Earthworm on the Sidewalk

2010-08-10T11:43:00.003-05:00

Thanks for coming. See ya next time.

Do you remember March 11th, 2007??

... I do...

(haha I was cliché then too...)

I probably didn't know half of you guys at the time... The other half of you were still in high school...

So I started this blog.

A lot of blogs seem to start as alternatives to E-mail list/updates. For me, it's always been about clearing my mind-- not necessarily sharing...Back then, I didn't care who, if anyone, read it... I just got inspired by some cool art/design/music/bmx/skate etc. blogs (most notably Dork Mag's blog, which doesn't exist anymore...) and wrote about what I was reading, listening to, seeing etc...

I wrote really to teach myself about what I was consuming "musically, artistically, culturally and socially" and to start remembering... (in short, I had a project where I was writing down all my thoughts-- because I knew they were going to be changed in college... I didn't realize how rad things would get... who knew?)

I wrote because I missed things about life that I thought I'd end up forgetting about completely if I didn't constantly remind myself... And if I didn't remind myself I'd probably be a business major... and wear business suits... and drive business cars... and do business things... I was insecure and felt the pressure of unwanted social forces...

Now, 3 years and a half years later I'm done. I'm off the sidewalk...in a sense...

So this is the logical conclusion point...

It's been a pretty dope ride... (yes, I like puns too...)

We've been through bad days on bikes, good and bad romances, good days with friends, rough days at "work", bad days in the news, good albums, bad albums, great exhibits, rad shoes, a lot sociological theory... gosh just whatever was floating in my head...

sorry to leave you hanging on the summer adventure... but you shouldn't care, you should be/are having your own adventures...

Some part of me wishes there was some overarching theme/message I could share that would some how complete my life and yours. Suprise. There isn't. Go live.

Through it all "I cannot help but hold onto a hand full of ties."

You guys have been the best friends for such an adventure.

Thanks for caring (i.e. reading).

You'll have to come visit now :)

(I'm serious.)

or I'll come to you.

Hotep.

(the last one...ever. dun dun dunnnn,I'm so dramatic.)

p.s. For the non-believers.

p.p.s. Like Banksy? Try Venchen.

p.p.p.s. Esperanza's new joint's worth checking out.

p.p.p.p.s. I'm gona miss blogging... All good things come to an end...

2010-08-07T12:17:00.005-05:00

"This is real life shit, this ain't no Hansel and Gretel..." - The Cool Kids.

This kind of stuff kinda really scares me.

My friends are/will/continue to do this kind of selfless aid work...

and i was worried about getting mugged... [eh..]

Hotep.

2010-08-05T17:55:00.001-05:00

Home. Pack. Home.

intermission:

This isn't the first idea i stole...

Botswana in Brazil. I thought the irony was funny. Call me a hipster then.

Four feet and tubing. Rad.

Soccer. They love it. I love it. We love(d) it.

This is still Brazil. But oddly familiar.

Graffiti.

Sociology!

It really got tense for a second.

Especially on the way out.

(Unfortunately) We left before anything 'happened'.

This isn't from an airplane.

Hotep.

p.s.

I like arming my voice, but making the weapons is more fun...

So that will be my primary means of contribution for now...

I guess this really makes me a "spineless liberal" - against me!

[<3]

2010-08-02T16:17:00.006-05:00

I have an apartment again. Make yourself at home. I'm a socialist on bad days.

"Well holy moly me oh my..." - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

I'd never guess just how time flies.

Gosh, i'm in the too much to write about phase again.

...I guess this is a good problem...

I play soccer, eat beans and rice and talk about politics/the fact Brazil is a 3rd world country a lot...

Found them a bit too late...

not very active online, but still good to see a community.

If they ride in Rio, they're as crazy as those Mash guys...

I've decided post-racial society can't exist because of the extensive saturation of western ideas/concepts. It's vector? Western media (+ globalization).

I mean if she knew about Radiohead, she would have similar exposure to televisions and movies... which portray racial stereotypes to a tee. I guess you don't have to act on it... I mean we try not to right?

The tid-bit about cultural homogeneity based on regions seems true after about two weeks.

Been reading a lot.

The Shack is an interesting book.

What makes it more interesting is its popularity...

Yea the CIA was here too...

So was the current president (4th grade education, labor union guy.)

And his (potential) female successor.

(yea i qualified that with the word 'female'... and I call myself a feminist... shame on me)

All of this makes Brazil a really really interesting country...

Although there are a lot of good things, there are still some short comings when the "workers of the [country] unite" (do i really need a link here? Com'on)

well unite might be the wrong word...

more like take power... or some of them take power...

Is it a problem with the system? If so which one?

(my bet is on the latter of the two)

Hotep.

p.s. I might be amending my summer adventure...

(time is the enemy)

2010-07-30T11:38:00.000-05:00

My last post had no structure and was simply word/thought vomit. I'll do better.

I'm having second thoughts.

Is a post racial social structure even ontologically possible?

Here is the scenario:

I'm sitting at a table. Everyone at the table (except me) is Brazillian of a more European decent (see portugal). Conversation erupts, obviously in portuguese. (I can make out bits and pieces at this point... it's very similar to Spanish... I usually don't contribute, unless in english or by translation...) Eventually something happens (i'll explain later) and for a split second I think about the role my race plays in the situation...

BOOM!

A whole (orginizational?!) network of consensus formation explodes (at least in my head) and post-racial social life disappears for that one tenth of a second... I eventually convinced myself it wasn't a racial issue (maybe a nationality issues, but that's "a whole 'nother story...") but the episode got me thinking...

If I have thoughts of race/ethnicity inside of a non-racialized social system the system is no longer "non-racialized"... (right?!) Now my thoughts come from years of socialization in a system where race is still an issue, but transplanting these thoughts into 'non-racial' system, essentially makes the system racial. At least for the epistemic subject in question, which in this case is me...)

So is racisim all in your (my) head?

We'll yes and no.

No, because we've seen, many times in American history (and present) and even some in Brazillian history, examples of a explicitly raciest social system that systematically oppressed people of "color". These systems of oppression have had a noticable effect on the distribution of material wealth and every day liberities... SB1070.

and

Yes. Yes, in this case because I introduced the thought of race as a factor for what I precieved as 'unfair/unequal' treatment (see: Mead? Product and Process). But even epistemically speaking I can't ever surly know the intent of the other people involved, perhaps they were indeed trying to be racially offensive... But I highly doubt that. If the concept of race exists in the mind of just once, the entire system can't be marked as "non-racial" I suppose an argument of 'post-racial' could be made... (haha either way I guess this is my cue to leave Brazil and let them return to utopia... nahh, i'll stay a bit longer...Haha and I take a guilty pleasure in the fact my agency has the ability, theoretically, to corupt an entire system... Who said structure ran everything? I guess positive change is/will always be more difficult.)

Does post-racial mean race exists, but is some how not a factor? I guess?

So can a 'post-class' system ever exist? In theory maybe, but I don't think it would work in practice... or if it did, it would look like late-capitalism (i.e. the United States...) which really in my mind is just is a kind of revoloution limiting fasle consciousness...

so is 'post-racial' akin to a false thinking about role race plays in social life? (This can be discussed at length on the micro and macro level... In my aforementioned micro level interaction it seems like a farce but on a macro-level it seems more plausable...)

And of coures all of this could be applied to gender issues...

Gosh, I'm just not sure anymore...

I know 'a better world is possible' but I don't know what it looks like anymore...

A lot of thinking to be done...

haha sorry, this is probably no more or less structured than the last post...

BTW sociology needs 'less big words and more exclamation marks!' - Tokyo Police Club.

i'll work on this.

Hotep

p.s. if you know the relavant sociological/social psych theory that would compliment this post let me know! I'm pretty much totally out of the race/ethnicity literature... And this can't possibly be a new concept...

p.p.s. I've written some good love letters in the past, but NOTHING like the one she's about to get... haha... I need her to like me. A lot. My life (see: passion and also career) almost depends on it... The last e-mail's were positive, contrary to the past. Maybe I should have applied, Maybe she'll still help...

p.p.p.s yea, I recycle.

2010-07-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

Remember that time you told me about Dale McKinley...

You've never been wrong. I'm in love... again.

Well, I can't really say love. I've only been in one place for about a week, but really it's nothing short of amazing. I'll start with the superficial:

If you have low or wavering self esteem in regards to your physical appearance you don't need to come to Brazil. Period. The people here are nothing short of beautiful... pretty much all of them. Most men and women alike look like super models, but maybe (hopefully) it's just the city...

And yea I know looks aren't everything, but if she speaks portuguese and english too, AND (thanks to globilization) also likes Raidohead and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers you tend to be swooned...

I didn't even ask about bicycles or sociology... good thing my alcohol assisted abstinence program is fail proof... It's like PEPFAR x PUNK**... haha why didn't Bush think of this?

*The necessity to make an awful "do it yourself" reference was supressed...

Speaking of PEPFAR... Brazil, which use to recieve bilateral funding from Bush's master piece recently (ok not that recently...) shot down the funding because Brazil refuses to explicitly state they oppose prostitution...

I remember getting in an argument on someones birthday about the role the state should/shouldn't play in illegal/unsafe activities**... Prostitution being one of them... Haha I know it's the opposite of anarchy, but if the state can in anyway regulate and subsaquently protect (in this case women) against the ills of a job (say contracting HIV) they should. Yes, prostitution is bad. Yes, there should be other opportunities for women. But the government shouldn't just turn a blind eye to something that is going to happen regardless of its legality. They need to do the best they can to protect and serve all of their citizens. Brazil does this, even for its prostitutes... (ahh back to my good ol' socialist roots...) Recently a Brazillian Sociologist did an ethnograpic study on prostitution. I saw it in the book store... (Along with Howard Becker's "Talking about Society" to bad I can't read portugese... ahhh!)

**the logic works: if you regulate prostitution you can in theory help keep it safer/more controled. Same way the pornographic film industry is kept "safe".

speaking of turning down the West- The way Brazillians love soccer is unreal. And when I say they love soccer, I'm not talking English Premire Leauge, or some other huge western mega leauge (where many of Brazil's "soccer stars"play-- The ones WE all know and love/hate... Kaka, Ronldino etc.) I'm talking about their league. I got a chance to go to one of the games, and nothing- I mean nothing said I don't give a shit about your money than the way these people (you people?!) cared about their teams and their leauge.

Although the teams actually rack of a large amount of debt and really don't make much money, the dedication to supporting the home team(s) and talent is a beautifully and culturally relevant way of remind me (and/or the rest of the world) that they can keep their wealth-- We have our own culture. The problem is, the rest of the world won't pay attention... unless of course that attention has the potential to make them some money... (i.e. a good Brazillian footballer...)

Speaking of Brazillian Footballers... They come in all different shapes, sizes, and shades. Post racial social life does exist in Brazil. It's nothing short of amazing. I am more Brazillian in Brazil than I was African in Africa (I know, this is an ecological fallacy... The units of analysis I'm comparing are not equal, it is a country and a continent... I've read my share Durkheim... and about to read a lot more... but you get the picture...)

The problem is I don't speak Portugese (very well yet...I don't even speak english yet... shit you see i can't spell without an english spell check...) but still I'm always addressed in the nasely lanuage. It's really actually kind of cool... Although Brazillians of Afro-descent are still behind the curve from their european friends, my interactions have seen few predjustists. This coupled with the anecdotal accounts of other people paints a positive picture. However, people are rather frank when they say that the inequality still exists along economic lines. So if you have no money, regardless of your skin color, you're really going nowhere... It's interesting, especially as American shifts to a post racial social scene... (or I think it is... give it 25 years...)

So ethnicity and race are cool... additionally I've been told (but haven't really seen first hand) that culture in Brazil (I'm thinking lanuage/accent/style of dress etc.) relates to region of the country- as opposed to ethnic group... (haha so student leauge for Black culture wouldn't make any sense here... good thing I left that shirt at home...) This is kinda cool, because it can play a part in disproving the conservative claims that in "socialist"societies everyone would look and act the same... The varaition will always exist. Here it is regional, not ethnic/racial. (But in the United States it is both regional and ethnic... which makes this really complex at time... Because being black from the south is different than being black from the north...)

So for all this talk about race Brazil is still not where I wish it was when it comes to gender equality. Yea my knowledge is pretty situated relative to a close friends outlook, but when (she) people have to worry and assume the worse about their lives as single/divorced women I tend to stay concerned. Yes, I can't really say exactly what it is-- Maybe the machismo culture? I have a few interesting anecdotal stories about such-- but there is no saying for sure... Maybe it is just her agency, but no matter how smart and pretty you might be it seems you have few options outside of marriage... But there are a ton of women in politics... ahh the confliction... I'm not as well read/prepared on the politics of the region as I was say Africa. I'm kinda here out of the blue...

Well, to conclude:

Social life is pretty rad.

It was one of the most expensive clubs in rio.

The club system is interesting.

Balie Funky vist in route [friday]...

(slums + party = my sociological dream)

The waves are nice.

Surfing in the winter is a yes.

This is the coldest part of the year. Its 22 degrees... celcius...

They all have of jackets... haha I'm practically naked.

The people are too.

"You can drink and piss in the streets at night." A pretty cool Brazilian kid* (my age...) told me... "these were the advantages of the third world..." haha is he right?

I mean he pushes a sector9... and was a lefty...

Oh yea, and I learned a little about favela life and culture.

Including an interesting bit about kites. Yea, they love kites here...

kids use kites to signal for the police... before advaning to "other" jobs

As we were driving from the airport on day one we passed through Cidudad de Deus.

I was told that the slum/drug wars in the favela have died down over the last 5 years, but at one point in time people were being shot in their cars from the favela. I haven't gone in yet, but that will come with time...

The museum was also a great experience.

And if we must keep it capitalistic... The natural resource based socialism seemed to work here too... You have to have a market for it to work... you can always make one... They did it in Ethopia*... it worked their too... I'm still more for a more community oriented system, but no one wants to hear that anymore... They call us dreamers... which is frusturating...

*and Botswana

And the political system is also pretty interesting... Four Major Parties ... mandated voting... A sucuessful syndicate (labor/worker) party... a growing Green (environmental) party...

gosh...

I'm having trouble keeping it all in my head... Ces't la vie.

The only thing you did wrong was let me come to a non-spanish speaking South American coutry... Now I'm gona learn Portuguese...

instead of spanish

hotep.

p.s. I probably wont make it... but I have soooo much I want to talk about... chew some coca for me.

p.p.s yea, it's mostly in portugues... and the post is a bit rough... sry, I'm too busy living...

2010-07-20T15:41:00.003-05:00

The summer adventure rolls on... I'll stop when I die.

I think I should let them convince me...

...Just gotta ask in the right place...

I wonder what that kid is doing right now... probably not blogging...

I'll be sure to ask in my best Portuguese...

Being a little tanner (see: darker) than usual (thanks to 7 months of summer!) I can't wait to test out the "post-racial" social system I heard Eduardo Bonilla-Silva go on about...

I mean at least they admit/are trying to make it/draw attention to the fact that it's a socio-economic class thing...

next one's from your South America.

I'm sure the PSDB won't mind...

Hotep.

P.S. Inception was pretty rad.

2010-07-16T23:55:00.000-05:00

I needed that. [plural]

Now that I'm "sin carro" expect a lot more bicycle stories.

So I really haven't raved enough about the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

I've had several adventures on the trail to this point- but it also has some "secrets" I haven't shared... until now...

The swamp rabbit trail can be a wonderful source of free, local, organic produce.

I love my job. I can ride it everyday Too bad it ends tomorrow!

I'll share one...

There are several blackberry bushes between the 28.5 th mile marker and the 29th marker (if you're going from downtown towards outward bound)

You really don't have to be a botanist to see these bushes from your bike, even if you are going pretty fast...

You'll notice the red, unripe blackberries sharing a branch with the black, sweet and delicious blackberries. Be careful when picking them, the bushes are prickly. After you pick just wash, eat and enjoy. Or if you're cool you have a friend who knows how to make blackberry granola bar cookie type things... Yea, I'm cool. She's also my boss, a friend and a rising adult :)

So next time you're riding the trail (or the first time) stop and pick some... go ahead and pick them all if you can... there are so many!! You'll eventually get tired of pick them and you'll grow tired of being pricked by the bushes...

These are blackberries/non-ripe blackberries.

@28.5th mile. Yum.

at this point you should pause to think...

be careful, thinking can be dangerous.

Think about the people in other countries (and some who work migrant labor jobs in this country) who, thanks to certain neo-liberal trade agreements (NAFTA, FTAA etc.) pick... every day... all day... for next to nothing just so us "privileged/enlightened westerners" can eat fruit for cheap and year round... It also contributes to our fetishism of commodities... Gosh, where are we going? Think slow... slow foods.

They get pricked for 14 hours a day... I can hardly take 10 minutes of it...

As fair trade as you can get... Almost anarchist* Black Berries!

I will admit: these berries are smaller than the GM blackberries you got from walmart last weekend. This is how nature makes them...

I also met two wonderful canadian women on the trail that day.

At one point in our brief bike riding conversation I said: "Yes Ma'ma" and she said "Not to be rude, but fuck you. Don't call me ma'ma." and I laughed... haha I usually never use hierarchical language... she called me out on it... Thanks stranger, I needed that.

There is also a super rad pear tree on the trail... I'll disclose the location later... or you should ride a bike and find it yourself. Yes, you. I'm on the last of my endless numbered days...

*There was no government involved in this transaction-- unless you count the trail, which is state owned "public property"... Paid for by our tax money... so I guess they're socialist black berries... Either way they're delicious, and better (for everyone) than the capitalist off brand**...

Hotep.

p.s. This is rad. "Just another day man..."

p.p.s. I think they're growing pains.

2010-07-10T00:46:00.002-05:00

See ya friend... so many memories...

This shit is wild.

If you're white and a police officer you can get away with anything... including shooting handcuffed black kids. Let freedom mother fucking ring, right? And for all the class based talking I do, this reminds me why race is STILL an issue... At least it got people protesting...

Before I get too angry:

I just gave up my car.

This was really a sad day. I worked my black ass off for this car in high school. She was my love. She was always there (started) when I needed her. My favorite trip would have been the one we made to DC/Norfolk senior year of high school... Oh Hedonistic Me... Yea, but all that car stuff is gone/over for a while...

as of now though, i'm in a horribly misrepresentative demographic category of

"Vegetarian Bicycle Commuter"

We all become what we most dislike...

but still it's the social representation, not the activities that I hate...

(I mean for a while I was a "Black College Football Player Sociology Major..." which also doesn't really add up to me...)

I guess the moral of the story, don't judge a book by it's cover

(you know i greater than three clichés)

You probably shouldn't judge books at all.

you should read them.

then write them.

So anyway, I did the unimangable and picked up that Cam'Ron record... yea its that old stuff... brings me back (haha to that same car trip!) but still... IDK, it's garbage... sry fam- I can't even find one I like... [pluraLism]

Oh yea on a totally unrelated note LeBron and Wade will never make it work.

Jordan didn't need it.

This is too rad.

Go Lance.

I'm cheering for ya- even if you do dope.

Hotep.

2010-07-06T18:52:00.000-05:00

kinda frustrated... Interaction -> Amplification.

So, I haven't really updated on my summer adventure.

I'm gona make this short:

Bridges is awesome.

We went to The Children's Museum, it was super.

It was great seeing kids (teenagers) being kids.

TCM (acronym) has a space flight simulator that takes me back to that day... Yea I was the kid who wanted to be an astronaute... it didn't quite work out... oh well. I'm still dreaming.

BUT...

We also went to the BMW factory...I haven't been in my Marx-Engles reader lately but you could definitely see the alienation... The good things is the automated robots presumably don't feel alienation... so once thre already startling amount of robots wipes out the need for any human labor I guess I won't have to be practice-oriented marxist (which is pretty much a anarch-syndicist...) anymore...

There was also a workshop on being "proper"... I have a lot of problems with this... considering the people who actually eat and talk like that can't change a tire, roll a blunt, fix a computer, paint a wall etc... I guess it's a matter or relative cultural capital... And it is the vary basis of micro level interaction inequality which builds into macro level social inequality which is what me and you have been against since I knew you... I just felt like I was on the wrong team... I'm still confused [I'm very very plural right now. Very]

btw, I have a new hero... I want to follow in his footsteps... from the sociological side of course... And i know it won't be easy, but I can't give up now...

And never has that voice been clearer:

You take care of the labor.

I'll watch the childrenz.

I was reading Social Forces (yea I'm a loser) and saw that recent research claims that 30-60 percent of most peoples personal networks change over a year. This makes me feel better about not having several "long term"/"life long" friends...

Of my personal network I'd guess a solid chunk is family... so my variation will be relative to geographic location (as opposed to social location)...

BUT

I'm still worried I'll have no friends. Or at least friends like I have had here... The research says I'll be fine... I just don't know where I'm going... Nothing like feeling lost...

I'm still afraid to go all in with my faith... It's let me down before, but that doesn't mean its wrong...[plural.]

I'll always be here...

hotep.

2010-07-05T13:46:00.000-05:00

nope, wasn't ready for all that... [reset?]

It's not fun when you get it...

It's just sad.

Hotep

2010-07-01T11:51:00.003-05:00

My hearts broken for USA soccer You guys are my heros :(

I've been reading a book called "The Other Wes Moore" which right now seems the opposite of sociological... Yes they have the same names, yes they grew up in the same city... but one of the "Wes's" parents had a college education and were firmly established in the rising black middle class... The other, well wasn't (and this is only one example...) ... you don't need a PhD in Sociology to know the difference that might make...

They want me (us) to think this is all about individual choice and staunch agency... I think they're wrong... And even worse, they want me to tell the kids that too... oh what to do...

so I'm stuck:

Which is better? An empowering fable, or an inconvenient truth?

I mean not to underestimate agency, but still these macro level social structures are the product of a lot of collective agent level actions... and sometimes those currents of least resistance...

After working through it, I guess telling people what they need to hear in order to succeed is okay... despite the reality...

So the new Roots and Tokyo Police Club albums are legit. Dead Prez? Not so much...

The Roots album is smooth, weighs heavy and really captures the vibe of the last 2 projects.

Tokyo Police Club captures the essence of the current move in post-punk music. +1 Electricity and diversity. This is what I think Robots Win was going for... they just don't do it as well...

So... if you've ever heard christian rap and thought it was corny... you should try activist/revolutionary rap... it's pretty bad... i.e. Dead Prez's new mix tape... haha I guess it'll all ways be bigger than hip-hop...

And plus, they show no love to Biko. Hate me if you will, but we need to pause the race argument and start to think class and gender more... yea i mean it too.

cool kids tackle box: still not sure... Freak City is rad though.

Art should be the transition.

I think these are super duper.

Exhibit A and Exhibit B are the reasons I would rather not be called a 'hipster'.

So what if I like bikes, fashion, bloging and read.

They think anarchism looks like this.

I think it looks like this.

I want my vision to be their vision.

Selfish I know, but what's new?

Direct action doesn't mean the senseless destruction of private property... They just don't get it... We should organize a union, go on strike and make it ourselves... Thanks to a wonderful friend I now have the resources to get it done. Thanks Pal.

Hotep.

p.s. I worked about 4 years for that pat on the back and those words of affirmation, I'm ready for a break- psyche :) [and she's still roll'n]

2010-06-26T09:06:00.000-05:00

My bed is about 4 feet off the ground. I have to run and jump to get in. I think of you. :)

(no links = no embarrassment... even though you called me a hipster.)

So I held an impromptu poetry reading in my room.

I decided to scan a few entries from a daily journal and composition notebook my 10th grade teacher made me keep. (Don't worry, I was scanning NSF GRFP's too... we need to win...)

I'm glad she did.

While this might not mean anything to you, I was happy to see some growth in some areas between 16 year old me and 22 year old me... There are also, however, some areas in which I didn't grown, not one bit... haha if anything I regressed...

Working with high school kids all summer keeps my mind in my high school days. And for the first time ever I'm starting to feel the distance between my experience and theirs... It's not too far, but it is definitely there. Don't get me wrong, I love these kids, and working with them... but it might be time for something new...

Anyway:

All my fellow councilors/friends/colleagues have laughed openly at what I shared.

I invite you to do the same...

I don't mind.

Just be aware you were 16 once too. And I hope things were better because despite the outwardly "bright future"- I can remember when the words I wrote were 100% real and honest. And chances are since social life is patterned, these problems are real for some kid somewhere.

So you know, I blurred out any identifying factors. There are some "code" names and other identifiers, but I'm sure no one can figure these out... haha but I've been wrong before...

At this point you should probably cue up some music. I'd suggest Mono, Explosions in the Sky or perhaps M83. If you can read with lyrics: The Roots new album (How I Got Over) is/can be fitting.

dear god 2.0 is 10 deep. And it has Joanna Newsom - she's way awesome.

After baaahing about music, I think this is a good place to start, light, simple...

"Write about the best concert you have ever attended"

Because of limited financial resources... uhh and transportation access (go PT!) I didn't go to concerts when I was 16. I do about a show a month now. Mostly small local and touring acts, but quality music. I love it. A saturday or so ago I went to a Robots Win concert. It was aright. The lead singer was cool-- we talked bikes for a few minutes after the show... but anyway, I digress...

Well, here is the generic "where will you be 5 years from now..." journal entry:

As you can see, I wasn't always on this path [you'll understand the pluralism later.] I guess I "lucked out" with scholarships (glad rich old men like football!) and fellowships (glad rich old men symbolically value athletics and academics!). The most frustrating part is I know kids who didn't get scholarships... Most of them are back (1 MORE!), A few of them are on their way (as 2nd lieutenant) ... Only one didn't make it... RIP...

Now a bit deeper. "My first Love" composition note book entry:

Well, first you can see I wasn't always a straight A student. (I guess I never was...) And I could never spell. (I still suck at spelling... haha) in addition I haven't matured romantically at all. So if any of these entries are still any bit accurate, it is this one... Haha, you also got/get a taste of my teenaged poetry. Oh, oh it gets better... just wait. But yea, defensive and pretentious. The two best descriptors for me and my romances. Since 16.

They're cool

Here is my "2 days left to live" journal entry:

I've changed a bit here... I think... I'll know on those last 2 days... Which could be today...

Spiritually, I wasn't always where I am now... Until recently I've been uptight about my spirituality/religion, especially when it was questioned/challenged, but after reading this I realized, once again, that only your God can judge me... I've come a long way-- who knows where this will take me... but that's not up to you, or me.

here is my personal journal/poetry book entry:

Kinda ties with the 2 days left/spiritual growth.

I'm not ashamed to say my life was football, videogames and girls. After "trimming the fat" things have gotten much better. All three still exist in my life to varying degrees (and always will...) but at much 'healthier' levels. I obviously wrote this when I was super frustrated. (That's how I use to blog too...) I'm surprised I wrote about "looking" for Jesus... cause those thoughts were few and far between... I was hoping for a miracle. But really what I got was just a phone call... almost literally... [again pluralism]

Well here is a chance to laugh openly at teenaged me.

just laugh at me damn it

Yea, I was bad. But really just in this note book-- I mean I wasn't this dramatic socially.

The emo-ness continues:

I think I was writing about religion, I can't really remember. I just know in high school I had a lot of chances to make both good and bad choices. I consciously made every bad choice I could get away with... And actually got away with pretty much all of them (a few close calls... he remembers...) But, I knew I wanted to be "good" even if I didn't know what that meant...

So to change the pace from sad/broken/Taking Back Sunday me to a more introspective look at how I "thought" socially I'll go to a simple "statement/poem" type thing I wrote way back when...

Considering I'm trying to become a sociologist, I can't believe I ever said or thought this... I was probably just trying to write what I thought I was spouse to say or think at the time... I mean to a degree I still agree any research method isn't going to capture the entire human experience... but still I was 16, and I had no idea who Arlie Hochschild was... Glad I know now. :)

So every teenaged loser goes through their manifesto stage.

Here was mine.

I still don't know wtf i meant by "express/expression"

"You are the revolution" haha I was helpless. But an early glimpse at symbolic interaction?

IDK... I'll just say I was a kid... still me though. Always changing.

So this is a paper I wrote on discrimination.

When I was sharing this with a friend she asked why I chose two polar opposite topics.

I honestly think I was trying to avoid talking about race, and wanted to show how inequality/discrimination can exist across a vast spectrum and effects everyones life. I don't think I could say it like that then, but I think that's what I meant.

Haha yup, still wasn't a straight A student... Thats why I'm sure some people are surprised I'm trying to get a doctorate in anything... I also never would have guessed it would be a few short years before I was playing with AIDS orphans... Oh Ces't La Vie.

credits. Good guy, Good blog. Good photo.

So really thats about it...

I have one more entry from my 10th grade journal.

I really wish he would read this one...

I kinda messed things up, i hope time will mend.

But I might be out of luck... Still for all the middle child bitching I do, I didn't always thing that way... and here's my proof.

I love my position in the family hierarchy.

It lets me be the dorky dork that I am.

It gives me a chance to shine as an example for my little sister and brother

While chasing the high bar set by my older brother. I'd have it no other way.

It might not be on all of us, but it's in all of us.

Hotep.

p.s. july 4 can't get here soon enough.

p.p.s. it will be a triple gin and tonic.

2010-06-23T00:05:00.000-05:00

love and drugs usually mix differently... i'm not a fan.

I was riding my bike and saw this:

I smiled.

Then I kept riding.

then turned around a mile later and rode back for the picture.

Although my expectations are more along the lines of "take only what you need (from it)" this is a pleasant step in the right direction. I'll keep chasing my dreams... [well...] Any help you can offer along the way would be wonderful. "I can't do it by my self." [it took a lot to admit that.]

Hotep.

p.s. I like your beard. (psyche.)

2010-06-17T01:29:00.009-05:00

"It was your hair that did it..." - Bloc Party.

So despite the drama, things are actually looking pretty good:

I actually met Esperanza Spalding at Capital Jazz Fest...

The conversation with her and her guitarist was brief... and mostly revolved around my genuine affinity for a friend of mine in an weak attempt to exemplify my caring and compassionate side in an attempt to impress her... I probably should have talked about jazz...

you know, I haven't tried to "impress" anyone recently... And I have a history of failure when I intentionally try to do anything to make someone think more (or less) of me... haha so I should just stick to my guns... or practice more... haha I'll just stick to selfish self oriented me...

Yea she probably doesn't remember me... but at least I can say I tried... I asked her to do something ridiculous and was dressed rather esoterically (for the atmosphere...) so maybe if I see her again she'll reme... nevermind. Time to give up... [thats not the right attitude]

Either way, I really value friendship like ours over any 'pseudo' celebrity...

If anything my this has helped me recognize that "ordinary" people (like this one girl I met in passing while riding my bicycle) are the people who are (eventually) my hero's.

If I could complain about anything right now it is the lack of creative people in my life. Well, lack is the wrong word, I'll say reduction. I use to be some what surrounded by a group of creative, individual, free/radical thinkers who did it their own way because of a dilligaf attitude towards normative behavior.

So how do I combat this lack of creativity?

The internet.

[So I surf...]

I got pretty stoked when I saw this video from the bicycle portraits...

Talk about ph oto sociology...

While my research will probably be a culmination of numbers, models and words, it is important to value other ways of knowing/sharing...

And just because my undergraduate professor*(s) didn't quite value my ways of taking notes, I'm gona try to stay true to the idea that there can exist multiple ways of knowing, sharing and understanding...

*I'm willing to bet she was the only reason I didn't get an F on those travel notes... She's always had my back... But a 70 might as well be an F... And while this grade had no bearing on my GPA, Class Standing, Graduate Status or Graduate school admission, I was a bit frustrated when a group of well meaning faculty takes us half way around the world and ask us to open our eyes the alternatives (this is my alternative... not theirs...) to the economic system(s) that cause such disgusting inequality, hurt and poor health outcomes, then nearly flunk me when my notes are "different" than the systems expectations... I guess I should be working towards upholding the status quo... And we know what that does... And for the record, I made A's on all the tests... I don't study with friends, nor do I ask to 'copy' other peoples notes... And yes, I could have constructed my notes into an "analytic research paper"... You should have asked... Sure there were "gaps" in my notes... but if i knew I should have been transcribing every word I would have brought my voice recorder...

aright, I'm done ranting... Check this video though... rad.

Although I really like working with these kids and doing these camps I'm starting to miss my friend(s)... the ones who taught me how to live... Pain --> Piety. And it isn't that the "Lion/St. Bernard" types I'm around are not wonderful people, they just play by the rules more than I care for. I'll blame Sherryl Kleinman... The root of the problem(s) is in the rules... And I've been told those can be changed through interaction... maybe i was lied to...

Without sounding crazy, which is impossible at this point, my motivation for doing this could be easily be attributed to years worth of socialization and experiences, both shared and individual, directly related to my life as a college educated black male in a post industrial 1st world country... but the idea of fate, faith and God is just more fun... So what if it doesn't add up... Neither does math and science when you analyze it sociologically... You might not believe me... but one time in 1981 (years before I was born) she was talking about objectivism (not quite Ayn Rand's brand, but close...) in the science(s)/laboratory and said

"that modles of success which do not require the basic assumptions of objectivism are both thinkable and plausible, and have been proposed within the sciences themselves. Psychiatrists, for example, have often used behavioral therapy to successfully treat both major and minor psychic disorders for which they claim not to have nor to need any descriptively adequate explanation. A better illustration, perhaps, is the mouse that runs from the cat. Must we assume that the mouse runs because it has in its mind a correct representation of the natural enmity inherent in the cat? Or is it not more plausible to say that any species which fails to run from its natural enemies will cease to exist, which leaves us only with those that did run? Like the progress of evolution itself, the progress of sciences can be linked to mechanisms which do not assume that knowledge mimics nature..."

Either way, I'm finding out through this wonderful experience called life that "there is no short cut to a dream." I guess this goes for destroying social inequality... And if her words weren't enough... the Book of Eli worked well too... haha maybe I should just suck it up and read the bible more...

I love it. It only strengthens.

Speaking of doubt:

Kele... I don't like it... but I have a history of "talking shit about [a] pretty sunset(s)", especially sunsets I grow to like. [like that n+1 time]

I need a pair.

and while I'm at it... You should and will be held accountable.

I'm starting to stream again... feels good.

Hotep.

p.s. I've been reading some ollllld stuff I wrote (high school journal &, poetry books) and have been asked to share... so get ready for a laugh... I've also realized I haven't grown up any. None, Zilch, Zero, Nada. Period.

p.p.s. Things feel exactly the same but so different... it's probably the room... or the music...

p.p.p.s. miss every single one of you times 12. [RR/OBM/2EZ/a5th etc. etc.]

2010-06-01T01:10:00.001-05:00

I was totally bluffing... then my mom called me out. FML.

I'm about to start my giant summer adventure.

I like giants. I also like adventures. But, I'm really not huge on summer...

so to get around this I'm gona go to Brazil for a bit.

It's winter there... I'm stoked.

My adventure is really several concurrent adventures rolled into one big'ol adventure... starting this week in the DMV... A lot of good company... both family and friends...

So my summer setlist look's something like this:

DMV/Baltimore.

Working Camp(s). <-- This is actually an infogram. (Camp duration in weeks measured by characters.)

Brazil. (+/- Bolivia)

Lollapalooza.

Madison?!

Haha, the warm-up/opening acts (last few weeks) have been pretty fun... so I think this will be a good show! I've brought back the "what I'm doing" flickr feed just cause i thought it'd be fun and appropriate for the forth coming adventure... Yea it's TMI... but my blog is about 95% for me (to vent, remember, document, write, think, share, love etc.) and about 5% umm for other people to read...

Speaking of set lists... When the Flobots came to town I was surprised and tickled by the irony of them playing at a venue called the Handlebar

... I'm easily amused...

The concert was pretty rad. You know I'm a sucker for movement music... And when the concert starts with the lead singer Jonny 5 dogging Arizona and SB1070 then taking off his hoody to reveal a "No Papers" t-shirt... a sign of solidarity*... You know I was grinning... Now the question is how to get the kids who go to the show... to go to the protest... seriously...

*(if you get this one, you're good... really good...)

But anyway... what really got me was Mackenzie Roberts... She's my new musical crush and she's probably even more out of my league than Esperanza and Elsa... Either way anyone who can play a punked out viola solo is gonna be a winner in my book... And I'm only speculating, but I figure she hates the wage-labor exploitation as much as I do...

Yea...she's great...

Mackenzie is nothing but cute when she does those little mannerism that viola/violinists do when their heads, neck and shoulders get stiff, but their lower body continues to move sharply to the music as they pull the bow quickly back and forth over the strings [example]... i'm hopeless... :)

Anywho... here are some pictures from the show... the Basist is pretty rad too... so was the guitarist... And Ko-S (the open act) didn't disappoint. All of this on the night i found out a good friend of mine was getting married... haha I'm glad I got to buy you a drink :)

... it wasn't even that crowded...

This guy... almost as rad as Watt.

And here's Ko-S... he's not too bad...

[cadence]

Oh yea, I'm digging Rehacer and False's new stuff...

Oh yea, the new Arcade Fire songs are dope.

Oh yea, We On. But Kanye, it's garbage...

[cadence]

She was like the intro to 'Do the Right Thing'

and I was like "yea..."

she might not ever understand...

[cadence]

What's the difference between these two neighborhoods?

One's "poor"...

We're now privatizing the hood...

got a lotta work fam... a lot of work...

No sleep til... (and we ain't talk'n brooklyn kids.)

The experts say I have 3 years... i say 1.5 :)

[mash]

Pick on someone your own size...

[mash]

And Remember on this Memorial Day Weekend:

Freedom isn't free.

And war isn't either...

but, justice is on sale.

and you know im frugal.

Hotep.

p.s. I think you're cooler than qualitative comparative analysis...

And for someone who's critical of sociology I think she's really cool too...

no model would have predicted that... (wait-what?!)

2010-05-23T23:58:00.006-05:00

I've really let myself go... really...

I've been lazy with my culture/art blogging.

We all know I'm a cultural idiot...

So here's what's going on in my "Lost free" environment.

I'll spit a few words on each... then i gotta go... uhh do nothing :)

Babies

Sucked. Dialogue?!

Iron Man 2

see: Babies

Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind

Japanese Post-Rock. Straight in at 101. (pluralism.)

Broken Bells - Self Titled

Amazing. This one will stick. Check it.

Pac Div - Don't Mention It

A decent mix tape... won't save the summer, but something to ride to...

Nas and Damian Marley - Distant Relatives

Humm, a bit more Nas would have been nice... but we'll always have Illmatic...

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Vintage americana rock music, yes. My taste, no.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way

Albums dope and on time... as predicted... (pluralism.)

hotep.

p.s. so so so cyclical you'd think I'd do better... it's high school all over... (realism.)

2010-05-18T16:28:00.006-05:00

Now Hold on Youngster...

For a kid who hates Toms shoes...

I sure have a lot of them...

consider this post about you...

Hotep.

p.s.

i'm still kinda hurt because you didn't want the party shirt

and though we're an awkward mixture

i still really like all of our pictures

but i'll be okay

because slow cooking is fun

like sharing cloths that aren't for everyone.

i'm glad we held hands and worked as a team

to get over the hump that real life brings...

and in the bigger picture this might just be a bump.

but I'm glad sal-pal, you and I decided to jump...

thanks :)

2010-05-07T01:22:00.004-05:00

sometimes it's easier to just be a stranger...

'Don't ever tell anybody anything.
If you do, you start missing everybody.'

hotep.

2010-05-04T10:57:00.004-05:00

So I had a pretty rad Vuvox presentation...

damn file restrictions...

So, I kinda gave up... but thats okay... here's what i got.

I stole this idea from my mentor, friend and brilliant/selfless sociologist.

I'm sure he doesn't mind...

60 Seconds does no justice, but here it is:

The 60 Second Sociologist

hotep.

2010-05-01T13:39:00.005-05:00

If this is what the rest of my life will look like. I'm happy.

BTW, sucks it rained on the Socialist Picnic...

I just went to an immigration reform rally in Charlotte, NC... (haha they don't believe in immigration, let alone reform in South Carolina)

It was interesting and without a doubt thought provoking.

Oh yea, I had some fun too...

I pretended I was in the Bang-Bang Club (Camera+Voice Recorder). Pretending to be a journalist actually ended me up in the press section... which lead to some interesting photographs...

I got some interesting individual stories. I'm hesitant to call this sociology, because it isn't... this is just 'journalism' (bad journalism at that).

I do, however, still want to thrown some soc. concepts and theories around my experience...

The problem is I have all this "qualitative data" and have no idea how to present it on this blog. I mean sociologist have a way of doing it that isn't cool (no pictures, no audio... lots of big stupid words...) but I'm gonna "make it new"... soooo, in the time being (not species being) read up on some theoretical concepts that will probably make its way into my 'analysis':

Collective Efficacy

Organic Solidarity

Social Learning Theory

Assimilation

Class Conflict/Consciousness

Status Shields (Hoekshield not Bourdieu... my bad)

Contact Theory

Oh yea, you can peep the (analog) pictures here.

hotep.

2010-04-27T08:07:00.002-05:00

punk isn't dead... but Reagan is...

I'm gona try to do this in 'one take'

As an aspiring sociologist who, I believe, has been pretty trained up on qualitative research methods (especially the age old ethnographic approach... a participant observation if you would) I've really let my blog down in describing events and shows I've attended. I really just think it is a product of my laziness... but I might as well refine this skill if I intend to use it for the rest of my life...

could my life get any dorkier? only if i married a geologist...

So, I didn't take field notes... I barely remember one concert... but here goes nothing... Three shows (and one conference...) 7 days.

Steve Aoki.

Steve Aoki is an electro DJ from god knows where. He plays crazy techno shit. It's great dancing music. And I'd be lying if I said I was anything short of drunk for the entire show. None the less, here comes my experience:

We got to the venue early. Early is really an understatement. No show ever starts "on time", well at least the main act never goes on until much much later than the advertised start time. Steve was about 9 hours off... just kidding, more like 3 and a half. After the 'warm up' DJ's played their rather easily forgotten set Aoki took the stage. Duh, of course he had a mac book. The crowd was pretty amped, surprisingly diverse and ready for a killer set. At this point everything might as well have gone black for me. As the music pounded my ears out (they rang for days) I could only think of a Jay-Z song which perhaps is the exact opposite of my current situation... The set lasted about 2 and a half hours, and included a brief jump into some high end punked out metal type shit... It made me smile... but still in a stupor I rocked and nodded to the music... well... to say I was catching my vibe off the music would be misleading. I was just flowing with the crowd honestly... and who knows what they were doing... (but that's what sociologists are for...) Before the show ended some of my better friends slid out (or perhaps it was right after Aoki's set... i'll never remember, I'll never know...) I decided to sit at the back and just observe... The music was hitting. Hard. Aoki's set was over... and he came walking out of the VIP/Bathroom direction (I'll assume VIP).

[pulp fiction]

About a week ago I saw Steve Aoki in the Johannesburg Airport on my way back from Africa. He was playing a show in Cape Town and I was sure there was no way he would remember me, but I thought I'd give it a try:

"Nice set dude, I saw you in the Jo'Burg airport about a week ago"

I spoke directly into his ear. He pounded my fist back and said something I never heard. I smiled and let him go... There was nothing further to do here... Eventually a friend summoned me and we returned to the car... I don't remember much else, except waking up in a frat house on a friends couch... ears ringing... no hang over though... (i never hang over)...then letting myself out and driving home...

on the way home i read over txt messages (for better or for worse) and sang taking back sunday songs as loud as I could with the windows (and sunroof) open while steering with my knees on my 1997 VW Jetta I've named "Neda" after a dear friend.... It was a good night...

At this point I can only think of the corny and horrible quote "to the nights we'll never remember with the friends we'll never forget..." yea that was April 16th/17th... I'll do better... we'll all float on

Conference:

So, I went to a conference and gave a paper. The president (of the ASA's) was listening... She must have not know I was an undergrad... so I guess I won... still that was a rush... either way, gotta keep fighting...

The paper was a Weberian analysis of government spending and how it mitigates the effects of disasters. My spin? Look at it in a Pre-disaster situation... Want a copy of the paper? Let me know. I'll probably assume you're joking/lying if you ask... Then I'll probably ask you out...

Lupe Fiasco

Lupe is the hope of hiphop... a lyrical genius from the westside (stand up) of Chicago Lue's cerebral flow is over my head 9/10 times... so usually it takes 9/10 listens to get a bead on all his wordplay. I love him... or loved him...

So, the Lupe concert was a trip: Of course we were late... (missed most of B.O.B.'s set... but still i'm not feeling that cat... shits wack fam.) Security was unnecessarily tight... I mean I've gotten on airplanes with less of a search... and the crowd was your typical college conscious rapper crowd: There were the 'nerdy' smart kids... who like lupe for his word play and social commentary... there were the white kids who liked lupe for much of the same nerdy kid reasons, but still tried to be 'black'... there were the black kids who are trying to be new school/ socially conscious (in their sweat shop cloths and shoes and elementary knowledge of social life...) finally there were your older (both white and black) fans who probably secretly hoped no one they knew was there...)

This show sent me for a bit of a roller coaster. On the one hand, I love lu-- on the other hand, I don't really like the direction he's taking his music... I mean, did I see him slam dancing on stage? yea... did he have some overly punk rock shit going on? yea... Do I like punk music? yea... but do I want to hear it from Lupe Fiasco: NO!

I don't know... i mean I guess he is an "artist" but really let the punks rockers do punk rock, and the punk rappers do punk rap... I'm saying... I just wanted lupe volume 1...

Either way, the show wasn't half bad... I just don't like his new direction... But still, there is something about watching a crowd full of people (including a grown man) rap ever word to "Hip Hop Saved My Life" because it saved mine too... Solidarity... it's beautiful.

Frightened Rabbit

(okay... so these have gotten consistently shorter... and shorter)

Frightened Rabbit is the Scottish band from Scotland. How's that. They play some pretty rad music, they call it the blues... I call it... well awesome...

So, of course I get to this show on time... the opening acts were aright... the drummer from Bad Veins is awesome... He makes me proud.

The second set was useless. I spent most of the time texting a friend... haha and trying to ignore the girl who was all in my phone... Really, IDK how to describe Frightened Rabbit... in studio they sound pretty tame, but live... these guys are punk as fuck... the energy was palpable, and the (99% white) crowd was pretty live too... the girl who was in my phone (this means look at what i was doing on my phone)/standing next to me decided she wanted to be friends:

"aren't you stoked!?"(her)

"yea this is one of my favorite bands..."(me)

There is something about being the only black guy at the indie rock show... sure these kids want to know you, they want to be you're friend... but you really just love the music... more than the people... or at least enough to consciously put yourself in that situation...

Either way, I'm not mad at her... I just wasn't there to make friends... we sang a few lines of a few songs back and forth to each other, smiled and danced beside one another. I made it a point to leave before she could say anything to me "after the show"... (I can't even say she would have...) but either way I was trying to vibe the music, not a pretty girl.

The show itself was wonderful.

The Modern Lepard

Skip the Youth

The Lonliness and the Scream

Living in Color

Poke

(I'm convinced Scott hates playing Poked... either because he's played it a ton... or he really means every word he sings... I'm willing to bet it's a bit of both...)

This list goes on... it was great.

You could really see the energy in the songs that these guys played... especially the ones off the "new" album... (kids were talking in terms of '1st' and '2nd' album... Frightened Rabbit has a true first album... Sing the Greys... which everyone forgets, but I happen to adore... no songs were played from this album... which sucks because apparently in their last tour they played a few (The Greys and Square 9) from this album...

Either way, I'm glad to see these guys making it... Their last album has without question saved my life... at least once...

This show was as magical as I thought it would be. I'm glad.

So... some new music has come out... under my radar...

We Were Promised Jetpacks put out a new EP. It's pretty rad. Do These Four Walls and tempo it down 25 %... Now you have "The Last Place You'll Look". Solid Stuff.

MGMT's new album leaves me a bit lost... they sound like the Fiery Fernieces now... which is cool, but just like Lupe... I want MGMT... Either way I'm digging "congratulations" and "someone's missing" just chilllll.

So yea, I snuck in a Lupe Fiasco concert... but I also missed the Drake concert at my own school... (blame the conference)

I mean I'm not a huge Drake, but he did say what's real... that one time...

either way, I better go finish college...

hotep.

p.s. got a sweet video from a stand out guy. love.

2010-04-19T08:40:00.006-05:00

"I know there things in my life that I'ma let go starting tonight" - Dialated Peoples.

Things usually aren't good when you wake up at in a Frat House and you're not in a fraternity.

(don't worry, this story has a good ending.)

Giant (as in small) music review to follow.

MGMT new album ?!

Frightened Rabbit (old) new album.

Frightened Rabbit Concert!?

We Were Promised Jet Packs EP.

Steve Aoki - Live from Johannesburg Airport, then the Forum.

I should be faking it...

Two More Days.

Hotep.

2010-04-12T01:06:00.003-05:00

there really isn't anything left to do...

It would have to be a cross between

John Mayer and Tegan & Sara.

I talk too much. And somehow always figure out how to say exactly what I do not mean.

Ces't la Vie

It's times like this I choose to ignore the tautological fallacies

of (most) Avett Brothers songs...

Hotep

2010-04-11T14:03:00.004-05:00

and when they ask me if I did it. I'll smile and tell them the truth.

and if they ask me how i did it, i'll have to show them the picture.

I was pretty stoked to see this linked via Defgrip.

Seeing Patrick Bond's girlfriend (Anne Leonard) linked on a BMX/Design blog made me smile.

Why?

I've been pretty stuck lately just trying to figure out the answers to some questions/problems. To know that guys who probably drink, smoke and cuss more than I do are talking about these global consumption issues gives me hope. We can start the anti- "neo-liberal consumption based privatization" discussion here. (To say "start" isn't fair, but we can get it fired up!)

Every time I think I'm gona give up, something sparks...

(pluralism.)

And it might not make any sense, but I owe 95% of my mental sanity to about 5 stand out guys, a skateboard and a bicycle.

This brings a conclusion to my inevitable returned to broken, stream of consciousness blogging.

Hotep.

p.s. Patrick Bond said I should look at Zimbabwe... He has a point... And failed states control for a ton of variables pretty well...

2010-04-06T01:32:00.003-05:00

I need to start writing again... soon...

This is the kinda shit I come home to...

i'm just confused as to what I should do... (alas, the long awaited return of pluralism)

I'm somewhere between the Postal Service and LostProphets...

I'm smart enough to know you can't play the middle forever...

Hotep.

2010-04-01T04:31:00.003-05:00

technology is crazy eh?

My "African" Parent(s) are white.
My "American" Parents are black.

Zerubvel-ian nightmare I know...
I love it though.

hotep.

2010-03-29T04:36:00.004-05:00

"we all become what we most dislike..." - At-the Drive In.

I'm realizing I have the same chip on my shoulder as you do...
I'm determined to have the whole world against me.
Thanks for teaching me about jazz and chord progressions... you might be the only one who understands... Most of them just didn't get it...

(Note: this is just to be fair... haha but you always got 2 more (2+1=3) pats than everyone else...)

hotep.

p.s. I think the Botswanan government is reading my blog... Thanks Google Analytics...

2010-03-19T02:42:00.004-05:00

Mama Told me there'd be days like this...

Hey Mar-Bear, this ones for mom, go bring her to the computer.

Remember when you use to have to sign my bad tests in middle school? Now they're paying me to get my doctorate.
Crazy how that works huh?

Love You Mom.

Thanks, see ya soon.

Love you much.

Hotep.

2010-03-14T07:48:00.008-05:00

This ones for you Panda. Straight Up. I'm still holding my breath.

Simply put, today might have been that day.
the one where you realize you "made it"

Sandboarding.
Skateboarding. (a little)
Cooking.
Chilling.
Just Being.

no bikes though.

Either way it was dope. And really despite the con's the pro's have me set.

BTW. This might be the last post in a minute... bout to go into internet blank mode in Botswana, not that I've had a ton of internet here in Namibia. Swakopmund is a ghost town, but the waves are nice. Either way when I get back to the states it'll be all picture-ey and stuff.

Anyhow,

hotep.

p.s. This blog is now over 3 years old, hard to believe... And I thought about ending it the other night... cause I though I was off the sidewalk... then we talked.... I'll never be off the sidewalk.

p.p.s. happy birthday bro. Remember playing NBA Jam and how you taught me to be humble/real until (and even after) it's over?
I won't forget. I still/always will owe yo u. Thanks.

2010-03-08T02:29:00.012-05:00

Eraser Pact. Plain. Simple. Effective.

So the feminist in Namibia hate me. I'm okay with that.

(See: Second Wave)

They also work with Bicycle Empowerment Network. I'm also okay with that.
And if all goes to plan, I'll work with BEN too. So they're going to have to get over me.

First I guess I gotta get over myself. UPenn has been helpful :)

I really have no time to write or nothing to write about... here... (as in on my blog...) and it's a shame because I just put 12 more Namabian dollars ($7.8 ND = $1 USD) into this machine...

Homestays have been rad. I love feeling at home a million miles from home. Haha I cooked* all weekend for my "family" and my homestay mom was like "You're not like Namibian men... they expect to be served..." T hen she insisted her daughter in law of her deceased son "make eyes with me" so that I might "take her"... Then she called me a nigger. True story. I couldn't stop laughing.

*I have given in. I have been eating fish in the absence of tofu, but you can get it pretty fresh here.

haha she had no clue it was a term of offense. I guess Blumers 3 premises/symbolic interaction proves true again... (meanings arise through interaction, change in interaction, and have no set and inherent meaning.)

I don't know why I didn't think the rules applied in Africa...

Hotep.

p.s.

I got your message(s). (Even the one from Ghostwriter...They make me happy) :)

But Facebook fails. So no response. Sorry.

p.p.s.

there is/should be something for you on the underside of your desk drawer :)

(And it's not your hat, thats on my head.)

2010-03-01T10:32:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure anymore...

RIP (+/- 24h)

hotep.

p.s. peep game @ youcan'tfakeit for a superficial update.

2010-02-24T09:19:00.007-05:00

a friend in need is a friend indeed. :)

Surfing was fun. But even the waves in Durban didn't get me off... They were actually pretty weak...

Aright, so that was my stupid comment.

I’m about to blog for real, just like my friend(s).

So after being in Africa for a few weeks on this educational tour, we as a group have been learning about some pretty radical stuff. Well radical to us Americans. You know fighting for RIGHTS... like public health care and water and stuff... (The Anti-Privatization/neo-liberal globalization game is pretty ripe here…)

And now kids are ready to fight.

So I guess this is what I (we) want. People to care. But I’m still just a bit frustrated when you can’t even get kids to come out to your local universities Band-Aid, then suddenly they want to be a part of an Pro-Palestine sit-in on another continent…. I mean some people are really in this, and I respect them for that (and they know it)— it’s the other kids, who want to be activists on another continent/country, that are kind of getting to me. I guess if they bring that mindset and willingness to struggle home, I’ll be cool with it. But instead of being “student” activist, they’re just “sudden” activist. I guess you have to start someplace, just don’t end it as fast as you start it…(We'll see where this goes.)

And I’m saying all of this, but who knows if they're gona show… (someone needs to remind us about SBI theory… or teach it to us… not every one has to sit…)

Well, I can’t say too much more, I’m trying to stay happy/positive while figuring out how I’m gonna make change myself.

I guess I'll stick to bikes. (Critical Mass Friday!!)

This trip really hasn’t been too “eye opening”… if anything I’ve become less “radical” and a bit more “practical” (still super idealistic… but) and although we’ve been pretty contained in our experiences, we have gone to some pretty gully spots.

IDK what else to say, surfing was rad (although the waves sucked… and I sucked too, but it was still fun) and if I can find a bike I’ll be happy. Very happy. But at this point it looks like it’ll be a mountain bike. Gross. Still a ride is a ride. At least some friends are trying to help.

Regardless the Design Indaba (Expo) this weekend should be rad. (Because I know there will be typo.)

I kinda dig this place, yea?

Hotep.

P.S. Elmo- The Drum and Bass/Electro Scene in Cape Town - sick. I'll write one for you soon. (Venue review maybe? Believe me, it won't beat that night...) OBM from Africa. I miss you kids.

P.P.S. I'm waiting for some more answers... trying to broker a deal here... but I still get giddy when [prominent sociologists] E-mail me wanting to set up a skype date because I'm out of the country...

2010-02-19T08:56:00.000-05:00

I don't know why I'm citing the clips. I guess it's because I have a tendency to blow things out of proportion.

So I hiked, with a new friend, from KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) into Lesotho. It was pretty dope. An undocumented international border crossing is something I can now brag about... haha and the best part of the story, no one thought we would make it. I guess that's why they say "Hata's gona hate..." But yea the trip was epic. We essentially climbed a mountain. (We'll we really just Hiked the Langabalele Pass...) and we also saw some creepy plane crash wreckage... (the Mountain is obscured by clouds most of the day, the fact a plane flew into the mountain still sucks) This is also the highest I've ever been...pun?!, nah i'll play it cool... above sea level (3000ish meters). It was pretty dope for a Tuesday. But not the best Tuesday I've had by a long shot =P

I wish I could get all multi-media here, but I'm limited by the structure. Pictures to come in like April.

Anyhow, I feel like I need to write something structured and serious. Honestly, all I'm thinking about is the surfing... Trying to "live simple" in comparison to some people is just ridiculous. And I'm still to blame. I saw an old man riding fixed in Kimberly (and again today in Durban). No he wasn't a hipster, he was a guy who needed a bicycle that worked. It wasn't a fashion statement, it was a form of transportation technology. It wasn't even a track frame, it was cruiser-esque... While I've been aware of this (I mean fixed gear riding started in Haiti/the DR and was brought to the US by Haitian bicycle messengers in NYC, or so I've been told) it's fun to see people just living it out...

The Soweto homestay was pretty rad. The part we stayed in (pretty much the rich area) is like Dade County in Miami, Florida (over stigmatized)... Right down to the architecture... The people were super friendly but just like anywhere in the world I guess there was/will be crime and dysfunction. I mean where I'll probably end up living for the next 5 years is know for it's crime and dysfunction... but in true ethnomethological fashion, this will really highlight the norms...

surfing tomorrow. critical mass cape town next friday?! Yea i'm good.

hotep.

p.s. I've been listening to Articeture in Helsinki...So what if wez efquniq (we ethnic.)

2010-02-08T08:50:00.002-05:00

I don't know where I'm going. But I know where I am. I also know I got in somewhere. :)

I really have nothing to say. Blogging from Africa, thats about all.

I've always been about scars and stories, and this is nothing new. (Expect a new scar on my leg)

no surfing yet. just lots of beautiful people.

I've yet to truly have any "moments". Everything is how I thought it would be... which is a bit disappointing, but still things are rad. I'm ready to be knocked off my feet though... If anything the trip is a bit more touristy/boxed in than I'd like it. I guess thats the cost of being funded through school. There are a lot of rad people trying to do a lot of rad things here. I really just need a chance to get in trouble... (but not really...)

I finally think I understand what those Bloc Party words meant.

I guess that was a moment. I guess I know what I need to do.

(wow: real time existential realization...)

hotep.

p.s. I miss you. (Even after I changed hats.)

2010-01-22T01:32:00.004-05:00

I'm no leader.

I do what I want to do, when I want to do it, how I want to do it.

If anything I'm the biggest knuckle head in the world.

They don't mean anything to me, and they shouldn't to you either...

Next one's from the motherland.

Hotep.

2010-01-10T22:00:00.003-05:00

I'm getting ready to listen to J-Electronica's new Mix tape. I know you don't believe me one way or another.

So, I finally found some time. I guess my interesting 2010 is about to really fire up. I have to do some "serious" writing soon, so this is my warm up, my free write.

I initially thought this would be the end of my blog... I'm still thinking about it... I'm pretty much out of the environment that produced my "earthworm on the sidewalk" feeling... so why keep a blog about a past experience? Especially one that I wasn't too totally stoked on...

I mean I'm pretty sure if i get into graduate school I'll be the only black male, if not only black person in general in my cohort... so maybe I'll still be on the sidewalk... but then again... sociologists are pretty laid back people... Then my weird (see: eclectic) taste in everything will always keep me feeling out of place at times, but honestly I've grown more comfortable not fitting in... Needless to say:

I am happy.

Anyhow, as I mill around with that thought. Peep this:

"Shooting" people is the new "Shooting" people... and if you think I'm making this up, I have a good friend who would agree. And she's been there... although the war's still for sale...

(on a personal note 2/5-- or 40% based on highlighter residue that's the percent of overlap in our reading choice... And my A's and E's are on point... And finally the last partnered paper won an award, no pressure...)

I'm bout to resurrect my ol'camera for a trip... I got it over the summer, gave it to a 'homeless' girl... she took some pictures, dropped my lens, "broke" my camera... then gave it back to me to process and share. haha, then eventually ganked a friends apartment... call it test case of strain theory (i cite Merton 1938... he really made it hott...) and i'll be interested... mix mental illness and I'll put some time into finding you an answer.

changing gears... although i'm into single speeds... so lets say changing cadence.

The new Vampire Weekend album...ehh...

The song "California English" makes me very angry for some reason... like serious... but "I think ur a contra" makes me smile... and realize that I think you're a contra ;) but idk, the album as a whole flops for me... I mean the two singles are arguably the best songs... which makes an album a failure... why not just put out the singles? I honestly like misinterpreting the lyrics... because "God is a risk taker" just means more to me... anyway.

one more cadence switch in this stream of consciousness...

Back to business... (Am I quoting Cam'Ron? Maybe...)

Had a lot of fun making things this break (Music, Bikes, Box Cars etc.)

It feels good to balance my "brain" work with my "hand" work.

But I was doing some reading and really getting pumped about firing up the analytical thinking side of my brain... (if it ever turned off...) Over the break i really got a chance to think about all my personal problems, but getting back to focusing on other peoples issues feels better... maybe i'm just ignoring mine because ignorance is bliss? Or I'm just lucky enough to to really have any serious issues... (the temptation to cite Jay-Z here has been suppressed due to better judgement... this is a sign of maturity... I think...)

I finally realize through empirical experience how the U.S. Social Safety Net will never let anyone fail... But i'm pretty sure there aren't any food stamps in places with no food... So... uhh where is the need? (I really think I've always been on the same side of this argument... just better understanding now...)

So what's gona be cool in 2010?:

e-books and 540's

simple.

I better go write this paper before the bottle of Vendange wears off...

hotep.

2010-01-05T23:15:00.003-05:00

Arhghahahhhahh

I have so much to tell the world. But no "time" to "type".

Hotep.

fake P.S.:

Cops love me.

real P.S.:

If all of 2010 are as crazy as the last 14 or so days. We're in for a wild one...

and for some reason, I think we're in for a wild one...

real P.P.S.:

I'm poor again.

2009-12-30T17:10:00.000-05:00

"She said send me stationary..." - My Year In List (kinetic typo!)

My Year in (an alphabetized) lists.

apologize to los campesionos.

10 deep

A-trak

Actor Network Theory

Anxiety

Art Brute

Astronomy

BMX

Bad Brans

Being Ready

Bicycle Collectives

Bikes

Black Keys

Blu

Book Reports

Boxed Wine

Bruno Latour

Blogs

Camp

Cell Phones

Community dinners

Confusion

Cops

Clipse, the

Disaronno

Drums

E-mail conversations

Enter Shikari

Eperanza (Spalding)

Emotion management

Emotions

Failures

Family

Fela Kuti

Figs!

Fire Saftey

Flat Tires

Fleet Foxes

Forts

Francsis

Franzia

Free Time

Free Writing

Frenchmen Royal

Friends

Football

Gardening

God

Google Analytics

Graduate school

Green

Green Tea

Health Care Reform

Hip hop

House Sitting

Human clock

Homophones

I can read. tumbler

Iran

Islands of Meanings

Jay-Z

John Law

Karen O & the Kids

Kettles

Kindel

Krylon

Liking that I like You

Longboarding Adventures

Loose Leaf Green Tea

Lupe (Fiasco)

MSTRKRFT

Marx

Massan

Metric

Michael Jackson

Midnight Mass

Mogwai

MASH

NSF (National Science Foundation)

Northwestern

Obm

Passion Pit

Path Analysis

People Being Human

People Shoe, the

Phenoix

Pronouns

Protest

Punk

Quality Time

Quiet Little Voices

RSS feeds

Realizing this list could go on for ever.

Roots, the

Scars

Sharing

Sigur Ros

Simmel

Single Single Speeds

Snowboard(ing)

Social Movements

Sociology

Stories

Structural Equation Modeling

Sunsets

Tea

The Hanger

Thinking

Theory

Time

Tuesdays

Typo

Uhur Sasa

Uffi

Ultimatum(s)

Vans

Wale

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Where the Wild Things Are (see: failure)

Will Smith

Wiz Kalifa

Xylophones (seriously @ Children's Museum)

YOU (the reader!)

Zerubavel

until next year:

hotep.

2009-12-23T15:53:00.004-05:00

This is no toms drop.

600 pairs of shoes.

1 rad edit.

This video revitalized my dwindling faith in one's ability to mix my passion with purpose...

hotep.

p.s. yea i lied about the year in lists...im so full of shit.

P.P.S. I hear Queenstown is nice this time of year... =P

2009-12-21T18:19:00.010-05:00

creation > consumption.

This is dope.

Lupe is kill'n all over.

For serious.

yea, i use to be sponsored by nike-- so I have to advertise on my blog... haha nah but I really just like

his flow/rhymes and the obvious satire.

Figs (or elmo), you need to throw this verse in a mix. Plz. But good work.

i love you.

Living on a farm you have a lot of time to think about a lot of every/anything. This can be a blessing and a curse. Too bad I don't have anything due... I'd get so much work done here... but wait, I do...

Thinking can really kinda suck... and I just watched the zeitgiest... and honestly don't know what to think... I mean its old now i guess... and not really that accurate... but still-- all it leaves me wondering is how I ever thought I could change an economic/social system based on divisions and hierarchical arrangements yet can't figure out (a) "girl(s) that i adore"... -The Avett Brothers

haha if it's not rocket science, it must be astro-physics... ces't la vie... haha i make myself sound pathetic...

i've also been listening to A Carolina Jubilee.

This album matches my pseudo-farm life.

Never in my life did I imagine I would be

washing dishes and suddenly a horse appears

on the other side of the kitchen sink window...

Solo back country bike rides have done a lot for my mental health.

I'll bring the camera nextime.

Gergen (1991) must be right.

plz enjoy this post-modern stream of consciousness.

So in preparation for my "year in list" post I was looking back at last years "year in list" and really I was kinda disappointed at how little has changed... or what little I have "accomplished" or my failings to do "new" things... I guess I could be concerned, but in 2010 my whole world is going to be shaken, not stirred... everything will be different. Right now I don't know if that is for good or for bad-- but I'm pretty comfortable where I am-- so that means change is necessary... otherwise I'll be the OTHER mouse in who moved my cheese.... Yea, I know, I'm so well read...

Living here (the farm) makes me think other people's lives are more interesting because they're not mine... it also makes my blog posts a lot longer, more detailed and tagged. It also helped me realize that everyones human (despite the ethnical compromises made to figure this out...) and that my life can be an adventure too... and it really already is... and i guess i'll admit publicly: I'm kinda scared.

And even though the stalefish didn't win any awards... I felt good. But it's not really about me feeling good it's about everyone else... because as nice as it felt... the times I fell were just as important... if not more... it might "hurt but they makes us strong." - Kimya Dawson

ahh- feels good to get it all out. because telling it to an animal isn't the same... back to life

hotep.

p.s. merry christmas- year in post is next. Then we're (20)10. And things are bound to get really complicated... really fast... but thats how i like it... it's when i'm most alive (and out of control).

p.p.s. a Google Analytic informed comment: To the kid from Wisconsin (a gender neutral pronoun... not an insult) who spent 20 minutes on my blog: Thanks for reading I assume you were checking out the Global Outlaws book review (poorly written, I know, I was young.). I hope I'm not contributing to any plagiarism... just cite me proper and you're all good :)

2009-12-15T12:38:00.004-05:00

Roses are red

violets are blue.

you're hair is red.

this posts is for you.

You're so consistent. Can't wait for my voice lessons.

Hotep.

2009-12-10T11:55:00.000-05:00

So, i think i'll call you la mar... the la is intentional...

I'm all about gender equality mare-bear... You know that.

Thanks for the tie-dye.

I'm glad you read my blog.

Now I need to get you to read Marx.

Hotep.

P.S. I saw your powerpoint on HIV/AIDS in Africa. I'm proud of you. Keep moving in the right direction.

2009-12-04T11:45:00.000-05:00

"I'm just do'n what I got to do" - Wale

Today I realized I'm more like Scottie Pippen... (than Michael Jordan)

And, I'm actually okay with that.

anyway:

Happy Birthday Friend(s).

Hope you're days as dope as that the new lupe mix tape...

(Chicago, stand up.)

Or at least better than my fire safety video.

All is love, there is no time we can't make up. Serious.

Hotep.

2009-12-02T13:46:00.003-05:00

plagiarism.

The

Sea

Really

Just

Might

Better

Place

Think

About

The

Inevitable

Future...

Los Campesinos.

hotep.

2009-11-25T09:12:00.003-05:00

This is stream of consciousness at its finest. Faulkner is rolling in his grave.

First the Kyoto Protocol... then this...

Dear Government: Just stop lying and really I won't care...

They finally got the LHC up and running... (micro-black holes!?) They ran it... and we're all still here... So, I'm saying 30 years and we'll see significant advances in space and time travel. Love.

I've been watching some old Jordan cuts... You gotta learn from the best... But I'm ready to shoot... I now know why he shot with 5 seconds... Because when the ball leaves your hand, you're no longer in control...

Hotep.

P.S. I'm no longer a football player, a collegiate athlete, gosh I'm just a dork now- kinda weird... Nerd Power. I guess I'll always have the scars and stories...

P.P.S. NASA has a TV station. Rad.

2009-11-15T22:50:00.004-05:00

Shit is finally starting to hit the fan... in omnia paratus... [sigh]

It's been a while coming, but I have to say it:

Hip hop isn't a black thing. It is a cultural thing.

Don't believe me (why should you?)

Peep game:

Culture (obviously) varies over space and time.

(and thousands of other 'objective' variables that some losers spend their entire life analyzing)

But K'naan has managed to slip through the cracks. Wale didn't. And my biases are starting to stand out like a black kid at an "elite" liberal arts college...

Just gotta keep swimming...

Hotep.

2009-11-09T00:00:00.001-05:00

I'm broken. Franny is getting no love. But, things are looking up... somehow...

My Roots review:

AWESOME.

it's like they broke into my apartment, checked to see what songs I liked and only played those... seriously.

Setlist: (best I can remember)

Web.

The Seed.

How I Got Over.

[Does it matter after these three songs... no.]

Here is a picture of the fiasco.

Yea-- I was pretty much onstage with Black thought.

I would go into more detail, but it really wouldn't capture anything... and plus I had to just get this out of the way because I'm going to see my (musical) crush. this weekend... and I need to be ready to write just incase it turns into how i met your mother...

Hotep.

P.S. Made my first post at youcantfakeit (dot-com) peep game here.

yea, trite and emo, but more/better to come... these things take time...

[I guess i have to be careful about pluralistic writing now that I have a (some) new reader(s)]

2009-11-04T00:37:00.007-05:00

oh, words can't describe...

So... while I write up my review of the (legendary) roots crew playing South Carolina for the first (and probably last) time ever... peep these videos...

I love the kin-typo in the Nuru video... and the message....

And Tom Silins bike is sick. Blacked out free coaster... i gotta get one...

I'm working on something between the two... haha but about fire safety...

anyhow:

A friend has asked me to write for him at You Can't Fake It... so look for some cross-blog postings in the future. All is love. OBM.

Hotep.

2009-10-28T08:45:00.002-05:00

It's not a question of what should I do.

It's how am I going to do it.

"I'm left with no options."

Hotep.

p.s. I find it a bit disappointing and painfully ironic that when the world seems at it's worst... I'm at my best.