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I know such a serious title to this post. I usually title my posts after I finish writing them.  This is one of those things I somewhat think about but never read anywhere.

I remember Karl Lagerfeld the Chanel Fashion designer wrote a book around five years ago about his diets.  I heard it was his doctor that actually wrote it or something to that extent — half and half of sorts.

Regardless he lost some 92 pounds in about a year.  After wiki-ing it looks like it was an extreme diet that required about 1000 calorie intake a day or so.

He was over 70 when he started his diet.  He is one of the most iconic fashion designers of the last 40 years.  But it was still interesting that a man of his age would go to such extreme to look good. I am not saying he is almost dead but you know what I mean.  It just doesn’t seem like a health issue as opposed to a social issue.

But I have noticed that the cultural trend is more the body shape than the shape of the nose now as opposed to the past.  I think the post nineties trend is the marathon and protein shake than the facelift.  The percentage of porn in the MILF category is closer to the TEEN category than it ever has been. I made that part up, but I think it’s true.

I don’t want to quote the clichéd idiom about beauty but it’s a fad. Cindy Crawford’s mole is not the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, but I think  that was accurate when I was 13 years old.

Apparently a firm body is more important and more fashionable than the color of your eyes and the shape of your symmetrical face.

And yes I have joined a gym and am working out regularly.  At least till this fad passes by, 30 years from now.

The only good thing is that beauty is not a pie that exclusive to Hollywood and the marketing department of Coco-Chanel; it is not exclusive.  Thanks to factions like Black Consciousness Movement or similar empowerment slogans like black is beautiful or black power or hip hop songs — with lyrics  like the ‘dopest Ethiopian’ everyone and especially black people are defining their own definition of what beauty is.

I have a friend who always buys present to girls in his life; expensive ones, considerate ones, cheap ones and significant ones.

A friend, a female one once asked me why I agonize about time; time I spend with potential mates while they are still potential… “as long as you are sharing the costs. I’m just saying.” This way when I was 24 years old and well my time was a gift. It’s funny to think about it now. But it makes reiterates a good lesson in my life.

What is your protocol?

That is what he asked when they were about to pay for whatever it is they were going to do? She asked what he meant, and he recapped; how do you want to deal with our finances?

Meaning, do you want to split the bill, or he pays this time and then she pays the next time. He wanted to make it clear.

Now she is still seeing him casually but I refer to him as ‘protocol.’  The choices in his wording are pretty funny but he is African American; and am somewhat stereo typing but I like ‘lets get something straight’ while you are potential aspect of it in that culture.

For me the little dinners or theater tickets have never been an issue, at the time when I was 25 I was more worried about my time. As long as she offers to share the bill I don’t mind paying for it. And this applies for most guys. I think! As long as she doesn’t take it for granted. I have heard guys say ‘nothing is more a turn off that those who attempt to get too many freebies.’

I have noticed that some females insisting on paying for their fair share; At least from my experience.

So what is your protocol?

We forget how big it is because of the lack of socio-political influence on western culture, I think.

Africa is bigger than North America, China and India combined. Yet, in the news I hear more about China or India everyday. Africa is out of mind and out of sight for the westerners. 

Here is an Original Image where you can check out the True Size of Africa.

I’m standing at the bar sipping my drink and chatting up with a couple of people.  My peripheral vision is disturbed and my curiosity takes over as I turn my head to focus on the disturbance.

Flashing light!

My first thought is ‘what da #$@$!’.  As I realize what just had happened, my confusion changes to irritation and then anger.

I threw my drink down my throat and started to follow.  He moves elegantly and professionally through the crowd.  He is completely inconspicuous and acts like part of the façade, the reprinted art hanging on the wall, the cheesy wall paper…  He is part of the ambiance and this is the reason of his success- un-noticeable but effective, in his natural realm and hard at work.  A fregging predator!

He pauses to shoot once more.  I reach him as he aims.  I wait until he has made the shot.

Flashing light!

I gently grab his elbows.  Firmly!  He turns smiling and expecting a familiar face.  His smile is still, although he realizes that the face is unfamiliar.  He is a professional.

“Selam”, he nods at me.  “Tadias nefese”, I respond as continue to be pushed to-and-fro by the gyrating crowd in the constant move.

I say, “Nefse, foto’yen iko satey teyekengn anesah”.  He switches to English.  “Yeah man, we are documenting our parties so that we can post the pictures on-line.  You wanna see your picture…I can take it again” he says, eying the missing button from my shirt and fidgeting with his Cannon to pull the picture of me he has just ‘documented’.  I am mad now.  I am trying hard to keep myself stoic and rational but still, I want to strangle his scrawny neck.

I inform him “dude, I don’t want my picture taken without being told that my picture is being taken.  Please delete my picture.  I don’t want my face plastered all over the internet….”—you know how the rest goes…

This is one of the few things that really get under my skin- rouge paparazzi wannabe’s (HEREAFTER known as PZ) snapping pictures of sober and not so-sober patrons trying to have a good time.  Next thing you know, your mom is calling asking when you started smoking having heard of your now public profile from Mimi’s mother, who used to be in the same equb.   (Side note: Mimi and I had a one night stand and one of us had decided to keep it at just that while the other may have had other ambitions- or at least, that’s the only reason I could think of for the change in attitude—but that’s another story.)

While I understand that there are no laws protecting unsuspecting patrons from their picture being taken by the  PZ’s, I am with the opinion that it is only common courtesy to let drunks be drunks and let  people enjoy themselves without being harassed by random flashing lights.   I would hate to see my picture on Flicker or the habesha related websites, which I will not mention here.

Especially today in the era of cloud computing where you have no idea where Google or Bank of America is storing your personal info, who’s  to say who can get to this info or how it may be used?  I admit it does sound paranoid, but I rather be safe and have no pictures of my smoking and drunk self posed on line.  That way, there is nothing to be worried about, or no skeletons in the closet to ‘admit to’ when I run for a Senate seat in 2050 – you know what I mean.

Basic etiquette, some argue is relative.  I argue the total opposite.   I will further argue that taking people’s pictures in places of entertainment without advising them beforehand does not adhere to idea of basic etiquette.  It, however, goes perfectly with the idea of Capitalism, where the goal is to make as much money as possible.  Why else would someone hire a PZ to ‘document’ his/her patrons?

Would it not to show off on some website what kind of crowd his/her party’s attract, the number of people, the length of the skirts and the depth of the cleavages?  So that when Asheber in Iowa looks at the website, he will immediately reroute his ticket to D.C for his Christmas break.  For many, this may be OK, but I, for one will b$%#@ slap the next PZ that tries to ‘document’ my charming smile!

MR/MS PZ, You have been warned!

Report shows that Africa has 12% of the new cell phone subscribers in the world, tallying 20 million more cell phone users in first Quarter of 2010.

What’s actually more fascinating to me is that they’re saying that the continent now has close to 50% penetration; meaning that there’s a lot of growth left to be had as equates to the rest of the planet.

I don’t know much about the internet phone usage but I did hear that South Africa has a service similar to 3G of AT&T.

Also smart phones are cheaper in Africa! Or so I’ve heard!

I am always confused when someone say mobile instead of cell phone. Read this interesting article about how phones end up in Africa.

... In any cluster of mobile phone shops you find someone who offers repair services. … People then come asking if other things can be fixed, and over time there’s an increased awareness of how to fix different models.”

I read top ten lists all the time mostly about technology; or sometime designs or photography. I have read many random facts of African countries although it seems like most of the ones white people write are generic.

Like (in my California blond voice) ‘Africa has 54 countries. I thought it was a country in itself. ‘ Yes and Africans are 1/6 of the world population and we have over two thousand languages and dialects which comprise 25% of the world languages.

So yes, this list I compiled over 3 ½ weeks. My list is the most interesting and most unknown. Some wow factors, I will now stop tooting my horn and let you be the judge in no particular order:

1. Arabic in different dialect is the most spoken language in African with over 175 million speakers (estimated). Not only is it the most used language but it influenced many other language in Africa.
2. Sudan has twice as many Pyramids than Egypt. source
3. There are more physical variations than on any other continent among the native populations of Africa. source
4. At one time, prior to colonization (scramble of Africa) Africa had more than 10,000 different states. There are only 54 countries now. source
5. 93 % of Equatorial Guinea’s labor force is comprised of Men. I could not find the average proportion of male to female work force in Africa but the number is estimated to be around 75%.
6. Shells were once used as currency in Africa as recently as in the 19th Century. source
7. Cricket is the second most popular sport in Africa. The west influenced Africa too.
8. Africa is the only continent to have a large percentage of its population transported for slave labor. Estimate that approximately 8–12 million slaves were transferred from between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. The number might seem minute but Africa population before the 19th century was never over 120 million. 8% to 10% of African was slaves at one time. source
9. The Nile is the longest river in the world. Most people thing it’s the Amazon.
10. The largest Desert in the world, the Sahara is growing by about ½ a mile a month. Looking for confirmation for this one.

Almost everyone knows what happened in the state of Arizona last week or so I presume. Gov. Jan Brewer signed a new law that makes it a crime (not illegal mind you) to be in the state of Arizona without proper documentation to prove your legal status. The entire debate is framed ridiculously, mainly concerning on the results rather than the cause.  Some “nationalists” argue that the bill will help restore America’s economy, sovereignty, law and order, civil society and culture. In simple words they just want to say “reducing white dominance in this country will fundamentally change the fabric of our nation.” They are merely afraid of being Minority in the long run.

America is powerful because it has and had a generous supply of free, low paid unskilled or low skilled illegal workers. So people thinking that it will restore Americans economy are becoming victims of their own success because removing a good supply of unskilled to low skilled workers is not only anti-capitalistic but also foolish.

This also lays a perfect platform for potential harassment of people who don’t look like white Americans. Race does play a role in this debate, although the stark truth is sugarcoated to be obvious. Arizona also has a law against racial profiling. When asked how else a law enforcement officer would be able to have a reasonable suspicion to detain a person, one of the state senators actually said that you can identify illegals by their clothes and shoes etc….… I kid you not he did say that!

I am sure inside he was screaming “brown skin  … ring a bell……you fool” to the interviewer. There is simply no way of detaining someone as a possible illegal immigrant without racially profiling him/her. It would also be interesting to know if the local police will undergo any type of immigration law training .In an era of rampant trivial litigation, I foresee endless lawsuits pursuant to this particular invasion of privacy and civil liberty.

The government has talked about securing the borders for a long time now.Border security issue is deliberately overlooked. The government purposely ignores securing it because the pros outweigh the cons. If it really is as pressing an issue as the proponents claim it to be, there is no sane reason to defer on securing the border. Like somebody famous once said

I find it hard to believe a country that sent a man to the moon in the 1960’s has a hard time building a fence around its borders in 2010.”

I am all for giving amnesty to those who are here already and securing the border practically. This way the illegals will legally pay taxes which is revenue for the state and eliminating racial tension. It might not be as simple as I stated but it seems logical and justly human.

Some other states might follow suit of Arizona. Although I am not Spanish, I am often mistaken for Spanish descent so this affects me profoundly. Arizona will not solve the problem through imprisonment, deportation, or other repulsing policies. The state is taking the wrong track in response to conditions made bad by longstanding federal immigration procedures and border insecurities. This bill flirts with outright racism and surely is a scapegoat for other problems in this country. As for me and my family we have no plans to visit Arizona. We find this law as inhospitable and thorny as the state flower of Arizona.

I hate Mondays.

Two weeks ago, I watched the new flick by George Clooney — ‘Up in the Air.’ The characters on the film worked as bad news messengers for big corporations. They basically go and tell that an employee has been laid off. There was a somber scene where a grown man was crying after a perky twenty-four year-old fired him from his job where he has held longer than her age.

Today, I was in the same position as that twenty-four year old character (twenty-eight in my case). I have done what I have never done before. I told someone who I have come to respect that their position no longer exists. I am sad beyond belief!

What makes this Monday even more painful is the way the person accepted the news with grace. “be’tsega meQebel ne’w,” was the response; which loosely translates to the title of this post.

It was a gut-wrenching experience, but I can not phantom what makes a person so calm and so collected to accept uncertainty — especially in these times where uncertainty is certain.

How would you tell someone that their days as employee is numbered? What would this person say when they get home? What must their loved ones feel when they hear the bad news?

In a country where job is equated to ‘security,’ letting people go should not be a binary choice — at least, it shouldn’t be! Thinking that it is a simple function with limited variables is down right wrong.

Word to the wise; take fate in your own hands.

What I call reading today is not what reading is really is? I continue to buy books but just use them for reference or skim through it as fast as I can while I am simultaneously listening to music.

I can’t really remember reading a full book with no distractions. The default reading for me is skimming through the chapters.

Behaviorist, usability testers, market researchers and psychologists among others study human characteristics. My latest read was about the default makeup of a human personalities as well as day-to-day tendencies.

The study was that “the default” influences your daily lives more than what you think. For example, if you set up through your checking account to automatically deduct 200$ a month to your savings; then it takes no additional action for you to save 200$ a month – hence it’s the default.

Market researchers are so well aware of this that they make you decisions’ that better suit them.

Based on an example I once heard on NPR, regarding the cost of healthcare; doctors are more likely to order more tests on a individuals if the form they fill out for is prefilled based on symptoms. i.e. if the default form preselected check boxes by the hospitals computers, doctors spend more money on tests; compare that if the form is blank and the doctor has to write down the tests based on the patients symptoms.

The default is your brains way making some choices for you. They call it Default network

A few years ago, a client asked me to increase the number of people opting in for the monthly e-mails to customers by redesigning the e-newsletter. I redesigned it email layout without changing the content but after months of trail and error, we realized that people are 3-4 times more likely to opt in to receive emails if the checkbox signifying interest was by default checked.

The point is that the default matters! Now you don’t have to read the book

That is what they call it, the republican pundits that is.  Currently I am in my office working but with my headphones on. I am quietly listing to the Obama’s bipartisan health care summit.

I and those around me, those of us that sacrificed money as well as time to get Obama elected are finally in consensus that this push for Health Care has been lame for lack a better word.

And now I am listening to preach to congress, and he is convincing, in fact he is very convincing. He has the right path for America, at least the start of it, by progressive standards; even though the bill is missing what is considered major, public option.

Then, one of the most powerful republicans, Minority House Leader John Boehner slapped Obama’s efforts down by saying:

Let’s scrap this Bill!

Basically, repeating what his has been saying for almost a year now. Obama just let is slide, saying that he viewed it significantly different.

They kept repeating it, rephrased in many different ways; and he only disagrees with it.

At some point he has to get mad, and angry, not calm like this. Moreover, I heard a friend say this, ‘maybe Hilary had a point when she said Obama was soft.’

Oluchi Onweagba, that is her name — she is no Alek Wek, I have always love Alek because of her skin color, but there is a whole girlish look to her. I know most of you guys will disagree, but we all can agree that she changed the way being black is looked at, at least commercially more so than the top black models of the 90′s.

I first saw Oluchi’s picture on a Gianfranco Ferré ad on some magazine, years ago and I looked her up because I was fascinated by her looks.

I have always been interested in the color of skin, at least for people African decent. I know for some we are all black, & yes I agree but there are a lot of different types of black people.

For most westerners, Kojo Nnamdi from Guyana is the same as Yaphet Kotto, who is from Cameroon. And yes at some point in history we were the same but we are not anymore; there are a lot of diverse types of black people with distinctive cultures and unique histories.

As a consequence our looks differ, and each culture appreciates beauty in divergent customs. But bias play a role in how  mainstream society views beauty and the proof is in the pudding. According to what I read at some point on Forbes; Liya Kebede is the only black model with earnings in the top 15, the rest are all white.

CBS, or Tyra approved for the use of the Americas Next Top Model brand for West Africa; I think somewhere West Africas Next top model is on air, featuring women from 16 countries in West Africa.

My point is to bust the idea that lighter skin is not necessarily better than darker skin.

Something that is fully developed; at least that is the definition according to Merriam & Webster.

When I pick fruits at the neighborhood grocery, I look for the once that are not fully developed but close to it because I want to take a bite when it’s ripe. The danger is that it could get too ripe to be edible.

I have often wondered what the age of a fully ripe human is; I am thinking that it applies to everything. Obviously the perfectly ripe age for humans is longer that for dogs and shorter than for turtles.

Lets assume 25 to 40 is the prime age for humans…

More and more there is prevalence in society at least for females that older is better physically & mentally than the previous decades. Words like Cougar and MILF are thrown around and I find myself finding the women in the TV shows like Desperate Housewives & Cougars sexier than Hugh Heffner’s 8 wives or so in the Girls Next Door.

I read recently that MILF porn is gaining more popularity that it’s considered a fetish no more; its mainstream. Don’t judge me, I read it on GQ magazine.

I tend to agree, in my personal experience too. Although my experience with 35 plus women is very limited, I have wanted one for a while now. No doubt a divorced single mom is much more interesting, than a 21 year old college girl; as a matter of fact 35 year old’s are better in every area, yes including physically.

They just look more sexual, more female and comfortable. I know that a blanket statement like these are not always true and you guys hate generalizations, but at least to me these virtues apply to society somewhat, where I am around.

Obviously, there are negative things as well.  I was watching Superbowl commercial in which, they basically insulted girlfriends and wives everywhere.

I am not an idiot, I know I have to compromise when I finally start living together with a significant other. But I just can’t imagine it being this terrible for every man. And so I am wondering at what age are they the most demanding?

Political hopefuls who once courted rappers, before suddenly realizing that “filthy rap lyrics” are the leading cause of all problems in society, are now calling for hip-hop’s head on a platter.

Ignoring the larger issue at hand, the role played by corporate sponsors who make huge dividends from derogatory rap songs and the socio-economic climate that breeds such music; politicians have been quick to rail against the usual scapegoat, hip-hop.

The truth of the matter is hip-hop as we know it is packaged and dumbed-down to degrade our society, blacks and whites all alike. Rock and Roll used to be the tool of Mass Mind Control, but now it is hip-hop.

Rappers that are famous or being pushed into mainstream are the least talented of the lyricists out there and with the emptiest message. The easiest to control, are the hungriest for fame, are the ones that will do what their handlers will tell them and rap what they are given for a small IOTA of success. Most rappers don’t have any wealth but yet that’s what they rap about and portray however they influence people’s priorities and push a Dopeboy lifestyle.

The funny thing is they are using our skills and talents for purposes that are not of our own making or for our betterment.

Who do you know in the hood, that wants to stay there, that doesn’t dream of getting out? Nonetheless rappers glamorize negative aspects of our society, and flip the script to change what’s important or acceptable, and No they are not just describing the environment.

They are setting the backdrop and influencing the youth to a lifestyle. Selling drugs and being a kingpin is not the only way to be successful, and even more glaring is Most of these rappers don’t actually do what they said they Did. They are lying to you! Every rapper that glamorizes the hood doesn’t live there anymore and only goes to visit, for ‘street cred.’

So what’s the solution…I only listen to underground rappers that are so much more talented lyrically and have a message, that is I don’t listen to anybody in the mainstream. At the very least these famous rappers don’t even elaborate on why ‘They are the Best, and The Illest, and Sickest’…their songs are all chorus, mainly repetition of an Idiotic Motto  and limited verses.

I am not calling for hip-hop’s head on a platter like the politicians, but I am asking how come they don’t push rappers with a positive message or excellent vocabulary?

Anyways this is a local rapper from Maryland doing his thing, he used to rap like the industry, and wanted to be in the industry. Until he realized you have to sell your soul, compromise who you are and your message in addition to having no positive messages to make it mainstream.

He was approached by Virgin records, and would have signed a deal, however they wanted to REPACKAGE his whole being, I for one am glad he did not do it. Listen to MYRAGE and tell me what you think of his skills, he is currently based out of Houston and is touring nationwide.

Just yesterday I was having a conversation about how words matter.  Essentially the females in via my social networks said that:

actions speak louder than words”

I have written a little bit about using words to expressing ourselves about this time last year. And essentially most people disagreed with me.

One of you even quoted the bible to dispute my claim. Apparently ‘a man of understanding holds his tongue.’ Good thing I believe that the bible was written by men, the hypocrisy.

This week a friend of my noticed that I used the word ‘essentially’ to the exhaustion point. Wow, he was right but this is not the first time this happened. Every other month someone is complaining about a certain word that I am using for no apparent reason. My little brother said something to me once… only people with lack of vocabulary use the word ‘like’ for everything.

Like like … you know… those California blonds. It’s like duh I don’t have words in my head so I will put the word ‘like’ everywhere; except mine are usually words that with end with ‘ly.’

I always loved ‘apparently,’ that’s one word I can’t live without. Apparently, it fits everywhere like effectively.  As a designer, when I have to judge designs ‘That logo is effectively designed’ sounds so much more sophisticated than ‘l like that one.’

That is what clients say to me once I submit some options.

Someone somewhere said that good writing is dead, but good writing didn’t die with JD Salinger, its everywhere with the Facebook status and the Tweets.

photo source

The smell of yerga chaffe fills my nose and I am taken by the rich seductiveness of its scent. It takes me to Lake Tana, to the buna farmers, and back again to where I am now. Where am I? I am sitting in my boyfriend’s family’s house after dinner and witnessing the famous coffee ceremony. I am amazed as the incense swirls into the air, as the roasted coffee smell wafts into the apartment’s atmosphere, and the beauty of it all.

If only life was as simple as sipping a small porcelain cup of coffee…

I am a woman. I am a feminist. I am an American and more specifically…Black American. My mother has Southern roots in South Carolina and Georgia and my father is a racial “mut” (as he likes to call himself). Being Black American and entering the habesha world has been interesting and sometimes frustrating.

Since a young girl, I was introduced to many of the different cultures within Ethiopia and Eritrea through my father who had a love affair with the continent of Africa before my conception. He, being a man of philosophy and theology, was interested in Ethiopia as one of the birthplaces of ancient Christianity. I learned about the different peoples of Africa and fell in love with a handful of countries. Ethiopia and Eritrea have always been in my top five. My father explained how the people of Ethiopia and Eritrea were compassionate and good people. And they are.

However, I was not prepared for the tightly knit nature of the habesha culture. When I met and fell in love with a habesha man, I was not ready for the frustration that would ensue. I was not ready for the remarks from habesha women that were along the lines “why did I take a good one?” because my boyfriend had a great paying job. I was not ready for the disgusted stares that would come from the habesha community as we walked down the U street corridor.

I would come home at night and ponder how some members of the habesha community could be so against one brown person loving another brown person. I wasn’t angry, but frustrated. I knew about the pride of the people. I knew they were never colonized and I knew they thought they were the most beautiful people in the world. I wasn’t against their views, matter of fact, I was attracted to my boyfriend because he was beautiful inside and out. The attitudes persisted…

However, the stares and the comments did not prepare me for what was brewing at home between us. Culture is our very own eyeglasses – our lens – that we don’t take off. We use them to see the world and it is always the right prescription because it is ours. It is what we know – it is our tape that replays every second in our lives. As me and my boyfriend looked at each other with our own lens, we discovered our own shortcomings and our cultural definitions which were hard to exchange or challenge.

I was a feminist and I had problems accepting the perceptions and roles of some women in Ethiopia and Eritrea. He had concerns with the American woman and the individualistic nature of most Americans. Although he didn’t believe the stereotypes of Black Americans, I am sure it was in his subconscious mind. I would call him African – he would say “I am habesha.”

I would tell him that those countries were in Africa and he would say “we were told that we were different, but I know that we are in Africa.” I told him that racism abounds although Obama was elected. He didn’t believe me. He thought that Washington DC was a mirror for the rest of this great land called the United States. These minor cultural misunderstandings would continue into our relationship and force us to go deeper and challenge us to think broader and in a more real sense. However, it came to a head one chilly day in 2009.

My boyfriend walked outside of a grocery store and it happened. What Black Americans know and never forget….that it lives…and it rears its head in the nastiest of ways sometimes. My habesha boyfriend walked out of the grocery store and mistakenly walked behind a car that was trying to pull out of a parking spot. The enraged driver said “Nigger!!!!” He came home and told me the story and said “but I wanted to tell her that I wasn’t a nigger, I’m habesha.” I shook my head and let it drop into my hands in pure frustration.

What he didn’t understand at the time was the complexity of color, class, and race. He didn’t understand that in the eyes of the “other,” he was now one of us. He had become Black American and he didn’t understand. He didn’t understand how he could be confused with Black American.

He didn’t understand that in America, it wasn’t if you were Amhara, Gurage, or Tigre – it was if you were black, white, brown, or yellow.  He couldn’t understand that in Washington DC where the habesha community was strong, people would know he was from Ethiopia or Eritrea, but the farther south he would go; the more he would morph into a Black person and what that would mean.

He no longer was habesha, he was a Black person that would be stared at in expensive restaurants, pondered over because of his expensive clothes, and would be discriminated against like us (Black Americans, that is). He had no idea that his skin color that could do so much good in his own country would challenge him in another.

Two years later, we are still pondering these same issues and thinking about marriage. We wonder what our children will face. What will the children of a black woman and a habesha man face? As they try to learn Amharic and English – hand dancing and Eskista, among it all – we hope they will realize that they are just people. We are all one in the same.

Elle B.

Merry Christmas ladies and gentlemen, Obama has delivered a big present for all poor Americans.

Health care for all! Well not really; but it’s a start and the bill that just passed the senate will likely become law sometime in the next 3 months.

I first mentioned my unhappiness with Obama when he backpedaled on the Gates situation early in Aug 2009.

And I got a lot of pushback from all of you. Since Aug, 4 months he has sent 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, finish the war that was important according to what I heard him say live on the day before election. And then soon the health care bill will become a bill.

I am assuming that all you liberal immigrants who pushed back at me when I asked for real change; a black male president that is willing to change how black males are treated by the legal system, are happy.

Now, when can I get my present of real change?

I was reading a recent blog and I love reading blogs because they are opinions. One of the most famous bloggers is the author of Zen Habits named Leo Babauta of Guam.

And he is helping a lot of people and his thoughts come out so perfectly straight and opinionated. No wonder its one of the most popular blogs in the webosphere

Here is a list of the most popular articles of 2008. One of the posts about 20 things he wished he knew when he was starting out his life says that he wasted so much time watching TV.

All that time you spend watching TV is a huge, huge waste of time.”

Among the many other posts about financial responsibility and not sweating the small stuff there is a TV post. I just think TV is one the most important things in modern Zen living. I mostly watch films and art has never been anti-zen.

One of my friends in LA who lives alone and from what I know has one of the most simplest lives in world just told me that she quit TV.

It’s been a day, & so far so good!”

Rachel Maddow, who is now one of the newest lineup on MSNBC said on an interview that she and her girlfriend did not own a TV set.

I was actually sick and tired of reading about how she lives TV free and is a TV host herself. And then someone wrote:

Well today is your lucky day because the queen of MSNBC finally has one to call her own and can no longer claim to live in a TV-free household.

Thank god!

Living TV free is overrated, stop preaching it.

I used to paint when I was in art school and a little bit after. Eventually, I stopped while I was concentrating on improving my design skills for my career as a designer.

Now I just like to enjoy the fine arts. I keep up with what’s going on in the art world via the internet. As far as Ethiopian art and artists are concerned I am with most in the Ethiopian fine art community that there was a period in which our art was not making significant socio political commentary.

Outside of the big names that have been present since the 70’s and just like music there haven’t been major movements. But this is another topic that should be its own topic.

Now I would like to introduce to you Ezra Wube, whose work I was first introduced to years ago in 2004. I have sporadically following his work through the last couple of years.

From the amount of work coming out on his website, it seems like he is and has been working full time.

I bought the above painting called Azenes because I like the ambiguous use of physical space in the image and the colors and the depth of field in the fabrics.

I thought they were going to Leqso in special local clothing. I was attracted to the sadness but the Azene serious of painting according to the Artist:

My current Azene paintings are based on my visit to Ethiopia in August 2008. Azene is short for Gojam Azene which is the name given to a type of new colorful fabrics. Gojam is a region in the northeast, and Azene means he is sad. When I previously visited the Gojam market in 2004, the villagers wore traditional clothes.

Traditional clothes are made from cotton; they are mainly white with a strip of colorful design along the edges, visually unifying the people, creating oneness. Traditional clothes are made from scratch by the individual’s family member.

In my visit to Goajm’s market in August 2008, these traditional clothes were being replaced by Gojam Azene. Visually separating the people, these new industrial, acrylic, synthetic fabrics seemed to be favored by the villagers. They are cheap, light to wear and offer various color choices, however, it can be seen as one of the first signs of modernism erasing tradition.

Wow, so I am very excited about these painting hanging in my living room not only because of the commentary in Ethiopian tradition but also its contemporary modernism observations.

There are a few imperfect things that annoy me about the painting but I am trying to overlook them as no work is perfect, thus I don’t want to make a comment on it. I just didn’t want to shamelessly plug my painting.

More on Ezra on Abesha; and a real Gojam Azene

A herbivore is an animal that has adapted to eat everything else but meat. A vegetarian is the same way. For what ever reason they made up a ‘rule’ that says that they are not suppose to consume meat.

I don’t like to exclude something as a ‘rule;’ although I have preferences. And preferences are better than rules.

For a long time one/two people in my family said that they do not eat seafood as a rule. I always thought what a waste it must be, to have such a palate that can distinguish between millions of tastes, and omit the whole ocean.

I mentioned it, and I asked ‘but you eat canned tuna.’ And he made a comment that tuna is different; chicken of the sea à la Jessica Simpson.

There are more extreme versions of vegetarians; thankfully I don’t know too many of these types of people but they call themselves Vegans.

Veganism is not just a dietary rule but also a lifestyle choice. The best thing about vegans is the fact they are not hypocrites like Vegetarians. Otherwise they have made some choices that supposedly won’t ensure optimal health by limiting your ability to ensure you eat a balanced diet.

Vegetarians are walking hypocrites; they claim they don’t want to put slaughtered animals in their mouth for ethical reasons.

Rahel is a vegetarian; she will not eat my meatballs when she comes to my dinner party. Thus when I invite her I have to make other arrangements— like telling her to eat before she comes. And she comes with her carry out but she is wearing a Bruno Magli leather shoes.

Rahelye, sorry I didn’t make special food for you?

Don’t worry about it Noli! I brought falafel & hummus!  And at least ‘nothing had to die for my dinner’

Oh sharrup! you fuken hypocrite!

I am constantly looking through old photos. I really like how a photo changes the way I think about something. Its very powerful.

I once read about Kevin Carter who killed himself after winning the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography in 1994 for this picture taken in Sudan a year earlier.

Including those that changed the way I think or have had a lot of influence in the world.

In no particular order here are my top 3 choices; seen above, Mandela walks free after 27 years in prison.  The image of Mandela fighting aparthied and Winnie being there fighting with him to me is betam empowering. Kinda like ‘ A change is gonna come.’

From what I read about the period, and the Black Power Movement; this picture of Tommie Smith and John Carlos is one of the most powerful I have ever seen.

On the biggest stage at the time during a live broadcast of the 1958 Olymipc Games, they took their shoes off and wore black socks to show Black Poverty and raised their arms in the Black Power Salute, while The Star-Spangled Banner played.

The movements impact not only African American identity but also on Black Socio Political influence to me is conveyed in this picture.

This picture below came before the the major droughts of the early 1980′s.

The publishers of this pictures decided not to publish this photo for a long time. But decided to enter it into competition and the photo won the
World Press Photo of the Year: 1980.

This was the start of the media blitz to cover drought in Africa and that changed the image of Africa forever.

My little brother and I were entering grocery store after a stop at the local Thai restaurant.

We were straddling along by the door as two hick-like white boys were passing by when we heard one say ‘they spit a lot!’ after seeing bro spit on the ground outside.

‘Who is they?’ he asked loudly while seemly appearing shell-shocked.

‘This is 2009!’ An older woman was shaking her head as she heard all parts of the conversation.

They walked away with fear and heads hung low, as if he would beat them up!

I was watching the news conference when Obama made the now infamous comment:

Cambridge police acted stupidly!”

Indeed, the hoopla delighted me. Police brutality & racial profiling was the topic at hand for two weeks. And then he backpedaled!

He should have stood his ground and fought the black men of America who have been profiled again and again for years.

One of the reasons I live in DC metro is because these kinds of things do not happen as often as it happens in the rest of US, including NYC and California.

Right now, I worry more about cops profiling me more so that being victimized by a civilian. Things have happened to me in the past and I hate the fact that I fear those who are supposedly hired to protect and serve us.

This is a big issue and one I think Obama should have stood ground on. Like my brother said, ‘this is 2009.’ The president is black or at least half, there should be no ‘they.’

If Obama can’t stand his ground who then can!

I got a tweet, via my TwitterFox and its said praying for MJ. I was thinking Michael Jordan for some reason. I left it go and searched the web.  Later I heard he went to the hospital and then he died. I got a lot of text messages.

Eventually it was confirmed. I am so sad! Recently I found out someone I knew that was really young had died and I was and have been thinking that I should make the best out of my life because you never know what could happen tomorrow.

Rest in Peace MJ

One of the most popular phrases,

If it works in Africa, it will work anywhere.

The statement I am quite familiar with was recently harked back by one of the most popular African bloggers is Hash aka Erik Hersman of White African who actually grew up in Kenya & Sudan.

I think this statement as well as Hash’s AfriGadjet showcases the African ingenuity & persistence.

I sometimes feel like I lack real African experiences but sometimes I am dubious about my uncertainty thankfully by my social interactions. I am not the worldliest persons but I at least appreciate the fact that I am connected to Africa everyday through the internet.

Of course my route here at bernos has been not only a creative outlet by a link to my Afrocentricity.

But reading blogger’s like Hash makes me really sad because I feel like as Africans we tend to refrain from sharing real world social experience. There is a huge gap in the amount of socially relevant literature, media outlets and even in the form of art.

At the end we African are to blame because most of us that are lucky enough to have an extra minute or two after the struggle for survival tend to worry about life from a limited perspective.

We educate ourselves in western values! And easily dismiss our own social culture, art, and talent. Thus artists, craftsmen, and authors are discouraged to continue to struggle to share their life through their art.

I envy those westerners that appreciate Africa and African culture and art more that real Africans, because their lives are the better for it.

I struggle with this; being complacent is one of those things that come with consistency in our lives. Stability, resilience & security are some of the things we strive for as we get older.

In reality though in our lives —although stable with basic necessities — we are dealing with problems that come and go; losing a job, relationship problems, and health issues among the many unforeseen variables. The mundane and trivial trails that god — if you believe in that — or pure existence puts us through. The other most stable part of almost everyone’s lives are the people that somehow share your livelihood; friends, family, random relationships & significant others.

I have seen this from different angles. I have disregarded — aka taken for granted people who happen to be involved in my life because I was dealing with a major headache of some sort that instance, that week, or even that month.

I have seen others overlooking friends just because they are in a new romantic soiree. I have seen new significant others ruining friendships and relationships within the family.

I have lost friends that were an integral part of my life and I of theirs because we being incompatible due to married. They now have married friends; his wife prefers him not hanging out or even talking with someone that marks single on their tax forms.

Long ago a friend asked me to join him on a night out in town; I declined to join him. He was adamant on a legitimate excuse for my hesitation to join him and then asserted that if the shoes were the other way around it wouldn’t be the case.

Most people, I have noticed would generally give a white lie in this situation. I have to do some errands; I have a headache or something to that extent. I usually do not lie about such trivial things and I get in trouble for it.

The thing is; he who asked to join him had in the past ignored me for months when he was hot & heavy in love with a new girl. So I mentioned it, and he said yes, if he was to do it all over again he would – he exhaled. Meaning it should be that way, apparently friends should step aside when its not convenient for them.

I have seen this happened not just to me but in society in general. Not to say I have never been guilt, I have been — I have said that I just can’t make it tonight I have to go see about a girl. Gin its never been so bad that I would avoid my friends at all costs including phone calls just because I happen to be in love this month.

You see what people tend to forget is that friends & family are there forever through thick and thin. They don’t leave you because you are broke or you gained weight or lost your hair or you go to jail. Significant others are not replacements and should not be treated as such.

Don’t take me for granted, I never have!

I actually have posted a few finds over the last month, from the films of Habesha Life and music video of Munit.

As a whole it seems like the Ethiopian readers of bernos are very harsh critics of the arts they are provided for free.

It seems to me like there are disproportionately higher numbers of Ethiopian haters compared with other societies.

I have also noticed that credibility for an artist for the Ethiopian community comes only after there has been a societal consensus.

This is like the empty weyiyite cab, no one wants to use because it’s going to use a time to fill — once it gets half way people fight to get it.

I have seen it over and over and over — 5 years ago I read a review of Wayna were the author basically ripped up her talent and music for no apparent reason. I don’t remember the details but I wonder what his reply is going to be if he/she was confronted with the details of his/her words and a Grammy nomination.

In conclusion, what I am saying is that ‘most of you are talentless assembly line workers,’ think about that before you start hating what your mind is not capable of comprehending.

Supporting the arts and artist is an enlightening experience which can possibly upgrade your simple existence. Or go get married to someone like you, have a baby and move to the suburbs.