Daily Operation

As the Flowers Begin to Bloom...

The rain has passed, the temperature rises, the sun shines brightly, cue Biz Markie...

Perception and Passion

Take a look at this goal:

     Clarence Seedorf scores the game winner.

A great strike by Clarence Seedorf of AC Milan, in the 91st minute. The game winning goal no less. If you don't care for the sport, you're like "eh." If you like the sport, you're thinking, "that was a great goal."

If you're an announcer who supports Milan, like Tiziano Crudelli, you get something like this (Tiziano is in the foreground):

          Tiziano Crudeli loses his mind.

It all boils down to the emotional investment. When you're emotionally invested in something (family, occupation, leisure), your passion shows, even if you try to conceal it. Many of us, try to suppress these feelings, for fear of public scrutiny and judgement. Tiziano, doesn't conceal his passion and that's why many in Italy love him, while you're looking at him as if he's mad.

If it's something you love and you're in the moment, enjoy it, bask in it and revel in it. In the end, joy is the one of only things that's uniquely yours.

Get Well Soon

Keith Elam aka GURU, one half of the dynamic rap group Gangstarr, is recovering from a severe heart attack. The attack occurred over the weekend and GURU was placed in a medically induced coma. While a few Internet posts reported his demise, it appears that after successful surgery, GURU is expected to make a full recovery.

I post this bit of news in part because Gangstarr was one of my favorite music groups, regardless of genre, PERIOD. The title of this blog is directly influenced by the group’s third album and I always felt their beats and rhymes had a maturity that would insure longevity, even if mass appeal eluded them. Without getting too nostalgic, I felt his musical relationship with DJ Premier (Christopher Martin) was akin to John Stockton and Karl Malone working the give-and-go for the Utah Jazz.

I was fortunate to meet GURU (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) during various stages of my professional life. I first met him, as a fan. I was an intern for New Line Cinema, attending a music convention in Atlantic City and GURU was promoting his first Jazzmatazz album. I thought it cool to briefly speak with him and to receive an autographed photo. Two years later, I was a publicity assistant at EMI Records, coordinating press efforts for the second Jazzmatazz album.  Keith understood the value of press and always gave of himself when it came to interviews. Building with Guru and Neo-Soul godfather Omar at an after-party, was one of my personal high points during my time in the industry.

A couple of years ago I reconnected with Guru while he was promoting his efforts on his 7 Grand label. Excited but drained by having to “do it all himself,” Keith was eager to put Gangstarr behind him while embracing younger fans who came late to his body of work.

I’m sure a lengthy recovery is in the works for Keith- health first, then music. The outpouring of support and well wishes is a testament to his contributions to music and the hope that we’ll hear from him again soon. 

If You Can, You Will

Talent, creativity and ability trump all when you simply “bring it.”

The Williams Sisters dominate tennis, the Japanese rule Double-Dutch, Aretha performs Nessun Dorma and Obama’s in the White House. In the end, “yes we can” applies to everyone when you put your mind to it (now about that Public Option). 

The ladies of Zeta Tau Alpha won the 2010 Sprite Step-Off last week. Making them the first white sorority to do so and also $100,000.00 richer.

Regardless of color, gender and/or economic situation if there’s something constructive that you want to do, get out there and learn how to do it- and then do it.

 Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, Downhill Skier. Representing Ghana in the 2010 Winter Olympics

And if it’s your children or young ones that want to try something new, don’t let your ignorance about their interests dissuade them. Nurture and support their desires. Who knows where it could lead them to, or where it could lead you?

 

When Nature Calls

So I get home from the gym and as I'm talking to my wife I see a large set of feathers outside the living room window. Being a New Yorker, I think it's a big pigeon, although the feathers are of a different color.

After taking a closer look. We see that it's not a pigeon but this...

I'm sorry. I was passing by and saw you had the biathlon on. 

Folks. That's not a pigeon, it's a falcon. At one point while we were snapping pics, it looked straight at us, un-fazed and only mildly curious.  It flew away a few minutes later. Probably disappointed that we didn't have HDTV.

I wonder how long it would have stayed on our ledge if we ignored it?

Post Carnival Thoughts

"So how do you kill 24 hours in Rio, if you don't Samba?" -James Bond (Roger Moore) in Moonraker

Yeah, I know Ash Wednesday was two days ago but countless websites and blogs are still knee deep in Carnival footage and photos. Carnival in Rio is definitely on my bucket list. Carribana in Toronto may be the most international, Trinidad’s may be the most sensual and the one in Brooklyn may be the most massive but Rio’s Carnaval towers over them all. The pageantry is second to none as samba schools from all around spend the entire year preparing for this event and revelers are everywhere. Massive heat and yellow tide be damned.

 One of the many floats on display at Carnival in Rio.

But what to do when it’s all over? I visited Rio last August for my birthday and had the pleasure of experiencing plenty of sights and sounds that make this city famous. One attraction was the Museum of Contemporary art (MAC) in the city of Niteroi. Just a ferry & bus ride away from Rio, the museum has the uniqueness of the Guggenheim, with its flying saucer inspired design. Even if you’re not impressed with the art, the museum’s design and panoramic views of Rio will stun you to silence.

I spent a fair amount of time shooting video at the museum and here’s a short that I put together:

Museu de Arte Contemporanea (MAC) Brazil from Stanley Tatum on Vimeo.

I’m telling you, on cold Harlem days like this; where the snow is completely gray and everyone’s bundled up, I long to return to areas like these and just be. 

I'll be posting more videos from Rio and Salvador Bahia. Look for them soon!

 

The New You

We all know change is hard. Given the economic climate, folks have had to work outside their field of choice in order to pay their bills. If you think change is hard, reinvention is harder. That being said; there are individuals who reinvent themselves as they change career paths or reach various stages in their lives.

Unless you’re this woman, 

 

most of us have a hard time figuring out how to start. Michelle Awuku-Tatum (aka My Better Half), who is a certified executive coach, wrote an informative and intriguing blog on how to start the reinvention process.

Currently, I’m transforming myself from a post-production producer to a videographer and editor. While I’m technically, still in the same industry, it can be difficult to be seen by your peers and potential employers and something other than what position you previously occupied. To that end, I take on video projects (paid and some non-paid) to completion, in order to showcase the new me. The response to my work has been positive and it fuels me to keep going down this route.

Taking that first step is the hardest, it always is. How then, can you expect to move forward if you don’t?

It's A Draw!

Many events become memorable ones, especially when it’s a shared experience. Last Friday I left the comfort of my apartment and ventured downtown to the East Village to a bar called Nevada Smith’s. As my wife will tell you, I’m not much of a drinker. I wholeheartedly agree. Half a glass of wine and I’m horizontal on the couch, snoring thru DVR replay of “House.” I tend to stay away from bars because while the food may be good and the HDTV screens make the games seem larger, that’s where the drunks and 38-year-old adolescents hang out.  I know these establishments are some of the most common social gathering points on the planet but damn if folks can’t wait for the weekend to start trouble. Sort of like department stores and supermarkets, where fed up parents beat their kids while you’re down the aisle looking for the instant grits that are reportedly on sale.

But I digress. I made my way to Nevada Smith’s to bear witness to that cultural appetizer on the international soccer menu, the World Cup Draw. “The Draw” as it’s affectionately known, is where national teams that have qualified for the competition are randomly chosen for group play in the opening round of the tournament. It doesn’t matter if your team has qualified or not (unless you’re Irish), you want to know, who’s playing who, where and when. And while the competition isn’t until the end of June 2010, you need to start worrying about how your team will fare, NOW.

So, I arrive a good 30 minutes before the draw jumps off and mark the time by talking to friends I haven’t seen in months and chat with folks I’ve never met about what their expectations are.  FIFA’s gonna screw us; is the common refrain amongst USA supporters. Previous draws have not been kind to the United States, despite the team’s success in our region. I feel, that, no matter whom we’re grouped with, the US will need to overachieve in order to advance.

 (Not to be confused with Morgan Freeman)

Notice how I substitute we, us and our, with US Mens National Team? It’s not a conscious choice. This is what happens when it’s time for the World Cup.  Don’t worry, you’ll find yourself doing it come June 21^st.

We get a videotaped message from Nelson Mandela; followed by a commercial of Morgan Freeman playing Mandela in a Clint Eastwood directed film. Studio analysis is heard somewhat over the clanking of pint glasses and beer bottles. I’m nursing a bottle of Mangers Cider, taking midget sips every 3 minutes or so.

And then it starts.

Charlize Theron, co-hosts, while sporting figures and entertainers throughout the world take their places by the printed ping-pong balls. Mega-Millions indeed. One-by-one, balls are selected, the top teams are seeded and other nations are placed into various groups. The crowd in Nevada’s is pro-American and sprinkled with Brits and other Euro-sorts, awaiting their nation’s fates.

And then it happens.

The United States is drawn into Group C with England.

Collectively, the crowd erupts. It’s a measuring stick for us Yanks. We want to know just how good we are on the world stage and this is the best way to prove it. North Carolina’s favorite son, Ric Flair said it best, “if you wanna be the man, ya gotta beat the man!” Somebody else said, “be careful what you wish for” but I’ve consumed half my Magners and can’t reference the Daily Operation’s Wayback Machine properly.

(Slovenia?! US stalwart midfielder, Landon Donovan surveys the crowd) 

As other teams are selected and placed, we see that France is still out there and the patrons are concerned that they could be placed in our group. No one wants to be placed in a the dreaded “Group of Death,” where 3-4 major teams are grouped together and only two will advance. Algeria is drawn into our group and another roar fills the air. English and Americans are fancying their chances to advance. As another round of nation are selected, it becomes a process of elimination. France is placed in Group A and the crowd cheers with relief. Slovenia gets placed in our group and I’m surrounded with ear-to-ear grins.  “We’re gonna advance,” is the cry from my fellow US supporters. I smile but I’m reminded how we licked our lips at the thought of playing Ghana back in 2006 (and subsequently lost 2-1).

(the back four (l to r): Cesar, Milenko, Kevin and Yours Truly) 

As the draw ends and the pundits analyze the groupings, I survey the crowd and am reminded how sport brings folks together. Bar staff, patrons- some unemployed, some playing hooky are all chatting away about what just happened and what it means six months into the future. I’m reminded that it’s the world’s game as I converse with a gentleman from Australia and two others from New Jersey and Brooklyn. It also dawns on me that my wife is British and the reality is; we will probably watch the England v. US match apart from each other. Four years ago, we were dating and did the same thing when the US played Ghana. My then girlfriend’s parents were born in Ghana and the roots run strong under the Union Jack.

But I don’t mind. It’s just a game, the world’s game and I’ve got six months to ponder the what’s, the who’s and the how’s. 

And So it Begins...

Indeed, this is my first foray into the blogosphere. Named after one of my favorite albums, "Daily Operation" will provide me the chance to weigh in on world events and culture, while posting about people, events and things near to my heart. From finance, to film to football (no, the other kind), you’ll hear from me- at least five times a week. 

Despite the current state of things, I’ll do my best to be informative and engaging, yet brief. Folks are out there trying to make it happen for themselves and I want you to come back time and time again.  

And here we go!