Jason Toney

Reason #1271 Why I *Heart* The Gossip

bethdittonude, originally uploaded by feminaerecta.

Beth Ditto is the realest.

Vox Hunt: Comical

Book: Show us a great comic book.

Truth: Red, White & Black

Robert Morales

Black Origins of Captain America

meme Tuesday: Ten Years

Anil, the Jay-Z of blogging, has me thinking about my life ten years ago today:

Ten years ago today, I was just returning home (Van Nuys) after 4 years of college (The George Washington University), having not graduated but being "done".

Ten years ago today, I had a girlfriend who was due to start law school at Pepperdine University in Malibu but she was spending her summer in Pittsburg, CA.

Ten years ago today, I was starting my job hunt. In about a month, I would start working at Mount St. Mary's College as the Student Affairs Administrative Assistant. I'd redesign their Student Affairs website, redesign the Student Handbook, teach an intro to journalism class, and about 6 months in, hate it hate it hate it.

Ten years ago today, I'd run a fantasy pro wrestling league online. Yes, I was that nerdy.

Ten years ago today, I probably thought my dad was the ultimate bane to my existence.

Ten years ago today, I was listening to a whole lotta Notorious B.I.G. and Usher and Lilith Fair type ish and Erykah Badu was about to blow my mind.

Ten years ago today, I have no earthly idea what I was watching on TV.

Ten years ago today, I didn't own a car.

Ten years ago today, I was taking an intro to film summer course at LA Valley College.

mp3eme VOX: Summuhtime (#2)

POST A SUMMMER-ish TRACK
FROM YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY

It can have summer in the title or reference it in the song...or it can just be one that always reminds you of hot days, warm nights, cooking out, laying out...whatever.

Be Thankful for What You Got (Album Version)

William Devaughn

Summertime In The LBC

Dove Shack

Can't forget about the West Coast. We invented Summertime.

Queen B

The familiar piano chords played and Jill Scott whispered, "Wondering if you still wear the same cologne," and, again, I was convinced that I'd run into her. I'd thought of her several times over the previous seven days and this was exactly the venue I'd likely see her.

We'd sat in the very back row of The Greek during Jill's second tour through Los Angeles, you know, back in the day. Jilly from Philly was about to be Grammy-winning and Queen B and I were, well...

"Kiss this and this and this and this andthisandthisandthisandthat. Hey...show each other where the climax was at."

I dubbed her Queen B because she was always the planner. The crowd I rolled with then, a rag tag bunch of work friends who magically appeared after the longest relationship of my life ended, always ended up at her place. She always found the new spot to try out, the next concert to attend, the theme party to have. We gave each other new music. She hipped me to Chocolate City. I broke down the finer points of The Roots.

"I was just thinking about you and wondering what you doing, I mean what you been up to?"

We never dated. Nah, that would've been too simple. I was fiending for somebody else. She was too busy searching...for something. But, you know, she was Queen B. I can still feel my arms around her midsection. Singing lyrics in her ear. Doin' things.

We drifted. She went travelin' around the world with different shows. I got focused on things (and people) closer to home. But, every once in a while, there she is. At a De La Soul show. At a Reality TV wrap party. Sippin' a cocktail in the back of the spot.

Jill's singing and a grin escaped my face. At that moment, I was sure she was there.

Later on, there she is. "Queen B," I said loudly. "Tha Bizness!" She turned and danced towards me. I danced towards her. We hugged and held hands and smiled at each other.

So what if it was just a dream? She was running across my mind.

speakeasy: The First Memorial Day

And with great organization, on May 1, 1865, the black folk of Charleston, in cooperation with white missionaries, teachers, and Union troops, conducted an extraordinary parade of approximately ten thousand people. It began with three thousand black school children (now enrolled in freedmen's schools) marching around the Planters' Race Course with armloads of roses and singing "John Brown's Body." Then followed the black women of Charleston, and then the men. They were in turn followed by members of Union regiments and various white abolitionists such as James Redpath. The crowd gathered in the graveyard; five black preachers read from Scripture, and a black children's choir sang "America," "We Rally Around the Flag," the "Star-spangled Banner," and several spirituals. Then the solemn occasion broke up into an afternoon of speeches, picnics, and drilling troops on the infield of the old planters' horseracing track.

This was the first Memorial Day.

- The Birth of a Genre: Slavery on Film by David W. Blight, Common-place, 07.01

Today, I'm remembering my military Grandfather.

@work: We Get That Paper, Son!

The digital side of Disney is starting to bring in some serious revenue. The Walt Disney Internet Group says it will hit $1.5 billion in revenue for 2006 driven largely by ecommerce ($800 million) such as travel and merchandise. WDIG President Steven Wadsworth says the company is pursuing a range of revenue models, yet the overall strategy is to use free, ad-supported content to lure consumers into subscription deals.

- Disney Internet expects $1.5 billion in revenue, Lost Remote, 05.25.07

I've got a replay of the webcast here.

Vox Hunt: So Far, So Good

Audio: Show us the best album (new or old) that you've bought this year.

This is all based on last.fm's rolling 6 month album chart.

If we're talking 2007 releases, it's

Neon Bible

Arcade Fire

If it only need be purchased this year, it's

Bees + Flowers + Things

Incognito

QotD: Favorite Finale

What was your favorite TV season finale this year? 
Submitted by Kristine.

The Season Finales of LOST and The Office were Par Excellence.

I discussed both at length in the comments at Too Much Free Time.

mp3eme VOX: Summuhtime

POST A SUMMMER-ish TRACK
FROM YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY

It can have summer in the title or reference it in the song...or it can just be one that always reminds you of hot days, warm nights, cooking out, laying out...whatever.

Summer Days

Phoenix

This mp3eme is right up my alley. I'll do more but this song was my very first exposure to Phoenix on a Summer Mix Tape I received a few years ago (that also featured the Avett Brothers and a couple other artists & tracks that have become a regular part of my rotation since).

"I need a real day."