Married

For those of you who missed it...

I got married on May 18 in Durham, NC.

NYC 2010 Batizado

I just got back from Mestre Caxias' batizado in NYC. It was his last batizado while living in New York. He will be moving to Dubai with his wife, Sol for the next couple years. The event and the workshops beforehand were great. The week before the batizado, all of us in NC took workshops with Formanda Colibri.



In the end, I came out with a new cord (nice to have a fresh one that doesn't smell like hell) and a lot of new information and ideas for training for the next months. And my legs feel like they're going to fall off. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time or energy to do much outside of batizado and workshops. I would have liked to meet with my uncle and a few friends while I was there, but it wasn't going to happen. I guess we can't have it all.

Now that we're back in Durham, the students at CBNC are getting ready for Mestre Caxias and Prof. Trovão's upcoming visit on the weekend of June 19. New cords for the students here will be riding on performance during the next weeks. Wish them luck!

Like a Sickness (Jazz)

I think I've been infected, but I like this sickness. I wish it would have happened earlier--much earlier. Sure, I was exposed to the stuff for a while, but only recently has it really had an effect. As a kid, my parents would play a little for me. They'd try to explain how wonderful it was, but it didn't sound like any of the stuff I wanted to hear. After all, did any of those old folks have a hand in creating Thriller? I doubt that! Who wants to listen to all those trumpets anyway?


But now I can't get enough of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Wes Montgomery, Billy Holiday, Sydney Bechet, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt, and whomever else I happen to stumble upon.

Of course there are a lot of contemporary artists that fascinate me. In fact, they are the reason why I started checking out the guys that I mentioned above. Still, it's like there's a century's worth of music I can check out before I have to complain about a lack of good music on the radio. I'd love to listen to some good hip-hop. But until something catches my ear, I'll be sampling a little of this and a little of that.

quite a day

quite a day
Originally uploaded by misfiredpixels

After months of growing and caring for that dissertation, I have released it into the world. Now, I get to spend some of my time doing things that I like. I haven't turned my camera on for months, but the last few days have been an exception. feels like I can get my stride back. I can't help but want some new toys though. You know, something like another flash.

That will have to wait. But for the moment, I'm going to have fun with the stuff I already got here with me.

Oh, and just to give a little contrast, Here's the image that I got out of the camera.  I felt like I had to battle the dull colors and flat image.  Give me contrast or give me... never mind.

Lessons in Self-Promotion

It's kind of a big deal, you know? Diddy is going to change our lives. He'll allow us to understand the greatness of Micheal Jordan, Ali, and that fast-ass Usain Bolt. Maybe we wont understand any of this well enough to actually replicate their greatness, but that's not important. You should still be motivated to check out this forthcoming and revolutionary blog. If you're lucky, you won't even have to read it. There's a chance that the fashionably grainy video in the clip will be used quite often. It's hard to say exactly what the blog will do for you, but it will likely result in a new national holiday.

Get ready.


How to Overhype Your Blog, Diddy Edition [Celebrity Computer Science]: "

Diddy made this trailer video for his forthcoming blog, proving it will be as big as Martin Luther King Jr. plus Barack Obama plus the 9/11 firefighters plus the troops, minus Will Smith. The most inspirational anything ever, in fact. More »

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Stupidity has no logic

I'm not exactly sure what this woman's poster is supposed to mean. What do benefits and amnesty have to do with speaking English? I know that I'm a little brain-dead after the general exhaustion and apathy following graduate school, but am I missing something here?

One of the funny things is that the story from the gawker link that the photo came from mentions how there were lots of speeches about liberty and colorblindness. Of course, speaking English isn't racist. That's just a way to communicate. I just assume that this woman's reference to language has racist undertones.

Well, at least she didn't say "We Speak American," right?

A Strong Start for the New Year

HE-MAN
Originally uploaded by misfiredpixels

Christmas is passing, and I am still relaxing. All that will stop soon, but for the rest of the day (rest of the week) I will make the most of this little pause. When things get started again, I'll be like He-Man. I'll get off my a$s, and there will be no breaks until early May.

I wish everyone the best of luck when it comes to the goals they make for the new year. We should probably all remember that resolutions need to be feasible. At the same time, the things that we make possible in dire circumstances can seem quite surprising. Myself, I'll have a lot of writing and praying to do. What will you be up to?

For the next 2 days, I'll be mustering my strength. I'm taking my vitamins, getting exercise, and staying happy.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Happy Holidays

Rabanadas
Originally uploaded by misfiredpixels

I won't bother saying much here, but I want to wish everyone the best for the holidays. Eat, drink, be merry. Just don't drive after the 2nd part. For some this has been a rough year. Hopefully the New Year brings changes for many of us who need it. If 2009 was great for you, I hope you continue to find good fortune in the next.

Merry Xmas.

HP Face-Tracking Webcams Don't Recognize Black People [Webcams]

Wouldn't it be nice if the technology commonly used to lock people of color into cells were incompatible with blackness too? I wish the police couldn't tell if I were speeding. There has to be something that can make up for the fact that consumer electronics that recognize people have left me out. If only HP made security cameras too.



HP Face-Tracking Webcams Don't Recognize Black People [Webcams]: "
This is awkward. It appears that HP's new webcams, which have facial-tracking software, can't recognize black faces, as evidenced in the above video. HP has responded:

We are working with our partners to learn more. The technology we use is built on standard algorithms that measure the difference in intensity of contrast between the eyes and the upper cheek and nose. We believe that the camera might have difficulty 'seeing' contrast in conditions where there is insufficient foreground lighting.

[HP and Metafilter via The Daily What]

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In-the-Closet Lesbian Sues Netflix for Releasing Her Movie Preferences [Lawsuits]

It's unfortunate. Once you put something on the internet, expect it to become public information. I don't like the fact that this is how things work, but they do. Despite most people's discomfort with such a lack of privacy, I think that these conditions encourage us to behave nicely.

It works like this:
Regardless of my intentions/desires, I will be good. Why? I'm well behaved because I know that my actions are visible.

There is certainly nothing wrong with demanding ethical actions from corporations such as Netflix or Google. Really, we should continue to ask more of them. At the same time, Google reminds us daily that data and its traffic are responsible for making profits even if it makes individuals' lives transparent.

The sad thing is, this woman probably didn't even have facebook. If you have anything you're trying to hide, you know that Facebook is not the place for you. I guess watching too many movies in Netflix's Gay and Lesbian category will cause an uproar. I had no idea that my watching Brokeback Mountain would mean taking such a risk.

In-the-Closet Lesbian Sues Netflix for Releasing Her Movie Preferences [Lawsuits]: "
A mother of two, who also happens to be gay (and not broadcasting it), is anonymously suing Netflix for releasing her movie preferences in that contest they held awhile back. Basically, she's Borking them.
In the course of releasing boatloads of data to contestants in its 'Beat Netflix's Recommendation Algorithm' contest, they may not have disguised where that data came from as well as they should. The plaintiff, known here as Jane Doe to preserve privacy, alleges that her identity could be divined from the data, and thus threatens her civil right to privacy. Apparently, two researchers compared Netflix reviews to IMDB reviews and figured out some identities that way.
The suit seeks a cash settlement for each of the 2 million Netflix customers involved, and also seeks to stop the upcoming sequel to the original Netflix contest. We'll keep you updated on the suit—it's a pretty interesting one, for sure. [Wired]

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Purge

Purge
Originally uploaded by misfiredpixels

I recently got back from Philly where the American Anthropological Association had their annual meeting. Overall, the meeting went well. I enjoyed seeing some people I rarely have contact with, and I met some new people as well. It was more tiring than usual, since I volunteered as a photographer for Anthropology News. I ended up doing a lot more running around than I would have on my own. Still, I got to see some things that I would have probably missed otherwise.

But the work isn't done. There's much to do now that I am back. The conference was great for everyone needing a reason to get new ideas out into the public. Hopefully people got some decent feedback, and some encouragement for the work they'll be doing in the next year.

What Did You Do on Black Friday?

What did I do?  I slept.  I'm too concerned with my physical wellbeing to fight through a sea of shoppers.  In a situation like that, I believe that nothing but a blessing from God almighty allows people to escape without a major loss of energy, blood, and/or money.  In the last few years haven't there been people stampeded at Walmarts and Best Buys?  I mean, pushing around in a crowded Walmart after waking from a turkey coma can't be a good idea.  The crowd is strong, and most of us are a little weak after Thanksgiving. 

Everybody who has been to the beach knows how hard it can be  to fight against the waves.  Just like those waves can toss you around, taking away any control you thought you had over yourself, an anxious crowd of shoppers can easily overtake you.  You will no longer retain control over your body.  I promise, your mental faculties will likely fail you as well.  You will forget everything that a life of logic has taught you throughout the year.  Lights, shiny objects, and anything associated with familiar names like Nike, Dell, and Sony prove irresistible for the vulnerable shopper under the spell of Black Friday. 

The only reason why the Apple Store doesn't have to deal with the loss of life the day after Thanksgiving is that there are no discounts.  You see, products that are available all year at $X only have to worry about the first day of release.  That's why you see people lining up for new iPhones every so often.  People will patiently wait for those things for days.  On the other hand, Black Friday deals (I mean the good ones) make many of us feel like they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get their hands on a new TV, computer, or whatever else.  Despite the fact that the products they'll fight for that day will be obsolete by January 1, you may never, never, never (that was supposed to be a dramatic echo) be able to get a price like this again. 

The honest truth is that you will not want that product anymore if you wait for the every-day price to equal that of the Black Friday deal.  Why?  Simply because all the new stuff will make its way to the shelves of your local stores, and you'll pray to the gods of immediate gratification that you can play with the toys that haven't collected dust through the month of December.  It's sad, but I can't make it stop being true. 

Am I saying that I don't believe in Christmas?  Of course not!  I just won't go out in the last days of November because I value my life over cheaply made products that I will likely have no interest in within the next 60 days.

Just look.  Were you or would you like to be part of this? 


It's dangerous. 

Americans Aren't Crazy, but This Guy in Colorado Sure Is

This dumb stuff never quits.  Not long ago I wrote about people arguing that Obama represents or could bring about white slavery if not kept under control.  I think its an absurd idea, and if you read what I said before, I hope you understood that.  Now there's some brand new dumb sh!t floating around in the world.  Actually, it's not floating.  It is fixed in place.  This, of course, means that it is a little harder for any particular community to distance itself from this idiocy. 

Apparently KDVR Denver reported on an Anti-Obama billboard in Wheat Ridge, Co. getting a little attention.  Obama is now being asked to prove that he's really American.  Well, I guess it isn't about him being american as much as it is about him being a Muslim who will surely bring us all to a a fiery death once he realizes his goals of jihad.  At least, I think that's the story at this point.  Maybe I'm wrong.  I hope so.

Oh, and the guy who posted this isn't too shy about the statement.  The billboard belongs to a car dealership.  The owner (Wolf) has already voiced his opinions in the presence of the media.  I guess this guy is trying to spend all of his money on billboards before Obama succeeds in his plan to establish white slavery and an Islamic state. 

Yes, these are tough times for us all. 

The Today Show is the New Soul Train?

It seems that in the decade that I have overslept, missing the Today Show, it has become a really wild show.  They've had all kinds of characters on the show.  Let me think...

Wasn't Sara Palin or Tina Fey (I get them confused all the time) on the show?  They had some drunk ewoks on the show this one time.  I think that they attacked the leg of one of the female hosts.  It was  a move that only my dog, Bobo, could be proud of.  The show has come such a long way since the mornings when the show provided the colorful backdrop to my daily preparations for school.  I hate mornings now, and I hated them then.  But, I can say that I enjoyed having the Today Show help start my day with nonsense (that would be followed by the nonsense we consider secondary education). 

All that silly stuff aside, I have something even funnier to show you.

My initial reaction after seeing the photos was something along the lines of, "Oh no! Don't do that in front of the kids!"  Now that I've thought about it, I can't see how well/badly she is dancing in these stills.  She probably dances better than anybody I know.  I mean, that kid looks like she is watching and taking notes.  The woman holding on in the back is probably confused because she realized moments ago that she just cant keep up.  So right now, I'm just going to congratulate KC on a job well done on TV and at her party.  Go on, girl!  Shake it like a salt shaker.

Experimenting with Light

I'm learning to speak strobe, and part of the process is failure.  I'll be practicing quite a bit with this lumopro flash for the next week or so.  I'll post some of the good and bad as they come.  Hopefully I'll produce something on the good side.  We'll see, wont we?

Rage is Befitting

Rage
Originally uploaded by misfiredpixels

So I've been presented with yet another idea that I don't quite understand. For those of you who know me, this shouldn't really surprise you. I'm a graduate student, so my job is to find as many ways to confuse myself when it comes to basic stuff that is just taken for granted. For example, instead of just accepting that people like to jog in short shorts on cold days, I want to know why. Right at the "why" is exactly where things get complicated.

Back to the subject, a number of friends have commented on this photo. I posted it as my icon on Facebook a few days back and a number of people have asked me questions about why I am so angry. Now, when I took this photo I wasn't particularly angry. I was having an OK day. But even if I were angry, whats wrong with that? Am I prohibited from expressing that anger in a theatrical manner for my own camera? Is that not better than directing that anger at the world?

Well, the problem is that I have been asked by a number of friends why I insist on being the Angry Black Man (ABM). Not only have I chosen to be angry (yes, I've chosen), but I've decided that it is appropriate to do so in a public forum. Facebook is about as public as it gets too.

But now I've been wondering why the ABM is such a problem. Why is it such a threat to people that I even call my friends? For those of you who think that I am talking about the racism that white people propagate without being able to help themselves, just stop. It has been Black friends making comments about my acting out and being an ABM in public. Of course I know that they make these statements in jest, but why does the ABM come to mind? Even if the people giving commentary are joking, there is a general understanding that I should not walk around making this face. Is it a warning of some sort? Are they worried that I am more likely to "fit the profile" of a mugger if I look this way? Will convenient stores refuse to sell me a bag of Doritos now? I admit that I am less likely to make friends making a face like this, but is there something particularly wrong with making oneself momentarily unavailable for social interaction? I don't really think that should be a problem.

As far as I'm concerned it's just nice to be able to just do, say and feel freely. I want my liberties, and I demand the opportunity to be happy or angry in public or private spaces. And if there really is something wrong with being angry in public, why don't I ever hear about the angry Chinese guy, the angry white guy, or the angry whoever else as a general problem in social life?

All this thinking is making me... well, angry.

Busetas for all!

Ok this isn't particularly funny for a lot of people in the world, but I came across a website offering cheap busetas for the public.  Now before I go any further, lets pronounce the word.  BU-SE-TA.  Buseta!  Now ask yourself what language allows us to have all the fun with the word?  Thats right, you multi-lingual readers!  Portuguese is the language that will allow us to have the most fun right now.  We're talking about cheap P*ssy transportation for all.

And yes, I know that I'm being immature, ridiculous, and many other words as well.

This webpage never got fully developed, but that's only because it was part of a student assignment.  A special someone that I know made this with a friend in class for homework.  She should know better.

Lets just hope that AT&T doesn't mess up the fun

Let me begin by saying that the iPhone is a pretty cool device.  AT&T, however, is a mess.  I will admit that I am an AT&T customer despite my belief that the company is sh!t.  I stay because I find security in this long-term relationship--even if it has been abusive.  But back to the topic at hand...

These German guys just came up with a great idea.  What if you could drive your car with your iPhone?  I mean, can't you do just about anything else with it?  It's about time that someone completed this project.  It is now possible to drive your car with your smartphone.  Now the iPhone has truly become the device of American society.

This is exciting enough to make me consider buying an iPhone.  Maybe some of next year's car models will come equipped with the proper hardware (Wifi and such) to make this work.  Then we would only have to hit the App Store to get rolling... assuming AT&T doesn't find a reason to mess up the show.

It's not like this is something as dangerous as MMS, using Google Voice, or any other demon that AT&T has worked so hard to keep from us.  I want to drive with my iPhone!

Obama and White Slavery

On All saints' day I checked out a bunch of photos of people in their great Halloween costumes on the Huffington Post, and I came across a couple of guys who made me laugh for the rest of the day.  They were two white guys protesting Obama's general existence.  The best part of their costumes were the signs that went something like this: Obama=soshalism=white slaveree.  Of course I think that most of the popular reactions to Obama's administration that I see in the media are pretty scary, but the claim that Obama represents a possible future of white slavery is just plain funny to me.  Lets assume that white Americans were enslaved for just a moment.  I've decided that such an event would not affect my life for the better.  First, I doubt I would be able to amass the necessary wealth to buy a plantation with a good number of white slaves.  Basically, I would have traded life as a poor Black man for a life as a poor Black man without any white slaves.  So if president Obama will bring about the American white slavery system, I think we should be asking who benefits from white slavery.  People like myself will not become the beneficiaries of said economic and social developments, but something tells me that a class of "freedmen" will become the owners of white slaves.

Yes.  I'm stating that if white slavery were to occur (and it won't happen), poor whites would become chattel property of a wealthier class that will predominantly consist of free whites.  That is not to say that there would be no Black slave owners, but I'm assuming that white slaves won't be cheap.  The folks who will be able to buy all the white folks are going to be the ones who already own people's souls through present relationships of social and economic debt.  Therefore, we're talking about a minority of the free population being the big white slave owning elite.  Middle-class families would probably not be able to economically support a whole family of white slaves.  These families might be able to afford a single slave, but there have to be hidden costs of white slave-holding.  Slave owners would have to consider the possibility of a single slave multiplying uncontrollably if not kept under meticulous control by responsible overseers.  The overall cost of this outdated mode of social and economic organization is just too much for most Americans to reap any of the ethically problematic benefits of the system. 

I'm basically saying that white slavery is an absurd idea.  But if it were to occur, it's nothing that Black Americans would need to be particularly happy about.  Most of us wouldn't have any slaves anyway.  If you want real answers, it would really make more sense to ask the guys running large corporations what they plan on doing with all their white slaves.  They should have more answers than I could dream of having.

Something in the Air

Something in the Air 2
Originally uploaded by misfiredpixels

So yesterday started off kind of rough. Fortunately, as the day progressed, things got better. By the time that night fell, I was on my way to a party--my party. A good talk, some drinks, and a couple McGangbangs later, I was able to muster a smile. Once the smiling started, I couldnt stop. I have to thank all the people who showed up at my birthday party last night to make that possible.

This has been a long week. I just leapt into the job market with my first application a week ago. Other than that, plans for the summer have be made now. I am just having a hard time understanding how things have gotten so busy all of a sudden. I guess I'll have to start taking more photos to keep myself happy. Something has to be done to deal with all this work/stress. If you have any suggestions, speak up.