The Animals......Politically Speaking

Self,

Ok I gotta ask, is anyone else watching this "limited series event" as they are calling it, "Political Animals," on the USA cable network? 

I started watching because I like Sigourney Weaver.  I think she is a great actress and this being the first television show (that I can recall) that she has starred in I was willing to give it a shot.  Well, I have to say it's pretty good. 

So the premise: Weaver plays former First Lady and current Secretary of State, Elaine Hammond.  Elaine made a run for the presidency but had to conceed victory in the primaries to a younger, "less expereinced," male opponent, who ultimately becomes President of the United States. 

Now, I'm sure you can tell from that decription that it's no secret that Elaine Hammond is a character that pays homage to real-life Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.  Add on the fact that Elaine's ex-husband, former President "Bud" Hammond, is known for his scandalous sexploits and affairs while in the White House and the resemblance becomes even more clear.

There are major differences between the Hammonds and the Clintons, first of which is obviously the divorce of the fictional Hammonds. As well as the fact that in stead of a daughter, the Hammonds had twin sons, one of which is credited as being the first openly gay child in the White House. (That I think was done for the theatrics and to capture some gay audience members.)

With the similarities tied down in place, it makes me wonder, what's the point?  Is it just entertainment? Is it simply someone's "what if" thought come to life on screen?  Add the fact that at the end of the first episode Elaine Hammond secretly decides to make a second run for the Presidency against her fellow political party member and the incombant, could it be propaganda?  Usually fiction comes from real life events but occasionally real life falls into step behind fiction.  Could the show be a ploy to see how America would feel about Mrs. Clinton taking another bid for the Presidency?  Considering that the Presidential election is like 4 months away I don't think that it's likely that Hillary will be trying to run against Obama and Biden aside from it being possible career suicide if she tried under those circumstance. But who's to say the show isn't planting a seed for 2016.


Sincerely,
Pharoah

Two Days in the Park

Self,

This seems to be my year to attend music festivals.  I already mentioned that I went to the Playboy Jazz Festival back in June.  Now I'm sharing the fact that I just spent two days in San Dimas, CA at Bonelli Park for Jazzfest West.  The line up was great that it required attending both days.

Day 1:

Kem (pictured on left below,) Chaka Khan, Kenny G, along with some other opening acts.

Day 2:

Will Downing, Jill Scott (pictured on right below,) and Charlie Wilson, and again some other opening acts.

I really enjoyed myself.....aside from the heat!  OMG it was hot!  At the same time the heat provided plenty of eye candy!  If I was a "tits & ass" man....they were serving it up on a platter...in various shapes, sizes, and skin tones.  For the most part, the fellas in crowd kepts it basic either shorts or pants with a t-shirt. Some guys had tank tops to show off the guns and abs (if they had them) but mostly to combat the heat.  Even the the guys were neccessarily putting it on display, there were quite a few SEXY MUTHAS up in that piece!

There were lots of venders....obvious food being a good portion of them, but also artists, jewelry, hats and other various items.  I think it's safe to say that nobody had a dull moment.  Between preformers there was a DJ that kept the party rolling, and the crowd jumping.  There were several moments of group participation that involved: "The Wobble," "The Cha Cha Slide," "The Cupid Shuffle" (picture of the group of ladies below - can also expereince some of their attire,) and various other "Ooh That's my song" dance moments.

Like I said I had a good time maybe I'll go again next year.   In the mean time, there's talk about going to an R&B Festival in a couple weeks starring: Joe, Donnel Jones, Jon B, Cherelle, Angela Winbush, and a few other names I can't remember at the moment. 

It's Summer...Have a ball y'all, have a ball - I am!

Sincerely,

Pharoah

Would You Ever??? (PRIVATE: NSFW)

Self,
Let me start off by letting you this is NOT SAFE FOR WORK., for chil'ren unless you want to do some 'splainin', or anyone else you don't want all up in your "PRIVATE" business. You heard?

So the day that I went to the Playboy Jazzfestival...was a day of many things.  As I had mentioned I was late getting to the Hollywood Bowl...for a number of reason...but this was part of the reason.....

 Well ok my experience with the 2012 World Naked Bike Riders wasn't quite like the first picture (although I do like the REAR-END on the biker with the black and red bag.) This second picture is more like (actually almost exactly) what I saw.....SLOWING me the FUCK DOWN as I was trying to get to the concert. Between the slow ASS bikers and the drivers slowing down to get a peek, maybe even a PEAK, and pictures I think they added an extra 30 minutes to my travel time because I got caught in a bottleneck BEHIND them.

Now I had intended to write about this right after it happend....BUTT tother things got in the way.  On one hand I guess it's not a bad thing that I'm a little slow because it gave me a chance to find pictures to share....lol and comment on.  When I did the google search, I read some of the articles that went with the pictures and found out that the World Naked Bike Ride is a movement that promotes being eco-friendly.  The main idea behind the movement is to reduce the use of automobiles...and the nudity is just to get your attention to bring awareness to their cause....(Sex sells...even when there's nothing to buy.  I mean here it is a month later after I saw them and they are still crossing my mind due to the nudity, right?)

Let me say that these are not my pictures of the event I happen to do a google search for "nude bike riders" and the links led me to these pictures.  in truth I didn't see a whole lot of the nudity in my travels that day.  I mean yes I saw enough exposed skin to say "OH shit, they're naked" .....then  it was very much "I wish they would get they naked asses out my mutha fuckin way." 

LMAO.  Anyway here are some pics that I found and...well caught my eye!

These first two I just thought were funny and creative uses of body paint.

Come on you got to admit "The Cat in the Hat" and "The Grinch" is funny.  Is it me or does his hat seem to resemble a condom?  Well I guess you could also say it is also suggestive of a phallus.....no?  I wonder how much did they each have to spend to get that much body paint?  And who applied it for them?  (I am not assuming that they are together, although the common theme of Dr. Seuss' characters may highly suggest the likelihood of there being some cooridination on their part. But that said, it doesn't mean that they would have been comfortable as two men touching each other's naked bodies, to apply the body paint.)

So I like the idea of a basketball player. and on a unicycle....that alone I'm sure made him stand out in the crowd. I so totally was buy him as Larry Bird....with the blond hair and the green and white for the Celtics.....then I read the "Seattle 15" and was confused....lol and wondered if he was too. 

Now can we talk about the positioning of his "twig and berries."  Is it me or does it looks like that hurts a bit, or at the minimum is a bit uncomfortable?  I mean they do look as if they are being smashed.  Question; so did he have to seperate his balls to each side of his penis as he sat on the seat or is that just a coincidence?

I'm sorry I just have to confess that I think the implication of the writing "GO GREEN" equates to going "Down" is rather sexy.  I wonder what he looks like above the lips.I mean his body is fair...and yeah I would be curious to play with his "johnson."  The same goes for this guy walking getting a high five. Would you look at those abs! I'm a little disappointed that the abs are about the only thing you can make out in the photo...but oh well.

LMAO!!!  I would not mind placing my hands on the prints!  Of course if I was the one who applied the body paint to get those prints....he would probably just have two red streaks/strips back there from me gripping his ass from various angles multiple times.  As I kept looking through pictures, I found this other one with the two guys and realized that the guy with more pigment was my handprint on the ass guy from the front.  NO he don't have major abs but I still feel he has some sexy appeal. If he approached me to ask me out, I'd say yes.  I like men with a variety of body types....he as a stockiness to himself that I think is attractive.  The guy with the crown next to my handprint guy....does have some abs. Does he have an erection or is that just how he hangs and swangs?

Nothing too profound...I find these two sexy also...mostly the one with the spotted loin cloth, but the other seems to have a decent body also....his lower half...thighs will get me every time!  However the fact that it looks like he has toilet paper hanging out/off his ass...is such a downfall for him.

OK I had to take a break from talking about the guys that I found sexy.  "Bike Free" doesn't have much of an ass, he seems like he is probably older, and since we can't see his face I can't say if he has that distinguished gentleman thing going for him.  What caught my eye was the legs.  I mean the left looks at best average...but the right looks all musckular and stuff.

Guess what....I found a picture of an African-american from the event.  He might even be the token attendee but for sure the token photo-op. So can we talk about this brother? Really?? An afro, and tongue hanging out.  Yeah I know, I know WAY too fuckin skinny....but PHAT in the right place!  I wonder if there were a bunch of guys pissed this brother showed up that day.  LOL I wonder how many secret "n*gga" he was called? 

OK so clearly from the discussion of al the photos up to now it's safe to say I'm a gay man.  That said, Yes I am aware that this next picture is a woman.  All I can say is that ...well for some reason the idea of having sex in that position seems REALLY appealing to me.

Ok now that you have seen a few pictures and get a slight idea of what the event is about....could you go naked in public?  Say at a nude beach? Or even on a naked bike ride?  These last two pictures are are here to represent what I believe would currently be the only way I think I could go through with something like this.  Tecate taste ok but I would require something strong than just beer....and probably so much so I probably wouldn't really be able to stay on the bike.  AND if I did manage to drink enough to have the courage to get on a bicycle naked and have the wherewithall to funtion properly, I would need some sort of mask....and this guy is still missing the wild wig and big sunglasses that I would wear.

 Sincerely,

Pharoah

Is It Me?

Self,

I know some employers develop things to boost moral and encourage their employees as a sign of appreciation. Mine isn't any different.  Not too long ago my department came up with the "Employee Excellence Award."  It would be like an "Employee of the Month" award but it takes so long for them to complete the selection process that the month would be over tthreefold by the time the nominees were named.  So the award is given out on a semi-annual basis and the canidate is nominated to the committee by his or her peers.  I don't think the winner really gets anything besides a certificate....maybe a designated parking space, but don't quote me on that. 

Obviously a person can't nominate him/herself.

Here's the thing, the other day one of my two supervisors (not the one that is actually on the EEA selection committee,)  came to me said he had an idea.  After stepping outside to speak "privately" he then proceeded to suggest that I nominate one of my team members because I write well and therefore can complete the task successfully.

OK I agree about the I write well part.  I like the guy he suggested and I don't really have a problem with the idea if he actually was to win the award.  My...frustration is having been skipped over as a possible canidate to being perfect to be the one to moninate someone else?  Will making the nomination make me a canidate for the next time?

To top it off win or loose when it comes out that the guy has been nominated, I'm sure the supervisor who suggested this is probably going to very specific about letting it be known that I'm the one who "filled out" the nomination form....but conviently leaving out the fact that it was done so by his request. So win or lose it will make it seem like I am just the guy's BIGGEST fan/supportor.  Don't get me wrong I like the guy...he's fun to work with and a good guy.

Yes I know it's just a bruised ego thing ...but still - bruises hurt.

No worries I'm gettin gover it as I fill out the nomination form.

Sincerely,
Pharoah

In My Best Sophia Petrillo Voice...

Self,

"Picture it.......

Los Angeles 2012.


It's a pleasantly warm summer Friday afternoon. I'm at work hustling through the end of the day...eagerly anticipating the time for me to "clock out."

With little time to go for the designated hour, I get a call on my cell.

It's that call that everyone hates to get.

NO, [Rose,] there hasn't been a death in the family....thank the heavens.

... It's that other call everyone hates to get...it was my bank's security and fraud prevention department wanting to verify some suspicious activities on my ATM card....

......Basically informing me that I have been JACKED!

Sense the transactions were bogus, they were immediately cancelling the ATM card in my wallet and I have to see about getting a new one.

So it's Friday, the weekend is here the bank is closed for the evening, I have no cash, no ATM card.

What a way to start a weekend!
 
I have to say when I shared the financial fiasco with a few folks via text or in person, a few were willing to come to my rescue, and put their money where their mouths were.  I appreciate it.
 
Although I still a ways from being "made whole" again withthe bank...I am doing ok.
 
Sincerely,
Pharoah