NorthsideLou | Blog

How did I miss this? So fine!

lorthsidenou — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:39:47 -0500

How did I miss this? So fine!

Dreams are Scary

lorthsidenou — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:22:12 -0500

Man… I saw Jad Abumrad, creator and co-host of the public radio show “Radio Lab,” give a speech at the Third Coast Audio Festival in 2012. In that speech he talked about some of his ‘favorite things’

He talked about putting all of yourself into a project, taking risks and putting yourself in a position that scares you. A state of uncertainty. He even talked about the infamous “Truth” (Fact of the Matter) episode which had been aired recently. I thought I understood what he meant about risk taking, but the truth is I didn’t understand what he meant until this moment.

It’s not just jumping out of your comfort zone. It’s about going out on a limb that might not hold your weight sending you tumbling down on a fall you might not survive. I’ve always been ambitious but the other day I started thinking about my dreams as a kid, and even my dreams as an adult. I was stuck for a moment. What got me was when I started thinking about the dreams I didn’t have. The dreams that weren’t dreamed because they were impossible. Even as an ambitious person there were some things I would never be able to do and I was reserved to that reality.

Then suddenly a voice said to me, “Lou, those dreams aren’t impossible. Actually, if you work hard, they’re probable.” It scared the shit out of me. When I’m thinking about how I can change the lives of others I’m poised and ready to take on the challenge. When I think about how I can change my own life, I’m completely at a loss for words and feelings. To think about what I think about my own potential makes me uncomfortable, partly because I think I’m capable of achieving great things and concurrently capable of helping others create great things. I don’t wanna disappoint myself.

I haven’t felt like this for a very long time. I feel like a 14th century explorer or an astronaut in the 1960’s. It’s kinda crazy. I can do anything. I’m about to freak out. I hope I can build up some poise and handle the possibility of achieving excellence with humble grace. I can do it. I feel like I’m ready. I hope I am. It’s time to make it happen. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Holy Fucking Shit.

This little guy has been in my cubicle for a few years now....

lorthsidenou — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:57:22 -0500

This little guy has been in my cubicle for a few years now. He’s been sitting quietly in the back keeping to himself, but I’m gonna start leaning on him in difficult moments. When I asked him if that was ok he indicated that he was down but I can tell he was a little salty/skeptical.

Kevin Ware’s gruesome injury in the NCAA Mens’s...

lorthsidenou — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 17:02:08 -0500

Kevin Ware’s gruesome injury in the NCAA Mens’s Basketball Tournament on live TV. Louisville vs Duke Elite 8.

Santurce, Puerto Rico last night.

lorthsidenou — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 08:01:22 -0500

Santurce, Puerto Rico last night.

I’ve come up with 3 different thing I should have tweeted...

lorthsidenou — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:05:01 -0500

I’ve come up with 3 different thing I should have tweeted about this.

“If Brandon Knight sued DeAndre Jordan for assault no one would blame him. Nor even DeAndre.”

“From now on, getting dunked on like that will be called ‘Getting Knighted’”

“Even DeAndre Jordan was disgusted by that.”

DeAndre Jordan Monster-Alley Oop Over Brandon Knight (Mar 10 2013) (by Maxa711Clips)

Yet another celebrity RT. This time from famed rapper Krispy...

lorthsidenou — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:33:30 -0500

Yet another celebrity RT. This time from famed rapper Krispy Kreme. Though I found Kreme a while back, he was recently made made famous on Tosh.0

I keep this picture by Jim Newberry on my cubicle wall.

lorthsidenou — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:31:57 -0500

I keep this picture by Jim
Newberry on my cubicle wall.

Puerto Rican Words With Friends Fail.

lorthsidenou — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:34:36 -0500

Puerto Rican Words With Friends Fail.

Got a lucky shot. I’m at instagram.com/northsidelou

lorthsidenou — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:00:00 -0500

Got a lucky shot. I’m at instagram.com/northsidelou

tyleroakley: Love takes you where you’ve never been before.

lorthsidenou — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:40:23 -0500

tyleroakley:

Love takes you where you’ve never been before.

I got a new shirt from The Silver Room. Boogie Down.

lorthsidenou — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:01:01 -0500

I got a new shirt from The Silver Room. Boogie Down.

I play this game called Dram League Soccer. It’s harder...

lorthsidenou — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:00:49 -0500

I play this game called Dram League Soccer. It’s harder now that I’m in the Super League.

I got a tweet from Independent Lens and “Ai Weiwei Never...

lorthsidenou — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:00:46 -0500

I got a tweet from Independent Lens and “Ai Weiwei Never Say Sorry” The Field Museum hooked it up with a tweet too.

East View from Morgan St. station.

lorthsidenou — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 10:59:43 -0500

East View from Morgan St. station.

I found some notes I wrote a few months ago about being...

lorthsidenou — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:45:10 -0500

I found some notes I wrote a few months ago about being successful in a creative field.

They are notes I wrote when listening to a speech by Neil Gaiman, and English fiction writer who is probably best known for the stop motion film based on his novel “Coraline.” He was giving a commencement speech at the University of The Arts in 2012. I’ve typed my notes below, but because the speech is more powerful than the notes I’ve posted it below. Enjoy.

[When you] 1st start out you don’t know anything, this is good

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When it’s new There are no rules. You can’t break them.
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Do what you want. Seriously, do them. Just do it.
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You can get caught up in balancing hopes with needs
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Be ready for failure
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It’s like throwing bottles in the ocean
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The problems of success are as bad or worse than the problems of failure.
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“Imposter Syndrome” felling like you’re a fraud
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Ocean’s bottles start coming back
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You start saying no to things [to opportunities]
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Older folks are miserable because they can’t do what they want to keep what they [have]
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Keep walking up the mountain.
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Things that take you towards your goals
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Make Good Art
Do Good Work
…All The Time, Good and Bad
Do Your Art, because only you can
Once You’r Naked, you’re just starting out.

NorthsideLou's 2012 Spotify Playlist

lorthsidenou — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:09:00 -0500

I have a Spotify Premium account. That means I can listen to music from my phone.

Here are the tracks I added to my “Starred” list this year and kept on repeat.

These 4 * tracks were tops on constant rotation list.

* The Pharcyde – Runnin’ - Philippians Rmx - 90’s Hip Hop [Remix]

* Tony! Toni! Toné! – Feels Good - Dance, Pop

* Willie Colón – Eso Se Baila Asi - Latin,

* Crucial Conflict – Hay - 90’s Rap

Snoop Doggy Dogg – Ain’t No Fun - 90’s Rap

Nine Inch Nails – Closer - 90’s Rock

Positive K – I Got a Man - 90’s Hip Hop

The Pharcyde – Runnin’ - 90’s Hip Hop

The Roots – Dynamite! - 90’s Hip Hop

Common – I Used To Love H.E.R. - 90’s Hip Hop

Lil’ Cease – Crush on You - 90’s Hip Hop

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime - 90’s Hip Hop

The Notorious B.I.G. – Big Poppa - 90’s Rap

The Pharcyde – 4 Better Or 4 Worse - Dj Nu-mark Rmx - 90’s Hip Hop [Remix]

araabMUZIK – Electronic Dream - Hip Hop (2012)

Santigold – Disparate Youth - Hip Hop (2012)

Dawn Penn – You Don’t Love Me - Extended Mix - Hip Hop, Reggae, Ska

Ana Tijoux – 1977 - Latin, Latin Alternative, Hip Hop, Rap

Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart - 90’s Pop

Jodeci – Freek’n You - R&B

Soul For Real – Candy Rain - R&B

Tyrese – Sweet Lady - R&B

R. Kelly – Bump N’ Grind - R&B

Jill Scott – He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat) - R&B, Neo Soul

The Miracles – You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me - Soul, R&B

Sly & The Family Stone – If You Want Me To Stay - Soul, Funk

Lee Fields & The Expressions – Ladies - Soul

Bobby Womack – Across 110th Street - Soul

Johnick – Open Your Eyes - House

Johnick – The Captain - House

A Tribe Called Red – Northern Cree - Red Skin Girl Remix -Dance

Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy - Dance, Funk

Jamiroquai – Cosmic Girl - Dance, Funk

Jamiroquai – Canned Heat - Dance, Funk

Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity - Dance, Funk

Basement Jaxx – Red Alert (Jaxx Club Mix) - Dance, Funk

Ballin Entertainment – World Of Funk: Ultimate Funk Hits - Funk [Album]

The O’Jays – I Love Music - Dance, Disco

George Benson – Give Me The Night - Dance, Disco

Diana Ross – Love Hangover - Dance, Disco

Watch the Duck – Poppin’ Off - Pop

Flying Lotus – Do The Astral Plane - Instrumental

Passion Pit – Little Secrets - Pop

Los Amigos Invisibles – Vivire Para Ti - Latin Alternative

Pedro Salcedo Y Su Orquesta – La Pollera Colora - Cumbia

Bobby Valentin – Huracan - Latin, Salsa, Guaracha

Ray Barretto – Indestructible - Salsa

Ray Barretto – El Watusi - Salsa, Mambo

Rey Ruiz – No Me Acostumbro - Salsa

Héctor Lavoe – Rompe Saraguey - Salsa

Frankie Ruiz – Tu Con El - Salsa

Ismael Rivera con Kako y Su Orquesta – Mi Negrita Me Espera - Latin, Salsa, Guaracha

Fania All Stars – Quitate Tu - Latin, Rumba

Edwin Colon Zayas y Su Taller Campesino – Seis milonguero - Cuatro, Jibaro, Puerto Rico

Trio Los Panchos – Me Voy Pa’L Pueblo - Bolero

Ray Barretto – Pastime Paradise Latin

Sergio Mendes – Magalenha - Bossanova, Samba, Brasil

Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 – Mais Que Nada - Bossanova, Samba, Brasil

Nicola Conte – Tema In Hi-Fi - Performed By Nicola Conte - Chill, Bossanova, Samba

Visioneers – Dirty Old Bossa Nova - Bossanova, Hip Hop, Instrumental

Pretty Lights – Finally Moving - Chill, Hip Hop

Dizzy Gillespie Sextet – Chega De Saudade (No More Blues) - Jazz

Etta James – At Last - Jazz

Dinah Washington – I’ve Got You Under My Skin - Jazz

Nat King Cole – L-O-V-E - Jazz

Eddie Harris – The Shadow Of Your Smile - Jazz

Donald Byrd – Cristo Redentor - Gospel, Soul

Nikolaus Harnoncourt & Concentus musicus Wien – Mozart : Requiem - Classical [Album]

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird - Rock

The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter - Rock

Yael Naim – Toxic - Pop [Cover]

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Who Loves You - Old Rock

I’m an advocate for change in immigration policy in the...

lorthsidenou — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:10:03 -0500

I’m an advocate for change in immigration policy in the U.S. It’s the one time among my perpetual Devil’s Advocacy where I find it difficult to come up with a cohesive argument for the other side. I’ve met many leaders in the immigration reform battle who lean towards citizenship paths. Most of them are young, most are passionate, but frankly a lot are are missing some of the strengths of character necessary to illicit real change. But I have met a few of these young leaders who exemplify the intellect, understanding, will, and courage necessary for change.

Reyna Wences and Tania Unzueta are two of these leaders.

Above is a Chicago Tonight Report of Reina’s Undocumented Story.

Tania has her own story that I hope to capture soon.

In the meantime visit their organization’s site Immigrant Youth Justice League IYJL.org.

Beauty and the BEAT! (by Toddymobs)

lorthsidenou — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:55:58 -0500

Beauty and the BEAT! (by Toddymobs)

That time in between arriving an hour early and boarding time....

lorthsidenou — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:10:53 -0500

That time in between arriving an hour early and boarding time.

I’m in Q16 instead of Q14. Sitting among my fellow passengers makes me anxious. “Am I gonna sit next to that cute girl?” “Is anyone going where I’m going?” “That guys looks weird.”
It’s too much. I’d rather do what I always do. Sit away from them and wait until the last second before getting up to board. I’d rather be lounging in Q16 than rushing for that coach seat on the plane.
You ever notice how geeked people are to board the plane? They get so thirsty they stand in a huddled mass next to the line waiting for their Zone to be called so they can jump in line as quickly as possible.
I can understand if you’re on some plush ass first class shit, I’d run up too if that was the case. Asking every few minutes and shit, “Ayo, is umm… is the plane ready? Can I get in line now? Oh, ok. Nah-nah-nah take your time, take your time, it’s cool. I’ll be right here.”
But most of us are in coach boo boos. Relax. It’s gonna be a long flight.
.