And yet another one of my good friends, Abeo Anderson, is using her energy to make the world a better place. She sent me an email about some programs the non-profit where she works, Raising Expectations Inc., is having. One of the programs is "Green the Block" Mosaic & Music Citywide Youth Environmental Sculpture Art Project designed to clean up and design our neighborhoods. Youth [ages 12-18] will meet at neighborhood libraries to learn from environmental educators and professional mosaic/sculpture artists about various ways to help keep DC communities clean and green. Youth Ward representatives will take action by going out in their communities and collecting recyclable materials for the creation of 8 large mosaic/sculpture figures for public display in their Ward. More information can be found on their website.

» Click Below to Continue Reading:
'Raising Expectations of Our Youth Through Cultural Arts and More'

Recently I received an email from a friend of mine, Jesse Moore, about a program seeking volunteers in the Washington, DC, area. Concerned Black Men's Capitol City Cares Mentoring Program [C3MP] is looking for mentors to work with young men and provide guidance and support.

Those who are interested in at least seeing what they're talking about can download an application and attend the orientation coming up in a few weeks.

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'Concerned Black Men Looking For Mentors in DC'

I want to send out a big THANK YOU to those who made donations to the National Kidney Foundation and sponsored me for the 5k walk last weekend. It was DC's largest turnout ever, starting with only 30 participants when it first started 8 years ago to over 800 participants this year. Those making donations were:



The walk went well, the weather was perfect and the people were amazingly enthusiastic and passionate for the cause. We heard stories of those affected by kidney diseases and many success stories which put our [and your] efforts into perspective.

Next year the plan is to assemble a team, as many of the other participants did, and see if we can increase our contribution and get more people involved. In participating I heard from some of my friends who also know people who are/were affected by kidney failure such as Amanee Blake, Mary Andom and Dana VanSlyke Sentell's husband, my former high school classmate Jeff Sentell.

Thanks again everyone who donated and those who sent emails and made phone calls to show your support!

Donations can still be made for those who want to donate.

For those who know and those who don't, my mom had a kidney transplant several years ago after waiting for almost a decade and a half!!! Maybe longer!? I lost count when she didn't get a match after the first three to five years. Three times a week she spent four hours sitting next to a machine to get her blood cleaned. That's a part-time job! Talk about relying on your job to stay alive!

Well, the other day I saw a brochure about a fundraising walk, similar to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Run/Walk, and, well, how am I not going to participate? I wear the green ribbon on my lapel from time to time which encourages people to become organ donors. My mom got her kidney from a 22-year-old who passed away way too early in life. He who was an organ donor. His other kidney went to another recipient. All his organs went to other recipients. Bless his heart.

Anyway, I know it's a recession, but I'm asking everyone if they, too, can help, by making a donation to the National Kidney Foundation. Everything counts. Especially the gesture. If all you have is $10, my appreciation will be just as great. Donations can be made by clicking on this link to help me reach my goal.

I'm also going to participate in the 5k Walk on October 3, 2009, here in Washington, DC. I'm just glad it's called a walk!

Thanks!

Please join in me congratulating Shani Walker and Freddie Harrison with their newborn daughter, Shania Elizabeth Marie Harrison, born Saturday, March 28, 2009.

He's back! Anyone who finds themselves in DC next Friday without any plans [and if you have plans — reschedule them] needs to be at "The Return of LACED: The Art Show" put on by solSource and my man Bobby Cato.

Laced, you ask?

» Click Below to Continue Reading:
'It's Time To Get LACED — The Evolution of Culture'

Speaking of the return of my BlackBerry, my friend LeiLani educated me not too long ago about BlackBerry Messenger. I still remember her sending me a Google chat asking if I had a BlackBerry. When I replied yes, she asked for my PIN. I almost gave her my ATM card PIN.

When she finally explained to me which PIN she meant, she simply somehow added me [or was it she showed me how to add her?] to her buddy list and I still have no idea how it happened.

So far I have four BBM buddies [even Ashley White who just got her BB had to help me connect with her], but I know we five are not the only ones with a BlackBerry. And a couple of you — Cedric and Moshi — shared with me your PINs, but I admit — I have no idea what to do with them!

So if you can help a brutha out, I'd appreciate it. Let's make a deal — I'll share with you my PIN [31847801] and somehow someway, you find a way to get on my list. If there's something I need to do on my end, just text me. I figured that out a few years ago.

And for those who are still using conventional phones [the 21st century awaits your arrival], I still prefer IMing myself.

After a week of getting religious — praying to everyone's Almighty — the BlackBerry has finally dried out and is back to sending carcinogetic cellphone waves through my brain again!

Well, almost. The 1 button still acts funny from time to time and the 6 button requires pressing so hard my knuckles turn white to kick in, but for the most part, I'm mobile again.

If you're already among the 600+ contacts, it's all good. The trackball works like it just got a good rinsing out. If not, well, I probably don't know you anyway.

Now that I've saved myself a couple of hundred of dollars by not having to buy a new phone, I think I'll spend some of that money on a new Blackberry belt clip leather case!

Just as the Google-Microsoft-Yahoo war takes a hiatus, Facebook is arming itself for a war with Twitter. I'm definitely not a Twitter expert, only understanding it as a site to let everyone know every time you inhale and exhale, but I do know that Facebook status updates can be kind of annoying. I really do care about every single one of y'all [pardon my southern vernacular], but I'm not really into what every single one of you are doing at every single minute. I guess that's what happens when you start Facebook friending people you really don't know.

Do you know how many status updates I see between six and eight in the evening of who's about to eat dinner? Or how many of you are at work — bored [which can get you fired, you know]?

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'Facebook Facelift Helps Filter Friends'

How nostalgic! The U.S. Postal Service is raising the price of a stamp to 44 cents the same year we elected our 44th president. It's because of Barack Obama, right?

Well, actually it's because they're losing money because the only ones using stamps are those who are behind the times and don't have an email address. The USPS lost $2.8 billion last year and are expected to lose even more this year. If we thought people were going postal in the past, this is about to get ugly.

The price goes up in May, but a 42 cent stamp will still be valid, if anyone by chance happens to have any. I'm still getting sitting on 37 cent stamps.

How can you beat this? Free concert this Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial with...

Well, it was a good idea while it lasted. Though some bars, restaurants and other establishments may stay open 24 hours on inauguration weekend, slowly but surely some owners are agreeing not to take advantage of the emergency legislation giving them the option.

DC Keeps The Doors Open
DC Council approved legislation allowing establishments with a liquor license to serve alcohol until 5 a.m. and food around the clock. And of course immediately there were complaints, primarily those who live in areas surrounded by restaurants. But...

» Click Below to Continue Reading:
'Inauguration Weekend Notes'

Those who know me know my anti-Wal-Mart views. Though they've made some changes over the years, well, I'll spare you the politics. But I will give credit where credit is due, in this case, in a $12.5 million letter of credit Wal-Mart provided to the Martin Luther King National Project Foundation.

With this letter of credit, it now appears construction of the memorial on the Tidal Basin can begin. The goal is to reach $120 million in which $100 million has been received. If you would like to donate or just learn more about the project, you can visit the MLK Memorial website. Those who donate can have their name etched into the National Memorial in a special section for special donors.

Another legend has passed away in Rudy Ray Moore, more commonly known as Dolemite M@#$%er F@#ker!. He died of complications from diabetes at the age of 81 in Ohio.



If you have virgin ears, you might not want to watch this video of Dolemite performing live. Seriously.

People, people...
As most of you already know, I'm celebrating my birthday this Saturday, May 17, at Zanzibar on the Waterfront. I'll be there early [around 9:00 pm] for my people planning on coming out early to get home early. I'll be there around the time they open the doors, but I'm closing down the bar so no need to rush.

I sent out Evites. If you didn't get it, check your spam/bulk trash folder.

There will be a live performance by Emeline Michel, a Haitian performer with an African-Caribbean sound, on the first floor. Second floor is the usual hip hop, rap, reggae, soul and my favorite — go go. The cost is $25 at the door.

Dress code: Give them a call at (202) 554-9100, but last time I went, jeans were cool, no sneaks, no boots, no athletic gear and no head gear.

Around midnight we will meet up on The Deck. The entrance to The Deck is on the second floor. This way my people can meet the rest of my people and it gives me a chance to say "hey" and "thank you" to everyone. If you smoke stogies, bring 'em.

The club is in walking distance to the Waterfront Metro Station on the green line. There's plenty of parking in the area. If you get there early you might find free parking on the street. If not, I have no idea how much it costs. The address is 700 Water Street SW.

Be sure to RSVP on the Evite so I know to look for you. If you need me to resend it, just email me. Otherwise, I'll see you Saturday.

I don't care if you have plans already! If you're within a 90 mile radius of DC, you have to come out and support my homegirl Erica's [Yes, that Erica from Toast to a '77 Classic] first installment of a monthly event called Sacred Art Saturdays. It's held at Red Door Gallery & Lounge in Capitol Hill, three blocks from Eastern Market metro station. You do have to RSVP to attend by sending an email to rsvp@iconnecthedots.com. Damn I hope Erica doesn't mind me posting this!

Good things do in fact come to those who wait. Well, if you do go go. I was debating a couple of house party invites, H2O or Zanzibar [just because I could walk home], The Sheraton with radio personality Russ Parr and a bunch of NBAers or even just staying at the pad and saving a couple of dollars.

But then I saw an announcement about The Godfather of Go Go Chuck Brown performing at Club 9:30 with Mambo Sauce and Suga Bear of EU.

I didn't know Chuck Brown and James Brown, The Godfather of Soul, performed at 9:30 Club just two years ago. Imagine that — two Godfathers on the same stage? James Brown has left us, but Chuck Brown, at 73-years-old, is still going strong.

For those not into go go and are going to pass, hey, have a safe New Year's Eve and a financially successful 2008!

The new year is almost here and as usual, many of you (and me) are planning on bringing in the new year to' up. For those of my people who are planning on going to church that night, this may not apply to you, but for those who are going to be out their right mind Monday night/Tuesday morning, you may want to put the number below in your phone now before you go out. Click on this flyer for more information:



The service is free, available until 6:00 am and it covers all fares up to $50 in the DC region. Metro is running rail service until 2:00 am for those who are going to retire for the night earlier than me.

As soon as we get this New Year's Eve out the way, mark your calendars for Friday night, January 25th, 2008. My homegirl Dana, a yoga instructor here in the DC area, is having a Calendar Release Party at Lotus Lounge in Washington, DC. And the calendar is pretty hot! Well, the calendar is standard, but Dana is hot!

You can click here to take a sneak peak of the calendar and purchase your copy online. I took a look at the final product a few months ago and it's not just for those who do yoga. Dana definitely makes the calendar. You just gotta check out the website for some preview photos.

The Calendar Release Party will be at Lotus Lounge, located at 1420 K Street NW, Washington DC 20005, (202) 289-4222. If you've never been there, you can catch a glimpse of the venue by visiting their website.

I'll remind everyone some time after the holidays, since I know everyone is preparing for Monday night. Holla at me if you have any questions...

For those who have known me for some time, you won't be surprised to know I've moved once again. And if you really know me, you know I'm still in Washington, DC.

The new digs are still in the Waterfront area in SW, a few blocks away from the new baseball stadium they're building for the Washington Nationals. I can even see the stadium rising out the ground from my balcony on the 7th story of River Park. There's even a view of the Anacostia River and the U.S. Capitol Building just north of the neighborhood.

I'm still in the process of getting everything set up. In other words, I haven't even moved one thing. Maybe I'll get around to it this weekend.

Eventually, I'll invite everyone over to visit. My new address can always be found on The 411 with a Google Map of where I live.

The year isn't even 24 hours old, and I receive a text from this homeboy:



Congratulations to Devin Johnson and his engagement to long-time girlfriend, Afiya White.