Posts

Showing posts from February, 2005

Buddhist Thought of the Day

In Buddhism, the source of moral authority is the causal law. Be kind, be just, be humane, be honest if you desire to crown your future. Dishonesty, cruelty, inhumanity will condemn you to a miserable fall. Soyen Shaku

And the Christian Oscar goes to...

13th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry

Millions of Baby Dollars

Now, don't get me wrong. It was a good money and I would be hard pressed to say that any of the nominees were the best movie of the year. Ray - great, very emotional and stylish but it flailed around Aviator - haven't seen i and not excited to see it Sideways - this was the closest to best picture...not much was missing although the characters spent 99% of the film in their stupor and not until the very end did they "develop", I think the could've used a bit more transitional stuff Finding Neverland - I cried like a baby! This was my "best picture" I didn't think it was lacking much of anything So, there you have it. Jai's Academy Awards rebuttal. Leave your comments and be sure to pick up your gift pack.

On this Day in Black History

1704 - Elias Neau opened school for Blacks in New York City. 1708 - Slave revolt , Newton, Long Island (N.Y.). Seven whites killed. Two Black male slaves and an Indian slave were hanged, and a Black woman was burned alive. 1776 - George Washington writes to Phillis Wheatley , the first African American to publish a book, thanking her for a poem written in his honor, and inviting her to visit him at his Cambridge, MA military headquarters. 1778 - Rhode Island General Assembly authorized the enlistment of slaves. 1854 - The Republican Party was organized in Ripon, WI . About 50 slavery opponents began the new political group. 1859 - Arkansas legislature required free Blacks to choose between exile and enslavement. 1871 - Second Enforcement Act gave federal officers and courts control of registration and voting in congressional elections in order to protect the freedpeople's enfranchisement.. 1879 - Southern Blacks fled political and economic exploitation in " Exodus of

Hollywood is for Hollywoodians

Image
In my humble opinion. Million Dollar Baby was not close to being the best movie of the year. 'Million Dollar Baby' wins best picture

I think this shows who the largest demographic of movie goers might be.

Image
Box office 'Mad' for 'Diary'

On this Day in Black History

1788(?) - Prince Hall born 1827 - New Orleans held its first Mardi Gras celebration. 1833 - Maria Stewart became the first U.S.-born woman to speak publicly on political issues before a mixed-gender audience 1834 - Patrick Healy , who will become the first African American to earn a Ph.D. and the first to become president of a historically white university ( Georgetown ), born 1853 - The first black YMCA is opened in Washington, DC. 1868 - John Willis Menard was the first African American elected to Congress. He was refused his seat, but in making his defense he became the first black to speak on the floor of the House of Representatives. 1872 - Charlotte Ray , the first African American woman lawyer, graduated from Howard University Law School . 1880 - Angelina Weld Grimké born 1883 - Walter B. Purvis patented the hand stamp. 1890 - Mabel Keaton Staupers born 1897(?) - Marian Anderson , who will become the first African American soloist to perform at hte White House, born 190

Carling Cup final, Congrats to the Blues.

Image
Liverpool 2-3 Chelsea Blues boss Jose Mourinho was sent off for taunting Liverpool fans after the goal and he watched on television as his side went on to win the game.

Welcome to the 21st century!

FIFA agrees goal-line technology

Buddhist Thought of the Day

Just as the footprints of any creature that walks on earth can be placed in the elephant's footprint, which is the largest of all--even so mindful attention is the one quality that ensures ease of mind at all times. Mindful attention causes beneficial thoughts that have not yet arisen to arise. It also causes harmful thoughts that have already arisen to vanish. In the one who is mindful, the good that is to be will be realized. Anguttara Nikaya

On this Day in Black History

1770 - Joshua Johnson born 1844 - James Edward O'Hara born 1869 - Sissieretta Jones born 1869 - 15th Amendment sent to the states for ratification. 1870 - Wyatt Outlaw , leader of the Union League in Alamance County, N.C., lynched. 1872 - Cookman Institute created 1877 - Representatives of Rutherford B. Hayes and representatives of Samuel J. Tilden held a conference in the Wormley Hotel and negotiated an agreement that paved the way for the election of Hayes as president and the withdrawal of federal troops from the South. 1900 - Wallace D. Farad born 1920 - Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson founded "Associated Publishers." 1924 - Vivian Harsh became the first black librarian in the Chicago Public Library system. 1926 - Theodore "Tiger" Flowers became the first black middleweight boxing champion of the world. 1928 - Antoine "Fats" Domino born 1930 - "The Green Pastures" opened at Mansfield Theater 1933 - Godfrey Cambridge born 1943 -

Maybe he just got a little ahead of himself

Image
Togo's interim leader steps down

Buddhist Thought of the Day

And from all other cares released, the mind set on collecting my own spirit, to unify and discipline my spirit will I strive. Buddha

Another Sewanee reference

this one is not as explicit as the Tennessee Williams factoid but... 1986: Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and author Robert Penn Warren was named the first poet laureate of the United States by Librarian of Congress Daniel J. Boorstin.

Random Sewanee References

Found on the Literary Calendar . On this day in 1983 (22 years ago) - Tennessee Williams dies, aged 71, in New York, leaving $10 million to the University of the South .

On this Day in Black History

1664 - Eleven Africans petition for their freedom in the Dutch colony of New Netherlands in the first legal protest by Africans in colonial North America. Since they have served the time of their indentures, they are granted their freedom. 1839 - Seminoles and their Black allies shipped from Tampa Bay, Florida, to the West. 1870 - Hiram R. Revels , R-Miss., became the first black member of the United States Senate as he was sworn in to serve out the unexpired term of Jefferson Davis. 1881 - James Garfield Beck born 1895 - George Samuel Schuyler , author of Black No More , born 1896 - Ida Cox born 1903 - Albany State University founded 1910 - 13th Dali Lama fled Tibet 1928 - Archibald J. Motley, Jr. 's one man show opens NYT headline read:"One-Man Show of Art by Negro, First of Kind Here, Opens Today" 1928 - A. L. Higgingbotham born 1935 - Jesse Owens sets a new world record at Madison Square Garden : 60 meters in 6.5 seconds. 1948 - Martin Luther King, Jr. was o

Damn you, you, old world Anglicans.

Image
Anglicans demand temporary split

On this Day in Black History

1811 - Daniel Alexander Payne , the President of Wilberforce University , was born free 1842 - James Forten died 1864 - Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first black woman to receive an M.D. degree. 1868 - House of Representatives voted, 126 to 47, to impeach President Andrew Johnson . 1931 - Lillie Brown born 1940 - Jimmy Ellis , former world heavyweight boxing champion, born 1966 - Kwame Nkrumah , dlected leader and first president of Ghana , was ousted in military coup 1969 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience played its last British concert before breaking up. 1974 - National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) began 1982 - Quincy Jones won five Grammy awards for " The Dude ." 1992 - Edward Perkins , U.S. Ambassador to South Africa , was nominated by President George Bush to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations . 1999 - Lauryn Hill won five Grammy awards for her debut solo album " The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill ."

I'm not EVEN going there...

Banana Guard

Reyes given three match ban by FA

WHo needs instant replay I saw the replay of this match and my thoughts were...Why is Bergkamp getting sent off Reyes is the one who needs to go.

What I get for not reading local news.

Vandy's Black History Month Film Series I can't believe I slept on this! Damn!

England's not doing so well against Europe

Barcelona 2-1 Chelsea Man Utd 0-1 AC Milan Bayern Munich 3-1 Arsenal Except for the Reds: Liverpool 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen

On this Day in Black History

1860 - Texas secedes from the Union, as the South unifies to defend slavery. 1868 - William Edward Burghardt DuBois born 1869 - Louisiana governor signed public accommodations law 1892 - The Tuskegee Institute in Alabama holds its first annual conference to discuss their agricultural and business problems 1895 - William H. Heard named minister to Liberia 1915 - Robert Smalls died 1942 - Haki Madhubuti (Don L. Lee) born 1943 - Gen-Maj Bradley arrived in Dakar and Marrakesh 1943 - German troops pulled back through Kasserine-pass Tunisia 1951 - Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones born 1956 - Jackie Robinson signed a contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers 1963 - The 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. 1965 - New York State Senator Constance Baker Motley was elected Borough President of Manhattan 1966 - Premier Obote took power in Uganda 1970 - Guyana became a republic. 1972 - Angela Davis was released from prison after being held for 16 months, accused of kidnappin

Lest we forget

On Nightline tonight (2/23) LYNCHING: AMERICA'S UGLY CHAPTER

Buddhist Thought of the Day

A shortcut into the path is to be inwardly empty and outwardly quiet, like water that is clear and still, myriad images reflecting in it, neither sinking nor floating, all things spontaneously so. Fu-jung

Yimou Zhang

After seeing House of Flying Daggers again I am rapidly deciding that Zhang is my favorite director. I know this changes from time to time. First, there was Spike Lee & Almodovar , then there was Quentin Tarantino , throw in Mel Brooks , Scorsese and Shyamalan but it is Yimou Zhang who has come shining through for me. He is such an emotional director. His films are always visually arresting (just look at the costumes in House of Flying Daggers ) and he always explores the depths of love between couples without being cliché or overbearing...the sorrow, the pain and the joy are always intricately intertwined. I highly recommend the Road Home (Ziyi Zhang's first film), To Live (features Li Gong, his first favorite leading lady) and the House of Flying Daggers. If you can find the earlier ones like Red Sorghum and Yellow Earth, I would suggest those too but I don't think they are available right now. Netflix: Yimou Zhang

MTV Africana (more American crap going worldwide)

Image
MTV launches channel for Africa

"Anger is a good thing..."

"...and if kids want to listen to Korn , good, but there's happiness after the anger. I'm going to show it through my actions how much I love my fans." Brian "Head" Welch (foormer Korn guitarist) Korn guitarist finds God, leaves band

Must Be Deep

Last night I watched Black Wax , a docu-concert of Gil Scott-Heron , and he talked about when somebody says something that doesn't make a whole lotta sense he would say "must be deep". Well, the following comment by Tori Amos would qualify...As I started to trace its ( beekeeping ) history it began to fit in place... I was thinking about pollination, and we go back to bees and the pollinating of that female worker bee with the male organ of that flower. I brought in the organ, the Hammond B3 organ, to marry with the piano, so that the music would reflect that concept. Tori Amos talks to Billboard about " The Beekeeper ", her new record.

On this Day in Black History

1732 - George Washington born 1819 - Spain ceded Florida to the United States . 1832 - The Female Anti-Slavery Society of Salem is organized. 1841 - Grafton Tyler Brown born 1856 - John Edward Bruce (Bruce Grit) born 1857 - Lord Robert Baden-Powell born 1865 - Tennessee adopts a new constitution abolishing slavery 1881 - James Reese Europe born 1866 - J. Frank Wheaton born 1888 - Horace Pippin born 1898 - Black postmaster lynched and his wife and three daughters shot and maimed for life in Lake City, SC 1911 - Frances Ellen "Bronze Muse" Watkins Harper died. Her most popular verse collection, Poems on Miscellaneous Subjects (1854), contains the antislavery poem, " Bury Me in a Free Land ." 1936 - Ernie K-Doe (Ernest Kador Jr) born 1938 - Ishmael Reed born 1950 - Julius Winfield " Dr. J " Erving born 1956 - Billboard reviews James Brown 's debut record "Please, Please, Please": "A dynamic, religious fervor runs

We're losing some great players.

Mason, Carter, Rolle among Titans' cap casualties

Top Ten Signs That You Won't Be Winning an Academy Award

Taken from the Late Show website w/o permission. Thanks Dave. Late Show Top Ten Archive: March 18, 1997 : 10. Instead of 'direct to video,' your movie was released 'direct to landfill' 9. Film title includes the words 'booty' and/or 'call' 8. Did Quentin Tarantino direct your movie? No. Did Quentin Tarantino star in your movie? Yes 7. After he saw your film, Salman Rushdie called for your death 6. In your movie, all of Sharon Stone's nude scenes are done by a stand-in named Stu 5. Every time you yelled 'action' your lead actor started shaking like a medicated bunny 4. The name of your movie: 'The People vs. Larry King' 3. You're this guy (picture not included so, use your imagination) 2. When reviewing your films, Siskel and Ebert use a different finger 1. Your movie's ad line: 'Richard Simmons is Hamlet' Back To March 1997 Archive

MLS Schedule 2005

Averaging 6 games a week for 7 months the 10th anniversary season of the MLS should be lots of fun. Player to watch: Eddie Johnson (He's been a killer on the Men's National Team and he's only 20)

Buddhist Thought of the Day

Whatever happiness is in the world has arisen from a wish for the welfare of others; whatever misery there is has arisen from indulging selfishness. Buddhist Proverb

Sad day for entertainment.

Image
I guess all of these happened on 2/20. I didn't hear about John Raitt or Hunter S Thompson till this morning. John Raitt, singer father of Bonnie, dies Hunter S. Thompson dead at 67 Actress Sandra Dee dies

On this Day in Black History

Image
1965 - Malcom X aka El-Hajj Malik El-Shabaaz was assassinated

On this Day in Black History

*sorry no links today 1867 - Dr. Ida Gray Nelson Rollins, DDS born 1895 - Frederick Douglass died 1898 - James Yancey born 1901 - Frank Duncan born 1902 - Blind Willie Johnson born 1908 - Ruby Elzy born 1911 - Francis Ellen Watkins Harper died 1924 - Sidney Poitier born 1928 - Bettye Miller born 1929 - Wallace Thurman's play "Harlem" opens in New York. 1936 - John Hope died. He was the first black president of Morehouse College, and the first president of Atlanta University. 1937 - Nancy Wilson born 1951 - Anthony Davis born 1971 - Idi Amin took over Uganda 1987 - Jean Baptiste du Sable is honored on a U.S. postage stamp.

Buddhist Thought of the Day

When anger arises, whoever keeps firm control as if with a racing chariot: him I call a master charioteer. Anyone else; a rein-holder-- that's all. Dhammapada, 17, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

On this Day in Black History

*sorry no links today 1850 - Edward Bannister helps form the Providence, Rhode Island Art Club 1869 - Sylvester Williams born 1871 - Lugenia Burns Hope born 1902 - John Bubbles born. 1919 - The first Pan-African Congress opens in Paris under the leadership of W.E.B. Du Bois. 1940 - William "Smokey" Robinson born 1940 - Bobby Rogers (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) born 1942 - Tuskegee Airmen were initiated into the armed forces. 1952 - Emmett L. Ashford became the first black umpire in organized baseball. He was authorized to be a substitute in the Southwestern International League. 1960 Keith Musa[kawukhathi] Zondi South Africa head (Inkatha Youth Brigade) born 1963 - Seal born 1982 - Clarence Thomas is nominated by President Ronald Reagan to head the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the purpose of which they both oppose. 1991 - Public Enemy boycotted the 1991 Grammy Awards because the rap award was not going to be presented during the live TV ceremony 1992

Buddhist Thought of the Day

The way toward liberation is to train yourself to live in the present without any wanting to become anything. Give up becoming this or that, live without cravings, and experience this present moment with full attention. Then you will not cringe at death nor seek for repeated birth. Sutta Nipata

Two of my favorite movie reviews...or should I say star reviews

Box Office : Defamer 1. Constantine— Join us tonight in watching in utter helplessness as Keanu Reeves, Hollywood’s Most Unlikely Star™, furrows his brow like he’s sounding out his lines phonetically in his head before finally delivering them. If you look closely enough, you can see his lips move before you actually hear the words. 2. Hitch— We’re going to go on the record with this: Will Smith is absolutely fucking adorable...Someone’s going to slap his face on a big-eared teddy bear and make millions.

Appropiate Action creates appropriate reaction

Togo president agrees to election I have decided in the higher interests of the nation to continue the process of transition in line with the constitution Faure Gnassingbe

Which is the best city for you?

Sperling's Best Places

Trae, what's up with this?

Image
FIFA reviews Nigeria case For those who don't tool around in Blogtopia, TRAE Days is a blog run by my man, Trae, over in Abuja, Nigeria. He's a soccer fan and I'm sure he can fill us in on what's happenin with Football Assoc...no pressure, I promise. ;-) Abuja, Nigeria

On this Day in Black History

1688 - First Formal Protest Against Slavery. Organized by Mennonite Quakers in Germantown, PA , they passes a resolution condemning slavery. 1795 - George Peabody , U.S. merchant and philanthropist 1861 - Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the President of the Confederate States . 1865 - Charleston surrenders; Sherman's troops burn the city . Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers were among the first Union troops to enter the city. 1867 - Augusta Institute was founded at Augusta, GA which was later to become Morehouse College , following its relocation to Atlanta. 1885 - Mark Twain 's " Adventures of Huckleberry Finn " was published in the U.S. for the first time. 1894 - Paul Revere Williams , renowned architect, born 1913 - Delta Sigma Theta sorority is founded at Howard University . 1931 - Toni Morrison born. She will be the first African American to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature 1934 - Audre Lorde born 1941 - Irma Thomas born 1941 - Herman Santiago

Buddhist Thought of the Day

If a man should conquer in battle a thousand and a thousand more, and another should conquer himself, his would be the greater victory, because the greatest of victories is the victory over oneself. Buddha

China has "eclipsed" the US as a consumer nation

China emerges as global consumer * 64m tons of meat were consumed in China in 2004 compared to 38m tons in the US * 258m tons of steel were used in China in 2003 compared to 104m in the US * China's factories and homes burned 40% more coal than in the US * The number of PCs in China is doubling every 28 months. However, per capita consumption in China - the world's most populous country - remains far below that of the US.

Is he smart or crazy?

Image
Namibia leader set to study rocks

Where has the time gone

I've been so busy recently I haven't been devoting much time to surfing the net and bringing the good stories to my few loyal readers. I started my "On this day in Black History" series which takes quite awhile to pull together everyday. I like doing this but it is too time consuming to keep it up everyday! My house is in deconstructed mode b/c I have the electricians rewiring the ENTIRE house. They are doing a great job but the are getting me out of bed almost 2 hrs earlier than usual which, of course, means I am trying to go to bed earlier. I've been crazy busy at work , which is where I used to do a lot of my surfing and fact finding. And lastly, I started an exercise program to go along with my weekly Yoga. Those who know me know I am pretty sedentary. Well, I finally got off my ass to start a program at the YMCA to help me 1. get healthier and 2. lose weight. So, those are my excuses. Please stick with me while I figure out how to make all this work.

And the winner was...

Ronaldinho's World XI

Other CAF Winners:

Team of the year: Tunisia Club of the year: Enyimba (Nigeria) Coach of the year: Okey Emordi (Enyimba, Nigeria) Goalkeeper of the year: Ali Boumnijel (Club Africain and Tunisia) Young Player of the Year: Obafemi Martins (Inter Milan, Italy and Nigeria) Best African Champions League player: Vincent Enyeama (Enyimba, Nigeria) African Women's Footballer of the Year: Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria) Best African Goal of the Year: Benni McCarthy (FC Porto, Portugal and South Africa)

Ladies & Gentlemen. May I present the back-to-back CAF Footballer of the Year...

Samuel Eto'o !

this is as close to the all-star benefit game as I got. :-(

Image
FOXSports.com - World Week In Pictures

On this Day in Black History

1865 - Columbia, SC burned 1874 - Maud Hare born 1891 - Butter Churn Invented ( patent #466,470) by A. C. Richardson 1902 - Marian Anderson born 1918 - Rep. Charles A. Hayes , D-Illinois, born. In 1989, Hayes was re-elected to a fourth term in the House of Representatives 1919 - 369th Infantry march in a victory parade up New York's Fifth Avenue. They are led by James Reese Europe's "Hellfighters" band . 1936 - James Nathaniel Brown born 1938 - Mary Frances Berry , the first woman to serve as a chancellor of a major research university , born in Nashville, TN. 1941 - Wellington Webb born 1942 - Huey Newton , co-founder of Black Panther Party , born 1943 - William P. French , bibliographer and rare book dealer, born 1955 - Little Richard sent his first audition tape to Specialty Records . 1963 - Michael Jeffrey Jordon born 1964 - US Supreme Court rules - 1 man 1 vote ( Westberry vs Sanders ) 1967 - Wilt Chamberlain ( Philadelphia Warriors ) score the first o

Buddhist Thought of the Day

The only foundation stone of practice is renunciation. The only gateway of practice is faith. The only approach to practice is compassion. Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche , Creation and Completion

Can't you just go see Keanu's new movie, Constantine?

Vatican offers exorcism lessons

WooHoo!

Togo army 'backing down on coup'

On this Day in Black History

Image
1812 - Henry Wilson born 1852 - William Sander Scarborough born 1857 - Frederick Douglass elected President of Freedman's Bank 1862 - 14,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Fort Donelson, TN . 1863 - First recruitment rally held for 54th Massachusetts Infantry 1894 - British troops occupy Ilorin , Gold Coast ( Nigeria ) 1904 - Walt Disney 's first live actor, James Baskett 1916 - Bill Doggett born 1923 - Howard Carter unsealed the burial chamber of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen . The next day he entered the chamber with several invited guests. He had originally found the tomb on November 4, 1922. 1923 - Bessie Smith makes her first recording, "Down Hearted Blues," which sells 800,000 copies for Columbia Records . 1932 - Otis Blackwell born 1934 - Austin "Ted" Taylor born 1944 - " The Golden Thirteen " begin training 1951 - New York City Council passed bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted hou

Buddhist Thought of the Day

The way is the perennial Way, the truth is the perennial Truth: don't misapply body and mind chasing after sayings. This is why it is said that "even the slightest object is dust; as soon as you arouse intent, you're confused by hallucination." Yun-feng

A president is a president because he has been elected

African diplomats in Togo to end crisis

Are you kidding?

Image
Chris Rock bites Oscar hand . I think this is great publicity. If they give Chris a loose rein b4 the show they are guaranteeing higher viewership. People will tune in to see what Chris will say during the show.

Congrats to my favorite Grammy Winners!

I'm just a fan of Ben & the Blind Boys: Best Pop Instrumental Performance 11th Commandment Ben Harper Track from: There Will Be A Light Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album There Will Be A Light Ben Harper & The Blind Boys Of Alabama I have a working relationship with James: Best Pop Instrumental Album Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar Various Artists James Jensen , producer Cool Nashville connections: Best Native American Music Album Cedar Dream Songs Bill Miller Best Historical Album Night Train To Nashville : Music City Rhythm & Blues, 1945-1970 (Various Artists) One of my picks for the year: Best Contemporary World Music Album Egypt Youssou N'Dour

Extremism begets extremism

Image
" Liberal queer plus conservative Republican just doesn't mesh well "

On this Day in Black History

1793 - Austin Stewart born 1804 - New Jersey Legislature approved a law calling for "gradual" emancipation of African Americans. In so doing, New Jersey became the last Northern state to outlaw slavery. 1820 - Susan B. Anthony born 1848 - Sarah Roberts barred from white school in Boston . Her father, Benjamin Roberts, filed the first school integration suit on her behalf. 1851 - Black abolitionists broke into a Boston courthouse and rescued Shadrach Minkins , a fugitive slave. 1862 - Grant 's major assault on Ft Donelson, TN 1900 - The British threaten to use natives in their war with the Boers . 1901 - Kokomo Arnold born 1902 - Fay Jackson born 1941 - Duke Ellington and his orchestra recorded "Take the "A" Train" for the first time. 1942 - Caroline Robinson Jones born 1943 - Thomas "Fats" Waller dies 1954 - Big Joe Turner recorded the original "Shake, Rattle & Roll". 1957 - Impresario Irvin Feld debuts hi

Buddhist Thought of the Day

For there is suffering, but none who suffers; Doing exists although there is no doer; Extinction is but no extinguished person; Although there is a path, there is no goer. Buddhaghosa; Visuddhimagga 513

On this Day in Black History

1760 - Richard Allen born 1817 (?) - Frederick Douglass 1867 - Morehouse College organized 1867 - New registration law in Tennessee abolished racial distinctions in voting. 1874 - Charlotta Bass born 1880 - Aida Overton Walker born 1893 - Perry Bradford born 1894 - Mary Dawson born 1912 - Ollie Harrington born 1920 - Mamie Smith records "Crazy Blues," the first blues record. It is an immediate hit with sales of 1,000,000 records 1926 - Moneta Sleet born. 1934 - Merl Saunders born 1936 - National Negro Congress organized 1937 - Magic Sam born 1943 - Maceo Parker born 1943 - Pearl Primus choreographs "African Ceremonial" at New York's 92nd Street Y . 1946 - Gregory Hines born 1951 - Sugar Ray Robinson defeats Jake LaMotta & takes middleweight title, a bout sportswriters dubbed "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre." 1957 - Georgia Senate unanimously approves Senator Leon Butts' bill barring blacks from playing baseba

What happened?

Do you think this is because people don't see the music biz as interesting? Maybe people think it's the same ol, same ol. Grammy viewership 2nd-lowest ever

Presidential Advice

One night, George W. Bush is tossing restlessly in his White House bed. He awakens to see George Washington standing by him. Bush asks him, "George, what's the best thing I can do to help the country?" "Set an honest and honorable example, just as I did," Washington advises, and then fades away. The next night, Bush is astir again, and sees the ghost of Thomas Jefferson moving through the darkened bedroom. Bush calls out, "Tom, please! What is the best thing I can do to help the country?" "Respect the Constitution, as I did," Jefferson advises, and dims from sight. The third night sleep is still not in the cards for Bush. He awakens to see the ghost of FDR hovering over his bed. Bush whispers, "Franklin, what is the best thing I can do to help the country?" "Help the less fortunate, just as I did," FDR replies and fades into the mist. Bush isn't sleeping well the fourth night when he sees another figure mov

Obsession on the net

Image
That Pepsi Girl She is hot.

Seems like there would be a better way of getting back at these people.

Image
Eto'o responds to racist abuse I danced like a monkey because they treated me like a monkey said the Barcelona striker.

More on Eto'o

CAF award to go to Eto'o

Makes sense to me.

Premiership threatens Tanzania league

Buddhist Thought of the Day

One act of pure love in saving life is greater than spending the whole of one’s time in religious offerings to the gods. Dhammapada

Grammy Awards 2005 (Performaces)

Alicia Keys (before she was joined by Jamie Foxx), what a powerful performer. Green Day kicked ass, like any good punk band should. Kanye West was great but it was the women (and Green Day) who really set things on fire. Melissa Etheridge was incredible, a great rock singer, she nailed it. Bonnie Raitt and Billy Preston, SOUL. Her soul filled slide and voice matched with Billy's church organ...CHILLS!

Grammy Awards 2005 (Album of the Year)

Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company This was not the best album of the year but what are you gonna do when Ray dies but give Ray all the Grammies. Ray we do and will miss you forever.

Grammy Awards 2005 (speeches)

Image
Loretta Lynn Kanye West were the hands down winners for best acceptance speeches!

Grammy Awards 2005 (photos)

Image
Hadn't seen these two in a photo before. Laura's looking good after her recent baby. Thanks Reuters

Grammy Awards 2005 (still in progress)

Image
Surprise Hottie: Sheryl Crow

Grammy Awards 2005 (in progress)

Alright...so far. What's up with 4 bands playing simultaneously? That red dress made QL look HUGE...images of Aretha Alicia Keys...will you marry me? (Tara, don't read that part.) I just want to stand close to you. J.Lo sounded like shit. Lynyrd Skynyrd!?!?! You have to be joking me. Dickey & Elvin moved to the back of the stage ASAP...I woulda too!

Congrats to the winners

I think they are going for a parliamentarything so let's up they can pull in some Sunis. Shiite alliance wins plurality in Iraq

On this Day in Black History

1818 - Absolom Jones , the co-founder of the Free African Society and the first African American Episcopal priest, dies 1866 - President Andrew Johnson vetoes a bill providing for an extension of the Freedman's Bureau , but Congress overrides his veto. 1873 - Emmett J Scott born 1892 - The World's Fair Colored Opera Company performs at Carnegie Hall . 1908 - Malvin (Mal) Russell Goode , the first Black network reporter, born 1919 - Eddie Robinson born 1920 - National Negro League is founded in Kansas City. 1923 - The first professional black basketball team, The Renaissance (named for the Harlem Renaissance), is organized. They will be popularly known as The Rens. 1947 - Atlanta hires its first African American police officers. 1970 - Joseph H. Searles III becomes the first black member of the New York Stock Exchange . 1979 - The U.S. Civil Rights Commission reports that 46% of minority students are still attending racially segregated schools. This is 25 years after th

The Boondocks

Image
Thanks UComics !

History of Nashville RnB

Alot of people are surprised to hear Nashville has a long RnB history but WLAC was one of the powerhouses of American radio and Jefferson Street had ALL the clubs! Laying down the tracks

Go 'head on with yo bad self!

Area spa named one of world's best by travel magazine

News from my Hood

Inglewood neighbors welcome new Dollar General

Can Harold Ford overcome the craziness of his family?

Image
State to probe payments to Ford

On this Day in Black History

Sorry no links today. :-( 1793 - Congress passes the first Fugitive Slave law, making it illegal to protect or harbor a fugitive slave or prevent his arrest. 1809 - Abraham Lincoln born 1809 - Charles Darwin born 1855 - Fannie Barrier Williams born 1865 - Henry Highland Garnet, first black to speak in the Capitol, delivered memorial sermon on the abolition of slavery at services in the House of Representatives. Garnet, a former slave himself, was a pastor of the 15th Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. President Abraham Lincoln, with the unanimous consent of his Cabinet and the two congressional chaplains, had arranged for the special Sunday service to be held on February 12, the president's 56th birthday. Garnet escaped to the North in 1824, where he became a prominent abolitionist, famous for his radical appeal to slaves to rise up against their masters. In 1881, he was appointed U.S. minister to Liberia but died only two months after his arrival in the African nation.

Buddhist Thought of the Day

Subhuti, does it occur to you that I believe that through me living beings are led to liberation? Never think that way, Subhuti. Why? Because there is no separate being to lead to liberation. If I were to think there was, I would be caught in the notion of a self or a person or a life span. Subhuti, what I call a self is essentially not a self in the way that an ordinary person thinks of it. But neither do I think of anyone as an ordinary person. However, knowing the essence, I can use the name--ordinary person. Diamond Sutra

As a former employee, I knew this would cause problems

Blockbuster Late-Fee Policy Raises Questions

Damn!

Image
AOL BlackVoices: Meet 20-Year-Old Millionaire Farrah Gray

Threats Hendrix museum plan

Image
The run-down house in Seattle has already been moved wholesale once and local authorities are now demanding it be moved to another site.

Huh?

World premiere for 'Darwin dub'

Democracy in Zimbabwe

Mugabe launches election campaign by saying: Condoleezza Rice was a girl born out of slave ancestry who should know "that the white man is not a friend"

The anti-Obama

Reprinted w/o permission from the Chicago Tribune . Ohio 's Bible-quoting secretary of state tests the GOP with his ultraconservative, unpredictable style By Tim Jones Tribune national correspondent Published February 11, 2005 CINCINNATI -- At 6-feet-5 and 255 pounds, J. Kenneth Blackwell still is the noisy head-knocker the Dallas Cowboys brought to training camp 35 years ago. Pro football didn't work out for Blackwell -- he insisted on being a linebacker, the Cowboys wanted him at guard -- so he walked away from a three-year pro contract and opted for the often brutish equivalent: politics. The transition has paid off handsomely for the controversial Republican who, as Ohio's secretary of state, oversaw the election in that crucial state, which gave President Bush four more years in the White House . Blackwell, a Bible-quoting child of Cincinnati's West End poverty pit, may be less well known beyond the borders of Ohio, but he is emerging as a national spokesman fo