You may have heard of Marvin Franklin.

He was a NYC-MTA subway worker who was tragically killed by a train last March. 

But he was also a prolific visual artist — the man filled a 120-page scrapbook every 2 weeks.  Franklin never sought fame or fortune from his art, rejecting the gallery world and the commercial art market, and instead focused his life’s work on the perfection of his craft.

His paintings are on display at the New York Transit Museum, this week through March 30.  Expressionistic, haunting and deeply personal, the exhibit is well worth the visit.  Go here to read the NY Times article about Franklin and his life in the arts and the MTA, two things we never would have imagined could coexist.

Last week Frank151 took over the Belmont Lounge, to celebrate the holiday season and the first anniversary of Frank’s Chop Shop! One year down, many more to come… It may have been cold outside, but the Frank fam kept it nice and cozy in the Belmont, with  Sal Morale, Sinatra,  and Giancarlo rocking the crowd all night.

As you can see, no mistletoe was required.

A special thanks goes to Dewar’s Scotch for making the party memorable, but hard to remember…

To peep shots from the rest of the night and more, visit Tone, the man behind the camera magic, at his website.

In what sounds like a dream for millions of tired coffee drinkers, Darpa-funded scientists might have found a drug that will eliminate sleepiness.

A nasal spray containing a naturally occurring brain hormone called orexin A reversed the effects of sleep deprivation in monkeys, allowing them to perform like well-rested monkeys on cognitive tests. The discovery’s first application will probably be in treatment of the severe sleep disorder narcolepsy.

Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep (via Wired)

Some real New York Shit. Courtesy of The New Pop:
Introducing, the world famous, Frenchie!

..

During this holiday season, it is gestures like these that truly warm our hearts here at Frank151.

The one and only King Yellow Man stops by the BADMAN RADIO show this Saturday on Bigupradio.com. BADMAN RADIO is hosted by DJ TRASHA “Tha Booty Shaker.” The living legend YELLOW MAN has been been touring the world for decades bringing the original dancehall music to fans in every country. This celebrity has spread joyous dancehall globally and now you can get a peak at what he’s up to today. With dancehall Hall of Fame tracks like “Nobody Move,” “I Can’t Take It,” “Yellow Like Cheese,” “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng” well…there are just too many to list! Do not miss this exclusive interview and feature with YELLOW MAN!! ONE LOVE . Click here to tune in on saturday .

…then come 2009, you may be shit outta luck. 

Traditional analog TV broadcasting is set to end just over a year from now.  That means cable and digital broadcasting (both of which you have to pay for) will be the only kind of TV left.  Anyone who can’t afford to pay for their television channels, or chooses not to, will be left with nothing but static… 

Who knew?  Apparently, not many people. 

Rabbit ears are going the way of the dodo

A politician in the Dominican Republic is fighting to pass legislation to ban bikinis on TV, with fines up to $15,000 for showing a thong.

No bullshit — D.R. congressman Nestor Julio Cruz Pichardo claims that revealing swimsuits are an offense to Dominican tradition, and could harm impressionable children. What, should parents avoid the beach too?

No word on what the going price is for this guy’s head.

In the name of solidarity, Frank151 wants to share this shot of Massiel Indira Taveras Henríquez, Miss Dominican Republic 2007 — wearing a bikini. Fight the power!  And merry xmas.

(photo lifted from misscontest.blogspot.com)

Old New Yorkers, if you remember the heyday of Cartoon Network….

When – if you found yourself dry at 4:30 in the morning, but you had that account number – you knew you could have some of the city’s finest delivery at your door in under an hour….

Well, then you might be disappointed by the way their old lawyer buckled to the feds after they asked him what Cartoon Network was paying him for. 

Glad they’ve got new representation — good luck, guys.  Go here for the Smoking Gun’s story on their ex-attorney.

This is type old, but it’s worth going back to. DJ Soul keeps things rolling, and has been…steadily.. If you missed this the first time around,  your i-pod is stylin’ right about now.

DJ Soul “Assorted Donuts”

Tracklisting

1. Intro
2. Talib Kweli “Intro�
3. Notorious BIG “Kick In The Door� (J Dilla Remix)
4. Nas “Hope�
5. Ghostface “Whip Me With A Strap�
6. Jay-Z & The Escorts “Song Cry�
7. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles “A Legend In It’s Own Time�
8. Jadakiss “Why�
9. Redman “The Saga Continues�
10. Big L “Put It On�
11. M.O.P. “Pounds Up�
12. Black Thought & Peedi Crack “Freestyle�
13. Black Thought Interlude
14. Kanye West Interlude
15. Busta Rhymes, Rah Digga & Young Zee “Freestyle�
16. Mos Def “Miss Fat Booty�
17. Ghostface “Beauty Jackson�
18. Notorious B.I.G. “Things Done Changed�
19. The Roots “Can’t Stop This�
20. J Dilla “Won’t Do�