(yes, that is me: Talent Show, Carribean Cruise 2000), More recently, I've become careful w/ what I put my ear to. Music has powers that many folks don't understand, both good & bad. But as a musician I love just about everything: foremost gospel, also most instrumental, salsa, various soul, conscious rap, dancehall and roots-reggae and all forms of jazz. Those artists that are hard to classify get my attention faster than anything. To be honest, I listen to everything from Jewel to gospel rap, from blu-bop to ol' school soul, from international/world music to, well, Amy Grant...so it all comes full circle. Mainstream is too played: I can't even keep up w/ who's who in (so-called) R&B and hip-hop anymore...way too many artists, way too much competition for the ones holding true, raw talent. (If it isn't honest music, I can't appreciate it.) I have much love for local musicians representing any genre. I believe God is the originator but not always at the center of it. Oh...and I love EWF, Mint Condition, Bilal (too funky), Van Hunt, Andraé THE MAN of course & everyone he's produced/worked with, Danniebelle, Donnie Mac, Clark Sisters, Take 6, LALAH! peep the album, Marcus Miller, George Duke, Joe Sample, Norah Jones, Janet J (about as mainstream as it gets for me, ) Bob M, Oakland's own Tony Toni Toné, Hawkins' Family, Goapele, etc., Stevie W....see what I'm sayin'. I luv it all!

Most comedies & suspense, some drama (sensitive brutha I guess), documentaries, action, horrors are usually pretty predictable & too unrealistic so I rarely watch 'em. Is it wrong for me to rather check out DVDs & videos from the library than rent? Unless I'm on a date, I really don't go to the theater thses days. Parkway is the exception to the rule...yeah, they get props. I've grown immune to feeling the need of flocking the theaters the day a movie premieres. I don't consider myself to be at all cheap but those prices are insane!

Well, I try not to watch TV everyday, but....I do like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (I be on the verge of a tear or two), NBA/NFL games, Seinfeld, Raymond, re-runs of Jamie, Martin & Chappelle Show, HGTV shows (home design channel), Gilmore Girls (I have no logical reason for that, it's just totally different from reality...escapism, that's what it is, real TV), KQED documentaries, The Price Is Right (please believe it). I appreciate honest shows and programs that inform or give people a better sense of self-worth, y'know.

Currently reading: Empowerment Takes More Than A Minute & The Alchemist. I also enjoy anything involving art & design, self-improvement (ie. the Holy Bible, for those who may not read it correctly: it WILL make you take thorough inventory of yourself), sound poetry, health, music, comedy, fictions/non-fictions that aren't a waste of my time. If I wanted to waste time, I'd just do something pointless...like this, (No animals were harmed during this animation sequence.)