Emoticons, maybe, but for goddsakes no "LOL"!

(Here is my favorite NY times article today, for your reading (and linking) pleasure. If you don't have an account, it's free, and possibly one of the last bastions of credible journalism these days...)


My theory was that the more emoticons a person used with you (via text or email), the more they wanted to get in your pants. Little did I realize there was an entire evolutionary response to things that can look like a face. In reality =( does soften the blow of bad news, and =) and ;) can make you feel as giddy as a teenager - if used in the right context. But as an editor and journalist, please do not submit anything to me that has "LOL". I will rip my fucking hair out. And for the record, I'd take a "hahahahaha" a "mwahahaha" and a "pwahahah" over an "LOL" anyday. But I guess I'm old-fashioned?

Just stopping by the Kwik E Mart before I head to watch THE SIMPSONS MOVIE!





Yep, that's me: the hot chick in the yellow power tee. I'm just stopping by the Kwik E Mart for my regular Squishee, Swisher Sweets, and French Onion Sun Chips. YUM!


A couple of years ago, a co-worker of mine posed this question to me during a particularly slow day at work: if you could guest star in any sitcom, what would it be? My answer was always The Simpsons. Little did we know that sitcoms would eventually give way to reality television (in which I ironically participated in) and technology would allow me to finally be animated in my favorite show!

So I may have missed the Star Wars Era, and I may have never gotten around to becoming a Trekkie, but the Simpsons is something that I have happily included in my existence since yay high. Heck, I even wore a bootleg Simpsons shirt from Oakland for my third grade class picture (yellow eyes and everything). And don't worry, when I rummage to find that picture, you'll be the first to see. I remember there used to be Simpsons bubble gum that came in those fake metal bandage containers, Black Power Simpsons shirts, even leather motorcycle jackets with the family picture on the back. Now that's commitment! I wonder how much those fetch on EBay nowadays...

Yesterday, we finally watched The Simpsons Movie at the Arclight on Sunset (reserved seating!) and many of my childhood fantasies came true. I read beforehand in a review somewhere that it only received 2 1/2 stars because the overall plot was "flimsy". But what the shit? We watch The Simpsons not always to learn a moral, but to be endlessly entertained in the moments that equal the sum of its parts. And if you haven't seen it yet, there are things in that movie that we've always wanted to see. Let's just say "full frontal" and "bong rips". But I'm not the type to give away any further. I mean, the chick next to me sang along during the momentous "Spider Pig" jingle and I almost reached over the popcorn and choked her.


(And don't forget to stay during the credits. There's bonus stuff. But it only happens twice. The douchebag movie employee convinced the entire theater to stay until the very end and I couldn't get out of my row!)

My take on the whole Pimp C situation



(If you're not familiar with the happenings, check out these links)

http://www.trillsouth.com/blog/images/24/ozonepimpc.jpg

Then listen to this:

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/audio/id.2700/title.pimp-c-107-9-interview-atl


At first read/listen, it sounds like every old man reminiscing about the "good ol' days", one that youngsters can never relate to for the simple fact that they were not on this earth. Add criminal etiquette, proper media outlet, name-dropping, hilarious commentary, and ignorant language and you've got some entertainment!

My YAYs and NAYS


NAY:

- The whole "Atlanta ain't the south because its on EST". Oh man. Time doesn't even exist. Allocations are relative to culture. But this is a true example of people bending rules to follow their beliefs. Politicians/religious zealots do it all the time, though.

- Offensive language. But if you come from 'the hood, you're not given very many synonyms to substitute. This is more my diss to the public school system than it is a personal diss. As long as Pimp C is addressing Ozone and not the New York Times, the language is fitting.

YAY:

- Pimp C is, by these statements, accountable for his opinion. He could say that he churns ass butter and puts it on his muffins and it tastes great, I wouldn't give a fuck. As long as people aren't hiding behind titles, publications, companies, and especially punk-ass internet pseudonyms to sheath their true feelings, I can respect that. One of the important lessons I learned at ghetto ass Potrero Hill Middle School is "back your shit up!"

- Rap SHOULD have social commentary. I completely agree. Rap is becoming like the movie industry nowadays: obsessed with mythical representation, nonsensical fancy, Disney-dumbing-down, and all-around fake shit.( And that's cool too, as long as you know that Harry Potter isn't really a wizard and he jerks off like all the rest of you frustrated adolescent boys.) Like the movies, some of the best stories come from real life because the best stuff you just can't make up. And people are becoming these personas that they spend all their time fictionalizing. People are copycats and they will lavish about doing the crime, but nothing about doing the time.

- I like how Ozone gave Pimp C his own column so some poor journalist doesn't have the responsibility for misquoting him, inserting his or her own opinion, or becoming responsible for all that slander.


Otherwise, people should exercise caution when attempting to do the same. Not everyone has the clout, following, or sincere intention to challenge the status quo ( I can't even vouch for Pimp C 'cause beef sells records).


Remember that fine line.

THANKS BLOGGER!

For making "Guerilla Busfare" a blog of note, and bringing new readers to my site. I tell ya, it's refreshing to receive comments (critical and complementary)from people just like me: fun, creative, and blogging just to satisfy their itch to write and share with the world. The internet can be a crazy place to speak your mind, and we've all faced cowardly attempts at our opinions, gender, sexuality, and innermost thoughts. Kudos to everyone in the blogging world who uses this medium as more than an extension of your own vanity.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GREAT COMMENTS AND KEEP READING~!

XOXO

Da Truf!

Go Hard or Go Home.



My homies/former roomies and I love to throw theme parties. We threw a Cholo party, as documented in the Tuesday, September 19, 2006 post. That was a wild success. Why? Because everybody has khakis/Dickies, a flannel shirt, eyeliner, and a Latino community nearby to buy Feliz Cumpleanos banners and Virgin Mary bandannas.




We threw an Ugly Christmas Sweater party, complete with gaudy sequins, reindeer trappings, and only the best from Ross/Goodwill/Burlington Coat Factory.



But for some reason every time we attempted at a 90s theme party, it was a complete bust. My friends and I ended up being the only ones in costume, having to explain ourselves constantly to the other people who either a.) chickened-out completely b.) said they had "nothing to wear", but were really too lazy or c.) were totally in the dark about the whole situation. For some reason, the 90s is a particularly hard era to dress for, and not too flattering. It's a weird juxtaposition, really, since most people revert to outlandish late 80s garb or are too shy to bring out the crocheted vests, lumberjack flannel, newsboy caps, bodysuits, and STUSSY shirts. There seemed to be a cleansing of the closets in the end of that decade that flushed all the local Buffalo Exchanges and Crossroads with oversized jeans and military-style initial belt buckles.



Our first attempt at a 90s theme...



...and our LAST!


So here are my tips for a successful theme party, derived from trial and error.



1. Costume parties are better left to house parties

The most successful theme parties were conducted by household occupants in which all or a majority of the roomates were involved. It is much more fun to get everyone in on the act when the household is in consensus, thus easier to enforce mandatory dress status. One of the rooms can be blocked off for dressing purposes, and when there are more people in on the fun, wardrobe can be borrowed, exchanged, and easily consulted with.
When a theme party is thrown in a club or at a third party's house whose involvement is questionable, people will become easily embarrassed and chicken out. Or they'd rather dress up and impress the opposite gender than go all out with the costume. And you, like myself this past weekend, will be left all by your lonely in a time warp.

2. Make sure to pick your theme well

That means, make sure it's inexpensive, with costumes that can easily be bought in a thrift store, or found deep in the bowels of your closet. (Unless you're dressing for the Pride Parade or Halloween in the Castro, which only the Queens can appreciate such garishness.)



Kae and Kirs's Hyphy Harajuku Party





Also, pick a PC-friendly theme. One where you won't get beat up. For the love of G-O-D, do not dress up like a military man and an Asian whore. Or a Ku Klux Klan member. Or blackface. Or anything remotely racially-insensitive.

As for our Cholo theme, we made sure everybody dressed up as soon as they got into our house, since we did live in a community that was high in gang violence, and removed their costume upon their departure. It is okay to celebrate a culture while still having the utmost respect!

3. Make sure your surroundings reflect your theme in the form of activities, food and musical choice

For our Cholo party, we served taquitos, played "Pin the Tail on the Burro " and set up an oldies playlist on the iPod. For the 90s party, we had plenty of Kriss Kross, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, NWA, and TLC to choose from. For our Ugly Sweater X-mas party, we made origami ornaments, decorated gingerbread houses and stockings, and baked cookies. (Of course, we were blunted and drunk off our asses, which made our wholesome activities adult-friendly) But feel free to nix the festive holiday music for your Christmas party if you work retail and can't stand the month-and-a-half of obnoxious muzak pumping through the store speakers. I know we did. But a little Donny Hathaway never hurt nobody.

4. RIDE or DIE for the cause!

The only way any of this will turn out a success is if you have a good handful of friends just as enthusiastic as you, and you are willing to risk the fact that you might show up the only ones in costume. And at that point, you will have no choice but to stay in character, to shame the rest of the partygoers into participation.


Josh got stuck with the penalty sweater!

Better yet, make sure you have obnoxious penalty costumes for the people that show up trying to be cute. And if it's your house, don't let the mothafuckas in if they ain't in spirit. They're probably just trying to who-ride on the free food, and we ain't havin' that.



HAVE FUN!

Close Encounters

White Walls Art Gallery
Larkin St., San Francisco
California

Saber AWR/MSK/ TSL
7/14/2007











Photos by Miss Nina Parks & Young Giron.



The Gallery was packed and the street outside White Walls was teeming with art aficionados, hipsters, young aspiring graff writers, and of course "le haut monde" of a Mad Society.

The Gallery was a true exibition of craftsmanship and artistry, featuring an array of artistic mediums; from oil paint to wood work to spray paint and an amazing replica of Saber's infamous piece on the banks of the L.A. River.

Each element of the show was a quick preview of the full progression of the artist and his journey up until this prolific point in his life. A perfect introduction to the release of his autobiography. - Nina Parks

So nice...I had to share it TWICE!

This is a TEST. Are you really an "OG"? Deciper this.




111855119*4877*

11*1771157*83*9120177*8*63127817*3128*2*123180*7415*111774*1237871113*3853.

74353*15105*17011180845*8123*50*5901730*111174*743112*908*03111635.

1*9401735. 2*111845. 87861583121245.

19*17*1113123*119*2*1773, 1*11101170*1778153*743177*9855*7415*986312*7357*8390123*743112*0911710175*601170*83*
601751031230*1187110*017*90717165, 98541017, 8170*3593618774*419*409.

8117*743*11101270*64817635*8170*1113*48113*2*3177812863*743*911711123.

1*940173, 43123*1*601773.

By the way, if you read this, you just dated yourself. Pwahaha.