Black Friday 2008

so 2008 black friday has come and gone. most of us made it thru but a few of us did not. i am really starting to re-evaluate this country and it's love of the material obsession. one of my first blogs was about consumption and how more is always hungered for. we no longer want enough we have to have it all-and the exclusive-deluxe version at that. whomever is not on that sort of level is seen as an under-achiever and not a go-getter. man. growing up i was so looking forward to all of the possibilities that adult life had to offer. most importantly i was always looking forward to the possibility of collaborating and sharing my gifts with like minds. now that i have reached my own independence i'm starting to see that everyone that has a light just wants to shine on their own. i can't help but to realize that the more the merrier but i guess not. everyone is so single-minded and filthy-rich driven! as i am on my own path toward my dream life i merely want the opportunity to offer the world a step into a universe that welcomes truth and reality that isn't ego driven. cause when it's all said and done you can't take it with you, you can only leave behind the image of what you were.

-Janus Poeticca

What do YOU Want?

-"it's not about what the world wants from you, it's about what you want from the world"
-Janus Poeticca

so, often times we don't think about what we want from the world. too busy trying to figure out what the world wants from us. did you know that it wants what you are willing to give? we seem to have become public emotional gladiators, we don't show too much emotion in public anymore unless we're with people whom we are comfortable with. well, that's okay but since when did we start turning off to the world until we are in our comfort zones? man o man how society has us in a bunch. we are afraid to live. life is breathing, experiencing, dreaming. do it! do you! what do you want? happy holidays everyone.

Note: if you're feeling the entries don't be shy, leave a comment i wanna know what you think!

Beautiful Black Burden
the beautiful black burden is easily craved
yeah, put on them nike shoes!
the beautiful black burden is envied in style & dress but what of the behavior?
you not dancin' right baby boy!
the beautiful black life is sorely mocked
it's really like this you know...
fly with old africa style
the gifts eternal boil over
potential never realized 'till old age has time to remember the too fast youthful escapades
ping pong with hearts because you don't want to lose
yes they have won in as many ways as they have lost
and in both lives their exploitation was a best seller on the internet last week
Beautiful
Black
Burden

-Janus Poeticca

10 Great Things About The Hood

i thought that today i would add a different flavor to the blog. often times we think that "the ghetto" is merely a place where bad things happen and no one is getting ahead. but those of us that are from the hood and eventually leave never to return (unless absolutely necessary) know better. still, we often need to be reminded of the good that's left in the hood. i remember when steve harvey used to host a hoodie awards in los angeles where he would highlight some of the best places in the hood in all categories from car washes to restaurants, and while i won't name any names in this particular blog, i will generalize the idea.

1. THE FOOD! - everyone who's anyone should know that no matter where you live, if you want a finger licking, iced tea and dessert type of down south meal you better find your nearest hood 'cause popeyes chicken and biscuits will not suffice.

2. BOOTLEGS - sure it's wrong but beyonce' and denzel already made their millions! let a brotha get his hustle on fam! why not get a movie or the latest cd before it even comes out and you don't even have to know a big-wig studio person to get it. okay so the picture is a "little off". you seen it didn't you?

3. ART GALLERIES - yep, i said: art galleries. you would be surprised at how many art galleries that are in the hood! and the artist usually own the galleries so you can have a one on one with them and get the inspiration behind the masterpiece straight from the horses mouth. how about them apples?

4. COFFEEHOUSES/LOUNGES/AFTER HOUR SPOTS - usually you can't have a great meal somewhere and stay for some drinks and live entertainment then get your party on till the break of dawn, but in the hood you can. you just gotta do your research! and not to mention the comfy couches and your homegirl/homeboy hooking up the mochas and green teas behind the counter while the wednesday night open mic is crackin'!

5. HAIR SALONS/BARBERSHOPS - wanna hear about the latest scoop from around the way, fashion show, concert or just shoot the breeze with your girls or boys while getting your sew-in, relaxer or line up? Hello, look no other than the hair salon/barbershop because you will get nothing less than you deserve (sometimes!). and if you don't have anything to say in the heated conversation...hey just read ebony, jet, vibe, essence, sophisticated black hair, etc. and get inspired!

6. AUTO REPAIR SHOPS/ROSCOE'S DRIVE WAY - you can go to jiffy lube and get that oil changed but when your carborator and catalytic converter breaks down you need to go to Roscoe so he can hook you up for half the price of the uppity car shops that just want to eat up your wallet with parts and labor charges.

7. SCHOOLS/LIBRARIES - i really don't understand how dropout rates ever went bad in the hood 'cause schools and libraries are everywhere. there's pretty much one on each block! one thing the hood does not lack is its schools and libraries so get your learn on youngins!

8. 99 CENT/DOLLAR STORES - okay, go to wal-mart if you want to but will they have that convenient cost of soap, baby clothes and pine-sol that you can get from your corner store? and if you're in the right neighborhood you can also get some fresh fruit to go with that! sounds good to me.

9. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - living high on the hill is the good life, but if your car breaks down that one bus that drives thru your town will not run pass 8 o'clock, but in the hood the buses stop practically right at your front door. great for SheShe and her 3 kids when the car is actin' up!

10. CHURCH (duh!) - so i saved the best for last. church is the heart of the hood. it knows everybody and everybody knows it. so if you want to really know who's who most likely their family and old friends are in the church. and while you're there listen to some soul, gut wrenching gospel and get saved, sanctified and filled with the holy ghost. then buy you a plate after church and fellowship!

gotta love the hood...

stay tuned, 'cause we got more hood love

-Janus

Better Late Then Never...

who thought it was possible in this lifetime? not me

this one's definitely for the books

Yes We Can!

Barack Obama, 2008

Next Fool (you believe it)

an institution would rob me of my natural ordinance

saturate my mind with likeness and be still to mainstream mind view

everything is energy

and this world is mine

(it's not yours 'cause you have yet to claim your goal)

and my goal is life

to live and breathe free

not concerned with the dollarbill

and to that you say:"fantasy!, it's absurd!"

not this way! pass it down...

 

Janus