Too Long..

yea, yea, yea..

i know, i know, i know..

i'm the worst blogger in terms of consistency.. i make promises that i never keep.. i start concepts that i never keep going.. but y'all gotta give me a break.. we have a new President.. Hope is on the horizon.. hopefully i'll get my blogging act together and be more consistent..

i'll tell you what, though.. i do write blogs.. daily.. they are just in my head.. maybe i'm the Hov of blogging.. yeah, that's it.. i'm the Hov of blogging.. i don't write it down until i'm ready to drop the album.. so that can be every 6 months or so that i go back into the booth (i.e. blogger.com), but i promise not to drop duds..

anyway, too much is going on and not enough time.. def' not enough money, but who's pinching pennies?? well, who wants to count the pennies that they are pinching??

explain this to me.. how is it that as you get older Christmas becomes more and more expensive for you.. how is it that your grown siblings and family expect bigger and better gifts from you? what is that about? i swear my mom grows her Christmas Wish List exponentially.. it ain't fair.. i can total up the last 10 Christmas' and i'm dang sure that the amount that i spent in those 10 years for my mom is more than the 16 or so that she spent on me growing up.. shoot, i'll venture to say that it's more than me and my siblings combined.. what is that about?? flights, jewelry, food, trips.. really? did i ever get a trip to Disney World when i was a kid?? shoot, i would've love to get outta the South Side to a warmer place.. i'm just sayin'..

what about Turkey Day? maybe when i have a nice crib and room for 25 people will i appreciate this day more.. right now (and since i could remember) it always seems like more of a hassle.. it starts from the family.. who's house are we having it at? at what age is it acceptable and be grown and not have to go home for it? who's preparing what? man, so many questions.. the biggest one is, who is cleaning up?? cuz that's what i'm looking for in the future.. ain't no way i'm having 25 ppl in my spot and not have help cooking AND cleaning.. nuh uh.. ain't happening.. everybody is working.. if not, it'll be a scene from "Martin".. tellin' everybody to "get to steppin'!".. i'm just sayin'..

so, yeah, as you can see, i'm VERY excited about the holiday period.. VERY.. i'm disappearing.. y'all don't believe me? ask my mom.. i sent her an email and told her that i'd reconnect with her after the holiday period, cuz i needed a break.. yup, i said it.. i treated my mom like she was a business associate.. i'm sorry, it sounds harsh, but i just needed some me time.. is that too much to ask?? she knows i love her.. so stop screwing your face up at me!!

Chicago Style

i'm still nearly speechless.. after literally losing my voice in the streets of Harlem, USA, i find myself operating on 2 1/2 hours of sleep.. and i never felt better (aside from this pounding headache)..

i get to go home today.. ironically, i'm heading to Chicago today, and i have no clue how i will feel.. i spent all of last night shedding tears of joy and screaming.. forces buses, taxis and cars to honk their horns after Barack was elected our first Black President.. damn.. Black President.. stuff sounds crazy.. but there we were.. Fuzion had an event all day yesterday to watch the results come in.. that night was something that i couldn't describe.. as we watched the inevitable happen, we were puffing cigars and drinking Johnny Walker Blue (don't try that at home, folks).. realizing that the numbers were about to come in for Barack.. seeing him first take control of the senate.. then seeing 293 pop on the screen, showing that he exceeded (later trounced) the 270 that was needed to secure the Presidency..

we went crazy.. i felt like Coach Jimmy V running around looking for someone to hug.. i picked Superstar up like she weighed 2 pounds.. i was hugging and kissing and pounding up everybody in sight.. grown men were crying.. i teared up, but didn't have the waterworks.. not cuz i was ashamed, just because my joy was limiting the amount of moisture streaming from my eyes.. i was laughing and smiling and crying.. and it never felt so good..

i ran out into the street.. the MIDDLE of the street.. i didn't care.. a few blocks away on 125th street they were doing the same.. with news cameras everywhere.. they had that.. we locked down 116th.. i was screaming at cars.. screaming at people on the street.. hugging more white folk than i probably have in my entire life.. i was telling men that i loved them.. men that i didn't know.. literally..

"i don't know you, but i love you!!"

i called my Man C3, and was yelling and he probably wasn't understanding anything i was saying as i was at the highest level of ADHD as possible.. cars were blaring the Obama "A Milli" remix.. i was yelling it.. i was in the street for nearly 45 minutes.. NON-STOP.. this was unbelievable..

i thought about my family.. those that passed, and those that are still here.. i thought about my future family.. i thought about being able to have a child born under a Black President.. i thought of everything at the same time.. i thought of burying the hatchett with people that i don't like.. i thought that my credit was good.. i thought i had the bank account of Oprah.. i thought of everything.. and even believed it for a second..

i thought of how after it was announced, everyone in that room came to me about making some things happen.. they asked me to lead it.. some big things.. where we use our collective power and expertise to do something big.. something so big that i can't even talk about it.. but i felt good, cuz they gave me the keys to make it happen.. the youngest guy in the room.. 4th youngest period in the room.. that made me feel good.. made me feel like for a change, a lot of us will use this extra inspiration to fully tap into our potential.. that alone is good enough for me.. that alone makes me so proud.. that alone makes the world see the power that one Man has..

it takes me to that scene in Malcolm X when he put his hand up and pointed and had everyone walk in unison.. only to have po-po remark that no man should have that much power.. well, World, that Man has arrived..

his name is Barack Obama.. the 44th President of the United States of America..

Tales from the Booth

ok, so i just voted for my man, Barack Obama.. the future President of the USA.. Brasil, i'm coming if something crazy happens, so please have my bed ready!!

so, i wake up at 6am today.. realizing that my polling spot opens at 6am.. ok, well it was like 6:14am, but i didn't set my alarm.. i have that internal clock thing going on.. anyway.. i creep out of bed and look out the window.. no lines! YES!!

yea, hate on.. my polling place is DIRECTLY across the street from me.. i wrote a blog about that back in the day after my vote wasn't counted for Barack in the primaries.. old news.. anyway..

so i'm excited that there wasn't a line, cuz i've been hearing about the long lines.. not that it matters.. actually, as i type this, my best friend is in a long line around the block in another part of the Bronx.. but it's beautiful to be sending text messages before 7am and get responses from everybody.. everybody is out there.. at least my peoples are.. history in the making..

ok, so i finally get up around 6:24am.. yup, 6:24am on the dot.. wash my face, do all that good stuff, throw on some sweats, sneakers, jacket and a hat.. i'm dressed for voting success!! i get outside, still no line.. woo-hoo!! i see a police scooter parked in front of the crib.. got an instant bad feeling, but i moved on as soon as i crossed the street.. took some pics outside the spot.. felt good.. saw an older Black woman videotaping her mother going to vote.. i think i felt a tear creeping from my belly to my eye in about 3.8 seconds.. i didn't allow the tear to beat me.. my instincts were clocked at 3.5 seconds..

so i walk inside.. aww shoot..

nah, no lines.. just the okey-doke.. confusion.. they have 2 lines (which i found out was 3 later on).. 1 line says 44th District.. the other says 45th.. EVERYBODY in there was confused.. except those that brought those cards.. i didn't have mine.. most of us didn't.. some man was walking around assisting people with locations, but this dude was just a helper.. usually i'd say he was worthless, but he was helping out doing a job he's obvious not trained for.. looking up addresses is VERY hard.. anyway..

i see my neighbor, but he doesn't see me.. i stand behind him.. we finally figure out that we're in the 45th District.. but again, this feels like one of those Bush tactics.. it's like 25 people there.. since when did we have to go to a booth that was labeled w/ our district? it is what it is.. i hope and pray that everyone's vote is counted.. moving on..

i get to the table where they are trying to find our name.. last time, they couldn't find my name, and i had to do the P Vote (look it up, it's too early for me to remember how to spell it when i can't remember how to pronounce it!).. again, that vote was never counted.. i'm not bitter (i promise - wink wink).. well, here we go again..

i tell him my name and say "it starts with a P".. even though he has my ID right there in front of him.. do y'all know this Voting Helper (Black man) didn't know his ABC's?? that dude was stuck on M forever.. then went backwards.. i'm like "my man, P is AFTER M".. after some blank stares, he finally got it.. we laughed about it.. i dang near wanted to say, vote for Barack, so your children have a chance, cuz you, my friend, did not get a proper K-5 education!

my people, my people..

so i help the lady next to him spell my name on the card.. finally, i'm in the booth..

aww shoot.. i'm lost.. i feel like the Voting Helper who doesn't know his ABC's!! this ancient machine has me shook.. joint is so big, it looks like it can eat me.. i'm staring at Barack's name.. trying to move the lever.. ain't budging.. i take a deep breath, and take a smaller step back.. i'm confused.. i want to call for help, but i know i can beat this big machine that looks like the first computer.. i know i can.. i know i can!! so i look up and see some directions.. ahh-haa!!

i move this big lever to the right, and then i hit the switches.. all Democrat.. i have no clue who the other people were.. i'm horrible, i know.. well, the one chick lives right down the block from me.. so that was it.. i just pushed all the levers to the Democrat names, saw the X mark the spot, and pulled the lever..

jackpot!! i did it!! I VOTED FOR THAT ONE!! Yes sir!! i made history!! commence with instant texting and picture taking!! here i thought that i would get right back in bed, but i'm blogging to all of you.. texting to even more (i think).. having conversations w/ ppl standing in long lines (i'm here for moral support!).. and it'll keep going.. Fuzion has an all-day event at BBRAXTON starting at 10AM, where we'll have food and drinks (big up to CIROC for being a sponsor!) and watch all the news come in.. at 11AM i'll turn on The View (yup, i like that show.. go Whoopi!!) at the shop, and have dudes hating.. it's all good..

Go Vote!! (if you're confused, go with the dude who sounds like the most unlikely choice for President)

The Questions..

yeah, so the picture has nothing to do with The Questions.. but oh well.. deal with it.. it's my blog!!

moving on.. more questions..

1. How can you have HBO, HBO OnDemand, Showtime and Showtime OnDemand and not have CNN, ESPN, or MTV?
2. How does that make sense? If you pay for premium cable, shouldn't "basic" cable stations be free? What kind of sham is this?
3. Why do I feel the banking industry is a monopoly? Or are they playing monopoly or us? Or is it just that - monopoly?
4. Why am I feeling like tomorrow is going to be like Christmas?
   
5. How did DL Hughley get a show on CNN? Did anyone see that debut? If you did, did you bother to watch the 2nd show? I know I didn't - not a question, but i'm just sayin'..
6. Why does the economy make everybody a born-again Jamaican? Aren't people looking for 2nd jobs? Aren't business owners looking to start another business that can make quick cash to pay for the first business?
   
7. Was that last question just for me?
8. Why does this NBA season seem even better than last season? Is it because I'm liking the way that my Bulls are looking?
9. Why was Hov's "Kingdom Come" so slept on? Was it just too grown for a dumbed down audience? Dude had timeless beats and rhymes to match on it.. I mean, you really don't get a skip track until more than 1/2 way through the album.. Sorry, that wasn't a question.. i'm just sayin'..
10. How do you allow yourself to get clowned to your face? (i'm talking to you Palin and McCain)
11. Why am going to vote for Barack tomorrow? That was rhetorical..
    

Shut the Bleep Up..

normally i don't do this.. but really?? for real? in the words of Riley (Boondocks, come back), "that's what's really hood, huh? that's what's really hood?!"

saying your RNC speech in your latest Klan rally?? that's how it goes down?? only to see FoxNews report that you finally had your moment and spoke with assertion? really? is that what assertion is? being able to raise your voice above a whisper while finding a way to stay alive?? really?

did you really think a show like the Daily Show wouldn't peep that either and make fun of you? really? you actually had the audacity to spit the end of your RNC speech again? line for line? word for word?? and the media doesn't eat you alive for that??

i guess that really is hood..

Shut the eff up and get off my tv.. i hope you have an accident on stage tonight.. and not the "that one" accident.. one more of those, and you might mess around and find yourself missing.. keep playing.. there are a bunch of "that ones" walking around free nowadays.. read up on your current affairs.. i mean, i know your girl doesn't read or even know the name of newspapers, but you should be smarter than her.. shoot, who isn't??

The (Stock) Market..

or so they say.. for my math people, you know those brackets mean the negative.. pun was definitely intended..

our economy is worthless.. i just got my latest statement, and while i'm not doing horrible (diversity has its perks), i still lost money across the board.. i've been upset with people talking about buying stocks and all that stuff, because they THOUGHT we bottomed out.. sorry, didn't happen.. people bought those cheap stocks and days later lost it all.. not a good look.. and i know Buffet came out saying how the stocks are on sale..

umm, no.. i feel you, but no..

the fact is that maybe 6 months ago, our stock market became the equivalent of Marshall's and TJ Maxx.. Maybe Filene's Basement.. places where you could get great stuff for cheap.. name brand stuff at 1/2 the price.. that's where we were sitting.. and as an avid fan of Marshall's and Target (don't sleep, y'all saw Halle in Tar-jay earlier this week too!) i like those deals.. those types of stocks.. because as soon as i get them, then they go up.. i end up making the stocks better (or at least that's what i tell myself).. that Polo sweater i copped for 1/2 off looks like the same one Kanye bought for full price.. no one can tell the difference, so that stock went right back up to where it should be..

now??

shee-it.. the stock market is like the 99 cents store.. you go in there, and you dang near know that what you cop will be useless in about a week.. it goes down as soon as you buy it, and the only ppl that are happy, are the ones who sold it to you.. so, nah, ain't nothing on sale.. we are a week away from it being worthless..

let that marinate for a second..

Battle Royal

this is some amazing stuff.. i thought this only happened in movies, post-1980.. some Gangs of New York ish.. they get it in inside of Russia.. peep how after they start running, how cars come in and try to run cats over (yea, i'm giving it away).. crazy..

Gangs of Russia

Big Foot..

so, a bit ago i was out in LA.. while i was out there, i needed a massage.. in the worst way.. ya boy was stressed.. was also tired and my body needed some attention.. so, i heard a lot about the Thai Massage.. and it was cheap.. $45 cheap.. but again, i heard from a lot of people (credible people) that this was the way to go.. so i find one..

now, i know a lot of you are thinking about Happy Endings.. so was i.. and a lot of those places do cater to the Happy Ending crowd.. now, i'm a fan of happy endings, but i wasn't looking for that.. i just needed somebody to abuse me in a pleasant way, and for cheap..

so i find a spot in Hollywood.. i make the appointment.. let's bypass the fact that i got lost and dang near tore up the rental car.. forget all that.. i get there.. finally.. immediately Mr. Miyagi greets me.. he then points to the license that he has signifying that his place of business is legit..

pause..

business owners.. please don't do this.. i'm not concerned about your credentials by the time i get to your establishment.. the fact that you point out a license that is above the door that i walked in (i.e. i had to turn around and look up to see the license), and it is barely visible, is a problem.. i can't see the date or even what the license says, so then i'm made to be more skeptical..

unpause..

i say cool.. i give him my money (we have to prepay) and the tip.. i'm getting all of that out the way, plus i want the person hammering out the kinks to know so that maybe i can get a few more minutes beyond the hour that i've paid for..

so he ushers me back to these small cubby holes.. these joints sneak up on you.. as soon as you turn the corner, you see a serious of these holes.. before each hole there is a small step that you have to use to get in.. most people miss this step.. it's dark.. i know i missed it and banged my knee right into the bed that i didn't realize was a bed.. so obviously i would need some extra work on my knee area to compensate for this bed taking my knee out..

so what you have to do is pretty much crawl into this bed.. thanks for telling me that before i lost this next season in the NBA.. truly appreciated..

then a lady comes by and provides me with some boxer shorts to put on, as i was told to strip down and put them on.. umm.. no.. first of all, why am i putting on someone else's boxers when i have my own.. actually i was wearing boxer briefs, but still.. so i put these boxers on over my boxer briefs.. i don't need coodies like that chick that worked at McD's that i talked about.. not happening.. so there i am, laying down in this bed w/ extra support for my man region..

in comes the lady that is about to hammer out the kinks.. personally, i don't like looking at the women that work on my body.. i like to just assume i have this fine woman working on me.. i don't need to know that the chick working on me is the lady from "Misery".. nah, i'm good..

so i'm laying on my stomach.. she comes in and starts to work.. now a Thai massage is different.. it's a mixture of swedish and some flexy exy stuff.. contortion.. something like that.. but i heard it works wonders.. so there she was, doing what she does.. i'm a human pretzel.. cool..

then towards the end of my back portion, i feel A LOT of pressure on my hamstring.. A LOT.. it feels like someone is standing on my hamstring.. my eyes are closed.. plus the cubby hole is maybe 5' high.. so it can't be that.. then i'm thinking that this chick turned into the Incredible Hulk in minutes.. as i struggle to figure out how i made her that mad that she turned into the Hulk, i tried to take a sneak peek.. i couldn't see her.. she was angled just enough that i couldn't see her or move my head to see her.. as i tried to man up and not let her know that i was in pain, i just kept thinking "this chick is standing on my legs, she's not that strong"..

next thing i know, i'm being told to sit up.. phew! the pain was over.. i manned up.. made it through the Hulk experience.. i'm now looking at this chick that is about 4'8".. still in awe of her superhuman strength.. she asks me to sit up.. she then puts me in a WWF (not a WWE) move where she grabs my arms from behind to stretch me..

then it happens..

she puts her foot on my thigh for leverage.. it just happened to feel the same way as the hands that were laid on me that felt like the Hulk.. but then i look at her foot on some "this chick just put her toes all on my thigh!!".. then i notice that this chick's foot is wide as hell!! the biggest little foot i've ever seen in my life.. her toes were wide and flexible.. this messed up my whole experience, as i started to think about how big her foot was.. then i started to realize that the chick actually was standing on my hamstrings!!

this was too much.. but i was a pretzel at this point and was at her mercy.. i started to feel pain and pressure that i never felt before.. i was confused.. i was also amazed at her strength.. here i am, a dude that can do some fictional pushups, and this dwarf has me hemmed up, and i can't do nothing.. can't cry, can't scream, can't move.. i was scared to do any of that.. i just kept thinking, "this is a blog waiting to happen"..

all the while, more people came in down the small hall.. more people blew out their knees with the cubby hole structure.. this one Black chick came in and was telling the person what not to do.. she knew.. she had it all figured out.. she told her person that she didn't want to be walked or stepped on..

i knew it!! they walk on us.. this is some revenge thing.. they walk all over us, cuz they can.. some psychological payback.. it was crazy..

so this was all going through my head.. and then it was over.. and you know what? it was the best massage i ever had!! stepped on.. bent up.. confused.. blown knees.. big foot.. everything.. my body felt good.. i dream about Big Foot now.. it exists.. and it's a dwarf Thai chick that makes a living in Los Angeles..

don't believe me? try it yourself!!

Success Magazine..

it's on the newsstands now.. pick it up.. some dude from a company named Fuzion is in there.. nice 3/4 page picture and everything.. Tony Hawk is on the cover.. and yes, the magazine is legit.. Donald Trump was on the cover last month.. check your local Barnes & Noble.. article is pretty much in the middle of the issue..

Justin Martin..

my little man is growing up.. dude is about to be all over your theater screens starting this Friday (tomorrow)..

The Express.. check it out.. he plays Ernie Davis as a child..

High School Musical 3.. check that out.. comes out on the 24th of this month, i think.. check the commercials, they are on all of the time.. y'all don't need a link for this movie..

The Soloist.. check that out.. with Jamie Foxx.. comes out on Nov. 21st..

Black Water Transit.. check that out.. not sure when this one will be released.. crazy.. he did this movie before the others one, but this one is taking a bit longer to come out.. it also stars Laurence Fishburne..

props to the young man, Mr. Martin..

The Androde, Ms. Alaska & Orthopedic Gumby

man, i tried to stay outta this.. tried to mind my manners.. tried to bite my tongue..

i even let the "That One" slide without a post on that.. but now as i'm watching NBC Nightly News, and seeing McCain's Android (Wife) run her mouth about Obama not funding her child who went to war.. and how it sent "cold chills" down her back.. bitch, your back is made outta metal!! your whole body is cold.. kick rocks..

then seeing Ms. Alaska chuckle behind her.. that bitch can get it too.. she needs to be a contestant on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, and i'll bet that she doesn't make it to the 3rd question.. go fix your infant up with another infant.. see how that one turns out.. yup, i said it.. kick rocks..

and then i see Orthopedic Gumby talking shit.. and having the crowd join in unison to call Barack a liar.. niggas, y'all can't even look him in the eye.. say it to his face.. Gumby acts like Barack orders "about face" whenever Gumby talks shit about him.. bitch ass nigga.. bitch.. but what happened was the way i felt as i watched and listened to chants of "liar! liar! liar!".. nah, Android, i had chills running down my back! if i closed my eyes i would've sworn that i was at a KKK rally.. now i got scenes from the Great Debaters playing in my mind.. that shit is scary..

this shit has gone too far.. is it 2008? 1908??1888? shit.. watch ya back on November 4th.. in the words of Chris Rock, "these crackas ain't playin'!"..

The Debate..

i haven't spoken much about the debates.. haven't had much to say.. same stuff, different day.. i was about to post something, but then my man C3 hit the blogosphere w/ this:

Darkest Berry

check it out.. classic material.. props due..

Random

man, i'm tired.. been tired.. been grinding.. been working.. been slaving.. been ridiculous..

yea, ridiculous.. which reminds me..

Tracy Morgan..

what's up with this dude? i met him in the BX one night (real late).. dude was out there looking like a Busta Rhymes video shot in 1995.. woo-ha, got you all in check.. those type of outfits.. it was what it was.. but as i see him on Scare Tactics, 30 Rock, commercials for VH1, etc, i'm lost.. every time i hear this dude, it always sounds like he just learned how to talk.. what part of the game is this? how does he keep getting a job? yeah, he's funny from time to time, but do we really think he's THAT funny, or is it funnier because he's 2 steps away from the reading level of a slave? i could be wrong..

Fast Food Employees..

over the weekend, we (a group of us) were rolling deep.. after a nice long ride we find ourselves at Mickey D's.. there was too much going on there.. outside, 3 latino-looking employees sat inside of their car on what it seemed like was a break.. but they parked in the spot directly in front of the door.. granted, i've only worked at Taco Bell for 2 months, so my experience w/ that type of employment is limited to about 14 years ago.. but i was almost positive employees could not park in the "premium" parking spots.. but oh well, i ain't knocking the hustle.. but anyway that sets the table..

we go inside and we all order together.. i think that alone scared the young Black dude that was taking our orders.. but he takes them.. 1/2 the way through, his register went down.. so we had to move to the other register.. he helps us.. 1/2 of us order the 99 cents sweet tea w/ our value meals.. i've done this before.. i never pay more, nor do i ask for a discount, as i have ordered a cheaper drink.. it's cool.. not here.. he passes all of us the medium size cup, not the sweet tea cup.. that's a sticking point right there.. this tea is only provided in the larger 99 cents sweet tea cup.. w/out the sweet tea, this cup wouldn't exist.. that's the background.. so when dude gives me the medium cup, i reminded him that i was getting tea.. he agreed.. so, umm, yea.. why don't i get the sweet tea cup? he responds saying that the computer doesn't allow that.. and that if i wanted it, i would have to pay extra.. y'all know me, so y'all know i (and the group) grilled him to the point that he dang near had a panic attack..

pause, i forgot a good part of the story.. when his first register went down, the manager came to help.. this chick had coodies.. her elbows were covered in some form of rash.. it messed us all up.. this older white lady had coodies.. that slowed down our order times, as we all started to peep where this manager was going to go, and who's order she would touch.. keep in mind she didn't wear gloves.. but in this case, this chick needed a sleeve.. she needed to hit up Iverson for his joint, or maybe Kobe.. shoot, D.Wade's elbow pad might be more like it.. that chick had coodies..

unpause..

so, we ended up giving dude 75 cents more just to get the cheaper cup.. then the tea wasn't at its best.. sigh..

John McCain..

eat a dick..

Brothers for Barack..

More events to come.. First was a success..

Event Recap

http://blogs.uptownlife.net/dianedacosta/?p=188

My Rules..

in the spirit of Bill Maher, i'm coming up with my own take on New Rules.. if y'all don't know what i'm talking about, then you've missed one of the best shows on TV for some years now.. follow along.. you'll get it once you start reading them..

MY RULES:

1. Sequels should have to follow the previous movie.. Also, a prequel is not a sequel..

• First it was Scorpion King 2.. garbage.. hot garbage.. while it had something to do with Scorpion King, it was produced by a different company, directed by somebody who has no eye for talent, and it was a prequel!! it wasn't a sequel.. figure out a different naming convention.. joint was poop.. straight poop..
• Belly 2.. garbage.. not necessarily hot, but still garbage.. first, it had NOTHING to do with the original Belly.. i liked that movie.. it's one of my favorite movies.. yes, Nas' acting was horrible, and so was T-Boz and a bunch of others, but the movie had a story.. a plot.. i could follow it, even if i had to mute certain scenes.. i liked it.. a hood classic.. but Belly 2? with The Game?? come on now.. that joint was pitiful.. first of all it was made without anyone knowing it was made.. then it popped up on DVD.. had us all amped (ok, maybe not amped) to see it.. it was 1st on my Netflix Queue.. garbage.. they should be ashamed of themselves..

1. Blogger needs to fix its' numbering system.. i'm just saying..

• why does it pick up at #1 again? sigh..

1. Animals need to find ways to make money

• if i'm in a recession, so are you.. pets need to make their own dang money.. my cat was better when times were better.. he was more active.. he played more games.. had more tricks up his sleeve.. now? with the recession.. this dude is lazy.. he's getting the same treatment, but he's doing less.. i don't get it.. a fly will be right in front of him, and he'll just ignore it.. what's up with that?? a fly will have to walk to him - not fly, but walk - for him to even react to it.. then he'll catch it, and just let it go.. what's with that? i call it laziness.. and i'm thinking that if he's going to be lazy, then he needs to have an income..

1. Magazines need to change their name to "Ads with a couple stories"..

• every month i'm seeing more ads and less content/news in the magazines that i like.. that's cool.. gotta make your money.. but let's stop fooling ourselves.. those are no longer news magazines.. not current events.. nothing.. those are ad books.. if your first story starts on page 78, then you are no longer qualified to be a magazine..

1. No more taking pics of your baby on the phone, nor sending them to a person's phone..

• i'm going to catch hell for this, but y'all need to stop.. i've had too many baby pics recently be sent to me via email and on my blackberry.. those pics made the babies look like aliens.. that's at least what i'm claiming, cuz i can't believe a baby would have a head that's bigger than its entire body.. and that's what i've been seeing.. i'm ignorant.. ignant.. i don't know any better.. i see those pics (and they can be family too), and i'm ready to disown that family member.. on some, "nah, b, that baby ain't no kin to me!".. i know y'all don't believe me, but i showed a few to some friends, and they co-signed it.. they thought i was just talking trash until they saw them for themselves.. babies looking like extras from the new X-Files movie.. i'm just sayin'..
  

More Focus Material

click above.. more classic material.. y'all gotta peep the dude Ankh Rah doing some type of worm while they're singing "End of the Road".. classic..

btw, Focus, is going to be a new blog series of funny stuff i find on the net.. i got a list of joints, but i'm trying not to flood y'all..

I Am Not Barack

the family might (and should be) off-limits to Barack and his campaign people, but i am not Barack.. i believe the media should not research the family, but discuss the implications of the issues surrounding the family.. they should do it in the manner in which they have gone through Barack's family.. i want you dissecting things the same way you dissected the air that Barack breathes..

i'm not insensitive, but don't try to call me stupid to my face and get away with it.. that ain't happening.. the same way i caught up with that dude that owed me money, i'm catching up with you.. i don't believe the hype (spin).. i'm sorry, but i don't.. if it was no big secret, why did you have your 5 month pregnant high school senior (barely) daughter holding your baby the entire time? why was she hiding that? if it's not an issue, why keep that hidden.. let it be what it is.. she is a product of you.. you're (Sarah Palin) against abortion, contraceptives, etc, and now i see why you have a Goof Troop and bball squad in your family.. that's cool.. my older families have 5 on 5's so i ain't knocking that..

but i am having issues trying to figure out how you can do it all.. i do have an issue of you pretty much demanding your daughter to have the child and marry the father.. the boy came out on his MySpace talking differently.. so, something is definitely fishy in Alaska.. i'm just sayin'.. and i'm sorry, but that's not off-limits.. if you said they are getting married and they are happy, and he comes out and says something different, that is news.. that shows another crack.. that at least shows something to be concerned about, when it comes to families and the family value issue.. i'm not going to say you are forcing your child down this path, but the body of work is pretty much saying that..

more than that, i'm having an issue trying to figure out how this is going to work.. i know my family is different.. i know cultures are different.. but, i do recall that when you have a young teenage mother, usually the majority of the work, heartache, and stress falls on the grandma.. that would be you Gov. Palin.. with your Goof Troop and your baby (suffering from something that's not a joke), i'm not sure that you can or can't effectively do your job.. coming from a strong Black woman, i'm not going to question the resolve of a woman.. ok, maybe some.. but i know women can do extraordinary things.. i've seen it.. time and time again.. but VP? i know my mom went to work some days and messed stuff up, just remembering things that me and my siblings did at home.. that happens.. that's life.. but umm, at that high of a position, with a dude that looks and sounds like he's ready to go at any moment?? i'm not too sure.. dude might still have some type of post-i-was-abused-for-a-long-time-in-somebodys-war syndrome.. Manchurian Candidate type ish.. i have no clue.. but i ain't doubting it.. esp' cuz this old dude swears he is young and can roll with Daddy Yankee.. some call that a senior moment.. others call it an end of life crisis.. i'm just saying..

this isn't about whether a working mom can effectively do her job or be a VP.. nah, this is about that and the fact that the chick has a gang of issues internally and will be second in command, and could potentially have to take the seat in January if she won, cuz i'm not sure McCain's heart can hold up that long.. there is something about just having that look and aura, as well, and neither of them has it.. Palin definitely doesn't have it.. she hit it on the head with that hockey mom stuff.. i see that.. a VP? i don't see that.. put them both in the box.. they shouldn't play anymore..

Democratic Nomination Concert

oops.. my bad..

so let me go ahead and eat my own words.. a Nerd Convention may be how it started, but it definitely ended as a concert.. last night i witnessed history.. something bigger than all of us.. i wish i was there.. that was a moment.. our moment.. our history being made.. and it felt so good..

i saw some of the lead up.. will.i.am and john legend getting their Spliff Star meets Marvin Gaye on.. but then i skipped the rest.. until 10PM EST.. as they say: "then it happened"..

in front of a reported 84,000 people (but it could be more as that placed looked as packed as the opening for the Beijing Olympics) a man appeared.. The Man appeared.. The Next President appeared.. Barack Obama was home.. cuz he owns this place.. the United States of America is his..

i don't know about y'all but for the first time in my life i felt proud of my next President.. i was happy with Billy, but i didn't really know much about him.. not as much as i know about Barack.. so i felt a closeness.. yea, the Chicago thing didn't hurt.. him being Black didn't hurt either.. but after that moment.. that speech.. those words? yeah, i was proud.. That Dude stood up there and straight killed it.. ripped into Bush and McCain.. made me proud.. i mean got at him..

see, the thing i love about Barack is that no matter how powerful his speeches are.. no matter how moved you are witnessing and hearing his words, it actually gets better.. it gets better when you have the opportunity to read his words.. his speeches.. you see exactly how gifted this Man is.. for me it started when i read when he did the Commencement at Northwestern a few years ago.. Killed it.. i felt good that my alma mater had him.. and that he delivered arguably the best speech there, ever.. yea, i said it.. ever.. so, i can't wait to read his speech.. i have some moments that i memorized, but dang if i don't memorize that whole joint like i did MLK Jr's..

i'm not comparing the 2 speeches, but i do feel moved by them.. Barack's had so much power in it.. along with the intellect and wittiness that we all love about him.. but it was the power.. him "going in" on Bush and McCain.. it was him showing the power to state exactly what he will do, so you're not left confused.. it was him defending himself.. i mean, when he led you down that track where he was saying how they knock his experience.. knock his pedigree, etc.. that set-up was as good as it gets.. maybe some of y'all knew where he was going with it, but i sure didn't.. i thought he was about to start stating his case on how that's wrong.. but nah, not Mr. President.. nah.. he don't go for that.. no-u-o, ahh, no can do.. he flipped it and said, that's ok, cuz it was never about him.. it was about us.. can anyone say Oscar? Grammy? can that speech be put up for lead role? can it be the best single of all time?? i'm just sayin'..

this dude hit us w/ so many lines, that everybody is officially straight..

that picture up there? that's courtesy of the NY Times.. that was outside of the stadium.. those were some of the 1,000s that couldn't get in, cuz they packed it past capacity.. but that picture paints the story.. one America.. one People.. one Choice..

Barack "My Dude" Obama..

That Dude..

i gotta give it up to my man, Common.. his new video/song "Announcement" is my joint right now.. i won't front, he's where i want to be.. nah, not on the rapping ish, but just on being able to stake claim to Chicago like he does.. pound for pound, he is Chicago.. the way he has gone about this is how i want to go about this.. i want everybody to know where i'm from.. yeah, i have the whole NYC thing going with the accent, but talk long enough with me and my "twang" will come out.. and i still say Pop!! what??

i love my city.. Chicago.. Chicagoan.. Blowing like Chicago Wind.. South Side..

Announcement

Bad Business

ok, i've been on my blogging game recently.. i guess i got my swagger back.. whateva..

but, this is a truthful fiction story.. meaning that i won't expose names, etc, but the story is the truth.. my adlibs and jokes are fictional, but they were thoughts running through my head..

ok, so y'all know that i feel that as Black people, we have mastered the art of bad service.. i also believe that we've mastered bad business.. that includes practices, looks, methodologies, everything.. we mastered it.. that's not to say we can't or don't get it right when we want to.. some of our businesses are good.. some of our business minds are excellent.. but a lot just don't cut it..

so i was trying to get somebody to provide their sales pitch to me.. oh this was a sales pitch that was wrong from the start.. let's just say i needed a gym membership.. so i go to the spot, and i try to get them to upsell me on the membership by offering my own dedicated locker.. they have stuff that come with them.. so i go in there and ask the dude to give me the pitch.. dude is confused.. you would've thought that i asked him to give me all of his banking information or something, cuz dude was lost.. after 3 tries, he understood.. so here he goes..

he tells me that with the membership and locker, i get a discount on things that i buy there.. that's cool, but keep in mind that i don't buy nothing there.. nothing is of use to me there.. the shirts are from 1988.. they don't even fit me.. shrunk down to the size of Midget Mac or something.. then he tells me that when Nike comes in to do presentations, that they often leave him with empty boxes for Nike.. told me that he can give me a couple of those empty boxes so that i can put my own non-Nike shoes in them.. ridiculous.. so he's 0-for-2 right now with these "perks"..

then he tells me that they are considering giving people the opportunity to not only hand in comment cards to reflect on my membership experience, but that i will also have the opportunity to tell it to their faces, cuz they want to smell my breath.. yea, didn't make sense to me either.. i mean, i can just tell them that any time.. why do i have to wait for a special meeting? how do you know that i care enough? can't a brother just get a locker and go about his business? i just don't feel like bring my toiletries and stuff every dang time.. that's all a brother wanted..

the next part was payment.. see, supposedly the cost went up for the lockers.. but then others told me how much they were paying.. but the dude told me a different cost.. so i had to address that.. and it was addressed with no problem.. i could get the lockers for the same cost as others did.. no ish, sherlock.. then i could pay over time.. or i could pay it all in advance..

pause..

i don't know about y'all, but i ain't paying for nothing in full if i ain't getting everything at that time.. payment plans work for me.. plus, this gym might close next month, and my membership lasts for a year.. what good is a membership that ain't valid?

un-pause..

so here i am, making this dude sweat.. it's hotter than Africa in this piece, so that didn't take much.. his sales pitch was going down faster than Richard Simmons.. i'm just saying.. i was getting frustrated listening.. with my patience fried, i started to help out.. i re-did his sales pitch.. told him how he probably should come at other people for this membership and locker.. and my last parting shot was just to tell him that next month, i'd like for him to try it on me again.. for now, i'll just bring my toiletries..

so people, get your game together.. don't say you're a marketer, and then come up with the wackest idea ever.. don't say you're a business dude but have never heard of "sales pitch".. i mean it happens, but don't make it so obvious.. we all have our days.. our moments.. shoot, i recall one of the best moments at my business.. some chick gave one of the worst ideas ever.. i mean ever.. and did it like she was Billy Clinton or something.. hand gestures, facial expressions, everything.. the only thing that saved her from the ridicule was that the client was there, and they found her VERY attractive.. that's it.. she was lucky.. but she never was in with another client.. and truth be told, she wasn't working w/ us for too much longer.. shoot, i was people's boss, and i couldn't even get them to work with her.. i think they would rather have quit than to have to deal with her.. so we all have our days, our moments.. but even in those moments, you can separate the real from the fake..

step your game up.. please..

i'm just sayin'..

Babies Making Babies..

a damn shame..

WE GOTTA DO BETTA!

i'm sick of y'all..

Lookie Here..

talent.. gotta love it.. click the image.. or cut and paste the url below..

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhhGOSyg5DxM2w0B4y

Democratic Nerd Convention..

for the first time that i can remember, i spent dang near an hour watching the Democratic National Convention.. if this isn't a Nerd Ball, i don't know what is.. i sat there trying to ignore and listen to the commentators (bored me dang near to death), look at these people who appeared to be having the time of their lives (which i couldn't understand, cuz absolutely nothing was going on in between speeches), and wait for Michelle Obama to speak..

that was it for me.. i just wanted to hear her speak..

so there i was, trying to listen and understand.. each moment that passed, i got more upset at the fact that i was getting lied to about when Michelle would come up.. i was also getting more upset because i just didn't understand why these people didn't seem to have a life.. why this event was so major to them.. i mean, this year brings some historical value, as we have the first Black man leading the charge.. this is something even Joe Biden is coming to grips with.. like "damn, it's really come to this? i worked my entire life just to take orders from a Black man?".. that ish had to hurt!!

but i watched everything from the looks, the outfits, the ages.. everything.. this is a Nerd Ball.. nothing short of one.. i've never been to one, but i can imagine that in my dreams, what i saw last night is what i would expect to see at a Nerd Ball.. manners kinda off.. badly dressed individuals.. conversations about the same dang thing.. some bad speakers.. everything..

pardon me, but the Kennedy thing was qute for a split second and that's it.. dude's elbow and hand kept messing w/ me.. like it was from years of being hit w/ a switch on some "keep it up this high, not that low!!".. "curve your hand like this, not like that!".. it was horrible.. then seeing him shake.. yeah, i was done.. it's wrong.. dude had a brain tumor.. i get it.. but dang, if you get paraded up there, then you can get talked about.. i talked about Ali when he about lit all of Atlanta on fire by handling the torch at the 1996 Olympics, and i'll talk about this dude.. and his speech? man, i was nodding off.. Great Grand Dad done had it.. let him go..

Michelle, it was just impressive to watch you speak like a proud Black woman.. i appreciated that.. i think i was expecting more, but i'll take what i can get.. you repped the South Side of Chicago easily and frequently.. much love for that.. i sat there saying that 2 people that have lived on the South Side of Chicago are about to be Mr. & Mrs. President.. that ish is messing w/ me.. and for the first time (actually, 2nd, cuz i gave Hillary respect), i feel like the woman in the White House is a great equal to the man in the White House.. Michelle is bad.. stumbles and all..

but your kids? come on, y'all had to keep it too real.. Barack crashing the party from some other people's home.. then gonna show up on a video.. how Black is that?? then is speaking directly to his wife and kids.. having his kids interrupt him (please resend the baby daughter the memo).. having the oldest stand right in front of the screen, knowing Michelle wanted to snatch her back and say "is your Daddy a window maker?".. it was just some classic Black people stuff.. Barack was stumbling around with his words, cuz he was like "damn, i guess we are Black!".. white people didn't know what to do or say, cuz that man was literally their boss.. it was all classic material..

a Nerd Ball it definitely was.. i can honestly say that the DNC is far from being included on my to-do list..

i'm just sayin'..

Redeem Team..

so we saw.. dudes did their thing.. so my question is this:

what happens to this team now?

i mean, we know about the 3 years of playing together.. do they stay together now? are they playing in the tournaments each summer? are they practicing in the off-season? i'm not sure people thought about this..

i love the thought of them killing the rest of the world, but i'm also happy that no Bulls players are on this team.. cuz not being able to rest could shorten the careers of some of these dudes..

i'm just sayin'..

Baby Powder Awards - 08/08

i'm sorry.. i had to do it.. i had to bring these back.. The Baby Powder Awards.. i initiated this on Troubl's blog site earlier this year, but i need to bring them back home.. need to start slapping more people.. as a review, The Baby Powder Awards are given to those individuals who need "hot fire" slapped out of them.. i'm willing to do the slapping.. i just need my baby powder so that my hand can get through the sting of the continuous slapping that's about to commence..

1. George Bush, Jr.
• Just because..
2. Fox News
• For being too blatant with your media power.. Do some research.. Get people's names right.. I mean, Ill Doctorine did a piece which was a take off of Soulja Boy (political piece), and you actually put it on your news and said that it WAS Soulja Boy.. come on now.. You never came back telling ppl you made a mistake, and that it wasn't Soulja Boy, you just let it keep going..
  
3. John McCain
• Just because you look like you smell like an old folk's home.. i'm just sayin'..
4. Scorpion King 2 Staff
• i'm blaming all of you for putting out that wack ass movie.. really? i mean, how are you going to name the PREQUEL to Scorpion King, Scorpion King 2? that's just backwards.. then how are you going to trick me into believing it would be as good as Scorpion King or The Mummy, so i wasted a Netflix spot for you?? then, how you gon' put those bad as actors in there?? i'm mad.. bitchassness.. for real..
5. TV Show Competition Voters
• i might need to smack myself for watching and not voting, but that's besides the point.. on shows like American Idol (which i don't watch beyond the prelims anymore), America's Best Dance Crew, etc, there is a lack of intelligence.. a serious lack of it.. i mean the best get voted off too early.. consistently.. producers, judges, stop blaming America.. we are stupid.. we are led by an idiot.. what do you expect from those that watch? they follow their leader.. they don't know how to vote.. they don't know how to judge talent.. if they did, they'd have your job.. stop leaving it in their hands.. rig the damn votes for crying out loud..
  
6. Jamie Foxx
• you knew damn well them dudes wasn't G's.. i'm just sayin', fam, i'm just sayin'..
7. Jay-Z
• for being on the cover of the new Vibe with that Louis scarf on.. fam, you know that's like last summer's fashion.. Louis or not.. my man L was rocking that style for the last 3 years.. shit ain't timeless..
  
8. Recession
• because i ain't living how i was last year.. because i can't get paid like i should.. because it's hard out here for a pimp..

bitch niggas..

The Man..

i've pretty much stayed away from talking about Barack.. with everyone trying to make anyone who is siding with him a reason not to vote for him, i didn't want to be another Ludacris.. i'll come clean and say that i'm honored to know this dude.. to know him before all of this President stuff.. he lives around the corner from my Pop-Pop.. has attended my church.. shoot, he's in our family photos.. one of his mentors is the daughter of one of my mentors.. i have a couple autographed books from him.. books i still haven't read.. i'm bad, i know.. but that's my disclaimer..

so yea, i'm for this dude.. been in his corner, cuz he was in mine before he knew much about me.. Chicago love.. that's what i call it..

but this picture i snagged from today's NY Times.. it was fitting.. it puts in perspective the pull he has on people.. young, old.. white, Chinese.. doesn't matter.. the dude moves us.. and i know we don't need a glorified coach or public speaker to lead our country, but he's more than that.. yes, "he speaks so well".. so can i.. so can many of you.. so let's build that bridge and get the hell over it.. that ain't what he's about.. (yup, i said ain't right after i said i can "speak so well").. the dude just makes sense.. which is hard to find nowadays.. do your research.. not what the media puts out.. not the sly Fox's of the world.. do your own research..

whether it's his take on the gas and whether to dig or not to dig.. or his take on the war.. or health care.. or the economy.. or education.. whatever it is, do your own research.. you might be surprised at what you find..

but let's not get it twisted.. what's wrong with being popular (like that McCain ad tried to poke fun at)? really? what's wrong with so many people wanting to be on your side and wanting to support you? what's wrong with the fact that other countries have already come out and said that they would have a newfound respect for the US if we elect Barack? what's wrong with having a smooth dresser and athlete in the White House? can anyone deny the fact that if we see Barack in that position, then it would have a lot more kids actually wanting (and believing) to become the President? probably more than an NBA player.. what's wrong with that? what's wrong with all of the excitement this man brings to an area that no one really cared about in years past?

i just don't get it.. i mean, i do, but my mind goes back to it being a matter of race.. which i don't really want to cry about, but it gets harder.. i'm sick of hearing about how this or that becomes racism.. especially when minorities are not the ones screaming it.. it's like that one Vanity Fair (or whatever magazine that was that i don't read) that had LeBron on it with that one white actress.. immediately the press made a big deal out of it saying that it's racism, cuz LeBron was being portrayed as King Kong or some other beast trying to snatch a white woman..

really?

was i really thinking that before you said it? it never crossed my mind, and i was (and still am) upset that the media ran with that.. Black ppl didn't come out to say that.. we didn't immediately scream racism.. we saw LeBron as LeBron on that cover.. not some gorilla.. there was no "G-Unit" call or anything like that.. if anything, i can see it as some "move over, i'm here now".. but they do that with Barack, too.. somehow bringing race into a discussion that doesn't need it.. now that's not to say that there isn't a bit of that going around, cuz it is.. it's actually a lot of it.. but not in every dang case.. some times it's just pure hate.. point blank..

but i'm excited about this.. because i believe he's our next President.. i believe it just as much as seeing Usain Bolt crush the 200 and break a record i never thought would be broken.. i believe it, cuz it's needed, too.. we need a change.. i don't want to bite on his stuff, but it's the truth.. nothing is going to change immediately, but i hope and pray that he'll have 8 years to start to right the ship.. the first 4 years will be hard, because there is too much stuff to undo.. but i believe in his mission.. and i believe that when it's all said and done, i'll be able to say that i have a friend in the White House.. i believe you will too.. cuz i honestly believe Barack is a friend to all of us..

G's to Gents..

big shout out to my girl, who inspired me to write about this.. you know who you are..

so yea, i'm guilty of watching the MTV show "G's to Gents".. blame it on the internet.. but i sit and catch this show online each week.. now, i'll be late every dang week, but i make sure i watch it.. that and some other shows..

but this show has me addicted.. another pseudo reality show, hosted by Fonzworth Bentley (created by Jamie Foxx), that talks supposed G's and turns them into Gentlemen..

*cough*

bullshit

*cough*

from the first episode i was like "where did they find these dudes?" G's?? really? gangsters? OG's?? really?? from where?? well, that was answered immediately, as they provided their hometowns.. i know people in Detroit and other cities are UPSET.. on some, "nah, that nigga ain't from here".. i apologize, but i had to drop the n-bomb.. it fit.. and nah, it's not a show full of Blacks.. everybody has a shot to take that label.. but them niggas are bitches.. punks.. whateva you want to call them.. they are far from a G, and far from Gentlemen.. but what's crazy is that they would be A LOT closer to being a Gentlemen than they ever will be as a G.. just ain't happening..

all of them soft.. a couple have heart, but heart doesn't make you a G.. i know some dudes i grew up with that would love to smack the ish out of them dudes just for posing.. shoot, in some cases, i want to get my slap in..

you got a dude that was on the show, that just needed a few hugs when he was younger.. dude had a temper, but dang if i ever felt like he would be a threat to me.. say whatever he want, but i would've just laughed at that dude.. another dude is the epitome of "doofy".. i can't think of a better word.. he's soft.. lacks any ounce of sense.. looks confused all of the dang time.. it's like the women that get their eyebrows done and it is arched in such a way that they look like you just asked them a question, and they responded with "huh"?.. well, he has the same way of making a face that shows he is utterly confused at every possible moment of the day.. and i feel bad for him.. i really do.. doesn't belong on the show at all.. belongs more on I Love New York or something.. or an episode of Dave Chappelle, but he wouldn't have to act.. he would just stand there, collect laughs for looking doofy, and get a check.. that's it..

but yeah, y'all have to check out this show.. if i'm lying i'm flying.. peep it.. it's worth it..

now, i have no clue who is going to win this show.. i haven't even paid enough attention to figure out what they win.. the nonsense is just too much to actually concentrate or act like this is a legit show.. it's just entertainment for me.. so i apologize for not giving you the rundown, cuz i really don't have one.. i just laugh.. make messed up faces, and wait for next week's episode..

i'm just sayin'..

Smart Stupid People..

i'm sick of y'all..

really, y'all are just stupid.. those of you that fall into this category are those of you who believe you're smarter (much smarter) than others, so you try to prove it each time out.. but when you try to prove it, all that you prove is that you are actually stupid.. right now i'm talking about some Black people..

i made this comment:

"the one thing i love about my people is that we are good for showing our ass eventually"..

that came from this chick trying to play games with other people's lives.. talking slick.. trying to act slick.. trying to run her mouth.. and every single time she tried to act smart, she just showed how stupid she really is.. it's amazing..

here are some ways to spot Smart Stupid People:

1. they talk to you about your own close people/friends/associates, not realizing those are your close people/friends/associates
2. they don't know when to shut the eff up
3. they confuse their lies
4. they argue with you, and you can switch it up midstream on them, and take their side, and then they'll flip and argue your side, but will do that wrong, and then try to flip back, but they are lost
5. they will say "i really like you" or "it's no one's fault" but RIGHT after that they will say the opposite
1. y'all might need an example on that.. you know like when someone will say "my team played hard, but they played so soft"..
6. did i say that they don't know when to shut the eff up?

that's just a start.. i'm sick of these people.. seriously.. i'm making my baby powder shirt as we speak (yeah, the clothing line is finally launching in the next month).. cuz i need to start smacking fire out of people's face.. yesterday i almost got into a physical altercation, just cuz i wanted to get this chick of my girl's back.. there is also this dude that i know the next time i see him, ain't shit to say.. just a fight.. i don't even get like that much anymore.. but this dude has been asking for one since May.. lil' fat mickey fickey.. him being fat doesn't matter, but that's just where my head is.. y'all MIGHT think i'm playing.. i MIGHT get in trouble for even typing this.. but at this point, i really don't care.. dude been talking slick, not getting me my money, and lying consistently.. dude ducks me.. had him come by a spot i was in, saw me in there, and took off.. i give it to him.. he has good luck or some angels.. cuz there have been moments when my people told me that he appeared at a spot i was just at like 5 minutes after i left.. his problem is that i know where he and his family live..

his other problem is that i'm going hard with the boxing thing.. really hard.. i know the numbers with my eyes closed.. second nature now.. throw in the various combinations, and while i'm bragging, i'm bragging.. point blank.. i won't skate around that.. i always felt that i was nice with my hands since growing up on the South Side of Chicago.. lil' dude with heavy hands.. (Herm, don't play).. but now i can fight traditionally (instead of southpaw).. now i know how to throw check hooks and "four plus".. so, yea, dude is getting it.. i told a few of his friends already.. they replied:

"he's just going to have to take that.. we ain't gonna allow him to go to the cops, etc.."

that's all i needed to hear.. plus i just got a check.. i got some money to escape if need be.. C3, i ain't gon' leave with the whole check, but i can't be an episode of Oz.. i know you feel me..

i'm just venting.. but i'm starting to strongly despise Smart Stupid People.. it's not about a degree.. but in many cases, these people don't even have a GED, but will profess like they were Cornell Barack Winfrey or something.. aka your next rap superstar..

i'm just sayin'..

You Are Embarrassing Me..

this dude is an embarrassment.. this dude interrupted my viewing last night of watching the Olympics.. for some reason NBC and Bob Costas felt the need to interview this dude.. something about him being the President or something.. who knows.. but this mickey fickey is just plain stupid..

it's embarrassing that the U.S. has to call this dude its President.. that this dude is known across the world to be the most powerful man in the U.S.. that this dude some how has the ability to call the shots.. i don't know if y'all were watching, but that man couldn't answer his own complete thought, let alone a question from Bobby Boy.. and that damn look/smirk? it's ridiculous.. instead of tapping the mic, i always want to tap his head and be on some "is this thing on?".. i'm just sayin'..

i can't pinpoint what he said that had me mad, because i think it was everything that he said and didn't say that made me mad.. it was him breathing that made me mad.. it was him on my tv that made me mad.. if there was one moment i wanted the picture to go out, it was that moment..

all i know is that we have to garner much more respect across the world with a guy that's as intelligent as Barack is.. i know the world has been like, "i've been talking to myself for the last 8 years, cuz this idiot don't have the lights on upstairs"..

i'm just sayin'..

Scary Sights..

ok, so the photos from the Beijing Olympics came out.. this is just one of them.. is it me, or is this a scene from X-Files or some other scary futurist alien movie? Taken, anyone? V? (ok, that's old school, so y'all might not all get that)..

now i realize that this is after some fireworks went off, but dang if it didn't look scary.. a few of them did.. since i debuted that apocalypse joint the other day, this reminds me of it.. but, i'm excited about the Olympics.. i always planned on being there, then Bush happened, and then the economy tanked, and then i had to realize that there was no way i could make my first visit to that country.. but it will happen in its own time.. i know that.. but i will be watching the US give it to cats across the board.. basketball, swimming (Phelps owns that pool, dude was bred for that), track.. we got that.. soccer? yeah, i'm praying..

but yeah, i'm excited about the Olympics, but i don't think the rest of the US is.. for the first time that i can remember, there isn't much around that i see people excited about it.. maybe it's Bush.. maybe it's the foreclosures.. maybe it's the economy.. i just don't feel the love..

am i wrong?

Signs..

this is my new ish.. each week i'm going to try to put together more signs that the world is coming to an end.. in my inaugural edition, i'm just going off things i meant to blog about, but never got to it.. enjoy.. feel free to add your own..

1. Sperm Donors being forced to pay child support.. Now if this ain't a sign, i don't know what is.. i was watching Good Morning America today and they had a feature on this.. dude even had a contract with the person he donated his seeds to, saying that he wouldn't have to provide financial support, and the judge said that wasn't enough.. so i started to listen more, and i know some of these cases hinge on the sperm donor having some form of communication with the child.. but still, since when is a binding agreement no longer binding? and isn't the ish called "sperm donation"?? in this recession, men are going to have to find another way to get some bread in their pocket.. $20 ain't worth 18 years of child support.. i'm just sayin'..
2. McCain meets with Daddy Yankee to discuss, of all things, immigration rights.. Nigga please.. Daddy Yankee? Can someone check to make sure this dude is legal? McCain depicts Barack to be a cross between Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton, and then flies Daddy Yankee out to meet him? i would've loved to be the fly on that wall, to see McCain (already hard of hearing) trying to understand Gasolina.. was there an interpreter there??
3. Gas prices.. when you have a $10 bill, and you can only get 2 gallons? yea, that's an issue.. i sat over the weekend contemplating if i was going to spend $20 for some gas.. i decided not to (i'll get some tomorrow), cuz i was like, that will not even move my gauge.. i'm not feeling this ish.. on another note, it was nice of that one church that bought $15,000 worth of gas (i know they got a nice write-off) and sold it for $1 a gallon for up to 10 gallons.. now that's what i'm talking about.. you could have my $300 check, if you allow me to be able to have $1 a gallon gas for 2 months..
   
4. Luke has a reality show.. nuff said..
5. i'm actually going to watch the Teen Choice Awards tonight, just to see that dance battle.. sigh..
   

Q Murder..

I'm on my fitness kick right now.. Training with Optimum Fitness on a personal level, and then with ARC Fitness on the weekends, doing fitness boot camps.. Some of y'all know that i've been at it for a bit (with a few breaks), but i would say that i've been going hard and non-stop for about 4 months.. from that, i got the nickname "Q Murder"..

i really don't give up when it comes to the workouts.. i've tapped out on a few of the really crazy joints that i was doing trying to keep up with the trainers during their own workouts.. i've even thrown up a few times.. had some dizzy spells, all that.. but because i kept coming back, and kept giving it my all, i got that nickname.. i told them that i would be coming.. that i was placing bounties on cats' heads.. and i am now making true on that promise..

i'm proud (no ego, ok, maybe a small one) to say that cats ain't seeing me no more.. i already have the top slot in Harlem on this fitness stuff (non trainers), and every Saturday, more and more people are coming for my head and for my spot.. i'm letting y'all know right now, that it's not happening..

a few weeks ago i debuted the 1-arm, 1-leg pushup which y'all can see me doing in the picture.. blew their minds.. i figured out i could do it about 2 months ago.. but didn't spring it on them.. to top it off, i did it after doing 2 consecutive workouts.. none of the trainers could do it.. so i was floating, and i became a street workout legend.. my forte is pushups and pullups.. i can do just about any pushup that i can dream up.. i haven't done the 2 finger, 1 arm pushup that Bruce Lee did, but i haven't tried either.. i don't think i'm ready.. my newest joint is really getting sick on the pullup bar, though.. i'm working my way up.. flips on the bars.. core isolations on the bars, all that good stuff..

i feel better than i have ever felt in my life.. i'm almost positive that i don't have any body fat at all.. none.. i'm trying to beat Father Time.. trying to stay as young and fit as possible.. i owe it all to Triple Platinum (my trainer).. dude made me believe in myself.. i'm hoping to soon start a youth fitness program, cuz this is important.. i'm seeing too many fat kids around.. i'm not saying you gotta be skinny.. i'm not saying you gotta do workouts that i'm doing.. all i'm saying is that you should be active.. shoot, you have to be..

i already know my body isn't the same.. shoot, my left knee is not a good look for me.. if i play ball (like i did last Saturday -after my workouts, but i still won), i can guarantee that i'll be limping for 2 days.. guarantee it.. i need to see a doc, but when i messed it up last year, i was diagnosed with a sprained MCL.. really nothing to do for it.. after paying those medical bills, i'm good with a doc right now.. eventually i'll get it checked out again, but for right now, i'll just be prepared to hang up the sneakers on the balling tip..

but yeah, i felt the need to blog about this, because i'm really trying to make this youth thing work.. i'm still a lil' fella.. by working out in the parks on Saturdays, a lot of kids come around.. i love it.. love them.. and so i try to get them involved.. since i'm not 6'3" and 239lbs, i'm realistic to them.. so i need to ride this thing out.. 1 child at a time..

Q.

Dance Machine..

it's been a minute, but i was inspired last night.. so much so that i woke up today wanting to blog about it..

so it started with me watching Step Up 2.. yea, i Netflix'd it.. didn't want to see it in the theater, cuz i felt a certain away about it being based on white dancers that aren't even from the street.. but i got over it enough to have it in my Queue.. well, last night i watched it, and i was VERY entertained, i won't front.. them cats can move.. i mean Hi-Hat (GREAT choreographer) did the majority of the choreography, so many props to her for that.. but the dancers were sick..

yea, i might have had an issue with the main character's best/signature move being this - in the words of Riley from the Boondocks after he was called the N-Word - peep the S-Word episode - by the way, this is the longest run-on sentence ever - "booty dance, do the booty dance, booty dance, do the booty dance.. ok, if you don't get that, then go buy the 2nd season of the Boondocks.. yeah, that was her best move.. moving on..

they had all types of dancers in there.. sick..

so, as one of my favorite shows is MTV's America's Best Dance Crew (America, y'all suck!! Can you get the voting right, please?? How in the heck is Fanny Pak still there? In the final 3?? Really??), i'm on this dance stuff.. been on it since last season.. so after watching the movie, my mind was going crazy.. shoot, i woke up this morning with the YouTube clips in my head.. and that movie in my head.. Crazy.. here's my issue..

YouTube..

my guilty pleasure when searching for any and everything, but right now i'm on this whole dancing and catching crazy workouts on YouTube.. so, back to the point.. dancing.. last night i stumbled on this:

M&M Cru vs. ACDC

peep it.. dude from Step Up 2 is in the ACDC crew.. basically they challenged Mylie Cyrus and her girl Mandy to a dance competition.. really, it's not a competition at all as ACDC is just retarded.. sick with it.. And Adam grabbed about all the best dancers to form his team.. well, this thing spun out of control as it became the 1st online dance competition.. M&M came back, but so did ACDC.. once you click that link, just look at the other videos.. shoot, ACDC even had Chris Brown join.. and you know he's retarded with it..

so i started to think how it got to this point.. started to think about cultures being mixed and then straight snatched.. i'm not hating right now.. cuz after i thought about it this morning, it's typical.. Black ppl need to get better at owning their own creations, instead of having others snatch it, then flip it, then make loot off of it, then in some cases become better at our own ish!! (see Asher Roth).. i sat there thinking why we can't just put our own stuff out there.. this young white boy, Adam, basically rounded his ppl up and they were all down with it.. could you see Blacks doing that?? that quickly? even turning a profit by making ACDC tshirts.. it's crazy.. it also hurts..

we can't join together for nothing.. yeah, i said it.. nothing.. we suck.. point blank.. we can cry all we want, but we need to take the blame for this ish.. letting our stuff go, and then when we see it going, we don't even try to get back in on it.. we just complain (maybe like i'm doing right now)..

with that said, i'm starting my own dance crew.. i haven't figured out a name yet, but i already have 2 members.. cuz as i started to think this morning, we already have been dancing together.. it's me and 2 women.. 1 older (slightly younger than me) and 1 younger (over half of my age).. the youngest one is the star.. she can dance her lil' behind off.. the other woman can as well.. me? shoot, i just make up dances.. i'm like a bootleg choreographer.. i make up dances to my favorite songs on the fly.. my issue is remembering them.. so, "Don't Touch Me" by Busta Bus?? yea, i have that dance down.. so does the older woman in my crew.. hers is for females, mine adds a masculine flair to it..

i'm definitely a nut, so don't mind me.. we wouldn't be battling ACDC, cuz we ain't that nice.. but i'm seriously going to have our crew do some stuff.. starting later this month, cuz we ain't all together right now.. but, i'm going to come up with a name (y'all can help), and then i'm getting our stuff up on YouTube.. we might have on masks or something, but hey.. i won't talk about it, i'm going to be about it..

stay tuned.. and also check those dang videos.. crazy.. it's worth it.. just click the link and enjoy!!

Q.

Catching Up..

up and down.. up and down..

nah, not a porno move or anything like that.. just more life.. life now is playing funny games.. convincing you that things are one way, when they really aren't.. thinking you're up, when really you're just in the middle.. hovering.. wading water or something.. the only thing real is that when you're down, you're officially down..

what do we have here? banks closing up and saying they don't have money..

pause..

are you kidding me? y'all don't have my money any more? please believe cats will be getting robbed if this talk keeps up..

un-pause..

citigroup just delivered more "write-down" news that didn't make me feel any better about our economy, our depression, our recession, and whatever other "ssion" they can come up with.. i don't think ppl are realizing how bad ish really is.. i was talking last week and over the weekend about this.. shoot, when rappers ain't poppin' bottles anymore, you know the game is messed up.. cuz they don't even have bank accounts.. they have the rubberbands.. and when they can carry loot w/ no band? yeah, not a good look.. people ain't going out no more.. people ain't even trying to be seen as much.. shoot, even Kanye ain't in the limelight as much.. what is going on??

the heat ain't making it no better.. this weekend it was so hot that my wardrobe was straight up and down a beater (if i was lucky) and my draws.. every time that i came out of the bedroom, Sleepy was sprawled out on the floor on some "negro can you turn on the air out here, too??!!".. see Sleepy don't know that ConEd is trippin' right now with these bills.. i conceded and turned it on, cuz shoot, at this point, ain't nothing getting paid anyway.. it is what it is..

it costs a Ben Franklin just to fill up the gas tank.. American restaurants are now providing European size dishes for NYC Friday prices (triple your normal Friday's bill if you're thinking about eating there in NYC).. cable companies are cutting off cable if they think you're going to be late.. AT&T stalks you if you are 28 minutes late paying your bill.. shoot, i went off on my mom the other week.. kinda felt bad afterwards.. sadly it was on some money stuff.. maybe she wasn't coming at me sideways, but during this time, it sure felt like it..

all the cats i know that are used to making long money are no longer making it.. we all pinching pennies, cuz we don't know when those pennies will be gone.. everything is harder.. doing good work is harder.. i never thought that would be the case.. shoot, i'm learning a lot more over the last year than any time i spent in b school.. they didn't tell me about this.. and what about ethics?? i'm struggling with that, as i'm getting hit up with more interview/media requests to talk about business stuff..

shoot, i don't want to talk about that stuff, cuz i ain't feeling that media worthy.. i won't even go further with that statement (as it relates to me).. but the stuff in the news ain't always the truth.. businesses ain't doing that well.. the numbers reported aren't right.. the stories told are skewed.. it's a mess out here.. but i understand the journalists, reporters and media outlets.. ish is depressing and ppl need to read and see brighter days and times..

shoot, i've been stuck as i'm writing my book right now as well.. i'm still in the pre-college years.. learning more about myself as i recall things.. remember things.. remember things that i wanted to forget.. it's therapeutic, and probably what is getting me through right now.. cuz i had it hard back in the day, and i ain't going back.. or so i thought.. nah, i'm playing.. i ain't going back.. no way, no how.. but these days it feels like i could.. luckily i got enough stuff to pawn off if i really needed to avoid the 'jects..

oh, and people coming at me sideways.. let's get a couple things straight.. check the resume.. South Side of Chicago.. fight history.. bully history.. check the eyes.. i'm not shook off of your words.. if you wanna come for me, come for me.. all this talk ain't nothing.. corporate bullies.. lol.. are you kidding me?? corporate bullies.. get your company and your business affairs in order before coming for my head with words that mean absolutely nothing.. my phone doesn't work for your calls.. stop trying.. my email is about to stop working for you too.. the longer it takes for me to respond to you, shows your position on the totem pole..

also, some of you dudes need to recognize who's really on your team.. i'm just sayin'..

Q Quotables.. Music on My Mind

so i'm feeling a few joints..

1. first is Jazmine Sullivan.. that "Need U Bad" joint? with Missy? yeah, official.. 21 years old.. the girl can blow.. not your typical size, but i love her size, shape and talent.. y'all need to check for her..
2. Ne-Yo's "A Millie" remix.. ok, i lied.. i like his the best.. and the video they did? please check it.. YouTube it.. i'm too lazy to provide links..
3. YouTube "Al Green Soul Train".. Click on the one that shows him in a hat.. Please.. Anyone that knows the Boondocks, think about Gangstalicious.. "Homies over Hoes!"
4. YouTube "James Brown and Pavarotti".. True music.. True genius..
5. i'm inspired to figure out this music thing again.. was trying for a sec, then life happened.. now i'm meeting more and more ppl in the biz.. i need to get that new Ashley Renee Jordan joint popped off.. point blank.

I'll be back..