Here's to the Roc

Kanye West produced his first ever track, "This Can't Be Life," on Jay Z's Dynasty: Roc La Familia 2000 album. (It's the same album boasting "I Just Wanna Love Ya.")

What's cool is that Kanye talks about how he got started in the business in "Last Call" on his College Dropout album. At the end of "Last Call," Kanye's just talking over the music, chatting about how he worked with Jay Z and "This Can't Be Life." He shows love for Jay Z, Talib Kweli, etc. It's like a tribute to him and Rocafella, and you know, I'm all about hard ass hip hop cats and the warm fuzzies, yknowhumsayin', so I think it's super cute--er, I am dope-- that he's busting this one out to the jiggaman.

Anyway, check out the tracks-- the beats on both are tight, yo!

(Excuse my ghetto method of posting the songs-- getting them from Youtube was easiest. Also, unfortunately, "Last Call" doesn't include the 8 minute outro where Kanye's talking about his beginnings in the biznizz.)


"This Can't Be Life" - Jay Z featuring Scarface

Pilipino Prisoners Show Teamwork

A couple thoughts that crossed my mind as I watched this:

- Is that person playing the female character a she, a he, or a little of both? She/he has a receding hairline.

- They must be using the karaoke version of "Thriller." You'll notice that there are no vocals singing along to the verses, only to the chorus.

A baby named Madi and a blind dog named Honey

Green is the New Black

Get green. It might be considered trendy and the "it" thing to do now. But, we could all benefit from being a little more conscious of the waste we produce and how it impacts the environment.

Just think: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

* Try to use nontoxic cleaning agents that don't emit poisons and toxins into our air. For example, Method (found at Target) makes biodegradable washcloths, all-purpose cleaners, and laundry detergent. Their packaging is also recyclable.

* Use less plastic bags—or, better yet, none at all. Take with you to the grocery store the plastic bags that are filling up under your sink. And, fold those used paper department store handle bags into your purse for shopping at the mall. When you run through all your plastic bags, invest in inexpensive canvas totebags that are perfectly suited for grocery shopping.

* More bag advice: Use paper instead plastic. Paper is biodegradeable, while plastic is not.

* Recycle the wire hangers that your dry cleaning comes on. I have a girlfriend who tosses her wire hangers, and I was appalled to hear this. Either return the hangers to your cleaner or recycle them. You can do the same with the safety pins the cleaners use to secure your skirts to the hangers.

* Use less paper towels in the restroom. Do you really need 4 sheets of paper towels to dry your hands? Shake your hands dry of excess water and grab the amount that is necessary.

* Consider biodegradeable utensils and plates at your next BBQ or party. Bambu, for example, makes clean, well-designed products made of bamboo. According to the company, bamboo is sustainable and highly renewable. It's a fast-growing plant that, unlike trees (bamboo is a grass, not a tree), requires "no replanting, grows without fertilizers or pesticides and is harvested from controlled stands with an astounding growth cycle of three to five years."

* I come from an Asian family with a fobby mom so I’m very much familiar with the fobby practice of stealing stacks of paper napkins from restaurants. Don’t do this. Take exactly what you need.

* Seek eco-conscious hotels. The Kimpton Hotel Brand is green. In an upcoming trip to SF in August, I'll be staying at San Francisco's "newest and greenest" hotel, Orchard Garden.

** For more tips, check out TreeHugger**

Saint Cher

Even celebs couldn't get the iPhone before the 6/29 date.

Good. They get everything first anyway. Make 'em wait like the rest of us masses.

Apparently, some publicists don't agree.

In a recent story in the LA Times, Cher's publicist was quoted as saying:

"I haven't been successful in getting one for her," the publicist said, adding that she might have to stand in line for Cher or find a fan to do so. "Doesn't winning Oscars, Grammys and Emmys entitle her to move to the front of the line?"

What the...? Oh, Cher has so effected change in humanity that she of ALL PEOPLE deserves the iPhone. Listen here, Jobs, Cher has won entertainment awards, and thus she is entitled to the iPhone!

I was gonna post a pic of Cher here because blogs do better when you add multimedia, but she and her publicist disgust me so much.