almost an hour till 2002. i been stop caring for this "new" transition int o a "new" year. i just want it to come and go quickly. i need sleep but i have to stay up till past midnite ith the fam prayer time.

I don't know after talking to someone who has been moving about and never finished college, i feel like i need to make a drastic change of scenery. i feel stuck, and this whole having to have some money to do what i want is really not cutting it. i mean i know plenty of people with no money who have traveled and such.

i think that's what i need to do in 2002. i need to do it for my sanity. for my "freedom". for inspiration in my writing and photography. for me. i need this. i need space. i need focus...which is not happening with me staying at the "home" that was once mine but can't really be anymore. i have outgrown it physically and mentally.

for all of u and my fellow blog/online diary people-- Little Tortilla, Delaney, JVictoria, the cute Demon child, My Mentor, and qweenfiyah, have a blessed and soul defining new year.

As i attempt to refrain from making "someone" *die* , my weekend has been full and the holidays have not been so annoying to me. But i really do tired of my temp job.

Onward...
--slept till 3:30 pm yesterday
--got up and b.S.ed on the computer
--made pasta
--parents came home from day trip
--i stepped out with my childhood heads to a club called D.K. Han (needless to say it's a new spot)
--realized how bad i am at getting anywhere with women in these types of environments
--got home at at 5 am and woke up at 10 am (i think) today for cousin's wedding
--still have not gotten any sleep...
--when will it ever end?

My new fav:

*stabs*

Time keeps on passing...

Online Hugs, i like giving em, but they don't do much for me. So right now anytime i say i want a hug online, that means a real physical hug-- preferably from a cute female who likes giving hugs not those half-hearted wraparounds.

Twas a long day yesterday. Tedious projects at my temp job. How does one get used to doing this corporate work? As i have been told the trick for those folks willing to work for decades to get a mid-level position, is just to get used to the patterns and the routines.

Whatever...shoot me if i let that happen to me. i need another creative position real soon!!!
This volunteer gig i hope will balance it out for now. It's only been six months and i am tired of doing this Web "admin" job at Buck Consultants. Look at their web site and tell me if any of it interests you... then if it does email me, so i can stab you (c.Koku).

Don't get me wrong I am very appreciative of having this income coming in, but i must do what's in my heart and what makes me happy (yuck, that really sounds like some overdramatic monologue).

They say it's vision.

*Hug*
Merry Christmas.

Egads! Blogger got hacked into yesterday. Their mainpage was looking quite funky.

All i know is that i kept coming to this page right here.

To post or not to post, that is the question

Yep...nuthin beats gettin high...off new music...yep.

i am so geeked, got new music last week. New music can be such a high especially when it's good. U pop it in the CD player or mp3 player and the first track trickles into your ears, and they start to perk up.

The two albums below had that effect on me, though i have not had a real "listen to both yet.

Needless to say, i almost bought Jay Z Unplugged since it was selling for 11.99 at Virgin. I instead ordered Sia's (pictured above) debut, Healing is Difficult (which go figure came out in 2000), through the wonderful Gemm website. Thanks to Monica, this website along with Amazon and HMV have become havens for me to shop for obscure and import music. However, Gemm provides the largets amount of places to purchase a record from. Anyway, i ordered Sia from Action Records in the UK. i am digging this spot more and more. CD's under 20 beans including shipping, plus fast delivery. It took the album only four days to reach me.

Healing is Difficult gives me the feeling i got when i first heard Esthero's 1998 debut, Breath From Another. It's engaging. the production is upbeat and eclectic, and Sia has that deceptively simple and soulful voice. The Australian-born singer does sound like a reformed alcoholic who went through some harsh times (refer to the song "Drink to Get Drunk"). And she has a website!

Next, i downloaded the whole Kenna album, New Sacred Cow, and will pay for it "when" it does come out.

Here is the one review i found on the album.



For the Mp3 heads here is the Track listing for New Sacred Cow:
01. Within Earshot (Intro)
02. Freetime
03. Man Fading
04. Sunday After You
05. Vexed and Glorious - A Better Control (Interlude)
06. Red Man
07. Hell Bent
08. New Sacred Cow
09. I'm Gone
10. War In Me
11. Yeneh Ababa (Rose)
12. Love Hate Sensation

Hopefully, this album will drop next year with some type of promotion.

Bonus albums:
-- No Doubt's fourth release, RockSteady, is dope but odd project. With so many producers on hand (Sly & Robbie, Nelle Hooper), who don't necessarily used live musicians, i wonder how much of a role the band played in the music. Second tidbit, the album is part 80's throwback, part dub/ska reggae, and old style No Doubt.

-- Nas' Stillmatic- Still digesting it, but i have to listening to it and Jay z's Blueprint (which i also just got).

-- Prince The Rainbow Children- What i have heard so far is surprisingly very good. Makes me wonder why i purchased the over-produced Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic.

Actually, I'm pretty sure the woman you saw on the train thought about that compliment the entire day. You didn't try to aggressively pursue her, or harrass her---you admired her beauty. Anyone can appreciate someone making a compliment from the bottom of their heart.

I'm sure you'll run into her again. And if chance should make it so, ask her name, and become acquainted. :)

Posting time. A real post this time... that is

Today, well now it's yesterday (darn clock changed to midnite as i posted this), and it was the last time i would see the kids at the Center until jan. 2 (*sob*). We had a pizza party for the 11 kids that showed up. Seems that a lot of em had already gone away on vacation. We had a gift exchange Kwanzaa style, where the kids were asked on tuesday to make homemade gift for whoever they picked out of a basket full of .

I have discovered some new things i find attractive in a woman. This revelation came into being as i sat on the 3 Express train, coming from the Center yesterday. Sitting across from me was this lady, who i had noticed beforehand on the subway platform, and had followed "unconsciously" into the same train car.

Anyway, here is what had me open.

Her long locs were tied in two pony tails, so that her hair stuck out on the sides
For visualization look below:

She had this cute little gap in-between her two top front teeth. Not too large and most importantly, her teeth were not in dire need of dental work.

She had a dark caramel complexion, something i seem to gravitate towards a lot.

Not as big of a deal, but she had this light blue eyeshadow just above her eyelashes.

But alas they only thing i could muster up to do was to tell her (in cheesy voice): You're very pretty as i exited the 42nd Street stop. As I sat and told the tale to my friends later on, i was told that it would have made more sense for me to have missed my stop and start speaking with her after the initial comment. Fear of rejection really made me miss my chance...

If weirdos have a taste for pasta and marinara..then why yes...I've been invited.

Did someone invite weirdos?
Wakka, Wakka...I'm here.

If you invite the weirdos they will come.

Hello, I'm Koku. Don't try to understand me. I'm not to be dissected, analyzed, diluted, or judged in anyway. Where is the poultry?





I have 9 Lives.


Current Song: Cindy Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Koku Remix)

By the way folks the Cee-Lo illustration is from the Violator: The Album 2.0 (read: all the artists managed by Violator putting together another blah compilation). It's where he made his official solo debut with the song "Sexual Chocolate." The consensus i got from many was that they did not like the song, and that it gave them little faith in his upcoming album.

Afterschool program: Day 3 will discuss tomorrow.

Also look for the new artist to salivate over Kenna, as i attempt to pitch him to a magazine (*sigh*).

That's a HOT pic. HOT!
It will probably be another year or so before the album even makes it to this side of the globe.
Oh, well. *Sigh*

Cee-Lo's solo debut needs to be longer 10 tracks is not enough for me to get a feeling for the man. Cee-Lo and His Perfect Imperfections is an interesting foray for the man.

Here is an MTV News article on the album. It says Lauryn Hill, Common, Busta Rhymes and Mos Def are on it, but so far what i have has no of them on it. Hopefully, what i have is just an unfinished version.

i will have more on this album later...

Wow...I'm jealous because you got that Cee-Lo. It's funny because I just downloaded like 3 songs off the Zero 7 cd & I just bought No Doubt on Thursday night...so far I'm feeling everything.

Without further delay... my list of recent acquisitions:

Actually before i began i must say Amazon.com messed up or was it i. i know i ordered one book two weeks ago-- The Black Jacobins:Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution. That came last week. But then i come home from work on last Friday and discover a big box from Amazon. My mind goes "argh!"
The books were these:
1 of: The Continuing Xanth Saga [Hardcover]
By: Piers Anthony $11.19
- Gift-wrap and note: None
1 of: Original Sins (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Lost Slayer, 4) [Mass Market Paperback]
By: Christopher Golden $2.99
- Gift-wrap and note: None
How this happened i have no idea. i sense this occurred somewhere during my "save to cart" operation, and i accidentally. i think the 1-click button had something to do with it. Oh well, it's not biggie, i just cleaned off most of my credit card, so i am good to go.

On with the music:

Actual CDs
4 Hero -- Creating Patterns
Bebel Gilberto -- Tanto Tempo Remixes
MP3s, burns, advances (This right here is the motherload. Also God bless Audio Galaxy and the people who lend me albums to burn.)

-- Cee-Lo -- Cee-Lo and His Perfect Imperfections (Advance); This the Goodie Mobb member's solo debut and is very eclectic. This may truly prove the proclamation that he is the female Lauryn Hill. Still need to listen to it thoroughly.

-- No Doubt -- Rock Steady; Going back to their ska roots somewhat. But makes me wonder how the band was involved since they had so many producers on hand-- most prominently Nelle Hooper and Sly & Robbie (who laced them with some classic reggae dub tracks). Strangely enough, the Dr. Dre and Neptune tracks are missing from the final version. Time to investigate...

-- Zero 7-- Simple Things; Another production team from the UK (?). Like 4 Hero and Rae & Christian, their claim to fame has been remixes -- most notably for Lenny Kravitz and Mos Def ("Umi Says"). Very mellow, relaxing-at-home music. Lots of strings and features a couple of songs with Australian singer/songwriter Sia (who i own one single from and can't seem to find her supposed debut album from 2000). For more info on her check this article.

-- Jaguar Wright -- Denials Delusions Decisions (advance); Man this Roots crew affiliate is just as raw on her solo debut as she is live. Someone please clean her mouth out with soap. But seriously my highlights when listening are "Stay", "The What Ifs'", "I Don't Know" (get ready for Viktair Duplaix!), and "S.S.D.D. Pt1."

-- Dungeon Family -- Even In Darkness; Outkast, Goodie Mob, Society of Soul, Organized Noize-- that's all that needs to be said.
Standouts: "Crooked Booty,"6 Minutes (Dungeon Family It's On)", "Rollin'", "Follow The Light", "Trans DF Express "

-- De La Soul -- AOI:Bionix; In all honesty this album is a more cohesive effort than part one, which was plagued with two many guest spots. This one is for the ladies and sounds quite nice, with the exception of the first single "Baby Phat," which is a nice variation on the topic of the female body, but lacks a engaging soundscape, and "Pawn Star" (can i say poorly-executed satire?). Standouts: "Held Down" w. Cee-Lo, title track, "Simply/Simply Havin'", "Peer Pressure" w. B-Real (Jay Dee is truly a great producer),

Meanwhile, I have been on a mix CD marathon, burning several of my own personal CDs. The most recent ones i have created is my fifth Somber Mix and a dance/UK Garage Mix.

The plane! The plane!
They're mad scary. But once you touch land, they're not so bad anymore.
And if you're not sitting next to a vomiting man, trips can sometimes be pleasant.
Hope they have a safe trip...
have a house party!!!

too much music has come out and is coming. Darn the last quarter of the year. Many artist will be suffering. People can only purchase so many albums.

The Dead On Art series is truly remarkable.
Click here for more details.

In other news, my parents are going on a plane. It has probably been more than a decade since they have been on one. And now is not exactly the greatest and most comfortable time to be taking a plane. But heck, that ain't stoppin' em. My pops got to see his siblings and mother who live done in Florida-- Miami and West Palm to be exact.

Saturday... i will provide a list of my most recent musical acquisitions.

Just realized that I can't hot link my pictures from my website.
Will attempt to move this blogspot to my homepage server shortly.

Today's pic: A breaker at South Street Seaport, summer 2001 (c) Richard Louisaint.

second day volunteering...
Director needs to know if i can temporarily replace the computer teacher in january.
it's paid.

Now i need to ask my supervisor at my temp job (of five months) if i can switch two of my days to do this gig.

There are more kids. Kids i did not meet on tues were here today. Some only come on certain days.

Let me see... there's Malcolm-- smart 3rd grader
Naychez- she has like two pronunciations for it.
some kid with glasses and feckles (?)
Anyway It's gonna be a while til i remember everyone's name.

Success... found 4Hero's Creating Patterns at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square... go figure. for 19.99, which is what i paid for their first album. Now I need to get a hold of their remix of the first CD. It looks like the usual suspects-- which is why i don't think it was worth it to buy Bebel Giberto's Tanto Tempo remix album. it's usually the same heads-- Rae & Christian, King Britt, etc. it's not that they aren't good but they do not necessarily add to the original versions.

I' m a retard... finally figured out why my timestamp was off. My time was set to Pacific time, and not Eastern time.

Let me put the "L" to my head now.

PDF files are the debil. i have spent the majority of the day trying to get these webpages i converted into PDF files to print without cutting off part of the page.
Needless to say it prints fine on my co-worker's computer. Stupid PDFs.

Anyway, I am still searching for 4 Hero's new album Creating Patterns (guest spots by Jill Scott, Terry Callier, etc.). I could simply go online and get it, but i am halting all credit card purchases. It's times like this i miss the HMV at 34th St in Herald Square. Unfortunately, the one at 42nd street sucks simply for the fact that the dance employee is never there, and supposedly Creating Patterns is in stock--but strangely enough they can never find it. Virgin Megastore stinks even more cause they only have their first album, Two Pages (classic!), and it's being sold at import prices (over 25 dollars). If worse comes to worse i will have to order it from HMV's website, which is not so bad, except waiting 10 days to receive it from Montreal.

I will try teh other Virgin store in the city to see if they have it. If they don't...credit card hear i come. Still haven't figured out who 4 Hero is...click here.

What's up, y'all...It's J.
I will also be guest starring on the Haitian Eclectic every now and then.
Peace.

Why are the times on my post all screwy?
well i am posting this at 1:10 pm. Let's see what comes up...