Vincent Brown’s Journal and Photography

Archives for August, 2007

Cute or the Cutest Kitty Ever?

This is my friend Charleys’ kitten, Archie. I love this little guy and he kinda likes me too (well, he likes to sleep on my knee). He attacks my fingers, my face, my shoe laces.. just about everything. The greatest thing about Archie is how he doesn’t just walk to where he wants to go, he does this - ninja creepin’ in the shadows type thing. If he’s on top of something, like a sofa for instance, he’ll launch himself off of it (flying squirrel, crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon style) in the direction he wants to go, and uses the momentum to continue walking creeping in stride

He’s officially the cutest kitty ever. More photos of Archie

08/29/2007 | General, Photography | No Comments

McAfee SiteAdivsor Foils MySpace Scam!

McAfee SiteAdivsor Wins!

So, I was on my friends MySpace page posting a comment when I clicked on her profile photo and it took me to the MySpace login page. Well, McAfee’s SiteAdvisor protected me by re-redirecting me to their page explaining to me what had just happened.

Well done!
www.siteadvisor.com

Related story: “Regarding my MySpace account“

08/24/2007 | General, Technology | No Comments

RE: Nas - An Open Letter To Bill O’Reilly

Mr. Bill O’Reilly (email),

oreilly While I agree with critics that he may not have been the safe or most accepted act to play at a memorial benefit for friends and family of this tragedy; I believe you have been promoting a distorted view of Nasir Jones (Nas) on your “news” program, in response to his invitation to perform at Virginia Tech. Concert details here.

In recent shows you have criticized Mr. Jones - for malign motives - based solely on snippets of song that don’t accurately portray (in context) the message found in the stories being told. On top of that, you neglect to offer your viewers the necessary, factual information on Nas so that they can independently familiarize themselves with his body of work. Mr. Jones is a hip-hop performer who writes songs that tell a story, convey thoughts, feelings and emotions and that narrate real life and fictional events.

Screenwriters and producers create movies about gun culture, (Die Hard, The Bourne Ultimatum, Rambo and The Terminator come to mind) and television shows (like Cops, Jerry Springer, Desperate Housewives, The Sopranos) with graphic content because life is graphic. Authors create compelling story lines for novels based around that similar premise, but when, if ever, are they boycotted from appearing in public? Mr. Jones is no different in that regard, except that he strings together rhyming words and delivers them to a beat in his signature poetic style and you can’t appreciate it.

I urge you to research his entire body of work, interviews and poems. Then, surely you can find an appropriate amount of positive and uplifting messages to compare with his gritty portrayals of the life he’s grown up in, (those so-called “Street Tales”).

I write this because I don’t feel you have been fair in your portrayal of this man, Mr. Nasir Jones. To myself and others he is a refreshingly unique individual in Hip-hop. Never one to water down his content for mass consumption, his message has largely been uplifting and positive - despite the stories he narrates of the difficult and cruel environment the world can be at times.

I am asking that instead of working against the progress we’re trying to make in Hip-hop culture, please work with us. Learn to understand, respect and represent us fairly to your viewers. I present to you, the more uplifting and soulful songs/videos of Nas for your listening/viewing pleasure: Continue reading this post »

08/21/2007 | Current Events, Entertainment, Music, Rants | 2 Comments

2007 Annual Cousins Picnic

Picnic at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Most of the photos are of my younger cousins Mariah, Ciarra, Sophia and Victoria. Also photographed is my uncle Charles and Lisa. Some of my favorite photos, to date.