I haven’t seen alot of mention about it…well not as much as I should have, but Julius Carry died on the 19th. He played in several movies and several television shows. However, we will honor him mainly for one role….SHO’NUFF. Bow your heads and kiss some Converse in rememberance.

Sho’nuff: Get up, Leroy. I got somethin’ real fo’ yo’ ass in these hands.

Theater Patron: Why don’t you sit down and shut up? Sho’nuff: What? Why don’t I sit down and what?
Theater Patron: I said why don’t you sit down and shut up?
Sho’nuff: Why don’t anybody who wants me to sit down and shut up come down here and make me? Why don’t any fifty of you who want me to sit down and shut up come down here just for the fun of it?

Sho’nuff: I AM the Shogun of Harlem!

Good article about Mr. Carry and Sho’nuff.

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

Hey kids. I thought I’d talk about something else that’s been on my mind for a while. While I am a law abiding citizen there are some forms of crime that I admire. Cat burglary and Cons are easily two of my favorite crimes. See If I want to commit armed robbery…it’s pretty easy. Just about anyone can accomplish this. A Con artist, however, is so much more beautiful at work. Just think of it. Instead of taking your money by force…I’m going to convince you to give it to me and I’ll make you think that you’re actually winning in the situation. That is until you realize you are a sucker and I have all your money. I’m certain most of us get the feeling that politics is basically a con. Consider the profession that breeds many politicians…the law. Rather lawyers becom politicans. People who have been trained to interpret and turn facts until they suit that person’s ideal desire. While some cases may have a more set outcome based on the facts, others are worked simple from two different points of view based around the same set of facts until one either plants doubt or instills confidence in order to bring about an outcome they desire. As much as people hate lawyers, I’d rather thin the herds of politicians. Mind you, my biggest issue with politicians is…us. Even a Con man has a hard time beating someone who is rational and observant, remember the saying, “If it’s too good to be true…”.

To the point then: The Hegelian Dialectic is the invention of artificial extremes (”thesis'’ and “antithesis'’) which superficially conflict with each other, and the synthesis from that conflict of a goal, which is made to appear to be the product of consensus. Or a shorter summary, is promoting two opposing forces with your end goal being what results from their struggle. Or for a better example….it’s modern politics. The names have changed but it’s the same principle. We used to focus on Republican and Democrat, now the shift is increasingly towards Conservative and Liberal. The thing is this…both are just opposing sides of the same arguments pushed to extremes. It becomes most clear when we talk about wedge issues. Issues that are used and thrown out to polarize various groups in effort to bring out as many voters as possible. The thing is the wedge issue isn’t the goal of the person who puts it into play. They have used a form of propaganda to energize a conflict…the fallout being a goal beyond the inital vote. I’ve thought about it more because it’s clear in recent events. 9/11 and the lead up to Iraq is perfectly explained in the above quote by Hermann Goering. However, it’s more prevelant in our politics. Two sides crashing against each other neither truly forwarding their cause. The thing is to see who profits. I see alot of debates over politics and policy. Debates that become heated and often seem to only be debates for the sake of the thrill. The back and forth has no ending. Thus one synthesis is stagnation. Meanwhile the world keeps turning. The debaters just anchor it they don’t determine the direction. Which is even more ironic. When you consider most wedge issues tehy rarely have an effect on one group. Pro Life vs. Pro Choice…if a woman is Pro Life what effect does legalized abortion have on her? If 50% of marriages end in divorce…does giving gays the right to marry really have a negative effect on marriage? Does teh effect change when you rename it something else? These two issues are actually pushed forth by one of the oldest wedge issues…religion. So the question becomes, with the back and forth who profits? Hell, just follow the money.

“One of the indictments of civilizations is that happiness and intelligence are so rarely found in the same person. “
William Feather (1908 - 1976)

Oh yes, I’m sure someone saw that title and is already writing an entire dissertation in my comment section. For the rest of you who actually read what follows thanks for using your internet hate machine for the love. Mind you my only beef with feminism is I hate all of the -isms and -ists. Environmentalists, Feminists, Africanists and so forth. I think when we get caught up on one issue or how anything relates to that one isse we collectively fail. Who really gives a shit about saving trees and whales when people don’t care enough to save each other…hell, plenty of people aren’t even trying to save themselves. So every person who runs around chanting and protesting in reference to one issue is losing. Everything is connected and if you aren’t trying to help everyone evolve then you’re just scooping buckets of water from a hell-bound boat.
To the topic at hand:

Feminisim is before it’s time and outdated. Yes that’s a paradox. Society may be ready for certain ideas…but it isn’t always ready for the of the fallout from those ideas. In some ways society moves forward, but certain things that have been with us for a centuries can’t be shaken off in a few decades. It doesn’t work like that. Additionally, people who call themselves feminists need to really examine all the sub-groups that fall under that title and what the general goal actually is…Equality. What comes with equality is not entirely welcome by many who have received it. In the framework of equality comes a lot of hardship and struggle. In addition it means taking on new problems that are more difficult to navigate due to simple unfamiliarity. One of the biggest things that comes to mind is marriage. Why would that be difficult? I’ll start from something very simple and work my way up. The average age of marriage differs by about 3 - 5 years between men and women. Women have always tended to marry younger then men. Traditionally at a certain age, unmarried women were looked at as heading towards old maidship (I don’t care if it’s not a word). Lately, I’ve seen a lot of women freaking out about their prospects for marriage (especially black women). The reasons for such a dim perspective aren’t hard to grasp for me anyway. It’s partially old thinking in a new world combined with new thinking in an old system. Consider that at one time the average age for a woman to be married was 24. The average ages for men to be married are normally 3 -4 years older then women. So if now instead of a woman just looking for a suitable husband, she goes to college, graduate school and starts a career, it’s kind of easy to imagine the average age of marriage increasing. The issue here is a lot of women aren’t thinking along these lines. I hear a lot of women who aren’t even 24 discussing their bleak outlook for marriage. In addition to this…the average woman is looking for a man of equal or higher education and income to settle down with. So this also pushes the average age for men up. The real problem here is one thing changed a lot faster then the other and people weren’t ready for it. Ramifications. Not to mention that the whole country shifted from manufacturing so now more people need to go to school in order to earn a decent wage.

I start thinking of it like the immigration issue. People are complaining about Mexicans taking jobs and so forth, but has anyone really considered what would happen if we could deport those here and prevent any others from coming it? What would really happen with a lot of the jobs that they have? I’d imagine alot wouldn’t be filled, food prices would go up and other things would happen I’m not even considering. Same thing with PETA, what would happen if people did all of the things they wanted? What business would be affected, would a nation of vegans be overrun with wild cattle?

Really, I think my main issue is the same one I have with feminist lobbyists over certain issues…like the military. Lobbyists may push for a certain change…but they aren’t in alignment with women who are actually in the military. I’m already wary of of people who lobby in general. Like the NRA…they seem to lobby against anything that they percieve as any change (that they haven’t pushed for) in gun laws. Like here they don’t want the city to make it mandatory that you report a stolen gun within 48 hours. Hard for me to understand.

Anyway I think these ramifications are things society in general is feeling, but hasn’t really acknowledged all of the causes. Something that was the social norm for a long time has changed in a much shorter period and there are severe growing pains that go along with it. The real issue is that it has been made a singular issue. Nothing exists in a void in this world. It’s important to consider that everything will affect something else. Scientists learn this when their discoveries are applied in violent ways that they hadn’t intended. What also intrigues me is that the place in which we now stand is actually more favorable to radical feminists. Those who would be willing to do away with men can find more traction in current environment to live close to their vision unlike those who simply want equality and don’t view men as an adversary or threat. The problem with feminism is that it has moved very fast and, not even mentioning men, women as a whole haven’t had time to adjust. What would those mothers of decades ago who dreamed that their daughters would be able to pursue a career that was out of their own reach say now to young women who have fulfilled an education and career, but question how and if they will be able to pursue the creation of a family?

Just wondering.

“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.”
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

Since I have been in the working world I’ve had some very great lessons in what not to do with your company or organization. I have extensive and detailed notes. So evey now and again I look at the people I know and think if I had a company who would I hire and how would I use them?

1969 - Office Manager/Human Resources - So I figure who would be better then to handle your employees, the general day to day and quash disputes then a married mother of two with a sense of humor? I figure you need the right mix of compassion and the ability to see through bullshit. Who has that better then someone who deals with two young boys and people in the hospitality industry.

Dallas Penn - Public Relations - This one was easy. Not only does Dally (Yes Outsiders) have the wordplay to work prospective clients, but he also sends out the dopeness that makes you feel appreciated. Hell if he hadn’t sent some of the stuff he did, I might not have been motivated to pick up the G.I. Joe action figures I picked up. Plus he stay fresh so clients will stay caught up on his gear while he’s reeling them in.

Catherinette - Personal Assistant - I have learned that an assistant, receptionist, secretary is one of the most important people that an organization can have. They are the face of your company to alot of people and they know where all the bodies are buried. If you want to be able to get a people in any organization make sure they like you. On the other side of things this is the person that insulates you from assholes. I need someone funny for this position so I can have laughs about how upset they get when people can’t reach me.

Stuff Black People Hate - D.O.A. (Destroyer of Assholes) - I realized, after seeing crass supervisors, that even they could have a place at a company. See I don’t like ignorant people. What I do enjoy is telling them off letting them know that they should never come around again. This is what that position is all about. If the assistant keeps people away from me. This person is like my Darth Vader. I send them to destroy those I hate. Money has the appropriate grasp of words in expressing his hatred of things to serve my purposes well.

Luke Cage - Security- I know what some of you are thinking. You think I just went and got a big guy. Wrong. My interactions with bouncers have helped me realize that even a big guy is not a deterrent. See most bouncers are jerks who want to fight. So instead of stopping a problem they make it worse so they can have fun. The best bouncer I ever met was cool guy who would actually talk to people. The same thing happens with cops. When a cop comes at you like a person it’s easy to deal with them. When they come at you like an authority who you must obey it makes you…well me at least not want to do whatever they are saying. This way I get a big guy who’s cool, but still able to articulate themselves.

Interview Time:

If I hired you for a position at Amadeo Enterprises, what would you apply for and why should I hire you?

“History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men.”
Blue Oyster Cult

I have an idea that made me think to put this video up…the potential is still there so I won’t type the actual idea. I mean if one of you got paid from it I’d have to hunt you down, steal your money and make your life hell forever….and I kinda had other stuff I wanted to do.

Who the hell can front on Godzilla? Not to mention the fact that this song rocks. I’ve been playing air guitar to this all week long. My mother introduced me to Godzilla back in the day…I haven’t seen all of the movies, but I have seen alot of them. Sometimes I think the real world could use a Godzilla. A big monster that comes through and destroys on some…”Hey I’m the product of all your ignorance and pollution of the planet. I’m gonna start destroying things now.” The problem would be that people would break down along different lines. I’m sure a religion would spring up around him. Some people would want to destroy him. Some people would think he deserves to destroy us. PETA would protest the military. The army would call in Ceasar Milan to see if they could control him and use him as a weapon. Meat Eaters would want a Godzilla steak. Vegans would claim he is revenge for the animals we proclaimed are lower on the food chain than us. Politicans would use him as a wedge issue. “My opponent wants to sit down and reason with Godzilla!”

Godzilla actually is charming. Parent groups would want him destroyed for the sake of our children. PETA would counter by asking, “What about Godzuki?” It would be a whole mess. Plus there would be porn fetish sites set up for the twins and they’d be too busy to call Mothra.

Makes me think of the Watchmen…since the movie will come out soon I won’t get all into it. Look it up if you want…but you might ruin the plot for yourself.

“The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted.”
Martha Graham (1894 - 1991)

So I’ve been considering exercise. Not like, “hmmm…maybe I will”, but more of what I want to do. You see, I have a fear. I’m scared of having bourgeois muscles. A mentor introduced this concept to me many years ago. If you’re physically fit your body becomes capable of a lot of things. However there is a difference in the body of a person that just works out and someone who works. For example, if you ever see someone who’s so muscle bound they can’t straighten their arms…that’s Bourgeois muscles. As oppossed to someone who looks like this:

I like to use the term “Country Cut”. A strong person who isn’t bulging everywhere and isn’t chiseled…but could hamstring an Ox, whoop your ass and eat a thanksgiving dinner and then go back and work somewhere. These are the cats who gained their physique from work, not a regimen. These are the cats that you really want to have your back…the type that openhanded slap someone and take a layer of skin off cause their hands are calloused. These dudes maybe able to bench press alot, but they also have flexibility. That’s what I’m trying to get to. I’m going to run…but I’ll try to focus on more core exercises and rely on weights a little less then in the past. I realize that the times I was most fit were from action that wasn’t geared towards getting fit. Working in a warehouse, riding my bike instead of catching the bus. Mind you I could go get a warehouse job…but I wouldn’t like the check. I actually thought about buying a bike…but haven’t made up my mind. Riding a bike to work would be cool…save that it’s all uphill on the way home and it wouldn’t mesh for days I wake up late. I almost want to do a Rocky IV thing where I go to snow woods and cut down trees and run in the snow and what not. I could learn to do wood carvings at the same time. When I think of the ultimate in this category it’s always Bruce Lee. With a shirt on dude looks like he’s a skinny ass little guy. But his cuts are the tale of someone who’s done crazy exercise and has pushed his body to limits. The thing is I don’t think he’s done much with weights. His body retained it’s form, it just moved to the peak possibility of that form. I usually wonder how much could he bench press. The thing is most of his form comes from doing. Like those old Kung Fu movies or even Karate Kid…no one says…go hit the gym. They give you some weird ass task that ends 2 months later with you being strong as hell.

” Here go down those 1000 steps and get two buckets of water….500 times and wear these. “

Or one of my favorites:

“Hit this….when you break it you’re done…if you hand breaks…switch hands.”

Perhaps I’ll try to come up with a cross country, calisthenics program where I carry a dwarf holding twenty pound weights in a book bag and pick fights with latinos and islanders playing soccer, then I’ll steal the ball and let them chase me. Maybe.

WWWD:

“Hard to keep my edge up there with nothin’ more threatenin’ than bunny rabbits and bambis.”
Wolverine

So I worked a 12.5 hour day yesterday. I was (0nce again) forced to work the grill cooking mass amounts of food that I personally don’t eat. So after I was finished bathing in the smoke from hamburgers and doing physical labor that made me question if I actually had an office job or if I was back in a warehouse from my early 20’s…I went home were my roommate has left town and the cat, it seems, closed it self in a room. I know this not only beause she didn’t charge me right away at the front door, but because she was crying…all through the house. After I let her out she treated me like rubbing post. So today I’m not posting…it’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care. So look to the left and enjoy my blogroll. I’ll probably spend most of my day on Stuff Black People Hate while I wait to pull jobs on Mob Wars via Facebook. Enjoy…or not…whatever.

“Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality.”
Jules de Gaultier

I feel like a Renaisance man because I get as excited at the thought of a 1969 Shelby Cobra GT as I do when I think about getting more memory for my new computer that already has 2 gigs…don’t get me started on slaving the old harddrive.

I never felt the threat of the Joker until I saw The Dark Knight Saturday…for those debating it…Jack’s version sucks in comparison.

I sometimes think I’d like to get into a sword fight.

I think my roommates cat always knows what I’m saying…but picks what to respond to.

Sometimes in my head I think like a Lolcat.

I haven’t looked…but I’m sure there is muppet porn out there.

Sometimes I wish I was from Scotland…so I could identify myself as a Highlander…not like the movie…the phrase just sounds cool.

In movies people get mad and start breaking things from anger…if I ever do that it’s because I’ve always wanted to and have been presented with the chance to get away with it.

I want to buy a boot knife.

I keep having thoughts of being disrespected and instead of punching or yelling…grabbing the person by the throat and talking to them like I’m explaining some paperwork.

Venture Bros. is the shit.

I’ll feel like a true success when I get to have a mini-bar in my office.

I don’t fawn over babies, I like kids that can talk. So when there are sibilings present, a baby and an older child, I talk to the older one so people don’t have to a chance to ask them what they think about the baby.

I’m never scared of peoples dogs…I worry if the person will get mad if I have to hurt their pet cause they didn’t have it under control.

I still want to learn to surf.

X-Games > Olympics.

When I think of being a movie character I don’t think of being the hero…I think of being the guy that goes to fight approaching enemy warriors to give the hero more time to do….whatever.

I wish saturday morning cartoons were better…I hope by the time I have kids they are, I don’t want to have to watch crap with my kids.

Baltimore’s main business is tourism…and I keep wondering what people are coming to see.