Scandalize My Name

Japan has passed a law requiring companies and local governments to measure their employees’ waistlines. For people between 40 and 74, they must be about 33 inches.

Could you imagine this law in the US? My aunt would curse out the doctor each time she was measured! There would be brawls at Weight Watchers and gyms. There would be tattletales of all kinds yelling out “waist cheater!.”

I could never see this law in the states. For one thing, we are too cheap. The Japanese health system is set up differently. For instance, they have national health care for the entire country and the government sets the prices for drugs and procedures. This encourages people to visit their doctors quite frequently. So, the doctors have to work for their money because they are awarded for “healthy” people. There’s no doctor bringing you a load of sample medicines from drug manufacture-lord, who tells him he should give out these pills, being a friend of a friend…you know what I mean?

Thus, there is less flimflam instead there are incentives to being healthy.

I don’t think I could handle it. It would be one more thing to stress out about. But we need some kind of national health plan…all Americans need to be more healthy in their lifestyles.

This NBA finals has been a great series despite being one sided. Sorry Laker fans. I actually expected the Lakers to be more competitive in this series. It was a great game tonight. Not only did the Celtics comeback from 24 points, they showed their heart and determination; they saw their destiny.

In tough matches there is one or two moments that define a game. The moment for me was when Paul Pierce drove the lane cutting through Kobe and Gasol with a reverse lay up as he fell to the floor. “And one!”

I just had that feeling…oh..oh…this-is-it! And the pendulum vacillated to green, shooting towards a Celtics victory.

And the cherry on th3 top was Ray Allen, one on one, against Sasha Vujacic: “Dribble, Dribble, Dribble, fake right, fake right, left, drive, two strides, and layup.” Awful defense! He could have fouled him. Ray Allen beat him so badly that he had time to go get a soda and some fries and still make the shot. Ugly…but hey, love those Celtics!

Green and mean for the 08 and a year older! Too bad the tickets are $39,000 dollars because I would love to be there in LA when they close the deal.

…sorry I have been out of it for some time. I have been applying to graduate school–more specifically, one program that required a research paper for entry. It’s been like 15 years since I wrote a research paper and it kicked my butt and flattened my nose. I forgot the time and the energy it demands.

My first roadblock was my primary resources. I could not find any books on my subject in my public library system or even Orlando’s library system or in the surrounding colleges. So, I had to buy the books. The books were a little pricey but what could I do? I needed them.

In addition, I had to do interviews. I interviewed by email because I had time limits. Having phone interviews would have provided greater details. However, my respondents provided intricate details in their responses so I felt that I did not miss much. Overall, the interviews supplied histories, perspectives, and opinions, making the paper easier to write.

Voice and POV was another issue. The Roxbury Film Festival was the subject of my paper. I talked about the festival in first person but later I had to change it to third person because it was more research paper than a book. It was difficult especially when you are accustomed to a certain writing style or way.

To sum it up, I hated the experience but had to do it. Life has its tests and I was quizzed to death. And if I want to succeed in this graduate program, I will have to bare and grunt my way through several research papers. Errgh!

Let us first pray for any person out there…stuck in the rumble…wading through dirty water…putting out fires on their house…or burying their dead. There have been some major disasters of biblical lore in the last couple days.

Let’s concentrate on China. If you don’t know, China has been building the largest dam in the world called Three Gorges Dam, with 10,000 people working on it. Yes, 10,000 people so it can be completed on time for 2009. I saw a documentary on PBS about two months ago explaining how the dam is changing life up and down the Yangtze River. Towns, temples, and millions of people have been moved to higher ground during the construction in last 13-15 years.

Moreover and more fascinating is the weight of the dam. The dam is heavy with 463,000 metric tons of steel and if you add the weight of the water, scientists say that it will alter the curvature of the Earth. Yes, the Earth…it will even change the time as well, just a slight difference.

Um, I am thinking…has the dam’s weight caused pressure in the area or on any fault lines? I am not sure if the earthquake is near the dam area. But this is a question to think about.

I found an article discussing some possibilities from 1999.

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to watch Alice Walker on Book TV. It was on In Depth, which is a three-hours exploration/interview into an author’s life. I learned many things about Ms. Walker that I did not know. For one thing, I had not known that she was living in Berkeley, CA. She moved there after San Francisco had become too busy and and too touristy. She is in love with gardens. Her mother, her parents were farmers, who could grow anything from the Earth. My dad has this serious addition to plants too.

Walker is not writing everyday and she is happy about it because she can wake up and watch the world if wants and spend most of her time meditating. Her main focus is meditating and experiencing the blessing, the love of life. She was “peaceful” with her life and her love.

As she stared off camera, she pushed her palms together like she was praying (had prayed) and those black olive eyes gleamed with sublime joy. …she is head-over-heels in love. There was quick shot to her romantic more than interest, crediting him with the set-up of the interview.

The moment was authentic and rare on live television when you compare it to the over sexed, hyper-competitive, and pretentious love that you see on any “scripted” reality show.

It was good to see and experience the words of gifted writer and a wise person who has lived.

You can still see her interview on Book TV.

If you haven’t heard–it’s all over the web–Spike Lee and Nokia, Nokia Productions are having a contest. Spike is going to shoot a collaborative film with pieces submitted from the world to the website. Use your Nokia phone ( and I guess other phones) to make and record images, video, music, and text. Each contestant has the ability to edit each other’s work. They’re using Jump Cut to mix and edit.

Each segment or ACT, as writers call it, has a theme or goal. For the first ACT, the theme is “How music tells the story of humanity.”

This first ACT wraps on 5-15-08 with subsequent deadlines till about the end of August. But I am guessing, depending on what’s submitted this might change.

Each section of music, text, video, and photos has an actor telling you the best way to do the assignment. For example, good lighting is needed for video and good grammar and spelling is required when submitting text.

And like other social networking sites, you can vote on the best piece or collaboration that is submitted or made.

It’s a great idea and promotion. Though, I am wondering how the rights will be cleared for all of these videos. Someone will object. I will have to read the rules and see how they’re doing it.

Props to Kevin Garnett for winning Defensive Player of the Year!

One always find something quite useful on the web. I like this list because it addresses many thoughts and lessons that I have learned and should have learned in my own life:

20 Things I’m Glad Life Taught me.

The say that death comes in threes…

Before Spring Break, my co-worker’s grandmother passed and that was number #1

During Spring Break, my friend’s grandmother passed away and that was number #2

After Spring Break, my co-worker’s father died and that was number #3.

I think that there might be one more happening because on the way home, on the same day that my co-worker’s father died, I ran straight into a funeral procession but I hear that this is good luck, but who knows.

There have been some surprising deaths in the last month and a half.

The famous film director Anthony Minghella died at the young age of 54. He hemorrhaged following an operation on a growth ( cancer?) located on his neck. He was very talented in creating the “old world” effects in films like The English Patient and Cold Mountain, a film that I grew to like over time.

Ivan Dixon, who starred in the underground black classic, Nothing But a Man which is one of my all time favorite films. Though, most folks may know him from Hogan’s Heros. He also starred in the tv version of Raisin in the Sun. He was 76.

Lastly, there was the suspicious death of Sean Levert who was part of Levert, the hit-making R&B group of the 80s and 90s who were composed of himself, Marc Gordan, and Gerald Levert. Eddie Levert from the O’Jays is their father.

It wouldn’t be on my radar or others if it weren’t for his brother’s untimely death two years ago from OTC medications. Both Levert men were young, 39 and 40 respectively when each one died.

There is much mystery surrounding Sean’s death because he was rushed to the hospital after he fell ill in jail. He had been imprisoned for not paying 85,000 dollars or more in child support. News reports stated that he had been “hallucinating.” And these same reports said that he had high blood pressure.

The information is so vague from these reports. If Sean was hallucinating, why wasn’t he brought to a hospital earlier? Hey, if someone is hallucinating to a noticeable point, you are either on drugs or you are very sick. So, was Sean drugged? Was someone trying to blackmail him for his money?

Hopefully, the truth will be revealed.

BlackPlanet in black hands? What? Get out of here! See the BE article. Let’s see if the perspective changes on the site? Then again, Radio One just might sell it off after a revamping.

!

I love to examine images and motifs in film, particularly when it deals with images of African-American.

You might know that many early images of Bugs Bunny and Tom & Jerry were filmed in blackface. Stereotypical images of blacks( cartoons, cookware, vases, children’s stories) were common in American households of the early 1900s and later like beanie babies, bobble-heads, and sports memorabilia are popular today. Through the work of the late filmmaker Marlon Riggs, I learned about many of these stereotypical and racist images from his films, Ethnic Notions and Color Adjustment.

Recently on Racialicious, a blog dedicated to the intersection of race and pop culture, there was an article by Latoya Peterson on the filmmaker Ralph Bakshi. He wrote and directed a film in the 70’s called Coonskin. Honestly, I have never heard about it before. I am going to view some of the clips on YouTube and give my opinion on it later. I will say that Peterson did a thorough breakdown of the film in her article. So check it out and watch some clips on Ethnic Notions too.

In these times of free time, one must learn how to go to sleep on time.  But lately, I don’t know.  I watch the clock, saying to myself it won’t be that bad.  Another hour passes and it is that bad.  I have to see how I can motivate myself to be disciplined to stop my poor sleeping habits.  When I was younger, it was no problem about going to sleep late and waking up early.

Those times have changed, disappearing into the history of man and my history. 

When I was young, I enjoyed the late night read.  In our living room, there was a large paisley green couch.  Embroidery was so detailed with the swirls, the twists, the grooves and flowers.  Material that was handcrafted, tested, and handcrafted. 

I would sit there snatching page by page between my fingers, looking at World War I, and then looking at tribe in a small village or peering at an inventor, seeing how he or she matured and became successful. 

I miss those times.  

Tags: popular

Go and recite some poetry this month or try to do some exercise!

Either

way, please make sure

you reach

for the highest

point.

National Poetry Month

• Poetry Foundation
  
• Poets and Writers
• Academy of American Poets

Please listen to the audio recording of Marilyn Nelson’s Lonely Eagles which talks about the Tuskegee Airman. A subtle but powerful poem.

Just checked out an article...50 cent and Universal are being sued for promoting a gangsta life style. Ironically, 50cent is being brought to court by a 14 year old who stated that he was attacked by 50cent crew in March 2007.  Apparently, this 14 year old, named Rosemond was wearing a shirt by Czar Entertainment, a rival group which supports “The Game,” who fell out with 50cent.

I hope he wins. Hey, if a someone can sue the fast food stores for making them fat, it’s very possible that this teenager will win. Maybe after this happens a few times, more rappers will think about their actions out in the community. The TI’s and Little Wayne’s listen: anyone can be sued! It seems that civil suits hurt more in pockets than the criminal suits where some rappers thrive off being in jail, further cementing their thug image.

Here are my ideas to save on gas. For years, the US has escaped the excessive gas prices that other countries have dealt with. So now, we have to change or ways or as the saying goes: adapt or die. Here are my suggestions:

Stay-at-home. This is an obvious one but you still need to go to work or go to school. Figure out a good pattern. Shop when you need to and perhaps keep a gas/travel journal. In the same way a dieter might be eating when he doesn’t need to, you might be driving when you don’t need to. Also, the journal is good to keep to track gas prices and which stations offer the best deals on gas.

Walk or Bike. You have been avoiding getting in shape and now you can do it. My grandfather walked from Silver Springs, Florida to Ft. McCoy when he was working. My grandparents were poor folks. This was and still is a long way, about 25 minutes by car. So, some of you can’t handle this ordeal. But if you can, if it is possible, then do it! You don’t have to walk to work everyday but you could choose one or two days. Or you could just bike it. Pull out that old Huffy and shoot down the street.

Carpooling. I have to admit it’s hard for me to think carpooling. I use to do it in college. More or less, I was driving my friend to work all the time. But it did save us…I mean her money because she didn’t have a car. She also caused me to be late more than a few times. Thanks D. Anyway, this is another way to save on gas. Mindful, you’ll need dependable drivers and people who roughly work the same schedule you do. You don’t necessarily have to work at the same job either. You just need to make a schedule that works everyone.

Train or Bus. I loved riding the subway in cities like Boston, New York and San Francisco. Last summer, I took the commuter rail from Boston to New York and it was so pleasant. The morning was foggy and the haze softly settled over the land and water. Beautiful.

In Atlanta and other places in the South, the train is okay. But riding the bus in the South is awful. You might be better off to bike or walk because it takes forever! I dreaded the days waiting for the bus from Northpointe Mall in Alpharetta, GA. And don’t let it be a Sunday, you’ll never get home! I watch the Suntran buses around Florida and they don’t look like they run faster either. All in all, the bus or the train if available is a good way to get to work and let someone else do the driving. You might save some money, despite the the frequent increases in fares.

Advertise on your car. What? You’re kidding me right? No, rent out the space on the beautiful truck or Dodge Charger to pay for gas. FREEgashelp.com has a program that you pays for your gas if you drive 1,000 miles a month. I couldn’t drive that much unless I was going some place. If your car looks good cosmetically, you have insurance (your own), and you drive frequently then this might be for you. You could also do the same thing on your own. Approach local businesses with the same incentive: I’ll advertise your business as long as you pay for my gas. I haven’t tried it but can’t see why it wouldn’t be win-win situation.

Get rid of your gas guzzling car or truck or/and buy a fuel economy car. Anyone who knows me well, will tell you that I am cheap. As a guy, I have never been a car fanatic. I have always looked as cars as a means to get me some place. I am not saying I hate luxurious cars or wouldn’t want one. It’s just not me. So, I can’t understand some people who buy or lease an expensive car or a gas guzzler and can’t afford the gas or repairs. Get rid of it! I remember in Atlanta when gas was reasonable and sometimes cheap at $1.49 that I could fill up my car with $13 or $16 dollars easily.

I still have friends who have huge Expeditions or Explorers and are paying $70 dollars when they fill up. Mind you, one of these friends lives in California where the gas is hitting in the 4 buck range. He might have to fill up more than two times a week. This equals about $400 dollars a month and $4800 for the year only for gas. Go out and get a hybrid or one or a used Honda and Toyota. Save your money.

Hopefully, these ideas will save you some gas and fumes too.

It was strange day at my school. It was hard to think about anything serious despite the date: April 4, 2008—40 years after Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee at the Lorraine Motel.

Officially, it was the start of Spring Break and the mood was jubilant rather than somber. It’s only my second year of teaching and I have been looking forward to this break for the last two weeks and it finally arrived today. I wish it could have arrived on another day.

I posted an email on MLK on my work email and some other emails on National Poetry month. You might have guessed all ready that I received more inquires on the poetry sites than I did for Martin Luther King.

This is a shame.

I am reminded of these turbulent times we had in 1968 because it was my birth year.  King was 39 and I am 39 and on the threshold. I was born after the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. My mother reminds me because it was a challenging time in America that was precarious for her and other Americans.  A war was happening like now, there was political upheaval, segregation, the black power movement and suddenly hope seem dashed when these two were killed.

This is an era in America that represents shame and fear, the fear of change and the shame of ignorance.

Was the administrator too serious when he sent his high school mentor home for his green hair and green mask? Maybe just a bit. This incident occurred at Lower Richland High in South Carolina. On Monday, Michael Rice was sent home by his Principal who said his green hair was “over the top.” Looking at his outfit, there was nothing offensive about it, he was just being silly and celebrating the day.

I mean high school mentors are mentors. They relate to the kids on a unique level—half parent, half teacher, half friend. Students see them in a different light. If he was an elementary teacher would he have been sent home? Probably not.

Some elementary teachers and assistants are known for their crazy outfits. Some dress up as fairies, superheros, and other imaginary beings. I know middle school teacher who dresses up for every holiday. And how about the teacher who dresses up as Ben Franklin to deliver a lesson? Is that over the top too? If it’s in good taste, I can’t see the wrong in it. What’s wrong with an adult being creative and having fun? More children and teenagers need to see this side of adults.

I am beginning to wonder if it is a case of being “too black, too green?”

Well, if he decides to quit his job, I am sure he can get a job with the Boston Celtics. They would appreciate his all green characteristics!

The 10th Annual Roxbury Film Festival is happening from July 29th to August 3rd and we are looking for entries.

Deadline for entries is April 18th, 2008. We are especially seeking features. You can find all of the information at this link: Enter my film into RFF 2008!

Filmmakers we use Withoutabox!

Please, please before you submit, check out the Guidelines.

Our main purpose is presenting films by/about People of Color…preference if you are a past or current New England resident.

I was complimented on way home tonight from Outback. I was fumbling with a cd, smelling the elegant aroma of steak, scallops, and calamari when I turned slightly to my left. “Nggr!” yelled the white man dressed in his lovely camouflage cap. Their old pick up truck zoomed ahead me and slowed.

I guess these lovely gentlemen thought I was going to entertain them further by getting into some vulgar tirade of *&^^%%$$$## cursing and road rage. Some people…their brains always on the first floor.

Rather, I let them stay ahead of me. Our vehicles reached a split in the road and either they were going to go ahead of me or they were going to lose me. The poor truck had no choice but to shoot in front of me from the left lane.

This lovely gentleman (passenger-side) expressed further love for me by flicking his middle finger. I barely noticed because I was in another zone, listening to my music.

As I approached the stop sign, I saw this homeless man (white) slouched over. I felt bad for him. It was the second time I had noticed him and I had wanted to stop before. He looked awful with a beard swirling down to his belt. But I kept going because there were cars behind me. This was a strange paradox: ignorance in the front and sadness to my right.

I am guessing that they have seen me before. After traveling down the road a few country blocks. They tried to turn where I normally turn but after I did not turn, it must have confused them. Again, this is the problem with lower-level thinkers.

The goof balls veered their jalopy truck into a gas station and started turning around. I went straight, returning home another way.

You just don’t know these days. The older I get, the more dumb these people become.

Ladies and gentleman, let us sing the “The Lord’s Prayer.”

This past Monday night, after Oscar night, a new version of A Raisin in the Sun aired on ABC. The film was inspired by a revival of the play that was directed by Kenny Leon ( a well known stage actor and director from Atlanta) in 2004.

Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy aka P Diddy starred as the tragic yet triumphant Walter. The original role was played by legendary actor, Sidney Poitier ( To Sir with Love, Lilies in the Field, Uptown Saturday Night).

So of course, over the last couple days I have been hearing the comparisons on the radio (Tom Joyner Show) and by family—moms did like it.

I feel sorry for P. Diddy because folks have been throwing him under the bus for his performance. Folks just did not like him as Walter. It’s a shame because I thought he did a great job with it.

It seems like he has come long way since his performances on the stage. I admit, I didn’t see the stage performance but I can tell that he has put in the work. I felt that he made many good choices in the role. He carved out what he wanted to show and what he saw in Walter’s character. One of his best moments was his confrontation with George Murchison. He managed to be patronizing in one instance and pathetic the next, adding to Walter’s confused and lost personality. A powerful moment.

Comparing Diddy’s performance to Sidney’s is not fair. One reason, every actor wants to find something new in a character, especially when a play or film has been done before. An actor does not want repeat the performance of a previous actor. Should we compare every actor who has performed Romeo in Romeo & Juliet? No! But, some actors could be compared if they were equal on the level of talent, experience, and notoriety. Poitier and Puffy are not. Two different eras, two different backgrounds, two different persons.

An artist redoing a piece of music or redoing a role happens quite often. Like in music, old songs are covered by new artists all the time. I heard a cover of a white band singing NWA’s Boys in the Hood and it was just strange to me. Maybe that’s how some people felt with Diddy’s performance—you’re not use to seeing him in a serious role (i.e. too much Making the Band).

I liked the new version of A Raisin in the Sun. I thought the film still answered and asked those same questions. Who are we? Where are we going? The importance and the sacrifice of family. Remember, it’s the writing and Hansberry made it happen.

In this version, you saw more of the outside world which you don’t see much of in the old version. You had other great performances by Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, and Sanaa Lathan (Tendaji—where you at?) With this version Rashad and Lathan steal the show instead of Poitier in the 61′ version.

Lastly, it was interesting to see a different view of the play directed by Kenny Leon. For a play director, shooting a television film, a new medium, he did a good job. Television is shot very quickly compared to the production of a theatrical film or a play.

The absolute shame is that the film did not make it to the theaters or even HBO. Instead, you most likely see the same Tyler Perry film that’ll take all the headlines, instead of serious drama.

Heath Ledger dead at 28.

A shock, another actor unexpectedly dead. A student of mine told me how her cousin recently died in a car accident.  She was only 20 years old.  Strangely, she was born on the same date I entered college.

Tonight, Killer of Sheep by Charles Burnett is on Turner Movie Classics. This is the thesis film by Charles Burnett when he was at UCLA. The film is in black & white and the setting is Los Angeles. The story centers around Stan, who is trying to make a better life for himself and his family.

Recently, the film has received fanfare and acclaim by many film critics. I had saw the film for the first time more than 10 years ago when I was film school and enjoyed the film for its realism and honesty of characters and setting.

The film is on tour and is available on DVD. Check out the schedule at Killer of Sheep.

Several other films by Charles Burnett (To Sleep with Anger) will follow including My Brother’s Wedding and Horse.

Just in time to pull me away from reading, studying for the GRE, and writing my statement of purpose: The Wire.

I became a real fan of the show last year. From taking a glimpse at previous seasons, I think the show hit its full stride last year. David Simon has done a fabulous job of slowing unfolding the stories. This year the series will introduce the Newspaper/the Media and its effect on the community. Simon worked 13 years for the Baltimore Sun.

He will address issues like out of town newspaper ownership, the competition of the Internet, and shrinking staffs. These are some of the issues I remember when I worked for the BG.

Be there tomorrow night.