WACKY, ABSTRACT MONDAYS: We smoked it ...

A tribute to the former duo of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown.

Dontcha' Know Rude Boy

Rihanna, released her new video, "Rude Boy." The video is significantly artistic with a variety of effects surrounding her throughout the entire video. Words in comic book style, different colors and lack of colors stand out for me, while other graphics seem to collaborate with Rihanna's movement. Love the island vibe for this island phrased, upbeat song. She really seems to give her all when it comes to dancing in the video and I like the fashion she is rockin' too. Big ups to Jamaica, Barbados and Haiti!

R.I.P Dawann Jones

Dawann, was 24 years old, the same age as me. He worked a few desks away from me everyday for the last nine months. He always spoke to me and was always smiling, as if he had a peace of mind the rest of us did not. The last time I spoke to him was Friday, February 5, 2010.

He recently died from being shot at an after-hours club on Sunday, February 7, 2010. Honestly, I feel like I should have said something to him or asked him what he was doing for the weekend because he was the last person I saw from my job when leaving. The last act I saw him do was assisting his mother cleaning the snow from her car. I am writing this because I have been going through some intense emotions in regards to his untimely demise.

It is really difficult seeing a young man the same age as yourself and who worked beside me lose his life. It was an honor and blessing to have met him because he is one of the only people at my job who always greeted me and with this miniature gesture I knew Dawann was a good person because some people do not even acknowledge another's presence. He was respectful and mature and hard-working. Subsequently, people have been writing on the message boards to his articles making ignorant statements, without any substantiation.

This man is no different than anyone else, yet because he is African-American and young, people believe he was a "thug," and I'm sorry because you cannot stereotype every Black person and put us in this box because of the latest music video or what you see on television. He is no different from any other man; being a father, a son or a brother. Dawann, was a person who I appreciated because he was kind to me and instinctively I always saw him as "one of the good guys." Jealousy, hate and even envy is what relieved him from our world and it is even hard to see him treated with such after his departure, but I am here to remember the goodness he held and I can say he is my brother and his spirit will continue to shroud over his loved ones. You will be missed and my prayers are with your family and I hope you're watching over all of us and I hope God is protecting you.