One Amazing Person....(one of many)

If you haven't seen 'God Grew Tired of Us' about the lost boys from Sudan...you must!!!! Don't get turned off by the fact that it's a documentary, it's totally dope! It definitely left me with much admiration for these men. I couldn't do what they did....
Here's a video of John Bul Dau on The Hour....he was in the documentary and has come such a long way from the refugee camp in Kenya.

Sweet Sixteen

Why do peeps hate on Miley Cyrus so damn much??? She's on the AMAs tonight and it happens to be her sixteenth bday as well. She looks darling and she's a great speaker on the red carpet. She seriously seems like a regular teenage girl as far as her demeanor which i can appreciate as someone who was always trying to act better and older than i was in my teen years.
Whats with the hate people??? Jealous cause a sixteen year old girl is better than you???
Either they don't exist to us, or we're hating on them....go figure.....sheesh

What Politicians USED to be like.....

I stole this from perezhilton.com
In regards to Proposition 8...i totally agree with this man
The only problem is that to have this mentality as a policitian, it kind of makes it hard to stick to 'policies'.
Oh well...it's a great theory!

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression."

- Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and one of the most influential Founding Fathers

:(

I'm actually kind of terrified by the potential state of the world at the moment. On one side we have this long awaited accomplishment by Barack Obama, and of course with great achievement comes haters. Witnessing the underdog succeed can be quite a blow to the ego of those snotty republicans and others that feel like they have to be above certain cultures and social circles. Suddenly there is all this protesting of laws and propositions and racial slurs and pointing fingers etc. etc.
We are so fragile as a population....i could list all the ways but i'm sure you feel it too. Lets love! Please!

New Mixtape!!!

I totally looooove this mixtape right now....


dj NaNa's Fall to Winter Mixtape
http://www.sendspace.com/file/n3v6re

I'm usually not a fan of mixtapes but I haven't stopped listening to this since i picked it up on Halloween.

dj NaNa just somehow does it right everytime.

You can download it by clicking on the link.

Prop 8

Is 51% of the vote really enough to amend a constitutional right?? Guess so!! This is pretty damn disgusting to me. One massive step forward with electing a black president and several massive steps back with deciding that gays don't have the right to marriage. Especially in a state that is so democratic, it's hard to believe that Proposition 8 was passed. Some say it was the high turn out of African-Americans that were suspected to vote in favour of Prop 8 because of cultural beliefs that made the difference. Other speculation points the finger to the Mormon church. I imagine it was a combination of those that truly believe that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman. That's just it, we live in a democracy and there just happen to be about 2% more people that don't approve of gay marriage than those that do. What puzzles me is that the 51% took rights away from the 49%. Because they don't agree with what the 49% percent would have the right to partake in if they so desire, they take the right away completely. Maybe this is an inaccurate analogy on my part but this is the way that i see it. Actually it reminds me a tiny bit of the holocaust. Hitler squashed the rights of Jews....i know that's an extreme comparison but in a nation that has happily elected Barack Obama as their leader with much hope for PROGRESS, the removal of rights is so counter-productive.
One day i think this rant is going to sound ridiculous...as in 'what? there was a ban on gay marriage?? wtf!'...Same as women and blacks not being able to vote, among other rights restrictions. With a president like Obama, i believe the masses are going to inadvertently be cured of inequality over time. That's a pretty extreme belief, but may i remind you of Martin Luther King's 'I Have A Dream' speech!
And for those of you who truly are against gay marriage, keep this in mind...it doesn't mean YOU have to marry a gay person!!

The Role of Music

Listening to: Ring The Alarm - Beyonce

....and i severly disklike Beyonce

Everyday i listen to music that tells me a story about my own life. Today I'm bumping some random 'i hate you' playlist on imeem.com. It's not one of those days that i type 'love songs' into the search engine and sing along to barry manilow while basking in the glory of a solid companionship. Can't even stand to hear Heartbreaker by Mariah Carey, although it's apparently relevant to my vibe according to this playlist...it's too uptempo. I might start nodding my head to the beat and then hate myself for moving to mainstream.
It's incredible to me how much joy these songs that are supposed to make you feel shitty actually bring me up. It must be the relevance. I enjoy relevance!!!
Of course i relate the 'numbers in your pocket' to 'messages in your facebook inbox'. Come on, It's Over Now by 112 came out long before the heat that is facebook.
With the risk of appearing that i enjoy mainstream pop and slow jams, i have to make it clear that if i wanted to listen to actual music i wouldn't touch this stuff. But these tunes are just stories if anything, supplying only an extremely literal lyrical content.
Hopefully tomorrow my mood will be more underground-friendly...catch my drift?

On Second Thought...

I don't know shit about relationships....
mainly unsure about which point in a relationship a person would stop reaching out to other prospects. I'm not referring to boo's and exes...i mean straight up new random facebook/myspace whatever type chicks.....
personally i think when the word 'love' is mentioned in a relationship, thats kinda a declaration of exclusivity, no?
And here i am deciding to be a good girl....geeeez

I think i should write a book about relationships.
It wouldn't be helpful in any way at all.
But it would be fascinating and quite humorous...even i think so
The way I try a completely different approach with each new prospect is stupid.
I'll always be the first to call myself out.
And I always preface any new potential relationship with the call out speech.
Thats where I tell the dude many bad things about myself...
Kinda like 'get out now while you still can'
They seem to dig it that I'm kinda prick-like and independant.
I always warn them they won't like it down the road when I have no need for them.
And they ALWAYS are surprised when that happens....
Since I try different approaches, perhaps I should tell them i'm a dependant saint like the rest of the girls do I'm sure...

The World Inside My Head Vol. 2 - dj NaNa

KNOW Regrets

To live with 'no regrets' is to be satisfied with knowing that you've learned something along the way from each and everyone of your mistakes, thus not requiring any remorse or second-guessing of your actions, right? As long as you've admitted to yourself your wrong-doings, including anything that has ever hurt anyone in your whole life and you have learned that it was, in fact, wrong - you're in the clear - you've learned your lesson and you can continue to live your brilliant life. In my opinion - no, that's actually terrible. A terrible form of self-righteousness.
For as long as I've been hearing people, I've been annoyed with the complacency in the term 'I have no regrets'. I believe that the complication in the statement is that we tell ourselves that we're good with what we've done when we shouldn't be, we should be more active in calling ourselves out. In fact, it seems that the only time we enable ourselves to feel regret is when we're completely overwhelmed by it, and even then - do we admit it?
With the statement 'I have no regrets', not only do we relieve ourselves of accountability of our actions, we fall into a pattern of repeating mistakes. In order to learn from regrets, first you need to acknowledge your regret and determine what it really is. With repressing our regrets in the form of denying them, we are curbing the practice of self growth. What did you do? Did you hurt someone or yourself?
If you could go back in time and choose to handle the situation differently, would you?
Yup, you're regretful, and the denial comes from being preoccupied with covering your tracks and taking back your words...all while claiming to 'have no regrets in life'. You've gone and turned your regrets into 'memories'. Now I wouldn't consider the occasions that have led to losing friends, hurting family and hurting myself - ahhh memories, that would be foolish and counter-productive. Although I can't change the past, by acknowledging regrets I can make an honest attempt at saving myself and loved ones from hurt in the future. That's all I can do, so I certainly will.
Clearly I'm not your teacher, preacher or parent - if you feel that was my intent, you would probably regret reading this (if you could), and if you've taken something from my rant then I know you feel me.

Make the most of your regrets. . . . To regret deeply is to live afresh.
-Henry David Thoreau

Natalie Cole Quote

“I'm going on record as an artist who is able to critique [Amy Winehouse]. I think she has a great talent, but I don't agree with the Grammys giving her those nods. I think it sends the wrong message, that even in the midst of her stupor of drugs she can get nominated for all these awards. It's a slap in the face to musicians and artists who work very hard that they turn around and give it to someone who really obviously doesn't have a grasp of what she has. I've been in this business over 25 years and I sacrificed five years of my own life on drugs and almost lost my life because of it. So I take great offence to almost see someone getting glory out of being in the position that they're in – she needs to get her life together and embrace her craft, she will lose it if she doesn't get it together.”
- Natalie Cole

Grammys 2008

They're a pair that, in theory, are grounds for a spectacular duet, but Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra's opening of the 50th annual Grammy Awards left much to be desired. Wether it was Alicia's fake piano playing (finger-synching?), or the fact that the combo was so visually disconnected, the whole performance lacked any sort of award-worthy appeal. Following the opener was Carrie Underwood's cirque du percussion type performance of her popular song, 'Before He Cheats'. If you saw the performance, you will understand when i say "I liked it better when it was called 'Stomp' and there was no singing". It's no wonder why she comes out with the big hair, short skirt and stilettos (it's the same reason Dolly Parton has that figure), her act has to have some sort of effect, when it otherwise wouldn't, leading me to believe that there must be a strict 'no-impact' rule designated by the Grammy Award officials.
Typically, Rihanna performed with her hit track Umbrella alongside an umbrella carrying crew. At this point in the program I expect Prince and Beyonce to float down onto the stage in fanciful awards show manner (didn't occur at that moment, but they appeared later). Imediately redeeming itself, the awards show takes a massive turn with the honourable Cirque Du Soleil performance of Beatles songs, blending into a moving gospel rendition of Let It Be from the Across The Universe soundtrack.
The show's appeal was diminishing with each expected performance, forcing me to remind myself that I was watching The Grammys and not a more glorifying awards show. The number of downers was not nearly matched by the uppers, yet there were a few. Kanye, for example, seemed to forget he was in a charisma-free establishment and busted out the grandest performance of the night, complete with a tribute to his mother (tears included).
Purposely, i tuned out of much of the remainder of the broadcast, thankfully missing the Beyonce and Tina Turner shit show. I owe that to Fergie, who painfully missed the high note, causing me give up altogether and find something better to watch. Something that, perhaps, doesn't award mediocrity on an annual basis. Not only that, but I was feeling a pit in my stomach for Nelly Furtado, poor girl - her entire styling team must have quit on her last minute, and if thats not the case - they should be fired. I also didn't want to hear another shout-out from Amy Winehouse to her husband Blake in prison, which in combination with her obvious buzz, was not appropriate behaviour during an event where you're being honoured.
My intention was to comment on every act, award and aspect of the broadcast, and although I couldn't make it past the first hour - I don't consider myself a quitter. In fact, I went into dangerous territory and I made it out alive, enduring the battle that is 'Mainstream'. After observing such horror, I still hold hope that there will be incredible music made and recognized in 2008, if anything, for the sake of validity in awards shows!!