Gua's Blog

My Cover of "At This Moment"

2011-07-23T07:48:00.001-04:00

Father's day

2011-06-19T02:13:00.000-04:00

One of the few songs that give tribute to fathers

Modern Jazz

2011-03-09T11:54:00.001-05:00

Grammy winner Esperanza Spaulding sings "Winter Sun". Real talent and real music.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T15:19:00.000-05:00

Peace & blessings for the New Year.....

Merry Christmas

2010-12-15T23:27:00.002-05:00

In the Christmas spirit, I recorded one of my favorite Chrismas songs......Take a listen.

Lou Rawls

2010-11-13T09:07:00.006-05:00

Lou Rawls is perhaps the quintessential R&B artist. Although he is probably most remembered for his time with Philly International, Lou was an established artist long before he found wide fame and acceptance with Gamble and Huff. See his full history Lou Rawls Bio
I didn't know that he had a 4 octave range, wow. I think of him as a superb baritone who's phrasing and legendary sound is immediately recognized and is unsurpassed in the music industry.
This is a song that I absolutely love "Your Good Thing" Listen to the pathos and earnestness that Lou conveys.

If you would like to hear it on your computer Click here

Smooth Soul

2010-11-06T21:23:00.006-04:00

The loss of true baritone singing bothers me, the loss of true smooth R&B irritates me. So I'm on a mission to point out to these musically deprived young-ins what good music is all about.
Miles Jaye is perhaps one of the last of the recent gifted baritones (with the exception of Will Downing), this cut is from the very hard, but now very expensive HERE to find CD entitled "Irresistible". This was released in 1989 just before the rise of melisma-crazed,nasal singing became the norm. but I digress, Enjoy the sound of smooth R&B!!

If you would like to listen to this on your computer Click here

Pieces of my Past

2010-10-30T07:15:00.004-04:00

I have been ripping my old albums and have rediscovered one of my favorite songs. Gil-Scott Heron was really one of the pioneers of what we call "rap" since a lot of people know him from the classic " The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".
Gil was also an accomplished musician and often collaborated with pianist "Brian Jackson". Together they made some classic Jazz/blues/R&B music. This is one of my favs.
Take a listen to the melancholy baritone of Gil-Scott and Brian (on the keyboard) as they capture frustrations of a man that could clearly be here and now. This was released 1971.

If you would like to listen on your computer here

On a side note John legend's voice reminds me of Gil-Scott, what do you think?

Summer Swim

2010-07-24T16:29:00.001-04:00

It is 100 degrees and the heat index is at 115....time to take a Summer Swim

Classic songs From Gua'sVault

2010-07-17T07:33:00.006-04:00

I have collaborated with my good Friend "Raggedy" Check out her blog Raggedy's Soul Blog
This is a compilation of some classic but rare R&B songs that I put together for her blog. Take a listen and by all means follow her blog to hear rare and classic, what I call, R&B from artist that in some cases are not well known.
Gua's Vault

At The Beach

2010-07-15T18:26:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I'm at the beach feeling nostalgic so I decided to do this.

Remembering Ali-Ollie Woodson

2010-06-05T08:36:00.002-04:00

Ali Woodson, it could be argued, was perhaps the best lead singer ever to sing with the Temptations. That is how good he was!!! He may have not been the best but he was definitely one of the best ranking with David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards.
Mr Woodson was called home May 30, 2010. May he rest in peace.

Domestic/Ecological Terror - The Oil Spill

2010-05-30T16:34:00.009-04:00

Who would have thought that the US would have to be more concerned by the domestic terrorism of corrupt companies such as BP. Clearly their quest for oil/dollars is why we are now suffering the greatest domestic ecological disaster in our history.
President Obama's presidency is now threatened by perceived lack of clear response to this catastrophe. A failed attempt
Here again the lack of ethical standards seduced & subverted by the pursuit of the bottom line has caused the worst oil spill in our short-lived history. Worst Ecological Disaster
Of course this follows the near collapse of Wall street and corrupt banks and traders....."Domestic terrorism" aka "corrupt corporate culture" seduced by "Greed", consequences be damned!! Shareholder value and increased bottom line is the only mantra that is followed, hence here we are; oil spill, no jobs, two wars and and teabaggers.....a recipe for "Domestic Terror"

Gil-Scott Heron

2010-02-20T12:23:00.005-05:00

Gil-Scott(The Revolution Will Not Be Televised) has a new Cd out called "Im New Here".....Check it out........... ">

Health Care

2009-11-08T14:27:00.003-05:00

Its about time!!! a health care bill passes the House. Health Care

We was just talkin'

2009-10-24T09:17:00.004-04:00

Anyone who believes that the Pilots were just talking as the excuse for missing their landing destination......I've got a bridge to sell you. The Pilots were talking
This is scary for those folks who fly frequently.
The Pilots say that they had a "Lost of Situational Awareness" which to me is doublespeak for "we was sleepin'". What a lot of crap!!

Yeah, The police acted Stupidly

2009-07-23T17:17:00.004-04:00

Obama said it and he meant and I agree, got a problem with it...........then talk with the Pres. Any news junkie by now knows the story of Henry Gates being arrested in his own home, well in President Obama's news conference yesterday he was asked about it and he said "in a nutshell" the "Police acted stupidly" today he said he stands by his critism.Obama stands by His Critism
Good for him!!!

Obama's Naacp Speech

2009-07-17T15:20:00.001-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Michael Jackson RIP

2009-06-26T09:52:00.003-04:00

I have no words other than to say he will be sorely missed. Michael was extremely talented an has given the world music that will be remembered for a lifetime. Rest in peace Michael........

On The Left.....Reverend Wright....Shut The Hell Up!!

2009-06-12T21:53:00.006-04:00

OK so Jeremiah Wright can't help himself he just can't shut up. He feels it is his personal responsibility to embarrass himself as well as the president. A man of the cloth he is not!!! Maybe one time he actually preached the word, at this point in time he is only about himself and trying his best to upstage his onetime parishioner. Any time you have to explain yourself you know you messed up The explanation
Once again I have an idea Rev Wright....Shut the hell up then I'll listen..........

On The Right......Hey Newt Shut the hell Up!!

2009-06-10T15:19:00.005-04:00

Newt didn't we revoke your contract with America some time ago? Didn't you resign in disgrace? Why then are you resurfacing as the angry white man...the foil to Obama.
You have the nerve the Gaul and the audacity to look over at John McCain and Sarah whats-her-name and say " how much better off America would be if they won".....Are you F&*kidding me????
I have an Idea Newt......You shut up and then I'll listen!! BTW, what kind of name is "Newt" anyway????

Pay cuts, layoffs, the tribulations of the working class

2009-05-06T19:49:00.005-04:00

Here in NC we are experiencing a recession as bad as the great depression, so saith the economist worst recession
We are one of those states that has a law that the budget must be balanced therefore our newly elected Governor Beverly Perdue has instituted pay cuts for all state employees as well as initiating non-paid furloughs.
Being one of those state workers, why the hell do we have to bear the burden, Dam don't we give enough? But Gua shouldn't you be happy you have a job and not be layed off? Yeah, but I sure don't have to be happy about having a pay cut.State workers aren't in the high paid category anyway. My creditors don't give a damn about my situation only that they get what I owe them.
The unemployment rate in NC is 10.7% higher than its ever been and at this point there is no end in sight. unemployment
Something has got to give....I guess its us the working poor.....

The credit card mess

2009-05-06T08:56:00.005-04:00

Why is it taking so long to fix the credit card mess? These legalized loan sharks have preyed on consumers long enough. Why does the president have to get involved in order to get something done.Obama & the CEO's Obama says "The days of any time, any reason rate hikes and late fee traps have to end," Its about damn time somebody said that. We (the people) are getting screwed in all directions. The house has already passed a bill and now we are waiting on the senate, naturally the repubs have to be negotiated with, they wouldn't want us (consumers) to get too much.
Just pass the thing already and don't make us wait until next year to reap the benefits.

100 days and Going Strong

2009-04-29T16:53:00.007-04:00

The O-man is going strong!!! So how is he doing.... If you listen to the re-thuglicans Obama has done nothing right.....but what do they know? They are trying to to push Jindal, Steele and Palin,in the "My Minority is better than your Minority" category. In the "Old White Guys" category they have Limbaugh,Gingrich....now there is a gruesome twosome for you. To top it off they are propagating the policy of "Just Say No" or Nothing Obama does is correct. I'm sure that will pull in a lot of votes...........not!!!!
Well according to PolitiFact, a Web site that has been keeping track of Obama's campaign promises, reports that Obama has kept 27 promises, compromised on seven, broken six, stalled on three, has 67 in the works and has yet to take action on another 408.
Those are the cold,hard facts.
Personally I think he is doing an outstanding job considering all of the problems he is facing. I no longer cringe when the president speaks like I did under the Busmeister. But more than that I am quite proud of The O-man, he and his wife are representing persons of color quite well. I only hope that just by being in that position (the Presidency) that he inspires little black children and their families to take education more seriously after all "A Mind is a Terrible Thing To waste!!!

April 15 tax day or if you are a Republican its teabag day

2009-04-15T13:46:00.003-04:00

So here we go again, the Republicans the consumate party of "NO" are having what they call tea bag protest. Really!!!
What the hell are they thinking............check out the true meaning of their little protest.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Accapella_Naturally 7

2009-03-27T13:55:00.003-04:00

Great Accapella group Naturally 7

Stevie's tribute to Alicia Keys

2009-03-17T09:59:00.002-04:00

Two of my most favorite artist. Stevie and Alicia

Is Marion Barry Going to Jail?

2009-02-09T19:15:00.005-05:00

Marion the "B&* Set me Up" Barry may be going to jail. The ex-crackhead for whatever reasons doesn't want to file his taxes in a timely manner. The IRS ain't taking that to kindly.
Prosecuters want Barry to go to Jail
Maybe he was set up......."8" times.....I don't think so. Didn't Marion get the memo...taxes must be paid on time, but wait, he's a Democrat. Democrats don't pay taxes....ask Pres Obama!! Lets see if the ex mayor has enough political capital to keep him out of jail

Democrats Don't pay taxes

2009-02-03T14:40:00.005-05:00

Apparently the democrats don't like paying taxes Obama's Picks. Daschle is the third Obama nominee to have tax paying problems. Daschle, Keiller, Geithner......Whats up with that?
This is just fodder for the repubs...The're now asking what's wrong with Obama's vetting process, Obama can't have it both ways.....yada,yada
I have to admit that is is becoming problematic for Obama. You can't tout integrity and then capitulate to your nominees because your picks show a lack of integrity. I personally have a problem with that. I pay my taxes why not them????

The First Dance

2009-01-21T17:25:00.002-05:00

The President & First lady dance to Beyonce's version of "At Last"

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T05:34:00.008-05:00

Out with the old in with the new. Today is the day that we bid adieu to the bushmeister and salute the new comander-in-chief Barack Obama.

Itunes gives up copyright protection, yet we lose

2009-01-06T15:26:00.005-05:00

Finally, Itunes aka Steve Jobs gives up the copyright protection Itunes , but wait the price is now increasing.......once again we(the consumers) lose. Whats wrong with this picture? New downloads will now cost $1.29 up from $.99 The record companies got what they wanted. I call it price gouging/fixing. What makes a $.99 download now worth $1.29?..the answer is nothing but greed. The record companies are trying to prop-up their losses due to poor management decisions in the past. Will the artist (the people that actually make the music) benefit.....no!!! They have price-fixed Cd's for years now they have finally twisted Steve Jobs arm and the price fix is in for downloads. We get screwed. The same crappy music now cost more, and they wonder why downloading is so popular.....Duh!!!
Actually I am only a fan of Itunes as software to mange my mp3's. I prefer to ripp my own music from lp's or Cd's that I already own, but I didn't have a problem with paying $.99 for a single download. It will be a cold day in hell before I pay $.30 more for a single song and I know I'm not alone.

Burris- A Tool Perpetrated By the Man

2009-01-06T15:21:00.006-05:00

Mr. Burris is not in possession of the necessary credentials from the state of Illinois," declared Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.Burris Now that is just a bunch of bull-hockey. Surely they could have come up with something with more substance than that, but apparently not.
Ala Homey The clown ...Burris is just a tool perpetrated by the man. And like a good tool he is being used well!! lets see....the race card, check....the legal card,check....the ego card,check. High drama brought to you by the democratic party. (Key the music).....will Burris be seated in the senate?......will Blago be impeached.... will the supreme court step in and dictate whats what....stay tuned and watch how the tool(Burris) gets used and the drama unfolds.................

Times Gone By-Auld Lang Syne

2008-12-31T07:20:00.003-05:00

Auld Lang Syne by tradition is what everybody sings bringing in the new year. According to "How stuff works" the loose translation of Auld Lang Syne is "times gone by. How stuff works Wikipedia goes into a bit more detail stating that it is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song . Wikipedia Blah,blah whatever the case, the song invokes memories of past times and the bringing in of a new year. For me this year has been a good one. I have good health, family.... and I have a new leader of the free world (I respect and admire) (a person of color) that I'm looking forward to supporting "Barack Obama" (You go Boy!!!). So with that said bringing in the new year there is only one person that can sing this song for me. That is the late, Great. Lou Rawls. Lou take it away....

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T10:56:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas to all. Here is a little something recorded by yours truly. Doing my best Nat Cole imitation. Remember the reason for the season

A real Artist "Anthony Hamilton"

2008-12-19T07:25:00.006-05:00

Anthony Hamilton has a new cd out called "The Point of it all" Anthony is another of the younger artist with a real old-school sound. This brother is a baaad man. Mo Kelly a blogger who's blog I follow regularly wrote a very glowing review of of this CD Mo Kelly I caught this song "Falling In love" from his new CD as he performed on GMA yesterday. I know what new CD I'm getting for Christmas. Enjoy!!!

The Huxtables are going to the Whitehouse

2008-11-27T13:18:00.005-05:00

The Huxtables are going to the Whitehouse!!! I'm sure everyone has seen Barbara Walters interview with the president-elect and his wife. The Obama's are the modern day Huxtables going to the Whitehouse. Their every move will be chronicled and dissected so they might as well be on TV just like Bill's famous family.
Remember the controversy when Cosby's show was on, that they weren't indicative of black families both were successful and their relationship was to cutesy and not real......well black folks knew all along that there were families that mirrored the Huxtables, that is, having two working parents and raising kids....you know a real honest to goodness black nuclear family.
The most important thing we found out from the interview is Barack won't be getting a little yappy-girlie dog!!! he is going to get a "Big Rambunctious" dog....translation "a manly dog!!!! too funny
One thing for me is; I get the sense that Barack believes in the adage "Lead By Example" that is good thing. We have had enough of the lazy-white-boy-peter-principle leadership.Hopefully that cycle is broken.
Let the Huxtables lead......................

Unemployment Benefits Extended

2008-11-22T08:53:00.004-05:00

It seems like the Bushmeister had second thoughts on his Fiscal irresponsibility decision and did the right thing.............

"This morning (Nov 21) President Bush signed the unemployment benefits extension into law, according to the White House. The legislation extends emergency unemployment compensation to 20 weeks, and gives additional help to residents of states with high unemployment rates."

Bush "Fiscally Irresponsible"

2008-11-20T10:42:00.017-05:00

George Bush says that extending the unemployment benefits for the millions out of work is "fiscally irresponsible".....see here bush
Wait a minute....stop, hold the press, the Bushmeister is all for bailing out Wall Street and possibly the big three auto companies but you and me he has a problem with!!!! Jan 20 can't come quick enough to get his "ass" out of office.
I have been on unemployment twice in my work career and the second time in 2001 it was a life saver as I couldn't buy a job. The nerve of bush who has never wanted for anything whose family name has provided for everything he ever wanted to deny common folks like you and me an extension of "life-saving" benefits while in the same breath save Wall-street Big-wigs......can you spell Hypocrite....I have no words

Obama- We're a Winner

2008-11-05T07:07:00.003-05:00

I can not explain how emotional this was for me. Change has truly come to America. This song by Curtis Mayfield "We're A winner" will be my theme song till the end of the year.
Enjoy!!

John Legend on Bill Maher

2008-11-02T14:21:00.003-05:00

Ron Howard's Endorsement

2008-10-31T10:48:00.001-04:00

Ron Howard put together a commercial for Barack check this out................

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Early Voting

2008-10-27T09:56:00.003-04:00

Quote from a local newspaper "More than 1 million people have cast a ballot in North Carolina's early voting, surpassing the total number who voted at one-stop sites four years ago."
Wow!! This bodes well for the democrats, but I'm hard-pressed to believe that the Dems will win NC. NC is full of old "dixie-crats" that have voted republican since the 60's. keep in mind that this state supported Jesse Helms until he was to sick to run then they turned over the senate seat to "Libby Dole", a conservative Republican puppet who has done nothing in six years.
Clearly, this is a difficult state to turn. Polls show that the presidential race is neck in neck. The senate race between Dole & Hagen (The Dem nominee) has Hagen ahead ever so slighty.....suprise surprise. Palin and Mccain have been here, Biden & Obama have been here as well as Michelle.
I am waiting with baited breath to see who NC actually votes for!!
BTW, my whole family has already voted. I guess you know who we didn't vote for.....nuff said!!!

Colin Powell_the Endorsement

2008-10-19T20:39:00.004-04:00

Colin Powell yesterday on meet the press an issued a 10 minute soliloquy on why he was backing Barack Obama. It was very reassuring to listen to someone who has a great deal of respect and credibility skewer John McCain and the Republican party.
I loved it!!!

2008 Obituaries_Not a Good Year

2008-10-18T09:21:00.003-04:00

2008 is turning out to be a very bad year for some of our more iconic figures.... although death is a part of life hearing about these people saddened me a great deal. May they rest in eternal peace...................
OBITUARIES 2008

Levi Stubbs Age 72
As the distinctive lead of the Four Tops, Stubbs was best known for his deep, passionate vocal style that turned Holland-Dozier-Holland compositions like "Bernadette" and "Reach Out" and later, upon the group's move from Motown to ABC Records, on adult soul songs such as "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)" and "Keeper of the Castle." A heart attack and stroke permanently sidelined Stubbs a half decade ago, and he was wheelchair-bound as he took the stage for the group's 50th anniversary celebration in 2005. But Levi Stubbs will long be remembered as a staple of Motown's greatest years and as one of the most distinctive and revered vocalists of all time. He will be greatly missed.

Isaac Hayes Age: 65
Isaac Hayes, the baldheaded, baritone-voiced soul crooner who laid the groundwork for disco and whose "Theme From Shaft" won both Academy and Grammy awards, died 8/10/08 in the afternoon after he collapsed near a treadmill, authorities said. He was 65.

Gene Upshaw Age: 63
Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who during a quarter century as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, died on 8/20/08 at his home near California 's Lake Tahoe , of pancreatic cancer.

Dwight White Age: 58
Dwight White, the Steel Curtain defensive end known as "Mad Dog" who helped lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s, died 6/6/08, following complications from back surgery. He was 58.

Bernie mac Age: 50
Bernie Mac, an Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor and comedian, died suddenly 8/09/08 at age 50 of complications from pneumonia. The comedian suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005.

Al Wilson Age: 68
Al Wilson, the soul singer and songwriter who had a number of 1970s hits including "Show and Tell," died 4/21/08. Wilson died of kidney failure at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana , according to his son, Tony Wilson of Yucaipa .

Bo Diddley Age: 79
Bo Diddley, a founding father of rock 'n' roll whose distinctive "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm and innovative guitar effects inspired legions of musicians, died 6/2/08, after months of ill health. He was 79.

Ivan Dixon Age: 76
Ivan Dixon, an actor and director who was best known for playing Sgt. James Kinchloe on the 1960s sitcom "Hogan's Heroes" but whose films included vivid portrayals of black struggles in the American South and insurrectionist inclinations in the North, died 3/16/08 from complications of kidney disease.

Sean Levert Age: 39
Sean Levert, a third of the 1980s R&B trio LeVert and son of lead O'Jays singer Eddie Levert, died 3/30/08 after falling ill while serving a jail term. He was 39. Authorities said Monday that an autopsy was inconclusive but foul play was ruled out.

Johnnie Carr Age: 97
Johnnie Carr, who joined childhood friend Rosa Parks in the historic Montgomery bus boycott and kept a busy schedule of civil rights activism up to her final days, died 2/22/08. She was 97. She had been hospitalized after a stroke Feb. 11.

Buddy Miles Age: 60
Buddy Miles, a drummer who played with Jimi Hendrix and sang in the claymation commercials featuring the California Raisins in the 1980s, died 2/26/08. He was 60. Miles, who had been suffering from congestive heart failure, died in Austin, publicist Duane Lee said.

Obama "Cool" - The Final Debate

2008-10-16T09:14:00.005-04:00

Using the baseball metaphor.....three strikes and your out!!! The third and final debate was last night (thank God) and once again according to all of the polls Obama was the clear winner!!
The Obama Cool factor was was in play and unfortunately old man McCain had no offense or defense against it. The "cool factor" makes Obama impervious to all attacks. The old man even called Obama "eloquent" although he meant it as a backhand compliment (I think he wanted to call him a silver tongue devil) McCain has no defense against his more eloquent opponent, simply because not only can Obama explain his policies and position better but McCain has nothing but the same tired old republican rhetoric "cut taxes and reduce spending" surprise surprise.. Mr McCain guess what? That dog don't hunt no more!!! That ain't going to cut it.
If the best argument you've got is Obama's ties to a sixties revolutionary when Obama was 8 years old.......give it up!! Are you (Mr. McCain) the best the Republicans got??? If so then "Houston you have a problem".
Now all thats left is to wait for the election results. We will see if The economic crisis will trump prejudice. That is say; will white people get over the fear of putting a person of color in the White House because conditions are so bad that they will be willing to vote for someone who does not look like them???
That is the 700 billion dollar question.

2008-10-01T10:33:00.002-04:00

Robin Thicke on GMA singing "Magic" and hawking his new DVD.

The Debate

2008-09-28T19:45:00.009-04:00

Ok, the debate happened Friday 19th in Mississippi. I basically thought it was a tie. A tie in my mind goes to Obama, simply because "Foreign Policy" was supposed to be McCain's territory. In any case perception is reality and most polls are indicating that people think Obama won rather handily. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/27/debate.poll/?iref=hpmostpop

Howard Terence Live

2008-09-26T16:21:00.003-04:00

Terence, was on the View hawking his new music CD. sorry I missed the very beginning.

Jon Stewart Tells it like it is

2008-09-26T12:49:00.001-04:00

Jon Stewart nails it!!!!

The sky is falling!!! President Little

Politcs - High Drama

2008-09-25T08:03:00.005-04:00

McBush trying his best to appear presidential is now holding the debate hostage issung the edict that he will only debate if congress will agree on the bailout. Here we go again, Mcain grandstanding, being political and trying his best to one-up his better (not peer). The old-man is killing me with his constant ploys. First he is employing what I call Piniccho politics by stretching the truth at every opportunity (you can actually see his nose growing), now he is going to suspend his campaign so that he can go to Washington and work on the "bailout". Ok what exactly is he going to do? He is not part of the commitee, so what's the plan??
Then there is the timeline issue, who called whom first? Barack says he reached out to to Mcain and he (McCain) didn't return his phone call until later on in the day. Apparently they talked but according to Barack he wasn't aware of McCain stopping everything and wanting to put off the debate........What the hell is going on??
The first thing that comes to my mind is the song "Backstabbers" McCain at his best.
Mcain was rescued by his friend Bush by being invited to the White-house for a meeting today Thursday 25th. Ok so now we know one thing that McCain will be doing. What will he do next.............. probably thinking up another Pinocchio moment to tell the people.

Too Much to Talk About

2008-09-13T09:37:00.003-04:00

Unbelievable amount of news, Politics, Hurricanes, music.
Politics
Can you believe the pick of Sarah Palin??? Did you see the kid glove interview that the closet republican Charlie Gibson did on ABC? He talked to her like she was in grade school. She didn't know what the Bush Doctrine was..WTF. She is Pro-life, and feels that that Roe vs Wade should be overturned. Her state is next to Russia and that gives her foreign-relations experience. To top it off people are actually buying this garbage....Unbelievable!!!! She says she is ready....ready for what???
Truth in politics is now more of a joke than ever. My now favorite site is factcheck.org Please frequent this site for some truth in all of the political spin.
Hurricanes
IKE ain't playing, why people want to test it is beyond me???
Music news
Bet has a decline in viewer ship (That is good news) less youth being poisoned by that garbage and Reginald Hudlin resigns ( remember he tried to bring "Hot Ghetto Mess" to television) like we needed to see that....NOT. full article href="http://"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103380.html

History_The man who would be President

2008-08-28T11:24:00.002-04:00

I have not written about this until now. I thought I would never see the day an African-American would be nominated and run for POTUS (President Of The United States)!! WOW!! How I wish my mother were here to see this historic event. Irrespective of how this turns out, this hopefully will set in motion a change in the hopes and dreams of young African-Americans. No longer will their only role model be limited to sports and the arts. Perhaps once again,education will become a force in our community and not be co-opted by negativity.
Barack will need our prayers and support.
What a speech!! Simply outstanding. There is no question that Barack Obama is a gifted individual. He is heads and tails above the current republican candidate.
Anyone that believes the hype of the RNC that he is not ready, I have a bridge to sell you!! The text of his speech can be found here.

href=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/28/obama.transcript/index.html

The Passing Of A Friend

2008-08-15T16:43:00.000-04:00

This is a picture of my friends in college. We formed an organization called BOSS (Brothers Of Soul Society) More on this at a later date.

See the guy in the front with the green jacket that is “ARK”. That was our nickname for him, his name was Armond Renee Kane "ARK" for short. Ark passed away this weekend 8/9/08. We were all the same age and his passing has left me feeling down all week.

Ark was the type of guy that was always positive, we spent many nights all of us talking about various things. The one night that stands out in my mind we were arguing about something and it had to do with “doing what we said we would do”. He was very big on that. Anyway he made this statement “You have to take time to make time” of course we all just laughed and dismissed his statement but ultimately we understood what he meant. He was trying to get me or one of us to stop missing appointments and giving the lame excuse that we didn’t have time! Ark was a good guy and I will miss him. Although we were out of touch for about 20 years or so we hooked up with a phone call about a year ago and spent at least an hour on the phone playing catch-up. Since that time we were exchanging emails daily. It is very hard to accept the fact that my friend, our friend is no longer with us………………….

Rest in peace Ark, we will miss you

Isaac Hayes

2008-08-11T10:33:00.007-04:00

Another Icon and wonderful voice from the 70's has passed away. Black Moses as he was called was one of my music heroes. He possessed a deep resonant voice that elicited pleading emotions and and a pathos that was very real.
I was extremely saddened when I heard this, I was affected the same way when I heard that "Melvin Franklin" of the Temptations had passed. These voices were once in a lifetime voices and stood for an era that will never be again.
Here is a song that Isaac released on the U-Turn album in 1986. This album has not been released on CD and was not well known. It is quintessential Issac.......a revealing rap/talk with his estranged girlfriend and then the remake of a classic song....."Hey Girl" www.zshare.net/audio/513667367bca364b/Hey Girl

Your Laptop can be seized at any time

2008-08-09T13:36:00.000-04:00

Did you know.............
American federal agents can now take your laptop, iPods without reason

American federal agents can now take your laptop, iPods without reason According to new border search policies disclosed by the Department of Homeland Security, federal agents may take your laptop or other media devices for an "unspecified" period of time even without any suspicion of wrongdoing, in an effort to "prevent terrorism."

Additionally, the officials may share any content of the laptop or device with other agencies or private companies for "language translation, data decryption or other reasons."

The policies are dated as of July 16th by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but the DHS says the policies have been in effect for "some time now."

"The policies . . . are truly alarming," adds Sen. Russell Feingold, a Democrat from Wisconsin who has vowed to look into the new border search policies. Feingold also plans to introduce legislation that will force the government to have "reasonable suspicion" for searches. The legislation will also limit racial and religious profiling during searches.

The policies effect anyone entering the United States, including US citizens. Civil liberties and business travel groups have been pressing for months to have the government disclose publicly these policies, after receiving complaint after complaint from international and US travelers that have had their laptops, iPods and even cell phones taken, sometimes for months at a time.

To quote exactly from the policies, federal officers can "detain any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form for a reasonable period of time" to "review and analyze information." They may do this "absent individualized suspicion."

"Any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form" means anything from iPods, laptops, cell phones and hard drives to, I kid you not, books and "written materials commonly referred to as 'pocket trash' or 'pocket litter.'"

Although there are protections on "business information and attorney-client privileged material" there is no protection on personal data of citizens, including medical or financial records.

"They're saying they can rifle through all the information in a traveler's laptop without having a smidgen of evidence that the traveler is breaking the law," said Greg Nojeim, senior counsel at the Center for Democracy and Technology.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff wrote last month in USA Today that "the most dangerous contraband is often contained in laptop computers or other electronic devices." He recalled times where searches have uncovered "violent jihadist materials" and hard drives full of child pornography.

Earlier this year the US Court of Appeals upheld the government's right to conduct searches without any suspicion of illegal wrongdoing.

If you wish to view the the full policies, they are available here:http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/admissability/search_authority.ctt/search_authority.pdf

2007-12-04T02:57:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure to see Stevie perform in my hometown of Raleigh NC this past Thursday (11/29)......What a treat
I was in the presence of musical greatness. Stevie arrived on stage led by his daughter and back-up singer Aisha @ 8:20 (50 minutes after original start time) But I've seen Stevie before and Stevie has always been late, that is the way Stevie rolls.
He gave a short talk giving thanks to God and thanking the surgeon in Winston-Salem (NC) that that helped to save his life in 1973 when a log fell off a truck and struck Stevie in the head. He then started singing "Love's In Need of Love Today", then broke into songs from Innervisions in sequence it was like listening to the album but live and in living color :soundsgood: :soundsgood: Stevie sang songs from Talking Book, Songs From The key Of Life...etc He also did a bit where he was on the keyboards and used a "Voicebox and started a name-that-tune interlude, during which Stevie played bits of the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, P-Funk he had the crowd rocking
Did I say he played 150 minutes Of course he sang my most favorite song in the world "Ribbon In Th Sky"... My only regret is that he did not sing but one song from his Time to Love CD (incorporating "What the Fuss" into "Superstition" doesn't count)
Stevie's voice IMO, has not changed not one iota, He can still do things (with his voice) that normal humans just can't do. He was/is simply amazing. If he comes any where near your hometown I suggest that you go see him you will not be disappointed.