Hair Care for My Brothers: I'm Just Saying; Why I Like: Bill Cunningham & Rethinking Genius with Elizabeth Gilbert

I’m Just Saying: Hair Care for My Brothers

If you’ve been reading The Genius Syndicate from the beginning then you know the “I’m Just Saying” segments are my opinions/questions/perspectives/rants and if I offend anyone that is not my intention. But some things just need to be said.

As a black man I think I have had just about every hair style imaginable [except the frohawk…I refuse] and there was NEVER a time in which I felt it unnecessary to take care of my hair. I understand that having more texture is in style now. We got everything from shags, to the mini fro, Mohawk, frohawk, and I could’ve sworn I saw Bobby Valentino with a rat-tail a few months ago. That’s all well and good but please take care [wash, brush and moisturize] your damn hair!!!

We as a people usually have drier and more brittle hair than our counterparts and while others wash the natural oil out of their hair we need to add moisture to ours. Does this mean run out and get a jheri curl? I can’t cosign on that but you need to commit to keeping your hair looking healthy [healthy= clean + moisturized] if you’re going to let it grow. Oh and please don’t make the mistake of thinking just because you got Indian [or whatever else] in your family you don’t have to subscribe to black hair care rituals like greasing the scalp. Get over it bruh. We men don’t have as many grooming responsibilities as women so when we let one thing go unkempt it makes a loud unflattering statement.

I’m just saying.


Why I Like: Bill Cunningham

When I lived in Brooklyn my Sundays were pretty routine. Church in the morning, brunch with friends, stop by the wine store, check out Bill Cunningham’s slide show on NYT.com and have a feast for dinner with my boy Carlos. Well, since living in Chicago I’ve found a church, still need to work on brunch, I get my wine from the grocery store (so convenient), have feasts for dinner with my brother (the future chef) and still catch Bill Cunningham’s slide shows on NYT.com. I’m a creature of habit.



Mr. Cunningham does an amazing job highlighting fashion trends but more importantly he crafts weekly stories based on people’s attire. I think it’s fascinating. The only thing that would make his slide shows a little more gangsta is if your boy was featured in one. Until that happens I’ll just have to settle for checking out the slide shows every Sunday. I ain’t mad. Check out Mr. Cunningham's work [especially the Nov 4, 2008 feature] when you get a chance.


Rethinking Genius with Elizabeth Gilbert

I was strolling through the TED site today [as usual] and found a great little ditty from the TED 2009 get together. Elizabeth Gilbert is a best selling author but unlike other creative types she refuses to be tormented by the pressure that comes with being a successful creative soul. Her liberating take on what it means to “have a genius” and transcending the physical into the beautifully creative supernatural is breathtaking…and funny. Take a twenty-minute break and listen to what Elizabeth has to say. If you’re a creative soul I highly recommend this.




Quote of the Day


“Three words: Black, Muthaf*ckin, President. Hey now.”

-David Allen Grier

Recycle that Cell Phone Bruh; Sip on South Africa's Wines; Foods & Moods and The Flipside Wallet

Recycle that Cell Phone Bruh
Purchasing a new cell phone is so easy isn’t it? So what about your old phone? Where is it? What have you done with it? If you’re like me it is probably in a box somewhere or being used as alarm clock. You don’t want to throw it away but you don’t want to hold on to it forever so what is a tech savvy person supposed to do? Recyle that bad boy.

While watching Current TV I saw a piece about recycling old cell phones and Samsung is heading the initiative. Honestly I didn’t even know you could recycle cell phones but in an age where everything is recycled {christmas gifts, vegetable oil and originality [see Fox Network]} why not have the option to recyle your old phones? Especially since it seems like cell phone lives are getting shorter and shorter anyway {I’m looking right at you Tmobile}.

Its estimated that there are 4 billion cell phones in use today and 25% of them are old or not being used. It doesn’t stop there either because today’s cell phones contain very harmful materials like lead, arsenic and mercury that could make our troubled environment a lot worse.

On Samsung's website where you can print off postage paid labels and mail in your old cell phone to them. They will break the phone down, I mean all the way down, and make sure the entire phone is recycled. In addition to recycling Samsung is launching a line of bio-plastic phones that are made with environmentally safe materials (e.g. corn products). And before you ask, no it doesn’t look, taste or smell like corn.

To find out more about Samsung’s recyclying genius go here.


Sip on South Africa’s Wines
This is my life in beverages: breast milk, cow’s milk, water, fruit juice, soda, kool-aid, fruit juice, hot chocolate, egg nog, beer, more beer, liquor, more liquor, beer again, more liquor then wine.



Ocassionally I still indulge in a dirty vodka martini with extra olives {my friends are probably chuckling right now} but for the most part I’ve been sticking to wine. For me it’s the all purpose alcoholic beverage that offers flavor, aroma and goes with meals as well as parties. Specifically when I think of south african wines I think of living in Brooklyn {Clinton Hill Baby!!!}, walking down to Olivino on Fulton Ave and picking up two bottles of Indaba wine- one bottle of shiraz and one cabernet.

I’m still a novice when it comes to wine but I like what I like and I have been gravitating more to South Africa’s wines. I love me some Indaba but a recent article in the NYT has opened my eyes to more wines from South African that have really put the country on the map.



South Africa has out done themselves with their cabarnets so don’t be surprised when you start to hear more about Stellenbosch’s family of cabernets and {the best value pick} Bon Cap Robinson Cabernet Sauvignon priced at $15 and described “Balanced, earthy and well structured with flavors of fruit and a touch of bacon” that’s right BACON!! Check out the NYT piece and keep an open mind next time you’re shopping for wine. You could be missing out on great flavors and a great bargain.

Foods and Moods
I was combing through About.com again and found something interesting about foods and their link to elevating your moods. Before you rush and say “duh” just hear me out.

Walnuts: “Walnuts have long been thought of as a "brain food" because of their wrinkled, bi-lobed (brain like) appearance. But now we know that walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a type of fat that's needed for brain cells and mood-lifting neurotransmitters to function properly and possible help some people with depression.”

Didn’t know that did you? Well I sure as hell didn’t. What about this?

Salmon: “In the past few years, research has suggested that vitamin D may increase the levels of serotonin, one of the key neurotransmitters influencing our mood, and that it may help to relieve mood disorders.” Guess what food is high in vitamin D? -- Yep salmon.


For the rest of the list as well as tips on how to incorporate more of these healthy and mood lifting foods check out the article.



The Flipside Wallet: Not Your Pop’s Wallet
Damn that Josh Spear. I’m not hating on him personally just his uncanny ability to make me want shit I didn’t even know existed. Check out the Flipside wallet.



It’s a slick, durable wallet that is just as tougher on protecting your assets as it is on design. The Flipside not only looks good but it prevents you from being a victim of the newest form of identity theft—RFID theft—which is a result of punk ass identity thieves using RFID readers to lift vital information from our credit cards {ding dang shame}. Check out more of the Flipside’s bi-fold functionality and new age appeal in the demo.

Quote of the Day

"If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way."

-Homer Simpson

White Tube Socks: I'm Just Saying, Young, Black & Murdered & SIR spa

White Tube Socks? I’m Just Saying

Us men only have a few opportunities with our appearance to add some personality and flair. Now if personality and flair isn’t your thing then you can jump down but if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to add some more You to your wardrobe think about your socks. My favorite pair was a green and pink horizontal stripped pair with black Playboy bunnies on the sides. Fresh. {RIP my favorite socks}.

As men, I’ve noticed that we view socks from a functional point-of-view. This makes sense because I see countless dudes with run over shoes so it’s no surprise they settle for the honorable mention of socks: the dreaded white tube sock. Now don’t get me wrong; white tube socks have their time and place in a man’s wardrobe- just not every time and every damn place. And if you don’t believe me then check this out from Bob Strauss at eHow.

“Unless you’d like to relive your elementary school days, act like an adult and opt for nice, solid colors like blue or brown. Remember, sneaker socks should only be worn with sneakers. “

Bob knows what he’s talking about. Get the rest of the sock buying tips here and be opened minded. Bob graduated from the school of “match your socks with your shoes” but I didn’t. Remember that your socks show off your flavor and with that said I better not see any more white tube socks worn without sneakers. Let’s strive to really be fly from head-to-toe in ‘09. Shall we?

I'm just saying.


Young, Black and Murdered

It seems that the number of young black men and teenagers who committed murders or were murdered in shootings has increased since 2000. Criminologists at Northeastern University in Boston will release a study that compares how national murders have leveled off but murders among young black men have increased dramatically by 40% since 2000.

While factors like low unemployment and poverty are constant all fingers point to the Bush administration’s lack of funding local police and juvenile crime prevention programs. To combat Bush’s mess Obama and Biden have promised to implement funds that will put 50,000 more police officers on the streets- we’ll see.

Cities like Houston, claiming to be the leader in national black youth murders, may not have time to wait. According to research Houston’s black youth homicide {14-27} is up 139% from 2001 to 2007.


SIR Spa

My dad always made sure my appearance was on point as a kid. I was probably the only boy who got a haircut every week {every two weeks is the norm}. I was going to the barbershop so much that the barber actually sent me away one day. Thanks to my dad I know that a real man takes care of his appearance. It has nothing to do with being a “metrosexual” which is one of the stupidest terms ever created. For those who still don’t know the difference between a metrosexual and real dude let me draw a comparison:

-A metrosexual shaves his chest, gets his eyebrows arched and has gloss added to his nails during a manicure.

-A real dude trims his chest hair, doesn’t touch his eyebrows and gets a manicure without gloss.

A real dude cares about his appearance but doesn’t go the extra mile to implement feminine techniques. Grooming is to maintain health not to be pretty. With that said I want to introduce you to SIR spa in Chicago.

A trip to SIR was my bday gift to myself and it was amazing. In the Andersonville neighborhood of Chitown SIR offers a range of services like massages, facials and hand/foot treatment in addition to products for hair, body and face.

You’d think a guy who was raised to take care of his appearance would’ve visited a spa a long time ago but yesterday was my first time- ever! The people at SIR spa {shout out to Dave, Emily and Tisha} were professional and remarkable. Thanks to them my hands and feet look presentable to the world, my face is radiant and my body is still relaxed from my massage {Dave you are the man!}. If you are in Chicago or visiting soon treat yourself to a trip to SIR spa. You won’t regret it. Tell them The Genius Syndicate sent you and you’ll get a whopping 0% discount. Sorry, I don’t have that much juice to hand out discounts but I figured it'll be nice for the team at SIR to know they are doing a great job.


Quote of the Day

"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma."

-Eartha Kitt

Winter Coats for the Fly Guy, The Obama Name, Fighting Winter Skin & Paper Butterfly

Winter Coats for the Fly Guy

This is my first Chicago winter so let me go ahead and get this off of my chest *&%$@!!*$ it’s cold!!! It’s like someone took the vibrant and soulful city I was enjoying in the summer, stripped it scrotum naked and dropped it in the Antarctic. Not cool Chicago. Not cool at all.

Okay, I’m back. Since winter is inevitable up here that means winter wardrobes in Chicago have to be just as fly as summer wardrobes. Why should summer be the only season with a little flavor to it? One way to see some serious winter style is on Sunday morning when everyone’s going to church. Oh Chicagoans turn out for the Lord. Minks and sables and any other fur that could be used to make a coat is usually sitting right beside you on the church pew and these are men and women a like. But what if you’re not the “bitch better have my money” kind of fur coat wearing brother like myself? What are you winter coating options for the rest of this glorious season? I got you covered homie.

I found a list of 10 hot winter coats for men that are more than trendy these coats are investments in 1} maintaining your body temperature when Chicago winds decide they want to steal your body heat as well as your soul and 2} maintaining your style for seasons to come because these coats are made from cuts and materials that are winter fashion staples for any man.

Check out this Kenneth Cole number. It’s sleek, sharp and with the layered look you can pull just about anything off. Bundling up doesn’t mean look sloppy.

This is one of my personal favorites from Scotch and Soda. When it comes to coats remember that what you wear over your clothes has to have some personality as well. With the right hat, scarf and gloves you can easily set it off in this one.

Get a good look at this snazzy mofo from April 77 {to the right}. Ain’t it the truth? Don’t get deterred by how homeboy ain’t rocking it right in the profile. Put a driving cap with this coat and a colorful scarf that will compliment the color of the coat {you can put any color with gray by the way} and draw attention up to your face. Trust me.

And what is winter without the down coat? Now I know how some people feel about wearing all white but this Energie coat {pictured left} is fresh and it’s not something you’d wear every day either. Only places where there are no kids or dirty walls. Nah for real.

You can check out the rest of the list here and also keep this in mind; this is the time of the year and {unfortunately} the right economic climate to come up on some really good buys if you can afford it. Great brands and designers are slashing prices all willy-nilly and we all have the chance to come out on top in the name of winter fashion.

Be fly. Stay warm.

The Obama Name Game

We all knew it was gonna happen. When Nov 5th came there were two things I knew for sure 1} white folks would have to practice extra hard pronouncing ethnic names thanks to our President-Elect and 2} high school, 18 years from now, will be filled with thousands of kids who have Obama, Barack, Hussein and Michelle as their first and middle names. Just say his name.

Ba-rack O-ba-ma.

I bet those are syllables no American thought they’d be pronouncing so often. Now we have a new generation of Obama babies upon us and not just in the USA but worldwide. Sanjae Obama Fisher was born in Florida just hours before Obama whooped up on McCain and Barack Jeilah Williams was born on Nov 5th. Now a month and some change later parents from Indonesia to Romania are granting their newborns with the names Hussein, Barack and Obama. {Picture below: Sanjae Obama to the left and Barack Jeilah to the right}.

In a matter of two years the name republicans were making fun of has become the name parents covet for their children. Talk about a come up.

Read more here.

Fighting Winter Skin

I know I posted something on this subject before (Winter Skin Tips…Because the Hawk is Hell on Your Skin) but it bears reposting because guess what?

THE HAWK IS HELL ON YOUR SKIN!!! {For those of you who don’t know what the Hawk is just ask one of your black friends}.

Your skin is your first line of defense when it comes to protection and warmth and you can’t stay warm when you are dryer than British humor. Whether you live in North Carolina or North Dakota you need to properly take care of your skin when winter hits. And let me tell you this fellas it ain’t cute. Ladies pay attention to these things and shaking a woman’s soft supple hands with your rough palms is not a good look for a first impression. Chances are if your hands are ashy then you lips look like…never mind. Just read the damn tips below and thank me later.

Switch up to a heavier moisturizer. I have a friend who swears by Cetaphil face wash and moisturizer and I swear I haven’t seen her ashy since 1998. Real talk


Take care of your hands and feet. Winter air can take a toll on your extremities so rejuvenate them over night. Place moisturizer on your hands and feet and cover your feet socks and hands with plastic gloves while you sleep.

Pick up some fish oil pills. Winter skin care doesn’t just take place outside of the body. What we eat can provide our bodies with the essential moisture we need to keep the ash away.

And please, it has to be said, only ingest the pills. Don’t try to get savvy and use the pills for other shit because- trip this- fish oil pills actually have fish oil in them! If you want to walk around smelling like a salmon then by all means do what you want but I’m warning you. The smell isn’t pleasant.

Get the rest of the tips here.

Paper Butterfly

There are a few bastions of personal style that still ring true today as they did years ago like a tailor or even a great barber but to me an overlooked element of personal style is cards and stationary. Cards and personalized stationary are one of the easiest and often most overlooked ways to put some more uniqueness in your image. A good friend of mine has just launched her own paper design company called Paper Butterfly.

Everything is hand crafted and unique designs to Paper Butterfly. If you like standing out then you’ll love what PB offers. Now the company is in its infancy and the catalog isn’t that extensive but believe me when I say more designs are coming. Check out the website and pick up some Christmas cards.

Quote of the Day

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

-Goethe

{Thanks to Paper Butterfly for such a great quote!}

Thanksgiving 2008

I don't give a damn what Peppermint Patty said. Snoopy did his thing in the kitchen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-elbj

Quote of the Day

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.

Cicero

Macy's Catch the Designers, Do You Eat Like a Man or Woman?, Good Friends = Good Health, The New: Kierra Sheard & Real Spit from Pastor Rick Warren

Macy’s Catch the Designers

Not only is Macy’s a great store, you can always come up on something in Macy’s {I found a blue cable knit Nautica sweater which retailed for $100+ and I bought it for $10 homie!} but it’s a great brand too. I know y’all have seen the new advertising that’s been running for over a year {courtesy of J. Walter Thompson} and to me it seems as if the new advertising jumpstarted the new Macy’s. I’m impressed {and before you even think about it Macy’s didn’t pay me for this...but if anyone from Macy’s is reading…} and it looks like I’ll continue to be as long as the behemoth retail chain keeps doing things like Catch the Designers. We all know that the fashion industry is in a love/hate relationship with people of color. White designers love into tap ethnicity for inspiration but devote 1% of their troop, shows and company to cultivating ethnic talent {yeah I said it}.

The folks at Macy’s have built a site that showcases up-and-coming as well as iconic ethnic fashion design talent across the Asian American, Latino American and African American landscapes.

Catch the Designers is a portal for all of us who want to be exposed to interviews, profiles and event calendars for designers who represent our heritage and style in impeccable ways. Etu Evans, Gentleman Jim and Shaka King are a few of the African American designers featured on the site and I think this is a good look.

Now I will say that this site may not be brand new but it’s new to me and who am I to keep something this cool to myself. Catch up on new talent and even do a little eye shopping via the perspective designers’ profiles when you check out Catch the Designers.


Do You Eat Like a Man or a Woman?

I’m just going to get this out of the way. I eat like a woman. Well according to this research featured on About.com I eat like a woman. Now before you even ask me what a woman eats like check this out:

“The studies suggest that women tend to prefer vegetables like tomatoes and carrots, plus fruits, especially berries and apples. Whereas men like the spicier flavors like jalapeno, chipotle, horseradish and wasabi, women prefer sweeter flavors such as chocolate, vanilla and cinnamon. Women are less likely to eat risky foods like undercooked eggs and raw oysters, but women are more willing to eat alfalfa sprouts.”



Now I do eat tomatoes and carrots but don’t get it twisted homie cause I love my raw oysters and wasabi too. As long as I’m eating I’m not mad. See what your food profile is when you take the quiz here. Now the quiz isn’t exactly the most scientific but it’s fun to see if you eat like a homeboy or a homegirl. Now where are my berries?

Good Friends= Good Health. I Ain’t Lying

As we descend into a new holiday season I'm sure the fact that great friends are a part of life is being reinforced. I’ve noticed how more and more people today are saying they don’t have friends they have “acquaintances”. There’s nothing wrong with that but since I have a choice I choose real friends over acquaintances any day. And to be honest, I’m not loose with the term “friend” anyway so I never have to make the distinction between friends and acquaintances. Either you’re a friend of mine or you’re not. With all of that said, I dedicate this TGS tidbit to my friends; people who hear me out when I complain and help me celebrate when things go great. So who are your friends? Do you have a lot? More than 10 or do you play it cool and keep a limit on your support network? Either way having friends in your life can increase your health in more ways than one.

Having good friends and being a good friend to others goes beyond receiving emotional support from family and significant others. The meaningful interaction with a good friend can lengthen your life, add more fun to your life and help you deal with stressful situations more productively. This is even true for the animal kingdom. “Stressed-out hamsters with skin wounds who were paired with other hamsters healed faster than those left alone to heal. The hamsters with friends also produced less of the stress hormone cortisol, which has negative effects on mood and immunity (source).”

Now I know you’re probably snickering and saying to yourself, “This ninja is tripping. I ain’t no damn hamster” but honestly these results heavily correlate to humans as well. Think about it, when you are emotionally and physically down and out interactions with good friends help…emotionally as well as physically. Damn it if it’s good enough for hamsters it’s good enough for yo’ ass.

Friends also help stabilize and boost your immune system. Think about it. If stress has been confirmed to weaken your immune system and great friend support networks help to avoid and alleviate stress then its safe to say that your good friends are the 2nd line of defense when it comes to staving off stress-related illness (some where between your antibodies and herbal supplements). I think it’s a good look if your homeboy can calm you down, lift your spirits and boost your immune system. I have a feeling some of y’all hard-headed rascals are still fighting me on this so I’m gonna have to go to church on you. Even the Bible promotes friendship in the book of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 New King James Version. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up.”

And that is your word for the day. If Jesus can’t convince you that friends are a blessing then I give up- sort of. To read more about the health benefits of friendship check out this and this.

Now I give up.


The New: Kierra Sheard

I’m a preacher’s grandkid {which is equivalent to being a preacher’s kid if you knew my granddaddy} and I’ve been surrounded by gospel music pretty much all of my life. I remember when there was a period when I could not STAND traditional gospel. I’m out of that phase now but I still prefer the contemporary stuff. I just do. Dave Hollister, Jessica Greene, Tye Tribbet and of course my home girl Kierra Sheard.

Kierra’s new album Bold Right Life dropped last month and it’s the truth. Aside from having music in her genes you can tell singing is a God-given gift. Speaking of her genes, her brother {J. Drew Sheard II aka JDS} serves as a producer on this album {as well as prior albums} and I swear every track he did is my jam. Last week I traveled between Milwaukee and Chicago for work and bumped her cd the entire trip on both days. It’s just that good {Love Like Crazy is a banger!!}.

If you’re not a KiKi {family nickname} fan you will be. Her new take on gospel is bringing a fresh take on Christianity to the next generation and she’s not holding back.Check out Kierra Sheard and her music here.

Real Spit from Rick Warren

I went trolling through the TED vault the other day and came across this 2006 video of Pastor Rick Warren {The Purpose Driven Life}. He's dropping some serious knowledge and ain't too much I can say to set this up so enjoy.

Quote of the Day

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

-Oprah Winfrey

Barack: To My Brothers and Sisters

A lot has happened since the last installment of The Genius Syndicate. I've been catching flack for not updating the blog but I think this is a better time than ever to add a posting because so much has taken place; one special moment in particular- as you know- the election of our next president Mr. Obama. Being in Chicago during the debates and election has been more than amazing. Since November 4th I've heard commentary from brothers in the barbershop, people on the El train, co-workers and church members about how great it is to finally have a president that people want to be in office in office.

For Black people Barack's triumph is seen as a promise from God being fulfilled, for young people Barack's milestone is a result of hard work and ideals trumping cynicism and ignorance, for children Barack's election is a detour on the road of self-image leading them to a brighter destination and to Chicagoans Barack's election is like watching a prince take the King's throne but for me Barack's success is so much more.

I firmly believe that people pray for the improvement of our country and also pray for the right leader to come along. A vote is great but a vote combined with a prayer is earth moving. Not only has everyone's prayers been answered but God did it in a way only He could. 40 years after Dr. King's assassination a half black, half white and all remarkable man has been elected to the White House and for the first time I know that God had a part in the whole thing. Not to say Satan put our current president in office {although some would agree with that statement} but it's evident that something more moving than our disdain for the current administration changed the course of our country and the world last Tuesday night.

God took what everyone considered as the least {Barack} and made it the most on a stage for the entire world to see. The political "experts" and pundants immediately dismissed Barack's campaign, experience and character and I don't blame them because they don’t operate with faith in mind. When you don't have faith for things to improve how can you take hope into account as a man’s strength? Being that faith is the substance of things hoped for all of those without hope in their equation for the country's improvement were doomed from the beginning. Watching God take Barack from the tail to the head was a fascinating journey and not one Barack walked alone. No. All of us who know that hope is as tangible as money knew that an investment in Barack was a commitment to building a better country no matter how hard the transformation.

God didn't just put a black man in office He gave the world another example of how His promises work and if you know anything about God you know He doesn't do anything in a vacuum. Barack's blessing is our blessing and our blessing is the world's blessing and so on and so forth.

To Mr. Obama, congratulations.

To God, thank you.


-elbj