Version 2.0

Culture, healing, politics and bullshit - Not necessarily in that order

The general, socio-political and very personal rantings and ravings of a hip hop head from the hood hustling for change... Of himself.

You all know me and are aware that I am unable to remain silent. At times to be silent is to lie. For silence can be interpreted as acquiescence.
—Miguel de Unamuno



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Friday, January 29, 2010

Whatever

I haven't had much to say this week, even with all that has happened.

I mean, basically I understand that we only get what we ask for, and when you try to do what you think is right for you... Well, these days


Shit.


I don't even have the energy right now.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Monday: To Be Continued...

Let me clear my travel schedule and get to where I gotta go for today and then I'll talk to ya'.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Ten OTHER Things Martin Luther King Said

I'm actually not here today. I'm out of the office early, making things happen. My weekend was as busy as today will be for me. I hope you make today a day of service... There is so much to do.


I am grateful and amazed in the service of my brother and elder Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his quest for service and sacrifice in his works to set us straight on how poor people AND people of color are to be treated. Already sacrificing any earnings from writings and recordings, his own ready-made pastoralship, his family and any endorsements he could have had if he would have just stayed either in Atlanta at his father's church or in Montgomery, Alabama... His influence travels greater than any other person could have if given a billion dollar marketing machine and countless commercial appeal because his thoughts and ideas given to overcome the struggle are timeless and his thoughts are the absolute truth, and it didn't cost a damn thing to hear or read any part of the message.


It only took understanding of self and an open heart to know that he spoke truths in a time that did not want them to be spoken to the masses of the world unless it was filtered and it's message neutered by whatever powers that were. Control was and still is key. The haves these days still want continued control and it is NOT money that influences minds to speak truth to power. Well, you know that that is... 




Right?




Lord, I hope so.


He traveled and risked, eventually giving his life in getting his message inspired by Christ's teachings, Grandi's philosophy on life and non-violence and countless others in an effort to let us know that all of us regardless of geographic location were free, equal and deserved proper treatment and placement in the standing of the world.


As a man who is the age that he was when he was taken from this realm I can say with total understanding that I know what was being said and what he was attempting to do with his ministry. He had gone global... No, universal. The Poor People's Campaign was where he was really trying to go. The American Civil Rights Movement was just a launch pad...


So in tribute, I give you Jay Smooth and his video doctrine of the day:












Y'all be easy and get out the house, Ya Dig?


















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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Reminders - Re New

 1-12-10  5:07pm

A while ago I mentioned that I wouldn't get too political here because I knew that for the first time in ages more of us felt engaged. Yes, it has lots to do with the last general presidential election, but our interests have been peaked in past mid-terms as well as some hawt-ass mayoral and gubernatorial races since Clinton's first ride. I had the ability to vote and have participated since George HW Bush held office, and back then seeing as I wore the uniform of a serviceman politics became that much more important to me but... I was born and raised not far from where the 'machine' was created...

All my life, I never had to be reminded that I was black. At times when I started drinking beer, finding places to partake in pool, darts and bowling the fact that I was black would fade and I would have a good damn time. I've had white family members and friends since coming out of the womb, and as much as I tried not to downplay my blackness folk just kept reminding me how difficult it was being black.

I was always told that it was understood




Shit.


1-13-10 10:47pm


As I was typing this yesterday, I was bombarded with the news of the earthquake in Haiti.



Earlier today in yet another attempt from 'certain folks in the know' to remind me just how black and ugly I am regardless of how much I try to live my life as just an average cat, how unholy and cursed people that look like me seem to be or always seem to be involved with... These certain, not dwindling fast enough motherfucking racist-ass buffoons like Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh open their mouths and speak some of the sickest, insidious shit I've heard in quite a long time.

I ain't even mad though. I just waited and got this:



This I knew as a part of family tales, general historical accounts and my education. I know how beautiful we are and I recognize the contribution of all of my cousins to my legacy. Just because some fear it, turn their heads from it and try to suppress it... It will grow stronger. We will grow stronger.


We will renew
We will rebuild
We will continue to expand

In spite of you and your acolytes.






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Saturday, January 09, 2010

Happy Ocho Cinco Football Playoff Weekend!!!

My whole week consisted of HTML, CSS, Perl, content editing three new domains, college football bowl games and even more web site stuff. I'm currently into the AFC championship game with more football on the way later and of course tomorrow.

Earlier this week, I interviewed a few candidates and consulted two other business owners in the industry as well as tuning in and keeping touch with 2 contacts at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas.

It's like, I'm sitting right here and can't get to posting anything on my blog. Oh well. 3 domains down with a couple more to go. This is not easy money doing what I do but enjoyable. I just can't see why other folks... Never mind. You can lead a horse to water...

Happy Ocho Cinco Playoff Football Weekend to everyone!

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Bubbles




I remember the first time I realized that everybody lived in their own bubble.

The bubbles these days I figure are less transparent and thicker than they were in the past. It seems that everybody lives in some sort of opinionated bubble that controls their actions and hide their true feelings, leaving less interpretation of their true feelings and intent for us on the outside. With the way things are going these days I'm pretty sure that we'll get to a point where someone's bubble will be just that impossible to pop.

While I hope not because some need popping. Sometimes. Certain folk.

Thing is, what I realized that we can live collectively or in individual bubbles and say and do anything we want and feel, thinking that it doesn't affect other people or their situations. when encapsulated, we say (shout) things reflective of undue either influence or what has been indirectly taught right, wrong or otherwise. Influence as to who we're suppose to be, things we're supposed to like and what we need to do have been unleashed in very heavy doses. In the past couple of decades some very unreliable, unproven and outright wrong folk with resources still push us to run with their limited knowledge.

What's basically happening these days is you have certain factions of individuals from certain places that believe certain things that promote outwardly that folks live inside their bubble of ideology. There are representatives that actually come outside the bubble to make announcements, broker deals and deliver edicts down from some mountain so that folks and groups in other bubbles can hear and relate. The reactions to the views and opinions from folks in said other bubbles used to be complementary with counterthought and reason. Problem is nowadays, so many people who cocoon themselves in these collective thoughts and fears have darkened the inner walls of their bubbles meaning they can't see or refuse to see someone else's bubble or for that matter the entire world around them.

There is no transparency.

For the most part, there are individuals that exist on this planet that don't live in a bubble. They attempt to communicate, trade commerce, thoughts, ideas and passions with the rest of the world and they look forward in all things that they do. So if you're trying to live your life outside of a bubble is there really a way to be complementary to the people who choose not to see outside of their own glass houses? Do you snub them if they snub you? Are you an intercessor?

You see, I'm known to be a very hard person. I can cut you off and never deal with you again if I believe you're on some bullshit. That method actually works for me because if you into living in your own bubble and there's a lot that will be said and done that would never be able to penetrate the walls of your cocoon, and the sound of mine and other voices regurgitating new ideas, thoughts, and concepts will never bounce off the inner walls and reverberate meaning you choose not to hear us... Never being left alone with a your thought/our thought combo, knowing that one thought is not enough... Then I have to jettison your ass from my existence. Time cannot stand still for those not inspired enough to not live life and experience all that The Creator has given us. This life is too precious.

Poverty, terrorism, lack of or missed opportunities, punctuality, disease and prejudice can no longer be used as an excuse on this planet, in these days. We've already overcome, you just haven't acknowledged it.

So me not being a nice person pretty much translates into me saying and doing things that could definitely pop someone's bubble. It causes them for at least a temporary moment to live in the reality of the now because I'm one of them folks that don't get much benefit from holding my tongue. I really try my best to exist in the truth of the now and for some people that reality is just a little too damn harsh. Sucks for them. They hide under the bed when it comes crashing down on the roof of their bubble, pops it, and then their comfort level immediately reduces to the point of panic and they shy away.

WTF? Really? Now? Most of my peers are near or over 40. I thought we were grown.

We shouldn't be relegated to live such lives, but we do.

So I guess my real question is: when in the bloody hell will some of us choose to live outside of our bubbles and what happens when someone else's truth becomes or already is a part of our reality? Because of that, what do we do when the bubble pops? What type of adjustments are needed to live in the reality of now? Why will we ever think of constructing a new bubble with much darker windows and better soundproofing (with a sturdier shell) just so we can't see and hear the reality of our now?

Can our family friends and loved ones be that damn afraid? Well, the answer is yes.

And now that a lot of us have realized while we were inside of the bubble playing with ourselves, fearful of what the truth of time brings... We've missed a whole hell of a lot. Older age, missed opportunities, and lost loved ones over time teaches us that we should be more appreciative of what's going on right now and that we need to get the hell out of these bubbles and just live and take what the universe gives us.

So my first bubble popping statement to a couple of people that are very close to me that read this blog is:


Your ass is getting old. You haven't done what you said we're going to do and you promised. Your window is closing. How long do you think I'll wait? You've only rewritten the plan all those times because you're stalling - you're afraid to execute. You're so afraid of failure that you won't even try and I'm getting ready to walk away.


POP!


Damn bubbles.



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Monday, January 04, 2010

Half Naked Monday Mornings

Okay...

It's Sunday night/Monday morning. Incense burning, a bottle of merlot down, working on on the caberenet sauvignon...

And I'm feeling GOOD.

I'm waiting for a major announcement concerning my business venture.

Everybody is healthy and on point.

And project M.A.B. is in full effect.










More later.





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