1) BlackAmazon, Having Read the Fine Print. I am a bit "ageist" at times, I have to admit. I've met too many (and been one) sharp tongued, smart young people who were callow and had no idea of half of what they spoke, who needed some weathering by pain, or stone, or heavy nights of rain. A muscular intellect not tempered by life's wisdom can be a dangerous and blind eye. But BA is a "younger" person (and there are a few online) who somehow found this tempering, this weathering along the way. Of course we all benefit from a greater number of days lived if we care to "live the examined life," so she will only grow stronger! But I learn things from her different stances and paths walked, and that is valuable to me. Even if I'm like 180% older than her. I don't know. Math doesn't excite me. (But B.A.s posts do!) And I know BA sometimes gets annoyed that her age has to be a point of focus, but hey, BA! If it excels like a duck; if it stands out like a duck, if it has a sweeter quack than a duck, well, drizzle it in sweet and sour sauce and call me a...damn. I am HONGRY.

What was I saying?

2) XicanoPwr at ¡Para Justicia y Libertad!. XP is one hardworking, well-researched, passionate, and important voice for the Xican@ community. Because he does not temper his views for the mainstream at all, he remains underappreciated. Further, there have been many times when I felt hesitant, or under attack, and this cat has always showed up whether it be in email or comments and has showed solidarity. I not only respect his mind and his efforts and style, I respect his riding shotgun. This vato is, fo sure, in mi barrio y mi clica.

3) R. Mildred's blog Cuntensquirten. Someone else who doesn't just color inside the lines but bends and redraws the lines, looks under them for backdoors. Finds them. Furthermore, she has a great sense of humor and it's even a bit caustic, which is nice for spice. One of the more enjoyable and interesting voices I've found in the blogworld.

4) UNSANE AND SAFE: She is smart, confrontational, Australian in location, and just the type of voice that will drive a certain kind of man batshit crazy. In fact, I knew I had changed somewhere along the line, when I realized that as intensely critical (and perhaps "angry") as her general analyses of men might be labeled, I do not feel a need to react as if I were defending...anything. I do not always agree with her views, but she is an original thinker, smart, and on the occasions I do, or on the occasions she makes me think something new, it's so worth it. I think she probably thinks I talk and think too much about race, but I also don't feel particularly hurt by this. I could see how it could feel that way if race/racism/race matters was not something that poked itself into your days or your culture, or if you needed to focus on something else more. Man, I feel that way half the time about my own writing. (Of course I have to keep talking about it. It's something I didn't talk about for most of my life. And in my case, that was not a good thing. This is helping me.) But regardless of what she thinks of my blog, I do think she's a valuable read for thinking folk.

5) LatinaLista, by Marisa Treviño. She began in journalism, and she brings her professionalism and ethics with her. Yet, unlike some converts from the print world, she is flexible and understands that the Internet is a new medium. She doesn't try to bend the 'Net to an old world, she shapes her reporting in an accessible and personal tone, while keeping its solid feel. I really respect her agendas and her ambition, both. Watch this one, she won't be happy with a small corner of the net. And she's doing very good things for la communidad. Incidentally, I am finishing up her new site, here's the main page.

Okay. The deal is to pick five others. Feel free to ignore it or to do it. Your call. Big love to my other blogmigos—trust me there are many more I respect and wouldn't want to see leave my feed (I'm lookin' at you bfp and kai and sylvia and ilyka!).

If for any reason this post felt like deja vu, you are thinking of a different post. (Or else that was just a glitch in the matrix. OH NO! Cypher, you puto!!)

I am working on some interesting stories/posts. I don't want to just push them out there. These ones need a few edits. And now it's time for a walk in the sun. And then more code and grafiks work! Enjoy.