Time recently published a series of photos from photographer Callie Shell. The images are stunning and speak volumes about the monumental changes taking place in the White House. I urge you to check out the complete photo essay. In the meantime, my six favorites. And a few questions…
10 Questions*: Obama’s First 100 Days
April 27, 2009The Doomsday Budget
April 24, 2009
So. I sold my first novel for a nice piece of change.
And while it’s not pay-off-your-student-loans-in-one-fell-swoop money, it’s still a welcome addition to my day job as a freelance writer.
Thing is, the freelance hustle ain’t what is used to be.
Michael, one of my dear readers, hit me up and asked me to write a post for his column, The Recession Diaries, which runs on TheRoot.com.
He wanted my thoughts on coping with the recession. At first, I didn’t want to do it. I’m blessed. Really blessed. How dare I whine and moan about how I’m still broke?
Never Too Much…
April 20, 2009
Amid all this talk of weed celebration and Columbine sadness…
Let us not forget.
Luther Vandross would have been 58 years old today.
And less we forget, THIS is a big reason why Luther is not with us anymore…
Legend has it, Luther loved cheeseburgers made with Krispy Kreme jelly donuts instead of buns. This gastronomical monstrosity, served at several eateries, is now known as...The Luther Burger. Never too much?
Happy birthday to Imani Dawson, who reminded me that she shares a birthday today with Luther as well as Adolf Hitler…
UPDATE: And Happy Birthday to Hanif, one of my fave Dear Readers. He’s been down (and commenting) since I discovered the Internets. And I’ve known him since he was knee-high to a pup. Happy birthday Hanif!
Journalism 101: What do I use to record an interview?
April 20, 2009
Last week, one of my dear readers posted this comment:
Hey Aliya (and fellow writers), got a totally non-blog-related question for you:
I got an interview tomm with sonia sanchez. Is there a way I can record the conversation while on my blackberry (conducting the interview on the phone and also record on the bb)?
I immediately broke out in hives when I read this. I love this dear reader. (She was the first person to make me feel like a real blogger by screaming FIRST! in my comments section. Heh.)
But her comment was perplexing.
She wanted to know how to record an interview…on her Blackberry?
Searchin’ Sundays…
April 19, 2009
I’m fascinated at the search terms that bring folks to my blog.
It’s an intimate look into the minds of my readers. (Assuming they actually stick around and check me out after clicking through…)
It feels a bit voyeuristic, to see an exact web search, mispellings and all. Occasionally, it creeps me out. I’ve seen stuff like my name and the word “husband” linked in a search. What’s that about? I’ve seen “Tog” and “TG” in searches. (Ha. That’s funny.) I’ll see the occasional search for Donyale Luna or “Rick Ross’s babymamma.”
But mostly, I just see my name. Since my web address has all that annoying middle initial stuff, and the whole .wordpress suffix , folks have to search to find my blog.
(Sidebar: you can now find me at plain old aliyasking.com. Yeah!)
For the past few weeks, one term has brought hundreds of folks to my site. More than my own name. Wanna guess? I’ll give you a hint:
Aliya S. King 