Love street art? Click on this photo for an excellent Flickr slideshow featuring taggers in Latin American.
Oh, Brett
Who loves ya, baby? I do…but what the hell? Why not just go out on top?
When Favre announced his retirement in March I teared up. I did. But, now he’s saying he didn’t really want to retire; he just doesn’t feel welcome in Green Bay…. Oh, Brett. Seriously. Come on. I’m gonna miss you as much as the next guy, but let’s not lose our heads. It just might be that time.
Songs For the Soul (or Surviving the Work Day)
I like to listen to music on my headphones at work to drown 
out the silent screaming of dying souls. This mix of deep house grooves kept my spirits up yesterday so I thought I’d share.
Listen to Cordell Johnson’s “Live at H.E.A.T. in Hermosa Beach mix” on the Deep House Music website (it’s the first listed mix). You’ll be thanking me all day!
Fancy Dancing
Since it’s July, my mind naturally thinks of heat, humidity and pow wows. Just today I was thinking about the National Pow Wow, sponsored by the National Museum of the American Indian, that I attended last August, so I began searching for event details. But, there is no National Pow Wow — at least not in D.C. this year. I’ve been to several pow wows but this one was great — because it was inside. Hello?!
Pow wows provide a space where Native Americans can celebrate cultural traditions and share them with non-native audiences. But, it’s not all fun and games — pow wows are also proving grounds for dancers, singers, and musicians who compete for local and, even, national glory. Performers put their heart, soul and passion into their craft and it’s a truly amazing experience.
Ever since I took a course in ethnomusicology in college, I have been a lover of Native American/American Indian music, literature, poetry and especially dance. (In fact, I will share more on the literary front as I did some fascinating research on assimilation-themed poetry which to me is some of the most radical American writing I’ve read.) After learning about traditional native dance styles such as jingle dress, grass dance and fancy dance, I was hooked. Steeped in tradition, these dances are characterized by their complex movements, elaborate costumes, and intricate footwork, and dancing styles may vary depending on region and tribal nation.
I found some great pow wow competition videos showing different dance styles.
- Men’s Fancy Dance
- Gathering of all nations fancy shawl dancers (women)
- Northern Dancing (Women)
- Grass Dance (men)
If you are lucky enough to live in an area that has regular pow wows check one out sometime. The powwows.com calendar lists all upcoming events around the nation.
Get fancy wit it! (No good?)
Ode to the Hoodie
If you’ve ever met me, you would know that as much as I love the color black, I love a good hoodie. I have a tiny head, little hair and a tendency to get chilly; therefore, I love nestling my peahead inside a soft cottony hood. I’m very particular about my hoodies though – I like them to sparkle, excite, titillate…well, that might be an exaggeration…but I do want them to be something a little different.
I recently stumbled across this “urban clothing/global streetwear” site, Karmaloop.com, that has pages and pages of hoodies. Go nuts!
It’s a Rhythm Nation, My Love
Ok so, now I’m still on the dancing thing (See “Dance Crews”) and I’m nostalgic for videos where the dancing was good and the clothing wasn’t (so) scandalous. Here are some of my fav clips – some not as much for the dancing as the memories! Enjoy.
In no particular order:
Bend It Like…Who?
You know…I am so sick of the haters. Seriously, do you have a phrase named after you? Who doesn’t know what footballer bends it the best? (Don’t play dumb… it’s BECKHAM.)
Why are there so many haters out there? Sure, he’s not hoisting the MLS on his shoulders as anticipated, but, realistically, the man is in his 30s, but he’s still a legend and that cannot and should not be denied.
Yes, I find it fascinating that he’s an accomplished underwear model, but that’s not the point. of course, I swoon over his dazzling good looks, easy charm and effortless ability to exude non-stop star quality. But, damn, how many of you are out there grinding your teeth and saying, “Beckham is over the hill,” “He was never that great anyway,” “He’s all hype.” I dare you to watch the following clips. You’ll see just exactly what it means to Bend It Like Beckham.
Oh, and in case you forgot that David Beckham is actually a real person, check the behind the scenes version of his Adidas commercial in which he explains how after getting a red card that cost England a World Cup match he and his family received numerous death threats. The final commercial is great too.
Don’t hate just cause you ain’t great.
Random Photo: AVAIL
AVAIL at Columbus Fest, Summer 1996
(photographer: anonymous; handwriting is Tim’s)
Dance Crews
I wish I had a crew. Not just some good friends (which I got) but I mean people who will really line up beside me and dance in sync (or in a nice half-time syncopation). You know?
Last weekend I was watching the auditions for the second season of America’s Best Dance Crew (on Thursdays at 10 p.m.) a new MTV hit produced by Randy Jackson. I’m sure that the show is quite engaging but these episdoes were too much talking and too little dancing for my taste, but I am sure they were just building suspense and a new fan base. All I really want to see is routine after routine. I love the dancing!
I’m a junkie for dance sequences. Not in a musical theater sort of way, but I mean crew dancing: think Michael Jackson’s zombie crew, Janet’s “Rhythm Nation,” Beat Street, (and what the hell, Beat Street 2: Electric Bugaloo), U Got Served, Step Up, (and for that matter Step Up 2: The Streets, what what?). The sassy ’80s Laker girls with Paula Abdul at the helm, cheerleading comps on ESPN, whatever it is… you set up a good staggered formation–a triangle even–forget about it, I’m in.
Wanna form a crew but lacking basic crew-style moves? Check out the America’s Best Dance Crew to learn some “fresh” moves from some of your favorite videos. You Tube also has some pretty good lessons on C-Walking (a form of “dance” also known as Crip Walking but which has been co-opted by hip hop video culture). Check here and here for clips and tips.
And definitely watch the performances from last year’s winner JabbaWockeeZ here. These masked crusaders are just awesome. And the Season 1 finale is pretty hot too.
