just a joke: white man gets black man to do manual labor for him

here is the video URL: http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/baylis-revolution/4505-6490_7-33357756.html

Below is my letter. Don’t know if I’m over-thinking it, but I am going with my gut on this one…

women in jazz

WOW. Grace Kelly. Y’all remember that, alright? Seriously. So I heard this amazing interpretation of “Ain’t No Sunshine” on the radio, waiting with baited breath to hear who the hell it was behind this crazy shee-it. Turns out, you have to qualify it as crazy youthful sixteen year old second-gen Korean American she-it to be accurate. Grace Kelly. Mood Changes.

In the liner notes, Don Heckman beautifully describes the casual sexism us men often carelessly throw around. Here’s an excerpt (emphasis mine):

Miss Toni Hill: Rose

Google her and find out more.

revelling in discovery

Here’s the word, I won’t ask why:
It all started yesterday with
Senbei’s Shikata Ga Nai (V.II)

I know I’m sick and I need
to get up early tomorrow and work
from first light until day’s end.
But I’m going to sleep more soundly
and work harder having heard
what I’ve heard tonight and
shared it with anyone willing
to read and wanting to listen.

So check it out:

Remarks of President Barack Obama As Prepared for Delivery Address to Joint Session of Congress

See below for Obama’s complete address to Congress in response to the passing of the economic stimulus package.  The video comes in six parts courtesy of YouTube.com user tegl1n.  This is President Obama’s first major address since the Inaugural.  The Obama administration is organized, active and productive to an unprecedented degree so early into the term.  As Amy Walter puts it,

Most presidents a month in are still trying to find the bathrooms or figure out where their staff is. So I think that’s significant.

Follow along with the full text of the address here

It’s that time of year again…

That’s right, it’s time for the Super Bowl. Again. Although I bet the festive atmosphere will be somewhat muted by the dismal state of the economy, there will always be…the entertaining commercials. And this year, they’re gonna have to try extra hard to get what little cash or credit we have left.

Slam Adams

I am disappointed in Sam Adams.  What he did creeps me out,  like it normally does whenever anybody does it. That is, have a relationship with

1. Someone who is 18 when he is 42 (less than half his age!!)
2. Someone who is a lowly [legislative] intern when he is the relatively powerful commissioner of the state’s largest city, and a favorite mayoral candidate.

I don’t think there ever should be exceptions to #2 above, but #1 is a generalization which has, in my opinion, some legitimate exceptions to account for the relative maturity level of the people involved.  But those exceptions grow pretty rare when the one person is over twice as old as the other.

It’s creepy, alright.  But let’s clear the air about some stuff:  creepy isn’t grounds for calling for someone’s resignation from public office.  Nigel Jacquiss insists in his OPB interview that this story was never “about sex and sexuality,” but that he wasn’t “satisfied” that Sam was “being completely straight” with him, and he had a hunch that Sam wasn’t someone he could “get behind.” (yes, I’m quoting from Jacquiss’ interview on OPB) Hmm, sounds to me like the only person in the closet here is Nigel.

Happy People Don’t Watch TV

Did you get that?  Here it is again:  Happy People Don’t Watch TV

What to do instead?  The possibilities are endless…

Poem: aseasonal affect disorder 112008

As much as I like (make that LOVE) my new job…I have deep-seeded philosophical objections to spending hours of day in an office, in front of a computer.  As opposed to, in direct interaction with communities of living organisms in an environment not wholly manufactured by us.  Many of my poems grapple with technology and its role in industrial societies as a(n often unnecessary) mediator interactions between self and other.  Yes, we use it to break down barriers.  And it also constructs new barriers, creates new forms of intense alienation, corrupts our priorities and distorts the way we perceive and think about and ourselves and others.  Plus, so much of it is just…crap.  But whatever.  Here we go…

Interview: Alphabet Stew on KBOO

My cousin and his fellow Alphabet Stew collaborators promoting their new album, Mentil Soup.  It’s as action-packed and exciting as any KBOO interview I’ve ever heard