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Summer trend: Tea Time!

JW Richard — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:40:48 +0000

Is it just a Southern thing or is iced tea the new summer “hit” this year? I mean you’ve already got Sonic’s brand that definitely has my personal rating of 4-2 (That’s four tea bags for every two cups of sugar!). Then, McDonald’s $1 large iced tea rates about 2-2 on that same scale for me and the promotion is perfect to blind you to the fact the food prices are going up. Now, Jack-in-the-Box is serving flavored ice teas. I haven’t tasted their product yet, so I don’t have a rating for them. Then I have Firefly Vodka out of South Carolina following me on Twitter with their brand of sweet iced tea vodkas (that I can’t get in Texas!). So, what gives? Is this iced tea buzz just a Dallas thing this summer, a Southern thing, or what?

“God Says No” may be a ‘Yes’ for the bookshelf.

JW Richard — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:01:46 +0000

I read an interesting interview with author, James Hannham at Salon about his new book, “God Says No”. It’s a fictional work based on a B/black man in the South dealing with his homosexuality and eventually going to reparative therapy (also called “change ministries”). If the book is as interesting as the article, it could be something for the bookshelf.

Having been involved in reparative therapy myself before I came to my senses, I remember how being in the closet seem to magnify my lust and I definitely saw other men in my group reparative therapy sessions who identified with that. I remember one Saturday morning where we sat in a semi-circle facing the therapist at MacArthur Church of Christ in Irving (honestly don’t remember our instructor was the infamous Christopher Austin or not), and I noticed the men seem cordial but cautious about touching one another. Even Paul, my program buddy at the time, was fine with handshakes but timid if I offer a hug after the group session. I felt sorry for the guys, however I knew that I just couldn’t live that lie that with a few more sessions I could “change”. And it really didn’t help for me to be a somewhat sheltered B/black guy in a room of some moderately handsome W/white men around my age because of my own issues with ethnicity, culture, and sexual curiousity–all magnified in the dark closet like the heat of human touch.

Again, check out the article, and see if it’s one for your bookshelf.

Podcast: Introducing Honey Entertainment

JW Richard — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:40:48 +0000

After the delicious sounds of Dallas’ own, Ms. Badu, I speak with Michelle Carter about her new venture, Honey Entertainment, as she seeks to bring mainstream R&B/jazz artists to gay/lesbians audiences in Dallas. In fact, as I mentioned last week in our interview, N’Dambi will be the artist featured this Saturday night, July 4, at the Sweet Sensation kickoff of Honey Entertainment. And from what I’ve heard tickets are VERY limited as of this writing, so listen to the podcast in a pop-up window, get to the Honey Entertainment website, and get your seats fast!

Sweet Sensation – Honey Entertainment Launch Party featuring N’Dambi live in concert
Saturday, July 4, 2009 9pm
1727 (LuminArte Design Studio)
1727 Levee St.
Dallas, TX 75207

If you’re an artist looking for a stage and you’re interested in working with Honey Entertainment, Michelle gives the lowdown on how you can get involved.

Monday Jazz session mixtape

JW Richard — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:51:35 +0000

Well, it’s hotter here in Texas and we’re not even in July. Whew! Thank goodness for some cool jazz (and some cool water!). It’s time for another Jazz session mixtape podcast!

Here’s the lineup:

1: The Sai Ghose Quartet – CingRoMesh
2. Sean Nowell – New York Vibe
3. Fonkmasters – Once I Get Up
4. Randy Scott – Breathe
5. Jaime Cullum – I Want To Be A Popstar
6. Sean Jones – Allison
7. Torcuato Mariano – Just Groove Me

Million Gay March for Equality in Dallas, TX

JW Richard — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:32:20 +0000

Enjoy some video, shots, and conversation I’ve gathered from today’s march in Dallas. I’m admittedly a video newbie, however in small resolution I’m generally pleased with what a Canon PowerShot A570 IS can do.

By the way, here’s the freely downloadable track played under the voices:
Sixtoo
“Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man Part 9″ (mp3)
from “Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man”
(Ninja Tune)

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