http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090404/ap_on_re_us/one_man_s_apology

I know the article is loooooong, but please take a few minutes to read through it.

Is anyone else as unmoved by this as I am?

HIP HOP LYRIC OF THE DAY:

Don't give the black man food, or the red man liquor/red man fool, black man nigga!

Lupe Fiasco, American Terrorist

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/02/21/boy.homicide/index.html

As I write this, the 11 year-old kid who committed this crime is sitting in jail. Not juvenile, not youth authority and not a detention center...JAIL! He is being tried as an adult. Does anyone reading this think that that is right?

Before you answer, read a little further:

-In our country, we have deemed 11 year olds not mature enough to decide rationally whether or not they want to have sex. So we arrest and imprison the adults who 'victimize' them.

-In our country, we have deemed 11 year olds not mature enough to decide rationally whether or not they want to fight, and possibly die, to defend our freedoms. So we forbid them from joining the military.

-In our country, we have deemed 11 year olds not mature enough to get behind the wheel of a car and drive. So we make them wait five more years before they get a driver's license. 

-In our country, we have deemed 11 year olds not mature enough to responsibly ingest alcohol. So we have made it illegal for them to do so.

But apparently, 11 year-olds are mature enough to be imprisoned for the rest of their lives for a crime that they commit. I think that is a bit ridiculous. 

I am not saying that is was not a heinous crime. I am not saying that this kid should be set free without some sort of punishment. I think they should have professionals evaluate whether or not he is mentally stable. If he is, he needs to put into a facility and rehabilitated, educated and monitered until he is 18 or 21. At which time, his record should be expunged or sealed and he can go on about his life.

This kid is obviously not an adult, so he should not be tried as an adult in a court of law.

Let's be reasonable people!

HIP HOP LYRIC OF THE DAY:

It's as easy as cake/simple as 'Whistling Dixie'/as I'm waving a pistol/ at 60 Christians against me/go to war with Mormon's/take a bath with the Catholics/in holy water/no wonder they try to hold me under longer

Renegade

-Eminem

OMG! Am I one of THOSE people now?

I used to laugh at THOSE people. Now I totally get it! I apologize to all you quasi-upper-crust, over-caffinated yuppies. I was wrong.

POP QUIZ, HOTSHOT!!!

Here I am, working on this re-write that seems to be taking FOREVER. I decide to take a break. That's when I realize where I am. Here's skinny:

-It smells like French roast coffee, chocolate and cinnamon.

-I see two middle-aged women sipping coffee and having a conversation in Russian (probably about me, my slightly tilted fitted hat, black thermal and black shelltoe adidas!)

-There is a young couple on the couch across from me who just wrapped up a thrilling game of chess.

-To me left, there are 3 teenage Asian girls working on there homework. (One looks like she is on the verge of collapse, but she probably needs at least a 'C' on her next Chemistry test to have a chance of not having to take the class over, so she is pushing through it like a soldier).

-50's-era Rock and Roll, Bobby Darin or Buddy Holly, plays softly on the speakers.

Where am I?

Starbucks! And I am loving every minute of it! Oh, and PLEASE, just walk on by when you see me. Because I'm WAY to Hollywood to speak to you! =)

HIP HOP LYRIC OF THE DAY:

First I snatched the streets/then I snatched the charts/First I grabbed they ears/now I have they hearts

Jay-Z, 'Let Me Down'

Stop spending my money on BULLSHIT!

Okay, so this past weekend I was watching the news and they were talking about the first bailout that was issued to the banks and financial institutions. Now by no means am I an expert on politics or financial matters, but the whole thing seems very unorganized to me. I didn't see any checks and balances in place to make sure that these entities didn't abuse the money that they borrowed. 

This morning, I came across this:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090204/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bailout_executive_pay

Something like that never crossed my mind. But what better way to make sure that these companies are doing everything they can to make sure that this doesn't happen again and are using the gift that the American people gave them wisely, than to put a cap on the salaries of the men in charge of those companies?

Is it enough? Nope

Will it be effective? Who knows?!

But it least someone is sending them a message that, 'Hey, we've got our eyes on you, Mr. Executive!'

That is all.

HIP HOP LYRIC OF THE DAY:

I guess it's gon' be what it's gon' be/but there is one thing y'all gotta hear/I'ma tell you like george Bush told me/'Fuck y'all niggas! I'm outta here!

Kanye West 

-Go Hard

...on the former President, 'W'.

Picture this:

A Formula 1 race is coming to your city. They are holding a sweepstakes to give one local driver a chance to enter their own car into the race and race alongside the pro's. Your friends try to persuade you to enter the sweepstakes. You do. Lo and behold, you beat the odds and are chosen to be in the race! The big day of the race arrives and you line your 1997 Honda Civic hatchback next to the finely tuned Formula 1 cars. The gun goes off and the other cars dash away from the start line, leaving you and your 110-horse power, rear wheel drive Honda sitting there, amazed at their speed. Needless to say that you lose - embarrassingly. After the race, all of the friends who convinced you to enter the race and mad at you. They feel like you let them down because you didn't win the race. 

Sounds silly? A bit ridiculous, even?

That's essentially what we have done with our former President, George W. Bush. We elected a man who was ill-equipped to handle the demands of the presidency and expected him to lead us into prosperity. We elected a C-student, former alcoholic, owner of two failed companies and a man who lost the popular vote but still won the election. A man who did not have the tools to get the job done. Then, we got upset when he lead us into darkness.

We entered the 1997 Honda Civic that is George W. Bush, into the Formula 1 race the is the Presidency of the most powerful nation in the world, then got mad when he fucked up.

It's not his fault, people. He did the best he could with his limited intelligence and narrow world view. The problem comes in the fact that his best was woefully inadequate. He failed in his execution, not in his effort. He may be an incompetent, insensitive, delusional, elitist war monger, but he honestly believed that the decisions that he made were the best ones for America. And that's the sad part. 

Would you continue to talk shit about a retarded kid who pissed on the floor?

Would you continue to talk shit about the blind kid on your basketball team who couldn't hit a free throw?

I didn't think so.

It's time to lay off the last president, people. Just be thankful that he is gone, waive goodbye and let's move on to Mr. Obama.

HIP HOP LYRIC OF THE DAY:

The comment Kanye made was damn near right/Bush hate poor people, be 'em black or white

'That's Life', Killer Mike

Divorce

I am a product of divorce. Chances are that you are too

According to the story I was told, my father just woke up one morning and decided that he no longer wanted to be married. I say 'According to the story I  was told...', because I haven't heard his side of the story. I don't think that our rekindled relationship is at a point where such questions are appropriate. That sounds very plausible though. It seems like something he would do.

Over half of the marriages in this country end up like this. But why? Why can't couples seem to stay married these days. I think I have the answers people. Gather round:

#1 WHAT'S THE RUSH?

When you marry a person, things are never the same. Everything that they do effects you. And everything that you do effects them. You will have to put up with each others bullshit(unless you're a runner. More on that later). You will likely have to put your heads together and determine the best way to raise a child. Don't you think that you should take the time to get to know that person? Their likes, dislikes, fears, hopes, dreams and ambitions. Whether or not the fold under pressure and meet it head-on. If they are reckless with money or frugal. If they are all about family or all about themselves. Whether or not thy are the jealous type or not. There is no way you can gather that information in 6 month. Or even a year. That is the type of information that you can only get after at LEAST 2 years. I believe that if people would just slow down and make sure that they are compatible  with their mate, there would be far less divorces in this country. That is not to say that there is no hope out there for all you 6-month wonder couples out there and that you are headed for divorce court. Only that you would have improved your chances of success by waiting.

#2 PEOPLE DON'T TAKE MARRIAGE SERIOUSLY

In a country where millions of people tune in to watch 'Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire?', 'The Bachelor' and 'The Bachelorette', we have turned marriage from a sacred institution into a commodity. A good. Something with little value. Here's the truth: If you don't have children, your marriage should be your number one priority. Nit your career, or your hobbies or your Sunday night basketball league. Your marriage! That's not to say that you shouldn't do any of those things. But hopefully you are with a person who realizes that just because you can't go to that event that they want you to go to because you are working late or because of that championship basketball game, that that doesn't mean that it is more important than your marriage. How do you know if you have a person like that? See #1!

#3 PEOPLE RUN AWAY WHEN TIMES GET HARD

I said earlier that we have turned marriage into a good. And like any good, if it's broken or not working the way we expect, we just return it or exchange it for another. How about we have some patience and see if we can repair it? No one is perfect. People make mistakes. But the key is working past it and moving on, not giving up and throwing in the towel. For some reason, people have gotten into their heads that marriage is easy. That you get married and it's smooth sailing after that. Nothing could be further for the truth. Marriage is a full-time job. And when it gets tough, you put in your mouthpiece and come out swinging. 

I'm not an expert by any means. Just my thoughts, people.

HIP HOP LYRIC OF THE DAY:

without the braids/I'm the closest thing to O'dog

Coming soon - video blog!

The YoungGun Chronicles - part 1

Stay tuned people!