Sunday, November 22, 2009
"Left Coast...Right Coast?"
Good Morning! Buenos Dias! Bonjour! Buongiorno! Welcome to week two of a collaboration of voices from both coasts, and all points in between. The mission of this blog is to present points of view from women and men in the form of commentary, poetry, observations, artwork, photography and any media you wish to contribute, that you feel represents you or your coast. Often, people have preconceived notions about others, due to geographic location, that is sometimes positive, but more often negative. I say we are more alike than different, regardless of where our seeds were planted! By the way, I have never said "NuYawk" and I am not rude!...and your Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops are a fashion statement!
East Coast-West Coast Counter Parts
Signature song:
East Coast: New York, New York by Frank Sinatra (honorary mention: Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z & Alicia Keyes)
West Coast: I Left My Heart in San Francisco (honorary mention: California Dreaming by MamasPapas)
Signature bridge:
NY: Brooklyn Bridge
Cali: Golden Gate Bridge
Governors:
NY: David Patterson, visually impaired
Cali: Arnold Schwarzenegger, language impaired
Mayors:
NY: Michael Bloomberg
Cali: Antonio Villaraigosa (LA)
Indigenous music:
NY: Doo-Wop; Street corner harmonizing
Cali: Beach Boys; Surfer Sounds
Rap Anthems:
NY: Welcome To New York City by Jay-Z
Cali: California Love by Tupac
Famous Rich Guys:
NY: The Donald (Trump)
Cali: Kirk Kerkorian
Famous Rich Girls:
NY: Ivanka Trump; Paris Hilton
Cali: Paris Hilton (bi-coastal)
Funk Masters:
NY: Rick James
Cali: Sly & The Family Stone
Shopping:
NY: Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue
Cali: Rodeo Drive; Beverly Hills
Signature dead rappers:
NY: Biggie
Cali: Tupac
Natural Disasters:
NY: Hurricanes, flooding
Cali: Earth Quakes, mudslides, wildfires
Animal pests:
NY: Rats
Cali: Ground squirrels
Signature mocked expression:
NY: Yo!
NY: Yo!
Cali: Dude!
Signature sports teams:
Basketball:
NY: Huh? Duh?
Cali: The Lakers
Football:
NY: Giants, Jets
Cali: Raiders, Chargers
Baseball:
NY: Yankees (Mets)
California: Angels (Dodgers)
Tourist Traps:
NY: Times Square
Cali: Walk of Fame
Girls:
NY: Gossip Girls; Sex and The City Girls
Cali: Valley Girls; Desperate Housewives
Waiters:
NY: Waiting for big break on Broadway
Cali: Waiting for big break in Hollywood
Notorius Killers:
NY: Son of Sam, Colin Ferguson
Cali: Hillside Strangler, Zodiac Killer
This list could go on forever; please add to it...thanks!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
"Random Musings"
Good Morning peeps!
Lately, I have been waking up with a song on my mind from which to draw inspiration for my writing. Oddly, that didn't happen this morning. I'm not saying I don't ever have thoughts unrelated to songs, but I like having that connection. Instead, I will draw from the many songs that are swirling around in my psyche, plus throw in some "random musings." Yes, I know...I am being somewhat self-indulgent (like most jazz is) but as The Isley Brothers said, "It's Your Thing, Do What You Want to Do"... So, I will.
The Top Tens Signs That Christmas is Coming:
1. The heavy rotation of commercials letting us know the Hess Truck is coming and it's better than ever...
2. We just said good-bye to Summer...didn't we?
3. Over Stock is running it's recycled commercial from years back, with the woman singing and everyone dressed in white.
4. Your kids are acting especially nice and/or complaint
5. Cool Old Navy commercials with young people dancing and singing (lest yee forgot who their targeted audience is).
6. You start receiving emails about "wish lists"
7. Macy's skipped Halloween and Thanksgiving and cut to the chase, by putting up Christmas decorations in September.
8. Nat King Cole's version of The Christmas Song is on your mind (fess up...you know it is)
9. A Christmas Story is beginning it's marathon run on TV.
10. "Black" is beautiful again...as in "Black Friday"...one of the biggest shopping days of the year for retailers.
Random: Santas are now asking for the H1N1 shots first! And forget letting your kids sit on Santa's lap!
There! That's all I have on that subject for now. Can you think of more signs? Please add yours...
Friday, November 20, 2009
CALIFORNIA LIVING 1800s
City of San Juan Bautista.
Just a bit of old California History. This is the Mission at the City of San Juan Bautista. The city was incorporated in 1869. There's a Museum that features some amazing old time transportation, the Limo of Coaches and more.
How would you like to have to use this bathroom everyday!
The Hotel Dining Room
Ladies Guest Room
1800s Living
All of the above pictures were taken by Steph Jordan"Baby's Got Back" - Sir Mix-A-Lot
"Oh my God! Becky, look at her butt! It is so big! I can't believe it's so round; it's like, out there! I mean - gross! Look! She's just so...black!" Sounds familiar? It's part of the opening lyrics in the comedic rap song of the ninties, "Baby's Got Back" by Sir-Mix-A-Lot. Many of us can't help but smile as we listen to SMAL sing about his fondness for large derrieres. How about that YouTube video of the newly married couple boogying to it during their reception? Well, I can't imagine that Saartjie Baartman aka, "The Hottentot Venus" thought her ample derriere was a laughing matter. Not familiar with that name? Well, it's Herstory Time...listen up. Saartjie (Sara) Baartman was born in 1789 to a Khoisan family in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. She was a slave of Dutch farmers. In 1810, a British ship's doctor noticed what seemed to him, Sara's "unusual" shape (read: big butt). He took her to London with her believing she was going to gain wealth, when in reality, he was "pimping" her. She was put on display for paying audiences to ogle her unusually large derriere and protruding genitalia, and was forced to entertain people by gyrating her nude body, with the promise of half the profits. This caused a scandal and she was sold to a French entrepreneur (another pimp?), who took her to Paris, where she was put on display by an animal trainer for fifteen months!!! After being the subject of public ridicule, Sara descended into alcoholism and prostitution (ya think?) to support herself. Sadly, Sara died at the age of twenty-six of an inflammatory ailment; possibly Smallpox. Free at last! Right? Wrong! After her death, Sara's skeleton, brain and preserved genitals, were placed on display in Paris were they remained until 1974! It wasn't until 2002 that she was returned to rest in her homeland. If you care to know more about this sad story, google her. It's a story that needs to be told. Perhaps you'll remember Sara the next time you watch videos portraying women as body parts; rather than whole human beings.
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