Rita tick-tock, pt. 1

What's going on? I'll have it here shortly.

hey

hey

Better day than most

This is what I've been reading.

More catching up than a condiment factory

Sept. 17: Sterling Fisher's Sterfish's Place was lost to throes of post-driving mixmania. Cheryl Aldave's The Last Nerve detailed FEMA aid blockages. The Black Informant offered suggestions on healthy places to shop. The intellectual, poetical, N.igmatic super-thug (& ghetto superhero) served notice: He's got home training. Tragic Deep Thoughts suffered a week from hell. J.Brotherlove had 10 tips for Tyra Banks' talk show. Scott Wickham suggested that rich kids make bad leaders. Neofundamental asked: Why blog? Angela Odom of Pica 12 learned about an interesting historical figure. Stephen Earley Jordan of Bougie Black Boy took down-low demonizers of black men to task. 

'Let us rise above the legacy of inequality'

Mixed Media Watch noticed a Cleveland Jewish News article on Jews of color
At Reload, God's Child had her mind on her money and her money on her mind (and hey, did someone say "money blogging"?
Prometheus 6's N-Net pointed to a great photography presentation in New York for Thursday, Sept. 22
Palm Trees in the Ghetto took issue with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's campaign tactics.
Mai began a new weblog.
Ding had a short but sweet reading list.
Nahmix of Conscious Disorder issued a calendar call for black-and-white photos of black women with natural hairdos.
Black Ambition pointed to Jacob Weisberg's Slate.com article on the Bush administration's hurricane-related missteps and the implications they hold for the GOP's black-vote campaign.
CultureKitchen was pretty happy about inclusion in Google News. (Congratulations!)
Michmac went meatless. (I take it that means more for me? Yum!
You couldn't ball me up and throw me against an episode, but Graffiti: The Writings on the Wall managed the trick of raising my interest in "The O.C." (and I don't even like TV)
Joe Twist of Soul Imperialist offered life quality-management advice via Gil Scott Heron
Uncle Sam knew what to do when her purse got snatched. (Good on her!)
Poet in Wisconsin realized that alcohol is not always a friend.
Tuckergurl was working on an article about Hurricane Katrina and its survivors.

King's blog is dead; long live King

Michael King of Ramblings' Journal said he's moving to other opportunities.
Monica Jackson of the way there asked: Can black authors only write for other blacks?
Obsidianbear wrote an open letter to a congressman over a PFLAG ad appearance.
Chippla jotted down thoughts on roadside traders along the southbound route from Abuja, Nigeria.
David Dylan Thomas had one big problem with Google's new blog search engine.
Midwestbrutha at datSPOT looked for thoughts about long-distance relationships.
Mon posted about the rigors of becoming a professor.
Positively Cheryl had faint praise for a recent presidential proclamation.
Sterfish's Place had a nice-sounding driving-themed mixtape (some assembly required).
Ink Blotter said sexy is as sexy does.
Slow Metamorphosis took in the view from Las Vegas.
Hilari at Make Me spent some time in a television studio.
Danyel Smith has 50 songs from the year she graduated high school.
Christopher Arps set the record straight on his resignation from the National Black Republican Association, saying: "There have been too many black political organizations (liberal and conservative) that "speak" for black people but are nothing more than vehicles for self proclaimed leaders to promote and enrich themselves and their cronies. I believe we can and will do better."
Steven Barnes of Dar Kush explained further about his views on getting rich.
This Actually Happened shared thoughts on dating across the political spectrum.

Iain Jackson served up more thoughtful Katrina posts.
Faye M. Anderson planned to see a documentary on New Orleans' musical history.
Queen T. of A Queen's Diary checked in with her feelings.
Black Lilly has pictures and words.
Republic of T. had words for Condoleezza Rice's conversion on race as a factor.
The Moderate Republican was shocked at the Washington Post's "Hell on Earth" story.

Katrina tick-tock, pt. 8

Sept. 13: Underground Railroad had some credulity-gap leftovers. GirlGenius takes issue with some middle-class blacks' recent behavior. Kevin R. Scott mulled poverty as a mentality. Iain Jackson of Grim Amusements had a post on race, class and poverty. Dell Gines said he respected the president's admission of responsibility for federal failures. (Culture Kitchen immediately raised its hand with other questions.) How'd We Get from the Pyramids to the Projects passed along a Rosa Clemente essay. Dar Kush flipped through Nostradamus Geographic. Professor Kim's News Notes had a roundup (and a plan to be in Buffalo today). J's Theater informed readers of a Harlem fund-raiser Sunday; earlier in the week, he had a great post on HBCUs in need. Nappy Forty was not happy about her neighbors. Essential post? Mississippi blogger My Hard Knock Life's "My Mind." Harold M. Clemens offered sympathy for Wolf Blitzer. Second essential post? Whitewashing the Black Storm: We Are Watching's "Kudos to Local Volunteers; Update on Astrodome."  

Elsewhere/otherwhen: Abeni at And Still IRise posted a "Cosby Show" reunion picture. Feminist African Sister wanted to eat her fries in peace, but also spoke about weight and body image issues. GlyphRich hipped us to a new Keith Knight book. Gina of Gina's Rantspot had a column beginning in a Chicago newspaper. Sleepless in the Sudan shared an account of African Union beef with Sudanese rebels. And We Shall March did me a solid favor in linking to some Ralph Ellison-Irving Howe exchanges. African Bullets & Honey claimed there was no worse gig than being a broke doctoral student in Monaco. The Other Side of Africa said: Who says Africa is poor? Angry Black Bitch called Katie Couric, um, off-sides. New Leadership Blog's Christopher Arps gave his take on the National Black Republican Association board resignations. Small Hands outlined her feelings on religion. The award-winning Daily Views, Pop Culture, Rants and News' Humanity Critic imagined writing romance novels (now that's "As Good As It Gets").  JW Richard of Mandrake Society had thoughts on gender roles and  fostering community. Larry Lyons Jr. went on indefinite hiatus. Seasoned gave his take on domestic violence in SGL relationships. 

Katrina tick-tock, pt. 7

Sept. 10: Style+Grace admitted her shallowness but called out her readers as well. Laylah, Queen of the Night muses on the blues manifested.

Sept. 11: Black Ink said that out of pain and suffering come letters. Clifton of Cliff's Crib asked: Where do I begin? (If you're reading this right now, you need to navigate on away from here and go read his testimony.) Breath of Life checked in with more wonderful thoughts on music.

Sept. 12: Mark Anthony Neal of New Black Man dropped the link bomb with two great posts, "Wahneema Lubiano on Race, Class and Katrina" and "Blackademe Weighs in on Katrina, 9/11 and Kanye West." Jewels in the Jungle's Black River Eagle found a benefit concert and Katrina database. Angela Tucker pointed to a guide to promote media literacy. Santagati.com dropped "Come Hell or High Water." Udi ranted that no one cares.  Ousman Ceesay of home of the mandinmories thumbs-upped a caustic Bill Maher monologue. The Moderate Republican noticed and shared his thoughts on a commentary on the GOP's problems. Ian at A Different Kitchen gave excellent roundup. 

"Elsewhere/otherwhen": Niggerati.net noticed African Americans for Democracy's Diaspora Covenant. Black Ambition remarked on Colin Powell's regrets over his weapons of mass destruction testimony. Hopluv had family memories to go over. Cymple remembered where she was four years ago, as did Serendipitous Epiphanies.  DJ Diva had thoughts on Baldwin and Christianity. Zimbabwean Pundit explained how touch-and-go things are Down South. Chookooloonks enjoyed shooting a fashion show. Garvey's Ghost decided to knock the Elder-ly. Toyce Francis at the Prodigal Sun went home. Kinky Thought Thicke-ns white pop stars' ghetto-pass plot. Black Star Journal had peacekeeping in the Congo on the brain. Bink wanted a career. Kipepeo had thoughts on "Crash." 

Katrina tick-tock, pt. 6

Sept. 8: Ambra Nykol asked what would people take from home if given 15 minutes' advance warning. Keto at The Colorblind Society said pretenses had been washed away. Ray Garraud spoke of amateur radio efforts to reopen regional communications.  

Sept. 9: Farai Chideya was having a tough time locating her uncle. Larry D. Lyons passed along an eyewitness report from the previous week. James Lamb Jr. spit riffs that curled whimsical one moment and white-hot furious the next. No4Real4Real was surprised by aftereffects within part of the black-blogging community. Whitewashing the Black Storm: We Are Watching continued their coverage of life for evacuees inside Houston's Astrodome.

"Elsewhere/otherwhen": Things that Go Bump in the Night's "Umoja" looked back on life in Kenya.  The Ragamuffin Diva had thoughts on magic and stories and change. The Brutha Code departed, marking the end of an era. Ndesanjo Macha rounded out a busy day with the end of a conference in Helsinki. Rethabile Manso offered a lesson on a rather useful Sesotho-language phrase. Negrorage considered the minority-within-minority plight of black conservatives. Writing is Fighting offered moving and brave personal testimony on a difficult decision. Sleepless in Sudan continued her indispensable slice-of-Darfur-life posts. Queen Esther got a guitar lesson from James Blood Ulmer (and I tried not to turn inside out with envy). Tee at Urbanflower enjoyed her sons' first day of school. Harold M. Clemens republished an old post to mark September 11th.

Katrina tick-tock, pt. 5

Been one of those weeks, hasn't it?

For some reason, Kitty Power's "The War at Home" is resonating with me this week.

Katrina tick-tock, pt. 4

Via the indispensable Gwen Harlow's rawr, I see White Washing the Black Storm: We are Watching: Two Houston Law Professors' First Hand Blog Accounts of the Real Treatment of Black Americans in Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath

Sept. 6: Danyel Smith had a lesson before dying, and thoughts on the new great migration. Cobb offered a meditation on Derbigny Street. Abeni at And Still I Rise greeted Natalee Holloway coverage's end with relief. Laina Dawes at Writing is Fighting weighed in on Katrina and Kanye West. Mahogany Elle wondered if hope floats. Diary of a Peculiar Soul pointed readers to Steve Gilliard's "Letter to Black Conservatives."  Trent Fitzgerald of Beats and Rants offered accolades to Charmaine Neville. Responding to Leonard Pitts' column, RBG at If You Don't Understand Yourself said she couldn't have said it better herself. Tragically Deep Thoughts wondered if he was the cynic. 

Sept. 7: Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast listened to Wynton Marsalis and Cassandra Wilson, and asked "whose blood? whose fields?" Guandu focused on black hair care supplies.Mandrake Society proprietor JW Richard noticed a encouraging Washington Post story about a family reconstituted in Houston. Mark Anthony Neal's New Black Man race-d Katrina and offered Dr. Maurice Wallace's  "our tsunami" text. Minister Faust suggested that the moral levee was dry.  D.L. Foster had thoughts on ultimate suffering. Natalie Davis considered fingerpointing and nausea. On a lighter note, Laura Swisher wants a new job. Blackfeminism.org's Tiffany B. Brown said Katrina's aftermath was about Bush, not race. 

Elsewhere: Chippla has thoughts on Nigerian ethnicity. 

Katrina tick-tock, pt. 3

Sept. 4: Bob Marovich of the Black Gospel Blog shared the storm's impact on the community and its response, as well as how readers could help victims.

Sept. 5: Shannita of Creative Soul Confessions shared New Orleans stories and couldn't stop watching the news. Black Ink links about the thanks-but-no-thanks attitude she saw. Bullet Proof Diva meditated on the upside of anger. Hopluv found one of the more affecting photos I'd seen so far. Ian at A Different Kitchen mulled Black America's Sept. 11. Tiffani at Cynikal One says Kanye West doesn't speak for her. Jace at Mudd Up! had a bad dream. Kenyon Farrow at Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep offered a framing document on behalf of the displaced. Sudan Watch returned with an account of a televised Friday sermon at a Khartoum mosque.  

Thulani Davis doesn't blog, but her Black Commentator esssay has got me stuck.

Katrina tick-tock, pt. 2

Sept. 3 (continued): Black Book Blog put focus on raising money. Soul Imperialist had a phone conversation with a friend. James Lamb, Jr. wrote about the wretched of the earth. Butta On ... shared her Hurricane Kanye thoughts. Devas T. Rants and Raves sighed in relief for an out-of-town colleague and volunteered at an Austin, Texas, shelter. Siddity in the City pointed to others who'd said it better.

Sept. 4: The Prodigal Sun offered Bush reminders. Obi from South London offered the left-behind series. Rhythms of Grace noticed a Mississippi shelter wedding. Mtume and Kalamu ya Salaam put up another stellar issue of Breath of Life, despite evacuating from New Orleans to Austin. Shotta M of Poet in Wisconsin talked about Katrina in her contracts class. Nichelle vented over a newspaper letter. Hip Hop Music linked to Charmaine Neville's (of the New Orleans music-royalty Nevilles) escape account. L.A. Brain Terrain put out a call for donations. ReidBlog just said no to Rudy Giuliani and links to Errol Brown's Newsday column. Faheem at Black Perspective and Introspection took a deeper look at looting. (Jdid sorta joined in.) Afro-Netizen pointed to Aaron Broussard on "Meet the Press." Isn't She Lovely? said call it what you will. The Adventures of Princess Dominique declared: no more pretending. Frank Leon Roberts had never been a fan of stating the obvious. Alli-Babe thought she didn't have any more tears. Bejata focused on people helping people. 

Sept. 5: ThatColoredFella said he can see clearly now. George Conard slammed the meltdown in NOLA and the politics of Katrina, and read Matt in Houston. Writing is Fighting shared Kimya Dawson's take. Jewels in the Jungle listed how to help victims. Farai Chideya's post drips with irony. Ms. World checked in. Copia offered his Gulf Coast catastrophe take. Avery Tooley asked for a late pass. E.J. Flavors said: don't stop. Heartbreak arrived for Cobb's Michael Bowen. Keith Boykin said we knew this would happen. Quaheem offered a poem. 

Katrina tick-tock, pt. 1

Sept. 1: Rashunda Tramble had just a few questions about the New Orleans situation. Christopher Priest had a quartet of reactions. Ejovi Nuwere called the situation a national disgrace. U.S.S. Clueless: Earth to Timi said it's survival. Six Impossible Things asked: What to say? The Moderate Republican blanched at Denny Hastert's remarks and speculated about the Chicago effect. Bare and Bitter Sleep had a wakeup call for other U.S. coastal cities. Tim'm West shared a Marvin K. White poem.

Sept. 2: B.E.G. at Songbirds was overwhelmed. Bits & Pieces had her say on priorities. Jackson G. Tickle mused on lives lost, looting and the federal response. Politopics shared concerns about Baton Rouge and Houston. Scentiments wondered about TV crews' presence and federal foot-dragging. Gecko Girl offered ways for Atlantans to help evacuees. BrothaLove RantSpace, well, ranted. Blackboard Journal called it a debacle of support. Nehanda Dreams asks "is it me, or are you all black?" The Black Saint has equal measures of sobriety and snark. Ramblings of an African Geek spoke of a tragedy of mismanagement. Pondering Negro decided to turn off CNN. Uncle Sam's Cabin updated her wonderings. Nita shared some stuff. Professor Kim's News Notes pointed to an interview with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. unfinished brooklyn asked: "Refugees? Here?" Negrorage wanted men deputized at the New Orleans Convention Center. Kamau's Business Blog Page had a trio of posts. Kenyon Farrow at Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep forwarded friend Jordan Flaherty's "Notes from Inside New Orleans." Rainmayun talked about the new diaspora. Misled Youth said "... God bless Texas." Kyra Davis said we should have watched out for the swing. J. Dakar at N-Retrospekt wanted someone to do something. goddess at NAI' shared her "shoot'em up, loot'em up" stress. Liza Valentino said "thy will be done."

Sept. 3: Dr. Strangejazz at bitter daze picked up the black-people-loot, white-people-find meme. The Brutha Code riffed on "the American way." Ms. Audacity at Diary of a Peculiar Soul vented displeasure over a Wolf Blitzer word choice. D.L. Foster shared his opinion of Kanye West, while Candicissima at Kitty Types shared hers. Tavares Forby at Blackpundit asked: "Are they refugees?" Steven Barnes of Dar Kush pointed to FitnessAid.org. Life on da Rock's The Seed 2.0 mused on "Katrina Before and After." D. Sekou of the Deskrat Chronicles rapped Bush officials' knuckles. Brohemian thought about the hardest times in the Big Easy. The Fabulous and Funky World of a Diva's Jazz lauds West, as well as Harry Connick, Jr. Sudan Watch's Ingrid pauses to reflect. Keith Jenkins of Good Reputation Sleeping said the small world was now smaller. Nordette of N.J. Spoken Word said West's words gave her the best laugh she'd had in days. Danyel Smith of naked cartwheels sent out a hurricane S.O.S. and said dark is a way and light is a place. Marian Douglas noticed Jeff Koinange's New Orleans dissonance. New York City's pride Ronn Taylor of a burst of light ...* noticed Tayari Jones' hurricane-relief book offer. Will of In My Write Mind has an amazing post called "An Easy Call to Make."

Crescent City confidential

I've been tied up since coming off of vacation and heading back into my day gig's orbit. I've got a few screens' worth of links to read. If you're tired of what the TV screen loops, then maybe it's time to review the troops.

"The whole U.S. is looking at this city right now, and this is what they see."

That quote comes from "City a woeful scene," off the New Orleans Times-Picayune's breaking-news blog.

Tony Pierce is royally (and rightfully) annoyed at sloppy wire-photo cutlines. This meme has been making the rounds; the one and only Eric Rice brought it to my attention via instant-messenger late yesterday.

Jay Smooth of Hip Hop Music links to New Orleans/hurricane aggregate LiveJournals.

Voyage to Dawn's Michelle puts out an all-call appeal on behalf of her friend, Mel's Oasis

Solitaire Redux tells us that it's human nature.
And We Shall March talks with her safe-but-shaken sister.
Court shares life at the present moment in Alabama.
The Black Informant talking about taking care of our peeps.
There's a pre-hurricane collection of pictures over at Flickr that's worth a glance and makes me want to put mine up.

Wednesday's Top 40

Here's what got caught in my browser while trawling through the net, or what got caught in my net while trawling through my browser.

Summer Squeeze's Lois is down 40 pounds. Go 'head!
Black Hacker points out Vision Circle's new wiki.
Safire sticks, moves and offers up a dark jewel.

Can I be a legitimate militant sista and be a Metalhead at the same time?

Laina Dawes' "Is Rock 'N' Roll Racist?" gives this post its title.

Jewels in the Jungle has a seriously comprehensive Hurricane Katrina blogging post. T-Steel wants to coordinate volunteer electricians. The Moderate Republican takes issue with Booker Rising's Shay (guest-posting over at Dean's World) about Katrina, and It Ain't Safe Nowhere says our favorite Jackson, Mississippi blogger Ink Blotter is doing all right.

Elsewhere? Oh, by all means.

Abuja, Nigeria's own Trae Days talks about 419 scams.
Abeni at And Still I Rise remembers actor and singer Brock Peters and shares a funny (well, to me, anyway) joke about marrieds.
Down Home Soul Food Cooking Blog has a basic red-velvet cake recipe.
Rashunda Tramble (with a little help from Caryl Phillips) opens up about Luther Vandross
Trudi Wants Her Groove Back has sad memories of her South African hometown.
Travels of the Fighting Kitten got to see "Elevator to the Gallows"
The Christian Science Monitor's blog focuses on motorcycle taxis in eastern Congo.
Adrian at this and that wants the real Masaais to stand up.
Edwige is chillin' in Armenia.
Mshairi is looking forward to London's Notting Hill Carnival.
Frank Leon Roberts wants to know what you're reading, and offers his semester's curricula/reading list. Go, Frank, go!
Scott Poulson-Bryant shares some feelings in probably the last few bits of free time he'll have before his new book drops.
ethiopundit has a sobering post about last June 6th's events.
Mixed Media Watch asks "Dude, where's my white privilege?"

And lastly, think about celebrating blog day (31st August) by pointing out five new blogs that you read and think deserve a wider audience!

Trying to figure out why James Ingram needed to know what he was doing wrong.

I'm happy with Spiced Tea & Letters' post about Quincy Jones' "The Dude." Aren't you? Didn't you dig that album back in the day? Personally, I can't wait for her promised explication.

I missed a bunch of posts lately, but I have the benefit of a five-day weekend to play catchup. Some of them are listed below.

the HotnessGrrrl's "Getting Naked"
optimistic1906 details "The Life of a 1L" at the struggle continues.
Random Genius explains why she started The Zami Network and offers an invite.
Positive Africa explains why they started the site.
Once New Orleans dries out after Hurricane Katrina, Cliff's Crib will still have something to say. In the meantime, Nordette of NJ Spoken Word has a poem and a wish and a memory, while Kenyon has a prayer.
It looks like Patrick Barry Barr is on the move to Peru.
Sister Outsider hears the strangest things at her hairdresser's.
Soul South notices a new blog, South Africa: General thoughts about SA by some among us
The Niggerati Network links to a great conference coming up next March.
Stephane King writes about black hair.
The Christian Science Monitor blog updates with a take on rural South Africa.
John Kamau blogs about human trafficking.
The View shares his take on a June Jordan poem.
Kazey Journal points to the new NigerianBloggers.com.
Ms. World gets a marriage proposal from a Thai monk.
rootwork the rootsblog hopes August Wilson goes down slow.
Black Ink asks questions about publishing in the Carribean.
bankelele points out Kenya's draft constitution (available in .PDF download format)
Courtney Elizabeth's been busy starting up UrbanWeblogs.com.


And of course, you're just wasting your time online if you're not reading Karama Neal's So What Can I Do?

Black, frank, white

I commented over at Jay Smooth's Flickr'd "dubyapumpsta" before stumbling across Michael Miraflor's post about Michelle Garcia's Washington Post article "Deejay's Appeal: 'Kill The Whiteness Inside': In Brooklyn, a Club Following Feels the Irony" Then I see Jay's on it like Blue Bonnet.

Holdin' it down until the weekend arrives

At Mama Specific Productions, Trula's rockin' some fresh Bantu knots.

 Black Looks is apartment-hunting in someone's favorite Spanish city.

Rantings of a Black Polemicist manages a micro-manager.

Jai of Blog Blog Woof Woof taks about his toolbox, reminding me that I'm about due to purchase one myself.

Faye Anderson approvingly notices a Black America Web essay on political-party rebellion among young blacks.

Rock Me Tonight is where an intrepid blogger named Thomas reviews "each and every single which hit #1 on Billboard's Hot Soul/Black Singles chart during the 1980s." I'm not sure if he's black or not, but I know he's got excellent taste (though he makes me feel a litte silly for liking Atlantic Starr's "Always"). He's just updated his blog with jams from May, June, July and August of 1987.

Wednesday's Top 40

There's quite a backlog to get through. Here's what I have:
Nelson George's disclosure of plans for Black Entertainment Television.
The Third Decade's "Sticking together" isn't pleased with the Boston Globe's series of occasional articles on people of color.
Rainmayun's got some confessions to offer.
Prince of Zamunda's "Mistaken Identity" takes me back. (Oh, I've had it happen to me, too.)
SmilingOnThaDL's "I am Rashawn Brazell" is one of several heartfelt black-blogosphere posts about the man in the runup to Sunday's scholarship dinner.

This is my experience, my life and this is what I’m passionate about.

The post's title comes from "Passion" off author Monica Jackson's the way there; go read "RWA covers MC romance" and "Letter from author with hard questions"

This is one of those weeks where I work a few extra days, so I have to put off my regular weekend. That makes posts like Statanic Action's "Sunday 2:14 a.m." a nice snapshot of things I hope I'll get around to instead of the usual errands-and-honey-dos. (Note to wife: Not that there's anything wrong with doing errands!)

Kenyon Farrow has a wonderful post on Kanye West (with a nice, semi-topical assist from Rod 2.0).

EJ Flavors honors Lynne d Johnson, one of my favorite blogfolk, with his latest mix. Did you check Lynne's Vision Circle podcast a few days ago?

What it's like to be a thug, especially in an era marred by HUD scandals.

The title of this post comes from Laura Swisher's "Great Celebrity Reads."
The rest of this post? Things I read and enjoyed this weekend (and maybe a few days before that):
Obsidian Bear's "i worship Damali Ayo, BUT ..."
SGL Cafe's "God Bless Kanye ..."
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast's "You are here"
Trader Mike's "Link Exchanges"
Everything in the new issue of breath of life
Rod 2.0's "Jamaica Urges One Love"
Anderson@Large's "Stumptown"
Writing is Fighting's "How Can I Be So Busy and Be So Broke?"
This Black Girl Reads' "Keeping it real"
Coalition for Darfur's "Black Churches and Darfur Activism"

'Does the rhetoric match the reality??'

At Vision Circle, temple3's "Black Conservatives and Authentic Advocacy" nears the black conservative-vs.-conservative black event horizon.
SistersTalk approvingly notes Kanye West's statement on hip-hop homophobia.
Black Looks movingly shares her thoughts on surviving cancer.
Bejata marks his parents' 56th wedding anniversary.
Dare Obasanjo's uploaded pictures from his Nigerian vacation and has had observations to share.
Soul South says brain drain is hurting Africa.
For a taste of T-dot news and opinion, Jdid offers "file under misc." and "random checks."
Inglewood rude boy Lawrence Ross takes time from touring with his latest book to chop up observations and minutiae.

Careening toward oblivion

Digital Africa points out that one of Tanzania's opposition candidates has started blogging.
Larry Lyons explains ways to help fund the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Scholarship.
If J's Theater keeps pumping out quality posts like "Norton's Tales of the City," I'll keep linking to them. It's as simple as that.
Dell Gines' "Macho Men: Gays, Rights, Marriage, Blackness" (via Booker Rising) on the other hand, is a misfire.
Inside Somaliland's "busy egal" shows folks from abroad coming back to visit.
Abiola Lapite says he's no conservative.

Wednesday's Top 40

I've a load of backed-up links to place here. Give me a minute, OK?

OK, right then, here goes:

This Black Girl Reads' "sunday" is random, weird and cool, and I feel a mild kinship of sorts with anyone who has Tuesdays and Wednesdays off.

Prometheus 6's latest "black intrapolitics" post pushes off into the happy news of a new blog.

Steve Gilliard has the only thing I feel worth reading about the other day's iBook riot.

soucouyant's been taking a load of pictures during her latest South African jaunt. Start here or here and work forward, won't you?

Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast (via Republic of T.) notices that D.C.'s mayor is blogging.

Back in the saddle again

I'm going to have to beg your forgiveness. I've had a lot of stuff on my plate the last couple of days. When things calm down, I should be able to add some proper links and I'll be able to get caught up on my reading. Till then, will five or six random do you all right?

Courtney Elizabeth is calling all California bloggers. If you're living your life like it's Golden-State, check her out.

Apparently, Boogie Tonight has the blind item of all blind items. My head's spinning just trying to keep all of the parties, um, straight.

Becky Banton's got a sobering post about groupies and self-esteem.

J's Theater has some shots of life in the Dominican Republic.

Fratman 1906 marks a birthday with a fusillade of facts and opinions.

Black Gospel Blog checks in from the Gospel Music Workshop of America.

Pins and needles

Mon from My So Called (ABD) Life has found a Ph.D dissertation writing style that works for her.
Genia Stevens at the Bloggie-nominated SistersTalk has some preliminary thoughts on Logo, the new gay television network.
T-Steel's "The Furniture Gods are laughing hard" is good for a chuckle, unless you're like me and you've got a couple of hundred dollars of do-it-yourself some-assembly-required stuff on the way to your door.
Edwige is on the road and mad about Macedonia.

The miracle of walking around upright

I didn't expect to be walking around again so quickly, but here I am. I did have some company, along with all the blogs I've been reading: "The Island" and "Turn the Beat Around." Thoughts on both will probably follow at a blog to be named later.

Everytime I turn around, Ms. World is in another country. This time? Laos. Tomorrow? Well ...

Christopher Rabb's got a lot to say in his Afro-Netizen post "Black Media, White Hegemony."

If you have strong feelings about albums for beginning jazz fans, check in with Abiola Lapite's Foreign Dispatches. Advanced jazz fans already know to see a friend of mine, James Knox.

 

Wednesday's Top 40

If it's the middle of the week for you and my Sunday, it must be time:

Author Tayari Jones had a good time at the National Black Book Club Conference.
Minister Faust is posting some pictures from his vacation.
Avery Tooley has a podcast on African American Vernacular English.
Donald Andrew Agarrat has a podcast of his own.
Mixed Media Watch launches its "Addicted to Race" podcast.
Ethiopundit has a long post on Addis Ababa metropolitan area's future.
And We Shall March has a thoughtful comics-conference rant.
Kenya Democracy Project's "Blogging, Kenyan Women & Opening of Democratic Spaces" is a must-read, as is Nicholas Gichu's "Random Post"
Black Book Blog has a thorough post-NABJ roundup.

Back pain swallows Tuesday whole without salt

I'm typing this on the couch in my apartment, laptop perched on my knees, hot water bottle crammed into the cushions behind me on my right side. I made the mistake of trying to pick up a rolled-up maroon king-size futon mattress without doing whatever it is you're supposed to do about bending with your knees. I think a muscle in my back literally did a double-take and said "No, brother, don't even think about it."

It's got to be the low 80s (mid- to high 20s Celsius?) outside, but the inside of our place does double-duty as a warm-weather sauna. I'm sweating.

Let's see, there's got to be somebody out there having it worse than me ...

Weakened update

When you're not feeling well, sometimes the only thing to do is to lift weights. Call each link a "rep." Spot me?

Quintessential Negro went to the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Atlanta. Jimi Izrael didn't go. Bomani Jones (that Mr. For Myself and Others to you) has a multi-part series goin' on.

What do you think of Cliff's Crib's tips to reform New Orleans public schools?

You need breath of life's Goodie M.O.B. deconstruction/retrospective in your life.

Creative Soul Confessions' bookstore pas de deux with a nosy guard made me grin.

Obi from South London's got a sobering take on Anthony Walker's death.

Kendall Speaks recounts her old-school love weekend.

Meskel Square's proprietor mentions "blue-line" cabs in Addis Ababa.

"Omnibus" isn't going to cut it!

A roundup of interesting things would take a great deal of time, but I've got plenty going into the weekend, so here are some of the noteworthies:

Pica 12's realization that what you don't know can hurt you, which makes me realize it's been a minute since I've cleared out my medicine cabinet and scheduled a physical checkup.

space for rant's notice about the new issue of marlogirlmagazine is much appreciated. I've got a full plate of online and offline reading, but marlogirl is too cute and well-done to pass up.

Sister Outsider's "Different Now" hits home for me on a couple of levels. It's inevitable that even the most frenetic, compulsive bloggers slow down to reevaluate their commitment to self-disclosure and community participation. An approaching anniversary will have a lot to do with it for more than a few of us.

Jackson G. Tickle's got an amusing take on relationship investments.
Make Me marks her first blogiversary.
The Black Informant takes me there with a who-cut-your-hair post and reminds me of the time I tried, without success, to get a suburban barber to touch up my box fade.
Vision Circle has a Dead Prez podcast.
Butta waxes both amused and indignant about a not-so-poultry matter.

Conference call

Faye Anderson and a newly-Blogsome Will spent time at the National Urban League's annual convention over the weekend. Over the next week or so, I look forward to reading about the National Association of Black Journalists' get-together in Atlanta. Given my day gig, I really ought to be there. One of these days, I'll get it together to show my face. Until then, it'll be interesting to see what effect former President Clinton's address had on the gathering.

And now, for something completely different: RoRicka thoughtfully articulates some of her thoughts on partnership here. I have to admit the issue's on my mind, since Monica Jackson and ding of screed have posted some of their takes on issues rising out of Debra Dickerson's recent Salon.com essay.

Wednesday's Top 40

I can't say enough good things about Keith Boykin's "His Eye is on the Sparrow,"
bejata's "Lifted Up" or urban bohemian's "ain't but two of 'em straight and both of them ugly."
Black Hacker is probably the only black blogger who hates spam more than I do.
The Third Decade did exactly the right thing with "Racial Profiling E-mail."
Travels of the Fighting Kitten had a nice ol' bicycling, world jazzy weekend.
au lait is talking about good Kenyan loving and mourning the death of Sudanese vice president John Garang.
Ronn Taylor sees Harlem Book Fair interviews on C-SPAN (via e-drum).
Edwige of This Actually Happened goes traveling to Guatemala.
Margaret of It's My Place! hit three countries over the weekend.
The Moderate Republican's got a couple of posts worth reading.
The Black Star Journal's telling all who read him how to help anti-hunger efforts.
Black Feminism is thinking of different directions.
Honey Soul has an excellent interview with artist Gaelle.
Over at Devas T. Rants and Raves!, there is tragic news about Artist Greggy.
Amber Henshaw visits a fistula hospital in Addis Ababa.
Here's a great Donald Andrew Agarrat photo of Harlem artists (via bejata).
That Colored Fella had an unpleasant run-in with a driver.
John K. at J's Theater has thoughts on beauty, power and race.
I couldn't pass up Hip Hop Music's "The Fake Black Rock Manifesto."
Mixed Media Watch's "Are black women undesirable because they've been masculinized?" critically engages Debra Dickerson's Salon essay "I want you to want me: I laughed, I cried -- then I wondered: Why won't the 'Wedding Crashers' crash any sister's wedding?" and the ensuing flood of letters.
Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast does a fine job juggling grad-school and family commitments, representation and privacy, disclosure and introductions.
Miss World takes on Hong Kong with inimitable brio and panache.
The SPB Q has thoughts on why he began writing and who inspired him.
The Brutha Code courts controversy over the latest King magazine cover.
Old Gold Soul goes looking for Nell Carter.
posthipchick liveblogged BlogHer's "Brown Bloggers Go West" panel.
Booker Rising (rightly, of course) takes Black & Right "AOL's Dun Gone Hood" to task
Ethiopundit's got banners, banners, banners.
Anthropology of African Experiences asks "What shall I do now?"

Post-locktician-visit post

It used to take two hours, from hitting her establishment's door on MacArthur Street in Oakland and leaning my head back into her sink to hitting my car door, turning the keys in the ignition and swinging a headful of tightly twisted nappyage. Now, it's about an hour and twenty minutes. I guess each lock's root knows how to behave itself these days.

Let's see, what's on my radar? I know I had a good look at several posts the last few days, 'cause there are at least three different browser screens hiding in my PowerBook's toolbar. (I use Safari to browse and to begin posts, but only Netscape 7.2 seems to be able to handle use of AOL's blogging setup (by displaying the little bar of options that let you toggle between text and HTML, plus bolding, italicizing and other stuff). Not Internet Explorer, not Firefox and not Shiira (at least not yet) ...

So, while I was under the hairdryer, squirming at that hot-hot-heat diggin' its way into my scalp and baking my poor cranium, I managed to fire up Bloglines' mobile page on my cell phone. I got some reading in. I took these notes:

Nalo matrix? Ursula love London happiness?

I guess now it's time to decode that. To wit, Ms. Hopkinson's been hit with the Sylvia Stewart card, and Ms. Barzey's been blogging up a storm today on just those subjects.

Jdid asks his readers how they write posts. It's a pretty basic question. It ought to yield lots of interesting answers. Me? I've got a desk. It's very functional. I cover with stacks of paper, the odd pile of clothing, newspapers, stray hard drives. Whenever I want to write, I just look at it, shake my head and go off to a less messy corner of our apartment (most often, the spot on the carpet in the front room next to the air conditioner).

Black Weblog Awards? All right now!

It was on my radar ever since Karsh started posting about it a few weeks ago, but now it's here: The 2005 Black Weblog Awards. I can't wait to see who plays by the rules and wins come September 3rd. By the way, I think I'm eligible for six of those awards. Which six? I'm glad you asked!

In theory, I'm eligible for Blogger of the Year and the Black Blogger Achievement Award (I've been at it since May 2000)

My baby Negrophile could take Blog of the Year and Best Political/News Blog blackosphere is eligible for Best New Blog.

... and, of course, the concept of me actually winning any of these awards alone should just about qualify me for Best Humor Blog.

Because I didn't get to attend Blogher (my work schedule got in the way), I made do with a bunch of posts: culturekitchen's "Blogher conference, the 4-Hour Layover Version" and "Here at BlogHerCon," Nichelle Newsletter's "Meeting in the Ladies' Room" and "So Alive," nykola.com's "Sort of Live from Santa Clara," Marian's Blog's "Blogher: Signs of Life in the Overdeveloped World," "Blogher, 'Black is a Country,' and 'Globalization is Good for Women" and "From inside Blogher..."

Elsewhere: it's been an action-packed weekend, if the black blogosphere's posts are any indication. Here are some of the ones I liked best:

Eratoscreed's "my moment of black zen: the dan band"
Dar Kush's "Stealth (2005)"
Keith Boykin's "Rev. Willie Wilson Apologizes...Sorta"
NewBlackMan's "Bakari Kitwana, Political Writing and the Harlem Book Fair"
darkone1980's "Windows Vista, Motherfucker!"
Doan Mind Me's "Caribana Photos"
black looks' "Anthony Walker"
Meskel Square's "What Ethiopian Bloggers are Talking About"

Blogs won't let me wait

Everywhere I look, I see thoughtful, challenging, amusing and well-written posts. What's up with that, huh?

The Colorblind Society's "Stealthy Review"
Meskel Square's "Miss Ethiopia, Supergeek"
Rainmayun's "The Shotgun Theory"
The Life & Times of a Hustlin' Scribe's "Rosewood"
Kyra's Weblog's "My Own Brand of Independence"
tuckergrrrl's "The Film Festival Shuffle"
black looks' "Blogging takes off in Africa"
The Third Decade's "Step-By-Step Gentrification"
Naked Cartwheels' "We're Riding on the Groove Line"

Do your best, leave the rest

One thing I'm finding about reading black bloggers' sites is how often surprising and interesting things happen to them.

They publish short stories in Playgirl.
They attend Blogher (yes, Laina D., Marian, Ambra, Nichelle, Lynne and Tiffany, I'll see you there!)
They give readings from their literary efforts.
They turn 30 years old.
They pass the word about missing women of color.
They pass the word about church efforts to end violence against gays.
They pass the word about famine in Niger.
They turn Toronto into a Carribean paradise for a weekend.

Wednesday's Top 40

Black Looks' "Water Water"
Githush's "Thurgood Marshall and the Kenyan Constitution"
African Bullets and Honey's "Yes, There Are Slaves in Niger"
mostly AFRICA's "US Pentagon wants more authority to arm & equip African armies" and "Nigeria: report on torture"
The Zimbabwean Pundit's "One trip, one new title and two huge concessions: Mugabe's Chinese venture pays off"

Pandagon's "That Wedding Ring Thing"
Tayari Jones' "Confessions of a Video Vixen"
Anderson@Large's "I Can't Stand the Heat"
Seasoned in the Life's "Black Fraternity Survey"

Palm Trees in the Ghetto's "The Real Blue States"
Nappy Diatribe's "Sunday I went to an old-school hip-hop show"
Stereo Describes My Scenario's "Ath-a-letic"
Sterfish's Place's "Indulge your narcissistic side"
Ghetto Uprising's "Why I download music"
Bullet Proof Soul's "The Greatest Novel Ever Written"

Tuesday's not just another day, is it?

I've been running around all day, so I missed my usual sitdown with Bloglines. I've got some planning to do in the runup to Blogher. If you're going, you should drop me a line at george at allaboutgeorge dot-com or, of course, AIM me at "allaboutgeorge." (If I'm not online, it'll go to my cizzell phizzone. Ah, technology!) There'll be all kinds of black bloggers there. Lynne is going. Ambra is going. Tiffany is going. And I'm going, because men are also invited.

For now, here are some questions and some answers.

What do you do when it's 80 degrees in New York and too hot to sleep? You do what the News Blog does. You blog about it.

What do you do when you have a great idea about recasting "Good Times"? You do what Ink Blotter does. You blog about it. (And then you read the 29 comments that are already there, and then you have your say. But, heck, you don't need me to tell you that, do you?)

What do you do when you have a slammin' recipe for some Jamaican jerk chicken? You don't do what I do, which is write it down on a piece of paper, wad it up in a ball, aim for the trashcan, miss because you have no jumpshot to speak of and because the only thing you know how to do on a basketball court is wear the hell out of a suit like your name was Pat Riley, grab your car keys and go to the Emeryville Public Market for some tight J. j.c. You do what the Down Home Soul Food Cooking Blog does. You blog about it.

Everywhere you want to be

I'm really glad that Minister Faust of the Bro-Log is all right and didn't get caught up in the madness. I'd only added him to my main blogroll in the last couple of weeks, and was already marveling at his travels. Check out "My wife and I are fine; far too many others, sadly, are not" and "Red Sea to Cairo--Moses' route remixed" for his latest updates.

Other posts well worth your time: "Bullet From a Gun" by Korentang's Toli (part of his London's Got Soul trilogy), And We Shall March's hungry-making "It Might Be 98-degrees Outside, But This Chicken Isn't Going To Roast Itself," and Tayari Jones' post spotlighting John Fountain's disenchantment with the black church.

Test entry for Technorati blog-ownage

Technorati Profile

"Tell me that you are living with HIV. Tell me that you care."

Frank Leon Roberts' Brooklyn Boy Blues post "I think you're HIV-positive" has probably sparked some of the widest discussion I've seen in several weeks among sectors of the blackosphere. That discussion -- touching on health, public safety, nihilism and self-worth -- deserves a wider audience among traditional media outlets; here's hoping others link, comment and testify. Roberts' tone, though not intended as accusatory, is intended to cut through perceived silence on the state of our brothers and sisters. It's an "if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention" classic.

Picking up signals in the distance

Baldilocks' "The New Blitz" comments on today's bombs in London (as do Culture Kitchen and Republic of T.) and Ursula Barzey is there and well, thank goodness. Steve Gilliard over at the News Blog has a couple of thoughtful posts in "Different Approaches" and "Security Theater"

Prometheus 6 provokes with "Black Politics: A kind of stereoscopic vision"

EBrown over at Vision Circle mulls over "Haiti and the War on Terrorism"

Outrageous stuff seems to happen to Will at In My Write Mind all the time. Example, the first? "The 2Pacalypse is Coming"

Down with my Crew

I'm sitting in a ubiquitous-mermaid caffeine-habit-satisfaction shop, and I get an instant message. It's an ex-co-worker who's moved south from the Bay Area. She mentions that she's quoted in today's Los Angeles Times. "Suh-weet," I say.

Adrienne Crew stops short of using a term such as "new sincerity" but says she's noticed a growing interest among young urbanites to simplify their lives. Crew, a 40-year-old attorney and "brainiac" writing a novel on African American geeks, is the founder of labrainterrain.com, a blog and calendar listing of intellectual events around L.A.

"I'm seeing these youngsters who are really looking for expressions of unmediated experience, fun that's not created by consumer culture," she says. A growing trend she sees as a reaction to hipsterism is "granny chic," or social groups centered around archaic hobbies. Stitch and Bitch and The Church of Craft are two Los Angeles-based examples of groups that gather to work on quilting, needlework, paper craft and lace making — in unabashed earnestness.

Crew also cites the Machine Project, a group that combines performance art with science, hosting workshops on such topics as how to build a radio. Says Crew, "Every two days I get these e-mails that go, 'Hey, kids, we've got this goofy thing we're going to be doing, so bring anything you want demagnetized!'"

Check out Adrienne at L.A. Brain Terrain.Noticed elsewhere:Cobb's "What Do Black Conservatives Look Like?"

Not too tired to Tut

Let's just say I did a lot of driving today. I'm tempted to either try a theme post. See if you can guess the connection:

Digital Penny's "One Vacation"
It's My Place's "My Greek Adventure"
Shasta McNasty's "Nothing Good Can Come From This"
a.lil.funk.for.my.day's "Atlanta Bloggers"
I'm Working on Me's "Ranada's Tale of Two Cities"
Poetry, Rants, Women and Power's "Seattle" and "Seattle #2"
In My Write Mind's "'Will' you be down?"
urban bohemian's "why don't we ... Runaway!" and "The grind (minus Eric Nies)"

A bit of black-blogging backloggage

I use Bloglines to keep tabs of (as of today) over 600 black bloggers. While it's relatively early today, here are posts from the last few days that caught my eye for long enough to merit their own tab in my PowerBook's Safari browser until now:

ReidBlog's "Cabana Radicals"
Mudd Up!'s "Today MP(still un)FREE Turns 10" and Foreign Dispatches' "10 Years of MP3"
The News Blog's "Apologize?"
Cobb's "The Backhand of Merit"
J's Theater's "Bastille Day" (with one of my favorite poems)
Planet Grenada's "Different Religions Week" and "Arrested development"
The Hunter's Herald's "Army finally honors first black chaplain"
Booker Rising's "GOP: 'We were wrong' to play racial politics"
John Kamau's "Just what makes a community go berserk?" and African Bullets and Honey's "The Tragedy and Puzzle of the Massacre in Northern Kenya"
Vision Circle's "An Apology for Slavery"
Professor Kim's News Notes' "What the NAACP has done for Americans lately"
Republic of T.'s "Good (for Nothing) Ol' Boys" and "Rove/Plame Primer"
Korentang's Toli's "Catford Bridge"
Footnotes from the Ugandan Underground's "All Rock, No Action in Live 8"
Black Looks' "Blair and the New Victorians"
Devas T. Rants and Raves!' "Kid-Lit Thursday: random thoughts"
Pica 12's "Knowledge and the Bill Pickett Rodeo"
Pandagon's "Women-only town coming under attack"
breath of life's "July 17, 2005"
Gina's RantSpot's "I should be working but ..." and "Wondering ..."
Hiphopmusic.com's "I'm 20 Pages into Harry Potter, and I'm Pissed"
Kenya Democracy Project's "A Hail Storm is Visiting Us Soon ..."
Anderson @ Large's "The Woo Woo Singsong"
Anything those photobloggers post at EthiopiaLives.net