors attended to the player.

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Jennifer Hudson and Sex and the City.

 

Now this is too cool.  I love Sex and the City.  I love Sarah Jessica Parker.  And Jennifer Hudson is a newcomer/trailblazer who did her thing in Dreamgirls, scoring an Oscar.  And she is now slated for a role in the Sex and the City movie!  She will play alongside Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradswhaw) as her assistant.  Apparently in the movie, Carrie’s career has flourished since we last saw her in the television serious of Sex and the City, so much that she needs to hire a smart, quick-witted assistant, Jennifer Hudson.  You go girls!

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TV Lineup for this fall.

And I must warn you, watch TV with an appropriate level of discretion.  It’s just another way for “the man” to keep us occupied while the real world passes us by.  All things in moderation, enough said!  (can u tell I’m in a bad mood today?)

 

Tuesday, Sept. 11

"The Biggest Loser"


Monday, Sept. 17

"Prison Break"

"K-Ville"

Tuesday, Sept. 18

"Beauty and the Geek"

Wednesday, Sept. 19

"Back to You"

"'Til Death"

"Gossip Girl"

"America's Next Top Model"

"Kid Nation"

"Kitchen Nightmares"

Thursday, Sept. 20

"Survivor: China"

Sunday, Sept. 23

"60 Minutes"

"CW Now"

"Online Nation"

"The Simpsons"

"King of the Hill"

"Cold Case"

"Family Guy"

"Shark"

Monday, Sept. 24

"Chuck"

"How I Met Your Mother"

"The Big Bang Theory"

"Heroes"

"Two and a Half Men"

"Rules of Engagement"

"CSI: Miami"

"Journeyman"

"Dancing with the Stars"

"The Bachelor"

Tuesday, Sept. 25

"NCIS"

"House"

"Reaper"

"The Unit"

"Cane"

"Law & Order: SVU"

"The Singing Bee"

Wednesday, Sept. 26

"Bionic Woman"

"Criminal Minds"

"Private Practice"

"Life"

"CSI: NY"

"Dirty Sexy Money"

Thursday, Sept. 27

"My Name is Earl"

"Smallville"

"Ugly Betty"

"CSI"

"Grey's Anatomy"

"The Office"

"Big Shots"

"ER"

"Without A Trace"

Friday, Sept. 28

"Ghost Whisperer"

"Las Vegas"

"Moonlight"

"Numbers"

Sunday, Sept. 30

"American Dad"

"Desperate Housewives"

Monday, Oct. 1

"Everybody Hates Chris"

"Aliens in America"

"Girlfriends"

"The Game"

Tuesday, Oct. 2

"Cavemen"

"Carpoolers"

Wednesday, Oct. 3

"Pushing Daisies"

Thursday, Oct. 4

"30 Rock"

"Supernatural"

Friday, Oct. 5

"Friday Night Lights"

Sunday, Oct. 7

"Life Is Wild"

Friday, Oct. 12

"Women's Murder Club"

"Men In Trees"

Thursday, Oct. 18

"Viva Laughlin"

(Sneak preview 10 p.m., debut 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21)

Friday, Oct. 19

"Next Great American Band"

Thursday, Oct. 25

"Scrubs"

Hey, what you got up for the weekend?   Here are some things going on in St. Louis this month.  I'll be sure to add to the list.

If you know of anything else.  Hit me at takeoffurcool@yahoo.com and I'll at it to the list!

Dub Magazine car show is this weekend.  Their logo is shown above.  Check out their site at www.dubmagazine.com and find out all the details.  Performing is: Huey, Lil’ Scrappy and Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony.  September 9^th, from 12-6 p.m. at the Americas Center.

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After you fill your car fetish, come check out Mocha Latte’s Shindig, this Sunday at Lucky’s on Washington Ave.  After the Dub Magazine Car show, hit up Lucky’s.  It’s  party you don’t want to miss.  It’s packed every Sunday, and this weekend will be no different. Ladies are Free All Night!

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Common will be at The Pageant this month. Presented by Café Soul.  If you haven’t seen him live, you are really trippin.  Check him out on Wednesday, September 19^th  at The Pageant on Delmar.  Doors open at 7pm show starts at 8 pm.  Visit http://www.thepageant.com/calendar.html for ticket info.

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United Black Drag Racers Association will host Black Sunday on 9/14/07 – 9/16/07 Go to www.ubdra.net for details.  The dates are 9/14/07-9/16/07.

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Don’t forget about the Gateway Classic at the Edward Jones Dome.  Bringing you the best of Black College Football, and don’t forget the battle of the bands!  Langston University will take on Stillman on Sept. 29^th at 3 p.m.  Be there! Visit www.gatewayclassic.org  for more details.

Smooches!

Hey Cybernista's.  Take off ur cool.  It's been a while, let me see what you are looking like.  So my sister says my blog is falling off like (and I quote) "bad dope."   WHATEVER!!!  

 

The Opening Act

How about I started my day by checking my email, only to find a message from an attorney regarding the title to one of my websites and how I am infringing on her client's website/magazine (whatever it is) patented brand.  She sent me an official document asking me to cease and desist.  She also mentioned specific content I had on my site (yes it was mine) but she mentioned it to say that my niche audience is very similar to her clients and that her client started using the name first and...yadayadayada...you get the point.  Well I was amped when I read it.  B/c that means it was worth her time, paper and energy. Truth be told, I haven't uploaded articles on that site in so long, I forgot it was there.  Who would have thought someone body would see lil' ol' me as a threat.  Oh well, great minds think alike.  And we all have our moments of greatness.  When you have yours you better act on it, b/c someone else will eventually think of it too!

I also got an email from Matt, at the publishing house I'm freelancing for.  My skin started to tingle when I saw his name in my inbox, b/c I am so far behind.  I will definitely catch up over the weekend and still hit my deadline. He was emailing me to tell me he was going out of town for the weekend, so that was a relief.  I thought he was going to be like, "send me what you have."  And I would have been like..."can I get a...um...dayum!"  

The Headliner

Halle Berry is expecting a bundle of joy!  According to an interview with Access Hollywood, the 41 year old Academy Award winner is 3-months pregnant.  I know what you are wondering, by who?  It dayum sure isn't David Justice, nope...not Eric Benét's freaky azz either, and hell no...it's not Michael Ealy's cat-eyed azz, much to his disappointment I'm sure.  The father's name is Gabriel Aubry.  He is a supermodel and he can be seen at the top of this post.  Yes, he is a little on the vanilla side, but fine as hell, nonetheless.  They have been dating since 2005.  We can catch a glimpse of Berry on the big screen next month.  She will star in Things We Lost in the Fire, playing a role very similar to the one that won her an Academy Award in Monster's Ball.

Brains versus Brawn

In other words, Kanye West versus 50 Cent.  Both albums drop next Tuesday, September 11, 2007.  Who do you think will come out on top? Why have I coined this battle brains vs. brawns you ask?  Well, let's take a little looksie...

50 Cent Facts	Kanye West Facts
Birth Name: Curtis Jackson	Birth Name: Kanye  West
B-Day: 7/6/1976	B-Day: 6/8/1977
Birthplace: Queens, NY	Birthplace: Atlanta, GA
Tidbits: Shot 9 times in 2000, almost died. Bullet entered his cheek and shattered teeth and gums.	Tidbits: Nearly fatal car accident in 2002 resulting in metal plate in chin.
Parents:Mom died when he was 8. Never met dad. Raised by Granny.	Parents: divorced, but alive.
Education: Andrew Jackson High (until 10th grade, then kicked out for selling crack) Later got GED in jail	Education: Chicago State University (college dropout)

Keep an eye out for Kanye's Graduation and 50's Curtis in stores next Tuesday.  Hey why not cop them both and then hit me up and tell me what you think about them.  Here is my prediction...all of 50's songs will sound the same and all of Kanye's songs will sound like nothing you've ever heard before in rap.  But what does that mean for listeners?  You have to be the judge.  Some say if it's not broke don't fix it.  And other's say, give me what's new innovative, creative.  I'm sure they will both be hot.  I personally can't wait.

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Eddie Griffin's show stopped b/c he used the N-bomb!


Eddie Griffin gets nabbed for using the N-bomb during his standup comedy set during a Black Enterprise Magazine event in Miami.  Reportedly, after repeatedly using profanity including the N-bomb, Griffin was escorted off stage by BE magazine publisher, Earl Graves. 

In lieu of recent issues regarding the use of racially insensitive remarks, notably the Don Imus description of the Rutgers women's b-ball team as "nappy-headed hos," Black Enterprise has zero tolerance for the N-Bomb.  Black Enterprise Magazine hopes to join other black leaders and communities in completely stamping out the use of the N-bomb.  Kudos to BE for standing up for something.  But they should have done their homework and watched some of Griffin's previous shows to get an idea of what type of content he includes in his set.  That could have saved a lot of face, embarrassment and time wasting on everyone's behalf. 

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Actress Sherri Shepherd is the final cast member to join "The View." Shepard, who has appeared on the show as a guest host more than a dozen times, is no stranger to "The View."

Recently, Whoopi Goldberg was selected as the show's new moderator. Shaking things up on her first day in the Matrix, by defending Michael Vick (sort of).  According to Nielsen Media Research ratings, 3.4 million people watched Whoopi Goldberg's debut on Tuesday. Not to shabby (but still shy of the 4.4 million that tuned in to watch Rosie's first show last year, but who's counting.)  Shepard and Goldberg add much needed diversity to the all-white panel.  The rest of the hosts are Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. 

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The White House, It's Just Like Hollywood

Actor, Fred Thompson officially entered the Republican presidential race today.  He vows to restore the grand old party.  He also is desperately committed to preventing another Clinton from capturing the presidency.  Most recently, the former Tennessee senator, is mostly known for his role as the District Attorney, Arthur Branch on Law & Order.  I mean the new season is airing now.  Is this even legal.  I mean does anybody else in the presidential race have a TV sitcom out now.  Oh this is just getting bananas.  And of course he announced his presidency Hollywood style, by announcing it on Jay Leno, while his eight rivals where in New Hampshire at a debate.  This is just all too much for me. It's going to be a dayum shame when uninformed voters are walking around  talking about voting for Arthur b/c their favorite show is Law & Order. 

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The After Party

If you are in the Lou this month, there is a whole troth of things going on for you to sink your teeth into.  Speaking of sinking your teeth.  I'm in the matrix and I'm hungry.  I'll be back with the after party after lunch.

Smooches!

Okay so I've been hooked on Top Chef.  I think it comes on Bravo but I'm not sure.  Now the crazy thiing is, I've never really been fond of cooking.  I mean I do it out of neccesity, but there isn't any type of self-fulfillment or joy that I get out of it.  But watching Top Chef got me in one of my "if they can do it, I can do it moods."  So I created my own little bootleg gourment dish.  I think it looks lovely, take a looksie...

 

WHAT!   I said bootleg!

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Okay, so check this out.  I am super-amp'd that my freelance gig is under way.  It is a book about the history of a chicago university.  It's not too long, wich is good b/c I have two books of my own at my real job that have to publish.  But hey, a sista has to get her hustle on.  So hopefully I can parlay this gig into another once this one is over.  I should be finished editing the entire manuscript in 6 weeks...dayum!  pray for me please...

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So who watched Weeds on Monday?  They are starting off this season really weak.  I'm getting tired of seeing Uturn for real.  He has gotten way too much camera time and he isn't even a main character.  And once again, Celia had to make another reference about black people.  I am going to take count it's already 3-0...how many episodes will they have that make derogetory racial comments about my race.  I want to meet the writer, because I can give them some ish to put on the show if they are having a hard time coming up with material.  But that Californication...I'm really feeling that.  I don't know if it is because the main character is a writer.  I love how this past show ended.  When he is flashing back to his life with his "ex" and his daughter and he says "It was the best of times. Only if someone had told me."  Oh, so profound.  I will stick this one out for sure.  If you visit showtime.com you can register for a homegrown humor sweepstakes with some pretty sweet prizes.  But I never when stuff like that, so...

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I was about to sign out of the matrix but before I do, I have to address an email I just received.  I have a copyeditor that had a deadline to turn in his first set of manuscript pages on August 15th.  He just sent it to me today, August 29th.  Which oddly enough, is the deadline for his second set of manuscript pages, which he hasn't even received yet b/c he pretty much sucks.  Well this idiot actually has the audacity to send me his invoice like seconds after turning in his pages and asks how quickly he will recieve his payment.  Now you know I want to tell him, just as quickly as I received my pages...azzwipe!   Boy I tell you....some people.

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Well I gotta get out, while I can.  If you are new to this blog, welcome.  I'm so happy you are here.  Please come again.  You've missed so much.  Make sure you scroll and catch up on my previous posts.  And to everyone old and new, make sure you grace my tagboard, guestbook, or post a comment.

SMOOCHES!

 

Oh how soon they forget….When saying “they,” I’m referring to the big wigs, the bosses (in other words the agents of the matrix).  I busted my azz for a long time for one of my previous bosses.  I was the web editor for his online product.  So I basically created and maintained every little nook and cranny of his multi-million-dollar site.  It seems like you would remember a person that was once that valuable to you.  Moreover, it seems like you would learn not to undervalue people (no matter how low on the totem pole) once one of your biggest assets (me) got snatched right from under your nose by a more appreciative director within the same company. 

Well that’s my story.  I was able to transfer to another department within my publishing company a couple of months back, but I still sit literally 15 steps away from my old desk.  I always see my old team in passing. 

Today, I saw my old boss and I was walking down the hall next to of all people, the executive vice president of the division.  Well, I said hi to my old boss and the idiot did not even look at me.  He made immediate eye contact with the executive VP and gave her a warm smile and greeting as if I hadn’t said a mumbling word. 

Now you know your girl wasn’t even going out like that.  Especially since I was walking next to the EVP…I couldn’t let this woman think I was a pushover.  So I repeated my greeting, still friendly, but louder and firmer this time.  Well, you know how someone turns around and greets you by name before they even look up to see who you are (which is a sure fire sign that they already saw you but just had no intentions of acknowledging your presence), that’s what this guy did.  He tried to say something about being distracted and the likes.  Not distracted enough to speak to the lady walking right beside me, mind you.  I just laughed it off jokingly and told him to snap out of it.  I also added, “Hey I know she [referring to the executive] is way more important than me.  I would have picked her over you too.”  He laughed nervously and walked off.  CLASSIC.  This totally explains why two other people have left that division since my departure.  The most important thing in business is taking care of your people.  Because if you take care of your people, they will take care of you and your business.  Treat your employees like crap and they will leave you as high and dry as Ashy Larry at the High Times Cannabis Cup!

 

Greetings.  How art thou?  I had an eventful weekend and you? 

Friday after work I went to the beauty salon.  I was trying out a new stylist, Leslie.  She was definitely a  character but experienced in hair care.  When I entered the shop Leslie and a couple of other women were having a heated discussion regarding what sounded like a co-worker that used to work there that still has a relationship with the owner (possibly sexual but never clarified during my earhustling).  Well this ex-coworker continues to drop into the salon and then go back and drop dime to the owner about what's going on when he's not around.  Well, Leslie was pretty much threatening to whoop the ex-coworker cat raggedy if she ever ran her mouth about her again.  She also went on to say how she might start looking for a job at the boat, or elsewhere because she doesn't need the job in the shop to keep food on her table.  So of course, I'm thinking great, even if I do end up liking Leslie, it sounds like she already has 9 toes out the door.  She might not even be here the next time I want to get my hair done.  After her heated beauty-shop inspired conversation was over with her lady friends, she looked me in the eye, put on a car-salesman's smile and said, "Hi baby, I'm Leslie. How are you today?"  as if I had just walked in the salon at that moment and hadn't already been exposed to her true colors....CLASSIC.  The end result was really good and I like my new do.  Leslie is located at Beauty Express in the St. Louis Mills Mall.  If your hair is looking like witchy-poo and you are in need of a stylist, call Leslie.  You better catch her while you can.  She has 25-plus years of hair care experience, and she can get you in as early as the same day.

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Saturday one of my college friends, Miyaka, was in town so we kicked it.  She was staying at the Sheraton in Clayton.  After a little shopping, manicure and Cheesecake Factory, Miyaka and I hooked up and had a couple of drinks before heading to The Loft.  I had to borrow some of her makeup because I dropped my compact in my car while I was driving and the car ate it.  It completely dissappeared.  That was two days ago and I still haven't found it.  So anyhoot, Miyaka and I left Clayton, hopped on Highway 40 and headed towards The Loft.  On the way down, I was able to tell her about a mutual friend who just had a baby and about how much of an azzhole her husband is.  Once we made it to The Loft, it was a nice crowd, but not packed in like sardines (yet) because it was only about 11 p.m.  There were actually one or two table left occupied so we got another drink and reserved our spot.

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I wish I had taken my camera with me to The Loft because the first thing I saw where two white chicks with straight up bamboo earrings and black haircuts, (faded in the back, stacked curls on the top.  One of them was working with a little waterfall action on one sid too.)  The bad thing is they looked like they had consulted a 1992 issue of Hype Hair magazine and mimicked something they saw in there.  All in all they were looking kind of dissappointed.  I guess the brothers weren't biting like they thought they would.  I can hear them now, at home in the mirror (in their best ghetto accent),

"Oh, we about to upstage these black beotches tonight honey."

"Guuurl, I know.  Oooh, you lookin too fly in them earrings."

"Aww, you no what L.L. said, 'bamboo earrings, atleast two pair."

"Aw snap, we got us an around the way girl.  It must be vanilla b/c chocolate don't taste like that."

 

Okay, let me stop.  Now I'm going to have to try to explain this to all of my white friends. 

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Also at The Loft, we saw a lot of guys dressed the same, which is so homosexual in my opinion.  I don't care if it was a coincidence, we got to options in this matter.  1. either one of us change.  2. Go the opposite way as soon as we step out of this car, because we are officially not together if nobody's gonna change.  Also, there were some cute guys in there too but I honestly think guys have it so easy now.  They don't even have to try to talk to women anymore.  They can just sit back and chill and see which girls will holla at them.  When there are 3 or 4 women to every man, it definitely gives the men a false sense of worth.  They start saying crap like, I'm a hot commodity....WHATEVER.  Cute or not, that attitude makes a fine man turn into a gorilla cookie, with the quickness.

 

I think Miyaka and I had the most fun when we witnessed a horrible attempt by a drunk woman to give her man a table dance.  He was looking so embarrassed and disgusted with her, yet she continued to jerk and seize (I think in her mind, she thought she was rolling and grooving really sexy.)  As she thrust her most private areas on him, he sat on the stool looking like he wanted to shrink and dissappear.  The bad thing was I was laughing, uncontrollably and the guy happened to look up and see me.  Now my good drinking azz didn't have the since to look away.  Instead, I quickly closed my eyes, so he wouldn't see me looking and laughing at them.  Now, Miyaka almost died when she saw me do that, and she went on to say, "Marquita, why did you close your eyes like that.  You act like just because you can't see him he can't see you."  Priceless.  The couple left a few seconds after that.  And Miyaka had to point out that they guy was shorter standing up than he was sitting down.  This was so amusing to us and we just couldn't get over that.  But a drunk ain't ish.  Because the next day when I thought about it, I realized he was sitting on a stool, which is why he was much shorter, after he hopped down and was standing ground level.   But at the time, we had had way too much liquor to try to rationalize.

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I also want to give a special shout out to Miyaka for spreading the word about my blog.  I know others like Kelly and  Patonia (my sis) pass my blog address on to their friends just like Miyaka does.  But Saturday, Miyaka was getting her nails done and met Cocoa Soul and struck up a conversation about my blog after learning about Cocoa's Cafe Soul.  I have mentioned Cafe Soul in some of my previous blogs but I've never met her or attended an event.  Well Cocoa gave Miyaka her card and asked her to give it to me so I could come down and check her out and write a review.  Now that's the ish I'm talkin about Miyaka.  Step out of your comfort zone and tell somebody you don't know to take off their cool and check out your girls blog.  Good lookin out!  It takes a village to raise a world renown writer...hahaha.

So with that said, you can learn more about Cafe Soul at http://myspace.com/cafesoulstl 

 

A 7-month old baby died today, after being left in a parked car in the sweltering St. Louis heat. Police are currently investigating.  The car, parked at Washington University medical school today, was spotted on the lot in the 4500 block of Clayton Avenue.  Passers-by saw the baby in the car and broke the window with a rock, and attempted to revive the baby.

The baby's mother is a pediatrician and her father is a medical researcher.  The identity of the parents have yet to be released.  Early assumptions allude to the parent’s becoming confused about which one had the child. 

It is not clear how long the child was left in the vehicle.

 

This story definitely made my stomach flip when I first caught wind of it.  I know this is a new parent's worse nightmare. To be blessed with this wonderful gift that completely trust you with their life and you "F" it up. 

 

I can actually believe how they could have thought the other had the baby.  I know there were a few glitches when Mera was a newborn.  One day Myron and I got everything packed up to go on some type of outing (I can't remember exactly where we were going.)  We had diaper bags packed, extra sets of clothes, the stroller was broke down and Mera was bundled up in her pumpkin (car) seat.  I was carrying my purse, the diaper bag, etc. Myron had the stroller and all.  We got to the garage, and as we were putting everything in the car, we just looked at each other like, oh crap!, we didn't even speak on it.  We just both turned and ran, no sprinted back inside the house b/c we had everything except the most important thing, Mera.  Of course she was sitting in her pumpkin seat by the door just goo gooin and ga-ga-ing like everything was all good.   

 

Seriously, I don't know if the couple that lost their 7-month old baby today has other kids, but I had to get adjusted to the fact that it wasn't "just me" anymore.  But today's case is an extreme case that ended in death.  I don't think any punishment is going to make this couple feel any worse than they probably feel right now.  And a pediatrician too, that's not a good look.  I was just a management trainee at Enterprise, when I left my baby in the comforts of our living room for all of 3 minutes.  Pray for this family as they come to grips with the untimely death of their new child.

 

Now, with that said, I hope I don't have to retract any of this once more details come out.  I don't want to hear about something shady going on, because if I do...you will be the first to know.  Or maybe the second, because I have to find out about it before I can put you up on it, you know.

 

Now if this was truly a case of;

    

     "I thought you had the baby."

     " No, you said you were going to get her."

     " Why do I have to get her.  I always do everything...etc. etc."

 

I bet anything that this couple will get a divorce.  How can you bounce back from that.  But miracles happen everyday.  Only time will tell..

 

 

Spread Love

 

 

Smooches!

 

 

 

I was watching Dateline's To Catch a Predator the other night.  It's a dayum shame how many men like to sleep with 12/13-year-old-girls.  The one thing I didn't understand is how every last guy on the show apologized profusely once they realized they had been set up, like that meant a dayum thing at all. 

I also saw a man who was being caught for the second time. He was actually caught and arrested on a previous episode, and this idiot did the same thing and got caught by the same people on the same show twice.  I wish they hadn't even arrested him.  They should have just commenced to beating his azz on sight, forget due process. 

Another observation of mine is that it is crazy that these men are driving hours to get some underage tail.  And many of these men are married or in relationships with daughters of their own. These folks should be taken off the streets for real.  How did that guy get back on there a second time?  He should have still been locked up the first time.  Questions like this have stirred a lot of controversery surrounding Dateline's show. 

Many people feel that "Perverted-Justice", the group that contributes countless hours to setting up the chats and all, practices entrapment.  One blogger on MSNBC went on to say that absolutely none of the predators we see arrested on T.V. have been charged...and I quote,

      "No prosecutions have been made on a single case to date because of the procedures used, which has been widely interpreted as the most incredable case of entrapment in the law inforcement industry. Even MSNBC held off airing the show for 4 months."

Another post added in regards to why only male predators are caught on the show,

     "The reason men are the only ones caught is because they are targeted! Everyone do what is right and research perverted justice and ask yourself why dateline pays them in excess of $100,000 to produce predators. Then ask yourself if the public would agree with 10+/- armed police officers throwing a woman down on camera and roughing her up if that would be acceptable.

Research how the Arizona Supreme Court in May of 2006 said no evidence from Perverted Justice would be allowed in their court of law. There are underlying factors such as .....microsoft owns a major part of dateline to catch a predator, and think about the show and how the top three chat programs it talks about are aol, yahoo, and myspace. They label these programs as the worst on the internet, some they say are pedo enablers. Might they be the competition?

Take a look at your computer and see if the microsoft based chat program came with it and then ask yourself why is the program that comes on virtually EVERY computer not even busted one person? Its a way to market their product and at the expense of innocent families and guys that make bad decisions not necessarily illegal ones.

Read up on identity theft and identity fraud, wire tapping laws, consent laws that deal with hidden microphones and cameras, entrapment laws, read up on how it is illegal to act as a private investigator or pay someone to act as a private investigator and then ask yourself why they get away with what they do. Its all fun and games until they trick one of your family members into meeting. Read the diff articles on how they exagerate the Predator stats and how they admittedly just made the number 50,000 predators up.

The Predator issue is a serious one but there is not an epidemic like they fabricate and want you to believe. After all if there was no epidemic they couldnt sell you software to monitor your child online. Also if you think this is such a good thing get windows vista and have a built in patch to your personal computer that allows the government to access your computer at will. DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON TV your parents taught you that as a child why should it change?"

I thought he had some interesting points regarding the dollars and cents of it all.  Because don't get it twisted, if there is no money to be made, Datelline wouldn't waste their time and resources.  Of course we would like to believe that they are doing this just to ensure the safety of our children but...

Nonetheless, I don't agree with this guy at all, regarding the men being innocent victims of entrapment.  These guys need to go under the jail.  I don't care how much coaxing it took for them to get there, they showed up at the house in hopes of getting some under-age-action.  That's it, that's all.  If a bank teller leaves a stack of cash on the counter, gets side-tracked and walks away and leaves you standing there...yes, you could say she enticed you by leaving it right there so easy for you to take.  But if you take it, you are a thief, it's just that easy.  But atleast his post explained why people are showing up on the shows twice, they aren't really getting convicted by the sounds of it. 

The last episode I watched, Dateline caught 300 men over the course of 3 days.  Pray for these fools please!

 

Smooches!

Greetings and Salutations.  It's me, Marquita.  I just wanted to say hi.  So did you read my post?  No!  Say What!  Well....what are you waiting for...it's just below.  Get to reading.  And please, take a moment to hit up my tag board or guestbook.   Smooches!

 

Hey Cybernistas.  Welcome back!

 Today is a rainy cool alternative to the sweltering St. Louis heat I’ve had to endure the past couple of weeks.  And through it all, my next door neighbor’s dog, Panda, survived.  I know he is in doggie heaven right now, as the raindrops sprinkle on his dingy mane (that’s’ in dire need of a haircut).  This dog never gets off it’s leash.  It never gets in the house.  I’m not even a dog person but I like Panda because he lets me know when an unfamiliar car pulls up in front of the house.  My sister says, most would think he is protective of his territory and is trying to warn his owners that an intruder is coming.  But the truth is, if we could translate those barks into English, Panda is really asking for a dayum ride up out of that piece.  He is trying to catch the first thing smoking, to get away from that house.  

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My family came to visit this past weekend.  My daughter got the opportunity to go to the Science Center with her 9-year-old cousin.  Both of them went to Build-A-Dino (build-a-bear…but dinos only at the dinosaur exhibit in the science center.)  They spent $60 each on stuffed dinosaurs with outfits, accessories, cell phones, dog tags and a lot of other crap.  I could have fainted when I found out the cute little pink T-Rex was wearing a $30 cheerleading uniform.  Now talk about a rip-off. 

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Did I ever tell you all about my co-worker who got arrested on the job for stealing another co-workers credit card number and using it at Rent-A-Center. 

 Yes, I said Rent-A-Center.  So needless to say it wasn’t hard tracking him down, when the lady wanted to know who stole her identity.  They went to Rent-A-Center and asked who purchased something with the card in question, and bam….it was as simple as that.  Talk about a dumb criminal.  Well anyway, his aliby is that he did not steal the woman’s card number.  He indeed used his own card but the cashier got his digits off by one number, which coincidently happened to be his co-workers card number.  Now he never addressed how his expiration date worked on her card number.  I’m sure the cops said tell it to the judge, when they took him down to the station.  Needless to say he got fired.   

 

My other co-worker friend also got busted too.  But not by the cops.  She got busted by her boss, smoking.  I know what you are thinking.  It was not wacky tobaccy.  It was Malboro Lights.  But her boss is a huge anti-smoker.  My friend used to smoke but started wearing the patch and just fell off the wagon for a day or two.  Well I’ll be dayumed if her boss didn’t walk pass the courtyard (where everyone smokes) as soon as she lit up.  She came out to the courtyard and made a big scene telling her how heartbroken she was and why was she smoking.  She went on to ask her how long had she been smoking and a lot of embarrassing other questions.  The funny thing was, all the other smokers out there were looking at her like, who are you and if you don’t have a cigarette in your hand you are not welcome in this area.  How dare you come out here, let alone try to chastise someone for smoking.  It reminded me of the episode from Friends, when Rachel is the only one at her job that doesn’t smoke so she feels like an outside.  I swear my job is an entire season of the office.  I should see if I can write a treatment or two, for real.

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 This week is St. Louis Fashion Week.

Alive Magazine has the entire week jam packed with all things fashionable.  The kickoff was Monday, August 20^th.  Tomorrow at Neiman Marcus you can peep the Trunk Show from 1-3p.m.  If you watched Project Runway, you may remember Nick Verreos (did you know he was born in St. Louis) amd Kara Janx,  they will host Forbidden Fashion show on Wahsington Avenue’s Skyhouse on Thursday at 7 p.m.  The much anticipated Liquid Style Fashion Show will be held Friday at the Chase Park Plaza at 7 p.m.  You can purchase week long passes to all the events at ticketmaster.com.  

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Michael Vick plead guilty to federal dog-fighting charges.

 

He will definitely do some time, a little.  He appears before the judge for sentencing next week.  

 

Of course this is not a good look in regards to his NFL career.  I think the NFL is more upset about the gambling than the animal cruelty portion.   In lieu of the recent NBA referee gambling case, I know they are going to try to crack down hard on anyone who is even standing next to the man that’s standing next to the man gambling.  To date, it is reported that Vick has made more than $60 million dollars in salary and endorsements during his 6 years in the NFL.

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WildCats Everywhere!

 

 

I must admit, I was one of the 17.2 million viewers who tuned in to Disney Channel’s High School Musical 2 last Friday night.  Me and my family were at home depot and my daughter and I were rushing my husband because we had to get home before 7 p.m.  Now I knew it would be on again within 48 hours, but I didn’t feel like hearing my daughter ask me, “Is it Sunday night yet?” every 5 minutes throughout the entire weekend.  The show was really cute.  But the money they raked in was more than juvenile.  They topped Monday night football numbers by a long shot.  I guess it really is the start of something new.

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Jill's Essence

 

If you haven’t checked out the cover of the September issue of Essence Magazine, you are tripping.  My favorite singer, Jill Scott, is donning the cover like she owns the joint, okay!  I saw her live in concert when her “Beautifully Human” album came out.  I was 2^nd row…center seat.  I know she heard me trying to out-sing her.  I yelled out….”I Love You Jill” and blew a kiss….and she blew one back and mouthed love you too…wasn’t that sweet.   So she has a new album coming out, “The Real Thing” which drops next month, Sept. 25, 2007.  And she is going through a divorce (pray for her.)  Terry McMillan graces Essence by interviewing Jill Scott and writing the cover story.  Her writing style was kind of awkward for a glossy mag, but hey she’s a novelist…so with that considered she did her thing.  Obviously still mad as hell from her own divorce, McMillan is able to identify with Jill’s experiences which make for an interesting read.  Check it out.

 

 

 

Also on Sept. 25, 2007 is the season premier of HEROES!   And I can’t wait.  I love that show.  And on that note.  I gotta go home.  I’m  still in the matrix.  Weeds comes on Showtime tonight (Monday) at 9 p.m. Centeral.  This is the second episode of the season.  It premiered last week.  Love that show as well.  Althoug, they have one more time to drop the N-bomb and I’m gonna have a problem with them.  You watch it tonight too, so we can have something to talk about tomorrow!

 

 

Smooches!

 

I have been reading Joplin’s Ghost by Tananarvie Due.  The book is about a young lady named Phoenix and her journey as a rising R&B singer and how her life changed after encountering the ghost of ragtime king, Scott Joplin.

I love Tananarvie Due because she does a great job of blending normal and paranormal.  Joplin’s Ghost is also packed with historical and musical elements as well.  In addition to being entertained by Phoenix’s story, I get this rich lesson on who Joplin was, where he lived, his likes, dislikes, etc.  As well as his struggles with being accepted as not only a ragtime composer, but simply a composer, who loved to write genres from ragtime to Opera.  

With that said, it seemed so timely when I learned that today, August 10^th from 7-9 p.m. BAG (Black Artists Group).  will host a musical/poetic set at the historical Scott Joplin house inside the Rosebud Café on 2658 Delmar Blvd.  

I will definitely be there to witness where Scott Joplin used to call home. Two of Scott’s greatest supporters were actually the owners of the Rosebud café.  Joplin spent countless evenings there listening to a constant stream of live ragtime performances, and on rare occasion he would join in as well. 

Performing at the Rosebud Café tonight:

Marsha Cann, a St. Louis native and published poet , storyteller, and actress.

Michael Castro, who has  performed poetry throughout the United States and in London, Edinburgh, Toronto, Montreal, New Delhi and Budapest.

JoyCe Blue and Deborah Mashibini, who make up the poetry team Blue-Mashibini.  They first joined forces in 1982 and now they are back together and reading from their upcoming title, “Some Things Need to be Said.”

Zimbabwe Nkenya, widely popular for presenting his work at what most consider the finest performing arts centers in the country.  He is currently working on fusing two sacred African instruments, the Bata drums and the mbira, together.  According to written reports, Nkenya has incorporated the sacred sounds of the mbira, traditionally used to summon the ancestors, into original jazz-based music for more than 30 years.

Friday’s performance is part of an ongoing series that has included internationally known artists Eugene B. Redmond, K. Curtis Lyle, Jerome "Scrooge" Harris, Shirley LeFlore, Oliver Lake and Mike Nelson.

For more information, contact Scott Joplin House at 314-340-5790 or email BAG at bag_blackartistsgroup@yahoo.com.

 

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About the Scott Joplin House (retrieved from Mo Historical Society website):

In a modest walk-up flat at 2658A Delmar Boulevard, Scott Joplin and his new bride Belle began their life in St. Louis. It was then called Morgan Street, a busy, densely populated, blue-collar district of African-Americans and German immigrants. Located nearby were the honky-tonks and dives of the notorious Chestnut Valley. This black musical genius, buoyed by his success with the Maple Leaf Rag, was making his move toward the national arena. He would soon be known as the "King of Ragtime."

Lit by gaslight, and appropriately furnished for 1902, the Joplin flat where many ragtime classics were composed awaits your visit. The building also has museum exhibits interpreting Joplin's life and work, and St. Louis during the ragtime era. The new Rosebud Cafe, a reconstructed structure that recreates a local turn-of-the-century bar and gaming club, is available to rent for gatherings.

Let the antique player piano that here once again fills the air with Scott Joplin tunes be your passport back to... The Age of Ragtime.

From March through October, tours are offered every hour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (ending with the 3 p.m. tour).

Tour fees are $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for children age 6-12. Children age 5 and under are free.

Groups of 15 or more should make reservations at least one week in advance. Group rates are $1.50 for adults and .75 for children age 6-12. To make a reservation, please call the site at (314) 340-5790

 

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More about Tananarvie Due’s and Joplin’s Ghost:

Seriously injured by Joplin's ancient piano, which mysteriously fell on her when she was ten, Phoenix Small, at twenty, is on the verge of a major career when she suddenly starts seeing and hearing Joplin's ghost—a man in her apartment, a voice calling to her, and Joplin's music appearing in her own computer music program.

 

 

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Chris Tucker is back for the Trifecta.  Today is the release of Rush Hour 3, starring Chris Tucker and co-starring Jackie Chan.  After six years, Carter and Lee are back on their crime fighting capers.  Oddly enough, the two just recently became good friends. Regarding the first two instalments of Rush Hour, Chan was quoted saying “The first time I met, I don’t understand a word he says. He speaks so fast.  Then the movie (shoot) starts and I see him on the set and, like, ‘Hi, Jackie,’ and after rehearsal I’m hiding from him. Then, I realize, he’s hiding from me - he’s a shy boy. And I think that’s what makes the movie work - I don’t know him.”   

Now both Tucker and Chan are like bosom buddies, going out together, and travelling to visit one another as well.  Rush Hour 3 Fans will be pleased to know that Rush Hour 4 is already a hot topic among Tucker, the producers, director and writers for the show.

 

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Another Conspiracy and I want a refund, btw!

Pepsico admitted that Aquafina bottled water is basically boiled tap water…hahaha. Their water comes from the same source as tap water.  After the closing of the GM plant in North St. Louis, Aquafina expanded its operations to this site.  Apparently they purchase their water from the city’s water treatment plant.  To put it in layman’s terms, the Missouri River!

Consumers spent $15 billion last year on bottled water, according to Beverage Digest. 

Do you think Aquafina's disclosure about its source hurt bottled-water sales? 

It Better!

Pepsico stands by the idea that Aquafina still isn’t the same as tap water.  Yet, John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest says “Pepsico's Aquafina and Coke's Dasani dominate the industry. Their plants get water from whatever the local water source is.”

 

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Auditions for Flavor of Love Season 3

 

If you actually have any interest in being on Flavor of Love 3, slap yourself.  Okay, if you are still interested, you can go to Lucky’s Sunday for Mocha Latte’s Shindig and (in my best Jay-Z voice) show ‘em what you got lil’ mama.  The Shindig has reportedly been off the meter every since it jumped off at Lucky’s on Washington (formerly club Isis and the Formula).  My girl Mocha Latte sent me a flyer, so I’ll let her words do the talking.  Also, keep an eye out for Got Lyrics and it’s new venue, coming soon!

 

 

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Greetings and Salutations. 

My daughter is infamous for staging her bedtime routine.  I usually tuck her in and read her a bedtime story. Then she does an academy award winning performance acting like she is down for the count, all snug in her own bed.  But whenever I come back to check on her shortly thereafter, she isn’t there.  I can usually find her buried under a pile of covers and a couple of pillows (trying to disguise her body print) in my bed.  This has been a losing battle for me.  I can’t break this girl from trying to sleep in what she has coined, the more comfortable bed.

 

Well last night, I think my remedy came in the form of a spider.  Apparently there was one in my bed, (ugh, I know I can hardly stand typing it without getting the jitters) and my poor baby must have laid on it because it bit her.  And she was pretty mad about it.  She didn’t cry but she was grossed out.  Actually, I was nervous that a side-affect to a spider bite was goofiness and delirium because as I rushed around the house trying to find numbers to nursing hotlines, etc., she was following me around pinching my arms while saying “bite, bite, bite, bite” pretending like she was a spider biting me. 

 

Then she started giggling and looking down at her wrist with her fist balled, which at first was confusing b/c the spider bit her in the lower abdomen area.  But then it dawned on me, this little girl is trying to see if she can throw a spidey web.  At that point, I decided she was more than okay, rubbed some peroxide on it (my mom’s remedy to everything,) placed the spider in a ziploc bag (just in case I woke up in the morning and my baby had 6 eyes, and we went back to bed (on the couch of course, I wasn’t getting back in that bed.  As my sister always says, “The first time, shame on you.  The second time, shame on me!”   

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This morning I left the house mad as hell at the spouse (notice I didn’t even use the words my husband b/c that is to imply that I’m feeling him way more than I actually am at the moment.)  And, that’s all the space in this post that he deserves [actually more].  So moving right along…

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Yesterday, a freelance writer for ALIVE magazine called me.  She wanted the inside track on how to get into our database of freelancers so she could make some extra cheddar.  I’m not mad at her, either.  Now the question is… who do I need to talk to at ALIVE so I can get a couple of feature stories ran, so I can make a little cheddar too.  I think that is a fair exchange, don’t you?

 

I gave her the information because I had met her friend at a wedding and she gave me the rundown on her background, so she sounded cool.  Now we will find out how cool she really is depending on whether or not my plan for getting a feature story pans out.  The funny thing is, she is probably saying the same thing about me.  I need to learn to be more aggressive when it comes to things like this.  I should have just interrogated her on the spot, i.e., who is the contact, what are they looking for, how did you get into it, do you think they would use someone like me, etc. etc.  But I never want to come off too intrusive, which is a complete oxymoron coming out of the mouth of a journalist.  

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Speaking of intruding,  I think war has been declared between my neighbors and me.  A couple of weekends ago, while straightening up around the house and outside, we decided enough was enough.  It needed to be brought to the neighbors’ attention that their trash, flies, waist high grass, broken down swing set and half-standing trampoline looks a hot mess and is pissing off everyone else on the block.  Well, we sent my mom (the educator) over there. 

 

I figured if she could command the attention of a room full of behavior disordered preteens, then she should be able to stoop to the level of a house full of grown folks that are too trifling to clean up after themselves, right?   WRONG.    My mom informed one of the 4 adults (yes four, plus three kids) that we were having our property appraised and inquired whether they would mind moving there overflowing trash can away from our fence.  They have strategically leaned all of their crap along the outside our fence (the edge of our property line) instead of along their fence, so the stuff looks like ours instead of theirs. 

 

The lady told my mom, that they had no intention of moving the stuff but we could move it if we wanted to.  Now we pay somebody to keep our yard up, what makes you think we are going to come out and clean up your stuff (see how I just switched from third to second person.  When I get mad, I start acting like you are in the room and just start going off on you like you can hear me.  I’m gonna work on that.)

 

But I digress...

 

To make a long story short, the spouse (yep, still in the doghouse) anonymously called the code enforcer (let’s pray my neighbors don’t have this blog address) to report their property.  Well wouldn’t you know it.  I was getting dressed for work yesterday morning and peeped out the window and saw Five-oh parked in front of their pad.  Well, shortly thereafter a white male in a red pick-up truck parked in their driveway.  He knocked repeatedly….no answer.  Walked around the back of the property….no answer.  He started to jiggle the padlock on their gated fence.  That’s when I started thinking, I know they are looking at their window watching this man just like me.  Before I could get that complete thought out, he had went in his pocket, brought out some type of tool and SNAP….the lock was on the ground and the man was on their property.  It was so gangsta how he just gorilla'd his way in... What was even funnier was seeing that entire family pour out of the house like they were a swarm of roaches and someone had just flicked the light on. 

WHO TOOK THE RENT MONEY!   I KNOW THEM AIN'T KEYS I HEAR JINGLING! (inside joke for my sister)

 

I secretly backed away from the window and layed low, hoping they wouldn’t put 2 and 2 together and realize we dropped dime on them…teeheehee.  They deserve it though.  They have a dog in their back yard that has not been taken on a walk in 2 years.  I am not exaggerating.  Check him out in the middle of the winter.  I call this portrait….Pissed Off Panda (dog’s name is Panda)   I told y’all I was a serial camera snapper.

 

 

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 I got the chance to see my cousin last weekend.  It has probably been a good 15 years since I last saw him, meaning I was way too young to even care at that point.  But it was really good seeing him and how he has progressed.  He was a real trouble make back then.  All I could remember about him is how he stole my dad’s car and the hot water hose busted so he tied a tube sock around it and kept rolling until the wheels practically fell off.  But he is into real estate investment/development, seems really happy, is engaged and has an 8-year-old son.  So shout’s out to my cousin Nate.  And the best of luck to you.  He is handsome too.  My family has some good genes…good looking out Big Man [upstairs].

 

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So I hope to have a event-filled weekend during Aug. 18-19.   It is the MO Black Expo.  I will be sure to give you all an insider’s look at all the vendors, entertainment, and a host of other events focused on the community, health, career, etc.  One of my favorites is the 100 Black Men Prostate Cancer Survivor’s & Awareness Walk.  I get a tingly feeling when I see hundreds of black men [or men in general] convening to promote a healthy lifestyle, b/c men do not go to the doctor unless they are seriously ill.  So it’s awesome to see a group of men get together as a community and promote this.  Hopefully one day we can have a walk, not of survivors but of preventers.  If you are interested in this event the details are:

 

100 Black Men Prostate Cancer Survivor's & Awareness Walk
August 18^th  7a – 11a Keener Plaza $10.00 to Register! 1.3 Mile Walk! All men 35+ get a Free PSA Blood Test at America’s Center! www.100blmstl.com 

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Oh and one more thing!  I can’t wait for the fall TV season.  Of course it is for entertainment purposes only.  I try not to watch the tube too much b/c it basically cooks your brain and does a wonderful job of shifting your focus off of anything that is actually real in this life.  But nonetheless, this is my favourite time of year when it comes to television premiers.  I can’t wait for my favorites!  Here are mine what are yours:

 

Weeds (Showtime)

Dexter (Showtime)

The Office (NBC)

ER (NBC)

Heroes (NBC)

Prison Break (FOX)

Also, I think I will try to watch Law & Order SVU more frequently as well as 30 Rock.  I saw an episode of that last week and it was pretty good. 

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Well, that’s all for now cybernistas.  I will come back at you with more local and national entertainment headlines and whatnot on my next post.  Don’t forget to hit my tagboard, sign my guestbook, or if you haven’t already subscribe to my journal and save me to your favorites.

 

Smooches!

 

Greetings Earthlings!  

What do you have up for the weekend?  I will be taxi cabbing my daughter around so she can go to all of her social events.  She is attending a pirate/princess birthday party in Lake St. Louis tonight (yes I said tonight, and yes she is only five, and yes I'm mad as hell about it).  Hopefully the party will be over soon enough for me to catch the tail end of Stress Free Fridays at a nearby bar, Cuetopia.  Here is the scoop I received via email from my girl Kelly.  It's located on West Florissant just off Halls Ferry.

 

Saturday,  I hope to get some much needed R&R because last weekend my family and I (my mom and sister included) spring cleaned my entire house.  We even found a snake in the basment.  I almost died when I saw it.  My mom chopped its head off with a garden hoe.  Even with its head severed from its body, the tail continued to wiggle frantically and the snakes tongue kept hissing out if it's mouth.  I will be forever traumatized after witnessing this.  My mom was freaking out saying it was a poisonus black mamba snake that (get this) stowed away in some African's luggage and made the trek to the U.S. and found it's way to St. Louis, MO (particularly in my back yard).  That's all a little too much for me to handle at this point.  So I am going to deter to the other option, that it was a razor or garter snake, that was hoping to find some ugly, gross rodent to feed on in my dark secluded basement....ugh....little nasties!

 

Saturday night I hope to stop by Posh for their free Saturday event.  Check it out.  If you're not doing anything, meet me in the West End baby!

 

On another note I am getting much sexual harassment from the guys that work at the convenience store up the street from my house.  I am basically always alone when I go in there, not they don't notice the ring on my finger.  They are overtly flirtatious.  Although, that has never parlayed into free liquor (go figure).  So I was telling my sister about the guys in the store and that I wasn't sure if they were from India or what; but they definitely have a thing for black women.  She sent me a link that really broke it down for me.  Y'all have to follow this link and hear this.  It is priceless.  Please finish reading my blog first, of course...hahahaha 

Here is the link:  http://www.betterloverseminar.com/desi_wife_catches_husband.php

 

I have been invited to some type of event promotional staffing orientation on Sunday.  I think it's called IDG or something to that affect.  Where they take your picture and bio and skills and you are on a list of folks that can be potentially selected to work at promotional activities, trade shows, exhibits, etc.  They pay sounds pretty good, like you can make a c-note in a day for  handing out t-shirts for several hours.  But what's up with the three hour orientation.  I'm starting to think I am too old to participate in something like this.  Obviously this is for young-young ladies b/c I'm a grown azz woman wich equals, you better have a dayum good reason for why I have to sit somewhere for 3 hours otherwise, I have way more important things to attend to.  You feel me?  I'm still on the fence about that one.  I'll have to see how I feel Sunday afternoon.  I will totally play it by ear.

 

Well, I'm gonna skate out early on this one b/c I am buried in manuscript pages once again.  I'm starting to feel the whirlwind of trying to manage two books at once.  And I'm the newbie.  Some people are managing up to 8 or 9 at once (oh hell nawl!)  I got pages going out to one copyeditor, coming in from another, proofreaders asking questions, authors want to see every little change and to round it off the compositors that create the pages and illustrations are chewing on my ear as well....How exciting I know!

Have a beautiful weekend.  I'll get back at you soon!

Oh, btw,  Take  off that dayum cool.  I want to see the real you.

Smooches.    

 

 

 

 

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This has been a crazy ride.  My visits have skyrocketed since winning JOTW.  Thanks for  everyone that has stopped by to check me out.  Hopefully you will add me to your favorites, take off ur cool, and come back and see me soon.  

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Today I got to work only to be greeted by a fierce email from a potential copyeditor.  Oh she pretty much called me everything but the child of God.  Then she went on to ask me to call her to explain to her why I didn’t hire her for my project.  Classic.  But I bounced back like a champ and found a new one within three hours, so now what!

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The Big Political Dance

Last weekend was filled with tons of events including the National Urban League Conference.  Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Edwards were in attendance and addresses the masses.  Lately Obama and Hillary have been at each other’s throughts so Edwards took that as an opportunity and ran with it.  He was quoted saying, “We've had two good people -- Democratic candidates for president -- who spent their time attacking each other instead of attacking the problems that this country is facing."    Who do you all think will make it to the big dance, as they say in college hoops?  At this point I have no idea.  We’ll have to keep an eye out on this one.

 

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You Ain’t Got to Instruct Me to do a Dayum Thang!

Ike Turner, infamously known for bustin Tina Turner’s head to the white meat on a regular occasion when they were married, will be performing in St. Louis at the Big Muddy Blues Festival.  Well you all might remember from the movie, What’s Love Got to Do With It”  it was in St. Louis that Tina hit it big after singing for Ike at the juke joint.  (In my best Tina Turner voice) “…I know you love me baby, but you never tell me so.  If you don’t tell me you love me baby, I’m gonna pack my bags and go….”

Well, the organizers of the blues festival submitted a request to the city asking to make September 2^nd “Ike Turner Day” This is the day he will perform at the blues festival.  Of course,  Mayor Slay, rejected that request so quick, you would have thought they had written to ask him to approve brand new books, desks and laptops for every inner-city public-school student (and we know that will never happen…)

Slay rejected the proposal to issue a City Hall Proclamation in his honor.  Turner was quoted saying he never asked for the honor anyway, so it’s no skin off of his back.  He already has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame (and I guarantee you that star was there before that move went to the big screen and put all his dirt out in the street).

 Turner has admitted to hitting his ex-wife Tina Turner.  Yet, he also included that the movie depiction was off the mark and really hurt his career.  But I’m sure it didn’t hurt nearly as much as Tina was when he was doing the cave-man kick-out all over her face.  So such is life Ike, I think you got off easy, partner.

Now if you want to see Ike in his true essence, you have to check this out:

 

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  I…Don’t?

 I know you all have heard that Usher and his fiancé Tameka did not precede with their planned nuptials this past Saturday.  At the last hour, the wedding was called off, without a real explanation as to why.  Word on the street is that Usher and his pregnant fiancé, Tameka, are still together and will set another date.  But they aren’t providing any details about what the real deal is.  Usmagizine.com quoted the couple saying, “As of right now we don't have a date but we will let you know when we do. Everybody's fine. Tameka and the baby are fine."

Tameka Foster is a stylist who has worked with Lauryn Hill and Toni Braxton and of course, Usher.  The couple has been engaged for less than a year.  Foster is expecting Usher’s first child in the fall.  She has 3 additional children from a previous marriage.  Their wedding was to take place at L.A. Reid’s house last Saturday.  I know he was mad as hell.  Got all these folks coming to my house and y’all kids knew good and dayum well y’all were not trying to jump the broom.  I think Usher is trying to wait for the swab before he says “I Do.”  You know… the swab…the DNA test. 

 

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My Goodies, Not My Goodies?

  

Speaking of Engagements, Eddie Murphy is marrying Tracey Edmonds.  They are now engaged as of last Wednesday.  I still feel like this is so shady.  I’m having a hard time accepting this.  When I look at her, I still feel like she is Babyface’s goods.  But Eddie moved in like a thief in the night.  He has her wide open.  She didn’t even care about his love child with his former girlfriend, Spice Girl Melanie Brown, who gave birth to their daughter, Angel Iris, in April.  No let me stop hating.  If they want to make it do what it do, baby

Tracey Edmonds produced “Who’s Your Caddy?”  At the premier it was reported that she was sporting major ice on her ring finger and the rumors started buzzing.  Edmonds divorce from Baby face was finalized in June.  Dayum… they don’t waste any time do they.  What happened to a grace period?  Or being on the rebound for a while?

 

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 Et  Tu Tony?

Tony Taylor, a co-defendant of Michael Vick, pleaded guilty yesterday to the federal dogfighting charges.  He will be sentenced on Dec. 14^th   He faces a maximum of five years in jail and quarter-million dollar fine.  Do you think Vick is pissed off that he didn’t plead not-guilty like the other two co-defendents (Vick and Purnell Piece) You know what they say united we stand, divided we fall.  This is what I was able to scrounge up during my internet searching:

Prosecutors claimed in a July 17 indictment that Taylor found the Surry County property that Vick purchased and used as the site of "Bad Newz Kennels," a dogfighting enterprise. Taylor also allegedly helped purchase pit bulls and killed at least two dogs that fared poorly in test fights.

According to the 18-page indictment, the dogfighting ring executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means. It alleges that the fights offered purses as high as $26,000.

The grisly details outlined in the indictment have fueled protests and public outrage against Vick. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has banned Vick from the Falcons' training camp while the league investigates.

Vick and Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, and Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, are scheduled for trial Nov. 26. They remain free without bond.

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 Now You Know Not to Mess With Oprah

 

As if James Frey, infamous author of “A Million Little Pieces” hasn’t had enough, they now have it out for Oprah.  The editor and publisher of the book, Nan A. Talese, says Oprah showed “fiercely bad manners” and she should apologize.  Now I must say, Oprah was ferocious on this episode.  She was ticked off and she let it be known.  She was not her usual polite uplifting self.  I was a little taken aback myself. The publisher, Talese said, according to The Dallas Morning News, "I'm afraid I'm unapologetic of the whole thing. And the only person who should be apologetic is Oprah Winfrey. When someone starts out and says, 'I have been an alcoholic. I have lied. I have cheated.' ... you do not think this is going to be the New Testament."

She better watch out, b/c Oprah is powerful.  Talese will mess around and be fired next week if Oprah decides to make a few phone calls aka power-moves.

A judge approved a tentative settlement in May, calling for publishing house Random House and Frey to refund $2.35 million to those who bought his book before his appearance on Winfrey's show.

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As I predicted last week, the Cardinals did indeed rip the cubs a new one.  Duncan hit a Grand Slam.  We were so hype because we had never seen one in person, only on the television.  We saw a lot of drunkards and middle-aged women trying to bring their sexy back but failing miserably.  All in all we had a great time.  We finished the night with a few cocktails, brews, and then went home to crash.  I was in so much pain the following morning when I entered the Matrix.  Dayum, I don’t bounce back like I used to.

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Okay cybernistas, I'm out this piece.  I will post again soon.  So make sure you get back at me.  Before you leave grace my tag board or guest book with your presence.

 

Smooches!

 

   

 

 

Greetings and Salutations.  Above is a picture of me with a cold one in my hand.  I love those pictures in the background.  They are my favorite.  Also below that is my daughter.  Isn't she cute.  She looks like her dad, atleast that's what most people tell me. And....the lady pushing the basket next to my daughter.  I don't know her name but she was leaving out of Schnuck's just in front of me as I exited the store.  She had on a see through black top, a little trendy jacket and some skin tight leggins.  And she had to be all of 70 years old.  You better not have told her she wasn't fine either, or she would have smacked you in the face.  She thought she was a dime plus nine, okay.  Well I'm infamous for sneaking pics of people when they aren't looking.  And she is another victim caught on camera.  For all of you Granny's out there.  Don't try this at home.

 

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It’s almost time for me to leave the matrix.  Tonight I’m going to cheer on the Cardinals as they attempt to rip the Cubs a new one.  I plan on being their good luck charm.  The game starts at 7pm.  My friend Katie and her new fiancé, Matt will be there too.  Their tickets are right next to me and Myron’s (did I ever tell you all my husband’s name is Myron). We will have a good peanut cracking, beer guzzling time.  

 

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My copyeditor, that I just hired two weeks ago, quite on the first day b/c the manuscript was too big.  Dayum, Dayum, Dayum.  So now I am four days behind schedule on my book project.  I found another lady based out of LaFayette, NY.  But I think she is going to be high maintenance.  I sent her a copy of the first chapter and she is already asking to speak to the author…hello…about what?  You don’t even have the gig yet.  And I talk to the author, not the freelancer………jeeeezuz.  I know this is going to be a long process.  Wish me luck. 

 

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Last night I went to the Universoul Circus.  I was kind of bummed that you could not take pictures.  I had my camera in my pocket but I wanted to follow rules b/c I wasn’t sure if the “No Photos Allowed” sign was there b/c they are trying to ruin my blog success, or if it actually had something to do with distracting the lions, elephants, or the high flying acts.  I would have felt really bad if someone fell off the trapeze b/c my camera flashed.  Plus, I didn’t want to get escorted out the place either.  

 

The highlight of the circus, in my opinion was the Elephant show featuring the only African American female Elephant trainer in the world.  There were two elephants and right in the middle of their routine, one of them had to take a dump.  So a circus-attendant (so to speak) had to run to the stage and hold a trash can under the elephants tail to catch the poop as it came out.  That's a bum job if I ever heard of one, but somebody has to do it.  Literally, the show stopped and we had to wait until the elephant got finished doing her business.  When she was finished the assistant walked away with the trashcan full of poop, but the elephant had something else in mind.  He tinkled all over the center ring as he continued on with the rest of his routine.  Thanks goodness that was the final act.  

 

Other notables, where the little girls from China and their bike riding show.  They fit about 16 girls on one moving bike and continued to ride it in circles without anyone falling off.  The doggie show was cute.  Especially when the dog, dressed up as an old lady, held a leash and walked a cat around the ring.  They were really cute.  All in all, it was a good show.  My sister, daughter and I had a good time.

 

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The Urban League Annual Conference kicked off today in Downtown St. Louis.    It will run throughout the weekend.  It will feature 80+ speakers including presidential candidates, career fairs, workshops, award gala, and concerts featuring Eryka Badu and Teena Marie.  I think it is interesting that one presidential candidate in particular, Rudy Giuliani, will not be at the annual conference.  It’s interesting because he is a friend  and an ex-coworker of the urban league’s CEO and President Marc Morial.  This morning on the news, Morial skated questions regarding Giuliani’s absence by stating, “Let’s focus on those who are here, instead of those who decided not to be here.”   Ooooh, sounds like a boy-fight to me…….rrrrrrrrruuuuuffff. 

 

This year’s theme is “You, Your Money, Your Future.”  For more info you can call the information line at 1-800-263-9926.

 

 

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How ironic is it that I just posted about R. Kelly and the things he should never do and then I get home and hear that the jury selection process is actively underway regarding Kelly’s child pornography charges.  Now don’t say I didn’t try to warn him.  If he hadn’t been one-two-one-ing across the screne talking about how freaky he is and how he is going to do it Michael Jackson-style, his case might still be at the bottom of the stack.  

 

It is reported that they are having a very unique jury selection process due to Kelly being such a high profile defendant.  The original charges were filed in 2002, at that time Kelly pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of child pornography.  Everyone knows about the scandalous tape and I’m sure the prosecution will build their entire case around that.  Kelly and his defense still refuse to admit that the person on the tape is indeed R. Kelly.  Some speculate they may argue that it is a computer generated image.  We’ll see how this one will unfold.

 

Here's another pic of me and some of my friends and some of my friends' friends.

 

 

 

Hey Cybernistas.  I had to take off my cool.  I won JOTW yesterday and was really amp about it but I'm back to my calm, elegant self...teeheehee  

 

Today is my sister's birthday.  She's a Leo.  What are Leo's known for?  I'll have to look that up.  I'm a Scorpio, so what are we supposed to be like?  I think I read somewhere that Scorpio's are vain, intelligent, and very introspective.  They like to go deep.  They keep to themselves until provoked and then they go into attack mode.   Apparently, we are supposed to be freaky as well.  Anytime a woman [who also happens to be a Scorpio] has a conversation with a guy and if during that conversation the guy finds out she is a Scorpio, well…let’s just revisit Tyrese’s lyrics to Sounds of Lovemaking

 

                        “I met a Scorpioooooo…(Michael Jackson high moan)…uh, oh

                        There were no limits to where she’d go-oooooo

                        Man she was so dayum sexuaaaaaaaal.”

 

Uh-huh, yes…those lyrics pretty much sum it up. When guys hear Scorpio they automatically think, “oooh, freaky-deaky.”   That’s reputation of my sign.  Great  I had to be born under the most slut-tatious sign of them all.   

 

Most people who were born in November (like me) had parents who were really feeling the signs of lovemaking b/c more than likely they were doing the do, on or around Valentines Day.  You count the months, and tell me, am I right or am I right.

 

Okay, but I digress…

 

My sister and I will definitely hit the town and have a couple of drinks after the Universoul Circus, to continue the birthday celebration late into the wee hours of the morning.  Yes, I have to go to the Matrix tomorrow, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.  You know what they say…..Sieze the Day!  I’m still trying to figure out where we should go for drinks.

 

I’m bummed that Mocha Latte’s Got Lyrics is homeless because we could have checked that out tonight.  Got Lyrics is definitely a Wednesday night hotspot.  I’m sure she will bounce back bigger and better than ever.  Mocha also has her Shindig going down every Sunday night at Lucky’s (formerly Isis).  It’s located on Washington & Tucker in Downtown St. Louis.

 

 

Who has heard the “Same Girl” remix with R. Kelly and T. Pain?  This song is rated R.  It should not be on the airwaves before 10 p.m.  They get pretty graphic on the talk, it made me blush.  Keep in mind on the original song Usher and R. Kelly( a/k/a Kells) were fighting over the same girl (a/k/a T.T.) Well, in the remix T. Pain (a/k/a Theodore) has thickened the plot further.  T.T. is his wife and he is mad as hell.  So him and R. Kelly go at it in the remix.

 

The most amusing part about the song is when R. Kelly says he is going to break it down Michael Jackson style and proceeds to sing in his best Michael Jackson voice (which is pretty close) coupled with all Jackson’s signature adlibs, including heeeee-heeeeeee.

 

In my personal opinion, R. Kelly should NEVER do two things.  He should never sing about sex or being freaky in the bedroom.  Why?  Because it immediately brings to mind his legal woes regarding his infamous sex-tape featuring him and a 14-year-old girl.  Secondly, he should NEVER, ever, ever, ever draw a connection between himself and Michael Jackson, ever.  That’s just not smart.  And while I’m on my rant, it also wasn’t smart to remix with Ciara because she is too young to be in your company.  Not to mention the whole scenario reminded me of when he married Aliyah (for a hot second)  when she was 15.  It’s just not a good look Kells, that’s all I’m saying.

 

 

A day or so ago a local radio personality aired a segment on why do people cheat. So after listening, I went a little deep in thought and tried to analyze why I thought people cheat. (What!  I’m a Scorpio.  We’re supposed to go deep.)  Then I realized that I can only speak from a woman’s perspective b/c I probably view men with many of the stereotypical male view points that they have been coined with.  Don’t look at me like that!  What else am I supposed to go off of? If I’m off the mark let me know. 

 

Men

I feel like men cheat mostly because of primal urges mixed in with the right set of circumstances (i.e., things not right in your relationship, a new dimepiece is pushing up on you really tuff, she’s saying and doing all the right things, you have your boys jacket on and there happens to be a condomn in the pocket, mix that in with a little alcohol and no witnesses – what the hell, right.  WRONG! That’s the quickest way to get a smile in your neck from your significant other.  Check yourself. 

 

Women

I like to explain why women cheat in correlation to a magic trick (inspired by Buddy Israel, of Smoking Aces).  First let’s clarify that most often; women will not randomly cheat with a random guy.  If they do decide to cheat they will probably cheat with the same guy repeatedly. (Is this the same for men, I need a guy to hit me up and let me know this insider info.) Anyways, this adhoc relationship is very similar to a magic trick, where the woman is the magician.  And just as the professional magician creates an illusion by laying a scantily clad woman in a box and cutting the box in half, a woman creates an illusion of a relationship with her jump-off (aka tender on the side).  

 

As the magician, the woman is able to shape her illusion, she’s able to shift it, and she’s able to see only what she wants to see.  More importantly, she’s able to make her audience (the guy she’s jumpin off with) see only what she wants him to see.  Whether it’s her range of emotions, physical appearance, personal business, or whatever.  She is in control, and because she can control it, and shift it and alter it, it’s valuable to her.  B/c there aren’t many things in life that she can control in that manner.  

 

But at some point, all things fall apart.  And that’s when the drama begins…teeheehee.  That was my take on the whole infidelity thing.  ALLLLLLRighty, then…

 

Now I want to know the real dirt on why men cheat.  It could be from a man.  Or it could be from a woman that has had a lot of exposure to men.  Preferably she knows a lot of men, knows: as in she has 5 brothers, or she works with all men, or something like that, not know:  as in the biblical sense.  

 

Hit up my tagboard, guestbook , or post a comment.  If you are shy and still want to share your insight, you can email me at takeoffurcool@yahoo.com

 

 

I gotta go and get something to eat.  My stomach is scratching my back.  I like that line…(I stole it from this very sexy guy from Cali that used to stay across from me and my college roommate back in the day.  That was his thing and I hijacked it…now what!

 

 

 

 

Smooches!  

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The Rundown
59th Primetime Emmy Awards	50 Million Pound Challenge
St. Louis Fashion Week	>Musiq SoulChild
Steve Harvey Morning Show	Flavor of Love's, Delicious
Mekhi Phifer leaving...	Universoul Circus

 

    

Emmy Nods Are In

The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced last Thursday in L.A. Among the list of Emmy nominees, were several beautiful black women who continue to blaze trails in the entertainment industry. Queen Latifah’s role in HBO’s “Life Support” has landed her a nod as Lead Actress in a Miniseries/Movie. Chandra Wilson of “Grey’s Anatomy” received her second nomination for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Vanessa Williams is a nominee for best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on “Ugly Betty” (I love that show.)

Ugly Betty actually received a whopping 11 nominations closely followed by “Grey’s Anatomy” with 10 nominees. The Emmy Awards will air Sept. 16th from the Shrine Auditorium.

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Are You Up For The Challenge?

This weekend Dr. Ian Smith will be at Union Station from 12-4pm hosting a life-changing event, as he encourages the community to Get Fit for Life and Enjoy. The 50 million pound challenge hits St. Louis with special performances by Joe, Kelly Price, Biz Markie, and Comedian J. Anthony Brown.

The 50 Million Pound Challenge website reads: The 50 Million Pound Challenge is an historic opportunity for African Americans to come together against a growing health crisis. Our challenge is to collectively lose 50 million pounds and reduce the very real risks that being overweight poses to our community. Learn more (about the challenge by visiting their website).

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St. Louis Fashion Week

Mark your calendars for the week of August 20-25. St. Louis’ first ever-fashion week will hit the city with a force to reckon with.

Fashion Week Highlights Include: MON 8/20: Exclusive Fashion Week Launch Event (open to ticket holders only).

TUES 8/21: New Amsterdam Gin Presents "The New Face of Fashion" hosted by St. Louis celebrity designer, Jimmy Jamieson at the Philip Slein Gallery. This show will feature a group exhibition of St. Louis' top fashion photographers with works selected by Paul Ha, Director of the Contemporary Art Museum and Allen Barber, General Manager of Neiman Marcus.

WED 8/22: Celebrity designer Jesse Kamm premieres her Spring 2008 collection before heading off to her first shows at New York and Paris Fashion Weeks. St. Louis area native Jesse Kamm launched to international acclaim at LA Fashion Week and is carried by some of the world's most exclusive boutiques including Caviar And Kind (LA) and Colette (Paris). Since launching, Jesse has been featured by Vogue, Elle and Bazaar and will be ALIVE's September cover model.

THURS 8/23: Nick Verreos of "Project Runway" hosts The Time Boutique's "Forbidden Fashion" show. Verreos will be joined by fellow "Project Runway" alum Kara Janx for an evening of fashion shows featuring 10 Spring 2008 collections plus the collection of St. Louis celeb designer Tiffany Alana and seven other emerging designers from around the world.

FRI 8/24: Jesse Kamm & Virginia Kerr host "Liquid Style." Staged on the beautiful pool deck of the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, this show will feature the hottest designer ready-to-wear from some of St. Louis' top boutiques. St. Louis celebs from KMOV-TV, MOViN Radio and the St. Louis Rams will join socialites and special designer guests Yoana Boraschi, Vivek K. Nagrani and Mark & Marvin Austin for a red carpet night of fashion like no other seen in St. Louis.

SAT 8/25: Anatomy of Style hosts St. Louis' first ever "Boutique Crawl." All participating St. Louis Fashion Week boutiques have secured national and local designers to host a one-day trunk show at their locations. Enjoy Ecco Domani wines and special discounts throughout the day. This event is open to all Fashion Week Pass holders.

SAT NIGHT 8/25: St. Louis' most fashion-forward crowd will converge on The Pepper Lounge for the first ever Prêt-à-Partie to celebrate the conclusion of Fashion Week. Prêt-à-Partie will feature special guest appearances by Fashion Week designers, models and celebrities. Present your ticket from any Fashion Week event for entry - space limited, arrive early.

According to early predictions, this show will sell out. So if you are a fashionista then you better get your tickets now. ORDER TICKETS NOW - CLICK HERE: www.ticketmaster.com

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Musiq Live on the Levee

This weekend’s Live on the Levee series will feature one of my favorite’s, Musiq SoulChild (although, I think he has since dropped the SoulChild). It will be this Friday night from 6-8pm.

The concert is free, the entertainment is great and it all takes place on St. Louis’ historic riverfront. Live on the Levee is a weekend event that runs for six weeks and is located under the Gateway Arch. In addition to live music, there is also a family fun village and a fireworks display at the end of every night. If you are not a Musiq SoulChild fan (kill yourself…hahaha). No really if you are not into Musiq, maybe you would be interested in checking out Robert Randolph and the Family Band on August 3rd or John Michael Montgomery on August 4th.

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Steve Harvey Morning Show

Steve Harvey and the gang are coming to town this Friday. I love listening to his morning show on the drive into work (aka the Matrix). This Friday St. Louisans will get the opportunity to see him live and in the flesh. The Steve Harvey Morning Show will broadcast live at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in east St. Louis from 5-9 am, Friday July 27th. The event is sponsored by the US Army and Rent-n-Roll. (speaking of rent-n-roll, how in the world can you operate a business around the concept of rent to own rims for your vehicle. We have took keeping up with the Joneses to a whole new level, but that’s another blog post, isn’t it.)

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Delicious? Not so much…

Season 2 Flavor of Love Winner, Delicious, will be in St. Louis tonight at Club Society. I am sure it will be a sausage fest in there as guys line up to peep out her 36-24-36 measurements. I’m assuming her and Flaaaaa-Vor-Flav did not stay together as a couple.

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Mekhi Phifer leaving…

Dr. Pratt will be leaving ER this season, so the rumor mill says. I also heard that this will be the last season of ER anyways, so go figure. I love Mekhi Phifer. He is quite easy on the eyes and I like his young, ambitious, arrogant character on the show. ER must have set a record for longest running series. I remember watching this when I was in high school. I’ll keep an eye out for his next project. I also heard he has a baby on the way.

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Universoul Circus

 

My sister's birthday is July 25th, tomorrow.  I think we are going to go to the Universoul Circus.  It will be in St. Louis tomorrow through the weekend.  If you haven't seen it, it's a must attend evet.  It is a twelve year old single ring circus that consist of predominantly African-American performers.  Learn more at www.universoulcircus.com

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