Speechless

"Black Bloggers" might as well call this BET Awards Analysis Day, because everybody is speaking on it. BET, you have out done yourself...I have never seen a more entertaining awards show in my life. Everybody was looking great and sounding great. I don't know who had the best act. Everybody was doing their thing...Monique's "Crazy In Love" style entrance was off the chain (I saw it on the replay at the After Party...I got home a "lil" late from doing "honey-do" stuff)...Another classic performance by S-Dot-Carter (anytime you can bring ?uestlove and Sheila E. on the drums, Rick Rubin on the turn tables, and Dave Navarrow and Kid Rock on guitar...That is what you call culture experience). Janet went old school...Why we are talking old school, did you see the 25th anniversary of Hip Hop on Wax...The Sugar Hill Gang, Melle Mel, MC Lyte, Public Enemy, and last but especially not least The Get Fresh Crew (Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh)...But if you really want to take it old school, old school, the Isley Brothers had me feeling like I was back at "9406". Ludacris had it looking like the set of "Finding Nemo"...Alicia Keys had me and the ONE looking like 2 kids receiving their 1st kiss. India Arie's tribute to Ray Charles had me all sad and stuff. Usher dropped the crowd dead with his killah performance. Smokie Norful was soulful as always (Pine Bluff AR. in the house). But I heard that the bravest and most moving performance of them all was Kanye West..."Jesus Walks" is one of the most powerful songs I ever heard in my life...And then you took it a step further by throwing Yolanda Adams in the mix...I'm mad I missed that...I'm just speechless...Let me go...I'll be here all day talking about last night...The only thing left for me to say is "haaaaaah", "whaaaaaat", "okaaaaaaay"...I'll keep you posted

Simply Ghetto Fabulous

Straight Bitching...

I don't know why I'm in a crappy mood this morning. One reason might be because of finals this week. That is a lot of information to regurgitate...It also might be the coordinating of the 4th of July weekend...I've been looking forward to this weekend all year long. Now I don't know what's in the plan. It is raining all over the southern region. Hopefully WE can get it together by tomorrow. Hopefully I can get it together by tonight, before the BET Awards come on...I hope they don't let me down...Jay-Z, Kanye, do your thing...And Lil Jon...ah "skeet, skeet, skeet" (when white people find out what that means). Hey I'm feeling a little bit better already. So I guess I'll just "skeet, skeet, skeet" you later (that sounds kind of nasty...what da hell...it's my blog)...I'll keep you posted

Repeat After Me..."I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance."

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." Socrates

Have you ever known somebody that "thought" they were God's gift to the world of intellectuality. I have a prime example sitting in my World of Civilization Society Meeting that goes on Monday through Thursday, around noonish. They fit the typical Higher Education Know-It-All Stereotype. A lot of people don't know how to point them out. A lot of people look for the little kid that doesn't wear the trendy clothes, that looks like they can read through a wall with those items they call glasses. Every once in a while you will get one that fits in that category...That's more of the high school profile. But in the great land of "Higher Ed.", the profiles usually runs a little something like this; 1) middle age 2) military background 3) house wife coming back to finish up her degree 4) or the famous "I'm just taking classes to expand my knowledge" type brother or sister. Okay, now I want everybody to close your eyes, think about a class you took, and think about that one person that worked your nerves to the point you wanted to take out your ghetto pass and just.... Now does any of those people fit the profile. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking middle age individuals taking college courses. I think that is a wonderful thing. Just know your role. You are in the class for a reason. Act like it. Learn something more than the sound of your voice. Sometimes I just wish you would shut it. We pay the professor to do 2 things, to lecture and to give us our grades. I wish I could set up a class and put all of you all in it. There will be no professor there. Just you all, the syllabus, and the books (just in case ya'll need a few references). That sounds like a good idea. I think that would cut down on the freshmen dropout rate...I blame it on them...Scaring them damn kids half to death...The reason they came to college was to get away from their parents and now you show up...I'm just playing, just playing...Can you take a joke... Now, not all college olds heads are like that. I have ran into some really cool, calm, and collect cats (Shot out to Big Chris). But for you others, come in with a open mind to learn, because 99.9% of the time, you don't know anything any way...I'll keep you posted

The Question of the Day

The Question of the Day; So what you definition of success?
Just let that marinate on your brain cells for today and of course...I'll keep you posted

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
Bill Cosby

Gerald Has Left The Building....

Memphis, Memphis, Memphis...I don't know what else to say. Four years is enough for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the city that sits on the Mississippi to death...But to much of anything will kill your brain cells. It's all about moderation. There is a lot of things that tickle me about Memphis. Like the fact that people from the "Mound" act like they are not apart of the city of Memphis population. One of the biggest and most popular clubs in the city is sitting right beside a WAL-MART. The U of M or Memphis State (that's what the locals call it) looks like a majority white institution by day, but an HBCU by night (shot out to Towers). And I did not know going to school was a fashion show (Come On...Stilettos at 8 o'clock in the morning). It is also one of the only places in America that "posting up" is an art form. And if you go on Sparks, you will see the oldest porch monkey known to man (I'm just playing). It might sound like I'm bashing Memphis. That's not true. I love Memphis for the people. I never seen so many people of color in one city, that got it going on. I love the fact that I can go on any corner and find some good BBQ. Memphis has the cleanest water system in the country. Things such as Beale St., Midtown, and the tradition of Memphis Basketball makes this place special to me. I can truly say that I grew up here. I learned survival skills. I learned to tell from the truth and tainted. I've had a enormous spiritual "wake up" in these years The most important thing I learned and found was true love. This is the place that I met the ONE (Hopefully one day I can make her the ONE with the huge rock on her hand. I'll do it...I'll do it...You Know I'll Do It!). But I think I'm ready to move on and conquer another city...Just as soon as "Dr. Shirley" lets go of the Raines on my degree. But Memphis will always have a place in my heart and I hope it will always have a place for me...It may end up being my permanent home (I'm not counting it out)...I'll keep you posted

School of Hard Knocks

I'm Back....I've been a little tied up lately. Summer School is a trip. Trying to learn...I mean memorize everything that happened in Medieval Europe in a 2 hour period is nuts. And these professors expect you to know it like the back of my hand. I really get picked on because I'm in the history department. They expect me to pick up the conversation like I'm all knowing. If I was all knowing I wouldn't be taking this class. Well, while we are talking about school let me massage this analogy into your mind. Higher Education are the Biggest Pimps of America (I know I'm off subject, but just go with me). They let you go to school and you slave and slave for a degree that might not give you a future (it's all about who you know, not what you know). Then when you finally get that piece of paper, they send you this nice little letter that basically states that "b#@ch better have my money". And here comes those loan payments. Sometimes those loan payments make people want to go back to school. And the pimp don't mind that because the longer you're in school, the more money you going to need. So after that day that you get your master's, master's, master, and maybe even sneak in a PhD., he'll be waighting again to tell you, "b#@ch better have my money times 5". Higher Education, what a wonderful thing...Well let me get back to world of Fast Track Higher Ed., also known as Summer School...I'll keep you posted

It's Getting Hot In Hurr...

Michael Moore has done it again. If you don't know who he is, you have probably seen his work. He is the man behind the book Stupid White Men: And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation and the movie Bowling for Columbine. He's new project Fahrenheit 9/11 hits theatres next week. I got a chance to see the trailer, and all I can say is wow! Moore's primary focus of the new picture is to examine what has happened to the United States since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. It also focus on the Bush administration and how they have used this event to push their agenda. I know you are probably thinking, "Boring"..."I do not waste my Friday at the Peabody seeing that...Lets go see Soul Plane for the 5th time(2 times at ligit movie theatres, 3 times on bootleg)". Just do me a favor, go see it. Take a night to get educated...Sometimes we act like education is a disease or something. But do that for me. And if your mate wants to go see it on a Friday night, support their decision and go too. You might learn something. We will talk about supporting your mate on another day and time (look out for the post title "She Got My Back; From Ramen Noodles to Steak Dinners"). Back on subject...Here is the website for the trailer: http://www.fahrenheit911.com/trailer/. If you really fill like getting under "Dick Dout" (also know as the typical Mr. Young Republican) skin, go in his office and download the trailer on his computer screen. I think he would enjoy that. Let me stop before I get someone released a little early. Well I got to go...I'll keep you posted

Ah Yeah
How About Those Detroit Pistons...It's Back In The East

Things That Make You Go "Hmmm"

Just a few questions to keep the wheels turning...If you have any answers to these questions, please enlighten me...

After they make Styrofoam, what do they ship it in?
Since Americans throw rice at weddings, do Asians throw hamburgers?
Are part-time band leaders semi-conductors?
What do chickens think we taste like?
Can a stupid person be a smart-ass?
Can fat people go skinny-dipping?
Can you buy an entire chess set in a pawnshop?
Can you get cavities in your dentures if you use too much artificial sweetener?
Crime doesn't pay... does that mean my job is a crime?
What do you call a male ladybug?
Day light savings time - why are they saving it and where do they keep it?
Do blind dogs have seeing-eye humans?
Do blind Eskimos have seeing-eye sled dogs?
Do crematoriums give discounts to burn victims?
What happens if you take No-Doze and wash it down with Nyquil?
Do fish get thirsty?
What happens to an 18 hour bra after 18 hours?
Do vampires get AIDS?
What kind of fruit is in Juicy Fruit gum?
Do you think that when they asked George Washington for ID that he just whipped out a quarter?
When they first invented the clock, how did they know what time it was to set it to?
How do they get the "Keep off the Grass" sign on the grass?
How does a person with a lisp pronounce that word? (Lets ask Quincy Carter)
Whose cruel idea was it for the word 'lisp' to have an 's' in it?
Why are cigarettes sold in gas stations when smoking is prohibited there?
How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Why are violets blue and not violet?
Why do people always remember where they were when someone famous was killed? Do they feel perhaps they'll need an alibi?
Why do hot dogs come ten to a package and hot dog buns only eight?
If an orange is orange, why isn't a lime called a green, and a lemon called a yellow?
If Fred Flintstone knew that the large order of ribs would tip his car over, why did he order them at the end of every show?
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
If nothing ever sticks to TEFLON, how do they make TEFLON stick to the pan?
Why do we put shirts in a suitcase, and put suits in a garment bag?
Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're both dogs!
If white wine goes with fish, do white grapes go with sushi?
If you can't drink and drive, why do bars have parking lots?
Why is it that to stop Windows, you have to click on "Start"?
Now that Microsoft is so big, should it be called Macrosoft?

And the Last One (Drum Roll Please)
Is this bullshit or fertilizer?

I'll keep you posted

I See Double

On Sunday I got a chance to see my twin niece and nephew. They are 2 going on 22 (especially my niece). They're walking (excuse me...running), talking, telling you when you are in the wrong, the whole 9 yards. They are a handful. Taking care of them makes going to school full-time, holding down 2 part-time jobs, and having a social life look like a breeze. I tip my hat off to the multiple-child -birth parents of the world. The funny part of the entire time they were running around my apartment (like it was a basketball court) was seeing the look that THE ONE was wearing. She had that "make sure I don't get to close because I don't want to catch the Harris/Edwards twin baby jinx" look on her face...To fill you in, my family has a very long line of twin births and they don't skip generations. Honestly, I would love to have twins. I can see it now...2 little one's running around the house, and they look just like THE ONE and me (That's just what the world needs, don't you think?). Maybe I just want twins because I'm a twin...I don't know...We will find out one day. Well, I got to get out of here. I have to start looking up names for sets of twins (just in case)...I'll keep you posted

Luv Jones

Have we come effectuated with trying to Keep Up With The Jones. We have driven ourselves to a "I got to have it" mentality. We will go to any means to get something to say I was the 1st. But if you think about it, somebody had to have it before you did. Before consumer items make the market, it goes through trial with members of the corporate team, other big whigs, etc...About time it makes it to our communities, it's been out for months and sometimes even years...But Corporate America does a great job of brain washing us to believe that this is the newest line of technology circulating through the globe as we speak (did I sound corporate enough)...It doesn't help the situation that stars/entertainers put it in there videos, magazines, and etc. After seeing it in the Jay-Z video, we have to go out and grab us one (so I can be the 1st on the "block" with it). Then we parade around like that gives us status. If that's what you think status is all about, you need to have a self evaluation. Kanye West put it the best when he said, "the people highest up got the lowest self esteem"... We have driven our self to an all time consumer low to compete for a piece of status that doesn't exist. Wow! I just had an out of body experience...I'm starting to sound like my father (the master mind of conspiracy theories). That means it is time for me to go...Tune in next week when I attempt to "stay on subject"...I'll keep you posted

Flip-Flop

Last night I watched a documentary called American Rap Stars. When I saw it in the scheduled program guide, I pushed myself to stay up a couple of more hours. The word for this experience is disappointing. This documentary goes down as one of the biggest waste of Showtime programming in cable television history (I put it in the same category with the Whitney Houston/Bobby Brown interview with Barbara Walters). But we are also talking about Showtime...Home of the Rejected Movies. The only reason I got Showtime in the 1st place was because THE ONE watched Soul Food, and now that over with...But that's another story. Any way, it was 90 minutes of ___________ (you fill in the blank). Every other word I heard was cars, money, jewelry, bitches, hoes, niggas, killing, guns, and "uknowhatimsayin" (in the English language it is pronounced You know what I am saying). Then they spent a majority of the time interviewing individuals like Chris Black from INC. (formally Murder Inc.), Bad Azz, Royal Flush, protocol Sunn, Outlawz, and Oynx. They gave pioneers and REAL MCs/artist like Russell Simmons, Run DMC, Jay-Z, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, and Talib Kweli a grand total of about 15 minutes at the most. I was hurt. The guys that they gave all the air-time to are a few of the cats that are given the hip/hop world a bad name. I didn't even know half of the artist that were on there. What I really didn't understand is when Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson started speaking the truth on how tainted the hip-hop game is now, they cut him off. If I had to do a documentary on the hip/hop world this is a piece of my list of people that would be interviewed;

Grand Master Flash
Afrika Bambaataa
Run DMC
Russell Simmons
Rick Rubin
Sugarhill Gang
LL Cool J
Kool Mo Dee
Rakim
KRS-ONE
Melle Mel
Greg Nice
Chuck D
Jay Z
Nas
Mos Def
Talib Kweli
Snoop Dogg
Dr. Dre
The Roots
Kanye West
Dilated Peoples
and the list goes on and on

Now I know I added a few youngsters in the game on there, but they have that much respected for the game.
Well the only good thing I got out of last night was right after that mess went off, Cornbread, Earl, and Me came on (now that's a classic). I got to get out of here...I'll keep you posted

Shooting Off...

I've had this word on my mind all this morning...Just go with me...I'm getting somewhere with this...I hope.

pain Pronunciation: 'pAn
Function: noun a : usually localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder (as a disease or an injury); also : a basic bodily sensation induced by a noxious stimulus, received by naked nerve endings, characterized by physical discomfort (as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leading to evasive action b : acute mental or emotional distress or suffering.

After thinking about it, I've come to the conclusion that pain symbolizes weakness leaving the body. I don't know were I come up with this stuff. I just let my fingers do the typing. I also believe that scars are pieces of knowledge and history. Let me put it all together. For example, when you get cut, usually you are thriving with "pain"...After the "pain" goes away, that cut leaves a "scar"...Everytime you look at that scar, you are reminded of what happened and you are also knowledgeable on how to prevent that from happening again. Scar represents knowledge...When you have knowledge you are not weak-minded. This is not just a physical thing...It's also mental and spiritual. I need to stop listening to all that neo soul at night (you know Erykah and them)...I'll keep you posted

Something 2 Chew on...

I only have 2 minutes on here today. I have to study for a couple exames. I just wanted to leave you with something to chew on, until we meet again.I hope you fill Swami...He is speaking the truth.

"Our modern society is engaged in polishing and decorating the cage in which man is kept imprisoned."
Swami Nirmalananda

I'll keep you posted

Growing Up and Leaving Behind

Entering my frosh year of the world of consciousness called "higher education", I didn't know a soul on the U of M/Memphis State (for all you locals) campus...My bad...My cousin was my roommate. But the crazy thing about that is I never saw him and he transferred the 2nd semester. I was a very "shy" individual (can't you tell). My "shyness" attracted a couple of people for the position as an interim associate/friend. The reason I say interim associate/friend is because I didn't know them like that. They had to go on trial. I believe there are 2 things that you can't trust any and everybody with, your heart and your time. You have to be careful...Well back to the story. We remained interim associates/friends through the 1st semester. The 2nd semester we didn't get to hang out that much. We were on the same agenda but 2 different pathways. That semester, the "Phenom" was born into the world of greekdom. One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fourteen miles later I become apart of the greatest organization that was ever formed on God's green earth. It was a very "Dynamite" time...Anyway...They also became apart of a great organization of young women who want "to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities." Well that bond of greekdom brought all of us closer. It also brought more people into our circle. And you know when there is alot of people doing something, drama is just around the corner. You know, that old he say she say mess. Through the times we stayed close friends. But at a certain time in my life I hit a stage called "growing up". And I couldn't let that drama and immaturity remain in my life. So I had to "Let It Burn" as Usher says. A lot of them followed afterwards. Some never changed. That is what I learned Saturday. I went to a social gathering at one of the old frosh-greekdom associates/friends houses. The old crew was there. We started out having a great time, just sitting there remanencing on yesterday. Everybody seem like they were doing good...you know, law, med, grad school, and good 9 to 5s. It really seemed like a lot of them were getting their "grown man and woman" on. But the more drinks they took in, as the night past, the more of the truth start leaking out. Some of them still haven't gotten the big picture yet. There is more things in life than drama. Then the he say she say stuff started popping up again. And that is when I had to make my exit. I had better things to do with my time. I learned something valuable about friendships that night. Sometimes you have to let it go, to save the good memories you have. I love all of them to deaths. I wouldn't trade them for the world. I just can't.....I'll keep you posted

PAY DAY or pay day

Friday, Friday, Friday....Just can't wait. For what! Another pay period that Mr. Bill Collector and Uncle Sam has my check in the "camel clutch" (that's for all u old head wrestling fans...Iron Sheik). The objective of pay day is to put money in your pocket. Why doesn't that happen to me. It happens to me once a month. I get paid and in one day it is gone. All of my bills are due around the same time. Bill Collectors, why crowd the 15th when there is 29 more days that you can get your money. That's not the part that gets me. Bills have to get paid. That's just the way of life. But then you have Uncle Sam "Deeboing" about $150.00 out of my check because I work for an "nonprofit" organization. I miss the good old days. I remember when they us to take about $25 to $35 out of my check. Go get it cashed (that was before we got all grown and went to direct deposit). Go by the shop and get cut. Then stop at the Shell Station, at the corner....Put 10 on 2 and get a carton of Jungle Juice (and I did say a carton). Go shine up the Cutlass and ride. Now of days $10 can't even get you half a tank and Jungle Juice just don't taste the same in those clear jugs. I don't know what this world is coming to...I'll keep you posted

Allow Myself To Introduce Myself

Who am I? I really can't put a particular definition on the life that is unfolding in front of my face. I was told as a child that the only thing that is perpetual is my skin color (unless you are the "King of Pop") I know who I am striving to be. But that's my MAKERS decision. The diversity of my life reminds me of my closet. Ranging from three button suites to my "classic" Huey P. tee...From my "smooth" Kenneth Cole lace ups to my brush suede Adidas. To ONE, I'm her friend, half, and soul mate. To some I'm a student of the game. To others I'm the great teacher. Some know me as a man about business. Others know me as just that brother from "9406". So who am I? I still really don't know. If I had to put definition on it, the word I would use is summation. More like multifaceted (I tried to sound deep for a minute). But at this moment, I am just another brother with alot on his mind...I'll keep you posted