X Marks the spot. As in, that’s the goal. As in, that’s where all the ends justify the means. We are reading Malcolm X’s autobiography. It includes everything from his life. Not just all his accomplishments. It includes his messed up childhood, his hustle, his drugs, his running around with women, everything. However, I feel like he wouldn’t change a thing. He analyzes everything and sees the significance. X is aware of where he has messed up and takes full ownership. He is even thankful for some of it. Without prison, X would have never found the nation of Islam.
X marks the spot. His goals and ideology were a result of his past. What the overall “spot” is, I'm not sure. My previous knowledge tells me he aimed for a proud black race that is fully aware of themselves in the past, present, and future. That they achieve economic independence and won't allow anyone to step all over them anymore. I actually am looking forward to the rest of the book. I will probably have a better interpretation of him then.
Soo I'm not sure if how I read this blog was totally off base. I would actually like some people's thoughts if anyone bothers to read other people's blogs AND comment them :)
Monday, February 21, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Low End Theory
I’m not sure who introduced me, where it happened, or when it was that I started listening to A Tribe Called Quest, but I’m happy I do. I am a lover of quality hip hop. Not Soulja Boy. Not Flo Rida. Anyway, A Tribe Called Quest is probably one of the best rap groups from the ‘90s, and comprised of three members: Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife, and Jarobi (I'm pretty sure he left after the first album though). It is in contrast to the hardcore gangsta rap of the time with a more laid back even jazzy style.
I try to get everyone who hasn’t already, to listen to their music. I always recommend Low End Theory because it’s my favorite and because it is a piece of art. From the smooth flow in Jazz (We’ve Got) to the playful back and forth in Check the Rhyme, The Low End Theory is the epitome of what good hip hop should be. It's not just candy garbage with no meaning or just some dude saying how great he is the whole song. They show their talent through raw tracks that didn't require a lot of editing or that thing T-Pain uses. I can never get tired of listening to them.
Above are just a few of the songs off the album. Enjoy.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
I know this means something...
I know this means something…you are quite the sly one Mr. McCarthy with your ambiguous blog titles. Of course this has some deep, philosophical meaning that I have yet to tap in to. I will figure it out just watch.
Or…is there even anything to figure out? Do we try too hard to find a meaning? Does everything have to have some kind of meaning or can it just be? What if there is no underlying meaning? What if it is just as is…Is there such a thing?
Most words have different meanings. Situations are different to every person. Perspective is purely subjective. There is not a single meaning that this blog could have. It could be everything at once.
BAM! Nailed it.
Or…is there even anything to figure out? Do we try too hard to find a meaning? Does everything have to have some kind of meaning or can it just be? What if there is no underlying meaning? What if it is just as is…Is there such a thing?
Most words have different meanings. Situations are different to every person. Perspective is purely subjective. There is not a single meaning that this blog could have. It could be everything at once.
BAM! Nailed it.
Thee Ultimate Recipe D:
Thee ultimate recipe…hmmm...I don’t know if I have any recipe that I can consider “ultimate.” I do not really have any recipes or anything written down. I usually just cook. Well, I made my little sister some good pancakes this morning, so I will tell you how I made those. They weren’t from scratch, so it is not that impressive.
I’ll skip the obvious pouring and mixing of water into the pancake batter because that does not need any further detail. It is important to get the right consistency though. If it is too watery or too thick, the pancakes won’t come out well on the pan. Also before pouring the batter onto the pan, make sure it has butter on there to prevent sticking.
Okay, so you have your batter and your oiled pan. I like to put chopped nuts in my pancakes (if you laughed because I said nuts shut your face). All you have to do is add them straight into the batter. I also like to put strawberries as a topping instead of syrup, so then you have to wash and cut them.
When pouring pancakes, my little sister always makes the mistake of moving the bowl around to make a circle. That’s wrong. Just keep pouring in one spot and the batter will disperse. Wait until the edges of the pancake look almost done and then flip.
TADA! That is one good pancake. Repeat several times until you’re done.
I’ll skip the obvious pouring and mixing of water into the pancake batter because that does not need any further detail. It is important to get the right consistency though. If it is too watery or too thick, the pancakes won’t come out well on the pan. Also before pouring the batter onto the pan, make sure it has butter on there to prevent sticking.
Okay, so you have your batter and your oiled pan. I like to put chopped nuts in my pancakes (if you laughed because I said nuts shut your face). All you have to do is add them straight into the batter. I also like to put strawberries as a topping instead of syrup, so then you have to wash and cut them.
When pouring pancakes, my little sister always makes the mistake of moving the bowl around to make a circle. That’s wrong. Just keep pouring in one spot and the batter will disperse. Wait until the edges of the pancake look almost done and then flip.
TADA! That is one good pancake. Repeat several times until you’re done.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Cafe Jumping Bean
My restaurant that I chose to introduce to the group is called Café Jumping Bean. It is in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and is one of my favorites. It is a small café on just any old street corner. One could walk right by it and never notice it. However, that is what I like about it. Café Jumping Bean is like a hidden gem.
I am a fan of bright colors and art. On the outside, Café Jumping Bean looks like it would be, well, ugly on the inside. It surprised me on my first visit. I love the brightly painted walls and the interesting photography hung everywhere. The stained glass windows and the chalk board menu add a warm feeling to the establishment, a personality. It reminds me of the kinds of houses I grew up in and how I want my future home to look.
Café Jumping Bean isn’t much of a dinner place. It is a café (as seen in the name). The sandwiches are delicious and always taste freshly made. When I went with my group, my boyfriend and I just ordered a piece of cheesecake to snack on while they ate. It was amazing. I love cheesecake and it was just the kind I like, turtle. I’m not that big of a coffee drinker, so I haven’t had any from there yet. I wouldn’t mind trying the coffee since everything else is so good.
I recommend to my group and anyone else to give Café Jumping Bean a chance. It is a great hangout for an even better price. The atmosphere is welcoming, the food tasty, and the servers are very nice.
I am a fan of bright colors and art. On the outside, Café Jumping Bean looks like it would be, well, ugly on the inside. It surprised me on my first visit. I love the brightly painted walls and the interesting photography hung everywhere. The stained glass windows and the chalk board menu add a warm feeling to the establishment, a personality. It reminds me of the kinds of houses I grew up in and how I want my future home to look.
Café Jumping Bean isn’t much of a dinner place. It is a café (as seen in the name). The sandwiches are delicious and always taste freshly made. When I went with my group, my boyfriend and I just ordered a piece of cheesecake to snack on while they ate. It was amazing. I love cheesecake and it was just the kind I like, turtle. I’m not that big of a coffee drinker, so I haven’t had any from there yet. I wouldn’t mind trying the coffee since everything else is so good.
I recommend to my group and anyone else to give Café Jumping Bean a chance. It is a great hangout for an even better price. The atmosphere is welcoming, the food tasty, and the servers are very nice.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Is King Still King?
Is Martin Luther King Jr. still the same “King” he was back then? He is known as an influential and highly respected black leader that paved the way for change. As a matter of fact, today is a national holiday in his honor. However, I recently remembered something from elementary school that made an impact on me.
My seventh grade teacher’s name was Mrs. Mitchell. She is still one of my favorite teachers by far. She was truly passionate about her job and actually cared about each one of us. We used to be her “babies.” I remember one day in class we were talking about black leaders of the past and how they influenced now. This one boy, Tavionne, was messing around in class like he always did, but Mrs. Mitchell got especially mad. I remember the whole confrontation mostly because I had never seen her get so upset.
Mrs. Mitchell: “Boy show some respect we are talking about Martin Luther King Jr. right now.”
Tavionne: “Whatever, I don’t know nothing ’bout no Martin Luther King.”
Mrs. Mitchell: “What is your problem? How can you not know?! After everything our people has gone through to get you the opportunities you have now, you don’t even educate yourself!!! This is a sad day.”
It was dead silent for a while after that. She kept on talking and everyone was listening more intently. When I look back at that moment, it just makes me think how, regardless of race, important it is to honor the past and those that were revolutionary. However, there is a difference between honoring it and living in it. We need to keep working towards progress. King should be honored now as much as he was then.
My seventh grade teacher’s name was Mrs. Mitchell. She is still one of my favorite teachers by far. She was truly passionate about her job and actually cared about each one of us. We used to be her “babies.” I remember one day in class we were talking about black leaders of the past and how they influenced now. This one boy, Tavionne, was messing around in class like he always did, but Mrs. Mitchell got especially mad. I remember the whole confrontation mostly because I had never seen her get so upset.
Mrs. Mitchell: “Boy show some respect we are talking about Martin Luther King Jr. right now.”
Tavionne: “Whatever, I don’t know nothing ’bout no Martin Luther King.”
Mrs. Mitchell: “What is your problem? How can you not know?! After everything our people has gone through to get you the opportunities you have now, you don’t even educate yourself!!! This is a sad day.”
It was dead silent for a while after that. She kept on talking and everyone was listening more intently. When I look back at that moment, it just makes me think how, regardless of race, important it is to honor the past and those that were revolutionary. However, there is a difference between honoring it and living in it. We need to keep working towards progress. King should be honored now as much as he was then.
I am a shoe
I am a shoe. Preferably a red pump. I do not need to be a name brand pump, nor do I need a huge label. A red pump makes enough of a statement without one. It can walk alone…well, with another red pump on the other foot. Red is bold and filled with life. It is in-your-face almost obnoxiously, yet it is still a classic. It is the kind of shoe that gets a double-take from others when it enters a room.
A heel says more than any flat does. A truly good pair of heels make you feel like a boss, like a somebody. Heels make you feel more fun. It is weird how clothes can make you feel one way or another, how the external effects the internal. I would love to say materialistic things don’t matter, but they kind of do. Heels give your height and your ego a boost. A little touch of daring is always nice.
I am a red pump which means more than just a shoe. A red pump to me means a time when I will not have to put necessity before preference. You see, I do not have a pair of red pumps. Yes, I know it isn’t the end of the world. I have managed fine thus far without them. I just look forward to a time when I will not have to compromise what I want for what I need. When I will be a boss, a somebody.
A heel says more than any flat does. A truly good pair of heels make you feel like a boss, like a somebody. Heels make you feel more fun. It is weird how clothes can make you feel one way or another, how the external effects the internal. I would love to say materialistic things don’t matter, but they kind of do. Heels give your height and your ego a boost. A little touch of daring is always nice.
I am a red pump which means more than just a shoe. A red pump to me means a time when I will not have to put necessity before preference. You see, I do not have a pair of red pumps. Yes, I know it isn’t the end of the world. I have managed fine thus far without them. I just look forward to a time when I will not have to compromise what I want for what I need. When I will be a boss, a somebody.
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