What the f*** is really wrong with these people's minds?

What the hell is this and how the hell can this reach publication. Freedom of speech?? No, outright racial stereotyping, hatred and it is NOT okay. What the f***?? It's not even funny that's the thing. It is so not funny. The president as a "chimpanzee", furthermore an allusion to the unwarranted police violence against African-American males in the U.S. This is so f***ing lame, it's incredible. Anyhow. Further proof that much work still requires to be done eradicate the racism. A post-racial America is still lightyears away.

A Real Shocker: Anti-Feminists in the Christian Body

I've been getting quite a few of those lately but this oh this is something else. A group of avid Christian film-makers who have compiled a documentary exposing the many ills and misguided mindsets that the feminist movement has supposedly spilled over the fabric of modern-day society. The shocker itself

Now I have a problem with Christians using the Bible to propagate anti-feminist messages. A big problem. This is no different to using the Bible to justify the racial superiority of the white race. What kind of insanity is this?
I have not seen the documentary in full but from the preview available on the website as well as images of women that have dominated politics and transcended to positions of power chiefly held by men posted against the torrid title of the project: The Monstrous Regime (obviously alluding to the Feminist Movement/Women's Lib).

I of course completely dismiss traditional gender roles as much as a refrain (for obvious reasons) from accepting the notion that members of each ethnic group must be limited to play their historically-defined role in a society. Racial parity is as of much significance as gender parity. The idea of "extolling feminity; blasting feminism" is nothing more than preposterous. What makes me even more suspicious is that the film-makers who aptly identify themselves as the Gunn Brothers are men. How surprising! That a group of men (the knowledge that they are Christians should be seen as completely independent of their motivation to issue such a ludicrous piece of work) have gone all out to create a documentary-film that uses the Bible to bash feminists and portray them as being malicious and vile in their intentions.

Gloria Steinem would roll her eyes at this dismissively. It is plain to see how a couple of men, frustrated at the turn of events that have unfolded over the last half-century which has seen women liberated from silence and subservience, with the Bible at the ready scouring its holy pages for evidence to proclaim that women should have never been liberated in the first place. Using the Good Word to find further evidence of why women are apparently inferior knowing full well that even though they may not be able to reach those feminists who have abandoned organized religion for its emphasis on female subservience, weakness and inferiorty, they will certainly have the ears of all those women who remain loyal to God out of reverence for the Creator. How heinous, how sly, how repulsive. Can I wonder now why Christians are having a hard time winning souls when they stand strong for these kind of mindsets. Misconstrued scripture used to justify the violation of Human Rights.

I love God don't get me wrong. But there is something I love just as much: an inalienable right to be identified as an equal on the basis of just being human, damn it! C'mon!

A blog entry on defending privileg which is entirely pertinent to the above. The Gunn Brothers are simply defending their white male privilege and using the Bible in that. True sleaze.

Displays of "Normal Adolescent Behaviour" Quite Disturbing

So I had a watch of a movie called "Havoc 2: Normal Adolescent Behaviour" which chronicles the lives of six American Teens who have known each other since kindergarten entangled in a polyfildelitous relationship. Let's just say the fact that the world "normal" was utilized in the title is scary. Is this what teens are getting up to these days. I was shocked, sickened and completely intrigued all at once. These kids'll make you feel like a saint.
What saddened me most of all was the slackness and lack of reverence the pop culture these days attaches to sex. Obama made mention of this several times in The Audacity of Hope idenifying it as a major concern in the morality of the nation. That monogamous relationships are shunned for such arrangements. Although some would argue that if anything polyfidelity is a better option because it limits the probablity that one party will cheat. Sorry, that just sounds weak to me. What happened to self-discipline, respect. Maybe if these attributes as oppose to just intercourse itself were the focus, infidelity wouldn't be an issue in any monogamous relationship any case. Who then would have to find alternatives (and bizarre, terribly disturbing ones at that) such as this.
Oh! the world we live in.

M.I.A. an M.O.M.

At the Grammy's last week, M.I.A. made a sure impression with her eccentric looks. First with a royal blue frill of a dress which only exacerbated her preg. I gotta say though, the sneaks are intensely original. Nobody does it like Maya.



But it looks like she was out and about long before the Grammy's doing performances, showing up at events with her babydaddy uuuuuh...what's his name: Benjamin Brewer.



Performing at the xXx "Rock 'n Roll Diesel Circus" and alleging that she only put on a couple of pounds and wasn't really preg at the time. C'mon, who would be buying that story looking at this pic.






Yes I bit that from E! Entertainment's Daily 10 Report on Maya's birth story. She (as posted on her blog) gave birth to a baby boy on the night of the Grammy's how wonderful. There was nothing I enjoyed more about that show than seeing her on stage with T.I., Lil' Wayne, Jay and Kanye filling in the hook for Swagga Like Us A pregnant tum in tights and a polka-dot black top, donning white sneakers. See why I love her so much...who else would be gutsy and spunky enought to pull that off. She just fit right in with her swagga. Loved it!



Look at Lil' Wayne feeling up on that swollen belly...dope!



This is Maya World Domination I'm telling ya.

N.E.R.D. on the Recession

It occured to me a couple of days ago that since the news of the Wall Street Crash has been gaining much newsworthy attention, some musician was either going to mention it in one line of their songs or just write a whole damn song about it. Hey presto! On the morning of the day I have this thought I flick to MTV several hours later to see Pharrell, Chad and Shae singing a song called 'Sooner or Later' with a very aesthetic and clever-looking video set at the stock market in Wall Street. The song is impressive I must say. I like it. The Neptunes never go wrong.

This is classic fashion meets eccentric musician

Right after the release of Kala in 2007, Marc Jacobs snagged our eccentric Miss to do a shoot for the Spring/Summer 2008 campaign. The result was dope, who better. She's hot like fire and only getting started.










Right after the release of Kala in 2007, Marc Jacobs snagged our crazy lady to do a shoot for the Spring/Summer 2008 campaign. Old news but the result was so brilliant I'll talk about it now anyway.

Puzzled, Amused then again, why am I not surprised by...

the usual attention seeking narcissistic behaviour from none other than Jay-Hova himself...



A dedication to the Obama Presidency. A very original, never-conceptualised-before song called History...yawn, what else you got Mr Carter?



Then his woman (another yawn) with a mediocre rendition of the repetitive theme song from a flop performance - Cadillac Records.



Not hating, just had enough of them but certainly most certainly won't get fed up of the 1st couple for a long time to come.

Hit this up for pics of Inaugural Ball

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Neighborhood-Inaugural-Ball/ss/events/en/012109neighborhoodba;_ylt=AkVhe3KxxwZ1RN8Mczx7.BnCw5R4

Slumdog Millionare OST Makes Right Choice

O...Saya - A.R. Rahman & M.I.A.

She's come through again. Collaborating with A.R. Rahman to bring forth this Eastern-infused, techno/electronica beauty of a track for the motion picture Slumdog Millionaire. Love the sound, her rap verse and the distorted vocals are lovely to listen to. She can never go wrong in my books. Her creative power is immense and even more so when she collaborates. Tapping into her Tamil roots on this one, she represents so well on this one, the Academy Awards had to offer her some recognition. Love it.

Inauguration Chuckles...

George W. and the temporarily wheelchair-boudn Dick Cheney were jeered as their walk-off procession took place. Why people? It's meant to be a celebration. Obama in, Bush out.

"On Monday, Vice President Dick Cheney pulled a muscle in his back, leaving him in a wheelchair for the inauguration."

...or perhaps he staged the damn thing so that he wouldn't have to take the walk of shame. Hee hee.



Why oh why did Yahoo! find it necessary to report that the Obama's may have taken to briefly using African time at some point during the event. Okay, I'm reading to much into it but 5 minutes, seriously. I can't help but feel some unconscious innuendo here...oh whatever!

"Culminating four days of celebration, the nation's 56th inauguration day began for Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden with a traditional morning worship service at St. John's Episcopal Church, across Lafayette Park from the White House. Bells pealed from the historic church's tower as Obama and his wife, Michelle, arrived five minutes behind schedule."

The entire article if you find interest in getting a brief summing as well as a couple of good quotes from that historical speech.

'Nauguration Commentaire (j'ai besoin de plus d'images!)

So, she's been criticised once before for her fashion misteps. But hey, you've got to give it to her for this golden number. Looking good, Michelle.



On the other hand I must ask, although it wouldn't seem right to question a man who has for three decades combed his hair in one direction and one direction alone. Who told Don King that wearing a denim acid wash graffiti-stained jacket of circa 1981 to a Presidential Inauguration is remotely okay?



How pretty are these two? Gosh.



That's right, move it ooooon out baby! There's a new family in town. Ah, I'm loving it!



Yes, I cried...again! What the heck. Tears of joy nonetheless. Guess alot of people see this as a new beginning. A day of new beginnings. Taking on a new approach to life. Working harder than ever at achieving goals. What an inspiration this man is!

Oh my Gooood! I Just Can't Contain Myself!!

Barack Hussein Obama has officially become the 44th President of the United States!!! Whooooah! I just cannot get over this. He even stumbled over the words prepared for his swearing in of oath. Can you blame him? Michelle standing beside her man smiling humbly in the moment. Yes, yes, yes. Today is unforgettable. How glad I am to be alive!

Inauguration Moments in Procession

Beautiful delivery from the man who wrote "Purpose Driven Life". Thank you for not being ashamed to mention the name of Jesus at an event as this. His words were wonderfully chosen. Not forgetting to mention the joy it is to see a "son of an African immigrant" take ownership of the highest office in the land.

So wonderful to see another ode to the Almighty with Ms Aretha Franklin singing so amazingly on a cold winter morning in Washington DC. She is the original soul diva. This is so religious, I'm loving it!

Man, I have goosebumps all over my body watching history being made. His speech is coming up soon, need to watch this...

Get Crackin', Get Get Crackin'

From the 2005 Offering - Arular. Nice mix of electronic syntheizin' ragga slang and early-nineties-esque mceeing.


Bucky Done Gun - M.I.A.

When I start to feel like missing link in the chain of evolution and nobody wants to reply to my emails which I sent on a Friday morning because they're busy in their offices. This is the type of shit I need to hear (and see) to uplift my spirits. Thank you M.I.A. I would worship at your alter if I wasn't afraid of blaspheming!

The One Thing I Am Not Looking Forward To...

Oh hey there, Happy New Year by the way. I know it's long overdue but whatever. No things did not turn out the way I planned but that is life and I have to deal with it. What I cannot seem to handle is the news that Jay-Z's woman (she made herself a trophy by marrying him, I'm not being a female male chauvinist here!) is performing at Obama's Inauguration. Could you have found anyone worse? Not that she's not a good performer but we've seen her stage shows. That is not the kind of effort one would expect to see presented at a classy and historical event such as the Inauguration of the first Black American President. Okay so here's the brief about who'll perform. Still looking foward to the main event though. Ah. History shall unfold. 'Aint it just beautiful!

Holiday Cheer, Seasons Greetings

Going to head off to the Church for proper reminder of the real reason we celebrate this day. Then eat and drink because that seems the only way to be merry around this here family of mine. Haha. Kiddin. Grab a book to read try not to be too antisocial. Watch Christmas movie reruns on telly. What not. It'll be over in about 13 hours why not make the most of it. My gift to everybody. A little affection- a smile, a hug, a cheer. I should try and radiate some loving vibes for a change. After all - tip the season to be jolly. For some reason I'm just feeling really positive and good today. Fresh beginnings next week. So excited to just put this crumby year behind!

Black Female Celibacy...an Oxymoron?? Beg to Differ!

Reading this article from the 'New Black Magazine' brought to light and quantified in a concise format some thoughts I often have on the topic of why the stereotypical view of blacks maintains that we are sexually deviant, promiscuous and simply out-of-control in a kind of animalistic way. Also the sense of entitlement and claiming that seems to be made when it comes to women's bodies in general. If this were not the case why would sexual harassment in public be such a common place thing. I just wonder what gives a complete stranger the right to try and meddle with private parts of your body, in public for that matter so here comes a misogynistic aspect of this kind of behaviour - a need to humiliate a woman for no valid reason. It's a shame, a complete and utter shame yet when the complaints erupt, they are seldom taken seriously. In fact they are laughed upon, further perpetuation of the humiliation.

The treatment and portrayal of the female form in mainstream media seems to always boil down to this irrational notion that women do not have claim to their own bodies and what happens to them thereafter. That we see so many numerous cases of rape victims becoming the accused while their perpetrators are viewed with sympathy as the poor guy who got seduced by a women dressed raunchily who sought to use her sex to take a wealthy or powerful or publicly well-known figure down such as the case of Crystal Mangum. Now nobody seems to know what went down the night of the alleged incident but one cannot turn their eyes away from the fact that if she was raped, there is no way she would be able to have her attackers punished for their crimes. They bask in the glory of male privilege, the general public is completely favourable to sportsmen in most cases and as a figure that is commonly viewed in society as completely lascivious and sexually immoral, it is no wonder she is the one to take the blame for the assault.

Now perhaps one can understand why a complaint about the sexualization of the female form in mainstream media is not just a bunch of old tannies and oupas with overly traditionalist values and world-views frowning upon any kind of indecency or even perhaps overly religious members of the public who dismiss sexual immorality in fear of God's condemnation. Rather the problem lies in the fact that these images infiltrate the unconscious mind's of our young men and feed them with the notion that they are entitled to do as they will with women's bodies, that the female form exists to gratify the sexual hunger of the species and this in turn leads to an outward expression of these underlying beliefs: sexual harassments, rape and other sex-crimes.

Why Chauvinists Should Take Rape Seriously (will the poor things ever)

I could not have said it any better myself. The light-hearted way in which chauvinists treat the issue of rape. If I could write a constitution for the world it would entail a law that sends men who laugh at, mock or even blame rape victims to jail for a little experience of their own. See how they'll like that. Either way here's the post that struck my interest.

Tell me after reading this that women should just "sit back and enjoy the ride" when being forced to endure an event that will leave them emotional scarred for an immensely long time thereafter. It's not even about sex, it's about a heinous theft of power. But when "you're just a boy" how can you understand anything remotely close that level of insight and below-the-surface thinking.

A Pariah's High School Musical...

...Would be a miserable, melancholy song of miscomprehension, silly fights, medals for academic achievement, prize-giving night, dealing with foolish social epithets, suicidal thoughts (yes ashamed as I am to admit it) and all sorts. But ohhh my am I glad it's over. With two full years experience into the real world, I'm feeling a little retrospective and this article perfectly highlighted some of the qualms plenty of losers, nerds, freaks, pariahs and outcasts experienced in high school. That ridiculous little environment where you spend five years either conforming to the popular traditions of people pleasing or choose to join the minority of kids who actually study. Lessons learned and a lot of laughable memories. Whether we like to accept it or not our adolescent years do a deal of a job shaping what types of adults we choose to become in future.
Paul Graham's thesis on Why Nerds are Unpopular was a fun read and clarified for me what I have always pondered in secret as the reason for the constant dislike of nerds. Of course, it doesn't end at high school. There are anti-intellectual adults in the real world. I have claims on head-on experiences with a couple and it was nothing more than repulsive not to mention disapointing because you thought you really thought that the foolish game was over once you were handed your Matric-certificate. You still get a weird look for carrying a copy of the Mail and Guardian, for admitting that you'd rather chill home with a good book some weekends than go to a club and wear yourself out on the dance floor (not to say that that isn't good fun every now and then because it is but three times a week is just lame straight up and down. Then there are 30-somethings (how i detest thereof) who see you as "self-focused", "apathetic" and only concerned with matters of popularity and maintaining an incredible social life by a mere statement of age. Forget those oldies, what do they know anyway. But again how can you blame them when the majority of the youth are out there on some strong I mean STRONG anti-intellectual tip. Sounding statements that intellectual issues are boring, that there is something "wrong" with young people concerned with these issues and continuing to label us losers, nerds, geeks and freaks. If that's what it means to read extensively, have an immense thirst for knowledge, use big words because you can, refuse to subscribe to the mainstream musicians vacuous philosophies, stay home watching cult movies on a Friday night, quote Shakespeare maybe because he was just the epitome of literary dopeness, not conform, be an eccentric or become subject to endless demoralizing social epithets and straight-up disses all for the sake of choosing the path of the intellectual then yes, yes I am a nerd and I am heck proud of it!


The telling rewards of slogging through school and maybe even college (depending on where you attend) with a nerdy status.





Now he wouldn't go down as a quintessential nerd but he's reading that's a massive deviation from the unfortunate "black male norm" (not that I ever agreed with it, please don't get it twisted) so yes he qualifies!



Women can be nerds too but for some reason I can't really think of a prominent example of one. Why is that. Even when I refer to myself as a nerd, it's somewhat strange. Perhaps the defintion should not only apply to those that take interest in computers/technology but any individual who undertakes extensive intellectual reading in any topic for that matter. Music nerds, theatre nerds, wikipedia nerds, political nerds, physics nerds, geology nerds etc etc The list goes on.

Obama Magic

Ladies and gentlemen I think we could just have a replacement for our beloved Madiba because although we hail him as some sort of superhuman, he too will one day become captive to the natural human process of 'passing on'. But not to worry, we have a replacement. A man who has siezed the affection, admiration and utter respect of almost the entire world. The world's newly elected president. You've gotta see this. There is some sort of magic around this guy for real. He even had to make the remark himself, "I was not born in manger". Perhaps people should be careful not to view him as a type of Messaih because he is not and what a job the man has ahead of him. On top of that a pile of expectations from his country and the world beyond.

But what is it that has made a whole planet fall in love with him. For me, it's what his achievement represents - HOPE! That one can beat circumstance, beat the odds, stomp through all the obstacles that stood in your way and become something great. Make history. Considering the fact that most of this planet's inhabitants are people of colour living poorly, Obama's presidency represents a great deal for most of us who understand the sting of racial oppression, have ever dismissed a dream on the basis of economic position or ethnic background. We know we truly can't do that any longer after something this incredible has happened to one of our own. A man of colour becoming the most powerful man in the world. Nothing is impossible and I can truly 100% believe that this time round.

Analysis: influences on M.I.A.'s style

Her video graphics are deliberately low budget looking (reminds me of videos from DRC by Werrason, Fally Ipupa etc etc) which is very reflective of what she represents - her background and where she comes from. The 'birdflu' video looks as though it was shot in village situations somewhere in rural Pakistan. Then you have the 'boyz' video with its dancehall/ragga theme probably shot somewhere in Jamaica. This is what I appreciate most about her vids that she's bringing something from the 3rd World and that's unusual considering her mainstream appeal.

Jimmy with the Eastern/Bollywood vibe





Boyz taking it all the way down to Kingston



She's 33 which means she was a teen during the late eighties and early nineties so she probably remembers the time when hip hop was just gaining speed and music videos were colourful and looked similar to what she's bringing in the 'boyz' video. So retrospective. The early nineties was a great time for rap and hip hop. I was only a tot but I remember some of it.