tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91473950975710471862024-03-05T19:08:21.417-08:00...But Who The Hell Am IThis is the chance that I get to just unload my thoughts, feelings, and opinions on the world. Please join me in the free- flowing gyser of rants, stances, opinions, and revelations. NOTHING is off limits and NOTHING is out of bounds. No matter how serious or adamant I am about a post, response, or opinion; I never take myself too seriously. I always ask myself, "who the hell are you?"Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.comBlogger298125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-39306998984445858722013-10-24T20:11:00.000-07:002013-10-24T20:11:16.515-07:00Eminem & Jackass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">To me, Eminem is like a season of Jackass. Jackass is funny. They do things I've never seen and never really wanted to see and most of it is funny & entertaining. Eminem is a dope MC. He says things and puts words together like I've never heard before. He has incredible lyricism &</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">for the most part is entertaining. Most of the time when I watch Jackass, I think, "What the hell is wrong with these guys?" & "What would make someone do that?". Most of the time when I listen to Eminem, I think, "What the hell is wrong with this guy?" & "What would make someone say that?". I don't own any seasons of Jackass. I don't own any</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Eminem CDs. If someone told me they have watched & owned every episode of Jackass, and it was the funniest show they've ever seen; I'd think something was wrong with them. If someone told me that they own every CD and ride around bumpin Eminem, and he is the greatest MC; I'd assume they were younger than me & white. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?</span></div>
Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com4Wheeling Wheeling40.074246 -80.693115tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-31089866894469376862011-06-15T11:23:00.000-07:002011-11-17T12:29:10.059-08:00Once & Future King<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJG05BwydJ7yfc2kCIlzANB8se9QvZ96bhemKkRdHSuiYkReyj8ZQqZ9L__cg2urgJNqbQR0UfiGteNcyld9odSHlOWgdpGvK5eRzfScHbjC9xmjGUrlyy9RutzpB4qliFb0In4YsnRHtP/s1600/1307947097.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618860156338196642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJG05BwydJ7yfc2kCIlzANB8se9QvZ96bhemKkRdHSuiYkReyj8ZQqZ9L__cg2urgJNqbQR0UfiGteNcyld9odSHlOWgdpGvK5eRzfScHbjC9xmjGUrlyy9RutzpB4qliFb0In4YsnRHtP/s320/1307947097.jpg" style="float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 180px;" /></a><br />
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I'm not what you call a basketball fan. In actuality, I'm more of a fan of individual player. For the past few years, I've been riding with the Boston Celtics; but I've been really intrigued by the hatred for LeBron James. So much so, that I am as much a fan of his as I am a fan of the Boston Celtics. I always come back to one question: Why do you hate him so much? I've never gotten a legit answer. Here are a list of some of the answers I got and how full of crap they are. Usually, the first thing people say is, The Decision. This was where Lebron had a televised press conference to announce where he will be playing after his free agency was up. He didn't tell anyone before he made his decision and did it during his event. Most people think he was wrong not to tell management, his coach, or his teammates about his decision before The Decision. I think the hate for him makes people forget about the countless number of professional athletes who tell stories of only finding out through the media or while on All-Star break that they were traded to another team. Ask Kendrick Perkins. What about the endless athletes that were dropped like a bad habit when they sustained an injury. The haters also forget that The Decision was a fundraising event for The Boy's & Girl's Club of America. It raised $4 million for the charity. No one brings that up. Then others say that he is just too arrogant. Show me a pro athlete that isn't. Does anyone remember Jordan's hall Of Fame speech or pre-rape accusation Kobe? Others claim that lining himself up with other stars makes him weak. Isn't that what Boston did with their Big Three or Kobe & Shaq, or D-Wade & Shaq, even that Fellowship For The Ring team of Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Shaq & Kobe. This trend didn't start with LeBron and I'm sure it won't end with him. Others attach quotes of winning the scoring title, being the highest paid player, and removing lesser teams from the NBA to him; but I guarantee that your favorite player has a string of quotes that he or she may or may not have said that poorly reflected them. For example: "As far as playing, I didn't care who guarded me - red, yellow, black. I just didn't want a white guy guarding me, because it's disrespect to my game."- Larry Bird, or "Scoring 100 points is a lot, but I could've scored 140 if they had played straight-up basketball."- Wilt Chamberlain. Others have decided to take his recent 4th quarter collapses as an excuse to hate him. I find that funny, because the opponent that defeated him, Dirk Nowitzki, was fit with the same label. He was called soft, and not possessing the killer instinct to put teams away. He was never subjected to the same hate. Now they are mentioning him as being amongst the great ones. I'm still at a loss. My personal opinion is that LeBron represents something that the average hometown athlete views as a slap in the face. A high school star athlete who went straight to the pros and made an immediate and lasting impact. Something that 99% of them couldn't do. Imagine how the guy who wasn't even good enough to play in high school must feel about him? Those two types have to either love him, out of admiration, or hate him, out of jealousy. There is no in between. To those types, pro athletes are mythical in there ability and preparation. They can't be kids that were really good in high school; because if they were, then those types would be forced to answer the question, "Why couldn't I have done that?" Fortunately, I'm secure with my station in life, so I can marvel at LeBron James' success and his accomplishments without resentments. He is like Haley's Comet. Something that I doubt I will see again in my lifetime; but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?</div>Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-25520371968806361982010-11-13T09:40:00.000-08:002010-11-13T09:49:38.794-08:00Charles Hamilton & Serius Jones<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFqzjk6kSHw&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TFqzjk6kSHw&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br />I am amazed that are places in the world that you can be, where a freestyle battle could just suddenly break out. I don't mean a wack one between one of your boys and that really nice middle schooler that everyone is talking about. I mean a good one. Much less a battle between two artist in the peak of their ability. I was a little worried that Serius wasn't gonna spit, but it ended up being a win-win for all. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-56583922687018174672010-11-13T09:30:00.000-08:002010-11-13T09:40:38.133-08:00Speechless<object width="448" height="374"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/e/16711680/wshh5tULo85M5N6NS3EY" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/e/16711680/wshh5tULo85M5N6NS3EY" quality="high" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" width="448" height="374"></embed> </object><br /><br />The thing that I notice about this video is that the woman in it doesn't seem very ignorant at first. I bet she believes 90% of what she is saying. I know that desperation sometimes prompts the worst in us, but it rarely inserts qualities that we don't already possess. I also have to admit that I like seeing videos like this. Especially, after the media and some of my white friends try and convince me that racism is dead and buried. I can't decide if it is good or bad that this type of thing doesn't surprise me at all and in fact, makes me feel that my reluctance to drop my guard and sing unity songs isn't black paranoia. I'm gonna have to think about that one. Who know? Maybe I have become institutionalized by the institutional racism? Like a prisoner who has been looked up more of his life than he has been free. The bars are comfort. Maybe I need racism to feel comfortable and calm. I just that used to it. I seriously doubt it. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-71980621266068698462010-09-14T18:24:00.000-07:002010-09-14T18:34:46.186-07:00I Know How You Must Feel<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PSEYXWmEse8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PSEYXWmEse8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />I've seriously been neglecting my blog. For what it's worth, I apologize and promise to do better. I have no real excuse, but I posted this video because I believe that the people who have been regularly reading my blog, have felt this way about my blatant blog neglect at one time or another. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-50811207381199312232010-06-10T09:57:00.000-07:002010-06-12T11:38:53.564-07:00If you wouldn't punch yourself in a street fight, why do it in a word fight?<object width="448" height="374"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/e/16711680/wshhrrD2FLA134IvyexJ" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/e/16711680/wshhrrD2FLA134IvyexJ" quality="high" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" width="448" height="374"></embed> </object><br /><br />Y'all know I'm a fan of Hip-Hop, especially freestyle battles. I'm not exactly sure if the cat in this video understands. I'm assuming this cat thought that his wit would carry him beyond the implications of his insinuations. HE WAS WRONG. I don't even think HOV or Em could dig themselves out of this lyrical hole. Not enough to win the battle. Your opponent wouldn't even need to do anything more than repeat your rhymes back to you. I hope this trend isn't followed. Battle rappers need to be the epitome of confidence, bravado, and machismo. Sometimes, in a battle, that can be enough to bring you out victorious. Even if you're lyrics are better. Example: LL vs Canibus. My advice to any battle rapper is to tighten up your lyrics, but don't forget this is a BATTLE!!! If you want an example, check out Jae Millz vs Murda Mook. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-85571737628084869492010-06-03T08:28:00.000-07:002010-06-12T11:39:15.257-07:00OVAASA<div>During my month long hiatus, I decided to do something that I always wanted to do. I started an organization. It is called the Ohio Valley African American Students Association. I quickly found out that it is easy to start an organization, but difficult to make it real. It involves tons of paperwork, and things like PO Boxes, Tax IDs, Logos, and Letterheads. After that was established, I concentrated on my first event. I wanted to have a Banquet. I wanted to honor each and every black <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">high</span> school senior in the Ohio Valley with some sort of recognition, at a fancy sit down dinner. After some butt kissing and begging, On May 27<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>, 2010 at West Virginia Northern Community College, the first annual Ohio Valley African American Students Association's awards banquet took place.</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479110070684149250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RPTaAvFoPIPvuwLI-RkZD5WBuIwcSh4NGb35Hqd0D5ciNFPkb7jY28rNc99pWvtBzqwW2FN89-mSJ7FH_Sl1aybvqAFC9knbkjPI_rpM4nHnejBrZPkwMuZ8UpsPBuiWDiRvgHxY6aYO/s320/OVAASA+001.jpg" /></div><br />It was one of the proudest moments of my life. Now, I'm doing everything I can to make the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">OVAASA</span> self-sustainable and able to provide scholarships, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">interships</span>, and college visits. If any of you reading this would like to help out; our e-mail address is <a href="mailto:ovaasa@gmail.com">ovaasa@gmail.com</a>. You can follow us on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/ovaasa">https://twitter.com/ovaasa</a> and if you would like to send us a donation or any other correspondence, you can do so at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">OVAASA</span> PO Box 6497 Wheeling, WV 26003. Donations should be made out to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">OV</span> African American Students Association. I'm excited. I think everyone should find something to get behind and promote, that would better the world. It really makes you feel like you're making a difference. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-29929523138900278872010-06-03T08:08:00.000-07:002010-06-12T11:39:37.916-07:00It's Been A Long Time........I shouldn't a left you; without a new post to vent to. Think of how many weak shows you slept through. Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you .<br />For those of you who don't know, I was using the immortal words of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rakim</span> to try and make up for the fact that I have been seriously neglecting my blog. I have been working on a huge project and it finally has been finished. It is over and established. I'm gonna talk about it in the next post. I am really proud of the accomplishment. I have also been reading more blogs lately. I am amazed at the dedication that some people have when it comes to posting their thoughts, ideas, and opinions. I was also pleased to see that they have just as many nameless, cowardly haters as I have. It is a cool experience and I stress to more people that they should blog and read blogs. Unless of course you have no grasp of the term "moderation". If reading blogs begin to rule your life, and you take what is written as holy gospel; maybe you should stick to your steady diet of fear provided by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">CSI</span>, Law & Order, 20/20, Dateline, and your local & national news. We need you people to keep the economy good by buying pepper spray, Lysol Hands Free Soap Systems, and subscribing to <a href="http://www.showmewhereeverypedophileinamericalivessoicanbarricademeandmychildinmyhouseforever.org/">www.showmewhereeverypedophileinamericalivessoicanbarricademeandmychildinmyhouseforever.org</a> But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-42986108021904397032010-04-23T21:35:00.000-07:002010-04-23T22:06:43.473-07:00Top 100 Movies of All TimeI found an old notebook that I had from 1999. In it, I found a list of My Top 100 Movies Of All Time. There aren't even 100 movies listed on it though. I guess I never finished it. Here they go. Tell me what you think.<br /><div align="center">A Few Good Men</div><div align="center">The Devil's Advocate</div><div align="center">Close Encounters of the Third Kind</div><div align="center">Star Wars trilogy</div><div align="center">The Learning Tree</div><div align="center">The Silence of the Lambs</div><div align="center">Tombstone</div><div align="center">Pulp Fiction</div><div align="center">Goodfellas</div><div align="center">Die Hard</div><div align="center">Trading Places</div><div align="center">Blazing Saddles</div><div align="center">Terms of Endearment</div><div align="center">Casino</div><div align="center">The Breakfast Club</div><div align="center">Ralph Bakshi's Streetfight</div><div align="center">Malcolm X</div><div align="center">Blade</div><div align="center">Event Horizon</div><div align="center">Batman</div><div align="center">Terminator 2</div><div align="center">Glory</div><div align="center">Jaws</div><div align="center">The Ten Commandments</div><div align="center">Back To The Future</div><div align="center">Superman 2</div><div align="center">Rocky 3</div><div align="center">Jerry McGuire</div><div align="center">Duel</div><div align="center">Menace II Society</div><div align="center">The Golden Child</div><div align="center">Clerks</div><div align="center">Do The Right Thing</div><div align="center">The Color Purple</div><div align="center">In The Mouth of Madness</div><div align="center">The Godfather 1 & 2</div><div align="center">Mulan</div><div align="center">The Lion King</div><div align="center">Wonderman (Danny Kaye)</div><div align="center">JFK</div><div align="center">Kramer vs Kramer</div><div align="center">True Romance</div><div align="center">The Usual Suspects</div><div align="center">Titanic</div><div align="center">Bad Boys (Sean Penn)</div><div align="center">Jacob's Ladder</div><div align="center">The Professional</div><div align="center">Dracula</div><div align="center">Happy Gilmore</div><div align="center">The Beastmaster</div><br />I'm not sure what my criteria was for these movies. I forget. It was 11 years ago. Let me know if you think they suck or they shouldn't be on this list. If you haven't seen one of them, check it out and let me know. I stand by my picks, but that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-64023306803177424732010-03-28T11:36:00.000-07:002010-11-27T20:31:15.345-08:00Ms. Badu<object width="448" height="374"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/e/16711680/wshhu4c58Jg1lJrAiS5P" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/e/16711680/wshhu4c58Jg1lJrAiS5P" quality="high" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" width="448" height="374"></embed> </object><br /><br /><br />I know most of you think I'm posting this because the beautiful and talented Erykah Badu finally gave the world a look at that fantastic rump of hers. In actuality, this is an amazingly creative song and video. This woman never ceases to amaze me as an artist. Her personal life is kinda confusing, but whose isn't? I hope you all enjoy it, and she has finally killed the myth that you can't trust a big butt and a smile. (two of her most amazing assets) I hope that she one day gets the exposure and acclaim for her artistry and risk taking. It's long overdue. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-20589448073842144682010-03-27T12:59:00.000-07:002010-03-27T13:05:06.796-07:00BACK ON MY HIP-HOP SH#%T<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MS9vjQDXUt0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MS9vjQDXUt0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />You can't pass up a line up like this. This is one of those cyphers that I would pay to see. I don't really know Una Kasa or Rex, but they sounds legit. The rest are BONA FIDE SPITTERS!!! I'm just glad to hear lyrics again. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-17276386813368636052010-03-03T08:07:00.000-08:002010-03-22T20:21:41.972-07:0015 Minutes of.....I was thinking about the idea of "15 minutes of fame". Why is the 15 minutes of fame the only 15 minutes that are defined in our life? If the average person lives to the age of 75, we have 2, 628,000 intervals of 15 minutes in our lives. Why do the 15 minutes that deal with fame get to shine and the others do not. I've decided to define the other 2,627,998 intervals of 15 minutes in our lives. I'm sure that it can be done.<br /><br />This time I'm gonna focus on the 15 minutes of Doubt. Doubt is such an odd feeling. It seems to wash over a person at the most inopportune moments. One of the times that doubt gets to me is when I think that I'm doing good work with a client. Sometimes I feel like I'm actually making a difference in another human beings life and then I remember that we only spent 1, maybe 2 hours out of 24, working with that person. Then I begin to think that they are returning to their elements. The same elements, that caused or are causing the condition that they are getting counseling for. It is worse when you are working in a residential rehab. You would be 100% certain that a difference was being made. Then, once they leave the facility, its like the reset button was pressed. Even working at the High School; you work with a student for maybe two periods and you work hard to inspire, and enlighten; but often you have that fleeting thought of doubt. It lasts about 15 minutes. once you realize that you are doing more or working harder than the client, the feeling goes away. A good counselor knows that when you realize that; its time to pull back. I've often heard that was my main drawback as a counselor. Occasionally, I pushed them too hard. Once I meet my client, I begin to tabulate their potential. I don't demand perfection, but I promote progress. Once, I had a client say to me, very agitated, "Look, man!!! I just wanna stop doing coke, OK!!!!! I just wanna stop doing coke!!!!!" I'm not sure if it is a blessing or a curse, but I've learned that help not asked for is meddling. My goal is to be effective, efficient, inspire, accommodating, and understanding. More often than not, that means; meeting a person where they are, and walking with them. Not leading. Not following. Just offering support and belief. There is no room for doubt. Screw Those 15 minutes. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-9864854973955397992010-03-02T11:15:00.000-08:002010-03-02T17:22:18.436-08:00Acting Black<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XhO1kcxSejY/S425pO3VIRI/AAAAAAAAEYg/SOv_tFQ7Wng/s1600-h/6c6662cc.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 232px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444211642576740626" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XhO1kcxSejY/S425pO3VIRI/AAAAAAAAEYg/SOv_tFQ7Wng/s320/6c6662cc.jpg" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Recently, I was struck by the comments of actor, Nate Parker. He has taken a pledge to no longer take roles that emasculate black men or the image of black men. I originally thought that this was a cool stance for an actor to make; but the more that I think about it, the action is quite heroic. Then it hit me; not much has changed with the roles offered to or recognized for black actors nowadays. It seems as though degrading roles like Steppin Fetchit are becoming extinct, but are being replaced with the Holy Trinity of Black Male Actor's Roles: </div><br /><br /><div>1. The Misogynist- A man who loves nothing more than to tear women down and has no real love in his heart for females. Especially Black ones. This character never has a back story that will give you any insight in to his attitude or behaviors. It seems as though he was just born this way. </div><br /><br /><div>2. The Thug- This character has grown up on the wrong side of the tracks and is well versed in crime and "criminal" ways. Every now and then, this character achieves a level of success but desperation, addiction, or some other character fault, leads him back to his "true self". This character never feels completely comfortable with positive or honest actions/behaviors. It's as if he's allergic to good things. With this character, a good/positive action almost always results in his death. </div><br /><br /><div>3. The Safe One- This character is always funny and always brings a wisdom to other characters that he obtained through his life of adversity. You'll know this character because he s always alot older or younger than the main character. This character is always afraid of success.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Think back. Do you remember any black male character in a major motion picture that didn't fall into one of these categories? And I'm not talking about The Tyler Perry movies or the obligatory urban crime dramas. Since no African American, (including Oprah) has the power to green light a movie, we have to believe that these depictions are the safest ones for white America to identify with. We have to believe the story of Biggie, with all the similarities of your average everyday "hood" movies, was somehow more sensational and layered that the sorry of Tupac, with his roots in the Black Panthers, his study of the arts, and his trouble in the limelight.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I applaud Mr. Nate Parker and hope that more black men in Hollywood follow his lead. If they do, I imagine the presence of Black males in cinema will change from Caricatures to Characters. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?</div><br /><br /><div></div>Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-26935476699721168232010-02-02T17:23:00.000-08:002010-02-02T17:48:54.013-08:00David Fagen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_0PJx7O0RBsPrEUXdihWO-Ytn4QLGI_wMgddZJN3QbH93VC44NMOAdzf0PBI42IegC8xuxtwIOEzGm35aEQEPieUZwmDicZWh5YNnbythFJ8jT3nqI9ZAI9b9IcVZDW22UdzjiumwoBr/s1600-h/fagen_david.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 197px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433826039564351714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_0PJx7O0RBsPrEUXdihWO-Ytn4QLGI_wMgddZJN3QbH93VC44NMOAdzf0PBI42IegC8xuxtwIOEzGm35aEQEPieUZwmDicZWh5YNnbythFJ8jT3nqI9ZAI9b9IcVZDW22UdzjiumwoBr/s400/fagen_david.jpg" /></a><br /><div><em></em>According to Wikipedia,<em> David Fagen (1875-?), A native of Tampa, Florida USA, was one of five African Americans who defected during the Philippine-American War. Fagen acquired the rank of Captain in the Filipino Army. Fagen served in the 24th Regiment of the U.S. Army, but in November 1899 defected to the Filipino army. He became a successful guerrilla leader and his capture became an obsession to the U.S. military and American public. He was probably a product of the appeals made by the Filipinos for racial solidarity, calling for African American soldiers to desert the U.S. army.<br />After two other black deserters were captured and executed, President Theodore Roosevelt announced he would stop executing captured deserters.<br />As the war ended the US gave amnesties to most of their opponents. A substantial reward was offered for Fagen, who was considered a traitor. There are two conflicting versions of his fate: one is that his was the partially decomposed head for which the reward was claimed, the other is that he took a local wife and lived peacefully in the mountains.</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The story that I heard was, during the Philippine- America War, a soldier named David Fagen decided to defect to the Filipino Army because he came to the realization that it was wrong for an oppressed people to fight and kill another oppressed people in the name of an oppressive empire. Some people consider the Filipino's tactics as brainwashing or propaganda. I have a tough time believing the truth to be considered propaganda. Some people think that the ideas of the Filipino Army or the the thoughts that lead to David Fagen's decision are not such a strange concept. I don't think of him as a traitor. He's more of a human rights leader/hero. My boy, Jeremy Richter is the one who brought him up to me recently. You should hear him tell the story. My question is, in honor of black history month, would you be comfortable with the story of David Fagen being told or taught to your child in school. I'd be cool with it; but I've been unplugged from the Matrix for years now. I don't think your average everyday John Q. Public would dig the story of David Fagen being told. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?</div>Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-31505151144538748452010-01-25T08:51:00.000-08:002010-01-25T12:25:53.956-08:00Precious<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWDH-fEV6cAu71V8F8_L0V9N-9MZ538kfCSTlAr_xSem2heM0RVdiY1Mx9N3Vt5PnZvH7F5CjYMq8b5m3wUkRpMb4GMjsJP867ifjRIbrsb6FFvCn-zFAY2gR1z-NbnaBqLPOtEUynQda/s1600-h/precious_poster_m.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430764682202130018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWDH-fEV6cAu71V8F8_L0V9N-9MZ538kfCSTlAr_xSem2heM0RVdiY1Mx9N3Vt5PnZvH7F5CjYMq8b5m3wUkRpMb4GMjsJP867ifjRIbrsb6FFvCn-zFAY2gR1z-NbnaBqLPOtEUynQda/s400/precious_poster_m.jpg" /></a> OK.... Where do I begin? Maybe, i shouldn't be so hasty when I see a trailer that moves me. Maybe, I shouldn't be captivated be what I feel is genuine acting. Maybe, I shouldn't be so quick to get behind a story that I feel needs to be told. I posted the preview to this movie and I said, "YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE". I am not a fan of this movie. I think it is too dark, too sad, and offers no hope to the audience. You leave the theater feeling pity. I was tricked into believing that this movie was inspirational, but it doesn't inspire. It doesn't move you towards appreciation, it scares the shit out of you and drops kicks you into the general direction of appreciating your life. There is nothing that motivates me about this story. Maybe I have a skewed sense of a inspirational story. However, I still would recommend that everyone should watch this movie. I'd just like to see if anyone else feels the same way. I dig the movie, but if it isn't going to entertain, it should've just been a documentary. I'm not saying every movie should have a happy ending, but to me, the purpose of a movie is to entertain, educate, or inspire. This movie does none of the above. I'm not disrespecting the film, the actors, or the people it was made about. I just don't know what there intentions were with making the film. I know what you're thinking, I'm just hating because Tyler Perry was involved. This isn't the case. You know what makes my argument even worse? I didn't watch the entire film. Once the film got to a point where I KNEW, I repeat, KNEW Precious's life couldn't get better; I turned it off. I would tell you the part I'm talking about, but there maybe people who didn't see it. I'm not saying that gaining peace of mind wouldn't lead to a life getting better, but you can't be inspired by the acceptance of mediocrity or complacency. It reminds me of the Catholic church convincing slaves that if they put up with life here, they have a better one waiting for them in paradise. This post probably should've waited until I saw the entire movie and it will probably piss off a lot of folks, but I hope it makes you watch it and discuss what you see. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?<br /><div></div>Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-28956860608606451312010-01-14T10:42:00.001-08:002010-01-14T11:22:53.449-08:00Sweet Sweet Redemption<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LxtpTpeW9LT2ob-Thpdp6Y7fiNfgnjda3NmFPt5DvfAK_AfAjOd3tlqRjZaZSbUDetArSbMakw5EtvIIRCltI5oHjldUwvE_c4Uo34oWonZsatHTXLOyL3rGAwiRjgp20BhhVg42X6ck/s1600-h/Co-wit.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426668035928326722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LxtpTpeW9LT2ob-Thpdp6Y7fiNfgnjda3NmFPt5DvfAK_AfAjOd3tlqRjZaZSbUDetArSbMakw5EtvIIRCltI5oHjldUwvE_c4Uo34oWonZsatHTXLOyL3rGAwiRjgp20BhhVg42X6ck/s400/Co-wit.jpg" /></a>The man in this picture is an adamant Dallas Cowboys hater. He has spent the majority of his life bashing and denouncing America's Team. Now due to a lost bet, this man had to wear a Dallas Cowboys Jason Witten jersey. This is more poetic because he devotes a good bit of his time to bashing Jason Witten as "The Softest Tight End in the League". I LOVE THIS!!!! I will never let this picture die. It warms my heart. I love it even more because, he wore it this season: The season where the Pittsburgh Steelers(his favorite squad) lost to the Browns, Chiefs, & Raiders. The season where the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't make the playoffs. The season where the Dallas Cowboys won a playoff game after 13 years. This is beautiful. I bet he didn't even think this picture would circulate. This guy has stolen my Cowboys flag and my Cowboys sign. Now he is rockin a Cowboys jersey! Even if he only wore this for 3 minutes it was completely and entirely worth it to me. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?<br /><div></div>Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-61512093148107922632010-01-14T07:34:00.000-08:002010-01-14T10:38:48.190-08:0015 Minutes of.....I was thinking about the idea of "15 minutes of fame". Why is the 15 minutes of fame the only 15 minutes that are defined in our life? If the average person lives to the age of 75, we have 2, 628,000 intervals of 15 minutes in our lives. Why do the 15 minutes that deal with fame get to shine and the others do not. I've decided to define the other 2,627,999 intervals of 15 minutes in our lives. I'm sure that it can be done. The problem is that they have to be universal and able to apply to every person. I'm gonna work on this so be expecting a series of posts. I have every intention of making it to 2,628.000. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-39900160406496647582010-01-06T21:11:00.000-08:002010-01-06T21:16:23.537-08:00Abstinence Is The Way Kids<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GVoaVYxEj_g&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GVoaVYxEj_g&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />This is the best student generated Pro-abstinence video I've ever seen. Most are made by groups of students or a school/church club. This was made by one girl. The best part is that I know this young lady very well. I remember her when she was just 4 years old. She's immensely creative and incredibly artistic. Just like her mama. I know she's proud. I'm proud myself. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-40937262431175310782010-01-06T09:14:00.000-08:002010-01-07T16:47:15.365-08:00My 2010 ResolutionsI know everyone does this, but I'm gonna honestly try my best to keep these ones. I thought long and hard about them. Here they are. Tell me what you think.<br /><br /><br /><em>Resolution #1</em>: <strong>Drink more water</strong>- With my recent kidney issues, this one seems like a good idea.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #2</em>: <strong>Get better at answering my texts, phone calls, and e-mails</strong>- This is the number one complaint of all my friends and family. I'm honestly gonna work on this one.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #3</em>: <strong>Spend more time with people I care about</strong>- This one is pretty self explanatory but there isn't a better way to show people you care about them.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #4</em>: <strong>Call or text my mom at least once a day</strong>- No one has my back like she does. No one.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #5</em>: <strong>Forgive and forget Mr. & Mrs. Brown</strong>- Nothing good can come from holding grudges and keeping resentments.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #6</em>: <strong>Close the book on Ronald Scott Sr</strong>- Sometimes hope can prevent you from growing. Not often, but sometimes.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #7</em>: <strong>Appreciate my baby mama a little more</strong>- She takes good care of my daughter.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #8</em>: <strong>Retire my threesome fantasy</strong>- I don't wanna talk about it.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #9</em>: <strong>Hate the Pittsburgh Steelers more</strong>- It couldn't hurt.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #10</em>: <strong>Only sleep with a woman that I could imagine being the mother of my child</strong>. (unless there is a revision to #8)- This forces you to get to know women you sleep with better and forces you to be lead by smarter head.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #11</em>: <strong>Start cutting out coupons from the Sunday paper</strong>- Times is tough!<br /><br /><em>Resolution #12</em>: <strong>Become more of a force in my community, without organizations like NAACP, YSS, YWCA, or WPHS</strong>. Just me. One concerned man- This forces me to become more of the solution than the problem.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #13</em>: <strong>Start playing my hand drums again</strong>- Creativity and art are good for the soul.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #14</em>: <strong>Stop using the words SHOULD, COULD, WOULD, & DESERVE</strong>- I gotta put myself on a more positive road. Our speech is very important.<br /><br /><em>Resolution #15</em>: <strong>Get back into Yoga</strong>- It's too good for he mind, body, and soul to stop.<br /><br />I'm gonna try and really hold on to these for an entire 365. If any of you see me slippin or slackin, feel free to check me. It couldn't hurt. It can only help. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-5887948965045015372009-12-10T11:51:00.000-08:002009-12-10T11:58:42.401-08:00"Come On, Man" Face of the Week<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgac5en0Yqi_9ZMEHIoEkgf-rvDWx5oHn6ohc3ybdMIUtQv2ppiLthiuj3L2mjyZ6occRUpuyx1GiuNpKhxW9ZB-QbHw742FRkSuT-RBdVW1lETfMmzEjASsHOhtRuCOJygiU_OXH-nexyv/s1600-h/whoa_10.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413698231782306530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgac5en0Yqi_9ZMEHIoEkgf-rvDWx5oHn6ohc3ybdMIUtQv2ppiLthiuj3L2mjyZ6occRUpuyx1GiuNpKhxW9ZB-QbHw742FRkSuT-RBdVW1lETfMmzEjASsHOhtRuCOJygiU_OXH-nexyv/s320/whoa_10.jpg" /></a> This one was not submitted, by a girl who only goes by Whoa. Not bad at all. You should send your best one to <a href="mailto:rsj304@aol.com">rsj304@aol.com</a>. 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?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-44603583672441465252009-12-07T10:19:00.000-08:002009-12-07T13:54:48.513-08:00The Good Wife's GuideBack in the day there was a magazine entitled, Housekeeping Monthly. When I say back in the day, I mean baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack in the day. In their May 13th, 1955 issue they had a little list that they ran entitled, "The Good Wife's Guide". When I read it, I was reminded of how drastically the ideas of Home, Wife, Family, and Husband have changed. I'm gonna post at least one of these things per week and I want you guys; especially the women, to tell me what you honestly think.<br /><br />Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.<br /><br />Truthfully, this doesn't sound half bad. I don't think it would fly nowadays, unless it went both ways. It kinda has a hidden implication of solitude and trust: two things important to a healthy relationship. Cool idea, but good luck adapting that to the modern woman. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-23008959292536181622009-12-07T08:30:00.000-08:002009-12-07T08:45:38.162-08:00The War Prayer<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>The War Prayer<br /></strong><em>by Mark Twain</em></span> </div><div align="left"><br /><em>It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory with stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts, and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country, and invoked the God of Battles beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpourings of fervid eloquence which moved every listener.<br /><br />It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.<br /><br />Sunday morning came -- next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams -- visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender!<br /><br />Then home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag, or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation:<br /><br /><strong>God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest,<br />Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!</strong><br /><br />Then came the "long" prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was, that an ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers, and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in the day of battle and the hour of peril, bear them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory --<br /><br />An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher's side and stood there waiting. With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal, "Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord and God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!"<br /><br />The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside -- which the startled minister did -- and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes, in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said:<br /><br />"I come from the Throne -- bearing a message from Almighty God!" The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. "He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd, and will grant it if such be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import -- that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of -- except he pause and think. "God's servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two -- one uttered, and the other not. Both have reached the ear of Him who heareth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this -- keep it in mind. If you would beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon your neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain on your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse on some neighbor's crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.<br /><br />"You have heard your servant's prayer -- the uttered part of it. I am commissioned by God to put into words the other part of it -- that part which the pastor -- and also you in your hearts -- fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard the words 'Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!' That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory -- must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">"Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth into battle -- be Thou near them! With them -- in spirit -- we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended in the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames in summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it --<br /><br />For our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet!<br /><br />We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.</span><br /></strong><br />(After a pause.) "Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits."<br /><br />…<br /><br />It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said. </em></div><br />Nothing is as true as this piece of art is in these current times. All of those who are in support of war and believe that war has a purpose in this day and age should read this again. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-48421855062668363342009-11-30T06:59:00.000-08:002009-12-02T18:23:16.147-08:00Invisible Stop SignsI've been having this thought and I hope that it doesn't offend. I've been trying to think of anything that can have a worse effect on a child than being sexually offended by an adult. I wasn't trying to trump it. I was just thinking, what things happen in a child's life that tests their famous resiliency. Then it occurred to me. I think, living in the constant fear of being a victim of a pedophile is worse than being a victim of a pedophile. Hear me out. Children are resilient. Amazingly resilient. They are resilient to practically any and everything that HAPPENS to them. The psychological and emotional toll that living in adamant paranoia can have on a child is too much though. You can get past something that happens, but it is impossible to move past the heavy weight of a perception when it stops your human growth, and never reveals itself. I'm not directing this to your average everyday concerned parent. Just the ones that watch the news, and To Catch A Predator, and tell their kids all about how there are evil adults waiting to attack and do terrible things to them. Those parents aren't doing their kids a favor. My daughter knows not to talk to or go with strangers. When I asked her why she shouldn't do these things, she said "Because they will take me from you and mommy." That was good enough for me. She doesn't need to know the intricate details of things that could, but odds are won't, happen to her. Innocence is becoming a rapidly vanishing resource amongst our youth and we should do our best to make sure it doesn't get depleted by our zest for awareness. Again, I believe in the resilience of children. I also believe in the mental erosion of fear. No one is immune. Not kids. Not adults. Not even Chuck Norris. Living under constant fear will turn scared children to paranoid adults. Not concerned adults, not cautious adults, but paranoid adults. A child's resiliency is confined to things that happen to them; not things that linger in their minds which may or may not be real. That's why they struggle with the Boogieman. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-73682100011414188742009-11-26T19:58:00.000-08:002009-11-26T21:19:58.177-08:00My 300th Post<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIY0JySXMEddbf43hPa8rH7uo6X8MksmdjXvP4ncOmWpILdaSCefrh0vA7H63ZyijCEwjJZRB7mT8WSu4DzOSVu7xZIQEVL7YMRT2Ka64ZfphbIsVc3l0YQ1XfCoffEP3Hh9fUVqJc92I/s1600/stradwick+family+reunion+june+26-28+2009+103.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408648755356096690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIY0JySXMEddbf43hPa8rH7uo6X8MksmdjXvP4ncOmWpILdaSCefrh0vA7H63ZyijCEwjJZRB7mT8WSu4DzOSVu7xZIQEVL7YMRT2Ka64ZfphbIsVc3l0YQ1XfCoffEP3Hh9fUVqJc92I/s320/stradwick+family+reunion+june+26-28+2009+103.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Well. Well. Well. 300 posts. I would've never thought that I had 300 things to type about. Somehow I did. Unfortunately, this last 300 post have been kinda darkened with what I can only categorize as haters and perpetrators. I believe that I lost several readers from it. It was apparent one day when i got a strange e-mail from someone who wanted to comment, but "didn't want involved in all that drama". I didn't help matters because I jumped in head first instead of letting people think what they think and work it out on their own. The worst part is that I ended up finding out that it was a loyal reader that I thought was a friend who started it all up. I've since, resolved all issues with that person and intend to move on. I actually considered just deleting it, but I'm glad I chose against it. Enough of that crap! My favorite topics from these past 100 have been: Rest In Peace, The Inauguration I Would've Loved To See, Blind Hypocrisy, An Elephant Never Regrets, A Cool Moment, Renigger, and Really???. This is the part I love. Now I wanna shout out the brave souls who I appreciate so much, and who make me feel sane and insane at the same time. I wanna thank all the people who have commented and left their name or a name instead of Anonymous. These fine people are: Stella, Crystal, Kelly Jo, Jade, Adria, Aimee, Jaime, Susan, Claire, Good Ole Wifey, Jermaine, James Tubman, Mizamizamoses, My Two Cents, Jessica, CoJack, J. Lucious, Tamara, Niecy Cakes, Mary, MJ Lives Under My Bed, and Wendy Lough. Thank you all. Please keep reading. I decided to post the picture of me and my mom because I also learned this year that no one has my back more than she does. NO ONE! I plan on trying for 400. I don't know if I'll make it, but I'm sure gonna try. Haters don't bother me as much anymore. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?</div>Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147395097571047186.post-64149027789659831212009-11-23T21:40:00.000-08:002009-11-23T22:11:14.473-08:00What Hip Hop Needs.....With the reappearance of Charles Hamilton, The Reemergence of Jay-Z, and the revelation of 50 Cent, I've been thinking about Rap music. i think I know what it needs right now.<br /><br /><strong><em>Artists.</em></strong><br /><br />Really. Right now the music is full of Hustlers, Trap Stars, Gangsters, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Entrepreneurs</span>, and Business men. Not many artists. Too many cats concerned with the money, the formula, and the industry side of things. I don't even think people look at rappers as artists. I think they see most of them as thugs with a record deal waiting to get shot or got to jail. I think from now on I'm gonna only refer to them as Rap Artists. Well... the ones that are artistic, anyways. What kills me is when I hear a rapper or producer, or industry person say, "He can rap his ass off, but he can't write a song." or "What's the use of being so lyrical, if you can right a hit?" Could you imagine someone telling Van <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gogh</span> or Picasso, "You can paint your ass off, but you gotta give people something to look at." or telling Salvidor Dali, "I like what you're doing here, but when are you gonna start churning out masterpieces?" It's ridiculous. It's so bad that, when I criticize rappers or what rappers talk about, I get accused of being a hater. I know a 23 year old cat who, whenever he hears me talking about lyricists and lack of creativity, says "Can't you just enjoy the music?" Does that seem crazy to anyone else? Maybe it's just me. This is the way I see Hip Hop now: Imagine if the Rap Game was Track & Field. What if runners were being judged by how many meets they run in, how many endorsements they have, how hard they trained, and what their running gear looked like; INSTEAD OF HOW FAST THEY RUN!!! Then, when I criticize the runner for being slow, they say "Can't you just enjoy the race?" Maybe I'm just an old guy complaining. Maybe I'm the one losing touch. If you ask me there aren't many artists left: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nas</span>, Mos Def, Kid <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cudi</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kanye</span>, Charles Hamilton, Drake, Andre 3000, The Roots. There are plenty more, but these guys personify the artistry and the culture. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?Scizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11072623462869815266noreply@blogger.com0