Gil Scott- Heron

Another great artist is gone.

I liked this piece from The New Yorker. It rightfully recognizes his power, presence and passion for spoken word and music.

A few days late, but here's one for Gil. Enjoy.

call me swag.

You know who you are calling Swag now? Oh, you didn't get your TMZ tweet? Diddy. Wait- i mean swag, i mean puffy, i mean, uhhhh i can't make up my mind! Man, His ego has become so inflated he feels he has a free pass to happily announce this bullshit at every media opportunity and so called fans are just indulging in this self obsessed garbage. Eat it up kids, next week will be a whole new world. And a whole new vodka.

Recently I read about the most expensive photographs in the world, with the priciest being a Cindy Sherman photo that was sold for over 3 million dollars. What would you pay an exuberant amount for? I mean, within our own "normal" money scale. Coincidentally, I saw this earlier today. Maybe my newfound love for Nick Cave has been leading me to this purchase? I kid, but i do dig that poster.

Oh, Fozzie.

Reading this made me too happy today.. A feature film about The Muppets! With an Apatow cast to boot. P.S. For completely shallow reasons I will see this mostly for my love of the Muppets but partially for my adoration for Jason Segel. dreamy...

A trailer is included in that article, so don't get too excited and forget to scroll down.

I Want You - Bob Dylan

"She is good to me and there's nothing she doesn't see..."

Happy day, Bob! Thanks for the some of the best tunes these ears have heard.

Ebo Taylor - Love and Death (Original 70s Version)

Ebo Taylor pumps rhythmic beats into your heart and mind. He's a multi-instrumentalist, composer and rightfully beloved in his homeland of Ghana and afrobeat circles.


wanna know more? It's a review of "Love and Death" released late in 2010. some highlife oldies and new production that will leave you digging around for more!

p.s. sorry about the chiming d.j. At least it's the original track!

get on the bus.

So Freedom Riders finally premiered on PBS last night. If you didn't get a chance to see it, I highly suggest it. The Candid interviews with former riders and bigoted Alabama governor John Patterson, shed a bright light on racial tensions in the 60s(plus a suprising piece of information about Dr. King's position). It's an interesting look at what it meant to be an American when many people barely considered you human. Kicked, beaten and bruised-they knew retaliation was beyond raising a fist and that America would not be changed by "violence breeding violence". With integrity and self respect, the riders knew it was their responsibility to keep riding and their right to dwell, eat and work with anyone regardless of race was inevitable. This responsibility was one that one white rider put, "some people don't take as serious."

I chatted about the documentary with an old friend at the cafe today. Elderly man with a beating heart of gold. He told me he was 21 at the time(1961) of the freedom rides. Tunnel vision, as he put it.. solidly focused on friendships, women, nothing more. He was 21 after all. He did remember waiting at a bus station when an older gentleman told a crew of young travelers that they were walking into a fire. The ride was a suicidal journey. They would likely be hurt and it would be more than they could handle. He said they nodded and said, "so let's go."

this and that.

yup, this show just got better! I usually dislike how actors need to be musicians, musicians need to be writers, wrestlers need to be actors, etc... Sometimes, we are just gifted with one talent-take that talent and go with it, you don't have to dip into every industry bowl. HOWEVER, mos def actually is multi-talented. Remember this? I was pleasantly surprised.

Now we just need a new Blackstar album and all will be good. I miss hip-hop.

For the love of PBS

I've mentioned my love for documentaries before, right? Here's a PBS one I just stumbled on that i'm pretty excited to see. Since my television stations are limited to local stations, I've found an even deeper love and attachment to public television. That and the local soul train show on WADL :)

Check your local listings friends!

the bare trees.

After reading about death celebrations and our sinking economy, i found this. I shall always find something beautiful and calming to read after the news.

Who's child is this? I like him. His images are serene and plain lovely.