A Conversation That Provoked Thought

I was having a discussion with someone over thanksgiving break about my years here at Howard and how this year has been the worst out of the four, primarily, because of the situations that I've had to deal with. The person began to tell me to look at the positive and not focus on the negative. That's very true. Often in life, we as humans, seem to focus on the negative. It's funny, but the negative seems to take so much of our attention: bad relationships, friendships, what happened to us when we encountered certain circumstances that left imprints on our mind. I told the person that I never realized how much of the negative one harbors on, which is why one ultimately grieves and remains in despair for a brief period of time. The person told me that it's not so much what they are doing to make you mad, but how you let it handle you. I began to think about it even further and realized that people have this unique disposition of keeping you in a box. As long as you are in that box, you do not defy the attitude of how they feel you should be, but the minute you step out of their grasp, they have a tendency to make allegations, threats and they want to make you feel as if you are the one with the issue because you have been alerted to their parlor tricks and rudimentary mind games. People expect you to back up and bow and say "you are sorry" for what they did. The devil is a liar. What on Earth kind of fallacious thinking is that? You know you have met a master at manipulation when they want you to say sorry for what they did. The person began to say that some battles aren't worth it. Why fight something that is dead and over with? That's true - why bother? I have asked myself that a time or two in various situations and have come to this point: when people challenge the very space you take up purely because you have uncovered their shenanigans, you have to stand your ground despite the bandwagon that is formed to make you feel like you are the one that made them act this way. The person then said to me, "well hold your ground - because the last thing you want to do is compromise and back up off of how you feel just because someone is mad that you've figured them out." That person is right too.

Life has many parts, that's right too.

Last songs to play on the iPod...
Janet Jackson - Runaway
Monifah - You
Billy Lawrence - Happiness
Donell Jones - Better Start Talking
Jagged Edge - So Amazing
Seal - Crazy
India Arie - Purify Me

What Do I Have To Be Sad About?

Okay. So there are approximately 3 weeks left of the semester. 3 weeks left of my undergraduate career. Wow, it’s come down to me packing up and heading out. Leaving behind what is not needed and starting anew. My grandmother told me that I should feel sad – ha – that’s a croc. Sad about what? Sad about doing something that most Black men don’t accomplish in less than 4 years? Sad about doing something that others could have done, but didn’t? Sad about getting my GPA to where it needed to be for graduate school and post-graduate careers? I am not sad. In fact, far from it. I am exultant. Exultant over the fact that I have the opportunity to graduate early and with honors. You could say I’m bragging here – and……………………. I am. You’d be doing the same thing, if you were in my shoes. I am blessed to be graduating early, blessed to be moving on to bigger and better things. Things that are not niggling and inimical. I told my grandmother that the last final cannot get here soon enough, and it has almost arrived. She told me that early next year I’ll probably be wishing I had stayed. I laughed at the thought, partly because it would serve no purpose and would be rather moronic of me to spend money on courses that I could take at a community college. That’s a little bitter, I know, but when you deal with an HBCU administration – you get back to me, O.K. I’m actually a little somber though because I am leaving familiar ground. I have grown accustomed to the campus and how it operates and being around people of my kind (that would be NEGROES, for all of you wondering), and now I have to get out there and pull up my sleeve and tackle the real world. Hmm, I don’t know about that – I wish I could turn back time and go through 16 years of school all over again. Yep – 16 years: 6 yrs of elementary, 2 years of junior high, 4 yrs of high school, 4 yrs of college. I am surprised I haven’t cracked by now or been blown away. I mean that figuratively not literally. But, right now I’m looking forward to this long break that is definitely needed.

The Sarcastic Intellectual's List of Songs That Strike Your Eardrums a.k.a. Songs That Are Just That Good #1

1) Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
-You must admit this is one her best songs.

2) Donny Hathaway - A Song For You
-The piano is enough to get you.

3) Luther Vandross - A House Is Not A Home
-Classic Luther, may he rest in peace.

4) Aaliyah - At Your Best
-I think this is her best song.

5) Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
-Everyone knows this.

6) Sounds of Blackness - Optimistic
-The song they are known for.

7) Men At Work - Land Down Under
-This is a good 80s song.

8) Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
-Their biggest hit besides Shout.

9) The Beatles - Penny Lane
-I like this one, but they have many good songs.

10) Ravel - Bolero
-I got hooked on classical music from this song.

11) Tommy James - Crystal Blue Persuassion
-Good summertime song.

12) Sade - The Sweetest Taboo
-All of her songs are good, but I used to play this one over & over.

13) Keiko Matsui - Bridge Over The Stars
-She can play a mean piano.

14) Pat Benetar - Love Is A Battlefield
-It is.

15) Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions - Choice of Colors
-This song is one of his best.

16) Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
-The revolution will be live....

Life has many parts, get back to me in a few weeks for the rest of this sentence.

Gospel Lyrics XII

Lyrics from The Cross Movement's "A Girl Named World"...

[Chorus]
I used to date a girl named, 'World.'
Sis was real glamorous arrayed up in diamonds and pearls
But now I've got a new best friend
Because the world will leave you dry and watch you die in the end

[Verse]
I used to date a girl named, 'World.
'Sis was real glamorous arrayed up in diamonds and pearls
She was the baddest, the phattest, she was established
And with her universal status - she had me livin' lavish
She knew about my sinful habits,
She used to feed them
She offered me the fruits of lust (and yep) I used to eat them
She took my freedom
Warnings came, I wouldn't heed them
And when I mentioned God she said, 'Chill you don't need Him.
'I second-guessed this but then she pulled out those dresses,
tightfittin' ones made by Mercedes and Lexus
Her neck just exploded with the fragrance of passion
The aroma of fame, fortune, and fashion
Snatching' my heart she romanced me, my plans be
Lover for life make her, make her my wife, I can't see...
breaking' up like I can't see me in a S girl
This is dedicated to my ex-girl

[Chorus]

[Verse]
The lust of the flesh you bring your best to the city so
Now sex is pushed through the radio and video
All was chill we'd build and share thrills together
She gave cheddar, we stayed close knit like a sweater
I gave her letters, secular rap format to better
Inform her, 'Miss I'm on ya, I'm down forever.
'I remarked, 'Dear sweetheart let me spark the fire''I admire the way you supply a brother's desire'
The lust of the flesh, you bring your best to the city so
Now sex is pushed through the radio and video
Then the lust of the eyes
You make sure guys look good to the girls and girls show more and more thighs
You're wise, you know the pride of life makes us brag
We're gassed on who we are, what we do and what we have
But tragically thoughts of loneliness be attackin' me
You know how that can be so you offer me crack and weed
Distractin' me from reality with pleasure
Giving me treasure lettin' me indulge without measure
Your hands out you want my soul in it plus the mastery
Then you'll be mine with no limit just like Master P
You captured me, I thought you were all I needed
Until I found a Bible and decided to read it
I never could think that you could have any competition
'til sweated the Bible's Author and it's Editor
You fretted to hear of the One that I met at the Appointed time,
he kept coming' after me like a creditor
A date, we set it up, and the He showed me His nail prints
Then the eternal scale and your riches started palin
'Now I know why my girl dissed Him
Because the World pissed Him off and now he hates the whole world system

[Chorus]

[Verse]
In your heart I would hope you'd vote Messiah for President
Cause life's too up and down like a dieters measurement
It's evident the side of God is unattractive
Because the world diamonds and the pearls have got you captured
If their love is greater you can have them
But who died so new lives can come to the son's of Adam
So don't miss the crucial nature of the crucifixion
With diction I'll stress this one
If Jesus Christ wasn't nailed to The Cross Movement
If there was no blood lost we'd have to pay our own cost
Who can pay for their own sins
Next to God grown men become little girls with no ends
Daily my mind gets revamped
And on the Lord there's more concentration than a camp
God stamps His divine approval
On the One who puts God the Son in the forefront on the usual
Fools will bow down to a dead president
And turn around and say there's no God despite the evidence
I recommend we prepare for the reckoning
He didn't have to go out on a limb

[Chorus]

Quotations In Rotation

A few more quotes....

People challenge what they do not fully comprehend and what they are threatened by - KJ

You have to solve level one problems with level two solutions - Tudor Bismark

Everyone rises to their level of incompetence - Laurence Peter

All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them - Galilei

Life is a succession of lessons enforced by immediate reward, or oftener, by immediate chastisement - Ernest Dimnet

Everything that does not come out in the wash, will in the rinse - Unknown

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams - Eleanor Roosevelt

Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake once you make it again - F.P. Jones

Life has many part ---- forgot the s, sorry!

Levels

So I've got about two weeks before school is out. It's finally come down to three finals and me getting ready to move to the next level of life. I have always found that moving to a new level brings new challenges and reveals things. When I examined this further and decided what next to do with my life, I found that something is gained on every level and something is lost before you move to that next level. No one likes change. Everyone is comfortable with dealing with situations and people without any change. We as human beings somehow get it into our minds that things will always be the same - no matter what. Of course, there is a sense that change is inevitable, but no one wants to face change. Once one proceeds to the next level of life, there can be no looking back. One cannot go back to the level that they were previously on. You could look at it like this: once you bake a cake, you cannot get it back to its original state where the cake batter was sitting in the bowl with the eggs and butter, etc. It is here where the struggle begins because how do you let something go, when you have been used to it for so long? This is why change is so arduous and thus making it onerous to move to the next level of life. But in order to shift to the next level of life, you have to do things that do not make you feel good. There is agony of cutting things out of your life that you do not necessarily want to do but things occur that force you to make the decision to back away from things. Change is unsparing because you have to make a decision between leaving and cleaving to something. But sometimes you have defining moments in your life when you realize that the decision has to be made despite the pain and/or dole it causes. No decision is easy because there are always two or more choices in the decision and depending on the choice you make, it can have a vast impact on what happens on the next level of life.

Life has many parts - - - - -

Last songs to play on the ipod...
Cece Winans - Pray
Ricky Dillard - Take Me Back
Tonex - Bout A Thang
Kirk Franklin - Lookin For You
Donald Lawrence - The Best Is Yet To Come
Kurt Carr - The Blood Still Has Miraculous Power
Lisa McClendon - Hey Now

"Oh You Couldn't Have Heard From God, That's Impossible...Why Would He Talk To You" Part Two

So making the decision to walk with God has brought about a lot of questions from people - primarily people who do not have my vivacity to walk with God. As long as I wasn't doing anything that was related to God, it was fine and dandy with people. It's funny how things began to change once I started expressing God in my posts and made the decision to walk with God. People started to change, or at least, my view of them changed. You could say that I had had blinders on regarding the world as a whole, but primarily certain individuals. There are people who perceive to know my reason for giving my life to Christ and wanting to be saved; as if this was some spry decision on my behalf. And then there are those who believe that I've somehow lost it and need a cell in a local nuthouse. But then it does say in the Bible - not to be yoked with unbelievers. What do believers and unbelievers have in common?, is what it says. That is like Jesus having lunch with the devil, which is laughable. One of my fellow believers tells me that I shouldn't worry so much about what people say, but focus on what God has to say. "Don't worry, it'll work itself out. You just have to make it to heaven yourself. Everyone won't get behind you on this. It happened to me too," she says. I just thank everyone who God has revealed to not be behind me and all the doubters and people who think I'm crazy. They have brought me closer to HIM and no longer am I going around in circles.

Life has many parts, that's impossible, I couldn't have heard that life does.

Last songs to play....
Wilson Phillips - Hold On
Norah Jones - Things You Don't Have To Do (Chill Remix)
Jamie Cullum - Get Your Way
Ace of Base - The Sign
John Mellencamp - Pink Houses
Journey - Don't Stop Believin
Fleetwood Mac - Gypsy

What Is Going On Is Making Me Wanna Holler Part Seven

There is controversy regarding the Boondocks series - already. They couldn't give the man the opportunity to get his series going before people come out of the woodworks and start protesting the series. They are making a big issue regarding his use of the word "nigga" as if that is not a word that many African American kids and adults use. The things we need to be protesting about we aren't and the things that are rather trivial - well here comes the loud outbursts and protesting. If anyone has ever read the comic strip then one would know that McGruder is quite riotous. The show is very funny and entertaining, and somehow someone had to find something wrong with it. With the lack of African American programming that there is on television, you would think that people would be somewhat happy that McGruder was finally able to get his show on the air, because from what I hear he had been trying to get it on-air for awhile. Apparently, they want him to stop the usage of the word "nigga," because it isn't necessary. I do agree that it does not add value to the show, but given the fact that Cartoon Network picked it up, and it is aired at 11 PM during Adult Swim and there is a warning before it comes on, I think McGruder should be able to have his say so regarding the show and the writing. I do not think people would have such a big issue with it if he wasn't writing it....

50 Cent decided to contribute some words on Kanye West's comments regarding Hurricane Katrina. 50 believes Bush did all he could to respond to the Louisiana folks. The whole thing smells of a marketing ploy by 50 to get Bush supporters to go out and purchase a ticket to see Get Rich or Die Tryin and sing-a-long to Window Shopper. I thought it could have been an attack directed at Kanye but after discussing it with a person whose opinion I value; they were able to shed some light on the situation saying that he was just trying to get people to see his movie.

I heard that on some college campuses that are predominantly Caucasian they have what are called "Ghetto Parties," where non-African American students dress up like rappers and gangsters, drink and do drugs and the parents are outraged about it because they cannot understand why their son or daughter would be interested in acting what the world has deemed "Black," or rather trying to be Black. I hadn't heard of "Ghetto Parties," but that is quite sad that people need to throw a party so they can dress up after rappers and other Black people because they think it's trendy and cool.

Life has many parts...sure it does.

"Oh You Couldn't Have Heard From God, That's Impossible...Why Would He Talk To You" Part One

I did not believe that I would encounter so much crux now that I have made a decision to be a Christian. I somehow had it in my mind that everyone would get behind it - having God apart of my life. Little did I know that there would be such dolor that accompanied me making a decision to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What is even more interesting here is that often times people cannot see what is going on from the inside - they only see what is occurring on the outside. I have been called everything from a Jesus freak to crazy and have even been told that I did not hear from God. "You couldn't have heard from God," is what they say or "God didn't talk to you," as if I am not worthy for God to talk to me. I may very well not be worthy but if one were to check scripture - no man is worthy because we are all born into sin, which is why Jesus died on the cross, so we could be justified. I would naturally assume that those who make such risible statements have not quite looked at the Holy Bible or have not gotten revelation on just what it means and they have been blinded by Beelzebub. But then I have to remember that Jesus encountered affliction and every Christian faces opposition regarding what they believe, which is why religion is such a touchy subject. This then would confirm what is written in 2 Timothy regarding affliction. I just never believed people would try and tell me that I shouldn't believe or that I've somehow concocted this in my mind.

Life has many parts, I wonder who will try and tell me that I've somehow concocted that life has many parts.

Quotations In Rotation

Here are a few very good quotations....

If you do what you have always done, you get what you have always gotten - Unknown

The question isn't whether you would die for a friend, it's do you have a friend worth dying for - Kristin Mikula

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens - Kahlil Gibran

Some say we are responsible for those we love. Others know we are responsible for those who love us - Nikki Giovanni

All that does not help - hinders; it's either you helping me to get to where I'm going or you in the way - Noel Jones

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody - Bill Cosby

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are - ee cummings

Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him - Aldous Huxley

Life has many parts, that is a rather interesting statement, don't you think?

Poetry Corner

Wrote a little recipe,
just to give HIM glory,
I got to reach for mine,
as I bask in the bright sunshine,
called the salt of the Earth,
figured out just how much I'm worth,
regardless of what others say,
I give my regards to broadway,
take a closer look at me,
no more shackles and chains,
a brother is free,
I ain't a slave to flesh,
and caught up in darkness,
carnality just doesn't mesh with spirituality,
the word is sticking to me like caramel,
for real I'm just glad God snatched me out of the dungeons of hell....
-KJ

I know not what I search 4,
but I know I have yet 2 find it,
because it is invisible 2 the eye,
my heart must search 4 it blinded.
And if by chance I find it,
Will I know my mission is achieved?
Can one come 2 conclusions,
before the question is conceived?
Just as no one knows
what lies beyond the shore,
I will never find the answer
2 what it is that I search 4
-2pac

God's not pleased with you man
cause of how you behave
but if you can tell the story about
how you got saved
If you a sinner, you a sinner,
If you saved, you saved,
Let's not beat around the bush
let's call a spade a spade,
let's call a slave a slave,
and a trade a trade,
exchange life for his death that's the proper exchange
-Da Truth

The Truth Is....

I finally paid my graduation fee. It was pretty expensive considering all I need is my degree. Just give me that I don't need no commencement or any orator speaking eloquently to me to tell me about the things I can do to become successful after graduation. Just hand me the paper please. I was thinking, do I really need to come back to walk? I mean really, do I? I could just ask the university to FEDex my degree; well they'd probably send it regular mail and it would take two weeks, but that's fine. I'll wait because the truth is - there is no reason to come back and walk. The truth is - I don't wanna come back. The truth is - I am jumping up and down knowing that it's getting closer and closer everyday to that sigh of relief knowing I've completed something that the media has deemed unusual for African American males.

I started to reflect on the treasures that I have gained from this place. I've grown up from what I once was - that is for sure. I learned that people are all the same regardless of race. I do not know what kind of fallacious rationalizations got me thinking that Black people were on some sort of different level than other races. What on Earth??!! One of the most valuable treasures I got was a relationship with God, who did not have to seek me out but did and I give HIM glory for it. I discovered that having a relationship with HIM is priceless. What is even more fascinating is that I am more with HIM than I am without HIM.

By the way, I am turning off my comments for awhile until I get an answer to how to get rid of Blog spam.

Life has many parts......can't think of anything, get back to me later.

Last songs to play....nothing, I've been listening to online radio stations.

Gospel Lyrics XI

Lyrics from Cece Winans "Pray" off of her Purified cd

I know that you think you can't pray after that mistake
but I know it's the only way you can make it better
And I know situations get too much for you to take and
you feel like you're gone break and it makes you say

[Chorus]

I can't take it
When will things get better?
I'm so frustrated,
but it's gonna be okay cause you've got someone in your corner
Who's gonna be there for ya
Just fall on your knees, say a prayer and receive
When the world feels like it's on your shoulders
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your life seems like its upside down
(I pray, you pray, we pray)

When your lonely nights are getting colder (I pray, you pray, we pray)
I pray, you pray no matter how dark the day

I know you think you've gone too far and you waited too late
But I know that He loves you and there's no love greater so
And I know that it's hurting and you want your pain to end
And you feel like you can't win and it makes you say

[Chorus]

Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed be Thy name
All you gotta do is say

[Chrous]

The Question Remains Unanswered

I am listening to Blackberry Molasses by Mista. I will always remember that song because that was a song that I listened to all the way to the Olympics in Atlanta. I guess that is why I am so attached to that song. It is quite sad actually - but it was a big hit. "Blackberry Molasses, one of the things that never change, you gotta keep pushin on, the sun don't rain all the time, there's gonna be some heartache and pain." In one sense - you'd think that it was supposed to be uplifting, but it's actually very sad. As I began to let the song penetrate my ears, I began to reflect on my 3 and 1/2 yrs at Howard. They haven't been all that bad. I've had some good times. I will forever remember trips to the Cafe freshman year and waking up for breakfast when there was 23 inches of snow on the ground. I will remember the night before I moved out of Drew Hall, when I spent like 4 hours with three associates of mine schooling them on old school. I also will never forget how many times me and few others watched Queens of Comedy - not on a videotape, but on a computer and would constantly recite the lines like they were lines from Hamlet or Waiting for Godot. And who could forget Pimp Harder: the homecoming fashion show, which out of all of the HU fashion shows was the best.

Sophomore year was a cool - I lived in a dorm that was a bus ride away from campus, make that a shuttle ride away from campus. I remember being late for class several times waiting for the shuttle and almost being late to my Econ final because the shuttle decided to take its jolly ole time. My dinners that year consisted of KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, and Popeye's - ah heart disease, colon cancer, prostate cancer all rolled into one, not to mention hypertension, potential heart attack, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other potential life threatening diseases. I never was too much of an Adams Morgan fan thought even though all my time was pretty much spent going to get food from those places, which happen to be in Adams Morgan. I also remember when me and some of my associates decided that we were going to purchase Christmas gifts and we pulled names and we had to submit lists of the stuff we wanted. That was funny. I ended up buying Sex & The City for the person and filling the box full of that crap you fill boxes with when you don't want stuff to get damaged, partly because the person had originally said that they didn't want anything. It got a laugh out of everyone. Sophomore year seemed to whiz by faster than any other year. I guess the saying is true - time waits for no man.

Junior year is forever etched in my mind. A lot of shocking things went down that year, ones that will remain between those of us who witnessed them. I resided in the Towers, which is supposedly the creme de la creme of dorms here on campus. I mean it is for the most part - the best dorm I've stayed in out of the three. That year I finally began telling many people when I would leave town. I have a proclivity for not letting people know when I leave - which is good and bad. Good because I can go whenever I feel like it; bad because if something happens, then who'll know. One of my associates sent me a text message and I quote: "I'm glad you made it, thanks for telling me. And it only took you 3 years to let someone know. We are making progress." I think junior year is settled in my mind moreso than the other years because it has been the most recent and because of all the stuff that went on that year. I will forever remember waking up at 3 in the morning and driving an associate of mine to the airport. I will also remember driving up to Virginia for a step show - that was a 4 hour drive back & forth. I finally was able to put miles on my car. Well, some, my car still needs to be broke in. I think that was a testing of the relationships many of us had with each other.

Senior year - well that's where I am now - and I've made many decisions regarding some associates of mine, which has been discussed in many posts and that topic is getting rather tiresome and repetitive. I was having a discussion with an associate of mine over the summer, and we were discussing Hurricane Katrina and we somehow got on the topic of life and moving on and what will happen once we leave Howard. We talked about change, which really made me think wow, senior year is fastly approaching and I'm going to be leaving Howard and starting something new. I can still keep in touch with certain people, but it won't be the same. I mean these are people who I've hung out with over the past 3 years and we've gone through so much together. We began to analyze how we all had come together freshman year. She then said something that was quite profound and this is not exact, but parphrased: "I think eventually later on in life we will learn why we all came together." It was rather striking because I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason so we all came together as close associates for a reason. It is still a profound and striking statement and I truly believe she and I (don't laugh if that's bad grammar) and others will get the answer to that question later on in life. But for now, the question remains unanswered.

Poetry Corner

The world is lost and it's a crying shame,
fallen pray to the Devil's feeling game,
If it ain't the lust of the flesh,
or the pride of life,
then it's the lust of the eye,
most are blinded by the devil's lies,
much to my surprise,
I was once that way,
but been saved by HIS grace and won't have to face the wrath on Judgement Day,
don't believe me take a look at Revelation,
I guess it's all a matter of interpretation,
to understand the will of the God of our salvation,
They say I'm inane,
and insane,
Even call me quixotic,
They say I'm high on chronic,
If they'd read a little scripture,
they'd understand the real picture,
I'm trying to get to that secret place,
I'm crunk 4 Christ and will tell you to your face,
Every morning when I arise I smile knowing I've made the right choice,
giving HIM all the praise as I dance and rejoice...
-KJ

My music playlist,
full of Bsides, and top hits,
everything from Euge Groove to Aya to Nina Simone,
got the oldies but goodies and them songs you play when you want yo girl to moan and groan,
Do you remember Technotronic and Edwin McCain?
I can recall when they gave a Grammy to Train,
and when I first saw the video of New Edition's Can You Stand The Rain,
Lately I've been playin songs like Spring Love by Stevie B or Jaguar Wright's Free,
Kindred is rather melodic and splendid,
Floetry and Ledisi are smooth,
Or how bout those rare grooves,
When I get ready I can go on an Escapade,
or chill in 107 Degrees in the Shade,
I must admit jazz is my brain food,
Gotta set the pod to repeat Duke Ellington's In A Sentimental Mood,
Marc Antoine, Hiroshima and Keiko Matsui,
The skills just mesmerize me,
Gospel makes me wanna lift up my hands,
or jump up right where I stand,
Yolanda Adams sings about getting the Victory,
while Tarralynn serenades with Remedy,
Cross Movement flows with their rhymes,
while Cece just hits the note everytime,
Music, what a wonderful life benefit,
you just gotta love it
-KJ

Last songs to play....
Jamie Cullum - Photograph
Pearl Jam - Elderly Woman Behind The Counter
The Eels - Love of The Loveless
Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
Ben Folds Five - Brick
Santana & Michelle Branch - I'm Feeling You
Dave Matthews Band - Jimi Thing

Gospel Lyrics X

A song from Da T.R.U.T.H. called "Turn You Around," off of his cd The Faith.

Verse 1
I’m like Isaiah—I got my eyes way up
Fixed on the person of Christ when I weigh up
Him against my personal life
My prayer becomes change me beneath the top layer

Now, not later
Why—why wait up
Don’t you want to be like Him now—huh player

Don’t you want more than a form of godliness
So it’s more than obvious that the Lord is not playing
Yeah, I know you like to match
So fresh so clean—hair right in tact

Fresh pair of blue jeans
Not an ounce of fat
But I hope you got a life to match
Get back

Hook 2X
Before Christ no change in me
But since Christ there’s a change in me—let Him turn you around
I’m not the man that I used to be
Don’t think like I used to think—let Him turn you around

Verse 2
I used to get high in a room at high noon
But I now spit for the most high on iTunes
See how our different lives come together—it so cool
To do it with a dude that didn’t shoot a chrome tool

I remember them days I was anti-social
Configuring a plan to get your auntie’s social
But as young man you could say I was postal
Doing dirt in the hood? Everybody’s supposed ta’

I used to think: “God only helps those who help themselves”
I translated that—to helping myself to wealth
Everybody had a hustle and mine was money
40-grand on a Rolley—yeah, crime was money

When the law came around talking time and punny
People nick’ an’ diming it for me suddenly they got funny
You know—sin was my name stitched in the headrest
But Christ bled then He rose from the bedrest

Switched everything I listened to in headsets
Transformed and reborn with a dead flesh—YES

Hook

Verse 3
OH—we are not the norm
Transformed and we can’t shake the eyes of the Lord
Pants on—no entertaining or watching porn
Even when behind them doors in our college dorms

NO—we are not the same
Inside it’s God—no locks and chains
Don’t smoke, don’t drink—our minds are changed
We don’t write, ‘cause we like the fame—NO

We write for the right reasons
You got it right—we do right for the right reasons
And that’s to bring glory to Christ
We ain’t gotta take Maury’s advice—we consult with the Lord

You know we walk with the Lord
And actually like to talk to the Lord—it’s our daily bread
Ever since He walked through the door
And erased sin like chalk on the board—it’s been on

Hook

untitled #2

There are boxes in my closet. Boxes full of clothes that haven't been hung up since the beginning of summer, boxes full of old things that need to be thrown away - papers from classes, pencils, pens, etc. In my quest to tackle a massive cleanup and a huge dumping of garbage down the trash chute, I ran across something that caught my attention. I thought I had lost it, but it was buried underneath a pair of pants that I haven't worn since freshman year. Among that thing that I found, I also found a list of old songs that I had planned on downloading when p2p was the in-thing. I am trying to refrain from downloading from p2p partly because Ares is just too slow, Kazaa doesn't connect, and I am not a BitTorrent user. I do however use Itunes though. That 99 cents thing is working out for Apple. They've made a cool amount of chump change off of us people who download songs. They even give an incentive - free songs of the week. Thank you Apple, that's what I need a free song by an artist who a) I've never heard of b) have the song already or c) one of those artists you'd find in a bargain basket or in the section at Best Buy where the remakes sit. You know what I'm talking about - the section that houses those 3/4/5 cd packs of relaxing music, classical music, remakes of 50's and 60s songs- the ones that say All Original recordings but aren't ORIGINAL AT ALL.

It's been pretty hot lately - hot in my room, because the heat is on! I think I have that song on a cd that I burned way back when. Also, I have no control of the heat; my roomate does. I opened my window and slept without a cover last night. That's a quick way to get some virus that you cannot pronounce. Airborne won't be able to help that nor will Peppermint Tea or over the counter remedies like Alka Seltzer Plus Cold, Theraflu or overdosing on Tylenol or Excedrin. The weather has been up & down lately. Hot today, cold tomorrow. A few days there was heavy rain. I know because my Lugz are ruined because the jeans bled onto the suede. I might go out and buy some new ones, but I doubt it.

I have been working intensely with Adobe Audition lately since I plan on purchasing a DAW after graduation. I am learning the basics of how to manipulate my voice and other things. I am leaning towards Audition primarily because its cheap compared to the 1,000 dollar Protools that I'd like to have or Wavelab. I have created a few spots thus far for the radio stations that are in place that I work at. You'd be surprised the amount of time it takes to create a drop or a 30 or 60 sec spot. But I can say you can get very creative with the program - morphing your voice into a robot or adding electrovibe to it. I am boring you here....

Life has many parts, work intensely with them.

Last songs to play....
Aaliyah - Rock The Boat
NE-YO - So Sick
Jon B - I Do
Robin Thicke - Wanna Love You Girl
DeBarge - Time Will Reveal
Marvin Gaye - Ain't Nothin Like The Real Thing
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal

What Is Going On Is Making Me Wanna Holler Part Six

The Washington Post has ripped Howard University apart - well not The Washington Post, just a post writer. It bewilders me how we intensely do things after the fact, not just as students, but as Americans. I have noticed that we do not actively prepare for things - don't believe me peep 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, Rita and the other catastrophic things. America has allowed itself to become subjected to many things because it has not fully prepared. We are so hell bent on race because we are still living in a time where Blacks are looked at as inferior beings; hell minorities for that matter. I definitely support the march/rally that was made to the Washington Post. It showed the media that were are not complacent individuals out to grub on fried chicken cooked in fatback or half-washed collard greens *note:collard greens must be washed to perfection. The post writer decided to portray us as party animals who live to party and await the approaching of homecoming - as if our education is predicated on a fashion, comedy and step shows and music artists. Homecoming is definitely one of the things Howard is known for - but we don't come here to get sprung off on partying, we come here to study and become successful people who defy stereotypical foolishness that exists in a racist society. There are always those who do falter by the wayside, which is why they inform you to look to your left & right when you get here, but that is at all colleges. I am surprised at how much people hate us as a people, yet we always seem to be the center of attention. That doesn't sound like hate too much does it? I did not attend the march yesterday because I am on the grind and yelling and demanding an apology from a post writer who has blended into the stereotypical society is not the answer to anything. The rally itself did prove to be effective, however, which is a plus. I am sure the Washington Post people locked the doors and the windows and the people on the street clutched their purses and wallets - cause that is what people do when they see minorities, especially Black folk comin down the street. I can here them now "look there goes another one of them people." For a country that sees us as inferior, they sure do pay a lot of attention to inferior beings??! Perhaps I am misinterpreting what I read and heard, but that is just an observation. It is good to see that we as a people aren't afraid of the Big Bad Wolf.

Life has many parts, misinterpreting them can make you scratch your head.

Last songs to play....
Jamie Cullum - Mind Trick
Switchfoot - Stars
U2 - City of Blinding Lights
The Verve - Freshman
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Sugar Ray - Shot of Laughter

Gospel Lyrics IX

Lyrics from Kirk Franklin's "Lookin For You" off of his Hero cd.

I've been down so long
I've been hurt for so long
There were times thought I'd never see the break of day
It was hard for me to see Your plan for me
And I tried to believe struggling won't last always
See night after night I prayed Lord
Don't take Your joy from me
And then late one night
I read in Your love letter that it's gonna get better

Don't You know that I've been looking for You
I realize nothing else will satisfy me
I'm so glad I found You
Now that I'm changed no one can keep me away from you

When my enemies tried to come for me and they
thought that my world was coming to an end
All that while You knew that I would make it through
I feel closer to You now than when I first began
Jesus you are, Your are my sunlight after the rain

So wherever You are I just wanna be near You
I'm so glad I can hear You
Don't You know that I've been looking for You
I realize nothing else will satisfy me
I'm so glad I found You
Now that I'm changed no one can keep me away from you

Some Things Jus Ain't Cuttin It

So, I decided to redesign Life In Many Parts. It is not quite finished yet, still somewhat under construction. There is however, an embedded music player though. I need to add a few more songs to the playlist. By next month, Life In Many Parts will have a new look completely different from the templates available on Blogger. I have enjoyed Minima Black and all of the rest but manipulating the color doesn't seem to cut it.

I decided to test out satellite radio and since there were only two to choose from, I didn't have much testing to do. XM Radio was launched first and Sirius came a little bit later. I have been skeptical of satellite radio because I could not understand what the hype was all about. What's a few commericals here and there between songs? I decided to see what the hype was all about so I tried the 3-day trial over at XM Radio and found that will all of its channels, I was looking for a commerical, but it's commerical free. XM Radio plays everything from old radio shows like Amos & Andy and The Shadow to music from Youssour N'dour to Jackson Browne to Twista. There lengthy music selection definitely insights me to lean in their direction. I then went over to Sirius and tried their 3-day trial and found myself hooked on a few channels like the Pulse, which is a blend of 90's rock and today's rock. Kind of like all of those R&B stations across the US that play Today's R&B and Classic Soul. Titles may vary from: Today's Soul and Classic R&B, R&B From Today & Back In The Day, or the R&B of Today & Yesterday, or Today's R&B & Classic R&B, New Soul & Classic Soul, Old School & Today's R&B; the interchangeableness of those genres goes on & on depending on the market you are in. I also found myself tuned into Heart & Soul, which is genuinely like today's R&B stations except for the fact that there wasn't a song on there that I wanted to change the channel. I also found myself liking a few other channels. What seems to be the main distinction between XM Radio & Sirius to me is that Sirius has created fewer music channels related to distinct periods and or specific genres, while XM Radio, has many channels that offer a broader range of programming. Sirius seemed to carry a better sound even with the Internet connection and the streaming broadcast quality of the software that I have. If I were to pick between the two - Sirius would be my choice. Sure it costs a little bit more, but it would be worth it considering the selection of music that is played. I would not have to worry so much about switching the channel every 5 minutes to find something I enjoyed if I purchased Sirius.

Life has many parts, some just need to change.

Last songs to play....
Jill Scott - Golden
Rahsaan Patterson - Forever Yours
Eric Benet - I Wanna Be Loved
Alicia Keys - Unbreakable
Samson - Atmosphere
Lenny Kravitz - It Ain't Over Til It's Over
112 - Come See Me

Airborne Formula Solves Colds

I have found that using homeopathic medicine and herbal remedies helps with many things. I was told about Airborne Formula, which gets rid of cold symptoms at the first sign of a cold. You could call it the cure for the common cold except it does not work unless you take it at the first sign of a cold. Someone tell me what a first sign is? It is very unlikely that a minor cough or small sneeze is the first sign of a cold, because the cold virus sometimes takes a few days to develop. So, could we then say that there is no such thing as a first sign? I think we could. I have taken Airborne and it has stopped colds from developing so I do thank the school teacher who created the product.

As for herbal remedies, I have always drank different types of tea. Everything from Nettle to Chai, I've had it at least once. I have always been a fan of green tea. I was told about TenRen tea, which is tea that is supposed to be very smooth. Smoother than Celestial Seasonings, smoother than Lipton, smoother than Nestea. SMOOOOOOOTH! About a year ago, I invested in some Republic of Tea: White Tea, which is very strong. I have never tried Red Tea though I've often heard many people talk about it. I have always found joy in putting things into my mouth that are somewhat healthy. Note the word somewhat. Every now and then, I get off track and have a greasy Mickey D's hamburguesa and some papas fritas y Coca Cola, but that is an exception. I try to fix meals, occasionally, in the microwave. Who would have thought heating up a pizza, could be potentially harmful? That's almost as bad as someone not knowing how to boil water. I often times get takeout too - like an occasional Vanilla Bean or Key Lime Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. I still haven't gotten my cheesecake that I did not get on my birthday but I think I will one day - when I get up the nerve to drive to Friendship Heights even though it's not too far away. But since gas prices have gone up over the past few weeks or rather months, my car has been idle down there in the good ole Towers GARRAGE (that is gar-ige, say it in a British accent). I have been venturing to Rockville to work though which has put a dent in my wallet. Between work and homework I haven't had too much time to do anything but sleep and write blog posts. I did find the time however to find a job after I graduate, which is always good.

I also was contacted by an old associate of mine, who I have not talked to in years and I mean years. She politely reminded me about how things work out for the better. She kindly and surprisingly also told me that she is expecting a baby too and how she moved on down to 'Bama.' I must go now, the Airborne is kicking in and I am getting drowsy. Funny though, there are no drugs in it, just minerals from the EARF!

Life has many parts, can you calculate a %-age of which ones can be remembered?

Last songs to play on the good old trusty iPod (which doesn't have a clickwheel)...
Fray - Over My Head
Goo Goo Dolls - Name
Linkin Park - Breaking The Habit
Sarah Brightman - Time to Say Goodbye
Jason Mraz - Wordplay
System of A Down - Question!
Coldplay - Clocks