@ the DMV(thoughts on PTSD)

The food is ultra flavorful and also hazardous. Everyone is so hospitable while being just a few pounds over-weight. The weather is splendid (keeping in mind its the end of December). And the pace is a tad bit more brisk than that of a snail. This is the Savannah that i know.
This morning i had to be at the DMV by 7:30am or that's when the doors opened. My license had expired and I procrastinated too long. So, now i had to re-test. The catch is that they only test 5 applicants per day...the first five in line when the doors open.
I'm from NYC (but i prefer GA's drivers license because it has the colorful peaches on it and I have a house there!) and i know how to beat the system. I woke up at 6:30 and thought I'd beat everyone to the DMV. While everyones asleep, I'll be the first one there. I got ready and made it there by 7am. To my bewilderment, the parking lot was already half full! I guess i had misjudged the Savannians once again... or had I??
The morning air had a chill in it by southern standards. For God's sake it was 50 degrees! Everybody seemed to think it was too cold to stand in line so they all sat in their cars... that was just the break i needed! i jumped out and very casually walked to the door and just stood there. And almost like i pulled the fire alarm, all the cars' occupants scurried to fall in behind me.

I proudly filled out the paperwork, knowing that I would be first because I'm from Brooklyn and I know how to hustle. After a short while, the attendant called my name. She told me I would be #2. Foiled again!! Each of us, testee #1 and I walked to our vehicles together and I proceeded "so, you've got the top spot?" And he answered "The only reason I have the top spot is that I leave for Iraq in two hours." At that moment the selfish and jealous feelings I had towards him for taking my #1 pole position gave way to guilt.
"This is my second tour. I got sent home a few months ago after I got injured by an IED...I got hit in the head by shrapnel" he said as he turned to show me the long diagonal scar on the side of his face.
"They wanted me to have psychological treatment" he continued.
"And they're sending you back???"
"Man, I'm going back!...I'm a soldier!"
The guy couldn't have been more than 22 years old. Listening to him inside the office, my first impression was that he was from a lower middle class or even poor background. He spoke loudly with a strong southern drawl like someone who's not quite all there.
"Good luck man!" I offered.
He responded with a half-hearted "yeah" almost like he was sure of his success and didn't need any luck from me.
we both went on to pass our exams. I probably never crossed his mind after our brief encounter but he has remained in my thoughts. I wonder what will become of him. Hopefully he will survive and make it back. But what will happen when he returns? Lets make no mistake about it, he will need treatment. So will thousands of other young men and women. Even if we don't agree with their mission, we have asked a lot from them, surely we owe them sufficient care when they return home

R.I.P. Benazir Bhutto

I'm having a great a Christmas break in Georgia with family but I'm saddened tonight by the sudden death of Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. I had been following the recent developments in Pakistan over the past several months an had grown fond of Ms. Bhutto, not because of any political ideology but simply because of her unwavering courage. Even before ending her self-imposed exile, she had received threats on her life. Nevertheless, she unflinchingly returned to Pakistan to foment change.
Lets not forget, there was an assassination attempt practically as she stepped of the plane in Karachi. She would later write to a friend that she had been getting death threats from high in the government and that if she were to die, part of the responsibility would have to go to President Musharraf. Musharraf refused to provide more security after the blast in Karachi.
Even more saddening were the responses of our "politicians". Even before any initial investigations, even before the body got cold, they (Clinton, Giuliani, Romney) were using Bhutto's death for political gain. Mitt Romney blamed Islamic Jihadist...Ok Mitt. that's pretty broad. Let's be more specific. How about the Pakistani government who just so happens to be our ally in "the war on terror", which is another sweeping term. Well I guess we'll see what happens in the next coming weeks and months.
I guess to me, in comparing Benazir Bhutto with what we have in America right now; I've come away with the conclusion that it takes courage and sacrifice to achieve democracy but prevarication to achieve in it...guess that's the nature of politics.

Looking Glass: submitted by Diondra Smith

No Questions
-dsmit

Have you ever been left for nothing?
Well nothing is what he said she was
Nothing was their life together, their kids, their house
When he walked away he promised his misery, at little league games and at couples retreats,
Cuz all of that meant nothing
Nothing to him nothing to me, nothing is what he left me for, left me with
He promised that I was his everything, his weightless all
Then shrugged me off and dutifully took up all of his nothing.
Have you ever been left for nothing?

Well that's what he left me for
For the familiar, the planned, the expected and respected
For father's day and anniversary gifts, for pee wee ball, dinner at 6
He promised it would all be incomplete, he promised he could endure my malice
Cause without me it was nothing, and nothing is why he left me

how much more?...

Last Wednesday, Robert Hawkins (19) wrote to his mother that he had just snapped. He then walked into the Westroads Mall and unloaded an AK-47 into the crowd killing 8 people before finally turning the weapon on himself. I'm sure you're familiar with the story. What we don't know is how Robert, a disturbed young man, went about acquiring an AK-47 assault rifle. Did he find one on the street? You know, one with the serial numbers scratched off that already has "bodies" on it. Probably not. He doesn't live in Detroit. Where he lives it's easier to just walk into a gun-show and bye an assault rifle, granted that he has a drivers license.
Two days later; Matthew Murray (24) walked into a Denver area christian youth center and killed 2 youth workers and wounded 2 others. Later on that day, he struck again. He entered the New Life Church after killing 2 teen sisters in the parking lot and opened fire wounding 2 others before an alert security guard, who says she was guided by god, fearlessly put the gunman down. These random shooting incidents, tragically, are becoming all to familiar to Colorado residents. Murray's recent web posts show that he was inspired by the Columbine High shooters. He also used an assault rifle.

As history repeats itself, it becomes all the more evident that something needs to be done about our country's gun laws. I'm not smart enough to come up with the answer but i can identify part of the problem. In 1994 President Clinton signed the Assault Weapons Ban. On September 13th, 2004, President Bush and a Republican controlled congress allowed the ban to expire.

No one is calling for abolishment of the 2nd Amendment but how about logical steps like tougher background checks at gun shows? Why not? Because the NRA says that they would eliminate gun shows all together and the NRA wields a ton of influence in Washington. Why? Well since 1989, Gun rights groups have given $17 million in contributions. 85 percent of those funds have gone to Republican candidates or the National Republican Committee.

happenings in nyc

Looks like we have an art opening to attend on Sunday (12/16). See the attached flyer. If you may not know anything about Marc he is a Haitian fashion photographer. Who has shot a lot of models/celebrities whom you'll recognize.

Bubble Lounge
228 West Broadway
Tribeca, NY
Sat. Dec. 16th, 2007
7pm



submitted by eric charlot

A week before Thanksgiving, I took a short vacation to Jamaica for one of my best friend's wedding. It turned out to be a huge lovefest. Meeting new family and friends from all over the world, while eating some of the best food I've eaten in some time, has definitely recharged my soul and has given me a new determination to make it through another winter in the city but also convincing me that i need to leave the country every couple of months to maintain my sanity.
Congratulations to Clint and Jessica who inspire us to find a love like that of which you two share.

Where we stayed: http://www.silver-sands.com/
Silver Sands is off the beaten path right outside Montego Bay. It's in a gated community offering uncrowded beaches with plenty of activities such as kayaking, snorkeling and deep sea fishing.

Here He Comes...

I'm so geeked right now! All my favorite childhood cartoons are turning into live action films! You have all the super-hero movies like Batman begins, X-men and soon Iron Man. Michael Bay did a nice job in his treatment of Transformers. I wasn't disappointed. Now, i've learned that the Wachowski brothers (Matrix trilogy) are writing the the script for a Speed Racer movie. Racer X is the Man! i cant wait to see his black and yellow number 9 car!

barackobama.com

"These are people who are trying to make a living. I understand they broke the law. But let me tell you something: if the minimum wage in Canada was $100 an hour ..."
-Barack Obama on Illegal Immigrants



The Democratic race seems to be heating up considerably. Sen. Barack Obama has taken a lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in a recent Iowa poll leading up to the Iowa Caucuses, which will be held on January 3rd. Polls have Obama 30%; Clinton 26%. Hillary seems to be feeling the pressure. This week she attacked his experience, saying the presidency is not a job where we can afford on the job training. The voters in Iowa seem to be thinking differently. They seem to want fresh leadership instead of the same ol' Washington experience. Another twist that may be worrying Hillary is the just revealed fact that Oprah Winfrey will be campaigning in Iowa for Obama. This is big because Oprah may sway the minds of some of her fans that may have previously supported Clinton, the female vote in particular.
The Iowa Primary is so important for Obama because he still trails Clinton in national polls. History has shown that a win in the Iowa primary can totally change your fortunes. Many of the following states may follow suit and vote similarly. Voters tend to not want to vote for a candidate that they don't see as having a chance to win.
Lets face it... America loves a winner!

photo courtesy of Callie Shell

My Favorite picture. I was lucky enough to get this shot a few years ago during Pope John Paul II's last days. I'm not Catholic but i really dug this guy.

Hip Hop is the cause for all that is wrong in America, including Dick Cheney, Columbine, illegal immigration..etc.

What is really burning me up today is this whole "Dog the Bounty Hunter" debacle. If you haven't heard, here is a snippet of what he said...

"I'm not going to take a chance ever in life of losing everything I've worked for 30 years because some (expletive) n--- heard us say 'n---' and turned us in to the Enquirer magazine."

Ironically, it was his son who recorded the tirade and sold it to the National Enquirer...And this is the tame stuff.

He was urging his son to break up with his black girlfriend. He later apologized and said he didn't like her "character" and not that she was black...
You know what?..whatever man.

I don't care about Dog or whatever he says to his son. I know there are and always will be racist in this country and if we stop every time they spew, we would make no progress.

What IS bothering me, is how whenever someone famous or well known says something racist or demeaning to Black women in particular, The focus turns to Hip Hop music as a way of justifying their behavior. Well, to quote my grandma, "two wrongs don't make a right".

Today, I'm hearing white people (no offense to my white family and friends) complain about a double standard. Are you kidding me? In this world there are double standards that we as people (be it racial, gender, sexual orientation, etc) have to live with as a part of life. And you know what? That's life!
In no way am i saying that rappers are without blame, but they are not a reason for bigots to have a "say N*gger for free pass". That goes for Imus, Dog and Kramer from Seinfeld.

Note: Even though i may be taking a somewhat light or humorous approach to this. It still pisses me off.

October 30th Jaleel Shaw Trio

I've watched this kid grow up with me in philly. I remember when his alto saxophone was roughly the same size as he was. Jaleel Shaw currently is on tour with the imcomparable Roy Haynes but he takes a break tomorrow night to let us hear him performing with his trio. Louis 649 is an intimate east village bar that specializes in live jazz every night. It's a regular hang out for students and purists.


Tues. October, 30 2007
the Jaleel Shaw Trio @ Louis 649
649 E 9th st , New York, New York
Cost : Free (limited seating)

Darfur Now

Actors Don Cheadle and George Clooney have been trying to raise awareness to the attrocities in the Sudan for a few years now. I was surprised by how many Americans have no clue as to what is happening in Darfur. Recently a young lady asked me if the refugee crisis in Rwanda(1994) was carrying over to the Sudan. the question baffled me. But, I know African affairs don't really occupy much space in the mainstream American conscience. Nevermind the genocides happened 13 years apart, I was happy she knew about either incident. Hollywood is responsible for bringing to light the Rwandan genocide in the Movie Hotel Rwanda. Hopefully, Darfur Now, also starring Cheadle, will raise awareness. We as humanity should not stand idle as genocides occur...not in the 21st century.

to learn more and to find out what you can do, visit:
http://www.savedarfur.org

Darfur Now
Release Date: 11/02/2007

Starring: Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Adam Sterling, Hejewa Adam, more cast
Directed By: Ted Braun

Bring Blackwater Home! and the troops too

In case you don't know, the Blackwater group is a private security firm made up of ex-military men and mercenaries. The U.S. government and contracted corporations employ their services to protect executives and high level officials when in unstable environments.

The uproar surrounding the Blackwater Group is more than understandable, however it may be just a little bit late. Since 2005 the Blackwater group has been responsible for 195 incidents of escalated violence... Think about that for a second.
One such incident involved Blackwater contractor, Andrew Moonen, who after leaving a Christmas eve party, made a wrong turn on his way home. According to Time's Brian Bennett, an Iraqi guard posted at vice president Adel Abdul Mahdi's compound, was fatally shot three times. Witnesses described Moonen as the shooter. The next day he was fired and sent home. The corporation covered it's backside once again. An act it has had to do many times. The fact that they are not subject to any rule of law allows the blackwater group to adopt a shoot first attitude.

Not until this latest incident in which a Blackwater convoy opened fire in a crowded intersection, killing 17 Iraquis and promptng the Iraqi president to demand they leave at once, has there been any real talk in Washington or in the media about investigating the group.
Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, brought Blackwater to light shortly after Hurricane Katrina. In the storms wake, Blackwater was deployed if you will, to New Orleans. If you can remember, there were reports of a shooting on an overpass near the 9th ward. The details have been very vague to say the least. the only public statements concerning this incident came from a security contractor who was riding along with the Blackwater men. Michael Montgomery says they came under fire from "Black Gangsters". They then "returned fire, heard moaning and screaming and the shooting stopped". Montgomery says the army guys confronted them but then left. No investigation local, state or federal was ever launched. Funny how they could get mercenaries to protect certain interests instantly but not water to U.S. citizens in distress.

Maybe now It will become clear that these private militias are hurting the troops efforts in Iraq more than they are helping. Their Protractors will argue that, with our military stretched so thin, we need the likes of Blackwater to guard diplomats and important sites. But with their above the law attitude, The common Iraqi doesn't know the difference between a U.S. marine and a white mercenary. All they know is America killed my daddy and now i'm gonna become Martyr!
This week, our favorite problem solver Condi Rice called for an investigation...lets see what happens...

summer on the Mediterranean

black sheep

After reading the following article posted today by the AP. I found myself wondering if this is a GOP ploy to weaken Obama by linking him to a widely unpopular vice-president...

Cheney, Obama 'distant cousins'
-Associated Press

Mr Obama and Mr Cheney share a French ancestor
They may be polar opposites politically but US Vice-President Dick Cheney and Democratic candidate Barack Obama are related, Mr Cheney's wife says.
Lynne Cheney said she had discovered while doing family research for a new book that her husband and the Illinois senator were eighth cousins.

She said she traced a common ancestor of the two men to be a 17th century immigrant from France.

She described the connection as "amazing".

"This is such an amazing American story that one ancestor... could be responsible down the family line for lives that have taken such different and varied paths."

According to Mrs Cheney's spokeswoman, Mr Obama is distantly related to Mareen Duvall, whose son Samuel married the granddaughter of Mr Cheney's ancestor, also called Richard Cheney.

Mr Obama's spokesman, Bill Burton, responded to the news by saying: "Every family has a black sheep."

Mr Cheney, the brooding neo-conservative closely associated with the decision to invade Iraq, has little else in common with Mr Obama.

Mr Obama, the son of a Kenyan man and a white woman from Kansas, has earned epithets like "rock star" because of his popularity among young Democrats, and a reputation as a liberal because of his voting record in the Senate.

Back from iraq?

I saw a movie the other night that has had my wheels turning. In the Valley of Elah, Tommy Lee Jones plays an ex-miltitary police officer who has lost one son in the first gulf war and his youngest son has gone missing just a few weeks after returning from the current war in Iraq. The direction of the plot is predictable, however the film is more a commentary on Post Traumatic Stress disorder, an illness that a lot of our young soldiers are returning from war zones with. You feel Jones' character change from a proud Army dad to a dejected soul who seems to have changed his views on what war is and what it does to our brave young men. Your heart goes out to these soldiers and the psychological ailments they endure in Iraq and you hope that there is enough being done to help them upon return. But somehow especially after the Walter Reed incident it seems doubtful

Update: 82,700 troops have returned seriously wounded, amputees or mentaly ill

WWW.EXPLORAWORKS.COM

My Favorite T-Shirt hanging out in Barcelona.
low profile tee by exploraworks.com pays homage to a party Qool DJ Marv spun every Monday in Manhattan's lower east side @ Ludlow Bar.
Explora is a music, travel and adventure inspired brand.
www.exploraworks.com

watch yourself...

Recently I've developed this affinity for watches and have become a self proclaimed collector...i've only collected 2 so far...but hey, its a start! i discovered this small Italian watch designer named U-Boat. The name may at first come off a little unsettling given its history and what it evokes. After the initial shock you begin to realize the brilliance of the designs. Inspired by WWII submarines, these military styled pieced blend perfectly a sense of style and a feel of ruggedness. i imagine they go well with a Brooksbrother's suit, or your favorite jeans and a worn-in tee. The only problem is there are only two authorized dealers in North America. lol see below for info... oh and they'll only set you back a coupla grand...


EXPOIMPO RB SA CV
Address: Masaryk 506
Zip code: DF 11560
City: Polanco
Province: México
Phone: (55) 52814175
Fax: (55) 56837433 ext 111
E-mail: luislara@ral.com.mx
-----
INFINITY TIME GROUP
Address: 4330 NE 2nd Avenue
Zip code: 33137
City: MIAMI FLORIDA
Province: --
Phone: 1 305 573 4476
Fax: 1 305 573 4479
E-mail: info@infinitytimegroup.com

Other Cool Watch/Chronograph sites:
www.chopard.com
www.ulysse-nardin.com
www.oriswatches.com
www.baume-and-mercier.com

New McCoy Tyner Music

Jazz Pianist McCoy Tyner, the famous former Coltrane sideman's latest release entitled "Quartet" is his first release since 2004.
The live CD features the omniprestent Christian Mcbride on bass and also Joe Lovano and Jeff "Tain" Watts. This is a must have for you Straight Ahead Jazz lovers.

you can't imagine how we feel...

I was born in Philly...As a tot; I moved to South Florida but returned every summer to rugged North Philly. I played lil' league baseball in Florida on pristine, manicured fields of Bermuda grass. In North Philly, we played on a patchy dusty field with half a fence, desperately trying to avoid landing in dog crap.

"Dog Crap"! Now that can describe baseball in Philadelphia over the last 126 years. The Philadelphia A's won 5 World Series championships before leaving the city and eventually ending up in Oakland, But nobody cares about that now. Especially since that last championship was won in 1930 during the great depression (how fitting). Who could think about baseball during a time like that, specifically in an industrial, working class city like Philly? And as far as us Philadelphians are concerned when the A's left, they took their championships with them. Hell, I wasn't born yet anyway...
It would take another 50 years before Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose and Lefty Carlton would bring a measure of respectability back to the city. In 1980 the Phillies won their 1st and only world series after only playing for 99 years!!!
I remember it like it was yesterday! I had followed the team all summer and my grandfather had signed me up for a pee-wee league for 8-12 year olds(I was 7 and the smallest kid in the league). In the fall before the Phillies won their only World Series, I returned to Ft Lauderdale to start 1st grade. I still followed my Phils through the playoffs, but cried when I couldn't return to Philly for the victory parade. My cousin Derrick and I would cry again in 1983 as we watched Cal Ripken and the Baltimore Orioles defeat the Phillies 4-2 to win the Fall Classic. That's when I decided to guard my heart, like a scorned girlfriend/boyfriend...Never quite fully trusting again. I followed in 1993 when they made the Series again but never quite believed. I was assimilated into the psyche of all Philly fans. I could feel the collective "I told you so".

It’s been 126 years and only 1 World Series and in the process the Phillies became the most losing sports franchise in the history of sports on the planet earth...maybe even the universe! They lost more Games than the Washington Generals and Rocky King, the guy from pro-wrestling who seemed to always be pitted against Rick Flair, Dusty Rhodes or the Macho Man only to be dismantled in 23 seconds. This Season the Phillies lost their 10,000th game, a dubious distinction not common to any other sports franchise ever!! I remember the day...and that day it really sucked being from Philly.

But then came yesterday. Before yesterday, the Phillies were the benchmark for collapses. In 1964 they lost their last 10 in a row to squander a 6 1/2 game lead and lose the division.
But then came yesterday. For the first time in a long time the baseball gods smiled on Philly.
The Mets historic collapse helped cleanse a multitude of iniquity from our baseball souls. No longer are we the biggest chokers in baseball history. The tale of two games on the same day in different cities has totally put us on the other side of history. Now, as irony has it, our team has just accomplished the biggest comeback in Baseball history and we are the 2007 champions of the NL East.
Funny ain’t it?

race still a touchy subject...

It's pretty funny the hornet's nest that opens up whenever anyone makes a statement concerning race. Seems as though just when we start to assume we as a country have evolved past racial differences, something conveniently pops up... Take for instance the storm of controversy surrounding Philadelphia Eagles QB, Donovan McNabb last week. In an interview to HBO, he stated that he felt that he as is judged differently than his white counter-parts. Now, the first reaction of a lot of people (especially those that are not black and that are not quarterbacks) would be... "There he go playing the race card again!" But, what he went on to say made a lot a sense. Lets explore race for a second in the NFL.
The National Football League is roughly 75% black but only 6 out 32 teams are starting a black QB. McNabb says that Black QB's have to work a little bit harder to make it than white QB's. Ok, no arguement from me. This however is the case in many areas of life. It's just the way of things. Whenever there are circumstances where some common group of people have a monopoly in a certain situation, the minority has to work harder to be accepted in that situation. Be it women referees breaking into the NBA or a white kid trying to be taken seriously as an underground rapper.
So in Mcnabb's case I understand where he is coming from. Also, I don't think he was crying racism as much as he was stating his feelings, very matter of factly. I think more than racism, human nature has a lot to do with occurances of exclusion. People simply hate change and tend to stick with what makes them comfortable. But lets not be naive, race will always be an issue until there are no more races.
McNabb is right when he says he is criticized differently. He is judged as a black QB. And what does that mean? Cursed by his own blessings. It is hard enough dealing with everything that comes with being a quarterback in the NFL but then lets not forget a short while ago, The head of the NAACP philadelphia chapter(oh, the irony!) criticized him for not running more and not playing black enough. Can you imagine someone in San Francisco criticizing Steve Young?? Don't forget he was a pretty mobile white QB. Now, can you imagine someone saying he's not playing white enough? ...see McNabb's point?

Legendary Sonny Rollins Comes Home 50 years Later to Carnegie Hall

My Observations...
A packed house turned out Tuesday night to pay homage and also help Mr. Rollins commemorate the 50th anniversary of his first time playing the Carnegie.
Sonny surrounded himself with an all-star cast. In his first set, Joining him on acoustic bass and possibly the number 1 bassist in the world today, was Christian McBride. McBride did not disappoint. Rollins’ distaste for pianos in his ensembles is well-known. Mcbride, filled that role almost perfectly. Acting as percussion while simultaneously layering on melodies as only he can. You feel yourself wanting Christian to break out but then quickly come to the realization that this is not “his” band and he must stay within the confines of the trio. Carnegie Hall is built for orchestras and not Jazz ensembles. The cavernous stage played havoc on the acoustics, a lot of the sound was absorbed and muddled into the high dome ceiling. However, this characteristic seemed to work for Mcbride as his low whole notes were allowed to reverberate as he trickled through scales in his solos on Some Enchanted Evening and Mack the Knife.
But not to be overlooked was Roy Haynes, the 80 something drummer who seems to still have the fervor and agility of someone a third his age. He went back and forth with his old buddy in a solo that seemed to go on for 15 minutes in the first song of the evening. Mr. Haynes seemed to effortlessly play traffic cop, ushering his cohorts through their respected solo’s.
Rollins Seemed to be more than willing to let the other members of the trio take center stage with him on this historic night. He never really immersed himself in his long signature solos, instead he seemed content on letting Mcbride shine and collaborating with on his solos. Rollins still filled the room with his low tenor grunts and showed remarkable breath control for a player his age. But again he is probably the great living tenor.

In His second set, Rollins was accompanied by his own band. The set was entertaining but less impressive than the first not just because of the personnel but because of sound issues.
In this set Rollins decided to return to his Island Roots with tropical Melodies and calypsos that was infused with west African rhythms. The most memorable moment of the second set was with African percussionist Kimati Dinizulu, who dazzled for 10 minutes with his conga solo on the second to last song. The second set seemed to feature the African conga player.
The entire evening, even though short lived, seemed to be a journey of where Rollins Came from, the era of Miles, Monk and Trane to where he is today. He is still stretching himself musically, challenging musical convention and innovating at the age of 77.