Most Played in 2012

This is one of my favorite posts to put together. I love seeing what others listened to the most over the year. What about you? What did you listen to the most in 2012?

Gal A Bubble [Konshens] - KevFrumBK
Pure Imagination [Glee version] - MissDTM
Call Me Maybe [Carly Rae Jepsen] - runbprun
Caliban's Dream [Underworld] - johntyodonty
Butterflies [Michael Jackson] - pemora
Even Shadows Have Shadows [Eyedea] - BB
Cherry Wine [Nas f. Amy Winehouse] - jayare20k
La Cura [Frankie Ruiz] - Paj1
Daughters [Nas] - RB
Make it Bun Dem [Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley + Skrillex] - AG_III
Only Wanna Give It To You [J. Cole + Elle Varner] - IMTHATDUDE

DJANGO UNCHAINED [review]...by jayare20k

I just returned from seeing the latest Quentin Tarantino flick, "Django Unchained" and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it.  The movie is both ambitious and lackadaisical... but very Tarantino.  In my opinion the most compelling part of Django is the purpose of the movie itself.

Now... no one will ever confuse Django with the best work QT has on his resume.  Personally, I am a Stan for Reservoir Dogs, the screenplay for True Romance, and the finger chopping vignette from 4 Rooms.  Many people become moony eyed recalling their favorite scenes from Pulp Fiction... but those people are wrong, and should shut their stupid face.  Pulp Fiction was overrated.  There, I said it.

Spoiler time.

Django Unchained is a heartwarming revenge film about a freed slave and a bounty hunter (Jamie Foxx and Christoph Waltz ) on a mission to rescue the wife of the former from bondage.  Along the way we get to see Jonah Hill and Samuel L. Jackson explode, as well as Don Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio get shot.  If you've ever sat through all eleven hours of Titanic then you will enjoy that scene terribly.

If my analysis of Django is coming off as glib, please know that this is intentional.  I’m only aping the undertone of whimsy I detected in Tarantino's examination of slavery in 19th century America.  I expect that a lot of the racial animus being spewed at Tarantino (I see you, Spike Lee) surrounds his handling of slave rapes, beatings, and mutilations.  Or maybe it’s the old trope of a white man acting as a catalyst for the black man's salvation that has people fired up.  Perhaps it’s the liberal use of the n-bomb in this film (waaaay too many times to count).  Despite those reasonable qualms, I think the problem with this movie lies someplace else.

In an opinion voiced by a homie on twitter (shout out to @metroadlib), the problem with Django Unchained is that the subject of slavery is handled with a light touch.  The wacky Klansmen, the valet costume, and the bizarre appearance of a Rick Ross verse all play very comically in a film that seems like it should be serious.  Slavery is America’s "original sin," and it’s the second most malignant tumor in our collective history (if you need to ask which ranks #1, a pox on your house).  This topic shouldn't be taken lightly in ANY WAY.  Or should it... ?

I think Django Unchained should be viewed as an analysis of a privileged, white male in America facing his own sense of race.  Quentin Tarantino is coming to terms with his prejudices, and doing so very publicly.

Speaking as a member of "the other," isn't the dominant culture dealing with its own misdeeds something we want them to be doing?  That you or I don't particularly like how QT is battling those demons isn't really the issue.  It was our ancestor's skin, but those are HIS demons.

I believe we should want the dominant culture to be meta-cognitive.   We should want them to look at themselves and own their past.  If the only way one can cope with the awful things that constitute your reality is to make light of them... then fine.  Make light.  That’s what our imaginations are there for.  According to John Guarre and, oddly enough, Will Smith it’s the examination facilitated by imagination that counts.  Self-analysis calls for counter argument.  It calls for course correction.  It calls for thoughtful expressions of praise or indignation.

I’m no film student, but isn't provoking thought the point of art?  If so, then I believe "Django Unchained" accomplished the goal of its controversial creator.  The film itself is mediocre, but the conversation it can spawn has meaning.

______________________

In order to protect his prospects for employment jayare20k's old blog has been taken down.  To follow his "safe for work" adventures in 2013 visit the blog OCCUPIED TERRITORY.

Merry Christmas To You!

Mimi + The Roots + Fallon + Cute kids = Merry Christmas, yo!

Still Hard to Talk About...by pemora

It is still hard to talk about what happened in Newtown.

When I was finally able to peel myself away from my work computer on Friday, I picked up my 5yo son from his after-school program and took him to a holiday party. We parked across the street from the house and waited hand-in-hand to cross. I watched the cars drive past us, my mind still in a bit of a fog about the events of the day.

"Mommy, we have to look both ways before crossing the street because we can't get hit by a car. Don't worry, I'll protect you"

He pronounced it 'protet' because of his lisp.

I'll protect you, he said to his mom.

This is just hard.

Note: We are wearing green and white on Monday, Dec. 17th in solidarity with #newtown

#shopsmall (6)

Okay, I need to start buying things for OTHERS. But it is so hard...putting a shopaholic in charge of buying gifts for others. I feel like I need a support group or something. An intervention of sorts. But after the holidays.

See the picks for part six. Be warned: this has the MOST picks I have compiled thus far. And check out parts one, two, three, four and five. As always drop us a line here or on twitter if you have suggestions for other local and small businesses.

Happy Small Shopping!

The Grey Album (remastered)

When it dropped, I used to play The Grey Album so much that I believed I came up with the idea. That happens. I haven't listened to this remastered version yet but did download it first thing this morning. You can get yours here. Merry Early Hanukkah/Christmas/Kwanzaa/Three Kings Day.

Shout to Slate for posting about this originally.

#shopsmall (5)

If you have already finished your winter holiday shopping, who are you? If you are anything like me, you are nowhere near being done and you have probably bought yourself a thing or 2. Imjustsayin.

Go to posts one, two, three and four. More pics after the jump.

#shopsmall (4)

I changed the title/hashtag to #shopsmall because we need to support local and small businesses every day. How are the local businesses doing in your hood? Have you visited your local bookstore (not Barnes + Noble) or coffee shop (not Starbucks) recently? I bet both places have awesome gift ideas.

Some more picks after the jump. Check out parts one, two and three of the Shop Small Series.

#smallbusinesssaturday (3)

Today is the day! Today is the day to shop small, shop local, shop neighborhood, shop to support business owners!

I will continue to post picks from small businesses, so if you know of any that you would like to help promote, drop us a line.

Picks for part 3 after the jump. Go to part 2 and part 1 for other ideas.

#smallbusinesssaturday (2)

Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving festivities yesterday. Mine ended with a glass of coquito as my dessert, so I would say it was all good. Yes, very much all good.

In an effort to burn off some of these calories, I am going to exercise my fingers and do some Small Business Shopping! Make sure to support small and local businesses this holiday season. Besides being good for the soul, small businesses tend to have kick-ass items. Imjustsayin.

Part 2 of my picks after the jump. For Part 1, go here

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

Amen, Kim! via RealityTVGIFs

Everyone is doing this on the internets, so I figure I should follow suit. This year, I am grateful for the following:

*4 more years of Barry
*a job that pays the bills
*2 healthy mini-versions of Paj1 and me
*family and friends that crack me up and deal with my craziness, especially missDTM
*120 chardonnay (the cheapest and best wine you will ever have. Seriously, it is $6.99 a bottle!)

Happy Thanksgiving to all of YOU! If you have ever read a post on UR, commented, interacted with me (pemora) on twitter, followed us on FB, or just quietly stalked from afar, thank you for your support. 

What are you thankful for today?

This has nothing to do with Thanksgiving. It's just pretty darn fabulous. Via RealityTVGIFs

#smallbusinesssaturday

Last year, I was a huge proponent for the Occupy Black Friday Movement. So much so that I wrote about it here and here and here.

I am still a huge fan but I agree that folks need to take a break, chill with the family and eat/drink a bit more on Friday. Therefore, I am in full support of Small Business Saturday!

Some of my picks for #smallbusinesssaturday after the jump

Obama for Your Mama

via RealityTVGIFS

Hurricane Sandy Relief

For tips on how to help out post-Hurricane Sandy, go to Refinery29. Read through to the end, including comments. 

November Health Challenge [heyfranhey]

Ohhhhh, heyfranhey's October Health Challenge kicked my booty. Two days in and those planks were making me cry. And then I got hit with a stomach flu and excuse excuse blah blah. Anyway, heyfranhey has posted her newest Health Challenge. I don't own a jump rope, so I will either go through the motions or do jumping jacks. Anything to stay active, right?

Are you in?

The City and The Storm [NY Mag]

GIFs That Entertain Me....by pemora

I am still not able to fully process post-Sandy stuff. In an effort to not mug my bank account by online shopping, I decided to post the GIFs that entertain me the most. I hope you will enjoy.

via RealityTVGIFS

More after the jump

Best Bag Ever....by pemora

When things get really stressful, I do two things -- I watch the news nonstop and I online shop. My husband hates that I do both but it is who I am. It is what I do.

So, in an effort to not think about the things that are REALLY stressing me about Hurricane Sandy, I wanted to share a recent purchase. This purchase will forever be known as the Best Bag Ever.* The camo is a lot darker than this pic but that just makes for this cool subtle affect. And because this is from the dudes' section, it is super roomy with a lot of pockets. I am in love.

Get yours at the Gap.

*well, until I buy another bag. Than THAT ONE will be the Best Bag Ever.

People are not Illegal...by pemora

Whenever I hear/read something about 'illegal aliens', I cringe. While the term has always felt archaic to me, it was more that I could not understand how a person can be against the law. For me, the law is always about actions. We are certainly punished when we act against the law. But I could not see how my body can be illegal. So, whenever I hear someone use the term 'illegal alien', I quickly state 'undocumented citizen' or 'they are here illegally'.

I LOVE this pic of Sergio Romo, from the SF Giants. (I think they just won a World Series or something...I tuned out the whole thing after the Yankees just gave up and stopped playing) To read more about Romo, go here

Ne-Yo feat Fab + Diddy/Should Be You

I cannot pinpoint when I became a Ne-Yo fan but I am thoroughly convinced. The man can sing anything.

What do you think of this latest song he dropped?

Fresh Prince Rapping

At my next birthday party, I'm inviting 3 people -- Will Smith, Doug E. Fresh and dude with the sock monkey hoodie.

Same Love/Macklemore [video]

A friend put me on to Macklemore a while ago but I only recently got around to listening to him. I need to listen to his album The Heist a couple of more times but I'm digging this song and its accompanying video. I totally should have posted this on Thursday for National Coming Out Day but alas....life gets in the way.

Also, fashion bloggers who are obsessed with Thrift Shop...you know he's totally making fun of you, right? Okay, just checking.

brilliant....by missDTM

brilliant

in one of my classes this week, we were asked to write about our favorite k-12th grade teacher. 

my mind went blank, before briefly thinking about a college professor that i really loved. i then remembered that the TA asked us to write about a teacher during our k-12th grade years. so i thought about my public school teachers but i couldn't really think about the specifics she was asking us to describe so that seemed like a bust. middle school was ok, but my feeling of being unsuccessful in school doesn't bring up warm and friendly memories of teachers. i was all over the place in high school...but then it hit me.

 

 

To read more, go to missDTM's blog here

Health Challenge....by pemora

Paj1, missDTM and I are going to participate in heyfranhey's Plank & Green October Challenge. I'm actually scared about the smoothie part of this challenge. I definitely do not eat healthy, so this will be difficult. A challenge, if you will.

Anyone else down?