Oh no, the end of the world is at hand!!!

I'm sure many of you have heard about the Mayan prophecy, right? Well, I just heard about it this week. According to the Mayans, the last day as we know it is on December 21, 2012. Doesn't leave us much time, I suppose.

Ok, so now what? Most of us, I'm sure, are pretty jaded on the whole end of the world prophecies. Weren't we supposed to be all supposed to be dead at the stroke of midnight 8 years ago? Well, needless to say, we are still here.

There are a bunch of prophecies about the end of the world in the bible and I'm sure that there are those people would swear me up and down that every natural disaster proves that these theories are true. Let's just say, I'm not so convinced.

Anyway, back to the Mayans. The prevailing thought is that they stopped their calendar at that specific date because time as we know it will no longer exist. I'm thinking that they stopped at the date because they knew that is was highly unlikely that any of them were going to see that date and tried of writing. That was my first thought.

Notice that I say "time as we know it" and not "life as we know it". Amidst all the end of the world paranoia, there also the thought that maybe the only thing that will change is the way we think about time. The way we keep time. Time has gotten so elusive to many of us these days. Will we finally be able to slow down and realize how precious life is? Spend more time instead of wasting it?

I guess it's just another why to look at the whole prophecy. The truth of the matter is, we will never be able to truly know what the Mayans were thinking. But I tire so with the end of world crap that so many people subject themselves to. If the time has come for the human race to cease inhabiting the planet, I don't think there is much we can do about that. Like the dinosaurs, eventually we may have to go.

New Toys

I logged into blogger account to see a few changes. I thought that maybe that a sign to change the look of the blog a little. If I had a little time, not to mention a bit more inclination, I would do it right. I would make it a bit more personalized. Oh, well it is what it is. Subtle change indeed, but at least a little something different to look at...

A Now and Then Music Flashback - "Settle for My Love"

I'm an old head when it comes to most music, so when Musiq Soulchild released his rendition of this song, I was immediately turned off. I heard the first few notes and sat there like "no he didn't!!". In my mind, there are some artists that you simply do not touch, in my humble opinion, anyway.

However, I finally gave in and listened to the entire song. Musiq did a nice job with his rendition. He made it duet (although I think I would have liked it fine with just the female lead) and added a few other touches that made it his own.

The original was performed by Patrice Rushen, one of my all time favorite R&B artists. Both versions are below.



from the album "Pizazz"



from the CD "Aijuswanaseing"

Water: The New Wine?

I came across an article about the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney. Apparently, they have added a water list to they menu. This is to address the concerns from patrons that want to consume less alcohol, but still want the experience of fine wine selection. So, instead of selecting from the finest varietals and regions, the experience is now about minerals, levels of carbonation and guessing what water complements what dish. What??? IT'S WATER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! HOW MUCH DIFFERENT COULD IT POSSIBLY TASTE???

Well, for as much as $85 dollars a bottle, it better be the best damn water that I have tasted in my life. Ok, I know water is good for you and all that. But damn!!! $85 a bottle!!! And, I can't even get a buzz? I will continue drinking water from my Brita filter, thank you very much.

I had to pause for a moment...

...and say how beautiful the weather is in B-more today. For the first time in a few weeks, I walked to my car without becoming drenched in sweat the moment I walked out the door.

It was a beautiful 72 degrees with a gentle wind, bright and sunny. Yes, this is the type of day my picturesque vacation is made of. Because of the rain the night before, (uh, scratch that, it was more like a torrential rain storm) my allergies weren't bothering me at all.

I felt the need to run away and do something fun. I so wish I didn't have to work today.

What would you be doing today if you weren't working???

Music flashback - "Don't Be Afraid"

Listening to my iPod this morning, my random play came across this '90s gem, Aaron Hall's "Don't Be Afraid". Originally on the Juice soundtrack, there were so many versions of this song, I have totally forgotten which is truly the original, the one on the soundtrack or the one on his album. There was certainly a range of versions. Fast tempo ones for the club, a slow version for the bedroom.

I wasn't really an Aaron Hall fan, especially after he left the group Guy. His solo efforts were so-so for me. Not terrible albums, just not albums that I would be playing 10 years later. And I didn't find him as attractive as so many other women. Blasphemy, I know. I just thought he was nasty. He was the "nasty man" after all. But he ain't got nothing on the music coming out these days. Male singers these days don't merely suggest what they want, they find the most raunchiest way to say it.

Anyway, I found a couple of versions of the song on YouTube and wanted to share. Enjoy!


Nasty Man's Groove Version



Jazz You Up Remix



Slow version from the album

Family friendly...sex toy store???

A family friendly sex toy store? The idea is to take the sleaze out of the sex industry. This store in particular apparently blends into the neighborhood. There are no over the top sexual images, no big banner signs advertising "XXX videos here" like most places. But, of course, there are people in the neighborhood who have a problem with it, even though you would probably not know what the store sold just from looking at the outside.

And the inside, from the video I saw, was very tastefully done. It seems to take away some of the embarrassment most people feel when entering a sex toy shop.

Here's more of the story.

I have to ask. What is the fascination with...

...Jon and Kate plus 8??? I get more traffic from google.com searches for that one topic than anything that I ever wrote in this blog. I thought it was a mistake. But sure enough, all day long, people are searching for Jon and Kate information. Wow!!! I only talked about it once, well twice now. Sorry to disappoint any one, but this is definitely not a Jon and Kate blog. I watched one full episode, thought they were insane to get pregnant for a second time with use of fertility pills and really didn't like the way Kate interacted with Jon. He seemed like the ninth child the way she talked to him at times. I figured the rest of the series would be more of the same.

But I read somewhere, I'm not sure where now, that that is the reason so many people watch this show. Unlike other "reality" TV show, this doesn't appear to be scripted in any way. Also, those of us with children especially, may look at our lives and think that things in our lives are sooooooooooooo much better in comparison. If they can do all that on one salary with eight kids, what the hell are those of us with only one or two kids complaining about? Although, I have to believe that they are getting some subsidy from TLC. Why else broadcast your private family life to the world? And seeing that there is so much interest on the Internet, there has got be a way for the family to capitalize.

Happily single and permanently celibate...on an adult single's site???

Okay. I get the 'happily single' part. That's cool. Some people seem to think that being single and happy is impossible. Personally, I love my husband, love him to death. But then there are those times when...ooooooooooo, don't get me started. If anything irrevocable ever happens and our relationship ends, I really don't think that I would ever, ever live with a man again. I could see dating again, but I couldn't see getting married again. It's just too much damn work and I'm not willing to through it a second time.

The 'permanently celibate' part? Hmmmmmm. Okay, not for me, but I'm sure that there are plenty of people out there who are fine without sex, ever. In fact, I just recently read about a 107 year-old man from Hong Kong that credits his long life on his sexual abstinence of over 70 years!!! (Damn!!! I would say something crass here, but I'll be good today.) However, if you are 'happily single' AND 'permanently celibate', then why, why I ask, would you place a profile on an ADULT singles site? If I'm not mistaken, most people go through the trouble of placing a profile on these sites to find people to date, hoping to find a relationship, which could possibly lead to sex, right? Of course, I think in this case, the members are probably strictly looking for just the sex, I'm sure. But I'm saying, I gotta ask again, if that is not your interest, why waste other people's time?

Her reason? In summary, from my prospective anyway, she takes perverse pleasure in going out with guys that want her but know that they can't. Just sounds like a big tease to me. To each their own, I suppose.

Out of curiosity, to any of my readers, I ask you, male or female, would you date a person who has taken a vow of chastity? And, I don't mean until marriage, but FOREVER?

Kanye West - more Flashing Lights

Finally!!! Different versions of the video. Unfortunately, none of them relate to the first one, so I'm at a lost as to where that video was going or came from.

2nd official version appears to be a better interpretation of what the song appears to be about. However, the unofficial version, I think, was the best. What are your thoughts???


2nd official version


3rd official version


unofficial version

Obama and racism in America

I'm not naive to think that racism does not exist. However, I like think that even the most racist individual would have enough common sense to be colorblind on important issues. Especially when it comes to running the country. Very far-fetched, I know. I realize that it may never be. Not as long as we have ignorance like this. This type of ignorance truly makes me weep for the future of my country.

Living Room Cinema - Southland Tales

Two of my favorite things lately have been watching straight to video and independent movies and trying different types of wine. Earlier this year, I attempted to swear off the alcohol for four months. I lasted four weeks. It just seems that when you decide to swear off of something, anything, the temptations are just thrown in your face. I would specifically like to thank TGFPH for her reference to a vodka that, of course, I couldn’t get out of my head until I got some liquor in me.

Okay, I’ll talk about my wine encounters later. Right now, I want to talk about the movie Southland Tales. In a nutshell, DO NOT RENT THIS MOVIE. Even if the movie rental is FREE. That’s right. It’s that bad. We should have been paid to watch it. Then again, it still wouldn’t be worth it.

I suppose if I am going to trash it, I should at least say why.

The plot (as I could gather, before falling asleep on the movie, twice) is a hypothetical look at how America could have been after 911. In this case, however, instead of the twin towers as targets, two cities in Texas are hit by a nuclear bomb on July 4, 2005, very reminiscent of the bombings of Hiroshima. This event sets off World War III. The draft is re-instated. Americans need travel visas to leave each individual state. The Internet is now under government control. And since America relies so heavily on foreign oil and friendly relations with these countries have ceased, America faces a serious energy crisis.

The story begins three years later. America, desperate to find an alternate energy source, comes across a German scientist who claims to have a solution. His project is called Karma. This is where I get a bit fuzzy, but I believe that it used the ocean in some way to generate energy. Karma, however, is not the savior to the energy crisis it appears to be.

Now, the side story that doesn’t seem to make much sense. The character that The Rock plays is some celebrity that decides to serve his country, gets amnesia, then wonders around. He is discovered by a porn star, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar. While in her care, he writes a movie screenplay. In his screenplay, he predicts the devastating effects to the world caused by using Karma. The porn star is supposedly helping the celebrity to shop the movie, I guess to somehow validate her career. She has some talk show where she and several other women talk about important issues, such as the state of the country, politics and horny teenage boys.

The other thing that bothered me was the narrator, played by Justin Timberlake. I’m a fan of Justin and all, but his role in this movie seemed so unnecessary. Then again, I’m a bit biased. I really don’t care for narration all though a movie. A little here and there, okay. But when it is an important part of telling the story, that doesn’t work for me. I should be able to get the feel of the story from well-developed characters and a decent plotline.

So far, is any of this making any sense? I like abstract type movies, but this was just an abstract piece of crap. All I could talk about was how much I wanted to slap my husband for suggesting such an awful movie. Can you believe the budget for this movie was $15 million??? It opened in limited release, I think in 2006, and made nowhere near that amount in ticket sales.
If I wasn’t clear the first time, DO NOT RENT THIS MOVIE!!! There other more productive ways to waste 2 ½ hours on a Friday night.

Thoughts about life and death

The hubby and I went to see the newest Indiana Jones movie. I won't get into too much details, I'm never good with giving a review without spilling a few spoilers. I'll say that although I thought it was an OK movie, it WAS NOT the Indiana Jones movie that I was waiting to see, which is apparently the prevailing thoughts among the critics. I didn't feel that it outdid the Last Crusade. The Last Crusade was a fine ending chapter to the series.

The previews usually piss me off. Because if it is something that catches my interest, it usually doesn't come out 6 months to a year later. I usually have forgotten about the flick by then. But there is always at least one that it pretty memorable.

I couldn't stop thinking the preview for the movie "The Curious Curse of Benjamin Button". Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it tells the story of a child who is born as an old man. As his life goes on, he gets younger and younger. At first, I'm thinking who wouldn't want to age in reverse. The best years of your life could be enjoyed at the end of your life instead of your worst. You could look forward to your golden years. But if the movie is going to be anything like the short story, aging in reverse could be just as bad as aging forward. Maybe even worst. In either situation, it probably most important to not let time pass you by. Far too many of us waste too much of our lives in waiting. And then we waste more time with regret.

I suppose this site could be useful

MizPee

For when you need to answer nature's call, on the go.

For those of us in Maryland, we are out of luck. The site doesn't cover MD locations as of yet.

Monogamy - Is it normal?

I consider myself a one-on-one, type of gal. I never quite understood polygamy or polyamourous relationships, at least not from a practical stand point. I mean, sure, maybe it would be nice to be like Empress Nympho from "History of the World, Part 1" and have my pick of manliness on any given evening. And, I'm sure that there are quite a few men out there love having their pick of women any given night. I'm sure that there are many doing so right now. But once the fantasy and the pleasure of the moment is over, then what? Back to the reality of emotions, diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

But in this world where monogamy is the social standard, I keep hearing time and time again that monogamy simply isn't normal. That's why men and women cheat. They are just giving in to human nature.

That got me to thinking. If it is our human nature to have more than one partner at a time, just where did the idea of monogamy come from? Is it more of a religious thing that we have just over time have socially accepted as law?

Online social networks - you can't be in just one!!!

How many social networks do you belong to?

Movie flashback - Set It Off

Started thinking about this movie on the ride into work today. My favorite song on the soundtrack, EnVogue's "Don't Let Go". Also had one of my favorite movie love scenes (I was in love with some Blair Underwood back then).

It started the rumors about Queen Latifah's sexuality. There was such a big deal about that on-screen kiss she had with another woman. She was VERY convincing! Could have been just good acting or... I guess the world may never know. Rumors aside, no one but the Queen knows whether or not she's homo or hetero and she ain't talking.

The other thing that I remember around this time frame was the group of suburban girls that, after allegedly watching "Set It Off", decided that robbing banks could be a fun way to end their boredom. Considering they all got caught, I guess they didn't watch the end of the movie to see what NOT to do.

Anyway, here's the EnVogue video:

Kobe jumps over an Aston Martin?

That's what they want you to believe with this video. The story I read was that the story has been analyzed to death and no one seems to be to prove that it is a fake. My bet is that it is a fake. Mainly because of one missing element in the video: the driver of the Aston Martin. It may just be the quality of the video on YouTube, but when Kobe jumps over the car, there doesn't appear to be anyone driving the car. When car comes back, you can clearly see the driver wearing a very distinctive colored shirt.



I don't know why they chose to advertise these new shoes in this manner. How much you wanna bet that there will be some more hospital visits as a result of some kids thinking they can jump over moving cars with a pair of Hyperdunks?

I also came across this video on YouTube that was suppose to prove that the Kobe video could be real. Although, I think this one is a little more believable, considering the skateboard and the ramp.


So what ya'll think? Is that Kobe video real or fake?

Isn't English our OFFICIAL language?

I thought it was. It was the only language that I ever learned. But lately, I'm starting to feel like the foreigner in my own country!

Now, I realize that this nothing new to other people in other parts of the country. New York, California and Texas I'm sure have been this way for years. But it has only been in the last 10 or so years that I've noticed so many foreigners living in Maryland. And so many of them do not have a working knowledge of English. at. all. It's getting a bit frustrating.

Last night, being the geek I am, I was in the library picking a few books. It was supposed to be a quick in and out. I spent most of my time there - in line. A line that was getting longer and longer because of two Chinese speaking customers. A couple was trying to decipher their library card history. Actually, I think they butted in line, totally oblivious to the long line of people forming behind the checkout desk. No matter how many times the librarian attempted to explain the paper to them, they keep coming back with more and more questions, most of time repeating themselves. Another woman with two kids was having a difficult time understanding the rules and procedures with the late fees related with a DVD. My problem with this lady was, if she was having such a problem communicating with the librarian, why didn't she ask one of the kids to translate? Usually, the kids speak the native language. I figure maybe she was trying to get in some English practice and I applaud her for that. However, that line was getting hella long. Maybe that wasn't the best time to practice???

Now, before anyone takes offense, I realize that learning English is not easy. Not easy at all. But if you been in this country over 10 years and you still can't even put together a sentence in English, that's a bit of a problem.

Self-help for your mistress

As I was perusing the shelves at my local bookstore, I couldn't help but notice this title:

"Will He Really Leave Her for Me?"

I thought that I had misread the title. I mean, I had to have misread. A self-help book for the mistress???

I'm thinking that I could sum this book up in two words: highly unlikely! Is there really much more to say? Except maybe, DTMFA! I just don't feel that there is any hope in waiting around for a married man. And if he does leave his wife for the mistress, what kind of relationship would that be? Could there ever be any unconditional trust in that relationship? Personally, it would be a long time before I started to feel completely sure of his fidelity. If he did it to one woman, what makes me immune from him doing the same thing to me?

I guess this book has some insightful information for someone, however. It's current rating is 4 1/2 stars. Still, I can't help but feel that any information that is presented in this book is anything that a woman in this situation hasn't already heard before. But I suppose maybe she's heard before and wasn't ready to listen.

I still say just DTMFA and be done with it!!!

Any other thoughts?