All Hallows Eve...

I didnt realize today was Halloween until I left my home this morning, went into the bodega and saw tinkerbell and dorothy from the wizard of Oz lol....Halloween has never been my holiday of choice and in fact even as a child I never really got into it very much. However, there are thousands of young people as well as adults who celebrate and enjoy the festivities of all Hallows Eve...But how many actually know the history behind the date? Chek this out....

Chek dis out....Actually interesting.

Get down wit the get down....

People dont realize just how serious this presidential election is....But these guys sure do...Chek this out...U gotta have faith...I do, and these guys do...... do you? All jokes aside though, this presidential campaign is making waves around the world...from Africa, to Europe, to......Peru?

Click the link below for more details.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7699066.stm

if you feelin' like a pimp...

the knicks are over .500!

yes indeed. the knicks started off the 2008-2009 with an impressive win over the dwyane wade-led miami heat. though i'm tight my man starbury was benched for the entire game, can't be mad at the win.

btw, two-guards in the nba - jamal crawford is a problem. eat your wheaties and strap up your high-tops before playing the knicks this season.

not that this matters to anyone

but q-tip wore the almost exact same outfit to his performance at the knicks game last night that he wore during his guest appearance at the roots concert at roseland that night before.

step ya game up 'tip.

the single most amazing musical experience of my young life

last night i attended a concert at the roseland ballroom, featuring the roots, gym class heroes, and estelle. wow. double wow. and a good old-fashioned wow wow wow.

opening act estelle and her crew did an awesome job of warming up a crowd that had waited out on the nyc cold and rain for as long as 2 hours. her performance far exceeded the expectations i had for her based on listening to her body of work. possessing an absolutely electric personality and charming feminine wit, estelle entertained the crowd, discussing topics ranging from the current presidential elections to relationships. once she had the crowd on her side, estelle blew us away with sultry, soulful voice and lively stage presence. she's converted me. i'm a fan.

next up, gym class heroes. once they took the stage, a multitude of teenyboppers and adult (i use the word loosely) groupies descended into a state of delirium and foolishness. lead singer travis mccoy entranced the crowd with his storytelling and threw it into a frenzy with an energetic and inspired performance. gym class heroes played a good mix of their hits, old and new, even adding in a rendition of prince's 'when doves cry'. great energy. awesome band. impressive guitarist. thoroughly enjoyed their set. mad they didn't perform 'don't tell me it's over' or 'fly with me'.

now i must say. after gym class heroes set i thought i had just seen a really good, well-tuned, band give a top-notch performance. then the roots came out. and made gym class heroes look like a garage band. i would talk more about this but my jaw still hasn't returned to a closed position and it's difficult to type with one's chin on the keyboard. seriously. i will not describe this performance. if you haven't seen the roots you need to. and if don't think you do. fuck yourself. it's that serious. oh, and fuck all those people who left after gym class heroes left the stage. and an even bigger fuck to all those people who stayed and look uninspired. you are asswipes.

highlights -
travis interjecting a verse from 'catch me if you can' during estelle's performance of her single '1980'.
two guys fighting over a drumstick thrown of the stage by gym class' roadie. ultimately ended in a rock, paper, scissors standoff.
estelle's crew's hilarious appearance onstage alongside gym class.
estelle singing the hook to the roots' 'you got me' (watch out erykah and jill).
special appearances made by q-tip and mos def.
the roots.
the fuckin roots.
the motherfuckin legendary roots crew.

wow.

NY in the Fall

Although I've been living in Cuba for the last year and a half and its taking me some time to get used to the dropping temperatures of the Northeast U.S, I still cant deny how beautiful NY is during the fall and winter times...Fall is definitely my favorite season out of the year. I took these pictures while driving up to Cobleskill NY to visit my nephew in college. Be blessed!

Shakin My Head.........

words of advice

don't let your past dictate your future. let it go.

world series rainout

yup, you read that correctly. world series. it's going on right now. seriously. no, the yankees aren't playing. no, neither is boston. yes, they do still have a world series if the yankees or red sox aren't playing. who's playing? the philadelphia phillies and the tampa bay rays. yes, i know that's not a very imaginative name. it's philadelphia, give 'em a break. not exactly the cradle of intellectual civilization. no, the tampa bay franchise didn't fold years ago. yes, they used to be known as the devil rays. they had to change the name, because it actually made the team sound tough and until this year, well they weren't. ok. no more questions. i'm trying to blog here.

ok. so last night game 5 of major league baseball's world series was suspended due to rain. it was the first time in the history of the world series that any game was...what? yes. they are going to continue the game from where it left off when weather conditions permit. why? well some people are actually following the series. yes, i really believe that. stop laughing. y'know what? i don't need this shit. blog over. ingrates.

best rainy day lunch ever

you absolutely can not have a better meal on a rainy day then grilled cheese and tomato soup. and you can not find a better place in the city to get that combo than say cheese! located at 649 9th Avenue, between 45th and 46th streets, this tiny storefront is home to one of the best lunches i've ever had. check it out, you'll be happy you did.

i just finished off a mama's special myself and am now completely content for the rest of the afternoon. ahh, the 'itis sets in...

Hate to say I Told you So.........

According to CNN, federal prosecutors charged two men with plotting a Killing Spree against more than 100 African-Americans and the presidential candidate Barack Obama.  The two "neo-nazis" both less than 25 years of age, were self described white supremacists and although very little evidence was found that showed the two could actually succeed in their plot, reports claim that the two appeared very determined and were willing to give their own lives if it came to that. America is in for an awakening...should we be prepared for more situations like this or is this just an isolated event?

Paul Schlesselman, left, and Daniel Cowart said they planned to kill more than 100 African-Americans.

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I Have a Dream...and a Few other Visions...

With the fastly approaching 2008 presidential election in less than two weeks, the Divided States of America is becoming more and more polarized in dealing with one of the most historical presidential campaign's in American History. It always hits home during election time when the the map of the United States in Red and Blue is shown. This map demonstrates the major political parties and their representation across America, amongst a few other things. It really shows the extent of "Unity" that truly exists in these "United States". But that's neither here nor there and not the issue of this entry. After all, the differences and diversity of America is what defines "This great Country, gosh darnit!" (a bit "Palinesque" lol).

What I wish to highlight however is what America may face post November 4th and what repercussions the election of either candidate (Obama or McCain) might have. Some might say that the election of Barack Obama to the White House might very well be the culmination of Martin Luther Kings "I Have a Dream" speech, while some believe the election of McCain to the White House might be likened to a potential eight more years of being one of the most hated-on countries in the World, and continued economic and social downfall for "The Empire". The fact of the matter is that after November 4th, America will face significant changes and challenges.

Many fear that the election of Senator Barack Obama or Senator McCain will lead to the emergence of hate crimes of all types potentially targeted towards both blacks and whites in America. Some people imagine the possibility of Riots and violent demonstrations. While you and I know damn well that race has been a major issue in this historic 2008 presidential campaign, a recent poll on AOL suggests that, "race won't be a major factor in the outcome of the presidential election." Perhaps it won't and all the whites who now claim to support Obama will not change their minds last minute in the poll booth. Perhaps the "Bradley Effect" or "October Surprise" will never occur.

Well, what I would like to know is, "What do you think?" Your ideas, comments and opinions on the matter are appreciated. The bottom line is, history is going to be made, do we embrace the results however they turn out? What are some of our biggest fears, challenges and or obstacles that lie in the path of "fixing America?", cause the economic stimulus packages damn sure aren't working lol.





-- Be Blessed

InTrOdUCiNg.......

I suppose I should start by introducing myself before making further posts on this page. I look forward to sharing some of my opinions, ideas, and takes on a diverse selection of topics. Before I can do that, it's only fair that you know a bit about who I am and my pedigree. Im 25 years old native New Yorker and graduate of New York University. I am a blessed individual and have had many opportunities to travel, study, meet, and know many people around the world. The people I have met, who all have different ideas and takes on the world, and the experiences that I have had, all may contribute to the perspectives and ideas I present in this forum.

Buzygurl has been a friend of mine for many years now and is someone that I have grown to admire and appreciate for many reasons. I have recently spent the last year and a half of my life living and studying medicine in Havana Cuba and the experience was phenomenal, challenging, and life changing. I have visited many countries including but not limited to Guyana, Brazil, London, Bahamas and Mexico. I am now home in New York in the process of trying to get into school here and continue studying medicine a lot closer to my beloved family. Currently engaged to be married and God willing all will go well and my beautiful fiancee and I will live happily ever after. As you can see, I can at times, be a bit utopian with my ideas but I can also be a realist, so please don't sleep on me. I think that we are all full of subtle contradictions, some of us more than others but I believe its apart of the fragile and complicated essence of man.

I don't really have any concrete idea of what categories my contributions to this page will fall in, but as time passes we shall see what I deliver. Your opinions, comments, and ideas are always appreciated. God Bless!

virtual murder?

a 43 year-old japanese piano teacher could be facing charges of, for lack of a better description, virtual murder. in a case seemingly out of the horrible, horrible tom cruise (i will pause here to mention that scientology is stupid. it always bears mentioning that scientology is stupid. regardless of the context or setting) movie, the minority report, this woman is actually looking at jail time for killing the digital personification of her online husband. yes. her online husband, as if this story needed to get any more confusing.

the facts are these (pushing daisies reference. cool show. watch it.)- this woman, who will hereafter be referenced in this blog as the vr trooper, was "married" to a man via an interactive online game named maple story. i've never heard of it, but apparently it's pretty popular. u make little avatars, get in relationships, fight monsters. y'know, just like real life. intense. any who, the guy met girl. then guy dumped girl suddenly and without cause. big mistake. "I was suddenly divorced - without a word of warning. That made me so angry, " said the vr trooper. she hacked into the maple story game with his password (because your wife would have the password to your life. or at least that's the impression i get from married friends) and deleted his avatar, or murdered him. it all depends how u look at it. if you're like me, you think she did the guy a favor and gave him the key with which to unlock the door to his anime porn-filled dungeon in the basement of his mother's house and escpae to the outside world where he will find sunlight, noxzema, exercise, and real women. but since what i think is immaterial, the vr trooper was arrested on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data. she hasn't actually been charged yet but if she is can face up to five years in prison or a fine of more than $5,000.

all in all. ridiculous. shoot, if i could be tried for all the shady shit i do online. oh boy...

currently listening to...

gym class heroes - the quilt - when i first got a listen to it i was totally in love with the album. but i'm beginning to realize it's a little too pop to be a truly great album, though several certified bangers and ballad make it an instant favorite of mine. i mean, i had to listen to it for 5 days straight (literally played nothing else on my ipod) before i found something wrong with it so it's definitely worth a listen.

murs - murs for president - certified hip - hop gold right here seriously. production is crazy. lyrics are catchy, but meaningful. everything you would expect from a murs album and more. a must buy. trust.

sleepwalk with mike birbiglia

you may have seen him in one of his three specials on comedy central. maybe you've heard one of his two amazingly funny comedy cd's. or perhaps you were lucky enough to catch him at this years central park summerstage venue. if you haven't you are missing out on something great. his name is mike birbiglia and he has worked his way into a place on my list of favorite comedians. his very dry, witty style brings you into his act, where you are pummeled unexpectedly with hilarious punch lines which will leave you gasping for air.

mike's (i hope you don't mind me calling you mike, mr. birbiglia. and no, i don't know him. i just know he checks his google alerts, right mike?) new project is a captivating off-broadway show titled, 'sleepwalk with me'. produced by nathan lane and directed by seth barrish, this one-man show is a 90 minute joyride during which we hear about mike birbiglia's adventures in life and sleepwalking. not content with simply delivering a brilliant comedic performance, birbiglia also draws you in and allows you to connect and identify with him through his stories.

so i guess what i'm saying is - it's funny. hysterical. so go see it. buy some tickets and go see it. now. believe, me i'd never steer you wrong.

nypd blues

if you're from new york and haven't just recently been released from a protective bottle or been thawed from cryogenic hibernation, you've noticed that the nypd have been in the news with some frequency. sean bell. tazer murders. suicides. gun fights. brutality. unnecessary force. the list goes on and on. and, chances are, this isn't behavior that you're surprised by. it is a sad state of affairs when a society almost expects the individuals that are supposed to protect them to misuse the power they have been given.

so i know all of you are with me here. and probably gettin all riled up inside with those "i hate pigs" and "cops are assholes" thoughts. but here is where i may lose some popularity for my stance. i don't think cops are pigs or assholes. that is a sterotype. and everyone reading this that has ever been confronted with a stereotype of themselves realizes that stereotypes are wrong. sure, there will be some in any group that fit the general stereotype. after all, stereotypes are based on people that actually exist. however, we should have the ability to recognize that the majority of a given group does not fit the criteria of that stereotype. some black people don't like watermelon. not all asians are good at math. not every hispanic has at some point lived in a house with a tin roof. and not all police officers are assholes.

many members of the nypd are kind, benevolent human beings who aim only to protect and serve. others are decent human beings that need a paycheck and take their job seriously, regardless of whether they love it or not. many have families - wives, children, brother and sisters - that they go home to each night and worry every day about not making it back to them. so many stories. so many personalities. There’s no way they could all fall under the same umbrella. and yet the negative stereotyping persists.

police officers have what can be one of the toughest jobs to do. they must constantly be conscious and aware of their surroundings. they have to patrol and protect the streets of one of the biggest cities in the world. they have to deal with all kinds of drunk, druggies, degenerates, and deadbeats (i love alliteration by the way). and they have to do it all with targets on their backs. with us looking down at them. hurling insults and dirty looks their way. i mean yea, some of them deserve it. and some of them can get out of hand at some times. but we certainly don't help by making them feel as if their life is in danger whenever they exercise a little authority (or even when they don't).

i don't condone police brutality. and i don't think that members of nypd should feel a sense of superiority or entitlement. but i do think that they aren't all bad. and i do think that they should be given the benefit of the doubt. and maybe, just maybe, the kindness and understanding we show to them will be given back to the individuals they come in contact with.

hooperstown usa

for all those court-starved basketball junkies in new york looking for a place to get your jones on, check out this little spot in mount vernon. rented the court out for 2 hours for a small fee of $230. not bad at all if you're splitting between 10-15 guys.

just got back in from some good run wit the fellas. i tell you, male bonding is key to a happy life. shout outs to 501, fyf, friday morning crew, and the goon squad.

calorie counting anyone?

above you see a picture my boy j took. below you will see his hilarious explanation of above picture. enjoy.

"It's basically telling you that this particular meal consisting of fried chicken, mac & cheese, a biscuit, and soda is 1210 calories, and that you should "think before you eat"... I think the meal in question looks absolutely delicious, personally.

See, I view this whole recent obsession with displaying calories on menus and such differently than the average person, in that calories are like points I accumulate and I'm winning LMAO"

why have i not seen this kid in like 3 years?

the material boy?

so madonna has been in the news alot lately. she's dating new york yankees 3rd baseman, alex rodriguez. getting a divorce from guy ritchie. giving what i hear are great performances on her tour. even speaking out against the evils of sarah palin. but have you heard the new rumors about her twin brother who's been hidden for all these years? it was hard to believe at first, but the evidence is undeniable. see for yourself.

a closer look at joe plumber

no offense to ohio plumber joe wurzelbacher, but fuck joe plumber. i mean, as far as i can tell he's hard working guy with a good head on his shoulders and reasonable fears about his future well-being. in an internet interview conducted shorty after meeting barack obama, mr. wurzelbacher quite intelligently pointed out concerns he had with what could become a genuine flaw in some of obama's proposed programs. he stated, “you start giving people stuff, and then they start expecting it — and that scares me." and you know what? he's right. i've seen enough people mooch off of government funded programs to know that you have to be careful who you help, what kind of help you provide, and how you judge if they have earned that help. good point joe. if these programs are put into place they will have to be closely monitored and policed to avoid abuse and curb possible corruption. and, to the best of my knowledge, obama has admitted this and pledged to do just that. moving along...

see the real problem is that after that semi-intelligent train of thought, joe descended into a right-wing mindset, basically comparing obama's proposed plans to socialism. he felt that though he wants all people to have health care, it isn't his problem to make sure they do. really joe? so let me get this straight. you think that we should vote for a president who supports letting a man whose business makes him over $250,000 a year and a working father making about $40,000 annually fight it out on the same playing field? umm...fuck you joe plumber. enjoy your 15 minutes of fame and shut up.

and guess who the joe plumber's of the america hire when they need someone to work long hours for low wages? illegal immigrants. who won't get the health care mccain is proposing and will take jobs away from working americans. you know it. i know it. cut the shit.

my personal opinion? if i get taxed a little more (and i won't under obama's plan, and neither will you unless i'm really popular and millionaires are now reading this blog) so that children and the elderly can live healthier lives, so that we can put a greater focus on our children's educations, so that we can give those who are lagging behind the tools to better themselves and, in turn, better our country then go right ahead. and if you think that's socialism then call me john marx. it's close enough to my name anyway.

of all people...

so i've been meaning to write this entry for a almost two weeks now, but being a BuzyGuy i'm just getting to it now.

so perhaps you've heard, though i won't be surprised if you haven't, la lakers backup forward luke walton recently called police to report a stalker that had been brazenly following him for about a year. yea stalking is wack. and yea having someone sharpie your car, throw a basketball at it, stake out your house, and make "finger-gun" motions at you from your front lawn is not cool. this chick, Stacy Beshear, even went so far as to share that "the people in the universe" were preventing her from moving because they wanted her and cool hand luke to get married. she's straight certifiable.

but you know how i know homegirl is crazy? she stalked luke fuckin walton! in a state crawling with celebrities and luminary sports figures, this lunatic chose luke walton. shit, on the lakers alone there are 3 or 4 other guys i'd think about stalking before i'd get to his pasty ass. kobe, pau, fish, odom - maaaybe i'd consider going gay for those guys. but luke walton? really? c'mon, he's this guy's son -

maybe i'm not giving the old boy luke the benefit of the doubt. i guess some girls do find him attractive. and he is an nba star. wait, no.. he is an nba player. and i've heard some teeny boppers think he has dreamy blue eyes. so does spongebob. give me a break. i don't get it. i wouldn't stalk him. would you?

btw, google image stacy beshear. even she had no chance with luke walton.

*missing*

eli manning's sack

if found, please return to : giants stadium
east rutherford, nj 07073

manzana fever

fall is upon us! it seems like everyone i know is either going apple picking or frantically trying to find someone to to go picking with. this weekend, i trooped it out to east hampton, conecticut to visit family i have up there and make our way over to glastonbury, connecticut to satisfy our produce plucking desire at scott's orchard and nursery. i had a blast. nothing warms the heart like some time spent with the family. i hadn't been apple picking since i was about 11 years old and yesterday was as perfect a day as any to get right back into the tradition! i spent much of the day running around with the youngins, most of them toddlers, and sharing in their joys. whether it was loading them on to a horse-drawn wagon, running through the hay bale maze, or filling bag after bag with apples of all colors, sizes, and types these lil tikes made my day. we can get so caught up in our every day lives and drama, sometime we just need to take the time out to be kids again.

bravery in the face of ignorance

i really can't imagine being barack obama. i can't imagine campaigning across the country. i can't imagine kissing babies and shaking hands. i can't imagine orating speech after speech in front of huge crowds. and i can't even begin to imagine having to defend my patriotism because of my name. or the color of my skin. or who my friends are. i can't imagine having the cover of a national magazine parody the appearance and beliefs of my wife and myself. i can't imagine the united states election system "mistakenly" confusing my name with that of the mastermind of the largest terrorist attack in the history of my country. and i can't imagine doing all of that with a singular though in my head - today might be the day i die.

you all do realize this, right? barack obama is the first black presidential nominee of a major party. jesse jackson he is not. in less than one month this man may just be the president of these united states. and as much hope and optimism as this may bring for so many us, it also stimulates an equal amount of hate and fear in a great number of our fellow americans. and this is why i am almost positive that, despite the overpowering dedication and passion that it takes for any person to run for the most powerful seat in the land, barack obama is contantly haunted by that thought - today might be the day i die. and it could be. hate and fear are strong emotions, especially when mixed with ignorance and stupidity. there are people in this country who do not want to see barack obama in the white house for one reason and one reason only. why? let's just say they want to keep it a 'white' house. and many of those people feel they have an obligation to keep this from happening. and for some, that obligation goes beyond the voting booth. i am relatively certain that there are people in this country who will do whatever it takes to prevent obama from taking office in washington. they believe he will taint, dishonor, and even destroy our nation. and i am utterly fearful of the lengths they will go to to prevent this.

so the next time you see barack obama smiling for the cameras, giving a speech, spending quality time with his wife and daughters, or just being - try to comprehend how much courage that takes. just to be him. i can't imagine...

does she realize?

beautiful manhattan day. beautiful girl. decent outfit. and then this on her feet. yes, those are indeed champion socks. but, she did have a guy on her arm, so who am i to hate?

john marshall, thats who dammit!

the express

caught the express in previews last night. very good movie about a very good man and a great football player. whether you are a sports fan or not, this is a must-see. setting off basically every human emotion, the express draws you into the life of ernest davis, the first african-american recipient of the heisman trophy. people in the theater were literally crying, cheering, and clapping (the 3 C's of audience response) along with every second of the movie. so go see it.

BuzyGirls / BuzyGuys ... Listen Up!

It's party time...Oh! Oh it's parrrtty time. We're havin' a parrttyy......

So one of my chums at the Fashion Institute of Technology starts his job as a promoter for this new (or not so new?) place called BRANCH. It's hip, it's fun...and you're probably sick of hitting up the same old place weekend after weekend with your girls/guys. So why not try something new?

Take a break from your "Buzy" lives and sit down...have a drink....and party it up!

My amigo's name is Joe, and he does Saturday nights (I believe).

Here's a photo of what the place looks like:




And here's Joe's info:






:)

racism or stupidity?

..." I won't forget my camera. Me forgetting my camera is like a nigga forgetting her weave. Nevaa happenin!!"

yea.

go back and read that again.

yea.

this was part of facebook status update that an acquaintance of mine posted. the person thought that this particular statement made by a friend was hilarious. both people in question are of the caucasian persuasion. but that doesn't even matter. this statement, made by aaaanyone, is completely inane and inappropriate. i seriously did a triple take and had to convince myself i wasn't bugging. i even went so far as to try to convince myself that there was nothing wrong with that statement. but there is.

let's examine this a bit and break down exactly what is was wrong with this "joke". i'm going to start off with the stereotype that was used. the person compared never forgetting a camera to a black female never forgetting her weave. *news flash* not all black women wear weaves. and not all who do wear a weave feel they "can't leave home without it". furthermore, many women of other races wear weaves with much greater frequency than black women. 2008 and some people still pigeonhole black women into the shanaynay stereotype.

secondly, the word "nigga" can be an extremely incendiary word regardless of what context it is used in. it has generally come to be accepted as a term of endearment amongst many members of the black community, and to a lesser degree other male minorities, white men, and even members of the lesbian community. but it is not used (well at least not since, like, the civil war) by anyone other than slave owners, racists, and other equally ignorant individuals, as an acceptable term with which to casually describe or categorize a black person. that is absolutely not ok. ever.

thirdly, you are part of the problem. you are why black people cringe when other people use the "n-word". because they now that eventually, you're going to fuck up. you're going to use a word with such a destructive and painful history as a joke. and then all hell is going to break loose. and i know you don't mean to sound racist and i know you think it's ok. but it's not. trust me.

it is a very widely debated question as to whether or not the word nigger in any of its' form is acceptable in any setting or context. i'm not going to attempt to weigh in on that now. i use the word. sometimes in serious conversation, other times in jest. i also try not to use it. overuse of any given word can make an individual seem static and ignorant, and that my friends, is not me. so use the word or don't use it, i'm not one to judge. but at the very least use your brain when you do. or you might end up sounding like a nigger.

mccain vs. obama part 2

now i'm not an overly political individual, but i do feel it is incredibly important to perform our civil duties responsibly. i also feel it is imperative to keep myself informed on issues that i deem relevant to my life. so even though i know for a fact i am voting for barack obama, i thought that i should pay our political system the respect it deserves (not that it deserves much respect) and watch at least one of the presidential debates.

i'm going to be honest, i didn't really care to listen to what either candidate said about the issues. they have both proven to be long-winded and not entirely honest or forthcoming on the issues. and i don't blame them. in today's society where every word can become a sound bite and every move is over-scrutinized, it is better for a candidate to fill his/her public appearances with plenty of glad handing, empty rhetoric, and loosely constructed half-truths. i've tried my best to investigate the facts to become as informed as i can be on the issues i care about and feel i am sufficiently taken care of in that department.

the one thing i took away from the debate was that i hate john mccain. not exactly an original thought these days, i know. and it's not as if i've ever had a strong affinity to him. but last night i saw something completely different in john mccain. maybe it's because i never paid much attention to him to begin with, but i never realized dude was such an agitating smartass.

from referring to a senator of the united states as "that one" to telling a young african-american man of about college age that he'd probably never heard of fannie mae or freddie mac prior to the current economic upheaval, mccain showed himself to be an arrogant prick. his continued cheap shots at obama and the democratic party combined with his veritable sucking up to moderator tom brokaw left me at a loss for words. my only comparison for him is a child in the school yard that calls his classmates names and picks fights, but only when he is just out of earshot of the teacher but in close enough proximity to guarantee that he cant get his ass whooped. i give barack all the credit in the world for not smacking that man in the face.

john mccain, you are an asshole.

manhattan love affair

while working today and walking the streets of manhattan (yes i'm a streetwalker. so what? wanna fight about it?), 58th and 5th to be specific, when i passed a small movie theater and thought that i might want to go there sometime because it didn't look like too many people went there. suddenly, i was hit with a pretty profound thought. why would i go to a movie theater in manhattan instead of catching a flick in my homeborough, the bronx?

surrounded by tourists and well-to-do manhattanites bustling in and out of central park, the plaza hotel, the apple store, bergdorf goodman, louis vuitton, and fao schwarz i became strikingly aware of one single fact - manhattan is full of money. major money. ridiculous amounts of money. another thought immediately followed, racing into my brain - if i never spent another BuzyGuy dollar in manhattan, it would not be missed.

i never really thought of my choices as a consumer as having much of an impact on anything other than my life, but with the financial crisis hitting new york as hard as anywhere in the world i guess my mind is just a little more tuned in economically. manhattan doesn't need my money. but the bronx does. dos caminos will do without my overpriced $48.63 per person dinner date. but the mexican place that just opened up down the block from my apartment might not be there for much longer if i don't finally check it out like i've been meaning to. if we don't spend our money in the local spots in our neighborhoods, who is going to? why do we have this love affair with manhattan? why do we pour our hard earned dollars back into the money pit that is the city instead of support local business in our beighborhoods?

now don't get me wrong. manhattan is a beautiful place. it is non-stop, vivacious, and totally eclectic. it brings in huge sums of money for the city and the country. it is home to countless memories of mine and manhattan-located companies have paid my bills for several years now. but i don't live there. the majority of my friends do not live there. so why is it that when we look for a place to hang, we inevitably end up in manhattan? maybe we've watched one too many episodes of friends or sex and the city, but it seems we instinctly congregate under the bright lights of manhattan like moths to a flame.

so i'm making a stand. i'm calling for us all to end this messy love affair with manhattan! sure it'll be strange at first, but in due time you'll adjust. and manhattan's not going anywhere. i swear. you can still visit. really. and i know the "other" boroughs aren't always as polished or refined, but a sure way to get improved and diverse options is to pump some money into these local neighboods. plus, since you aren't getting a "high-class product" (who needs that shit?) you also won't be subject to a high-class price tag. we might not ever see any of that $700 billion bailout, but you'll sure see some cash in your bank account soon if you stop frequenting manhattan. stay local, explore small (or even not so small) businesses and eateries in your area. open your eyes to the options that are so very close to you. and if you're a tourist, please come visit manhattan. but take the time during your visit to check out at least one place in the outer boroughs. you will be pleasantly surprised.

btw...did you know that central park is only the fifth largest park in the five boroughs? the four largest are located in the bronx, queens, and staten island. so why does everyone act like central park is the place to be? yea it has history, but history is waiting to be created elsewhere...

murder burgers

never under any circumstances think it is okay to walk into a white castle and order a crave crate. yes those sliders are small, but there is more to them than meets the eye.

on a visit to white castle yesterday, my boys and i, in a moment of hunger and gluttony, decided that the four of us could finish the 100 slider crave crate of destruction. i should've known better, especially when they handed me said crate and i needed two hands to carry it comfortably.

we took this monstrous crate back to the crib and settled in to watch the new iron man blue ray disc. now i love gorging myself on low quality sustenance as much as the next guy, but i had absolutely no idea what was in for. i happily shoveled burger after fucking burger into my greedy little face orifice with reckless abandoned. oh the joy! cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers, a1 burgers! it was all the wonder i hoped it would be.

my elation was short-lived. less than half the way to my share of 25 greasy meat biscuits the white flag was raised. happiness and satisfaction were replaced with despair and pain. No one faired much better, as a little over 40 burgers remain in the cursed crate.

now i am left feeling dirty, shameful, and used. i share this story with you because i care about your well-being. don't make the mistake i did. beware the crave crate...

hip-hop theater

checked out danny hoch's one-man performance last night at hostos community college. for anyone not familiar with mr. hoch's work, you are truly missing out on something special. a veritable genius, he consistently offers a unique and insightful perspective on new york, the hip-hop community, and the people that comprise the big apple.

'taking over: the all-city tour' is no different. delivering comedic blow after comedic blow, danny hoch picks apart the economic expansion that has become a huge part of the lives of all who reside in new york. whether you are a native new yorker or have migrated here from outside parts, 'taking over' is totally relatable and thought-provoking.

oh and did i mention it was free? see official details below -

October 1 - October 11

In association with
Hostos Center for Arts & Culture, LaGuardia Performance Arts Center and El Puente of Williamsburg
Present

Taking Over: the All-City Tour
Written & performed by Danny Hoch
Directed by Tony Taccone


Hip-Hop Theater Festival founder, award winning actor, and New York native, DANNY HOCH takes on gentrification and affordable housing in his latest play, Taking Over. Blazing through a fierce spectrum of New Yorkers, Hoch spurs the debate about the future of our city and its obsession with economic expansion. HHTF and the Public Theater have teamed up with cultural institutions across the city to bring you this ALL-CITY TOUR to neighborhoods FREE OF CHARGE, prior to the show's run at the Public this November. See it first, in YOUR neighborhood!

TICKETS ARE FREE. RESERVATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED.
Click Here

October 1-4 - 8:00PM
Hostos Performing Arts Center
450 Grand Concourse @ 149th Street, Bronx, NY
Box Office: (718) 518-4455

October 6,7,9 & 10 - 8:30PM
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center
31-10 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City, NY
LPAC Box Office: 718-482-5151

October 11 - 8:00PM
Grand Street Campus Auditorium
850 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY
El Puente: 718-387-0404

random story

*not much to blog about now, so i shall recant a true story*

asian man, mid-thirties, walks down a manhattan street with his two children. his daughter holds his right hand and his son bobs along attached to his left. An attentive father, the man converses with his children. This particular conversation is an education on crossing signals. Halfway up the block the father points out that the current signal (a red hand) means that you should not cross because cars have the right of way. His children are amazed, hanging on to every word of wisdom that spills forth from his mouth. As they approach the intersection, roughly 10 yards away, the light changes in their favor. The father turns to his children and provides these instructions related to the new signal as he motions for them to hurry to the intersection and cross...

"oh look! it's the white man! let's run!"

listen well children...