Throwback Video: Ginuwine - In Those Jeans

I was walking to work this morning when this song suddenly popped in my head. This used to be my shit in 2003. I'm not sure about his full CDs cus I never download them, but Ginuwine typically releases good singles.

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The Obamas sure do photograph well.

The White House this week released a new Obama family portrait - a casual shot taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz. The official White House photo, taken in the Green Room, shows the President in a White shirt and red tie, with daughter Sasha draping her arm around him. Sasha is holding hands with mom, Michelle, who is being embraced by big sister Malia.

I like the shot, it's casual, yet appropriate. The President and First Lady look great. The kids do, too. The Green Room, which is often used for very casual receptions, was a good space to use.

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Looking for a new cologne? Surprisingly enough, this one has a GREAT smell.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not one for urban labels. J. Crew, Club Monaco, and the United Colors of Benetton is typically MUCH more up my alley than Coogi, Azzure and Rocawear. This cologne, however, forced me to buck that trend. Hell, if I'm keeping it a hunnit, then I have to admit this season's Sean John collection is also worth a gander. This post is about cologne, so I'll stick to that.

I was in Macy's this weekend and came across X, by Rocawear. It smells damn good, ya'll. To me, it's a daytime scent that I'd wear to work or school or to run errands, not a night out on the town.

Check for it.

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Priscilla Renea goes sooooo hard in the paint.

When I first saw this video I have to admit I was a little reluctant to get into it. I mean, I feel like the black girl rocker chick has been done before. Res and Pink say, "What up."

Priscilla strikes me as different. She might be singing over a rock/pop track, but home girl is still very much a home girl. Note the black woman sass and rhythm and the brown love interest. I can dig all of it. The track goes hard, too.

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Soulja Boy Magic Marker 'Em?

Soulja Boy stays coonin' and he remains true to form in this picture I stumbled upon today on the innawebs. It's pretty obvious that he (and the barber who did his line up with a Sharpie, for that matter) is the clear-cut front-runner for the Spook of the Year award. I'm just sayin'.

This definitely used to be the jam.

Picture it: Senior year of high school, 2001. Momma Jones has just purchased my first car. I can remember riding into school bumping this shit like it was yesterday.

[Archie] Thooooooose were the days. [/Bunker]

Al and Jesse, please go sit the hell down and let Rush Limbaugh buy the Rams already.

Black folk hate them some Rush Limbaugh. They don't even know why they hate him, but they hate him. Hell, I was hyper-critical of Rush Limbaugh until I turned 25 for two reasons: I'm black and like random Soul Train lines to Will Smith's 'Summertime', it's what we do.

Rush recently announced that he is part of a group that wants to purchase the St. Louis Rams football club. Instead of applauding that man for being brave enough to dump money into one of the NFL's shittiest teams, Black America chastised him and booed and hissed from the peanut gallery. And you know when Black America cries out you know our saviors Al and Jesse swoop in to the rescue. Yet again, they answered the bat phone:

From the Associated Press:

ST. LOUIS (AP)–The Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson attacked the bid by Rush Limbaugh to buy the St. Louis Rams on Monday, saying the conservative radio host’s track record on race should exclude him from owning an NFL team.

Sharpton sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, arguing that Limbaugh has been divisive and “anti-NFL” in some of his comments.

Jackson said in a telephone interview that Limbaugh had made his wealth “appealing to the fears of whites” with an unending line of insults against blacks and other minorities. “The National Football League has set high standards for racial justice and inclusion,” Jackson said. “He should not have the privilege of owning an NFL franchise–and it is a privilege.” The civil rights leader said he’s had contact with numerous players and ex-players concerned about the bid.

Limbaugh shot back at Sharpton on his radio show.

“Now, this saddens me as well this disappoints me,” he said. “I know Rev. Sharpton. Sharpton is better than this. He knows better than this. You know, I didn’t judge Al Sharpton’s fitness to be in radio when he wanted to earn an honest living for once, given his well-documented past as the author of the Tawana Brawley hoax. I believe in freedom and I also don’t discriminate.”

Limbaugh said last week that he is teaming up with St. Louis Blues hockey team owner Dave Checketts in a bid to buy the Rams. He has declined to discuss details of the offer, citing a confidentiality agreement.

In 2003, Limbaugh worked briefly on ESPN’s NFL pregame show. He resigned after saying Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.

Now why oh why are they making this an issue? Black women are still catching HIV/AIDS at a higher rate that any other demographic on Earth. Our schools are still failing miserably. We, and by we I mean us coloreds, are still paid less than our white counterparts. Our families are still broken and non-self-sufficient. Our urban neighborhoods are still very much crime ridden. Yet in the midst of all this these fools are up in arms about Rush Limbaugh buying a damn sports franchise?

Why? Because he says some bigoted shit sometimes? How exactly is Rush's comment about McNabb being overated and hyped because the media wants to see a successful black quarterback any different from black people thinking D. Whyte Man is holding us back or letting white folks get ahead based solely on race? I'm sure your older Aunt Faye has said some pretty racist shit about white people or Mexicans or Asians (cus ya'll know it's against our religion distinguish Koreans from the Japanese and Chinese or even know that peeps from the Middle East are actually Asian) and you still let her live, don't you?

We, the black people, have got too much going on in our glass houses for us to be throwing stones at Rush Limbaugh. This is especially true because majority of our broke asses aren't even in the market for a damn NFL team -- and that has nothing to do with the recession. Al and Jesse need not to cry wolf so often and fall back until a cause worth fighting comes along. I mean, it's not like Rush said he wanted to rip the President's nuts off or anything. Geesh.

The 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition -- If I could, I would. :-/

One of my favorite things to do in October is to anticipate all of the forthcoming holiday catalogs. Neiman Marcus recently dropped its Christmas Book and included this beauty. Meet the 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition. With an MSRP of $105,000.00 I'm priced out just slightly (*snickers*), but that doesn't mean my pauper ass can't enjoy it from afar.

The XJL offers 470-horsepower and has a supercharged 5-liter V8. In laymen terms, this hoe is fast. The interior features navy and ivory leather and rather sexy zebre wood accents. Because people who can afford to drop $105K on a car can't be bothered with standard dashboard dials, the Neiman Marcus edition has an interactive 12.3′ HD screen giving the driver access to audio, Bluetooth 2.0, hard-drive based GPS navigation, and climate control systems by either touching the screen or speaking commands into the Interactive Voice™ system. Sexy, right? The car also features a media hub with docks for MP3 players and USB devices, a Bowers & Wilkins® 1,200-watt premium sound system with Dolby® ProLogic® IIx Surround Sound and 20 speakers throughout the cabin.

Oh, how could I forget the massaging front seats, electric sun blind, heated steering wheel, four-zone climate control, integrated security system, and 20" double-10 spoke polished alloy wheels that complete the exterior. Hell, they even throw in a five-piece set of matching Jaguar luggage, in navy blue leather.

Only 50 of these are being created, so if you're planning to make a purchase, be sure to reserve yours on the 16th of this month when they go on sale. Just remember who put you on. :-)

This Collection Is Sick!!! -- Louis Vuitton Men’s Sunglasses Collection Fall/Winter '09-'10

Louis Vuitton recently unveiled its upcoming collection of sunnies and needless to say this shit is sick. I loooooove the way the design on the arm mimics the classic Vuitton checker pattern. I'm slightly ashamed to admit this, but the gold pair at 0:31 had me over hear screaming "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Be a brave girl, Marge Simpson. Do ya thing. Let them titties hang!

Yes, ladies and germs, this is Matt Groaning's beloved Marge Simpson on the November cover of Playboy magazine. I'll fully admit to not being into cartoon cooch, but apparently the editor's of Playboy thought enough people were that they decided to have America's iconic matriarch grace its cover.

I'm not exactly sure why the lyrics to Nas' "Oochie Wally" popped into my head when I saw this, but it did. Check the vid below the pic.

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Throwback Video of the Day - Nas feat. Bravehearts - Oochie Wally

Jesus Christ Bail Bonds?!? I can't deal with such fuckery.

This is a messy mess. I refuse to deal with it this morning. Oh, and btw...410 is definitely a Baltimore area code. SMH.

Alanis Morissette always gives me EVERYTHING I need!

If you slept on Alanis in the mid-90's, then you're a fool. This track comes from Jagged Little Pill, the internationally-acclaimed CD that sold over 30 million copies worldwide. I can't stop playing this song. It's speaking to me right now. And I hope it speaks to you. Really get into what she's talking about.

Ms. Morissette, may I have your babies?

Why oh why do I have caviar taste on an anchovy budget? *sigh*

I'm from Baltimore, which means I'm no stranger to water or, for that matter, boats. I often see some really nice boats docked in the harbor, but NOTHING like this pretty bitch.

Meet the 86' Domino by Riva. Her name isn't important, but the dining area for six, living areas in the cockpit, open sunbed, air-conditioned upper gallery, and four comfortably furnished cabins that include a master cabin with private en-suite and vanity are. Just get into the pics and you'll see why I want one. Now all I need is $6,000,000.00.

Can a brotha get a loan?

Pics courtesy: yatzer.com

Mary, YOU are the reason I hate Facebook now.

This is a rant about Facebook.

I’m fairly certain I’ve mentioned this here previously but I’m just not that into Facebook anymore. It’s not that I have anything against social networking. I don’t. In fact, Twitter is my shit! It’s just that I’ve been on Facebook for about six years now and the luster is gone. Besides, it’s just too much information to manage about people. I honestly don’t need to know someone’s politics, education, religion, etc. just to shoot the shit with them. But I digress.

Anywho…I’m ranting today with a VERY specific purpose. This chick that I haven’t seen or spoken to IN OVER 10 YEARS requested me as a Facebook friend several weeks ago. We went to the same school and even took a couple of the same classes together, but we certainly weren’t friends by any definition. Attached to her request was this message:

“Yo, [insert my government]. What’s good my n*gga? Remember I used to call you [insert dumbass nickname here]? Holla back.”

As you can imagine, she wasn’t accepted. This very off-putting message aside, I wouldn’t have accepted her anyway because I don’t see the point of adding people who aren’t actually in my life. I let the initial request sit there for a week or so, then declined it. About a week later she sent a second request. I knew right away she wasn’t going to be added, but I smartened up and decided to just let that one sit there for a bit so she would have no other recourse whatsoever. I was sure that was the end of it.

I’m walking to work this morning and got an email on my Pre from Facebook. It’s the same chick. She says:

“What up, [insert my government]. You acting brand new now, n*gga? Still waiting on that Facebook confirmation.”

Brand new? Hoe, we went to middle school together. MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'ma grown ass man now, haven't seen you in years and I'm acting brand new???? I was incensed at that point. How dare you try to chastise me about choosing not to accept your friendship! After 10+ years of not even knowing (or caring) if you’re you alive you wanna come back and give me Scarlett Fever for not accepting you? I don’t play those games. Ya’ll know I upped the anti on that hoe:

“Mary, I appreciate your zeal but frankly I’m not interested in having access into your life and vice-versa. It’s been years and though I hope and your four kids (a subtle dig, but at only 25 y/o that’s a lil tidbit she should’ve left off her page) are well, I’m just not in the practice of keeping tabs on everyone via the internet.”

Now, some of you will undoubtedly say, “It’s not that serious. Just add her and move on.” Well, it is that serious to me. I’m sick and tired of the internet affording people who I barely even know the opportunity to feel uber-entitled to having access into my life. I don’t need to befriend everyone I’ve ever met at a party or who knows of me through someone else who merely knows of me. We hadn’t seen each other in over a decade and I was cool keeping it that way.

As for Mary, she hasn’t responded yet. If she does, then I’ll respond accordingly.

Dear Barack Obama: You're the President of the United States, not a male cheerleader. Start acting like it, please.

He gambled and he lost, and now the whole exercise looks a little silly, doesn't it? It's ok to say yes.

President Obama, the first lady, three airplanes, several limousines, Secret Service staff and, of course, Oprah Winfrey, the President's back-up first lady, headed to Copenhagen last week to try to lure the Olympics to Chicago and came up quite short. The Windy City finished fourth in a field of four. But that's sort of the way it's been going for the president lately.

Instead of Copenhagen, he might have gone to Chicago and addressed the brutal murder of a 16-year-old honor student in broad daylight at the hands of four street punks. Remember the lectures we got from Obama during the campaign about family values and the importance of a father figure in a child's home, et cetera? Well, here was a real chance to walk that walk, but he took a pass in favor of Copenhagen. Instead, all we got was the White House press secretary saying the beating video was chilling.

The Olympics news came the same day as the jobs report, and that news wasn't any better. Many more job losses than expected. The unemployment rate at its highest level in 26 years.

After centuries months of debate, health care reform STILL isn't going anywhere. Iran is thumbing its nose at our president and the world. They might soon be able to blow up the entire neighborhood over there. North Korea doesn't seem deterred by our change of administrations either.

Afghanistan is getting worse, and there's now disagreement within the administration on what to do about that, study it some more seems to be the short-term answer. Meanwhile, our troops are dying in record numbers there.

Except for the stimulus package, the scoreboard doesn't look too good for our new president.

What does President Obama have to do to start putting some wins on the board?

At this rate she'll be doing bumps with Kate Moss in no time.

Meet Diva Davanna, a too grown 9-year-old runway model. I'll be honest with you all I don't have a daughter but if I did I'm not so sure I'd want her to be doing all of this at 9. Let me be clear here: She's definitely doing her thing. I'd just rather her develop breasts and have a period before she learns how to be haute on the runway. I'm just sayin'.