Justified By Money?

Can one's action be justified by the money they earn for doing them?
"But Tyler Perry owns his own studio.", or "His movies make millions" are popular refrains from the Medea creator's supporters.
But is the money earned the only qualifier to determine one's "success"?
What about legality?

Natalie Dylan (above) was perfectly within her rights to sell her virginity at one of Nevada's legal brothels.
Does the one million dollar price paid (Down from an offer of 3.7 million dollars after that man was "convinced" by his wife to pull his offer.) justify her actions?

What about the Afghan Warlords who make 3-5 million dollars a year? (Reuters)
Not only do they make a good living, they also get to influence World policy.
Power and money - would you want that job?

What about being Joaquin-Guzman-Loera?
Would being a billionaire (Forbes) drug dealer be worth it?
Sure, it's not legal - but maybe Cali. will change it's mind and make the man a legitimate businessman.

Not to pick on T.P. too much - but does his money earned really justify his crappy work?

Black vs. Asian

What's the difference in thinking between Blacks and Asians?

Asians own the corner stores, nail salons and beauty supply chains where many Blacks spend their money.

Many Blacks see themselves as the customers and not the owners.

But can movies (or popular culture) influence this thinking?

Jet Li (above) possess the power to overcome in The One.

It is up to him to unlock his inherent power.

Stephen Chow goes from being a broke small time criminal to Master in Kung Fu Hustle.

This revelation is only realized after a long and arduous process that brings him near death.

Madea plays like a Mary J. Blige song - "I'm So Pitiful" being it's approach to problem solving.

The Tyler Perry characters never possess an inner strength that has yet to be realized.

The characters are always just getting by and never rise to a self awareness that is beyond what others expect of them.

The characters always settle for just enough to get to the next bad situation.

The Wayans choose to be the clown in the tragedy of life.

Is this bad?

No, not really - but there has to be an example of a Black film maker who understands more than the "Just Get By" school of thought.

When Black film makers are criticized for their lack of inspiration, their supporters are quick to outline the "reality" of their work.

Maybe this is the flaw in any attempt to raise the bar for Blacks.

Maybe too many American Blacks feel as though it is their place to be the eternal victim.

Maybe too many American Blacks can't comprehend being in the top position.

Maybe our failure is that too many can't even imagine being anything other than a clown or a victim.

Maybe our common perception of ourselves is what is really holding many of us back.

Maybe we need to change the way we view ourselves and not worry so much about how others view us.

White Power

Other than Jet Li in The One -
What other minority gets to innately posses the power to rectify their situation?
(Okay, Stephen Chow in Kung Fu Hustle too - but that's a different post.)
Even Dorothy is told that she always possessed the power to return to Kansas in the Wizard of Oz.

The protagonist in Wanted grows into his full potential to defeat his evil Black enemy (And assumed to do Angelina Joile.).

Even with the future of mankind on the line, Neo is told in The Matrix; temet nosce (nosce te ipsum).

He always possessed the ability to fix the situation - even if he didn't know it.

In movies, whites are endued (not imbued) with power - while minorities benefit from the benevolent use of that power.

John 4:44

Why are people upset with a Hispanic Sandra Bullock playing the role of "The nice white lady who saves a Black kid" in Blind Side?

John 4:44 (KJV) - "For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet has no honor in his own land."

Maybe an outsider is needed.

Movies have been dealing with race and one's place at the table when attempting to rectify problems bought on by racist actions for decades.

To Kill a Mockingbird was more about the learning process of whites in how to treat and judge people by their deeds and not by their race.

Sandra Bullock teamed with Matthew McConaughey to attempt another telling of roughly the same story.

It took a white person to rescue a Black man from a racist situation.

Michelle Pfeiffer would also play the role of a White Savior and sit in a chair as Coolio would rap his lyrics to Gangster's Paradise for Dangerous Minds.

Of course it took the nice white lady Hillary Swank to inspire ghetto children to perform at levels unknown to themselves in Freedom Writers. (Didn't Meryl Steep play a music teacher in the hood in Music From the Heart.?)

The counter position of Sidney Portiere in To Sir With Love would be Jim Belushi (Long before he was sexing-up the out of his league Courtney Thorne in According to Jim. *See; "Brohammas' Heffernan Theory".) in The Principal.

While some of these stories are based on fact - So is Stand and Deliver with Edward James Olmos.

And in Lean On Me, the eternally old Morgan Freeman plays a reform minded Joe Clark.

Is it bad that outsiders are often called upon to solve problems within a community?

Nope, it's bad that those within these communities aren't generally doing better for themselves.

It's bad that the problems have become so bad that people will accept anyone who has "The Answer" to problems that they could have solved all along.

Why are these movies dangerous?

Because they are only used as a tool so white people can say, "See, we're not all bad.". (Which is true.)

Because these movies reinforce the belief (even held by many Blacks) that only a white person can solve any problems minorities have gotten themselves into.
Because these movies fail to enforce the dictum; nosce te ipsum - in that they fail to teach that the oppressed group always had the power for change on their own.

Because the minority is always subjugated and the white person is always dominant.

444

I'm not into Numerology as I have little to no use for it.
But the one number I seem to notice more than most is "444".
What is it's significance?

Before I moved to Texas, I'd always wake up at 4:44.
Regardless of what time I'd go to bed, "4:44" (am or pm) seemed to always to be the time I'd look at a clock.
This coincidence caused me to imagine it's significance.

The night before I found out I was coming to Texas - I took a walk on the local golf course to clear my head.
As I was walking, I found three balls that had been lost during someones play.
Three golf balls that all had the numeral "4" imprinted upon them.
Not all in one place, but spread across the length of three or four holes.

Later that night, my boy Turtle and I were headed out for another usual night of drinking, gambling and hoing.
As I noticed an oncoming thunder storm, "Some one is going to die tonight", I said.
"Maybe we should just have people over", my boy said.
"No foolio, not one of us. But someone we we know.", I said.
"Oh, that happens all the time.", he said.
"No, someone close to one of us.", was my reply.
"The next time we talk, one of us will mention that so-and-so died this night." I continued and then forgot all about it.

After a night on the town, I fell into a deep sleep that was filled with lucid dreams.
In this night's dreams, I would find myself in a Big Band Swing Club filled with people I'd known but who'd since passed away.
As I was dancing with some baad bodied-up girl I didn't know and enjoying a conversation with my departed grandfather - "But you better get out before the clock strikes four, because there's always room for just one more." was the lyric to the song the band leader was singing.
At this time my grandfather kicked me in the ass to quickly remove me from the dance floor.
I had wanted to stay a bit longer to have imagined conversations with friends I hadn't seen since they were alive.
But my grandfather forced me to leave the dance floor.
At this time, my grandmother joined my grandfather in a routine that would impress even Cab Calloway.

Later, I would awaken to news from my sister that my grandmother had passed away in the early hours of that morning.
Later still, I would inform my boy of my need to fly to Texas to handle the probating of a will because someone had actually died on the night I seemed to possess the gift of prescience.
Coincidence? Probably.

On the night of Obama's election - I commented that Obama would win because he would be the 44th President if elected in an election that would take place on the forth.
"444" again.
Since he'd noticed a painting in my home with a (not so) hidden 444 as a backdrop - he'd asked of it's significance.
When I retold the above story, he just stored it in his memory.
After Obama won, he'd reminded me of my fascination with the number and asked if numerology was real.
Shortly after, he would find himself checking the mail at his grandmothers house.
The clock in her car read "4:44".
"I'm going to get some money in the mail", he exclaimed.
"You don't have anyone who owes you money." she said.
Sure enough, he received a check in the mail.

"4" points on a compass.
"4" walls to rooms.
"4" phases of the moon.
"4" Beasts in Daniel.
"4" Gospels.

What is up with "4"?
Then I was looking up quotes for the above post -
John 4:44 (KJV) - For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet has no honor in his own land."
That was the kicker.
It semmed to be screaming at me, "John 4:44!.".
Maybe I belong in this seemingly God forsaken city.
Maybe "444" was my destiny after all.

Choke !

Maybe the Trojans should have let her play.
Damn... I knew USC was in trouble when the fell behind early in the game.
Unlike past years - this year's Trojan team usually starts fast and finishes slow.
This game was over before halftime.
Maybe I should move to Philly.
L.A. had two teams fighting for pennants - and both choked.
This Trojan loss was a terribly frightful way to end the week for any L.A. sports fan.

1 Florida - Embarrassed Georgia.
2 Alabama - Idle
3 Texas - Spanked Oklahoma St.
4 Iowa - Oh..... it doesn't even matter that they, along with TCU, Boise St., and Cincy, won.
My season is over.
Maybe the Trojans will enjoy being in the Holiday Bowl.

Pretty Ugly

No mask needed!
Ajuma Nasanyana at Victoria’s Secret. All photos via nymag.com.
Alexandra Agoston at Jean Paul Gaultier.
Alexandra Tomlinson at Sue Stemp.
Alexandra Tretter at John Galliano.
Aminata Niaria at Proenza Schouler.
Ania Trublaska at Ossie Clark.
Anna Selezneva at Diesel.
Anna Selezneva at Yves Saint Laurent.
Anne Vyalitsyna at Moschino Cheap & Chic.
Anne Vyalitsyna at Nicole Miller.
Backstage at Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
Bette Franke at Christian Dior.
Coco Rocha at Zac Posen.
Dazed & Confused, December 2007.
Edita Vilkeviciute at Lanvin.
French Vogue, December 2000.
Suvi Koponen at Dolce & Gabbana.
Tanya Dziahileva at Dior.
Taryn Davidson in an Italian Marie Claire, October 2008.
Tasha Tilberg at Viktor & Rolf.
Tatyana Usova at Badgley Mischka.
Toni Garrn and Karlie Kloss at Marni.
Velvet, January 2009.
Vlada Roslyakova at Alexander McQueen.
Yulia Kharlapanova at Dries van Noten.
Happy Halloween, darlings!
xoxox,
CC
P.S. CC is in NYC with DG so won't be commenting this weekend, but promises to get back to you on Monday!

Halloween And I

Today is already Halloween Day and this has reminded me about my first Halloween celebration with Kevin. I keep on saying, how time flies.

 

 

It is like, today we are playing face painting using grandma’s white powder and aunt’s red lipstick, and tomorrow we are in  different countries, sending emails to each other describing our Halloween celebration. How ironic.

 

 

I am a Chinese and I don’t really celebrate Halloween Day. In fact, I ‘celebrate’ Hungry Ghost Festival. Emm.. It is not that I celebrate but  it is more like a prayer or an offering.

 

 

Last year was seriously my first celebration since Nuffnang & Maxis organized a Halloween Party and I received free 2 tickets from Suresh. Thanks again, how generous of him. Never had I thought of I will attend any Halloween Party, wearing something weird. If you wish to read more about my last year Halloween Party, go here and here.

 

 

The fun thing was, Kevin who has good experience with Halloween Party gave me generous advice on what I should wear during in the party. We attended the party together with our thick make-up and funny customs. Those lipstick spots on my face will never be forgotten.

 

 

What had happened last year is a memory for today. I am glad to have such a sweet memory with both Kevin and Aunt before they leave to US. Gosh, now I miss them. Hope that they are doing great with their new life there..

 

My Halloween Look For This Year:

 

 

So, are you asking about my Halloween this year?  I should be paying my visit to one of the Baskin Robbins Ice cream stalls in KL with Orange custom to get a 30% off ice cream. Sigh… If only if it is not because of my final exam which starts on next week, I will definitely go for it..

 

=_________________________________________=

 

Why there is such thing call exam? It kills creativity and innovative man.. *giving excuses*

 

Emmmm…. I should stay in the locked room with books, books and only books after this. Boring. Waiting Casper to save me out.

 

>.<