Professor Locs

Hot Guy of the Week: Daniel Dae Kim

This weeks Hot Guy is Daniel Dae Kim.  Kim is mostly known for his recent work and role on the popular show Lost.  He has had a rewarding career in both Television and film including roles in "ER", "CSI", "The Jackal" and "The Hulk". 

He was born in South Korea but raised in New York and Pennsylvania.  He caught the acting bug while studying at Haverford College.

You guys know the artist in me allows me to have a deep appreciation of diverse examples of beauty.

Kim is not only good looking and talented but expertly challenges historical conventions of Asian male sexuality and appeal.  

You can learn more about this Hunk on his website, http://www.danieldaekim.com/index_flash.html.

Until then enjoy him on the remaining episodes of Lost.  Daniel Dae Kim would make being trapped on an island not so bad.

Wal-Mart Don't Like Black People

Recently a New Jersey Wal-Mart experienced a "prank" announcement.  Apparently Kanye West needs to add Wal-Mart to the list of folks who don't like Black people.  Recently some unidentified man came over the loud speaker and announced: "Attention Wal-Mart customers: Black people leave the store now."

Some Black customers were insulted by the announcement.  Patrons could have seen this as a call to action.

The announcer said to leave the store now.  The announcer did not say anything about paying for your merchandise first, at least that would have been my line if stopped with my basket full of HD TV's and electronics. 

Seriously are we not accustomed to Wal-Mart's lack of sensitivity?  We are talking about the same chain that completely dominates local commerce leaving privately owned establishments in its' corporate dust.

This is the same chain that does not allow it's employees to unionize, makes them work more than 40 hours a week and completely dominates local commerce.  Because in many more rural areas there is no other competition, employees are forced to spend the majority of their consumption with their employer. 

But back to the offensive loud speaker remarks. Black people and the public in general found the announcement offensive and are threatening to boycott. All of that is fine but did we really need a rogue bigot on the loud speaker to give us a reason to hold the global chain accountable?

Here are Professor Locs list of five reasons to hold Wal-Mart accountable:

1. Store size.  The shear size of Wal-Mart is ridiculous. You know it's bad when you get roaming charges on your cell phone by just doing your weekly shopping.

2.Employee product knowledge, or the lack there of.  Have you ever asked one of the Wal-Mart "associates" about where to find an item? I've gotten better directions in Paris including the language barrier.

3.Exploitation of the elderly.  How many times have I walked into a Wal-Mart at 2:00 AM and found some poor grandmother dozing off in housekeeping or struggling to push some cart of kitty litter up the aisle?

4. Wal-Mart greeters who don't greet you when you walk in the store. That is your title Wal-Mart greeter! This is all you have to do all day!  You don't sweep, work the register, stock shelves or even bag items.  So what is up with you not speaking?

5. The Super Wal-Mart is the retail version of purgatory!  This is an unnatural place.  You should not be able to complete a shopping list of okra, milk, table lamp, feminine napkins and snow tires without leaving the building. 

What are your thoughts about the retail behemoth?

Hot Guy of the Week

Hey guys I apologize for the randomness of my site for the last couple of weeks. There have been some incredible opportunities, including my recent partnership with Q City Metro in
Charlotte, NC. 

I decided to reorganize my blog to accommodate some of the new initiatives. 

So starting now we will feature Hot Guy of the Week on Tuesday's. 

I found this hot guy on one of my random hot guy sites.

No I cannot reveal my sources yet...lol.

His name is Cross Thompson and hails from DC.  He has his own website www.crossthompson.net/

This guy is a perfect inspiration for Spring. You just want to shed your clothes and jump in a fresh pool.  I would strip and swim in a public fountain in the middle of January, if I were built like this hunk.

Sandra Bulluck and her Husbands' Affair

Meet the new Jesse James of the Wild Wild West Hollywood.  The legendary Jesse James robbed banks this Jesse James steals hearts.  Jesse James, husband of recent film Oscar winner and media darling, Sandra Bulluck, claims that he is very sorry for his infidelity. 

This is a perfect example of why men cheating has nothing to do with the woman or spouse.

You know celebrity Tiger Woods sent James a muffin basket for taking some of heat off of him for his recent public affair.

This man was married to Hollywood's version of the girl next door.  She publicly thanked him during her acceptance speech at the pinnacle of her career. He sat there in the audience cheesing knowing full well he was stepping out on his wife.  That is some devious stuff.  

The jump off in question is a tattooed 24 year old stripper. I must say she is a hard 24.  It does not matter how fine the spouse or significant other is, if someone wants to step out they will find a reason and a way.  Look at Halle Berry who incidentally broke up shortly after her Oscar win also.  

There are always signs if someone is sneaking, so to help you out, here are Professor Locs Five signs for Cheaters:

1. Any new hobbies or interest. If your spouse's idea of recreation is physically getting up and changing the TV but then suddenly shows an interest in bowling then his bowling ball is not the only orbs getting some action.

2. You check their cell phone and they have a password installed.  Who are they keeping numbers from Mr. Peepers?

3. Your normally physically challenged couch potato suddenly shows an interest in physical fitness.  The last time you noticed this much inertia they dropped a spare rib behind the couch.

4.A sudden interest in their appearance. When your boo, who normally is happy wearing white socks with everything, suddenly begins to look stylish. You know something is up,  like someone has shown them the secret adult Gar-animal store. 

5.They are always leaving town for business trips even though they work the register at KFC.

What are your thoughts on Bulluck or cheating in general?

Ask Professor Locs: IRS worries

Hey guys I am catching up on some questions from my Ask Me Anything portion of the site.

Question: hi Professor Locs. how is it when you deal with the irs on several tax returns. when they owe you it's chalked up to nothing--you don't get it. but if you owe them --- then guess what? jackpot on interest. lp

Answer:  I must step lightly when referencing the IRS.  I mean other than Oprah that is the most powerful entity with the ability to crush you like a bug.  But I must support my readers. 

You have to think about the IRS as the ultimate pimp.   A pimp does not care how much you work, how much your feet hurt , how long the hours and how many tricks you turn.  All they want is their money and you better have all of it. 

And just like a pimp they can keep your money if they want to and no they don't care, cause in their mind you work for them. 

So you may as well throw on those fishnets, stilettos, rabbit fur and hit the streets.  Cause that big purple hat, velvet cape wearing, cane wielding pimp Daddy IRS is ready to bust you upside the head with a sock of nickels in interest. 

You better do what he says unless you want to get a letter from the IRS that reads "Audit" which is code for "Where is my money Bitch!".  

lp I hope this helps and remember a little concealer hides the bruises.  

Gay Marriage in DC

The Supreme Court recently refused to block Washington DC's same-sex marriage law.  The city can now issue marriage license to gay couples.  I know what you are thinking, if the gay guys are allowed to concentrate on their own nuptials then who will plan and organize my wedding? 

Never fear gay folks are experts at multi-tasking! 

You have seen the children at the salon: shampooing one head, setting another, cutting in one chair, removing tracks and all the while negotiating a lunch order and arguing with their Boo on the phone.

Now pay attention all you anti-gay marriage folks, I want you to be able to organize your summer vacations and boycott the right states. Currently same-sex marriage is legal in DC,  New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Iowa, Connecticut and Vermont.

 It is interesting that only a few years ago the paranoia of legalizing gay marriage help to re-elect Bush. The country was experiencing, high unemployment, high gas prices, inflation and the economical and psychological pressures, of what some would deem, an unnecessary war.  And with all our country faced, the fact that John and Steve registered at Target would be our nations downfall, go figure.

I am not one of these gay folks that want to push this down the throats of religious environments I just want the same basic civil liberties.  Simple things like, visit my partner of 15 years in the hospital if they are sick and not have to wait for a relative to convey important information. God forbid one of us goes before the other, enjoying the peace of mind that our home and property are ours without the state or greedy family members intervening.

The mainstream has enjoyed a historical presence of gay icons, Will & Grace, Ellen, Rosie O'Donnell, Elton John, Clay Aiken and honorable mention to Kathy Griffin.   

Yet there seems to be  paradigm shift. We now have celebrities like Wanda Sykes coming out and celebrating her union and ratings. Atlanta was voted recently as the most gayest city, big surprise. I lived in Atlanta and there are more guys cruising on any given day than the entire Carnival Line fleet combined.

Back to the topic at hand is gay marriage coming to a city or town near you and should I care? I am not naive to think that I could change the mind of anti-gay marriage enthusiast but for those on the fence I have some suggestions.

I offer Professor Locs five reasons to support gay marriage:

1. Bert and Ernie can finally come out and move into the suburbs, leaving the oppression and false lives of Sesame Street. 

2. The more gay and lesbian couples in your neighborhood guarantees an increase in property values and more festive block parties.

3. You can still do the electric slide at Black weddings regardless of the gender of the newly weds.

4. Your Aunt and her "room mate" your Aunt Eddie, who replaced the tile in your bathroom and over-hauled your transmission can finally have a real ceremony. 

5. Your little cousin Duane who enthusiastically and flawlessly performs all the steps to Beyonce's "All The Single Ladies" at every family function, will have an opportunity to live an authentic life and marry someone, hopefully bigger and with significant martial arts skills. 

Do you support or oppose same-sex marriage and why? I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Do you Work Here?

It happened again today.  I was in the grocery store minding my own business when yet another random white guy stops me and ask do I work here. 

It was a long day and all I wanted was to get out of there and go home and relax.  So rather than smack him in the head with my frozen peas.

I did what I always do and send them to the Black hair car products aisle.  See previous post, I Brake for White Women.

Ask Professor Locs

Hey Guys there has been a lot going on.  I am enjoying my partnership with Q City Metro and as a result I am restructuring my blog a bit.  I am seriously behind with my Ask Professor Locs Post.  So here are some of the comments, sorry for the delay.

Question:  Professor, What are your thoughts with the issues that CMPD has now with public trust and how do they mend the damage done?

Answer: Trust issues in regards to law enforcement is nothing new, especially as it relates to marginalized communities. It is sad that every industry has its' bad apples and unfortunately they tend to eclipse those dedicated professionals who are doing great work.

So improve police officers' community image, I propose a benefit car wash featuring some of the finest men in blue or maybe out of blue and shirtless.  Nothing makes you forget short comings than a set a of nice pecs and abs...LOL.

Question: I would like to know if you could help me....I need my hair loved on.

Answer: Well I can only tell you that when Professor Locs needs his hair loved on and treated royally he goes to his favorite natural hair Divas at Always Ahead. These Ladies know how to treat a man...and I don't say that very often...smile.

Question:  What is the fiercest (most fierce?) thing you have ever seen?

Answer: This is a very difficulty question being a gay Black man I have have seen many fierce things so let me list my Top Five:

1. Patti LaBelle at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.  When you do a cover of Whiteny Houston's "You're All the Man That I Need" and  have grown, big, straight men shouting sing it Patti you know you are fierce.

2. The first time I saw a Black Drag Queen lip sync to gospel music at a club.  If you closed your eyes you swore you were in church, truly inspirational!

3. Black women in their 80's still tipping down the aisle at church in high heels.  Love the Seasoned Dolls!

4. When we saw two muscle daddies with a bunch of standard size poodles all died a different color of the gay flag during the pride parade in Atlanta.

5. The fiercest moment was watching Barrack Obama get sworn in as President!

If you have a question, use the Ask Me Anything feature on the site.  Subscribe and support!

And The Oscar Goes To...

Sunday night was the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.  And I wager that you could have a gun to your head and could not name one nominee or winner from the 81st Annual Academy Awards. 

The Academy Awards is not a big event in regards to African-Americans and their contributions in cinema.  This is business as usual for the Oscars.

Let's face it Spike Lee has about as much chance as being recognized by the Academy as R. Kelly has at babysitting the President and First Ladies' daughters.

The Academy is still  dizzy from honoring, Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier in one year.

Talented winners aside, it is exhausting trying to equalize decades of invisibility. 

This year, however, was different.

If you ever wondered what Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey's love child would look like, it is the spitting image of Precious, a small film with big, beautiful talented women, including Monique and new comer Gaboury Sidibe. Honorable mention to Mariah Carey minus glam, hair, wind machine and makeup.

It is so refreshing to see a film about a full size Black woman that is not really a Black man in drag (No offense Tyler). 

Although we did not see a double win Oscar night, Monique walked away with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Precious.

I have already heard the rumblings of not another Oscar for African-Americans playing "negative" roles, did we not learn anything from The Color Purple debate.  I have said this before the real challenge is to make sure more films are made that explore the rich and diverse landscape of African-American culture.

Lecture over, now back to the Oscars. Monique both visually and verbally paid homage to the first African-American woman to win an Oscar, Hattie McDaniel.

I have only read the book "Push", of which Precious was based upon and that was hard enough. I was concerned that due to the dark nature of the film that the lights would come up and I would be in the back of the theater, in the fetal position, crying and rocking myself like Sophia in The Color Purple. But I digress.

The real challenge is what do Sidibe and Monique do now?

Especially when Hollywood has created so few significant roles for African-American women, much less plus sized Black women.

And as much as I enjoy Divas in leather, remember Catwoman was Halle Berry's first role post Oscar.

If we want provocative roles, we have got to think outside the box.

So here are Professor Locs Top Five potential film roles for Monique and Sidibe:

1.Gimme A Break: The Movie ( Monique updates the role of a sassy Black housekeeper who takes on the    responsibility of raising three bratty, entitled, white girls and their disgruntled Father)

2. Sex in the Chocolate City (Monique along with a bevy of big, beautiful, Black women take on                   Washington DC and societies image of plus sized women celebrating their sexuality)

3. The Weather Girls: Life After Sylvester. ( Rupaul takes on his most challenging role out of drag,         kind of, by playing the enigmatic cross-dressing Sylvester and his two beautiful and talented back up             singers played by Monique and Sidibe).

4.  Twilight: I Like Dark Meat (The story of a skinny white boy Vampire that literally bites off more             than  he can chew and gets turned out by Sidibe, a voluptuous, ebony goddess from the urban             streets of Atlanta, GA). 

5. Sister Act 3: Madea Finds Religion  (Madea and Monique go under cover to save an orphanage in         Fulton Co, GA.  These Sisters run a daycare, catfish stand, salon and nail shop, all the while                     ministering music to a rag tag choir of young hood hopefuls, cameo by Whoopi Goldberg as Mother         Mavis Superior).

Coming to a theater near you!

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I Brake for White Women

I was up early on Saturday headed out for an event at school, when I almost hit a white woman. 

Now before all of you militant, civil service working, Red Lobster lunching, former Black Panther, ex-patriots start getting excited, I do not condone violence, especially against women. 

I was backing out of our drive way when what do I see in my rear view mirror but a terrified elderly white woman and her dog.

Our street is usually vacant with very little pedestrian traffic so I was very surprised to see anyone up this early. 

I roll down the window and apologize that I did not see her. She smiles awkwardly and continues her walk.

They took my license tag due to an expired registration sticker, can you imagine what they would take if I actually ran over a white woman?

I bid my neighbor a good morning and drove off into the morning sun.  This near collision did give me time to reflect on times where I had more metaphorical confrontations with the mainstream.

Here are Professor Locs Top five mainstream white women moments:

1. When drunk white women want to come and touch my hair at the club. (no Gay man wants you messing with his creation)

2. When they grab their purses when I am walking through the mall. (Like I would want your designer knock-off).

3. When they hand me their tickets outside in the valet parking area. (We did have a wonderful road trip in a custom Mercedes once thanks to such an episode).

4. When I was cutting my lawn and some woman stopped and asked how much do I charge? (Trimming the hedges $5, cutting the grass $30.00, look on your face when I ring the doorbell sporting a machete and Zulu inspired ensemble demanding payment, priceless)

5. When they ask me, even if I am dressed in a suit, Do I work here?  Here being: the grocery store,        Target, CVS, or any random Family Dollar.  (What ever they are looking for I always send them to the Black hair care products aisle...LOL).

Tell me your favorite run in with the mainstream...LOL.