Orison Swett Marden

Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.

Shafiq Husayn - "Lil' Girl" Feat. Fatima & Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner

Shafiq Husayn - "Lil' Girl" Feat. Fatima & Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner from gregthedude on Vimeo.

The Dusty Foot Philosopher - For Mahomoud (Soviet) - K'naan

What is a Dusty Foot Philosopher, according to K'naan?

The Information Society and Age: The Digitization of Knowledge

How Google Can Save America’s Books

by Robert Darnton | NYRBlog

| The New York Review of Books

____This all reminds me of Marshall McLuhan's phrase, "The medium is the message." and his idea of the 'global village,' which is being created through the digitization of everything and the connection of the world via internet. The 'medium' is digital. It doesn't matter WHAT it is... it's FREE, it's FAST, and it's AVAILABLE. It's EXTENSIVE and it's KNOWLEDGE, all written and digitized NUMERICALLY with 0's and 1's. What implications does this have? Libraries without walls. Global availability of knowledge. It will even out the playing field and allow people who may not have access to knowledge via books and other media, to get that desired knowledge. Peace Up._____

Google represents the ultimate in business plans. By controlling access to information, it has made billions, which it is now investing in the control of the information itself. What began as Google Book Search is therefore becoming the largest library and book business in the world. Like all commercial enterprises, Google’s primary responsibility is to make money for its shareholders. Libraries exist to get books to readers—books and other forms of knowledge and entertainment, provided for free. The fundamental incompatibility of purpose between libraries and Google Book Search could be mitigated if Google were willing to contribute some of its data and expertise to the creation of a Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).

Google has demonstrated the possibility of transforming the intellectual riches of our libraries, books lying inert and underused on shelves, into an electronic database that could be tapped by anyone anywhere at any time. Why not adapt its formula for success to the public good—a digital library composed of virtually all the books in our greatest research libraries available free of charge to the entire citizenry, in fact, to everyone in the world?

To dismiss this goal as naive or utopian would be to ignore digital projects that have proven their worth and feasibility throughout the last twenty years. All major research libraries have digitized parts of their collections. Since 1995 the Digital Library Federation has worked to combine their catalogues or “metadata” into a general network. More ambitious enterprises such as the Internet Archive,Knowledge Commons, and Public.Resource.Org have attempted digitization on a larger scale. They may be dwarfed by Google, but several countries are now determined to out-Google Google by scanning the entire contents of their national libraries.

In December 2009 President Nicolas Sarkozy of France announced that he would make €750 million available for digitizing the French cultural “patrimony.” The National Library of the Netherlands aims to digitize within ten years every Dutch book, newspaper, and periodical produced from 1470 to the present. National libraries in Japan, Australia, Norway, and Finland are digitizing virtually all of their holdings; and Europeana, an effort to coordinate digital collections on an international scale, will have made over ten million objects—from libraries, archives, museums, and audiovisual holdings—freely accessible online by the end of 2010.

If these countries can create national digital libraries, why can’t the United States? Because of the cost, some would argue. Far more works exist in English than in Dutch or Japanese, and the Library of Congress alone contains 30 million volumes. Estimates of the cost of digitizing one page vary enormously, from ten cents (the figure cited by Brewster Kahle, who has digitized over a million books for the Internet Archive) to ten dollars, depending on the technology and the required quality. But it should be possible to digitize everything in the Library of Congress for less than Sarkozy’s €750 million—and the cost could be spread out over a decade.

The greatest obstacle is legal, not financial. Presumably, the DPLA would exclude books currently being marketed, but it would include millions of books that are out of print yet covered by copyright, especially those published between 1923 and 1964, a period when copyright coverage is most obscure, owing to the proliferation of “orphans”—books whose copyright holders have not been located. Congress would have to pass legislation to protect the DPLA from litigation concerning copyrighted, out-of-print books. The rights holders of those books would have to be compensated, yet many of them, especially among academic authors, might be willing to forgo compensation in order to give their books new life and greater diffusion in digitized form. Several authors protested against the commercial character of Google Book Search and expressed their readiness to make their work available free of charge in memoranda filed with the New York District Court.

Perhaps even Google itself could be enlisted in the cause. It has digitized about two million books in the public domain. It could turn them over to the DPLA as the foundation of a collection that would grow to include more recent books—at first those from the problematic period of 1923–1964, then those made available by their rights holders. Google would lose nothing by this generosity; each digitized book that it made available could, if other donors agree, be identified as a contribution from Google; and it might win admiration for its public-spiritedness.

Even if Google refused to cooperate, a coalition of foundations could provide enough to finance the DPLA, and a coalition of research libraries could provide the books. By working systematically through their holdings, a great collection could be formed. It would conform to the highest standards in its bibliographical apparatus, its scanning, its editorial decisions, and its commitment to preservation for the use of future generations.

Should the Google Book Search agreement not be upheld by the court, its unraveling would come at an extraordinary moment in the development of an information society. We have now reached a period of fluidity, uncertainty, and opportunity. Things have come undone, and they can be put together in new ways, subordinating private profit to the public good and providing everyone with access to a commonwealth of culture.

Would a Digital Public Library of America solve all the other problems—the inflation of journal prices, the economics of scholarly publishing, the unbalanced budgets of libraries, and the barriers to the careers of young scholars? No. Instead, it would open the way to a general transformation of the landscape in what we now call the information society. Rather than better business plans (not that they don’t matter), we need a new ecology, one based on the public good instead of private gain. This may not be a satisfactory conclusion. It’s not an answer to the problem of sustainability. It’s an appeal to change the system.

PBS Documentary: The Story of India

This Documentary is SOLID. Great survey.

The Story of India: Part 1

The Story of India: Part 2

Tilaka or Tilak

The Tilak or Tilaka is a Hindu religious mark that is primarily seen on the forehead but may go on many parts of the body. The mark is usually made from some form of paste, powder, or ash; the ash often coming from burned wood, cow dung or incense. There are different tilaks or tilakas depending on which sampradaya (sect/denomination) one is apart of. In more ancient times the distinction between sampradaya was serious and austere. For instance, a Shaiva (a Hindu devoted to the worship of the god Shiva as the supreme being) and a Vaishnava  (a Hindu devoted to the worship of the god Vishnu as the supreme being, especially in his incarnation as Krishna) would often have aggressive and contentious debates and a Shaiva wouldn't be seen in a Vaishnava shrine or temple or vice versa. Nowadays both shrines can be seen in one temple. The tilak represents the 6th Chakra, which is the crown chakra. It also represents the Third Eye, The Spirit's Eye, or the Soul's Eye. The Tilak or Tilaka can often be associated or confused with the bindi, which is primarily used for decoration, but can have similar symbolism. 

For more info: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilaka

http://www.sanskrit.org/www/Hindu%20Primer/religiousmarks.html

Russell Simmons: Argyleculture

Being refined, gentlemanly and sharp has always been apart of Moorish culture, the original mans culture and way of self-expression or unfoldment.

Argyleculture is an interesting brand and an interesting move by Russell Simmons after Phat Farm. The vibration is more mature, more refined, and suave. Russell Simmons is slowly becoming one of my idols. He's a Hip Hop mogul, multimillionaire, vegan, and Buddhist. What more can I say?

MikeFlo: Fly Fresh and Responsible

Straightforward POWERful Hip Hop, or God Hop. Lions!

Download Link:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/t8zfem

The G in Me

Moorish-Hindu-Indian-Connection-Taj Tariq Bey-Library of Congress

There's an infinite amount of knowledge they (European colonists) have hidden in plain sight, and off site in forts and vaults. If we seek, we'll find, however. Again, I was in the Library of Congress, doing some research for my people and found something interesting.

Moorish Heads On The Library of Congress

In September of 2009 I was in the Library Of Congress periodically doing research. As it says in the following video I was going through the researchers door and it happened to be closed. On the way back I was using my eyes and ears and saw the Moorheads on the side of the building. I have some close up pictures too, because you can't completely see the Fez, Turban, or the Moors from the video.

BOXI, Reverse Buff, Buchholz

I AM - ☪ ✡

I AM - ☪ ✡ a(n):

✡ Architect ☪ Author ✡ Begetter ☪ Builder ✡ Constructor ☪ Creator ✡ Cultivator ☪ Designer ✡ Developer ☪ Engineer ✡ Father ☪ Human Being ✡ Illuminator ☪ Maker ✡ Moor ☪ Moslem ✡ Originator ☪ Planner ✡ Producer ☪ Protector ✡ Revealer ☪ Spirit ✡ Young Man ☪

I AM - ☪ ✡

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - A Psalm of Life

An interesting poem I stumbled upon when I google searched, "Life is real; Life is earnest." 

WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO THE PSALMIST.

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real!  Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,--act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;--

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Jay Z Announces Jay Electronica Signs to Roc Nation

Shiny Suit Theory - Jay Electronica Video and Download Link

Download

http://www.mediafire.com/?k1r0nd2uy8o1rnk

Moors Clearing Up Confusion Parts 1 and 2

Classic Reggae Youtube Playlist

Nneka - Africans

A Song My bro Jordan Rivers put me on to. 
Here are the Lyrics: 

U keep pushing the blame on our colonial fathers

U say they came and they took all we had pocessed

They have to take the abuse that they have caused our present state with their intruding history

Use our goodness and nourishment in the Name of missionary

Lied to us,blinded slaved us,misplaced us,strengthen us,hardened us then

they replaced us now we got to learn from pain

Now it is up to us to gain some recognition

If we stopp blaming we could get a better condition

Wake up world!!

Wake up and stop sleeping

Wake up africa!!

Wake up and stop blaming

Open ur eyes!!

Stand up and rise

Road block oh life penalty

Why do we want to remain where we started

And how long do we want to stop ourselves from thinking

We should learn from experience that what we are here for this existence

But now we decide to use the same hatred to oppress our own brothers

It is so comfortable to say racism is the cause

but this time it is the same colour chasing and biting us

Knowledge and selfishness that they gave to us,this is what we use to abuse us

Wake up world!!

Wake up and stop sleeping

Wake up africa!!

Wake up and stop blaming

Open ur eyes!!

Stand up and rise

Road block oh life penalty

Those who have ears let them hear

Brothers who are not brainwashed takt ruins and rest

Pick them up and stick them back together

This is the only way we can change this african weather

Lied to us,blinded slaved us,misplaced us,strengthen us,hardened us then

they replaced us now we got to learn from pain

Wake up world!!

Wake up and stop sleeping

Wake up africa!!

Wake up and stop blaming

Open ur eyes!!

Stand up and rise

Road block oh life penalty

you got to wake up please

youuuuu got tooo

(wake up africa wake up and stop blaming)

blaming ha ha ha

open yours eyes your eyes

stand up and riise

road block oh life penalty

wake up... 

The Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Dezarie's New Album: The Fourth Book

1. Jah Know Better 
2. Tryin To Be God 
3. Ghettos of Babylon 
4. Everyday 
5. Children of the Most High 
6. Foolin' Yourself 
7. Roots & Culture 
8. Not Yours 
9. Defend Right 
10 Holy of Holies 

I just got the album in the mail yesterday. It is HOT, FIYAH. I've heard some of Dezarie before of course, but I feel like this album is more mellow. The entire Album is reeeally mellow. It of course burns out falsehood and wickedness with reggae beats and Dezarie's heavenly voice, but it also is centered on the improvement and uplift of the listener.

My favorite song is ROOTS AND CULTURE!

BIG TUNE!

Blessings to Dezarie.

Peace and Love