Lupus Sucks!!!

As stated in my earlier post, Jay Dee aka; J Dilla; aka Dilla Dawg; aka Pay Jay; aka Jay Dee-Zee, doin' it like he's doin' it for TV, is THE MAN.

Sure, there are other artists that I care a lot about from Beethoven to Phil Glass; Robert Nesta Marley to Sizzla; Thelonious Monk to John Coltrane; Celia Cruz to La Lupe and The Fania All Stars; Al Green and Stevie Wonder to Raphael Saadiq; Led Zepplin to The Police; A Tribe Called Quest to Little Brother, and countless other Hip-Hop, Dance, Rock, Pop and all around great artists that are the $hit!!! But, when it comes down to that: "...stranded on a deserted Island" artist that I'd have to take with me...It's gotta be Jay Dee!!! He's among the Greatest EVER.

Ms. Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, the mother of the late James Yancey, is currently battling the same form of Lupus/Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP or Moschcowitz disease), which took her son’s life.

Please help me in supporting this worthy cause by checking out my personal page, or the J Dilla & Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey team page, and showing your love for the:

2009 Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Washington Chapter's 3rd Annual Walk for Lupus Now!

The walk begins @ 9:30am, with registration starting at 8:30am.

1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, DC. (METRO STOPS: Federal Triangle for the BLUE or ORANGE lines and Metro Center for RED line.)

There will be clowns, face painters and other activities for the kids. With the walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 12th to 3rd street and back to 12th street, (about 1.5 miles total and 5K if you do the route twice, down-and-back). There will also be a mini, two-block walk for those unable to complete the full 1.5 miles. Rain or shine!

Again, knowing that times are tough for all of us right now; it would still be great to reach the humble goal of the $100 minimum pledge in the names of James and Maureen Yancey. And, at the very least, please forward this to ANY of your people in the DC area who might want to at least come out and walk in support. Come down in your Dilla T's, and load-up an iPod playlist full of Dilla hits. The weather is supposed to hit 72° F on Saturday, and it should be beautiful!

Either way, it would mean a lot to me, the cause and the Yancey family, I'm sure.

Thanks again for all of your love and support!!!

Peace,

Saj

TopShop, StateSide...

I hit this spot TOPSHOP, the last time that I was in the UK.

Although I was already "fresh," you kinda find yourself slightly out-of-fashion when you go to Merry Olde England. Their cuts are just a little slimmer and tailored, ya know!? And, as me and my "Ex-pat mates" were going-out to hit the pubs, I had to look extra "smart" to have any shot at those "loverly London birds."

Of course, I spent my time and $$$ in the TOPMAN section, 'cause I wasn't plannin' on goin' out like Boy George...But regardless, I found a couple of nice sweaters and some pretty cool (Native American?) inspired belts. I didn't think it was that bad dropping around 175 for the lot...UNTIL I got home and checked the credit card bill, and realized that 175 British Pounds equaled about $260.00...duh. But, the belts are still fresh; and I honestly haven't found any sweaters since that fit as well, or still look cool these 5 years later.

Sir Philip Green opened-up TOPSHOP's first US flagship in NYC, today; and I'll definitely be checking it out the next time I'm up in the city. We'll see how well they do in this economy...but, just about any new international chain seems to do relatively well in the Big Apple for the first year or so, and success there will mean another possible 12 locations nationwide. For some healthy competition to Sweden's H&M, I'd wager we'd get one down here in the DMV as well!?!

Another One Bites the Dust...

It's a sad, sad day for us vinyl enthusiasts in the DC area (...the one's who liked to actually hit a brick-and-mortar from time-to-time; and get a close-up look, feel and audial sample of what we were about to drop our hard earned $$$ on). First the old Capitol City Records went away; and now, even after it's revival and remodeling after a vicious fire and major smoke/water damage back in August of 2007; the DJ Hut is now on the way out, too.

This came through on the B-Berry, this afternoon:

DJ Hut friends and customers,

We have some sad and disappointing news to share with you. DJ Hut can no longer battle the dual headwind of the demise of the music retail industry and the economic downturn. As a result, we are forced to shut down the store and go strictly online at the end of April. Effective immediately, all vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and books will be liquidated at the rate of 20% off the regular price.

We would like to thank you for your support over the last 7 years at the store and we look forward to your continued support in the future online.

Best, DJ Hut Crew

At least they'll still be peddling wares on the net; but, that does nothing for me when I need a trusty location to bring my Tech 12's when they need repairs or a tune-up. And, having just been in there a few weeks ago, it's a real shame that they have to close down the shop. It was looking REALLY sweet after the post-blayze remodeling, with the fresh hardwood floors and new display-hardware. Plus, there was nothing like shopping for and sampling their wax, while inhaling that enchanting scent of freshly baked Subway bread...

So, if you're in the market for any "records, CDs, DVDs and books" be sure to drop-by and show some love, while getting a 20% break at the same time.

Peace out, DJ Hut...thanks for everything!!!

OvER

Big-ups to NBC's ER and it's grand finale. I was a big fan of the series, having tuned-in since it's inception, waaay back in days of my studies to be a Phyisical Therapist and EMT.

EMT's been covered, didn't even need to graduate High School, for that!? But, as I find myself in a position looking for more stable work, or even a job at all, this series and it's ending actually inspired me to check back into the possibilities of going back to school and hittin' the books to follow-through on my original undergrad interests in being a PT; all of these years later...

Marymount University...I just may be in touch!!!