Friday, August 7, 2009
gym shooting.....wtf???
Okay so if haven't heard some dude walk into to a Pittsburgh gym and shot a group of innocence women because hadn't a date in like 20 years. I won't spend a lot of time on the details but here is the link http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/05/pennsylvania.gym.shooting/. Look I really feel for all of us out there trying to find love, but this dude was trippin. Not one thing he did bettered his situation, and I hate to this but if he was gonna kill himself why not just do that leave those innocence women alone. Come on world this crap is getting why out of hand. We all need some time to pray and think about what is really important in our lives.
Putting things in perspective.
As of lately I have been wrestling with taking this knew position on my job. Currently I run the entire grocery department in our GM size Target; however I recently accepted a position that would expand my role into the Food Avenue section of our store. Basically I would have two departments in two different work centers and I would also have two bosses I report two. Sounds like a big headache I know. However while I was feeling down about that situation and others stuff in my life right now, I received a text msg from a friend of mine who been in a car accident. She said she was okay and recovering at home but I was truly shocked and sadden to hear that type of news.
However, I think the thing God was trying to tell me was that things are not as important as people because the trials we endure in life come and go. My co-workers think I am crazy for doing this(and they might be right) but I believe there is a blessing in this for me somewhere. Hopefully ten years from now she and I both can look back and see our trials as things that only made us stronger.
I don't know if she will read this but I want to thank her for putting things in perspective.
However, I think the thing God was trying to tell me was that things are not as important as people because the trials we endure in life come and go. My co-workers think I am crazy for doing this(and they might be right) but I believe there is a blessing in this for me somewhere. Hopefully ten years from now she and I both can look back and see our trials as things that only made us stronger.
I don't know if she will read this but I want to thank her for putting things in perspective.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Real hip hop????
So I've been hearing a lot of chatter about what's "hip hop" and what is not. There are many civil wars going on in the rap nation, for example you got old school rappers vs. new school rappers. You got the South vs. everybody, but the real heavyweight bout seems to be between hipsters and gangsta rappers.
Let me start with the first debate new school vs. old school. Okay when I think about this debate I'm Shockley siding slightly with the new school. I'm not a big fan of their music, but old school shoot themselves in the foot with their hypocritical critique. Let me explain, old school rappers often describe rap as freedom of expression and a true creative art form; in the same statement they say new school rap isn't rap cause it doesn't have the same style or substance. Look freedom of expression is freedom of expression no matter what!!!! You can't tell a person they have freedom of speech and dictate to them what to say and how to say it. The next biggest factor in this debate is the war of words between Ice T and Soulja boy. Okay Ice T is hands down the original gangsta, the godfather of gangsta rap, and still has more street cred. than 90% of the rappers out now. Yet beefing with soulja boy was a true waste of time. Look, soulja boy's music ain't for a guy in Ice T's generation, it really isn't even for me and my generation. So you can't really speak on the substance and maturity the music lacks cause he is only like 19. In fact, Ice T should feel good that his music may have help kids like soulja boy to get into rap and not be expose to some of the things he was expose to.
The second big war is between the South and it seems the world!!! Okay, since I'm from the South I'm a little bias. However I don't thing people realize how the South came up in the game, it was all in house. By that I mean Southern artist where supported solely by southern fans and therefore as we move around more people got taste of what we where doing in the South. Look, let me be straight forward DON'T BLAME US FOR THE PISS POOR MUSIC YOUR PUTTING OUT!!! By no means does the South of all places have lock on the music industry or the ability to limit the album sales of other artist. My solution to people who are not fans of Southern music drown us out by making better music, simple.
The final war seems to be with the hipsters and the gangsta rap crowd. Skinny jeans vs. Tall tees and the winner is.....look there is no winner, both groups are very right and very wrong. Let's start with hipsters, the concept of alternative rap and being unique is great. However, no one every really did the whole unique thing, it seems once one dude put on a of pair skinny jeans, with a tight shirt, glasses with no lenses(which I can't stand) everybody just follow right along. I mean I also get the whole let's rap about things other than drugs, guns , and hos; yet all you kats rapping about your vintage tees, skateboards/bikes, and star trek belts is just as bad. In same way, gangsta rappers' concept of coming up from nothing to something is in some way something many people can identify with. However, seriously these boyz have taken the whole get money and get hos thing waaaaay too far!!!! It's like their lyrics praise ignorance and outright foolishness as badges of honor. I mean if we could find a happy median I think we all be in better shape. F.y.I: you not going to see the kid in some funny color skinny jeans or Tall tee.(no sir!)
In summary, I remember a conversation I had with a friend about rap today oppose to back then. Back in the day rap was an art form used to get the party started and people on the dance floor. It didn't matter what you rap about as long as you could rock the mic and give the people what they want. Why can't we go back to that oppose to fighting over how others choose to express themselves? Let get back to making good music no matter how or who does it.
Let me start with the first debate new school vs. old school. Okay when I think about this debate I'm Shockley siding slightly with the new school. I'm not a big fan of their music, but old school shoot themselves in the foot with their hypocritical critique. Let me explain, old school rappers often describe rap as freedom of expression and a true creative art form; in the same statement they say new school rap isn't rap cause it doesn't have the same style or substance. Look freedom of expression is freedom of expression no matter what!!!! You can't tell a person they have freedom of speech and dictate to them what to say and how to say it. The next biggest factor in this debate is the war of words between Ice T and Soulja boy. Okay Ice T is hands down the original gangsta, the godfather of gangsta rap, and still has more street cred. than 90% of the rappers out now. Yet beefing with soulja boy was a true waste of time. Look, soulja boy's music ain't for a guy in Ice T's generation, it really isn't even for me and my generation. So you can't really speak on the substance and maturity the music lacks cause he is only like 19. In fact, Ice T should feel good that his music may have help kids like soulja boy to get into rap and not be expose to some of the things he was expose to.
The second big war is between the South and it seems the world!!! Okay, since I'm from the South I'm a little bias. However I don't thing people realize how the South came up in the game, it was all in house. By that I mean Southern artist where supported solely by southern fans and therefore as we move around more people got taste of what we where doing in the South. Look, let me be straight forward DON'T BLAME US FOR THE PISS POOR MUSIC YOUR PUTTING OUT!!! By no means does the South of all places have lock on the music industry or the ability to limit the album sales of other artist. My solution to people who are not fans of Southern music drown us out by making better music, simple.
The final war seems to be with the hipsters and the gangsta rap crowd. Skinny jeans vs. Tall tees and the winner is.....look there is no winner, both groups are very right and very wrong. Let's start with hipsters, the concept of alternative rap and being unique is great. However, no one every really did the whole unique thing, it seems once one dude put on a of pair skinny jeans, with a tight shirt, glasses with no lenses(which I can't stand) everybody just follow right along. I mean I also get the whole let's rap about things other than drugs, guns , and hos; yet all you kats rapping about your vintage tees, skateboards/bikes, and star trek belts is just as bad. In same way, gangsta rappers' concept of coming up from nothing to something is in some way something many people can identify with. However, seriously these boyz have taken the whole get money and get hos thing waaaaay too far!!!! It's like their lyrics praise ignorance and outright foolishness as badges of honor. I mean if we could find a happy median I think we all be in better shape. F.y.I: you not going to see the kid in some funny color skinny jeans or Tall tee.(no sir!)
In summary, I remember a conversation I had with a friend about rap today oppose to back then. Back in the day rap was an art form used to get the party started and people on the dance floor. It didn't matter what you rap about as long as you could rock the mic and give the people what they want. Why can't we go back to that oppose to fighting over how others choose to express themselves? Let get back to making good music no matter how or who does it.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Rock n' Roll's Greatest and the high life.
Okay before I start this blog I want make it very clear I am a fan of all kinds of music( not really country though). However I feel their are some artist bless with the ability to not only entertain us but touch a part of our soul. The two big names that come to mine or Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley. Even though many would agree that these two are deserving of this title, very few people remember these men for their musical talent. For example, many remember Jimi Hendrix for his acid addiction more than his amazing guitar rips; likewise for Bob Marley...I mean really dude probably sold more weed smoking poster than actual albums.
I find this kind of sad because though these things where apart of the lives of these artists it did not fulling reflect their true contribution to music. I challenge you to listen to these artist and see what you can feel from their music, I promise you'll forget all about the drugs. So let us take our minds off the drugs and put them back on the music. Because classic music gives you an unmatched high.
Some of my favorite quotes
- Being unconquerable lies with yourself; being conquerable lies with the enemy. -sun tzu.
- Anger can revert to happiness, annoyance can revert to joy, but a vanquished state cannot be revived, the dead cannot be brought back to life.- sun tzu
- To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people And the affection of children;To earn the appreciation of honest Critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;To appreciate beauty,To find the best in others;To leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success." -anonymous
- Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.-John 15:20
- Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.Proverbs 20:13
- To give up on education is to give up on America-President Obama
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Tack your dreams to the wall
About a week ago I was inspired to write my goals on a sheet of paper, I broke the goals down into three time frames, short term( 6 months), mid-term(2 years), and long term(6 years) the object is to remind myself everyday what I am working for and to never lose focus. However, after I wrote all my goals down and posted them on my wall I notice that at least two times a day the paper would fall down.
In my laziness I had used regular Scotch tape ,and between my fan spinning constantly in the summer heat and the poor tape job it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the tape wasn't going to be enough. Anyway I wrote this blog to explain two things. First I want to recommend everyone write their goals on a sheet of paper if you can find ways to link them together do that, finding links in goals can make the focus and the task list to accomplish them a little easier. Secondly and more importantly, the first flaw in setting my goals is I didn't put forth the needed afford at the beginning. Think about had I not try to take a shortcut, the paper would not have continuously fallen, when we take shortcuts to get things accomplish sometimes when end up just that, coming up short and cut out of what we really wanted. So please be wary of shortcuts.
Well it's getting late and I have to go to work in the morning...o before I forget is their anyone out there with some thumbtacks. (laughs)
In my laziness I had used regular Scotch tape ,and between my fan spinning constantly in the summer heat and the poor tape job it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the tape wasn't going to be enough. Anyway I wrote this blog to explain two things. First I want to recommend everyone write their goals on a sheet of paper if you can find ways to link them together do that, finding links in goals can make the focus and the task list to accomplish them a little easier. Secondly and more importantly, the first flaw in setting my goals is I didn't put forth the needed afford at the beginning. Think about had I not try to take a shortcut, the paper would not have continuously fallen, when we take shortcuts to get things accomplish sometimes when end up just that, coming up short and cut out of what we really wanted. So please be wary of shortcuts.
Well it's getting late and I have to go to work in the morning...o before I forget is their anyone out there with some thumbtacks. (laughs)
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Read....don't watch
Since the cancellation of the wire. I've been searching for a show that can keep my attention like west Baltimore once did. I am here to report I have found nothing; however I have discover the lost art of reading books!!. I think more people should read instead of watching TV. Books can empower and enlighten you. TV is honesty a waste of time. My plan is to increase the time I read by at least 16 hours a week(just a start) and by doing this decrease my TV time by the same margin.
If you need some ideas on books to read may I recommend "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch it is an excellent book. For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Dr. Randy Pausch he was a highly respected computer science teacher at Carnegie Mellon University who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Before he died he wanted to give one last lecture on life and the importance of chasing your dream. It is an amazing piece of work. I mean literally the book is about 200 pages and I finished it in two days, and the only reason it took me two days is because I had to go to work.
Next I would say to read some type of religious or inspirational work. I recommend the Holy Bible, but I'm a Christian that's what I do. Right now I am in the process of trying to read Proverbs I figure God's wisdom is the best wisdom to have.
OK so I wouldn't chew your head off with this blog but please read more. It is important that we have more to discuss in life than the chicks on real chance of love 2(how did they get another season anyway???) or why Terrence finds the need to jump around on the BET furniture like a 3 year old in a new hotel room. But hey I got to go...lockdown is on(laughs).
If you need some ideas on books to read may I recommend "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch it is an excellent book. For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Dr. Randy Pausch he was a highly respected computer science teacher at Carnegie Mellon University who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Before he died he wanted to give one last lecture on life and the importance of chasing your dream. It is an amazing piece of work. I mean literally the book is about 200 pages and I finished it in two days, and the only reason it took me two days is because I had to go to work.
Next I would say to read some type of religious or inspirational work. I recommend the Holy Bible, but I'm a Christian that's what I do. Right now I am in the process of trying to read Proverbs I figure God's wisdom is the best wisdom to have.
OK so I wouldn't chew your head off with this blog but please read more. It is important that we have more to discuss in life than the chicks on real chance of love 2(how did they get another season anyway???) or why Terrence finds the need to jump around on the BET furniture like a 3 year old in a new hotel room. But hey I got to go...lockdown is on(laughs).
Back like the first time!!
Okay I honestly forgot I had a blog. Oops....my bad. Anyway alot of good has happen since then and I hope to keep you updated with what's going on with me and the world around me.
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