A Bit of Poetry.

I like putting things in my blog that relate to as many people as possible. I haven't been able to pick a subject to talk about lately, so I have decided to put in one of my older poems. It is one that I consider my best, and it isn't metaphorical or long... just pretty much straight to the point. Everyone I have ever shown it to can relate it to some point in their life, so now I will share it with you, my dear readers. Hopefully, you too can relate. I wrote this in 1998.

All You Wanted

All you wanted was someone to hold you
Someone who made you feel special.
Someone who could make you smile,
And forget all your troubles,
If only for a little while...

All you wanted was someone who would love you
As much as you loved them.
Someone who would never hurt you,
And could always cheer you up,
And take away the blues.

That's all you ever wanted.
And that's all I ever was...
But I wasn't what you wanted.

Color as a Deciding Factor in the Presidential Race...

As misleading as my title may be, I am speaking in terms of the artistic eye.

Something I have noticed in the last 2 debates between Senators Clinton and Obama is the fact that it would appear (from an artistic point of view) that color is being used as a tool to choose which candidate should get more attention. Unfortunately, I have no screen caps from the previous debate, so I have only the most recent debate to support my theory.

First, some simple color theory.

Red is a warm and passionate color. One that inspires emotion. Blue is a cool and calming color. One that relaxes. In the following pictures, which are screen caps from tonight's debate, one will see kind of where the emotion is directed.

The first pic, which is of Senator Clinton, shows an entirely blue background.

... my apologies to Clinton supporters for the sleeping shot, but it makes me sleepy as well!

The point I want to make is how this was the basic composition of all of her close ups - calming blue behind her.

Now, on to Senator Obama's closeups.

As you can see, above him lies an attention-getting red stripe. This is the composition of all of Senator Obama's close ups.

And now, I will present the most damning evidence to the court... the general shot of both candidates!

As one can see in this shot, it would appear that the red stripes are actually pointing toward Senator Obama, in a sense, directing your attention to him.
Understanding that I may sound like a conspiracy theorist, these layouts are simple advertising practices - have bright, bold colors near, or pointing to, that which you want the viewer's attention to be drawn to.

Even though I am a strong Obama supporter, all this man asks is this:

Could it be that we already know who the Democrats, or possibly the nation as a whole, since the last debate was on CNN, want as their candidate?

Twenty years...

Ok... a trip down memory lane for those of you old enough to remember...

The pics come from PCWorld.com, and show the difference in technology, that we now take for granted, over the gap of 20 years. For the drastic price differences, a link to the article is provided after the pictures. (and who actually remembers that floor-model TV your uncle had?)

Enjoy!

Color Printers...












Gaming systems...











Large Screen TVs...












Video Disk Players...
(a laserdisc player and a Blu-Ray)






... and last, but not least, the biggest little thing we take for granted,

The Cell Phone...








Now, go read the article, and see how much more expensive "The Good Ol' Days" were in relation to what we pay for this stuff today!

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142550-page,1-c,electronics/article.html

What's In a Name...?

Ok... no music tonight, but a perplexing question....

I happened to have my attention snagged by a documentary on PBS titled "African American Lives 2," hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. He basically tracked the historical lineage of several notable blacks, including radio personality Tom Joyner, whose lineage is the inspiration of my question.
The question that arises in my mind is that if so many blacks were undereducated or uneducated during the times preceding my birth, how is it that some ended up with Greek and other names?
Tom Joyner's father was named Hercules. My own father's name is Ulysses. In the call center where I work, one man who called in was named Leonidas.
How did this come about? What would inspire these folks to give their children these names?
Anyone out there with a family member with a name as such, please give some feedback in the form of a comment. If you know the history behind that name, teach me something new.

And I just learned something new... the Chicasaw nation, as well as the Cherokees... Native Americans, owned black slaves.
And this is why one should write their paradigms in pencil.

Be Different... I DARE You!

Tonight's music is Bahia Magic by Ronny Jordan... I suggest you try it!

While on the way home from work this evening, I was listening to News and Notes on N.P.R., and they were going through a segment with black bloggers, and the woman that was on tonight, whose name, of course, I forget, but her blog can be viewed at http://whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com/ brought to the listener's attention a website called Bossip ( I put the name here so you, dear reader, can make your own judgments about the site) that was crass enough to place the caption of "Ho Sit Down" above a picture of Dr. Maya Angelou, simply because she decided to state she supported Hillary Clinton as opposed to Barack Obama.
Here is Dr. Angelou's quote, as posted on Bossip:

“As a child, Hillary Clinton was taught that all God’s children are equal, so as a mother she understood that her child wasn’t safe unless all children were safe.

I know what kind of president Hillary Clinton will be because I know who she is. Hillary Clinton has always been a strong woman and a passionate protector of families. For 35 years, that’s exactly what she has been doing.

Each generation of African Americans stands on the shoulders of those who came before. Today, the challenges facing us threaten the dreams we have had for our children. We need a president with the experience and strength to meet those challenges.

I am inspired by Hillary Clinton’s commitment and courage — a daughter, a wife, a mother — my girl.”

Now, I don't know about anyone else, but I took Dr. Angelou's comment to be more supportive of another woman over a man, and not as much as more respect to a white woman than toward a Black man. In Clinton's defense, she also stands in as unique a position as Obama - she is the first woman in recent memory to have a viable run toward the most powerful position in the United States.
In short, I am disappointed that in front of me is another instance of Black on Black hate, just because someone thinks differently. Just because she didn't show outright support for the Black man.
Here's a question to those that feel that way: Would you vote for Idi Amin if he was running, just because he was Black?

Here is a link to the page for you readers to decide on your own.

http://www.bossip.com/11367/ho-sit-down-6/


Lord, what fools these mortals be!
- William Shakespeare, "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

A Late Addition...

OK. For all intents and purposes, all roads are currently leading to recession in these great United States, right? Which means that people should be spending less and trying to maintain the money they have... At least that is my understanding.
So, if this is the case, then why is there an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about people lining up to get a pair of $230 Air Jordans??
- that some other person will buy off of Ebay at twice the price or more?

"There's a sucker born every minute!"
- P.T. Barnum

Crabs in a Barrel

Tonight's music for thought is John Coltrane's rendition of "My Favorite Things"...

I just read a very disturbing paragraph in an editorial column in the NY Daily News regarding how racial comments from supporters of Hillary Clinton seem to be flying about like bats in a belfry. I was already aware of the smart-ass comment from Bob Johnson, founder of Black Embarrassment Television, but I was made aware of a comment from Andrew Young, former Mayor of Atlanta and one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s cohorts:

Ex-Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young threw out a crude racist gag line on live television, quipping that ex-President Bill Clinton "is every bit as black as Barack. He's probably gone with more black women than Barack."

Errol Louis, NY Daily News

This, I would have to say, broke my heart the most. I can't possibly imagine how Andrew Young could even form his mouth to say these words. Of course, I know that the possibility of political gain was how he could, but in a time where a black man actually has a valid run for the most powerful position in the United States, why would another black man want to try to belittle that fact? I attribute it to the Crabs in a Barrel mentality, where one will push others of their own kind to the bottom in order to get themselves to the top, when the truth is that they all are trying to attain the same goal.
It is really sad that, even in 2008, we as black people seem to have learned so little and forgotten so much. We have forgotten how much power there is in sticking together, how fulfilling it can be to help each other, and how easy it is to be good to one another. We have become very separated from each other and even more competitive against each other. We hate on those of us that succeed, and revel when those same ones fail. And the flip side of the same coin is that those of us who do succeed tend to forget those that have not, and they curse those same ones who did not catch them on their fall from glory. But you can't have it both ways.
I am hoping that I live long enough to see not just a black president, but the reunification of the black race. A rebirth of times when you could give a pound to any brother walking down the street and get one back with the same amount of love in it. An ascension to where those who have made it are more than willing to assist those on their way up, and those on the receiving end of the assistance can accept it gracefully without resentment at the fact that they aren't there yet. And a feeling of triumph when I can roam from Bankhead Courts to Queensbridge Houses at any hour without preconceptions, because I know I am among my kind. We came really close to that when we came together in support of the Jena 6... here's to hoping that the ball will keep on rolling, and get bigger along the way.

An Amuzing Puzzle...

Here is the situation:

You are presented with a small box with a simple button on it, and are told that if you press the button on this box, you will receive $250,000.
Now comes the Tricky part...
Someone that you do not know and have never met will die.

Will you push the button?

In the event that money is not a motivator, here is a different angle...

Suppose a terminally ill loved one will be totally cured, but with the same outcome: someone you don't know and never met will die...

Will you push the button?

see the comments AFTER YOU ANSWER for the twist.

Oh, So Tempted...

It has been said that the thought of a sinful act, or the temptation to commit said act, is equal to the act itself. So, basically, if you think about doing something, it is the same as doing it.... huh??
Now, I know I am not alone when I say that at least twice a day, there is some wicked, mean, or simply less than pure thought that travels across the landscape of my mind. Be it the wonder of how an attractive female, who happens to catch my eye, conducts herself in the throes of passion, or a wish that I could ram my car into the back of that jerk that just cut me off without the slightest flash of a blinker. The majority of us have these thoughts. But is it fair to say that it is the equivalent of random fornication or spreading someone all over the interstate? I think not.
Now, unfortunately, there are those that are impulsive and will act on a thought without the foresight of the consequences of their actions - immediate gratification. But I like to believe that the majority of people have the filter that keeps them from making those negative thoughts into a reality firmly in place.
All this to say that I disagree with anyone who says that if you think it, you would do it. I know I would never cause anyone harm for their rudeness (as much as I would like to slam in their face the same door they neglected to hold for me), nor would I ever have extramarital sex with another woman(even though that woman has a body built for sin). These are just the base desires for instant gratification that most normal people have, and fortunately, my restraint filter is firmly in place.

And fortunately, I do not have telekenesis!

"If a man is considered guilty for what goes on in his mind, then give me the electric chair for all of my future crimes!" - Prince - Electric Chair.

Double Ear Infection, One Case of Pink Eye...

... and a father thankful for medical coverage! I wish I could find money with the frequency that my youngest finds illness! And the thankfulness comes from the knowledge that her medicine would have cost like $120 out of pocket.
Tonight's music is John Coltrane. Not anything that I have heard before, but it is going into the Jazz collection. What sucks the worst is that I can't find the info for the songs, so I have 10 great tracks with no names... oh well.
I think we shall speak on corporal punishment today....
How many people out there have seen a parent with a rowdy child in a restaurant or department store and thought,"that wouldn't be MY child!" Now, how many of you would actually spank your child for acting out? And I don't mean to the point of pulling an extension cord out of your purse or going to the toy section to get a length of Hot Wheels track, but a smack on the rump as a reminder who is the parent?
I really think that more of us need to, on occasion, issue out a healthy serving of spanking. I think one of the major reasons that there are so many problems with rowdy, disrespectful children is that children don't fear their parent's wrath anymore. Too many parents are trying to be their kid's friends and forgetting that the child is not their equal. When I was a kid, I not only respected my mother, but I feared her! Because I knew that if I screwed up, I would get whooped for it. Not just for doing something I knew was wrong, but for making people think I had no proper training at home(a direct reflection on her as a parent). There was none of this "Oh, come on Mom!" or any negotiation at all. The best thing you could do is be quiet so as not to expound your sentence.
Now, there is nothing wrong with being a friend to your kid, but that kid needs to clearly know the line where friend stops and parent begins. When we are playing a video game together, we can be friends, but if I am having to ask about why your grades are slipping in school, then I am the parent. There needs to be clear and concise lines between those times.
One specific time comes to mind, when we had friends over and my oldest daughter said something out of line. I gave her the hardest look I could, to try to save her some embarrassment, but she chose to blurt out "I can GLARE too!" Needless to say, I did not beat her in front of our guests, but that was the end of her evening. and she left the room thoroughly embarrassed. The next morning, she apologized for her behavior and and disrespect, and we went back to business as usual. Had I let that incident slide, or not called her out on it then, she may have continued in her decline of respect... and then I would have had to dole out a heaping helping of whoop-ass, but fortunately, in her younger years, she learned that certain behaviors from her will earn certain punishments. Also that an elevated tone of voice usually precludes these events, though she may have forgotten "The Look," since I hadn't had to use it in some time. And we all knew what "The Look" meant from our parents - it meant that that moment might be an excellent time to start thinking of your Last Will and Testament.
and MP3's and downloading movies from the Final word: do not let your kids think they are your equal. they may know more about I-podsInternet, but you know more about the things that will still apply, and be important, when they are your age.

"You don't get to be old bein' no fool!"
-Mudbone/Richard Pryor.

... I got nothin'!

Here we are, the second day of my blog, and, like the title says, I got nothin'. Nothin' except an earful of Thelonious Monk and a sudden pain in my back that is an exact duplicate of the one I had this morning before I went to work. Nice to know the pain was kind enough to take a break long enough to allow me to make it through a work day... Damned decent of it, don't you think?
I started maybe 3 different subjects and deleted them all. Couldn't figure out the best way to get to the end. Maybe my luck will be better this evening...

Happy New Year!

Well, here we go! Into 2008 with all the same old resolutions of years gone by - "I'm gonna lose weight," "I'm gonna quit smoking," "I'm gonna exercise more," "I'm gonna write that novel..." Stop it. Just friggin' stop it. You may want to do these things, and honestly have every intention of doing them, but, truth be told, you aren't going to do them... There is always something that causes us to fail... "I lost my job, and a cigarette was what kept me from blowing up the HR department!" "My grandma almost never makes that cake! Diet be damned!" "After working all day, I just don't have the energy to work on a novel." Convenient excuses...
The thing is, I believe if you really want to do it, you can and will. You won't let any outside thing stop you. If you really want to sit and think about it logically, the only thing that stops you (barring anything outside your direct control, i.e. an F5 tornado!) is you!
We are our our own worst enemy in many cases. Example, I know there is nothing really stopping me from creating the animation I have had in my head since long ago but me. No one is dragging me away from my computer when I could be creating, nor is anyone holding a gun to my head telling me not to draw. I just need to light the fire under my own ass and get jumping, and no one else can make that happen like I can... like I did to make myself start this blog.
Hopefully, I have inspired not only a reader, but myself to get the frag up and DO that thing that really wants to be done. Lose that weight, quit smoking, write that novel...

Create that animation....

I will end my first post with a quote from the person I wish most to be like:

"I think most people can do a whole awful lot more if they just try.
They just don't have the confidence that they can write a novel or
they can write poetry or they can take pictures or paint or whatever,
and so they don't do it, and they leave the planet dissatisfied with themselves."

Gordon Parks