Ain't Gon Let Up (DJ Yola)

Hey. I’m going to start out by talking about Trayvon Martin, after which I’m going to archive all my week’s major thoughts for my own reference, as FB tends to delete shit all willy nilly, SMDH!

And oh… do you mind not flagging my post? I spent forever putting this together. If you don’t like it, could you just go on to another post? I’m sorry I’m not writing as creatively anymore, but I’m HELLA busy working a job, keeping my websites running and maintaining a Tinychat social life!

The Case of Trayvon Martin vs George Zimmerman

Rightwing extremists are trying to paint this as a political issue, while emotional black people are trying to paint it as a racial one. I believe it is neither. It is, in my opinion, a simple case of nepotism. The Sanford police foolishly felt it prudent to allow George Zimmerman to go free, lest they offend his father, the former Virginia Supreme Court Magistrate Judge Robert Zimmerman.

Radio host Michael Baisden said it best earlier today when he decreed that this is neither a racial issue nor a political issue, but rather an American issue that deserves the attention of every one of us. He continued by noting that such miscarriages of justice occur to more than just black kids; they occur to white kids, Asian kids, Hispanic kids and more. It’s a national epidemic that must be curbed.

That said, such miscarriages occur most frequently among black people because crime is most prevalent among their communities. So while I fervently support justice for Trayvon Martin, I also sincerely hope that black folks in general wake up and start taking a stand for the sake of both their children and their own futures. If they themselves won’t fight for change, who will?

As for Zimmerman, though I possess no official training in law, my love for ‘law and order’ type shows leads me to believe that there is more than enough evidence to convince a Grand Jury to indict the bastard. Perhaps the introduction of new evidence will eventually absolve him, or perhaps it’ll provide definitive proof that he did indeed murder Trayvon. Regardless, it’s time for the courts to decide!

//

I’m sorry if I offended any black folk out there. The racist garbage being written about Trayvon disgusts me as well. However, the issue still boils due to nepotism. FYI... I too have been pulled over for being outside in a hoodie at night. It happened about 1.5 years ago, in fact, when I was running along Buffaloe Road in NE Raleigh. Point being that I’m not talking out of my ass.

Sorry regardless, but … this is how I feel :-(.

Thoughts Galore

I have had a terrific week. I got a lot of work done, I feel lean and good (tho I need to quit smoking and take more supplements) and I’m not worried about being single, though I am still lonely AF… lonely AF for a woman who’s a lawyer! SWAGG!

// Obamacare Benefits

Interesting. So oral arguments are being given to the Supreme Court this week regarding Obamacare. The decision, however, won't be made until summer. That's unfortunate. I'd rather know now.

#1. Easier to track if doctors are prescribing medications because they're best for you or because of a pharmaceutical company's influence.

#2. Employers must provide a room for breastfeeding.

#3. Calories will be listed under fast-food menu items. (I love this one.)

#4. $50 million / year for abstinence-only education. (kind of useless)

#5. A limit to flexible spending accounts.

#6. Higher taxes on tanning. (GOOD)

#7. Incentives to small businesses that start wellness initiatives.

#8. Full coverage for preventative care. (EXCELLENT)

#9. Funding to support childhood home visitation in the hope of reduce child abuse/neglect and promoting the health of mothers and their children.

#10. More easily readable health plans.

\\ Negativity Deserves Compassion, Not Disregard

[Researchers even looked at actual Facebook friends because, Forest says, "you might think that a real friend would care if you're expressing negativity." It turned out actual friends didn't like the negative posts, either. The posts actually backfired, neither winning the author new friends nor generating good feelings.]

That's a damn shame. When I encounter someone who feels troubled for whatever reason, I tend to reach out and offer a comforting hand. Unfortunately, society has become so bloody indifferent to the problems of others that they just don't care anymore. What a pity.

What I despise most are those who refuse to take a stand for anything -- individuals who lack core principles/convictions and then have the audacity to look down at those who do possess the aforementioned. Being expressive, opinionated and willing to fight for what you believe in is a positive trait, regardless of the spin.

// Corporations Aren’t People

Reform groups are urging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require that publicly traded companies disclose contributions/donations that they make to politically engaged parties like super PACs. They're currently able to hide such information because of the damn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision in 2012, which, for clarification, designated corporations as people.

[Reformers targeting the SEC are concerned about a specific type of political spending: contributions to nonprofits and trade groups engaged in direct electoral efforts that do not have to disclose their funders. Such groups, both right- and left-wing, include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Crossroads GPS, Americans for Prosperity and Priorities USA.]

Basically, you got rich people funding political campaigns to have their own laws put into place or laws with which they disagree thrown out. And this is all being done behind closed doors without any transparency whatsoever.

The Wall Street Journal and similar like=minded "business allies" are throwing Unions under the bus, painting these "efforts as part of a multi-year campaign by unions, left-wing activists and their factotums to expose and then vilify companies that disagree with them."

Um... sorry to bust their bubbles, but Unions are required to disclose WTF they do regarding political spending.

\\ The Dictator

I'm disgusted. God forbid the government intervene to try to make things better. It all stems down to people's refusal to have the government regulate a bit of their lives. I'm sorry, but considering the current state of society, I'm all up for government regulation. Endless murders, kids & adults alike acting like mindless fools and a society devoid of compassion but brimming with greed and superficiality lead me to believe what this country needs more than ever is more government regulation and control, especially in the healthcare department.

Somebody once said I must have been a dictator or king a former life. I'm apt to agree, LOL.

// My Selflessness Makes Me Want To Cry

Another great Obamacare argument, courtesy of the Washington Post.

The average family pays an extra $1,000 annually in premiums to subsidize the costs of those who don't have insurance. If you currently have insurance, you're basically paying for my coverage. Thank you!

If the mandate is allowed to come to fruition, douchebags like me will be forced to allocate beer/cigarette money towards actually being responsible and acquiring insurance, which in turn will lower ya'lls bloody premiums.

So in effect, I should be against the mandate, shouldn't I? It's going to cost ME money. I won't be able to just ignore healthcare anymore. Did you know, for instance, that I owe about 20K in healthcare-related expenses? I'm not paying any of it, though, so who do you think is paying for it? BINGO!

The reason I'm in favor of the mandate, though it will make my own life harder, is because it's for my and the country's betterment.

Ahhh.. my selflessness never ceases to amaze me, hahaha.

SWAG, bitches!

\\ The Zoo Hypothesis / Prime Directive

Morning everybody! I just stumbled on this piece and had to share it. It's fascinating, as is the discussion that follows.

Many ask why, if they exist, other civilizations haven't contacted us yet. I subscribe to the 'zoo hypothesis,' which states that alien life forms capable of interstellar travel purposefully avoid contact to allow for our natural evolution and deployment.

Basically, despite our great accomplishments, we humans are still a very culturally, ethically, politically and technologically primitive species. We can barely get along among ourselves; now imagine us trying to get along among hundreds or more equal (if not superior) life forms?

// Irrelevant

Hmm. The Nation argues that the fate of 'Obamacare' is somewhat irrelevant, because without a single-payer "Medicare for All" public option, "we will not have universal coverage, medical bills will still push too many Americans into bankruptcy or prompt them to self-ration care, and insurance companies will continue to have a choke hold on our health."

//

Premiums have risen 50% in the last 7 years.

Premiums represent 20% of 6 out of 10 Americans' median earnings.

Approximately 30 million Americans were contacted in 2010 by collection agencies because of medical bills.

More people are using emergency rooms for routine problems "at a cost of 10 times more than preventive care with fewer treatment options."

The number of uninsured Americans is at an all-time high, as is the number of insured Americans who "massive holes int heir health plans."

US life expectancy rates trail those of countries with better healthcare, e.g., Canada.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

"The consequences of the denial of care en masse—now and in the future, with or without the ACA—could not be more ominous. Only more comprehensive reform, Medicare for Life, for all Americans, will finally produce real healthcare security for our country."

Basically, 'Obamacare' is only the first step toward real reform.

\\ Conservative Swagg

Courtesy The Colbert Report. Conservatives aren't faring well with the youth, so conservatives have launched this magazine (available as a 52-page PDF download), and it's quite entertaining!

Here are some sample titles:

RONALD REAGAN: Our First Black President? (ROFLOL)
GLEE: Songs, Sex & Sleaze
How to Draw Obama (ROFLOL)
Understanding Liberals
Government Creates Poverty

I sooooooooo WANT A COPY OF THIS!

// Pink Slime

Unreal. Republicans (or at least their governors) support the production and distribution of 'pink slime,' which refers to "ammoniated and heat treated highly processed low-quality beef tallow byproduct meat trimmings." (Wiki)

Sighs...

These are the same people who are rallying around George Zimmerman while complaining that Trayvon Martin was just a "hood rat thug" and that Sharpton and Jackson are just "race baiters."

These are the same people who are for insider trading, reduced taxes on the rich and an insurance company's right to deny coverage because of preexisting conditions.

These are the same people who are against cutting subsidies to oil companies that are already making billions of dollars, but who are for cutting aid to the indigent, handicapped and elderly.

These are the same people who mock the Green movement's attempt to reduce pollution, protect endangered species and safeguard this planet for future generations.

I just don't get it anymore; I give up! Verily, I do! Everything about modern conservatism is completely ass backwards.

\\ Moral Crisis

Brilliant op-ed by Katrina vanden Heuvel.

This starts by noting that GOP candidates feel there is a moral crisis in America regarding abortion, gay marriage an contraception, to name a few.

She then asserts that they're right: there is a moral crisis. But they themselves (the conservatives) are the ones behind it.

Paul Ryan's "Path to Prosperity" plan is a perfect example:

[It’s a plan that says that increases in defense spending are so essential, that massive tax cuts for the wealthy are so necessary, that we must pay for them by ripping a hole in the social safety net. The poor need Medicaid to pay for medicine and treatment for their families? We care, we really do, but the wealthy need tax cuts more. Food stamps the only thing standing between your children and starvation? Listen, we feel your pain. We get it. But we’ve got more important things to spend money on. Like a new yacht for that guy who only has one yacht.]

They don't care about damage being done to the environment.

They don't care about corporate lobbyists controlling the political system.

They don't care about Wall Street benefiting from destroying people's lives and livelihoods.

They don't care about people who are laid off from work and subsequently lose their healthcare.

They don't care about women's right to affordable healthcare and privacy from intrusion into their uterus.

All they care about is freedom, liberty and the endless pursuit of wealth no matter what or who it hurts.

// Grow Up Part 1

Sighs @ Jason Lewis trying to turn the Trayvon Martin incident into one about race and politics, when it's in fact one about race and JUSTICE. According to him, the incident has inspired a 'racial divide' or 'war' unlike anything he's ever seen before. Dude, just because a few num-nut dummies like Spike Lee and Roseanne Barr are acting a fool doesn't mean every got damn black person wants to go cracker huntin', you big, giant dummy!

I mean shit... how do you think Valerie Plume felt when, after being outed by the Washington Post as one of the spies who discovered there were in fact no WMDs in Iraq, she faced death threats galore from pro-Bush extremists?

At least that situation was actually about politics. This situation is about race and justice. The dynamics are obviously far more complex than those mere two words can accurately depict, but they do not in any way, shape or form include politics.

I'm sorry Obama didn't apologize to the parents of James Cooper and James Kouzaris for their ruthless murder by a black teenager, but the difference is, you fucking moron, that the murderer was ARRESTED, TRIED and SENTENCED TO PRISON, while Zimmerman is still free due to either a piss-poor police department, nepotism or good ol' fashioned racism. Think on THAT, JACK!

\\ Grow Up Part 2

Joe Scarborough (my most-favorite ever conservative) on Trayvon Martin:

[Why is it that some on the right are actually taking this up as a cause? When, as the National Review said almost immediately after it happened, this has nothing to do with gun rights; this has nothing to do with the second amendment; this has nothing to do with “Stand Your Ground laws; this has nothing to do with the NRA. This has everything to do with a guy that’s trying to play security cop, who is unhinged, who chased down and shot a 17-year-old kid armed with Skittles and iced tea…Some of these guys on the right are jumping in with both feet on the far right. They should listen to the National Review and wise conservative thinkers and not take this up as a cause, but they are. And they're trashing Trayvon Martin. It’s disgusting.

Some websites, including some racist websites, but also sadly some fairly mainstream websites are actually going in to Trayvon Martin's social media pages -- be it Twitter or Myspace -- and they're trying to find ominous-looking pictures while skipping over pictures of him holding up a birthday cake smiling, him fishing with his dad, him standing outside proudly at his home dressed in a tux ready to go to the prom. But they're trying to cherry pick pictures, trying to make him look ominous, somehow suggesting that he deserved getting shot in the chest with a 9mm because they find a picture that may make him look like that.]

It's right-wing extremists taking advantage of a situation to dismiss black people, black culture and liberals in general. I wear my hat sideways, I use a shitload of curse words and I love rap music. Do I therefore deserve to die? Am I a 'thug'?

"This is beneath contempt. And these people on the far-right are being fools to try to make this a political issue."

\\ Continuation

I gotta say, while I have many issues with hiphop culture, I vehemently believe that a thuggish demeanor does not necessarily make one a thug. Plus, there's a tremendous difference between a 17-year-old boy and a grown man. I meet a lot of kids in TinyChat who possess a gangsterish nature to them, but many of them are pursuing positive things: they're studying, designing graphics, producing music, etc. To blatantly assume that anyone who steers from the status quo is therefore a violent and dangerous thug is not only intolerant, but it's also quite foolhardy.

Furthermore, kids will be kids. There's no difference between a 17-year-old guy who likes hiphop and a 17-year-old guy who likes heavy metal. Believe me. I've dealt with both types of cats in my life, and they're practically equivalent, save for the color of their skin.

// My New Job

Though the work shall remain a tad limited until I get upgraded from a novice and accepted into more channels, I’m starting to really love my new job with ***** (I don't plan on changing my listed job because I don't want to make them look bad with my very unprofessional FB page). Let me tell you why:

#1. Consistency: I have ONE editor. Over at DMS, I had a 1000+ editors with differing styles and preferences. One editor would tell me to do something, and then another editor would tell me NOT to do that very same thing.

#2. Respect: My editor and supervisor respect my feedback. As an example, my supervisor just upped a $15 assignment to $35 because I mentioned how I put a lot more work into it than had been expected of me.

#3. Intimacy: Whereas I felt like an assembly line worker at DMS, at LoveToKnow I feel like an important part of a team. I didn't give a shit about my work at DMS, but with L2K, I feel compelled to do my best every time!

Last Reason: WOMEN! My editor and supervisor are both women, and I gotta tell you, it's so much easier working for women than it is working for men! They're more patient, they're better listeners and they're just better, period!

// I like dealing with women on a professional level. The personal stuff is what brings out my misogynist side. For example, I once heard a few sluts at a former job talking about dick sizes, and it really irritated me.


\\ S01E11 of The Firm! || Modern Folklore!

This episode is about a real-life case in Oregon where death-row inmates were denied the right to donate their organs to people who needed them. Below is an op-ed pieced by inmate Christian Longo written sometime in 2011. What a travesty it is that the bodies of prisoners are just discarded, when instead they could be put to greater use. The EGO of some in 'law n order' field!

/

Ugh. The argument against this is that it gives the inmate power. WHO CARES? So long as it saves the life of an innocent, who cares? Are we so damn desperate for punishment that we'll just wantonly condemn innocents to death because the doner may perhaps take some pleasure in it!?

\

Excuse the chess slang, but CHECK from the Fourth Circuit court of appeals: "Wouldn't allowing targeted donations create the possibility of pay-offs to inmates' families by people desperate for vital organs?"

That is a damn fair and thought-provoking argument, though I don't see why the slim chance an inmate's family might benefit justifies denying an organ to a needy person.

/

Oooh another theme in this episode. Imagine saving life after life while at war, only to discover most of them resent you because they would have rather died than return home severely damaged/burned and lose everything they ever had. Mmm...

\

What a BRILLIANT episode. It's thought-provoking episodes like this that keep me coming back to this show. It's not always on point, but when it is, it's absolutely amazing! There truly is no greater way to challenge the mind and teach a lesson than through FICTION! Real f**king talk! It's why tall tales and folklore exist! Except this is MODERN folklore!

// Final Thoughts

PS #1 – Thank you Seth MacFarlane for putting me onto Fringe!

PS #2 – Stop being lazy and set up a PODCAST so I can watch your show Saturday mornings, Bill Maher!

PS #3 – I’m so glad my dog is gone. There’s SOOO much less hair in my room. It’s unreal!

PS #4 – Would you ladies who post in Craigslist Women 4 Men please include a photo? You ain’t gotta be a supermodel, but you gotta at least weigh my weight (170) or less. I’m sorry, but I’m not attracted to fat women. If it makes you feel better, there are far more men attracted to fat women than there are women attracted to me.

PS #5 – Stay SWAGGed out. And excuse any rap videos that appear either 2nite or tomorrow night. Alcohol and other stuff do weird things to me.

O-GOD / SODMG



IDK how DF it happened, but I somehow became a dick-ridin' Soulja Boy fan. SMDH @ what a mid-life crisis can do to a nugga!

Sighs.

Evening.

I’m not posting this on Craigslist because they can suck my cock. And I’m not really putting any effort into it either. Henceforth, this will mainly just be an archive of my top FB posts.

A few updates, though.

Megean is a bitch and I’m never speaking to her again.
Angelina and I now speak almost daily and follow each other on Twitter.
I’m lonely AF and sick and tired of it.
I made good money this week.

YAY for me.

Thanks for tuning in, and feel free to send a donation by either Paypalin’ SaxenasSuperPAC@yahoo.com, buying an e-cigarette, purchasing web hosting or allowing me to sleep with your hot wife :-).

Holla!

Thoughts Galore

// War… What Is It Good For!?

So on Morning Joe they're talking about the guy who killed those Afghans. He was basically a stellar human being. He had an exemplary military record, he was married with kids and he even apparently used to help out disabled kids in HS whom others would pick on. But the stress of being deployed over and over again finally led him to snap. This is not an excuse for his actions, and he still deserves full punishment, but it is definitely another argument against the war.

I really feel McCain, because I too believe we can eventually stabilize Afghanistan if we stay long enough, but I can't really argue this point anymore because of the effect it's having on the soldiers. They frankly deserve better. And so do the innocent people of Afghanistan. Ultimately, we're in their country and not the other way around. We invade their country and now our soldiers snap and kill their wives and children? That's f**ked up.

\\ There Must Be Justice

Hmm. IDK. With kids acting worse and worse these days, I'm much more tempted to slam them with harsh sentences than go lightly on them. It's not even that I want such sentences to serve as a deterrent, because they don't. It's just justice.

This comment kind of sums up my attitude on the whole issue:

[Sorry but murder is murder regardless of age and a teenager who committs it deserves the same punishment as someone twice their age. Lock them up or put them down. My daughter managed to get through her teen years without beating, killing or robbing anyone as did all her friends. Don't yammer on about giving these animals a break because they're young. I don't want to hear it.]

It's just very hard to forgive the ruthless murder of another human being. And what with kids being taught to "not snitch," "respect gangsters" and "evade the law," I just don't give enough of a f**k to cut them any slack. But, lucky for kids, I'm not a prosecutor or judge, haha.

I can forgive robberies, burglaries and other relatively "petty" crimes, but murder, rape and molestation are just unforgivable to me. I know that if I were murdered, I'd want the perpetrator, however young, to pay the ultimate price, point blank.

// Nighttime Blues

Alright. Going to bed with a deep thought / rant (I know this is getting REALLY OLD, but I can't help it, lol!)

When I was a kid, teachers bullshitted me with the whole "You're so special" garbage. When I became an adult, I discovered a completely opposite world -- one that believes I'm inferior and must change to fit its standards, however screwed-up they may be. Thus, I've been taught all my adult life that I must change. And Lord knows I have changed in leaps and bounds over the years. But I'm done changing, and from henceforth I'm demanding that the world changes instead!

Cognitive thinkers would have us believe that all our problems must be internalized, because that's where they apparently emanate from. I couldn't disagree more with this mumbo jumbo garbage. Other than for my temper, which certainly could use quite a bit of work, I have no qualms with myself. I'm a smart, funny, sweet, principled, hard-working and compassionate man with deep aspirations, strong moral convictions and plenty to offer any good woman.

And yet I've never been good enough. Not when I was a 13-year-old asking out my first crush, a 16-year-old writing his first-ever love letter or even a 19-year-old who fell in love with a girl as ugly as him because he saw through to her inner personality, only to be rudely rejected for being ugly in turn. Not when I asked out a girl at the gym in my 20s. Not when I met a girl with AS on TC. Not when I met a girl who desires a simple life like me.

The only time I was good enough was when I had 30K in student loans in my bank account and I met Erica. I guess I'm just not good enough without boatloads of cash? Or better yet, it's my fault because I refuse to learn how to become a shallow, superficial dirt bag that values nothing and practices the art of 'game'? Wrong. It's these women who have proven that they're not good enough for me. That they outright refuse to give me a semblance of a chance and look deep to see the beauty within speaks epic volumes about them.

Sighs. What was my point again?

Yeah, I’m not changing to meet the standards of women or society in general. If it means I am destined to die a lonely, bitter old man, then so be it, because I will not, under any circumstance, sacrifice my values for “a piece of ass,” point blank.

//

Alright. Thanks for reading. And this is not a rant against women in general (because I got some TERRIFIC women friends on FB), but against every single bloody woman who has rejected me and every other “lame” / “ugly” guy out there for not being good enough. Let’s meet up again in 20 years and see who has a fatter bank account.

Night!

\\ Paul Ryan, Part 1

So House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan revealed the GOP's 2012 budget. The path proposed by Ryan and crew will turn Medicaid into a block grant program, cut food-stamps and other domestic programs, undo cuts to the Pentagon and reform the tax code by basically empowering the rich with even more tax deductions and cuts.

Sighs.

The basic premise is to pay to empower the wealthy by cutting all the programs that benefit the poor, all while bumping up the military industrial complex with billions of more bucks to waste.

Charming.

GREAT COMMENT:

[The standard Republican Plan:

1. Tax cuts for the rich.

2. Paid for by cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

3. And delivered up with a promise to the ignorant hicks that the benefits to the rich will some day trickle down to them.

Does the Republican Party think we're all Fox News goobers and dumb enough to buy this?]

// Paul Ryan, Part 2

Here's the deal. I'm not very good with financial stuff. So when it comes to numbers like this, I like the charts and graphs provided by financier Steven Rattner, as they help me make sense of what is otherwise mumbo jumbo.

Obama>>>

Increase revenue by $1.4T over 10 years via increased taxes.

Cut spending by $0.2T over 10 years.

Ryan>>>

Decrease revenue by $4.1T over 10 years via reduced taxes. He has mentioned using "tax expenditures" to bring the loss back to $0, but he hasn't specified any specific expenditures yet.

Cut spending by $3.5T over 10 years by reducing civilian/military pensions, veterans' pensions, disability compensation, food stamps, unemployment compensation, earned income / child tax credits and family support & child nutrition programs.

///

Which plan makes more sense? Personally, I think making the rich pay slightly more and making moderate spending cuts makes far greater sense.

Mind you, I think Obama needs to up his spending cuts, because $0.2T over 10 years is a joke. He could do this without hurting nearly as many Americans by cutting military expenses and tightening entitlement eligibility requirements, for a start. Meanwhile, Paul Ryan needs to stop targeting the poor and disadvantaged and learn the fucking meaning of shared sacrifice!

Meh....

\\ Humility Isn’t A Sin

Great article where LZ Granderson compares Obama to Franklin D. Roosevelt, citing a 1945 speech Roosevelt made to Congress in which he said, “The structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man, or one party, or one nation, it cannot be just an American peace, or British peace, or a Russian, or a French or a Chinese peace. It cannot be a peace of large nations--or of small nations. It must be a peace which rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world."

Granderson goes on to express gratitude to Obama apologizing for America's mistakes: "testing syphilis on unsuspecting Guatemalans in the 1960s," "reneging on the promises made to the Filipino veterans who helped us fight in World War II" and apologizing "for the unintentional burning of the Qurans in Afghanistan."

And somewhere amid all that, Granderson chastises Rich Santorum, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich for maintaining a "no apology theme" for the sake of a few "misguided cheers" from their base.

The point is that America resides in a globally connected world where other nation’ feelings and viewpoints must be respected, even when said nations refuse to show us the same courtesy. Ironically, this is the exact difference between a child and a grown-up. In this case, however, it’s the difference between an undeveloped nation and a civilized one.

People ask why we must be so courteous when the Afghanis don’t show us the same courtesy. Well, that’s why we’re the #1 nation in the world, partna’! Because we’re above the fray!

"Our light as a nation shines brightest not when we tout our greatness but when we behave selflessly. The core of our character is epitomized by our willingness to fight injustices beyond our borders. But all that is undermined when we ignore the injustices -- intentional or not -- that America commits. Acknowledging that we [ourselves] are not above reproach only adds to our credibility." / Granderson

American Exceptionalism, Biatch! (haha)

Mind you, GREAT comment by a guy named Sid:

["American exceptionalism" is fine with me. But when you confuse it with "American perfection," you prove yourself a weak-minded arrogant fool.]

// Reproductive McCarthyism

My God...

If passed, the Life Defense Act of 2012 would require the state of Tennessee to publish the names and information of abortion doctors and their patients on a public forum accessible by the type of people who might harm them -- much like they harmed Dr. George Tiller in 2009 by killing him!

In particular, any chick who gets an abortion would have her age, race, county, marital status, education level and pregnancy record listed on a public forum.

WTF? This is the biggest invasion of privacy and infringement upon freedom from religion that I have ever witnessed in my entire life. They're basically trying to shove their Christian doctrines down everybody else's throats.

SMH...

\\ The Never-ending Stalemate

Here's the deal. I'm not very good with financial stuff. So when it comes to numbers like this, I like the charts and graphs provided by financier Steven Rattner, as they help me make sense of what is otherwise mumbo jumbo.

Obama>>>

Increase revenue by $1.4T over 10 years via increased taxes.

Cut spending by $0.2T over 10 years.

Ryan>>>

Decrease revenue by $4.1T over 10 years via reduced taxes. He has mentioned using "tax expenditures" to bring the loss back to $0, but he hasn't specified any specific expenditures yet.

Cut spending by $3.5T over 10 years by reducing civilian/military pensions, veterans' pensions, disability compensation, food stamps, unemployment compensation, earned income / child tax credits and family support & child nutrition programs.

///

Which plan makes more sense? Personally, I think making the rich pay slightly more and making moderate spending cuts makes far greater sense.

Mind you, I think Obama needs to up his spending cuts, because $0.2T over 10 years is a joke. He could do this without hurting nearly as many Americans by cutting military expenses and tightening entitlement eligibility requirements, for a start. Meanwhile, Paul Ryan needs to stop targeting the poor and disadvantaged and learn the fucking meaning of shared sacrifice!

Meh....

// Still-Blue Balls

Alright. About to hit the sack, but first I shall enlighten ya’ll with three things I know:

#1. I know that I need to clean my desk because I’m tired as all hell of seeing a GOT DAMN ANT pop up on my desk every FRIGGEN 2 MINUTES! What the hell, man!? Does this look like a picnic table? It’s because I have this stupid window fan, and the little bastards keep crawling in here. Ya’ll just better pray I don’t find your Queen, because I will so crush her tiny little head with my pinky finger, bitches!

#2. I know that I greatly miss my Saudi Arabian friend who loves to spend hundreds of dollars on e-cigarettes each month. Where are you, pal, BFF, boo boo? I miss ya, man! Hahah. 4 real, though! Come on, now! Show Daddy some love. I know you want to! I’m just being jokey jokey, of course, though you’re more than welcome to make another purchase or just donate directly to SaxenasSuperPAC@yahoo.com.

#3. I know that I will never work for love again. When I work my muscles, they get bigger. When I work work, I get paid. But every single time I work for love — ask a chick a lot of questions, get to know her, listen to her stupid-ass problems and start to give a flying fudge popsicle about her — I get hurt. I’m done, son! 30 years of experience and endless heartbreak are enough for me. I quit!

PS – This doesn’t mean I’m becoming gay, you stupid asses! (SMFH!)

Night.

\\ Trayvon

RIP Trayvon, but I am glad of one thing... that Americans from all backgrounds are coming together to share their disgust at this whole situation. I'm seeing and hearing anger, frustration and outright disgust from everywhere. While this country has its issues, it's good to see most folks outraged at the travesty that occurred here. It shows a level of humanity that sometimes I feel is missing from this world.

Here is a kind of rebuttal, though, courtesy of my good and very brilliant friend Stephen McMickens. Let me tell you a bit about him. He came up from the hood. This man has literally had other people die in his arms. I talk all hood sometimes, but Stephen is the real deal. Now, I'm not voicing an opinion in favor of or against what he's saying. I'm just sharing it. Though I have some black in me, this is too deep for me too comment. So for the time being, I'm just the Asian messenger boy carrying a bag of curry chicken and egg rolls, lol. Daps, though, at Stephen for thinking critically.

[*~R.I.P to all the Trayvons out there who died innocently, & whose cases have gone unsolved/without justice~* It bothers me that we all can come together & take a stand when another race kills 1 of us outrageously, but can't stand up & fight when our own people are killing each other over nothing. Even kids & babies have been killed, mother, grandmothers, aunties, uncles, dads, & cousins. What about them? Who's fightig for them? Who's fighting for their justice? Think of all the people hit by tray bullets or targeted over someone else. More people have been killed in Black on Black violence than any over 3 World Wars. #Let'sBeReal #WiseUp]

\\ Will You Marry Me, Bill Maher? – No Homo

Bill Maher is the man!

[When did we get it in our heads that we have the right to never hear anything we don’t like? If you see or hear something you don’t like in the media, just go on with your life. Turn the page or flip the dial or pick up your roll of quarters and leave the booth.

The answer to whenever another human being annoys you is not “make them go away forever.” We need to learn to coexist, and it’s actually pretty easy to do. When the lady at Costco gives you a free sample of its new ham pudding and you don’t like it, you spit it into a napkin and keep shopping. You don’t declare a holy war on ham.

I don’t want to live in a country where no one ever says anything that offends anyone. That’s why we have Canada. That’s not us. If we sand down our rough edges and drain all the color, emotion and spontaneity out of our discourse, we’ll end up with political candidates who never say anything but the safest, blandest, emptiest, most unctuous focus-grouped platitudes and cant. In other words, we’ll get Mitt Romney.]

HAHAHAHA @ "That’s why we have Canada."

My motto is this: If you're offended by somebody, instead of asking for an apology, just talk some good ol' fashioned shit about them. It’s the real American way, bitches!

// The Return Of The Lewis

The man is back with a plan, Stan! Jason Lewis delivered a thought-provoking show today. Even the music was good, save of course for the über-corny opening theme song.

Anyway. Uh… he talked about so much shit that I’ve forgotten half of it by now.

#1. The Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments regarding “Obamacare” come Monday. Lewis went on and on about how it’s unconstitutional to force citizens to purchase health insurance.

Here’s the deal, pal. I’ll gladly remove that portion of “Obamacare” if and only if you allow me to introduce a public option to the people. You always talk about giving people a choice. So why not allow them have the choice of a public option?

#2. Jason also spoke about how he dislikes when the federal court imposes rules on state courts, such as is the case with mandatory sentences. I kind of agree. For instance, I think all sentencing should lie strictly in the hands of our duly elected local officials, i.e., our judges and prosecutors.

However, unlike Mr. Lewis, I don’t view federalism as some big bad wolf. If nothing else, federalism prevents out-of-control states who enacting laws that are outrageous. If a state were to decide that dwarves cannot visit strip clubs, for instance, I would have no qualms with the federal government intervening. I know that’s a weird example…

#3. Jason knocked the ball out of the park with a comment regarding al-Qaeda. He decreed that al-Qaeda is nothing more than a group of wannabe potentates who trick weak-minded, mentally disturbed individuals into committing “Jihad” (public suicide) under the guise of religious principle. That was by far the most brilliant thing I’ve ever heard the man say. Kudos, Jason.

\\ Traditional Family Programming!

p for a bit. Because Seinfeld has been getting preempted lately for basketball, I've been watching House of Payne instead. And I gotta tell you... it's a really positive show. It's admittedly not that funny, but it has more moral fiber, class and character than 90% of the garbage on ABC and NBC (Cougarville, Dickville, Penisville, Bachelorville, etc.). And it has interesting story lines. Unfortunately, most people dislike it because it's not obsessed with wee-wees and hoo-hoos.

I'm reading reviews on IMBD right now and it just disgusts me how people rip into this show.

// Who’s The Socialist Now, Bitch?

This is an interesting editorial. The writer, a William J. Bennett, argues that providing more and more federal aid only causes tuition rates to keep rising. Why? According to Bennett, and free-market ideology, in fact, "much like the effects of subsidies on health care and the house market, increasing student aid" insulates colleges from having to pursue cost-cutting measures like "improving productivity or efficiency."

Thus, an increase in financial aid leads to higher costs, which in turn requires another round of student loans. Mind you, federal aid itself isn't solely responsible for college price inflation. Other factors such as "alumni donations, the expansions of institutional services and the ever-increasing demand for higher education" also play a role.

But the point is that increasing aid certainly isn't making the situation any better. It doesn't help either that "institutional performance" isn't keeping up, what with the six-year graduation rate of bachelor's students going from 52% in 1997 to only 56% in 2009. Consider also that the total in student loan debt is 23% higher than the total in credit card debt!

He ends by praising Obama for saying the following:

"We can't just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition. So let me put colleges and universities on notice. If you can't stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down."

Exactly. Force the universities to cut costs by taking away federal aid.

My God... an instance in which free-market ideology actually works. And the irony is that it's being carried out by Mr. Socialist himself :-).

// Final Thoughts

I think Seth MacFarlane reads my shit. If you do, thanks for putting me onto Fringe! I LOVE that show now. Just got done 2nite with the ep where Olivia learns about Peter being from the other universe. #SWAG!

Take Care Of You (Drake/Rihanna)

I chose this song because there’s a really special woman who heart was recently broken, but whom, if she’ll let me in, I’ll do everything in my power to care of, including losing weight, quitting smoking, cutting down on my drinking and working 10x harder at my Web marketing business. <3

//////

The dog is officially gone. She won’t be returning, and I’m very happy about it. She’s in a better home, and I’m free of all her damn dog hair. Plus, I feel less stressed. So all is good in that department.

Thoughts Galore

I started out in a very hateful mood, but my attitude quickly made a 180 courtesy of the most special woman on Earth! I honestly didn’t write that much, though, so it’s whatever.

// Soulja Boy

Why do kids, many of them just out of highschool, worship Soulja Boy as if he’s a God? I respect him to a degree and I appreciate his chatroom, but the only reason he’s where he’s at in life is because Collipark gave him a chance in 2007. I strongly believe and in fact know that there are millions of people out there with just as much drive and passion, who would excel just as well as Soulja if they were merely given the opportunity within whatever field they practice.

Obviously, the world doesn’t function like this. Most of us must grind 40/50+ hour weeks just to barely scrape by in what are admittedly some of the worst economic times the world has ever faced. Meanwhile, a guy like Soulja Boy goes into the studio maybe 30 minutes each day and makes millions from it. The rest of the time, he merely pays other people to complete his work—to design websites, create products and promote his brand.

Am I hating on his wealth? No. Am I presenting a truthful analysis of his life? Hell yes. He has it relatively easy compared to us—the 99% of the population who will never stumble on such a golden opportunity, despite whatever talents we may each possess. And yet, these children worship him like he’s Mahatmas Ghandi or Martin Luther King, Jr, as if his music and movement will somehow resolve all of the world’s dilemmas.

Many of these kids have never even left their own neighborhoods, let alone their states and countries. They’ve never seen firsthand how other people live. They’ve never talked to a homeless person, let alone volunteered at a homeless shelter. To them, in fact, we should look down on the homeless, because “broke niggaz” make them sick. Rather, we should worship money makers like Soulja Boy, regardless of their true character.

The irony is that he doesn’t give a flying fuck about any of his fans. The other day while in the room, he shouted, “I just bought a new chopper; Merry Christmas, bitch!” It’s as if he’s completely oblivious to the economic turmoil brewing outside his fairytale-like life. And yet, I marvel at how these naïve children blindly follow him, somehow imagining that they’re lives will mirror his own if they just reach out to him. What a pity, indeed.

I’m not saying they cannot enjoy his music and appreciate him in some form or another, but the worship is shameful. If they’re going to show such reverence, I’d rather they show it to all the single mothers and fathers struggling just to put food on the table; all the teachers and educators working lousy conditions for a chance to make a difference; and the billions of people who work 10x harder than Soulja Boy every single day for a chance just to survive.

SMH. You got a whole generation of idiots who listen to hiphop as if it’s gospel. They’re so blinded by talk of the Illuminati and directions to “stop snitching” that they’re completely blind to the real world: to REALITY. And sadly, most of them won’t ever wake up from this stupor. They’ll just follow along all their lives like zombies, completely incapable of paying close attention, thinking critically and challenging the thoughts and ideas around them.

Sorry again @ SODMG fans, but I’m not a dick rider. Nor am I a Soulja hater. I’ve written rants about Joe Scarborough (a renowned American pundit), Grover Norquist (a renowned dick), Jon Stewart (a renowned Jew), President Barack Obama and now Soulja Boy. When I have something on my mind, I will get it off and mind, and I don’t care whom I offend. I’d rather be real with myself and others than pretend to be something I’m not. #RealTalk

// PS... this time I am hating... but I bet you everything I own and am that I put more thought into this god damn $0 rant than Soulja has ever put into one of his songs. SMFH.

\\ Is Obama A Liberal Or A NeoCon!?

Enter UNESCO, an agency of the United Nations (UN) that promotes international "education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the UN Charter." In particular, the organization feeds starving people, aids victims of natural disasters, purchases textbooks and desks for poor schools, funds colleges in Africa and much, much, much more.

Here's the kicker. The Obama administration has opted to stop funding UNESCO because it voted in favor of allowing Palestine into the UN, which I guess apparently goes against an antiquated, 20-year-old law "that prohibits American funds for any US entities that accept Palestine as a member."

I would honestly understand if the government stopped funding UNESCO because we're in a bit of a financial crisis, but cutting off funding because the organization voted in favor of democracy --- allowing Palestine to be accepted as a state with the sovereign right to have its issues heard in council -- is just absolutely disgusting and shameful.

By the way, guess which country stepped up to help UNESCO out? Gabon! Yep, the nation of Gabon has donated $2 million to UNESCO. I love my country, but for tonight, God Bless Gabon!

Courtesy The Daily Show! Excuse the rant, but this story ticked me off.

// Final Thoughts

That’s all I got for this week.

OH… one more thing. Tomorrow is a big day for Raleigh. Tomorrow marks the Women’s Empowerment Conference 2012! SWAG!

Ass Back Home (Gym Class Heroes)

I chose this song because I REALLY LIKE IT, and because it fits so perfectly with this post. You’ll have to wait until the end to figure it all out.

Hi! This has been a rough week. I’ve been awfully unmotivated. Let me explain everything that’s been going on:

Doggy Be Gone

I finally passed my dog onto another family today. It’s a great family with a cat, a baby and the time/money to really take care of her. The reason I gave her up is because I cannot afford to take care of her medical needs, my attempts to move are being thwarted by her (most people don’t want a pet present) and we’ve never really been a good fit.

To me, our relationship was like a first marriage. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her because she’s so pretty. But I had a feeling deep inside that we wouldn’t be compatible. Like foolish lovers, we got together regardless and ended up going through roller coasters galore. That said, the time came for us to finally go our separate ways.

The good news is that I’m now only 3 doggy divorces short of becoming the Rush Limbaugh!

Web Traffic Done Been Gone

Remember how a week weeks ago I mentioned how it’s easy for things to easily change in the Web marketing world? Well, a few days after I dropped that post, Google made a change to its search engine that caused my site’s page rankings to drop significantly. Thus, my profits have also dropped, and I’m working my ass off to rebuild my previously held status. It sucks and has me rather depressed, but I’ve been putting in work to rectify it.

It doesn’t help that half of my website pages are now showing up in the SERPs with my name and picture beside them. I have a feeling my name provokes negative reactions, what with the fact I have the same name you’d expect from a lousy outsourced technical service support agent!

Hoes

Semantics. My generation loves words like hoes. I call all my female friends hoes, but they don’t take offense because it’s semantics. I don’t really think they’re hoes… save for one of the, that is (wink @ Sara, hahahah, j/k, Mami!). But when I REALLY believe a woman is a hoe, you’ll know, because like Rush Limbaugh, I don’t give a f**k. I say what I want to say, and I say it when I want to say it. #BASED

Thoughts Galore

\\ On Limbaugh

Personally, I could literally careless if Rush were to refer to my own Mother as an AIDs-having slut. I mean seriously, who is he that we esteem his opinions so highly? As far as I'm concerned, he's just a fatter, less unkempt version of Howard Stern. He's a nobody, man.

The only reason the media cares is because it views him as some revelatory mind when it comes to politics, which is just plain ridiculous. I assure you that my weed-smoking, alcohol-drinking and stripper-chasing a** has more revelatory insights on politics than his Humpty Dumpty-lookin' a** ever will!

Excuse the rant. My point is simply that he isn’t worth our time. He is, in the words of Newman, merely a “useless pustule.” #RealTalk

// “Rational Actor”

About a week ago, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey told CNN's Fareed Zakaria that Iran is a "rational actor" in the whole nuclear debate and claimed that using sanctions and diplomacy with them would work. This pissed off a lot of conservatives, and I don't blame them. There is nothing rational about the pursuit of nuclear technology by a nation whose leader denies the Holocaust ever occurred. NOTHING AT ALL.

Meanwhile, it's very likely that either the US or Israel will strike Iran's nuclear facilities sometimes in the near future. Nobody wants to go to war, but Iran is close to reaching the point where it could develop nuclear weapons. And, well, its leaders are too irresponsible and bonkers for that shit to be allowed, especially considering that Iran has been the epicenter of international terrorism since the Iranian Hostage Crisis of '79.

Here's just a TINY list of what they've done:

1982 - Formation of Hezbollah.
1983 - US Embassy Bombing
1982-1992 - Lebanese Hostage Crisis
1984 - US Embassy Bombing
1985 - Hijacking of TWA Flight 847
1993 - World Trade Center Bombing
1994 - AMIA Bombing

SMH. Crazy bastards. It's not their people who are backwards, but their government. What a shame!

\\ Equilibrium

Very boring edition of the Jason Lewis show. Actually, it's not that. I don't know what it is, but I'm unable to think critically this week. IDK if I'm just physically or mentally exhausted, or of it's from the kush I smoked this weekend, but my mind just isn't working right. Anyway... the show finally picked up whenl a guy called in and put Lewis on blast for not demanding shared sacrifice among both the rich AND poor.

According to Lewis, the rich will pay once we reach a state of "global economic equilibrium." Oh, SHUT UP!!! "Equilibrium" or the lack thereof has nothing to do with the fact that the average CEO cares more about his own salary and profits than he does about the tens and thousands of people who work their asses off everyday to keep his business alive.

The bottom line is that income disparity exists because of GREED. And I don't trust the free market because people are naturally selfish. Those with the means will do everything to enhance their own profitability and longevity while stepping over those Mom & Pop operations who're just trying to survive. In the end, you end up with divided classes: the haves and the have nots.

Aye Myos Dios... I'm already out of thoughts. Time to lift!

// We All Gon’ Die

Did you know Iran and the US are both in election season? And Israel is approaching election season as well. You know what happens during election season, right? People talk shit to stir up their base. So we got 3 countries talking shit, beefing with one another (Israel/US vs Iran). It's like Jon Stewart said: "We're all gonna die!"

Meanwhile, conservatives are trying to make it sound like Obama doesn't give AF about Israel. BULLSHIT. Excuse me for being blunt, but Obama be on Jewish dick like white on rice!

Jon Stewart noted that the Israel debate is basically limited to two simple sides -- either you love Israel and might bomb Iran (Obama) or you love Israel and will definitely bomb Iran (Republicans).

The only 3 people with enough courage to argue against Israel's heated rhetoric and for Palestine's statehood are, ironically enough, 3 members of the Israeli government.

Jon Stewart ended by saying that, apparently, only Israeli politicians have the right to criticize the Israeli government.

\\ Free Speech vs The Right To Take Offense

I gotta give it up to Jason for being on point yet again. So in Texas, a predominantly Hispanic school went up against and defeated a predominantly white school in a basketball game. Immediately following the victory, the students from the white school began chanting "USA! USA!" The Hispanic students were offended, so a complaint was filed with the University Interscholastic League on the basis that the chant was racist.

Jason and I immediately perceived the whole predicament to be outright ridiculous. If patriotically chanting "USA! USA!" makes one a racist, then I'm the biggest racist of all, because I love my country, save of course for the lack of free healthcare (damn you Sara and Megean!). But then a highly astute caller, and a former marine, I might add, suggested that the white students deliberately chanted "USA! USA!" so as to underhandedly insinuate that the Hispanic students were illegal immigrants.

Lewis then concluded that, given this new insight, it's very likely indeed that the white students did in fact purposefully provoke the Hispanic students out of bitterness from having lost the game to them. This is awfully unfortunate, and I do declare that such an unpatriotic use of what should be a beautiful chant is outright disgraceful! (Did I just say ‘I do declare’!???) However, this situation begs several important questions:

Does suffering an offensive remark entitle one with the license to interfere with another person’s Constitutional right to free speech? And if so, where does the road end? Can I file a complaint against and sue all those insipid rascals who’ve at one time or another referred to me as a loser, wankster or straight-up punk?

Furthermore, why were the Hispanic students racially offended by a patriotic chant to begin with? Why didn't they just chant along with it in celebration of OUR great country? What about a seemingly simple, patriotic chant inspired feelings of offense?

My underlying feeling about this issue is that in the United States, the right to free speech trumps the right to be offended. We all reserve the right to feel offended, but we do not reserve the right to use this feeling as a means to interfere with other people’s right to free speech, no matter how offensive the original remark. Frankly, it’s on all of us to acquire thick enough skin to withstand such offenses, lest political correctedness turn the US into a totalitarian regime by virtue of people being too pussy to handle real life.

//

Another issue Jason brought up was the fact that the media is pretending Romney isn’t kicking ass in the primaries. He imagined that they’re likely just trying to keep things interesting / use up all the free time they have. I would have to agree with this assessment, because it doesn’t take a genius to realize Romney is going to win the nomination. HELLO!?

// Pay Up, Bitch!

Excellent. American Airlines planned to dispose all their scheduled employee pension payments as per a bankruptcy organization, but media attention and Union influence helped stop this injustice from occuring. Instead, AA is going to freeze all the pension plans, meaning workers cannot accumulate additional pensions, but they are at least assurred payment for that which they've earned thus far. I wouldn't mind also seeing a freeze on executive salaries, bonuses and stock investments, as the fat cats up top are the dumbf**ks who caused this mess in the first place!

\\ Kony 2012

Alright. I've been listening to the Kony debate for days now, and it's time for me to drop my official opinion.

Yes, atrocities have been occurring in Africa and elsewhere for decades, centuries and probably even millennia. Furthermore, the majority of us lack the power to make even a minute difference. However, as someone who values knowledge and believes there is no excuse for ignorance, I'm bloody happy as hell that kids are finally turning off their music, games and chats to tune in to something important and relevant, even if it’s only for a slight moment.

We are so damn absorbed with our own petty existence that we oftentimes forget that others also inhabit this planet. And though we face many tribulations in our lives, none of them compare in even the slightest bit to those grievances endured by the most indigent, distressed people on this ****ing planet. Unfortunately, most of us are so caught up in our own problems that we never take the time to acknowledge these people—if for no other reason than to humble ourselves.

That said, it irritates me to no end how so many people have taken it upon themselves to cast judgment not only on this video, but also on those souls who’ve allowed it into their hearts. It’s as if said people would prefer we the masses stick our heads deep in the sand and remain forever ignorant as to the world’s true nature. They appear so caught up in cynicism that the very prospect of an awakening—however trivial it may be—apparently brings on nausea.

Meanwhile, over seventy million people have viewed the Kony video thus far. While the majority of them will simply return to their mundane lives unaffected, I imagine, or I suppose I hope, that for every million viewers, at least 1 to 3 (perhaps children) will be so inspired by this video that they’ll stand up and do what people like you and I are too ****ing selfish and lazy to do—go out into the world and make a genuine difference.

Perhaps this hope is naïve, and perhaps I am in essence just an imbecilic 30-year-old in need of a smack-me-bum. But I’d rather be just a simpleminded fool with a big heart, large ears and wide eyes than a sneering cynic who for whatever reason automatically presumes that we’re all evil, and that as a result, there is no reason to try anymore, let alone hope for better days marked by love, compassion and tolerance galore.

//

DAPS @ Kreayshawn for putting me onto Kony 2012.
DAPS @ Sara for pissing me off enough to write this, lol. Stupid hoe! <3<3<3

// Final Thoughts

I really miss my dog, but I know she’s in a better place. I imagine she’s 10x happier at her new home. It’s like they say… "If you really love something, set it free. If it comes back, it's yours, and if not, it wasn't meant to be."



PS – With my luck, the lil slut will escape from her new owners and find her way back to me. FML!

///////////////

I got this email AFTER I wrote the previous post:

[I'm sad to say, I'm not sure this is going to work out! It's nothing to do with Sheila. She's a wonderful dog. She adores my husband and watches over my baby like a hawk. She's incredibly well-behaved, and so smart.

My cat, however, doesn't think as highly of her as we do.

Veranda (my cat) is a 15lb ball of mean. She's always been feisty with dogs, but she actually chased Sheila through the house, all puffed up, hissing!

Sheila gets into play stance, we have her on leash, and Veranda just lunges at her. She scratched her nose. :( Sheila is ok, and somehow still wants to play with the cat. The cat is in my downstairs bathroom now, with her food, water and litter box...

I'm not sure how to fix this and get everyone to live in harmony (or at least ignore each other.)

I'm not sure we can keep her, and I feel awful, she's a great fit for us. If we can't, would you take her back?

I'm sorry to even have to ask. :(]

Unreal. Unbelievable. I went out of my way to find this heffer a GOOD place to stay. This a TWO PARENT home, son. A proper home with a MOTHER and FATHER (Jason Lewis would be proud), not to mention a baby and a cat. And these ain't people like me. These upscale nuggaz. These the type nuggaz that spend more money on pet food than they do on themselves. And YET, and YET Sheila managed to FUCK IT ALL UP in less than 12 hours. LORD HAVE MERCY!

Earl is right; karma does exist. How else would you explain the fact that after I put in so much hard work to get rid of Sheila, her bitch ass back home again? I must have been Hitler in a past life or something! <3

///

And oh… some of my more cocky, intellectual friends would argue against me that I’m just in love with the idea of being in love (Bitch, I’m 30 years old… don’t you think I know the difference!?), but I think I’m falling for someone. I haven’t met her and expressed myself physically, but this chick and I vibe really well. And I really like her. And I like her Mama too (her Mama WILDDDDDDdd, son). IDK if she feels the same or ever will, but I sure hope I one day get a chance with her! #VERILY!

I mean I can imagine a future with her. We’re different, but I’m starting to realize that’s good, because we won’t butt heads. I don’t care about beats and hood shit (she got MAD audio engineering skills, yo), and she doesn’t care about politics and news shit. The only things we’d ever argue about would be dishes, laundry and the toilet, all of which I’ll gladly clean for her, cuz I’m a docile dude when with a woman I love… except for in the bedroom!

We could each have our own individual life with our own individual interests, and yet work together as a team to make money and raise up our children in a good home and MAMA! (gotta have MAMA G). SWAG!

FYI - My Mama STILL better though, YO!

Swag Surfin' (Fat Life Youngstaz)

I chose this song because I feel swagged out. Somewhere along the line, I learned how to associate with women without becoming emotionally attached to every single damn one of them. Truth be told, I owe this awesome luxury almost strictly to Angelina, whom, by the way, I’m talking with again :-).

It’s a bit frustrating, because I want an emotional connection, but this does at least offer me the chance to get to know a shitload of women (I am officially a PLAYER). Hopefully, along the way I’ll find the right one. I still hope it’s Angelina, but considering that’s she loonier than Loony Tunes, I doubt it!

By the way, I’m talking to over 10 women right now, including but not limited to Sara (Canada), Megean (Canada), Angelina (Canada), Lidia (Spain), Fiona (Australia), Mille (Denmark), Merve (Turkey), Fenty (Brazil), Lollipop (Romania; she the only one who refuses to reveal her real identity and cam up!), Floora (Detroit) and more.

And oh, I got the phone # of all the Canadian chicks. No more just having my Mama’s # in my phone! I’m Mr. International now!



And oh, three of them have seen a nude video I made of myself and uploaded to xTube. One of them gave me a rating of 8, while the other two were completely speechless. SWAGGGGGG!

Mind you, I had to remind them 10 times that I’m not black. Sorry to break it to you ladies, but only black dudes got horse meat. #RealTalk

Thoughts Galore

// Political Cartoon Idea

Political cartoon idea: 1st frame - Old lady drops her wallet by accident and money spills everywhere. She yells out, "Please help!" ; 2nd frame - liberal and conservative politicians all over the place picking up the money and stuffing it in their pockets. Old lady yells out, "I meant HELP ME, not YOURSELVES!!!"

\\ Santorum Is A Frothy Ass

According to Santorum and his crew of flunkies, only snobs attend 4-year colleges. SMH. When did the acquirement of knowledge become a "sin"!? And not at one single point did Obama say anything negative about trade schools or community colleges, both of which are EQUAL in my eyes to a university. It's all a game of semantics -- an attempt to make Obama look bad.

// It Never Hurts To Say, “I’m Sorry!”

So about a week ago, a bunch of foolish US troops burned a bunch of Korans that were being read by detainees in Afghanistan. This spurred an outpouring of violence that continues undeterred. Obama has apologized, which was the right thing to do, and the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, recommended allowing tensions to calm down and noted that the US shouldn't reply in haste by speeding up the withdrawal ahead of schedule. //

This is an unfortunate tragedy. That said, I support the White House in its efforts. And I also support the claim that those perpetuating these killings represent only a SMALL minority of the Muslims in Afghanistan and certainly do not represent those American Muslims situated in the United States. Sadly, some Christian conservative fascists like Santorum are angry are angry that Obama apologized for BURNING BOOKS -- something that should never be done. And many are using this incident to once again promote Islamophobia.

The irony is that Santorum is all about respect for religion... but only when it applies to his own. Plus, if Obama hadn't apologized, the violence would likely spiral even further out of control. That said, some like former Governor of Pennsylvania Ed Rendell believe we should take this incident as a hint and get the f**k out of Afghanistan, because according to him, Al Qaeda will regain power no matter what we do. Personally, I disagree with this sentiment.

\\ A Tragic Problem Without A Resolution

Another school shooting. What's to blame? The NRA? Video game violence? Bullying? Bad parenting? The culture of greed and incompassion currently prevalent in the world, especially the US? Mere mental illness? My guess is a bit of all of the above. And my hypothesis is that the number of school shootings will continue to rise each and every year. Bleak, pessimistic outlook? Perhaps. But probably correct. The sad thing about it is that there is no remedy in sight, or at least not one that I can visualize.

// Public Education

So earlier tonight I was listening to the Jason Louise show. He started off intelligently by saying that the problem of school shootings cannot be rectified through public policy. I agree, as it's a cultural issue that will likely require a total paradigm switch to remedy.

Unfortunately, Louise then went on a haywire rant against the "government-run monopoly" on public education. He wants the free market to take over education so that schools can choose to block students that display warning signs -- you know, dressing strange or being different -- from attending. SMH.

It's a typical conservative response. Instead of trying to identify the underlying causes of this epidemic, he proposes essentially making things worse by outcasting certain students. It's the same foolish strategy they employ on Muslims, immigrants and really anyone else with whom they disagree. And it doesn’t work!

He also used the opportunity to attack welfare recipients and homosexuals families. Look, a poor home is not necessarily a broken home, just like a homosexual home is not necessarily a dysfunctional one. The point is that this issue is so bloody complex, and it frustrates me to hear some conservatives try to break it into seemingly simple solutions and observations.

Anyway. That’s my daily politics rant. Daps though @ him for his initial assertion that public policy cannot resolve this. Also, he later proceeded to cite some decent rhetoric on why we should leave Afghanistan altogether. He even suggested that Afghanistan was better off under Soviet control. I cannot affirm this statement, but it’s an interesting one nevertheless. Did Charlie Wilson f**k us all over, or what?

\\ Space Chronicles by Neil deGrasse (Daily Show Interview)

So back in the 60s the Soviets sent us Sputnik, which put fear into our hearts and inspired us to establish NASA and go to the moon. This in turn inspired children -- many who grew up to be scientists and other innovators who helped push us toward the future. Since then, the sentiment has reversed greatly, and this is due in part to the fact that we aren't at a space war. If China were to build a military station on the moon, however, we would have one within 2 years!

The point is that the defunding of NASA and the lack of progress has left most Americans detached from the power of space exploration. They don't care anymore, because they just want to pay their bills and live their lives. But what they don't realize is how powerful and important NASA and space exploration are. They inspire us... and they especially inspire our children! We need more scientists and thinkers in this country, and well, Neil deGrasse suggests that we only need to give NASA proper funding to see the paradigm change. /// This is a very quickly written synopsis, so excuse any errors (I'm assuming I understood the interview correctly)

// Austerity vs Deficits

I don't know much about the English economy, but apparently a bunch of austerity cuts were put in place by Prime Minister Cameron back in 2011. In this piece, Sir Scarborough, Earl of Schmuckville :-), surreptitiously suggests that these austerity cuts will be viewed more positively by historians than "President Obama's trillion dollar deficits." He is, in my opinion, oversimplifying two very broad and complex issues.

Regardless, I'm up for a certain degree of austerity cuts in the US -- and Obama was up for them too, if I recall correctly from last year's deficit discussions -- but only if they're coupled with an increase in revenue and a more drastic reduction in our military presence (though I'd honestly, much like McCain, prefer to avoid the latter until the situation in the Middle East calms down).

The austerity cuts put in place by Cameron, however, approached the issue completely differently. The cuts targeted everyday workers while letting the big dogs -- those who actually caused the financial crisis - to go unscathed. Personally, I don't see at all how any historian could view such injustice positively.

\\ The Never-ending Stalemate

The US is literally at a stalemate -- at a 50/50 divide. It's interesting. It's good in one way, as it illustrates our ability to disagree, and it suggests we possess the intellectual prowess to fiercely debate issues. Unfortunately, a gridlock is still a gridlock, and IDK if you've ever been in a gridlock, but they're a pain in the ass to bypass:

["For example, one group of elected officials may believe it is important to reduce the size of government by eliminating public sector jobs and lowering compensation for remaining employees," Hilyer says. "Another group of electeds may oppose such cuts because they are believed to compromise public safety and will lead to a brain drain if compensation is not competitive."

Both sides can argue that they have taken the moral high ground, "and gridlock often results," Hilyer says. "Or they can focus on a more enlightened form of self-interest by recognizing that they both want to ensure that citizens have basic public services so they are safe, can engage in commerce and transportation, be educated and skilled and afforded the rights inherent in a free society."

Once this broad agreement is understood, she says, "then a creative process is undertaken to determine how these interests will be met."

Hmmm. Sounds simple enough.

But, Hilyer points out, the odds are against such evenhandedness. "Because we don't teach children or adults how to advocate constructively, much less how to collaboratively resolve differences," she says, "we continue to become more polarized and dysfunctional."

Agreeing on how to learn to agree could be a little tricky.]

// The Importance Of Law

Tonight Jason Louise, aka Mr. Rarely Right, had the audacity to claim that “anarchy is the proliferation of law” and that the current state of our economy is a direct result of “Law and Order Liberalism.” He went on to attack laws pertaining to hate crimes, insider trading and endangered animals. In fact, he suggested that we have too many laws as it stands.

Let me start by first saying that the economy is not as stagnant as he’d like us to believe. The Dow is up, unemployment numbers are down and we are basically slowly climbing out of the recession. Many problems still remain to be fixed, including our credit rating, but it surely seems like we’re on the right track.

Second, I’m going to give Mr. Almost Never Right some leeway, because the truth is that some of our laws could use a bit of additional scrutiny. I say this because it makes no sense that two lesbians are being charged with a hate crime for beating up a gay guy. That makes about as much sense as a totally hot stud like me being unable to score.

Now, let’s get to the meat of the matter: the assertion that we have too many laws. Suppose a man attempts to rob a gas station and, while doing so, kills several innocent people. What would be better—to charge him with a single crime or an abundance of crimes? Law is a tricky game, my friend. There are discoveries, rebuttals, pleas, appeals and more. But, you see, the “proliferation of law” lets us hit said creep with charge after charge, thus increasing the likelihood that we’ll able to get at least 1 conviction and, more importantly, get him behind bars for a minimum of 25 with an L.

On to insider trading. Why is this wrong? Let me give you an example. A few years ago, 50 Cent sent out a tweet urging his followers to invest in a stock. Within a matter of minutes, the stock surged and 50 sold all his holdings for a huge profit. What happened to the rest of his followers—those poor saps who weren’t told to sell? They lost a lot of money. Now consider this… 50 Cent is just a thick-headed rapper with barely any financial insight. Now imagine what would happen if someone who really knew what he or she was doing was able to pull off such a trick without facing any consequences? The results would be devastating!

As for hate crimes and endangered animals… STFU! Endangered animals? Really?

Look, I realize that law isn’t perfect, but reducing them isn’t the answer. And you must remember that law is not absolute. Generally, prosecutors and judges have the right to modify a sentence if they feel it would be beneficial, such as in the instance of a young and stupid killer being offered a second chance. I will give you this, though… those laws that impose a mandatory sentence SHOULD be revoked, because then the power is taken away from the prosecutors and judges (everyday human beings with the capacity to judge individual situations) and given wholly to the government.

That’s all for today!

\\ English As Our Official Language

This comment sums up my thoughts on the whole prospect of making English an official language in the US:

[Tolerance of differences is one of the great gifts the U.S. has given the rest of the world. Do we all practice it? No. But it remains one of the American ideals, and like many of the others - like fierce protection of freedom of speech - it will eventually win out because we know it is right.

The language question comes down to this: Don't tell people which language to speak in their homes. DO insist people speak English in public discourse. If there needs to be a law enshrining English as the national language, then so be it (though it shouldn't be necessary). Otherwise, encourage the speaking of different languages, and the learning of them.]

And yes, I have a conservative viewpoint on this issue. But as an avid reader and writer of the English language, I frankly don't want to have to deal with other languages in public discourage -- and I feel this is a more than fair.

// Autism In Minority Families

I hate to say this, but I imagine things are like this because many poorer and less educated minorities (not necessarily black) feel they can just beat said illness out of a child. I remember once trying to discuss mental illness with a gentleman from a poorer/less-educated community; he kept going on and on, and rather un-eloquently too, I might add, about how adults with mental illness were merely raised improperly. SMH.

It doesn't help that you got entire communities whose lifeblood resides with a form of music that, though entertaining and pleasant at times, provides lyrics with zero depth -- lyrics that are, in essence, pure garbage. It's to the point that simply suggesting to someone that he or she should turn off the boombox and seek a valid education renders you a "hater."

Tough words, I know, but that comes from years of dealing with poorer and less educated minorities. Yo, I didn't always live in a nice community. I've lived by homeless shelters and crack houses. Best believe.

\\ Remembering Where You Came From

Elitism, Round 2. Sorry folks, but I'm moody AF and will remain like this until I'm drunk and at peace again. If it bothers you, just click the x to the upper-right and then select "Hide." No biggie.

Anyway. So when someone rises from the hood, it's good if he remembers where he came from, correct? But is there a difference in how that memory is projected? For instance, suppose someone proceeds to perpetuate the negatives of the hood through his newly found medium or industry? What if instead he chooses to best remember the hood by going back and doing what he can to help others get out of it?

Here's my thing. A lot of rappers set themselves up on pedestals and then basically use their power and status to exploit people from those very same hoods whence they came. They basically take all the money, sex and additional benefits they can acquire and then go on to another hood. While this isn't too different from the way corporations function, am I wrong to expect better/more from someone who at least came up hard?

All I see are rappers promoting drugs, alcohol, sex, intolerance, misogynism, intolerance and a plethora of other questionable or outright wrong things. I love rap, but I’m a grown man with the capacity to differentiate between music and real life. What disturbs me is the fact that millions of little kids literally worship and seek to emulate what are essentially the worst negative role models in modern American history.

Now look, I drink, smoke and love strippers, but I’m a grown adult. Is it really proper, however, that kids be taught to love the same things? Is Rick Santorum kind of right (though I hate to admit it) when he says that modern American values are skewed possibly beyond repair? Or is the commonplace acceptance of illicit culture just another step in human evolution and thus something that cannot be avoided?

Deep shit, aye? That’s how I roll! DEEP! Yeah, ladies… I roll DEEP. Think about it!

// The Saudi Arabian 9/11 Connection

Wow. Two former senators believe that there was a direct line of communication between the 9/11 terrorists and the Saudi Arabian government. That is a huge allegation. And apparently, questions regarding this connection have been lingering since 2002! But because the Saudis are such a huge ally, not to mention the producer of so much oil, the US government has basically been trying to bury this story, much to the chagrin of the families of Sept. 11 victims.

This story really brings up a major question. On one hand, our economy is unstable, oil prices are skyrocketing and there’s already enough tension in the Middle East. Yet, the American public, particularly those whose immediate relatives died in 9/11, deserve justice in its entirety. So the question remains… are we willing to just let the Saudis off the hook simply because pursuing these allegations would cause too many financial and political woes?

\\ SLAP!

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Congress yesterday that a "massive fiscal cliff" is in our future. What's interesting is that he blamed both "large spending cuts and tax increases" on this. It's basically a slap in the face to both liberals and conservatives. He's suggesting we need to stop cutting so much (slap to conservatives), and that we shouldn't raise taxes on the wealthy (slap to liberals). Interesting. Very, very interesting.

// Voter IDs

Either I’m in a really good mood or I’m still in the Twilight Zone, because tonight I agreed with quite a bit of what Jason Louis said.

First of all, did you know that billion-dollar sports franchises like the NBA and NFL receive subsidies from the government? Granted, they receive far less subsidies than the oil companies, but at least oil serves a mandatory purpose. The NBA and NFL, on the other hand, merely provide entertainment, which is a luxury. So though I usually tout a left-wing, anti-free-market ideology, all I have to say tonight is DOWN WITH THE SOCIALISTS!

Second, I’m willing to negotiate on the prospect of a federal voter ID statute, because it makes perfect sense to require all citizens to prove their identities prior to voting—much like they must prove their identities before purchasing a gun or picking up medication. However, I’m only willing to accept the statute given the following stipulations:

#1. University IDs should be able to be used in place of state IDs.

#2. Sunday voter registration should continue undeterred.

#3. Same-day voter registration should continue undeterred.

#4. An initiative should be launched to educate as many people as possible about the new federal statue.

#5. An initiative should be launched to help poor, elderly and handicapped individuals without an ID acquire one.

#6. DMV hours should be temporarily extended to cover either Saturday or Sunday, as most Americans are far too busy during the weekdays to visit the DMV all willy nilly.

Agree to these stipulations and I’ll gladly sign a federal voter ID statute.

Unfortunately, I’m not the president, nor am I even a politician. What a pity!

\\ The Energy Debate Continued

According to Harold Ford, Jr., who is usually a liberal (Twilight Zone), if we don't provide subsidies and tax-breaks to oil companies, "we're disadvantaging our own natural resources and energy production companies here in our own country versus those in Brazil and around the globe." FASCINATING viewpoint!

BUT Joe Scarborough argues that oil companies don't need subsidies to go out and drill, what with the fact that they're already doing plenty well on their own. I mean shit... they're doing perfectly fine in the free market as it is.

IDK man. I think Ford is trying to sound slick by saying we are "disadvantaging" our oil companies. The reason oil is so expensive is because investors are pricing it higher in anticipation of what they feel will be troubling times and because of simple greed.

///

Also, according to Ford, and this is shocking, what we typically perceive as the top gasoline companies in America are actually owned by other states. Basically, other countries are producing far more oil than us.

That said, I'm willing to negotiate on off-shore drilling and the tapping of natural subsidies, but only if we do it safely, correctly and with reserve. Plus, we cannot discount renewable energy, as it still remains the one and only way to secure a permanent form of energy.

// Final Thoughts

"Street smart is just something dumb people say when they want to use the word smart to describe themselves." (Darnell ‘Crabman’ Turner / My Name Is Earl)



SMFH @ THIS FOOL! HAHA!