Excess Access: Tools Pt3

In some of my previous posts, the extolment of accessories has been very black on white (or light grey on black here). I will forever consider them key in completing habiliments. But who said that accessories are only for a get up?? Many of you know that I have more recently, and with much melancholy, moved from QB. So I now have had a place of my own to embellish and bedeck - 2 floors.
I've had a little while to get things done, but I've sat back and done absolutely nothing. In some part due to a now postponed move, but mostly due to indecision and some apathy. I will let you in on my theme though: Wi-Fi & Wood. Or, Tech & Teak. A smooth amalgam of new technology and ageless design. Regardless, I have slowly amassed assembly parts for this amelioration and will start to document some of these upgrades. Beyoncé, I'm listening (She is kinda hot). So, would you know that I snagged my inaugural item: simple floor mat. They just came in and could not help but take one home w/ me:

I was looking @ a few floor mats previously and will still get them, but how could I not start it all off with something like this??

Say wrd.

I more recently wanted to also get back to a digital display based timepiece, and after getting an email from my man BeeDub @ Nixon, I trotted over by the dwntwn showroom to browse thru some samples. Bam. Nixon Connect.


Been keeping an eye open out for this one for a minute. I even went looking as we opened the cabinet up. After rawking analog watches for so long, this digital readout's been a fresh change. Butterfly clasp as always, 37 time zones and some good old fashion electroluminescence aka Indiglo. I find digitals to have this interesting strictness and discipline about them. Such irony that I would own one. I may have it on for kicks this weekend. See you Friday @ 22h30.

H!

The King And I

This will be the start of a busy week. I should be concluding things up @ work which I am desperately looking fwd to despite the fact that it's been fun of late. Seriously. It's that time of year where I take long road trips w/ some good uninterrupted music. It promotes clarity. Ha.
But the week's end (and I say this as the week as yet to even start) brings a litany of lavish nights, starting with one of my most anticipated:


My man King Britt is in town to bring us some of that sulty, soft red glow, sweet susurrus, Hotel Victor bizness. Toronto chapter of IML checking in King. I'll be in my best accoutrements, and my worst comportment. Ladies, your Fave Ex BF™ will be there to take your mind off worthless worries and share splendid spirits (double entendre).



Whilst I was Barcelona bound via London this summer, King hits me like "Dude, I'm in Paris for a gig. Come thru. I got you." ARGH! I tried to make the dots connect. No dice. 2wo weeks ago, whilst LA bound and stranded in Philly, I again hit up the Pharoah of Philadelphia himself, and he then tells me that he's having a birthday party the monday night. Again, I was a hair away from confirming plans, but work was hollering with a cut throat deadline. Man. No luck. But it's all love. Good look King. Let's break bread when you're here. Looking fwd to it.

King Britt @ Ultra Supper Club
Friday, November 30, 2007 at 10:00pm
Ultra Supper Club
314 Queen St. W., Toronto.

Say wrd.

H!

A River Still Runs: Nokia N82

Been a while since i covered anything mobile phone related since the iPhone was unlocked, but the world is still turning (to the unknowing of some). The fact that of the matter is that the iPhone is still pound for pound the best offer out there as a mobile: features vs price is what I will use to determine that. Used properly, it will absolutely enrich one's experience. But, I still love Nokia and what they are doing on the consumer electronic end of things. They still have one of the best GUIs and likely the best features period. Just over a week ago, they added to the famed N Series lineup by introducing the N82.



Although the candy bar shape was traditionally the biggest bore, it has quietly become the de facto standard - much like sage advice from a patriarch: it's just right. After skipping over the N82's simple but classic design, you start to look @ what has made Nokia the leading mobile computing device manufacturer: the guts. The interface is still the best out of the known telco manufacturers. The S60 operating system is still the standard if you ask me. So, if you are accustomed to that, this N82 should present no real surprises esp if you know the multimedia feature set that all N Series offer. But, where the mobiles have been forced to distinguished themselves is imaging: cameras. The digital pic has become the axis of the expansive social networking lifestyle. Want proof?? Go to any live performance and look @ all the phones that are pulled out when the headliner takes the stage. Hours later that same footage is going to Youtube, Fickr, FaceBook and various blogs around the net. So, with a 5 megapixel camera, powerful Xenon flash and Carl Zeiss optics, the Nokia N82 delivers remarkably vivid photograph as well as some near DVD quality video.



You're then able to share all of the pics and video via WiFi connectivity to upload to your fave sites. One thing that I have been all over since it was in beta form is navigation and GPS for the mobiles. For a traveler, there is nothing better. The built in GPS will set you straight whether you are from deep Mississauga getting lost downtown, or traveling in EU and finding your way around Barcelona or London like I did this summer.



So if you're looking for a multimedia mobile optimized for photography, navigation and internet connectivity, this N82 is certainly for you. With the tools to discover the places and moments worth capturing, and the capabilities to capture and share them instantaneously, the Nokia N82 will offer photography enthusiasts an enhanced camera experience - and you'll still get to have some casual txt ™. ;)

Here are some pix of the Nokia N82


Created with this.

Heralds Of Change

So a few weeks ago, my man Nik T of CRCL RSRCH hits me up like "Dude, Blk Btlz needs to come thru Rock it w/ Circle Research".

BET.

I had been looking for an outlet sans stifling sound restrictions of one of my fave spots. I was sitting all this new music to run, and you know your boy's a scholar in that Low End Theory. Your boy has been looking to play that new sh*t, as I described before, there's a void that needs to be filled. Helrald of Change?? Not per se, but trying to shape that landscape. I'm just a few parts away. My new laptop is on it's way and I just have to get my hands on a midi controller...

Regardless, JonJon, El Gringo Spliff, George Jefferson and your man Paul Wall came through on the strength to play that far out sh*t.





Shouts to all who came as we were cursed with the season's 1st official snowfall, and i was almost handcuffed by this work deadline. But it happened. Xmas bshment is on it's way. Planning as we speak.

H!

Bounce (C'mon)! Bounce (C'mon)!

I wish I could get out of this rut I'm in. No really it's just been in an exceptionally busy 3-4 months. But I think that I'm finally over it. I will say that mymanhenri.com is still in beta form. I plan to do lots to it over December and get ready for what will be a busy new year. That's almost certain.

In the mean time, the next few weeks will be hella busy. Trying to stay up after that super hectic sched that was RBMA - I feel like I still have trace amounts of it in my blood, which is likely why I have some nights in. Oh yea.. it's cold out now as well. Anyhow, most know that I did LAX a few weeks past. So I hit the Stones Throw launch of the 2K Bounce tour. Went for a few reasons, meetings and greetings, but mostly to see the lineup as it was meant to be: PBW, Madlib, J-Rocc, Percee P, Guilty Simpson, Aloe Blacc, K. Riggins and Supreme Team etc...

As you might know, Dec 1 is the Toronto tour stop for this show (Shouts to Nasty Nav). This show is still a must by all means. J-Rocc and Madlib. Period. Anyhow, here are some clips from the LA gig.



Ahhh... That quixotic Madlib. Here he is doing the robot. This was so classic.



MED with that live sh*t.





If you're a fan of the music, make sure you make it out. Rumors have been flying about some of the merch including some tour exclusives, like Perseverance instrumentals. Count me in dude.

It all takes place Dec 1 @ the Opera House.


View Larger Map

See you there....

H!

(Broad) Casting Couch

Man.

I love my Macs. Plural indeed. Got a Black MacBook aka Blkbk, a Mac Mini plugged to a 42" Plasma, and I just bought a new Blkbk last week. Got a deal. Good Look Bro. Going to get back into music in more ways than one, so I needed to get gangster w/ OSX x Serato.

I love OSX and I speak it's qualities all the time, and have seen the whole world around me jump ship. I was iChatting with a newer user last night:
my girl Hana! Hawllah!

Broadcasting live from the comfort of her couch, heeeeeeeeeere's Hana!

*click below*



Had not seen her since my running (up) of the bills this summer in Barcelona, SPA. I f*cking love that place. Anyhow, I had blast on this 4 way w/ her, Ab and Leslie. It's always nice to catch up to cats man. And iChatAV is the vehicle best used for that. Say Wrd.
Now, go get your iChat on!

Hizzla.

To LAX with Love: Top Shoppin

So indeed, LA was the site of some needed time to decompress. After getting over the rush @ the BUF Airport (which i will still endorse despite the recent influx of Canadian passengers), I was able to make my way to LA - notwithstanding a massive layover in Philadelphia.
Although I had planned to not shop @ all, I was unable to resist the nectars of the shopping fruits. So, I picked up a few things. Well, I was also showered w/ some love:
Shouts to my man Nick Diamond who had not seen inna hot min. After surprising him @ his Diamond Supply Co shop on Fairfax, he immediately blessed me with the Diamond Life tee in both colors as well as the Diamond x DVS joints w/ the tee to match. DAMN.

Por Vida dude. for real.
I then walked over to see my mellow, my man Ty G from HVW8 who I had not seen in like a min as well, possibly since Feb of 07 @ Magic. Anyhow, after buying a sought after DVD, he then blessed me w/ some goodies as well: Some sick tees including a HVW8 x Parra and a lim ed 45. Good Look dude.
I then made my way over to Melrose simply to catch up w/ Marc.
I had been clowned for having a real elastic for a wallet, so I made some changes.

Never had great luck w/ wallets. Lost my last 2 including this fresh Paul Frank one... I like this one though.
After visiting Union to say peace to my man, made my way down to American Rag. Sh*t. I got sucked in. After trying them on, I had to buy some Nudies - Thin Finn no doubt. Again, my last pair were the Slim Jim Tubes and they had served me very well. Was due for a new pair. I must say, these fit me kinda sweet TR Gunna.
I had to exercise restraint as the woes of the US dollar were just way too tempting. On top of that, I had plenty more to do out in LAX....

Untitled

Where are the haters?? click above and read on.

Dolla Dolla Bill Y'all

I'm certain that from the meteorologically mediocre coastal Vancouver to the frigid and frosty French language Québec, Canadians are buzzing about the strong dollar. In fact, they art most likely revving their engines.

This AM, I set off on a long overdue trip out (LRG + RBMA took place back to back so I was really here). As per usual, I made my tckt purchase, departing out of Buff for some monstrous savings. Made it pass the border w/ no issues and then made to the airport w/ 40 mins to spare. @ the Buffalo airport, that's an eternity + 1 day.

Can someone pls explain wtf this was then??

I missed my flight, and in the painstakingly slow line, these 2 gents started to discuss the cause of the sudden surge in sightseers.

This blasted bird! Yep, the now Almighty Loonie.

I now find myself sitting here for hours in Philly airport wishing IML Principal King Britt was around (but he's in NY - shouts to King) as I have a 6+ hr layover. WTF?!?! All over a bird??
I have long professed the virtues of flying out of Buffalo, I just suddenly feel that ppl actually listened. :( So now, my date w/LA is postponed for a few more hours, messing up the rest of my weekend. Rendez vous from Northridge to Costa Mesa, all have to be resched'ed. Sux.

¡Jesus!

I'm so upset. I think that I'm gonna go buy a watch... Ha! I should complain not. I'm still making it out west. Below is a picture of Buffalo Airport prkn lot taken this AM. Believe it.



Lemme close this one out w/ a Saukrates classic: Money Or Love. Dolla Dolla Bill Y'all

Hizzla.

LDN Calling

[ring ring]

Call display: +011447943572057. Look familiar??

That was my mobile number in London this past summer. Man o man did I have a blast. But also paid for it. That b£asted pound! Plans are fully in the works to head back out there. Too much to experience. Again, not sure why I waited this long, but consider this bridging the gap. Don't get me wrong, cuz I love yyz. Love it. I look fwd to heading back home after every trip. But the RBMA has given me a taste of what I've be missing. I liken it to having sundried tomatoes for the 1st time.

Mucho Sabor

So, LDN calls. For a number of reasons, it dials me up. For one, it's seemingly the European axis. As such, I am currently planning my next EU tour of duty around it (thank you Ryanair and Easyjet). Avoid LHR and do LGW. The latter is just not as busy and I have heard some living nightmares about Heathrow - long ass layovers, taxying for immeasurable amounts of time... argh! 2, and most importantly, the events they host are just top bill. Were it not for some late planning, I would be @ this below bshmnt:



Are you kidding?? Dego, Benji B (below) and Flying Lotus?? This is what I'm talking about. A triumvirate all worthy of top billing. The RedBull Music Academy brought some of the greatest talent into yyz, but a quasi calmness has seemingly set in, as if I had awaken from a delightful dream. Some have yet to wake from that same dream in the UK. Benji B an Dego, long time bad men have nothing to prove to anyone.



Shooting star Flying Lotus however has been on a meteoric rise. His Worship of Winnekta is one of the chosen few that I venerate as key holders of the new sound, what I like to call that blacktronica. More on him soon...



In any case, the music is setting the bearings of my magnetic compass. Who's down to ride? The winds are blowing... Oh yea. Don't forget your passport.