Just For Fun: The Blanket

If you liked the Snuggie, you'll love this new gem...the Blanket!!

Stuff I Like: Def Poetry Jam

In case you haven't noticed, I am a mega humongous fan of Def Poetry Jam. This show rocks for so many reasons. Besides being hosted by the ultra attractive Mos Def, I credit Def Poetry with making poetry hott again. When it first aired in 2005 (might need to fact check?), It brought spoken word to thousands of US households in a totally non-confrontational way. I must say, that it was truly my inspiration for getting hip to this form of self-expression. Yes, I had always written poem and stories and things as a kid, but seeing that work performed as eloquently as the guests on the show did, helped me take my art to a whole other level. Besides their single slip up last season when they had DMX on (really!!?? to say that his poem about "the industry" was horrible would be an understatement of the grossest form), they have kept it hot for six seasons and have continued to provide a forum for new and famous talent to share the same stage and a common love of the word.

"Recognizing the power of urban poetry on modern culture, top rap music impresario Simmons, whose Def Jam Records launched the careers of artists such as LL Cool J and Jay-Z, teamed up with HBO to create Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry in 2001, turning the spotlight on the freshest and most fearless voices in America today."

Sadly, I have been sans HBO for the past few months, but I'm kept up with the season through random clips that sneak onto the Internet. If you're looking for something to get me for Christmas, birthday, Wednesday or whatever, please consider the Def Poetry DVD. Thanks!!

And...if for some crazy reason, you are not hip to this show, please run (do not walk!) to your local library or video rental store at grab season 6 on dvd.

Just For Fun: All Male Book Club reads DaVinci Code

Have you ever been part of a book club and (oops) forgot to actually read the book?? hmmm. Now, imagine being in a book club where everyone forgot to read the book...but no one wants to admit it...so they just stumble and mumble through their thoughts and feelings. That's exactly what this clip is. lol.

Watch the hilarity unfold.

Book Club: The Da Vinci Code - watch more funny videos

Quote of the WEEK

"When I dare to be powerful-
To use my strength in the service of my vision then it becomes less and less important
whether I am afraid"

-Audre Lorde

Stuff I Like: Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai

"By-Standing: The Beginning of An American Lifetime"


Everything this woman writes or performs is awesome and this piece was certainly no exception!

Enjoy:-)

White House Poetry Jam? WHAT?!!?

I know that Obama has had a tough week... and an even tougher couple of months, but the "royal family" recently took a break from trying to fix all that is wrong with America and decided to jam. yes! Jam! And slam! and totally bring the house down!!

The White House hosted its FIRST EVER night of "Poetry, Music, and Spoken Word" on May 12th. This rocks on so many levels! First, the idea of opening up such a venue for creative expression is the absolute epitome of "the evolution of paper." (yay!!) Secondly, this just shows how totally in tune with "the people" this administration is.

Kudos on the rocking PR manager that I'm sure was really behind the helm and congrats to the hippest prez and first lady in American History. I have included a few clips from that night below.

enjoy-

Soulful Garden Poetry Night Begins this Thursday!

For all lovers of word in the tri-state area, check out this new poetry night hosted by nonother than the famous (infamous?) Elament! Knowing him, this night will not disappoint!

More details below -

This is the night where ATL, LA, & New York hits Cincinnati.

Elament, Lady J, the Divine Prince Hakiym, J Rodge, & DB team up as (****COLLECTIVE MINDS****) tO BRING Thursdays Night BACK

YOUR WEEKEND STARTS HERE

Live band* 8:30-10pm

Poetry* 10pm-12am

A Live Dj* 12am-2am

Only @ MIXX ULTRA LOUNGE

EVERY THURSDAY STARTING MAY 21ST

You can also check out this video for a preview of what to expect. Elament really knows how to speak from the heart!

Great Links: Top 50 Poems

Have you ever wondered what the top 50 poems of ALL.TIME are?!?! I'm not really sure how they came up with this list, but I guess all lovers of poetry should get hip to the poets on here. Some of the poems on this list are the absolutely hottness. Some of these were news to me...but all of them are worth your time:-)

Enjoy peeps!

1. Phenomenal Woman - Maya Angelou
2. Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein
3. If You Forget Me - Pablo Neruda
4. I carry your heart with me - E. E. Cummings
5. The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost
6. A Dream Within A Dream - Edgar Allan Poe
7. There is another sky - Emily Dickinson
8. Life Is Fine - Langston Hughes
9. A Girl - Ezra Pound
10. Messy Room - Shel Silverstein

Top 50 Poems

Loving, Langston Style

Juke Box Love Song
By Langston Hughes



I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem's heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on a record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you till day--
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.

Stuff I Like: Andrea Gibson

Blue Blanket

still
there are days
when there is no way
not even a chance
that i'd dare for even a second
glance at the reflection of my body in the mirror
and she knows why
like i know why
she
only cries
when she feels like she's about to lose control
she knows how much control is worth
knows what a woman can lose
when her power to move
is taken away
by a grip so thick with hate
it could clip the wings of god
leave the next eight generations of your blood shaking
and tonight something inside me is breaking
my heart beating so deep beneath the sheets of her pain
i could give every tear she's crying
a year---a name
and a face i'd forever erase from her mind if i could
just like she would
for me
or you
but how much closer to free would any of us be
if even a few of us forgot
what too many women in this world cannot
and i'm thinking
what the hell would you tell your daughter
your someday daughter
when you'd have to hold her beautiful face
to the beat up face of this place
that hasn't learned the meaning of
stop

MoreFrom Andrea

Newsprint: Election History all Around the World!

Lithuania gets first woman head

Dalia Grybauskaite has been elected Lithuania's first female president, according to official results.

"I am grateful for the responsibility invested in me," said Ms Grybauskaite, the European Union budget commissioner.

With 96% of votes counted, she won 68% of the votes. Turnout at 51% was just above the threshold needed to give her an outright first round win.

Her nearest challenger, Social Democrat lawmaker Algirdas Butkevicius came a distant second with 12% of the vote.

Seven candidates contested the poll which was held amid widespread concern about the economic downturn in the Baltic state.

Under the Lithuanian constitution presidents have limited influence over economic policies.

Stuff I Like: Why Tyra's Fat

Anyone remember when this Tyra-frenzy was the buzz up and down the streets? I re-discovered this piece that I saw live a few years ago. So so good! I don't support the title, which I believe was chosen purely for shock value, but the message is crystal clear and 100% on-point. William Evans rocked this out! let me know what you think...

"you saying
big is beautiful
as in
big is good for you
but im tyra f-ing banks!"

Quote of the WEEK

“Every calling is great when greatly pursued.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Stuff I Like: Ed Mabrey's Progress

Oh. Ed.

I stumbled upon this wonderful word-smith in a Columbus restaurant that is no longer open...at a poetry night that has long passed. But, even then, he moved me. Three years from that time, it almost feels like i dreamt it all, but his words...man! Those were real. And his voice...beautiful. Ed Mabrey represents that time when poetry truly stole my heart...I would go to his Black Pearl poetry nights and emerge from the experience (it was always an experience) with my face streaming with tears. No. Joke. Ed, and the craft that he has worked for years to master, cut me to the heart every time and remind that there is still beauty in this world...

Among his many accomplishments, Ed is a national slam champion and a top ranked national poet (8th out of 400 poets). He isn't playing around with this poetry thing...and it is clear by this great performance.

enjoy:-)



For more Ed, check him out on myspace

Quote of the WEEK

I super needed to be reminded of this this week...

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it."
-Helen Keller

Stuff I Like: Gina Loring

"you. most definitely. move me."

Artist Spotlight: Carlos Andres Gomez

I fell in love with this man during spring break a few years back. I was flipping through channels on my friends TV when I realized that he had HBO (yay!!) and the Def Potry Jam was on (greater joy!!). When Carlos walked up to the stage and started speaking, I was totally spellbound. His words hit me so hard that I had to rewind it a few times.

This man is a genltle genius who weaves words together with deliberate beauty. If you don't know, please get hip to it!

By Sarah Higginbotham on February 1st, 2007
Brass Magazine

Carlos Andrés Gómez has a way with words. He's been called a prophet, praised for his powerful message on and off stage. The 25-year-old award-winning poet and actor has made it to the National Poetry Slam Championships twice, performed on HBO's Def Poetry Jam and grabbed a leading role in Spike Lee's blockbuster, Inside Man. If you haven't heard this "spoken-word" artist on Telemundo or the MTV-U-sponsored Fight Apathy Tour, you might have heard of him: His performances generated over $40,000 to fight HIV/AIDS. Straight from the mouth of this former social worker and teacher comes a message about speaking up, making a living as a modern-day poet and helping others.

Carlos Andre Gomez Live from the Nuyorican


1. Prophet: One gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight; especially: an inspired poet.

He stands luminescent under the spotlight, eyes glowing. His hands whip left and right. The audience holds their breath as words flip off the stage, potent in their honesty and raw emotion.

On stage or off, Carlos tells it like it is. In the world of poetry slams, where energetic poetry performances are scored Olympic-style by audience members, Carlos learned to drop verse as entertaining as any Top Forty rapper.

"Some like it spelled out," he almost whispers in a performance of his poem breath stroke. "But my love doesn't speak literacy, and these metaphors don't sing literally, and these stanzas aren't about imagery or simile. Quite simply this is about a feeling..."

On the slam stages he found a platform to talk about issues he cared about, making us re-think our views on HIV/AIDS, violence, racism and poverty. "Often times the greatest writing is putting down on paper what you know you shouldn't write," Carlos says. "The greatest writers, the greatest painters, the greatest artists, are the ones that are putting down the last thing in the world that you should put down."

More

Just For Fun: Chicas Project at the Nuyorican

OMG friends!! I try to go to this poetry spot every time I'm in the city, but something else always comes up. boo... At least i get to live through this bad a$$ chicas. Watch as the ladies of the Chicas Project explore the historic space, learn the fundamentals of spoken word and create their own great pieces for the stage!

enjoy!






Need more chicas? Click here

Stuff I Like: Giving Immigrants their Due!

Oveous Maximus spits hot fire for the Chicas Project! Enjoy!

Just For Fun: Cincinnati's Super Hero

Meet - Shadow Hare. Apparently he is part of a network of masked saviors...Speechless...



Want to find the Captain-Save-A-Me in your community? Check them out on the Superhero Registry

Stuff I Like: National Youth Poetry Slam Finalists

This Is For You

In general, I love girl power poem, but must admit that I love them even more when men are championing our cause:-) In our hyper-masculine world, it takes a man with some serious nerve to stand up, speak out, and walk beside us. Bravo to the young poets in this vid. "This is what a feminist looks like!"