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The City is Breathing 1998
It’s Oct. 1998. I just turned 16 and was bored with puberty. It was 8 months prior to the infamous journey to Dubai. & it’s precisely two months after I scooped up the last copy of Mosdef & Talib Kweli are Black Star…. I sat down on the floor, faced the wall and wrote poems for the invisible ones whilst playing Respiration and Thieves in the Night back to back. Remarkably, this album was the key to another mysterious world. Far away from my lily white neighborhood, rusty bike and Latin exams. It helped me explore The Invisible Man, Haruki Murakami, Ngugi and Nikki Giovanni’s Egotrip. Matter fact, sole reason why I read the Bluest Eye by Toni Morrisson was because I loved the chorus/quote below to death:
Not strong Only aggressive Not free We only licensed Not compassioniate, only polite Now who the nicest? Not good but well behaved Chasin after death so we can call ourselves brave? Still livin like mental slaves Hidin like thieves in the night from life Illusions of oasis makin you look twice Illusions of oasis makin you look twice ( Thieves in the Night)
Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star stayed in my daily rotations for the years to come. I remember the digital debates and other tongue-in-the-cheek commentaries amongst the tribes of backpackers. So, I dedicate this to the past glories of the Jansport backpackers, roots.com lovers and napster huggers.
Fastfood Thoughts
In between the hectics of day to day life, I read everything. All kind of books, (trashy or quality) magazines, leaflets etc etc. At the moment, I’m reading ‘Fooled by Randomness’ by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I’m not ready to spill my thoughts or beans in a semi-review, but I would like to share a quote:
There’s a saying that Bad traders divorce their spouce sooner thaner abandon their positions. Loyality to ideas is not a good thing traders, scientists- or anyone.(Nassim Nicholas Taleb)
return…
Two decades, a lot of side projects, hectic work schedule & sickness later… I decided to try my luck at blogging again.
Exaggeration is a great art form.
Beloved reader; the kitchen hasn’t been empty, I have been cooking few words and photos here and there. Will upload during the upcoming few days.
Gucci is my God: The Sapeur
(ironically the Youtube video is of low quality)
Kofi Olomide is not merely an African sounding name. He’s one Africa’s most famous artists with a decent discography. I was watching some of my favorite Kofi Olomide youtube videos and was inspired to remix an entry I wrote almost two years ago @ blogspot blog . Even if Olomide face is showing a bit of age, his hips refuse to move as smoothly and his tummy is fat, he’s still a dandy extraordinary with music videos that are of high quality compared to other African artists. Of course excluding those approved with the authentic stamp by the World music agents.
Looking at his video shot in a North African city, I believe his ability to divulge portraits as the one above and dressing like a Mad Mullah while parading boulevards of random Arab cities without being attacked by the local people is remarkable.
Let me spill the beans, because this post is not necessarily about Kofi Olomide. He’s merely an excuse to share my love and fascination for Congolese Sapeur and their obsession with Haute Couture and the art of elegance. Sapeur belong to the movement called La SAPE —La Societé des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes (the religion of clothes). La SAPE as a religion which dictates its followers to posses expensive clothes started out with the Papa Wemba as the grand intermediary between the fashion gods and followers. Personally, I am curious to know what makes Congolese society THE breeding ground for a movement such as La SAPE, when all over Africa (surprisingly) “blingblinging”(lack of better word) is a commodity to show one’s wealth or to simply look good.
random comment: I wonder if the Sapeurs would let me visit their immensely popular city of Molokai 
When I grow up…
courtesy of Public Design Center
I’ll keep it simple today. In continuation of using the web as my free open source educational terrain. I learned today a valuable lesson:
Even for thinking you need a “classical” degree, preferably a beautiful MBA (c) Headhunter A.
TED: Stroke of Insight
WATCH HERE DR. JILL BOLTE TAYLOR’S STROKE OF INSIGHT
who are we? We are the life force power of the universe, with manual dexterity and two cognitive minds. And we have the power to choose, moment by moment, who and how we want to be in the world. Right here right now, I can step into the consciousness of my right hemisphere where we are — I am — the life force power of the universe, and the life force power of the 50 trillion beautiful molecular geniuses that make up my form. At one with all that is. Or I can choose to step into the consciousness of my left hemisphere. where I become a single individual, a solid, separate from the flow, separate from you. I am Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, intellectual, neuroanatomist. These are the “we” inside of me.
Which would you choose? Which do you choose? And when? I believe that the more time we spend choosing to run the deep inner peace circuitry of our right hemispheres, the more peace we will project into the world and the more peaceful our planet will be. And I thought that was an idea worth spreading.
Ted is a great source for remarkable ideas, which are presented by remarkable people. I just finished watching Jill Bolte Taylor’s TED presentation Stroke of Insight. Jill Bolte Taylor’s presentation is an recount why she entered the field of brain science how she experienced a horrible stroke and her perception of the event. Watching the video, I am impressed by her poetical performance and ability to bring her ideas to life. Not too many “scientist” know how to present their ideas in common people’s language. See above for an excerpt of her presentation, it’s most definitely something to think about.
However, according to my understanding of how the brain works, her experiences would be quite similar if the stroke found place in her right hemisphere.
Ms. Taylor is blind to the phenomena of language and the way that human beings invent our worlds in language.
Dr. Chauncey Bell’s commentaries
Dr. Chauncy Bell skepticism regarding the linguistic aspect of her story is grounded, yet a bit harsh but those were exactly my concerns while watching her extraordinary presentation.
Any comments?
25 and 1/2
One of my favorite memories of 2007 was listening to Digitalism’s fancy Deutsch electro, while creating the list of 25 things. Obviously the yayers and nayers are wondering what did she achieve so far. Officially, I will be 25 and 1/2 in 5 days and it is spring as I have mentioned in my entry below…so time to make up the balance.
3. Balance
Balance is still under construction, but peace of mind is no longer an utopia.
4. Accounting for dummies
Took the first step and I am now seeking a follow-up, if anyone can recommend a good book on accounting, it is appreciated.
5. Technology
Accepting my inner geek is quite liberating. In the past months new worlds have opened my eyes and inspired me to take a test drive through the world of technology.
*Skips a bunch of numbers*
11. Traveling
Remarkably, I have traveled to four different countries and soon come a fifth will be added to my list. In other words, not bad four countries in 6 months after a drought of almost 3 years (excluding the various visitations to New York). The fourth country, which will be the country of my ancestors will have a profound influence on every little bit of moi. I’m fully aware that Somalia/Somaliland deserves a special entry.
Tick that city off your list:
NYC
Berlin
Paris
London
Will get ticked off soon:
Barcelona
Brussels
12. He who knows all, knows nothing.- Akan ( Kuntankantan symbol)
Deserves a special entry, especially since I have been reading the Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I have saved enough thoughts to compress my renewed value of the Kuntankantan symbol in an entry properly.
Of course in Amal fashion, I must fast forward and skip the remaining other pointers, but as a skeptical happy Ditigalista, I can say I am satisfied so far.
Signing off,
A.
ESC+
It’s spring. Time to escape the madness of the e-world. So, please feel free to follow the Esc to the exit :).
insight
During one of my many search sessions, I stumbled upon a remarkable blog entry, which to my opinion nailed down the differences between a confusing set of concepts/disciplines.
Courtesy of whisperbrand.com