Racism

I know for some Keith Olbermann represents the extreme far left liberal nutcase; the other side of Rush Limbaugh. Even tho I disagree, I respect everyones right to their opinion. The difference to me is as opposed to Rush, or Glenn, or Sarah, Keith at least speaks from below the surface, the talking points and factless catchphrases and conspiracy theories. He also, whether you like him or not is authentic to what he happens to passionately believe. Sure sometimes he goes overboard.. Shit we all do.. But in this segment he articulates extremely well the undertones of racism left in our country. Politics and personal emotional issues aside its hard not to not see the truth in what he says. Unfortunately some on the right will simply dismiss and become defensive.. but give it a shot.. look behind the "Socialist Pig" signs amongst the sea of white people. See the fear in their eyes. Look and listen close enough for the actual context. A black friend of mine hit me last night telling me he had just watched this and it moved him.. and asked me to check it out. Take the 10 minutes.. If you disagree, thats ok.. (maybe take the time to notice whether its your heart or thought induced emotions reacting..) at least listen... its the only way we will get anywhere..

(thanks Bwash for the heads up)

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So much for Bridge and Shuffleboard

Snoop 2050?

Converse John Varvatos JV Pro Leather Hi

not mad at all..

My own shade of grey..

I frequently have long deep conversations with my friend Shane Powers, www.shanepowers.com , that revolve around politics, philosophy, religion, passion, relationships and anything else that a lot of people today tend to stay away from. (myself included 90% of the time.) The weather, "I'm good, how are you," or "can u spare an extra valium" is soooo much easier. Shane and I challenge eachother intellectually and while our brains are wired differently, its these talks I appreciate the most. I spend a lot of my life living on the waves at the top of the ocean and visiting the bottom once in awhile helps me feel connected with myself and who I actually am. We both, at least I believe, have spent a lot of our lives creating characters of ourselves.. he, the outspoken, extremely passionate, opinionated one that could in an instant change the vibe of a room from positive to negative or vice versa with his energy alone. He says whatever the f*ck he wants. There is no filter. A lot of people love it and a lot of people just cant handle it. Me asking him to be my best man at my wedding shows where I stand. Me? I was the record company guy with brand new sneakers, a crisp white-t and a Cadillac Escalade grill mounted to my office desk (I mean really?) to help create "the Clancy show" (which was exhausting and bullshit a lot of the time.) The point of this is a lot of our conversations revolve around him trying to understand who i am and where i stand on politics or religion or sometimes just plain life. Thats where our brains are wired differently because my simple philosophy of life is to find your own "shade of grey." Which ironically is exactly what he says but then proceeds to grill me on which box I lay in. Last night I told him I liked Bill Mahers new stand up HBO special and he simply replied "Your a communist." To be asked whether Im a democrat, republican, independent, socialist, communist, ideologue, Christian, Buddhist, vegetarian is complicated. On the political side I suppose I lean liberal which by definition means "showing or characterized by broad mindedness and favors the protection of civil liberties and progressive social views."- Sounds about right although there are republican (or at least the older republican) views I also agree with "small government, fiscal responsibility, etc." But I suppose by the last 2 statements I would be an independent while at the same time i agree with some of the socialistic aspects that we currently have in our government (teabaggers always seem to miss that hence the "keep the government off our Medicare" signs).. I also think our current form of capitalism without some type of moral oversight will eventually eat our country alive and create the greatest class gap in our countries history while destroying the environment or anything else in the way of profit.. Ok Religion...oh boy, touchy subject. Personally I am NOT a fan of organized religion. I understand its a light in alot of peoples lives and that I fully respect.. if it makes you feel alive and fulfilled, I back it 100%. Its what goes on behind the scenes that is the problem, whether its the penetration into politics and policy to the assault on homosexuals and anyone "different." All while the Pope recently told Africans to not use condoms when Aids is beyond epidemic status. Doesn't seem very "Pro Life" does it? The feeling of communion with a higher power is something I share with Christians I just eliminate the dogma. Its that dogma and the book it all comes from that has caused more death than all wars combined in our worlds history. So am I Buddhist? Well I do a bunch of yoga (which Shane has a good time with) and Meditation (see yoga) and I relate strongly to the connectedness and karma philosophy. It just seems to make the most sense. The sages that wrote these things thousands of years ago still seem to apply and contain actual context for todays world. On the other hand there are things that are a bit "out there" for me but I respect their right as I do Christians to make it a black and white decision for their own spirituality.

Next is vegetarianism.. I decided to stop eating meat 4 months ago for moral reasons relating to factory farming etc.. I do however eat fish who sometimes die horrible deaths and wear plenty of leather.. In fact my wife got me a leather jacket for my bday that I would wear to bed if i could.. So am i a true vegetarian?

The point of all of this, for me, is about finding your own shade of grey.. Living with a black and white view of everything seems inauthentic to the beauty of all of our own individuality based on our life experiences and our own reactions and emotions that come from them. We all process it differently. For me I have found the most peace by being myself.. I don't need a label or set of rules I need to abide by in order to fit into a certain category, in fact it only makes me feel less alive. I've spent 39 years trying to fit in to various things and have finally found my own perfect beautiful shade of grey... and Shane has played a big part in helping me find it.

If your not already you should check Shane's site every day.. it will make you happy, sad, angry, and grateful. Most important it will make you think. Click HERE

Respect

Just because they've gotten to where they are with class while everyone else was running their mouths and fakin it. Nowadays that deserves a nod. On a side note if you focus and are no more than 2 feet away from this picture you can actually smell money.

I will say tho, Jay, who always has ridiculous steez is throwing me off with the paisley jacket and XXXXXL bowtie..

Great Qoute

"A true friend is one who can see the pain in your eyes while everyone else believes the smile on your face" - unknown

Happy Birthday "Malibu" Rich

Rich Skillz's (of Nikki & Rich) birthday is today and for all we've been through over the past year your damn right Im gonna write about him. I've known Rich for years, we were part of a "crew" back when life was simply about the party and getting laid. He had and still has one of the most magnetic personalities I've ever seen.. He was that guy, always on, always tan, always crisp. A earlier version of Pauly D without all the cheese.He was fresh from NY but looked as California as a drop top Impala.. until he opened his mouth and Queens spewed out. He came from a self made family who had come to America and worked their way to financial freedom. Our crew had a good run playing the whole Hollywood game. As years passed some of us got married, divorced, began and lost careers, while some turned the Hollywood game into a profitable businesse. Rich, coming from a DJ background in NY, dove in with the help of his brother, into producing and at least to my knowledge learned as quickly as anyone Ive ever heard of. If Im not mistaken I believe the 3rd track he produced won a Grammy with Ludacris in the rap album of the year category. Spending as much time as he did in the studio it was only a matter of time until the technical caught up to his innate talent and incredible instinct when it came to music. He then since worked with Robin Thicke and a host of others while simultaneously teaching himself to play the keyboards and other instruments. When I was working at Interscope he would come in trying to sell beats he had made in the hip hop vein. Some were good, some were great but they were in a genre that had lost its luster and with all the side hustles going on it was hard to sneak tracks in as a new producer . S0metime after that he hooked up with Nikki and within a few months made some of the best music Ive heard in years. A modern mix of various genres done in a contemporary way that felt fresh.. and fresh wasnt happening at that time.. The amazing part is that he had produced and played everything on the album and Nikki fit like a glove with a voice and lyrical talent from Mars. The rest is history and since Ive been involved Ive watched him grow into one of the most talented producers Ive been around and Im convinced that even with the success hes had so far, he has only started his climb to becoming one of the most respected producers in the game. The reason? Very few have the ability to adapt and thrive creatively in any genre. He could make music for Jay Z as easily as for Andrea Bocelli. All of the above is impressive but what impresses me the most about Rich is his heart. Beneath the shiny exterior is a guy who cares and genuinely wants the best for people. Alot of people in his position get lost in their own self delusion and selfishness. For that Im honored to be both his friend and business partner. Thank you for the passion you've put back into my life. This is your year, its already happening. Happy Birthday.

Happy Valentines Day..

Happy Valentines Day to the woman that completely and utterly changed my life. I had no idea what true love was until I met Kelly. She knows me better than anyone on the planet and I trust her with my life. Until her I thought "soulmates" only existed in sappy movies with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I will do whatever it takes to protect her and Chloe until the end and I can only hope that I can always be for her what she is for me. True love is real. Happy Valentines Day...

Hey Dick, Its Joe. Your delusional.

Ive pretty much backed off of politics to avoid getting an ulcer... however when "balls" show up Im still all ears. Joe Biden, who isnt exactly Cornell West in the articulation category goes all in on the king of making up his own facts at random (in addition to being a massive asshole): Dick Cheney.. and I kinda like it...

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Rap Sheet

With all the press about professional athletes and their rising criminal records its interesting to read below and guess whether the rap sheet belongs to current members of the NFL or NBA.

36 have been accused of spousal abuse

84 have been arrested for drunk driving within the last year

17 arrested for fraud

3 have done jail time for assault

14 have been arrested for drug related charges

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

19 have written bad checks

71 cant get a credit card due to bad credit

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

So which is it? NFL or NBA?

Well its neither... its current members of our United States Congress. Well done fellas!

(thx Wolf)

GENTRY

Im not writing this because I know the people behind this, Im writing it because Im a sucker for packaging and quality. Products nowadays seems thrown together as cheaply as possible and when someone takes the time to actually infuse craftmanship and personal passion behind what they believe in it sticks out like a sore thumb. This company is Gentry and they have without question put together the best packaging Ive seen in years,, Its some shit I would put on my damn mantle as art. Whats in the box is equally as impressive. Its a tie and accesories set that takes us back to when class came first.. before double hoop earrings* and Ed Hardy. In fact if you wear Ed Hardy, Affliction, Tapout, or any of the remaining hip hop lines go ahead and skip this one. This is more for the guy who has his shoes shined, opens the door for his lady, and thinks "Jersey Shore" is, well, just a beach in Jersey. Class is somewhat of a lost art and when something comes along that captures it in a box, Im in..

P.S. try NOT to get laid with the set up in pic 2 in your crib.. i dare you

INFO AND STORE HERE

*full disclosure, I used to rock double hoop earrings

LOVE

My wife is most likely gonna give me a hard time about this but Ill take the risk. Until I met Kelly marraige sounded about fun as CSPAN. Every guy goes through the "one woman the rest of my life!!" anxiety.. Its funny because a lot of them in reality get laid once every 6 months. Thats the copout argument because the truth is, at least for most and definitely me the fear is allowing someone to get so inside of you that your emotions are exposed. Your fears, insecurities, the years of unresolved feelings stuck somewhere deep inside of you. Drugs, alcohol, isolation, whatever, we all have our way of keeping those feelings away. I've tried every single one of those. The biggest fear for me was intimacy, and in marriage theres a lot of that if you expect to stay together. I was used to always being able to bolt when things got too close or the fake cape I wore suddenly got exposed. A few bongloads and a vicodon on the couch and the problem was solved and was long enough to dry clean the cape and put it back on. I met Kelly years ago at work and without gettting into too many details after a few years of being friends some feelings came up for both of us and we decided to try to get past the awkwardness and go on a date. It happened because I wrote her a 3 page letter that explained how I felt and ended with asking her to dinner just once to see what it felt like. The strangeness came from working together and being close friends for years, it was a big and incredibly awkward step. Well the rest is history, 2 years later we were married and a year or so after that we had Chloe. Coming from LA and spending alot of my youth in clubs I had never really met a woman like her: incredibly selfless, caring and always there for me and since i can be a handful that meant the most. I strive to be for her what she is for me. She makes me want to be a better person. She makes me want to get past the stuffed emotions and fear of intimacy. The thing that I was most afraid of which was having someone who truly knows me inside and out has been the greatest gift of my life. Its like letting air out of a ball thats been dead weight in my stomach for most of my life. For that I am eternally grateful. I cant imagine life without her standing right by my side. In a time when marriage gets a bad wrap I want people to know there is another side. It was as simple as finding the love of my life and holding on and not letting fear push her away no matter how uncomfortable it got because until you deal with that head on life can be a lonely place.

Brain Freeze

Meditation
I get asked a lot about meditation so I figured I'd give my take on it. First, I don't believe there is a "right" way nor consider myself an expert.. That said it has been one of the greatest life changing exercises of my life and I truly wish I was capable of grasping it earlier in life...(difficult with pot.) The biggest misconception is that meditation implies "not thinking." While as you practice your thoughts slow down, to me its more about not attaching to them. Allowing thoughts to "be" without letting your gut or mental treadmill get involved.. For instance "Fuck I forgot to call Shane" - on its own its a simple thought- but it can become anxiety if u allow it.. Reality is Shane is probably fine and you can just call him after. Another impt thing to keep in mind when u first try to meditate is that your brain will absolutely LOATHE it. It is the brains worst nightmare because it assumes you aren't taking it seriously enough to attach to what its thinking. That makes it nuts. HOW DARE YOU!!! Most people, myself included initially, kick in after about 50 seconds with "Screw this" or "Man I'm hungry" or "Am I allowed to scratch that itch?," and, after what feels like 4 1/2 hours (90 seconds) you figure it might be better to start this whole meditation thing later in life. Much later.. When your happy and peaceful... Ha.Your best bet is to ease into it.. Start with doing 2 minutes a day for 2 weeks.. The funny thing is I guarantee your brain will say it doesn't have the time at some point. Its amazing how little time you have when your quieting your mind but we find time for all kinds of other shit.. After 2 weeks go to 5 min for another 2 weeks and so on until you get to 20 min a day.. (30 if u can) The 2 simplest effective ways to meditate revolve around the breath.. Sit comfortably and focus on it.. Thoughts will come and that's fine, just keep returning to your breath.. That's it. If you wanna add a layer add a silent sound to it.. Inhale with "uhhhhhhh" exhale with "ahhhhhhhh".. Nothing else.. If u catch your mind thinking about how cool the new Audi headlights are, that's ok, catch yourself and go back to the breath.Its amazing how something this simple has lasted thousands of years and has had such a profound effect on people.. The reason for that I believe, is that it teaches us what lies behind the brain. Its where all creativity, love, passion, joy and peace come from. Jordan didnt think when he drove to the basket.. Hendrix wasn't thinking during his solos.. Sure we use our brain for info and direction but its not the source outside of data. Its like an amazing computer. Meditation allows you to develop a relationship with that source.. It allows you to realize you are much more than your mental noise. It taps into your own creativity and passion. Its energy without the caffeine. Its peace with no brain filter. Bottom line is meditation has changed my entire perception and I'm truly grateful for it.. For those who are skeptical believe me I get it, I was for most of my life but now that I've dove in, I can't imagine life without it. For me living only in my brain is like doing the running man.. Jogging but getting nowhere. Stuck in the want, the chase and missing out on everything thats right in front of me.

Big Ben

I recently read a book on Benjamin Franklin who quite frankly (ha) had his hands in just about everything. He even came up with his own rules for life during a time when he was questioning the dogma of religion.. These were his "virtues" for a fulfilling life. Im not mad at him. I've always found the 10 commandments somewhat obvious and lacking context (dont get mad, just my opinion) and these seem to resonate more on a day to day vibe. By the way he wrote this when he was 20. I was in rehab and wore a fannypack when I was 20. He also apparently pulled a lot of women which is pretty remarkable considering pic above. No disrespect Ben, actually the opposite.. Well done.

From his autobiography:

Franklin sought to cultivate his character by a plan of thirteen virtues, which he developed at age 20 (in 1726) and continued to practice in some form for the rest of his life. His autobiography lists his thirteen virtues as:

"SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."

"TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."

"ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."

"RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."

"FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."

"INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."

"SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."

"JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."

"MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."

"CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."

"TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."

"CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."

"HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

Nikki & RIch NY Post interview before NY Show

They KILLED the show in front of a PACKED 1000 capacity crowd at Highline Ballroom.. for their 4th show overall and first in NY!
For NY Showtime post click HERE

Pro-Confusion..

Talk about anti climatic! With all the controversy surrounding this TV spot I dont even know what the point of it was. The irony is that its basically a pro-choice ad.. If they had a message they were trying to convey they should fire the ad agency responsible for it. My understanding (although not apparent in ad whatsoever) is that Tim's mother had a medical condition that had her doctors advise her to terminate her pregnancy in order to possibly save her life. She then made the "choice" to keep him and take the chance which in and of itself is a decision i respect because "she" made it. What isnt mentioned is the fact that if every woman made that same choice in her condition many of them would die. So one could argue that either decision is pro-life and pro-choice simultaneously. Context is a beautiful thing.
If Focus on the Family was making a case for the pro-life movement they must of been speaking in code. And although I don't think the Superbowl is the place to do it I respect their "choice" to speak however they choose to.

The Who

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the Who's Superbowl performance. Sure they looked not a day under 90 years old but hey held their own.... although Roger Daultry seemed to have left his neck in his hotel room. Sure we all could of thought of about 7542 better options that have been relevant since the invention of the internet but its obvious where the NFL stands on their choices. "Boobgate" changed everything years ago when America was apparently traumatized at the split second site of an actual breast... I must say however with his opened shirt Pete Townsend was dancing at the edge of exposing his 78 year old male t*ts which would of sent us all into a dark place. They would of had to resort to crazy pet tricks or clowns in the future.

Hand Job.

Sarah Palin's hand notes for the "Teabaggin" Convention. Classic. I cant tell you how many times I did this in high school.. I guess thats the point. High School.. Im actually starting to feel compassion for her. She is who she is and was thrust into this whole thing without even being close to prepared.

Showtime

I'm in NY for Nikki & Rich's show at the Highline Ballroom Tuesday night. This is a homecoming of sorts for Rich as its the first time the group has played here. Overall its their 4th show and the fact that they are playing the Highline says a lot about how the past year has developed. I've posted numerous times about them (duh im their manager) but never out of straight promotion. I post because I'm truly excited to be involved in the development of one of the most talented groups I've been around in my career. Rich lives outside the box production wise and has an incredible ability to tap into multiple genres simply by following his gut instinct. I firmly believe that he will be become one of the most important producers in music. Write that down and I'll sign it. So many producers are stuck in the lane of "hit making" that is so formula driven. Nikki is from another planet vocally and lyrically with an incredible rare ability to emotionally connect to an audience thats reminiscent of another era. I cant tell you how many times my eyes have watered up listening to her sing. Onstage her confidence is mind boggling. About 10 months ago I heard the music for the first time (thanks to Marc Rose) and was completely and utterly floored. What they didn't have was a foundation to build upon to start the process of presenting it to everyone. The music was too good to do anything half way. They had done their job. They had holed themselves up in the studio and wrote... and wrote.. They had reignited a passion in me that the business had burnt out. We all as a team, including my wife Kelly, became committed to getting it done and all fed off each other. Since then because of their belief in themselves and the goals we laid out, they have put themselves in a position to make a difference in the business at a time when differences are hard to come by. Musically they are brilliant.. Yep I said it. The production and songwriting scream authenticity and remind us all of why music can be a powerful force in our lives. Music that "feels" good as well as "sounds" good. The music that is on-line is only a small microcosm of what is on their album. What they've added over the past months is a full range of songs that touch on everything from R&B, soul, hip-hop and pop.. All in a way that is truly their own. I still get goosebumps when I hear a new song they've done. Image wise we've stayed true to who they are, this isn't a science project. They are a representation of what pop music could be. After getting 3 offers from our first show at the Viper Room we signed with Warner/Reprise because they seemed to understand it the best. For me coming off a long run at a label, being skeptical has become second nature and while we don't always agree they seem to have what is lacking nowadays.. soul.. And the team we work with there have been amazing. Tuesday will be their biggest show to date at a venue that has had some legendary shows. To work with a group that ALWAYS delivers is a pleasure and confidence is so much better than anxiety and fear. This is their moment. Its happening fast and its happening right. I'm full of pride and cant wait for the world to hear what they have to offer. If your in NY this Tuesday and want to see for yourself rsvp to: nikkiandrichshow@gmail.com

Super torn.

Im torn on the game today.. so utterly down the middle that hopefully by simply writing about it I will lean one way or the other.. First off it goes without saying the city of New Orleans deserves this big time. Thats a no brainer. Seeing some light shine on a population that has suffered so much would be wonderful to watch. Issue for me is that I don't really like the Saints.

Cant put my finger on it.. Tons of talent, great coach, good bunch of guys.. Go figure.. On the other side Peyton is the Michael Jordan of football without all the rings. No one in my opinion is a better student of the game. That alone would be impressive but his ability to apply that knowledge in an instant is mind blowing. Being that football at this level is hugely mental its incredibly rare for someone to not allow immediate past mistakes effect his state of mind. Without blinking his mental database is going a million miles a minute to adapt and fix whatever needs fixing. Many times you can predict the outcome of a game after the first few drives, not with Peyton. I dont care if its 28-0 Saints at halftime, he has the ability to score 4 TD's at 13 seconds a pop. I like Peyton the way I liked Michael. Im simply grateful to be alive to watch him play and I root for him to go down as the greatest QB of all time.... So all that said I guess im still stuck.. If i go with my old school Aristotle "whats best for the most people" I gotta go with the Saints and the city of New Orleans.. They better play the game of their lives... Im already starting to change my mind...

Dear You Tube and its advertisers

OK look I know times are tough and we are all looking to fill up every possible revenue stream available but the whole advertising over content is not only annoying but utterly ineffective. The goal of advertising is to tap into an emotion, lay an image and message on top of that and allow it to resonate enough so the consumer will reach for their wallet.. The emotion your associating with your product is ANNOYANCE and ANXIETY. You've become the c@ckblocker. Post Tivo its bad enough we now have to sit through a commercial that we cant fast forward. If that was all it was I'm sure we could begrudgingly live with it since its usually when we grab a drink, shuffle some paper or do anything not to be marketed to in that moment. The bigger issue is when you advertise OVER the actual content we are watching. While I was looking for a Beyonce performance I had to look to find one that was clean. Some had 3 ads with "click here" buttons that blocked over 40% of the screen. Who's idea was this? Imagine listening to the radio and every 10 seconds an ad for the latest erectile dysfunction miracle pill played directly over the track? The lesson that seems to be taking a long time for advertisers to learn is that not all impressions are good impressions and spreading your message over the top of an annoyed public probably ain't the move..

"Beyond"ce

i know Im late on this post but that fact that it still comes up in conversations a couple times a day means I gotta put something up.. So here it is: Beyonce KILLED the Grammy's. She is one of those rare artists that embodies every single attribute of a superstar has at the highest level. Off stage she seems humble, mild mannered, respectful and most importantly grateful for all of the opportunities shes been given. Onstage shes the baddest bitch on the planet. Most importantly she has endless amounts of talent and confidence... and confidence is like a powerful magnet. From what i know and have heard her work ethic is off the charts and I have a TON of respect for that.. The trick is a true superstar makes it all seem effortless... What can i say, I've seen a million award shows (we all have) with run of the mill performances (we all have) but this one simply blew me away..

New All Star Premiums

Let the teabagging commence!! (from shanepowers.com)

The scariest section of our America, the Teabaggers", are gathering for their convention to listen to keynot speaker Sarah Palin, and toss "ideas" around.

We could schedule that meeting of the minds on Friday morning from 8-815 am. And then get on with the real festivities. Ignorant racist whites screaming "Socialist" and marchin around for three days.

I would give ANYTHING to ask the woman above her definition of a Socialist and see what she says.

This party is nothin more than a mob masking their racism in a myriad of chants that they don't even understand.

The accumulative IQ of this entire gathering is just around 88.

SHANEPOWERS.COM

Nikki & Rich at the Roxy...

This was their 3rd show.. 3rd show! and it was sold out. So proud.. off to NY next week for show at Highline Ballroom on Tuesday.. Europe in March.. We're coming.. I promise.

Kyouei Design Liquid Lamp

Just cool looking.. no more, no less

Quicksand

"All of us are prone to repeat ourselves. There is a marked lethargy in the human psyche, and resistance to change is deep seated in us. We all seem to fear change, and with some people this fear is so overwhelming that it paralyzes them. Others conceal their fear by behaving "as if" they were free of it; they challenge themselves even at the risk of their own life. Yet, they may be daredevils only in certain areas, while in others they are dominated by the kind of arrested development that springs from fear. For instance, a person can be utterly heroic and self transcending while scaling the most treacherous mountain on earth, but down below in the valley, their fear bound conservatism is locking them into self defeating patterns of emotional dependence, moral rigidity or neurotic avoidance of anything that challenges their subjective picture of the world. On top of the mountain they sense a freedom that escapes them in the valley. But that freedom can only be illusory so long as the mental habit patterns impelling the mountaineer to seek the adventure of the climb are still intact.. True freedom dawns when the tendencies that create the ego in the first place are transcended. This spiritual self-transcendence is true heroism." Georg Feuerstein

Drake, Wayne Em on Grammys

Em, Wayne, Drake, Barker Grammy Rehearsal Pic

RAP RADAR

NASA debuts plans for personal flying suit

For anyone who has ever dreamed of a speeding around the skies in a jet pack, NASA has proposed a solution. As reported by the NY Times, the space agency recently announced conceptual design plans for the Puffin, a personal flying suit that could take the world of aviation by storm.

Mark D. Moore is an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Moore recently introduced the contraption at the Jan. 20 meeting of the American Helicopter Society in San Francisco. The design, which looks rather like a personalized glider, would be 12 feet in length, with a total wingspan of 14 and a half feet. It would be a single-passenger carbon-fiber construction weighing 300 pounds empty, and it would travel at a speed of 150 miles per hour.

(everything about this is awesome.. everything)

More HERE

Poli "Ticks"

Its fascinating to watch Republicans scramble to be perceived as the the voice of the angst in this country as if its "them" people are rallying around. Seems to me people are rallying against the entire broken system and since Democrats are in charge they take the hit. I imagine this plays out and people will put the power back into Republicans hands because its the only choice they have.. The cycle continues but nothing changes. The genius of the Republicans is they consistently convince the general public that they are the party of the people. They drive trucks and hunt and drink beer. They love their country more than anyone else and think the government can't be trusted to do anything.. (love the self deprecating vibe) So as opposed to trying to change that sentiment they attack with statements that hold zero bearing with reality. They promote slogans without a single expert to back it. They market to emotions not intellect.. Watching them get schooled by Obama the other day was everything in a nutshell. Seeing them speak as if they are standing in front of the angry mob was fascinating. From a birds eye view it seems that frantically trying to attach themselves to the "Tea Party" is akin to a car crash in slow motion but for some reason, at least to them, its the way to go. At least its fun to watch..

Point/Counterpoint: shanepowers.com/phuckery.com

I thought I'd show another side to a post Shane wrote recently regarding the "Focus on the Family" ad that has been purchased to run during the Superbowl. I only do it out of respect and to show the thin line between opinions based on small tweeks in perception..

Heres Shane's Post:

An ad will run during the Superbowl in two weeks, that centers on the CHOICE that Tim Tebow's mother made to keep him, when she was having problems during her pregnancy with him.
And of course liberal groups are gathering their signs, and scrawling out messages with sharpies ready to protest.
I have always been "Pro-Baby".
Abortion is an unbelievably huge decision. I believe women should have the right to choose this for their own bodies.
That bein said, I ALSO BELIEVE that women have the CHOICE to have a baby under difficult circumstances, and that they should be applauded.
Stay off her back you whiny chimps.
We can always ask Tim how he felt about her decision.

Heres my take:

Its probably not surprising that I disagree on multiple levels and Im gonna keep my annoyance with Tim Tebow out of it.. (not easy..) First off lets start with the outer shell. The Superbowl isnt the place to confront this issue. Period. The last thing we need in the middle of whats likely to be a Peyton Manning clinic is to be confronted with someones views on abortion. I dont mind being "pitched" products, that comes with the territory but I dont want to be preached to. The irony that "Focus on the Family" misses is this is as much a pro-choice ad as its a pro-life. Tims mother made a choice. On a side note, since over 50% of pregnancies are terminated naturally should we presume that whoever is in charge "up there" also makes choices?
The thing that is most misleading pitch from the right is the propaganda that pro-choice equates to pro-abortion. Commentators on right leaning media always say pro-abortion when referring to pro-choice. A calculated twist that speaks volumes. Truth is nothing could be further from the truth. In fact a broad majority of those who are "pro choice" would choose to not have an abortion. Are countries at war "pro-death?"

"Focus on the Family" has the right to carry out their mission based on the literal interpretation of the bible even though its not my definition of spirituality. Thats the beauty of America. But those on either side of the debate should not have the right to invade the privacy of families just trying to watch a little football.

(p.s. visit shanepowers.com here)

Erykah Badu

1 word: Authentic.. 2 words. Ridiculously underrated. Most people remember "On and On" from way back but since then shes put out great albums that fell well below most peoples radar. Why? Im sure theres a million reasons that fall into the politics category. None of which has to do with her obnoxious amount of soul and the ability to express exactly who she is through her music. Radio isnt exactly on the lookout for authenticity.. Do yourself a favor and hit up Itunes..

NY Post names Nikki & Rich #3 on Top 10 Artists to Watch for in 2010

From NY POST:

Nikki & Rich -

If you had a DeLorean and could travel back to 1964, you would find Nikki & Rich sipping lattes in Paris, waiting for their set to start at some small coffee house. I just know it.

Looking like a couple of Gap models, Nikki Leonti's power vocals and the production talents of Rich Skillz mix together to form a Supremes vibe that will blow your knee-highs off.

Their first single, "Next Best Thing," laced with "oooh-wees" and "shooboopooos," graced iTunes Free Download section earlier this year and will join other gorgeous piano-driven tracks on their upcoming freshman release (TBD). One of which, a Soloman Burke sampling track made famous in the seduction scene in "Dirty Dancing," is called "December," and is filled with more emotion than a junior high sleepover.

full article HERE

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps trailer

Man its gonna be tough to match expectations on this one...

Sade

I dont care how much you like to get your "tough guy" on, if you don't appreciate Sade you got issues. This track leaked from her upcoming album that comes out in a few weeks. If you wanna score some points, light some candles, cook a little dinner (my wife is laughing right now for sure) and have this or any Sade album on in the background. Some grown man shit. Dont sleep.

Ipad: what you need to know

Its popular now to hate on this bad boy but Im not budging, Im 100% in on everything but the damn name. Below is for those who arent "too cool" to get the all the info you need to know including pricing and plans..

Respect

Sites been a bit sneaker heavy lately for a guy who isn't really in the game anymore but these go well beyond that. These are the DJ AM dunks (courtesy of LV) and I must say he did an incredible job. About 10 years ago AM was the one who got me into collecting sneakers in a hardcore way. I remember going to his apartment and every single one of his walls in every single room was lined with shelves of sneakers. At the time it was quite possibly the coolest thing I ever saw and I was locked in.. I then proceeded to do my best to recreate that environment by spending every last bit of my expendable income on Nikes.. every last bit, trust me.. Ive since mellowed in my old age but can still appreciate the smell of a new pair and a clean design like these.. He'd of been so proud of these... well done..

Corporation Running for Maryland Congressional Seat

No Joke

Apparently there's a market for Slim Jim leather cuffs... (available online) Ill let the awkward silence play out on this one

Brilliant.. and dead on.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Blues Clueless
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Move the middle to the right, confuse the hell out of people and win. Its always works when the other side literally has no balls.. Not small or oddly shaped balls.. NO BALLS.

Freddie Gibbs

MTV Shows

Freddie Gibbs is one of the few rappers in street leaning hiphop that has an actual "buzz" around him.. The irony is that he had to get off a major label in order to create it. I was there when Freddie was signed, it was during the 50 Cent explosion which was the gift and the curse. The gift was to see the possibilities of extreme success and curse was seeing the politics behind extreme success. The difference was 50 had so much brand equity before he signed, not to mention 2 of the baddest security guards (Em, Dre) standing over each shoulder. Freddie was just a struggling rapper with a boatload of talent. Unfortunately that isnt enough in todays world. You gotta make the water boil before you sign the dotted line. There just isnt enough time and money for the long term development anymore in that genre. So after a bunch of ups and downs he left Interscope and hooked up with Dj Skee who has since made the water boil. Now he has the power. Question is what does that mean in todays business? Is staying independent the answer for someone like Freddie? Can he change the game in his own way? I hope so.

Rep Alan Grayson. Balls in pocket..

Sure he shoots from the hip and says things that pushes buttons but I like it.. Democrats misplaced their balls years ago and its nice to see somebody match the loonies on the right. His delivery may be suspect but at his core he makes some sense.. At the very least he widens the conversation and moves the middle a little more to reality.. Im in.. Yea for Balls!!

Nike Sportswear 2010 Spring Blazer Hi

Some would argue Nike is playing out the Blazer ala the AF1.. I say not just yet. Hot is hot. Yes Please!

Connect the dots..

Its a bit mind boggling but I suppose not surprising to read all the conservative backlash over Avatars environmental message.. They have a way of belittling those who see the connectedness of life as nothing more than San Francisco love-in stoner speak. More than anything its sad that anyone would take issue with those who see life that way. Unless I'm mistaken its even mentioned in their favorite book more than their other favorite targets. Something about being stewards of the earth? Ring a bell? Wouldn't it just make more sense that everything is connected.. Or does that get in the way of taking without regard until nothing is left... (except for 2 or 3 corporations with profits that rival the GNP.) I'm not a hippie or an "extreme liberal," I just someone who sees the beauty in life itself and believes that we all could use the humility and understanding that we don't know it all.. I believe that time will show that in fact IT IS all connected in a perfect natural way. Hopefully, one day that will simply be called being human.

Still Hilarious.. Ozzy Shreds

UNDFTD x Converse Poorman Weapon Navy

My least favorite of the colorways but hot nonetheless and the best shoe collab Undefeated has ever done in my humble opinion.. Sleepeth Noteth

Dear Brett

Dear Brett.. first off I gotta be honest. You annoyed the shit out of me prior to this season with the whole back and forth thing. You managed to simultaneously f*ck with 2 teams chemistry and came off really selfish. Since then I've come full circle, its borderline impossible not to root for you when you are doing the whole "warrior" thing. The fact that you've never sat out a game is mind boggling considering that there have been literally thousands of 300 lb men who would like nothing more than to knock your lights out. Yesterdays game was NOT your fault. The interception at the end was a horrible decision but prior to that the Vikes did just about everything they could to lose. It was tough to watch because I wanted you to win.. The everyman ending his story at the very top would of been sweet but it aint happening.. Im happy for the city of New Orleans, not so much the team tho.. just not feelin em.. Anyway heres the deal.. Your a bad ass who had your best year at 40 years old. You took your team to overtime in the NFC Championship game against the 1 seed. You took a beating and completely earned the respect of the majority of the country. Im not sure whether doing 1 more year is the right move.. sure we all like the Disney movie where you do and win it all but the odds of you having this kind of year again are SLIM. Do us a favor, make a decision and stick to it... Heres to coming full circle.. dont blow it..

Apple Tablet : from Huffington Post

What does Apple CEO Steve Jobs think about Apple's rumored Apple Tablet device?

According to TechCrunch's sources, Steve Jobs has said, in reference to the forthcoming Tablet, "This will be the most important thing I've ever done. But just how credible is Jobs' alleged statement?

TechCrunch notes,

We haven't heard this first hand, but we've heard it multiple times second and third hand from completely independent sources. Senior Apple execs and friends of Jobs are telling people that he's about as excited about the upcoming Apple Tablet as he's ever been. Coming from the man who has created so much, that's saying something.

(I'm so in for this shit.... above pic is just someone's guess of what it will look like:: yes please)

"The Will of Wal Mart"

Im not overly political but it doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand the implications of what happened this week in the Supreme Court.. In one fail swoop the "will of the people" was turned into nothing more than an idea. Corporations can now actively get involved in political campaigns by promoting their own agenda and attacking anything that gets in the way of profits. Its like some sort of bad futuristic movie where people literally are sheep, being manipulated and played.. (Brings to mind "A Brave New World.") Of course these corporations will sit in back rooms and hire "experts" on how to trick the people by wrapping an American flag around their message. For a large part of society stuck in emotional baggage this works every single time. What Obama spent on his campaign set a record in politics and was because of an uprising of that same emotion on the other side. Problem is what he spent is lunch money for oil and pharmaceutical companies. For them to persuade the public by manipulation quite frankly isn't that difficult. Playing to peoples emotions is an art form and is being played out as we speak with the "tea party" movement. Why this scares me is that I have a 2 year old daughter and if this holds our country will look much different in her lifetime. The environment and its natural resources will be trumped by the all important profit. The "grass roots" movements that have driven this country since its inception will most likely live only in history books. And greed just might become our new national pastime. Dramatic? Maybe.. but with whats happening now in our country it wouldn't surprise me at all.. (Im sure Fox News is salivating)

Remember when there was NOTHING hotter?!

Lebron can spit...

Steve Stoute speaks the truth for Target

EXCLUSIVE: Steve Stoute's "Dare.Dream.Do" Target Commercial! from the.LIFE Files on Vimeo.

No matter what you think about Steve Stoute you cant deny his talent. He didnt get where he is now by mistake. And his above take on "gut instinct" vs. "risk" is spot on..

Dear Abercrombie and Fitch

this was taken from shanepowers.com and is absolutely hilariously true..

I dig some of your cargo pants. I'm a casual guy. I enjoy tshirts and sneaks and the like. And I would buy more of your stuff.The problem is goin into your store is the worst imaginable thing ever. If it isn't the weird flirty shirtless dudes at the door, it's the OVERPOWERING house music that is blaring on volume 99. I have actually tried to fight through all that a year ago, grabbed some pants, while a shirtless 16 yr old danced around me.
The FORTY MINUTE wait in line with the music, and the shirtless dude put me over the top. I actually thought he was gonna try and slip a hit of X under my tongue for Christ sake. I'm tryin to buy clothes man. I don't wanna be attending a foam party in Ibeza with a ripped kid who isn't sure if he's straight or gay.

Corporate Hand Job... Not Good

Supreme Court eases restrictions on corporate campaign spending..
Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court has given big business, unions and nonprofits more power to spend freely in federal elections, a major turnaround that threatens a century of government efforts to regulate the power of corporations to bankroll American politics.
A 5-4 conservative majority crafted a narrow overhaul of federal campaign spending Thursday that could have an immediate effect on this year's congressional midterm elections. The justices eased long-standing restrictions on "independent spending" by corporations and unions in political campaigns.

This means that oil, health, pharmaceutical, etc companies will bombard media with their agenda during elections.. it will all be wrapped in a "disney movie" style package with the truth so far hidden that no one will know the difference..they will all too willingly jump in to steer the public away from anything that gets in the way of profit. Im sure drug companies are salivating. To put in perspective, Obama broke all records by raising 750 million dollars in 2007 and 2008. Exxon Mobil generated profits of $45 billion in 2008 alone. 2% of these profits could of been used to outspend the Obama campaign and fundamentally change the dynamic of the 08 election (LA Times.) Drill, Baby, Drill!!

Outta left field

Cindy McCain shoots an ad promoting Gay Marraige rights... must make for awkward dinner conversation with her hubby.. Ballsy (no pun intended)

Record Labels and remixes... spot on..

Nikki & Rich @ The Roxy

Last night was a big night for Nikki & Rich and they knocked it out of the park. It was only their 3rd show and you couldnt fit another body inside the Roxy. They absolutely killed it and I couldn't be prouder.... New York Highline Ballroom next on Feb 9.. Europe in March.. Don't Sleep.

Pot Luck.

Eight in 10 Americans -- 81% overall -- support allowing doctors to prescribe cannabis, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll.

The fact that this is still even a debate falls into the ridiculous category in my book although its obvious the tides are changing and common sense is taking hold. Its baffling to me that its completely accepted for doctors to prescribe boatloads of addictive painkillers but not pot. Then theres the "experts" who claim it doesnt in fact help pain. For better or worse, let me speak as someone who has smoked a lot in my lifetime. (In fact, according to Malcolm Gladwell, Im an Outlier): It does. Period. End of story. Now Im not advocating marijuana use, in fact I've had my own issues but lets even take it a step further. The fact the alcohol is celebrated and marijuana demonized also falls into the ridiculous category. Obviously ignorance is required to demonize pot. To compare the complications with alcohol to the complications of marijuana would be one of the most lopsided comparisons in history. One comes with mountains of emotional outbursts, domestic violence, DUI's, liver damage, frat boy bear hugs and black eyes.. The other comes with potato chips and a remote control.

Sure theres more to the argument but can we at least wrap the conversation with common sense and actual reality. Its time.

p.s. I dont even smoke anymore.. (well most of the time)

Yoga...

Im 2 months into my commitment of 2 hours of Yoga/Meditation Monday through Friday to start the day. It hasn't been easy to peel out of bed every day and its definitely not for those who only lean towards instant gratification. Its a process, and one that I'm in the middle of.. Spending that amount of time focusing on being aware as opposed to listening to the madman in the brain is a constant struggle. The difference between what we "think" is important and what actually "is" important couldn't be greater and its much easier to fall into the "chase." I realized awhile back that it wasnt about being "happy" it was about being at peace. Happiness has become an exercise in marketing, always elusive and just out of reach. The irony is its ultimately all a choice. We dont "become" happy, we always only can "be" happy. Most of the lessons in Yoga are extremely simple and quite frankly our brains tend to dismiss them because "it must be more complicated than that." Im slowly learning it isn't at all, and for that Im extremely grateful.