uglyblackjohn

"Make" a Job

2012-01-24T22:24:00.000-06:00

Anyone can make money - just be good at what you do.
After being in town for a while, I wanted to work as a bartender.
The thing is, I hadn't worked in a few years so my employment record was kind-of spotty.
I just gave up on working and decided to stay focused on my rental homes and volunteer work instead.

One day I walked into a bar and said, "Y'all need help.".
The owner told me that they were not hiring.
"No I didn't ask if you needed help, I was telling you that you NEED HELP.", I replied.
"I'll work for you for free for two weeks to teach you and to train your staff.", I offered.
After my first day, the owner offered me a job tending their bar.
"You cannot afford me. But I'll help you out for the next three months for free.", I replied.

After turning their business around I didn't work again for about three years.
It was about this time that everyone seemed to want to open a club or bar.
The name that came up most often was mine as being the one to start a bar with.
But I changed my title to "Bar Consultant" and charged even more money than most new owners could afford.
I worked out profit sharing deals which only had to be paid to if I delivered sales.
Club after club prospered and I became known for turning bars around.

My current ownership obligation only came about because my most recent deal was structured in a way that allowed me to gain a larger share of the profits.
The owners liked to gamble, shop and travel so when my bonus was due, they did not have the money to pay me.

My most recent opportunity came from another bar owner who asked me to open a bar tending school.
I would have ten students in each two hour session with each student paying fifty dollars per session.
The university extension program would get $25 to pay for building space and supplies.
I would have to teach six sessions per week (three two-hour session per day - twice a week) and be paid in cash at the end of each day.
I'm busy enough as it is but I'll think about the relatively quick and easy (12 hrs. - $750) money.

Fame

2012-01-23T01:10:00.002-06:00

I have no use for it.(Even if it's just local.)
As my club seems to be doing better and better, requests for photo shoots and television appearances have become more common.
"Want to be in my commercial?", "Can I get a picture for (fill in the blanks) social section of their magazine/newspaper/tabloid?", "I have a sister/niece/cousin you should meet.", are some of the most common first lines in many conversations these days.
Being horrifically ugly - I don't like having pictures taken of me.
Being very unpopular - I don't seek attention.
Being the third poorest person on the Internet - money is not my motivation.

I'm sure there is something wrong with me psychologically (which is probably true with most of us) but I'd just prefer to do my work without getting caught up in the never-ending cycle of status seeking.

Smarter?

2012-01-23T00:38:00.000-06:00

Smart refrigerators,

Smart cars,

Smart phones,

Smart televisions,

Even smart toilets.

The need to purchase all of these things only leads to one thing - DUMB PEOPLE.

NV

2012-01-22T23:58:00.003-06:00

Many people who own nightclubs are an insecure bunch.
In this economy - the only reason to own a club is if one wants to see his name on the side of a building.
I came to have a financial interest in my club because the minority owners were unable to pay off my salary and bonuses.
To be honest, I would have preferred the money.

As the club's business grows - so does the envy of others.
The minority owners are a bit upset because I 'm succeeding where they failed.
They attend social events and all they hear is how well I'm doing.
At the mall, at dinner, at the movies and even from their family, friends and neighbors, "I see that John is getting everyone exited about going out again.", is all they hear.

Recently, they've begun to hang out at the club.
As they speak with guests, they feel that they are not given the respect they deserve.
Other club owners, politicians, business owners, media personalities and most guests comment that the club would be an abandoned building if I hadn't taken over ownership.
"At least all your bills are paid now. You should be happy that you're actually making money.", one rival club owner said to the co-owners.

Their resentment has gotten to the point where they are trying to have me fail.
In an effort to have me blow it on a big night, they offered to pay my cocktail waitresses more money if they did not come in to work..
Two waitresses took the money (One came and gave me the money - the other, I have yet to hear from her) but the others refused and told me of the offer.

I think I understand how Qaddafi felt when encircled by his all-female guard.
The offer was made on a Friday night when I had a very large birthday party (which was sponsored by a major liquor band) scheduled .
Female customers removed their stilettos, put on flats and then began to wait on tables.
My liquor reps also began tending bar and waiting on tables.
"We got John's back.", they would later tell my partners.
When asked why, "John is good people. John takes care of people so people take care of him", they would say.

Today I was invited to lunch so that they could see whether I had found out about their little ploy.
I enjoyed my meal as person after person came by the table to mention how much they are now enjoying the club and the recent events we've been hosting.
I did not mention a word about their failed plan as person after person overlooked them as they heaped accolades upon me.
They have to know that I know but they cannot mention it. This is a small town and gossip travels faster than anything else.
I just enjoyed my day as I watched the games at a friend's house while people called to tell me about and express their disapproval of what I had already heard.

Q: In business, should ones ego be so fragile that it must always search for homage in place of profits?

I Have an Orange Tree

2012-01-17T02:24:00.000-06:00

I can pick the fruit whenever I please - it's my tree.
When a neighbor or passerby desires the fruit from my tree, he must ask permission before eating my fruit.
Even in the almost-antebellum South, whites cannot take my fruit nor can they forbid me from eating my fruit.
By law, this fruit is mine
(Though the tree itself was originally planted by my ancestors - I am eating from the fruits of their labors.)

As many celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. - some say that he brought about new freedoms for the African-American population (and by extrapolation, many others).
The truth is (and always was) that we were born with these rights.
Many have labored and sacrificed for these rights.
Constitutional Law guarantees these rights.
That many of those in power refused to recognise these rights is a different story - until we were able (as a group) to demand these rights, we were not ready to carry the responsibility of these rights.

"Go sit down 'Snooki.", I said to a rude young woman as she made a smart remark upon seeing me exit the women's room at a local pub while watching a recent playoff game.
The line for the men's room was long so the owner of the place told the guys to just lock the door of the single-toilet restroom after entering... and to remember to lift and lower the seat.
When the woman came out, she told a group of brawny guys what had transpired.
One of the guys approached my table and motioned for his equally-sized friends to join him so I walked to a nearby patio.
"S'up Ben?", I said.
"Hey, John. You called 'Big Mouth Lisa' "Snooki"?". Dude, that's what we call her.", he said as he began to ask about common friends and make introductions to his crew.
My friends from the table came outside as soon as they saw me being surrounded by a group of white guys in a predominantly white pub.
(Although they relaxed once they saw me laughing with the group of guys.)
He mentioned that the girl was pissed that they failed to respond to her initial complaint of a Black guy coming to their club and talking shit.
"Look at the guys at your table. I wasn't about to do a thing but pretend to look mad.", he said with a laugh.
"It's still the South", I said with a shrug.

By this time I had introduced the guys from my table to his friends and we sat around a fireplace on the patio so we could talk.
"You know she said that "some Nigger" said such and such and that you were all ready to fight." I said.
"No she didn't say that word.", Ben lied.
"Yeah, she did." one of his friends said.
'Said what?', I asked.
"Nigger", the guy said quietly.
(I shook my head towards the guys from my table to let them know to relax upon hearing a white guy say this word in front of Black guys.)
"Yeah, that kills me. That's just funny. Black people always ready to fight when they hear the word and white people often wanting to but too afraid to say it.", I laughed.
"Did you take the wheels off your house yet? Is your City Hall still a double-wide?", I teased the guys in Ben's group. (A recent hurricane demolished their city hall so the town's business was being conducted from a double-wide trailer.)
"You look Italian. I don't get mad at no Goombahs. No Dago Guinea-Wops. Dude, I'll even go to your uncle Guido's pizza shop to get a pie. My feelings aren't hurt because someone from 'Jersey Poor" says the word "Nigger".", I said as the guy became enraged.
Ben just looked at him to calm him but wondered where I was going with this.
"Cracker, Honky, Whitey, whatever... White people don't care when Black people use these terms - they only get upset when the attack becomes more personal. When it attacks ones ethnicity. White people just say, 'So what, he/she is still just a Nigger' ", I said.
"I was just proving my point with you.", I said to the guy.

We talked 'race' more than we watched the games.
When I pointed out that many Blacks don't really hate whites - that most of them only resent them - this caused confusion from the entire table.
"Do you hate the fruit 'quince?" I asked the entire table.
"I don't even know what that is.", most said.
"Exactly.", I said, "Some might not like the looks of it and never try but form an opinion anyway. Others will recognize similarities to known fruits, try it and like it, dislike or be indifferent. Most Blacks who are racist haven't experienced enough whites to be otherwise - the same is true for most whites.", I continued.
"Minorities resent whites, fat women resent fit women, the poor resent the rich, people just resent people who they imagine as having it easier than themselves.", I concluded.

"Why are so many Blacks poor?", one guys asked.
" 'Culture' ", I said.
"Many Blacks say things like; "The white man won't let us have/do such and such." or "White people have all the money." or "White people hate us." or any other excuse.", I said.
"Many Blacks don't understand that they don't have to ask permission to be great. That mentality is one of the many vestiges of Segregation. But I'm from Cali. We didn't say, 'Give us free' - we've been free.", I continued.
"If it was only about race, your town (which is 99.99% white) would be filled with good-looking millionaire geniuses instead of people not smart enough to build a hurricane-resistant structure in a hurricane-prone area while having to do business from a double-wide.", I said.
"If it was only about race, poor white towns such as yours would not exist.". I concluded.

We talked more about 'race', then about sports, then about life.
These guys may never be friends but they will at least say, "Sup" next time they see each other when I'm not around.

Icarus

2012-01-17T00:07:00.000-06:00

I had a stepfather who would flap his arms whenever he would dream that he was flying.
I discovered this because I walked into his house just as he was having what looked to be a seizure.
When I awakened him, "I was flying", he replied when I enquired of his well being.
His idea of human flight was almost logical and therefore modeled after birds.
My idea was based on faith more than physics so being able to fly like Superman was just a given.
I used to be able to fly without even thinking about it.
I could rarely control my speed nor altitude so it was almost always a harrowing experience.
I've dreamt of flying so many times that I've almost perfected the landing.
I don't mind flight, it's a handy tool in times of need.

Lately, the ability to fly seems to have gone from me.
I now have to focus a great deal just to be able to hover.
I'm not sure if I'm even built for high places - I'm a regular guy.
At a recent social event, I was nicknamed "King John" by some of these men and women with titles and/or status.
When I asked why they would call me by that title, "Because you're so good at working people to get what you desire. Everyone loves you, and even your enemies come to serve you", they answered.
"There is none good but God.", I replied.

Maybe I'm so accustomed to being the outsider or underdog that I cannot see myself as being a part of a larger group?
Maybe I don't believe the hyperbole but instead choose to remain one of the people?
Maybe I have low self-esteem?
I really don't know why but being called "King John" by those who supposedly wield some type of power is discomforting to me.
Maybe, like Icarus, I've learned my lesson about the dangers of flying too high or swooping in too low.

Five Trees?

2012-01-16T23:44:00.002-06:00

Why is my living room still filled with five boxes of artificial Christmas trees [One from the club, one from tenants, two from cousins, and one from my house (which never even made it up)] and twenty-one plastic bins filled with garland, lights and ornaments, etc.?
To say that this year has been 'hectic' would be an understatement.

Ron Paul?

2012-01-16T23:39:00.001-06:00

Many may insist that Ron Paul is a Racist or that he has racist views - but does it even really matter?
I don't even really care about a person's religion, club affiliations or personal beliefs - just as long as that person is fair and just.

His recent comments pointing out that Blacks are victims of an 'unequal justice' seems to have gone largely ignored by most political pundits.
Paul was referring to FBI reports which point out that roughly 69% of arrests made in America were those of whites - while Blacks made up only about 28% of total arrests.
He was also referring to the fact that whites are arrested twice as many times as Blacks for drug related incidents.
Sure, in a country that is only about 16% Black these numbers seem alarming - but Paul pointed out that Blacks still represent nearly half of all those currently incarcerated.

Obama sure won't bring this up, and I can guarantee that the Republicans' Southern Strategy will not allow any insider to discuss the warts on Miss Liberty's face.
With many Americans believing that the country is falling apart and in need of a revolution (some even advocating violence) - wouldn't a shake-up from the inside be in the best interest of the country?

MLK

2012-01-16T19:09:00.002-06:00

Is There Such an App for Facebook?

2012-01-11T00:24:00.000-06:00

Which allows someone to censor the eyes of someone who may be caught in an embarrassing facebook photo?
A "Black Box" app which allows someone to censor a photo without having to delete the entire image?
Anyone out there able to write code to create one?

Ron Paul for POTUS!!!

2012-01-08T23:10:00.000-06:00

With the election of Obama, many predicted the rise of the Libertarian - or at the least, many of their beliefs.
Ron Paul may be running as a Republican but much of his platform is more Libertarian.
Ron Paul;
-Favors a smaller government - as do I.
-Wants to cut Federal Spending for FY 2012 instead of spreading the adjustments over the next 10-15 ineffectual years - as do I.
-Reduce Military Spending
-End the Welfare State. Being that most of the money goes to corporations and special interests, I have to agree.
-Eliminate or Audit the Federal Reserve, Since they ( along with the IMF and World Bank) created the financial mess most of us are suffering though, I have to agree with this idea as well.

Sure, he may be unelectable, a racist, and somewhat creepy to some but he may help to push ideas forward which may help to solve the country's problems instead of just delaying the end results of them.

FEAR!!!

2012-01-08T22:34:00.001-06:00

No, not from ghosts, goblins or even Ron Paul.
My fear is more real and more common.

As always, today I checked on one of my elderly blind ladies - not a problem.
But today offered a twist.
The lady's pill-addict great-grandson happened to be there as well - still not a problem.
But then this guy decided that he had to make a run and asked me to babysit his five month old daughter - Effin' BIG Problem.

I'm scared of small babies so I was petrified.
Feeding, cleaning, playing with, changing and just watching an infant is more than I was prepared to do.
This weekend was our busiest ever at the club so I was already exhausted - and this small child made it even worse.

As a kid, I used to fill in for my sister on occasion when she had something else to do on one of her scheduled babysitting nights.
I guess instinct and prior training kicked in because I handled the situation like a champ.
When the baby's grand mother appeared to retrieve her five hours later, I was a mess.
"Wow, you're a natural!!!", she said as I made the hand off.
I might be a natural - but I'll never babysit an infant alone again.

The Enemy of MY Enemy

2012-01-03T06:45:00.002-06:00

http://www.ronpaul.com/
Is the enemy of my enemy my friend?
Is Ron Paul a racist? (Name one President who wasn't.)
Is Obama a true outsider willing to take the fight to institutions which subjugate the masses?
If Ron Paul was to be elected POTUS - would you be any worse off?
Does the POTUS have any real power anyway?

The WNBA?

2012-01-03T05:01:00.002-06:00

Honestly, Val?
A layup by Blake Griffin, a jump shot by Lebron, a nice chest pass by Kobe?
This isn't the Celtics of the 60's - today's game requires more athletic ability.
The real reason you (and I) like the WNBA is because of Candice Parker.

At Some Point, It's Not About Making Money...

2012-01-02T20:56:00.000-06:00

It becomes about a sense of style.
In basketball, two points are two points - but who wants to watch (or execute) layups all night?
Who (besides Val) says, "Wow, did you see that chest pass?".
When one gains the basic skills required to get the job done effectively - he then forms new ways to get the same measurable result which require more skill and a greater ability.

Anyone can make money - the question becomes how one chooses to make money.
Most people reading this could probably make more money giving blow jobs to sweaty truck drivers at ones local truck stop tonight than she/he would working his day-job.
But no one reading this would do that just to make a money.

Sure, I like money, I want money, I even need money.
But I'm not willing to do anything and everything to get it.
Money has rarely been my motivation.
Sometimes, I'm even offended by money.

"Maximize your profits", is all I hear from former nightclub owners.
"That's why you went out of business.", I reply.
"Make sure you get your cut from everything when someone else does a promotion in your club.", others say.
"But why would I charge someone who is bringing more business to my club?", I ask.

I've had book release parties, poetry nights, open mic/jam sessions, fashion shows, art viewings, whatever... in an effort to expose people to more of our culture than just DJ'd music.
At each event the promoter makes more money than me.
But these promoters make a lot of money once a month while paying most of the costs.
I make a little less money every night without spending much to advertise.

My next big event is a Super Bowl Party hosted by a a retired NFL player.
My liquor reps are providing the Remy and the former player is paying for the DJ, my staff (I don't usually open on Sundays), the Ribs, and advertising.
"Remy & Ribs", is what we are calling it.

These nights bring in more than just one demographic.
The varied demographic helps to ensure that the club stays busy regardless of what is going on around town.
While I hate running clubs - I do seem to have a knack for doing it.
Other club owners frequent my club.
The local elites frequent my club.
The aspirational and acquisitive frequent my club.
The Wanna-Be-Bougie ('Bourgeois' is a step up for these folks) frequent my club.

To be honest, I'm about to burn out.
I have no interest in being one of the 'Big Shots' around town.
I just decided to run this club as a means to show others that people can work together and still benefit.
I don't seem to be able to teach so it seemed like doing would be the best way to get others to follow the model.

I have my manager running the club for the next couple of days while I think about selling the club.
I hate the long nights of talking to people I have no interest in.
Sure, I can make money - but this doesn't seem to be the way I want to do it.

Biblically speaking - aren't we supposed to leave enough behind for those who are without to be able to glean the fields after we're done gathering our harvest?

The Ability to Obtain Money...?

2012-01-02T20:30:00.000-06:00

...Is the best measure of 'intellegence'?
1 Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

The Four Horsemen bring; War, Famine, Pestilence and Death.

The current wars throughout the world have more to do with acquiring wealth than they do with gaining freedom.

People starve because others are greedy.

Slums exist because others horde resources.

We pollute our habitat in an effort to increase the wealth of others.

Banks collapsed because people valued imaginary money more than hard assets.

Homes were lost because people imagined themselves as being rich.

Many bought into the lie that money solves all problems - or that it was even necessary.
Most sold their souls for debt and many cannot find their way free from under the control of he who owns this debt.

If the Devil is the ruler of this world - then the Devil is the Dollar.
And the love of this Devil is the "Root of ALL Evil.".

i.q.

2011-12-27T22:56:00.001-06:00

Is 'intellegence' measured by the ability to manipulate conditions to benefit oneself? (Short term)

Or is it the ability to adapt to conditions to benefit oneself? (Long term)

Vanity Kills

2011-12-27T19:55:00.001-06:00

Deodorant - Aluminum (Alzheimer's)
Shampoo - Parabens (Breast Cancer), SLS (Immune System Damage)
Toothpaste - Sodium Fluoride
Lip Gloss and Lotions - Prevent the natural shedding of dead skin
Perfumes - Alcohol base kills good bacteria.

Is our reliance on too many products the cause of the rise of diseases?
If 'Global Warming" has reached a tipping point for the Earth - maybe we're experiencing the Gaia effect on our own biological eco-system.

Dead Cities

2011-12-27T19:25:00.000-06:00

1910 Census
New York City
Chicago
Philadelphia
St. Louis
Boston
Cleveland
Baltimore
Pittsburgh
Detroit
Buffalo

Some social observers blame the demise of cities, such as Detroit, on the increase in government aid, minority populations and immigration.
The thing is, these factors only rise once the original population has strip mined the area for most of it's natural resources.Once these areas are depleted of all it's natural resources (which also includes innovation, originality and artistic talents), the areas then become affordable enough to attract those belonging to the lower classes.

1810 Census
New York
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Boston
Charleston
Northern Liberty, PA
New Orleans
District of Southward, PA
Salem, Mass.
Albany, NY

Populations are still migratory.
Notice how New York City remains at the top of the list.
New York succeeds because New York continues to attract immigrants who enable the city to reinvent itself through the influx of new cultures and ideas.

2010 Census
New York City
Los Angeles
Chicago
Houston
Philadelphia
Phoenix
San Antonio
San Diego
Dallas
San Jose

The same could be said of Chicago.
'Culture' is a more important factor than is 'race' in determining the vibrancy of a city.
Of the country's largest cities - most can attribute their growth to immigration as being the primary factor.

New York also grew by annexation - the same could be said of Philadelphia.
Of the cities listed 200 years ago - three of them are now a part of Philadelphia.

I once thought of cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, New Orleans, and many other cities in the North or in industrial areas as being necessary for America to prosper.
But maybe Detroit has just run it's course as far as being a major American City is concerned.
Maybe the future lies in warmer areas where there is still (almost) clean water and farm able land.

2011-12-24T15:04:00.002-06:00

You Can't Handle It

2011-12-21T06:43:00.000-06:00

Chances are - you could not handle getting everything you wanted.
NASCAR uses a restrictor plate to reduce speeds at it's races and to lower the chances of deadly crashes.
Addictions, fame, wealth, an overabundance of food, big houses, pimped-out cars, bling, and status would kill you.
If you cannot handle what you already have without being jealous, spiteful or arrogant - why would you expect to be given more of what you ask?
If you are unteachable with a little - you would not heed wisdom with a lot.
"Want" is the restrictor plate used by nature.

The worst case scenario would be that wherein one has more 'fans' than friends - when no one can tell you nothin'.
The best case scenario is that wherein one might end up sans-teeth for breaking the social codes of any given group.
This is where one finds true happiness.
(Notice; The Fishbone cameo in the Pepper's video?)

Replace the man of which Mary J. Blige sings with anything - piety, wealth, fame, status, anything...
Her conclusion is that she has to matter to herself - that her happiness begins with herself and not in some outside source.

@ Miss AJ

2011-12-21T05:10:00.000-06:00

One of my all-time favorite movies is Australia.
The treatment of the indigenous and mixed-race people portrayed in the movie has been repeated the world over.
My mother's side of the family (Native American/Spanish) had their acculturation/assimilation done at the Judson Academy in Arizona.
My father's side went through the same thing with the Catholic Church organizations in Louisiana.
It seems that the Spaniards wanted to eliminate any remnants of being part-Native American while the French wanted to mitigate any vestiges of being of African descent.
(But this is not the point behind this post.)

Former rockers such as Joe Strummer formed the Mescaleros, Peter Gabriel has worked with Deep Forest, while many others have also set out to find the most basic and pure forms of music by using indigenous music from all over the world.
Q; (While it predates Motown) Would the music of the Aborigines be a form of the original Soul Music?

"If All You Care About Is Yourself...

2011-12-21T04:45:00.000-06:00

...All you'll have is yourself.", I explained to the former owners of the club.
Yeah... I understand that one should be able to stand on his own two feet but I also understand that one cannot do everything by himself all the time - sometimes we need help.
'Nosce te ipsum' does not mean that one should always do everything alone.

The best case scenario is to have a crew of capable individuals.
While many may remember the "Cool Walk" scene of Reservoir Dogs,

Others will remember the even cooler "Cool Walk" scene of the original Oceans 11.
Each member of this crew was the shit in his own right but they could overcome almost impossible odds by working together.

Between my liquor reps, professional athletes who happen to be back to town, local media personalities and sales reps, business owners and politicians - my club stays packed.
Most days of most weeks I get free shouts out from media personalities relating how much they enjoyed coming to my club.
Most days of most weeks I get - and then pass along - passes or tickets to events which I'm too busy to attend.
(Those receiving these tickets then end up hooking me up in what ever way they can - it's a seemingly endless cycle for which I am the current hub.)

I'm not the best financed club owner in town - but I do manage to get others to play for me.
I'm the Tim Tebow (Lacking any great talent but able to win by getting the team to play together.) of club owners.

Is Country Music, Soul Music?

2011-12-20T03:01:00.000-06:00

Ray Charles thought so,

And so did "Hootie".
Both genres were heavily influenced by Gospel music - although from different (yet similar) perspectives.

Poor Black parishioners were not singing hymnals in a way to which they could relate.
Many added beats and sounds from their native lands in an effort to refine their music (prayers) to suit their own ears.
Poor white ethnic parishioners (not part of The Establishment) added sounds and beats from their own lands to their services as well.
Maybe Dolly Parton is correct when she states that Country Music is Soul Music.

Soul Music

2011-12-20T02:50:00.002-06:00

Many of today's most popular female artists paid tribute to American Soul Music in VH1's most recent incarnation of it's Diva's series.
The one interlude which caught my eye was the Soulboy/Casual piece which brought up the 80's New Wave of acts who dominated early MTV by selling Black music back to the States presented by mostly white people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulboy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casuals

Wham, Spandau Ballet, Culture Club, Simply Red, ABC, Human League, Heaven 17... The list of British Soulboys/Casuals reads like a "Best of MTVVH1" list.
Odd... When a culture seems to be on the verge of dying, it is only with the injection of Soul that it can be saved.

If Music is Prayer...

2011-12-20T02:32:00.002-06:00

Matthew 6:7 - "But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking."

If birds can sing, are they praying as well?
Well... sometimes...
At other times they may just be reciting vain repetitions.
Check out SeeNew (Subrealism);
http://subrealism.blogspot.com/2011/12/neurobiology-of-vocal-communication.html

If birds seem to have activated genes which would allow them to communicate with each other using some type of musical language - is this how humans began to speak?

Some point to babies dancing to Hip-Hop or R&B as being proof of some type of 'Global Black Superemacy'.
These forms of music are often thought of as being simplistic and unintelligent.
But like Barney or The Doodlbops - maybe this type of music manages to communicate on a deeper and more primal level.
Maybe this is a just a visceral response demonstrated by babies.
Maybe these tones and beats remind them of their mother's heartbeat - the life source beat.
As we pray in an effort to get back to God, to a time before we were born - maybe music is the Innocent's method for searching for his perfect past as well.
Maybe music is true prayer.

Money Changers

2011-12-20T01:57:00.001-06:00

I have a cousin who works for The Dallas area Bishop.
"Oprah is coming, do you want me to save you a seat?" she asked recently.
I understand the need for church, I even like church - but all too often I view many churches as being more about appearance than content.

Mosques, temples and churches have always been grand in an effort to affect a sense of 'otherness'.
When one entered traditional places of worship he would put off his worldly persona in favor of his deeper and more true self.
These days one feels as though he is entering the lobby of a Las Vegas casino.

If a guy has a television show - chances are, I'm not going to be attending his services.
If the church has a book stores and gift shops selling their latest CD's and DVD's - I don't think I'll be going there either.
If there is an ATM in the lobby - the church is more concerned with it's profits than it is with The Prophets.
(Okay..., New IRS rules now require a paper trail of more than a diary entry to verify gifts under $250, so this may seem like more of a convenience to some. But I never fill out the paperwork when paying tithes or making offerings. "But we need you to fill this out so we know how much you gave us.", church members tell me. "I'm not giving you the money I'm giving it to God and He knows what I've given.", I say as I walk out the door. I don't believe in donating as a tax write off.)
If the Pastor, Bishop or church leader goes on a national tour in a private jet - his is not the church for me.

If the Christian Era began while most of the rest of the world failed to notice - maybe the Mayans are correct.
Maybe 2112 will be the end of our current era.
Maybe things have gotten so bad that we deserve to have our beliefs, governments and institutions destroyed.

Football Prayers

2011-12-19T21:10:00.000-06:00

What's the big deal about Tim Tebow and his praying habits?
I'm no Tim Tebow fan - I was a Chris Leak fan though.
But if Tim is more of a motivational leader than he is a stereotypical NFL quarterback - so what?
Tebow may loft floating ducks instead of launching tight spirals - but the guy wins games.
Dan Marino could light up the box-scores but he failed to win a single Superbowl in seventeen seasons - and in the NFL, winning is everything.

The players, fans and media expect football players to act more like Ndamukong Suh.
The NFL is thought of as being a league of sinners not

Saints.

But one does not have to be a Saint in the NFL in order for them to pray - other teams pray and thank God as well.

One would expect a school like Notre Dame to nickname this mural, "Touchdown Jesus" - it is a Catholic school after all.

Prayer by entertainers is nothing new.

Watch any awards show and one will see more winners thanking God than he will see them thanking spouses.

Lolo Jones Tweeted, "How To PRAY; P-raise God for what He has done. R-equest what you need. A-sk Him for forgiveness. Y-ield your life to his plan."

Athletes pray all the time.

Does God care whether you make a deadline at your job, whether you get to work on time, whether you get a promotion, or whether you even get the job to begin with?

Yet many people pray for these things all the time and most have no problem expecting God to answer them..

In this photo - was Barry Bonds;
a) High on Steroids?
b) Looking at the Top of the Golden Gate Bridge?
c) Thanking God?

Tim Tebow's hype has as much to do with his being the antithesis of someone like Michael Vick as it does with his throwing arm.
While both have their potential as long-term NFL quarterbacks questioned because each is just as likely to run as he is to pass - only one is seen as marketable.
If one wishes to put horns on Vick, he is just as likely to place a nimbus around the head of Tebow.

Insecurity Guard

2011-12-12T23:54:00.000-06:00

I hate taking risks but I tend to do so anyway.
A professor once told me that I possess this trait because I am insecure.
He stated that I take big risks because there is no chance of my losing anything.
If I accomplish my goal - great.
If I fail - I was attempting the impossible anyway so there is really nothing lost.

I prefer easy wins but I tend to avoid them.
I like the rush of the come from behind victory.
It's not only important that I win but I seem to focus more on the way I win.
I'll try to position myself to have every tactical advantage but I tend to help my opponent improve his own skills during any given battle.

I'm a Cancer, an anomaly, a heretic... and I should be destroyed.
There is a natural flow to things, a traditional way of doing things and the establishment always rules.
But I cannot constrain myself to being part of the pack - even if given a leadership position.
I upset the cart, cause problems and stir the pot.
There is no reason we should become soft, luke-warm beings who have lost the God-given life which makes us unique.

I get whooped... A LOT.
I've lost fights, lost money, lost friends,... lost everything - yet I keep coming back.
Competition should be desired.
Moves are sometimes helpful.
Resistance builds strength.
Riches and comfort are the enemy of progress.

Cancers are 'cured', anomalies are 'corrected' or misunderstood, and heretics are burned - why would I expect to gain the approval of those who desire comfort and riches?
Why should I expect accolades from those who see me as being the problem I am?

I don't seek to be gaudy, ostentatious, bombastic, showy, grandiloquent nor pompous - I'm just trying to be a 'regular guy'.
But trying to fit in is the opposite of what those who seek to stand apart from or above others do.
Doesn't the media teach us that we are all suposed to be Super-Stars?

Maybe I lack the self-esteem to see my real value.
Maybe I'm too insecure to set myself above others.
Maybe I need to hang out with more self-proclaimed Divas, Kings and/or Queens.
Maybe I need a false title as well.
Maybe that professor was right.

http://subrealism.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-abuse-changes-childs-brain.html

The Next Financial Bubble?

2011-12-12T10:45:00.002-06:00

Many consider education as the best possible means of bettering ones life.
But is the cost of 'education' even worth it?

Bill Gates (In a Black Enterprise magazine interview) proposes that school districts run their schools the same way sports franchises run their teams. (He is against tenured teachers retaining their jobs when they consistently fail to produce the desired results.)
He says that spending per student has increased dramatically over the past thirty years while results have remained flat.
He noticed that there are more than twice as many adults being paid to educate (per student) as there were thirty years ago.
Mr. Gates also points out that some school districts in New Jersey spend as much as $25,000.00 per student yet these districts cannot outperform some districts in Utah which only spend $6,000.00 per student.
Money alone is not the answer to a better eduction.

Then there is college...
As student loan debt is approaching one trillion dollars - it is second only to mortgage debt as the being the biggest personal debt held by many Americans.
Since 70% of student loan debt is sponsored by the US Government (taxpayers) - should we be concerned?
The average price of a four year public university education has increased more than 128% in the past thirty years while the financial value of such an education has decreased.

Since the value of public school K-12 education is decreasing while the costs continue to increase - at what point does the taxpayer decide that the public school monopoly is also "Too Big to Fail" and that this monopoly should be broken?
At what point does the taxpayer decide that funding student loans for college is not worth driving the market price for such an education?
If 'education' is no longer worth the ever-increasing price tag - is education the next financial bubble?

Too Much Competition ?

2011-12-12T09:52:00.003-06:00

"You work like a Mexican.", a guy from a construction crew said to me.
My young cousins hear the same thing when they do work for other construction crews.
Their experiences in hiring their friends (and friends of friends) has led them to believe many of the negative stereotypes of the 'Lazy Black Worker'.
"They always want to come to work late and leave early", one said.
"They're always talking on their phones when it's time to work.", said his brother.
"They always want to get paid early.", "...get paid more for doing less work." and "..want to borrow money." were also complained about.
"But Mexicans WORK!", they concluded.

I had to explain that they work hard and don't do any of those things.
"But you wouldn't let us.", said one.
"Exactly. You had to be taught how to work like you were the owner - not as though you were just waiting for a pay check.", I replied.
"Most people who own a business don't have the extra time or money to acclimate their employees to a competitive market. Most cannot afford to teach what should have been taught in ones childhood. Most of the Mexicans you see in trades have been doing those jobs alongside their fathers since their childhoods. They were brought up working hard... not being spoiled by their grandmothers.", I continued.
"Just hire the best workers you can find while still being able to make a profit.", I concluded.
"I'm hiring Mexicans.", they each said.

Later in the week, one cousin complained that his friends were saying that he was becoming 'Bougie"and that he "Thought he was white".
"This is a common complaint heard from those who cannot compete." I said.
"These same people complain about Slavery when they have never picked a bag of cotton in their lives. These people blame every failure on racism when in reality they are not even qualified to be discriminated against predicated on race.". I continued.
"Sometimes you just have to move along and leave these people behind.", I concluded.

I don't think these young men were satisfied with my response.
I think that they still believe that they can make a difference in the lives of others.
(Naive little kids...(SMH))

Too Much Competition ?

2011-12-12T08:49:00.002-06:00

"You ruined the price for pussy...", someone once said as I gave a few hookers enough money and a ride to a nearby Walgreens so they could buy a few things for themselves and their kids.
No, not toys but things like formula, diapers, toilet paper, soap,... .
These women are not attractive to me in any way whatsoever - they just each had a need.

In giving these women money, I allowed them to raise their prices for sexual favors.
If they could get money from me for doing nothing - they should be able to get more if they are required to do something.
It seems that I am not a welcome sight to the guys who use the services of these women - I've heard the same complaint before from many other men in the area.
It's just odd to me that many people who complain about being victimized by others are the same people who take advantage of the poor circumstances and conditions of others.

Too Much Competition ?

2011-12-12T08:29:00.000-06:00

"There are too many fine women at your club", someone said to me as I was visiting another club recently.
The reputation of my club is that it is 'Too Bougie" and that the women there require too much effort.
Other - less attractive - women complained that they never get asked to dance while in my club.
This wouldn't seem to be a problem but in smaller markets like mine one has to have as broad an audience as possible.
My crossover success in attracting whites, Hispanics and Asians has also raised the level of competition within the club.

There are more fat, under-educated and unattractive (by most standards) women in this market than are are those who could do well in most bigger cities.
The market here is primarily one of lower-class Blacks,
of overweight women.
of desperate and underachieving men.
Most men who do well in other clubs tend to fail miserably in mine.
The largest market in this small town is one which is not accustomed to making much effort.

Is This How "Faith" Works?

2011-12-10T11:04:00.001-06:00

Later in the cartoon, Bugs bunny is knock unconscious.
It is in this state that happenstance, luck, providence, or whatever occurs so that no harm comes to the bunny even when calamity should have been expected.

Are Times so Tough...

2011-11-30T01:46:00.001-06:00

..That we must revert back to childhood?
Do adults really need to wear infantile onesies?
I just saw a commercial for these tonight and wondered, "WTF?".

Maybe some marketing genius will combine a pillow like this...

... with a scarf like this to let us all remember the comforts of being an infant.
"New, From Ronco!!! The Nipple Pillow! Feel all your worries vanish while you sleep in the fetal position thinking of mom. *Liquor filled bladder sold separately", the ads might say.

My Enemies

2011-11-30T00:43:00.001-06:00

These House Negroes and most others like them.

But don't they look just dandy?

Again, I was asked to join a group of Black men who imagine themselves as being better than all other Black men.

"It's an honor not given to many", I was told.

I support this local organization when their actions agree with mine but I don't wish to belong to any group which excludes others predicated on social status - I had enough of that back in high school.

I've always hated the term "Talented Tenth" - it's as though some believed that they alone were predestined to rule over and subjugate others.

Sure, I can come across as polished and erudite - it's an easy act to accomplish - but then the "Mutha'-Fucka's" come flying out of my mouth when someone takes advantage of another.

Many of these men came from the same culture they now disdain - others are so far removed from this culture that their ideas and concepts are no longer valid.

"But you're "Bougie" just like us.", one member would say.

"Octoroon Please (Yeah, I stole that phrase from SeeNew - but they don't know it.)... . First of all it's Bourgeois or Bourgeoisie. "Bougie" is a colloquialism used by those who cannot pronounce it the correct way. Secondly, I attend to and deal with those y'all Nigga's are afraid of or imagine yourselves too good for on a daily basis.", I would reply.

"But, but... . Many in your family are members of (fill in elite Black organizations here) and (fill in the rest here). You give away more than most of our members have.", another member would continue.

"The thing is - I am not from here. I don't know nor recognize anyone I am supposed to try to impress. Your little Boule organization is just an imitation of a white imitation of a European imitation of some obscure cult bent on subjugating others. You have no real power - what you have is an imitation of an imitation of power. Real power comes from being free to make ones own choices without being beholden to some status-seeking group. You're not the master, nor are you the master's helper - y'all are just the wolves in sheep's clothing serving the master of this world leading those who should know better to the dark side of humanity.", I replied.

In all honesty, if these guys came to me for my philanthropic work - I may have listened.

Since they came after me for my perceived status and my ability to be above the childish acts of racism because many whites they wish to befriend are already friends with me - Effum.

Just Wrong

2011-11-29T23:53:00.001-06:00

Strutting Skeletons?

No, not her....

Nor even her... (Although the one on the right is wayyyyy too thin.).

But some of the models on Victoria's Secret fashion show were just a bit too thin.
Most had no muscle tone and many where as thin as wire hangars.

Police Action.

An unidentified police officer referred to kids from South East Texas high schools as "acting like thugs" after a bench-clearing brawl after a recent playoff game.
The use of excessive force and pepper spray were needed to quell the disturbance.
It's a good thing this officer didn't have a baton nearby.

Little Hookers ?

It's the parent's fault.

WTF ?

Did he;
a) Need a hug as a kid?
b) Need to be told "No" more often as a kid?
c) Turn out just fine?

Child Abuse?

2011-11-29T00:15:00.001-06:00

Back in the day, people thought it was funny to see Spanky getting tricked into eating a bit too much Tabasco.

These days, a mother from Alaska goes to jail for using the spicy condiment as a form of punishment.

Butt Whoopin's used to be an acceptable form of punishment. "Spare the rod, spoil the child.", a commonly read book is often quoted.
But a Texas Judge loses his job for punishing his daughter.... six years after the fact?

You want to know why today's kids have no respect for authority?
(Well, besides the fact that most of those currently in positions of authority are not worthy of much respect.)
It's because no one 'broke a foot off in they ass' back when they were still young enough to be corrected.

Trying NOT to Get Fat

2011-11-26T14:14:00.001-06:00

17 plates of food delivered to my door.
13 homes visited (with to-go platters of food from each).
5 dinners delivered to the club.
I'll have food for weeks.

Out Classed Once Again

2011-11-26T14:05:00.001-06:00

This past Thanksgiving only one rival club opened.
The club spent big on advertising, promotions, give-aways, etc. ... and they charged no cover.
My club decided to charge a cover of five dollars and/or non-perishable food items - which were donated to the local food bank.
The rival flopped while we were so busy that we had to turn people away.
Odd... some club owners still don't know the mood of their crowd.
Some club owners try to buy their patrons instead of allowing them to become a part of the club.
It's just odd that this rival club owner did not understand that sometimes people like to give more than they'd like to receive.

Inevitable

2011-11-22T22:49:00.001-06:00

Next step; Anarchy.

The Light Bearer

2011-11-22T21:59:00.001-06:00

John 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...."
Later in the chapter many references are are made to "Light" or "the Light".

http://www.lds-mormon.com/lucifer.shtkl
Mentions Lucifer as being the 'bearer of light'.
Why does "Light" seem to be so important within our known Universe?

Time and Space Travel

2011-11-22T21:24:00.001-06:00

If we are only able to perceive 5% of the ordinary matter in our known universe using only three (or four) dimensions - what does the other 95% look like?
Is there really such a thing as "Dark Matter" or is that just a scientific phrase for, "We Don't Know"?

Maybe the other 95% of the unknown Universe is ordinary matter but only perceivable with more dimensions.
If the speed of light is our speed limit within our four dimensions - is it able to be surpassed if more dimensions exist?
Does 'prayer' work in a fifth or sixth dimension - in a dimension which we are not yet able to measure or even be aware of?
If so - can prayer (or focused thought) travel faster than the speed of light?
Surely such focused thought exists below the Planck scale - wouldn't it be able to travel faster than light itself without violating any known laws of Physics?

Does focused thought (or prayer) travel on the backside, under or behind our known Universe?

(HT - John K. On whose blog I am not able to leave comments.)

Vanity

2011-11-22T01:26:00.001-06:00

Why is it that so many women think they look like this...

When in reality they more look like a busted can of biscuits?

If I get asked to take another photo with a lady in poorly fitted clothing and she immediately assumes the "Booty Shot" pose as though she were on the cover of King Magazine, I might have to tell her something she doesn't want to hear.

Mendacity

2011-11-22T00:56:00.001-06:00

Maybe 'revenge' is the motivation behind Ethiopia's most recent foray into Somalia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6159735.stm

But judging by the past actions of our leaders - could the revenge being sought be that of American interest groups?

Piety

2011-11-22T00:28:00.001-06:00

Members of a church came by my house asking why I have not been attending their services lately.
"Your church is for perfect people - I'm too far from perfect to be a member in good standing,", I replied.
I wonder if they'll be back?

Humility

2011-11-22T00:24:00.001-06:00

"Damn, John - why do you get such special treatment here.", other business owners asked at a recent social gathering.
"You all came here demanding respect - John came here to show respect.", a member of the organization answered.

Out-Classed

2011-11-19T03:22:00.001-06:00

Nightclubs are a messy business - and nightclub owners are notoriously backhanded.
Recently a rival club has started rumours and gossip, called the TABC and even offered to buy me out in an effort to eliminate the competition.
What was my response?
I called the rival owner to ask whether it was alright if I brought some people to his club.
I closed early tonight and brought my crowd and employees to the rival club to wish one of it's oldest employees a "Happy Birthday".
(I once did some consulting work for this rival so I know most of it's patrons and employees.)

"Now, that's class.", was heard from many of the people in the rival club.
Before getting home, I received three bookings for future parties.
When one has a good reputation there is no need to compete - sometimes it's easier to just outclass the competition.

Should One Even Bother To Help Others?

2011-11-15T17:43:00.001-06:00

Or does it just breed a culture of dependency?
If we do choose to help others, is it best to so so through a group or organization - or is one-on-one assistance better?
The group has more and more varied resources but so many people apply for help though these organizations that much of the assistance becomes diluted to the point that it can't really make any measurable difference in the lives of those it is trying to help.
One-on-one assistance is often limited but it is often more focused, more nimble and able to adapt to each person's needs.

Should we help those who have the least and often the least chance of doing better?

Or should we focus on the so-called 'Talented Tenth" in the hope that they will pay it forward?

If You're Broke...

2011-11-15T17:33:00.001-06:00

You're still not as bad off as many in the former 'middle-class'.

Many are mired in debt.
You just have nothing.
You are not owned by a bank.
You may not own anything - but at least you don't owe everything.
You're still liquid, you're still free.

Casting Out The Money Changers

2011-11-14T17:00:00.001-06:00

http://iamthewitness.com/DarylBradfordSmith_Bankers.htm

Maybe we do need a Second Coming.

They'll Never Learn

2011-11-14T16:16:00.001-06:00

Until it's too late.
Most people say, "It'll never happen here and if it does it will never happen to me.".
Hurricane Katrina was just a warning - it was a 'practice disaster'.
We thought of ourselves as being the richest and most technologically advanced society on the planet - surely we could handle a simple weather event.
Before August 28, 2005 - most Americans thought that technology and society would save them in the event of a natural disaster - after Katrina, there is no excuse for believing that our Government can save, protect and provide for every citizen.

I still do a bit of construction and the most common purchase after a remodel seems to be the almost ubiquitous over sized flat panel TV.
I like flat screens as well but for most people there is no reason to make it their first big purchase.

The smart money would purchase and install a natural gas powered whole-house generator.
These things have become relatively affordable so there is rarely an excuse for most people not to have one.
If you have a big TV but no generator and you suffer from from a power outage - STFU, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Down Goes Frazier

2011-11-08T21:27:00.001-06:00

I never liked Joe Frazier - I was more of an Ali type of guy.
But the thing is; great champions need even greater adversaries - and Joe was that.
R.I.P "Smokin'" Joe.

I've Had a Lot of Girls

2011-11-08T21:20:00.001-06:00

No... not in that way...
(Well...Okay... Maybe that way too.)
But I always seem to find women who need help.

I just hired a cute little cocktail waitress who just went through a divorce.
The girl is honest and a hard worker.
She's in training to become a prison guard at the moment so she has no cash coming in.
I 'friended' her on the club's facebook page and noticed that she asked for a volunteer to paint one of her sons' room.
"I'll do it.", I replied.
I gathered a couple of young cousins and we patched and painted the requested room.

"You trying to get with her?", a cousin asked.
"Nah, man. She just needed something done and I always take care of the people who work for me.", I replied.
"...Yeah... you do.", he said.
In reality, I seem to take care of the people who rent from me, work for me, or even those who work with me.
These women are often referred to as being "One of John's Girls".
Not that I hook-up with them but everyone seems to know that I'm looking out for them.
Others end up looking out for them as well because they understand that in doing so they are also looking out for me.

I Met a Man From Kansas City...

2011-11-08T03:21:00.001-06:00

Who happened to come to town on a train.
No, not on Amtrak but the man was riding the rails as a hobo.
He wasn't dirty, he didn't smell and he was polite.
This (white) guy stumbled into a Black bar which happened to have a Jazz, Blues and R&B band playing this past Sunday evening.
I had plenty of free food set out for the invited guests and any walk-in customers.

"I've been all across this country and I never would have expected a place like this in a town such as this.", he said with excitement.
The guy said that he had intended to only come as far south as Shreveport, Louisiana but that he had slept past his jumping point and ended up in Beaumont, Texas instead.
"I just want a drink. Is it okay if I stay and have a drink? Can I stay and listen to the music? I just love the Blues.", he continued.
"Looks like you've lived the Blues.", I said.

The guy just laughed at my remark, sat back and said that he was shocked that no one thought anything of a white guy in a Black club here in a small town in the South.
After a short time more white patrons began to arrive.
By this time the man had enough to drink to build up the courage to ask one of the white women to dance.
"No, I'm married to the (Black) bass player,", the woman said.

The guy seemed surprised that he was treated well by the Black patrons and employees but he seemed upset that the woman would be married to a Black guy.
"Dude, ask a sista' to dance.", I said.
"Will they dance with me?", he asked.
"Can you dance?, I asked.
"Well... No, not really.", he replied.
"Well... They won't dance with you then. Not because you're a white dude but because you cannot dance.", I said.

The man ate his fill, had drinks bought for him, listened to and sang along with the music and then dashed out the door as he heard the squeal of brakes on an approaching train.
"I gotta' catch this train. I'm trying to get home.", he said as he grabbed his coat in his mad dash to catch the next train north.

Quarterback Complex

2011-11-08T01:00:00.000-06:00

"Why does everyone want to see you do well?", "Why does everyone want to help you?" or "Why does it seem like everyone has your back?", are questions I am often asked.

The truth is - I have no idea why many people seem to rally around me.

I'm not a particularly nice person - some of my best friends say that I can be kind-of mean (And many of these have no idea as to why we're even friends at all.).

I probably have more enemies than most others have acquaintances.

Even when trying to help people, many assume that I am doing so in order to get some type of temporal gain - that I must have some type of ulterior motive.

But I've just been conditioned to help anyone when I am able - I don't have to like or even know the person.

The goal is always more important than my personal feelings or emotions.

You see, I have some skills - but I cannot do everything on my own.

I am accustomed to having a team around me.

I'm used to having people handle the little problems on which I don't feel like spending the time or effort to address.

Thug stating ish - somebody handles it before it gets to me.

Money getting low - somebody makes sure my accounts are current.

Too tired to finish a task - someone steps up his game to ensure the job gets done.

It seems that some people think that the better I do the better it will be for those around me.

It seems that there is something to being "The Peoples' Champ" or "The Sun King".
Biblically, this concept could be explained in Matthew 10.
We are taught to do good works yet to expect nothing in return.
I guess the Peoples' Champ and the Sun King has paid his dues to society so that most common men can identify with his struggles and cheer his successes without envy or jealousy.
I guess he has helped those around him to be and to do better before he thought about his own well being so that now others see his successes as being their own.

Sure, he will have those who resent him or his successes - even when he is just succeeding at helping others - but these have no power to do him any real harm.
Yeah, yeah... people will gossip and start rumours - people will say that he always had it easy or that he had some unfair advantage in life - but these are just making excuses for their own failures.
Rivals will try to emulate his successes - but these rivals will have often failed to do the groundwork of laying a solid social foundation which can support success.

I really don't know how or why humility works.
Matthew 23:12 (KJV) says, "...and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
It takes a great leap of faith and often counter intuitive actions to lead a life of humility - it takes focus and discipline to ignore all the accolades and awards given when one does so.

The Luxury of Poverty In America

2011-11-01T21:34:00.003-05:00

Well... we're a long way from this...
Sure, 'The Elites' own and control most of the wealth in America and many formerly from the middle-class are protesting in various American cities in a vain attempt to get back some of their stolen wealth.

But it is about two or three years too late to topple Wall Street.
Instead of spending 4-16 trillion dollars to rescue vampiric and self-serving financial institutions - the government could have just given Credit Unions 2 trillion dollars to pay off every Americans Credit Card and Student Loan debt.
The banks would have gotten the needed cash infusions (and cleared many of their books) and the people would have shed the onerous personal debt which enslaves them.

But it's too late to kill these once injured financial beasts.
The average poor person today is living at a level beyond that of many from the middle-class just a generation earlier.
Most of America's poor have amenities reserved for the middle-class in many other countries.

Will Occupy Wall Street work?
Nope, most are crying over milk they've spilled themselves.

Like Most Men...

2011-10-31T21:57:00.001-05:00

I'm attracted to visuals.
I have no idea what the writer was thinking in his (Or was it a 'her'... I wasn't paying attention.) post at Rippa's site (The Intersection of Madness and Reality) but I did like this accompanying image.

Then I stopped by The Oreo Experience and saw this Halloween costume.
"I wonder if Blacks would protest if they had Halle berry dressed in this?", I thought.

Then it was off to DeeVee's site to see what he was thinking about today.
Art... almost always some type of art.
I was waiting for someone to say that DeeVee only shows Black women with "white" features.
But really... what are "white" features?

KayDub addressed this a while back when she wrote of the Sudanese and their problems with identity.

Now it's off to much more difficult and salient topics at SeeNew's site.
Being a couple weeks behind, it looks like I'm in for a long night of reading.
I winder if I'll ever experience denouement reading his complex posts?

Humility

2011-10-31T18:49:00.000-05:00

When one is strong - he should appear weak.

But the majority of people work harder on appearing strong than they do on actually being strong.
If wisdom comes from sorrow then strength must come from difficulty or opposition.
It seems that no one wants to face failure - so, few make an effort in any thing.
Few have done the groundwork which would enable him to support his success if it ever came.
Humility takes effort... and focus.
One must focus on his goal and not on all the accolades or criticisms of others.
One must focus on his vision even when others show doubt.
"Faith", "Knowledge", "Confidence" and "Humility" - while they may not be synonymous, they do seem to be interwoven.

My Bad...

2011-10-31T18:17:00.002-05:00

Babe Ruth had twice as many strikeouts as he had home runs.
Michael Jordan only shot 50% from the floor.
Joe Montana had to take the blame for one interception for every two touchdowns thrown.
These men are generally regarded as being the best in their chosen fields - but each dealt with 'failure' on a daily basis.

Does the ability to accept ones flaws or shortcomings enable him to better use his skills?

Synonyms?

2011-10-31T17:57:00.002-05:00

..."I'm a Diva", "I'm a Queen", "I know I look good.", or "You just hatin' ", are phrases which can be heard by many who pretend to be more than they are.
It seems that the more grandiose the title...
the less one has or does.

But knowing that one is the Son of God affords one with the ability to let the little ish slide - to focus on what really matters.
Having this confidence affords one with the ability to forgo the affectation while enabling one to be humble.

Synonyms?

2011-10-25T22:15:00.000-05:00

Are "Humility" and "Confidence" the same thing?

Don't Want To Miss It ?

2011-10-25T22:05:00.003-05:00

Cable and DVD's do well but they don't seem to harm the profits of movie studios or theatres?

Clubs do well because people like to be around different (but not too different) people?

People march, riot and protest because they wish to be part of a shared social moment?

I Don't Get It

2011-10-25T01:11:00.001-05:00

One can buy cheaper liquor at a liquor store,
can listen to almost any sort of music he'd like on YouTube,
can dance in his living room,
can go to an art gallery, museum or furniture store to view a nice decor or artwork,
can talk to people at a bus station.
But people pay to go to nightclubs and leave with no money in their pockets.
(And then they do it again the following day or week?)

Fortunate

2011-10-25T01:03:00.001-05:00

Positive Reinforcement

2011-10-25T00:57:00.001-05:00

An interesting phenomena has occurred...
Rival club owners are contacting charities and foundations in order to do some type of philanthropic work or fundraiser.
I guess word got out that my business grew from my giving back while theirs shrank because of their avarice.

Everyone Gets Teased (Skackle Dragger)

2011-10-25T00:42:00.002-05:00

(She's Australian)
Do you ever wonder who reads your posts?
Or 'what' they read?
I glanced at the widget to the right and noticed that an inordinate amount of traffic was being directed at the "Everyone Gets Teased" posts from October, 2010.
Then I Googled the term and noticed that the posts ranked fairly high on the list.
The point of the series was to point out (to a blogger who complains about almost everything) that everyone has his own form of victimization and that no one is beyond being teased.
That everyone has his own cross to bear.

Some said that being fat, a minority, a woman or gay were victimized the most.
But I tend to disagree.
The people most 'victims' fear are those who can do very little to or for them.
That those who speak hateful words are just as easily attacked for their own shortcomings.
That many have become sissies who cry at the slightest insult.

Odd...
There are so many people feeling victimized that "Everyone Gets Teased" has it's own section when Googled?

Religon

2011-10-25T00:22:00.002-05:00

I've heard many people credit their religion as being the cause of their good deeds, positive thinking or the foundation of their outlook on life.
But could we be born with certain tendencies which are only reinforced by our chosen religions?
Are we born into religions which merely serve our social needs within certain cultures or societies?
Is the point of religion to govern and rule over others - or is it best used when we use it as a tool to govern or rule ourselves?

Haters...

2011-10-24T22:22:00.000-05:00

Damn... I guess when it rains it really does pour.
I've been taking financial beatings for as long as I've been here.
Everyone I've tried to help has squandered my resources and each of us and has little or nothing to show for it.

This past week has been crazy.
I just booked a Christmas party for a local law firm.
That's a good thing but what is better is that the firm is one that initiated the rash of Asbestos and Tobacco suits here in the state.
They are close to being a billion-dollar company.
This booking has led other companies to book us as their chosen party venue as well.
The philanthropic work added to my credibility within the community and has caused me to become one of it's 'in' members.

I've done what most Black clubs in the area couldn't.
I've gained crossover appeal while still being true to my roots.
I'm sure being from the suburbs in California helped me to assimilate into broader society while others from the area still equated 'Black' with 'ghetto' - but it seems to be working for me.

Now the rumors and trash-talking start.
But I'm pleased with this.
The thing is: most people don't really hate on you - they just hate that they ain't you.
I've been through the toughest of times and tough times create either though people or quitters.
I've been knocked down but this taught me to be able to take a punch, adjust and to keep pressing the action.

Now the hard part...
Too much money, too many women, too many hangers-on - too much status.

Not the Best Season...

2011-10-24T21:46:00.003-05:00

But being 6-1 while under probation and a win over Notre Dame isn't a bad start.

$3,000.00

2011-10-17T20:07:00.001-05:00

This past Friday I hosted the relaunch party for my club.
The total amount of goods and services donated to cover the costs for the event came out to about three-thousand dollars.
I sold about three-thousand dollars worth of liquor.
I donated three-thousand dollars to local Breast Cancer charities from the proceeds collected at the door.

A rival and more established club sponsored their own last-minute Breast Cancer fundraiser on the same night in an effort to diminish the attendance for my event.
Instead of giving away the proceeds from their cover charge - this club elected to give fifty cents from every drink sold to local charities.
Sure, this sounds like a decent enough idea - but there was a catch.
The club raised their drink prices for the night by fifty cents, and it was that fifty cents which was to be donated - the club was giving up nothing.
Another catch was that their event was so lightly attended that they only had thirty guests.
The average patron drinks three drinks.
Fifty cents times ninety drinks....?
Wow... they made the customer pay extra just so they could 'donate' a whopping $45?

I used to work for the rival club - they even offered an interest in the club to me.
But the owners were too selfish for my tastes.

But the weekend was not over.
Every third Sunday of the month, I sponsor a table at a local social club's open house.
This past Sunday the rival club elected to do the same in an effort to show social supremacy.
The night was going well until the president of the club asked me to stand as he congratulated me on being the new owner of my nightclub.
The crowd erupted as though I had just scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime at the Super Bowl.
(I was a bit embarrassed by the adulation.)
When the president pointed out that the rival club was now also hosting a table...Crickets.
(I was embarrassed for them.)

The thing is;
I take a table in the back and offer free drinks to anyone in attendance.
I'm there for everyone in an effort to support the host club.
The rival club insisted on taking a table in the front so they could celebrate themselves.
The other guests noticed their lack of social grace and quietly let it be known.

I'm not a good businessman.
I don't have to make every penny on every dollar.
But somehow... things always work out.

Was Jack Correct?

2011-10-10T22:47:00.002-05:00

Maybe it's you.

Maybe;

You chose the wrong major (African-American Studies) and you should go back to school,

You should eat better, exercises more and lose some weight,

You are not that nice to people so people are not nice to you,

Your traditions and culture are not marketable at every time in every place,

You really are ugly,

You should read more (and better) books,

You should work harder and not expect everything to be given to you,

You should stop trying to impress everyone else and focus on the things which really matter,

You don't need luxury but should strive for stability instead,

Your beliefs and practices are just effed-up,

Your mom was just lying after all.

If we were actually told what we really needed to hear - would we listen or do we prefer the beautiful lies instead?

Nelson Linder Says...

2011-10-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

That the man he's known for over twenty years IS NOT A RACIST.
NAACP President Nelson Linder still backs Ron Paul as a viable Presidential candidate.

Sure, Paul says some ignorant-assed stuff, but does that make him a racist?
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/09/07/10-quotes-that-make-ron-paul-sound-racist/

The article failed to include Paul's view of former Representative Barbara Jordan;
She is "the archetypical half-educated victimologist" whose "race and (gender) protect her from criticism".

One Trillion? Four Trillion? Or Twenty-Three TRILLION Dollars?

2011-10-10T21:45:00.000-05:00

Most people believe that we spent close to $1,000,000,000,000.00 to bailout banking institutions during the height of the financial meltdown.
Others put the number closer to four-trillion dollars.
Still others state that we spent close to sixteen trillion dollars - with eight trillion going to the European Central bank - to 'fix' the banking problem.
Another report states that we really spent about TWENTY-THREE TRILLION DOLLARS !!!
Let's take a look at a number somewhere in the middle:
http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/index.cfm?id=9e2a4ea8-6e73-4be2-a753-62060dcbb3c3

GAO Report No. GAO-11-696 page 131

For only TWO-Trillion dollars we could have paid off every ones student debt and credit card debt.

We could have done this through credit unions (To help ensure that each area owned it's won local debt) while letting the big banks and the brokerage firms on Wall Street collapse into the messes they created.

What Did We Expect?

2011-10-10T21:13:00.001-05:00

People were tired of the Bush Presidency so they decided they needed to vote for change.
Polemics used 'race' as a tool to encourage people to vote for or against their favored candidates.
No one could be more of an outsider than a Black candidate.
Many, like myself, thought that only an outsider could affect a change in the way the country was being run.
In the end we are stuck with another politician beholden to corporations.
What we ended up with is the same politician... only in a different color.

Was Obama only a false prophet while Ron Paul is the true political messiah?

All Across The World

2011-10-04T23:21:00.000-05:00

The disparity of wealth between the proles and the Inner Party seems to be more and more evident.

While politicians are calling for faster economic growth,

there will remain an underclass who always suffer.

One man's wealth is often sustained by another man's poverty.

These photos were taken in developed 'civilized' cities in Europe (London), The Americas (Sau Paulo, Brazil and Caracas, Venezuela) and Asia (Mumbai, India...) which rely on petroleum fueled economies.

What many in New York are protesting against is the possibility of turning America into the next Oceania.

Judging by this map, it looks like Mexico City, Mexico will be the next to see protests from it's workering class.

Is Ones Religion Too Much To Overcome?

2011-10-04T22:47:00.001-05:00

Back in the day, It was Morris K Udall running for POTUS as a Mormon.
Often finishing second or third, the guy just could not win a primary.
The liberal former NBA player (Yeah... back in the day the NBA actually had white players) lost to Jimmy Carter in the Democratic primary.

In this election cycle we have two Mormons seeking the office of POTUS.
I'm sure many view Mormons the same way others viewed Catholics when Kennedy was running for office.
I don't know much about Jon Huntsman but I do know that his family treats their employees well down here at their Gulf Coast refineries.

Similar to Udall, Mitt Romney was seen as an outsider who practiced an outsider religion who also finished second or third in most primaries - people fear religious practices which are foreign to them.
Could a Republican ticket consisting of two Mormons be in our future?

Gold Is Worthless...

2011-10-04T18:30:00.002-05:00

...To 99% of the population.
Don't believe me - try to pay your bills, buy groceries or purchase household goods with a bar of the stuff.
Sure, GOVERNMENTS need gold as a means to calculate value and worth - but people don't make such large transactions on a daily basis.

Survivalists preach that everyone should own a bar or two - but why?
The Government could re-enact Executive Order 6102 and make the ownership of this 'precious metal' illegal once again to prevent hoarding (Except buy the Government itself).

Religious types can refer to The Bible for guidance.
James 5: 1-3 states, "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
Your gold and your silver is cankered, and the rust upon them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.".
Apparently, gold was not to be hoarded so long by so few that it would cause rust to form.

One would be better off collecting knowledge and skills which would enable him to survive in the event that our banking system collapsed.
Being able to hunt and kill ones food would be better than trying to coax a beast with gold bullion.

White Guilt ? (Again?)

2011-10-04T01:17:00.001-05:00

Damn... I didn't know that Michael Irvin was running for POTUS?
Oh wait... that's Herman Cain making plays on Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.
It seems that Tea Party members are trying to prove themselves as being open to Black candidates - just so long as he is their Black candidate.

Could the country really stand to see a Cain v. Obama election for POTUS?
It seems like we just got past seeing two Black head coaches in the same Superbowl.

Is It OUR Turn?

2011-10-04T00:38:00.000-05:00

Check out SeeNew at his Subrealism site for a series on the latest in American protest news.
Go ahead... just click his blog on the toolbar to the right. --->

White Chicks

2011-10-03T21:53:00.000-05:00

Who is hotter?
Casey Anthony?

Or Amanda Knox?
One thing is for sure - the Italians have a more fashion savvy police force (white belts and all).

Viewing The Past

2011-10-03T21:41:00.002-05:00

The image on the right is a compilation of images taken from the newly opened ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) radio telescope and the Hubble telescope.
Kind of looks like a brain scan to me.

The Good Guy

2011-10-01T18:04:00.000-05:00

Popularity is an odd thing - I don't think I 'll ever understand it.
Having taken over a club which was ruined by it's previous owners, I was worried that the club's reputation may hinder my ability to make it a success.
I never planned on owning a club - I preferred the quick in-and-out-collect-a-big-bonus of consulting instead.
Another blogger texted, "Laying down roots white planning your escape?".
Well yes... that was my plan.

But then I met a girl...
She kind of has a Vanessa Williams (back in her prime) thing going on.
She comes from a good family, went to private schools, has a good profession, and she does not let me get away with whatever I want.
She hates that I know a whole lotta' women - even though I don't know a whole lotta' women - but she understands that flirting is a big part of doing my job.
But this is beside the point.

When people found out that I was taking over, many groups aligned themselves with this endeavour to help it become a success.
The club I worked for just before this one had become the default place to be.
It seemed that everyone was going to this hole in the wall.
I had put in place an all-star cast of employees who have the club running like clockwork.
There would be no way that I could lure patrons back to my new venture.

Or so I thought.
It's been less than a week and I'm already booked for parties throughout most of the holiday season.
Everyday, people or groups roll through en-masse to show their support.
The gossip is that businessmen and politicians are trying to bring as much business my way as possible because, "John is a good guy.", they say.
When people heard that I was the new owner of an old and tired (but still very nice) club - patrons made an effort to show up in large groups to ensure that I have a nice attractive crowd.

All this is fine and dandy but I still have to deliver a quality product and services in order to grow the business.
My relaunch party is only two weeks away (With the proceeds from the door going to a local Breast Cancer charity - It is October after all.) and I have to sort through all the businesses trying to donate door prizes.
I'd always known that I was nice to people, that I treated everyone well and that I helped a lot of people.
But I never thought anyone noticed.
Sometimes, popularity is not such a bad thing...

Is It Spying?

2011-09-29T13:05:00.001-05:00

Take your pick;
Just Google; Nik Cubrilovic+Facebook+Spying and you'll get a long list of stories about how facebook is/was tracking the movements of it's users long after they'd logged out of the site.
Visiting porn sites after catching up with old girlfriends?
Big Brother sees you.

Umbrachrist's Law

2011-09-29T12:58:00.001-05:00

A Blogger who comments on another site always seems to complain about Planned Obsolescence or Depreciation or both.
But he is on to something.
Things have become so cheap and readily available that there is no value in keeping them.
When was the last time you took your electric appliance to a repair shop?
Do you even know what a repair shop is?
These days, it's often cheaper to just buy a whole new appliance.

A cheap all-in-one printer is a good example.
A cheap one can be purchased at the local Wal Mart for around fifty bucks.
When the ink runs out, buying both color and black cartridges costs almost fifty dollars.
It seems to make more financial sense to buy a whole new printer for five or ten dollars more and then selling your old printer for twenty bucks on Craig's List.

Bounce Network

2011-09-27T23:06:00.002-05:00

An Afrocentric network launched today in selected markets
Don't look for the network if you have cable - this is a over the air network geared towards the African-American market.
Knowing this - much of my day was spent programming the digital boxes of many of my elderly former tenants.
Tired of BET, Centric or TVOne - or do you lack cable?
Look for the Atlanta-based station in your area.

Frogs For Snakes

2011-09-27T22:45:00.000-05:00

An old Blues song warns of 'Fattening Frogs for Snakes'.This is what I've been doing in my recent turn at trying to rebuild a nightclub.
Most of my time, influence and money has been spent trying to rehab the image of owners who were too cheap, selfish and greedy to succeed.
Add to this that they wanted to dismiss their Black patrons in favor of white ones.
(For some, this may not be a bad idea - but this is Da' Souf.)
And letting their former patrons know of their intentions is even worse.
*Being Black club owners who do not like Black people is never a good idea.

While this is my first time not receiving my profit bonus, these owners still owe me my service fee.
They cannot afford to pay me but they cannot afford not to pay me even worse.
(I hate running nightclubs - I'm just good at it.)
As of today, I am now the majority owner (70/30) of a nightclub.

Nightclubs are funny though.
I get to experiment and watch the things which motivate people.
Looks, money, status, popularity, etc. all come into play.
By doing this I also get to manipulate people.
How do I convince people buy what they don't need?
How do I stop problems before they exist?
How do I avoid taking people's money but instead convince them to give it to me - and then to do the same day after day and week after week.

I hate running nightclubs.

Perfekt Design

2011-09-27T21:41:00.000-05:00

The Architect in the Matrix movies had the same problems with his 'perfect design' as did ...

Frank Lloyd Wright with his Fallingwater House.

Apparently Mr Wright failed to take into account the changing conditions of the home's environment.
Rivers tend to rise or sink or to shift.
The result was that Mr Wright's Fallingwater home began to fall into the water.
Is there really such a thing as 'perfection'?

Is Nothing Perfect?

2011-09-27T21:32:00.002-05:00

Or is everything perfect?

Too Busy

2011-09-27T17:45:00.003-05:00

Watching England v. Romania in the Rugby World Cup to watch any college football.
Were there any games played this weekend?

Sure, She'll Dress Up For Comic Con...

2011-09-20T23:49:00.000-05:00

But can she cure Cancer?
Well... ummm... Maybe...
http://fold.it/
I wonder if they get paid to play?

Nope SeeNew... Hadn't read about it but it makes sense.
I watch some of my little cousins playing RPG's until they figure them out - why not cure A.I.D.S. while they're at it.

Back When I Was Ballin'

2011-09-20T20:16:00.001-05:00

Or so I thought until I walked into the Buffums department store at Fashion Island in the Newport Center back in the day....

All I wanted was a couple of pairs of socks.
Sure, I knew Missoni was an expensive brand - but I didn't know how expensive.
I proudly handed the cashier a crisp hundred dollar bill and waited for my change.
"Two pairs of socks? A hundred should cover that with enough left over for lunch", I thought.
I had enough change for lunch... only I had to go to McDonald's

Now Target is selling out of the brand in it's stores as fashionistas/fashionistos are crashing their web sites.
The Target line of socks (at about $10.00 a pair) is much less than the $35.00 a pair I paid back in the day.
Sure, I paid for the socks back then - I was too embarrassed not to.

Acting "White"?

2011-09-17T08:55:00.001-05:00

I was the topic of a recent discussion at one of the clubs I run.
My (white) liquor rep commented that I am more white than most white people she knows.
"Like Carlton?", I asked.
"No, Like the Fresh Prince.", she replied.
"Oh, that's because he's from Cal-ee-for-neya." replied a Black patron.
"They all act like they're better then everyone else.", he continued.

"Why would you say that?", I asked.
They both went on to relate that I look (Read; Lighter skin and 'good' hair - which equates with to being a member of the higher classes to many born and raised here in Da' Souf.) better than most others, dress better, live better, speak better, et.al....
To most - Black or white - Better =White.

But this image is one largely born of the American media.
Others view Blackness in a different way.
Thomas Ngijol states; "When I see some black Americans I see the end of the world. Lil Wayne is a sign of the end of the world to me."
http://loop21.com/lost-translation

Most people don't know enough people to be able to dictate to whom the term "Black" belongs - nor whom it describes.
Most people develop their idea of Blackness through the lens of the media.

I'm no fan of Weezy - he has nothing to say to me in terms of song.
I'm not hating on Weezy either.
When Birdman was an independent running Cash Money Records he could say whatever he wanted to say.
Now that Weezy has Young Money Records it is a subsidiary of Cash Money - which is itself distributed by Universal (One of the Big Four record companies; Warner, Sony (BMG), EMI and Universal (Polygram).
These four (formerly the Big Six) companies dictate and benefit from the creativity inherent in much of Black culture.
The intellectual growth and imagery of Hip-Hop is stymied by the tastes of these vampiric outsiders for their own gain and entertainment.

So...
Who is really "Acting White"/
One who still finds comfort in mingling with his own and anyone else without encouraging others to take part in the imagined dominant Eurocentric 'culture?
Or one who boasts of and encourages others to join the soon-to-end party being pimped my the mainstream media?

???

2011-09-17T06:48:00.002-05:00

Would God still be alive...

If there was no Universe?

Ain't This My Sun...

2011-09-14T00:18:00.001-05:00

Assert Yourself.

I Watch A Lot Of Television

2011-09-13T23:55:00.000-05:00

But not always what I want to watch.
It was nice to see a fit and attractive Black woman (Angola's Leila Lopes) being heralded as the face (and body) of human beauty in the recent Miss Universe pageant.

This is a far cry from those who wished to dictate that someone like Gabby Sidibe was what most among the Black race think of when they think of Black beauty.
Many Black women were upset when others mentioned that Ms Sidibe was not attractive enough to be on the cover of a high-fashion magazine.
And this started a trend in finding 'Real" Black women to appear on television.

Personally, I'm sick of the Mammy image being the standard for Black women.
Some say that Black women are just naturally 'big-bone-did"
(Really... show me a fat skeleton...?) - but this is not the case.

Sure, Sherri Shepherd comes across and looks like a character from something written by Tyler Perry but even the older (and some would say, 'less attractive') Whoopi Goldberg comes across as having more class and being more attractive..,
Ms Shepherd is just another ghetto-fab Mammy character.

The producers of Desperate Housewives got it right when they cast Vanessa Williams as one of the wives instead of featuring the token Alfre Woodard.
Ms Williams is just a better fit on a show which features women thought of as being attractive.

Many of the elderly women I check in on complain about the new 'Malcolm' on The Young Young and the Restless as being 'ugly' compared to the old one.
But they're ready to fight when I say that Victoria Rowell is stunning while the new Black woman is nothing to look at.

Really?
The Talk replaced Holly Robinson-Peete with...
Sheryl Underwood?
That's not even fair.
Holly is hot...
Sheryl is not...

And then I see a new 'Mammy' on General Hospital.
Sure, The Miss Universe pageant may be shallow...
But I east the woman are fit and attractive and none of them resemble Hattie McDaniel.

So Simple

2011-09-13T23:04:00.003-05:00

I never understood why 'Tom' in Miller's Crossing never just took control of the organizations he built.
I never understood why he would just choose to serve those who needed him more than he needed them.

Sure, the money is good in running clubs, the perks are good and it's easy to always get the girl.
But people who own clubs must be doing so in order to feel important - in order to feed their egos.
I have little to no interest in popularity (While often useful it's largely overrated.) so I don't wish to own a club.
(Although another group has offered to hand over everything the club contains as long as I run it and no others.)

Recently, I've been busy.
Too busy, in fact, to host our bi-monthly BOSS meetings with various club owners.
This absence has led to a massacre.
The bosses are squabbling over everything. (Some are so trivial that they unfriended the others on facebook.)
The cartel is on the verge of collapse.

Now I understand Tom.
Tom just wanted the ability to walk away from anything and everybody at any given time and just say, "Fuck It.".

We KNEW When We Were Poor

2011-09-13T22:46:00.000-05:00

No, we didn't have it as bad as the people on Good Times - but sometimes things did get rough.
I'd always hated the show - I never understood how a family with four working adults could still live in The Projects for all those years.. (Although I used to watch it so I could check out 'Thelma'.)
Back in the day, kids ate what was on their plate or they didn't eat at all.
Back in the day, when kids messed up kids got whooped.
Back in the day, people wore hand-me-down clothes.
Back in the day, if one had a place to be and he had no transportation he would walk.
Back in the day, we knew when we were poor.

Sure, The Jeffersons moved on up but their home was fairly modest by today's standards.
No big-screen flat-panel TV's in most rooms, no i-Phones, no computers, one would wear his clothes until they would wear out (and then they'd just be patched), no fast-food or delivery, one (SOMETIMES two) full bathrooms for an entire family, no dishwashers (unless you count their maid), meals were cooked at home, one car garages were common,...
These days, even many "poor" people have these things.
These days, many of the poor don't even know that they are poor.

I'm not ballin'.
In fact, If DV is the Blackest man on the Internet then I'm the Third Poorest Person on the Internet.
Even crackheads walk by me saying, "Broke ass Nigga'.
Trying to help the poor often leads to one becoming (cash) poor himself.
Sure, I could sell off assets - but then what would I buy?
Sell some gold and old jewelery to buy.... some rapper-inspired bling?
Sell some houses to buy... a boat I'd never use?
Sell antiques and family heirlooms to buy... a country club membership?
Sell my (questionable) character to buy... status?

Learn To Kick Field Goals

2011-09-11T17:16:00.001-05:00

Everyone wishes to play the glamor positions - to be the starting quarterback, running back or wide receiver who throws, runs for or catches the winning touchdown.
Others find pleasure punishing others while preventing the other team from scoring.
But the often unlauded (but all-important) position in many games falls to the lowly kicker.
Sure, he may not appear to be as big, strong, fast or as athletic as the other member of the the team - his uniform may even remain clean for the entire game.
But sometimes it's the little things that make a difference.
Sometimes it's timing or training or just dumb-luck.

Looking For "Q"

2011-09-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

There has to be more to life than material goods and the seeking of status.
Many Science Fiction movies have attempted to explain this religious dilemma through the use of the more enlightened of creations seeking his creator.
In A.I. most androids go about their 'lives' doing what they were created to do.
Even when some learn emotions such as fear - all just regress back to their primary code to function as they always had.
That is, all except for the more advanced "David" model.
David puts his fears aside in order to undertake an impossible quest in search of an impossible answer - even if it costs him his life.

In Blade Runner - Replicants go about their business until one advanced model (Roy Batty) decides that he wants to live.
In the end, Roy allows himself to die for some unknown reason. (To save Rachael maybe?)

Even in a world of enlightened and free-minded citizens - it takes one who is at a higher level of consciousness, one who sees what and how others cannot, to save the day.
In the Matrix movies - Neo's purpose is save those around him.
But Neo has an even greater understanding and vision than those who seek to manipulate him - Neo seeks to become one with the original source.

Even if self-preservation is written into our DNA coding - could altruism and selflessness be a sign of being a more advanced model than the rest?
A sign of being, '...in the world but not of it...", as some religions put it?
Do such practices bring us closer to God, our creator, or to our original source for answers?