Archive | August, 2009

Sunday Morning Oldies and Newbies

By on August 30, 2009 in General Interest

Sharing a few inspirational sounds for the church crowd. You probably know a few. Take a listen.

These are some that I became familiar with in the southern church. Some were popular choir or congregational songs and others were commonly sung by deacons to start off services like the acappella selections.

All things new are built on old foundations. Here are some more modern songs that have become Christian favorites.

These aren’t just Sunday morning iPod keepers. Let them help keep you going through the week as well. Enjoy services today.

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Old School Friday Music Meme – Song That People Would Be Surprised You Know

By on August 28, 2009 in General Interest

Today’s meme was beginning to become a challenge because, being from a musical family, there aren’t many types of music that I didn’t listen to while growing up. Then I thought of that genre that is most wide spread but which I’ve only listened to when something has been popular enough to cross over into a category I already have/had an affinity for. That cross over genre would be country. The group would be The Charlie Daniels Band and their big hit from more than twenty years ago, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”.

Take a listen to the songs these bloggers are writing about today and join in on the meme every Friday. Happy Old School Friday to everyone!

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Have You Logged Into the Chicago Public Library Lately?

By on August 24, 2009 in General Interest

If you haven’t been to your neighborhood branch of the Chicago Public Library you should see how they have incorporated technology to make your literary experience convenient. You have to log into the website with your library card number and zip code. Look to the far right of the browser window and click on the “My CPL” tab to get there.

You can use the site’s search engine to do a subject lookup or to do an author or title search. The search will generate a list of books or multimedia items that interest you. Your list also shows each of the branches around the city where they are held. The particular branch will indicate the availability status of each item. If you don’t feel like going across town to get it you can click the link to have your selections held and delivered to your favorite branch. You can choose your favorite branch when you create your profile. You’ll be notified online when it has been delivered to that branch.

The site also lists the items you currently have checked out. There’s even a link that allows you to renew the items currently in your possesion. And if you’re overdue it will tell you what your fine is so you can pay up the next time you go to the library.

Investigate all the other neat features on the site as well. There are lots of events featured by the Chicago Pulbic Library. Your neighborhood facility likely has interesting presentations and regular activities. The main branch downtown – the Harold Washington branch – has a regular lecture series. The calendar is on the site.

You have to apply for a library card in person with proof of residency. Your Illinois drivers license will suffice or a couple of bills with your new address printed on the front if you’re relatively new to the city. While you’re there you can take advantage of the free WiFi if you’re a laptop lugger like me.

If you haven’t been in a while the library still takes you to worlds and experiences previously unknown just as it always has but if you don’t have time to go today be sure to go online and reserve your next treasure trove.

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Old School Friday Music Meme – School Prom Or School Dance

By on August 21, 2009 in General Interest, Music

My high school prom was 1986 and the theme was “If Only For One Night”. I think I even still have the glass stashed away somewhere. These were the years when Luther made all the girls swoon. Take a listen.

A few years before then, the Gap Band had burst on the scene. Whenever your heart had been run over, this is the song that probably came to mind. Charlie and the boys were playing those Oklahoma cowboy hats tough!

Join in on the fun and sign up to join the meme. Click on the link to some of the other participating bloggers to learn their musical tastes and leave them comments. I guarantee they’ll return the favor by linking back to you and commenting as well. Then check the calendar for the rest of the meme themes and show us what you can pull from your one virtual stack.

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Old School Friday Music Meme – Can’t Find It On YouTube

By on August 21, 2009 in General Interest, Music, YouTube

This was last week’s meme but I’ll chime in on it anyway. Everything ever made by Prince has been banned from YouTube (darned lavender music Nazis) but until the Purple One figures it out and throws a fit you can find some of his material on the Fanpop and on Dailymotion web video players. Here’s one of his and The Revolution’s early hits that was a typical bass driven beat that lived up to it’s title, “Controversy”.

He may be a prince but he will always be the king of the Minneapolis Sound.

Want to play? Here are the rules and some of the bloggers who regularly participate in the meme. When you join in here’s the list of Friday topics you can post on. Happy OSF!

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Kill the App, Keep A Friend

By on August 18, 2009 in facebook, LinkedIn, Meetup

One of the really cool things about Facebook is that although designed as a general social site with fun applications you can share with friends for laughs, it is also a very customizable platform. To be specific you can establish a more professional presence on Facebook if you like. It depends on the precedent you’ve set for your “friending”.

Many of us use it in conjunction with LinkedIn, Meetup and other sites for professional networking purposes. One way you can do that if you’ve been using it generically to this point is to limit what your friends can show on your wall paper.

It you see that astrological quiz or Mafia Wars request but don’t want corporate recruiters to see it populating your Facebook profile at the wrong time, that is a problem easily solved. Mouse over to the right side of the entry and you’ll see a “Hide” drop down box. The arrow gives you the option to hide the person or hide the particular game/quiz. Assuming you still like your FB friend pick the second option and it should never appear again.

You will have to congnizant to check your account each day to wipe out the not so serious content but if you’re a crackbook junkie like most of us you probably already do this. So kill the app and keep a friend while you look for that next opportunity.

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Shea Butter

By on August 12, 2009 in General Interest, health

Have you been looking for a reliable skin moisturizer that actually moisturizes? Let me recommend one that could prove to be more effective than your typical lotions. I think it even beats the usual natural alternatives like aloe and cocoa butter.

I’m referring to African shea butter. It’s made from the fruit of the shea tree and it definitely works better for me than the usual store bought stuff. Since it’s made from an African plant it is custom made for the skin of African people and people of African descent but I recommend it to everyone.

Use it as a healthier option for your skin. Just as fruits and vegetables are good for your inner organs this is good for your all around outer organ. There are two forms. One is off-white in color. The type mixed with palm oil is more yellowish. As with the African Black Soap give each a try to see which is most effective in resolving dryness for your particular skin type.

If you have calloused feet or ashy knees and elbows start using shea butter. And if your skin is reacting to chemo or other medicines definitely give this a try to recondition it. There are these and a number of other benefits to using shea butter so you can’t go wrong making it a part of your daily regimen.

I prefer the unrefined version that you can buy at the arts fairs at the table of an African or Carribean arts dealer. They often have scents, spices, soaps and conditioners like these as a part of their wares. There are also refined types that you can probably buy at a health store. I just haven’t happened to look for the product there. Either way buy some soon and throw out what you’ve been using. You won’t regret making the switch.

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African Black Soap

By on August 10, 2009 in General Interest, health, Society

If your regular store bought soaps are creating a sensitive reaction in your skin or you’re not getting the cleansing effect you were hoping for maybe a more natural solution is the answer to that problem. I recently came across a product called African Black Soap at an arts festival. If you’re familiar with shea butter that is typically sold by African arts and spices venders at the usual arts and cultural fairs around the country then the Black soap is usually not far away.

The ingredients include the foundational component created from the skin of the plantain fruit with palm oil or palm kernel oil to form the soap. The plantain is a natural source of vitamin A, E and iron. It helps exfoliate your skin and reduce acne among other benefits. We’ve recently started using the Nubian Heritage brand which includes oats and aloe. It has worked well for me. I have also seen this Dudu-Osun brand at the fairs.

Since Black soap doesn’t have the typical additives it should work well as a healthy alternative for those of you have major illnesses. It’s another of those healthy cleaning options recommended for cancer patients for instance. Variations of the base may include shea butter or coconut oil in place of palm oil depending on the region of origin. Do some web searching or stop in your nearest health food store and experiment with two or three different formulations to see which particular type works best for your skin health needs.

Some sites that I’ve searched on the subject say that Black soap in the hard bar form isn’t the real thing. They say color is added to give it a darker than normal look. So maybe part of your experiment will range from the bar form to the more traditional beige-to-brown hued block form of the soap. An African dealer we talked to told us that the raw form he sells may be a little too strong and could irritate the skin if you haven’t tried it before so he told us to maybe try a version from a store first.

As I mentioned I’m impressed with the store brand since it has all the components but I think we’re going to try one of the more regional brands next time and see if we can’t get the maximum benefits. I also encourage you to buy a bar and bless your skin.

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A Word of Joy to Keep You Through the Week

By on August 9, 2009 in Faith

Here’s an encouraging word you can tape on your dashboard or fridge door along with some matching music from Douglas Miller for your iPod.

Psalms 118:24

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Play the clip and sing along with the scrolling lyrics widget.


Unspeakable Joy

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Go Green Under Your Armpits With Natural Deoderant

By on August 6, 2009 in General Interest, health, Society

If you’re like I used to be a few years ago, occasionally you’ll have lumps in your armpits. Check the label on your deoderant/anti perspirant. Very likely that’s the culprit. It’s probably the aluminum content that your skin is reacting to. The solution that is typically recommended is alternating two different deoderants daily and for me that actually worked to solve the lump problem.

However it didn’t do much for my personal aroma (LOL). We found a solution in our home that took care of both issues and I recommend it to you as well. It’s a brand called Naturally Fresh Deoderant Crystal which can be found at just about any health food store. What makes it so effective is that the mineral salts fight the bacteria that cause the odor with your armpit perspiration. It’s a deoderant only, not an antiperspirant. That’s important because you still need to sweat so that your body can rid itself of the toxins in your body through those pores just as with the other sweat glands in your body. The great thing is you can now have moist arm pits without the odor.

As you can see on the link they have all the familiar forms of applicators. The spray on and roll on types have a mineral salt water mix in the container. The stick can be raised and lowered just as with the typical stick brands. The difference is that it’s a mineral block which you wet under your faucet before rubbing it on.

For those of you with major health issues who are incorporating more natural and preventive health habits into your lifestyle you should definitely consider adding deoderant crystal to your shopping list. It’s hypoallergenic and paraben/PG free. There may be other brands. This just happens to be what we use in my home.

Whether you have a chronic illness or are perfectly healthy, the next time you go out to fill the cupboards and medicine cabinets, give it a try and make a personal test for a week. You may have to take the time to figure out which one works best for you – the stick is most effective for me – but I think you’ll be satisfied with the results.

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