Amadeo Sogni

Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.
Anonymous

I caught Wonder Showzen one late evening on MTV, I thought it was a kids show for about 5 seconds.

“The sun rises in the East, but it sets in the West”
Somebody

Props to Bro. Omi for taking me down this memory lane.

There was a time when Hip-Hop did not suck. I could hear Kid N’ Play, Sistah Souljah and N.W.A. in one sitting. I could witness a fight and then watch dudes go over the new dance moves they were gonna do at the club. I could check out the new kicks and hear about how black people needed to rise up. I had stopped pretending that I could actually break dance and stopped spinning on my knees on the lineoleum by our front door. My mother was glad she didn’t have to keep replace worn out jeans anymore. Around ‘92 I was in high school and really buying Hip-Hop, C.D.s were a sure thing and I don’t think I made anymore cassette purchases. Anyway things were good. I wasn’t even smoking weed yet and didn’t think anyone would ever recognize me as an Emcee. I had one problem though. I was not into most West Coast Hip-Hop. It seemed like everyone was gangsta. I liked N.W.A., but it was starting to look like everyone was just trying to come behind them. Now Ice Cube was hard during this time, but for his first album he left the west coast. No matter what anyone says, when Ice Cube left N.W.A they started to die out in my eyes. So, I’m seeing all these dudes and I’m thinking is this it? Then someone put me on to some cats that saved the day. Hieroglyphics. To be more precise Del tha Funkee Homosapien. He joint came out the year before, but it took a while to realize that he was from the west coast. He seemed like he was in the Native Tongues mold and lyrically he didn’t flow slow like those other Left cats. Then I found out he had a whole crew. When 93 ’til Infinity dropped I knew that things would be alright. Like the quote above I had the feeling that as far as this country, the way Hip-Hop turned out on the west coast would have a lasting effect on it. When I look down south now I start to hope that other areas will start to come out, what’s up Alaska!?!?! Anyway, I didn’t want to see Hip-Hop go the way I had seen the west coast going, when you look back at some of the things that came out in the early 90’s (most of them aren’t around anymore) it was as bad as the endless stream of crap that’s coming out now from everywhere. Despite the fact that Hip-Hop…is the way it is. for a brief period of time I was allowed to have my moments with the Hiero crew. I still get down with these cats today. Hell I still have the first C.D.s that I bought. If Hip-Hop went back to where they were I wouldn’t be mad. Props also to: Tha Alkaholiks, The Coup, Blackalicious, The Pharcyde, Dialated Peoples, Aceyalone, Ras Kass and Xzibit. Peep out one of my favorite Del joints of all time. It’s the only song I can actually beat box!!!

“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche

So I’m back where I started at. My cool ass bop is now on display for all to see. I do two shows daily. Morning and Evening. I got rid of my car people and I’m back on public transportation. Don’t cry for me blogland, I’ll be back on the road before you know it and I’ll get to stack some dough in the meantime. I’m hoping I’ll get to find a lovely young lady to ride the train with. You never know. I do want to say a few things though. The subway in Baltimore is teh suck!1!1!!11! I mean it only goes two ways…for real it’s kinda sad. I know we’re more of a bus town, but I like the subway. It’s a short ride, it’s a lot less hectic and standing ain’t a problem. I actually would rather stand on the subway. The bus is the place where I have to knuckle up though, too many people, too close. Back in the day I could walk and beat the bus. Another thing I need to hip ya’ll to is finance companies, more to the point companies that finance cars. See kids, I had a lease. Unlike your average consumer I actually read all of the fine print on the back. So when the I made up my mind not to refinance the last payment (read: Ballon Payment or crippling, pocket breaking, why-don’t-you-take-my-liver-instead-payment) I choose to sell it back to the finance company (as stated in paragraph D of my contract you selective memory having chumps). Of course like your alcoholic uncle who borrows money. They don’t seem to be aware of that part of the contract. I swear to all that is holy I will ride these chumps until the wheels fall off. Despite not being a fan of all facets of the law, I will take these cats to court for my $3,512…plus whatever I can get on top of that. Always read the contract kids. These cats have been trying to give me some nonsense, but I will get my money. Too many people lose out when they don’t read the fine print, I refuse to not take advantage when I do. You hear that Primus, I ain’t going nowhere!!! Where was I….oh yeah I have the option to sell it to them for the amount of the final payment minus a disposal fee and anything else owed. Of course they only want to mention that you can refinance or, get this, GIVE THE CAR BACK. Why the hell would I give something back that I could sell? Ahh it’s a rough life for the number one lover man in this postal district ya’ll.

I have opinions of my own — strong opinions — but I don’t always agree with them.
George Bush (1924 - )

I’ve known most of my life that I’m an odd duck. I know that I will never be mainstrem. I’m that type of man that being teased about things as a child didn’t make me change them, it made me run with them and dare people to criticize me about it. Especially since I’m grown and know how much I can bench press now.

Here are some things that alot of people dig that I don’t.

Crash
I found no redemption in this movie. As a matter of fact the only story in it that I liked was the Latino dudes arc. The rest of it I could chuck. Especially cause of what happened to Thandie Newton’s character. The brother never really got redemption as a character. He really just got out on another brother and bucked on the cops. Also I hated the rascist ass cop being the hero. To hell with you sir!!! The realest part was the so-called “good” cop showing how scared he really was inside. Movies like this, I feel, never teach a lesson. They just let white people think they finally hit upon the core of racisim.

Basketball
Yeah that’s right a black man that don’t like basketball. The world is coming to an end. For the record. I have always had big feet that I would dribble on by mistake. I grew up in the hood were there wasn’t really time to learn cause everyone thought they were Jordan and played cut-throat. I went to public schools where most Gym classes consisted of basketball everyday. I just don’t dig it. I’m not graceful in a basketball way. I always describe myself as a guy who can make some outside shots, but mostly I should sit on the bench until you want someone fouled. That’s not to say I never, ever play. I’d prefer not to and I know I’m not good. Give me football. Strength and Intelligence. I’m not the fastest or the strongest, but I prefer a sport where I can outsmart someone and if all else fails force them to drag me down. Wait for it…………..I’d even take floor hockey over basketball. I’d rather watch the X-games than the final four. Ya’ll gonna take my black card aren’t ya’ll?

Sweet Drinks
There is nothing I dislike more than a whole bunch of sweet fru fru drinks. Honestly when you see some jerk that’s drunk out of their mind half the time they were throwing back some sweet mixed drink. A bartender also put me down with the fact that the sugar in those drinks adds on to hangovers. Give me some beer and a some Patron and I’m cool. I like a drink that as soon as the smell hits your nose you know if you’ve had enough. I used to make exceptions for an Amaretto Sour, but I haven’t had one in years and don’t think I will again.

Flat Brimmed Baseball Hats
I didn’t really notice when this started. I really noticed when stores started to keep their hats all pristine and…flat. My man actually pissed off some salesmen cause he was trying joints on and kept bending them. I’m sorry, but I’m from the Jazzy Jeff Starter hat era. I know ya’ll remember that commercial. Bend the hat, slam the hat, flip the hat…all that stuff. I don’t want to wear a hat until I’ve got the brim right. Until it’s curve connects with the start of my face in that right way. This new flat brimmed chachky just ain’t for me. It reminds me of sticking my hat on my lil’ cousins head.

Once again I let You Tube do all the work for me.

Some background on this one, it’s based of an old video game where poor translation has stood the test of time. Mix that with snakes on a plane and life is good.

When me and my cousins used to fight, you couldn’t tell me it wasn’t this serious.

These things are crazy and if for nothing I else I love the lame G.I. Joe! at the end.

Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.
Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil’s Dictionary

I love and hate my job. Human Services. I conduct more human services by being polite in traffic than I do at my job. I’ve worked in this field for a while considering how old I am. Hell I’ve never been with a girl this long, won’t have my car as long, and the only place I’ve lived longer is with my family. I have understood from early on what the main challenges are in this field.
1) Politics play a part. People who do these jobs get nervous when Republicans come into office cause they know the policy shift will affect their programs and more importantly their funding.

2)The line between front line staff and administration is often a brick wall. Neither can connect with the other in a meaningful way. Numbers don’t always equate to people helped and vice versa. It’s hard to work when you are concerned with the details of peoples lives and how you can help them and the person who is in charge of you is worried about paying for things and looking good in the light of people who kick out the dough.

3) More people than you might expect have a hard time getting ahold of the needed documents to register with various programs, especially young people from low income areas. When you can’t depend on your parents to take care of you how do you expect that they’ll have your birth certificate and social security card handy…well the ones that put bills in your name might.

4) It’s all a waiting game. No one who makes up their mind that they need help really wants to have to wait to get it. Sometimes it takes people a long time to get themselves to a point that they can come in and sign up for a program…the last thing they really want to hear is come back tomorrow or we can do that next week. I often have to (basically lie) talk up the processs to make people feel like the next thing the have to do is very important so they can feel like they’re making progress.

I did not write this just to bitch! Well maybe a little.

I’m a firm believer that you can’t just curse the darkness, you have to shine light. So here is the start of my list. I have no idea how long it will eventually be. I do know that this is something I’ll present to someone or make sure I can implement what I can from it.

1) It is my belief that all services should be rendered in a direct line. Funded from the federal government and move straight down through the state and city levels. In the midst of this we must eliminate alot of the garbage that goes along with it. See alot of the programs that I’ve worked with have been funded through the Dept. of Labor. This means that alot of my paperwork is really just a means to collect data. I never see the positive results from collecting this information. Therefore all that will be required from people is some type of proof of their social security number. For those that don’t have the actual card our connection to the Feds will be a means to provide it to them, without making them get a million types of I.D. first. Especially since to get most forms of I.D. you need your social security card! (Why do I need I.D. to get I.D. - Mos Def) I don’t care what “official say. Unless you have a really good hook-up with the mob or something, social security numbers are the best means to track people…if you owe student loans like me then take a look at what your account number is. If people really want to generate a bunch of reports than find another way to do it.

2) These agencies will be located in a central location for instance, in Baltimore you can get downtown from just about any place in the city with ease. Each direction of the city will have a dedicated division, either in one large building or 4 seperate ones positioned relative to the area they represent. These centers will be large so as to prevent those who require serious and multiple services from being stuck with a case manager who is trying to deal with 100 people (I’ve had a maximum of 180 people on a caseload). Each center will have offices in every named neighborhood. This will be a place for Main Street Services, Public Saftey and provide offices where case managers from the larger centers can come to work with those who still can’t afford to travel back and forth in addition to housing community groups and commitees. Several of the more intense services like trainings will be located in the larger centers. State facilitated apprenticeships, local training programs, and education centers can be based here. This means that a person who needs to get their GED and secure training can do it here. Also a person from the west side of town knows they just need to go to their center to find out about an apprenticeship as an electrician. Social Services, Child Support, Parole and Probation, state/city run special needs facilities and all other agencies of this kind will be based in these centers. They will be brought under one roof and branch of authority to promote cooperation. This way a person who needs child care and can receive assistance from D.S.S. and not have it conflict with trying to get their GED. In addition the guy who owes childs support won’t be able to acquire any services without being flagged for non-payment…not saying he won’t be served, but this way he is easily tracked.

I don’t want to overload you guys so until next time…

“Fake news executives are nicer than real news executives, though real news executives are funnier than fake news executives. They don’t know they’re being funny.”
Stephen Colbert

I hate the news. Yes I do, it sucks. Everytime I watch the news it makes me think of the Incubus song Agoraphobia:
“I read the news today
and everything they say
just makes me want to stay inside and wait…”

Makes me want to stay inside for good. There are a few things, however, that make news programs besides the Daily Show and The Colbert Report worth watching and they are as follows:

Gabrielle Abiera
I never really care about the traffic report cause I drive through the city. During the days of no cable I found a reason to tune in though. This sweetheart made me concerned about the state of I-83 in the morning…well that’s a lie I really just tuned in to check out her outfit and hope they give a nice body shot while she’s turned to the side.

Claudia Palacios
No I don’t watch Caracol Noticias, but she makes me wish I did. She’s only a year older than me and is a good reason to go to Columbia Though I’m a little bit disturbed that she has IBS. That’s not very sexy…certainly makes her the first person on this list to go.

Shelly Dass
My man True loves going to Trinadad…loves it. He always comes back with good stories and good pictures. He is the best advertisment for the country I’ve come across…next to her.

Soledad O’Brien
Didn’t you see this coming…I mean you had to consider it, right? As Stephen Colbert calls her “the global village that is Soledad O’Brien” is fine. Plus ripping into Michael Brown was very sexy. I’m sure deep in my heart that under that proper news anchor facade is a frisky woman. Besides since she is damn near everything (australian, irish, afrocuban) I can really mess with peoples minds if they try to hit me with the traitor to my race card. It’s all about unity…in my pants.

“I find it kind of funny, I find it kinda sad. That the dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had…”
Tears for Fears - Mad World

Some things you don’t realize until much later. Like how I could’ve kicked alot more people’s ass. Or how that girl was trying to let me touch her “on the inside part” (sorry I saw Beloved again). At the time something is just going on or your caught up in the moment and just can’t see clear. Well a while back I realized something and I must now confirm it. Tears for Fears was the truth! Hell yeah. The 80’s weren’t just synthesizers and bad clothes. The more I listen to their old stuff the more I realized their music will stand the test of time…cause people still suck. What really got me started on this was when Nas remade “Everybody wants to Rule the World”. I always love when a Emcee remakes a classic song (as long as they don’t Jump the Couch). That was one of those if-I-had-beat-him-to-it-I-would’ve-had-bragging-rights-at-least-in-my-city deals. The more I listen the more I have to compare alot of their stuff with songs like The Message. I know it’s not Hip-Hop, but they’re both songs that I can turn on and say…”The only thing that changed is the date.” Hell even a lot of the clothes are the same. In honor of one of my new favorite old groups here’s a remake of one of their joints that’s a cool little video, enjoy.

“How Troublesome…”
Shikamaru

So I’m back in the office and it sucks. I missed a little more than two days last week, but had to work on Saturday. Been to a doctor who could only refer me somewhere else. In the meantime I have pressure on both sides of my head and I can’t hear well. So what have I been doing about this…watching episodes of Naruto on YouTube of course. Yeah I love the Japanese anime. It’s alot better than some of the crap they try to push on the youngsters on saturday mornings now-a-days. I remember when you could get up at 8a.m. and watch cartoons until Soul Train came on. Now it’s a crapshoot. They need to put Adult Swim on during prime time hours. A gift for all the kids. Anyway, the funny thing is that Naruto-kun and his pals are making me hate my job more. Yeah it’s true and I’ll explain why. A running theme of that show is taking care of the village. Meaning that unlike most of us when they walk out the door they are part of a community. The jobs that people undertake in that community have an effect on the community as a whole. Get this…their leader actually cares about does what is best for the village, crazy right!?! Not all of the chaos is from some evil villain, but from the issues that people carry because of the events in characters lives; neglect, abandonment, betrayal and even being picked on by peers. I think this tends to resonate with me so much beause despite of my job, I rarely feel like I actually got to do something that I can see has a positive affect on the world. If I didn’t work in this field I wouldn’t have as a big a problem with that. I’m in Human Services though. I should be able to see more positive things sprout from my work. If only that were the case. It seems I’ve actually added to my misery by working these jobs. Yes I’ve seen some people go to college, get their GED,one even started a business. However, even more have gone to jail or died. I already have enough stories about that in my personal acquaintances. It’s kind of like living your life and learning from your mistakes and those of your friends only to return to that time with your knowledge and a new group of people and not be able to stop them from making mistakes. It messes with your head when you read the papers and know that you could come across the name of someone who was killed and watch it wreak havoc in either your personal or professional life, a few times in both. This would not be so bad if I could feel like I was actively doing things to make progress and move forward and help others. For right now I don’t feel like that. To top it off my hearing is impaired and I keep getting headaches from the pressure…sucks to be me. The good news is I’m getting a free DVR tomorrow for my many years of faithful service to DirecTv. Yay. Ha ha, it is to laugh. Anyway I’ll catch ya’ll.

B.T.W.
Vote for my man Dallas Penn…best writing in a blog…I hoped he would get nominated for original content for the Ghetto Big Mac, but alas it was not to be. I mean come on somebody even made a canadian spin off!!!

I still don’t feel good so like a latch key kid let the T.V keep you company.

Old Cartoon Network commercial.

I’m addicted to Robot Chicken.

Brokeback G.I. Joe