Since I first heard this tune as models sashayed down the catwalk in Korto Momolu's collection (Season 5 of Project Runway), I couldn't get it out of my head - nor could I find it. Sure I came across cryptic leads here and there, but the actual song was nowhere to be found. On one message board, there was mention of a joshua and a song called "binti". Being the stubborn person that I am, I continued to search every once in a while and I finally found it!

Binti makes you move for sure, but the message is serious (corporate welfare, world epidemics, et al). Honestly though, isn't this what many of us do over the weekend, party to forget it all (whatever "it" may be)? Literally, we dance our troubles away - if only for a little while.

Check the song and lyrics below. (purchase here)

"Binti"

Woke up this morning with my

mind stayed on freedom

and it doesn't matter

what the people they say

woke up this morning with my

mind stayed on freedom

and it, it doesn't matter

what the people they sayin' about me

Go run and tell your mother

your sister friend and brother

my tears are dried and gone

my heart is turned to stone and

I'm gonna dance these troubles away

(repeat)

Halliburton, Enron, Caterpillar, Acxiom, Blackwater

pulling guns

trigger happy

killing sons

Politicians, them got

so much money for war

Hungry babies dying

All over the world

Epidemic HIV

Rising price of gasoline

when you're poor, you suffer

Feel the heat of summer

Then you freeze in winter

Come lets dance these troubles away

(repeat)

I'm gonna dance these troubles away

(repeat)

more on .joshua.

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Who's That Girl?

Tolula Adeyemi

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Random Rant

*sigh*

I usually don't share my complaints here at M&C (every once in a while) - especially about insignificant things. I usually reserve my rants (there are many) for another blog, share with friends, or keep them bottled up inside, but there's a itty bitty pet peeve I must get off my chest this morning:  radio personalities who know nothing (historically speaking) about the music and/or entertainment industry. Case en pointe:

One morning, a few years back, one D.C. area radio personality stumbled over the name of John Leguizamo as if she'd never even heard his name before. Given her age and length of service in the entertainment industry, I found this unacceptable; but I gave her a pass since John Leguizamo is an actor - not a musician/singer/rapper - and her audience is largely interested in Black entertainers (which Leguizamo is not), so she technically did not have to know much about him (even though she WAS reporting on general entertainment news).

There have been other offenses since but a particular incident from this morning's drive has really stuck in my craw.

I'm listening to another D.C. area morning show (I don't listen to the radio often these days) and, in the course of announcing celebrity gossip, a radio personality announced the impending divorce of Malinda Williams and D-Nice. Again, if you don't work in the entertainment industry, I don't expect you to know this couple, but if you're reporting entertainment news, I figure you should probably know a little something about the folks you're reporting on. So, imagine my shock when none of the announcers in the studio seemed to know who D-Nice was - beyond his current vocation as a deejay and photographer. They had no clue!  Age is no excuse. If you're in the entertainment industry, KNOW ENTERTAINMENT.  Further, if you're in the music industry, KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT MUSIC - especially your genre/format!  Or at least Google stalk people and act like you know. Stop being lazy and do some research. Better yet, know music inside and out - even if it was before your time. Sheesh

To that D.C. area morning show (you know who you are), I present to you, D-Nice; and please get your ish together:

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Black History on Ice

Surya Bonaly



Debi Thomas

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Respect

I stumbled upon this site a while ago and immediately heard my father, in the back of my mind, going on about how men and boys dressed well in his day. In his words, they were "clean" - not like young men today with their pants sagging, wearing sneakers/tennis shoes all the time, etc.  He loooved to harp on this especially when I was a teenager (I don't know why because the sagging pants were never attractive to me).  I'm sure the young men of Street Etiquette would be a breath of fresh air to my father's generation. They are to me (even though I will never be a fan of skinny jeans on men either). I have nothing against sweatpants and jeans or athletic wear at all, but it doesn't hurt for a man to look dapper sometimes.  Further, how long can a man dress like a boy?  Better yet, is there such a thing as dressing like a man or boy?  Thoughts?

Sewn From The Soul from Alejandro on Vimeo.


GENESIS OF STYLE: MIKE from TONE on Vimeo.

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When It's Cold Outside...

...the U.S. Botanic Garden (or your local botanic garden) is the place to be. It's warm (or hot depending on each garden) and it's free! What more could you want in the absolute dead of winter (or a cheap date idea)?  I went this weekend to catch a break from the cold. It wasn't as warm as usual due to damage from the blizzards, but it was much warmer than outdoors. Check it out (to see larger images, just click on the slideshow. It will open in a new window).

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No. 5

City Livin' (can make a girl crazy?)

another magazine collage, digitally altered

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I Was Productive

At least I got something done while we were snowed in.  Here's my latest collage...well half of it.  I cropped the full collage and digitally altered the cropped portion. I call this "City Livin'". The title was inspired by this song:

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Click Me

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In the Bag

Anyone who knows me can attest to my love of big purses. Clutches are cute but I don't think I could ever carry one (not unless I become a superstar who can have my assistant carry everything else for me).  They're just so...impractical. Being the pragmatic person that I am, only a huge bag will do. So here's my bag of the moment (a gift from the sis) and everything I cram inside. Enjoy!

1. Prescription sunglasses
2. Eyeglass repair kit
3. Checkbook (illustrated cover by Shano)
4. Handmade coin purse that I actually use to carry my flash drives
5. iPod (and earbuds)
   I'm pretty sure I purchased my artist series iPod skin at Urban Outfitters.
6. Alba Botanica lip gloss (passion fruit nectar flavor).  This stuff is great because it's made with 70% certified organic ingredients. Found at WholeFoods
   and
   Black Radiance lipstick no. 5023B/Copper Glow (usually a M•A•C girl but the budget demanded some cutbacks and this shade was perfect!)
7. Nail maintenance (clip and file)
8. Breath care
   To the right is a mint obviously. However, I don't like mints very much and I don't like to chew on gum very often either (citrus flavors are the exception; in which case I can blow through a pack in a day).  So I also have that little gadget you see to the left which is called the Kiss Me Meter. It's basically a mini breathalyzer that alerts you if you NEED a mint or gum. Of course alkies probably would find this comes in handy too. LOL  You just turn it on and blow. 
9. Cute bunny mirror I picked up at a crafts festival. (I try not to pull it out in church though)  :o)
10. GPS by Garmin
11. Pens
    I ♥ Dr. Grip. They're the best  The bedazzled pen was a gift from a special friend. I get lots of questions about that one so I keep it close.
12. Hair supplies (hair pins, elastic bands, butterfly clips and a scarf) - gotta keep the 'do under control
13. Keys of course
14. Palm Centro Smartphone/PDA - I know folks are all about Blackberry and iPhone these days, but I'm not a big fan of touch-screen only devices or trackballs, so I truly ♥ my Centro. It's compact and you can do so much with it (including edit Word documents, view PowerPoint presentations etc.)  Plus it's durable. It's been dropped a few times (not always by me) and it's fine. Of course I have a friend who hates hers. To each her own
15. Bluetooth by Jawbone 
16. Sony Cybershot camera (great camera)
17. Giraffe print clutch wallet - I found this at a shop called Artini in Historic Annapolis on the waterfront.
18. Post-it flags (to mark magazine pages I'd like to save or cut up for use in collages.
    
    not pictured:  Wheel lock key

Oh and please take the poll below.  I'm trapped by several inches of snow, people!  Humor me!

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Survey Says!

I can't take anymore snow!!!

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Stir Crazy

I'm staring out the window and seriously considering building an igloo.  We built igloos and snow tunnels a few times when we were kids and I'm feeling nostalgic looking at all of this snow.  Thinking about igloos also got me thinking about other alternative housing, lodging and shelter options. 

More below:

Glass igloo lodging

Nice view but don't expect any privacy...

Free Spirit Spheres:

I could see myself spending a night in one of these; couldn't work with the outhouse though. No can do!

See inside

A floating hotel  

FYI - Did you know the term "eskimo" is a no-no?  It's offensive to many Inuit, Aleut and other indigenous people, yet I often hear many otherwise enlightened folks use the term freely because they don't know any better. "If you don't know, now you know."

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The Winter Olympics...

...should have been held here rather than Vancouver (where daffodils are blooming and whatnot).

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Mmmmm, Cake

Last night, I found myself online looking for inspiration.  I was a little bummed, and when I'm down, it sometimes helps to look at pretty things. Anyway, I came across a lot of cool collages and inspiration boards. One I really loved (of course) was "Cake," by collage artist Alisa Houseal Botto.  Too bad I couldn't find out more about her.  All I know is that she works out of Memphis.

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R. Alexander Clark

This weekend, I noticed some eye-catching artwork hanging in a local clothing boutique (4NX¢ - cute stuff!). Several paintings caught my eye; and, upon closer inspection, I realized they were all by the same artist: R. Alexander Clark

Check him out...

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