My apologies to the bidder who wanted to rent space on my blog. I was remiss in checking my e-mail and have only 24-hrs to respond. I will be more careful in the future.
msmccloud
Pay attention: The Earth is Changing and we are the last generation positioned to do anything about it. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Foxx on Leno Wednesday night
Sexy R & B singer, Jamie Foxx, was on the Jay Leno show last night chatting about his musical airing tonight on NBC and his platinum CD "Unpredictable"--which is also the "no. 1 song in the country," Foxx said.
Leno and Foxx seem to go way back to days when they both did stand up. For those of you who somehow don't know, Foxx is a comedian--a good one at that--and actor, songwriter and singer. I first took notice of his greatness as an actor in "Any Given Sunday" and of course on the "Jamie Foxx Show" which was mysteriously ripped off of the air for some reason and "In Living Color" and most recenty, "Ray." His recent CD is where I realized his depth as a songwriter and vocal range although he has had fans buy and rave over his previous releases.
Those first songs were not flukes but steps to his current status.
Leno has not yet realized the recent greatness of Foxx and his Oscar and his hard won success.
They talked about the film "Booty Call" and the good ol' days at the Comedy Store (?) and though I believe Foxx was there to promote his musical special, he hammed it up, joking and laughing. (Too bad Arsenio isn't still here. Hey, where is Byron Allen? He deserves a primetime talk show.)
Foxx is still normal and down-to-earth--unless he was just ON last night and is totally Hollywood. Being in the public eye can sometimes affect how one interacts with the world and people around them. Foxx is handsome and humorous and intelligent, (I like that in a man)so it is easy for an insecure man to become envious.
And his taste in clothing is to die for. His ensemble was comprised of security guard type pants in what looked to be gray wool with the stripe down the leg, v-neck sweater, shirt, velvet(?) blazer and the most wonderful pair of shoes in black and white. (I dunno, we were at the Cave and I had all the folk up in there watching Jamie and cheering him on--yes ma, we were drinking--and I am a little blurry on detail.)
But ifn Jamie Foxx wasn't famous he'd still be a cool broa to hang with and all--bet. Forreal tho.
And if you are at all wondering why I am writing about this man (who obviously doesn't need much help to shine) it is because he has really been achieving his career goals lately and I am proud of him.
And because folks in our age group hardly ever get to have our opinions heard or have someone like Foxx speak our language to our generation. (we ain't Baby Boomers and are too mature for the lower rungs of Gen X) He and Kanye West are really doin' the damn thing.
Leno and Foxx seem to go way back to days when they both did stand up. For those of you who somehow don't know, Foxx is a comedian--a good one at that--and actor, songwriter and singer. I first took notice of his greatness as an actor in "Any Given Sunday" and of course on the "Jamie Foxx Show" which was mysteriously ripped off of the air for some reason and "In Living Color" and most recenty, "Ray." His recent CD is where I realized his depth as a songwriter and vocal range although he has had fans buy and rave over his previous releases.
Those first songs were not flukes but steps to his current status.
Leno has not yet realized the recent greatness of Foxx and his Oscar and his hard won success.
They talked about the film "Booty Call" and the good ol' days at the Comedy Store (?) and though I believe Foxx was there to promote his musical special, he hammed it up, joking and laughing. (Too bad Arsenio isn't still here. Hey, where is Byron Allen? He deserves a primetime talk show.)
Foxx is still normal and down-to-earth--unless he was just ON last night and is totally Hollywood. Being in the public eye can sometimes affect how one interacts with the world and people around them. Foxx is handsome and humorous and intelligent, (I like that in a man)so it is easy for an insecure man to become envious.
And his taste in clothing is to die for. His ensemble was comprised of security guard type pants in what looked to be gray wool with the stripe down the leg, v-neck sweater, shirt, velvet(?) blazer and the most wonderful pair of shoes in black and white. (I dunno, we were at the Cave and I had all the folk up in there watching Jamie and cheering him on--yes ma, we were drinking--and I am a little blurry on detail.)
But ifn Jamie Foxx wasn't famous he'd still be a cool broa to hang with and all--bet. Forreal tho.
And if you are at all wondering why I am writing about this man (who obviously doesn't need much help to shine) it is because he has really been achieving his career goals lately and I am proud of him.
And because folks in our age group hardly ever get to have our opinions heard or have someone like Foxx speak our language to our generation. (we ain't Baby Boomers and are too mature for the lower rungs of Gen X) He and Kanye West are really doin' the damn thing.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Jamie Foxx in NBC special this month
Jamie Foxx: "Unpredictable" airs January 25, at 7 p.m. on NBC/WMAQ, Chicago.
TVGuide.com states that the hour-long special features Mary J. Blige, Angie Stone, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, the Game and Common in a musical or urban play--of sorts.
Vignettes will illustrate portions the actor/songwriter/R & B Soul singer's life. The songs are from Foxx's no. 1 hit CD/DVD, "Unpredictable."
(I hope he takes his shirt off at some point during the special;>)
TVGuide.com states that the hour-long special features Mary J. Blige, Angie Stone, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, the Game and Common in a musical or urban play--of sorts.
Vignettes will illustrate portions the actor/songwriter/R & B Soul singer's life. The songs are from Foxx's no. 1 hit CD/DVD, "Unpredictable."
(I hope he takes his shirt off at some point during the special;>)
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Happy Belated Birthday Baby Brother!
My brother's birthday was January 18 but I got tied up with going wireless inside my home. This mesage is late. (i'm shamed)
My baby brother --who stands over six foot tall-- is a year older now. And he is still the baby. I used to change his dipies. Mom was old fashioned and used cloth diapers because the disposable ones back then left a rash. I was in charge of dunking the diapers up and down in the toilet before wringing them out and placing them in the diaper pail.
I did this with joy.
I was so happy to get a baby brother. No more would I be blamed for eating up all of the cupcakes and twinkies. Or breaking things in the house. I even got to share the blame of knocking over the Christmas tree with him one year. Oh glee!
Happy Birthday Grown. I hope you had a nice one but I don't care how tall and big you get, you will always be my baby brother.
My baby brother --who stands over six foot tall-- is a year older now. And he is still the baby. I used to change his dipies. Mom was old fashioned and used cloth diapers because the disposable ones back then left a rash. I was in charge of dunking the diapers up and down in the toilet before wringing them out and placing them in the diaper pail.
I did this with joy.
I was so happy to get a baby brother. No more would I be blamed for eating up all of the cupcakes and twinkies. Or breaking things in the house. I even got to share the blame of knocking over the Christmas tree with him one year. Oh glee!
Happy Birthday Grown. I hope you had a nice one but I don't care how tall and big you get, you will always be my baby brother.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Happy Birthday, Mommy!
Today is Mommy's birthday. She has a full day planned with her mother and sisters and we have been ringing her phone off of the hook all morning long.
My mother is such a blessing to me and she forgives me for my shortcomings. Daddy just yells a lot.
Anyway Happy Birthday to my Little Brother on the 18th of this month and of course, The Rev. Dr, Martin Luther King.
The anniversary of this blog passed us all by on December 5. Happy belated first birthday "yeah and--so what!"
(Thank You. Better late than never)
I hope everyone has enjoyed my ramblings here. Some have not. But then again that is why America is known as the land of free-enough speech (heee heee)
On my wish list still is Sirius Radio so that I can listen to Howard Stern. BF didn't want to get it for me for Christmas. Instead I got knives--the really good kind. He said I have some jewelry he bought but has yet to give.
I'm waiting.
My mother is such a blessing to me and she forgives me for my shortcomings. Daddy just yells a lot.
Anyway Happy Birthday to my Little Brother on the 18th of this month and of course, The Rev. Dr, Martin Luther King.
The anniversary of this blog passed us all by on December 5. Happy belated first birthday "yeah and--so what!"
(Thank You. Better late than never)
I hope everyone has enjoyed my ramblings here. Some have not. But then again that is why America is known as the land of free-enough speech (heee heee)
On my wish list still is Sirius Radio so that I can listen to Howard Stern. BF didn't want to get it for me for Christmas. Instead I got knives--the really good kind. He said I have some jewelry he bought but has yet to give.
I'm waiting.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Cigarettes in Chicago may get Costlier
NOTE TO READERS: WHAT YOU MAY PAY FOR A PACK OF CIGARETTES CAN VARY, DEPENDING ON THE RETAILER AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ON SALE AT THE TIME, LIKE NEWPORT 100'S. SOME PACKS OF CIGARETTES MAY BE SOLD AT $6 AND SOME CHANGE, INCLUDING TAX. THE PROPOSED TAX WOULD SEE PRICES CLIMB TO $7 AND SOME CHANGE, IN THESE CASES.
12-20-05
copyright 2005
Contributing Writer
EDITOR'S NOTE --PULLOUT BOX:
Cook County residents are encouraged to voice their opinions about the proposed
2006 budget at an upcoming series of public hearings.
January 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Markham Courthouse; January 6, 10:00 a.m. at the
Cook County Building; January 9, 6:30 p.m. at the Skokie Courthouse; January 12,
6:30 p.m. at the Maywood Courthouse.
Subhead suggestion: Windy City smokers play a game of give and take
A proposed county cigarette tax increase could bring the price of cigarettes in
Chicago to $8 or more a pack.
However, according to the 2006 county budget proposal released Monday, property
taxes will not be raised.
Smokers at Chicago Legend, a South Loop bar, kept the proposed tax increase in
perspective and took it in stride.
Freddie Atkins, 40, said he would continue to purchase cigarettes because it is
only a $1 difference and because he intends to continue to smoke. His friend, a
woman who only wanted to be identified as Ms. Tina, had mixed feelings.
"It's more money out of my pocket but I don't need to do it anyway," she said,
adding that as a property holder in the county, "either way, I'll get it,' (in tax
increases).
She said she was glad the tax was placed on cigarettes rather than
her property but storeowners had a slightly different perspective.
Mustafa Muhammad, owner of a 7-11 in the 5200 block of North Western, said he
thinks his customers will stop buying so many cigarettes but wonders how many
more will express anger at him because they don't understand the tax increase. He said cigarettes at his store cost about $6 without tax included.
"Maybe they will stop smoking. Maybe they will buy them somewhere else. They
get mad at us when they are so expensive," Muhammad said.
In a blog dated Decmeber 22, 2005 Tim Zorn of the Chicago Tribune, said in "Burned: Cigarette taxes are unfair to smokers," that the taxes on cigarettes in the city could go as high as $4.02 per pack if the proposed tax increase is allowed. (so just tack that on to whatever the taxless price of smokes are and you will have an accurate description of what to hand the cashier).
A sign from cigarette manufacturer Phillip Morris was spotted in the cashier's
window in nearby Hammond, Ind., asking proprietors to limit the number of
cartons of cigarettes that customers could purchase at one time.
Reasons for the proposed cigarette tax increase are due to significant reductions in federal
health care reimbursements to the state, rising costs for employee benefits and other
increasing financial requests--all which resulted in a $307 million county budget shortfall, according
to a Cook County Board of Commissioners released statement.
The $1 tax increase on cigarettes, if approved, will bring $2 in taxes to
the county coffers, instead of the $1 the current tax structure now allows. It will yield $75 million for next yearÂ’s budget, making
sure public health services are not cut, Cook County Board President John H.
Stroger said.
Included in the proposed cuts are, "nearly 100 staff positions." Also, there
will be no new positions created.
"It's doubling the net profit the county will get. That money is plugging the
gap in federal Medicaid reimbursements (cuts)," John Gibson, a spokesman for
Stroger told the Defender.
Public safety is the largest part of the county's budget with funding levels in
excess of $1 billion. That budget funds the operations of the Sheriff, Chief
Judge, Clerk of the Court, State's Attorney, Public Defender, Judicial Advisory
Council and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
The 2006 budget provides almost $830 million for the Bureau of Health, which
funds Stroger, Oak Forest and Provident Hospital operating costs, the Department
of Public Health, CORE and 28 ambulatory clinics.
"Prescriptions are probably the fastest increasing healthcare service we
provide. In 2003 we filled 2.2 million prescriptions. In 2005 we filled nearly
3.8 million," Stroger said.
###
12-20-05
copyright 2005
Contributing Writer
EDITOR'S NOTE --PULLOUT BOX:
Cook County residents are encouraged to voice their opinions about the proposed
2006 budget at an upcoming series of public hearings.
January 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Markham Courthouse; January 6, 10:00 a.m. at the
Cook County Building; January 9, 6:30 p.m. at the Skokie Courthouse; January 12,
6:30 p.m. at the Maywood Courthouse.
Subhead suggestion: Windy City smokers play a game of give and take
A proposed county cigarette tax increase could bring the price of cigarettes in
Chicago to $8 or more a pack.
However, according to the 2006 county budget proposal released Monday, property
taxes will not be raised.
Smokers at Chicago Legend, a South Loop bar, kept the proposed tax increase in
perspective and took it in stride.
Freddie Atkins, 40, said he would continue to purchase cigarettes because it is
only a $1 difference and because he intends to continue to smoke. His friend, a
woman who only wanted to be identified as Ms. Tina, had mixed feelings.
"It's more money out of my pocket but I don't need to do it anyway," she said,
adding that as a property holder in the county, "either way, I'll get it,' (in tax
increases).
She said she was glad the tax was placed on cigarettes rather than
her property but storeowners had a slightly different perspective.
Mustafa Muhammad, owner of a 7-11 in the 5200 block of North Western, said he
thinks his customers will stop buying so many cigarettes but wonders how many
more will express anger at him because they don't understand the tax increase. He said cigarettes at his store cost about $6 without tax included.
"Maybe they will stop smoking. Maybe they will buy them somewhere else. They
get mad at us when they are so expensive," Muhammad said.
In a blog dated Decmeber 22, 2005 Tim Zorn of the Chicago Tribune, said in "Burned: Cigarette taxes are unfair to smokers," that the taxes on cigarettes in the city could go as high as $4.02 per pack if the proposed tax increase is allowed. (so just tack that on to whatever the taxless price of smokes are and you will have an accurate description of what to hand the cashier).
A sign from cigarette manufacturer Phillip Morris was spotted in the cashier's
window in nearby Hammond, Ind., asking proprietors to limit the number of
cartons of cigarettes that customers could purchase at one time.
Reasons for the proposed cigarette tax increase are due to significant reductions in federal
health care reimbursements to the state, rising costs for employee benefits and other
increasing financial requests--all which resulted in a $307 million county budget shortfall, according
to a Cook County Board of Commissioners released statement.
The $1 tax increase on cigarettes, if approved, will bring $2 in taxes to
the county coffers, instead of the $1 the current tax structure now allows. It will yield $75 million for next yearÂ’s budget, making
sure public health services are not cut, Cook County Board President John H.
Stroger said.
Included in the proposed cuts are, "nearly 100 staff positions." Also, there
will be no new positions created.
"It's doubling the net profit the county will get. That money is plugging the
gap in federal Medicaid reimbursements (cuts)," John Gibson, a spokesman for
Stroger told the Defender.
Public safety is the largest part of the county's budget with funding levels in
excess of $1 billion. That budget funds the operations of the Sheriff, Chief
Judge, Clerk of the Court, State's Attorney, Public Defender, Judicial Advisory
Council and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
The 2006 budget provides almost $830 million for the Bureau of Health, which
funds Stroger, Oak Forest and Provident Hospital operating costs, the Department
of Public Health, CORE and 28 ambulatory clinics.
"Prescriptions are probably the fastest increasing healthcare service we
provide. In 2003 we filled 2.2 million prescriptions. In 2005 we filled nearly
3.8 million," Stroger said.
###
Thursday, December 29, 2005
A Blog of Usefulness: CD Review
Merry Christmas. My kids are at their Dad's house visiting with him and Grammy and Stepma and the rest of the family so I got a bit of free time.
I want to see Jamie Foxx (nee mr bishop), sing live on the circuit of small clubs and then record or produce the best live tour of small venues.
I bought his CD "Unpredictable"--which is also a DVD--for myself for Christmas.
He has a smooth-as-silk voice that is out of this world. I just love the way he talks to his audience. I already liked him as a sitcom and film actor but damn--the man is cut! I feel like a little girl reading "Right On!" all over again (Remember Prince's poster in the 1999 album?)
No longer do I long for Jodeci or The Ton-i-e-y's because now I have Jamie/Eric and damn, is it good. He is sooo good.
His body is bangin (watch out 50) and his voice is sooo smooth.
He is my rhythm & Blues singer for the new millennium.
And we always knew he could sing but dang it--it wasn't until this CD that we got to hear at least some of his range and breadth. We all waited for this one!
As my Christmas dinner cooks (it smells heavenly) I sit and watch the DVD and listen to the harmonies that are The Foxx.
"Love Changes," is the classic remix that should hit the airwaves next. Who can beat Mary and Jamie's voices together?? He should also check out a duet with Sylena Johnson. Any cut they made together would be tight. They could release it as a street single.
But I want to hear all of Jamie without outside influences. I want him to put all of his original songs and arrangements on tracks. I want HIM in the RAW.
Just him. I know he can do it but there is something or someone holding him back.
"Unpredictable"--do something you've never done before.
What else can be said?
I thought he and Ye (Kanye West) sat down and collaborated on that song and added Luda. It wasn't until I heard him unplugged on the DVD side of the CD that I understood his genius.
"Warm Bed" is another one that I like--except the brief intro (might keep it off of the radio with the name chanting and all) but it makes good driving/bouncing music. He speaks to a time where I thought I was the center of the universe. It takes me back and I love it. I love the beats.
It is nice to listen to and you can do a little dance to it.
He even have a sorta-steppin' cut on there with "VIP"-- a little Cha Cha and all-- and you know that steppin' is important to the Chicago area listeners.
"'Cause everybody in my party is VIP. Won't you come and step with me?"
Everybody in my party is VIP-- ain't he the nicest man you've listened to lately?
I'm steppin' to "VIP" right now!
(i've been drinkin' apple vodka mixed with the twisted apple so 'scuse me. By the way alcohol and a hot ass oven don't mix!)
I'm taking this up to the Cave and the Three Gs. I gotta get my step on!
My man/bf/ xbf just walked in the door. I called frantic this morning because I forgot to layer the lasagna and couldn't tell if the ham was done. We stepped to "VIP" right quick when he walked through the door. Remember the apple vodka?
Note: The CD/DVD is a great idea but sometimes it doesn't like to play on first try unless you keep it in the same machine, ie dvd player or cd player. I moved mine around with me and it became temperamental.
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