Wednesday, July 31, 2013

You know you're an artist if...

You know you're an artist if...
1. You feel like you're surrounded by zombies.
2. Offending people is like eating flax. You don't like it, but you add fruit to make it more palatable.
3. Nobody ever believes you.
4. You never answer the same question the same way twice.
5. You answer every question the same way.
6. You make your loved ones call you different names to coincide with the clothes you're wearing that day.
7. People think you're insane, yet you accomplish more in 1 day than most people accomplish in 10 years.
8. When people criticize your art, you don't even know what they're talking about and your face will surely show it.
9. You wear costumes in public and engage in eccentric behavior in order to scare people away.
10. You love so hard that it hurts.
11. Everyone thinks they've got you pegged, but they're really only interacting with 8-year-ago-you. They won't interact with current you until next fall.

Transcriptions in the Key of Love

Writer Hunter S. Thompson once said that he would sit at a typewriter and completely transcribe other people's books. He did this in order to get the feeling of exactly what the author was thinking as they wrote. I find it to be a meditative exercise. Transcendentally meditative.

The words of prophets are timeless and universal. As I transcribed the following pieces, I couldn't help but reflect on how applicable they are to the here and now of life. It reminds me that although we enjoy celebrating our egotistical advances in science, technology, business, etc., our collective inhumanity is just as unfulfilling today as it was 50 years ago. The day that we begin to solve the problems that matter will be the day that we truly achieve our greatness as a species. So, how do we solve the problems that matter? Well, we have to start by understanding what they are. Then, we have to care. I think that's half the battle. The other half may have something to do with searching to discover the hurt in ourselves and transforming it into something positive. But what do I know?

I transcribed these pieces to get into the head of the author. This collection is of the pros that touched me the most when I was up to no good in the hood. Though I'd recited them countless times, writing them out established a completely new level of understanding regarding the author's process. I think Hunter S. Thompson was really on to something.
******


Hello Jesus children. Jesus loves you of America. Are you hearing what he's saying? Are you feeling what you're praying? Are you hearing, praying, feeling what you say inside?

Tell me holy roller. Are you standing like a soldier for everything you talk about? Transcendental meditation speaks of inner preservation. Transcendental mediation gives you peace of mind.

Tell me junky, if you're able. Are you playing your cards on the table? Are you happy when you stick the needle in your vein?

Jesus died on the cross for you. Mary is just looking at you. Mother Mary feels so much pain looking at him.

You'd better tell your story. Fast. And if you lie, it will come to pass.

******




Your name is big brother. You say that you're watching me on the tele, seeing me go nowhere. You say that you're tired of me protesting children dying everyday. My name is nobody. But I can't wait to see your face inside my door.

Your name is big brother. You say that you've got me all in your notebook and writing it down everyday. Your name is "I'll See Ya. I'll change if you vote me in as a President of your soul." I live in the ghetto. You just come to visit me around election time. Someday, I will move on my feet to the other side.

My name is secluded. We live in a house the size of a matchbox. Roaches live with us wall to wall. You've killed all our leaders. I don't even have to do nothing to you. You'll cause your own country to fall.

******




Packing my bags-going away to a place where the air is clean.
On saturn, there's no sense to sit and watch the people die. We don't fight our wars the way you do. We put back all the things we use. On Saturn, there's no sense to keep on doing such crimes. There's no principles in what you say; no direction in the things you do for your world is soon to come to a close.

Through the ages all great men have taught: truth and happiness just can't be bought-or sold. Tell me why are you people so cold?

We have come here many times before to find your strategy to peace is war, killing helpless men, women and children that don't even know what they are dying for. We can't trust you when you take a stand; with a cold expression on your face saying give us what we want or we'll destroy.

I'm going back to Saturn where the rings all glow. Rainbow, moonbeams and orange snow. On Saturn, people live to be two hundred and five. Going back to saturn where the people smile. Don't need cars cause we've learn to fly. On Saturn, just to live to us is our natural high.


******




No more lying friends wanting tragic ends. Though they do pretend, they won't go when I go. All those bleeding hearts with sorrows to impart were right here from the start and they won't go when I go.

And I'll go where I've longed to go so long away from tears.

Gone from painful cries. Away from saddened eyes. Along with her, I'll abide cuz they won't go when I go.

Big men feeling small. Weak ones standing tall. I will watch them fall and they won't go when I go.

Unclean minds mislead the pure. Innocents will leave for sure. For them, there is a resting place. People sinning just for fun...they will never see the sun for they can never show their faces. There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner who will take more than he'll give. He ain't hardly gonna give.

The greed of man will be far away from me and my soul will be free cuz they won't go when I go where I'll go. No one can keep me from my destiny.


******




People hand in hand. Have I lived to see the milk and honey land where hate's a dream and love forever stands or is this a vision in my mind?

The law was never passed, but somehow, all men feel they're truly free at last. Have we really gone this far through space and time or is this a vision in my mind?

I'm not one who make believes. I know the leaves are green. They only turn to brown when autumn comes around. I know just what I say. Today's not yesterday and all things have an ending.

But what I'd like to know is could a place like this exist so beautiful or do we have to take our wings and fly away to the vision in our minds?

******




Would you like to go with me down my dead end street? Would you like to come with me to Village Ghetto Land? See the people lock their doors while robbers laugh and steal. Beggars watch and eat their meals from garbage cans.

Broken glass is everywhere. It's a bloody scene. Killing plagues the citizens unless they own police. Children play with rusted cars. Sores cover their hands. Politicians laugh and drink drunk to all demands.

Families buying dog food now. Starvation roams the streets. Babies die before they're born; infected by the grief. Some folks say that we should be glad for what we have. Tell me, would you be happy in Village Ghetto Land?


******




We are amazed, but not amused by all the things you say that you'll do. Though much concerned but not involved with decisions that are made by you. But we are sick and tired of hearing your song telling how your'e gonna change right from wrong. Cause if you really wanna hear our views, you haven't done nothing.

It's not too cool to be ridiculed, but you brought this upon yourself. The world is tired of pacifiers. We want the truth and nothing else. We would not care to wake up to the nightmare that's becoming real life. But when mislead, who knows? A person's mind can turn as cold as ice.

******




A flake of snow within a storm. A new way waiting to be born in a world with need of change. A touch of love in fear of hate. A rushing wind that's asked to wait for the promises of rain. A pearl of wisdom entrapped by poverty.

She gives love with purity, filling minds with hopeful schemes to build worlds enhanced by peace. Draped in sparkling morning dew, she expresses life anew from the earth beneath her feet. She is a flower that grows in love ability. She's femininity.

Black orchid, why did they make you begin when they know in time you'll find your truth before your cycle ends? Black orchid, why are you crying their fears when the true reflection of you that they see is love besieged by years?

She has touched the farthest star. Her beauty speaks of what we are and her freedom makes us free. Her now is in eternity; infinite to all that see and her dreams have been achieved. Now, there is a sound of laughter. Nature sings out her name for the world to know her fame.

Black orchid, why did they criticize when they knew your love could cast its spell and consecrate their eyes? Black orchid, why do you linger in space when you know in every heart that beats, you hold a special place?


******


Who knows where these writings came from?

Love,
Blue

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Know your rights...or not...it's your choice.

Speaking of fucked up shit,

A woman went to a small claims court for something minor (like a divorce case or something), and before she could leave the court room, this deputy insisted on a drug search. He searched through all her things and took her to a back room, touching her breasts and butt and telling her to lift her shirt (investigators have proven that the woman's story checks out). The woman came out and requested that a female deputy do the search because she wasn't comfortable undressing in front of a male deputy. The judge (a woman) ignored her cries for help but continued playing with the woman's daughter. The deputy told the woman that he will arrest her for lying on an official if she doesn't go before the court and say that she lied about his request to search her body for drugs. She went before the court and told the judge exactly what happened to her. She was then arrested and taken to jail. The judge ignored the entire ordeal (the deputy was fired 6 months later but the judge is still on her post).

Now, I've been to court enough times to know that when entering, you go through a metal detector where they check all your shit and then, it's over. It's like the airport. No one ever does a drug test of people once they're inside a courtroom and CERTAINLY not a strip search and MOST CERTAINLY none of this stuff happens during minor court cases. So we have 3 issues here:
1. A horny asshole deputy
2. A judge who doesn't give a shit and
3. A woman who doesn't know her rights.

We can't control other people and what they do or think. However, we can educate ourselves. I believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I also believe that an ounce of education can lead to 5 ounces of prevention. A way that this unfortunate fiasco could have been prevented is if the woman had known her rights.

The 4th Amendment of the US Constitution says, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

In other words, if someone does not have a court issued warrant that is based on probable cause to search your body, your papers, your car, your house, or seize any of these things, you do not have to consent to being searched no matter where you are.
EXCEPTIONS:
(1) if you're in prison, you can be strip searched whether you want to or not.
(2) if you are in a hospital where it has been determined that you can be a threat to yourself or others, you can be strip searched whether you want to be or not.
(3) some homeless shelters require mandatory showers under supervision (so it's a strip search)
(4) if you mine gold or other expensive shit or if you are on the very low end of the drug trade, your boss will probably strip search you. If you don't like it, quit.

Yes, this is also true of having your car searched. If there is no warrant, you can refuse to be searched. If the cop insists, make it known that you didn't consent. Even if they find something (like a joint or a bump of coke) and you did not consent to a search, they did not have a warrant, and they cannot prove probable cause for having searched you (you being black and driving a nice car is not and never has been considered probable cause), the case can be thrown out of court and may, at worst, just have been a waste of time. However, unless you are a lawyer, I suggest you get one if a cop finds cocaine (or marijuana in most states) in your car. It's basically pay for a lawyer or spend time in prison. It's your choice on what is more important to you: money or freedom. That's a "value system" thing and only you can determine how you'll rock that.

For the record, I'd like to point out that the "Stop and Frisk" laws are unconstitutional in all cases. I don't care what anybody says.

Love,
Blue

The most awesome thing about the story with the woman in the courtroom is that the whole thing was caught on tape. So for those who just "can't believe it", eat your thoughts after watching this:


no one is safe...

Marissa Alexander vs. the KKK


Indeed, this is disturbing. I've been seeing posts about this issue all over the internet: Marissa Alexander: a black woman in Florida who fired 2 shots at her abusive husband, missing him, but received 20 years in prison based on the 10-20 life statute in Florida that says if someone is convicted of an aggravated assault in which they discharge a firearm, they must be sentenced to 20 years in prison, regardless of mitigating circumstances.

Marissa's defense attorneys argued her self-defense claim based on the "Stand Your Ground" law. This law was part of the defense argument for George Zimmerman, the killer of Trayvon Martin, but wasn't necessary in his self-defense claim. Zimmerman got off because the prosecution could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman was not behaving in self-defense. Marissa was not standing her ground in the way that the Florida law would specify. She allegedly retreated from the scene to get a gun and then returned, as opposed to stood her ground WITH the gun and used reasonable force to defend herself. In contrast, Zimmerman could have used the Stand Your Ground law as a defense because he had a gun on him the entire time he was interacting with Trayvon and did not retreat. Unfortunately for Marissa, the prosecutor's argument was simply more valid for the case at hand and since Marissa was convicted of aggravated assault with a firearm, her sentence was based on the 10-20-Life statute. The jury deliberated for 12 minutes with the info they had and came to a guilty verdict. It's a technicality purely based on who's lawyer was better...and the fact that the victims in Marissa's case were still alive to testify...

The United States is racist. This is undoubtedly and conclusively factual. Of the racist places in the United Stateses, Florida is one of the most racist stateses. But the racism didn't start with these court cases. The racism was institutionalized and unchallenged in a way that mattered many hundreds of years ago. The rulings in these cases are just the logical result of exactly what was intended post slavery.

When blacks were "freed" from slavery, they left whites to start their own communities and were successful from about 1865-1877, a 12 year period known in America as "Reconstruction" which bled into the early 1900s. Blacks were serving in political offices, they had their own businesses, property, and were building wealth. The Civil War was messy and bloody and Republican Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson were pussyfooting through the clean up; specifically, how they were going to deal with freed slaves (or Freedmen) who had no property, land, or enfranchisement (meaning they couldn't vote). I mean, it's not like white folks in the south were pleased with the results of the Civil War. They certainly weren't gonna just start giving land and other freebies to the property and retirement investment (aka, slaves) they just lost. So after the punkass Presidents were done fucking up, Ulysses S. Grant showed up. He supported the Radical Republicans of the south who wanted to get black folks enfranchised and away from them asap, ending the unrest and tension. Under Grant's leadership in support of the Radical Republicans, the Force Acts were implemented. The Force Acts were criminal codes which protected blacks’ right to vote, to hold office, to serve on juries, and receive equal protection of laws. The racist democratic white south said "game recognize game" so they started the Klan because there was no way they were gonna accept their former property having equal rights to them when they asses was poor and raggedy and black folks were starting schools and businesses and writing books about the talented 10th and started fraternities and sororities at Ivy League schools and founding Black Universities and all that shit. The Enforcement Acts were then implemented by the Republican government as a pushback against the Klan.

There was some back and forth between the Republicans (rich whites) who wanted blacks to have stuff and leave them the fuck alone and the Democrats (poor whites) who had to live near black folks but didn't want blacks to take over because those whites were ridiculous, poor, and uneducated...basically, haters. So in the fight between the American government and the Klan (which could also be extrapolated as the rich whites and the poor whites, or the republicans and the democrats, respectively), the Klan won. The Klan won because they were in the same proximity as the blacks and actually dealt with the everyday of the Civil War fallout. Taking matters into their own hands, they just started killing black people and burning down all their shit...and they weren't gonna stop until all the blacks were dead.

Recognizing this, the American government and Republican rich whites just said "fuck it" and threw in the towel. They couldn't win that fight because they weren't gonna kill other whites to protect blacks. White folks were tired of war so they relinquished the South to the Klan.



If you're anything like me, you might notice a key element that's missing: black people's involvement. Now, I'm not saying that blacks were just sitting around waiting for whites to decide what happened to them...I mean, it could've been that ex-slaves just didn't have the fight in them. I mean, Nat Turner died about 50 years earlier and in his revolt, way more black people died than white people, so per example, folks really had to decide if it was worth it at the time. It wasn't until the Black Panther Party started did blacks as a collective actually start FIGHTING again. That was like 150 years later...and it was primarily in California. Note: The Black Panthers of Civil Rights Movement fame did not start as a means to kill white people. It started as a means to feed and educate black children ‪#‎message‬‪#‎newblackpantherparty‬

So fastforward to the Marissa Alexander vs. George Zimmerman argument: All the laws in place in the south today are laws that the Klan basically green lighted in 1877. If you expect those laws to be in favor of black people (especially black women), then you're out of your mind.

So what we see in 2013 is that a black woman shoots warning shots at her husband and gets 20 years in prison and a white dude shoots a black boy dead and walks free. This only seems crazy if you're in denial about the history of Amerikkka.

History. Because all this shit actually makes sense.

Love,
Blue


To learn more about how you can contribute to the campaign to free Marissa Alexander, visit www.justice4marissa.com. Scroll to the bottom of the page to sign the petition.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Be Yourself. Anything Else is Wack.




Viewer writes:

Blue! I can be very socially awkward and it makes people uncomfortable. I don't like making people uncomfortable! What should I do?



Blue writes:

Expecting people's level of comfort to fluctuate based on your ability to wow them socially is selfish. If you want to make people feel comfortable, be yourself. It takes the pressure off of you and them to appear comfortable in each others' presence. In addition, being yourself, especially if it's awkward, gives others permission to be themselves which actually results in their increased comfort. Eventually, you will learn that everybody is socially awkward and you can all be socially awkward together. What relief, right? Then you can have conventions where everyone dresses up as a character from your favorite TV sci fi drama because since everyone knows they're awkward and no one gives a shit, you can all can dress up and pretend to be a character you like...as opposed to dressing up and pretending to be a character that makes other people comfortable...which is wack...really, really ridiculously wack.

Love,
Blue

On the Sidewalk of Providence by Blue





You don't have to wait for somebody to portray you positively if you portray yourself intentionally.

Love,
Blue

PS. Fuck hos.




Did you know...

...that when people within an ethnic/cultural group condemn others within the same group because they believe that they aren't a good enough representation of that group, the psychological and emotional effects can be the same and actually worse than the effects of racism?

The emotions at the foundation of these judgments are rejection and betrayal: being separated/isolated from others. Identifying with a cultural group increases people's self-esteem. Rejection from the group that a person identifies with can be more detrimental to self-esteem and feelings of self-worth than rejection from outsiders.

So the next time you see someone and they don't look [fill in the blank] enough for you to accept them as one of your own, place your name under the "Part of the Problem" column in your notebook. Then, put a checkmark next to your name.

We are all guilty of this in some form or another, so no one can claim innocent. Especially not me. However, I have found that a way to keep from treating people like shit on a regular basis is to (a) practice self love and (b) create art where I get to talk shit about everybody equally without indicting any 1 particular individual.
It also helps to smile when you see people. Not just a superficial face smile, but a liver smile. Smile with your liver.

Love,
Blue


Life tip for getting shit accomplished #92678
The most valuable people in any place where people gather are the staff. If you see a staff member, buy 'em a soda and ask them everything you need to know to navigate successfully in that place. They've been there the longest, they know everybody there, they know everybody's business, and they have plenty of time to talk story.

This is how I got through grad school. Special thanks to the staff.

Love,
Blue


If all of your friends are famous, you might be famous.

If all of your friends are famous and you're not famous, then you're a fan and should probably get some real friends.

Love,
Blue


Frustrated single people say the darnedest things.
Love, Blue


I think it's unfair that "lesbians" get a cool word and "gay men" just get "gay men".

So as a solution to this problem, I propose the following word to refer to gay males from now on:

Malian

Love,
Blue


I don't like giving "relationship advice" because I don't know anything about relationships. However, I probably won't be too off the mark by saying that no matter who you are or what type of person you're interested in, your life will be the same with or without them. Getting with another person is really just getting with more opportunities to experience yourself...which can be awesome or suck balls depending on the person you've cultivated.

Love,
Blue


Booty. Like money, it should be viewed as an outcome...not a goal.

Love,
Blue


I think I know the cure for racism: active volcanoes!!! Because when the earth just might erupt and set everyone on fire in a matter of minutes, we may learn to fear each other based on less superficial criteria; things like territory and religion.

Hate. Because love just isn't quite dramatic enough to entertain the idle minded.


If the government invested in beer drones that dropped a 6pack of red stripe on my doorstep whenever I threatened to be thirsty, I would give a shit about politics. ‪#‎random‬


Love,
Blue


Why do black people care so much about being kings and queens? Kings and queens are just self involved materialists who try to convince poor people that they're special by putting their name and picture on everything. I'm sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but the only difference between ancient kings and queens and modern day celebrities is sex tapes.
I get the sentiment and in my old age, I'm much less annoyed by being called "queen" than I used to be. When folks grab on to a "thing", it becomes their "thing". The part that I think turns women off is that for a lot of bruthas in the hood, "Hey Queen" is really just a substitute for "Aye guhl with the booty! Cum hurr!" The thing about language is that regardless of what you say, people always hear your heart and the heart of a lot of these guys who call themselves kings and women queens is the heart of a pimp. As a result, "bitch" and "queen" are actually interchangeable within the culture. We know this because these men haven't actually changed the WAY they TREAT their women. They just have changed the WORDS they CALL their women.
For the women, it does make a lot of difference when you know who you are. Words don't mean as much when you're getting what you want in life. For example, if somebody calls me "baby" but I feel disrespected or oppressed by them, I will do whatever I have to do to get away from them. However, if somebody calls me "baby" and they make sure there's always wine and avocados in my refrigerator, I will rub their private parts.
Love,
Blue


If a person looks at you and says "your outfit is too revealing", what they're really saying is "I have obscene thoughts when I look at you. However, instead of exercising discipline over my thoughts, I would rather try to control what you wear."

Modesty is for a shield against the eye of the unclean -Kahlil Gibran
Love,
Blue


When referring to the treatment of people outside of your ingroup, it's important to take into consideration the truths of the people you're referring to.

For example: I had a boyfriend. When I would walk places with that boyfriend, men would not bother me. However, when I would walk places without that boyfriend, I couldn't get a half a block without getting yelled at, stared at like a piece of meat, or being literally blocked on a sidewalk by some man who wanted my attention. If in a crowded place with my boyfriend, we would enjoy a good time of food and fun. If in a crowded place alone or with other women, I was constantly fighting to keep men's hands off of me or to simply enjoy the ambiance without perpetually being interrupted by some guy who wanted my attention.

I told this to my boyfriend and he didn't believe me because it wasn't something that he had seen. However, how could he have seen that if men respect other men enough to not push up on their girlfriends in their presence?

So yes, a guy who sees another guy with a girl won't mess with that girl. This is not because of respect per se. It's because pushing up on another man's girlfriend is grounds for a fight, so unless you're looking to fight, you don't push up on another dude's girlfriend. However, when women are by themselves, they are expected to be of lesser strength than the man and, therefore, unable to win a physical fight. As a result, men feel free to harass women under the widely accepted meme that "boys will be boys." If the woman presses charges, the man will undoubtedly blame her for his actions. The courts might even back the man if the people in the court decide that the woman's sex appeal were so great that the man could not have possibly controlled his behavior towards her...even if he raped her.

So what's your point, Blue? Well, my point is this: if a person outside of your in-group tells you how they're treated by your in-group, don't argue. Just listen. You're welcome.

Love,
Blue


Today in the news:
2 hikers and a dog got lost in the forest. Rescuers found them and drove them to their car. The hikers, unfamiliar with the territory, drove their car off a cliff. They died.
Love,
Blue


I often hear activists say things like "they don't care about us". I have always wondered who "they" is. Then I wondered who "us" is. Then, I wondered why activists expect "they" to care about "us" when activists don't exactly expect "us" to care about "they".

If you want to be babysat, hire a babysitter. If you want liberty, care about yourself.

Love,
Blue


Nobody told you to put your trust in criminals. That was your decision. Congratulations. You are now living with the consequences of your decisions.

If you don't like the consequences of your decisions, try making new decisions.

Love,
Blue


If you ask a ho "What do you do for a living?", the ho would respond "fuck."

When I say "fuck hos," I'm doing my part to help more hos make a living.

If you care about the livelihood of hos, fuck em.

Love,
Blue


Money is not important.

If saying that makes me unrealistic, then I guess you can call me an unrealist.

Love,
Blue


I be gettin' all bent out of shape not understanding why stupid people fight to stay stupid but for a moment, I'd like to give a special shout out to all my people who get what they want in life and don't nobody know how or even what they have because it ain't nobody's damn business.

Keep stayin' fly.

Love,
Blue


Did you know:

Not every homeless person wants a home.

I know, it's hard to believe that everyone isn't materialistic and superficial; especially when you are and it feels so right.

There's nothing wrong with being materialistic and superficial...it just doesn't lead to enlightenment. However, it manages to lead to poverty and desperation pretty consistently. How ironic.


The picture painted of "homelessness" in this culture is one of dire suffering. However, that picture is painted BY people who consider themselves middle class. The middle class is very biased against poor people. Poverty must be horrible, right? Not true. Despite what material chasers believe, the majority of homeless people in this nation look just like people with homes and, in many cases, they live better, with "better" being measured by longer life and more favorable health outcomes. The homeless people who we see on the street with all the problems are often people who suffer from mental illness and drug addiction. Coincidentally, and in contrast, many more people who suffer from mental illness and drug addiction actually have homes...and jobs...and nuclear families...on the surface, they look like healthy people. There is such an emphasis on "looking successful" in this culture that people look great, but in real life, they are really messed up. However, many of those we consider homeless are more at peace with themselves and their life than people we would consider successful. This entire culture is due for a wake-up call.
When all these young stuff chasers start seeing their contemporaries having heart attacks and strokes in their 30s and 40s, they might look around and say to themselves "hmm, maybe I should rethink my methods."

I sure hope we all wake up as a culture before we really start seeing shorter life expectancies among those who think they're "the upper class".

Love,
Blue

Her Body






A new song entitled Her Body. Music written by Chill Will. Lyrics by Blue. Performed at Jade Portland last Friday! Special thanks to Molly Ross for making this video! YAY!


Music by Chill Will
Lyrics by Blue

Lyrics

I'm not here for questioning. I'm a bystander. Cops gettin' on my nerves.
He think he bein' slick..the simple trick. He don't even know if the body is hers.
He don't know. He don't know. He don't know if the body is hers.
He don't know. He don't know. He don't know if the body is hers.

A bulletproof vest, "Thug Life" on her chest, pimp got what she deserved.
I can't tell by the rest. It's such a mess. We don't even know if the body is hers.
We don't know. We don't know. We don't know if the body is hers.
We don't know. We don't know. We don't know if the body is hers.

If the body is hers....they don't know.
If the body is hers....they don't know.
They don't know if the body is hers....they don't know.

There's a killer at large. If I'm not being charged, can I go now officers?
I said it wasn't me. My knife is clean. You don't even know if the body is hers.
They don't know. They don't know. They don't know if the body is hers.
They don't know. They don't know. They don't know if the body is hers.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Don't Get Raped in Dubai



The following is a true story:


A woman in Dubai was raped in a hotel. She went to the hotel staff and said "I've been raped! Call the police!" The hotel staff responded, "are you sure you want to call the police...cuz when the police come, nothing good happens." The woman says "Yes! Call the police!"


So the hotel staff calls the police. They arrest the man who raped her. They also arrested her. She got a longer sentence. The crime: extramarital sex.

Well, since the woman was from somewhere in Europe, she called her country and her country called Dubai telling them to let the woman go. After some back and forth that probably included threats and such, the woman was released from the Dubai prison and returned to her home country.

The moral of this story: always listen to your hotel staff. They know what they're talking about.

Love,
Blue

You really don't have to make shit up these days. It's a wild world. http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/norwegian-woman-sentenced-after-reporting-rape-in-dubai-is-pardoned/?_r=0 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Dream Your Own Dreams.



Yesterday, I went to see 20 Feet From Stardom at the Living Room Theatre in Portland, OR. It was a great movie and it reminded me of why I see so many artists who are missing their dreams. Artists don't have a grasp of (1) their power (2) a vision and (3) a strategy. Here are some things that I was reminded by watching this documentary:
(1) You have to be honest with yourself about what you really want. If you want to be a star, you have to do star things. The public is attracted to drama and star personalities. If this is not something you want to mimic, perhaps you should re-evaluate what you really want out of this life journey.
(2) Money does not come from doing a thing. Money comes from the business strategy associated with having a VISION. Money is only a tool. It is not a savior and should never be viewed as a goal. Money is an OUTCOME of a VISION that is EXECUTED STRATEGICALLY.
(3) If you see another person doing something great, appreciate what they're doing and leave it at that. You will never be able to do what they do. You are not them! Trying to be like them is the first step toward never accomplishing your dreams...you will only always just replicate the manifestations of the dreams of those you admire and never actually dream your own dreams. Learn to dream your own dreams! Then pursue YOUR dreams!!!
(4) Learn to enjoy the service to others that are the result of you exercising your gifts and talents. Don't focus on getting praise, claps, or money. Focus on giving your talents away for free. Then, when you're done giving, explore and exercise more giving opportunities!
(5) Be thankful for your accomplishments and celebrate your ideas! Surround yourself with people who like your ideas! Don't try to convince people who don't like you that they should like you! That shit is a waste of fucking life moments!!!

If you're looking at the performance that I'm doing and enjoying it, that's great! That's exactly what you're supposed to be doing. I designed it to be entertaining and keep you laughing. On the flip side do not envy me or try to mimic what you see me doing. I am so much more dynamic than what you see. If you only focus on what you see, you are missing the opportunities to dream your own dreams. If you would like to discuss your vision with me, I would love to hear it and help you strategize. However, do not attempt to do what I'm doing. You won't get far because what I'm doing is crazy, unbelievable, completely senseless, impossible, inexplicable, and constantly evolving. I function on pure mania.

Love,
Blue

Monday, July 22, 2013

I make jokes, but the shit's not funny.

I learned yesterday of a friend who was attacked physically for no reason at all by a drunk person. Her attack falls very snugly under "Hate Crime." However, due to increased tensions among people of color and the police in this area of California, my friend did not call the police, nor press charges. 

Unfortunately, in America, these types of stories are not unique. People of color are often left defenseless in gross violations of their bodies, property, and space, yet are constantly blamed for their unhappiness and cajoled by their oppressors to "Keep hope alive." When I was a kid, calling the police was simply something you didn't do. If there was a murder, theft, domestic dispute, or any other type of altercation in the neighborhood, we simply handled it ourselves or let it pass quietly. If we called the police, they would arrive hours after the incident, asking questions of people who knew that if they told the whole story, the friends of the aggressor would be looking for them later. If the police arrived while the violence was still occurring, there was a huge chance that somebody (whether involved or not) would get beaten, shot, shot at, arrested, and/or the entire neighborhood would be violated and harassed for weeks following. It just wasn't worth it. 

I hurt for my friend. I hurt because things like this have happened to me in the past and when you know that the police are against you on general principles, there's nothing you can do about it. I'm not sure why she didn't call the cops, but I know why I don't call the cops.

After I learned of the attack, I wrote a satirical piece entitled "Send Blue's Black Ass Back To Africa." Naturally, people laughed, were disgusted, or asked me where in Africa I want to go.  However, despite the comical nature of that post, I was not laughing at all when I created it. In fact, I very rarely laugh when I create my art. It's because the shit's not funny to me. 

The following is the post I made yesterday about my friend. There are details of the event and some added commentary because, what am I if not a commentator? 

San Francisco yesterday:

Filmographer friend writes: "was just assaulted, called a Black Nigger Bitch by a very small drunk white woman. She hit me in my face and kicked me but I didn't call the cops."

The filmographer friend was working an event in a community space. Many people saw the attack and the friends of the aggressor apologized for the woman saying, "she's not racist."

In Oakland/San Francisco, black people know that if they call the police due to an altercation with a white person, they (the black person) might get shot by the police. This is a realistic fear that is not only statistically supported, but also viewable on youtube through news reports and amateur videography of actual events involving unarmed black people and Bay area police.

Other notable information:

Large cities and rural southern towns have become so hostile toward black and brown people that an attack by a white person is just "something that happened", even in a public space and the police are conditioned to protect white people first in the event of an altercation that involves multiple races.

Statistics have shown that blacks are more likely to receive harsher punishment for crimes against whites than crimes against blacks. Blacks also receive harsher punishment for crimes against whites than whites receive for crimes against blacks.

High profile cases like the George Zimmerman trial and the Chain of Rocks Bridge case are reminders of how race, class, and privilege play out in courts. Statistics surrounding social order maintenance initiatives like Stop & Frisk and Stand Your Ground show evidence that race, class, and privilege are determining factors in who is protected and/or violated where these initiatives are practiced.

Despite there being more crimes committed by whites than blacks (since there are more white people than black people in this country and there is no shortage of crime), the "criminal black male" stereotype is propagated which encourages increased fear of black men.

American prisons are disproportionately populated by black men and women (80% black/brown to 20% white on average), despite white on white crime being the leading cause of crime in this country.

American media (both liberal and conservative) portrays blacks as sub-human, inferior, lazy, and interested primarily in their own economic gain or in welfare. America has built upon the negative myths of black people which have existed for centuries.

Among conservatives, poor people in this country (who are disproportionately black and brown) are used as scapegoats for the economic and social problems in America, with the arguments that their laziness, lack of desire for education, and higher reliance on government assistance is the foundation for the downfall of America.

I would like to bring your attention to the following article from the British Library. This article describes the climate of Nazi Germany just before the Holocaust. As a person who is, for all intents and purposes, Black, it is in my interest to notice such parallels between the circumstances of my people and the circumstances of other peoples throughout history, as history is one of the best teachers we have.

http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/voices/testimonies/life/backgd/before.html

Filmographer friend writes today,

"Things I am sure of this morning:

1. If someone calls someone else a Black Nigger Bitch it most certainly means they are racist.

2. If multiple people approach the person (me) called such name/s to say "I know her and I know she's not a racist," those people are also racist.

3. No amount of apologizing for her, even from her, is going to make this right.

4. No amount of alcohol in the world "makes" someone say or do anything, especially not calling me or anyone else a Black Nigger Bitch.

...I'm angry but okay. My face hurts a lil."


Love,
Blue

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Send Blue's Black Ass Back To Africa

Over the past few months, I have been more frequently called a "racist" by white people who don't have a sense of humor. I totally understand their plight. I have commented way too much about the oppression of people of color in this culture without giving lip service to the poor and degenerate white people who work really hard to procure the wealth that they (1) stole from the natives and (2) that their slaves worked so hard to build for them. I and my team have devised a solution to this problem: the Send Blue's Black Ass Back To Africa, or SBBABTA initiative. If you're a white person (or any other person for that matter) who gets offended by the rhetoric used in my music and commentary, please donate to this fund today! Once I have raised $2million, I will happily take my black ass back to Africa. Once in Africa, I will only complain about shit that bothers me over there, which, for the most part, should not include racist American whites. With your help, we can send more black asses back to Africa! HOORAY!

$1-$10: sponsors at this level will receive a picture of Blue and a story of triumph and hard work that will warm your heart and make you feel just that less racist.

$11-$50: sponsors at this level will receive a picture of Blue, a story of triumph and hard work that will make you feel less racist, and a shout out on Blue's Blog!!

$51-$150: sponsors at this level will receive a picture of Blue, a story of triumph and hard work, a shout out on the blog, and mp3 downloads of Blue's entire catalog including the hip bangin' songs GTFOHWTBS, Bitches Be Trippin', Don't Get Your Ass Beat (By The Police), and Stay in the Car!

$151-$500: sponsors at this level will receive all the shit mentioned before AND a T-Shirt that reads the following: "I JUST SENT A BLACK PERSON BACK TO AFRICA!!"

$501-$1500: sponsors at this level will receive all that other shit along with Blue's Race Card. Blue will never be able to play it on you again!

$1500- $5000: sponsors at this level will get all that other shit AND a nice young black girl to warm their bed. She'll probably want some food, so just plan on having food available.

$5001-$100,000: sponsors at this level get all that other shit AND a Mexican! Yes. You will get a Mexican.

$100,001-$1,000,000: sponsors at this level will get all that shit already listed and 2 black people to run your weed directly to you for an entire month!!! (Note: you still have to buy the weed separate).

$1,000,000 +: sponsors at this level get all that other shit AND a special place at the table of peace and love because you have truly committed to your very own value system and deserve all the riches and glory associated with that.

Love,
Blue

Click the image to download Black And Mild, the soundtrack to getting Blue's Black Ass Back to Africa! Choose your donation amount! 
This brought to you by the SBBABTA initiative and the Coalition of Whites for a Guilt Free America. 


Friday, July 19, 2013

My Lesson: Keep Dreaming.



Writer Teddi B Poet wrote:

"Is your life on the path you want/expect?"

Some responded "yes". Some responded "no". Still others responded "not sure."

As I pondered my response, I thought my expectations for myself have always just been...well, mediocre. I never expected to be more than the best I ever identified possible. Like, I expected that if I went through school and did well, I would become a doctor. But I didn't exactly have any expectations beyond that. I would just go into a university and publish and get tenure and teach some classes to some students who gave fewer and fewer shits every year about actually learning and more and more shits every year about getting good grades so that they could land a high paying job purely based on merit that will enable them to be good enough on paper to attract the most beautiful man/woman to make their counterparts just envious enough that it validates their life choices.

So that's what I expected. However, I am so schizophrenically elated that my life outcomes are not limited to my expectations.

For what it's worth, I think that if we have a goal...any goal...it'll take us somewhere interesting. Where we end up is irrelevant. But if we intend to go somewhere, we'll go somewhere. The higher our expectations, the more likely that "somewhere" will be somewhere more awesome than sucky. However, if we have no goals at all, we end up in Suckballsville. That's what kinda happened to our culture. In the words of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson*, "we stopped dreaming." When we stopped dreaming, we stopped making goals. Then, we kinda fell into Suckballsville.






So to answer Teddi's question, "Yes" and "No". I can say that I'm definitely somewhere I want to be with a lot of hope to go more places. However, my life is not turning out at all the way I expected:

I am not a disgruntled professor at some endowed university full of succubines. I am, instead, a disgruntled artist who lives in trees with cats exploring the excitingly unpredictable world of lesbianism, music publishing, and subversive microblogging.

But I've always been a dreamer...so I'll keep dreaming. Whether I end up on the moon or in some sewer in the downtown district of Suckballsville, it'll be a story to blog about...subversively.

Love,

Blue






*note: I don't necessarily subscribe to Tyson's worldview, but he has a lot of thought provoking things to say.

".com"s cannot save you from your stupidity.



Whenever I see messages like

"**PRIVACY NOTICE:Warning--any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental or corporate structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring/using this website or any of its associated websites, you do NOT have permission to utilize any profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to wall comments, notes, blogs or photos, and/ or the comments made about photo's or any other "picture" art posted on my profile. You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents herein. The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee(s), agent(s), student(s) or any personnel under your direction or control. The contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law."

I have to wonder: 'the fuck's wrong with people?

Whenever social media sites make an update to their privacy policy or it becomes public knowledge that people's information is being shared/used by 3rd party entities without their permission, everyone goes up in arms with all these "I refuse to be violated" messages all over their social media walls and "about" sections. It's cute to exercise what one believes is control over their destiny and all, but nobody bound you, gagged you, and forced you to sign up for Tumblr or Pixlr. These are private businesses that can do whatever they want and share/sell your information to whomever they want. These social media networks are not public social service non-profit organizations. They never said they would protect you from yourself. In fact, they only promised to give you something to waste time doing that would, in turn, make them lots and lots of money. 

You can pretty much rest assured that if a website ends in ".com", it's a business. Nothing personal. As far as the government's access is concerned...well, that has nothing to do with you. Good try though. 

Love,
Blue

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Invasion of Fuck



Folks say love of money is the root of all evil. Well, perhaps. However, there are really only 3 things that will lead otherwise reasonable people to kill each other:

Lack of food
Lack of sleep
Lack of sex.

If you really wanna know where society is headed, follow food culture and watch porn. That's all we really want anyway. And of course, sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.


Then, there's discipline. Discipline enables the human to strive for more than just food, sex, and sleep. However, hidden within the fibers of discipline is the assumption that given the choice to indulge, these basic needs would be met. If these needs are not knowingly available, the human either becomes passive, aggressive, or passive-aggressive.

Love, though the answer, isn't exciting enough for the passive aggressive.





If experiencing passivity, aggression, or passive-aggression, to yield to love seems impossible. I totally understand. However, to recognize that love is the default of all existence is to recognize that you can't DO anything to meet basic needs. In fact, in order to meet basic needs, you have to let go of the desire to control everything and everyone around you.

Food still grows from the ground, despite what the media has told you.
Sex is still a relationship based phenomenon, cultivated through actually loving and giving to another...despite what you read in magazines and see on tv.
If you're growing/hunting/gathering your own food and having healthy sex, you will sleep. Guaranteed.

There are no short cuts to a healthy life. No magic pill. No diet plan. You actually have to live in love. It will definitely be harder for the assholes, but there's hope...even for them.

Love,
Blue

PS: Fuck Hos. That is what they're for. That is how they're used.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The History of America by Blue

THE HISTORY OF AMERICA by BLUE

Evil finds a plot of dry sand and builds a house of cards.
Opportunity convinces the masses that evil is wise.
Ambition takes advantage of opportunity.
Ego envies ambition.
Laziness leans to ego.
Fear hides behind laziness.
Laziness leans to ego.
Ego envies ambition.
Ambition takes advantage of opportunity.
Opportunity convinces the masses that evil is wise.
Evil finds a plot of dry sand and builds a house of cards.

Concepts like "private property", "ownership", "citizens", "law", and even "currency" are merely agreements which, in this nation at least, only amount to the degree to which any party will decide to acknowledge the agreements in any instance. And since this nation isn't quite a nation of its word (even among its own), all "agreements" are really just "suggestions". We have choices. We always have choices. A house of cards is blown over by a calm wind. 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Warning: I Cuss. A Lot.

To answer the question: Who gives a shit? It would be cool if we could just live our lives without being harassed by people who live in fear.

Remember:

It is illegal to use any of the following words (or any words, for that matter) as a way to criminalize or violate the rights to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness for any citizen of the United States:

Nigger
Whore
Slut
Coon
Cracker
Bitch
Cunt
Fuckface
Motherfucker
Pussy
Dick
Faggot
Chink
Porch Monkey
Fatso
Skank
African Booty Scratcher
Asshole
Fuckbucket
Booger eater
Redneck
Honkey
White honkey bitch
Bitch assed white honkey fuck face
Retard
Retarded white cunt fuckface clown bitch
Wigger bitch boy
Snowbunny
Assclown
Fartmuncher
Shit Eater
Beaner
Sissy
Punk Beeyotch
Skankmonkey
Bootylicker
Stupid
Stupidface
Fuckerfingerfartface
Terrorist
Terror
Bomb
Ballshitbrain
Dick Sucker
Aquamarine hip-hopopotamus

Despite what you believe or think, words are not criminal in this culture...until you believe they are. We are a nation of public opinion and the public is as stupid as a retarded white cunt fuckface clown bitch.

Love,
Blue

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

So, I was in my therapist's office...

So I was in my therapists' office and the question of "what do you do to support yourself?" came up.

Usually, when I get this question, there's a lot of skepticism that follows my response of, "I make music." that usually results in the followup question, "Right...but what do you DO?" as though making music couldn't POSSIBLY be a sustainable career choice.

So, cringing and rolling my eyes, I reluctantly responded to the therapists' question
with "I make music" to which he responded, "do you make enough money to support yourself?" to which I responded "yeah" to which he responded, "wow. You must be talented" as though everyone who makes money in music is talented in music...

Now, I get it: most people who say "I'm an artist" who live in Portland are really just unemployed hippies who refuse to get a job because it would imply caving in to the man and fulfilling their parents' warning that they "will never amount to anything" and then they do drugs. However, in seeking help from a therapist, it's important for them to have a good idea of who I am. "I'm talented" has nothing to do with my ability to support myself. In fact, "you're talented" is just some excuse that unsuccessful people use to explain away the difference between themselves and successful people. Truth is, I just work to make good life decisions. Talent has nothing to do with it...unless of course making good life decisions is a talent, in which case, I'm still not talented. I just do ok.

Anyway, the point of all this is that Western therapy is stupid. But I'm cautiously optimistic. If nothing else, it'll be an entertaining way to spend my lunch hour.

If you read this whole thing, I apologize, but you should know by now that I don't really have anything that transformational to say.

Love,
Blue

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

For Colored Girls Who Considered a Sandwich when a Salad Wasn't Enough



We do things because we want to see the world better. However, when the people begin to celebrate our accomplishments, we feel the pressure to not let them down. We were ready for the haters, but nobody prepared us for the fans.


Every person who doesn't like you is a gift. A test to see if you really are who you think you are. If you can stand as yourself in the face of opposition over and over again, you will eventually fly. If you yield to the desires of those who don't like you even once, you will never know your true purpose.


The world is nothing like what I thought it was. It's way more unstable than that.




Do not be discouraged by a skeet paycheck. Truth is, everybody sells drugs and/or engages in other forms of criminal and/or deceptive activities to make ends meet. If you don't have money, it's probably because you're legit. Don't give up hope. ‎#legitcanwork




And though I don't advocate illegitimacy, if you must be illegit for any reason, have a clear and well developed end game. You can't be a criminal forever. Set a limit. Get in. Get out. Don't believe me? Ask an old thug. You don't get old bein no fool.


You will fail 197 times before you succeed, but oh how great will be that success. However, if you fear the first failure, you won't make it to the second.


True courage is living as a bright shining light despite knowing that you may not ever be remembered.


To make art for the purpose of making money is to pray for the purpose of personal gain.




Futility is a recipe for insanity.


How empty must we be to define success through acquisition of things external?


If you get it dishonest, you can only get it once and you will have to fight to keep it. If you get it honest, you can get it over and over again and you will be compelled to give it away over and over again.




If you get it dishonest, no one will be able to learn from you. You will be marred in secrets that you must take to your grave. If you get it honest, you will tell the good news and everyone can benefit from your wisdom.

If you get it dishonest, you will always be paranoid and distrustful. If you get it honest, you will never have a care in the world and every day will be like your very first day and every new stranger will be your friend.

Honesty and integrity are the only real way. Everything else is an illusion. Stick to the way. Get it honest.


Success is like 75 lbs. You don't recognize growth until someone shows you a picture of yourself from high school.


I wonder if the "eligible bachelors who have money and can't find a quality woman" are ever gonna realize that their bad luck has nothing to do with "no good women."

I also wonder...

...if the "single and fabulous bachelorettes with great looks and great jobs who can't find a quality man" are ever gonna realize that their bad luck has nothing to do with "no good bruthas."

The world may never know....


Keep in mind: you're only a ho if you're selling. If you ain't doin shit, you just ain't doin shit.

Love,
Blue

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Go Crazy. It Helps.

For the past several months, I've been on a downward spiral toward maniac. But it's ok. After spending the last week in a mental institution (which was actually quite nice. I got my own water bottle), I have emerged with what alcoholics refer to as "a moment of clarity"... or, it could be the meds. Either way, The following are things that I learned from my...we'll just call it "escape". 

1. Everybody's crazy. 
2. The only normal people are those you don't know well.
3. Those you call "crazy" are the most wonderfully friendly people you'd ever want to meet...unless they're not.
4. I am NOT crazy (spend some time in a mental ward and you'll discover how crazy you're not). 
5. If you ever decide to go crazy, pick an institution where they keep the mildly crazy and the extremely crazy separate. Otherwise, you might actually go crazy for real.
6. Drink plenty of water. Water makes everything better.
7. Tell all your friends when you decide to go crazy. They love the stories and always have tons of useful advice. They also always have tons of useless advice. 
8. Pick good friends early in life. 
9. If you decide to go crazy, just chill. If you can't chill in the looney bin, you simply can't chill.
10. Appreciate life. there's nothing like being locked up to remind you how wonderful the sunshine feels on your face.

Love,
Blue