Happy Birthday Jimi

James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970)

SKA 4U (#1) - Skallipygians

What makes a bunch of people get up and shake that laptop out of our pants?

What brings people together in a state of blissful melodies and upbeat attitudes?

What is gonna allow us to feel the new change that we all just voted for?

Well...money CAN be the answer, or even getting together with that special someone that you've been thinking about for so long. Or a brand new Prius. But, I'm not talking about money or economically rendered vehicles at the moment.

 I'm talking about SKA music.

Yes, SKA. 

 One of the only musical genres left that hasn't been exploited by the success of itself. The kind of music that was created from the release of colonial oppression. 

Yes, SKA music.

 Back in Jamaica after the British went home, leaving the Jamaican community with a bunch of Rum, weed, freedom and a reason to celebrate, SKA music was invented with a sole purpose. Something fun to do while forgetting about the trials and tribulations that had just been happening for years and years. 

 And now that America has had its 8 years of ridiculous political strife to look back upon, we need something new and festive to celebrate with. I mean I could take the time and go back to school for a degree, or something. But that doesn't sound like fun to me. Then I thought to myself...self?.....yes?....What about SKA music?

Perfect. Because people come to ska shows to dance and reshape their chair dented buttocks into more of a rounder and fuller heart shaped box. You could say that we are SKAllipygians.

Either way, I must say that skallipygians are, indeed, the antithesis of secretary spread.And that is always a good thing.

Here are a few quotes from people who have danced the ska:

" Wow! That was hella fun..."- stoned college girl at the Bottom of the hill.

" I didn't know that I could do that with my butt!! Are you guys playing again soon? "- (Same girl)

" We had soooo much fun! "- Joe P.

" I think I don't need to go to Yoga class in the morning...THAT was a sweat session! "- Drunk college girl at the Rickshaw Stop.

" Check that girl out, dude! Wow...her skirt is SAYING something..." - Drunk dude at the Ashkenaz.

Just a few quotes from a few shows. So, if you are curious about ska, I have a place you can go for some answers.

      SKA4U 

(Not just some fancy headline for a blog.)

A colleague of mine and I decided that this website should be published for the benefit of all who like to dance, drink, smile and look at really attractive people in suedo fancy clothing, while listening to some really good tunes. 

2009 is SKANKIN' TIME!!!

your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

Obama gifts #2 - English as a first language

Hello. How are you?

Today we will practice complete sentences. Ready?

Begin.

See Obama. See Obama speak. Speak Obama speak.

Yay! Wasn't that fun?

What did we learn from this? I think we have just learned how to take our time adjusting to the way English was meant to be comprehended. It may take a few of us longer.

Do realize that we have been quite used to this version :

(Top 10 G W Bush quotes I found on line)

1. We need an energy bill that is going to encourage consumption.
2.  When Iraq is liberated, you will be treated, tried, and persecuted as a war criminal.
3. Sometimes, Washington is one of these towns where the person( pause )...people who think    they've got the sharp elbow is the most effective person.
4. I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here.
5.  I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right.
6.  For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it.
7. It's very important for folks to understand that when there's more trade, there's more commerce.
8.  You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.
9.  Redefining the role of the United States from enablers to keep the peace to enablers to keep      the peace from peacekeepers is going to be an assignment.
10. Natural gas is hemispheric. I like to call it hemispheric in nature because it is a product that      we can find in our neighborhoods.

So get out your i phones and spell checks and take some notes when you can; don't feel frustrated when you use a semi colon in the wrong place. Practice deep breathing to deal with the people who prefer the way GW speaks to us.

And now... some Louis C. K. for your face...

Your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

Ska4U 2009

www.ska4u.com

If it's SKA then it's 4U!

2009 is SKANKIN' TIME!!

What is ska? Where did it come from?

How do I dance to ska music?

www.ska4u.com can tell you.

Obama gifts#1 - i phone technology horizon

(sigh)

Now that we have a leader elected, it's time to geek out on some high tech shit. Right? No more lookin' over your shoulder anymore. No more extra worry time spent on what the hell the prez is gonna say or do. In fact I could say that ALL you people who have gone to college, or are still enrolled, you can relax and let a "teacher" do his job, finally. 

Ya see... 

 I felt for the last 8 years that I just didn't have the correct mindset to enjoy the wonderful toys we have created, so far. New cel phones, cars that drive under water, new computers IN the phones. This photo was taken with my cheap ZTE Metro Pcs phone. An i phone would be awesome! But not in the last 8 years, man. I Couldn't take my worried eyes off the horizon. Not with what's-his-name at the helm of American reality. 

 But now that my mind, heart and spirit are a little more relaxed, I can get my shit together and go buy an i phone, eventually. Then I can download the " common sense " apps that I have not been able to find during the last 8 years of the republican administration. Have you ever tried to put together a model plane? What if you had no glue? I'm saying that the country had no common sense to hold us together.

 It's all new to me, but it's also familiar. Listening to Obama speak reminds me of the people I grew up with. That's why I believe this change. It was how I was trying to live my life all along. And all I had to do was make a line with a bic pen. What a difference, now! It's so much better than translating the mangled english language speeches that what's-his-name was famous for. I mean, what was I getting used to? How much thinking time did I spend trying to make sense of garbled verbatim? Every time he spoke , I cringed.  How many families are still walking around with food on their heads?!

(again sigh)

 Hey...how many women are smiling because they simply understand the words that are coming out of Obama's mouth? Well...we have about 4 years to count these precious smiles.

listen to this song again, I have posted it before, but it has a newer fresh ring to it now

-play song-

your friendly neighborhood

Uncle Samurai

The way of the fist

I just snatched the pebble from your hand...

Caribbean All Stars

What's up yo? How is the first week of Obama treatin' ya? I mean as the prez-elect? It's amazing eh? Well...history is amazing. 

 For instance...this man in the pic holding the coffee cup is part of an amazing history. That's Michael George! I took that pic today with my new phone!  He is the founding member of a reggae band called The Caribbean All Stars. Back when reggae in the U.S.A. was only a Bob Marley song or two, this group was already in babylon touring.  And I don't mean the kind of touring where you have to keep an eye on the GPS screen. I don't mean the kind of touring where you have to tell your band mates to share the x box on the bus, or shush cel phone users while you're trying to get some hangover sleep.

I mean the kind of touring where you had to rely on people for information. If your bus broke down, you were depending on the mechanic skills of the driver to get you to your next gig. Even if the band has to hitch hike into town without the bus and equipment. Reliability is the essence of the crew you hire when your bus and equipment arrive on time, with the driver covered in grease while he loads the gear out and onto the stage. Michael George was the kind of man to hire such a driver. Whatever they did, it was back in the day when you had to use rotary phones, pay phones and there was no internet. It wasn't that long ago either. Technology has aged our world faster than we think. Because no matter what high tech gadgets are available, it's usually the reggae music that is always going to contest the rat race. Michael George did all of this with charisma, grace, talent and the ability to make the right and wrong sacrifices so that...the music could be heard...the sweet reggae music that is. 

 That's him holding the bass down there on the far left in the yellow hat.

Have a great day.

 

-Caribbean All Stars Website-

U

your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

For those of you who rock #1

I salute anybody that rocks. Yes, I listen to AC DC and yes they rock, but I'm not talking about them specifically, today...
Nope.
It's time for cheesy blog shout outs.
Yup. I just sit here on my lazy Black and Japanese ass and find shit on line. Or even better...I wait for someone to send me new stuff. I'm not a REAL journalist or anything close. They should get the credit for leaving the house to find stories, not me. I am a musician. I write and play music.At home. THEN I leave the house and go on stage, jump around like a monkey man and turn girls on as they grow into women. Which makes women confused when they start to like me. Which makes me confused because my work is self centered and they are so pretty and soft. And I'm....off track. Pardon me. Where was I? Oh yeah, modern living and stuff, journalists that go find stories...and the bloggers. Lazy lazy bloggers.
(sigh)
But we are in a brand new era of rely-on-my-computer-chip-instead-of-my-body-or-brains type of world... when in Rome...

BUT...

This dude left the house for three years.
Lived in Africa to collect Records. He is simply a DJ.
RESPECT! Lordamersayyy...
check his site out.
http://voodoofunk.blogspot.com

your friendly cyberhood
Uncle Samurai

I saw the legendary Bill Cosby last night...

I went and saw Bill Cosby last night at the Lincoln theatre in Napa. Tickets were a treat by a woman/friend/lover. I was honored to be there...we laughed so hard I think there was dribble...

The first thing that Mr. Cosby talked about was the fact that people in the illustrious, wealthy Napa Wine Valley should remember that water shortage in California should not be a mystery. In fact Mr. Cosby reminded us all that...

Well...here is my version of his comedy
in a blog...

... a long time ago, somewhere in Spain there were a few Europeans who were in search of herbs and spices. They decided to go to India. The queen sent them off to find India. They did not find it. No. They were pretty far off, actually. Where they ended up was...here. Can you imagine being here when they got here? A bunch of lost sea travelers in search of some place. Calling the people Indians because they thought they were in India. They were just lost European Spaniards, is all. In search of herbs and spices. Well..a few things got sorted...a few things did not. And now here we are today. Quite a few Europeans have come over since 1492. Moving into places all over the continent; subsequently named America to avoid any further embarrassment. The natives, who were once falsely named Indians, had been here for so long that they new where to live and where not to, according to the climate and the change of the seasons. Did the Europeans listen to the natives? No. The natives in California told them not to move into the canyons. Did the Europeans listen? No. They moved right on in and the first thing they did, actually, was move...right into the fire ridden ,windy, lightening rod inhabited canyons. Before the Europeans lived here, you have to imagine a place where the balance was suitable for the amount of people who were already here. The natives didn't really tax the environment that much ya know.Back then there was enough water to go around...for the people...

Bill Cosby always redeems himself in my eyes no matter what the media tries to say about him. He is like the Lao Tzu of African American comedy to me.
He ended the night with the legendary dentist skit.

Upgrade and applications?

So...
I've been thinking about this new presidential thing for a few days now. You know what it reminds me of? Do you remember the commodore 64? It was the first real computer I had as a kid. It was really slow and it required the basic computer skills needed to operate.
Well, that's kind of how I see us now.
We just upgraded. And instead of going with the usual aesthetics and looks, it's kind of like the new i phone or something, right? Now most i phones I see out there have this certain design. Sleek, black and really user friendly. The only real set back for me is...well...I haven't opened up the new applications yet.
Here is what I mean:

1-Old computer( or Administration ) - Takes a long time to download information.
New Upgrade - Easy to comprehend right away if you have the new application file in your head.

2-O.C. - Have to protest in order to make a point about basic stuff; like human
rights;work;happiness;marriage...
N.U. - We haven't opened up the apps for this yet. We may just simply need to 'ask' for stuff.

3-O.C. - Redundant eggshell white design. Boring and dull.
N.U. - New light skinned hybrid template that is actually both original AND new. Get this App!

4-O.C. - Faulty voice application that requires extra download time and unnecessary thinking
and compensating.
N.U. - Familiar sounding to just about anybody with or without new apps.

5-O.C. - Doesn't really know too much about the laws of our constitution.
N.U. - Taught Constitutional law. Really expensive application, but once you have it, it's
pretty awesome.

6-O.C. - Represents a vision of one sidedness, slow downloads and a messy cache.
N.U. - Has been multi tasking for years AS a hybrid model. Which means having a trained perspective that is current with America's multi based variety.
i.e Republicans AND Democrats, Blacks and Whites, Mexican AND Chinese, Gays AND Straights,etc....

7-O.C. - Creates a limited world of links for the user.
N.U. - Has opened up just about ALL the links in the world. You can travel to some of
your favorite places again WITHOUT using a CANADIEN wallet to hide your U.S. pass port!


Now...that is just what I came up with so far.
Like I said, I haven't even opened up ALL the apps yet for this new Upgrade.
But as a person who is also a hybrid like the new Upgrade, I am beginning to understand how it's going to be. Just ask someone like...I dunno... Tiger Woods. He and I understand what kind of perspective the New Upgraded Administration is going to have.
Go ahead...ask us some questions...it's a brand new era.

your friendly cyberhood and upgraded
Uncle Samurai

And it's 1,2,3 what did we just vote for?

Day 1-The flag has been waved. The race is over. Obama won, yet the celebratory factor is Unity. Slavery is a chapter in the history books that we feel is finally closed.  I walk down the street now and everyone is smiling. At me. Like they never have. Everyone is smiling at everyone in a state of enchanted disbelief. I'm gonna take the whole day and feel like this.

Day 2-I had to ask my friend of he new of any teachers that taught happiness. I just don't know how much of a rookie I am at it, ya know? I have hugged SO MANY beautiful women. I don't remember if I even knew them before November 5th. But I know them now as they walk by and say hello with a smile. That is all I ever wanted in the general public. I'd like to get used to it.

Day 3-So it's the 3rd day and I'm starting to feel the extra happinesss dissolve into general happiness. Which is being tested by the protests of prop 8 passing in California, where I live.

It's true that I voted AGAINST prop 8. It's true that I believed it was gonna get revoked. I walked by the gay people with signs on the morning of the election saying out loud," I think it's in the bag, y'all...get ready to party tomorrow! " Then on the next day I hear on the news that they are in the streets protesting. My gay friend said that she was SO SADDENED by the results that she didn't feel like celebrating. Plus, 7 out of 10 black people voted for prop 8 in California. So I'm wondering if she hates me now, even though I voted against prop 8. The happiness is slowly turning to normal mood level. Because now I wonder how many folks out there who were just SO ELATED about OUR victory are looking at me like I was the sole reason prop 8 didn't get kicked to the curb like it was SUPPOSED to. And if gays are angry with black people now, I wonder if that's a reason for right wing conservatives to celebrate. As if they just added a new group to be upset with black people. Oh man...I was really hoping for 3 days of bliss. Luckily....Bill Cosby is playing tomorrow night! I should go see him. He will know what to say to all of this I'm thinking...

I know...a song 

I'll listen to this song.

Your friendly cyberhood

Uncle Samurai

A brand new world...

Ok...now that the whole world is different, I'd like to start fresh by saying that ALL those anti republican statements that I made in the last year or so are now irrelevant. And that I was really impressed by McCains speech.

And I look forward to some better Oakland Raiders football...
:)
USA!

your friendly cyberhood
Uncle Samurai