Amadeo Sogni

“Not for myself I make this prayer
But for this race of mine
That stretches forth from shadowed places
Dark hands for bread and wine”

Countee Cullen

So I went to the Governors Grants Conference on Monday. First I have to say…can we all stop with the themes? Jerry Macquire was a few years back so making the them “Show Me The Money”, while appropriate just kinda grates on my nerves. What’s worse is that was a pretty mild one compared to some that I’ve been to.

Anyway so inbetween writing down websites, figuring out who I can target for funding and going outside to smoke cloves, I actually did get some good information to share with all of you.

You can’t work in my field without keeping an eye on politics. Regime changes and new policies have an impact on where we will get money from and if we will be able to…not to mention how much money will actually be around. In addition to people from the state government we had a lot of people from the federal government.

First thing you would be interested to know:

Marcia Howard is the Director of Federal Fund Information for States…if you want to know what federal money goes to what state and how much you should call her…reporters I’m talking to you as well. Anyway she let us know that Sarah Palin (despite the record profits I keep hearing about from oil) has gotten more money for Alaska in recent years then any other state as received…save for two states in one year…Mississippi and Louisiana…I’ll let you figure out which year that was.

During lunch the Keynote speech was given by Ray Scheppach, Executive Director of the National Governors Association. He was a kind enough gent, but we all wondered if he sat at home staring at a picture of his family while holding a gun in one hand and a bottle of pills in the other. Dude basically has been interacting with every Governer in the country for the last 20 years. He spoke about what we could expect on state levels depending on who was elected President. I’ll spare you the details and just say you have a choice…bad or worse. The issue is that states aren’t going to feel what’s happening now until after the election. He basically said that going by the policies they have outlined things would be bad for us under Barack Obama…and even worse under McCain. We can’t avoid what’s coming and even with fairly responsible approach we’ll still feel the pinch.

Having said that I came up with an idea that, the longer I think about it, could potentially set my career…until I can get it moving I ask you all to send donations…not to me…but to my girl. That way she can be my sugar mama and I can catch Pardon the Interruption in the Afternoon. Thank you for your support.

“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?

“I’d rather piss in the wind than turn the other cheek, you get hit either way but at least it’s reciprocity.”
Amadeo

Sit at my feet oh seeker of knowledge and I will share with you these pearls of wisdom.

Make a plan, follow it and enjoy each step like an evil overlord. Most of us obsess about the end results. Not evil overlords. You’ve seen the movies and shows. When one step goes right those cats laugh and rejoice for like 15 minutes. They do think about the end, but they want to savor each and every step of the plan. Be an evil overlord.

Stress is everywhere so I find it best to break things down in to categories. I only have two: Useful and Entertaining. Either I learn something or I laugh at something and it’s that simple. Keep in mind I do have a sick sense of humor and can laugh at quite a lot…but hey it works for me.

I’d rather piss in the wind than turn the other cheek, you get hit either way but at least it’s reciprocity.

People who say numbers don’t lie have never been to a Casino.

People who don’t understand words, understand pain.

Pull people close with one hand and slap the shit out of them with the other.

I’m not arrogant…but if I don’t love me who will?

Make love like it’s the last thing you’ll ever do.

All women are beautiful if you look long enough.

Don’t be afraid of anything lower on the food chain…unless it’s poisonous.

All meetings should take 15 minutes.

There is nothing wrong with talking to yourself or answering…arguing is when something is wrong.

The only time to take hints are when:
You are the third wheel.
The hostages have your friend and there is gun they can’t see.
Someone with a gun yells at you to “pull your socks up”.

All people holding political office are public servants…treat them as such.

No….you can never hold my pen.

Nice guys do finish last…but all the other competition has burned out by then.

Children are little people…they are not all precious and wonderful, some of them are idiots and assholes in training.

Punch the guy who’s doing all the talking first.

“The tyranny of an object. It doesn’t know I exist.”
Deckard
I’m not going all artsy on you, but I could. I’ll name this blog Kamehameha and won’t talk about the King or Dragon Ball Z. Don’t push me. Anyway, I’m talking about a book: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick Better known to the populace as the film Blade Runner. The two share some things, but like many adaptations some things were left out that, while I like the movie, make the book so much better. The things and subsequent themes that were left out don’t break the movie…it is more of a cult classic anyway, but they are actually quite relevant to today. I keep thinking about the contrast of Mercerism to the Internet. The view of the ownership of animals and even the thought of owning an electric one to keep up the illusion remind me of several things around me. The biggest difference I could point out is that the book is just more complex than the movie. If you like the movie you would love the book. If you don’t like the movie you may still like the book. I especially love the exploration of the disregard of Chickenheads (Dude came up with that phrase a decade before I was born) while stressing empathy. Even the androids who aren’t considered as alive disregard the Chickenheads. I know my man D.P. is down with the movie. I hope ya’ll get down with the book. After the movie came out they changed some printings to “Blade Runner”, but unless it says it’s the movie novelization you’re good.

WWWD:
“I’m a creature of the wild. I hate cities… hate civilization with all its idiot rules. Gimme the free, open, elemental spaces of my mountains where a man holds his fate in his own hands. No lies there. No deception, no compromise. So why, I wonder, do I love this land, this city? It’s probably the most structured on Earth, laced tight with centuries of tradition and ritual, covering every conceivable aspect of public and private life. I was born to one world. But I choose to be part of the other.”
Wolverine

Blanche DuBois: “Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers. “

“Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?

Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need”

Bonnie Tyler - I Need a Hero

I’ve heard several times in reference to Hillary Clinton, women state that they had a chance to help a woman become President in their lifetime. The more I’ve listened to people talk about her the more I think alot of people want to vote for her based on a few reasons.

1) Safety Net - People who assume a Hillary Administration will be just like a Bill Administration so she’s a safe bet.
2) They aren’t quite comfortable with Barack Obama.
3) They’re just racist…and don’t trust Republicans.
4) They just want to see a woman get in. (I’m sure there is a dude out there campaigning for Hillary and getting much ass from it - “Women are equal baby…let’s talk more at my place”.)

Frankly, right now I’m disgusted, not for some of the stories you’ve read over the weekend, but for a reason alot of women should be disgusted. I keep thinking of all the people who described her as a positve example of a strong intelligent woman. Someone little girls could look up to. Really…when we see her now is that what we see? I’m not even getting into what I feel are some dirty campaign issues…or her mismanaging of the campaign resulting in about $20 million in debt. I don’t mean her lies. I’m not referencing her statments about the qualifications of her and the Republican candidate at the expense of the Democratic front-runner. I’m not talking about her focusing on the Super-delegates, then after some wins and skewed math, going the opposite direction and saying they don’t have a right to go against the will of the people (even though the people seem to want Barack). I’m not talking about her agreeing with rules and disagreeing when she needs assistance. I’m not talking about her flailing her arms around like an octopus playing the drums and striking everyone in close range.

I have alot that I could cite…but what really bothers me is this:

At this moment she is the worst example for a mother to show her daughter…if she wants her to be strong and independent.

Let’s just look at some of the things that have shown this lately and I’ll translate for you.

This is from C.N.N.:
The first scenario is if Obama ignores Clinton and her supporters and makes the vice presidential offer to someone else.

The third scenario they envision would be trying to get both the candidates to sit down face-to-face and work out an agreement suitable to both parties. Some Clinton insiders say some points to consider would be how to help pay off the Clinton campaign debt — roughly $30 million — or whether he would offer support for a possible Clinton effort to become Senate majority leader.

1) He has to pay attention to her and validate her efforts…nevermind that she has been shitting on him because he “lacks experience”.

3) Get the fuck outta here! Is that like child support?!?! Who the hell helps the person who ran against them pay off camaign debts?!?! Especially when you consider that half of the debt is money the campaign owes her. So he’d basically being paying her for running against him? Imagine him or John Edwards saying something similar.

Next we have Bill’s claims like this:

“I can’t believe it. It is just frantic the way they are trying to push and pressure and bully all these superdelegates to come out,” Clinton said at a South Dakota campaign stop Sunday, in remarks first reported by ABC News.

Exsqueeze me? Baking powder? Wasn’t she the one saying before that the super delegates need to not feel pressure to vote the way their states vote? Wasn’t it her supporters sending letters to super delegates?

I couldn’t find a link for the last one, but the issue was if Obama picked Governor Kathleen Sebelius (who the democratic party loves) instead of Hillary it would be a slight to Clinton.

Get the hell out…that’s like a slighted ex-girlfriend who’s mad cause you never took her to that restaurant she wanted to go to…but now you’ll take your new girl? So now all her friends are going to shit on you and this new woman…cause she’s not Hillary.

None of these things indicate a strong independent woman. She comes across more as vengeful ex-girlfriend then someone who can stand on their own. She (and her supporters) have become the antithesis to what they initially intended to be. I won’t even get into the sexist claims. What matters to me is the vehicle they are using. Someone who has mismanaged their money, lashed out at their rival and favored the eventual rival, switched positions on how votes should be handled and now lays everything at the feet of sexisim and people being unfair….this should be the example for young girls? The basic tone of what I’m reading now is…if women’s groups and Hillary supporters are to assist Obama in the general election…he has to give Hillary something…really. What happened to what’s best for America? So out of spite you won’t support someone of the same party who’s views on policy are very close (as many have pointed out) and would subject America to at least 4 more years of what Hillary wanted to “save” us from? That’s not strength, that’s not independence…and it’s a very poor example of character.

Edit:

WWWD?
Wolverine: “Like it or not,girl, we’re heroes. We’re supposed to stand for something. If we break the rules — or throw ‘em away — why should anybody follow ‘em?”

Captain America: Doesn’t matter what the press says. Doesn’t matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn’t matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world - “No, you move.”
Spider-Man: (Pause) Can I, like, carry your books to school? For the rest of my life?
Captain America: Come on… time to get you back to the rest of the group.
Spider-Man: I mean it. I can give you my lunch. My aunt made tuna sandwiches. Again.

In keeping with the comic theme and since I posted this on a website as a response to why dudes like comic books. I figured I’d throw this up here. I’d also like to mention I’m considering becoming a pastor…anyone interested in joining The First Church of Wolverine give me a shout. Praise Logan!!! Snikt!!!

When I look around there is no other place to get better examples of decency, manhood and confrontation of social issues then comic books. I can name very few sources that I have learned more from (I knew what magistrate meant at 10 because of the X-Men) First I’ll say go watch an episode of the Old Adam West Batman tv show…then realize that it is to comics what Weird Al Yankovic is to music….no substance. Shout out to Stan Lee…he created or co-created all the titles below. Before him Superheroes were just powerful role models…he made them powerful role models with the problems that the rest of us have.

For some background first, here are some facts about comics:

Captain America was fighting the Nazis in comic pages before America ever got into WWII.

The Incredible Hulk is about mental illness, dealing with emotions and self control.

The best example of what comics really are (I think) is found in Spiderman (I recommend the first two movies). A boy who was basically a genius, yet an outcast amongst his peers gains power and because of his inaction the person who represented morals and decency in his life is killed, so he dedicates himself to using his power to help others (With great power comes great responsibilty). As powerful as Spiderman was…not much changed for his true self…Peter Parker…matter of fact they got worse. His relationships became strained, he couldn’t keep a job, he was perpetually broke. His main source of income was selling pictures of himself in costume to someone who painted him as a criminal. Despite not getting his wishes and constantly suffering…he still used his power for the good of others and not to elevate himself. He lost jobs, missed dates and his grades in college suffered because he was always shooting off to help someone. Worse he could never take credit for it because it would expose his loved ones to harm. Eventually his Aunt (who raised him) and his girl (who he married) found out and like most decent men that was where his praise came from. People knew Spiderman was a hero…but only those two knew how much Peter Parker sacrificed. I always use Spidey because he has the setup to explain it…few of us have an “Uncle Ben” in our lives so it was from Spiderman that we not only got the message, but got the example. In effect Peter Parker became our Uncle Ben. I can’t name another character in any form of fiction that is a better representation of honor, humility and morality.

I could teach a boy more about being a man then by using an example of a athelete, politician, business man or whoever. Also because people see them as being for kids it’s the only place where at a young age you can read something that will treat you like an intelligent person instead of dumbing things down for you and staying in “safe” places.

“Well, I love mysteries. No, really, I do. ‘Cause I can usually solve a mystery by beating the snot outta somebody.” Wolverine

Going with my new life motto. I’ve decied to take some scenarios to test it out. So now I ask you to submit your questions to the first installment of: What Would Wolverine Do?

EDIT:
In the spirit of WWWD while analyzing my situation at work…I moved myself and the literacy instructor out of our cubes and into an empty office. Closing your door is a beautiful thing.

While I wait for your queries…I’ll leave you with some quotes from the Killer Canuck.

“I’m the best there is at what I do. Thing is, what I do isn’t very nice.”

“You boys have guts … too bad they’re all over the floor!.”

…comic books could explain everything.

Then Barack Obama would be Charles Xavier…

and Rev. Wright would be Magneto.

X-Men has been interpreted as a representation of the civil rights movement. Stan Lee, during an interview, admitted to creating the comic based on fear and prejudice. Creating during the 1960s, X-Men easily represents two influential civil rights leaders, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Magneto serves as a representation of Malcolm X due to his violent methods of living along with humans. In order to do so, he tries to conform the rest of the human civilization by turning them into mutants. Professor Xavier carries many of the same methods and ideals as Martin Luther King Jr. Xavier wants to coexist with the humans as equals.

Mind you, I agree with alot of what the Rev. said for the purpose of this post just follow me.

Xavier and Eric Magnus Lehnsherr(Magneto) were friends as young men. Both were mutants (though they didn’t initially admit it to one another) and debated regarding the consequences humanity faces with the rise of mutants. They knew they would face fear and hatred from humans that something had to be done. Xavier proposed working to establish peace. Eric thought otherwise. You see Eric was Jewish and he had survived the Holocaust. He figured that mankind would only try to destroy mutantkind. The only way he could see their salvation was through the domination of man. Unlike other villains he didn’t only try to rule men. Alot of the time he went about trying to claim areas of land or islands that mutants could inhabit free from fear. He even entombed Red Skull not for power, but because he was an unrepentant Nazi war criminal. However his plans were usually foiled by…Charles Xavier and the X-Men. Xavier founded the Xmen through his “School for Gifted Youngsters”. The purpose of the school being to provide a safe haven for mutants while teaching them how to use their powers while at the same time recruiting them into a team of superheroes that would provide humans with an example of mutants doing good.

Two people on different sides of the same issue, molded by their pasts. They see the same things and just have different methods of going about it. What’s unique is that in the world of comics most “arch-enemies” would just duke it out…but these two were actually friends. Their groups would fight right off, but Xavier and Magneto would basically resume their debate before they ever fought. Each at various points in time would wonder if the other was right. Each would be looked at by the world in different and sometimes the same light. It was one of the better relationships in comics, I think, almost like conflicting opinions in one person. Both suffered and alot of that suffering came at the hands of those they were at odds over. What’s more…both of them cared.

“You are never going to meet someone who likes Seinfeld and the Wu-Tang clan as much as you do.”
Chris Rock

I think it’s pretty much established that I am a geek. If you didn’t notice I’m also hella cool (yes, hella…I make it cool, words don’t control me). Anyway I thought I’d give you all a glimpse into the duality of me. Bask in it…BAAAAAAAAASSSSSSK!

I do like Seinfeld and Wu-Tang.

I wear motorcycle boots and blazers.

I love kids but I will use duct tape on them.

My ipod has a Dead Prez album right before a Bjork album.

I tell people to work things out with words, but I can think of several things that would make me punch someone without a second chance.

I don’t trust most people with guns…but I believe in owning one.

I hate drug dealers (except for weed), but admire intelligent criminals (with morals).

I teach Job Readiness and use my sick days when I don’t feel like working.

I will post on internet forums to be an asshole and still phrase my comments with respect and intelligence.

When I was young I hated being around kids…now that I’m grown I prefer them to adults.

I have gone from people thinking I was an Oreo to thinking I am a Rasta.

I control my emotions well but, I would love to cut loose in a rage and destroy things.

When people clutch their purse as they pass me it makes me want to take it and throw it.

I like to gamble but in a casino I’d only place sports bets.

I care alot about peoples well being and try to help, but I rarely tell people when I’m having problems.

I’m more likely to check out a woman in a business suit then one in revealing clothing.

I’m going to register as republican…even though I’d be identified as a democrat.

I’ve done over one hundred resumes in the past year…and I still haven’t updated my own.

I give great advice and help people plan but, I live by the seat of my pants.

I grew up wanting to join the military, but if there was a draft I’d become Mexican or Canadian.

I’m an excellent public speaker, but I spend most of my time in silence…or talking to myself.

In casual, group settings people tend to forget me…Bums and drunks always remember me.

I actually am a little bit Rock and Roll and a little bit Country.

I normally have a calligraphers pen and a balisong…google that one.