Look at this...

You really just can't win! People make fun of you if your teeth are inexplicably "bad", crowded, crooked, etc. Note the picture of Steve Buscemi from Armageddon (whom I love by the way!)

But look at this!These aren't even chicklet teeth. This is a full block of cartoon mouth! Now I do feel bad about talking about this guy because he did just pass (as in ...away.) This is the guy from Law & Order, Jerry Orbach. Read more about him by clicking on his picture.

Does this make any sense?!

Anyway, I just had to point this out...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Friends and Family!

This year has proven to be quite packed so I'm going to update you and wish you Happy Holidays electronically.

I turned 24 on September 28th. I just preached my second sermon last Sunday, December 19th, 2004. I am currently in Grad School at Fuller Theological Seminary, where I have just completed my first quarter in a Masters in Divinty Program. I am a minister at Allen AME Church in Tacoma and an Engineer at Tacoma Power, where I celebrated my 1.5 year anniversary on December 16th, 2004! My how time flies. As you can (or will) see that I am a growing "blogger" AKA a web logger, so you can read my daily (or when I have time-ly) posts at my new site, The Jazz Spot. This blog was birthed from my need to get my thoughts out, as I have so many continually running through my head, and my desire to have my own webpage (no matter how elementary it is!)

Let's see...oh yes, so The Jazz Spot is for my personal thoughts and personal commentary. However, seeing as the world is seems not to willing to fund graduate study in Divinity, I also created The Jasmine Bridges Scholarship Fund, which will help fund my studies at Fuller. Indeed, scholarship and aid are difficult to find and obtain for relgious study so FEEL FREE TO DROP BY The Jasmine Bridges Scholarship Fund AND DONATE! All donations are more than appreciated and needed!

Ok, the thing that I may be the most proud of (aside from following God's lead of course) is that I created and am selling shirts memorializing Election 2004. This was indeed the largest election in history as 1.8 million new voters came out for the 2004 Election. This voting numbers in this election are noteworthy and we must be proud of having voted (Regardless of party or winner) ....WE MUST EXERCISE OUR RIGHT TO VOTE!!!

So I Created and am SELLING VOTED T-Shirts...as in...I VOTED!

VOTED T-Shirt
Here is a small graphic for those of you who are interested!
Front: VOTED, Election 2004
Back: Mine Counts...

Just click on the shirt to go to a the website to purchase it, VOTED2004.blogspot.com . And do please purchase one for support if nothing else (although I might add that I think they are pretty cool!)

So all is well chez moi! It's about time for another vacation; however! I've finally posted picture of my August 2003 trip to Ghana here! I shall soon posted other pics represting The Life of Jasmine!

Do stay in touch and know that I am praying for you! God is still blessing and molding me so continue to keep me in prayer. (And if you haven't been praying for me... PLEASE START ;)!

LOTS OF LOVE,
Jasmine Bridges....Jazz!

Now this is scary...the reason why I pray!

First of all, it's 6:15pm on Thursday, the eve of Christmas Eve and I'm still at work. I mean I am writing this blog, so I'm not working but nonetheless I should not be here! Can we say, "NO LIFE?!"....uh...yeah!....NO LIFE! Anyway, something pressing has managed to grasp my attention in a not so positive way! So I've been working on a new blog to see my VOTED 2004 shirts and I came across the most disgusting, vile, wordly sick story. I wouldn't normally post this type of thing on my site but I feel it duty to call all of us who pray to action because this stuff is real! I don't necessarily urge you to read but I'll just comment on the state of our country. So this girl Staff Assistant in the White House (This all occured a year ago), was sleeping with multiple men-young, old, married, interns, etc. and writing about it on her site. I mean she was simply writing about her daily activities as most of us bloggers do, but all of her activities-nights and days, involved having sex or performing some self-disrespecting act with someone. White House agents searched to find the perpetrating author and once they did, fired her. (Read this for more commentary.) So this young ho (24 years at the time) found it doable to continue her sex-capades with old, married and or rich men just to subsidize her $25k salary. I mean don't get me wrong, it is indeed difficult to live on that, but in college we all lived in far less....SO THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE! The most abominable part is that I'm sure this happens all of the time. I mean that is how you move up on the Hill right? (Disclaimer: This is a rhetorical question. Not a comment on my beliefs about the US Government). I mean haven't we gone through this before with....a blue dress...and some white film? The girl refers to the the rampancy of such behavior in her blog:

"If you investigated every Staff Ass on the Hill, I am sure you would find out

some freaky shit. No way can anybody live on such a low salary. I am convinced

that the Congressional offices are full of dealers and hos."

And if this happened a year ago, there's not telling what's going on now. Well nevermind, we can see it! So anyway, Children of God, IT REALLY IS TIME TO PRAY! We need to pray for the state of our country, the state of our world, the state of American morality....the morality of the world for that matter! We can't go on blowing such sickness off as "comical" or "just the way it is"! Something's gotta give...and it won't be be GOD!

13“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

~Luke 16:13 (NIV)

So Let's pray people. This story is a warning for all those who are going to be working on this Hill or in general. Everything has a price! So remember...
36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
~Mark 8:36-37

This is a call to action!
~Jazz

http://www.ucomics.com/boondocks/

I think that every socially conscious person should read the BOONDOCKS Strip, so I'm putting a link to it on my site...lol...sounds like every socially conscious peruses my site huh? Well, anyway, here's today's and the other is probably the funniest one I've ever read: it's the funniest THING I've every read. Enjoy!

Two new things for you.....about ME!

The "You" of course means...."ME!"

You Are a Prophet Soul

You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone. Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people. Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run. No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle. Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings. A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning. You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

AND...

You are 60% Libra

How much do you match your zodiac sign?

It's time to make a change...

So I've decided, I'm tired of hearing all of the ludicrous and negative things that are going on in the world. Don't get me wrong, I know it's real and is more than ever evidence that we are truly in the End Times. But dang! There is a lot of amazing stuff going on in society too. People are making a difference, no matter how small it seems and I'm going to start highlighting it. I've done a very preliminary search and there are a few "Good News" broadcasters out there. But at this point, I can literally count them on one hand. So before I get into the "Good New Report" let me show what prompted me. Take a look at today's headlines from the Seattle PI:

December 9, 2004
Mom's eavesdropping violated privacyThe state Supreme Court has ruled that the Privacy Act prohibits a parent from eavesdropping on a child's phone conversations. New · 10:20 a.m.
Canadian court OK's same-sex marriageCanada's highest court said today the government can redefine marriage to include same-sex couples.Update · 10:54 a.m.
Target's bell-ringer ban stirs revoltTarget customers have latched onto Internet-fueled boycott campaigns, angry that the retailer might cost the Salvation Army nearly $200,000 in local donations.
Tedious hand recount beginsNineteen new ballots turned up yesterday, ultimately boosting Dino Rossi's lead in the governor's race by three votes.
In-home service: It's a hitThis holiday season, as thousands of consumers get electronic gifts, in-home help to set them up and keep them running is just a phone call away.
Convicted murderer freed by courtA Bothell nurse sentenced to 40 years in prison for beating her toddler daughter to death walked free yesterday, released after 14 years because of a state Supreme Court decision.


But what really spurred me is the ban of tragic headlines (from today's paper) below:
- Monorail to restart before Christmas
- Skiers set to hit Crystal after snow hits Cascades
- Agents arrest 4 suspects in visa-fraud case
- Kirkland family mourns soldier who perished in Iraq
- 2 women struck, killed by cars
- 6 missing in crash of Coast Guard helicopter
- Divers may help Hanford cleanup
- Boy, 17, held in beating over traffic incident
- Several people taken to hospital after crashes
- Avalanche closes North Cascades route
- 3 children found home alone after fire erupts
- Boy abducted by stranger in Rochester, then released
More local news

Not all of it is bad, but do you really want more local news? I mean come on...it's ok, to tell the bad, grim and ugly, but is it too much to ask to infuse some of the good?

Like,
-Starr Finishing Her Last Year of Law School!

-J'nai applying to college for Classican AND Contemporary Music Performance after Surviving as the ONLY Black Girl in an ALL white private school!

-Jordan and J'nai perfoming in Small Vocal Ensemble Concert tonight at Charles Wirght Academy in Tacoma, WA!

-After 150 years Chief Leschi gets another trial. He's a Hero NOT a murderer! (This was actually in the paper but I want everyone to see it!)

- Bloggers informing folks: Ambra Nykol, the Black Informant, and many more...

- Courtney Payne starts Professional On-line Community, Code624

-Paris and Pamela, two African-American parents who are still married and raising their family with God's guidance!

-Jayson , car salesman, paving his own way in the industry!

I mean for real, the list could go on and on. It could fill up a full newspaper...and it soon will!
Keep posted. Until then, here are some other sources of "Good News":

The Good News Network, Good News Broadcast , Good News, Etc.

She does it again....

Ambra Nykol does it again! Somehow my low times are always lifted with a quick peruse through her site. Her latest bit actually evoked a chuckel (look at how tired I am) ....chuckle and slight motivation to ask/tell my boss I need a few hours off...TODAY. On her latest blog "Thoughts On the Mall" she gives " a few...deep insights and observations about the mall."
This is the one that gets me:

Salespeople should be required by law to wait at least 3 nanoseconds before abruptly asking, "Are you looking for something special today?" Why yes I am Suzie. I'm looking for you to ease back just a smidge, thanks.

Too funny! I can see it in my head...it always seems to be the "Suzies" who are all up in it...."ease back". LOL! Forget "Lean Back." My new slogan is: "Now ease back (uhh huh) ease back...ease back....EASE BACK!"

Thanks God! I asked for strength and He's hooking me up a little at a time. Ambra really is doing God's work ;)!

~ME!

Tired!

Have you ever been just tired?!!.....of working of doing of thinking....of just stuff? Well, I am. I'm working everyday. Don't get me wrong the job is great (for a job). It's a job nonetheless. I'm also in the midst of finals: just completed my Hebrew final yesterday. I hope it gets delivered to my professor. We had to send it in and I didn't put a return address on the envelope b/c I didn't have a pen in my car. And after I dropped it in the box, I realized that it may have needed another stamp just to be safe (I'm praying on that one). I now have to do my Biblical Interpretation final plus a 15 page paper. I haven't written 15 pages since the 11th grade. That was the first and last time I did that and I think it took me like a week straight plus some serious guidance. The 10-page paper I wrote in college was turned in late....if that shows you how excited I am about papers more than 2 pages! Church is cool minus that fact that a certain someone is always trippin'; doesn't seem to realize that I'm in SEMINARY, which in my opinion is just as much ministry as being at a bunch of church meetings....but whatever. So anyway, I'm not in all that great of a mood as you can see. I'm tired, I'm broke even though a make enough money and I live at home....uhhhhhhhhh. So the Bible says (and I believe it): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I'll just put it frankly, God, I'm asking for strength b/c i surely can't do all of this on my own, well...not with a smile at least. So somebody, PRAY FOR ME! I need all that help I can get. And yes, I need a vacation (or something)!
~Later

Herman McKinney, VP of Urban Affairs for the Urban Enterprise Center, Me and Edward James Olmos 

VOTED Tshirts...they're going fast!

Show that you VOTED with your VOTED T-Shirt!!
...Encourage Voter Awareness!
...Show that YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE because you VOTED!
...Excellent Christmas Gift for FIRST TIME VOTERS!!!
...Excellent Christmas Gift for you and your friends who VOTED!!!

2004 HAD THE BIGGEST ELECTION IN HISTORY.....
YOURS COUNTS!


Front: VOTED Election 2004
Back: Mine Counts...

Only $16.95 (+S&H)

Size

LXkXXL

I have this awesome pic with Cornel West, the renown Princeton Prof. This is one of this "more pressing things" that I have to get off my chest and want to show!
~Jazz
 

VOTED Tshirts

It's been while...lots to add...

Uhhhhh...it's November 30th and it's been a while so I'm just going to post this Draft more than a month ago so I can get it out and move on to more pressing issues!
~Jazz

It's been a while since I've written but as I have been inspired by my girls Satra and Starr, I'll get back on it because I have a lot to add!
Let's see.....I'll just go backward. Dang, I'm thinking that sometimes I really just need to sit back and appreciated life a little more often. It all goes by so quickly that I forget all of the amazing things that I have done and all of the blessings that God continually pours out. I love this blog, 'cause it jogs my memory....helps me keep tab of the good things in life (and of course the rampant thoughts I'm always having!)
Here's the run down:

So last night October 18, 2004: I saw the one and only, extraordinarily gifted (not just talented but GIFTED!) JILL SCOTT . Whoa! The Girl, sings from her gut...from her soul. She's reppin' for our generation. Yes, we have talent within this generation too and she is the epitome of it. A friend's significant other (I'll keep it at that until I get approval to post more) plays bass for Jill so we (Mom and I) had the pleasure of seeing him perform.

Saturday, Ocotober 16: Mom and I (we're kicking buddies once again) went to see ANGELA DAVIS. She is still the awesome sis that she was in 1969 when she got arrested at age 24!

I'VE FIGURED IT OUT!!!!!! HE TOLD ME

So that it...I'm a writer of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ himself! I was sitting here at work when I started to write. I new I loved poetry but I found out today that it's my method it's my means. I should say it His method and His means. I'm a poetic writer of the Gospel of Jesus. Oh man this is awesome. Before writing I prayed that God would simply reveal to me what the heck I'm passionate about; what truly makes me tick; what's something I could with or without pay what's been buried on the inside. I prayed that prayer in the bathroom (I know it's graphic but it's true) and when I came out I had to write cause you see writing is what I do. For real I feel like The Cat in the Hat. Poetry just comes out. See I'm not writing this right now. But I'm the vessel trough which it comes. I'm a writer of the Gospel. Don't mistake I'm not saying I'm adding to it. But I'm sent to put it in today's terms...make it real to the extent that someone will understand the message sent 2000 years ago. I'm a writer of the Gospel of Jesus and for real what a relief to know what I'm doing how I'm supposed to do it and why: to let the masses see that Jesus is a real guy who walked on this earth free us all from sin to let us know that we are redeemed though we sin time and time again. Now I don't have to rack my brain with schemes to make money. All I have to do is walk in His purpose and his guidance will provide. Dang this is hard to do with a job, because His word is always flowing inside. I have hard time containing it. It wants to come out all the time. But from 8-5 I need some discipline to do the job that's - WHOA I just prayed for some discipline and the flow stopped. Gotta go. Gotta get back to work.
PEACE!

Birthday To-Do's!!

So here are some options for this evening's Bday festivities:
Still haven't decided what to do. Everyone who knows me knows that Salsa music is the key. It's a lil' difficult as everyone doesn't latin dance but oddly this song keep popping up in my heard: "It's my party and I'll....." I'm going to try to consider others in the after-dinner decisions but it seems like that will be a fight between Heaven and he--.
Call me if you need to know what we decided
253-226-4367

1. LAS MARGARITAS
(206) 623-7203
1122 Post Ave, Seattle, WA (Down the stairs from 1st & Seneca)
Salsa Cubana - Experience the Best Mexican food in Seattle. Come for the food, stay for the Salsa show. FREE Lessons, dancing, performances and more. There will be playing the very best Cuban dance music straight from the island for your dancing pleasure - 10:00 p.m.
21 & Over with ID. Admission Cover $5 No smoking

2+.The Mirabeau Room
529 QUEEN ANNE AVE. NnSEATTLE, WA
http://www.themirabeauroom.com/

2. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Party
China Harbor
206-286-1688
2040 Westlake Ave. Seattle, WA 98109
$3 Greeks, $5 college ID, $10 before 11:06pm
http://students.washington.edu/aphia/

3. Des Amis - Floetic Fridays
Spoken Word/Slam/Music/Neo-Soul/Hip-Hop/Classic
1013 E. Pike St., Seattle, WA
206- 322-0703
http://www.clubvibes.com/events/view.asp?id=20057

4. Jumbalaya @ the Baltic Room
1207 Pine St., Seattle
$10 cover

5. Beso del Sol - Salsa Nights
4468 Stone Way, Seattle (In Wallingford)
(206)5478087
$5
http://www.clubvibes.com/events/view.asp?id=11934

6.Club Shangri La
1521 5th Ave, Seattle
206-374-8441
http://www.clubvibes.com/events/view.asp?id=22466
$5, 21& over

7. Larry's
R&B, Reggae, Pop/Top 40
206-624-7665
209 First Avenue South, Seattle
http://www.clubvibes.com/events/view.asp?id=17133

8. Alibi Room
85 Pike St.Seattle, WA
(206) 623-3180
A low-key, artsy bar with a cognoscenti clientele, the Alibi Room is the perfect place for a chilled-out evening. Its location (under the Pike Market) keeps most foot traffic away, insuring that folks who come are in the know. The warm, wood-furnished room is lined with windows that look onto the bay (ok, the viaduct too, but who cares?) and boasts rotating art by locals. The downstairs room hosts various local dj's for an intimate dance experience.

Amazed, Thankful....and not frontin' (even if I risk embarrassment)

I'm amazed a completely inspired by the new realm of reading/entertainment/news that I've to which I've recently become privy. This thing called "blogging" is utterly amazing. 6 years ago, I learned enough html to make a very basic webpage that held my homework assignments for a design class that I took. I could never quite progress past my very crue attempt at what had become "the only way": having a webpage to boast of accomplishments. hobbies, photos etc. I just said to myself (and probably others) last week, that I really need to get a webpage. God must have been listening. Not that this is yet a true webpage, given that I'm at the mercy of the Blogger template, but at least it's a start, I have somewhere to get my thoughts out and I can (with a lot of work) post my pictures...which is all I really wanted to do anyway.
So to the point: I search Seaspot.com like a fiend, in attempts to activate my life when one day I ran across a post from Ambra Nykol, a truly talented sis who speaks her mind and is quite a prolific writer. I can't find her original post about being a Black conservative but when I do I'll let you know. Anyway, so I had to find out who she was and if people who thought and spoke like this really live in Seattle/Tacoma....they do. This sis is too much. So check out her site www.nykola.com. I tapped into some other links on her site and saw that everyone was using this Blogger. So I figured, "Hey, lemme try!!!" So, here I am with a site that I really don't know how to work or format, but I'm forever indebted (well at least for a minute) to Ambra for being "Young, Black and Gifted" and having a site that I could easily copy ;)!
Thanks!....I'm sure she thinks I'm crazy as still don't know her but write her often as if she's my best friend. (That's the risk I was talking about ;)!

~Peace...gotta go to class!

TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!

TODAY IS MY ACTUAL BIRTHDAY!!!!!
24 years old...man how time flies. Like usual I'll be in school. I am so pleased to say that today is my first day of Graduate School at Fuller Theological Seminary www.fuller.edu where I'll be working on a Master's in Divinity (M.Div). My first classes are Biblical Interpretation and get this; HEBREW!!!!!!!!! It's amazing, I'll be taking Hebrew. My academic advisor from school is from Israel so at least I'll have a practice partner ;)! I don't know how it will be paid for but I'll leave that up to God! Let's see.. I've made a one year goal to purchase my first home, upgrade my car and start a small business on the side. I have lots of ideas of what I could do, but none that have yet stuck.

Again,
For those who are out of state, out of time, are at a loss for gift ideas and/or desire to contribute to assist in my purchase of my own home, you can give your Birthday Gift through paypal. Click below to send Jazz your Birthday Wi$h!!!!

Details
From: Jasmine Bridges
Location: Buca di Beppo
701 9th Avenue North
Seattle, WA
When: Friday, October 1, 7:00pm
Phone: 253-226-4367
RSVP: http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?event=ESEAGDADBPWYXKCJCRBU&inviteId

My Birthday!!!!!!

For those who are out of state, out of time, don't know what to buy and/or desire to contribute to assist in my purchase of my own home, you can give your Birthday Gift through paypal. Click below to send Jazz your Birthday Wi$h!!!!

Me in Cape Coast, Ghana with "family" at Cape Coast slave castle. 

WoW!....it's created

Amazing!...So I'm sitting here (won't say where but you know given the time of day) and I've just created or should I say uploaded this Blog Spot. It's amazing how you don't have to know anything to create something now days. I can't write much but as my new page has just been made I couldn't let this opp slide. I mean I've got a page up and running. I've got the highest of hopes and no skill to go with it. Pray that this'll work! :)!
2:37 pm