Relocated! It's not that bad...

Thanks for visiting the CB Publishing Blogger page. I have relocated, migrated, transported, teleported, (insert your own word), the blog to Wordpress so if you simply click on the Home link now it will take you to the new site with new articles and information. Thanks for visiting and bookmark the new site. www.cbpublish.com

Chris B.

I Remember 9/11...

I can't tell you what I ate for breakfast this morning, I always miss my best friend's birthday, and I can never leave the house without forgetting something important behind. 

My parents would always tell me they remember what they were doing when they heard the news about JFK, and ten years later, I am not surprised that I remember every grimacing detail about September 11, 2001. 

I was a 15 year old sophomore at Emerson High School in Gary, IN taking the GQE (the required Graduating Qualifying Exam) sitting front row center with my approved No. 2 pencils ready. I was wearing my favorite red tank top that had a faded scripted "Cowgirl" on the front with bronze rustic looking stones outlining the tank top's straps. Along with my favorite shirt, I wore my favorite sized 12/14 dark faded jeans with the red stitching and red sandals. I always thought that looking your best for test day would result in, well, good results. 

During GQE testing, students are required to stay in a classroom undisturbed for hours. We tested non-stop from 8am -12noon. 

As soon as our moderator opened the doors releasing us for lunch, an eerie feeling swept the hallways. I had no idea what was going on but fear settled in my stomach as I passed my open classroom doors with teachers huddled around tiny tv's whispering, shaking the heads, and covering their mouths in awe. What was going on?

"...terrorist attacked New York...war"

"The World Trade...."

"...they're coming for Chicago..."

I picked up phrases here and there but still had no idea what was going on. All I knew for sure in my 15 year old brain that something really bad had happened and America no longer felt like a safe place to be. 

Blame my social studies class, but I had no idea what or where The World Trade Centers was, why the existed, or why anybody would want to blow them up. 

Well, the day went on and the awkwardness of being left out of the news loop only made me more paranoid because the only sources I could rely on was my 15 year old peers who were equally if not more ignorant then me about the situation. 

I road home on the bus in fear that it was going to blow up. I walked home from the bus stop in fear that Chicago was going to be attacked with some "nuclear weapon of mass destruction" (a term I picked up that day) and cause radiation to seep into the pores of Gary, Indiana residents. 

Finally when I got home, to ease my worries, I flipped on the TV. Cartoons will do the trick. However, every channel was filled with horrible images of one plane hitting one tower and a second plane hitting the other tower, and a third plane in a heap in a field. My fears were confirmed. America was attacked and I was very scared. Rumors of America at war flung across the breaking news screen of every new channel. I fixed a snack in fear. I got ready for bed in fear. I went to sleep in fear. I woke up scared. 

10 years later, I am no longer fearful but there is definitely a sense of "Post 9/11 Anything Can Happen At Anytime" feeling that nobody talks about but we all walk around with. My heart goes out to all the people who lost friends, families, and co-workers. My heart goes out to all the 15 year old who had to grow up without their parents.  

Lisa B. 

www.TheLisaBExperience.com

www.youtube.com/lisabpoetry 

Kindle Release of One Hour To Wealth

The Amazon Kindle is one of the best e-readers on the market. However a lot of people don't realize that you don't need a Kindle to actually purchase books. There is an app that is made for your PC, your Smart Phone, the iPad, let me just give you the link. The great thing about the Kindle App is that it is free.

This means that you don't have to worry about paying money for an app and then paying for the book. You can simply download the App to your device of choice and in a few minutes you can download my new book One Hour To Wealth and begin reading. Shameless plug? Yeah Buddy!

One Hour To Wealth is the first book that actually gives you a definition of wealth and then takes it a step further than simply restating mantras and facts.  The book gives you a plan of action to either copy or develop your own plan.

Grab a copy, read it and let me know what you think, or ask me questions. Of course you could wait for me to continue posting the Key Points here on the site, but why not use the five that you were going to grab some momentary Mickey D's with to improve your life?

Here is the link. One Hour To Wealth

25 Key Points: Key Point 4 - You Need A Business Plan

Key Point 4: You Need a Business Plan – While I have failed to cover business plans, I am adamant about the importance of organization. The reason I made the mistakes I made with my first business is because I failed to analyze my market and understand terminology and create projections that would enable me to generate a better path through the wilderness of small business. When I began developing my sneaker business, the second time around I took one year to develop contacts and the ideas to establish ARCH. I included in that plan the fact that I would have to grow slowly because I did not want to create debt. I also added an expanded plan which included creating a sneakershop that carried more than just my brand. My business plan is over 40 pages in length and it includes, Purchase Forecast, Sales Forecast, Marketing Strategies, and of course Mission Statements and my personal story (developed after reading Primal Branding). If you are talking to someone about business and you ask them if they have a business plan, and they don’t…Get the hell away from them as quickly and nicely as you can. Oh, run away also if the person tells you that they don’t revise and add to their plan every now and then. I would like to add that spending too much time on a biz plan can prevent you from ever actually starting your biz.

Key Point 1: Be Creative
Key Point 2: Capitalize on Opportunities
Key Point 3: Stay In Your Lane 

25 Key Points: Key Point 3 - Stay In Your Lane

Introduction: 25 Key Points to Stay Motivated in Small Business

Key Point 1: Be Creative

Key Point 2: Capitalize on Opportunities

 

Key Point 3: Stay In Your Lane – Once you’ve decided to try one of your ideas, it will be tempting to try other things that look like they are working for others. You may see a friend or associate selling flowers and making pretty good money, so you start thinking that you can do that as well. The thing about doing this is taking this kind of action leads you off of the path. Your business may be mobile detailing for vehicles which is a good business. You could add selling air fresheners to your job but deciding to sell tamales and do mobile detailing would be way out of your lane. Stay focused on the idea that you believe in and learn as much as you can about it. Then place the time and effort into that idea. Don’t weave in traffic unless you want the idea cops to pull you over for drunk thinking.

25 Key Points: Key Point 2 - Capitalize On Opportunities

Introduction: 25 Key Points to Stay Motivated in Small Business

Key Point 1: Be Creative

Key Point 2: Capitalize on Opportunities – Sometimes people approach you with ideas, but you are so consumed with work that you pretty much blow them off. Someone can be interested in giving you the tools to launch your own business, but these are the general comments made,

“Man, I don’t have time for that.”

“When I get home all I want to do is relax.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“Easier said than done-”

“I have to pay these bills.”

I can list a host of other words used to explain why people fail to take action. The thing is though none of those are as serious as not capitalizing on opportunities. When a person makes any statement of negativity, the mind produces the reaction, so in a sense your reality is what you have made it. There are often workshops or events that promote entrepreneurship. Sitting at home and pretending to be busy is a lot easier than getting up and acting on those opportunities that are presented. Honestly, are you really that busy? Probably not.

25 Key Points: Key Point 1

25 Key Points-Introduction

Over the next 25 days I will post a Key Point. Collect them, share them with friends and other people thinking about starting a small business, leave feedback and make sure you give credit. I appreciate you reading. If you'd like to read some of my fiction, look to the right and download a Kindle version of three of my works of fiction. Enjoy Point 1.

Christopher D. Burns, MFA

Key Point 1: Be Creative – There isn’t any such a thing as a stupid idea. If somebody tells you to create a fart catcher, sit down and think about if you can be passionate about it. I’m not kidding. Creativity is the realm of childhood and the dreams that you have when you are young, become the memories that dissipate due to inactivity. People forget how to be creative. Watch your child play with some LEGO Blocks. Children have the knack for creativity and they can sit for hours building bridges and playing in imaginary worlds. When we get older people tell us to stop playing games and get serious. The only thing getting serious does for us is make us overweight, tired, stressed and angry. I challenge you to keep a journal for a month and in that journal write down every odd idea you can think of that you can be passionate about. Write down the ones that you can’t get excited about as well. The goal though is to be creative.

25 Keys: Points to Stay Motivated in Small Business-Intro

I have been working on a book for 4 years and I recently finished the book. I was in the process of sending it to the printer and I had to stop because things changed in my business again. In other words, my small business is constantly changing and I have to adapt. I finally realized that I can't sit down and make things so cut and dry. I also can't sit back and not pass on information that has enabled me to keep moving forward. I have decided to share part of that book here on the blog. If you use any of this, please share my web address and give credit where it is due. I hope these 25 Keys can help you with something you are considering. Enjoy.

25 Keys:

Get Your Janitor On

I have lectured on building businesses and websites at the University of Memphis, Southwest TN. College, the YWCA and the Memphis Housing Authority. In each lecture I discuss the importance of entrepreneurship. I would like to leave you with these key points which are really for diving into your own business, but are for you since you are your own business. While the length of this book does not determine its power and potential, I do hope that you are beginning to think about how to build your own One Hour To Wealth program. Next are my 25 Key Points. A key is used to gain access and these 25 points will allow you to begin creating ideas. There isn’t a thing in the world that I can write that will make you rich. You will have to generate your own idea. Everyone has something they are good at, something they are passionate about, and something that occupies their mind. What I want is for you to actually do something about those dreams instead of letting others, or yourself, kill them. With that said I truly appreciate you reading this short book and I hope it has inspired you to do something. If it has, take a few minutes to visit any of my sites and drop me a note. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Christopher D. Burns, MFA

http://www.cbpublish.com/

http://www.centercourtbasketball.com/

http://www.arch-usa.com/  

Get To Know: Backpackramento by Mahtie Bush

Being an ex Cali representative, we knew we had a nice Underground Hip-Hop and poetry scene featuring guys like Mantis, Orko, Bennie Heron, Jahsun, but we rarely gave credence to people outside of San Diego. It wasn't disrespect, it was just a real focus on our work. Now that I'm 2000 miles away, and older, I'm discovering the power of the North, Bay Area (not quite), Sac Town. I lived there for a minute with my pops, and oddly enough I discovered Digable Planets in Sac (yep DPs og backpackers, spiddyocks, sun moon and star, planet of Brooklyn). Gives you an idea of how long ago that was. Anyway, I got this link from Lou Slugga of MLS and anytime I can get a Roots allusion it takes me another level. The video is dope and I have to say it: ANTHEM! Check out Backpackramento by Mahtie Bush. Like the ish out of this video.

Memphis Hi-Lites: The Memphis Chess Club

As I continue to find reasons to like Memphis, I also find reasons to actually like Facebook. It's not that I dislike Facebook, but sometimes my feed is cluttered and I miss out on information that I later complain about like some old, angry man. This past week Facebook worked. I recently wrote a comment on Facebook about the lack of a barber shop that I could take my son to that provided an atmosphere similar to R.Spot in San Diego. R. Spot is no longer in San Diego due to imminent domain. Damn local governments and their need to take over locations of interest in their gentrification process. Sorry, about that... What was great about R. Spot was the fact that we could play games of chess while we waited, read books, listened to music and enjoyed great conversation.

On Monday I recieved a message from Allan Bogle who had this to share:

MCC stands for the Memphis Chess Club. It is the second oldest chess club in the country. We have a wide spectrum of players, from absolute beginners to experts. Black, white, asian, male, female, every age from 9 to 90; we meet every Friday night to play. Some play rated games, some play casual pick-up games. Don't worry about being a novice, there are many there. It is free for casual games, the only fees are what the USCF charges for rated tournaments (about half the club are profesionally rated).

This is our website:

http://www.memphischess.com/

Nothing can improve your game like playing at the MCC.

AllanGary's Facebook

http://www.memphischess.com/

History, games, calendar, officers of the Memphis Chess Club

This is another great Memphis Hi-Lite so take advantage and check it out. It's on my to do list.

A Few Thoughts on Obama and Presidents in General

Wait a minute, you really think this is my fault?

I am not going to go into detail about the US losing its AAA credit rating with S&P. Although the fact that it happened on a Black President's watch is pretty darn funny, in the funniest unfunny way that I can approach it. (Insert random Black person and credit joke here.) When President Obama was elected I told a close friend that this was the only time in history that a Black man could get the job. The country was losing trillions on wars abroad, the home loan industry, which had become the backbone of the economy since the 90s was in the dumps and the crisis America faced/faces was paramount to walking in front of a firing range at Marine base Camp Pendleton. In other words, the country was literally going to hell in a handbasket with the devils singing Brittany Spears (Ooops I did it again) and eating copious amounts of gas inducing beans, blasting a stench that would linger for at least 4 years into the next presidency. In other words, if there was anytime to let a Black man take the fall for a country that has been falling for 30 years, why not now?

Memphis Hi Lites: Trolley Night July 29, 2011: New Stops on South Main



Kpreshas opening night



Trolley Night was great as usual. The turnout was solid and the stores were offering the standard varity of "spirits" and finger foods to guests stopping by. While we didn't jump on the Trolley, since we got a great parking spot on Beale Street for the Sade concert (I'm not talking about the concert here, it deserves its own post). We walked down to South Main checking out the various restaurants and galleries. We even found a door to nowhere. A giant wall saddled between two buildings with a door opening that lead to what looked a path into the television show Lost. As I stuck my head into the door, every episode of Supernatural and Lost kicked in and told me, "Watch out for smoke monsters." I pulled my head out stared at the door for a moment and we kept rolling. We only made two stops before turning around and heading back towards the Fed Ex Forum.

The first stop was KPreshas. Kpreshas is located at 323 South Main. This was opening night for the boutique and the store was packed. Chairs were arranged throughout the store. People were enjoying drinks and an ambiance that included music on the inside and a live band on the outside. People walked up and down the loft stairs and stood in front of shelves featuring wedge shoes and designer purses for women and a lineup of footwear for men called Pointer. The layout of the store was still a work in progress but the styling was a combination of rustic, fall and wood with a color pallette that will compliment the type of apparel that will be carried. While I couldn't figure out who Kpresha was in the mix, I am pretty sure I'll be dropping in to grab a pair of those Pointers for the Fall (If I don't make my own casual shoe again.)

The second stop was The Blues Foundation. Memphis is the home of the Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Soul Music, Rock and Roll, but Beale Street and Graceland are the only placards that are promoted in the city and those places have their own "culture". Graceland draws the Elvis fans and Beale attracts drinkers. Memphis isn't really about music anymore. If you ask someone what represents music now, it won't be WC Handy or BB King, it will be Three6Mafia and Yo Gotti. While this isn't bad, it does not cater to a promotion of the rich heritage that exists in the city. Memphis has at its core a foundation that should be promoted in the same way that Downtown Nashville has crafted the Grand Ol Opry into a huge portion of its economic development.

The Blues Foundation is one of several small pockets of information that you have to seek out to learn about the heritage of music in the city. Located at 421 South Main, the venue has wood floors, walls lined with photos of legendary Blues Artists, a resource area with books and and enough space to host small events. Joe Whitmer, deputy director, is pulling together a location that should become a part of Memphis' Music City Tour. Oh, wait a minute... Memphis doesn't really have a music city tour (shakes head and says driving past Sun Studios is not a tour). The Blues Foundation is completing their move to this new location and is definitely worth your time if you drop into Downtown Memphis.

Overall it was another great Trolley Night. I'm making the suggestion now that Trolly Night adds another date for the middle of the month. If you haven't done Trolley Night take advantage of it and get there. Don't wait to see South Main though, take a drive down today.

Chris B.

Downtown Memphis is the place to be July 29th, 2011

I'll be at the Sade and John Legend concert tonight. If you don't have tickets there is something for you to do tonight as well in Downtown Memphis:

It's Trolley Night! beginning at around 4:30 you can hop on the trolley and ride through the South Main Arts District for free.99. In other words you don't have to pay a dime and the doors will be open at each individual store, boutique and art gallery. If you haven't taken part in a Trolley Night, what are you waiting for?

 Also in Downtown Memphis there will be a grand opening:

July 29, 2011

Kpresha Boutique Grand Opening

323 S. Main

4:30pm

Get up, get out and do something in Memphis tonight. I'll be in Smooth Operator mode.

That's Not What It's For: Another Facebook Article



Like John Coffey, I couldn't hep it



Common mistakes that come with the comment "That's not what that's for," are all over the place. When you decide to work on a car and grab a flathead instead of a phillips you hear, "That's not what that's for." When you're getting ready to brush your teeth, if you were raised in a house that didn't have much money, and you grab the Arm & Hammer because you're out of toothpaste, and your kid looks at you like, "WTF?" You hear it then. When you're in the bed and you slip up and hit the wrong.... okay nevermind, you get the point. That's Not What It's For is so common that often no one realizes when this is really the case.

Yesterday an interesting thing happened on Facebook. A conversation was started that generated a ton of likes on seperate Facebook walls. The conversation began with this quote: Clean out your Facebook closet. There are people doing incredible work, but you can't see it because there is too much garbage on your wall. Also, if someone is doing something that looks like it took time to do, is artistic, is positive, or is thinking out of the box... make a comment. Honestly, you never know how that might help a person throughout that day. Big shout out to all the people pursuing various dreams. 

Is Facebook Really Good For Small Biz?

Social Media, for those who aren't keeping up, consists of any form of media based in technology that allows you to maintain contact with people at anytime you feel like reaching out and touching someone. The old adage from the phone company has never been more true. Social Media: Twitter, Tumblr, Myspace, Youtube, Facebook and now Google+ all allow their users to drop in at anytime and pick up on a conversation taking place in a group, on a wall, through a Tweet and now in a circle (Google+) In marketing circles having a Facebook page is now a required form of guerilla marketing that will allow you to reach more people simply based on the sheer numbers on these various forms of social media. I've been thinking lately though, is this really a good thing for small biz? I mean, you can post to Facebook and get an immediate bump in web traffic. You can even advertise for free, but with the fact that so many people are fighting to be seen in Social Media there is a problem taking place that has to be rectified by the various outlets. While Social Media was the place to go to build a following many small biz people are finding themselves utilizing Facebook as a primary source of information for their fans, followers, and potential clients.

Now this is not a problem, but it is. See the time a person invests into getting traffic to their Facebook page pays off for a company like the NBA, or ESPN, or AmEx. Why? These brands have customer loyalty, a following and the ability to drive people to their sites through extensive marketing in traditional media forms. No matter what the NBA posts on Facebook, they will have visitors who go directly to their websites. Their foundation was not established through the various forms of social media. Let's focus on Facebook. Facebook holds a person's attention and the short blasts of information, the ability to hold discourse and to share pictures in a central location for the common person and the business person is too attractive. It is so attractive that let's say Small Biz guy A posts something about his company, chances are that the people they expect to visit their webpage will only look at it on Facebook. Facebook uses the App Networked Blogs and in all actuality the person remains on Facebook where the blog/website is presented in a frame.

Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson

What is Rework? Rework is a book on rethinking what it is to be a small business person. The book was written by the founders of 37signals. Real quick, what I just did by inserting their link into this blog post has helped to increase their SEO. Why is this important in a book review? Well not really a book review... but a thank you to the writers of Rework. SEO is the search engine optimization. In the world of the internet in order for your business to be found in the search results of Google people have to share your link. This is placed in some funky program in Google's search engine and the more links to your site, the higher your site is listed when someone searches for certain information. This is important to me because I have found that through research and all kinds of stuff, my site ranks very low. Damn you people who don't understand this!

Memphis Hi-Lites: Memphis Redbirds

Redbirds Park in Downtown Memphis

My family recently went back to our home state of California. We lived in a resort that was about a half a mile from the beach in Oceanside. We were only 45 minutes from California Adventures and Disneyland and we visited both. I went shopping at the border near Mexico, visited my alma mater San Diego State University (which has added an underground trolley station-something that is probably ruining GPAs all over campus) and then I went to eat at Sombreros, Pat and Oscars and Sammy's Woodfired Pizza. I stood in the Pacific and watched my son play in the ocean and I held my daughter as the June gloom began to recede and the sun was breaking through over the horizon. I felt the sand shift under my feet and I realized that I missed San Diego. I missed the idea of going to Julian for apple pie and ice cream. I missed the beach. When we got back on the road to come home, I realized that I was returning to a place that was going to be hot and for the most part angry. In my head, Memphis was not a choice as much as it was an agreement. Especially after being back in Cali, Memphis just seemed... blah.

Rabbit Hole: A review

Often when a stageplay is translated into a movie, there are certain nuances and quirks that can't be conveyed. The film has the ability to better explain small details through the use of various scene settings, lighting and production that a stage play doesn't capture. However, the character inflections, the capacity to interact with the stage and the ability for the theater to create a deeper cathartic moment tends to make stage plays more appealing. David Lindsay Abaire's Rabbit Hole won the Pulitzer in 2007. It was turned into a film, that he was able to write, in 2010 featuring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart.

Lecture on Entrepreneurship at GEAR UP



Christopher D. Burns speaking to GEAR UP students
 at Southwest TN College

I have had the pleasure of speaking to a number of groups about entrepreneurship in the last year and a half. The series of lectures that I've done have implemented my six years of small business experience, my instruction of Business Writing at Park University, and the recreation of my own ventures since going through a major failure in 2008. I had the experience this month (June 2011) of speaking with a group of high school students enrolled in the GEAR UP program at Southwest Tennessee College. I was invited by Dr. Young. This is a write up of the lecture. Take a few minutes to check this out and to visit a lecture from the University of Memphis on entrepreneurship.

Untitled for Ji Jaga

In the garden, things grow
nurtured, soil turned, watered.
In time, from the soil, seedlings
breakthrough.
In Time, the grass turns from
brown, to lime, to green to
brown, and weeds crawl through
invasive, creeping slowly,
turning green grass brown
then dying
In Time. A man turns,
ages, learns, becomes
understood and this life
takes time. In 40 years a tree
is still young, still growing.
In Time, a people, oppressed
destroyed, learn to live and fight
for rights, die, reborn, learn to fight
back
against the weeds turning green
to brown.
In Time, short time, people
expect it all to go away.
A President, the athletes, singers,
a people, like weeds, hurting,
contributes to brown
patches.
In a week, I scream Gil-
Geronimo, and realize
we are like grass
In time

Welcome To The Rileys: A review

Hypothetically answering, what would you do if your spouse decided to put headstones on your cemetery plot with your names on them and you were still alive? Welcome to the Rileys is a film that manages to create questions through a slow paced, carefully crafted narrative using characters who don't require a complete understanding. It isn't often that a film can take stock characters, familiar everyday people and make them compelling without adding in elements of the absurd. I don't mean absurd in the style of Beckett... Then again maybe I do.

When I think about family narratives, they are generally poorly, melodramatic Lifetime movies that are driven by the visual depiction of drama. A person dies tragically, is injured, or abused and the viewer is shown these images and instead of being led into the disentagration of family, the viewer is thrown headfirst into the emotional baggage of the characters forcing an emotional response. The only movie that I can speak of in terms of Black film where the death of a child is the center of the rise in action is Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married and that was with the characters played by Malik Yoba and Janet Jackson. The story line there presented a unique opportunity to establish a movie that could have been very similar to Welcome to the Rileys, but Perry dealt with that complicated storyline like Blacks couldn't handle a slowly drawn narrative of discovery.

Night Catches Us: a review

On January 1st, I dropped a trailer for the film Night Catches Us. I didn't know a lot about the film but I knew that Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie were the lead actors and to me this meant that it was a movie worth my time. I had generally forgotten about the film since then, until it showed up in our Instant Watch on Netflix.

Night Catches Us is the feature film debut of Tanya Hamilton who wrote and directed the movie. In the easiest description of the film Marcus (Anthony Mackie) returns to Philadelphia where he was a member of the Black Panther Party. Patricia (Kerry Washington) another former Panther still remains in the same neighborhood where a tragic situation has created in her the need to carry on the programs created by the Panthers, although the BPP is no longer in the position of influence it held.

Hamilton uses an artistic lens to capture Philadelphia and the film is more like a study of the neighborhood for photography and videography. The images of the Philly streets are often captured with the street signs in the background, or buildings or abandoned lots, trash strewn streets, in contrast to the images she captures of children playing and people walking from neighborhood stores. Every shot involves a character, in thought, standing face to face with someone or something that seems to be eroding. The score by the Roots recreates a seventies sound without sounding antiquated. Overall the movie is beautifully crafted and at 1hour and 30 minutes the scenes shift and move quickly, which isn't jarring, but does create questions.

Although the imagery and quality is incredible I could only give the film 3 out of 5 stars. It was not due to the acting, which held together a script that had more potential than follow through. The acting was powerful and Mackie and Washington lend credibility to their roles and depth to lines that lack the needed development to really grasp the time. The Black Panther Party has appeared in film often and there has yet to be a portrayal that has really defined what the Panthers did and how important they are to history. Hamilton does use actual footage of the Death of Fred Hampton and archival footage of the Panthers and their food programs and of course the shots of Bobby Seale and the chants are always there lingering at moments of confusion, but the story is rushed and some plot points are established but not given enough clarity. Black Thought (Tariq Trotter of the The Roots) plays Marcus' brother Bos, a Muslim who is only utilized in a few scenes, but his voice and the visual depiction of him in his all black clothing and his relationship with his brother could have been a stronger storyline.

What Night Catches Us does do very well is to capture the confusion of the 70s and this makes the film worth watching. The 70s saw the removal of certain political and social walls for Blacks. It seemed that the advancements of the Civil Rights movement had actually given Blacks some status, but the actual facts were that the Black neighborhood became more fractured and the Panthers' role in the neighborhood, became unstable due to government (national and local) forces that infiltrated and corrupted the organization. This destruction of the people from the inside out, left a whole generation with the ideals of the Panthers, but without the foundation. In other words the destruction of the Panthers created the current state in Black America: People who are unaware of the damage controlled media images and broken homes create in the community. This is given incredible power in one scene with the character Jimmy (Patricia's brother) who is a young man searching for an identity in a world that is not ready to accept him as a man and a world that does not want to explain to him the past.

While somewhat predictable, with stock characters, Night Catches Us is a solid film that should be watched because it is important and entertaining.

Here is the link to the trailer here on CB Publishing.

The website for the film can be found by visiting http://www.nightcatchesus.com/

Get To Know: In Honor of Gil Scott Heron

I wrote this paper while I was enrolled as an undergrad at San Diego State University. I did not edit this in any way. I felt compelled to post this because people will allow Gil Scott's death to go uncelebrated, and unrecognized. I hope they won't. I won't because his death diminshes my creative world, but in his own words of Guan Guanco, we are born to discover ourselves and in doing so we have our rebirth and regeneration. Gil Scott is now among the ancestors and within all of us we carry his spirit and by sharing we keep him alive. This is long so come back to it if you have to. Chris B.

The Words of a Modern-Day Jali

(Gil Scott-Heron’s Influences, Social Commentary and his Affect on the Hip-Hop and Spoken Word Community)

I stood with the others along the shimmering coast as waves pushed loose sand from troughs and carried rocks onto the shore. We had awaited the call of the Atumpan for several days waited for the master drummer to tell of us any impending danger. Each day seemed longer than before. Our chieftain had informed us that we did not have the weapons to match the gunpowder that the British men carried. To calm us he asked everyone to listen to the sound of the talking drum. After listening he then told us that this was our advantage. I failed to understand. The Atumpan gives us notice, we see the enemy through the words of the drum, he explained. After waiting for close to five days for the White men to arrive the warriors began to finish the tasks of moving baskets of yams too heavy for the women and children to carry.

It was early, quiet. The sun made long shadows of trees on the shore. The waves echoed the warning from the Atumpan that the White men had returned and would be arriving with guns and various weapons, I felt my chest tighten. The women and children ran to safety. I prepared along with the others for what was about to occur. The speed of the drumming carried over the water faster, with more urgency. I felt fear. I asked my chieftain if the drums were wrong. In his heavy raspy words he informed me that the drums were never wrong. We all moved from the shore in accordance with the call from Atsimewu and prepared for battle. Atsimewu sounded They are here, they are here.

Why We Homeschool: A Response to Wendy Thomas and the Commercial Appeal

Okay, I have hesitated to comment on this homeschool athletics situation on the CA(Commercial Appeal) that has led to a lot of misconceptions/perceptions based on the opinion of people who haven't homeschooled their children and have probably never been involved in the educational system. I think my voice is a good measuring stick for the reality of homeschool. I won't hide behind screen names to write this.

My name is Christopher D. Burns. Look it up, google, bing, whatever. I have been an educator since 1995. First in San Diego, in Tennessee and in Mississippi. I have taught at both the high school level and collegiate level (as a tenure track professor and an adjunct). My wife and I decided to home school our son not because of religious reasons. I am not of any religion; I am spiritual, but my point is our decision was based on a few factors outside of religion. Anyone interested in knowing in detail what they are e-mail me (CA this is your chance to interview someone). Our son, at 3 years old could read and memorize poetry. He has memorized the I Have A Dream Speech and countless other poems and speeches in his homeschool curriculum. I bring this up to say at 7 years old, when he was in the second grade we encountered the worst teacher a kid could have. In the second grade he was reading at an 6th grade level, but the teacher was teaching other students at the 1st grade level.

Because I'm PREGNANT

Congratulations! It's a....dream?

One of my guilty pleasures is watching MTV's 16 & Pregnant. You've seen it right? It always start with the girl giving background details of her life. She talks about where she's from, her family, and then she talks about how things have changed with the panning of the camera to a huge stomach with her saying the ending tagline..."because, I'm pregnant."

I notice on 16 & Pregnant that up until the birth of their child, the mothers are generally living a carefree and easy life. They are preparing for their child to be born. They buy the crib, take breathing classes, beg their parents to understand, try to get their finances in order, and they genuinely believe that on or around that due date, a baby is popping out of their vagina.

The same approach should be taken when we pursue our dreams. If it takes nine months for a baby to be nursed and planned, what makes us think we can birth a dream overnight. Also, it is important that we set a time limit as to when our plan should be attained and achieved. If we can predict when a baby, a precious life, a human being, will enter the world, who are we to say our dreams can come and go whenever they want. We have to give them a due date.

Another thing I notice on the show, is that once that baby is born, it's a wrap! The mother is entirely consumed with every single detail concerning that baby. She rises with the baby, the goes to sleep with the baby, stays up long nights with the baby, feeds the baby, smiles at the baby, spoil the baby, bathe the baby, and so on. I have yet to see an episode where a mother gives birth to the baby and either leaves it at the hospital or takes it home only to collect dust on the shelf. That's simply negligent. For the ones that do ignore the needs of their baby, are generally the ones that live a life of regret, confusion, conflict, and emotional distress. They simply weren't ready for the baby. Then there are the mothers that decide to give their baby away because there is always someone else who will take a neglected dream, I mean baby, and care for it and nurture it as though it were their own because they failed to produce a baby of their own.

A lot of us are unfit mothers when it comes to the dreams and ideas placed in us. Some of us are 86 weeks pregnant, overdue, or we have neglected a baby we gave birth to four years ago. We can't find our baby.

And just like that Cosby episode, men can get pregnant too.

For you nosey people, I AM pregnant but there is no human being growing inside of me. Instead there are a myriad of ideas, poems, songs, events, websites, businesses, and dreams that I am preparing to birth and when they are born I will give them my full attention and parent them with the responsibility that God has entrusted to me.

How do you know if you're pregnant?

Unfortunately, a traditional pregnancy test won't help detect this kind of pregnancy. But here's a test: Answer yes or no to the following questions.

1. Do you see something and immediately think of ways that it can be done better?

2. Do you get ideas of a business or service that you or someone you know can provide?

3. Have you caught yourself daydreaming of being in the spotlight doing a hobby you love?

4. Do you ever say, "If I had ______, I would do______."?

5. Do you think of unconventional ideas that could benefit others around you?

6. Ever get frustrated with an issue effecting a large group of people to the point where you want to do something about it?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, well, congratulations, you're pregnant!

Just with a actual pregnancy there are side effects and risks involved with sharing your body with another human being.

1. You must watch what you eat and maintain a healthy lifestyle if you are going to produce a dream. You must have enough energy to complete the task.

2. Just as your outer appearance will change and be obvious to those around you, your inner man will change too if you get pregnant with a dream. If your outer man got pregnant, your stomach and body will change. If your inner man got pregnant, your attitude will change.

3. Those same friends you had before you got pregnant, may not be around as much after you give birth. They will not understand why you give so much attention to the bundle of joy that you are now responsible for.

4. The only people who truly understand what you are going through, are those who have pushed out dreams. They will know what is like and the pain they had to endure throughout and during the birthing process. They will understand the sacrifice. Surround yourself with people who have successfully carried and birthed a dream.

So, you're pregnant and the first question the baby daddy asks, though he is partially responsible, is, "Soooo, what are YOU gonna do?"

Imagine, God is your baby daddy and he allows the seed of a dream to be carried in you. Believe or not, he still gives you the option as to how you want to handle the responsibility. You can either:

1. Get an abortion. Kill the dream and forever wonder what life would have been like had the dream had been born. Who will the dream have affected, touched, saved, healed. What contribution could that dream had of made to the world.

2. Adoption. Give the dream to someone else and allow them to nurture and provide for that dream even though you created it.

3. Keep It. You may not know how in the world are you going provide and take care of this life altering dream, but the decision to keep the dream, care for it, and watch it grow before your eyes, will be the biggest joy and rewarding experience ever.

I'm keeping my babies! If anybody wants to ever babysit or buy my babies pampers and food, I am also looking for volunteers and investors. :-)

"Most ideas are stillborn and need the breath of life injected into them through definite plans of immediate action. The time to nurse an idea is at the time of its birth. Every minute it lives gives it a better chance of surviving." -Napoleon Hill, Author or Think and Grow rich

Lisa B.

www.liftedsoul.com

www.speakintothemic.com

www.youtube.com/lisabpoetry

Get To Know: Martin Russell

When I coached high school basketball, I always looked around for the tallest kids on campus. Working at an inner city school in San Diego, that also happened to be the most multi-cultural/racial school in the city, presented problems. Our school, Crawford High School, had incredible soccer, wrestling, and badmiton teams because of the abundance of Africans, Latinos and Asians, but our traditional sports teams, the ones dominated traditionally by Blacks had to work really hard and it didn't help that there really weren't any tall kids running around the campus. There were a few, but they liked soccer, not basketball. I remember one kid, a tall light skinned Black kid, that I asked to play and he responded that he didn't play ball. I told him I could teach him and I basically wanted his size on the court. That kid never accepted and it was okay with me, because he was a funny kid. I remember him being this really quirky guy that didn't stand out, he simply blended into whatever crowd he was around. That's the way Crawford was, well most of the time. The students there were kind of their own rainbow coalition in the middle of a city where the poverty line is 70,000 dollars and most of the people in our area were no where close to making that kind of money.

This morning I ran across a post on Facebook, by that kid/man, Martin Russell. He is beginning work on a documentary and if this is any indication of what is to come... Get To Know Martin Russell. Watch this:

It's Kind of A Funny Story: A review

The nuances of life become ritual and in adulthood, the experiences of the past are forgotten. This is what makes the coming of age story an attractive tome. In watching the uncomfortable maturation of the teen, or a child, the reality of being an adult is challenged. Often the reading of a book that deals with the struggles of an adult and their social issues can make the reader jaded and unforgiving. Adults no longer reach, struggle, or learn; they simply live. In their lives the mundane existence of routine becomes so monotonous that the adult no longer believes in the power of the mind. They no longer trust that a thought can influence the world. Inspiration can only be found in religion or financial success. In the teen self awareness, realization, is important and makes their lives a lot more complicated than they seem.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story has made the list of my favorite films. I sometimes think about the things that mother misses because she is no longer here. I wrote a poem titled, You Would Have Loved Ray. That poem forced me to analyze my mortality. This film, based on a novel of the same name by Ned Vizzini, shows the five day journey of Craig. Craig is a sixteen year old living in New York City. The standard items of youth are in place and could be seen as nothing more than pawns in the manipulation of the viewer: the cool best friend, his hot girlfriend (who Craig is attracted to), parents, and a sibling. What makes this film work though is that they are immediately removed from the equation by the director’s focus on Craig’s eventually admitted selfishness after he checks into a mental institution after considering suicide.

Get To Know: Rise Against

I have had countless discussions with artists about the responsibility of the creator of images and sounds. In these conversations, I have found the foundation for my understanding of the importance of art. I have also realized that my ideas about how art should be used, are very constrained. I think that art should serve a purpose and that the artists have to consider the audience, not to cater to the audience, but to promote discourse. The conversation does not have to be comfortable; on the contrary, it should be uncomfortable, but it should have a point. Right now, I can't say anything else about Rise Against. I need you to watch this video, amazing and powerful.

It's Complicated...Kind of a review

Okay that title is pretty vague and I will be the first to say that this blog does not get a crazy amount of traffic, so being vague is not a good thing. I love the blog: http://www.shadowandact.com/ . Not because the title derived from my favorite author, but because the blog has the most information on cinema that caters to a diverse audience. In other words, if I want a Black movie, or I want to know about a movie filmed, written and produced by those not of European ancestry, then I can find the info there. I tend to think I have a pretty good ear, for books, and an okay eye for film. What I have been looking for though from S&A is an article, or a summary on why is it that Black people can't create a film like It's Complicated. I've made similar comments after watching films like The Fountain, or The Notebook, but I won't rehash those discussions here. I will, but in a different way.

Writing is Just Different for a Black Man

Who will be the next Ralph Ellison?

A writer wakes up each morning, or at the end of the day, and begins crafting narratives. This is what writer's do. Traditionally, a writer would complete a manucript and purchase Writer's Market, or some other publication and begin looking for agents. I did this before and during graduate school. In graduate school I was told by my professors that I had what it took to become a "writer". What I failed to understand is that although they had christened me and given me all of the motivation I needed, my writing program failed to explain the realities involved in writing. They specifically failed to explain to me that a Black man writing is unlike any other person creating narratives.

The publishing industry used to be veiled in secrecy. A group of old White men decided the fate of a manuscript: slush pile or publication. Today, self publishing is as accessible as television stations to viewers. Basically anyone with a bit of savvy and computer literacy can put out a publication. I have had the "honor" of being signed by an agent, and having books "sold" under the premise that I rewrite. My problem was I didn't understand publishing and my MFA program did not explain to me that the writer makes concessions. I didn't want to change anything in the story. The editing I was okay with, but changing what happened with a character? Out of the question. Needless to say, my writing career with an agent, went south very fast and I did what most people do today, I self published.

When Memphis is At It's Best

I'm not writing much here because the individual websites speak for themselves. Memphis in May is an annual event that features a multitude of tasty, entertaining treasures. What is even better this year is that the Memphis Grizzlies are in the second round of the NBA Playoffs bringing an extra amount of flavor to the city. This is a chance for Memphis to shine, even through the rough weather. Visit both of these sites and get into the spirit of the city.

Beale Street Music Festival

Memphis in May International Festival

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: A review

Dan Brown has crafted several novels that resulted in a massive number of sales and in all honesty created an industry in tourism. His novels Angels and Demons and The Davinci Code sparked tours and ignited a fascination with symbols, myths, conspiracies and controversy. The Lost Symbol, released in 2009 has not generated the same type of interest.  People have not decided to devote time to setting up TLS tours in the nation's capitol. Ironically, it seems that Dan Brown has an effect on the rest of the world through his literature, yet in America where The Lost Symbol is set, this same passionate response is non-existent. Possibly this speaks to the point of this text. Which is how apathetic the American society has become. Actually, there isn't one point in The Lost Symbol, this book is an arrangement of facts, and storytelling that lends itself to dialogue and the generation of a conflict which actually has the power to destroy an industry, or support it. That industry is the big business of the church. Then again that isn't the only point of the book. Confusing isn't the word I'm looking for to explain why America hasn't created the same fervor for The Lost Symbol as it did for the other books. The United States is the youngest nation in the world and with youth comes the inability to focus. Americans have simply added TLS to a long list of to do items. I happen to think it should be in a short list of must do, must understand, must implement.

Get To Know: Lenny Kravitz

My favorite Lenny Kravitz album is 5. If you don't have 5 buy it simply because of the song Mama. I can't hear that song without crying. Yeah, I'm man enough to say that. While Lenny has always pushed the boundaries and I can consider him one of the best entertainers of my generation, this album goes back to his funk roots and the way this sounds, I think I'll have to play this and the Black Keys at the same time when I run. Okay, you already know Mr. Kravitz, but it's been a while. His upcoming album Black and White America, will release soon and if this video is any indication of what he's dropping, I'm copping. Thanks to okayplayer.com for keeping the updates rolling on all of these various projects.

For Colored Girls: A review

The For Colored Girls reinterpretation by Tyler Perry has seen countless analysis and criticisms. I even took the time to discuss the film after watching the original play. Click here to read that analysis. My original discussion was that this play should not have been recreated. I made this decision because after watching the original play, the level of frustration I encountered as a man watching a film obviously written for and by a Black woman at the height of the Black feminist literary movement, (Do not look up Black Literary Feminist Movement, this is something that I am working on to analyze the writing that was created in the late 60s to the early 80s by women like Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Toni Cade Bambara and obviously Ntozake Shange), was difficult to understand. In its original form the narrative has a clear, calm, powerful, poetic voice, that enhances the emotional attachment to the women who encounter different men who create their frustration and push them towards the thought of suicide. These women are also aware enough to understand that it is their own lack of power which generates the negative energy that promotes their inferiority and mistreatment. This duality existed in the original performance by an ensemble that included Alfre Woodard and Lynn Whitfield, due to their inspired performance. The actresses took a complex, jarring narrative and after watching the original, I knew I didn't have any desire to see Tyler Perry's film and my primary question was why this story, again, now?

Get To Know, Again: Lou Slugga of MLS

A couple of months ago I reviewed a cd here named Sharpshootaz which was a new release by MLS. If I had to give a cd a rating out of 10, that album would have grabbed an 8 primarily on the strength of lyrics alone. This is a solo performance by Lou Slugga, a third of the group MLS.  Whenever I talk Hip-Hop I think about Guru of GangStarr and what he said about an emcee, it's mostly the voice. While there isn't anything that literally distinguishes (barks or whines) Lou Slugga from his peers, there is a consistency to his flow; like I've said about other artists on this site, sincerity is in his words and tone. Check out his solo live performance where he pulls a Q-Tip 'Dance on Glass; type acapella flow for about 40 seconds before jumping into a track that sounds inspired by some of that speed it up type sample by Kanye. The song is called Together. Lyrics!

Get To Know: Singa Bromfield

I recently went on one of my weekly excursions to buy a bunch of kicks to resell and standing in front of the store was a man with a guitar in classic NYC street musician style. His foot was against the wall, his guitar was held across his stomach and his fingers strummed the strings with agile movements, but it was his voice. His voice was a calming force of melodic, soulful gravity. I typically fail to find the sincerity in today's singers. Most people sound so polished and packaged that they fail to really resonate with me. In my mind I still live in a time where music was more important than the video and the sound connected you to a memory. Now musc simply ties you to a dance move and the memories are worth keeping. This man leaning against the wall played. It didn't matter if people thought he was homeless or hustling or keeping his guitar case open to just take the dough that people tossed in the box. He just played and I thought to myself, incredible.

Get To Know: Emilio Rojas' Right To Stay

I had a great conversation with Prof. Gee Joyner about the responsibility of the emcee. (we should have recorded that one) We finally got to a point in the conversation where we basically analyzed the problem of the Black artists and if there is a responsibility that inherently exists because of the skin we are in. Very good talk that should occur more often and in detail. If you follow the Get To Know posts on this blog, you realize that my taste and your taste aint' the same, but it really should be. Hip-Hop has not losts its outspoken edge in regard to social commentary, you simply have to look for it since there are so many forms of media available and a ton of new outlets. I say right now, Get To Know Emilio Rojas. Take a few to visit his myspace page here and download something. In today's era a download is support and so is a listen.

Dexter is Delicious: Kind of a review

I have finally reached the fifth installment in the Dexter Series. Last week my wife showed my a gif on Tumblr. In this rotating gif a man was dragging himself from his living room sofa with his legs laying behind him like a wounded seal. The man's face was a twisted canvas of satisfaction and pain, is that possible? Beneath the picture was the caption: What it looks like when your favorite show airs its episode finale. Jeff Lindsay, I have entered Dexter Morgan's dark, delightful, devious, demented, decadent domain. In it I saw images of blood moon inspired heroics. Yes... heroics. Dexter is a living and breathing almagamation of my frustration and anger in a society where justice is the simple execution of time and who has the best connections. In Dexter is Delicious, this is the problem and in this narrative I actually found myself questioning the realisim in the characerization of the villains. While I questioned, I still wanted Dexter, who I have finally come to the conclusion that he is not as intelligent as I thought he was, to be okay. In Dexter is Delicious he is not okay.

Commentary and thoughts on the film Skin

Racism creates a vast array of emotions when presented in American society. It seems that the US has the need to own the divisive treatment that is created by people and their personal,social, and learned hatred of other cultures. The US however finds it difficult to actually analyze, and create narratives discussing race. People in America want to forget the past, move on without acknowledging the inherent conflicts that skin creates. Entertainment in America tends to make its stories and movies that deal with racism about popular individuals. While the stories that are beginning to fade away, with the passing of grandparents and elders, are becoming lost in time; other societies that have also progressed from segregation and racism are taking those stories and generating films that attempt to understand the psychology behind skin.

One such film that takes the challenge of bringing light to the absurd nature of superiority is the flim Skin. Released in 2008, Skin is the story of Sandra Laing a woman who was born into the apartheid era of South America. The immediate thought generated by this is in regard to Nelson Mandela, however this film does a very good job of focusing on the people who are affected in their day to day existence by apartheid. The film does not stray into a homage to Nelson Mandela and he is only shown in one scene, on a sheet of paper listing the people running in the first free election of 1994. This is important because the narrative created allows the viewer to feel a connection to the family of Sandra Laing, who is important because she is a black child born to white parents.