Teena Marie Dies At 54

R&B legend Teena Marie has died, Washington Watch host Roland Martin has confirmed.

Reports of her untimely death spread online after a tweet from Ronald Isley. The soul crooner wrote: “Just found out a friend, Teena Marie passed away. I really didn’t expect to hear this. RIP. We will miss you much!”

Soon after a back and forth about her death erupted with various stars like LisaRaye and Kym Whitley saying that Teena was in fact alive.

However, as the minutes went on reporter Roland Martin confirmed with Teena’s manager, Mike Gardner, that the singer passed at the age of 54.

Philadelphia radio station WDAS first reported the story on the airwaves.

Sheila E. shared a few scarce details of how Teena’s daughter, Alia Rose, discovered her mother’s dead body.

Sheila wrote:

“Her daughter found her in her bedroom already passed. she had seizures prior to this passing. please pray for her family.

They just took her body from her home. Teena Marie found dead by her daughter whose BD was yesterday. pray 4 her & her family.”

The protégé of the late Rick James has been an R&B staple since the debut of her 1980 release, Irons in the Fire.

She was heralded for her work as a songwriter, musician, and arranger. Teena was also credited by many for rapping on her own records, believed to have helped usher hip-hop into mainstream R&B.

As of now no further details about her death have surfaced.

Breaking news, December 26, 8:22 p.m. ET:

There are several reports that R&B star, Teena Marie has died. WDAS in Philadelphia has reported her death and Birdman of Cash Money Records has also said she has passed away via Twitter. Details will be posted as soon as they come in.

Baptize Me.......FIAF #16

baptize me
in endless passion,
 in eternal faith,
in genuine honesty
....
and in courage

let me be someone I can love

let me like who I love,
miss those I see daily,
let me be obedient
to the calling within me.
let my true colors show deeper wisdom,
a merciful heart
and


a graceful stride







jakuper(12/26/10)

Bigger Than Me.........SP Christmas Challenge

I don't want to die now
because I got too much to live for

It is only when I close my eyes
to the things I don't want to see...
that I miss the whole idea of tangibility
I cannot afford to close my heart
or keep my eyes shut
to what could be
Denial ruins my soul
and ruins me to possibilities
& new beginnings

My arrival,
as I pass through
my season of want and supplication
transitioning to what could be,
will only be
if I believe

I wanna believe
I gotta believe
I can't afford not to believe

As a child
the spirit of Christmas
gave me hope
It made me go to sleep
anticipating a tomorrow meant for me
I waited for answers
to the rest of my stories

I cannot hold on to life as it is
Time has broke me
My health is failing me
People I love...are leaving me
I want to be able to embrace change
like it was meant for me
like I prayed...earnestly,
like He heard me
and answered me


Like I got that one gift under my Christmas tree
meant for me
Like I stood under the mistletoe
and that dream..yea that one
came true
because I believed
in the spirit
of something

(Someone)

bigger than me







jakuper (12/21/10)

DAILY OM.....Being a Strong Container

Grounding Ourselves

 When we are grounded, we essentially become a strong container in which our spirits can safely and productively dwell.

We often hear people telling us to ground ourselves, but we may not be sure what that means and how we might do it. Grounding ourselves is a way of bringing ourselves literally back to earth. Some of us are more prone than others to essentially leaving our bodies and not being firmly rooted in our bodies. There's nothing terribly wrong with this, but while we are living on the earth plane it is best to stay grounded in the body.

One of the easiest ways to ground ourselves is to bring our attention to our breath as it enters and leaves our bodies. After about 10 breaths, we will probably find that we feel much more connected to our physical selves. We might then bring our awareness to the sensations in our bodies, moving from our head down to our feet, exploring and inquiring.

Just a few minutes of this can bring us home to bodies and to the earth, and this is what it means to ground ourselves.

We can go further by imagining that we have roots growing out of the bottoms of our feet, connecting us to the earth. The roots flow with us so we can we always move, but at the same time they keep us grounded.

We receive powerful energy from the earth just as we do from the forms of energy we associate with the sky, and our body is a tool that brings these two energies together in a sacred union.

When we are grounded, we essentially become a strong container in which our spirits can safely and productively dwell. This is why grounding ourselves every day, especially at the beginning of the day, is such a beneficial practice.

Fortunately, it's as simple as bringing our conscious awareness to our bodies and the earth on which we walk.




What do you think?

Autumn Sunsets

It's your birthday
and as another Autumn sunset approaches,
I can see us
meeting for the first time
along the New England shores
 to share adventures
from footprints of traveled miles
we distanced in time
Excited to be greeting you finally
face to face
you wait for me to join you
Quietly....as I approach you
I attempt to catch up
with my own breath
 

Standing there, amazed I am
amidst the beauty
and the nakedness of the moment,
as the Earth permits our presence
--our present to each other--
to conjugate
I notice the clouds over us
cover us
as they begin to form the answers
I tried so hard not to give
Instinctively...your arms call for me,
wide open,
as they encircle me,
your heart warming mine,
bringing me in real time
to the peace you so often wanted to give to me
inside the safety
of this long awaited hug

We exchange subliminal thank yous
for all the love
we shared for each other

Our sanctified love
is finally consummated
The reverence in your soft unnamed smiles
and engaging embrace
humbled me
Your wisdom,
beyond my years
and beyond the hills I have climbed,
 makes me feel closer to you
even though I am older
and despite where our paths have lead

I wonder can you tell
how much I've missed you,
though I've never met you
So much...that you have me glowing
like a long lost love returning home
You feed me strength
from wherever you are,
 you call it some kind of internal earned freedom
that no one should ever be able
to take away from you

I plan to bask in it, today

 
We walked towards the car
silhouetted in an excited, anxious stride,
almost like children at play,
not knowing what to expect
but totally expecting to be enlightened
along the way
And, with my back
against the orange sunsets
I pledged to myself
and to Him who
made this day possible
we're going to have a wonderful day

I stop right in front of you
knowing it would surprise you
 as something whispers,
"hug her again"
So...I hug you again
 like no body's watching
and like nobody else exists
I'm sure everyone around us understands
I promise you
this is not the last time

Inside your arms at last...
now the rest of the story
can be told
 My eyes search the heavens
whispering in gratitude
of a friendship that grew
from patience and respect
We finally have a name
to apply to those moments
that smiles just take over,
a contour to hold onto
when we need a hug
and now
we have a time to return to
when our presence can't attend

 In that golden afternoon,
abstractly called evening,
faraway never seemed so near
as in the poems we wrote,
the stories we told,
and to the memories that never grow old

Impossible has lost it's strength
anger has eased
and with no explanation needed
we have these short but sweet
 minutes to seize
 
With eyes like photographers
...
we snapped each others picture
You call me
woman of life and soul
full of love
and I call you
....
Inspiration






jakuper 11/22/10

 

DAILY OM.....Right Where We Are

Enlightenment At Home
 You don't need to travel to a far away land to become enlightened; it isn't the place, it's the practice.

Many spiritual seekers feel called to far-flung places across the globe in the interest of pursuing the path of their enlightenment. This may indeed be the right course of action for certain people, but it is by no means necessary to attaining an enlightened consciousness. Enlightenment can take root anywhere on earth, as long as the seeker is an open and ready vessel for higher consciousness. All we need is a powerful intention, and a willingness to do the work necessary to moving forward on our path.

In terms of spiritual practice, at this moment, there are more tools available to more people than at any other time in history. We have access to so much wisdom through the vehicles of books, magazines, the Internet, television, and film. In addition, the time-honored practice of meditation is free, and sitting quietly everyday, listening to the universe, is a great way to start the journey within. There is further inspiration in the fact that the greatest teachers we have are our own life experiences, and they come to us every day with new lessons and new opportunities to learn. If we look at the people around us, we may realize that we have a spiritual community already intact, and if we don't, we can find one, if not in our own neighborhood, then on-line.

Meanwhile, if we feel called to travel in search of teachers and experiences, then by all means, we should. But if we can't go to India, or Burma, or Indonesia, or if we don't have the desire, this is not an obstacle in terms of our spiritual development. In fact, we may simply be aware that our time and energy is best spent in our own homes, with our meditation practice and all the complications and joys of our own lives. We can confidently stay in one place, knowing that everything that we need to attain enlightenment is always available right where we are.



What do you think?

Sunday Inspiration.......I'll Trust You

"All that the Father gives me will come to me,
and whoever comes to me
I will never cast out"

John 6:37



Hear and listen and consider
that in the midst of the storm there is peace.
When nights make you sad
and tears fill your eyes
It always is a signal
that something big is happening inside
It is God never missing a chance
to show off and let us know
...
He's by our side

In the quiet and slumber of night,
He teaches us patience and success
Not perfection...because that causes a mess
Enduring silent libraries of darkness and trials
puts us in the midst of His saving hands
He is our shield and our light in the right direction
When mistakes seem inevitable and numerous too
He is always there to carry you through

Denying Him doesn't mean He doesn't exist
He lets us know He is in control
breaking down barriers
that from day to day vex the soul
Look at the world and how narrow hope may seem
There is much comfort in knowing
and trusting Him
Life becomes a new journey and not so much a mystery
as He maketh us to lie down
in pastures of green

Tomorrow...FIAF #11

...."Tomorrow is another day...
your girl is in a better place, boy"

I wish I could ease your pain.
It's gonna be alright....cheer up, my friend
Sometimes it's so...difficult
Don't feel alone...you always got me
I lost my girl, too

we gonna make it

Finish The Thought

What time did you get up this morning?

 How do you like your steak?

 What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

What is your favorite T.V show?

 If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

 What did you have for breakfast?

 What is your favorite thing to read?

 What foods do you dislike?

 Favorite Place to Eat?

What kind of vehicle do you drive?

 What color are your favorite shoes?

 Where would you visit if you had the chance? 

Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full

 Favorite time of day?

What is your favorite sport to watch?

Who are you most curious about their responses to this? 

girl/guy watcher?

Are you a morning person or a night person?

 Pets?

 Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share?

 What did you want to be when you were little?

 Are you married?

 Always wear your seat belt?

 Been in a car accident?

 Any pet peeves?

 Favorite burger toppings?

 Favorite ice cream?

Done anything spontaneous lately?

 Like your job?

 Broccoli or Cauliflower?

 Where did you take your favorite vacation at?

Last person you went out to dinner with?

One person on your page you'd like to take to dinner?

  What music are you listening to right now?

 What is your favorite color?

How many tattoos do you have?

 Coffee drinker?

 

Now, Pay Attention.....FIAF #10

Just play it cool
and this promotion is yours, girlfriend

"un-huhhh"

Now, pay attention

She's going to attempt to use her charms on him
He's pretending to like the attention
He'll set up a meeting with her
for later
but...he'll make some excuse
He won't show up

because he will be with his man







jakuper (11/13/10)

Interview by Carissa

The Rules 

According to Paul (robbermouse), creator of this game.
- you can ask me 5 questions that I'll try to answer for you... send them in a PM titled INTERVIEW and I'll blog the answers...
- keep the questions relatively clean...
- this is reciprocal... if you interview me... you can bet your ass I'm gonna do it to you... so - - - sending me questions is an agreement to play this
- I'm also gonna ID you so don't ask anything you don't wanna put your hand up for...
- this is not a tag...











Questions

1) If you could get rid of one bad thing in this world, what would it be and why?

Hatred!  See, I got this idea that if we all learn to love each other, we can eradicate poverty, crime, violence, and every flaw known to man.  Also that we could learn just what real love is. Hey, I know it's a dream...but it's my dream  lol


2) If you had the choice of living life rich and alone or poor and in love, which would it be and why?

I think you know me well enough to know how I will answer this one, seeing that I write so much about being in love.  ' Poor and in love '....money never did it for me, but being in love...hell, it feels like you rich!   lol


3) What is a time in your life you would replay?

I used to say when I turned 30, but as the years grow older, I don't know.  maybe when I was 24, and had my son.  Maybe I wouldn't have been so anxious to prove my love...sigh


4) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

To the Niagara falls, because it has been a dream for all of my lifetime.  Water and I have this secret affection.  I have a thing for waterfalls, too.  Not to mention I am a true Aquarius.  To stand under that water, and let it baptize me....lol


5) Who has inspired you most in your life?

Probably Oprah.  Watching her go from a small town anchor woman to a billionaire, in my lifetime...that has got to be the best feeling.  Not for the money, but to excel at something that you love doing...

Interview by Tammy (coyotedreams)

The Rules 

According to Paul (robbermouse), creator of this game.
- you can ask me 5 questions that I'll try to answer for you... send them in a PM titled INTERVIEW and I'll blog the answers...
- keep the questions relatively clean...
- this is reciprocal... if you interview me... you can bet your ass I'm gonna do it to you... so - - - sending me questions is an agreement to play this
- I'm also gonna ID you so don't ask anything you don't wanna put your hand up for...
- this is not a tag...






Questions

1. What is your earliest childhood memory?

I think my earliest childhood memory is bringing in wood in the Winter time with my twin sister, and as we raced to see who could get the most wood, she pushed me on the stove, and burned what was my whole forearm, and part of my hand.  I remember laying in bed covered with white sheets, and this strange lady 'talked' the fire/burning out of my arm.  I was groggy for days after wards, but it healed so fast...

I don't even want to think what kind of woman that was....lol 

 

2. What was the impetus that got you into writing?

I was very shy when I was young...so shy that when I talked I stuttered.  I made friends easy because I was so smart in elementary school, and my best friend (still my best friend today) would tell me to write what I wanted to say and she would read it to the class.  It got me into writing, and her, too.



3. What "embarrassing moment" taught you the most valuable lesson?

Wow, I think the most valuable lesson I learned from an embarrassing moment came when I was playing with my friends on what we used to call "May Day".  We were coming in from playing softball, and I was clowning with the bat, trying to run from my friends, and one guy, Bernard, tagged me.  I was so hyped that I threw the bat at him.  It hit him, and knocked him out.  He was rushed to the hospital, and stayed in critical condition for years.  he eventually came back to school, and told me he didn't blame me, but I still blame me, to this day.....(.wow@ remembering that)



4. Spring, summer, autumn or winter and why?

Autumn..it's a time to take stock of what you have, and celebrate who you've become.  It's a gorgeous season to be outside, and take in nature's beauty.  it represents when things are 'full' of life...



5. What ancestor would you want to meet if you had the opportunity to do so?

Probably my grandfather. Strangely enough, one day I was online, in a psychic readers chat room on Yahoo years ago, and this medium told me my grandparents were sitting right beside me.  I asked her to describe them to me.  Well she described my grandmother to a tee, but I never saw my grandfather.  I would like to meet him, or see him to know if she was telling the truth or not...I know--crazy

Interview by " Endlessspace "

The Rules 

According to Paul (robbermouse), creator of this game.
- you can ask me 5 questions that I'll try to answer for you... send them in a PM titled INTERVIEW and I'll blog the answers...
- keep the questions relatively clean...
- this is reciprocal... if you interview me... you can bet your ass I'm gonna do it to you... so - - - sending me questions is an agreement to play this
- I'm also gonna ID you so don't ask anything you don't wanna put your hand up for...
- this is not a tag...






The Questions


1.) Which lesson learned stands out the most to you in your life?

That is easy.  The most important lesson I learned in my life is..."It's not about me".  Boy, when I learned that, everything I thought I knew...went down the drain.  What I knew about life, love, spirituality, people, and emotions are subjective.  What I don't know will make another world.  That is why I soak up knowledge, cultures, and any information I can use to make me a better and more useful person.



2.) Which is more important: Being kind or being honest?

Even though I know being honest is very important, and required of us, being kind weighs in more with me. It falls slightly under mercy and grace.  You can gain a friend or an ally by being kind quicker than being honest.  If it's possible to be both, hey, that's a plus!  I try to blend a little of both in when possible.....



3.) What would you consider to be your biggest personality flaw?

My biggest flaw...hmmm.  Probably my self-esteem.  I am my worst critic, and I tend to shy away from being completely open one on one.  To say where it came from, would be for me to go back in time, to my childhood.  But, I am a work in progress.....



4.) Can you describe a time when you were wrongfully discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc?

I think the first thing that comes to mind is when I was outed on my job because I was dating a woman, and some of my friends acted like I had the cooties.  Amazingly I did not lose the job, but I lost some of the friends who I thought loved me anyway.  They said they loved me, but couldn't accept my choice to love, and live with a woman.  So they drifted away.



5.) What do you consider to be your best personality trait?

My best personality trait is my genuine love for people, for how it is easy to like the differences in people...until they show me that our personalities can't mix.  Not many people I find that I don't like.  I am very forgiving, and I try to not lose those close to me.  yep, I'm that friend to the end.....

Interview by " Roggyrugrat "

The Rules  

According to Paul (robbermouse), creator of this game.
- you can ask me 5 questions that I'll try to answer for you... send them in a PM titled INTERVIEW and I'll blog the answers...
- keep the questions relatively clean...
- this is reciprocal... if you interview me... you can bet your ass I'm gonna do it to you... so - - - sending me questions is an agreement to play this
- I'm also gonna ID you so don't ask anything you don't wanna put your hand up for...
- this is not a tag...





The Questions

1. What is the one thing or trait you have that you would never change or trade in for something else?

My unconditional love for people.  Not sure where it came from, but it has flourished within me as I've gotten older and more in touch with who I am.  I am always able to put myself in perspective,and am now learning to do the same to others...



2. If you were in a position of authority and you found someone to be stealing, and this person begs you because he or she is desperate and only stole because his or her family is starving, what would you do?

I would still punish them, but the punishment would not be so harsh that it takes away that person's esteem....because I would be thinking, there but for the grace of God goes I.  I can't say what I would do if in that same situation.  I believe in showing mercy, because I know I am going to need some, too.....



3. What is your most embarrassing moment?

Well, that's hard.  I can think of only one embarrassing moment right now, and that was with my stepfather.  When I was 30 years old, I became involved in a lesbian relationship with my then best friend.  We were together all the time.  When we came to my house, my stepfather would inadvertently make passes at her because he thought we were just friends.  I guess he found out we were more than friends, somehow,and he asked me straight up, in front of my son, my sisters, and my girlfriend, "You fucking this woman?  Is you? Is you and this woman fucking?"  He was so mad.  I didn't answer him, but everyone knew...except him.

It destroyed our close friendship and we've been estranged every since.  I probably seen him maybe 10 times since then, and he said I would ruin my son's life by being with a woman.  My son is now 23 yrs old and very masculine.  He loves women, and he loves me, probably more now than then....



4. What do you prefer in a man - strong sturdy arms and a wall of a chest or taut thighs, irresistible abs and hard iron ass?

LOL.  I love all of those things on a man!  I love looking at sexy men, and seeing sexy couples of men and women.  I think the arms, and the 6pack do a little something for me  lol  

Now if you asked me about a woman, that's a whole new ballgame  !



5. There are many different meanings of love, as it is subjective to different people. What is your definition of love?

My definition of love is simply the agape definition (unselfish love of one person for another).   Love is the most powerful force on Earth.  It is able to make you kill.  It can heal you, drive you, and stop you right in your tracks.  It will not be denied.  It cannot be contained...and when it is all said and done...only love will be standing.

Friendship Lost.........FIAF #9

I remember not long ago
 we laughed,
loved,
 we shared everything
 The best of friends
or....at least I thought.
I wonder why friendships end
when one friend falls in love

Thought we were loyal
 Thought we were true
What happens

Just wave you off
buh bye

 Friendship lost
Is a very sad thing








jakuper (11/8/10)

Join me in saying, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARISSA!!!

not dependent on who we were
but who we are now
Our bond,
characteristic of the values we were taught
and those we wish to learn

We are reciprocally acquainted
almost a mirror of each other
seeing what the other cannot see

a solidarity happens
a respect that builds
as the foundation is filled
with understanding
forgiveness
patience
and intuition
and experience
when we are at our best

The other half of who I'd like to be,
we bond so easily

With the tenacity of a mustard seed
We grow
together
like siamese twins
like re-connected kin

no identifying marks

just a life enhancing respect

mutually earned
with shared intentions
You are a Treasure
someone I can always turn to
when I need the absolute truth
when my spirit needs a lift
Your perception of things
is a beautiful gift

You make the world I live in
a peaceful,
yet powerful place
......
my best forever friend!




jakuper (1/27/09)

Truth Died Tonight....FIAF #8

Secrets. 
Every house has them. 

Pain provoked
never to habituated again.  
Tears scattered
Spirits staled
Calamaties left behind
 .......
humiliation moved on.

Windows broken
....
like transpicuous spirits. 
Voices squealing in mental ears
like fingernails
across chalkboards
Nightmares
that came true


One night 
A fire gutted the frame. 
Everyone got out.  

But truth
....

wasn't so lucky







jakuper (10/31/10)

Finish The Thought

1. What kind of mood did you wake up with this morning?

2. What song is in your head today?

3. The color of your cell phone?

4. How many TV's are in your house?

5. What did your breakfast consist of?

6. Are you right-handed or left-handed?

7. Do you have tattoos or piercing on your body?

8. Have you ever been rendered unconscious, or passed out?

9. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Why, or why not?

10. If you could change anything about you , what would it be?

11 Does your future outlook make you more nervous, or excited?

12. What food could you eat every day and not get sick of?

13. Do you like pizza, and if so, what are your favorite toppings ?

14. What is the last song that made you cry?

15. Would you give a friend $10,000, if you could afford it?

16. What is your favorite place to eat?

17. Who is the last person you talked to yesterday?

18. Last person you hugged?

19. What is your favorite season?

20. What is your favorite holiday?

21. Day of the week?

22. What kind of mood are you in right now?

23. What's the last movie you saw, and did you like it?

24. What's one thing on your wish list for your birthday?

25. Can you do the newest dances?

Familiar Shadows

Again you come
Even though I'm not looking for anything
as I neared the existence called you
cautiously I invaded the space of you
No one had to drag me
or make me look your way
the ambiance of you I watched...mesmerized
as your countenance glowed
my own shadow side-barring with me
catching your glance...of me
confirmed with me
as your eyes said it all

You said...I feel your warm touch
with an affirmative nod you invited me in
You said there is more to you than meets the eye
You stepped into my zone and changed it
Our auras bumped into each other
like the sounds of 'hooting' owls watching the night come and go
Nothing about you was unfamiliar

the air ...serendipitous
 
Is the reason you showed up
that I was desiring your touch?
Did I want to know you?
Were your moves just as calculating
as I thought mine were?
Could I possibly read your mind and you not know?
Did I see myself just touching you
or.....
being synchronized with you....one more time?

I listened, excited as a kid
as my heart
as my ego
as my shadow gave me question
after question
instruction after instruction
on how to conquer you

again









jakuper (9/5/10) All Rights Reserved

Be Gentle

"Remember to be gentle with yourself and others.  We are all children of chance, and none can say why some fields will blossom and others lay brown beneath the August sun.

Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, ... their choices in life no more easily made. And give.  Give in any way that you can, of whatever you possess.  To give is to love. To withhold is to wither.

Care less for your harvest but how it is shared, and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace."

~ Steve Goodier ~

DAILY OM...A Strong Woman

Empowering Feminine Energy A woman’s sense of compassion and inner voice demonstrates the depth of her strength.

So often in our world we tend to think of strength as a quality that arises from a place of firm determination and a will to succeed no matter the cost. Even though we might want to think of a strong woman as being defined in this way, what really makes a woman confident is her capacity for listening to her true self and being able to call upon her feminine wisdom to any situation that may arise. A woman does not need to step into an assertive role or act like a man in order to be effective at what she does—she simply needs to get in touch with her insight and sense of compassion to truly demonstrate the depth of her strength.

Listening to the feminine side of ourselves may not seem easy at first for this type of energy is something that is often overlooked in many aspects of our everyday lives. If we can connect with this part of who we are, however, we will find that there is an unlimited wellspring of strength available to us. Our capacity to tap into our intuition and listen to our inner guides, to take into account the needs of those around us, and to view a situation with compassion and love are ways that we can show the world the true power that is part of our feminine nature. When we learn to integrate this source of strength into our daily tasks and decision-making, we will find that we can be more flexible and open to the things that happen around us and more receptive to new ideas. Not only will we see the world in a different light, but we will truly start to realize the potential for this form of energy to both empower ourselves and those around us.

As we cultivate our feminine energy we can redefine the meaning of strength. By embracing our feminine power as something that is strong in its own right, we are able to use it with true assurance and determination and draw upon what truly belongs to us.


What you think?

Silenced Hearts....Collab w/Epidomyofadiva

"...strange you always leave me
to my own mind,
leaving me drowning,
wanting more

ever so carefully you watch from afar
as if I'm your personal Chyna Doll

knowing neither of us will ever speak
a word of what goes on behind our
locked hearts and tainted souls

years have passed since we've
thrown our arms out
and
cast that key into the waters unknown

still we've never said good-bye,
though we've tried many times before "


stranger even...that in the life of my dreams,
just mentioning your name
'automatically' bring the stars out
Space creates a room big enough for you and I
and for what we used to need and want
I be hoping my smile...or one touch
is the key that fits the lock
of your present wants & desires
and that I am the match
to light your fires

Nice smile...why don't you try it?
It's just a lil something from this heart of mine
pretending to see through...to your heart,
moved by what motivates me
....feel me
Feel me....
breathing feelings
into your feelings,
into the presence of present difficulties
and light into the darkened & empty space between us
and how it mysteriously energizes me...
how your energy gives me...courage,
Courage...shown with pure & good intentions
removing the fantod
for future success
because that is what ignites you
Choices are lessons,
patience is a tester
and the mojo that teaches me
about what you really want

I find myself with a yeuk
dying to release the reigns of how to quiet your mind
while stirring it up at the same time
You got me feeling like a cheechako...
wanting to return
and reclaim what makes us feel like this
again and again


Intimate thoughts...emotionally fought
that I've been crazy thinking about for some time now
wind and rewind in my mind somehow
and...I can't break free of missing you
I miss you
Minim thoughts of you
and I tap my fingertips, restlessly,
against the mental painting
of us..harmonizing
subconsciously

No more tarrying
I see my door
my want has made my prognostications clear
Clearly I hear
a message from my soul:

you're in the driver's seat
and with little motivation from days of old
your power of engagement has swept me up
there's this flow...so sensual so sweet, so sensitive
that is all you...all up in my cup
It motivates me to no end
intoxicates me
in ways I can't defend
and it reserves the most marvelous secret
kept between two silenced hearts
..........









epidomyofadiva/jakuper 8/9/10

If I Fall

doting eyes fixed dutifully upon you
because I just like watching you
walking towards me..
so beautifully
heels clicking compulsively in my ear
revealing my wishes...
truthfully
Feelings arise tenderly
and I feel my whole heart begin to change
.... opening up a way being made
to allow me to be a worthier me
and be aprised of what my studious eyes,
and my consorting heart really wants me to see

Looking upwards.....and whispering in shy confession
as I take into account each step I must make....I realize
I am allowing your to wrap around me
everything about you
Love doesn't hurt, when it's real...it heals.
I must do this...carefully
slowly...and patiently
so my feet will keep me standing

"if I fall"







jakuper(8/2/10)

Did I Dream You? A Collab W/Expressions of Sugga

Excuse me, Ms. Lady...
I noticed you over here,
moving to the beat of the music...
would you like to dance?
I've been watching you all evening long.
trying to catch your glance.
I can't help but want to adagio,
to set trail to tango,
with your bosom nestled against my ego.
For my two left feet,
to escapade,
in an intimate greet and meet.

Did I dream you…
In a choreographed scheme?
Have we danced a Can Can...
as lovers in a one on one team?
Or was it... we Cha' Cha'd in the recesses
Of a deep delved... love fantasy?
A sweet chocolate fairy... dirty dancin'
In a delectable reverie?
Born in the darkness of…
a midnight samba?
A phantasmal tango...
a slumbered rumba?

No matter what...
this dance will never be,
just another numbered beat.
It will certainly be one to remember,
in this funk-tified dream.

Could it be you’re the vision…
Of a feminine fascination?
Where still we danced...
Illusory in my jaded imagination?
Tip-toeing across white sandy shores...
Hulaing sways in tantric hip wars?
I reach in elevation to shut eyed necessity…
For, the softness of your amenities...
…An enrosque of meek vitality
…A balance of submissive immunity
…An ecarte of nurturing harmony

I watched with excitement
as her feet cruzar-ed to the beat
I followed her moves.........carefully
Caught up in the way she frisked in front of me
Caught up in the smell of her hair
Caught up in how she was mesmerizing me
She twirled around me sensually
had my mind spinning on hands-free
Somethin' in the way she moved... movin' me

I stepped back to watch her ball.
She danced a croisee that de-gaged,
my own weak heart.
Jitter-bugging helplessly down to my knees
I allowed my eyes to show my zest... in silent pleas
The thought of waltzing so closely... against her breast.

This is more than just a dream...
Dreaming... a dream come true,
Tis heaven that I get to developpe and frolic with you.
The sway of your body circling mine
Two etoile, of femme design.
The tease of the scented breeze, you emit
Dancing dirty... caught all up in it.

Is this voice I speak…
One of a Terpsichore muse?
Are you my private dancer
or…

Did I just dream...this dance with you…?








ExpressionsofSugga/jakuper '08

(If It Doesn't Hurt)

if it is truth that binds
why are there
so many lies between
lovers?

if it is truth that is liberating
why
are people told:
they look good when they don't
they are loved when they aren't
everything is fine when it ain't
glad you're back when you're not.

 people in america
may not be made for the truth
we wrap our lives in disco
and sunday sermons
while
selling false dreams to our children.

lies
are refundable,
can be bought on our revolving
charge cards as
we all catch truth
on the next go round
if
it doesn't hurt.

 

"author unknown"

Google and YouTube defeat Viacom in copyright lawsuit

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Google Inc won a landmark victory over media companies as a Manhattan federal judge threw out Viacom Inc's $1 billion lawsuit accusing the Internet company of allowing copyrighted videos on its YouTube service without permission.

Viacom claimed "tens of thousands of videos on YouTube, resulting in hundreds of millions of views," had been posted based on its copyrighted works, and that the defendants knew about it but did nothing to stop illegal uploads.

But in a 30-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton said it would be improper to hold Google and YouTube liable under federal copyright law merely for having a "general awareness" that videos might be posted illegally.

"Mere knowledge of prevalence of such activity in general is not enough," he wrote. "The provider need not monitor or seek out facts indicating such activity."

Viacom said it plans to appeal to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

It called Stanton's ruling "fundamentally flawed," saying it reflects neither Congress' intent behind copyright laws nor recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

The lawsuit went to the heart of perhaps the biggest issue facing media companies in the last decade: how to win Internet viewers without ceding control of TV shows, movies and music.

It was seen as a test of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a 1998 federal law making it a crime to produce technology to circumvent anti-piracy measures, and limiting liability of online service providers for copyright infringement by users.

New York-based Viacom is controlled by Sumner Redstone and owns cable networks such as MTV and Comedy Central as well as the Paramount movie studio.

It alleged that copyrighted works uploaded illegally included "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," "South Park," "SpongeBob SquarePants," and others.

"These issues are really important for content creators to protect their intellectual property against the usage by online aggregators," said Laura Martin, an analyst Needham & Co. "It is really important for content creators to get paid.

"This is the beginning, not the end," she went on. "Sumner won't roll over and die on this."

Kent Walker, Google's general counsel, on the company's blog, called the ruling "an important victory not just for us, but also for the billions of people around the world who use the web to communicate and share experiences."

SAFE HARBOR

Google and YouTube argued they were entitled to "safe harbor" protection under the digital copyright law because they had insufficient notice of particular alleged infringements.

Stanton agreed, saying it would "contravene the structure and operation" of the law to "impose responsibility" on service providers to discover which postings infringe copyrights.

The judge added that the act's notification scheme works "efficiently," saying that after Viacom on Friday, February 2, 2007 sent a mass takedown notice covering 100,000 videos, YouTube had removed "virtually all of them" by the following Monday.

Stanton directed the parties to submit a report by July 14 to address any remaining issues in the case.

"Certainly for Google, there's been so many regulatory and legal negative headlines about them, so to see them on the winning side of something will certainly be a positive," said analyst Benjamin Schachter at Broadpoint AmTech.

Based in Mountain View, California, Google bought YouTube in November 2006 for about $1.65 billion.

Earlier this year, YouTube estimated that users upload as much as 24 hours of video to its website every minute.

In court papers, Google had contended that even Viacom managers had uploaded videos after the lawsuit was filed.

SERVICE PROVIDERS TAKE ACTION

Google has developed technology to allow content owners to automate the identification of copyrighted material on YouTube, helping them remove protected content quickly.

It has not been alone in taking steps to protect owners' copyrights online. Media powerhouses such as Microsoft Corp and Walt Disney Co have established their own guidelines.

"The film and television industries learned the lessons of the music industry that you need to fulfill consumer demand in an approved manner and keep those who offer unauthorized access at the fringe," Gabelli & Co analyst Christopher Marangi said.

Today, audiences are accustomed to looking for TV shows or feature films on websites such as ComedyCentral.com and Hulu.com, which is owned by Disney, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and General Electric Co's NBC.

YouTube itself, meanwhile, is changing as executives try to enter licensing agreements to add full-length programing to the short user-uploaded clips that dominate the site.

"This was a test of the ground rules for the distribution and consumption of online content," Marangi said.

Stanton's decision was posted online just before U.S. markets closed on Wednesday.



(Viacom Class "B" shares closed up 5 cents at $35.27 on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. Google shares closed down $4.20, or 0.9 percent, at $482.05 on the Nasdaq. Shares of both companies were little changed after-hours.

The cases are Viacom International Inc et al v. YouTube Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 07-02103; and The Football Association Premier League Ltd et al v. YouTube Inc et al in the same court, No. 07-03582.)

Hope in Help

" A desire to positively impact the world can prompt you to seek out opportunities to help others today. You may be in a caring and supportive mood, as well as intensely conscious of the needs of others.

Your innate resourcefulness can help you identify how you might best utilize your skills, time, and financial stores to improve the lives of people in need. You may derive a great deal of satisfaction from helping a colleague complete a difficult task or giving comfort to a loved one. However, you may also feel driven to extend your altruistic acts beyond the scope of your personal and professional spheres. Consider, today, that helping strangers you encounter—even with small, mundane matters—may brighten someone’s day and prove to them that the universe is truly benevolent.

Simple helpfulness can be a balm that has a profoundly soothing effect on the lives of the people around you. Many of the individuals we encounter throughout our lives carry unimaginable burdens yet never speak of the pain they face each day.

When you commit to offering help wherever help is needed, you create myriad opportunities to be a force of positive change in the lives of others. An act of selfless kindness can remind the hopeless and the disillusioned that the people around them really do care and that support will come in times of need.

Your help will be the ray of hope that lights their path toward healing. When you help all those who are in need of assistance today, your actions will touch others deeply."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In My Opinion.....

I know it's been quite a few Sundays since I shared some inspiration with you, but you can be quite assured that I have many reasons to be inspired this morning....well afternoon.  Through personal trials, like sickness, and stress in all areas of my life, I can see very clearly how much we all need inspiration.

I had a dream last night about being in a concentration camp of women.  I had fallen down a hole, and once I realized I was in another world, I walked around, and began to notice how the women treated each other so mean.  One woman was trying to help another and she was greeted with a slap so hard that it made me shake. When I suggested another way to help the lady who asked the favor....she looked at me real hard.  At that moment, I was afraid I would be next. 

I told my friend the dream this morning, and heard so many symbols in it.  The concentration camp could be more or less the way we treat each other, as women, and as people.  We need to wake up and realize we are all we got....and we come across each others paths for a reason. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone." 

"The Wise Woman's Stone"
 Author Unknown