All of December is read a new book month. For the rest of this month I will be doing book reviews to support the importance of literature in our society. I feel that with the number of small book presses and bookstore closing at an alarming rate reading fans like myself are losing the chance to read amazing authors and to experience and use our imaginations. TV and the internet are not replacements for a good old book. I hope you enjoy the reviews that I do. They will be unique and focusing on diverse titles from different genres.

Take a look in a book,

UrbanGeek

Picture Source: http://blondierocket.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/n217834.jpg

African-American students due face diffculties within the educational system. But how about black students who may not act like the “sterotypical” African-American. For most of these students they are labeled as “white”. They are “white” because they may have interests that are not traditionally connected to the African-American community.

Here are few examples

Wearing punk-style clothes

Listening to Nickelback instead of 50 cent

Reading beyond material tied to blacks such as urban literature

I feel that the next generation has the power to move away from the sterotypes and achieve educational success. Fewer black students are graduating from high school and college.

I found a very interesting article that talks about this issue:

http://www.blackcommentator.com/100/100_cover_acting_white.html

Increbilble Stan on YouTube explains it well:

I have dealt with these issues in my own life. People always told me that I acted white. Just because I liked video games and anime. And then I am also attracted to people outside of my race and my own people tell me from time to time it is wrong to do that. Is it wrong to love outside of your race? I think not. But just like in the video I wanted to connect with my own people. So I started to “act” like them, dress like them, I even wanted to talk like them too. We all want to feel like we belong somewhere but this is the reality for children and adults all over the world. If you have experienced these issues all you have to do is to be yourself and love yourself for who you are.

With something to think about,

UrbanGeek

Picture Source:http://www.blackcommentator.com/100/100_images/100_cover_up.gif

We live in a world surrounded by fast food for a quick buck. But what would happen if we ate fast food all at the time? Super Size Me gives the answer to that question. American independent filmmaker Morgan Spurlock when on a McDonald’s only high-fat diet for 30 days. Not only did he gain weight he also experienced depression and issues with his liver. Super-Size really opened my eyes to the importance of taking care of yourself and also that fast-food CAN be bad for you.  But there are people who eat this kind of food everyday.

Diets don’t work. You have to learn how to maintain a balance of fruits and vegetables and some meat as well. But exercise is important as well. We don’t exercise as much these days. Spurlock did an excellent job explaining the dangers of eating unhealthy.

Rating: 5 Geeks

Picture source: moviebanter.wordpress.com/…/

Geek Studies is a complete blog on studying and understanding geek culture. This is one of the very few blogs on the net that gives an academic view to geek culture. One of my favorite writings was on female geeks and how they are affected in a male-dominated geek culture. Geek culture is not childish and I feel that it is an important part of modern day pop culture.

Site: http://www.geekstudies.org/

Picture source: http://www.geekstudies.org/

The Sunday idol drama ratings have been released and with Xiao Xiao Bin’s help once again, ‘Autumn’s Concerto’ has broke 5%, with a big lead against ‘Hi My Sweetheart’ & ‘Momo Love’. The battlefield seems to be very clear now.

On Sunday night, ‘Autumn’s Concerto’ broadcasted Vanness & Ady’s reunion after being separated for 6 years, and the ratings broke 5%. The father-and-son also finally met each other, and the scene where Vanness teaches Xiao Xiao Bin to tie his shoelaces, once again made the female audience burst into tears.

Source: http://asianfanatics.net/news/

]]> http://urbangeek08.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/vanness-wu-teaches-xiao-xiao-bin-to-tie-shoelace-ratings-break-5/feed/ 0 urbangeek08 http://urbangeek08.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/tomorrow-ever-after-performing-at-miramar-theater/ http://urbangeek08.wordpress.com/2009/11/23/tomorrow-ever-after-performing-at-miramar-theater/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:43:05 +0000 urbangeek08 http://urbangeek08.wordpress.com/?p=156 ]]>

Tomorrow Ever After will be performing live at WMSE November 24th at 8 p.m.  They will be playing brand new material durning the broadcast. Their live performance will be at the Miramar Theater November 28th at 8 p.m.

Here is more infomation on the show:

Hey alternative and new rock music lovers… check out ‘rock & roll nouveau’ masters – 2MorroW EvR AfteR as they perform live on WMSE 91.7 frontier radio in Milwaukee!… The show is Tuesday, November 24th at 8pm. 2MorroW EvR AfteR will be performing new material that they will showcase for this radio broadcast. The performance can also be heard on the web via podcast at www.wmse.org. TEA (2MorroW EvR AfteR) will be promoting their Milwaukee Concert at The Miramar Theater (2844 N. Oakland Ave, Milwaukee) on Saturday, November 28th – 8pm! Special guests for this concert are two great bands from Chicago ‘Two Star’ & ‘Avigilante’. It is an all ages show, drinking with ID – $10 tickets.

Check them out and support them! For more infomation on TEA check out their amazing site:

http://tomorroweverafter.com/fr_home.cfm

You have to give our current president some credit. It is tough to step in durning a time of economic distress. I really feel that people are not giving Obama a fair chance to take the time that is needed to improve things in this country. Many people do not understand that the various issues like education and healthcare can not be fixed overnight.

Sometimes I feel that people don’t understand what it means to be president. You do not make decisions all on your own. You have to through lengthy approvals and appeals in order for decisions to made. You have to make sure that everyone agrees with you so that your administration does not crumble.

I feel personally that we really need to give him a break and let him work things out.  According to USA Today, Obama’s approval Gallup poll rating has fallen below 50 percent. What do you think? Does Obama deserve that kind of rating?

With Something to think about,

UrbanGeek

Picture Source: http://luv2hateu.wordpress.com/

Hello my darlings,

Once again I am so sick and tired of albums having held back release dates finally Amerie’s new album is here and I had the chance to check it out:

It has been some time since Korean-American singer Amerie has relased an ablum.

My girl Amerie is back! And better than ever. Her new album In Love &War has taken quite a journey to be released. Since her 2007 international-only third ablum Because I Love It was unheard in the US many wondered what happened to her. At first, I didn’t like her because I felt that she was not embracing her diversity but instead trying to be like Beyonce.  Everybody these days wants to be a “single lady with crazy shoes” because of her.  This ablum surpassed Amerie into finally her own unique image.

She left Columbia Records to create her own record-label, Feenix Rising.  Now I feel with her having more control over  her music we will see more of this talented singer.

Key Tracks:

Why R U

Dangerous

Pretty Brown

Different People

Postitves:

• Each track follows the theme on the ups and downs  of being a relationship
• Uniqueness in rhythms an even amount of fast and slow tracks
• Amerie herself also contributed to most of the tracks
• Amerie’s most personal album
• R&B, rock, and pop influences, very experimental for an urban artist

Negatives

• Some of the tracks are too similar to each other
• Some of the songs are under 3 minutes (not good for dj’s)
• 14-tracks was not really necessary
• Heard them All remix with Lil Wayne was weak

Amerie fan  Site: http://www.ohamerie.com/

Picture Source: http://www.lala.com/#album/432627041169191988/Amerie/In_Love_%26_War

I have a new rating system. I like to call it the geek system. The higher number of geeks the better it is .

Genre: Horror,romance,comedy,drama
Year:2004
Episodes: 12

Summary: During a fictional war called the Hong Kong Crusade, an Old Blood vampire, Jiro Mochizuki, a.k.a. the Silver Blade (銀刀, Gintō?), fought and defeated the Kowloon king and also most of the Kowloon Children. Ten years later, Jiro heads to Japan with his little brother, Kotaro, in hopes of reaching The Special Zone, a thriving secret city where vampires live. They soon realize that a plan to infiltrate The Special Zone is being hatched by the Kowloon Children survivors. As they travel to The Special Zone, Jiro encounters enemies from the past and new threats that may endanger the safety of the Special Zone. The abduction of Kotaro, by one of the Kowloon Children, thrusts him even further into the battle.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Blood_Brothers

Review: Black Blood Brothers remind me of what Hellsing would be if it were a comedy. Jiro is dead sexy and gives me the moviation to love male vampires even more. I also thought it was interesting that his brother Kotaro was a little TOO human to be a vampire. He craves human food and can even go in the sunlight without melting to the ground. The only problem I had with this series was that the storyline was chaos. In every episode there would be a flashblack to Jiro’s past and then they would never tie it ino the present day storyline.

If you like vampires who love comedy this series is for you.

Rating: 5 geeks

Picture source: http://man3k.wordpress.com/2007/10/

Attention Battlestar Galactica Android OS fans, Samsung has just taken the wraps off its newest Android-powered smartphone, the Galaxy Spica. By the sound of that name, it appears the Cylons have taken control of Samsung’s mobile division.

The newest soldier in the ever-growing ‘droid army features a 800MHz processor (just like its Moment sibling) and is the first Android smartphone to include native DivX support (so you won’t have to convert your downloaded collection of BSG to watch on the go!). Along with the improved codec support, the Galaxy Spica (GS) also touts other improved multimedia-centric features like the inclusion of DNSe 2.0 for “better sound quality” and 3.5 mm jack for use with your favorite headphones.

All that media jazz aside, the 13.2mm thick Galaxy Spica includes 3.2″ 320 x 480 touch screen display, 3MP camera with autofocus, microSD slot (up to 32GB), 1500mAh battery, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Wi-Fi, GPS, and quad-band GSM/EDGE with support for the 900/2100MHz bands. Disappointingly, Sammy’s new ‘droid is shipping with the now antiquated Android v1.5 (not even 1.6, what gives?!). No matter, the Galaxy Spica is available now in select Asian and European markets as of today (with no mention of any future US launch).

Source: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/11/16/samsung-announces-new-android-powered-galaxy-spica-i5700/