http://brothalove.typepad.com
Update your address books, favorites, and blog rolls. Then hit me up on the new spot and let me know what you think.
m
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Oh, the newness of it all ...
That's it. I've made a commitment to doing the blog thing in a whole new way and a whole new space. I'll keep these posts here for reference, of course, but from now on, check me out at my new TypePad address:
Update your address books, favorites, and blog rolls. Then hit me up on the new spot and let me know what you think.
m
Update your address books, favorites, and blog rolls. Then hit me up on the new spot and let me know what you think.
m
Friday, May 13, 2005
RANT ON: Black Gay Pride
I was one of the early organizers of Atlanta's "official" Black Gay Pride celebration about ten years ago. To see what's going on all over the country now is both impressive and disconcerting. I like the fact that there are options for people to interact, but i worry about what KIND of interactions we're having. And the question arises as to whether or not all these celebrations are viable.
The discussion started on the LGBTPoC list and migrated into a couple of blogs like (understandably) Mike on Prime Time and Rod 2.0 beta blog. In the discussion of viability, there's one option i haven't seen mentioned: specialization.
In a Wal-Mart® age, it's hard to conceive of anyone surviving by limiting their offerings, but in my opinion, that's exactly what some of the existing Black Gay Prides are going to have to do in order to survive.
Mike points out a couple of shortcomings in the Prides overall, notably the lack of events for women. But what if one of the Prides became the can't-miss, sista summit, black lesbian event of the year. Or even more specifically, what if these organizations made it a point to host a singular event every year. How about the biggest black gay film festival in the country? What about the hottest pageant or talent show to be found?
Sure, the parties are not going anywhere. As long as there are people living their lives in the closet back home, there will be customers for any number of anonymous, out-of-town meat markets. (Ask me how i know.) That just means the young and horny will keep flocking to major cities every year. But for people who need more of a reason to hit a Pride event, not to mention paying to stay in a hotel room that doesn't have eight other 20-somethings crammed in it, there has to be more.
Signature events. The brightest, the best, the only something for the money. Just stop worrying about trying to be the biggest. Think about it. There's only room for one Wal-Mart®...
The discussion started on the LGBTPoC list and migrated into a couple of blogs like (understandably) Mike on Prime Time and Rod 2.0 beta blog. In the discussion of viability, there's one option i haven't seen mentioned: specialization.
In a Wal-Mart® age, it's hard to conceive of anyone surviving by limiting their offerings, but in my opinion, that's exactly what some of the existing Black Gay Prides are going to have to do in order to survive.
Mike points out a couple of shortcomings in the Prides overall, notably the lack of events for women. But what if one of the Prides became the can't-miss, sista summit, black lesbian event of the year. Or even more specifically, what if these organizations made it a point to host a singular event every year. How about the biggest black gay film festival in the country? What about the hottest pageant or talent show to be found?
Sure, the parties are not going anywhere. As long as there are people living their lives in the closet back home, there will be customers for any number of anonymous, out-of-town meat markets. (Ask me how i know.) That just means the young and horny will keep flocking to major cities every year. But for people who need more of a reason to hit a Pride event, not to mention paying to stay in a hotel room that doesn't have eight other 20-somethings crammed in it, there has to be more.
Signature events. The brightest, the best, the only something for the money. Just stop worrying about trying to be the biggest. Think about it. There's only room for one Wal-Mart®...
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
RANT ON: Time Management
I suck at time management.
Those who know me are probably either rolling their eyes, nodding their heads in agreement, or issuing choruses of "Uh huh" and "No kidding" affirmatives. Here's the thing, though: i guess i don't really care.
I mean, sure there are lots of things i could be doing, and maybe some that i push right down to the wire then knock out at the last minute. So what. I get done what i want to get done and the rest falls by the wayside. Procrastination has actually become a handy way of prioritizing my life.
But there's more to the story.
There's an old saying that goes something like, "You make time for the things you care about." To that, i'd like to add, "You make time for the things you're not afraid of, the things that don't cause you pain, the things that don't bore you or overwhelm you or --
I'm sorry. I lost my train of thought. I just got up and went for a walk outside.
Anyway, the point is that time management (as if one could really manage/control time) is much more complex than simply carrying around a calendar or making up a to do list. At least for me it is. I've recently started having some serious conversations with my partner about what we dream of for ourselves and each other, what we want to do with the rest of our lives, and how my reticence to get on track with seemingly anything in my life is holding me -- us -- back.
Do i make time for the things i care about? Or do simply shy away from the things i don't like? The only way to find out is to get up off my ass and move toward my goals. Right after i get clear about my goals. (Right after i get back to work, which is what i should have been doing instead of writing this.)
{sigh}
RANT :: off
"Try not. Do! Or do not. There is no try."
-- Master Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back
Those who know me are probably either rolling their eyes, nodding their heads in agreement, or issuing choruses of "Uh huh" and "No kidding" affirmatives. Here's the thing, though: i guess i don't really care.
I mean, sure there are lots of things i could be doing, and maybe some that i push right down to the wire then knock out at the last minute. So what. I get done what i want to get done and the rest falls by the wayside. Procrastination has actually become a handy way of prioritizing my life.
But there's more to the story.
There's an old saying that goes something like, "You make time for the things you care about." To that, i'd like to add, "You make time for the things you're not afraid of, the things that don't cause you pain, the things that don't bore you or overwhelm you or --
I'm sorry. I lost my train of thought. I just got up and went for a walk outside.
Anyway, the point is that time management (as if one could really manage/control time) is much more complex than simply carrying around a calendar or making up a to do list. At least for me it is. I've recently started having some serious conversations with my partner about what we dream of for ourselves and each other, what we want to do with the rest of our lives, and how my reticence to get on track with seemingly anything in my life is holding me -- us -- back.
Do i make time for the things i care about? Or do simply shy away from the things i don't like? The only way to find out is to get up off my ass and move toward my goals. Right after i get clear about my goals. (Right after i get back to work, which is what i should have been doing instead of writing this.)
{sigh}
RANT :: off
"Try not. Do! Or do not. There is no try."
-- Master Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back
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