I remember reading awhile ago that on Nov 10, 2005cell phone numbers are being released
to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales call.

NOTE; Besides being disturbed by unwanted sales calls,

YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS.
(wasting up my valuable daytime minutes)

I didn’t think much of it until today when I got a call from FLORIDA (757 area code)

with some guy telling me I won a vacation package!??

I dug around and found this info to preent him from ever calling my cell again

(Or at least for the next 5 years)

To prevent this, call the following number from YOUR CELL PHONE;
888.382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL LIST.

Or you can go to www.donotcall.gov to register online

Paris is BURNING..literally!

and I’m not talking about the 1990 documentary about ‘drag nights’ among New York’s underclass

Over 900 cars have been set on fire: an average of 80 cars a night!
They even arrested 2 bloggers for suspicion of encouraging people to take part in the Paris riots.
Who would of thought…in ole gay Parrie
Mike Bloomberg won the election and is still the Mayor of NYC.
Senator John Corzine (KOHR’-zyn) is the new Governer of New Jersey.
He is replacing Governer McGreevey who resigned for coming out the closet.

The New York Knicks haven’t won ONE game since the season started.

See how everything in the blog is kinda related?

I have to say I was pretty surprised about the Rev. Run Album.
Needless to say it’s “enjoyable”.
Although I’ not sure about the Lynyrd Skynyrd sampling of
“Sweet Home Alabama” (i love that song!).
The rest is pretty good.

Slum Village..is Slum Village..they always come correct.

On to politics, arent you glad this beef fued is officially over:

Although Nas really ended it with “Ether”

This is a hell of a week for the Bush Administration.

First the Harriet Miers withdrawal from the supreme court position and then

TODAY with I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby Jr., aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, being indicted on charges of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements in the CIA leak investigation.

He also resigned from the White House and walked out on crutches.

Did he catch a beatdown from the VP for getting caught and making everyone look bad?

I can’t wait to watch Real Time with Bill Maher tonight.

Got up this morning and donated to the United Way Hurricane Katrina Relief effort
If you are reading this you should do the same if you havent already.
For the past 2 weeks its been on the brain

I met some family this summer who live in Louisiana. I found out they were ok.
It’s funny I got invited to go New Orleans to a cigar convention in July.

As timing would have it, I couldnt go, but kept saying to myself I going to have to.
Although I had an exciting and eventful week of meeting people from the likes of Patricia Field to Pharoahe Monch (he rocks the treo too)

I had a chance to meet some people who were born and raised in New Orleans and talked to some people who lost family and friends.

I got sick of the news footage on TV.
Got more insight listening to NPR, where they are actually interviewing survivors.
Got sick of reactions to Kanye West’ commments.
Got sick of George Bush finally taking responsibility.
Peace to Tony Tantrum for spinning my joints at the SpitKicker Beat Lounge
Thanx to Rasta Root for the Best of A Tribe Called Quest mix cd..you got email!
Glad David Banner, Nelly and others put the “Heal the Hood” joint together

It’s good that the French Quarter is still intact.
I’m glad Mos Def released a song about it, “Katrina Klap”

“Its dollar day for New Orleans,
its full of water everywhere and people dead in the streets
a million poor since 2004,
and they got illions and killions to waste on the war
and to make you question what the taxes is for
or the cost to reinforce the broke levee wall…
Mr. President’s a natural ass,
he out treating niggers worse than they treat the trash.”

Download the mp3 “Katrina Klap”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

So I was gifted some Cohiba cigars awhile ago.

Smoked on on the patio @ APT the other night and this guy asked me:
What’s the big deal with Cohiba’s?
First is the taste and the fact that the domestic joints are $21 each the special edition are $54 EACH.
Probably cheaper if you go to to Cuba directy but:

The US trade embargo against Cuba is still in effect.

The Cohibas outstanding quality is based on three special features. First, only the best leaves are selected for its manufacture. Before every harvesting, when Avelino Lara makes his selection, the Cohiba takes precedence over all other cigars. Mr. Lara has at his disposal the produce of ten plantations, yet he only chooses the plants growing on five of these vegas. Second, the leaves are fermented three times instead of only two, in contrast to most of the Havanas. The third fermentation takes place in the factory and prolongs the whole process – beginning with the leaf and ending as a finished cigar?by 18 months. And last, but not least, Laguitos cigar makers, the torcedores, are the best in Cuba.

The Cohibas history
The Cohiba (its name originates from the Cuban Taino Indians word for cigar) is the epitome of a Havana cigar. Its spiritual author is the revolutionary Che Guevara who initiated the Cuban cigar industry to its manufacturing.
His objective was to create a post-revolutionary cigar that should be superior to anything formerly manufactured.
The Cohiba should become the non-plus ultra.

Most Cohiba cigars are manufactured in a factory called El Laguito, which is situated in one of Havana’s suburbs and formerly was the seat of the Marquez de Pinar del Rio. Only parts of the Robusto and Splendido formats are produced in the two factories Partagas and H.Upmann, which can be found in Old Havana. Initially, the Cohiba was meant for foreign dignitaries and diplomats. Since the soccer world championship took place in Spain in 1982, it has also been produced for the general export.

Shirley Chisholm
November 30, 1924-January 1, 2005

“I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency of the United States. I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I am equally proud of that. I am not the candidate of any political bosses or special interests.
I am the candidate of the people.”
-Shirley Chisholm 1972

Russell Jones a.k.a Ol’ Dirty Bastard
November 16, 1969-November 13, 2004

So it’s Saturday Night, I have been thinking most of the evening about whether to post the now infamous beheading video. It was the highest ranked Google search this week for obvious reasons.
A lot of people expected it to be on my site. I’m not sure if thats good or bad.
The fact is I have been following developments of the story and too busy with other projects to address it.
So I’m online line chatting with a friend:
Ms. Rook: hi
JNU(ME): hi
Ms. Rook: i wanna talk to you about something
JNU(ME): ?
Ms. Rook signed off at 8:22:05 PM.
Ms. Rook signed on at 8:22:05 PM.
Ms. Rook signed off at 8:23:45 PM.
Ms. Rook signed on at 8:23:45 PM.
Ms. Rook: hello?
JNU(ME): ?
Ms. Rook: my aol keeps dying
Ms. Rook: i asked…did u see the beheading video
JNU(ME): nope
JNU(ME): did you?
Ms. Rook: i have it on pause right now
JNU(ME): how big is it..can you send it to me?
Ms. Rook: see i wrote this lil thing about why everyone should see it….but now i m all…weird about seeing it
JNU(ME): hmm…writing about this conversation should be pretty interesting too…lol
Ms. Rook: http://www.jquinton.com/archives/001089.html
JNU(ME): i kind of see your point
Ms. Rook: the whole point of my …piece….is that you know, although its a reality, its not a reality for ameriacns……
Ms. Rook: and yadda yadda—but the point is, now i m looking and feeling like—seeing it is gonna change my life ……..my mindstate…………….and i am not one of those ‘in the clouds’ utopian minded americans to begin with
JNU(ME): like i said about watching “the matrix” the first time..
Ms. Rook: yeah
JNU(ME): yeah it will effect you..but on the usa side of things…
JNU(ME): we heard about…but they show us more pics of the torture of Iraqi prisoners…
Ms. Rook: i know
Ms. Rook: like its ok to fuck them up
Ms. Rook: but not nick from pa
Ms. Rook: shall we watch it together?
JNU(ME): i just downloaded it…debating about posting it myself
Ms. Rook: did u see it
JNU(ME): my bandwidth was over 1gb with the album downloads…
Ms. Rook: lol
JNU(ME): no i havent seen it yet
JNU(ME): think i will host it on my “underground” server…
Ms. Rook: LOL….u got a downlow server
Ms. Rook: only u
JNU(ME): well i think seeing it will change your life…
Ms. Rook: u want me to call? then we can watch it and get it over with
JNU(ME): but you are changing it if you dont watch it…when you have the power to..
JNU(ME): if i could..i would post it on the JumboTron in Times Sqaure
Ms. Rook: wow, thats true
Ms. Rook: everyone needs to see it
Ms. Rook: biggest reason? and this reminds me of your ‘u know youre a new yorker when’
Ms. Rook: …people now see 9/11 as a nuisance, not a reality check
Ms. Rook: 9/11 is why we cant get to our planes faster, why we REALLY have to be there an hour ahead of time….
Ms. Rook: why it costs more to fly out of boston
Ms. Rook: not —- why 2,000 kids lost a parent or two
JNU(ME): i blogged about a sign I saw at the F stop..about building number 7 being “demolished” on purpose…
Ms. Rook: =-O
JNU(ME): and about micheal moores movie being banned..
JNU(ME): which ties the bush/bin laden fams together..
JNU(ME): and the documentary on pbs “the man who knew”…a guy who knew they were going to attack the wtc..but the fbi ddidnt listen..the irony is he worked in the WTC and was killed
JNU(ME): im reading the transaltion…and wondering why they (the U.S.media) arent even posting/mentioning that at least.
Ms. Rook: oh wow
JNU(ME): so…
JNU(ME): you going to watch it?
Ms. Rook: so THATS what the moore movie is about
Ms. Rook: yes i am
Ms. Rook: i am preparing msyelf by watching drudge’s stills
Ms. Rook: http://www.drudgereport.com/iiraq3.htm
JNU(ME): gangsta…
Ms. Rook: lol
JNU(ME): the “funny” thing is we are so desensitised from pop culture and video games and movies
Ms. Rook: yeah
JNU(ME): i just think mortal kombat “FATALITY” and I SHOULDNT be
Ms. Rook: lol
Ms. Rook: ….folks will buy thier kids these games but then get mad if they get exposed to the video
JNU(ME): just got off the phone with GRFX…
JNU(ME): he refuses to see it…i kind of see his point
Ms. Rook: …..
JNU(ME): most kids know video games are fake..
Ms. Rook: yeah, kids here
Ms. Rook: in other countries, kids are in the army
Ms. Rook: hey….call me at (440)***-****

We talk some more on the phone, shes is going to call me back, she still hasn’t seen the Drudge Report photos. At the time of this writing I still have NOT seen the video its 10pm.

There sits the link to Download the video, 29 seconds later the
8.4MB Windows Media File with an obscure filename is on my hard drive.
I remember before renaming it I was thinking should I call it “nickberg?” “nickberg_beheaded”?..for some reason it seemed disrespectful.

I end up renaming it to “beheading.wmv”
So at the time of this writing..I still havent viewed it.
I go for a walk and connect with a friend who has seen it but his wife and brother refuse to.

I walk for 20 blocks and there is a massive thunderstorm.
I end up getting soaked in the rain but I don’t run for cover.

I go by a Samurai tenet from the Hagakure:
“There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking”
Ever since reading that I don’t run in the rain.
Plus I heard you get wetter by running in the way anyway.
You can use this Javascript calculator to figure it out.
Anywho…

Back to the topic:

I made another call and it seems to be some inconsistency with different versions.
My file is 8.4MB, his is 5.3MB. Could be length or the quality of the video. I’ll confirm this later.

It clocks in at 5:37 total running time.

I go get something to eat, chillout watch tv (The Shield which I taped earlier this week) and decide to watch the video later.
(it is now 4am)
….I must say the video is disturbing.
Is my life changed? Yes.
Did it gross me out? No…but not how I imagined it would be.

I guess I have a strong stomach for it but have the empathy for Nick Berg and know the reason why MOST people DO NOT want to view it.

Why the “mainstream” media won’t show it is probably due to the the convoluted logic of political correctness and not wanting to assault our sensitivities, they have by default or design instead chosen to insult our sensibilities.

I mean this isnt when the R. Kelly or Paris Hilton videos which were sent to me as well.

This is not for shock value or entertainment purposes and should not be looked at in that way at all.
As of writing this I have seen it 3 times and noticed some issues that have been raised by other bloggers….
…whether or not HE was ALIVE when he was beheaded.
Time SMTPE (time code numbers) shift from 13:26:25 where he states his name,etc.
Then to 2:48:35-2:44:35 and then to 13:45:50 where the actual beheading begins.

Working for more than 15 years in television production I know that this is either different tape sources used and edited together or drifting timecode which I doubt.

Bad editing is what it is.

Like Fox News: “we report. You decide.”

After much debate and thoughtful consideration of the victim, his family I will make the video available in the downloads section and for direct viewing on the site.

What made me come to the decision?

5 reasons:

1. I listened to an interview from Nick Berg’s former roommate on NPR.
The last thing he was told that Mr. Berg was going sailing in Turkey.
He was surprised that his mother called and reported him missing.
Nick Berg was given safe passage and a plane ticket to leave the country and refused.

2. You do NOT talk about Fight Club.

3. Michael Berg, father of 26-year-old Nicholas Berg, told CNN at his home in West Chester, Pennsylvania, that his son went to Oklahoma University several years ago and allowed people later identified by U.S. authorities as terrorists to use his computer.

4. “Nick was taking a course at a remote campus that was near the airport and he was on a bus and some terrorist people ? no one knew they were terrorists at the time, they were just fellow students ? were also taking the bus,” said Berg.
Someone asked him basically to let him use his computer, and he did. It turned out that this guy was a terrorist and that he used my son’s email, among many other people’s email.”

5. U.S. officials, according to CNN, say Berg shared his computer ? and his password ? with one individual, and that password somehow ended up in the possession of Moussaoui, a French citizen arrested one month before the Sept 11 attacks.

Hmmmmm….

5. Ok. if he was just some guy from Philly who let potential terrorists use his computer AND email I could let it slide. But NOW he is just the SAME some guy from Philly who let potential terrorist use his computer AND email and ends up with a telecommunications company in IRAQ and gets beheaded.

I might let someone use my computer but NOT my email.
How many of you will let a stranger on a bus use YOUR computer AND email account freely?

Click here to view it.

“We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”?Gandhi

“Always changing; everything for good, nothing for nothing.”?Flying Hawk, Sioux Chief

Been another long/grueling week.

Here is a recap:
I got an email from a family member that a relative got the honor to spend 50 Minutes with
President Bush.

President Bush even quoted my relative (a pastor) in a speech on a Faith-Based Initiative
in Tennessee on February 10 if you can believe that!

If you don’t beleive it, click here
for the audio, video and transcript proof.

If you are too lazy or simply don’t want to visit the WhiteHouse website…the video is right below.

Click the play button to start. The mention is about 23:mins and 48 seconds into the speech.

Or maybe you like to go to Whitehouse.COM or not Whitehouse.GOV?
(There is a distinct difference in the content, trust me…
I’m not even going to link it…you will have to find out for yourself.)

overall it’s a cool thing… I guess…with the climate of war I’m not too sure.

If you have seen Lord of the Rings movie….I think this picture puts in all in perspective.

Last night I went to a screening of “Bering Straight”.
A documentary about a band from Russia that plays bulegrass/coutry music who go to
Nashville, Tennesee to make it big. In a way,my own little personal circle of same differences
(The President gave his speech at the Grand Ole Opry House) Get it?

After that I walk up the street in Times Square where Elle Magazine is having a party at the
ground floor studio where they shoot “Good Morning America”.
The area had posters of the rapper EVE around.
(She’s on this months cover)

Everyone on the street was walking up to the window wondering what it was and how to get in.
Instead of standing in the cold I made a call to a publicist friend and was able to bypass the guestlist hassle and get in. Well…not without slight hassle.
This weird looking dude tried to say he was with me and get it.
I was told he was kicked out of the party 5 times already….
Free drinks…free food…good DJ….good combo for a wednesday night.
Plus it is Fashion Week.
Eve was there and she performed on stage. She is lot prettier in person…and shortet.
She’s a shorty for real.
A dude started talking to me complaining about she only performed 4 songs.
All her hits I thought. She isnt Diana Ross…it’s like she has a catalog of music.
Free food…(fresh sushi at that..Free drink….free performance and people still complain.
I felt kind of bad with people in the cold looking in the windows..wanting to get in.
But you got to look on the brightside…it’s not me.

Anywho…I usually know it’s time to wrap up a party when they play Biggie and some Rakim.
And now I add some RunDmc to that…hear some jams from any of those artist at a party to make it complete…hear all of them along with “White Lines” and it’s time to go…
can a joint really get better after that???

One interesting thing..this guy(Tom) who gave me a red marker…he used a black marker.
We began to “draw” out a conversation. He calls them Tomversations or
Importrait Paintings…Interesting…more info on his site

More drinks and convo with this girl who has been growing her fingernails for six years.
Claims she’s a journalist and can type on a keyboard just fine…yeah ok.

I knew it was time to go when I ran into this chick.

Who is she? None other than Lizzie Grubman:

She owns a big PR firm, made the news last year when she was convicted of backing her SUV into a group of 16 people then into a club in the Hamptons. She went to jail. Has 1748 days left on probabtion.
For the full background click here
Click right here for a video clip where she broke down and starting crying when she got sentenced.

Now she’s up at this spot on stage dancing to 50 Cent!??!!?

It was time for JNU to bounce.

I took some pics before I left though:

Almost forgot…it’s Black History Month…good thing I had MTV and A & E to remind me.
I guess BET is playing “Malcolm X” thats good…the film is only 10 years old.
If it was up to me…I’d run the series ROOTS right after 106 and Park.
Maybe they should run that Trent Lott interview again too…

Let me stop…more on this later.

Oh yeah…gotta plug one for my friend.
He worked on a new cartoon series “Venture Bros.” that will be airing this Sunday on
Cartoon Network’s AdultSwim @ 11:30pm (After Futurama)
Click here for the trailer…pure hilariousness.