Concentrate

Concentration is the ROOT cause of all the higher abilities in man. - Bruce Lee

Just Tell your story!

Okay, so I may not be Brett Ratner's biggest fan (he directed Rush Hour 2 and 3), but I really like his philosophy on how to get started in whatever it is you love. Just DO IT! check it out...

Let the Right One In

I'll admit I was never much into Vampire flicks, but this one wasn't too bad.

"Let The Right One In" is a Swedish film about a young boy who falls in love with a young girl who happens to be a blood sucking vampire. Along the lines of the widely acclaimed Twilight series, what makes this movie remarkable (its won tons of awards) is how well the writer John Ajvide Lindqvist and director Tomas Alfredson evoke sympathy out of the audience. Halfway into the film, you forget about the body count she's left behind her and instead sympathize with her tragic fate; She wants more than anything to be human, but she can't deny her insatiable thirst for blood. What's a vampire to do?

Recommended, if you don't mind subtitles. Check the trailer below.

good graffiti

Graffiti artist in Colombia are so creative with it. I love this image.

Hang Loose

This particular video always inspires me when I watch it. This is a great band from the 70s, headed by a group of brothers and multi-instrumentalists from Brooklyn, NY by way of Panama. Their fusion of funk, rock, latin, african, r&b, and jazz made them a distinct sound and presence during their time, receiving the attention and admiration of many stars from then and now. I think their style and groove is a good example of what can be accomplished through the coexistence of teamwork and individuality. This is Mandrill Hang loose.

Make it reign

This video may not be that new to some, but it will be new to others. This guy is a sensation for his simplicity, a hit because of his honesty. As thrown off as you may be by his style, his message makes sense...and maybe that's all that matters.



I decided to post this in honor of the Obama Inaguration coming up. Indeed it has been a long road coming, and there is still so much farther to go. Let us reflect on the journey and move forward. Be present...especially for this particular moment. "History [is] quickly crashing through your veins."

book review: Nami Mun-Miles From Nowhere

Nami Mun is the author of a wonderful book entitled Miles From Nowhere. I picked up this book randomly at a independent book seller down on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and from the moment I opened it, I knew I was holding something special.

Her style of prose is imaginative, light, flows freely and yet has poignant and well defined characters. It deals with a young Korean girl born in the Bronx who runs away from an alcoholic father and a emotionally defunct mother to living on the streets in the 80s and going through a series of random adventures with a variety of street personalities along the way. As with most good novels, its just as much about the way in which she's writing as what she's actually writing about.

Its always nice to experience new and unique voices, both abroad and here in the States. Mun, a Korean American immigrant writing about the harsh realities of life in a modern urban environment, certainly fits the mold. She also has this quiet tendency to evoke the deepest of emotions out of everyday situations and put them into poetical form. Needless to say, when you read her work, you're in her world.

I consider Nami Mun's Miles From Nowhere one of those books you only get every so often. A gem. I'm honestly lucky to have happened to wander into that particular book store after my lunch with Rios at cafe havana, lucky that one of the avid readers who worked there recommended this novel as one of the staff picks, and lucky that all but one had disappeared off the shelves before I stumbled in there and got my hands on this copy. Great read. Highly recommended.

Lovely Standards

If you listen closely to Amel Larrieux’s voice, you’ll discover why she has such a loyal fan base. Her music to me is like meditation, not to mention that there’s something to be said about music that not only entertains, but heals.

Think Norah Jones Norah Jones meets Corinne Bailey Rae, a touch of Dinah Washington, and a dash of Cassandra Wilson. Perfect for late afternoons with tea and dim lights. Enjoy.

click here to download!

And for those not familiar with her stellar body of work, follow the link to watch Groove Theory's classic 90s throwback, "Tell Me".

Words of Encouragement

"To have faith requires courage, the ability to take a risk, the readiness even to accept pain and disappointment. Whoever insists on safety and security as primary conditions of life cannot have faith; whoever shuts himself off in a system of defense, where distance and possession are his means of security, makes himself a prisoner. To be loved, and to love, need courage, the courage to judge certain values as of ultimate concern - and to take the jump and stake everything on these values.
-Erich Fromm

The end is not near

...it's here.

Found this a bit interesting when seeking inspiration for the new year. And what did I find? The New Year.



Here's to a new beginning.

Happy New You

Happy New You!

Today is special for a number of reasons. For one, we woke up today and we are still living. Secondly, we are in a season of change, experiencing cultural and spiritual shifts throughout the world, as well as a new year on the calendar that we follow. This means new possibilities and opportunities are on the horizon. There is hope. Yes, we can. And lastly, Ed Ntiri and Chike Nwabukwu have joined forces after years of talks and separate walks to lead a movement aimed at developing the self while supporting the community. Today we begin that journey together, individually contributing for the collective good.

I won't elaborate much more. Just stay tuned and visit us often. You may be just as surprised as we are by the dopeness this blog has to offer.

Peace, progress, and prosperity. See you soon.