5$ on one

I will take this time to say that I’m happy to be making it to 2008. The other day I went to the gas station, I was waiting to pay for a Gatorade for my daughter and a newspaper. I was behind this dude who gave the lady $20.00. He asked for an assortment of lottery tickets, a task that consumed quite a bit of time since I was standing behind him, but I was patient.

He scratched them all of as I waited. He won nothing and said, let me get five on one. It made me wonder what his definition of depending was. To me, it would have ben more important t put all that loot in the gas tank with gas being $2.83 per gallon but he did not. It was obvious he depended, or at least wanted to win on the lottery tickets for his future. The way he purchased him, it was no logics but rather chance as he picked 15 different one dollar scratch offs. And he did it in such a way that let me know he likely did it in several gas stations he went too.

I don’t buy lottery tickets, in fact I would rather purchase a deuce-deuce with my dollar, but he had faith and depended on them. I can only depend on myself and some of my folks. I mean, I was reading what Mes dux cents said about faux heterosexuals. Se was right. But it a shame that I can depend on my boys before I can depend on any woman to the same level, at least outside of family. I mean, just the other day, I had to put my car in the shop (i'm car-less as we speak).

I asked a person very close to me if she could wake up a few hours earlier (had to be at work at 10:45) if they could meet me there and take me home before they had to go to work. She told me no. Now this is a person who I am always there for, helped them get a car, as well as helped them have a place to lay their head. And she said no, when she would never hesitate to ask me to do a similar act for her. I figured right then I could not depend on her and left it at that. I mean u do all you can for folk and they can depend on you but you cant depend on them. So I caught the bus home in the rain, counted my blessings and realized I could only depend on my boys and myself. So for me, I resolve in the New Year not deal with any folks that don’t treat me like I treat them. I also resolve to make my heart more kind and considerate.


I can’t believe that man, but I recognize his belief in the scratch off lottery tickets were no different in mine in people, expecting them to be there for me because I am there for me. But now I will not settle for less, when I give more or my all. Now I figure all of me or none of me and I feel good. Happy Nappy New Year. Who am I to question him spending five dollars on one and using 15 to get lottery tickets?

Introducing: eyeball stealing

I just wanted to thank the laws for putting into place a new crime to come – Eyeball stealing. Sure there is no code for it, or no fancy name like homicide, it too shall come to pass.

Trying to get what they can out of biometrics, the FBI wants to use precise body measurements unique to every human being, to help them fight crime. The new FBI plan announced last week notes that the agency plans to spend a $1 billion dollar on the effort. Now these fools cannot even solve or prevent identity theft and its text-based information so whom will they be able to secure a massive database of biometric data? I mean it last forever. One could even be dead and the still could be committing crimes with your eyeball. The only good may be a new specialty in plastic surgery or ophthalmology in changing and replacing human iris and retinas. According to the Washington Post, the FBI is going to give somebody a 10-year contract that would contain information on all from iris patterns, scars and the way people walk. The way I see it its my information and the FBI doesn’t own nor have the right to steal and keep my information – I am not no coin, stamp or baseball card. Add to that I have a major question concerning who will get this massive no-bid contract.

They call it “Next Generation Identification” According to Thomas Bush III, assistant director of the Criminal Justice Information Services section (I think he is related to the President but I cant find any info on him nor can I prove it yet). With this type of technology, it may be possible to scan a person with a video camera in a public place and capture and collect imagoes of their face and iris without their knowledge and/or permission. This is worrisome; I mean it was just a few weeks ago I was complaining about the amendments to he homeland security legislation and now this.

There is also limited information and research on the future utility of Biometric database security and full range of potential. At the West Virginia University Center for Identification Technology Research, which is less than an hour from the FBI’s biometric facility in Clarksburg, researcher is already underway dealing with clandestine iris image capturing from 15 feet to 200 yards. In Germany, scientist conducted the only large scalp study I could find on the subject. Conducted from October 2006 through January at a train station in Mainz, Germany, findings noted the ability to match correctly 60% of study volunteers in the daytime but less than 20 percent at night.

All I am saying is who is down with helping me develop optic image refractive contacts, It may make us millionaires in no time.

on premotating & other farce

For me, I think 2007, has been the year of the premonition. But before I go farther. I want to thank all yawls with the birthday wishes and those who purchased books. And I can’t forget my tiger’s pimp slapping Roy Hibbert and Georgetown. To both of the aforementioned, I am still smiling.

But back to premotating, I have premonated (don’t know if either are words but I don’t really care) that these folks, in particular the politicians, may be hitting the pipe too much – for they will say anything to get a vote. Such was even my premise in stupid pet tricks.

Check this: Mitt Romney is a perfect example, and while telling some people a tall tale, he got cold busted. Gone say some shit like he remembers seeing his father as a child, marching along side with Martin Luther King Jr. (I’m trying not to laugh at that shit now). The problem is that it never happened and was completely fabricated. He even said it was just a figure of speech, a metaphor. He was just pretending – make believe.

The Republican presidential said this while making a speech on faith and politics earlier this month in Texas. To quote him, Romney said: "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King."
They say it was the biggest speech of his political career thus far. Titled speaking on “Faith in America” at College Station, Texas.

Jones even started to like the sound of that shit and this past Sunday while on NBC's "Meet the Press." He said, "You can see what I believed and what my family believed by looking at our lives. My dad marched with Martin Luther King." He probably would have kept on saying this if it had not been for some serious investigative reporting by the Detroit Free Press and The Boston Phoenix. Not to mention the eyewitness accounts of one veteran Michigan civil rights activist who told the DFP that George Romney never marched with Dr King.

Trying to cover his ass, Romney's campaign cited a 1967 book written by Stephen Hess and Washington Post political columnist David Broder. They even released a press statement saying in essence; yes Virginia there is a Santa Klaus. King aint even march in Grosse Pointe in 1963 because he was not even there. Not To mention records indicate he was out of the country in some school in Europe at the time he say he saw or heard such.

But what it tells me is that not only is he a liar, but he don’t even know his father that well and aint spend that much time with him if he got to lie for them both. But they got the loot and time to investigate steroids in baseball, but neither of the priors to put themselves in check.

just wanted to say

thanks. birthday was un eventful, did get some foweres, but woke up fixed myself breakfast and served myself i bed (if u dont treat yourself good u may die waiting for others to do so). No kisses, no hugs, no cuddling no nookie. Finaly got the password to my myspace page (again-dont use it) and wrote myself a happy bday not - the only one). But my homeboys gave me the greatest gift, whooping up on Gtown by 14. Thanks agin for all yawl who cared.

shameless self promotion

Yo, Sat Dec 22 is my birthday. So happy birth day to me. And I'm selecting these two books to sale in honor of myself for the holiday. So yawl support your folk, and tell all yawl know via smoke signal, email or word of mouth to do the same. Thanks. And happy napy birth day shouts to:

Femigog and my girl Emmanuelle Elie (Dec 21).

Support starving independent african american authors - long live intellectual fiction.
JUST CLICK ON THE BOOK ICONS TO ORDER

A Matter of Attention. Book Reviews.


ButterBrown. Book Reviews.

PLEASE DONT BUY FROM AMAZON THEY DONT PAY ME

again, happy birthday to me.....they make great gifts and keep sakes

Yum yum eatum up,

state of the african american father,
black,brown,beige & undereducated,

far from the truth,
y yawl hang up on me jones,

What dressing u want,
I can’t fight so I talk shit,
he has a Coretta.,

Hook, line & sinker,
Ode to Miss Anne,

a penchant 4 commitment,
the midas touch,
to whom it may concern:,
I, I, My,
They on the other team,

i miss coaching little league,
Lift up Your Skirt and Find Your Balls,
A few of my favorite things,
You a soldier….daddy's going to buy you this chopp...,

The teaching of sociopathy,
the kind of guy u take home to momma,
Father Knows Best,
Where are the Coretta's?,

a penchant 4 committment,
the midas touch,
to whom it may concern:,
thank we free,

basic thrust equation,
foul,
sunni or latter,
hope 2 die,

a new breed of mother,
outside the box,
black skin white mask,
we no longer make that model,
these niggas shooting again,

trick or treat,
fuckd up view of manhood,
punishment of slaves,

age of the fck boy,

the perfect man,
i eat peta's,
where the white women at,
touch downs and chess pieces,

the birds,
female dog gluteus maximus negro,

sophisticated colonialism,
play pusy get fucked,

Leg Blocking,
Dogma of the Excuse,
cuddle if you can,
I dont need no man,

Dear Mr. Crackerfied:,
ungrateful, selfish and lazy,

They Can Sing and Dance Though,
challenge to lyricists,
The New Knights of the KKK,

plush opus in the metropolis ,
Church Schisms over Slavery,

live free or die,
seduction or sincerity,

What u need now,
Worthless Negro,
lucky # 6,
the new super hero,
makin' progress,
Kicking In Doors,

9.9.2007,

the adulteress ,
the name game,
ghost of grover cleveland,
nothin soft bout that,
nothing like the real thang,
LOL,
the adulteress,
the next generation,

live free or die,
when her idol superhead,
we turned 2yesterday,
as a nation,
dog day afternoon,
will real terrorist standup,

what would they say,
4 real though,

500 billion and 4 what

Yo, this may be my last semi-serious post until ex post facto Christmas. I mean, I will post one Friday before my birthday on the 22 of December but that will be merely shameless self-promotion. Been spending the most of the past two days trying to disect the 3500 plus pages of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill approved by the House yesterday. They tell me that it weighs 35 lbs but I wouldn't know since I have been reading it online.

I am not counting all of the pork, or earmarks inserted into the bill, just looking for the outrageous stuff they use my tax dollars for. But I have been told hat there are about 9,000 with about 115 worth about $117 million. This tells met that the majority of the members of both Houses aint even read the bill to know what they spending my loot on. And frankly that pisses me off.

I did see that Senator Hillary Clinton took care of some of her folks. One of the recipients was the National Center on Education and the Economy for 2.6 million bills, which is to be awarded within 30 days of enactment of the measure. These folks have contributed heavily to her campaign. The organization is run by Marc Tucker, a long time Clinton supporter. That is a lot of lot for a $4,600.00 campaign donation, which happens to be the maximum. The bill also included a 3.5 percent raise for members of both Houses (excuse me white-collar federal employees).

Other items I saw included $201,000 used to “clean and green” vacant land in Philadelphia to one million for “Bush Creek Beautification.” It also allocates 600,000 for Christopher Columbus fellowship foundation what ever that is. But most of the Earmarks are what they call ‘Air-Dropped’ Earmarks' - about 300 of them, meaning that they were added at the last minute s if they were dropped out of thin air.

I'm not quite finish yet, I mean its some real boring shit to read and I don't have government-speak down tight yet. But best believe if your folk find something else, i'm gone let yawl know.

swear to blog

Given that I am still suspended with pay, I have more time to read scientific journals. When I was on the job, outside of teaching Research Methods and a Theory class, lecturing around the country on prison health, writing grants and publishing scientific papers, I rarely had time to read scientific journals as I would have liked. Sure I did, but on my free time my preferences was to consume newspapers, books of history and fiction.

Recently I read an article that caught my attention in the Journal Cell. To summarize it, it revealed that skin cells could be used to make embryonic stem cells. This was without the use, need or requirement of an human embryo. This was amazing to me. I mean, just by adding 4 genes to a skin cell, they could be made in essence "Tab-la rasa" to develop any of the 220 known cell types of the human body (so much for the debate on stem cell research based on the creation and destruction of human embryos for the same purpose). These cells were named pluripotent stem cells.

Now this is why I love science and always wanted to be one, outside of Mr. Wizard and Mary Shelly. Namely because science forces one to make use of prior information and think outside the box - such to create just as writing does.

Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University of Japan and the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease in San Fransisco (in picture), found out he could try and do this procedure in mice. Taking it a step further, showing he could make these cells into any type of mouse cell, he used the cells he made to create 20 new mice. Although about 20 percent of the mice developed some form of cancer - he showed and did it.

I know that the replication studies in humans is some ways off, not to mention such studies in the mind of this humble scientist would have to be preceded by studies that show the procedure can be employed to make the 220 know human cell types in vitro first. Even with all of this, i do not think the debate on stem cell research is over. There is always room for the "holier than thou" to ad their two cents in two forms I figure. First President Bush, whose megalomania will lead him to say that he is responsible for the discovery via his policies that cut funding for human embryonic stem cell research and second, those who were against such research for theological reasons, who now will move the debate to saying only God can make life and man should not, even in the name of disease prevention and treatment, even if it from skin cells. Swear to Blog, i mean God.

of Bushes,Turks & the Taliban

Jones main, it’s on. The news has not even made it yet but it appears as if the fragile whatever you call it we put up in Iraq to represent a government has officially dissolved. You see, while most of us up in this camp were sleeping last night, the Turks were sending warplanes over into Iraq to bomb the Kurds. I suspect they were targeting a political group called the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The Turks have outlawed the group, but it seems kind of feculent to outlaw an organization in another country, which operates basically autonomously. The say these raid were some 60 miles into Iraq.

Meanwhile on the otherwise of the field (it is football season), all I read about Afghanistan' from this side of the block, is that we are winning the battle, that more and more Taliban fighters are being killed and that each day we work with or favorite Dictator in Pakistan to make progress in terror (that is if progress includes more videos circulating in Pakistan that show 12 year olds beheading a Pakistani's accused of being U.S. spys). The Taliban is always executing and beheading folks who they claim to be spys for the US, we just never see it on TV unless the spies are actual US citizens. I mean Bush and the US media obviiously think that it take four such acts or more to equal one US life. But at the same time, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai is asking for more help to develope his armed forces.

Well I guess the Bush administration has some good news to report by their standards, after all the aforementioned and said dictator, just lifted the emergence rule he just placed over his country because they would not vote for him (during a period in which HE amended the country's constitution). At least we can be thankful hat George W. Bush isn’t a general, no telling what he would have done by now.

Hypocrite Me

You know I love the Christmas season. I don’t actually know why, but I do. It doesn’t have anything to do with getting anything but it may have a lot to do with my childhood memories spent with family during this time of year – oh yea, and the meals.

But I am troubled with myself also about the holiday. I mean, I was taught that it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but it seems that I have learned otherwise. At least since I learned that the twelve days of Christmas actually start on the 25th and end on January 6 (the day orthodox Christians acknowledge the birth of Jesus Christ.

Of all the holidays celebrated via European tradition, Christmas is probably the most Western or European of them all. In the early days of this fledgling country, Christmas was not even celebrated and was even outlawed in certain parts of the colonies in the late 1600s. It wasn’t made a federal holiday until June 26, 1870. It was only until after the civil war; with the influx of German immigrants to the United states did it actually begin to spread across the country.

The term Christmas comes from the old English 'Criste Maesse,' and may also be connected to the German word, 'Weihnacht' (Holy Night). Thus I aint surprising that Santa Claus himself also comes from German. But I don’t know if his name “Kris Kringle” or “Sinter Klaus” (which means Klaus of the cinders or as some put – the demon saint of Christmas - in picture with body guards), has anything to do with the Romans (Dionysus was said to have been born on December 25th also-in painting), Horus ,or the birth of Jesus.

History suggest that the Roman pagans first introduced the holiday of Saturnalia, “a week long period of lawlessness celebrated between December 17-25.” It was the celebration of the “Lord of Misrule.” “Each Roman community selected a victim whom they forced to indulge in food and other physical pleasures throughout the week. At the festival’s conclusion, December 25th, Roman authorities believed they were destroying the forces of darkness by brutally murdering [these] innocent men or women.”

Horus, the Kemetic/Egyptian God of the Sun to was said to have been born on December 25 and that during the times of the Roman empire, during this time period, celebrations were conducted to honor the sun at its farthest distance fro the Earth, returning to bring warmer days – this as during the winter solstice, my birthday Dec 22.

With all of this, and my whimsical feelings toward celebrating a holiday that all I can see objectively merely provides to buttress western economic powers by bringing up sales at the end of the fiscal year and increasing the gross domestic product, I still love this time of year. Why, like I said, my memories of family unity more than all else, so I guess that makes me a hypocrite, hypocrite me, kind of like American me.

bad 4 ya health

I am starting to figure out the grand master scheme of the west, of the historical pedagogy of the liberal arts and all the associated nonsense that make them folk click. Honestly, I used to think it was an old school thing, you know sons and daughters of the confederacy and the economic plutocracy of the status quo, but now I am startin' too recognize it, our problems are much more and not improving but moreso getting worse. True, it is going on only 40 years since African Americans have had the right to vote. But voting, what does it really accomplish in a republic? I would answer nothing, just like a baby with a pacifier in its mouth.

This is why nothing surprises me. Nothing. The computer chip maker Intel has just apologized for a print add it ran in several major news papers. It was supposed to be advertising new breed of micro-processors but it do so with old world zeal and fatuousness. The quote was "Multiply computer performance and maximize the power of your employees." The only problem was that it had one white man in the middle of the isle between six cut brothers poising as if they bout to start a race.

Now me and the feeble tequila drinking mind that I tote concluded: 1] white micro-processors must be slowa da a mutha fuka and 2] these saltines and woods still look at us as if we live stock. Maybe that’s why I had the beef with the Morehouse school of medicine. Not only am I not a fuck boy, Nat Turner wont allow kool-aid ruining through the veins and arteries. Some time I wish I was a bitchy type nigga – I mean negro, then I could just open my butt cheeks, hide the Vaseline and say “you called Masta”. I think that’s what my dean in the school of community health and preventive medicine wanted me to do. But i'm suspended with pay, lounging and reading about 10 newspapers a day – what more could your fol ask for (and yes, steak and eggs was the breakfast for the morning).

Intel did release a statement on its website: "We made a bad mistake. I know why and how, but that simply doesn't make it better." It was intended that the advertisement "convey the performance capabilities of our processors through a number of visual metaphors,"

The entire PR had me rolling, and also managed to fill my hemoglobin with vehemence. And just think, them mutha fukas made $8.7 billion the last quarter. But I guess they see white micro – processors, like all else white, salt, rice, sugar and glue – is bad for folk health.

4 real though

I have received inspiration for this post from several fellow bloggers – yawl know who you are. I have wanted to do this for myself; I guess another form of soul searching. So outside of the men and women in my family, these are the people that have informed, improved and assisted in proffering the disposition and molecular mass known and Torrance T. Stephens, PhD. And I would advise this as an exercise for all. For it will be fun, introspective and informative. Not to mention folk here consider himself the truth, just as these mutha fukas – yep they the truth, 4 real tough.

1] Cheikh Anta Diop (1923-1986) – I got a chance to see him before he died, and the Nile Valley Conference Meeting held at my alma marta, Morehouse College, if ever I could foster a man crush, it was with him. Got his PhD from the University of Paris, Sorbonne in 1960 in Egyptology after a nine-year struggle to do so.

I have read all of his books at least 5 times, and such may be an underestimation. The reason I rank him number one is because I read an interview conducted by the Third World Book Review. He said in essence that we as Africans in the Diaspora, for those of us who can just do one thing, do it and do it exceptionally. He said for the rare breed of folk such as he, master it all and don’t be afraid to self inculcate on new subject matter. He studied at the top physic laboratory in the country, was a paleontologist, historian, anthropologist, spoke nine languages and developed the test by which one could discern if melanin was I the bones of mummies found I archeological digs. Dr. Diop was the Director of Radiocarbon Laboratory at the Fundamental Institute of Black Africa (IFAN) at the University of Dakar. Diop’s seminal pedagogic challenges, which was irrefutable via science was that African culture and history was older than any other, and influenced the course of other cultures more than usually given credit. I took up his challenge.

2] Martin Luther King Jr. – Enough said. Not to mention he had Coretta.

3] Rube Foster (1879-1930) – Founder of the Negro Leagues (in picture). Made a way when there wasn’t one for the love of his self, his spirit and the love of sport. Didn’t hurt that he was one of the first multi millionaires of our persuasion of his era. As a pitcher and owner, his brand of baseball was solid defense good pitching and hitting. The same way I coached my Old national Pirates – from 14 to 14 yrs of age, had them from T ball to 13,14). His American Giants won all other recorded championships from 1910 through 1922. He was the founder of two things pf importance t me, the Negro Leagues and the screwball or fade-away. In fact he was paid to teach the screwball to Christy Mathewson.

4] Frantz Fanon (1925 – 1961) - In 1953, he was the Head of the Psychiatry Department at the Blida-Joinville Hospital in Algeria Here he was in charge of patient care and learned of the horrified stories of torture his patients -- both French torturers and Algerian torture victims -- told him. This was the period he penned Black Skin, White Masks (1952) and The Wretched of the Earth (1961). A pupil of the philosophical tractates of Jean Paul Sartre, he took exestentialism to the human level. BTW my favorite book by Sartre is “Being and Nothingness" (had to read it at least 8 time). Fanon developed leukemia, and The Wretched of the Earth, was completed in 10 months, and published by Jean-Paul Sartre in the year of his death. He died at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland in 1961 a year before my birth.


5] Voltaire (1694 – 1778) - My Nigga, writer extraordinaire ( the person responsible the most for my motivation to write). I love this quote "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Jones made me, me, because he was the ultimate humorist, the ultimate satirist and intellectual philosopher. Only difference was that he was an admirer of John Locke. For me his books were the shit. Candide – the optimist, Micromagus (man and geospatial analysis in the anti Alexander Pope sense if you asked me – none center of the universe), Zadig, the philosophical dictionary and his play the fanatical. Must read, again, if u asks me.

6] George Clinton – “Not just knee deep she was totally deep, when she did the freak with me” and “no head no backstage pass”. What else can I say. Oh yea, can u say FUNKY?

7] Malcolm X (1925 – 1965) - Can you say epitome of well read and riffle? Where would I be without my SKS and the 7.52 slug (full metal jacket of course, with potassium cyanide and candle wax over the top, I know TMI)?

8] Arthur Ashe (1943 - 1993) - Character and integrity, faith and truth, that’s what he defines. And last of the powerful one hand backhands, next to me, but you should have known that. My complete tennis idol. Taught me how to incorporate the game of the swed’s into mine. Shouts out to Joakim Nyström, Mats Wilander, Björn Borg, Anders Järryd, and Stefan Edberg. Long live the high looping forehand. Ashe was one of the first to speak out againts Aparthied and as result, he was excluded from the Davis Cup competition. in South Africa on March 23, 1970, because the country denied him a Visa. Add to that, his afro was tight.

9-tie] Denmark Vessey (1767 – 1822) & Nat Turner (1800 – 1831) – The essence of live free or die, and if I have to tell yawl more about folks who had their heads stuck on poles on the road leading out of town, or one who was lynched in Jerusalem, Virginia, the yawl really aint my folk Jones. But for the record, Vessey was a real man, it cost him $600.00 to buy his own freedom, a lot back in the day but he was not able to purchase the freedom of his wife and two children - Thats him in the pic with his back whipped all up. Nat, well after killing ONLY 50 white folks, they celebrated and had picnics on the Sunday of his lynching, I mean execution.

10] Sheldon Gilbert – Young cat, your folk can can learn from themm too. 32 year old CEO of Proclivity Systems. A Yale graduate. Also conducted genetic genetic research at Cornell University Medical Center and Rockefeller University. A self taught computer programer, he dropped out of the PhD program in computational genomics at New York University. His programing genious has moved beyond that of the basic Google-like searh engine. His is predictive, and analyzes the data left behind from a persons interaction on a Web site. Now a search engine that predics one future searches – that’s ingenious.

Rounding out the list: Ida B. Wells, Muhammad Ali, W.E.B. Dubois, Corretta Scott King, Paul Roberson, Pam Grier. Jack Tatum, James Vander Zee, Richard Pryor.

what would they say

My Boy Tone just lost his mother and my boy Smoove just lost his father. I couldn’t make Tone’s mom’s funeral, since it was in Oakland, but I checked on him as well as gave him his space. But I was able to make my boy Smoove’s father’s funeral.

Just looking at him comfort his mother and his children and his sisters made me understand why he was my boy. He was real and compassionate and creative. I feel that I would have seen and felt the same way if I was at Tone’s mom’s funeral.

I also started to wonder, as I listened to the service, what would my funeral be like? Would they say that I was a good person, that I was kind and giving? Would they honor that I was a hard working man, with a great work ethic, whom worked and provided for his family days up until my death? Would they say that my daughter had my eyes or that my son would have my smile and that thy both had the essence of my spirit? Would they recant that I lived a good life, that I loved living, loved life and loved others as I did myself, even my enemies?

What would they say, for I am not afraid to die, nor am I afraid to Live.

2 things

1] It is a shame when I have to say that I am glad to hear that a rapper at age 33 dies of natural causes and not of gun shot wounds


2] My son’s favorite song when he first started to talk was “Pocket full of stones” by UGK.



Chad Butler, dead, dang. I used to only listen to three six mafia, UGK and 8ball and MJG when I was finishing my PhD. In the late 80’s and early 90s, that’s all we had in the dirty.

will the real terrorist please stand up

In a few years from now, I may not be able or worse, imprisoned or executed for writing some of the things or expressing my personal views, I the manner I desire on such topics. In particular if Senate Bill S.1959 has its way. S. 1959 A bill to establish the National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism, and for other purposes. The billed has just passed in the house (H.R. 1955) and now is headed to the Senate. To add another stupid pet trick to the mix, the bill only targets United States citizens and make continuous use of basic Constitutional protections it targets in an effort to fight supposedly home grown terrorism.

The general purview for such a law is scary for two reason, first it is buttressed on the assumption that since 9/11, America is less safe (been the same to me all my as a man of color). The second is that the wording is unclear and vague at best. Based on the way it reads, this act could be easily used to label anyone or group that has strong critisim of the government. For example, in section 899a, “violent radicalization” is stated to “means the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.” In the same section, Ideologically based violence ” is defined as “the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual's political, religious, or social beliefs.

Now I may be wrong, but are they saying “thought crimes” in the Orwellian sense, or as they put it, “Planned use” can be looked as an act of terror? Would my thoughts if perceived as hostile to a selected administration and being against our war efforts, posted on the Internet via my blog be considered as acts of terror?

I say yes. In section 899b, finding (3), it is written that “The Internet has aided in facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process in the United States by providing access to broad and constant streams of terrorist-related propaganda to United States citizens.”

The bill is supposed to be an amendment to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and in the house, was sponsored by Rep. Jane Harmon (D-CA) -in picture. If you asked me, she should be the poster girl for what a homegrown terrorist looks like. For anyone who attempts to restrict my personal liberties under the guise of fear and paranoia, is the real terrorist – so stand up lil momma.

Dog day afternoon

I’m gonna keep this brief cause your folk is madder than a mug right now. Just found out to day in an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution that former Falcon Quarterback Michael Vick has agreed to leave a large amount of loot to take care of some 50 or more dogs that were left on his property, $928,073 to be exact.

According to his lawyer, it will be set in a escrow account controlled by Billy Martin’s Washington, D.C. based law firm. They say it’s to pay for restitution decided upon by the court. This makes me sick to the stomach, giving all this money to dogs.

Why couldn’t he or his lawyer say that the money would go to scholarships for African American males leaving high schools for college or for after school math and science programs for primary and middle-school age African American male youth? I tell you why, because it is still more appropriate to provide a nurturing environment for a dog (Canis domesticus) than African American men in these United States of America.

No one can find the caretaker of the dogs now for comment Rebecca Jean Huss (in picture), a professor of law at Valparaiso University and the court appointed caretaker of the dogs. Ain’t that some shit, it takes $900,000 to maintain and find homes for some pit bulls according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and groups like PETA.

Glad to see folks care more about dogs than me. That’s why I said before, Mr. Vick was stupid for the choices he made, now not only is he losing money, but his philanthropy, albeit court order has more significance for dogs, than his own folks.

in the oral tradition

To often, we take our pleasures for granted. See me, I’m a fan of sports. Since it is football season, I am more concerned about it as well as the fledgling NCAA basketball season more than other miscellaneous pleasurable pursuits. I learned of my direct love via my male family members. I learned not only of the love for the sport, but also history. They told me about the Satchel Page's, the Rube Foster's and the Curt Floods. I was unaware of these folks, and they had seen them before the era of television and were aided by radio. Jus as I tell my son about the Jack Tatum’s, the Lew Alcindor’s and the Jefferson Street Joe Gilliam’s. And Like I was, he too ca only visualize what I am trying to explain since he had not grown up seeing them Albeit he may have archival film footage courtesy of ESPN to help him, he still will never understand their greatness as I did unless I take the time to tell him.

One such figure that I was told of but never saw was Bill Willis. Willis was the first African American to ever start in the National Football League. A player with the Cleveland Browns, he was the one to open up the NFL and break down the color barrier. He played with the Browns from 1946 to 1953 and his record was enough for him to be elected into the pro football Hall of Fame in 1977. Willis also played/started both offense and defense for the Legendary Paul Brown.

While at Ohio State, he had his No. 99 jersey retired at halftime of the Wisconsin-Ohio State game. He was also Ohio States first Black football all American where he opened a many holes and blocked for the Buckeye’s 1944 Heisman Trophy winner Les Horvath. He also participated in track and field some five years after Jesse Owens attended the institution.

Yep I’m glad for listening to my folks and his break throughs, or else we would still be looking a football with a lot of slow ass men who likely would not hit as hard and/or talk shit on the field. And moreover, ‘m glad I listened to my elders and the stories the told. I guess it will be up to us to keep telling the stories in the oral tradition and then some, so these can be captured in His-story books and history. He was 86 years old so no telling what his eyes say or his spirit experienced.

expectations and concessions

Before I settle down again, as a man, I need to do some soul searching. I mean when life takes you for a ride, its nice to have someone by your side. So I figure expectations and concessions are important. So if I’m looking for such to be a two way street and a partnership, have to put it on the table what I expect. This is some of what i expect - sorry just being honest.


I expect her to fix my plate for dinner without asking and know what I want on that plate

She got to accept my mind and me.

She has to sense when 'm down and need support, comfort and encouragement

That a relationship is like a job and requires work

She has to desire my touch, my embrace and my caress and accept and reciprocate unconditionally

She must understand the concept of partnership, of teamwork and that the family and not the individual comes first.

If I buy her sexy Fredrick’s or Victoria Secrets Draws and bra’s, then I should be the first and only one to see her in them, preferably at the door when I come in from work or whatever.

She will value my family and limited material possessions if the value I gave them were her own.

She must love and respect my children as she loves and respects me.

She will not take my providing for my family and work ethic for granted; she will maintain me for she will know my family depends on my work ethic.

She will not place anyone over her family or me and will show in actions that we come first.

She will desire to kiss my lips, my neck, nipples and the rest of my body like desert that seems to never quench her thirst.

She will love and crave my sex.

She will not serve me tofu.

I probably got some more but this is a start to my personal soul searching.

Can I keep my gat

Jones main, folk here love him some gun shows and technology. At gun shows I have been able to stock up on an ordinate amount of munitions, purchase night vision equipment made b the Russian military and Israeli gas mask (along with cases of filters). I figure if it is technology out there up in this camp, and if I know about it, then if I choose in this free world – then I can have it.

The U.S. Supreme Court just revealed that next week, it would hear a case hat decides if the constitution allows for an individual to keep fire arms (hand guns) in their homes for private purposes. This is the most stupidest dumb shit folk here done ever heard in a while. What is next, knives, chain saws, or cars?

They say he ground work for this is the law established by the District of Columbia in 1976. Personally, I figure the second amendment like the first, and the 4th (my favorite), is an individual right. Since when do folks have to be part of an organized militia to own a gun and be allowed to keep it in their home? Although they say the hand gun ban in DC was designed to reduce violent crime, I did not and it only managed to increase over the past 26 years. Which brings me back to something I always tell folks – guns don’t kill folks, people do. All I ask is that folk “don’t tread on me.” And don’t come after my guns, or my children and home will be next. They will probably same some more stupid stuff like “you can’t kep your kids in your private residence unless they are registered, or else to quote Icecube when he was with NWA:

The police are gonna hafta come and get me

Off yo ass that's how I'm goin out

For the punk motherfuckers that's showin out

Niggaz start to mumble, they wanna rumble

Mix em and cook em in a pot like gumbo

Goin off on a motherfucker like that

with a gat that's pointed at yo ass

So give it up smooth

Ain't no tellin when I'm down for a jack move

Outside of the Meal

Outside of the meal, and a few days off from work, I’m not really much into celebrating Thanksgiving. I am not the one to want to be thankful for killing of the Indians and bringing Africans over to work as slaves, nor am I interested in the economic avarice associated with the seasonal sales and specials. I am just thankful each and everyday.

What am I thankful for? Too much to really mention. Sure my children and family, having shelter and being able to provide as best I can goes unsaid. But there are many intangibles, most of which related to character and integrity and being proud to say I live my life as a man as opposed to just a male. I am thankful that I can be there for my son and daughter to see and experiences what men as fathers do. I am proud and thankful that my character was spawned under the examples of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Although I may have the ability to conquer through violence, I am thankful that I can withstand the harshest treatment, even allowing someone to spit in my face and not retaliate. I figure if Jesus and Martin King can do such, so can I and I am less man than them both. I am thankful that I have a kind heart and that I use my words instead of my fist to reflect and represent who I am in elation and anger. I am thankful for being a free thinker and not a follower.

Being thanking means knowing that what ever I have, no matter how little or how much, that it is a blessing. Just as I am blessed to see the respect I get from my family as being the last man, other than my son and my Uncle’s son’s, in my family. I am thankful that I can live up to those responsibilities and maintain a smile on my face and a generous heart at the same time.

Like I said, I’m not much for celebrating bringing Africans over as slaves, or passing out blankets infected with small pox to the Indians As General Amherst did, but I am thankful and giving none the less.

Stupid pet tricks

Got damn revenuers. I tell you, at this rate, I will never run out of stuff to say about our government. I just found out that my tax dollars have gone to file an indictment against the all time home run leader Barry Bonds. A federal grand filed this for perjury and the obstruction of justice lying.

Of all folks, the Federal government have some nerve to call anybody a liar or to accuse anybody of obstructing justice. Last I heard, the filibuster was still used in the hallowed halls of congress. And why, for steriods? From what I have read, this is the result of a four year investigation. Four years – they don’t even take four years to investigate each other (senators and congress persons), or to investigate the fowl-up of FEMA with regards to Katrina, or why the mortgage lending industry has lead to an increase in foreclosures across the country, or why it take 93 cents to make one Canadian dollar, or why the Veternans Hospitals of American can’t provide health care to men and women who serve our country.

Streriods are a marvel of science. The are used every day. In medicine alone, they are prescribed daily to people who do not play sports to assist them with recovering after surgery. Steriods are also extremely useful ( both male and female sex steroids) in mediating or protecting against cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension in some individuals. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are even used for alcoholic liver disease. Why can’t sports figures use them but regular folk like you and me can?

And why Barry Bonds, they didn’t indict Rush Limbaugh for his drug addict behavior of abusing Oxycontin. Shit, I bet half the folks in the legslative, executive and judicial branches of government are taking some prescription medication that is a steriod by the definitions of organic chemisty that learned back at Morehouse. Organic chemistry is the study of the properties of carbon-based compounds that are organic.

Just tell me, who are the members of this Grand Jury and why not make them take drug trest to discern if they using steriods. Why aren’t their names made public? We know that our current President is a recovering achololic and cocaine addict but they don’t indict him, and he running the country, spending more money than we have and sending men and women to die daily in a war over an emotion.

I tell you, is it just me, or is their no pragmatism in government anymore? Im a libertarian, but I feel that George Orwell when he penned 1984 and Aldous Huxley when he wrote Brave New World may have been right. You think Ray Bradbery will be next, I man wil they start burning books like they did in Fahrenhiet 451? Or is this a replication of an old David Letterman skit called “Stupid Pet Tricks?” If so can we put folks like this to sleep? Just a question.

Kin folk clique

They say there are no other folk like kinfolk. In this period of a presidential transition, it is difficult for me to see at best and frustrating at worse, that there lies the possibility that the same family will have its last name plastered in the White house again Bush-Clinton, or Clinton-Bush. For some sordid and clandestine reason I feel that these two families are related, that they are maybe forth or fifth cousins, with the same friends, the same political support and same economic interest. Not to mention the disposed megalomania that both branches of this family tree possess.

I don’t know about others, but as far as I can remember, since the elder Bush days, either a Bush or a Clinton has been in the hollow halls of that fat crib on Pennsylvania Avenue. I mean, since 1989 our illustrious leader has had either Bush or Clinton as their Surname. If Hillary wins, well you make the call. That just so happens I am not too comfortable with this as some other may be. Sure folks want Bush out of office, but what is the difference between a Bush and a Clinton – the same political machine politics are in existences, it is just that they pay political dues to different organizations.

I wish I had a stellar record as a political pundit – but I do not. Other wise this Libertarian here would sign up to run thangs up in this camp. But I know personally, I would “a-fear” most of my competition and most of the voting public. Nah, I’m a landowner and got more clout than any singular voting serf.

But I just had to say it. I had to get it off my chest. Aren’t you tired of the same ole same ole? If not try to make this man understand, what is a difference between a Clinton and a Bush, outside of political Affiliation? Add to hat how can you vote for Hillary? Cause folk here just do not get it...

anal pore of the week - robert lindsey

yo, another foul saltine has forgotten to take his oxycotin no doubt. saying its time to take back the word nigger. Not to mention, its spelled with an "a" not "r". Hit him up and let him know how u feel folk.

PS: He also wrote that PRISON IS GOOD FOR BLACK MEN.






on a [positive note, we got a new book out BLOGGERS DELIGHT. Get it.

U can’t trust a liar

I was looking at one of those old movie channels. Namely because they don’t write or make movies like the used too. And it happened by chance that I ran across one of my favorite movies of all time – The Battle of Algiers by Kevin Beary.

True, I have other favorite movies like A Clockwork Orange, Malcolm X, and Imitation of Life to name a Few, but this one is an all time classic. It made me realize that I have been thinking a lot about what has passed in recent years and presently in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Lebanon to name a few places and accept that many of the problems that have evinced are the result of typical Colonial rule and imperial Zeal.


The movie details the French in Algeria, and the life of one man, a former boxer and petty criminal named Ali la Pointe. After leaving prison, he is recruited by the FLN (National Liberation Front), the terrorist/national independence group that fought the French and helped to kick them out of the country after 130 years. I learned of most of the Algerian revolution via the works of Frantz Fanon, the noted Algerian Psychiatrist.

The West has traditionally inflamed relations wit Africa and the Arab world via political policies that never served the inhabitants of the countries the attempted to colonize and more importantly, through lies, exploitation and deceit.
Looking at the movie again, reminded me that no matter what one4 does, you can never trust a liar, that you can never trust a person or entity that never keep their word, that you can never trust a person that only lives through their actions to exploit and use you. I was reminded that even people have individualized colonial zeal, that will never allow them to be trust; for they will never be able to keep their word, and will lie so much that they themselves forget the truth, just as the French forgot that the country they occupied and its people were not French, and just as the US realize and should have learned from the British, that the Arab world is not Europe and that maybe they don’t desire to be Europeans, or accept what is told to them by folks who constantly lie all the time.

Riddle me this….

In the honor of former vice president Dan Quayle and his speech to Fisk Graduates when he attempted to quote the UNCF motto and said “ A MIND IS A TERRBILE THING NOT TO HAVE” LOL

1] If I ask you to come and share my bed with me, hold me and exchange bodily fluids and u wont, why would one get mad and does one have the right to be mad at me if others or another will?


2] Why couldn’t I take lighters on the airplane but can take matches, when I can order two bottles of Absolute, get a napkin and make a Molotov cocktail?


3] why is so much emphasis based on voting in Amerikkka when it is not a democracy, but rather a republic, where land owners make decisions and not the voting populous?


4] How can one incessantly blame others for things, when they own up and take responsibility for their actions, when they themselves don’t accept the consequences and ownership of their actions?

5] What will it take for, and when will, balling, frontin', playing high post and flossing to go out of style?

6] Why did TI ask the prosecuter if he could have 95 family members over for Thanksgiving and did he realy think he would say yes?


…….Bat Man.

What set u claim

Seems more than apparent that we have a real bad gang problem in America. I even feel that from my neck of the woods where I was reared, that I may have contributed to this problem. You see, I was a well respected and venerated member of a social club growing up that the Police in my city called a gang (long live CTO (Castalia Taking Over)/ AMB (Ambassador) Folk nation).


Blackwater USA guards shot at Iraqi civilians as they tried to drive away from a Baghdad square on Sept. 16. The first U.S. soldiers to arrive at the scene, where they found no evidence that Iraqis had even fired weapons, based this on a report. They have said that the Blackwater Mercenaries have even drawn and maybe even fired weapons at US soldiers. But it figures since most are from place other than the US and have no dedication to the US other than for that loot. Many come from South Africa and places in South America that hire military personnel from other countries to protect their economic interest.

That’s why folks consider Blackwater as cowboys and why the UN is asking for a serious investigation of this gang of sociopaths. I figure they know they are wrong or else they would have not have removed their folk from Baghdad this past october. Even the Baltimore Sun has sugest that what Blackwater is doing is really yet to be understood and that they may be doing even more dirt than what is being reported.

All i'm saying is that me and my folk were considered BT (Bonafied Trill) back in the day and that may have been why the police called us a gang. I am also saying that I think that Blackwater is a gang too, and that if we didn't have all of these wars going on (Somalia, Afganastan, Iraq) we would not need to hire killers like Blackwater. And I bet as they drive around making their kill videos, they see each other, shoot gang signs and say "What set you claim."

That Murtha Fuka

Politrix, the art of hustling and shysternomics personified. Take the Honorable Mr. John Murtha. Other than his recent concerns for bringing troops home from the war effort in Iraq, what stands out in my mind about Jones here is the FBI sting video he made in 1980 in which he told a man supposedly who was a lawyer for a rich Arab looking for a Visa that the way to do business with him was to invest in his district. Although he was hesitant to take the 50 stacks in cash from the agent, he in essence said he did business this way (via pay offs) all the time.

Reading a Wall Street Journal last week, I found out a little more about Mr. Murtha. It said that he had funneled hundreds of millions to his district over the years, establishing a defense-based economy for his district. Even in the current 2008 House defense spending bill, hey say more than 40 earmarks worth approximately $166 million is slated to go to corporations that have established businesses in his district.

The problem is that these businesses are getting loot for work (if you can call it that) that doesn’t add any productive value other than government waste. Take Concurrent Technologies. They have gotten, through Murtha’s effort, more than 200 million in defense contracts for what the WSJ described as “vaguely worded research.” Examples include $2 million for “Advanced Combatant Materials Research” and the “Electronic Commerce Resource Center”, a non-profit military program funded by Murtha designed to help small businesses use Internet technology. Basically the received millions to provide Internet access to these businesses when such services and access was already available.

Murtha also help establish the Johnstown National Drug Intelligence Center in 1994. Since its start, it has received b his efforts more than 500 million dollars. Operating as an extension of the Justice Department, the US General Accounting Office reported that it was a waste because it duplicated on-going efforts conducted in Washington and around the country. Then there is MTS technologies, a company that was started by a man who used to shine shoes at Murtha’s Minute Carwash in Johnstown.

These are just a few of the problems with Congress the way I see tings. I guess it is ok to be responsible and to get jobs for one’s district. I just don’t think it is the right thing to do at my expense as a tax payer, in particular when the money is being wasted. I’m certain he is not the only one. I wonder how much we could have benefited as a country if it was applied to education, both at the primary and college level. Or for health care? Maybe i'm just a hopeless romantic, maybe they would have made more companies like the ones above, to waste the money and pad their pockets. What ever the case, that Murtha F**ka is a straight up crook.