In the heart of southern Africa lies the scattered evidence of a lost civilisation whose people built some 20,000 stone structures. These breathtaking ruins constitute the largest continuous stone settlement ever built on Earth as it stretches over thousands of kilometres from South Africa all the way to Kenya and beyond.

Learn more at MaKomati.com

Its as dangerous as it sounds.

“A Spanish tradition dating back from 1620, baby jumping is a practice that take place every year in a small town called Castrillo de Murcia.

During the Colacho festival, people dressed as the devil (Colacho in spanish), jump over babies born in the last 12 months to cleanse them of the original sin and protect them against evil spirits and illness.”

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Cuz you’re still fiending for stories of aviation hijinx after the Jet Set Chapter of Frank151 dropped months ago, Frank commemorates the 70th anniversary of Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan’s flight across the Atlantic and into the hearts of wingnuts who thought Charles Lindbergh was a punk. Corrigan took off from Brooklyn, NY and wound up in Dublin, Ireland after over 28 hours in the air, despite having submitted a flight plan that named California as his destination.

When the Bureau of Air Commerce came-a knockin’ for an explanation, the seasoned pilot blamed a faulty compass and claimed he hadn’t noticed how off-course he was until 26 hours into the journey. The Irish prime minister welcomed him in the emerald capitol and New Yorkers threw a ticker-tape parade upon his return that outdid Lindbergh’s — all for shoveling so much bullshit onto The Man and getting away with it. What’s more, Corrigan pulled it off in a gangsta ride:

The thing is, Sunshine really was a crate. It was patched up and lashed together and, worse . . . had developed a gas leak that Corrigan decided he didn’t have time to repair. Gasoline actually leaked into the cockpit while the plane was over the Atlantic. Corrigan solved that problem by using a screwdriver to punch a hole in the cockpit floor.

Props to “Wrong Way” Corrigan for elevating the phrase ‘ghetto rig’ to a whole new level.

(via Wired)

(Video Deebo-ed via Kilos and Grams)

Check out this clip for The Game’s Dope Boys with Travis Barker laying the drums down on the track. The Game’s  album LAX drops July 8th.

(via KilosandGrams.com)

“Every day, 8,000 lives are lost in the global AIDS pandemic. In our country, nearly I million people are infected with HIV, and approximately 40,000 more contract it each year. National HIV Testing Day is an opportunity for Americans to increase their awareness of this terrible disease and to get tested for HIV/AIDS. By working together to end this pandemic, our Nation’s citizens contribute to a brighter future for themselves and for people around the world.”

Bridge Runners founder and man-about-town El Saeso along with Frank Book 22 Guest Curator Nemo chilling in Washington Square Park back in the day. Photo by Kim Harris

James Brown still holds the record as the most sampled artist of all time. Are you listening to the man enough? Put him in your summer rotation now.

Snoop should make a C-Walk how-to.

March 15, 2008 for Frank 151

“Not much was ever written on the topic of 52 Hand Blocks, but its previous name managed to get some ink in several publications. Jail House Boxing (a.k.a. Jail House Rock) first showed up in an article on Martial Arts in prison called, “KARATE IN PRISON: Menace, or Means of Spiritual Survival?,” by Anne Darling and James Perryman in Black Belt Magazine, Vol. XII, #7, from July, 1974.

An inmate described a style of boxing based on the Comstock prison. The term Jail House was universal in speaking about prison fighting styles and the name of each prison was used to separate each form. Each prison had its own environment and the styles were used to meet the challenge of survival in that prison system.

During the late 20’s another term for 52 was being used to describe the fight; “Stato,” which means the fight from upstate New York. Elders in my community remember this era and spoke about the styles of boxing that were born during the Chittlin’ circuit, a period in boxing history where Black Boxers could not compete for the Title but fought each other throughout the South, Midwest and up and down the East Coast.

(more…)

Last week, April 7, marks the 75th Anniversary of Prohibition’s end (also, a good reason to throw a party).

That day, in 1933, American breweries were allowed to start making beer again, thanks to legislation from Franklin Roosevelt.  Liquor would follow fast, with the last Prohibition laws repealed by December 5.  A collective sigh of relief went up across the country… we’ve been celebrating ever since.

“What America needs now is a drink.”  - Franklin Roosevelt

Of course, Prohibition didn’t exactly stop the party in the first place.  Or even slow it down.  If it had worked, the Twenties wouldn’t have been Roaring, would they?  (more…)