Likes theatre, literature, satire, foreign/indie films, classic cinema, documentaries, pop culture, writing, international goings on, that thing, vintage sneakers, nailpolish, hats, my father's record collection, my mother's perfume, fine point pens, taxi cab confessions, old souls, good manners, ronaldinho, summer rain, graphic novels, solitude, good food, observing people and decadence
Dislikes ignorance, the contrived, unoriginality, imitators, blind conviction, intrusiveness, extremisms, bills, scrubs, passive-agressiveness, modern decay, insipidity, chain letters
Therapy björk|deftones|lamb|res|the clash|janet jackson|feist|frou frou|elton john|j*davey|amel larrieux|madonna|stevie nicks|kim carnes|queen|the smiths|morrissey|lauryn hill|yeah yeah yeahs|jill scott|dj mehdi|RJD2|sufjan stevens|amy winehouse|esthero|the avalanches|three 6 mafia|prince|pearl jam|nina simone|janis joplin|cyndi lauper|rae & christian|depeche mode|4hero|daughter darling|the pixies|james taylor|luther vandross|bloc party|rush|jean grae|smashing pumpkins|minnie riperton|eric prydz|the chemical brothers|the beatles|marvin gaye|the who|9th wonder|atticablues|radiohead|blondie|the doors|stevie wonder|gladys knight|tv on the radio|cannibal ox|the prodigy|hooverphonic|beck|chicago|ahmad jamal|donny hathaway|st.germain|portishead|billie holiday|aphex twin|erykah badu|broken social scene|aretha franklin|the cure|lisa lisa & the cult jam|brazilian girls|boards of canada|stone temple pilots|the police|heart|fleetwood mac|sade|k-os|big daddy kane|the stone roses|josé gonzales|rage against the machine|nirvana||peter gabriel|tlc|linus loves|missy elliot|m.i.a|aaliyah|quantic|the commodores|culture club|smith & mighty|wu-tang clan|eurythmics|foo fighters|ella fitzgerald|the dears|sublime|regina spektor|a tribe called quest|alicia keys|jimi hendrix|de la soul|goo goo dolls|mylo|mos def||interpol|sigur ros|michael jackson|tori amos|diana ross & the supremes|bob marley & the wailers|the go! team|souls of mischief|laura branigan|guns 'n roses|thom yorke|tom scott|basement jaxx|daft punk|otis redding|arcade fire|sarah vaughn|dionne warwick|chaka khan|the rachel z. trio|dixie chicks|kate bush|mary lou williams|
Reads valley of the dolls|the bell jar|jane eyre|the catcher in the rye|she's come undone|alice's adventures in wonderland/through the looking glass|the kite runner|a fine balance|wuthering heights|the swinging bridge|swerve: reckless observations of a postmodern girl|the little prince|the virgin suicides|beloved|looking for alibrandi|the lovely bones|girl interrupted|white teeth|harry potter series|american skin|mansfield park|i never promised you a rose garden|
Tube the facts of life|the office bbc & yankee|dead like me|daria|popular|my so-called life|freaks & geeks|oprah|america's next top model|american idol|project runway|buffy|the boondocks|home movies|the colbert report|madtv|SNL|will & grace|grey's anatomy|the cosby show|a different world|golden girls|felicity|clone high|fresh prince of bel air|roseanne|curb your enthusiasm|e! true hollywood story|reno 911|my name is earl|ugly betty|fashion television|style file|six feet under|30 rock|the game|dexter|
Movies a raisin in the sun|ghost world|sleeping beauty|heathers|edward scissorhands|young frankenstein|american splendor|american beauty|the professional|take a giant step|the life aquatic|the royal tenenbaums|volver|carmen jones|the color purple|fight club|shopgirl|C.R.A.Z.Y|mulholland drive|girl interrupted|eternal sunshine of the spotless mind|requiem for a dream|love & basketball|kill bill 1 & 2|salaam bombay!|romeo & juliet (1968)|labyrinth|flashdance|rushmore|fast times at ridgemont high|juice|silkwood|moonstruck|mermaids|clueless|orfeu negro|amélie|osama|the motorcycle diaries|the squid & the whale|whale rider|napoleon dynamite|whatever happened to baby jane|city of god|malena|gia|28 days later|frida|willy wonka & the chocolate factory|garden state|the addams family 1 & 2|CB4|mean girls|some like it hot|the sound of music|romy & michele's high school reunion|rent|pretty persuasion|poetic justice|v for vendetta|goodfellas|imitation of life|maria full of grace|annie hall|the princess bride|west side story|
Music was the lamb
That made a Lion out of me.
--Esthero--
While I crawl into the unknown
Cover me
I'm going hunting for mysteries
Cover me
I'm going to prove
The impossible really exists
This is really dangerous
Cover me
But worth all the effort
Cover me
I'm going to prove
The impossible really exists
--Bjork--
Hit me like a slow bullet
Like a slow bullet
It took me some time to realise it
You kept on thinking
You were the only one
Too busy thinking
Love is a gun
I know the end before
The story's been told
It's not that complicated
But you're gonna need a bullet proof soul
--Sade--
You taught me precious secrets of the truth witholding nothing
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better
and if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody
cause my love is in there hiding
I love you in a place
where there's no space or time
I love you for my life
you are a friend of mine
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone
and I was singing this song to you
--Donny Hathaway--
Time to save the world
Where in the world is all the time
So many things I still don't know
So many times I've changed my mind
Guess I was born to make mistakes
But I ain't scared to take the weight
So when I stumble off the path
I know my heart will guide me back
--Erykah Badu--
Some of the most wonderful people are the ones who don't fit into boxes. --Tori Amos--
The road to life is rocky, and you may stumble too. So while you point your fingers, someone else is judging you --Bob Marley--
Don't it make you sad to know that life is more than who we are --Goo Goo Dolls--
God help you if you are an ugly girl
'course too pretty is also your doom
'cause everyone harbours a secret hatred
for the prettiest girl in the room
God help you if you are a phoenix
and you dare to rise up from the ash
a thousand lives will smolder in jealously
while you are just flying past
--Ani Difranco--
I've been walking in the same way as I did Missing out the cracks in the pavement And tutting my heel and strutting my feet "Is there anything I can do for you dear? Is there anyone I could call?" "No and thank you, please Madam. I ain't lost, just wandering..."
Name: Adele Laurie Blue Adkins Born: May 5, 1988 London, England Musical influences: Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald Graduated from The BRIT School (alma matar: Amy Winehouse, Katie Melua, Leona Lewis and Kate Nash) Verdict: My latest obsession. Her voice haunts me, her words captivate me... I have found a new love.
She's been on rotation for a quite some time in my life/headphones-- thought I'd share.
I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque I love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts and shades I like it in the city when two worlds collide You get the people and the government Everybody taking different sides
She hits "thick" and "opaque" like it's percussion. It thrills me.
In simple celebration of one of the best soundtracks ever. Pure perfection.
Directed by Forest Whittaker... man, he needs to start putting some films together again. Spike Lee, get your shit together and come back with something enlightening.
Gina Prince Bythewood, you are missed.
Tyler Perry, stay the hell away from me.
SO tired of this man, all his movies have the same blueprint, the same loud-mouths, the same preachiness... ok, NEXT.
And what's with him and drag all the time? Only adds to the fact that I think this bama is gay, and can't nobody tell me nothing. That, and his lipgloss is poppin'! He should just come out already... oh, but then he wouldn't be making all that money. Gotcha.
Here are examples of castings for a few of the top shows:
Erin Fetherston Chanel Iman, black Daul Kim, Asian Han Jin, Asian Hye Park, Asian Total models of color: 4 Total white models: 23 Total models: 27
DKNY Jourdan Dunn, black Daniela Borges, Brazilian* Total models of color: 2 Total white models: 21 Total number of models: 23
Diane Von Furstenberg Liya Kebede, black Samira, black Du Juan, Asian Atong, black Maria, Latina Joan Smalls, black Georgie, black Lee, Asian Alek Wek, black Emma Pei, Asian Camila Finn, Brazilian* Bruna Tenorio, Brazilian* Total models of color: 12 Total white models: 31 Total number of models: 43
Calvin Klein Liya Kebede, black Total models of color: 1 Total white models: 20 Total number of models: 21
Donna Karan Chanel Iman, black Total models of color: 1 Total white models: 22 Total number of models: 23
Jill Stuart Total models of color: 0 Total white models: 20 Total number of models: 20
Jovovich-Hawk Total models of color: 0 Total white models: 3 Total models: 3
Luca Luca Atong, black Total models of color: 1 Total white models: 19 Total models: 20
Tracy Reese Sasha Gaye-Hunt, black Dahlia, black Hollis Wakeema, black Sonny, Asian Mo Wandan, Asian Lily, black Britnee Nicol, black Cecilia Mendez, Argentine* Total models of color: 8 Total white: 15 Total: 23
Zac Posen Du Juan, Asian Liya Kebede, black Jourdan Dunn, black Chanel Iman, black Han Jin, Asian Bruna Tenorio, Brazilian* Total models of color: 6 Total white: 40 Total: 46
According to the Daily News, Michelle Smith, the designer behind Milly, blamed the modeling agencies for the lack of black models. "They're not giving us any people to choose from," she said. Funny how Zac Posen, Diane von Furstenberg and Tracy Reese didn't seem to have a problem!
Jourdan Dunn, who is British, is gearing up for London Fashion Week, and, reports This Is London, she's worried about the lack of diversity on those runways as well, saying: "London's not a white city so why should our catwalks be so white? I go to castings and see several black and Asian girls, then I get to the show and look around and there's just me and maybe one other coloured face. They just don't get picked."
*Clearly, many Brazilian and Argentine models are of European heritage; we tried to include the ones who offer a different look than the pale, Eastern-European model dominating the scene right now, like dark-eyed, dark haired Bruna, who is of indigenous Brazilian descent.
Generally, I hate award shows (especially music award shows), but the Grammys were spectacular tonight. Probably the classiest awards show I've seen in years. Alicia won first of the night, Kanye won and performed a song for his mother that had hot tears streaming down my face, The Time made me wish Prince was also up there with them, Beyonce almost knocked out Tina Turner (who still looks so very amazing), DAFT PUNK made a cameo and rocked my socks, HERBIE HANCOCK WON (almost joked on my food... jazz is getting it's beautiful dues), Feist performed, Amy Winehouse also did sensationally and won plenty of trophies... she looked much healthier and focused, too. I still wanted to feed her some of my chicken and rice, but it's ok, she'll get back on her feet soon *crosses fingers*. Rihanna won best collabo with Jay-Z for 'Umbrella' which sorta shocked me yet kind of didn't-- but here's the shocker: I now suddenly have this uber bonafide girl-crush on Ms. Robyn Fenty and her new 'do:
When did she become such a rock star? Never thought I'd like this chick. And the jacket... mine! Seriously, if I could pull off that hairstyle, I'd be chopping off all my hair this very second. Question: whatever happened to Fefe Dobson...?
I was astounded by the utter lack of people of colour at last night's SAG awards. Sandra Oh gave her cute introduction, and for a long time afterwards, that was about the only minority you saw on camera in the room. Looks like POC's are only good for handing out awards this year, folks. Look for the same to happen at this years Oscars.
Oh, but Tina Fey continues to charm me: her acceptance speech and praise of Alec Baldwin was so great:
"It's like watching Fred Astaire dance with a hat rack... you're giving an award to the hat rack."
Yet another reason to love her? Her new movie with fellow SNL badass Amy Poehler in their upcoming movie, Baby Mama.
"I just don't like your uterus." I love it already.
Forever loving this song. Cute vid, too... how much do I enjoy those pictures of her, Kidada, Rashida, Peggy and... Liza Manelli?! haha. Amazing. I canNOT believe she would've been twenty-nine today if she were still alive... damn it. She was too lovely.
"She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew." -- Jerry Spinelli, 'Stargirl'
I had an optometrist appointment the other day. I got in half an hour early and was privy to the intense concentration of an adorable 2 year old scribbling red crayon all over a page in his colouring book. He made my made womb twitch. Seated next to me was a young girl, about 10 years old, with tiny braids, deeply engrossed in the novel she was reading. I read the back cover of her book and resonated with the quote written above. I then bothered to ask her the name of the book. Without verbally responding, she showed me the front cover and went right back to reading. I told her I was a big Jerry Spinelli fan when I was around her age, told her all about his 'School Daze' series. She indifferently glanced over at me and I took that as my cue to leave her alone. When her mother came out of the doctor's office, my name was called and as I was about to walk over, the young girl tugged at my forefinger and asked me to tell her the names of the books I'd mentioned again. I smiled and wrote it down on her bookmark so she wouldn't forget.
It warms my heart to know that some young girls are finding their own unique voice and power through literature. It's a real pity not enough of them are.
I started this year tabula rasa, and I'm quite proud of myself as far as my commitment to my resolutions go. Out of the 10, I'm pretty solid with 5... I'm movin' on up!
Been watching all that political hype south of the border, and ofcourse I'm hooked. Debating between Hillary and Obama always sparks great discourse involving three of my most passionate topics: feminist/gender issues, race relations, and ofcourse, pop culture. Also interesting to me, is how pissed off white soccer moms are at Oprah for supporting Obama. They claim she has betrayed them and her very own gender for simply backing Obama due to the colour of his skin. These moms have flooded the woman's message boards, threatening to stop watching her and supporting her causes in favour for everyone's favourite non-controversial lesbian, Ellen Degeneres. I mean, Oprah's endorsements can play on my last nerve half the time, but are these women for real? Aren't they only collectively supporting Hillary because she's a woman? Hmmm...
It's difficult for me to decipher which one America has more of a problem with: gender or race. I mean really, in these contemporary times, the icons we get from either side stem mostly from popular culture-- but this is not, and never has been the case for the white man. If I *had* to choose, I would say America's more ready for white female President. Plus, the fact that her name isn't ethnic quells the anxiety of the ignorant folk/voters (did anyone catch CNN that one time when they wrote Obama's name as 'Barack Osama"?)
I don't think it's wise to support Hillary entirely based on the fact that she's a woman, the same way I think it's futile to vote for Obama just because he's [insert American One-Drop Rule practice] a black man. It should be based on their platform obviously, but who knows, maybe neither of them will win. It's still too early to tell. The mid-west and south hasn't even been touched yet. The White Man can still run up from behind and claim 'Four More Years'... such is the world of (North) American Politrix. But in the meantime, the race between these two is extremely exciting... makes Canadian politics look like playground activity.
And for those of you who don't give two shits about what I just wrote about above, I now leave you with this. Here are some of the invites I've been receiving on Facebook from an old, very good looking friend of mine. They started out innocently (and unwantedly) enough:
_______ sent an invitation using Sportsbets: I know you are a sports fan so I thought you'd be good at this game. You can even win real stuff!
_______ sent a request using Showers: [Blank] wants to shower with you and its not in water! Find out what!
Ugh... I'd rid him from life with a simple click, but we've got mutual friends and he was telling them how excited (??) he was to find me on Facebook... so I can't do it just yet. Imma lay low for a hot minute and drop his ass next month, though.
She's a very freaky girl Never had a momma First you get her name Then you get her number Then you get some BRAIN in the front seat of a hummer...
I cannot help it, and I shall not tell a lie... I love this song (the BEAT, that is). Especially the remix with Luda-- his flows are always on point. So yeah, I gets down (context: TO THE BEAT), but just out of sheer curiousity:
When exactly did folks start referring to fellatio as 'brain'? That has got to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my gotdamn life. Actually no. Him asking "Don't you think I'm handsome?" is.
Hence the reason he made an entire song about how much poor, motherless girls (and inevitable strippers/prostitutes, duh) will do whatever it takes to make that money without having to look his 'handsome' face.
Imma start calling him Scarecrow (emphasis the SCARE) cuz you know the only 'brain' he's getting is from The Wiz.
Hiyo!
I've been incognito, but I'm back. One of my new years resolutions was to start going to bed earlier, and wow... I'm such a winner.
