25 Hottest Urban Legends

I become a bit annoyed when I receive forwards and such from friends and family. I especially loathe the chain letter style emails, particularly the ones that speak of God and Jesus and love then, at the end, place a curse on you if you do not forward to 10 or 20 people within the next 7 minutes. I usually delete them or, if they are interesting, I delete the curse and forward to the appropriate relative or friend. But I also let people know not to send them to me, as well as "urban legends" but the fear of bad luck for the next month or roach eggs in tacos seem to make people forget to leave me out of the loop.

Snopes.com has a 25 hottest urban legends list. I just might forward the list to those loving and thoughtful folks who from time to time feel the need to keep me informed.

Be Prepared

For Obama's next visit to Georgia or for that rally of rallies, makes sure you are properly attired.

So Blogger ain't the father?

The blog turns ten today. Or tenish. Or ten-something. Depending on when . . .

Was the first blogger the irascible Dave Winer? The iconoclastic Jorn Barger? Or was the first blogger really Justin Hall, a Web diarist and online gaming expert whom The New York Times Magazine once called the "founding father of personal blogging."
Blogs turn 10--who's the father?

Lay your head on my pillows!

... pillows!...

The Evil that Men Do

photo by Chris Viola

This photo breaks my heart all the more. The anguish on his little 10-year old face and the tears. His brother's body, 6-year-old Christopher Michael Barrios, was found today and when I heard it on the news, I cried. My heart was already burdened when I heard that he was missing and just when I thought it could not get any heavier, it did -- as if this child was my own.

George David Edenfield, a mentally slow 32-year-old man who lived with his parents across the street from the boy's grandmother, was arrested and charged with violating his probation from a 1997 child molestation conviction, which prohibits him from contact with children. Police said he admitted playing a role in Christopher's disappearance, but they would not be more specific.

Grapes of Wealth

Eve's Grapes of Wealth! (take one). This is part of a new collection featuring different versions of Eve. Here we have the Grapes of Wealth, featuring Eve (from the infamous Garden of Eden).

There's also the apple version, featuring a red-haired vixen ---> Eve Knew Her Fruit, mentioned below.

Eve Knew Her Fruit

Apparently so, according to the WebMD article:

Apples and apple juice prevent some of the cell damage in the brain that may lead to Alzheimer's disease in old age, according to one study. The fruit's protective power comes from antioxidants, chemicals that are known to protect cells throughout the body, particularly the brain and the heart.

This wasn't the motivation behind my creating the image of a red-haired, Eve holding a plump red apple but it adds to my cheer in having created her. Summer t-shirts . . .

"Grady's Anatomy"

ATLANTA-Residents from Emory University School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine will be featured in an upcoming documentary that gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of residents at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital, both on and off duty. 'CNN: Special Investigations Unit -- Grady's Anatomy,' a documentary that follows the lives of three Emory residents, Robin Lowman, MD, Andrea Meinerz, MD, and Lou Tumialàn, MD, and Morehouse resident, Nii Darko, MD will air on March 24 and 25 at 8pm and 11pm Eastern.

The television drama, Grey's Anatomy, has raised awareness of residency training and the dedication these young doctors have to their patients. If viewers have been wondering 'do residents really do that?' their questions will be answered. This real-life depiction shows the residents in an inner-city hospital, taking care of patients with various degrees of serious illness and trauma, while keeping it all together as they themselves are faced with various degrees of sleep deprivation.

Read more

Who Will Be James Brown

One of my favorite directors, Spike Lee, is to direct the James Brown Movie (I was wondering when this would happen . . .

This particular project had been in the works prior to Brown's death and even had the musician's input during development, especially regarding music rights.

The Paramount Pictures production is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2008.

Now, who in the world is capable of playing James Brown? Who, besides Jamie Foxx, has the talent to act and sing beyond the normal call? AND add to that, dance!!!!

Hmmmm, let's see:

Bobby Brown. is certainly the dramatic one (on and off stage, mostly off I believe but he can sing and dance.

Eddie Murphy. Comedians are great in dramatic roles. Although he sings, I'm not sure about him channeling James Brown's voice (or fancy foot moves).

Leon from the 5 Heartbeats, Waiting to Exhale & The Temptations - he played an interesting David Ruffin.

Prince. My favorite multi-talented artist. He's the most talented of them all and some of his moves are classic James Brown but his acting (and I LOVE PRINCE yes I do!) isn't strong enough (Under the Cherry Moon, BLAH!) but who knows . . . still I just can't see him as James Brown.

Sisco (ex lead singer of Dru Hill - famous for the "Thong Song") -- mmmmmaybe.

Andre from Outkast. If Laurence Fishburne can play Ike in "What's Love Got to Do With It," then certainly . . .

Or perhaps an "unknown" would be better suited.

Apocalypto. Love Survives!

Apocalypto is a beautiful story of a man's love for his wife and child that is surrounded by circles of other stories (brotherhood, family, culture, invasion, greed, the supernatural). Not to forget an important message at the beginning of the movie: A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within. Isn't that the case most of the time? I think that might have been the message but I found there to be another.

It is passionate, funny at times (in the early part of the film when the men are hunting) it shows tenderness and respect of elders (after dinner all the families gather around the elder and listen to a story then afterwards they DANCE!) and it is heart felt and wrenching, and yes a bit violent too. Though after hearing about the Atlanta Police, serving a no knock warrant, killing a 92-year-old woman last month because they suspected someone was selling drugs from her home, its just another version of art imitating life. People, those appalled by the gruesomeness that Mel Gibson delivers in this film, act as if the modern world of today is crowded with people who wouldn't cause a fly harm, as if there aren't wars tearing apart lush lands and polluting the air.

Apocalypto was said to be another version of The Passion of Christ, comparing the wounds of Christ with those of Jaguar Paw's. Supernaturally maybe there were some things to note (Jaguar Paw's dream, a little girl foretelling doom, an eclipse interpreted as a sign from the Sun God, etc.). Whereas Christ died for US, as many martyrs often do, Jaguar Paw withstands every terrible, bloody blow of fist and weapon (with the help, it seems, of nature) to escape, race back to a ravaged village and save the life of his pregnant wife and child. It is a must see.

The Refreshing Wall

This is fun! Review the gallery and vote on the best OR approach the wall with bravery and create your own graff.

Bad Fruit

She's had enough! The roving eye disease needed a quick cure. He had it coming particularly at this weekend's holiday gathering when Ms. Cherry Rouge spied her man eyeing the infamous green M&M. On went the red boxing glove and KaPOW!

Get with the humor! It's only a teeshirt (and more)! See what's new in the store.