Throwback track

Roger Sanchez - another chance (2001)

Teaser Answer

"Scientists try to solve the context, Philosophers are wondering what's next. Pieces are took to
labs to observe them, They couldn't absorb them, they didn't deserve them; my ideas are only for the audience's ears, for my opponents it might take years"


ANSWER: RAKIM from don't sweat the technique (1991)

Finding Marvin Gaye continued

I finished Trouble Man late on Tuesday night. Marvin Gaye's life was dogged by his demons, always struggling between doing the right thing and doing what he felt like doing. I was often shocked, saddened and disappointed by what I read and asked the question 'why' throughout the whole book. At the same time I know that if we understood why he did things then well, that wouldn't be Marvin Gaye. While I read I often felt despair and depressed as if I could feel his pains through the pages. It quite frankly scared me that a book to do that, hell it's not even rational.

I think Caryl Phillips said it best in her review of the book

" Trouble Man is a definitive and often shocking glimpse into the life and times of one of America's greatest music talents. This wonderful book both moved me and disturbed me"

I learned more about the man and his music from this book then I thought I would. I've got a greater understanding of the grounds he made as an artist and it's made me appreciate his music even more. What's Going On is definitely a must have for me now.

Teasers

"Scientists try to solve the context, Philosophers are wondering what's next. Pieces are took to
labs to observe them, They couldn't absorb them, they didn't deserve them; my ideas are only for the audience's ears, for my opponents it might take years"

Can anyone guess or name who said this? I'll have the answer on Friday

Finding Marvin Gaye

Today I started reading TROUBLE MAN: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye by Steve Turner.
His was a tragic death and my knowledge of him at present is refined to a page on wikipedia and a handful of his songs that I enjoy ( got to give it up, what's going on, sexual healing, ain't no mountain high).

I'm some twenty pages in and already a sense of sadness, disappointment and doom is setting in as Turner lays out the foundations that would shape Gaye and be the source of his troubles. I am reluctant to read on in the fear that my idealistic vision of him will be tainted. "To know the artist, you've got to look beyond his music" . That's the thought that's burning in the back of my mind which is why I'll reluctantly read on tonight.

Throwback track

Janet Jackson- Got till its gone ft Q-Tip (1997)

Artist Spotlight: Jagged Edge

Atlanta RnB group Jagged Edge are back with their 4th album Baby Makin' Project

"Inspired as much by classic Motown soul as by 1980s new jack swing, Jagged Edge offer up a genuine R&B album filled with songs tailor-made for candlelit dinners and afterwards." SOURCE

The tracks I've listened to are quite laid back and mid-tempo and again their harmonies are on point. Whole Town Laughing and Way to say I love you are already my favourites off the album. Set for release on the the 25th September, Baby Makin' Project is also the group's first release on their own label 581 (which is an affiliate of Def Jam records).

Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Put A Little Umph In It feat. Ashanti
3. Whole Town Laughing
4. Me That's Who
5. Get This
6. I'll Be Damned
7. Can't Get Right
8. Way To Say I Love You
9. Sunrise
10. Round And Round
11. Turn U On

Pacific News Section added to the Post online

PNG's number one daily has added a Pacific News Section onto their online content. Did anyone else spot this or am I on the late bus? It took me a minute to realise this but good on them for doing that! Although I must add that it would be better if they placed it under the main News Section rather than under the Post Courier Says Section. All in due course I suppose...

New J. Holiday

Suffocate is set to be released as the third single off his debut album Back of my lac.
I'm liking the mellow RnB sound of this track and I'm sure its going to grow on me the way Bed did.
Click here to listen
Source: concreteloop.com

Fancy Footwork

Interesting shoes by Francesca Giobbi don't you think?



Source: fly

PNG inde. what did you do today?

Happy Independence Day my fellow Papua New Guineans.

It's 10.30am folks and I've already kick started my inde. day with some toast and some coffee. I'm wearing a red tee with a tok pisin phrase on it "pullim blut long ston" on the front and "tok pisin" on the back.
While I myself may not getting up to much today I am sure there are others who will be going along to some bungs or events that commemorate independence day.
Do share what you got up to and say what independence day means to you.

Throwback Track

Kicking it old school with a double Dose 2day. Happy Independence Folks!!

This was one of the first RnB songs I ever watched on Rage (ABC) in the mid-nineties
Zhane- groove thang (1994)


Fugees- killing me softly (1996)

How much I don't know about my roots

I received a survey yesterday that required me to answer questions regarding some a part Manus history. It would have gone smoothly except for that after reading through the questions I realised I knew very little about Manus history. I can only name the basics: my father’s village name, the island where he’s from, the island location, our clan name and members of my father’s family dating back only two generations. What could have caused this I asked myself? Ignorance? Lack of communication? After much thought I came up with the following analysis.

Firstly I grew up in Port Moresby, which I believe is as much of a melting pot as New York (maybe not to the same extent but you get the idea) given the diversity of the country and the ethnicities you’ll find in the capital. You’ll find a lot of cross-cultural fraternising and the westernisation of the city means there is a shift in focus from traditional ways to the western tendencies e.g. wider use of English and access to cable TV, education and the Internet. As a result a whiz kid whose parents are from Madang may know more about the periodic table and the reactions of sodium potassium when mixed with an acid based liquid than about whom his tribal elders were 3 generations ago.

Secondly there is a shift from traditional goals and aspirations to that of modern-contemporary times. We equate education with power to earn money and that has become what we aspire to have. Traditional and cultural education is secondary to a HSC certificate and so there is not too much emphasis on it. This is why more and more people speak English and Tok pisin rather than the language of their parents and why growing food in a garden is not something you’d find most high school students learning about.

The other reason is that I am a product of an inter-cultural marriage. I find that often in an inter-cultural marriages emphasis may be placed on learning one of the parent’s cultures (most often the father’s due to the patriarchal nature of most of PNG society) or a more westernised cultural upbringing is favoured with cultural learning playing a minor role especially in a city like Port Moresby. For instance neither of the two languages we spoke at home was native to either parent and I was more exposed to my mother’s culture because her parents lived in the capital e.g weekend visits to grandma’s or trips on the highway for village feasts

I thought to myself if this is true for me then maybe it’s true for a lot of young Papua New Guineans who either come from bi-cultural families or a raised in the larger cities of the country where they encounter people of other ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. If so then the following can be said:

1. Very little cultural knowledge (including language which I believe is a pre-curser to unlocking cultural identity) and history is being retained and archived
2. As people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds mix with each other there is bound to be a loss of culture.

So while I mull over the content of the survey I admit regretfully that I know very little of either of my parent’s cultures. That leaves me wondering: am I less manus and mekeo because I don’t know that much about either? And does the statement “I am part manus and mekeo” hold true if I can’t back it up with my cultural knowledge?

Max Fashions

Describing their Spring/Summer 07/08 collection "feminine and eclectic", Max Fashion's new line is now available in it's New Zealand shops with some pieces yet to be released (November at the latest). Browsing through their collection online I found myself drawn to the bright red berry satin dress that greeted me while the site loaded. I tried to be objective and pick a variety of pieces, but what caught my eye were their dresses with only one top n short outfit finding favour with me.

1. Seville print dress $129

2. Georgie strapless dress $129

Their spring/ summer line contained a lot of blues, blacks, greys, whites and reds with various floral prints.The dresses and skirts were very feminine with an 80s/70s/60s feel about them i.e. loose and flowing knee to above the knee length dresses and high waisted skirts while their pants and shorts were boyish i.e. the news paper boy shorts. My disappointment was that they played it safe with black still dominating their palette and that several of the darker pieces were not available in other colours.

3. Taylor Chiffon Tunic $99

4. Leuella Satin dress with gathered detail $129 (available in berry and silver)

5. brown pin stripe chiffon top $89 & brown pinstripe long short $89
note. I think the top is hot but I would loved to have seen it in another bright colour to really make it pop

Here are some tid bits about Max Fashions
-Max is a New Zealand owned company that was founded by David Wright in 1985
-their ranges come out every week
-they cater from size 6 to 16
-price range is $49 up

Apple stays ahead of the game

Apple has unveiled a slick touch-screen version of the iconic iPod as part of a product line overhaul.

IPod Touch models feature Apple’s Safari web browser and a built-in wireless antenna, meaning users can connect directly to the Internet at Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’ the same way they might with a laptop computer.
Apple built custom Google and Yahoo search functions into iPod Touch models, along with YouTube video viewing and an iTune Wi-Fi Music Store that permits shopping at the online store without going through a computer.
The iPod Touch models have been localized to an array of languages and will be the first part of the new product line to ship worldwide, according to Jobs.
“I want an iPod Touch,” said British musician KT Tunstall, who performed at the press conference. “Steve Jobs is actually making it more fun to pay for music than steal it, which is great.”IPod Touch will be available by month’s end. The devices are essentially iPhones without the mobile phone capabilities.
“We think it’s one of the seven wonders of the world,” Apple’s chief executive Steve Jobs quipped as he pulled a new iPod Touch from a pocket of his trademark blue jeans during the San Francisco press conference. “If you’ve used an iPhone you will feel very much at home.”Apple’s overhaul includes matchbook-size iPod Shuffles in new colors and iPod Nanos built with video and game capabilities.
SOURCE: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

After scanning the net to see if the ipod touch was available in NZ , The Apple Store NZ confirmed that it was but to online customers:
the ipod touch is available in 8GB (NZ$479) and 16 GB (NZ$649)
while in Australia the 8GB is $419 while the 16GB is $549.

Manic Monday + weekend round up

Right, its Monday folks, the beginning of another hopefully productive, fun, drama free week (fingers crossed).
I've spent the past week doing desk research which has affected my sleep patterns and increased my intake of caffine. I handed in that research project today and I've finally decided to come up with a weeky/fortnightly outline of blog posts rather then post randomly which compromises quality and increases the likely-hood of bad punctuation (some of my olds posts reflect that. SMH). Moving on....

The VMAs are being held today which is actually yesterday because the 9th September was yesterday. (confused yet?) Britney Spears is performing her new single "gimme more" at the awards and I can't wait to see how that goes down (I'm already hooked on the song).

NRL semis took place over the weekend. The results are as follow:
Warriors vs Eels 10-12( I am totally gutted about the Warriors loss) This game was also the first finals match to be played outside of Australia in NRL history. I can't believe I missed that SMH.
Cowboys vs Bulldogs 20-18 ( go the Cowboys!!!)
Manly vs Souths 30-6

Storm vs Bronchos 40-0

check out my sister Michaelyn posing with a Warrior post match (excuse the quality...I'm soo J)

The Rugby Union World Cup kicked off last week. The opening ceremony was...different. I'm left wondering whether I'll have time watch some of the matches. Go the ALL BLACKS!!!

Throwback track: EnVogue- Free your mind

This song is still rockin'!!!
With stand out lines like "before you can read me you've got to learn how to see me" I can't help but still love it.

PNG bag the gold,silver and bronze women's in 800m

WINNERS: PNG’s middle distance running stars Salome Dell (left), Cecelia Kumalalamene and Ann Mooney celebrating on the podium after getting their medals in Apia, Samoa, yesterday. Kumalalamene won the race, Dell was second and Mooney third.
SOURCE: Post Courier

I met Salome in Auckland two Saturdays ago. She trains at the Millennium Sports Institute on Auckland's North Shore.They've all done well.

NZ Fashion Week and questions about PNGs fashion industry

New Zealand Fashion week has been held every year in September since the year 2000. The event gives NZ designers a chance to showcase their fall and winter collections for international and local buyers and the media.

Big name NZ designers who will be show casing their lines this year are Karen Walker, Trelise Cooper (who'll also be showing her new Trelise Cooper children's line", Zambesi, Westfield Style Pasifika and Lola by Rachel Hunter to name a few. For a full list of designers click here.

Exhibitors include the AUT School of Textile and Design, Sabatini, Textile and Design Massey University, Barbara Lee, Ricochet (whom I did a post on back in July) and IGF also to name a few. Click here for the full list.

For us mere mortals who do not have access to the exclusive shows NZFW also cater to us in their as the NZ Fashion Week 4 U , Designer Selection Shows, The Designer Garage Sale, the Season Preview Shows, Beauty Zone, access to music from the Cutting Room and to keep you fed and hydrated they have their own on-site restaurant.

Visit NZfashionweek.com for more info and details.

While on the issue of fashion week and show casing fashion several questions spring to mind: Does PNG have some sort of designer show case for its own fashion houses such as Kokoda Tailoring. In events such as the Miss PNG quest who do they look to design and make their gowns and out fits? Do we have PNG fashion designers or just seamstresses and tailors and should they be looking to developing their own lines? Would you buy from them if they did?

The Waterfront

Located on the Viaduct just outside the America's Cup yacht the Waterfront caters to 250 people max. The last time I'd been to the Waterfront was last year in April or May and my has it changed since then.They've done a major overhaul to the interior and revamped it.

They've extended the space by adding an extra lounge over what use to be the bathrooms. Gone are the booth like seats which lined the walls and there are now 2 major dance areas: the old dance floor & the space just before the deck (to the left as you walk in).

There are even more sitting areas:
-the deck outside for smokers (smoking inside bars and clubs in NZ is banned)
-the two booths to the front of the bar
-the lounge area where the bathrooms used to be and

-the outdoor sitting area on the other side of the main dance floor which over looks the viaduct.note: the lights looked like candles in the ceiling.

The DJ was great that night. He did some great mixing and manged to get the crowd going with some good tech n house joints adding into the mix some hip hop n rnb club bangers. He surprised me with a mash-up of red red wine and buy you a drink (which I'm still searching for). Other faves that night would have to be destination calabria (once again), blow my whistle and a lot of other songs that fail to come to mind right now.

It's definitely risen on my list as one of the night spots to visit. Note to the fellas, mind what shoes you're wearing because their dress code changes. Sometimes they'll let you in with your nikes, vans, etc and sometimes they won't. Always have your ID ready otherwise you won't get in. And don't bother going if you're claustrophobic cos it does get crowded in there. My rating 4.5/ 5

Throwback Track: The Roots ft Erykah Badu and Eve