break in the action-"I'm the Mother Flippin"

I needed a mental break as of late. I am still jobless, but have had some strange interviews. Let's just say that although music often sets the tone of my life, listening to Chingy during an interview isn't helping my feeling of hopelessness.

On another note, you Filter Magazine readers may notice my post about their Tribe Called Quest article re-worked as a letter to the editor. It is a great magazine, and don't just pick it up because of this blog. I can't wait to read the Flight of the Concords article. Check out the perfect marriage of Hip Hop and funny . Tickets to their show in Los Angeles are sold out.

I know that I was going to share some poems with you for National Poetry Month, but if I can only leave this month with one, it will be the one in my next post.

Note added after original post: Tribe Called Quest is reuniting for this summer's Rock the Bells tour. I think there may be a date in SoCAl on 8/9, but if not San Fran on 8/16.

Happy Earth Day!!!

I hope that you are doing your part today to make a cleaner greener environment.

it is not too late...

.. to celebrate National Poetry Month. Which April is. I have been a lover of poetry for a long time. My first foray into writing was very cheesy rhyming lovelorn crap. I can call it that now, I have the self-esteem enough to say that.

So, in honor of this month that is about writing I hope to share two things with you that are very literary.

One an organization that helps children achieve literacy in Los Angeles. Wonder of Reading whose goal is to inspire children to read. They have made great steps in renovating elementary school libraries (where the love of reading begins) and have provided over $2M worth or new books for kids in the Los Angeles area. Check out their website to see how you can help them reach their goals. They have an event coming up at the Arclight, or you could volunteer to read to kids hint hint.

Also, I would like to share some poetry that I love with you this month. There is more out there than the Thy and Thou, Rhymy stuff. Get ready to have your mind blown. ( I am going to go laugh myself off my chair now)

All My New Yorkers

One of my favorite bands to see perform is Antibalas . (which means bulletproof in Spanish) To give you an idea to what they sound like the name I have often heard them use is Antibalas' Afrobeat Orchestra. If you love Femi or Fela Kuti, are politically aware and just like to dance your ass off (shake your Nyash yo)go see one of the two shows they have in New York this weekend. I strongly recommend going, you won't be disappointed.

If you do go, please email me so that I can live vicariously through you. You know my email.

To Antibalas: Please come to Los Angeles soon.

I scream you scream

I had the chance to be one of the people invited to try Ben and Jerry's new ice cream flavor for the ONE campaign yesterday. I would like to start off by saying that it is one of the best ice cream flavors I have tried not only does it have a great flavor combinations of cheesecake and brownie, you can feel good about doing your part to "make poverty history"

Here comes my critique of the event, which I hate doing, but this is pretty valid critique. I was sent an email invitation from ONE directly to show up at 2:30 for the event to hear an African Children's choir, hear Ben and Jerry and hear how this ice cream can help you support ONE. I showed up at 2:30 and the entire event was finished.

I left the event not knowing anymore about ONE than I already do. If I would have know n how this was going to go down, I would have asked Orlando Bloom about ONE when I saw him out and about.

The differences between L.A. and MPLS

There are a lot of differences between L.A. and Minneapolis. I have gone into some of them in previous posts. One of the most telling differences between them is in free reading material. When I lived in Minneapolis my social activity centered around the City Pages . A free weekly newspaper very similar to the LA Weekly and New York's Village Voice. The City Pages was always full of great things to do including seeing local bands (God, I miss the local music scene) art crawls and my favorite find Atari Party. (Every Atari game, kegs and local bands 10:PM until dawn)

I thought that I would have similar luck with the LA Weekly, but unfortunately the majority of what I can find there is where I can get breast augmentation, reduction, botox, chemical peels, rhinoplasty, tanned, buffed extensions, color contacts and other places to change the way I look.

Because how I look just isn't good enough right?

I know that fashion magazines do the same thing, but at least they are a little bit obtrusive about it.

I feel like here they are letting you know about the great things to do in this town but if you want to go, you better at least get a chemical peel before you go.

On another related note I was looking at a W magazine today and one of the recommendations for skin care in your 30's is botox to get rid of crow's feet. You know that Botox is Botulism right? I am 30 and would rather have crow's feet.

I much prefer the Minneapolis come as you are attitude.

I have an email address-use it

I was wondering if people could send me some Minneapolis dish.

What good Minneapolis Blogs are out there?
Are they ever going to fix the 35W Bridge?
What the hell happened with Uptown?
Is Mark Wheat still with the Current?
Is Cheapo still an expensive place to buy CDs?

I am feeling a bit nostalgic for Minneapolis lately and my family doesn't live in the city, they live in the suburbs, my friends are impossible to get in touch with and my best friend married a crazy woman. (after divorcing a crazy woman, maybe he is crazy)

Email me at fadeinmail@gmail.com

Next two posts promise

My blog has pretty much been about music and self loathing lately. So, I promise to lay off music, stop feeling sorry for myself and then talk about L.A. again.


I also know that I mentioned the Getty a lot so to also kill that bird, I strongly recommend going to see their California Video exhibit. I love video art and to see how innovative people are. I think many of these people were vloggers before the invention of vlogging.

You can catch some of what is available in the exhibit, plus find out how you can submit some of your videos to the Getty.

Enough already!!

Happy Birthday Yo!

Check out Yo! MTv Raps 20th birthday site. Check out some old school videos and MTv before it was all reality shows.

Happy birthday!!!!

Thank you Yo! for introducing a small town Minnesota girl to the world of Hip-Hop. My life would be strange w/o you.

Let me know what you think about the top 20 countdown email me at fade in mail at gmail dot com

A quote as relevant today as 40 years ago

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom."