Two Campaigns

Months ago, during the first democratic presidential debates, it appeared that the race was over. Sen. Clinton had a double-digit lead in the Polls. The other candidates seemed to be "fillers" or "also rans". The young senator from Illinois seemed a little inexperienced in debates and not prepared to battle the big bad Clinton political machine. But...A funny thing happened on the way to the convention. Sen. Obama has steadily improved with each subsequent debate. Today on Slate.com, John Dickerson nominated Sen. Obama the "Most Improved Debater". It is no wonder. After reeling off 11 consecutive election wins, Obama could afford to be confident and poised in his final two debate performances. Don't take the bait, Just stay above the fray. In Texas, it was easy. Clinton never really got into attack mode, so for the eloquent Obama, it was a cakewalk. Last night, with her campaign on the proverbial ropes, she had to come out swinging. Last night was a microcosm of the two candidates’ campaigns. Obama rolled gracefully with every punch, never looking off-guard while Clinton seemed angry, frustrated and whiny. She attacked not only her rival but also what she perceives as media bias, claiming that she always gets the first question in debates. Come on Hill, stay strong. Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania are still ahead. It's far from over.

new fashion: Black Klovur

Some friends of mine decided a little over a year ago that they wanted to create an upward scale, urban clothing line. They decided to name their line Black Klovur. It would be a marriage of the heritages of the two founders, African-American and Irish. These collaborations are found throughout the line. As they combine urban elements with Scottish/ Irish elements such as Glen plaids and Argyle patterns with hoodies and “paper boy” caps. Soon Black Klovur will be found in such stores as Macy’s and Dr Denim. I actually designed a few pieces in the line such as the white woven shirt with the flower embroidery on the back! Yeah, it's hot! To see more go to http://www.blackklovur.com/

visual immortality: to be an artist

To be able to translate to others what life appears to be is a talent that many of us have. To be able to transfer that reality to a surface gives us a kind of immortality. There has been countless painters since humanoids left paintings on cave walls in southern France a long time ago. In relation to vast numbers that have attempted, relatively few painters have made that jump to immortality. They are the ones who have captured their time and space like no others before them and spawned legions of clones in their wake.

a new day?

I took a couple of weeks off from discussing the presidential race but it has gotten so hot that now I am forced to comment.
Barrack Obama, for the first time in the race, has taken a clear lead. After sweeping the Potomac Primaries, Obama now leads Hillary Clinton in Delegates, the popular vote and fundraising dollars. He seems to be gaining valuable momentum for a stretch run.
Now, no one should underestimate the Clinton political machine. They have been the most powerful force in the Democratic Party for the last two decades. Things could get really interesting between now and the Pennsylvania primaries.

My friend Gary seems to capture the South Carolina/Georgia low country in a romantic manner that crosses all demographics.

to see more works visit:

http://garygrier.net/index.html

"I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history. I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars." (Barack Obama, 2002)

New Music

Every since I've seen the new Apple MacBook commercial (the worlds thinnest laptop), I've been trying to find that catchy song. Apple seems to always be ahead of the game when it comes to new music in their ads.

Actually it was quite easy to find on Itunes. The song is New Soul by Yael Naim. Naim, is from Isreal but is living and singing in Paris. Her sapprano voice contains just a hint of warm rasp just enough to make her feel folksy, a perfect complement to her acoustic guitar.

Her debut release, entitled Yael Naim, is an acoustic journey through a sonic garden in three different languages Hebrew, English and French. On New Soul I Keep getting the visual of a tuba with flowers flowing from within; Reminds me a bit of Corinne Bailey Rae but with more musical substance. Good Music.