More Video from Teese

SYGU PRESENTS: TEESE 2010 from Corey Black on Vimeo.

Job Well Done

I haven't posted in a minute (I know - I am sorry). But I've been really busy lately. But last night? Last night - it all came together. Although I hesitate to ever call anything a perfect storm - last night was a really good one. You all know I throw events with my crew SYGU. We've had a notable event called Teese (as in graphic t-shirts) since 2007. This is our 5th time doing it in 4 years - and to say its grown successfully is an understatement. Its one thing to build a brand - but to continue to grow it -that's something else.

Lately, I spent a lot of time wondering why we don't get the accolades we deserve all the time - awards, sponsorships, media coverage. But then I began to understand that what makes us so good at what we do is that we don't wait for those accolades to come along and propel us or define us. We do what we do - and people appreciate it. I think about all the people that stop me in my party to say that are having a great time - or celebrating another success with my SYGU brethren -and really - that's all the thanks I need. I remember now - to quote a Drake lyric - we are "into making history, not into making friends". We may have spent a tad too much time on the latter. Guess what's not going to happen anymore. Ahem.

But - anyway. I wanted to show you what is was like to be there last night in this great moment. We packing out concert venues now...no time to turn back.. time to get bigger and better.

And a little yard work too..

Added a walkway and cleaned up those bricks in the back. Flowers on the way. Our place is really coming together.

Mothers Day Brunch @ The Holmans

I love getting chances to host our family in our home. Now if I could just get my Dad to visit for more than 48 hours..lol. I figure I'd throw him a cuisine hint.

But this time the Mrs. Outdid herself. And I really appreciate it! Shrimp and grits..that's all I'm saying people. My wife does her thing in the kitchen!

Random Thoughts

I gotta admit lately I've been feeling like its the last days. All these earthquakes, a volcano eruption. I mean I can't recall a time in my life (30+ years) that there has been this much geo-activity. I'm just saying.

It befuddles me that people STILL haven't noticed that Republicans only agenda is to block/stop/delay anything that the Obama administration is trying to get done. Like ANYTHING. The White House can be like -" we've found the cure for cancer" - and some of these GOP /Tea Party idiots would be like "give me my cancer or give me death!" - "Cancer vaccines?!!? Its Socialism!" - "Cure Cancer? Its too much change too fast" (I never really understood why you have to move slowly to fix a problem. I know that's how I want my problems taken care of - fast.).

The only place they really have me morally divided is on immigration. I kinda feel them on that one. Its pretty black and white to me (or brown and white to them). If you are here and you aren't supposed to be--you gotta go. I don't really like these retro-active laws because they are a slippery slope to discrimination and profiling on a level not seen since colonial-era witch hunts. But I do believe something has to be done. Personally I would have focused my attention and resources to preventing people from crossing the border and documenting everybody going in or out of the country. I just think that is more of a fair process. The current process is like "indian giving" (excuse the ignorant term but I'm trying to make a point) - to give people something (false peace of mind and time to develop roots here -because its cheaper not to enforce the law) - and then snatch it back when you feel the time is right. Fix the problem on the front end.

My wife and I are nearing the completion of our first year of marriage (April 25th - gifts welcome- thanks)- man that went by fast. But at the same time the wedding seems like such a long time ago for me. Its weird. Buts its been a good year. Some forward progress made. So that's always good. What made me think of that is I saw that on ABC News Tonight - they are supposed to have some forum on "why successful black women can't find a man (particularly a successful black male one)". You'll have to excuse me but I think this topic is getting a bit worn. I would have thought by now with all the research, panel discussions, books, and Tyler Perry movies it would be evident that this is not TRULY a problem. Its an obstacle. Not a mission impossible. What frustrates me is that I see a whole industry designed around fostering this belief. I watched shows like "What Chili Want's" and "NBA Wives" and just about anything else on TV - and when it comes to the sisters - its about fighting over, competing for, settling for, or hopelessly searching for a man (and whack ones at that). I would shrug it off as entertainment-but then I start seeing these wannabes in the street and it makes me even MORE happy that I'm married (love ya baby). Its time to tune out the TV and turn up the conversation. Really get to knowing each other as people and letting that be your guide. Because I can assure you Tiny and Toya are not gonna get you down the aisle.

My online fam. I've had a few discussions as of late about Twitter and Facebook and their place in the world. Especially with respect to family business and personal information or whereabouts. I kinda have two thoughts about this. Yes you should protect your privacy -as much as you feel comfortable with. If you don't feel comfortable twit-pic-ing your tour around Egypt. Do you. But this is a very different world we live in. If your taking a week long vacation - you can't just set the timer on the lights anymore. Once you tell anybody that you are going out of town -its not just whether or not YOU post something but you gotta worry about whomever else has access to your page, wall, etc...So look if you don't want somebody to know something. Don't say a word about it. Don't blame it on Facebook or twitter. I'm closer to an open book. I'm not stupid -but I just don't feel I should have to live in fear at home or abroad or on my facebook page. You only have a certain amount of control of anything in this world. Everything else you buy insurance for. Stop worrying so much - if you don't the terrorist win (I just felt like saying that there).

With that being said...

RIP M.L.

Enough is Enough Republicans or whatever your calling yourselves these days

I posted the response below on CNN.com to an article about White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers stepping down. The comments section on the article had a number of darts being thrown at the President himself and it just sparked a flame in me. I'm tired of these people

I am so sick of all these Right-Wing, Conservative-Crazy, GOP, Tea-bagger or whatever other name this month you can come up with -HATING on the President and his agenda. WHERE IS YOUR PLAN!?.. I'm not calling you racist. I'm asking you WHERE IS YOUR PLAN? Should there be a LOYAL OPPOSITION? YES - BUT WHERE IS YOUR PLAN!!!?????!?!

You jump off a cliff with "Oh he said unemployment wouldn't go above 8% now its at 10%". Of course it went up - you all been throwing acid in the mix since day one - slowing down EVERYTHING He's trying to do to help!

But where is your plan? Everything is typical "PARTY OF NO" or "PARTY OF SLOW". I haven't seen any one plan on the part of the Republicans or Conservatives in general to fix any of the problems the country is facing. 90% of anything coming out there mouths is about what's wrong with what the Pres. Obama is doing - not about the GREAT ALTERNATIVE PLAN that they have. Because they don't have one. Never have - and probably won't ever have one. Because they don't spend ANY time on it. They would rather go on a witch hunt for every Democrat, White House Staffer, etc. , etc. etc. (like this poor lady) in an attempt to embarrass this President and his administration. Or go on TV and twist the specifics or flat out LIE about legislation like Health Care Reform.

Sponsoring a bill and then voting against it? Since when does that make sense. Maybe Republicans are more like Toyota staffer -"uh I'll build the car - but there's no way you'll get me to drive it". That's sounds like a A+ plan (not).

You all just need face the truth - your true desire and efforts are for this administration and this President to fail -and that doesn't make you PATRIOTS it makes you cowardly Sabotage artist afraid of change.

My Solution for Broken Government...

First off - let me apologize for not posting more often. I've been really busy in general and some things came up here and there that demanded my attention. Moving right along.

So I've been giving some side-eye attention to the latest CNN news series on "Broken Government". The stories basically are trying to dig into why the political process takes so long in most cases and is completely stagnant in a lot of others. It also explores the lack of trust we as citizens have in our political leaders (something that actually not a new trend by any means).

On both questions I'd have to say that I fit exactly what they are describing. It is beyond me how people who profess to be leaders can't seem to compromise on ANYTHING in order to get SOMETHING done. Officials are so busy focusing how to keep their job they've forgotten to DO their job (which really isn't a "job" its an honor and privilege something I think they've forgotten). Its not all their fault - we are just as much to blame. How? I'm glad you asked because I've been dying to say this - BECAUSE WE ELECT THE SAME LAME BRAIN, PLAIN JANE, INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE, -whack jobs into office over and over again.

These people are more interested in the sound of their voice, and position in the party than the promises that we expect them to keep. When they don't get anything done -we listen to some 20 second ad saying how they "stood up to big government" and "fought to lower your taxes" sponsored by "Thisisntreallyfromourelectioncampaignfundseventhoughitis.com". And its all BS but we believe it anyway...or even worse we don't believe it and then we DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT (i.e. - putting them right back on the bench come next election). It is my sincere belief that if the standard for staying in Washington D.C. was actually GETTING SOMETHING DONE (that can be verified without question) then we'd have leaders more focused on spending time on task and less time on TV.

As citizens we have the most important weapon for control of government - our vote. But its power has been skillfully reduced by adding RIDICULOUS amounts of inefficiency to the political process. So much in fact that most citizens have lost their faith that their vote has any effect at all. This is sad. To make matters worse - we only exercise our political strength at times when a certain level of vanity is involved. I love President Obama but I am not a fool. I know that a lot of people voted for him AND the HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE of a first black President. I could tell because of how proud we were as a country that this "threshold" of sorts had been cost. "Look at us world -we are now a "post-racial society! - and if you believe that we'll sell add on a super safe TOYOTA too!". Don't get me wrong - I think we as a country made the right decision for the right reasons. I just think that we started feeling ourselves a little too much for the wrong reasons. Too many people adopted this "the battle is over -we HAVE overcome" attitude. Hogwash I say. The good thing is that I hope people remember how good it felt in that moment. To win one - by a couple of touchdowns too. With a team of all kinds of people. But I fear its more like the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series and then all the major players being traded immediately after (how you gon' break up the Temptations people!??!!??). You get the win and then everyone loses the spirit and spend the next four years in a "rebuilding" phase. Wackness.

Look I see this whole process as a cancer that we are trying to fix with Chemotherapy. And its only making us more sick. I say remove the tumor as a whole and give us the power back to choose for ourselves!

Here is what I propose. Instead of wasting time putting trying to pass bills through Congressional votes - put them back regular quarterly ballots for a popular vote (enough with this electoral college BS). Its too much to have the bills come up at random all the time -that would be hard to organize. But we would have a major popular vote every 3 months. The only thing that Congress would do is to serve as a filter of sorts to keep the legislation effective overall and helping craft the laws. During the vote the people could vote to accept a bill as law with a yes vote or reject it with a no vote. If they agree only partially with the bill then they can vote on any proposed amendments that have been presented on the legislation. Majority wins.

Look if American Idol can do this - we should be able to as well. I refuse to even entertain any notion that it can't be done (as a matter of fact that's the same reason I'm proposing this at all). Its a simple solution to a huge problem. But isn't that what we all want? A less complicated process. Something that works? That we have a fair, loud, and effective say in? I think this can work I really do.

But then again what do I know? I'm just a citizen.