I was sitting on a high stool in the lounge area of a local bar. My side-line hearing could hear the topic of discussion from all sides. The classic club conversations: a little bit of hellos, laughing, some Obama stuff, & some do you have a light?

Then a girl wearing a bernos ‘I Heart Africa‘ t-shirt shows up and joins the congregation of six.

I love bernos I was going to buy a tee but everything on their website was soldout!“

I was curiously listening since they had no idea who I was. It’s interesting listening to people talking about your work without them realizing who you are…des siil.

Checking the bernos email; we get the same topic questions everyday, except this time it started out differently. The guy mentioned the number of emails we must get.

I’m sure I am one of thousands of emails you are getting about your products being out of stock. However, is there any way of knowing when you will have your shirts back in stock…”

He is right. Although we have brought out new shirts consistently, we are always out of stock on something. This topic has been discussed before and to the best of our ability we have tried to explain our predicament. In the past two years, the demand for bernos tees has been growing noticeably.

but really why can’t you have everything in stock?

If you guys are selling them- why not print more? We are often asked this question.We like the creative process it takes to come up with new designs and think we can do even better moving forward.

As a growing company it’s important we set certain goals for us to achieve. Last year it was to move from Ethio-centric designs to more Afrocentric designs without losing our base market and our brand, the bernos brand. We achieved this; however, there is still room for growth.

We think that the target market is neither too small for our business model nor too large that we don’t have the time and monetary resources to market to it. Thus, a little late but now we think we are positioned well to achieve our biggest goal yet: to enter the wholesale market, if you saw our first TV interview recently we are one third of the way there.

Wholesale

Over the last half of the year we have gotten many emails from stores all over the North America showing interest in carrying the bernos brand. The emails range from buyers asking to house our shirts in their stores, to agents asking to market our shirts via various outlets. We have been hesitant to just jump in and give this a shot because wholesale brings with it a lot of headache of its own if there is no structural platform to keep it organized.

So we must consider all the issues that may arise from this venture and first answer all the technical questions that arise when entering remote wholesale. Regardless we are planning to be in stores before the end of this year.

Online

This is the backbone of bernos, because our market base is spread throughout the world. We want to continue to grow online. But we have come to realize there are few things we lacked at the beginning stages; one is that we didn’t have a scalable platform. Scalable platform not only offers a wide range of useful tools, but also makes buying and processing purchases much simpler.

In short, we will be able to offer coupons, multiple payment options, different shipping methods, affiliation possibilities etc.

So we have hired an ecommerce specialist to make this scalable platform for us, now that we can afford it. This will allow us to concentrate on the marketing aspect of the bernos instead of the technical.

No More Unisex

For both wholesale and online- we also need to fix the sizing issue; two different sections for the ladies and gents. Now ladies you can have the fitted shirts that hugs you in all the right places. This is also standard practice in the t-shirt industry and we have to standardize if we are going to compete with the big boys.

Thus, with September in mind we will begin our reconstruction of bernos. Unfortunately we will not be having too much in stock nor will we restock sold out items until then.

Our plan is by late September we will launch the better bernos with four new and restocked shirts. Until then what we have available is what is currently in inventory. We hope our fans won’t be too upset with us and understand we are merely trying to improve so that you may have a pleasant bernos experience.

Three young immigrants make a fashion statement

by Alysia Patterson - Jul 17, 2008

WASHINGTON — In the world of African affairs, Ethiopia and Eritrea are historically unfriendly neighbors. But in the fashion world style transcends geopolitical tussles.

Three young African immigrants — one from Eritrea and two from Ethiopia — joined forces to create a t-shirt line that fuses together their old and new cultures. And they’ve just found out it’s a winning combination.

I am not a slut!‘ Things woman say to rationalize certain actions.

Yes, there are double standards. Males can sleep around and boost their machismo while woman who do the same thing are considered to be degrading their femininity.

I love sex, why can’t I enjoy it freely?”

She said to me, while trying to explain away her discretion this past weekend.

She knows that she could tell me, she knows that she could say the truth without a slay sentence coming unto her.

Rationalize away! I don’t mind. I don’t mind if you want to sleep around. Playing the field is also ok by me.

The Talk

Another told me that she is not monogamous, till ‘the talk,’ you know the one you talk about exclusivity.

I am of the mind that, one person should only date one person regardless of ‘the talk.’ But more and more I am encountering woman that say that they want to keep it open till sex is involved. I want to keep my options open, till I find the right guy.

I don’t want to have the talk, to know I can trust her.

Regardless, I wouldn’t mind dating a ‘slut’ by societal values. The double standard should go away; the only thing I want is a little honest.

There are a few I have had and continue to have interests in. They are honest about it, they don’t care what people say. They have had several one nightstands;

I have been nineteen men and I am only twenty four.”

I really don’t mind, experience is good. Maybe you can show me what you have learned in the ‘land of experience,’ just don’t gag and tie me.

What I do not want is to be surprised? I don’t want to wonder if the smirk on the guys face that came up to us to say hello is caused by the his memories of the night you spanked him.

If it is, that’s ok! I might want the same thing one day. Yes, history is important; how, when, what & where.

The Grey Area

How much is too much information? For the weirdos like me, nothing is too much but some might get turned off by the details like the type of lubricant you ex likes to use.

So mention your random encounters.

I finally sat her down and asked detailed question, and she was like I didn’t lie to you. Not telling me that you are currently separated from your husband because I didn’t ask you is lying, you… you … YOU SLUT!

I am not saying rent a billboard, just be open.

Wow, just wow. The number of bernos blog readers is growing by the month, averaging 700 unique visitors per day.

That means more than a few hundred people, consisting of mostly Ethiopians in North America, seriously follow the bernos crew around.

I met lots of people, mostly those that just read about us, and so they came up to me in droves at least ten or more times per day while present at the ESFNA soccer tournament seven days doing my thing with the bernos crew.

Meron is working on a full recap for the events and project we participated in as well as the near future plans of bernos as we are going through major structural changes due to finish by October 08.

Back to the readers, one guy came up to me to give me a hug, I am like dude I don’t hug guys but he was unjustly excited because he just wrote a major article on a popular magazine which he showed me, about Ethiopian Jazz. He is currently a freelance writer with a small local magazine in South Dakota. No more details here because this post is not about him. He claimed he used the bernos blog for references on Ethiopian Jazz.

I met a few people that I knew through email and had no idea what they looked like. One girl although I knew her very well drew blank when she told me who she was. You see I had never expected some of these people I know to be email people to be real people.

It’s super weird and they are all over the place, California and Toronto were seriously representing; the locals I had already met. One guy was really upset with me because I didn’t remember who he was; you see he is not a bernos reader but his wife is and she must have introduced me to him more than a few times.

In reality, I am good with names and faces but I don’t remember every acquaintance - those I meet very casually. I do meet dozens of people every week, from my day job to my night job but mostly from my social life here in DC.

Every gathering brings a slew of people from a somewhat diverse background together. Sometimes I meet people I have seen since I originally met them two years ago. One girl I was checking out from the behind, she had nice legs and ass too. She said she knew me, my face looked familiar and I was thinking she was one of those people who thinks they know me just because they have seen my picture online or on some publication.

Eventually after she told me her name and I mine, we realized we knew each other and then voila she said she sat on my lap at an Aster concert, I now realize that this was four years ago and we had exchanged numbers after a full night of flirting… she is betam cute from South Carolina or somewhere around there.

She gave me her email address probably for the second time but I am just remembering that this actually happened as I am writing this post.

A few people with interest of business nature, young ones too; I did meet this young guy from the southwest, with whom I chatted about certain ventures casually.

Although we didn’t exchange contact information, called me after finding my contact info somehow, I told him to send me his email so that we can keep in touch and possibly pursue his ideas. I was very impressed by the level professionalism these really young Ethiopians showed.

And the models, or pursuing a career in the modeling industry; I met a few that really were serious about it and wanted to see if they could participate in bernos photos and or events. A girl came up to me chatted with me for about half an hour, left her business card and when I got home I received an email thanking me for taking the time to talk with her about bernos. Impressive!

In actuality the perception of Nolawi, or even bernos much larger than reality, thus some people look at me as someone important even though I am of no major significance by any standard. I never liked that, I feel like I am misleading them.

Some people are patronizing , they look down on you and talk to you within the constraints of a community. Some people are talkers, they just talk and talk and talk and never do anything. I just listen and then leave.

In all, I love my people betam, the girls, the young people, the hustlers, the business people. The faras too, fara people are cool, by the yuppie standards I could be considered fara. Anyone who does anything within our community is somewhat fara. they say.

I like most of my people, except the yuppie Engineers. I am tired of engineers with low-mid level salaries and no original thoughts acting like they’re better than everyone else. You are just IT telalaki that has training using a calculator.

I luh me a rich platter of cultures and perspectives

…some pocky, kenke, some spicy pad thai, kitfo with coal toasted KoCHo and gomen be ayib, some falafel, tegabino shirro, butiCHa topped off with bubble tea or a mojito…

I get intrigued that a certain arrangement of patterns, colors, monuments or objects tell stories, harbor history and hold meaning.

Seemingly nonsensical (to me!) rites and rituals, stomping and romping are the abodes for meaning about belief systems and ways of life for identities across time and space.

I love the fact that music, as it seeps out of surfaces, expresses such abstract things like turbulent emotions and heavy thoughts, it evokes reminiscence of vivid smells, tastes and visions across miles and centuries as it also transmits messages and exudes impact.

…as do words… the way the story is told amplifies the volume, emboldens the energy with which it is relayed. The cultural idiosyncrasies, their uniqueness and weirdness are the salt, spice, sour and sweetness perfectly fused like in thai cuisine…along with deliciousness they relay nutrition for survival. They are the vesicles of identities and alternate realities…

“The core of creativity is based on identity” - Dr. Kay Shelemay from Harvard University talking about modern Ethiopian Music at the Tsehai Conferences.

A little while back…on the bernos blog someone made a comment about the diverse backgrounds of bernos readers and bloggers. It is a curious question; how diverse are your experiences?

Thinking about it, I realize that if anything, without the privilege of traveling to many places though I have done somewhat extensive travel within Ethiopia, I’ve become an ‘international consumer‘ …an old professor of mine would call this commercial exotification or orientalism or some other jargon term…the kind of culture you can buy from the store! lol, Ok, so what? it’s a guilty pleasure.

A small snapshot - I tend to shop at Asian marts and go a little too crazy buying sweets like chocolate covered green tea cubes. I treat myself to some good Ethiopian food once in a while…other than the instant shiro and tibs at home.

I can’t get enough of music like bossa nova, flamenco, cool jazz, samba and oldskool southern african beats… Nothing gets me dancing are guragigna, zouk, soca or the mishmash of salsa, merenge and cumbia.

My favorite foods: QoCHO begomen, southern indian snack smothered with chutney, thai curry fried rice, sushi, kenke and Qategna… I find myself chasing after items that are ‘ethnic’ and dreaming about traveling to costa rica…

They say something like… it’s when you go out of your comfort zone that you can learn a lot about who you are and where you are from. I am sure many who are more traveled and tri/quadru-lingual can speak to that better

tpeace also blogs @ senduQ

cheers!

I was frankly amazed this past Ethiopian DC soccer tournament; party after party, event after event, everybody was getting it. Normally, when I party with my Abesha’s, it’s quite the contrary. I am usually in a packed room, where the promoter already has made their money, and they don’t care about the music and the people are standing around.

When I go into a party, I want to walk in with my hands in the air and dance with the first bad thing, I peep. Then I want to proceed to the bar with clear walking space as I step off the crowded dance floor, without having to knock someone out, so I can pop some bottles.

So I guess I will have to thank Yodit for that. I had fun partying finally with my Abesha’s. I used to always wonder why they would stand around, but I guess nobody showed them, UNTIL NOW!

We are working this week, with no internet connection other than to process orders from around the world. We love you guys but we also have lives, and thus we are not going to be updating the blog this week as we are busy at the ESFNA event here in DC.

If you are going to be there, come say hello, we love that if not give us a shout out.

I have to wear a watch at all times. If I am not, I feel nervous, uncomfortable and naked.

It maybe because I really respect time; as the saying goes ‘time is money” and I have to spend it constructively. Yes, I love to spend Sundays in bed, maybe make an egg bacon & cheese sandwich and a mug full of coffee; but that is time spent wisely.

My watch stopped working recently, and I have neither the time to get the battery replaced, nor do I own a backup one. But every morning before I leave I put it on as I have for the past two years.

I look for the time at least 6 times and day I would realize that the watch is not working and consequently would remind myself to go get a new one or take it to the shop.

This Sunday ‘no breakfast in bed;’ this Sunday I have to go ‘watch-hunting.’

I love a nice watch. Nice watch not expensive one. Expensive ok if’s nice. I have thought about a Mont Blanc, but I am not there yet, and my attire is more ‘bernos tees’ than ‘Ralph Lauren Polo’s’ these days. I don’t mind putting a small bankroll on it though. It would have to be casual one that goes with the jeans as well as the suit. Thus I don’t have to change my watch with my wardrobe.

Every once in a while I would lose my watch inside the apartment and I have to go out with out a watch. I abhor those days; those days with out a time to keep; those days I can’t look down at my watch to watch the time.

A Tall Sunday Acquaintance

It’s yet another Sunday, a good Sunday because this Sunday is special. It’s a long weekend and Monday could be spent just like a Sunday.

I get a phone call from an acquaintance, the kind of acquaintance that you are friendly with but are not friends yet.

She never really calls me, I barely know her. I only know her enough that she has my phone number. She is one of those girls I am acquainted with that she come up to me at some event and we chatted. She is one of those acquaintances, that would never call me to hang out but this Sunday she would ask.

No I am not coming out to town tonight! Bakeh come out with us, it’s just the ladies, and there is girl a zemed of sorts that is in town from Europe. She would insist that I joined them by telling me that the girl is very tall. And thus this Sunday would be spent with an acquaintance and a tall European abesha chick.

The hasty shower refreshed me but where is my watch and I am already late. I could use the lost watch as an excuse for my lateness but I knew I wouldn’t be able to flirt with the tall European Abesha chick without my watch.

My prized watch, my excuse to go home if she wasn’t tall enough; a friend who keeps me company those awkward moments of silence. Good thing I have my old backup watch.

Indeed she is tall and cute with along straight hair that is tied as in the back of a horse. She is indeed tall, tall enough that I haven’t even looked at my backup watch.

Then we headed to another location, a club, an abesha one. I made the rounds and distributed my ‘hellos’ while simultaneously gazing at the ‘wolves’ make a moves towards the tall prey. She didn’t budge, she stayed put with the ladies and I liked that. I didn’t feel like competing for her attention this Sunday.

Esti show me your American moves, and move we did to the dance floor. I told her that I would save some of my moves for the bedroom. She laughed and leaned forward pulled me by the arm and left her lipstick marks on my cheek.

I knew she like me because she laughed at my lame attempts to be funny. She told me the personal details including her plans to move in the US. And I adored and even respected that she was very open. I tend trust girls that are can talk about themselves in a non-chalant, unguarded way.

Head tilted laughter

It must have been late, that she asked for the time. She pulled my left hand up to look for the time on backup watch and looked confused that I glance for the time.

And then she burst into laughter, that she tilted her head back and could barely stand up. She was trying to speak although incoherent while simultaneously laughing. Yemasera seAt…., referring to ‘my wearing a watch that doesn’t work.’

Daym, does she actually think I am wearing a watch that doesn’t work intentionally? I told her I didn’t know that it didn’t work but she couldn’t stop laughing. She was laughing so hard she had to cover her mouth and tilt her head back.

I smiled and left her on the dance floor and walked away from a wasted Sunday without my working watch.

Have you heard? If you haven’t, the Ethiopian Annual Tourney is going to be in DC this year. Bernos is going to be there! So make sure you find our booth.

For our customer around the world, I am sorry we won’t get to meet you in person but as promised, you get 1st dibs on the reprinted shirts.

We have by popular demand, conceded and brought you two of the most popular’ Ethiopian themed bernos tees.

Ethiopian-Alien: The Traditional Ethiopian Scroll portrait is both a religious and cultural image which has represented Ethiopian for many generations. This iconic imagery has been and is currently in use in both commercial and fine art. This face has special meaning for those living outside of Ethiopia, because it has resemblance to the extra terrestrial face, which we happen to be while living as aliens. Ethiopian-Alien in gold available now for only $19.95.

Desta Keremela: Desta is the brand name of a popular candy that was made in Ethiopia. Keremela means candy and Desta means happy. Desta Keremela is the first candy ever manufactured in Ethiopia. The bernos Desta Keremela tee is also available now for only $19.95.

We think we got enough tees produced for everyone in all sizes, but we wanted to give you, our online customers 1st dibs before we sell them all out at the bernos soccer booth.

The Big $6 OFF

Last but not least, we do have a sale, a big $6 off on the Addis Ababa Classic tee. This one is dedicated to all recent college grads that are broke and jobless. For $16.95 which is less than 4 gallons of gas, less than 2 drinks at the club, you can have one of the few left. So get your tee now while it lasts.

There is a saying that football (soccer) is the beautiful game in the world. But after watching the extreme violence and brutality of football fans in the movie “The Football Factory,” I was left to wonder if that saying was an irony.

This movie unfolds the dark world of British Hooligan culture thats replete with booze, drugs, sex and barbaric bare knuckle fights. Had it not been for the comedic nature of the movie, the gore and savagery in it would have been unbearable.

The main star of the movie, Danny Dyer has recently released a set of documentaries titled “The Real Football Factories.” In this documentary, he goes to the major football firms and interviews the members. For them, a couple of beers, some lines and few minutes of brawl sounds like a healthy British past time.

That is when compared to the very recent documentaries released by the same person entitled “The Real Football Factories - International.” This is where everything from the fans exuberant passion to the violence takes a gruesome turn. Guns and knifes are wielded in exchange for punches and death is a very common occurrence during big derbies.

One of the episodes that really struck me was the one on the Hooligan culture of the Balkans. A very sad story about the football firms in the former Yugoslavia whose members not only fought on the terraces but carried weapons and went to full blown war with each other. It was scary to see how hate could run so deep and unrestrained nationalism could lead to ethnic genocide.

The Real Football Factories International (Part 1)

The Real Football Factories International (Part 2)

The Real Football Factories International (Part 3)

The rest seen below.

• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6

Alyssa Bistonath shots; amazing flicker find.

Once in a while I see photographs taken in Ethiopia and I am wowed. You could argue that its just the photograph that mesmerized you and not the subject. Its both.

I just wanted to share these with you guys.

Every two years or so I would read an article similar to this published today on the Independent; Out of Africa: The stolen prince.

The articles are usually good ones; they are descriptive and “historically accurate,” per say.

Oxymoronic phrases like the ‘Royal Orphan’ and the ‘Stolen Prince’ thrown around quite a bit. I once tried to have a conversation with friends who where clueless to the story.

So for those to short attention span, I will write the cliff notes and then share my opinion.

Prince Alemayehu Tewodros was born 1861; his royal blood stretches back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. By age six or eight Queen Victoria’s soldiers stole the boy from Magdala after his father death and then brought him to Leeds, England.

The prince passed away by age 19, he died of loneliness.

Like all stories of the Ethiopian history this is an interesting one and my grandfather would tell them all to me.

Now Ethiopian aristocrats are trying to bring the remains of the boy back to his birthplace.

I for one believe that they should let bygones be bygones. This is part of the Ethiopian history and it should remain as history. The brass plaque in Windsor Castle that was erected in the memory of Prince Alemayehu shall remain in place reminded those that pass by it the rich stories of the ancestors.

As for the paraphernalia the British brought some 139 years ago from the highlands of Ethiopia shall be returned and placed in a museum. And the journey back shall be incorporated in history.

Skinny is out; well skinny is ‘in’ but not as ‘in’ as it was in the late nineties. Dresses are definitely ‘in.’

Girls are wearing light colored summer high wasted dress. That helps plump girls look more appealing while making skinny look bony.

Controversies were stirred up over the last five years. Bony models are banned is Spain and Milan has made adjustments. The wolves; the woman’s advocacy groups and the medical associations have been crying ever since…since forever.

They would like to think they changed the course what’s ‘in,’ or  what’s ‘out.’ But it’s market that has decided.

Fat is not in, this is not the renaissance, this is not a Goya painting; plump is IN!

It was a hot weekend night. I went to dinner and then the text invite comes in. This is the place. I will stop by. I will check it out. The girls are young; they are independent minded, like one that told me, “Why shouldn’t I?”

She was chattering about playing the field. She would like to get laid once in a while even though she hasn’t found her man. Whatever the reason, I just like to look at them. If nothing else the view is nice.

I decided to join the guys outside, drinking to the moonlight and the summer dresses. Indeed the view was nice.

She was young, very young I suspect. If this was 1999 she would have been ‘the girl,’ the one everyone stared at. With her heels she looked taller than Dikembe Mutombo. The ribbon is barely holding her hair together. Her tight top showed her whole bare back, but nothing was covering the black bra. She didn’t care, it seemed like she was going to the neighborhood pharmacy.

She looked like an extra in a 80’s Madonna’s video. I would complain that she was blocking my view, but she was so skinny. If this was 1989, she would have an open invitation to fashion week runways. But this is 2008, and plump is IN!

“Oh my god, she is so skinny! I like some meat on my bones,” he explained. Then the conversation changed to various topics. Their eyes didn’t focus on the ‘bony girl,’ they were looking at the ‘meaty girls’ in the high-waisted summer dresses. Indeed plump is definitely IN!

It’s one of those things that you’ve been taught to say, but take for granted as you get old. I don’t mean to sound preachy or anything, but I’ve always been taught to say amen to anyone give me a burake. It doesn’t matter if the person is an elder or someone my age. Also, the simplest word of them all : Thank you.

It wasn’t long ago I went through my little ‘re-evaluate’ life phase and I was also re-assessing friendships as well. One day, I received a phone call from a friend. This person rarely calls and would rather send me text messages. I just accepted the fact that’s who this person is. I can’t change them and if that’s the way we communicate, then so be it.

But back to what i was saying. I pick up to hear this person say

Beshou, I just wanted to tell you are one of the few people that I truly value and thank you for your friendship.“

I can’t remember anything that was said before or after, but that sentence is forever etched in my memory. There is nothing better in this world, than to hear someone (be it a family member, or a friend) tell you that you are appreciated!

I think we need to give praises where it’s due. Bernos is made up of a lot of people. At one point, I believe there were about 6-7 of us, if any of you bothered to take a close look at the ‘about’ section. We love to recognize others who’ve helped get us to where we are now.

However, if it weren’t for this man’s flickering idea, or need for an outlet to let his creative juices flow, Bernos would not exist. Not only that, if it weren’t for him encouraging me, helping me put my photoblog together, my passion for photography would have remained in my close circle of friends. I would like to say : THANK YOU to NOLAWI.

THANK YOU for sharing your stories on the blog,

for giving an outlet to those creative minds out there,

for giving me a platform for my photography,

for taking care of those little technical details on Bernos that most of us have no clue about,

for creating the BERNOS PRESS, (it was great while it lasted)

for being you…i would add the nickname, but i might get shot for it

The Official FIFA world cup is approaching the 100 year mark since its beginning in 1930 in Uruguay.

It took forty years before the world saw an African country participate in the world cup. Morocco became the first country to qualify in 1970’s Mexico City world cup. The team lost in the first round to Peru; 3 – 0, but at least they made it to the stage.

20 more years passed before an African Team went past the first round.

It was in my lifetime in Italy 1990; I like many African kids from the entire world watched as Roger Milla of Cameroon substituted in the second half to steal the ball from the long haired Colombian goalie and score the goal that sealed the deal for the African team to go to the Quarter Finals. Cameroon eventually lost to England 3-2, but this was the moment.

The moment from which, I like my friends and all African Kids I suspect, switched from idolizing the Diego Maradonas, Lothar Matthäus, and Ruud Gullits to the Roger Milla’s and the Jay-Jay Okocha’s.

It will be another twenty years to 2010 before we witness another first. South Africa to host the World-Cup; I hope to make to the mother land to catch sight of this with my own eyes.

And Optimistically it wont takes another 20 years before we see an African team take the trophy home.

I love the word ‘Dashiki’! It has power, kinda like Shakka Zulu; which all brings me back to the black power era.It also reminds me of Oromigna as well as a little bit of hip hop, we can put it all together.

Akam Jirta Jirta, I am coming at you with my Dashiki’s, & kick your mozerfukin ass with my Dula! Black Power Baaby!

Oh shucks! Maybe that’s why black people are seen as threatening; our words are so in your face. Aydel?

Seriously though I am thinking about buying a Dashiki , I am thinking it might inspire me to learn more about the West African culture. My sister spent a whole year in Senegal a few years back, and lets just say her taste in music had greatly expanded by the time she returned; not to underestimate her palate.

The problem is that the Dashiki design is very complex and colorful. How can I wear it and be comfortable?

A girl I dated long ago was showing pictures of when she was a little girl and poor girl had to wear lots of decorations on her hair and hair. A bunch of little clips in many different colors, among other gadjets which I could not explain on paper.

She said that the kids use to tease her saying “Christmas tree!”

So no ‘Christmas tree‘ for me. I am looking for the simplest Dashiki in the whole wide world. Let me know where I can find it?

Introducing Party DC a micro site, for which we have recruited a few people, including Wondata and Beshou; Who are going to update everyone interested in events during the Ethiopian Sports Federation of North America tourney in DC.

The Good News; is that bernos is going to be present with our own booth at RFK stadium during the Soccer tournatment from June 29th – July 5th, and also bring back a few of the sold old bernos tees including:

• Ethiopian-Alien
• Desta Keremela

For our bernos customers outside of DC, we are going to have these tees available online prior to the event; the last week of June. If you haven’t already bought a tee from bernos, COB Thursday by noon will be the last day you can qualify for free shipping Dawit introduced last week. Get one now!

About Party DC

Bernos introduces Party DC which is a micros site that will be up until mid July. The plan is to organize and inform people that are interested in the different events and parties happening throughout the pre and post tourney.

The Reasons; to organize people interested in partying at the right place. To organize people so that we can solicit discount rates for tickets at shows, clubs and other events.

But most importantly to make the party we are at instead of fighting with security paying 40 bucks to get in at the so called right place.

So go to PartyDC.bernos.org and Sign Up and Subscribe!

Now I really dig the idea of a bumping fist with the president.

Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth. This was the moment – this was the time – when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.

The end of Barack Obama speech I just heard.

More of the speech here. And podcasted is the Obama Campaign theme song City of Blinding Lights by U2.

He walks in to that every time, its amazing.

Stuff White People Like is a blog that started in January 2008 and quickly became the hit of the web.

It got huge really quickly, although I have stumbled upon it and even subscribed I saw it on TV when it was mentioned on Fox news a while back, because they wrote an article saying white people like Obama.

Post # 8 titled Obama; meaning White people like Obama. The reason because

Because white people are afraid that if they don’t like him that they will be called racist.”

That was the whole post, and the site got a mention everywhere after two weeks the website started. This post got some 1,600 comments.

The website is wonderful, full of amazing funny interesting and good hearted articles. I like it, I even read it, even though I am black I want to know why white people like stuff.

Regardless I want to add something to the list.

Since we here at bernos have a lot of white customers, I want to add bernos tees to stuff white people like.

This is the image of earth at night, via Google’s Earth’s Earth light. You can take a closer look at the whole world here.

Africa is very dark. No lights if you take a look at this image. Europe, and US are very bright. Japan is the brightest. India and east China are coming on up.

But as a continent Africa is the darkest. There are a few areas though; edges of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco seem bright. It also looks like the cities in Egypt are situated by the nile river, or for some reason they have many lights there.

Dubai, LA, Vegas, Tokyo, NYC and Paris seem are very bright cities. From African countries it looks like Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Cairo are the brightest, it seems.

Anyways Africa is the Dark Continent! both literally and figuratively!

Source

It’s becoming ridiculous, and I think everyone in the world could relate, because even if you use public transportation; like here in DC, they are worried that the trains will be overloaded if the price increases to 5$ a gallon.

I have never really thought about how much I spend for Gas, but its hitting me in my pockets, because I drive long distances most things.

I did receive a tip, a gas saving tip that is; Ten things you can do to save on gas.

Here are a few, I don’t know if it makes a difference.

Avoid speeding, Avoid Acceleration, Turn off AC; basically take the fun out of driving. But the biggest surprise is the inflation of a tire, basically there is a point in the inflation rate of each tire where you can optimize the rate of gas consumption.

Yes I know the cynics here are bernos are going to say, why don’t you take public transportion?

I would if I could, but I can’t so what to do?

Here are a few suggestions, I found on the web:

• Convert you car to run on Free Vegetable Oil in 8 Easy Steps; Betam arif
  
• Or find more activities closer to home and at home; genuis, basically don’t drive!

This past week I moved to my new apartment as I’m still organizing everything. Including the kitchen…I still have to buy stuff for my empty refrigerator.

So yesterday I decided to grab dinner by myself as I got Rigatoni pasta dish at a local restaurant. The bill including tip was 20$; which is the price of a good dinner.

This week also memorializes, pun intended, bernos 2nd year anniversary since we opened our business. With that I thought we should give a celebratory discount, down to the price of a good dinner, including shipping of course.

This week and only this week, we offer free shipping; on all bernos orders, including to all our customers overseas.

You get your bernos tee at your doorsteps for the price of a good dinner. If you haven’t gotten a bernos tee yet, this is your chance. It takes less than one minute to place your order online.

The bernos tees seen below are currently available ranging in price at about 20$.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Derrick Ashlong aka DNA is a musician, public speaker, Harvard grad, immigrant from Ghana and an American; supporter of Obama! His interview was a big hit on you tube over 1.3 million views. See the videos.
Our own dotmike wrote an article on Dailykos about being fired up and the grassroots work making Phone Calls as part of Ethiopians for Obama and almost 700 comments.

I don’t want to blow my own horn se but I am a supporter. I also think Obama is good as a fashion statement. Other people that are wearable include, Marley, X, Gandhi, Dalai Lama, and many more… but not that many. Let me know what that says about him.

Sorry about the messy hair but this is the only picture I have of my Obama Tee. You can find this tshirt at print liberation; fellow tshirt designers.

One of the most fascinating aspects of running a business is that you get to see society from a different perspective depending type of service you are supporting.

I consider myself a very enlightened person especially on sociopolitical and socioeconomic sense. That is why I was surprised when we [bernos] received so many emails from Americans that have adopted and or are in the process of adopting kids from Ethiopia.

We have many customers, maybe a couple dozen, which we know of, that are new parents of an adopted Ethiopian kid or in the process. From what I understand the process takes years.

One email was asking the origin and information on the name Meron, because this parent adopted a three year old named Meron; others asking information about certain articles that was written on the bernos blog. I forwarded the message to Meron and asked her to talk to the parents about her name.

We have received a few requests for us to provide bernos t-shirt in kid’s sizes; like this comment yesterday, so that the parents could buy something related to Ethiopia for their Kid(s). Another thanking us for certain service and sharing certain stories about their kids. As a whole we get many requests from many people, a lot, about many different things. Bernos is a lot of work and it requires an investment in time and money when we delve into another project. We do our best mostly prioritizing for customers before ventures seekers.

I recently read a blog post from Chris and Jess who are ‘waiting patiently (sometimes impatiently), but always faithfully, to adopt our son from Ethiopia.‘ I think one of them bought the new I heart Africa T-shirt and wrote about it.

Another interesting comment is from Dan and Tiffany who have been married since 2000 and are waiting for their first child from Ethiopia; and also another Bernos Customer.

I am writing to thank all the parents and soon to be parents of kids from Ethiopia. And hoping Chris & Jess and Dan & Tiffany and many others through out the west receive their babies soon.

He has a popular phrase at the end of his show where he would put the last garnish on the entrée and he would loudly say

and remember… If Yan Can Cook, So Can You!”

I can’t help but smile every time I hear it because it’s so catchy, much like a popular phrase from the radio during WWII era in which a legendary host would say “Good Night and Good Luck!”

You might have heard because George Clooney titled his Film about the host after it.

Except when Martin Yan says it, he doesn’t pronounce the ‘N’s and its quite funny. It sounds like ‘If Ya Ca Koo So Ka Yu!‘

And I can’t stop laughing when people make fun of it by changing it up and saying “If Yan can’t, then neither can you!” or many other reiterations of the phrase.

I hate to make fun of accents, as I have an accents that can be construed as an Indian-Ethiopian that migrated to America; and that is another story.

Right before I was going to put the Pizza in the Oven

So I bought book on quick and easy stir-fry dish because I wanted break my Wok Meron and Dawit bought me when I moved into my apartment. I haven’t yet because these days I have been making pizza, at least once a week after I bought a pizza stone that works better than the wood oven at Wolf Gang Pucks.

Making pizza is very easy and much of the work is the dough. After the second time I have it down to a science the way I like it. I can even throw it up in the air!

The ingredients change based on what is in the fridge but I have put almost any vegetable and or meat on it, on different occasions of course.

The best thing about making pizza is that you can flavor it in different styles, like my Ethiopian meatballs, I have made it very Ethiopian by flavoring like the fried Bederjan we used to have in our home in Ethiopia.

For those not familiar with what Bederjan is, it’s a special eggplant that is found in Ethiopia. They mostly make Wot with it but it’s not the same as one found in the west. The Latin name is actually Solanum aethiopicum, notice the Ethiopian in the name. So they call it ‘Ethiopian eggplant.’ My mom would argue that the small fat Egg plant is found at the Korean store, thus not making it Ethiopian at all.

Eggplant is popular in our house hold, both my sisters; make fried egg plant but breaded Italian style in most cases. My younger sister uses eggplant in many dishes, including salad.

In Ethiopia eggplant is used in different things. Like this Ethiopian Eggplant salad or the Bederjan wot; not a big fan of it but it beats having Shiro with no meat. Even the Eritrean serve it with bereberE and tomato sauce; I am not a big fan of that either; BerberE and Tomatoes should not mix.

Pizza Out from the Oven cooling, look at the perfect puffy crust, just the way I like it!

Mostly though, I prefer Margherita style pizza, tomatoes, basil, parsley and Red Bell Peppers with different types of cheeses. So I make the pizza with a different reiteration based on what is available in the refrigerator.

And thus, remember …. If Nolawi Ca Koo, So Ka Yu!