Time is on your side
so heed to patience
The targets tend
to give themselves away
Answer first
the questions of yourself
Out from cover come
so drunk with courage
Kill the that
wich stands across your way
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Another
Whenever in my life
I meet another
Man who seems to share
A love of thinking
And asking lots of questions
All the time
Because I fear
That our kind are shrinking
I'll make sure that mans
A friend of mine
I meet another
Man who seems to share
A love of thinking
And asking lots of questions
All the time
Because I fear
That our kind are shrinking
I'll make sure that mans
A friend of mine
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Why are some Successful?
Success, when you've done something, accomplishment of importance, Grandure making it on the main stage. This is the base and up on it you hope love, respect, happiness and health. Growing up I've always looked for it is in others that made them successful, what set them apart? Till now it's something I had a lot of trouble finding...Challenge and difficulty. Great men accept challenge, maybe even seek it out. The difficulties are only there to be out smarted, to be knocked on there ass as the King pushes through.
That's my realization. Success comes to those who are not afroad of it. Not afraid of that wich guards it. Surrouned by problems, obsitlces, temptations, emotions...and in the middle sits your success, your Dream! Take down your walls and open your doors. Find the joy of challenge and it may only be a matter of time before you have it. And so you'll face the time to stop, to know you're there and tell yourself it's OK, the race is over, now you run for yourself, run for your health.
I challenge you to step above the space you're in and make it better tomorrow, make it nicer, one step closer to a dream that today is just a dream. Pack up all your witts and courage because you'll need them, take that deep breath and start the race.
That's my realization. Success comes to those who are not afroad of it. Not afraid of that wich guards it. Surrouned by problems, obsitlces, temptations, emotions...and in the middle sits your success, your Dream! Take down your walls and open your doors. Find the joy of challenge and it may only be a matter of time before you have it. And so you'll face the time to stop, to know you're there and tell yourself it's OK, the race is over, now you run for yourself, run for your health.
I challenge you to step above the space you're in and make it better tomorrow, make it nicer, one step closer to a dream that today is just a dream. Pack up all your witts and courage because you'll need them, take that deep breath and start the race.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Russell Brand
Channel surfing I caught the opening of this years Video Music Awards with a 10 foot tall Russell Brand, fagging his way out on stage. I'd read something a few weeks back about his reputation preceeding him back in the UK, something like Amy Winehouse with a cock. This may be coming off a little rough, but I feel it comfortable only because he walked out on that stage and gave up some of the most offensive stand up you will see on TV in front of a happy, sunny, fresh tween crowd. From "8 years of a Retarded cowboy President" to "Alex Rodriguez had something that made Madonna feel like a virgin, a baseball bat...The womans 50." The greatest part of all this was that nobody laughed! He just kept going, they didn't get it, or they did and couldn't believe it? He just kept going plowing straight through those fucking assholes.
This crazy haired british man single handedly dropped a whole lot of MTV executive jaws. I would have offered a standing ovation, not because I agreed with him, not because it was semi political, not because no one else would, but because he walked out and went all balls, no idea if that was a cleared performance, there's no way it all could have been. That's what we need right now people who are not afraid to be heard, to make a noise, to go against their audience and say something that brings out a gasp. For better or worse it shakes things up and brings them to the surface. Russell Brand is now a person I will be paying some attention to.
Thank you for saying something in a room full of smiles.
This crazy haired british man single handedly dropped a whole lot of MTV executive jaws. I would have offered a standing ovation, not because I agreed with him, not because it was semi political, not because no one else would, but because he walked out and went all balls, no idea if that was a cleared performance, there's no way it all could have been. That's what we need right now people who are not afraid to be heard, to make a noise, to go against their audience and say something that brings out a gasp. For better or worse it shakes things up and brings them to the surface. Russell Brand is now a person I will be paying some attention to.
Thank you for saying something in a room full of smiles.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
J-Rock interview
JRocked: A sit down with Jasen Sousa, Author and founder of J-rock Publishing.
A few years ago I heard rumors of a kid from Somerville putting out his own book of poetry. It was a shock to me; there just wasn’t anyone where we grew up writing poetry (admitting they wrote poetry.) It would be another couple years and a few more books released by Jasen before we started the email game. Having become friends he was generous enough to allow me some time to dig into his head and put it down on paper…
MindGames: Can I ask how old you are?
Jason Sousa: 25
MG: When did you put out your first book?
JS: The first book came out in 99’
MG: How old were you then?
JS: I was working on that book between 18 and 19 years old
MG: Was the first book mostly poetry?
JS: Yea, the first book published was Life, Weather and that was a collection of like 70 poems, that’s got some illustrations to go along with them, real nice by a friend of mine from here in Somerville. Basically the concept behind my first book was to introduce it as kinda like a hybrid between a poetry and a comic book, to get young people more interested. You know pencil sketches that are real, but also kinda have some surrealism to them.
MG: With the first book were you writing it during 18/19 or had it all been written before deciding to put a book together?
JS: Actually I wrote it before…The way I got the idea to put it into a book format was I would bring it to some of my friends who were like in mental facilities and things like that, trying to get through certain problems in their life and I would bring them these poems and stories and they would say that it helped them get through it…So I guess I got the idea that I should put it a book format, you know, to better present it rather than just some loose paper. That was really what gave me the first idea to turn it into a book.
MG: Were you shy at the beginning about putting out your writing?
JS: You know what, not really. As far as my ideas and thoughts I never really was, I kinda put things out there cause, my experiences and things that I go through could always help people. So as far as putting my things out there that I’m embarrassed about and things like that, at first it was a little weird to do, but as you go through it you know…Your readers will recognize if you’re not being truthful to them. So right from the beginning I just decided to lay everything out there.
MG: How did you go from the idea of “I want to make a book” to having the final product?
JS: I did the research on what would be the best way for me to put my book out there, so I went through all the steps in terms of trying to get an agent and trying to get a publisher to accept what I have to offer. I came across the self publishing route and kind of fell in love with that because I can put it out there without anyone saying whether it’s good or bad and I can make my own, which is very important to me. So I did the research on how to get ISBN numbers, bar codes, different presses and software and things like that to put the book together. Really I went from there and my first book was really just an experiment. We did the whole thing on Microsoft Word, which turned out to be kind of a disaster, but you know we continued from there and just kept learning along the way…
MG: Any advice for someone that is thinking about the road of self publishing?
JS: Yea, well my advice would be to someone trying to put out their own writing is believe in it. It’s a long process and the publishing industry is cut throat and so many things out there that never get to see the light of day. With people that want to get it out, there are so many venues with your own computer and things like that. So people now really have a lot more ways to show their ideas and work to the world.
MG: Who helped plant the seeds in your head that you could and should go ahead with publishing your own book?
JS: You know really, personality wise, I’m a person that stays to themselves a lot and I just came up with idea on my own really and just went with it from there. Like no one knew what I was doing and if anything I got more negative feedback than anything from people because no one in my family or that I know has done anything like this. To tell you the truth no one in my family really reads. So to do something like make books for myself they were like are “you joking?” especially with friends and stuff. It’s one of those things where you believe in it with all your heart and you get these pictures in your head and they start to come into shape in real life.
MG: How much does the feedback from your books help inspire the next?
JS: The feedback for me deffinatley has an effect for me, you know. When I get my books out there a lot of my material is written for young people who are going through tough times. When I get feedback and I give a book to a young girl who reads one of my stories about another young girl who made a bad decision and got pregnant at a young age and maybe didn’t use protection and things like that and because of that story the young girl says “I don’t want my life to turn out like her,” and she’ll tell me that your book was an inspiration to make decisions that will help me in my future. Things like that help push me to keep going, no matter what happens, whether it be low money issues or things like that.
As far as the negative feedback and things like that, basically as I started going to school the feedback got more negative because the style of poems I write is more hip-hop. My poems are not traditional, so when I would bring them to School at Emerson and they would get checked out by professors, maybe there would be negative feedback as far as my style. So I just kinda keep going on and trying to get better.
MG: Most young people have trouble figuring out how to express themselves and a lot of times they turn to drugs and alcohol as an outlet. Do you find that people get inspired to open up when they see you open up?
JS: You couldn’t be more exact with that question. I have people come up to me when I’m doing these things, whether it be a book signing or things like that who pour out their life’s story and terrible things that have happened to them, like being abused as a child or things like that and they tell me these things like I’m their best friend because when they read my books, like I said before, me being truthful to them with everything I’ve been through. When they come up and tell me their stories or cry on my shoulder. It’s a very powerful experience to go through when you can connect like that when it’s a total stranger and you can develope a relationship with them for the rest of your life…
MG: We came from the same area growing up where so many people fell into the traps of drugs and alcohol. At what age did you find it went from being, kids just playing around to something a little bit darker?
JS: Well there were a few different ages, but some kids, once they got past sophomore year in high school tend to experiment with a lot of things. They’re experimenting with their identity who they are and who they want to become. When I see things get more serious is when people graduate high school. Sometimes they don’t teach kids well enough how to plan for what they want to be and it’s kinda like they’re on their own. So if they don’t have enough money to go to college and find out what direction they want to go in college, they end up finding out what they want to be on the street and that can be dealing drugs and things like that. I’ve found that in the environment that we grew up in, establishing who you are as a person is very important. I found my identity early on through sports and basketball. That helped me stay strong with who I was, but writing can be a way for some people to help them figure out who they are.
MG: Do you do any drugs or drink alcohol?
JS: One of the things I’m most proud about is that I’ve been around drugs my whole life and have never had a smoke, a shot, a sniff or anything. I’ve been next to people who sniff coke or shoot heroin and you might think that someone like me could go into that very easily, but I was able to stay disciplined through sports and even more found my self through writing. I knew who I was, so even though I was around that stuff my whole life I always stayed away from it because being sober you see what it does to people and it scares you seeing that so much. Watching it makes you see it so much clearer and it just makes you stay away that much more.
MG: Because you were outside watching it happen did it make you feel pity for those people or was it more like, “these people are disgusting for what they do to themselves?”
JS: It’s an interesting question because there’s a lot of people I talk to who think that because being in a situation like this you would ignore these types of things, but being a writer and seeing things like my friends and what they go through it’s just something you can’t ignore. I’m someone that’s routed in this stuff and never want to turn my back on it. Poverty, drugs are things that people go through and I’m not just going to move away and ignore it. Because it’s there. I feel like being through everything that I have, I can be someone who can help with things like that.
MG: With all the work that you do to help people, do you find that more often than not you’re able to help people? Or do people usually end up hurting themselves?
JS: I think it’s one of those things where it’s 50/50 each way. I done a lot of things where I’ve been able to help people who have been in a bad situation. I’m a person who’ll give you the shirt off my back if I have to, I mean I’ve given people my whole paycheck just so they can pay their rent and stay in their house. It also backfires too because a lot of the people you deal with have major issues too with addictions and one of the things I’ve had to go through in my life is trying to figure out where people are in life and how you can help them because sometimes I can’t be enough and they need professional help. I just try to be someone in the personal life that can help them get through the day as best they can.
MG: The thing that impresses me the most about you is your motivation and how hard you work to do what you think is right. How does it affect you to see friends and other people around you give up and just say “fuck it.”?
JS: Well basically the things we’ve talked about and a lot of people in my life that passed away from those things serves as motivation for me and gives me energy. Honestly I don’t think I ever would have been able to do the things I’ve done without seeing some of my friends that passed away and feeling like they’re inside of me pushing me. I feel like I’m in the position now where I have to keep a lot of people’s memories alive that never got to reach their potential. Especially I had one real good friend of mine and I’ve never really been a person to have a best friend, but he was the closest thing I’ve had and it’s kinda like he’s always in my mind and I always feel that I’m talking to him and things like that. The bad things that people do just make me want to do the most positive things for myself and for others.
MG: We’ve seen so many people fall through the cracks, that there is obviously room for improvement. With kids and education what do you think is missing?
JS: I agree with that, as far as things that they’re teaching in schools in literature classes where kids need to latch on to stories I feel like it’s important to study the classics, to learn them and understand them, but there need to more books and authors who look like these kids, dress like these kids and tell stories that talk about things that they’re going through. When kids are leaving a house where their mother might be a junkie, it’s hard to focus on a story that was written over a hundred years ago. There needs to be more stories that are routed in today’s society and deal with things that young people today are going through.
MG: Boston is a University City; with all the students in the city do you think it adds to the exploration of the arts? Or does partying and drinking overshadow it?
JS: I’m glad you brought this up because it’s definitely something that really disturbs me because I just got done going to Emerson College and it happens to be in downtown Boston in a place right near the inner city so there are a lot of things going down there. It disturbs me when I’m going to college and I see all the people there and they’re the same color as the walls. Everyone is the same in college, like a bunch of robots, who go there all learning to become the same thing, which I think in the long run will be bad for the world. There are all these kids from Boston around college age just hanging out on the corner and why can’t they have the opportunity to go to college and learn about the same things as people from wealthy back rounds come from. So that always upsets me and I want more people from the city to be going to college not only people coming from other places and taking up space where we can fill up the room.
MG: J-Rock Publishing is known for putting books out for young adults. Over time do you think because it’s so important you’ll stay with that age group?
JS: J-Rock Publishing was founded on young adult literature and I feel that J-Rock Publishing will always be known for young adult literature. Maybe in the future we’ll branch out and do imprints of other types of books, but I always feel that as far as J-Rock Publishing and the material that comes out of it will always be for young people who are going through things in their life and looking to find themselves because there’s not enough literature out there for them. I want J-Rock Publishing as before, now and always to be for young people.
MG: Do you have any projects coming up in the near future?
JS: Yea, one of the projects we’re working on right now is the Somerville Renaissance, based on the idea of the Harlem Renaissance because in Somerville there are so many young creative people around here who are rapping, writing, doing things with movies, drawing and being artistic. All these types of things like the Harlem Renaissance, in a city of transition and a lot of young artists trying to express that. For a long time I’ve been encouraging people to put out their own work and it was one of those things where you have to have enough material and enough discipline to sit down and want to do it, so I got the idea with Somerville Renaissance to put a lot of young people’s work together to try and send the message that it’s the same throughout the whole city. I’m really excited about this project for myself and for young people who are able to let their voice out to the world.
MG: How could someone submit something to the Somerville Renaissance project?
JS: If you’d like to submit something to the Somerville Renaissance you can go to www.jrockpublishing.com I got links on there to check things out www.myspace.com/jasensousa and submit your work to be reviewed and maybe be included in the book.
MG: Where can people find some more info on you, ordering one of your books or about your company?
JS: Basically the best way to find out about me is log onto the site www.jrockpublishing.com or www.myspace.com/jasensousa We got a lot of information on their some cool videos, articles. So definitely check those out and find out what we’re up to.
To see photos or watch the video from the extended interview go to www.mindgamescon.blogspot.com
A few years ago I heard rumors of a kid from Somerville putting out his own book of poetry. It was a shock to me; there just wasn’t anyone where we grew up writing poetry (admitting they wrote poetry.) It would be another couple years and a few more books released by Jasen before we started the email game. Having become friends he was generous enough to allow me some time to dig into his head and put it down on paper…
MindGames: Can I ask how old you are?
Jason Sousa: 25
MG: When did you put out your first book?
JS: The first book came out in 99’
MG: How old were you then?
JS: I was working on that book between 18 and 19 years old
MG: Was the first book mostly poetry?
JS: Yea, the first book published was Life, Weather and that was a collection of like 70 poems, that’s got some illustrations to go along with them, real nice by a friend of mine from here in Somerville. Basically the concept behind my first book was to introduce it as kinda like a hybrid between a poetry and a comic book, to get young people more interested. You know pencil sketches that are real, but also kinda have some surrealism to them.
MG: With the first book were you writing it during 18/19 or had it all been written before deciding to put a book together?
JS: Actually I wrote it before…The way I got the idea to put it into a book format was I would bring it to some of my friends who were like in mental facilities and things like that, trying to get through certain problems in their life and I would bring them these poems and stories and they would say that it helped them get through it…So I guess I got the idea that I should put it a book format, you know, to better present it rather than just some loose paper. That was really what gave me the first idea to turn it into a book.
MG: Were you shy at the beginning about putting out your writing?
JS: You know what, not really. As far as my ideas and thoughts I never really was, I kinda put things out there cause, my experiences and things that I go through could always help people. So as far as putting my things out there that I’m embarrassed about and things like that, at first it was a little weird to do, but as you go through it you know…Your readers will recognize if you’re not being truthful to them. So right from the beginning I just decided to lay everything out there.
MG: How did you go from the idea of “I want to make a book” to having the final product?
JS: I did the research on what would be the best way for me to put my book out there, so I went through all the steps in terms of trying to get an agent and trying to get a publisher to accept what I have to offer. I came across the self publishing route and kind of fell in love with that because I can put it out there without anyone saying whether it’s good or bad and I can make my own, which is very important to me. So I did the research on how to get ISBN numbers, bar codes, different presses and software and things like that to put the book together. Really I went from there and my first book was really just an experiment. We did the whole thing on Microsoft Word, which turned out to be kind of a disaster, but you know we continued from there and just kept learning along the way…
MG: Any advice for someone that is thinking about the road of self publishing?
JS: Yea, well my advice would be to someone trying to put out their own writing is believe in it. It’s a long process and the publishing industry is cut throat and so many things out there that never get to see the light of day. With people that want to get it out, there are so many venues with your own computer and things like that. So people now really have a lot more ways to show their ideas and work to the world.
MG: Who helped plant the seeds in your head that you could and should go ahead with publishing your own book?
JS: You know really, personality wise, I’m a person that stays to themselves a lot and I just came up with idea on my own really and just went with it from there. Like no one knew what I was doing and if anything I got more negative feedback than anything from people because no one in my family or that I know has done anything like this. To tell you the truth no one in my family really reads. So to do something like make books for myself they were like are “you joking?” especially with friends and stuff. It’s one of those things where you believe in it with all your heart and you get these pictures in your head and they start to come into shape in real life.
MG: How much does the feedback from your books help inspire the next?
JS: The feedback for me deffinatley has an effect for me, you know. When I get my books out there a lot of my material is written for young people who are going through tough times. When I get feedback and I give a book to a young girl who reads one of my stories about another young girl who made a bad decision and got pregnant at a young age and maybe didn’t use protection and things like that and because of that story the young girl says “I don’t want my life to turn out like her,” and she’ll tell me that your book was an inspiration to make decisions that will help me in my future. Things like that help push me to keep going, no matter what happens, whether it be low money issues or things like that.
As far as the negative feedback and things like that, basically as I started going to school the feedback got more negative because the style of poems I write is more hip-hop. My poems are not traditional, so when I would bring them to School at Emerson and they would get checked out by professors, maybe there would be negative feedback as far as my style. So I just kinda keep going on and trying to get better.
MG: Most young people have trouble figuring out how to express themselves and a lot of times they turn to drugs and alcohol as an outlet. Do you find that people get inspired to open up when they see you open up?
JS: You couldn’t be more exact with that question. I have people come up to me when I’m doing these things, whether it be a book signing or things like that who pour out their life’s story and terrible things that have happened to them, like being abused as a child or things like that and they tell me these things like I’m their best friend because when they read my books, like I said before, me being truthful to them with everything I’ve been through. When they come up and tell me their stories or cry on my shoulder. It’s a very powerful experience to go through when you can connect like that when it’s a total stranger and you can develope a relationship with them for the rest of your life…
MG: We came from the same area growing up where so many people fell into the traps of drugs and alcohol. At what age did you find it went from being, kids just playing around to something a little bit darker?
JS: Well there were a few different ages, but some kids, once they got past sophomore year in high school tend to experiment with a lot of things. They’re experimenting with their identity who they are and who they want to become. When I see things get more serious is when people graduate high school. Sometimes they don’t teach kids well enough how to plan for what they want to be and it’s kinda like they’re on their own. So if they don’t have enough money to go to college and find out what direction they want to go in college, they end up finding out what they want to be on the street and that can be dealing drugs and things like that. I’ve found that in the environment that we grew up in, establishing who you are as a person is very important. I found my identity early on through sports and basketball. That helped me stay strong with who I was, but writing can be a way for some people to help them figure out who they are.
MG: Do you do any drugs or drink alcohol?
JS: One of the things I’m most proud about is that I’ve been around drugs my whole life and have never had a smoke, a shot, a sniff or anything. I’ve been next to people who sniff coke or shoot heroin and you might think that someone like me could go into that very easily, but I was able to stay disciplined through sports and even more found my self through writing. I knew who I was, so even though I was around that stuff my whole life I always stayed away from it because being sober you see what it does to people and it scares you seeing that so much. Watching it makes you see it so much clearer and it just makes you stay away that much more.
MG: Because you were outside watching it happen did it make you feel pity for those people or was it more like, “these people are disgusting for what they do to themselves?”
JS: It’s an interesting question because there’s a lot of people I talk to who think that because being in a situation like this you would ignore these types of things, but being a writer and seeing things like my friends and what they go through it’s just something you can’t ignore. I’m someone that’s routed in this stuff and never want to turn my back on it. Poverty, drugs are things that people go through and I’m not just going to move away and ignore it. Because it’s there. I feel like being through everything that I have, I can be someone who can help with things like that.
MG: With all the work that you do to help people, do you find that more often than not you’re able to help people? Or do people usually end up hurting themselves?
JS: I think it’s one of those things where it’s 50/50 each way. I done a lot of things where I’ve been able to help people who have been in a bad situation. I’m a person who’ll give you the shirt off my back if I have to, I mean I’ve given people my whole paycheck just so they can pay their rent and stay in their house. It also backfires too because a lot of the people you deal with have major issues too with addictions and one of the things I’ve had to go through in my life is trying to figure out where people are in life and how you can help them because sometimes I can’t be enough and they need professional help. I just try to be someone in the personal life that can help them get through the day as best they can.
MG: The thing that impresses me the most about you is your motivation and how hard you work to do what you think is right. How does it affect you to see friends and other people around you give up and just say “fuck it.”?
JS: Well basically the things we’ve talked about and a lot of people in my life that passed away from those things serves as motivation for me and gives me energy. Honestly I don’t think I ever would have been able to do the things I’ve done without seeing some of my friends that passed away and feeling like they’re inside of me pushing me. I feel like I’m in the position now where I have to keep a lot of people’s memories alive that never got to reach their potential. Especially I had one real good friend of mine and I’ve never really been a person to have a best friend, but he was the closest thing I’ve had and it’s kinda like he’s always in my mind and I always feel that I’m talking to him and things like that. The bad things that people do just make me want to do the most positive things for myself and for others.
MG: We’ve seen so many people fall through the cracks, that there is obviously room for improvement. With kids and education what do you think is missing?
JS: I agree with that, as far as things that they’re teaching in schools in literature classes where kids need to latch on to stories I feel like it’s important to study the classics, to learn them and understand them, but there need to more books and authors who look like these kids, dress like these kids and tell stories that talk about things that they’re going through. When kids are leaving a house where their mother might be a junkie, it’s hard to focus on a story that was written over a hundred years ago. There needs to be more stories that are routed in today’s society and deal with things that young people today are going through.
MG: Boston is a University City; with all the students in the city do you think it adds to the exploration of the arts? Or does partying and drinking overshadow it?
JS: I’m glad you brought this up because it’s definitely something that really disturbs me because I just got done going to Emerson College and it happens to be in downtown Boston in a place right near the inner city so there are a lot of things going down there. It disturbs me when I’m going to college and I see all the people there and they’re the same color as the walls. Everyone is the same in college, like a bunch of robots, who go there all learning to become the same thing, which I think in the long run will be bad for the world. There are all these kids from Boston around college age just hanging out on the corner and why can’t they have the opportunity to go to college and learn about the same things as people from wealthy back rounds come from. So that always upsets me and I want more people from the city to be going to college not only people coming from other places and taking up space where we can fill up the room.
MG: J-Rock Publishing is known for putting books out for young adults. Over time do you think because it’s so important you’ll stay with that age group?
JS: J-Rock Publishing was founded on young adult literature and I feel that J-Rock Publishing will always be known for young adult literature. Maybe in the future we’ll branch out and do imprints of other types of books, but I always feel that as far as J-Rock Publishing and the material that comes out of it will always be for young people who are going through things in their life and looking to find themselves because there’s not enough literature out there for them. I want J-Rock Publishing as before, now and always to be for young people.
MG: Do you have any projects coming up in the near future?
JS: Yea, one of the projects we’re working on right now is the Somerville Renaissance, based on the idea of the Harlem Renaissance because in Somerville there are so many young creative people around here who are rapping, writing, doing things with movies, drawing and being artistic. All these types of things like the Harlem Renaissance, in a city of transition and a lot of young artists trying to express that. For a long time I’ve been encouraging people to put out their own work and it was one of those things where you have to have enough material and enough discipline to sit down and want to do it, so I got the idea with Somerville Renaissance to put a lot of young people’s work together to try and send the message that it’s the same throughout the whole city. I’m really excited about this project for myself and for young people who are able to let their voice out to the world.
MG: How could someone submit something to the Somerville Renaissance project?
JS: If you’d like to submit something to the Somerville Renaissance you can go to www.jrockpublishing.com I got links on there to check things out www.myspace.com/jasensousa and submit your work to be reviewed and maybe be included in the book.
MG: Where can people find some more info on you, ordering one of your books or about your company?
JS: Basically the best way to find out about me is log onto the site www.jrockpublishing.com or www.myspace.com/jasensousa We got a lot of information on their some cool videos, articles. So definitely check those out and find out what we’re up to.
To see photos or watch the video from the extended interview go to www.mindgamescon.blogspot.com
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Project Runway, Boston IFF
11 minutes, a film about Project Runway's winner, season 1, Jay Mc(something) I should just google this, but I think the fact that I don't remember really says something. The showing was at the Independant Film Festival of Boston http://www.iffboston.org/index.php and the film itself was good.
Going beyond design and performance under pressure, you see Manhattan style sweat shops, executive "suggestions" and all around day in the life...Now this designer who managed to pull off his own show in Bryant Park comes out post screening with the directors for some Q&A. Desperate for attention and armed with a mix of raunchy and self depricating jokes Jay seems to be geniunley happy chatting it up with the crowd and to throwing in where his clothes can be bought online or his upcoming trip to QVC.
I made it a point to talk a little more and to see if his over the topness is a cover up for something very deep and protected or shallow and opertunistic.
-Introduction
-raunchy joke I didn't catch
-"Oh, you're married!"
It went from there...Dissapointing, he wasn't in the mood to be honest and just blew it all away with "I don't really care." He does care, the same way we have all cared about something and had reality impose on our dream. Had that dream surrouned, bumped and cornered into a normal life.
Giving up isn't the phrase I want to use, but something came off as beaten and to play the character who is, obnoxiously 'over it' rather than an honest admission of, I'd like more, left a very sour taste in my mouth.
Going beyond design and performance under pressure, you see Manhattan style sweat shops, executive "suggestions" and all around day in the life...Now this designer who managed to pull off his own show in Bryant Park comes out post screening with the directors for some Q&A. Desperate for attention and armed with a mix of raunchy and self depricating jokes Jay seems to be geniunley happy chatting it up with the crowd and to throwing in where his clothes can be bought online or his upcoming trip to QVC.
I made it a point to talk a little more and to see if his over the topness is a cover up for something very deep and protected or shallow and opertunistic.
-Introduction
-raunchy joke I didn't catch
-"Oh, you're married!"
It went from there...Dissapointing, he wasn't in the mood to be honest and just blew it all away with "I don't really care." He does care, the same way we have all cared about something and had reality impose on our dream. Had that dream surrouned, bumped and cornered into a normal life.
Giving up isn't the phrase I want to use, but something came off as beaten and to play the character who is, obnoxiously 'over it' rather than an honest admission of, I'd like more, left a very sour taste in my mouth.
The Great Debate
Hillary Clinton has lost the majority of my support for president. I was a strong supporter until this...
"The violent clashes in Tibet and the failure of the Chinese government to use its full leverage with Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur are opportunities for presidential leadership. These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China,"
"At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government."
The absurdity of her publicly making these statements in not only irresponsible, but poorly thought out. If it seemed that this was her true heart felt beliefe, I would respect it as that, but it comes off to me as nothing more than a cheap attempt at picking up the "bleeding heart" vote. Daring someone to do something that you yourself would most likely never do is both shallow and cowardly. Especially when the Clintons have enjoyed a very friendly relationship with the Chinese Government.
More than being hypocritical it is dangerous for a candidate who rallies for peaceful policies to spit in the face of China's Government and it's endless efforts in hosting the Olympic Games. All in all, a poorly thought out decision.
So with support for Clinton almost lost, I'm stuck with Obama (will vote democrate) Sadly though, I see Obama as a set up. Two Clinton campaigners who made the trip early on to New Hampshire said that they were introduced to a few college students there to help with the Obama campaign. Nothing special, except that they were actually Republicans who had been sent by the Republican party to get people excited about Obama.
Why do that? The Republican Party has kept it's mouth relatively shut, that will change as soon as the final race gets going and they believe Obama is an easier target to hit. The Clinton's have proven they can win. My greatest fear is to see Obama win the nomination and be quickly torn to shreds by the Republican Machine. Leaving us all with that familiar, punched in the stomach feeling as states start popping up red on election night. It should if nothing else be interesting.
"The violent clashes in Tibet and the failure of the Chinese government to use its full leverage with Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur are opportunities for presidential leadership. These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China,"
"At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government."
The absurdity of her publicly making these statements in not only irresponsible, but poorly thought out. If it seemed that this was her true heart felt beliefe, I would respect it as that, but it comes off to me as nothing more than a cheap attempt at picking up the "bleeding heart" vote. Daring someone to do something that you yourself would most likely never do is both shallow and cowardly. Especially when the Clintons have enjoyed a very friendly relationship with the Chinese Government.
More than being hypocritical it is dangerous for a candidate who rallies for peaceful policies to spit in the face of China's Government and it's endless efforts in hosting the Olympic Games. All in all, a poorly thought out decision.
So with support for Clinton almost lost, I'm stuck with Obama (will vote democrate) Sadly though, I see Obama as a set up. Two Clinton campaigners who made the trip early on to New Hampshire said that they were introduced to a few college students there to help with the Obama campaign. Nothing special, except that they were actually Republicans who had been sent by the Republican party to get people excited about Obama.
Why do that? The Republican Party has kept it's mouth relatively shut, that will change as soon as the final race gets going and they believe Obama is an easier target to hit. The Clinton's have proven they can win. My greatest fear is to see Obama win the nomination and be quickly torn to shreds by the Republican Machine. Leaving us all with that familiar, punched in the stomach feeling as states start popping up red on election night. It should if nothing else be interesting.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Concrete Beat
New York City isn't a place that I normally look forward to going, but every once in a while can't help but wonder about. Wonder what it would be like to live in the capital of the modern world. Before I take that step, something that I will most likely avoid until I am financially stable and by that I mean very rich. It's really the only way to live in a city so dense, everyone else is essentially there to suit the needs of the wealthy. Why live like a peasant and cram yourself into a small apartment with no view and luke warm hot water for one third of your paycheck from a job of servitude.
This is why... www.ConcreteBeat.blogspot.com
This guy goes out and finds street performers all over the city that make money and perform thier art on the streets of Manhattan. Check the blog posts and listen/look at a few performances there is some serious talent in those interviews. That is the reason to go to New York, the hungry. NYC is filled with hungry, intelligent, sly, stylish people who flock from every cave across America with their dreams and some courage. Sinatra said it best "If I can make it there...I'm gonna make in anywhere." and only a person with true guts will take that chance. It is this element that makes New York what it is, the fire of these people that create the pace and majesty of New York City. This single blog alone has convinced me to change my ideas about living in New York and consider that living in a city with a creative, competitive, raw art scene breathing hard underneath the surface can heat you up even if you are stuck living in a shitty little apartment.
This is why... www.ConcreteBeat.blogspot.com
This guy goes out and finds street performers all over the city that make money and perform thier art on the streets of Manhattan. Check the blog posts and listen/look at a few performances there is some serious talent in those interviews. That is the reason to go to New York, the hungry. NYC is filled with hungry, intelligent, sly, stylish people who flock from every cave across America with their dreams and some courage. Sinatra said it best "If I can make it there...I'm gonna make in anywhere." and only a person with true guts will take that chance. It is this element that makes New York what it is, the fire of these people that create the pace and majesty of New York City. This single blog alone has convinced me to change my ideas about living in New York and consider that living in a city with a creative, competitive, raw art scene breathing hard underneath the surface can heat you up even if you are stuck living in a shitty little apartment.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A Long Way from Home...
One puppy’s journey from 
Missouri to Boston…
Missouri to Boston…This past holiday season I purchased a beautiful puppy from Lynn’s own Pet Express.
I’d heard some horror stories about Pet Stores/Puppy Mills, but felt confident with a recommendation from the North Shore Animal Hospital. My wife and I both love labs and the little chocolate colored guy that we found was a great addition to the family. Everyone at the shop was friendly and helpful, they went through his breeding information, basic care and warranty info, just in case he should get a little sick. The price of $1000 seemed high, but I figured that you get what you pay for and he was a pure breed dog, we we’re expecting to grow pretty big (huge paws.)
After signing the papers and checking out with some new toys and a few weeks worth of food we’re on the way home. The new pup was great to play with and even though cleaning up pee and poop wasn’t my favorite thing to do he brought a lot of smiles.
It wasn’t until around 17 days later (state warranty runs out after 14 days) that he started getting sick. First he came down with a fever and was having trouble keeping his balance. After a visit to Angell Memorial Animal Hospital and an overnight stay for observation we were told that he had lost vision in one eye and may have an infection in his brain. Obviously heart-broken about the news we optimistically brought him home hoping that he could come through it. After another two days of rest we’re all in high spirits that he had gone through the worst of the situation and would be back to his old self soon enough. That’s when his fever came on again and he lost all strength, to make a long story short he had to be put to sleep at the advice of our vet, due to what she said was, in her professional opinion, Canine Distemper Virus. Something that is unfortunately not treatable with antibiotics.
The next morning I made a call to Pet Express in Lynn wondering if they could shed some light on what happened and find out if any other dogs had gotten sick. They sounded concerned and not very convinced that Distemper Virus was the reason he had gotten sick. So the next step was to talk to the USDA certified and American Kennel Club member Breeder (after speaking with them I prefer not to release their names.) I goggled them (wasn’t sure what else to do) nothing came up, I checked the AKC and USDA websites, again nothing came up. Finally I found a residential listing and got on the phone with this country family from Missouri. They were really nice people and we spent a good time talking about our puppy, his parents, brothers and sisters. They sounded concerned and regretful that the litter their teenage daughter had raised as an FAA scholarship project for High School had been sent so far from home by the Hunte Corporation the family had sold them to.
Apparently the pet store never met or spoke to these people before any of this happened, they bought their puppies not from breeders as they had led me to believe, but from the Hunte Corporation who bought thousands of puppies for a fraction of the selling price from family breeders down south
. 
The hardest part of this whole situation was bringing a puppy into our family and after only 20 days to see him get so sick. John from Pet Express made it clear that the Veterinarian from Angell Memorial and my family were wrong in our decision to euthanize our pet. He also said that he believed our claim for a health warranty would be denied and that if it were up to him he himself would deny it.
Puppy Mills had taken a lot of heat in recent years and it was my impression that Pet Express was buying from a certified, qualified breeder, not a tractor trailer truck from Hunte Corporation. I learned my lesson the hard/expensive way. So be smart and thoughtful about your pet purchases and go to a breeder you can shake hands with or at least comes recommended by someone you trust. Stores like Pet Express are always going to try and make a buck, but hopefully not from anyone who reads this.
For more information on puppy mills and animal cruelty you can visit these websites:
http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/
http://www.stoppuppymills.org/
http://www.petstorecruelty.org/
http://www.nopuppymills.com/
http://www.petshoppuppies.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH6QYBg2LFM
I’d heard some horror stories about Pet Stores/Puppy Mills, but felt confident with a recommendation from the North Shore Animal Hospital. My wife and I both love labs and the little chocolate colored guy that we found was a great addition to the family. Everyone at the shop was friendly and helpful, they went through his breeding information, basic care and warranty info, just in case he should get a little sick. The price of $1000 seemed high, but I figured that you get what you pay for and he was a pure breed dog, we we’re expecting to grow pretty big (huge paws.)
After signing the papers and checking out with some new toys and a few weeks worth of food we’re on the way home. The new pup was great to play with and even though cleaning up pee and poop wasn’t my favorite thing to do he brought a lot of smiles.
It wasn’t until around 17 days later (state warranty runs out after 14 days) that he started getting sick. First he came down with a fever and was having trouble keeping his balance. After a visit to Angell Memorial Animal Hospital and an overnight stay for observation we were told that he had lost vision in one eye and may have an infection in his brain. Obviously heart-broken about the news we optimistically brought him home hoping that he could come through it. After another two days of rest we’re all in high spirits that he had gone through the worst of the situation and would be back to his old self soon enough. That’s when his fever came on again and he lost all strength, to make a long story short he had to be put to sleep at the advice of our vet, due to what she said was, in her professional opinion, Canine Distemper Virus. Something that is unfortunately not treatable with antibiotics.
The next morning I made a call to Pet Express in Lynn wondering if they could shed some light on what happened and find out if any other dogs had gotten sick. They sounded concerned and not very convinced that Distemper Virus was the reason he had gotten sick. So the next step was to talk to the USDA certified and American Kennel Club member Breeder (after speaking with them I prefer not to release their names.) I goggled them (wasn’t sure what else to do) nothing came up, I checked the AKC and USDA websites, again nothing came up. Finally I found a residential listing and got on the phone with this country family from Missouri. They were really nice people and we spent a good time talking about our puppy, his parents, brothers and sisters. They sounded concerned and regretful that the litter their teenage daughter had raised as an FAA scholarship project for High School had been sent so far from home by the Hunte Corporation the family had sold them to.
Apparently the pet store never met or spoke to these people before any of this happened, they bought their puppies not from breeders as they had led me to believe, but from the Hunte Corporation who bought thousands of puppies for a fraction of the selling price from family breeders down south
. 
The hardest part of this whole situation was bringing a puppy into our family and after only 20 days to see him get so sick. John from Pet Express made it clear that the Veterinarian from Angell Memorial and my family were wrong in our decision to euthanize our pet. He also said that he believed our claim for a health warranty would be denied and that if it were up to him he himself would deny it.
Puppy Mills had taken a lot of heat in recent years and it was my impression that Pet Express was buying from a certified, qualified breeder, not a tractor trailer truck from Hunte Corporation. I learned my lesson the hard/expensive way. So be smart and thoughtful about your pet purchases and go to a breeder you can shake hands with or at least comes recommended by someone you trust. Stores like Pet Express are always going to try and make a buck, but hopefully not from anyone who reads this.
For more information on puppy mills and animal cruelty you can visit these websites:
http://www.prisonersofgreed.org/
http://www.stoppuppymills.org/
http://www.petstorecruelty.org/
http://www.nopuppymills.com/
http://www.petshoppuppies.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH6QYBg2LFM
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Submissions
Getting ready to build the 2nd issue of MindGames Connection. Please email submissions to quietisnewloud@yahoo.com in the body of an email (no attachments)
Thanks...
Thanks...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
