So International

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2008-02-29T16:29:00.001-08:00

I'm Just Saying: Second

2007-08-24T10:54:00.002-07:00

Daft punk probably wrote every house song you never knew you liked...

I'm just saying.

I'm Just Saying: First

2007-08-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the "I'm Just Sayin'" series. Nothing too major...I'm just saying.

The topic is usually music, and usually hip hop at that. But it could vary. I'm just saying.

Here we go:

Cool & Dre make everything sound triumphant...

I'm just sayin.

Paul Wall: "I Got the Internet Goin' Nuts!"

2007-02-07T14:36:00.000-08:00

This video is the dopest thing I've seen all week. And given the amount of tubes there are out there on the Internets, that's saying a lot ;-p

The only thing I would add at the section at the end when you're listing everything we have to rethink is "work" or "labor" or something along those lines. I think commerce doesn't quite encapsulate the changing nature of what we think of as labor/work/employment/work-life balance/work habits etc.

I noticed this b/c I watched this video @ work =)

Wow, you're so "Articulate"

2007-02-07T10:37:00.001-08:00

Dope ass article from the NYT on why Black people get mad when they're described as "articulate." My favorite quote from the article:

"The word perfectly conveys, to quote George Bush, the soft bigotry of low expectations. It literally comes down to that. When people say it, what they are really saying is that someone is articulate ... for a black person."

Check it out HERE

why

2007-01-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

Why is it that when people say some racist shit, afterwords when it gets public and they have to defend themselves, they always feel the need to point out how many Black people, or Indian people, or Asian people they actually know and are friends with. "I'm not racist, my best friend is Black!" "I'm not racist, my third-cousin married a coon!" "I'm not racist, I stand next to chinks every day on the bus!"

As if knowing someone non-white immediately negates the fact that they let some offensive shit come out of their mouths in public.

Disclaimer: it's not only white people that do this. This Asian chick I know pulled it on me too, talking about the racist commercial she sent to me was sent to her by her Black "best friend." Probably wasn't her best friend. And people of color are racist too, so the fact that someone Black sent her some racist shit doesn't mean it's okay to pass it on.

I thought that maybe this was a reaction held by all people, regardless of color. Maybe everyone is inclined to just think of the first person in their vicinity who can help absolve them of their offense, to use their MySpace and LinkedIn friends as a thin shield against the cruel PR bombs. But, no. That brotha off of Grey's Anatomy who called his co-worker a fag didn't turn around the next day talking about his sister is a homo, or that he had a gay college roommate, or that he marched in the Gay Rights parade last month. Instead, he checked into Rehab. Yup, smart move homie. Pretend to be a crackhead...and all your PR problems associated with being a racist/sexist/homophobic biggot are gone...

Take note.

Isaiah Washington, smartest TV Star ever
Big Brother Jo denying she's a biggot

I'll spare you another Kramer link. We all know what that fool tried to say...

Update 4/07: Imus pulled the shit too!!

"He pointed to his involvement with the Imus Ranch, a cattle farm for children with cancer and blood disorders in Ribera, New Mexico. Ten percent of the children who come to the ranch are black, he added."
Imus shalking tit

It's Been a Long Time

2006-10-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

I have a new continent to visit...the sub continent to be precise =) I'm going to India in Dec/Jan ya'll! Holla =) More details to come...

ANTM Recap

2006-05-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

From televisionwithoutpity.com:
"Final episode madness! Jade, Joanie, and Danielle each get a different script for the penultimate Cover Girl commercial challenge, and have varying success memorizing their mascara-loving lines. Joanie nails it pretty quickly, Danielle continues to have problems with her southern accent, and Jade is a straight fool, per usual. The girls also shoot Cover Girl print ads, all of which look pretty gorgeous. Joanie breezes through to the final two, while Danielle's accent and Jade's attitude land them on the brink of elimination. In the end, Jade is finally sent home, and that howling wind you heard outside of your window was millions of people simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief. Or, breathily laughing at the outfit that Tyra wore at Panel. Seriously, you guys. Jade continues to be Jade right to the end, as she snaps her way back to what, for the love of God, I hope can only be classified as obscurity. Joanie and Danielle -- who might be my favorite pair of finalists ever -- go head to head in the final challenge, which involves walking on a pretty amazing, if relentlessly long, runway. When they go before Panel again, Danielle looks perfectly gorgeous and Joanie looks like she bought a replica of Cher's "Half-Breed" costume on Ebay, which was my first clue that Danielle really might have it in the bag. She does, she wins, and she is so sweet about it that I actually got a tiny tear in my eye. Joanie takes her runner-up status with total grace and class, Danielle promises to get a voice coach, and with that, another season comes to an end, bitches. "

Hilarious. Jade is a fool, almost wish she had one just for the hell of it =)

East Coast or West Coast rap?

2006-04-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

From the Tivo Ambassador: (My sentiments exactly)

East Coast or West Coast rap?
West Coast. In fact, I have requested that "Regulate" by Warren G featuring Nate Dogg be played at my funeral. By a harpist.

V for Vendetta

2006-04-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

V for Vendetta is probably the best movie I've seen for a while...kind of like a modernized version of Orwell's "1984", from our times looking forward. Though it is not at all subtle, the issues it touches on are chilling, appropriate for the times, and at some points down-right frightening. I highly suggest you see it, and witness a vision of a modern-day rise of facism. I really hope that's not where we're headed, but sometimes it does seem that way.

More to come. Holler atcha girl.

Whatchu Know About Dat?

2006-04-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

This has to be the hottest single out right now. The beat sounds like an Anthem...Check it:

Why, Bucky, Why?

2006-04-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

Why oh why is Bucky still on American Idol? How do Mandisa and Lisa get voted off, AND all of the crooners, AND Kevin Covais, and STILL Bucky remains? Has anyone noticed:
* bucky is freakin' boring
* he can only sometimes sing
* and then only country
* he's boring
* he has no star appeal
* and he's not even cute

Who is voting for this man?? Will someone please explain to me why?

Little Learnings

2006-03-19T20:40:00.000-08:00

I just had a special moment, and it made an impression on me how the little events that occur in life often have significance and hold meaning for the larger picture...anyway, I recently moved to my own apartment, and as a result have been doing tons of furniture shopping. I bought a great shelf today at Crate and Barrel, but did not realize that their flat packing is not as great as Ikea's, meaning, the box the shelf came in was huge, and seemingly totally unmanageable by one person. So, as the C&B folks struggled to force the humongous rectangular heavy box into my small Kia Sephia, I wondered how on earth I was going to get the thing out of my car and into my place on the 3rd floor...

My parents are busy tonight going to some dinner party, so I couldn't ask them; my one buddy who helps me with absolutely everything already turned his phone off for the night (he goes to bed really early since he's a construction worker); another guy I talk to who is kind of flaky ended up doing the flaky thing...but I can't be mad cause he lives a good 40 minutes from my house (and I didn't even tell him he was going to help me with the bookcase flat out, sigh.) The only other guy who lived near enough to help me is someone that probably likes me more than I like him, and I didn't want to lead him on if I'm not interested, or be trifiling and essentially use him.

I went into the house and started pondering...is this what life is like alone? No one to help you with those little things? What if I end up never finding a great guy to spend time with, I'll never have anyone to be there for me in times of need. Is it possible to be happy, or even self sufficient, alone? Mind you, these are questions coming from one self-sufficient, independent woman who works out regularly and usually thinks she can so absolutley anything. But I was doubtful...

Finally, I got myself up and went back down to my car and decided I had to at least attempt to bring the damn thing up myself. Me and the handtruck, I mean. Well, guess what. The bookcase was heavy as hell, I nearly crushed my hand at one point, and I even turned down the help of a stranger who saw me struggling...but I did it. I dragged the case out of the left hand side of the passenger and backseats it had taken over, somehow managed to lever it onto the hand truck, and rolled it precariously through 3 doors and in and out of an elevator all the way up to my home..I did it!

Moral of the story: yes, sometimes things are easier, life is better with someone there to give you a hand...but it is possible to succeed alone! I managed, all by myself, I'm going to put the damn thing together, all by myself, and I'm not going to be sad and/or depressed because I'm all by myself. I feel empowered because I don't feel like I need to not be alone; yes, things might be better...but I can manage with just me.

My Modeling Career

2005-11-09T23:50:00.000-08:00

My modeling career, summarized by the ever eloquent STRONG BAD!

The Latest

2005-11-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Thanks for reading. It's so cool that people besides my parents actually look at this thing. Now for the list of updates...

1. I'm back in America, finishing school, which mildly sucks.
2. I ended up not going to Hong Kong afterall.
3. I'm looking for a job. If you have any connections in New York City, let me know.
4. I finish school in December
5. Might be at R1 FRC. Will know this week.
6. I have pictures for all the blogs, but won't get to them until the week of Thanksgiving, when I have a break.

I'll post a real update when my life gets a bit less hectic. Holler atcha girl.

my schedule

2005-09-20T02:35:00.000-07:00

For those who have been inquiring, this is what I’ve been up to, and why I' ve been traveling so much…(check out the name of my blog...I am trying to be international)

August 13th – 26th (well, 27th because of weak ass KLM messing up my ticket)
I was volunteering with Camp Amelia, a non profit org started by a friend of mine at school. Check out the link: www.CampAmelia.org. Check out the posts below for more info…

August 29th – Sept 17th Tokyo Overseas Studies Seminar: Tokyo since 1945: Rising from the Ruins. Check out the link for more info. Tokyo is so cool.

Sept 17th – 22nd I’m in Kyoto now, finally on vacation. I have a rail pass, so I’ll be traveling the next few days, just seeing the local area, visiting the famous sights, and chilling out!

Sept 22nd – 26th Hong Kong. Figured I should see another city in Asia before I went home, and why not go somewhere where I can spend the last of my life savings wisely on bootleg purses and cheap, high tech electronics!

I’ll be home on September 26th, the first day of class…

Made it to Kyoto

2005-09-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

So, finally the seminar is over with and I have some extra time on my hands! The past 3 weeks have gone by in a whirlwind. The schedule for the seminar was grueling, with a 2 hour lecture every morning, Monday through Saturday, and walking tours in either a bright shining sun, 85 + degree weather and high humidity, or pouring rain in 80+ degree weather, still high humidity. The tours were for the most part really good, but would have been so much better if we’d simply been able to breathe or not almost melt in the hot sun.

This seminar has really made me fall in love with Tokyo. It is such an amazing city (more like a collection of cities) and I wish I had the opportunity to study abroad here. Living in Yokohama for that one summer was great for my initial exposure to Tokyo, but I really feel like I could almost live here. The only thing I forsee being negative is getting lonely…It’s hard to be a foreigner in Japan, even harder if you don’t have any friends!

Back to recapping the seminar, we basically studied almost every major borough of Tokyo, traveled to each place by subway or train, and learned the history of its development or some of the key defining issues surrounding the area. This was my first real sort of urban studies class, and first time examining a space or a culture through the topography of the city, or the history of its built environment, so it was interesting just to learn things from an alternate point of view. One of the coolest things we did was got a personal tour and introduction to a new complex being built in Roppongi, called Tokyo Midtown. They’re currently building the highest building in Japan, and a huge living/shopping/business complex. Its so high tech, incorporating all kinds of environmentally conscious techniques, such as using “grey” water to flush the toilets. Grey water is water that’s collected from rainwater runoff, etc. It’s not clean enough to drink, but not exactly dirty either. Another cool thing we did was visit Shinjuku and Kabuki-cho, the sex district of Tokyo. We went in the daytime, while there wasn’t that much excitement happening, but it was cool seeing the kind of sanctioned underbelly of the city. Also this week we visitied Odaiba, the new waterfront-Bay area of Tokyo. I got some cool footage of that area as well. .

My complaint about the seminar is that we didn’t have nearly enough time for ourselves. We only had like 2 Saturdays there, and one was spent hearing a lecture, the other moving from our dorm to the Japanese style hotel we stayed at for the last week, and getting a tour. So, it was annoying not being able to have enough time to do what we wanted to do in addition to the little bit of homework and couple of projects we had. But all in all it was a great experience, especially considering it worked out to basically only cost the price of the ticket to get here.

I’ll try to put up another post with pictures from some of the cool stuff I’ve seen, but that will depend on the internet access I can get. I’m currently staying with my host family from when I studied abroad here in Kyoto, and I can’t believe how small their house is! It’s hard to imagine how I lived here for 3 months!!

I stayed up all night last night clubbing on my last night in Tokyo, so I’m exhausted…gonna plan my day for tomorrow and go to bed early on a Saturday night. Leave me a message on my cell phone if you miss me!

Peace.

From Ghana to Japan

2005-08-31T20:50:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe I’m halfway around the world from where I was 2 days ago…all the way in Japan. The past few days have been beyond hectic, and its finally starting to catch up with me. I am not yet sick, but feel as though I will be if I don’t get some serious R&R these next few days. I’ve been taking my vitamins and Emergen-C, and slept a full night last night, so I’m well on my way…

Just to update on my disaster, I was supposed to leave Ghana on Friday night, arrive in SFO on Saturday, and leave SFO on Sunday to arrive in Japan on Monday. Since KLM (officially the worst airline ever—I highly recommend you never fly them) overbooked my flight, I couldn’t get out of Accra until Saturday, which pushed everything back a day. Though they gave me a voucher to make up for it, I still had to pay JAL $150 to change my ticket to Japan to Monday, and I missed the first day of my seminar and free dinner with the group. It really sucks. Lesson: Don’t ever fly KLM, especially to Africa. The difference in the flights to/from Amsterdam and to/from Accra is really ridiculous. I have never seen such a pitiful operation run by an airline before…in Accra we sat on the runway for an hour while about 12 KLM attendants counted who was on the plane and tried to figure out seats because apparently one person had checked in and hadn’t shown up. Anyway, enough with my rants about KLM.

So now that I’m here in Japan, the difference in the “developed” and “developing” world is really so staggering. I’ve gone from maybe having hot water to having a hot water heater under my bathroom sink in my dorm room that I can switch on and off as I please. Instead of riding a taxi for ~ $2 USD to get anywhere in the city, I’m now paying about $2USD per subway/train ride on what is probably the worlds’ most efficient transportation system. I miss Ghanaian Red-Red (plantains and bean stew) already, but I especially miss the prices. Last night I ate at a tempura fast food shop for about $6USD. That would have bought a feast of tilapia and kelewele in Ghana.

Anyway, I am super exhausted, but really happy to be here. It feels good to be back in Japan, and I’m pretty comfortable here by myself. I went shopping for a towel and stuff at the dollar store and ate alone and everything when I first got in yesterday (it was almost a 3 hour trip from the airport to the dorm—I barely slept on the plane, so I was awake for like 23 straight hours!) and once everyone came back from dinner I was able to connect with them and say hello.

Today will be my first day of class, as we will commence our walking tours of the various neighborhoods of Tokyo. Should be fun, and I’m looking forward to it. Send me an email and I’ll send you my phone # here. I’ll be getting a cell phone today hopefully as well.

Signing off…

Drumming

2005-08-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been so crazy, its felt as though I’ve been here for weeks. I was in a funky mood after I wrote my last blog—Accra is realy reminiscent of Taipei to me because of the pollution, traffic, crowds, etc. It’s really not a beautiful city, and there’s not really much to do besides go to markets…

The day after I was in a bad mood, from my allergies acting up, and it being hot and stuffy at night when we’re trying to sleep, we decided to go to the Arts&Crafts Center. This outdoor market is a jumble of small crowded booths, goods, and aggressive hawkers trying to sell you their goods. Erin, Valerie, and I wandered around for a while, bargained for a really long time for some wall hangings that we ended up not buying, and gaped at rows upon rows of beautiful wooden statues, carvings, masks, hand woven cloths, clothes, daishikis, earrings…pretty much anything you can think of related to “Africa” was for sale in this market.

I decided I would probably buy a drum for my Dad. Once I mentioned this fact to a local shop man (named “Billy Ocean”) he proceeded to lead us to the drum shop where they make the drums. We head over to a row where there are lots of small, cramped wooden shacks and sat down on long low benches. Valerie and I were handed jimbas (sp?) the large drums, and Erin proceeded to video record us as we drummed, sang, and danced for about 40 minutes with about 10 locals guys. The longer we played, the more attention we attracted, and eventually there was a crowd of about 20 people there, watching or participating, (including the guy who had followed us around all afternoon with a batch of wall hangings that we had considered buying). It was the first time I really felt happy in Ghana.

Red Red

2005-08-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

Back at the internet cafe, BusyInternet, with about 13 minutes left, just enough time to quickly write a blog...

I've spent the past couple of days getting to know Accra, basically through the various shopping runs we've made to buy materials for next weeks' camp. It's been terribly unorganized but bargaining and roaming the streets of Osu, the sort of downtown area, has been fun. One thing that has been delicious is the food. We tried Red Red the other day, which is fried plantains and this sort of bean stew that can have chicken or fish or beef in it if you want. So yummy. I was worried about being able to eat, but since we've mainly been going to nice restaurants, its been cool. There's this one place we went to, called Marquis Tante Marie that serves a grilled tilapia (fish) dish--similar to some of the Jamaican fish dishes I've had, and so delicious. Yummy.

Thoughts on Resources

2005-08-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

Being in a third world country has forced me to see how most of the world lives--electricity only during most, not all of the week (like when we had rolling blackouts in Cali), running water that doesn't always work unless you have your own tank on your property; supermarkets not as the norm, but rather as a novelty; and clothes dryers--still something I've only seen in the US. the list could go on and on...

As I think about all of this, it makes me wonder--is there enough for everyone to live what I think is a decent life? Is the reason the wealth in the world so out of balance because there really aren't enough resources to go around for everyone? I think its fact that there's enough food for all people...but is there enough energy to create the kind of electricity we enjoy in the US? Could everyone have running hot water all the time? If so, then its really sad to see the state that a lot of people live in. We saw a shanty town in the distance as we drove home yesterday, and the stench from the burning garbage, and the sight of the filthy river that school kids were playing soccer by was unsettling. However, if there aren't enough resources, it explains a lot about human nature, about ailments such as racism, war, terrorism, etc. Everyone is fighting to keep as many of the limited resources available as possible on their side. And as I get a glimpse into this side of the world, it makes me a bit more understanding of why people may act as crazy as they do. If we lived like some people are forced to, we might be terrorists too...

Signing off,
Camille

Ghana, at last…

2005-08-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

Not much time left on the computer, so sorry for the random ramblings…

After a 10+ hour flight to Amsterdam, a 3 hour layover at what was 2am California time, and another 6 hour flight (filled with noisy children, though I was unconscious through most of the flight), we finally made it to Ghana! We passed through customs, and emerged into a balmy, tropical night and were greeted by Shirley’s cheerful sister Sharon, her quiet brother Steven, and warm parents, Sam and Harriet.

We stayed the night at Shirley’s large home, and her mom made us chicken (tasted like Korean bbq chicken) and fried rice. We’ve been drinking lots of bottled water, tea, and juice, and have been well-taken care of. Shirley’s family’s home is sprawling one-story home, with several bathrooms and lots of sitting rooms. They have their own kitchen director, driver, and security guards…you can live extremely well here if you have some money…

Walking around, we see everyone carries everything on their body: babies ride piggy back style with clothes wrapped around their and their mothers’ waists, and practically anything can be found in a basket on top of someone’s head. There are palm trees everywhere, the air is warm, the dirt is reddish gold and there are people out walking around all the time. I will write more later, as I don’t have much time left, but send me an email if you’re reading along!

Love, from Africa =)
Mille

Strawberries

2005-05-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

"It was like making out with a great kisser"
~ Nove, describing the orgasmic nature of eating a chocolate covered strawberry

Back then, didn't want me...

2005-05-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

...now I'm hot, they all on me. Anyone who has heard the monotononous, Houston-style screwed up repetition of the chorus on Mike Jones' ("Who?" you may ask; to which I must reply, "Mike Jones!") new single can only be thinking one thing...man, does this guy have a vindictive grudge on his shoulder, or what. I'll admit--the joint is catchy; and besides, who doesn't dream of graduating from high school, going off to college or whatever the next step may be, getting really hot, really rich, and really successful, and then coming back a few years later just to throw it all in the faces of those who rejected you the first time around as you smugly remind yourself that those people didn't mean shit to you anyways?

But as the opening to his video so subtly illustrates (Mike Jones, WHY do you even remember a girl who rejected you at the club over a year ago!?!) the so-called insignificants really do matter. Those random small encounters with random nobodys over the year can make or break an individual's self-image and eventually self- esteem. Those who think they're so fine that they could get a record deal even if they can only carry a tune; those who walk around their heads down and avoid eye contact with any unfamiliar person trying to carry on an introductory conversation with them; those who think their height is really the only thing keeping them from being chosen to be on America's Next Top Model (hey, so what if I'm a little egotistical!); none of these people developed these attitudes in a vacuum. Every encounter, every environment, every image they've seen have helped to shape who they've become, no matter how seemingly significant (or not) the event was at the time.

So the next time you encounter someone new, or even an old acquaintance, think a little more carefully about what you say or do (it is said that your karma is everything you think, say, and do...starting to change these things will change your entire life condition).

You may be helping to shape the persona of the next person to create an entire gleeful second single about their fantasy-like vindication; or the next person who realizes that their success is so noteworthy that the most valuable thing they could do with it is use it to uplift others; or America's Next Top Model ;-P

Only for the Grown and Sexy

2005-05-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

Sexy Show 1

What's up everyone . . . on Wednesday, May 18th, come witness Camille either shine like a star or make a complete fool of herself in her first official fashion show. I will be modelling tank tops and tees for a local designer, Carly Franz, and her "Grown and Sexy" Clothing Line. It should be fun times if nothing else. Contact me for tickets... I hope to see you there!

Details below...

Sexy Show 2

Good Morning

2005-04-28T23:37:00.000-07:00

"Good morning, good afternoon, good night. What have you done with your life?" ~ Talib Kweli

A fitting introduction as I embark on this new venture of online journals. If I do well with keeping up with this blog, one day I will be able to actually open up some files and read about what I've done with my life. And maybe someone will even think I'm deep. The thought just occured to me that this just might be the solution to the long quotes, hyperlinks, etc that I want to put up in my AIM profile, but usually don't have the space to...and the other problem of having to delete these posts when you want to delete them. Ingenious.

Must go now, but am very much looking forward to progressing...