Fox's American Ideology

Did anyone else witness the slap in the face that FOX and American Idol tried to pawn off as a telethon? Does anyone else feel slighted with what notion that FOX had to have a telethon in order to try and help any cause anywhere in the world? We aren't talking about WQRS-TV public access station trying to raise money to stay on the air. We are talking about one of the top four television networks in America. They have huge contracts with the NFL, NASCAR, and one of the biggest shows in television history; American Idol. Fox as a network benefited more than Africa by the show last night that was aired. They gained additional public support for their network by appearing to help and care about the conditions of Africans. To show that they truly care, they should lobby that the government change some of their laws towards Africa and other developing nations. This will not happen, as it would in the long run negatively effect Fox as a network. Just think if Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC joined to lobby for change instead of Fox asking the public to donate during one of the most popular television shows in history. And finally, no one was eliminated last night meaning Fox gets another week of ratings as American Idol gained an extra week on air. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I.

Super Bowl XLII

My early pick to win Super Bowl XLII should be know surprise to all of you folks out there. I thought I'd make it interesting, by being more specific. Super Bowl XLII will be played between the Dallas Cowboys & the San Diego Chargers. History will be made again, because this will be the first time that two first year coaches will make the Super Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys will secure their 6th Championship with a nail biting, hard fought, come-from-behind victory. The final score will be 21- 17. After just celebrating the first Black Head Coach to win it all; we will then be celebrating the 1st First year coach to win it all, Wade Phillips. I also expect either T.O. or Tony Romo to set a Super Bowl record. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Some Hipocracy Knows No Bounds

I wonder when there will be a national forum/discussion about curbing her lyrical content, image, or effect to generations of women in America? Probably never. I wonder why? That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Dark Man X

Does anyone else miss DMX? I sure do. I remember when he came on the scene and I thought he would soon be taking his place amongst Pac, Nas, Jay-Z, & Biggie. He seemed so raw. He was exactly what was needed in a time where rap music was becoming bogged down with materialism and simple lyrics. He was a breath of fresh air. His story was compelling also. He came from nothing and planned on becoming a preacher when he was done with his rap career. This was evident by those stirring prayers that he included on his albums. The live versions were even better. Those were the good old days. Lately, DMX has become sort of a cautionary tale amongst MCs. His legal woes and battles with drug addiction are painful to watch. It is even more uncomfortable to hear him speak out against Jay-Z's entrepreneurial status and the West Coast's inadequacy. I never thought the dog would sound like a hater. Every now and again, I see him make an appearance on Def Poetry or something like that, where I get brief flashes of YO's favorite son. When I really want to reminisce; I throw on It's Dark & Hell Is Hot and listen to track 19 "Niggas Done Started Something". The last verse is vintage DMX at his best. I don't know if it was putting out so many albums so fast, or getting caught up in the fame and movies; he just seemed to lose his way somewhere along the line. I don't know. I do know this; DMX is an ingredient that the game is missing and it seems a little bland without him. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Another Schedule 1 word

The new Schedule 1 word is DESERVE. For those who are new to the blog, a Schedule 1 word is a word that has no positive or medicinal purposes; and should be banned. I'm not exactly sure what my problem is with the word DESERVE, but I don't feel like it is productive. To me, it hints at a benefit that lacks sacrifice or risk. It is the dictionary's way of saying, "free meal". It also feels like a broken promise. If someone was using that word in a sentence about me, I would feel slighted. As if I was getting a consolation prize for just showing up. I have heard it associated with a reward or consequence for something done in the past or accidentally overlooked, though. For those instances, I have a replacement word. I nominate the word Earned. When you feel the need to use the word DESERVE, instead, use the word Earned. To Earn something means that a noble enterprise full of sacrifice, risk, and reward has occurred and it screams for people to pay attention and aspire towards it. I would much rather hear that I have Earned all of the good & bad that come my way. Just because I DESERVE something doesn't mean that I get it. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Disconnection Notice

Let's all disconnect! We should do just like they did in The Matrix. I say that we all remove ourselves from this system that isn't exactly working for us. It isn't difficult. First, STOP WATCHING THE NEWS AND READING NEWSPAPERS. (the media clouds our minds). Second, ONLY INVOLVE POLICE IN MATTERS OF LIFE, DEATH, AND EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES. (the less dependent we become, the better off we are) Third, STOP DEPENDING OR RELYING ON ELECTED OFFICIALS. (If I didn't have ancestors, who died, in order for me to do so; I wouldn't even vote) Fourth, GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. (without the news, this will be the only way that you can lean about your environment) and finally, BECOME DEEPLY INVOLVED IN YOUR AREA'S SCHOOL SYSTEM. (I mean more than just coming to a few PTA meetings a year)

I think we could really change some things if we lessen our dependence on "The System" and become a better, tighter-knit community. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Conversations With Pop

Once I was walking down the streets of Wheeling Island, and a small red sports car pulled up beside me. The man driving called me to the window. He was very drunk and I could tell that he had no business driving. By the potency of the vapors, I'm surprised he was still conscious. He began to speak and he stopped himself. He used his fingers to pull a large hunk of mushrooms out from his jawline. These aren't the Pizza Hut kind of Mushrooms either. The way the glob splattered on the ground in front of me, I knew he had it in his mouth for a while. He proceeded to talk to me as if we were in mid-conversation. He said to me, "Survival is nothing more than the manipulation of time. If you find yourself in a situation that you don't believe that you can get out of, or that is detrimental to you; STALL. Nothing is constant but change, and in time, the situation will provide an escape route for you to come out safe and sound." That is when I learned that Survival and Patience are synonyms. It really blew me away to hear this stuff coming from him. He must have been having a good day. Every now and again, my father says some deep stuff. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Support Your Local MC

Why in the world don't we support local rap acts. By support, I mean, buying their music & going to their shows. Most of the time they are looked at as kids who are wasting their time. They are literally ignored by adults and shunned by community groups. I am going to try and do my part to break this trend. I am going to start pumping CDs, tapes and DVDs of local Hip-Hop artists. The artist pictured here, is a local cat that is doin' his thing. I've heard his CD and the boy can spit. It hard for me to say this about an Ohio- boy, but Slick Watts is the truth. (Of course, he got some help from the 304) I am a lyrical type of guy and this young spitter passes my MC criteria. If you are from the area, buy this CD and find out for yourself. If you are willing to spend $20-$13 on an artist that you've never met, why not do the same for a guy that you could possibly see in your neighborhood. That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Coon Show

When did it become so cool to be black and ignorant? Is this the after effect of "Keepin' It Real"? I thought we had reached our bottom, as a people, when I saw Flavor Of Love I & II. Lucky for us, the good folks at MTV hopped right on the Buffoonery bandwagon. The new show is "Adventures In Holly-Hood". No, I didn't just make that up. It's wrong on so many levels. It paints a picture of black folks that sheltered, naive, white folks would welcome into their psyche and not feel the least bit racist, judgmental, or stereotypical. I don't like to knock anyone's hustle, but I am sure that Martin & Malcolm are somewhere looking down and thinking, "Is this where the struggle has lead my people?" Living in a primarily white population, shows like this just make the water cooler/ Lunchroom/ Teacher's Lounge a place of dread. It's just the ammunition that the "behind-closed-doors" racist needs to bring it out to the forefront. I hope this trend dies soon. If it doesn't; please rent Spike Lee's movie, "Bamboozled" to see how this is all gonna end. Damn, I miss the Huxtables! That's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Sorry, babe

Does anybody else love Deelishis the way that I do? I don't think that thing with her and Flav will last long. That's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I?

My Book Report

Life is kinda cool. It seems like I spend a lot of time thinking about and trying to figure out my purpose in life or if I'm really doing what I should be doing with my life. I guess I would get a signal or a sign if I weren't. Life is kinda like reading a book. Every now and again you will get the overwhelming urge to skip to the end and see if your hunches are correct or peek at how it all turns out. That only seems to happen when you're in a chapter that ss boring or seems meaningless. (like when Hawthorne goes on forever describing a tree or a meadow) You also get that urge when a person who is reading the same book as you, tells you how good it is once you get through those early chapters. It makes you want to rush to a point when you may not have the proceeding information to understand it. Some people even enjoy those chapters that you think are pointless. It's most like a book, when you finally get to that point where you are riveted with what you are reading. You can't take your eyes away from it and once you're done, you re-read that part to re-live some of the feelings that it gave you. Chapters like this make you want to keep reading, for the hope that there are more. There are always moments in life like that. You keep reminiscing and hoping that life has more of them in store for you. Just like no one can live your life for you; no one can read a book for you (if you expect to get anything out of it). I feel sorry for those who close the book and stop reading too soon, because they can't get past the boring or pointless parts. They missed a great story. I think it is our duty as human beings to act as a reading coach or tutor, to those of us who have problems reading or are afraid of the twists and turns of a good book. We can make sure they still enjoy the stories. Kinda like an Author's Workshop, "How To Write & Experience A Good Book." That's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I?

The G.O.A.T.

I would like to inform the world that I am the All-Time Greatest Tetris Attack player in all of recorded history! I first began playing the game as a fluke out of boredom. I borrowed a Super Nintendo from my cousin and the rest was history. I have destroyed everyone I've faced. From fellow counselors to prison guards to social workers to Middle School Principals; They all have fallen before me. I beat my cousin using one hand. I erased all hope of victory for three Martins Ferry men. It was ugly. While playing one of them; I stopped, put down my controller, pulled out my phone, typed the text "I'm killin' you", sent it to the guy I was playing, picked up my controller, and still beat him. I'm a beast. I'm also accepting all challengers. I wouldn't waste my time if I were you. That's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I?

Rash

All human beings are inherently good at heart. In the past, I only said this to try and convince myself and others not to worry as much. Now I believe it. The only proof that I have of this is the presence of Rationalization. If we didn't rationalize our actions, we would be left to believe that our action reflect who we are. Rationalization answers the question of, "Why did you do that?", that we always ask ourselves and others. If a person were evil or bad, they would have no need to rationalize things with themselves. They would be cool with being evil or bad. The act of rationalization almost asks for forgiveness or a second first impression. It is subliminally saying. "Yeah, I did it; but that's not what I'm all about." The dictionary says rationalization is, "to devise self-satisfying but false reasons for one's behavior." What if the reasons weren't false? What if deep inside there was another person begging to be rescued and their only SOS was their rationalizations? What if the definition read, "to devise self-uplifting and alternative reasons to preserve the positive aspects of an individual." I may just suffer from terminal optimism; but that's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I?

Underneath

They still think you are a nigger. If you don't believe me; ask Don Imus, Michael Richards, Trent Lott, Marge Schott, Barbara Bush, Paris Hilton, Fuzzy Zoeller, John Rocker, & The Simi Valley Jury; but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Suck Jobs

These jobs suck. I think it would eat at my soul if I had to do any of them for a living.

1.) Paparazzi

2.) Professional Skeptic

3.) Critic

4.) Car Salesman

If you can think of any more, please post them.

I would rather be unemployed. But that's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I?

Tupac Amur Shakur

I am a big Tupac fan. I'm not one of these folks who love the thugged out, tattooed up, gangsta rapper aspect of him. Many could argue that image was a facade or figment of his fantasy. I'm not one of those guys. I'm a fan for a different reason. Ossie Davis said in his eulogy of Malcolm X, "Malcolm was our manhood, our living, black manhood" & "our own black shining prince". That's how I feel about 'Pac. He embodied more that the ability to rhyme well. (Even though he never has dropped one of those lines that made me go, "Oooooooooooooooh!") He was an artist & an Icon who chose rap to stamp the world. His whole history and aura seems mythical in a sense. His father was a hustler and his mother was a Black Panther. He has connections in damn near every 'hood across the country. From New York to Baltimore to Oakland to LA, someone has spent time with and/or "knows the real" 2pac. He embodied the duality of man. He attended a school for the arts, but was also shot five times in an attempted robbery. There is video footage of him, in high school, dancing with Jada Pinkett, to a Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince song. Coincidence? I think not. To start to understand the connection and admiration that I feel for Tupac, you must do one vital task first. Purchase his CD entitled "Me Against The World". I think it was the best CD he ever recorded. It was released in 1995 but it should be relatively easy to find. Listen to it and you will be hearing the inner thoughts and a clear diagnosis of the psyche of a street nigga. You'll learn, and more importantly, you'll feel the music. The most poignant piece of the album in the 4th verse of the 4th song, "So Many Tears". It is what so many of us, young black males on the streets or locked up, think & feel; but don't say. It's amazing. But that's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I?

The new Schedule 1 word

Just a reminder; Schedule 1 words are words with no positive uses or medicinal purposes. The new Schedule 1 word is TOLERATE or any derivative of the word. This word somehow got a stamp of approval and people were convinced that it is positive, and TOLERANCE is something to strive for. I think the word TOLERATE implies putting up with or ignoring the way something makes you feel. That isn't something I would want to instill in my fellow man. Whatever we feel that we should TOLERATE, we should take a closer look at, to be sure we can't follow another course of action. If we can change our perceptions about it, we should; if we can't, then we should figure out why we can't. Instead of the word TOLERATE, I nominate using the word Understand. To Understand something doesn't mean that you condone or support it; it just means that you have taken the time to investigate and evaluate something to figure out where it comes from and where it may be headed. You didn't just brush it under the table because you didn't agree or approve. Everyone should seek to Understand and everyone would love to be Understood. Think about it; would you rather have someone say that they TOLERATE you and your opinions or they Understand you and your opinions? That's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I?

The "Good" Doctor

I am taking a huge risk with the statement I am about to type. I no longer have any respect for Dr. Dre. I know he is a pioneer, legend, and arguably the greatest producer in Hip-Hop history, but I don't like him anymore. I also know that he is responsible, be it partially or fully, for the careers of Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, & 50 Cent. I just can't seem to get past the fact that he has nothing more to do with The Game. Actually, it isn't just that. Dr. Dre has taken a passive, "I don't wanna get my hands dirty" approach for far too long now. Remember when he didn't show up for Snoop at his murder trial? Remember when he walked away from Death Row records after he built the whole company? I feel like this is the same thing that he is doing with The Game. What makes it worse is The Game is/was a young, hungry MC from Compton. Dre's hometown! He could have taken him under his wing and directed him to be the heir apparent. Instead, when things got hectic, he walked away from The Game. Just like he did Death Row. When will he stand up an say, " I'm Dr. Dre! One of the Architects of Hip-hop! This is what I want & This is how I want it done!!!" He could be a force that guides Hip-Hop and contributes to its future instead of the The Hip-Hop Hermit. I just wish he was a bigger voice then he is now. Maybe I'm just mad because I see how much respect The Game has for him and how he praises him in every verse. It's a shame to see someone with so much respect, get treated with none in return. That's just my opinion, though and who the hell am I?

Seeds of Doubt

You know what I've been trying lately? I have been giving everyone that I meet, 2 positive Benefits of the Doubt until they have proven otherwise. Here they are 1.) Everyone knows what he or she is doing. 2.) Everyone does what makes him or her happy.

It really makes things easier. If you try this for 48 hours, you'll notice tat you don't try and think for other people & you don't try and guess the hidden agenda of everyone. It is also great for people with paranoia and ulcers. It even helps people remove their nose from other people's business without having to be told to do so in a "not so nice" way. That's just my opinion though and who the hell am I?