Grafwurks

Can’t get enough of Dj Love?! Well come out to Spike on Saturday nite. He’ll be spinning Top 40 mashups….yeah right! Pure old school hip hop….rockin’ the shit out of your kicks and cool sunglasses[why would you wear sunglasses inside Spike; I wouldn't know what to tell you]. Come out! Good people. Good drinks. Overall good music! FREE! 21+
*tell them Grafwurks sent you*

 I am so DAMN! bored. All my loans for Pennsylvania are all paid for and the checks are cut and on their way out to PA. It is 11:48am and I’ve been done since like 8 o’clock really. And to be honest, we have another due date which is 10/6 but we only have like 10 loans open with due for 10/6. So there is no real point in trying to get them paid. Because there is always the possibility that those 10 loans will be paid automatically within next week. So I’ve sat here and surrounded myself with bills as if I’m actuallydoing something. And I’m growing bored fast, I can only pretend to look at these bills for so long, Kenneth William Serrano’s bill in Bristol, PA is getting old. And I feel that I’ve reached the end of the internet, no where else to go. If anyone has an interesting site to go to, please feel free to submit it to me. Thanks.

What: 2007 State Fair of TexasWhen: Sept. 28 – Oct. 21Where: Fair Park, a 277-acre entertainment and recreation complex owned by the City of Dallas, is located two miles east of downtown. The park is the year-round home of the Music Hall, Cotton Bowl and eight museums. Fair Park is a National Historic Landmark and boasts the largest collection of art deco exposition buildings in the United States. Hours: During the 24-day State Fair of Texas, the exhibit buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.More:

• Fair’s economic impact on Dallas: approx. $350 million annually.
• Exhibit space: approx. 370,000 sq. ft. in six buildings.
• Amusement rides: 70-75.
• 212-ft. Texas Star is the tallest Ferris wheel in North America.
• Livestock entries: approximately 8,000.
• Creative Arts entries: approximately 7,000.
• Food service locations: approximately 200.
• Ride & food revenues: $26 million (2006).
• The Texas-OU football game has been played during the Fair every year since 1929.
• Big Tex made his first State Fair appearance in 1952.
• Corny dogs were invented in 1942 by State Fair concessionaires Carl and Neil Fletcher.
• Since 1992, the State Fair of Texas Scholarship program has awarded more than $1.8 million in new and renewed college grants to eligible students. 

HISTORY: The first State Fair to be held in Dallas was presented at this location in 1886. Fair Park was the site of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition which ran for six months and attracted 6 million people. An extended 31-day Fair in 1986 celebrated the Texas Sesquicentennial and drew almost 4 million visitors.
NEW!!! The wait is over, and the $5 million Texas SkyWay®, sponsored by Mrs Baird’s, is up! These days its gondolas are gliding lazily above a Midway abuzz with workers preparing for the State Fair of Texas, Sept. 28 through Oct. 21. The new high-performance aerial ride offers visitors bird’s-eye and panoramic views of the annual exposition in historic Fair Park. Each of its 34 Art Deco-inspired, enclosed gondolas holds eight passengers. Riders cruise up and over the colorful Midway on a system supported by eight towers, covering more than 1,800 feet from one station to the next. Occupants soar 65 feet above the ground at the ride’s highest point. The Texas SkyWay is a family-friendly attraction designed to assure a smooth ride and features a level loading system that will accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. The gondolas depart from the stations at cruising speed before accelerating to 600 ft. per minute. At full occupancy, the Texas SkyWay has a capacity of more than 5,000 riders per our.The State Fair of Texas enlisted the help of Doppelmayr/CTEC to construct the $5 million attraction. Known for its attention to detail and commitment to safety, Dopplemayr is considered the market leader worldwide.  
Friday, Sept. 28 GRUPO FANTASMA 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 29 Mad Skills 12 noon & 1:15pm BOYZ II MEN 3:00 p.m. Aubree-Anna 5:45pm & 8:00pm
Sunday, Sept. 30 Eating Contest 1:00 pm Alpha Rev 2:15 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. BOWLING FOR SOUP 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 1 Kacey Musgraves 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 Nathan Johnson 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 3 Zane Lewis 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 4 Ron Lawrence & Sazerac Jazz 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 5 Angela Blair 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6 Rob Roy Parnell 12 noon & 1:15 p.m. ASHLEY RAY 3:30 p.m. THOMAS MARTINEZ 5:45p.m.JASON ALDEAN 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 7 Eating Contest 1:00p.m. AARON WATSON 3:00 p.m. GARY P. NUNN 5:30 p.m. Xenovibes 8:00p.m.
Monday, Oct. 8 Myers Brothers Band 12 noon Girls 4 Life 1:00 p.m. JONAS BROTHERS 3:00 p.m. Katie Rae Davis 6:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 9 Rob Hunt Band 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 10 The Quebe Sisters Band 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 11 Lucky Pierres 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 12 Bleed Down 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 13 Star De Azlan 12 noon/1:15 p.m./3:30 p.m. JACE EVERETT5:45 p.m. BILLY RAY CYRUS 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 14 Cody Jinks 12 noon & 1:30 p.m. Travis Mitchell Band 3:30 p.m. MIRANDA LAMBERT 5:30 p.m.Travis Mitchell Band 8:00 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 15 Professor D 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 16 Shane Henry 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 Maiden Texas 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 18 Beatlegrass 4 p.m./5:45 p.m./8:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 19 Rich O’Toole 4 p.m. & 5:45 p.m. LONESTAR 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20 Billy Harvey 12 noon & 1:30 p.m. Brittnee Lee 3:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. THIRD DAY 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 21 JOE POSADA 12 noon LA FUERZA 1:30 p.m. JAY PEREZ 3:30p.m.

Start your weekend off on Thursday nites @ Zubar with Dj Love. Spins nothing but the best & may I say, uses actual turntables. NO LAPTOP!!!!! Yeah, there is still a couple of djs who use turntables, they are a dying breed. Go check Dj Love out @ Zubar tonite.

NBC has ordered a full fourth season of The Office consisting of 30 half-hour segments, ten of which will be combined to form five one-hour specials. The first episode of season 4 will premiere on September 27, 2007

Episode airing on today, September 27, titled Fun Run; consists of A freak accident causes Michael to feel the office is cursed. He explores the religious beliefs of his
employees before deciding to hold a charity 5K fun run. Meanwhile, further developments in the romances of Pam and Jim, and Dwight and Angela are explored. One hour episode

*I was never The Office watcher until very recently, once The Office has been airing on cable channel TBS. I’ve watched every show aired on TBS since they’ve been on every Tuesday nite at 9pm [central time]. They show two 30-min episodes. Very very very dry but hysterical humor.

Mexican Consul Enrique Hubbard Urrea has issued an unusual warning to immigrants from his country: Avoid the city of Irving. Deportations in this city have skyrocketed in the last several months – from 262 in all of 2006 to 1,338 through mid-September. “In this city, one has to be extra careful,” he told Al Día . “And if possible, avoid going through there, because we suspect, and with good reason, that people are being detained simply because of their appearance.” At least 1,600 people have been turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement since June 2006 as part of the Criminal Alien Program, which provides for round-the-clock communication with federal authorities and is designed to detain illegal immigrants who have been accused of a crime.The program is the latest tool being used by local governments – in the absence of a federal overhaul of immigration laws – as they struggle with problems created by illegal immigration. Some residents in Irving have complained that illegal immigrants have transformed the city in negative ways – with too many people crammed into dilapidated homes, and neighbors parking too many cars in their yards.And Irving Mayor Herbert Gears says that he will “utilize whatever we are able to use to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in Irving, and that includes for the immigrant population.” But consulate officials say they believe innocent people are being unfairly targeted. Consuls from El Salvador and Mexico met with Mr. Gears and Police Chief Larry Boyd nearly two months ago to talk about the rising number of deportations. During that meeting, the mayor said officials were checking out complaints to determine whether anyone had been stopped without cause. But “the complaints keep pouring in and nothing’s changed,” Mr. Hubbard said. Mr. Gears said he knew of some two dozen complaints filed with foreign consulates about Irving’s program during its first few months. And while he says he’s determined to investigate and follow up on each one, he stands behind the program. But Mr. Gears said he understands the Mexican Consulate’s message. “His warning is significant,” he said. “The representatives of that office are serving their constituents well with that communication.” The Irving City Council unanimously approved an ordinance adopting the Criminal Alien Program earlier this year after police began practicing it in 2006. Mr. Gears said he believes Irving turns over more illegal immigrants for deportation than any other city in the country. And he estimates the number at about 300 people a month – from 23 countries, including Mexico and El Salvador. The No. 1 offense that people are arrested for is driving with a suspended license, he said. Mr. Gears, however, opposes using a federal program called “287g” that trains local officers and jailers to act as immigration officers. “Why do we have to turn our officers over to the federal government?” he asked. Irving City Council member Beth Van Duyne, one of two council members who favor 287g, believes city officials are obligated to uphold federal law. Ms. Van Duyne said it’s not an issue of race or nationality. “I want to offer everybody an equal opportunity, but within the framework of our laws,” she said.

Differences with Farmers Branch

Ms. Van Duyne said she doesn’t want to create new ordinances like the one in neighboring Farmers Branch, but she does believe the city should use available resources and programs in response to illegal immigrants. And she sees her responsibilities as providing clean streets and safe neighborhoods and helping school districts provide outstanding education. “Illegal immigration plays a part in that,” she said, “but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.” While Mr. Gears and Ms. Van Duyne don’t see eye to eye on how involved the Irving Police Department should be in monitoring illegal immigration, neither wants to follow Farmers Branch’s footsteps. Mr. Gears is opposed to the methods of Farmers Branch City Council member Tim O’Hare, the driving force behind the measure that would ban most illegal immigrants from renting apartments in that city. And Ms. Van Duyne doesn’t want to attract lawsuits. Both the Mexico and El Salvador consuls said they would like to meet with Irving authorities again to discuss the issue. “According to several accounts this week, some residents were in the common areas at an apartment complex, cooking out, when the police arrived and began asking questions about their legal status,” said Eduardo Rea, spokesman for the Mexican Consulate. Of 75 notifications of detentions that the consulate received this week, 28 took place in the city of Irving, said Mr. Rea, adding that there are typically 150 detentions throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area in a week. El Salvador’s Consul Mario Roger Hernández said that people should think hard about whether to drive through certain cities – but he stressed that the Salvadoran community is aware of the current environment in the U.S. as it pertains to illegal immigration. “We’ve had a real crackdown in the last several years – in some cities more than in others – on illegal immigrants,” he said. “And even more those who have orders of deportation. Knowing that, people should think carefully about decisions they make.” Mexican consulates have a mixed record of defending Mexican immigrants, said Roberto Calderón, a historian at the University of North Texas. One of the more prominent cases was in the 1930s and is a successful school desegregation case known as the “Lemon Grove Incident.” In that California case, the Mexican Consulate helped obtain legal counsel for families relegated to what was considered an inferior school. Many of the children were U.S. citizens.

The crackdown, the fallout

The crackdown has been tough both on families and business owners in Irving. Carlos Quintanilla, a community leader, said he was planning to go before the City Council to ask that the program be terminated. And he warned that he would begin organizing a boycott if the city persisted and “ask that the Cinco de Mayo celebration be canceled in that city.” Darío Velásquez of Honduras said he had to entrust his two children, ages 3 and 7, to a woman he barely knows so that she could take them to his wife in Honduras. His wife was deported in August after being involved in a traffic accident. “She didn’t have a driver’s license, so they took her to jail,” he said. “There, Immigration picked her up and took her to one of their centers. From there, she was deported.” Mrs. Velásquez also had a previous deportation order on her record. Mr. Velásquez, who has temporary protected status, said he’ll stay, continue working and keep sending money home. Carlos Blanco, a naturalized citizen from El Salvador, said his wife, too, was detained by Irving police during a routine traffic stop because she didn’t have a driver’s license or any other identification. She was arrested and taken to jail. A week ago, she was sent back to El Salvador, and Mr. Blanco sent their 6-year-old to join her. He since has left Irving and moved to an apartment in Dallas with a friend. “I talked with the official on the phone when she was detained,” he said. “And he told me that he was taking her to jail and that I could pay $400 to get her out. But that was a lie.” Carlitos Torres, who runs a Rent A. Center in the city, said the crackdown has also manifested itself in his business. He’s had to make trips to several apartments in the last several months to pick up furniture abandoned by people who have been deported. “We get at least one a week,” he said. Carmen Ibarra, who works at the Salón de Belleza Bambi on Grauwyler Street, said she hasn’t seen anything like it in the 13 years she’s lived there.“We used to have eight stylists, and now there’s only five of us,” said Ms. Ibarra, who is thinking about moving to Plano. “And we’ve gone from doing 30 haircuts a day to sometimes just five.” Pedestrians walking around the shopping centers said they are afraid to get out, and instead of feeling safe when they see a squad car, they now feel afraid. “I’m afraid for my son, who has a lawn business, even though he’s a grown man,” said María Carcomo, a native of El Salvador. “I’m afraid they’ll call me one of these days and tell me they’re going to deport him.”

Southern California doctor, Edward Frankel, is the owner of some apartments in San Antonio in the Villas at Medical Center. Has decided not to rent apartments out to people who have tattoos, so many piercings, and what not. Yeah some say it’s unfair but under the law, if your tattoos have anything to do with your religion or culture, then they cannot neglect you. But if it’s just your last name tattooed or anything miscellaneous, then they hold the right to turn you down. The whole story is below; 

 It’s against the law for landlords to discriminate based on the color of a person’s skin. But can they reject you because of what’s on your skin? Some San Antonio apartment complexes are refusing to rent to people with tattoos and body piercings. News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooter Jaie Avila investigates the case of one couple who says that policy is unfair.Carrillo thinks tattoos are an artform. He’s been to tattoo conventions and one of his tattoos was featured in a magazine. “Ever since I was 18, to now, 25, bit by bit, covering up here, covering up there.” But last month, Carrillo’s tattoos kept him and his wife, Melissa, from moving into an apartment complex called the Villas at Medical Center. “We liked the apartment, we brought them a check for the deposit and a check for the application fee,” says Melissa. Later, Gilbert went by to look at the apartment wearing a short sleeve shirt. The next day, the Carrillos were told they didn’t qualify to live there, because the tattoos on Gilbert’s arms violated the policy on personal appearance. “For them to be so judgmental on a person’s appearance, and for them to judge someone based on them having a tattoo is just ridiculous, you know,” says Melissa. The Carrillos were also upset that the manager refused to refund their full $70 application fee. But mostly, they feel the policy is discriminatory. So the Trouble Shooters went to the Villas at Medical Center to hear their side of it. The manager, Daisy Salazar, said she wasn’t allowed to talk to us. “We have our own lawyers, I can’t speak to anyone,” said Salazar. But we didn’t give up. We contacted one of the owners of the apartments: A southern California doctor named Edward Frankel. Frankel e-mailed us a statement saying his apartment complexes do, in fact, “reject prospective tenants who have… tattoos exposed on the neck, head, hands and wrists, or large tattoos that cover over 40% of the lower or upper arm.” Frankel says, “We do not discriminate. The above applies to persons of any race, color, gender, etc.” Frankel, and his partners, have purchased numerous upscale apartment complexes in San Antonio and Dallas, where they’ve also banned pierced eyebrows and tongues. Tenants can’t have more than one nose piercing, or more than five earrings. Local fair housing officials say the rules may be unusual, but they are not illegal. “Refusing to rent to somebody because they have tattoos may be unfair, but it’s not discrimination under the fair housing act, unless the tattoos are specific to the person’s religion or national origin,” says Sandy Tamez of the San Antonio Fair Housing Council. After the Trouble Shooters started looking into the case, the apartment complex refunded the Carrillos’ full application fee. But the couple is still angry that a landlord would consider body art to be the mark of a bad tenant. 

Last night on BET, they are showing a two-part series called Hip Hop vs America. Which part two airs tonight @ 7pm [central time]. The title of the show is self explanatory, the hip hop artist representing hip hop is Nelly, T.I., Mike Jones, MC Lyte, Master P and the legendary Chuck D. On the other side, representing “America” top journalists Keith Boykin, Diane Weathers, Jeff Chang, Farai Chideya, Kim Osorio and New York Daily News columnist Stanley Crouch; filmmaker and cultural critic Nelson George; Judge Mablean Ephraim; music executive Valeisha Butterfield; music video director Benny Boom; ministers Conrad Tillard, Pastor A. R. Bernard; professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; and Reverend Al Sharpton. Just a personal opinion, Reverend Al Sharpton has no creditability; he has done as wrong as hip hop is doing to America. Just look up the Tawana Brawley case and see his participation in that scandal. I agree with both parts, yeah RAP is giving the KIDS the wrong ideas. If notice, it’s giving KIDS, yeah I think at one point we were all influenced by someone who at the time wasn’t doing anything positive. But as we age and grow up and hopefully, mature mentally; we should grow out of that state-of-mind. Yeah knock on N.W.A for speaking of what they knew, because honestly I believe that’s all they knew at that time. Just like the Game says, what he speaks is entertainment on his tracks, he can entertain on the streets; so in other words, he can talk the talk and walk the walk. As T.I. said, if he has to speak about 44’s, 9mm’s, bitches & hoes to go platinum then so be it. Just like Immortal Technique says, just because you go platinum, it’ has nothing to do with luck it just means that a million people are stupid as fuck. Which I believe deeply & truly, say what you want to say, but Kanye West’s Graduation album, he doesn’t speak about guns, drugs, or killing. In his songs just like Nas is another example, they tell a story. And it’s up to you, US; to make of it what we want. Also as our local hip hop artist, Ekzile, Info-Red, Nucleus, Blaze Won & Mes the Jive Turkey & Riq the Briq, also can’t forget Rob Viktum, who is a prime example who brought us the story of the Cambodians, and what they went thru with the Khmer Rouge. I had no idea of what exactly the Cambodians have gone thru, so it is possible for rappers to speak of something positive. But if you fall for all the whole Swisha House screwed up – chopped up crew then, you deserve to be put in that ignorant pile with the others.

Today is the release of the long anticipated Halo 3, Mars of Grafwurks waited in line out in Duncanville. To get his hands on his reserved copy of Halo 3, the only official broadcast campaign footage was released at E3 2006 and again at E3 2007. Halo 3 features a campaign meta-game in which a player is awarded a numerical score based on their performance while completing a level in campaign. The assault rifle which appeared in the first Halo known as the MA5B was not in Halo 2 and is returning for Halo 3 as the MA5C. which Bungie hopes that it will become the new “ultimate spawn weapon.” They are also introducing the Mongoose ATV, which is a small quad bike which was originally made for Halo 2. Overall, Halo 3 has been getting raving reviews, I’m not the biggest gamer, even myself I’m a little excited to play Halo 3 to see what all the hype is. There will be a review of the actual review at a later time.

Yeah yeah yeah, say what you want to say. But The Hills is a very interesting show that comes on every Monday on MTV. It involves these really hot girls, Lauren, Whitney, Audrina, and a couple of other girls. The Hills, is now on their 6^th week of the 3^rd season. Last night, Lauren & Whitney kept The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus out late the night before of their photo shoot. While they took shots with the boys, the night carried on into the early hours of the morning. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus kept Whitney waiting to begin the photo shoot, due to the fact of them waking up late. And then one of the guys from the band did not want to put on a pair of jeans because they weren’t his. Whitney got into some trouble, but overall they just want her to take more charge. Heidi & Spencer were out registering for their wedding and where were they registering you may ask? Well not at Target or Macy’s that’s for sure, and to be honest I don’t care, I hope that marriage goes all to hell. Last but not least, Jason invited Lauren over to a “shin-dig” at his place, where she was going to meet Jason’s girlfriend, Kendra. They did meet and of course there was “tension,” ex-girlfriend meets current girlfriend, well before Jason’s “shin-dig” was over, they announced Jason’s & Kendra’s engagement. This threw Lauren & Audrina for a loop, overall, Lauren congratulated Jason. Also realized that she was better off without Jason.