SOMA

I'd like to meet:

DJ SOMA will be making a RARE Philly Appearance at "Gorgeous" June 14th @ XIX. Click the flyer for more info and a cool video!!

Philly Events

ANY COMMENTS OVER 500 PX WIDE WILL BE DELETED.... At ThEditor's Discretion!!

Music:

Top Stuff of the Month: June 2007
I decided that this being the anniversary of my becoming a truly "professional DJ" I'd celebrate by re-posting my Top 10 Philly DJ influences. These are the folks who helped, encouraged and/or inspired me to spin, and then get better at it. Kudos to friends and mentors! This month you can click though to their myspace pages, so if you want some updated "What-are-they-doing-now" type stuff, check them out.
By the way, all photos taken by me as K-C the Photo-Man.

10. DJ Midnight: Even before I was on the decks Midnight showed support & encouragement. Later he hosted a webcast out of the October gallery which he invited me to guest on. Photo taken at Love Lounge (South St.)
9. DJ Dennis brought me out to spin at Valanni when I was ready to give the DJ thing and give it a break. I found a home at Valanni in 2005 and things have moved on from there. It was a much needed boost! He's a deep house brother.
DJ Dennis has recently launched Selekta Records. Props!! Photo taken at Valanni.
8. Jenn Louie: invited me to participate in WKDU's 2002 Electronic Music Marathon. It was an acknowledgement - I became a "real" DJ that year. I still do the EMM's. Photo taken at Lucy's in Old City
7. DJ Kevvy Dreads (Kevin Rucker) his skills are so tight I used to be afraid to follow him on the decks. Just by spinning with him I got better. Big ups!!! (By the way - I can follow his lead now.) Kev is currently resident DJ for Standard Funk Productions. Photo taken at Intermezzo Cafe U-City.
6. DJ Kathy Fadigan put me on the decks at her Time Warp Tuesday gigs at Silk City. One of the few Philly DJs who put me on early in my "career." Kathy, where are you now?? Photo taken at Silk City.
5. King Britt; On the Philly DJ scene all roads lead to King Britt. He's the trailblazer, the Dj who became a remixer who became a producer who became a legend. Yeah... that's inspiration. King is now a DJ/Producer super star. Photo taken at Silk City.
4. Rob Paine; his support comes from so many directions, first of all the music he produces is amazing. The mix tapes (yeah TAPES) he gave me back in the day taught me what incredible sounds were out there, plus he gave me the Worship Records catalog on wax to play out, that's generous, but that's Rob. Ron travels the world and hosts Shakedown every month at the Social Club. Photo taken at Christian St. Studio, South Philly
3. June Lopez; despite being one of the most controversial personalities in Philly, he's one of the best DJs, just listening to him spin and mix and talk about what he does and how he does it taught me how to do it. I don't even think he realizes it. One of the most important things I got from him was how to "introduce a record." That seems profound to me. Photo taken at Aqua Lounge Northern Liberties.
2. DJ Cozmic Cat didn't come to Philly to be a DJ, but she became one of the city's best and favorite DJs and personalities. Her work ethnic is inspirational, the story of her rise to popularity could be a cult film (and might be). Coz made me want to be a DJ. She now spins in Toronto. Photo taken at Silk City.
1. DJ Lorne!! Does anyone remember the first person to put them on the turn tables? To share a bit of their shine and spotlight? They should. Lorne put me on one night out of the blue, let me go through his wax and spin for about 30-40 minutes. He might as well have given me crack because I caught the bug. From that moment the dominoes fell. I got "discovered" launched a night at St. Jack's, got better, got popular and now I'm a for-real, for real DJ. Photo taken at St. Jack's Old City where it all started.

Movies:

Bootleg Film/DVD Reviews
Like watching and reviewing films: visit
Turistas
It’s always the most unlikely of events that get people into trouble. In the case of Blair Witch it’s a lost map and a series of stupid decisions. I saw a film once where I guy tried to take a short cut through the back roads of West Virginia because he was stuck in traffic. DUH! Bad move fella. In this film, (which is more of a bootleg DVD than a film) a freak bus accident brings an “international” (I’m being generous here as they are all White folk) group together in the jungles of Brazil. Naturally they make the wrong decision and they pay with their, well, I won’t spoil it for you, but you get the idea. This films makes a statement, if not a point about how “turistas” particularly from Europe and the United States come to Brazil and steal their children, their resources and rape (well, so to speak) their women. This is how “the bad guy” justifies his actions. One of the redeeming qualities of this film aside from the tanned T&A – what would a film set in Brazil be without a lil skin?- is the underwater cinematography, cleverly inserted, albeit superfluously. Good flick? I’d give it a fair, for a cast of non-stars is stereotypical roles.
Hollywoodland
Adrian Brody, Ben Affleck
You know I’m no fan of Ben Affleck, but the role of George Reeves was perfect for him, they both act as if they have a broom stick shoved where the sun don’t shine, and both are pretty one-dimensional. You can take an Affleck scene from Boiler Room and drop it into Dogma for instance. There was no way I was going to rush to see Hollywoodland in theatres, but since it showed up, I watched it. Could this be a case of revisionist history? Someone looking for something that isn’t there, like a story? Or is it a tribute to one of Hollywood’s most dynamic characters portrayed by one of its most boring actors? Tall, dark, handsome, ambitious and apparently connected, didn’t quite cut it for Reeves. The story that envelops the Superman tale; the money-chasing Private Eye (Brody) is equally as dull. Brody manipulates the yellow press while he is being manipulated by one of the three women who manipulated Reeves. Meanwhile he seems to be trying to reconnect with his estranged, grieving son. Hollywoodland flips back and forth between the days leading up to George Reeves’ death and Louis Simo’s (Brody) subsequent investigation. This was a “righteous” DVD bootleg, however the film/story was anything but.
Smokin' Aces
Ben Affleck seems to get top billing in Smokin’ Aces by virtue of his surname; certainly not his role or his execution of it. It’s a wonder he can still get work in film after proving time and time again that he can’t act. There are so many competent actors in this ensemble cast that one can hardly notice Affleck’s typical lackluster performance. (Yes, I don’t like him!!) So on with the film – if you haven’t seen it, people have compared it to “Reservoir Dogs,” I thought more of a “Get Shorty” type thing. The plot is basic: The eavesdropping peeping-tom Feds pick up a six figure contract placed on a Las Vegas performer turned wanna-be thug. They want said performer to drop dimes on the mob. Word spreads rapidly that Buddy “Aces” Israel (Jeremy Piven, I never knew this guy’s name) is a marked man and a united nations of underworld type characters go after him. It’s a race between the Feds, (Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta) to protect him, bounty hunters to return him to where ever, a couple of black lesbian hit-women, (guess who?) and a variety of other shady characters with interesting pasts who want to kill him and collect the moolah, including a trio of quasi-inbred rednecks (a la the Peacock Brothers in “Home” – props to you if you can tell me what TV series they are from). As you can imagine all hell breaks loose, chaos ensues, “secrets” (not as cleverly concealed as those in, um, er “The Prestige”) come to light and the ending suggests that writer/director Joe Carnahan still has a bit to learn about ending a movie. BTW the quality was excellent, I don’t even think this was a bootleg.
Ghost Rider
Nicolas Cage & Eva Mendes
I saw my Ghost Rider billboard ad sometime last year and I said to myself, “Oh no!” I hadn’t planned to see the flick, but it came my way and people said, “I heard it was good.” Well friends “good” is about as good as it gets. An emaciated Cage portrays stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze opposite the buxom Eva Medes (who did her Hollywood duty of baring it all in Training Day) as his childhood sweetheart. Blaze has sold his soul to the devil, which entails becoming Mephistopheles’ (Peter Fonda, starting to look like his late dad Henry, only with a bigger head) bounty hunter. Thus the appropriately named Blaze becomes Ghost Rider, and like Spiderman endangers those close to him. (Why can’t demons and super heroes just get laid from time to time without the baddies trying to use their paramours as leverage? Damn righteous Marvel Comics still believe in monogamy.) Speaking of baddies, Wes Bentley, that creepy kid from American Beauty, does an adequate job as Blackheart in whiteface. What makes Blaze a different sort of character is the way he embraces the ‘curse’ as opposed to trying to break it. I guess that was something different when Ghost Rider was out in comic book form, who knows. Even thought Ghost Rider was one of my favorite Marvel characters, I hardly remember reading an issue. Always like the look though. As for the bootleg, it was flawless! No heads, eating or cell phones ringing.
Children of Men
Even though I haven’t read the book I can imagine it’s better than the film. In some ways I find the concept farfetched – for the past 18 years and some change the world has suffered from an infertility epidemic, further the major cities of the planet have collapsed and Britain is the only nation “Soldiering on.” (In real life, it wouldn’t be Britain, but I guess it serves for this to be the case.) As a consequence the UK is overrun with immigrants, mostly illegal non-English speaking “fugees.” There are rebel forces and government forces killing people, people that due to this epidemic won’t be replenished. But wait, miracle of miracles a young African Girl is with child and must be transported safely to a perhaps mythical organization that will protect her and her child. This newborn is of value as a symbol to the rebel forces, who will kill for it, but not kill the child. Complex, depressing and as I was watching this at about 2AM, not very conducive to staying awake. It’s worth looking at again however, but for me, I’d wait for the rental.
This was a screener so the usual nuisances weren’t active, and while it may have been the DVD player itself, the sound was rather suppressed.

Television:

June Selections
A collective of Masculine-souled lesbian bloggers: BUTCHs/STUDs/BOIs/AGs/HERSBANDs/DOMS and the like givin' some GOOD BLOG. So ladies, if ya wanna know what 's on OUR minds...peep this!
JOIN.SUBSCRIBE.SPREAD LOVE.PEACE.
Life According to Dave
David DiGiuseppe thinks that Women Are Destroying the World. In his essay he unapologeticaly describes what some people refer to as the fall of the feminine mystique. But men aren't off the hook either, "Men are animals, we are sex crazed freudian nightmares and for centuries women have balanced our hethenistic tendencies" . Apparently, according to the author, women are no longer balancing the tendencies of men, but are joinging them. This is a controversial piece to be sure delivered only the way a 21 year old Italian-American can deliver it. Read at your own risk.
Mierie's World
From the streets of West Philadelphia to the World, this Renaissance Woman seems to have done everything and been everywhere. She's as inpirational as she is impressive, which is why we've asked her to share some of her favorite travel experiences via Noxsoma CyberZine. In this essue Mierie, the self described "uppity traveling negress" recounts her First African journey, to Kenya . Enjoy the adventure.
The Cocoafied Intellectual
This month, Deesha allows us to peek into the world of Musical Beds. Hmmmm, what THIS be about???
Bajai Kulture
In addition to editing and coding this CyberZine, K-C Bajai is an erstwhile columnist for Philadelphia City Paper, a freelance photographer, personal fitness trainer, philosopher, DJ, aspiring kult leader and observer of popular culture. For this essue of Noxsoma CyberZine, Bajai imagines a pop culture full of Celebrity Bloggers. He pauses when asked if he is such a "blogger."
Jambon Jones: NYC Chronicle
New to our cadre of columnists, Jambone Jones is a wack-job jokester in a b-girl stance wearing raggedy gellies to work everyday where i am, indeed, a non-profit superhero (my cape is currently on mail order). Smack-talking, sometimes ascerbic humanitarian who will push gramma down for her dope-ass vintage shoes. Tom's of Maine addict. mullet-rocking mulatto. Social quirks blogger. Lover of language, world culture and pyramid construction theories, she rides the B train to work and observes its passengers. She's filed This Chronicle .
Then & Now: Inspiration
I've sent many people to read Diane's testimonial about how she converted herself from what she describes as an "unhappy fat-ass" to a body building competitor and inspiration to her friends and readers. She's graciously allowed Noxsoma CyberZine to link her Before & After Story Everyone, especially women have body image issues, Diane shows us how we can take control of our bodies and transorm them into what we want them to be. *This is a private blog, so you must send Diane a message. I know all you readers understand

Books:

Our Resident Art Bloggers

(Art Blogs are continuously updated, take a peek and subscribe)
Leah Chappell (our newest art blogger/columnist) is an amazing artist from the west coast. In her blogs she shares the process of her creations. You'll see the paintings take shape. The viewer can literally sense her emotions by looking at her art. Leah’s artistic talent and political awareness were nurtured and guided by her mom and her sisters, all of whom are artists and musicians as well. Her extended family, which is extremely multicultural, provided a rich background from which she was able to draw inspiration.
Susan Olij is an artist born in Indonesia and educated in the UK. She lived in New York for several years where she worked in the apparel industry before relocating to Singapore where she currently resides and works as an artist. She's got a gallery opening in January. Click on her photo to be updated on her art blogs
Tim McFarlane is one of Philadelphia's best known and well appreciated rising stars on this city's fickle art scene. Represented by the Bridgette Mayer Gallery , Tim's works have been interpreted by many different eyes in many different ways. It's his love of architecture and Philadelphia's "grid" layout that fascinates and inspires him. Click Tim's photo to see his blog "In It For Life".

Heroes:

FULL MOON Models
Ms Dazza Del Rio is pretty nonchalant about her career. She's done "countless car magazine covers and car-shows." She's also done national beer ads or movies, commercials, print ads.."BLA BLA BLA.". I HATE, HATE talking about myself, she confesses. But as she says, she's done "a lot of gigs." Big or small a gig is just a gig to her. One such gig is this year's Wizard World, which will be held her in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (See Philly Events) this month. Sumarizing her carre thus far Dazza reflects, "I have done everything I have ever wanted to do. I'm happy to say I have no regrets or fears. I find modeling fun and easy. Hell anyone can model. I believe there is a DIVA in all of us. Plus there's always photo shop."

Every Full Moon we'll present a MY Space Model, do a short interview and link you to more of her pictures. Models interested should contact your lecherous editor.