The other day, my wife and I were watching an MTV video playlist. Some nice nostalgic videos were shown, but then when one image of an old analog radio came on the screen, my wife said, "oh that's your video". What she was talking about was Brandy's "Sitting Up In My Room". It's strange why I like this video so much. I remember Brandy from "Thea" and remember seeing her at Vibe's 1 year anniversary party back in '95 at Roseland.
At that time Brandy couldn't have been more than 14 or so, and I said hello. Not a dirty old man hello, but more an appreciation of young black talent. She was friendly enough, though by the way her mother yanked her arm, she must have thought I was some sort of pervert.
For the record, Mrs. Norwood, I think your daughter had a lot of talent, and wish her well, but c'mon.
Anyway, I digress. Where were we? Ah yes. Why did I like the "Sitting Up In My Room" video so much? Simply because of one small part. It's when Donald Faison and Brandy are back to back with their arms crossed. I don't know what it is about that shot? Maybe it's the expression of fun and puppy love? Maybe in some symbolic way it showed young black people having one another's "backs" if you will, rather than being at each other's throats. But that image is one of my all time favorite cinematic images.
So with my memory jogged, I decided to go to Youtube and put that video in my iPod. But guess what. Every Youtube version whisks past that one memorable image. Sheesh. What's next, "The Symphony" with Kool G. Rap's part deleted?
Anyway, here's the Brandy video, sans scene. It's still a great video, but something's missing. Oh Well. I'll continue to search!
Reverse the Charges
Youtube Blues
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Things Are Tough All Over
As some of you may know, I write a fairly popular blog for www.nj.com, entitled Sixers Shots. Much to my dismay, when I went to enter today's blog about the Sixers' much needed win against the LA Clippers, I was locked out.
As I combed through my email, I saw that I had received one saying that they would no longer be paying, and if I wanted to continue to blog, without compensation, I needed to respond to them by 5pm on Dec. 30.
I obviously missed the deadline, but hopefully, after 5 years of service, I'll continue to blog with these guys. I never did it for the money, and the money really wasn't anything much so it's no loss on that front.
Which leads me to my point, that things must really be tough if companies are cutting the nominal payments they make to bloggers.
As I combed through my email, I saw that I had received one saying that they would no longer be paying, and if I wanted to continue to blog, without compensation, I needed to respond to them by 5pm on Dec. 30.
I obviously missed the deadline, but hopefully, after 5 years of service, I'll continue to blog with these guys. I never did it for the money, and the money really wasn't anything much so it's no loss on that front.
Which leads me to my point, that things must really be tough if companies are cutting the nominal payments they make to bloggers.
The Ebony Experiment
Since my Facebook political orientation is Black Capitalism. I was very encouraged to get an article from a dear friend about something called
"The Ebony Experiment".
It's a simple concept. A family in Chicago has devoted a website to their quest to spend their money with as many Black businesses and professionals as possible.
Of course there will be accusations of being racist and separatist. Anybody with half a brain, knows this is not the case, because even if a Black person didn't want to spend any money with a white person, it would be impossible. Really, this is about trying to have our dollars recycle with us a few times before leaving our communities. The more this occurs, the better off our communities will be, and far from being anti-white, it will help to expand the moribund economic times we're living in. In other words, people of all races will benefit if the "so-called hood" has more thriving people and businesses. Bottom line if it legally makes dollars, then it legally makes sense.
Kudos to the Andersons.
"The Ebony Experiment".
It's a simple concept. A family in Chicago has devoted a website to their quest to spend their money with as many Black businesses and professionals as possible.
Of course there will be accusations of being racist and separatist. Anybody with half a brain, knows this is not the case, because even if a Black person didn't want to spend any money with a white person, it would be impossible. Really, this is about trying to have our dollars recycle with us a few times before leaving our communities. The more this occurs, the better off our communities will be, and far from being anti-white, it will help to expand the moribund economic times we're living in. In other words, people of all races will benefit if the "so-called hood" has more thriving people and businesses. Bottom line if it legally makes dollars, then it legally makes sense.
Kudos to the Andersons.
Derrck Coleman Busts a Bad Rap
Last night on TNT John Thompson did a segment on former NBA player Derrick Coleman. During his playing days, Coleman was the poster boy for the "spoiled black athlete with a bad attitude". I always liked Coleman, but part of his rep was earned, other parts were blown out of proportion. However what was never considered was the growing pains that young folks go through. Couple that with a lot of money, and yeah, sure, you're going to get a bad attitude from time to time.
Now, however, Coleman is all grown up, and his attitude is exemplary. You see,
Coleman has a mission to rebuild his old Detroit neighborhood. A high profile Black person investing his own money in his community with the hope that it will help dollars recycle in that community is Black Capitalism at it's best. My hope is that Coleman's work will receive more publicity and become infectious.
Now, however, Coleman is all grown up, and his attitude is exemplary. You see,
Coleman has a mission to rebuild his old Detroit neighborhood. A high profile Black person investing his own money in his community with the hope that it will help dollars recycle in that community is Black Capitalism at it's best. My hope is that Coleman's work will receive more publicity and become infectious.
The Auto Bailout
Ok, so it looks like the Auto Bailout will have to be left up to President George Bush, and if he doesn't do anything, then in January, President Obama will have to check in and do something.
I'll leave President-elect Obama out of it for now. Let the man have some semblance of a month's peace before running into our burning building of an economy without a firesuit.
So that leaves George Bush. Here's what Bush should do for the American Auto Industry--have the Oil Industry bail them out. I mean these guys have made record profits during his Administration. The reality is, it would be in their best interest, since if the world is down 3 major car makers, I would assume the oil profits would take a tumble as well.
So instead of leaning on us individual taxpayers, let Bush's Texas oilmen pony up a bit.
I'll leave President-elect Obama out of it for now. Let the man have some semblance of a month's peace before running into our burning building of an economy without a firesuit.
So that leaves George Bush. Here's what Bush should do for the American Auto Industry--have the Oil Industry bail them out. I mean these guys have made record profits during his Administration. The reality is, it would be in their best interest, since if the world is down 3 major car makers, I would assume the oil profits would take a tumble as well.
So instead of leaning on us individual taxpayers, let Bush's Texas oilmen pony up a bit.
