From a Music Aficionado to another:
Yes, we can...

A few weeks ago in a New York Times article, Rogier Van Bakel proposed a question to iPodders, Jukebox-Zen-nists, Yepp-ers, and mp3 users alike: Can an MP3 Glutton Savor a Tune? Being a music fan, his question did catch my eye; in fact, I held on to that article as a reminder to me that I am part of a very huge music community, a community that has changed the way we listen and appreciate music forever. I read on about this baby-boomer's road trip from the past with Talking Heads, David Bowie, and such. About the man who appreciates every CD he's bought, and the quest to remember the songs he's downloaded not too long ago. But what I'll remember the most about the article was his defining phrase that described perhaps me and the entire mp3 community; a phrase so scintillating, I'll even put it in his own words:

"...instead of engaging in the gluttony that has become the norm for many music fans... where my musical greed would go dangerously unchecked."

One might call this dabbling a NYT rebuttal. And I don't know about you, but I don't appreciate being called a music glutton, or a glutton of any other kind. As a proud owner of a 10GB iPod and about 96 or 97 albums, there is never a time where my music goes unappreciated. I may have seemed a little nuts in my quest to fill my iPod with 2000+ songs, but that music is the music I grew up with, the music I hummed to, the soundtrack that has been my life. And to recall that music and own that music is not a crime.
As of this writing, for the first time in my music experience, I have access to over 2000 songs (2023, to be exact) on my miraculous mp3/m4a player. That's not even my total music collection (CD's, tapes, 9 records and 2 8-tracks); but it's nearing that point. At some point last week, I went on a trip way back to my adolescence, when I was 6 and living in Park Slope near the Latino neighborhood, and people had on Miami Sound Machine all day long. And at the night, Phil Collins and Miami Vice took over the soundsystems across the city. You Belong to The City was the hottest track around, and Jan Hammer was a God of sorts.
There was a reggae song from the mid 90's that I remember. The main chorus went something like:

Principle, entertainers need a principle
It doesn't matter if you are the people's choice
the people will tire to hear to your voice
Boring, dancehall can get real boring
If you hold the mic like say you holding your woman...

It was a catchy tune, one I admired, and one I was never able to tape the full version of from my radio. Some 7 or 8 years later, I stumbled on Dancehall Principle, by Tony Rebel and Garnett Silk. The joy in my ears (and the agony in other people's ears) flooded back memories of junior high, where Toni Braxton and Babyface were a hot music pair.
Then as I got around to developing feelings for the opposite sex, my craving for R&B ran to people like Jermaine Jackson, Chuckii Booker, and Troop, whose songs (Don't Take It Personal, Turned Away, and All I Do Is Think Of You respectively) always put me in that groove. Artists like The System, Al Jarreau, and George Benson helped give me an appreciation for landscape; and during the early nineties, all my drawings were either of a moonlit beach, a long breezy road, or summer rain on flower petals. As my parents partied to their funk music, all I heard was Stomp! by Brothers Johnson, and other songs by Heatwave, Parliament, Rick James, and Earth, Wind & Fire. My mother adored Regina Belle, praised Jennifer Holiday, and nearly worshipped Whitney Houston; drowning the rest of us along with her in the process. My only solace could be found in my bedroom radio, where Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, After 7, and Mint Condition brought me back to the present R&B/pop culture.
Cooking was boring at first, but when my brother made me listen to Beethoven, Mozart, Domingo, and Pavarotti, cooking wasn't so boring anymore. And it wasn't the Baroque/Classical classy numbers that we enjoyed, but the more memorable pieces we hear in commercials that get us going.
I remember doing deliveries with an Syrian back in high school, and the only thing he knew was Hani Shaker, the Prince of Arabic Music. Little by little, I found myself intrigued by the man and his melodies, and now I own 5 of his albums. Then I got to hang around with the Jamaicans and West Indians, my people. I learned to appreciate Shadow and Barrington Levy more so with them than when my father beat it down my throat. And who can forget my first year of college, when all my friends from Mid Eurasia (Ukraine, Russia, that part) beat me down with Europop, and the many levels Garage, trance, and electronica music. In making this long story short, I've escaped to different cultures through different points of my life with music; and capturing all those points into one deck o' cards was my mission; that with the deck of cards, my iPod, I can go anywhere, at anytime, to anypoint in my life, without losing track of today's greats.

While this sounds like a kat with a grand musical taste, what this doesn't sound like is a kat who downloads for the sake of downloading, or a kat who buys for the sake of buying. Despite what my mother says, the music I buy is not just a pile of plastic. Prince CDs, George Michael CDs, Michael Jackson or Lionel Richie tapes cannot be found in the same category as a pile of plastic. From the cover to the written lyrics, they are history. Come to think of it, if you've ever seen Glenn Lewis' Don't You Forget It music video, where he first surrounded with his wide array of albums (including my MJ Off The Wall album), my collection is kind of like that.

An interesting question was just aroused from my 88/93/98/03 playlist: How can you put No Letting Go and Don't Disturb This Groove on the same playlist? I smiled and said, "the same way I put Arabic and Italian-pop music on the same player, 'cause it's my life, my soundtrack." And it's a living testament to the music I loved 15 years ago, 10 years ago, 5 years ago, and now. Nothing against Mr. Van Bakel's observations, but it takes a pro to have 2000+ songs in one collection, and appreciate all 2000+ songs at the same time. Actually, this must make me a novice, because I know mp3-ers with 6000 songs that can take any one song and recall the importance of it in their players. One iPodder I know call his iPod My Radio, and I need not discuss why. And I'm sorry Rogier, but if you have a hard time remembering what you downloaded last week, you'll probably not have the savory glands that we have...

But then again, this dude must be in his 40s or 50s. I'm 21 years old with this love for music, not withstanding the twenty and thirtysomethings with this kind of music appeal. And I'm sure others would agree that that's not a bad thing.

"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.' "
Charlie Brown

Holla back, from da Kat unda da Kangol cap! What started as a rather boring week last week turned pretty cool after all. No thanks to certain friends of mine, I finally went to the movies by myself. In fact, the trip to the MacWorld Expo was a solo flight when I think about it. Wow, I feel so proud of myself, no longer needing company to have a good time!

Ok, what happened? In what was supposed to be a Friday night trip to the movies with some buddies, I ended up not only going to the MacWorld Expo by myself, I also went to the movies last Saturday on my own as well(sad, ain't it?) Saw Bad Boys II and Johnny English, which are both cool flicks. Then I went to see Terminator 3 the next day, and that was awesome too!

First up, my first trip to the MacWorld Expo, despite the fact it felt pretty small at the Javits Center, was cool. It was a challenge resisting the urge to buy all the cool Mac gadgets they were offering me. But aside from that, the G5 unveiling was awesome. But I must admit to you, that machine has got to be right now the most ridiculously, unnecessarily, most powerful computer I've seen; I got the 17" tiBook was something, but this one takes the cake! After an hour or so of walking around and checking out stuff, I ended up leaving with a clear iPod case, which displays the beauty of my 2nd-gen device while protecting it. I thought that'd be a cool way to celebrate 7 months of its existence in my life. Right now, with 743MB left, I have 1986 songs (that's 1986 down, 14 to go)...

Wining Queen
Elephant Man
Riddim Driven: Nine Night Riddim

And yes, my photos from the trip to expo are available here.

Second: Bad Boys II. For two and a half hours, there were times I felt that this wasn't the movie I paid $7 to watch. The first car chase in the movie reminded me a little of the chase in Matrix Reloaded. The hummer chase through the shantytown was a total and direct ripoff of Jackie Chan's Police Story, which happens to be one of the best cop films of all time (I'm sure Jackie was very flattered.) The whole idea of Lowry & Burnett rifting apart and eventually staying partners in the end is oh too similar to Riggs & Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon 3. Even the plot of two Miami cops heading to Cuba as two fish that are in too deep is another ripoff; this time from the Miami Vice episode Calderon's Return. In fact, the similarities between this movie's bad guy and Orlando Calderon are striking. Just imagine a 2 1/2 hour episode of Miami Vice, that's all.
I keep mentioning the length of this movie; but while it was a tad bit long, they made up for that time with a lot of action. So I forgive them for that one. Gabrielle Union was pretty good in this film as well. Also, the rats thing was in fact very funny. A man with so much money, it can breed rats; that was a pretty hilarious concept. Add that to the exchanges between Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, especially the part where Lawrence downs some pills of ecstasy, and you have a very entertaining film. It sure could have been good without the dead body count, and the very graphic scenes of rats reproducing and brains literally being forced out one's body; but it was still one good flick nonetheless. It will get a 9 out of 10 from me; even though with all the dead body and cars being tossed around, the film was 2 1/2 hours long.

A trip to Wendy's and an hour later, I went back to United Artists theater to watch Rowan Atkinson's Johnny English. Now, I was not into Bean as much as I was into Blackadder and The Not Nine O Clock News; in fact, I was more a Blackadder fan than anything else. So going into the movie, I expected a little Baldrick, I have a cunning plan humor. But, for the first half of the film, while it was laughable, it was not as humorous as I wanted it to be.
I don't know whether John Malcohvich's portrayal of a frenchman was supposed to be accurate or humorous in itself, but that damn accent had me laughing the entire time; in fact, as the rest of the audience eventually found out what I was laughing at, they realised that it (the fake French accent) must have meant to be funny, and started to crack up as well! And I don't know what happened, but from the "car chase" with Johnny English's Astor Martin hanging from a tow truck, 'til the end of the movie, the movie became really, really hilarious. Images of English and his partner breaking into the bad guy's lair through the crapper had me going for hours it seemed. Oh yeah, Natalie Imbruglia wasn't bad either.
All in all, the film is very funny; it may have a slow start, but it does have a good finish. And give Robbie Williams' A Man For All Seasons a listen. It gets a 9 out of 10 as well.

The next day (being Sunday), my brother and I went to see Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. More action, more drama, and lots of stuff blowing up; typical of the Terminator films. I can honestly say that the absence of Linda Hamilton and director James Cameron did not bring down this film at all. In fact, it actually has kept true to the Terminator continuum. In the human/machine war of the future, a human sends a terminator to the past to make certain that the John Connor and some woman named Brewster (Claire Danes) survives Judgment Day to fight the machines. And that female Terminator was just da bomb!
In any case, the film gets a 10 out of 10 from me; for action, continuity, and restoring my faith in Arnold after Jingle All The Way...

Uh-Oh. The skies just got darker, and it's after 2PM. I'll post some more stuff later...

Alright you, who are you, and what have you done to Vee???

The Expo is tomorrow!
When I reach my contact, I might get some pics in! Stay tuned...

Damn...

Don't Disturb This Groove
The System
Old Skool Flavor Volume 1

But of course, how can I forget...
Happy Tavie & Kirsten Day!!!

Here We Go Again!
Portrait
New Jack Swing!: The 90's

Here we go (here we go again!)
going through the same thing (here we go again!)
Here we go
Don't wanna play the same game (not again, I don't wanna go through it)

Ah, those days...
Memories come flooding with the rain...

Ok. To the only real set of business for the night:

Happy 7-Month-Versary iPod!!!

Now now, I know that you guys haven't seen my wonder of joy. But that's probably because you've seen so many people with one, I figured you wouldn't want to see mine. But for those who don't believe, I'll get a pic in as soon as I can.
My iPod once had 2003 songs on it (really it did!), but now that I have mastered manually adding and sorting out my music, I'm back down to 1955, with less than a gigabyte of space. It's a pity.
More to come... later.

PS - Nice to see you back in da city, Mikey!

Okay. Before I go, I give you one last didley with some meaning. Enjoy your 4th of July from the other side...

The Role Model

I remember reading the comics
and wanting to be like Superman.
"Man, he can do anything," I used to suppose.
But now, he's a weirdo in pantyhose.
I watched him everday, his character so perfect;
for all of his dreams are realized.
Ah, as I remember watching TV,
aspiring to be like Bill Cosby.
I remember as I went outside as an adolescent
wanting to be like my best friend Curtis.
He always had the girls, always had the grades.
But now, he's just an ordinary knucklehead in braids.
A funny thing about role models
Is that you can't totally be like them.
Living all those years in virtual reality;
while diminishing your individuality.
No more do I envy those people;
for I lived the life that no one can compare.
As I set out to fufill the dreams that I dare,
I want to be... the first Terrence Pierre.

This next freelance was just something that was in the back of my head for sometime. The only thing that prevented me from putting it to paper was the vagueness of the subject. But, no longer prohibited by anything, I give you from the other side...

Need and Want

What is want? What is need?
What is it when one acquires it, and still wants?
When a need is fufilled,
there are other needs to be met.
Or somewhere down the road
there's the need to be replenished.
When do we want what we need
and it is called a need?
And when do we need a want
and still say it's a want?

I think of the future where everything is anew;
And remember the past, when my needs were few.
But I can't help but think of the present
And remember my needs right now
to remember my I want it, and want it now.
The drive for want is so strong
Still something there makes me feel the need.

What is it that I really need?
What do I want that ends my wanting?
Sometimes wanting more is less
And needing less gives you more.
But when you don't know
what you really need or want,
wanting and needing are the same thing;
and all I want to know is:
exactly what it is I am looking for.

"Now they show you how detergents take out bloodstains, a pretty violent image there. I think if you've got a T-shirt with a bloodstain all over it, maybe laundry isn't your biggest problem.Maybe you should get rid of the body before you do the wash."
Jerry Seinfeld

Happy 4th of July from da Kat unda da Kangol cap! The sun's out, the weather's tolerable, and I've been due to go to the movies for quite some time. However, since I'm the only kat with initiative in da kliq, I do better going by myself.
In any event, I finally have some new freelances to put up (yay!), and thoughts to release. "What thoughts?", glad you asked...

Now that I have taken the time to really check it out, the new BLOGGER format ain't half bad. It ain't half good either, especially when it wants to give you a basic HTML format knowing fully well your computer and browser are capable of so much more, but it ain't half bad. I do miss the ability to change an old post without having to refresh the entire screen, but republishing the blog was never so easy! And, when you add the fact that I can see everything I type without having to resize the typing window, the new BLOGGER gets a plus from me!

Ah yes, the new additions. After having some time to go over the blog (making sure I didn't write what I didn't want written), I noticed I have done more freelances than I thought. So much so, I already have a little over 30! No, this doesn't mean you'll get a new freelance, it just means that it will not be #28 as I thought.

Well, the date is set. July 16th, dis Kat is going to the MacWorld Conference Expo! No, I won't be up for any lessons (though I should take a couple), I'll just visit the Exhibit Hall, and peek inside to see if Steve Jobs introduces the G5 PowerBooks. After all, 2003 is supposed to be the year of the PowerBook...

Soca Gold 2003,
Various Artists

Ah Home by Iwer George, first and foremost, was a requirement for this year's compilation. The mere fact it wasn't first on the list was a crime. But it's good to see that it was there. Elsewhere, returning artists to the Soca Gold series are Krosfyah featuring Edwin Yearwood (my favorite), Rupee (2nd favorite), and Burning Flames, with very some very good tracks. KMC's Doh Want To Know is my brother's favorite out of the entire collection, in which I dispute with Square One's Turn It Up. Display I must admit is a very infectious tune; and Camille Marshall does provide good eye candy. Overall, the CD is great. I haven't had time as yet to check out the 2nd CD done by Soca Vibes; but I will.
Meanwhile, I just can't help but think of the songs that should've made it to SG2003. But when I think of the fact they only had room for but 18 tracks, I guess VP Records did what they had to do. So, if anyone is interested in doing their own soca gold CD and need some ideas, here are ten songs which I believe should've made the cut; but then again, are so good, they require their own CD:
1) Trini To De Bone - David Rudder and Carl Jacobs
2) Watching Me - Benjai and Gailann
3) Call Me - Kevin Little
4) Road Jam - Krosfyah feat. Edwin Yearwood
5) Passion - Militant
6) Hold That Man - Pilot
7) Hold On - Denise Belfon
8) Get Ready To WIne - Allison Hinds feat. Elephant Man
9) Frenemy - Rupee
10) Do For Do - Beckett

Another thing of mention, since I now have a decent collection of RG and SG CDs, I gotta say that the first SG CD I bought, Soca Gold 2001, is my favorite. No, not just because Melyssa Ford graced the cover; but because of the collection itself. From Jump to Forkin, from The Grave The Jail The Hospital to Hickey to Follow The Leader, Leader, Leader, from Spirit To Wave to Chutney Ragga Soca Party, to It Wasn't Me and Mud Dung. It was from start to finish, one helluva Soca CD. From that point on, any other soca collaboration couldn't compare...
Back to subject at hand. SG2003 is definitely worth the cash; that isn't of course, if you have most of the music already. But don't just buy it for the music; buy it for Camille...

Next up, a question I've been meaning to answer; it goes something like:
"Why haven't you posted more photos???"
Well, the reason is, until I go back and finish scanning all the negatives, I will not have any photos to put up! Otherwise, it will be a while before I can get my digital camera again. So there!