R.I.P Pimp C

R.I.P Chad "Pimp C" Butler. Damn, another one gone

N.E.R.D

When someone says 'My card is maxed out', they are usually speaking of a credit card, or some other money related card. Well, my card is maxed out, and, no its not a credit card, it's my library card. Yes, you heard me, my LIBRARY card. Now I have three essays due in the next 2 and a half weeks, one due this Thursday (I'm starting tomorrow, it's only a critical evaluation, once you've written one, you've written all) the other ones are Media related, and I have to get an 80% or above on one of them. I have to!
So I'm at the Murray Library browsing for books, I get a huge pile and I'm checking them out (self-check)...all of a sudden a warning message on the screen saying that I had reached my maximum of 15 loans (I had other loans for other essays and projects at home)...damn, what is a brother who's just tryna get an education to do?, I looked through my books, I had checked all but 3 out, so I returned 2 books that I didn't think were that necessary and I checked 2 new ones in, that means I had 1 unchecked book...and it was absolutely necessary. I thought, I pondered, I wondered. The library is fitted with sensors that detect and apparently alarm when someone attempts to leave the building with an unchecked book.
I was like, "whatever!", I'm gonna take this book illegally, but for a good cause. Imagine that, stealing for an education! So I placed all my books in my bag and walked out of the library (I wasn't even bothered if it was gonna alarm)...and out I walked...no sound, no bother, Nada!
And now I'm in the process of writing these essays....C'est la vie!

Benny Lava

One of the funniest things you'll see all year

World AIDS Day

DangerTed

A British teacher in Sudan will be spending 2 weeks in jail for naming a class teddy bear Mohammad. It is forbidden in Islam to make idol images of the Prophet Mohammad. Now what this British teacher, Gillian Gibbons did was to make her class students vote on what name to give the Teddy Bear, now as Mohammad is a very common name, the children voted on Mohammad, and that's what the bear was called. Now, once the children's parents heard bout this, they raised alarm, and Mrs. Gibbons was reported to the Ministry of Education, she was duly arrested.
The UK called the matter a 'misunderstanding', that Mrs. Gibbons was unaware of the implications, and did not name the bear Mohammad to delibrately insult the prophet or muslims. However for the Sudanese judiciary, 'rules is rules', and Mrs. Gibbons was fould guilty of insulting religion and will serve 15 days in jail and will then be deported. Other possible punishments included a public whipping, and a heavy fine.
It's not all over, no, now Sudanese people are pouring into the streets and calling for her death, calling for her to be executed. They say the sentence is to lenient, and Mrs. Gibbons should be killed by firing squad. This is a shame, very bad PR for Islam. As many Muslims are challenging the dominant view of Islam as a violent religion, and the media's obsession on negative stories involving Islam, now this story comes out. Thousands asking for the death of a British woman, I'm sorry, but the evidence of a cultural clash is clear as day. The worldwide Islam community has to do something to arrest this trend before it escalates into something else.

Victory is Sweet

We had a big game today. A game against Durham, well Durham are an Ivy league university in an American sense, think, Brown, Princeton, Colombia. So they are a bunch of smart-ass, uptight guys. Well they are also a new team, so, they suck..right? To put things in perspective, we lost 34-28 to Newcastle, and Durham lost 50-0 to Newcastle, so we figured we could put basketball figures on them. Also to add to the rivalry, Durham's current coach was out coach from about 4 seasons ago, and he basically walked out on the team. So there, we had to beat them, no excuses. I think the idea that they were a walkover seemed to get to our heads and by the end of the first half, the so called 'worst team in the league' were beating us 14-0, I had never seen so much anger and dissent in our team. Coaches were fuming, teammates were arguing, it was hell. The Durham visitors were estatic, they were going to beat us on our own field.
The coach rallied the offence at half time, we needed to change our tactics, because we were too damn permeable. So basically, two more men were added to the line (people whose responsibilty is to prevent defensive players stopping our play), of course these two men were not just added, we had to replace them. So basically we wouldn't be throwing the ball, but we would be running it. And oh how did this work, the first play in the second half and BAM! Touchdown, from our American Compadre William Smith...from about the middle of the field all the way to the endzone, complete with Roc Boys salute (go watch Jay-Z's 'Roc Boys' video if you don't know what I'm talking about) Our next touchdown was actually a pass, and then our replacement QB Adam, bravely ran the ball to everyone's surprise, including his teammates. This was it, we were up 18-14. All we had to do was shut their offense out, and our Defense did that with grace. By the time we finished, the sun had set, it was quite dark, and our pitch is not equipped with floodlights.
When the final whistle blew our sideline erupted in euphoric cheers, we had done it, we had come from behind to beat our arch-rivals, Victory had never tasted sweeter, Never!
I didn't come off the game unscathed, No, I strained my medial collateral ligament, nothing major though, I should give it a rest and I'll be alright. We have a week off next week, and then Newcastle the week after, we shall be Victorious once more!

Alicia Keys- As I Am

If you read my post Wednesday October 10 Entitled My Life I said I was obsessed with Alicia Keys single 'No One'. Well the album has dropped, and yes it is a classic. Now I have only been a passive listener of Alicia (although I've seen her Unplugged 4 times), so I cannot say how this fares with A Minor and Diary, but this album is just as Ashanti would say 'Bananas' The intro is a very hip-hop oriented track, no vocals. The next track 'Go Ahead' is actually my least favourite track. The second track 'Superwoman' is an inspirational track for women feeling beaten by life. It is a piano led track, so it does not have that anthem feel, it's a Girl-Power song. By track 4 things start cooking up, the second single 'Like you never see me again' has piercing pianos, possibly the best track on the album...hmmm I'll get back to that. The song basically charges lovers to cherish the present and not take things for granted, love like you were about to die! In fact the main theme in this album is Love. With three consecutive tracks having 'love' in the title. Track 7 Wreckless love another favourite of mine, it would be so great to be performed live! (as all Alicia Keys songs actually) it has a very uplifting and energetic feel to it.
The only collabo of the album, 'Lesson Learned' with John Mayer, talks about being in a destructive relationship, with the woman always forgiving the man, giving him the excuse not to fully commit.
Track 9 Teenage Love Affair sounds like its off Diary..I'm not complaining, it is single material, and it's basically self-explanatory, it's about young, innocent love. Love letters, shyness, phonecalls.
'I Need you', another love song, basically telling a hesitant lover that their love is real, and none of them should doubt it. "North needs South, East needs West, and No needs Yes, I Need You" another stand out track.
'Where do we go from here', this has a slight raggae feel to it, it is about a lover who wants to end the relationship, and the other lover is pining in sorrow, as she still loves him. I really love this song.
Track 12 is 'Prelude to a Kiss' , I still don't get the metaphorical connection between the title and the lyrics. Good song nevertheless. Can also be a song to listen to when you are feeling down.
And now the best track of the album, and of her whole career..lol. 'Tell you something (Nana's Reprise)' this is a love song in a similar vein as 'Like you'll never see me again', it is about seizing the moment. For instance when a lover is going off to war, or has a terminal illness, it is imporant to tell them how much you love them, because all would be in vain if your true innermost feelings were never expressed. I love this song too much, it's on constant replay.
The album closes with 'Sure looks good to me' it is all about living life! That's all I can say, about again, seizing the day and living the hell outta life! Live, Love, Life, Give Love!

Verdict- 10/10
Again, I havent completely digested A Minor or Diary, but if 'Licia is always on point like this, then I can say those were classics like this. As I Am is a big breath of fresh air in the music scene. The only thing better than listening to this album will be watching her perform it live. CLASSIC!

Scream, I'm Back & Better!

Got my new American Football gloves. My Aunt sent them from Colombia, MO as a birthday present. I shall launch them this Sunday in our victory of University of Durham. Watchyass!