Friday, February 27, 2009
The Lox says...
Who would've though that The Lox feel the same way about the current state of Hip-Hop as I do? Great minds...
But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
My 200th Post
Who would've thought that I would make it to two-hundred posts? I started out with a desire to simply get some stuff off my chest. Once I realized that other people are reading this I really got into it. Now, the blog has taken another turn. I hear now that people are using the subjects that I blog about and the topics that I address as a way to judge, and discredit me. As you can see from the attached picture, neither me nor my daughter are amused by this. I have no plans on stopping and I have also decided to expand the things that I blog about. Nothing is off limits. Except things that could possibly get me fired. Actually, I think that i tackle some pretty tough stuff. Now that I think about it, I'm gonna just continue my stance on everything that I blog about. If I change anything, then the haters win! I'm not changing a damn thing! I do whoever wanna thank those few people who have posted and used their names or screen names. Not that I don't appreciate the Anonymous posts, but i really dig the people bold enough to post with an identity. Since my 100th post, the brave readers have been: Wendy Lough, Lori, Osmianski and Morelli, Mike, tracij8, Brandon Lee, Averroes, taint, James Tubman, Crystal & Crystal L. I want to give each of you a shout out, thank you for reading, and encourage you for continuing reading and posting feedback. With that being said, I hope for 200 more posts and I wish the snitches and haters that sign Anonymous nothing but success and good health. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Ryan Leslie
If you get a chance, check out this new artist named Ryan Leslie. I'm usuaslly a dedicated Hip-Hop head, but I believe this guy is the truth. He is very talented, but most importantly to me; he is CREATIVE & ORIGINAL. The best example of this is the stand out single, "Gibberish" from his debut self titled album. I can't give you an accurate desciption of the song, but the title says it all. You gotta hear it. Do yourself a favor and check this artist out. If you don't do anything else, at least listen to the single, "Gibberish". But that's just my opinon though, and who the hell am I?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Mountain Mama
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A study commissioned by lawmakers on alleged racial profiling by West Virginia police shows black and Hispanic motorists are more likely to be stopped and searched than whites.
Lawmakers authorized the Division of Criminal Justice study to resolve racial profiling accusations against law enforcement officials. The study presented to lawmakers Monday was based on 301,479 traffic stops recorded by police across West Virginia between April 2007 and September 2008.
“It doesn’t answer the question of whether racial profiling is taking place,” said Stephen Haas, director of the division’s statistical analysis center. “It does answer the question of disparity of whites, blacks and Hispanics.”
Although nearly 94 percent of the drivers stopped were white, the study found that blacks and Hispanics were at least 1.5 times more likely to be stopped by police. And once stopped, the study found, they were more likely to be arrested or receive a citation.
Also, blacks and Hispanics were at least twice as likely to be searched.
However, the study showed that once searched, whites were more likely to have drugs and other contraband on them than either blacks or Hispanics.
“The fact that they are being searched at higher rates then whites, but less contraband is being found, it raises questions as to what were the reasons for the stop and search,” Haas said.
Franklin Crabtree, executive director of the state’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter, said researchers might not be able to say racial profiling exists, but circumstantial evidence suggests it.
“This study indicates we civil libertarians have a lot of work to do in West Virginia,” he said.
The ACLU sued the city of Charleston in 2002 after city police stopped a vehicle with three black students who were participating in a leadership program at West Virginia State College.
West Virginia NAACP President Kenneth Hale said in a statement that the results aren’t surprising. But Hale said it’s disappointing to see “that people of color are still being disproportionally singled out to be stopped and searched when they travel on the state’s roads.”
The Legislature has been debating racial profiling since 2002. Lawmakers adopted the Racial Profiling Data Collection Act in 2004 and approved rules governing the study in 2006.
The study required officers to note the type of violation the vehicle was stopped for and whether the officers issued a citation, warning or took no action. They also must note the time and day of each stop, how long the stop lasted and the patrol area and county where the stop occurred. Information was collected by city police, county sheriff’s deputies and state police troopers.
Speeding was the most common reason for a traffic stop. And only 4.6 percent of all stops resulted in a search, the study found. Contraband was not found in 53.6 percent of the searches.
The study said disparity ratios were highest in Barbour, Berkeley, Hardy, Jefferson, Preston and Summers counties. Minority drivers were two-and-a-half to six times more likely to be searched in Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Hardy, Mason, Mineral, Mingo, Pleasants, Randolph and Wirt counties.
Among cities, Parkersburg recorded the highest disparity with blacks more then twice as likely to be stopped then white drivers. Charleston led in searches with blacks being nearly five times more likely to be searched.
Despite the higher search rates for black drivers in Charleston, Beckley, Huntington and Wheeling, the report said the contraband “hit” rate for blacks was lower than for whites.
Among county sheriff’s departments, Putnam County led the state with blacks nearly 2.5 times more likely to be stopped and 3.5 times more likely to be searched.
Blacks were 4.5 times as likely to be searched by state troopers assigned to the Parkersburg detachment, and three times as likely by troopers attached to the South Charleston detachment, the study said.
Officials with the State Police and the state sheriff’s association and fraternal order of police did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Haas said it will be up to the Legislature to decide if additional studies are needed.
House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, co-sponsored the study legislation in 2006. Webster did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday. In the meantime, Crabtree said the study is a “really good step. At least we have a good idea of what we’re dealing with.”
Now, I love my state, as much as, or more than the next guy; but bullshit like this has to stop. It's bad enough that there are movies like Wrong Turn, and senate discussions on eating roadkill; to make us look bad. Not only didn't we support our new president, but apparently he wouldn't even be safe to drive in our state. As this country sails towards change, I hope West Virgina isn't an anchor but an orr that will help the voyage go smoothly. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
Lawmakers authorized the Division of Criminal Justice study to resolve racial profiling accusations against law enforcement officials. The study presented to lawmakers Monday was based on 301,479 traffic stops recorded by police across West Virginia between April 2007 and September 2008.
“It doesn’t answer the question of whether racial profiling is taking place,” said Stephen Haas, director of the division’s statistical analysis center. “It does answer the question of disparity of whites, blacks and Hispanics.”
Although nearly 94 percent of the drivers stopped were white, the study found that blacks and Hispanics were at least 1.5 times more likely to be stopped by police. And once stopped, the study found, they were more likely to be arrested or receive a citation.
Also, blacks and Hispanics were at least twice as likely to be searched.
However, the study showed that once searched, whites were more likely to have drugs and other contraband on them than either blacks or Hispanics.
“The fact that they are being searched at higher rates then whites, but less contraband is being found, it raises questions as to what were the reasons for the stop and search,” Haas said.
Franklin Crabtree, executive director of the state’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter, said researchers might not be able to say racial profiling exists, but circumstantial evidence suggests it.
“This study indicates we civil libertarians have a lot of work to do in West Virginia,” he said.
The ACLU sued the city of Charleston in 2002 after city police stopped a vehicle with three black students who were participating in a leadership program at West Virginia State College.
West Virginia NAACP President Kenneth Hale said in a statement that the results aren’t surprising. But Hale said it’s disappointing to see “that people of color are still being disproportionally singled out to be stopped and searched when they travel on the state’s roads.”
The Legislature has been debating racial profiling since 2002. Lawmakers adopted the Racial Profiling Data Collection Act in 2004 and approved rules governing the study in 2006.
The study required officers to note the type of violation the vehicle was stopped for and whether the officers issued a citation, warning or took no action. They also must note the time and day of each stop, how long the stop lasted and the patrol area and county where the stop occurred. Information was collected by city police, county sheriff’s deputies and state police troopers.
Speeding was the most common reason for a traffic stop. And only 4.6 percent of all stops resulted in a search, the study found. Contraband was not found in 53.6 percent of the searches.
The study said disparity ratios were highest in Barbour, Berkeley, Hardy, Jefferson, Preston and Summers counties. Minority drivers were two-and-a-half to six times more likely to be searched in Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Hardy, Mason, Mineral, Mingo, Pleasants, Randolph and Wirt counties.
Among cities, Parkersburg recorded the highest disparity with blacks more then twice as likely to be stopped then white drivers. Charleston led in searches with blacks being nearly five times more likely to be searched.
Despite the higher search rates for black drivers in Charleston, Beckley, Huntington and Wheeling, the report said the contraband “hit” rate for blacks was lower than for whites.
Among county sheriff’s departments, Putnam County led the state with blacks nearly 2.5 times more likely to be stopped and 3.5 times more likely to be searched.
Blacks were 4.5 times as likely to be searched by state troopers assigned to the Parkersburg detachment, and three times as likely by troopers attached to the South Charleston detachment, the study said.
Officials with the State Police and the state sheriff’s association and fraternal order of police did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Haas said it will be up to the Legislature to decide if additional studies are needed.
House Judiciary Chairwoman Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha, co-sponsored the study legislation in 2006. Webster did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday. In the meantime, Crabtree said the study is a “really good step. At least we have a good idea of what we’re dealing with.”
Now, I love my state, as much as, or more than the next guy; but bullshit like this has to stop. It's bad enough that there are movies like Wrong Turn, and senate discussions on eating roadkill; to make us look bad. Not only didn't we support our new president, but apparently he wouldn't even be safe to drive in our state. As this country sails towards change, I hope West Virgina isn't an anchor but an orr that will help the voyage go smoothly. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
An Experiment
I just wanted to see what would happen if I decided o start typing with no actual agenda or thought or topic in mind. Actually, after that period I got a little stuck. Hmmmm- Mmmmmmm. So far this hasn't led to much. That just made me think that led and lead, sound the same but are spelled different. Led is to direct people and lead is a metal that Superman can't see through. Kinda like Red and read. Red is the color and there is Read as in the past tense of read. Whoa! That looked crazy! I've never seen the past and present tense of a word look the same. Example: After I read the book, I took a nap. Example #2: When I get home, I'm going to read the book. That blows my mind. I can't think of any more words that are like that. Seems like that would be confusing to dictionary makers. Maybe, I'm wrong and I've misspelled Led or Read. Well I hit another dry patch here. Nothing is coming to me. I hope this makes sense when I'm done and it doesn't look or read like an incoherent babbling paragraph. Even if it does, I guess that's the point. I just realized that I have to somehow work my way around to getting my patented catch-phrase in here at the end. That's tough to do because I don't know where or when this is gonna end. Maybe I should just end it now. Or I could type one more sentence.Or one more. That could go on forever. OK, this is making my head hurt and I'm not a fan of headaches. Headaches lead to aspirin or some kinda pill, and I cannot swallow pills. That is of course, unless I convince myself tat I'm gonna die if I don't swallow the pill and I have a Super Big Gulp to drink. It really is embarrassing. I'm not gonna be ale to find a line in which i could through in my catch-phrase so I'm just gonna through it in as soon as I feel like it. Like right about here... But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am ?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Beef I Like
With all the ultra-macho tough talk that Hip-hop is born from, I became worried when all competition within the music became about gun talk and street cred. This video is the stuff that I like to see. Grown men, who are getting paid well, doing what they love, and engaging in a heated, intense, SAFE competition. It makes me think that there are people in this world who can grasp the concept of Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously. Besides being dope MCs; this is just another reason that I love Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, and the whole Slaughterhouse movement. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Check Your Kid's Homework
(Here's the reply the teacher received the following day)Dear Mrs. Jones,
I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over whom would get it.
Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot. From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Smith
That's hilarious to me, but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
NBA or NFL
36 have been accused of spousal abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71, repeat 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 currently are defendants in lawsuits,
and 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year
Can you guess which organization this is?
NBA Or NFL?
Give up yet?
Neither, it's the 435 members of the United States Congress
The same group that cranks out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.
Crazy, huh? But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71, repeat 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 currently are defendants in lawsuits,
and 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year
Can you guess which organization this is?
NBA Or NFL?
Give up yet?
Neither, it's the 435 members of the United States Congress
The same group that cranks out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.
Crazy, huh? But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
In My World...
...this is what all news anchors do during a commercial break. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
Monday, February 2, 2009
"Come On, Man" Face of the Week
Send your best one to rsj304@aol.com.
Use the comments to add what you think someone said to prompt this "Come On, Man" Face. I love these, but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
Use the comments to add what you think someone said to prompt this "Come On, Man" Face. I love these, but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
The S.T.G. Award
This weeks S.T.G. Award goes to the Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers. These people get on my nerves because they now feel as though they can stake a claim to the title of "America's Team" or "The Greatest NFL Franchise". I don't believe they deserve either. The fans deserve this award because the are incredible rude and they suspend all logic and judgement when it comes to their team. They never acknowledge how they stole Super Bowl XL, or how Terry Bradshaw is the worse QB in the Hall Of Fame. I have taken so much harassment from these people since the Super Bowl, that I can't stand to even go to the city. I refuse to go to Kennywood or the Pittsburgh Zoo! They think that just because the have the most rings, they're the best. NEWSFLASH: Just because someone has the most money or the biggest office, doesn't mean they are the smartest or worked the hardest. Sometimes they were just lucky or in the right place at the right time. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. For these facts, I say to the Steelers Fans, "SCREW THOSE GUYS!!!" But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
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