Hilarious Aries Spears Impressions

Aries Spears is probably best known from Fox's sketch comedy show MADtv. Listen to Spears imitate Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z and DMX. This is truly a case of life imitating art, or is art imitating life, or art imitating art?

Kanye on SNL

Kanye West performing "Heartless" on Saturday Night Live.

I admire his passion--a lot of people say that he's got an attitude problem, but I think it's just an extreme love for creation.

I love the Pinocchio story. So, he's saying that in order to be a "real boy" he needs his soul mate. Famous psychologist Carl Jung also wrote about this in theory and called it the anima and animus. The unconscious male seeks to find his anima, which is his suppressed feminine side. And women are in search of their animus, which is their suppressed male characteristics. Jung believed that we are constantly in search of our opposite to feel complete. Read more HERE.

Kanye West - Heartless / Pinocchio Story - SNL - 12/13/2008
Uploaded by 3030fm

Why America May Go To Hell

This is an interview from April 4, 2008. I'm not sure how I missed it, but nevertheless it's fascinating. Michael Eric Dyson discusses his latest book, April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Death and How It Changed America.

In this Today Show interview Dyson talks about Martin Luther King Jr.'s last sermon he ever wrote, "Why America May Go To Hell." King was depressed, tired, borderline narcoleptic and a smoker. I can only imagine the frustrations he must have felt.

Read more HERE.

Biggie Smalls--UPS

UPS is hiring! I'm sure a lot of people would be happy to work for UPS right now (including myself)!


Deconstructing Biggie: UPS is Hiring from jeff on Vimeo.

Christmas Tree History Lesson

So, I've been wondering why we have Christmas trees. I don't really understand what it has to do with Christmas. Within the past week a couple people (women) asked me if I would be getting a Christmas tree. When I responded, "no, what for?" I got very peculiar looks...like I'm the strange one.

I started to do a little internet research and came across the story of monk Crediton Devonshire. In the 7th Century he was traveling around teaching the word of God and would use the fir tree to explain the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

The fir tree became an adopted symbol of Christianity and in the 12th Century Europeans would hang the tree from their ceilings. Read more HERE.

Another story suggests that the Ancient Egyptians started the Christmas tree trend when the winter solstice came (around December 20-23), Egyptians would bring palm leaves into their home to symbolize the victory of life over death. Read more HERE.

Some believe the Bible points to the origination of the Christmas tree:

Jeremiah 10:1-5 (King James Version):

[1] Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
[2] Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
[3] For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
[4] They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
[5] They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

There are many more cultures that were speculated to use the "Christmas tree." Regardless, I think it's lost meaning in our current society--seems like people just do things and buy things because it's "tradition."

Happy Days for Gays (almost)

Prop. 8 The Musical featuring Jack Black, Margaret Cho, John C. Reilly, Neil Patrick Harris, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Rashida Jones, Allison Janney

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

This Dude Is A Great Impressionist!

This guy is hilarious and he Obama down. I love David Blaine Morgan Freeman, Borat and John Legend.

Rosa Parks

Yesterday marked the 53rd anniversary of Rosa Parks' famous arrest in Montgomery, Alabama. On December 1, 1955 Parks refused to move to the back of the bus. Her refusal to get out of her seat spawned a 381 day bus boycott throughout Montgomery. Then in 1956 the Supreme Court banned segregation on public transportation.

What' s remarkable about this story is that Parks never intended on changing the law. "I did not get on the bus to get arrested; I got on the bus to go home," said Parks.

Daoists believe that water is the perfect symbol for change because although water seems soft, it will eventually erode stone. Parks was already part of the river. She worked as a secretary at her local NAACP chapter, worked with the NAACP Youth Council as well as the Voters League. If she wasn't apart of this river chances are nobody would have cared that she got arrested for not moving to the back of the bus. So, if we all find our rivers and stick with them you never know what you can personally alter in the future.

Kanye on Conan

Kanye West is so interesting to me. In this interview he talks about the paparazzi and his recent arrest in London. He talks about the current laws and how they have not caught up to the internet. He basically says that paparazzi doesn't know who they're dealing with...I hope he becomes an activist, especially since both of his parents were.

Read what he wrote on his blog about the issue HERE

Outliers

Best selling author Malcolm Gladwell recently released his new book titled Outliers. I can't wait to read this...basically Gladwell says that people like Bill Gates wouldn't be as successful as they are without being in the right place at the right time. Gates attended a high school with it's own computer, which was connected to another computer in his hometown of Seattle. This gave Gates the opportunity to excel.

Gladwell also establishes the 10,000 hour rule. Basically if you want to shine at something, you must devoter 10,000 hours to whatever it may be i.e. soccer, writing, basketball, poetry, motorcycle riding, nursing, etc. Seems like Outliers will get your mind working.

And, Gladwell says Barak Obama is an outlier.

Watch Gladwell on Anderson Cooper 360 below.

Super Women

In my opinion "Superwoman" was by far the best performance of the evening last night. Kanye West and Rhianna were entertaining, but nothing tops seeing Queen Latifah rap. Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah and Kathleen Battle (a famous opera singer) stole the stage last night with their rendition of Alicica Key's single "Superwoman."

"And now they realize it was a cape not an apron"

Click below to watch the performance
Superwoman AMA Live
by yardie4lifever2

I don't know why the Queen stopped rapping...she is/was the most politically and socially conscious female rapper to ever grab the mic. "U.N.I.T.Y" is one of my favorite rap songs from the 90s. I realize that she's grown into a movie star, but I still have fond memories from the first concert I ever saw: Queen Latifah. When she performed about 14 years ago, although I was just a kid, there was definitely something very empowering about words and storytelling. I think every woman has been called a bitch at some p0int in her life. Music and poetry are very therapeutic and articulates what we go through--that's probably why I love this song. So who you calling a bitch?

I hope she continues to rap.

Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill discusses his interview with Andrew Carnegie. Hill is the author of Think and Grow Rich. "The Secret" has been around for a long time. "A new and better world will reveal itself to you." Hill was born into poverty and imagined his way out of it.

"Lost"--Coldplay & Jay-Z

I think we all know what it feels like to be lost sometimes. Some of us are lost longer than others. Some of us deny that we're lost. Some of us don't like asking for directions, so we end up even further off the path. Some of us don't like loosing. Some of us don't know how to loose gracefully. Everybody gets what is deserved. "But just because I'm loosing it doesn't mean I'm lost."

"See success see suicide....If you succeed be prepared to be crucified."

Amazing

Ethnomusicologists are those who study the correlation between everyday life and identity and the music that arises organically from the people. For an example, classical music does not fit it to this genre; there is no allegiance to a city, state or country.

Now that we as a nation have made history by electing the first black president, I'm anxious to see what music grows from all genres, but especially hip-hop.

Read more about ethnomusicology HERE

"Amazing" Kanye West & Jeezy

Click below to listen to the song
kanYe West : Blog

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History

I can't say exactly why I love hip-hop so much. It's like a heart beat to me. The poetry intertwined with the beat gets my mind going and my heart feeling. Jay-z is one of the greatest rappers of all time. Period. Even Obama thinks so.

"I leave all I am in the hands of history." I think that should be everyone's goal: to make history. Not everyone is going to make international history, but the key is to never stop dreaming of making history.

"History" Jay-Z feat. Tony Williams, prod. by Kanye West

You Can Vote However You Like

Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta.

I love how into they are. Go to YouTube to read the lyrics.

Will.i.am on Oprah

"I felt sorry for kids that they had no politicians to look up to," said Will.i.am on Larry King Live. He goes on to say that his inspiration for his political music is driven by the future--our kids. He said that he wants Obama's speeches to be in our history books.

He's made music that inspires me. It's cataloging our time the same way music did during the Vietnam Era. Let's not forget Nas, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Fall Out Boy, John Legend, All American Rejects and many more. Music moves the soul.

Read more HERE

Statement From the Good Folks at No on Prop 8

"The road to freedom is a difficult, hard road. It always makes for temporary setbacks."
--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tuesday's vote was deeply disappointing to all who believe in equal treatment under the law.

All Americans are harmed when any of us are discriminated against or have our fundamental rights taken away.

Make no mistake, this fight is not over.

We remain committed to ensuring full equality under the law, just as the thousands of same-sex couples who joyously married in California are committed to each other.

While it is understandable to be angry that a deceptive campaign could lead to such an unfair and wrong outcome, we need to keep focused instead on the progress we have made.

Thousands of volunteers and contributors gave selflessly to this fight for equality. Political leaders—Democrats and Republicans alike–took strong stands and spoke out against the distortions against us. Clergy, labor, educators and business leaders eagerly joined our cause. And we came within 4% of making history and protecting marriage equality in California.

The momentum is clearly on our side.

So, as disappointed as we are, we know that there is still hope and there is still love and, yes, there is still work to do. With our continued effort and by building on the support generated in this campaign, we will prevail. There will be equality. For us all.

"Ultimately, America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity, the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired."
--Robert F. Kennedy

I don't understand why people want to tell other people what to do. There is supposed to be a separation between church and state. Not church, overpowering the state because it has more money. Yes on Prop 8 raised over $25 million to get what they wanted. It's too bad that they claim gay marriage is "immoral," but I say it's immoral to throw $25 million down the drain when there are starving children around the world. Which is more immoral?

Read more HERE

Hope Won

American

Sarah Palin vs. Michelle Obama

So why don't Barak Obama and John McCain discuss their wardrobe?

Don't Vote

Sometimes I Feel Like A B....

Sometimes I feel like a bitch. On occasion I have been know to piss people off. Not because I’m hateful or envious, but because I’m tired.

I’m so sick and tired of seeing lazy, complacent people. The people that are content with mediocrity get under my skin. These are the same people that don’t hold the door open for you when you’re walking into a store. Or they are the people that many refer to as couch potatoes.

So, please don’t ask to borrow money because you feel like watching every reality show known to man. Don’t complain about money because you don’t have enough; go learn a new skill, grow and achieve a goal. Then, hopefully after you achieve one, you’ll achieve another. It’s not rocket science.

These people that don’t set goals are like fucking cockroaches—they survive throughout centuries in all parts of the world. They survive because they never really do shit. The cockroaches hide under rocks and live in deep, dark places just the same as unmotivated people.

Sometimes I feel bad. And sometimes I’m rude to these people, even the homeless. I do have sympathy for their situation, but I think some people need to be spanked. For example, don’t talk to me while I’m eating or on an important phone call. Oh, and don’t piss in front of me. As a kid, I remember learning right from wrong, and if I didn’t get it I got spanked.

So, since I’m not into S and M and don’t own a whip, I don’t spank these people—I’m just a bitch sometimes. From time to time I get called a bitch, and I’m okay with that because I know that not all of these people are losers, and some still have ambitions. Some need financial or medical assistance, and some just need to be spanked.

Today 2001

On October 26, 2001 President George W. Bush signed the USA Patriot Act into law, which made it legal to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop all in the pursuit of terrorism. This included email, medical and financial records.

The F.B.I. has been known to make "blanket" demands for phone records under the Patriot Act. These blanket demands had to be issued to phone companies to compensate for the fact that the proper procedure was never followed initially. Read more HERE.

The Patriot Act has now been ruled unconstitutional by many judges. Read more HERE.

So, if we're doing all this why can't we find the actual terrorists responsible for 9/11?

New Art

Tattooed pig at the Frieze Art Fair in London. Read more HERE.

A Buddhist Thought

"These teachings are like a raft, to be abandoned once you have crossed the flood. Since you should abandon even good states of mind generated by these teachings, How much more so should you abandon bad states of mind! Conquer the angry man by love. Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness. Conquer the miser with generosity. Conquer the liar with truth."

--The Dhammapada

The Dhammapada is a Buddhist scripture which is translated to "Path of the Dharma." Dharma is a philosophical concept that means "higher truth."

Huh? Agree With Who?

Super Mom?

Sarah Palin has been called an "exceptional woman" by Hilary Clinton. She's considered by some as the epitome of a modern American Mom. But she's not. She's suspected of billing the state for her and her daughter's travels.

Today the AP released their findings of an ongoing investigation into Palin's tax filings (which had to be made public to run for Vice President). It is legal to bill the state for "official government business." Palin and her daughters attended events where they weren't invited, and then billed Alaskan citizens. The most outlandish was a $707.29 a night hotel room in New York that overlooks Central Park. Since Palin became Governor in December 2006, she has charged the state $20,012 in travel expenses.

What could her daughters possibly be doing in New York on official government business? Asuming all of this is true, Palin doesn't seem like a Super Mom.

Read the AP article HERE.

Sam the Plumber

"Joe the Plumber" was mentioned 26 times (21 by McCain) in last nights' final presidential debate. His real name is Samuel. He's not even a licensed plumber. He owes the IRS in back taxes. He has a lien against his property. He's a registered republican.

Now "Joe the Plumber" has his own citation on Wikipedia.org.

McCain said that "Joe the Plumber" won the debate. So if Sam the plumber won the debate, what did the American people win? Or loose?



Read the San Francisco Chronicle article HERE.

Heartless

Kanye's newest....

"They don't know what we've been through"

Obama or Osama?

Rensselaer County Board of Elections (New York) sent out absentee ballots with the name Barack Osama. The county called it an honest mistake and said that they were working quickly to fix it. About 300 absentee ballots were mailed with the mispelling.

Read the full story HERE.

Mas Musica

"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
--Plato

Plato was not only a philosopher and writer, but he also founded the first university, the Academy in Athens. There Plato would introduce problems to members and they would solve them (or at least try to).

Shark Has Virgin Birth

A blacktip shark in Virginia (no pun intended) gave birth to a shark without procreating. Scientists DNA tested the baby shark and found that it has no genetic composition from a male. This study was published in the Journal of Fish Biology. This marks the second known case of a shark virgin birth.


Read more HERE.

Microsoft Windows Song

From Funkyjunk.com...so creative!

Listen

Musica

"Music is so naturally united with us that we cannot be free from it even if we so desired."
--Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius

Boethius classified music in three ways:

1. Musica mundana: music of the spheres (world)
2. Musica humana: harmony of body and spirit
3. Musica instrumentalis: instrumental music, the human voice

Boethius was recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church.

The Audacity of Hope

Forbes 400--Steve Jobs Questionable

Bill Gates is the richest American, again. He is currently worth $57 billion. Many were speculating that Warren Buffet would would take the top spot this year, but he didn't. Buffet is worth $50 billion after shares of Berkshire Hathaway fell 15 percent since February.

But don't mistake this for a competition: Gates donates 38 percent of his income ($35 billion) and Buffet gives 11 percent of his income ($6 billion) to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Surprisingly, for the second consecutive year Steve Jobs has given $0 to charitable organizations.Forbes reports that Jobs has not filed any 990 forms. He is currently worth $5.7 billion.

I realize that Jobs doesn't have to relinquish a dime out of his precious piggy bank to philanthropic organizations, but I do wonder why priced the iPhone so high. I wonder why he had to issue rebates to millions of customers.

Read the Forbes "Club Generosity" list HERE.

In Regards to Tonght's Debate

"Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary."

--John F. Kennedy


I wonder who will have the bigger vocabulary, Biden or Palin?

Rednecks for Obama

Funny. Photo taken September 26 in Oxford, Mississippi at a John McCain event.

The World

"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it."

--Karl Marx

Tuesday November 4, 2008

Log onto voteforchange.com to register to vote. The deadline is October 6. Check out the designers of the poster Thunder Dog Studios HERE.

King Tut Exhibit

Left is the 25-foot tall statue of Anubis, who is believed to be a guide and protector for the dead in ancient Egypt. The statue is at the Midway in front of the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas Museum of Art will host the "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," which opens October 3. The exhibit will run through May 15, 2009.

Click HERE for more info on the exhibit.

♫

What Are You Working For? part 2

"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind."

--Aristotle


Aristotle believed that the human soul had a purpose unlike any other thing, which is unique to each individual. If body, mind and soul are all connected, it is vital that all three work in unison. Joy prevails when all three perform together. Aristotle called this the Good Life.

Paid jobs set the mind up for failure. Employees are forced to follow the employer, instead of thinking for themselves. Individuals are so dependent on money that employers have all the power in the relationship, which forces a separation between mind, body and soul. Employees are like lab rats--racing in any direction to find cheese. If cheese is the only thing being chased, the Good Life is never found. Corporations have made this division greater with the McDonaldization of the workplace.

Aristotle said that in order to achieve the Good Life one must find the golden mean. In statistics the mean is the average. In the world gold is a symbol of wealth. Seeking the middle ground between rags and riches will upgrade the mind instead of degrading it. Finding the golden mean is discovering an individual balance and harmony of the mind, body and soul--then the Good Life will come. The Good Life can be realized by grasping the fact that money isn't the only important thing, but doing what you love is.

From Kanye's Blog...

Check out Roadsworth! I like them because I believe art and inspiration is everywhere, even when you're driving down the street--so you have a choice to plug in.

Poo Poo Products

Michael and Tun Flancman turn elephant dung into paper products. They own a gift shop at the Toronto Zoo, Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper Co. They sell journals, photo albums, gift bags, wrapping paper and Christmas ornaments.

The Flancman's want to make our way of life sustainable. They want to make a product from waste and turn it into something useful. Also, they donate a portion of their income to assist elephants.

Read the Forbes article HERE.

Anger

"Beware the fury of a patient man."

--John Dryden

Solved Mystery

For the first time in 40 years a historic archeological dig has discovered evidence that Stonehenge was a healing site. Archeologists believe that many would travel from near and far for the power of the blue stones (which were brought after the site was erected). It is believed that the blue stones where brought to the site around 2300BC. Around the site an extraordinary amount of bodies were found, indicating that it was too late for some to be healed.

Apparently, this puts an end to the "mystery" of Stonehenge.

Read more about the discovery here.

Buy Me A Drink

129 college presidents and chancellors have joined the Amethyst Initiative, which advocates that the drinking age should be reduced to 18. The organization believes the current drinking law is comparable to prohibition. They want to put a stop to college "binge" drinking and educate young people on the effects of alcohol.

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984, but prior to that states adopted their own drinking ages with out penalty. If any state chose a drinking under 21 the federal government would deprive the state 10 percent of their highway funds.

Read the Forbes article here.

Tolerance

"Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population."

--Albert Einstein

12-Year-Old Changing Energy

William Yuan is a 12-year-old boy from Beaverton, Oregon who is on the way to solving our energy crisis. The epiphany to create a 3D solar cell came to him one day while playing with Legos.

Yuan's new solar cells are capable of absorbing both UV light and visible light in order to harness more energy. The 3D cells, compared to the current 2D cells, will be able to catch 500 times more sunlight.

Read more here.

FDA Standards on GE Animals

On September 18th the FDA released their new standards for genetically engineered food. You can view the guidelines here. The FDA is accepting public comment until November 18.

The only genetically altered animal to reach consumers so far are GloFish.

All animals must be tested and approved by the FDA. GE animals' environmental impact must also be evaluated before approval.

McDonaldize This

The term McDonaldization was term coined by sociologist George Ritzer in his book titled, The McDonaldizaiton of the Workplace. Ritzer used Max Weber's ideas on bureaucracy as a spring board to demonstrate how corporations can affect society.

The book points out that a company cannot have power over it's workers without efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. If any of these four things are missing there can (and will be) a shift in power.

Plan to Workout

"Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness."

--Edward Stanley

Meghan McCain on The Tonight Show

On Wednesday, September 17 Meghan McCain (John McCain's daughter) was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She admitted to voting for John Kerry in 2004. Recently, she registered as a Republican as a father's day gift.

Meghan said that she used to be an Independent because she felt it was "more representative of my beliefs."

She's currently blogging for her Dad at McCainBlogette.com.

Age Ain't Nothing But A Number

Ray Moon (#41) is almost 80 years old. He's had prostate issues, open-heart surgery, polio and financial woes. I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Picture at Victorian Bodybuilding Championships in Melbourne, Australia. More pics here.

What Are You Working For?

"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind."

--Aristotle

Guiness Book of World Records

Wow. He's 2 feet, 5.37 inches and she's got the longest legs: 4 feet, 4 inches. More pics here.

Supreme Court Justices

The whole point of the Supreme Court is balance, right?

Soccer Net Recall

MacGregor and Mitre voluntarily recalled an estimated 190,000 soccer goals yesterday. The recall was set into motion by a deadly incident involving a toddler.

The 20-month-old Texas boy got his head stuck in the net and died due to strangulation.

Sadly, the death occurred last year and Regent Sports Corporation continued selling this product until yesterday.

The nets were sold at Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware and other smaller stores nationwide from May 2002 to May 2008.

For additional information, contact Regent Sports at (877) 516-9707 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

• The MacGregor's model number, 97236, is printed on the assembly instructions. Its UPC code, 029807972365, is printed on the net's packaging.

• The Mitre soccer goal is model number 89186, printed on the assembly instructions; UPC code number: 029807891864.

• Nets manufactured after April 2007 with 4 inch-by-4 inch square openings are not included in the recall.

Jewish Roc Boyz

"Jay's like the Moses of this thing..."


Deconstructing Jay-Z: Losing My Religion from jeff on Vimeo.

Can't Tell Me Nothin

Gotta love Kanye and Zach Galifianakis...absorb it

Cover Girl

Ten years ago our society wasn't ready for Ellen DeGeneres. Now, Cover Girl thinks she's beautiful. It's marvelous that Ellen's 50-year-old face will will be plastered all over Cover Girl advertisements. The modern day evolution of defining beautiful.

I Love This Quote

"All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth."
--Friedrich Nietzsche

UpsideDown

UpsideDown house in Trassenheide, Germany. Built to give people the opportunity to see the world differently.

Waffles

Waffles are good for the brain