a subset of derek

I have been trying to watch some World Cup action and I have, now that the US is out, have enjoyed it. Unfortunately, Ghana lost the defending champ, Brazil, 3 – 0 today in the round of 16. I have been pulling for Ghana since they beat the Czech Republic and I rooted strongly for them against the United States ( Bruce Arena is a horrible sport and should be relieved of his duties. Come on, 1 goal?!? The Italians shot just as many balls in the US goal as the US did in 3 games?!?! Fifth best in the world? I don’t see it…).

According to this article, the strong performance of Angola (who got 2 ties) and Ghana has inspired folks all over Africa. Coupled with the fact that South Africa will be hosting the 2010 World Cup, the time for the rise of African football is coming. I am an international soccer newbie but seeing all of the countries putting great teams together will only make the World Cup more exciting. And, if this can create some dialogue on equal footing, all the better.

How do you balance being a hip-hop devotee (or in Lord J’s case, a hip-hop practicioner) while being a good father?

Check this article out and see…

I used to bump Brand Nubian and I still do on occasion. I have had (at one time or another) Reel to Reel(Grand Puba’s solo joint), Foundation, All for One, In God We Trust, Everything is Everything, The State Vs. Derrick Murphy(Sadat X’s solo joint). They were hitting when other groups like Pete Rock and CL Smooth, KMD and L.O.N.S all were on Elektra (courtesy of Dante Ross — who did most of the production on “Whitey Ford Sings the Blues”, one of the most well-produced albums ever). They were all from NYC on the same label at the same time but they all sounded different. Today’s cats could learn a lot from them…why couldn’t Elektra push these cats?!?

My mother still thinks to this day that music like theirs is the reason why I don’t eat pork. I will admit now that it’s part of it. I like my 120/98 blood pressure and my 150-something cholesterol, thank you very much . Though I don’t necessarily agree with all of what the 5%ers have to say, I do agree that it is the responsibility for those who know to teach others who don’t, not withhold knowledge for financial/material gain.

Out of all of man’s inventions in the last 125 years, nothing has changed the landscape of the world (and, especially America) like the car.  Some of you may be saying “whoa there, what about TV? Radio? The Salk Polio Vaccine? American Idol?”  Specifically, the propagation of the car.

The car is repsonsible for a lot of our pollution.

The car has irreparably changed housing patterns, facilitating the birth and growth of suburban America. Twice. (after both world wars)

The car has even changed how we watch TV.  Have you ever wondered why TV shows premier episodes in September? Think about this: when do new car models come out? Exactly, the fall. Car and car-related companies (e.g, Texaco) financed early TV programming.  

The car (along with the Cold War) is responsible for America’s rollback of public transit (included in this is passenger train and intercity bus transit).  Eisenhower felt that America should have a national network of highways to facilitate easy travel between and among metropolitan areas in the event of an attack.  The attack never came but the freeways are still here…and so are the orange cones and resurfacing projects that only get more and more costly and time-consuming…remember what aspalt is made of.  Oil byproducts.

Did I mention oil? We won’t even get into that.

Cars have been usurping control of our lives for years.   When are we going to take it back?