Category: Blog

I spoke with my botanist friend and got the down low on the ginger plants he gave me. He says they won’t likely blossom potted indoors but they have beautiful leaves anyway.

http://www.botany.com/hedychium.html
http://www.oasisdesigns.co.uk/hedychium_pics.htm
http://www.hear.org/pier/hecor.htm

I’ve used my favorite pianist/composer, Herbie Hancock.

1. Are you male or female? “Watermelon Man”
2. Describe yourself – “Ostinato”
3. How do some people feel about you? “Riot”
4. How do you feel about yourself? “Speak Like a Child”
5. Describe your girlfriend/boyfriend/interest – “Maiden Voyage”
6. Where would you rather be? “The Eye of the Hurricane”
7. Describe what you want to be – “A Jump Ahead”
8. Describe how you live – “Survival of the Fittest”
9. Describe how you love – “You’ll Know When You Get There”
10. Share a few words of wisdom – “Promise of the Sun”

Current music: Herbie Hancock – Jazz Pianist & Composer

The following tests were developed by Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge.

Take the interactive empathy quotient test.

Take the interactive systemising quotient test

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Baron-Cohen’s theory is that the female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy, and that the male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems. He calls it the empathising-systemising (E-S) theory.

My results: EQ=53 – SQ=63
(You need Flash to take the test. 93% of computers have Flash installed)

I was disappointed yesterday with the finals between Portland and Dallas. Portland lost even though history was against them winning. If the Lakers had be matched up against the Mavs, LA probably would have won. Sacto Kings should beat Dallas Mavs… let’s just get it done. Lakers vs. Spurs sounds more of a challenge. Last year I remember Kobe grabbing a rebound, one-handed, with a put-back slam over Tim Duncan. Amazing it was. This is a different year and both teams are different. I’ve liked the Lakers since living in LA back many yrs. Shaq, I’ve liked since I first saw him. Let the game begin (tonight 9:30pm EDT US).

Current Music:
The Best of Miriam Makeba

Now that I’ve finished my contract I have a chance to do some reading. This summer should be the perfect opportunity to do it. If you’re interested in any of the books I just found out about, check the links. They’re new publications.

“Africa since 1940 : The Past of the Present”
“Myth and the Creative Process: Michael Ayrton and the Myth of Daedalus, the Maze Maker”
“Changing Men and Masculinities in Latin America”
(all with book descriptions)
http://www.art3st.com/associates/booksmay2003.html

Books of Paul Farmer
“Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War on the Poor”
“Infections and Inequalities: The Modern Plagues, Updated Edition With a New Preface”
“AIDS and Accusation: Haiti and the Geography of Blame”
“Uses of Haiti”
http://www.art3st.com/anyblackman/associates/paulfarmer.html

Current Music:
Boulez: Sonates 1, 2 & 3 For Piano

Heading off to a birthday party in 5 min. However, I can’t remember on whose blog I saw this but here are my answers:

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE ME:
1. Being confronted by somebody pointing a gun at me.
2. Extremely rough airplane flights.
3. Free swimming in the deep ocean.

THREE PEOPLE WHO MAKE ME LAUGH:
1. My niece.
2. A co-worker (because he’s pathetic)
3. Miguel (long time cycling buddy)

THREE THINGS I LOVE:
1. My own cooking.
2. My niece.
3. Myself (it might sound egotistic but it’s not).

THREE THINGS I HATE:
1. Dishonesty.
2. Backstabbers.
3. Driving in rush hour traffic.

THREE THINGS I DON’T UNDERSTAND:
1. Automobile engine mechanics.
2. Web server administration.
3. Why some people get pleasure from the pain of others.

THREE THINGS ON MY DESK:
1. Computer.
2. Scanner.
3. Phone.

THREE THINGS I’M DOING RIGHT NOW:
1. Typing this!
2. Writing an essay/commentary.
3. Thinking about moving my car to the back of the bldg.

THREE THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE:
1. Publish a book (in progress).
2. Museum solo exhibition.
3. Buy a house/studio in the woods or some rural place.

THREE THINGS I CAN DO:
1. Write reasonably well.
2. Create art in a variety of media.
3. Cook well enough to make yo momma holla’.

THREE WAYS TO DESCRIBE MY PERSONALITY:
1. Not excitable.
2. Intense.
3. Deliberate and methodical.

THREE WAYS TO DESCRIBE MY LOOKS:
1. Slim
2. Lean.
3. Young.

THREE THINGS I CAN’T DO:
1. Be dishonest with myself.
2. Become somebody other than myself.
3. Stop loving somebody that I told, “I love you.”

THREE THINGS I SAY THE MOST:
1. “Chile puhleeze.”
2. “Humph!”
3. “I bet you do!”

THREE OF YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE FOODS:
1. My grandmother’s sweet potatoe pie. (deceased)
2. My mom’s apple pie. (deceased)
3. My grandmother’s pound cake. (deceased)

THREE THINGS YOU’D LIKE TO LEARN:
1. Highest level of music composition.
2. To speak Spanish, Italian, French, Portugese, Yoruba, Ewe, and (Haitian) Kreole, all fluently.
3. Web server administration.

THREE BEVERAGES YOU DRINK REGULARLY:
1. Water.
2. Cranberry juice.
3. Latté.

THREE SHOWS YOU WATCHED WHEN YOU WERE A KID:
1. “Ed Sullivan”
2. “Soupy Sales”
3. “Saturday Night movies”

NPR’s Tavis Smiley talks to contributor Michael Eric Dyson about jazz great Nina Simone. Tavis Smiley talks to singer and pianist Shirley Horn about the life and legacy of the great songwriter, singer and pianist, Nina Simone. Simone passed away April 21.

Join Talk of the Nation for a remembrance of jazz legend Nina Simone, who died Monday at age 70. Guests: Chandra Brown *Childhood friend of Nina Simone’s daughter W.S. Tkweme *Doctoral Student in African-American Studies at University of Massachus…

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Another women of note: Before Watson and Crick, Brenda Maddox, author of Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA, describes the discoveries that lead scientists to focus on DNA as the secret behind life. The Secret of Photo 51

LJ users, try this one. This one I first used back in Dec., 2000. It has relevance today.

What Kind of World Leader Are You?

Music: John Cage: indeterminacy

I just found out Nina Simone died… a huge loss.

She was a classically trained pianist, yet gained fame singing in a style reminiscent of Billie Holiday. She later became known as a protest singer for penning fiery songs that chronicled the pain, pride and hope of the U.S. civil rights movement.

In a 1998 interview, Simone blamed racism in the United States for her decision to live abroad, saying that as a black person, she had “paid a heavy price for fighting the establishment.” She was said to be extremely bitter.

I totally understand… (a 12 yr. hiatus for me)

Music: Nina Simone

Semester ends this week, final projects due, and Friday, final exams at 7:45am! That’s an insane schedule. I already have to get up at 5:30am for my 9am class. Of course, I cook breakfast before leaving. The class is 3 hours long.

Personal projects can commence next week after finals are submitted. This is a good thing. It will also give me some time to send out another application I found today for an institution that does independent study, my favorite kind of college work. Self-motivated students that create their own course of study grow beyond their own beliefs. Most of my grad classmates went through grad school totally changed. Two women found themselves reading feminist & gender works (since their art already dealt with those subjects), delved deeper into themselves, graduated, went home, divorced and started new lives! I wish both lived closer, we had a blast in school.

Today was also one of the Cycling World Cup races, Amstel Gold. Lance Armstrong raced it but ended up 8th. He’s not a single day racer but he said he loved that race. He’s planning on racing a couple more one days races then take the entire month of May to train for the Tour de France. Most cyclists race and take some time off to stay sharp but, he wants to go into the history books by winning his 5th Tour AND doing it consecutively. Only Miguel Indurain has done that. Lance thinks he will try for the 6th making him the only cyclist to do it, if he succeeds. His coach and I used to train and race together before he went into coaching.

Glen Gould Piano Works: in my ears. His playing is cool and precise.