"Blame It On RIO"....
"Blame It On RIO...."
Guitars strum while Conga drums beat....
Quick fancy-foot work from festively painted feet...
Rhinestones and plumes over barely covered booties and breasts
While I feasted on costumes of Brazil and all it’s beauty, his hands made me forget the rest…
"Do I STILL make you nervous?"
is what he sing-songed softly into my earlobe; his voice was soft...gentle... yet dripping with "swag" carrying the same strong, deep tenor that I'd admired in Freshman English so many years ago.
I didn’t answer just yet but rather slip& slided away from him to join in with 'las chicas-locas' dancing this funky, little line-dance everyone was hyped about doing in front of me,...some popular band playing a combo of rock & El Mariachi . He DID make me nervous and I needed a quick & fun diversion, so I danced solo for a moment.We were almost "One"--we had been so close as we swayed, swerved and sort of grinded the night away at my neighborhood's celebration of ~Carnival~; "A Night In RIO".
I was in "Cielo latino" as my eyes hungrily took in all the sights and sounds of a culture that I normally have only a passing interest in. Everywhere I looked I saw evidence that the party-planners spared no expense to bring "Brazilian Flavor" to the event! I loved that every age group, every race, color and every socioeconomic group seemed represented there that night; from the wealthiest of the blue-blood wasps slumming it in the artsy-section of town---to the Hispanic-blooded man, woman and children I saw clearly familiar with celebrations of this caliber, whether eating, dancing , singing, laughing we were all having quite the fiesta---'Living Outside Our Box'! My date for the evening, a tall, glass of dark & sexy was quite familiar since his own blood is mixed with Portuguese, Puerto-Rican and Black--he spoke alternately in Spanish patois & Black English as if he were 'home'.....um,by way of Jersey that is. My "Papi" couldn't have thanked me enough for suggesting we try out this indoor festival for our second date and every time his lips gently closed against my neck, my shoulders, the tip of my back and all through my hair--he showed his sincere gratitude!
In truth, I was so aroused from both him and the simpatico sea of swirling bodies around me( one guy in front of me so close that he and I looked like a couple); all dancing, chanting, singing, screaming in rhythmic ecstasy around us that I truly wanted to take my date somewhere and 'thank him back'...like in the words of legendary crooner Lionel Richie: "All Night Long"
We weren't alone though....
We were a merry band of three that evening ( our fourth cancelled out): me, Papi and a mutual girl-friend who served not only as a fun,delightful and most welcome addition to our outing but also as a necessary buffer between our mounting lust as the music and erotic atmosphere seduced me to wanna' do things I knew I would regret in the morning...
"What did you ask me?"
I two-stepped & swiveled back over to him and responded to his question coyly, eyes looking down as if to shield me from his smoldering sensuality and then finally up at him, direct. I knew all too well what he asked me and I knew all too well that we both knew what the correct answer was to that. Instead of answering me though we clasped hands and did a few amateurish Salsa steps together, not quite “Dancing With The Stars” but just as fun for us. Papi's hands slid smoothly up and down my waist as I wiggled and shimmied my hips, he squeezed my ass as a reminder that this dance we were doing was a metaphor for so much more:
We had been dancing around our 'unfinished business' for years...
We dated once back in college which led to a hot & heavy evening of sticky fumbling and me dancing around his couch and the fact that I was a virgin...and had a boyfriend...and was not prepared to take it all the way.
Years later I would see him at various parties with me always holding my partner's attention and him always holding mine from afar; he wasn't "The one who got a way" but rather I was and now I wanted to be caught...
He leaned in:
"I said…Do I STILL make you nervous?"
I melted back into his arms, pushing myself completely into him as I turned my face next to his in the 'kissing position" and said simply
"Yes."
Aiiiiiii.....Te quiero mas cuando baile conmigo....me encantaria.
"Sistahs Who Swing Their Swag".....
You ever wonder why some chicks ALWAYS seem to 'get-the-guy' and I don't mean any guy( a buck-toothed,one-legged prostitute can get any guy on the right night)
but 'THE' guy...you know "Mr. Wonderful"; good on paper and in person...staring at you lovingly over a romantic dinner that HE cooked in HIS five bedroom house...*sigh*( yeah, I'm STILL looking for that guy too, holla-back-at-me if you run into him...please!)
Well even though I personally have never had a problem finding men( good or bad, I do find 'em ),
I have noticed that I seem to have two types of girlfriends when it comes to the opposite sex:
Those that regardless of their cute factors can pull a good-lookin' man out of a ‘Melissa Etheridge-and-Queen Latifah concert ..AND then there are those ( ...again, regardless of cute factors) who couldn't hook a cutie off 'Bachelor Island' when she's got 1st class airline tickets for the Superbowl wearing a cheesy-nachos and beer scented thong underneath!
Okaaaay, I'm exaggerating but um,... not much.
So being the concerned and caring gal-pal that I am,
I couldn't help but wonder *WHY*…
Why can't some girls get the guy and why do some ladies ALWAYS have the 'one' plus a spare if the 'one' starts trippin'? Let's face it: some sistahs swing that swagga’, and some just... swing.
We ALL know that looks are a VERY important factor but not the only factor, except in cases where the man wants a living Barbie doll but outside of that you have to consider: personality, career, family background, libido, etc. I know of some chicks that are bringing home the bacon, cooking it up AND taking out the left-over grease afterward. ..And yet they still have no-manses!
So what’s the problem?
Okay, I’m no Steve Harvey but I'll take a stab at it, this may be a non-brainer for some women but we all have a friend in the remedial-romance class ( if not, the friend might be YOU!)
Soooooooo, here's my non-expert theory 1#
High self-esteem.
Some women just know they should be with a guy and that confidence they bring to the dating field makes them attractive. Ya' know it's like the line in the movie Field Of Dreams...."If you build it, they will come" and if you build-up and boost your OWN ego, they'll come…everybody wants a winner ( or at least are willing to buy into the hype of one)
Non-expert theory number 2# ....Attitude.
Bad or good, whichever one you have a man won't be able to forget that rather significant detail about you. Now I'll give you one guess and a gold star for winning if you know which one a decent guy prefers....
Non-expert theory number 3# ..... Cleanliness.
I'm not talking --crazy-anal-retentive-serial-killer--kinda' clean BUT I am also suggesting that even if your home or car would not qualify for "Hoarders", you may still wanna' tidy up your living space from time to time. While some of y'all are buying every freaky toy and new outfit from 'Victoria's Secret' every week, the REAL secret is you need to: change the sheets more often, hang your clothes up IN the closet actually, remember Lysol and not perfume-over-funk is your friend and finally wipe all the crap cluttering up your bureau into a basket with a lid( and that includes the teddy bears and other stuffed creatures, give 'em to your nephews,nieces, neighbors or somebody)
Non-expert theory number 4# Learn to cook.
This one isn't nearly as important as it used to be around your sweet, old nana's day but it doesn't hurt. I've never heard a guy say:" If only she'd stop making me all these home-cooked meals, I wanna' spend my paycheck on eating out every night this week!"....There's a reason why some men never leave home, they're hungry!
Non-expert theory number 5# :
Take care of business...in the room ( or rooms) that matters.
If you to ask which room, my lil' column ain't gonna' help ya' boo!
This should be the easiest one, but some girlies make it sooo hard ( and not in the good way either) It's just like the old Fats Waller song : "Find out what he likes and when he likes it..and let him have it just that waaaaay". There are certain things a gal has gotta' do ( and reasonably well) if she really likes a guy. You don't have to be 'Linda Lovelace' or 'Buffie-the-body' but if you are clueless, ASK or learn quickly as you go ( or rather cum). If you don't.....some one else will.
.....Well, I could go on but you'll just have to wait for the book ( hey, I can't give away ALL my secrets) Until then, check out this poem-excerpt by sistah' Maya Angelou, it explains a lot....
"Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,they think I'm telling lies. I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
a hive of honey bees...."
…..'NUFF SAID.
My Two Cents Worth.....
UCB
AM I MY SISTER'S KEEPER?
Um,....“EXCUUUUUSE ME!” she hissed rudely while simultaneously splattering us with both rain-water and round-the-way-girl-attitude before click-clacking ahead of us into the restaurant. Now we were ALL headed into the same, exact place but apparently my friend and I weren’t moving fast enough out of the down-pour for home-girl, so we were shoved aside before we could open the door.
I looked on in shock as my BFF and fellow committee organizer, momentarily forgot our purposes for meeting that day and proceeded to follow our impatient, young antagonizer into the downtown pizza parlor to reprimand her. They exchanged brief, heated words and before I could even intervene, the other woman turned quickly on stiletto-ed heels and exited out as angrily as she entered. Whether she left because she was actually scared to be in close proximity of my girlfriend or lost her appetite I'll never know; I was just glad it was over as quickly as it started.
I looked on in shock as my BFF and fellow committee organizer, momentarily forgot our purposes for meeting that day and proceeded to follow our impatient, young antagonizer into the downtown pizza parlor to reprimand her. They exchanged brief, heated words and before I could even intervene, the other woman turned quickly on stiletto-ed heels and exited out as angrily as she entered. Whether she left because she was actually scared to be in close proximity of my girlfriend or lost her appetite I'll never know; I was just glad it was over as quickly as it started.
The end?
Well not really, as my friend and I got down to business over soda pop & pepperoni; neither one of us truly able to get the stench of that unexpected (and let’s be honest---> ‘ignorant’) altercation off of our spirits, we couldn’t help but discuss what just happened: Here we were: fellow organizers and presenters for an upcoming community event in honor of and support of Black women ("The 2nd Annual Africana-WoManism Society Symposium") and yet had just taken part in a verbal-joust with the very audience we were targeting for this summit!
wow...
With the air thick with irony and shame, we immediately felt remorseful and after saying a sincere prayer for that young sistah’ (and ourselves) we decided not to let this unfortunate moment go in vain but to forge ahead with an even stronger commitment to our involvement in the movement. So newly inspired and famished, we ate our pizza and finished lining out our presentation.
Shortly after I parted ways with my friend I got to thinkin': it was very easy to set aside time to plan, write, delegate and create a collaboration with this homegirl of mine, a woman I’ve known and loved like a sister ever since my freshman year in college but how often are women, specifically Black women grouped together with unknown sistahs and have less than amicable results? I see it all the time from TV shows like “Jerry Springer”, any number of reality TV shows to up-close and personal conflicts like at the pizza parlor earlier with my usually level-headed friend; Black women seem to have a BIG problem with each other and this is one pink and BIG elephant in the room that needs to be called out...intervention style.
I'll admit as peaceful as most folks will tell you I am, in the past I too have let myself fall victim to that nasty spirit of "Sapphire”, and got-somebody-told-off. Now to be clear I would NEVER roll my neck, eyes, shake my finger and carry on as anything but a lady today but I have thrown my share of ‘shade’ ( a.k.a. ‘Sista-tude’) before when I felt vexed enough to get my point across to another who I felt wasn’t respecting me. It seems so childish and silly when you're thinking clear-headed BUT at the WRONG moment on the WRONG day, the knee-jerk response for far too many of us is to resort to this childhood way of handling things; like we did on the playground or bus-stop with our friends egging us on to ‘go off’…usually with someone who looks like similar to 'us'.
Call it being: 'ghetto', 'angry-Black-Woman-issues’, Crabs-In-The-Barrel-syndrome or just immaturity…I just know we need to work on a mass healing between ‘sistah-on-sistah’ relations, within in the community, within our homes, within ourselves. In other words: we’ve got a historic, new health plan that will benefit us ALL physically, let’s now work on repairing the spiritual and emotional damage we do to each other.
Am I My Sistah’s Keeper? ......YES I AM!
The Urban Fashionista's Guide To Spring Do's, Dont's and WTH?
SO WHAT'S HOT?
Okay ladies ( and gentlemen too ) just in case some of you aren't clear on the definite 'Do's and Don'ts' of outer-wear this Spring, I've put together a short but not-so-sweet list that should help even the fashion-challenged victim getting towards being 'runway-ready'.... versus..... 'roadkill '
Okay ladies ( and gentlemen too ) just in case some of you aren't clear on the definite 'Do's and Don'ts' of outer-wear this Spring, I've put together a short but not-so-sweet list that should help even the fashion-challenged victim getting towards being 'runway-ready'.... versus..... 'roadkill '
You're good if you're workin' hot pants & boy shorts, knee high & over the knee socks, futuristic-sci-fi-warrior attire, high dress splits,
sporty looks, jumpsuits & play suits, patterned pants..especially plaid, sheer fabrics and rockin' your boyfriend's blazers.
WHAT'S NOT (...and never will be)
Sandal Overage and Biscuit Heels …
Okay ladies (and some of you men too) the rule of thumb is: if either your toes or your ankles go beyond the shoe, it’s time to switch to a new size and quit playin’. Now you may have worn a size seven in high school, but you can always rekindle that magic through your yearbook and let your local shoe-salesman give you the Beyonce’ special and Let-em'-Upgrade-Ya’. As for the "Crusty-the-Clown" heels: leave the dough-grindin’ to Popeyes or Bojangles and put some damn Vaseline on ... yep, we see you!
*Example: “ Gurrrrl, Regina told me about those biscuit-heel-havin' chicks at the party last night tryin' to be cute!
If you can afford to wear Prada … you can afford coca-butter too!”
And now in other news, “The Leather-Report”:
Unless you are living in the colder states like Alaska or one of the Dakotas, it’s time to pack the leather up fellas … and yes, the vests count too. Now, it was okay to rock your shiniest pants and jackets all through March, but after Easter; I don’t care if you just got it off lay-away, there’s no excuse for leather in spring, unless you’re a cow. ... And given the chance, even the cows would probably opt for feathers or somethin’ else come July.
Baby Powder As A Built-In Air Conditioner:
We have all seen these ‘chalky-people’ walkin’ around with visible white powder on them … lookin’ like there’s a crack-buffet on their chest, just so they can stay approximately two degrees cooler in the heat. Now, I want to be universal but I’m talking to Black folks mainly here so unless you’re a mime on your lunch-break, get rid of the White-On-Black skin look (insert obvious “Jungle Fever” joke here) blend it in and buy yourself a battery-operated fan, it’s that simple.
Time-Out-For-Tims … (at least for now):
There’s some debate over whether the ever-ubiquitous “Tims” a.k.a. Timberland Boots are still in style now that Lil ‘Wayne and Kanye have attached their considerably famous feet to them at recent award shows. The fact still remains that much like Sara Palin and good sense, boots and warm weather don't match! So for all my lil’ height-challenged dudes; get over the few inches you’ll lose-in-ya-shoes and make it up in your swagga’ ... (ya’ wurnt’ foolin’ nobodyeee anyway shawty’)
Muffin-Top Hanging Out Shorts and Capri Pants:
I think most ladies (and again, some fellas) got the memo that the “Season of Butt-Cleavage Fashion” has ended, but for those who insist on subjecting the innocent to their plumber's-crack, cover it up and leave the exposed butts in an ashtray … please, before we start pitching pennies up in it.
Cougar-Couture`…
On one hand, I’m a big fan of the “If-you-still-got-it-flaunt-it” attitude, but there’s something to be said for a lady of age who shows a lil’ modesty and class. To all my ‘fifty and flirty’ sisters out there: work your sexy, but if any of the stores you shop in have Justin Bieber or Drake boomin’ on their system you might wanna’ reconsider that baby-tee and miniskirt combo and get it for your daughter……….I’m just sayin’.
Big-Ole-Bama' Straw Hats:
Nuthin’ wrong with a straw hat some days. I have at least one myself… but there’s a fine Mason-Dixon line between southern charm and straight-up country! The shape, style and swagga’ of your hat determines that.
It’s safe to suggest that if you’re wearing your brim almost everyday and you’re not either: (A) carrying a fruit basket through your village fresh from the market; (B) chasing barnyard animals around your crops on the farm; or (C) are in the national tour of “The Color Purple,” … you need to save-up and get your hair ‘did’ or cut it all off … choose.
Big-Gurlz In Strapless Dresses :
Now, no disrespect to my thick sistahs but some of y’all KNOW you’re wrong!
If your ‘Weapons-Of-Mass-Seduction” look like B52 bombers on standby, you may want to rethink that lil’ bath towel masquerading as a dress to cover up the twins ... or at least take it down to the “Kitty-Kat” club and get paid for your show!
Skinny-Chicks In 'Poom-Poom' Shorts:
Where did some women get the idea that being very slim means you can dress as raunchy as possible? Even if you have a gluteus-minimus leaning more towards that of the Paris Hilton set, we don’t wanna’ see your lil’ bit of booty meat hanging out the back any more than we wanna' see hers ...ew.
And last but certainly not least:
Year-Around-Tacky-People:
- The most heinous of all fashion culprits can be seen late at night creepin' in your local Wal-mart or grocery store; but the truly ‘bold-and bama’ have been spotted at nearby parks and shopping malls..just-all-out-in-the-open-daylight. You know them when you see them and can’t believe they are outside wearing: rollers at any time of the day and any place, bedroom slippers and pajamas in the line ahead of you, doo-rags on the corner, the movies, etc., dirty, Cinderella-looking-mini-prom dresses on their kids while washing clothes at the local Lavanderia; night-club clothing in church; underwear as bathing suits and bathing suits as halter tops and shorts; pants-on-the-ground; th-th-th-thongs strategically worn under baggy jeans; price tags deliberately left on T-shirts and the always offensive cologne-over-funk cover-up …(*ahem-cough-gasp!*)
If you — or someone you know — are wearing or were planning on wearing any of the following from this list outside this Spring, you are a offender and need not only several fashion tickets but a jail sentence!
Until next season, remember: "Style is personal, but taste should be a public matter!”
*Toodles*
"THE GATES OF DRAFT".... I'm Wondering Will The "Beer-Summit" REALLY Wash Away This Country's Color Line Division?
...Ain't it funny how we can all witness( visually,orally or theoretically) the same,exact event AND yet many of us will have a completely different point of view than others? This is not surprising given how unique our individual experiences as people are; in fact it's not a problem until someone asserts their POV as the definitive POV without acknowledgment or respect for another.
This is a clear example of how I feel many Americans are when it comes to race relations in our society.
Some folks see racism, some folks don't...some see dead people, but um, anywaaaaay.... ;-)
Regarding the arrest of Dr. Henry Louis Gates (acclaimed historian,author and Harvard professor)in his OWN home, many felt it was a waste of time and (the ever-popular complaint) 'tax-payer's money' for President Obama to call a meeting-of-the-minds over beers between himself,Dr. Gates and the arresting officer, James Crowley. Others thought it was an admirable and amicable attempt to both publicly address and ease rising tensions with what's been the big,blue elephant in Uncle Sam's backyard for years and years...RACISM. While I am not 'Pollyanna' enough to think that the so-called 'The Beer Summit' changed anyone's minds ( let alone Officer Crowley's)about what's considered racial profiling, I do think it was a step in the right direction and that no one will ever forget it! Yeah, I know I'm a week late on this topic but I had an eye-opening experience with some fellow bloggers that inspired me to write MY feelings on the matter. I think it was a good start BUT after corresponding with a few folks on Facebook about their views about the H.L.Gates arrest ;I am even more convinced that 'meetings' ALL over the country need to occur! 'Beer-Summits','Wine Summits', Soda Summits( for the kids)...and if you're like me, we can meet up @ 'Starbucks' and dish it out!
My Two Cent Worth.....
"Your Urban Carrie B"
Remembering Micheal.......
July 3rd, 2009
It's around 5:00 in the late afternoon as my sweetie and I are seriously head-bopping our way down the highway to Atlanta,Georgia. It's the fourth of July weekend and our four hour drive seemed to just float by because we had the right road trip ingredients: good conversation, good snacks and good music..in this case 'Micheal Jackson's Greatest Hits' 2CD compilation. From "ABC" to "Remember The Time"
we were in THE ZONE, ya' hear me! I looked over at my baby and there were times I wanted to pull our rented SUV over and have some,crazy,sexy,side-of-the-road-in-a-rented-car sex while Micheal sweetly crooned "Human Nature" and "She's Out My Life" in the background......
Mmmmmm.
Okaaay, maybe not in the rented car, LOL!...but my point is
( yes,I do have one) Micheal Jackson's music could bring people together in the most magnificent and bizarre ways...he was and will always be THE BEST!
...No contest 'Elvis worshipers', lol!.
Baby boomers all the way to Generation Y will most likely ask ourselves from now til' we are old and feeble: "What was YOUR favorite Micheal Jackson moment?". Would it be the performance on 'Motown 25th' when most of us first glimpsed 'The Moonwalk' and that glove, maybe it's The 'Thriller' video(who over 25 doesn't remember running home to see his-story in the making). There are so many from the man who seem to live his life in a never-ending spotlight that was truly "Off The Wall" but always giving us his best, the consummate performer...Micheal Joseph Jackson.
For some fortunate enough to have attended the "Victory" tour or seen our beloved "King of Pop" live on stage anywhere before his untimely death on June 25, 2009 ...his magic was tangible. If you're like me though and never actually saw him live but devoured his videos, practiced his dance moves, collected and pasted his posters to your bedroom walls (or bought 'the jacket'..you know who you are)than he was still the best performer ..EVER; and the magic was no less real.
"MADE-A IN AMERICA"... Should African-Americans Have A Problem With Tyler's Perry's Creation?
"Hellurrrr and Good Morting!"Recently I heard that the PERMANENTLY pissed Spike Lee 'called Tyler down to the carpet' for 'settin' the race back' with his modern-day minstrel shows, wow......honestly, we should have seen this one coming.
It was only a matter of time before Spike had something to say..and LOUDLY as usual. Although it should be pointed out that Spike had his own potentially racially damaging inventions; "Mars Blackmon" and "Mookie", that back-in-the-day some found offensive,particularly noted poet Amiri Baraka....so there you go,can't please 'em all. Now, I personally am a HUGE admirer of Tyler Perry and yet, I had a problem with Madea and 'nem at one time myself.
As hilarious and soul-stirring as I found Tyler Perry's tailor-made brand of entertainment, I also thought it dumbed down for the low-brow.I took one look at the coming attractions for his sitcoms ;"House Of Payne"and "Meet The Browns".and my HBCU educated eyes took issue with what I saw as buffoonery and coonery; a definite 'no-no' in the black community akin to passing for White, mistreating your momma, selling out to the man and other race-related sins.
So what changed my mind?
I tuned into a marathon of "House Of Payne" to see what all the talk was about and I liked it! Now, I didn't LOVE it, but I finally got what all the hype was about. They were a realistic, upper-working class family dealing with many of the REAL issues Black families are dealing with. The Paynes aren't the Cosbys, but who is ? They are also not the Evans family from "Good Times" either, living with extreme poverty and somehow being happy about it...I mean what's really good about those times anyway...I'm sayin'. Perry is not on a solo mission to raise up the race (a cringe-worthy notion anyway, Black folks aren't a crowbar) He's here to entertain and share the wealth ( much like Spike Lee and Oprah, Tyler employs a LOT of Blacks)
Part of the genius behind Mister Madea is his ability to tap into ALL the aspects of what it is to be Black in America and make it funny, tragic, uplifting and oh yes, embarrassing .....Just like real life.
My two cents worth......
THEY SHOOT OFFICERS DON'T THEY?
White cop shoots black cop in New York 'friendly fire' tragedy
By Mail Foreign ServiceAn officer died last night in a horrifying case of mistaken identity. Now, New York police have launched a race investigation after Omar J Edwards, 25, died last night as he chased someone he found rummaging through his car.New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Edwards, who was a married father of two, had just gotten off work at about 10.30pm when he spotted a man going through his vehicle.
WOW....
Now,I don't know what the local bureaucrats are going to do, BUT the local city folks will do the usual: They'll rally, protest, do loud,passionate interviews and vent to anyone who will listen, or not... for that matter. For REAL change to take place there will need to be a national outcry against 'Blue-on Black' crimes, outside and inside the force followed by action by congress!...and what the h@ll is 'friendly-fire'?
An oxymoron if I ever heard one, WTF?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1189552/White-cop-shoots-black-cop-New-York-friendly-tragedy.html
"The New Frontier Of Star Trek"
First of all...I am not a Trekker.....and definitely NOT a 'Trekk-ie'!
What's the difference you ask?.... Who really knows, but I define the latter as being: the original fan boys, devoted geeks who know ALL things pertaining to Star Trek! They range from grown men with productive, normal lives who grew up with a well-cultivated interest in Gene Roddenberry's iconic and much adored TV classic to men who never leave their mother's basement and own and wear at least one Starfleet, Klingon, or related uniform. Trekker's are about the same, just not as intense...BUT they do frequent those cons every year and do that Vulcan hand gesture( um, so I've heard)
No, I am someone who just likes Star Trek which is why it was such an unexpected joy that I would LOVE this most recent movie adaptation!
Star Trek 2009 is the kind of thrilling sci-fi film that should please even the most,die-hard, nit-picky fan ( you know the ones that debate everything from whether James T. Kirk, Jean Luc Picard or the other captains were the best captain ever to how many bathrooms are actually on the ' Enterprise' )
The kind of thoroughly entertaining flick that even a total newbie sitting in the theater wondering : "What's up with Kirk and the green chick?" can find exciting!(hell, even I picked up on that one)
It's exactly those subtle and not so subtle nuances and familiar phraseology like: "Damn, it Jim..I'm a doctor" or "Are you outta' your Vulcan mind?",a nod to the 60's fashion(call it super-duper retro!) of the original series that make this version so d@mn rockin'!
Yep, I don't think it would ruin the motion picture experience for anyone by saying that between the edge-of-your-seat-grabbing special effects, the clever alternate reality plot twist and most surprising, the heat between Uhura and Spock (I didn't see that one coming, but did she have to throw it at him?) Star Trek is a voyage that will leave you wanting to boldly go back where you've gone before again and again!
( Yeaaah, I know ..corny, but when else would I get to say it, huh?)
My Two Cents Worth......
"Hey Bravo..... Bring Back My B@tches!"
I MISS MY DIVAS!!!!"The Real Housewives of Atlanta", the hands-down best installment of The Bravo channel's "Real Housewives..." series has been off the air for roughly a year ;frankly after trying to suffer through the return of both the 'New York' and 'Orange County' shrews, I'm feenin' for my Southern Belles!
Bring 'em back..NOW!
A good friend of mine told me the latest housewives, the Jersey chicks are actually pretty interesting... sooo I guess I'll have to watch them until this upcoming Autumn when Lisa, Kim, NeNe and Sheree all return! (*siigh*)
This will also mark the debut of NEW housewife Kandi Burrus (succesful song writer and singer formerly of 90's R&B group 'Xscape") who is replacing the sweet but apparently snooze-worthy Deshawn Snow.( I'll miss you Shawnee, but the show MUST go on....) My prediction is that Head-Diva-In-Charge, the show-stopping NeNe Leakes is going to either hit it off with the multi-talented Ms. Burris and give us some sepia 'Thelma and Louise" flava' ... OR it's gonna' be on and poppin' between them like a hip-hop award show. Either way, I'm guessing 'Hot-lanta' is gonna' get a lot hotter...Oooh, I can't wait for the fireworks to begin!
DON'T CHANGE MY VIEW!.... Is This The Final Line-Up ?
Okay, I'm gonna' say it and I'm not embarrassed to admit it: I LOVE "THE VIEW"! Despite more cast changes than "The Supremes" and "Destiny's Child"combined,I'm still semi-loyal , catching it when I can(which is less and less now-a-days.)BUT CAN WE GET A CONSISTENT VIEW? Note to producer Bill 'bland as Melba toast' Getty and Babara Waa-Waa..please..stop killing off the cast!
Is this too much to ask?
You see I've been a fan since Meredith Vieira and Lisa Ling were both on the show( both also going on to bigger & better projects now,clearly), I never watched it when Debbie Matenopoulos was a regular co-anchor but after watching her on The "E" network's "Daily Ten"..I think she's right where she belongs talking about Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. Then there came the embarrassing, all out in the front dismissal of Star Jones in exchange for the highly celebrated courting and hiring of Rosie O'Donnell entering from the rear. ( insert your own lesbo joke here) Yeesh, that was pretty raw,nasty bit o' work there Babsy!
I admit I too, had grown sick of hearing the newly sucked& tucked version of Star go on and on, Ad nauseam about her wedding and her Fab-u-lous life amongst other celebs, her ex-gay husband, and her denial of weight loss surgery( we always knew Star) but she was a smart, accomplished and unapologetic about her sharp views on the issues. To fire her publicly the way ABC did after being an original host was just unnecessary; only to have to replace yet another vacated seat by the over-emotional Rosie who clearly needs her own Gay network to dominate on!Which brings me to the 2009 line-up: Okay I LOVE Whoopie, I mean..I would totally do menial secretary stuff for her just to be around her, ya' know. I just don't think she's going to be there for the long haul. Whoopie Goldberg is in a small unique category of people who have the Oscar, Tony,Emmy and a Grammy..she's a MEGA star, a constellation of stars..anyway, she's going to get bored eventually with light weights like Elizabeth "Right wing Barbie" Hasselbeck and Sherry "Whaaat, the earth isn't flat?"Shepherd. Hopefully, no time soon though because I thoroughly enjoyed the daily brouhaha that would erupt during the election. Whenever so-so funny comedian and last original cast member, Joy Behar would throw out the 'bait',anything positive about (then senator) Obama..Elizabeth, as if being prodded by invisible puppet strings would jump in wildly,both guns cocked about McCain,Bush or frankly anything that took the spotlight off of Barack Obama... (siiigh) I miss those days! Better than WWF!
With the election behind us now and the daily scrutiny of president Obama getting really old..I just hope no one else is leaving..and if so, can they take Bill Getty, maybe he's the problem.....
My two cents worth..
Can Obama Get A Break.?
"Obama hasn't finished his 100 days and yet is being attacked in over 100 ways"....At times there seem to be only two types of Americans: those who WANT our president to succeed,whether they voted for him or not because our economy,and by extension the global economy is in deep dire doo-doo.... AND those who seem so anxious to for him to fail and pick apart everything the our president does or suggests..it seems unpatriotic. I didn't expect a honeymoon with the Republicans , especially with his more aggressive critics( I can see the drool from my TV set). I did expect that in lieu of the big pile of 'former-administration-shiggity' left unceremoniously at his feet to shift through and somehow 'save us all' from, that he could at least get through his first 100 days. I guess not.
MEANWHILE in Europe....
Watching the Obamas in England the other day, one can see the 'rock-star' appeal he and the 1st lady have on the world,however he still has an uphil battle with the G20 Summit. The top twenty of the most influential minds in their respective countries met to discuss how to get out of this global recession. This is what has been reported so far: "President Obama’s trip to Europe may so far appear to be friendly... beneath the smiles and handshakes, the G-20 Summit is shaping up to be a tug of war. The leading nations have split roughly into two camps: The United States and Britain on one side, which wants increased and coordinated global spending; and France, Germany, and Russia on the other side, which wants, in place of increased spending, international regulation" One guy from the Czech Republic even called the president's plan "The Road to Hell".......
Well, no one thought it would be easy but in most cases when you are on a new job they give you at LEAST 90 days to prove yourself!
My Two Cents Worth......
HILLARY'S VISIT TO CHINA.....SOME WERE HAPPY AND "DIM SUM" WERE NOT!
On her first visit to China as the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton made several promises...among them she promised a new relationship between the two countries, one she considers to be "the world's most important of the 21st century". The former first lady and madam secretary made it clear that the "US considers human rights concerns secondary to economic survival" She said she would continue to press China on issues such as human rights and Tibet, but added: "Our pressing on those issues can't interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis."
Well....we have been down this road before of getting 'tough with China' with past administrations. It seems to me, while Hillary is now badmouthing North Korea on one hand , to possibly look in the eyes of South Korea and Tokyo..Japan isn't to thrilled with the US being so 'buddy-buddy' with their former rivals. ...And at one time, Clinton spoke out against human rights issues in China, now..not so much. I guess when you consider that China now owns more than $600 billion of US government debt, the days of US leaders coming to China to hand out lectures are over.. now they come to "kiss up".
The political climate and power that America had during Mrs. Clinton's early 1990's visit as first lady when she spoke so passionately about the rights of all it's citizens has changed!We need China to help with the national deficit..so I guess it's time to pucker-up!
Something tells me Hillary won't have a problem doing that all..runs in the family.
My two cents worth....
THE ONLY CHECK THE "OCTO-MOM" NEEDS IS A REALITY ONE....
The case of Nadya Suleman a.k.a "The Octo-Mom" and Angelina Jolie look-a-like (and in some ways,'act-a-like') is an interesting example of what's good and bad about modern technology...Here you have a young woman that, for whatever crazy reasons of her own, wanted desperately to have an extremely large family (14 children)..sans husband or any type of help mate.. just solo.
....and the doctors through modern medicine made it so!
To many outraged viewers they see Nadya and her tribe dwelling like roaches on top of each other in her mother's three bedroom (and rumored to be in danger of foreclosure) home while the sympathy checks and television coverage come-a-rolling in regularly like food stamps; so many of us are struggling post-Bush administration so it's easy to understand why people wanna' hit her with a diaper bag full of rocks..or worse.
Well, one might argue that's HER choice as a woman to become pregnant as many times as she desires...(yeahhh, but....)
..or that we as taxpaying citizens are paying for her desires....(no doubt)
..or that she's obviously nuttier than a fruitcake, a few diapers short of a full bag....(no argument there.)
....or why did the medical community even let this happen in the first place...(can't even begin to wrap my head around that one.)
There are so many things that can be said about this freak-of the-week story that I wouldn't know where to begin.I will say that the fact that she could have 8 children at once as result of 21st century science is both wonderful and sadly puzzling. WHY HER?
I have married friends and associates with full hearts but barren or sterile 'nether regions' and they dream feverishly to be blessed with at least ONE child..and can't.
Then there's me, having eight let alone FOURTEEN children is my idea of a living hell...and to stay with my mom ...ON TOP OF ALL THAT??? (I just threw up in my mouth a lil' just thinkin' about it.)
I wish the 'octo-mom' luck, I will pray for her that all the equally nutty, self-righteous zealots who want to do her or her children harm will be stopped...that is just evil.
But I when I see the local "Bonequeshas" up at the Wal-Mart with all four or five of their little troop in tow, trying to pinch pennies together just to buy the basic essentials for their families..no generous philanthropists stepping in to help THEM , or sympathetic media and strangers making THEM the cause of the month..I am more than irritated about it all and secretly wish those kids( all 14 of them) make her nights of peaceful sleep a distant, distant memory!
My two cents worth....
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