Harambe, R.I.P.

Yesterday, officials at the Cincinnati Zoo made the decision to kill a 17-year-old Silverback gorilla named Harambe after a toddler managed to fall into the gorilla's enclosure.

Luckily for the kid, he left that enclosure with only minor bumps and bruises.  Not so lucky for Harambe.

What I wanna know is, what was the kid's MOTHER doing while her little boy was crawling under a fence and making his way through vegetation, then falling damn near 10 feet down into a moat?????  I mean, really, WHAT was she DOING?????  And I only mention the mother because I can only hear her calling out to the little boy while he's in the moat.

After viewing the video footage, I certainly see why there was much concern for the child's safety.  But, dang, I still wish there was some way to save the gorilla's life.

The Photography Man

Over on the east coast, Washington, D.C. to be precise, nobody takes photos like Don Harris does!

I think his bus and subway portraits are simply SENSATIONAL!!!!

Check out more of his street and candid photography work HERE!!!!

The Stork Has Been Fired

Joshua & Jaidyn Triplett

The insanely talented JOSHUA TRIPLETT appears in the cutest Buzzfeed video to hit the internet!  And he brought his gorgeous daughter along for the ride!!!!!!!!!!!

What a HOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Talented One

Today, I found out that someone I truly admire suffered a massive heart attack two days ago.  He is ten years younger than I.

His doctor told him that because he was in otherwise good health, he survived the attack.  That means, watching what he eats and exercising regularly saved his life.

I don't know the particulars about clogged arteries or anything.  I suspect he'll share that information if/when he feels like doing so.

What I know for sure is that once I heard about his ordeal, I jumped into the car and drove my happy butt right over to Griffith Park to exercise.  At 52, I'm determined to keep myself as fit and trim as I possibly can.  My mother died from a heart attack.  I don't want that to be my fate, too.

That is he in the pic above.  And as I read the quote on his pic, I have come to the realization that his life has been spared because he STILL has talent he MUST share with the world.

I wish him the best and hope and pray that he bounces back to great health with a renewed sense of purpose and continues to share his talent until he has no more.

He is a CHAMPION.  And I'm a better person because I know him.

Pomp & Circumstance

Today was a GLORIOUS day for one, young man I know.

He was graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law!!!!!!

Honestly, being on the stunningly beautiful Pepperdine campus today for the ceremony, was a BLESSING!

His parents were soooo happy!

All of us who came to support him were happy!

And, dangit, HE was hella happy!!!!!!!!!!!

BRAVO, Quincy James Louis Braxton!

Job well done!!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Home Hollywood Hills

One of my fraternity brothers flew into L.A. the other day and invited me and another fraternity member to visit with him up in the Hollywood Hills where he stays when he's here.

And, boy oh boy, what a house!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, it's the kind of house that I reckon every guest fantasizes about living in!  Speaking for myself, I know I sure did!!!!!!!!!

I hope the owner of the house enjoys every square foot of it, because he has designed quite the masterpiece!!!!!!!!!

Cornrow Cutie

Folks enthusiastically run her name into the ground, so I reckon that's why she always flies PRIVATELY to keep above the fray.

I ain't sayin' she a gold digger, but she ain't messin' with no broke, broke...

Still Alive At Thirty-Five

This past weekend, I hopped into the car and drove to Palm Springs!!  I'm tellin' you, what a beautiful place!

Anyway, I went to attend my boy's 35th Birthday celebration!

Um, when I turned 35, I didn't quite look like him, but I was feelin' pretty dang good nonetheless, 'cause I was preparing for my move from Brooklyn, NY to L.A!!!!!!!  I didn't actually move, though, 'til two weeks after my 36th birthday on January 9th, 2000!

The day after David's party, I checked out of my cute lil' motel, The Monroe Palm Springs...

and drove through a couple of PS's ritzy neighborhoods.  One property on that drive really knocked me out!!  It's hard to see it clearly in these pics, but it was a stunner!!!

Since moving here to L.A., I think I've now been to Palm Springs half a dozen times or so.  And each time is more fun than the last!!!!!

The Real Squeeze

If I recall correctly, one of my older sisters used to enjoy squeezing pimples.  If she saw one on anybody's face, she wanted to squeeze the icky stuff out of it!!!!!!

Well, I think I'm gonna send her the video below so she can jump for joy!

UGH!!!

My dear friend, Dr. James J. Herrmann, is a phenomenal dermatologist in Illinois.  I'm gonna have to ask him how much of his day is devoted to poppin' zits!!!!  :)