Raise Ya Got Damn Kids!!

You know what, I believe that the youth of today do some silly shyt. Hold up, I take that back...looking at history, I'd adjust that last sentence and take "of today" out. Now, I a firm believer that being young and discovering the world and learning about yourself, others, and your enviornment directly affects your actions and your way of thinking. Also, when you really think about it, a child comes into this world with a blank slate and it's others (namely adults) who are around them whom have the power of influence - be it good or bad.

After watching this video, I was speechless.



Now I don't know who the older woman was videotaping and eggin' the little girls, but I'd assume it was their mother or someone with close ties with the family. Not only is she basically coaching the kids to cuss out this other lady, but she had a stroke of brilliance and decided to video tape it. I ain't one to snitch, but fugg it, if I knew these individuals, the authorities might have to get a link to this shyt. Call me 'punk ass Chauncey' if you want. Sticks and stones. That's only after I checked her for her ignorant ass behavior and made her explain to the children that she was wrong for enticing them to make such a hate-filled video. Judging by the tone of the older chick though, she would've rejected my requests so that's why her ass would have contributing to the delinquency of minors charges or at the very least reported to DFACS. This is insane.

I don't have any children and I'm not one to tell parents how to raise theirs, but they should know that there are consequences for their actions.

***SIDENOTE: Actually, I do have children. My tax dollars is paying for hella kids whose parents aren't mature or responsible enough to care for their own so shiiiddd, you might as well call me 'daddy'. END SIDENOTE***

And just to set the record straight, don't try to blame this shyt on rap music. That cop out is OLD, TIRED, and just FALSE!! People just need to raise their damn kids in a more responsible manner.

You GOTTA Love This Guy part TWO!!

The first installment of "You GOTTA Love This Guy" took a good look at my homeboy's, Michael Moore, youtube videos as he represents countless times for people who don't neccessarily have a voice...or at least one that isn't heard too often in mainstream America. I just ran across a blog by Tim Wise that has prompted me to throw Mr. Wise in the same category. I encourage you all to do the knowledge on Tim Wise and recognize his work and his activism. Thanks to Sista Toldja for the link also.

Anyway, I lifted this from this website and decided to repost because I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments mentioned. Feel free to foward this to as many people you know because it contains points of views that not only pertain to life in present-day America, but also the entire globe - past, present, and future.

Check it out:

===================================

September 13, 2008, 2:01 pm

This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise

For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a “fuckin’ redneck,” like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll “kick their fuckin' ass,” and talk about how you like to “shoot shit” for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested.”


White privilege is being able to say that you support the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance because “if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,” and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the “under God” part wasn’t added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.


White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.


White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was “Alaska first,” and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.


White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.


White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.”


White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.


White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.


White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a “trick question,” while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.


White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a “light” burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren’t sure about that whole “change” thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain…


White privilege is, in short, the problem.

"Silly Of Me..."

"To think that I..." - Deniese Williams

This may be my last post about politrix (tics) until John McCain is elected and I tell y'all "I Told You So".

I love what Barack Obama stands for. His ideas for America are right along with mine. Of course our nation needs a lightning speed kick in the ass to change the status quo, better our economy, and improve our relationships with foreign countries and I believe that President Barack Obama has the power to do that...somewhere in his second term (nevertheless). Of course there's a multitude of other ISSUES that CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, other blogs, and common folk aren't really talking about.

**SIDENOTE: There's a lot of people talking greasy about Palin right now and even though I'm not a fan of the chick (I mean) bytch (hahahaha...that was funny. Laugh, I didn't mean it like that, but you probably would've said it too...lol), there's a lot of folks posting reckless things out there about her. And even though it's RIGHT, it's not right...why we gotta sling mud on each an' other?? I Hate Politics. And just for the record, SHE'S NOT ATTRACTIVE!! END SIDENOTE**

But, then again, who gives a fuck about EDUCATION, Poverty, Equal-Rights, HEALTH CARE, Illegal Drugs Shipped Into Our Country, Diminishing Economy, Rampant Violence In Our Cities, Police Brutality AND Profiling, Discrimination PERIOD, etc.,etc.????

I think we ALL do (care that is). However, the American media is SO FUCKED UP that our news outlets are focusing on BULLSHYT!! The media sources are SO biased in their broadcasting and journalism because they are tied into specific parties/relationships so they adjust what they put out there accordingly to the favor of the different factions. In addition, they take the most asinine topics and PROMOTE them like they ARE issues. This Is Fact. EVEN MUAFUGGIN' BLOGGERS LIKE YOU, YEAH YOU!!, TAKE WHOMEVER SIDE AND THROW SHYT ON THE OPPOSING SIDE...WTF!!

*taking breath*

Yeah, I'm guilty too, so what.

However, politrix are totally out of control when the public focuses on shyt like:

***in my Arsenio Hall comedic/interviewing voice*

"WHO's your Reh-verend, Barack?"
or
"What about all these kiiiiiiidddsss, Sarah?"
or
"How you a self-proclaimed "maverick" but they had you locked up and shyt, John??

***EXIT Arsenio*

My main point is:

The media (internet included) is making the election a Barnum's and Bailey's Circus Fiasco to distract people from the REAL ISSUES. Who gives a fuck if Obama attended a church who's pastor at the time told the got damn truth about America?? Why is a soildier who got CAUGHT UP, imprisoned, considered a 'prisoner of war' considered a HERO??
**SIDENOTE: I'm STILL scratchin' my head on that one.END SIDENOTE*** Why is a mother of five,six, or whatever the count is at such an issue???? And if she's so incompetent, why did she overshadow 'the dude that's running with Obama'?? Biden, right? Is that his name?? I kid. I kid. But that's how it is...

I can say, this is nothing new. THIS is actually what they've been doing for hundreds of years. In ALL situations, the candidate that appeals to the states with the most electoral votes come out as the winners. Popular votes don't count across the country so much.

Or, as we've learned in previous elections, THEY may put whomever they want into office.

Hey, this is Amerikkka, what can you do?

Anyhow, I REALLY wish the public got more involved in the ISSUES as oppose to the tabloid-worthy headlines talking about an old man being a "maverick", a Black dude with hope, a white broad from Alaska whom SOME think is "Hot!", and another cat who's thunder has been swept right below his feet...because of a "Jill-In-A-Box" from the GOP.

Another Point: I've ALWAYS thought that McCain would win against Obama just because of my experience and knowledge of the country. In the polls (which I don't neccessarily subscribe to), they say, it's neck-to-neck when it comes to "likely/probable" voters.

Let me repeat that:

"it's neck-to-neck when it comes to "likely/probable" voters."

Broken down into laymen's words, that means:

If y'all niggas (I use it as a term of endearment...I really do) don't get out there and REGISTER to vote, and VOTE, then uhhhhhh....it's on YOU!!

I already got my passport...and Toronto's lookin' REAL good.

I'm out.

P.S.

By the way, it was "Silly Of Me" to think that this election would be any different from the other name-calling, immature, mud-slinging, low-down politics of past years.

That's where my title came from. I like that song :-)

*Monk steps off soap box, tucks it under arm and exits stage left*

The Lost Videos part 1

I started this series about 2 years ago on my myspace blog and thought I'd take the time to resuccitate it here...so here goes:

=======================

What's Up my Good People!! Here's an installment of "Lost Videos". *Trumpets blare..."Duh-Duh Duh-Duuuhhh"* This is the place where I delve WAAAAAAYYYYY deep into my video archives and give you CLASSIC BANGERS that I've directed in the past.

This time, I have an EXTRA SPECIAL treat for you. See, this is a little known fact but, back in the day, yours truly used to dibble and dabble around with emceeing. You know, spittin' hot 16's...setting the m-i-c on fire...things of that nature. *smile* And if I do say so myself (which I do), the kid was NICE!! Actually nicer than NICE!! Who else but me can spit lines like these...

"...never holidin' a picket sign, just comin' with these wicked rhymes / I'm the shit and like a psychiatrist, I'll leave you hypnotized / But I don't need a swingin' clock, and I'm never singin' pop / Been rappin' since back in the day, ever since I heard "King Of Rock" / and it don't stop, I always flow rhymes / Niggas be sayin' it's wack but I know they like it cause they quote lines / These dope rhymes, I author them, battle me nigga? Ya know it's hard to win / I'm takin' these wack ass rappers into a "Different World" like Kadeem Hardison / and Jasmine cause I'm that man that be never comin' false / Damien, West Side Detroit beyotch! What the fuck you thought!!"

*18-year-old Damon drops the mic and strike his B-Boy pose* LOL!!

Yeah, I used to go by the name Damien and now it pisses me the hell off when someone calls me "Damien" as oppose to my birth name "Damon". Go figure. Anyhow, I used to be a member in this rap group called The Lyrical Linx with a few homies at Clark Atlanta (What Up Von, Yemi, and Boss!!) We were the shyt...fa real!! We were doing shows around the campus AND we were the first cats out there who had our own videos.

I dug up this joint we did that was like a freakin' hit around the AUC (Atlanta University Center - for those not in the know). It's funny because we shot this video on January, 1997 and now it's 2008. Damn!! 11.75 whole years have flew by. This video was SO much fun to make. We shot all around the AUC and just had a blast. It's a special "making of..." at the end of the video that is HILARIOUS!! You can see for yourself how much fun we had. Without further ado...I present to you "Ladies Of The AUC" by the Lyrical Linx feat. D. Lorenzo...



You can also check out D. Lorenzo (the vocalist) here. Now, just so you know, the Lyrical Linx were Lavon (Gooch da Lyrical Bully) who I went to Cass in the D with as well as CAU, my man Yemi from DC who we linked up with, *SIDENOTE: Yemi still wrecks the mic but he does it WORLDWIDE now. You can holla at him here. END SIDENOTE* and myself, Damien (The Omen)...yes, nice name, I know :) Anyway, we recorded a number of songs as a group and we also did solo joints. As years went by, we went different ways but I can't help but think what could have been. Now, I look at the music industry and I can't help but be happy that I left that phase in life because of all the snakes and shady muhfuckas out there (and I'm not really knockin' the music industry cause believe me, there are similar demons in damn near EVERY industry).

Anyway, this was another banger we did in the Spring of '97..."Ain't Shit Changed"...



And there you have it...two videos that I directed AND starred in ELEVEN years ago. Hope you enjoyed this episode of "Lost Videos". Until next time...Take Care of Yourself, and Each Other.

**Damn, I LOVE that line from Jery Springer...I need to use that more often..lol!**

Just Like Music

I love music.

Like, I really, REAL-LY LOVE music.

Spanning an array of genre's, I've always looked at music as being a soundtrack to life (as many of us do). When done properly, Music conjures spirits and emotions of long lasting love, abominable anger, jubilant joy and celebration, threatening fear, utopian hope, admonitory caution, dreadful sadness, compassionate reconciliation, extreme hate, wonderful insight, lustful passion, and just ignant shyt.

I feel like many songs/artists have been specifically placed on this third rock from the sun for the sole purpose to speak to me. Whether it's...

...Souljah Boy's "Yaah Trick Yaah" providing me with endless comical fodder, or DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (I refuse to call him Will Smith) giving me early relationship advice with "Girls Of The World Ain't Nothin' But Trouble", or Bill Withers' "Lovely Day" played sequentially with "Feels So Good" by Chuck Mangione when I first wake up shielding me completely of having a bad day, or Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald's "This Is It" providing an inpirational kick-in-the-ass...

...All of these songs serves its purpose.

**SIDENOTE: I HAVE to be the first person in the history of EVER to mention Souljah Boy in the same sentence as Kenny Loggins. END SIDENOTE**

There's something very special about music. It's a universal language that may be striking to some and dismal to others depending on the song. Some people gravitate to orchestration and musicianship, some to pounding beats and intricate samples, others to introspective lyrics that they can relate to or give a window into the soul of an artist.

*hearing someone breaking out the Dave Chappelle "Wrap It Up" device*

Ok, I say all that to say, I've only bought TWO CD's this year (so far). Not saying that there's not other quality joints out there, but I have my reasons.

One being Killer Mike's "Pledge Allegiance To The Grind part 2" and most recently Solange's "Sol- Angel and The Hadley St. Dreams".

I must say that I'm throughly impressed with Solange's CD...the joint is BANGIN'!!

Bangin'....BANGIN'!!

Pick it up!! Pick it up!! *blanket Poison Clan reference*

I usually don't care for CG (computer generated) and I stay away from it, but I likes both of Solange's videos...them shyt's tight.

I'm not gonna give a review of "Sol-Angel..." but if you love quality music (with an old school feel), you needs that in your life...fa' real.

Letter To Young Monk

Young Monk senior year in high school

Not sure if y'all check my blogroll, but one site that I frequent is VerySmartBrothas.com. Chopping it up with the folks there is definitely insightful, side splitting, and entertaining to say the least. It's pretty much a relationship blog but the topics of discussion that ensue have NO boundaries. And I mean, NONE!!

On Friday, August 22nd, The Champ (one of the VSB's) posted an entry titled "hop in the delorean" - a great reference to the classic film "Back To The Future". The question asked was, "if you could hop into your personal relationship delorean and give advice to your former self, what the hell would you say?"

Here's what I would say to the younger me:

*NOTE: This includes my comment on VSB.com with more things added in as I further pondered.*

**NOTE#2: VSB.com tries to keep their site "work clean so as commenters there, we clean our language the fuck up. But here, on My2Cents-Sense.blogspot.com, I gives the raw.*

=======================

Dear Young Monk,

You’re going into the second half of your 11th grade year. When you got your contacts and lost the nerdy frames you sported, you see how your swag (future slang term you’ll come to detest), confidence and charisma got a great boost?

Use this to your advantage.

Don’t let the pretty girl from the “cool” crowd use you to give her rides home. She’s cool and all but she’ll NEVER invite you in (the crib). She may buy you Burger King, but that about it. She may sit next to you in class, but that about it. When you ask her out, she will decline. Save yourself the time cause she ain’t gonna let you hit.

In going into your 12th grade year, don’t make that average-looking girl your girlfriend. And damn sure don’t stay with her your WHOLE senior year. You DO have options and you’ll miss out on a lot. Plus, she'll make constant references towards her ex and you WON'T remember anything about your prom (read: very forgettable, not-a-good-time). Oh yeah, don't wear fuckin' polka dots to your prom. It's "post-Kwame'" so don't let her influence you!!

That summer after you graduate, you’re going to meet many girls at the dollar store and music store you work. Don’t fuck with 'em!! (Well, maybe one of them)

One of which will turn out to be a stalker - coming up to your job unannounced and calling your parents’ house repeatedly. Do not...and I repeat...DO NOT bang her in the backseat of your Duster in Rouge Park after dark!! This will only lead to MORE stalkism. Even after you go away to college, she will still call resulting in your mom saying, "Damn, what did you DO to that girl?"

The really fine one will try to trap you. She knows you’re a good dude so given her “Detroit hood”-mentality, she’ll do whatever she can do to keep you including lieing about being pregnant with your child. While you're away at college, she'll even invite your Mom, brother, and sister to the freakin' CIRCUS in an attempt to get in good with Momma Monk. The Fuggin' CIRCUS?? What The Fuck?? Who DOES that?? She’ll prove to be more fatal attraction-esque after she tries to move down to Atlanta to be with you. Don't take the bait. A few years later, she’ll crank out 3 kids by 3 different dudes, none of which she’ll still be with. Not to mention, while you're talking to her long distance (we have cell phone plans with FREE long distance now also...LOL!!) using calling cards and shit, she'll NEVER mention her second or third children's birth.

As for the one who’s the daughter of your manager at the job, take Wise Monk and BBD’s advice - don’t trust that big butt and her smile. Her mom will like you enough to call you "son", but even SHE will tell you her daughter has problems so take heed. Your parents don't like her and her "loud", ghetto personality will be a HUGE turn-off. Don’t give her that $300 for an abortion. Don’t be that naïve. Once you break it off with her for good, she’ll come clean and tell you that she wasn’t even pregnant. Sucka. By the way Young Monk, make sure when you flush a used condom down the toilet, make sure that shit goes DOWN. Don't let your father come home from work and see that shit floating in the pot. Not.A.Good.Look. Even though he won't say anything to you at the time, it will come out when you're much older and be an ongoing joke with you and your brother.

The woman you meet who’s 7 yrs your senior, in the summer of '95, will turn your 18-year ass OUT!! She'll also be the first of other relationships you have with older women (and strippers). Anyway, have fun with her…she’ll make driving all the way to SouthWest Detroit worth the trip. You may get a kick out of knowing that you're too young to get into a strip club but you're still banging this chick while other cats fantasize about it, but things won't be all peaches and cream. She'll eventually tell you that she was pregnant with your baby and aborted it without even telling you. You'll never know if the story was true but you will realize it was for the best.

You’re going to learn a LOT about life and yourself in college. TREASURE THESE YEARS!! The real world ain’t no joke and paying back student loans is a bitch.

Young Monk, please do yourself a favor and stop fuckin' with the Detroit hoodrats when you come home on breaks and the summer. C'mon dawg, you're in college...don't go backwards.

You’re going to have a good time with the ladies in college, but you need to strap up ALL the time. Damn, nigga, when will you learn after the pregnancy scares?? Sittin' in a free-clinic wondering "what's up" is not what's "hot on the streets". ("Hot On The Streets" is a future phrase you'll ALSO come to detest). All I have to say, lil' nigga, is Thank God for penicilin.

Now listen to me, you’re gonna meet a sweet, smart, caring young lady who can cook her ass off (and make a bomb ass cheesecake). She’s from Detroit so y’all will immediately hit it off and have lots in common. Even though she’s a ’six’ in the looks department, KEEP HER!! The girl is DOWN for you and she'll show you in many ways. Granted, she's a virgin and saving herself, and you like to enjoy sex, suck it up. Fellow classmates will like you guys as a couple and her low key demeanor and passionate/active attitude will draw you to her. Like I said lil' homie, KEEP HER. Other chicks will prove to be supportive of you, but none like her.

When the dime piece starts giving you play, Don’t play the ’six’ to the side. Don't fall victim to the co-ed dorm building. Matter of fact, don't even stay in Beckwith Hall...Period!! The "KEEP HER" young lady will be lost in all that you have going on and not only will you feel bad about it later, but you'll lose a GREAT friend. If anything, man the fuck up and tell her that you're interested in someone else. You’ll be ‘the man’ amongst your friends for snaggin’ the dime, but you’ll eventually learn that when she told you she was going home for Thanksgiving, she really went to visit her ex. Also, stop using your birthdate as the PIN to your voicemail cause she will check your messages.

The "dime", will however, offer you great insight. Great times will be shared and you can chalk it up as "relationship practice".

Choosing your passion as your major will be a good decision, but you’ll find it difficult in getting a job right after you graduate. Be patient and persistent - it will pay off...You'll be a success. Tone down your trusting nature and separate business relationships from friendships. Some people will take advantage of you. Don’t sweat it…you’ll learn from it. And by the way, nigga KEEP GRINDIN'!!

Back to relationships, after you graduate from college, don't go bananas.

The stripper that you meet in ‘99 at Club Nikki’s will be great fun. The sex and hanging out with her will be the source of fantastic memories. Have fun but keep in mind y’all share very little in common and it will get old fast.

Stripper #2 that you meet at The Gentlemen’s Club (DAMN NIGGA!! YOU GOT A THANG FOR STRIPPERS??..LOL) will have too much going on. Right after she HOOKS you up for your birthday just let it fade away.

The weed head (ok, you're just making BAD decisions at this point) who will end up being "the Best Booty-Call Ever", be straight up with her cause she’ll eventually ask to hang out and shyt during the day. Just enjoy it while it last. You'll enjoy the videotapes you guys made years after though...you muthafuckin' freak you...lol.

You and your partner will make a good deal of cash off of selling Homecoming tapes of the various events, and that's cool, but don't carry on relations with chicks who are STILL in school after you've graduated. You will have fun, but it's not cool to be the dude hanging around campus AFTER you've graduated. By all means, get yo' money, but don't bed freshmen women when you've just graduated.

On another note, the younger dudes who's still in school at the time, limit your 'hanging' with them. They're not on your maturity level and they won't benefit you. Drinking with them WILL lead to unfortunate circumstances. Afterwards, once dude starts dealing drugs, you'll wonder if there was things you cou've done to prevent him getting locked up. If only you could've gave dome alternate advice...

The artistic lady whom you'll take an interest in, don't get too emotional because even though the beginning of the film "Brown Sugar" (and its premise) relates GREATLY to your relationship, someone else will spark her interest, but you two will remain cool friends.

In your mid-twenties, you’ll meet a sweet lady who’s four years older than you who has a very high paying job at a huge soft drink company. Things will be extraordinary between you two but don’t catch too many feelings for her. When things really start heating up, she’ll call it off and site her fear of letting a guy get too close since her divorce is the problem. This is the up-side and down-side of a relationship with an older woman. You can learn a LOT, however, you may just be at different points in your lives. So it won't work anyway. It will sting a little bit when she hits you with it, but don’t let it get to you though because once you move on, she’ll realize what she had and try to get back with you.

.Be cautious with the one that you move on with though because that will be a rollercoaster 3 years of your life (actually, more than that). Better yet, just end it at the first signs of fucked-up-ness that you have. Hold your heart and don’t fall in love. You guys will seriously consider marriage and having kids. Seriously. But good for you, you'll know you're not ready. She'll appear to be "Mrs. Monk" because of all the right reasons, but will turn out to be the total opposite. She detests her mother, yet, she is JUST LIKE HER. Please Young Monk, peep out this trait that some women have...it's a clear sign...DON'T FUCK WITH THEM!!!! Once the 'honeymoon phase ends, you'll see the truth. She'll be turn out to be BITTER, contradictory, disrespectful (although she may hide it at first), and she'll for always feel entitled to your respect without reciprocity. She'll be 3.5 years your senior also and her "game" and sense of "seeming-to-have-it-all-together" will blind you. Ironically, this will be a woman who you've known for years... Do Not flirt with her a little too much. Silly of you. She'll ask you out and you'll agree to escort her to her company's Christmas Party. Dude, don't do it. Months later, you'll both fall in love...and out of love over a 3 year period and what happens after that will lead to cops, law suits, and bullshyt.

Given your positive outlook, I know you're not gonna let past experiences take away from your awsomeness. You'll soak all of this in and do the right thing.

Needless to say, Never let a chick allow you to lose focus of yourself.

Do learn from all your experiences, it will make you an even better man.

=========================

Anyways, I found this exercise (of writing a cautionary letter to one's old self) VERY therapeutic (and fun).

What do you think about my letter?? And also, I ask you the same question, if your present-day self could write a letter to the younger you, what would it say????

I Love My City!!

This is a video straight outta Detroit. Man, I swear, the talent in Detroit is SO remarkable and it's amazing how from we have come from the Motown era. Barry Gordy and them opened the door and the torch continues to be passed setting a high bar of excellence in artistry, dance, and overall musicianship even in 2008.

This video is a youtube phenomenon and I'm so proud to see my city represented to the fullest.

LIFE CELEBRATION!!

The Thomas/Bacon Family on Vacation

In the past few days, the world has lost two GREAT entertainers. I'm a fan of their work, true indeed, but I do know that God takes the souls of GREAT people off of this planet EVERYDAY as He sees fit. This includes everyday people who may have never constructed one of the best ">sountracks of all time or made millions of people ">laugh on a weekly/daily basis. Fact of the matter remains - We've all lost people who have impacted our lives and who were/are dear to us and they shall always remain in our hearts.

After the (selfish) mourning, we realize (or HOPE in some cases) that they're in a "better place". In the ONE funeral I have gone to in my 31 years on this third rock from the sun, it was called a "Celebration Of Life". In conversations with friends and associates, many people who have lost loved ones have also attended funerals that were "promoted" (for lack of a better word) as "CELEBRATIONS OF LIFE". This is cool and all but what about celebrating life while we're STILL here???? Hmmmm...there's a thought.

Several years ago, my mom started something that my immediate and extended family have participated in and shall continue. Every year we have a get-together. I wouldn't neccessarily consider it a 'family reunion' because it's usually a relatively small group (although many are invited and welcome to join in the festivities).

For lack of better words, FUCK THE HOLIDAYS!!

Many people scramble through airports, train stations, or jam into rental cars that claim to be 'medium sized' when it hold the capacity of a GIO Prizm during THOSE times. Not to mention, I REALLY think rental car companies are out for blood...but that's a different story.

Regardless, my MOM have taken a step that my family hasn't done in a while. In the past years we've ventured to the Bahamas...Houston, TX,...Las Vegas,NV (while stopping at the Grand Canyon)...Orlando, FL...'THE D' and Cedar Point (OH)...and Myrtle Beach, SC.

No Holiday involved.

Just US getting together when we could.

I Love My Family.

With that said, I'd like to share some photos and video of our most recent excursion. Shout out to my sister, Brit (who's expecting my first niece or nephew come February) and my bruh Brian (whom I did a cool photo shoot with while I was in the 'D')...I hate that y'all missed the trip, but I understand. ALSO, Thanks to my cousins Raul (and Tameka) and Al for allowing their sons to come...we had a good time.

R.I.P. to Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes














Here's some footage of us at the Acquarium there:



and my cousin Derrick KILLING IT on the dance game at the arcade at Broadway By The Beach:



Funeral...TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

Celebrating LIFE while still on Earth...PRICELESS!!

Politrix Are For Kids

Less than a week ago, I posted a lil' video of Ludacris making his endorsement clear in the best way that he can - artistically. Chris is a wise dude, smart dude. His talent speaks for itself and his service to his community and beyond should duly be recognized. I've seen the Ludacris Foundation doing their thing and I commend him and the staff for ALL they have done.

After that, comes the backlash. WTF??




The messed up thing with artists is that their VOICE is loud. It resonates...and it stirs emotions (if done so properly). Whether it be a painter, photographer, recording artist, actor/actress, sculptor, writer, director, dancer, fashion designer, whatever - despite what parents and conservatives want you to believe, there's SO much power in the arts.

The arts have the power to shape public belief (once again, if done so properly) OR it may serve as merely an expression of one person's emotions and beliefs. Whatever the intentions, art is fuckin' art - that's MY 2 Cents.

Within his verse in support of Obama's campaign for presidency, Luda's lyrics takes jabs at naysayers such as H. Clinton, J. Jackson, J. McCain, and G.W. Bush.

He called Hillary a "bitch"...he said that Jesse Jackson really meant the disparaging remarks he made about cutting Obama's nuts off...he referred to John McCain's age...he referenced Bush's approval rating as him being 'arguably' the WORST PRESIDENT IN UNITED STATES HISTORY. This is an "artist's" opinion by the way.

I'm STILL waitng to see what did Luda do wrong. If he had NOT voiced his opinion or just been silent, then people would still jump out the woodwork and ask how he felt about this year's election process. I mean, they do it to everybody in the public eye (unless their PR people bans those type of questions).

My whole thing is that Chris Bridges didn't say ANYTHING new that we haven't heard before. He echoed HIS voice as well as MILLIONS of others across the nation. Does Hillary come off as 'bitchy'?? YES!! Is Jesse bitter than a muafugga and his apology seems insincere?? Yep!! Is George W. Bush dumb?? YESSIR!!

***SIDENOTE: I'm not gonna say that GWB is 'officially' dumb, I'm more inclined to say that the people who voted for him are 'dumb', but that's another matter. ENDSIDENOTE***
These are sentiments that millions of Americans subscribe to. So to come down on a freakin' artist for expressing their opinion seems like a great stretch. If your ideas speak for itself (as Obama just happen to), you wouldn't have to REACH as far as these cats are reaching.

For Sean Hannity and FOX NEWS to make this an issue and to note that this is another "radical association" is an insult to the minds of Americans.

Yet, again, something else that the Republican machine uses to divert attention off of the REAL issues. Yet, again, someone using HipHop as an easy target. That's beyond played out and I hope middle-America will see through the tactics.

We've got a few months left and I'm hoping cats aren't distracted by the Shullbit.

Chris Bridges For Vice President

"ATTENTION ATTENTION!! Barack to America...Barack to America. I repeat Barack Calling America"

Ludacris is definitely one of my favs who've ever blessed a mic and he flow seems to never disappoint. Witty lyrics and charismatic delivery really to him in an elite group of emcees whom seems to never get lazy when crafting their lyrics and recording them.

Here's a short verse he spits about Barack Obama...
Enjoy.