Mos Def

One of Brooklyn’s most creative sons, Mos Def is certainly one of the best known rappers to come out of the borough. Born Dante Terrell Smith in December 1973, .His rap moniker was born years later in the streets of Brooklyn. With the posturing and bravado of the early rap game, t’s not surprising that he would crown himself the Most Def (Meaning the Best). He has emerged as one of the most conscientious rappers in the game. He converted to Islam at the age of 19 along with his two younger brothers on the behest of his father.

Mos began rapping at the age of 9. He formed his first group with his younger brother, Urban Thermo Dynamics and in 1994 released his first record with the group. He went on to join the Native tongues family that was founded by Afrika Bambata. It included the likes of a Tribe called Quest and De La Soul. He guest starred on a few of their records but used the opportunity to be within a rap clique to hone his lyrical skills. He joined forces with Talia Kweli and formed the group Black Star. With the release of their first album in 1998.Mos quickly became known for his freestyle skills and his positive lyrics.

Not content with success in music, Mos has branched into acting and has built an impressive list of movie credits that include, Be Kind Rewind, The Italian job, 16 Blocks, Journey to the end of the earth, Monsters Ball among others. His television credits include playing side kick to Bill Cosby in the Bill Cosby Mysteries, The Chapelle Show and NYPD Blue. He has hosted Russell Simmons Def Poetry for the past 8 seasons as both host and poet.

Today Mos has over eight movies that he is filming, in production or in pre production. There is no way that anyone could confuse the rapper/actor/activist as being just another run of the mill artist. You could say that he MOS DEFinetly has what it takes to keep rising to the top.

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Guess What?

The Brooklyn Bridge's 486-meter main span was the longest in the world until the completion of the Firth of Forth cantilever bridge in Scotland in 1890. Its deck, supported by four cables, carries both automobile and pedestrian traffic. A distinctive feature is the broad promenade above the roadway, which John Roebling accurately predicted "in a crowded commercial city will be of incalculable value."

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Chic and Swag Friday

Fireworks Light the SkyBEIJING - AUGUST 08: The National Aquatics Center (L) and the National Stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Olympic Rings

BEIJING - AUGUST 08: The Olympic rings are pictured during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Venezuela

Venezuela (pronounced /ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə/, Spanish pronunciation: [beneˈswela]), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America.

Kanye West

Lollapalooza 2008

Central Park Shanghi

Photo by Randy Olson

Damier Geante Golf Bag, by Louis Vuitton

$8.400

National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution tells the stories of America through the individuals who have shaped U.S. culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists who speak American history.

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Skaters2/Two boys with skateboards Styl-IN

Yoani Sanchez

At the beginning of her blog Yoani Sanchez says that her blog is inspired by the people whose names begin with the letter Y. She says that it’s for the people born in the 70’s and 80’s who have had to go to the strict countryside schools, have watched illegal exits of their fellow men and are frustrated. This may have been what her blog began as but it is definitely not what it has evolved into being. Generacion Y has formed its own legs and has allowed the world to hear real criticisms of the Cuban regime without being diluted.

Living in Communist Cuba and isolated in sorts from the world by nature of the Communist government it’s hard for the average person to criticize the Castro regime or at the very least shed some light on what the average life is for the Cuban who has not been able to leave. Yoani Sanchez has managed to do this and more by virtue of her blog. What makes this accomplishment even more special is that Yoani isn’t able to read her blog because the web address is blocked from Cuba, Unfortunately it wasn’t possible for Yoani to follow her chosen profession of philology, therefore she began writing candid snapshots of life in Cuba.

Rather than openly speaking against the regime. Yoani provides candid snapshots into life. Such as the ludicrously of the mail service in Cuba, or the unfairness of the dual monetary system. In the past the freedom of speech that Yoani displays would have been crushed by the Castro machine but under the new rule of Raul Castro it seems that debate is encouraged in a way.

Her blogging has already won her an award with a prize money of 16,000 Euro. Unfortunately it is not possible for Yoani to leave Cuba at this time due to a technicality. She left to live in Switzerland to study for 2 years and under Cuban law anyone that leaves Cuba for more than 11 months loses Cuban nationality. So, on her return she has been unable to get a new passport to travel.

Perhaps in some way Cuba hasn’t changed as much as one would hope but with people like Yoani we are sure to see more change afloat.

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Cuban Flag

Cuba's currency is called Peso.

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Oscar Pistorius

It’s probably true to say that Henke and Sheila Pistorius watched the 2007 Golden League meet in Rome with more than a tear in their eye. They were watching their son, Oscar cruise into 2nd place at the 400 meters. What made this such a heartfelt victory is the fact that Oscar was born without the main bone in his leg. Before he was a year old he had both legs amputated between the knee and calf.

His remarkable ascent into top level sprinting is inspiring. His love of sports didn’t start with running. He was an avid water polo and rugby player growing up but his love for running. However, his success in Rome came amid controversy. Other able bodied athletes complained that Oscar had an unfair advantage due to the spring is the cheetah blades that he wears when running.

It’s almost a telling tale of sports in this day and age that a man that runs on no legs is considered a threat. Yet the World athletic federation (IAAF) changed the rules to disallow athletes who used springs to compete with able bodied athletes. Obviously this was a rule change directed squarely towards Oscar.

He appealed to the sports court in Monaco. He had that ruling overturned when he was able to present his own expert testimony (that supported the notion) his spring running bladed didn’t aid him artificially in any way or form.

Oscar’s eye was on the Olympics in Beijing 2008. Unfortunately he was unable to meet the qualifying time for his country of South Africa. If not for that he would have been the first amputee to participate in an able bodied Olympic games. He is not phased by this in the least. He says he is looking towards the 2012 games in London, UK where he will be stronger and be at the peak age for running.

Oscar has gone through a lot of adversity in his life, and I’m sure he will succeed in the future. He truly deserves the moniker of Blade runner, not only for what he runs on but for what frontiers he challenges by overcoming his disability. nytimes sportsillustrated
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Kerry Washington

Probably best known for her role as the long suffering wife of Ray Charles in the biopic Ray. Kerry Washington has been slowly accumulating roles that are nothing less than stand out during the length of her acting career. Her real life role as an activist is nothing less than right.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Kerry joined Tada! A youth musical theater where she honed her acting skills. At 12 she transferred from a public school to a private girls school in Manhattan. She graduated from the Spence Academy and went on to gain her degree in theater at the George Washington University in 1988.

Kerry has had a solid acting career starring in the "Aforementioned Ray", "The Last King of Scotland", "The Fantastic Four". Dont forget "Little Man"and "I think I love my wife among others."

She is also an activist. A feminist to be precise and she is not afraid to let people know it. She is part of the V-Counsel set up to help stem violence against women. She is also part of a political group formed to raise awareness of first amendment rights and use art as a way to create opportunities for children. Judging by the roles that she has chosen, there is no doubt that Kerry thinks about the impact that her roles will have on people at large.

She definitely deserves to be placed on this list as a woman that truly exemplifies conscientious living.

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Guess What?

"Kerry Washington is a very pretty sophisticated black woman!"

The Cee List

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Walking away with seven separate Grammys in 2007 cemented Red Hot Chili Peppers place in rock history. It was the jewel in the crown after 20 years of hard work, an ever-changing group line up and deaths from addiction. They could be described as the quintessential rock band. Heavy guitar riffs, rampant drug use and a rotating lineup it’s surprising that the Chilies were able to come together at all.

The band was formed in 1983 when the two founding members, Flea(Michael Balzary) and Anthony Kleidis formed a one off support act to support a friend. The band was named Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem. They went over so well with the crowd that they went back the following week and they called themselves the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Soon Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons joined the band and they began to more gigs in the LA area. They didn’t achieve instant success. In fact the first two albums they released flopped…even though one of the albums was produced by the Funk master himself…George Clinton. Nothing seemed to be able to get this band off the ground. It probably wasn’t helped by the fact that the group lineup changed so much as well as the rampant drug addictions that many in the group were battling. In 1988 Slovak died from a drug overdose and the his spot as guitarist was taken by a very young John Frusciante. However the pressure of being the youngest member (The others nicknamed him greenie) overwhelmed him and he soon became a drug addict. He quit the band in 1992. He was replaced by Arik Marshall and then Dave Navarro. Navarro was fired due to his drug use and he was replaced by none other than Frusciante who has remained in the band ever since.

The band reached its first mainstream success with the CD Mothers Milk. After than Blood Sugar Sex Magic was another smash to be followed by the classic CD Californication. The band won four Grammys in 2007 for their studio album Stadium Arcadium.

In May 2008 the band announced that they would disband, for a year, in order to pursue their own individual pursuits. After 24 years of heartbreak, hard work and sheer perseverance…the Chilies (As they are affectionately known) definitely deserve a break…but it may not be too long before we hear from them…Kleidis says it best, “"I'm just home, hanging out with this really cool little kid, learning how to surf. But I'm starting to get just a little bit of a tingle that it would be nice to start thinking about songs and pieces of music. But just pieces."

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Guess What?

"Red Hot Chili Peppers ROCK!!!!"

The Cee List

Chic & Swag Friday

Wangari Maathai
She looked. She listened. And before long Wangari Maathai had launched a campaign to restore balance to Kenya's mountain forests. Her work on behalf of the environment won her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, which has given her a stronger voice for change in her native country. Listen to her talk about her journey to environmental awareness, her hopes for Kenya, and the good that can come from empowering the people.

nationalgeographic

Diamond Blackberry Curve Cases

3.5 carats and are set in 18-karat gold

The number of Diamond Blackberry Curve Cases is so limited that it was originally reported that the one given away at CES was the only one. That may have been true at the time, but now the world’s most expensive Blackberry case can be purchased directly from Case-Mate for $20,000. We dare you to find a more expensive case than that.

Sand Pond

"The moon at sunrise lends an otherworldly feel to the freshwater lakes and pearly sands along the edge of lonely Shelburne Bay, on the remote northeast flank of the Cape York Peninsula."

—From the National Geographic book Australia: Journey Through a Timeless Land, 1999