Joell Ortiz

One of my favorite artists. I love the concept for this video. I'm telling you guys, real hip-hop is coming back!!! But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Speechless

You know the weird part? Some of you are gonna watch this and say, "Hey, who knows what the guy did before the video started? Maybe he deserved it?" I always assumed that the police were trained to handle incapacitated perps, without nightsticks and violence. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

The Great Hair Debate

I was talking with some of my co-workers today and they told me something that I may be completely in the dark about. They said that they would like it if a man trimmed up and did some grooming to their "private areas". This has blown me away! I'm not even sure where the trend for women to start cutting their hair off started. I always assumed it was from porn. They all said that thy would prefer if their men shaved up down there. I'm an older cat, so I can't really understand it. It seems like the "man-scaping" as one co-worker called it, is a tad bit feminine for me. It's like a man being too concerned with his hairdo, or having a stylist. i just don't get it. I never complained about women having hair. Actually, I've only heard women complain about women having hair down there. So, I'm asking all of you out there that read this: If you're a man, do you Man-scape? If so, why? If you're a woman, do you prefer a man to Man-scape? If yes, why? The more I think about it, the more wrong it seems. Maybe I'm just too old school for some of these trends. The only thing I would be adamant about i woman shaving would be her armpits. I would only do that because a hairy armpit would remind me of a man. That's kinda my same thinking for "private areas". Again, I could be off on this I await your responses. I just think men are historically hairy; but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Support Your Local MC

Once again I must do my part in promoting local hip-hop. I know this young man and almost everyone in the video. I'm not saying he's the next Jay-Z, but he can spit better than you. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Top Ten Soulful White Cats

I really dig R&B and soul music. Not as much as Hip-Hop, but I dig it. I am by no means a music historian or expert, but I was recently in an argument with a very closed minded friend of mine and he stated, "You can't name 5 white cats with more soul than me!" I forgot to mention that this guy thinks he has an amazing singing voice. He's pretty good, but my theory is, if you are chillin with me instead of in the studio or on tour; you must not be that good. After that, he went on to say, "Matter of fact, I bet you can't even name 10 white soulful cats!" This list is for you, JB!!!

1.) Robin Thicke
2.) Jon B.
3.) Justin Timberlake
4.) Daryl Hall
5.) Joe Cocker
6.) Teena Marie
7.) Heuy Lewis
8.) Bobby Caldwell
9.) The lead singer of Color Me Bad
10.) The lead singer of Simply Red

If you don't agree or you feel like I left someone off, put it in the comments. I think this list is pretty solid. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

"Come On, Man" Face of the Week

This one was not submitted, I jacked it from The Ubiquitous Poppa Lusc; but you should

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. These crack me up, but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Renigger

I know that I said I had turned over a new leaf with my attitude towards women. As you can tell from the last text I haven't kept up with it. I had some bullshit at work, push me right back to square one. It was getting so bad that a few of my gay friends asked me if I was switching sides. I am not. Nor am I going to continue with this messed up attitude and perception of and toward the fairer sex. I love women, and unlike apples; one bad one does not spoil the whole bunch. Actually, I'm gonna start listing all of the things that I absolutely love about women. At least once a week, I'm gonna do that. That should help my mindset to lighten up. As I ask others to do, I decided to look at myself first. I had to ask, to how many women have I been their "bad apple"? Through ignorance, or arrogance; I'm sure that somewhere along my travels' I've turned a woman or two off from men for a while. It was never intentional. I just became selfish and/or unappreciative. I'm sure if all my Exs had blogs they would be airing me out like you wouldn't believe. Or maybe they aren't as effected by my past behaviors as I think. Maybe they took the high road. Maybe they simply got over it. There is a possibility that all of the women that I've done wrong are so strong and so focused, that they moved on. No regrets. No relapses. No angry phone calls, e-mails, or texts. I hope I haven't been responsible for someone losing hope. Hope in men or hope in Man. I'll work to lessen my negative impact on the world and lessen the impact of negativity on me. I'll do my best not to renege this time. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

I Tried

I was sent this e-mail today:


In a brief conversation, a man asked a woman he was pursuing the
question:

'What kind of man are you looking for?'

She sat quietly for a moment before looking him in the eye & asking, 'Do you really want to know?'

Reluctantly, he said, 'Yes.

She began to expound, 'As a woman in this day & age, I am in a position to ask a man what can you do for me that I can't do for myself?

I pay my own bills. I take care of my household without the help of any man...
or woman for that matter.

I am in the position to ask, 'What can you bring to the table?'

The man looked at her. Clearly he thought that she was referring to money.

She quickly corrected his thought & stated, 'I am not referring to money. I need something more.
I need a man who is striving for excellence in every aspect of life.

He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, & asked her to explain.

She said, 'I need someone who is striving for excellence mentally because I need conversation & mental stimulation. I don't need a simple-minded man.

I need someone who is striving for excellence spiritually because I don't need to be unequally yoked...believers mixed with unbelievers is a recipe for disaster.

I need a man who is striving for excellence financially because I don't need a financial burden.

I need someone who is sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but strong enough to keep me grounded.

I need someone who has integrity in dealing with relationships. Lies and game-playing are not my idea of a strong man.

I need a man who is family-oriented. One who can be the leader, priest and provider to the lives entrusted to him by God.

I need someone whom I can respect. In order to be submissive, I must respect him.

I cannot be submissive to a man who isn't taking care of his business. I have no problem being submissive...he just has to be worthy.

And by the way, I am not looking for him...He will find me. He will recognize himself in me. He may not be able to explain the connection, but he will always be drawn to me. God made woman to be a help-mate for man. I can't help a man if he can't help himself.

When she finished her spill, she looked at him.

He sat there with a puzzled look on his face . He said, 'You are asking a lot."

She replied, "I'm worth a lot".


The problem that I have with this e-mail is that it implies a certain amount of perfection and arrogance in women and an implied amount of ignorance and superficial thought pattern in men. As if men are always deficient and on the wrong page when it comes to women and we are saying and doing all the wrong things, until that certain woman comes along and gives us that mental pep talk so we can straighten up and do right. It kinda pisses me off. Men and women are in the same boat and we both can benefit from a little more patience and understand in regards to the opposite sex. Ultimatums and condescension aren't useful tools. For the women that send this or read it and say, "Right on, girl."; you have to pause before you put yourself in the role of the woman speaking. Are you as pristine, focused, and perfect as she claims? The fine line that she is expecting this man to walk is also the tightrope that she has confined herself to. It seems idiotic to place expectations on another hoping that by doing so, he can help you to achieve those lofty heights. Instead of using unrealistic caricatures as the guide, use your intuition, and take time to meet and know a person. Stiff rigid guidelines will not help you from being hurt or save you from taking the time to get to know someone. If the only way you can feel whole, is by looking down on your better half; an chain e-mail isn't gonna help your journey through life anyway. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?

Lately

Lately, I've been in kind of a funk. I haven't been very open-minded or free-thinking when it has come to the females. It seems like, I've been bashing them at every turn. Unfortunately, I have let the way that a few women have been in my past; be the filter in which I look at all females in my future. It isn't fair and it is bordering mean and spiteful. I dig women and i need to begin acting like I do. I am now taking a different attitude towards them. Instead of talking about how women in my past were; I'm gonna start talking about how women in my future will be. It seems that I fell victim to all of the things I blog about. It's difficult to continually look at yourself, knowing that you aren't done becoming a better person by a long shot. I gotta remember Self-improvement is a journey, not a destination. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?