Ruminations is a place where I get to vent my opinions with dreams of mirth and peculiar circumstance. I get to play the part of the clown without the hassles of grease paint and the smell of elephant emissions. The words from henceforth come from a mind influenced by Twain, Himes, and Prince. If you want to respond to anything you read on this page please break me off an email: EDDRICK

2/22/04

Begin Again

After spending seven months in the cyber wilderness I have returned to doing what I love to do. Writing is a way for me to release my pent up feelings and to touch base with my spiritual self. A lot has happened in the world in the past few months and I look forward beginning a new phase of digital communication. Look for regular updates to return very soon. I've missed you and I hope you've missed me too.

7/14/03

Keeping the Sky Gray

We, the People of California, find ourselves in a precarious position in regards to state governance. Governor Gray Davis stands on the threshold of a recall election. Yes he's made some mistakes, but you don't remove elected officials for mistakes. They should be removed for violation of the public trust, criminal activity, or comparable acts. Right minded folks, like me and you, need to make sure that we vote to keep him in office. Removing the Governor will put the cherry on top of the miasma sundae of life this state. Let's run down the credits: Bottom of the charts in school performance, highest fuel prices in the nation, worst freeway congestion (think they're related, nah), highest home prices, terrible pollution, and home to some of the wackiest, zaniest, goofiest crime in the world. However, one drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, a visit to the abundant Central Valley, or a trip up north to the Shasta Valley and you realize that it's still pretty cool living here. So, to those who want to recall Gray Davis I have two words. Hell no! There are many State Legislators who want to get on with discussing the issues that are really important to this state and your stupid recall tirade is getting in the way. We need a budget. We need clean air. We need good schools. Governor Gray Davis did not create the infrastructure problems that we Californians face. This has been years in the making.

Recalling the Governor is a waste of time. Let's get on with real issues like schools and crime. Republican diversions are ridiculous and sublime.

6/1/03

Weapons of Doubt

It is becoming painfully clear that no weapons of mass destruction will be found in Iraq. Senior Bush Administration officials expect the American Public to believe that Iraq destroyed the weapons before the war?! Hmmm...does that seem to make sense? It would be as if Superman is coming to get you, and all you have is one kryptonite suppository. But rather than use it (or attempt to use it) on the man of steel, you crush it with your heel in order to prevent him from finding it. Yeah, that makes a whole lot of sense.

They also tried to make us believe that 144 American Citizens died in order to save this country from two tractor trailers in the middle of the Iraqi desert. That didn't fly either. Now, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz is claiming that the weapons of mass destruction premise was used because it was the only one that key members of the u.s. bureaucracy would agree upon. Say what?

Could the war have been waged to prevent congress from holding hearings on the nexus between Haliburton, Enron, and the Taliban? Which premise is more believable, the hearings, or the Superman suppository theory?

Motives for war demand to be questioned. Our nation's credibility needs serious inspection. Seeds of mistrust sown in every direction.

5/17/03

Coming of Age

Rappers Delight, the seminal hip hop recording, will celebrate it's twenty-fifth anniversary next year. The time has come to reflect on the longevity of Hip Hop, and the aging of it's devotees, like me. 

First of all, it ain't going nowhere. Hip Hop is here to stay. Today, you can turn on the television and see Barney Rubble rappin for Fruity Pebbles. Hip Hop styles of clothing and language are interwoven into today's market place and they are the dominant aesthetic for most aspects of popular culture. Hip Hop albums, er, cds continue to sell in a dying industry and the video game market is poised for a takeover with the release of Def Jam Vendetta. Hip Hop has become a billion dollar a year industry and there is no sign of any drop off in the near future.

My relationship with Hip Hop (I know, this device was used in Brown Sugar) began like most people's when I heard "Rapper's Delight" in 1979. I was a 12 year old West Coast kid and I fell in love with the music. I followed all the artists like Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five, Whodini, KRS One, PE, Run DMC, and others who mixed supreme word rhyming skills with thumpin' beats. And don't forget the major contributions of female rappers like Pebbley Poo, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Roxanne Shante'. They could flow too.

During the last fifteen years Hip Hop has evolved into many different styles like the Daisy Age, Gangsta, and Afrocentric. I've enjoyed a few songs from each style over the years, but the merging of Hip Hop and Jazz suits my needs and it's what I enjoy the most. 1988's Talkin' All That Jazz by Stetsasonic hooked me and spurred me into exploring original jazz. I am an avid follower of the Roots, Common, GURU, Q-Tip (please bring back Tribe Called Quest), and others who are working in this genre. It's also the genre where you can actually hear the lyrics!

Today's "popular" Hip Hop is cool for the younger crowd, but it ain't for me. At times some of the videos look like a 21st century minstrel show which celebrates the hedonistic exploits of a misguided people. My opinion probably has more to do with my aging than with the taste of millions of people. If that's your thing, so be it. But if you want to know what Hip Hop is all about go find songs from the Artists I've listed above and let your education begin.

The future of Hip Hop is bright, but I think an artistic revitalization is needed. We've had enough rappin' about cars and Cristal and we need more rappin about the simple joys of being an MC. Flashy cars and green Gators do not make you a rapper! Its always been about the words, flow, and beats. Nothing more.

Hip Hop is aging just like me. It's influence is felt from sea to sea. I long for the days of the simple MC!

3/26/03

Phat Peace II

I wrote Phat Peace about a year ago because I felt the cold spirit of war blowing softly in the world. I'm not clairvoyant, but I felt it's frosty sting. Today the war is dominating our national conscious and permeating all facets of our national society. Money is funny and we feel uncertain about our future. Lets hope that things get settled quickly and some semblance of peaceful order can prevail. The mighty-mighty PFP is still in effect y'all! Join in every day at 1:27 p.m..

Peace can radiate from the depth of your soul. Millions of people can put love in control. Read this quick before its zapped by Interpol!

3/7/03

Rodeo of Beef?

Burger King's latest commercial left a bad taste in my mouth. A commercial about  fast food shouldn't leave a bad taste in your mouth. The commercial opens with a rodeo scene, and a BROTHA, is doin' some serious bull ridin'. When he finishes riding he takes a big bite out of a Burger King whopper. Let me get this straight, after riding a nasty, funky, 2000 pound bull, the first thing this BROTHA wants to do is to eat a whopper? He should feel thankful that the bull didn't break his pelvis. You would think that he would want a beer and a Ben Gay rubdown. Perhaps he should drive off in a Land Rover (with 24 inch rims of course). There ain't too many BROTHAS that I'm aware off who can ride a bull. And they damn sho' ain't gonna eat a whopper when they through. A slab of ribs maybe, but not a whopper.

Ride your food before you eat. Saddle sores are worth the treat. Continuous messages of deceit!

12/29/02

Twenty Oh Two

What are we supposed to make of this year? There were historic events like North Korea reasserting it's sovereignty, Trent Lott getting caught espousing America's secrets, and the terror brought on by the D.C. Sniper. 2002 played fast and loose with our economic underpinnings which left us questioning the value of value. Right?

2002 was a year of nothing. No water (2002 was one of the worst drought years on record). No negotiations (i.e. Russian hostages). And no ring for Bonds (six outs away). As a lifelong Giant's fan, I was demoralized for a couple of days after their devastating loss.

2002 was a year of something. My daughter learned how to ride a bike (pure truth). Nine miners were rescued from a mine in Pennsylvania (mind, body, and SOUL power). And I bought a treadmill (battle of the will). As in every year, there is good along with the bad.

2002 was a year for you. You have your memories, you have your experiences, and you have your accomplishments. Be thankful and proud for those. And if it didn't happen for you in 2002, make sure you strategize and make it happen in 2003!

2002, it's time to go. Thanks for the time and cosmic flow. Many lessons learned, fo' sho!

11/3/02

Circus of Joy

I recently took my entire family to see a performance of Universoul Circus. This circus, which is black owned and operated, provided over two hours of laughs, thrills, and positive entertainment. It was a joy looking at the sea of black people as we regaled in the total entertainment bliss that this circus provides. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the people who helped put this together and a special thanks to Casual Cal, Ringmaster. I encourage you to go and see this wonderful circus if it comes anywhere near your town.

9/6/02

Colin Flush

The Bush Administration is itching to attack Iraq in order to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction. They are proposing this in spite of world wide condemnation, Congressional condemnation, and splits within the Administration itself. A prime example of this split is the current media sword play between Secretary of State Colin Powell and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Secretary Powell should not tarnish his stature by remaining in the Bush Administration. He is steadfast that war with Iraq should be a last resort. VP Cheney on the other hand is pounding the table for an immediate strike. Who are we supposed to believe? Should we believe a decorated war hero who served for over two decades in the Armed Services or a career boardroom bureaucrat who's biggest "fight" was  waged for an elected office? VP Cheney, and President Bush for that matter, have never taken up arms to defend this country. It's ironic that the most hawkish advocates for war tend to be people who have never put on the uniform.

Secretary Powell should leave the Bush Administration immediately and announce his candidacy for President in 2004. With the Enron and Haliburton scandals inching towards the White House Secretary Powell should make a break now before he's tainted by their shady dealings.

Secretary Powell should leave on the fly. He should resign in protest while his reputation is high. Bush and Cheney will hang him out to dry!

8/25/02

(Back from a Summer Hiatus)

Reflections

The world changed on 9/11. I, like millions of others, was affected mentally and physically by the tragic events. My latest project, Ride of a Lifetime, is a brief piece on what I encountered during that dark day and the days after. It will debut on this site in a few weeks. I hope you had a cool Summer. 

6/1/02

Knot Right

Tonight's Holyfield/Rahman fight was a frustrating exercise for boxing fans. The decision was a travesty. Holyfield butted Rahman and put a knot the size of an Idaho potato on the side of Rahman's head. "Accidental" butting is nothing new for Holyfield. If you remember, it was a butt that preceded Tyson treating Holyfield's ear like a piece of beef jerky. 

 The fight was stopped by the Doctor when he determined that the knot was worthy of study by special effects wiz Rick Baker. I have never seen a human head exhibit the swelling properties that Rahman's did. Larry Merchant, to his credit, did not try and get a comment from the knot. 

By rule the decision was based on the judge's scorecards and they were uglier than the knot. I could see Holyfield winning a round or two. But two judges had him winning by five rounds! It was a Don King promoted fight and he's the master of predetermination. David Blaine could learn a trick or two from Don King.

This fight added nothing to next week's Lewis/Tyson fight, which may not sell out the Pyramid in Memphis. The fight was an example of the type of hocus pocus that the US Senate held hearings on last week. Let's hope that some type of reform happens so that Boxing can regain some semblance of actual competition. 

Something is wrong with the "sweet science". They expect us to pay money to watch this contrivance. I'd rather watch the old World Wrestling Alliance.

5/16/02

Peanut Diplomacy

President Carter's trip to Cuba demonstrated how the Cold War battles continue to be fought. Carter's stern rebuke of the Bush Administration's policies and strategies on Cuba is  a symbol of a shockingly divided America. Or, it could be something as petty as Carter trying to get back at Bush Sr. for spoiling his chances for a second term in '80.

What was truly remarkable was when Carter, and you don't get to be President without being media savvy, joined Castro on a baseball field! That struck to the very heart of this nation. The sad thing is that he wasn't able to "free" any of the ball players he didn't pay to see. That would have been some big time Diplomatin'.

I shouldn't be so cynical. President Carter is a man of peace. He's done tremendous good will on this planet and his legacy will be of a man of worthy stature. But he had his chance to do something about Cuba 25 years ago.

President Carter said "Lift the Embargo!". The merchants are ready with ships full of cargo. Democracy exported via the waters of Key Largo.

5/5/02

Comedic Pain

I, like millions of other people, eagerly anticipated the new Spiderman movie. While waiting for it to start, the preview for MIB II came on. Some of the movie's clips were funny, but one particular clip disturbed me.

Will Smith's and Tommy Lee Jones' characters are reviewing a car (an exquisite Mercedes) with all the latest gadgets. The car is equipped with an automatic driver, male and white, who is sucked into the steering wheel when the car is turned off. Tommy Lee Jones' character asks, "Is that standard?" To which Will Smith's character replies "Yeah, we used to have a black one, but he kept getting pulled over." The racially diverse audience in the theater laughed. I winced.

I understand that comedy is rooted in pain. That's just the way it is. But is the fact that Black men get pulled over more often than others funny? Is it something that the masses have accepted? This movie will be seen by millions of people. Is this type of humor society's way of tacitly accepting a bona fide denial of constitutional rights? 

Nothing against Will Smith. One line in a movie does not define who someone is. But he is an A - list actor, and his work in Ali is one of the best performances of all time. Surely he could have thought  a little harder about saying a line like this. 

Pull over now, cause I said so! Your rights don't matter you profiled mopho'! Your freedom is ours, we don't have to let you go!

4/17/02

It's Your Gullet

What was the last food item  you put down your gullet? What was the very last thing that you swallowed in the context of gaining sustenance? Some folks find it hard to come by, while others eat off hand-painted plates. Most folks, in America, are somewhere in the middle. The middle zone is where you find KFC, Taco Bell, Mickey D's, and other venues of "people chow".

People Chow? Yes. Chicken Nuggets, which all of the aforementioned restaurants offer in some form or another, are no different  than the highest quality K9 victuals.  It's a well known fact that Chickens have no nuggets, at least scientifically. Nuggets are a figment of an ad guy, or gal, who envisioned eating Chicken in an entirely new way. It was a brilliant idea. Is it white meat? Is it dark meat? No, it's Nugget meat!

Now, I say this having eaten quite a few nuggets in my time. In fact, when KFC came out with their version I couldn't eat the ones at Mickey D's anymore. There really is sumpin' to the eleven secret herbs and spices. However, when it's all said and done, what we eat is akin to the best food you can buy for your dog. 

Chicken Nuggets are a tasty treat. When they're hot and crisp, they can't be beat. For all we know, they might be ass meat!

Chicken nuggets complaint prompts investigation

3/29/02

End-Run

The hype of Enron's failures is beginning to wane. We, the People, need to carefully monitor the fallout and demand justice if any laws have been broken.

The House of Representatives and Members of the Senate have held hearings and continue to hold hearings. They're too late of course. The money is long gone. It's quite conceivable that the actual dollars in question "picked" some of the  Legislators  now sitting in judgment. Which came first, the dollars, or the votes? Is your vote worth a dollar? 

We may never know the facts in this case (insert shredder joke here). This week, Arthur Anderson's CEO resigned, and you can best believe that Congress is gonna drag his ass up to Capitol Hill. And it's an election year! He better bring some salve and a very large pitcher of ice water because they gon' bar b que him. Publicly.

This is really about power. No, wait a minute, it's about Enron controlling access to power. Literally. The main story will turn out to be that Enron kept their accounting records liberally sprinkled with fiduciary pixie dust. They got caught and poof, they magically disappeared.

Power to the People is a rallying cry. The context has changed, but the volume is high. Corporate malfeasance rains doom from the sky. 

3/9/02

Phat Peace

War is rampant in the world today. If you can, take ten seconds each day and focus on peace. Let's try to pause the madness for at least ten seconds per day. How about 1:27 p.m, Pacific Standard Time (be sure and adjust the time based on your longitude and latitude). From now until it's no longer needed I implore you to stop whatever your doing and Pause for Peace. We can call it  the mighty-mighty PFP! Just a little bit of peace can make a positive impact on the lives of people in danger.

The World is at war, didn't you know? There is war in the desert, there is war in the snow. The body count of souls will continue to grow.

2/23/02

Correction of the Process

It's time we correct another misconception about black people. It is patently assumed that to straighten one's hair is to sell out to some deep seeded european  idolatry. Black people are supposed to be down with nappy hair and to straighten, perm, or process your hair is to deny your heritage. Well...

What if the true reason that this phenomena occurs is because black people, especially escaped slaves, intermingled with native american people and adopted their standards of beauty? It's well documented that there is a rich and intelligent history of the co-existence between blacks and native americans. Isn't it reasonable to believe that we share aesthetic notions of what's "fine"? 

Black people have always used lye, heat, and petrochemicals on our hair. We like it swooped, bone straight, dapped, and slick. And there ain't a damn thing wrong with that. I bet you never realized that when you straightened your hair you were subconsciously coming closer to your native american roots! 

Perm your hair to make it straight. All your naps will dissipate. A variety of roots to celebrate! 

2/5/02

Diverse Body Slam

Have you ever checked out the crowd at a Professional Wrestling event? You will see people from all walks of life and from all races. Wrestling is one of the only entities in this country that has the power to do this. I remember going to the Richmond Auditorium in the early 70's with my mother and grandmother to see Soulman Rocky Johnnson battle  for the Championship. It was quite different from going to church or to the barbershop. You tended to see people who looked like you at those places. But at a Wrestling match you would see every imaginable ethnic identity represented. This is not to say that Wrestling doesn't have issues with stereotypes. But they're confined to the action inside the ring. If you tune in to an event and scan the crowd you can see all the colors of the human rainbow. Some may consider Professional Wrestling a barbaric "sport" for people with a decidedly lower intellect. But as a college educated person I find myself glued to the TV every Monday and Thursday nights! It's like a soap opera only the main characters hit each other over the heads with chairs! And remember, Wrestling is one of the highest rated cable shows on TV. The appeal of Wrestling is one of the few things that can bring together a variety of people in this country.

Wrestling crowds represent this nation. They watch and scream with pure elation. And they get along without frustration! 

1/21/02

Look out! Here comes the Spider Goat!?

In an effort to improve our quality of life, a group of research scientists have embedded the genes of a spider into the cells of cows, hamsters and goats. They've done this in order to  produce some super "web" that will somehow make our existence on earth more tolerable. 

People have argued the merits of science versus decency for thousands of years and I think that this is one of those situations when we have to ask ourselves "Is this what we really need?" As a people, do we really want goats, hamsters, and especially cows, possessing the power to spin webs? What if they get to like it!? It could change milkings and rodeos forever. And you can forget about buying habitrails again. 

The combination of spiders, goats, hamsters, cows, proteins, genes, and other stuff is just plain icky. It's been a long time since I've used the word icky. But this scientific development begs for it's usage. 

They are crossing lines the lines of biology. And seemingly without dignity. In order to get money from you and me.

1/5/02

Cosmic Dumping

Have you ever been to a  municipal dump? The act of wanton disposal, at twenty five dollars a truck load, can be a scintillating experience. I was feelin great because I'd finally cleaned out our garage and it was a chance to get rid of some stuff we didn't need.

The seagulls at the dump are professionals. They're very large and they swoop down with lethal efficiency. A few of them were slowly checkin out my haul by circling above my head, at about 13 feet. The biggest one was lookin me straight in the eye and floated in until he was ten feet away. I flipped the hood up on my jacket as a precautionary measure. He looked at my stuff and I could tell that he was lookin for food. When he realized that there wasn't anything to eat he squawked and they all flew away. I don't speak seagull but it felt derogatory.

From a borrowed truck I threw out things like  an outdated video cabinet (for beta tapes), broken lamp shades, and a plunger that had been with me since my first apartment. There was some sentimental value to that plunger. I had a Fat Albert moment and I was tempted to sing a good bye song. But I threw it off the truck with Olympic aplomb, complete with perfect follow through.

I didn't know that the plunger had supernatural powers. The very next night we found ourselves in a bathroom situation that desperately called for a plunger! I had to race to the store to get one. Who would ever think that a plunger could be steeped in cosmic irony? 

Our collective refuse grows bigger and bigger. The cosmos and my toilet are connected, go figure. And I can't believe a Seagull called me...

12/16/01

Time for a Change

The Golden State Warriors fired their head coach the other day. It was their sixth coach in seven years. The problem with the Warriors is not with the coach, nor is it with the players. The cause of the Warriors problems for the last twenty years is their name. It is time for the Owner to officially change their name to the Oakland Warriors. We all know that the franchise is cursed. They've had draft picks that can't play. They've made dumb assed trades and  given up great players (Wilt Chamberlin, Robert Parrish, Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber, Vince Carter, Mario Ellie, Donyell Marshall, Avery Johnson, John Starks, Joe Smith, etc.) for nincompoops. And they have a tradition of  voodoo like injuries that have plagued this franchise since 1975. As a boy I played hoops at the park, and did I pretend to be Dr. J? No. Did I pretend to be Kareem? No. I pretended to be weak assed Joe Barry Caroll! That has left me scarred. I am emotionally damaged because the only local basketball hero I could emulate was a player who was as exciting as watching apples grow! I remember going to a game as a child and when the game was over we saw Joe Barry Caroll already walking to BART. He beat us out of the Arena! 

Please change their name! It will put some pride in their game! And the Warriors won't be so damn lame!

12/8/01

Baby Phat

Tremendous props to De La Soul for celebrating the beauty of natural sized women. In their new song and video, Baby Phat, the fellas from the Daisy Age acknowledge that the majority of women in our communities are not the size of a kitchen mop. De La Soul lets the ladies know that being a size 16+ is quite all right (have you seen Tisha Campbell lately?) Their video features a plethora of ladies of ample size who move and dance with exquisite sensuality. Once again De La Soul has demonstrated the courage to tell it like it is. 

Ladies, inner beauty comes from the soul. Positive self esteem can make you whole. And there is no need to feel bad if you ain't a beanpole!

12/4/01

Precious Gifts

The holiday season is here. Please take the time to slow down and give thanks for what you have. Let your family and loved ones know how much you appreciate them. If you have food, clothing, and shelter please understand how "rich" you truly are. They are precious gifts from God. It's cool to buy an Xbox or a new DVD player for someone (and if anybody out there wants get me an Xbox, I won't be mad at you). But...

Christmas cheer comes from within, excessive materialism can do you in, and this year's hot gift will be in next year's bargain bin!

11/18/01

The Demise of the Bass Line

"I'm gonna add some bottom, so you can dance and move yo' feet" - Larry Graham

Remember when every song on the radio had a distinctive bass line? Songs by Cameo, Teena Marie, George Clinton, Rick James, Prince, and others were identifiable by the way the bass sounded. Many songs today contain "sampled" bass lines from old records in an attempt to capture some of the energy from the originals. Don't get me wrong, I like songs by Mary J. Blige, Kirk Franklin, and artists like them. But you have to admit that their music is not that original. Lyrically, yes. Musically, no. We can't forget that the bass line is what makes our music, especially classic funk music, so spiritually enriching. Bass tones affect the body differently than other tones. You actually feel them in your chest and in your heart. They also dramatically affect your hindquarters and can cause them to shake in ways that you never imagined.  We need for our younger artists to start creating their own bass lines. The talent is there (props to D'Angelo because he understands the importance of original bass lines). Otherwise, the music will cease to grow, and the asses won't shake no mo'. 

11/10/01

The Return of Jordan

Michael Jordan is a symbol of what America is and always will be, talent for sale. No more no less. A commoditized giving of human spirit in 48 minute doses that cost about 3 bux per viewer on tv, but up to  4,000 buxs "in person" for the best seats. Is he coming back to lift basketball by the Kobe's and shake it until the tattoos are gone? We know it could use a veneer of fundamentals. 

Bring back the basics like passing and scoring. But I don't think Jordan will be soaring. By December the zone will be boring. Come April '02 even Stearn may be snoring!

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