Atlanta's Hip Hop Scene: The Good Die Mostly Over Bull Shiiiiiiiiii.......

GOODIE MOB. I don't think I have to say any more. One of the  most influential groups out of Atlanta. I still have their first album, Soul Food, in heavy rotation on the iPod. I remember when I first  heard cell therapy. I was like this is an instant classic.

Out of all of the members, I always was a big fan of Big Gipp and Cee-Lo because they seemed to push the edge lyrically. Don't get me wrong, I also enjoyed listening T-Mo and Khujo on the mic, but the Cee-Lo and Big Gipp were usually on fire on all of their songs.

I decided to post a couple of songs that I still enjoy listening to this day. So sit back and reminisce.

Documentary Review: War Don Don

Last month I saw an independent film called War Don Don at the West End Cinema in Washington, DC. I was fortunate to be able to be present as the director/producer, Rebecca Richman Cohen was available for a question and answer session after the viewing of the film.

War Don Don is a film that delves into the effectiveness of the United Nations (UNs) Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL). The UNs SCSL was set up as a partnership between the government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations as way to bring to justice the individuals who were responsible for the for the violations of Sierra Leone's and International Community's Humanitarian laws. What was so interesting about this documentary is the fact that it questioned the effectiveness of these special courts. Is justice really being served by prosecuting a few individuals? Are these individuals the only ones that should shoulder the blame for these violations that took place during a horrific civil war?

This specific documentary covers the trial of Issa Sesay, a formal battle field Commander of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The film takes a look from both sides, the prosecution and the defense. The prosecution is charged with proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Issa Sesay, one of the key figures in the peace negotiations that ended a long bloody civil war, should bear the responsibility for the atrocious acts against the citizens of Sierra Leone. Such atrocities included the recruitment of child soldiers, amputating the limbs of many citizens of the country, as well as the rape and mass killings of the it's citizens. The defense, while not trying to dispute the fact that Issa Sessay was a battlefield commander of the RUF, must try to prove that Issa Sessay cannot be held responsible for all of the atrocities that occurred during the civil war. They must prove that he in no way authorized or condoned such treatment of the people he was fighting to set free from a corrupt and oppressed government.

The documentary also looked at the peculiar relationship the court has with the every day citizens of Sierra Leone that lived through this civil war. They do want and would like to see justice but at what cost. They see the outside nations pouring millions of dollars into the SCSL to prosecute a few individuals while poverty and joblessness runs rampant in the country.

If you have a chance, I recommend seeing the film. It has been running on HBO for the last month. You can also purchase the DVD online from the following Website: http://www.wardondonfilm.com/film.

I hope you enjoy the film as much as I did.

Health tip: Transition from Fruits to Vegetables

I really enjoy food. I would have to say that food is an obsession of mine. My obsession with food is not to the point that I can't control myself around it, but it is one of the great pleasures of my life. Not only do I enjoy going out to restaurants to sample different cuisines, but I also like to dibble and dabble a bit in and around the kitchen. I by no means consider myself a chef, well maybe somewhat of a fly by night chef, hence my moniker the Midnight Chef. I also use this nickname because I tend to start preparing meals at the wee hours of the night.

My love of food has also opened my eyes to the fact that I also enjoy looking at cookware and watching cooking shows on the Food Network (Chopped is by far my favorite) and the Cooking Channel. I also purchase and use cookbooks to help inspire me to create in times when I need inspiration. Sometimes I forgo the cookbooks and just freestyle it (that means to go off the top of my head for anyone who missed the meaning).

I have also found that my love and fondness for cooking has provided me another form of entertainment and venue to relieve stress. I've come to realize that we all need these types of venues to help us deal with the everyday pressures that we experience as we navigate this vast complex set of intricate twists and turns of tunnels and open spaces we call life.

Okay, so I know I have completely gotten of topic with this blog, but like the title says this blog is dedicated to a set of "Random thoughts that go through my head". So I hope you will be patient with me as I lead you on this journey to a specific place and point.

Since I am such a lover of food and cooking, I know that I must engage in some type of physical activity (this means more than walking around the block once in your 10 year old kicks that looks brand new because of their lack of usage) in order to keep myself from blowing up like a house. You can't eat as much as I do, while being sedentary most of the day, and not expect to pack on the pounds over the years. I mean I am getting older and I don't think (well I actually know) my metabolism is planning on increasing as time progresses.

One thing that I have learned over the years is that nutrition is key to keeping your self physically fit as well as an exercise routine that incorporates interval cardiovascular and strength training (Yes women strength training is also good for you too, and no you wont start looking to masculine unless you already had that problem LOL). If you have given up the candy and the cakes and you still find yourself having a hard time trying to attain a certain goal, try transitioning some of those in between snacks from fruits to vegetables. I'm not trying to say that fruits aren't healthy, but they still contain sugar, natural sugar, but still sugar. The transition of some of these in between snack from fruits to vegetables should reduce your overall sugar intake, which might give the extra lift needed to get rid of those extra five (5) pounds.

Anyway, give it try and see how it works.