Dallas Peace Center

So last night was one of those events that I will probably always remember: I went to my first ever war protest meeting. I was on myspace last month, and came across a random comment on a random profile. Which in turn led me to a new website, Dallas Rally. I had just missed the February protest they had organized, and was bummed out. That is, until I discovered they were organizing another, bigger one for March 19th.

Last night was the planning meeting for this upcoming march/rally. I met a bunch of really cool people. Most of who were from Dallas Peace Center. They have been around since the 80's, but I had no idea! So glad that I met so many great people last night, and found out about their organization. PS--more details on the march coming soon. Our route will take us right to where the new Bush Presidential library will be !

Unfortunate 4th Anniversary of the Iraq War

Finally! For the past year I have desperately been searching for a group of people here in Dallas that I could protest this lame ass excuse of war with. I finally found one, and want to invite everyone to the upcoming Unfortunate 4th Anniversary of the Iraq War protest in March.



For more info, please see www.dallasrally.com. And help spread the word !

Art pics

Thanks so much to my friend Justin (http://tribalicious.squarespace.com/from-the-heart-and-mind/), the producer of last Saturday's art love and magic show. He was so nice to let me steal, I mean use these photos of his! There are more pics in his flickr if you visit his blog.

Art love magic

So I log into myspace on Thursday, like I am addicted to doing nearly everyday. And I get an email from a friend of mine who I haven't really talked to in a while. Seems he is promoting a new art show called Reach on Saturday. It's being held by a new group called art love magic in the South Side of Lamar. Wow! I am so glad that I got the invite (thanks Justin!) and decided to attend. Art, photography, live painting and even spoken word/poetry were part of the event. The next one happens at the same location on April 28th. Check out the following links and help spread the word !

http://artlovemagic.com

http://tribalicious.squarespace.com/from-the-heart-and-mind

Save Deep Ellum

Not like adding this profile to your friends list will actually save Deep Ellum, but they will keep you informed on what you can do. We at least have to put up a fight, right?

myspace.com/savethescenenow

Goodbye Gyspy !

That's right, the rumors are true. The best club (?) in Dallas is closing, perhaps as soon as this week.

"Despite rumors to the contrary, the Gypsy Tea Room will be closing on Mar. 31, as previously announced.

As reported by numerous sources including CBS 11 (with a "blasting" from The Observer's Robert Wilonsky), the club has filed for bankruptcy, with a closing date set for the end of March. But rumors started circulating that the club would close even sooner. One even surfaced as a comment from a member of the Pegasus community, who'd heard from a supplier that the club was closed already."

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/feb/02/gtr-closing-end-march-despite-scuttlebutt-contrary/

I was there on Monday night to see the Roots, and they said from the stage that this was the last week. Word has it that all shows currently booked will be moving to the Granada. Well now you know.

The Roots !

"Hip-hop has been more about the bling-bling than the boom-bap lately and has even been declared dead by some. But Philadelphia's legendary Roots crew and Chi-Town's Lupe Fiasco did their part to rejuvenate the genre with inspiring and entertaining performances before a sold-out crowd in Dallas' Gypsy Tea Room on Monday night.

Few rap acts are as efficient and innovative live as the self-contained The Roots, and the band took it up yet another notch by including Philadelphia's Collective Brass Heaven, a quartet of tuba, sousaphone, saxaphone and trumpet players that walked through the packed crowd and added depth and dimension to newer tracks such as "Game Theory," "Long Time" and the crowd favorite, The Tipping Point's "Star."

Digital cameras and chants of "forever, forever, Roots Crew forever" punctuated the atmosphere as the band dusted off old favorites and wove classic verses alongside their own. Eric B and Rakim's "I Ain't No Joke" melted into the late James Brown's "Get on the Good Foot," then veered back into Roots' territory with "Mellow My Man" and "Love of My Life."

The ecstatic crowd parroted Black Thought verse for verse as he, ?uestlove, Hub, Jeff Bradshaw and Malik charged through "Apache (Jump On It)," "Award Tour," "Get By" and even West Coast and Dirty South favorites such as "Deep Cover," "It's Goin' Down" and "Snap Yo' Fingers."

After a false exit and a couple of extended solos by Brass Heaven and bass player Hub, guitarist Mr. Bradshaw captured the country's cynicism about the war with his piercing rendition of "Master of War," earning cheers or approval as he achingly declared that "all the money you make could never buy back your soul."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-roots_0221gl.State.Edition1.394a166.html

Laid Off: Happy Valentine's !

What a great day before Valentine's gift: getting laid off. At least we made the paper!

"ADDISON – About 550 Home Depot employees will lose their jobs when a call center closes on March 12, the company said this week.

The center, which opened in May 2006, had assisted customers who purchased floors through the Home Depot, said Ron DeFeo, a company spokesman. Local store associates would respond to flooring questions once the call center closes.

“As we continue improve the customer experience in our stores, we felt it was a priority to restore that customer-associate relationship,” he said.

The Home Depot has about a dozen call centers, including one in Dallas and New Braunfels. Those centers will remain open, Mr. DeFeo said.

Associates will be compensated for 60 days following their departure, the company said in a statement. The company said it was also helping employees with job placement.

The company announced its decision during a staff meeting on Tuesday."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/021507dnmethomedepot.826d6887.html

I wonder if it has anything to do with the CEO who left a couple months ago with a 200 million dollar bonus ?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/03/ap/business/mainD8ME3O781.shtml

27 Heaven

Hey everyone in Dallas: there is a really cool broadway musical/play
called 27 Heaven (www.27heaven.com) coming to the Granada Sunday Feb. 11th. I bought 4 tickets, and 2 friends can't go. I would much rather
sell these and attend with someone I know (you!) vs. just putting them
on Ebay or losing the money. They are $35 each, and I would probably
even let them go for less if you really want to go. Let me know,
thanks !

"27 Heaven is a rock musical/satirical play about the conversations in
heaven between four of the world's greatest rock stars who all died at
the age of 27 – Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt
Cobain. One night only, starring the original New York Cast. 2 hour
show with intermission."