What an awesome practice! The Barbershop group sung ‘Goodnight sweetheart’ again today – and it was AWESOME. I’m ecstatic – we all sung perfectly, kept in tune and key, and were beaming by the end of it. I’m finally learning how to stay in key and not get distracted and fall out again. I’m going to take my video camera in this week so you can see us at work!

J’aime bien Chris Rock. Il me fait rire. Et quand je tombe sur “Everybody Hates Chris” à la télé, généralement, je reste bloquée dessus. Je sais pas si c’est pour le décors Brooklyn des années 80, pour ses histoires rocambolesques ou sa voix atypique ; mais il m’est fort sympathique ce jeune homme. Il vient de sortir “Good Hair” un documentaire sur un sujet auquel j’ai jamais osé m’intéresser parce que ça a l’air un peu tabou… Les cheveux des Afro-américaines. Verdict ? Et ben ça m’a bien fait rire et j’ai grave appris. Enfin, il m’a appris ce qu’il a bien voulu nous montrer, à savoir une petite partie de l’afro-iceberg. Maintenant, je sais que Beyoncé a de faux cheveux (longtemps, j’en ai douté), et qu’une extension, made in India chez la coiffeuse de mon quartier, coûte un bras.  Décryptage.

Pour aller voir “Good Hair”, faut être motivé. Après 3 semaines, il ne passe plus que dans une seule salle à Manhattan. Pas bon signe. Pourtant dès que j’ai vu la bande-annonce, je me suis dis que ce film était fait pour moi. Pour Chris Rock, certes, mais aussi pour le sujet ; dans le fond ça m’intrigue. A Brooklyn, les business qui marchent le mieux sont les ongles et les cheveux. Les barbershop et salons de coiffures sont tout le temps blindés. Ici, le « Parce que je le vaut bien » est pris à la lettre : le cheveu est une institution.

Alors qu’est ce qui se cache derrière la crinière de ces dames ? Bah pleins de choses… À commencer par des cheveux d’Indiennes. Même si “Envoyé Spécial” a déjà dû traiter le sujet, Chris nous révèle que c’est l’un des business les plus lucratifs du pays. De nombreux fidèles sacrifient leurs cheveux et les donnent au temple du coin, qui les lave, les trie, les vend, puis les exporte. Et ces extensions, (weaves) s’achètent à prix d’or. A base de 1000 doll le truc. Dans le docu, les coiffeuses racontent que des nanas préfèrent avoir leurs cheveux faits plutôt que de payer leur loyer. Côté barbershop, certains mecs avouent devant la caméra avoir renoncé à sortir avec des meufs parce qu’ils savaient qu’ils ne pourraient pas assumer financièrement leurs faux cheveux. (Sourcil gauche levé. Quoi ?) D’autres racontent qu’ils n’ont jamais pu toucher les cheveux de leurs femmes. (Really?) D’autres enfin murmurent préférer les “Blanches” pour ça. Aller hop, on peut lui toucher la chevelure et ça coûte un Fructis par mois ! Bingo. Moi j’suis épatée de voir que les cheveux influencent les rapports humains entre hommes et femmes Afro-américains à ce point !

Pour traiter le sujet, Chris fait aussi appel à ses potos du milieu pour avoir quelques témoignages croustillants. Ice-T m’apprend qu’à une époque, avoir des bigoudis dans les cheveux, c’était gangsta. Les Salt-n-Pepa se souviennent d’une brûlure chimique due au défrisant : l’une d’elle avait du se raser un côté de la tête. (Remember le clip “Push It”, bah c’était pas pour le style, c’était pour rattraper les pots cassés !)
Le Révérend Al Sharpton, adepte du défrisage nous confie que sa femme non plus n’a pas le droit de lui toucher les cheveux ! C’est genre un truc tabou dans les couples. On en apprend des belles, et le casting fera plaisir à certains messieurs… On y voit Nia Long (qui jouait Lisa, la meuf du Prince de Bel Air) Raven Symone (“Raven”) et autres beautés un peu fatiguées tout droit tirées des clips RnB sexy des années 90. Ah oui, et Maya Angelou aussi, dans un autre genre.

Ce qui est un peu triste, c’est que même si ce marché engendre des milliards de dollars, ce n’est pas DU TOUT la communauté Afro-américaine qui en profite. A part les coiffeuses qui sont des superstars locales, le reste du business est tenu par des l’Oréal et autres compagnies Européennes et Asiatiques. Grosse carotte. Quant à la moralité du film ? Grosso modo, ça dit que ce qu’il y a au-dessus de la tête n’est pas aussi important que ce q’il y a à l’intérieur. Ok. Mais je ne comprends pas pourquoi dans ces cas-là, il n’a pas donné la parole à des femmes qui assument leurs cheveux au naturel, afro, dread ou crâne rasé, cheveux courts ou brushés. Ou même à des hommes qui aiment ça, les cheveux naturels. C’est comme s’il critiquait sans apporter d’alternative, alors qu’il y en a ! “Tu es Noire donc tu auras de faux cheveux” ! Euh… non ! Ma pote, (Afro-américaine aux cheveux naturels) qui a vu le film s’est sentie roulée. J’la comprends. En plus y’avait pas beaucoup de Renois dans la salle. J’imagine que c’étaient surtout des novices comme moi, qui allaient gober tout ce qu’on leur servait. Au final ils auront cette image des femmes Afro-américaine aux cheveux d’Indiennes qui défrisent la chevelure de leur fille de 3 ans à coup d’acide et cherche un homme riche pour les entretenir parce que manger ou être belle, il faut choisir. Un peu limité quand même. Mais Chris Rock dit ça avec humour. Donc ça passe mieux…

“Good Hair” c’est pourtant un film à voir. J’suis pas sûre que ça s’exporte bien à l’étranger parce que c’est un phénomène supra cainri, mais ça répondra à pas mal de tes questions sur le mystère des cheveux des Afro-américaines. Entre autres tes interrogations d’ado, quand tu es sorti avec LaQuisha en échange culturel à Washington et qu’elle ne voulait pas que tu lui touches les cheveux. Tu croyais que c’était à cause de tes mains moites. Bah non… Elle voulait juste pas que tu défonces sa coupe à 1000 E !

India.Arie I Am Not My Hair

If you are in Vancouver on November 23 I would love you to attend the book launch of Harmony from the Inside Out – Creating and Living your Performance Potential. 

Please read the full media release for details.  Media Release Harmony from the Inside Out

Live from Bobbito’s crib in Harlem

Wanna know more about the 3rd Bass’ Gas Face video shoot ?

This is the ‘Sungwoo Barbershop’
which is located in Malli-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.

The barbershop’s visage is very antique and warm.

If you come here,
you can meet Namyul Lee
who sticks to the traditional haircut process.

He has razors and scissors
which have been used for more than a hundred years.
 

Customers should wait for a long time
because of his confidential, personalized service.

But nobody complains.
Instead, they are talking together, smiling.

Everybody can feel warm in this barbershop.

Junction 14 are a fabulous all-ladies barbershop choir, hailing from my native Milton Keynes. I photographed them during a practice session. They were some of the most expressive and emotive characters I’ve ever had the pleasure to shoot. Wonderful.

Shot with the D40.

coolphotoblogs – listed | i am vfxy

There is a Barbershop performance coming up soon – and today’s practice went really well! Mr Richardson and Mr Senior both commented that we sung the songs today the best we ever had – and it shows how all our morale and attitude problems have subsided. As the people causing the issues have simply stopped attending, we don’t have to deal with their negativity anymore and can now focus on the singing!

So this week we song ‘Honey’ and ‘Aura Lee’. We all moved around the various singing levels (so we couldn’t rely on our partners to stay in key). This is a challenge because in a Barbershop group there are a variety of notes that each singer must keep to – I must say today’s practice was a real confidence booster for me because I managed to stay in key each time!

The Barbershop Lounge is not your ordinary barbershop. They have developed a great concept and combined a great hair cutting service and added a private lounge type feel with it with hip urban trends and gaming tables. It is truly a unique and very great place! From haircuts to massages, The Barbership Lounge has you covered. They even have a great membership program created to help save you money and get great perks with their membership.

You need to check out their website at www.barbershoplounge.com and see the new way of barbershops!

The Barbershop Lounge is located at 245 Newbury St. Boston, MA 02116 You can also call them at 617.450.0021

OPS MEMBERS- 20% OFF SERVICES

Nathan knew that the word “free” is one of the most magnetic words humans have. He had always considered himself immune to the petty trappings of this dimension, however.

But now he was trapped in this dimension, just like a human, and it was getting harder for him to blend in. He was on an office just the other day, when a young child had told him how frightening his hair was. (Nathan’s understanding of English was solid but had some interesting gaps; at this point in his development, he still thought “office” meant any properly lengthy expanse of beige. The exchange with the young child actually happened on a sidewalk, but Nathan did not realize this.)

The barbershop that Nathan now stood in front of had no pole, but it did have a sign that said “Free Liter With Haircut.”

“I could use a liter,” Nathan thought.

Then, “No, that’s absurd. What would I use a liter for?”

Then, “I’m sure I could find something.”

And finally, “It’s what a human would do.”

With that, he opened the barbershop door, which obliged with a welcoming bell tinkling.

“I need a haircut,” Nathan announced to the room as a whole.

Cutters and cuttees alike were staring at him now. Nathan didn’t mind. It happened a lot, and he was used to it by now.

“Yikes,” grumbled one woman. She was dressed in black leather and black fishnets, with black lipstick and black nail polish and dyed black hair (with blonde roots, no doubt for irony’s sake.) She had been slumping petulantly in one of the chairs, a flask of something adult but alternative to her lips, but now she rose and approached Nathan like a woman approaching Mount Everest with a pair of bungee cords and a fourteen-hour time limit.

“Watchoo looking for?” she asked, clearly dubious that whatever it was belonged to the universe of the feasible.

“Shorter,” Nathan said cheerfully. “And less scary. Maybe a bob.”

The barber’s demeanor changed instantly; the despair lifted from her back and her smile lost its toothy sarcasm. “You a drag queen?” Drag queens were, to her mind, suitably countercultural and oppressed and therefore worthy of her best efforts.

“Nope. Not a queen at all.”

The barber considered having her attitude perform another U-turn, but decided against it. She simply wasn’t as young as she once was, and the emotional gymnastics she’d already performed would require her to ice her mind down with an entertainment news television program or face serious cramping in the morning.

“Why don’t I give you something a bit more interesting? I’m trained, I promise.”

“I’m sure you’re very good,” Nathan told her, as if she required reassuring.

Forty-five minutes later, Nathan’s head looked like a red Chihuahua with a furry scale model of one of the Great Pyramids on top.

He had to admit, on him it worked.

“And if you do decide to turn drag queen,” the barber instructed, “you’ll be able to tease that up into a beehive, no sweat.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Nathan replied, in such a sincere tone that the barber believed him. He paid for his haircut, which was significantly more than he anticipated, but he didn’t mind. He had enough money for the short term, and no use for it in the long term.

Nevertheless, he waited at the cash register as the barber thanked him, turned away, and descended into the same seat she had been waiting in when he arrived.

“Something wrong?” she asked, once she’d achieved the proper state of gloom, and then lifted out of it enough to realize Nathan was hanging around.

“The sign says Free Liter With Haircut.”

“Oh, right.” Without standing, the barber reached behind her chair and retrieved an empty plastic bottle. She tossed it to Nathan.

“It’s my boss’s idea of a joke,” she said. “A stupid one. Most people don’t take it seriously.”

“I do,” Nathan said. The barber winced in anticipation of a major customer service battle, especially since she would be defending a side so clearly in the wrong. But it never came.

“I think it’s fantastic, and I’m going to keep it for all my days,” Nathan declared. He touched the point of his pyramid in salute, and walked out of the barbershop with newfound confidence.

*****

This was inspired by a new barbershop near my house. It’s got sort of a rock aesthetic, and it did at one point have a sign that said “Free Liter With Haircut.” (Or maybe quart or something, but some unit of volume.) The sign didn’t say what it was a liter of, and I had no cause to go in and ask.

Until very recently, I had my hair buzzed to the closest setting on my clippers. I’m growing it out right now for a part in a friend’s play, which is surprisingly traumatizing. You see, it’s growing, but unevenly. It varies day-by-day; sometimes it looks pretty awkward, and other days it looks truly atrocious. It’s gotten bad enough that I’ve purchased gel.

This may show up in Exile Issues. First, I need to determine how much I want to go the route of “alien looks at earth life with a completely naive perspective.” I think I’d rather try the “alien understands earth life more-or-less completely, but is sometimes and intentionally nonconformist” route, but we’ll see.

SUPERSTAR MANAGEMENT

Due to the large number of calls in these very trying times, we have changed our Corporate telecommunications to better serve those in need. To Contact:

Aaron & Margaret Wallace Foundation    (510) 394-4101   for Free Food distribution; free clothing provisions; housing assistence; private High School and College/University admissions and scholarship educational opportunities; job traininig and placement; medical and social services.
Imam Jamil Film and Music Project          (510) 394-4201
SuperStar Management                             (510) 394-4501
eX-whY AdVentures                                (510) 394-4601
NowTruth.Org                                          (510) 394-4701

Thanks,

We are offerring two pair of FREE Tickets each to see Queen Latifah November 3, 2009 and Ice Cube December 10, 2009 at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA for the 8:00 pm shows. The tickets will be awarded via our Twitter or Blog, so if you haven’t already, you should join us on:

Twitter at: http://twitter.com/xzwhy , http://twitter.com/ajalil or go to the
Blogs at: http://superstarmanagement.wordpress.com or http://NowTruth.Org/ and leave your request in the comments box with your email address.

Persona Tour
Queen Latifah

Date: Tue, Nov 3, 2009
Showtime: 8:00 PM
Days until show: 11
Doors open: 7:00 PM

www.queenlatifah.com

Queen Latifah: musician; television and film actress; a label president; an author and entrepreneur. Blessed with style and substance, Queen Latifah has blossomed into a one-woman entertainment conglomerate. Heralded by the press and the industry as a force to be reckoned with, Latifah has quite simply done it all and shows no sign of slowing down. Latifah has had amazing success in Hollywood in recent years, and became the first hip hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 4, 2006. She received rave reviews, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her portrayal as Mama Morton in Miramax’s Chicago. Following Chicago, Latifah starred in Disney’s box office hit Bringing Down the House, on which she also acted as executive producer. In addition to music, film and television, Queen Latifah has also written a book on self-esteem entitled Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman. Queen Latifah is diligent in her pursuit of excellence, as is evident by the awards she has received for her work in film and music. Her sincere concern for others is revealed by the generous amount of time and money that she donates to worthwhile charitable organizations. Every year, Queen Latifah serves as co-chairman for the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Established by her mother, Rita Owens, to perpetuate the memory of a loving son and brother, the foundations provides scholarships to students who excel scholastically, but are limited in financial resources.

Ice Cube

Date: Thu, Dec 10, 2009
Showtime: 8:00 PM
Days until show: 48
Doors open: 7:00 PM
www.icecube.com
MySpace Page

When rap exploded creatively and commercially in the late 1980s, Ice Cube was at the forefront of the expansion. As the lyrical brains behind N.W.A, the Los Angeles-based rapper instantly became a major player in the music game by leading a musical revolution with brutal, profane, politically-infused music that, for the first time in the genres history, sold millions of albums with N.W.As Straight Outta Compton. As a solo artist, Ice Cube became raps premier act with the release of the searing masterpieces AmeriKKKas Most Wanted and Death Certificate.

Now, after becoming Hollywoods most bankable actor thanks to his Barbershop and Friday franchises, Ice Cube returns to his first artistic love, rapping. Laugh Now, Cry Later, the multi-platinum, award-winning music icons first solo album in six years, simmers with celebration, as well as the rage, reflection and introspection that are the hallmarks of timeless music. I feel Laugh Now, Cry Later is the state of the world, of America, of urban America, of hip-hop, Ice Cube explains of his seventh solo album. It seems like everybody is playing and nobody’s worried about anything.

On the explosive Scott Storch (50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Beyonce) produced Why We Thugs, Ice Cube blasts an oppressive system that cripples Americas ghettos and fosters the perpetual ruin of such areas as South Central, Compton and Long Beach, Los Angeles metropolitan areas that have been war zones for decades.

Now, with the impending release of Laugh Now, Cry Later, his first solo album released on his own Lench Mob Records, Ice Cube is on top of his creative game and relishing in his ability to make his latest album at his own pace and on his own terms.

I’m putting my money where my mouth is because theres nothing a major label can do for me that I cant do for myself, he says. Not being signed to a particular label, putting it out myself, not having to worry about what a company or anyone else has to think about the record, being able to just go in and do it how I feel it with no timelines or deadlines, it made me comfortable. I was able to recommitment myself to rhyming and rapping. That all molded the way that this record sounds, which is important because I want my records to last the rest of the year when they come out.

Truth be told, Laugh Now, Cry Later will last well into the next decade.

Please share this info with those interested in attending these shows and see the info on me below.
Peace

Posted via email from Superstar Management

SUPERSTAR MANAGEMENT

Due to the large number of calls in these very trying times, we have changed our Corporate telecommunications to better serve those in need. To Contact:

Aaron & Margaret Wallace Foundation    (510) 394-4101   for Free Food distribution; free clothing provisions; housing assistence; private High School and College/University admissions and scholarship educational opportunities; job traininig and placement; medical and social services.
Imam Jamil Film and Music Project         (510) 394-4201
SuperStar Management                               (510) 394-4501
eX-whY AdVentures                                      (510) 394-4601
NowTruth.Org                                                (510) 394-4701

Thanks,

We are offerring two pair of FREE Tickets each to see Queen Latifah November 3, 2009 and Ice Cube December 10, 2009 at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA for the 8:00 pm shows. The tickets will be awarded via our Twitter or Blog, so if you haven’t already, you should join us on:

Twitter at: http://twitter.com/xzwhy , http://twitter.com/ajalil or go to the
Blogs at: http://superstarmanagement.wordpress.com or http://NowTruth.Org/ and leave your request in the comments box with your email address.

Persona Tour
Queen Latifah

Date: Tue, Nov 3, 2009
Showtime: 8:00 PM
Days until show: 11
Doors open: 7:00 PM

www.queenlatifah.com

Queen Latifah: musician; television and film actress; a label president; an author and entrepreneur. Blessed with style and substance, Queen Latifah has blossomed into a one-woman entertainment conglomerate. Heralded by the press and the industry as a force to be reckoned with, Latifah has quite simply done it all and shows no sign of slowing down. Latifah has had amazing success in Hollywood in recent years, and became the first hip hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 4, 2006. She received rave reviews, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her portrayal as Mama Morton in Miramax’s Chicago. Following Chicago, Latifah starred in Disney’s box office hit Bringing Down the House, on which she also acted as executive producer. In addition to music, film and television, Queen Latifah has also written a book on self-esteem entitled Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman. Queen Latifah is diligent in her pursuit of excellence, as is evident by the awards she has received for her work in film and music. Her sincere concern for others is revealed by the generous amount of time and money that she donates to worthwhile charitable organizations. Every year, Queen Latifah serves as co-chairman for the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Established by her mother, Rita Owens, to perpetuate the memory of a loving son and brother, the foundations provides scholarships to students who excel scholastically, but are limited in financial resources.

Ice Cube

Date: Thu, Dec 10, 2009
Showtime: 8:00 PM
Days until show: 48
Doors open: 7:00 PM
www.icecube.com

When rap exploded creatively and commercially in the late 1980s, Ice Cube was at the forefront of the expansion. As the lyrical brains behind N.W.A, the Los Angeles-based rapper instantly became a major player in the music game by leading a musical revolution with brutal, profane, politically-infused music that, for the first time in the genres history, sold millions of albums with N.W.As Straight Outta Compton. As a solo artist, Ice Cube became raps premier act with the release of the searing masterpieces AmeriKKKas Most Wanted and Death Certificate.

Now, after becoming Hollywoods most bankable actor thanks to his Barbershop and Friday franchises, Ice Cube returns to his first artistic love, rapping. Laugh Now, Cry Later, the multi-platinum, award-winning music icons first solo album in six years, simmers with celebration, as well as the rage, reflection and introspection that are the hallmarks of timeless music. I feel Laugh Now, Cry Later is the state of the world, of America, of urban America, of hip-hop, Ice Cube explains of his seventh solo album. It seems like everybody is playing and nobody’s worried about anything.

On the explosive Scott Storch (50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Beyonce) produced Why We Thugs, Ice Cube blasts an oppressive system that cripples Americas ghettos and fosters the perpetual ruin of such areas as South Central, Compton and Long Beach, Los Angeles metropolitan areas that have been war zones for decades.

Now, with the impending release of Laugh Now, Cry Later, his first solo album released on his own Lench Mob Records, Ice Cube is on top of his creative game and relishing in his ability to make his latest album at his own pace and on his own terms.

I’m putting my money where my mouth is because theres nothing a major label can do for me that I cant do for myself, he says. Not being signed to a particular label, putting it out myself, not having to worry about what a company or anyone else has to think about the record, being able to just go in and do it how I feel it with no timelines or deadlines, it made me comfortable. I was able to recommitment myself to rhyming and rapping. That all molded the way that this record sounds, which is important because I want my records to last the rest of the year when they come out.

Truth be told, Laugh Now, Cry Later will last well into the next decade.

Please share this info with those interested in attending these shows and see the info on me below.
Peace

Posted via email from ¿eX-whY? AdVenture

On the voting ballot for Senators, students were asked what addition they would have as a student service. I personally did not like many of the options.

Some of the proposals were:

-Hair salon and barbershop-Why in the world would we need to have this on our campus? Seriously. Go get your hair done at the mall or something.

-Skateboard and bicycle shop-A good idea in theory, in reality having a shop on campus would mean ridiculous prices for things you can just buy elsewhere for cheaper. I still don’t see too much relevance as to why this should be on our campus.

-Bicycle Sharing Program-Sounds interesting, unless you think about people with sicknesses and conditions touching all over the bicycle and then you ride it after. A good idea but not really great.

-Mail Delivery and Copy Center-This one is useful! However, there is a Postal Office right across the street from the Marshall Center, so is it really necessary? Can’t you copy things on campus anyway. Why a useful thought, it might just be redundant to make something like this on campus.

My suggestion:

-Arcade-When the new Marshall Center game, the old Marshall Center arcade was wiped away. There really are not many fun things to do in the Marshall Center besides lounge around and play pool at Beef O Brady’s (which is limited). The arcade at the University of Florida is pretty awesome and I think that the University of South Florida should adopt one as well.

STRATEGY MAGAZINE WITH FRANK PALMER

Photography by Philip Jarmain

Prop Styling by Freddy Harder

Styling by Shiva Shabani & Costumes by Kerry Weinrauch

Makeup/Grooming by Jon Hennessey

“BARBERSHOP”

Photography by Philip Jarmain

Prop Styling by Freddy Harder

Hair by Tania Becker

SCARLET LINGERIE

Photography by Philip Jarmain

Prop Styling by Freddy Harder

It’s been over a month since I last reflected – due mainly to our study break and exams, during which Barbershop practices did not occur. Last time I talked about attitude problems, luckily (as I will explain) these have subsided. Unfortunately our first performance was cancelled. The Music HOD decided we weren’t ready for a public performance. While this damaged morale it is good to know our weaknesses and what we need to do to overcome them – which is basically focus more in our practices. As such, the first rehearsal this term, we were all ready to go and happy to start a new song.

The new song is called “Goodnight Sweetheart”, and a link to it is at the bottom of this page.

It’s a really bouncy song (we sing it at a higher speed than the video at the bottom) and we’re all feeling it and becoming really enthusiastic about it. I’ve also attached an image of my part to sing, and since I’ve never received music tuition, I’m learning new skills understanding musical notation! Which is really exciting I’m also learning to control my voice and stay in key. We’re all working together to make this really great – and we might be performing in a few weeks.

My part :

Song :

It never ceases to amaze me how Carmen Soo has captivated the hearts of viewers. This blog alone is a testament to that. Not a single day passes when one of my previous posts on Carmen Soo is viewed. Well, the woman is certainly worth the adulation. She remains grounded even with the success she enjoys.

And I so admire her because she has learned to love the Philippines. Imagine spending her birthday among Ondoy victims.  She is truly someone worth loving and emulating.

And she deserves the good fortune of having her soap, “Kahit Isang Saglit” nominated in the International Emmys. Whether the soap wins or not, what is important is the recognition given to it by the body.

To Carmen, I salute you and wish you more success in whatever endeavor you set your heart on. And thank you for keeping the Philippines in your heart…

* * *

Parlors and barbershops.

Saturday was haircut day for four-year-old niece. And the only place where she gets her hair cut is at Cuts for Tots salon with only one hairdresser whom she will agree to touch her head.  She’s been going there for the last three years.

I am truly awed by those working at that kiddie salon. It takes a lot of skill and patience to do what they do: cut the hair of toddlers and young ones. It is no joke because they have to be both quick yet precise because otherwise their little customers will look worse than before they entered.

There was a little boy about 2 years old, who was terrified by the cape thrown around the shoulders and he kept bawling. Everyone thought he  was afraid of getting a haircut. It turns out he was going to sit quietly and have his hair shorn as long as there was no cape!

My little niece is a pro. She just watches whatever is showing on video, keeps busy driving her little car, and turns her head this way and that. In the end, she preens and poses and gives a fantastic smile to demonstrate her new and pretty look.

If the salon was a beehive of activity, Sunday was all quiet at the barbershop. The two boys ended up getting an unscheduled haircut because their favorite barber looked so pitiful waiting for a customer.

I really haven’t paid attention to barbers before while they were at work. But I found myself watching closely as Barber Gerry went to work.  I know for a fact that barbers can finish one head of hair in 5 or 10 minutes. But give them ample time, and they will really be so meticulous to ensure every guy — big or small — that passes through their hands comes out three times as handsome as when they came in.

And my nephews don’t really have long hair but my, my! He really was so precise at snip-snipping away and shaving corners.  I wanted to applaud after 20 minutes of watching him at work.

So while barbers may be laid back (they do sit on their chairs with their feet up on the counter to read a newspaper or answer puzzles) the real good ones take to heart what they do. And it will always show in their work. I got two handsome boys to prove it!

* * *

I am probably the new best friend of the Philippine Heart Center. After I wrote a letter to complain about their negligence, profuse apologies have been issued by the hospital through their staff. It was three at last count.

Yes, I did complain in behalf of my father. But I think what I did will also benefit other patients who may be in the same boat as we were but they would rather not call the attention of the hospital staff.

So, I am getting ready with a more detailed “love letter” to enumerate all their shortcomings. hopefully so they can improve their service better given their meager resources.

And to everyone out there, we should not be content with shabby service especially when it comes to health and wellness.  I am not saying we should always raise hell (unless absolutely warranted) but we do have rights especially if we shell out a lot of money to get this service.

That said, I am getting back into the groove… AGAIN.

Theseguysblog Challenge – Hit up Connaught place with a 100 rupee note in hand and come home with the following four DVD’s:

• Surrogates – B-Weasy acts the shit out of this movie, one of his finest films. The premise revolves around the idea that Bruce buys a bunch of robotic replicas of Bruce … meaning quadruple the Bruces.

• Land of the Lost – Most people hate Will Ferrell based on the fact that they think too many people like Will Ferrell. Those people are idiots; his shitty movies are guaranteed for 12 giggles at a minimum.
  • Life is all about giggles, if I don’t get my fix of at least 50 giggles a day I become a dangerous man.

• Year One – This movie is sure to further feed my sick sick addition with Michael Cera.
• The Hurt Locker – Arguably the only legitimate movie I was in the market for.

After filtering through hundreds of pirated American DVD’s I could only find two out of the four. My half ass attempts at lowballing these dirtbags, at a fraction of the market price, were failures forcing me to move on. Before I knew it, close to two hours had gone by and my goal was far from achieved.

My patience was running thin but after thinking of how I would feel post-Michael Cera film, I gathered the motivation to dig down deep into my energy reserves. The pickings were slim seeing as we had visited nearly all of stores, but out of nowhere this one fellow caught my attention. We made eye contact and he spewed out broken English offering me games, DVD’s and CD’s.

The merchant motioned for me to follow him to his co-workers store (all these dudes work in cahoots each managing a couple different shops). I followed the merchant to his other store but as soon as the other owner saw my face I could tell something had gone wrong. I was told to leave.

My luck had run out, with my recently shaved head and unchanged white skin, I was easily remembered as the skinheaded, sleaze-bagging low baller. I somehow managed to get blacklisted from the underground pirated movie hub. I mean that’s talent people, to out slime the skeezies shows some serious tenacity and balls, half you jokers out there couldn’t do what I did.

Through association Arvil was blacklisted but that also might have been attributed to the fact that he low bagged this one dude so badly that even me, the king of the low ballin’ scumbags was surprised by his offer.

Twelve DVD’s for 300 rupees, Arvil pulled an offensive, spinless yet ballsy move and I have to respect him for it.

Although no DVD’s were purchased Arvil did buy:

Rolex – 100 rps – originally: 250 rps.

Shantanaram (novel) – 200 rps – originally:  700 rps.

A strawberry milkshake with whipcream toppings – 80 rps.

Right before he chuggled the shake, Arvil said in a high pitched voice while limping his wrists:

“I am such a bad boy, I shouldn’t”

Idag hade Image City Chorus kördag. Jag var där och jobbade med dem på eftermiddagen. Hela förmiddagen jobbade de med det noter, sound och annat musikaliskt och sen kom jag och jobbade koreografi och dramatiska tolkningar med dem.

Det blev hur kul som helst! Dessa tjejer är så gulliga! Stämningen i deras kör är helt fantastisk och de jobbade hårt och entusiastiskt, fast de nog nästan gick på knäna den sista timmen.

Image City Choir

De hade fått låna en helt fantastisk stuga i Fairview, inte långt från Pittsford. Ortsnamnet är verkligen väl valt och stugan ligger helt sagoligt vackert precis intill en liten sjö. Utsikten från stugan är helt betagande, inte minst nu när träden är klädda i höstfärger.

Efter övningen hade de knytkalas och när 20 fruntimmer ska komma med varsit litet bidrag, ja då blir det mat till runt 100 personer till. Man blev mätt…

Men allra mest blir man varm i hjärtat av att få vara med sådana människor.

India’s Zagat street side vendor winners have been announced. Once again theseguysblog.wordpress.com are the first with the results.

Best Barber: Harkirishna Gupta

When your payout is the tightest Guido fade imaginable then sometimes it’s worth being cut up by rusty unsterilized razors. Harkrishna Gupta is his name and all day long the Gupster (Goop-ster) hooks brothers up with the fade that’s ganna get you laid. I can’t even count how many times he gave me a tight ceaser dew which resulted in a morning trip to planet parenthood.

Harkrishna Gupta on the job

Guppy (Goop-ey) has been cutting hair ever since he saw Barbershop 2, staring Ice Cube … classic. The Gupster refined his skills at Blaine Beauty School in Waltham, Ma. He graduated second out of his class of 15, edged out by none other than Papa Lote (Grande Ligas – Framingham, MA).

Best Shoe-shiner: Suneet Mehta

Shining shoes aint no walk in the park, the amount of forearm strength required to buff out a pair of alligator oxfords is insurmountable.

Suneets mother was a dirty Mongol and his father was a shiesty shoe salesman who often worked long hours. Their house was constructed solely out of shoeboxes; in fact Suneets crib, as a child, was composed out of an air force one shoe box (white on whites of course).

Suneet the shiner

After watching the Karate Kid on loop for four straight years, little Suneet had perfected the wax on wax off motions. When he hit puberty Suneets forearm strength tripled … for obvious reasons.

He has beaten Mariusz Pudzianowski, Ving Rhames and Sanjays moustche in best of five arm wrestling matches.

To this date, Suneet has yet to have an unsatisfied customer.

Additional info: Suneet moonlights as the owner of a roadside Z-Job factory.

Best Sauce: Dees Ahswhol

Dees Ahswhol sucked at pretty much everything when growing up … completely inadequate at life. He was terrible at basic math, hopeless at making friends and had the tiniest penis. Fortunately he was lucky enough to land a gig clipping Julia Child’s toenails.

The best sauce

While working with Julia he stole one of her famous sauce recipes and moved back to India. Now every day Dees sells roughly 70 gallons of his sauce. He has the tastiest sauce in Delhi, his sauce is so good, the best sauce a man could wish for, you must taste his sauce. His sauce is kept extra warm in his stainless steel canister.

Stop in for a straight razor shave or a haircut. The barbershop is nice and toasty!

Despite the craziness of opening the tattoo shop next door we are ready to get you looking sharp.

( http://modernbodyart.wordpress.com )

The Alliance prepares for their performance that is going to rock the Barbershop world – Wonka style! Two days until contest and the men are fired up. The level at which this group performs is truly world-class. Incredible.

100. DEAR OLD GIRL

Music: Theodore Morse
Words: Richard Henry Buck
Sheet Music Link
Barbershop arrangement
Sample performances can be found on itunes

Dear old girl, the robins sing above you.
Dear old girl, they sing of how I love you.
The blinding tears are falling when I think of my lost pearl,
And my broken heart is calling-calling for you, dear old girl.

Just a nice cool day in October at the barbershop. Joe and Jimmy are keeping Patsy’s running as Tragedy finally takes a day off from

Patsy’s and opening his new tattoo studio.

http://modernbodyart.wordpress.com

It is craft night here at the mansion.  The ladies are all in the backroom doing their quilling and stuff.  I’m enjoying a bowl of ham hock & lima bean soup. I’m not sure why people are so down on lima beans.  To me, lima beans, a ham hock or two, a diced onion and some diced tomatoes makes for a good, hearty soup.

So, with the weather cooing down, I decided to look at stoves and inserts.  You can get pellet stoves that burn corn, beans, and cherry pits.  Someone needs to make one to burn black walnuts. 

The only thing I don’t like about the pellet stoves is that they require electricity too.  So, during a massive power outage you would still need a UPS or generator to provide electricity to the motor that feeds the pellets and blows the air.

I guess when it comes down to survival, the best thing is an old fashion fire.  (Memories of Jack London’s, To Build a Fire, rush through my head.)  But, my first line of defense for cooking will be my little Svea 1-2-3 stove.  Nothing cooks better than it does.  Nothing.  (It won’t heat a house, but it will boil a pot of water faster than anything out there.)

Aside from having heating on my mind, I managed to snap a couple of photos of the frost this morning.

Frost

The frost looked spectacular on the way in to Rochester, especially along the Erie Canal.  It was a little thicker there.  My guess is because of the mosture from the canal itself.

After finishing my soup, we had a barbershop practice.  Jingle Bells is sounding great.  We’ll be a one-hit wonder this season!