i enjoy the American exercise of duping the masses. i have found it quite entertaining over most of my life. so much so, in fact, that i have raised my daughters to have similar abilities, so it was with great wonder and astonishment that i attempted to discover the mean age at which the Republican intended to reach with his acceptance speech tonight. i kept listening...wondering...is he speaking to 8 year olds, without seeking to insult 8 year olds, of course.
each sentence he uttered was followed, by me, with these three words, "By doing what?" should you be confused, watch the speech again on youtube or cnnpolitics.com and merely add these three words and tell me how it works for you....please.
i know that i have "different" children, however, there is something abysmally wrong when they are able to deconstruct and clearly see the BS. thank Spirit for the Daily Show which the girls and i enjoy to no end. despite the aforementioned challenges, i really feel for the adults that drink the kool aid.
fortunately i have been able to listen to KPFK, 90.7 FM and catch some phenomenal coverage of the real things that the MainStream Media (MSM) has not covered, like the repressive, bordering on police state, tactics being employed at this Republican National Convention. it seems like they are attempting to take it beyond where the New York convention took with number of arrests and sheer terror generating behavior.
for those of you that support mccain, please understand, i appreciated and admired the man that ran in 2000 and that served (except for the stance on the MLK Day) admirably. however, this is not that candidate.
now i am done with this election. we will return to topics that matter to the everyday lives of the people and how we may truly vote in a way that matters....with our time, attention and energy.
mark your calendars!!!!! September 18, 2008
Current mood: anxious
Category: Religion and Philosophy
Greetings to all that read this. My dear Brother/Teacher/Friend (BFF) will be in the Greater Los Angeles are on Thursday, September 18, 2008, reading from his latest book, "Conjuring Black Funk" at A Different Light Bookstore (8853 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood). the time will be from 7:30 - 9:30 pm.
Many may be wondering, why am i not able to find this book at Eso Won, the Bohdi Tree or Amazon....the book, at its core is seeking to embody the core principles of its author...supporting independent authors, bookstores and publishers....working to maintain and support local and independent ecologies. this is an effort to walk the talk (which you know is pushed strongly herein).
Logistical Information
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008 Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm Location: A Different Light Bookstore Street: 8853 Santa Monica Blvd City/Town: West Hollywood, CA
Dr. Herukhuti will be reading from his book, Conjuring Black Funk: Notes on Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality, Volume I.
The book that has been banned in Los Angeles will be read at A Different Light Bookstore--the book that Eso Won Bookstore and The Bodhi Tree Bookstore refused. Come hear what all the controversy has been about. Support this cutting edge author and the bookstore that is hosting him.
Copies will be available for purchase and signing.
Democratic National Convention (DNC) Dispatches from the Field: Day3
Current mood: working
Category: News and Politics
The day started earlier than the other days with an 0800 start time. There were some small non-jurisdictional protests happening @ Civic Center park that enabled us to wrap early. This afforded us the opportunity to assess the potential for challenging situations at the other scheduled marches all over town, e.g. Five Points and park adjacent to Invesco Field. Additionally, rage against the machine, headlining, played a free show at the Denver Coliseum that had about 15,000 folks. The march after the show to the Pepsi Center went without incident. Later in the day our team leads met with the leaders of the main pro-immigration reform march for Thursday, August, 28, 2008. This afforded the rest of us to depart back to Aurora early and take the time to see Denver. We spent some more time on the 16th Ave. Mall and ate dinner @ the Appaloosa Grill with a couple of colleagues. If you are in Denver, get the fries here....wonderful. Great ambiance and live music to boot. We need more free and donation spots in L.A. with live music and superlative worthy food and drink.
We did not get lost this night. Great evening and agreat speech by Hilary, no? Personally glad this Hillary was not on the campaign trail delivering presentations. Certainly begs the question about how well one does with a smooth-running operation.
Democratic National Convention (DNC) Dispatches from the Field: Day 2
Current mood: mischievous
Category: News and Politics
Greetings all,
I trust that you are reading this update in ebullient health and spirits. This update has been delayed due to manifestations of dehydration and altitude wreaking minor havoc with my system. I have observed strict operational discipline, however, no liquor to exacerbate the existing conditions.
The day was mainly uneventful as many of the protests, marches and demonstrations present were not within our jurisdiction (race, color, ethnicity and national origin). There were several clashes throughout the day, however, between pro and anti abortion groups (look for a blog on this topic for September) that were extremely heated. Additionally an anti-abortion group began passing out an interesting flyer to "white, protestant churches". (Usually I spare vitriol and hyperbole from the sharing, but y'all need to read some of what I have the great fortune to observe). One group shared a flyer at the aforementioned churches in Denver to address the "Real Solutions for the 'Negro problem'". The crux of the presentation (tri-fold, 2-sided color flyer) was comparing slavery with abortion with the concluding question being, "which is a worse crime: slavery or murder?" It was framed within the context of one issue voters seen as a flawed perspective. Group arranged for leaders symbolic arrest ( and maybe 12 supporters) near pepsi center. Minimal media reports or presence of counter protests, which would have initiated a stronger response by the Agency.
The remainder of the day was spent preparing for Wednesday's meetings and activities.
I got the opportunity to visit the civic center park and the 16th St. Mall with one of my colleagues. We stopped in Civic Center Park and saw a magnificent pictorial exhibit on Iran. We passed another pro and anti abortion stand-off on the Mall and observed the local shopping area. Very nice city. Quaint shops and areas. We found a very good restaurant called Croc's bar and grill. Of course, we got lost on the way back to the car, in the dark, but, of course, since you are reading this we are ok. ;)))
Democratic National Convention (DNC) Dispatches from the Field: Day 1
Current mood: exhausted
Category: News and Politics
This is going to be short and sweet. ;) after a series of briefings and meetings we got a tour of the upcoming parade routes for the week. There will be several. Unfortunately, there have been fewer protesters than expected. Tent State, primarily college student area, had nearly half of the projected 20,000 people expected.
With all the prep and photos from the previous post, there was only one arrest, which despite the ominous looking presence of law enforcement (and their concomitant weaponry and armor) seems a positive, albeit a small one.
Our hotel accomodations are good, just distant from the action so future updates will be more exciting as I will chill near the action after the assignments are complete. Denver local businesses are doing some very interesting things to address the large population, like mixed hours, specials after 9pm (when convention done to spur support) which seems smart.
More later as this is quite early, however I said each night, it's still night, even here.
Would be more but I watched Michelle Obama on tv, too bad hotel doesn't get TVOne.
Democratic National Convention (DNC) Dispatches from the Field
Current mood: adventurous
Category: News and Politics
from the thumbs of Agent BirdSong.....
i was asked by an old friend to blog during the DNC as neither of us knows anyone that has gone and it will be interesting to have a bruh from the neighborhood at this DNC that also works for da gubmint ;)
in preparation, as usual for these types of events, history plays in important role....
and the large anti-war protests that coincided with the opening of the DNC today creates a challenging milieu, particularly for the role that the Agency plays.
as mediators, we work in the space between the protesters, counter protesters and law enforcement. we carry no physical weapons (as most would describe it), nor do we have flak jackets or any form of armored protection (e.g. bullet proof vests and the like).
at the DNC in 2000, in Los Angeles, several members of out team were caught up in the wrong area as local law enforcement declared an unlawful assembly and were recipients of rubber bullet fire. since that time, there have been significant "improvements" in the way that protests are run in the city of Los Angeles, with much input from the Agency.
rarely has this space shared the role of Agent BS, however, this is a rare and unique opportunity for our dear readers to share and feedback and learn whatit is that our iMoM Agen BS does, for those that have not had the pleasure of seeing him in action.
i am creating a space that will ensure peace for all near me, howver, i do have some concerns related to how well law enforcement is prepared to handle the numbers in a fashion more similar to the manner that LAPD and partners did at tis years MayDay activities. i am in no way trumpeting their actions of the previous year, however, when folks do a good job it should be praised (leads to the creation of balance and justice, no?). i am excited at the possibilites being present portend. i will be posting each evening. stay tuned yall.
as the primary focus of this area has increasingly moved towards edutainment (when not direct inspiriation and/or education) and action/involvement in a sustained fashion, please take the time this weekend should you not have it intimately planned and check out this Trouble the water
it is an award winning documentary chronicling the Katrina experience. for those that do not remember, i spent 6 weeks there in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, immediately following the Hurricane (immediately as far as government, to some degree responded, that is). the photos are found here.
here is the link to find the film's viewing location near your locale.
well done is better than well said (benjamin franklin)
Anedge Hirack Julius Carry III....Who’s the Baddest????? (updated)
Current mood: melancholy
Category: Life
phenomenal actor, that was best known for his work as "the Shogun of Harlem" from the Last Dragon. word has come to me via text message and verified via the blogosphere in the ether that the brotha has boarded his barge. may it reach the West unencumbered.
make sure you get the glow and find the "Master" of your own bation
inpu
Update (note that all emphatics are mine): according to < a href="http://news.google.com/news?q=julius%20carry&sourceid=mozilla2&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wn">Variety and other sources:
Character actor Julius Carry died Aug. 19 in Los Angeles of pancreatic cancer. He was 56.
He had recurring roles on TV shows including "Two Guys And Girl," "Boy Meets World," "Grown Ups," "The District," "Cosby," "Murphy Brown," "It's A Living" and "Duet."
Carry appeared in more than 100 guest roles including "Hill Street Blues," "Jag," "Spin City" and "Moesha."
He also appeared as the villain Sho'nuff in the cult pic "The Last Dragon." Other feature credits included "The New Guy," "Moving," "World Gone Wild," "The Man With The Red Shoe" and "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh."
Born in Chicago, his first screen credit was in "Disco Godfather."
Carry is survived by his wife Naomi.
Donations may be made to The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Currently
watching
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The Last Dragon Release date: 2001-07-03
Hail the Virgoan Trinity...Inpu/Upuat/Sobek (updated)
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Religion and Philosophy
the time has come for the Sun to return to a wondrous place (tonight/tomorrow in fact)...the annual transition to Virgo....Mercury, the Harbinger has already made its transit and awaits the Sun to join it and Venus in Virgo....one of the most...well read on, no need for me to tell it.....
There will be a Virgo Bash in 2009!!!!!! Count on it!!! however, for those of you that are wondering... here are some great characteristics and stories. some notable virgo exceptions not listed below include Dr. Phil, George Carlin, and of course yours truly....
enjoy
Sun in Virgo Virgo Influences Study and Play
Virgo has been called picky and critical for far too long. Well, here's where it ends. This sign's certainly into details -- there's no doubt about that. But that doesn't mean that these idealistic, humble folks don't care about others; in fact, it really means that they care so much about helping everyone look, sound and be their best that they're willing to risk coming off as 'picky' or 'critical' to do it -- which is quite a generous sacrifice.
Truth be told, however, Virgo's good at sacrifice, and at making lemonade out of lemons. These extremely tender hearts are always willing to help, and their sharp focus allows them to take charge of even the toughest situation. So if you're a Virgo yourself, you know that when you're that good at grasping particulars, it's quite natural to see flaws -- hence that reputation for being nitpicky. But if it weren't for you, the rest of us would miss the trees for the forest, so don't ever let anyone put you down for your keen eye! We all need troubleshooters in our lives, people who are able to see the potential problems in a situation before they develop -- and that's definitely Virgo. So get out there and find one of these meticulous folks; enjoy a lesson in careful observation and tell your pal that their ability to appreciate minutiae really is precious.
When it comes to relationships, Virgo is as devoted as a sign can possibly be. These sincere souls are willing to do whatever it takes, whenever it's needed, to let their beloveds know just how dear they are. And if you're close to a Virgo, you can attest to the fact that they're the proud bearer of one of the keenest wits in the entire zodiac, thanks to that sharp eye and those quick, accurate comments. As a partner, this sign's as faithful as they come -- like all the earth signs. (Don't forget: Being earthy, after all, means that Virgo was given the gift of fully appreciating the sense of touch and the importance of closeness.) So don't hesitate to reach out and touch a Virgo you know and love -- and let them know how valuable they are to you.
James Baldwin interview
Current mood: artistic
Category: Writing and Poetry
interesting perspective on race relations, leadership and the "burden"....please read between the lines and share what you see. perhaps we can all learn from the dialogue.
one of the corollaries of steel
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy
in addition to the power that comes from the ancestors....the weakness affirmed through the use of firearms removes honor. more later....check out the prescience of Richard Pryor in addressing guns:
i gave you power
at some point, we will have to address the issues affecting our communities by handguns. canada has tight handgun control, however, hunting rifles are a different story. something to think about as we move towards an election year. would love to hear some comments.
the beauty of martial arts are the arts aspect....after a time, you see what martial behavior can do, so one seeks the paths of peace. comments welcome indeed.
this space has taken considerable time speaking with sistas specifically and females in general (and some women) about the challenges of body image in this "society/culture". what is described below needs no further explanation than to say that it happened to one of our 12 year old daughters (with the willing support of her mother for money for college, usually held up as an ideal aspiration, but raises many questions {apologies for the long parenthetical}) right before our eyes to the celebration of many. the film and article below share what happened to her after the machine was done chewing her up and spitting her out. the videos raise some interesting points. the concepts are very surface and do not delve very deeply into the conception of western beauty ideals and how they affect and effect young females (especially females of color and hair process, style and length).
please feel free to share.
http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-ig-notebook17-2008aug17,0,1986900.story From the Los Angeles Times STYLE NOTEBOOK Model Gerren Taylor's short but stunning fashion career seen in 'America the Beautiful' At 18, the Santa Monica high school student faces everyday teen issues while dreaming of being back on the runway. By Booth Moore Times Fashion Critic
August 17, 2008
GERREN TAYLOR was still playing with Barbie dolls when she walked the runway for the first time at Los Angeles Fashion Week in 2003. Just 12 at the time, she was the youngest person ever to be represented by the runway division of L.A. Models. Although most agencies require girls to be 14, it's not unheard of for 12-year-olds to get work. Actress Milla Jovovich made the cover of Vogue at 12, and Brooke Shields, Gisele Bündchen and Kate Moss were all stars before they turned 16.
With her long legs and confident walk, Taylor looked as though she would follow in their footsteps. Then, during Richard Tyler's show, the last one of the week that April, she stepped onto the runway in a wedding gown and stumbled hard. She tripped once, then again on the train that was in front of her, because the dress was accidentally put on backward. When her eyes welled up with tears, even the most hardened fashionistas wanted to give her a hug.
I wrote about that moment, the one that made Taylor a novelty -- the 12-year-old, plucked from the crowd on an L.A. street corner, who tripped on the high-fashion runway. It made for a good story. Other people thought so too. Oprah came calling, and designers lined up to book her.
That September, she went to New York to see if she could make it on the world stage, and walked in the Tommy Hilfiger, Betsey Johnson and Tracy Reese shows. Hilfiger even paid to have her teeth fixed, telling Taylor she was going to be a top model. Making enough money for college seemed a sure bet after she became the first African American in a Marc Jacobs ad campaign. "We're all expecting her to be a big star," Jacobs said.
Then she disappeared. A year later, Taylor didn't book a single runway job. The advertising work dried up too, and so did the magazine editorials. She went to Europe to try her luck at the fashion weeks there, but was told by booking agents in Paris that 38-inch hips on a pole-thin 6-foot frame made her too big to model. (They wanted her to diet down to 35 inches.) In less than two years, her career had come to a halt.
That's where the story ends for most. Fashion designers and editors move on to the next girl and the next. It's just the way of an industry built on selling a fantasy that depends on novelty and impossible ideals. Women try to intellectualize the constant stream of airbrushed images, skinny models and too-expensive products, but the allure is too strong. So we go on searching for some notion of beauty that is always just out of reach. And we don't think much about what happened to last year's model.
Short career caught on film
EXCEPT with Taylor, documentary filmmaker Darryl Roberts was there to pick up where the industry left off.
His film "America the Beautiful," opening Friday at the Laemmle Sunset 5, follows the arc of her brief career, trying to understand why we are obsessed with physical beauty. We see Taylor and her mom, Michele Gerren, struggling to navigate the sexualized world of fashion, while arguing about whether it's too soon for the young model to start wearing a bra. We hear from Taylor's school principal, who says with prescience, "How can you comprehend at 12 or 13 that you're going to be discarded?"
Then, in 2005, when Taylor returns from Europe humiliated, we watch her hit rock bottom. Agonizing over the flaws she perceives in her pancake flat stomach, her flawless face looks straight into the camera and she says, "I'm ugly."
She had written herself off at 15.
Today, Taylor is about to start her senior year of high school in Santa Monica, where she's a volleyball star. She never did make enough money for college, but she's applying anyway, to study psychology. Some kids would have gone to therapy to cope, but Taylor went to church and found support from peers who had the same issues with their bodies, even as they had envied hers in teen magazines.
"It was going so well, then when it stopped I didn't know what I had done wrong," she says over a recent lunch, her Yorkie, Arlington, sleeping at her feet. "I was always so nice to people, I never turned my back on people."
Of course, she knows now that success in fashion has nothing to do with being nice.
Taylor is still stunningly beautiful, with perfect skin and legs so long, they stick out from the other side of the table. She is wearing jeans that are a little short, even with the bottom seams ripped out, a tank top, sheer shirt and ballet flats. Her mom is close by, as she always was, making sure Taylor wasn't wearing anything too revealing on the runway or risking a future paycheck by saying on camera that she doesn't like soy milk.
"Sometimes I felt uncomfortable," Taylor remembers. "But I didn't think there was anything I could do. I was scared to say I didn't want to wear something, to be that girl who had an attitude or didn't cooperate. I liked having my mom there so she could say it."
It's difficult to know why Taylor's career ended so soon -- if she got lost in the politics of moving from one agency to another, or whether at 6 feet and a size 4 after she grew into her teenage body, she was too big for industry standards.
"That started in New York, calling her obese at a size 4," says her mother, an amateur model herself at age 19, passing a slice of Margherita pizza to her daughter.
"Having that be a rumor was hard," the teenager says. "I thought I needed to diet . . . I was doing all this to make my mom proud, to make money, and all of a sudden it stopped. I would just eat salad. I didn't want to go to the beach because of my stretch marks."
Three years later, it's as though one slight happened just last week -- that moment in Paris, caught on film, when a modeling agent asks Taylor if she has gained weight since her pictures were taken. "Tell me if you want me or not!" Taylor says. Her voice gets louder. "Don't ask questions, criticize me, say things that are hypocritical and look at me as if you are totally satisfied with the way you look. I'm human, you're human!"
Looking for normal
SHE HASN'T fully regained her self-esteem. Then again, she is an 18-year-old woman in a looks-obsessed world. "At school, at lunchtime I'm in the bathroom holding girls' hair while they throw up. My friend's dad took her for a consultation with a plastic surgeon to get rid of her love handles."
At 140 pounds, Gerren is thinner than most. (The average American woman is 140 pounds and 5-foot-4; that weight looks a lot different when you're 8 inches taller.) Now, she worries about being curvy enough for boys to notice her. "Nobody is satisfied," she says. "I had a model friend who was too small. Pants were always way too big for her."
She says she has no regrets, because she has a story to tell. And the film has become its own kind of opportunity. Taylor and her mom have traveled with Roberts to promote it. At the Durban International Film Festival in South Africa, Taylor participated in a seminar for teen girls about self-esteem. She also modeled in a runway show.
Which brings us back to the fashion fantasy, and whether she could fall into it again.
"I don't think there is anything wrong with modeling," she says. (Taylor is still represented by Elite L.A.) "There is Seventeen and Teen Vogue, those are fun. They have teachers on set."
At the same time, she dreams of starting a denim line for women of all shapes and sizes, and a self-esteem camp for girls, similar to the one run by Tyra Banks.
Taylor -- like most women -- wants to rise above the fantasy, even as she keeps it alive.
"I still haven't given it up for good," she says. "It's still fun for me. But if I ever do another runway show, I'm going to be walking for the empowerment of women, not just walking on a stage."
amused
anxious
working
mischievous
exhausted
adventurous
melancholy
accomplished
artistic
contemplative
blissful
