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!
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