So I got back from Reggae Rising 2008 (previously Reggae On The River) on Monday night and I barely live to tell my adventures! Took what we were told was a “shortcut” from Chico to Garberville, California. The 36 is the most treacherous route I have ever taken in my life. After the four + hours of driving around windy curves, almost crashing during blind turns and no lines in the middle of the road we came down the hill into Garberville and the blew the transmission. F the Ford Taurus.

Got towed only five miles because I don’t have some kind of premium AAA card. Randomly met the nicest, most non-creepy guy ever on the side of the road who took us and ALL of our stuff to the festival in exchange for some herb. Dropped us off inside the festie with our huge pile of camping gear where I managed to talk some recycling dudes into putting all our stuff in their truck and hauling us to our friends site for a warm Coors in a water bottle.

Met a man named “Prophet Mark” who decided he would find some local tweaker for us to fix the tranny. BAD IDEA. The guy had no tools or teeth. Went to the shows and had fun anyways and decided to leave the car on the side of the road. Luckily no one works in Humboldt during Reggae so we weren’t towed. Some asshole stole our cooler with all our food and our table but it was cool because we camped with the BBQ King.

UB40 disappointed me because the singer wasn’t let into the country. They had a replacement who wasn’t nearly as good and were pretty cheesy with terrible facial expressions and coordinated dance moves. I have to say, Junior Reid killed it. Black Uhuru reunited and played a short set with Sly & Robbie. Don Carlos may be old but he can still bust out the hits. He looked fly in a red leather jacket and the gnarliest beard of my life. Every dancehall artist had serious swagger with full silk suits and Mr. Vegas threw down some mad lyrical skills and hyped up the crowd despite the heat. Collie Buddz performed for his second year, with a band this time, and his song “Blind To You” had everyone going crazy. His “riddims” were off the hook as he blends hip-hop and dancehall. Sizzla played every song I wanted to hear and his set was super high energy. He is Jamaican dancehall. I’ve always loved Turbulence’s vocal style and he was definitely shown tons of love from the ladies. There are a few videos up on YouTube already so keep checking back for more!

Took our essentials home and left the rest for dead because we had to carry everything to the bus. Took the bus and found our car, which no one would work on until the next week. Had it towed, hopefully, to some dealership 60 miles away and convinced my boy’s mom to come from Berkeley to Garberville and then drive us to Chico. Got stung by something weird and my foot is double the size of my other one so I had to get a shot and it royally sucked. I felt incredibly dirty and tired by the time we got home and found out my hot water doesn’t work so I couldn’t shower. I am now a dirty hippie trying to sit in the sink and wash my feet. Ew. It was still amazing and I had a blast floating down the river all day on the “Mega Station” fully equipped with two coolers, couches and little docks. By far the craziest trip I’ve ever been on but I can’t wait for next year!

Fearless Records is probably one of the sickest labels around, and we’ve hooked up with them to give you free shit in honor of this summer’s Warped Tour. Here’s what you get: posters from Fearless bands that are on Warped, CD’s from Alesana, Every Avenue, Mayday Parade, and Video Matt’s current band crush, The Maine. In addition, you can have as many of these damn Korn vinyls as we can give away… they make great frisbees. Check out this poster for everything I just told you, then sign up right HERE

Chinese authorities have put a “secret” ban on black people. The authorities have requested that during the Olympic Games in Beijing next month, all bars surrounding the Games must deny service to black people and “other social undesirables.” The Public Security Bureau is requiring that service be denied to black people and Mongolians.

“Uniformed Public Security Bureau officers came into the bar recently and told me not to serve black people or Mongolians,” said the co-owner of a western-style bar, who asked not to be named.

The local authorities have been cracking down on blacks and Mongolians in an attempt to stamp out drug dealing and prostitution ahead of the Games, the proprietors said.

A few months ago, police launched a violent sting on black men drinking in the Sanlitun bar district, and a notorious nightclub largely populated by Mongolian prostitutes was also shut down.

Guess it isn’t a secret anymore because it’s posted all over the internet. Bad move.

At 8 PM EST major league baseball’s annual Home Run Derby will take place at Yankee Stadium. This year’s field is made up of Lance Berkman, Ryan Braun, Grady Sizemore, Chase Utley, Josh Hamilton, Justin Morneau, Dan Uggla and Evan Longoria.

I’m gonna go with Lance Berkman from the NL to win it, with Josh Hamilton of the AL coming in second. Unfortunately, and rather ironically, there are no Yankees participating, no thanks to A-Rod. Check out Jayson Stark’s thoughts on that situation .

The 2008 lineup is FRESH! KRS-One, 88-Keys, Buckshot, Blu & Exile, Fresh Daily, Mickey Factz, J. Period, Zaki Ibrahim and DJ Premier. The Brooklyn Hip-Hop main performance day is July 12th. Check the calendar on the Web site for the rest of the festival days programs & performers. If yer going, I’m super jealous - take me with you! I can fit in small spaces!

Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Michael Redd, Deron Williams.

Those would be the names of your coming US Olympic basketball team. Oddly absent would be a single Celtic, which will surely cause outrage on the East Coast. But let’s hope this bunch can right the US tradition of gold, as nothing else is deemed acceptable.