Praise the Lord! I can hear The Brian Lehrer Show again on NYPR. The audio problems I was experiencing for the past 2 weeks on my work PC was driving me ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!
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Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 8/29/2008 10:22:00 AM Comments
The only negative thing I can say about this documentary, The Black List, is that it is running on the first day of the DNC convention (I still remember listening to Barak Obama speak at the DNC convention several years ago). Other than that, let's just say I can barely bring myself to go to the bathroom. This documentary is awesome. It includes people I've admired for years, people I've only briefly read about in Essence, and a few I've never heard of. Hearing what their voices sound like, their stories, they encourage me. Seriously.
It reminds me of how thankful I am that my parents and extended family instilled a sense of "black pride" in me. They taught me that I could, and should, love being black. At the same time, I never got a message that to love being black, was to do that at the expense of humanity (This is not to say I haven't heard or repeated a joke or two, I hate to admit it, but I would be lying otherwise)In other words, I was taught to appreciate other cultures, in addition to seeking out the history, literature, movies, music, images etc. of people who look like me. I hope this documentary makes it to DVD soon. I hope it's watched by the generation after me, those aged 16-25, who are in desparate need of hope and healthy, authentic "black pride".
Oooh, Michelle Obama is on!!!
Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 8/25/2008 09:48:00 PM Comments
This has to be one of the best commercials that I've seen in a long time (and definitely one of the best that Nike has put out in a long time). It's one that I actually stopped and watched. Marvin Gaye was so cool! I mean, he was that dude in his day . . .Man, what happened to R&B!!
Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 8/24/2008 04:11:00 PM Comments
Lately, I've been thinking about how I really need to get quiet. I don't run my mouth all of the time. . . in fact, I think most people would say that I'm not all that talkative (just moderately talkative). By "getting quiet" I mean I really, really, want quiet reflective time. I feel like I have a lot I need to do, and a lot I want to do. So even when I'm not working (which feels like all the time) my brain is going a mile a minute reviewing all the crap I need and want to do.
I'm a list person. I love lists, even better, I love outlines. For example, if there is something I need to do (beyond mundane tasks, i.e.laundry, go to cleaners, etc) I actually like to right it down and then use Roman numerals, capital letters and lower case letters, and numbers detailing how I'm going get the task done. A little obsessive maybe, but that's me (plus, not every task requires so many steps, but I will go there if necessary). In addition, I'm the type of person who treasures alone time. I like being with friends, talking on the phone, going here, going there, BUT I always need to carve out me time. My problem now, is that during my alone time I'm finding it hard to be alone with my own thoughts. I don't like it. I have to get it together. Because at the rate I'm going . . . I don't know, I just need to do something. I really need to get clear.
To that end, while at work I'll occassionally listen to Joel Osteen or another minister. I love NYPR and NPR and all, but sometimes all that housing crunch, crisis in Georgia, elementary school test scores talk can be draining. So I'll take an inspirational vitamin while I work, and man does it help me get through the day. On Monday I was listening to a sermon by TD Jakes called "Keep Reaching" and it was just what I needed to hear. The following are the main points:
1. Reach toward a deeper relationship with God.
2. Reach for His fruit (fruits of the spirit) in your character.
3. Reach for His promise(s)inspite of your problems.
4. Reach for stability in every area of your life.
5. Reach for good ground to sow in (sowing your time, energy, money).
That sermon was for me!
Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 8/20/2008 10:56:00 PM Comments
Whoa! Its been a long time since I've posted anything . . .not that I've been devoid of random thoughts, its just that I've been busy. So busy, that I was remiss in posting something about "The Dark Knight". And I only remembered that I wanted to post something about "The Dark Knight", after going to see "Tropic Thunder" (I know, totally different movies but just go with it ;)
Anyway, I'll start by saying "The Dark Knight" is the best movie I've seen all year. As soon as I heard there would be a sequel to "Batman Begins" I was excited since I thought that movie was outstanding and way better than those other Batman attempts (in fact, I couldn't even sit through those films). The story, the acting, everything - simply fantastic. I have to admit when I first heard Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker I was a little skeptical. Having only seen him in "Ten Things I Hate About You" and "The Patriot" (I think I saw, "Brokeback Mountain" after he was cast in DK), I thought he was a decent enough actor. I mean, alot of those actors the entertainment shows and magazines try to covince us are "hot", are just so so or downright terrible (for i.e. He seems like a nice young man, but I can't for the life of me figure out how Orlando Bloom continues to get roles). So my hopes we're not high. I just couldn't think of Heath Ledger as a crazed criminal.
Its alittle too late to critique the movie, and I'm no movie critic anyway, but I'll just say this - Heath Ledger blew me away. He was unbelievable! All the hype and praise for his performance was well deserved. At the risk of sounding to mushy, I was little sad that someone in my peer group, someone who had actual talent, is no more.
. . .On a lighter note, Tropic Thunder was hilarious! Now the first time I heard about this film, specifically the fact that Robert Downey Jr. Would be playing a black man, my first thought was "Oh Lord . . .where's the petition I need to sign, what products do I need to boycott, and have white people completely lost their minds trying bring back blackface?!?!" Thank goodness the character and the point of the movie was revealed before the film opening, or I would've missed a thoroughly funny film. Who knew Robert Downey Jr. would be the funniest character (in my opinon) with co-stars like Ben Stiller and that nut Jack Black? How on earth did he channel a black man?
Maybe Ill start posting movie and book reviews. You know, all analytical and stuff. . .to show off my critical thinking skills. This post was just to get me back into the swing of things, especially since I just realized that I had/have at least one reader besides my pal Kayla:)
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Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 8/19/2008 09:48:00 PM Comments
Cereal is one my favorite things to eat. My ultimate favorite - FROSTED FLAKES!! I have loves Frosted Flakes ever since I could remember. Its the right amount of crunch and sugar. Its so simple, and simply good. Eventually, I guess around 10 or 11, I started to experiment with other cereals and so now I'll also occassionally buy Cocoa Pebbles, Corn Pops, Fruit Loops, Cheerios (Original and MultiGrain). . . . but I always keep a box of Frosted Flakes around!
Probably the only drawback about getting older is that I have to watch what I eat. I mean, I'm not vain, but I'd like to maintain some sort of figure :) And so, a couple of years ago I started making small changes which have now become habits . . . I eat healthy cereal. I decided to buy Kashi one day when the stars were aligned - it was on sale and I had a $1 off coupon! I figured, now is the time to try it; if it was terrible I wouldn't feel like I wasted to much money (since healthy stuff can get pricey). So I picked up Kashi Go Lean . . .. it has changed my life. For instance, I didn't know just how fiber deprived I was. I ate fruits and veggies everyday. I thought I was doing pretty good. But a couple of days of eating bowls of Kashi (because I usually need two bowls of cereal) . . .and my stomach was bloated! And I mean, so bloated I was miserable. I've since learned I have to slowly increase my fiber intake. You can't just go and eat two full bowls of fiber!
Thankfully my friend Kayla introduced me to magic beans AKA Beano! Man, I will never be the same. I pop two of those magic beans and I'm good to go! I eat my Kashi and go on with my day without my stomach doing summersaults.
Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 8/01/2008 10:08:00 PM Comments
