This trip was organized by one of my heroes, Cole Jordan who happens to be a counselor at the community college that I seem to be stuck at (just 3 more classes, then off to the university). Cole contacted me about 2 weeks ago to tell me about the trip & while doing so, he informed me that he was unable to secure a tour guide for his group of 50. He then informed me that his wife & one of my sheroes Diane Benton was going to coordinate walk through the museum without an educational guide which is when I stepped in to help turn things around.

So days later, I was able to secure Rev. L.D. (Doug) Ervin to guide us through the Freedom Center. This was pretty big because Doug has his own church now which makes his time very limited & it goes without doubt that he is the most knowledgeable volunteer guide that the Freedom Center has.

Fast forward to yesterday about noon: We are now at the Freedom Center & I get to see my good buddy Doug. Wait!!! I need to mention that I met Doug last year when I took a group to the Freedom Center, which consisted primarily of members from my Black History class led by another shero, Dahia Shabaka. Doug was our guide then & since has been a person who helps to keep me grounded.

On this trip, Doug did his thing & made the experience very memorable as he made the image of slavery “come to life”.

While this was my 3rd trip to the Freedom Center, it was the 1st time I had the opportunity to have the information actually sink in. By this I mean, the 1st time I went, I was in so much awe by what I saw & read it was almost too much to process. The 2nd time I went, I led a group & when you’re organizing, who has time to process fine details. I was very focused on keeping things organized & on task.

After we completed our time at the Freedom Center, we headed for Newport on the Levee for dinner. So my group debated & negotiated for about 15 minutes on a restaurant choice & after this mini drama we settled at Johnny Rockets for burgers & fries.

Dinner was more than dinner on this occasion. There were 8 people at my table that was meant for about 4, which made it fun! We said we were]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/04/journey-inside.htm mindspill@bygbaby.com (Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard) 0CC34CB4-A46A-4488-BFF5-B45CF6CA0C79 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 18:21:20 -0400 Bygbaby.com Mindspill

Before reading my boy's blog (The Free Slave)post about "Black Snake Moan" (I will not be seeing this movie BTW) I had never heard the term Magic Negro. Well after I read it about it there 1st, I started reading other posts in the Blogosphere referring to Barack Obama as a "Magic Negro".

So of course I had to go to Wikipedia to see if there was an entry on the Magical Negro & without a doubt, they did not fail me & I now fully understand the term Magic Negro.

So now that I am enlightened to the term Magic Negro, I feel that I am a Magic Negro most of the time when on the plantation (If you are Negro, you know where I mean (if not read between the lines)).
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According to Wikidepia:

The Magical Negro (sometimes called the Mystical Negro, Magic Negro, or our Magical African-American Friend) is a stock character who appears in fiction of a variety of media. The word "Negro", now considered archaic and offensive, is used intentionally to emphasize the belief that the archetype is a racist throwback, an update of the "Sambo" stereotype. The term, which may have been in use since at least the 1950s, was popularized by Spike Lee, who dismissed the archetype of the "super-duper Magical Negro" in 2001 while discussing films with students at Washington State University and at Yale University.

Description: The Magical Negro is typically "in some way outwardly or inwardly disabled, either by discrimination, disability or social constraint," often a janitor or prisoner. He has no past; he simply appears one day to help the white protagonist. He is the black stereotype, "prone to criminality and laziness." To counterbalance this, he has some sort of magical power, "rather vaguely defined but not the sort of thing one typically encounters." They are patient and wise, often dispensing various words of wisdom, and are "closer to the earth."

The Magical Negro serves as a plot device to help the protagonist get out of trouble, typically through helping the white character recognize his own...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/term-of-week-magic-negro.htm mindspill@bygbaby.com (Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard) 3429D4C7-EB02-41E3-B0B5-0BA116DA483D Sat, 14 Apr 2007 18:22:24 -0400 Bygbaby.com Mindspill

When I cook, I don't measure, I just cook (the real reason why I am fat with high cholesterol), that's just how I learned & I must say that I am a pretty good cook (just ask my baby's mama). Anyway my guacamole is the bomb & over the last 2 days, I have been craving it so Suite Suzy got my ingredients & I would love to share with you one of my favorite treats.

Guacamole is quite simple to make & the ingredients are listed above & all you need to do is mix gently or until you get a preferable texture (add fresh ground pepper & course sea salt to taste). I happen to like my guac kinda chunky so that I can enjoy the individual textures.

"My prep time for this delicious dish is about 7 to 10 minutes."

If you look to the top right of the 1st picture, you will see one of my least used kitchen utensil, which is my $35 Williams & Sonoma stainless steel mincer (talk about an impulse buy)....]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/bygbaby-cooks-party-of-one.htm mindspill@bygbaby.com (Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard) C6BE22D2-B143-489E-9360-356B5E800A01 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:32:46 -0400 Bygbaby.com Mindspill Last month I received an email from a Felicia Furman who is the producer of the awesome "Shared History" documentary. The timing of her contact was very ironic because I had done a post & discussed with friends about the significance of Black history, Oprah’s slave roots, background research & her direct link to Africa in addition to all of this, our communication was right before Al Sharpton revealed the news about his genealogical research that reveled that his descendants were once owned by racist Strom Thurman’s descendants.

Anyway, Felicia was contacting me because she was interested in getting my opinion on her production. Of course I could not resist this great opportunity especially after she told me that she had been checking out the Mindspill.

While Felicia & I were exchanging emails she shared with me that the film was about the interactions among a group of contemporary black and white people connected to each other by a plantation in South Carolina, so after checking out her site & viewing the trailer, I was even more excited to see what she had to offer.

Now it is a little over a week later & I have "Shared History" in my hand & I could not wait to pop it into my baby (MacBook Pro). I had originally hoped to get some friends together to watch but the weather was horrible & I could not wait so I took the journey alone.

Shared history is really Felicia’s history as she is a descendants of author William Gilmore Simms, the last slave owner at Woodlands. This made the story even more intriguing for obvious reasons (well the reasons should be obvious, if not read between the lines).


So after I watched the film, I immediately email Felicia & stated...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/movies-shared-history.htm mindspill@bygbaby.com (Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard) B3D1EB26-9ABC-45A3-8D2B-2ABAA2F69B29 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:34:08 -0400 Bygbaby.com Mindspill It’s officially springtime (well all damn most), so this means that my spring bulbs are ready to awaken from their frozen slumber. I am a big perennial gardener & my favorite time of the year is spring, which is when I get to smell the sweet perfume of hyacinths surrounding my home. I also get excited about my sunny daffodils that command my full attention as they shine as bright as the afternoon sun.

Springtime also means that I need to prepare to clean out the fall & winter debris that has collected in my gardens over the past few months & this is never too fun but now that Olivia & Sade are older I recruit them to assist me and work the hell out of them.

For the last 2 years I have been lucky enough to have a family of robins make the nest along my cedar fence so I am hoping that they again return. I love looking at the brightly colored eggs & awaiting the arrival of the chicks & then enjoying them for the summer as they hang around the backyard eating grubs that try to destroy my lawn.

The spring also means that this bitch ass family of rabbits will be back out to eat my precious lilies again before they even have a chance to bud. One of these years I am going to kill cook & eat them (not really, I hate rabbit but I might kill them).

To celebrate all that I am looking forward to over the next few months, tomorrow, I am taking the day off work, getting my locks tightened & if I can still get a ticket; I will be at the Angel Bofill concert downtown Detroit.
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Bygbaby Factoid: (WARNING: This may offend you but that’s OK) One thing I hate I mean don’t like about spring is Easter, Oh how I dread the thought of spending money on Easter dresses for the girls, Easter basket grass all over the fucking floor for months (you can never get rid of it all). I also dread the faux fashion, childrens play & the long drawn out sermon @ church.

]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/bees-and-things-and-flowers.htm mindspill@bygbaby.com (Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard) 367FEA47-A1D6-4D00-A365-A940520BAB1C Mon, 26 Mar 2007 01:35:34 -0400 Bygbaby.com Mindspill It’s Thursday night, so that means that I am enjoying a few adult beverages as I do weekly. Tonight I am relaxing with a chilled bottle of Hess Chardonnay (one of my favorites) & snaking on white cheddar cheese puffs (talk about a fucked up combination). Anyway while I was on AOL Black Voices tonight, I ran a POSITIVE story about a Black man that somehow slipped passed the mainstream media.

The story is about reformed homophobe Isaiah Washington & a donation that he made to an animation project that will take on the issue of the west coast African Slave Trade.

Apparently he had a DNA test that revealed that he has root in Sierra Leone. It also needs to be known that he started a non-profit last year to assist the people of Sierra Leone.

I wonder, just wonder a little if this did not make the news because it was a very glowing story of how a Black man traced his roots to a place where his ancestors were stolen & is now working to help empower the people.

This is why America is so fucked up. They love to show a Brotha down but will not lift home up when the time is at hand. Isaiah mos def needs mad props for these efforts.

I mean, a nigga said faggot & the media/white America was out to hang him figuratively & possibly literally. He works to save people of his true homeland & it goes virtually unspoken.

Suite Suzy jokes about how I am Addicted to Race all the time & this is a good example of why I & so many other people are.

Anyway, let me get of this damn soapbox cuz my ankle is starting to hurt LOL.
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'Grey's' Star Washington Makes Donation

LOS ANGELES - Isaiah Washington, who traced his ancestral roots to Sierra Leone through DNA testing, has donated $25,000 to a computer animation project that aims to detail the Atlantic slave trade. The "Grey's Anatomy" star started a nonprofit foundation last year to improve the lives of people in the West African nation. "The stories of innumerable Sierra Leoneans that were forced into slavery have yet to be extensively told," Washington said in a statement. "I believe this project will begin to shed some much-needed light on the region, both past and present." The computer project focuses on Bunce Island, an 18th-century slave-trading castle that sent African captives to North America. Joseph Opala and Gary Chatelain, professors at James Madison University in Virginia, are directing the project, which will show the castle as it appeared in 1805. They hope to create an...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/missing-in-new-positive-isaiah.htm BC95ABB3-FB45-455A-969E-7317CFEA9083 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 23:41:59 -0400 As you know (or should know) I am the proud founder of Quench Essentials & our webstore launched just last month (you heard it here 1st). So I just want to do another shameless plug & update.

Since the launch of our webstore; traffic to our site has been wild & sales have been steady (I am happy & blessed to say). Many of my blogging buddies have given my awesome feedback that shows me that all of the hard work done by Suite Suzy, Cousin Dee & TB Emily is so worth it!

Hear is what some of my favorite Bloggers had to say:

Afrobella ~ One of my afrofellas, Bygbaby came to the rescue. He’s just come out with a line of products called Quench Essentials. If you’re like me and you love supporting small businesses by good people, you should check it out!

I was lucky enough to sample the MinTea Spa Soak, but at first I was worried. We now live in a home that doesn’t have a bath tub, so I haven’t been able to enjoy bath salts or bubble baths at all this year…

MinTea smells exactly as you’d imagine it would — minty fresh and good. I like it, and for $7 you get enough for several uses. I followed up my foot soak with a little scrubbing (the HoMedics bubbler comes with a little foot-shaped exfoliating brush, loofah, and sponge set. Very cute!), and then I really spoiled my aching dogs with Quench Essentials Elbows, Knees & Toes.

It’s a thick, buttery blend of shea, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. The Sweet Butter scent is light, soothing, and very pleasant…

Cluziel ~ I got my order of Quench Essentials from BygBaby (aka. Tafari) and I am in love! Since I am a NYC girl I usually swear by my pure shea butter that I buy in Harlem...but I really love the light feel of the body moose. I am not a huge fragrance person so I have the "naked" Body Moose...and I use it everyday now...

Daez ~ I'm considered an excellent Mixtress and toiletry maker...I normally don't bother using OPP (other people's products) because...well frankly, I can make anything THEY can make myself (LOL)!!... However, I have a vested interest in Quench Essentials because one of my favorite people Tafari, better and aka known as...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/quench-essentials-what-they-are-saying.htm CFFB42EB-52B3-49BF-99C9-5A7C032ED1EA Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:37:41 -0400 <img width="450" height="308" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/churchsign.jpg"><br /> <br /> The sign above caused mad outrage from Parents of young children, Gays, Atheists, Buddhists & White Supremacists in my city. To protest they will stage a dildo burning on the churches lawn Friday night & the tripped out thing is that the local police dept has issued a permit for the orgy opponents to assemble. It's going to be a wild Friday night. Stay tuned for updates & pictures. http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/church-folk-need-lovin-too.htm D7316E8E-3637-496A-A362-B3E459A0A753 Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:36:51 -0400
Not only is it a ghetto tale but it could very possibly be a HIV/AIDS tale. I mean you have 7 people in this story basically sleeping together & not using protection.

I’m surprised that Ricky has time for his "business" with all of his pussy dipping. I mean how many jump offs can a nigga have?

This is wrong, nasty & needs to be another wake up...
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A dad, again and again, again, etc.
By: Sharon Coolidge

Ricky Lackey has six children on the way.

Don't call them sextuplets - they're each with different women.

When Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Melba Marsh asked Lackey during sentencing Friday on a charge of attempted theft how many children he had, the 25-year-old said, "None, but I have six on the way."

A stunned Marsh tried to clarify. "Are you marrying a woman with six children?" she asked.

"No, I be concubining," he said.

Prosecutors said Lackey is the expectant father of six children with six different women. The women all are expected to deliver in August, September and October.

Lackey's lawyer, Stephen Wenke, stopped his client from saying more.

Marsh said she wasn't sure how to respond, so she let the issue drop since it wasn't relevant to the proceedings.

Lackey, a music producer who told Marsh he was on the cusp of a $2 million deal that would net him...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/cincinnati-dick-slinger.htm 7CA5D7C8-E08F-46C0-A463-3062F408090F Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:35:27 -0400 Yesterday I was dying to get off the plantation so that I could head to the movies to see “300”. I had been anticipating this release for weeks & actually got giddy at seeing the advertisements on TV so needless to say, my expectations were very high & a disappointment would totally fuck up my weekend.

So I am off work now & Cousin Dee & I run for a quick lunch nearby & during the entire lunch, I kept looking at my watch making sure that I had time to get to the theater & she was like damn OK I will hurry up & eat. The movie started @ 2:05 so at 1:45 I had to dip to get my ticket. After scarfing down my turkey sandwich, I bid Cousin Dee farewell & hit the freeway.

It’s now 1:55 & I m pulling into the movie parking lot & it was packed like the mall during Christmas. All I was thinking was, I hope that this damn movie is not sold out. I was really surprised to see so many people out (like me). So I get my parking space & limp into the lobby to see the line was long as hell so I got smart & went to the customer service desk & purchased my ticket there as the regular line got longer & longer. So now I gots my ticket, I breathed a sigh of relief & felt $9.75 broker.

Since the movie was being shown in IMAX I could...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/movies-300.htm 423C7E07-980E-4781-973E-ABDB49CC151B Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:04:22 -0400 All I have to say about this is about fucking time becuase "The Lion King" was not enough!

On a related note; a few weeks ago I went to see "Bridge to Tarabithia" & while waiting to leave this boring assed movie, I was thinking to myself about the need for a Disney movie that had a Black protagonist & theme.

I am so sick of these LILLY WHITE productions that Disney puts out time after time.

The story will be set in New Orleans & mos def Pre-Katrina LOL!
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Disney creates first Black animated Princess

Walt Disney Co. plans an animated film it bills as "an American fairy tale" that will feature the first black princess created by the studio.

And in a return to its roots, it plans to use hand-drawn animation to create the film, The Frog Princess.

Walt Disney Co. introduced Maddy, the black princess from the animated musical fairy tale The Frog Princess in New Orleans on Thursday. Walt Disney Co. introduced Maddy, the black princess from the animated musical fairy tale The Frog Princess in New Orleans on Thursday. (Judi Bottoni/Associated Press)

Disney outlined plans for the film in New Orleans on Thursday at its annual shareholders meeting.

The Frog Princess is the first animated film to be conceived since Disney's 2006 acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios, the computer animation house that created such blockbusters as...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/coming-soon-frog-princess.htm 46E834A8-F954-42B1-A18D-6B266C9B9A0D Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:06:33 -0400 My hearing was today so that means that my little legal journey is now over & I am officially living my life as Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard. <br /> <br /> The hearing only lasted 5 minutes (when they called my name) & it was not intense at all. All the judge asked me was, why am I changing my name & if my name change was an attempt to defraud creditors (I wish I could, shit!). Ten minutes later, I had my official freed slave papers to carry around to prove to the world who I’s is. <br /> <br /> My first stop to prove my "freedom" was the Social Security office, which went smoothly. Tomorrow I will tackle the Secretary of State (DMV) after work & before the movies. <br /> <br /> <object height="136" width="125"><embed src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/signoff.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="136" width="125"></object> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/say-my-mutha-fuckin-name.htm EF2A93DF-1A3A-4B35-8F0C-1B8F65E72F0C Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:07:49 -0400 Last night I think I had an epiphany about myself while watching Spike Lee’s "School Daze". First I think I need to say that last night was my first time watching “School Daze” in like more that 16 years (my high school daze), so there were some things in the movie that I understood & noticed that were above my head way back when. The issues of Black Unity, Colorism, Classism & Black Nationalism were things I had no idea about.

What I like most about the movie back then was the music, step show, sex & the banana in the toilet scenes, so that shows you were my teenage my was.

So last night as I dissected the movie while laughing my ass off, I noticed that Laurence Fishburne’s character "Dap" reminded of myself today. Dap was the politically conscious, Black Nationalist down for the cause of uplifting the People (Negros). During several scenes Dap was a little extreme & I was comparing myself to him & wondered how extreme am I & am I extreme at all.

Then towards the end of the film, Dap & Julian (Giancarlo Esposito) got into a final confrontation that really tripped me out. Basically...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/i-aint-blacker-than-thou.htm A7877C19-8ABF-4DA0-A8F4-B8F864DBD1D9 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:09:34 -0400 Black Business Expo, which is a monthly event held the 1st Friday at the Charles H. Wright African American History Museum. Cousin Dee & I have been planning to go to the BBE for the last 8+ months & never seem to make it. The BBE is a networking & informational series for Black entrepreneurs on the rise in Detroit. So this time we made a promise to be in the house this past Friday.

Our goal was to go to the Centaur Bar for some after work cocktails to loosen us up to network with our fellow entrepreneurial peers. Actually anything that we may plan to do on Friday will start with a trip to the Centaur Bar (one of our favorite spots).

Since I got off my slave job before Cousin Dee I made a few stops in Detroit, starting with a trip to Tulani Rose to get some Khoret Amen Hair Oil, which I really just started to use. I really like the oil (obviously, since I just paid $22 for it) but there is something in it that makes me itch a little but I deal with it because I really like the smell, especially after I wash my locks.

So after my hair oil stop I made my way downtown to see my homegirl Zana @ Spectacles. While there talking shit & convincing her to come to the Centaur Bar after she closed her shop, the UPS guy came, not really a big deal right.?. Well it was a big deal because the UPS guy just handed Zana a box filled with Eric Roberson’s new CD …Left.

It was so ironic that it just...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/failed-business-trip.htm 525B1EAC-5389-429F-AB51-CE0441FD640D Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:11:56 -0400 This story really is an American tragedy & is such a throw back to how things "once were" in the dirty south. I guess I need to question myself on if this decision is really a surprised.

While looking for information to share on Emmet Till, I stopped by PBS & they never cease to amaze me with their wealth of information. For those of you who may not be aware of Emmet's story, here’s a quick synopsis:

In August 1955, a fourteen-year-old black boy whistled at a white woman in a grocery store in Money, Mississippi. Emmett Till, a teen from Chicago, didn't understand that he had broken the unwritten laws of the Jim Crow South until three days later, when two white men dragged him from his bed in the dead of night, beat him brutally and then shot him in the head. Although his killers were arrested and charged with murder, they were both acquitted quickly by an all-white, all-male jury. Shortly afterwards, the defendants sold their story, including a detailed account of how they murdered Till, to a journalist. The murder and the trial horrified the nation and the world. Till's death was a spark that helped mobilize the civil rights movement. Three months after his body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River, the Montgomery bus boycott began. (Source | PBS)
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Lack of indictment ends Emmett Till investigation

JACKSON, Miss. — A grand jury that looked into the 1955 slaying of Emmett Till — a black teenager who was killed after he whistled at a white woman in the Mississippi Delta — has refused to indict her, all but closing the books on a crime that galvanized the civil rights movement.

The district attorney in rural Leflore County had sought a manslaughter...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/emmet-till-revisited-legally-buried.htm B3116C1D-82AB-4A19-9C28-D5DCE0495DBE Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:13:23 -0400 Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes 2 weeks ago while listening to Fresh Air on NPR & could not wait for it to air on PBS. Well last week it was on & it blew my mind! This is a must see especially if you have children & are concerned about the images that they may be susceptible to on the radio, BET, MTV & on the streets. Byron Hurt really broke it down & had many people looking dumb as hell when he asked questions, especially Russell Simmons & Busta Rhymes. This movie needs to open up some serious dialogue amongst parents, media the rap/hip-hop industry.

This is very hard hitting & I hope that some change will come about & I think it is a real wake up call to young Sistas who are out promoting this...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/hip-hop-beyond-beats-rhymes.htm DD850132-7429-4D47-8BEB-DC85FEB3B3F2 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:14:20 -0400
During the course of the conversation he asked what I was listening to lately & what was hot, so I had to let him that I was not sure what was hot. I really never know what is hot because I refuse to listen to the radio.

As I mentioned here before, I find the majority of my new music or releases from my favorite artists using online resources and various groups that I belong to, like the Incognito Message Board, Myspace (don’t laugh, just be my "Myspace Friend), Honey Soul, Giant Step & Epitonic to name a few.

Lately, I have really been deep into my favorite genre (house music) but my love of discovering music from the Diaspora has yielding some really good finds, which are dominating the rotation on my iPod, which currently has 4,196 songs (enough to last 15 days, 5 hours, 18 minutes & 14 seconds).

Now I would like to introduce you to some music/artists that you may not hear on the radio.
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Artist | Song | BIO (Click Song Title To Preview)
aFRO-mYSTIK – Momentary Vision: BIO - The world is insane! Traditional musical boundaries between nations are bending. The sounds of native drums can be heard merging with house music and uniting with jazz creating new forms, disintegrating the mass-marketed model of pop culture. This is the world of Afro-Mystik, Om Records’ electrifying live experience. Fusing the rhythms of many cultures into one on their second full-length album, “Morphology”, Afro-Mystik presents the evolution of diverse musical traditions into a singular, surreal electronic landscape.

The Bay Area's aFRO-mYSTIK artfully takes the dizzying beatscapes of primitive tribal rhythms and uses live instrumentation to mold them to the electronic sounds of the future. With the vocals of Liana Young, Gina Rene (of Soulstice fame), and Ismail Azeem, the bumpin' bass of Mr. Bungle's Trevor Dunn, the drums of Simone White (Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy), the percussion of Carlos Araiza, and the sampledelic production of Chris Smith aka DJ Fluid, aFRO-mYSTIK is the sound of dance music rooted in the traditions it grew out of. This is the past, the present, and the future.

It's all about rhythm. aFRO-mYSTIK is a refreshingly fluid and constant exploration of rhythm. A six-piece, live, improvisational rhythm ensemble. (Official Site)

Baaba Maal – Miyaabele: BIO - Baaba Maal is a uniquely talented singer from Senegal. He's equally at home with an acoustic guitar playing traditional folk music or playing the hottest international dance music. He's finally emerging into the international spotlight as one of the world's hottest performers.

While most Senegalese performers belong to the Wolof ethnic group, Baaba Maal is a member of the Pulaar (also known as Fulani) minority from Northern Senegal. Since he wasn't born into a griot (traditional musician) family, he wasn't encouraged to become a performer, but instead studied law. He is a scholar as well as a singer and has spent much of his life studying his heritage. (Official Site)

Skye - What's Wrong With Me (Free Download): BIO - Everybody knows Skye. As the voice of Morcheeba, she soundtracked our lives on albums such as Big Calm, sold five million records and graced stages around the world. And yet somehow, she's always remained an enigma. Private about her personal life and modest about her achievements, she never really played the pop star game. We knew her voice, but despite her success, we did not really know much about Skye. Until now...

Skye's debut solo album, MIND HOW YOU GO, is not so much a leap into the dark as a step into the light. Yet it was also a journey into the unknown. She did not know where it would take her and her record company did not know what to expect.

MIND HOW YOU GO is her emphatic answer, a sublime album of vivid songs that present Skye in an entirely new light. Of course, there is much that is familiar - the beguiling quality of her voice, the potent melodies that bury themselves deep inside your brain, the cool elegance of her delivery.

But this is also Skye as you have never heard her before. With Morcheeba, she was usually singing someone else's lyrics. MIND HOW YOU GO finds Skye singing her songs, telling her stories and finding her own way on an album that is both personal credo and a realization of her inner strength. (Official Site)

Zo! – Africa (Free Download): BIO - Zo!... This talented musician/composer claims the piano/keyboard as his primary instrument, and is self-taught on the bass guitar as well as the drums, and most recently the guitar. These different elements are molded together to form pieces that fall under no single particular genre of music

Born Lorenzo Ferguson on September 11, 1978 in Southfield, Michigan to a mother who played piano and a father who played guitar professionally while jamming with the likes of Wilson Pickett and others, music was a natural fixture in Zo!'s life from day one. From the many influences (including his parents' extensive vinyl and 8-track collection) came piano lessons, which began at the age of 5 and continued into his middle school years.

Zo! did not begin to fully explore his musical talent until the spring of 2000. Two years prior, he met fellow WKU student and aspiring artist, DJ Jon Doe (of Prophetix). Zo! was convinced by Jon (who then moved to Atlanta) to formulate tracks and send them to him so that his new connects could hear the music for themselves. (Official Site)
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If you are interested in Black Music research, I found a great resource (of course online); The Center for Black Music Research. The Mission: The Center for Black Music Research (CBMR) at Columbia College Chicago documents, collects, preserves, and disseminates information about black music in all parts of the world and promotes understanding of the common roots of the music, musicians, and composers of the global African Diaspora.

Please Enjoy!
Bygbaby]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/finding-black-music.htm 32AA22EF-3E11-4BC1-8983-9B324A0E3B2A Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:16:48 -0400 The video may take a second to download but it's worth the wait. I decided to record this video because I just could not write the words out to explain my experience with the passion that I wanted express. If you are new to the Mind Spill Blog, I suggest you read my Ghetto Disclaimer before proceeding.<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="320" width="240"><embed src="http://www.bygbaby.com/mindspill/saviours_day_2007.mov" autoplay="false" height="350" width="425"></object></div>To view you will need <a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html" target="_blank">Apple's Quicktime Player</a> installed. http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/bygbaby-nation.htm 0E8B281F-168D-458B-B925-2C91FFA272EB Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:19:21 -0400 Until last year I never cared about watching the Oscars because movies that I enjoyed the previous year were pretty much not nominated & actors/actresses that I supported were looked over.

Now this year, I have seen almost all of the major releases that have been nominated for an award so I feel pretty passionate about who & what will win.

You best believe that I am pulling for Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker & Eddie Murphy to bring home the Oscar, which I believe will show the world that "WE" can make things happen in a white oriented environment that has shunned us for decades.

So without further adieu, here is my comprehensive but narrowly focused recap of the 79th Academy Awards.

Movies/Actors I Care About That Won:

• Pan's Labyrinth:
• Best In Art Direction
• Achievement in makeup
• Achievement in cinematography
• Dreamgirls:
• Best Sound Mixing
• Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
• Achievement in visual effects
• An Inconvenient Truth
• Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song): I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth” Music and Lyric by Melissa Etheridge
• The Last King of Scotland
• Best performance by an actor in a leading role: Forest Whitaker

• Elements in Motion Performance
• Ellen’s opening when she talked about how diverse this years Academy awards are this year & when she “If there were no Blacks, gays or Jews, there would be no Academy Awards.” I guess you had to see it because it was both funny & real.
• The Dancing Silhouette performances (I don’t remember their real name).
• Gwyneth Paltrow's sachet out to announce the best Cinematography award. Home girl had a MEAN walk, almost like a Sista’.
• The 50-year foreign film tribute put together by Giuseppe Tornatore Director of “Nuovo cinema Paradiso” (one of my favorite foreign films of all time). It was awesome & I love foreign films.
• Jennifer Hudson’s acceptance speech, I actually did my bitch scream because I was so excited to see her win!!! American Idol, eat your hear out & here is another reason to celebrate Black History Month.
• The Dreamgirls cast performance: They truly set it off!
• Forest Whitaker’s acceptance speech with a special focus on when he honored his ancestors “who guide his steps everyday”. I loved that line & the timing!

• Céline Dion’s performance (I find her voice annoying)
• Looking at tattered Phillip Seymour Hoffman offer the award for Best Performance by an actress in a leading role. He looked like a hot damn mess!
• Looking at Jack Nicholson with that bald head & psycho black sunglasses

• Hattie McDaniel (1939), Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Gone With the Wind
• James Baskett (1948), Honorary Award "for his able and heart-warming characterization of Uncle Remus, friend and story teller to the children of the world in Walt Disney's Song of the South"
• Sidney Poitier (1963), Best Actor in a Leading Role for Lilies of the Field
• Isaac Hayes (1971), Best Music, Original Song for "Theme from Shaft" from Shaft
• Louis Gossett, Jr. (1982), Best Actor in a Supporting Role for An Officer and a Gentleman
• Irene Cara (1983), Best Music, Original Song for "Flashdance...What a Feeling" from Flashdance
• Prince (1984), Best Music, Original Song Score for Purple Rain
• Stevie Wonder (1984), Best Music, Original Song for "I Just Called to Say I Loved You" from The Woman in Red
• Lionel Richie (1985), Best Music, Original Song for "Say You, Say Me" from White Nights
• Herbie Hancock (1986), Best Music, Original Score for 'Round Midnight
• Denzel Washington (1989), Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Glory
• Whoopi Goldberg (1990), Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Ghost
• Cuba Gooding, Jr. (1996), Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jerry Maguire
• Halle Berry (2001), Best Actress in a Leading Role for Monster's Ball
• Denzel Washington (2001), Best Actor in a Leading Role for Training Day
• Sidney Poitier (2002), Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award "for his extraordinary performances and unique presence on the screen and for representing the industry with dignity, style and intelligence."
• Jamie Foxx (2004), Best Actor in a Leading Role for Ray
• Morgan Freeman (2004), Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Million Dollar Baby
• Three 6 Mafia (Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman, and Paul Beauregard) (2005), Best Music, Original Song for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from Hustle & Flow
]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/bygbaby-oscar-recap.htm 2A45C568-2729-4834-864C-4DAA240938E5 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:20:17 -0400 After a long exhausting weekend I had to wind down like a mutha fucka with my favorite activity, which is going to the movies.

First I went to see The Number 23 because that shit looked like it was going to be good & scary as hell. Well by the time I got to the theater, I was pretty tired from my drive as I was coming from vending Quench Essentials all day in Detroit but luckily I got there in time to spare for a restroom break, popcorn & a large mixed icee (my favorite movie combo).

The movie was not what I expected but nonetheless it was really good. I was thinking that it was going to be some slashing murder etc & instead is was super suspenseful & made me think about what was going to happen next. The bad thing is that I dozed off a few times which was not cool because I did catch myself snoring. I did not fall asleep because the movie was boring but I really was tired as hell.

If you are not a Jim Carey fan, I think that his role in this movie will have feeling quite the opposite. JC used to irk me, but every since I saw My, Myself & Irene, he has been cool with me, especially in his more dramatic roles, like Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

I am planning on see the movies again with more energy to fully enjoy & redeem myself
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Advertised Synopsis:

The psychological thriller "The Number 23" stars Jim Carrey as a man whose life unravels after he comes into contact with an obscure book titled The Number 23. As he reads the book, he becomes increasingly convinced that it is based on his own life. His obsession with the number 23 starts to consume him, and he begins to realize the book forecasts far graver consequences for his life than he could have ever imagined.

View the trailer here
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So after seeing The Number 23, I ran (not literally) to get my ticket for Reno 911: Miami. I am big fan of the Reno 911 show on Comedy Central because it is stupid as hell & always has me cracking up at the mindless humor.

Reno 911: Miami was all that & more, it was exactly what I needed to shake off some cyber drama that jumped off this weekend. The movie followed the same themes of the TV show but a bit more extreme, which was awesome.

If you are in need of a really good laugh, I mos def recommend this movie! There is nothing about the movie that disappointed me, so I felt like I got my money’s worth. There were a few scenes in the movie that almost made me...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/movies-number-23-reno-911-miami.htm ACB4B7A6-122D-440E-BA0D-4B1D6BEF89E4 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 22:21:39 -0400
I recently posted the story of a white woman who wants to end BHM in her school district because she feels that it is discriminatory & irrelevant in regards to her child. She claimed that there is no White History Month etc. I say that White History Month is every month including February because how can we forger about the benevolence of those who helped us escape & fight alongside of us during the Civil Rights Movement (at least until the dogs & water hoses came out).

With this said, I present you with the story of Captain Nathaniel Gordon.
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Captain Nathaniel Gordon, American Pirate & Slave Trader:

Captain Nathaniel Gordon was the first and only American slave-trader to be tried, convicted, and hanged in accordance with the U. S. Piracy Law of 1820. Prior to his slave trading, he had been operating as a pirate along the coast of the United States.

On August 7, 1860 Captain Gordon loaded 897 slaves aboard his slave trading ship Erie at Sharks Point, Congo River, West Africa. The very next day he was captured by the USS Mohican fifty miles from port on August 8, 1860. After one hung jury and a new trial, Gordon was convicted November 9, 1861 in the US Circuit Court at New York and sentenced to death by hanging on February 7, 1862.

Before he could be hung President Abraham Lincoln issued a temporary (2 week) stay of Gordon's execution setting the new date for February 21, 1862. Lincoln made clear that the respite was only temporary to allow Gordon time for his final preparations.

The evening before the execution, Gordon unsuccessfully attempted]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/today-in-white-history.htm 4D89B66C-99B1-42CE-A281-E7F3B5078BC7 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:40:00 -0500 I have a friend in Phoenix, AZ; we'll call her "Snapshots" (for the sake of anonymity) who last year told me how racist the atmosphere was there, which was a surprise. I have been to Phoenix only once & I fell in love with it, I also tried to talk Suite Suzy into moving there but she was not having it. We settled on the idea of retiring there in years to come.

Since Snapshots gave me this tidbit it has been n the back of my mind & upon discussion with others, Snapshots' assessment was echoed. So now I wonder if Phoenix anymore racist that any other area, wellllllllllll maybe because they do not honor Martin Luther King Day?

So today I was listening to my favorite NPR program "News & Notes" in particular the African American Roundtable segment when during the lightening round the subject of pickaninny images rolling in AZ (read below for the story).

Even though the very thought of seeing a pickaninny displayed openly is sickening, this is America & we all have the right to free speech, good bad or indifferent.
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Ariz. to still allow racist images on trucks

PHOENIX - It's still going to be legal in Arizona for trucks to have splash guards with racist terms and silhouettes of naked women.

The House on Thursday rejected a Democratic amendment that would have banned splash guards with "images that are obscene or hateful."

The amendment's sponsor, Rep. Ed Ableser of Tempe, said he'd seen a splash guard that used the word "pickaninny" a derogatory term for black children and said his proposal was intended "to make sure those individuals that have hateful motives don't express or push those images...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/arizona-loves-picaninnies.htm A861757E-AF51-4CAF-8E29-9C6F58CBF351 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:38:41 -0500 Today as I sit on my ass waiting for mail that will not be delivered because it’s Presidents Day I am wondering if Presidents Day is necessary especially with Black History Month being recently criticized for relevance. I really do not see the point for this nation to remember leaders of an institution built on oppression, blood tears bodies.

Since I have been conscious of the Presidential office, we have had 3 losers in office: Ronald Reagan, George Bush & George W Bush. I am giving Bill Clinton an honorary pass only because many jokingly refer to him as the 1st Black president.

While I think Presidents Day is unnecessary, I guess if I were a government worker I would love it just for the day off.

With this said; I celebrate Presidents Day 2007 in the name of Civil Rights Pioneer & Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey! -----------------------------------------------------------
Go and Win
Ye Negroes of the world, another day has come, To test your worth of racial character; Your lives and homes, you see, are threatened everywhere; The time is now for you to do and then to dare. Your youth must struggle with the facts as they are seen, And blaze the trail for home and life redeemed: Your hope, I claim, is in the courage of the time, So go ye forth and win the battle that's sublime. --- 1933 Marcus Garvey
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Marcus Garvey Bio (in case you are not aware): Marcus Mosiah Aurelius Garvey, Jr. was born in St. Ann's Bay, on the northern coast of Jamaica on August 17, 1887. A short, stocky, largely self-educated but supremely confident black man. Garvey spent most of his years as a printer. He established the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), August 1, 1914. The motto became: "One God, One Aim, One Destiny." With the need for financial funding and the desire to meet other black leaders, Marcus set his eyes on America. Garvey arrived in Harlem on March 23, 1916. He soon established UNIA branch in the states. At its peak, the UNIA boasted a membership of over...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/day-of-man.htm E830E045-E64A-43BF-BEF6-19A951C3BD0A Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:36:53 -0500 Today Cousin Dee & I had one of our Cousin Dates out and about in Detroit. We had nothing major planned outside of our delicious lunch at <a href="http://ephmcnallys.com/eph_home.html" target="_blank">Eph McNally’s</a> (our favorite sandwich spot). If I am at Eph McNally’s I am either with Cousin Dee or BFB &amp; when I am alone, the host will tease me for dining alone. That’s how much we hit this spot up. <p>Anyway so after slamming down my Briggs Stadium (corned beef, scallion cream cheese & lettuce on pumpernickel) &amp; some the worlds best bread pudding (with Irish Whiskey Sauce) we decided to go check out our girl Zana @ her shop <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=49962048" target="_blank">Spectacles</a> to shoot that breeze for a while. When you go to Spectacles, it is always hard to walk out of there without something but today I was able to resist but Cousin Dee feel victim to one of Zana’s good buys (Zana always says everything in her store is a good buy so we always joke about this). </p><p>After socializing for a while with other regulars we bounced so that I could go visit my good friend <a href="http://www.touraytours.com/" target="_blank">Famara Touray</a> at his shop and to buy some of his wonderful natural African Black soap.... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/lets-do-lunch.htm 12340EF2-18EA-443F-A685-3232DDC4225A Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:34:34 -0500 I was anxiously awaiting the release of this Daddy’s Little Girls since I saw the preview several months ago. The idea of a struggling Black father really appealed to me because I just knew that TP was really going to put it down. With this said I walked into the theater with my expectations very high my.


Well I will cut to the chase on this one to say that after the movie was over, I was entertained but also disappointed at the way the protagonist Monty (Idris Elba) was portrayed in the film. Not only that, the movie was filled with Black movie clichés like the church scene, the fights & drugs: basically, things that you would see in any TP movie. Not to say that his movies are bad because they are not, but I am kinda tired of seeing repeating themes.

Just to shed some light on the story line: Monty was a Brotha on the grind trying his best to make ends meet & help out his baby’s momma momma who was raising his girls because the mom was laying up with some drug dealer & did not give a fuck about her won kids. Shortly after the movie really kicked off, the grandmother asked Monty to take his kids because she was dying & he was like I can’t so she basically had to beg his ass to take his own kids (that turned me off).
Throughout the movie Monty kept on saying to his girls that he was taking care of the girls because their grandmother told him to. I think he mentioned this like 3 times & each time I grew pissed off at the statement. So the last time he said this, I actually shouted out "they’re your damn kids". I guess my hopes for Monty were just too high

My thing is if they are your kids, why should anyone have to tell you to step up & be a man & handle your business no matter what. Being a father is not a choice in my opinion, it is a...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/movies-tyler-perrys-daddys-little-girls.htm 1759477D-1408-495C-843D-CCF58876951E Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:32:46 -0500 -----------------------------------------------------------
$161.00 - Legal filing with Washtenaw County Court
$20.00 - Finger prints from Ann Arbor Police Dept
$55.00 - Finger print check by Michigan State Police & FBI
$38.67 - Publication of Notice of hearing in the Ann Arbor News
-----------------------------------------------------------

Today I completed the last process step in my name change, which was placing a public notice in my local newspaper. The announcement will be in tomorrow’s news & I am kinda nervous to see it in black & white as this makes it very real for the world to see (if they haven’t read my Blog).

Yesterday I called the A2 News (A2 is short for Ann Arbor) & talked to a woman by the name of Ebony who answered all of my questions about placing my ad. She was very helpful then I threw her off a bit when I asked what forms of payments they took, and Ebony informed me that I could pay by cash, check or credit. So just to fuck with her, I asked if I could use a money order or bridge card (used in Michigan instead of food stamps), she then laughed & said that those would not work then conversation ended with a mutual chuckle.

So today I made my way to the A2 News to place my ad & Ebony was at the front desk. She asked to help me so I stated my business & reminded her of the brief conversation from yesterday, she laughed & said that if I really had a bridge card could I hook her up because she needed some groceries & I busted out laughing. While still laughing I handed her my court document & had a seat while she entered my info. Ten minutes later she called me back up to the desk & gave me a proof then I shelled out my $38.67.

While Ebony handed me my receipt she thanked me & congratulated me on my name change. I was kinda taken aback & she noticed so she said that this is major & kudos were in order. I then thought about how my friends are telling me that my name change is so major & even drastic but I guess I did not think that it was such a huge deal. So I guess now that it will be in black & white it really is a big deal.

Before I left the office of the A2 news I told the Afroed & informed Ebony that my paying to change my own name legitimately is like buying my freedom from my slave-master much like Lunsford Lane. At this we both laughed but we knew that this statement was so true.

After I got into my car, which was headed to Burger King for a #1 with cheese, no tomato, ketchup or pickle plus mustard cut in half with a Dr. Pepper, I called my Best Friend Brion (BFB) to let him know my progress...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/cost-of-my-freedom.htm 65A6DC0F-84E7-4362-9489-2675B0E23492 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:01:43 -0500 Amazing Grace, which is a movie that I knew nothing about & got really excited. I really got excited when I saw a character that looked like Olaudah Equiano.

So after the preview went off & I closed my mouth I checked online to find the movie’s website & was really impressed with the information & movement that was represented.

Like so many others, I have heard Amazing Grace all my life but did not know that story behind it until I visited the Freedom Center in Cincinnati last year on my bus trip. The Freedom Center has an awe-inspiring exhibit dedicated to the history of the Amazing Grace hymn and all of the countless African lives lost at sea while in transit to the Americas. ----------------------------------------------------------- Movie Synopsis:

Amazing Grace, based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce, is directed by Michael Apted (The World is Not Enough, Coal Miner's Daughter) from an original screenplay written by Academy Award® nominee Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things).

The film stars Ioan Gruffudd (Black Hawk Down), Albert Finney (Erin Brockovich), Romola Garai (Vanity Fair), Michael Gambon (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Benedict Cumberbatch (Hawking), Rufus Sewell (Legend of Zorro), Ciaran Hinds (Rome) and introduces Youssou N'Dour.

Executive Producer is Jeanney Kim, with Mark Cooper as co-producer. Producers on the film are Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line) and Ed Pressman under their Sunflower Productions banner, Patricia Heaton and David Hunt for FourBoys Films, and Ken Wales.

Gruffudd plays Wilberforce, who, as a Member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire. Albert Finney plays John Newton, a confidante of Wilberforce who inspires him to pursue a life of service to humanity. Benedict Cumberbatch is William Pitt the Younger, England's youngest ever Prime Minister at the age of 24, who encourages his friend Wilberforce to take up the fight to outlaw slavery and supports him in his struggles in Parliament.

Elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/movies-amazing-grace-coming-soon.htm 5FB1639D-7822-4F39-854E-0D8AA1A26BB8 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:59:29 -0500 All week, I have been trying to do a “witty” post but I kept drawing blanks on what I have been reading & listening to (bummer). Luckily I checked Racialicious today because the letter below defiantly pulled me out of my little rut of news boredom.

While I think that the mom has a right to make this request, I also think that she needs to home school her little bastard. It is clear to me that she is the type of white person who believes that we (Black peoples) need to get over slavery, totally forget the Civil Rights Movement & live contently in a white oriented matrix.

While reading the letter I sarcastically though that if Lisa was sick of her kid learning about Harriet Tubman & all of the other BHM (Black History Month) regulars, then maybe she should do some research & introduce lesser known pioneers like Emmett W. Chappelle, Fred Shuttlesworth & Granville T. Woods to name a few.

Letters like this one are the kind of thing that got the ball rolling for the end of Affirmative Action in CA & MI (Thanks Ward Connelly you bitch!). ----------------------------------------------------------- Want an end put to school-endorsed celebrations of Black History Month

Why must our children, no matter what race, creed, religion, etc., be forced to celebrate Black History Month?

As far as I know, this is not a required curriculum yet..]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/shortest-month.htm 1D3B5821-B6F9-4DE6-A698-8E7D9252E570 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:57:15 -0500 Today I got a flood of emails about Anna Nicole Smith’s death (actually I only got 2). At first I thought it was a joke, then I did an web search & found that the info was legit. Then I started to slow my thought process &amp; was like wait, why in the hell do I care & why am I all in? I am not sure if White America was ready to lose such a high cultural icon. I have/had nothing against Anna Nicole but I was tripping at how all of my friends were eating the story up, so I questioned does Black America care; I certainly don’t & why was my show interrupted to announce this shit. Real news would have been that Bush was dead or some like Barack Obama admitted that he did not take baths &amp; was not as clean as Joe Biden said he was. If the coverage on Anna Nicole’s death continues to proliferate, I am going to put on a Depends diaper, drive to New York & fuck somebody up! My steel mallet, knife, rubber tubing, latex gloves, large garbage bags, pepper spray, BB gun &amp; 8 dildos (not to be used on me dammit) are already packed. <div style="text-align: center;"><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cawDKdepR-c"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cawDKdepR-c" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object> </div> Like my body!?! http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/american-personal-tragdy.htm 353A9EAF-AD00-4EA2-A246-CD221A0C08BB Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:55:42 -0500 I had to post this shit because it had me cracking up! Maybe tomorrow when I watch it again, it will not be as funny because my slight buzz from my 1800 & Chambord Margaritas will be gone. <div style="text-align: center;"><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C0f2dHJ6A18"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C0f2dHJ6A18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object> </div> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/condo-licious.htm 1DB624CE-46E5-4C67-BE20-6F692678DC69 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:54:45 -0500

• If you are afraid of talking about dildos, vibrators or butt plugs leave now
• If you feel comfortable with discussing or own a dildo, vibrator or butt plug, you may find this hilarious so enjoy
Moving on: I found this video on Youtube after a friend sent me an email with fun facts. Fact 2 on the list of 3 was: The maximum number of dildos you can own in Texas before you're considered a felon is 5 . After reading it I spit out a little of my crangrape juice while laughing. I dug around online & sure enough, this is some real shit.
I wonder just how many felons are in Texas at this very moment with more that 5 anatomically correct condom education models.


Other fun facts for the day:

• The silver/gray haired woman in the video is columnist, author, and humorist Molly Ivins who died last week following her third bout with breast cancer. Her syndicated columns were always amusing and filled with satire and humor.
• The percentage by which male drivers are more likely to die in a car crash than female drivers is 77% (Source: AAA via The Week)
• Exxon Mobil's profit in 2006: $39.5 Billion -\/- Amount the company makes per hour: $4.5 Million
]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/forbidden-dildos.htm EA1562CC-EFFA-4ED2-8BC1-021D6D4A42FF Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:53:51 -0500 I ran across this article today on the American Legacy Magazine site listed as a “Little Known Black History Fact”. The fact happens to be part history & part recent news but nonetheless interesting.

After digging around for more information, I found that this story is about 2-3 years old but it sounds like news from today.

The first piece of the story tripped me out because natural Black hairstyles are under fire in corporate American, HBCU’s & now in Africa (WTF). The reasoning is pretty homophobic but I know that Nigeria has some serious beef with gays especially over the last several years (outlawing homosexuality). ----------------------------------------------------------- Cornrows and Black Hair

Nigerian government officials have banned members of its national soccer team from wearing hair braids, dreadlocks and earrings. One government official said, " Our youth are now taking after our great [soccer] players...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/more-on-hair-discrimination.htm B1B5739D-B68D-453A-B05E-FF3532957F70 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:47:58 -0500 With the frigid weather upon us, who wants to leave the warmth of the indoors? Quench Essentials invites you to shop from the comfort of home or office at our new online store. Browse the aisles of all of our body products sure to keep your skin moisturized during these harsh winter months.

Quench Essentials gives you the best of what nature has, to keep your skin moisturized and healthy. We feature high quality butters, oils and vitalizing Dead Sea Salts.

As a Bygbaby.com Mindspill reader, I would like to hook you up with a 25% discount on your first order. Feel free to pass along this offer to friends!!!

Visit my store @ http://quenchessentials.net/storefront Coupon code: mindspill93QE

This offer is good through 03/06/07

Peace, Bygbaby]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/03/quench-essentials-web-store.htm 59062056-2236-4FC6-B016-6904DF1C09C1 Tue, 6 Feb 2007 01:36:29 -0500 Celebs lately just seem to love to make bigoted statements in public recently & there is no need to name names because you know who they are (Isaiah Washington, Michael Richards, Mel Gibson). After they said their shit, it was all over the news & everyone new about & some even went into rehab.

So now Paris Hilton has just been exposed for saying nigger & faggot (sp?) at a party on film while dancing like a total loser.

I watched a clip of an interview on CNN today & they mentioned that Paris might not suffer like IW, MR & MG but why come.

I saw the video & Paris was ripping on some ghetto broke chick from Compton talked about gay blow jobs etc. I guess because she is super rich she feels like she can get away with is.

I am dying to see if she is going to make a public apology or attend some type of racist homophobe rehab.

From EURweb:


“In the footage, Paris and her sister Nicky are at a house party dancing by themselves to the sounds of Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize.” A male friend who dances in between them was referred to as a “faggot” by both Hilton sisters.

Then, at about 2 minutes and 45 seconds into the footage, Paris approaches the camera and laughs, “We’re like two niggers.”...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/celebs-lately-just-seem-to-love-to-make.htm 17B6F8B9-8C30-4348-9CD4-426FC5208A27 Mon, 5 Feb 2007 20:47:26 -0500 Blood Diamond (on bootleg DVD), Pan’s Labyrinth, Curse of the Golden Flower, Epic Movie & Smokin’ Aces.

Of the 5 movies, I really wanted to blog a review on each but I quite frankly have been too lazy to do so. So for the sake of keeping it simple for myself, I am going to tell you my favorites starting with Pan’s Labyrinth (subtitled) was off the fucking hook! It’s a Mexican film in set in war torn Spain. When I saw the review on Ebert & Roeper (or whoever they are now) I new this was going to be a great movie.

The story was part fantasy, part drama & majorly tragic! I found the film to actually to be beautiful the way that it was told. I was able to really escape my reality & become absorbed by the shifting story as moved along following the child protagonist Ofelia who seemed to be wise beyond her years. I saw the movie before it was nominated for 6 Academy Awards & I think that this film should win for Best Original Screen Play hands down.

If you are a sucker for escaping to another world by way of foreign films like me, then this is a must see!

Sticking with the foreign film theme I also loved Curse of the Golden Flower (subtitled). The way that Asia drama/action/fight movies are now, I feel that I have to see each one. No matter what the movie's underlying theme is, the fighting is the draw to me. I guess this is the child in me that is awe inspired by the noises that actors make when they strike their opponent or maybe it is they way that they effortlessly glide through the air like some super hero. Ever since I saw Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (one of my favorites) I am at every Asian action film that is released large or small budget.

The way that Curse of the Golden Flower was going it seemed to be more drama than anything with a slightly twisting plot with a implied Oedipus Complex that was throwing me off a little. The action in this movie came about ¾ths of the way through & when it came, it came.

Once the crescendo fight scene started I found myself holding my breath cause the fighting fucking epic proportions to say the least. From the looks of the army in the movie, I was thinking that they hired like ½ of China to be extras. I mean it was crazy seeing all of them damn people throwing down (I’m sure they were computer generated).

While I loved this movie, I think that the average movie-goer would get...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/bygbaby-movies.htm 23541A89-BE3B-4C5B-A466-72ABD39C971D Mon, 5 Feb 2007 20:45:12 -0500 Since the cast was coming off, I planned on getting a foot massage or a pedicure to pamper myself. I kept on bragging about this to Suite Suzy who offered to massage my feet but I told her this time I needed the real thing.

Before I left for the appointment I packed my left shoe & sock because I just knew I was walking up out of that bitch; little did I know.

Now I am in the office getting my freed from my red boot & getting excited. 4 minutes later, the cast is off, the staples are out & I am cleaning myself up. Moments later I pull out my sock & shoe then the tech looks at me & was like, what are you going with those? You will not need a shoe for at least a month.

Now that my heart sunk into my stomach, I asked what was next then the Dr walked in. He informed me that I would be in a air cast for 3-4 weeks.

My plan for a pedicure… was out & after getting a good look at my surgical wound a massage was definitely out. I was bummed out but at least I do not have to use those damn crutches, which allows me to now get a round only slightly better. The simplest task takes so much energy now, so I tell you that being fat & having ½ legs is not a good combo.

I called Suite Suzy after my appointment & air cast fitting to let her know the news about my leg & that I would be off work for another 3-4 weeks then I begged for a foot massage. After teasing, she finally agreed to hook me up.

It’s now 11pm, the house is quiet, the kids are asleep & Suite Suzy is preparing my footbath. I sink my right foot into]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/02/my-poor-dogs_01.htm DF418AB2-5B43-4CA7-94E8-F63B456111A7 Mon, 5 Feb 2007 20:43:54 -0500

While combing through the Sundance Film Festival site today, I found an interesting documentary titled “Banished” by filmmaker Marco Williams.


This film interested me because it deals with ethnic cleansing here in the US that took place between 1860 – 1920. I think I may be using the term ethnic cleansing a little loosely but what else can you call Black people being forces out of their homes & land by whites?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Film Description: Leave or die: this was the choice white majority residents in various cities around the United States gave African Americans between the end of the Civil War and the Great Depression. Banished examines this shameful, hidden chapter in the history of American race relations by revisiting three of the communities that forcibly expelled their entire African American populations and interviewing the descendants of families who left their communities and property behind as they fled for their lives. In the still all-white communities of Pierce City, Missouri; Harrison, Arkansas; and Forsyth County, Georgia; the echoes of racial injustice during the past century still reverberate. Filmmaker Marco Williams...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/sundance-film-festival-banished.htm 002D09AD-5843-4630-B9A8-87E2E8D4FFD7 Mon, 5 Feb 2007 20:42:17 -0500


• Olivia & Sade B-Ball
• Amelia & Her Oatmeal
• 2006 Kwanzaa Party
• My Recent Surgery

Enjoy,
Bygbaby]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/veiw-from-top.htm F10A5739-87F4-43F1-B7D7-4E680734B68E Mon, 5 Feb 2007 20:38:16 -0500 One story that has gotten on my last damn nerve over the last 2 weeks was Isaiah Washington’s blurting “faggot” after the recent Golden Globes.

Isaish’s stupid comment was mos def fucked up but all of the press on this faux pas was just a little too much.

I really tripped out when I heard that IW was doing some homophobe rehab. WTF (like so many have said), when was homophobe rehab invented? The larger question that I have about homophobe rehab is how do you know when you are cured?

Anyway after reading a post on the Militant Blacktoast Blog via African American (Black) Opinion I am in stitches after laughing so hard at this satirical Homophobic Rehab Schedule for IW:

• 8-9 a.m. breakfast in group setting with gay men.
• 9-10 a.m. Breakout sessions
• Intro to drag
• History of homosexuality and religion
• Gay vs. Black American Civil Rights Movement
• 11- 12:30 p.m. Watch gay porn
• 12:30- 1 p.m. break/private time
• 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Group session, discuss any homophobic thoughts you had today and how gay porn made you feel.
• 3:30 -6 p.m. Shopping
• 6:30 -8 p.m. Dinner and chores: Refill penis-shaped salt and pepper shakers
• 8-9 p.m. TV time ("Will & Grace" reruns,"Queer As Folk," "Oz" "Six Feet Under" "Project Runway" "America's Next Top Model")
• 9:30 - 11 p.m. Late night group session
• Midnight movie: Brokeback Mountain

I posted the following comment on the AA(B)O Blog:...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/rehab-gone-too-far.htm CE0E26A0-58E9-40C7-BD43-CC509C727E1E Mon, 5 Feb 2007 20:36:32 -0500 I read today on my girl Brunsli’s Blog about Barack Omaba who has been accused of being AWB (Articulate While Black).

This of course pissed me off & I am sure you know why, especially if you is Nigra yourself. I went to the Racialicious Blog, which Brunsli referenced & they have a comprehensive post on this.

This AWB shit needs to be stopped. What the fuck do they expect us to be like as we interact in society (white society). Myself, I have been know to out white any white man when it comes to acting white, but most often it break down to me being AWB or NLTO (not like the others).

On a related note, I was once told that I PWWB (presenting well while Black) during a job interview & that shit tripped me out. I guess he was thinking I was going to walk up in that bitch with a white tee, red monkey jeans & some Air Force Ones. Suite Suzy also suffered the same comment recently on a job interview. Needless to say, neither one of us got the job that we presented well for, so I guess we did not present well enough.

Have you been accused of being AWB, PW or NLTO? I wanna know & when you respond don’t say anything that would make you appear to be Black: OK! -----------------------------------------------------------
Bygbaby Factoid: As I type this post, I am TWB (tipsy while blogging (hey, it's Friday shit!))
-----------------------------------------------------------
Related Info: Check out BlackProf on this issue ]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/what-do-you-expect-bitch.htm 682E25BB-C57B-42F7-B186-67C603E4B386 Mon, 5 Feb 2007 20:34:49 -0500 This may be no surprise to you but I am not into Oprah’s celebrity at & all of the ubiquitous + & - rage about her is annoying & not always news worthy to me.

Anyway I stumbled upon an interesting article about some new projects that O is launched this week that have me intrigued. One is a new book (released today) by Henry Louis Gates Jr. titled “Finding Oprah’s Roots” which the publisher describes as:

“Finding Oprah’s Roots will not only endow readers with a new appreciation for the key contributions made by history’s unsung but also equip them with the tools to connect to pivotal figures in their own past. A roadmap through the intricacies of public documents and online databases, the book also highlights genetic testing resources that can make it possible to know one’s distant tribal roots in Africa.

For Oprah, the path back to the past was emotion-filled and profoundly illuminating, connecting the narrative of her family to the larger American narrative and “anchoring” her in a way not previously possible. For the reader, Finding Oprah’s Roots offers the possibility of an equally rewarding experience.” (I am not reading it! Sorry.)

The 2nd project is a PBS special titled “Oprah's Roots” airing tomorrow. PBS says:

“OPRAH'S ROOTS offers many new insights into how one of the world's most famous people emerged from an exceptional family. It includes an account of how Elmore Winfrey, Oprah's paternal]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/talkin-bout-roots-oprah.htm 0A0E170D-1589-4632-AACF-1C2B23A01A71 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:20:50 -0500 It has been 6 days since my surgery & today I finally had enough energy to venture out of the house for some fresh air.

I decided to take myself to lunch @ Panera Bread mainly because I was feenin’ for some French onion soup. My one concern about venturing out was the weather because it was snowing & I am still trying to get the hang of my crutches. Thank God I have a handicap sticker because when I got to Panera, the parking lot was off the hook.

So I get into the restaurant & there were no seats available & I had to figure out how I was going to get my tray to a table with crutches. Luckily I was able to get the cashier to deliver my tray to me.

Now that I had my challenge of getting my meal to a table, I just had to figure out where I was going to sit in the packed restaurant. Like I said it was absolutely packed with people so I am feeling like I was looking stupid trying hopping around on crutches looking pathetic.

After a while I heard an woman call out to me & asked me if I minded sharing a table with her so I happily & quickly said no don’t mind & thanks so much!

My new table & lunch mate was Michelle, a 70 y.o. English realtor who does not mind sharing a table in “European style”.

During our conversation, Michelle told me how she comes to Panera all the time & gets annoyed at how people are not willing to share their space. She then told me that at the age of 70 she does not mind bothering a lone person who is hogging up a table meant for 4 people.

While I shared the table with Michelle, we had a really good conversation about everything from my missed opportunity to go to the UK, her double knee replacement, our stupid president, soldiers numbers in the useless war in Iraq & Barack Obama. I thought it was so interesting on how we seemed to have the same opinion on the same topics & yet are so different from one another.

Next time I see someone in distress handicapped or not trying to get a table in a cramped café, I will mos def open up my empty seat if I have one. The kindness of Michelle was right on time for this temporarily handicapped stranger.

By the way, I really like introducing myself as Tafari.



]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/kindness-of-strangers.htm A788F8DE-B9E2-4FC6-A296-FB1B4D25661D Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:23:37 -0500

Check out more info on What Black Men Think @ Myspace ----------------------------------------------------------- About the filmmaker Janks Morton: Assertions, Misconceptions, Half-truths… By Benjamin Ryan

Hitting the Washington, D.C., singles scene when nearing middle age should be challenge enough for anyone. But divorced 43-year-old Janks Morton believes stereotypes about African-American men have created a list of “qualifiers” that women keep in their back pockets when scrutinizing potential romantic interests. “I have been asked, ‘Have you ever been locked up?’ and ‘You aren’t one of those ‘down low’ brothers, are you?” he says, referring to what men who have relationships with women but also regular sexual encounters with other men on the sly are called. “It’s almost like a civil war between black men and black women.”

Morton, who works in the health care field and is the former owner of an independent record label, has taken it upon himself to rehabilitate the image of the black man in America. He is currently filming a...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/what-black-men-think-psa.htm 57DBDC60-45BF-414F-931C-9CF7A9431E0A Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:21:57 -0500
All for you baby boo.

Always,
Tafari]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/i-love-birthdaez.htm DDAE74CA-51F1-4876-854C-A5AA1AAE63F8 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:01:50 -0500
I 1st heard about this story last week while listening to the News & Notes African American Roundtable w/Farai Chideya on NPR (so worth subscribing to the African American Roundtable Podcast). Anyway if you have been with me for a while, you know that Crack Heads get on my nerves to the 5th power & along with that I hate the people that help turn them into crack heads (fuck the law of supply & demand).

I think mandatory sentencing is totally racist on one hand & on the other, I see it as a warning to not fuck up & do some stupid shit like sale drugs & especially to your people who have so many social ills.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I know that our men are filling up the prisons with fucked up sentences but who do we need to blame; the]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/more-on-crack-mandatory-entencing.htm 221E6713-0F2A-4C4B-AC50-3412EDD16C97 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:59:24 -0500 Shit: I started this off as a reply to Cluizel's comment on my Apprentice post but before you know it it grew into something a little more.

Damn you Cluizel, Damn you, LOL!

I am happy she got rid of Romance. He is such a bitch ass! I was not mad @ token for not kissing NY. He was right about not wanting to kiss her after she had all of those other guys up in her mouth (yuk) & I think her read my "Sex, Disease & Negros" post LOL. Not to mention that her mouth must taste like an ashtray with a hint of...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/not-shamed-to-say-bygbaby-loves-ny.htm C4ACE390-9164-4B51-BE23-C157AB1E14D0 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:57:55 -0500 OMG The Apprentice (season six) just went off & another Black guy bit the dust!

This week it was Carey & I think he kinda had to go because of the flaming male swim suite he pushed to produce for the fashion show.

When he modeled it before the show, I was like, he is going to be the one to get fired tonight & I was right.

I cracked up when one f the teammates said I am gay but I would never wear that swimsuit & he was shocked on how Carey "flamed up the runway".

That shit had me on the floor because Carey did flame it up like nobody's business, I mean he was one move away from dropping it like it it was hot!

Carey defended the swimsuit to the bitter end & I don't blame him. A brother has to do what he has to do to save his ass.

I can see the swim suite showing up in a Ghetto Mess photo at a Black gay beach weekend (we have all seen the photos).

Last week bitch ass Martin got fired & rightfully so. He was a pompous bastard who irritated me. His dress was totally Black Bourgeois To Good to be a Negro (IMHO). I am not even going to go there on the way he talked. I think I got a mini head ache after the boardroom was over.

I am looking forward to the...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/black-apprentices.htm 3A546C0B-C46F-4B70-8AFB-AF864AE94500 Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:12:11 -0500

So far 2007 has been a mixed bag of the good and not so good but overall I cannot not complain will not complain. There have been so many things going on with my life, I thought I would share a few highlights of note.

Week One: Jan|01|07


• I found a Cooper's Hawk trapped in my screened in gazebo, which totally freaked me out. Things got really interested when I called 911 & they referred me to the raptor center for my area who basically told me good luck. I eventually got the hawk out by leaving the door open. Check out the picture & look at those claws. Now I have to deal with paying for a new screen as the hole is to big to patch without looking ghetto.
• The Mindspill blog paid off in the tune of $210 US buckeroos! Someone found my blog in Dec & dup the vibe & asked me to write a piece with a positive spin on the state of the Black male in America. This was pretty easy seeing that I was starting one anyway. The challenge was to do it in 500 – 700 words.


• When I go started, I realized that this was deeper that up to 700 words so I took the liberty to go up to 900. Even my little addition was limiting. My story focused on a common sense approach to 3 social issues affecting my Brothers out there: imprisonment, STD’s & education. I am waiting to release it hear until I see what they do. Stay tuned...
]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/1st-couple-of-weeks-recap.htm 90528FA8-5F68-4157-9175-8DC481F317FE Sun, 14 Jan 2007 00:55:12 -0500 Readers, friends, haters, critics, niggas &amp; bitches please consider this an open invitation to kick it with Bygbaby. Needless to say, you are guaran-muthafukin-teed to have a <s>good time</s> "funky good time" (in the spirit of James Brown).</p><p align="center"><img alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/martinis.jpg" height="482" width="390" /></p> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/greetings-for-2007.htm 691FD8BC-507D-4450-B111-78B8BC93C8E2 Tue, 9 Jan 2007 01:15:46 -0500 <img alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px; float: left;" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/tafari.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="10" />In my “<a href="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/live-it-everyday.htm" target="_blank">Live it Everyday</a>” everyday post, I mentioned that I chose the African name Tafari for myself during a Kwanzaa event that I planned for the kids+ last month. Well after some very heavy hearted contemplation I decided to fully accept the name & replace my given name “Brian”. <p>For the last year + changing my name has been something on my mind to do and discussed with Suite Suzy but I was not really moved to do so after trying to find a fitting name that truly inspired me until late last month. </p><p>The name Tafari, really stayed penetrated my heart day by day &amp; last Friday 01/05/07, I decided that this was the day that I would carry the name forever. </p><p>Because I was nervous big time about http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/making-change.htm BDCCF311-373A-4E98-85C4-3626EB164D7F Tue, 9 Jan 2007 01:15:28 -0500 <img width="450" height="150" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/maasai4.jpg"><br /> <br /> Now that the holidays are over (excluding Eid Al-Adha) I am looking back & thinking about the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa which ended yesterday. <br /> <br /> My family did not totally celebrate Kwanzaa as structured but we hosted a Kwanzaa event last Saturday (12/22/06) which was geared towards giving children information on Kwanzaa & the importance of acknowledgment and or celebration of the seven days. <br /> <br /> We hosted about 12 kids (what a challenge for me) & had an African naming ceremony (my name is Tafari, which means one who inspires awe), a Kwanzaa info session with Q & A, we poured Libations, ate dinner & did a craft; in essence Kwanzaa in a small but intense dose. <br /> <br /> So anyway moving forward a week, I head a hair appointment this past Saturday (12/29/06) & we got to talking about Kwanzaa & how many Blacks are just misinformed on the symbolism & importance of the day, the we started to specifically talk about the... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/live-it-everyday.htm 19F5AB9F-C03C-4973-8003-5A003721A677 Tue, 9 Jan 2007 01:16:34 -0500

This pitiful snapshot was taken of my poor sweet Amelia aKa Boo Boo just before the stroke of midnight New Years Eve this past year.

While everyone was in good spirits, she was suffering and still is from some virus. She has been shooting out food from both ends for the past few days trying to get better.

Hopefully today she will be in a better condition because Suite Suzy goes back to work, so that means that I will have to handle any nasty explosions myself.

Anyway Happy New Year All, Bygbaby

]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2007/01/open-invite.htm 01112AF0-E8D5-4778-BD6B-4D32C442715A Tue, 9 Jan 2007 01:21:26 -0500 There are a lot of stupid people Black people out there who are just not getting the message that safe sex is the best sex if you choose to have sex. Excluding HIV/AIDS there are some many diseases out there that are hideous that can impact your life like Herpes, HPV, and Hepatitis: I refer to these as life long friends.

Then you have your run of the mill STD such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea & Syphilis, which I consider friends for the moment but with possible life time effects.

The focus in the media is always on HIV/AIDS so you only here about high infection rates of other STD’s if the numbers are simply off the charts or if young white children/teens/adults have high numbers.

People just seem to not get it when it comes to protecting yourself from disease & equally as important, unwanted pregnancies. I wonder what it will take to make mutha fuckas realize?.?.?

For the sake of a short post, I am only focusing on the temporary friends mentioned. So here goes.

Chlamydia - 13,632 per 100,000 Black Americans ages 10-29 contracted Chlamydia during 2005. In comparison to other racial groups Blacks have the highest rate of infection (over eight times higher than that of whites), a sad fact on all counts. Infection rates bulleted are per...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/sex-disease-negors.htm B6B59EBD-4411-4D38-A776-61A2D3C2749F Sun, 31 Dec 2006 00:42:48 -0500 What's wrong with this picture??? I found this on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byok6vipekQ&eurl=" target="_blank">Youtube</a> today &amp; was pretty shocked by it. I also was tripped out by some of the comments left by other viewers. The message has 2 things going on IMHO 1) Black people can be made a fool of just to get a part. 2) Black/dark is not always nasty and you (whoever you is) 3) A white person or another Asian would not have scared the mother who happens to be a racist bitch. I don't think I missed anything; wait, is he supposed to be King Kong? If this advertisement was shown in the UK or the States, there would have been hell to pay. What do you think? <div style="text-align: center;"><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/byok6vipekQ"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/byok6vipekQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object> </div> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/overt-commerical-racism.htm 9C44752A-1893-4032-A998-961660025885 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 01:20:40 -0500 So I broke a promise to myself which was not to see the movie Dreamgirls at any cost. I was adamant about seeing the flick because Beyonce was involved. I am so not into Beyonce that she almost turns me off as much as the non-sangin’ Mary J.

I will admit that I like to watch Beyonce’s video when she does the hot body moves but that is as far as her talent stops for me.

Anyway after a fair/good review of "Dreamgirls" by Cousin Dee & my assistant @ work, I decided to check it out today after work at the last minute. As always in true Bygbaby fashion, I was running late for the movie so I was not able to get my large mixed icee & medium sized popcorn not to mention missing the damn previews but I was ale to get a good seat.

The movie started out with a very entertaining talent show when the Dreamgirls blew it out then got let down but yet blew up at the same time almost a schizophrenic scene with so much going on but from this point I was loving the girls.

As the movie/musical went on, I became more & more drawn in not really hating Beyonce who played "Deena" as much as I thought I would & I fell in love with Jennifer Hudson's "Effie" character. She was loud, demanding & ultra talented & somewhat reminded me of Sophia from “The Color Purple” in regards to how strong they were.

As all of the reviews have stated, Jennifer Hudson was the true...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/movies-dreamgirls.htm F777E28B-6B86-4E5B-94CB-EB2103C85D7F Tue, 26 Dec 2006 21:58:45 -0500 istockphoto for images that I can trick out for my wallpaper designs that I create obsessively. Since I have been doing my widescreen series, I have created a total of 35. I would like to share with you my latest 6 designs (which were very fun to make). Some are available in standard screen sizes so if interested just give me a holla.

To view the full image click thumbnail to view the full image & enjoy.

Bygbaby


]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/gotta-love-digital-art.htm 58D15DC6-427F-44BC-9280-3DFC84F6A495 Mon, 25 Dec 2006 21:09:32 -0500 <p><img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/james1.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="275" width="150" /> The death of James Brown is no doubt one of those ubiquitous blogosphere topics but I had to mention it here also. James Brown was quite a character over the last few years from drugs, spouse abuse & jail time, wait I need to mention that infamous television interview where he was totally out of it. While I laughed at his misfortune &amp; apparent drug use during the interview, I always thought of him as a cool brotha. </p><p>I pray that his death will not be surrounded by negative news and revelations. I guess we will see in the days to come. </p><p>James wherever you are now probably not reading this “I'm Black and I'm Proud” & I am saying it loud! Thanks for empowering a people and inspiring many of my favorite artists new and old. ----------------------------------------------------------- <span style="font-weight: bold;">WE REMEMBER JAMES BROWN: 'Godfather of Soul' dead at 73</span> </p><p>Legendary soul singer James Brown, known all over the world as the "Godfather of Soul," died early Christmas morning at age 73, his manager confirmed. The most sampled man in music died at 1:45 a.m. Monday at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta after being admitted there on Saturday for treatment of severe pneumonia, his manager, Frank Copsidas, said. Charles Bobbit, Brown's longtime friend and personal manager, was at his side, he said. The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductee, also known as "Mr. Dynamite," brought musical innovations to R&B that helped to define the "funk" era - with such songs as "Papa Don't Take No Mess," "The Payback" and "Make it Funky." He emerged in 1956 with his first hit single "Please, Please, Please," which was followed three years later by "Try Me" and in 1960 with "Think." His 1968 single "Say it Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" became a civil rights anthem. He performed the song at Richard Nixon's inauguration in 1969 -- an act that temporarily hurt his popularity among young blacks, Reuters reports... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/godfather-gone-on-day-to-remember.htm 1A6FA904-210A-4546-A6CE-93452DD09126 Mon, 25 Dec 2006 21:09:32 -0500 <img width="150" height="225" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/nikki.jpg">When I was in high school I took an Afro Lit class that was so-so. The only thing I can remember from the class was this one poem we read & I am hardly remembering it now. I believe it was called “Haircuts in Paris”. The poem compared the dangers of a Black man going into a white barbershop in the south facing certain death from the barbers blade in comparison to the freedom and safety that Black men found in Paris. <br /> <br /> I believe it was penned by <a href="http://nikki-giovanni.com/" target="_blank" >Nikki Giovanni</a> but again I am not sure. I have tried searching for such a poem & I have come up empty (again) well almost. During my search tonight, I stumbled across “Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)”. After reading I felt pretty good & empowered and not as hungry to find “Haircuts in Paris” <br /> <br /> If you can help a Brotha’ out by... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/searching-for-haircuts-in-paris.htm 58099076-6213-41DD-98A8-8F09F99B8040 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:56:58 -0500 While digging through my mp3 collection the other night, I stumbled upon Common’s "Like Water for Chocolate" album (2000), which I had not listened to in a long while. When the album came out a few years ago there were a few cuts that I like but they had no real meaning to me other that I like they way they sounded. Specifically speaking of “A Song for Assata” and “Time Traveling (A Tribute To Fela)”, basically I was hearing what I wanted to hear & not listening to what I should have.

For the sake of a quick post, I am focusing on “A Song for Assata”, which discusses the former Black Panther Assata Shakur who now has political asylum in Cuba.

I first learned of Assata last year (2005) via a Detroit Poetry friend who was sporting a “Free Assata” t-shirt so I asked who she was & she broke it all down & I was like damn for real! She (lets call her Poet Shorté) also informed me that Assata’s drama & quest for freedom is still an issues as the US government issued a 1,000,000 (1 million if you ain’t gud wit’ numba’s) bounty for her capture. When I learned that I was like shit, Black people ain’t had no dollar value since the end of slavery (this is a joke so laugh dammit).

So anyway, after the PicNap poetry set was over, I made it home to find a wealth of knowledge about Assata on the internet & most notably, her own site (assatashakur.org). After reading more in-depth about...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/learnign-from-hip-hop-years-later.htm E40EEEA5-9C4D-4B33-87C8-4B4D1981729E Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:55:44 -0500 On one of my favorite blogs African American Opinion, there is a post about a new report out that discusses how male circumcising African men will slow the spread of HIV/AIDS.

I shared this story with Suite Suzy & she asked if I was more concerned about their (African males) short term discomfort or the long term benefits.

My response to her was that I am concerned about both but more importantly, I feel that there should be a better more comprehensive option than surgery

If circumcision thing was such a great option then why is not being prescribed across the globe?
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Circumcision Shown to Slow Spread of HIV in Africa

Ok, WAPO reports Two major studies released Wednesday confirmed that circumcision can dramatically slow the spread of HIV among African men, suggesting that widely offering the procedure could prevent millions of deaths in countries most seriously affected by AIDS, researchers said.

This is an interesting report. I wonder if African men will be willing to get circumcised given]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/searching-for-haircuts-in-paris.htm 61762B16-6DB0-4651-8A59-1484BB893FF0 Sat, 23 Dec 2006 00:58:15 -0500 Usually when I have business meeting in Detroit during the evening, I usually take myself out to dinner or meet with Cousin Dee or BFB (Best Friend Brion) at one of my favorite restaurants. So tonight was one of those nights where I had a meeting in Midtown Detroit & during the meeting I started to crave food from <a href="http://agavedetroit.com/" target="_blank">Agave</a>, which was across the street from the café I was at. <p>As my meeting started to come to an end, I was mentally placing my order for Queso Fundido (appetizer), Chicken &amp; potatoes (Agave style) & a few Margaritas. So after my meeting ended I made a mad dash across the street with my mouth watering for some delicious tomatilla salsa with salty chips. As I approached the restaurant, I was like hmmm, it’s pretty dark in there, then once I was upon the building, I realized they were closed so I started screaming in my car FUCK NO - FUCK NO - FUCK NO!!! My taste buds were in a fucking frenzy &amp; my mind was soooo set on this delicious meal. </p><p>As I drove away like a dog with his tail between his legs, I started to think about a plan B that avoided going downtown & I came up empty handed. At this point I am on the freeway headed home on the phone talking to BFB who laughed at me &amp; suggested that I go to Jerri’s pizza for a Jerri’s special (a childhood favorite), but I exclaimed that I was not in the mood for ghetto chic cuisine. </p><p>So 20 minutes later I am close to home & I decided to go for ghetto chic cuisine &amp; set my mind on some KFC. Unfortunately, there are not enough Black people in my area so my favorite spicy was not an option & basically original would have to do. </p><p>Now things really get fucked up. Just before my freeway exit there is... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/supper-denied.htm 10813B95-DD72-401D-B8BA-BEE4A7894C69 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:55:27 -0500 Back away from the computer & drop the blog MUTHA FUCKA <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >(in an angry white cop voice, ready to shoot)</span>! I am addicted to blogging & it is fucking with my sleep or lack there of. If I am not thinking of a note worthy post, I'm reading someone else's witty thoughts, personal drama, fun stories, political positions &amp; everything in the middle. Why oh why do I let this shit keep my glued to my desk until 2am almost every night? Am I a loser for being a blogaholic am I alone with this affliction????? <div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/getalife.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" height="502" width="375" /> </div>It's 230 now, so I am out but first I need to check my email then... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/back-away-from-computer-drop-blog-i-am.htm 3366D41E-83DB-459E-B3E0-724C433C6B1F Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:54:34 -0500 <img width="150" height="225" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/nigeria.jpg">I believe in SSM (same sex marriage) based on general principal; doesn't everyone deserve to love they want to. My thought is, who am I/who is anyone to the happiness and love of others. My question is, how is a man loving a man or woman loving a woman the way that I love my wife affect my relationship? My point is, why the fuck can’t people mind their own business? <br /> <br /> I think we all need to wake as people in general (excluding race) and deal with our own business, deal with skeletons that are in our “walk in closets etc and not use our own beliefs to oppress others. (“use our own beliefs to oppress others” reminds me of slavery): wait, is suppressing the rights of gay people a form of slavery? <br /> <br /> Based on the legislation that may pass in Nigeria, it will be illegal to even talk to your gay cousin in a... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/to-be-gay-in-nigeria.htm 416A22CC-E455-4C1A-8DBB-19D9811009CF Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:19:41 -0500 <img alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/barak.jpg" height="150" width="450" /> No one can deny that Barack Obama has it going on in the political world. He has savvy, charm, people respect & admire him &amp; he kept it real while visiting Africa this summer. Lately, all I am hearing about him is his possible run for office to become the next president. Although he could be the 1st Black President, no one is really saying that yet & I am waiting for the race card to be played. Maybe it will not but shit this is America! Anyway, while listening to NPR today, a commentator said that he thinks Barack is getting a really early start in the game &amp; because of this early start, he fears that Barack will run out of steam. Between Hillary & Barack being possible choices for the next president, it will be really interesting to see how America (White America) at large is... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/obama-mania.htm 761E429B-D72B-4339-BCA8-5A5C87755250 Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:21:26 -0500 This weekend my little sister Sade got the chance to showcase her pom pon skills at the <a href="http://www.greatlakescheer.com/Birchrun.htm" target="_blank" >Great Lakes Cheer Competition</a> with her team from the Ypsilanti Township Recreation Center. <br /> <br /> Sade is a dance natural & is usually at the head of the pack in her little teams & this time she really set it off. I would love to share with you some pictures from this joyous moment in my baby’s life. <br /> <br /> <br /> To celebrate her victory, Sade decided to buy an outfit at the Osh Kosh outlet store while Suite Suzy & I X-mas shopped. What better than a new outfit to make you feel even better! http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/how-i-spent-my-saturday.htm 5D70201A-ADDA-424A-BA1F-0358AC8D752F Mon, 11 Dec 2006 01:35:15 -0500 I heard about this phenomenal Russell Simmons story today while attending the Elevating Academic Achievement: Best Practices for Educators of African American Male Students Conference today (Detroit) during the Using Public Relations to Increase Parental Participation While Simultaneously Empowering Our Youth session.

Part of the discussion was about not finding positive news in the "mainstream" media in regards to Black men/Black business/Black families that we can share with our children to enlighten them on what they can achieve.

The instructor (Lohren Carter) used this story as an example & asked how many heard about this & none of us had. She then stated that when Russell & Kimora were divorcing, the story was all over the place & no one could deny that. So I thought to myself; a dissolving black family is publicized big time but empowering African people to reap the rewards of their resource riches is on page 8 of section G (I made the story location up but you know what I mean).

Anyway, on the positive piece!
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Russell Simmons Launches Diamond Empowerment Fund

Russell Simmons recently Tuesday from a fact-finding trip to South Africa...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/black-in-news-russell-simmons.htm 3CB2B0F7-703F-42B9-A525-F8BBABA71F06 Fri, 8 Dec 2006 23:01:41 -0500 <img width="150" height="225" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/nword.jpg">Black leaders Monday presented the entertainment industry with a challenge: to stop using the "N-Word."<br /> <br /> The word that was used in Michael Richard's violent outburst is seen as a racial slur by any of those who use it, and politicians and entertainers decided that they have had enough of this intolerance. Rev. Jesse Jackson was one of the leaders who was there to speak, and voiced his concerns about the use of the "N-Word." "We want to give our ancestors a present," said Jackson. "Dignity over degradation." Jackson says he and others plan to meet with TV networks, film companies and musicians to discuss the word's use. <br /> <br /> Comedian Paul Mooney, who is known for his work on The Chappelle Show and with Richard Pryor, claims the he will now remove the word from his act entirely, and he thanks Michael Richards. "He's my Dr. Phil," said Mooney. "He's cured me."<br /> <br /> Rappers Paul Wall, Noreaga and Chamillionaire also discussed their beliefs and opinions of how the infamous slur should be viewed. "I think the word is very offensive for anybody to use," said Wall. "It's a disgraceful, offensive word that was used to belittle people because of the color of their skin." Wall went on to say that he supports the NAACP and all of their... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/i-will-say-what-i-damn-please.htm C39FA6D2-7646-4D99-A2AB-504AB7FEFA08 Fri, 8 Dec 2006 23:00:52 -0500 <img width="150" height="150" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/salvation.jpg">Today I went to a local grocery store to pick up some lunch from the hot food counter because Suit Suzy did not get a chance to pack me a lunch before she left for work today (yes, I’m spoiled). So as I got out of my vehicle, I could hear bells & that meant one thing based on the time of year. It was a fucking Salvation Army Bel ringer! <br /> <br /> I hate Bell Ringers, for one they are always nice and overly polite, two – I feel guilty because I never give & I think they all know it & 3 – I never trust that they are official. <br /> <br /> So after I got my lunch and snacks I mad a pretend phone call as I walk out of the door to pass the jolly Bell Ringer & he shouted HAVE A GREAT DAY all loud & I am sure it was to be sarcastic. For the next 3 weeks or so I will have to endure my hateful feeling of these gleeful bastards ringing those damn bells & greeting everyone that walks past. <br /> <br /> With X-mas approaching I am again wishing I was a Jehovah’s Witness so I... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/12/theyre-jinglin-baby.htm 292D0AC2-A240-481A-AE20-E8DD5240ABD5 Fri, 8 Dec 2006 22:59:52 -0500 <img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" height="150" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/the-slave.jpg" width="150" border="0" />Without a doubt, I am a proponent for African slavery reparations! <span style="COLOR: rgb(153,0,0);font-size:85%;" >(side note: I am not sure what the average Negro would do with a reparation payment) </span>To date the US has refused to officially apologize for slavery because of the expected fall out for back payment to ancestors. Anyway today Tony Blair (British Prime Minister & Home to Fuck Bush) issued an apology for the enslavement of Africans. Maybe I am stupid or something but I am not sure if he was really speaking for the country or himself. If he was speaking officially, what impact can this apology possibly have? Will Fuck Bush follow suit and say the words that many of us want to hear? The funny thing about Blair's apology is that it is totally opposite of his &amp; the EU (European Union) position from 2001. <a href="http://english.people.com.cn/english/200109/04/eng20010904_79267.html" target="_blank">read more here</a><br /> <br /> The funny thing about Blair's apology is that it is totally opposite of his &amp; the EU (European Union) position from 2001. <a href="http://english.people.com.cn/english/200109/04/eng20010904_79267.html" target="_blank">read more here</a> I truly believe the US will never apologize leaving us to the be country of the roaming white elephant named denial. http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/apology-one-dollar-short.htm 6C8C6746-97A3-4B24-8398-0DFB78DDBDD1 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 23:08:32 -0500
Most of you know that I do web design as a side gig to support my addictions; shopping for clothes & electronic gadgets & gizmos. So this week I had a serious challenge on the web design piece, my first seriously ridiculously difficult customer. I pride myself with professionalism, patience & a great skill set but all of that; well at least 2 of the 3 were out the window after I got into a vicious verbal argument over something so simple. After this argument was over and Jojo-9 left, I was so fucking mad I was on the verge of tears and not because I was in bitch mode.

I cannot go into detail but from this downhill experience, I learned a few things:

• Rush jobs are not a good thing to take on in all cases
• People will (especially my PEOPLE) try take advantage of your good will and intentions
• I am nobody’s bitch now matter how much they pay me to work for them
]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/most-of-you-know-that-i-do-web-design.htm DCCEFCE0-FE09-4F46-8BF0-23884C02A645 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 23:02:14 -0500 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/thefountain.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="227" width="150" /> To kick off my 4 day holiday weekend, I started with a trip to the movies to peep a couple of new releases before I went home to start prepping food for a gluttonous night of dinning. <p>First on my schedule was “<a href="http://thefountainmovie.warnerbros.com/" target="_blank">The Fountain</a>” Starring Rachel Weisz & Hugh Jackman. The Fountain was a very surreal love story spanning decades wait, actually centuries of finding the secret to eternal life. The story starts off in the 16th century then next thing you know, you are transported to the 26th century in a bubble floating in the heavens & then bounced back to earth present day. </p><p>The story follows Queen Isabel (Rachel Weisz) of Spain who... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/movies-fountain-dj-vu.htm 94E094FE-DB8C-48FC-A3E0-551C16AD421E Thu, 30 Nov 2006 23:04:01 -0500 This week I have read & viewed many thinks that show how big of an asshole Michael Richards is & how his racial tirade contributed to the national racial divide. The Blogosphere has eaten this news up offering many different views on how Richards’ message could be interpreted, some condemn him outright like me, some say it was “just a simple mistake” and others say “what’s the big deal, it’s only words”.

The Bottom line is Richards is a racist ass hole but how does he compare to Kanye West?

Earlier this week, I was on the Afrobella Blog & she detailed comments that will appear in the December 2006 issue of Essence Magazine. During the interview West stated that “If it wasn't for race mixing, there’d be no video girls. Me and most of my friends like mutts a lot. Yeah, in the hood they call ‘em mutts.”

When I read the comment, I was totally...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/biggest-loser.htm C92BC139-ADC4-4A35-9927-C4EEEC2EAAE3 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 23:05:28 -0500 Cardinal Renato Martino is out of his fucking mind to the 5th power. Recently he stated, “human trafficking now is worse than African slave trade”. I read this story on Black Voices today & almost flipped out of my seat when I read the headline.

Comparing current human trafficking to the African Slave trade is unlike any comparison I have ever heard.

Over 10 – 20 million people (official numbers unknown) were stolen & enslaved from the continent of Africa up to 1900; sooooooo, what makes current human trafficking worse than..?

Yes White, Asian & Arabic women are taken & made sex slaves. Sure kids are made to work in horrific conditions & sometimes used as sex toys but how does this compare to what happed to hundreds of thousands that died in the pursuit of dominance. The effects of slavery continue to haunt Black people world wide, I am look at what happened with Michael Richards just last Friday. His comments took us right back to when times were “more” oppressive years ago.

Just to be clear, I am against exploitation of any groups great or small but I refuse to ever put any human atrocity above the victimization of my people.

One only needs to read slave narratives to know how fucked up slavery...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/out-of-mouths-of-fools.htm 2C228648-8525-4779-8B97-9D0A2404D03F Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:45:12 -0500
I am not totally shocked because I feel that he is just saying what a lot of people feel (white) & keep inside.
"Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a fucking fork up your ass." I am not sure how I would have reacted had I been in the audience that night. Actually I know how I would have reacted. Before the set was over, I would have left the building & prepared a can to collect reparations in the fashion of Damali Ayo.

One thing that I found really interesting was that the Laugh Factory did not cancel his show the following day. I think in most cases following an incident like this one the following shows would have definitely been canceled. Since they were not, I am trying to rationalize what statement the LF is sending.

Maybe if Richards made a public apology while staged with 2 Rented Negros all would be good?!?]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/potty-mouth-kramer.htm C3BBC757-4EB6-468B-A977-06A505AB707D Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:47:26 -0500 I got this via email today & wanted to share. I cannot verify the authenticity but from the looks of things it's very real. No matter what, we all know or should know how we sere sold, marketed & fucked over.<br /> <br /> <img width="450" height="688" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/billofsale.jpg"> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/bill-of-sale_10.htm 0C2829F8-BEE9-4CE9-876E-312F7E5DA187 Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:49:14 -0500 This morning while driving to work I was cruising along listening to music as usual when my old Hair Theme came on, “Mr. Lover Man” by Shaba Ranks. This became my hair theme the first time I walked out of the Nathan Influence Salon downtown Detroit in the Renaissance Center with my hair straighter than any white counterpart. <br /> <br /> It’s kinda funny because as I as walking out the song was playing & it was like I was moving in slow motion through the salon with everybody staring at me like what the fuck did he get a page boy for & why is it straighter looking better than my shit (I heard the whispers) but I did not care. As I approached the door still in slow motion it opened and a gentle gust of wind blew my freshly permed hair around like I was in some type of Pantene commercial & I liked it in a strong Black man kinda way.<br /> <br /> "Who are they to judge us simply because OUR hair is long"<br /> <br /> When Mr. Lover Man comes on I am always taken back to that unforgettable slow motion gentle breeze moment, which brings a smile to my face. To this day I still enjoy a gentle breeze through in my hair. The man responsible for my progressive look was non other that Curtis Griffin... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/hair-theme.htm 7808C3AD-A96E-4B1F-96FC-786A171C3C2D Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:12:48 -0500 A few months ago my camera (<a href="http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Olympus-D-540-Zoom-Digital-Camera-Review.htm" target="_blank" >Olympus Camedia D-540</a>) died on me & I was kinda upset about it because I had just purchased a new memory card for it. Once the camera died all of the sudden I was not able to view my pictures from the memory card on my computer & I was pissed because I had some really good shots of my spring garden, pictures of robin’s eggs that were laid in my back yard any many other special shots through the summer. <br /> <br /> Today was the day that I decided to say fuck it so I purchased a new camera (<a href="http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DSCS500" target="_blank" >Sony DSC-S500</a>) & dropped a couple hunnert’ dollars (ouch). So I get home I decided to tinker with my old camera & pulled on the “new memory card put it in my computer & reformatted it totally wiping out anything that was there. I then put it back in the camera & it asked me if I wanted to reformat the card & I said yes. <br /> <br /> With this double reformat complete... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/broke-as-hell.htm 8C270449-EB09-4047-A9F8-41F02B72E153 Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:14:03 -0500 Last Saturday, I played big brother to a little borther who is a family friend, actually almost family. His mom is Suite Suzy’s bf's & he needs a positive role model so from time to time, I will do things with him etc.

Part I: Saturday after I picked him up we headed to the Max M Fisher Theater for the “Macy's Day of Music at The Max!” which featured several local performs & offered a very nice eclectic mix of music. The first act we saw was the NAAHII (Native American Drumming), which was very entertaining. After the drumming we hung out for a bit listening to some Blue Grass Folk music & we also checked out the Mosaic Youth Theater before heading to dinner @ Union Street.

After dinner we headed...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/big-brother-little-brother-music.htm B4E17C96-600A-4DA3-9CAE-C9B1768AB044 Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:15:44 -0500 This evening after dinner, my oldest child Sade (9 & is actually my sister that I am raising since the death of our father 5 years ago) asked me to see a few pictures of our dad because she misses him. I told her that I had to dig them out because all of my pictures are buried in our coat closet under mounds of shit...<br /> <br /> So after everyone went to bed & I caught a breather I stated digging. I have so many photos that are still in the original envelope from CVS, Walgreen's ect it’s not funny. Because I have not been in my pictures for so long, I had no idea what envelope had what so it was like playing Russian Roulette to find pictures of my dad.<br /> <br /> Well after searching for like 15 minutes I stated to get lucky! I found some pictures of Sade when she 1st moved north with Suite Suzy, Oiliva & I, then I started to find pictures of my dad. The 1st picture I found of him was one where he had on his Army fatigues with the biggest smile ever on his face. It was a good picture so I placed it at Sade’s place at the table for her to see in the morning along with a few other miscellaneous shots.<br /> <br /> After I was done placing the photos, I decided to pick up the one of my dad in the fatigues & stared at it for a while then I started crying... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/few-tears-for-thee.htm 15D235B1-362E-40D3-8B51-76D85AD4B321 Wed, 1 Nov 2006 23:52:00 -0500 <br /> <img width="150" height="150" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/window.jpg">In many of my posts I reference Crackheads that I encounter while out and about and in most cases they are probably not Crackheads. I assume that in most cases that they are actually homeless but with Crackish ways. <br /> <br /> I know that I’m being ingnant’ by using the terms Crackhead & homeless interchangeably but… Maybe I should be more considerate of this especially when I was homeless as a child a few times as my mother floated in & out of bad to abusive relationships. <br /> <br /> [Switching to third person for no apparent reason] Did you know that Bygbaby once spent the summer of 1983 (3rd grade) in a woman’s shelter (YWCA Downtown Detroit). He remembers looking out of the window of the room where he... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/getting-little-personal-crackish.htm B6630BE7-1527-433C-9F33-5795BFE01B4B Wed, 1 Nov 2006 23:53:56 -0500 <br /> Every time I wash may hair I marvel at in the mirror just a little bit because I love the way it looks wet. My hair is like a sponge & it takes hours for it to dry. When my hair is wet, it's like 3 times as heavy but it feels kinda good I guess cause it looks good & hangs better. I took this photo after a wash & shower tonight (last night at this point). I washed around 10pm; it’s now 130 & it's still pretty wet so it's going to be a juicy pillow night.<br /> <br /> <img alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/bygbabyblue.jpg"> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/moist-narcipost.htm 3CF7C031-9A6F-4492-AE3C-13C489A718EE Wed, 1 Nov 2006 23:55:31 -0500 <br /> <img width="150" height="150" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/mocad.jpg">Last night Cousin Dee & I celebrated the opening of the New <a href="http://www.mocadetroit.org/" target="_blank" >MOCAD</a> (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit) during their Gala Opening Celebration. <br /> Because we's po', we decided to forgo the Patron's Preview which was 125.00 a head to attend the after party which was only 10.00. <br /> <br /> So we make our way to the MOCAD & create a parking space (can only be done in Detroit) at the opposite end of the street, which meant that we had to walk past like 4 vacant apt bldgs complete with loitering Crack Heads. How do I know they were Crack Heads? Well it was like 35° & raining as they sat in lawn chairs asking for money because they were keeping an eye on all of the cars. Anyway… <br /> <br /> We are now past the vacant bldgs & Crack Heads in line to have our ID's checked to get into the party. We get through & then had to stand in line to pay the 10.00 admission fee, which is when I decided that I was too sexy to pay then stepped out of line & entered the Museum as if I belonged there & everyone knew. Cousin Dee was a little shocked but right behind me. As we approached the 1st exhibit, we let out a Madea “HELLEER” coupled with a mini “Bitch Scream”... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/about-last-night-vii.htm EE9A42A3-9854-4077-9C89-36D7DEF631E1 Sun, 29 Oct 2006 00:45:40 -0400 <img width="150" height="137" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/quenchessentials.jpg">If you are looking for ways to moisturizers for your body. QE has wonderful Shea Butter based Body Mousse, which is available in four fragrances in addition to one unscented. <br /> <br /> Our Body Mousse contains Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Jojoba Oil & various Essential Oils for the crowning heavenly touch. <br /> <br /> We also have... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/shameless-plug-quench-essentials.htm A6777E11-EE91-4F84-B36A-E2A6D17F1820 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 22:23:29 -0400 <img width="150" height="137" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/bwgirls.jpg">Found this one online & had to post it. Of course we have all heard the cases where this occurred due to some Petri dish mix up but this one is a spin off on old fashion conception. The girls are cute & they have a pretty interesting story that they can tell fro the rest of their lives; well at least until they get tired of repeating themselves. I cannot wrap up without wondering what difficulties/differences they will encounter as they mature socially the pubescence to adult years.... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/mixed-eggs.htm 9229D40F-E225-4AD4-972A-6E9E3876A40F Wed, 25 Oct 2006 23:33:40 -0400 This just in: New Nina Simone CD "Remixed & Re-Imagined" out Oct 31, 2006; more info here. BTW the snippets sound HOT!



I am really excited about this release & cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Holla!!!]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/11/coming-back-my-baby-nina-updated.htm FE872E95-6B8A-4AC1-946F-CB9AF0E53A38 Mon, 16 Oct 2006 00:01:17 -0400 I learned about a "new to me" British artist Xantoné Blacq the other day on the Incognito message board & decided to check him out on Myspace. Well after listening to the first 2 samples from his new album From the Heavens and Beyond", I purchased the whole album from iTunes.

His voice is rich, soulful & is reminiscent of Stevie Wonder. The cuts are very diverse with notes of R&B/Funk, Jazz, Rock & Brazilian Samba; a weird mix I know but he does it very well!

I usually never get bad music recommendations from the Incognito message board & this is a good example of when I did not waist my money. I really tried to not spend the money but I could not resist (I am pretty weak when it comes to impulse shopping).
-----------------------------------------------------------
A Little About Xantoné:

Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter/producer Xantoné Blacq's music is a sonic adventure fusing jazz, funk and soul with music from around the world. Xan describes his sound as ' free-range sunshine music'... Think Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder in the making...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/music-from-diaspora-xanton-blacq.htm DFF67071-F2C8-42F5-92CA-5E497FB2FE61 Sun, 15 Oct 2006 23:58:27 -0400 <img width="150" height="196" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/geoffrey.jpg">After listening to a very stimulating article on <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6243503" target="_blank" >Black fashion</a> & how it intersects with the world on NPR today I visited the site tonight to hear it again. As usual NPR had corresponding images & other information related to the topic but this one thing caught my eye & it was an image of <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/freetodance/biographies/holder.html" target="_blank" >Geoffrey Holder</a> & his beautiful wife <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/freetodance/biographies/lavallade.html" target="_blank" >Carmen de Lavallade</a>. The image was from the 1968 revival of "House of Flowers".<br /> <br /> I did not know much about Geoffrey or Carmen but I was familiar more with Geoffrey from the 7-Up commercials from back in the day & from one of my favorite movies "Boomerang"where he played freaky "Nelson" (remember the Strangé Kiss commercial with the cherries; MARVELOUS) http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/while-i-was-surfing.htm 7852FE0D-3D1B-447E-8DB7-4574E399970C Wed, 11 Oct 2006 23:30:00 -0400 I did this over the summer while home alone with my best friend aKa my MacBook Pro & yes I was kinda bored. I play this all the time &amp; laugh @ myself which drives Suite Suzy nuts.<br> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><embed src="http://www.bygbaby.com/mindspill/bygbabycryingwhileeating.mov" width="425" height="350" autoplay="false"></div>I have a few more coming so I hope you enjoy!!! To view you will need <a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html" target="_blank">Apple's Quicktime Player</a> installed. http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/fun-with-video.htm E3358313-1F17-463F-B45A-C79C1DA8E8EC Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:23:21 -0400 <img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" height="222" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/tcm.jpg" width="150" border="0" />Since I am a sucker for slasher flicks, I had to see the latest addition to the horror genre <a href="http://www.texaschainsawmovie.com/" target="_blank">Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning</a>. After work today I made a mad dash for the theater & unfortunately was 4 minutes late for the movie opening because I had to get my drink &amp; popcorn to have a complete experience. I happened to walk in on a pretty gruesome scene, I will not go into detail but it did involve the birth of "Leatherface".<br> <br> The movie was basically a prequel to the original film released, which was released in 1974. The plot was somewhat the same with a group of young adults living their lives until some serious shit goes wrong. In this case things got set off with a fight over the Vietnam War, a dreadful biker chicken, an exploding cow & the fake sheriff.<br> <br> There was of course the sick cannibalism... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/movies-texas-chainsaw-massace.htm B28BAD51-256A-490D-97EE-FFCCE1852D5B Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:24:58 -0400 <img width="150" height="150" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/hey-na.jpg">Since my last post, I was incommunicado because I was trying to calm my life down from this summers hectic to demanding schedule & I am now feeling like things are pretty settled. I decided to not take any classes this semester because my mind was fried when school started, so next semester I am gonna have to step my game up. You may not give shit about what has been going on with me but for some reason I feel compelled to put this out there for the world to know (I just re-read this last sentence & it sounds stupid and dramatic but, I am leaving it in). <br /> <br /> To share with you what has jumped off over the past 2 weeks, I have put together a quick overview. This list is out of order big time but this is my life, so since I have been gone I http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/10/catching-up-to-it-all.htm 6049DC8B-3D68-4BE6-8CD9-0D3445EE39BB Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:28:37 -0400 Last night Cousin Dee & I had one of our cousin dates out & about in Detroit. The plan was to meet at Club Bleu downtown Detroit for the Amel Larrieux, Dwele & Raheem DeVaughn concert then head to The Bosco for a Mp3 battle (NoWax Wednesday) & a few Mojitos.

The concert started at 7 & I was still at home tired as hell & somewhat dreading the drive downtown. About 730 Cousin Dee called & was like you need to hurry up, so I motivated & got off my ass 20 minutes later. It was a good thing I had on an all purpose outfit cuz…

40 minutes later, I get downtown when CD calls me & tells me that the line for the concert was wrapped around the building so we made alternative plans to go to Oslo for dinner & drinks. CD & I are too old & sexy for long lines.]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/09/about-last-night-vii.htm 8B83D397-46FE-4B10-8799-4FDA9661C677 Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:33:11 -0400 <img width="150" height="150" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/barney.jpg">I was researching Black History facts for Sept 19 for the Bygbaby.com Afro port & ran across the interesting story of Barney Hill who reported that he was abducted by Alien's the night of Sept 19, 1961.<br /> <br /> Why is this story fascinating to me??? Barney is a Negro!!! When I 1st ran across this I was like no way cuz one thing I never hear about is Black people spottin' UFOs & such. This story is quite intriguing & I believe it based on what I have found on a few sites. I'm a sci-fi sucker.<br /> <br /> Enjoy<br /> -----------------------------------------------------------<br /> Late on the night of 19th September, 1961, 41 year old child welfare worker Betty Hill and her 39 year old husband Barney were traveling home after a pleasant vacation in Southern Canada. They were traveling along Interstate Route 3, which cuts through the White Mountain of New Hampshire on the long journey home to New England. For quite a while the Hills had been puzzled by the 'white star' that had seemed http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/09/interesting-black-history-fact.htm A1DB07EA-E1DA-46C2-9411-66C854E9303F Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:34:16 -0400 Tonight I was watching "Madea's Family Reunion" & I absolutely loved it. We got the DVD a little over a month ago & I am just getting around to watching.

There were so many stories going on that were just intense like the abusive relationship, bas assed teenage child, childhood abuse skeletons, a fucked up mother & finding love again to name most.

Anyway, my point in this post is to point out a soul stirring speech given by
Cicely Tyson when she broke everyone down at the family reunion and a beautiful poem performed by Maya Angelou named "In and Out of Time".

Cicely Tyson - Breakin' Down the Family
Family reunions are about uniting the family… bringing together the young and the old. singing and dancing and thanking God, giving Him the glory]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/09/home-movies-with-madea.htm 09B1E287-B13C-4CF9-AD4E-230FF2D0F359 Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:35:11 -0400
While watching the video the one thing that stayed on my mind was salmonella caught up in those long as ghetto nails; ain't no tellin' what is up in those nails

What are your thoughts on Ms Peachez' ghetto chicken?

BTW, I like da wings & da white meat with a big juicy jalapeño pepper from Popeye's. I can't fuck with dark meat cuz I ate too much as a poor child (this is another story)

You Hear Me!




]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/09/fry-that-chicken.htm 332FF839-A77E-4493-A0C8-554CAE984E03 Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:36:13 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/crystalball.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />The day after I did my blog on the Quilts of Gee’s Bend, I was still on high about discovering & talking to friends about the (yeah I am really excited about them). After running some errands in Detroit, I stopped by Cousin Dee’s house to chill before heading home. Soon I I pull up to her crib, my phone rings &amp; it’s an number that I did not recognize so I was hoping that it was a new web design client but it was not, it was even better.<p></p><p>It was Emma Ribbron, a wonderful woman who was a participant on my 1st trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The conversation started off pretty normal & quickly started to take a strange twist. After we got all of the... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/09/karma-gees-bend-follow-up-your-open.htm 7CE50C3D-7071-4233-B059-7E63CFD49D31 Thu, 7 Sep 2006 21:55:37 -0400 One year later, this video is the most hurtful thing that I saw on TV after Katrina hit N.O. I wonder what ever happened to Hardy; I pray he found his wife one way or another. Last year I did a blog that told Hardy's story, I was in Toronto when I first saw Hardy on TV. BTW, Barbara Bush is a stupid Bia Bia... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/heartless-unashamed.htm 9EC5AD15-27CD-4EED-9129-34FBEA2D4945 Thu, 7 Sep 2006 21:54:35 -0400 I found this today on the <a href="http://afrobella.com/" target="_blank" >Afrobella Blog</a> & thought that it was sooooo worth sharing. The recreation of the Doll test in modern times is very saddening. What I find most shocking is the comment of the last child who was asked which doll was bad, then asked which doll looks like her.<br /> <br /> To quote Gil Scott Heron, "Home is where the hatred is, Home is filled with pain." I really do not want to believe that these and others are learning self hatred (maybe this is extreme) at home.<br /> <br /> I am digging the mindset of the young ladies in the video, they make some very good points, to bad, this sentiment of self love &... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/girl-like-me.htm 4407CFED-5008-4643-851C-81C8F25FFD68 Thu, 7 Sep 2006 21:59:53 -0400 I got this image along with several others of Black Celebs looking like a hot mess, but this one took the cake. When I saw it, I actually threw up in my mouth a little. <br /> <img width="275" height="397" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/aretha.jpg"><br /> What the hell is Aretha thinking? I could not give her any respect with those about to explode sand bags just waitin' to pop on on the next MoFo.... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/tig-ol-bitties.htm 351ADD0F-9F29-48D4-B9A0-EFD519546E14 Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:57:05 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/mixed.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />When it comes to interracial adoption, I have mixed views because I see this very touchy. I am not only referring to White families adopting Black children, but any “minority” child adopted by a White family.</p><p>What I appreciate is that a family is acting selflessly by taking in a child that needs to be loved & cared for. These families most often seem to be better equipped and patient to deal with the child’s needs. Most importantly, most adopting families have http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/saving-children.htm 0A1EAD65-5377-44E4-B7AB-B508F61A646E Wed, 30 Aug 2006 02:08:07 -0400 <img width="167" height="135" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/quilt1.jpg">Today I had to run to the post office to purchase a money order to issue a refund for my cancelled trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (I know a money order; well that is what the customer preferred so...). So before I went to the Post Office, I had to run to the bank to get the refund money blah, blah, blah. OK so now I have the money & I on my way o get this damn money order.<br /> <br /> When I get to the PO lobby, I was shocked to see how busy it was, I mean the line was almost out of the door. Since I had all of this time to kill while I was standing in line, I started to look around the PO & I spotted a large poster of the Marion Anderson stamp just behind the counter. After I spotted the poster, I started thinking about the stupid urban legend... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/money-order-debit-card-quilts.htm 27CB4BBB-7C3A-4B03-9945-F1B9A5BB3D03 Wed, 30 Aug 2006 01:23:52 -0400 &lt;img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/wow.png" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /&gt;Recently, I&nbsp;&nbsp;have been finding myself doing things that I would are somewhat embarrassing to&nbsp;&nbsp;admit to many of my friends.<br /> &lt;p&gt;There are a&nbsp;&nbsp;few more but this is all that I am willing to publish to the world, at this point anyway. :-)&lt;/p&gt;My latest "guilty pleasures" are:<br /> <br /> &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Watching&nbsp;&nbsp;Season 2 of the Flavor of Love&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Watching&nbsp;&nbsp;Next on MTV; there is just something fascinating about what these stupid as&nbsp;&nbsp;people do to get a date with someone who is supposed to be “HOT”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Watching&nbsp;&nbsp;the Keyshia Cole show on BET.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is&nbsp;&nbsp;ghetto & ignorant but I cannot stop watching & the sad part about it is&nbsp;&nbsp;that I do not even like her music&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Paying for&nbsp;&nbsp;a download of Paris Hilton’s song “Turn It Up” http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/guilty-pleasures.htm 5DB47582-E324-46C2-BFFA-0406E397A8D3 Wed, 30 Aug 2006 01:28:05 -0400 <img width="150" height="150" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" ="" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/cap.jpg">Recently one of my online friends (<a href="http://brunsli.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Brunsli</a>) started making hair ties for those with locs or anyone who would be interested in wearing one. She sent me one about 3 weeks ago & I have been addicted ever since I put my 1st one on (The “&lt;a href="http://hairties.blogspot.com/2006/07/toni-toni-long.html" target="_blank">Toni</a>” in red horn). <br /> <br /> After wearing it for a few days, I discovered how much I needed something like this & ordered 2 more “Toni’s” & a “&lt;a href="http://brunsli.blogspot.com/2006/07/rita-and-kim.html" target="_blank">Rita</a>”. This is what I told Brunsli & others on one of my Yahoo groups:&lt;br /> <br /> "Dear Brunsli, I got my "Toni" hair tie today ... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/my-hair-tie-coffee.htm 7DDAC698-A2EF-4F63-9431-91EE46E77F07 Wed, 30 Aug 2006 01:26:05 -0400 Now that my Blog is now 1, I decided to switch up the look & pimp out the little Blogger template to make me happy. Does it look boring to you? <br> <br> Talk to me & thanks for sticking around listening/reading all of my rants/drama/information! http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/new-look.htm AB7EE6C7-83A2-49D0-91FD-DB7B9E9925DC Sun, 13 Aug 2006 02:06:12 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/moad.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> A good friend told me about the new <a href="http://www.moadsf.org/" target="_blank">Museum of the African Diaspora</a> in San Francisco tonight & it looks wonderful based on what their website displays. The MoAD opened late last year (2005) to the public &amp; they offer permanent & temporary exhibits. <br> <br> <strong>About</strong>:<br> An international museum, based in San Francisco, MoAD is committed to showcasing the "best of the best" from the African Diaspora. To facilitate this, MoAD reaches out and initiates collaborative ventures with institutions of similar vision from around the world. Already, the museum has forged rich relationships with.. http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/museum-of-african-diaspora-moad.htm 9FC02C2F-5662-439E-AC18-9406473CEDC9 Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:11:00 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/cancelled.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="87" width="150" />With deep regret, I have to announce that the bus trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is postponed indefinitely. The trip is postponed do to low response which is probably associated with end of summer activities.<br> <br> I would like to send special thanks out there to all who have supported this effort &amp; want you to know that your efforts have not been wasted.<br> <br> I will send out a communication as soon as the next trip is set, so stay tuned for updates! <br> <br> Peace,<br> Bygbaby<br> <br> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/get-on-bus-cancellation.htm 48C28604-0FCF-4163-A46D-1F99E5754284 Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:11:44 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/five.gif" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />As you may have read from my NYC trip post, I was turned off by the 5 %er's (The Five Percent Nation) when I ran across them while strolling down 125th in Harlem & again while strolling around Times Square.<br> <br> I thought they had a good message but very poor delivery &amp; presentation. They were dressed in some weird combination of fatigues that had a KKK get up type look & then it was topped off with aluminum foil covered belt buckles.<br> <br> Before this trip to NYC, I had never heard of... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/more-on-5ers.htm CEA337D1-31C9-4FFC-B673-06B17E3768ED Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:10:00 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/sangria.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />I really want to blog a deep post on the 5 percenters right now, but I am drunk & still sipping on cheap boxed wine.<br> <br> Although like this is boxed wine, it's very good &amp; I am not to ashamed to admit it. In general I find boxed wine tacky & unclassy IMHO (what does this make me). BTW don't tell anyone that I do drink boxed wine, I have a rep to protect.<br> <br> Anyway &amp; on another more important note, I had an intense day, I attended the funeral of... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/08/boxed-in.htm 4E7BE81F-3EB2-4864-9EB9-96715927BDF2 Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:09:04 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/mayfly.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Part I</span>: Since I got my new Mac Book Pro last month, I have been busy designing new background wallpapers to make my shit look even better. I have a collection of 12 now & wanted to share with my readers/friends/you.<br> <br> Check out my latest designs by ç. Feel free to down load &amp; enjoy, especially if you have a wide screen laptop or desktop. The file sizes are somewhat large but worth the wait to download if you are in dial up. Wait a minute, if you are on dial up... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/07/wallpaper-i-ii.htm 9F6A7F16-4BB2-4311-968F-202580DFC774 Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:07:59 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/musica.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> Most of my friends know that I do not listen to the radio because commercial radio sucks & they cater to a demographic that I do not easily fit in. Well technically maybe I do fit into most demographics but just because I am between 18 and 35 that does not mean that I enjoy hearing music about bling blingers, raunchy overt sexual encounters or desires, songs repeated 3 times in 2 hours, or none talented young performers who cannot carry a note to save their life.<br> <br> I find the majority of my new music or releases from my favorite artists using online resources and various groups that I belong to. One group in particular is the Incognito message board, which is a community of international "Coggers" who not only share stories about our favorite group but use the forum as an outlet to let others know about obscure/Indie artists who need to be heard and or seen. I have been a member of the Incognito message board for well over a year &amp; I am ashamed to think of how much money I have spent based on recommendations for electronic, world, house, jazz, acid jazz... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/07/black-music.htm 7EF7954C-5946-486C-B74F-D64E53A13F53 Tue, 25 Jul 2006 02:29:10 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/clear.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> Last night (Tuesday) I ventured to the Bosco for a party thrown by <a href="http://www.clearmag.com" target="_blank">Clear Magazine</a> & <a href="http://www.adobe.com/" target="_blank">Adobe</a>. I was pretty excited about this party for one reason only &amp; that was because it was in part thrown by Adobe, which happens to produce my favorite software packages which include Photoshop, Image Ready, Illustrator, Macromedia DreamWeaver & Flash blah, blah, blah.<br> <br> Anyway I entered the party with high hopes for a good time &amp; thoughts on having a few Mojitos to really set the night off. As I entered the bar, I saw the crowd was pretty decent or so it seemed; so I sat at the bar, ordered my first drink & chilled while thumbing through the current Clear Magazine edition. To tell the truth, I had never heard of Clear Magazine &amp; was very impressed with what I saw of this international fashion magazine based in Royal Oak MI. As time and my 2nd drink disappeared, I left the bar hoping to mingle with the one person from Adobe but he was crowded by others so I chilled for a bit before I... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/07/about-last-night-vi.htm 451ACF9C-F386-457D-9D0B-83D6A3CC436A Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:01:52 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/nyc.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />July 12th is my wedding anniversary & this year like years prior, Suite Suzy &amp; I celebrate in NYC. We used to go to Toronto to celebrate it 4 years ago we decided to switch it up because I was sick of going to Toronto but we needed to be in a big city.<br> <br> So anyway, we left on the 12th to catch our 620am flight, which we missed due to some slight oversleeping. We were so close to being able to make the flight but because American Airlines sucks like ass & the gate agent appeared to be a Mongoloid we were not allowed to get on because the last check in was 546am &amp; we got to the gate at 551. How fucked up!<br> <br> Our next option was to wait until the 1053am flight, which we did in what seemed to be the basement of Detroit Metro airport. Although I was pissed off @ American and myself for "slightly oversleeping", I made the best of the situation & started to read "Do You Take This Woman" by <a href="http://www.rmnovels.com/" target="_blank">RM Johnson</a> (I am previewing this steamy novel for Simon &amp; Schuster). I am not a quick reader so I was able to get through the first 5 drama filled chapters. As I wrapped up the 5th chapter, I peeked out of the window & saw Rikers Island then BOOM, touch down. Still looking out of the window as it screamed down the runway I also saw Donald Trump's... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/07/city-that-never-sleeps.htm 9EF6B0A9-8629-4962-9563-089357D9C7E2 Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:01:14 -0400 What it do peoples?

This is just a quick note to share with you all that I completed my official website update a few weeks ago & would like to invite you to check it out & join the Afro Port!

The Mind Spill blog started off as an extension of the Afro Port & they are both different.<br>
On the Afro Port, not only will you see beautiful graphics, you will also be able to listen to my frequently updated diverse playlist, preview the Mind Spill blog posts, get daily black history facts (at least 3 a day), you can vote on my ghetto vs. realty poll & read news from many sources...

Anyway hit me up at www.afroport.bygbaby.com

Holla,
Bygbaby]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/07/afro-port.htm 6A0988B6-4202-4745-80C3-15CB96018D35 Mon, 3 Jul 2006 09:39:59 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/fred.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> Frederick Douglass gave a speech on On July 5, 1852, during an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, at Rochester's Corinthian Hall. It was matter of fact break down of his "our" where told his audience (the white peoplez), "This Fourth of July is <em>yours</em>, not <em>mine. You</em> may rejoice, I must mourn." And he asked them, "Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day?" (in my best Madea voice <strong>Helleer!</strong>)<br> <br> "What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/07/meaning-of-july-fourth-for-negro.htm 57DAF07B-3818-43C5-9595-A15AF0C86142 Mon, 3 Jul 2006 09:17:30 -0400 This is mos def good news to me, maybe we can plan a plane/bus trip here!

Enjoy,
Bygbaby
---------------------
There is something in the sprawling history of black people, particularly when it comes to Africa, that defies the idea of Black History Month, and Ekwo Omakwu felt the limitations in his bones.

About 10 years ago, living in Washington, he worked on a Black History Month project and came away wanting more. He was working at a bank and he and his friends on the project had the, not untypical, reaction that these efforts should not be confined to the 28 or 29 days of February.]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/yet-another-reason-to-visit-home.htm C62AAB0A-AD55-4A1E-813A-FF1F0F841297 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 15:50:17 -0400 <img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" height="130" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/mbp.jpg" width="175" border="0" />Although the week is not over, I just needed to get this out! I pray that I will continue to be on the positivity track for the next few days to make this an unforgettable week. So here what's so good.<br> <br> Please comment on what s good about your week, I just know that I am not the only one out there with all of this positive energy going on.<br> <br> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sunday</span>:<br> <br> We celebrated my youngest daughter Amelia's 1st birthday on (Go Boo Boo!). Amelia is now 26lbs 4oz & 33" tall &amp; above average intelligence. Not only is she big, she is also smart...<br> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/so-far-its-best-week-ever.htm 7181EE02-F08C-4754-9F36-CE3532264463 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 12:24:17 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/sorry.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />I could not let this go without posting it. When I read it, I had mixed emotions on all levels & questioned the relevance of the apology. What would happen if there was an official European/American world based apology for slavey.<br> <br> I do know one thing that is burning on my mind is the reparations payment that I am waiting for. Everyone benefited from slavery but the damn slaves; why come.?.<br> <br> While on this topic, I want to share a quick story from a recent conversation. An associate of mine asked my why I talk about slavery so much etc. I explained that if I or any other BLACK person do not talk about it, then how will our diverse history be passed on... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/slavers-descendant-begs-forgiveness.htm 7B1753A3-7E90-4FA7-ADF9-F0A8483A3B97 Mon, 26 Jun 2006 01:31:59 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/wwb.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />When I saw this story it reminded me of something that happened to one of my teenage cousins recently. Hearing about stories like this angers me & the anger is only exacerbated when I hear what the po-po has to say about why they beat the shot out of someone. In this, the police claim that all this drama came about because the victim was blocking traffic &amp; resisting arrest.<br> <br> OK first of all, since when did it take 4 police officers for a pedestrian infraction. Two, is it really resisting arrest if you are defending yourself from an ass-whooping?... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/walking-while-black.htm 47C47745-2B02-46C5-899E-2315246FBFA7 Sun, 18 Jun 2006 22:58:33 -0400 I saw link to this movie on Damali Ayo panhandling for reparations payments from white people on the streets at blackademic.com & I am happy that I found it. I think I am now inspired to try to collect reparations myself but I do not think I will be giving out any receipts. I may start this weekend. Please see this movie & send it to 3 friends!

Click here for the video
Here is another great site on this

Enjoy,
Bygbaby
-----------------------------------------------------------
From Damali Ayo

As a part of my evolving DIY Reparations program I panhandle for reparations on the streets of various cities across the United States...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/damali-ayo-reparations-now.htm FB690272-2018-4333-8AD3-02349A82BBAE Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:34:26 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/cameron.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> Thank God for email because without it, I would have not heard about this story on <a href="http://www.blackholocaustmuseum.org/founder.html" target="_blank">Dr. James Cameron</a> & no I am not talking about the movie maker. This story shows me that important news in our community does not get disseminated as it should via commerical news sources.&lt;br> <br> The fact that he is a lynching survivor is a haunting fact 1930 was not that long ago when you think about it.<br> -----------------------------------------------------------<br> <a href="http://www.blackholocaustmuseum.org/founder.html" target="_blank">James Cameron's</a> life could have ended on a tree limb on an August day in 1930. After an angry mob busted into the Marion, Ind., jail and dragged out Cameron and two acquaintances, he was beaten and watched the other two black youths hanged.<br> <br> As a rope was thrown over his head, he prayed for God to save his life... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/dr-james-cameron-founder-of-americas.htm F84CFEED-AA96-4D91-B434-6E85C3F6E185 Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:23:57 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/movement.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> Although the Memorial Day weekend is way over, I still need to talk about what an awesome weekend I had at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival a.K.a The <a href="http://www.demf.com/" target="_blank">Movement 2006</a>. Fortunate for me the volunteer coordinator (Jake Snarski) from <a href="http://www.wdetfm.org/" target="_blank">WDET</a> gave me a call to volunteer during the weekend long festival & I quickly replied with "yes, sign me up now dammit." I was really excited about this opportunity because I have been wanting to go to the Movement since it began back in 2000 but never found the time to do so.<br> <br> So my shift was 4-8 on Saturday &amp; when I arrived downtown Detroit, al I could hear was the thumping sound of bass & people all around me. As I got closer to Hart Plaza, the sound got louder &amp; more energetic & I was getting pretty pumped. Another volunteer fro WDET met me at the gate with my little have tag &amp; bracelet to get in & from there it was on... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/movement-06-better-late-than-never.htm 6AD08A58-B41D-4BC3-B4EE-0A5F4A246D5B Mon, 12 Jun 2006 14:49:58 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/mybinky.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />My little sister Baby will be having her 1st child in less than a month from now, who will be my 1st nephew (already nick named cousin Bay Bay). Anyway I was looking for a special gift for him this new little prince and I stumbled upon one of the most ridiculous items I have ever seen in my life on itsmybinky.com.<br> <br> Itsmybinky.com has the nerve to have a diamond crusted pacifier going to 17k. I am not sure who would really buy this; I mean will it be the ghetto fabulous paid rapper it movie star or some rich as socialite?... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/upscale-or-just-plain-ghetto.htm 1D7D5120-EE1F-43F1-98FA-175C6CBC067D Thu, 8 Jun 2006 16:25:09 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/maggotbrain.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> This officially serves as my 150th Blogger post & I am (don't laugh) excited. Why, because this shows that I have stuck to the commitment that I put upon myself to share information with others, maintain a positive forum for myself that is used for a mental release, in other words therapy.<br> <br> While I'm not the best writer I truly enjoy posting here! Come July 06, I will celebrate my 1 year anniversary &amp; that's not too far away so hmmmm, I will try to get t 200 posts by then. No not really, way to busy to slam out shit like that.... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/is-150-now.htm 4F761A3F-02D4-4D81-B7A5-A31DB4C4859D Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:15:48 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/sagging.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" />This past weekend, I was informed of the origins of the sagging pants (saggin') phenomenon prevalent in the Black community. I was told that the origins of the ridiculous fashion faux pas began in the prison system in the early to mid 90's & it was a signal to other inmates that the "sagger" was sexually available. I was pretty shocked when I heard this &amp; was like hmmmm, how does this correlate with the Down Low plague (if you will). I never thought about where it came from, I just always thought it was dumb & self denigrating.... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/urban-legend-or-reality.htm 10AA5E3A-896C-49AD-9F3B-69544C2333C3 Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:17:14 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/freedom2.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> Yesterday was my much anticipated trip to the <a href="http://www.freedomcenter.org/" target="_blank">National Underground Railroad Freedom</a> in Cincinnati, OH. When I started off organizing this trip about 3 weeks, I had to sale 47 tickets @ 45 dollars each & this proved to be no easy task &amp; I winded up being able to sale 44 which I am counting at as a complete success!This was my 1st attempt at organizing a large coordinated event & although it was a lot of work, I enjoyed the process &amp; was fortunate to have the assistance of Suite Suzy, my new friend Barbara Perkins & "Sheroe" Dahia Shabaka.... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/get-on-bus-part-ii.htm EBE84493-8958-4AE1-A842-7121269F2870 Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:18:24 -0400 <img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="Bygbaby.com Mind Spill Blog" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/x3.jpg" align="left" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> I started my 3 day Memorial Day weekend off with a bang by seeing "X-Men: The Last Stand". I left work in time to see the 545 show & as I was approaching the main entrance, an announcement came across that the 545 show as sold out (DAYUMMMM!). <br> <br> So I only had to wait another 30 minutes for the 615 show, I braved the long line, made a break for the restroom &amp; got my snacks, it's 610. When I made my way to the theater, I looked around to see that it was already almost packed, so I stepped over a few people then took my seat to await this anticipated phenomenal movie (IMHO).... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/05/movies-x3-last-stand.htm D0610751-88BC-4E8F-A328-1559CA6B0916 Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:20:29 -0400 <img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="Bygbaby.com Mind Spill Blog" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/ailey1.jpg" align="left" border="0" height="200" width="150" /> Last night I was lucky enough to take my daughters to see the <a href="http://www.alvinailey.org/" target="_blank">Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater</a> perform at the <a href="http://www.motopera.org/" target="_blank">Detroit Opera House</a>. Fortunately for me, the AADT was able to add additional shows in Detroit after they had already left several weeks ago. When I got this 2nd chance I immediately purchased my tickets & decided to surprise my girls with this wonderful gift.<br> <br> The evening started off by leaving home @ 530 to make our way to <a href="http://unionstreetdetroit.com/04/" target="_blank">Union Street Saloon</a> (Detroit) for dinner, where the meals are always good &amp; the service is almost always bad (in my opinion, my friends beg to differ). We got to Union Street about 615 & it was not that busy, so I knew we could get out within a hour (the show started at 730) so that we could park &amp; get our will call tickets... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/05/dancing-with-my-daughters.htm E950BF33-C3EF-4261-8E83-969CF534CFC5 Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:21:45 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/flag.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mind Spill Blog" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" align="left" border="0" height="200" width="150" /> I am sick & fucking tired of hearing about the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (CIRA, S.2611) aKa the Immigration Bill that is making its way around the Congress/Senate/President. Every time I turn on the news, read online, watch the evening news, I am bombarded by the debate over controlling our border(s) (talk about media ubiquity). Today while driving out &amp; about, I swear, immigration talk was on for most of the time I was listening to NPR in the morning, afternoon & evening. The only immigrant population that this plan appears to threaten are Mexicans.<br> <br> Mexicans have been running for the border living here making a living setting up communities for decades &amp; the way I see it is enough is enough. Mexicans come to America & yes take jobs the average American is not willing to do, but at the same time they are driving down wages for any citizen that is willing to handle hotel, agriculture &amp; other service based work. I mean, if Pedro is happy making 3 dollars per hour, then why would a company or farm etc hire John & pay him minimum wage or more... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/05/break-for-border.htm 18139AC2-3E8D-496F-B375-0BB3CB8E694D Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:21:34 -0400 <img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/republican.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mindspill" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> Several weeks ago I heard a story on NPR & was turned off to learn that the Republican Party is increasing its Black membership numbers as more hot social/political issues arise. From what I heard, some Black preachers are inviting Republican candidates to speak during Sunday services with hopes of rallying last minute votes (act of desperation) and conservative/Republican preachers are influencing their congregations to move/vote Republican because of the recent gay rights &amp;abortions etc issues across the nation. Apparently Black America is more against gay rights than another other group especially with those who are religious... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/06/democratic-threat.htm D489A937-949F-4A53-8EB3-82F4410CC961 Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:19:14 -0400 <img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="Bygbaby.com Mind Spill Blog" src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/da-vinci-code.jpg" align="left" border="0" height="150" width="150" /> Once again on a Friday I ventured to the movies last week to see the much debated "<a href="http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode" target="_blank">The Da Vinci Code</a>" mainly to check out all of the hype. Last Friday was the 1st time I was able to make it to the movies in time to see the previews so I happy about that but by the time the previews were over, it was 6:25 the movie's "start" was 6:00. Anyway, of course I did not read the book, why because I always wait for the movie, HELLO!<br> <br> I was apprehensive somewhat about the movies "star" Tom Hanks (Robert Langdon) because I am not a fan of his, but I guess the sad thing for me is that his movies are 9 times out of 10 really good - awesome. With this said, "The Da Vinci Code" was awesome! The beginning scenes were somewhat eerie & a little intense, dealing with murder, a cloaked Albino, self mutilation in the name of Christ &amp; mysterious anagrams scattered about... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/05/movies-da-vinvi-code.htm D51F8851-473D-40C3-B0D1-BB1E7A39AE31 Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:24:16 -0400 I saw this story today when I was watching "The Best Week Ever" & cracked up until it went off. Guy Goma is now more popular that he would have ever thought; Guy has appered on a few TV shows inthe UK & Germany. Who would have new.!.<br> -------------------------------------------------------------
BBC News 'wrong Guy' is revealed

Guy Goma, a graduate from the Congo, appeared on the news channel in place of an IT expert after a mix-up.

But Mr Goma, who was wrongly identified in the press as a taxi driver, was really at the BBC for a job interview.

Mr Goma said his appearance was "very stressful" and wondered why the questions were not related to the data support cleanser job he applied for.

The mix-up occurred when a producer went to collect the expert from the wrong reception in BBC Television Centre in West London...]]> http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/05/best-week-ever-guy-goma.htm 751F2D81-E037-4156-AC20-1D9B008942E7 Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:24:03 -0400 <span style="font-weight: bold;"><img src="http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/uploaded_images/cottonpickers.jpg" alt="Bygbaby.com Mind Spill Blog" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" align="left" border="0" height="150" width="150" /></span>Growing up, when I heard about the field work salves did, I only recall hearing about rice, cotton, sugar & not much else. Other than the before mention I new Slaves worked either in the field or the house. I think this is what most of us know/knew. Now that I am reading Peculiar Institution: Slavery in the Ante-Bellum South by Kenneth Stampp, I am finding out much more on the work that Slaves did pre-civil war. For instance, I am now up on the fact Slaves worked on cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar, hemp &amp; indigo plantations spring, summer, fall, winter & spring again... http://www.mindspill.bygbaby.com/2006/05/slave-economics-seco-101.htm AB71371E-E06A-4BA7-B59B-80BE8D59FCCF Thu, 8 Jun 2006 01:25:47 -0400