Good Half Week in TV

Today was one of the best weeks in TV in a good minute. We started with Desperate Housewives on Sunday. Soooo much better than last season. There was like no drama last season but this season…good drama. Then on Monday we had I Love New York… the best episode ever. There were some attempted assaults, some battery, some spitting, some defamation of character… man it was full of greatness though. Greatness. I love that, two people tried to kill that poontang of a man Tailor Made… for real. But I do need to know what Sister Patterson thinks she is doing. I am just confused as to who/what she thinks she is. Like do you realize that you are over 50…you don't need to be wearing half of the stuff that you do. Also, maybe if you were 50 and had a banging body still, it would be semi OK, but I just can't handle her body and that mini-dress she had on. NOT OK. Also, I am feeling like Mr. Wise could get it…never even realized he was on the show until this episode…but he has that swagger son…hot business.

Continuing on Monday, we had Dancing With The Stars… Helio is soooo cute. I love his cute little smile…didn't like his dance though, but the judges did. I'm just happy I get to look at him for another week. Melanie Brown so deserves all of my props man…like for real. She's a great dancer, Im so impressed with her post baby body… just great. She's my idol, for now at least. Let me just say that I am mad that Cheetah Girl got voted off….highly inappropriate. Why is Marie Osmond still there by the way?

Monday ended off with The Boondocks… THE BEST EPISODE OF THE SEASON BY FAR. I will admit, I thought maybe this season was just garbage, but this was defiantly one of my favorite overall episodes… sooooo funny. My statement that Aaron McGruder has lost the special charm has been redacted.

Tuesday, The Biggest Loser… man, they are doing some cut throat ish here. I'm just trying to figure out how old dude gained 17 pounds and then lost 33 the next… just dang. And why do three people weight over 800 pounds…it bothers me. Also, why do I feel like they pick like semi attractive people so that when they lose the weight and they are like really attractive people are like…. DAAAAANG! It makes the transformation seem like that much better.

Im SURE I'll have even more to say when ANTM comes on tonight son!

My ENTIRE life isnt about music

Although it might seem that way looking at my recent posts. I've been studying more and more, and I am one of those weird people who HAVE to study with music or I cannot focus. I have been in the library, realized I forgot my headphones and home and had to leave...it just would not have been a productive time. Rhapsody is a great thing my friends.

The point of this is, I found another musician to fawn over...Rick Kelly aka Soul Ballet. Man...the stuff is good. It actually reminds me of a couple of Philippe Saisse's albums (Halfway til Dawn and Masques). I GUESS we can call it more pop jazz, but it has elements of electronica mixed in with genuine jazz beats and stuff...it's just greatness.

Those music channels on Comcast/Time Warner Cable are freaking great, they give you such an array of music even within one genre. If I do study at home, that channel is an absolute must.

Why does old school jazz make me think of a fall/winter night in a big city (namely San Francisco, DC, or New York)...like just straight class? Everytime I hear some, I start thinking about 5 star restaurants and hotels and nice clothes and dancing (yeah actual dancing, not gyrations lol). I loves it...if you ever need to be taken on a journey, I suggest you put on some of the old school jazz.

Reflections on "That issue we like to keep under the carpet"

Now, I may be taking a risk by posting this next topic as I was trying to keep this blog as politically correct as possible, but I read a random post that really got me thinking (thanks DC Blogs). One of the ladies from a blog entitled "The View From Here" posted a post called, "Pretty Fly For A White Guy". It wasn't so much what the author wrote but more what the comments were. There were people who were seemingly upset that the author wrote what she did. The post was pretty much about if the author was to date a white man, what kind of white man he would have to be. Now, I am sure (I don't remember if I deleted the post where I discussed the survey done where Asian men and Black women were seen to be the most undesirable demographic) that other races say things like, "If I were to date a black women she would have to be Halle Berry" so what is wrong with this person putting her preferences out there? I'm just saying.

As black women, we are picked over and treated as undesirables so maybe when one of us lays out a checklist for someone else it is an issue? I'm just saying. Is it soo disconcerting that a black women would have some prerequisites for someone else? I am just tired of it...and it so shouldn't be an issue, but it still is.

I kept it pretty PC...I held back a lot, just know that.

What If I Wanted To Break?

Jared Leto is probably the best actor/singer there is. I'm not going to say best actor/singer… but I feel like his "ploy" for a music career was more than successful. Not like freaking Heidi Montag or even Hilary Duff. But seriously, his 30 Seconds to Mars venture is HOT BUSINESS, especially The Kill. The emotion comes across really well.

Anderson Cooper v. Matt Lauer

Battle of the hot anchormen… who wins here? Anderson Cooper (40) or Matt Lauer (49). My initial reaction is to say Matt Lauer simply because he is almost half a century and still is getting it. Anderson Cooper has BODY though, like for real. On that "Planet's in Peril" thing, he was invoking that Bear Grylls sexy thing going on with the tight black shirt. "oh wee"

Man Son Man

This is like what, my third Paul Taylor post in like the month, but I must give props to the new album, "Ladies Choice". At first I wasn't feeling it because half of the CD has singing on it and everyone knows that I do NOT like singing. However, on like the second listen, it really is rather hot. In all honesty. He chose just the right singers to showcase on the album. I think that is a big problem with a lot of instrumentalists that choose to put singers on their records, they chose "who's hot in the streets" NOT whose voice compliments the instrument they play. But Paul Taylor has alto-ish women singers (Regina Belle and Latoya London to name a few) that really complement his soprano sax. I think Boney James usually does a good job of picking the right vocalists too. It has GOT to add an element to the song, they CANNOT take over… or I'll throw the CD in the garbage.

Paul Taylor will always get raves from me though because he is one of the few people who can give me straight up goosebumps in 80 degree weather and whose musicality moves me to the point of tears almost. BUT there was one thing I was extremely disappointed with. Songs 1 and 2, Ladies Choice and I Want To Be Loved (By You) BOTH have the same opening. Like the very same opening. I was really upset by that. Maybe if they had moved the songs a couple of songs apart I would not have picked up on it, but they didn't and I was seriously disappointed.

Lifetime Movie Network

I think I've mentioned this before, but I absolutely love Lifetime Movie Network (LMN). I mean honestly, you can spend an entire Saturday on the couch watching movie after movie after movie. Yes, the acting is quite uninspired and the plots are kinda thin and they do repeat, it is GOOD STUFF. That's part of the reason I like it, you don't have to think, it's nothing to serious about it. Well let me clarify, I do not like the movies where people are dying and the sad ones (they tend to play those on the weekdays though, they play the good one murder/suspense/thriller ones on Saturdays). I just finished watching on yesterday that was 3:30 minutes of straight goodness. Loved it! It was called 1^st to Die. It really kinda didn't make sense, but it did in an odd ball sort of way.

Copious Amounts of Swag

What exactly is swagger? Urban dictionary defines swagger as, "how one presents oneself to the world. An appearance of self confidence". I'm inclined to agree with this definition with one caveat. You can think you have swagger and soooo not have it. Just because you are self confident does NOT mean that you have swag. I mean honestly.

It really bothers me when people are like, "I have all the swag in the world" and blah blah blah. No son, you don't. I promise. Swag to me is when you are confident and there is NO NEED TO BRAG ABOUT HOW GOOD YOU ARE. When you know what's up and everyone else does as well. It is an unspoken truth. Just because you think you are cute (this goes for men and women) does not mean that you have swag... you just seem arrogant (especially if you think you are cute and you really aren't).

For instance, there is this dude in my class...not my section, but my class of 450 who has sooo much swag it is ridiculous. I wouldn't even be ordinarily attracted to him, like if I saw him in a club I wouldn't give him a second glance. BUT BUT, there is just something about him that exudes confidence, I mean it almost oozes out of his pores and that is sooo attractive. It's not even like he is cocky with it because he isn't. But it is something...oh my gracious. It's kinda like the Denzel Washington thing...I'm not sure he is even all that attractive but the swag factor takes him to crazy places man.... woooeee.

But the point of this post was just to express that having a lot of self confidence to the point where you are on your jock a bit too hard IS NOT SWAG. It just makes you look stuck up, egotistical, and semi stupid for trying to portray yourself in that manner. Thanks in advance.

Musings of a Procrastinator v. 2

I love NY 2 is boring...just straight up boring and straight up scripted. I don't even know why I keep watching it. Maybe because I just need to fill my DVR up with more random nonsense that is VH1. I mean the dudes aren't event that cute, and the cute ones don't even get any TV time. Sooooo bored with it.

Dancing with the Stars...the dancers do keep getting better every year but I have a bit of an issue. The two best female dancers are/were in girl bands. And what do girl bands do???? They DANCE. I mean they do have a significant advantage over some of the others, they work on choreography all the time.

Why did Pepa from Salt and Pepa do that do her face? I mean seriously, don't ever get plastic surgery and not even look like the same person. That is problematic to me.

Why do some of the Jena 6 boys allegedly have a myspace video out where they are "making it rain on dem hoes" with all their money? I haven't seen it but I have heard from numerous people that it is out there. I mean WTF...don't use this as a platform to get famous and parade yourself around. Take your behind in the house or something and stay there. I was going to buy a tee shirt to support, but if that's what your doing with it...soooo not understanding the point and severity of what is going on...naw son I'm straight. Spend it on someone who cares.

Now THIS is what I'm talking about

I was soooo excitable this morning when I woke up and heard rain... but I just about fell out when I went outside. There was like zero humidity...got in my car and the thermometer said 48 degrees...THIS IS WHAT FALL IS. It is a beautiful thing, just loving it. Granted, tomorrow it will probably be 80 degrees but whatever, today completely made my month. I mean I was soooo happy walking the 0.8 miles from school to the bus today. The wind was crazy blowing my hair and ish and I just had to stop and take it all in.

Growing up in the Bay Area spoils you man, seriously. We don't have seasons...it's like 63 degrees average every month...it really is a beautiful thing. Yes yes, I complain about how I don't like the Bay Area because it's kinda boring and there is a serious lack of educated black men there, BUT man...the whether will win my heart for ever. I don't know if I wanna move back, but man... I have been spoiled. I seriously don't believe that it should be 89 degrees in the last month of October, that really seems unnatural to me. But eh, it is what it is right?

And yes, I am a big fan of the ellipse... it makes the writing flow much easier. The stream of thought style is so much easier to pull off this way.

Gratuitous Displays of Affection

I am not or have I ever been nor will I ever be one for Displays of Affection. Yes, most people don't like to see other people straight making out in public, but I have issues even deeper than that. I absolutely HATE hugging people. The only people I hug on the regular are my mom, dad, and my boyfriend. Is that weird?

It seems today that the hugging on greeting is starting to equal a handshake...like its customary or something. I really don't like having to tell people that I don't like to hug, because it makes it seem like there is something wrong with me. I don't think there is anything wrong with me, I just only hug when I mean it. Like, I'm not going to hug you and I don't even really like you....it's soooo awkward for me. And it makes me seems socially awkward if I'm in a group of people and everyone is taking turns hugging and I'm just standing there waiting until it is over because everyone knows I don't do that.

It's a little better with dudes, but I still am mad uncomfortable with it...unless it's that sideways hug around the waist kinda thing. But I really don't like straight on hugging people....so uncomfy man. Totally uncomfy.

And it's weird, I don't have a problem shaking hands and I'm not totally OCD about the germage issue either. I just believe that the hug has become just so trivial today, just commonplace. It's really not even special anymore.

I don't know what made me think of that, but... that's how I feel... I obviously needed to vent. Vent over.

Music Battle: Peter White v. Ken Navarro

Ok, so these are my two favorite jazz guitarists out there. They both play the nylon string acoustic guitar, yet they have two very different sounds. Loving them both though. The point of this post is just to show how much of a person's soul is put into the music/musicality and production. I mean, you can't just know how to play a musical instrument, I really has to be an extension of you. And I am sorry that I must harp on this person, but Kenny G. is a prime example. I feel like he knows how to play the sax, BUT he puts no feeling into it. He is not one with his instrument in my opinion. He just seems to put notes out there. But then again, I think a lot of his issue is his production and he seriously lacks musicality.

But back to the lecture at hand...Ken Navarro and Peter White both play from the soul and both sound so different to me. I guess it is the way they interpret the music and put certain sounds together. I love the way Ken Navarro tends to be kinda light and airey and plays from the higher registers and Peter White tends to be more in the lower registers with more of a slow haunting thump thumpness. (yes, I am aware it is not a word...no judgement thanks). But it is the same instrument...they just take it different places with that soul...that inner spirit. It really is a beautiful thing.

So since this is a versus post, I am going to have to go with Peter White...for the Nylon String Guitar Battle

Sidenote: Is it not a beautiful thing when two of your favorite artists get together and play? My favorite pianist and my favorite saxophonist (Keiko Matsui and Paul Taylor) used to play together. Better yet, Paul Taylor was Keiko Matsui's saxophonist, which probably explains why I like a lot of her music. The mix of the two styles is just superb...words cant even describe it.

Summer's End

I believe I have a post here somewhere giving praise to that which is known as Paul Taylor. But COME ON! He has done it yet again. YET AGAIN. Yes, I know that the Ladies Choice album came out in May, but I am a bit late as Rhapsody does not have it yet which is inappropriate in and of itself, but that is neither here nor there.

The point of this is to say that the track Summer's End is hot business. I mean serious "hot fyah". I usually am not a fan of the Soprano Sax, but Summer's End makes Soprano Sax hot where as Kenny G. really did take that fire away. He completely like watered that ish down. If there are any Kenny G. fans I am offending, I do apologize, but it is what it is. Or maybe it is Kenny G.'s lack of production that just makes his music sound so blah blah bubblegum to me. But somehow, all that is Paul Taylor puts that soul and feeling back into the Soprano Sax, seriously. It is really something when it's like 80 degrees outside, but you turn that track on and get chills. Can you do that Sir Kenny G.? I'm just asking.

Joe Jamail is Freaking Pimp

I am sooo proud I study in his pavilion every day. How during a deposition do you call someone "fat boy" AND "dumb son of a bitch" and still retain your credibility. Straight hotness.

Musings of a Procrastinator

So, I am procrastinating studying. Actually no I'm not, let us back that up a little bit. I am done with my homework (yes in law school you have homework again like in high school... it's not like college where all you really had to do was "reading"), but I could be getting even farther ahead but I think I deserve a break.



I just would like to comment on a few things that have been bothering me of late.



Dancing with the Stars



I really do need to know what's up with Floyd Mayweather though.. so not the cuteness.



I Love New York 2



I mean, the chick really wasn't the nicest looking person to look at from the beginning, BUT now, she is just all kinds of awful. Please tell me why she decided it was appropriate to get like JJ boobs on a small ass frame like hers. You look like a circus freak and Imma need to you stop that immediatly.



And why are the guys not as attractive as last season. Like for real. I mean, Pretty is kinda hot. Tailor-made has potential , and Wolf would be hot business if he cleaned himself up, but that about does it for me. Like almost all the dudes were hot on there last season... I guess cute guys have other places to be. Dang, they could at least pretend to like NY so I could have the pleasure of looking at them once a week.



And why is the little person that is on there who as called himself "Midget Mac" so damn volitile. It's actually quite frightning really.



Law School

Why is my favorite class the class I thought I was going to hate? Criminal Law gets it man. Seriously I love my teacher! That litte short guy puts fear into the heart of many...loves it.

So UT is supposed to be all laid back and chill and facially it is, but why are people sooooooo competetive. Yes yes, I am aware that we are graded against each other (actually technically we aren't because we don't have class rankings but then we do, but whatever) but like...why are you worried about how much studying I'm doing? Why are you worried about how much time I spent in the library. Settle down and worry about yourself, really.

On a related note, going to law school with a whole heap of Type A personalities has made me realize just how laid back and chill I am...like for real. Like I realize I am competing with my classmates, but I just want to get the grades that I am looking for, it doesnt matter what the person sitting next to me got. Honestly. AND AND there's more...not only does it make me realize how laid back I am, it has kinda made me realize how passive I am. I really don't think I'd make a good big firm corporate lawyer simply because I am not arrogant. I say this in a good way, I think to be a good lawyer, you have to have a certain arrogance and Im not sure I could ever get it. Boo hoo.

Musings

Man, Perez Hilton on Celebrity Rap Superstar is straight comedy. OH MY GOSH. He said "I run my thing through ya hootas"!!! LOLOLOL

Why do people with small boobies think that it is ok for them not to wear chesticle support? I am just saying.

Randomness that is Law School: Episode 2

So basically I'm feeling like this. There's this chick that sits across from me in one of my classes and she is so arrogant and not feeling her. Everytime she says something I wanna through my pencil at her or if I'm drinking soda, I would love to hurl soda in her face.



On the same note, theres a chick that smells like icing, spit, and must all mixed into one and it is quite distracting.